May 25, 2011
The Paris Wife
Reviewed by Robin
This historical fiction is not for Hemingway scholars, but for the rest of us who have always been willing voyeurs on the life and times of the artists and writers of 1920's Paris. The story is told from the point of view of Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson. The book is an engaging read on marriage, the creative process, ambition's effect on them both, and the mingling of egos, art, and friendships.
May 18, 2011
Clara & Mr. Tiffany
Reviewed by Janet
Catch a glimpse of the Gilded Age in this fictional account of Clara Driscoll, a glass artist who worked for Louis Tiffany, and the actual designer of many of the lamps for which he is remembered. The role and rights of women, the immigrant experience, and the vivid art world help shape Clara's life and relationships. A fascinating look at this little-known woman.
May 11, 2011
A Visit From the Goon Squad
Reviewed by MaggieThis character-driven tale focuses on members of a punk rock band from the 1970s. Music and the American music industry play an important role as the lives of the characters weave in and out from each other over the following decades. An easily paced story told from different points of view, hopping through time, in multiple writing styles. Not a simple task, but this book really works. And it has the credentials to prove it...
Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for FictionWinner of the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction
One of the New York Times Book Review's Top 10 Books of 2010
One of the Best Books of the Year: Boston Globe; Chicago Tribune; The Daily Beast; The Miami Herald; The Minneapolis Star-Tribune; Newsday; NPR's On Point, O: The Oprah Magazine; People; Publisher's Weekly
May 4, 2011
Friendship Bread
Reviewed by JanetIt all started with a loaf of bread, a plastic bag of starter, and simple baking instructions. Moving on from grief and loss to new friendships, healing of family bonds, and building of community in the small town of Avalon, this heartwarming story will invite you to linger over your cup of tea as you read. Humorous and touching.
April 27, 2011
White Tiger
Reviewed by MaggieAn unsettling and haunting description of modern India, as told in the first person narrative of Balram Halwai, a self-proclaimed murderer and successful entrepreneur. Corruption, class struggle and the caste system are the focus of this social satire, a winner of the Man Booker Prize. A very powerful and insightful story.
April 20, 2011
The Informationist
Reviewed by JanetLooking for a fast-paced, exotic thriller? Vanessa "Michael" Munroe deals in information no one else can get. With a central African setting, well-plotted adventure, and a strong female protagonist with special skills, this page turner will keep you reading.
April 13, 2011
The Track of Sand
Reviewed by MaggieTravel to Sicily with Inspector Montalbano as he solves another mystery, this time involving horse stealing, race fixing and murder. The Inspector shares the setting with other memorable characters amidst the dark world of Sicilian corruption, while taking the time to describe and enjoy a luscious cuisine. The Inspector Montalbano mysteries are a reliable detective series, and this title is a very engaging addition.
April 6, 2011
A Discovery of Witches
Reviewed by JanetVampires and daemons and witches, oh my! A bewitched manuscript in Oxford's Bodleian Library lies at the heart of this fast-paced and engaging novel. Throw in some alchemy, medieval history, and magic with the intriguing characters, and it's hard to put down. I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy.
March 30, 2011
Hank & Chloe
Reviewed by Beth - in absentiaA love story between two unlikely lovers. Think Crazy Heart, only realistic! Set in the modern American west of rural Southern California, it's got cowboys, hippies, yuppies and real estate developers. Tension, humor, and horses! And the best thing is that if you like it, there's a sequel, Loving Chloe.
March 23, 2011
Someone Knows My Name
Reviewed by JanetFrom freedom to slavery to freedom once again, this book tells the story of Aminata and her determination to bring freedom for those in slavery. Set during the 1700s, and spanning 3 continents, this compelling novel takes the reader inside this chapter in history.
March 16, 2011
Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me
Reviewed by AmyMarried to two rock legends, and the inspiration for three great love songs--"Something", "Wonderful Tonight" and "Layla", Pattie Boyd tells her story without bitterness, while offering her memories of the turbulent, creative energy of the 60's music scene. Seriously, you cannot resist this tale.
March 9, 2011
Revolution
Reviewed by JanetThis book may be in the Young Adult section, but don't let that stop you. An angry young woman from Brooklyn travels to Paris with her father, and finds a diary which takes her - literally - back to the French Revolution. This story of life, loss, and love will draw you in.
March 2, 2011
Poser: My Life in 23 Yoga Poses
Radio Shanga-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth
Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison
Reviewed by MaggieA trio of memoir caught my fancy this week, each book written by a contemporary American woman of similar age. The settings vary from the Pacific Northwest, to the mountain ranges of Bhutan, and finally, to a woman's federal penitentiary in Darien, Connecticut. Poser is as much a discussion of life, culture and the author's generation, as it is of yoga. Radio Shangri-La describes a traveler's growth in a unique environment, and in a culture in transition, on the other side of the world. Orange Is the New Black is a compassionate view of life behind bars. Comparing the transformation that all three authors describe made reading these books an even richer experience for me.
February 23, 2011
One Day
Reviewed by JanetJuly 15. Over the course of 20 years, this book gives readers a glimpse of the lives of its two main characters, Dexter and Emma, on that one day each year. As their lives intertwine or barely meet, we are shown the consequences of their choices, their hopes and disagreements, as they learn about life and love.
February 16, 2011
Bombay Anna : The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the King and I Governess
Reviewed by LynneRemember Anna, the very British nanny in The King and I? According to the story depicted in the popular musical, in movies, and in her own journals, Anna Leonowens was born and educated in England, the widow of a British army officer. While Leonowens was a well-educated and accomplished woman, it turns out that almost none of her background story was true. For starters, she was born in India, of mixed parentage, and at the time she was hired to teach King Mongkut's children, she had never set foot in England.
February 9, 2011
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Reviewed by MaggiePick this book to keep you company during the next snowstorm, and you may not look up till there are 6 inches of snow on the ground. Cinematic in quality, this novel has an engaging story and empathetic characters. Set in rural Mississippi with themes of friendship, racism and forgiveness, this good read hooked me in.
February 2, 2011
The School of Essential Ingredients
Reviewed by JanetCome join Chef Lillian's cooking class, where eight students come to learn some of her cooking secrets. But each student is really seeking something else as well. This tender story draws the reader in to the lives of the characters as their paths cross and mingle, and they learn more about themselves and each other.
January 26, 2011
Winter's Tale
Reviewed by Beth - in absentiaThis is an American form of magic realism that is completely successful - shining, beautiful, amazing. Is it futuristic or historical? Is it post-apocalyptic or prescient? In any case it's a tour de force. I think Helprin downloaded it in a dream, since he's never written anything like it before or since. I like reading this book in the winter because the descriptions are so gorgeous. Or in the heat of summer for the same reason.
January 19, 2011
Dogfight: A Love Story
Reviewed by NancyYou'll love Alfredo, despite his (ill-suited) participation in the violent drug culture of Jackson Heights, Queens. He is very much in love with his charming pregnant girlfriend Isabel, and they tensely await both the birth of their child and the arrival home of Alfredo's brother. He's been in prison...and when he left, Isabel was his girlfriend! A very different kind of New York story from a very talented new young author.
January 12, 2011
Far Afield
Reviewed by BethWise, playful and affectionate, this novel focuses on American anthropology graduate student, Jonathon Brand, and his year doing research in the Faroe Islands. The islanders baffle him and he, them. The evolving friendships make this little novel a great read! It offers an evocative way to learn about a culture and place most of us don't know.
January 5, 2011
The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them
Reviewed by AmyAn observant and humorous Stamford University professor, with a wonderful ear for dialog, tells us stories about people who've devoted their lives to reading Russian literature. Giggles galore are in store, and you get to learn something about Babel, Tolstoy and other great storytellers.
December 29, 2010
Breakfast with Buddha
Reviewed by BethDriving a monk around the midwest at the behest of his daffy sister, Otto Ringling, a New York editor, slowly comes out of his depression and achieves some equanimity. This charming and totally unexpected tale twists the usual "guys on the road" story in an entertaining and wonderful way.
December 22, 2010
Operation Mincemeat
Reviewed by NancyA stranger than fiction rollicking true tale of a World War II British intelligence operation. An oddball cast of wonderfully described characters concoct a bizarre scheme, using a corpse as a decoy, to mislead the Axis as to where the upcoming Allied invasion will take place. Anyone who likes war stories, spy adventures, or just a really well told tale will love this!
December 15, 2010
Madonnas of Leningrad
Reviewed by JanetTake some cold weather, add in deprivation and war, and you're in WWII Leningrad. This story of Marina's life alternates between contemporary American and wartime Soviet Union, and is a powerful story of war, love, remembrance and survival.
December 8, 2010
Cry to Heaven
Reviewed by BethForget everything you know or think you know about Anne Rice. This excellent historical novel has it all - drama, tension, incredible sense of place and a topic not many of us know anything about - the world of the 18th century castrati singers of Italy. It's operatic, thrilling and compelling.
December 1, 2010
Bitter in the Mouth
Reviewed by JanetImagine each word has a taste. This is a secret that Linda keeps, but she discovers that there are other secrets in her life. This compelling story explores the meaning of family, identity, and connections.
November 24, 2010
Dancing at the Rascal Fair
Reviewed by BethDoig is a highly regarded, lesser known American novelist. His primary themes are the American west, drawing upon his own family's emigration from Scotland to Montana in the late 1800s.
November 17, 2010
The Girls From Ames
Reviewed by AmyWhat would it be like to have 10 best friends, all of whom have known you for over 30 years? The author tells their story as the women reveal to him their shared memories, their joys and sorrows, their differences, and their everlasting love for each other. The reader is left with an understanding of how close friendships shape women's identities, and that enduring friendships provide riches difficult to find elsewhere.
November 10, 2010
Into the Beautiful North
Reviewed by JanetA twist on illegal immigration. Nayeli's quest begins when the peace of the town is threatened, and she heads north to bring some men back to her village in Mexico. Memorable characters and an exotic setting make for a fun, but thought-provoking, read.
November 3, 2010
Mudbound
Reviewed by JaniceA grim, visceral, utterly compelling saga of family life on a squalid Mississippi farm during the 1940's. In this harshly racist society, a horrifying tragedy results. Good to read this after The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
October 27, 2010
Daughter of the Forest
Reviewed by BethThe first in a trilogy (Sevenwaters) this retelling of the Celtic myth of the twelve wild swans is accomplished, magical, deft and full of details about pre-christian Celtic history. The coming of age theme works well with readers of all ages, and also appeals to young adults. Fantasy fiction at its best!
October 20, 2010
Paradise News
Reviewed by NancyA British priest who has lost his faith takes his curmudgeonly father on a visit to paradise (Waikiki beach) to visit his father's dying sister. On the way, he finds himself. Wry comments abound on America, Americans, and the human condition in general in this moving, yet quite entertaining book.
October 13, 2010
Freddy and Fredericka
Reviewed by AmyThis is the funniest book I have ever read. It's a spoof on Prince Charles and Princess Diana, but behind the laughing (which I did to such an extent that I fell off my chair) the book speaks to us of grace, courage, and the supreme urge to rise above.
October 6, 2010
Ride the Wind: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker & the Last Days of the Comanche
Reviewed by BethPlease don't judge this book by its cover! Based upon the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker, this novel is wonderful historical fiction. This era in Comanche and United States history is fraught with sad events, but there's also plenty of historical detail, sweeping description of place, and beautiful emotional connection between members of the tribe.
September 29, 2010
Wench
Reviewed by JanetThis compelling novel looks at the lives of four slave women who accompany their owners to a vacation resort in pre-Civil War Ohio. An intriguing glimpse the social issues of the time via the experiences of these women.
September 22, 2010
Lonesome Dove
Reviewed by BethThis book won the Pulitzer. The NYT called it "the War and Peace of cattle drives". It's one of our best American novels and deserves a wide readership. Don't read it just because it's a classic award winner - read it for the sheer pleasure of the language, the landscape and the unforgettable main characters.
September 15, 2010
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Reviewed by JanetRenovations of an old hotel in Seattle uncover belongings of Japanese families sent to internment camps during World War II, and re-open memories of former loves, racial tensions, and family relationships. A bitter and sweet novel.
September 8, 2010
Forget Sorrow
Reviewed by NancyThe author's difficult extended adolescence and relationship with her father are healed in this graphic (adult comic book) memoir about her extended family's roots and difficulties in 20th century China. Family conflicts, Communist oppression and Buddhist philosophy all emerge as Xuan listens to her father's tales.
September 1, 2010
Free Food for Millionaires
Reviewed by BethIt's a sprawling soap opera of a book about a family of Korean immigrants in the New York City of the 1990s. Tension, humor, pathos. Did I mention it's a soap opera? Totally addicting!
August 25, 2010
My Name is Mary Sutter
Reviewed by JanetThis evocative, fascinating historical novel draws us into the life of Mary Sutter, a talented midwife who dreams of becoming a surgeon. The realistic Civil War setting and well drawn characters help this novel resonate with each reader.
August 18, 2010
Sixteen Pleasures
Reviewed by BethCan't go to Italy this year? Read this book instead - it'll transport you to Florence, 1966. Travel along with a young book conservator, sent to help rescue valuable books and manuscripts from the flood. Sensual, involved, bellissimo!
August 11, 2010
Midwives
Reviewed by NancyA riveting narration of a home birth gone wrong. A tense courtroom drama. This hard to put down book with no easy answers is also a coming of age story told by a man who seems to have an idea about how girls and women think and act.
August 4, 2010
Fifth Business
Reviewed by BethThe first in a trilogy by this beloved Canadian author - sure, it's about Canadians. But it also has substantial themes, amazing characters, theatricality, myth and magic. This book is hard to put down and a perfect book for long train rides to unusual destinations. Good hammock reading too!
July 28, 2010
Baking Cakes in Kigali
Reviewed by JanetA heartwarming story with a wonderful main character. Angel Tungaraza bakes cakes for special occasions. She has a gift, not only for baking, but of bringing people together and bringing hope into their lives. The setting in modern-day Rwanda adds color and richness to the story.
July 21, 2010
Fieldwork
Reviewed by LynneAn anthropologist studying a remote hill tribe in Thailand ends up "going native." Years later, an American expat visits her in a Thai jail, and becomes obsessed with the mystery of how and why she would have murdered a young charismatic missionary who happened to cross her path.
July 14, 2010
Seabiscuit: an American Legend
Reviewed by BethEverything nonfiction should be! It's wonderful social history, the best type of American story, heart-wrenching, heart-pounding. Racing, rich people, poor jockeys, serious emotional connection between all comers (horses, owners and trainers). You might have seen the movie, but you'll love this book either way.
July 7, 2010
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Reviewed by JanetSo what happens when a retired English army major gets involved with a Pakistani widow? Sit back and enjoy these likeable characters as they come up against public opinion and traditions in a rural English village setting.
June 30, 2010
The Maytrees
Reviewed by BethUnusual, lyrical and completely compelling. This involved story of Provincetown artists, fishermen, wanderers and poets draws readers in and keeps them with beautiful prose about the beaches, water, dunes and sunrises.
June 23, 2010
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
Reviewed by RosemaryThe author returns home to get support from family and friends as she recovers from a recent divorce and a terrible car accident. The resulting memoir is touching, honest, and funny. I'm not the only one on staff that really enjoyed this book.
June 16, 2010
Matterhorn
Reviewed by JanetI can't believe I liked this book! Set in Vietnam, this powerful novel tells the story of a young officer new to the front lines, and how he and his company face the challenges set by the jungle, the enemy, and their commanding officers. Believable characters, good pacing, and exciting setting kept me spellbound.
June 9, 2010
Eternal on the Water
Reviewed by BethGorgeous, descriptive and hard to put down. It's got it all - wonderful New England setting, fabulous witty dialog, love and hope. It'll break your heart but in the best possible way.