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The David A. Howe Library staff invites you to try one of their favorite books.

Each one is marked with this sticker on the spine or shelved in our special display by the main desk.

Click any book jacket below to link to the catalog with more reviews and information.

Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen
Jacob Jankowski hates every minute of his life in a nursing home, but, oh, what memories he has.
At 21, due to a terrible set of circumstances, Jacob finds himself penniless and hopping the Great Benzini Brothers Circus train instead of sitting for his final exams in veterinary medicine at Cornell University. He doesn’t know if he will survive his first night on the train, let alone life with the circus.
We learn what life was like in a traveling big top show during the Great Depression. Gruen uses real circus jargon to make us feel more a part of the story as we get to know Camel, Uncle Al, August, Marlena and, of course, Rosie. She also includes photos from Barnum & Bailey and other circuses of the time, which I found fascinating.
I probably never would have picked this book, but it was highly recommended so I gave it a try and was hooked after a couple pages. Now it is one of my all-time favorites.

Missing Witness
by Gordon Campbell
Doug McKenzie has just graduated from law school and gone to work for famed trial lawyer, Daniel Morgan in this suspenseful legal drama.
When the son of a wealthy rancher is murdered in his home, Morgan and McKenzie are hired by the victim’s father to defend his daughter-in-law, Rita Eddington. The only witness, or possible other suspect, is Rita’s mentally disturbed 12-year-old daughter, who is in a catatonic state.
Many family secrets will need to come out.
The courtroom scenes alone make it worth the read.

The Neighbor
by Lisa Gardner
Jason Jones arrives home from work early one morning to find his four-year old daughter asleep in her bed and his wife missing. When the police are brought in, Detective D. D. Warren finds Jason uncooperative and secretive and things seem “too normal” in the Jones household. However, Aidan Brewster, a convicted sex offender, is a neighbor who seems to be on edge. Both men become prime suspects and part of the media feeding frenzy that follows. There is a bit of profanity, but overall I found it enjoyable.
 

The Murder of King Tut: the Plot to Kill the Child King
by James Patterson and Martin Dugard
932.014 PAT
Since I have always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, this book caught my attention. After reading a few pages, I was hooked and found it to move along quickly.
The story shifts back and forth between Howard Carter’s many setbacks in his mission to uncover the pharaoh’s hidden tomb, and the boy king’s life in 1347 BC. Both were of great interest, but all of the palace intrigue that transpired during many of the pharaohs’ reigns kept me turning the pages.
Although I know that Patterson and Dugard did vast amounts of research before writing this book, I still feel that much of it is conjecture – but you will be entertained.

Angela’s Ashes: a Memoir
by Frank McCourt
STACKS B M137M
“When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all.” This is how Frank McCourt’s memoir of growing up in the slums of Limerick, Ireland begins. Frank’s mother, Angela, has no money to feed her children since his father rarely works, and when he does he drinks up any wages. However, through all this and the terrible living conditions, McCourt tells his tale with love and humor.
After finishing this, I couldn’t wait to read ‘Tis, which continues the story.
I give this one a high recommendation.

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So Cold the River
by Michael Koryta
This is a perfect read for a dark, chilly October night. Part thriller, part horror story and reminiscent of Stephen King and Peter Straub, Koryta spins a tale of power-lust that reaches from beyond the grave.
The main character, Eric Shaw, has lost his career as a Hollywood cinematographer and has eked out a living by making “video life portraits” of recently deceased persons. Commissioned to document the early years of a wealthy, terminally ill Chicago businessman, Shaw’s research uncovers generations of greed and a resident evil. Visions and hallucinations haunt Shaw that seem to be associated with the town’s peculiar mineral waters.

Packing for Mars
by Mary Roach
Non-Fiction 571.0919 ROA
This book is chock full of spaceflight answers to questions you didn’t even know you had! Highly researched, but told with a clear sense of humor, this stranger-than-fiction account will have you chuckling with interest and amusement.
“Just how smelly does a spacecraft get after a two week mission?” “What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year?” Did you know there’s a shuttle training toilet?
Hilarious, educational, and entertaining.

The Quickening
by Michelle Hoover
The author has based this story of the intertwined lives of two early 20th century farm women on her own great-grandmother’s 15 page journal.
Enidina Current and Mary Marrow live on neighboring Iowa farms. Although having little in common, the women depend on one another for survival and companionship. The depiction of the lives and times of these women clearly portrays the hardships, sacrifices, and resilience of the human spirit. A great reminder of where we came from and of what gets us through tough times.

Juliet
by Ann Fortier
American Julie Jacobs travels to Siena, Italy in search of her heritage (and possible inheritance). It turns out she is descended from 14th century Guilietta Tomei, whose love of Romeo transcends their feuding families and inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
In her quest for the truth, Julie must use relics of the past and ancient texts to guide her. The plot uses history, mystery, and romance to create a fast-paced, modern thriller. A real page-turner.

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SERIOUS READING (best if read with a cup of coffee)

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Probably one of the best stories ever told through the words of a man that changed the history of our nation and the world. Stride toward Freedom is the first hand account of the Montgomery bus boycott, which brought the Civil Rights Movement to the center of national spotlight. Dr. Martin Luther King explains in specific detail the relationships that were formed and the century-long alliances that were broken to change the way African-Americans were treated in the Deep South. If anyone wants to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, they should seek this resource. There is a reason we as a nation recognize the sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King. This book helps us to understand the man he was and the people he helped us to become. It should be required reading for all Americans. (4.4.1968)

Eaarth – Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill McKibben.

This April release about global warming is an absolute read for anyone that cares about our natural resources, and how they are used. Although the beginning of the book focuses on our absolute carelessness with Mother Nature since the Industrial Revolution, McKibben offers up some very sound advice that will help amend our wrong doings. Regardless if you believe global warming is real, this book will give practical tips for all people to live a simpler and “greener” life. If you don’t have a vegetable garden, you should start one. If you do have a vegetable garden, make it bigger. Oh yeah, no fertilizers or chemicals. Everyone should use good old compost from your family’s leftovers. It’s a start.

Seeds of Terror: How Heroin Is Bankrolling the Taliban and Al Qaeda
by Gretchen Peters

Released in April 2010, this book tells the story of investigative journalist Gretchen Peters and her efforts to fully understand the situation in Afghanistan. As noted, this is a serious read. Don’t expect to get a warm fuzzy feeling after hearing shocking statistics and incomprehensible acts of crime. It is amazing to see the direct link Peters is able to create between Afghanistan, terrorism and the rise in drug use across Europe and the United States. Terrorism has not only contributed to the loss of thousands of American soldiers and innocent civilians, it is a relentless force that claims the lives of millions of people through drug trafficking and drug consumption. This book is well researched and very informative; just make certain to wash it down with something more uplifting.

NOT SO SERIOUS READINGS

Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo

Published back in the 1995, this was one of Russo’s first books to receive national attention. Nobody’s Fool is a hysterical story about the many unique characters in an upstate New York town. Like Russo’s other books, he has a strong ability to relate to the common man and the struggles faced by those who have little or nothing. Although there are low points throughout the story, it is just part of the reality that Russo is able to vividly display. Sully, who is the main character, could be that Uncle that shows up at Christmas every 5 years looking for handouts. Although portrayed as a man with little ambitions, Sully is very interesting and keeps the story moving. If you like character development this is a book to checkout.

Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut

It’s not Bradbury, but it definitely feels like science fiction. This interesting tale told by one of the best authors of the 20th century is probably one of my favorite reads in terms of non-highly acclaimed work. Galapagos received less than good reviews when it first came out in 1985. It was probably because the storyline and characters weren’t all that interesting. When I first read the book, I agreed. However, after listening to a radio interview with Vonnegut back in college, I realized Vonnegut made no serious attempt at writing this book. His only concern was writing a story that he wanted to tell. Vonnegut was an optimist despite what people might think. Galapagos was Vonnegut’s way of telling us to be careful. The majority always has to deal with the decisions of the elite minority. If you want to read Vonnegut’s really good stuff, checkout Slaughterhouse-Five or the short stories of Bagombo Snuff Box. (4.11.2007)

Iceberg by Clive Cussler

This 1975 release is Clive Cussler’s second Dirk Pitt novel. For anyone that hasn’t read Clive Cussler, this is the one you want to “start with”. I say “start with” because once you read it you will be hooked on the rest. This book is for those who want action and adventure. Dirk Pitt is James Bond and Indiana Jones rolled into one. There is plenty of car chases and shooting involved, so please don’t check it out if you want something that is relaxing. I am recommending this to any male that is a reluctant reader and wants to find something to spark enthusiasm for reading. I was not a big action adventure reader until I started with Clive Cussler. I would recommend any title by Clive Cussler. Keep the lights on when you read and prepare to keep guessing.

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People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Based on a true story, the author follows the survival of an ancient Jewish book, the Sarajevo Haggadah, through time. You must concentrate as she uses a narrative technique of ‘back and forth’ from the present to other important crisis-points of the past as the manuscript. You will learn about history, the Jewish culture and the clashes that ensued…with an ending worthy of the story. I did find that I wanted more about ‘the book’ and less about Hanna Heath, the rare-book expert…but the story-telling is spellbinding.

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

The setting is the small town of Burgdorf Germany before/during/after WWII. The protagonist is Trudi Montag, the local ‘dwarf’ who becomes the town library. The book chronicles everyday German life during the horrible Nazi times…very thought-provoking as odd characters struggle through their fate. This is not a ‘light’ read but well worth your intellectual challenge trying to understand ordinary people in extraordinary times.

New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd

Read this historical novel for the sheer enjoyment of a multi-layered portrait of the growth of New York City thru the eyes of vivid, interesting characters. The author puts our hodgepodge of school-learned historical facts and events into an understandable continuum covering a 350 year time span. The wonderful flow of the book actually immerses the reader into history….excellent! PS I actually found a factual inaccuracy regarding the flow of the Niagara River…fun to know that it slipped by the editors.

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

This is the story of the author’s maternal grandmother…her always interesting challenges and sometimes unbelievable life experiences and how she and her family coped with ‘life’. Starting in 1901, Lily faces life in the American Southwest, pre-WWI so we learn about that area of our country, that period of time and how one individual could be the personification of ‘one tough cookie’. Only flaw I found in the book is an absence of emotional responses to some very difficult situations.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

This is a work of historical fiction based on a true occurrence, the plague of 1666. The residents of a small isolated town in England choose to quarantine themselves in hopes of stopping the spread of this killer. Told through the eyes of Anna Frith, the author makes you see and feel the humanity and inhumanity of people facing life and death. Plan on a few all-nighters ….hard to put this one down!

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Man or Mango? By Lucy Ellmann
I enjoyed Man or Mango? because of how well Lucy Ellmann created a group of characters who disgusted and yet fascinated me at the same time. She compares human needs to insects’ routines, thus casting a nihilistic shadow over humanity itself. At the same time her characters made me laugh and despite their many faults I wanted to know how they all ended up connected.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielweski
With his debut novel, Danielweski manages to weave aspects of fiction, non-fiction, manuscript and poetry into a wonderfully original novel. I love this book because as the plot becomes more complicated so does the text itself thus drawing the reader into the world of the characters even more. I was captivated by this from beginning to end not only because of the characters and situations but because of the very aesthetics of the pages themselves.

Auschwitz: A New History by Laurence Rees
STACKS 940.53 REE
The atrocities committed at Auschwitz have been exposed and documented in many books before Rees’ and I’ve read many of them, however this book really does present the reader with a ‘new history’ of Auschwitz. It shows the camp's beginnings and explains how it became the death camp it is infamous for being. By interviewing over 100 people, prisoners and soldiers alike, Rees gives a painfully clear account of how 1.1 million people came to be murdered and why people should always remember the how and why of these atrocities.

A Friend of the Earth by T.C. Boyle
T. C. Boyle tells a chilling story of a possible near future where humans have almost completely destroyed the earth they live on. The main character, Tyrone O'Shaughnessy Tierwater, tells of how he started as a member of “Earth Forever!” an environment activist group and ended up taking care of some of the last remaining animals on earth. Boyle tells a compelling story of how idealism and conviction can still lead to devastation.

Among Other Things, I’ve Taken Up Smoking by Aoibheann Sweeney
“My purpose is to tell of bodies changed into different bodies,” a line that Miranda’s Father translates from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” describes this novel very well. The narrator, Miranda, tells not only of how bodies change but how people themselves change as she herself grows up. I liked this book because nothing was clear about anyone until the end and even then the reader is still left to fill in some blanks yet the descriptions and prose were clear and well written.
 

Mr. Thundermug by Cornelius Medvei
This whimsical novella tells the story of Mr. Thundermug; a baboon who is capable of speech. Medvei’s description is stunning and you will quickly find yourself immersed fully in his world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the consequences of Mr. Thundermug’s new ability. The question the book asks its reader is whether Mr. Thundermug is human because he can speak and therefore must be held to humanity’s standards or is he still just a baboon?

The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee
by Sarah Silverman
FOYER B SI39
This slightly unorganized raunchy memoir by comedian Sarah Silverman is not for everyone (if you’ve seen her show or stand up you’ll know why). Silverman has the same sense of humor as an eleven year old boy (poop, pee, anatomy etc) but with perhaps a few more four letter words thrown in. In “The Bedwetter” she discusses how she first learned that offensive can be funny (her father), her not so funny time on SNL, her bouts with depression as a teen and of course her bedwetting habits. If you have a few hours to kill and could use a good laugh then by all means curl up with Silverman and prepare to be offended.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Dystopian novels are perhaps my favorite genre of fiction (not sure what that says about me or my faith in humanity). In Atwood’s version of dystopia man is faced with his own extinction by the infertility of women. In order to save civilization the government instead destroys humanity by forcing those few women who are still fertile into the beds of married men with one goal in mind, an heir. Offred, our protagonist, is such a woman. This bleak tale is dark and disturbing at times but there are glimpses of hope.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
There are so many words that can be used to describe this work; poetic, tragic, dark, beautiful, degrading, pornographic, genius, disturbing, classic etc. Humbert’s love for Lolita is an obsessive, destructive love, but love nonetheless. I wouldn’t call this a love story though, granted it is tragic enough to be one. I’m not sure how I would classify “Lolita” except as poetry, for surely every sentence Nabokov put on the page is a poem in itself.

My Life as a Fake by Peter Carey
Sarah Wode-Douglas has been searching for an undiscovered genius poet, unfortunately the one she finds doesn’t exist…..or does he? Carey’s novel takes place in Kuala Lumpar and features a wealthy playboy poet, an editor of a British poetry journal, Christopher Chubb a possibly insane man hiding from his past and Bob McCorkle a man who exists in the mind of Chubb. The thing that draws me back to Carey’s work again and again is his way of describing each scene in vivid detail through sight, sound and smell.

Here If You Need Me: A Memoir by Kate Braestrup
MAIN FLOOR B B73B
Kate Braestrup lost her husband eleven years ago and decided to take on his life goal and become a Unitarian-Universalist Minister. This memoir discusses her time as the chaplain for the Maine Game Warden where she counseled families of missing persons.

The Afghan by Frederick Forsyth

American and British intelligence are aware of a terrorist attack about to be unleashed by al-Qaeda, unfortunately they don’t know when or where the strike will take place. To find out the important details they go undercover.
 

Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani
Lucia Sartori lives in 1950’s Manhattan and is caught between being a career woman and following her Italian American tradition of becoming a wife and mother.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome who is obsessed with forensic analysis. He often shows up at crime scenes because of the police scanner he keeps in his bedroom. Life changes when a horrible crime happens and the police start to suspect Jacob.
 

Allison Midgley, Technology Coordinator, picked these books.

Addition by Toni Jordan
Grace Vanderburg counts things. She sticks to her routines so that she feels safe. She’s devoted to the genius Nichola Tesla. She is a witty and intelligent 35-year old teacher, home on leave after a breakdown due to obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the main character in this debut novel by Australian Toni Jordan. With clear language and likeable characters, the author uses vividness, poignancy and humor to show how much determination, honesty and courage it takes to really change - which is true for everyone, and especially true for people battling mental illnesses.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
If you’ve seen the movie The Princess Bride, then you know this is a fun story with action, adventure, romance and witty dialogue. A beautiful princess, a devoted farm boy, an evil prince; Cliffs of Insanity, a Fireswamp, the Zoo o f Death; courage, ingenuity, and true love. The book, subtitled S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure, the "good parts" version, abridged by William Goldman, is an even more intricate and hilarious story within a story within a story. I recommend the most recent edition, in which Goldman blurs the lines between fiction and reality by updating his ongoing conflicts with the Morgenstern heirs, his travels to Florin, and his relationship with Stephen King. The novel is a brilliant satirical commentary on publishing, writing, and reading – and a joy to read.

La’s Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith
In the last few years several novels have told inspiring “human interest” stories set during World War II. Rather than focusing on the battles and fighting, these books tell the stories of those who “kept the home fires burning.” In this well-written novel, it is 1939. Lavender--La to her friends--decides to flee London, not only to avoid German bombs but also to escape the memories of her shattered marriage. She settles in a small town and organizes an amateur orchestra from the village and the local RAF base. As time passes, the orchestra reconnects her to other people and boosts her own morale and the morale of the town. Told as a recounted story, the novel has the wistful tone of things remembered.

This Is Water by David Foster Wallace
When I saw this book on the shelf, I admit, I wanted to judge it by its cover: small, white and spare, with only a bright orange koi fish in the bottom right corner. Each page had only one sentence on it. I checked it out and started to read. I knew the author as a novelist of many words and complex sentences. Here, each sentence was conversational, powerful, and direct. The book contains the text of David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech given at Kenyon College in 2005. He speaks of trying to see the other person’s point of view and circumstance with compassion. He says, “It is unimaginably hard… to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out.” The speech is heartbreaking because, unable to realize this extremely difficult goal he set for himself, he committed suicide in 2008. Ultimately, the book is profound and inspiring and human.

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Buchanan
This novel is one for regional story lovers. Set in Niagara Falls at the turn of the century and through the story of Bess Heath, a privileged young woman whose world is turned upside-down when her father loses his job and his fortunes change, it deals with the conflicts between the natural and the mechanized world, the world of the practical versus the world of the heart, and the differences of wealth and poverty. The messages are a little heavy handed at times, but the details about domestic life and the nature in the gorge make it worth reading.

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A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
As I began reading this book in my English class, I found it very difficult to become involved in it. However, after the preliminary chapters it quickly became one of my favorite books. A Prayer for Owen Meany tells the story of an oddly misshapen boy and his journey through a very peculiar life. Owen believes that he is the instrument of God and sees himself as a Christ figure. Through Owen’s grueling passage through a short, yet full life the reader learns many lessons about the power of faith, as well as their own powerlessness against it. I guarantee that you will find Owen’s tiny body and broken voice as irritating, yet simultaneously endearing as I did. The breadth and development of characters is vast and vivid. Irving is a master of his craft and definitely one of my favorite authors. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a gripping novel that touches the very core of humanity, while delving into the macabre and supernatural.


She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb
I read this novel several years ago as a free read and am now revisiting it for my senior paper. This story has it all. It is vivid and disturbing, yet uplifting and motivating. She’s Come Undone tells the tale of Dolores, a girl whose life is measured by television. Her earliest memory is of two men delivering her family’s first television set, and from that moment on her life can be plotted along the changing times in TV. Dolores’ childhood is marred by a series of traumatic events that leave her fragile and incapable of facing the outside world. The novel tracks her fall into an isolated world of depression as well as her rise from the ashes into a much better life than she could have ever hoped for. Lamb’s novel is an inspiring testament to the strength of the human spirit. The reader leaves the story with a sense of power and potential accomplishment. It is a must read for all lovers of great literature.


Push by Sapphire
Warning: This book is not for the weak-hearted or queasy stomached! It is a gut-wrenching tale of the plight of the poor, of abuse, and of the horrors of the world. Clareece “Precious” Jones is morbidly obese, illiterate, abused, and pregnant with her second child by her father. Her situation is more than dire; it’s desperate. Kicked out of school, as well as her home she seeks refuge in a shelter and at the each-one-teach-one program. The story is written from Precious’ perspective which is reflected in her poor writing skills and knowledge of English mechanics. Though the novel is short, it delivers a sucker-punch straight to the gut. Push leaves a permanent impression on the reader, and creates the desire to help improve the situation of the under-privileged.


Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg
Fannie Flagg creates a charming, heart-warming tale of friendship and loyalty unlike any other cushioned in the frame of an unsatisfied housewife’s life. This book is jam packed with adventure, love, heartbreak and much, much more. With outlandish and loveable characters like Idgie and Ninny Threadgoode, a wild ride of plot twists within the separate stories, not to mention a delicious book of recipes at the end, Flagg has created an irresistibly delicious novel that is not to be missed.


The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The Power of One is a beautiful and moving tale of South Africa both prior to and during the Second World War. It takes place in a time of not only racial apartheid between Africans and Whites, but also between Whites of German descent and Whites of English descent. Racial dissention is at the very core of this novel. From a very young age the hero Peekay is raised mostly by his African nanny, but is abruptly shipped off to a boarding school where he is the only English White. Peekay is brutally teased by the other boys, but is far smarter than any of them will ever be. After his tenure at boarding school he is shipped away to live with his grandfather. On the train he meets his destiny and vows that one day he will be the welterweight champion of the world. Later in the book he meets Doc who becomes both his mentor and best friend. Throughout the course of the novel Peekay discovers that race has nothing to do with the quality of a person. Quality has everything to do with heart and how you reach out to others. Although this book is categorized as young adult fiction it is much more. This novel is for anyone who has ever felt a sense of destiny, a strong bond between themselves and another living being, and most importantly the feeling that the world can never be right until the people living in it are able to live in peace.
 

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The King of Lies by John Hart
A year after his mother's death and father's strange disappearance, 'Work' Pickens is still reeling, and his law practice shows the effects of this. When his father's murdered body is discovered, 'Work' becomes a prime suspect and he must put all his energy and ingenuity into clearing his name while at the same time steering the authorities away from his sister, who he thinks is the true murderer.

I highly recommend this debut novel since it is a page turner from page one and encompasses mystery, family conflicts, romance and many surprising twists and turns. I also recommend John Hart's later novels, Last Child and Down River.


South of Broad by Pat Conroy
The year is 1969 and Leo King's older brother has just committed suicide at the age of ten. As his family struggles to deal with this devastation, Leo becomes an isolated child until his Senior Year of High School when he becomes part of a small tightly knit group of friends who also have their own demons to deal with. This book follows these six friends from the 1960's into the 1980's. During these years they find success and failures while still remaining the closest of friends until one incident happens that threatens to break them apart.

Set in Charlestown, SC, the reader is also exposed to the unsettling racial conflicts of the South. Pat Conroy's novels have become some of my favorites because of how he can deal with human issues by using such feeling and compassion.


The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist who recently found himself on the wrong end of a libel case, is hired by the eighty year old head of the Vanger family to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his sister, Harriet Vanger, nearly forty years ago. Mikael hires Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four, 'tattooed' computer hacker with a questionable background to assist him and here is where the fun begins. Together they delve into forty years of hidden secrets held by this wealthy family and in the process make discoveries about their own lives.

This book, the first in a three book series, has climbed to the top of my favorites list because it is so well written, has a great plot and character development, and is simply an enjoyment to read from the beginning.


The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
The massacre at Columbine High School and its horrors will be remembered for many years by all but especially by those who were actually present at the time. Maureen Quirk, a school nurse at Columbine, finds herself cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed when the shooting begins. This is the story of how the catastrophe changed the lives of Maureen and her husband Caelum. They moved east to CT in hopes of erasing the past and finding peace only to discover five generations of secrets held by the Quirk Family.

I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it because it shows how skillfully the author deals with the characters and their struggles. It is a story of how a person's quest for faith and meaning can turn into a long journey.


The Help by Kim Stockett
Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss in 1962 with a degree in journalism. Wanting to do more with her life than to have a ring on her finger, she gets a job at a local newspaper writing an advice column. This leads her to the idea of writing a book about the black maids and nannies in the community. She secretly begins by interviewing several black domestics. As her project progresses, she is met by resistance while uncovering many secrets of the black women during the Civil Right Movement.

I found this to be a deeply moving novel about hope and heartbreak. It was very sad to see how times actually were during this period in our history and how some of these attitudes toward blacks still exist today.
 

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Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
One of my favorite books is Have a Little Faith, a True Story by Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie. The author is asked by his rabbi, in his hometown in New Jersey, to deliver his eulogy. Over the next year he visits his old rabbi and collects stories of his spiritual journey which includes many memories of his own past when his parents brought him to Sabbath services every week. The author also becomes involved with a Detroit pastor, a reformed drug dealer and convict, who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.

The stories and wisdom of these two men, Christian and Jewish, African American and white, impoverished and well to do is fascinating. This beautifully written book shows two very different men whose faith is important to them and we see the author start his own journey exploring some of life’s great mysteries with honesty and self reflection.


Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
I enjoyed this book for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players are born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill and how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. The author challenges the concept of the “self made man” by examining the lives of successful people, like Mozart and Bill Gates. He discovers that advantages and hard work and “just plain luck” help some people succeed while so many others never reach their potential. A very thought provoking book.


Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Ron Hall is a wealthy international art dealer who travels the world selling rare and expensive works of art. When he reluctantly volunteers at a homeless shelter he meets Denver. Denver lives a very different life than Ron. He grew up as a sharecropper in Louisiana and has experienced violence and poverty. Watching these two men transform their lives as they become friends is fascinating and inspiring.


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
I love history and this novel begins shortly after the end of World War II in London and on the island of Guernsey. Juliet is writing a book and moves to the island from London to research the people who survived the Nazi occupation just a few years before. As she writes, she becomes more and more intrigued with the stories of these country folk who survived hard times and had extraordinary experiences. The characters are warm hearted and their survival in desperate circumstances is amazing. The writing is very “British” and, at times, hysterically funny.


The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
This beautifully written book is also about World War II. It follows the lives of three American women, a postmistress, a doctor’s wife and a female journalist reporting from London during the war. Once again, the history behind this novel and how the women’s lives are impacted is compelling. Frankie Bard, the journalist, is in London during the bombings, working with Edward R. Murrow during the Blitz. The description of men and women and babies in bomb shelters is frightening. Frankie returns to the States and travels to Cape Cod with an undelivered letter for one of the women.

Once again, I was captivated by the horror of war and marveled at the courage of the Londoners during the bombings. The author’s depiction of the radio broadcasts with Edward R. Murrow and Frankie are realistic and moving.
 

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The Egyptian by Mark Waltari
When this novel was first published in 1949 it was condemned as obscene, yet it outsold every other novel published that year and is widely considered a classic. I am fascinated by all things Egyptian and this book transports the reader to Egypt of the 14th century B.C.E. It is narrated by Sinuhe, a man of humble background who becomes the personal physician to Pharoah Akhnaton.

Hands down, this is my favorite book to date. The reflective first person account is so beautifully written that the reader is easily transported to the time and place. The themes woven throughout of power, vengeance, race, war, death, love and redemption are universal.


Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
Forensic anthropologist Temperance “Tempe” Brennan is called in to examine the skeletal remains of a young girl discovered in Acadia, Canada. Tempe comes to suspect this skeleton may actually be that of her girlhood friend who went missing 30 years ago in the same vicinity. When her romantic interest and police investigator, Andrew Ryan, probes the unsolved deaths of three girls and the disappearance of four others, the possibility of a connection looms large.

This best-selling author has written a series of books based on Temperance Brennan. They are the basis for the TV series “Bones”. What kept me turning the pages was the great plot and character development.


River Wife by Jonis Agee
This family saga set in Missouri’s “boot heel” weaves itself back and forth from 1811 to the 1930s. Pinned in her bed by a felled tree in an earthquake, young Annie is left by her family to drown as the river rises around her bedroom. French fur trapper and river pirate Jacques Ducharme comes to her rescue and together they create a life at Jacques Landing. More than a century later a young bride will come to Jacques Landing and find her life in parallel to the old diaries she finds of Annie, the first river wife.

Underlying themes of love and heartbreak, passion and deceit run throughout the story as each river wife comes to discover that the truth from the past haunts the present. Historical detail and tense and dangerous plots held my interest all the way through.
I loved how the author wove this story back and forth from 1811 to 1930. This is a novel that strikes the right balance between light and dark, good and evil. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and a great cast of characters, this is as good as it gets.


The Alchemist’s Daughter by Katherine McMahon
This is the story of a young woman’s educational and social evolution during the English Age of Reason. Raised by her father in an isolated English country estate, Emilie Selden is trained in natural philosophy and alchemy and in 1725 they collaborate in an experiment to bring dead matter back to life. The experiment is interrupted when Emilie falls in love and is banished to London. Besides being a great story, this novel depicts the extremes of English culture and society. I really liked the heroine of the story and the fact that in the end, she strove to live life on her own terms.


Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
This title is the first in a series of mysteries centering around Walt Longmire, the veteran sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Set in modern days, the novel has shades of the Old West in both character and plot. When Cody, a young resident of the area, is found shot to death near the Cheyenne Reservation, it appears at first to be an accident. But when another young man is found dead with connections to Cody and the rape case of a young Indian girl two years earlier, revenge would appear to be the motive. The diverse cast of characters include Henry Standing Bear and deputy Victoria “Vic” Moretti. You will not soon forget the blizzard scene.
If this were to be made into a movie, they would surely cast Tom Selleck as Sheriff Walt Longmire. I really enjoyed the setting and character developments and the multilayered plot kept me guessing. The Western landscape and Native American aspects were well represented. There was a good dose of humor sprinkled throughout. I’ve read all but one in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed each one.


The Unequal Hours by Linda Underhill
508.747 UND [Stacks]
Local author Linda Underhill has written a compact, poetic account of how the ordinary in nature can reveal the extraordinary. On the first page she quotes Virginia Woolf: “It is the job of the writer…to receive and to record these moments of being, to find the pattern of meaning in daily life.” These “moments of being” of which Ms. Underhill writes arise from our own Allegany County landscapes. This is beautiful and inspiring prose linking us to our very own natural world.
The Way of the Woods: Journeys Through American Forests is her newest book.

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Empire Falls by Richard Russo
This Pulitzer Prize winning book about a small town in Maine reminded me of a certain small town in western New York. It centers around a local restaurant, managed by Miles Roby, which is frequented by a colorful cast of characters, including Miles’ rather eccentric father, his soon-to-be ex-wife and her health club-owner boyfriend.
Throughout the book we are given a back-story into the lives of these people. It is both touching and funny.


Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
This book was recommended by one of our volunteers.
It takes place at the home of the vice president of a South American country, where a lavish party is being held to honor a powerful Japanese businessman. His favorite opera singer is brought in to entertain the many ambassadors and their wives. However, a band of terrorists breaks in and as their plan goes awry, they take the whole group hostage. From that point on the story takes completely unexpected twists and turns.
I was pleasantly surprised, since it was a different type of book than I normally would have chosen.


Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Start this on a day when you have nothing else planned because you won’t want to put it down. Right from the beginning, when symbologist, Robert Langdon is brought to Washington D.C. under false pretenses, only to find out that his mentor, Peter Solomon has been kidnapped, the pace never lets up. I was fascinated to learn the origins of so many symbols and codes in our nation’s capitol.
What an unexpected ending!


The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross
Police detective Ty Hauck is brought in to investigate the bombing of a commuter train at Grand Central Station. He discovers that Charles Friedman, a hedge-fund manager, who was “killed” by the bomb is not the man he appeared to be and that there is an odd connection to a hit-and-run accident Hauck is also working on.
A real page-turner.


The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
I am choosing this book because it was my first “Harry Bosch” novel, and I have read every single one since, because he is such an interesting character. It’s best to read these in order since each one builds on something from the past.
In this book, Detective Harry Bosch is being sued for shooting the wrong man, who was believed to be a serial killer. When a new victim is found, it looks like the real murderer is still on the loose.
Lots of good courtroom and investigative drama.

Harry Bosch Series

The Black Echo (1992)
The Black Ice (1993)
The Concrete Blonde (1994)
The Last Coyote (1995)
Trunk Music (1997)
Angels Flight (1999)
A Darkness More Than Night (2001) – Read Blood Work* (1998) for the back story
City of Bones (2002)
Lost Light (2003)
The Narrows (2004) – Read The Poet* (1996) for the back story
The Closers (2005)
Echo Park (2006)
The Overlook (2007)
The Brass Verdict (2008)
Nine Dragons (2009)

*These are not Harry Bosch novels, but very important to the series.