Bartow Bookworms

Off Screen Talents

2012-02-27T09:00:00.003-05:00

Most of us have a favorite celebrity. We have seen all of their movies or listened to all of their CDs; we have read interviews they do in the latest magazines. I will admit that I am probably obsessed with Taylor Swift, but she hasn’t written a book for me to read, yet. There are celebrities who have written books that have made their way to our shelves here at the Bartow County Library System. Now, I can hear some of you groaning all the way from here. “A celebrity written book? Surely they aren’t any good,” and you will go back to reading the latest novel written by your favorite author. Trust me, though, some times books written by celebrities can surprise you.

Comedian Steve Martin is probably better known for his stint on SNL and his starring roles in movies like The Jerk and the Father of the Bride movies. Martin has also written a number of novels, his most recent being " An Object of Beauty". The novel tells the story of Lacey Yeager, a young woman who gets her first job out of college at Sotheby’s, the art auction house in New York. Narrated by Lacey’s art critic friend, Daniel, we see the rise and fall of a young woman who becomes obsessed with the art world. She learns that the more beautiful something is, the more value it has in the moneyed world she inhabits. Lacey’s obsession leads her to take bigger gambles with her career and money that ultimately causes problems with her future as the art world becomes more tumultuous. Lacey becomes entangled, both emotionally and financially. If you are not well acquainted with the artists and paintings mentioned, colored reproductions are woven into the narrative of the story.

If Steve Martin isn’t your cup of tea, try "The Gun Seller" by Hugh Laurie, who is known for his performance as Dr. House in the television show of the same name and as a British comedian. "The Gun Seller" is about Thomas Lang, a former Army officer who is now working as a hired gun. When Lang is hired to assassinate an American business man, Lang decides to go to Amsterdam and warn his target instead. However, the simple decision Lang makes to warn his target turns into something much larger. Lang suddenly finds himself involved in a potential terrorist plot and a conspiracy about a top-secret attack helicopter that is being developed by the government. Laurie’s novel is a satire of most spy novels, but is very enjoyable to read and would be perfect for fans of adventure novels written by Clive Cussler or spy thrillers by John Le Carre.

But if you want something lighter and more inspirational, country singer Sara Evans has written a book that is probably right up your alley. "The Sweet By and By" tells the story of eccentric curio shop owner Jade in quaint Whisper Hollow, Tennessee. Jade is a few weeks away from getting married and has to reconcile her relationship with her hippie mother, Beryl. While her fiancé, Max, seems perfect, Jade has her own secrets that her mother’s arrival in town brings back to the forefront of her peaceful life. Beryl also has her own secrets to reveal to her daughter before her wedding and before it’s too late to say anything. The story is sweet and romantic, without being over the top. It’s an inspirational story that is easy to read and you can definitely see Evans’ country-singer background within the novel because it has elements of the simple and sweet songs she is known for.

Steve Martin, Hugh Laurie, and Sara Evans all have great talents when it comes to story-telling, and they all successfully told entertaining and enjoyable reads. Here are some other recommended celebrity books:

Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans
A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Surrender the Pink by Carrie Fisher

Man in White by Johnny Cash

The Justice Riders by Chuck Norris

Bewitching Books

2012-02-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

Witches take center stage in these paranormal books featuring strong female protagonists with unique magical gifts they use to maintain order in society. While all feature a romantic interest, they vary from mysteries to urban fantasies.

Heather Blake introduces a charming new cozy mystery series in It Takes a Witch. Darcy Merriweatherand her sister have recently discovered they are from a family of Wishcrafters and possess the power to grant wishes using magic; unfortunately this gift is restricted by a long list of rules which their Aunt Ve helps them master. The Merriweathers move to Enchanted Village in Salem, Massachusetts to join Aunt Ve’s business, As You Wish, which, along with the other shops in the village, appears to be an everyday business, but magic is their secret trade. Shortly after Darcy arrives in the village, an unpopular shopkeeper is murdered and an innocent man, Aunt Ve’s beau, is blamed. As Darcy becomes involved in village life, she discovers other Crafters and their unique crafts, masters her own craft, and tackles the unique jobs of As You Wish, she sees and hears things that lead to the identity of the true killer.

Kalayna Price introduces the gritty, urban fantasy series featuring Alex Craft in Grave Witch. Craft is a witch whose day job as private investigator and police consultant requires her to retrieve “shades” of the dead to provide her clients with closure or to identify their killers; she is also interacts with ghosts and Death himself. While raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her. Then someone makes an attempt on her life, possibly to prevent her from raising the shade of a murdered child during the trial. Someone really does not want her to know what the dead have to say, and she will have to work with the mysterious new homicide detective Falin, to uncover the truth and save her own life.

Dime Store Magic is Kelley Armstrong’s third book in her urban fantasy series, Otherworld. Young Paige Winterbourne has succeeded her mother as leader of the American Coven of Witches and guardian of a moody teenager, Savannah, with a taste for black magic. Savannah’s formerly unknown father, a sorcerer and leader of a powerful magical Cabal, employs the wicked half-demon, Leah, to get Savannah and her powers for the Cabal. As a result, good witch Paige is set up as a murderer, accused of Satanism, and exiled from her coven. Paige hires a sorcerer attorney of the Cortez Cabal to fight her legal battles, but soon finds a shared chemistry which leads to all kinds of magic as they fight to protect Savannah from becoming a pawn in the game of supernatural evil.

Melissa de la Cruz’s Witches of East End is the first in a series about the Hampton’s based Beauchamps, witches so old the daughters were hung during the Salem witch hunt. Ingrid and Freya, were later reborn to their mother Joanna but all were restricted by the elders from openly practicing magic. In the present, Freya, a bartender, recognizes an ancient soul mate in Bran, and quickly becomes engaged; unfortunately her gift for love leads to an affair with Bran’s brother Killian. Meanwhile, public librarian Ingrid is chafing at the magic ban and soon works her white magic to heal friends and patrons. Freya follows suit and pursues her own peculiar brand of magic, aphrodisiac cocktails, which leads to the disappearance of an amorous couple and a murder. Joanna gradually allows her magic freedom as a she restores a friend to life, only he might have been too far on the other side for the spell to be all positive. Join the Beauchamps in this serpentine tale of magic, romance, and suspense.

If you are in the mood for a wicked romance, try Linda Winstead Jones’s Sisters of the Sun trilogy. Cursed by a rejected suitor, the Fyne witches are destined never to know true and lasting love. For over 300 years, the sorcerer’s curse has held true so The Sun Witch, Sophie Fyne vows never to love but to use men to have children. Following three nights of dreaming of a green eyed stranger, the rebel Kane Varden appears and is seduced by Sophie. She leaves him with a wish spell for good luck and herself with their daughter. One year later Kane returns to Fyne Mountain and discovers their daughter. He wants both mother and daughter, but Sophie resists because of the curse. When their daughter is kidnapped, Sophie and Kane journey to the kingdom’s capital to rescue their daughter while protecting Kane’s rebel identity from her captors.

Enjoy a little magic this Valentine’s Day in an adventure of a bewitching heroine.

Additional recommended titles

The Witching Hour - Anne Rice

The Witches of Eastwick - John Updike

Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire

Witch Fire - Anya Bast

Thrillers with a Christian World View

2012-01-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

Plots taken from today's headlines, story-lines that have real people facing real problems written from a Christian world view with Christian values comprise a new subgenre within suspense. How can writers address terrorism, murder, economic strife and real life situations and still be Christian fiction writers? These situations happen in real life and are met head on by real people of faith every day. Authors such as Davis Bunn, Joel C. Rosenberg, Lis Wiehl, Steven James and others have set out to meet contemporary issues with faith-based characters and have created exciting thrillers for all readers. This is a growing subgenre that appeals to those of us who prefer to read books that are spine-tingling and thought provoking without the gratuitous sex and profanity. These authors have found that they can write excellent books without all the trappings that some writers feel they have to include to sell their books.

Author Davis Bunn received an email requesting a "gutsy Christian hero" who could face war, terrorism, or the demands of his job and keep his faith. The emailer was surprised to find that Bunn had done just that with "Lion of Babylon". The story is set in Bagdad during the restructuring (after the removal of Saddam Hussein) and in the midst of the struggle between religious factions in that nation. In this action-packed thriller, the author provides a look at contemporary Baghdad and the traditions, history and strife which are behind the today’s headlines. Marc Royce must become a warrior, a lion, for truth to gain the cooperation and trust of ancient enemies to solve the mysterious disappearance of Americans. This is one of the best faith-in-action thrillers written to date, and yet it is great storytelling that can be enjoyed by all.

Davis Bunn has written other faith based books on contemporary subjects. "Book of Dreams" examines the current world finance situation. A group of people are drawn together by a series of shared dreams to expose the global chaos that caused the current financial collapse and has left so many people facing foreclosure and homelessness. An honest man is about to be asked to run for vice president but factions who oppose him seek to destroy him fearing he will speak the truth and expose their schemes. His wife begins having recurring dreams and visits a psychiatrist who is famous for interpreting dreams. The book gathers an unlikely group of people through the interpretation of their dreams to fight against global powers at great risk to themselves to expose the greed and avarice that caused the current crisis. Davis Bunn not only does an excellent job of explaining the global banking crisis but also covers the power of prayer, interpretations of dreams and visions, grief management, and the daily existence of a faith –based person in today’s world.

In “The Tehran Initiative”, author Joel C. Rosenberg explores the nuclear weapons situation in Iran. Iran has accomplished its first atomic test and, The Twelfth Imam is stirring religious fervor. Israel is fearful that Iran is about to unleash its new powers and destroy Israel. The President of the United States is afraid that Israel will react first causing war and global economic crisis. He sends David Shirazi and his CIA team to find and sabotage Iran’s nuclear warheads before Iran or Israel can launch a devastating first strike. In a story that could have come from today's newspaper, this is a nail-biting thriller. Rosenberg is hailed as one of the best political thriller writers of today. His books have the feel of reading history in the making as it could be happening right this minute.

Ted Dekker is another Christian fiction writer who addresses the forces of good and evil. “Boneman’s Daughter” is about a serial killer who kidnaps young girls and kills them slowly, painfully. Intelligence Officer Ryan Evans has lost everything; his wife and daughter have written him out of their lives. All he has left is his job which is to find this killer before he can kill again. The investigation gets incredibly personal when his own daughter is kidnapped by the Boneman, and yet somehow Ryan himself becomes a suspect. Now he must find and capture this killer before his daughter is killed while on the run from the authorities. Dekker juxtaposes the father who wants to find the perfect daughter with the father who just wants to be allowed to be a father to his daughter. In this edge-of-your-seat thriller Dekker examines the motivations and inner workings of the serial killer’s mind.

These authors and many more seem to have their fingers on the pulse of existence in our world today. They write about global and local topics while sharing their Christian view of the world with characters that meet the challenges of their day from a perspective of faith and hope. The stories are great reads for any reader and particularly appreciated by those who prefer not to read fiction filled with profanity, nudity, and immorality. These books still handle very real topics like murder, vice, and greed with very real likeable characters who meet life head-on with faith and belief.

The following websites are helpful resources to locate more titles and information about Christian fiction genres:

www.thesuspensezone.com

www.familyfiction.com

Other titles to explore:

Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl (Triple Threat Series)

The Pawn by Steven James (Patrick Bowers Thrillers Series)

Water’s Edge by Robert Whitlow

Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti

Vanished by Kathryn Mackel

Enjoy a Good Yarn This Winter

2012-01-17T07:36:00.000-05:00

Are you a crafter who wants to unwind with a good book after the hectic holiday season? Even if you are not currently a crafter, try one of these crafty books, and you might find yourself inspired to start a new hobby!

Cozy up with a light mystery! In the cozy mystery genre, the action usually takes place in a small, close-knit community, usually downplays sex and violence, and are often more light hearted than other murder mysteries. Sometimes they include bonus material, such as a recipe or a pattern, at the end of the book. Cozy mysteries cover a variety of themes, but as a yarn enthusiast I love to read the ones about knitting and crochet, and I recommend the following.

Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum follows the adventures of Izzy Chambers, a former law professional who ditched her fast-paced life in Boston for calmer surroundings in the quiet seaside town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts. With the help of her aunt and uncle, Izzy has transformed an old bait shop with a fantastic view of the sea into a cozy shop called the Seaside Knitting Studio. In no time Izzy has acquired a small community of local knitters, the Seaside Knitters, who meet at the shop. The group of knitters becomes even closer when Izzy’s tenant for the apartment over the shop, Angie Archer, drowns mysteriously and is discovered by one of the knitters. Almost everyone is quick to assume that Angie’s party-girl ways caused her drowning, but Izzy finds too many loose ends and can’t believe Angie’s death was an accident. Since the local police aren’t interested in investigating, it is up to Izzy and the Seaside Knitters to unravel the mystery and find the killer.

Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman is the first book of a crochet mystery series featuring Molly Pink, a forty-something widow with two grown children who has recently become the event coordinator-community relations person for the bookstore, Shedd & Royal Books. As community outreach, Molly encourages a local crochet group to meet in the bookstore. Molly does not get along with the leader of the group, Ellen Sheriden; however, when Ellen forgets her crochet hooks she returns them to Ellen at home. Unfortunately for Molly, she finds Ellen dead in her home. The police arrive to find Molly in a compromising situation that makes it look like she is the killer. Furthermore, the lead detective in the case has an axe to grind because Molly is dating her partner, whom she happens to be in love with. Detective Gilmore would like nothing more than to pin the murder on Molly, and Molly’s history with Ellen makes it easy for her to look guilty. With the help of The Average Joe’s Guide to Criminal Investigation, Molly is forced to untangle the mess she’s in and find the real murderer!

If you are not in the mood for a mystery, try Debbie Macomber’s The Shop on Blossom Street or Kate Jacobs’ The Friday Night Knitting Club. Both stories center on a yarn shop that becomes the central meeting place for a group of knitters who bond and form close friendships despite their differences.

In The Shop on Blossom Street, Lydia Hoffman, a two time cancer survivor learns to knit while undergoing chemotherapy. She decides to pursue her dream of opening her own yarn shop immediately hangs a sign in the window advertising a knitting class to make a baby blanket. Jacqueline Donovan’s marriage is in shambles, and her son is married to a woman she dislikes and who is pregnant. While visiting her husband’s worksite on Blossom Street, she sees the sign for the knitting class in Lydia’s shop window. Despite her feelings about her daughter-in-law, she is determined to be the best grandmother she can be and enrolls in Lydia’s class. Carol Girard is desperate to have a baby and has undergone expensive procedure after procedure. Carol sees the new store and views the class sign as a message that her dream is about to come true and she enrolls. Alix Townsend is young, but her life has already been hard with a childhood of arguing, alcoholic parents. She sees the sign in the store window and decides to take the class and donate the baby blanket to Project to earn community service hours for an offense she claims she did not commit. Through the common bond of the knitting project, the women get to know one another and the friendships that they form will impact them in ways that they could not imagine.

So, whether you’re up for a cozy mystery, or just a good read about an interesting group of friends, I hope these books will inspire you to explore your creative side! In case you find yourself tempted to pick up a pair of needles or a crochet hook, check our event calendar for our knitting and crochet programs!

Additional Recommended Titles:
By Debbie Macomber:
A Good Yarn
Susannah’s Garden
By Kate Jacobs:
Knit Two
Knit the Season
By Betty Hechtman:
Dead Men Don’t Crochet
By Hook Or By Crook
By Maggie Sefton:
Knit One, Kill Two
Needled to Death

Dystopian Societies in Young Adult Literature

2012-01-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

2012. The apocalypse. How will the world end? Will it be a natural disaster? A plague? Man-made catastrophe? Or perhaps a zombie uprising? Are you prepared? The dystopian society, a popular sub-genre of young adult literature with lots of adult crossover appeal, could be your guide for preparing for the end. Dystopian societies, often born as the result of cataclysmic or apocalyptic events, offer the illusion of perfection, but actually limit the freedom of their residents.

For a natural disaster ending, try Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Sixteen year-old Miranda’s world collapses when a meteor hits the moon and knocks it closer to earth, resulting in climate changes, tsunamis, fires and chaos. Miranda records events over the course of a year in diary entries, and readers see her transition from a normal high school girl worried about ice skating and boys to a young woman making decisions about the survival of her family as life as she knows it disappears.

In Epitaph Road by David Patneaude, a plague decimates most of the male population. Women take over the planet and bring an end to war, poverty and crime. Fourteen year-old Kellen is part of the male minority, a second class citizen living in fear of the next plague outbreak. When he learns that the outbreaks may not be accidental, he sets out to warn his father who is living in the plague’s projected path within a fringe community of men. What he finds in the community is terrifying. The plague virus can be manipulated and mutated. No one is safe.

Man-made catastrophes abound in dystopian literature and Neal Shusterman’s Unwind and Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy are just two of the many examples of good intentions gone wrong. In Unwind, the second Civil War is fought over abortion and the compromise is the Bill of Life. It states that life is sacred from conception through age thirteen, after which, parents can choose to have their teen “unwound,” a process in which all body parts are harvested and donated to other worthy living people. Nothing is wasted. Fifteen year old Connor’s parents have signed the unwind order, and he is on the run, searching for a safe place where the unwanted have the right to exist.

In Hunger Games (movie coming in March of 2012), drought, famine, and war have caused the United States to fall, replaced by the country of Panem. In order to remind the humanity of it’s role in the collapse, the Capitol of Panem demands a boy and girl tribute be drawn by lot from each of Panem’s twelve districts. The twenty-four tributes fight to the death, gladiator style, in a televised event that everyone is required to watch. The story follows sixteen year old Katniss, the rebellious girl tribute from district 12 who volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the arena. Only one tribute can make it out alive, but is there a way to thwart the Capitol? Is the rebellion already underway before Katniss steps into the arena, and if so, is she a player or a pawn?

Carrie Ryan’s Forest of Hands and Teeth takes place several generations after the Return, a time when zombie-like Unconsecrated bring an end to normal life everywhere. Mary has always lived in a fenced in community controlled by the Sisterhood. The Unconsecrated have always hungered just outside the fence, turning any who dared cross outside into mindless undead. When a stranger chances on her community, Mary begins to question whether there is life beyond the fence – a place free of Unconsecrated. Shortly after, the Unconsecrated breach the community’s defenses and Mary must decide whether to stay and help fight a losing battle or take her chances beyond the fence.

Part of the allure of dystopian novels is that almost everyone can identify with main characters fighting for survival or fighting social injustice while taking control of their own lives. What adds a horror aspect to many of the stories is how plausible the apocalyptic scenarios and humanity’s responses are. Picking up a little dystopia with a side of apocalypse isn’t just entertaining; it can also make you think.

Additional recommended titles:

Matched by Allyson Condie

Maze Runner by James Dashner

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Giver by Lois Lowry

Birth Marked by Caragh M. O’Brien

Divergent by Veronica Roth

'Tis the Season for Holiday Reading

2011-12-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

December is here, and Christmas is right around the corner. I always enjoy listening to holiday music, watching Christmas movies, and reading Holiday stories to get me in the holiday spirit. If you want to get into the holiday spirit, try out these titles.

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

Gaby Summerhill has a unique plan for getting her grown children together for the Christmas holidays. Since her husband’s death three years ago, Gaby’s family has not been together for Christmas. That changes, however, when Gaby contacts each of her grown children and tells them she will be getting married on Christmas Day. She tells them that the groom will remain a secret until Christmas day. The plot thickens as Gaby tells her children about the three (yes, three) wonderful men who proposed to her. Needless to say, her children are all intrigued, and their arrival marks a family reunion three years in the making.

Rather than a traditional Christmas story, this book focuses more on romance. However, the book also places special emphasis on the importance of families and the Christmas spirit. Also, if you are a loyal James Patterson fan, this book will definitely be on your holiday reading list.

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank

Theodora has lived in her family’s Charleston home for 93 years, and she’s seen many Christmases during that time. However, she’s noticed that Christmas these days is pre-packaged, rushed, and not at all like the magical Christmas holidays of her childhood. She misses her parents, brother, and her feisty housekeeper and friend, Pearl. Pearl was the real leader for the Christmas traditions, and Theodora needs her now more than ever.

Theodora’s family includes her grown daughter and son, in addition to their spouses and children. Theodora loves her family, but believes they have no idea how to get along with one another, much less work together to have a true family Christmas. Christmas is the time for miracles, though, and Theodora realizes this the moment Pearl comes back to make sure this Christmas is as magical as Christmases long ago.

Anyone who enjoys the memory of Christmas past will relate to this tale of rediscovering the true meaning of the holidays. The Christmas Pearl has just the right amount of humor, conflict, and optimism to make the story come alive.

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

If you want a story to get you in the Christmas spirit, this is the one for you. The story is based on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. The story is narrated by Luke Crisp, the main character. He is the logical successor for his father, who founded a successful copy center business.

When Luke goes away to pursue his Master’s Degree, he becomes friends with people who steer him farther and farther off course. He tells his father he doesn’t want to run the family business. He joins his friends on a trip around the world (at his expense). Unfortunately, the more he sees of his friends, the less he likes them and himself. Eventually, Luke’s money runs out and so do his friends. Luke rapidly descends from a successful college graduate to a homeless vagrant .

Luke sinks to the very bottom and only starts to make his way back due to the kindness of a stranger. Luke learns the painful lesson about life and how choices affect him and the people around him. The themes in the story are part of Christmas- humility, gratefulness, generosity and love. Luke has to lose it all to realize how blessed he is. Of the three stories reviewed, this one is my favorite by far.

Additional holiday reading you might enjoy:

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

The Christmas Secr et by Donna VanLiere

The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin

First Novels

2011-11-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

First Novels-every writer has one. For the reader, first novels can be a chancy business. You can either fall into a whole new world in the first sentence, or you can waste hours trying to. Lately I have found several first novels that have captivated me from the first page. Some are new this year, but some are from a few years ago that I somehow missed. I have found some new favorite authors that I thought I would share.

I’ll read romance, mystery, fantasy, and most other genres but the one genre I generally stay away from is science fiction. So imagine my surprise that one of the best novels I’ve read recently has been a science fiction novel, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline . The year is 2044; the Great Recession of 2008 never ended; natural resources have been depleted; and governments are failing. Most people spend their time in the online virtual world, OASIS. The creator of OASIS, James Halliday, dies and leaves his entire fortune and control of OASIS to the winner of a virtual quest. Halliday was a 1980’s trivia buff, and the quest is full of 1980’s references, music, and video games. Millions of people begin the quest for the Easter Egg hidden somewhere in the many worlds of OASIS. Wade Watts stumbles upon the first clue, and his life changes. The whole world is watching as he and other competitors try to solve the puzzle—some willing to commit murder to win. Cline has crafted a world that seems all too real and plausible; however, it is the characters that make the story come alive and remain memorable.

Another first novel from this year is Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The novel starts with the reader going to a very special circus. The circus, open only at night, always arrives mysteriously with no advance warning. The reader is taken through a black and white tented circus where the lines between real and magic are very thin indeed. Behind the scenes of the circus, a competition and a great love affair are taking place between two rival magicians, Celia and Marco. Only one can be declared the winner, and death will come for the loser. The sounds, the smells, and the sites of the circus come alive through Morgenstein’s beautifully lyrical language and storytelling.

In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff was published in 2009 and won the Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award, but I missed it and didn’t read it until this year. Detective Simon Ziele left New York City following the death of his fiancé in 1905. Wanting to retreat to a slower, quieter life, he moves to a small town. Only a few months into his new life, he realizes death and violence can happen anywhere when a young woman is brutally murdered in his new town. As he begins investigating, Ziele is contacted by Alistair Sinclair, a criminologist at Columbia University, who claims that he knows who did it--a violent man named Michael Fromley. Detective Ziele must find out if Sinclair is telling the truth or someone with other interests is framing Fromley. I very much enjoyed this historical mystery; it was very well plotted with a wholly believable conclusion. I’m looking forward to the other two books in the series.

Other recommended first novels:

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Murder Most British

2011-10-31T04:00:00.003-04:00

I love a good mystery and of the myriad of mystery subgenres, British Police Procedurals are my favorite. Although these mysteries focus on investigating and solving a crime, they also explore the personal lives of the detectives. Books within a series may be read out of sequence and still provide an excellent mystery; however, reading in chronological order allows for character development. A prime example is the Inspector Linley series written by Elizabeth George. The lives of the police and their families are integral to the narration of the series.

Best known for her psychological suspense novels, Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford series is a favorite. Rendell introduced Inspector Wexford in 1964 in From Doon with Death. In Rendell’s most recent Wexford mystery, The Vault, Wexford has retired from the police and finds himself missing the action of solving crimes. He encounters a former coworker who later calls him to advise on an unusual murder scene; the remains of four people are found in a former coal hole of a picturesque cottage in London with three of the remains approximately 12 years old and the fourth only two years old. Wexford eagerly accepts the challenge of this cold case but finds himself grappling with the difficulties of conducting an investigation without the benefit of his former rank and resources.

Fans of Prime Suspect, starring Helen Mirren, will enjoy the Anna Travis series written by screenwriter and author Lynda La Plante. In BlindFury, Detective Inspector Anna Travis is assigned to a murder investigation team under DCS James Langton, her former lover and boss. The body of a young woman is discovered close to a motorway service station; despite public appeals, no one identifies her. Similarities to two unsolved murders prompt Langton to suspect they are contending with a triple murder investigation with no suspect. Meanwhile, Anna receives a letter from an incarcerated murderer she helped to arrest insisting he can track down the killer, but will only talk to Anna herself. Is this boasting a ruse to bring Anna to him, or does he really have insight into the psychotic killer’s mind?

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles presents a wry view of police investigations in her Bill Slider series featuring the fallible Slider with his bon vivant partner, Atherton. Slider has obtained the rank of Detective Inspector and intends to go no further as it would remove him from active investigations, much to the detriment of the social aspirations of his wife. In Orchestrated Death, the nude body of a young woman is found in a derelict flat without clothing or any other means of identification. A small callous on her neck is identified as unique to violinists which leads the police to local orchestras. The intricate plot leads to more crimes, an extremely valuable Stradivarius, some mysterious tins of Italian olive, the mob, the victim’s orchestra partner whom Slider finds more than tempting, and a lot of very British humor.

Deborah Crombie’s long running Duncan Kinkaid and Gemma James mystery series follows the careers and romantic relationship of two Scotland Yard detectives. Necessary as Blood finds Gemma and Duncan at a pivotal point in their relationship as they deal with personal loss while investigating an emotionally charged case. A young mother leaves her daughter with a friend to run a few errands but never returns and cannot be found. Shortly after, her husband, a Pakistani lawyer, disappears and is later found murdered. In the course of the investigation a conspiracy is uncovered that will have bigger repercussions than anyone could imagine. The detectives must tread cautiously or the three-year-old child who has lost her mother and father under mysterious circumstances may be the next victim.

If you like well-developed characters, intricate plots, and plausible mysteries, try one of these British police procedurals this winter.

Other Recommended Authors:

Colin Dexter: Inspector Morse
Peter Robinson: Inspector Alan Banks
Jill McGown: Inspectors Lloyd and Hill
P.D. James: Adam Dalgliesh
Ian Rankin: Detective Inspector John Rebus, Scotland

Extraordinary Adventures

2011-10-10T09:00:00.001-04:00

"An ancient curse"..."A prize beyond imagination"..."A fortune lost for ages"... are some of the descriptive phrases introducing books I love to read. If exotic places, a blend of action and adventure, survival against nearly impossible odds, mixed with a bit of history, a lot of camaraderie and good clean fun are what you are looking for author Clive Cussler has a book for you. Over the past 40+ years, he has written five adult series of over 45 books. Most recently some of his books have been coauthored by excellent writers who are experts in particular fields.

Cussler's original series features Dirk Pitt, an ex-Air Force man of action, employed by NUMA (the National Underwater and Marine Agency) ready to match wits on land and on sea, to right wrongs, to save the day, the planet, and the girl. He is surrounded by a delightful cast of characters who help him solve the mystery and get the bad guys. Cussler, himself, always appears as a cameo character, a la Alfred Hitchcock, but he provides valuable information for solving the mystery. The latest book in the Dirk Pitt series, Crescent Dawn, involves the rise to power of a fundamentalist group in Turkey seeking to restore the glory of the Ottoman Empire, a mysterious Roman ship manifest lost for more than a thousand years that could change history as we know it, and a race against time and the bad guys.

Cussler has built a comfortable cast of characters you enjoy joining on each new adventure. They age naturally as the series progress so Cussler develops a new younger crew featuring Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala who work for NUMA and carry on adventures under the watchful eyes of Dirk Pitt, their boss. The latest book in the NUMA Series is Devil's Gate (due out in November of 2011). Kurt and Joe and the NUMA Special Assignments team are battling against an ambitious African dictator who has created a super weapon of mythical power and plans to extort the great nations of the world or destroy their cities one by one.

For a more technologically savvy reader, Cussler created the Oregon Files series. Led by the Chairman, Juan Cabrillo, the men and women of the Corporation are an elite fighting force operating from a ship named the Oregon which is a fantastic mix of state of the art scientific research equipment and the latest weaponry, all mounted inside a ship that is disguised as a hunk of junk. Able to move around the globe at incredible speeds, thanks to their special magnetron engine, they solve the most intriguing mysteries. In their latest adventure, The Jungle, a young, 13th century Chinese ambassador witnesses a village annihilated by a mysterious weapon. In present day, Juan and his crew of mercenaries find a girl lost in the jungles of Myanmar and go to the depths of the earth to stop a fathers plan for global domination. There are daring escapes, tortuous imprisonments, heart stopping action and last minute victories but the ending of this one will blow you away!

More recently, Cussler created a gentler mystery/adventure series involving a happily married couple, Sam and Remi Fargo, who are treasure hunters. Through fortunate inventions, they are free to roam the world searching for lost treasures. The latest book in the Fargo series is The Kingdom. The Fargos find themselves abandoned in a flooding ravine, exploring long forgotten caves in Tibet, attempting to fly an ancient balloon aircraft from a century before its time, solving Chinese puzzle chests, and searching for a sacred skeleton from an ancient kingdom that may hold an interesting key to evolution. Sam and Remi are likable characters, who are smart, intelligent and quite possibly attended the MacGyver School of getting out of a jam with a few old sticks and some hundred year old sinew.

If sea adventures and treasure hunting are not of interest to you, Cussler's latest series is set in pre- World War I America. Railroads, telegraphs, motorcars and flying machines are beginning to move across the country and a new class of detectives has grown from the needs of the bustling new country. Isaac Bell, of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, has investigated cross country bank robberies, saboteurs on the new railway lines, and in his latest adventure, The Race, the rivalry and competitiveness of the budding flying machine business. San Francisco newspaperman, Preston Whiteway, is sponsoring an air race; $50,000 to the flier who can fly across America in 50 days. Competitors include a jealous husband with a violent temper, a wife who lives to fly, a flying machine mechanic who dreams of owning fleets of his own planes, and a mysterious person who is sabotaging competitors' planes. Isaac Bell and the agency are charged with protecting everyone and guaranteeing the race through to the finish.

Cussler has researched and lived much of the action in these series. He is the founder of an actual group of historians, divers, salvage experts, marine experts and volunteers known as NUMA (named for his fictional agency) who dedicate themselves to the preservation of American maritime and naval history. They have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first Confederate submarine to be used in battle, the Hunley. You can read about many of these expeditions in Cussler's non-fiction works such as The Sea Hunters. Clive Cussler has provided a great variety of good entertaining stories which are available at the library. Every book aims to entertain, and I don't think you will ever be disappointed. I am always anxiously awaiting each new book!

You might also like these titles or any of the other titles by these authors.

The Medusa Stone by Jack DuBrul

Amazonia by James Rollins

The Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly

Legend by David Lynn Golemon

The Ark by Boyd Morrison

Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

The Hero's Journey

2011-09-26T09:00:00.003-04:00

The Hero’s Journey or Monomyth is a plot device used in both books and Hollywood films. Many steps of the Hero’s Journey can be found in ancient classics such as Hercules. However the literary world didn’t formalize this plot device until 1949 with the publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.

The Hero’s Journey follows a couple of basic steps:

The hero is born under some strange circumstances.

Sometime during the hero’s life, circumstances will force the Hero to start his journey in saving the world. He would receive some type of aid in terms of friends and tools.

The journey that the hero takes will be froth with peril. The hero eventually must complete the journey alone.

The hero returns home bringing with him a new wisdom that would benefit the community.

The classic example of the Hero’s Journey is J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. The first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, begins with the coming of age of Frodo Baggins and the birthday of Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit adventurer. Bilbo leaves Frodo with a special ring, which turns out to be the one ring of Dark Lord Sauron. Gandalf leads Frodo and a group of warriors to Mount Doom to destroy the ring. The Two Towers continues with the trials of the Frodo and his companions as they battle their way to Mordor, the home of Lord Sauron. This book splits the main focus of the plot into two parts: Frodo and his journey to Mount Doom and Aragorn as he battles the forces of evil. The last book, The Return of the King, concludes the journey. Frodo is successful in destroying the ring while Aragorn finishes his own journey as King of Gondor. The books are quite detailed and moving. They make you feel that you’re actually in Middle Earth. While the movies did a great job in depicting the world of Middle Earth, the books will give a more complete picture of the journey of Frodo and the fellowship. The books depict Frodo Baggins as the hero. Through his trials save the world and return to his home, it is a perfect example of the Hero’s Journey. The books also give you a sub journey in the terms of Aragorn. He begins the story as a lonely ranger named Strider. Later it is revealed that he’s the hidden king of Gondor. He begins the second Hero’s Journey of the books trying to claim his throne.

In cinema, the most often cited movie of the Hero’s Journey is the Star Wars saga. The original episodes contain the classic Hero Journey plot. However George Lucas also goes in the opposite direction where the hero doesn’t always saves the world. These movies were also published as books with a more complete plot than is feasible in a two- hour movie. Episode I: The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks introduces Anakin Skywalker.a child from a mysterious birth. He goes on a great journey that leads him to becoming a Jedi and saving the planet Naboo. Episode II: Attack of the Clones by R.A. Salvatore shows Anakin continuing his Jedi journey. The pressures of the lifestyle of the Jedi and the temptation of family eventually begin his downfall. In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover, Anakin totally succumbs to the dark side in a failed attempt to save his family. Episode I follows the classic Hero’s Journey. However by Episode III, Anakin goes completely down the path of evil. The trilogy successfully shows how the Hero’s Journey can become a Villain’s Journey.

Orson Scott Card’s Sci-fi classic Ender’s Game is another example of the Hero’s Journey. This book is set after an alien invasion nearly wipes out humanity. To survive, man has made an uneasy alliance with other aliens. This gave humanity a chance to fight back at a cost. Children are now bred for war. The principle character is Ender Wiggin. We follow him through his training as he battles the invading alien, politicians, and his own comrades to gain his freedom. This book will grab your attention, and you will want to read the continuing series.

Not Your Ordinary Romance

2011-09-12T09:00:00.001-04:00

If you like to read romances, but find yourself craving a good book that will really help you escape reality for a little while, you might consider reading a paranormal romance for a love story with a twist!

For a taste of adventure on the high seas, I recommend Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister. Main character Amy is a workaholic financial analyst with a teenage daughter named Tara. When Tara accuses her mother of not knowing how to relax, Amy grudgingly agrees to try out the beta version of a virtual reality game called Buckling Swashes. Just as lightening strikes the house Amy logs in and wakes up as the pirate Earless Erika in the fascinating, and surprisingly real, world of Buckling Swashes. Almost immediately Amy meets the sexy avatar of the game’s creator, Corbin. Not one to be swayed by a pretty face, Amy promptly tells Corbin that his avatar is too-perfect, and when he sheds the disguise she finds that she really likes his real appearance. However, that doesn’t stop her from drawing on her experience as a member of the fencing team during college to thoroughly beat him in a duel and win his ship! It’s not all fun and games, though… not long after Amy and Corbin part ways, she discovers that the game is just a little too real when she can’t find a way out! Fortunately for her, the sexy pirate is all too willing to come to her aid, but as the romance between them heats up they both realize that there are threats facing them inside the game and out…

If you thought dating in the 21st century was hard, imagine if you were looking for that special someone to spend an eternity with! In Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye, Lil Marchette is a 500 year old born vampire with a taste for designer labels and anything pink. Unlike a “made” vampire, “born” vampires can have children and Lil’s mother would like nothing better than for her daughter to find that special someone to settle down with and make little vampires! However, Lil isn’t just going to settle for anyone! She’s a hopeless romantic and won’t settle for less than Mr. Right! While she’s waiting, Lil avoids working for the family business, Midnight Moe’s (a chain of copy/print stores) by opening up Dead End Dating, a Manhattan-based matchmaking service catering to the supernatural. Lil’s dream is to use her special skills to help the undead wed, but she’s not against helping humans and other supernaturals, too! Her first client, Francoise Deville, is a real challenge! An extremely old and nerdy vampire, Francoise is a gentle soul who just can’t wait to find someone who’s willing to settle down and scrapbook with him. However, just as she’s getting down to the business of finding Francoise’s eternity mate, in walks Ty Bonner, an extremely hot made vampire who would set her pulse racing, if she had one! Ty just happens to be a bounty hunter who’s investigating a series of kidnappings. It turns out the kidnapper preys on single women, so Lil needs to help Ty catch him before anyone else, especially one of her clients, ends up dead!

Not into virtual reality or vampires? For those of you who feel especially in-tune with the lunar cycle, I recommend Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. Kitty is a late night radio DJ who has a secret. A strange attack she suffered years ago has not only opened her eyes to the supernatural world, it’s made her a part of it! After a caller from the other side reaches out to her, Kitty finds herself in a unique position to help people like her who have been thrust into a world they don’t understand. After receiving encouragement from her boss (who is clueless about her real nature) she decides to start a late night advice show, The Midnight Hour. However, opening up about her life and problems on the air not only stirs up trouble for Kitty with the leaders of her pack, but it also makes her some new enemies! Kitty soon realizes that there are some who don’t want her talking, and they’ll do anything to shut her up….

Additional Recommended Reading

Derik’s Bane by MaryJanice Davidson

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Shadow Game by Christine Feehan

Savage Nature by Christine Feehan

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

BAD Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Stieg Who? Nordic Mystery Writers You Should Check Out!

2011-08-29T09:00:00.003-04:00

Well, like many of you mystery readers, I read and fell in love with the Stieg Larsson trilogy beginning with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. After finishing the third and final book, I was left wanting much more so I immediately began to look for other authors from the region. As it turns out, there are many Nordic mystery writers who have been very successful in their own country and who are recently receiving the attention of western readers thanks to Mr. Larsson.

The Swedish author Henning Mankell has been writing excellent crime detective novels for over twenty years. The highly popular Wallander series features inspector Kurt Wallander - a boozing, smoking, overweight, regular guy who follows his hunches, obsesses over minute details, and always gets his man. The series is so popular in England that a television series has been created starring English actor Kenneth Branagh that broadcasts on BBC (available here at the library.)

The series begins with Faceless Killers. (Readers may first enjoy a series of short stories called the Pyramid which chronologically precede all the other Wallander books.) In Faceless Killers, Wallander investigates the brutal and inexplicable murder of a farmer who had no known enemies. The only clue available points to the killer being a foreigner and when the press leaks this information, the community erupts with hostility, unleashing volumes of long simmering anti-immigrant sentiment. Wallander must solve the murder before innocent immigrants become targets of violent retaliation, and do so during a time in which his personal relationships are all unraveling. The Wallander novels are tightly written and are an excellent example of nuts-and-bolts police procedure.

Karin Fossum is a Norwegian author of the crime detective series featuring Inspector Konrad Sejer. The book, Don’t Look Back, is the first in the Sejer series to be released in the U.S. The book starts off with a suspenseful twist that will leave the reader hooked. When a sweet teenage girl is found drowned and naked near a local pond, everyone in the tiny village is shocked and horrified to learn of her death. Inspector Sejer begins his investigation with almost no clues but doggedly pursues the girl’s recent past and in so doing, uncovers dark family secrets beneath the surface of the quiet unassuming town; the darkest secret of them all leads him to the killer. Inspector Sejer is a very likable, wizened and somewhat melancholic police officer who uses the most minute and seemingly unrelated details of an investigation to solve the case. Fossum does a superb job of building suspense and allowing the reader to suspect nearly every character of hiding something sinister.

Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason’s book, Jar City, is the first in the Reykjavik mystery series featuring Inspector Erlendur. An elderly man is found murdered in his flat and no one seems to even know who he is. Erlendur and his team of detectives begin an exhaustive investigation into the man’s past and a disturbing image appears before them. Inspector Erlendur makes no friends as he disrupts the lives of nearly everyone who ever came into contact with the dead man. Long hidden secrets come to the surface as the team closes in on the killer and forces Erlendur to look at his own life in perspective.

Reading translated books, especially those from original languages so remote from our English, is a different and distinct experience from reading books written in English. I found it entertaining just trying to pronounce proper nouns with six or more syllables. Also, all of the authors do a nice job of describing these exotic foreign landscapes lending great atmosphere to the mystery.

So to all you Stieg Larsson fans out there, I hope you quench your thirst for Nordic mysteries with one of these outstanding authors

Books to Scream About - Horror Fiction

2011-08-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

I have always loved a good horror story. I know that it’s a genre that doesn’t appeal to everyone. But I have always been fascinated by stories that shine the light into the dark corners where the monsters await. For my fellow horror fans, or for anyone willing to try something different, here are a few recommendations.

Carrie by Stephen King
There’s a reason this is a classic. Carrie is the story of a shy high school girl who is mercilessly picked on by practically everyone at her high school. Unfortunately, her home life is not any better. Her mother, Margaret White, is a religious fanatic whose idea of “discipline” could be more accurately described as child abuse.

But Carrie has one other characteristic that makes her more unusual than everyone else: Carrie is telekinetic. She can move objects with the power of her mind. Like any talent, it has to be strengthened by practice- and Carrie practices in secret. But when she is the victim of a cruel prank at the high school prom, she puts her talent to stunning, murderous use.

This has been made into a movie, a mini-series and even a Broadway musical. There is something about this story that keeps it modern, even though it was originally published in 1974.

The Ridge by Michael Kortya
If you haven’t heard of Michael Kortya yet, try one of his books today. This young author has written a novel that combines a detective story with horror. In the eastern Kentucky woods, a lonely, eccentric man takes his life. The man is found in his lighthouse, a strange landmark in the mountains, along with pictures and other intriguing clues about the area surrounding the lighthouse, called Blade Ridge.

Kevin Kimble, deputy sheriff, and Roy Darmus, resident reporter, were the last two people the victim contacted before taking his own life. Both Kimble and Darmus have been affected by seemingly unrelated tragedies. But the more they research the history of the Ridge, the more they find that their personal tragedies are connected to each other because of the Ridge.

Audrey Clark, a widow who is fulfilling her late husband’s dream of opening a large-cat sanctuary, gets more than she bargained for when she relocates near the Ridge. All the animals grow more and more agitated in their new home, especially at night. Audrey, Sheriff Kimble and Darmus must all find out the truth, before the Ridge claims more victims.

Hater by David Moody
Danny McCoyne is an average guy with a job, wife and kids. His normal if somewhat hectic life is changed by some unexplainably violent and random acts committed in greater and greater numbers. Isolated random occurrences soon become widespread. Danny struggles to protect his family as people all around him turn into crazed killers. People murder strangers, wives murder husbands, children murder parents, and no one can truly trust anyone, even themselves.

The author manages to perfectly capture the unraveling of an average guy’s world into a nightmare world where you may be the next victim or the next killer. The book is disturbingly detailed in its descriptions of a society falling apart at a rapid pace, while highlighting the desperation of the people left trying to protect themselves and their families. If you enjoy horror fiction, you should read Hater. Do yourself a big favor: don’t read it right before bedtime.

Enjoy a chilling thrill with one of these authors, your flashlight, and Fido!

Other Recommended Titles:
Swan Song by Robert McCammon

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Strangers by Dean Koontz

Dark Matter by Peter Straub

Novel Destinations and Beyond

2011-07-25T09:00:00.003-04:00

We hope you have been enjoying our blogs this summer. We have traveled to India and China, delved into memories and the mind, encountered vampires, experienced romance and mystery, and even had a few laughs. We will continue to blog throughout the fall every 2 weeks starting August 15th. You will be able to find our blog in August under the Adult Services tab on our website.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a good book, take a look at our What Do I Read Next page under the Adult Services tab. On this page we have listed our favorite websites for finding new authors. On the right hand side of the page we have reading lists by separated by genre and subject. Would you like a Regency romance, a forensic mystery, or Star-Wars science fiction? You can find lists for those and many more.

This week we’d like to hear from you. What good books have you read this summer? What made them memorable?

Give Nonfiction a Try…Just for Laughs

2011-07-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

Okay all you devoted fiction lovers, don’t stop reading yet! I know that most of you just head for the fiction floor unless you need a cookbook, help with a hobby, a medical condition, a travel guide or some other instructional type material. But there is so much more in the land of Dewey. Sorry fellows, the titles I’ll chat about are pretty much for women but there’s a lot of wit and wisdom to go round. So give them a try.

I’m pretty sure you’ve all heard of Lisa Scottoline but have you read Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog? It’s hard to admit that I’ve never read her mysteries, but when this book of her columns adapted from The Philadelphia Inquirer entitled “Chick Wit” came through, I couldn’t resist. Lisa’s topics are about women and everyday life and the list of characters include her mother (Mother Mary), her gay brother (Frank), her daughter (Francesca), a couple of best friends, her ex-husbands (Thing One & Thing Two) and her beloved pets. From stories about dieting (carb rehab) to Spanx, be prepared to laugh! & don’t be shocked to find me in the fiction S aisle because Lisa is bound to throw around some humor there too. There’s a follow-up book of essays co-authored with her daughter, Francesca. Not as funny (perhaps because the daughter isn’t as funny) but still a good read.

Next up is Nora Ephron of movie screenplay fame When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail and Julie & Julia. In her books of essays, I Feel Bad About My Neck and I Remember Nothing, she shares stories about her life’s work but mostly she tells about the ups and downs of aging. The author speaks about dealing with menopause, empty nests, the maintenance involved with aging—hair dye, unwanted hair, exercise, fading eyesight— divorce, etc. It’s all done with candor and good humor. Check out her chapter on “What I Wish I’d Known” in …Bad About My Neck. My particular favorite is: Anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of 35 you will be nostalgic for at the age of 45. Add a couple of decades and it’s even more nostalgic!

We are all familiar with the movie and television star, Betty White, and her resurgence in popularity during the last few years. Her recent book, If You Ask Me, is a delightful mix of observations on multiple topics and stories from her decades’ long career. She’ll tell you her secrets for staying young—enthusiasm for her two passions, acting and her love of animals. The short essays also include anecdotes of other celebrities including her co-stars from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and the current hit Hot in Cleveland. Betty gives behind the scenes details describing her craft and is always told with great humor. She tenderly reminisces about the love of her life, Allen Lunden, but cracks you up with her humor when speaking of her crush, Robert Redford. Her stories and insights always show her character, her integrity, her gratefulness and her joy for life. Included are numerous photos taken of Betty, her friends and loved ones throughout her life.

So if you’re looking for some “real life” summer laughs, give these titles a shot.

Other Recommended Titles:

My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space—Lisa Scottoline

I Still Have IT…I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It—Rita Rudner

The Cracker Queen—Lauretta Hannon

Dying to get away?

2011-07-11T09:00:00.001-04:00

Travel can be a thrilling experience, unless your final destination is murder. I particularly enjoy reading murder mysteries, and now that summer is here, I find myself thinking of another great love of mine – travel. So, why not combine the two and read some excellent mysteries that can help me quench my thirst for adventure?

One of my favorite authors to recommend, Kathy Reichs, satisfies both of these needs with her popular series about the world-renowned, globe-trotting forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan. If the name sounds familiar, it may interest you to know that Reichs is also a producer for the popular TV show, Bones, and has described the main character of the show as a younger version of the character in her books. In the books, Temperance is a divorced recovering alcoholic with a grown daughter. Instead of working for the Jeffersonian Institute (like the character in the show), Temperance divides her time between her duties as a professor at the University of North Carolina, her position as a forensic anthropologist for the Laboratoire de Medecine Legale in Montreal, and occasional assignments with other agencies that need her expertise to identify remains whose flesh is too degraded for a regular coroner to obtain evidence.

For example in Fatal Voyage, Temperance joins the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) when an airplane crashes and the badly burned and fragmented remains of the victims need to be identified. During the course of the investigation, Temperance discovers a body part that cannot be connected to any of the passengers or the crew aboard the plane, and her resulting investigation with her partner and love-interest from Montreal, Andrew Ryan, uncovers another mystery. Several books later, Grave Secrets, brings Temperance all the way to Guatemala to a mass grave in the village of Chupan Ya to excavate the remains of the victims of genocide. During the excavation she becomes involved in an investigation into the disappearance of several girls from Guatemala City and the murder of a young archaeologist. In Cross Bones, Temperance travels halfway across the world to Israel and the Holy Land in her quest to solve the murder of an orthodox Jew in Montreal, and when an ancient skeleton is added into the mix, the mystery and the danger for Temperance and her partner heats up again. Finally, in Reichs’ most recent book, Spider Bones, Temperance returns to North America when she investigates a bizarre drowning death in Hemmingford, Quebec. The victim turns out to be an American soldier, John Lowery, who was originally thought to have died in a Huey crash in Vietnam. The confusion over the identity of Lowery brings Temperance to Hawaii to the headquarters of JPAC, the U.S. military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, where she discovers Lowery’s dog tags with the body of another soldier, sparking further questions into the incident in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Temperance is again asked by a local official, this time Honolulu’s medical examiner, for help. The remains of the Honolulu decedent turn out to be those of an adolescent boy who may have been the victim of a shark attack or murder. Soon Temperance realizes that someone doesn’t want her to discover the truth about one of the victims, and she has to solve the mystery before someone buries her, and the truth, forever. In conclusion, throughout her many novels, Kathy Reichs uses her real-life expertise as a forensic anthropologist to craft unique, factually accurate stories as she develops multi-faceted characters, describes diverse settings, and weaves complex plots with well-thought out conclusions. Unlike some authors, Reichs creates a completely new story with each subsequent book.

But what if you’re not into the nitty-gritty details of forensics and science? For those who are interested in mysteries that are a little less graphic, or who just want a lighter read, two other authors, Maggie Sefton and Anthony Eglin, might be just what the doctor ordered. Eglin’s mystery series will appeal to gardeners who have always wanted to travel to England. The first book in the series, The Blue Rose, introduces Alex and Kate Shepherd, the proud new owners of a small nineteenth-century country house located in the village of Steeple Tarrant in Wiltshire, England. Called The Parsonage, the house is charming, but it’s the old garden that enchants Kate, and it is during her efforts to restore the overgrown garden to its former glory that she discovers an amazing blue rose. Immediately aware of the rarity of her find and its value, she and her husband engage the expert advice of Lawrence Kingston, a retired professor of botany and an expert on roses. However, despite their efforts at secrecy word soon gets out about their discovery of their rare horticultural find. Just as they’re discovering the origin of the blue rose they begin to realize that there are those who would stop at nothing to possess the blue rose, even if they have to resort to murder to get it. As the body count starts rising, Kate and Alex begin to realize that the blue rose may be hiding other dangers. Whether you’re a rose enthusiast or not, the mystery of The Blue Rose will be sure to captivate you!

Finally, for those who prefer knitting to gardening, Maggie Sefton’s mystery series about a Washington, D.C. based CPA named Kelly Flynn will be a good fit. In the first book of the series, Knit One, Kill Two, the death of Kelly’s last living relative and mother-figure, her beloved Aunt Helen, brings her to Fort Connor, Colorado. Not long after her arrival, Kelly discovers some puzzling information that leads her to embark on a mission to solve a murder and catch a killer. With a little help from her newfound friends from the yarn shop next door, the House of Lambspun, Kelly unravels the mystery as she learns a thing or two about knitting, fun and friendship. Well-written, with a cast of interesting characters, murders to solve, tales of friendship and a little bit of romance, each book in the series is entertaining and worth the read. As an added bonus, each every book features a recipe and a pattern discussed in the novel.

So, whether you’re destined for an exotic vacation, or a down-to-earth stay-cation, this summer don’t forget to pack a good read!

Other Recommended titles

By Maggie Sefton:

By Anthony Eglin:

The Trail of the Wild Rose

Red China

2011-07-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

Chinese civilization is the longest continuous civilization in the world. They were the masters of their own domain and beyond. They invented many items that the West now takes for granted like paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, and the noodle. Marco Polo marveled at China’s grand cities which he considered to be greater than the great cities of Europe. It’s only by a twist of fate that China fell to the West. Since the industrial revolution, China has chaffed under Western imperialism. The Chinese people are a very proud people that look for ways to shake off Western imperialism and to take their rightful place in the world. To understand China today, you need to understand their historical perspective. A good book to read is China: a History by John Keays. Keays explains the history of China from 1050 BC to 1950 when the Chinese Communist Party took power. This book does a good job in condensing the more than 5000 years of Chinese history into a manageable book. Each major dynasty or era has their own chapter, and each chapter describes beautifully major accomplishments and failures of the era. This book provides a great foundation of general Chinese history, where modern Chinese leaders are coming from, and provide maps which are easy to follow. Keays explains that many of the emperors view themselves as rulers with a divine mandate and that divine mandate can be taken away by the people. Every change in dynasty and government without fail started from the peasants, this is what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is trying to avoid at all cost.

Modern China:the fall and Rise of a Great Power, 1850 to the Present, by Jonathan Fenby covers what happened to China after the CCP took power. Fenby explains in great detail the corruption of Chinese officials and the greed of Western powers, especially the British in 1850. When Chinese authorities tried to stop the British opium trade using legal means within China, the East Indian Company with the support of the British government conquered China. This led to other nations carving up China into their own spheres of influence. After the fall of the Qing dynasty, the Republic of China, and later the People’s Republic of China, rose up to regain China’s right to rule. The book gives accounts from the people who were there through interviews and personal stories, not just dry facts.

The rise of the Chinese economy is a direct consequence of the rise of the Chinese Communist Party according to Richard McGregor in The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers. Under Communist leadership, China has surpassed Japan as the world's second largest economy. McGregor addresses misconceptions regarding the CCP as he explains how the CCP adapts to changes within the world. He also describes how the CCP survived the passing of Chairman Mao, the financial crisis, and many corruption scandals, to rise from the ashes to be a party for the “people”. What’s great about this book is that it presents real world stories from the people to help illustrate its points. It is not too technical.

As the world continues to worry about the rise of China, China is stressing it does not want to dominate the world; it just wants to be friends and make lots of money.

Summer Romance

2011-06-27T09:00:00.002-04:00

Summer… the time for fun, sun, and also the time for romance. Now that summer is officially here, it is the perfect time to gently laze around in a hammock under the shade from a huge tree or relax in a lounge chair down at the beach. A summer romance book is the perfect complement to either scenario; fiction romance is that soft breeze that blows on a hot summer day. If you are in the mood for romance, try one of these wonderful summer reads.

One of the best “what if” romances is Jude Deveraux’s Summerhouse. Three women who met for one day on their 21^st birthday are reunited for a week’s vacation in Maine for their 40^th birthday. At 21, they were filled will hopes, dreams, and ambitions. Life has not worked out exactly as they had planned. Leslie, who dreamed of dancing on Broadway, is now a suburban housewife with 2 children who take her for granted and a husband who is having an affair with his secretary. Ellie, who wanted to set the world on fire with her art, is now a famous novelist but has just been through a nasty divorce. Madison, who dreamed of being a model, is now an embittered, thin, ugly woman and has also lived through a horrible marriage. All three are offered the chance to relive three weeks of their lives. At the end of those three weeks, they can choose the life they have now or the one they would have had if they had made different choices. What three weeks would you relive, and what choice would you make?

The new novel Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews is a good fun, light hearted, summer read. It actually starts on the same premise as the book before. Three women go on vacation to sort out their lives. However, the tone in this book is much lighter with laugh out loud moments. Ellie has just been downsized (laid off, fired) from her job at the bank. She plans (and over plans) this trip with her friends; she keeps bugging the landlord of the rental with requests, questions, and demands. Her friends Julie and Dorie arrive. Julie is trying to decide whether to marry to her lover of many years. Dorie has secrets and troubles of her own. Enter Ty Bazemore (the secret owner of the rental) who lives above the garage; the house is about to go into foreclosure if he does not come up with money quick. Yes, it’s predictable, but it’s also a lot of fun.

Another good romance is Sweet Hush by Georgia author Deborah Smith. Any book that starts with a rotten apple being thrown at a fictitious First Lady is bound to be fun. Hush McGillen, widow and single mother, runs a successful apple business in the mountains of North Georgia. Her Harvard attending son upsets the apple cart when he elopes with the daughter of President of the United States and takes her home to escape the First Lady’s wrath. The President sends his “killer” nephew Nicholas Jacobek to “take care” of the situation. Full of southern charm and the small town way of life, this romance proves that good Southern values can beat Yankee politics anytime; bless their hearts.

Sometimes a good book will touch your heart and sear your soul. Get out your hankies for debut Georgia author Jeffrey Stepakoff’s Fireworks over Toccoa. The novel begins with the drought of 2007. Lakes dried up and parts of Georgia were exposed that had been covered for fifty years. Two boys racing their bikes across a dried up lake bed near Toccoa, Georgia found something lost since 1945. In 1945, Toccoa is preparing to welcome home the soldiers with a fireworks display like no other. They hire Jack Russo, a troubled WWII vet, to create the fireworks. Lily Davis is preparing for her husband’s return from WWII. She married him only a week before he shipped out; though she has had occasional letters, she is not sure she still loves him. A chance encounter between Jack and Lily in a star-lit field challenge all they believe about love, honor and fidelity. Does love really conquer all, including honor? What if you meet your soul mate too late?

Other Recommended Titles:

Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

The Mulberry Tree by Jude Deveraux

The Crossroads Café by Deborah Smith

Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews

Books with a Bite

2011-06-20T01:00:00.001-04:00

Vampires have always been intriguing literary characters. The recent popularity of the Twilight Series is a prime example. Some avid readers have said that although they enjoyed the Twilight series, they want something more. Either they want to go back to the beginning of the vampire legends or they want a new spin on the classic tale. There is no shortage of stories featuring vampires. Whether they are sinister and repulsive, or seductive and beguiling, they are always fascinating.
The first and most recent title takes place in modern times, but reaches into the past as well. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Dr. Diana Bishop stumbles upon a powerful book during her research. Unbeknownst to her, this discovery catches the interest of a variety of creatures. Vampires, witches and daemons all have a sudden interest in Diana, who although born into a powerful family of witches, has refused to use her powerful magic. One of the most intriguing characters who Diana meets is a geneticist and ancient vampire named Matthew Clairmont. Although wary of him initially, Diana soon develops a bond with Matthew, who becomes her protector and partner. They both face danger from daemons, vampires and witches who will all stop at nothing to find the secrets in the ancient book.
A Discovery of Witches stands out from other vampire stories due to the skill of Deborah Harkness, the author. Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California. She uses her extensive knowledge of history and her skill as a writer to craft compelling characters. This story has elements of fantasy, mystery, romance and the occult.
The second title is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Much like A Discovery of Witches, the story begins with the discovery of a mysterious book. However, this story is based on the original character of Dracula. A teenage girl discovers a book in her father’s library. The book is blank except for a dragon illustration on the front and the word “Drakula”. The book contains several letters addressed to, “My dear and unfortunate successor.” The events in the novel include different continents, time frames and characters. All these elements slowly lead the main character (as well as the reader) to Dracula (or Vlad the Impaler).

The novel is based loosely on the classic Dracula, by Bram Stoker. It is Kostova’s debut novel, which she worked on for 10 years. The Historian is a lavish and detailed story, and it’s a must read for fans of Stoker’s Dracula and other vampire tales.
The third title is Renfield: Slave of Dracula by Barbara Hambly. The book is based on the classic Dracula by Bram Stoker, with Renfield as the major character. Dracula’s demented servant, R. M. Renfield, is confined in Rushbrook mental asylum. His insane ramblings and bizarre habit of capturing and eating various insects, in his mind, make him grow stronger. His story takes shape as he senses the approach of his master, Dracula. Much of the story is told in the form of journal entries and letters from Renfield to his beloved wife, Catherine, and daughter, Vixie.
Barbara Hambly creates a fascinating backstory for Renfield that makes his character much more complex. She is able to skillfully bring Stoker’s more minor characters to life while also giving greater depth to major characters, such as Van Helsing, Jonathan and Mina Harker. Most importantly, the tale of Dracula is told by the tortured Renfield, whose divided loyalty to his Master and his family slowly tears him apart. This book is perhaps my favorite of the three because I always finish reading a novel and wonder, “What happened to the other characters in the story?” The novel, Renfield, answers that question.

Recommended Titles:
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

A Taste of India

2011-06-13T01:00:00.001-04:00

Years ago the novel, The God of Small Things by Arundhi Roy was selected for the library’s monthly Book Chat. I was entranced by the luscious play of language in describing this foreign landscape, culture, and method of storytelling. While the plot weaves between time and tales, the vividly descriptive words are what I remember the most and what led me to read more novels from Indian, and Indian-American, authors.

In The God of Small Things, fraternal twins Esthappen and Rahel learn that “Things Can Change in a Day” when their English cousin, Sophie Mol, and her mother, Margaret Kochamma, arrive in Ayemenem on a Christmas visit. Lives are twisted into new, ugly shapes and some are lost forever. "They all crossed into forbidden territory. They all tampered with the laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much. "

Thrity Umrigar poignantly blends the life stories of two women of modern India in a demonstration of how intricately connected the daily lives of the rich and poor are while remaining so far apart in The Space Between Us. Sera Dubash is an upper-middle class housewife who hides the truth of her abusive household from those closest to her. Bhima has served the Dubash household for over 20 years and is an illiterate gran-mother living in the slums of Bombay with bright grand-daughter who is attending college when she becomes pregnant. Sera’s young, married daughter is pregnant as well. Umbriger reveals the privileges of the rich as they contrast with the poverty, neglect, and hopelessness of the poor. Both women share their lives daily, yet live by vastly opposing rules and expectations. “But after all the years of working in Seraba’s home, Bhima has no idea what she thinks, she realizes. And why should you? She chastises herself. You an ignorant, uninformed woman , and Serabai, educated and foreign-traveled.”

A review of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Sister of My Heart remarks that “Divakaruni’s talent and originality lie in her ability to discern [the] basic emotional motifs beneath the flashy “exotica’ of Indian, and American, lifestyles. She finds the real points of departure between the two cultures and, in putting her finger exactly there, activates the universal.” I found this to be true in this story of two cousins born on the same day to mothers who are widowed on the day of their daughters’ births. Sudha, the poor relation, is kind and beautiful while Anju Chatterlee is brilliant and defiant. The two have an inseparable bond which is tested by the revelation of a dark family secret and the arranged marriages which halts plans for college and independence. Anju leaves for America with her new husband while Sudha moves in with her husband and a dominating mother-in-law. Both women experience love, loss, and friendship as they yearn for independence.

Jhumpa Lahiri recently joined my list of favorite authors. Her short stories and novel examine the difficulties, and privileges, of living between two conflicting cultures with distinct religious, social, and ideological differences. Lahiri explores the difficulties of cultural assimilation for the new Indian immigrants as well as the cultural conflict experienced by their American born children.

In The Namesake, Lahiri moves between the world of India and America as she tells the story of the Ganguli’s, a young Bengali couple who move to Boston. At the birth of their first child, the Ganguli’s are forced to choose a name for their son in order to leave the hospital. Unlike Indian culture where a baby is given a good name by an elder and a pet name by the family, American children are given a legal name at the time of birth. The good name has not arrived from India in times so the Ganguli’s name their son Gogol after Ashoke’s favorite author and in honor of the book which once saved his live; Gogol’s pet name is now his legal name. Gogol stumbles along the first-generation path with conflicting loyalties, emotional family clashes, and a series of complicated love affairs. Lahiri’s penetrating insight reveals the means by which we slowly, often painfully, come to know ourselves.

Always a fan of dark humor, I eagerly read The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. The White Tiger is the name our hero gives to himself as Balram Halwai spends 7 nights writing a response to a statement he heard on the radio that the premier of China is on a mission to know the truth about Bangalore. Balram is an expert on the truth of the harsh realities and hidden cruelties of the “new India.” In the course of his narrative, Balfour justifies his transformation from an honest, hardworking boy from “the Darkness” of rural India to a cold blooded murderer and entrepreneur. "But isn't it likely that everyone in this world...has killed someone or other on their way to the top?...All I wanted was a chance to be a man--and for that, one murder is enough."

From the glamour of Bollywood to the grime of Slumdog Millionaire, make India a destination in your summer reading.

Recommended Reading:
Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri
Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
The Death of Vishnu – Manil Suri
The Inheritance of Loss – Kiran Desai
Madras on Rainy Days – Samina Ali
Savoring India: Recipes and Reflections on Indian Cooking – Julie Sahni
My Bombay Kitchen: Traditional and Parsi Home Cooking – Noloufer I. King

Destination: A New State of Mind

2011-06-06T09:00:00.002-04:00

To most library lovers, picking up a good book is like taking a mini vacation. Given the seemingly rare time to freely do as we please – the typical holiday, the weekend, or the few precious minutes amid our hectic days and nights - we hungry bookworms delve into our favorite reading material with gusto, hoping to be transported away, if only momentarily, to the rich world of our unique interests and imaginings. The concepts of book and break are almost one and the same. Whether cruising the waters of the Pacific or lounging in the backyard lawn chair, by bringing our books along, we double our experience; by reading, we take a vacation within a vacation. And the rewards for picking up that book are matchless.

For this book junkie, the measure of a good book (and a good vacation for that matter), depends less upon the setting and time, and more upon the state of mind in which it places me during and after the turning of pages. The following righteous reads, both fiction and nonfiction, transcend time and place, and carry my hurried, anxious mind steadily and mercifully to a more relaxed, open, and peaceful point of understanding within myself. As I emerge from their pages, I find I have changed or grown as a person in a way, and it is certainly most fulfilling.

I often reach for "Iron John: A Book About Men" by the poet and activist Robert Bly. Based on the Grimm brother’s fairy tale by the same name, Iron John is a hearty exploration of the development and meaning of manhood in contemporary American society. According to the Grimm’s tale, something strange has been happening around a remote pond in the forest near the King’s Castle – when people go there, they don’t come back. One day a young boy asks the King if he can help, and upon arriving at the place, what he finds at the bottom of the pond, oddly enough, is a large man covered with hair the “color of rusty iron” from head to toe. According to the author, this mysterious man represents the true, positive masculine psyche in every man. Mr. Bly examines both boy and hairy “wild man,” likening their relationship to an initiation into manhood, given from father to son. The exceptional splendor of the book is evident in the author’s personal poetry interspersed throughout, powerful poems that tap into the ancient, almost spiritual roots of the “man” inside all males. All in all, this is a healing, uplifting read.

Another book that challenges my perspective and shapes my mind in a beneficial way is "Steps on the Path to Enlightenment" by the Buddhist monk and scholar Geshe Lhundub Sopa. The word “Geshe” refers to one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism and is roughly equivalent to a doctorate degree in the western world. Geshe Sopa’s brilliant book is an exposition of a 14th century text on Buddhist philosophy, "The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment" by Je Tsongkhapa. In the foreword to Sopa’s book, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, himself the highest authority on Buddhist thought today, writes that the primary goal of these writings is “to discipline and transform the mind.” What I enjoy about this book is both the clear, systematic presentation of the Buddhist path and the authoritative nature of both the author and the text. Geshe Sopa was one of the Dalai Lama’s personal debate partners in their lengthy education as monks, and the text itself is still prominently used in Tibetan Buddhist training today, not only for monks and nuns, but for lay people as well.

My favorite book to date, one that strangely settles my mind instantly and peacefully upon reading only a few lines, is John Steinbeck’s novella, "The Pearl." Based on a Mexican folk tale, it is the story of pearl fisherman, Kino, his loving wife Juana, and their infant boy, Coyotito. Kino and his family lead a meager life on the colorful shores of the Gulf. One morning, Coyotito is bitten by a scorpion and falls deathly ill. Kino must quickly find payment for medical treatment for his only child, and so he dives deep into the dark ocean waters and, fatefully, unearths an exceptionally large pearl, “perfect as the moon,” one that he is certain will pay for help for his sickly son and fulfill his dreams of a better life for his modest family. But in this deceptively simple story, things aren’t always what they seem. What follows is a parable rich in meaning and delivered with Steinbeck’s keen perception into the intricacies of human nature. The story’s pacing and the author’s descriptive language are fresh, alive, and almost meditative, beckoning the reader to heed the life lessons contained within. As Mr. Steinbeck writes in the opening lines, “If this story is a parable, perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it. In any case, they say in the town that…”

Haunting Memories

2011-05-30T09:00:00.004-04:00

A patron reminded me a few weeks ago of a great book we both loved, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, a gothic ghost tale published with much acclaim about 5 years ago. It is the story of Vida Winters, a reclusive novelist who has invented many fabrications of her life history. She is reaching the end of her days and wants to tell her “real” story to biographer Margaret Lea. What emerges is a strange and twisting tale of the Angelfield family: beautiful and willful Isabelle, destructive Charlie, and the feral twins, Adeline and Emmeline.

The patron wanted to know if Setterfield had published anything since. Alas no; it is her one and only novel. However, we both wanted a good story to read. So I set out on a quest to find some other novels that were similar in tone or style. What I found took me on a journey across time and place and into a world that only books and the imagination can take you.

The first destination on my journey was the world of fading glitz and glamour in the early 1920’s England with The House at Riverton byKate Morton. In the summer of 1924, a young poet committed suicide during a society party at Riverton. Two sisters, Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, witnessed the event and never spoke to each other again. It is told through the eyes of 98 year old Grace who was a young maid at Riverton in the 20’s. All these years, Grace has kept the secrets of Riverton, but ghosts are reawakened. A suspenseful doom hangs over the book until the final secrets are revealed. A really great read that transported me back in time. For me, the most poignant part of the book was the innocence of spirit as the men headed off to World War I, while I as the reader knew what was going to happen to them.

Next I turned to Alice Hoffman’s The Red Garden. This is a novel of short vignettes of Blackwell, Massachusetts’ 300 year haunting history from its founding until present day. 300 years of festering secrets, forbidden passions, and fierce loyalties, all entwined around a mysterious garden where everything planted turns red. Hoffman’s characters are exquisitely drawn that left me wanting more long after the individual character’s story is told: the brave yet intrepid founder, the troubled civil war vet, the young suicidal widow who meets a mysterious traveler. An interesting perspective on how an event becomes an unrecognizable legend through the mists of time.

My final journey took me to the imaginary world of hobgoblins and into a world where things really do go bump in the night with The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue. Based on the poem by William Butler Yeats:

Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand,

For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

7 year old Henry Day is stolen by the hobgoblins who rename him Aniday. They leave another changeling in his place to live out his life as Henry Day. This is the story of both Aniday and Henry as they struggle to both remember and forget their past lives. The new Henry exhibits an astonishing musical ability that raises questions and leads to haunting memories of his own life before his time with the hobgoblins. Donohue has written a wonderful bedtime story for adults with a mix of fantasy and realism. The story is also a struggle for identity. While I knew it was based on Yeats, I have to admit it was this stanza from Little Orphant Annie by James Whitcomb Riley that was echoing through my head:

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--

An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,

His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,

An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!

An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,

An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;

But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!