Books Too Good to Miss

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris [FIC SED] - This collection of essays features the Sedaris family in all of its wacky glory. Sedaris is hysterical, wise, and edgy. A delightful collection.

Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes [FIC VAN] - A suspenseful narrative of two women 60 years apart, whose lives intertwine in surprising ways. In 1913, Elsa accompanies her husband and sister to Easter Island for an anthropological study. Once there, she becomes a linguist and discovers the reasons behind the destruction of the giant Moai statues. World War I intervenes before the origins can be revealed to the rest of the world. Sixty years later, botanist Greer Farraday, suffering from the knowledge that her husband plagiarized her work as well as from his death, picks up where Elsa left off. The two compelling characters' stories of betrayal are equally engrossing.

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates [FIC OAT] - A fascinating family drama set against the violent and mysterious history of Niagara Falls. A new bride feels herself cursed after her husband jumps into the falls on their honeymoon. Her second husband, a lawyer, becomes involved in trying to help a young mother suffering from what will be known as the Love Canal area. The Gardens of Kyoto by Kate Walbert [FIC WAL] - Set in WWII Philadelphia, this literary heavy-hitter focuses on a shy young women whose beloved cousin is killed in the war. Even after falling in love again, she remains haunted by her image of her cousin. A lyrical meditation on the realities of love and war.

The Love Wife by Gish Jen [FIC JEN] - An interfering Chinese-American mother bequeaths a Chinese nanny to her son, who is married to an older Caucasian woman his mother has nicknamed “Blondie.” This is just the beginning of the trouble in this interesting and funny drama about family dynamics and much more.

March by Geraldine Brooks [FIC BRO] - This inventive story imagines the life of Mr. March, the fictional father of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. His experiences in the war clash with his idealism. His wife Marmee later takes over the narrative, and we see her view of the last decade. Wonderful story.

The Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell [FIC RUS] - Based on a factual village, this story follows the journey of a group of Jewish refugees who seek shelter from Hitler and the horrors of WWII. They find shelter with a group of Italian citizens who put themselves in danger after Mussolini surrenders Italy to Hitler. A haunting work.

Previous Issues of Book Notes
September/October 2004
November/December2004
January/February 2005
March/April 2005
May/June 2005
July/August 2005
September/October 2005

Gentle Reads for Hectic Holidays

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon [FIC KAR, CAS, LP] - Meet the endearing characters of small town Mitford, watched over by Father Tim, an Episcopal priest.

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci [FIC BAL, CAS, CD] - Having been banned from flying for a year, a journalist takes a cross country trip by train during the holidays and learns many things.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym [FIC PYM] - A British spinster in the 1950s is more than she appears on the outside. If only others in her life could understand this.

Evening Class by Maeve Binchy [FIC BIN, CAS, LP] - When a teacher offers a class in Italian to adults who are worn down by their ordinary lives and the cares that come with them, the students find it to be a transforming experience.

Friendship Cake by Lynne Hinton [FIC HIN] - Five women from the same church gather to create a cookbook. Each has a story to tell and wonderful recipes to share.

A Green Journey by Jon Hassler [FIC HAR] - Recently retired school teacher Agatha McGee takes her dream trip to Ireland in search of the love she never had time for.

How to Make an American Quilt by Whitney Otto [FIC OTT] - Eight women gather together through the years to piece together a quilt and to share their stories.

Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray [FIC RAY, LP] - The grown offspring of two feuding families react with horror when their respective parents fall for one another in this smart, witty love story.

Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough [FIC MCC, LP] - Set in the 1900s in Australia’s Blue Mountains, the story follows the fate of genteel but poor spinster Missy Wright. The future looks gloomy until a distant cousin arrives from Sydney.

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross [LP FIC ROS] - Prim Miss Julia finds a new life after her husband of 44 years dies and she becomes wealthy and learns to speak her mind.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks [FIC SPA, CAS, LP] - A sentimental journey into the love story of Allie and Noah, who meet as teenagers and face the disapproval of their families. Their great love story is told through notebook entries.

Pay It Forward by Catherine Hyde [FIC HYD, LP] - When a young boy is challenged in a social studies class to think of a way to change the world and try to put that idea into action, things will never be the same.

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher [FIC PIL, CAS, LP] - Penelope returns to her country house to recuperate and contemplates how her three grown children have turned out as they squabble over her assets. She looks back on her life as she views the oil painting entitled “The Shell Seekers,” which has given her great joy.

Spencer’s Mountain by Earl Hamner Jr. [FIC HAM] - The novel that inspired the TV show The Waltons. In this story, Clay-Boy, son of a family in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia, wants to attend college and his family must find a way to send him.

Thrush Green by Miss Read [LP RIC REA] - Return to a gentler, simpler time as you experience May Day in the small village of Thrush Green. A calming, nostalgic read.