Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Joan: The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint
A fascinating biography of an equally fascinating figure in history. Donald Spoto, most known for his biographies on pop culture icons like Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean, turns his considerable talent to describing the life and character of Joan of Arc. He tells of her early life and military career, setting the stage for a suspenseful day-by-day account of the final year of her life which included her trial, conviction, and execution.
I really loved this book. I was not familiar with the facts concerning the life of this strong and courageous young woman. But in just over 200 pages, I became a true believer. Spoto describes a young woman who knew God had given her a mission and no one could cause her to forsake that mission or deny the God who had given it to her. I can highly recommend this book for any reader.
CZ
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Ironhand
LW
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Blue Heaven
C. J. Box, whom we already love for his Joe Pickett mysteries, has outdone himself in this stand-alone thriller about a twelve-year-old girl and her brother on the run in the Idaho
woods after they witness a murder. Even when they think they have been rescued, Annie
and William discover treachery in a neighbor and escape again to hide in Jess Rawlins' barn.
Jess, a rancher clinging to his father and grandfather's land with the last of his dwindling
resources, takes the children in but then doesn't know how to protect them because the police investigation has been taken over by the murderers. Blue Heaven starts with a bang and
pushes forward with unremitting suspense until it reaches a bloody climax and a totally tender and astonishing ending. Bonuses include Box's evocation of the landscape of the Rockies,
and the creation of villains the Mountain West loves to hate: Californians and realtors (complete with purple polo shirts and tasseled loafers).
LW
The Host
Earth has been invaded. An alien species who refer to themselves as "souls" invade the bodies of humans. They retain all of the memories of the person they have invaded, and after a short time they obtain total control of their host's mind.
Except for Wanderer. She has taken the body of Melanie Stryder, who refuses to fade away. Melanie's thoughts dwell on her love for Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. And as Wanderer discovers, possession of the body unites her with its desires: she yearns for a man she's never met. Wanderer and Melanie become unwilling allies, and they set off to search for the man they both love.
This has a little bit of everything, sci-fi, romance, suspense. Many people like this book more than Twilight because here, the romance is secondary to the main plot. The storyline is compelling, but it also has a deeper commentary on what it means to be human and how an individual is defined as much by their spirit as by their physical body. It’s hard to put down once you get going.
BHG
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bringing Down the House
Well, the subtitle gives the plot away. Admittedly I was captivated. It's an amazing story and Mezrich does a fantastic job as he re-tells the Vegas coup.
The book focuses one one specific group of club members. Kevin and his MIT buddies were an interesting--albeit profane--crew to get to know these past couple days. The book highlights how these super mathematical geniuses worked the system.
Read to find out what Kevin's reply was to Mezrich's final question. “If you had to choose now, would you do it all over?”
DLA
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life
BORN STANDING UP: A COMIC'S LIFE: Steve Martin: Scribner (2007): Biography: 209 p.
In the mood for something funny? Try ‘Born Standing Up’ by Steve Martin--actor, comedian, and in his teenage beginnings, a magician. (Who knew?)
Comedians have it easy, right? They get paid to sit, ok “Stand” around a couple hours a night and tell jokes. Like that’s hard. Everyone laughs,
Yet, what impressed me the most was how much Martin had to
Interesting to find out was Martin’s schooling in the fine arts: painting, classical music, and philosophy. A good read for those looking for: 1) an interesting biography 2) learning more about Martin’s quiet, personal life and 3) future comedians looking for a discerning how-to manual. And I appreciated the every-so-often lovely (and comedic) turn of phrase Martin uses as he writes.
DLA
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Post-American World
Nonfiction
Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, has written a fine, eminently sensible book about how the United States needs to adapt not to its own decline, but to what he calls "the rise of the rest." Taking nations such as China, India, and Brazil as models, he ably demonstrates how economic growth elsewhere need not spell disaster to the United States, and that we should abandon xenophobia, pride, and global bullying in our misguided efforts to hold a position in the world which it is not necessarily in our best interest to maintain. Zakaria's encyclopedic knowledge of economics and history, and his uncommon common sense make this a must-read
for anyone interested in global economics, politics, and nationalism, or in the future of the Republic. One would hope each of the Presidential hopefuls would take time to read this book.
LW
The Hiding Place
A classic holocaust memoir demonstrating the depths to which human nature can fall along with the resilience and power of the human spirit. Corrie tells of how her family became the center of Haarlem’s Nazi Resistance hiding and evacuating hundreds of Jews from the occupying armies. Eventually, the inevitable happens and many members of the family and network are captured and sent to various prisons and camps.
This is a beautifully told story of the effect individuals can have on the lives of others despite their circumstances. Although I was familiar with the story before reading the book, I had not realized the central role the family's strong Christian beliefs played into the events. The gratitude they felt toward their God throughout their trials and their continual desire to share their faith with others was truly inspiring.
CZ
The Darcy Connection
I have to admit that I have enjoyed Elizabeth Aston's Pride & Prejudice spin-offs a little less with each addition to the series. However, I enjoyed her newest offering, The Darcy Connection, almost as much as I did the original, Mr. Darcy's Daughters. This installment follows the romantic adventures of Mr. Collins' two daughters the ever proper and pious Charlotte and the passionate and impulsive Eliza, named after her godmother Elizabeth Bennett Darcy.
While often predictable, any of the titles in this series are ideal for a quick summer read. Aston writes with humor and intelligence and cleverly weaves in entertaining cameos of characters you grew to love, or love to hate, in Pride & Prejudice.
CZ
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Steve & Me
Few celebrities touched the world as Steve Irwin did, and here Terri Irwin gives us a personal look at the life of her husband. This book is jam-packed with stories of strange and wonderful animals, but the real surprise is the love story that is at the heart of it. When Terri, an American tourist in Australia, first laid eyes on Steve, she had to meet him. Later, he took Terri on the kind of date every girl dreams of - a canoe ride through the swamp at night. An unusual courtship, but a great love story.
I realized that this book isn’t just about paying homage to the wonderful man that Steve was, but it's also about continuing his message of wildlife conservation that he fought for every day of his life. It’s admirable: rather than dwell on his death and the loss that has come with it, she celebrates his life and his mission. This book was an adventure, a romance, and an inspiration.
BHG
Friday, May 16, 2008
Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride
AROUND THE WORLD ON TWO WHEELS: Annie Londonderry’s Extraordinary Ride: Peter Zheutlin: Tantor Media:2007: Biography.
The author is a descendant of Annie and has researched the times in order to tell her story. He has done a good job of portraying what life was like for a woman of that time as well. I thought the reader was a little dry when often the story seemed to demand wry! But I enjoyed this audio book in spite of the reader’s lack of a sense of humor.
SH
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare: 1599
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: 1599: James Shapiro: HarperCollins: Biography: 394 pages
MBC
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Thing about Jane Spring
THE THING ABOUT
MBC
Monday, May 12, 2008
Museum: Behind the Scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
MUSEUM: BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: Danny Danziger: Viking: Nonfiction: 277 pages
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World
Who could have guessed that history (and current events) could be so much fun. Horwitz, whose previous triumphs have included books about Civil War reenactments, travels in the Middle East, and a retracing of Captain Cook's voyages in the South Pacific, turns his gimlet eye on the first European forays into the New World. "Washing up" in Plymouth, Massachusetts one day on a New England road trip, he buys a beer at the Myles Standish Liquor store, beds down at the William Bradford inn, and then mocks (in his mind) the clueless tourists at Plymouth Rock. But as he mulls over his experience, he realizes how little (even as a history major) he knows about the origins of the land that became America. The rest, as they say, is history, and history of a most witty and enlightening kind. Who knew, for instance, that Juan Ponce de Leon came to Florida looking for gold and slaves like everyone else, and not for the Fountain of Youth? or that the man for whom the DeSoto touring car was named was a butcher of unequaled savagery? The first feast in the New World that might appropriately be called Thanksgiving took place in St. Augustine and probably consisted of a stew of salt pork and garbanzo beans.
(And there is some contention between Floridians and "the powdered wig" states over who should get credit for the national holiday.) A Voyage Long and Strange is a ball of laughs and a veil of tears--the offhand executions of women and children play out in the same text as deliberations upon whether moose is kosher and whether one should ride the "Trolley of the Doomed" in St. Tourist Trap, Florida. Horwitz goofs some stuff up--he thinks Mormons believe themselves to be descendants of the Nephites--but on the whole this is a fascinating, impossible-to-put-down look at where we came from and what we have become.
LW
Friday, May 9, 2008
Montmorency: thief, liar, gentleman?
Montmorency, a thief, mortality injured during his capture by the police, is saved by a young physician in exchange that he be released from prison on certain days to attend scientific lectures with the physician as an exhibit. While at these lectures Montmorency becomes determined that when he is released from prison he to will live a life like these men who attend- wealthy. Then one night attending the lectures, he discovers a way to make it happen using the new sewer system going in Victoria London .
Fast enjoyable read that will appeal to teen guys and adults. One of my favorites I have read this year.
KK
A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father
Another memoir from the author of Running with Scissors. I have really enjoyed all of Burroughs' books, he has a way of writing that is very powerful, and somehow unemotional in the telling of the often horrific events of his childhood. This story focuses on his father who was mostly left out of his other books. His father is portrayed as a strangely unemotional, uncaring and possibly sociopathic person who portrayed one normal face to the world, and another to his wife and child. If you enjoyed his other memoirs you should definitely read this one, you will not be disappointed.
DEF
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Serving Teens Through Readers' Advisory
SERVING TEENS THROUGH READERS’ ADVISORY: Heather Booth: American Library Association: Nonfiction: 159 pages
As the teen specialist at Downers Grove Public Library, Booth brings together her experience working with an active readers'-advisory department as well as her knowledge of teen library patrons to cover all aspects of readers' advisory for teens. The first few chapters discuss teen reading habits and why readers' advisory for this group is different and also provide "Tips for the Generalist" who may not be an expert in teen fiction. Filled with excellent tips and great ideas, Serving Teens through Readers' Advisory makes an important contribution to readers'-advisory services and is essential reading for all readers' advisors and any library staff who work with teens.
This book is an excellent reader’s advisory resource. Although I read it mostly as research for a school paper, the author gives great suggestions for how to talk to teens about books. This book is recommended to librarians and teachers.
AMM
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Rowing Without Oars
Successful Swedish television newsreader Ulla-Carin Lindquist sought medical help for back pain, weakness in her hand and a new tendency to stumble. The previously fit and energetic fifty-year old mother of four was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The progressive and incurable neurological illness affects voluntary muscle action, eventually rendering paralysis and ultimately death.
Choosing “to make something worthwhile of the misfortune” and so that her young sons have something from her to read, comes this honest and poignant memoir. Her words, translated from Swedish, hold nothing back and draw in the reader, heart and soul.
She spends the brief time she has left in the company of those she loves often having difficult yet essential conversations. Birthdays and holidays pass with all knowing that it will be her last. Self-pitying never enters in. She savors each second. As her health deteriorates, she stoically gives up her autonomy and relies on family, friends and caretakers for the bare essentials of life: bathing, eating and toileting. She ends her journal with words her young son spoke to remind her that each moment counts. “Every second is a life.”
DLD
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Siege of Mecca
November, 1979 - I was living in
The author’s extensive experience reporting from the
Monday, May 5, 2008
Belong to Me
MBC
Friday, May 2, 2008
Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith
Mormon scholar Hugh Nibley's daughter, Martha Beck, penned a volatile memoir that posits questions including the legitimacy of his work. Beck, a Harvard educated sociologist, author and life coach, weaves incidents from past and present into an account likely to comfort the disaffected and affront the faithful.
Her search for self, truth and faith is kindled by church censorship of courses at Brigham Young University where she and her husband taught.
She builds her narrative around a meeting she had with her elderly father and disturbingly intersperses their conversation with her daily routines, incongruent humor and ultimately her recalled memories of childhood ritualistic sexual abuse. Cathartic for her, or not, it pains the soul to read.
DLD
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Lock and Key
When 17-year-old Ruby’s mother abandons her, she’s sent to live with the sister she hasn’t seen in 10 years and her sister’s wealthy husband. The transition from caring for herself in a rundown house to attending private school and becoming part of a functional family overwhelms Ruby and it takes a host of new people—including a popular neighbor boy, an eccentric jewelry artist, and a 12-year-old calculus prodigy—to help Ruby find a place in her new situation.
MBC