Erin and Elizabeth with their picks

Erin's Picks

Wild by Cheryl Strayed. After watching her mother succumb to cancer in her 40s, ultimately leading to the dissolution of her marriage, Cheryl decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail all by herself at age 26. This memoir is for any girl who loves hiking, dreaming about hiking, has ever gone through something, has ever been married, has ever lost a mother, has ever been 26. Heck it is for every girl! And boys too. After returning it to the Library I immediately bought a copy from Barrett Bookstore because it is just that good.

The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich. I read this because of an excerpt from Wild:

I’d read The Dream of a Common Language so often that I’d practically memorized it. In the previous few years, certain lines had become like incantations to me, words I’d chanted to myself through my sorrow and confusion. That book was a consolation, an old friend, and when I held it in my hands on my first night on the trail, I didn’t regret carrying it one iota—even though carrying it meant that I could do no more than hunch beneath its weight. It was true that The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume 1: California was now my bible, but The Dream of a Common Language was my religion.

Pariah This film is about 17 year-old Alike in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood (where I live, holla!) who is just beginning to embrace her identity as a lesbian. She lives in a conservative household though with a very religious mother who refuses to accept Alike's sexuality. A very powerful movie with a wonderful father/daughter dynamic. I'm a sucker for those. Adepero Oduye's performance is extraordinary.

Elizabeth's Pick

Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison. We all know what ultimately happened to Russia's Romanov family, but author Kathryn Harrison imagines a special and brief friendship between the your Tsareivich Alexei suffering from hemophilia and Gregory Rasputin's eighteen-year-old daughter Maria in the months following the royal families house arrest. Enchantments is a love story about two people who come together as everything around them is falling apart. The prose is magical. Historical Fiction.

Amanda and Sally's MUOMS

Amanda's Picks

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.  All is not well in 1920's Alaska as a couple lives in near isolation together as they struggle to carve a life out of the forbidden landscape. Then one afternoon they share a playful moment and build a snowchild out of the fresh snow. In the morning, the snowchild is gone with only steps leading away from where the snowchild was. Is the child real or not real? Has their longing created a child out of snow, mittens, and a scarf?

The Tiffany Aching Adventures by Terry Prachett. One of my favorite humorists, Prachett delivers in this series a strong heroine who is practical, forthright, and independent who is trying to learn how to take care of the people in her homeland of the Chalk. She is their witch. However, growing up is hard for a witch and while trying to growing up, Tiffany makes her own share of mistakes and as the books come to the dark climax in I Shall Wear Midnight, Tiffany must face the consequences that came from fixing a prior mistake.

The Color of Earth by Tong-hwa Kim. These three graphic novels are about the author's mother's childhood in Korea prior to World War 2. The fresh honesty and prospective about growing up ring true and solid even a world away in another century. These books are beautifully illustrated and you find yourself turning the pages very quickly as you grow up alongside the heroine.

Sally's Picks

My Year With Eleanor : A Memoir  by  Noelle Hancock. This narrative nonfiction book introduces the character Noelle Hancock who has just lost her job. Noelle realizes that she has no idea what she wants out of life and also realizes that she is afraid of change. She bravely makes the decision to follow the words of Eleanor Roosevelt : "Do one thing every day that scares you". By using this quote as her mantra Noelle learns who she is and what she can become.

She Walks In Beauty : A Woman's Journey Through Poems  by Caroline Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy uses the world of poems to pay tribute to the complex and fascinating subject of womanhood. Her book covers a multitude of milestones including love, marriage, motherhood and grief. Such topics have an introductory page written by her which is then followed by a series of poems that support her thoughts.

Burn Down The Ground : A Memoir  by Kambri Crews. This memoir tells the story of young Kambri Crews, the daughter of deaf parents, and her childhood in rural Texas. Her mother, a kind woman who was fully involved in the deaf community, was a strong contrast to her father: an angry and violent man. This book explores the range of Kambri's feelings toward her father- love and adoration followed by fear and finally acceptance.

Blue Asylum : A Novel  by Kathy Hepinstall. This novel takes place during the Civil War, a time period where a woman's voice is rarely heard. The wife of a Southern plantation owner is arrested by her husband and tried in a court of law. It is determined that she is insane and she is sent to an asylum where she meets and falls in love with a Confederate soldier.

 I Wish I Were Engulfed In Flames  : My Insane Life Raising Two Boys With Autism by Jeni Decker. Jeni Decker's memoir details her life with two autistic sons, a husband who avoids household chores, an Australian Shepard and an albino frog. This sometimes shocking story tells of her determination to raise two healthy kids and hold onto her sanity at the same time. This book is funny and inspiring as we read of Jeni's wish to be the "new normal”

Lady Almina And The Real Downton Abbey : The Lost Legacy Of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnarvon. This true story is a study in contrasts. First there is the difference between the rich who live an an Edwardian home called Highclere Castle and their servants who keep life there running smoothly. Secondly there is the relative ease of life in the castle and the difficulty of life at war. The main character, Lady Almina chooses to bridge that gap by tending to the wounded soldiers in her home.

John and Claire's MUOMS Picks

John's Picks:

 The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

One of the most riveting novels I've ever read.  This book sets you down behind the iron curtain of North Korea and immerses you in the insanity and naked brutality of the "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il's regime.  Following a plot that is so bizarre that it can only be set in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, this story will make you look at the Hermit Kingdom in a whole new light.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

This translated fantasy novel is a hefty tome, but it is well worth the read.  It follows the story of two soul-mates whose paths have yet to reconnect.  In a world that is not quite right, mixed with mysterious undertones and dark forces, these two confront the demons of their past.  But will they ever reunite?

Claire's Picks:

Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found by Sophie Blackall

Illustrator Sophie Blackall gives her visual interpretations of the Craigslist personals. Inspired by her own "missed connection," Ms. Blackhall created a blog and subsequently this book to share these treasured encounters. From amusing entries such as "Furry Arms in Morning Lecture," to more poignant selections like, "The Whale at Coney Island," you will find yourself pouring over this charming collection.

True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel

Read this unbelievable memoir before they finish making the film! New York Times Magazine journalist, Michael Finkel was fired from the newspaper as a result of his manipulation of facts in a cover story on child slavery in Africa. On the eve of the New York Times' announcement of his departure, Finkel receives a phone call from a reporter in Oregon asking about the murders. Christian Longo, a man accused of murdering his wife and three children, fled to Mexico and started impersonating Michael Finkel of the New York Times. As a result the former journalist reaches out to Longo and the two men embark on an unexpected friendship.

Janet and Elisabeth's Pile!

Janet's Picks: 

The Lifeboat -- by Charlotte Rogan

A debut novel, set two years after the Titanic disappeared in the Atlantic. Narrator Grace Winter has survived the disastrous sinking of another ocean liner and a long ordeal on a lifeboat, which drifted away from all hope of rescue and was lost at sea for several weeks. Aboard the leaky, small vessel are men, women, and children – some are working for the good of all, but others resort to hoarding the small food and water supplies and sabotaging efforts at survival. Grace, a newlywed who watched her husband give up his own chance at life to save her, must decide whose side she is on when it becomes clear that not all will survive.

"Being Elmo" (Doctumentary)

Even if “Sesame Street” isn’t a fixture on your DVR, the Muppet character Elmo is familiar to everyone – he’s the fuzzy red guy brought to life by puppeteer Kevin Clash. Looking behind the energetic Muppet to make a documentary about Clash seems unlikely, but “Being Elmo” succeeds because it’s an incredibly inspiring story. Kevin Clash grew up commandeering his mother’s sewing machine to create his own characters and entertaining daycare groups of children, all in preparation for the day when he would knock on Jim Henson’s studio door and see his dreams come true. A dedicated artist in his own right, Clash’s story will leave you in tears one moment and truly inspired the next. It’s a heartwarming film for children of all ages.

Elisabeth's Picks: 

The Wind Through the Keyhole -- By Stephen King

The Dark Tower Series is Stephen King’s opus. He wrote the first book when he was 23 years old. The seventh and final book in the series was published in 2004. Unlike many of his other full-length novels, the Dark Tower Series is not a horror story, but instead the tale of an epic quest. Roland is a gunslinger, a type of knight in a parallel world to our own. He is the last gunslinger left alive in his world. Roland’s world is “moving on” which is King’s Way of saying it is dying. In his journey to find out what’s destroying his world, Roland will journey into our world and back again to find out what is poisoning the dark tower, the center that holds all worlds together. This book takes place between the fourth and fifth book, but it is a stand-alone story. With the tiny bit of background information I just gave you, you can read and enjoy this new book and get a small glimpse into a different side of Stephen King.

Drift -- By Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow is the liberal host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, and she’s now the author of one of the best reviewed non-fiction books of the season. Drift is about how far this country has drifted from Thomas Jefferson’s original goal of a country without a standing army. She examines the wars and policy changes which led to the United States becoming a nation that is involved in perpetual and extremely costly wars, and looks at ways we can get the American military back on course. Lest you think this book is just liberal propaganda, none other than Fox News CEO Roger Ailes blurbed it, saying “Rachel Maddow makes valid arguments that our country has been drifting towards questionable wars, draining our resources. Drift is a book worth reading.”

It's the Sally show!

Sally's (the one to the left) Picks

Making Piece -- by Beth Howard.  Beth's story of a year in her life revolves around two things: grieving the death of her husband and making apple pies. While the emotional side of the story was often gut-wrenchingly painful as well as occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, it was the pie-making interludes that captured my imagination. Her descriptions were so vivid and the instructions so approachable, it was all I could do not to put the book down and start baking then and there. Good news for reader/bakers-- she includes several recipes at the end of the book. If you try any of them, let us know how they turn out!

The Presidents Club : Inside The World's Most Exclusive Fraternity -- by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. This is a rich collection of stories about members of an uber-elite club: former presidents of the United States. Staying away from the obvious, the authors bring to light anecdotes about the relationships that developed after their terms were over. While there are any number of positive, uplifting stories within the book, it is the underhanded dealings that will keep the pages turning. Don't let its size deter you, the chapters can be read independent of each other. Dip in and read a bit here and there, you just might get hooked!

Sally's (the one on the right) Picks

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death and hope in a Mumbai undercity -- by Katherine Boo, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. Annawadi is a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport.  As India starts to prosper, Annawadians are electric with hope that they will have a better life. With intelligence, humor and deep insight into what connects human beings to one another this book is an amazing read.  The New York Times Book Review calls this book "Extraordinary"-I couldn't agree more.

Icy Sparks -- by Gwyn Hyman Rubio. This is the story of Icy, a ten year old girl growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the 1950's.  Icy is unable to control the croaks, groans and spasms that afflict her- as an adult she will learn that she has Tourette's Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.  Icy is tormented by her classmates and removed from school and sent to an asylum.  When Icy returns home she begins a friendship with eccentric Miss Emily who knows first-hand how it feels to be an outcast.  Both sad and funny, Icy Sparks is a New York Times Notable Book.

Caroline and Kiera's MUOMS Picks

Caroline's Picks

Passing Through: The Later Poems, New and Selected - by Stanley Kunitz.  If you read no other poetry book, take a look at this one.  In honor of National Poerty Month, I'm drawing attention to this collection by Stanley Kunitz (1905-2006).  He was named Poet Laureate of the United States in 2000, and continued writing and promoting poetry until he passed away at the age of 100.  His unique and meaningful poems center largely on the themes of life and death, and he was once quoted as saying, "The deepest thing I know is that I am living and dying at once, and my conviction is to report that dialogue."  My favorite in this collection is "The Layers."

The Gilly Salt Sisters - by Tiffany Baker.  This is an unusual story about a small town in Cape Cod.  The story centers around two estranged sisters, Claire and Jo.  Their family farm, Salt Creek Farm, produces all of the salt for the town and the surrounding areas, and the salt believed to have unexplained powers.  Every restaurant must have bowls of salt on all of the tables, and every grocery store must stock it or else they are doomed to fail.  Every year, the town gathers for a bonfire and one of the sisters throws salt on the flame - if the flame turns blue there is a good year to come, red means love, and black is bad news for the town.  Secrets, scandals and a beautiful setting keep the story moving and engaging.

Kiera's Picks

The Up Series (DVD) This longitudinal documentary series began in 1964 with fourteen British children chosen to represent a diverse array of socio-economic classes. A new film, looking at their lives and development was produced every seven years. The latest installment, 56 Up, debuts on BBC this May. The series asks the question: Does socio-economic class predetermine future success or failure?

The Big Oyster - by Mark Kurlansky.  Before it was the Big Apple, New York City could have rightfully been called the Big Oyster. Kurlansky cleverly tells the story of the greatest city in the world- its history, its culture, its cuisine- through the lens of that gastronomical delight: the oyster. The Big Oyster will satisfy foodies and history buffs alike.

Erin and Ann's MUOMS picks

Erin's Picks

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote - I recently read this short novel (it's only about 80 pages!) because some friends and I have started a "Bookfast Club" in which we discuss a book over breakfast. I had never seen the movie and I am so glad I read the book first because Holly Golightly is not at all the Example of Class we all believe her to be. In the book, she is flighty, irresponsible, drunk, shallow, and all too eager to keep the company of terrible (yet wealthy!) men. So then I decided to watch the movie to see how the two stack up...

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" (Movie) - In the film, the nameless narrator becomes some Ken-like guy named Paul who falls in love with Holly while at the same time taking money from his wealthy female "decorator." Holly is no longer racist like her character in the book, but rather a beautiful waif of  a woman who can't commit to any man because she is "too scared." I was amazed at how differently Holly Golightly is depicted in the book versus the movie.

Ann's Picks

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philippe Sendker -  A wonderful love story of Tin Win returning to Burma to be with his first love. He lived a great life in New York as an entertainment lawyer with a wife and adult children. One day he just disappears. His daughter finds an old love letter and searches for her father in his native Burma. She will discover things about her father that she never knew and will feel the great love in his heart.

When We Were the Kennedys: A memoir From Mexico, Maine by Monica Wood - A touching story of a family growing up in the 1960's whose father dies the same year as President Kennedy is killed. This is a family saga where you are pulling for this family from page one. The family has a grown son who has his own family, an older school teacher daughter who will change her life for her younger siblings and then three little girls. It is the second youngest daughter Monica who tells the story of her loving childhood and sacrifices made for the family to continue without their beloved father.

Pat and Marianne's MUOMS picks

Marianne's Picks

Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison – Set in the last days of the Romanov Empire, this part love story, part history lesson is told in such exquisite prose that you’re truly left wanting more.

Emily, Alone by Stewart O’Nan – The author follows Emily Maxwell, an 80 year old widow, through a year in her life.  A quiet story of a woman coming to grips with her past mistakes in a world that is becoming more and more narrow. It’s hard to believe this book was written by a man.  How is the author able to portray Emily’s emotions and thoughts with such sensitivity?  A member of the Library book group commented, “The author was talking about me.”  Even though this story is about an elderly woman, there is much here for all of us to learn.

Defending Jacob by William Landay- Could there be anything worse for a parent than to have your fourteen year old son accused of murdering a classmate?   On one side, the father does whatever he must do to believe that his son is innocent no matter what. However, his mother has doubts. Protecting their child is obviously what good parents should do but at what point does it cross the line?  While I enjoyed reading this book, there were times when I felt the author was asking the reader to accept too much regarding the father’s blind faith in his son. 

Pat's Pics:

A Good American by Alex George. This is a wonderful historical fiction story about an immigrant family from Prussia spanning  four generations and what it means to be an American.

Quiet by Susan Cain. A fascinating look at the introvert personality. Our society promotes the extroverts, otherwise known as the people of action, while the introverts are looked at as a second class personality type. In this book, Susan Cain shares the introverts unique qualities as cerebral thinkers and the value they play in our society. Remember that Susan Cain will be here on April 19th!

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton. From the author of Sister comes another thriller about a mother who will do anything to save her children - one child from a burning building and the second child from being accused of setting the fire.

Priscilla and Pat S.'s Picks for MUOMS

Priscilla's Picks:

That Woman: The life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor  by Anne Sebba - What is the fascination after all these years? Anne Sebba is a sympathetic author and describes Wallis as a woman who enjoyed the fling for a time but never wanted to marry Edward and tried to persuade him not to abdicate. She loved her second husband Ernest but unfortunately played her hand badly. This story comes across not  as the great romance of the century but two selfish, not too smart, self absorbed individuals who out smarted themselves. It is still a fascinating read!
 
Heft by Liz Moore - The two main characters in the novel , Arthur Opp at 550 pounds and Kel Keller, are given such wonderful voices that I was rooting for them all they way in this sometimes heartbreaking story. Arthur has given up his job as professor and after gaining so much weight, never leaves his house anymore. He hires an unlikely cleaning person who arrives on his door and opens up the world to him once again. Kel Keller's story runs parallel. He is high school student whose mother once was a student and friend of Arthur. She dies leaving Kel on his own and the reader wondering if Arthur is the father. How and when will their lives intersect?
 
More Room in a Broken Heart: The True Adventures of Carley Simon by Stephen Simon - From her parents backgrounds right up through Carley's present day this  biography certainly is full of details. Who knew Carley's kindergarten music teacher was Pete Seeger? Not a bad way to begin your music career. Did you know that the Simon family had a wonderful summer estate on Newfield Avenue? Carley wrote so many of the wonderful songs we can all sing by heart and in the book the author gives background on how they came about, sometimes too much.  Through all her ups and downs, anxiety attacks and marriages all one can say is, what a life. Try reading Girls Like Us by Sheila Weiller too.
 
Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Muller -  You will never look at that bottle of olive oil in cabinet the same way ever again. You may even throw it out! This author became an expert in all things EVOO. From the history in medicine, as a beauty aid, and in religion. It covers fraud, deception, globalization and crime in the food industry. Did you know most bottles on our grocery shelves marked Extra Virgin and not? Marked made in Italy, maybe not. You can even get a degree in olive oil tasting. Darien now has it very own olive oil store called the Olivette on the Post Road. After reading this book I believe I'll be visiting it soon.
 

Pat S.'s Picks:

Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E. L. James.  Well, well, well. . . After all the hype, I finally succumbed and took on this trilogy. Essentially, it is a love story with a bit of a twist-the twist being BDSM. It is not particularly well written so stretching out this thin story into three volumes is the real story here.

Elizabeth the Queen:  The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedall Smith.This is a well written, and expertly researched biography. For all that, it is painfully dull. Turns out that Queen Elizabeth leads a rather dull and scripted life. If nothing else, you do come away with a clearer view of English history in the twentieth century. Much more interesting, is the current biography of Prince Philip by Philip Eade. Talk about turbulent! His birth family was alternately unbalanced, philandering, and profligate and provided a childhood which was only just short of Dickensian in scope. The fact that he survived it, in fact rose above it, is remarkable. In reading this I came to understand the strong attraction he would have found in Queen Elizabeth's sense of family. Fascinating reading.

The Darlings by Christine Alger. Another story based on the Medoff ponzi scheme-but an excellent one. This is thinly based on the Noel family of the Fairfield Greenwich Group which was in fact the largest feeder fund involved with Medoff. However, this is not an fullscale indictment of people with money but rather a sensitive exploration of how good people can be led astray. Compelling.


 

Miss Keira and Jen on Meet Us On Main Street

Kiera’s Picks:

Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer.  Have you ever lost your keys, forgotten where you put your glasses, or have a name on the tip of your tongue but cannot seem to call it up from the depths of your memory? If you are like author and science journalist Joshua Foer (yes, he is the brother of Jonathan Safran Foer) you probably forget everyday things but have some incredibly vivid memories. Why is that? Foer investigates the science behind memory building. His journey begins at the U.S. Memory Championship and propels him into a world that quickly becomes a near-obsession.

Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult  by Jayanti Tamm.  This poignant and fascinating true story details Tamm’s childhood growing up in the Sri Chinmoy cult. Tamm’s parents, who met in the Guru’s apartment and were subsequently married, violated the rule enforcing celibacy (even between married couples.) Rather than expel the offending couple, the Guru Chinmoy decreed that the unborn child was “The Chosen One.” Thus begins Tamm’s life as a child messiah of sorts living one life within the strict boundaries of the cult and another as a young woman trying to find her identity. Her desire to remain a part of the Guru’s inner circle and her competing will to live a normal life will keep you rapt until the very last page and leave you wanting to know more about this amazing woman.

Alice I Have Been: A Novel by Melanie Benjamin.  In this fictionalized memoir, Alice Liddell looks back on her life as, most famously, the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Alice’s relationship with the author (whose real name was Charles Dodgson) was complicated to say the least. As a thirty-something year old mathematics professor at Oxford, his obsession with seven-year-old Alice would be deemed almost criminal by today’s standards. What is most interesting about Alice was her life after Wonderland and her struggles to define herself as more than ‘Alice.’

“Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey ” (2011; 80 minutes).  Viewers need not be children, parents, nor Muppet fans to fall in love with the shy, soft-spoken man behind Elmo. Kevin Clash grew up in a rough area outside Baltimore and dreamed of one day working with Jim Henson and the Muppets. Despite the odds and the pressure to do something more typical for a teenage boy, Kevin pursued his passion and has been working as a professional puppeteer ever since. His story is inspiring and unexpected. On Friday, March 9 at 7:30pm Darien Library will be showing the film and hosting a Q&A with the director and a young puppeteer who is featured in the movie.     


Jen’s Picks:

Fiction Ruined My Family by Jeanne Darst.  This is WASP dysfunction at its’ very finest.  Jeanne’s father was convinced he could pull their family out of their gentile poverty   and restore their social position by writing the Great American Novel.  He moved the family from St. Louis to the North Folk of Long Island to do just that.  But for her parents it’s always 5:00 somewhere.  When Jeanne grows up, she too discovers that writing can be a salvation but only if she too is willing to put down the bottle.  At times side splittingly funny, at other tragic this is a wonderful memoir.    

Burn Down The Ground by Kambri Crews.  Think The Glass Castle.  With deaf people.  Kambri is the hearing child of deaf parents.   When the book opens she is visiting her father in a maximum security prison.  How did he get there?  And how do Kambri and her brother overcome their challenging childhoods.  This is a fascinating look at a usually closed culture.

The Good American by Alex George.  One hundred years in the life of an immigrant family who end up settling in the small town of Beatrice Missouri.  This is heartwarming story and its quirky characters will stay with you for a long time after you close the book.

The Darlings by Cristina Alger.  This amazing first novel fictionalizes the economic crisis of 2008. The Darlings are a 1% family thrust into a regulatory investigation after a tragic event. Will the family be able to withstand it?  The Darlings will be on everybody’s lips this spring and summer.