Marti's Christmas Reads

I love Christmas time! The lights and the decorations sparkling bright against the darkness lift my soul. Most of all I love the children’s books about Christmas. I have favorites, of course, that I have reread and shared many times. My Aunt Sue started me on this path, by sharing some of her favorites with me. I was lucky enough to share these books with many children for a few years with another teacher. We used the books to help identify various elements in reading, while sharing the love of stories.

One of my favorites is Peef, The Christmas Bear. This is a delightful story about unselfish giving of something you love. Santa makes a bear out of scraps of fabric and then the bear comes to life under his hand. Peef is the word the bear says when you squeeze his stomach. Santa and Peef worked with the elves to prepare for Christmas, but Peef recognized something was wrong with his life. I also have the actual bear (see the picture above) that I share with children as we read.
There are two other Peef books that follow: A Silent Night for Peef and Peef and his Best Friend.

Another favorite is Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera. The illustrations are fabulous. The moral: It is far better to give than to receive. Sophie is a little girl who lives near her Auntie Claus. She receives important instructions every day about Christmas from her Aunt. One day, she decides to follow Auntie Claus on her “annual business trip”. What a surprise for Sophie when she finds Auntie Claus! This book is full of wonderful hints and foreshadowing! My favorite character is Mr. Pudding.(Oh Dear! Oh Dear!) There are two other books that follow this: Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas and Auntie Claus, Home for the Holiday.

A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe was another book that Aunt Sue gave me. I love this book because the animals helped a too tall tree to be a Christmas tree while helping him see that the most important thing was to be the best friend he could be. The illustrations are wonderful with all the animals portrayed so life like. This story focuses on the importance of helping a friend. The decorations the animals share with such caring made me realize how simple and beautiful a tree can be.

There are many, many, many other Christmas storybooks to share with each other. I have listed only a few below.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Olive, the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh.

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Santa Mouse, Where Are You? By Michael Brown

Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray

Snowman at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess

A Baker’s Dozen by Aaron Shepard and Wendy Edelson

Other great winter tales:

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Something From Nothing by Phoebe Gilman

Morgan's December Picks

Happy Birthday to Ms. Jane Austen

In honor of Jane Austen's Birthday my picks this month focus on her incredible legacy of love, literature and history. 

 Longbourn by Jo Baker

This recently published "below-stairs" rewrite of the events in Pride and Prejudice is pretty amazing. It follows the lives of Sarah, the housemaid, Mrs. Hill and the footman who all play small roles in the original novel. This new spin however gives these inconsequential characters whole lives and dreams. It puts them in new light sharing their tragic experiences, dramatic plot twists and reveals their humanity. I really enjoyed venturing back to Longbourn but with the ability to step into a different pair of shoes. A don't miss for anyone who loves this time period. I would also recommend it as a gift for the Jane Austen fan who has everything else! 

Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer

My favorite rewrite of Pride and Prejudice this version tells the entire story from Darcy's point of view. I found that the author did a phenomenal job staying true to Austen's characters and writing style while giving us a new perspective on the events we think we know so well. I thought that this book really humanized Darcy for me and I often found myself flipping between this book and the original to see the internal dialogue between Darcy and Elizabeth. A fun, quick read this book is definitely a great one for curling up by the wood stove and revisiting some old acquaintances.

The Annotated Emma by Jane Austen and David Shapard

 The Annotated Emma is the full text of the original Emma with edits and annotations by David Shapard. What results is a great in depth look at the history, fashion and culture of the time period allowing the reader to better understand some of the nuances of the story. I really enjoyed reading this because it allowed me to see certain parts of the story afresh with a better understanding of much of the vocabulary. An interesting way to reread a book I am sure many of us have already reread several times this is just one of many annotated Austen favorites.

Morgan's November Picks

 

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

This book had been on my reading list for awhile and I was lucky enough to find it at the Warner Historical Society Barn Sale in hardcover for a steal of a price. I really enjoyed the story and the writing. It reads kind of like a 19th Century novel, kind of like a modern day mystery and has some deep psychological questions as well. 

This book focuses on the relationship between a famous author and a young woman who the author has chosen as her biographer. Set to be one in a long line of biographies about this author she promises this one time to do something different, she promises to tell the truth about her past, her childhood and the incredibly difficult story of her mysterious injuries. For her biographer this process is a journey of discovering herself and uncovering past crimes. Definitely a thriller in some respects it is also the story of what happens when two story lovers and story tellers come together to write and create.
 
There is a lot to discover in this book and I would definitely recommend it!

 

 

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

 

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It is an incredible web of stories, lies, truths and questions as the reader delves deep into the life of the main character, Towner and the mysterious past of Salem Massachusetts. Another fascinating psychological thriller this book will keep you guessing until the very end.

This book follows the past and present of Towner Whitney whose family has long lived in Salem and has the gift for reading the future in lace patterns. As Towner tries to move on her past pulls her back as she is forced to face the tragic circumstances around her twins mysterious death.

With a little bit of romance, a little bit of crime, lots of family drama and some witchcraft this book has some of everything while still managing to stay clear enough to entertain, confusing enough to mystify and remain over all a pleasure to read.

 

 

 

 

Marti's November Picks

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore

This is a interesting, humorous, coming of age book. The Supremes, now in their 60s are three woman that have been friends since teenagers. Every Sunday they meet with their husbands at Earl's All All-You-Can-Eat after church. The story goes back in time for parts and stays in the present for other parts. Odette, Barbara Jean and Clarice have gone through ups and downs but always has been there for each other. Earl's All-You-Can-Eat also plays a large role in the book.

Odette has started to see a lot of her mother recently, however her mother is dead and hanging around with Eleanor Roosevelt. That wouldn't normally worry Odette except Eleanor Roosevelt usually only shows up to a person when they are going to die. Clarice finally leaves her no good philandering husband. Barbara Jean's husband has died. While she is dealing with the grief of his death, and old love shows up. The story has points of humor and irony that make you smile and maybe even chuckle. Some of the other characters that show up are so interesting! I love how they stuck together no matter what came their way.

This is a book to enjoy in happiness and sorrow as the Supremes reveal some of their deepest secrets while moving forward together in life.

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

Beth Hoffman's new book Looking For Me is a study in belief. Belief that she can accomplish her goals. Belief that her family would be there for her. Belief that her brother was alive.

Teddi Overman knew she wanted to work with furniture when she was older. As she moved on her journey, her old life in Kentucky became a world away from her home in Charlestown. She continued to move between the worlds, heart-broken over the family farm and her missing brother.

I am not sure what about this book struck such a positive chord with me. The characters are well thought and drawn out. The passion of the characters for their land and life was touching. The settings were clearly selected and made alive. I have a secret love for hawks and eagles (well not so secret anymore). The book had the rhythm of a story told in pieces both in the past and in the present. I cried in sections, smiled deeply at the love in others and felt anger and desperation in others. The emotional feel to the books was not over drawn or too much. And I believe this book is awesome. Enjoy the flow of the story.

Deadline by Sandra Brown

I like books that keep me on the edge of my seat with constantly changing parameters that I have to keep up with. Deadline by Sandra Brown was that type of book. The twists and turns kept coming with a number of wow moments.

The crux of the story has an FBI most wanted criminal and an older FBI agent are still after each other. The human story was about Dawson Scott, a news writer covering a trial where Amelia Wesson was testifying. The man on trial supposedly has killed her ex husband and literally threw him to the dogs. Scott knows there is more to the story and continues to trail Amelia and her two sons. That is only a part of one twist. The rest have you spinning.

Sandra Brown knows how to hold her audience in the palm of her hand when she writes her mind and heart stopping scenes. Places where you know something major is going to happen, but you are unsure how it is going to play out... all the way to the end of the book!!

While clearly, the story is fiction and meant as a suspenseful thriller, Sandra Brown did weave in some very important truths about the soldiers who were in Afghanistan and subjected to horrors returning to the US with PTSD. How disabling PTSD is for the ex soldiers and their families.

A great book with wonderful twists and turns. Some sobering reality about the twists and evil mind can take. Tragically good main characters struggling their way out of a situation beyond their knowledge and control.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Snedker

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Snedker centers on the Burmese people during the 20th century. It is a land and time of contrasts of poverty and riches. The book is about love. Not that all consuming burning love, but a strong burn that maintains its flame through hard times and absence.

Julia's father left on the day after she graduated from Law School. He left his family, wife, son and daughter without a word or explanation. Four years later, Julia finds a hint of where he went and decides to find her father. At the end of her journey she comes upon U Ba, who tells her a story about a remarkable love between Mi Mi and Tin Win.  This story is rolled out slowly with a rolling of the sounds and sights of their town, their life and their love. Within the story are points of understanding where Julia must come to grips with a life that is diametrically opposite from what she expects.

For me, the language of the story with its rhythm of a rich life in a poor town was the highlight. The learning from the monastery and the acceptance of life as it is was very powerful.

Marti's October Picks

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiScalafani

Anton DiScalafani has written a wonderful debut novel! The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is a story about a young girl and her path to adulthood. Thea and Sam are twins. They all grew up together in an idyllic world in Florida. Georgie is their cousin. Georgie's family is struggling with financial concerns during the depression. However Thea and Sam's family help them. A interesting situation occurred and Thea was sent away to The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls.

The coming of age book brings a story with an understanding of families and family relationships. Thea's growth of herself both physically and mentally is the story. The incidence that started the family's dissolution is slowly revealed as Thea's year at "horse camp" is chronicled. The story is a study in how families can self destruct.

I look forward to reading more of her books.

 

Always On My Mind by Jill Shalvis

Always On My Mind is the best of the Lucky Harbor books so far! I found the characters funny, sweet, emotionally scarred yet tied to each other with so much chemistry and the past.

Leah is back home with her Grandmother helping with her bakery as a baking reality show airs. She can not tell about who wins... Jack is the hot fireman who lived next door all her life. They have always had a thing for each other... AND do they sizzle!

And lets not forget about Kevin - the over sized, eating disordered harlequin great Dane. He is comic relief.

Thank you for another great book. Now I just have to wait until 2014 for the next book...sigh....

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

I find Diane Chamberlain to be an exceptional writer. Her characters are human with all their foibles. Some of stories have more twists that others with shocking information coming out especially at the end of the stories. Necessary Lies did not have the traditional twists of some of her other reads, but there were twists of other sorts through out the book that make this book wow the reader.

Jane Forrester is a newly hired social worker in North Carolina. She is newly married and very idealistic with a core strength of morals. She is aghast with the poverty in Grace County. Ivy Hart and her family are one of Jane's clients. As Ivy struggles with her family and their poverty as well as her own desires and hopes. Jane struggles with helping them. Idealism and hope are two key elements in the story. As the plot twists and turns, Jane is exposed to more information about the interconnectedness of the families. Ivy, who is only 15 struggles with caring for her family. There are fine lines between the two that could be maintained by necessary lies.

I have to admit, I was stuck for a couple of days it didn't catch my attention. I am not sure why, however after two days I started it again and couldn't read it fast enough. I am glad I gave it another try and didn't just walk away from the book.

Morgan's October Picks

Drizzled with Death by Jessie Crockett

Come meet the author! Jessie Crockett will be at MainStreet BookEnds on Sunday October 13th from 11am to 2pm enjoying the Warner Fall Foliage Festival and signing copies of her new book Drizzled with Death. This fun murder mystery kicks off her new Sugar Grove Mystery Series and takes place in a fictional New Hampshire Town. Sure to please the discerning mystery lover and syrup aficionado alike the book even includes delicious recipes which I haven't tried yet but that I sure intend to when I pick up some delicious local syrup at Festival. Be sure to join us for this fun event and a great festival.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

I rarely read or recommend two books by the same author back to back but in the case of Jojo Moyes I had to make an exception because her two books were somehow totally different in genre, feeling, language and subject matter and yet both were incredible and worth recommending! The Girl You Left Behind is split between the narratives of two women, one in WWI era occupied France and one in modern day London. The women are united in strange ways both emotionally and in their connection to an incredible painting. I loved both women as they were interesting, very human and strong in their own ways. Both stories are love stories although not in the traditional sense.

The book begins in German Occupied France at an inn staffed by the main character, Sophie and her sister. Both of their husbands are away at war and to keep their livelihood they struggle to keep their inn open and must make peace with serving the German soldiers in their town. This story is heartbreaking as are most WWI stories and pauses about halfway through the book leaving the reader hanging on wanting to understand what has happened to Sophie and her missing husband.

Then the book then picks up with the story of Liv, a young widow in modern day London who is struggling to make ends meet while honoring the legacy of her late husband. Here the reader begins finding crumbs of information about what may have happened to Sophie and we struggle alongside Liv to understand what really happened all those year ago.

This book keeps you engaged and guessing at the conclusion right up until the very end. An amazing piece of historical fiction and contemporary literature I would definitely recommend picking up a copy.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This classic retelling of the stories of King Arthur is fantastic. It had been on my to read list for awhile and at the urging of some friends I moved it up to the top. I'm so glad I did. It is an enjoyable book as all of the stories we know and love about King Arthur come to life through the eyes of all of the women we often don't hear much from in other versions. The characters are I think the best part of this book because they seem completely real. They are flawed but endearing and each undergoes an important transformation. I was also struck by the feminist undertones of the book as it is impressive to accomplish writing strong, believable female characters who lived during this time period. A must read.

Morgan's September Picks

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was on my to-read list mostly because I had read a few cute reviews and it seemed like a good end of summer, relaxing book. It certainly was all of those things. The characters are definitely cute characters but they are also complicated, conflicted and flawed. There is more than meets the eye behind all of the characters and they keep you guessing through the entire book. I imagined it would be a good romantic beach read and it also met by expectations here but again in a more complex and interesting way that I had anticipated.

The story centers around two characters, one a young woman stuck in a dead-end job and a seemingly dead-end life and a young man who is left crippled by a tragic accident. Together they rediscover what it is to be a friend, to live your life to the fullest you can and to explore the many options we are given in this life. The story takes place in England and there is a lot of that quick English wit and sarcasm but there are also extremely endearing moments and utterly human stories from many of the secondary characters.

With the characters we face difficult moral questions and enjoy the ridiculous business of being alive. We are also challenged with the toughest question of all. What makes your life worth living?

A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness

If you are in the mood for a more fantasy based love story try A Discovery of Witches. As a young adult fantasy fan I am always excited to try adult fantasy novels. This book is the first in a trilogy (the second book in the trilogy just came out in paperback) so if you are looking to commit to a few stories check this out. I definitely have a lot of questions after the first book and want to pick up the second one. The writing itself was nothing much to write home about but the story is interesting and I think it promises to heat up in the next two books.

The book centers around a 1500 year old vampire and a 30 something year old witch who find themselves caught up in a incredible web of mystery, magic and science that promises to cause a lot of controversy among the non-human species: Vampires, Witches and Daemons. 

I liked how the author had clearly done a lot of research into myth, magic, science and history to write this book. Much of the legend in the book links to other fantasy novels I have read but it has some interesting twists on the mechanics involved in making vampires, witches' families and daemons.  The book also has some undertones of allegories of racial prejudice and segregation that I found interesting.

Mostly a romantic story there were times when it could get a little sappy and overly descriptive but I was able to plow through those sections with the promise that I would find out more of the underlying intrigue going on in the story.

Definitely something for a fan of Twilight, the Outlander Series and The Night Circus these are 500 pages that seem to fly by.

Marti's September Picks

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure 

This is a fast moving book, that captures your attention. The setting of Occupied Paris is richly drawn as is the lure of survival. The main character, Lucien is a character who changes as the novel moves, but not without struggles and betrayals. What he is doing is very, very dangerous and there is one German who is determined to capture this man who tricks and deceives the Germans.

Lucien Bernard is an architect who is struggling, but then so many people are in Paris during the Nazi occupation. Although he does not care about the Jews, he too is aware that the Gestapo is ruling Paris with a heavy hand. He is married and has a mistress, neither of which are particularly caring of him. He luckily begins to find work with a rich industrialist designing factories for the "French" people to "help" with the war. He is convinced to help devise a hiding space for a large sum of money for the industrialist - who has a friend. Lucien is able to design very clever hiding spaces within the confines of buildings, while he continues to build factories and other buildings for the industrialist and his German handler (member of the army who is in charge of increasing production). Lucien begins to do this for the money, then he begins to do this for the challenge of being clever, and then because he knows they are people.

The Paris Architect is very powerful in its portrayal of a city and population under occupation. To me, the book shows the dichotomy of the situation sharply. I found this book to be particularly insightful in describing how many of the French population struggled to save themselves, while others struggled to save themselves and hide the hunted. I had not known a great deal about Paris when occupied, but within this book I saw the best and worst of the situations. The author also showed some of the ambivalence of the Germans toward the focus on the "Jewish situation" while capturing the viciousness of other Germans

This is a book to read! Not to savor, even though it is written beautifully. Not to mourn, even though so many people were annihilated without reason. But to remember, even in the midst of horror there is grace.

** I received this book for free from Main Street Book Ends, my local independent book store in Warner NH. The only caveat was to write an honest review.  This book is to be published in Oct of 2013.

Her Last Breath by Linda Castello

Her Last Breath by Linda Castello is the fifth book in the series about Kate Burkholder. Kate Burkholder is a troubled police captain. An incident happened that transformed her from a happy trusting Amish girl to a very troubled woman alone in the world when she was in her teens. Kate managed to move into the law enforcement area and ended up being a police captain in the area she was raised. Only now Kate is no longer Amish and has been shunned. This is a unrepairable strain on her relationship with her brother and sister. Linda Castillo allows the audience to see more of Kate's early life before she was shunned, through her relationship with her old best friend, Mattie.

Mattie's husband Paul and two of her three children are killed in an accident. Kate not only has to tell Mattie about their loss, she has to investigate the murders. On top of this, old evidence from Kate's past has been dragged up and Kate and her family are nervous about it. Adding to the situation is John Tomasetti, Kate's on again, off again guy. John has been there for Kate as she has been there for him, but he would like to move the relationship into the living together stage and Kate is terrified. With all that is swirling around Kate's life, she tries to focus on the murders and maintain an even keel. Not an easy task.

Linda Castillo's series about Kate Burkholder and nice reads. The pace is quick. The characters are human. The book's descriptions of life in this part of Ohio (at least to my eyes) is accurate. Kate is a complex person, molded into someone who presents as calm and focused, while inside emotional struggling with the relationship piece. A very good read.

The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory's book The White Princess was eye opening to me. I have followed the series pretty religiously and found in each book some surprises. In The White Princess I have found Elizabeth Yorke Tutor to be extremely resilient and surprisingly in love with her husband, Henry VII. I did not know much about Henry VII, so found this book to be quite enlightening.

To me Philippa Gregory always makes history come alive. In the case of the War of Roses or the Cousin's War - I am just astounded by the animosity and cruelty. The battle lines are so clearly divisive that I am unsure any monarch could keep the country together. Add to the mix Henry VII worry about his crown and the plot thickens. His wife Elizabeth who is a York has to straddle the fine line between her husband and her family. He does not trust her and is constantly questioning her on what she knows. I am in awe of her strength of character and her ability to straddle a difficult line - knowing she is a royal princess/queen first.

I do not like Henry's treatment of her. Emotionally, he was a yo yo with her. I admire Elizabeth of York much more than I thought I would. AND don't even get me started on Richard of York and his death!

Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole

I now have a new gold standard for a book and a love story. Letters From Skye. This novel from Jessica Brockmole was written using a series of letters to tell two separate stories that eventually worked together into another story. (That is the best way I can think to describe it without giving anything away.) The main characters of Elspeth and David wrote letters during WWI and her daughter Margaret wrote letters to Paul during WWII. 

To me, using the literary technique of the letters made the story more emotional and realistic. Not only did the letters share what was happening in their worlds but shared the confusion, hurt, pain and love between people as they determine their course in life. The raw beauty of the words in some cases were almost painful as you waited with them for the responses. The letters might seem old fashion to a hurry up and text and twitter world, but to me they allowed the author to expand on the worlds of her characters. This book made me feel like an integral part of the story, like I was one of the characters. I felt the emotional responses the acts of courage, the acts of despair...

The setting of the stories almost tells more about the stories than most books. The Isle of Skye was so well described I felt the wind blowing off the ocean with the tang of salt. During the bombing of London, I could smell the bombs. I need to leave you to find the rest of the places as some will rip at you and others hold you in their hand.

The Time Between by Karen White

“There is how we were before, and how we are now, and the time between is spent choosing which doors to open, and which to close.” Karen White

I once again fell into a Karen White book and was drawn into another world. The Time Between is named from the quote above. To me it is the crux of the story - in each case the characters had to choose which doors they were going to open and which ones to close for opportunities and life choices. So many of the characters hemmed and hawed over what they were going to do. Each character has made some major decisions and held the information back from the others - thinking they were doing what was best!

Ellie comes from a dysfunctional family where there seem to be family lines drawn about an incident in the past with her sister Eve. Ellie is hired by Finn (her boss with her 'regular' job) to help with his Great Aunt Helene who has been quite ill. Ellie agrees to spend time with her and spends time going back and forth to Edisto Island, where she lives. This is the same place that Ellie grew up and never wanted to leave. There are secrets that Ellie by accident starts to uncovers about Finn's family. The secrets start to open other secrets and they all tie back to something that happened back in Hungary during WWII. While this is all happening, Ellie becomes quite close to Finn and his daughter, Gigi. 

Karen White is a fabulous writer whose stories have such complexities of characters and secrets. I never feel I can give a full accounting of the story because there are so many intricacies that all fit in together to make her stories so readable and life like! I would highly recommend this book! 

Karrie's August Picks

Inkheart

Cornelia Funke

This is one of the most enchanting stories I have yet to be a part of. Funke transports us into the world of a young book-loving girl with a mysterious past and an even more mysterious gift. Taken care of by her single book-binder father, Meggie accompanies him on numerous trips to mysterious old book dealers while he tries in vain to find a copy of the book Inkheart. But when he finds it both he and Meggie are thrown into their own dangerous story and Meggie discovers her own extraordinary gift given to her by her father - and also the reason he will never read aloud to her. Thus begins their battle with evil and their search for Meggie's mom.

This story is full of both lovable and terrifying characters whom you will find yourself attracted to no matter their moral character. Funke introduces you to a whole new way of reading and becoming involved with a good book... you'll have to read to find out Meggie's marvelous secret!

Girls in Trucks

Katie Crouch

This is one of the best coming of age stories I've ever read. Sarah is a southern debutante itching to run. Her reluctance to become a prudent southern belle leads to her escape to the north as she attends college and then lives in New York. But as Sarah escapes she begins to realize that the lessons she was taught as a debutante in the south aren't any help when it comes to making decisions or managing her life. As she struggles to find herself through a number of mistakes, she is pulled home after the death of a family member and the announcement of her sister's wedding where she begins to learn that no matter how hard she tries to escape, she will always come from the south. And she will always carry with her the place she comes from.

****I recommend this book for anyone entering or graduating college. It should NOT be read by teenagers as there is some heavy stuff to the plot.****

Morgan's August Picks

White Dog Fell From the Sky by Eleanor Morse

This is an enchanting story told through multiple characters and points of view. It takes place in Botswana during Apartheid in South Africa and centers on a young man who is running away from there. He encounters a young english woman who has come to Botswana with her husband. Both are lost creatures suffering in different ways and each one learns incredible lessons from the seemingly magical land of Botswana and from an incredibly loyal canine called White Dog. Beautifully written and charmingly complex this is a great story and one you should pick up before the author comes to town to speak about it in two weeks at the Tory Hill Reader Series!

 

 

What is the What by Dave Eggers

I was given this book by a dear friend and expected to like it as he had never steered me wrong in the past however I was blown away by how powerful this book is. The narrator is a young man, Valentino, who is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. His story is an incredible one based on the real life journey of Valentino Achak Deng. It weaves across two continents, over many years and covers tragedy with a sense of hard-won wisdom. While at first hesitant to read this book during my summer vacation for fear it would be too depressing I instead found it funny and touching especially during some of the most difficult periods. An important work as it brings light to an often forgotten part of the world What is the What is an amazing testament to the power of the human spirit. I also loved this book because from my experience with a Sudanese professor I can tell you that it unfolds exactly like many Sudanese choose to tell their stories, slowly and with many interruptions for other (and often unrelated) anecdotes. Utterly endearing and wonderful.

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

I absolutely loved this book. It is told through a series of letters, notes and very silly documents shared between members of a town that seems to be rife with slightly insane individuals. At heart it is the story of a young and intelligent girl who is on the hunt for her lost mother. It crosses from Seattle to Antarctica and highlights human foibles and human brilliance. I especially liked how the past and incredible genius of the mother unfolds throughout the book. I found myself relating quite strongly to the young girl as she discovers both of her parents, their flaws and the things that make them human. It is a quick summer read that definitely doesn't disappoint.

Marti's August Picks

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

I love books that start with a well-known and accurate historical fact and then create a piece of fiction around that fact. B. A. Shapiro did just that in her book, The Art Forger. In 1990, various pieces of artwork were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Three of the missing pieces were drawings from Degas. From this we are drawn into a world of stolen art and forgeries.

The main character, Clair, is an artist, who has been maligned in the cutthroat art world. She is skilled at copying specific artists and wants to show her own paintings. Claire is asked to paint/forge a copy of one of the stolen works from the Gardner Museum in trade for a one-woman show of her work. This decision leads her to a search through history and time about the artist, Degas and Isabella Gardner. Is the painting After Bath by Degas an original or a forgery? The plot continues to unfold highlighting the controversial missing painting.

The main character, Claire, as an artist, can easily be led by her desire for exposure, can be universal in her desires. The unfolding of the plot does, at times, slow and then speeds up as in real life where nothing happens and then a waterfall of events occur almost simultaneously. The book does come to a head with a couple of surprises.

The book was an enjoyable read. There was a lot of information about painting styles and materials as well as historical information about paintings. The story did not rush to an ending and did seemingly meander at times going back and forth in time as the story unfolded.

 Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

Barbara Delinsky has written another bestseller.  Her newest book is a testament to her story telling ability.  The novel set on a fictional island in Maine and is filled with the best the island offers: food, herbs, friends and the sweet salt air from the ocean.

The characters from the book are some of my favorites of all of her books.  I love the grittiness of Charlotte, the reticence of Leo, the determination of Julian, and the passion of Nicole.  Each character fills a need within the book, but continues to grow and change as the book moves forward in its story.

The plot is intertwined with story threads such as organic ingredients, the use of herbs, stem cell research and use as well as Multiple Sclerosis.  On top of that there is guilt, forgiveness, anger, and fear, all so strong that they are visceral. How Barbara Delinsky balances all that as well as the complex characters all speaks to her skills at writing.

The book was a wonderful read and has a deeply moving story. You can almost smell the lavender on the island with the crashing waves. The beach chair is optional.

Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

Welcome to summer! There is a new Elin Hilderbrand book out! To me, her books epitomize what summer should be sun, beaches, small towns, and plenty of water! Nantucket sounds so wonderful in these books. Too bad the stories are not real...SIGH....

Beautiful Day is a story about a wedding on Nantucket during the summer. The Grahams and the Carmichaels have come together for a wedding between Jenna and Stuart. Beth Carmichael wrote a book of thoughts to her daughter, Jenna before she died. "The Notebook" as it is called contains all kinds of advice, ideas and other information about how to plan Jenna's wedding. Jenna and her older sister Margo follow the suggestions as closely as possible. This does cause an issue or two with the groom's family, but that seems to have worked itself out.

What hasn't worked itself out are all the last minute problems that occur when two disparate groups of people come together for a wedding. What hasn't worked itself out are last minute secrets turned into disclosures that occur when people get together. On top of all that are the issues of the complicated relationships between the step children/mothers, affairs, cheating spouses, and jealousy. It is a veritable smorgasbord of emotions, opinions, feelings in a short time and in a small space. You just know stuff is going to happen .... and it sure does!

I enjoyed seeing the wedding weekend from the variety of voices used. Each chapter has at least three voices (nicely labeled) with "outtakes" about how that person either felt about or things they wanted to say. This technique gave the book a different vibe and allowed the reader many views. One of the things I did not like was the men that were characterized as shallow, cheating and lying scums. The wedding seemed to have a number of them within the immediate cast of characters. While they certainly gave the books some twists and turns, I would have felt better if more of the characters were less ugly in their behaviors.

Thank you Elin Hilderbrand for helping welcome in summer with another great read!!! ( 4.5 stars out of five)

The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian is part mystery and part historical fiction. Two stories intertwine around a family and a unknown assailant. Chris Bohjalian unveils the story piece by piece describing each scene with an eye toward setting up the story. The story splashes back and forth in time drawing you to the conclusion. The writing draws you into the story and keeps your attention. There are twists.

However, I did not find the story as compelling as I have others. It contained the moral ambiguity, that is often seen from his books. The characters were interesting. There were twists in the plot. However, I felt the ending was a little ho hum and did not grab you but kind of whimpered. The ending disappointed me, which is hard for me to say about a Chris Bohjalian's book. I enjoyed the reading and the book was good, but not as outstanding as some of his other books.

I will continue to read Chris Bohjalian. His books are well written and draw you into the story. His ability to tell a story is excellent. This book is not a favorite. (three out of five stars)

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill

This was an awesome read! The story is loosely based on the life of Maria Mitchell and her desire to study and find a comet. It contains much information about astronomy that can be overwhelming, however the information is not needed to understand the story at its heart. It is a story of longing, desire, love and acceptance in a very regimented and structured world.

The main character is Hannah Gardner Price. She lives on Nantucket and the majority of the story takes place between 1845 and 1848. Through the character of Hannah, we are introduced to the infancy of modern astronomy. However, she lives in a very strict community of Quakers, who profess to openness and understanding but who are in reality very controlling of their population. Hannah is extremely intelligent and able to complete the most complex mathematical equations of the time, however she is still expected to follow the confines of being a woman in a Quaker society. Her emotional understanding of people is stunted, as she does not have similar interests to others in her world.

Her family does not seem to support her quest to find a comet. She finds herself in deeper and deeper straits financially as she does not marry or leave the island. Hannah takes on a student to help him learn the mathematics to improve his position on a ship. A black man and a white woman – need I say more?

I found myself tearing up at times... knowing that Hannah so desperately wants to be successful in her pursuit of the stars and the barriers that are constantly thrown against her – barriers that are meant to force her to conform... I struggled with her as she learned to stand and take steps toward understanding herself, her life and her role!

I did have trouble drawing myself into the book until about 60 pages in. I found myself recoiling against some of the characters for their behaviors. Even though they are authentic and appropriate for the time. At the end, I was glad and sad... A 4+ star book out of 5 stars!

The Heist by Janet Evanovich

The Heist by Janet Evanovich is the first book in a new series. The book is a cross between the story lines of the movies The Sting and The Thomas Crowne Affair. The main characters are Katie O’Hare (FBI) and Nicholas Fox (con man).

Katie has been on the heels of Nicholas Fox for years. Each time she almost has him in her grasp, he manages to slip away... She finds him very frustrating, exasperating and always one step ahead. Nicholas Fox loves having Kate following him. He has started to become quite bold in leaving her clues and Toblerone Bars. They end up working together on a case much to Katie's disgust and the situations they get into and out of are not run of the mill.

While, I did not find this novel to be humorous, as I had hoped, I did find the story line to be interesting and at times almost comical. The suave personality of Nicholas and the caustic in your face personality of Kate brings the situations and the characters alive! The supporting characters are very well drawn and certainly not ordinary!

I enjoyed this book and would read the next in the series.  It was better than okay and not great.

Karrie's July Picks

The Unicorn Chronicles

by Bruce Coville

This series is an absolute treat. I recommend it to any middle school girl for summer reading! 

Help Cara save the unicorns as she travels from Earth to their hidden world of Luster, where she makes new friends who save her from perils and help her complete her quest. Along the way Cara begins to learn things about her own past, including things about her Grandmother whom she had to leave on Earth. Her quest carries her across the land of Luster to reach the Queen at court. During their adventure Cara and her friends face many perils including an attack from the delvers - ancient enemies of the unicorns - and being captured by the vicious dragon Firethroat. 

This grueling adventure is fun for everyone and continues in three more books! Join Cara as she helps save the unicorns and uncovers many deep and dark secrets about herself!

Blackbird House

by Alice Hoffman

If you're looking for the perfect beach read this summer here it is. This quick little book is one of the best she has ever written (in my own opinion).

It follows the story of a house built by a poor fishing family with a wife who impatiently waits for her husband and son to come back. With each new inhabitant of this little seas-side house we learn a new way to love. Each person who lives there carries a different story with them, adding to the magic. From the fisherman's wife to the mysterious man in the end, this book pulls you through the lives of many people who needed Blackbird House to learn to love again.

This book will bring you through a torrent of different feelings. It moves you in so many different ways it's hard to tell exactly what you'll feel next. But I suppose that's part of it's magic.

Morgan's July Picks

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Some rainy summer day escape into the tropical world of State of Wonder. I was amazed by the scenery, the characters and the incredible meeting of science and pure mystical wonderment. This is the story of one woman's incredible journey into the Amazon in search of answers regarding her colleague's sudden death as well as an attempt at a covert investigation of another scientist's work.

This book transports the reader deep into the jungle where they are faced with snakes, cannibals, magical trees and many vignettes of the strength of the human spirit. While this story is a little odd in places and definitely leaves a lot up to the imagination at the end I found myself riveted throughout the book. Somehow this book, which came out in 2011, slipped my attention until just recently. If you too had not yet picked it up it is definitely worth a read.

Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehmann

I had the distinct pleasure of reading this book as a pre-read for MainStreet BookEnds in preparation for a visit from the author. First of all Stephanie Lehmann is a really fun person who has obviously researched  her work quite intensely and is very passionate about the changing roles of women at the turn of the century. The book itself is an engaging portrait of New York in two times, 1907 and 2007. 

The plot switches between both time as two women's lives mirror each other in fun and engaging ways. Olive is a feisty and heroic protagonist is 1907 who must find her own way in the world while facing down the challenges she meets in a patriarchal turn of the century New York.  I loved the story of Olive and the old city as well as the window both provide into another time and place for women and their roles in society. 

Present day we meet Amanda who is a struggling business owner and NYC resident. A romantic at heart Amanda discovers the story of Olive in a box of old clothes we wants to buy for her vintage shop and is transported and transformed by her journey in another woman's shoes. Amanda is a flawed character but she is utterly relatable and very interesting to get to know.  Definitely a great summer read that will have you thinking from the start!

Marti's July Picks

Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets: A Bookshop Love Story by Jessica Fox 

This is a new book being published in July. It is a memoir about Jessica as she chooses a new path in her life. She left a job at NASA in California and moved all the way to Scotland to a used bookstore and found love. Sometimes you need to find a new path, especially when new visions surround you.

Memoirs are books that are written as a narrative containing personal observations. They are intended to be true and honest reflections while in many cases they are actually self-absorbing. Not in this case! While the book does chronicle Jessica’s search for a new path, it does not grandstand or overwhelm the reader with all the things that she did, as many do. Jessica has managed to balance herself between an honest recount and a reflective narrative.

The story was quirky, heartwarming and romantic. There is a huge cultural divide between the west coast of Scotland and the west coast of California. Jessica manages to bridge the divide pretty well during her first visit. However, once she left she realized that she loved the owner of The Book Store and the town of Wigtown. Luckily, the love was reciprocated. But twists in the path for them, both personal and governmental do intercede in their relationship.

Jessica’s story reads quickly. I found myself wishing for a positive conclusion, but not feeling secure in its existence. The language, feelings and descriptions make the book more interesting. Each chapter begins with a thoughtful quote that in some way enhances the chapter. Often Jessica is having a heart to heart with Melville, just to round out the importance of following one’s heart. An ARC of this book was given to me in exchange for my honest review by Book Browse

The House Girl by Tara Conklin 

This is her debut novel. It is seemly  a story about a lawyer, Lisa Sparrow in a large corporation, with drive toward becoming a partner. However, it is the story she uncovers that changes the book. Lisa is asked to help find a person who is a "good" fit for a lawsuit over slavery. We are introduced to a controversy in the art world about Lu Anne Bell and her slave Josephine. Which one is the artist, the slave or the master? This forms the second line of the story. The stories while over 100 years apart are twisted together. Together they are a powerful tale that leads toward a an interesting conclusion.

I enjoyed reading The House Girl. They are written in a style similar to Jodi Picoult or Chris Bohjalian, the stories continue to meander in an out of the past and present. The House Girl also allows us to view our reaction to slavery and reparation.  The modern day interpretation of racial stereotypes as opposed to the historical reactions.   The book is well written and well paced, allowing us views of the story to come.

The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin

This is an account of the wife of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of Charles Lindbergh.  The story while listed as a historical novel does contain a basic accurate outline of Anne and her life. Melanie Benjamin, the author wrote at the end of the book that the events are real, but the emotions are fictional. However it is those emotions that complete the picture of Anne. From falling in love with Charles Lindbergh, learning to become a pilot, losing her oldest child, and living with a brilliant yet seemingly an emotionally bereft individual, Anne loved Charles.  She was his most ardent supporter
throughout his life because of that love. She independently raised her children and faced most days alone, while he was off promoting flying and working in aviation. She was a great writer in her own right, as well as helping Charles publish his writing about his flying adventures. 

I enjoyed the perspective of seeing everything through Anne’s eyes.  I found her reliance of following her husband’s beliefs saddening, but probably quite accurate for the times.  I felt her redemption when at the end she began to forge her own path. I do wish the book had more photos of them, but knowing that this is historical fiction I understand the lack of them. The book was good.  The writing was clear and read quickly. The emotions and feelings felt genuine.  A nice read.

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

This book is a wonderful journey taken through the land of scents and perfumes. Grace Monroe is a young lady in 1955 in England. She has made what is known as a "good" match, however she is struggling with the day to day life. Eva d'Orsey has died and left a significant inheritance to Grace Monroe. But who is Eva d'Orsey and why leave Grace Monroe so much money? The novel revolves around these two characters going back and forth in time. The connection is unclear as the women in both story lines become more clear about what they want. Intertwined with the story are the whiffs of scent and color, fragrances that have made women and an industry notable.

There was a lot of information about making perfume within the novel. I was worried that I would be put off by this, as I am not a perfume person. I absolutely was not. I was mesmerized by the tale, and found the the focus was not the perfume but the women and the perfume. I found it fascinating as it wound around the story. Another line within the story that fascinated me was the almost savant memory skills that were apparent in the story.

This is a wonderful story about what makes a life and the richness people take from that life...and about perfume that swirls around scenting the journey!

Karrie's June Picks

Graceling

By Kristin Cashore

This is an incredible adventure. Katsa is born a Graceling. That means that she has an incredible talent that others don't. There's only one problem - that talent is the talent of killing. Used as a weapon by her uncle, the King, Katsa is disgusted with herself. So she does the sensible thing - she runs away, beginning a quest using her Grace to save the life of another rather than destroy it. Being free, Katsa is now able to begin learning about herself, to us her own mind and control her Grace in new ways. As a faithful companion, Po helps her to see that she is not just a deadly weapon and they begin to realize that her Grace may not be killing. Adventure, love, and sacrifice combine perfectly to make this book an amazing read.

Though this is a Young Adult book I would recommend it to anyone! Cashore is a beautiful writer and has created a wonderfully colorful world of her own! Though I do recommend this to anyone I would be careful letting young kids read it due to a scene that does get into adult content. I would say it's a great read for anyone over 15!

From Baghdad With Love

By Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman

Talk about the love of man and dog. This book made me believe in the spirit of humanity and appreciate the men and women fighting over seas even more than I did before I read it. And I did. A lot. And then I read this book. And in this book a found group of people who were not just soldiers. They were people. Just people. Trying to get a little puppy out of a war zone. Talk about adopting a rescue. When these Marines first went into Iraq they were told: Take no mascots. That means no animals, leave them to starve, get run over, or shot. Well these men just couldn't do that when they found Lava. They took him in, nurtured him with their own food and found something worth loving in a war that was astoundingly gruesome.