I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.”
-- Jorge Luis Borges
The staff at the Hershey Public Library would like to share with you some of the wonderful books we’ve been
reading this past year.
Our picks are as diverse as we are,
but we hope you will discover a treasure you might otherwise have missed.
Numbers indicate multiple votes.
And Thereby Hangs a Tale by Jeffrey Archer [FIC ARC, CD] – Fifteen short stories from around the world - some true, some fictional, some comical, some tragic, some outrageous, but all eliciting an “oh” from the reader.
Ape House by Sara Gruen [FIC GRU, LP] – Ape House is a fascinating look at the lives of bonobos who communicate with the humans who care for them. Gruen weaves her extensive research together with an entertaining, action-packed tale. The apes disappear following an explosion at the research facility and the central character, Isabel, is determined to rescue her family. This book looks at many issues, such as relationships, animal rights, and the world of tabloid journalism in an enjoyable read.
Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans [792.8 HOM] – Calling all balletomanes! Jennifer Homans has raised the barre in Apollo’s Angels. For all who, like me, have enjoyed ballet vicariously through annual visits to the Nutcracker, you will surely be mesmerized by a captivating feast of delights as Homans superbly relates the trials and tribulations of ballet’s many successes and failures, not least of which is the tragic loss of the major part of the historic record of early ballets. Crediting its inception as much to the observation of mathematical precision of the human body as it does to the gestures and parade of manners by the courts of King Louis XIV of France, the Italian Renaissance, and those of the Imperial Russian Tsars, Homan’s history of ballet is an elegant and scholarly tour de force. This book is en pointe with extraordinary insight into a dynamic world filled with allegory, illusions, and contemporary significance. Ballet reaffirms the constancy of human values and emotions, giving a nod to the past and a wink to the present. The book is brimming with luscious theatrical spectaculars, depicting music and art as the agencies through which mind integrates with movement. From stage to page, Homans intoxicates us with this exotic chronicle. Ballet’s great masters bathe us in a heady perfume of athletic bodies with perfect musculature, beauty, and unbelievably astounding feats of energy. Homans combines this captivating imagery with an exploration of how the various styles of ballet have been shaped by, and survived, the turmoil of history. Appollo’s Angels is tutu fabulous! A standing ovation for Jennifer Homans!!
The Attenbury Emeralds: The New Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Mystery by Jill Paton Walsh [MYS PAT, LP] – I love the Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mysteries by Dorothy Sayers, so I was surprised and delighted to see new books in the series! This is the third book of the new entries, the first being Thrones, Dominations, co-authored by Walsh from an outline by Sayers that remained unfinished, and the second being Walsh’s original A Presumption of Death. I recommend reading the books in order, starting with the Sayers’ originals. Walsh does a wonderful job of continuing the Wimseys’ stories, and I think she captures the tone and characters of the original series perfectly.
Beach Trip by Cathy Holton [FIC HOL] – A summer reunion of four friends on a beautiful North Carolina island brings more than a relaxing week on the beach as the women not only relive theircollege days, but slowly reveal the secrets that drove them apart. A fun beach read exploring the nature of friendship, but with enough mystery to keep you turning pages all the way to the unexpected ending.
Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer [FIC THA, LP] – Three sisters reunite at their family’s house on Nantucket in this perfect summer fare. Emma is inconsolable at the loss of both her high-powered job and her fiancé. Lily fears their widowed father is falling prey to an enigmatic woman renting their guesthouse and the usually responsible Abbie, summoned to Nantucket to help her sisters, finds herself instead drawn into an unexpected and uncharacteristic complication in her own life.
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo [JE DICAMILLO] - Kate DiCamillo has done it again. With carefully chosen words, she has created a world we can all understand. Pancakes, socks, roller-skates, and a compromise bonanza are the ingredients for a graceful story of friendship. Gollie is tidy, tall, imaginative, and just a bit rigid. Bink is short, messy, impulsive, and lives on peanut butter. Those traits make them the absolute best of friends, with all the ups and downs that ensue. Share this with a young friend or treat yourself to this spare but rich story.
The Black Madonna by Davis Bunn [FIC BUN, LP] – Bunn weaves an intriguing plot of mysterious figures ranging from undercover government agents to enigmatic monks – fabulously wealthy art collectors to shadowy desperados. This thrilling adventure, which is both murder and archaeological mystery, reveals the world of art forgeries and the smuggling of international treasures or holy relics, such as The Black Madonna. This is all effortlessly performed with a hint of romance thrown in for good measure, beckoning the reader to come dig (pun intended) at what truly lurks beneath, which is the more interesting story of the dastardly deeds of a powerful foreign government to create political leverage over a Russian oligarch in order to…and I have already said too much. Without giving away more, Bunn’s tale is complete with explosions, hidden temples, and the fairly incredible antics of a jet setting, astonishingly handsome male protagonist and a highly intelligent and glamorous lady art dealer, who hurtle from far flung locations in the Middle East to the Baltic coast of Eastern Europe, where the story of ancient artifacts and religious relics with supernatural powers of healing, and a frenzied search for a miraculous cure, unfurls. Even though the final revelation is definitely more terrestrial than celestial, and the explanation slightly less than believable, the book carries the reader along on an electric ride, full of the thrills of dangerous rescue missions, daring escapes, and masked marauders, and is definitely the kind of book to take on a long plane trip, preferably over vast deserts and very high mountains!
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny [MYS PEN, LP] – This is the sixth in a series of traditional mysteries set in a cozy village in Canada. This is the best in the series so far, but the book before this one (The Brutal Telling) sets the stage for one of the two mysteries covered in this book. The head of the elite detective force in Quebec made a terrible mistake on a case and now must live with the consequences for the rest of his life. He takes a vacation to begin healing and ends up involved in another murder mystery. This is a quaint series with somewhat eccentric characters that will grow on you. Give it a try!
City of Thieves by David Benioff [FIC BEN] – A historical fiction novel that is full of laugh-out-loud moments, sadness, adventure, mystery and intrigue. Set in Russia during the Nazi siege, two young men set out to find a carton of eggs for a NKVD colonel in order to earn their release from prison. In a time when something as precious as eggs cannot be found, Lev and Kolya find themselves journeying across Russia and in and out of the hands of the Nazis. Thrilling to the end, this is a book you’ll want to read in one sitting.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese [FIC VER] – Twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone, enter this world under strange and unusual circumstances at “Missing” Hospital, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1954. And so the story begins as their mother, Sister Mary Joseph Praise, meets her fate of death the day the twins are born. Their father, Thomas Stone, a surgeon at the hospital, tries to save Sister Mary and fails. His grief so acute, Dr. Stone walks out of the hospital that day, abandoning his twin babies. Gosh and Hema, who are also surgeons at “Missing” Hospital, take on the responsibility of raising the twins, becoming their true parents for a lifetime. Marion Stone’s story weaves together the lives of his birth parents, his surrogate parents, his twin brother, his childhood love, and all the people who work and love at “Missing” Hospital, creating a rich and complicated tale.
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen [FIC QUI, CD, LP] – Mary Beth Latham is a wife, a landscape designer, but most of all, mother to three teenagers. Her story is one of normal, everyday family life until unthinkable tragedy strikes, and she is thrust into a new world of grief, of coping and learning to live again. The story is riveting, but, unlike other Quindlen novels, what is most striking is the beauty of her prose, the strength of her character portrayals, and her ability to verbalize the thoughts of her characters in a way that rings true and real.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury [FIC BRA, CAS, CD, LP, Pbk C 99, SF, YA] – Fahrenheit 451 (the temperature at which paper spontaneously combusts) is a richly compelling novel resonating with as much potency today as it did when it was written in the early 1950s. Published during a post war era of social change and insidious fear of communism, Bradbury’s faintly satirical and futuristic narrative points to a shaky political morality, the danger of growing political correctness in speech and literature and is a warning to us all that our inalienable democratic right to the freedom of information is in our hands. This prodigious masterpiece is told through the figure of Montag, the fireman, through whose eventual self realization and metamorphosis we are propelled into a world of mass media control, in which a poor understanding of complex human thought pervades, arresting emotional and intellectual development. Montag’s realm is one where literacy is abhorrent and books criminalized. It tells the story of the distortion and government of truth. On one level, this appears to be a bureaucratic strategy to avoid conflict and unhappiness, but is a more sinister deception to control opinion and thinking. Ultimately, through the gloom and doom, there is optimism as the triumphant Montag discovers the wonderful universe of written language. In the 21st century world of shrinking newspaper readership, interactive media in our homes and Internet at our fingertips, Bradbury’s prophetic vision holds a mirror up to the risk of the abridgement of knowledge. This is one book that will burn bright long after most others have ceased to glimmer. So, dust off your Greek classics and throw Fahrenheit 451 into the life raft. Oh, and by the way, do not forget your eReader.
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively by Gary Chapman [649.125 CHA] – This author has written love languages books for couples, children, singles, and now for teens. The concept of the different ways of expressing love is similar, but how to effectively put them into practice with loving a teenager is explained. Why not get all the help you can get for this important stage of life?
The Futures: The Rise of the Speculator and the Origins of the World’s Biggest Markets by Emily Lambert [332.64 LAM] – This is a fascinating history of the mysterious Chicago mercantile exchange market. From its early days of a true commodities exchange of cattle, grain and soybeans to the modern day of artificial computerized trading, the emergence of the Eurodollars and Germany’s dominance in the past decade are interesting.
The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard [FIC MAY, LP] – The “birthday sisters” were born on the same day, in the same hospital, to two very different families, one solid, fourth generation New England farmers and the other a dreamer and an artist. So what is it that binds these disparate families to each other over their growing up years? The story unfolds through the voices of each girl as she struggles to find her place in a world to which she doesn’t quite seem to belong. Beautiful characterizations enrich this fascinating story of love and family relationships.
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost [FIC FRO] – Half vampire, half human, Cat Crawfield hunts vampires with a vengeance. Her mother has taught her to hate all vampires, especially her father, who is her prime target – if only she could find him. Enter Bones, a powerful and sexy bounty hunter vampire, who convinces Cat that she could be a better fighter if she lets him train her. But she must also align herself with him. Is there such a thing as a nice vampire? This book is part one in a five part (so far) series. It is very sexually explicit, so be forewarned. If vampire fiction is something you like, you’ll love reading about Cat and Bones! The other books is the series (so far) are: One Foot in the Grave, At Graves End, Destined for an Early Grave, and This Side of the Grave.
Hector and the Search for Happiness by Francois Lelord [FIC LEL, LP] – You would think mental health professionals have a lot of answers with regard to questions of happiness, and you would not be wrong. Hector, a practicing psychiatrist thinks he knows on a certain level what happiness is, and yet complains of feeling ill at ease and dissatisfied for no concrete reason. Hector himself is tired and wonders why everyone else is unhappy. Leland’s story takes Hector to various countries as he compiles a list of traits thatcomprise happiness. Hector finds that common, everyday things make us happy, such as being with the ones you love. Subtle social commentary combines with easy-going prose that promotes, rather than provokes, thought. (2)
Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci [FIC BAL, CD, LP] – If you’ve read The Camel Club and follow-up books, you will be glad to hear that Oliver Stone is back to “help” the government. The Camel Club is back to help Stone with his assignment to investigate a bombing in Hell’s Corner. Investigative measures continue taking the usual twists and suspense found in Baldacci’s books.
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch [J DEU] – This is an utterly charming and sweet graphic novel for all ages. As it says on the cover: “Yet another troll-fighting, 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl,” but also so much more. Mirka longs to battle dragons, but how will she ever get the chance to do so in her small Orthodox Jewish town? Then she meets a strange woman and her talking pig in the woods and gets her chance to win a sword. I love how Deutsch fits details about contemporary Jewish life into the story and also love all the witty verbal and visual gags.
How Do You Tuck in a Superhero: And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys by Rachel Balducci [277.3 BAL] - I have long felt there are two kinds of women in this world—women who have raised (or helped to raise) boys and those who haven’t. If you have, you will understand Balducci’s world of Chuck Norris, dirty teeth, and rules you never imagined. Who could have guessed one might need rules that include not shutting your brother in a major appliance, even if he asks you to? If you have not had the indescribable pleasure of raising a boy, you will be amazed and amused by the antics and struggles that go along with growing men. Balducci’s humor and faith carry her through her daily adventures with grace and dignity (mostly).
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [Y COL, Y CD COL] – I thought this was the most impressive, fascinating, exciting and surprising young adult series to come out in recent years. The setting for this story is the future world of Panem (formerly North America). And quite the world it is. There is the shiningly “perfect” capitol. There are those twelve surrounding Districts. There are the annual “Hunger Games,” which bring early gladiators to mind. Ah, but these Games are even more destructive because the participants are teens. Each District must supply two 12-to-18-year-olds for the annual Hunger Games. Only one will survive. To accomplish that, the survivor will have had to eliminate all of the other participants. Thus enters Katniss Everdeen, 16-year-old heroine of the Games. And a young woman you will quickly find yourself caring about. And hoping she survives. Readers of all ages will be blown away by the details of Collins’ world, be shocked by her surprise twists and turns and will cheer out loud for Katniss through all three books in this series. (3)
I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman [FIC LIP, LP] – Eliza Benedict’s peaceful, suburban life as a stay-at-home mom begins to unravel when she is contacted by her former kidnapper, now on death row for killing young girls. Eliza, kidnapped as a child, was the only victim he allowed to survive and she has always wondered why. This is a thriller that goes above and beyond the page-turner. Lippman, a former journalist turned mystery writer, offers a story of fascinating psychological insight in addition to being a fun read.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot [616 SKL, CD, LP] – This book is really two equally fascinating stories intertwined. The biography is about Henrietta – her impoverished life as a poor African American woman living in the south, her painful death from cancer in 1951, and the devastating consequences for her family. The second story is about the ongoing life of the cells removed from Henrietta and their impact in the world of science and medicine. Skloot does a wonderful job of presenting the facts, enabling the reader to reexamine the issues of racism, poverty, science, ethics and, ultimately, family. Well written and a fascinating read on many levels.
The Iron Lady: A Biography of Margaret Thatcher by Hugo Young [B THA] - Margaret Thatcher was truly a unique politician--not simply because she became the first female to head a western democracy, but because she was truly skilled and resolved in the art of politics. I had always wondered why she earned the title "iron lady" and Young has reflected on her career with great elegance, charm and political sensitivity.
J.D. Salinger: A Life by Kenneth Slawenski [B SAL] – If you’re interested in reading about the mysterious life of J.D. Salinger, this book is for you. I’ve read other biographies on him, and this is the most informative. From his early New York upbringing, his WWII service, to his reclusive writing life, it’s a page-turner. After reading this book, you’ll want to read or reread Salinger’s four books: Catcher in the Rye; Franny and Zooey; Nine Stories; and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour.
Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two: Holy Week, from the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Benedict XVI, Pope [232.9 BEN] – This book is a fascinating, detailed analysis of Jesus Christ’s final week in Jerusalem, explaining the political atmosphere of his time. Written with clarity, I found this book one of the most useful in Christian theology and historicity. He also uses material on prominent Christian scholars to enrich his research. Also of interest is Jesus of Nazareth: from the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration (which is part one).
The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie dePaola [JE DEPAOLA] – With the emphasis on civility being promoted in this township, I chose this book, which embodies it. This is not your typical good vs. evil match-up for our two main characters. The dragon and knight feel they must fight each other, as this is the way it has always been.But with the help of the heroine librarian, the two are able to start a business venture together that highlights each of their talents. Tomie uses very few words, but vivid, colorful illustrations to tell this folktale.
Mine are Spectacular by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger [FIC KAP, LP] – This is a story about three friends Sara, Kate and Berni, all living in a Westchester-style suburb of New York City. Sara is a caterer in her early forties. Kate is a dermatologist, and Berni, who is pregnant with twins, has just relocated from the West Coast. All three women decide that getting older, smarter and more confident isn’t that bad. If “chick lit” is your thing, you’ll love this sweet read.
Moby-Duck by Donovan Hohn [551.46 HOH] – On January 10, 1992, a shipping container was washed overboard in incredibly rough seas. The container broke open and little boxes containing bath toys – 28,000 of them – were set free to become flotsam in the North Sea. This well written book tells the story of these toys and of much other free-floating debris that finds its way into our oceans.
The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin [FIC MAR, LP] – A chance meeting at an airport, a plane crash in the snowy mountains of High Uintas Wilderness of Utah, an excruciating struggle to survive, a poignant love story, and an ending that will totally surprise you. This book delivers a satisfying read on so many levels. As it approached the conclusion, I couldn’t stop reading.
Naked Justice by William Bernhardt [FIC BER, CAS] - Do you like courtroom drama? Suspense? Subplots? How about a protagonist with integrity, despite the opposition? Then I suggest you read Bernhardt’s Naked Justice in which still-idealistic young attorney Ben Kincaid is hired to defend former athlete-turned-Tulsa Mayor Wallace Barrett. Did Barrett really murder his family? What about that scruffy stranger who’s been seen in the neighborhood? And just who is stalking Kincaid…even after the trial concludes? This is one of those “whoops, I didn’t expect that ending” sort of novels.
Nemesis by Lindsey Davis [MYS DAV, CD] – Law and Order, Rome, A.D. 77, starring Marcus Didius Falco. Want to know “who dunnit”? – follow the crime investigation involving missing persons, political intrigue, and notorious gang members, set in the 1st Century A.D. With no cell phones, no computers, no high speed chases or high-tech weapons, the villains and the “investigators” spar with each other intellectually and physically. Falco is a man of action and a family man whose personal life and professional life collide in Nemesis.
Nowhere to Run by C.J. Box [MYS BOX, LP] – A game warden nearing retirement decides to tackle one last case of theft and poaching. His initial confrontation with, and escape from, the suspected perpetrators will leave you breathless. Tension returns as he decides to return to the mountains, armed with new information concerning the case which now involves a missing girl, a runner as well. Mystery fans – you won’t be disappointed. Non-mystery fans – give it a try!
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach [571 ROA] – All of Mary Roach’s books are worth reading, but this – her latest – is my favorite. In Packing for Mars, Roach asks all the oddball questions we might have about astronauts and space travel, and then some I had never thought to ask, such as: with a 90-minute orbital “day,” how do devout Muslim astronauts know when they should pray and in what direction?
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain [FIC MCL, LP] – The Paris Wife shows us an interesting and little known chapter in author Ernest Hemingway’s life. The story is told through the eyes of Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley Richardson. This is a fictional account of the marriage, but it is based on documented facts about Hemingway’s life and his writing. We are also able to see Paris and what it was like in the 1920s – French painters, poets, Russian dancers, and American writers. This was a fast-paced, intricate and talented society. Hadley and Hemingway shared a great love. The post war period in Paris had a great impact on people’s lives. This story shows us how it impacted their life together. People lived for today and did not give much thought for the future. In all, a very descriptive and well written book.
Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer [FIC ARC, CD, LP] – Have you ever wanted to climb a mountain? No? Me, neither. So why in the world am I recommending a book about an Englishman, George Mallory, who for most of his adult life wanted nothing so much as to be the first man to “conquer” Mount Everest? Paths of Glory is cataloged as a novel. But as I started listening to this intriguing book, I found that it’s really historical fiction. Mallory and his band of fellow climbers and his lovely wife, Ruth, were all real. He really did attempt to climb Everest three times. And on the third attempt… well, you’ll want to read it for yourself. Archer has done an excellent job of introducing his readers to Mallory. We come to appreciate his sincerity and admire his ethics and determination. I don’t use the word “hero” lightly, but George Mallory has become one of mine.
The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet by Neil deGrasse Tyson [523.49 TYS] – Grab your reflecting telescope and prepare to launch into a book where the outer limits of astrophysics meet a series of opposing viewpoints, addressing the controversial status of Pluto’s planethood, which, until August 24, 2006, was globally recognized as the ninth, and arguably the smallest, planet in earth’s solar system. This book is a combination of scientific deduction, popular culture, and expert opinion, in which Tyson discusses the nature and effects of reclassifying Pluto. Even if, like me, you do not have even a passing acquaintance with quantum mechanics, hydrostatic equilibrium, and Kuiper belts, you will enjoy the cut and thrust of intellectual argument which the author eloquently presents in The Pluto Files. His insight brings this lofty subject well and truly down to earth’s atmosphere and makes it palatable for the cosmic connoisseur and the astronomically challenged alike. Whatever we think and feel about planets, space, stars, and other heavenly bodies, all is weighed in the balance between our romantic image and understanding of irrefutable scientific fact. But when it comes to Pluto, we are passionate and unerringly “plutonic.”
Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mavor [J 398.8 POC] – This is a unique collection of classic nursery rhymes. What makes this book so special are the beautifully hand-stitched illustrations. Each one has so much detail stitched into it, making it a timeless treasure for all who view it. Needleworkers and artists will especially enjoy this book as it is sure to be an inspiration for creativity.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink [FIC SCH] – A book that is both an unconventional love story and the recalling of horrific events during the Nazi reign, it will both warm the hearts of its readers as well as break them. Schlink’s first novel and my favorite so far.
Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue [FIC DON, CD, LP] – A teenager was kidnapped at the age of 19 – simply taken off of the street and locked in a sound-proof shed in her kidnapper’s backyard. Her tale of survival and eventual escape is told by her five-year-old son, Jack. Despite the depressing nature of the premise, this book is full of wonder and hope. Jack’s mother, always known as Ma, does an amazing job of not just keeping them alive, but also entertained and healthy. Facing a huge world after the escape proves to be just as challenging. You will remember these people long after the last page is turned.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman [FIC HOF, LP] – This book tells the tale of CeeCee’s journey from the embarrassment and heartbreak of living with a mentally ill mother in Ohio to the salvation found with an elderly great Aunt in Savannah, Georgia. Hoffman explores the themes of southern life, strong women, and the resiliency of us all. Similar to The Secret Life of Bees, this is a sweet book that reminds one of the goodness in the world.
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern [814.6 HAL] – When Justin has to move back home at the age of 28, he starts looking at his father through adult eyes. He begins to appreciate that his father’s rather direct way of stating things actually contains quite a bit of wisdom. So he starts writing things down, and this crude, hysterical, incisive book is the result. A fun book, but not for the politically correct or easily offended.
Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel by Gary Shteyngart [FIC SHT, LP] – Oh my – this was the book of the year, in my opinion. If you could go 10 or 15 years into the future, our day-to-day lives might very closely resemble what author Gary Shteyngart describes in this semi-Orwellian work. Every aspect of our lives takes place in public (even our credit scores are broadcast in real-time), only a few massive corporations exist, the most valuable currency is the Yuan. Most poignantly: everyone constantly tunes in to a handheld “Apparat” – hmmm, future or not? You will see a possible path for our society here. The love story? Let’s just say it befits this dystopian vision.
Thin, Rich, Pretty by Elizabeth Harbison [FIC HAR, LP] – Holly and Nicola met and became best friends at camp. Their nemesis, Lexi, made their lives miserable while there. She seemed to have it all – money, looks and popularity. Twenty years later, Holly and Nicola are still best friends with their own struggles and insecurities. A chance meeting with Lexi lets them know that her life wasn’t as charmed as they thought. Read to find out why.
Things That Fall From the Sky by Kevin Brockmeier [FIC BRO] – A collection of short stories from Brockmeier, my favorites of which are “These Hands,” and “The Ceiling.” Each story is different and invokes a unique feeling for the reader. What I like most about it is that Brockmeier writes in such a way that anyone can relate to the feelings in his books. He is sure to become a favorite, though he’s fairly unknown at this point.
Think of a Number by John Verdon [MYS VER, CD, 460 VER (Spanish)] –This first novel is an intelligent thriller that will have you turning pages faster than you imagined possible. Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney tries to help an old college acquaintance who comes to him with a puzzle – Gurney’s forte. Someone has sent his friend, Mark Mellery, a message telling him to choose any number from 1-1000. He selects his number and opens a small envelope that came along with the message. In the envelope is the very number Mark thought of. The sender continues to send increasingly threatening messages that seem as if the killer can read people’s thoughts. Gurney, famous for his ability to catch serial killers, finds himself lured out of retirement to solve this puzzle as the bodies pile up. (2)
Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer [FIC MEY, LP] – I enjoy novels that begin and end in the course of one day. Those limitations really test an author’s ability to create characters and focus the reader’s attention on critical events, and here Meyer is impeccable. The book should be called Thirteen Hours because either you will read it in thirteen hours or you will forgo sleeping until you finish. This book sprints.
Time to be in Earnest by P.D. James [B JAM, LP] – Mystery author P.D. James, at the age of 77, decides to write a diary for a year, capturing her daily life, reminiscences of times past, and commentary on her life as a writer. James is a master with words and you will be involved in her life from the first page. No need to be familiar with her work to enjoy this quiet narrative of a life well lived. Her beginnings are humble and her married life full of sadness as she watches her dear husband come home from war suffering from debilitating mental illness. Forced to become the bread winner for herself and her two children, this talented writer takes an administrative job and still manages to find time to realize her dream of becoming a mystery writer.
Tinkers by Paul Harding [FIC HAR, LP] – This 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, set in Maine, is a family saga which unfolds through the rambling memories of the patriarch, a repairer of clocks. Point of view, tense, and setting change, sometimes abruptly, but the common thread of time is constant. This small book is not an easy read, but well worth your effort.
The Truth About Celia by Kevin Brockmeier [FIC BRO] – Brockmeier’s first novel and a haunting story of a man whose daughter, Celia, disappears one day without a clue or suspect. Each stand-alone chapter reveals another scenario in which Christopher imagines what could have happened to her, while dealing with the reality of what Celia’s disappearance is doing to his marriage.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand [940.54 HIL, CD, LP] – Unbelievable but true account of a World War II P.O.W. that every American should read.
War by Sebastian Junger [958.104 JUN, LP] – There are some people who enjoy war. Sebastian Junger and filmmaker Tim Hetherington spent 15 months embedded with an Army platoon in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, arguably the most dangerous front in the war. This account of her experience is the companion to the documentary film Restrepo. What did they learn? That life in combat can be addictive, boring, heartbreaking and that the definition of courage equates to something like love.
Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather by Mike Smith [551.63 WAR] – If you believe comedian Lewis Black that “meteorologist is the English word for liar,” this book may change your opinion. Focusing on tornado forecasting, author Mike Smith explains how modern day radar warning systems became tools we rely on every day. When you learn just how new these technologies are and how bureaucracies and outdated procedures still have to be conquered, you will hopefully be a bit more generous when judging the local weather person. Plus, there are lots of tornado disaster stories to keep you interested when the inevitable engineering-speak appears.
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah [FIC HAN, LP] – What begins as a familiar story of two very different sisters, one questioning her whole responsible, tidy life, and the other hiding her emotions in a free-spirited nomadic lifestyle, is just the backdrop to the real story, tantalizingly revealed by Anya, their cold, distant mother. As she reluctantly retells the childhood tale of Snow Kingdom, the sisters begin to realize this is much more than just a fairy tale to Anya and the reader is drawn into the haunting world of war-torn Russia. A wonderful book that blends fiction and historical events in Russia. It defines the relationship between mothers and daughters. A story of joy, heartache and strength. (2)
The Year Money Grew on Trees by Aaron Hawkins [J HAW] - Jackson Jones, age 13, makes a deal with his next door neighbor to take over her late husband’s fallow apple orchard. It seems like easy money; if a bushel of apples is worth $25, and each tree produces 2 bushels, and there are 300 trees….who wouldn’t turn down the chance to earn $15,000? With the help of his cousins, his Sunday School teacher, and a lot of hard work, Jackson has the year of his life.
