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At Home - Bill Bryson (Doubleday)
Using his own home, an 1851 rectory in England, as a jumping off point, Bill Bryson focuses his immense curiosity and incomparable writing skills on every aspect of the home to explore the history of why we live how and where we live. In At Home, Bryson takes us from room to room – there’s even a chapter on stairs! – in this dynamic survey. You’ll want someone else in the room when you read it: it’s an “Oooh, let me read you just one more thing!” kind of book. (Avail. 10/5)
Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self – Danielle Evans (Riverhead)
The amazing range of these short stories is equaled by their depth, intensity, and tenderness. Black and biracial kids and adults grapple with issues of family, love, friendship, race, class, and identity. “Snakes,” one of the most remarkable stories, covers all of those as a biracial girl and her white cousin spend a summer with their troubled and troubling grandmother. The story gains breadth and impact with a look at the summer’s long-term repercussions.
All Other Nights – Dara Horn (W. W. Norton)
This riveting historical novel covers a lot of ground, and does it magnificently. Jacob Rappaport, who fled his wealthy family and an arranged marriage to join the Union Army, is recruited as a spy. His first task: kill his uncle, a Southerner involved in a plot to assassinate Lincoln. Including actual historical characters and events, the novel addresses questions of faith, loyalty, ethics, and duty – with a moving love story at its center.
Secret Daughter - Shilpi Somaya Gowda (William Morrow)
Unique in my experience, this engrossing novel gives equal weight to all three sides of an adoption triad: the couple in rural India who can’t afford to raise a daughter, the infertile couple in California (husband is an Indian national, wife is Caucasian) who adopt the child, and the adoptee herself. A fascinating exploration of life in two cultures and of what being part of a family means.
Stitches - David Small (Norton)
Who’d have thought that the fellow whose charming illustrations have graced so many picture books came from a background of horrific psychological (and medical) abuse? And who’d have thought that anyone could create a stunning, spellbinding graphic memoir, a true work of art, from this nightmare of a childhood? This magnificent book is disturbing, engrossing, and brilliant.
My Stroke of Insight - Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. (Plume)
When brain scientist Taylor experienced a massive stroke - and eventually recovered from it – she was uniquely equipped to understand and overcome what was happening in her brain. Her remarkable insights into how the brain works and how to deal with it when it doesn’t are fascinating. Her explanations of motor and language functions, personality, and the mind-body connection are enlightening and inspiring.
Invisible - Paul Auster (Henry Holt)
Invisible is set primarily in Manhattan and Paris in 1967, with excursions to other times and places. Told in variety of voices, the book shifts from first-person to third-, to second-, to first-, and so on. It plays with truth, memory, and delusion. Sound confusing? Not a bit. Auster pulls readers deeply into this mesmerizing, fluid novel and holds us tightly until the very end. And beyond.
Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son - Michael Chabon (HarperCollins)
Demonstrating his range, depth, intelligence, and tenderness, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Chabon takes us on a tour of contemporary maleness via his own life. It’s a fascinating complement and counterpoint to the wonderful Bad Mother, a tour of femaleness by his wife, Ayelet Waldman (see below). Both books are terrific reading group choices, and they’ll leave you feeling that Waldman and Chabon are your new - and smartest - best friends.
Americans in Space - Mary Mitchell (Thomas Dunne Books)
The “space” in this engaging and poignant novel is the one each character is adrift in: grief, adolescent angst, bewilderment, loneliness. Her husband’s sudden death leaves his young widow and their children unmoored. A high school counselor, Kate struggles to pull herself, her children, and the unwieldy and immensely likeable kids she counsels together. Marge, the next-door neighbor every single parent needs, provides a lifeline.
Bad Mother - Ayelet Waldman (Doubleday)
We’re inundated with images of what kind of mothers we’re supposed to be and, on the flip side, gleeful tabloid coverage of horrific mothering disasters. Waldman’s essays are startlingly frank, addressing issues in marriage and parenthood that most of us are uneasy talking about. Her insights range from laugh-out-loud funny to excruciatingly moving.
Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood -- Michael Lewis (W. W. Norton)
All parents harbor some ambivalence about parenthood -- fathers perhaps more than mothers -- but we’re conditioned to find our negative feelings unacceptable. Lewis (author of Moneyball) lets it all hang out. The feelings he describes, sometimes poignantly but mostly hilariously, are well nigh universal. This wonderful book is an eye-opener for any mother and a great gift for any father.
Songs for the Butcher’s Daughter - Peter Manseau
This fictional memoir of Itsik Malpesh, a 90-something immigrant Yiddish poet, and his 20-something Gentile translator will catch you up in a whirlwind of drama, pathos, love, poetry, and humor. At the heart of this wonderful novel is bashert, destiny, and the role it plays (or doesn’t) in the lives of Malpesh and Sasha Bimko, the butcher’s daughter, who saved his life at the moment of his birth and became his life-long muse.
The Soloist - Steve Lopez (Berkley)
L. A. Times writer Steve Lopez saw material for a column when he happened upon Nathaniel Ayers making beautiful music on a beat-up violin with only two strings. Ayers, afflicted by schizophrenia while a student at Juilliard, had spent decades living on the streets, surviving by and for music. Lopez found more than a column; he created a powerful, enduring friendship as he struggled to understand both Ayers’s talent and his disease, and worked tirelessly to provide meaningful help to his deeply troubled friend.
The Best of Ogden Nash - Ogden Nash; Linell Nash Smith, ed. (Ivan R. Dee)
It’s time – no, it’s past time – for a new generation to discover Ogden Nash. A supremely witty poet, Nash’s gift for wordplay coupled with trenchant observation is unmatched. Even folks who rarely read poetry will be seduced by Nash’s cleverness. Perhaps his most famous, or at least most quoted, poem is one of his shortest. Called “Reflections on Ice Breaking,” it runs thus: Candy/Is dandy/But liquor/Is quicker.
Not Becoming My Mother & Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way - Ruth Reichl (Penguin)
Her mother’s life was a painful example of everything she didn’t want her daughter to do or become. Only after her mother’s death did Reichl learn who her mother truly was and what she could have been. This deeply moving and eye-opening book should be required reading for all mothers and daughters.
My Little Red Book - Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, ed. (Twelve)
Every woman remembers her first period; few have talked, let alone written about it. Here’s an anthology of brief first-person, first-period stories by writers, some famous and many unknown, who range from teens to the elderly and who come from many traditions and cultures. A perfect gift for a tween or teen, but equally fascinating for any woman.
The Mighty Queens of Freeville - Amy Dickinson (Hyperion)
Make a pot of tea, pull up a chair, and prepare to have a good, long visit in a small house on Main Street with your new best friend. She’ll share her triumphs and tragedies told with gentle humor, unself-conscious wisdom, and a notable lack of self-pity or irony. Dickinson celebrates the remarkable, unobtrusive women in her family and honors their contributions to the quirky paths she’s followed.
Mixed - Angela Nissel (Villard)
The election of Barack Obama has focused a lot of attention on growing up biracial in this country. The daughter of a black mother and a white father, Angela Nissel has written an insightful and very funny memoir. Her youthful misunderstandings and missteps, and her adult take on her experiences and observations are both enlightening and entertaining.
The Given Day - Dennis Lehane (William Morrow)
This brilliant work of historical fiction, set in 1919 Boston, interweaves the story of Danny Coughlin, a white police officer; Luther Lawrence, a black handyman/ballplayer; and their families. Threading through the story are real historical figures (Babe Ruth, Calvin Coolidge, J. Edgar Hoover) and events (the end of World War I, the flu epidemic, anarchists perpetrating acts of terrorism). This terrific mix of fact and fiction will take your breath away.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows (Dial Press)
A great read for passionate booklovers! A used book ends up in the hands of a farmer on Guernsey, an island occupied by the Germans during the war. Intellectual curiosity leads him to write to the book’s previous owner, a London author. Set in 1946, this charming, engrossing, and enlightening novel is told through letters to and from the author, her publisher, the farmer, and many of Guernsey’s other residents. Though it’s a novel, the story of Guernsey’s occupation is real, dramatic, and largely unknown today.
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted -- Elizabeth Berg (Random House)
Every woman will find her friends, her mother, her daughter, her sisters, and herself in this collection of wonderful, vivid short stories. Funny, poignant, tender, the stories acknowledge women’s intense connections to food, family, and friendship, celebrating some small and not-so-small acts of defiance and rebellion that startle and delight the characters (and, maybe, the reader). Men: you should read these stories, too, especially if you love women or just don’t “get” them.
The Entertainer and the Dybbuk - Sid Fleischman (Greenwillow)
Newbery medalist Sid Fleischman has done the almost unthinkable: he’s written a gripping, moving book about bearing witness to the Holocaust that contains a generous sprinkling of wry humor. An American soldier who stays on in Europe after the war becomes possessed by a “dybbuk,” the spirit of a dead person. This dybbuk is a 13-year-old Holocaust victim determined to bring down the Nazi who killed him and so many others. An imaginative approach to this difficult, important theme.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - Mirjam Pressler (Front Street)
All her life 18-year-old Johanna has been told that she owes her comfortable, privileged life in a large German city to the upscale department store her grandfather founded and built up with his own hands. A school project leads her to interview a Holocaust survivor who reveals that the store, which belonged to the woman’s family, was appropriated by the Nazis and given to Johanna’s grandfather. This excellent, thought-provoking book will be the springboard for much intense soul-searching and discussion.
Listening Is an Act of Love - David Isay, ed.
The premise is simple: two people who know each other well in a recording booth, one interviewing the other about a special memory or event. The results are anything but simple: true stories of real people, deeply felt and tenderly, poignantly, and sometimes humorously expressed. The stories are fascinating; the human dynamics are profoundly moving.
Slam - Nick Hornby
Such an authentic teen voice, filled with longing, self-consciousness, bravado, and humor. Just shy of his 16th birthday and just beginning to pull his life together, Sam learns that he’s going to be a father. A passionate skateboarder, he turns as always to his Tony Hawk poster, which talks to him, for advice in grappling with the demands of his new life. This is one of the best young adult novels I’ve ever read.
Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale
Medieval Mongolia may strike you as an odd setting for a book that will capture teens’ imaginations and hearts, but this book is a real hit. Dashti, the narrator, must act with ingenuity, compassion, and bravery to save herself and the Lady she serves. This engrossing retelling of a little-known Grimm’s tale has it all – adventure, disguise, suspense, and romance!
The Groucho Letters: Letters from and to Groucho Marx - Groucho Marx
Hallelujah! I’m thrilled that this long-unavailable book has been reissued! For years – decades, really – this was my favorite book to give to anyone convalescing, depressed, or just out of sorts. Groucho was one of the great wits of the 20th century, and these letters, which cover a wide range of topics, could make a block of granite laugh.
The Lost: A Search for Six of the Six Million - Daniel Mendelsohn
It’s a mystery and a family saga and a Holocaust story. It’s one of the most extraordinary and powerful books I’ve ever read. From childhood, Mendelsohn knew only two things about his great uncle: that he resembles him so strikingly his elderly relatives cry when they see him, and that the uncle, his wife, and their four daughters were “killed by the Nazis.” He makes it his mission to learn both how they died and how they lived. The process takes him to Ukraine, Australia, Israel, Sweden, and Denmark, and you’ll feel compelled to stay with him every step of the way.
Starting Out Sideways - Mary E. Mitchell
Starting Out Sideways gives us characters who aren’t just three dimensional; by the book’s end we’ve added them to our circle of close friends and eccentric family members. Roseanne Plow, who works with developmentally disabled adults, must juggle her job, her Donna-Reed-as-drill-sergeant mother, and her grief at being dumped by her putz (her mother’s term) of a husband, all while coming to terms with a newly revealed family secret that profoundly challenges her sense of self. Both moving and funny, it’s a great choice for book groups – there’s much to digest and discuss.
Let Me Finish - Roger Angell
Angell is such a fine writer; he makes any subject fascinating. In these autobiographical essays, the subject – Angell’s life – is fascinating in and of itself. The essays touch on his many decades and extraordinary colleagues at The New Yorker magazine, his World War II experience, his amazing parents (including his stepfather, E.B. White), the roots of his love of baseball, even an ode to the martini. This book is a wonderful extended visit with one of the best writers of his generation.
Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite – June Casagrande
I was initially intrigued by Lynne Truss’s Eats, Shoots and Leaves. Alas, when I started to read it I found it didactic, prissy, and impractical – after all, it’s British; they punctuate differently. But I love language and, though I should probably be embarrassed to confess it, I’m eager to read a great book about grammar and punctuation. So much the better if it’s laugh-out-loud funny, which Grammar Snobs. . . most definitely is.
The Southpaw and Bang the Drum Slowly – Mark Harris
I’m going out on a limb here, but I think these two books are quite possibly the best baseball fiction ever written (Apologies to Ring Lardner.) They’re both written in the first person by Henry Wiggen, a pitcher for the New York Mammoths. With warmth and humor, they explore coming of age, finding one’s place in the world, and the passionate love of baseball. Read them in the above order.
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Set in England, this splendidly written novel focuses on class, maturity, and secrets. McEwan takes a sort of Roshomon approach, looking at a very specific moment from different points of view and at different points in time before, during, and after World War II. I was drawn into the book slowly, but once there I was riveted.
Understood Betsy - Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Although written in 1917, this book speaks powerfully and delightfully to today’s kids. Elizabeth Ann lives in a city with two elderly relatives who smother and indulge her. When one of them becomes ill, she’s sent to live in rural Vermont, where she’s called Betsy, given chores, and expected to stand on her own two feet. How she learns to do so makes a great story.
84, Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanf
In 1949, Helene Hanff, a New York City writer with eccentric literary taste, spotted a London bookseller’s ad in a magazine. She tentatively ordered some books, and thus began a marvelous 20-year, trans-Atlantic correspondence. This charming, moving collection of letters is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves books and/or England.
Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen -Julie Powell
Love to cook? Eat? Read? Laugh? A yes to any of those questions means read this book. On her 29th birthday, Julie Powell decided her life needed a new focus. She chose to cook her way through Julia Child’s classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking – all 524 recipes – by her 30th birthday. How she managed to do it without losing her job, her husband, or her sense of humor makes one hugely entertaining story.
My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
When Durrell was 10, his deliciously eccentric mother moved him and his three siblings from damp, chilly England to the Greek island of Corfu. A budding naturalist, he writes with contagious passion about Corfu’s flora and fauna. And he writes with warmth and great humor about the adventures of his highly idiosyncratic family – which includes his big brother Lawrence, author of the (to me, pompous and overwritten) Alexandria Quartet. I’ve reread My Family and Other Animals with delight every few years since I was 15.
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith – Anne Lamott
Okay, first you really should read Lamott’s earlier book, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. She’s the only writer I’ve read who can address issues of faith in a way people of all faiths – or no faith at all – can respond to. She’s not the least bit preachy or gooey. Her essays are insightful, poignant, startling, and laugh-out-loud funny by turns. She’ll become your new best friend. And then you’ll just have to read Plan B, so you can spend more wonderful time with her.
joan
The Spy - Clive Cussler & Justin Scott (Penguin)
Dirk Pitt has aged out - darn it, but Clive Cussler has found another worthy protagonist - Isaac Bell. It's 1906, an unnamed enemy is sabotaging America's plans for dreadnought battleships and murders and mayhem follow. This is the third book in the Isaac Bell series and it's a goodie!
Long for This World: The Strange Science of Immortality - Jonathan Weiner (Ecco)
Would you like to live to a really, REALLY ripe old age? Not just 100 but 200 or longer? It's not probable but it is possible. In spite of all the talk of DNA, free radicals, lysosomes and disposable somas this is a highly readable book. Is this the future? Maybe. But if one could live to be 1000 that brings up other complications. An intriguing treatise on the subject of aging.
Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre (Harmony Books)
World War II, a successful deception by the Allies, Nazi espionage and the corpse of a man who never was - the stuff of which great movies are made and it's a true story! The outcome of this scam was major in ending the war. A fine summer read!
The Imperfectionists – Tom Rachman (Dial Press)
Novels about the newspaper business always make me feel nostalgic and this one is a goodie! The "imperfectionists" all work for an international English language newspaper based in Rome, Italy. Over its fifty-year span and with the advent of the Internet, the newspaper slowly slides into oblivion. The varied and dissolute newsroom crew struggles to stay afloat in their private lives and uncertain future. I feel like I know a lot of these folks from way back when.
I Thought You Were Dead - Pete Nelson (Algonquin)
Stella is a great old dog! She's acquired a lot of human wisdom in her 16 years and communes with her master, Paul who's a mess. She's the one thing that's constant in his life. The title comes from what Stella thinks when Paul reappears after a short absence. A funny engaging story and with a great consoling chapter on how an old dog feels when she knows it's time for leave taking.
The Dead End Gene Pool - Wendy Burden (Gotham)
A lot of eccentric, serious drinkers in this blue-blooded family, descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Cousins married cousins back in the 1800's which was probably not a good idea. The great-great-great grandaughter of the founding father writes with wit and love of her quirky family, the Burdens. Between one thing or another- too much sense of entitlement, way too much liquor and those close cousin genes that got intermingled way back when, they lost their fortune but seemed to have a fine time anyway.
Heresy - S.J. Parris (Doubleday)
It's 1583 and the Inquisition is hot on the trail of Giordano Bruno. He's an Italian monk, philosopher and scientist and has advocated the theory of a heliocentric universe The Church deems it heresy. Giordano flees to England. He finds himself enmeshed in plots between Catholics and Protestants and things don't go well at all. Giordano was a real life person and this chapter in his life ends satisfactorily. But in real-life years later, he was burned at the stake. For readers of historical thrillers, this is a good one.
Americans in Paris - Charles Glass (Penguin)
There were 30,000 Americans living in Paris before WWII. In 1940 the Nazis occupied Paris and 5,000 of those Americans, for various reasons, stayed put. Some joined the Resistance, some collaborated and others were sent off to concentration camps. A horrifying tale of intrigue and heroism.
Citizens of London - Lynne Olson (Random House)
The citizens of London were three prominent Americans living in London who were instrumental in forging an alliance between Churchill and FDR (who really disliked each other) in the dark days just before World War II. A tantalizing look into the backgrounds of these three men, Edward R. Murrow, Averell Harriman and John Gilbert Winant who earned the undying love of the Brits in helping to shape the Allied war effort.
The Postmistress - Sarah Blake (Amy Einhorn Books)
Secrets in wartime are hard to keep. Some you want to hear and some you don’t. World War II is about to happen and small town America thinks it has nothing to do with them. This story of three women caught up in the indecisiveness and sorrows of a world on the verge of war makes for a sure bestseller and will be a great choice for book clubs.
Paris Under Water - Jeffrey H. Jackson (Palgrave Macmillan)
Great cities have endured floods throughout the centuries. In the soggy, wet winter of 1910 the Seine River inundated Paris. A timeless story of citizens struggling to save their city and each other - a largely forgotten piece of history.
The Monuments Men - Robert M. Edsel (Center Street)
An almost forgotten chapter in WW II history. The Nazis were looting museums and cathedrals for art treasures to be added to Hitler's private collection. Monuments Men were enlisted men, middle-aged and art experts in civilian life who were sent out to recover the pillaged artwork. Treasure troves were to be found in warehouses, old castles and caves. If you've ever wondered how cultural artifacts managed to survive the most destructive war in history, Edsel's book provides the answers.
The Looming Tower - Lawrence Wright (Knopf)
It got its start in Egypt in the 1940s when it was known as the Muslim Brotherhood. It was founded to reject the Western model of secular, democratic government and to impose universal Islamic rule. Over the years it morphed into what is now known as al-Qaeda, a radical form of Islam. A book that helps immeasurably to our understanding of events leading to 9/11.
Women, Work and the Art of Savoir Faire - Mireille Guiliano (Atria)
The author of French Women Don't Get Fat is the head of Veuve Clicquot champagne sales in the U.S. and offers sage advice on all aspects for a young woman wanting to move up the corporate ladder. It pays to look and act as though you know what you're doing. Gone are the days of the severe dark blue-skirted business suit and wanting to act like one of the guys. There's an art to it and it's all right here.
The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins (Mariner)
Richard Dawkins has done it again! Another book by the outspoken atheist and scientist rebutting the need for a belief in God. Theists are sure to be antagonized by this book and agnostics who are "sitting on the fence" may find Dawkins's logic unassailable. Worthwhile reading!
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much - Allison Hoover Bartlett (Riverhead Books)
There are those of us who love books and there are a few folks out there who obsess over them, collecting them by any means – rare books, especially. A true story of a thief who felt he was entitled to steal very expensive books, a rare book dealer who was fed up losing his inventory and a reporter who befriended them both. One could almost feel sympathy – but not quite – for this light-fingered fellow.
Late Edition - Bob Greene (St. Martins Press)
This is a love story about a man's nostalgia for the newspaper business as it was more than 40 years ago. It was a great time but also the beginning of the end for many daily newspapers. Bob Greene was a copy boy on the Columbus Dispatch in the 1960s and it was truly the "good old days." I was a copy girl on the Sarasota Herald Tribune during that era and I remember all the hard drinking newsmen (very few newswomen), the cigarette smoke, the clacking typewriters and the drama critic with the black velvet cape lined in red satin. It was a noisy newsroom full of characters and the book brought back a lot of memories.
Gourmet Rhapsody - Muriel Barbery (Europa Editions)
Pierre Arthens, the world's greatest food critic is dying. He has only a few days to live and is mulling over his past. He's been responsible for building and destroying reputations of some of the most renowned chefs. But his thoughts have turned to a singular flavor he can't quite remember, a flavor so marvelous that he will die happy if he can taste it one more time. Could it be scotch whiskey, orange sorbet, chouquettes, the perfect tomato? Mouthwatering descriptions permeate this book. I can tell you Pierre does die happy.
The Wet Nurse's Tale - Erica Eisdorfer (Putnam)
Back in the Victorian days Susan Rose was a wet nurse for upper class ladies who were unable or unwilling to breast feed their babies. She was adventurous, somewhat hefty (a big bosom was an asset) and she was promiscuous. No "bodice ripper" story here but a highly entertaining tale of trying to make a living in Victorian England.
Now & Then - Jacqueline Sheehan (Avon)
Time travel books are always a big attraction for me, especially when they involve a young woman from the present day being flung back into pre-famine Ireland. Toss in an Irish wolfhound, a handsome devil of an Irishman and a good dollop of Irish history and you have the makings of a great summer read.
Au Revoir to All That - Michael Steinberger (Bloomsbury)
French cuisine is not what it used to be. Their wines are in a decline and true Camembert cheese is in trouble. Much of the problem can be attributed to the restrictive economic policies of Mitterand and Chirac in the 1980s and 90s, and the 2008 recession didn't help at all. This is described as a book for "serious foodies.” I'm not in that category, but the history of good food and wine does it for me.
Idiot America - Charles P. Pierce (Doubleday)
To be intelligent or smart in America doesn't seem to be cutting it with the general public these days. Cranks used to be viewed as eccentrics outside the mainstream. Today, the author says, idiocy is the mainstream. If you're of the conservative bent you will need to keep an open mind while reading this book. But then again, there's the realization that more people voted for American Idol than voted in the presidential primaries. I found this to be a thought-provoking book.
The Monster of Florence - Douglas Preston (Grand Central Publishing)
Over the years in the mountainous areas around Florence, Italy young couples parked in lovers lanes have been brutally murdered. The author, an American who has a house in the area of one of the murders, becomes enmeshed in the investigation. Who is the culprit? The Sicilian Mafia, a local "village idiot" or maybe someone else? The case stretches over 20 some years and each time, the police are sure they have their man. A finely wrought story and a true murder mystery.
A Prayer for the Dying - Stewart O'Nan (Picador)
It's right after the Civil War and a diphtheria epidemic is wreaking havoc on a small Wisconsin community. A rather horrifying novel but so intense you can read it all in one sitting. Stewart O'Nan at his best.
Vanished Smile : The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa - R. A. Scotti (Knopf)
Who stole the Mona Lisa painting from the Louvre Museum way back in 1911? The world was shocked, headlines screamed and no one was above suspicion. A cast of colorful characters from an era before the start of World War 1.
Uranium - Tom Zoellner (Viking)
No scientific treatise here but a very readable history of the most common and deadly element on the earth's surface. Uranium smuggling, nuclear warheads, the arms race, skullduggery of all sorts- this is a good one!
Wicked Plants - Amy Stewart (Algonquin)
Just when you thought poison ivy and hemlock were the only plants you have to steer clear of along comes this book with lots more that can make you itch, violently ill or worse. Contains illustrations and stories of folks who didn't know enough to avoid them. Besides being a good reference , it's oddly entertaining.
About Face - Donna Leon (Atlantic Monthly Press)
The eighteenth in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series that deals with violent crimes and corruption in Venice. The illegal hauling of toxic materials, murder and the puzzle of a beautiful woman with a disfiguring facelift. I had never read any of the Guido Brunetti mysteries but this book inspires me to go back and read the other seventeen.
God is Not Great - Christopher Hitchens (Hachette)
Say what you will about religion- it does have its drawbacks. The author says it's manmade, repressive and immoral and reason tends to agree with that. Whether you're devout or a doubter, the book is food for thought. I'll read it again!
A Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick (Algonquin)
It's 1907 and in a snowy Wisconsin winter a wealthy middle-aged man with a sad and tumultuous past posts an ad asking for a "reliable wife." All he wants is a quiet respectable woman and what he gets is a beautiful young woman with an agenda of her own. Deceit, desire, treachery and the difficulties of escaping the past – I could hardly wait to see how this one ended.
The Women - T.C.Boyle (Penguin)
Frank Lloyd Wright was the greatest of American architects but he had a chaotic personal life mostly of his own choosing. The women in his life were many: wives and mistresses. He loved them all but I think most of all he loved Taliesin, his magnificent estate on Wisconsin and one of his architectural achievements. What a good book!
Sacco & Vanzetti - Bruce Watson (Penguin)
In 1920 Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants and anarchists, were accused of murder in a Massachusetts payroll robbery. In an era of anti-immigrant hysteria and red scares their conviction and eventual execution attracted world-wide attention. Were they victims of prejudice? The judge called them anarchist bastards and the jury was anxious to go home. Both sides of the case are presented here. But one is left with the feeling that capital punishment in this case was a horrible mistake.
Whiteout - Ken Follett (New American Library)
A truly frightening story you're bound to read all in one sitting. A massive snowstorm in Scotland, a missing canister of a deadly virus stolen from a lab, cell phones that aren't there when their owners need them. One awful thing after another happens to these poor folks. A great book to curl up with and keep warm!
Stalking Irish Madness - Patrick Tracey (Bantam Dell)
Of all European countries Ireland has had the highest prevalence of schizophrenia, which is referred to there as "madness." The disease, which appears to be hereditary, has stalked the author's Boston-Irish family for five generations. Tracey did some serious research in the old country looking for reasons why – the 1850 famine and Diaspora, malnutrition, older fathers? With Irish great grandparents, I found this book enlightening and oddly familiar.
The Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry (William Morrow)
A mysterious young woman who has trouble telling the truth, flashbacks to witch trials in Salem, MA and the suspected murders of two women in the present day make this book an engrossing summer read. All the puzzle pieces come together in quite an astonishing ending.
Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner (Scribner)
This was Cuba back in the day when Batista was just taking over and Fidel and Raul were up in the mountains plotting revolution. It was 1952 and Americans off cruise ships (my parents included) were living it up in Havana. The good times were not to last though. A very fine first novel of how American expats and business executives lived and lost a privileged life in Cuba.
The Outlander by Gil Adamson (Ecco)
The Outlander is a young wife who has just killed her abusive husband. It's 1903 and she is fleeing across the American West pursued by her two vengeful brothers-in-law. She encounters a host of dubious characters along the way and learns to survive the most unimaginable situations. This would make a great movie!
Sepulchre - Kate Mosse
A fine, scary tale of revenge, the occult and murder set in Carcassone, France. Over 500 pages here but very fast reading. What with tarot cards, haunted sepulchres and devil-like apparitions, I couldn't put the book down.
Merle's Door - Ted Kerasote
While on a camping trip, the author found Merle - or was it the other way around? It was the start of a great thirteen-year relationship. One learned from the other. It's less about "training" a dog to conform to one's wishes and more about understanding the nature of dogs. If you have a dog or dogs, this is the book to read.
In the Company of the Courtesan - Sarah Dunant
In Italy in 1521, Fiametta, a high priced courtesan and her dwarf companion, Bucino flee the sacking of Rome, leaving their lavish lifestyle behind. They head for Venice where an uncertain future awaits them. A bawdy tale of the beauty and nastiness of that era. A good read!
The World without Us - Alan Weisman
We're not taking very good care of the Earth and it would appear it could do very well without us if humans suddenly disappeared in some cataclysmic event. An astonishing and well-researched story of how man-made creations will crumble away and nature would take over. Makes one pause and think we've got to do things better here.
The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food - Judith Jones
Did you grow up on bland American food? I did and in the 1950's that was pretty standard. The author, an editor at Knopf Publishing back then (and still is) was a really good cook and knew American cuisine could use some jazzing up. Good friends with Julia Child, James Beard and others, she published their books and introduced the U.S. to a brand new world of food. And to think of all those years I wasted eating macaroni and cheese!
Loving Frank - Nancy Horan
One hundred years ago this was the "scandal of the season." Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect had left his wife and family and took off for Europe with the wife of one of his clients. She was Mamah Cheney, a truly remarkable woman and an early feminist who is seldom mentioned in books about Wright's life. An insight into the early life of a complex genius who I remember as a very old man.
Later, at the Bar - Rebecca Barry
There's a fictional bar in upstate NY that, with a little imagination, could be right here in Oswego. The regulars are an assorted lot that you can't help liking, hard drinking scoundrels that they are. A good summer read.
Luncheon of the Boating Party - Susan Vreeland
Imagine yourself in Paris in 1881 at the height of Impressionism. Auguste Renoir has asked you to pose along with 13 other of his bohemian friends for what will become one of his most famous paintings, "Luncheon of the Boating Party". What fun! This book takes you back into an era of hedonism and a wonderful world of art.
My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
As a 10 year old, the zoologist, Gerald Durrell spent a year on the island of Corfu. His eccentric English family-his brother was Lawrence Durrell of "Alexandria Quartet" fame- couldn't take another dreary English winter and headed south. A book to read on a dark winter' s day in Oswego. Images of Corfu with a hot sun, exotic flowers and the "critters" the budding zoologist loved to collect.
The Blue Pages-A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices (Polipoint Press)
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, this is a handy little book to take along when you go shopping – for anything! Each listing of 4,000 different companies has a paragraph describing political contributions, business practices, non-discrimination policies, etc. Some companies contribute heavily to a political party while others are more equitable. Interesting to see how your hard-earned cash is being spent by someone else.
Underground London/Travels Beneath the City Streets - Stephen Smith
The city of London has many wonderful attractions but beneath the pavement lurks a fascinating buried world of catacombs, underground rivers, plague pits and a medieval abbey whose remains lie buried under a large supermarket. Layers of history under a modern-day city – there’s more there than meets the eye.
The Story of Chicago May - Nuala O'Faolain
In 1890 a beautiful nineteen year old ran away from her farm home in County Longford, Ireland and headed for the United States. May Duignan became a prostitute, a bank robber and accomplice of some of the most notorious crooks of the 19th century. An entertaining story of a woman who lived life exactly as she wanted.
sarah
Forge - Laurie Halse Anderson (Atheneum)
Shortly after Isabel robs and leaves him, an angry and impulsive Curzon re-enters the army and is stationed at Valley Forge to wait out the winter. Through a traumatic series of events Curzon and Isabel are reunited; he's secretly happy, she's not-so-secretly bitter. As they battle the winter and their feelings toward each other they realize they still have a common goal, freedom. Forge, the anticipated sequel to Chains - yet another wonderful work of historical fiction, we know why you're a National Book Award Finalist, Laurie! (Avail. 10/19). Booksigning with Laurie on November 23rd!
The Passage - Justin Cronin (Ballantine)
Set in ‘the future’ The Passage is yet another vampire book . . . but SO much more! This book has something for everyone; an amazing cast of characters, constant action, and a plot that sucks you in! I was immediately transported into a world that feared the night, struggled to preserve mankind, and yet ironically a place with an immense amount of hope. Easily the best combination of writing, coupled with the most brilliant story that I have EVER read.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson (Simon & Schuster)
Both Amy and Roger have their share of secrets, more appropriately...issues. When forced on a cross-country road trip, each party is equally thrilled (not). But things start to go haywire when the decision is made to stray from the preplanned route. Through hometown diners, meeting friends in low places, and spending tons of hours in the car with nothing else to do, this dynamic duo becomes friends. Their adventure is so incredibly appealing that you never want it to end!
Numbers - Rachel Ward (Chicken House)
Jem has a "special power" when she looks into someone's eyes. She sees 8 digits, these numbers have altered her life forever. They represent the exact date of a person's death; she's proven this many times, including 10102001 the day her mother died. It's easy to imagine why Jem avoids human contact whenever possible. But her world is tipped upside down when she meets Spider, a quirky outsider much like herself. Despite the fact that his number is just three months away, Jem befriends him, something she has never done before. This story will make you root for the underdogs the entire time!
Master of None - Sonya Bateman (Pocket Books)
An action packed sci-fi thriller with a new supernatural creature called a djinn, or modern day form of a genie. Gavin Donatti is the world's unluckiest thief, his partners often die while with him and he even manages to lose a high-price item he stole for his cut throat (literally) boss. With death on his doorstep Donatti is saved by Ian, his very own djinn. Donatti is opened up to a whole new world as he and Ian try to fight off Donatti's evil boss, including the potential forces of evil invading Donatti's boss's body!
After - Amy Efaw (Viking)
Devon has it all; she's smart, attractive, and the school's soccer star. But she's hiding a secret from everyone close to her, but is it really hiding when she refuses to accept it herself? Either way the baby came and Devon's mind told her to keep it hidden, apparently the dumpster was the only place available. Efaw has the unique ability to make the reader sympathize with Devon, essentially a murderer. (The ending, made my jaw hit the floor!)
Along for the Ride – Sarah Dessen (Viking)
When Auden's parents divorced she was forced to grow up and throw away her childhood. She threw herself into her schoolwork, distanced herself from her friends and never really enjoyed life. This summer everything will change when she decides to spend it with her father and stepmother at the beach. For the first time she has genuine friends, she falls in love, and she has her heart broken in more ways than she thought possible. With summer upon us, Along for the Ride is the perfect companion for a day at the beach!
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare (Thorndike)
Clary Fray thought she was an average teenager with a loyal best friend and an overbearing single mother who loves her dearly. But everything changes when her mother suddenly goes missing and she is thrust into a world of demons and witchcraft, one that she never knew existed. With the help of her best friend Simon and some new friends she's met along the way, Clary frantically searches for her mother. . . all the while learning secrets about her past she could never have imagined. This one is perfect for Twilight lovers, or anyone who loves a good sci-fi thriller!
Boy Toy – Barry Lyga (Graphia)
Imagine how it would feel to have an embarrassing secret that your entire town knew about. Enter Joshua Mendel, and this is his reality. He's learned to avoid eye contact in the hallways and to defend his ego with his fists. He has no choice but to get straight A's; it's his only way out of town, and when it comes to relationships, well they ended when he was 12. This is what Josh's life has become thanks to his history teacher. Now, are you dying to know his secret? Read Boy Toy to find out!
If I Stay - Gayle Forman (Dutton)
If I Stay explores how the choices we make impact the people we love. Mia is faced with the ultimate choice, to stay or to go. It seems simple enough but in reality it will affect many important people in her life. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about Mia's life - her family and friends, her hobbies and talents and her experiences. Once you get hooked on every aspect of her life, you get wrenched back to her choice, should she stay or should she go. What will she decide?
Two-Way Street - Lauren Barnholdt (Simon Pulse)
Two-Way Street is a typical teen novel; boy meets girl, girl falls in love, boy dumps girl...but there's a twist. Boy is still in love with girl. Jordan and Courtney embark on a road-trip to college (that was planed before the break up of course) bitter, hurt and a little bit confused. As anticipated it goes anything but smoothly. Hilariously told through both view points Two-Way Street is a must read YA novel!
Marley & Me- John Grogan (HarperCollins)
From the second paragraph I knew I was going to love this book! John Grogan's writing style will pull you in and have you hooked from the get-go. No sooner had I fallen in love with the book that I fell in love with Marley. The sweet, rambunctious, lovable, and certainly gigantic Marley has a way of pulling your heartstrings, even when he's destroying the house! You definitely don't have to be a dog lover to love Marley and the Grogan family!
The Choice - Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing)
In this lovely romance novel, Sparks walks you through the lives of Travis and Gabby; how they met, their first kiss, everything they experience in their new relationship. So of course we get to see their hardships as well. In the end it all comes down to a choice, simply life or death, and how far should one go in the name of love?
Impossible – Nancy Werlin (Dial Books)
Lucy Scarborough is cursed; when she turns eighteen, she will become pregnant, and when the baby comes, she will go insane. The only way to break the curse is to crack the puzzle in the folk song, Scarborough Fair. Lucy has to complete these tasks during the nine months of her pregnancy. Thankfully, Lucy has something her ancestors before her didn't, a husband. Will Lucy solve the riddle in time or will it all be in vain?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (MTV)
The title said is best, Charlie is a wallflower, he watches people and the way they act. When his teacher encourages him to ‘participate' in high school he realizes how emotional the real world can be. He slowly uncovers the reasons why he became a wallflower in the first place through his letters to a friend. This incredibly raw novel will make you laugh and may even make you cry.
Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult (Simon & Schuster)
Told from a variety of viewpoints, Picoult expertly explains the details of a high school shooting in Sterling, New Hampshire. She switches from past to present, male to female, and young to old narrators effortlessly. Incredibly emotional and with a surprise ending that I definitely didn't see coming, you will certainly have trouble putting this book down!
Pants on Fire - Meg Cabot (HarperTeen)
Katie Ellison has the perfect life; her boyfriend is an all star on the Quahog football team, she has an awesome job, and popular friends. So why does she find herself lying about everything? When Tommy Sullivan comes back to town for the first time in four years, Katie starts lying more than ever. One thing can be counted on; however, with the appearance of Tom, Katie's life will never be the same...
What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know - Sonya Sones (Simon & Schuster)
Robin Murphy is probably the biggest loser his town has ever seen. But for some reason Murphy cannot explain that Sophie Stein is his girlfriend. She's given up her popularity for him, and he doesn't think he's worth it. But when he enters an advance art class, Murphy realizes that he can be anyone he wants to be. The college kids don't know what a "Murphy" is, they actually like Robin for Robin. The feeling of belonging is so precious that he'll go to great lengths to preserve it.
Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher (Penguin)
Before Hannah Baker kills herself, she records 13 cassette tapes, about 13 different people, explaining 13 reasons why she committed suicide. This book gives a firsthand look at the underlying reasons why people take their own lives. It makes you rethink the way you interact with peers. You may be making a bigger impact than you thought.
Identical - Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster)
A very troubling novel, identical twins Kaeleigh and Raeanne have a troubling life. Their mother is always gone so their father turns his ‘love' on Kaeleigh. Raeanne just wants half of her father's attention; when he doesn't acknowledge her she turns to sex and drugs. With a twisted ending, this book gives a scary look behind the curtains of the picture perfect American family.
The Other Boleyn Girl – Philippa Gregory (Touchstone)
Mary and Anne are the prized ‘Boleyn Girls,.’ They are beautiful, well educated, and come from a family on the rise in the English court, the Howard's. When Mary catches the wandering eye of King Henry VIII, the Howard's seize the opportunity to have one of their own become the King's mistress. When Mary is pregnant with Henry's second child, her sister Anne becomes the center of the King's world. Join both the Boleyn girls as Anne's desire for the Queen's throne turns deadly, in more ways than one.
You Know Where to Find Me – Rachel Cohn (Simon & Schuster)
Miles wouldn't consider herself to be anyone particularly special but she was ‘known' by association. Laura, her cousin and best friend since they were born, is popular, nice, beautiful, and basically perfect. But Miles knows Laura is not perfect; she has her demons like everyone else. When Laura commits suicide Miles has given up. For her, life is no longer worth living. She falls into a prescription drug haze. Will a near-death experience wake her up and make her start living her life or will it be too late?
Skin Deep - E.M. Crane (Delacorte)
Andrea Anderson has accepted the fact that she will finish her high school career as a Nobody. In her classes she seems to be invisible and at home she endures the wrath of her mother. Andrea's entire outlook on life is flipped upside down when she takes a job caring for Mrs. Menapace, her sick neighbor. What she thought would be an easy summer job turned into an experience that would change her life.
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown)
Bella Swan moved to the middle of no-where Forks, Washington to live with her father for her senior year of high school. She was an instant celebrity upon her arrival; however, instead of her newfound popularity, the only thing Bella desires is Edward Cullen. Through incredible determination, Bella works her way into Edward's life. She discovers that he is a one-hundred-year-old vampire who cannot resist her blood. Meyer provides pure emotion and a suspense-filled plot that leaves you wanting more; thankfully she wrote a sequel...
Crank - Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster)
On a trip to visit her absent father, Kristina meets Adam, the drop dead gorgeous next-door neighbor. At a party, Adam introduces her to a "friend" named ‘the monster' also nicknamed "Crank." Kristina forms an alter ego -Bree- when under the monster's spell. Bree is outgoing, fun, and worst of all, best friends with the monster. In a few short days she changes from an A-plus student into a crank (drug) addict juggling two boyfriends and throwing her life away. Written in ‘verse' or poems, Hopkins vividly describes the way drugs quickly take over one’s life and ruin it.
nikole
Dead Beautiful – Yvonne Woon – Hyperion Books
Renée’s sixteenth birthday turns out to be anything but sweet when she discovers her parents dead in the woods. Their deaths are both deemed heart attacks, a diagnosis that isn’t giving Renée any closure. To make matters worse, Renée’s grandfather and new guardian has decided to send her to a new school, across the country. Things start to look up when Renée meets Dante, a gorgeous and mysterious boy who seems to have taken an interest in her, but she can’t help but feel that Dante is hiding something. Could Dante’s secret be connected to all of the mysteries that Gottfried Academy holds? Renée is determined to find out in this intriguing and clever novel. (Avail. 9/21)
Linger – Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press)
Stiefvater doesn’t disappoint in her engaging sequel to Shiver. Now that Sam and Grace are together without the fear of Sam shifting into a wolf, you’d think there aren’t too many problems left to be solved in Linger…wrong! If anything, Sam and Grace face more trials than they did in the first book. This time Stiefvater alternates from four points of view instead of two, which I loved. By the time you’re done reading this you’ll feel personally invested in the story… so what’re you waiting for? Read it!
Halo – Alexandra Adornetto (Feiwel & Friends)
Seventeen-year-old Adornetto’s American debut is simply wonderful. She has created an entrancing story in which three angels come to Earth to help spread goodwill in any way they can. When Bethany, the youngest of the three, falls for Xavier, a human boy, all hell breaks loose . . . literally. The story of Beth and Xavier’s fight to stay together against all odds is incredibly well written and intensely romantic, which makes Halo a must read regardless of faith or age.
The Candidates – Inara Scott (Hyperion)
Every time someone Dancia Lewis cares about is threatened, a power is unleashed inside; things happen that allow her to come to the rescue. She has tried throughout her life to hide these occurrences, but when she saves her grandma from a gunman at the hospital, Dancia catches the attention of the prestigious Delcroix Academy. Her experience at Delcroix is a rollercoaster ride, as she goes from the highs of being friends with Cam, the cute student body president, to the lows of listening to the mysterious Jack’s dark theories about the school. Dancia can’t help but agree that something isn’t quite right about Delcroix…. But what’s really going on behind the school’s gates?
The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove – Lauren Kate (Razorbill)
Natalie Hargrove would do anything to ensure that she and her boyfriend Mike become Palmetto’s prince and princess. When she learns that Mike’s lack of effort for their campaign could lead to her arch enemy Justin beating him for prince, Natalie decides that something must be done. She convinces Mike to help her play a prank on Justin. . . a prank that results in Justin’s accidental death. There’s no limit to how far Natalie will go to make sure that no one connects her and Mike to Justin’s death. Could this accident end up costing Natalie more than the Palmetto crown?
Wings – Aprilynne Pike (Harper Teen)
If you loved the Twilight Saga and are looking for something new to read, you should definitely check out this book. Laurel appears to be your average teenage girl . . . that is until a huge flower blooms from her back. With the help of her new friend David, Laurel struggles to cope with the fact that she’s actually a highly evolved plant; a faerie to be more specific. You won’t be able to put down Laurel’s whirlwind adventure as she deals with some not so friendly neighborhood trolls and tries to sort out her feelings for human David and faerie Tamani.
Spells – Aprilynne Pike (Harper Teen)
Aprilynne Pike doesn’t disappoint in her sequel to Wings. In Spells, the reader once again joins Laurel, this time six months after the story from the first book. She’s officially dating David now, but Tamani is never far from her thoughts. When she’s summoned to Avalon to attend the Academy, avoiding Tamani becomes impossible. As hard as Laurel has tried to keep her faerie life separate from her human one, she knows that it’s no longer possible. She has to make a decision that will break her heart, and it doesn’t help that no matter which way she turns, the trolls are waiting for revenge.
Torment – Lauren Kate (Delacorte Press)
Luce, Daniel, Cam, and all of your favorite characters are back in this stunning sequel to Fallen. For her own safety, Luce has been enrolled in Shoreline, a California school that is home to half-angels called Nephilim. She faces many ups and downs as she tries to get to the bottom of the mysteries hidden in her past lives. No one seems willing to fill Luce in on the important and dangerous battles being waged around her – especially not Daniel, who has left Luce at Shoreline with limited explanation. Torment is a wild, unpredictable, and all around fantastic read.
Fallen – Lauren Kate (Delacorte Press)
When Luce is sentenced to reform school after a deadly and mysterious fire, she thinks her life is over. This notion is only confirmed when she finds out that she isn’t allowed to have a cell phone, she must wear black every day, and there are cameras watching her every move. But when Luce sees Daniel, even from a distance, all of that changes. She has a nagging suspicion that this isn’t the first time she’s met Daniel, but she can’t find a way to prove it. Luce’s adventure as she tries to unlock the secrets surrounding Daniel and resist the temptation presented by the gorgeous punk rocker Cam is enthralling and addictive.
My Soul to Save – Rachel Vincent (Harlequin)
Kaylie may appear to be your average teenage girl, but she’s a banshee. This means that whenever someone dies she has the potential to hold their soul in the air with her scream and save the person’s life . . . for a price. When Kaylie finds out about a plot that is leading innocent teen stars to sell their souls for fame and fortune, she knows that she needs to do something. Will one banshee, her boyfriend, and his grim reaper brother be able to stop this plan before it’s too late?
Something Like Fate – Susane Colasanti (Viking)
Lani swears by horoscopes, wants to save the planet, and believes in soul mates. Erin has been Lani’s best friend since she saved her life when they were ten. Jason is Erin’s new boyfriend, and no matter how much Lani tries to deny it, it’s pretty obvious that she has fallen for him too. Lani seems to have a lot more in common with Jason than Erin does, and when Erin goes away for the summer it seems like fate is pushing Lani and Jason together. Colasanti does a great job with this novel about friendship, betrayal, and true love.
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead - Julie Anne Peters (Hyperion Books)
This book is a must read for anyone who read Thirteen Reasons Why, despite how you may have felt about it. Peters’ take on the issue of suicide through the eyes of Daelyn, a lifetime victim of bullying, makes for a novel that can’t be ignored. Tortured by her peers throughout her life, Daelyn has already attempted suicide once; this time she’s determined to get it right. When Santana, a goofy, seemingly carefree boy, inserts himself into her life, you’ll be on the edge of your seat as you wait to see if he’s too late to save Daelyn from herself.
The Everafter - Amy Huntley (HarperCollins)
Maddy is dead. She can’t remember exactly how she came to be in the strange in-between world that she calls Is, but she knows for certain that she died. Dying took away more of her memories than simply how it happened, but luckily all of the objects that she lost during her life are in Is as well. Will these mysterious objects eventually lead Maddy to the answer she’s looking for – how she died? The Everafter is a haunting yet hopeful story of life and growing up, and the things that even death can’t end.
Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin (Square Fish)
Everyone wonders what will happen when they die. Some believe in reincarnation, some heaven and hell, but no one comes close to the answer Zevin offers in this beautiful, uplifting novel. Elsewhere is the place fifteen-year-old Liz ends up when she dies. You join her as she ages backwards in a world much like Earth, until she becomes a baby and is ready to be sent back to life. Between talking dogs and afterlife romance, this book will definitely put a smile on your face.
Everlost - Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster)
When Nick and Allie end up in the unlucky seats of a devastating car accident, their deaths are just the beginning of their adventures. They end up in Everlost, a world that is in-between life and death. Nick and Allie aren’t ready to accept their untimely fates, and this will send them on a quest to somehow find a way back to life. However, the longer they’re in Everlost, the more they forget about the life they left behind. Will they be able to find their way back to life, or will they be forced to accept their fate? You’ll have to read this creative and interesting book to find out.
Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature - Robin Brande (Knopf)
Mena’s school year isn’t off to the best start. She’s been exiled from her group of friends, and even her parents won’t talk to her. When she is made Casey’s lab partner, her days begin to take a turn for the better, that is, until her science class begins its unit on evolution. You follow Mena as she begins to discover that sometimes the right thing to do is also the hardest.
The Poison Diaries - Maryrose Wood (Harper Collins) on sale 8/10
Jessamine Luxton led a secluded, somewhat lonely life in a garden surrounded cottage with only her research obsessed father for company… that is, until Weed arrived. Jessamine is mesmerized by the strange, quiet boy’s emerald green eyes, and as she works to bring him out of his shell, it isn’t long before they fall in love. When Jessamine becomes suddenly and mysteriously ill, Weed will do anything to find a cure to save her, including using his secret power to communicate with plants. The Poison Diaries is a story of loyalties, love, and the questionable things that motivate us all.
The Sky is Everywhere – Jandy Nelson (Dial Books)
A heart wrenching tale of a girl who loses her sister, with whom she had a deep bond. Lennie is heartbroken at Bailey’s death, and her incredible grief will touch anyone who picks up this book. However, Nelson succeeds in making this tale uplifting and humorous through great characters. And Lennie’s newfound love life throws a wrench of its own into the story. You’ll watch Lennie grow up, as well as out of the shadow that her sister left behind. Enjoy it every step of the way.
Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver (HarperCollins) on sale 3/10
When Sam Kingston woke up on February 12th, she thought it would be a day like any other. Little did she know that it would be the last day of her life… well, sort of. After Sam dies in a car accident that night, she wakes up the next day. However, it’s still February 12th. Sam soon comes to realize that she keeps reliving the day she died, though she can change what happened. Somehow, she has to find a way to break out of the cycle in order to finally move on. Oliver does an incredible job of making one day into seven, without it feeling repetitive. Every teenage girl will be able to connect to this hopeful book.
The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting (HarperCollins) on sale 3/10
The Body Finder is the intriguing story of Violet Ambrose, a high school junior who thinks the biggest challenge of the school year will be figuring out her new feelings for her best friend since childhood. But when a serial killer comes to town, Violet suddenly has much more important things to worry about, including discovering the bodies left in the killer’s wake. She thinks she knows how to stop these murders - but at what cost?
Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins (Disney Hyperion) on sale 3/10
Sophie is a witch who has a little problem with using her magic conspicuously, and each time she does, she’s forced to move. She’s currently working on State #19 when she casts a love spell that goes terribly wrong. This is the last straw; she’s sentenced to Hecate Hall, a juvee version of Hogwarts. Between her impossible crush on a gorgeous warlock and the mysterious attacks on other students, Sophie’s adventures at her new school will keep you captivated. Hawkins’ hilarious sarcasm kept me laughing through the entire book, despite the darker twists it can take. And twist it does, again and again until there’s no way you can see what’s coming next until it smacks you in the face.
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
Anyone who loved The Hunger Games won’t be disappointed with Catching Fire, the next installment in the series. Collins brings back all of your favorite characters and introduces some great new ones. Just like the first book, there isn’t a dull moment as you follow Katniss through her next adventures. The book is filled with suspense, action and of course the heartbreaking romance that we enjoyed in the first novel; you won’t be able to put it down.
Fear the Worst - Linwood Barclay (Bantam)
When Tim’s daughter, Sydney, doesn’t return home from work, it’s every parents’ worst nightmare come true. You don’t need to be a parent to feel the fear that Tim does as he searches for answers in the mystery of his daughter’s disappearance. This suspenseful novel will keep you guessing right up until the end as you follow Tim on his mission to get his daughter back, no matter what.
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (Little Brown & Co)
Susie Salmon’s story begins with her death, when she’s murdered at the age of 14. Sebold’s use of Susie’s point of view from heaven makes her story all the more intriguing, as the reader watches along with Susie as her family tries to cope with the mystery of her death. Despite the low note at the beginning, Sebold succeeds in creating a hopeful story that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane (Harper)
When U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels is called to Shutter Island to help investigate a patient gone missing, he and his partner, Chuck, start to wonder if the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane holds more than meets the eye. The deeper Teddy gets into the mysteries of Shutter Island, the further the reader delves into his past and his head. Lehane captivates the reader from start to finish, with an ending you won’t believe.
emil
Talk Thai: The Adventures of Buddhist Boy - Ira Sukrungruang (U of Missouri)
Talk Thai is the illuminating coming-of-age tale of our young hero, Ira, born to Thai émigrés and growing up in the landscape of 1980s Chicago. In his first memoir, Ira Sukrungruang weaves superhero fantasy, urban reality, and zen simplicity into a story that examines the question every boy asks: what is it to be man? Through a lighthearted lens, we watch Ira balance the Thai traditions of his parents with the modern American life of his peers. As a humble narrator, young Ira takes his first awkward steps toward maturity, all the while juggling life, love, religion, and even golf.
Less Than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis (Vintage)
Less Than Zero is a whirlwind tale of decadence that reminds me why Los Angeles gave me such an unsettling feeling during my short stay there. Behind the facades of the mansions that overlook endless urban sprawl, Ellis' children of equally unlimited wealth and privilege live
like spoiled royalty. Our narrator, Clay, observes the disturbing facets of this lifestyle and may not be ready to pursue it any longer.
Slanted & Enchanted - Kaya Oakes (Henry Holt & Co.)
What is “indie”? This helpful primer by a longtime member of the independent arts and music scene in the US answers the question succinctly and fairly. In its straightforward chronology, the book reads like a lengthy term paper, albeit an insightful one. Oakes succeeds in placing indie culture within (and without) a more popular context as she shows how fringe, ephemera, and DIY have flirted for good or for ill with more mainstream art.
No One Belongs Here More Than You - Miranda July (Scribner)
In an often charming, yet sometimes unsettling series of vignettes, Miranda July approaches sexuality with innocence and imagination, in a voice that is uniquely her own. She speaks through a variety of fictional characters, all striving to make some kind of sense of their sensual and spiritual lives, though it is difficult not to see each one as a character the auteur might play in one of her own short films. For this reason, No One Belongs Here More Than You makes an excellent companion read for fans of July’s full-length film, Me and You and Everyone We Know.
Ham on Rye - Charles Bukowski (Ecco press)
Ham on Rye is a fulfilling introduction to the world of Charles Bukowski, through the eyes of his own largely autobiographical anti-hero, Henry Chinaski. Chinaski, who appears in many of Bukowski’s stories, recounts everything from the unassuming innocence of his earliest childhood memories to his visits to skid row during his college years. Everything that happens in between gives the reader some insight into Chinaski’s (and thus Bukowski’s) disdain for the status quo of the human race, as well as his fondness for women and wine.
Killing Yourself to Live - Chuck Klosterman (Scribner)
In his own attempt at a road-travel memoir, the savvy and sardonic Chuck Klosterman takes us on a journey through his record collection, his love affairs, and a large chunk of the US Interstate Highway system. Using the sites of famous rock star deaths as pinpoints on his roadmap, Klosterman weaves bits of rock history with his own musings on mortality and relationships, even going so far as to explain how his entire history of girlfriends could be compared to the discography of Kiss. While his trademark wit and pop-culture critiques are usually riding shotgun, they sometimes take the proverbial back seat, in favor of a more sincere and – dare I say – romantic side of the acclaimed rock music journalist.
alex
The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan (Hyperion)
Set within Rick Riordan’s ever-expanding universe of myths made real, The Red Pyramid is the first book in the Egyptian themed “Kane Chronicles,” a new series that revolves around the children of the world’s greatest Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. As Sadie and Carter start to learn of their royal heritage, evil powers emerge, beginning a race against time to save their father. Fans of the “Percy Jackson” series may find it refreshing that Riordan hasn’t rehashed the same plots, nor has he abandoned the Olympians, adding new depth to his literary pantheon.
First Contact: Or, It's Later Than You Think - Evan Mandery (Harper)
How do you think you would react if we made contact with an extraterrestrial civilization tomorrow? Well, how would you feel if they looked just like us? Though this common story element has been used countless times before, Evan Mandery has spun a refreshing new yarn with it in First Contact: Or, It’s Later Than You Think. Ralph Bailey, errand boy to a bungling president, serves as the admirable protagonist. Mandery toes the line between surreal and just plain campy.
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow (Tor)
When Marcus Yallow, friendly teenaged hacker – username “w1n5t0n” (oh yes, Doctorow loves Orwell) – is trapped in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in San Francisco, his whole perception of reality becomes warped. Doctorow has done a terrific job putting the reader in the techie’s shoes. It felt like a quick read to me, about which I had conflicted feelings. One one hand, I wanted more of the story, since Doctorow had done such a bang-up job wanting me to connect with Marcus and his plight. On the other hand, it was short enough not to overstay its welcome. Had Doctorow decided to extend the story by one-hundred pages, I highly doubt it would have packed as much punch as it did.
Horns – Joe Hill (William Morrow & Co)
When Ig Perrish’s sweetheart is brutally attacked and killed, his world is turned upside down. Even worse, he’s the prime suspect! One year later, he’s still wallowing in booze and self-pity. After one particularly late night, he wakes up with horns protruding from his skull and some unholy powers, which he vows to use in order to find the killer. Those unfamiliar with Hill may find it worthy of note that he is one of Stephen King’s sons. The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree!
Watchmen – Alan Moore (DC Comics)
Taking place in a dystopian alternate version of Cold War era America, Watchmen revolves around an assortment of superhero vigilantes, both active and retired, and the effects they have on the world around them. Partnering with artist Dave Gibbons, Alan Moore provides the novel portion of this graphic novel; neither disappoints to deliver the goods. Moore weaves together rich storytelling and detailed characterization, with Gibbons’ incredibly evocative illustrations, which come together to give the reader a full sensation of being a part of the story. Don’t let the comic book style panache put you off; the questions that Watchmen brings up are far from juvenile.
Blasphemy – Douglas Preston (Forge)
Douglas Preston has done it again! By weaving together obscure- nearly bordering on the pseudoscientific- topics with fast paced action & great characterization, Preston has created another terrific techno-thriller. Impact is the third book to feature Wyman Ford, an ex-CIA agent & Benedictine monk turned freelancer, who was last featured in the bestselling Blasphemy. Ford, in his latest adventure, has been contracted by the U.S. government to find the source of strange, but captivating, gemstones called “honies.” As Wyman races to solve the puzzle, he soon realizes that he is in a race against the clock to not only save himself, but the very Earth itself.
The Forever War - Joe Haldeman (St. Martin's Griffin)
“Home”: a word that connotes feelings of belonging and comfort. Unfortunately, for recently conscripted William Mandella, he may never return to it. Part of a mandatory draft, he has been ripped from his life on Earth to fight offworld, against an unknown foe. Taken at face value, The Forever War is a remarkable work of science fiction, in addition to being very poignant allegory to the Vietnam War, showing the horrors of a war fought in an alien environment against an unfathomable enemy, as well as the shock of returning to a very different home.
julie
Hygiene and the Assassin – Amélie Nothomb (Europa Editions)
Prétextat Tach, a celebrated and reclusive Nobel laureate, is about to die. Before he goes, he challenges five journalists to attempt the interview of a lifetime. Obese and slightly diabolical, he successfully sickens the first four with buttery Brandy Alexanders and vulgar social views. The last combatant, Nina, proves a worthy adversary. As insults and challenges fly, Tach’s darkest secrets unfurl themselves and Nina evolves into both an admirable heroine and another ruined fixture in the author’s manipulated world. A fascinating ending to an intricate dialogue that will haunt you for days!
Light Boxes – Shane Jones (Penguin)
Simply written and beautifully complex, Shane Jones’ debut novel radiates with every page. As a godlike entity named February takes over a small town with onslaughts of treacherous cold, the occupants must fight back before their very souls sink into a deathly depression. Mythical, whimsical and filled with surreal imagery, this stunning little book is a must read – especially for those familiar with Oswego winters!
Sima’s Undergarments for Women – Ilana Stager-Ross (Penguin)
Deeply troubled by her infertility, Sima Goldner ages and avoids her maternal emptiness, failed marriage and secret past in her lingerie shop, tucked comfortably in the basement of her Brooklyn home. The surprising arrival of a young, beautiful Israeli immigrant, Timna, enthralls her to near obsession. Through the twists and turns of their relationship, Sima discovers peace with the past and hope in the present. Filled with dressing room humor and honesty, this book heals and calms the heart of every reader.
The Awakening - Kate Chopin (Avon)
Although poorly received and widely dismissed in 1899, Kate Chopin’s short novel evolved into a vital part of classic American feminist literature. With language both poetic and quietly powerful, Chopin illuminates the roaring sea within Edna Pontellier. An unhappy wife and mother in Louisiana, Edna attempts to drastically reshape her life that leads her to a stunning conclusion that echoes into a personal awakening for every reader.
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