Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants

Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants: Even Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
Louise Rennison
HarperTempest, 2003, 214pgs. Young Adult

The fourth in this diary series, Georgia is a British teen obsessed with snogging—and she has opportunities-a-plenty with her band member boyfriend. But Georgia can’t seem to find anything to talk to him about and Dave the Laugh, a former interest, is always just around the corner of her mind. Hampered by seriously un-cool parents, tedious school teachers and a tiresome baby sister, Georgia strives to achieve super bounce-ability with hair care products and a mouth with luscious, lip-glossed kissability. Bright spots are the silly teen dialect Georgia uses, complete with a glossary appendix.

Although not terribly graphic, one finds little to recommend this shallow depiction of teen angst. The best aspect of the book was the superb British reader when listening to the audio version. Guaranteed to make one fear for the safety of the British Empire if Georgia and her friends are the not-so-bright future.

DAP

Suspense and Sensibility

Suspense and Sensibility: A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery
Carrie Bebris
Tom Doherty Assoc., 2005. 301 pgs. Mystery

Never fear Austen fans, the book is not as silly as the title would indicate, but does give fair warning that Jane purists might not applaud. It’s still our dear Elizabeth and Darcy, with a supernatural twist. Here we find the newly married couple traveling to London for the season--with matrimonial aims for Kitty and Georgiana. Kitty happily finds herself wooed by a dashing and frivolous playboy, but after becoming engaged his entire persona changes drastically for the worse. Elizabeth--more sensitive to the paranormal--suspects it has something to do with a mysterious mirror and a dead ancestor with a scandalous reputation. But she must convince Darcy to help Kitty find the answer to her fiancée’s outrageous behavior. Can they solve the mystery in time?

Some of the original repartee and wit are resurrected and devotees shouldn’t be excessively disappointed.

DAP

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
Alexander McCall Smith
Pantheon Books, c2009. 212 pgs. Mystery

Another treasure emerges in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe, our dear Botswanan heroine, is indeed traditionally built and her statuesque physique only reinforces her traditional values and solid character. This time she and Miss Makutsi of the 97 percent are called to solve mysteries of excess: a football/soccer team with too many losing games, a furniture assistant who sells too many beds and a lady laden with too many husbands.

McCall Smith writes with a wise, gentle pen—his prose both purposefully simple and elegantly humorous. His touch so delicate he’s sometimes mistaken for an ingénue. A favorite line reads, “Human hurt was like lightning, it did not choose its targets, but struck, with rough equality and little regard to position, achievements, or moral dessert.” A lovely mystery that is only mysterious in its understanding of humanity’s heart. A treat that leaves you perfectly content.

DAP

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
By Jamie Ford
Ballantine Books, 2009, 290 pgs. Fiction.

The story of Henry, a Chinese-American, and his experiences as a youth in Seattle during World War II. The story jumps back and forth between the 1940s and 1986, a short time after Henry has lost his wife to cancer as he struggles to bond with his college age son.

When Henry was in his early teens, just before the war began, his parents put him in an all-white American school and told him he could never speak Chinese again even though this meant he would not be able to communicate with them. At his new school, Henry met Keiko, a Japanese girl, and the only other non-white student. They bonded quickly but Henry’s father who was a strong loyalist to China, hated the Japanese because of their invasion of China. Henry is conflicted by his loyalty to his family and his devotion to a Japanese-American girl who is treated so horribly by her fellow Americans.

This is an interesting read about a dark time in American history. The characters were well developed, but for me there was something lacking in the story. It was missing an emotional intensity. I just didn’t care enough about what happened. Although others might disagree.

AJ

Dracula

Dracula
By Bram Stoker
Signet Classic, 1992. 382 pgs. Fiction.

This story is more academic than I would have imagined from the various movie versions that have been made. The entire story is told through a series of diary entries, letters, and memoranda—all the dialogue and action take place within these documentary accounts.

Listening to this classic on CD was much easier than reading the text. The story certainly held my attention throughout, although there were times I wished the story would move along quicker. Also, the ending seemed somewhat anti-climactic.

The narration is done a pair of readers, the men’s diaries and letters being read by Alexander Spencer and those of the women by Susan Adams.

SML

Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted
By Gail Carson Levine
Harper Collins Publishers, 1997. 232 pgs. Young Adult

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out to find freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way.

This has to be my favorite version of Cinderella. The obedience curse adds a really interesting element to the story, and it really helped with a part of the story I never understood - why Ella acts as a servant when her parents were nobility. Also, the love story is built up pre-ball, so it actually makes sense why they fall in love with each other, and you are really rooting for them by the end. I listened to the audiobook version, and the youthful reader (she sounded about 14 years old) was charming. They also added several musical touches during significant passages which really brought some parts to life.

BHG

Fairest

Fairest
Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins, c2006. 326 pgs. Young Adult

In the magical land of Aortha, status is measured by your musical singing talent. Through a set of fortuitous circumstances, Aza travels to the kingdom’s palace where she catches the eye, or rather ear, of the Prince. As an adopted inn-keeper’s daughter she has always been embarrassed and distraught by her irregular appearance. As Aza begins an adventure that leads her to her true identity she discovers that appearances are not always what they seem and learns to accept her differences.

A lovely book, which could only demonstrate its true splendor in the audio version—where nearly 1/4 of the book is sung aloud. Beautiful music and a magical read. A delightful fairy tale for all ages.

DAP

A Kiss in Time

A Kiss in Time
By Alex Flinn
HarperTeen, 2009. 371 pgs. Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old Princess Talia has been warned against spindles her entire life, but she cannot resist the curse placed on her at her christening and she pricks her finger and sends all of Euphrasia into a deep sleep. When American teenager Jack finds her and kisses her awake 300 years later, Talia convinces him to take her with him to Miami, hoping to make him fall in love with her and free her from the curse forever.

While I found the set up of Jack and Talia’s meeting a bit awkward, this story develops into a fun adaptation of Sleeping Beauty that encourages the pursuit of dreams and (somewhat surprisingly) the development of teen and parent relationships. Some of Flinn’s best novels address contemporary young adult issues and emotional growth and, for me, the strength of this work was Jack's character development and maturation.

MBC

Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terror and Build Nations—One School at a Time
Greg Mortenson
Viking, 2006. 338 pgs. Non-Fiction

Greg Mortenson: mountain climber, male nurse, and freedom fighter. And for Greg, terrorism is best fought through education. After a harrowing experience climbing K2, he began building schools in Afghanistan & Pakistan—for both male and female children—a radical and difficult ideology for many of the culture to accept. He has an amazing story to tell of the Middle East, kidnappings, Mullahs, and the drinking of tea. He learns that to take time to know a human being you must drink at least three cups of tea with him, for by then, you will be friends. A book that hopefully changes the world—as Greg is currently doing.

A man of discipline and perseverance...and now a hero of mine. An inspirational read and highly recommended. Difficult to access the writing style, I switched to the audio CD and shazaam—a much friendlier read (and much more engaging). It would have been difficult to finish otherwise.

* Book Club sets available

DAP

The Red Wolf Conspiracy

The Red Wolf Conspiracy
by Robert V. S. Redick
Ballantine, 2009. 445 pgs.

The worlds and peoples in this complex new fantasy are so vividly imagined and realized that one has to come up for air from time to time to see if real life is still going on. Pazel Pathkendle, a tarboy and language savant, and Thasha, the daughter of a newly-minted ambassador, who is about to be married off to the prince of an enemy state, find themselves together and imperiled aboard the 600-year old merchant ship, the Chathrand. But what is the real purpose of the Chathrand's voyage? Treachery, mage-craft, a terrible weapon at the bottom of the sea, a magical mink, and Lilliputian-sized warriors combine with a multitude of other creatures and magical forces to make The Red Wolf Conspiracy one of the best reads to come down the pike in a good while. Only down side? This book is the first of a trilogy and the next one doesn't come out until next year.

LW

An Accomplished Woman

An Accomplished Woman
By Jude Morgan
St. Martin’s Press, 2009. 407 pgs. Romance

Thirty-year-old Lydia Templeton has reluctantly agreed to accompany Phoebe Rae to Bath to help her sort out her romantic tangle, but when Miss Templeton begins dispensing advice about Phoebe’s competing suitors, she discovers that her judgment is not always as sound as she believes and that her treatment of Mr. Durrant, the man whose proposal she refused years earlier and who is now actively seeking a wife in Bath, may have been unfair.

Jane Austen fans, rejoice! Jude Morgan is a talented Regency romance writer with a particular gift for dialogue. An Accomplished Woman is a satisfying and self-aware comedy of manners, with Morgan occasionally making pointed reference to the fact that she treads on Miss Austen’s territory. She does it so well, though, that readers will surely forgive the trespass.

MBC

Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed & Forgery in the Holy Land

Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed & Forgery in the Holy Land
By Nina Burleigh
Smithsonian Books, 2008. 271 pgs. Nonfiction.

The title is a little broad but entirely true. This tale of faith, greed & forgery revolves around a couple of artifacts that surfaced in 2002: the so-called “James Ossuary” and the “Jehoash Tablet”. The first was international news, as it was touted as the first archaeological evidence of Jesus existence. The James Ossuary is a small limestone box which was used to contain the bones of James, the “brother” of Jesus. The ossuary has an inscription reading “Ya’akov bar Yosef achui Yeshua” (James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus). The other item, the “Jehoash Tablet” purported to be an artifact dating from the time of and relating to the Temple of Solomon. This would be every bit as important to Jews as the James Ossuary would be to Christians (and probably more so).

Nina Burleigh details the unfolding stories of how these items came to light and subsequent investigations their authenticity. It is a fascinating tale. As you might discern from the title, the artifacts were forgeries. There are a number of sad tales here, not just the forgeries, but the destruction of genuine artifacts, the plundering of archaeological sites, and scale of deception and fraud involving ancient artifacts from the Middle East.

SML

Something, Maybe

Something, Maybe
By Elizabeth Scott
Simon Pulse, 2009. 217 pgs. Young Adult

Hannah’s parents are unusual. Her (estranged) father is famous for his playboy lifestyle and her mother is most well-known for appearing in a commercial wearing nothing but a pizza box. While Hannah wears loose clothing and a tight pony tail in an attempt to avoid the attention her parents receive, she struggles to attract the interest of her co-worker and crush, Josh, and deflect the interest of another co-worker, Finn.

Hannah’s romantic lead is a darling character, but the odd (though not explicit) world Hannah inhabits, visiting her elderly father and his “special girls” in New York and finding her mother regularly wandering through the house in lingerie, make this novel most appropriate for older teens.

MBC

From a Distance

From a Distance
By Tamera Alexander
Bethany House, 2008. 381 pgs. Romance

Elizabeth Westbook’s father is a Senator for the U.S. government in Washington, D.C. He is a man of means and influence. Although she loves him feisy Elizabeth is eager leave his shadow. Elizabeth travels from Washington to the Colorado Territory in order to establish herself as a first rate photographer. Elizabeth’s father thinks she is going to form a school and be the teacher. But Elizabeth’s real dream is becoming the first female staff photographer at Washington’s Chronicle. Wendell Goldberg, her employer at the Chronicle, wants Elizabeth to take spectacular photographs of the wildlife in the Rockies. Daniel Ranslett traveled from Tennessee to Colorado to escape his past. He was a sharpshooter for the Confederate Army in the Civil war and struggles to recover from his psychological wounds. Elizabeth and Daniel spark when they meet but can’t seem to get along. Elizabeth finds her adjustment to rugged Rockies difficult. Photography was difficult in the latter half of the 19th century and she struggles to maneuver her equipment as well as work with the necessary chemicals without damaging herself physically. Elizabeth also learns how to work with the self-sufficient people she meets. It is something of a culture clash between her refined eastern ways and their western independence. Daniel Ranslett acts as protector and guide for Elizabeth on a journey to photograph Mesa Verde. It is on this expedition that the two overcome their initial differences, find more complications in their relationship, and fall in love.

Tamera Alexander writes a lot of plot lines. At one point Elizabeth encounters and photographs a murdered man and the novel changes course from a historical romance into a mystery novel. Elizabeth employs a former slave as an assistant and racial tensions are still raging several years after the close of the Civil War. In addition Elizabeth has a mysterious physical ailment that she hopes the thin Colorado air will help. Alexander also introduces many minor characters for future books in the Timber Ridge Reflections series. I found Alexander's lack of focus distracting. The strength of the novel is Alexander's attention to historical detail. Alexander depicts life in the territories before the turn of the century with accuracy and emotion. The romance between Elizabeth and Daniel was also fun to follow. There is believable chemistry and conflict between the two. They were strong, well-developed characters. I liked reading about them. However, I felt that there was too much going on in this book. Alexander bit off more than she could chew with the different plots.

ALC

The Princess and the Bear

The Princess and the Bear
By Mette Ivie Harrison
HarperTeen, 2009. 327 pgs. Young adult fiction.

A hound who has lived as a human princess and a bear who was once a king join forces in a forest filling with a strange "unmagic." In their human forms, they are sent back in time to repair the magic of the world and to conquer the evil power that has threatened to overtake their present time.

This book serves as both a sequel to The Princess and the Hound as well as a stand-alone novel. I found it to be markedly better and more engaging than the first; the characters had more heart, were much more likable, and were more successfully developed. The storyline was also more intriguing and had a much more satisfying conclusion. Although not my favorite by any means, this book is still a worthwhile read.

CW

The Dead and the Gone

The Dead and the Gone
By Susan Beth Pfeffer
Harcourt, Inc., 2008. 308 pgs. Young Adult

After a meteor hits the moon and sets off a series of horrific climate changes, seventeen-year-old Alex Morales must take care of his sisters alone in the chaos of New York City.

The dead and the gone is a companion novel to Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as we knew it. I found this novel to be darker, although still fascinating. I would recommend this book to teen boys as they will appreciate the more gruesome look this tragic storyline. Alex and his sisters truly grow up before your eyes as they deal with the circumstances they must face.

AMM

Beat the Reaper

Beat the Reaper
By Josh Bazell
Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 310 pages. Fiction.

This dark novel begins with a quote by Camus, “If Nietzche is correct, that to shame a man is to kill him, then any honest attempt at autobiography will be an act of self-destruction.” It is fitting to bring Nietzche into the novel right at the beginning to set the distinctly postmodern and existential tone. Pietro Brwna lives with his eastern European grandparents. As a young teenager he arrives home to find them murdered. Pietro is devastated and swears to avenge them. A few years later Pietro becomes close friends with the Locano family. Their father is a mob leader and soon recruits Pietro in exchange for information about the murder. Pietro becomes a ruthless assassin for the mob earning the name, “the Bearclaw.” He eventually tracks down and slays his grandparents killers. Along the way Pietro falls in love with a Romanian musician. She becomes devoted to Pietro despite his “occupation.” After landing in jail Pietro becomes an informant and joins the witness-protection program. From that point on Pietro is known as Peter Brown and works as an intern at a poor Manhatten hospital. The novel begins with Pietro starting a nightmarish shift in the emergency room. His story is told in flashbacks building the story and suspense. During his shift Pietro treats an old Mafioso who immediately recognizes him. Pietro is faced with the dilemma of whether or not to kill someone who deserves to be killed. Nicholas LoBrutto recognizes, “the bearclaw”, and Pietro’s cover is blown. The rest of the novel crazily spins from there.

Although this novel is well written I found it distasteful. We are deep inside Pietro’s head witnessing every thought. The character is intelligent and makes brilliant leaps of medicinal logic while taking care of his patients. On the other hand, he is also a vulgar and violent drug addict. He has his own particular brand of morality. Pietro’s internal dialogue is permeated with his smug sense of always being right. I know what the author was trying to do, but I wish I hadn’t gone there. The language is peppered with foul obscenities. There is graphic violence, hospital gore, and sex. The humor is the blackest shade of black. Overall, I can’t recommend this novel.

ALC

The Exchange

The Exchange
By Graham Joyce
Viking, 2oo8. 241 pgs. Young adult fiction.

Sneaking into an elderly lady's house one night, Caz is saddled with a strange bracelet she's unable to remove that endows her with peculiar powers. As everything in her life starts heading downhill after the incident, Caz frantically tries to discover the secret to removing the bracelet and its accompanying curse.

A rather gritty piece of work, The Exchange was a fast read with a very intriguing plot. Caz is a likable character with spunk and personality, keeping the reader engaged in her story, along with the desire to discover the bracelet's secret. One drawback to the story is the constant reference to more adult material paired with scattered objectionable language. Nonetheless, it was an interesting story.

CW

If the Witness Lied

If the Witness Lied
By Caroline B. Cooney
Delacorte Press, 2009. 213 pgs. Young Adult

The Fountain children have been hit hard by tragedies heavily exploited by the media—the death of their mother in giving birth to her last child, Tris, and the death of their father accidentally caused by two-year-old Tris. Smithy and Madison, the two sisters, leave home, overcome by grief and unhappiness. Jack stays home to take care of Tris, because he doesn’t trust Cheryl, their step-aunt, who watches TV all day long. Jack has good reason to dislike Cheryl—she essentially sells Tris out, when she makes an agreement with a TV producer to do a docu-drama on the Fountain children. Guilt-ridden, and not knowing about the TV show, Smithy and Madison separately arrive at home, where the children discover something more shocking.

This novel takes place all in one day, which keeps the action moving, but I am not sure if this all could reasonably occur in one day. The constant use of the present tense (compared to a lot of books using the past tense) was very distracting to me, although it does help provide the novel’s sense of urgency. The constant flipping points of view also bothered me. Definitely not my favorite Cooney novel.

MN

Body in the Transept

Body in the Transept
By Jeanne M. Dams
Walker and Company, 1995. 205 pgs. Mystery

Dorothy Martin has moved from America to Britain, fulfilling her late husbands’ dream of retiring there. Adjusting to her new life as a widow and foreigner, Dorothy searches for a way to be more involved in the community, but she hadn’t plan on finding a dead body at church on Christmas Eve to do the trick.

I enjoyed the sensibility of the main characters and look forward to reading the next book in the series. This 1995 Agatha Award for Best First Novel is a great read-a-like for those who enjoy the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman.

KK

Hondo

Hondo
By Louis L’Amour
Bantam Books, 1997. 179 pgs. Fiction

Hondo Lane, a scout for the army, is on an errand when he comes under attack by the Apaches and escapes finding refuge on a lonely homestead manned by Angie and her young son Johnny. With the army breaking the peace treaty with the Apaches, the outlining settlers are not safe and Hondo tries to persuade Angie to move into town but she will not leave her home. Hondo has no option but leave her behind and continue on his mission.

I have always enjoyed listening to L’Amour’s books but I was hesitant to listen to Hondo being a John Wayne fan. I was afraid that the performance wouldn’t match my film experience but David Strathairn does an excellent job narrating the book. He didn’t try to be Wayne, he brought the characters alive his own way and I might actually have enjoyed it a little bit more than the film (please don’t tell Wayne).

KK

Everyone Worth Knowing

Everyone Worth Knowing
By Lauren Weisberger
Simon & Schuster, 2005. 367 pgs. Fiction.

Bettina has just quit her hideously boring job at a big New York bank, her best friend has just announced her engagement , and her Uncle Will is pushing her to improve her social life and wardrobe. In the midst of these changes and pressures, Bette takes a job with a hot new PR company where she starts attending and planning events and parties at the pinnacle of New York’s elite social scene. But, life in the fast lane comes with complications and heartache, just as you would expect in this entertaining piece of chic-lit.

I listened to Recorded Books’ presentation of this novel as read by Stina Nielsen. Her reading is enjoyable and perfectly portrays the hair-brained chaotic nature of the story and its heroine. I enjoyed the story and the characters, though I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. If they hadn’t actually said “This is the end. Thank you for listening.” I honestly would have gone looking for a 13th CD.

CZ

Garden Spells

Garden Spells
By Sarah Addison Allen
Bantam Books, 2007. Fiction. 290 pgs.

With a garden that blooms all year round and a set of mysterious gifts, the Waverleys are an established oddity in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Thirty-four-year old Claire works as a caterer, using plants from the Waverley garden to encourage love, to repel evil influences, and to allow night-time picnickers to see in the dark. While Claire has embraced her role as a Waverley, her sister Sydney ran from it and only returns to Bascom to flee an abusive relationship and protect her 5-year-old daughter. Reunited, both sisters are making new discoveries about their places in and out of the family.

This is an interesting novel vaguely reminiscent of Gloria Naylor’s Mama Day or the TV show Pushing Daisies, similar in its magical premise and contemporary setting. Love and relationships are the center of the novel (complete with a few steamy scenes) and that center is surrounded by a strong Southern sensibility and a few quirky characters. I enjoyed a number of the story elements but several things didn’t quite hang together right for me. Regardless, Garden Spells has received some very laudatory reviews and fans of romance and quirky reads will likely enjoy this one.

MBC

Essential Pleasures

Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud
Edited by Robert Pinsky
W.W. Norton, 2009. Nonfiction. 508 pgs.

Essential Pleasures presents poetry perfect for reading aloud and includes a CD of selected poems from the anthology. A wide range of time periods are included and the poems are notable for their accessibility to readers who may be less familiar with poetry. Offerings from authors like Gerard Manley Hopkins, Billy Collins, and Amy Lowell will be a pleasant surprise for students who may have stumbled over more abstruse poets in school.

Readers who enjoy Essential Pleasures should also pick up the three Favorite Poem Project anthologies, also edited by Robert Pinsky. (Poems to Read is my favorite.)

MBC

The Pox Party

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party
M. T. Anderson
Candlewick Press, 2006. 351 pgs. Young Adult

He is a boy dressed in silks and white wigs and given the best of classical educations. Raised by a mysterious group of rational philosophers known only by numbers, the boy and his mother – a princess in exile from a faraway land – are the only people in their household assigned names. As the boy’s regal mother, Cassiopeia, entertains the house scholars with her beauty and wit, young Octavian begins to question the purpose behind his guardians’ fanatical studies. Only after he dares to open a forbidden door does he learn the hideous nature of their experiments – and his own chilling role in them.

Reading this description, it almost sounds like this book is a fantasy, but it's not at all. It's historical fiction set during the American Revolution. I listened to this on audio cd, and while I thought the narrator did a very good job, I didn't enjoy the book itself very much. It seemed a bit aimless and the characters, who usually compensate for an aimless plot, weren't very compelling. But this book has received many good reviews from people who found it twisted and dark, yet meaningful. I think if you're a fan of fiction based during the American Revolution then you will enjoy this book.

BHG

Ladies of Missalonghi

The Ladies of Missalonghi
By Colleen McCullough
Harper & Row, 1987. 189 pgs. Fiction.

Missy is a thirty-two year old spinster living a sheltered, drab life of genteel poverty with her mother and aunt. They reside in a small town filled with their relations in Australia’s beautiful Blue Mountains. Along with breathtaking scenery, the town enjoys the small minded nosiness that accompanies such communities. A recent acquaintance, along with some troubling pains in her heart, begin to bring Missy out of her shell, much to the amazement of her relations. Her adventures bring her independence, confidence, and, of course, romance.

If you have ever read “The Blue Castle”, this plot may sound extremely familiar. It does seem to be a bit of a repeat though I found it much less enjoyable than L.M. Montgomery’s version, which stands out as one of my all time favorite books. “Missalonghi”’s characters are a little less endearing, the story a little more awkward, and the romance a little more explicit. A light, enjoyable read (but, read “The Blue Castle” instead if given the choice).

CZ

Sarah's Key

Sarah’s Key
By Tatiana de Rosnay
St. Martin’s Press, 2007. 294 pgs. Fiction.

Ten year old Sarah lives in Paris as the German occupation during World War II begins. One night she is awaken by the Parisian Police and forced to leave with her parents. Before they are sent out into the night and fates unknown, she locks her little brother into a hidden cupboard telling him to wait for her to return, thinking she is keeping him safe from dangers she doesn’t understand. She is sent, along with thousands of other French Jews, to a large sports arena where they are held for days during a period of French history often ignored.

Sarah’s story is told through the discoveries of a journalist in present day Paris. She is struggling with her own trials and develops a deep connection to Sarah’s plight to save her brother and her later efforts to move past the pain and loss the Holocaust forced upon her family.

This book was suggested to me as a read-a-like for “These is My Words”, and while I did enjoy it, I definitely would not class it with Nancy Turner’s work. Rosnay tells a fascinating story with characters I especially enjoyed, particularly Sarah. I was disappointed when, towards the end of the book, the narration leaves Sarah’s point of view. I would have enjoyed learning more of her personal development after the war. A good book and an excellent choice for any book discussion group.

CZ

Work Hard. Be Nice.

Work Hard. Be Nice.
By Jay Mathews
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2009. 328 pgs. Nonfiction

Mathews, the education reporter at the Washington Post, details the story behind the creation of KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program. Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin were two Ivy League graduates who, unsure of what they wanted to do after graduation, joined the Teach for America Corps in 1992 and were sent to Houston to teach elementary school. They both discovered they had a talent for teaching, but were discouraged by the seemingly pervasive thought that socio-economically disadvantaged children could not learn as well as middle and upper-class children could. Empowered by great mentors, Feinberg and Levin began to imagine a school for these economically challenged children where they would meet for 9 hours a day, two Saturday sessions a month, and three weeks in the summer. Developing the program, finding funding and support, and beginning their beloved project is the heart of this book. Fast-paced and told in engaging prose, this inspiring book challenges the reader’s notions on charter schools. Amazingly, the KIPP Foundation has 66 schools operating in 19 states and Washington, D.C. with plans to open several more this fall.

MN

The Undomestic Goddess

The undomestic goddess
By Sophie Kinsella
Dial Press, 2005, 374 pgs Fiction

High powered lawyer Samatha Sweeting has no time in her life for anything but work. On the verge of becoming a partner in her law firm she discovers that she has made a devastating error that will cost her client 50 million pounds. Realizing her career is over, she blindly walks towards the train station. She boards a train, gets off, and eventually stops at a house to ask for water. When she is mistaken for a candidate applying for a housekeeper position, she stays, playing the role, and and telling herself that she will confess everything tomorrow. Days turn into weeks, and along the way she learns to cook, to slow down and appreciate the simple life, and falls in love.

This was not a believable story, but nonetheless, it was very entertaining fluff that I enjoyed listening to. Rosalyn Landor is the reader and she does a great job giving a different voice and accent to each character.

DEF

Paper towns

Paper towns
By John Green
Dutton Books, 2008, 305 pgs. Young Adult

This is the story of Quentin, a 17yr old coasting towards graduation. Q lives a predictable, boring life until one day everything changes. His exciting and slightly unhinged neighbor takes him on an all night adventure that ends with breaking into Sea World. Q thinks that his life is going to change now that they have shared this experience and so, he is deeply disappointed when he finds out that she has abruptly left town. Determined to find her, Q and his friends travel across the country on a caffeine fueled mission. I enjoyed this young adult book, it was lighter and more humorous than Looking for Alaska, while still exploring teenage pain and angst.

DEF

Agent ZigZag

Agent ZigZag: a True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal
By Ben McIntyre
Harmony Books, 2007. 364 pgs. Nonfiction

Eddie Chapman was a criminal who talked his way out of a Nazi prison by offering to spy for Germany during World War II. He trained extensively and intensively with his German handler and then parachuted into England on a secret spy mission. He immediately turned himself in to the British Secret Service, and proceeded to dupe the Germans with false radio reports from England. Not content to stay in England, he returned to occupied France and offered to execute another mission for Germany. Cool under extreme pressure, he was interrogated over and over by the Germans to be sure he hadn’t turned on them and managed to retain their trust, training other spies for Germany and returning once again to England on a mission for the Nazis.

I enjoyed the story of Eddie Chapman. My enjoyment was enhanced by listening to it on CD with John Lee as the narrator. His wonderful British accent made the characters and the setting more authentic and interesting. SH

The Great Bridge

The Great Bridge
David McCullough
Simon & Schuster, 1982, 636 pgs. nonfiction

I've never given much thought to the Brooklyn Bridge...until now. Fourteen plus years of dedication by two generations of the Roebling family persevering to accomplish the impossible, build an one mile suspension bridge across the East River connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. This seemingly insurmountable task required heroic effects by men treading into unknown engineering and construction territory. Such a mammoth project attempted during a rather colorful era in American history meant it could not escape political scandals, fierce rivalries, devout loyalties, sadness of illness, deaths and near disasters. On the other hand the Bridge emulated the triumphant American spirit complete with heroism, modern inventions and even an endearing love story. Written in typical McCullough style, ( if you like historical non-fiction and are not daunted by length-636 pages or 23 cds), this is a terrific book. I recommend the unabridged Recorded Books edition. The reader is Nelson Runger. He has a wonderful ability to keep you attentive throughout the book.
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Murder Makes Waves

Murder Makes Waves
Anne George
Avon, 1997, 285 pgs. mystery

Patricia Anne and Mary Alice (two senior sleuthing southern sisters) are vacationing in wealthy Mary Alice's Florida condo, just the ticket to offer a little adventure to practical Patricia's "living in a rut feeling". But a simple walk on the beach brings an awful discovery. A body has washed up and it turns out to be Mary Alice's real estate investing neighbor whom they had talked to earlier in the day. Disregarding any advice about "not getting involved", the sisters are compelled to solve the whodunit and there is no shortage of suspects. I love all the Southern Sisters books by Anne George. These cozy mysteries offer a delightful, humorous, extremely easy read. There is a small amount of very mild language.

For a real treat listen to the unabridged Recorded books audio version (8 cds) read by Ruth Ann Phimister. She gives the characters character. Her whimsical rendition kept me awake while driving across the Nevada desert. I highly recommend it to the cozy mystery crowd.
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Driveway Moments 2

Driveway Moments 2
By Various Artists
NPR, 2004. Nonfiction soundrecording.

These two CDs present 11 “radio stories that won’t let you go.” Originally broadcast on NPR (National Public Radio), these are stories that capture your attention in a way that makes you want to keep listening even after you pull into your driveway.

I really enjoyed these stories. Many were humorous, some were heartbreaking, but all were captivating. I would recommend this audio CD to anyone interested in hearing a good story.

AMM

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights
By Emily Bronte
Signet Classic, 2004. 322 pgs. Fiction.

The passionate love between the wealthy and pampered Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a mysterious orphan, mirrors the powerful moods of the Yorkshire moors, in a classic novel of class, love, and revenge.

This is not my favorite book, but it was an interesting classic to read. I can’t say that I really identified with any of the characters. However I did enjoy reading about the Yorkshire countryside.

AMM