What Do I Read Next? ~ Staff Picks
Archives
February 2010
Zooming to the top of Karen’s
all-time favorite list is Barbara Kinsolver’s new book The Lacuna
(la-q-na)!! It is the life story of a
writer, set in Mexico
and
the United States
from the 1930’s -1950’s. She describes
it as exquisitely crafted, sweeping, and packed with contemporary
themes. In Karen’s opinion, this is
Kingsolver’s best
book to date and if you do audio books do
not miss this reading by the author!
Karen also read two other guy books
recently. Out
Stealing Horses is a
translation of a novel by Per Petterson. It
is
a resonant coming of age story set in rural Norway
that is beautifully
descriptive and quietly tragic.
The Badlands Saloon
by Jonathan
Twingly is a brief story of a young man’s crossing into adulthood
during a
summer job in North Dakota. Oliver has returned to his home state to work
after his first year at art school in New York City. Don’t
look
for drama or plot here, just a snapshot
rich with the sort of
oddball people all of us meet in life. Kindly
told,
it flows along gently and is peppered
with paintings by the
author. Marie adds that this book is
quirky, vivid and meandering.
One of Dawn’s favorite new books is
Colum McCann’s Let the Great World Spin. In this novel, stories of a group of New
Yorkers are
connected by the
historical Philippe Petit's famous wire walk on a cable stretched
between the
twin towers of the World
Trade Center
which takes place in 1974. McCann captures the times and people in such
a way
that you feel part of the event. The important theme of this book is
not that
things end, but that things go on. In the authors note at the end of
the book McCann
writes; "A book is completed only
when it is finished by a reader. This is the intimate privilege of art;
In
fact, it's the intimate privilege of being alive. When telling stories
we are
engaged in a democracy like no other." Dawn loves this quote!
31 Hours by Masha
Hamilton is a
story that Dawn has thought of often since she finished it. The mom in
the
novel wakes up suddenly one night with a
mother's intuition that something is very wrong with her twenty-one
year old
son, Jonas. For the next 31 hours, she will try to find him before
something,
she doesn't know what, goes horribly wrong. Her
intuition
proves accurate as we learn that Jonas
is preparing to
become a suicide bomber, blowing up a subway in New York. Interesting and heart
breaking,
told in the mother’s perspective and basically taken from the current
days
headlines.
Marie wanted to move to Avening, a
fictional town on an island in the Pacific
Northwest,
after finishing When Autumn Leaves by
Amy Foster. She describes this novel as a
magical story
with a cast of interesting characters.
The Christmas Cookie Club
by Ann
Pearlman, A Change in Altitude by
Anita Shreve and Bird in Hand by
Christina
Baker Kline were titles that showed up on both Dawn and Marie’s reading
list
for the past few months. Not considered
favorites
but satisfying and fun reads.
Audrey Niffeneggar follows up the
popular The Time Travelers Wife with
her newest novel Her
Fearful Symmetry. This is an odd
ghost story with a twisty plot that left Dawn questioning some aspects
of the
almost silly story.
Sheila Dube revisited some well loved
mystery authors in the past few months. P.D.
James
older titles The
Murder Room and Death
in Holy Orders satisfied her need for Inspector Dalgliesh’s
sleuthing
and The
Clutch of the Constables by Ngaio Marsh was an enjoyable older
mystery
(1969). Doing laundry is usually not
Sheila’s first love, but she loves Mandy Dyer who owns a Laundromat and
solves
mysteries on the side. She can be found
in Buttons
& Foes by Dolores Johnson.
Marge, one of our faithful
volunteers, adds the following mystery to our staff picks The Big Steal by Emyl
Jenkns. Marge found it to be a good read and encourages lovers of
antiques and
old houses to give it a try!
The Help by Kathryn
Stockett and The
Lost Symbol by Dan Brown continue to be titles that have very
LONG wait
lists. If you want something similar to
Stockett’s book, try Someone knows my Name
by Lawrence
Hill, We are all Welcome Here by
Elizabeth Berg or Beth Hoffman’s
debut novel Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. For Dan Brown fans give Steve Berry a try, or
James
Rollin’s Sigma Force
novels.
October 2009
Karen
has read a string of books lately that she claims 'fit her just right'.
The Dart League King by Keith Morris takes place in one
evening and she found every character in the book, even the local
cocaine dealer, kind of endearing. The ending is ambiguous, so if
you like very tidy endings, it isn't for you, but she thinks it had a
happy ending for every character. The
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
was a fabulous young adult fantasy about a child who grows to manhood
in a graveyard with certain permissions granted that are usually
reserved for the residents. Karen normally isn't a big fan of
fantasy but this ranks high on her list!
Two
authors with first time novels makes Karen's list for this quarter.
Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Walls packs a punch while
being very readable. This satisfying story is part mystery, full
of excitement, and set solidly in small town Kentucky. The second
novel is What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn. This
mystery is set in New England and starts with a young girl's
fantasies, then jumps ahead to finish years later. Karen
describes the story as convoluted with many surprises with beautiful,
suspenseful and strong writing.
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa was described by a
patron as 'a little gem' and the staff here agrees! This is an
intimate story about family, memory and believe it or not, the poetry
of mathematics. It is also the story about
characters getting to know someone but with a major twist: the
person forgets everything in eighty minutes. How do you sustain a
relationship with someone who cannot remember? Karen, Marie and
Dawn all loved this book. It is a quick, 200 page book but will
keep you thinking of the characters and premise of the book for a long
time.
At the
top of Dawn's "must reads" and "favorite books of the year" list is Olive Kitteridge: A Novel in Short Stories by Elizabeth Strout. Her prior
novels Amy and Isabelle and Abide with Me were favorites as
well and when Olive was released, Dawn picked it up and just
couldn't get into it. Then In April, Strout, won the Pulitzer
Prize for Olive Kitteridge and Dawn tried it again this past
summer. LOVED it. This book is set in rural Maine and
through short stories Olive appears in all, some as the main character,
some as just a mention but through it all we learn that the way we see
ourselves is not always the way that others see us.
Unaccustomed Earth by Lahiri Jhumpa is another
collection of stories that Dawn enjoyed. The book is split into
two sections, the first containing four stories and the second three
stories that are all connected. These stories all center around
ordinary topics and ordinary people. Because of the way the book
was set up, it was a book that was put down on numerous occasions but
held enough intrigue to pick up and finish.
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman and A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve were books
that Dawn read and enjoyed.
Marcia's
staff picks include The Spire by Richard North Patterson which is
a suspenseful, poignant love story set in a small private college and
also Shannon by Frank Delaney, a beautifully
written story of Robert Shannon, a young American suffering from shell
shock as he searches far for peace in Ireland.
Sheila
English is currently reading The
Children's Book by A.S. Byatt.
Set
in
fin
de
siecle,
England
this
magical
book
holds
a mirror to the
new middle class. This didn't get a great review but Sheila is
loving it! Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris is #9 in the
southern vampire series and in this latest saga the werewolves and
other shape shifters reveal themselves to a not quite ready public.
Sheila is our 'in house' vampire expert!! Other selections
that Sheila adds to staff picks are Catching
Fire
by Suzanne Collins
(sequel to The Hunger Games and every bit as good) and The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larson.
Marie's
staff picks include three dystopian novels. The Hunger Games, a young
adult novel by Suzanne Collins, has a grim and different story line set
in a world in which reality television means fighting to the death for
young people drawn in a lottery. It is compelling and she can't
read to read the second in the series Catching Fire. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood is disturbing in
its depiction of an imagined future world. This is a companion
novel to her 2003 book Oryx and
Crake. The third novel The
Island
at
the
End
of
the
World
by
Sam Taylor was unique in that it is told in three voices
influenced by limited reading materials. Marie figured out the
Shakespeare and the Biblical voices but would appreciate comments on
where the third voice comes from.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters are titles that
Marie would hand to patrons and say 'try this'.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett has had a long
waiting list from the day it arrived here. It continues to be a
staff and patron favorite and has inspired many discussions at the
front desk. Karen experienced this book by listening to it and highly
recommends it. Another title with a long list is Dan Brown's
latest The Lost Symbol.
Interested in taking a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon? You
might want to pick up In the Heart of
the Canyon by Elisabeth Hyde
another title that seems to have made the rounds with the staff.
It reads fast and keeps the reader captivated by the setting.
Please share with us your favorite reads so we may pass them along to
our patrons. We love to hear what you've been reading and how you
liked or disliked a particular title!
June
2009
Marie and Karen start
off our list of staff picks with a title that they describe as 'edgy,
fast-paced, and filled with dark humor that is not for the faint of
heart'. Does this intrigue anyone? Beat the Reaper
by first-time
novelist Josh Bazell turns a hit man into a medical intern and does it
in such a way that the reader is immediately drawn into the story.
The Washington Post's review states "Beat the Reaper is a
hypochondriac's nightmare but a reader's dream". Karen and Marie
agree and Marie enthusiastically declares that this is the best book
she has read in 2009!
Karen expected to have
a stack of books to talk about after her vacation in May but she spent
more time in the garden and at graduations than reading!
(Congrats to her daughter Rosie who just graduated from Boston
University!) Karen did get through a few, one being Ghosts by Cesar Aira which is a
haunting and dreamy novella, an international best seller, set on an
apartment building under construction. It has the mystical
elements so typical of the South American writers. She loved it
and so did her husband.
Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas
is a wonderful period piece set in Colorado during the Great
Depression. This is a good book for anyone who enjoys a gentle
story filled with the fabric of social support women give each other
through quilting and tending the home.
The newest quirky
family story (Karen's favorite kind of book!) is The Flying Troutmans by Miriam
Toews. It is sad, funny, poignant, happy, quirky,, all at
the
same time. Hattie has landed at her sister's house in Canada
after being dumped by her boyfriend in France and finds her sister
hospitalized again with depression. Not ready to become an
instant parent for her niece and nephew, Hattie and the kids set off
across two countries to try to find the children's father who left
years earlier. Must be good as it was on Marie's list also and she also
describes it as quirky with very likable characters.
If you saw the Academy
Award winner Slumdog Millionaire and would like to read something set
in India, Karen suggests a new novel by first-time author Shilpa
Agarwal, Haunting
Bombay.
When
13
year old Pinky Mittal unlocks a door in her family bungalow
that has been bolted shut her entire life, she unleashes the ghost of
an infant girl and her midwife, sending her whole family into a
tailspin. This multigenerational saga had Karen rushing home to
finish it.
An unusual narrative
structure in Important
Artifacts
and
Personal
Property
from
the
Collection
of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris
by Leanne Shapton created enough of a stir that a few of us just
had to
take it home. This is an auction catalog with photographs and
captions which tells the story of a New York City couple, Lenore and
Harold. For something different and outside of the box , this
novel is a fun read and is bound to be a conversation starter.
Dawn thinks Lise See's
new novel Shanghai
Girls does
what she does best - writing about the relationships of people and the
ups and downs of life long relationships. If you enjoyed Snow Flower and the
Secret Fan this
is a must read that will have you thinking about it long after you
finish. The Piano Teacher
by Janice Lee is another novel that deals with the difficulties
of love
and survival during a time of war and the choices made during this hard
time.
Other titles that Dawn
recommends are Still
Alice by
Lisa Genova, Home Safe by
Elizabeth Berg and Sonata for Miriam
by Linda Olsson.
Sing them Home by Stephanie Kallos
is a new staff favorite. This is a heart wrenching story of three
siblings who have lived in the shadow of unresolved grief since their
mother's disappearance when they were children. Karen and Dawn
were anxiously awaiting the release of this book as we both loved the
author's first book in 2004, Broken
for You. Marie is hooked on this author after reading both
titles and highly recommends them.
Marcia is the proud new
owner of a Kindle® from Amazon and a few of the staff enjoyed
playing with it one day!! This nifty little device can store
thousands of books on it and currently Marcia is reading In the Bleak Mid Winter by Julia
Spencer Fleming. She is also enjoying Jeffrey Deaver's new
book, Roadside
Crosses and tells us
that
it is quite exciting.
For history buffs
Sheila Dube recommends Hangman Blind
by Cassandra Clark. This mystery gives a flavor of the
historical
tone of the 1300's with Hildegard a widowed nun finding the clues as
bodies began piling up. If you are into the harrowing experience
of London's tunnels after the Great Stink, try Ann Perry's The Dark Assassin
featuring
Inspector Monk. There is nothing like shifting clay to make life
exciting and dangerous. Twilight
fans won't want to miss Jessica's
Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
by Beth Fantaskey. Senior
year is never what anyone expects.
Marie adds to the list
of staff picks the Mercy Thompson
series by Patricia Briggs. This
is a four book series featuring an auto mechanic who can turn into a
coyote! WHAT?? This is definitely for those who like the
supernatural, werewolves in particular. She also enjoyed Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan.
This young adult novel is based on the fairy tale Snow White,
Rose Red and Marie describes it as very magical, rich and thought
provoking but..... reader be warned, there are a few disturbing parts.
As we enter the summer
months Springvale Library will be experiencing some changes, the major
one being the closing of the library on Fridays. As a staff, we
are disheartened and sad that we have to do this as we would love to be
adding services, not taking away, but it is a sign of the times.
On a positive note, we are hoping we'll be able to read more and
thus have more staff picks for you!!
Happy summer to
all.
February 2009
Things have been extremely busy at the library but we've still managed
to compile quite an interesting list of books that the staff has read.
Please let us know some of your favorites during this cold winter.
Karen starts off the staff picks with a gracefully written book that
she is currently reading, The
Little Giant of Aberdeen County
by new author Tiffany Baker,
and she is loving it. (There is already a waiting list for this
title!) It is rich with the characters and drama of a small
town. She also describes A
Guide to the Birds of East Africa
by
Nicholas
Drayson as a
charming, delightful and unusual love story. There are birds and
birders in this story but don't be put off by the title. It
is sweet and surprising and you'll feel right at home in its Kenyan
setting. Dawn is currently enjoying this book.
Knowing that the author Randy Pausch had terminal cancer as he wrote The Last Lecture,
Karen
picked
up
the
audio
book
for
her commute. She actually expected
to find it too saccharine or maudlin for her tastes but she was
pleasantly surprised to find it interesting, joyous and
inspiring.
Dawn took the recommendations of others and read The Story of Edgar
Sawtelle by
David Wroblewski and The
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann
Shaffer. Wow! So glad she did. Two very
interesting
reads that would be great for book groups. Edgar Sawtelle was very sad and
heartbreaking but well worth the read. She still has many
questions about the ending of this novel.
A few other picks on Dawn's list are Songs
for
the
Missing by Stewart O'Nan,
The
Hour
I
First
Believed, a must
read for Wally Lamb fans, and a young adult book, The Boy in the Striped
Pajamas by
John Boyne, that she can only describe as 'disturbing'. If
you're
a Jodi Picoult fan The
Year
of
Fog
by
Michelle
Richmond is a great read. This book deals with an emotional
topic that questions the biological bond and love between two people
when Abby, the main character, loses her fiancé's six-year-old
daughter. Dawn thought it had a very Jodi Picoult like
ending. Handle
With
Care
is
Jodi
Picoult's new book which is due out in March.
Marie describes The Wasted
Vigil by Nadeem Aslam
as a very well written and poetic
story about the intersection of diverse characters in Afghanistan, each
having hidden connections with the others. The Graveyard Book by Neil
Gaiman has just won the 2008 Newberry Award and Marie and Sheila
E. loved it. It is the retelling of Kipling's The Jungle Book, set in the grave
yard of course!! Marie, who is our in-house artist, thought the
graphic novel The Good
Neighbors by Holly Black
had great artwork and she found
the story engaging! Marie also adds The Book Thief by Markus Zusak to
her list which was one of Dawn's top picks for 2008.
Sheila Dube can't get enough of Minette Walter's mysteries at the
moment. The
Dark Room, The Echo and The Breaker were
all suspenseful
and thought provoking. Continuing with the mystery genre she
also enjoyed Quiet
as
a
Nun
by Antonia Fraser which featured the character Jemima Shore, an
investigative reporter. A few of her non-fiction picks include Dewey: The Small Time
Library Cat
which in her words was 'the cat's meow', (and the pictures helped!) and
Plain
Secrets: An
Outsider Among the Amish by Joe
Mackall. Sheila grew up
next to an Amish community in Indiana so she felt connected in a
personal way.
For all the Charlie Bone fans out there Sheila encourages them to pick
up #7 in the series Charlie Bone and
the Shadow.
Spring is coming!
October 2008
Karen just finished High Crimes: the
fate of Everest in an age of greed by Michael Kodas which she
guarantees will open your eyes to the lack of glamour and romance
attached to climbing the world's tallest mountain. (She has
scratched that item off her list now!) She also read A Framework for
Understanding Poverty
by Ruby Payne which has been widely read by the Sanford School
Department staff, including our very own Sheila English. This
book was an eye-opener and has given Karen some very useful, practical
information that was delivered in a quick, easy package. Sheila
Dube is currently reading this this book and echoes Karen's comments.
With winter coming, Karen and Marcia recommend Stephen Carter's New England White
which is an
elaborately plotted murder mystery set in a college town in New
England. Stephen Carter has a few other titles that might satisfy
the mystery reader which include The
Emperor of Ocean Park and Palace
Council.
A new favorite book??? Staff members Karen, Marie, Sheila English
and Marcia loved The
Guernsey
Literary
and
Potato
Peel
Pie
Society by
Mary Ann Shaffer!!
If it was available in paperback, this would make a perfect December
book group choice! Karen describes it as funny, informative, sad,
joyous, romantic (light on this one), and satisfying. This novel
is set in post World War II England, and it is a tale told through
letters.
Dawn and Marie have both been reading a few of the same titles and
loved Oxygen by Carol
Cassella. The author is a real-life anaesthesiologist and
weaves
an intimate story of relationships and family in a high stakes medical
thriller. If you enjoy Jodi Picoult's novels, this author is very
similar. Another title that staff members Dawn, Marcia, and Marie
continue to talk about is American
Wife by Curtis Settenfeld.
This
novel
is
loosely
based
on
Laura Bush's life and was an interesting read during this election
season! The
Lace Reader
by Brunonia Barry is sure to be a book group favorite when it is
released in paperback! "Every gift has a price ... Every piece of
lace has a secret....." This book is mesmerizing and deals with
lies, secrets, half-truths and you have a hard time deciding what is
fact from fiction. We have the book and the unabridged audio book
available to borrow!
Dawn also recommends Anita Shreve's
latest novel Testimony which
deals with a sex
scandal at a New England boarding school. It is a story told in
the voices of men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the
scandal and details the ways that lives can be changed forever in one
foolish moment.
Marie and Sheila English read the very popular The Story of Edgar
Sawtelle by
David Wroblewski. This is described as a very well written
novel
with an inspiring and different method of communication between
Edgar and the dogs. Other titles that Marie shares are What was Lost by Catherine
O'Flynn, The Gargoyle
by Andrew Davidson and, an old children's favorite, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth
Grahame.
Sheila Dube, while creating a costume for Halloween of her favorite
literary character Sister Frevisse, reread The Murderer's Tale by Margaret
Frazier which she highly enjoyed -- again! She also read Madapple by Christina Meldrum which
was intriguing and slightly disturbing. It was a blend of herbs,
religious fascinations and very eccentric family members, but not a
read for everyone!
Please share with us your favorite reads so we may pass them along to
our members!
July 2008
Karen finished The
Great
Swim
by Gavin Mortimer earlier this summer and she is constantly
reminded of
this book every time she is in the water doing her 'measly' (her
words!) 1/2 mile swim. This book explores the history of four
American swimmers in the race to be the first woman to swim the English
Channel. These women were the celebrities of the 1920's!
Gavin Mortimer tells the true story of these woman who took on the
challenge. Karen loved the whole thing, including the fact that
the woman who finally did it, broke the first man's record by 2 hours!
Karen also took home a very fun children's book because she couldn't
resist the cover and the title! (You can judge a book by its
cover in this instance!) A girl in a swim cap, goggles, and
swimsuit is pretending to read a dog-erred copy of Stuart Little which
is upside down. Moxy Maxwell
Does Not Love Stuart Little by
Peggy Gifford is a delightful
story of a girl with a deadline who does not like to be told what to
read.
Another title that Karen describes as a fine novel is The Pigeon and the Boy by Meir
Shalev. This is a beautiful story set in Israel about a
mother
and a son, love, destiny, and the joy of work.
Karen also had the great pleasure of hearing Louise Erdrich read aloud
from her newest work, The Plague of
Doves and she has now finished reading it. All of her
books are a lovely blend of humor, character and wisdom and she likes
each one better than the last.
Sheila Dube has been on her summer mystery kick and many of the titles
she read have turned out to be historical in nature. Don't you just
love learning something when you're reading for fun? She
recommends any of the following: Buckingham Palace
Gardens by Anne
Perry, Oh
Danny Boy by Rhys
Bowens or the young adult mystery that will air in September as
part of
Masterpiece Mystery! on PBS, The
Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip
Pullman. For Inspector Lynley
fans, Careless in
Red by
Elizabeth George is a must read.
Don't
Throw it Out
by Lori Baird is a title that Marie encourages people to read
and put
into use. This book delves into the many ways of recycling,
renewing, and reusing many of the common items we find in our
households. Marie also suggests Jeffrey Lent's book A Peculiar Grace
which is a well
written story with Portland, Maine as one of the ending
locations. Shadow
Year
by Jeffrey Ford reminds her of summertime and Ray Bradbury books.
Dawn highly recommends Here if You
Need Me: A True Story by Kate
Brastrup. After the tragic
death of her husband Drew, a Maine State Trooper, Kate becomes a
chaplain for the Maine Warden Service and this is a touching account of
her journey. She brings a human element to her story that we all
can relate to.
The
Host by
Stephanie Meyer is the author's first adult novel after her very
popular Twilight series and
Dawn had to pick it up and read it after doing the vampire thing in Twilight. No vampires in The Host, but it is a science
fiction, love story that keeps you reading. Dawn enjoyed it,
although her favorite sci fi novel still remains The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.
There is much anticipation for Stephanie Meyer's fouth and final book
in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn
which is due out August 4th!
Other titles that Dawn has enjoyed include The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa
Gregory, An
Unexpected
Forest
by Eleanor Morse and Skeletons at
the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.
Share some of your summer reads with us and don't forget that you can
place holds on any of these titles either by a call, a visit, or
through our web site.
March 2008
It has been a LONG winter and the staff has filled the long, snowy days
with lots of reading which is much better than shovelling!
Karen's South Berwick book club chose Don
DeLillo's
Underworld,
an
800+
page
tome
that
kept
her busy for weeks! She felt it was good to have a little
pressure to delve into the work of one of modern America's most
acclaimed writers. Her exact words were "He's brilliant!".
She loved his inventive use of language and the plot crafting she
described as stunning! Mr. DeLillo requires a real commitment to
read so he may not be for everyone, but Karen says give it a go.
Another book that Karen added to her list is Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food
which has made
her more thoughtful with her grocery store purchases.
To overcome her graphic novel phobia (which many of us may share),
Karen picked up Alison Bechdel's Fun
Home: A Family Tragicomic. She was surprised that
the comic book format didn't stop her from enjoying this memoir of the
author's father. She did want to add that this graphic novel's
mature content might be off-putting or offensive to some.
Sheila Dube, our children's librarian, reread Roll of Thunder, Hear
My Cry which
is found in our juvenile section but don't let this stop you from
picking it up. This story is about an African-American family
dealing with racism in Mississippi in the 30's. For readers that
are intrigued by real life oddities, she suggests trying Identical Strangers by Elyse Schein
and Paula Bernstein. In this real-life memoir, these twins
are
separated at six months and then reunited thirty years later.
Sheila recommends for teens the fiction story Memoirs of a Teenage
Amnesiac by
Gabrielle Gavin and for those mystery lovers, try Laurie R. King's
latest Touchstone.
Dawn has really spent her free time reading and has many to add to the
staff picks! One of her most enjoyable reads included the much
talked about Pillars
of
the
Earth
by Ken Follett. This was originally published in 1989 but
has
enjoyed a resurgence greatly due to the power of Oprah! She loved
the characters in this historical novel, especially Prior Philip, and
also the romantic story of Tom and Ellen. She has admitted to a
whole new appreciate of architecture. Don't be put off by the
900+ plus pages as it does move along quickly.
Last
Night at the Lobster
by Stewart O'Nan inspired Dawn to pick up another of this
author's
books A Prayer
for the Dying.
This author has amazing descriptive talents with the scenes and
especially emotions. The plots of both titles aren't what Dawn
calls spellbinding, but the way the author pulls you into the story is
amazing. He has got a wonderful talent for capturing the mood so
effectively that you feel you are part of the story. She
describes Last Night at the Lobster
as a great read, especially on a snowy 'no school, no work' snow day,
as this book takes place at a Red Lobster restaurant during a blizzard.
Gives you a whole new insight to the workings of a mall parking
lot restaurant. Karen and Marie enthusiastically agreed!
Gregory Maquire has done it again with the young adult novel What the Dickens:
The Story of a
Rogue Tooth Fairy. Here he takes 'skibbereen', aka tooth
fairies, and tells a tale based on believing. 'What-the-Dickens'
is a newly hatched orphan creature who gets into a mess of trouble.
A fun read especially if you're a fan of Gregory Maquire's style
for taking an existing tale and adding a twist! Dawn loved it and
we've got a signed copy by the author here at the library.
Other titles that Dawn adds to her list are Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult's
newest novel that is sure to bring up questions and comments
about religion, Me
and
Emma
by Elizabeth Flock which is a disturbing story of child
abuse
with an unsuspecting ending, and The
Senator's Wife by Sue Miller,
the
story
of
two
different
woman
and their marriages.
Marcia and Karen had FUN reading The
Man Who Killed Shakespeare by
Ken Hodgeson. It was one of
those predictable, you know what happens next, kind of book but you
don't care because because it is so enjoyable and easy to read.
Marcia and Marie both took home the book Japanese Temari:
A Colourful Spin on
an Ancient Craft by Barbara S.
Seuss and Marcia really created a
buzz with the staff when she made one of these beautiful items. A
Temari ball is a Japanese handball traditionally made out of rags
wrapped around a noisemaker and then covered by colourful thread.
The ball is then given to someone as a sign of friendship.
Temari balls have been decorative additions to the Japanese
household for centuries and this book is an introduction for the
beginning temari-stitcher. We're trying to convince Marcia to
host a program here at the library for both staff and patrons to learn
this intriguing craft!
Marie suggests trying The Way Life
Should Be by Christina Kline, The
Outcasts
of
19
Schuyler Place by E.L.
Konigsbury, Suite
Francaise by Irene
Nemirovsky, and The Opposite of Love
by Julie Buxbaum.
In April we will be celebrating "National Library Month" and the staff
will be wearing 'What I'm Reading' badges -- ask us about our
choices! Also, you are invited to 'pass it on' by taking and
wearing a stick-on badge of your own announcing your support of public
libraries.
Happy Spring!
December 2007
As we close out of 2007 we wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season
and best wishes for 2008! We hope you've had a great year of good
reads and hope a few good books are on your 'holiday list'. We've
tried to put together some of our favourites for you! We invite
you to share your favorites with us!
Karen enjoyed reading the novel A
Peculiar Grace by Jeffrey Lunt.
A
middle-aged
artist-blacksmith
finds
himself
housing
a stray young woman and
confronting some of his past on his way to a better present. It
was a satisfying read and the writing had an everyday ease about it
that made it comfortable to read through.
She also slowly digested Inside
Alzheimer's: how to hear and honor connections with a person by
Nancy Pearce. The thought of maintaining a relationship
with
someone who's mind is diseased and brain is riddled with holes is
daunting, so she appreciated the practical on-the-front-line approach
of this book. This is a hopeful, positive, and useful book which
offers ways to continue loving relationships when communication changes
through illness.
Sheila Dube needed a respite after a busy story time season so she
allowed herself some cozy reading. She proceeded to "eat up" the
latest three culinary mystery novels by Diane Mott Davidson, Chopping Spree, Double Shot and Dark Tort and
then she whipped up a
batch of Christmas cookies followed by a large apple crisp. Yum.
Aren't mysteries inspiring???!
Marcia picked up a book that was recommended by one of our library
trustees and found that she couldn't put it down! New England White by Stephen Carter
has many twists and turns and is an intriguing look at American society
from an elite black's view which is a rare!
Marie added some of her most memorable reads of 2007 starting with her
most favorite being Origin by
Diana Abu-Jaber. This is a novel that is very surreal with a lot
of
contrasting textures. A dreamlike childhood of an ape mother in a
rain forest is in the background of a snowy Syracuse New York where the
main character analyzes fingerprints for a living. The main
character seems concrete, but at the same time the reader wonders if
something is not quite right about her. Marie describes it as
'satisfyingly mysterious'.
Marie also suggests two books that would be great for book discussion
groups. See You in a
Hundred Years by Logan Ward
is the story of a family that lives
as if they were in 1900, even though it is really 2001, for a
year. Animal,
Vegetable,
Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
is a non-fiction book where
Kingsolver's family spends a year eating homegrown food. Karen
also enjoyed this book so they were able to share ideas and thoughts on
it.
Both Marie and Dawn read Alice Sebold's new novel The Almost Moon.
They
both
found
it
to
be
a disturbing, touching and well written account of a
relationship between a mother and a daughter. The word
"disturbing" is emphasized since the main character kills her mother at
the beginning of the book. The rest of the book cycles between
the past and the present. Marie describes it as "not the happiest
of reading" and Dawn didn't take to it as much as Sebold's The Lovely Bones.
Dawn recommends two great reads that also would be interesting choices
for book discussion books. The
Book Thief by Markus Zusak
tops her list of great reads of 2007.
This book is billed as a young adult book but don't afraid to try
it as it is an experience! She describes this book as an
astounding, thought provoking, beautiful book, and after she
finished, thought "Who can I pass this along to?" Death himself
narrates this World War II-era story. Another of her great picks
for 2007 include A
Hatred
for
Tulips
by Richard Lourie which is another World War II-era story.
This
is a riveting novel told from the viewpoint of Joop, an old man
in Amsterdam today, haunted by his shameful secret of what he did
as a teenager more than 60 years ago.
We can't wait to see what great reads there are in 2008!
July 2007
What a dilemma Karen is in as we bring you our July staff reads!
She is currently 100 pages away from finishing The Yiddish Policeman's
Union by
Michael Chabon and the new Harry Potter has just come in!
What to
do?? The Chabon book is unusual and she says that she likes it
better with every page turned. It is a detective murder story set
in an alternate history Alaskan state. It has a noir feel with
wonderful similes and the characters grow as the plot does. Not
an action packed, fast read book, but she is enjoying the
unfolding. Harry Potter will have to wait a few more days.
But..... Sheila Dube couldn't wait and ate it up! The long
awaited, last installment in the series pulls all the various threads
of the last six books together neatly in a magically wizardry
way. It is an absolute must read for those that have read and
grown up with the series.
For mystery lovers who want an enjoyable beach read, Sheila recommends The Sudoku Murder by Shelly
Freydont. Set in New Hampshire, this quick mystery is
filled with
"Ayuh's", a murder, a match making aunt and a touch of geeky
romance.
Karen also suggests listening to the audio A Long Way Gone, narrated by the
author, Ismael Beal. This took her into the unimaginable world
of the
degradation of a society in civil war and the experience of children
and child soldiers in Sierra Leone. It is a taste of a place and time,
told in the beautiful words of a person who has come back from the
brink. This memoir has very strong and violent material as you
may guess by her description. The book is available also.
Two of our staff members, Karen and Marie, have read Barbara
Kingsolver's Animal,
Vegetable,
Miracle and they both agree that it would make a great
discussion book! Karen, being a long time gardener, looked
forward to reading about this family's experience during a year of
eating local foods. There are sidebars with recipes and
information about the food industry, as well as thoughts of the author
on the "whys" and "whats" of the year.
Marie has been enjoying Nevada Barr and her Anna Pigeon
mysteries. After listening to High
Country and Hard
Truth
on CD, she was hooked and has been reading all of her mysteries.
Anna Pigeon is a feisty law enforcement park ranger who appreciates the
wild and its creatures. During her time in different national
parks, someone usually gets murdered and Anna always seems to end up
right in the middle of the situation!
Maledicte by Lane
Robins, is a dark story that starts out with a fifteen year old
named
Miranda and her companion Janus living on the streets in an
abandoned part of town called the Relicts. Marie enjoyed the
sense of place in this story and some of the descriptions were
beautiful in an ethereal way. It is a fantasy book with a theme
of eternal love and revenge.
Marcia enjoyed the new Kerry
Greenwood novel Earthly Delights
which is a light
headed mystery that takes place down under in Melbourn, Australia. The
main character is a baker with an array of "characters"
contributing to the plot.
Dawn adds to the list with The True
Story of Hansel and Gretel by
Louise Murphy. WOW... This
book is well written with believable characters but be prepared to be
emotionally moved. It is a holocaust story set in Poland
during WWII with the fairy tale woven in. Not a light read by any
means.
Another favorite for Dawn was Sherman
Alexie's Flight.
Alexie
does
a
fantastic
job
of
getting inside the mind of a teenage boy faced with
many obstacles. "Zits", the main character, is an orphaned,
American Indian teenager who deals with racism, homelessness and the
usual challanges of adolescence.
The novel Red
Leaves by
Thomas Cook begins with "Family photos always lie."
Can you
ever really know what lies behind those posed smiles? Dawn picked
up this book and thought it would be a predictable, missing child book
but found it to be very thought provoking and surprising in many
ways. Others she enjoyed were Summer
Reading by Hilma Wolitzer, A
Thousand Splendid Suns by
Khaled Hosseini, and The Last Summer (Of You
and Me) by
Ann Brashares.
Tell us your favorite summer reads!
April 2007
Our staff picks begins with what Karen calls 'her best book of
the year so far', A
Perfect
Mess:
The
Hidden
Benefits
of
Disorder: How crammed closets, cluttered
offices, and on-the-fly Planning Make the World a Better Place
by Eric Abrahamsom and David H. Freedman . She
enthusiastically
shares her opinion, "Yes, Yes, Yes! I knew those people with the
color coded closets were wasting time! This book illuminates the
reasons we work like we do and affirms the good in chaos." Sounds like
a great book to read instead of organizing those cluttered drawers and
spring cleaning!
Karen also suggests picking up The
Tiger in the Attic: Memories of the Kindertransport and growing up
English by Edith Milton.
This
book
is
described
by
Karen
as being less about the Kindertransport and Nazi Germany than she
thought it would be. She found it to be a lively, humorous look
at a young child who becomes more English than Jewish as she grows up a
refugee in an eccentric British household and then later, as a young
woman, her life with her mother in the United States.
The
Astonishing Life of
Octavian Nothing: The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson has been
a much talked about novel that Karen had to pick up. After
finishing it, she said it was the most unusual historical novel she had
ever read. The novel begins with the feel of science fiction and
then sends itself into the Revolutionary War era of colonial
America. Published as a young adult novel, this is a complex,
graphically violent and disturbing book that she wouldn't give to any
young person, but she highly recommends this to anyone interested in
race issues, U.S. history and ground-breaking writing style.
Sheila Dube has recently finished two adult non-fiction selections that
provide a feminine view point or voice to opposing life
situations.
Another
Day
in
the
Frontal
Lobe by Katrina Firlish
is a memoir of one of the
few female neurosurgeons in the United States. She gives an
educational and personally insightful account of her residency years.
Child
of the Jungle
by Sabine Kuegler is the story of the authors life in West
Papua,
Indonesia living among the Fayu tribe in neutral territory.
This author lived there with her family from the age of five into her
teen years, with the purpose of bringing peace to the tribes.
Sheila found this memoir to be a fascinating read that she couldn't put
down. Cultural differences, jungle dangers and wearing shoes are
all part of this incredible story.
Sheila English's take on Nora
Ephrion's I
Feel
Bad
about
My
Neck and Other
Thoughts on Being a Woman is summed up with her comment "Getting
old is harder on some body parts more than others!". She
revisited this book after initially picking it up in the fall.
Chicken
with
Plums
by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel set in Tehran in 1958,
where a
musician loses the will to live when his beloved musical instrument,
the Tar, is damaged. Graphic novels are not just for kids
anymore!! Sheila suggests picking one up to try it!
Marcia suggests a few fun mysteries. One of her favorite authors
is Sue Henry and Marcia wasn't disappointed by her latest The Refuge Finds Maxie
on the Big Island
in Hawaii. After a trip to Hawaii recently, Marcia really
felt a connection to the story. A new mystery author that Marcia
has discovered is Mike Doogan and she enjoyed his novel, Lost Angel: A Nik Kane
Alaska Mystery
which focuses on a missing girl in the Christian Community of
Rejoice. Seeing as this is the authors first novel, we expect
more Nik Kane mysteries to come!
Mary and Marcia both read Susan
Isaac's Past
Perfect and had conflicting
opinions about it. Marcia enjoyed it while Mary felt it seemed to
fizzle at the end. Give it a try and let us know what you thought!
Our Springvale Public Library Book discussion group, led by Mary, has
read Pomegranate
Soup by
Marsha Mehran and Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson. They are currently enjoying They Took to the Woods by Louise
Dickinson Rich.
Nineteen
Minutes
by Jodi Picoult is a novel that deals with a school shooting,
where the
author tells the story from the perspective of the shooter. Dawn
describes this novel as a disturbing topic but as a Jodi fan, one that
she had to read.
Dawn also read The
Last
Days
of
Dogtown by Anita Diamant
and didn't find it as fulfulling as her
previous novels, The
Red
Tent,
or Good
Harbor.
The
characters didn't have any depth to them and the novel seemed to be
flat. A recent favorite was Anita Shreve's newest novel Body
Surfing.
Stephen King's son, Joe Hill has a new book on the NY Times Best Seller
List, The
Heart-Shaped Box
which Dawn read and enjoyed. This novel is centered around an
aging rocker, who is a collector of bizare, macabre items. The
rocker pays $1000 for a suit that is said to be inhabited by a ghost
and then, not surprisingly... the angry spirit makes an
appearance. Not a gory novel or too scary, just a fun,
entertaining read.
Let us know what you've been reading!!
January 2007
Where has 2006 gone??? We apologize for the long lapse from our
last posting. Although we have been busy with the holiday season,
and especially the "Victorian Tea Time" every afternoon in December, we
still had a chance to read some great books which we'd like to share!
The Whistling Season by Ivan
Doig was recommended to Karen by two very different
people. The
historical western setting in this book and its humor made it a highly
enjoyable read. A widower and his three boys hire a housekeeper,
("Doesn't cook, won't bite") and along with the housekeeper comes her
brother, who by default starts teaching in the rural one room school
house. The story is told by the oldest son and the book ends when
he is ordered to close all the small schools in the state decades
later. Karen describes it as a very satisfying and smooth
read.
Karen moved on from this western to Mineral
Spirits by Heather Sharfeddin,
another
Montana
setting,
which
is
a
sensitive portrayal of a sheriff working on a Jane Doe murder case,
who gets involved with the 10 year old neglected boy who found the body.
Marcia was engrossed in True Evil
by Greg Iles who brings us his latest suspense thriller.
This is
a new take on the traditional cat and mouse game between an FBI agent
and a fiendishly-clever serial killer. For those of you who enjoy
Greg Iles, it's another edge of your seat read!
Copper
River; A Cork
O'Connor Mystery by William
Kent Krueger is another thriller
that Marcia recommends. This sixth Cork O'Connor mystery
continues the saga as the Minnesota Sheriff is sent running from hired
killers. Booklist's review of this mystery states that this
series 'gets darker and more elegantly written with each new
book'.
Marcia suggested Sheila D. try the Maisie
Dobbs
mysteries and Sheila is
now hooked on them! Maisie is a single, super-sleuth spinster
with a psychic twist at the turn of the century London. Sheila is
currently reading the third in the series, and is in line to read the
brand new 4th one titled Messenger
of Truth.
Dawn and Sheila both enjoyed and were moved by Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor
Brown. This is a juvenile title that is presented in
brief,
free-verse poems and is a very quick read but one that stays with you
long after you turn that last page. It is a story of a mentally
ill mother who deserts her husband and daughter. The very first
page of the book describes the daughter watching her mother packing and
leaving. How do you cope with the question of "What do you do
when your mom runs away from home?" It is the story of how
a loss can reveal the powerful and complex bonds between a father and
daughter.
For the holiday season Dawn enjoyed Elizabeth's
Berg's
The
Handmaid
and
the
Carpenter
which is a very sweet dramatization of the nativity story. Being
an Elizabeth Berg fan, she wasn't disappointed in this new perspective
of the classic Christmas story. Dawn continued the holiday theme
with sportswriter Mike Lupica's Miracle
on
49th
Street which is a sports themed juvenile novel revolving
around 12 year old Molly and her desire to win her father's love who
just happens to be the star player for the Boston Celtics. It is
a story with a strong, young female character and although very
predictable, it was entertaining.
Mary just finished reading what she calls 'one of the most intriguing
books she's read in a long time', James Church's mystery/thriller, A Corpse in the Koryo.
With
fine
writing
this
novel
brings
to life the very likable Inspector O and
takes you inside the very closed world of North Korea. Totally
different, but another favorite for Mary is Greg Mortenson's
non-fiction book, Three Cups of
Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations ...
One School at a Time. Tom Brokaw said it is "one of
the
most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson's
dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of
Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it's proof that
one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and
determination, really can change the world."
We hope this new year brings many blessings to all.
September 2006
Back to school.... back to school...... We can't believe
the summer went so fast! Here are some of our favorite titles
that the staff have read.
Karen read Mayflower by
Nathaniel Philbrick which she describes as a lively, riveting,
update
(depending on how long ago your high school American history class was)
of the English colonization of the new world in Plymouth. She
listened to the audio book and thought it was
wonderful. She also read The
Great Stink by Clare Clark
which is an English historical mystery set in the times of
Dickens. Currently she is half way through the novel To Love Mercy by Frank Joseph, and
is having a difficult time putting it down to come to work! This
author's first published novel is about two young boys, one black and
one white and how they try to be friends in the wrong time and in the
wrong place.
Sheila English read the new best seller by Anna Quindlin Rise and Shine
which is about two
sisters in New York, one of which is wildly successful, and the other
not. She also enjoyed I Feel
Bad About my Neck And Other Thoughts about Being a Woman by Nora
Ephron which is a collection of essays about aging and life in
general. She thought the essay on reading was one of the best
ones she has ever read.
Proven
Guilty; A Novel of
the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
deals with wizards in
Chicago! YIKES! (Vampires and werewolves too!) (Maybe
lion, tigers and bears.... oh my.) Sheila tells us that this is a
really good series.
In the children's room, Sheila Dube suggests trying Cornelia and the
Audacious Escapades of
the Somerset Sisters which is a 'story within a story' by Lesley
M.M. (yes, thats 2 M's) Blume. Jenny Nimmo has also continued
the Charlie Bone series with number 5, Charlie Bone and the
Hidden King.
From the adult collection, Sheila really enjoyed The Girls by Lori Lansens.
This is an intriguing novel about conjoined twins that seemed so true
to life. Sheila would like to invite the mystery readers to try
some cozy, paperback selections such as Mr. Malory and the
Fatal Legacy by
Hazel Holt, The
Second
Sorrowful
Mystery by Jonathan Harrington,
or
Keepsake
Crimes
which is a scrap
booking mystery by Laura Childs.
Dawn continues with the mystery genre adding Gone Baby Gone by Dennis
LaHane. This is suspenseful mystery, a real 'who dun it?',
with
many twists and turns, that keeps you reading. She also
enjoyed the very popular The Memory
Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards
which is about how one decision
can affect so many lives.
Lastly, Dawn wanted to add Richard Peck's new young adult novel Here Lies the Librarian
which is
laugh out loud funny and quite appropriate for us to read!!
Pick up one of these reads and please share your favorites with us!
July 2006
It’s nice to see summer finally here! The staff has again been busy
reading lots of new books plus many old favorites.
Karen has read all non-fiction as she has been having a hard time
finding novels that look interesting to her at this time. She has
read The
Butterfly Hunter:
Adventures of People who found their True Calling off the Beaten Path
by Chris Ballad, A Death in
Belmont by Sebastian Junger
(author of The Perfect Storm)
and The Worst
Hard Time: theUuntold Story of
those who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan.
Karen’s mother, who lived in Oklahoma during the dust bowl, was shocked
by the hardship portrayed in this book.
Sheila Dube read Little
Indiscretions
by Carmen Posadas which is a culinary mystery which she found
disjointed at first, but it ‘all comes together in a nicely whipped
soufflé.” She also enjoyed North
by
Northhanger
or,
the Shades of Pemberley : a Mrs. & Mrs. Darcy
mystery by Carrie Beris.
This is a Jane Austin spin-off
involving Mrs. Darcy solving a mystery while pregnant and running a
Victorian household and coping with a conniving aunt!
Susie Riding adds to the list with her latest read, Marker by Robin Cook, which is a
thriller about mapping the human genome.
One of Mary’s favorites so far this summer is Brenda Serottte’s new
memoir, The
Fortune Teller’s Kiss.
The
author’s
perceptive,
colorful, humorous, and sometimes achingly
real descriptions of herself, her family and other people and events
were so vivid, Mary felt that she had seen them herself.
Uncommon
Carriers
by John McPhee is a grown-up version of every young boy’s
fantasy life,
as the peripatetic writer gets to ride in the passenger seat in an
18-wheel truck along on a barge ride up the Illinois River and then
climb into the cabin of a Union Pacific coal train a mile long. Gus
Hedden, our new staff member, is hoping that McPhee’s next book is
written along similar lines and includes fire trucks and heavy
construction machinery.
Dawn enjoyed another Elizabeth Noble
novel The
Friendship Test which is based
on four women and spans both England and America. The characters are
vastly different with a ‘tristy’ plot and makes for a great beach read
(or a cozy winter read!). Kristen
Hannah’s new book The Magic Hour
is another great
summer read that Dawn enjoyed. This book revolves around the soap
opera story of a feral child and the adults that try to help her.
It is a love story of a parent and child that is heartwarming.
WEIRD, weird, weird is how Dawn describes Christopher Moore’s latest
book A
Dirty Job. The
author tackles ‘death’ in his latest wonderful, whacked-out
story!! The main character in this book, Charlie Asher, is a
Death Merchant and has to follow the rules outlined in “The Great Big
Book of Death”. What a cast of characters!! You find
yourself engrossed in this strange but entertaining story, and Dawn
couldn’t put it down!
Come visit us this summer and check out some of these books!
March 2006
We are celebrating our 100th year anniversary this year! There
will be many activities throughout the year so keep checking our web
site and newsletters for updates!
The first book taken out of the Springvale Public Library in 1906 was The Pearl of Orr's
Island: A Story of the
Coast of Maine by Harriet
Beecher Stowe, and in honor of that,
Susie Riding took this book home with her and read it. She found
it to be slow going but could understand the popularity of it back in
1906.
The staff began the new year with a fun game, "Staff Winter
Reading Bingo" . This is a game that we will be implementing as
part of our Summer Reading Program for adults so we had to try it
out first! We were to read selections based on a prepared bingo
board and get BINGO. Each square on the board represented a genre
or instruction of what to read. Examples were; Read a young adult
novel, Ask for a recommendation from a patron, Read a mystery, Go to
the stacks close your eyes and pick a book, etc. Sheila Dube was
the big winner with Sheila English and Marcia Goodwin close behind
her. It was fun!
Karen was able to cross off two blocks on her board with Popco by Scarlett Thomas and The Darwin Conspiracy by John
Darnton. Popco
was
unpredictable and she didn't know where it was going while she was
reading it but she didn't want it to end! It is a hybrid novel
including mystery and intrigue, surprises, codes, a little World War II
history, a little mathematics history, fresh characters who live in
today's world, and a cake recipe!
The Darwin Conspiracy
toggles back and forth between Charles Darwin and his family and a
couple of modern graduate students who discover archives that will
change the way the world looks at the the Voyage of the Beagle and the
origin of the theory of evolution.
Sheila Dube tackled How the Irish
Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the
Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe by Thomas
Cahill. This is a history selection providing insight into
how
real history is as we know it, especially the preservation of
intellectual culture. Although Sheila is not normally a history
buff, she enjoyed the writer's style and learned a tremendous amount of
unfamiliar facts concerning Christianity, philosophy and Irish history.
Sheila also recommends The Lighthouse
by P.D. James, as a good mystery along with Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale
which is a
slightly disturbing, utopian themed adult fiction novel.
Dawn read Beachcombing
for
a
Shipwrecked
God by Joe Coomer
which is a novel set in Portsmouth
NH and deals with three distinctly different women living together on a
boat docked at a pier. Other popular fiction titles read were A December Wedding by Anita
Shreeve, The
Sunflower by
Richard Paul Evans, Little Beauties
by Kim Addonizio and Night by
Elle Wiesel.
Dawn and Sheila also read a young adult novel that is now on their
favorites list called The Sacrifice
by Kathleen Benner Duble. This is a historical fiction
novel set
in Andover MA and is based on the author's own family events
during the turbulent Salem witch trial time period. It is a
realistic novel that brings to life the character of Abigail and her
family.
Marcia read a new science fiction novel called Necessary Begger by Susan Palwick
which tells of a family that is exiled to an unknown country through a
mysterious door when one family member is accused of
murder. Survival is the key as they struggle with language
barriers and customs unknown to them. This novel reminded Marcia
of the Newberry Award winner Kira
Kira by Cynthia Kadohata.
Marley
and Me by
John Grogan was a fun read and enjoyed by both Dawn and Sheila
English. Another Jodi Picoult novel, The Tenth Circle
has arrived at our
library and Dawn felt that this book lacked the surprise ending that
the author is known for. It is a novel set both in Bethel, Maine
and Bethel, Alaska and includes a graphic novel as part of the
plot.
Stop in to pick up one of these books!!
December 2005
As we end the year, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and
gratitude for all our wonderful patrons and all who have so generously
donated to our annual appeal. We wish you all a happy, healthy
and prosperous new year!
Karen ended the year with many interesting reads. One selection
was Green Grass
Running Water
by Thomas King which is a wild & funny Blackfoot love story
narrated in tandem with multiple versions of the Blackfoot creation
myth as told by Coyote and his four sidekicks (or is Coyote the
sidekick?) The style is fresh and the story is satisfying.
Purple
Hibiscus by
Chimimanda Ngozi Adiche is a little gem of a book that reminds
the
reader how people everywhere face the same problems but face them in
very different contexts. Set in Nigeria and beautifully written, it is
the story of a young girl struggling with the expectations of a cruel
father. Very readable, completely universal.
Permanent
Rose is
the latest children’s novel by British author Hilary McKay who has been
creating warm and quirky stories for 15 years. This book is
peopled with characters I would love to have as neighbors.
The
Fingersmith by
Sarah Waters is a period piece set in London with stock
characters,
illicit trades, and unexpected plots twists.
Marcia surprising enjoyed The Center
of Winter by Marya Hornbacher
which is a novel that deals with a
family tragedy. It is a dark novel but reads quickly and holds
the interest of the reader.
Dawn read the recently popular book A
Million
Little
Pieces by James Frey.
This
is
the
true
story
of
the authors recovery from alcohol and drug addiction beginning
with his enrollment in a Minnesota rehabilitation center after a two
week binge and black out. The vivid details will have the reader
cringing. James Frey also just released My Friend Leonard
which is
about one of the colorful characters that he met while in the
center.
Dawn also enjoyed a few short, holiday books appropriate for this time
of year. Comfort
and
Joy
by Kristen Hannah and The Christmas
Scrapbook: A Harmony Christmas by Philip Gulley were quick
reads which both have the traditional themes of holiday
celebrations.
As the long cold months of January and February loom, come visit the
library and pick one of these suggested books or browse our shelves for
other selections!
Happy 2006!
September 2005
The busy days of summer are over, and the new fall season is in full
swing. We hope everyone enjoyed their summer and came away with a
favorite "summer read."
Karen highly recommends Blink: The
Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.
This is a fascinating look at the human thinking processes. It is
some science, and also some anecdote on how we rapidly process
information in our brains. It delves into when we can trust those
"gut" instincts. It’s short and easy to absorb. Great book!
Mary's favorite summer read was Pocketful
of
Names by Joe Coomer.
This
story
is
set
on
an
island off Stonington, Maine where the author lives part of the
year. A very compelling and beautifully written story and Mary
describes it as her favorite book since The Kite Runner,
which has been a
very popular book here at the library and all across the U.S.
The Maine theme continues with Any
Bitter Thing by Monica Wood.
Dawn
LOVED
this
book,
also
written
by a Maine author, with a Maine setting. This is a
very touching and emotional story about the numerous jobs of parenting
and keeping families together. Religion plays a key role in this
novel with one of the main characters being a priest. All the
characters are very believable and the story moves along quickly… and
when the book ends, you still want more.
Sue enjoyed Lake
of Sorrows
by Erin Hart. She describes it as a poetic tale of love,
mystery
and myth set in the wilds of Ireland.
Sheila, our Children’s librarian, would like to thank everyone who
participated and helped out with the Summer Reading Program this year,
Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds. It was very, very successful!
One of her favorite reads this summer was Olive’s Ocean by Kevin
Henkes. This is a great novel that deals with the question
of
‘what if?’ and this book made her cry!!
Please visit us and also browse through our new basket by the
circulation desk with staff favorites. Also, let us know if you
visit our website. We would love to hear your comments.
Thanks!!
July 2005
We hope everyone is enjoying the summer and reading lots! We've
been busy here and are grateful to the many volunteers that helped with
our very successful book/yard sale! With all the activities of
summer, our staff has still managed to read quite an interesting
selection of books.
Karen suggests An
Instance of the
Fingerpost by Ian Pears,
a historical mystery set in
England. She also describes I
am Charlotte Simmons by Tom
Wolfe as an 'eye opener' (or
reminder) for a parent with a college bound child.
If Sherlock Holmes intrigue is your 'cup of tea', than the newest
installment of the Mary Russell
series by Laurie R. King called Locked Rooms is
for you. This
psychological thriller takes place in the early 1900's and centers
around the fire and earthquakes in San Francisco. The story stays
true to the characters developed in the series. Sheila just
finished reading it and now wants to read King's first book called The Bee Keeper's
Apprentice
again.
Also, being the children's librarian, Sheila has just finished Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince
by J. K. Rowling and found it as magical, suspenseful, gripping
and
dark as the other five! Springvale Public Library has 4
circulating copies. Come check one out!
Dawn read Raising
Hope a
first novel by Katie Willard which is set in NH and is about 12
year
old "Hope" who is being raised by her aunt and father's
ex-girlfriend. Sound confusing....?? A good story of
mothers and daughters and the bonds they share. Another recent
favorite she read is The Vagabonds
by Nicholas Delbanco which is a well written novel that provides
a
historical subplot inside a contemporary family drama. It deals
with an inheritance from the trio of 'vagabonds', Henry Ford, Harry
Firestone and Thomas Edison.
Dawn also revisited a few of the older, juvenile titles which included The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen
Cushman, Island
of
the
Blue
Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell and her daughter's favorite Tales of a Fourth Grade
Nothing by
Judy Blume. Fudge is still funny from an adult perspective!
Mary was on vacation over the holiday and recommends a few 'fun'
books! The theme of Mary's vacation was Provence and she read A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
which is a wonderful, humorous description of living in Provence from
the viewpoint of a transplanted English couple. She also enjoyed
a "Murder She Wrote" mystery
featuring Jessica Fletcher in Provence, To Die For,
and
Jaques
Pepin's autobiography The Apprentice.
She
is
currently
reading
the
book
group
selection,
His
Excellency,
George Washington
and is thoroughly enjoying Joe Coomer's brand new book, Pocketful of Names.
Sue enjoyed the new Janet Evanovich's
Eleven
on
Top which is a funny, outrageous, laugh-out-loud continuation
of Stephanie Plum's anitcs!
We hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Stop in to pick up one
of our staff selections!
April 2005
The staff has read quite an interesting mix in the last couple of
months!
Karen picked up the newly released novel from Mary Doria Russell A Thread of Grace
and was glad she
did! She describes it as a 'lyrically' written W.W.II novel set
in rural Italy, dealing with how the Italian people worked to save
Jewish refugees. She is anxious to read other novels by this
author. She also read Traveling
with
Che
Guevara:
The Making of a Revolutionary by Alberto
Granado.
Sue just got back from vacation in Florida where she relaxed on the
beach and read Lucky's
Lady
by Tami Hoag. A light read with suspense, romance and lots
of
cajun flavor. Other books recently read include Cold Science by Robert Parker and Saving Cascadia by John J. Nance.
Marcia suggests Amagansett,
by Mark Mills. She enjoyed this author's debut novel.
"Having coffee every morning with friends" is how Dawn described The Reading Group by Elizabeth
Noble. This novel deals with the issues of a group
of women
who belong to a reading group. They become fast friends despite
their differences in age, background, and situations. She also
read The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy by Douglas Adams,
a soon-to-be released feature film,
which has brought attention to this older book. Dawn's comment on
this selection was 'strange book'.
The Ha-Ha: A Novel by Dave
King was also enjoyed by Dawn and Karen. It is told from
the
perspective of a lonely man with a severe brain injury who is
challenged to broaden his world when he must take care of an 11 year
old boy.
Sheila Dube has been absorbed and quite busy with a Children's
Literature class she is taking right now. Her required reading
included Hatchet by Gary
Paulsen (If you like the reality show "Survivor", you may like
this
one.), Bridge
to
Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson, Morning Girl
by Michael Dorris, The Sign of the
Beaver by Elizabeth George
Speare, Number
the
Stars by Lois Lowery,
and Giants
in the Land by
Diana Appelbaum. The "Giants" in Giants in the Land are the white
pine trees that England harvested for ship masts before the revolution
in Maine. Sheila recommends this as a truly interesting
non-fiction book.
The
Kite Runner by
Khaled Hosseini continues to be a very popular book and is one
of
Mary's all-time favorites. She says that friendship, love,
loyalty, betrayal, survival, the relationship of fathers and sons --
all that and more are woven into this beautifully written first
novel. However, she didn't enjoy Bill
Bryson's
Neither
Here
Nor
There.
Unlike his book A
Walk in the Woods,
which
was
full of hilarious descriptions of his adventures and
misadventures along the Appalachian Trail, in Neither Here Nor There the author
seemed very disconnected from the people around him and left the reader
with little sense of the places he visited or how he was really
thinking and feeling as he traveled around Europe revisiting some of
the favorite spots of his youth.
Mary reports that Gerard Robichaud's
novel, Papa
Martel, was greatly
enjoyed by
the "Let's Talk About It" group this month -- and led to animated
discussion about the Franco-American experience here in Maine.
Another inspiring book that needs to be mentioned is Mountain beyond
Mountains: Healing the
World: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer by Tracy Kidder. This
book deals with one man's dedication to changing the health of the poor
in Haiti which has lead to innovations in health systems that treat
poverty and illness worldwide. Karen and Mary have both read this
book and it is the book choice for our own Springvale Public Library
Book Group. It should be an interesting and enlightening
discussion!
Please stop in to pick up one of these interesting reads!!
February 2005
Karen just finished a young adult fantasy by Nancy Farmer called Sea of Trolls,
and also Amagansett by Mark Mills which is a
mystery set in a post W.W.II fishing village on Long Island. She
is currently reading Aloft
by Chang-Rae Lee.
Marcia just finished Sharyn McCrumb's
St.
Dale, a book that deals with racing legends, and also Conviction by Richard North
Patterson. She rates this selection as a great read, which
makes
one think about 'how and who' gets the death penalty in the U.S.
Dawn and Sue read a new memoir by Jennifer Traig titled Devil in the
Details: Scenes from an
Obsessive Girlhood. In this book, the author
tells her story of growing up in the 70's and her struggle with OCD and
anorexia. This is NOT a textbook type book... reads more like a
novel with a humorous writing style. Laugh out loud at times.
Our Children's Librarian, Sheila, just finished the classic Charlotte's Web by E.B.
White, a Maine author, and found it just as enchanting as
an
adult as she did when she was a wee child. She suggests picking
up an old favorite or one of the many new children's books that we have
such as the adventure story Bartlett
and the City of Flames by Odo
Hirsch, which her nine-year old
son loved!
In addition to these, other titles read are The Giant's House: A
Romance by
Elizabeth McCracken, Daughter of
Persia: A Woman's Journey from her Father's Harem through the Islamic
Revolution by Sattareh
Farman-Farmaian and a recent
favorite for a few of us, The Kite
Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
All of these books are available right here at Springvale Public
Library!
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