Librarians Are Reading... |
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LARGE PRINT TITLES
Founding Mothers / Cokie Roberts
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)
Notes from a Small Island / Bill Bryson 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)
Rocket Boys: a Memoir / Homer H. Hickam, Jr.
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)
Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II / Robert Kurson
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) Back
to the top
Baker Towers / Jennifer Haigh
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)
Blackbird House / Alice Hoffman
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)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time / Mark Haddon
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)
The Historian / Elizabeth Kostova
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)
Iron Lake / William Kent Krueger 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)
The Kite Runner / Khaled Hosseini 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)
The Lighthouse / P. D. James
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)
The Mitford Years series / Jan Karon
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)
The Murder Artist / John Case 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)
My Sister's Keeper / Jodi Picoult
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)
Never Let Me Go / Kazuo Ishiguro 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)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series / Alexander McCall Smith 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)
Prince of Fire / Daniel Silva 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)
Secret History of the Pink Carnation / Lauren Willig 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)
The Tarnished Eye / Judith Guest
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)
The Time Traveler’s Wife / Audrey Niffenegger 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)
Wicked / Gregory Maguire
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) |
Suburban Library Cooperative |