I am pleased to report that this week we have some of our tried and true elements back.  Also, please note that there will not be a YAWYR next week.  We are gone all week at Book Expo America or as I like to call it, Christmas in May.  This is Publishing’s big trade show for the year and it is where we learn all about what we need to be excited about for the year to come.  So while we will be quiet next week, rest assured that we are still ferreting out Book Goodness for you.  This week we have Crazy Cat Neighbor, boys and obits, WW II, some mental illness, England, and the myth of having it all.

Let us begin!

Erin is currently watching The Details with Tobey Maguire and Laura Linney.   “I am almost at a loss for words when it comes to describing this film. Jeff and Nealy have what appears to be the perfect marriage. They have just celebrated their 10th anniversary and are busy caring for their blonde, curly-haired baby. All is not as it seems to be though as Nealy has lost all sexual desire for her husband. As Jeff (Tobey Maguire) channels his energy into caring for the perfect lawn by chasing away a family of raccoons, he sets off a chain reaction of infidelity, blackmail, and all-out craziness. Laura Linney plays their crazy cat lady neighbor and her performance is hilarious and totally out-of-this-universe. I have decided once and for all though that I just do not like Tobey Maguire. Sorry!”

Jeanne is being reassuringly normal.   Two things at once.  That’s our Jeanne.  “In the car I am listening to The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout who won a Pulitzer Prize for Olive Kitteridge in 2009. So I have great hopes for this novel because I loved that short story collection. Both books are set in Maine, Strout's home state. I also want to discover why the author chose to title the book The Burgess Boys (Jim and Bob) and left out the sister (Susan) who, from the beginning seems to be integral to the story; besides being a twin. The boys, both lawyers now in New York City are called home to the small town in Maine where their sister has stayed. I am expecting some emotional sibling rivalry.  I am reading The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood, mostly because I am fascinated by reading actual obituaries and I love the circa 1920 cover photograph. Once again, JFK's life provides material for a storyline, as the modern-day main character, Claire struggles with a life-changing decision on the day of his inauguration. The story alternates between two time periods with Claire in the sixties and back to Vivien, the obituary writer, in the twenties. I like how Vivien wants to write about who a person was, rather than what they did. This is my first read of this author, but so far it is easy to keep turning pages.”

Stephanie is working on her TBR (that’s To Be Read for the Uninitiated) pile.” Finally read Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and really liked it. It was much more complex than I had expected (that’s what I get for underestimating YA!) and refreshingly original, a hard trick to pull off in a WWII book.  It has great crossover potential, especially for readers who liked The Book Thief. I’d love to attend a book group discussion about it; we could talk about just the characters and their motives for hours, let alone the rest of it!”

Sweet Ann is reading The Illicit Happiness of Other People by Manu Joseph.  This is an intriguing novel filled with strong characters that are very well developed.  Ousep Chacko is searching once again, three years later, after his seventeen year old son, Unni, committed suicide.  He sought out Unni's friends, teachers and acquaintances when Unni first died and never discovered the reason his son did what he did.  He begins his search anew after a cartoon Unni had been working on is delivered to the house after it was lost in the mail for three years.  Doggedly he begins harassing the people who knew Unni to see if they remember anything or know about this newly found cartoon.  People dread his approach.  This is a story of a mother's breakdown, a son's love, mental illness, secrets and a family struggling to remain a family. This novel sweeps you into Southern India and the Chacko family.

Miss Elisabeth is revisiting a favorite: “This week I re-read one of my favorite children’s books, Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian. I was writing about the tv-movie adaptation for the ALSC Blog and decided to revisit an old favorite. This is a truly gorgeous read. It won the IRA Children’s Book Award in 1982, and if it didn’t have a heinously awful cover, I’m sure it would be read by many, many people. The story takes place in England at the beginning of WWII. Young William Beech is evacuated from London to the countryside with thousands of other children, and is taken in by an angry misanthrope named Thomas Oakley. Mr. Tom, as William calls him, is forced to take William as a part of the war effort, but he quickly realizes he needs William just as much as William needs him. William comes from an abusive home – his psychotically religious mother beats him with a heavy belt on a near-daily basis for his 'sins' Under the care of Mr. Tom, William slowly begins to heal. All is well for several months, until a letter arrives in the mail – William’s mother wants him to come home. This story spans the entirety of the war, and introduces you to a host of characters you want to meet again and again. I cannot recommend it highly enough. “

Pat T. is taking a look at some new feminist thought.” I have just finished reading Lean In:  Women Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg and I would highly recommend this to every woman, young and old, as well as the men in their lives. The author writes about women in the workplace and how we have not made significant enough strides and changes in the workforce for women. Some of the reasons for this is women undermine their abilities, lack self-confidence and attempt unattainable goals of ‘having it all’. A woman's significant other needs to be a partner in all aspects of life- from child rearing to household tasks, as well as supporting each other's professional goals. One other interesting point the author makes is that woman should not focus on climbing the corporate ladder, but rather view their professional development as a jungle gym, sometimes making lateral moves to attain their ultimate goals.”

Here is what you can find on the shelves that is new next week. Come in and visit us, or put your items on hold from home! We will let you know when they are ready for you to pick up!

Again this week we have some missing elements.  I offer no excuses or explanations. I know it’s disconcerting, but yes, this is still You Are What You Read.  This week we have some Chinese, action figures, a castle, a mash-up that has no business existing but we are not judging, anarchy, good books, a bad man, Everest, and a Southern Sojourn. 

Let us begin.

Alan is reading pretty true to type here. “I’ve just read The Shanghai Factor by Charles McCarry. It’s very much in the same line as many of his other well-written, intelligent, good-with-the-little-details spy novels. In this one, a young agent is undercover in China, is targeted (or is he?) by the Chinese intelligence services, and soon finds himself with a very attractive girlfriend, an interesting job, and lots of enigmatic leads. He’s pulled back to the US and recruited for a deep cover assignment, mentored by a legendary spy. Soon he finds himself caught in the cross-currents, trying to keep his head (at least once, literally) above water. There’s some interesting tradecraft, wheels within wheels, and maybe things get settled up at the end a little too fast, but overall, a very satisfying book.”

Miss Kiera of the CL is reading Doll Bones by Holly Black.  “This is one of the 2013 Booktalking Selections for fourth and fifth grade. Each year the children's librarians create lists of our very favorite new books for each grade. We visit every classroom in Darien to tell kids about the books and get them excited for Summer Reading. Doll Bones is one of my personal favorites this year. It's dark, creepy, and well-crafted. It's the story of three friends: Zach, Alice, and Poppy, who have been playing together since they were little. Using action figures and a rather scary-looking old porcelain doll, they have created an elaborate fantasy world in which they make-believe daring adventures. When Zach's dad tells him he's too old to play with dolls, things begin to unravel. Just as Zach decides to abandon their games forever, Poppy reveals that the doll is haunted by the spirit of a girl who was killed long ago and the three friends embark on a real-life quest to return the haunted doll to her grave. So much more than a terrific ghost story, Doll Bones is also a story about growing up, about friends drifting apart and finding each other again.”

The Amazing Amanda is back to finish the Graceling series by Kristin Cashore that she reviewed a few weeks ago. “Bitterblue is the sequel to Graceling. Set eight years later, we follow the adventures of the Princess Bitterblue who was rescued by the Gracelings Katsa and Prince Po from the previous book. At eighteen, Bitterblue has spent the last eight years in her tower signing off on land treaties and other boring paperwork. She hardly knows the layout of her own castle, let alone a thing about the daily lives of her people. Feeling restless, she begins sneaking out at night to explore her city. In the city’s underbelly, she discovers a group of people who want to bring to the light the atrocities committed under her father’s reign. These truth-seekers are being killed by others who want to keep their past crimes hidden. Bitterblue is suspected as the one behind the murders even though her new companions have no idea of her real identity. In a kingdom where everyone is determined to keep silent, can Bitterblue right the wrongs without losing everything?  Other readers on Goodreads left negative reviews of this book as they were expecting a heroine like Katsa. Bitterblue is in a difficult situation and I find this book refreshing. While other authors may have left Bitterblue to sort out her country without looking into the process, I enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at her struggle. I skipped the second book in the series, Fire, on the recommendation that it had very little to do with the current story. “

John has a request this week. “I'm decompressing from my last read with A Discovery of Witches.  It's sort of a Twilight-meets-Dan-Brown.  To be honest, I have no idea why I'm reading it, but it's entertaining and I'm caught up in the story now.  Don't judge me.”  John, we don’t judge.  At least not out loud.

Miss Elisabeth of the CL is taking suggestions!  “This week I'm reading a dystopian science-fiction novel our own Alan Gray recommended, S.M. Stirling's Dies the Fire. At the start of the book, something awful happens. There is a flash of white in the sky, and all mechanical and electrical things on earth stop working. Planes fall out of the sky. Cars run off the road. Submarines sink to the bottom of the ocean. And humanity is instantly plunged back to a lifestyle not seen for a thousand years. With no cars, no electricity, no guns, and no way to ship food anywhere in the world, society quickly devolves into anarchy. Government collapses, and in its place, loose groups of like-minded citizens try to make their way in this strange new world. Juniper Mackenzie and her coven quickly retreat to her grandfather's farm in the Oregon Mountains where they hope to farm peacefully, while Mike Havel, a former Ranger, tries to lead his growing clan to safe land. With a medieval history professor bent on setting up a violent fiefdom in Portland and citizens all over resorting to cannibalism, Dies the Fire asks an uncomfortable question: What would you do if the lights went out for good?”

Erin is listening to The End of Your Life Book Club on audio. “When Will Schwalbe’s mother is diagnosed with an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer, he spendst a lot of time accompanying her to chemo visits. Because they are both huge readers, they start to informally discuss the books they’re reading which leads to some overlap. This memoir is an ode to good books, family, and to use a cliché: the ties that bind. Will Schwalbe will be here June 5!”  I for one am most excited about Will’s visit.  I loved this book.

Stephanie is showing her dark side.  Again. “I treasure books like The Good Nurse, by Charles Graeber, and the way they are invested in finding answers to human depravity without melodrama, because while I love me some Law & Order, it’s always over the top. This is true crime so gruesome I don’t think Law & Order has even attempted an inspired-by episode: about Charles Cullen, known as ‘The Angel of Death.’ It would need to be a multi-part episode. Cullen was a nurse who skipped from hospital to hospital in the tri-state area for years, killing vulnerable patients with drug cocktails so haphazardly that he doesn’t even remember all of them, for reasons he can’t really define. On Law & Order, this could go one of two ways: a twisted mercy killer, or a sadistic sociopath. The truth is much more complicated. And Graeber, with the help of many previously unknown resources, including interviews with the informant who was the linchpin of Cullen’s trial, does an amazing job of unraveling the truth of the matter, as well as anybody can in this circumstance. Cullen is clearly a bad man, but Graeber is not interested in the morality play of scolding him. He is interested in understanding him. He gets pretty close to doing so. And that’s why this book is completely chilling and great.”

Lois has just finished Above All Things by Tanis Rideout.  “This is a historical fiction novel of 3-time Everest climber George Mallory during his last and fatal attempt to reach the summit in 1924.  After 2 dangerous and unsuccessful attempts, George has promised his wife, Ruth that he will not leave her and their 3 small children again.  But he is haunted by those failures, as well as his perceived failures during his service in WWI, and when the opportunity presents itself to try again, George accepts without consulting Ruth.  The book beautifully blends Ruth’s world, her unconditional love for George, and her anger and fear with George’s unrelenting need for glory and redemption.  It pulled me into both realties and I couldn’t put it down. “

I am preparing for an upcoming trip to North Carolina by reading Lookaway, Lookaway by Wilton Bernhardt.  Although, I am pretty sure that my traveling companion would not want this to be my initial impression.  Yeah.  Actually I am positive that this is the case. The chapter on pledging Greek at Chapel Hill pretty much cinches that.  Anyway, Jerene Jarvis Johnston is the matriarch of a proud upper class family and despite her best efforts her carefully constructed world is beginning to unravel.  Bernhardt’s writing style reminds me a lot of Tom Wolfe (think Bonfire of the Vanities).  This one is due out in August.

This week we have some Northern Mexico, Maine, Tennessee, Chicago, LA and New York. 

There is no Paris, there is no WWII, and there are no Nazis.  There are no home repair updates, nor are there any egg trees. 

Yes, you are reading You Are What You Read.

No. I don’t know how this happened.  But I am oddly comforted by the two references to substance abuse issues.

Let us begin!

John is dedicated this week! “I’m reading a rather strange and interesting book: 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. It was the last novel he wrote before his death in 2003 and it is a tale of four critics in search of a missing novelist in northern Mexico.  They cross paths with some very memorable characters and soon come to realize that something dark and sinister is going on.  This is an epic tome and it has taken me about 200 pages to get into it, but now that I am, there will be no stopping until the end. It is brilliantly written and utterly absorbing.  This novel is considered to be a masterpiece and Bolaño's magnum opus by critics.”

Sweet Ann is reading Lifesaving Lessons: Notes from an Accidental Mother by Linda Greenlaw.  “I loved this memoir and the writing style of Ms. Greenlaw.  Linda Greenlaw, an avid fisherman, on the Isle au Haut off the coast of Maine, becomes the legal guardian of  15-year-old Mariah. She has never been a mother and assumed that was not in the cards for her.  Mariah has come to the island with her ‘uncle’ after fleeing a difficult life in Tennessee. It turns out that her uncle is not a good guy and is doing inappropriate things with his ‘niece’.  Mariah needs a place to go and ends up with Linda.  Linda's experience with Mariah’s  angst is quite humorous but there is tremendous heart in this book.  Although Linda is not sure this is the life she wants, she will fight for Mariah and teach her the life lessons she needs. Mariah is unsure about accepting Linda's love and help but eventually she lets her guard down.  This book will truly have you cheering for the love of ‘family’.  I plan on reading other books written by Ms. Greenlaw.”

Jeanne, of course, two things at once. No need to discuss. It is what it is. “In the car I am listening to Sum It Up by Pat Head Summitt with Sally Jenkins, also the excellent narrator. Pat, the legendary head coach of the University of Tennessee's Lady Vols has recently retired because of the onset of Alzheimer's. Her 38-year coaching career won thousands of victories, a Silver Olympic medal and made an immeasurable difference in the evolution of womens sports. As I write this, we are on our way to Knoxville to join our son, Justin as he graduated from UT! Go Vols!  Everywhere else I am reading Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy by David Sheff who first wrote Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction. In the first book he searches for answers to how his charming, fun- loving child become a trembling meth addict. In Clean, Sheff offers counsel to parents and loved ones experiencing the tragedy of addiction. This makes for very interesting reading.  “

Stephanie is enjoying the offering from our most recent author visit. “After Visiting Friends by Michael Hainey looks like a book, but it is so fast and absorbing that you will swear it is a magazine feature. (As Hainey is the deputy editor of GQ, this makes sense.) Hainey’s father, a newspaperman’s newspaperman in Chicago, died when he was 6; the circumstances were vague, bothering Hainey more and more as he grew up. In this book, he sets out on a quest for clarity, starting with an unlikely line in an obituary and spiraling out into the past and present. Think Mike Royko meets John Jeremiah Sullivan, with a truly satisfying ending.”

Pat S.  is channeling some California Dreaming and is working on Life at the Marmont by Raymond Sarlot and Fred E. Basten. “ Life at the Marmont, written by two men who owned the iconic Hollywood landmark from 1975-1991, is nothing short of a love letter to a revered idol.
Raymond Sarlot and Fred Basten bought the Chateau Marmont after becoming seduced by its' fabled history. Built in 1929, the Chateau Marmont started life above Sunset Boulevard. as a luxury apartment building. Yet the depression soon made that a losing prospect, and it soon became a hotel, which it has remained ever since. In the 90 years plus since opening, it has housed every 'name' actor, writer, director and producer involved in the movie industry. Charlie Chaplin, Robert Benchley, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Laurence Olivier, Errol Flynn, Bea Lillie, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Buck Henry . . .the list goes on. But Sarlot and Basten have also followed the lives of the long-time employees who knew where all the bodies were buried-literally and figuratively! In addition to presenting a snapshot of cinema history at any given point in the last century, the life of the hotel also mirrors the socio/political times of 20th c. America-all in all, a most interesting read-and just in time for the Aaron Sorkin mini-series by the same title.”

At the urging of an ardent patron I have started James Salter’s All that Is.  This has been touted as his masterpiece and at first I was less than charmed by his writing style but now that I am about 60 pages in I am finding myself sinking into it.  Phillip Bowman has just returned from serving our country in World War II and finds himself navigating what was once the WASPish world of publishing in New York.  What sold me on this?  Salter really knows what he is writing about. These characters are your friends and neighbors if this is your world.  So far not a false note has sounded.  Even down to the faded beauty that has to repair herself to Silver Hill every couple of years.  And you all know how I love institutions like Silver Hill, McClean and Frank Campbell in my books.

Could this week have been more glorious?  This is why we live here People!  Our Sweet Ann update?  It would appear she is just about done!  Also please check out our really cool new service that is available to Darien residents!  Zinio is a service that will deliver magazines to the device of your choosing.  We are wild for it and I think you will be too. This week we have The Lord of Death, more Chicks with Bricks (Yes. Again. Get on it or get over it!), falling hard, bribery, combat, Swan Lake and fluttering hearts.

Let us begin! 

Miss Elisabeth of the CL took advantage of this glorious weather stretch to get some reading done! “After reading nothing all week last week, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and Central Park, and finished three books this weekend! I was in the mood for something dark and dense, and Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers perfectly fit the bill! Ismae's mother used poison to try and expel her from the womb. The poison permanently scarred her body but left her alive and otherwise intact, causing the midwife to declare that she must have been sired by Death himself. Many years later, betrothed to a pig man and beaten near daily by her father, Ismae learns that the midwife wasn't speaking lightly - she is the daughter of St. Mortain, the Lord of Death, and has been chosen to serve her father's will by the convent of St. Mortain. At the convent, Ismae learns the deadly art of the assassin and prepares to do her true father's bidding, but as she is sent out on her first assignments, she realizes that nothing the convent has taught her can prepare her for the intrigue and villainy of the royal court of Brittany in the 1500's. Ismae will need to use all her father's gifts to save her country, her Duchess, and her heart. "

Barbara M. is joining our legion of obsessives! “I am totally absorbed and fascinated by the book everyone else on staff has already read, Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century by Peter Graham. This true story of how two teenage girls murder one of their mothers is made even more remarkable by the fact that one of the girls is the world renowned author, Anne Perry. Absolutely amazing!”   

Stephanie is sort of a mess this week.  In the best possible way. “I don’t always love quiet books, but Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi is so beautifully written that I fell for it, hard. When people talk about writing as a craft, they’re talking about writing like Selasi’s. I finished this book on the train and then worked on some writing of my own; this ended up mirroring an experience I usually have during the Olympics while watching ice skating, because they make it look simple to skate backwards in a circle and then launch their body into a triple whateverthehell, and then I stand up to go get more tea and skate myself down the hall in my socks, humming, and then trip on the floor and bruise a knee. She makes it look easy because the prose is basically perfect, so there’s no comparison, until you crash back to reality in your own journal. This is a beautiful family saga of sorts that brings not just her characters, but also contemporary Africa and the United States, to pulsing, vibrant life.”

Sweet Ann is reading The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwarz.  “This novel is quite the page turner.  The story begins in Milwaukee in 1898 and introduces us to Trudy who is engaged to be married.  She wants more to life than just becoming a housewife and living in the city of her birth.  She meets her fiance's cousin, Oskar, who is a free spirit and offers Trudy the adventure she is yearning for.  She marries Oskar and they are off to his job as a worker at a remote lighthouse in California.  There they meet the Crawley family including the wife's strange brother.  The adventures soon begin centered on the mysterious woman on the island who the children refer to as a mermaid.  This book will keep you guessing about what is actually happening on the island.  This novel also makes you think about the choices one makes and the consequences that follow.  This is a quick enthralling read.”

Patty fills us in! “Let me start by saying that nowadays I rarely read fiction. Much of my time is spent perusing the stacks of non-fiction, looking for something to add to my own knowledge and propensity to noodle thoughts or ideas.  I was reminded this week about a book that is as much a book about parenting as it is about managing staff or teaching.  My choice this week was mentioned at a recent YWCA Parent Awareness talk about positive parenting and was acknowledged by the presenting speaker, Dr. Julia Trebing, as a major influence on her as a psychologist.  It was a book that was a major influence on me as well. Alfie Kohn’s book, Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s Praise and Other Bribes is a must read.    As a parent and through years of experience working with young children, I’ve always had a problem with the notion of extrinsic motivation.  The idea of dangling an incentive in front of a child, or anyone for that matter, never sat well with me.  Highly regarded books on education and best practices will point out that in order to encourage lifelong learners, students need to be intrinsically motivated.  Mr. Kohn points out through extensive research and psychology just how extrinsic rewards undermine intrinsic motivation. “      

Jeanne as usual is doing two things at once.  It is nice to be able to count on some stability in this uncertain world! “ In the car I am listening to The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers. I think audio (especially with Holter Graham narrating!) is a good way to experience this emotional book about looking out for your fellow soldiers in war.  The combat scenes, the guilt, the sense of returning to civilian life as a misfit are made more poignant in the listening. Using his own experiences in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, Powers writes a "fictional" account of the ugliness of war through language that is at once horrible, beautiful and riveting. Very powerful. Everywhere else I am reading The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield. I love this book! I love the way it is so deeply human in plain-spoken words; with knowable characters. There is sad and funny; warm and tragic as most close-knit families can be. The setting is rural Arkansas and it is the coming-of-age story of Swan Lake (really), a precocious 11-year old who lights up the pages with her undaunted fearlessness and unquenchable curiosity through Wingfield's clever, well-paced narrative. I am looking forward to following Swan through the pages on her mission.”

The Amazing Amanda has a confession to make.  “Confession (this is not a surprise): I love Japanese graphic novels (manga) and anime (Japanese animation). The art style and the cultural differences paint the illustrated landscape of Japan as a magical place that makes your heart flutter. In the Ouran High School Host Club, you have six different beautiful boys who woo their classmates with the princess treatment. The girls respond with avid devotion to their male ‘type’ of perfect boy. Enter Haruhi, a female scholarship student that is just looking for a place to study. When she accidentally enters the Host Club’s paradise, she accidentally breaks an extremely expensive vase. The boys put her to work to pay off her debt. However, the Club’s president has made a mistake in assuming Haruhi is a boy thanks to her looks. So she is drafted into serving as one of the male hosts. When the president discovers her “secret”, enter a mad-cap romantic comedy as the Club works to obscure Haruhi’s gender. There are lots of laugh-out-loud worthy plots and schemes for the Host Club to gets themselves into. Haruhi is a heroine who stands on her own two feet and stays true to herself despite being surrounded by the extremely affluent.  The graphic novels are heartwarming, funny, and each character is revealed – to themselves and to the reader – to be capable of much kindness. I discovered the anime before the novels and watched it in one long marathon. This is one of my favorite light-hearted ways to while away an afternoon or a lunch!

This week we have nothing but joyful proclamations. Ann has left Appalachia in the dust and reports that she is now the proud owner of a home with running water and electricity.  I think we can safely declare the arrival of spring. Also, don’t forget that our current favorite book Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century aka Chicks with Bricks will be released this week!  Keep watching this space for a cool new service we will be offering you.  I know you all are going to love it.  See?  Nothing but good this week! This week we have a shock, a skilled fighter, A Library Legend Speaks! smart yet light,3 Danish, some gypsies, sweetness, a crisis, a Charlotte sighting, and some Chicago! 

Let us begin!

John is moving on to the next book on the stack.  I finished Old School and really enjoyed it.  It would be a great way for anyone to be introduced to great (and not so great) writing.  If you've ever wanted to meet Robert Frost, or see what Ayn Rand is like in person (apparently she had nice legs), then this is your ticket.  As for my next book, I just started Jojo Moyes' Me before You.  An abrupt and shocking first chapter has left me wondering where it goes next.

The Amazing Amanda continues her love affair with fantasy fiction. “I have a weak spot for strong female characters. This week was no exception when I listened to Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Katsa is a lady killer in the service of her uncle the king. He gives her orders of who to maim or kill and she does his bidding. However, she feels disgusted by the self-serving greedy kings who harm ordinary people. So she starts a Council that carries out separate missions to help people. While doing Council work, she runs into a highly skilled fighter. He recognizes her and to her own astonishment, she decides to let him live. This one moment of hesitation on Katsa’s part completely changes her life. As the story continues, Katsa grows from a cold, no-nonsense character into  to a compassionate woman. She defies two treacherous kings and uncovers a 35 year old deception that has harmed thousands. The man she spared becomes her true companion.   The full-cast audio production was a bit jarring as each spoken part was read by a different voice actor. When I read a book, I usually ‘hear’ the voices inside my head which are really just variations of my own thought ‘voice’ if that makes any sense! So to listen to a book with multiple voices was a strange experience. After a while, I settled into the story which I loved. This is possibly the best book I’ve read in a while – even beating out Seraphina for recent female-driven fantasy novels. The world building is realistic, detailed, and the struggles of Katsa and the people she encounters feel real. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants action, adventure, and a dash of romance.”

Library Legend Blanche joins us for the first time this week!  Welcome Blanche!   She is reading The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh.  “This novel is set in South Africa in the 18th century and it deals with the inhuman conditions of diamond mining, the exploitation of a land and its people.  There is also an emotional love story that will capture you from the moment the character leaves her home in England to live in Africa.”

Stephanie asks a question for the Ages! “Everybody wants a smart, light book for summer (or, as people usually ask at the desk: “Do you have anything that’s easy to read but won’t make me feel like I’m losing brain cells?”), and I have already found one for 2013: The Smart One by Jennifer Close. I loved her first book, Girls in White Dresses, and I think this one is even better. So funny and compassionate, and a brilliant look at that new strange not-a-teen-not-quite-a-grownup experience so many people are having (from both the perspective of the twenty-somethings and that of the mom whose kids are all moving back home). Close has a great eye for subtle details, especially in dialogue. My only complaint is that I can’t figure out what the heck is going on with that lady’s dress on the cover?”  I think I can answer that one.  It looks like a Von Furstenberg wrap dress to me.  Any other thoughts on this one?

Abby is back but what she is reading is really not a surprise if you know her.  “I splurged on Danish during my vacation. Yes, I read all 3 of Sara Blaedel's Danish crime novels. Dubbed the Queen of Danish mysteries, her lead character Detective Louise Rick works major crimes in Copenhagen. Her cases all happen to intersect with her best pal Camilla Lind, the city's top crime reporter. The three books in order are: Call me Princess, Only One Life, and Farewell to Freedom. I enjoyed the books which definitely had the Scandinavian touch I enjoy. It will be interesting to see how the Rick character develops, and if the constant intersecting of Rick's detective work and Camilla's intrepid reporting continues to be an effective narrative.”

Barbara M. is not reading Paris or World War II.  But this week I am cool with it because she is exploring another one of her obsessions:  Gypsies!  “I just started Gypsy Boy on the Run: My Escape from a Life Among the Romany Gypsies by Mikey Walsh. I enjoyed and learned so much from his first book, Gypsy Boy that I expect to like this one too.”

Sweet Ann is reading something, well, for lack of a better word, sweet; As Sweet as Honey by Indira Ganesan. “Yes I know the word "sweet" is in the title of this book and yes it is a sweet story of a family living on the fictional island of Pi in the Indian Ocean.  The novel is told by ten year old Mina who is the niece of the main character, Meterling.  Meterling is twenty eight when the story begins and soon it will be her wedding day.  She is marrying Archer, a British national, who works his family's gin business on the island.  She loves him very much and as they share their first dance together as husband and wife, Archer drops dead.  Meterling is devastated, as is her family who will be shocked to learn she is pregnant because they thought she was waiting to be with Archer on their wedding night.   Meterling's family suppports her totally and she thinks she will live the rest of her life with them on Pi.  She then meets Simon, Archer's cousin, who can offer her a new life.  This is a lovely story about love, family and moving on with one's life. “

Pat T.  has just started reading The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. “This is a novel about a family whose lives have been affected by a tragedy from their childhood, their adult relationships with each other and how they individually handle the latest family crisis that brings them together again in their hometown of Shirley Falls, Maine. As with Olive Kitteridge Elizabeth Strout, draws you into her characters who are not easily likable, but redeemable.”

Jeanne,  as usual,  2 things at once.  Discuss:  “There are so many good memoirs about so many different kinds of people. I was reading With or Without You: a Memoir by Domenica Ruta and I really wanted to like her story of self-made success about growing up Italian American with a drug-addled single mother on welfare in Danvers, MA. But, as I tell my dog when she picks up something she shouldn't, "That's yucky, Charlotte. Leave it!" So I did and I moved on to another memoir, After Visiting Friends: a Son's Story by Michael Hainey. In a way, both authors have experienced the loss of a parent, one to drugs, but still living; and one to death when the son was young. Hainey believes there is a mystery to be solved about the sudden death of his dad, a rising star at the Chicago Sun-Times. He wants to dig into the past without upsetting his mother and family members by uncovering secrets. The difference is in the writing. Hainey's writing, for me, is just more readable, more compelling and definitely more page-turning.”

Your Ann update of the week does seem hopeful.  She seems to think The Sandy Nightmare may just about be close to completion.  She reports that the Appalachian aspect of their home (i.e. no electricity or running water) has ended and that the workmen seem to be actually finishing various tasks.  Here is hoping that is indeed the case.  I am also happy to report that  Barbara M. is back to normal, so there will be some Nazis and Paris in our future. This week we have some small town, Old School style, the Blitz, toast masquerading as a cookie, memory loss, all that and a bag of chips, Anastasia, some quirk  and a lot of distractibility.

Let us begin!

Marilyn of MatMan is joining us for the first time this week!  Welcome aboard!  “I just finished reading Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.  It is labeled a Detective Mystery which is not my normal genre of reading so I almost didn't check it out.  I am so glad that I did.  I loved it!  The story is set in 1961 in a small town in Minnesota.  The narrative is told through the voice of Frank who was thirteen that year, the middle child of a Methodist minister father and an artistic mother.  There are several tragic deaths that summer in their small town which provides a page turning story with many twists and turns.  It is also a moving story of family relationships, friendships, prejudice, painful loss and faith.  For anyone who would not normally read a D-M (and for those who do), I would highly recommend this wonderful book.”

John says, “Because Sally spoke so highly of it, and because I told her I would read it, I've just started Old School.  As an English major, I can totally relate to it and so far I'm thoroughly enjoying it.”

Sweet Ann is reading my favorite book of the year so far, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.   Let’s see her take on it. “This novel is a breath of fresh air in that it takes you as a reader on different adventures with the main character, Ursula, as she is ‘reborn’ into different scenarios.  Ursula was born in England February 11, 1910.  In one scenario she survives and in another she doesn’t.  During the Blitz she works to rescue victims of bombings and at the same time in another experience she is married to a German living in Germany.   This book is so well written that you can follow all the twists and turns of Ursula's life and you care deeply for her in every situation.  You will cheer for her as well as cry for her.  This was a really good read.”

Barbara M!  I am so relieved and you all should be too! “I am back in France and reading The Perfect Meal: In Search of the Lost Tastes of France by John Baxter, an Australian who has been living in Paris for twenty years. Baxter wanted to create a classical French meal, which seems to be disappearing in today’s world so worried about health. As he researches each part of the banquet he travels around France and relates the origin of each dish. I was surprised to learn that in Proust’s original manuscript, the famous madeleine was actually a piece of toasted bread. I am thoroughly enjoying this mouthwatering book but nonetheless, I don’t think I’ll be ordering lampreys as a fish course anytime soon.”

Miss Elisabeth of the CL is reading a rather grown-up choice! “I am late to this bandwagon, but I just finished Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson, and wow, what a read. I picked the book up because I saw on Early Word that Nicole Kidman has been cast to star in the movie, and I am so glad I did! Christine wakes up every morning with no memory of where she is or how she got there. After suffering an extreme trauma 20 years early, she has been living with amnesia. When she sleeps, she forgets every memory she has made that day. Luckily she has her loving husband, Ben, to take care of her and remind her who she is. But when Christine starts keeping a journal to help her remember her day-to-day life, she feels a growing sense of unease. Is Ben keeping things from Christine? Is her new doctor? Or is she keeping dark secrets from herself? I could not put this book down. To borrow from the late, great Roger Ebert, two thumbs up!”

Stephanie has been insisting that I pick this one up.  I just may need to obey her.  “This week I could not put down The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, the story of four friends who meet at summer camp and think they are going to change the world and be fascinating their entire lives—that then follows them through their adolescence and adulthood and their entrance into the real world. There are a lot of things to say about this book, and smarter people than me are going to say them, so I will just note that I loved it and very highly recommend it to pretty much everybody I know. How much did I love it, you ask? So much that I accidentally ate an entire bag of chips while reading it because I was so engrossed.”

Jeanne.  Doing two things at once.  I love it when things are back to normal.  “Many may recognize John Boyne as the Irish author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I am reading his latest novel, The House of Special Purpose which starts out in England with an eighty year old couple, Georgy Daniilovich and Zoya Jachmenev who decide to travel back to Russia, their homeland, to possibly put to rest ghosts of the tragic past that haunts them. The story takes the reader back through time in the early part of the 20th century to the Winter Palace of the Tsar in a time of change and bloody revolution.  I wondered at the title so I Googled it, but I didn't need to since Jen is a wealth of information on the Imperial household. Inspired by true events this is Boyne's version of a household servant of Tsar Nicholas II in a time of Bolsheviks, Anastasia and St. Petersburg. I like this author for his ability to offer an alternative historical version of an era while evoking the emotions of the personal lives in turbulent times.  That being said,sometimes I just want to read a book that doesn’t have any cultural or historical significance or isn't about someone famous. Just give me an entertaining novel, a good read with lots of fun characters and conversation. People that could materialize in your kitchen: people in believable situations but with some quirks. Elinor Lipman’s fiction usually fits that bill. I am enjoying her latest, The View from Penthouse B. It's fun and engaging and I am spending time with people who, through no direct fault of their own, survive various ‘setbacks’ and take in roommates to keep living in their NYC penthouse while hatching money-making schemes.

Like a lot of us this week, I have been finding it hard to concentrate.  There is so much going on!  Some of it heavenly, but some of it not so much.  I was so relieved to FINALLY find a good book to sink into.  The Gravity of Birds is a first novel by Tracy Guzeman.  A hidden away painting of sisters Natalie and Alice Kessler and the artist himself Thomas Bayber, is found and Thomas would like to sell it.  But first he must find the sisters who have disappeared.  The story is told in alternating voices and it reminds me a lot of Lily King.  So if you are looking for some smart, literate dysfunction, this could be yours come August.

Here is what you can find on the shelves that is new next week. Come in and visit us, or put your items on hold from home! We will let you know when they are ready for you to pick up!

Just in case you were disappointed because February was only 28 days, here is another February day.  In April.  Also we have an Ann update of sorts.  She wants all to know the egg tree has been dismantled but is confident it will reappear next year.  She also feels that the end of her Sandy Nightmare might just be on the horizon.  However I feel we need to remember that Ann is an eternal optimist and could quite possibly be a victim of Stockholm Syndrome.    This week we have some family dynamics, chicken stuff, more chicken,  the Big Reveal (squeal!), poverty, bereavement, an incident and because I can’t take it anymore, some Nazis, and some Paris.

Let us begin!

Kim who can be found on many desks, wearing many hats is working on And Then Life Happens: A Memoir by Auma Obama.  “This book begins with Auma, Obama's half-sister, talking about the day she received a letter from Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Auma describes the dynamics of her family, being raised in Kenya, how education impacted her life, and the role that women and men played in Kenya.”

Stephanie is finishing something up! “Last Friends by Jane Gardam is the final book in the Old Filth trilogy, and is the story of the final leg of the love triangle set up between Old Filth, Betty, and Veneering. As with the first two, it is the nearly flawless output of a writer at the very top of her game. On the surface level, the trilogy is comfort food: the small stories of ordinary people as Britain struggled through the twentieth century, garnished with details of shillings in gas meters, Raj orphans, tea, rationing, and all the angles of Chambers. A quiet love triangle between English people. The jade bracelets of Veneering’s Chinese wife, put onto her at birth. The egg box with eggs in it still covered in chicken detritus so you know how fresh they are; you leave some money and take some eggs and the sadness of the egg box suddenly empty. On the whole, though, Gardam is such an inventive writer that it doesn’t matter what her books are about. What this lady does with the same words all of us get to work with is incredible. What she does with dashes—yes—dashes—is incredible. It’s not just comfort food because of the subject matter. It’s comfort food because the writing is so good that it is relaxing just to read it. Jane Gardam is a national treasure. (She’s not our national treasure, but should be cherished just the same.)”

Patty  says, “I'd like to preface this by saying that this one is dedicated to all the elementary school educators out there. This week I have chosen, The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane and Herm Auch.  Yep, it's a children's picture book!   Now, who doesn't think that a chicken is hilarious? Comedians have been using that rubber chicken shtick for years for a reason. Chickens are funny and make people smile. I dare you to watch a chicken and not smile. I chose this book for my first grade son as a read aloud.  Within these beautifully illustrated pages is the story of Henrietta Hen. Henrietta is a book loving, story-telling chicken who spends lots of time in her local public library. Her passion for stories leads her into the world of self-publishing where she suffers the slings and arrows of publishers and editors.  It ultimately is a story about risk taking, following your passion and resilience. Great lessons for any age!”

And now a word from Caroline! “First off, thanks for the suggestion last week – Anne Lamott’s Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son. That’s actually perfect because I’m having not only 1, but 2 boys!  That’s right, they’re twins!  The library has a great collection of twin books – the best I’ve found so far for multiple pregnancies is When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, Or Quads : Proven Guidelines For A Healthy Multiple Pregnancy. It’s a little overwhelming when they advise that drink 128oz of water a day, or make bed rest sound completely to-be-expected – but all of it is great, multiple-specific advice that you won’t find in most regular pregnancy books.  Others on my list include Double Time : How I Survived--and Mostly Thrived--through The First Three Years Of Mothering Twins” and Twin Sense : A Sanity-saving Guide To Raising Twins--from Pregnancy Through The First Year. Again, welcome your suggestions on any other books (and double strollers!). “I told you it was worth the wait!  Congratulations to Caroline and her husband!  Or should we say Mozel since she is such a Bravo head?  We who are members of the Two Boys Club welcome you!

Pat S. has raves for How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Moshin Hamid.  “Told using the somewhat glib structure of a self-help manual, Filthy Rich is a personal saga of love and ambition-as well as a pointed satiric commentary on the epic changes in the developing world.  Employing second person narration, each chapter focuses on a goal to improving one's station ("Get an Education," "Learn from a Master," "Befriend a Bureaucrat,") and unveils the protagonist at each different stage of life, from childhood to old age. Running parallel to the rise out of poverty is the delicately evolving but ill-fated love story with "the pretty girl". Meeting in the teenage years, the lovers cross paths over and over, pushed together and apart by the forces moving their destinies forward.  This beautifully written rags -to-riches tale succeeds in being both a fable about what is truly precious in life, and a biting social satire about what is destroyed in a 'developing' world.”

Pat T. comments on our One Book One Community pick. “I read City of Thieves by David Benioff in 2009 when it was first published, so I decided to listen to the audio book for the library's One Book One Community program. I am on the last disc and I don't want it to end! The narrator, Ron Perlman, definitely brings the book to life and the background music that plays intermittently adds to the tone of the story. So, if you have already read the book listen to the audio book. You won't be disappointed.”

Jeanne has a little problem and a confession.  “I have become audiobook dependent. I do just enough driving where it is worth it. But Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian has driven me to download this book through 3M so I can read it everywhere! Bohjalian is a master at portraying love and grief, survival and pain in a landscape of the monstrosities of the 1915 Armenian Genocide by the Turks. He toggles between the past and the present with two separate narrators by describing the journeys and horrors of characters in Turkey  and discoveries by modern day descendants in New York and Boston now through family photographs and research. This author is especially clever at including emotionally-charged twists to his characters. I will be bereaved on finishing this book.”

Sweet Ann  has just finished The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Stout.  “I enjoyed this novel as it explored the family dynamic among three grown siblings., high achiever Jim, (keeping a family secret that has and will impact his brother and sister's lives) and twins Bob and Susan who have never gotten along. They are all living separate lives but are drawn back together by an incident that Susan's son commits.  This book contains marital relationships, friendships, prejudices and a family revelation. “

I just started Studio Saint-Ex by Ania Szado.  Twenty-two-year-old Mignonne Lachapelle is a young woman determined to make her mark in New York’s budding fashion scene in the 1940’s. When she meets the famous and married exiled French pilot, Antoine Saint-Expury, sparks fly and a romance ensues.  But the real complication is a manuscript that he is working on involving un petit prince and his journey across the planets.  So far this is a good one. It has France, Fashion and a femme fatale!  And it comes out in June.

I know that last week I promised more exciting Caroline news. I lied.  You all are going to have to wait another week.  But trust me. It will be worth the wait.  Also there is no egg tree this week.  We are too cold. In related news, please won’t you join me in visualizing a soup pot in PA with a certain someone inside it? I think you know who.  This week we have Chicks with Bricks (oh yes. They are BACK! And we may never let them leave!), a prostitute, an invalid, a flat out imposter! some perfection, the Bronx, and a few punches being thrown.

Let us begin!

Abby is reading this one on her own.  I swear.  I had nothing to do with this. “They say ‘write what you know’ so it makes perfect sense that Anne Perry is now a world famous writer of murder mysteries. This can only mean that like so many of my co-workers, I too am reading Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century by Peter Graham. The book will be released May 1. I'm only about 20% in but am having a tricky time coming up with a one word description. The best I can do: whacked (but in a good way). Thus far, this true story of Perry as a teen living in New Zealand and participating in a brutal murder is creepy, surreal, and disturbing.  High praise indeed. One thing I know is I don't ever want to see the words ‘brick’ and ‘sock’ together in the same sentence. I can't wait to steal a few minutes here and there to keep reading while I'm supposed to be doing other things. By the end, I suspect I will be obsessed with Anne Perry and read everything I can find about the case.”

Miss Kiera of the CL is enjoying some YA lit! “This week I totally love Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys. I should have known I’d fall in love with this book since I adored her first novel, Between Shades of Grey (not to be confused with another title of dubious origin that employs both the words “shades” and “grey.”) Out of the Easy is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1950. Josie is a young girl who is caught between two worlds. Her mother is a prostitute who is selfish, destructive, and abusive. Josie longs to get out of New Orleans, attend college, and remake herself into an educated, respectable person. She doesn’t want to fall into the traps of the environment she has grown up in and yet she finds herself being pulled into the seedy underbelly of the Big Easy. Like David Copperfield, Josie must discover if she is to be the heroine of her own life or whether that station will be held by anyone else. Sepetys populates Josie’s world with fully-formed supporting characters and weaves such rich details into the setting that you can almost taste and smell fresh beignets and chicory-spiced coffee. “

Miss Elisabeth of the CL is sneaking in an adult book! “I just finished The House Girl, a debut novel by Tara Conklin. I enjoyed it, although I could put it down, so it wasn't as enthralling as I thought it would be. It tells the story of two very different women living very different lives. In the present day, ambitious lawyer Lina Sparrow is assigned to work on a slavery reparations case at her prestigious law firm. Her job is to find the descendent of a slave with a compelling story to capture the hearts and minds of the potential jury. Meanwhile, in 1852, Josephine is a talented artist and house slave to Lulu Bell, an invalid and aspiring artist. Their stories intertwine in interesting ways, but I found the parts that took place in 1852 much more interesting than the parts which took place in the present.”

Barbara M.  I cannot continue on believing that this is ok.  “I have finally finished Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and it was worth investing my time in each of its 922 pages. I have, however, not moved from the continent of Asia for I have started How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid. It is a parody of a self-help book and because it is written in the 2nd person it puts you, the reader, in the center of the story. Hamid’s writing is clever and wry and the story line holds your interest.”  There is not a baguette, Eiffel Tower or Nazi in sight.  I say, “Bring Back Barbara!  We don’t want this imposter!”

At least Jeannie is back to normal and doing two things at once! “I am reading the The Perfect Meal: In Search of the Lost Tastes of France by John Baxter. I thought it might be cathartic after reading The Dinner. And it is! I can still look forward to an evening of dining with family and friends. Of course it's the food that matters! Mr. Baxter makes his way from the perfect Apéritif to the perfect Entrée to the perfect Digestif and the many courses in between to create the perfect feast to be enjoyed with family and friends. Baxter, an expat, seeks out the best ingredients and pairs them with engaging commentary on this most wonderful of foodie regions as he travels through Paris and its suburbs. I love the little pen and ink drawings that complement many pages.  My Beloved World is a memoir by Sonia Sotomayor. I am reading it more out of interest in the background of the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice than for its page-turning quality. She tells her story in plain language of growing up in the Bronxdale projects in poverty, with an alcoholic father and an angry mother, who both worked to provide her with tuition for what they considered the best education at Catholic schools. Sotomayor grows into a smart, discerning woman and graduates from Princeton and Yale to become a corporate lawyer and a Supreme Court judge. Although she had a difficult life she talks fondly about family, especially her Abuelita with whom she spent a lot of time. She describes many life experiences that may have been influential in her success, like how at an early age she regularly accompanied her grandmother to buy whole chickens and watched them being butchered so they'd get the right one or how she became good at poker. This is an interesting read.”

Stephanie tells us her take on a book that has been divisive to say the least. “Opinion is divided in the library about The Dinner by Herman Koch, so I had to read it. I liked it! So far it seems like the people who haven’t liked it or who have been unable to finish it found the characters too unlikable, which is fair, but I loved how horrible those characters were. They were horrible and unredeemable almost to the point of parody, like in an A. M. Homes novel. I love that. The book is very well-paced and escalates at just the right speed. It’s also an absurdly fast read for being almost 300 pages. A perfect book for the plane, unless you’re stuck behind a seat-reclining jerk, because it will probably nudge you to finally give that jerk what’s coming to him. (There are some great passages about what it feels like to imagine you’re punching somebody in the face.) Or a great summer read if you’re the type who sits under an umbrella instead of out in the sun.”