ADULT FICTION
"Cross Roads" by Fern Michaels - "A year and a half has passed since the ladies of Pinewood received their presidential pardons...But a happy homecoming at the old Virginia farmhouse is marred by the hijacking of Nikki and Kathryn's private jet. It seems their few fellow passengers are not ordinary travelers--they're an elite group of Interpol agents who truly need the Sisterhood's help."
"Call Me Mrs. Miracle" by Debbie Macomber - "Debbie Macomber brings you the gift of a story that defines Christmas and everything it means. A story that's destined to become a Christmas classic."..inside front cover
"Chasing the Night" by Iris Johansen - "Johnasen delivers an exhilarating thriller filled with her trademark paranormal elements, truly heinous villains, and intriguing multidimensional heroes. [It] will keep the author's fans on the edge of their seats."--Booklist
"Edge" by Jeffrey Deaver -“Fans of Deaver’s fiendishly clever suspensers (The Burning Wire, 2010, etc.) won’t be surprised by the nonstop deceptions, reversals, shocks and surprises, but this time they’re even more varied than usual, and, given the characters’ backgrounds, a lot more plausible. The result is his most successful thriller in years.”—Kirkus reviews (starred review)
"Fall of Giants" by Ken Follett - "Fall of Giants stands with Ken Follett's best... Fall of Giants is classic Follett. It's long - almost 1,000 pages; it's populated with hundreds of characters whose lives are intertwined; it's set on a tumultuous world stage; it's a good read....Everything in this novel is oversized, from the scope of history it covers to the characters he creates. It's a book that will suck you in, consume you for days or weeks, depending upon how quick a reader you are, then let you out the other side both entertained and educated. That's quite the feat."
-USA Today
"Indulgence in Death" by J.D. Robb - "The latest addictive addition to Robb’s long-running series features spiky humor; a cleverly constructed, adrenaline-raising plot; and the requisite amount of sexy passion between Eve and her soulmate, Roarke. "--John Charles, Booklist
"Legacy" by Danielle Steele - "This, compelling, centuries-spanning novel brilliantly interweaves the lives of two women--a writer working in the heart of modern academia and a daring Sioux Indian on an incredible journey in the eighteenth century. The result is an unforgettable story of courage in the face of the unknown."--inside front cover
"Our Kind of Traitor" by John le Carre - "Those readers who have found post–cold war le Carré too cerebral will have much to cheer about with this Russian mafia spy thriller..... Le Carré ratchets up the tension step-by-step until the sad, inevitable end. His most accessible work in years, this novel shows once again why his name is the one to which all others in the field are compared."--Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"The Red Queen" by Philippa Gregory - In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history."...inside back cover
"Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks -"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past... she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven." -- Amazon
"World and Town" by Gish Jen - "[This] novel portrays Hattie Kong, a retired high-school biology teacher who grew up in China, the daughter of an American missionary and a Chinese father descended from Confucius. After the deaths of her husband and best friend, Hattie seeks peace in the small New England town of Riverlake. But her father’s relatives are anxiously petitioning her to move her parents’ remains to the ancestral family graveyard; her great unrequited love, neuroscientist Carter, has resurfaced; and a church group has settled a traumatized Cambodian immigrant family on the property across from Hattie’s. Taking note of Chhung’s “Pol Pot facial,” Hattie takes his teenage daughter under her wing. But every relationship is jeopardized as conflicts rooted in the larger world, from a cell-phone tower to domestic violence, a gang’s trafficking, and religious hypocrisy, turn this haven into a battleground. Science is pitted against faith, karma against grace, and mayhem against forgiveness. Sharply funny and wisely compassionate, Jen’s richly stippled novel slyly questions every assumption about existence and meaning even as it celebrates generosity, friendship, and love." --Donna Seama, Booklist
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
"Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1" by Harriet Elinor Smith - "This volume—the first of three—makes public autobiographical dictations in which Twain unpredictably pursues the many side-excursions of his remarkably creative life. Embedded in a substantial editorial apparatus, these free-spirited forays expose private aspects of character that the author did not want in print until he had been dead at least a century.... But perhaps the most important side-excursions are those retracing the imaginative prospecting of a miner for literary gold, efforts that resulted in such works as Roughing It and Innocents Abroad. A treasure trove for serious Twain readers. --Bryce Christense, Booklist
"Cleopatra A Life" by Stacy Schiff - "What dazzles us in Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra, are not the alluring mythologies about the evasive queen, but the astonishing if rare historical facts that Schiff has meticulously and lovingly excavated. Schiff offers not just Cleopatra's story but the story of an amazing era, one that has vanished but still affects us, questioning the way we look at myth, history and ourselves"--Azar Nafisi
"Decision Points" by George W. Bush - "In this candid and gripping account, President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life."--inside front cover
The Diary of Frida Kahlo" by Frida Kahlo - "Frida Kahlo, one of the most dynamic figures of 20th-century art, has very nearly become a saint, so legendary is her tumultuous and tragic life. While there is no dearth of books about Kahlo and her work, none are as poignantly revealing as this diary, which includes her own words and pictures. We find the genesis of some of her most famous paintings, her love letters, and sketches of people she knew such as her husband, the Mexican mural painter Diego Rivera, and numerous studies for self-portraits. The most fascinating part of the book is the facsimile diary, in its exact size, reproduced here for the first time, with color illustrations. It is accompanied by an English translation with explanatory commentaries." -- Amazon
"The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt" by T. J. Stiles - "Truly remarkable....A landmark study that significantly enhances one's understanding of U.S. economic history...[Stiles is] on the most exciting writers in the field."--Foreign Affairs
ADULT NON-FICTION
" At Home: A Short History of Private Life" by Bill Bryson - "Fascinating.... Join this amiable tour guide as he wanders through his house, a former rectory built in 1851 in a tranquil English village.... [It] takes a very particular kind of thoughtfulness, as well as a bold temperament, to stuff all this research into a mattress that's supportive enough to loll about on while pondering the real subject of this book -- the development of the modern world.... Bryson is fascinated by everything, and his curiosity is infectious...[his] enthusiasm brightens any dull corner.... You'll be given a delightful smattering of information about everything but...the kitchen sink."— Dominique Browning, The New York Times Book Review
"Broke: The Plan to Restore Our Trust, Truth and Treasure" by Glenn Beck -- "Packed with great stories from history, chalkboard-style teachable moments, custom illustrations, and Glenn Beck’s trademark combination of entertainment and enlightenment, Broke makes the case that when you’re traveling in the wrong direction, slight course corrections won’t cut it—you need to take drastic action. Through a return to individual rights, an uncompromising adherence to the Constitution, and a complete rethinking about the role of government in a free society, Glenn exposes the idea of “transformation” for the progressive smokescreen that it is, and instead builds a compelling case that restoration is the only way forward."--Amazon
"The Dead Hand" by David E. Hoffman - "Drawing on memoirs, interviews in both Russia and the United States, and classified documents from deep inside the Kremlin, David E. Hoffman examines the inner motives and secret decisions of each side and details the deadly stockpiles that remained unsecured as the Soviet Union collapsed. This is the most fascinating story of how Regan, Gorbachev, and a previously unheralded collection of scientists, soldiers, diplomats, and spies changed the course of history."---back cover
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the Book) A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race" by Jon Stewart - "Stewart (America: The Book) seeks to expand his audience to aliens who might land on earth after the extinction of the human race and be puzzled over the artifacts we've left behind. ..In place of skits there are elaborate, color illustrations accompanied by captions written with his trademark deadpan humor;.. Nothing is off-limits here, not even Benjamin Franklin, whose pithy saying "Nothing is certain but death and taxes" Stewart expands upon. The book ends with a plea to the aliens to reconstruct the human race from DNA in the hope that, with guidance from the visitors, "we could overcome the baser aspects of our nature... and give this planet the kind of caretakers it deserves," revealing the tears behind Stewart's clown."--Publisher's Weekly
"Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World" by Liaquat Ahamed - "Ahamed, noted the New York Times, illuminates wise parallels between the misplaced confidence that spawned the global depression in the 1930s and the illusory calculations of risk that led to the current financial crisis. "--Bookmarks Magazine
"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn - "...the first scholarly work to tell America's story from the bottom up--from the point of view of, and in the words of, America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers."--inside front cover
"The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson - "The Warmth of Other Suns is a sweeping and yet deeply personal tale of America's hidden twentieth-century history--the long and difficult trek of southern blacks to northern and western cities. This is an epic for all Americans who want to understand the making our modern nation."--Tom Brokaw
MYSTERY
"Bury Your Dead" by Louise Penny -"At the start of Agatha-winner Penny's moving and powerful sixth Chief Insp. Armand Gamache mystery , Gamache is recovering from a physical and emotional trauma, the exact nature of which isn't immediately disclosed, in Québec City. When the body of Augustin Renaud, an eccentric who'd spent his life searching for the burial site of Samuel de Champlain, Québec's founder, turns up in the basement of the Literary and Historical Society, Gamache reluctantly gets involved in the murder inquiry. Meanwhile, Gamache dispatches his longtime colleague, Insp. Jean Guy Beauvoir, to the quiet town of Three Pines to revisit the case supposedly resolved at the end of the previous book. Few writers in any genre can match Penny's ability to combine heartbreak and hope in the same scene. Increasingly ambitious in her plotting, she continues to create characters readers would want to meet in real life. "--Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"Crossfire" by Dick Francise and Felix Francis - "A blissfully satisfying blend of suspense, revenge and horse-racing info in a multi-layered mystery that's presumably Felix Francis's distinctive contribution to his father's legendary series."--Kirkus Reviews
"A Holiday Yarn" by Sally Goldenbaum - "Death puts a damper on the Christmas festivities in Goldenbaum's engrossing fourth cozy featuring Izzy Chambers and the other members of her Sea Harbor, Mass., knitting circle... When "controversial fashion editor" Pamela Pisano turns up dead with a pistol in her hand on the snow-covered back porch of the Pisano family estate, it appears a clear case of suicide. Particularly distraught is Mary Pisano, Pamela's cousin, who recently inherited [the estate] and is in the process of converting the house into a bed-and-breakfast. When a painter Mary hired falls to his death off a ladder onto some granite rocks, this accident is more than a little suspicious. Of course, a killer is at work, and the knitters must tap old memories and old police records before they can bring the mystery to its unexpected conclusion."--Publishers Weekly
"Moonlight Mile" by Dennis Lehane - "An old case takes on new dimensions in Lehane's sixth crime novel to feature Boston PIs Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro,...Patrick and Angie are married, the parents of four-year-old Gabriella, and barely making ends meet with Patrick's PI gigs while Angie finishes graduate school. But when Amanda's aunt comes to Patrick and tells him that Amanda, now a 16-year-old honor student, is once again missing, he vows to find the girl, even if it means confronting the consequences of choices he made that have haunted him for years." --Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"Painted Ladies" by Robert B. Parker - "Is there a more promising opening in contemporary crime fiction than Boston PI Spenser opening his office door to a new client? Instantly we get Spenser's clear-eyed view of the client, what his or her dress and stature have to say, and the rat-a-tat-tat of Spenser's wise-guy answers to the client's queries...A series of unflagging excellence."--Booklist
"Red Herring" by Archer Mayor - "Archer Mayor doesn't do quaint. He might use poetic imagery to describe the austere beauty of New England's rugged mountains and snowbound villages, but as far as their crime content is concerned, his police procedurals are about as authentic as it gets."--Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
"The Rembrandt Affair" by Daniel Silva -" The perfect book for fans of well-crafted thrillers...the kind of page-turner that captures the reader from the opening chapter and doesn't let go."--The Associated Press
AUDIO BOOKS
"The Confession" by John Grisham -"The Confession is the kind of grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story that demands to be inhaled as quickly as possible. But it's also a superb work of social criticism in the literary troublemaker tradition of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle....Brilliant"--Washington Post
"The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" by Walter Mosley - "Mosley’s dramatic departure from his Easy Rawlins and Leonid McGill crime novels appears to be a very personal one, a deeply thoughtful, provocative, and often beautiful meditation on aging, memory, family, loss, and love. Ptolemy and Robyn are truly indelible characters. Mosley’s story is ultimately life affirming, and his writing is by turns gritty and sublime. Baby boomers caring for aged parents, or thinking about their own mortality, will line up for The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Mosley’s fans of any age will also embrace it, and every library will be better for adding it." --Thomas Gaughan, Booklist
DVD
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers" - "This acclaimed film tells the riveting story of how one man's profound change of heart created a landmark struggle involving America's newspapers, its president and Supreme Court - a political thriller whose events led directly to Watergate, Nixon's resignation and the Vietnam War."--back cover
"How to Train Your Dragon" -"... rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story....the unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds in this 'wonderful good-time hit!'...Gene Shalit, Today
"The Last Song" - "Miley Cyrus shines as the star of this heartwarming coming-of-age movie that will strike your emotional chords. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks (Dear John, The Notebook), The Last Song follows Ronnie (Cyrus) and her estranged father as he tries to restore the loving relationship they once had. But reconnecting with his rebellious daughter isn’t easy, so he chooses the one thing they still have in common — music. Complete with not-to-be-missed bonus features — the Miley Cyrus music video “When I Look At You,” exclusive interviews with the actress and more — this uplifting and touching drama about family, first loves and second chances is a heartfelt story to you won’t soon forget." -- Amazon
"The Expendables" - "..a tight-knit team of skilled combat vets turned mercenaries. Hired by a powerful covert operator, the team jets off to a small South-American country to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Once there, they find themselves caught in a deadly web of deceit and betrayal. Using every weapon at their disposal, they set out to save the innocent and punish the guilty."--back cover
"The Crash of 1929" - ""The Crash of 1929"captures the unbounded optimism of the age and the shocking consequences when reality finally hit, exploring a fateful year through the words and experiences of the descendants of several titans of finance."--back cover
"Date Night" - Steve Carell and Tina Fey are “a match made in comedy heaven” (Ben Lyons, E!) in this uproarious adventure about an ordinary couple in the right place...on the wrong night. Phil and Claire Foster are a sensible, suburban husband and wife slogging through their daily lives and marriage. But a case of mistaken identity sets off a n outrageous chain of events involving small-time thieves, big-city mobsters, corrupt cops and a crazed cabbie, as the Fosters’ “date night” turns into a wild ride they’ll never forget"--Amazon
"Grown Up" - Just because you grow older doesn't mean you have to grow up! ...From the people who brought you Click, comes this hilarious and heartwarming film that proves that men will be boys." --back cover
"Place of Execution" - "Based on the novel by award-winning author Val McDermid, Place of Execution is a gripping psychological thriller, told in the present and the past, that blurs the lines between reality and illusion."-- back cover
"The Karate Kid" - "...an absorbing story of a preadolescent boy's struggle to find his own inner strength. .. Through an unlikely relationship with an adult, the boy not only learns to protect himself through martial arts, but develops the much more important qualities of respect and the mastery of one's own mind and body. This is an intense and often violent film that fully engulfs its viewers--be prepared to gasp and cheer out loud, and know that you may never look at the act of putting on and taking off a jacket in the same way again. (Ages 8 and older with parental guidance)" --Tami Horiuchi
"Iron Man 2" - "Robert Downey Jr. returns as billionaire Tony Stark in this thrilling sequel to the worldwide blockbuster. Now that his superhero secret has been revealed, Tony’s life is more intense than ever. Everyone wants in on the Iron Man technology, whether for power or profit…but for Ivan Vanko (“Whiplash”), it’s revenge! Tony must once again suit up and face his most dangerous enemy yet, but not without a few new allies of his own. Co-starring Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, Iron Man 2 is a “total blast!”"--Amazon
"True Blood: The Complete Second Season" - "When we last checked in with Sookie Stackhouse, the mystery surrounding a Bon Temps serial killer had finally been solved, to the town’s infinite relief. Sookie is thrilled that her vampire soul mate, Bill Compton, has escaped with his life (or is it death?) after coming to her daylight defense. On other fronts, Sookie’s pal Tara Thornton sets down new roots with an affluent benefactor, Maryann Forrester; Sam Merlotte resolves to get in shape-shift shape after a forest foray; roguish brother Jason finds new purpose with an anti-vampire sect; and detective Andy Bellefleur licks his wounds after being proven wrong about Jason’s guilt. But just as things are settling down, some deadly new twists threaten to ratchet up the saga of Sookie Stackhouse to bloody new heights!"--Amazon
MUSIC
"One Light One Sun" by Raffi - "The most popular children's singer in the English-speaking world."--The Washington Post
JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY
"Many Rides of Paul Revere" by James Giblin - "Giblin's book sets the record straight on Paul Revere's life and his role in the American Revolution. Beginning with his father's journey to America, this biography presents a lucid account of Revere's childhood, his limited education, his training in his father's workshop, his brief military career, and his adult life as a silversmith, family man, and Revolutionary War leader....Unlike some biographies of Revere, this one does not relate (only to refute) certain legendary "facts," though it does note the ways in which the historical record contradicts the famous poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," which is reprinted here. Giblin notes that Longfellow, in attempting to create an American hero rather than to write an accurate history, "more than achieved his goal." That's a gracious concession from a writer who has taken the latter path here, and with notable success." Phelan, Carolyn--Booklist
JUVENILE DVD
"How to Train Your Dragon" -"... rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story....the unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds in this 'wonderful good-time hit!'...Gene Shalit, Today
"The Secret of Kells" - "Magic, fantasy and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times."--back cover
"Toy Story 3" - "Pixar's 3-D computer animation is top-notch as always and the voice talent in this film is tremendous, but in the end, it's Pixar's uncanny ability to combine drama, action, and humor in a way that irresistibly draws viewers into the world of the film that makes Toy Story 3 such great family entertainment."--Amazon
JUVENILE FICTION
"Trickster's Queen" by Tamora Pierce - "Aly, the hero of Trickster's Choice, continues her work for the raka rebellion, using her spying network to overthrow the evil regents and bring her mistress, Dove, to the throne. The flaccid plot and the cookie-cutter sameness to the characters make this 400-pager drag, but the magic and exotic settings, plus Pierce's trademark quips and strong female characters, give the book bounce."...THE HORN BOOK, c2005.
"Realms of the Gods" by Tamora Pierce - "Daine...is an ideal heroine--adventurous, intelligent and gifted with magical powers."--School Library Journal
YOUNG ADULTS
"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins - "Katniss has survived her ordeal at the Quarter Quell, and she and her family are safe in District 13. Gale is there as well, but Peeta is being held at the Capitol as President Snow’s very special prisoner. Events move quickly, but realization unfolds slowly as Katniss learns that she has been a pawn in more ways than she ever supposed and that her role as the face of the revolution is one with unanticipated consequences, including a climbing death toll for which she holds herself personally responsible. Collins does several things brilliantly, not the least of which is to provide heart-stopping chapter endings that turn events on their heads and then twist them once more. But more ambitious is the way she brings readers to questions and conclusions about war throughout the story. There’s nothing didactic here, and the rush of the narrative sometimes obscures what message there is. Yet readers will instinctively understand what Katniss knows in her soul, that war mixes all the slogans and justifications, the deceptions and plans, the causes and ideals into an unsavory stew whose taste brings madness. That there is still a human spirit yearning for good is the book’s primrose of hope." Grades 6-12. --Ilene Coope, Booklist
"My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, & Fenway Park" by Steve Kluger - "In his first novel for young readers, Kluger revisits themes in his adult titles: baseball, romantic sparring, and social activism....At the center are heart-pulling romances (even a few among adults) and a broadening sense of what family means. A few plot twists will require readers to suspend belief, and the voices tend to sound alike. Still, the appealing characters are bright, passionate, and fully engaged in their lives, and many readers will lose themselves in this original, high-spirited story." Gillian Engberg.. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2008.
Sky is Everywhere" by Jandy Nelson - Lennie has always been the companion pony to her sister Bailey's race horse. When Bailey dies suddenly while rehearsing the lead in Romeo and Juliet, Lennie is thrust into the spotlight..Lennie is not prepared to deal with her grief. Nor is she equipped to confront the affection she feels for her dead sister's fiance. Adding to her emotional roller coaster is the gorgeous, musically gifted new boy in town who is clearly in love with her. Lennie is sympathetic, believable, and complex. Readers will identify with her and root for her to finally make the first steps toward healing. Nelson incorporates poems, written by Lennie and left for the wind to carry away, that help readers delve deeper into her heart. Bonus: teens unfamiliar with Wuthering Heights will likely want to find out what all the fuss is about. A story of love, loss, and healing that will resonate with readers long after they have finished reading." Shauna Yusko. 288pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010.
PICTURE BOOKS
"Aggie the Brave" by Lori Ries
"Bedtime for Bear" by Bonny Becker
"Bink & Gollie" by Jate DeCamillo
"Bones and the Roller Coaster Mystery" by David A. Adler
"Born Yesterday: Diary of a Young Journalist" by James Solhein
"Button Up!" by Alice Schertle
"Cat the Cat, Who is That" by Mo Willems
"Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten" by Audrey Vermick
"Let's Do Nothing" by Tony Fucile
"The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash" by Trinka Hakes Noble
"Martha" by Gennadii Spirin
"Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt" by David Catrow
"Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland" by Wong Herbert Yee
"Nabeel's New Pants" by Fawzia Gilani-Williams
"Oh, Daddy" by Bob Shea
"Sea Mice and the Stars" by Kenneth Steven
"Snook Alone" by Marilyn Nelson
"What About Bear" by Suzanne Bloom
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