BCPL Virtual Book Club - Past Title Selections page.
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Virtual Book Club - Past Title Selections
October 2007 Selection
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A cautionary tale of a society in which firemen burn books and nobody reads anymore.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book, Book on CD, Downloadable Audio Book or DVD format.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire Captain Beatty explains it this way, "Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy."
Guy Montag is a book-burning fireman undergoing a crisis of faith. His wife spends all day with her television "family", imploring Montag to work harder so that they can afford a fourth TV wall. Their dull, empty life sharply contrasts with that of his next-door neighbor Clarisse, a young girl thrilled by the ideas in books, and more interested in what she can see in the world around her than in the mindless chatter of the tube.
For information about and interviews with the author, see RayBradbury.com.
September 2007
The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty
Leigh is the mother of high-achieving, popular
high school senior Kara. Their relationship is already strained for reasons
Leigh does not fully understand when, in a moment of carelessness, Kara makes a
mistake that ends in tragedy -- the effects of which not only divide Leigh’s
family, but polarize the entire community.
We see the story from Leigh’s perspective, as she grapples with the hard reality
of what her daughter has done and the devastating consequences her actions have
on the family of another teenage girl in town, all while struggling to protect
Kara in the face of rising public outcry.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
The Saturday Wife by Naomi Ragen
Beautiful, blonde, materialistic Delilah Levy steps into a life she could have never imagined when in a moment of panic she decides to marry a sincere Rabbinical student. But the reality of becoming a paragon of virtue for a demanding and hypocritical congregation leads sexy Delilah into a vortex of shocking choices which spiral out of control into a catastrophe which is as sadly believable as it is wildly amusing.
Told with immense warmth, fascinating insight, and wicked humor, The Saturday Wife depicts the pitched and often losing battle of all of us as we struggle to hold on to our faith and our values amid the often delicious temptations of the modern world.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer
Irene Spencer did as she felt God commanded in
marrying her brother-in-law Verlan LeBaron, becoming his second wife. When the
government raided the fundamentalist, polygamous Mormon village of Short Creek,
Arizona, Irene and her family fled to Verlan's brothers' Mexican ranch. They
lived in squalor and desolate conditions in the Mexican desert with Verlan's six
brothers, one sister, and numerous wives and children.
Readers will be appalled and astonished, but most amazingly, greatly inspired.
Irene's dramatic story reveals how far religion can be stretched and abused and
how one woman and her children found their way out, into truth and redemption.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Songs Without Words by
Ann Packer
Liz and Sarabeth were childhood neighbors in the suburbs of northern California,
brought as close as sisters by the suicide of Sarabeth’s mother when the girls
were just sixteen. In the decades that followed—through Liz’s marriage and the
birth of her children, through Sarabeth’s attempts to make a happy life for
herself despite the shadow cast by her mother’s act—their relationship remained
a source of continuity and strength. But when Liz’s adolescent daughter enters
dangerous waters that threaten to engulf the family, the fault lines in the
women’s friendship are revealed, and both Liz and Sarabeth are forced to
reexamine their most deeply held beliefs about their connection.
Songs Without Words is about the sometimes confining roles we take on in our
closest relationships, about the familial myths that shape us both as children
and as parents, and about the limits—and the power—of the friendships we create
when we are young.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
August 2007
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Harry is waiting in Privet Drive.
The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort
and his supporters knowing--if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he
fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore
has left him with?
Harry has been burdened with a dark and dangerous task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him...
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book and Audiobook format.
July 2007
Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France by Floyd Landis
The series of events
surrounding Floyd Landis's 2006 Tour de France was as improbable as
anything in the history of sports: He showed up nine seconds late for
the race's opening prologue, donned the leader's yellow jersey twelve
days later, and lost his lead only to regain it in remarkable fashion
just before the Tour's final stage into Paris.
Winning the Tour should have been the culmination of a life's dream, but
a mere three days later, Landis was accused of using banned
performance-enhancing drugs. Released by his team and threatened with
the removal of his Tour title, Landis went from winning the most
prestigious race of his career to being unfairly labeled as a cheater, a
liar, and a doper.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton
by
Jeff Gerth
She is one of the most influential and recognizable figures in our country, and
perhaps the single most divisive individual in our political landscape. She has
been the subject of both hagiography and vitriolic smear jobs.
But although dozens of books have been written about her, none of them have come
close to uncovering the real Hillary--personal, political, in all her
complications.
It takes readers from the dorm rooms at Wellesley to the courthouses of Arkansas.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Little Family, Big Values: Lessons in Love, Respect and
Understanding For Families of Any Size
by
The Roloff Family
The Roloffs are no ordinary family. Parents Matt and Amy are little people
raising four children: a pair of teenage twins, Jeremy and Zachary, one of
whom is average size and one who is little; preteen daughter, Molly; and the
youngest, Jacob.
Being part of this unique family -- where something as simple as shopping for
back-to-school clothing can be a real challenge -- has presented no shortage
of struggles, and in Little Family, Big Values the Roloffs share the values
that have helped them and become the cornerstone of their bond.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
IDOLeyes: Personal Reflection on Faith, Fat and Fame by Mandisa
American Idol finalist Mandisa speaks openly and honestly
about how her faith was challenged and deepened as a result of her experience
on the hit television show. She talks about her lifelong battle with food
addiction, how it has affected her life, and how the now-famous derogatory
remarks made by Idol judge Simon Cowell on live television have provided her
with the opportunity to become a positive role model for millions of women who
are struggling to live up to popular culture’s image of the "ideal woman."
Mandisa shows women that they can be beautiful at any size, and that healthy
self-esteem and personal beauty come only when they accept themselves as a
unique and much-loved woman of God’s creation.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
June 2007
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Hang on for the ride: With characteristic poetry
and pluck, Barbara Kingsolver and her family sweep readers along on their
journey away from the industrial-food pipeline to a rural life in which they vow
to buy only food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves, or learn
to live without it. Their good-humored search yields surprising discoveries
about turkey sex life and overly zealous zucchini plants, en route to a food
culture that's better for the neighborhood and also better on the table.
Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle makes a
passionate case for putting the kitchen back at the center of family life and
diversified farms at the center of the American diet.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Sixty Days and Counting by
Kim Stanley Robinson
By the time Phil Chase is elected president, the world’s climate is far
on its way to irreversible change. Food scarcity, housing shortages, diminishing
medical care, and vanishing species are just some of the consequences. The
erratic winter the Washington, D.C., area is experiencing is another grim
reminder of a global weather pattern gone haywire: bone-chilling cold one day,
balmy weather the next.
In a world where time is running out as quickly as its natural resources, where surveillance is almost total and freedom nearly nonexistent, the forecast for the Chase administration looks darker each passing day. For as the last–and most terrible–of natural disasters looms on the horizon, it will take a miracle to stop the clock . . . the kind of miracle that only dedicated men and women can bring about.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Food to Live By by
Myra Goodman
In Food to Live By, a dazzling full-color
cookbook, Myra Goodman offers an utterly appealing, new casual style of cooking
based on using the best ingredients, organic or otherwise. The dishes are
irresistible: Sweet Corn Chowder. Spinach, Feta and Mushroom Quiche. Foggy Day
Chili. Merlot-Braised Short Ribs with Cipollini Onions. Spicy Chicken Lettuce
Wraps. Ginger Lime Salmon. Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Spiced Orange Sauce.
Blue Cheese Smashed Potatoes. Coconut Lemongrass Sorbet. Cherry Panna Cotta.
Farm Stand Carrot Cake.
Plus, throughout are Farm-Fresh Ingredient boxes—on sorrel, corn, asparagus,
artichokes— cooking and shopping tips, and health notes.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore
Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the
science of global warming with Al Gore's personal history and lifelong
commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change in the most
talked-about documentary of the year. An audience and critical favorite, An
Inconvenient Truth makes the compelling case that global warming is real,
man-made, and its effects will be cataclysmic if we don’t act now.
Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and
compelling way: often humorous, frequently emotional, always fascinating. In the
end, An Inconvenient Truth accomplishes what all great films should: it leaves
the viewer shaken, involved and inspired.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or DVD format.
May 2007
Land of Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank
Meet Miriam Elizabeth Swanson, in a full-blown snit, buoyed by a fabulous
cast who run the gamut from insufferable to wonderful.
First is the arrival of Liz Harper, Miriam's tenant from Birmingham, who sets a
new cycle in motion. Then her other tenant, Kevin, stalwart companion with more
style than Cary Grant, shakes Miriam out of her fog to see which battles are
worth the fight. Next, her estranged son announces he's marrying a Jamaican
woman. And what about her ex-husband, Charles, and that sordid lingerie model of
his? Well, Harry, her African Gray parrot, has plenty of opinions.
Finally, you'll laugh and cry when she meets a man named Harrison who changes
her into a gal named Mellie.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book and Audiobook format.
Swimming Lessons
by
Mary Alice Monroe
It's been five years since the original turtle lady, old Miss Lovie Rutledge,
passed away, but her legacy lives on with some special women, especially Toy and
her daughter, young Little Lovie.
Toy Sooner kept her graveside vow to her beloved mentor. She left behind an abusive, dysfunctional lifestyle to become a strong single mother and aquarist at the South Carolina Aquarium. But success has taken its toll, leaving Toy fearful of change and risks.
The turtle season begins the day Toy rescues a sick sea turtle on the beach. When Toy brings the loggerhead to the aquarium, she begins a turtle hospital with the help of her boss, Ethan. As the summer progresses and the sea turtles take their measured steps toward healing and freedom Toy, Cara, Flo and Emmi must find their own strength to face their fears and move courageously toward their futures.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
River Knows
by
Amanda Quick
The first kiss occurred in a dimly lit hallway on the upper floor of Elwin
Hastings's grand house. Louisa never saw it coming....
Of course, Anthony Stalbridge couldn't possibly have had romantic intentions.
The kiss was an act of desperation meant to distract the armed guard from
catching the pair in a place they did not belong. After all, Louisa Bryce, in
her dull maroon gown and gold-rimmed spectacles, was no man's idea of an
alluring female. The only thing the two interlopers have in common is a
passionate interest in the private affairs of Mr. Hastings-a prominent member of
Society whom they both suspect of hiding terrible secrets.
Now, brought together by their ruse, Anthony and Louisa are united in their
efforts to find the truth.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
Revenge of Innocents by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Carolyn knew everything about Veronica Campbell. She knew about the case of
murder and retribution that haunted her life and her career. About her stormy
relationship with her husband, Drew. About the emotional darkness that was
overwhelming Veronica’s fragile seventeen-year-old daughter, Jude. But seeing
her friend laid out on a cold hard slab of steel in a morgue, and hearing the
initial judgments of the investigators, Carolyn also knows this: there’s no way
Veronica would have ever taken her own life. And when Carolyn receives a note
threatening her away from the case, she knows a killer is at large.
With danger and deceit swirling all around her, Carolyn is determined to lure
her prime suspect out of the shadows. But all the while a killer is coming
straight after her…
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
April 2007
Arbutus Library: Arbutus Book
Club
The Notebook by
Nicholas Sparks
A man picks up a very special notebook and begins reading to his beloved wife, his voice recalling the story of their poignant and bittersweet journey to happiness...so begins The Notebook, a touching novel that is a dual tale of love lost and found, and of a couple's gentle efforts to retrieve the most cherished moments of their lives.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book and Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting: Tuesday, April 17th @ 7pm
Catonsville Library:
The Mystery and Suspense Book Club
Thunderstruck by
Erik Larson
In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two
men—Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the
obsessive creator of a seemingly supernatural means of communication—whose lives
intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time.
With his superb narrative skills, Erik Larson guides these parallel narratives
toward a relentlessly suspenseful meeting on the waters of the North Atlantic.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book or
Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Tuesday, April 10th @ 7pm
Catonsville Library:
The Book Group
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
by
Anne Fadiman
When three-month-old Lia Lee arrived at the county hospital emergency room in
Merced, California, a chain of events was set in motion from which neither she
nor her parents nor her doctors would ever recover. Lia's parents, Foua and Nao
Kao, were part of a large Hmong community in Merced, refugees from the CIA-run
"Quiet War" in Laos.
The Hmong, traditionally a close-knit and fiercely people, have been less
amenable to assimilation than most immigrants, adhering steadfastly to the
rituals and beliefs of their ancestors.
Lia's pediatricians, Neil Ernst and his wife, Peggy Philip, cleaved just as
strongly to another tradition: that of Western medicine. When Lia Lee Entered
the American medical system, diagnosed as an epileptic, her story became a
tragic case history of cultural miscommunication
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book format.
Book Club Meeting:
Thursday, April 19th @ 7pm
Catonsville Library:
Books, Coffee, and Conversation
Join us in the morning or evening for coffee, cookies and lively conversation.
Share thoughts and ideas about your favorite books.
Book Club Meeting:
Wednesday, April 25th @ 10am and 7pm
Catonsville Library:
The Wednesday Club (School Age - 9-11 yrs)
The Ravenmaster's Secret by
Elvira Woodruff
Forrest lives at the Tower of London prison, where his father tends the Tower
ravens and guards inmates. Forrest's only friends are his pet raven, his
father's prisoners (who all end up dead), and Ned, the young rat catcher. Soon
Forrest's father gets a new prisoner: Maddie, the beautiful daughter of a
Scottish spy.
Immediately Forrest and Maddie become friends. But when she is slated for
execution, Forrest must make some painful choices: Should he commit treason to
help her escape, or obey the law and let his innocent friend be hung?
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book format.
Book Club Meeting:
Wednesday, April 25th @ 7pm
Cockeysville Library:
Coffee Conversations
Join us in the morning or evening for coffee, cookies and lively conversation.
Share thoughts and ideas about your favorite books.
Book Club Meeting:
Wednesday, April 11th @ 11am
Cockeysville Library:
Cockeysville Book Club
After This by
Alice McDermott
A vivid portrait of an American family in the middle decades of the twentieth
century. Witty, compassionate, and wry, it captures the social, political, and
spiritual upheavals of those decades through the experiences of a middle-class
couple, their four children, and the changing worlds in which they live.
While Michael and Annie Keane taste the alternately intoxicating and bitter first fruits of the sexual revolution, their older, more tentative brother, Jacob, lags behind, until he finds himself on the way to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Clare, the youngest child of their aging parents, seeks to maintain an almost saintly innocence.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Monday, April 30th @ 7pm
Cockeysville Library:
Teen and Parent Book Club
Talk about great books with other teens and parents. Contact the library for
this month's book selection. Refreshments served.
Book Club Meeting:
Tuesday, April 3rd @ 7pm
Hereford Library:
Hereford Library Book Group
Terrorist by
John Updike
The son of an Irish-American mother and an Egyptian father who disappeared when
he was three, Ahmad Ashmawy Mulloy turned to Islam at the age of eleven. He
feels his faith threatened by the materialistic, hedonistic society he sees
around him in the slumping factory town of New Prospect, in northern New Jersey.
Neither the world-weary, depressed guidance counselor at Central High School,
Jack Levy, nor Ahmad’s mischievously seductive black classmate, Joryleen Grant,
succeeds in diverting the boy from what his religion calls the Straight Path.
When he finds employment in a furniture store owned by a family of recently
immigrated Lebanese, the threads of a plot gather around him, with
reverberations that rouse the Department of Homeland Security.
But to quote the Qur’an: Of those who plot, God is the best.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Wednesday, April 25th @ 1pm
North Point Library:
Let's Talk About Books!
The Shop on Blossom Street by
Debbie Macomber
There's a little yarn shop on Blossom Street in Seattle. It's owned by Lydia Hoffman, and it represents her dream of a new life free from cancer. A life that offers a chance at love . . .
Lydia teaches knitting to beginners, and the first class is "How to Make a Baby Blanket." Three women join. Jacqueline Donovan wants to knit something for her grandchild as a gesture of reconciliation with her daughter-in-law. Carol Girard feels that the baby blanket is a message of hope as she makes a final attempt to conceive. And Alix Townsend is knitting her blanket for a court-ordered community service project.
These four very different women, brought together by an age-old craft, make
unexpected discoveries -- about themselves and each other. Discoveries that lead
to friendship and more . . .
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book or
Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Tuesday, April 3rd @ 7pm
Parkville Library:
Reader of the Round Table
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by
James Patterson
Jennifer returns to the resort village where she grew up to help a beloved
relative-and ends up experiencing not one but two of the most amazing love
stories she's ever known.
The first is completely unexpected. In a series of letters that Jennifer finds,
her relative reveals that she has concealed a huge secret for decades: Her great
love is not the man she was married to for all those years. As Jennifer reads
about this passionate partnership, she learns more about love's imperatives and
secrets than she ever dreamed possible. And then comes the biggest surprise of
all. At a time when she thought she could never love again, Jennifer lets her
guard down for a moment-and is suddenly caught up in the greatest flight of
exhilaration she's ever known. But, just as suddenly, she learns that this new
love comes with an unbearable cost.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or E-Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Tuesday, April 17th @ 10am
Perry Hall Library:
Perry Hall Library Reading Group
Dispatches from the Edge by
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper's groundbreaking coverage on CNN has changed the way we watch
the news.
Few people have witnessed more scenes of chaos and conflict around the world.
In this gripping, candid, and remarkably powerful memoir, he offers an
unstinting, up-close view of the most harrowing crises of our time, and the
profound impact they have had on his life—from the tsunami in Sri Lanka to the
war in Iraq, from the starvation in Niger to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in
New Orleans and Mississippi.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Thursday, April 19th @ 7pm
Randallstown:
Books, Coffee and Conversation
Join us for coffee, cookies and lively conversation on the first Tuesday of each
month at 10 a.m. Share thoughts and ideas about your favorite books.
Book Club Meeting:
Tuesday, April 2nd @ 10am
Randallstown Library:
Bookends
Dark Canyon by
Louis L'Amour
Gaylord Riley once rode with the notorious Colburn gang. He did what he had to
do, and was handy with a gun, but the outlaw life led nowhere, and the young man
from Texas knew his luck was bound to run out.
So he headed for the rugged land near Dark Canyon, determined to set up a ranch
and settle down--only to find himself in the middle of a deadly feud between an
arrogant cattleman and a ruthless saloonkeeper. And when Riley's outlaw past
came back to haunt him, it was only a question of who would kill him first: the
cattleman, the saloonkeeper, the local sheriff, or a mob of hotheaded ranchers
spoiling for justice at the end of a rope.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Book Club Meeting:
Wednesday, April 18th @ 7pm
Randallstown Library:
Book Bash (School Age - 9-12yrs)
The Old Willis Place by
Mary Downing Hahn
Diana and her little brother Georgie have been living in the woods behind the
old Willis place, a decaying Victorian mansion, for what already seems like
forever. They aren't allowed to leave the property or show themselves to anyone.
But when a new caretaker comes to live there with his young daughter, Lissa,
Diana is tempted to break the mysterious rules they live by and reveal herself
so she can finally have a friend.
Somehow, Diana must get Lissa's help if she and Georgie ever hope to release
themselves from the secret that has bound them to the old Willis place for so
long.
Mary Downing Hahn has written a chilling ghost story in the tradition of her
most successful spine-tingling novels.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Book Club Meeting:
Thursday, April 19th @ 7pm
Reisterstown Library:
Reisterstown Readers
In Cold Blood by
Truman Capote
On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the
Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches
from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were
almost no clues.
As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the
capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing
suspense and astonishing empathy.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Thursday, April 12th @ 7pm
Towson Library:
Towson Book Club
The Inheritance of Loss by
Kiran Desai
Desai takes us to the northeastern Himalayas where a rising insurgency
challenges the old way of life. In a crumbling, isolated house at the foot of
Mount Kanchenjunga lives an embittered old judge who wants to retire in peace
when his orphaned granddaughter Sai arrives on his doorstep.
The judge's chatty cook watches over her, but his thoughts are mostly with his
son, Biju, hopscotching from one New York restaurant job to another, trying to
stay a step ahead of the INS, forced to consider his country's place in the
world. When a Nepalese insurgency in the mountains threatens Sai's new-sprung
romance with her handsome Nepali tutor and causes their lives to descend into
chaos, they, too, are forced to confront their colliding interests.
The nation fights itself. The cook witnesses the hierarchy being overturned and
discarded. The judge must revisit his past, his own role in this grasping world
of conflicting desires-every moment holding out the possibility for hope or
betrayal.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book format.
Book Club Meeting:
Thursday, April 26th @ 7pm
Towson Library:
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University: Biography Book Club
A continuing discussion led by Jane Byers of American presidents and the
issues of their times.
Read any biography to bring different perspectives to the discussion. New
members welcome.
April's Selections:
Franklin Pearce and James Buchanan
Book Club Meeting:
Friday, April 27th @ 10am
Virtual Book Club:
The Double Blind: A Novel by
Chris Bohjalian
When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle
through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing,
Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter.
There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box
of photographs that he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies suddenly, Laurel
discovers that he was telling the truth: before he was homeless, Bobbie Crocker
was a successful photographer.
As Laurel’s fascination with Bobbie’s former life begins to merge into
obsession, she becomes convinced that some of his photographs reveal a deeply
hidden, dark family secret. Her search for the truth will lead her further from
her old life—and into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to
save her.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book or
Audiobook format.
White Marsh Library:
21-Day Book Club
All the Pretty Horses by
Cormac McCarthy
The national bestseller and the first volume in Cormac McCarthy's Border
Trilogy.
All the Pretty Horses is the tale of John Grady Cole, who at sixteen finds
himself at the end of a long line of Texas ranchers, cut off from the only life
he has ever imagined for himself. With two companions, he sets off for Mexico on
a sometimes idyllic, sometimes comic journey to a place where dreams are paid
for in blood.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or E-Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Wednesday, April 4th @ 7pm
Woodlawn Library:
Woodlawn Book Club
At Canaan's Edge by
Taylor Branch
Branch brings to conclusion his remarkable biography of Martin Luther King Jr.
with this exhaustively researched and compellingly written volume that
powerfully sets forth a portrait of King as a critically important figure in
post-WW II US history.
The book covers the last three years of King's life, proceeding from a
comprehensive treatment of Selma to his martyrdom at Memphis. Branch throws into
clear relief the passionate dedication, tactical flexibility, and charisma that
King brought to his leadership role. His book shows that civil rights, economic
justice, and antimilitarism were connected elements of King's ministry, from
which he would not be shaken. Branch is candid about the reality that King,
subject to immense pressures, was not without frailties.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in Book or Audiobook format.
Book Club Meeting:
Thursday, April 19th @ 7pm
March 2007
Plum Lovin'
by
Janet Evanovich
Watch your back and look both ways, because love is in the air and that means
big trouble!
Mysterious men have a way of showing up in Stephanie Plum's apartment. When the
shadowy Diesel appears, he has a task for Stephanie -- and he's not taking no
for an answer.
Does Diesel have secrets he's keeping from Stephanie and the two men in her life
-- Ranger and Morelli?
With Stephanie Plum in over her head, things are sure to get a little dicey and
a little explosive, Jersey style!
Check the availability of this title at BCPL
in
Book
and
Audiobook format.
The Audacity of Hope
by
Barack Obama
A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and
above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a
book of transforming power.
Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he
says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to
working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with
millions of ordinary Americans.
Those Americans are out there, he writes–“waiting for Republicans and Democrats
to catch up with them.”
Check the availability of this title at BCPL
in
Book
or
Audiobook
format.
For One More Day by
Mitch Albom
This is the story of Charley, a child of divorce who is always forced to
choose between his mother and his father.
He grows into a man and starts a family of his own. But one fateful
weekend, he leaves his mother to secretly be with his father - and she
dies while he is gone. This haunts him for years. It unravels his own
young family. It leads him to depression and drunkenness.
One night, he decides to take his life. But somewhere between this world
and the next, he encounters his mother again, in their hometown, and
gets to spend one last day with her - the day he missed and always
wished he'd had.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL
in
Book
or
Audiobook format.
Born on a Blue Day
by
Daniel Tammet
This unique first-person account offers a window into the mind of a high-functioning, 27-year-old British autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome. Tammet's ability to think abstractly, deviate from routine, and empathize, interact and communicate with others is impaired, yet he's capable of incredible feats of memorization and mental calculation.
As one of only about 50 people living today with synesthesia and autism, Tammet's condition is intriguing to researchers; his ability to express himself clearly and with a surprisingly engaging tone (given his symptoms) makes for an account that will intrigue others as well.
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availability of this title at BCPL
in
Book
or
Audiobook
format.
February 2007
The Color Purple
by
Alice Walker
Published to unprecedented acclaim, The Color Purple established Alice
Walker as a major voice in modern fiction.
Beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate, this is the story of two
sisters-one a missionary in Africa and the other a child wife living in the
South-who sustain their loyalty to and trust in each other across time,
distance, and silence.
This classic work of American literature is rich with passion, pain,
inspiration, and an indomitable love of life.
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in
Book format.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
by
Zora Neale Hurston
One of the most important works of twentieth-century American
literature, Zora Neale Hurston's beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes
Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with
wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom.
Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow,
bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of
fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving
selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials,
and purpose.
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in
Book
or
Audiobook
format.
Beloved by
Toni Morrison
At the center of Toni Morrison's fifth novel, which earned her the 1988
Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is an almost unspeakable act of horror and
heroism: a woman brutally kills her infant daughter rather than allow
her to be enslaved.
The woman is Sethe, and the novel traces her journey from slavery to
freedom during and immediately following the Civil War. Woven into this
circular, mesmerizing narrative are the horrible truths of Sethe's past:
the incredible cruelties she endured as a slave, and the hardships she
suffered in her journey north to freedom. Just as Sethe finds the past
too painful to remember, and the future just "a matter of keeping the
past at bay," her story is almost too painful to read.
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in
Book
or
Audiobook format.
And This Too Shall Pass
by
E. Lynn Harris
In And This Too Shall Pass, Harris takes us into the locker rooms and
newsrooms of Chicago, where four lives are about to intersect in romance and
scandal.
At the heart of the novel is the celibate Zurich, a rookie quarterback for the
Chicago Cougars whose trajectory for superstardom is interrupted by a sexual
assault charge by Mia, a sportscaster with her own sights on fame.
With his career in jeopardy, Zurich hires Tamela, a high-powered attorney, to
defend him, while Sean, a gay sportswriter, covers the story and uncovers his
heart.
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availability of this title at BCPL
in
Book
format.
January 2007
I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
by
Amy Sedaris
The charismatic and multi-talented Amy Sedaris is many things:
actress, author, and yes, David Sedaris' sister.
Now, she takes on the world of entertaining in this blisteringly funny
collection of bizarre tips, recipes and craft ideas (like mini pantyhose
plant-hangers!) perfect for hosting an unforgettable fete.
Your guests will rave!
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in
Book or
Audiobook format.
Why Pandas Do Handstands: And Other Curious Truths About Animals
by
Augustus Brown
Astonishing new facts about animals are discovered every day. Here, gathered
together in one book, are hundreds of the most fascinating, often funny, and,
occasionally, just plain bizarre snippets known about animals freshly gleaned
from the most up-to-date scientific observations and experiments.
With chapters on every aspect of animal life -- from how they communicate with
one another to their highly unusual parenting practices to their lively and
varied sex lives -- Augustus Brown has compiled a charming, educational, and
supremely entertaining book that will satisfy even the most obsessive animal
lover.
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in
Book format.
Lies at the Altar: The Truth About Great Marriages by
Robin Smith
Dr. Robin Smith advises couples on how to take the wedding vows that were made
in earnest and in innocence, to a level where they can be used to build a happy,
healthy, satisfying and long-lasting marriage.
She illustrates her advice with detailed stories from her own life, as well as
from couples that she has counseled. And in her inspiring conclusion, she
invites couples to light up their lives by acknowledging each other as
individuals, each of whom lights a candle, and who lights a third candle which
represents "us".
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in
Book format.
Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-ass Novel
by
Jill Conner Browne
In Jackson, Mississippi, Mary Bennett, Patsy, Gerald, and Jill are high
school classmates whose daily routine is paced like a shuffle through the local
red dirt -- until the arrival of a redheaded newcomer banishes monotony forever.
With her luxurious mane and voluptuous figure, Tammy Myers aspires to join the
silver-spooners, who make things happen in their lives. When Jill convinces
Tammy and the others that money might buy a certain kind of good time and that
true friendship has no price tag, the "Sweet Potato Queens" are born.
"If it ain't fun, we ain't doin' it," runs their official club motto, and the
Queens are true to their word.
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in
Book format.
December 2006
Skipping Christmas
by
John Grisham
Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded malls, no corny
office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents.
That’s just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that,
just this once, they’ll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only
house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty; they won’t be hosting their
annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t
need one, because come December 25 they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise.
But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings
enormous consequences–and isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined.
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book or
Audiobook format.
Holidays on Ice: Stories
by
David Sedaris
Holidays on Ice collects six of David Sedaris' most
profound Christmas stories into one slender volume perfect for use as a
last-minute coaster or ice scraper. This drinking man's companion can be enjoyed
by the warmth of a raging fire, the glow of a brilliantly decorated tree, or
even the backseat of a van or police car. It should be read with your eyes, felt
with your heart, and heard only when spoken to. It should, in short, behave much
like a book. And, oh, what a book it is!
Check the availability of this title at BCPL in
Book
and
Audiobook
format.
Scenes From a Holiday (Short Stories)
by
Laurie Graff
Three women. Three holidays.
Three stories to make that time of year a lot more fun.
It's the perfect time to make a scene. Join Red Dress Ink
authors Laurie Graff (You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs), Caren Lissner (Carrie
Pilby) and Melanie Murray (Miss Bubbles Steals the Show) for a
holiday season to remember!
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in
Book and
eBook format.
50 Relatives Worse Than Yours
by
Justin Racz
They’re kooky, they’re crazy—50 Relatives Worse Than Yours
is a nightmarish family reunion that will have you appreciating your own
weird clan.
Filled with hilarious photographs and bullet points listing all their horrible
characteristics, 50 Relatives Worse Than Yours is perfect...for anyone
who’s embarrassed by some members of their family, which let’s just admit it is
about everyone.
And who knows, you might even recognize a relative or two…
Check the
availability of this title at BCPL in
Book
format.
November 2006
Cancer Vixen (Graphic Novel)
by
Marisa Acocella Marchetto
What happens when a shoe-crazy, lipstick-obsessed, wine-swilling,
pasta-slurping, fashion-fanatic, single-forever, about-to-get-married big-city
girl cartoonist with a fabulous life finds . . . a lump in her breast?” That’s
the question that sets this powerful, funny, and poignant graphic memoir in
motion. In vivid color and with a taboo-breaking sense of humor, Marisa
Acocella Marchetto tells the story of her eleven-month, ultimately triumphant
bout with breast cancer—from diagnosis to cure, and every challenging step in
between.
From raucous New Yorker staff lunches and the star-studded crowd at
Silvano’s restaurant to the rainbow pumps Marisa wears to chemotherapy,
Cancer Vixen is a total original. Marisa’s wit and courage are an
inspiration—she’s a cancer vixen, not its victim.
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BCPL.
In Perfect Light
by
Benjamin Alire Saenz
In Perfect Light is the story of two strong-willed people who are forever
altered by a single tragedy. After Andrés Segovia's parents are killed in a car
accident when he is still a young boy, his older brother decides to steal the
family away to Juárez, Mexico. That decision, made with the best intentions,
sets into motion the unraveling of an American family.
Years later, his family destroyed, Andrés is left to make sense of the chaos -- but he is ill-equipped to make sense of his life. He begins a dark journey toward self-destruction, his talent and brilliance brought down by the weight of a burden too frightening and maddening to bear alone. The manifestation of this frustration is a singular rage that finds an outlet in a dark and seedy El Paso bar -- leading him improbably to Grace Delgado.
Recently confronted with her own sense of isolation and mortality, Grace is an unlikely angel, a therapist who agrees to treat Andrés after he is arrested in the United States. The two are suspicious of each other, yet they slowly arrive at a tentative working relationship that allows each of them to examine his and her own fragile and damaged past. Andrés begins to confront what lies behind his own violence, and Grace begins to understand how she has contributed to her own self-exile and isolation. What begins as an intriguing favor to a friend becomes Grace's lifeline -- even as secrets surrounding the death of Andrés' parents threaten to strain the connection irreparably.
With the urgent, unflinching vision of a true storyteller and the precise,
arresting language of a poet, Sáenz's In Perfect Light bears witness to the
cruelty of circumstance and, more than offering escape, the novel offers the
possibility of salvation.
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Ida B: ...and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid
Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World (Juvenile Fiction)
by
Katherine Hannigan
Who is Ida B. Applewood? She is a fourth grader like no other, living a
life like no other, with a voice like no other, and her story will resonate
long after you have put this book down. How does Ida B cope when outside
forces -- life, really -- attempt to derail her and her family and her future?
She enters her Black Period, and it is not pretty. But then, with the help of
a patient teacher, a loyal cat and dog, her beloved apple trees, and parents
who believe in the same things she does (even if they sometimes act as though
they don't), the resilience that is the very essence of Ida B triumph...and
Ida B. Applewood takes the hand that is extended and starts to grow up.
Check the availability of this title in BCPL.
This Enemy Town
by
Marcia Talley
Hannah Ives is always ready to support others like herself who have been through the gauntlet of fear and uncertainty that a diagnosis of cancer often brings. So when friend and fellow survivor Dorothy Hart asks for help building sets for the Naval Academy's upcoming production of Sweeney Todd, Hannah readily agrees.
But it means associating with an old foe -- a vindictive officer whose accusations once nearly destroyed Hannah's home life. And when one corpse too many appears during a dress rehearsal of the dark and bloody musical, Hannah finds herself accused of murder -- and enmeshed in a web of treachery and deception that rivals the one that damned the "Demon Barber."
Caught up in a drama as sinister as any that has ever unfolded on stage,
Hannah stands to lose everything unless she unmasks a killer before the final
curtain falls ...
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October 2006
Paint it Black
by
Janet Fitch
Josie Tyrell, art model, teen runaway, and denizen of LA's 1980 punk rock
scene, finds a chance at real love with art student Michael Faraday.
A Harvard dropout and son of a renowned pianist, Michael introduces her to his
spiritual quest and a world of sophistication she had never dreamed existed.
But when she receives a call from the Los Angeles County Coroner, asking her
to identify her lover's dead body, her bright dreams all turn to black.
As Josie searches for the key to understanding his death, she finds herself
both repelled and attracted to Michael's pianist mother, Meredith, who holds
Josie responsible for her son's torment. Soon, the two women find themselves
drawn into a twisted relationship reflecting equal parts distrust and blind
need. Passionate, wounded, fiercely alive, Josie Tyrell walks the brink of her
own destruction as she fights to discover the meaning of Michael's death.
With the luxurious prose and emotional intensity that are her hallmarks, Janet
Fitch has written a spellbinding new novel about love, betrayal, and the
possibility of transcendence.
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BCPL.
King Dork
by
Frank Portman
Tom Henderson is a typical American high school loser until he discovers the
book, The Catcher in the Rye, that will change the world as he knows it.
When Tom discovers his deceased father’s copy of the Salinger classic, he finds
himself in the middle of several interlocking conspiracies and at least half a
dozen mysteries involving dead people, naked people, fake people, ESP, blood, a
secret code, guitars, monks, witchcraft, the Bible, girls, the Crusades, a devil
head, and rock and roll.
And it all looks like it’s just the tip of a very odd iceberg of clues that may
very well unravel the puzzle of his father’s death and–oddly–reveal the secret
to attracting semihot girls.
Being in a band could possibly be the secret to the girl thing–but good luck
finding a drummer who can count to four.
Check the availability of this title in BCPL.
I Know This Much is True
by
Wally Lamb
With his stunning debut novel, She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb won the
adulation of critics and readers with his mesmerizing tale of one woman's
painful yet triumphant journey of self-discovery.
Now, this brilliantly talented writer returns with I Know This Much Is True,
a heartbreaking and poignant multigenerational saga of the reproductive bonds of
destruction and the powerful force of forgiveness. A masterpiece that
breathtakingly tells a story of alienation and connection, power and abuse,
devastation and renewal--this novel is a contemporary retelling of an ancient
Hindu myth.
A proud king must confront his demons to achieve salvation. Change yourself,
the myth instructs, and you will inhabit a renovated world.
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I Feel Bad About My Neck
by
Nora Ephron
The woman who brought us When Harry Met Sally,
Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and Bewitched, and the
author of best sellers Heartburn, Scribble Scribble, and Crazy
Salad, discusses everything—from how much she hates her purse to how much
time she spends attempting to stop the clock: the hair dye, the treadmill, the
lotions and creams that promise to slow the aging process but never do. Oh,
and she can’t stand the way her neck looks. But her dermatologist tells her
there’s no quick fix for that.
Ephron chronicles her life as an obsessed cook, passionate city dweller, and
hapless parent. She recounts her anything-but-glamorous days as a White House
intern during the JFK years (“I am probably the only young woman who ever
worked in the Kennedy White House that the President did not make a pass at”)
and shares how she fell in and out of love with Bill Clinton—from a distance,
of course.
But mostly she speaks frankly and uproariously about life as a woman of a
certain age.
September 2006
The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person
in the World
by A.J. Jacobs
To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for
himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of the
Encyclopedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it's a waste of time,
his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney
who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is
encouraging but unconvinced.
With self-deprecating wit and a disarming frankness, The Know-It-All
recounts the unexpected and comically disruptive effects Operation Encyclopedia
has on every part of Jacobs's life -- from his newly minted marriage to his
complicated relationship with his father and the rest of his charmingly
eccentric New York family to his day job as an editor at Esquire.
The Know-It-All is an ingenious, mightily entertaining memoir of one man's
intellect, neuroses, and obsessions, and a struggle between the all-consuming
quest for factual knowledge and the undeniable gift of hard-won wisdom.
Check the availability of this title in
BCPL.
The Girls: A Novel
by Lori Lansens
Since their birth, Rose and Ruby Darlen have been known simply as "the girls."
They make friends, fall in love, have jobs, love their parents, and follow their
dreams. But the Darlens are special. Now nearing their 30th birthday, they are
history's oldest craniopagus twins, joined at the head by a spot the size of a
bread plate.
When Rose, the bookish sister, sets out to write her autobiography, it
inevitably becomes the story of her short but extraordinary life with Ruby, the
beautiful one. From their awkward first steps--Ruby's arm curled around Rose's
neck, her foreshortened legs wrapped around Rose's hips--to the friendships they
gradually build for themselves in the small town of Leaford, this is the
profoundly affecting chronicle of an incomparable life journey.
As Rose and Ruby's story builds to an unforgettable conclusion, Lansens aims at
the heart of human experience--the hardship of loss and struggles for
independence, and the fundamental joy of simply living a life. This is a
breathtaking novel, one that no reader will soon forget, a heartrending story of
love between sisters.
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First Part Last
by Angela Johnson
Bobby's a classic urban teenager. He's restless. He's impulsive. But the thing that makes him different is this: He's going to be a father. His girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant, and their lives are about to change forever. Instead of spending time with friends, they'll be spending time with doctors, and next, diapers. They have options: Keeping the baby, adoption. They want to do the right thing.
If only it was clear what the right thing was.
Check the availability of this title in BCPL.
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog
by John Grogan
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
July 2006
Death in the Garden
by Elizabeth Ironside
In 1925, Diana Pollexfen is acquitted of the
murder of her husband George. She was the popular photographer known as A.D.
Millard but chose to marry George, a politician, for stability and security.
On her thirtieth birthday, Diana invites several of her friends from her
artistic years to help her celebrate. She gathers them together to her studio
to encompass them in costume and take their portraits. George unexpectedly
comes home and creates a scene. No wife of his will have her own career. The
other guests become uncomfortable but what is there to say? The following
evening George is lying dead in the garden having drunk photographic chemicals
mixed in with his cocktail.
Years later, Helena, a solicitor, is learning of the death of her Great Aunt Fox.
Aunt Fox married into the family later in life and although she seemed not to
have family of her own, she took a keen interest in the lives of her new
relatives. Helena is left a large house and a great deal of money, and while
visiting the house she uncovers diaries written by her great aunt. She
discovers that Great Aunt Fox is none other than Diana Pollexfen who may or
may not be a murderess. It is up to Helena to discover the truth in order to
keep her conscience clear when inheriting the property. She must prove to
herself that Diana is indeed innocent in order to reap the spoils.
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this title in BCPL.
Everyman
by Philip Roth
At the end of his life, felled by poor health,
this everyman reflects back on his life, his loves, and his illnesses and
those of his family. He remembers the periods of his life by hospital visits,
what caused them, who was there for him, and how each operation changed his
life and body a little at a time. He looks back over his three failed
marriages and mourns the fact that his frivolity in his earlier years led him
to be alone when it most matters, in his twilight years. Everyman's
protagonist tells a tale of regret, loss, and finally, death.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Front Row: Anna
Wintour, the cool life and hot times of Vogue's editor in chief
by Jerry Oppenheimer
This unauthorized biography of Anna Wintour
follows her from her childhood in England to her rise to power as the editor
in chief of the most influential fashion magazine today. The author speaks to
Anna's family, coworkers and acquaintances to find out her stories and quirks.
The secret of her slenderness is revealed, as is the reason for her
omnipresent dark sunglasses. The magazine world is revealed to be almost
as political as our federal government, and Anna is the ultimate player. Anna
Wintour is the barely disguised subject of the popular novel and movie The
Devil Wears Prada, so if you see or read this title, be sure to pick up
this book about the real "Coldest Wintour".
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this title in BCPL.
June 2006
The Saddlemaker's Wife by Earlene Fowler
Ruby McGavin is overcome with grief when her
husband, Cole, dies in a single car accident after having been married for
only six months. Cole had told Ruby that his family was long dead. She is
shocked to learn that not only is Cole's family very much alive, but that she
has also inherited his share of the family ranch in Cardinal, California. Ruby
travels to Cardinal at Christmas with Cole's ashes, hoping to sell her share
of the ranch back to the family. She finds a fractured family in turmoil, with
a terrible secret. Ruby is horrified to learn of her husband's involvement,
which caused his ultimate suicide. A great family saga!
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this title in BCPL.
The Booster by Jennifer Solow
On the outside, Jillian Siegel has the perfect
life: she's slender, successful and wealthy, with a semi-famous uncle and a
loving boyfriend. On the inside, she's a mess: her relationship with her
mother and her boyfriend suffering, her beloved uncle is dying, and her career
is stalled. The only thing that makes her feel better is shoplifting clothes
from upscale boutiques. However, when she loses her job and gets thrown in
jail for stealing, she loses all control. The only person who she can reveal
herself fully to is Shelly, another thief she meets in jail. The two become
fast friends, and their talent for boosting attracts the attention of some
professional thieves. Jillian must extract herself and Shelly from this
lifestyle before it destroys them both, while facing the issues that cause her
to steal.
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this title in BCPL.
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Daisy is an anorexic Manhattan teen who goes to live with her cousins in England after her father remarries an evil stepmother. Her cousins are delightfully different; Edmond, who is 14, smokes and drives alone to the airport to pick her up. The amount of parental supervision her cousins have is a dramatic change from her world of overbearing and psychiatrist-pushing parents. This is a refreshing change for Daisy, but the idyllic setting is soon shattered by the outbreak of war and the occupation of England by the enemy while her aunt is away. As basic necessities become scarce, the children are split up and sent to live with other families. Daisy and her youngest cousin, Piper, are sent away and must battle against the enemy, well-meaning adults and the elements to get back to Edmund and the rest of the family. This young adult novel is a wonderful illustration of the effects of war on daily life.
Check the availability of this title in BCPL.
May 2006
Savannah Breeze
by Mary Kay Andrews
BeBe Loudermilk is a strong, successful
businesswoman with lousy taste in men. After three divorces, Reddy Millbanks
III, a charming financial consultant who caters to BeBe's every need, looks
like the real deal. Unfortunately Reddy charms BeBe out of her business, home,
money and self-esteem, leaving her with nothing but a run-down motel called
the Breeze Inn on Tybee Island. BeBe is determined to turn the place into a
vacation paradise in short order with the help of her best friend Weezie, and
Harry, the Breeze Inn's cranky handyman. When there is a rumor of a new
sighting of Reddy in Fort Lauderdale, Bebe hits the road with Harry, Weezie,
and her grandfather to reclaim her fortune. Bebe cooks up a great scheme to
scam the scammer! A fun, breezy read full of eccentric characters.
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this title in BCPL.
Cards on the Table
by Agatha Christie
When Mr. Shaitana meets
Hercule Poirot, he makes Poirot aware that he is playing a dangerous game.
An avid collector of antiques and bric-a-brac, Mr. Shaitana has also begun
to collect acquaintances that he claims have committed murder in the past
and have gotten away with it. He invites Poirot to a bridge party along with
a well known mystery writer, a member of the police and a military officer.
Along with four guests that know Shaitana only slightly. While the
detectives are playing bridge in the other room, the four strangers begin a
game as Shaitana naps in the chair. When the evening comes to a close and
they try to rouse Shaitana they realize he has been stabbed with a narrow
jeweled dagger and one of the four in the room must be the murderer. Poirot
must use his little grey cells to solve one of the most intriguing cases of
his career. Delightfully read by Hugh Fraser (Captain Hastings from the A&E
Poirot mystery series). He brings Poirot and the other characters to life in
an enjoyable listening experience.
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this title in BCPL.
It's Called a Break-up
Because It's Broken
By Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
In this part self-help, part
farce sequel to the popular title He's Just Not That Into You, the
Behrendts address what to do after you realize that since he's just not that
into you, you should end it. They address the problems that face many women
after they have been dumped: falling into a depression, acting out, and
retaining hope that the relationship can be resuscitated. The authors cite
examples from readers and include anecdotes from their own lives. They also
include a session at the end for men who have been dumped. This title is
especially good on talking book; the readers manage to improve and intensify
the content.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Labyrinth
by Kate Mosse
Lovers of the
highly popular Da Vinci Code need not fear! Kate Mosse has created a
fascinating story of suspense and intrigue, spanning time in two completely
different time periods. In the first segment set in 2005, a volunteer
archeologist named Alice Tanner stumbles onto a cave in the South of France.
Inside the cave are two skeletons, an empty pouch, a dagger and a ring with a
carved labyrinth on the inside. There is also a carved labyrinth on the wall of
the cave, and words in an unknown language. Alice passes out, is removed from
the cave and lo and behold, the strange ring disappears. She also begins to
suffer from horrible flashbacks. Has she been reincarnated? And to what end?
The second segment in the book is set in 1209 in the south of France. Alais Du
Mas sneaks out of the city in order to gather herbs, and there she finds a
dead man floating in the river, his thumb severed from his hand. She returns
to her father who is the right hand man to the local Viscount, and he travels
back with her, fearing that he knows the identity of the dead man. What
follows is adventure of the highest order. There are secrets floating around
France, both in 1209 and the present day. Books that may contain great power
are being sought by several factions and it is impossible to know who to
trust. Both Alice and Alais have found themselves caught in a terrible web,
seeking answers to their questions and trying to discover where to turn next.
Truly a page turner to satisfy all readers!
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this title in BCPL.
The Lost Painting:
The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece
by Jonathan Harr
An inquisitive graduate student investigating
the history of a lost Caravaggio painting finds a clue in the dusty archives
of a demented elderly woman. The story continues in Dublin, where an Italian
restorer, Sergio Benedetti, starts restoring a grimy painting from a Jesuit
residence and becomes convinced that he has found the long lost painting. As
Harr tracks these converging stories, he intersperses it with the wild and
tragic life of Caravaggio. When the "Taking of Christ" was displayed in the
1990's, it created a tremendous stir in the art world. A fast, fascinating
read.
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this title in BCPL.
Yarn Harlot by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
This hilarious book is a
compilation of essays on knitting and all things relevant to a knitter's life.
Most of the stories are humorous, like the one describing how the return time
looms ever nearer as she and her husband search their rental car for a lost
knitting needle that turns out to be behind her ear. Or the other one about
how she tries to prove to her friend with an allergy to wool that she just
hasn't met the right wool yet. There are some poignant stories mixed in, like
the one about knitting for a baby who dies in childbirth, or knitting for a
friend whose arthritis does not allow her to knit anymore. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
has a blog that is about knitting, so if you like her writing and want to hear
more about her, her yarn, her collection of unfinished objects, and her
family, you can check it out online.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Jar City
By Arnaldur Indridson
Travel to Reykjavik Iceland
for a wonderful mystery featuring Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson. Erlendur has
his own troubles; he suffered through a bad divorce and has little contact
with his ex-wife. He has two children from his marriage, and his daughter Eva
Lind has recently resurfaced into his life wanting money to help finance her
drug addiction. To make matters worse, a corpse was discovered in a basement
apartment. A man named Holberg was hit on the head with a glass ashtray and
the killer has left a cryptic note on the body. There is also an instance of a
bride that has seemingly run from her own wedding and has subsequently
disappeared. It will take all the resources that Erlendur has at his disposal
and the help of his subordinates Sigurdur Oli and Elinborg to solve the
mysteries and bring closure to the cases. Indridason has created likeable
characters and a believable plot line that has made him one of Iceland's best
selling authors. Now we can be lucky enough to read his work, finally
translated by Bernard Scutter.
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this title in BCPL.
Whale Season
by N. M. Kelby
It's no ordinary
Christmas Eve in Whale Harbor, Florida (where there are no whales) for Jesus
has come to town. Wearing a white sheet and the requisite scars in all the
right places, Jesus, aka Dr. Ricardo Garcia, has come to send a few select
residents on to their greater reward. Leon, a used RV salesman, wins a
luxury RV from Jesus in a poker game. During his drunken celebration, Leon
burns down his trailer, is assumed dead, and the real fun begins. Mourning
for Leon is Carlotta, his girlfriend, his ex-wife, Dagmar, the owner of the
"Naughty but Nice" strip club, and good friend Sheriff Trot Jeeter. Luckily
Leon is released from the hospital in time to enjoy his own funeral, but
will the good Sheriff Jeeter be able to stop "Jesus" before any real
funerals take place? An irreverent, dark comedy.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
February 2006
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst
Dog by John Grogan
There are dogs, and then there was
Marley. Marley was a category five hurricane on four legs whose destruction
knew no bounds. He ate the furniture, jewelry, drywall, doorframes, and even
the paint off of the walls in the garage during a thunderstorm. Marley even
bore the distinction of having been expelled from obedience school. Pet
tranquilizers seemed to have little effect. And yet Marley loved his family
unconditionally, as dogs do. He provided a shoulder to cry on when a pregnancy
ended in miscarriage, and later stood sentry over each newborn. This much
loved dog quite broke the mold! An engaging read for animal lovers!
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this title in BCPL.
Dog Days by Ana Marie Cox
Readers may know Ana Marie Cox better as Wonkette, creator of the political
blog by the same name. Here she uses her acerbic wit and insider knowledge of
the workings of the nation's capital to create an entertaining novel loaded
with sex and political intrigue. Melanie Thornton is a campaign staffer for
Democrat John Hillman, whose presidential aspirations are threatened by a
scandal reminiscent of the Swift Boat controversy that hurt John Kerry's
chances in 2004. To divert public attention away from that story (and from her
affair with a well-known journalist who also happens to be married), Melanie
uses an online blog called Capitolette to create a fictitious sex scandal. Dog
Days is a juicy and sometimes trashy political read from an astute observer of
today's Washington scene.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
January 2006
Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or
Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door
by Lynne Truss
Lynne Truss, the author of
Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, brings us another witty volume about problems we
face in the world today. She has been noticing that people seem to be getting
ruder and ruder, and has divided this rudeness into six distinct categories
that illustrate the decline in civility. Chapters such as "Was that so hard
to say?" about common words like "please" or "thank you" that cost nothing and
can really make a person's day. Or "why am I the one doing this?" about
things like complicated telephone trees and the fact that self service is
everywhere. Why are we the ones doing so much in service industries when it
used to be so nice having others do for us? Truss doesn't offer up solutions
(other than staying home and bolting the door), but she does create food for
thought, rife with insight, humor and style. She has become one of the
foremost humorists of our time, and Talk to the Hand is another wonderful
example. Truss is able to say in words what many of us are thinking and
feeling, and Talk to the Hand is great for those in customer service related
fields looking for a way to improve, or for the harried consumer who needs a
kindred spirit.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Fans of "magical
realism" will find Kafka on the Shore an enticing read. Fifteen-year-old
Kafka Tamura has run away from home from a negligent father, randomly
choosing the town of Kakamatsu. There he finds solace in a special, private
library run by a transgendered clerk and a head librarian whom Kafka
believes is his long lost mother. One day Kafka wakes and finds himself
bloody and beaten, with no memory of the incident. A few days later he finds
that his father had been murdered, and Kafka becomes a suspect. A parallel
story centers around an elderly named Nakata, who also murders a stranger.
This strange man can neither read nor write, but has the unique ability to
speak to cats. Originally a very bright child, his memory was completely
wiped clean by a strange incident in the mountains when his entire class
fell ill and fainted for a number of hours. Only Nakata never recovered.
While Kafka and Nakata never meet, their fates draw them inexplicably to
Takamatsu, to a powerful ending.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Wolves in Chic Clothing
by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman
Another contender in the
world of chick lit! Julia Pearce, fresh from the wine country of California,
has come to New York City to make her dream of becoming a jewelry designer
come true. She starts out by working at a Pelham's, a big prestigious jewelry
store, reminiscent of Tiffany's or Harry Winston, and is noticed by the
socialite jewelry heiress, Lell Pelham. Lell and her friends decide to perform
a Henry Higgins style transformation on Julia, telling her what to wear and
how to act, and even passing her off as an heiress herself. Julia is surprised
but flattered and excited about the attention, but when Lell's husband takes
more than a passing interest in Julia, it quickly becomes clear that Julia is
out of her league.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Saving Fish from Drowning
by Amy Tan
Bibi Chen, San Francisco socialite and art expert, has planned a trip to the
Burma Road for twelve of her friends when she unexpectedly dies. Undeterred,
her twelve friends decide to take the trip anyway in Bibi's memory, and Bibi's
spirit decides to go along as well, narrating the trip from beyond the grave.
After a series of mishaps the trip really falls apart when eleven of the
travelers are kidnapped by a tribe on Christmas Day. Convinced that Rupert,
the teenager in the group who performs magic card tricks, is the reincarnation
of their god Younger White Brother, the group vanishes with the tribe into the
mountains. A cast of quirky characters makes this book, based on a true story,
an entertaining read.
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this title in BCPL.
The Lighthouse by P.D. James
P.D. James is back with another taut crime novel featuring Adam Dalgliesh and
his team of hard working officers. This time they head to Combe Island, an
isolated island that provides a respite from the world for rich and famous
guests. Renowned author Nathan Oliver arrives with his daughter and his
secretary / editor. Destined to ruffle more than a few feathers on the island,
Oliver is dissatisfied with his daughter's choice for a spouse, and the fact
that his editor has become her betrothed. He has a bone to pick with several
of the guests that are also staying on the island, due to social experiments
he arranged in order to get the perfect reactions in his novels. To make
matters worse, he plans on settling permanently on the island, creating a
flutter among the staff. When his body is discovered hanging from the
lighthouse, no one seems shocked or surprised. Adam Dalgliesh arrives to
ascertain motive and alibi, in order to track down this wily killer.
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this title in BCPL.
Candy Freak: A
Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond
Self-proclaimed "candy freak" Steve Almond begins his book with a couple of
confessions: he has eaten at least one piece of candy every day of his life,
and he has at least three to seven pounds of candy in his house at all times.
With this passion for sweets and nostalgia for the candy of yore (remember
Bottle Caps? the Marathon bar?), Almond embarks on a quest to discover the
origins of candy in America. He is quickly rebuffed by the major
manufacturers, however, and discovers how secretive the Big Three candy makers
- Nestle, Hershey's and Mars - really are. Deciding to focus instead on
smaller, friendlier candy companies, Almond travels across America visiting
such cities as Philadelphia (Goldenberg's Peanut Chews), Burlington (Lake
Champlain Chocolates), Sioux City (Twin Bing), Nashville (Goo Goo Cluster),
and Boise (Idaho Spud). In addition to receiving many much appreciated free
samples, Almond learns the ins and outs of the candy business, and how
difficult it is for small candy makers to exist in the shadow of the Big
Three. Candy Freak is humorous, informative, and a must-read for anyone with a
sweet tooth!
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this title in BCPL.
Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen
by Julie Powell
Julie Powell is 29, working at a dead end secretarial job at a
government agency, and has just moved to wretched apartment in Long Island
City. For no good reason she decides to cook all of Julia Child's 524 recipes
from Mastering the Art of French Cooking vol. 1 in 365 days in her tiny
apartment kitchen. She also keeps a blog running throughout the year to let
people know of her progress and from this her book was born. Join Julie on her
year long adventure as she learns new and inventive ways to kill lobsters, and
boil calves feet for aspic. Along the way you'll meet her family, her ever
patient husband Eric, friends, and some evil co-workers. For this fun read,
the year ended much too soon!
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this title in BCPL.
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
15-year-old Liz Hall finds herself in Elsewhere after a hit-and-run accident.
It takes her some time to realize that she is actually dead, as are all the
inhabitants of Elsewhere. Elsewhere is similar enough to Earth that it's not
obvious right away that all the inhabitants are dead, one clue is that the
aging process is backwards, culminating with a baby being sent back to Earth
to be born again. Liz has trouble dealing with her death and the separation
from her old life, family and friends, but will she be able to accept death
and live out her time on Elsewhere to the fullest? The book can be found in
the Young Adult section, but its subject matter is relevant for all ages.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
My Friend Leonard
by James Frey
In this sequel to
Oprah's Bookclub and New York Times bestseller A Million Little Pieces,
James Frey continues the story of his life after rehab. Every day is a
struggle to battle the demons of alcohol, drugs, and 'the rage', but with the
help of Frey's friend Leonard, an influential 'businessman', he manages to
continue on in life. Leonard has asked Frey to act as the son he never had,
and he is there for him, whether that means taking him out to cheer him up,
getting him a job, or taking care of threatening neighbors. You will enjoy and
appreciate Leonard's love of life and appreciation for the beauty in
everything. Frey has constructed a worthy memorial for his friend in this
book.
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this title in BCPL.
Zorro
By Isabel Allende
A swashbuckling adventure story for adults! Allende has crafted an
entertaining tale, starting with Zorro's birth as Diego de la Vega in
California in 1795 and recounting his growth to manhood in Spain where he
first becomes Zorro. A man of two worlds, Diego's mother is a fierce Shoshone
warrior while his father is an aristocratic Spanish military man. Raised along
with him is Bernardo, his wet nurse's son and "milk brother," who is his
friend for life. Diego learns early of the injustices in life, and the
oppression of the Indians in California. While being educated in Catalonia,
Diego is recruited into the secret society La Justicia which is dedicated to
fighting all forms of oppression. Along the way Zorro falls in love, fights a
rival enemy, tangles with pirates and sweeps the reader along on a thrilling
journey!
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this title in BCPL.
The Wild Parrots of
Telegraph Hill
by Mark Bittner
In the early 1970s, Mark Bittner moved to San Francisco to lead the life of a
"dharma bum". Twenty years later he still hadn't found himself, but he began
to feed a flock of wild parrots near the house he was caretaking on Telegraph
Hill. Over time he became more and more fascinated by them, and eventually
earned their trust. As he studied their behavior, he came to find that each
bird had its own personality. His involvement with the birds gained him local
celebrity, and when a documentary filmmaker decided to do a story on "The
Birdman of Telegraph Hill," romance bloomed. This charming memoir by a man who
found fulfillment by caring for and coming to know a flock of urban parrots is
a must-read for animal lovers and spiritual seekers alike.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
The Perfectionist: Life and Death in Haute Cuisine
by Rudolph Chelminski
In the world of gastronomy in France, no award comes higher
than the third star to a restaurant listed in the Michelin Red Guide. Started
by the Michelin tire company, the guide strives to remain pure even today, the
inspectors take no bribes, all meals are paid for and there is no money taken
for advertising. To Bernard Loiseau, winning the third star became his life's
ambition. Starting as an apprentice to the famed Troisgros brothers, Bernard
began his career shoveling coal and performing menial tasks. But his
wisecracking nature and proclivity for boasting almost bode ill for Bernard;
Pierre Troisgros did not recommend him for a plum transfer when his days of
apprenticing were over. Bernard found work in a restaurant that practiced a
nouvelle cuisine, and eventually he landed in Saulieu in the Cote d'Or.
Stripped from the start that it once had held, and completely removed from the
Red Guide, Bernard had his work cut out for him. But his winning personality,
his people pleasing nature and his courtship of the press all worked in his
favor, that and an unfailing dedication to the Cote d'Or, putting it above
all, even his own family. His was a cuisine of essences, shunning the famous
French sauces and allowing the flavors of the ingredients to shine through.
Tragically, Bernard could not maintain this lifestyle forever, and in 2003
took his own life. Rudolph Chelminski writes a biography with grace and style,
a fitting portrait of a man who was at the top of his game before plummeting
into the depths of despair. His descriptions of the cuisine of France, the
history of the Michelin Red Guide, and the characters that keep the
gastronomical world turning make for an enjoyable, interesting and tasty read.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
The Interruption of Everything
By Terry McMillan
Marilyn Grimes, the forty-something-year-old narrator has reached a crossroads
in her life. She's always been the family caretaker but her children are in
college and no longer need, or seem to appreciate her. Her long-time marriage
to Leon has grown stale, and he shows signs of his own midlife crisis by
wearing velour leisure suits and hip-hop clothing. Arthurine, her
mother-in-law, came for a short visit with her geriatric poodle Snuffy and has
never left. Her own mother is showing troubling signs of Alzheimer's while
caring for her drug addicted daughter's children. Luckily she has two
wonderful friends, Bunny and Paulette, who can find humor in the most dire of
situations. Full of humor and hope, most women of a certain age can find a
little of themselves in this engaging book.
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this title in BCPL.
A Million Little Pieces
by James Frey
This is James Frey's harrowing tale of drug rehab. He has reached the point in
his life where he knows he will die if he doesn't recover from his horrible
drug and alcohol addiction, and he enters rehab with the knowledge that if he
doesn't succeed, he will not survive. He goes through some horrible
experiences, including getting a root canal without any painkillers or
anesthesia of any kind, but he also makes connections of the kind he has never
had with anyone, including his family. He meets and falls in love with Lily,
he becomes a surrogate son to Leonard, and he manages to offer guidance to a
federal judge. This is a fascinating tale that you won't be able to put down.
Frey's sequel, My Friend Leonard, has just been published.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
August 2005 Selections-
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Never Let Me Go,
the newest novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (Booker Prize-winning author of The
Remains of the Day), is narrated by Kathy, a "carer" and former student at
Hailsham, an elite private school. As Kathy faces a major change in her life,
she finds herself becoming nostalgic for her schooldays at Hailsham. As Kathy
tells stories of her days there with her friends Ruth and Tommy to the
"donors" she is caring for, we gradually realize that Hailsham is no ordinary
private school. Why were these students so special? And what is the destiny
that seems to be mapped out for them? Ishiguro's lyrical writing style pulls
the reader in, slowly revealing the school's secrets until at the end of the
story we finally realize the full impact of this cautionary tale.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Black Fly Season
by
Giles Blunt
Spring brings out thick swarms of black flies in Algonquin Bay, Canada, so the
locals know to stay inside. When a red haired woman shows up in a local bar
covered in bites and acting very strangely, people notice. It seems that the
unfortunate redhead has a bullet in her brain, no identification, and no
memory. She is assigned to homicide team John Cardinal and Lisa Delorme for
protection but she becomes a bit slippery. As usual, all is not what it seems
and the team is soon pulled into a world of biker gangs, drugs and a strange
cult with an affinity for ritualistic murder. This page turner is based on a
real case.
Check the availability of
this title in BCPL.
Turn the Beat Around: The
Secret History of Disco
by Peter Shapiro
Love it or hate it, the nostalgia we have for disco remains and is still going
strong. The sound of the cowbells and high-hat, the strong bass line and the
soaring vocals can even make the stodgiest begin to tap their feet. Peter
Shapiro helps us dust off our platform shoes and our satin body suits in an
attempt to chronicle the history of a sound that captured the nation. From
its roots in Nazi Germany where a group of "swing kids" began to meet and
dance to the sounds of the first DJ's to the transformation of disco into
techno and Hi-NRG, Shapiro covers it all. Disco was a celebration of life and
self, a music that combined cultures and crossed barriers, bringing people
together into one great party. The New York club scene was an exclusive
place, celebrities could gather at 54 and only the beautiful and the best
could enter the hallowed halls. Eventually it spawned a craze, suburbanites
were lining up to dance all across the nation and we were besieged with
(gasp!) roller-boogie and the schmaltz of the Village People. Then in 1979, a
riot at Comiskey Park brought the destruction of thousands of disco albums and
the end of Disco as a mainstream musical genre. But take heart, Disco has
survived, acts have been resuscitated and popular 70's nights are bringing in
crowds all over the U.S. Shapiro chronicles the history, from important
musicians like Chic, Cerrone and Sister Sledge to all the clubs that brought
about the birth of the extended play and the 12 inch single. Truly an
engrossing rea
