Our Books: Staff Reads

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Again, I'm recommending something that doesn't necessarily have WIDE appeal - no car chases, no murder, no hot sex scenes. (You'll have to browse my other recommendations for those books...) However, Olive Kitteridge is really great. It's a novel of stories that gets to the beating heart of life. Sections of the book are presented from various characters' points of view, and our early information about Olive Kitteridge herself does not lead us to like her much. The wonder of this book is the kind of tenderness we develop for Olive, despite her flaws. Strout has given us someone very real. Olive Kitteridge is not someone to idealize or idolize...but she is someone to love. Strout is a masterful storyteller and this is a deeply empathetic book. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 2009.
 

 
The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin
I recently reread the novella The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin and was reminded of how much I love her work. The best word to describe her writing style is "graceful." Her language flows elegantly across the printed page like water and she cradles her reader as she journeys to alien worlds that are oddly familiar. Le Guin is the daughter of anthropologists and this informs much of her work, most especially this novella. The Word for World is Forest examines the clash between a colonizing power and and an indigenous people on a distant planet, and both sides' perspectives are fully explored. Le Guin's tales are illuminating and cautionary, but she doesn't lecture. She describes and allows her readers to draw their own conclusions. In true anthropologic spirit, she invites us to look through the lens of another culture in order to understand our own better. Yum! I would recommend almost anything Ursula K. Le Guin has written, but start with this novella!

Lamb by Christopher Moore
How I beat Katherine to the punch on recommending a Christopher Moore book, I will never know. She is the one who advocates everyone read Mr. Moore. So consider this a double-recommendation. This story follows the little-written about childhood of Jesus (a. k. a. Joshua) from the point of view of his best friend, Biff. I understand right now, some of you are crying blasphemy. Seriously, though, it's the right kind of blasphemy. The author seems to have an intimate familiarity with even the most minor stories in the Bible and with that knowledge, this parody seems almost respectful. Biff trails Joshua as the messiah-to-be finds his footing. Anyone of us who have dared to following any 'calling' knows that in the formative years, hilarity does ensue through trial and tribulation. This is no different for the savior of mankind. And for those of you who believe the man upstairs has a good sense of humor (really, the duck-billed platypus proves it) this book is definitely for you. I usually don't have a sense of humor or fun (read my previous recommendations), however this is laugh-out-loud funny.

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
I have been really enjoying reading Spanish authors recently, such as Perez-Reverte and Coelho. I asked a classmate of mine who was buying a Garcia Marquez book which one I should start with and he recommended this title to me. He was right. I had never really tried reading a love story before, but I think that this was a great book to start off with. The story follows three main characters, from their younger days all the way through to old age. It involves a love triangle, but with the third being distant and close to unacknowledged by the other two. The third, Florentino Ariza, had been madly in love with young Fermina Daza, who realized that their love was nothing but an illusion. She grew up to marry a famous doctor, who could give her everything in the world, Dr. Juvenal Urbino. This never dissuades Ariza from his delusions that he was still meant to be with Daza, and he lives his whole life around a woman who barely realizes of his existence. Garcia Marquez uses a masterful hand to create the pain, anguish, and happiness of all the characters he brings to life and if you like a sad story, but one with hope throughout, I highly recommend this title.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
I first picked up this book in high school, and it's one of those books that I like to re-read from time to time. Each and every time I do I am amazed at just how good it is and how after over fifty years (it was published in 1959) it is still relevant today. That's because unlike some 'sci-fi' or 'apocalypse' books its main appeal is not in the technology or the disaster itself, but in the human relationships. The characters in this book deal with matters of love, loss, family and friends, race, and the economy - matters which we are still dealing with today. The people in the small town of Fort Repose, Florida survive 'the end of the world' by repeated simple acts of kindness, charity, and community. There is a scene in the book of no great plot importance, but one of my favorites, where two men are at a sort of trading fair. One man has honey, the other liquor. The honey dealer tells the man with liquor that while he does not drink alcohol, he will give the man some honey without payment so that his children might have something sweet to eat. This to me sums up the moral of the book. In a disaster of any kind the way we will survive is if each of us is able to give without thought of our own benefit. Even if you don’t care for 'sci-fi' or 'apocalypse' books, give this one a try. Its message of hope is certain to inspire all.

Ronia the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren
One day Ronia, who lives in the forest with her family and their robber clan, was out exploring the woods. While in the woods she meets Birk, the son of a rival robber and enemy to Ronia's father. Enemies at first, they soon become friends and must keep their friendship hidden. It is only a matter of time before the plot thickens and their secret is revealed. You'll find all sorts of characters in this book. Ronia's story is full of fantasy, imagination, adventure, danger and fun. It will teach you important lessons such as to love, to forgive and to never give up! Ronia is a headstrong heroine who will capture your imagination instantly! I first read this story when I was a teenager along with my best friend. Even though it is a children's chapter book, it didn't take away from the enticement of a well written story. This tale always makes me want to go exploring in the woods and find my own adventure. I still have hopes of becoming a forest child! This is just one of Astrid Lindgren's classic children's stories - Pippi Longstocking is another book you have probably heard of! I am ready to reread Ronia's tale the moment I finish it. Definitely in my top 10 favorite books. I love it and I think you will too!

More Staff Reviews:     Fiction           Non-Fiction             Children's Literature

          Fiction Reviews
 

In the Woods by Tana French
I picked this up for my plane ride to Ireland. I wanted something captivating and set in modern Ireland, and this Edgar-award winning mystery set in and around Dublin was perfect. Rob Ryan & Cassie Maddox are detectives who land their first major case when 12 year-old Katy Devlin is found ritualistically murdered just outside Dublin. Only Maddox knows that Ryan was involved in a child-abduction mystery 20 years ago in the same wooded area - and this provides a good sub-plot. The book is more psychological thriller than police procedural but it's smart and isn't gruesome...and it was compelling enough for me to keep reading in the Dublin Hotel lobby while my dad went off to explore St. Stephens Green! The ending is ambiguous, which is a problem for some readers - but I'm okay with ambiguity. I also enjoyed Tana French's second book, The Likeness, and am looking forward to her third, Faithful Place!   Cinnamon's Review ∆

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
In 1974, with America still vibrating from the shock of Watergate and the Vietnam War, Frenchman Philippe Petit performed a tightrope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center. (This historical event was the subject of a great documentary film called Man on Wire. Check it out.) Onlookers held their breath and were amazed to see him leap and spin, seemingly suspended in mid-air hundreds of feet above. This (illegal) act of irreverence and beauty provides the cornerstone for this novel. In it, the stories of an Irish street preacher, heroin-addicted hookers, mothers who lost sons in Vietnam, artists, and a judge all intersect, separate and overlap in the city of New York, which surges and churns around them. McCann writes beautifully and the multiple voices we hear are distinct - yet he poignantly reinforces the idea that our human joys, sorrows and needs are universal. I loved this book!    Cinnamon's Review ∆

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
When I first started The Three Musketeers, I was completely absorbed. I was expecting to see lots of esoteric language from the era, making it hard to read, but I was pleasantly surprised and found that the story is incredibly accessible. Dumas gave each and every character he created their own personality, and in this way, made them truly come alive. The masterpiece Dumas created has everything. I remember at some points biting all my nails down, while laughing out loud at some scenes, and in addition I felt every emotion each character felt. Combining real people from history, and even real events with a clever and fictive hand, this sweeping novel takes you in from the very start and will not let you go, even after the final sentence.
Chris's Review ∆

Brothers By Ben Bova
Ben Bova has written some great works of science fiction; this one is no different. Taking a step away from some truly 'hard' Sci Fi elements, Bova weaves a story that is thoroughly character driven. I am not a big first-person POV fan; this is one of the rare books I enjoyed as it even switches the point-of-view between two brothers as they are questioned regarding their remarkable breakthrough: they have created the ability to regrow limbs, organs, etc. and through this discovery edge toward immortality. This is a fun and thoughtful novel to get into; part brain-candy, part serious science fiction. While unlike some of the other works I have read by Ben Bova, this one is a great and quick read, perfect for an airplane or sitting in a park.
Matthew's Review ∆

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
This is a great mystery - set in 1950 England, just after World War II. Quick-witted Flavia de Luce is eleven and her penchant for chemistry developed when she discovered an abandoned laboratory on the top floor of Buckshaw, the estate that "has belonged to the de Luce's since the War of the Roses". Flavia's widowed father is a well-meaning but somewhat distant stamp collector who is suspicious of devices like the telephone. Her sisters, Ophelia & Daphne are, respectively, gazing into mirrors or books. The preoccupations of her family allow Flavia plenty of time to range about the village of Bishop's Lacey on her trusty bicycle, Gladys. When Flavia discovers a body in the cucumber patch near her bedroom window, she turns her attentions to sleuthing. I sped through this book, first in a series of Flavia de Luce mysteries, and headed straight through the second book, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag. I loved both and await the third in the series with happy anticipation!    Cinnamon's Review ∆

Satori in Paris by Jack Kerouac
As I sat in my hammock reading Satori in Paris, I found myself practically following Kerouac's footsteps across France. This is a fast paced story (it is only just over 100 pages) and Kerouac takes you from the bustle of the city of Paris to the dark, foggy coastal area known as Brittany. Kerouac's stated purpose of the trip is to learn about the history of his name. Satori is a Japanese word meaning "sudden awakening." My satori came when I realized that I could in essence follow in his footsteps, as my mother’s side of the family is originally from Brittany (although my trip to France would probably be spent slightly more sober than Kerouac 's.) Overall, Satori in Paris is a great quick read - especially if you are into the idea of drunken escapades through a foreign country on a quest to find your heritage.    Chris's Review ∆

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Based in the mid 1970's in Michigan, The Virgin Suicides is a story of five teenage sisters and their attempt at living a semi-normal but isolated life, under the pressure of their over protective parents. Had the circumstances changed, would it have changed the outcome of the girls? The narration by neighborhood boys infatuated with 'the Lisbon girls'  leaves a bit of mystery to the story. You find out what an impact one's life, even your own, can have on someone, perhaps for the rest of their life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Captivating from the beginning, I was hooked to the very end. If you're looking for an uplifting read this probably shouldn't be next on your list. However, I loved it! Beautifully written, a tear jerker at times; an enthralling read. You will be surprised to learn this is Jeffery Eugenides's first novel. I highly recommend this book!   
DeeAnn's Review ∆

Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
For my first staff recommendation I decided upon Roots because it is one of my favorite books. I first read it many years ago because I had become a fan of the author after reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley. If I had been impressed with Haley after Malcolm X it was nothing compared to how I felt after reading Roots. Rarely have I been as moved by a book as I was by this one. There were times when I was literally crying as I was reading. Even though it is a very long book and the subject matter is intense and disturbing (Kunte Kinte's ocean crossing is harrowing to say the least) I simply could not put it down. And in spite of its serious subject matter, when I finished the book I couldn't help but feel uplifted. For this is ultimately the story of one family's triumph over adversity through sheer determination to hang onto what is most important to them: their roots. If you want a challenging but ultimately emotionally gratifying read, this book is for you.    Liz's Review ∆

Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
Okay, I'm the first to admit that my reading habits can be compulsive. I'll get hooked on a subject like sharks, epic survival, the evolution of the common garden gnome - and I'll read anything I can find on the subject. Then the inevitable burnout occurs and I'm off to the races on another tangent. So perhaps it's normal after all to read seven of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series in a row - within one week. I love this series. The characters are well-developed and charming (even the vampires), the style is breezy and witty, and many of the situations Sookie finds herself in are hysterical. Sookie never asked to be psychic and attractive to vampires, but certainly that doesn't mean she can't be polite and show good old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Go visit Sookie: she'll treat you very well.       Katherine's Review ∆

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
I was in the mood for something light but not fluffy - and I picked this up. It suited me perfectly. This is a novel written in letters - from author Juliet Ashton to her publisher, to her beau, to her best friend...and eventually to residents of Guernsey. Dawsey Adams, of Guernsey, has purchased a book Juliet previously owned and writes to ask if she happens to have a companion volume. This whimsical act leads Juliet into the world of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, formed during the German occupation during World War II. Captivated, Juliet proposes to her publisher that she write her next book about Guernsey and how members of the community endured the war - and how their literary connection made the hardships bearable. This book is often described as "charming" - and it is. But it isn't inconsequential. The World War II sacrifices described in the book have the ring of authenticity and the characters, although imperfect, are the kind of people I enjoy. This book was satisfying - not haunting, mesmerizing or luminous - but satisfying, like a good meal. I enjoyed it and feel like I can recommend it to a wide range of people.
Cinnamon's Review ∆

The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
So you're not a fan of Stephen King? It's okay, I wasn't either. However, this series is truly epic in scope. Some of you may have even started this series and stopped (usually around book 4 is what I hear most often). Do yourself a favor, push yourself through. When I had completed this series the first time, I was disappointed - but glad I did it. Now, having reread it, I think it is amazing. The scale, the size, the depth of the world of Roland is great. If you are looking for a good (and LONG series) to sink your teeth into, this is definitely thousands of pages of brain candy to feast upon!    Mathhew's Review ∆

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte
The book that inspired the movie, The Ninth Gate, Perez-Reverte takes you into a thrilling suspense filled with murder and deceit. The Club Dumas delves into a literary whodunit based off of Dumas' classic, The Three Musketeers but also includes the addition of the fictional book The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, which is reported to have the ability to raise the devil. Set mostly in Europe, Corso, a sort-of book detective leads you on an masterfully designed and intelligent chase filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning page after page. You will love this book if you have a taste for a darker thriller.     Chris's Review ∆

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
I am Chris' astonishment.
Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club is perhaps the best debut novel I've ever read. In it lies the story of Tyler Durden. Durden starts the first underground fight club. It is a place where men can go to fight; not for money, anger, or honor but rather only to fight, to see how far they can push themselves and each other. Fight clubs spring up around town as people violate the first rule of fight club.
"The first rule of fight club is, you don't talk about fight club."
They are everyone, clerks, waiters, and station attendants. They are accountants, lawyers, and insurance agents. Fight Clubs begin to form across the country as the second rule of fight club is broken.
"The second rule of fight club is, you don't talk about fight club."
But what happens when these men no longer get the same rush from fights, where else is there to go?
Oh, and if this is your first night; you have to fight.    Chris's Review ∆

Plum Bun by Jesse Fauset
Plum Bun by Jesse Fauset is a Harlem Renaissance novel about passing. Like Dickens' novel Great Expectations, the protagonist Angela Murray has a dream to be rich; however, to accomplish her dream, she must marry a white man. The story unfolds like a fairytale with simple, direct, and economic language. It is not a hard read. It is also a novel of development. Masked as a Cinderella story, the novel has fairy-tale elements, but although it blends fairy-tale romance with nursery rhymes, the novel poses powerful questions. The most powerful question is the question of race, which is a central theme in the novel.
This novel just jumped off the shelf one day when I was shelving literature, and I was drawn to its theme. Fauset wrote, like so many women writers, using the expected female genre of her time, and the novel could be read simply as a romance; yet, Plum Bum is no mere romance novel. The romance genre, in a way, keeps the reader safe. This novel is a wonderful but powerful examination of how we view, contribute to, and construct racial, economic, and gender differences. We can all learn something by reading this novel.   Carolyn's Review ∆

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
Trainspotting takes place in 1980's Scotland, where heroin use in the big cities is rampant. It follows several young friends through different phases of their addictions, including overdoses, withdrawal, HIV, and death. They find a chance to make it big but their greed will tear them apart. I like this story because it is gritty, and at some points downright atrocious but shows the power of addiction and how it tears people apart. One piece of advice for this book though is that it is written as if the characters have Scottish accents, it can be very challenging at first but stick with it through the first few chapters and you'll get it down.      Chris's Review ∆

Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley is magical, really. I have wanted to write this review for a very long time but was having trouble with all of the fairy dust that puffed out when I closed it. McKinley retells the story of Sleeping Beauty in a surprising and reinvigorated way. The novel is enchanting. It would be fantastic to read aloud to any younger readers, but is better suited for readers who read Harry Potter novels, as it is almost 400 pages. The fairies, the enchanted animals, the magical plants, the human characters, and, yes, the bothersome fairy dust, all contribute to well-told alternative fairytale. Oh, and another reason I like this book is that it really is G-rated (some scary scenes with mean fairies and enchanted vines, but quite mild). Refreshing!
Carolyn's Review ∆

Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan
Perhaps you are a Lord of the Rings fan. Or perhaps not. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series very much exists as a modern day telling of the Lord of the Rings. The settings of both stories are more or less identical (foot travel is the main mode of transportation in a mythical world) and both involve the protagonists on the run from the monsters and ghouls that are trying to get them. The first book, The Eye of the World starts with three country bumpkins (much like Tolkein's hobbits) who are sought by evil wizards because they are unknowingly ta'veren which means they more or less create fate for themselves and everyone around them. Throw in a good guy female wizard and her bodyguard and you have a grand adventure right off the bat!
While I dig both Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time, I can't help but feel that the latter is oh so slightly better than the former. For one thing, The Eye of the World was written in 1990, so the writing is a little more modern and easier to understand as opposed to when my eyes would just glaze over when reading The Two Towers whenever I didn't understand what was happening (which if memory serves was quite often). This series is also ongoing. At last count it was up to book eleven...and these are some meaty books, so rest assured, there's a lot of continued reading to be had until the end...whenever that may be.      Kevin's Review ∆

The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
This novel will take you to Civil War era Boston, where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes and James Russell Lowell are taking on the controversial task of producing the first American translation of Dante's Inferno. Soon, people are found murdered in ways that exactly mimic the tortures of hell represented in Inferno and the academics put their minds together in attempt to solve the mystery of what's happening in their world. It's a great period novel that reminds me of Caleb Carr's The Alienist (another great read) but this has more literary interest. Pearl is a Dante scholar. However, if you like a good thriller and aren't squeamish, you'll enjoy The Dante Club whether or not you've already read Inferno. It's a well-crafted page-turner that's genuinely spooky in spots! Pearl's second novel, The Poe's Shadow, is on the shelf in my office and I'm looking forward to reading it soon.  Cinnamon's Review ∆

Yes Man by Danny Wallace
Here's a good one for anyone looking for a good-hearted and humorous read. Its a true story of when the author decided that he would abstain from turning anything down and just reply to every yes or no question that came his way with "yes." After becoming nearly a shut-in for a period of time he becomes inspired by a man he meets on the subway (or whatever they call it in London) to just say "yes" to anything and everything that comes his way. This takes him on some pretty wacky adventures. I found myself laughing aloud quite often (which is rare for me when it comes to Brit humour) and it even made me shed a tear! So...do I think that you should check this book out? Hmm..."Yes!" (Ok, that was lame but at least I tried...ha, ha...) If you love this book, then check out Join Me.   Kevin's Review ∆

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Altered Carbon was a happy accident for me. The book that happened through our shop had a nice shiny cover - book sellers know full well how much you can judge from a book by its cover. I started this book at the Thai Garden after work and did not set it down until the following dawn. It is a fast-paced, action-packed science fiction work with touches of Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, and Tim O'Brien. This is also Richard Morgan's first novel - and his first dealing with Takeshi Kovacs, who appears in  two sequels (both are excellent). What I appreciate about this author in particular is his ability to get into the really ugly/violent side(s) of his protagonist; the violence never used for shock value, but to enhance the dimensions of his characters. Thoughtful, smart, and balanced writing; not always for the light-hearted, but always good storytelling.
Matthew's Review ∆

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
McCarthy's The Road is a powerful post-apocalyptic novel about a father and his young son. It is a story of survival and the human will to live. Their goal is the coast, but with few supplies and no knowledge of what is there it seems like an impossible goal. After several run-ins with lawless bands of violent men and cannibals, will they make it to the coast and what awaits them there. I was drawn in to this book after the first chapter, it is incredibly well written and the story is one that will keep you from putting this book down. I would reccomend this to anyone looking for something that is a little darker but at the same time something very moving and powerful.    Chris's Review ∆

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
This novel is set in the India of the 1960's when the new ideas of Communism were clashing with the traditions of India's caste system. It's a family drama amid a changing political backdrop that fans of books like Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits are bound to enjoy. With rich lyricism infused with the spice and sounds of Indian culture, Roy expertly captures the child-like mindset of the twins, Rahel (girl) and Estha (boy). Their experiences and choices influence events like the drowning death of their cousin, Sophie Mol, and the end of their friend, Velutha. It's beautiful and tragic...and the beauty makes the tragedy bearable. Friends who have also read this book tend to say, "Oh...it's SO good...it's so sad but it's SOOOO good." It won the Booker Prize in 1997. I loved it.   Cinnamon's Review ∆

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror Edited by Terry Windling and Ellen Datlow
I love reading short story anthologies because they give me a glimpse into an author's work; I can choose who to pursue in the future. At swimming pools, I dip my toes into the water before I go in. Lack of commitment? On the contrary: I inevitably dive, but I like to know what I'm getting myself into.

For those who enjoy magical realism, fantasy, and horror fiction, there is no better guide than the yearly anthology of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror. Originally edited by Terry Windling and Ellen Datlow, this collection is entering its 22nd year. Aside from the amazing short stories these volumes contain, the editors include lists of "must-reads" from the year of publishing, provide updates on writers' histories and activities, and give information on related sub-genres (music, graphic novels, movies, manga and anime, etc.) Anyone interested in the fantastic will appreciate these volumes (any of them!) for the wealth of information and the depth of the writing. You will find authors whose works you wish to further explore, as I have. Dip those toes!  Katherine's Review ∆

A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
Every time I think of this book, I can't help but chuckle to myself. A book this deliciously cynical and sarcastic rolled in a sweet intellect and stuffed with hilarity does not last long on our shelves (also, I haven't had breakfast yet). Slap Dickens, Twain, Bernard Shaw, and Matt Groening together and you have an almost suitable combination for the brilliant, hap-hazard, and naive Ignatius Reilly - 0ur protagonist in this story. His mother is forcing him out of the basement and into the workforce. Ignatius struggles through the world in an attempt to appease her. This novel offers strong narrative, great vocabulary, and characters who sincerely belong in the story. Treat your brain and yourself. Pick this one up immediately!  Matthew's Review ∆

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
David Sedaris has done it again: He has embarrassed me in public. I picked up his new collection of short stories, When You Are Engulfed In Flames, for my trip home, and I found myself laughing uncontrollably at the gate in Omaha, at the gate in San Diego, and in my coveted aisle seats there and back again. The ear buds attached to my silent I-Pod did not make me invisible. At one point, on the flight from Denver to San Diego, I laughed so hard I began to choke. Fellow travelers seemed nervous. Was it my behavior of laughing, spitting, trying not to laugh, and eventually choking? Was it the Swine Flu scare? Either way, flight attendants seemed eager to see me go.

Sedaris returns to stories about his friends and family and his linguistic struggles while living in France. My most embarrassing laughing fit occurred when reading his story about a visit to a French hospital. And, while there is much to laugh about, Sedaris continues to tell endearing tales about pet spiders and loving, but fanatic, relationships. He kneads stories that give us just a little more insight into humanity: our obsessiveness, our acerbic responses, and our decency. When You Are Engulfed In Flames is worth picking up; however, take my advice and read it in private-- I narrowly escaped one flight attendant with a taser.  Carolyn's Review ∆

South of the Pumphouse by Les Claypool
South of the Pumphouse is the first novel by Les Claypool, the bassist of Primus. It starts out as a plan for a simple fishing trip between Ed, the main character, and his brother Earl. Ed hadn't seen his brother since their father died, and Earl had become a junkie. When
Earl invites his childhood friend (and Ed's tormentor) along, things get a little strange. In a hallucinogenic mushroom trance Ed and his brother witness something amazing, just before a huge twist that will leave you stunned.  Chris's Review ∆

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Let me start off by saying that Fiction is not my strongest suit in the book world. I find it difficult most times to get sucked into stories of make believe. With that said, I got sucked right into the Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald's prose combined with his sharp wit was just what the doctor ordered for this Non-fiction fan. His acclaimed masterpiece was a real delight of a read. Makes me wish I didn't skim ho-hum through it when it was required reading back in high school. As it takes place over a summer in the "Roaring 20s"  it's sure to be a great summer read for a lazy afternoon.  Kevin's Review ∆

 Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon
The book begins with a "mysterious incident" of our narrator's neighbor's dog's death...though this novel is not your usual whodunit. The story's protagonist, a 15 year old autistic boy, navigates through his world searching for clues to the canine's untimely demise. Mark Haddon has been lauded for bringing the inner workings of an autistic child's mind to light. This a novel you (trying not to sound to cliche here) really do experience. I have a severe aversion to 1st person narratives, though this book is one I latched into and truly felt engaged in. It is quick, it is intelligent, it is raw and empathetic...one of those few books I can hand to almost anyone and know they will enjoy.  Matthew's Review ∆

Bone by Bone by Carol O'Connell
Many of you are familiar with the way I have enthusiastically drooled over Carol O'Connell's mysteries.  I just finished her latest book, Bone by Bone, and I am more a fan than ever.  O'Connell is a writer of tragedies, and her archetypes feel familiar, like old friends.  In Bone by Bone we find the prodigal son returning home, the father visited by the past, the love set aside by indifference (or ignorance), the ghost of one who can't stay dead.  Ah, Hamlet.  Alas, I knew him.  As usual, O'Connell describes rich characters and a depth of theme that blows other mystery writers out of the water.  She defies the narrow definitions of genre fiction.
Katherine's Review ∆

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, translated by Lucia Graves
Simply enchanting! The story takes place in Barcelona, just after the Civil War and WWII, a time of secrets. Daniel, the 10-year-old son of a widowed bookshop owner, is taken to a mysterious place called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, and told to choose one that has special meaning for him. He is then the keeper and protector of that book. After reading the book he has chosen, The Shadow of the Wind, he wants to know more of it's author, Julian Carax, but someone has been systematically destroying all copies of his few remaining books. Over the next ten years Daniel discovers the story of Carax's past, and finds eerie parallels to his own life, and finds he is being followed by a strange character with a burned face. The language in this book is beautiful. My favorite rebuttal in the book, to someone who says he finds books boring is: "Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you." This book has childhood friendship, first loves, betrayal, espionage, horror, mystery, and so many twists at every turn.  I couldn’t put this down! A wonderful read!  Julie's Review ∆
             
          
Fractions by Ken MacLeod
This novel contains Ken's first book The Star Fraction and its sequel The Stone Canal. The writing is gritty, blunt, and sets a rough tone for a dim European future. What has kept me involved in this book (and in this author) is his ability to create a really bleak tone. However, he's careful not hit you over the head with it. This book starts off his Fall Revolution series but instead of attempting (or devolving) into a grandiose and cliche space opera - it tightly follows the actions and the effects this broken, future world has upon his characters. Mr. MacLeod is quickly becoming one of my favorite science fiction authors.
Matthew's Review ∆

March by Geraldine Brooks
In the beloved classic Little Women, Louisa May Alcott tells the story of the March family. Marmee and her four daughters shoulder the burdens of poverty and learn the grace of womanhood while their chaplain husband/father is gone to offer his services to Union soldiers during the Civil War. (It's a beautiful book that I'm reading to my daughter, Isabel, at bedtime. Since I can stay up late, I've already finished March, the story of Mr. March.) I was enthralled. This book is compelling enough to stand on its own but the reading experience was especially rich coupled with Little Women. We learn that the innocent-sounding letters Mr. March wrote to his wife in Little Women were purposely crafted to shield his family from the horrors of war and slavery, which Brooks skillfully details. In March, we watch a man struggle with truth and courage and the guilt that comes from feeling he lacked both at key moments. This great work of historical fiction was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 and is a surprisingly fast read. You'll enjoy it whether or not you're a Civil War buff. (It also makes me want to read more of the New England Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau, who were both characters in this novel.)
Cinnamon's Review ∆

Demolition Angel by Robert Crais
I'm not hugely interested in reading about bombs in fiction, perhaps because I read about them every day in the newspaper. Regardless, I became thoroughly engrossed in Demolition Angel by Robert Crais, a mystery about a former bomb squad technician who got a little too close to her work one day and is dealing with the aftermath. I'm infatuated with characters whose strengths and flaws are both strongly developed and Robert Crais has a flair for this. Folks familiar with Crais' "Elvis Cole" series will find the same character depth in this stand-alone novel. For those unfamiliar with Elvis Cole, go visit him in Crais' other mysteries. He is a private eye with humor and a heart too big for his own good. Katherine's Review ∆

1984 by George Orwell
Wow! This is one of those eye-opening, life changing, amazing books that one comes across only a handful of times in one's life. The book offers truth so clearly and so plainly that you can't ignore it. The message is like a concentrated beam of light shone in your eyes during a migraine...magnified, brilliant, and almost too painful to bear. It's scary to see the ways that our current culture mirrors 1984...the language we use to text-message, the CCTV's in London, the torture of prisoners of war...This is one of the classics of literature that you cannot afford to skip. Be warned, Big Brother is watching! Julie's Review ∆

 What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
 by Raymond Carver
How I've gone so long without recommending a Raymond Carver collection of short stories is beyond me. Carver's brilliance is his subtlety. His minimalist style crescendos in the great majority of these works to perfection; a writer obviously in love with short stories. He is an author who can pinpoint the normalcy of life and turn it into something amazing. I cannot say enough. Ray inspired a generation of readers, writers and poets. I rank this in the "put-aside-whatever-you-think-you-have-to-read-and-read-this" category. Matthew's Review ∆

Zodiac: An Eco-Thriller by Neal Stephenson
First published in 1988, this Sci-Fi thriller reads as current as today's news.  It's a well-paced book that even this non-sci-fi reader enjoyed.  Sangamon Taylor, a former chemist who now works for an environmental protection group, spends time zooming around Boston on an over-clocked Zodiac, looking for illegal pipelines and the toxic sludge that they dump, then going after the corporate baddies.  He's smart and an egoist, with an interesting network of friends and allies.  He also has some pretty big muscle after him, including a group of satanic, heavy metal dustheads.  The book is full of chemistry and tech, but doesn't get hung up on it, and it's a great description of traveling around Boston by water.  The main character almost seems like a James Bond / Sam Spade-type eco-warrior.  The action never stops in this book.  You'll definitely know more about PCBs and organic chlorine after reading this, but might never swim in any suburban waters again! Julie's Review ∆

 Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
The first novel in a Hugo, Nebula, and BSFA award winning trilogy spans a rich landscape of an unknown planet; focused on the desires and fears of its first colonists.  Robinson explores characters of depth, a plot of realistic complexity, and a foreign terrain centering it all.  What has continued to amaze me as I continue through this series is the fullness in Mr. Robinson's writing style.  He leaves nothing out and yet everything advances a very complete plotline. Slowly becoming a personal favorite - don't be surprised if you see me recommending other Kim Stanley Robinson books in the future.  Matthew's Review ∆

Mallory's Oracle by Carol O'Connell
For superb character development, as well as accelerating suspense, check out Carol O'Connell. The title character in her debut novel is a deeply flawed and perhaps slightly unorthodox police sergeant out to find the person responsible for a series of murders: murders her adoptive father was investigating when he died. Mallory is an incredible character, ruthlessly drawn and relentlessly driven. I have not yet been able to put down an O'Connell novel. You'll ignore friends, skip meals, go to bed obscenely late in order to finish one more chapter. Ask Cinnamon. I took one of O'Connell's novels on a book-buying trip and I barely spoke to her. Go ahead. Ask. (In case you were wondering, it was The Judas Child.)  Katherine's Review ∆

Crackpot, by Adele Wiseman
Wiseman introduces Hodaleh (Hoda), a new heroine who rivals Jane Austen's Emma and Henry James' Isabel Archer. Instead of conforming, Hoda invents and reinvents herself in a sometimes bawdy but always endearing way. This novel based in the Lurianic tradition embodies, through Hoda, the idea of a cracked pot with light shining through it. She is strong, independent, funny, loving, giving (in many ways), and courageous. Her concept of love is one of sacrifice and selflessness, even if, sometimes, she might enjoy it. Crackpot is an intelligent story that plays with words, carries Canadian history, exposes social stereotypes, and quietly provides its readers with a new way of seeing. A story of heartache, poverty, sacrifice, social bullying, and loneliness, Crackpot is not merely about Hoda's development, but folds and unfolds several times to reveal the town's, and maybe the reader's, development as well. I sincerely love this novel's character Hoda, as she embodies traits of a true, independent heroine. Move over Ms. Archer; make room for Hodaleh. Carolyn's Review ∆

 Jesus' Son, by Denis Johnson
While not the most light-hearted book out there, this 176 page collection of interweaving stories will keep you enthrall. Its twists and turns startlingly open up the characters of the narrator's psyche.   Sometimes tragically funny, always cynically serious, it's never for the faint of heart.  While easy to finish in a night's sitting, you will find yourself seeking out more of Mr. Johnson's work to get another taste of his unique style. Matthew's Review∆

Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow        
Before John Grisham there was Scott Turow, whose 1987 debut novel, Presumed Innocent, established him as a formidable courtroom drama writer.  Turow knows the intricacies and politics of the legal system, and his prose is detailed and engaging.  This book is a fascinating character study of a district attorney accused of the murder of one of his deputies, a woman with whom he had had a passionate affair.  Did he kill her, even as he still loved her? Scott Turow paints courtroom strategems with a skillful brush.  In addition, he creates vivid players with complexity and investigates how the smallest deeds can cause repercussions of unimagined intensity. As in reality, no one in this story is truly demon or angel, villian or hero.  For an account of Scott Turow's journey in law school, check out his first book, One-L. Katherine's Review ∆

The Gathering, by Anne Enright
This  novel won the 2007 Booker Prize, which is what drew me to it.   It's  about a woman coping with her large, dysfunctional Irish family and the recent suicide of her favorite brother.  The narrative is beautiful and disjointed.  It flows back and forth between watery childhood memories of witnessing a pivotal event and current experience in her disconnected marriage. The style bothers many readers and spurs complaints that "nothing happens in the book."  If  you're looking for a rip-roaring read, keep looking through our staff recommendations and come back to this when you're more in the mood for it.  In this novel, Enright portrays how a death in the family could drive Veronica into the removed world of her own mind, from which she begins to emerge at the end.  Sometimes raw, sometimes tender, it is a quiet, poignant read.
Cinnamon's Review ∆

Murder in a Nice Neighborhood, by Lora Roberts         
This mystery novel starts a series of cozies featuring semi-homeless freelance writer Liz Sullivan, who has been living out of her VW van and struggling to keep herself fed.  Sullivan is fiercely independent, driven to survive on her own terms in a life that hasn't exactly been kind to her.  With her personal space issues and her demand for privacy, I fell in love with her in a few pages.  With her self-honesty and intolerance for fools, she reminds me of my inner curmudgeon.  Liz Sullivan gets into a surprising amount of trouble for someone who just wants to be left alone, but at least she's never bored...
Katherine's Review ∆

White Noise, by Don DeLillo
Jack Gladney has a few secrets, so does his wife. Set at a college on a hill, White Noise offers humorous accounts of academics, family life, and looming, man-made environmental threats. My favorite moment in the novel captures Gladney's family eating fried chicken from buckets in their car. Although fiction, he seems to capture any American family silently devouring greasy, cheap food in the parking lot of a fast-food chain. Spanning every topic from Hitler to pharmaceuticals, this novel winkles out the new American story. Winner of the 1985 National Book Award, White Noise should be on your shelf next to The Canterbury Tales and A Midsummer Night's Dream for DeLillo's ability to understand humanity in all of its frivolities. A must read!
Carolyn's Review ∆

The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
One of the most exciting reads of all time.  Your heart will be pounding toward the end.  It's a page-turner of an adventure novel but it doesn't stop there. You'll be thinking about good/evil, nature/nurture, instinct, intellect, society and government long after you finish the last page.  If you haven't revisited this book since it was assigned to you in high school, pick it up again. I just re-read it and found that, even knowing what happens, I couldn't put it down. A fantastic book club selection!
Cinnamon's Review ∆

Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay         
Jeff Lindsay's "Dexter" series is extremely dark and screamingly funny.  Dexter works in the police crime lab, investigating blood evidence, and helping his detective sister solve homicides.  He's also a serial killer who gets annoyed when good people die and bad people go free.  Pretending to have a conscience is a once-in-a-while hobby with him, though he prides himself on dispensing justice in his own inimitable way.

Dexter's sense of humor is predictably dark and deeply sarcastic.  While laughing hysterically at his puns and dry wit, I found myself feeling slightly guilty, but not too guilty.  If morgue humor is not your thing, skip Jeff Lindsay.  But if you occasionally think of some people among us as walking train wrecks and you can't help giggling, you'll find this an almost cathartic experience.
Katherine's Review ∆

The Stone Diaries, by Carol Shields
The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields follows the genesis and death of Daisy Goodwill-Flett. Winner of the 1995 Pulitzer Prize, Shields explores how one woman fulfills and, in quiet ways, transcends her roles of daughter, wife, widow, and mother, as she looks for connections and purpose. The novel's use of first and third-person accounts, letters, photographs, and newspaper articles inform us powerfully and poetically about how expectations and roles can define us. I have read and taught this novel several times, each time with a new appreciation for Shields and the story she tells. I consider Stone Diaries an approachable feminist and postmodern novel that can be read layer by layer--simple in its telling, yet boundless.
Carolyn's Review ∆

Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
I was drawn to this graphic novel after we had several people request copies, and realizing that my best friend had owned a copy for years and raved about it.  What sets "Watchmen" apart from other superhero-type stories is that the characters aren't these perfect savior-types.  They are wonderfully flawed and sometimes all too human.  It is wonderfully written, with layer upon layer, so that you can read it repeatedly and get some new insight each time.  With the movie adaptation coming out on 03/06/09, I highly suggest you read the graphic novel first--there's a lot going on, and you won't be disappointed!
Julie's Review ∆

The Home Place, by Wright Morris
Meet Clyde Muncy: He and his wife Peg consider moving back to his family's farm. The problem, however, is that Clyde never really lived on the farm. He is so confused about his roots that he mistakenly calls his relatives by different names. As he walks down "memory" lane, his wife gets stuck in the humid kitchen canning beets and his kids get mixed up with fly tape that they thought resembled candy. Morris blends photographs with his vivid narrative descriptions. The novel explores personal identity, nostalgia, and the idea of family and home. At the same, time it is full of good, subtle, but not cliche, humor. I recommend this novel because it challenges perceptions and toys, in a Midwestern way, with its readers, but also because I enjoy how Morris writes, as if he is looking through his lens.    Carolyn's Review∆

The Fur Person, by May Sarton
The Fur Person can be found in either children's literature or in adult fiction. Sarton was a novelist and poet who also happened to be an avid diarist, and this book echoes all of these genres. Both kids and adults will enjoy this book about a gentleman cat who adopts a family after living on the street and shares his reveries and his songs.
      "If you wish to see Tom Jones, I'm he, This Jones victorious
      Glossy and glorious, Lordly and lazy And catnip crazy,
      Yes, glorious Jones Is me!"             Katherine's Review∆

Five Quarters of the Orange, by Joanne Harris
Joanne Harris is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Sensual writing, strong character development, a historical perspective - it's hard to top that. I enjoyed Chocolate and liked this book even more. Some authors have the talent to portray the complexity of childhood instead of simple innocence. Harris has that talent. Framboise returns to the French village she lived in as a girl. She has inherited a haphazard journal of memories and recipes from her mother, someone the locals knew as responsible for tragedy during the Nazi occupation. Framboise reads the entries written by her disturbed mother. She remembers back to her ninth year - sorting through mysteries and reliving desires, joys and conflicts.  Cinnamon's Review∆

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie
This is a beautiful little book set during the harsh time of China's Cultural Revolution. Two young men are sent to a rural village for re-education. They discover another boy's stash of banned books, meet a lovely girl and show her the magic of literature. Dai Sijie also wrote and directed a film adaptation of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, which was released in 2002. For those of us often disappointed by books-turned-into-movies, it was refreshingly good. Pick up the book at our shop & check out the movie at Spindle, two doors up.         
Cinnamon's Review∆

A Room with a View, by E. M. Forster
I love English social comedy and how the plots of novels like this twist around convention. I like the manners and the fussiness of propriety - and the rebellion of a character like Lucy Honeychurch, whose mother says that playing the piano always makes her "peevish". And, of course, I love Lucy's adventures traveling through Europe while chaperoned by her older cousin. She is foolish and passionate - and I "took great delight" in reading about her. I enjoyed the Merchant-Ivory film, too. Helena Bonham Carter is sooooooo young!          Cinnamon's Review∆

Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding
And speaking of English social comedy... this is a quick read and great fun, whether or not you've read Pride and Prejudice and are already familiar with the characters and plot. Bridget has more girlish worries than Jane Austen's Elizabeth, and the book is satisfying in that "Sex in the City" sort of way. Bridget is 30, single, and would like to lose 7 pounds, stop smoking and develop Inner Poise. Bridget fumbles and makes mistakes and keeps us laughing. Cheerio!          Cinnamon's Review∆

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
When Timothy Schaffert told me he was teaching a weekend seminar called "Hooking Up" and was getting feedback about novels that really hook the reader, I suggested this. It grabs you from the start with a catastrophe - and you're drawn into the book to find out what events led up to it. Jacob Jankowski is a ninety-something nursing home resident who spent the Depression years working in a second-rate traveling circus. He takes us back and forth in his memory which is filled with trained horses, sequined women, angry men in top hats - and one very special elephant. This was recently named as a finalist for the 2007 One Book, One Lincoln selection. I highly recommend it!          Cinnamon's Review∆

The Double Bind, by Chris Bohjalian
When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont's back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, she withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won't let anyone see. When Bobbie dies suddenly, Laurel discovers that he was telling the truth: before he was homeless, Bobbie Crocker was a successful photographer who had indeed worked with such legends as Chuck Berry, Robert Frost, and Eartha Kitt. As Laurel's fascination with Bobbie's former life begins to merge into obsession, she becomes convinced that some of his photographs reveal a deeply hidden, dark family secret. Her search for the truth will lead her further from her old life-- and into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her. ∆

A Home at the End of the World & The Hours, by Michael Cunningham
This has happened to everyone: You read a great story, a truly great story. It haunts you. The characters and events are forever embedded in your brain. The title--and the name of the story's author, however, are forgotten. It becomes one of those *dammit* things. You can't find the book with the story in it. You remember it was some kind of anthology. You think it had a yellow cover. You go to bookstores and drive the clerks a little crazy. (Come on, don't try to tell ME you don't.) Well, I admit it. I did this too. In 1989. Before the internet. Imagine my delight, that when reading Michael Cunningham's A Home at the End of the World, I found that story was a chapter in the novel. *aha!*

I love these Cunningham books for the beautiful way they portray the desperation and struggles of the characters. The man knows his way around the language. But he doesn't stop there. A "haunting" book is something that scares you a little. It has to let you watch characters do things that you'll say to yourself you would never do. And it has to draw those characters well enough so that you say that to yourself over and over - in attempt at reassurance. Cunningham comes through. These are not books about destruction and annihilation. They are full of hope and fragility and beauty.

So, WRITE DOWN the titles and the author's name before you come shopping. There's really only so much we bookstore clerks can take.          Cinnamon's Review ∆

The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
"At school they say my name funny as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made out of a softer something, like silver..."
This is a tiny book--110 pages full of interwoven vignettes about a girl growing up in a Latino part of Chicago. I like it because Cisneros captures her character's age well--a kaleidoscope of sass and wonder and poignancy. Growing up means entering the world and becoming conscious of the brutality and the beauty and trying to find your place. How does Cisneros get all of that into this tiny book?!

I recommend this book to all kinds of people. It's a trim, powerful read and you won't regret the couple hours you spend with it in the least. However, it has the added bonus of being appropriate for those precocious, mid-teens. I look forward to handing it to my daughter when she gets old enough. I think she'll like reading about Esperanza, a girl who is deciding for herself.          Cinnamon's Review ∆

Closing Arguments, by Frederick Busch
If you desperately need linear plot and clarity, then by all means put this book down and slowly back away. If you can handle a smart, legal thriller--in which defending counsel struggles with his own mid-life breakdown that his wife thinks resonates back to his time as a POW in Vietnam--then go for it. A defendant is accused of murdering her lover. The lawyer becomes involved outside the courtroom. There are flashbacks and spirals and violent sex and betrayal...but you should remember that I said this book was smart.          Cinnamon's Review∆

Stones for Ibarra, by Harriet Doerr
Richard and Sara Everton, hovering around age 40, decide to leave San Francisco for rural Mexico. The plan is to revive an old copper mine abandoned by Richard's grandfather a half-century before. They hope to reconnect to family history and each other. It is mid-life idealism. No surprise, the North Americans don't mesh perfectly into their new community. They are a culture unto themselves and are keenly observed by the locals.  Later, Richard becomes ill. Sara's imagination grows in proportion as she loses him.

Harriet Doerr wrote this novel, her first, when she was in her seventies. I believe that it was that vantage point that allowed her to write her characters with such wisdom and tenderness. This book is gentle--but never boring. Stones for Ibarra was given the National Book Award in 1985, an honor Doerr richly deserves.           Cinnamon's Review∆

One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum is a kick in the pants. Having been laid off from her job as a lingerie buyer, she's so broke that she's considering pawning her refrigerator. She asks her cousin Vinnie for a job as a bond hunter--and we're off! Plum is full of Jersey sass and manages to be vulgar and vulnerable at the same time. Joe Morelli is a cop with plenty of "bad boy" appeal and Stephanie's had a few tangles with him in the past.

First in a series that's funny, sexy, good-natured and suspenseful, One For the Money is a great mood enhancer. Next time your friend is in the hospital, recovering well but on drugs that make it hard to concentrate, skip the flowers and bring this book. (You might find out first if laughing hard is bad for her health.)          Cinnamon's Review ∆

The Memory of Running, by Ron McClarty
Meet Smithson "Smithy" Ide, an overweight, friendless, chain-smoking, forty-three-year-old drunk who works as a quality control inspector at a toy-action-figure factory in Rhode Island. By all accounts, especially Smithy's own, he's a loser. Then, within the span of one week, his beloved parents are killed in a car crash, and Smithy learns that his emotionally troubled, long-lost sister, Bethany, has turned up in a morgue in Los Angeles. Unmoored by the loss of his entire family-- Smithy had always hoped Bethany might return-- he rolls down the driveway of his parents' house on his old Raleigh bicycle into an epic journey that will take him clear across the country. As Smithy pedals across America-- through New York City, St. Louis, Denver, and Phoenix, to name a few-- he encounters humanity at its best and worst and begins to remember an early life that too many beers have blotted out. The baseball games, the home-cooked meals, the soothing presence of his salt-of-the-earth parents; none of it could transform the dark truth of his sister's madness.   ∆

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel
This is by far one of the best books I've read in the last year. It handles all the big themes -- religion, the nature/nurture argument, the truth in fiction -- and wraps them in a highly entertaining adventure story. It's a "love it or hate it" book with long philosophical passages. I loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.          Cinnamon's Review∆

White Oleander, by Janet Fitch
I avoided this for awhile due to the big "Oprah" stamp on the cover. Don't let that dissuade you. I was convinced to read it when a friend gushed about the beautiful language in the book. "It's like going into a flower shop and taking a deep breath," she said. She's right. It's poetic and exciting. It's not a "chick" book. The guys to whom I've recommended it have loved it.           Cinnamon's Review ∆

The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
This novel centers around a missionary family in The Congo in the mid-1950's. The narrative shifts chapter by chapter between the female family members, lending a variety of perspectives. Great fiction entertains while it educates, and this book does just that. Whether you're in it for a historical perspective on The Congo or the psychology of and relationships between the characters, you'll enjoy this book. I think Kingsolver could have ended the book when the family leaves The Congo but the writing is so good you won't mind staying with the characters a little longer.          Cinnamon's Review∆

The Green Mile, by Stephen King
When I was on the One Book, One Lincoln selection committee, I rolled my eyes when I saw this on the list of nominations. In the end, I found myself championing it into the top five. I'm ashamed of having judged it before reading it. I enjoyed this book for its compelling narrative, its strong characters and the way it explores the issues of capital punishment and the divine. We read to be entertained. We read to have cause to ponder how we would behave if placed in the characters' shoes. I enjoyed this book. (Put it under someone else's name and slap it into a gorgeous trade paperback with a matte cover...people would not judge it so harshly.)          Cinnamon's Review∆

A Maiden's Grave, by Jeffrey Deaver
I was stuck in an airport without a book, believe it or not. So I picked up a Jeffrey Deaver novel. I like the Deaver books that feature Lincoln Rhyme, a forensic investigator that became quadriplegic during an accident while working on a case. This book features Arthur Potter, a hostage negotiator. A group of young Deaf women are the hostages -- the title comes from a misunderstanding of "Amazing Grace". It's a great quick read that will teach you a lot about the Deaf communities and the art of hostage negotiation. I'm glad to see an author write characters with disabilities in a way that focuses on their strengths. It works to educate the public and challenge our assumptions in a subtle way that is most effective.          Cinnamon's Review∆

Empire Falls, by Richard Russo
Reading a book is somewhat analogous to riding a bike. If the book/bike is well-made it is SO much more satisfying. This book racks up almost 500 pages but its good writing makes for smooth travel. Miles Roby runs the Empire Grill in a run-down Maine community that has been struggling since the mill closed. The book is about relationships and finding one's place in the world. It is poignant but often fall-out-of-your-chair funny. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, it was made into a movie with Ed Harris--whom I adore. I haven't seen the movie yet because I'm a chicken. I don't want to alter my impression of this book--or Ed Harris. Somebody should email me and tell me if I should go out on the limb and rent it.           Cinnamon's Review∆

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist--books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.  ∆

The Rapture of Canaan, by Sheri Reynolds
This is a great choice for book clubs. It was published in 1996 and if you didn't catch it when it first came out, stop waiting. The narrator, the teenaged granddaughter of the leader of The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind, provides a lyrical story filled with themes that are perfect for discussion with your good friends. You can talk for hours about the concepts of spiritual life, family structure, power and the status of women. It's a book that will pull you through--and you'll enjoy every minute. (It has taken me half an hour to write this paragraph because I got sucked into the book again. It begins, "I've spent a lot of time weaving, but you'd never know it from my hands." And, ZOOM! Just like that, I'm hooked again.)          Cinnamon's Review∆

The Bone People, by Keri Hulme
This book is a little tough to get into. The brief, introductory sections leave you with a "What the hell?!" kind of feeling. But hang in there. I found this to be a very rewarding book whose characters are still with me. It's set in New Zealand where the native Maori and European cultures blend and clash. (Did you see the movie "Whale Rider"?) Kerewin Holmes is a reclusive artist who lives in a strange tower she had custom-built. Simon is the odd, mute little boy who sneaks in one day. Joe is Simon's foster father, a Maori man with a broad smile and plenty of baggage. The complexity of the characters is what will have you thinking about them off and on for years after you've read it. Everyone is wonderful. Everyone is terribly flawed. This novel won the Booker Prize in 1983. It's innovative and challenging. Read it using the buddy system. Being able to discuss it with someone will add much to your reading experience. It's a great pick for a dedicated book club.           Cinnamon's Review∆

Montana 1948, by Larry Watson
If you know me well, you've already heard me go on and on about this book. I push this book. I think that everybody who teaches upper high-school classes or early college courses should add this to his/her syllabus. It's 175 smoothly written pages that your students will love AND their brains will start clicking in. It's about small town life and the fluctuations in moral choice that happen because people know they must get along. The narrative is so intimate you'll feel you're having coffee with this guy, listening to him tell you a story about how it was for him when he was twelve in Montana, 1948. Fantastic.          Cinnamon's Review∆

Animal Dreams, by Barbara Kingsolver
The narration shifts from character to character. It's set in gorgeous New Mexico. It has a political and an environmental message. These are all good reasons for liking this book. But come on, ladies, admit it. Loyd Peregrina is HOT. You can have your steamy scene in the New Mexican hot springs--and still have all the literary and socially-conscious elements that aren't present in your typical "take your shirt off, Fabio" novels. It's a solid deal. You should go for it.          Cinnamon's Review∆

All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy
I have a little crush on John Grady Cole, the main character of this novel. He's resourceful, smart and strong. And as much as I respect Matt Damon, he just wasn't right for the part in the movie version. (Neither was Penelope Cruz.) Set in Texas and Mexico, this is a western that breaks the borders of its genre. An adventure full of horses, guns and romance, this book uses language so beautifully that it's no surprise it won the National Book Award in 1992. Don't be thrown off track by the movie version. This is an epic journey. The movie tried to cover the bases--but it condensed the time frame and squashed the life out of the story. Pick it up and be patient with it until you get the hang of the dialogue. Once you're in step with the book, you'll want to make the trek.          Cinnamon's Review∆

Griffin and Sabine, by Nick Bantock
Griffin and Sabine, by Nick Bantock, is not just a book. It is an experience. The book consists of correspondence between two people in different countries, one a designer of cards and another artist who can "see" his work as he produces it--and even as he erases it. The format is enchanting with the deepening dialogue expressed through postcards and envelopes with actual letters inside of them. The entire book, and most especially the correspondence, is profusely and lovingly illustrated by Nick Bantock in the guise of these two characters. This is a book to be shared, and to be slowly savored.          Katherine's Review∆

Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn
Geek Love is a challenging novel. It challenges our beliefs and assumptions about what a family is or should be, how we define normalcy, and what constitutes love. This is a strangely funny and disturbing book, partly because what is disturbing here is also funny. Be forewarned, but read it. You'll find lots to think about.          Katherine's Review∆

Watership Down, by Richard Adams
To say that this is a book about bunnies is to say that To Kill a Mockingbird is about birdies: one completely misses the point. Watership Down is a saga about a society with all of its strengths and weaknesses, a society under siege and forced to move to an unknown place with unknown denizens. You'll find among these rabbits kin in their trials and joys; indeed, it is a very human story (not to cast aspersions on rabbits.)          Katherine's Review∆

Love Medicine, by Louise Erdrich &
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water, by Michael Dorris
For those who are fans of magical realism, these are books not to miss. Native American authors Erdrich and Dorris explore the relationships among generations of families. Dorris' narrative deals with one family of women, while Erdrich's book is more complex (I would advise making a character web on paper--fans of the great Russian authors would love this.) But Dorris' book is far from simple, and Erdrich's book is not so difficult. Symbolism infuses the dialogue and the language is both strong and delicate in these novels. They are books that I wanted to read again immediately after having finished them the first time.          Katherine's Review∆

Midwives, by Chris Bohjalian
Don't let the fact that this was featured by Oprah either win you over or deter you. It's a quick, very compelling read about a midwife on trial for negligent homicide: the murder of a pregnant woman whose child she successfully delivered by an impromptu c-section. Bohjalian tells this story through court records, the midwife's journals, and the observations of the midwife's own daughter. The very last pages are fantastic, so don't spoil it by reading those first!          Katherine's Review∆

Girl, Interrupted, by Susanna Kaysen
Forget Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder: this book is about real folks with real problems. A mental ward is one of the least glamorous places I can think of, and Kaysen's memoir shows how. An intriguing look inside one young woman's mind, the book includes a look at her professional diagnosis and her process through the mental health care system. Not pretty.           Katherine's Review∆

The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
Perfect beach reading for the snooty intellectual. Embrace your elitist tendencies, friends, and have a good laugh! Welcome to an alternative 1985 in which the Crimean War still rages, cloning has made resurrected dodos the pot bellied pig of the day, and bizarre Brit Lit allusions run rampant through the pages like dingoes through the nursery on a hot Australian night. (Help! Police! Wackford Squeers stole my baby! Wherever is that damned Lestrade when a person needs him?)    

SpecOps agent Thursday Next has a helluva job regulating literary crime now that the Prose Portal allows avid readers and supervillians alike to enter the pages of any book ever written. England's streets are dangerously full of Baconians and Marlovians debating Shakespearean Authorship gangwar-style, and her masterpieces are suspiciously empty of several pivotal characters. Throw in some eccentric Next family drama, an amusing dash of time travel, and a thorough reworking of Jane Eyre, and you've got a series-opener that'll keep you coming back for more. Fforde has produced four fantastic Thursday Next novels so far, with a fifth (better be fantastic, or else...) coming out this July. Fans of the Brontes, Monty Python, Dickens, Asimov, Romantic poetry, Douglas Adams, Orwell, Monopoly and a good time in general will be delighted. Folks looking for more dingo jokes may be disappointed.            Kirsten's Review∆

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
We could not keep this one in stock for the first year or so after it was published. There was the usual Pulitzer buzz, but this one was different. Tons of younger readers, incredibly taken with the author's debut novel, The Virgin Suicides, were clamoring for his newest work. Fans of Sofia Coppola's movie adaptation of The Virgin Suicides also wanted a taste. Anyone with any interest at all in gender issues had to get their hands on it as well. Requests were piling up around the bookstore, and I was running out of patience. So I checked it out from the library. And it almost didn't make it back in time (oh no! cardinal sin!), as I lent it out to several people during the three weeks that it was in my possession.

 Middlesex has a lot to offer, and covers an immense amount of ground. Far too much for five people to take in in three weeks, alas...

 The coming-of-age story of the intersexed Calliope Stephanides provides the centerpiece of the novel, but the family drama behind Cal's condition is constantly woven in with the action. It's all about choices, choices, choices: how their repercussions ripple through the generations, how they can ruin everything, how they can save our lives. Good read.           Kirsten's Review∆

The Killer Inside Me, by Jim Thompson
When I was 13, I'd do pretty much anything that the Dead Milkmen told me to do. Seriously - they helped me realize that I truly was born to love volcanoes and wanted nothing more than to become a punk rock girl. I spent Halloween of 1993 dressed as The Thing That Only Eats Hippies. Smoking banana peels, on the other hand, turned out to be not a very good idea. Anyhoo, it was (again at 13) about the coolest thing in the world to understand the more "mature" allusions scattered throughout their lyrics, like this one: "Let's call the sheriff a ****-******/See if he's read 'The Killer Inside Me'". Finally, some semblance of relevance! And you can see now what I mean about the overwhelming maturity. 

At that point, I'd never delved deeper into the world of crime noir than Dashiell Hammett, and had never heard of Jim Thompson until I looked this one up by title at the library. I only read it once before returning it, because it freaked me out a little bit. But I've gone back to it a few times over the years, and it gave me a taste for some of the better-known authors in the genre. Fortunately for all of us, Black Lizard was still reprinting all of Thompson's books at my last check, even though they've replaced Goodis and Gifford with Chandler and Cain.            Kirsten's Review∆

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
The absolute very best, fantastically superior, number one book that I read in all of 2005. It is now in my Top 20 Of All Time (known in some circles as the K T-20 O.A.T.)
Here is a picture of how I felt 20 pages into it: 
Here is a picture of how I felt halfway through the book when I realized what was going to happen: 
And here is a picture of how I felt while reading the last few paragraphs: 
And then I burst into tears, flipped back to the front of the book, and started it all over again. Because it's just that good.           Kirsten's Review∆

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, by Tad Williams
Epic high fantasy with a capital E-P-I-C! Truly, these books are huge. The Dragonbone Chair pushes 700 pages. Its successor, Stone of Farewell backs off a bit with barely 600. But the last volume in the trilogy, To Green Angel Tower, was so massive that the paperback printing had to be split into two volumes. Poor Mr. Williams lovingly refers to it as "The Book That Ate My Life." It was well worth it, though. You've got your swords, your dragons, your wandering princes, your elf-type-things, your evil priests, your strong-willed princesses, your age-old prophecies... really, it more than fills all of the requirements for a seriously rockin' fantasy series. 

Better than that, it manages to turn a lot of the reader's expectations completely upside down. The ending is so spectacularly good and stupendously surprising that even folks who've had a hard time getting into the beginning of the series have become die-hard Tad Williams fans. Trust me, I've talked to them! So if you find yourself wishing that Robert Jordan would just wrap it up already, or that Dennis L. McKiernan would use language that comes a bit more naturally to him, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is exactly what you need.            Kirsten's Review∆

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell
This is one of the best books that I've read. And I've read a ton of books, folks. I just did the math on that: taking into consideration my average number of books read per week (different numbers for childhood and adulthood) and the average weight of a book (also different numbers for childhood and adulthood), I have read approximately 2395 lbs. of books. Which, by the way, is a more than a ton in both the US and the UK, thank you very much. Why is a ton heavier in Britain, anyway? That has never made sense to me... hey - maybe I should read The Sparrow in Gloucester, and see if it's even better there! Though I'm not sure that that's even possible, as the only complaint that I have about this book is that there aren't any explosions. Aside from nothing blowing up, this is just a stunning piece of work. It's got aliens, and mobsters, and mutilated priests, and biology, and linguistics, and food, and music, and, well, pretty much everything but bombs. If you still ask more from a book, guess what? There's a sequel! Children of God fully lives up to the quality of The Sparrow, and carries its themes through to a thoroughly satisfying, if desperately sad, conclusion. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things happen to every major character in each of the books, and it is impossible to assign blame for any of them. Nothing is really anybody's fault. I've never talked to anyone who's read this and not loved it. So if you read The Sparrow and you don't like it, or you've read it and you remember there being explosions, let me know, okay?             Kirsten's Review∆

The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner
Total Southern Gothic extravaganza! It's a family drama unlike any that you've ever read. Despite the fact that Faulkner combines aspects of just about every literary movement of the last two hundred years within his tangled web of narrative, The Sound and the Fury manages to remain completely unique in its complexity. And the four-part structure of the novel provides something for everyone! Each section has its own narrative voice and extremely particular style, ranging from random stream of consciousness to suicidal depression to linear jerk to what I'm pretty sure is referred to as third person limited omniscient. It gets kinda complicated... and you kinda have to go real slow and repeat the same paragraph over and over at times... but man, is it worth it. I actually read this for the first time when I was just a kid, and had a real thing for Macbeth, and couldn't resist the title when I found it while digging through the piles of scifi on the closet shelves. I had absolutely no idea what had happened when I'd finished it, but I had a vague feeling that the whole thing was almost unbearably pretty, and I kept reading it again every few years until I finally understood why. These are lousy people in a lousy world, but they've got that sick-sweet smell about them, you know? Like the apple you left too long on the windowsill that hasn't lost its shape and still seems shiny, but you know it's no good. We're all afraid of rotting on the inside. It's easy to connect with the Compson family.           Kirsten's Review∆

Motherless Brooklyn, by Jonathan Lethem
This book is one of my lil' darlings -- so much my darling, in fact, that Ms. Cinnamon turned over the signed copy we found last year to yours truly, even though she was kinda achin' for it herself!  So I did the happy dance, and then wiped my drool off of the archival mylar dust jacket cover. I think that Jonathan Lethem would appreciate that. Anyone who could write a book starring a Tourette's-suffering wise guy-turned-private-eye who is calmed only by the artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince and compulsive sandwich consumption would appreciate my happy dance. You really have to read this--it's got bullets, broads, and Buddha...what more could you want?            Kirsten's Review∆

The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. King
The first in King's Mary Russell series, this is the best addition to the Holmesian Mythos that I've read in years. Seriously, the Russell books are now tied with Fred Saberhagen's The Holmes/Dracula File and Nicholas Meyer's The Seven-Per-Cent Solution for my Very Favorite Sherlock Spinoff Award. Holmes fits quite comfortably in King's  world, Mary has spunk to spare, the plot carries itself remarkably well, and the dialogue is fantastic. I might even describe this one as "charming", and we all know how hard it is to charm a Kirsten!  Man, if this had been around when I was a ten-year-old girl, I would have been even more in love with Sherlock Holmes than I was back then. Back then?  Who am I kidding!  Mmmmm...Sherlock.           Kirsten's Review∆

Regarding the Pain of Others, by Susan Sontag
I miss Susan Sontag, and I can't tell you how happy I am that she gave this book to the world before she left it. If you didn't get a chance to know Sontag's work while she was alive, now is a great time to do so and this is a great place to start. As with all of her monographs, this 'un is slim, dense, and incredibly readable. That last is, I think, what I've always liked most about her work; it's not easy, it's not nice, but it's surprisingly fast despite its subject matter. Reading this is like sprinting through a minefield, terrified and tired and elated by each successful step, knowing that the horror will catch up with you as soon as you catch your breath. Sontag was insanely in tune to the intricacies of human nature and culture, and her words are impossible to ignore.            Kirsten's Review∆

Ocean Sea, by Alessandro Baricco
Alessandro Baricco rocks my world. I love his style, and his ideas, and his characters, and his hair...actually, I've never seen his hair, though I'm sure I'd love it if I did. But his books are just awesome. This one was a bit of a surprise for me--somehow, not quite what I was expecting, but so, so cool. As usual for a Baricco novel, everyone is crazy...or maybe they're not crazy...that's the thing:  you really can't tell. The plot is incredibly elusive, yet fascinating. Not for the faint of heart or the concrete of mind, perfect for the stream-of-consciousness postmodern art-loving sailor. To coin a phrase.           Kirsten's Review∆

Everything and More, by David Foster Wallace
I love David Foster Wallace!  Love him!  Love him!  Love him!  But I don't love math, and was therefore afraid of this book. But I read it, and guess what?  I loved it!  Loved it!  Loved it!  Loved it!  In keeping with the pop technical tradition, the text is both extremely detailed and highly accessible to the lay reader. Wallace applies his usual idiosyncratic style to the subject of infinity, and manages to produce a fascinating biography of both those obsessed by it and the concept itself, while at the same managing to only blow my mind in a good way. So, if you love math, but you don't love David Foster Wallace, try this on for size.           Kirsten's Review∆

Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran-Foer
I laughed out loud for the first half of this cleverly narrated book. I cried uncontrollably for the second half. In between, I drank heavy amounts of Earl Grey tea whilst re-evaluating my life. This book is just exceptional. Difficult to describe, it is narrated in part by a story the protagonist is writing about his Ukrainian Jewish ancestry, and in part by his Ukrainian translator/tour-guide that learned English from bad hip-hop and an overuse of the thesaurus a la Joey Tribianni. Everything is tied together by letters between the two, which take the reader on a sentimental and outrageous trip through the Ukrainian countryside with a crotchety grandfather and his three-legged dog. Everything is Illuminated is refreshing and heartbreaking at the same time.           Molly's Review∆

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
This is a must read, a re-read, a re-re-re-re-read even. Cinnamon likes to say Harper Lee knew she had one book in her; one fabulous book and once she got it out that was all she needed to do. She thus gave our American society a spectacular gift. The book is narrated by Scout, a Mississippi born woman reflecting on her childhood during the Great Depression. She focuses on one year in particular, in which her widowed father, Atticus Finch (who is the definition of courage, by the way), agrees to be the attorney of Tom Robinson, a black man on trial for raping a white woman. We all know the chances of a happy ending here are slim, despite mounting evidence that proves Tom's innocence. Throughout the book Scout and her peers have countless adventures; from unwittingly curing a grumpy old woman's morphine addiction, to discovering that their ghastly neighbor, Boo Radley, is really a hero in disguise. The book climaxes with a very tense courtroom scene at the peak of what has to be the hottest, most miserable summer in the literary history of Mississippi. Oh, how I wish the world was ruled by Atticus Finches.           Molly's Review∆

The Flanders Panel, by Arturo Perez-Reverte
The world is one giant chessboard, and we be but mere pawns in the great game of life. This is what Perez-Reverte's novel seems to imply. The Flanders Panel is one of those European art/historical fiction books that I am so fond of. Although set in Madrid, one could easily confuse the setting for Sherlock Holmes' dark and drizzly England were it not for the occasional mention of the Prado and other Spanish cultural references. The book starts when Julia, a talented young art restorer, discovers a mystery within a painting done by the fictitious artist Van Huys. When the mystery soon becomes interwoven with her life and her loved ones start to be curiously killed off, Julia, her flamboyant antiquarian father-figure, and an eccentric chess genius begin to play a real-life game of chess in order to solve the mystery and stop the killer. Fans of The Da Vinci Code, rejoice! Infused by jazz music and plenty of gin and tonics, The Flanders Panel offers you just as good an art-history mystery read, though slightly less controversial.            Molly's Review∆

The Distracted Preacher and Other Tales, by Thomas Hardy
Do you like the classically macabre but can't stomach a whole "drenched in untimely death with constant suffering" Hardy novel? Then take your Tess of the D'Urbervilles trauma in small and practical doses and read The Distracted Preacher. These short stories are all set in Hardy's traditional Wessex and each offers a rather macabre plot with often startling endings. Though not as grisly as Poe, this collection's subtlety gives me a different (and oddly enjoyable) kind of creeps. Do yourself a favor and skip the first story, as it is rather bland, and go on to the others. I particularly enjoyed "The Withered Arm", "A Mere Interlude", "Barbara of the House of Grebe", and "The Son's Veto". If these stories happen to be a bit too cheerful for you (and they might, if you happen to be the Prince of Darkness or like read The Bell Jar for a giggle), or if you end up craving more of Hardy's talent, just try Jude the Obscure on for size. Then come to me after you've read it and I will reassure that you are not meant for a strange and untimely death, give you a box of tissues, some chocolate and a Family Guy DVD, and send you on your merry way once more.             Molly's Review∆

Perfume: the Story of a Murderer, by Patrick Suskind
This beautiful, lyrical, sensual novel will suck you into its thick plot. I was not too sure about it at first because I was afraid it was going to be describing one gruesome murder after another. This is not the case, however. Perfume profiles the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. Born in the muck of 18th century Paris, Grenouille grows up with an extraordinary sense of smell. Oddly enough, he himself has absolutely no body odor; something which allows him to pass invisible through the crowds, yet he is noticed on a subconscious level that makes everyone who encounters him slightly uncomfortable. Grenouille uses his unique ability to become a perfumer, and is soon out to find and perfectly preserve the most glorious scent in the world. Does he succeed? Bwa ha ha...you must read to find out. This book has the most astonishing climax. Read it before the movie comes out in February!            Molly's Review∆

The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer-Bradley
I am generally not a fantasy reader, but I love this book. To this day it is the only version of the Arthurian legend that I will accept as plausible truth. In Mists, Bradley retells this legend from the point of view of the women involved; the Lady of the Lake, Morgan La Fey (Morgaine), and Gwynafar, just to name a few. Set in the midst of turmoil between the new church and the old pagan religion, England needs a leader who can unite both groups to successfully rid the island once and for all of the Saxons. Mists tells how the Goddess-worshiping priestesses of Avalon placed Arthur on the throne and were largely responsible for the best bits of this legend. I refuse to believe that Morgan La Fey was pure evil. The end.           Molly's Review∆

The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
Considered by many to be this Chilean author’s magnum opus, The House of the Spirits is a beautiful, tragic, magical account of one family’s journey through history. Although Allende never mentions Chile by name, it is easily inferred. It begins in colonial times and goes right through to the fall of “the candidate” (Salvador Allende) and the ensuing disappearances, tortures, and massacres of the Pinochet regime. It even describes the funeral of “the poet” (Pablo Neruda). This book is not necessarily “light” reading material, but it is a page-turner and a great introduction to Magical Realism. I have yet to meet a soul who dislikes it.           Molly's Review∆

Rebecca, by Daphne DuMaurier
Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite book is (impossible to answer for a bibliophile!) my knee-jerk reaction is always Rebecca. I first read it when I was eleven, and I have reread it several times since. It is set primarily on the dazzling and craggy coast of Cornwall, in the southwest of England, which is one of my favorite spots in the World. More than just the setting, Rebecca is equal parts murder-mystery, love story, adventure, and courtroom drama. I always tell people that the first thirty pages are a little slow, but after that it picks up and does not stop. The characters are unforgettable; the narrator’s husband shows shades of Rochester from Jane Eyre, and the housekeeper is obsessively frightful. It is a haunting and memorable read.            Molly's Review∆

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
I am not usually a Fantasy reader, but this book got me hooked forever on Neil Gaiman. It is his first solo novel, and still my favorite. It is a tumble through a parallel world of the London Underground. The protagonist is an unlikely hero, paired with a popadum munching elfin girl. Their journey is truly incredible, and remarkably told. After reading Neverwhere, you will think twice the next time you travel on the Tube, and you may be tempted to give pigeons just a little respect. I have heard that the BBC television series is pretty shabby, so if you have seen that don’t let it dissuade you, the book is phenomenal.            Molly's Review∆

Persuasion, by Jane Austen
I am, at the end of the day, a harpsichord playing, tea-sipping, Mr. Darcy loving, Jane Austen kind of girl. If you have not enjoyed Austen novels, I will not suggest that you read Persuasion. However, if you like your Emma with milk and two sugars, you will find this book to be lovely. Her last completed novel, Persuasion shows a marked maturity from her earlier works. (For a startling comparison read Northanger Abbey immediately followed by Persuasion, the contrast will blow you away!)  As in all of her work, Persuasion showcases Austen’s immaculate skills of social observation, coupled with a light romance in high society settings (Lyme-Regis and Bath). Persuasion is a must-read for the classic English literature fan.        Molly's Review∆

The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera
In possibly his best-known work, Milan Kundera provides readers with the complicated relationships of four people living in and around Prague, back when it was still Czechoslovakia*. Basically, what appeals to me so much about The Unbearable Lightness of Being is how accurately Kundera describes the imperfect nature of human relationships; he is so very insightful. For fellow Historical Fiction fans, the story unfolds during the Prague Spring and its aftermath, where a prominent womanizing doctor is reduced to a prominent womanizing window-washer, and eventually forced to relocate to a collective farm. Also, there is a delightful dog as well as a bowler hat. How could you not like it? 

*The two nations of Czechoslovakia separated very peacefully in 1993, and are now the Czech Republic, and the Slovak Republic. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, Bratislava that of the Slovak Republic. Thank you. Class dismissed.           Molly's Review ∆

The Fig Eater, by Jody Shields
Yay for period pieces and Freudian theory! This is a great plane/airport read. Set in turn of the (19th) century Vienna. Shields weaves a very gripping tale of murder, "female hysteria", and the secrecy that surrounds the upper class Viennese. She also includes interesting traditions of Hungarian folklore, as the protagonist is Hungarian. I would imagine that anyone who has been to Vienna would enjoy this book because Shields is constantly place-name dropping, which allows the reader to visualize the city very well. Or maybe I just have a ridiculously good imagination. Either way, this book is beautifully written and quite colorful.           Molly's Review∆

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
This book should be mandatory reading for everyone in the United States. No joke. It is at the same time humbling and shocking. Steinbeck chronicles the journey of one family as they leave Oklahoma's Dustbowl and head west to California in search of a better life. The book has useful intercalary chapters that illustrate what the rest of the emigrants are going through, allowing the reader to have an idea of the bigger picture during the Great Depression. This is not a happy book; I was almost unable to believe that such abominable things took place in this country; it seemed too "Third World" to be possible. But it was possible and it is a reality for many people today in all parts of the world. So, yeah... not a happy, book but an imperative one when trying to understand society and human nature, past and present.            Molly's Review∆

Atonement, by Ian McEwan
This is a very well-written coming of age story. Seen largely from the eyes of the pre-pubescent Briony, the story unfolds in an old English estate just before the Second World War. This book reminds me of a long, warm summer coming to an uncertain end. It is often a tragic comedy of errors (tragedy of errors? Eh... I'm not a lit major), and McEwan's prose is low-key and very readable. The harsh realities of adulthood and war seem to reach Briony at the same time, and the reader slowly discovers how both shape her life.            Molly's Review∆

Daughter of Fortune, by Isabel Allende
Allende will whisk you all over the globe with this one! It makes my head hurt to think of all the research she must have had to do, because although the primary parts of the book take place in Chile and California, she manages to includes facts from nearly every corner of the world. Right, the plot: an adopted mestiza girl living with a wealthy English family in Valparaiso, Chile, has some sort of conflict (you must read to find out! Oh how I am a tease!), and sneaks off to the Gold Rush in California. Along the way she befriends a Chinese fellow and they have all sorts of crazy adventures with prostitutes and destitutes, empanadas and fruit in the Wild Wild West! Phew. Not quite as swashbuckling as her Zorro, and not as "wowza!" as The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune really does have a little bit of everything.           Molly's Review∆

The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K LeGuin
If someone were to draw up a list of "The Most Important Science Fiction Books Ever", The Left Hand of Darkness would undoubtedly make the list, possibly even in the top 10. LeGuin's finest work of SF hails from the Golden Age of the genre, where the pulp adventures of the early years were beginning to fade out and writers still had some optimism about the future (though this would eventually be crushed during the cyberpunk/dystopic SF of the 70s/80s). At the same time, LeGuin's work heralded in a new era of thoughtfulness in the genre, tackling ideas such as feminism and sexuality with the androgyny Gethenian that populate the story. Excellent world building and intellectually stimulating, this is one of the SF greats.           James' Review∆

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
Why lookie here, if it isn't *the* Great American Novel. Aside from being a tale of time immemorial (Boy meets Whale, Whale eats Boy's leg, Boy begins obsessive quest for revenge on said Whale), the scope and breadth of Melville's defining work is on a level that I personally do not feel any other 19th century writer was able to accomplish. You probably had to read it in high school or college, and there's a pretty good chance that you hated it, but I'm here to say that it's really worth another shot. Whaling lore, brutal depiction of life at sea, Christian allegory, criticism on the whole of humanity, beautiful language and deeply rooted pathos all really make the novel for me. The word "novel" hardly does it justice. If you have more than a passing interest in American Literature and its philosophies, this should be your bible.           James' Review∆

Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke
If The Left Hand of Darkness is in the Top 10 of the "Most Important SF Books Ever" list, I'd put Childhood's End here in at least the Top 5. You know that fading dream of the world being a utopic, fantastic, all-around-really-awesome place that I talked about? Arthur C. Clarke exemplified Utopian science fiction. 2001 and Rama touched upon Clarkes ideas that "mankind can rise up from it's pettiness" but Childhood's End does it in the most elegant and powerful way. An intergalactic species invades Earth, withstands our resistance, and swiftly claims dominion over the world without harming a soul. These "Overlords" then proceed to greatly advance our technologic progression in a matter of decades, as well as solve most of our world's social/economic problems. All's fine and dandy right? It wouldn't be a story if there wasn't some kind of tension, and naturally Clarke raises the questions if this Utopia is desired, as mankind grows lethargic and inert. The story's finale is where the real kick is, and with Childhood's End Clarke shows us his vision of the future of humanity and the far larger, more important role we may eventually play in the universe.            James' Review∆

Imajica, by Clive Barker
Imajica is big. Really big. It's so big that it takes 5 parallel universes (and about 900 pages) to fill it. Luckily though, Clive Barker filled those 900 pages and 5 universes with something interesting, and the result is one of the strangest, coolest, mind-blowingest novels I've read in a long while. Imajica is a 4-tiered dominion that Barker has imagined, with Earth existing as the fifth "unreconciled" dominion.

Separated by an abyss of magic, every 200 years it's possible to reunite Earth with the 4 others with magic -- however, the last time it was attempted went horribly awry, resulting in magic and magical artifacts being wiped from existence and the history books on Earth. Now, 200 years have passed and it's pretty much the last chance to try again for fear that Earth would destroy itself through nuclear war or some other means. A huge cast of characters, interweaving storylines and plenty of horrific and fantastic imagery fill the entire novel, leaving the reader entranced.            James' Review∆

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Dubbed as "Harry Potter for adults," Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is so much more than that. Clarke fashions up a deeply realized alternate history of England where magic was once prevalent in society. Providing legitimacy to her alternate history are dozens of footnotes and imagined texts that are tapped to explain historical occurrences or terminology and so on. England has been without magic for years and, while magicians are still around, they simply research and study magic without being able to perform it until a Mr. Norrell demonstrates that he can. 

What begins is a sprawling quest through England and Faerie Land in search of the legendary and evil Raven King. More similar to the downplayed fantasy of John Crowley's Little, Big than the magical roller coaster of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the magic is subtle and not the absolute focus of the story. Clarke also has flavors of Austen, Peake and Dickens in her writing. Fans of those authors will find the book among the best around but someone looking for a more fast-paced and hyper-realized novel may be disappointed.            James' Review∆

The Sun also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
As a Hemingway fan, I'm among the last of a dying breed. Lots of people take issue with his writing for whatever reason- staccato sentences, male-dominated narratives, his chauvinistic attitudes etc., but frankly I love everything about the guy. The Sun Also Rises is the best of his novels; Hemingway follows Jake Barnes, a wounded veteran from the Great War, around the Pamplona festival in Spain. Extremely lean yet with gorgeously painted images of Spain in the 1920s, the story follows the thread of the 'damned good-looking' Brett and her numerous suitors, including Jake despite his inability to lead a sexual life thanks to his never fully explained war wound. It's got bull-fighting, fishing, expatriates, alcohol, beautiful women and much more squeezed into relatively small novel- is there much more you could ask for?            James' Review∆

The Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson
The author of the absolutely incredible (and hilarious) Snow Crash really outdid himself for his follow-up The Diamond Age. Set more or less in the same future universe, The Diamond Age extrapolates the next evolution in technology after the advent and initial luster of cybernetics and complete virtual reality. Stephenson goes head first towards the idea of nanotechnology, coming up with ideas I would have never thought to imagine. As the least talked about novel in Stephenson's recent works, I find it hard to believe it's under so many readers' radars- it's my personal favorite of his novels- take one part hard science fiction, one part social fiction via Victorian ideals, and the trademark Stephenson humor and you've got The Diamond Age.           James' Review

Reservation Blues, by Sherman Alexie
Blues legend Robert Johnson mysteriously appears at a crossroads at night in the Spokane Indian Reservation, and bestows his enchanted guitar to unwitting Thomas Builds-the-Fire, and modern native struggling with his own identity as a Spokane alongside with the rest of the western world. Johnson wanders on to the reservation in search of powerful medicine to break his mythic curse (as blues lore would tell you, Johnson supposedly sold his soul to devil in order to become a guitar master), and Thomas forms his own "all-Indian band" named Coyote Springs and embarks on a nationwide journey of fame and eventual downfall. Alexie's first book is rife with magical realism and Blues-lore and is an absolute blast to read. At the time I read it I cared little about Alexie, but this book made me a fan.            James' Review∆

Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
Another work of magical realism, and another novel that turned me on to an author entirely. Song of Solomon is the first book by Toni Morrison I read and reading it was a wonderful discovery. Song of Solomon is the story of a family named "Dead" , their sordid past and their troubled present. The main protagonist is Macon "Milkman" Dead the 3rd, who from an early age earned the reputation of a "mummy's boy" which haunts him to this day. Milkman searches for his own personal identity whilst sifting through and piecing together the mysteries of his family's previous generations. Take out the "blues lore" and replace it with "christian allegory" and you've got something not too dissimilar to Reservation Blues. The best part is the blatantly obvious allegoric names for Solomon's cast of characters- you'll run across characters such as First Corinthians, Aunt Pilate, and Magdalene, among others, each one filled with potential for extrapolation and research to find the heart of the character. A great read and quite moving, I'd recommend this to anyone.           James' Review∆

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
If you haven't read this yet, you owe it to yourself to do so as soon as possible. Seriously, what's the hold up? It's only 120-some pages and it's the funniest book you'll ever read. While there are five books in the series and some of the later ones I prefer to this one (but only just a little bit!), like all series volume one is an excellent place to start. Arthur Dent, a noodly, somewhat boring and tragically average English commoner and his best friend Ford Prefect (who is in fact a marooned journalist from Betelgeuse) get whisked away on to a Vogon space ship just moments after the Earth is destroyed to make way for an Intergalactic Superhighway. From there the Hitchhiker's Guide provides detailed entries on extraterrestrial culture and other things of significance while Ford and Arthur get sucked into a journey to find the mythic world of Magrathea, joined by the two-headed, three armed president of the Galaxy, a chronically depressed android and worst of all, Arthur's old crush back on Earth.           James' Review∆

 
Two AND Two: Poems by Denise Duhamel
Clever. Witty. Funny. Two AND Two by Denise Duhamel is a wonderful book of poetry. Covering everything from Noah to Woody Allen to an ABC Americano, Duhamel reminds us that serious poetry and serious ideas can come from jovial sources. Using Möbius strips, word play, and warning labels, her poems laugh out loud and hold a mirror to our world. Her ingenious use of words and style, her inspirations for her poems, and her ability to play on the page are the reasons I pick up this book weekly. I wonder. I miss her poems. I have to open her book again.  Carolyn's Review∆

Different Hours by Stephen Dunn
Stephen Dunn has risen through the ranks as my favorite poet thus far and Different Hours sees him at the top of his game. Witty, sarcastic, and heart-breakingly compassionate, Mr. Dunn has the unique ability to speak from places seemingly autobiographical yet reflect on our shared commonality. This is a collection I have read over and over again. There are a great many collections of poetry out there filled with the "hits and misses" but Stephen is reliable throughout. I would dare anyone to read his opening poem "Before the Sky Darken"” and not desire to keep reading. Did I mention he won a Pulitzer Prize for this book? There is a reason. My friend, Heather, has snagged my copy for the time being (and is rereading it), so I can't lend it out; however, stop in the store and maybe we can get you your very own!    Matthew's Review∆

Non-Fiction Reviews

Bonk:The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach I want to live next door to Mary Roach. I want to have tea with her, be at her elbow at dinners and cocktail parties, trade furtive notes during academic lectures. She may not be a "scientist" or a "sociologist". She could, however, be a "socioscientist". Oooh, rare to find one still out in the wild and able to publish! Mary Roach's most recent book is titled Bonk:The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, in which she describes how the scientific community has dealt with sex. And wow, is it difficult to write about that without puns! Roach doesn't bother avoiding the humor as she documents the scientific research inflicted on humans and animals in attempts to understand this "simple" biological function. All of Mary Roach's books have made me think deeply and laugh right out loud at the same time. This book is no exception. I wonder if next time she'll tackle the idea of what laughter is and what function it serves...    Katherine's Review∆

Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
It was one of my oldest and dearest friends who first introduced me to Who Moved My Cheese? When she first suggested I read the book I didn't think it was for me. In fact I was acting very much like "Hem", one of the main characters in the story. Fortunately for me, I finally decided to be more like "Haw" and take a chance on this book. I'm so glad I did. At its heart this is a book about overcoming fear. Haw writes on the walls of his maze my two favorite quotes from the book: "What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?" and "When You Move Beyond Your Fear, You Feel Free." While the style of writing and the story itself might seem simple, they in fact belie the very real truths and wisdom that this book contains. Whether it's in the past and overcome or something you are dealing with right now, I would recommend this book for anyone who has ever been afraid of or startled by change.     Liz's Review∆

The Middle of Everywhere: Helping Refugees Enter the American Community by Mary Pipher
It was a UNL History professor who first introduced me to the works of Mary Pipher when he assigned The Middle of Everywhere to our class. I was instantly entranced. Her intimate and relatable writing style make you feel like you are having a conversation with an old friend. This non-fiction story about refugees from many nations coming to Lincoln, Nebraska emphasizes the need for all of us to be "cultural brokers" - aiding the newest Americans in navigating their new homeland. And Pipher gives us a roadmap to do so, as she relates her own personal experiences with the refugees and gives concrete examples of what each of us can do to help. In our increasingly multi-cultural society I would recommend this book to anyone with a mind and heart to help their fellow human being.    Liz's Review∆

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dunbar
Sitting in Economics class four years ago was really what killed any and all interest I had in the subject...until I picked up Freakonomics, and found myself fascinated from page 1. Before reading this book, I would have been the first to say that, well to be blunt, that economics is BORING. However, this is not a textbook. Levitt uses the tools of economics to answer questions that flip "conventional wisdom" on its ear. His ideas may even seem down-right crazy at first, until he presents his argument, and presents his argument in a way that actually makes sense. I was flipped from disdainful about the very idea of economics to in awe of its nearly magical tools which, when wielded by the hand of Levitt, turn economics into Freakonomics.    Chris's Review∆

Evil Obsession: The Annie Cook Story by Nellie Snyder Yost
I've been on a history binge recently, so it seemed only natural to read Evil Obsession: The Annie Cook Story by Nellie Snyder Yost, a book combining true crime with Nebraska history. Annie Cook was a nasty piece of work who lived in North Platte during the first half of the 20^th century and made plenty of folks there miserable even after her life ended. Among her many offenses, she enslaved and beat her sister and foster son, killed her daughter, ran a "poor farm" like a gulag, and manipulated her friends and neighbors ruthlessly for her own gain. After she died, her estate was tied up in court for years and yielded very little to her survivors. I was fascinated by this book not just for the menace Annie Cook embodied, but for the view of rural Nebraska a century ago, the small-town politics and concerns that occupied the citizens and allowed a person like Annie Cook to flourish. It reminds one that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Katherine's Review∆

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
Ahhh...Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. I collect books of quotations like some people collect knickknacks or buttons. But my first and most loved of all my quote books is the tried and true Bartlett's. I can open to any page and find beautiful phrasings or intriguing thoughts, and have often tracked down and read the original sources. This book is a constant inspiration. In addition, one can learn who originated a thought or phrase and trace how it has changed over time to become the phrase we are most familiar with. Anyone interested in "phrase-ology" and the influence of words over time (or those like me who geek out over pretty language) should leaf through Bartlett's.     Katherine's Review∆

Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison
If there is one book on this planet I would encourage anyone to read regarding suicide, whether they be dealing with depression, an academic, a counselor, or someone who has been affected by it, this is the book. Never have I read something so intelligent, so compassionate, or so heart-wrenching. Dr. Jamison has worked with this subject professionally for most of her adult life as a clinical psychiatrist and personally dealing with her own manic-depressive illness and suicidal thoughts. Expertly, she weaves in facts and figures in one chapter, detailing trends, statistics, and studies; the next chapter she inserts accounts from those who have attempted or commited suicide and those who were left with its devestating effects. This back and forth throughout the book gives you time to breathe and contemplate before diving back into the real life implications. It is an intense and eye-opening ride. A definite must for anyone who has interest in this subject personally or professionally.    Matthew's Review∆

War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign To Create a Master Race by Edwin Black
This is one sick book. And not sick as in 'cool'. Edwin Black weaves together a dark story about our own eugenics history; well researched and well told... but one that will make you angry, sad, and disgusted. Mr. Black's approachable writing styles and sensitivity to such a horrible part of American history makes this a solid read. He leaves his judgment confined to the beginning and end of the book and presents you with a guts-bared view of human history. Science, money, power, sex, and the major movers and shakers of world history all seem to have had a finger in eugenics programs. I burned through half of this book sitting in Aromas in Omaha, NE and the following day finished the other half at Lincoln's own Coffee House. Absolutely compelling and scary reading.  
Matthew's Review∆

 
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust
The new book by Harvard University president and History professor, Drew Gilpin Faust, is a masterpiece. It describes in riveting detail the astounding death toll of the American Civil War and how the citizens of this country dealt with the trauma. Faust develops her history using references as diverse as church pamphlets, military records and letters, eyewitness accounts, poetry, and personal ads in newspapers of the time. Her writing skills are matched with an impressive ability to analyze and synthesize an almost overwhelming amount of data. The Civil War challenged our Victorian ideals of a "good death". It disrupted family and community rituals of death occurring close to home and closely supervised. Traumatized soldier and civilian alike were affected and everyone suffered. This is a book I'm going to read again, and very soon. It gave me another lens through which to view this vital period of American history, and anyone seeking to understand more about the complexity and lessons of the American Civil War will find this book of immeasurable value.
Katherine's Review∆

Dueling Chefs: A Vegetarian & A Meat Lover Debate the Plate   by Maggie Pleskac and Sean Carmichael
This is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. Maggie & Sean have been friends for years. She is the Chef-Owner of Maggie's Vegetarian Cafe & he is the Executive Chef at Chez Hay. This book offers friendly competition for your taste buds as both try to outdo the other with sumptuous, tempting recipes. Aside from mouth-watering dishes that will inspire you in the kitchen, the witty repartee between the two chefs makes for hilariously entertaining reading. Even if you DON'T like to cook, you'll enjoy reading this book. (Brownville has been honored to host the chef-authors for events like the "Pairing Food & Wine" program during the annual Wine, Writers & Song Festival. They're a hoot. If you have a chance to see them, go!)    Cinnamon's Review∆

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
There are graphic novels, and there are memoirs. A growing trend in book publishing is the graphic novel memoir, as illustrated (no pun intended) by Art Spiegelman's Maus and Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. I highly recommend Alison Bechdel's Fun Home as a superlative example of this genre. Bechdel explores her relationship with her father, a volatile and closeted gay man, through memories, photographs, and newspaper articles; she discovers herself by translating her father. Bechdel's artwork is evocative and her writing is excellent, with references to Homer and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I've already read it twice and have plans to read it again!
Katherine's Review∆

My Alexandria by Mark Doty
Years ago Cinnamon recommended this collection of poems to me; I have gone back to it again and again. Mark Doty has a keen eye for detail, however isn't heavy handed about it. He starts off with a punch with the poem "Demolition" and sails through a poems that are forgiving, redemptive, and powerful. If you are in the mood for a good, tight collection of poems, this should be on your shelf.    Matthew's Review∆

Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman
I can't help but think of Chuck Klosterman as a genius. You ever happen upon an author's (or band's, politician's[!]...) work and find yourself loving/agreeing with every single idea they've ever conceived? Well that pretty much sums up my reaction to this dude's body of work. So as you can imagine it's maybe a little difficult to settle on just one of his books to review here but I'm going with Fargo Rock City partly because that's the one I blindly picked out of the hat but mostly because it is my fave.

This book is an account of the 80's heavy metal/glam metal music scene going on on the Sunset Strip as experienced by the author whilst growing up in rural North Dakota. Metal was his life. However, I am in no way or have ever been a metal fan (though I did like a few bands he writes about) but that did not stop me from enjoying this book. It was still very hilarious and wildly entertaining to the point where I find myself rereading whole passages multiple times just because its so good. And really, each chapter is more like an essay on whichever topic he is writing about (in more or less chronological order) such as his favorite “essential” metal records from the era to a whole chapter on everyone's favorite all female band, Poison. This works out so well that when you go back to reread it you (like me, oh about once a year...) you don't necessarily need to read each chapter in order. I just like to open the book and read from whichever random page I land on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes music and not just to fans of this type of music.    Kevin's Review ∆

Princess by Jean Sasson
You'll read this in a whirlwind, it's so compelling. It's the true story of Sultana, a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family, who gives a first hand account of how women are treated in that part of the world. Although Sultana lives a  life of privilege, it is within the confines of a male-dominated society in which women are denied education, forced into marriages at young ages, and suffer horribly if they cross the lines of strict Saudi Arabian custom. Sultana's story is interwoven with true accounts of other women, some relatively wealthy, some not. Some of them manage to survive. One is drowned by her father in the family pool for "shaming her family". Another is forced into isolation for the rest of her life for falling in love. Throughout the book, Sasson reminds us that these abuses are not the hallmark of Islam and that it is a misinterpretation of the Koran that leads to this kind of oppression. This is an eye-opening read...for everyone, not just the Women's Studies major.   Cinnamon's Review∆

 
The Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey
Thirty miles west of San Francisco in the Pacific Ocean lie the Farallon Islands, also known as The Devil's Teeth. Coincidentally, it is one of the best places in the world to view great white sharks up close in the wild, as Susan Casey relates in her book, The Devil's Teeth. The title is apt as it describes both the habitat and the underwater denizens. Although great white sharks were her main interest in visiting the Farallones, Casey does a remarkable job with the other inhabitants: sea lions, killer whales, cassin auklets, cormorants, and the few humans that brave living there for research or sea urchins. In fact, the Farallon Islands themselves play a key role in this cast of characters. Casey outlines the history of human interaction with the Islands, in which the humans tend to lose.
I think I expected a single-issue book about sharks. What I got was an ecosystem that was fascinating and rich with context. Silly me: I should remember that nothing in nature is simple, and that nothing exists in a vacuum. This book was a very rewarding reminder.    Katherine's Review∆

 
Out of Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal Heresy, and One of the Rarest Books in the World by Lawrence Goldstone and Nancy Goldstone
I was drawn to Out of Flames by two words: heresy and book. I was elated to find that it met my expectations. Unlike The Devil in the White City, which I enjoyed but sometimes felt bogged down by its too many historical references, Out of Flames surprised and delighted me on every page. Telling a 16th century story of the early roots of the Unitarian Church, we learn about Michael Servetus, a heretic. Unlike other heretics, he not only challenged the Catholic Church but also John Calvin and he discovered how blood circulates in the human body. The story is not simple, weaving Church history, early science experiments, and politics, but the book is knowledgeable and the story remarkable. Of Servetus’ original writings, only three books remain…powerful books that preserved early scientific discoveries and contributions to church reformation. An engaging, historical read.  Carolyn's Review∆

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Cadavers lead a very active life. When else can you be in three or more places at one time? You think your body would just by lying about, doing nothing, but there are so many processes and stages going about, and Mary Roach tackled this precarious subject with a good balance of respect, candor, objectivism, and humor. She interviews anatomy students, practicing plastic surgery techniques on cadaver heads, on how they cope with working on a person's decapitated corpse. Roach relates how ancient and Victorian medical practitioners used human remains as medicinal remedies...sometimes the cures were worse than the maladies. She also discusses the new, "eco" ways of disposing of our remains when we pass away. When the question is put to Roach of what will become of her remains, she has come to the conclusion that it is for the surviving to decide, as they are the ones that will have to live with the decision. This is an entertaining, if sometimes morbid book, spiced throughout with just the right amount of humor. Julie's Review∆

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
If you enjoy books like Krakauer's Into the Wild, consider picking up this work of non-fiction. It tells the tale of the  Gloucester fishermen who died aboard the Andrea Gail, which was lost at sea during the 1991 Storm of the Century. Originally published in much-abbreviated form in "Outside" magazine, it retains a journalistic feel. Overall, I like this book for the sense of culture and place that it provides, which is far different than what I know as a land-locked Nebraskan. In my largely indoor life, it can be easy to forget what a beautiful and sometimes terrifying force weather can be. Clearly, in the fishing village of Gloucester, sea-changes have real meaning. This is a great "stay-cation" book. Get into it and go someplace completely different.
Cinnamon's Review∆

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Persepolis chronicles the experience of a young girl in Iran in the wake of the Islamic Revolution.  In this autobiography that takes the form of a graphic novel (storyboarded like a comic strip), we see how Marjane's world of relative freedom shrinks under the restrictions of the new regime that requires women and girls to wear the veil.  It's a fantastic book, reminiscent of Art Spiegelman's Maus (graphic novel about the holocaust) but wholly its own in terms of how it portrays the frustrations of a teenager forbidden by law to express teenage angst in the usual ways.  Marjane offers tragedy but also humor - as well as a historical view of Iran from someone who lived it.  If you liked Reading Lolita in Tehran, you'll devour this book in a single night.  (Also appropriate for mid-late teens.) Cinnamon's Review ∆

The Conservative Mind from Burke to Eliot, by Russell Kirk
While all of us may have had our fill of politics lately, I promise this is not one of *those* books.  Mr. Kirk does a great job of bringing the reader through the evolution of conservatism, the paradigms ingrained within, and offers a rational look at how this political philosophy has gone askew in modern times.  This is an excellent, enlightening and educational read; a must-read for anyone (conservative, liberal, progressive, etc) interested in continuing to expand their philosophical, political and intellectual experience.
Matthew's Review∆

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, by  Charles Wheelan
I can hear the groans erupting when you read the title.  Economics, especially now, is not a popular subject.  However, Mr. Wheelen does a wonderful job of addressing common Economic concepts in a light-hearted and entertaining way. 

From the lay person to the expert I can guarantee you will find this tome an enjoyable read and useful resource.  Interest rates to inflation, supply to demand, Naked Economics tackles this ideas in a thoroughly academic and accessible way.  It is the only Economics text that has caused me to laugh out loud while reading.
Matthew's Review∆

The Long Death, by Ralph K Andrist
In The Long Death, Ralph K. Andrist chronicles the demise of the Plains Indians as a result of western expansion through the United States. Andrist focuses on the decades between 1840 and 1900 when the Native tribes were systematically dislocated and decimated by Eastern settlers as they sought new territory. Using specific details of events, Andrist illustrates larger themes of imperialism and, indeed, a cultural genocide. This is a cogent and very engaging narrative by a well-respected journalist, and it compares favorably with Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown, who wrote the introduction to the Bison Books edition of The Long Death.          Katherine's Review∆

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson
One day in 1993, high up in the world's most inhospitable mountains, Greg Mortenson wandered lost and alone, broken in body and spirit, after a failed attempt to climb K2, the world's deadliest peak. When the people of an impoverished village in Pakistan's Karakoram Himalaya took him in and nursed him back to health, Mortenson made an impulsive promise: He would return one day and build them a school. Although he was a homeless "climbing bum" living out of his aging Buick in Berkeley, California, Mortenson sold what few possessions he had to launch one of the most remarkable humanitarian campaigns of our time. Three Cups of Tea traces Mortenson's decade-long odyssey to build schools, especially for girls, throughout the region that gave birth to the Taliban and sanctuary to Al Qaeda. While he wages war with the root causes of terrorism-- poverty and ignorance-- by providing both girls and boys with a balanced, nonextremist education, Mortenson must survive a kidnapping, fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, death threats from Americans who consider him a traitor, and wrenching separations from his family. Today, as the director of the Central Asia Institute, Mortenson has built fifty-five schools serving Pakistan and Afghanistan's poorest communities. And as this real-life Indiana Jones from Montana crisscrosses the Himalaya and the Hindu Kush fighting to keep these schools functioning, he provides not only hope to tens of thousands of children, but living proof that one passionately dedicated person truly can change the world. ∆

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary, by Simon Winchester
This book was suggested to me by one of my librarian friends.  The OED is often spoken about in tones of awe and extreme reverence by those who know of it.  Currently, there are several editions of the OED.  The two-volume set, which I had the opportunity of seeing once, is printed on the finest paper, and comes with its own magnifying glass!  Winchester is a wonderful writer, blending the bazaar story of one of the OED’s contributors with the background story of the creation and production of the OED.  I warn you though – unless you are an erudite sesquipedalian, have a dictionary handy while reading.  The book is almost justification to go out and buy a version of the OED yourself; so many words that are not used in everyday language are sprinkled throughout.  It’s a very enjoyable read, and I suggest it to anyone that wants to perhaps feel a little smarter as they read a bit of non-fiction.
Julie's Review ∆

The Coming Plague, by Laurie Garret
Although written in 1991, The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett remains pertinent in this day of the West Nile virus, bird flu, and antibacterial "fever." Garrett takes on plague in all of its ugly varieties, drawing together factors affecting its genesis and spread including global economics, nationalism and war, biological (and political) science, and culture. She succeeds in bringing a dizzying array of variables into a cohesive whole. This is a large and ambitious study, but don't be intimidated by its size: it is an immensely (no pun intended) readable book.          Katherine's Review ∆

A Gathering of Zion, by Wallace Stegner
The history of the Mormon faith is entwined with the history of westward expansion in this country, as Wallace Stegner asserts in A Gathering of Zion. Stegner chronicles the development of Mormonism from Joseph Smith in the eastern United States across the Mormon trail and on to Brigham Young and the founding of the state of Utah. Along the way he elaborates on shifting church doctrines and the trials of the faithful. I found Stegner's writing informative yet informal, making this a page-turner even for those of us who have found history dull in the past. In fact, this book led me to other Mormon and western histories, and I have read other Stegner titles which I found delightful.          Katherine's Review∆

Into Thin Air, by John Krakauer
Mount Everest continues to fascinate climbers and armchair travelers alike, especially after the 1993 disaster when a number of people lost their lives trying to reach the summit. Several books have been written about this event, but my favorite remains Into Thin Air by John Krakauer. As both a participant (a climber) and an observer (a journalist covering the ascent), Krakauer was in a unique position to relate the event and its aftermath. A veteran explorer and writer, Krakauer not only reports the details of the disaster and introduces us to the people involved, but brings up the question: Why do we feel compelled to conquer the unconquerable?          Katherine's Review∆

If I Had To Live My Life Over Again... I Would Wear More Purple (Martz ed.)
Taking its theme from the Jenny Joseph poem ( which also influenced the Red Hat Society), the women in this anthology combine artwork and poetry to explore their own and others' aging. It's a beautiful book and a perfect gift for the special woman in your life who is concerned about aging or who is celebrating her own process and progress.          Katherine's Review∆

And the Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic, by Randy Shilts
The AIDS epidemic is older than I am. I was -3 when the tall ships sailed into New York Harbor in 1976, and by the time I started listening to what was on the news, Ryan White was getting kicked out of school. I tell my mother that this twisted time is one of the reasons that I find such offensiveness as South Park so funny... but as sick as my sense of humor may be, nothing about this book is even remotely amusing. Beginning with the first diagnosed human cases of HIV and tracking the rise of the epidemic into the 1980's, Randy Shilts' masterpiece presents a jarringly scientific and thoroughly alarming study of the biggest embarrassment of my lifetime. Very few things have ever inspired as much anger in my heart as reading of America's complete refusal to protect its own from what it selfishly declared to be a threat only to those for which it could care less. What chain of events led to innocent children and cultural icons, people far from the dregs of society, dying of AIDS? Check this out: "By the time President Reagan had delivered his first speech on the epidemic of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 36,058 Americans had been diagnosed with the disease; 20,849 had died." And that was in 1987, four years after Isaac Asimov contracted HIV from a blood transfusion, more than ten years after the virus landed in the US. Now, read the whole book - there are things in here that we all ought to know, as appalling as they may be.            Kirsten's Review∆

Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission, by Hampton Sides
Okay: I have to say, I really did only read this because I've seen Back to Bataan like, 24 times*. And it had been sitting on my father's desk for a couple of weeks, which is usually a good sign. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the ABSOLUTE HORROR contained within its pages. That's pleasantly surprised by the way the author tells the story, not pleasantly surprised that this horror itself was actually visited upon actual people. That would be cruel of me. Frankly, it totally blows my mind that this actually happened to people. Over 70,000 American and Filipino soldiers began the Bataan Death March, which makes up the background of Sides' story, and 10,000 of them had died by the time 160 kilometers had been covered. Not only did they have dysentery, dehydration, malnutrition, and really really mean Japanese soldiers to deal with, these fellows even managed to be shelled by the remaining Allied forces defending Corrigedor. It's like they were utterly cursed from the get-go. I mean, what do you do when your enemy finally surrenders, and you end up with an island full of starving prisoners who outnumber you? Well, torture them, apparently. By the time the Rangers liberated the prison camp at Cabanatuan, the focal point of Ghost Soldiers, only 500 survivors of the march remained. This is a scary lil' bit of history, frighteningly relevant in the age of Gitmo.           Kirsten's Review∆

Running with Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs
The next time you're at a family dinner and you get slightly uncomfortable when your little brother, while spending about two hours on the toilet suddenly asks your father where babies come from, take comfort in the fact that there is no way in the universe that anyone's family can be nearly as weird, unconventional, or screwed up as the Finch family. In this striking memoir, young Augusten Burroughs' psychotic mother gives him up to be raised by her psychiatrist. "Raised" is too loose a term, however, as there is a complete lack of structure in Dr. Finch's household of squalor. Hilarious, tragic, and above all shocking, this book is a definite page turner; it will grab hold of your most morbid curiosity and not let go until every microscopic cell of your body is grateful that you were never obligated to gather around the toilet to look at your father's bowel movement as a way of determining when financial prosperity would next fall upon the family.           Molly's Review∆

A Natural History of the Senses, by Diane Ackerman
A good non-fiction read, Diane Ackerman takes her skills as a poet to write a very lyrical scientific and historic account of the body's five senses. It is quite challenging to use writing to describe things as abstract and individualized as scent or sight, yet Ackerman manages this, and the result is a very pleasant synesthesia filled with personal and historical anecdotes.            Molly's Review∆

The Liars Club, by Mary Karr
This is a delightful, often poignant memoir of a girl who grows up in a dysfunctional family living in the eastern part of Texas, a place which we can deduce, by Karr's careful description, is more or less Hell on earth. Karr tells her story in a way which shows how rampant alcoholism, seven different step-fathers, and maternal psychotic rages were all just a normal part of growing up. However, Karr stresses that there was a lot of love in her family. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to recommend it.           Molly's Review∆

  Notes from a Small Island, by Bill Bryson
I love Bill Bryson, but it's best not to read him in a public place lest you want people to look at you in fear while you laugh your brains out. Seriously, Bryson doesn't always let you see the humor coming. Having forewarned you, Notes from a Small Island details Bryson's final trip around the United Kingdom before moving his family to the United States. He resided in the UK for some twenty years, and fills this travel-log with all the hilarious quirks he encounters from the natives. From formidable B&B hostesses to place names like "Pinhead", Anglophiles will get the most out of Notes, but I have a notion anyone who likes to laugh will enjoy it.           Molly's Review∆

Stasiland:  True Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall, by Anna Funder
This is perhaps the best nonfiction book I have ever read. Stasiland is a collection of interviews from both the spies (Stasi) and the victims of the German Democratic Republic, where it seems every citizen was under surveillance. It reads remarkably like a novel, almost postmodern at times. The author, a native Australian who spends several years in the former GDR, shows a remarkable amount of knowledge and compassion for her subject material. Showcasing triumphs and failures of communist Eastern Germany, this book should appeal to anyone, history buff or not. It is beautifully written.           Molly's Review∆

Greek Science, by Benjamin Farrington
Those Greek dudes, they were pretty smart, you know? It's really pretty cool to see just how much these ancient guys were able to come up with without any of the modern technology and research that we so take for granted these days. Benjamin Farrington has put together a great selection of writings with commentary from brilliant classical thinkers like Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Hippocrates, Empedocles and so on, covering a huge range of ancient science concerning medicine, physics, mathematics and just about everything under the sun. It's a great bit of mind food that should be an awesome starting point for anyone interested in science before the modern era. It's quick and easy to read and chock full of goodies.           James' Review∆

Apocalypse Pretty Soon, by Alex Heard
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! At least, that's what a wide range of Americans living today are saying, either in public or simply muttering it to themselves. Alex Heard is on the job, trekking across the nation and giving us the 411 on the numerous religious, secular, and just plain strange groups of folks that are dead certain that the end times (or at least a completely unorthodox social upheaval) are just over the horizon. Fascinating, hilarious and terrifying (for entirely the wrong reasons); If you though Scientology was a wacky, you've not seen anything yet! Pretty Soon can be taken in bits at a time, with each chapter focusing on an entirely different phenomena or group from that which preceded it. It's got UFOs, secret militants, die hard conspirators, futurists, new-agers, everything you can think of at the absolute fringes of Americana.           James' Review∆

Cosmos, by Carl Sagan
Pardon if I'm a bit opinionated, but Carl Sagan's Cosmos is probably the coolest television series ever to come along. Even though it was a bit before my time (thank the Gods for Google Video!), the information presented is still just as relevant and riveting today as it was in 1980. Much like the recent "Planet Earth" documentary, Sagan tackles almost every facet of astronomy in this printed recap/companion to the show. Cosmos is filled with full color illustrations and offers a crash course in basically the entire history of the universe; the physics of bodies in space, how and when we will travel to other worlds, how space has contributed to evolution of life on Earth, the list is almost endless.           James' Review∆

Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi
I first read this book during a course examining cultural literacy and its importance: Reading Lolita in Tehran is the account of Iranian professor Azar Nafisi during her time teaching English in the nation's capital, particularly the private lectures she gave to her best, female students concerning banned western novels. As they discuss Jane Austen, Vladimir Nabokov, Henry James and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Reading Lolita shows not only the student's reactions to the texts but also delves into their personal lives and Nafisi's own reflections concerning the political and cultural climate in Iran. This is a phenomenal book to read if you're interested in textual criticism or simply the power of books, and it also sheds a great deal of light on the world Iranian's have lived in since the rise of the Ayatollah.           James' Review∆

  A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson
Much like Sagan's book mentioned earlier, Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything tackles much of the same issues. Like Cosmos Bryson serves up damned near every nook and cranny of scientific interest, but instead focuses not so much on the hows and whys of these discoveries but rather the whens and wheres. Bryson, in his typical sense of humor serves up in a very light text just how mankind came to realize the inner-workings of the universe. I find it is a great companion to Cosmos, in that it shares the same exuberance for the scientific realm as well and also offers a much broader range of topics. If you A) like to laugh and B) find science even remotely interesting, you owe it to yourself to track this one down.            James' Review∆

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, by Douglas Hoftstadter
Oh man, this one's a doozy of a book. If you've been keeping up with this page you probably have an idea that I'm a sucker for dense, sprawling, "crush-a-small-animal-if-dropped" tomes of literature: this is no exception. This is an absolutely brilliant book but it certainly takes some work to complete. Hoftstadter's thesis on mathematics and philosophy blends the ideas of the three namesake figures with his own prose, wit and conclusions. You'll solve puzzles, catch hints, smile at a few jokes, learn a thing or two about mathematics and in the end, regardless of what background you come from, you'll feel like a pretty smart cookie.           James' Review∆

Hyperspace, by Michio Kaku
Michio Kaku is probably the coolest theoretical physicist in the world right now. As one of the leading supporters for superstring theory, it should make sense that he would be the person to go to in order to learn about this strange new concept. Hyperspace is an amazingly easy read, using simple analogies like fish underwater and purely layman's vocabulary to explain complicated ideas. Kaku has a bright sense of humor and deep love & fascination for the material at hand, and has the ability to teach any reader a thing or two.           James' Review∆

America: The Book, by Jon Stewart
America (The Book) is almost too funny. Structured so as to mimic a high school textbook (it even has the "issued to student x" stamp on the inside cover), the book is fully-illustrated and packed with activities. I've never seen a book packed thicker with belly-laughs in all my time. You'll find something to laugh out loud about on every page no matter if you're a liberal, conservative or communist. The best part is, you might actually even learn a thing or two about American Government that you may have forgotten or even glossed over back in High School. Funny *and* informative!           James' Review∆

Children's Literature Reviews

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
This is a wonderful book to read aloud to your kids. Isabel was 5 the winter we read Because of Winn-Dixie. Every night for a week, we curled up to read for an hour or so. She loved Opal (10), who has moved with her preacher father to a new town. Opal has questions about her absent mother and feels out of sorts in her new environment. She finds a dog that she names Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie offers humor and companionship and gives Opal a sense of responsibility. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal meets new friends and draws closer to her father. Kate DiCamillo creates great characters. This is a touching and entertaining book. After our week of reading, Isabel & I watched the movie based on the book. It was a good adaptation – and a great experience to see my daughter notice differences between the book and the movie. That launched a conversation about decisions writers/directors/costumers make when adapting a book for the screen. ("EVERYTHING in movies is a choice? Even the CLOTHES people wear? Whoa!") Yeah...whoa. One of the best things about parenting is opening up their little minds!           Cinnamon's Review∆

                                                                                                                                                                                               The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan has the magic and monsters of Harry Potter mixed with an element of X-Men that creates a captivating and wonderful adventure story. Percy Jackson has ADHD and has been kicked out of several schools. He doesn't seem to fit in, that is, until he accidentally vaporizes his math teacher. What we discover is that Percy is no average 12 year-old, but rather the son of a Greek god. In fact, his ADHD is merely caused by his incredible ability to read ancient Greek. I wish I had that problem! What is wonderful about Riordan's story is that not only does Percy's quest introduce the reader to Medusa, Cerberus, Procrustes, Titans, and Minotaures but it successfully blends a modern coming of age story with classical storytelling. It kept me captivated. The hero in this book really is a hero, whether he succeeds or not. The Lightning Thief is a clever and fun read. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading about Percy's other adventures.
Carolyn's Review∆

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
I picked this up at my 6 year-old daughter's book fair with the intention of reading it myself. She was intrigued and asked slyly, "So...if you're going to read that book to yourself...what if I just sit next to you and you SAY the words OUT LOUD?" And that is how we came to read this book together. It's a huge book, practically a door stop, but don't let that deter you. We were entranced. Hugo is an orphan who winds the clocks at a train station in Paris. Isabelle is the bookish, eccentric granddaughter of a cranky old toy shop owner. Hugo gradually begins to trust her enough to allow her into the mystery surrounding his prized possession: a mechanical man he has been slowly repairing over time. What does the mechanical man do? Why was he created? Who created him? These questions drive Hugo & Isabelle to visit bookstores, theaters and a film school. It's a great story. What's remarkable about it, though, is the illustrations. There are pages of them at a time...and they not only illustrate the text but serve to move the plot on their own, which makes for especially fun reading with a 6 year-old! Winner of the 2007 Caldecott Award, this is an innovative book geared toward younger readers...but it is thoroughly enjoyable at any age.   
Cinnamon's Review∆

Messenger by Lois Lowry
Messenger ends Lowry's dystopia series that began with her Newberry Award winning novel The Giver. In Messenger, characters from The Giver and Gathering Blue have escaped or left their unwelcoming communities to travel to Village, a place that supports and nourishes undesirables. Lowry gracefully weaves social criticism with a touching story about fitting in and individual strength. Like her other novels in the series, Messenger leaves the reader with only some closure, but with an overwhelming sense of hope. Messenger not only satisfies young adult literary requirements by providing a mix of genre, a fast paced story, and a main character, Matty, who begins to move to adulthood, but also tells an enjoyable and magical story. I enjoyed this novel because Lowry reminded me that family and community are important. She does so without being didactic, but rather by telling a wonderful story about the good of humanity.
Carolyn's Review∆

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
With the recent loss of our beautiful store cat, Silas, my thoughts have naturally turned to dealing with grief and the process of acceptance.  Someone once asked me what I do when I feel lost and drifting, and my answer was heartfelt: I go back to my children's books, as they hold wisdom in simplicity while not being simplistic. I took my own advice and opened up The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst. In this picture book, a boy is mourning Barney the cat, who has just died. The boy's mother suggests he think of ten good things about Barney to say at the funeral...he can only think of nine. His process of discovering the tenth is his story about traveling through grief and coming to terms with his loss. This is a fantastic book to share with a young person undergoing his or her own coping journey and I believe it excellent for us older folks as well. Simple, not simplistic. As I thumbed through The Tenth Good Thing About Barney last night in preparation for writing this recommendation, I learned when I had last opened this book. Falling out of the book were photographs of our first great store cat, Mr. O.K. It seems I had taken my own good advice before, and before this book closes again, it will have a picture of Silas resting next to the photograph of O.K.    Katherine's Review∆       

The Kitten Book, by Jan Pfloog
Having this picture book as a child is probably the reason that I am such a cat lover today.  Also, it is one of the few books that I can remember having as a child – remembering the wonderful drawings exactly as they were from all those years ago.  The first thing you notice are the big eyes staring back at you, and that the book isn’t squared off like others – it takes the shape of the cats on the cover!  It takes you through kitties’ development from their eyes being shut to discovering their world.  The illustrations are colorful, expressive and full of movement, just like kittens should be.  My favorite is the one of two kitties discovering a turtle.  This is just right for a child around 4-years old and they’ll treasure it for years to come. Julie's Review ∆

Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell
This Young Adult selection is a former Newbery Award Medal winner.  My fifth-grade teacher read it aloud to our class, and when I saw it on our shelf at the store, I decided to re-visit this classic.  It is based on true events, about a young woman who was found to have spent 18 years alone on the island of San Nicholas.

As it starts, Karana is only 12 years old, and is the daughter of the chief of Ghalas-at, as they called San Nicholas.  In the spring, a group of Aleuts led by a Russian came to hunt otters on the island.  They made a deal with the chief to give half to the tribe.  As they were leaving, they reneged on their deal, and there was a fight between the Aleuts and the tribesmen.  Many were lost. 

Life is hard on the island after that, and the workload is redistributed between the remaining men and the women of the tribe.  The next spring, one of the elders decides to find a new island to the East for them to live, with the white men.  A ship returns with white men to take the tribe to the new land, but Karana is left behind.  And now she must learn how to survive - how to find food, make shelter, make clothes, make weapons, repair canoes, and fend off wild animals.  But what will be her biggest enemy - the wild animals, or loneliness?  This is a beautifully written book - you can almost picture the island in your mind, it is so well described.  Even after so many years, I still remembered parts of it.  If you like this book, you might also like "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George.
Julie's Review∆

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
There are some books out there that really do choose you.  Sometimes, not in the noblest way. 

Ms. Hanson, my sixth-grade teacher, required every Friday we sit in silence for forty-five minutes in class and read a book of our choosing. To get twenty-some odd 'tweens' to sit in quietly anywhere is idealistic at best; expecting them to /actually read /while surrounded by their peers probably borders on delusion. 

So Friday comes along and I haven't a clue what I'm going to bring to class.  I hadn't had anything the previous weeks and was getting pretty sick and tired of staying after school "serving time" for my blatant disregard for this completely unreasonable exercise.  I literally run into the library between passing classes, grab the first book I see, and head on in. 

Ender's Game blew me away.

A group of young gifted children are groomed in simulated war games to fight off an alien species that had attacked earth decades before any of them were born.  It wasn't the action, or even the science fiction appeal that pulled me (and many of the other Card fans I've met) in.  Orson Scott Card does a remarkable job of telling the /story/ of his characters.  Themes of forgiveness, the "grey" areas of morality, and the awkwardness of family ties permeate this book; really forcing the reader to love characters not out of their inherent goodness, but because ultimately we forgive them for their faults and weaknesses.

This is a perfect book though, for young and old alike.  I revisit Andrew "Ender" Wiggin's story at least once a year.  Easy to read, fast-paced, and enjoyable.  There is little 'literary flare' in this tome, be aware; if you are looking for an excellent novel from a master story-teller, this is for you.  James' Review∆

Bunnicula, by James Howe
Its hard to beat a vampire bunny for sheer entertainment value. One who sucks vegetables white. Beware, crispers of the world! Toss in a paranoid cat and a somewhat less concerned dog, along with an innocent human family, and youre ready for mayhem around the house. Check out the sequels as well, including The Celery Stalks at Midnight. My copy notes and 8-12 year old age range, but dramatic readings from this book on road trips with your friends make the time fly by.          Katherine's Review ∆

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes
Wanda has 100 dresses but she always wears the same plain blue one to school where the other girls tease her. When she moves away suddenly she leaves behind some precious gifts, tangible and intangible, for her classmate Maddie. Teaching compassion, tolerance, and the value of not making assumptions, this book is perfect for a girl between 7 and 11 years old.           Katherine's Review ∆

The Music of the Dolphins, by Karen Hesse
This remarkable book, suitable for children ages 9 and up, raises several important questions about the primacy of human society over animal society and how we define families. At the age of four, Mila is shipwrecked and raised by dolphins. When she is rescued as a teenager she is taught human language, music and social mores, but yearns for her "true" family. Hesse describes the journey Mila takes very effectively and the story sweeps you along. I highly recommend Karen Hesses other books as well.           Katherine's Review ∆

The Fairy Tale Books of Andrew Lang
I cut my teeth on this series at a very early age, particularly The Red Fairy Book. We had a red (natch) cloth-bound copy that I read literally to shreds. Since then Ive collected the entire series (thoughtfully reprinted by Dover), all twelve "colors." Andrew Lang was a collector of fairy tales from Grimm and Andersen and beyond, and printed them, along with gorgeous woodcuts, in a series of red, blue, lilac, yellow, etc. Im sure that early on they were read to me, but I sought them out ever after. A glorious collection, including old favorites and the obscure stories one delights in finding.          Katherine's Review ∆

Bridge to Terabithia, by Katharine Paterson
One of the reasons why I like this story is because it involves a close friendship between a boy and a girl at an age when these relationships tend to be discouraged a child's peer group. Written for children ages 8-12, the book still has appeal for me as an example of thinking outside of the box and the power of imagination. Paterson also deals very tenderly and realistically about loss. One of the many children's books I reread.           Katherine's Review ∆

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
My fifth-grade teacher, Miss Pepperl, read this to us as a class, and it was a profound experience. Yes, she was an excellent reader, but the experience wasn't diminished by the fact that she couldn't read some of the last parts of the book: she had a student read it aloud instead while she hid in the closet. She couldn't bear it and would start crying. Tragedy and grief affect kids every day, and I think it is an important subject for them to explore in literature as a way to deal with and learn from their actual experiences. Don't get me wrong: this book isn't such a downer. A boy, his two coon dogs, the Ozarks, their escapades - and lots of sheer joy, which is the flipside of sadness.           Katherine's Review ∆

When Thunders Spoke, by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
This is a contemporary Dakota Sioux story about a reservation family experiencing strange occurrences when the fifteen-year-old son recovers a old coup stick from the land. A coming-of-age story told with mysticism and history, with values familial and cultural. Check out her other books written for pre-teens and teens, especially High Elk's Treasure.           Katherine's Review ∆

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt
A family drinks from an everlasting spring of water - and becomes immortal. This family moves from place to place over the years to escape attention - and comes upon a girl who needs some attention. Learn about what can happen between them through this book, and what wisdom people can have as they travel through their lives - however long they last.          Katherine's Review ∆

Lizard Music, by D. Manus Pinkwater
Imagination. This is the most important element of children's books. Imagination nurtures brain development, addresses worlds children live in, and provides a vehicle for education. D. Manus Pinkwater lives and works in a world of imagination for children of ages up to fourteen and beyond, and one of my favorites is Lizard Music. Think Home Alone with musical lizards, an enterprising "street person," Claudia the chicken, and Walter Cronkite. Guaranteed to surprise, satisfy, and stimulate the imagination. Wait until you see Thunderbolt Island.          Katherine's Review ∆

The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is with no doubt in my mind the best work of children's fantasy to be written since CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Much like Narnia, The Golden Compass and sequels, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, are at their core fantastic novels of magic and adventure being cast upon ordinary children. Again, like Lewis' work, layers can be peeled away by more learned adults and individuals will be surprised at how much depth, allegory, symbolism and metatext can be found here. Theologians, historians, linguists and scientists of all kinds can find something in these books to spark their imagination and curiosity.            James' Review∆

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'engle
You might have read this one when you were a kid, or you may have not. If you haven't, go read it now. If you have, read it again. This among others is the story that really launched a fascination with science fiction and stories of the fantastic. The book is a very smart piece of work when viewed through the eyes of a 10 year old, and even as an adult you'll be surprised at just how smart it really is. A story of adventure following the slightly off-kilter Murry family, A Wrinkle in Time is also a great introduction to far-fetched, mathematical concepts and questions of theology that people of every age will ask themselves. Yes, there is some Christian undertone here, but it's not nearly as preachy or heavy-handed as that found in CS Lewis' Narnia or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Despite that, it is still a novel I would recommend to anyone of any background.            James' Review∆

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