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Librarians Are Reading... |
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ALPHABETICAL BY
AUTHOR [AC = Audiocassette, CD = Compact Disc, LP = Large Print]
Donald Bogle / Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: the Story of Black Hollywood I love to read histories about Hollywood, and this book told a story I've never read before. (Kristen from SLC)
Bill Bryson / Notes from a Small Island [CD, LP] A must-read for Anglophiles! Bryson's commentary about his travels around Britain is hilarious, touching and deadly accurate. Warning: this book will make you homesick for the sceptre'd isle. (Cathy Russ from MCL)
Stephen Buchmann / Letters from the Hive: An Intimate History of Bees, Honey, and Humankind
While we expect books about honey and bees to appeal to children, this adult book is really charming. It's short, sweet and very informational. (Librarian from RSV) Joan Didion / The Year of Magical Thinking [CD]
Honest and
poignant look at one person's journey through the grieving process in the year
following her husband's death. (Kathleen Lamb from CMPL) Barbara Ehrenreich / Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America [CD] A sobering examination of the lives of low-skilled workers in America. The author goes undercover taking a number of low paying jobs – waitressing, house cleaning, working at Wal-Mart, etc. – and encounters first-hand the hardship and humiliation one endures while trying to make ends meet in such positions. (Phil from CMS) Rita Golden Gelman / Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World She took an unconventional approach to dealing with her situation in life and enriched her life and the lives of many other people in the process. An adventure some of us dream about but would never undertake. (Ellen from CMM)
Malcolm Gladwell / The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference [AC] An interesting study of the phenomenon of word-of-mouth epidemics. Everything from Paul Revere galvanizing troops to the resurgence of the Hush Puppies brand of shoes are discussed as they relate to the “tipping point” theory. (Phil from CMS) Homer H. Hickam, Jr. / Rocket Boys: a Memoir [AC, LP]
A fascinating look at the 1950’s space race, a West Virginia coal mining town, and teenage boys with a lot of determination! Also published as October Sky, which is the movie title. (Lanette from CHE) Nick Jans / Grizzly Maze: Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Obsession with Alaskan Bears
Fascinating account of the possibly inevitable demise of a bear advocate at Katmai (AK) Natl. Park in October 2003, after 13 summers of bonding with the grizzlies and battling Park rangers. (Barb Williams from TPL) Vivian Jeanette Kaplan / Ten Green Bottles: the True Story of One Family's Journey from War-torn Austria to the Ghettos of Shanghai
I was drawn to this book after reading other Holocaust literature and not realizing there was a Jewish settlement in Shanghai. This is a remarkable, yet disturbing account with a Toronto connection. (Lanette from CHE)
Tim Kiska / From Soupy to Nuts! : A History of Detroit Television If you can't remember the words to the Faygo Kid commercial or the theme song of Boofland, this is the book for you. Whatever happened to Soupy Sales, Wixie and Captain Jolly? You will find the answers here. (Librarian from SCS) Robert Kurson / Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II [AC, CD, LP] An amazing story of perseverance (and obsession) to explain the unknown. Scuba divers will be captivated by the detail of the underwater explorations. This year’s “Everyone’s Reading” selection. (Ellen from CMM)
Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain / Please Kill Me: the Uncensored Oral History of Punk
If you want to know about the early days of punk rock, this book tells the story from the people who lived through it. It has stories from musicians, journalists, and assorted hangers-on. (Kristen from SLC)
Marion Meade / Bobbed Hair & Bathtub Gin: Writers Running Wild in the Twenties
Captures the colorful & exciting lives of 4 female Jazz Age writers, 1920-1929. (Maria from SCS)
Willie Morris / My Cat Spit McGee
Although I’m not a cat person, this book was very enjoyable. A follow-up of sorts to My Dog Skip, it is the comical account of how a dog lover became helplessly attached to a quirky cat. (Lanette from CHE)
Gary B. Nash / The Unknown American Revolution: the Unruly Birth of Democracy and the Struggle to Create America I found this book to be very exciting because it gave me a completely different understanding of the American Revolution. Until I read this book I never completely understood the complex motives that made some of our people into revolutionaries and others into defenders of the British. (Evelyn from EPL) Nicholas Pellegrino / Rao's Cookbook
Simply the best! The recipes in this cookbook are as close to my Italian aunts' cooking as I have ever seen. The instructions are clear, the ingredients readily found, and the meatballs are "to die for"!! I plan on buying my own copy of this book---it's a keeper! (C. Federspiel from MCL) Carole Radziwill / What Remains: a Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love [AC, CD]
Told with unflinching honesty, this sad, engrossing and poignant story is one that many of us that have lost loved ones suddenly or due to disease, can relate. Throw in an insider's look at John Kennedy Jr., a favorite of many since his salute, and you have a very good, but sad, read. (Jackie S. from RSV) Cokie Roberts / Founding Mothers [AC, CD, LP] This biographical look at the women of the revolutionary era was fascinating. It made me wonder where we might be today as a country if it hadn't been for them. (Gretchen from CMS) Guy Sajer / The Forgotten Soldier
Classic WW2 account from a young German soldier and his terrible experiences fighting on the Russian Front--good stuff! (Librarian from RSV)
Sue Spitler / 1,001 Delicious Soups and Stews Simple recipes that are prepared with ingredients that are readily found in most kitchens. I checked this book out so often, I had to purchase a copy of my own. (Mrs. Harville from SCS)
Sam Staggs / When Blanche Met Brando: the Scandalous Story of "A Streetcar Named Desire"
Juicy, funny and assiduously- researched history of the making and re-making of Tennessee Williams' groundbreaking play for Broadway and movies. Full of wonderful insider anecdotes! (Barb Williams from TPL)
Jeanette Walls / Glass Castle: A Memoir [CD] So fascinating and disturbing, it is like you can't look away! MSNBCs Jeannette Walls grew up with genius/unstable dad, an artistic/unstable mom and numerous neglected sibs. This memoir, although frequently painful, provides the reader with a unique glimpse of truly crazy dysfunctional family relationships, the choice of homelessness and wandering. (Marie from CMPL) This memoir of the author's bizarre childhood at the hands of two people who should never have become parents is both shocking and inspiring. A terrific read. (Connie Doherty from TPL)
Frank Warren / PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
PostSecret is an ongoing community art project in which people confide their deepest secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. This is a profound and provocative glimpse into each other's fears, regrets, obsessions and desires. It's impossible to put down. (Connie Doherty from TPL)
Bruce Weinstein / The Ultimate Muffin Book Basic muffin recipes with a listing of additional ingredients that may be added to modify the original recipe. (Mrs. Harville from SCS)
Emily Yoffe / What the Dog Did: Tales from a Formerly Reluctant Dog Owner
This is a hilarious book about one woman's entry into the world of owning a dog -- not just any dog, but a beagle with "issues." A great read for dog lovers. (Connie Doherty from TPL)
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Steve Amick/ The Lake, the River and the Other Lake Several stories in one, this unusual novel, set in northeastern Michigan and written by an Ann Arbor native, covers the emotional spectrum. (Kathleen Lamb from CMPL)
Roderick Anscombe/ Interview Room A forensic psychiatrist starts treating a venomous and slick Craig Cavanaugh. A real creepy thriller that makes one keep checking over one's shoulder! Perfectly calibrated thrills! (Ruth from SCS) Margaret Atwood / The Penelopiad: the Myth of Penelope and Odysseus Part of a series for contemporary authors to re-tell familiar myths, Canadian Margaret Atwood has crafted a small book with a different point of view - told through the eyes of Penelope and her 12 hanged maids. Smart and clever, with 21st Century feminist sensibility, this is a literary treat that is pure dessert! (Marie at CMPL)
David Baldacci / Camel Club
This book is an intriguing follow-up to the 9/11 disaster and the members of the Camel Club make this novel one of the author's best in terms of character development. (Rita Bartone from TPL)
John Birmingham / Designated Targets
A fascinating mix of science fiction, military techno-thriller, and history, as well as social commentary on today, the Axis of Time series is a wonderful time-travel story positing "what-if" a modern day carrier battle-group was transported back through time to World War 2? Simply riveting and escapist fun for history buffs! (Dave from EPL)
Lillian Jackson Braun / The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell [CD]
This is another entry in the “Cat Who” series. Patrons love to take these books out, especially if they come in Book on CD series. (Rita Bartone from TPL)
John Case / The Murder Artist [LP, MP3] Identical twins kidnapped at a Renaissance Fair – their father’s search takes us into the worlds of magic and voodoo. A riveting page-turner. (Beth from CMM)
Marion Chesney / Snobbery with Violence
Snobbery with Violence pits the headstrong Lady Rose with the brooding and somewhat jaded, Captain Harry Cartwright, in a contest of wills as the unlikely couple team up to solve a murder that occurred during the society event for aristocratic young women with "dubious matrimonial prospects." (Jackie S. from RSV)
Stephen Clarke / A Year in the Merde Humorous novel about a Brit who moves to Paris to open an English tea house. (Rita Valade from RSV)
Susanna Clarke / Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell [AC, CD]
One of the best fantasy novels I've ever read. It's a fantasy set in Victorian times, and it captures that era beautifully. (Kristen from SLC)
Wilkie Collins / Woman in White
Nineteenth century gothic mystery novel with excellent character development and setting. Collins is forerunner of today's psychological suspense writers. Now an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. (Diana Franco from TPL) Joseph Conrad / Star of the Sea [CD]
Well-written, intricate mystery set on a ship carrying immigrants from Ireland to the U.S. Excellent historical detail regarding Irish famine and the voyage to America. (Diana Franco from TPL)
Mary Janice Davidson / Unwed and Undead Janet Evanovich meets Dracula! Betsy, the new Queen of the Undead is sassy and funny. Her friends are a hoot – you will laugh out loud. (Celeste from CMPL)
Carola Dunn / A Mourning Wedding
This is a delightful mystery of several offbeat relatives who constantly affect the upcoming marriage of a not-too-young cousin amidst several suspicious. It is fun to unravel who done it. (Rita Bartone from TPL)
Jackie Fischer / An Egg on 3 Sticks
Poignant coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s of my childhood. (Maria from SCS)
Jonathan Safran Foer / Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close [CD]
A Damon Runyonesque cast of characters and the aftereffects of an epic scale disaster make this book a provocative read. Add a precocious boy’s spiritual quest and this reads like an emotionally charged heroic tale. (Librarian from CHE)
Neil Gaiman / American Gods [AC, Spanish]
I loved how Gaiman
interwove the different world mythologies to create a smart, revelatory tale. I
was up late reading this one. (Celeste from CMPL) Judith Guest / The Tarnished Eye [AC, CD, LP]
A Sheriff investigates the brutal murders of a family in northern Michigan. Very good suspense kept me guessing and references to places in Michigan, especially Ann Arbor, were fun. Based on a true story. (Debbie Vercellone from SHL)
Mark Haddon / The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time [AC, CD, LP]
Delightful and instructive novel narrated by a high-functioning autistic British teen whose probe into the murder of a neighbor's poodle leads him to truths about his family and himself. (Barb Williams from TPL) Brian Haig / Mortal Allies [AC] Fast-paced, irreverently funny, with serious undertones, this novel is a good read for those who enjoy Nelson Demille or Craig Holden. (Kathleen Lamb from CMPL)
Jennifer Haigh / Baker Towers [CD, LP]
The Pennsylvania
coal town of Bakerton was home to Polish and Italian immigrants in the 1940s and
50s. The struggles of the 5 Novak children are played out against this
background of ethnic customs and coal town life. I loved this timely saga.
(Debbie Vercellone from SHL)
Alice Hoffman / Blackbird House [LP]
Chapters trace the various owners of an old farmhouse on Cape Cod over a 200 year period, and the connections that hold them together. The beautiful writing style and historical mood made this one of my favorite books. (Debbie Vercellone from SHL)
Khaled Hosseini / The Kite Runner [AC, CD, LP] An impressive debut novel about two unlikely Afghan friends. It is a story of betrayal and redemption, with plot twists and realistic characters. (Phil from CMS) This was my favorite book of 2005. It is a riveting portrayal of a childhood friendship betrayed, forgiveness, and redemption. It brings to life the cultural richness of Afghanistan in the 1970s, a country torn apart by political upheaval, prejudice and war. The author writes about his homeland with love, frustration and regret. A bittersweet must read. (Kathy Champieux from CMPL)
Kazuo Ishiguro / Never Let Me Go [AC, CD, LP] This story is much more than the friendship/love triangle between Kathy H., Tommy and Ruth. Reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale in its depiction of a potential dystopia. Very moving. (Celeste from CMPL)
P. D. James / The Lighthouse [CD, LP]
A famous novelist dies in secluded Combe Island's lighthouse. Inspector Dalgleish interviews the odd suspects including the victim's twisted daughter, her lover/daddy's copy editor, and odd island residents. The imaginary island seems very real with great descriptive writing. (Librarian from SCS)
Jan Karon / The Mitford Years series [AC, CD, LP]
Corny, hokey, schmaltzy, sappy? Well, yes. Heart-warming, sentimental, emotional, inspiring? Yes, and then some! You'll love these stories of the fictional town of Mitford, and you'll laugh out loud at the characters with their small-town idiosyncrasies. (C. Federspiel from MCL) Elizabeth Kostova / The Historian [AC, CD, LP]
An ancient book with letters addressed to "My dear and unfortunate successor" provides an interesting plot revolving around Vlad the Impaler, commonly known as Dracula. (Sue from EPL)
William Kent Krueger / Iron Lake [LP] Cork O'Connor, a former sheriff, finds his curiosity gets the better of him. The characters are wonderful and flawed. Small town Minnesota, Indians, casinos. A spellbinding story. (Ruth from SCS)
Marina Lewycka / A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
This is the best work of fiction I have read this past year. I would recommend "A Short History" to anyone who has an interest in history, likes a humorous, but thoughtful read, and has a sibling or an aging parent. (Sue Ferrell from SBL)
Gregory Maguire / Wicked [LP, CD] One of the weirdest and most thought-provoking books I've read in a long time, turning the Wizard of Oz story on its head. An excellent book discussion book, but not one for the impatient. (Cathy Russ from MCL)
Stephenie Meyer / Twilight
An incredibly engrossing vampire/adventure/love story. (Maria from SCS)
Ted Nancy / Letters from a Nut
If you like to read strange letters to various companies, hotels, & government offices, and then reading their sometimes even stranger responses, then this is the book for you. (Librarian from RSV)
Ted Nancy / More Letters from a Nut
The sequel to his first nutty book--just as funny, and just as nutty. Example - He wants to know if a hotel will permit him to eat their sheets... (Librarian from RSV)
Audrey Niffenegger / The Time Traveler’s Wife [AC, CD, LP] I don’t like science fiction, but this story is so unique it doesn’t seem like it’s sci-fi. It’s more a story of love and what people will sacrifice to keep their loved ones. (Ellen from CMM)
Charles R. Pellegrino / Dust
Provocative events answering question "What if all insects disappeared from earth?" Scientist/writer Pellegrino enumerates facts/fictions in appendix. Reader will want to adopt a bug. (Diana Franco from TPL)
Jodi Picoult / My Sister's Keeper [AC, CD, LP]
This work of fiction could have been ripped from the headlines with its theme of family ties and medical ethics. It's a compelling story with a shocking twist. (Gretchen from CMS)
Daniel Silva / Prince of Fire [AC, CD, LP] An Israeli agent struggles with issues of justice and revenge. The Cold War may be over; we are fortunate that the stylish spy novel lives on! (Beth from CMM)
Alexander McCall Smith / The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series [AC, CD, LP] Despite the title, these are not mysteries; rather they are a series of stories about Precious Ramotswe and the people with whom she surrounds herself and make up her world in Botswana. It is rare to read a series imbued with such warmth, decency and goodness yet is not mired in piety. The series provides a reading oasis, a respite from our complicated and, sometimes petty, lives. (Marie at CMPL)
Nicholas Sparks / True Believer A novel about the budding romance between a science journalist and a librarian in a small, southern town. (Rita Valade from RSV)
P. J. Tracy / Monkeewrench [AC] I was quite taken with the quirky, engaging characters with mysterious pasts. A serial killer computer game comes to life in Minneapolis. (Beth from CMM)
Vineeta Vijayaraghavan / Motherland
I enjoyed the glimpses of daily life in southern India and glimpses of the attitudes toward government shown by the main character's (Indian-born, American teen's) family and friends. (Librarian from RSV)
Lauren Willig / Secret History of the Pink Carnation [CD, LP] This book is about the Pink Carnation, a true-life enigma who worked in France after the Revolution. It is a book full of romance and adventure. An intriguing story. (Ruth from SCS)
[AC = Audiocassette, CD = Compact Disc, LP = Large Print]
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