In the Queue

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron

Jean Patrick Nkuba, a Rwandan boy, dreams of becoming his country's first Olympic medal contender in track, but when the Hutu-Tutsi tensions explode, he must run to save his life.

Lost Saints of Tennessee by Amy Franklin-Willis

This story of a Southern working-class family follows Ezekiel, 42, and his mother, Lillian, from the 1940s to the 1980s as Ezekiel goes from anointed son to unhinged middle-aged man. His decline begins with the mysterious drowning death of his twin brother and the subsequent divorce from his wife.

Thinking Small: The Long, Strange Trip of the Volkswagen Beetle by Andrea Hiott

The Volkswagen came to symbolize American freedom and the power of thinking small. This is the story of the ungainly little car that began with the vision of a group of men who designed the car in 1923. Despite all odds, it became the most profitable and most beloved automobile in the world.

A Delicious Read

In general, I don't recommend a book until I finish it.  I have a lot of very well-read friends and I don't want to stake my reading reputation on an unknown quantity.  And yet, 25 pages into a recent book, I started alerting friends, "Put this on hold!  You must read it."  White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelby struck me as a luscious, elegant, warm read about the life of Auguste Escoffier, a renowned French chef from the early 20th century, and his wife, Delphine.  While I was somewhat nervous about having made a recommendation so soon into the book -- equivalent to recommending a meal after the appetizer -- I'm pleased to report that by the dessert and coffee course of the book's end, I was equally as enthusiastic as I had been at the onset. 

Kelby elegantly wove a story that begins as Delphine is dying, bereft of a dish named for her.  She is anxious that the world will not believe that her husband truly loved her unless he names a dish for her.  Her concern is compounded by the number of dishes he created for and named after others, especially the other women in his life (including actress Sarah Bernhardt and opera soprano Nellie Melba -- of the peach and toast fame).  Escoffier resists, insisting that there is no dish that can adequately capture her.  Instead, Escoffier spends his time working on his memoir, which Kelby fleshes out with extended scenes from Escoffier's past. 

Like a good meal, a good book is often difficult to describe to those who have not yet experienced it and, like different flavors, what appeals to one person won't necessarily appeal to another.  So, with that caveat, I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction, love stories, and foodies.  Bon appetit!

Twas the Night Before....

Twas’ the night before Christmas and all through the house,  the only creature stirring was me, not my spouse.

The family and guests were all snug in their beds,

while I sat reading a tale full of dread.

The horror of family and Christmas dinner not cooked right,

had led me to find a book full of fright.

It was scary. It was awesome as I turned each new page,

never thinking that this might not be the right day. 

I was thinking of cleaning and cooking my plight

with a houseful of guests it’d take all my might. 

But the book it called out to me, “Read me instead!

Sit down and read.  Don’t rest your head.

In a flash I knew, just what to do.

I took a minute for me, take a minute for you.

Enjoy your holiday even with a big crew and when the company begins to drive you insane,

just yawn and say,"Sorry I didn’t sleep on the plane."

Then go grab your book or even your nook and hide in your room.

This’ll help you survive any pending doom.

As you read you’ll adventure far from this land

and not make it back until it is time for the ham.

So forget the fighting, the chaos, the kid with the sneer.

Just read a good book and have a Happy New Year!

Here are a few titles to keep you aware that the holidays are not nearly as horrifying as these books.
I'll begin with Stephen King's Full Dark, No stars.  His collection of 4 longish horror stories will keep you up as you wait for ole' St. Nick to bring you presents.  This is an excellent collection of grisly tales you'll want to read when you need a good fright.

Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein is a holiday horror novel.  It begins when Scott Wilkinson calls for a car service to take him to the airport. How was he to know the maniac behind the wheel is out to get revenge on the man (Wilkinson) who ruined his life.

The Bad Place by Dean Koontz a spine tingling thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you hope protaganist, Frank Pollard,  can resolve the mystery of his blood covered hands when he wakes. 

I'd Know you Anywhere by Laura Lippman is a thriller. A murderer on death row contacts his only victim who survived and lets her know, "I'd know you anywhere." Can she protect her family and herself from the madman?

I have to confess, The Silence of the Lambs is one of the all time scariest horror novels written. Many have seen the movie, but the novel is even better.  Thomas Harris creates characters that are  believable, intense and frightening. When Clarice Starling an FBI trainee is placed on the case of a serial killer not only is she trying to get into the killers mind, but she must use the help of Hannibal, the Cannibal to give her clues to stop the grisly murders. This book will keep you awake and turning pages.

If you are looking for a lighter horror story try Christine Feehan's, The Twilight Before Christmas. It is a suspenseful holiday tale. A dark shadow is accidentally released and must be contained or destroyed by the Drake sisters. This is a suspenseful, passionate story with just enough horror to make you smile.

The Queen of the Dragons is Gone

I just found out that one of my favorite fantasy authors died.  Anne McCaffrey also known as the "Dragon Lady", died November 21, 2011 at the age of 85. She is known for her Dragonriders of Pern novels which are a combination of fantasy and science fiction which were the first adult speculative fiction books I read as a child.  These books set me firmly on the path to reading and loving fantasy fiction.  Try Dragonflight the first in her Pern series. Her son Todd McCaffrey is also an author and the two collaborated on the New Adventures of Pern series starting with Dragon's Kin. 


There will never be another Anne McCaffrey but try one of the following tales about dragons and help me celebrate her work and her life.

Touched by Venom--Janine Cross
Dragon in Chains--Daniel Fox
Havemercy--Jaida Jones
Dragon Champion--E. E. Knight
Joust--Mercedes Lackey
His Majesty's Dragon--Naomi Novik
Dragon Prince--Melanie Rawn
The Dragons of Babel--Michael Swanwick
Dragon's: Worlds Afire--R. A. Salvatore
Bones of the Dragon--Margaret Weis

There are also a lot of great childrens and teen books about dragons.  Try one of the following great reads:

The Fire Within--Chris D'Lacey
Dragon's Milk--Susan Fletcher
Dragon Rider--Cornelia Funke
Wizard of Earthsea--Ursula Le Guin
Eragon--Christopher Paolini
Dealing with Dragons--Patricia Wrede
Dragon's Blood--Jane Yolen
The Last Dragon(graphic novel)--Jane Yolen and Rebecca Guay

For more about Anne McCaffrey and to read the eulogy by her eldest son, go to her website.

Full Dark, No Stars

He's still the king, folks--Stephen King, that is, and in his latest short-story collection, he demonstrates why he's the master of the twisted and the bizarre. Full Dark, No Stars consists of four novella-length stories, each of which is guaranteed to get under your skin. In the first, "1922," a farmer plots to murder his wife to prevent her from selling a land inheritance, and he even manipulates his teenaged son to help him. Yes, the evil deed is committed, but it most certainly does not go unpunished. Let's just say that if rats, real or imagined, give you the willies, you may want to skip this story. Next up is "Big Driver," in which King plays on every driver's worst nightmare: being stranded on an unfamiliar road. This time, a mystery writer on her way home from an author appearance finds herself with more than just car trouble when she suffers a flat tire and is offered "assistance" by a giant of a Good Samaritan. In "Fair Extension," a cancer patient in the last months of his life is granted a miraculous turnabout when he strikes a deal with a rather strange man who sells "fair extensions" for a "fair price." However, gaining an extra fifteen years of life doesn't come cheap, and you may be shocked at just who ultimately has to pay this so-called "fair price" and what that cost entails. In the final story, "A Good Marriage," a woman's nondescript marriage of more than twenty years unravels in the blink of an eye when she discovers that her husband has been hiding a horrific secret from her the entire time. Yes, Dear Reader, be careful if you poke around your husband's things when he's not around: you may not like what you find. All in all, King still knows how to tell a story, and he certainly knows how to take the ordinary and drop it on its head. Give Full Dark, No Stars a read. You won't be sorry...or then again, maybe you will.

My Favorite Books of 2011

2011 was another very good year for readers.  Plenty of new titles came out and many new authors staked their claim in my ever-growing list of favorite authors.  I feel that I branched out and read some works I wouldn't have had interest in, say, a year ago.  Since I love lists, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite titles of 2011.

James Madison by Richard Brookhiser- I've always been fascinated by early US history, so this was a natural choice.  Madison's relationship with Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe is fascinating as they agreed on most things, but also set personal differences aside (especially Madison and Monroe) to create the Virginia Dynasty.

Darkness, My Old Friend by Lisa Unger- Fragile, the first in Unger's The Hollows series, was one of my favorite novels of 2010.  The sequel did not disappoint!  This is a fantastic suspense novel and Unger does a terrific job of creating characters the reader cares about.  I especially enjoyed the scenes about the town psychic, Eloise, who played a smaller role in Fragile.

The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman- This is a suspense novel that does a wonderful job of upping the tension each chapter.  But, like Unger's writing, Lippman does a great job of creating interesting characters.  The plot centers around five children who wander the woods during summer break and find an old man who lives alone.  The ensuing tragedy, coupled with the now grown-up children not knowing what really happened, makes for a startling tale.

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante- It still amazes me that this is a debut novel.  LaPlante has created a story in which Dr. Jennifer White, who suffers from Alzheimer's, is accused of murdering her best friend.  The stunning part of this novel is that it's told from White's perspective.

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens- I placed a hold on this title as soon as it was announced.  Still Missing was my favorite debut novel of 2010 and Stevens follows it up with another compelling thriller.  Sara Gallagher was adopted at an early age and decides to finally learn about her parents.  We quickly find that "never knowing" may be a good option.

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens- Another debut novel!  Stevens does a magnificent job of creating heroine Vanessa Munroe, who travels the world gathering information for various clients.  She is sent to Africa to track down a missing girl in this debut with twists and turns.

Fair Play by Tove Jansson- Ok, I'm cheating here.  This isn't really a 2011 title, but it is the first translation of this work, so we'll keep it here.  I'm new to Jansson and have started looking for her other works.  The writing is nothing less than stunning.  We look into the lives of two artists, Jonna and Mari, through short vignettes.  The way in which these seemingly mundane moments in their lives help create who they are is a testament to Jansson's fantastic ability.

A woman who knows how to write

Several months ago, Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul infamously opined that women authors are inferior.  He argues that women's "sentimentality, the narrow view of the world" leads to them writing "...all this feminine tosh."  Of course, he quickly asserted, he didn't mean any of it unkindly.  When I read the article, I quickly jotted down a list of women authors whose work consistently astonishes me, in part because of its lack of sentimental "tosh."  Writers like Geraldine Brooks, Barbara Kingsolver, Louise Erdrich, Marilynn Robinson, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Kate Chopin (who was excoriated for her lack of sentimentality), and Jamaica Kincaid all jumped to mind.  One who didn't, but ought to have is Anne Enright, Man Booker prize-winner for The Gathering and Irish author extraordinaire.

Enright has published a new book.  The Forgotten Waltz poses, for me, an interesting question: Can you like a book if you don't like the characters?  There isn't anyone in this book who reads as particularly sympathetic.  I found myself reading the book increasingly frustrated by the characters.  Gina, the narrator and protagonist, is a 32-year old married woman who embarks on an affair without much buildup or apparent cause or remorse.  Sean, her married lover and father of a 12-year old daughter who's somewhat cryptically referred to as "not quite right", has clearly done this before.  The supporting cast are not particularly more sympathetic.  I did not feel a connection with any of the characters but despite that, or perhaps even because of it, I was completely engrossed by the book.

While I did not particularly care for the characters, and the plot itself is rather unremarkable, Enright's writing is breathtaking.  There is very little sentimentality, but a great deal of evocative prose.  Simple sentences are used to convey much more.  One of the most striking examples for me came in the days after Gina's mother's death. Gina wanders through her mother's home, noting that the mirror is the cleanest thing in the house because it refuses to hold on to the past.  Enright's writing is crisp and meaningful, and that it was a written by a women doesn't make that particularly noteworthy.  Enright is one of a tradition of great depth and great breadth: excellent women authors. 

Incidentally, for a little fun, check out this quiz that The Guardian put together to see if you can determine whether a passage was written by a man or a woman.  They've dubbed it "The Naipaul Test."  Perhaps it could also be named "The Enright Test."

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We already had a little snow (let's forget about all the rain for a few moments.) this year, which makes me want to tuck myself under a blanket by the fire and read a nice light hearted book.  This year I've chosen a few books from our library display table and read quite a few new Christmas stories,...so if you are one on the long waiting list for The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson, (no spoiler alert here) keep waiting. It is a lovely, funny, laugh out loud, excellent feel good book.  It's about family, love and coping.  A perfect cozy read for this time of year.

There was a new story that came out, that I had concerns it would be, well more naughty, than nice.  Do not let the name keep you away.  It is a wonderful story.  The title is His Mistress by Christmas by Victoria Alexander.  It is a historical romance. The protaganist merely wants an affair, she's been married and doesn't want to do it again.  Her would be paramour falls head over heels for the lovely lady and goes from rake extraordinaire to a gentleman who would not deem to besmirch the honor of the lovely lady.  It is cute, funny and lighthearted.  An excellent cozy romantic read.

If you are in the mood for some classic Debbie Macomber try 1225 Christmas Tree Lane, Touched by Angels are return to an old favorite Mrs. Miracle.  All excellent feel good romances that will make your toes curl as you curl up with a good book.

If you want a little intrigue with your cozy read, try Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle. The coffee house barista finds santa dead near her store. He was checking his list twice and found some who were naughty. She begins to investigate and puts herself in a bit of trouble.  Can she solve the case before she finds herself in the grind?  Read it for yourself. I'm sure it's one you'll enjoy. 

Anyway you slice it the holidays are right around the corner.  If you would like a nice cozy read or a murder mystery with a holiday flare stop by our library and find a good book on our holiday display table.There's Dashing through the Snow a holiday mystery, A Cat on Jingle Bell Rock, The Christmas Clock and who could forget the Christmas Box.  Pick up a good read and take a few minutes from the hustle and bustle to enjoy a little quiet, just you and a book.

Not Sure What to Read? Try Our Reading Suggestion eNewsletters!

Are you wanting to find a new author to read, but not sure where to start?  It can be a daunting task with all of the great books out there.  Did you know the library offers reading suggestions that are delivered straight to your email?  We've recently changed the look of our service and have even added some newsletters to our offerings!  Try Fiction A-Z or NY Times Fiction Bestsellers if you enjoy everything Fiction.  Maybe you'd prefer Nonfiction by trying our New Nonfiction and NY Times Nonfiction Bestsellers lists.  The separate genres are covered with our Chick Lit, Fantasy, Mystery, and Romance lists.  We even have a Business and Personal finance list!

Teens and children are covered, too!  Try our Teen Scene newsletter if you're looking for some great Young Adult titles.  Picture Books and Fiction for Kids are excellent if your child is just starting to read.

Click here if you'd like to check out the weekly, monthly and bi-monthly booklists you can receive from the library!  Click the checkbox next to the lists you'd like to receive and then enter your email address at the bottom.  It's that simple!

In the Queue

Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell

As Alfred the Great lies dying, his son Edwardhas been named his successor. But there are other Saxon claimants to the throne.

Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George

Inspector Thomas Lynley is surprised when called on to investigate a drowning that seems like nothing more than an accident. He soon learns there is much more to the case than he first thought.

Extra Virginity: The Sublime & Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller

For millennia, olive oil has been a food, a medicine, a beauty aid, and a vital element of religious ritual.  Now Mueller offers the sacret history and profane present of this substance.