Season's Readings - 2014

$200

P.O. Box 3809 Durham, NC 27702 durhamcountylibrary.org

Season's Readings 2014 A collection of reviews written by members of the Durham County Library Family

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Friends of the Durham Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mystery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Romance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Science Fiction & Fantasy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Nonfiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Biography.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Graphic Novels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Young Adult Fiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Juvenile Fiction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Juvenile Nonfiction.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Easy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 CDs (Books and Music). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Index of Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Friends Membership Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 2015 Book Sale Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Season’s Readings is made possible by the Friends of the Durham Library, Inc.

Award Winning Publication American Library Association Best of Show for Bibliographies and Booklists North Carolina Library Association Best of Show for Bibliographies and Booklists

2 F rien ds o f t h e Durh am L i b r a r y

DEAR LIBRARY FRIENDS, On behalf of the Friends of the Durham Library, the 2014 edition of Season’s Readings is presented for your reading pleasure – filled with ideas to encourage a sharing of literary gifts with all of the readers in your family. This publication is mailed as a gift to members of the Friends of the Durham Library, and for the first time, library patrons will have an opportunity to purchase the extra copies at our regional library book sales to support its publication. As Season’s Readings continues to evolve into a premiere review of books, music and media for library lovers of all ages, costs associated with its publication also continue to expand. Whether you are a Friends member, a fan of Season’s Readings, or both, your support is vital to the Friends, and purchases of this publication help offset costs, thus preserving more of our funds for supporting library programs.

I invite all to join the Friends of the Durham Library, or if a Friends member, consider renewing your membership using the application in the back of this publication. Those who join will receive a complimentary copy of Season’s Readings as an annual membership benefit!

Funds raised by the Friends of the Durham Library – primarily from its memberships and book sales – provide essential library services and programs, implement new technologies and expand the library’s collection of resources. The provision of staff scholarships and support of staff initiatives also foster the development of library employees, eager to keep abreast of the latest trends to continue to provide excellent service to all who visit the library. Annually, the Friends also fund staff projects – ranging from the practical to truly innovative. A few of these initiatives funded in 2014 include the following: • Durham Comics Fest, an engaging opportunity for library patrons of all ages to gather and share their love of comics and graphic novels • Roving Teen Programming Kits, offering creative program opportunities to teens and tweens system-wide, with special emphasis upon S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art + Design and Math) programming

F r i e nds o f t he Du rham Library 3

• Littlebits Mini Maker Labs, which capitalizes upon the “Maker movement,” where intergenerational designing, creating and building of inventions and crafts is made possible • New furniture for Main’s children’s area, to accommodate growing numbers of visitors to storytimes and program activities • Self-Publishing Boot Camps, which nurture the craft of budding authors who seek publication • Durham Reads Together 2014 collection enhancement, providing for the purchase of copies of March: Book One, Congressman John Lewis’ graphic novel memoir that chronicles his struggle for civil and human rights, co-written by Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell The Friends of the Durham Library is an organization that enthusiastically accepts the charge to positively affect the Durham community by providing resources instrumental to the library’s success.

The majority of the Friends’ funds are raised via its book sales, with two major sales held in the spring and fall, in addition to the year-round minibook sales open every day at seven Durham locations: American Tobacco Campus Strickland Building, 334 Blackwell Street; East Regional Library, Main Library, North Regional Library, Southwest Regional Library, South Regional Library and Stanford L. Warren Library.

This holiday season, please consider becoming actively involved with the Friends of the Durham Library in 2015. We invite you to give generously to this organization with your time, talent and resources – the rewards are great!

We wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year!

Jan Hessling, President Friends of the Durham Library

4 F rien ds o f t h e Durh am L i b r a r y

THE FRIENDS SUPPORT YOUR LIBRARY A growing Friends membership base and the ever-popular book sales generate income to support Durham County Library’s annual and shortterm needs, particularly those that advance the cause of literacy in the greater Durham community. Examples include: • Phonics-Based Easy Readers for Emergent Readers, a critically needed resource to support the literacy skills of early learners • Puppets for Literacy, which places finger puppets in the hands of children to foster creativity, comprehension and literacy via storytelling • Summer Reading, an annual event that continues to grow, reaching readers outside of traditional library walls. In 2014, Summer Readings’ kick-off was held at Northgate Mall, followed by a science themed finale at Durham’s Museum of Life & Science, both attracting record-setting attendance SIX GREAT REASONS TO JOIN THE FRIENDS 1. Help make the difference between a good library and a great library.

2. Support library programs and services for children, teens and adults.

3. Shop early at the book sales for the best selection, open to Friends members only.

4. Receive Best of Friends, the Friends’ newsletter.

5. Receive Season’s Readings, an annual booklet of staff reading recommendations.

6. Enjoy a 10% discount at several local bookstores; just show your membership card.

Join the Friends of the Durham Library today. The membership application form is on page 104.

FRIENDS BOARD SEEKS NOMINATIONS Have some spare time? The Friends’ Board seeks talented individuals who would like to advocate for the library, volunteer, assist with programs, and help raise and spend money! Potential members of the Friends of the Durham Library Board may learn more on the library website at friendsofthedurhamlibrary.org.

F r i e nds o f t he Du rham Library 5

FRIENDS BOARD MEMBERS • Attend monthly meetings on the second Thursday evening of each month • Assist with book sales • Actively participate on a Board committee • Perform other tasks to help the library and the Friends BOOK SALES You can find great bargains on gently used books at the Friends of the Durham Library book sales. Held in spring and fall, book sales at the Main Library offer thousands of used books categorized for easy shopping, as well as audiobooks, CDs and DVDs. Paperbacks begin at 50 cents and hard covers at $1. Mini-book sales satisfy bargain-hunters yearround with a smaller selection of books, many in gift-giving condition.

2015 book sale dates and locations are listed on the inside back cover.

DONATING BOOKS FOR THE BOOK SALE The Friends of the Durham Library welcomes donations of gently used books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs, except for: encyclopedias, magazines, VHS tapes, cassettes and condensed books. You may take your donation to any Durham County Library location during regular hours.

Please bring large donations (more than one bag) to the Main Library garage on Tuesday morning between 9 and noon, when the Friends of the Durham Library are present and can help unload. The garage is on the far right side, closest to Holloway Street, as you face the Main Library from the parking lot.

If you cannot bring your large donation to the Main Library on Tuesday morning, please come first to the circulation desk and let them know you have a large donation. The security guard will open the garage doors so that you can unload your donation straight into the garage.

If you have a question, or wish to make arrangements with the Friends for a special donation, please contact the Staff Liaison to the Friends, Dionne R. Greenlee, 919-560-0190.

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Fic t io n

Fiction All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr

F DOERR, A.

I knew going in that All the Light We Cannot See would not be a typical pick for my imaginary “Happy Ending Book Club,” what with the story being set in Europe during Hitler’s reign of terror. But the beautiful writing, smart plotting and well-drawn characters hooked me from the beginning.

Doerr’s novel tells the story of two teenagers: Marie Laure, a blind girl taught to read and solve puzzles by her father, a locksmith for the Museum of Natural History; and Werner, an orphan whose ability to build and fix radios attracts the notice of the military, which leads to Werner becoming one of Hitler’s Youth.

Their fates are intertwined by the war, as Marie Laure assists her uncle in broadcasting messages for the French resistance, while Werner helps his fellow soldiers mercilessly track down radio signals and kill the civilian broadcasters. A good deal of the suspense in the book also comes from a related plot line. Marie Laure is hunted by an SS officer looking for a one-of-a-kind diamond the museum entrusted to her father. Riddled with cancer, and delirious in the last throes of the illness, the officer finds Marie’s home just as Werner finds the courage to approach the source of the wondrous broadcasts he has kept secret from his comrades.

Doerr’s writing demonstrates his breadth of knowledge on everything from seashells to airwaves, but he never lectures. In his talented hands, Werner is just as sympathetic a character as Marie Laure. This book, which was recently named a National Book Award finalist, was worth a brief respite from the Happy Ending Book Club. – Gina Rozier

Fict ion 7

Angle of Repose

by Wallace Stegner

F STEGNER, W.

Voted one of the “Best 100 Novels of the 20th Century,” Angle of Repose follows the generations of a family in the early American West. This Pulitzer Prize winner is considered Stegner’s masterpiece. I must agree.

This is a wonderful book. A retired historian who decides to tell the story of his grandparents pulls from letters, stories and his own vivid imagination to weave a tale of marriage, trust, loyalty, compromise, love, life and death. Descriptive in details about the American West, this novel had me feeling as if I was an eyewitness to the difficult 60-year marriage that Susan and Oliver Ward lived. – Jill Wagy

8 F ic tion

The Art of Arranging Flowers

by Lynne Branard

F BRANARD, L.

A beautifully written novel filled with unforgettable characters and a touch of romance could best describe the book. Ruby, owner of the local flower shop, knows everyone in the small Washington state town of Creekside. Her dog, Clementine, loves to be in the shop with her, greeting all the locals. She knows just the perfect arrangement for anyone, whether it be for a wedding, funeral, church social, birthday or anniversary. Ruby can tell one what a particular flower means and what it may be helpful for.

But she has let her own love life go by the wayside ever since her sister’s death many years ago. Ruby mourns the loss of one she held so dear to her heart.

The appearance of a young orphan named Will, a retired astronaut who invites Ruby to a gala event and a new vet in town begins to change her ideas about love and life. One will begin to ask if Ruby can find love in the most special places by looking deep within her own heart.

– Donna Hausmann

The Art of Racing in the Rain

by Garth Stein

F STEIN, G.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see the world from a dog’s perspective? This is the book for you. – Claudia Aleman de Toomes

Byrd

by Kim Church

F CHURCH, K.

Raleigh author Kim Church appeared at the NC Literary Festival in April of this year as one of the authors on the First Novel Panel. I’ve always loved to read author’s first novels, because in my thinking, this is the book that they have given their all to. Usually I’m not disappointed, and Byrd did not disappoint. I don’t want to give away too much about this story – just know that it is about a woman who gives up a son for adoption without telling the father. Disappointment, abandonment and the search for love are the basis for this story of a woman whose life is defined by her secret motherhood. – Jill Wagy

Fict ion 9

Doctor Sleep

by Stephen King

F KING, S.

This sequel to The Shining continues with the story of what happens to little Danny Torrance. We find that Danny has been using his special abilities to help the terminally ill at the end of their lives. He settles in a small town and becomes involved with a little girl named Abra whose powers are greater than his. Abra has attracted the attention of the True Knot, a group of scary individuals that feed off of children like Abra. Danny becomes key to helping protect Abra from the True Knot while confronting the horrific events of his tragic past and dealing with its consequences. I thought it was a very good book. I’m glad King was finally able to give the fans a book that I thought of as a satisfying conclusion to Danny’s story. – Deborah Greer

Fangirl

by Rainbow Rowell

F ROWELL, R.

The hardest part about writing a brief review of Fangirl for Season’s Readings is putting my happy-book-squee into coherent sentences, something more coherent than, “This book was written to make me happy.” The plot seems simple enough. Cath goes off to college with her twin sister. She just wants to be left alone to write her fan-fiction, but life gets in the way. Fangirl is a coming-of-age story, beautifully told, but it’s also more than that; it’s a character study and a celebration of friendships and decisions we make when we are simply going about our normal lives.

– Jennifer Lohmann

10 Fic tion

Freedom

by Jonathan Franzen

F FRANZEN, J.

Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom is a satiric modern American family story.

The main actors are a female ex-jock, her leftist tree-hugger husband and his friend, a womanizing rock and roll artist. Each actor has a part in telling their funny, familiar, troubled lives. When a character in Freedom reads War and Peace, Franzen is tweeting us @BigIdeasAhead, reader.

Freedom begins with a walk down a sidewalk in St Paul. We get an earful of snarky chat about the Berglunds and the Monaghans, two mismatched neighboring families competing for the love and loyalty of their sexually adventurous kids – teenagers who have made a very cozy match indeed, up in the tree house.

Early on in Freedom, Franzen shifts the storytelling point of view from an unnamed narrator to the voice of suburban mom Patty Berglund delivering up her own memoir. Soon we are delving intimately into her conscious yet repressed mind. Patty’s narrative goes on for so long it seems the principal story. Her honesty and candor set the introspective tone that is amusing, warm and familiar to any American reader who has raised a family and shared the aughts with Walter and Patty Berglund.

Husband Walt’s world is ruled by earnestness: his great sense of honor, obligation, fair play and strong affections. But this world is darkened, nearly ruined, by his frustrations over his wife, his friend Richard, and on the larger scale, by the over-consumptive middle class who are, he says, turning his beloved natural world into a paved-over and subdivided human mall.

Idealistic Walter, so passionate and dogmatical as a conservationist (he cannot take a trip without calculating the barrels of oil he is consuming), hardly stirs his wife’s sexual passions, leaving Patty gleefully succumbing to her long-repressed desire for Walt’s best buddy, Richard. These dark secrets, chronicled in her memoir of unfaithfullness, roll out before Walter’s staring eyes. Breaking down the walls of self denial and the near-celibacy, Walter succumbs to love and lust and begins his own downward spiral.

Fict ion 11

There is American karma here: Joey, the son of the archliberal Walter, explodes into adulthood as a war-profiteer and Republican; family love is violated, weaponized and, then returns, faithful and reborn. Like the migratory birds Walt hopes to preserve for posterity, everything returns to its proper resting place, where Walt, Patty, their kids and their neighbors, tired and worn to the bone by life’s journey, gather their strength and carry forward the great pursuit of freedom. – Mark Donnelly

Frog Music

by Emma Donoghue

F DONOGHUE, E.

I loved Room. I enjoyed Astray. Frog Music has made me a full-fledged fan of Emma Donoghue. The amount of research she does and provides online in order to supplement her book makes the librarian in me oh, so happy.

The story itself is rough. The times were rough. It was the summer of 1876 in San Francisco. There was a smallpox epidemic and a heat wave.

Blanche, who is a burlesque dancer, has a run-in with Jenny Bonnet that changes her life. Jenny, a cross dressing frog catcher, pushes Blanche to ask questions she never wanted to ask before. Three days after they meet, Jenny is shot. Donoghue simultaneously takes you through the aftermath of Jenny’s murder and Blanche’s search for justice while exploring their friendship and the changes Blanche goes through up to the murder.

The split timelines were hard to follow at first but gave Donoghue the opportunity to build suspense and give the readers exactly the information they needed. It was smartly done. Though grim, this book is also like the music of the time – a beautifully composed song about a harsh topic. Be sure to check out the online component. Much of the music mentioned in the book is posted there to enrich the story.

– Desiree Peterson

12 Fic tion

Girl in Hyacinth Blue

by Susan Vreeland

F VREELAND, S.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue was a book club “read.” Some of us book lovers belong to book clubs because our fellow members introduce us to good reads we would never have found on our own. Girl was one of those.

There are so many choices, and there are only so many hours to read.

Drat!

When I began reading Girl, I recoiled, thinking, “Oh no! Not another Holocaust book.” I had a recent resolve to take a hiatus from Holocaust books and also books about slavery and emancipation, no matter who recommended them, so I could read other wonderful fiction such as The Orphan Master’s Son, a novel about life in North Korea that I strongly recommend. Yep, The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson could be classified as a book about slavery: North Korea is a slave/class society about which we Americans have no or little clue. End of plug for The Orphan Master’s Son, and back to the Girl in Hyacinth Blue review.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue is not a Holocaust novel, but eight well-crafted short stories tracing a painting’s ownership, and why and how that painting changed its owners’ lives. From current-day ownership back to artist Vermeer’s painting the Girl in Hyacinth Blue in the 17th century, author Susan Vreeland tells the reader not only about the painting’s movement from owner to owner, but also about life in the Netherlands over the centuries.

Vreeland’s story-telling is superb, her character development within the confined space of one chapter very well done…and, although you have never set foot in the country, you know what parts of the Netherlands look like as you read Girl in Hyacinth Blue.

P.S. There are 35 identified Vermeer paintings in the art world. Girl in Hyacinth Blue is or might be the 36th. – Rosemarie Kitchin

Fict ion 13

The Goldfinch

by Donna Tartt

F TARTT, D.

Like the painting from which it takes its title,Tartt’s new novel shines with a luminescence that will likely last down the generations. This is her masterpiece, a huge complex work that unwinds with the steady sureness of a ticking clock. It begins with an explosion – a moment in time that forever alters and determines the course of events for the book’s very damaged protagonist. The unwinding of events that follows is best described by a brief clip of dialogue from near the end of the novel: “I think this goes more to the idea of ‘relentless irony’ than ‘divine providence.’” “Yes – but why give it a name? Can’t they both be the same thing?”

The pacing of this novel is rather slow and deliberate, and it does demand some patience. But the rewards are substantial – entry into a fully-formed world populated by deftly crafted characters with complex motivations and no easy answers for their dilemmas. – Ken McDouall

Gone Girl

by Gillian Flynn

F FLYNN, G.

Married? In a long term relationship? Think you REALLY know your partner? Think again! Gone Girl will terrify you. (Disclaimer: I have not seen the movie yet and would strongly suggest that you read the book first.) Gone Girl upends all the assumptions that exist between two committed people. The horror and terror build from the first chapter.

When you think you’ve figured everything out, you haven’t. This novel will have you scared and guessing until the end...and beyond.

– Alice Sharpe

14 Fic tion

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

by Jamie Ford

F FORD, J.

The title might suggest a fluffy romance, but that could not be more inaccurate. The author, great-grandson of Min Chung who immigrated to the United States from China in 1865, has written a bittersweet literary novel that will stay with you long after you read the last page.

Told in a split narrative, the chapters fluctuate back and forth from the past (1942) when Chinese Henry Lee and Japanese Keiko Okabe are the only non-white children attending the local American primary school, and the present-day (1986) when Henry has survived burying his Chinese-American wife Ethel and hasn’t heard from Keiko in over 40 years.

The 1942 chapters are set in Seattle during the internment of Japanese Americans among separate Chinatown and Japantown neighborhoods located close to each other, but never overlapping. Henry’s father, vehemently anti-Japanese, makes young Henry wear an “I’m Chinese” button daily so that he will not be mistaken for Japanese. This only further points out the difference between Henry and his classmates who are not on scholarship. Keiko’s family is more accepting of her budding friendship with Henry. We feel for both Keiko and Henry – and their similarities and differences – as they serve lunch in the school cafeteria and discreetly meet up to spend time together after school, as well as when Henry tries to save Keiko from living in an internment camp.

The 1986 chapters, also set in Seattle, portray a time of growth for middleaged Henry and his son Marty, who has just announced his engagement to a non-Asian woman. Author Ford, although creating a fictional story, accurately describes the cultures of Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans of both the 1940s and the 1980s, and compares and contrasts two generations of father/son relationships with all their friction and detachment/attachment.

Fict ion 15

The hotel in the title is actually the Panama Hotel in Seattle, a building that survived the rounding up of all the Japanese families in that neighborhood. Although boarded up, the basement is re-opened and stored belongings of multiple Japanese families are found years later.

It is a place of personal belongings, cherished memories and forgotten treasures for Henry. Jazz music from the 1940s also plays a strong part in this story.

A Washington State Book Award finalist, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a great find on the library shelves. Readers will be eager to find out if, by any chance, Henry and Keiko might ever see each other again.

(Also available as a downloadable ebook, electronic audio book and CD book at Durham County Library.) – Susan Wright

The Husband’s Secret

by Liane Moriarty

F MORIARTY, L.

As the title suggests, this is a story about a secret kept for many years.

Cecilia Fitzpatrick, a wife, mother and Tupperware salesperson living in Sydney, Australia, enjoys a beautiful life with husband John-Paul and their three daughters. But when Cecilia goes up in the attic to find a piece of the Berlin Wall for one of her daughters’ school projects, she finds an envelope labeled: “For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick, to be opened only in the event of my death.”

Of course, she is curious and asks John-Paul about it, but he asks her not to open it. But as the story continues, Cecilia is torn between a promise to her husband and a natural curiosity to discover what the letter contains.

The letter is eventually opened, and Cecilia’s life and that of two other women, Rachel and Tess, are changed forever.

An intriguing read that will keep you, the reader, guessing until the very end. An excellent book with a suspenseful plot, well-developed characters and a satisfying conclusion. This is definitely a page-turner to the very end. Don’t be tempted to skip to the last chapter to find out the secret!

– Donna Hausmann

16 Fic tion

The Informationist

by Taylor Stevens

F STEVENS, T.

I must admit the title of this book intrigued me before I even read the descriptions. As I librarian, I feel as if “informationist” is a title I can relate to. Not surprisingly, I could never be like the character, Vanessa Michael Munroe. Raised by American missionaries and schooled by mercenary gunrunners, “Michael,” as she prefers to be called (as she often emulates a man), has become a high-priced, very specialized dealer of information. The first in the series of Munroe novels takes you to Africa in search of a billionaire’s missing daughter. Comparisons to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher have been made about Stevens’ character, and I must agree.

I read through all of this series in no time at all, just like I did when I discovered Reacher. The Innocent, The Doll and this year’s The Catch are worth your time if you like a good thriller with a strong lead female character. I’ve read that the film rights have been picked up, so I’ll be anxious to see what actress Hollywood thinks could play this fascinating woman. – Jill Wagy

The Invention of Wings

by Sue Monk Kidd

F KIDD, S.

This is a fictionalized story of the Grimke sisters of Charleston, Sarah and Angelina, abolitionists and supporters of women’s rights. But it is also the story of their slave, Handful Grimke. I read this book around the same time that I saw 12 Years a Slave, and as brutal as that movie was, some of the scenes in this book seemed more brutal and inhumane. This is a story of urban slavery and a look at the conditions of free women of the time. Handful tells Sarah that while her body was free, her mind enslaved; while her body was enslaved, her mind was not. Handful is one of the most vivid characters you will ever meet. Her resistance and strength, as well as that of her daughter, stayed with me long after I finished the book.

– Joanne Abel

Fict ion 17

The Life List: A Novel

by Lori Nelson Spielman

F SPIELMAN, L.

This is a book just for fun, but not predictable. The premise goes like this: at age 14, Brett Bohlinger made out a “life list” of goals for her life – half of which had been accomplished by age 34, even though she hadn’t thought of the list in years. Fearing that Brett had abandoned her true goals in life, Brett’s mother, Elizabeth, bases Brett’s inheritance on finishing what’s still on the list: • Have a baby, maybe two • Get a dog • Stay friends with Carrie Newsome forever!

• Help poor people • Have a really cool house • Buy a horse • Fall in love • Perform live, on a super big stage • Have a good relationship with my dad • Be an awesome teacher How can Brett do any of these? For example, her father is dead; she doesn’t have time for a fish, let alone a dog; her boyfriend, Andrew, loathes children; and horses aren’t allowed in Brett’s building in the middle of downtown Chicago. The other items on the list would totally alter her current life.

Upon her mother’s death, the estate attorney explains that each time Brett fulfills a goal, she will be given a fulfillment envelope from her mother.

Cryptic clues from deceased Elizabeth help Brett eventually find herself.

Check. Check. Check. – Susan Wright

18 Fic tion

The Lobster Kings: A Novel

by Alexi Zentner

F ZENTNER, A.

Mostly a character drama about a small island, lobster-trapping family, this beautifully written book spins in just the right amount of magic.

I was hooked by the strong women, tragic deaths, selkie myths and of course, a perfect love story. – Lucy Vander Kamp

Lost Lake

by Sarah Addison Allen

F ALLEN, S.

Sarah Addison Allen’s books are like the candy in the closet in The Sugar Queen – an addiction. I find myself waiting in anticipation for the next one, and recommending all of them to people who enjoy women’s fiction, magic realism or books with strong female characters. Lost Lake weaves a sweet web of fantasy and reality, nostalgia and determination. Eby Pim is the proprietor of Lost Lake, an enchanting vacation spot in the Georgia countryside where a dwindling number of regulars come every year. But Eby is an aging widow unable to keep up with repairs on the property.

Then her great-niece Kate shows up with her quirky 8-year-old, Devin.

Allen packs family, love, lust, loyalty and friendship into this story and ties it up with a magical bow. These characters will stay with you long after you finish the book. – Lisa L. Dendy

Fict ion 19

Makers

by Cory Doctorow

F DOCTOROW, C.

Durham County Library opened its first MakerSpace this year with a 3D printer as the foundation of our ventures into making. This book seemed appropriate for me to read as I planned the MakerSpace and learned about 3D printing.

Doctorow takes us into the near future where the economy is a mess and a new society grows where makers and hackers are discovering new ways to live, make money and try to be happy. I truly enjoyed this story. There is a whole offshoot about Disney that just made this book all the better to me. Love Disney or hate Disney, how it could look in the future was really fun to read about. The two main characters, Perry and Lester, are building and inventing some crazy things until they build interactive, networked rides in abandoned Walmart stores. The story is inventive and not too Sci-Fi, and feels like these things could actually happen. – Jill Wagy

More Than I Can Bear

by E.N. Joy

F JOY, E.

This is definitely a good read for those individuals who are experiencing some struggles in their life. This book helped me understand the trials and tribulations that I have faced over the years. If you are in need of that extra assurance that God will not put more on you than you can handle, then read this book. He is there no matter what. Always trust in Him. – Anita Hasty-Speed

20 Fic tion

Natchez Burning

by Greg Iles

F ILES, G.

At nearly 800 pages, Natchez Burning is notable for more than just its length. Greg Iles’ first novel in five years, his first since his devastating car accident that almost took his life, this book may be his most anticipated and highly praised. Penn Cage, Iles’ best known character, is a former prosecutor and recently elected mayor of his home town of Natchez, Mississippi. He receives news that his father, a respected doctor in Natchez for 40 years, is about to be arrested on suspicion of murdering his former nurse, Violet Turner, who was in his care when she died. Penn is determined to defend his father, but Tom Cage isn’t using lawyer-client privilege as a way out of violating doctor-patient privilege. As Penn begins digging into the history of his father and Violet, he uncovers a number of skeletons that certain people, including a vicious KKK offshoot organization, intend to keep buried. Natchez Burning is a story about the civil rights era, but it is also a story about a new South struggling to shed its demons, and the fact that even the most respected among us have made mistakes. – Lisa L. Dendy

On Such a Full Sea

by Chang-rae Lee

F LEE, C.

At first it seemed merely another near-future-post-apocalyptic tale, but this book is well-written and settles into its characters, and I couldn’t put it down. A mesmerizing story of tragedy and boredoms, horrors and joys. Our hero reflects her society and humanity in general. Once you are pulled in, you must see how it ends! – Lucy Vander Kamp

Fict ion 21

The Plover

by Brian Doyle

F DOYLE, B.

It takes a moment to get used to Doyle’s writing style – lots of words, lyrical phrases and run-on sentences, plus the generous use of the word “fecking.” But if you stick with this tale of a man who sets out alone on the Pacific Ocean in a boat of his own making, the ebb and flow of the words becomes a sing-song metaphor and reminder of the sea upon which most of the story takes place.

Declan O’Donnell – a minor character from Doyle’s previous novel Mink River – takes off in his boat to escape people and life in general. His plans are foiled almost from the voyage’s beginning as he is dogged by a mysterious seagull hovering over his little boat incessantly. Then, Declan doesn’t get far on his journey before his close friend Piko and Piko’s disabled daughter Pipa hitch a ride. An accident has left Pipa unable to speak or care for herself, and Piko alternates between devotion to his daughter and occasional bouts of caregiver fatigue followed by remorse.

When a pirate kidnaps Piko, things start to get really interesting. The pirate’s ship is manned by a giant islander, and when Declan saves Piko in a daring rescue, the islander suddenly appears on Declan’s ship, only to become an indispensable member of the crew. Once his crews’ absence is discovered, the pirate is bent on revenge, and as the Plover sails from port to port – collecting even more passengers – danger edges closer. What happens when the two boats finally meet is a surprise.

This is a magical and charming tale – a meditation on the sea-like vastness of life, loneliness, love and the power of forgiveness, for ourselves and others. – Gina Rozier

22 Fic tion

The Prayer Box

by Lisa Wingate

F WINGATE, L.

This is the first book that I have read by Lisa Wingate. It was a very good read, capturing two lives from different periods, intertwining the past with the present. Both ladies experience loneliness and hurt. The concept of using letters to her father (God) and a prayer box really touched my heart. – Anita Hasty-Speed

Queen Sugar

by Natalie Baszile

F BASZILE, N.

Queen Sugar gets off to a slow start, and the storyline moves among characters (which can be a bit unsettling). But it is a satisfying read exploring a character in a non-traditional role (an African-American woman owning a sugar plantation in the heart of Louisiana), her seemingly dysfunctional family and the struggles that ensue for both as she pursues her goal of keeping the plantation. The characters are richly developed in their goodness and in their evil. Plus, you will learn a lot about growing sugar cane! – Alice Sharpe

Fict ion 23

Reconstructing Amelia

by Kimberly McCreight

F MCCREIGHT, K.

If you enjoyed the novel Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, you will also like Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. Both are suspenseful psychological thrillers, with Gone Girl exploring the relationship between a young wife and her husband, and Reconstructing Amelia pertaining to a mother-daughter relationship. Both involve the death of the protagonist, but the similarities end there as each is individually well-written.

In Reconstructing Amelia, law firm partner and single mother Kate receives an emergency phone call informing her that her teenage daughter Amelia has been suspended for cheating at her exclusive private school. This is completely out of character for Amelia and, by the time she arrives, Kate sees emergency vehicles surrounding the school and learns that Amelia has committed suicide by jumping off the roof. While trying to process this tragic incident, an anonymous text announces to Kate, “Amelia didn’t jump.”

What follows is Kate’s investigation of Amelia’s texts, emails, blog and Facebook entries in an attempt to find out what was really going on in her overachieving, seemingly well-behaved daughter’s life. She will do whatever it takes to get to the truth. What could have happened? Was it an accident? Or could a classmate have hated Amelia enough to kill her?

One clue is that Kate had been recently selected to join an elitist girls club, the Magpies.

Although published as an adult novel, McCreight gets adolescence and portrays the darkness, bullying and poisonous friendships of teenage years in a realistic manner. It was nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Alex awards. Mature teens will relate as chapters alternate between Kate in the present and Amelia almost one month before her death. McCreight keeps readers one step ahead of the police as Kate reconstructs Amelia.

– Susan Wright

24 Fic tion

Still Alice

by Lisa Genova

F GENOVA, L.

Written from the perspective of Alice Howard, a Harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, this book takes the reader into the mind of an independent woman who is suffering the slow, tragic loss of her memory. You feel her confusion, her pain and her sorrow as she gradually forgets even her own children. Still Alice is a story that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It will make you treasure every moment that you can remember and make you hold your loved ones even closer. – Amber Huston

The Technologists

by Matthew Pearl

F PEARL, M.

On a foggy morning in 1868, the navigational instruments of ships approaching Boston Harbor inexplicably malfunction, resulting in a fiery cataclysm. Not long after, windows in a section of Boston’s commercial district spontaneously melt, causing horrifying injuries and death. With suspicion against science running high and fearing for the future of the recently incorporated Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Marcus Mansfield joins several fellow members of the inaugural class of 1868 in secretly investigating the disasters. They are soon joined by Ellen Swallow, the Institute’s first female student. Together they use their knowledge of technology in a desperate race to identify the saboteur before he can strike again. Pearl has included several major characters based on or inspired by actual people in this techno thriller exploring the early days of MIT. – Shelley Geyer

Fict ion 25

The Ten-Year Nap

by Meg Wolitzer

F WOLITZER, M.

When my husband and I had our second child, I decided to stay home with both of our boys. It was a strange time where playdates were just as important as work meetings used to be to me. Being back in the workforce, I recall those times with a bit of sadness and sometimes even longing. The Ten-Year Nap explores the mixed emotions many women feel about being a stay-at-home mom.

The first few chapters did not grab me, but once I got into it, I loved its exploration about the choices women are forced to make. We follow Amy, Jill, Roberta and Karen as they each live a life they never expected. The biggest questions is, who will you be when you wake from the ten-year nap? – Christine Grant

This Book is Full of Spiders (Seriously, Dude, Don’t Touch It)

by David Wong

F WONG, D.

The sequel to David Wong’s first novel, John Dies at the End, This Book is Full of Spiders details the continuing adventures of David Wong and his pal John, two guys with just enough supernatural aptitude to get in serious trouble.

This is a rare successful fusion of horror and comedy, genuinely scary and funny in turns. Great, realistic characters abound as John and David’s town faces what appears to be a zombie invasion...but really, really isn’t.

The expectations that Americans have learned from too many zombie movies become the enemy as the protagonists try to escape from a quarantine zone that is doing nothing but encouraging paranoia in what is nothing less than an attack on human freedom.

This is a smart, disturbing and funny book with a raunchy sense of humor. As long as that’s what you’re looking for, you will not be disappointed. – Matthew Z. Wood

26 Fic tion

The Unstrung Harp

by Edward Gorey

F GOREY, E.

“On November 18th of alternate years Mr. Earbrass begins writing his new novel. Weeks ago he chose its title at random from a list of them he keeps in a little green note-book. It being tea-time of the 17th, he is alarmed not to have thought of a plot to which The Unstrung Harp might apply, but his mind will keep reverting to the last biscuit on the plate.”

So begins the quirkiest book I read this year. It is a pen and ink illustrated story about the trials and tribulations of writing and publishing a novel.

Written with droll humor and spot on observances, this small book plumbs the terrible and hilarious depths of the writing process.

Avoidance: “Mr. Earbrass is seen on the croquet lawn of his home… studying a game left unfinished at the end of the summer.”

Self-doubt: “Mr. Earbrass has rashly been skimming through the early chapters, which he has not looked at for months, and now sees TUH for what it is. Dreadful, dreadful, DREADFUL.” The emotional crash upon completion of a manuscript: “The next day Mr. Earbrass is conscious but very little more. He wanders through the house, leaving doors open and empty tea-cups on the floor.”

The eternal struggle with the publisher: “Mr. Earbrass has received the sketch for the dustwrapper of TUH… Whatever were they thinking of? That drawing. Those colours. Ugh… Mr. Earbrass looks forward to an exhilarating hour of conveying these sentiments to Scuffle and Dustcough.”

And dealing with fans: “Col. Knout, M.F.H. of the Blathering Hunt… demands to know just what Mr. Earbrass was ‘getting at’ in the last scene of Chapter XIV… This encounter, which will go on for some time and get nowhere, will leave Mr. Earbrass feeling very weak indeed.”

This book will resonate with anyone who has ever even considered putting pen to paper for publication. Originally published in 1953, The Unstrung Harp’s wit, humor and commentary on a writer’s life makes it a timeless masterpiece. – Gina Rozier

Fict ion 27

You Should Have Known

by Jean Hanff Korelitz

F KORELITZ, J.

Grace is a couples’ therapist with the perfect family – a precocious son and a husband who is a pediatric oncologist. She is juggling the roles of wife, mother, daughter, therapist and author – and gearing up for the media splash accompanying her first book, a self-help guide explaining her theory that most individuals in bad relationships have been ignoring numerous warning signs for years. After an unspeakable tragedy, Grace’s life as she knows it is turned upside down, and everything on which she’s built her family and her career may be a lie. Has she become one of the case studies in her book, and if so, does she have any right to continue her work as a therapist? How can she provide for her son with her world falling apart? Not knowing who to trust or where to turn, Grace begins to deconstruct everything and everyone she thinks she knows, and finds that support, and love, often come from unexpected places. Fans of Jodi Picoult will likely enjoy this psychological drama. – Lisa L. Dendy

28 Mystery Fic t io n

Mystery Fiction Defending Jacob

by William Landay

F LANDAY, W.

This book was suggested by a book club member whose husband is a district attorney, and I could not put it down. A 14-year-old boy is murdered in a quiet Massachusetts suburb, and a classmate whose father is the well-respected district attorney for the town is accused. The father can’t believe his son would do such a thing, and throughout the book tries to prove his son’s innocence. Landay does a wonderful job of describing the law as well as keeping the reader on the edge of his seat as the families of the murdered boy and the accused struggle with this horrific problem.

– Susan McQueen

Spider Woman’s Daughter

by Anne Hillerman

F HILLERMAN, A.

Mystery lovers rejoice. After Toy Hillerman died, I was sad to think there would be no more Leaphorn and Chee mysteries. Well I was wrong; his daughter, Anne Hillerman, is continuing the series in a very impressive way while making it her own. This book is somewhat of a continuation of A Thief of Time (another great book). Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito, now the wife of Sergeant Jim Chee, takes the lead in this book and is a wonderful character. The settings include Santa Fe and Chaco Canyon and invoke the changes happening in the southwest very well. It won the 2014 Spur Award of Best First Mystery from the Western Writers of America. – Joanne Abel

Romance 29

Romance Almost a Scandal

by Elizabeth Essex

F ESSEX, E.

You know those books you read where you’re certain the book has flaws, but it hits all your buttons and so the flaws completely disappear? This was that book for me. Sally Kent’s brother is supposed to serve in the British Navy, and he’s gone AWOL. Sally’s stepping in to take his place, dressed as a boy, and hoping no one notices. Lieutenant Colyear does notice, but Kent’s the best young midshipman he’s got.

First off, I love Horatio Hornblower (the TV series more than the books), and this read like an ode to Horatio Hornblower – all duty and loyalty and fighting the French. There were several moments where I laughed out loud, and I kept reading far past the time I should’ve been fixing my dinner, because I wanted to know what Essex would do next.

By far my favorite thing about the book is the respect Col has for Kent and how learning Kent is a girl doesn’t diminish his faith in her competence, nor does Col start to act like a fool and ban Kent from being a sailor. He expresses concern, but when she stands her ground, he backs off. It would’ve been so easy for Essex to have Col’s love smother Kent.

There is a lot of ship detail in the book, which may be a turnoff for some readers, though (for me) it added richness to the book and depth to the characters. The detail was in the book because the characters would notice everything. – Jennifer Lohmann

30 R om anc e

Sisters

by Danielle Steel

F STEEL, D.

Sisters is all about the life of four loving sisters. Not all good times, but when there is unconditional love, there is no weapon formed against them that will prosper.

If you are a sister, or wish you had a sister, and a loving family, you will enjoy every page of this book. This book was so ME. – Rose Alston

S cience Fict ion & Fant asy 31

Science Fiction & Fantasy 1632

by Eric Flint

F FLINT, E.

This book is an interesting twist on the subject of time travel. Rather than a single person venturing back in time, an entire West Virginia town is transported back to the 15th century at the time of the Thirty Years War! After four of them gallantly rescue a farm family and a lady traveler and her father from brigands, the people of the town band together and join up with a band of fighters under King Gustav II, and set their town up as a refugee center.

The book comes to a climax with a pitched battle between the townspeople and a cavalry unit of fighters.

It makes for a very interesting combination of historical and science fiction with a flavoring of early application of the ideals that made America. Both this and the sequels (over 10 of them) are very entertaining reading. – Laurel Jones

32 Scien ce Fic t io n & Fan ta s y

The Book of Life

by Deborah Harkness

F HARKNESS, D.

Written by a historian, the All Souls Trilogy explores genuine alchemy, blending magic and science. Our heroine, the witch Diana, continues to grow into her power and destiny. This tale has so many wonderful characters, and Diana is just like us and so much more! – Lucy Vander Kamp

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

by Haruki Murakami

F MURAKAMI, H.

Haruki Murakami is very popular in Japan. He has always been one of my favorite writers. I have read all his personal essays, and he is very successful as an English to Japanese translator. But I had never been able to finish his novels, which tend to be heavy physically and mentally.

When I heard about this book, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, it had become an instant best seller. The US newspapers said it was quickly selling out, moving a million copies in just a week.

This was enough for me to challenge my experiences, so I decided to see if I could read it through.

The book is about a young man, kind of in his own shell with a decent job, who recently got a love interest. His life seems to be on the right track; however, he has the experience of being rejected all of a sudden by his high school friends and spends 18 years living without knowing the reason and bearing the scars of the loss. He was told by his girlfriend that he has to come face to face with the past.

She says, otherwise, she cannot commit to him. So the main character visits his old friends who rejected him, one by one, to mend the relationships.

The concept is very intriguing and realistic. Murakami conveys intense and subtle emotions between relationships and life issues.

S cience Fict ion & Fant asy 33

It was actually way easier to read this book than his other novels. But the results were unclear like the other novels. You could be frustrated a bit if you need black and white answers. However, you will know for sure that no matter how successful, quiet or consistent life seems to be, it has issues that you have to deal with.

I thought it would have been more helpful for me to have a clearer ending, but this book was a good reminder that everyone has a struggle.

And it made me feel better. :) – Hitoko Ueyama Burke

The Gone-Away World

by Nick Harkaway

F HARKAWAY, N.

A brilliantly inventive epic, featuring an inspired blend of farce and horror. Harkaway has created a post-apocalyptic world where nightmares can take form, and the thin band of territory where dwells the surviving remnant of the human species owes its existence to a greater monstrosity than the ones outside its borders. Harkaway’s humor is infectious, if a bit over-the-top in the machismo factor, and he lures the reader into his twisted world with admirable skill. A novel that features a climactic battle between ninjas and mimes is not to be missed. This was his first novel, and possibly his best so far – but he’s still young! – Ken McDouall

34 Scien ce Fic t io n & Fan ta s y

The Martian

by Andy Weir

F WEIR, A.

Mars has always been a staple of science fiction. Most stories, however, focus on little green men or other fantastical plot elements. The Martian

by Andy Weir is different. It’s entirely plausible.

Astronaut Mark Watney is part of a crew to land on Mars. After six days on the Red Planet, an accident forces the crew to abandon the mission and head for home. Everyone but Mark, that is. His crew thinking he is dead, Mark is left behind to try and survive on Mars with the supplies from the shortened mission and his own ingenuity.

The first portion of the book is told through Mark’s log entries in the days following the accident. Just when this method of storytelling is getting a little sluggish to read, the story switches to Mission Control in Houston.

From that point, the book bounces between the log entries, Mission Control and the rest of the mission’s crew who are on their way back from Mars.

When Mission Control discovers Mark is alive, they begin coming up with ideas on how to rescue him. Should the crew turn around and head back to Mars, can Mark survive until another crew launches to rescue him, or should they do nothing?

The science and believability is what makes this a standout book. Sure, there are a few liberties taken for dramatic effect, but overall, this a story that one could imagine playing out when humans finally make it to Mars…whenever that is. – Matthew Clobridge

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

by Andrew Peterson

F PETERSON, A.

This is the first book in the Wingfeather Saga. It follows the story of the three Wingfeather children who live with their mother and grandfather in a dangerous world ruled by a dark evil. When the evil Fangs try to capture them, they must learn to trust each other and use their mysterious powers to escape and find a way to save those they love. Filled with adventure and suspense, this is a story that will keep you up late at night. Although written from the viewpoint of a child, this book is a great read for all ages!

– Amber Huston

S cience Fict ion & Fant asy 35

Poison Study

by Maria V. Snyder

F SNYDER, M.

A fast-paced plot, an intriguing, suspenseful storyline, an obstinate heroine who refuses to submit – what more could you ask for in fantasy fiction? Told in first person narrative, this novel by Maria Snyder is ideal for both adults and young adults and will without a doubt cause readers to reach for more works by this author!

When presented with the option of an abrupt death or the anticipation of the unknown, Yelena takes the path of the unknown. Yelena is in prison for murder, facing the executioners, when she is given the opportunity to serve as food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Choosing a way out of immediate execution, Yelena suddenly finds herself in a world she is unprepared for, a world for which she must train hard in order to survive.

The Commander’s Head of Security pushes Yelena to her breaking point, teaching her how to identify poisons in food and drink, each moment a test of her mental and physical skills.

As the new food taster, Yelena comes face to face with the very evil that landed her in prison, an evil now attempting to overthrow the balance of power in Ixia. Yelena again faces a decision. Should she help stop the rebels, though in doing so, she condemns herself to death as a budding magician in a kingdom where magic is outlawed? Or should she flee Ixia?

If she chooses to flee, she does so without the antidote to Butterfly Dust, a deadly poison that runs through her system, put there by the very man who saved her from execution, turned her into a food taster, and provides her the daily antidote to keep her alive – the Commander’s Head of Security, Valek. – Sarah Alverson

36 Scien ce Fic t io n & Fan ta s y

Tigana

by Guy Gavriel Kay

F KAY, G.

Highly regarded as the best stand-alone fantasy novel of all time, Tigana is a sweeping fantasy epic that explores the importance of preserving cultural identity. When Brandin of Ygrath, a powerful sorcerer from across the sea, comes to conquer the Penninsula of the Palm, each of its provinces attempts to resist on their own and are engulfed one-by-one.

When the Prince of Tigana has the misfortune of killing Brandin’s son in battle, however, he brings down a terrible vengeance from the sorcerer.

Brandin uses his magic to punish the people of that province, wiping all memory of its existence from the minds of everyone who was not born there before his spell. Years later, when the former Prince’s son is grown, he leads a desperate attempt to break the spell before there is no one left who can remember the name “Tigana.” – Phillip Locey

N o nfict io n 37

Nonfiction Company Man: Thirty Years of Controversy and Crisis in the CIA

by John Rizzo

327.127 RIZZO

John Rizzo’s Company Man: Thirty Years of Controversy and Crisis in the CIA could not be more appropriately titled. Rizzo’s account of his entrance into the secret, inner workings of the CIA are fascinating.

However, you will quickly find that his political world view affects his ability to have an objective view of the impact the CIA, and the US government in general, has on our country and the world. Rizzo’s political leanings become apparent pretty early, but the troubling part isn’t his beliefs. In addition to sharing his account of his career in the CIA, Rizzo highlights the greater problem of how throughout our government, decisions are being made based on ideology instead of what is the right and fair thing to do. This is especially disturbing in an organization that has such a strong and powerful reach. Rizzo perpetuates this issue with his candy-coated views of high-ranking officials and CIA Directors. Not that they shouldn’t get praise for good work, but it is ironic that those who are celebrated conveniently align with his political leanings while those who do not are at best ignored.

Company Man is a product of the highly divisive political climate in which we live. However, if you are a political/government junkie, I do recommend this book. Just don’t expect much objectivity. – Terry B. Hill

38 Non fic t io n

A Date with a Dish: Classic African-American Recipes

by Freda DeKnight

641.592 DE KNIGHT

I really enjoyed this African-American cuisine recipe book. I saw some recipes that reminded me of when I was growing up. For those modern cooks, this book will help you create hundreds of classic meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This book also includes a menu for those who enjoy mouthwatering Creole dishes. I recommend this book for those who would like to learn how to cook African-American cuisine.

I also recommend this book for those who would like to recreate classic recipes from when they were growing up. – Michelle Hall

Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves

by James Nestor

797.232 NESTOR

If you’ve never heard of freediving, prepare to have your mind blown!

Though perhaps not engaging enough for a close read, the topic deserves a skimming. These scientists, explorers and thrill-seekers spend minutes holding their breath under water, 300 feet down into the ocean. The body’s response is magical. – Lucy Vander Kamp

Down the Wild Cape Fear: A River Journey Through the Heart of North Carolina

by Philip Gerard

975.62 GERARD

For more than 200 miles, the Cape Fear flows through some of the most historic parts of North Carolina. There are Revolutionary War and Civil War sites, and historic cities and towns. But, for large parts of its journey to the sea, it feels like being in a wilderness. Enjoy a journey down the river without getting wet, then take a paddle down the river to make it real! This book is part history lesson, part nature writing and part guidebook. – Joanne Abel

N o nfict io n 39

I’d Rather We Got Casinos (And Other Black Thoughts)

by Larry Wilmore

305.8 WILMORE

A book written by Larry Wilmore (whose writing credits include The Bernie Mac Show and being a regular “Black Correspondent” on The Daily Show), I found myself laughing with some of his rather unique views on dealing with black issues, from changing the term “African-American” to “chocolate” (“A Time For Change”), having a radio interview with “The Man,” to inquiring about why black people never view UFOs, and a funeral – and subsequent trial – for the N-word. This isn’t the sort of humor everyone will enjoy, and it may be slightly inappropriate for younger audiences. – Jerrod Johnson

In Search of the Old Ones: Exploring the Anasazi World of the Southwest

by David Roberts

979.004 ROBERTS

For those who love mystery and adventure, this is a fun book. Roberts is a rock climber who loves the Four Corners region and describes it in all its glory as he explores the land and ruins left by the Ancestral Puebloans – the preferred name for these ancient people. He shares his passion for preserving both land and the fragile ruins of what he calls the outdoor museum. – Joanne Abel

Many Minds, One Heart: SNCC’s Dream for a New America

by Wesley C. Hogan

323.119 HOGAN

For everyone who wants to understand the incredible sacrifice of young people who often put their lives on the line during the years 1960-1965, this inspiring book is for you. As one woman said, “Black southerners, white southerners and northern volunteers all made an attempt to bridge the gap of class, of race, or religion that I’ve never been involved before or since” (169). This book is both an inspirational and a cautionary tale of how difficult it is to try to change the world and what it means to try.

– Joanne Abel

40 Non fic t io n

Once-a-Month Cooking: A Proven System for Spending Less Time in the Kitchen and Enjoying Delicious, Homemade Meals Every Day

by Mimi Wilson and Mary Bether Lagerborg

641.555 WILSON

A dear friend began using this book four years ago and recommended this system when I found out we would soon be a family of five. The idea is that you cook 30 days worth of meals over the course of one or two days, and then freeze the dishes so that they’re ready to reheat. I was skeptical at first, but after she walked me through the book, I realized how useful the plan – even if you only did it on a weekly basis – could be for a family on the go. The recipes are delicious and broad enough in range that I could find something for even the pickiest eaters in my family. Recipes are also flexible enough that you can tweak them according to your dietary needs or preferences. They have since branched out and published additional cookbooks with new and themed recipes.

The book is also filled with helpful tips about food preparation, proper freezing, efficient shopping and more. The cost was a little more than my average grocery bill for the first attempt because we needed to add to our oils and spices. However, after that, the plan is very economical for the amount of meals you get out of it – especially considering the alternative of eating at a restaurant or purchasing pre-packaged foods filled with preservatives. The meals reheat easily and beautifully and take so much pressure off preparing a healthy, home-cooked meal after a long day working and taking care of children. If you are looking to add a little more time to your day but still enjoy a delicious meal, consider this system. – Jennifer Scott

N o nfict io n 41

River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana’s Legendary Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon

By Buddy Levy

981.01 LEVY

This fascinating yet brutal historical account of the discovery of the Amazon River brought to mind Joseph Conrad’s book, Heart of Darkness.

The fierce greed and stubbornness shared by the two conquistadors, Francisco Orellana and Gonzalo Pizzaro, drove them to explore. This same drive became their source of survival, but ultimately, it was their demise. In 1541, Orellana and Pizzaro began their exploration as strong allies, wanting to be the first to discover La Canela, the Land of Cinnamon, and El Dorado, the rumored and fiercely sought city of gold.

They brought with them hundreds of horses, dogs, slaves and soldiers.

Their mission diverged, however, when Orellana, sent by Pizzaro to find a path out of the devastating terrain, made a life-altering decision.

Orellana and his men were supposed to find a route out of the jungle and report back to help save the lives of Pizzaro and the remaining men.

After Orellana embarked down the river, however, he soon realized it was impossible to navigate a safe trip back to Pizzaro. He chose not to attempt a return for the sake of his own life and that of his men.

After weeks of hunger and sickness waiting for Orellana, Pizzaro realized that Orellana did not plan to come back and rescue them. Pizzaro, therefore, judged and declared his former ally a traitor and vowed revenge. Orellana continued his perilous navigation down the river, and so became the first Spaniard to explore the entire Amazon River. Their scribe recorded the drama of the crew’s survival on the Amazon, and the amazing portraits of the ancient civilizations Orellana and his men encountered and often battled.

Levy vividly portrays the life and time period of these two conquistadors.

He masterfully recounts the grim fate that befell both Orellana and Pizzaro because of their overpowering greed for wealth and fame, and the darkness that finally consumed them. Additionally, Levy’s description of the Spaniard’s spellbinding discovery of the Amazon and the vastly different tribes living along its banks, some surprisingly civilized, made this book an intriguing read. – Archie Burke

42 Non fic t io n

Rush to Glory: Formula 1 Racing’s Greatest Rivalry

by Tom Rubython

796.72 RUBYTHON

If you saw Ron Howard’s film Rush and are interested in learning more background of the great rivalry between British playboy James Hunt and Austrian mastermind Niki Lauda, this is your book. Rush to Glory covers some of the same territory as the movie, but with much more detail.

Looking into the dangers of Formula 1 racing, the party atmosphere of the 1970s culture, the mechanisms behind the scenes and the characters of the two men themselves, this book is fascinating reading. Hunt and Lauda emerge as real people and not the bipolar adversaries they appeared to be in Rush. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys great sports writing. – Lisa L. Dendy

Sister Mother Husband Dog, etc.

by Delia Ephron

814.54 EPHRON

Delia Ephron’s Sister Mother Husband Dog, etc. broke my heart over and over again in the most beautiful way. It is the kind of book that you can’t stop reading, but that you force yourself to savor because you dread the moment that it ends. All essays. All personal. All engrossing.

The book begins with an essay titled “Losing Nora.” If you don’t know who Nora Ephron is, you might want to rent “When Harry Met Sally,” or one of the other wonderful movies she wrote and/or directed. This essay, however, is not about Nora Ephron, the writer/director, but the sister that she was to Delia. “Losing Nora” must be saved for last – treasured. While losing Nora Ephron feels like it happened to each of us individually, and in a way, maybe it did, reading about it through Delia’s eyes was a glimpse into a life we didn’t know – a life we couldn’t know. If you are not a huge Nora Ephron fan, this may be lost on you. I recommend reading both of Nora’s incredibly funny memoirs, I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman and I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections, also available at Durham County Library. I assure you, you will fall in love. If you love Nora, then you will definitely love this.

Other essays include “Blame It on the Movies,” “Dogs,” “Bakeries” and “Am I Jewish Enough?” – Christine Grant

N o nfict io n 43

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

by John J. Ratey

612.76 RATEY

We all know exercise is important for physical health. And, for many of us, that’s not enough to get us out and moving. Ratey’s book motivates by demonstrating how important exercise is for our mental health, including staving off memory loss, increasing productivity and creativity, and helping us control our anxiety and depression. There is a lot of brain chemical jargon, but it’s written for a lay person, and I’ll admit that I skipped over most of the jargon anyway. I’m generally an active person, but the research Ratey presents has definitely increased my activity level.

When I’m iffy about going running, I remember both how much better it makes me feel and the science behind why, and I lace up my running shoes. – Jennifer Lohmann

Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

by Jeff Ryan

338.761 RYAN

This history of Nintendo – and to a lesser degree the video game industry itself – is fun and easy to read. Starting with the story of how Nintendo of America took a huge chance on someone who had never designed a game, repurposed an unsuccessful shooter called Radar Scope, and thus created Donkey Kong, this is a tale full of twists and turns. Successes and failures, challenges, victories, defeats, heroes, tragedies and idiots – Nintendo has changed the (video) game time and again. This book details not just the philosophy that made this possible, but also a company story that feels like a visit to another world. – Matthew Z. Wood

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

by Scott McCloud

741.597 MCCLOUD

As someone who never read comic books growing up, I found this a very helpful and interesting book. This book opened my eyes to a whole new genre of books that I look forward to exploring. Serious and funny at the same time, it was a treat to read. – Joanne Abel

44 Non fic t io n

Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-free Recipes for Everyone’s Favorite Treats

by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero

641.563 MOSKOWITZ

I love this book. I really, really do. I feel like I’ve been waiting for a cookie cookbook like this. Most cookie books that I’ve thumbed through are all pretty similar: chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, snickerdoodles, etc. There’s nothing exciting about them, and frankly, I already have go-to recipes for those cookies. But this book is full of special, exciting recipes: tahini lime cookies, carob chocolate chip cookies, Mexican chocolate snickerdoodles! Like always with Isa Moskowitz’s books, the directions are clear and the ingredients are not too extravagant or full of hard-to-find items. I can’t wait to use this book around Christmas for some unique treats to add to my cookie jar. – Caroline Peterson

Bio grap hy 45

Biography Black and Abroad: Traveling Beyond the Limitations of Identity

by Carolyn Vines

B VINES

This is a wonderful memoir about travel and living abroad with insights on the African-American experience. Ms. Vines lands in Holland, by way of Washington, D.C., New Orleans, France and Spain. She shares her many challenges, cultural experiences and differences on her journey.

This book encourages you to find your true self and to be brave enough to step out on faith to forge new life paths. – Sandra Lovely

Catherine the Great: Portrait of A Woman

by Robert K. Massie

B CATHERINE

Catherine the Great is one of those engrossing biographies where the author makes you feel intimate with a powerful and legendary subject and leaves you crying at the end. Modern tales of Catherine focus on and exaggerate her sexuality, as if that were all she had going for her. Massie doesn’t ignore her legendary train of lovers, but he also talks about her amazing intellect, curiosity, tenacity and her dreams for improving the lives of her people. The biography is brilliant and makes me want to read Massie’s biography of Peter the Great. – Jennifer Lohmann

46 B iograp h y

Everybody’s Got Something

by Robin Roberts

B ROBERTS, R.

In Everybody’s Got Something, Robin talks about her life, career and illnesses. Her life started as an army brat of a Tuskegee Airman, born in Tuskegee, Alabama, but raised in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Her passions in sports led her to play basketball, tennis and other sports.

After college she was an anchor on ESPN and is now an anchor on Good Morning America. Throughout the book, Robin discusses her various life experiences and her mother’s influence on her life before her death.

Robin was diagnosed with breast cancer, and five years later, she had a bone marrow transplant which she received from her sister. She was encouraged by her mother to “make her mess her message.” Robin felt everyone has a crisis in life and was a messenger through her story. This is truly an inspirational book. – Anita Robinson

Everybody’s Got Something

by Robin Roberts

B ROBERTS, R.

Everybody’s Got Something is really true. I have heard so many times, “keep living and your life will definitely go through something.” Some people might not believe that, but everything could be fine today, and tomorrow everything could be turned upside down. Just remember to keep the faith and keep living each day to the fullest. Robin Roberts’ life has changed, and she has gone through so much within the last couple of years. She has a good spirit about everything, which really seems to keep her going strong each day. – Anita Hasty-Speed

Biograp hy 47

Here We Are Now: The Lasting Impact of Kurt Cobain

by Charles Cross

B COBAIN, K.

Seattle music journalist Cross examines the impact of Kurt Cobain and grunge music on American culture in this short book. What Cross does best here is look at the ironies of Kurt Cobain. Kurt was strongly associated with Seattle, but grew up dirt-poor in Aberdeen. His style of dress became associated with fashion, while it was merely a response to being poor and living in a cold, wet climate. Most every word out of his mouth was taken as gospel by those who loved his music, but Kurt often contradicted himself. Fighting his desires to both gain popularity and retain privacy, Kurt was a man dueling with obsession and addiction. This book is not a true biography of Cobain but rather a look at the man, his background, his surroundings and his legacy. Recommended for fans of Nirvana and those who appreciate books on how music affects overall culture. – Lisa L. Dendy

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

by Allie Brosh

B BROSH, A.

First of all, let me say that this is the funniest book I’ve read all year.

Allie Brosh is a funny, warped, normally abnormal, frenetic, navel-gazing depressive with an amazing sense of humor. I can’t possibly convey how much I loved this book, or how funny I thought it was. It is go-to-thebathroom-before-reading funny. She tackles everything head on and never flinches about putting her own faults (and there are many) on the page with her simple but expressive drawings. There is something here for everyone. Love dogs? Check. Have depression? Check. Procrastinate?

Check. Get mad at people for doing stupid things? Lust after cake? Get hyper after eating sugar? Wonder why you were so strange as a kid?

Ever feel like you have to *clean all the things!*? All in there. This book will help you put your own issues in perspective. And seriously, I’m not kidding about using the bathroom first. – Lisa L. Dendy

48 B iograp h y

Wait for Me!: Memoirs

by Deborah Mitford

B DEVONSHIRE, D.

Deborah Mitford Cavendish, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, has fascinated me for many years, partly due to her famous – and infamous – Mitford sisters, and partly due to her well known rescue of the Chatsworth estate in England. In this memoir, she shares her life story in an engaging and often self-deprecating manner. Born into a minor aristocratic family more known for its eccentricities than fine houses or taste, Deborah and her sisters – Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Jessica and Unity – followed startlingly divergent but always interesting paths.

Deborah, former debutante, new heiress and mother of two young children, was faced with helping her husband raise millions of pounds to pay death duties and spare Chatsworth from liquidation upon the death of her father-in-law.

After selling paintings by grand masters, thousands of acres of land and donating one of their properties to the government, Deborah and her husband set to work to transform Chatsworth into one of the most successful “big houses.” They operated a working farm and farm store, opened restaurants and hotels, created a line of home goods and foodstuffs and operated one of the most visited historic houses and gardens in England. It is commonly understood that Deborah was as much the brains and the energy behind the commercial success as was her husband, but she is matter of fact about her accomplishments and unabashed about some of her loves: chickens, grand parties and Elvis Presley. She recently passed away at the age of 94.

For more on Deborah and her sisters, read The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters (920.72 MITF). – Jan Seabock

Biograp hy 49

With Ossie & Ruby: In This Life Together

by Ossie Davis

792.028 DAVIS

This is a great autobiography that leaves one captivated and inspired by two amazing people. The story itself reads as a conversation between the two. One can imagine the glances and laughter as they travel down memory lane. The glimpse into the lives of the younger Ossie and Ruby makes them seem like family. I read this book as a way to remember Ruby Dee following her recent passing on June 11, 2014. I met the couple in 2004 and remember the energy and happiness of a couple in love. The book discusses their strong family values and dedication to civil rights.

You learn of their challenges and struggles as they climb the ladder of success. While Ruby Dee is most known for her role in Raisin in the Sun, this book gives her deserved recognition and respect for many other life accomplishments. Reading this book now is a powerful way to capture the dash between their birth and death. – Tammy Baggett

50 Graphi c N o vels

Graphic Novels Avatar the Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures

by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

JF YANG, G.

For fans of the cartoon series Avatar the Last Airbender, The Lost Adventures answers a lot of unasked questions, such as: • Who is the greatest Earthbender in the world: Toph, or King Bumi?

• What was the city of Bai Sing Se like before it fell?

• Can Zuko convince Sokka that there is no such thing as “Swordbending”?

• Is impersonating the Avatar just to get a hot date ever a good idea?

• How does one comfort a little girl who’s afraid of riding trains alone while dealing with a hired assassin at the same time?

Moreover, it also has many slice-of-life tales, such as “Boys’ Day Out” (Katara and Toph trying to prove they’re man enough to enter a particularly gritty restaurant), “No Benders Allowed” (Sokka and a few other non-Benders forming their own little club), “Private Fire” (Sokka going undercover within the Fire Nation Army), “Ember Island Arcade” (Zuko forced to play Street…Bender?) “Dragon Days” (a time before Aang was originally in the iceberg), and “Fruit Stand Freestyle” (Momo vs. a wild boar-q-pine, a delicious piece of fruit as the prize). Beyond just the well-done art, it has a genuinely humorous and warm tone fans have come to expect from the series, blending drama with comedy and laughter. While it doesn’t have full-episode length stories within its pages, it does help to bridge small narrative gaps the show did not have the time to explore. – Jerrod Johnson

Grap hic N ov el s 51

Locke & Key. Volume 1

by Joe Hill

F HILL, J.

If you are looking for something dark and grim to read, this is it.

– Claudia Aleman de Toomes

March. Book One.

by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin

B LEWIS, J.

My first graphic novel, and it was definitely touching. In the past I have browsed some comic books, but have never been interested in reading or trying to decipher the pictures and words. I have always wondered what draws readers to this genre. This book really made you feel as though you were there during the lunch counter sit-ins. We have read and seen so much on the struggle of Civil Rights, and this is another great resource to help educate our youth of all races on the struggle. – Anita Hasty-Speed

The Shadow Hero

by Gene Luen Yang

YAF YANG, L.

I was directed to this once I saw that the artist was Gene Leun Yang, an illustrator for one of my favorite animated series, Avatar: the Last Airbender. The Shadow Hero actually serves as an origin story for the first Asian-American superhero, the “Green Turtle,” and tells the tale of a young man living in the heart of 1940s Chinatown whose mother dreams of him becoming a superhero, even going so far as to push him into a small puddle of industrial waste (which only resulted in him having a high fever for a week). If you are a fan of Avatar, I truly think The Shadow Hero would be right up your alley. – Jerrod Johnson

52 Youn g A d ult Fic t io n

Young Adult Fiction Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

YAF SAENZ, B.

Though this book has a lofty title, it is not a heavy read. It follows the friendship of Aristotle, who doesn’t really know how to talk about his emotions, and Dante, who knows himself as well as he knows the literature he and his father both love. These two loners meet at a swimming pool when Dante offers to teach Ari how to swim, and they spend the rest of the summer together. Both boys, in different parts of the book, have an opportunity to grow into young men, letting you, the reader, watch as their relationship changes accordingly. – Desiree Peterson

Cinder

by Marissa Meyer

YAF MEYER, M.

I love fairytale retellings, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to read Cinder. It has all the elements of a book that I love, but I put off reading it. When I finally picked the book up, I couldn’t put it down.

The plot – a retelling of Cinderella – is nothing new, but Cinderella, or “Cinder,” is a talented mechanic and also a cyborg. All the familiar pieces of the fairytale came together quite beautifully, including the missing footwear, the unusual carriage and the charming prince. Marissa Meyer created an interesting science-fiction world that I look forward to visiting again in the sequels. – Caroline Peterson

Yo u ng Adu l t Fict ion 53

Eleanor and Park

by Rainbow Rowell

YAF ROWELL, R.

When a book mentions the band The Smiths, you know it is going to be a good book. Two misfits who think they don’t like each other until they get to know one another through similar likes. – Claudia Aleman de Toomes

Eleanor and Park

by Rainbow Rowell

YAF ROWELL, R.

I first started reading this book because it was about a curly-haired, redheaded girl, just like my best friend. In fact, I excitedly told my best friend about the book, and she read it before I had a chance! She told me, “You have to read it!” I just finished it. I was connected to the characters immediately, hoping and pulling for them all the way. Eleanor and Park are originals; they don’t fit in, but they understand each other. Their home life contrasts: Eleanor’s life is a nightmare with an abusive stepfather; Park’s life is full of familial love and humor. It’s not an easy or simple story, but a beautiful one that describes the strength of friendship, the human spirit and so much more. – Archie Burke

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

by Matthew Quick

YAF QUICK, M.

Leonard Peacock has decided to kill himself. He has chosen his 18th birthday to do it. He spends his “special” day saying goodbye to his few friends. Before he kills himself, he has to kill his former best friend. Will he do it?

I’ll be the first one to admit that I did not fall madly in love with The Catcher in the Rye in high school. I didn’t get it. Twenty years later, I feel as if I have met Holden Caulfield in the person of Leonard Peacock. This time I understand.

Both teens and adults will be riveted by Leonard Peacock’s chilling story.

– Christine Grant

54 Youn g A d ult Fic t io n

Love in the Time of Global Warming

by Francesca Lia Block

YAF BLOCK, F.

One element of writing is to make your logic work in the world you’ve created. If the logic works in your book, it isn’t strange for giants to break from the underground laboratories where they were genetically modified to create huge earthquakes and global destruction. Francesca Lia Block has certainly managed to make her logic work. The first of this series follows Pen, a girl who used to love to sit in her room and look at art or read, as she sets out after the Earth Shaker to find her mother and brother.

Her guide on the journey is a tattered copy of Homer’s Odyssey.

In The Island of Excess Love, Pen and her friends are forced out of their home so that Pen can create a new population, whether she likes it or not.

They board a haunted ship and are taken to the Island of Love. There, Pen and her friends find the king – a man with antlers on his head – who is convinced that Pen is his queen, no matter what Pen’s boyfriend Hex has to say about the matter. This journey follows Virgil’s Aeneid, though less closely than her prior journey followed the Odyssey.

I’m not usually one for such fantastical events, but Block really has created a world and a cast of characters that work. I do wish she had included images of the famous artwork Pen references throughout the book. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to look them up as you read.

– Desiree Peterson

Yo u ng Adu l t Fict ion 55

The Raven Boys

by Maggie Stiefvater

YAF STIEFVATER, M.

Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorite YA authors. Her stories are wonderfully imagined, incorporating a lot of details from mythology and folklore, and her writing is just poetic to say the least. In The Raven Boys, a lot of the imagery and themes reminded me of the children’s book, The Grey King by Susan Cooper. The book tells the story of Blue, the daughter of a psychic, who befriends four boys from the nearby boarding school.

She is drawn to one of the boys, Gansey, although she’s been told that she will cause her true love to die, so she’s very hesistant about the friendship.

What really stood out for me was the presentation of the psychics. The psychics weren’t all-knowing, and they could only see small glimpses of the future. In fact, Blue herself has no psychic ability. A really intriguing read, especially if one is interested in folklore. – Caroline Peterson

Roomies

by Sarah Zarr and Tara Altebrando

YAF ZARR, S.

The summer before college starts, EB and Lauren learn they are going to be roommates at Berkely. In order to get to know each other better, they start an email relationship. Lauren, who lives in San Francisco, is the oldest of six children in a family that is barely making ends meet. When she’s not taking care of her many brothers and sisters, she works at a sandwich shop with her maybe-yes, maybe-no boyfriend, Keyon. EB, on the other hand is the only child of divorced parents, living in New Jersey and is anxious to begin her new life in college. She also finds herself in the midst of a budding romance.

Both girls are trying to navigate their way into adulthood while figuring out the role of boys, friends and parents in their lives. Lauren and EB’s developing friendship is recorded through email entries. Not only do they learn a lot about each other but they also learn much about themselves.

Roomies is very realistic and thoroughly engrossing.

I read the book first and then listened to the audio version. Both experiences were beyond enjoyable, and may lead to further re-reads. – Christine Grant

56 Youn g A d ult Fic t io n

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher

YAF ASHER, J.

I originally read the story of Clay Jenson, a boy who receives the taped dialog of a classmate’s last thoughts before she committed suicide, over a year ago. The dead girl is named Hannah, and she has a lot to say. She believes that 13 students from her high school played a role in her death, and she wants them to understand why. Starting with the first student on the list, each person receives a package stating that they are to listen to the tapes and send them on to the person next on the list. Only through listening to the tapes will they understand how they are involved in Hannah’s death.

I remember liking the print version of the book a lot, so when I came across the e-audio version on OverDrive, I couldn’t download it fast enough. I gave the print version four stars (out of five), but I am upgrading it to five stars after listening to the audio – intense and oh so good.

A major motion picture based on the book is in production, so you want to read it now, before the waiting list grows a mile long. – Christine Grant

Ju v enil e Fict io n 57

Juvenile Fiction Al Capone Does My Shirts

by Gennifer Choldenko

JF CHOLDENKO, G.

A boy named Moose moves with his family to Alcatraz Island during the Depression. Alcatraz was the famous prison where all the worst criminals were kept, including Al Capone. Moose’s sister is autistic. Back in 1935 nobody knew what autism was. Moose loves his sister, but finds it hard to just be a kid when he has to keep an eye on her. Everyone – Moose, his sister, his father and his mother – all grow as human beings by the end of the book. – Cathy Starkweather

The Case of the Missing Marquess

by Nancy Springer

JF SPRINGER, N.

Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes whom she manages to outwit several times while solving mysteries. The book gives you a good idea of the restrictions on women in the 1800s while telling the story of a girl who manages to look after herself despite them. I liked Enola’s sense of humor.

There are six titles in the Enola Holmes series. I recommend reading them in order. – Cathy Starkweather

58 Juven ile Fic t io n

Dusssie

by Nancy Springer

JF SPRINGER, N.

Yes, there are really three ‘s’es in the title. Dusie finds out at age 13 that she is a Gorgon like Medusa from the ancient Greek myths. The snakes on her head were kind of a giveaway. Not only does she have to deal with them, now an angry stare from her will turn a person into stone – which happens. Oops! This is serious! How can she get rid of these snakes? – Cathy Starkweather

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

JF KELLY, J.

This was my favorite book this summer. Calpurnia Tate is a spunky girl of 11 in the year 1899. She is the only daughter of a family of seven kids.

That’s right, she has six brothers! They live in Texas during the time of Charles Darwin, and their grandfather is a fascinating scientist interested in plant life. Together, Calpurnia and her grandfather explore the woods nearby in order to discover a new species of plant. She learns about plants, bugs and the seasons throughout their journeys, and it is a lot of fun to learn with her.

Unfortunately, because of the time period, Calpurnia is expected to learn housework and cooking, not science and the outdoors. It is not until the middle of the book that she finally understands her family’s expectations of her. It’s easy to empathize with Calpurnia as she starts to realize that she “was only a practical vessel of helpful service, waiting to be filled up with recipes and knitting patterns.” But Calpurnia’s mother, Mrs. Tate, does not nag at her daughter. Rather, she patiently teaches her daughter and waits for her to take an interest, which does not really happen.

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel that centers around Calpurnia and her relationships with her family. There are many funny, anecdotal situations sprinkled throughout, but the most memorable situations are the teaching moments between Calpurnia and her grandfather. It is a very touching coming-of-age story that embodies the genteelness of a bygone era. If you liked Anne of Green Gables, you will love The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. – Stephanie Mulligan

Ju v enil e Fict io n 59

I Lived on Butterfly Hill

by Marjorie Agosin

JF AGOSIN, M.

Celeste Marconi lives a quiet life in Valparaiso, Chile, in the 1970s until the government is overthrown. Her parents, who were doctors helping the poor, have to go into hiding, and Celeste is sent to live with her aunt in the United States. The action moves from Chile to the United States and back again. This is beautifully written. I really wanted to find out what happened to the various people in the story. It truly was a very scary time. – Cathy Starkweather

Infinity Ring Series

by Various Authors

JF INFINITY RING

In the Infinity Ring Series, you have a couple of kids who must travel through time to fix certain events in history or else the world will fall to the SQ. What if history as we know it had never happened? Like Christopher Columbus never discovering America or Harriet Tubman not being a part of the Underground Railroad? I agree the history is a far stretch from reality, but you cannot help enjoy some of the characters and the way we see them grow up, mature and get older.

It is fast-paced, filled with quests and action, a Fantasy Fiction without any magic like 39 Clues. I am going to see how the series plays out and see if Dak, Sera and Riq ever make it back to their time and fix the breaks and history.

• A Mutiny in Time (Bk1) by James Dashner • Divide and Conquer (Bk2) by Carrie Ryan • The Trap Door (Bk3) by Lisa McMann • Curse of the Ancients (Bk4) by Matt de la Peña • Behind Enemy Lines (Bk6) by Jennifer A. Nielsen • The Iron Empire (Bk7) by James Dashner – Patty Melendez

60 Juven ile Fic t io n

The Lottie Project

by Jacquelyn Wilson

JF WILSON, J.

Charlotte, otherwise known as Charlie, loves fooling around and making people laugh, but she has a lot to deal with: her single mother lost a very good job; her mother may be falling for her new employer; Charlie’s teacher, Miss Beckworth, is very strict; and then there’s that boy Jamie she has to contend with. However, Charlie’s class assignment creating the diary of a girl living in the Victorian era gives her a new perspective on her own life. I enjoyed the diary entries the most. They made me glad to be living now. – Cathy Starkweather

The Phantom Tollbooth

by Norton Juster

JF JUSTER, N.

A classic children’s novel, this is my all-time favorite book, and I cannot recommend it enough. Milo, a typical kid, is bored. While he has every toy he could ask for, he finds no pleasure in pretty much anything, especially his schoolwork. Milo does not believe that anything he learns – numbers, words or anything else – is applicable to everyday life.

One day Milo comes home to find an odd package: a tollbooth, which fortunately comes with a little car. With nothing better to do, he hops in the car, drives through the tollbooth, and finds himself in The Lands Beyond, a fantastic world of imagination. Here, he enounters Tock, a watchdog who ticks; King Azaz, who presides over all words and letters; the Mathemagician, the king of numbers; the Princesses Rhyme and Reason; and my favorite, the Humbug. As Milo travels The Lands Beyond to save the princesses and end the war between Azaz and the Mathemagician, he sees every part of this new world and meets odd people with all sorts of points of view.

I love this book because of the clever plot and the fascinating characters.

It moves at a perfect pace and has wonderful puns that the younger reader may miss but more mature readers will find hysterical. More than anything, I think this book emphasizes the importance of appreciating everyday life and using common sense. – Stephanie Mulligan

Ju v enil e Fict io n 61

Redwall

by Brian Jacques

JF JACQUES, B.

It’s a story as old as time itself: A peaceful community is put under siege.

A malignant being – a brilliant yet vicious warlord bent on conquest and destruction – casts his baleful eye over the place, war about to knock on the front door. Now is the time for a truly legendary hero to rise to the occasion, wielding a fabled sword to take on this terrible threat...only the sword’s location has been lost to the dust of time along with its original owner’s bones, and the hero’s a bumbling young man barely able to walk in his sandals without tripping. So it is through dealing with prissy cats, a loquacious hare who thinks himself a stag, double-dealing foxes, savage rats, insane-but-not-crazy sparrows, an adder said to be the Devil himself and the visions of said dead hero, the young mouse is – oh yes, I forgot to mention that Redwall takes place in a Medieval-type setting, where the characters are all animals.

It’s made very clear from the outset that the main villain is both cunning (seeking to demoralize the enemy by stealing their greatest treasure, outwitting a double-dealing spy) and vicious (thinks nothing of killing his own troops), showing time and again why he is known as “Cluny the Scourge.” From the no-nonsense badger mother Constance, lovable fighter Basil “Stag” Hare, the savvy Cornflower, the wise elder Methuselah and of course, the young hero Matthias, the characters are given depth and made to shine in their own ways.

Though the story of a young boy – mouse, in this case – rising from obscurity to become a hero is a mainstay in fantasy, this was personally one of the first books to make me truly like it. While the Redwall series has been a long-runner (more than 22 novels were published from 1986 to 2011), this was the first book and was intended to be a single novel.

As a result, certain elements (varied dialect/speech patterns among the differing species, the presense of Salamandastron, etc.) present in the later books aren’t depicted here. Jacques definitely doesn’t skimp on the detail; his descriptions of food, for example, were so mouthwatering that they prompted an offshoot text called The Redwall Cookbook. The battles, while descriptive, don’t descend into outright gore or make it difficult for children to read. Though, I admit, that was part of the series’ initial draw to me as a child: Seeing cute and cuddly forest animals fight each other? Sign me up. – Jerrod Johnson

62 Juven ile Fic t io n

Star Wars Jedi Academy

by Jeffrey Brown

JF STAR WARS

Roan Novachez wants nothing more than to leave his boring home planet of Tattooine and go to Pilot Academy, where he’ll learn to be a Star Pilot like his dad and older brother. When his application is denied, and Yoda personally invites him to attend Jedi Academy, he’s conflicted – he doesn’t know anyone at Jedi Academy. Also…Master Yoda is weird. Told in journal entries, doodles, comic panels and clippings from the school paper, this classic school story set in the Star Wars universe will feel familiar to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed at school. In addition to lots of clever Star Wars references for the hardcore fans, Jedi Academy also deals thoughtfully with normal school issues such as crushes and bullies. The sequel, Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan, has a similarly entertaining mixture of realism and Star Wars geekery. – Allie Massey

Texting the Underworld

by Ellen Booraem

JF BOORAEM, E.

Conor O’Neill is afraid of almost everything, so he is not exactly happy when a banshee visits. Banshees are the harbingers of death (meaning they show up just before someone is going to die and scream in a particularly blood-curdling way). Conor doesn’t know who is going to die – just that someone in his family will. To make things worse, the banshee starts chatting with him and wants to visit his school. Conor has to figure out what to do – and fast. – Cathy Starkweather

The Thirteenth Child

by Patricia Wrede

JF WREDE, P.

Eff is a thirteenth child which is considered to be unlucky by many in this alternative world set in a version of the United States where magic is real and there are monsters west of the Mississippi. Eff has to put up with a lot before she starts to get a handle on things. Eff ’s teacher, Miss Ochiba, encourages Eff to look at things from a different point of view. This is the first in the Frontier Magic series. – Cathy Starkweather

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Timmy Failure: Now Look What You’ve Done

by Stephan Pastis

JF PASTIS, S.

Timmy Failure is back, and he’s still the smartest kid in the world. At least if you ask him, he is. With his mom still unemployed, she and Timmy are living with Great Aunt Colander, whose dream of being an inventor is about as plausible as Timmy’s idea that he is a great detective. Total the Polar Bear from the first book returns, as well as Molly Moskins (who smells of tangerines), Corrina Corrina (The Wedgie) and Rollo.

Dispensing such worthy advice as “When you lose hope, find it,” and “When you’re lying in bed with a broken right leg, you can either cry or write your memoirs,” Timmy bumbles along while everyone but him solves his cases. You’ll root for Timmy, even though he is not the smartest kid in the world. Timmy Failure: it’s not just for kids anymore.

– Lisa L. Dendy

Tuesdays at the Castle

by Jessica Day George

JF GEORGE, J.

Princess Celie, the youngest of her family, is mapping the family home, Glower Castle, which adds, subtracts or moves rooms on Tuesdays. Her knowledge of the castle is essential when her parents are ambushed and others try to take over. This is a humorous story with a likeable heroine.

– Cathy Starkweather

Wabi: A Hero’s Tale

by Joseph Bruchac

JF BRUCHAC, J.

This is based on an Indian myth. Wabi is a white great horned owl who is curious about humans. After falling in love with one, he turns into a human, but things do not go as he hoped, and he ends up facing danger.

The author uses humor to make the story come alive.

– Cathy Starkweather

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Zorgamazoo

by Robert Paul Weston

JF WESTON, R.

Having escaped from a maniacal guardian, Katrina meets Morty, one of the last of the zorgles who is looking for the zorgles who have disappeared. Their adventures lead them underground and to the moon.

This novel is written in poetic form which sounds odd, but that’s how adventure stories like The Odyssey and Beowulf used to be composed. The book makes you want to read it aloud. – Cathy Starkweather

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Juvenile Nonfiction Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini

by Sid Fleischman

JB HOUDINI, H.

Can you imagine a man’s pajama breast pocket going up for auction and earning more than $3,000? If the initials on the pocket were “HH,” would you have bid?

This biography of Harry Houdini, written by a former fiction and Newberry Award-winning author Sid Fleischman, was a very interesting listen. Harry Houdini is just his stage name; his birth name was Ehrich Weiss. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, and his father was a rabbi.

The book talks about his life in Appleton, Wisconsin, his journey in Europe, back to America and his death on October 31, 1926. It doesn’t give any secrets away for all you magicians, but it talks about how they came to be. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Houdini or the topic of magic. – Patty Melendez

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The Harlem Renaissance, An Interactive History Adventure

by Allison Lassieur

J 974.71 LASSIEUR

Unlike the earlier “Choose Your Own Adventure” series, this one divides the book into three stories about three different people. In this book, the stories are about a young man arriving in Chicago in 1919 from the South, a female writer in 1925 Harlem and a fledgling artist exploring Harlem nightlife in 1927.

In each case the person involved gets to experience the heyday of the period of the Harlem Renaissance, both positive (meeting popular artists and musicians) and negative – blatant racism.

This book is a very good source of information on a period of history that is still not very well known. The personal choice format brings the period even closer. There is a footnote that everything written in the book was actually experienced by someone in the past.

I highly recommend it! – Laurel Jones

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau

by Jennifer Berne

JB COUSTEAU, J.

This beautifully drawn books tells the story of the world’s most famous oceanographer and details the invention of scuba equipment! The book ends with a call to today’s children to learn about our oceans and be stewards of the earth. – Lucy Vander Kamp

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World War II on the Home Front: An Interactive History Adventure

by Martin Gitlin

J 973.91 GITLIN

Like the rest of the series, this book combines three different stories in one: a young mother who becomes a working mom, a 12-year old boy with a Japanese friend at the time of the internment of JapaneseAmericans, and an African-American war veteran.

In each of these cases the people come to know things about their country – flying opportunities for women, economic opportunities in the North for African-Americans and patriotic scrap drives.There were also differing pay scales, racism and a counterfeiting ring in one story.

This book brings the time of the Second World War to life in a unique manner. I would highly recommend it as a reference for those who are not of an age to have any memories of that time. – Laurel Jones

68 Easy

Easy Abigail

by Catherine Rayner

E RAYNER, C.

This is a quiet, beautifully illustrated picture book filled with animals found in the African savanna. Abigail, a young giraffe, is in a counting mood. After the leaves and the dots on the ladybug, she looks for other things to count. She tries Zebra’s stripes and Cheetah’s spots, which unfortunately will not stay still. Finally she settles on counting the many flowers. Zebra helps with “ One…two...six..lots!” and Cheetah joins in with “One…three…five…many!” Abigail patiently teaches her friends to count. As the sun sets, they begin counting all the stars together. This is a lighthearted book about counting, friends and African animals. What could be more fun? – Margaret Anderson

Battle Bunny

by Jon Scieszka

E SCIESZKA, J.

How does Jon Scieszka do it? The warped minds of Scieszka and Barnett have transformed the sweet tale of a birthday bunny into a creative tale of a bunny supervillain! – Erica Merritt

E asy 69

The Conductor

by Laetitia Devernay

E DEVERNAY, L.

This beautiful wordless picture book tells the story of a conductor in a grove of trees. He conducts the leaves of the trees like an orchestra as they whirl and fly through the air. I like to imagine each different group of leaves representing a different instrument group: the delicate dark green leaves are the violins, as the lighter tufty leaves are the cellos and basses.

They swoop and swirl over each other, sometimes in neat patterns, other times in loud chaos. In the end the trees are bare, but as the leaves slowly start to grow back, the conductor plants his baton, and the song prepares to start anew. – Amy Godfrey

The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough

by Katie Smith Milway

E MILWAY, K.

The story is set in Honduras where a poor family is coping with a bad upcoming harvest. The father leaves to find work in order to buy seed for the next year. His daughter must tend the garden by herself. Then a new teacher comes to her school. He adds windows to the classrooms and teaches her how to help the soil with compost and terraces. He also teaches her how to grow cash crops and to bypass the “coyote” middleman who sells food at the market for the local families. The other villagers see how well her garden is doing and begin to copy her methods.

By the time the new teacher leaves, the village is much changed for the better.

This book is part of a series called “Citizen Kid,” which is aimed at inspiring children to “be better global citizens” and teaching them ways in which they can help people overseas. It is a good source of multicultural information. – Laurel Jones

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Grandma’s Pear Tree / El Peral de Abuela

by Suzanne Santillan

E SANTILLAN, S.

This book I found to be funny and sweet about a little boy and his Abuela’s pear tree. Jessie finds himself in a dilemma when his ball gets stuck in Abuela’s prized pear tree. Worried that she may get really upset if she finds out, he asks his family members for help. But they only seem to make it worse by getting even more things stuck up Abuela’s tree. Without any other choice, Jessie finally tells his Grandma what happened, and she doesn’t get upset. Together they manage to get all the things out of the tree. That is, until Abuela gets stuck in the pear tree.

This book is also a great bilingual book that combines English and Spanish in the story. – Patty Melendez

I Got the Rhythm

by Connie Schofield-Morrison

E SCHOFIELD-MORRISON, C.

If you are familiar with Queen Latifah’s “Queen of the Scene,” then you would absolutely love this book. It is about a little a girl and her mother who, while taking a walk, get caught up in the rhythm of the street. Added action words like BLINK, BLINK and SNIFF, SNIFF allow children to get up and move, while teaching children that there is music EVERYWHERE! – Kathleen Hayes

I Love My New Toy

by Mo Willems

E WILLEMS, M.

I adore Elephant and Piggie for their unfailing ability to pull the reader into the theme of each story. Their friendship is highly unlikely in a real world context, but their unique and hilarious experiences provoke laughter and thought. In this particular story, Piggie is enamored with his new toy. So much so, when an unexpected event occurs, he goes through a few emotions that could challenge the longevity of his relationship with Elephant. That is...until squirrel shows up. – Tanika Martin

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Letter Lunch

by Elisa Gutierrez

E GUTIERREZ, E.

No words get in the way of telling and re-telling this story of two childrens’ search for letters. Have fun finding the alphabet and making up the dialogue and story. – Lucy Vander Kamp

The Man in the Moon

by William Joyce

E JOYCE, W.

Up there in the sky.

Don’t you see him?

No, not the moon.

The Man in the Moon.

He wasn’t always a man.

Nor was he always on the moon.

He was once a child.

Like you.

Until a battle, a shooting star, and a lost balloon led him on a quest.

If the synopsis above doesn’t make you want to read this book, I don’t know what will. This is a fabulous, beautifully illustrated book that tells a unique story about the Man in the Moon, or MiM for short. The fine artwork and marvelous storytelling makes this book read like a movie – a movie you will want to take your kids to again and again. If you enjoy this book, it is the first in the Guardians of Childhood series, so please be sure to take a look at the other books and movies. – Lauren Doll

72 Easy

Mossy

by Jan Brett

E BRETT, J.

In classic Jan Brett detail, this story follows a beautiful Eastern box turtle with a garden on her back from the wild to a museum and back to the wild. The border panels on each page show myriad flora and fauna – many children’s favorite things! – Lucy Vander Kamp

Oh No, Gotta Go!

by Susan Middleton Elya

E ELYA, S.

It occurs all the time as soon as the car pulls away: someone needs to use the bathroom. This book is a great bilingual book that combines English and Spanish in a series of rhymes about a little girl who, as soon as they leave home, realizes she “has to go.” She remembers that thing she forgot; “Where is un baño? ¿Dónde está?” Then after racing through town and asking for directions, they pull up to a blue restarante muy elegante. And since the bathroom is in the restarante, the family stays and enjoys a wonderful meal with lots of limonada …..

I also like the fact that there is a glossary and pronunciation guide for readers that might need a little help at the end. – Patty Melendez

Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite

by Nicola O’Byrne

E O’BYRNE, N.

In this wacky picture book, a crocodile interrupts a perfectly good story of The Ugly Duckling. Once he’s crashed the party, there’s no getting rid of him. The narrator even warns the reader, “Stay back just in case…” and then proceeds to offer strategies, like rocking the book from side to side, to get rid of him. In the meantime he has “gobbled up whole words and sentences.” You’ll want to read the book to find out what happens when the crocodile awakens from a nap to find a tutu of purple crayon drawn on him and why there is a hole in the back cover. This is a fun read, and great for storytime. – Margaret Anderson

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Picnic

by John Burningham

E BURNINGHAM, J.

A wonderfully simple story in a unique style. Perfect for sharing with pre-schoolers! – Lucy Vander Kamp

Press Here

by Henre Tullet

E TULLET, H.

Typically, when I think of interactive books for pre-schoolers, I think of books that ask questions that allow the children to respond, lift the flap books or textured books. Press Here is a bit different, and I have used it repeatedly throughout the last year simply because it is so much fun! The pre-schoolers LOVE it! The book starts with a single spot, and through interaction with the reader, multiplies, grows, shrinks, changes color and moves all over the page. The interaction includes tapping the spot, tilting the book, shaking the book, blowing on the page, clapping and more. Kids work not only on their comprehension skills, but also their fine motor skills. At the end, the reader is asked if they want to start again at the beginning. Because of that question, every time I read Press Here aloud to pre-schoolers, we have to read through the book at least twice. – Sarah Alverson

74 Easy

Soap! Soap! Don’t Forget the Soap!

by Tom Birdseye

E BIRDSEYE, T.

No one is as forgetful as Plug Honeycut! Up in the mountains of North Carolina, there lived a mother and her son Plug. Mama loved her little boy more than anything in the world, but Plug was the most forgetful boy there was. One day, Mama discovered she was out of soap and with the faith of a mother, sent the highly forgetful Plug to the store. Despite his best efforts to remember, Plug forgets why he is on his way to town.

Through a series of unfortunate adventures, Plug unintentionally offends a few of his neighbors, and with each encounter, becomes a little more rumpled and disheveled. Finally, just as he reaches town, Plug bumps into the mayor’s wife, who offers him the phrase he needs to remember what his Mama had sent him to the store for in the first place. Rushing first to the store and then back home, Plug successfully shows off his prize to his mother, who taking one look at him, immediately puts the bar of soap to use. As for the ending, as an Appalachian folktale, of course, Plug never forgot a thing from that day forward! – Sarah Alverson

Spark

by Kallie George

E GEORGE, K.

A baby dragon must learn to control his talents, and we learn that all skills come with patience and persistence. Wonderful drawings and a great message for pre- and early schoolers. – Lucy Vander Kamp

The Hueys in None the Number: A Counting Adventure

by Oliver Jeffers

E JEFFERS, O.

“Is NONE a number?” If you enjoy humor and wit, then you will love this book! From balancing oranges, to seagulls and french fries, this book is a whimsical way to teach children how to count. It is definitely not a counting book for younger children just learning how to count, but parents reading this book aloud will find this book funny and enjoyable.

– Kathleen Hayes

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The Watermelon Seed

by Greg Pizzoli

E PIZZOLI, G.

If I accidentally swallow a watermelon seed, will a watermelon grow in my belly? I am positive that the reason I love this book is because when I was young, my big sister told me if I swallowed a watermelon seed, then a watermelon would grow in my tummy. I like to think that Crocodile had a big brother or a big sister who told him the same thing when he was young, and that is what prompted this lovely story!

Crocodile loves watermelon more than anything. If he had his choice, he would eat it for every course of every meal. But as is the danger when ingesting watermelon, one day Crocodile accidentally eats a seed. Crocodile’s imagination goes wild as he thinks of all the terrible consequences of eating that seed, ending with him as the main ingredient of a fruit salad! When all is resolved, will Crocodile learn his lesson or will his love of watermelon tempt him to brave the seeds again?

– Sarah Alverson

Weasels

by Elys Dolan

E DOLAN, E.

There aren’t many books about weasels who try to take over the world.

After reading this one, I think there should be more! – Erica Merritt

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DVDs A Field in England DVD FEATURE FIEL

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: three soldiers and an alchemist walk out of the English Civil War and into a ring of psychedelic mushrooms… No? Well.

A Field in England follows the brief exploits of five strangers who flee the horrors of war but are thrust even deeper into the horrors of the unknown in a time when (to paraphrase Thor) magic and science are nearly indistinguishable, but equally frightening. The audience is dropped head-first into this unfamiliar world, too: there is no narration, no “In A World” introduction and no modernization of the diverse 17th-century speech patterns used by this odd bunch of characters. Black-and-white film, low-key visual effects and a weird mix of humor and horror make A Field in England a strange, beautiful and unnerving film. It’s not for everyone, but it is nevertheless highly recommended. – Patrick Holt

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All Is Lost DVD FEATURE ALLI

If you don’t like Robert Redford, you probably shouldn’t see this movie.

He is the entire cast of this film. There is almost no dialogue, and his character isn’t even named. IMDB refers to him only as “Our Man.” This is man against nature, boiled down to its essentials.

Redford plays a man sailing alone in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

While he is taking a nap below decks his boat collides with a partially submerged shipping container that pokes a hole in the starboard side.

Unfortunately the hole is right above the area where he keeps his radio, which shorts out in the ensuing cascade.

He’s able to mend the hole with a flimsy looking fiberglass patch, and he tries to fix the radio, but can’t. His navigation system is gone as well. But he has plenty of food and water, and things don’t look too bad. Then the storm hits, and things get worse from there.

Redford, over the years, has become a decent actor. He’s never going to be DeNiro or Pacino or anybody like that. But nobody can have a career as long as Redford’s and not pick up a few tricks. Plus he’s always had an onscreen charm that makes him popular at the box office.

Here he has an especially tough acting challenge. The script gives his character no background story. There is no dialogue to give us insight into his personality. All Redford is left with is his face and his body. And he succeeds in taking the character from stoic confidence to doubt and finally to despair and desperation.

What we can tell is that our man is successful because it’s a nice boat.

He also seems to prefer his own company and has apparently driven away those closest to him because of his stubborn self-reliance. He writes a goodbye note at one point, apologizing to relatives or a spouse, presumably. Our man is smart. At one point he teaches himself to navigate. All he has is a book and a sextant he’s never taken out of the box. His reliance on technology at first seems to be justified, but nature just keeps on pounding, forcing him, at the end, to do something stupid and desperate to have a chance of rescue.

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All is Lost was written and directed by J.C. Chandor, who also did Margin Call, which ironically is all dialogue. He does a good job of making clear what our man is doing, without the luxury of explaining it in words. His script builds nicely and is very tightly constructed. Water shoots are very difficult, but he seems to have handled this one well.

All is Lost is a unique film and one of the better ones to come out this year. Besides, who doesn’t like Robert Redford? – Charles Ebert

August: Osage County DVD FEATURE AUGU

Beverly Weston, played by Sam Shepard, is the patriarch of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. He is a failed poet and an admitted alcoholic. One day he decides to go out on his boat and not come back.

When you meet his wife and daughters you will understand, and perhaps even sympathize with this decision. They are a vile bunch, and what’s more, they are all educated and articulate, which means that the bile is readily spewed and expertly aimed.

They converge on the family homestead once Beverly is missing for a few days, and then more come when his body is found in the lake. They spend the rest of the movie dredging up old resentments and blaming each other for Beverly’s suicide. Dark family secrets are revealed and used like knives to wound and pry apart.

Reigning over this chaos is Beverly’s wife Violet, played by Meryl Streep, a pill-addicted harridan who bullies everyone around her. Streep is all over this role that calls for moments of seeming dementia, sarcastic snark, violent rage, self-pity and unexpected sweetness. You can see how nervous she makes the other members of the family, because they don’t know which Violet they’re going to get from second to second.

Keeping up with Streep is Julia Roberts as the oldest daughter, Barbara.

This is really the lead role in the story. It’s established that her mother is probably brain damaged from the years of pill addiction, meaning Violet is incapable of change. So Barbara is the one with the emotional arc.

The story is about her discovering that she is more like her mother than different. They are both strong, but overbearing women.

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In fact, there are no bad performances in the film. Margo Martindale provides a highlight as Mattie Fae, Violet’s sister who is only a little less abrasive. Chris Cooper’s not stretching here as Charles, a working man with a strong moral compass, but it is always a pleasure to watch that man work. Benedict Cumberbatch, who was, I believe, cast in every movie last year, is terrific as “Little” Charles, Charles and Mattie Fae’s ineffectual son.

You could name any actor in this, and he or she did a terrific job.

The movie is based on Tracey Letts’ play, and he wrote the screenplay, so it’s a little talky, and these people are perhaps more articulate than would be realistic, even in an educated family. But it didn’t really bother me that much. The time passes quickly, and the performances are amazing to watch. – Charles Ebert

Austenland DVD FEATURE AUST

Keri Russell plays the character Jane Hayes, an all-things-Jane-Austen obsessed woman who wants to find her Mr. Darcy. A vacation stay at “Austenland,” where she will be courted by actors portraying the Regency era, has the potential to make Jane’s dreams come true. I truly enjoyed the funny pairing of the past and the present in this romantic comedy that was an official selection of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

– Susan Wright

80 DVDs

Brother Outsider DVD B RUSTIN, B.

Before Martin Luther King, Jr. became the icon of the Civil Rights Movement, Bayard Rustin was already a pacifist leading the charge in nonviolent social movements. He refused to give up his seat on a bus before Rosa Parks, met Ghandi first and quickly realized that the way to truly effect social change was through politics. Being first in these monumental achievements was not the only thing that set him apart.

Rustin was also gay, and proud of it. That fact invariably came with some pitfalls back in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Some of his hits were self-inflicted, like when he was arrested on morals charges in California (for something you would be arrested for today as well) before a crucial rally. Ironically, it was another perceived “weakness” of his that drew the most ire: compromise was a dirty word, and some would rather fight to the death than sit down at the table and talk things over. Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, and Malcolm X strongly disagreed with Rustin’s tactics, using public debate and editorials as their platforms.

However, it was Adam Clayton Powell who crossed the line by using Rustin’s sexuality as leverage against Dr. King and A. Phillip Randolph.

Powell went on to spearhead many issues that helped African-Americans, but for someone who believed in equality and freedom for all, Rustin didn’t forget this maneuver. He stayed a positive and optimistic man and even got to speak before Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The dream continues in large part due to people like him, gay and straight, black and white, Jew and Gentile, all sharing a vision of equality. – Cleo Bizzell

Captain America: The Winter Soldier DVD FEATURE CAPT

With Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Marvel is channeling political action films like the Bourne films or even things like Three Days of the Condor. They bring in Robert Redford, as slick bad guy Alexander Pierce to cement the connection. After the events in the The Avengers, Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, is still adjusting to life in the 21st century.

And he’s finally starting to make more of an effort to bring himself up to date with his new reality, keeping a list of cultural touchstones to check out. He got tired of not getting all the jokes, I suppose.

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He’s also been working for S.H.I.E.L.D. because he can’t think of anything else to do with his time. For most missions he’s been partnered with Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, played by Scarlet Johansson. She’s been trying to help him adjust by encouraging him to date.

Rogers makes friends with Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, whom he meets while going on his morning run. Sam is a paratrooper and has some unorthodox ideas about how Steve can learn about post WWII history. When he was in the service, he was involved in a test program for a winged jet pack. The code name for the program was Falcon.

Ominous things begin to happen in the upper echelons of S.H.I.E.L.D. They are about to launch three new heavily-armed helicarriers that will be linked to a high-tech satellite. Director Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, becomes suspicious about the program and goes to Secretary Pierce to delay it while he investigates.

Pierce agrees, but then Nick Fury is attacked by an almost mythical assassin called the Winter Soldier, a figure who has a connection with Rogers. Fury is seemingly killed (you guys know nobody ever really dies in the Marvel universe, right?), and Rogers has to go on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. and uncover what turns out to be a massive conspiracy, all without knowing who to trust.

This film has a darker tone than the first one, and it is an important transitional point in the history of the Marvel universe, at least on film.

But the performances are excellent. Evans continues to play Rogers as a straight arrow trying to cope in a compromised age. Jackson is always the coolest person in the room, and Cobie Smulders as agent Maria Hill is suitably badass. Redford isn’t really stretching here but he’s fine. I’m not sure I like what they’re doing with Black Widow. They are humanizing her a bit and showing her cool professional façade cracking at the edges.

Johansson portrays it well, but I think I liked it better when she was more of an enigma. I didn’t like her hair in this either.

You have to respect Marvel for making a film with a little bit darker tone than what the movie-going public is used to. In a way it’s appropriate that it was released in early May last year. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is not really a summer movie. – Charles Ebert

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Chef DVD FEATURE CHEF

Chock full of celebrity cameos, delicious food and great music, Chef is a simple movie, but still quite a good one. Renowned chef Carl Casper, divorced, disconnected from his son and in a rut with his career, follows the demands of his boss (played by Dustin Hoffman) and cooks the old standbys that his restaurant’s menu is based on, rather than the cutting edge food he wants to make for the food blogger (played by Oliver Platt) who visits the restaurant. A terrible review follows, and after being taught the basics of Twitter, Carl tweets what he thinks is a private message to the critic, calling him out. The next day Carl invites the critic back to the restaurant, with disastrous consequences. Carl’s ex-wife again suggests that he would have complete artistic freedom with a food truck, and this time Carl is ready to take her idea seriously. Carl, his ex-wife Inez, and his son Percy take off to Miami to visit Inez’s father. In Miami, Carl, Percy and former line cook Martin clean up an ancient food truck and prepare to drive it back across the country. Chef Carl adds to the menu along the way, as well as forming a bond with his son he has never had before.

Emjay Anthony shines as Percy, and John Leguizamo delights as Martin.

Jon Favreau (Dinner for Five) wrote, directed and starred in this charmer of a film. – Lisa L. Dendy

Contagion DVD FEATURE CONT

Film often mimics the scenarios of real life. Ironically, however, those living in the very reality depicted via the fictitious world of film often fail to respect applicable lessons embedded within the motion picture narrative. Periodically, this oversight – the failure to look towards film for insight – proves costly in unimaginable ways.

In late March 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially alerted the world of an outbreak homologic to one of the deadliest strains of the Ebola virus, the Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), in Guinea, Africa. As of the beginning of November of 2014, over 14,000 reported cases and 5,200 recorded deaths have been attributed to this form of haemorrhagic fever.

What continues to emerge most visibly regarding this outbreak is the growing body of scientific data regarding the epidemiologic transition of this virus as one of the world’s most virulent diseases in the 21st Century.

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And unfortunately, with the exception of a few media outlets, it is often hard to discover the stories behind the scenes that speak to the extensive, underestimated impact of such a pandemic on the cultural, global and human levels.

The movie Contagion, released in 2011, follows multiple storylines which, pieced together, merge the scientific with the personal to illustrate how an epidemic is borne, and the hysteria and panic that often accompany such a global event. Via a star-studded cast – including Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and others – director Steven Soderbergh artistically invites one to consider how an airborne pathogen evolves. Viewers visit ground zero in a foreign country, witness a contagion reaching outbreak status and ultimately spreading globally to emerge as a deadly pandemic. At the time of release, Contagion was praised by researchers, scientists and medical personnel alike due to the accurate portrayal of a wide range of predicted responses and reactions likely to occur with any pandemic. One cannot help but be intrigued by the organizational responses initiated by entities such as WHO and the CDC. Perhaps most riveting however are the portrayed voices of individuals doing battle with an uncontrollable disease at the front lines; those confined behind the walls of quarantined communities; and those charged with rebuilding their lives and families, minimally comforted by the memories of loved ones who’ve succumbed to the disease.

The film is worth revisiting. Perhaps it’s not too late to draw parallels, in this instance, between reality and cinema. – Dionne R. Greenlee

84 DVDs

Freir Fall (Free Fall) DVD FOREIGN FEATURE FREE

Germany’s answer to Brokeback Mountain, Freir Fall begins with a young police officer, Marc, struggling with the athletic portion of his training for the riot control unit. His roommate, Kay, is a natural athlete, and the tension bleeds onto the practice field with Marc’s frustration turning to aggression. After he makes amends, Kay offers to help him, starting with jogging and breath control. As the academy session draws to an end, Kay kisses Marc after one of their runs. Marc is offended but does not make too much of it since he’s going back to his town, his police unit, his live-in girlfriend, Bettina, and the baby on the way.

His parents surprise him with a house close to them upon his return, but the bigger surprise is when Kay shows up: he’s joined Marc’s unit.

Needless to say, Marc ping pongs all over the place after this. He’s angry with Kay for “following him,” then happy to be wrong when Kay begins dating a female police officer. He’s depressed with all the pressure his girlfriend and family are putting on him to be more responsible, but excited about becoming a father. He’s ambivalent.

Marc’s professional and personal life crossover and the inevitable happens: he begins a heated affair with Kay. Kay is not ambivalent. He is fierce in his love for Marc. He just knows that Marc loves him the same.

He doesn’t understand how in this day and age they can’t be together, and he won’t stop trying to make that happen. Meantime, Bettina is pregnant, a condition that affects her body not her brain. She knows something is wrong and can only make up so many excuses for Marc’s behavior. The ending is left open, but hopeful….depending on who you are rooting for: the lady or the tiger. – Cleo Bizzell

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Noah DVD FEATURE NOAH

From a narrative standpoint, there isn’t much to hang your hat on in the Noah story. It only lasts a couple of pages and, like most of the Bible, it is written in an expository style that modern readers find dry and unexciting. There is almost no characterization or description or any of the other things we expect in a story. People go to it for religious inspiration, not entertainment. So the director and screenwriter Darren Aronofsky has a lot to flesh out here. He’s added characters like Ila, played

by Emma Watson, an orphan whom Noah, played by Russell Crowe, adopts. There are sub-plots and a villain, Tubal-Cain, played by Ray Winstone. With all that, Aronofsky pads this thing out to over two hours, which is the proper length for a biblical epic, I think we can all agree.

But to me, and as it turns out to Aronofsky, the most interesting thing about the story of the Flood is how can a righteous man pull up that ramp, stranding people as the waters are rising? Even if God is telling you that they are wicked beyond redemption, it has to be a hard thing to do.

This expands into a larger question about the nature of faith. Compassion is a virtue that God wants in man. But in this case He is seemingly asking Noah to cast it aside and aid Him in destroying mankind, while saving the part of creation that has not fallen, the animal kingdom. How does a righteous man feel about being asked to do all these terrible things? There has to be some doubt, and that’s where the real central conflict of this film comes in.

The acting and technical elements are all excellent here. The part of Noah is not really a stretch for Crowe, but he takes the character from strong, but good-hearted family man to fanatic to madman to broken failure to finally humble penitent, convincingly. Everybody else is good too, especially Watson and Winstone, but they are really in support of Crowe’s performance.

86 DVDs

It is a pretty film. They use the volcanic plains of Iceland to stand in for post-Eden desolation. The special effects are well integrated into the picture, even if they aren’t particularly jaw-dropping. The costumes get away from the traditional robes and sandals of other biblical epics. I’d like to know where Ila and Naameh, Noah’s wife, played by Jennifer Connelly, get their hair done and how they keep their clothes clean when there isn’t any running water, but those are minor things, and besides, miracles were a lot more common in those days.

The real problem is that there is a lack of rigor to Aronofsky’s theology.

I’m not sure what he’s trying to say, and certain things don’t make any sense. Dense forests spring up overnight from a single seed; there are fallen angels encased in rock that you can talk to and who will help you build your ark; barren women are made fertile with a touch. All these manifestations of the divine occur out in the open and unremarked upon.

And yet the will of God is still unknowable?

There is also a New-Agey odor to the whole thing. Noah and his family are vegetarians and somehow eating animal flesh leads to sin.

The protection of nature and the animal kingdom is a very important motivation for Noah, one for which he is willing to watch all or most of humanity die. These are basically the same motivations and goals as Ra’s al Ghul’s in the Batman comics. Ra’s is a villain, by the way.

Aronofsky is trying to push some buttons. In the movie God is always referred to as the “Creator,” and Eve’s role in the fall is never mentioned.

That seems like a jab at the fundamentalists.

In the end, I would not put Noah in the ambitious, but flawed masterpiece category. It is told in a fairly linear and conventional fashion. I sense very little willingness to push the envelope of filmmaking aesthetics here. It is merely a take on a biblical story, worth watching but hardly great.

– Charles Ebert

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The Punk Singer DVD B HANNA, K.

As a fan of the “riot grrrl” movement of the 1990s, I was excited to see a documentary come out about Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the punk band Bikini Kill and dance-punk trio Le Tigre. Hanna became one of the most outspoken feminist icons for her generation, refusing to be silenced by critics. However, in 2005, Hanna all but disappeared from the public eye. We learn through candid and intimate interviews why Hanna vanished from the spotlight for several years, and watch her triumphant return with The Julie Ruin in 2010. The film is filled with 20 years of archival footage, in addition to interviews with a veritable “Who’s Who” in the punk music world. For those unfamiliar with the riot grrrl movement, the film provides a clear crash course in its formation, evolution, philosophies and triumphs. – Jennifer Scott

Rush DVD FEATURE RUSH

Rush is Ron Howard’s tribute to the glory days of Grand Prix racing, giving us an inside look at Formula 1, much like Days of Thunder did for NASCAR. The film used quite a bit of real footage from races of the era in which it was set, the early 1970s, and feels very true to life. Much of the plot focuses on the rivalry between English playboy James Hunt and Austrian mastermind Niki Lauda. At a time where a simple mistake by a mechanic or driver could cost a driver his life, Hunt and Lauda were unlikely rivals for the world championship. Hunt was as wild and unpredictable as Lauda was measured and methodical. Both men had struggles with their families, women, team owners, team mechanics and their cars, with Hunt’s being more tumultuous and Lauda’s being more calculated. Lauda is seriously injured in a mid-season accident, highlighting the extreme danger involved in the sport at that time.

Chris Hemsworth (Hunt) and Daniel Bruhl (Lauda) give excellent performances in the lead roles. If you like action movies, or racing, or cars or funky 70s clothes, this movie has something for you. – Lisa L. Dendy

88 DVDs

Sound City DVD 781.49 SOUN

In 1969, a small recording studio opened in a shady area of Van Nuys, California. Described by many recording artists as “a dump,” Sound City hosted Arctic Monkeys, Death Cab for Cutie, Elvis Costello, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Foreigner, Rancid, Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Blind Melon, Nirvana, Rick Springfield, the Grateful Dead, Barry Manilow, Pat Benatar, Santana, Cheap Trick, the Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, War, Elton John and Neil Young, among many other notable artists. Mick Fleetwood recounts how, after hearing part of the recording of Buckingham Nicks, he called up the studio and asked how to get in touch with the male singer as a replacement for recently departed members of Fleetwood Mac. The new lineup went on to record Fleetwood Mac, and two years later, Rumours (which sold 45 million copies).

In 2012, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), bought the Neve 8078, the recording console that was the heart of Sound City, and in 2013, he produced and directed this film. Sound City is where Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind (which sold 30 million copies) was recorded with producer Butch Vig. Vig and other producers, like Rick Rubin, add to the commentary. The film is absolutely packed with music greats, including recording sessions with Grohl and Paul McCartney. The NY Daily News said of this documentary, “Grohl’s aim is to explore the aura of a place, but what he winds up proving is that people make the magic.” For anyone with an interest in rock music post-1970, this film is a winner.

– Lisa L. Dendy

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Stuck in Love DVD FEATURE STUC

Originally planned to be titled Writers, the independent film Stuck in Love explores fictional novelist William Borgens’ inability to move on in life even several years after his wife Erica leaves and divorces him. The casting is excellent with Greg Kinnear playing William and Jennifer Connelly as Erica. Borgens is raising his college age daughter Samantha (Lily Collins) and high school age son Rusty (Nat Wolff) to be writers.

Even though it has “love” in the title, this is not a chick flick. It is told from the husband’s point of view and will appeal to male and female viewers and teens and adults equally as it explores parent/child relationships and coming of age in a fresh, raw way. The family drama is semi-autobiographical and is Josh Boone’s screenplay and directorial debut. He has done a fine job, and I will be looking forward to his future films. – Susan Wright

90 DVDs

The Wind Rises DVD FEATURE WIND

Hayao Miyazaki has said that this will be his last film. Of course people have said this before and have been drawn back, so we’ll let the future decide that one. If it is his last, however, it’s a good one to go out on.

For one thing, this is an unusual film for him, in that it is a pretty conventional story. There are, of course, touches of fantasy here and there and some cultural assumptions that are strange to us westerners.

Miyazaki fans are used to the latter.

The Wind Rises is essentially a biopic about Jiro Horikoshi, (voiced by Joseph Gordon Levitt) the aeronautical engineer who designed the Mitsubishi A5M fighter and eventually the A5M Zero, which we know as the Zero, for the Japanese Navy before the war. As portrayed here, Jiro is an endearingly nerdy and kind-hearted man who is obsessed not with making an efficient war machine but with creating a work of art.

And this is how Miyazaki gets past the troublesome subject of the film.

Japan, of course, was our enemy in the war and was a brutal and ruthless one at that. The Zero fighter was a symbol of imperialism and brutality throughout East Asia. It was used in Pearl Harbor. Yet it was also a brilliant advance in aeronautical engineering and an undeniably beautiful plane. The theme of the film is that designing airplanes is an art, and doing it at a transcendent level excuses the uses the planes are put to by others. This is dubious at best, and I wasn’t exactly sold, but Miyazaki makes his case well.

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Throughout the film Jiro’s dreams are pitted against reality, and the dreams win every time. When he arrives in Tokyo to study, there is an awful earthquake, but that doesn’t stop him from getting his degree.

He meets the perfect woman for him and marries, but she is sickly and is soon dying. This doesn’t stop him, however, from obsessing over his fighter. He works at home while holding her hand.

The Wind Rises is a beautiful film. Visually it is stunning with wonderful stylized art and great animation. The dialogue and the script are touching.

The film has a slow pace, taking time to linger over brilliant summer days and beautiful Japanese gardens and cities. Jiro’s personal story is very sad and affecting, mostly because his is such a sympathetic character.

The real Jiro probably acted at least in part in an aesthetic cocoon, simply not thinking about how his beautiful planes would be used. But he was also probably a loyal citizen of Japan and acted out of patriotism, just as our weapons designers did, especially on things like the Manhattan Project. No doubt he viewed his actions as necessary to the security of his country. In short, it was a lot more complicated than this movie makes it out to be.

It is possible to enjoy a work of art that you don’t really agree with. I feel that the theme of this movie is unconvincing and yet I like the film.

– Charles Ebert

92 DVDs

Yossi & Jagger DVD FOREIGN FEATURE YOSS

An Israeli colonel and two female soldiers visit the commander of an outpost located near the mountains of Lebanon and set off this romantic war piece involving two triangles. The colonel tells Commander Yossi that there is to be a night-time ambush, leading Yossi to worry about the full moon that night. The colonel’s not worried; he’s more interested in continuing his affair with one of the women than listening to Yossi’s concerns. The other woman, Yaeli, falls in love at first sight with Yossi’s second-in-command, Lior, much to the disappointment of Ofir, who is drawn to Yaeli’s beauty and naiveté.

As Ofir tries everything in his power to convince Yaeli that he is the one for her, to no avail, he develops even more resentful feelings towards Lior, whom he believes always receives special treatment from their commander, Yossi. Ofir believes Lior’s “nice guy” routine is just an act.

Lior’s an officer who’s friendly enough with the other soldiers that they admire and respect his officer status more than Ofir’s, and he’s attractive and charismatic enough that it garners him the nickname “Jagger,” after the famous rock star. Ofir’s shortcomings by comparison turn him bitter.

Ironically, when Ofir tells Yaeli that Lior is not interested in her (presumably because he is too narcissistic to notice her), he does not know the whole truth, but Ofir is correct. Lior is not interested in Yaeli because he is having an affair with Commander Yossi, and not the sordid type the colonel engages in. They are in love. Lior’s time in the service is almost up and all he wants is a new life with Yossi that does not involve hiding their feelings for one another. Yossi, however, is a commander through and through: Ofir’s pettiness, Yaeli’s flirtations, the Colonel’s ineptitude, and sadly, even Loir’s dreams of forever happiness will not keep him from the mission. There’ll be time for ”forever” after the mission is done. – Cleo Bizzell

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Yossi DVD FOREIGN FEATURE YOSS

Set ten years after Yossi & Jagger, the former commander is now a cardiologist. Yossi juggles a busy career, a needy friend going through a divorce and a too-friendly nurse who thinks she’s found her Dr. Right. His work place may be hectic, but it’s preferable to going home to an empty apartment. A disastrous date he met online, an unwanted kiss meant to be a romantic gesture, a friend’s questioning of his sexuality after a botched threesome, a chance meeting with Lior’s mother, and most frightening of all, a botched medical procedure, convince Yossi that he needs to finally take a vacation.

Yossi leaves Tel Aviv to go to the Sinai coast. He meets four young carefree soldiers at a rest stop who miss their bus and offers take them to their hotel in Eliat. One of them is Tom, an out-and-proud gay man whose friends love him because he’s charming and outspoken. Young Tom reminds Yossi of Young Lior, and what should have been. Yossi does not want to be reminded of Lior, and so when the quartet invite Yossi to join them at the hotel, he declines. He gets all the way to the Egyptian border and changes his mind, turns back and takes a chance. – Cleo Bizzell

94 CDs

CDs MUSIC 11:11

By Rodrigo y Gabriela

CD LATIN RODR

This is the follow-up to the duo’s 2006 self-titled debut album, and is a tribute to 11 musicians, past and present, who have inspired them throughout their journey. This powerhouse pair fills the album with their energy and incredible skill, making a memorable, original and compelling mix of genres. Favorite tracks include “Hanuman,” a tribute to Carlos Santana; “Buster Voodoo,” an homage to Jimi Hendrix; and “11:11,” an homage to Pink Floyd. If you are a fan of classical or acoustic guitar, and (for this album) even jazz and metal, this is an exciting album for you. I also highly recommend seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela perform live, if possible. They are phenomenal to watch! – Jennifer Scott

American Favorite Ballads

by Pete Seeger

CD FOLK SEEG

My family – and the world – was so sad to lose Pete Seeger this year. I grew up on his music, a tradition I continued with my daughter. One day when my newborn twins could not be calmed, I dug out all of my CDs and popped one of his in the player. Within the first few notes of Seeger’s banjo, all was quiet. This album is a special favorite because it is filled with familiar tunes from my childhood and before – ones that have withstood generations. Seeger seems to have so much fun in each song, and at times it’s as if you can hear him smiling through the speakers. – Jennifer Scott

CDs 95

Are We There

by Sharon Van Etten

CD POP/ROCK VAN

Van Etten’s music has grown on me since I found her album Tramp (2012). In Are We There, Van Etten uses her music to tell of a devastating emotional crash, putting in song the tale of a relationship wrecked by the demands of career and hints of abuse. She has poured herself into this CD it seems, and it can at times be challenging to listen to depending on your mood. However, eventually the darkness gives way to a form of optimism by the album’s end. It’s a well-crafted experience by an artist coming into her own. – Jennifer Scott

Boys & Girls

by The Alabama Shakes

CD POP/ROCK ALAB

I have never been as blown away by a band as my first time seeing the Alabama Shakes. Lead singer Brittany Howard is mesmerizing, exuding a raw electricity that gets people on their feet. I walked away from their concert thinking I must have had some glimpse into what it was like to see Janis Joplin or Otis Redding perform. In anticipation of their second album release, I decided to check this out again and have had it playing on repeat ever since. The quartet has been together since 2009, having met in high school in Athens, Alabama. This debut, their first full-length album, seemingly took the world by storm at the time of its release, and it is easy to see why. Boys & Girls is a rich and soulful album, filled with a classic rock and blues vibe. Their opening song, “Hold On,” gives me chills every time, taking me back to a summer evening spent swaying shoulder to shoulder with a crowd equally intoxicated by this young band’s music. While the CD is excellent, it doesn’t quite convey the sense of a live performance. Track them down and see them live on stage. You won’t be sorry. – Jennifer Scott

96 CDs

The Fault in Our Stars: Music from the Motion Picture

by Various Artists

CD SOUNTRACKS FAUL

I was curious about this soundtrack after learning about the book in last year’s Season’s Reading’s and seeing all of the buzz around the movie in the media. Then I began hearing rave reviews about the soundtrack, with critics saying that it would be for the next generation what Garden State’s soundtrack was for the Gen Xers. I loved the Garden State soundtrack, so I thought I’d give this CD a listen. It also helped that my daughter is addicted to Charli XCX’s song “Boom Clap,” which is included on the CD, and which I have now heard on repeat a total of 3,482 times. Featuring songs by Ed Sheeran, Ray LaMontagne, Lykke Li and Grouplove, among others, this album mirrors the emotional tone of the book and projects a more indie or alternative sound. I fell in love with Birdy’s lovely voice, so much so that I tried to immediately check out her album from the library and found someone had already beat me to it. This is a fun, laid back CD that you could play for a relaxing party with friends (aside from the upbeat “Bomfalleralla” by Afasi & Filthy). – Jennifer Scott

Lazaretto

by Jack White

CD POP/ROCK WHIT

Jack White fascinates me. From his breakout with The White Stripes to all of his many side projects, most notably for me being his collaboration with Loretta Lynn on Van Lear Rose, White appears to be a passionate, creative and driven performer and producer. This album conveys a mix of country, folk, rock, blues and pop and veers more towards virtuosity than past albums. A lazaretto is definied as a “hospice for lepers, plague victims and the diseased poor,” and themes of ghosts, the asylum and isolation wind their way through this album. It’s a powerful and inventive ride. Favorite tracks include “Three Women,” “Lazaretto” and “Alone in My Home.” – Jennifer Scott

CDs 97

Maleficent

by Walt Disney Studios

CD SOUNDTRACKS MALE

The soundtrack to the Disney film, Maleficent, stays true to its name.

Composer James Howard leads a very accomplished orchestra through 23 tracks, alternating from thunderous percussion to ominous strings.

Constant battles are briefly interrupted with the beauty of the London Voices chorus and the Trinity Boys Choir. All the while, a dark urgency hangs in the background. Even the song, “Once Upon a Dream,” based on Tchaikovsky’s music, receives eerie interpretation by Linda Del Rey. Like The Lord of the Rings soundtracks, this CD might be the appropriate companion to a robust exercise workout or that major power walk.

Lullaby and relaxation seekers should try other Disney productions.

– Olivia Singleton

Small Town Heroes

by Hurray for the Riff Raff

CD FOLK HURR

The story of Hurray for the Riff Raff ’s vocalist Alynda Lee Segarra first drew me to this band. Raised in the Bronx, the Puerto Rican Segarra left home at age 17 to hop trains and roam the country. She eventually stopped in post-Katrina New Orleans, where she immersed herself in folk and country songs while busking on corners. This is a spirited and smooth album of American folk-roots music that is both a nod to the past and a promise for the future. – Jennifer Scott

98 CDs

We’ll Never Turn Back

by Mavis Staples

CD FOLK STAP

I was lucky to see Mavis Staples perform in 2011, and she was electrifying.

Inspired by Durham Reads Together’s exploration of March: Book One, I decided to listen to this CD of songs from the Civil Rights Movement, performed by Staples and produced by Ry Cooder. The album also features original vocalists of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Community, called the SNCC Freedom Singers, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. While Staples’ voice has certainly changed from her work early in her career, it is still stunning and conveys the soul and importance of these meaningful anthems. She has created an inspirational album to spend time with and appreciate, especially in light of ongoing struggles within our country. – Jennifer Scott

BOOKS ON CD Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

by Robin Sloan

BK CD F SLOAN, R.

When Clay took the job at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, he did not expect the job to be as strange as it was. Clay picked up the graveyard shift and immediately noticed that the few clients of the bookstore never bought anything. Instead, they borrowed volumes that had call numbers instead of titles. As he began to unpack the mysteries of the bookstore (How does it stay in business with so few clients? Why are these eccentric customers so enthusiastic about these strange, old books? How do people even find this bookstore?), Clay and his friends are pulled into a a world that extends beyond the bookstore walls and adventure that he never could have expected as he tries to understand, and then save, his job.

I stumbled upon this audiobook as randomly as Clay stumbled upon Mr. Penumbra’s job posting, and I’m glad I did! The facts that Clay used modern technology to help solve the mystery and that his childhood hamster was named Fluffy McFly are two examples of how this book is witty and refreshing. It is one I would recommend to anyone looking for a light, engaging mystery that doesn’t revolve around murder.

– Desiree Peterson

CDs 99

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

by Karen Foxlee

BOOK CD JF FOXLEE, K.

Ready to go on an adventure inside a museum and battle the Ice Queen?

This book is filled with imagination, adventures and most of all the courage to be who you want to be. – Claudia Aleman de Toomes

The Wind Through the Keyhole

by Stephen King

I read the Dark Tower series years ago and was delighted to find this afterthought, written a few years after the completion of the series! If you’ve read the Dark Tower books, I don’t need to sell you on another tale; if you haven’t, this novella offers a nice taste. While the ka-tet is holing up during a storm, gunslinger Roland Deschain tells the story of a young Roland telling a story… shape-shifters, dragons, wizards and a young boy’s triumph over evil. The audio book is read by Stephen King himself – what could be better?!

– Lucy Vander Kamp

BK CD F KING, S.

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Joanne Abel Marketing and Development .. .................................................................... 16, 28, 38, 39, 43 Claudia Aleman de Toomes Adult Services, Main Library ............................................................................. 8, 51, 53, 99 Rose Alston Adult Services, North Regional Library............................................................................... 30 Sarah Alverson Children’s Services, Stanford L. Warren Library. . ................................................ 35, 73, 74, 75 Margaret Anderson Children’s Services, Southwest Regional Library........................................................... 68, 72 Tammy Baggett Director ......................................................................................................................... 49 Cleo Bizzell Adult Services, Main Library............................................................................ 80, 84, 92, 93 Archie Burke Teen Services, East Regional Library ............................................................................41, 53 Hitoko Burke Marketing and Development .. ........................................................................................... 32 Matthew Clobridge Marketing and Development .. ........................................................................................... 34 Lisa Dendy Technical Services ............................................................. 18, 20, 27, 42, 47, 63, 82, 87, 88 Lauren Doll Children's Services, South Regional Library ...................................................................... 71 Mark Donnelly Adult Services, North Regional Library............................................................................... 10 Chuck Ebert Technical Services ................................................................................... 77, 78, 80, 85, 90 Shelley Geyer Adult Services, North Regional Library............................................................................... 24

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Amy Godfrey Children’s Services, Southwest Regional Library................................................................. 69 Christine Grant Teen Services, North Regional Library......................................................... 25, 42, 53, 55, 56 Dionne R. Greenlee Marketing and Development .. ........................................................................................... 82 Deborah Greer Technical Services............................................................................................................. 9 Michelle Hall Administration .. .............................................................................................................. 38 Anita Hasty-Speed Manager, East Regional Library........................................................................ 19, 22, 46, 51 Donna Hausmann Technical Services ...................................................................................................... 8, 15 Kathleen Hayes Children’s Services, South Regional Library. . .................................................................70, 74 Terry B. Hill Deputy Director............................................................................................................... 37 Patrick Holt Adult Services, Southwest Regional Library ....................................................................... 76 Amber Huston Circulation, Main Library............................................................................................ 24, 34 Jerrod Johnson Circulation, Stanford L. Warren Library............................................................. 39, 50, 51, 61 Laurel Jones Children's Services, Main Library .................................................................... 31, 66, 67, 69 Rosemarie Kitchin Board of Trustees . . .......................................................................................................... 12 Phillip Locey Adult Services, East Regional Library. . ............................................................................... 36

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Sandra Lovely Assistant Director for Planning & Facilities. . ....................................................................... 45 Jennifer Lohmann Adult Services, Southwest Regional Library ........................................................ 9, 29, 43, 45 Ken McDouall Substitute.. ............................................................................................................... 13, 33 Susan McQueen Adult Services, North Regional Library............................................................................... 28 Tanika Martin Children’s Services, North Regional Library ....................................................................... 70 Allie Massey Children’s Services, Southwest Regional Library................................................................. 62 Patty Melendez Children’s Services, Southwest Regional Library................................................ 59, 65, 70, 72 Erica Merritt Children’s Services, South Regional Library. . ................................................................ 68, 75 Stephanie Mulligan Children’s Services, North Regional Library.................................................................. 58, 60 Caroline Peterson Teen Services, Southwest Regional Library..............................................................44, 52, 55 Desiree Peterson Circulation, Main Library................................................................................. 11, 52, 54, 98 Anita Robinson Administration .. .............................................................................................................. 46 Gina Rozier Marketing and Development .. ..................................................................................6, 21, 26 Jennifer Scott Marketing and Development .. ......................................................... 40, 87, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 Jan Seabock Technical Services .......................................................................................................... 48

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Alice Sharpe Marketing and Development....................................................................................... 13, 22 Olivia Singleton Children’s Services, Main Library...................................................................................... 97 Cathy Starkweather Adult Services, South Regional Library. . ........................................... 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64 Lucy Vander Kamp Intern, Marketing and Development................................ 18, 20, 32, 38, 66, 71, 72, 73, 74, 99 Jill Wagy Technology Management .. ................................................................................... 7, 8, 16, 19 Matthew Z. Wood Technology Management .. .......................................................................................... 25, 43 Susan Wright Manager, North Regional Library ................................................................15, 17, 23, 79, 89

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