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May 31, 2007
June Staff Favorites
As a lead-in to the Adult Summer Reading Program, the staff has come up with their favorite books that take place 'elsewhere.' They were told it could be any country, any time and they came up with some really different choices. One of these should get you in the mood for summer reading!
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
--Lynn found this one especially true to life after her visit to Burma. Strange, exotic, and richly detailed.
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer
--Sally wonders why do people do this? Why are they compelled to push temselves to the absolute limit, risking life and limb? This book raises environmental questions as well as responsibility issues, along with revealing a riveting tale. If you ever wanted to know exactly what climbing Mount Everest would be like, then this is the book for you.
The Scarlatti Inheritance by Robert Ludlum
--Kim loves this thriller because it is a plausible conspiracy that takes place in Italy, Germany, and the U.S. It's about World War II, hidden treasure, good and evil - what's not to love?!
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
--Priscilla wasfascinated by this non-fiction book that reads like fiction. Detect along with the graduate student who traces the long-lost Caravaggio through the centuries and across Europe.
An Imperfect Lens by Anne Roiphe
--Ruth recommends this compelling story of Alexandria Egypt during the cholera epidemic in the mid 1800's. She says it achieves the difficult marriage of a serious medical/social history with a love story.
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
--This historical fiction is based on a little known story of a group of Italian citizens that sheltered more than 40,000 Jews during WWII. Lois found it both heart wrenching and inspirational, with the especially well-developed characters fascinating, complicated and compelling - each with a different story and background.
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
--This gem is set in Paris in the 1920’s. Louise is fascinated by it because you can eat in the same cafes that Hemingway frequented, including Clos de Lilas. The book is a memoir about his time in Paris, while he was writing The Sun Also Rises. Louise read A Moveable Feast, and then The Sun Also Rises over the course of one summer. She says you can first trace Hemingway’s experiences in Paris and then in Spain, all in Papa's deeply evocative prose.
Posted by SallyT at 03:55 PM
May 16, 2007
ADULT SUMMER READING
Yes, Adult Summer Reading is back! Fly away reading books about travel, keep track of your titles, and you might win a prize!
Here are the five top reasons you should sign up:
5. Great Prizes! Signed copies of forthcoming titles; Luggage; Vera Bradley bags!
4. A terrific annotated list of all sorts of books concerning travel - fiction, nonfiction, old, new.
3. Three fun programs (two author talks and a passport day) along with a wine and cheese party to celebrate everything we read at the end of the program.
2. Your children will see you reading and will be amazingly impressed.
And the #1 reason: How can you go wrong reading fun stuff over the summer?!
Posted by SallyT at 04:09 PM
May 10, 2007
Look What We Have For You!
You all loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, right? Well, Lisa See is coming out with a new book this summer. Peony in Love will be published in June, but we have an advance copy right now. We also have all the following:
Hooked by Matt Richtel (6/07)
Innocence by David Hosp (7/07)
Exposure by Kurt Wenzel (7/07)
Frenemies by Megan Crane (6/07)
Tiare in Bloom by Celestine Vaite (6/07)
Knit Together by Debbie Macomber - nonfiction! (8/07)
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand (7/07)
Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (8/07)
Bloodshot by Stuart MacBride (8/07)
The Ever-Running Man by Marcia Muller (7/07)
Hard Row by Margaret Maron (8/07)
Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey
Still Summer by Jacqueline Mitchard (8/07)
Robert Ludlum's Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader (6/07)
Forget About It by Caprice Crane (8/07)
The History Book by Humphrey Hawksley (8/07)
From Tyndale to Madison by Michael Farris (7/07)
Songs Without Words by Ann Packer (8/07)
So, if you want to read the unedited copy of a possible best seller ahead of everyone else, our quid pro quo is a small review of the book. Call Sally at 655-1234 x128 and sign up for the Advance Readers club – but hurry, these copies won't last long!
Posted by SallyT at 04:02 PM
May 02, 2007
What typos?
Two of our advance readers have weighed in with opinions on 3 upcoming titles. Gigi finished North River by Pete Hamill and was so engrossed in the tale, she forgot to notice the typos (very unlike her!). Hamill’s usual vibrant detail is employed to describe New York of the 30’s. Gigi says this is a gripping story of one man’s courage and extraordinary sense of honor. It’s coming out in June and is already in our catalog, so put a hold on it today (just click on the image)!
P.E. read Marcia Muller’s The Ever-Running Man (August publication) and Margaret Maron’s Hard Row. She got tired of the main character in Hard Row and pretty much gave it a thumb’s down, but Deborah Knott readers will still want to see what’s happening in the series. The Ever-Running Man was a decent mystery and if you are a Sharon McCone fan, you’ll want to reserve this one when it comes out in July (not in the catalog yet). Two nice, light summer reads...
Posted by SallyT at 04:04 PM
MAY STAFF FAVORITES
Unexpected Pleasures
One of the many joys of working in a library is seeing the vast diversity of reading material that brings pleasure to everyone. Sometimes it's refreshing to leave your comfort zone and read something you wouldn't normally choose. So, this month, staff members are sharing the titles of books they were forced to read for whatever reason, but unexpectedly enjoyed. Hope there is a gem in here for you!
The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell
--Priscilla had given up on reading fiction because nothing really grabbed her. This strong story of China, family, and family misperceptions turned her back into a fiction reader.
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
--This was a book discussion title for Sally, who had thought that it was chicklit for some reason. It turned out to be a complex, yet easy to read, story of several intertwining lives set against the backdrop of one summer in Appalachia. The kind of book in which you smell the flowers, are in the forest, and can see the dilapidated farmhouses. The kind of book that has an entirely satisfying ending, but you really don't want it to end.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
--Ruth has never liked John Irving, but her mother strongly recommended this particular novel. Ruth ended up profoundly moved by Irving's story of faith, friendship and fate.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
--Erica had to read this in college, but ended up fascinated by this chronicle of not only the things American soldiers in Viet Nam carried into battle -- M-16s, grenade launchers, candy, Kool-Aid, and cigarettes -- but more importantly, the things they carried inside, and the nightmares they carried home.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
--Emily had to read this one in high school and, surprisingly, became immersed in the rich tale of redemption through suffering.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
--Pat had no interest in reading a story about a circus, but her daughter said she would love this romantic saga taking place during the Great Depression. Now she recommends it to everyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
Posted by SallyT at 02:48 PM