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Julie:
Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth
By Peter Kelder
Very interesting, simple secrets are revealed from a traveler to
Tibet in the 1920's. Some Eastern philosophies for living the
"good life" are also included. I haven't tried the rites
yet---look for a newly-young employee in the next few months!
Artemis Fowl By Eoin Colfer
Irish author, Eoin Colfer, has written a very imaginative
story featuring fairies, goblins, trolls and humans.
The non-human characters all have been driven to live
underground due to the damage humans have caused on earth.
Unfortunately several creatures are forced above ground because
of the theft of the fairy bible or book of rules by 12-year-old
genius and master criminal, Artemis Fowl. This is a
delightfully, entertaining story very popular with our juvenile
and young adult readers. Stay in step and give it a try! You may
decided to read the other four books in the series.
Bridget Jones's Diary By
Helen Fielding
This story features a young, single woman living in London. She
is obsessed with finding a man for a lasting relationship with
her. Naturally, nothing works out when she is looking so hard!
This book is written in a diary format and easily read for a
light summer laugh. you'll have your choice of media with this
one; book, audio cassette, CD or a DVD. I enjoyed the movie
first which got me to read the book.
Buttons and Foes By Dolores
Johnson
This is one of several books featuring Mandy Dyer as the main
character. Mandy is an artist turned dry cleaner after
inheriting her uncle's dry cleaning plant. She has more than her
share of the proverbial 'curiosity that killed the cat', which
leads her to solving problems and getting into sticky
situations. In this story, she can't believe the death of one of
her favorite clients was accidental. Along the way to
discovering the truth, she meets a few surprising villains and
men from her past. This was a quick, enjoyable read - just right
for hot, summer days!
The Christmas Train by David
Baldacci --
Feeling like a holiday book? Give this one a try! This is
not the thriller plot that this author usually writes but does
have a bit of mystery in an interesting story. The central
character, hard-bitten journalist, Tom Langdon, is forced to
travel cross-country by train during the holiday season. Along
the way, he meets an intriguing group of fellow passengers as
well as a blast from his past. During the trip he discovers the
beauty of taking the slow-road as well s he value of being true
to his deepest dreams.
Cookies: Food Writer's Favorites
By Barbara Gibbs Ostmann
I enjoy cooking, and this book contains unique recipes from food
writers. Of course, cookies are always popular with my children!
The Cruelest Miles By
Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury
Now that winter is winding down here in Michigan, I thought it
would be safe to chooses a book set in a cold climate. This is
it! Each year in Alaska, a dog sled race called the Iditarod
takes place. This is to commemorate the original run that took
place in 1925. Nome, Alaska was in the grip of a diphtheria
epidemic. The only reliable method to transport serum to this
totally isolated city was by dog team. This book is a true
account of the heroic men and dogs involved in this undertaking.
It also provides some history about native Alaskans and the
development of the Alaskan frontier. I believe anyone who has
visited the beautiful state of Alaska, will find this book of
interest.
The Day of the Jackal
By Frederick Forsyth
I remember this book as one of the best I have ever read. It
builds suspense with its intricate plot and interesting
characters,. The book's title includes the codename of one of
the main characters, the Jackal. He is an assassin hired to kill
French president, Charles de Gaulle. The police become aware of
the plot and use their best detective, Lebel, to attempt to
track him down. The plot inevitably leads to a confrontation
between these two men. After enjoying it in book form, compare
it to the video.
Death of a Cad By M.C.
Beaton
My heritage is Scottish so I enjoy this mystery series set in
the Highlands. The author is from Scotland so the dialect and
descriptions are quite authentic. Light mystery without blood
and gore.
December 6 By Martin
Cruz Smith
This plot has a very interesting premise as its storyline: an
American is in Japan on December 6, 1941. The American’s name is
Harry, and he is unique in that he spent much of his youth in
the care of a Japanese housekeeper while his missionary parents
traveled. Consequently, he was raised as a Japanese child would
be but, of course, he was always a foreigner. I liked the way
the author traveled between Harry’s youth and his current
existence. The story has many twists and turns, and I was never
quite sure what would happen next!
Deception Point by
Dan Brown --
I found this book to be a real page turner. The plot travels
across the United States as we follow the main characters
through their involvement in a fabulous discovery by NASA. The
author includes existing organizations and technology in such a
way that it scars me a bit to think about it all. This book has
plenty of chills, thrills, love and plot twists to keep you
guessing until the end.
The Devil Wears Prada
By Lauren Weisberger
Are you feeling that you would like to escape this weather with
some lighthearted reading? Do you think your boss is the worst
one on the planet? Try reading this story! New college graduate
and budding writer, Andrea Sachs needs to find a job to stay in
New York City. She lands a "dream" job as the personal assistant
to Miranda Priestly, senior editor of a fashion magazine. Well,
life changes drastically for Andrea from that point on! During
the following year, she learns much about fashion, reality and
personal choices.
Doomsday Book By
Connie Willis
This novel was one of my few forays into the realm of science
fiction. I loved it! This story features Kivrin, a college
student living during the 21st century. Time travel is possible
and she is heading back to the middle ages, after receiving
appropriate inoculations, of course. Unfortunately, Kivrin
becomes stranded in the primitive living conditions of the 14th
century. She deals with all sorts of problems, superstitions,
and people, ultimately becoming a real part of all their lives.
The book moves well between Kivrin and her would-be rescuers of
the 21st century. This captured my interest from the first page
and kept it throughout the whole story. I think I’ll try some
more science fiction.
Faerie Wars By Herbie
Brennan
This juvenile book was very entertaining and well written. The
story touched on modern day issues with Henry Atherton's family
while blending the very imaginative adventure he experiences
with his employer, Mr. Fogarty. This was believable fantasy
that combined mythology and science in an interesting story
about a parallel universe. Pure escapism!
False Scent By Ngaio
Marsh
It was difficult for me to choose which story of this author’s
to feature because I enjoy them all! Marsh writes in a similar
style and time period as Agatha Christie. I especially enjoy the
way this author lets you get to know the characters in the book
very well before anybody is killed! This particular mystery
story is set in England featuring actress Mary Bellamy as the
victim and Superintendent Roderick Alleyn as the detective. Read
the book to find out what happens.
The
Five Love Languages
by Gary Chapman
--
If you are feeling that you and your mate could be communicating
a bit better, then this is the book for you. Gary explains his
theory about how we all feel and express love in very
understandable language. His book is full of real case examples
and practical instruction for applying the appropriate "love
language' to your own relationship. I though the whole approach
made sense -- so try it, you'll like it.
Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chavalier --
I loved this story! It is written in the voice of the main
character, a young Dutch girl of the seventeenth century. To
help her family financially, she becomes a maid in the home of
painter Johannes Vermeer. She is exposed to a whole new way of
living in the home of this privileged Catholic family.
Naturally, as a result, she is changed. She awakens to an
awareness of her surroundings and to an awareness of herself as
a young woman. the imaginative story was inspired by a painting
of Vermeer's and is beautifully written. Compare the DVD after
reading the book.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By J. K. Rowling
Follow the adventures of Harry Potter as he enters a whole new
phase of life, as a wizard at boarding school. I found this
series of books to be very imaginative and well-written. This is
a real page turner, fun for adults and children, alike. I liked
it so well, I have read it three times.
The Hunt for Red October
By Tom Clancy
This intriguing story was made into a movie. It’s a
military-submarine thriller. It contains loads of accurate
equipment and top-level procedure descriptions. The plot
features many characters and twists and turns. Many of our male
patrons love this author, so I wanted to read him myself. The
story was good, but I definitely had to have my brain engaged to
get this one. Give it a try and maybe you’ll get hooked on this
author, too.
Ice Hunt by James Rollins
--
This is the best book I have read in a long time! Is has
good character development, an interesting plot and loads of
action. The author combines science with fiction to create a
potential world disaster in the frozen world of the Arctic
Circle. The heroes and heroines face trouble from the climate,
enemies, animals and difficult moral issues. Be sure you have a
block of time for reading this one, because you won't want to
put it down!
In Harm's Way By Doug
Stanton
This is a well-written account of the sinking of this warship in
the Phillipine Sea shortly before the ending of WWII. It is
written from the viewpoint of several of the crew members but
also contains U.S. Navy directives and the actions of other key
players. I found this to be one of the most interesting stories
I have recently read.
Jefferson's Children: The Story of One
American Family By Shannon Lanier
This is the story of descendents of Thomas Jefferson through his
slave Sally Hemmings. It’s full of pictures and contains essays
written by members of his legitimate and illegitimate families.
Each person has a different perspective and thoughts to offer.
This book is found in the Juvenile section but don’t let that
stop you! It’s very interesting, and everyone I have recommended
it to has enjoyed it.
A Knight in Shining Armor
By Jude Deveraux
This is a delightful romance with an interesting twist – time
travel! I enjoyed this story so much that I bought a copy of my
own. Dougless Montgomery feels she’s done all she can to be a
modern woman: a career, independent, sexy. She ends up in a
rural church in England, crying her heart out. She longs for a
knight in shining armor, and who should appear but Nicholas
Stafford, dead in 1564. The story is amusing as he struggles to
adjust. Naturally, love blooms. I found this to be a touching
love story and hope you will too.
Lie Down with Lions By
Ken Follett
If you are looking for a story with drama, intrigue and
dangerous love interests, this is for you! Although I read this
thriller quite a while ago it remains interesting and timely.
This is because this book takes place primarily in Afghanistan,
an area of the world that continues to be a hotspot. The author
develops the characters, plot and location with his usual skill.
The intrigue and menace of the story build to a dramatic chase
through mountains for a husband, wife and new baby.
The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt
By William Nothdurft and Josh Smith
This non-fiction book was very interesting! Who hasn't been
fascinated by dinosaurs; their lives, their disappearance from
the Earth? This is a companion book to an A&E documentary film.
It follows a then and now format surrounding the original
discovery in the Great Western Desert of Egypt of a large
variety of dinosaurs, their loss due to WWI and rediscovery. It
was well-written, conveying much of the excitement and
frustrations inherent in paleontology.
Love in
the Driest Season
by Neely Tucker
--
The subtitle of this book is "A Family Memoir" and although
it touches on very serious social issues, this is essentially
what this book is about. A white, male foreign correspondent fro
the Detroit News and his black wife accept a posting to the
African nation of Zimbabwe in 1997. They discover that the
country is in the midst of a severe AIDS epidemic which is
producing record numbers of orphans. Neely and his wife Vita,
begin to volunteer at n orphanage where they encounter a baby
girl left in the bush at birth to die. She touches both their
hearts immediately. The story details the ensuing struggle to
adopt her and their growth from a career focused couple to a
family, all amidst the growing political and social unrest of
Zimbabwe. This was a very touching and enlightening read.
Make
the Connection: Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life
by Bob Greene and
Oprah Winfrey --
The weather is better and it's time to improve yourself!
This book outlines an approach I found easy to follow. The
author doesn't suggest making all sorts of changes at one time.
Instead, a step-by-step method is presented. For many of you, I
imagine treading Oprah's struggles and successes with weight and
exercise will be very inspirational. I hope reading this book
helps you reach your goals.
Murder on a Girls' Night Out
By Anne George
This murder mystery was the first one I had read by this author.
It had me laughing out loud, over and over. The sleuths are two
elderly Southern sisters who are opposites in just about every
way imaginable. In this story, wealthy Mary Alice decides to buy
a country western bar over the misgivings of her sensible
sister, Patricia Anne. Naturally, problems occur, the worst
being a murder that looks very bad for Patricia Anne. If you are
in the mood for a light-hearted, well-written mystery -- give
this one a try.
Murder on the Iditarod Trail
By Sue Henry
Sticking with the Iditarod theme, I've chosen this interesting
mystery set in Alaska during an Iditarod race. The setting and
the characters made this especially interesting to me. I love
Alaska and I find the people capable of participating in an
eleven hundred mile test of physical endurance amazing. The main
character is a female musher names Jessie Arnold who ends up
working with an Alaskan detective, Alex Jensen. Jessie faces
much tension due to the race, the murder and her sex. Excitement
builds as her position in the race improves and she becomes a
target for the murderer. For extra interest, be sure sure to
follow this year's Iditarod Race that begins March 6th.
Nature Crafts for Kids By
Gwen Diehn and Terry Krautwurst
Soon our little darlings will be home and saying, "Mom, I'm
bored!" This book should help solve that problem. My children
and I found the crafts in this book very easy to do with readily
available materials. It has the advantage of getting you all
outdoors to find supplies. Enjoy the kids-the years fly by
although the days may be long!
Night Sky By Clair
Francis
This story takes us back to the time of World War II. It
features three characters: Julie, a single Englishwoman; Paul, a
French criminal; and David, a German-Jewish scientist. The paths
of these three people move inexorably toward one another in a
well-researched novel filled with tension, suspense and great
descriptions. I read this quite some time ago, but it is one I
have in my home library and stand out in my mind as one of the
better books I’ve read.
Outlander by
Diana Gabaldon --
If you are as fascinated by the idea of time travel as I am,
this is the book for you! The story begins with our heroine,
Claire Randall, in Scotland in the year 1945. She soon finds
herself mysteriously transported back to the year 1743 in the
midst of raiding Scottish clans. The author has a great gift for
developing wonderful characters and settings. This book grabs
your attention and hangs on, so be prepared to do nothing but
read until the last page is finished!
Pride and Prejudice By
Jane Austen
This book was fabulous! It is witty and well written, insightful
and satirical, but fun. I really appreciated the differences in
manners and language use between the time period the is set in
and today. This story follows the lives of a family with five
daughters of marriageable age for about a year. A good marriage,
of course, was essential for a woman’s success at that time. It
is set in the early 1800s. It’s great to watch the dramatization
done by A&E after you read the book.
Proof By Dick Francis
This was the first mystery novel by this author I ever read.
This features a wine merchant, Tony Beach. Due to his unusual
ability as a wine and whiskey taster, he becomes involved with a
murder, as hunted and hunter. Dick Frances did a wonderful job
developing his characters in this book, and I felt great
sympathy with Tony. The plot naturally has its twists and turns
that surprise. I also learned a bit about the wine business that
I found interesting. Enjoy!
Quaker Witness By Irene
Allen
I enjoyed this book very much! My enjoyment stemmed partially
from the fact that I learned a great deal about the Quaker faith
and its practice because of the main character. The story
features 60-something Quaker Elizabeth Elliot. She becomes
involved in a murder case when a young woman she has recently
befriended is accused of killing her professor. The case turns
out to involve sexual harassment and the competitiveness of
scientific research, all of which the staff of Harvard
University are eager to hush-up! Elizabeth, with her Quaker
desire for truth, wends her way through clues and contradictions
to a surprising and disturbing conclusion. I felt the book was
well written and I could easily visualize the Cambridge area
because of the author's excellent descriptions.
Queen's Man by Sharon Kay
Penman
At Epiphany in the year 1193, young Justin de Quincy happens
upon a dying man whose last words have a profound impact upon
his future. He becomes involved in discovering the murderer of
this man as well as court intrigue on behalf of Queen Eleanor
and her long missing son, Richard Lionheart. As the
unacknowledged bastard son of a high cleric, Justin has little
to rely upon other than his own wits during his adventures. The
author manages to convey the reader to another place and time
admirable.
Ransom By Julie Garwood
This is a historical romance set in the days after the death of
Richard the Lionhearted. The heroine of English ancestry flees
to Scotland to try to recover a missing treasure box to save her
uncle and her home. Naturally, the heroine falls for a rough and
tumble Scot. As always, Julie Garwood brings her characters and
locations to life beautifully. This was a quick and entertaining
read.
Ravished By Amanda Quick
Amanda Quick writes some of my favorite historical romances and
this is one of her best. The heroine, Harriet, is witty and
bright and the hero, Gideon, is properly interesting. The book
has amusing dialog and a different plot built around fossil
collecting.
Real
Life Decorating
by Lyn Peterson
--
Are you thinking it's time to spruce your house up a bit or
to do some serious remodeling? Then this is the book for you. I
found it interesting to read with many suggestions that I could
easily implement. I liked the color photography, the
informational insets and the helpful drawings. If you find this
isn't the decorating book for you, go ahead and check out the
many others you'll find in the 747 section.
Rest in Pieces and Wish You Were Here
By Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
Mary Minor Haristeen or Harry to her friends, is the young
postmistress of Crozet, Virginia. Her cat, Mrs. Murphy, a gray
tiger, and Tee Tucker, her Welsh corgi, help her solve mysteries
in this small town. Her stories are funny and whimsical and in
case anyone thinks Crozet is a fictional place, I took some
pictures there on my last trip to Virginia. Crozet is located
off the highway between Charlottesville and Richmond. A very
small town in central Virginia is just what Crozet is. I took
pictures of the Post Office and Library. If you enjoy mysteries
involving animals, take a peek at these. What you get is a witty
and clever suspense novel.
Rodale's Successful Organic
Gardening-Annuals and Bulbs
It's the time of year to get outside and PLANT!! Here is a book
I found very helpful for gardening. I liked the color photos of
the plants and the information included about each one, i.e.:
description, height and spread, best site and climate, growing
guidelines and landscape uses. I hope it helps you too-Happy
Gardening!
Saintly Murders By C.L.
Grace
This murder mystery is set in the year 1472. The main character
is a female physician, Kathryn Swinbrooke. She is asked to argue
against the beatification of a recently deceased friar. While
investigating this claim, she becomes involved in a number of
other seemingly unrelated murder cases. The plot winds through
this maze in a very interesting manner. I enjoyed reading this
story primarily due to the historical information I learned. If
you ever think it's tough living today, try reading a book like
this featuring the everyday lives of its characters. What an
eye-opener!
The Seven Daughters of Eve
By Bryan Sykes
I found this book to be very interesting! It details the path
this scientist has taken in his research about DNA. Along the
way he writes about some famous cases he has been involved in
that you may have seen on television. The book is written in a
very engaging, understandable style. I hope you enjoy it as much
as I did.
The Shunning By Beverly
Lewis
Have you ever seen Amish people and wondered what their
lifestyle is like? Well, wonder no more. Read all about Katie
Lapp and her family. The author writes very authentically,
perhaps due to her own Amish background. A good story, full of
insight into the difficult choices life can present and the
problem of being true to your inner self.
Sick Puppy By Carl
Hiaasen
This book is something of an environmental satire. The
characters are extreme to wake us up. It is a book that will
have you laughing at times and shaking your head at others. I
will definitely read Carl Hiaasen again.
Timeline by
Michael Crichton --
I watched the movie of this story first and had to read the
book! This author uses current science theories to create his
stories. This plot involves ultra-new quantum theory to
plausibly allow time-travel. Our current day archaeologists get
their wildest hopes fulfilled when they travel back to the
middle ages to rescue their Professor. I enjoyed the switch
between the time-travelers problems and those of the people
still in this century. If you want to escape the every day -
give this book a try.
The Widow's Club By
Dorothy Cannell
This story is set in England with a very unlikely trio of
detectives. They uncover the existence of the Widow’s Club.
Sounds like a wonderful support group, doesn’t it? The problem
is that the members are all married. Enter the main character,
Ellie Haskell, newly married but recruited for undercover
entrance to the club. This is a funny, light-hearted mystery.
Wild Child-Girlhoods in the
Counterculture By Chelsea Cain
Remember hippie days, back-to-nature and communes? Ever wonder
what happened to some of the people choosing these alternative
lifestyles? Well, this book contains a number of essays written
by women who grew up in those situations. I found it very
interesting to read about their varying reactions to the
lifestyle chosen by their parents. This book is perfect for this
time of year because it's easy to pick-up and put down.
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