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Unique Critiques...
Reviews of Books, Movies, Music, and Miscellanea by the Staff of the Baltimore
County Public Library
Reviews for 2009: | Jan |
Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
Jun | Jul & Aug
| Sep & Oct
| Nov |
Reviews for 2008: | Sep
| Oct | Nov
& Dec |
The Battle for America
by Dan Balz & Haynes Johnson
Reading the Battle for America brought back many memories and many new insights into the most exhilarating and exciting election the nation has experienced. Balz and Johnson manage to condense two years of campaigning and rivalry into a gripping insightful book. The book provides not only a great analysis and summary of the primaries and election, but it also includes excellent interviews with top campaign aides and new revealing campaign memos. While we all know the outcome of the election and primaries, the book gives new insight into Obama’s doubts, McCain’s internal blunders, and the final decision that made Sarah Palin a household name. It’s a great read and one that will help you relive every moment of that exciting 2008 presidential campaign from start to finish. – Joe Crock (WH)
The Devil’s
Eye
by Jack McDevitt
The interstellar antiquities dealer Alex Benedict and his partner Chase Kolpath are reunited on an adventure when they receive a cryptic message for help (and a huge sum of money) from famed horror writer Vicki Greene. When they attempt to contact Ms. Greene they learn that she has received a “mind wipe” and now has no memory of her past life. Alex and Chase decide to retrace Ms. Greene’s last whereabouts and activities, which leads them to the far away planet of Salud Afar, known for its ghastly legends. There, they uncover a chilling secret and coverup of unparalleled proportions. – Dave LaPenotierre (WH)
Still Alice
by Lisa Genova
At the age of 50, Alice Howland appears to have it all: a successful career as a nationally respected Harvard professor, a loving husband, and three grown children finding their paths in the world. After a series of increasingly alarming memory lapses, Alice is stunned to learn that she is a victim of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. What follows is a heartbreaking, terrifying journey into the life and mind of a brilliant woman who refuses to give in to her cruel fate without a fight. Told from Alice’s point of view, the author succeeds in crafting a memorable story about the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on the victim as well as on her family. First-time novelist Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist intimately familiar with her topic. The result is a beautifully written, medically accurate tale that often reads like a true account. Highly recommended! – Yvette May (WH)
Womenomics
by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay
Womenomics is an excellent book about writing your own rules for success. It begins with a discussion on the importance of women in companies, as well as the benefits of having women in top managerial and executive positions. According to the authors, companies that employ a larger percentage of women are more profitable. Women in leadership positions are more nurturing of subordinates, preferring consensus to confrontation and empathy over ego. In addition, women’s natural social skills translate well in the business environment. The authors point out that today’s women achieve their career goals by working smarter without putting in longer hours. Maintaining a flexible schedule can also help them perform more effectively. These suggestions are already taken to heart by the younger generations, who realize that they can achieve more balance in their lives without sacrificing their work ethic. The book offers helpful suggestions for women who need to say goodbye to guilt and fear to negotiate more time for themselves. – Pari Gadhia (WH)
Almost Home
by Pam Jenoff
Get ready for a suspenseful book with several twists and turns. American diplomat Jordan Weiss returns to England where she spent part of her college years at the beckoning of a school friend who is ill. She has not been back since an accident that took the life of her college boyfriend. Weiss simultaneously investigates organized crime as part of her job, reconnects with and supports college pals, and tries to seek answers to her boyfriend’s death. Things are not as they seem in the alleys of London or the back roads of Cambridge. In the end, Weiss finds “home” in her in searching. – Kathleen MacCubbin (RO)
With the very-able help of the people in BCPL’s ILS department (thank you!), and the reissue of many of his books in paperback and on CD that BCPL are purchasing, Nero Wolfe has made a triumphant return in my reading-life. I had forgotten how well Rex Stout writes; his descriptions of characters, settings and situations, as well as his very-exciting mysteries that have given me many hours of sheer pleasure, whether I’m listening while riding to work or cleaning my house.
Rex Stout began writing the Nero Wolfe mysteries in 1934, with the publishing of Fer-De-Lance, and continued until 1975 with the publication of A Family Affair (Death Times Three was published posthumously in 1985). During these years, his novels reflected happenings in the world such as World War II, the “Red Scare,” and the Vietnam War, as well as the rise of television (an invention that Wolfe hates and takes great pleasure in turning off!). Wolfe’s trusty sidekick, Archie Goodwin, provides both complete narration and hilarious commentary on the happenings in the New York City brownstone, ably aided by Fritz Brenner, Saul Panzer and the other detectives who Wolfe employs.
If you choose to listen to these books on either tape or CD, you are in for a real treat. Michael Pritchard is a fantastic narrator and draws the listener into the action every time. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest book or CD shelf and start your Wolfe-adventure! – Susan Maranto (RO)
Dog
on It
by Spencer Quinn
Did you ever wish that your dog could tell the story of your life instead of you? Chet, a K-9 police school dropout, lives with Bernie, a somewhat unsuccessful, divorced private-eye. At the beginning of Dog on It, Bernie is approached by a prospective client whose teenaged daughter Madison has “disappeared,” only to reappear a short time later. When Madison REALLY disappears, Chet and Bernie are on the trail, and before the case ends, they will encounter kidnappers and really BAD guys in their quest to find Madison. This is the first of a series with Chet and Bernie. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures! – Susan Maranto (RO)
Little Bee: A Novel
by Chris Cleave
A 16-year-old Nigerian orphan who calls herself Little Bee suffers brutality on a beach in her homeland. Resourceful and intelligent, she insinuates herself into the lives of a well-off British couple who are dealing with their own demons. Lest you think you’ll be overwhelmed by the harrowing events of Little Bee’s trials and the sad state of Sarah and Andrew’s lives, never fear. Little Bee’s narration, which puts us in her head, sweeps you along and even uplifts. A remarkable lead character and fine language and writing make this a memorable read. – Susan Bath (RO)
Bicycle
Diaries
by David Byrne
Artist, Talking Heads co-founder, and recreational cyclist David Byrne travels the world, offering insights, impressions, anecdotes and passing whimsy from atop the seat of his folding bicycle. Few topics are left unexplored by Byrne, as he shares reflections on everything from decaying urban landscapes to cultural isolation. Along the way, readers are introduced to contemporary artists, accompanying musicians, and historical figures that add a layer of eccentricity to Byrne's travels. The light conversational handling of such complex and varied topics reminds one of a late night conversation with a curious, well-read friend. – Brad Keene (RO)
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs: The Making of a
Surgeon
By Dr. Michael Collins Blue
Collar,
Blue Scrubs is a memoir written by Dr. Michael Collins, an orthopedic surgeon. Collins, the eldest of eight Irish-Catholic boys being raised in Chicago in the 1960s, was living at home, working for a construction company breaking up concrete and frequenting the local bars after graduating from Notre Dame. He writes candidly and with a dry humor about his decision to become a doctor despite his lack of a pre-med background, his difficulties in both getting into medical school and then finding the tuition as well as romancing the girl whom he eventually marries. Collins’ voice comes through as a gifted storyteller in this sometimes poignant and often hilarious accounting. – L.H. (TO)
Short Girls
By Bich Minh Nguyen
The title refers to Van and Linny Luong, first generation Vietnamese-American sisters who grew up in Michigan. Nerdy Van is a hot shot immigration lawyer with the “perfect” marriage to a Chinese-American. Linny is single, a fashion plate, and has never finished college. She works for a business like “Let’s Dish” in Chicago while having an affair with a client’s husband. Their father has always been an embarrassment because of his inventions for “short” people and his refusal to become a naturalized citizen. However, as the book opens he announces he is becoming a citizen and the girls must show up for the ceremony and the party he is throwing afterward. This proves to be the catalyst that helps them each to reconnect and move forward. Nguyen makes the struggles and experiences of each of these characters very real and understandable and you want them to succeed. – R.H. (TO)
Julie & Julia (Movie)
I never watched Julia Child when she was on television, but the friend I went to the movie with said that Meryl Streep caught her perfectly. This is a laugh-out-loud and two-Kleenex movie which flips back and forth between the 1940s/50s, as Julia Child finds her passions in life (eating, cooking and writing cook books), and 2002/03, as Julie Powell blogs and cooks her way through every recipe in Julia Child’s The Art of French Cooking in one year and ultimately reaches her life’s desire of becoming a published author. Be sure you’ve eaten before you go or you’ll be ravenous when you come out. – R.H. (TO)
The Magicians
By Lev Grossman
Quentin Coldwater is no Harry Potter. He's older when he gets an invitation to wizard school (wizard college in Quentin's case), for one thing, and that age difference creates some of the charm of The Magicians as well as some of the problems with it.
Quentin arrives at Brakebills, his parallel to Hogwarts, by a seeming accident and is immediately thrust into an incomprehensible entrance exam. He flies through the calculus portion of the test, but is surprised when a rabbit he has to draw begins to hop about the page until he can draw the fences to restrain it. Details about Quentin's classes are relatively sparse; instead, the book concentrates more on Quentin's relationships. Imagine all the teenage angst of college, combined with the difficulties of magic. No "swish-and-flick" here: working magic depends on memorizing and applying endless rules, conditions and exceptions. Quentin eventually learns that Fillory, a Narnia parallel, is real, but adventuring there can be deadly.
While I can see how The Magicians is billed as Harry Potter for an older audience – there's drinking, sex, and angst – I fail to see why reviewers have praised it so much. Quentin Coldwater is not an engaging character, and Grossman does not enliven his book with the sense of wonder Rowling brought to her books. – D.R.F. (TO)
Pandora.com or the Music Genome Project (Web site) I came across Pandora radio by chance one day. After I explored the Web site, I realized it is worth passing along to others. In a nutshell, you tell the Web site what kind of music you like, or a particular artist or group you prefer. Then it will personalize a radio station for you that only plays the type of music you have chosen. You can actually create up to 100 unique "stations." When you select an artist, group or music genre, Pandora analyzes your selection for its musical qualities and pulls together a “radio station” that plays similar types of music. You also have a wide choice of genres to choose, such as “alternative,” “blues,” “rock,” “country,” “oldies” and many more. Or you can just type in your favorite artist.
This Web site started out in 2000 as the Music Genome Project. A team of musical analysts listened to all types of music, one song at a time, and captured the musical details, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, vocals and lyrics, of each song. It is an ongoing project which keeps up with new music coming out every day. Pandora provides access to a vast storehouse of music.
There are a few downsides to Pandora radio. The biggest is that you only get to play 40 hours of free music per month, and then the music will stop. Of course, you have the option to pay for unlimited listening hours. Periodically, the music will stop and Pandora will ask if you want to continue. This is annoying, but it’s also a good reminder. And then there is the pesky advertising, but that’s what allows the site to be free. So, if you have a few minutes, give Pandora a try and see what you think. – K.B. (TO)
The Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts
By Leisure Arts
This is a great book for crafters, anyone looking for a great activity for kids (think birthday parties or scout/4-H groups) or holiday presents. The directions are clear, the photos are wonderful and the items used are things you can find around your house. There is nothing worse than a craft using recycled materials that you can only find at a salvage yard. The supplies are the things you are putting in your curbside recycle bin – plastic, paper, glass, cans – and there is even a chapter on recycling parts of clothing to make into something “new.” – A.L. (TO)
Snitch
by Alison van Diepen
Julia and her friends had a deal – no gangs! Ever since seventh grade, they have sworn to each other that they would not allow the gang culture of their New York high school ruin their futures. But then Julia meets and falls in love with Eric, a new student. No one seems to know much about him and he is quite cryptic about his past.
They break up when she uncovers that Eric was a Crip in the past, and he has succumbed to the pressure to join the Crips at their school. Eventually, her feelings for him overshadow her repugnance of the gang lifestyle and she joins Eric. She feels protected by the gang, but drugs, sex and violence are rampant, and when Eric begins to lie to her, Julia has grave misgivings. But getting out is not easy. It usually happens only when you die.
Van Diepen realistically depicts the world of the gangbanger and the insidious nature of lifelong protection, with no escape. Julia and Eric are authentic characters in a real-life tragedy. Their stories offer hope, but their friends are not always so lucky. Plot twists and a surprise ending keep things intense. Snitch presents an important object lesson for today’s teens. It should resonate with Baltimore area youth, in particular, because of the intimidation of the “Don’t Snitch!” campaign of the past few years. – L.S. (WO)
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
To read Stockett’s first novel is a very powerful experience, sometimes tragic, but also uplifting. In it, she eloquently transports us back to Jackson, MS in the early 1960s, a time of racial unrest. In the words of Aibileen and Minny, we are introduced to two maids who are forced to tolerate the prejudices of their white employers. Along comes Eugenia Skeeter Phelan, a young white woman, back from college, who finds herself being drawn into the plight of these and other black maids. During the process, she begins to question the values of her peers, her family and herself. Sometimes heartbreaking, there are also some very tender moments, especially Aibileen's relationship with Mae Mobley, the child of her employer. Who will ever be able to forget the Green Martian Luther King? – M.B. (WO)
Trouble
by Gary D. Schmidt “
If you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.” And so begins the latest of Mr. Schmidt’s novels. But trouble has a way of finding two families, one proud of its Boston heritage and the other Cambodian which has a terrible past that haunts them, as well as the reader. The lives of both are laced together, but the knot is finally broken in the conclusion. Mr. Schmidt stays fast to his New England roots and with wonderful lyrical language he weaves a tale about these simple, yet complex, characters and the coastal landscape in which they live. With flashes of humor and an intriguing plot, this is a fast and fun read. I promise you’ll want to read his other books. – N.C. (WO)
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
by Rebecca Miller
Here’s the tale of a woman with a wild history in search of a little security. The story picks up, following the titular character after Herb, the husband 30 years her senior, instigates the first major lifestyle change since their marriage: Fiftyyear- old Pippa has moved with her husband into “Wrinkle Village,” a retirement community. Despite evidence to the otherwise, Pippa tries to convince herself that she can handle this premature step forward in life, but the comfort that she worked so hard to obtain when she was young begins to come crashing down around her. Pippa is accompanied by a cast of generally amiable characters and the book really sinks its hooks into you through the way each intertwines with the unraveling of Pippa’s status quo.
The book may be the topic of some upcoming hype as a movie has been filmed, though I’ve seen no publicized American release planned. The film, featuring a cast that includes Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin, Keanu Reeves, and Winona Ryder, has been screened at several film festivals and begins its theatrical release July 10, in the UK. – B.M. (WO)
The Teahouse Fire
by Ellis Avery
Left alone in late-19th-century Japan following a fire, 9-year-old Aurelia Bernard has the good fortune to be adopted by the Shin family, masters of temae, or tea ceremony, for hundreds of years. Because on the voyage to Japan she had begun to grasp the language, the family convinced themselves she was not a foreigner, just a slow child. Taken under wing by 16-year-old Shin Yukako, daughter of the house, for the next 25 years Urako, as she is renamed, and Yukako embark on a journey of growth and intimacy that first unites then drives them apart. The beauty and discipline of the Japanese tea ceremony is contrasted with the change and chaos that marks the beginning of westernization in Japan. Elegantly written and immensely informative about not only tea ceremony but of Japanese life at the time, this is, as one reviewer wrote, “a story as alluring as it is powerful.” – Lisa Wanzie-Armstrong (WO) Closing Time by Joe Queenan Joe Queenan, known for his smart and cynical essays and books on movies, music, television and all aspects of popular culture, here presents the story of his coming-of-age in Philadelphia. Raised by an alcoholic and physically abusive father and an oblivious mother, Queenan and his three sisters are moved from one poor and depressing neighborhood to another. They are left to rely on the kindness of relatives and their own inner resources to make their way in the world and break out of the family cycle of poverty and abuse. Joe seeks solace and escape at various jobs and schools, and describes his relationships with an assortment of mentors and surrogate fathers he meets along the way. The story is written with Queenan’s usual flair for language, sense of humor and appreciation of the absurd, and the result is an inspirational story of transcending a challenging childhood to achieve success and happiness. – J.K. (WO)
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
In this charming story that takes place in 1899, we find 11-year-old Calpurnia Tate (Callie Vee to her family) becoming an avid naturalist under her grandfather's tutelage. She would rather spend hours with her grandfather collecting Texas animal and plant life and recording it in her journal than learn how to knit socks under her mother's eye. She and her grandfather discover a plant never before documented; while waiting for word from The Smithsonian, she takes cooking lessons from her family's cook, learns to play the piano, is instructed in the proper ways of a young woman, and begins to think about what her life would be like if she were to go to the university. This is a unique story about growing up at the turn of the century, well written with a wry wit. Quite possibly a Caldecott winner. – D.N. (WO)
Beach
Trip
by Cathy Holton
Join four women as they meet in the Outer Banks of North Carolina 30 years after
graduating from college. Lola, Mel, Sarah and Annie were best friends and
roommates at a small, southern liberal arts college in the 1980s, despite their
different backgrounds and personalities. While they have kept in touch and a few
have met up over the years, as a foursome, the roommates have gone their
separate ways and drifted apart; they have not all been together since college
graduation. The author moves the reader back and forth between the college years
and the present. As the stories unfold, the complicated history between these
women comes to light. There are issues the women must face as individuals and as
a group. During the trip, some longstanding sore points are resolved, but an
unexpected ending really brings the story full circle. If you like to read about
women’s friendships, southern literature or – as the title implies – beach
trips, you’ll enjoy this book. The reunion of these four strong women will stay
with you long after you read the last page.— H.G.(AO-M&D)
Drood
by Dan Simmons
Charles Dickens' final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was a whodunit that was never completed due to his untimely death. That's a tough enigma for mystery lovers with a hankering for sleuthing but especially vexing since the work was curiously dark and sinister beyond even Dickens' normal propensity for the grimy underside of Victorian London. Opium dens, psychotic villains, and a lime pit grave all figure predominantly in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Simmons' Drood is an inspired novel that twists the storylines of Dickens' life, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and a pinch of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus into a single narrative conceit: namely that Dickens' real life friend, literary rival Wilkie Collins, is a Salieri style poser who is observing the gothic obsessions that seem start to haunt Dickens' life and his writings after the horrific Staplehurst rail crash that nearly killed him. The real fun comes from trying to sort out if Dickens is truly entering some haunted obsession or if Collin's opium addiction from laudanum is projecting jealous and drug-addled illusions onto his friendship with the great writer.
Occasionally Simmons overindulges his need to utilize the prodigious research that he no doubt undertook for the novel but this thick but fast paced novel will have you googling Dickens, Drood, and Collins to see what is true and what is Simmons' creation. Riveting for history and literature fans Drood stands on its own as a unique and unusual fiction creation. -Michael Stevens (Information Services)
A Little Bit Wicked
by Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth, the pixie star of stage (You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Wicked), and screen (Pushing Daisies, West Wing) writes a fluffy but fun tale of life in the spotlight. While she might be just a tad young at age forty to be penning her memoirs, it is fun -particularly for theatre fans- to read how a true country girl acted, danced, dated, but mostly sung her way to a notable place in the Broadway community.
Her narrative voice is funny and good hearted but this theatre fan and his restless legs will avoid the front row at any Kristin Chenoweth show henceforth. A breezy read and good beach fare but mostly only interesting if you're already a fan. -Michael Stevens (Information Services)
Web Watch: www.tnid.org
Chris Brunner's Telephone Number IDentification site,
www.tnid.org (formerly Tirs.us, the
Telephone Investigator's Research System) is a speedy, free service for
geolocating phone numbers, including mobile numbers. This is one of the few
sites I find personally useful, beyond its application in the workplace.
The Caller ID Lookup doesn't always work, but I've consistently noticed that if
you try again the next day, Caller ID is working. Of course, Caller ID for
mobile numbers typically displays little more than the subscriber's state. Some
results lists are extremely long, necessitating the use of your browser's "find
on this page" tool.
Test www.tnid.org by looking up mobile
and land-line numbers you know. An additional useful feature is discovering the
mobile service provider (for example, T-Mobile). Phone numbers that were
previously looked-up are flagged, displaying the number of times accessed and
the last date.
For those of us who recall adult life before the mid-1990s, this is a service
you wished you had in the days when the telephone was the most important
communication device in the home and workplace. — J.D. Information
Services
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter
By The Waiter
What Anthony Bourdain did for the kitchen, Waiter Rant does for the “front of the house.” Here is an inside look at the world of restaurant wait staff, from the irate customer to the celebrity diner to the feuds between the chef, the waiters and the waitresses. “The Waiter” (his name and the true name of the restaurant are well guarded secrets) started out as a seminarian, quickly changed his mind, graduated college and worked as a health care marketer. Adrift when he lost his job, his best friend and his girlfriend, he drifted into the restaurant business. And he didn’t leave. But he had a desire to write and the brilliant idea of starting a blog called Waiter Rant (www.waiterrant.net), which segued into an absolutely hysterical book. It will forever change the way you look at the men and women who take your order whenever you eat out. A peek at some chapter headings will give you a heads up: Paupery, The Tip’s the Thing, Filth, I Hate Mother’s Day, Vengeance Is Mine, Russell Crowe and Me, Throw in the Apron! Optioned by Hollywood, we can only hope to see this amusing expose on the big screen soon! – G. R. (AR)
The Believers
By Zoe Heller
Many of us admire Zoe Heller's brilliant English novel and subsequent movie called What Was She Thinking?/Notes on a Scandal. Her new book The Believers is set in the U.S. and gives us a memorable and compelling read, despite the fact that none of us would choose any of the cast of characters for our personal friends or relatives. For 40 years, the Litvinoff family maintained a seemingly stable philanthropic life. When Joel, the father, becomes comatose after suffering a massive stroke, the family's life unravels. Having felt trapped in their circumstances, the family members begin to change. Audrey, the wife, by far the most nasty and unlikable character, discovers a shocking secret. Zoe Heller mercilessly dissects the family's hypocrisy and thus becomes the new darling author of witty satire and social criticism. – R. B. (AR)
Supreme Courtship
by Christopher Buckley
President of the United States Donald Vanderdamp is having a heck of a time
getting his nominees appointed to the Supreme Court. After one nominee is
rejected for calling parts of To Kill a Mockingbird boring in an
elementary school book report, the president chooses someone so beloved by
voters that the Senate won't have the guts to reject her. Bring in Judge Pepper
Cartwright, a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader looking, gun toting, pickup truck
driving star of TV’s Courtroom Six. Cartwright is elevated to the bench.
You’ll just have to read it to find out all the juicy details. – S.Y. (AR)
Iron Man: The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 1 The Five Nightmares
by Warren Ellis
Tony Stark is now the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and faces his biggest challenge. Ezekiel Stane, son of Obadiah Stane, wants revenge against Tony for killing his father. Ezekial is using Iron Man technology to destroy Stark Industries. If you liked Iron Man the movie, you’ll love this graphic novel. It’s quick to read and completely engrossing. – E.O. (AR)
Web Watch: www.unshelved.com
During your next lunch break (or better yet, at home), check out Unshelved.com, the world's only daily comic strip that is set in a public library. Written by Gene Ambaum along with co-writer and artist Bill Barnes, it began in February 2002 and has been expanding ever since. With comics based on fantasy, real life events or true stories sent in from fans, they also provide a daily blog, booklist suggestions, merchandise and more. With characters like – Dewey, a young adult librarian; beleaguered branch manager Mel; child's librarian Tamara; Colleen, an old-fashioned computer-illiterate reference librarian; and Buddy the Book Beaver, the former library mascot turned library page – where can you go wrong for a little laughter in your day? – K.M. (Graphics)
Baltimore Plot: The First Conspiracy to Assassinate Lincoln
By Michael J. Kline
It is February 1861. Abraham Lincoln has just been elected president of the United States in a very volatile and controversial election. He has received only 40 percent of the popular vote. In the State of Maryland he has received only 2 percent of the vote. In at least seven southern states his name did not appear on the ballot.
Before Lincoln can become president, he must be inaugurated. To be inaugurated he must make a long, arduous and meandering railroad journey across at least six states and speak to tens of thousands of people in very public appearances. Southern sympathizers watch his every move. They report his movements to a small and secretive group of people whose chief desire is to prevent the president-elect from reaching Washington alive. A group of ultra-secretive and very militant pro-slavery conspirators are gathered in the heart of the city of Baltimore. Their goal is to intercept the Lincoln Special inauguration train as it makes a whistle stop at the Calvert St. station of the Northern Central Railroad. There is only ONE railway track that leads north from Washington, DC, and it must pass through Baltimore.
Detective Allan Pinkerton and a group of specially trained detectives will work with great energy to prevent this rendezvous. One of Pinkerton’s operatives is Kate Warne, the first woman hired as a private investigator in the United States. Ms. Warne’s task is to work with the other Pinkerton agents to infiltrate to the heart of the Lincoln Assassination conspiracy in Baltimore. She has her work cut out for her.
As the Lincoln Special passes through New York, the train will make a whistle stop in Albany. There is a special theater event listed in the New York papers that February 18. A new play entitled The Apostate has opened there with a thrilling Shakespearean actor named John Wilkes Booth in the lead role. This is the first time in history that the names of Lincoln and Booth will appear in the same newspaper together on the same page. It will not be the last.
If you wish to find out what happens next, you must read this book. -M.P. (CA)
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (DVD)
Chloe the Chihuahua is a spoiled fashionista, whose owner has made her fortune in cosmetics and pampers her constantly. Chloe’s paws hardly ever touch the ground. When Chloe is left in the care of the owner’s niece, she ends up being kidnapped in Mexico and is shocked into the real world of dog fighting and dirt. Many talented dogs play roles in this movie. Delgado, the ex-K9 German shepherd helps Chloe escape from the evil dog killer, Diablo the Doberman. Papi, the love struck Chihuahua, rushes to Mexico to rescue his true love. Computer animation makes this film a realistic and graphically fun adventure. The voices of George Lopez, Edward James Olmos and others add authenticity to the sounds and culture of Mexico. Scenes in an ancient ruin give a glimpse into the history of the mighty Chihuahua. Chloe learns how to fend for herself, the true meaning of friendship, loyalty and most of all, how to judge a dog by his real worth, especially Papi. She even learns a little Spanish. The commentary is a fascinating discussion of how the trainers and dogs worked together on the sets and used many individual stunts which were graphically combined to produce each scene. This light-hearted family film is a dog lover’s delight.
Humane Society supervised this film. No dogs were harmed in the making of this film. -S. F. (CA)
The
Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman
Included in this year’s Great Books discussion, and winner of this year’s Newbery Award, The Graveyard Book is not unfamiliar to Baltimore County Public Library librarians. Patterned in a general way on Kipling’s immortal Jungle Book stories, Neil Gaiman’s work is similarly the story of a human child raised by nonhumans – but instead of the animals of the Indian rainforest, young Bod is raised by the ghostly inhabitants of a small and ancient cemetery. Each chapter begins roughly a year after the previous one ended and are neatly self-contained (helping make this a wonderful read-aloud experience). In this way we watch Bod grow from infancy through his mid-teen years, as his contentedness with his living arrangement diminishes. A movie version is planned, with Neil Jordan set to direct. The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire, and Michael Collins are his bestknown films. -B.R. (CA)
The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir
By John Grogan
Grogan chronicles his life in the same jaunty, conversational style as his best-selling book Marley & Me and it’s just as much fun to read. His hometown outside Detroit is a small, close-knit community whose center was Our Lady of Refuge Catholic church and school, and where parents tattled to other parents about their children. The mischievous little Johnny Grogan and his pals, Tommy, Rock and Sack, were often at the center of many shenanigans as he circumvented the close watch and demanding expectations of parents, priests and nuns. Take, for example, the time he learned, as a new altar boy, how to sneak the last of the communion wine before rinsing out the chalice and wobbling home from church. Despite his antics, there is no doubt he loves his parents and eventually grows to respect their faith and life choices, even as he chooses another path. After more turbulent and rebellious years as a teen, he eventually graduates from college, becomes a respectable newspaper reporter, gets married and has three children of his own. (He did not say how they’ve turned out!) As his parents grow older and ill, his tempestuous relationship with them eases, and he becomes their loving caretaker. As you read this book perhaps you’ll be reminded of your own misadventures as a youngster, and maybe some you thought about but never dared try. This book is both laugh-aloud funny and startlingly poignant: a great nonfiction recommendation. -M.P.(CA)
Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love
By Jill Conner Browne
You’ll laugh so hard, you’ll cry. I was first introduced to this series through American Thighs, and I simply could not get enough. In it, Jill shares the promise women can use to get any man to do your bidding, the five men you must have in your life at all times, men who may need killing and what to eat when tragedy strikes. She gives serious advice to real women through shameless stories and naughty humor. “Life is too short – and too long – to spend it being miserable.” -A.S. (CA)
The
Prince Charming List
by Kathryn Springer
I normally choose books by their cover: this was cute and had a title that just screamed fun. About a chapter into the book, I was surprised when I realized it was just as spiritually uplifting as it was adorably romantic.
Every man Heather meets always comes up lacking. When two completely different men come into her life one summer, she suddenly has to figure out if what she truly wants is included in her list or is completely different. Will Heather’s happily-ever-after include handyman Ian or rebel artist Jared?
This book is third in a series following Front Porch Princess and Picket Fence Promises but it was great as a single read. It reminds you of what it’s like to be young and searching for the love of your life while figuring out who you are and where “God” will take you. – M.R. (HE)
Ines of My Soul
by Isabel Allende
Using the format of a memoir written by 70 year old Ines Suarez (a real person born around 1507), Allende weaves a tale of tremendous hardship, fierce battles, brutality against native peoples, and romance as Ines moves from her life as a seamstress in Spain to Peru and on to Chile where she and her lover, Pedro de Valdivia, are instrumental in building the new city of Santiago and the nation of Chile. On top of this sweeping epic covering the Spanish conquest of Peru and Chile, Allende shows Ines as a woman of desire for one man, passion for a second and finally love for a third. Choose this story for good reading and a history lesson. – P.P. (CO and HE)
The
Likeness
by Tana French
In The Likeness, by Tana French, Cassie Maddox, 20-something detective with the Irish police, is recovering from the emotionally devastating Operation Vestal, recounted in In the Woods. Her world tumbles over when she is called to a murder scene in the countryside, where the murdered woman is Cassie’s double and is carrying the identification of Lexie Madison, Cassie’s identity in a former undercover case – Lexie Madison, who did not exist. To find the killer, Cassie takes the professional chance of a lifetime and becomes Lexie (the public was told that she survived – barely – the knife attack).
She returns “home” to Whitethorn House, a community of five graduate students who have rejected much of contemporary Dublin society and are living an almost Victorian domestic idyll. Time progresses, and even as the case to find Lexie’s assailant/murderer progresses, the emotional boundaries between Cassie/Lexie begin to blur. Who, actually, was Lexie? What part of her assumed life does Cassie crave for herself?
Truth, identity, love, murder – paranoia, you name it – all are entangled in an intense and complex plot. French’s incredible, lyrical prose adds a masterful touch of reality/unreality to this richly rewarding book, and Heather O’Neill is pitchperfect as the Talking Book reader. – D.S. (HE)
Gran Torino (movie)
Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood,
Gran Torino is full of twists and turns. Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a cranky widower who can’t accept the cultural diversity in his ever-changing neighborhood. He is forced to face his prejudices when a series of violent incidents place him in the unexpected role of guardian angel to the Hmong-American family that has moved in next door. Initially, Walt is offensive, but as he gains a fresh perspective on his new neighbors, your impression of him will change. By the time the film reaches its surprising and emotional climax, you will be glad to have spent some time with this complex man. – C.Y. (HE) Note: This title is due out in June 2009 but was not on order at the time of the March 2009 Unique Critiques.
Outliers: The Story of Success
by Malcolm Gladwell
This is yet another thought provoking offering from Malcolm Gladwell, the author of the best sellers The Tipping Point and Blink. In this book, Gladwell explodes the myth of the “outlier” or “self-made man,” the dearly loved image Americans hold of individual success by dint of hard work and true grit. He believes, instead, that context is the true predictor for success.
Gladwell shows what a junior championship hockey league, Bill Gates’ meteoric rise to wealth, and the deadly feuds of the Appalachian Mountains all have in common. In each case, a glance back at the history of the situation provides meaningful clues that explain “how”: how the registration deadline for young hockey players skews favorably toward those born right after it; how a teenaged Bill Gates received unique opportunities to practice and perfect his computer skills; how the “culture of honor” of the Scottish Highlands was transferred intact to isolated mountain communities.
Other chapters examine such seemingly unrelated topics as the rash of fatal air crashes that nearly ruined Korea’s airline, the Hamburg years of The Beatles, and the usually healthy residents of a small town in rural Pennsylvania.
The book will make you question everything you thought you knew about “nature versus nurture,” the existence of genius, the equality of our educational system, and the roles we play in each other’s lives. Each study is more fascinating than the last, and regardless of whether you agree with his premise, you’ll be thinking about what really fosters success long after you’ve finished reading the book. – M.B. (CO)
Flygirl
by Sherri Smith
Ida Mae Jones is a light skinned African-American woman working as a maid every day in New Orleans in 1939. Her father had one of the first crop dusting planes in the state. He lets her study all of his old books and teaches her to fly. More importantly, he teaches Ida the passion for flying.
After Ida’s father dies, her mother lets her continue to fly the crop dusting plane only to bring desperately needed money for the family.
When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, everything changes. The oldest son, Thomas, drops out of college to fight in the war. Ida wants to do more to help her brother than just save bacon grease. Ida becomes Jonesy, and joins WASP, the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots. WASP was a whites only group of women pilots, and at the time did not even have official military status. She finds two friends, Patsy a carnival daredevil, and Lily a rich Jewish girl. They become the Three Muskateers and help each other through the intense trials. Even her close friends do not really know her.
Her incredible struggle to be Jonesy with an unbearable desire to fly, or Ida who does not have to hide, makes this historical fiction an excellent read for both young adults and adults. – K.M. (TO)
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes That Rule
by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero
The recipes in Moskowitz and Romero’s cupcake cookbook deserve the title they
received; they rule. Although I haven’t tried every recipe, I have tried a fair
few, and they are delish! During a vegan phase I checked out this book to
satisfy my sweet tooth, and even though I’m no longer vegan, I turn to these
pages time and again for delectable cupcakes. My favorite, and the favorite of
many a dairy lover, is the Carrot Cake Cupcakes. Eating one of these, with
“cream cheese” frosting, is an experience and cannot be limited to just one.
Other cupcake recipes include the basic chocolate and vanilla varieties,
Brooklyn vs. Boston Cream Pie, Pineapple Right-Side Up, Chai Latte, Tiramisu,
Mexican Hot Chocolate and 30 more plus many frosting recipes. Even if you’re not
crossing yourself at the sight of dairy and eggs, these recipes are worth a try.
– S. K. (Marketing and Development)
Spain: A Culinary Road Trip
by Mario Batali
Spain: On the Road Again (DVD)
As a devotee of the PBS show Spain … On the Road Again, I eagerly
awaited this companion book’s arrival. Full of gorgeous pictures, interviews and
anecdotes from the show, and dishes (I haven’t made any yet, but I have sure
drooled over the book), it complements the historic, artistic, cultural and
gastronomic road trip of Spain taken by Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark
Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols. This foursome visited most of
Spain’s well-known tourist sites and multistar restaurants, but they also went
off the beaten path to visit fishermen and clam diggers, family farms raising
pigs and sheep, tried their hands at making cheese, wine, sausages and
ensaimadas (a type of pastry), as well as cooking and eating lots of great food.
Enjoy a great trip to Spain without leaving your armchair as you watch the DVD
and read the book. – S. F. (Essex)
Heretic Queen
by Michelle Moran
This is the story of Queen Nefertari, great royal wife to the pharaoh
Ramses II. Her aunt was Queen Nefertiti, wife to the heretic pharaoh Ahkenaten.
During her early life, she was considered a heretic also, because of her blood
line. But Ramses fell in love with her, and in the face of opposition from
within his own family, and prominent members of the court and priesthood, he
married her and made her his chief royal wife. This popularly written novel
gives us somewhat of an insight into the daily intrigues which always surrounded
the royal pharaohs. Nefertari proved herself to be an excellent mate for the
great Ramses, and soon became beloved by the people for her beauty and grace.
She had superior intelligence and used it to become an asset to her husband in
conducting the affairs of the country. A good read for anyone with an interest
in ancient Egypt. – B. C. (North Point)
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
by Peter Sis
Imagine yourself as a young boy whose earliest memories are of loving to
draw. Then imagine yourself as this young boy destined to grow up in post-World
War II Czechoslovakia. Your country had been liberated from the Germans by
Allied forces, only to be re-occupied by former Allied partner Russia, whose
idea of “liberation” for Eastern Europe did not include the same freedoms
represented in the Western Bloc.
Peter Sis uses the graphic format in a superbly moving and sublimely informative retelling of his growing up in Prague under Soviet rule and repression from the late 1940s through the turbulent 60s, and into the celebrations of the falling of the Iron Curtain in the late 80s. As with his previous foray into the graphic format in 1999 (the Caldecott Honor Book Tibet: Through the Red Box), Sis uses his signature detailed drawing style, coupled with spare yet insightful prose (some from his personal diaries from the time) and exacting use of color and photographs to convey emotional states, to create the perfect vehicle to recount both the pleasures and the horrors of growing up in a society that sought to repress individualism at all costs. He makes us feel with startling clarity both the pain of artistic contraint under the Communist system and the giddy pleasure of hearing smuggled Beatles and Beach Boys records, set against the daily realities of bread lines and espousing the correct party propaganda.
As a very personal case study of what the yearning for true freedom feels like, The Wall invites us into the world behind the Iron Curtain few Westerners knew existed and makes us capable of appreciating on a fundamental level the basic human impulse to be free to live our lives as we choose. It is also a marvelous example of just how uplifting and engaging the graphic format can be when in the hands of a master of the form, and Sis has never been better than in this autobiography. It’s no surprise that The Wall was also selected as a Caldecott Honor Book in 2008. – S. H. (North Point)
Dewey
by Vicki Myron
Even if you don’t like cats you will fall in love with Dewey. Dewey was found in
a library book drop in Spencer, IA. The staff took care of him and he lived in
the library for 19 years. Patrons would travel for miles just to visit with
Dewey. Dewey’s favorite section was Westerns and he took rides on the book
trucks every day. His full name was Deweyreadmorebooks. You will be entertained
by Dewey and his experiences at the library. You will laugh and cry. So, take
some time and enjoy a really good book and be enthralled by Dewey. – B. F.
(Pikesville)
Murder Most Maine
by Karen MacInerney
Natalie Barnes owns and runs the Gray Whale Inn on Maine’s Cranberry Island. Struggling to keep her inn in business, Natalie is thrilled to host the Lose-It-All Weight Loss retreat at her inn. The trainer of the program is good looking Dirk DeLeon and gorgeous Valerie Black is his business partner. When Dirk’s corpse turns up near the Cranberry Point Lighthouse, police find out he was poisoned. Suspicion first falls on Natalie and her kitchen. Later Natalie’s boyfriend John Quinton, who once had an affair with Valerie, is arrested for the murder. As Natalie investigates she finds there is more than one person on the island that could be a suspect. After you solve the mystery with Natalie you can check out the recipes included at the end of the book. – N.S. (PA)
Tropic Thunder (DVD)
Tropic Thunder, starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr., is a satire based mostly on big blockbuster movies and Hollywood lifestyles. The movie begins by showing a high-budget, Vietnam war-era movie turn into a complete disaster for the director (played by Steve Coogan of Hamlet 2) and the actors. After the director decides to motivate and toughen up the actors by placing them deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia for “real” movie footage, the actors get sidetracked and have to figure out how to survive as a team. Did I forget to mention that this team consists of a has-been action star (Stiller), a drug-addicted comedian (Black), a five-time Oscar winner who undergoes a change in skin color to fit into his role (Downey Jr.), a rap star, and a young man just trying to get his breakthrough role? Throughout the movie, other topics get thrown into the all-star comedy, which include adoption, pandas, and G5 airplanes. The best parts about this movie are the unexpected cameos that are significant until the end. One is by Tom Cruise who is only in the movie for about 15 minutes; but his brief role as an overweight, middle-aged, movie mogul steals the show. The unexpected plot twists and dialogues set an outrageous tone to the end that you will not see coming. What is possibly the most hilarious and controversial movie of the year will not leave you disappointed: it will leave you laughing well into the following week too. – P.C. (PA)
Mascot:
Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father’s Nazi Boyhood
by Mark Kurzem
Though Australian Mark Kurzem’s father had told his family stories of his boyhood during World War II, it was only in 1997 that he began to share the whole troubling story – or as much as he could recall – with his oldest son. Over a period of years, Mark and his father followed scanty clues from his father’s recollections and mementos to reveal the often horrifying story of a Russian Jewish child who escaped massacre and was “adopted” by a Latvian police group which later morphed through the Latvian army into a Wehrmacht SS unit. In addition to his father’s ambivalence about discovering his own identity, Kurzem had to deal with the sometimes hidden agendas of the various agencies and individuals whose help was needed. A surprising number of facts eventually came to light, but many questions remained unanswered. This book was hard to put down, yet hard to continue reading. There’s a lot to think about here – truth, loyalty, seduction, cruelty, responsibility, accommodation … – M.M. (PA)
The
Numerati
by Stephen Baker
The author of The Numerati, Stephen Baker, is also a technology writer for Business Week magazine. He’s co-author of blogspotting.net – a really hot blogging site. He presents the not really “mathematically inclined” with a book re: how modern number crunchers are turning us into data using mathematical algorithms. In his 256-page best seller, he discusses what’s happening to our personal information when we surf the Net, blog, make cell phone calls, use the grocery store-issued shoppers card, and charge things on our VISAs. It is kind of creepy thinking about what information is garnered about us electronically these days. Privacy is really a thing of the past. His chapters include ones on shopping, voting, blogging, politics and a few more. In the shopping chapter, I was introduced to a “smart cart” shopping cart that I am really not looking forward to. (I never wanted a talking car, either!) I do not want to run by Safeway (for example), grab a cart, insert my shoppers card, and have the cart call me by name, give me a list of my most often purchased items, and remind me to get Centrum Silver and athlete’s foot powder before checking out! But maybe some people do!
Employers want to get more work out of us, businesses want to know how to tailor their advertising for us, politicians want to know how to influence our votes without us really noticing. Reading this book will give you another case of future shock. – C.L. (PA)
Wedding Belles
by Haywood Smith
The “Red Hat” ladies from Haywood Smith’s The Red Hat Club series are at it again. This time someone is getting married, and it’s the daughter of one of these lifelong friends. In Wedding Belles, Georgia’s daughter, Callie is marrying an older man. This does not sit well with Georgia, since the man in question is not only a former “party guy” but a close friend of Callie’s father. Will a private detective ease her concerns about the impending nuptials? Georgia needs to let her smart, independent, only daughter grow up and make her own decisions. Will the rift between Georgia and Callie be too large to mend before the wedding day? Her friends try to help her navigate this “tragedy” along with the other twists that life throws the ladies from the suburbs of Atlanta.
I love the characters that Haywood Smith has created in this series and I always look forward to the next installment. – E.C. (NO)
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
When 17-year-old Bella moves to rainy and gloomy Forks in Washington State to
live with her father, she initially regrets leaving her mother behind in sunny
Arizona. But things change rapidly when she starts at the local high school and
meets Edward Cullen, who is a perfectly gorgeous “god-like creature.” Although
he appears to want nothing to do with Bella at first, soon enough Bella finds
herself hopelessly and irrevocably in love with Edward. There is only one
problem: Edward and his family are all vampires. And even though Edward falls
just as hard for Bella, to the point of becoming obsessed with her, he must
always maintain tremendous control over their relationship because, if he loses
control, he could easily kill her.
Twilight is an exciting, fast-paced love story for teens and adults. This is the
first book in the Twilight Saga. – MS (RE)
Forever Changes by Brendan
Halpin, Y fiction
Brianna is unlikely to see her 21st birthday; she has cystic fibrosis. But
barring the fact that her father has to beat on her every day to get the mucous
out of her lungs, she has a good life. She has a brilliant mathematical mind,
two very loyal (and popular) friends, and a great dad. But because Brianna
probably won’t live to graduate from college, she’s afraid to even apply. She
doesn’t see the point to it, in fact, doesn’t see any point to her life at all.
Until her calculus teacher talks about the power of infinitesimals – those tiny,
almost zero numbers, etc., that are crucial for things to work. She begins to
understand that her short, almost zero life serves a purpose to those closest to
her. And we realize that, even though we may never be famous to the world, we
too are special to those around us. – RF (PE)
My Father’s Son by Terri
Fields, Y fiction
Kevin Windor doesn’t usually pay attention to the news, but he’s putting off
doing his homework. Suddenly, the newscaster declares that they’ve caught the
serial killer who has been terrorizing the community for the last two years.
Kevin’s world turns upside down when his father’s face appears on the screen.
How do you get your mind around the idea that your father allegedly bound,
tortured and branded 11 women? How do you deal with the fear in people’s eyes
when they look at you and see, not a high school kid, but the son of a monster?
Is it possible to continue believing in someone you love when all the evidence
is against them? – RF (PE)
How We Drive, Why We Drive the Way We Do (and
What It Says About Us) by Tom Vanderbilt, CD 620 V
This is an amusing and informative CD to listen to as you drive the beltway to
work, being careful at the same time not to get distracted. Tom Vanderbilt wants
us to remember that we are driving heavy equipment, not a moveable telephone
booth or a floating mirror. Outside of being a brain surgeon, driving is the
most complicated thing a person does. The type of vehicle you are driving, the
type of road you are on and the surroundings influence driving in unexpected
ways. Surprisingly the uncongested two-lane country road is more dangerous than
the crowded city street.
The CD is skillfully abridged and omits many of the numerous references to
scholarly studies that occur in the book. – SS (PE)
Twenty Wishes by Debbie
Macomber, Fiction
Anne Marie is trying to find happiness in her life again. A recent widow, Anne
Marie owns the local bookstore on Blossom Street. She organized a book group at
the store and suggested that all the widows read Good Grief, a novel based on a
young woman adjusting to widowhood. Soon all the women formed friendships. When
it became Valentine’s Day, Anne Marie hosted a special book club meeting knowing
this to be the hardest holiday to spend alone. On this night all the widows
agree to create a list of 20 wishes. In making this list of wishes, Anne Marie
and the rest of the club soon learn if you wish real hard your wishes will come
true. A truly heartwarming story, remember to keep a box of tissues handy. – ME
(PE)
Second Chance Jane Green,
Fiction
Introduced to author Jane Green by a customer, I began reading the novel Second
Chance. In her charming, British manner, Green tells the story of a group of
school friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time. They come together to
grieve for a dear friend who died a tragic death and discover that their lives
are deeply moved in ways they would never have expected. The story is instantly
engaging and very warm and insightful. – JZ (PE)
October 2008
Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin
Brooks
It’s a summer to remember for Pete Boland when his friend Nicole and her brother
decide to get the gang together to celebrate old times before heading out to a
local fair. Pete insists they invite his old friend Raymond, who was once part
of the gang but has become introverted and quiet, spending most of his time
caring for a black rabbit in a hutch in his back yard. After too much drink and
unpleasant conversation, the gang heads to the fair, running into Stella, a
local celebrity. Stella is an attention seeker who enjoys making fun of
unsuspecting Raymond. When the evening ends, both Stella and Raymond have
disappeared, and Pete is placed in the unpleasant position of having to inform
the police about the night’s events. Wrought with worry for Raymond, will Pete
be able to tell the truth and lead the police to the missing teens? Kevin Brooks
has created a sympathetic protagonist and an intriguing mystery in his latest
novel for young adults.— DB (PI)
The Magic Thief by Sarah
Prineas
“A thief is a lot like a wizard. I have quick hands. And I can make things
disappear.” So says Connwaer, the child pickpocket in Prineas’ debut fantasy
novel. Destitute and hungry, Conn steals the locus magicalicus of Nevery
Flinglas, an eminent and eccentric wizard. Intrigued that the power of the locus
does not kill the boy thief, Nevery takes the young rogue under his protection.
This tale is a riveting adventure that will appeal to fourth and fifth graders
(and the young at heart) who wish that they too could, through bravery,
outspokenness and the power of their unseen talents, enter a world of magic,
become wizards’ apprentices and find powerful locus stones of their own. Conn
and the people who befriend him are likable, unique characters. The believable
dialogue and fast moving plot make this a fun read. Prineas has promised a
trilogy, so lucky readers can anticipate two more stories about Conn’s deeds and
misdeeds in the future.— CU (PI)
The Lace Reader by Brunonia
Barry
I don’t usually pick up a book about witches, exorcisms, lace reading or
characters who tell you immediately “Never believe me; I lie all the time.” In
the end, though, I was glad I stuck with this unusual debut novel. The story
features Towner Whitney, a damaged soul who returns to Salem, MA after the
disappearance of her Aunt Eva. Officer Rafferty helps to investigate the case
while Towner faces the ghosts of her past. The author lives in Salem, and she
captivated me with her descriptions and history of the town. The story creeps
along at first, but Barry’s skills soon surface. Her use of different
perspectives, her characterizations and her plot twists are excellent. The final
third of the book was so shocking, I changed my original outlook. The story is
less about the paranormal, and more the tale of three generations of women and
the history that binds them. Get on board now – two sequels are in the works. —
RB (PI)
Spaced series, with Simon Pegg
Did you like the movies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz? If so, check out the
group’s earlier TV series Spaced. It’s a British sitcom revolving around two
strangers pretending to be a couple in order to rent an apartment. Tim is a
struggling comic book artist working in a local comic shop, while Daisy is a
struggling writer who is otherwise unemployed. Joining them is an eclectic cast
of friends and others, including Tim’s best friend Mike. Mike is the guy who,
while in the British National Guard, decided to steal a tank and invade Paris,
stopping on the way to visit Euro Disney, where he was captured on Space
Mountain. And there’s Brian, a tortured artist in the apartment downstairs who
does things like Fear, Aggression and Pain in his works. The DVD series features
14 episodes and includes both the original U.K. commentary as well as U.S.
commentaries with special guests including Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino. If
you are a fan of comedy, you should try this show out. After all, how many shows
can you think of where a guy loses his job due to Jar Jar Binks and the Phantom
Menace? — CC (PI)
Belly of an Architect, film
In Peter Greenaway’s 1987 film Belly of an Architect, plot takes a second seat
to breathtaking cinematography. Greenaway’s use of color and his images of Roman
monuments make this one of his most accessible films. The story centers on
Stourley Kraklite, played by Brian Dennehy, who is planning an exhibition in
Rome for his hero, deceased architect Étienne-Louis Boullée. Kraklite has
delusions of grandeur, and compares himself to the first Roman emperor. He
thinks his wife is poisoning him, he repeatedly photocopies a marble statue of
Augustus, and he obsessively photographs the bellies of male statues (hence the
title). The Specklers, a family of Italian financiers, end up taking control of
his exhibition in the style of a Greek tragedy: father Io destroys Kraklite
financially, son Caspasian takes away Kracklite’s wife Louisa, and sister Flavia
takes away his privacy and dignity in an elaborate sting. The best thing about
this film is the cathartic score by Wim Mertens. I bought the CD immediately
after I saw the film, and I can't stop listening to it. Mertens’ minimalism
combined with unrestrained emotion makes it one of the best film scores I've
ever owned. – JF (PI)
The Apprentice’s Masterpiece: A Story of
Medieval Spain by Melanie Little
Although this is a young adult novel, I highly recommend it for anyone with a
strong stomach and heart.
This is a story about the persecution of Muslims, Jews, and eventually
Christians, in Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. It is told from
the point-of-view of Ramon, the biological son of a former Jewish family, and a
young Muslim boy whom the family adopts.
The tale is told in verse form; the tale reads very quickly, but powerfully. Not
only is there drama of persecution and its dangers, but also of the rivalry
between two young men of the same age. The drama separates them and brings them
together. This unique story brings a new perspective to what the majority of
people know about Isabella and Ferdinand. – KM (TO)
The Off Season by Catherine
Gilbert Murdock
D.J. Schwenk, the funny, lovable heroine of Murdock’s Dairy Queen, dons her
football pads and knocks our socks off as she proves herself a champion on and
off the field. In between milking cows and playing high school linebacker, D.J.
finds her first love and rescues the family members from one scrape after
another. When life brings her the ultimate test, this tough, sweet cookie earns
her wings as she brings about the miracle her family needs most. You don’t have
to know or care what a first down is to love this girl and love this book! Give
yourself a treat this football season, curl up on the couch and let D.J. tell
you her unforgettable story. –DC (RA)
People of the Book by
Geraldine Brooks
People of the Book is a fiction thrill ride. Filled with action, intrigue,
suspense and history, Brooks tells us the tales of an illuminated Jewish
manuscript with more lives than a Rabbi’s cat.– RR (RA-)
All Shook Up by Shelley
Pearsall
I have often heard it said that life is what happens to you when you’re on your
way to somewhere else. So it is with Josh Greenwood, the 13-year-old protagonist
of our tale. Josh’s parents are divorced, and he lives with his mother in
Boston. A family emergency sends his mother off to Florida to tend to her sick
mother while Josh is sent to stay with his father in Chicago. No real drama
here, right? WRONG! What Josh doesn’t know is that his father has lost his
boring, reliable job at a shoe store and has made a new job choice. His father
is making money and trying for the big time by being an Elvis impersonator. This
is a funny coming of age story that will have you all shook up. I hope you’ll
love it tender. – RR (RA)
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Edgar lives on a farm in rural Wisconsin where he and his parents raise and sell
a unique, highly intuitive breed of dog. Although Edgar’s hearing is fine, he
was inexplicably born without the ability to vocalize and communicates through a
self-devised set of hand signals. When his father dies suddenly, Edgar doubts
the presumed cause of death and suspects his paternal uncle is maliciously
involved. Unfortunate circumstances impel Edgar to run away, taking three of the
Sawtelle dogs with him. This compelling tale, told in Edgar’s distinctive voice,
is a beautiful exploration of relationships – those among family members, the
community, and of the dynamic between humans and dogs, all while contemplating
the rocky navigation of one’s moral compass.– MM (RA)
Frogs by Nic Bishop
This wonderfully photographed and designed book shows frogs in amazing detail,
like the glass frog which is completely see-through so you can see its internal
organs! Fascinatingly gross facts are revealed about the individual frogs which
will intrigue both young and old. Amateur photographers and children of all ages
will love this book both for its beauty and for the quirky information.
Wave by Suzy Lee
This evocative, wordless book captures a small girl’s day at the beach. In her
interactions with a wave, the author and illustrator has created a beautiful
book of stunning simplicity, using only the color blue with charcoal
brushstrokes to bring the birds and the wave with a big personality to life! I
laughed out loud while turning the pages at the girl’s facial expressions and
body language, and enjoyed seeing her happiness with the gifts brought by the
wave. This book can be enjoyed by small children who can be encouraged to “tell”
the story along with their caregivers.– CE (RA)
Rocket to Venus (Restaurant)
3360 Chestnut Ave., Hampden
I recently had four delicious minishrimp salad sandwiches (i.e. shrimpies) at
this quirky little restaurant. Its aqua and black décor is accentuated with
horseshoe-shaped booths and oblong windows to give it a sci-fi feeling. Service
was very friendly, but be ready to linger over your drinks before the food comes
out. The small but eclectic menu has offerings for vegetarians and carnivores –
cheesesteak sandwiches, duck confit, shellfish stew, braised red cabbage and an
upscale grilled cheese are some of the entrée choices. Sandwiches come with a
choice of four types of side salad or Old Bay spiced fries. The fries were
great! My husband had the “wimpies” – four miniburgers which he thought were too
well done, but tasty. Reasonable prices were another positive aspect of a very
pleasant evening. – MM (RA)
Murder at the Bad Girl’s Bar and Grill
By N. M. Kelby
“Where are the chainsaw-wielding psychos when you need them?” “What would Wile
E. Coyote do?” “Where is that dang Acme Company product line when you need it?”
These are among the unanswerable questions raised in N.M. Kelby’s latest witty
mystery set in her beloved Florida, where the residents of the retirement
community schedule their lives around Wheel of Fortune and the meeting of the
local chapter of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watcher’s Early Morning Breakfast
Club, in which the members dress as characters from Mayberry. Our protagonist is
a former slasher-movie actress; her love interest is a Scottish circus clown,
her pets are a shih tzu named Mandy that looks like Barry Manilow and a hissing
vulture named Poe. Her challenge is to keep the rich bad guy from buying up the
Bad Girl’s Bar and Grill and the surrounding property, which was entrusted to
her by its former owner. The oddball characters, wacky situations and highly
literate writing make this a delightful book, although it may change your mind
about retiring to Florida. – DK (RE)
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