ADULT FICTION
"Under the Dome" by Stephen King - "The frequent accusation that King writes too long is sometimes deserved. However, when he works in an epic mode, depicting dozens of characters and all their interrelationships, he can produce great work. He did it with The Stand and with It, and he has done it again here. A small Maine town is enclosed one October morning by an impermeable bell jar of unknown origin. Within this pressure cooker, the petty differences and power struggles of village life are magnified and accelerated. Opposing camps develop, one headed by Big Jim Rennie, the Second Selectman, and the other by Dale Barbara, a drifting Iraq vet who was nearly out of town when the Dome fell. The characters are well rounded and interesting while retaining the familiar appeal that has drawn and kept King fans for decades. Verdict Regular King readers will rejoice at his return to his strengths. Some will balk at the page count, but a fast pace and compelling narrative make the reader's time fly."--Karl G. Siewert, Library Journal
Listen Up! Vermont
76 new titles have been added. Everything from current best-sellers to classics. Log into Listen Up! Vermont choose your book and download to your iPod, MP3 player or computer. You can do this from anywhere in the world you have internet access with your Greensboro Free Library card number. Over 1,000 titles are available.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Chili Dinner
Chili Dinner Will Take the Chill Out of Winter!A potluck dinner will be held at Fellowship Hall, Greensboro United Church of Christ, January 29th at 5:00 pm.
People of all ages are invited to come take the chill out of winter by partaking of chili etc.
Following a period for all to fill their tummies, you can settle in for a performance by the library's home schooling group. This year it is a Japanese inspired play entitled SUSA-NO-WO (The Dragon Slayer). Come enjoy the performance.
Thanks to the food provided by volunteers all of this only costs you a donation to support the library. Call the library at 802-533-2531 for more information.
New Arrivals
ADULT FICTION
"The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver - "Kingsolver's novel focuses on Harrison William Shepherd, the product of a divorced American father and a Mexican mother. After getting kicked out of his American military academy, Harrison spends his formative years in Mexico in the 1930s in the household of Diego Rivera; his wife, Frida Kahlo; and their houseguest, Leon Trotsky, who is hiding from Soviet assassins. After Trotsky is assassinated, Harrison returns to the U.S., settling down in Asheville, N.C., where he becomes an author of historical potboilers (e.g., Vassals of Majesty) and is later investigated as a possible subversive. Narrated in the form of letters, diary entries and newspaper clippings, the novel takes a while to get going, but once it does, it achieves a rare dramatic power that reaches its emotional peak when Harrison wittily and eloquently defends himself before the House Un-American Activities Committee (on the panel is a young Dick Nixon). 'Employed by the American imagination,' is how one character describes Harrison, a term that could apply equally to Kingsolver as she masterfully resurrects a dark period in American history with the assured hand of a true literary artist. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
YOUNG ADULT
"Eternal" by Cynthia Leitich Smith - "..this novel is a witty, dark love story of death and redemption. Miranda dreams of one day being a star, but she's already captured the heart of one fan: her lifelong guardian angel Zachary. When he sees her death approach, he desperately breaks the rules to prevent it, an act that dooms both of their souls: Zachary is cast out of Heaven, and Miranda lives long enough to be made a vampire. A year later, Miranda has settled into her wicked life as the glamorous daughter of the vampire king, and Zachary has been sent to their estate on a mission that may earn back his wings. Forced to confront the monster Miranda has become, Zachary is determined to save her soul and redeem them both. Smith's take on aristocratic vampire society is a sometimes humorous, sometimes horrible mix of the niceties of high society and the blase violence of monsters, while angels appear to be a largely bureaucratic organization. Miranda and Zachary are complex, sympathetic characters, and their hopeful ending is well earned." - Krista Hutley, -Booklist
"The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver - "Kingsolver's novel focuses on Harrison William Shepherd, the product of a divorced American father and a Mexican mother. After getting kicked out of his American military academy, Harrison spends his formative years in Mexico in the 1930s in the household of Diego Rivera; his wife, Frida Kahlo; and their houseguest, Leon Trotsky, who is hiding from Soviet assassins. After Trotsky is assassinated, Harrison returns to the U.S., settling down in Asheville, N.C., where he becomes an author of historical potboilers (e.g., Vassals of Majesty) and is later investigated as a possible subversive. Narrated in the form of letters, diary entries and newspaper clippings, the novel takes a while to get going, but once it does, it achieves a rare dramatic power that reaches its emotional peak when Harrison wittily and eloquently defends himself before the House Un-American Activities Committee (on the panel is a young Dick Nixon). 'Employed by the American imagination,' is how one character describes Harrison, a term that could apply equally to Kingsolver as she masterfully resurrects a dark period in American history with the assured hand of a true literary artist. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
YOUNG ADULT
"Eternal" by Cynthia Leitich Smith - "..this novel is a witty, dark love story of death and redemption. Miranda dreams of one day being a star, but she's already captured the heart of one fan: her lifelong guardian angel Zachary. When he sees her death approach, he desperately breaks the rules to prevent it, an act that dooms both of their souls: Zachary is cast out of Heaven, and Miranda lives long enough to be made a vampire. A year later, Miranda has settled into her wicked life as the glamorous daughter of the vampire king, and Zachary has been sent to their estate on a mission that may earn back his wings. Forced to confront the monster Miranda has become, Zachary is determined to save her soul and redeem them both. Smith's take on aristocratic vampire society is a sometimes humorous, sometimes horrible mix of the niceties of high society and the blase violence of monsters, while angels appear to be a largely bureaucratic organization. Miranda and Zachary are complex, sympathetic characters, and their hopeful ending is well earned." - Krista Hutley, -Booklist
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Menu for the Future
Thursday, January 21, 7:00-8:30 pm
Greensboro Free Library
First session of a six-session community discussion group “Menu for the Future” about food and food systems. The readings, compiled by the Northwest Earth Institute, consider food from multiple perspectives – cultural, economic, ecological, health and social – each presenting a different, though often complementary, angle on the complex modern food systems that most of us depend on. Course book are available on loan or for purchase ($21) from the library. For more information contact Greensboro Free Library at 802-533-2531 or see www.nwei.org. Participants should read the first session for January 21.
New Arrivals
ADULT FICTION
"Precious" by Sapphire - "Sapphire returns to the themes of incest and child abuse that were a part of her daring American Dreams (1984) but with a starkness that is truly horrifying and unforgettable, perhaps because of the horror. Precious Jones is a victim of abuse. At 16, Precious finds herself pregnant again by her father, untrained, uneducated, and unable to care for herself or her baby. She is astute enough to know that there is a better way to live but is clueless as to how to get there. She meets a black teacher, Ms. Blue Rain, who challenges Precious to learn to read and write and improve her way of life. In her literacy class, Miss Rain instructs all of her students to maintain a journal; readers experience Precious' transformation in her journal entries. Her development and growth are astonishing in the short period of time we share her writings. Push is an intense work, both heartbreaking and frightening." - Lillian Lewis, BOOKLIST
ADULT NON-FICTION
"The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War" by James Bradley - "His new book, about U.S.-Japanese diplomacy in 1905, represents a departure. Asserting a causal connection between diplomatic understandings reached then and war 36 years later, Bradley dramatizes his case with a delegation Theodore Roosevelt dispatched to Japan in the summer of 1905. Led by Secretary of War William Taft and ornamented by the president's quotable daughter Alice, it sailed while TR hosted the peace conference between victorious Japan and defeated Russia. As he recounts the itinerary of Taft's cruise, Bradley discusses attitudes of social Darwinism and white superiority that were then prevalent and expressed by TR and Taft. They modified their instincts, Bradley argues, in dealing with nonwhite Japan, and secretly conceded it possession of Korea. This is what Bradley asserts was a prerequisite to Pearl Harbor in 1941, a dubious thesis when the tensions of the 1930s stemmed from general Japanese aggressiveness, not its control of Korea per se. Bradley does fine on 1905 but falters when predicting the future." Gilbert Taylor, BOOKLIST
"Precious" by Sapphire - "Sapphire returns to the themes of incest and child abuse that were a part of her daring American Dreams (1984) but with a starkness that is truly horrifying and unforgettable, perhaps because of the horror. Precious Jones is a victim of abuse. At 16, Precious finds herself pregnant again by her father, untrained, uneducated, and unable to care for herself or her baby. She is astute enough to know that there is a better way to live but is clueless as to how to get there. She meets a black teacher, Ms. Blue Rain, who challenges Precious to learn to read and write and improve her way of life. In her literacy class, Miss Rain instructs all of her students to maintain a journal; readers experience Precious' transformation in her journal entries. Her development and growth are astonishing in the short period of time we share her writings. Push is an intense work, both heartbreaking and frightening." - Lillian Lewis, BOOKLIST
ADULT NON-FICTION
"The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War" by James Bradley - "His new book, about U.S.-Japanese diplomacy in 1905, represents a departure. Asserting a causal connection between diplomatic understandings reached then and war 36 years later, Bradley dramatizes his case with a delegation Theodore Roosevelt dispatched to Japan in the summer of 1905. Led by Secretary of War William Taft and ornamented by the president's quotable daughter Alice, it sailed while TR hosted the peace conference between victorious Japan and defeated Russia. As he recounts the itinerary of Taft's cruise, Bradley discusses attitudes of social Darwinism and white superiority that were then prevalent and expressed by TR and Taft. They modified their instincts, Bradley argues, in dealing with nonwhite Japan, and secretly conceded it possession of Korea. This is what Bradley asserts was a prerequisite to Pearl Harbor in 1941, a dubious thesis when the tensions of the 1930s stemmed from general Japanese aggressiveness, not its control of Korea per se. Bradley does fine on 1905 but falters when predicting the future." Gilbert Taylor, BOOKLIST
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Arrivals
ADULT FICTION
"Pirate Latitude: A Novel" by Michael Crichton - From one of the best-loved authors of all times comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal" - inside front cover
"Wrecker" by Clive Cussler - "Cussler, known primarily for his contemporary high-tech thrillers, steps back in time--more than a century, in fact--in this rousing sequel to the The Chase (2007). Van Dorn Detective Agency operative Isaac Bell returns, this time to track down a clever saboteur who's been dubbed the Wrecker. Seems the Wrecker has it in for the Southern Pacific Company, and he will stop at nothing, including murder, to keep the company from putting through a new railway line between San Francisco and northern California. Isaac is a sharply drawn series lead, and the story, as befits a railroad-themed thriller, moves at a brisk clip. In addition, there's a very nice surprise in the final scenes. Readers who have sensed a certain been-there-done-that feeling in some of Cussler's recent novels will be pleased to find a new spark here. More Isaac Bell novels would be most welcome."--David Pitt, Booklist
"The Given Day" by Dennis Lahane - "In a splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction (Gone, Baby, Gone: Mystic River), Lehane combines 20th-century American history, a gripping story of a family torn by pride and the strictures of the Catholic Church, and the plot of a multifaceted thriller. Set in Boston during and after WWI, this engrossing epic brings alive a pivotal period in our cultural maturation through a pulsing narrative that exposes social turmoil, political chicanery and racial prejudice, and encompasses the Spanish flu pandemic--This story of fathers and sons, love and betrayal, idealism and injustice, prejudice and brotherly feeling is a dark vision of the brutality inherent in human nature and the dire fate of some who try to live by ethical standards. It's also a vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries moral gravity." -- Publisher's Weekly
MYSTERY
"The Birthday Present: A Novel" by Barbara Vine - "British master Vine (the pen name of Ruth Rendell), a life Labor peer who used her knowledge of politics in 2002's The Blood Doctor to explore the personal rather than the political ramifications of power, does both in this intricate novel, which charts the wreckage caused by Ivor Tesham, a Conservative member of Parliament, who concocts a kinky present for his married mistress--a mock kidnapping that results in a mixup of identities and murder. While nothing links the MP to the crime, the elitist Tesham, with his callous attitude toward people and public service alike, realizes justice may eventually catch up with him. Vine knows 'how we walk all the time on that thin crust that covers terrible abysses.' The consequences for the innocent victims of Tesham's recklessness provide the book's deep and genuine pathos. Full of psychological insight, this is an absolute must for Vine/Rendell enthusiasts--and those who have yet to encounter her genius."--Publisher's Weekly
"The Long Fall" by Walter Mosley - "Mosley leaves behind the Los Angeles setting of his Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones series (Devil in a Blue Dress, etc.) to introduce Leonid McGill, a New York City private detective, who promises to be as complex and rewarding a character as Mosley's ever produced. McGill, a 53-year old former boxer who's still a fighter, finds out that putting his past life behind him isn't easy when someone like Tony 'The Suit' Towers expects you to do a job; when an Albany PI hires you to track down four men know only by their youthful street names; and when your 16-year-old son, Twill, is getting in over his head with a suicidal girl. McGill shares Easy's knack for earning powerful friends by performing favors and some of the toughness of Fearless, but he's got his own dark secrets and hard-won philosophy. New York's racial stew is different that Los Angeles's, and Mosley stirs the pot and concocts a perfect milieu for an engaging new hero and an entertaining new series"--Publisher's Weekly
ADULT NON-FICTION
"America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story" by Bruce Feiler - "To Feiler, one figure above all others symbolizes America--not a politician or a war hero but Moses. Feiler persuasively and entertainingly chronicles how Moses as action hero, Moses as role model has affected virtually every level of American society.--Feiler confidently concludes that the major themes of Moses' story continue to shape America and affect the lives of countless Americans, such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Facsinating and thought provoking."--June Sawyers, Publisher's Weekly
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
"Dinosaurs in Your Backyard" by Hugh Brewster - "Gr. 3-5 This informative book..transports readers back to a time when North America was defined by substantially different coastlines and divided by a broad inland seaway. Introducing some of the dinosaurs living there, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Diplodocus, and Broachiosaurus, the books uses double-page spreads that typically describe one animal in a paragraph of descriptive or dramatic text as well as a section of fast facts relating its size, weight, era, diet and range. Large, painterly illustrations set the tone, supported by smaller maps and photos of fossils. The occasional dramatic tooth-and-claw scene is more than balanced by the weight of accessible, interesting information provided in the illustrations as well as the text. A time line, a pronunciation guide, bibliographies, and a list of dinosaur exhibits in the U.S. and Canada conclude this colorful introduction to North American dinosaurs." Carolyn Phelan
"Dinosaur's in Action" by Matthews Rupert - "Gr 3-6 - Heavily illustrated, with emphasis on teeth, horns and color patterns, the book has immediate eye-appeal.The realistic, colorful pictures are accompanied by dig-site maps, comparative-sized diagrams, 'Wow!' boxes, and photos of existing fossils. The simple texts are arranged on topic spreads that open with a sentence or two in dark type, followed by up to three paragraphs each consisting of a few brief sentences. Each title contains a 'Dino Guide' table that lists creatures by period, providing pronunciation guidance and length, weight and diet information for the dinosaurs mentioned in the text...Reluctant readers will enjoy this offering."--Patrician Manning, School Library Journal
"The Pebble First Guide to Rocks and Minerals" by Zachary Pitts - "K-Gr 1...This compact and attractive introductory guide presents information through charts, maps and detailed and colorful photographs, with each spread devoted to one subject--one type of rock, for example. There are no full sentences here; just brief lists of 'fact bytes' to whet young readers' appetites. As acknowledged in an opening note to parents and teachers, early readers may need help with some words and in using the table of contents and back matter."--Amy Rowland, School Library Journal
"Pirate Latitude: A Novel" by Michael Crichton - From one of the best-loved authors of all times comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal" - inside front cover
"Wrecker" by Clive Cussler - "Cussler, known primarily for his contemporary high-tech thrillers, steps back in time--more than a century, in fact--in this rousing sequel to the The Chase (2007). Van Dorn Detective Agency operative Isaac Bell returns, this time to track down a clever saboteur who's been dubbed the Wrecker. Seems the Wrecker has it in for the Southern Pacific Company, and he will stop at nothing, including murder, to keep the company from putting through a new railway line between San Francisco and northern California. Isaac is a sharply drawn series lead, and the story, as befits a railroad-themed thriller, moves at a brisk clip. In addition, there's a very nice surprise in the final scenes. Readers who have sensed a certain been-there-done-that feeling in some of Cussler's recent novels will be pleased to find a new spark here. More Isaac Bell novels would be most welcome."--David Pitt, Booklist
"The Given Day" by Dennis Lahane - "In a splendid flowering of the talent previously demonstrated in his crime fiction (Gone, Baby, Gone: Mystic River), Lehane combines 20th-century American history, a gripping story of a family torn by pride and the strictures of the Catholic Church, and the plot of a multifaceted thriller. Set in Boston during and after WWI, this engrossing epic brings alive a pivotal period in our cultural maturation through a pulsing narrative that exposes social turmoil, political chicanery and racial prejudice, and encompasses the Spanish flu pandemic--This story of fathers and sons, love and betrayal, idealism and injustice, prejudice and brotherly feeling is a dark vision of the brutality inherent in human nature and the dire fate of some who try to live by ethical standards. It's also a vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit. In short, this nail-biter carries moral gravity." -- Publisher's Weekly
MYSTERY
"The Birthday Present: A Novel" by Barbara Vine - "British master Vine (the pen name of Ruth Rendell), a life Labor peer who used her knowledge of politics in 2002's The Blood Doctor to explore the personal rather than the political ramifications of power, does both in this intricate novel, which charts the wreckage caused by Ivor Tesham, a Conservative member of Parliament, who concocts a kinky present for his married mistress--a mock kidnapping that results in a mixup of identities and murder. While nothing links the MP to the crime, the elitist Tesham, with his callous attitude toward people and public service alike, realizes justice may eventually catch up with him. Vine knows 'how we walk all the time on that thin crust that covers terrible abysses.' The consequences for the innocent victims of Tesham's recklessness provide the book's deep and genuine pathos. Full of psychological insight, this is an absolute must for Vine/Rendell enthusiasts--and those who have yet to encounter her genius."--Publisher's Weekly
"The Long Fall" by Walter Mosley - "Mosley leaves behind the Los Angeles setting of his Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones series (Devil in a Blue Dress, etc.) to introduce Leonid McGill, a New York City private detective, who promises to be as complex and rewarding a character as Mosley's ever produced. McGill, a 53-year old former boxer who's still a fighter, finds out that putting his past life behind him isn't easy when someone like Tony 'The Suit' Towers expects you to do a job; when an Albany PI hires you to track down four men know only by their youthful street names; and when your 16-year-old son, Twill, is getting in over his head with a suicidal girl. McGill shares Easy's knack for earning powerful friends by performing favors and some of the toughness of Fearless, but he's got his own dark secrets and hard-won philosophy. New York's racial stew is different that Los Angeles's, and Mosley stirs the pot and concocts a perfect milieu for an engaging new hero and an entertaining new series"--Publisher's Weekly
ADULT NON-FICTION
"America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story" by Bruce Feiler - "To Feiler, one figure above all others symbolizes America--not a politician or a war hero but Moses. Feiler persuasively and entertainingly chronicles how Moses as action hero, Moses as role model has affected virtually every level of American society.--Feiler confidently concludes that the major themes of Moses' story continue to shape America and affect the lives of countless Americans, such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Facsinating and thought provoking."--June Sawyers, Publisher's Weekly
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
"Dinosaurs in Your Backyard" by Hugh Brewster - "Gr. 3-5 This informative book..transports readers back to a time when North America was defined by substantially different coastlines and divided by a broad inland seaway. Introducing some of the dinosaurs living there, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Diplodocus, and Broachiosaurus, the books uses double-page spreads that typically describe one animal in a paragraph of descriptive or dramatic text as well as a section of fast facts relating its size, weight, era, diet and range. Large, painterly illustrations set the tone, supported by smaller maps and photos of fossils. The occasional dramatic tooth-and-claw scene is more than balanced by the weight of accessible, interesting information provided in the illustrations as well as the text. A time line, a pronunciation guide, bibliographies, and a list of dinosaur exhibits in the U.S. and Canada conclude this colorful introduction to North American dinosaurs." Carolyn Phelan
"Dinosaur's in Action" by Matthews Rupert - "Gr 3-6 - Heavily illustrated, with emphasis on teeth, horns and color patterns, the book has immediate eye-appeal.The realistic, colorful pictures are accompanied by dig-site maps, comparative-sized diagrams, 'Wow!' boxes, and photos of existing fossils. The simple texts are arranged on topic spreads that open with a sentence or two in dark type, followed by up to three paragraphs each consisting of a few brief sentences. Each title contains a 'Dino Guide' table that lists creatures by period, providing pronunciation guidance and length, weight and diet information for the dinosaurs mentioned in the text...Reluctant readers will enjoy this offering."--Patrician Manning, School Library Journal
"The Pebble First Guide to Rocks and Minerals" by Zachary Pitts - "K-Gr 1...This compact and attractive introductory guide presents information through charts, maps and detailed and colorful photographs, with each spread devoted to one subject--one type of rock, for example. There are no full sentences here; just brief lists of 'fact bytes' to whet young readers' appetites. As acknowledged in an opening note to parents and teachers, early readers may need help with some words and in using the table of contents and back matter."--Amy Rowland, School Library Journal
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
New Arrivals - December 21 2009
ADULT FICTION
"Last Night in Twisted River" by John Irving - "In a story spanning five decades, "Last Night in Twisted River" depicts the recent half-century in the United States as "a replica of Coos County, where lethal hatreds were generally permitted to run their course." From the novel's taut opening sentence to its elegiac final chapter, "Last Night in Twisted River" is written with the historical authenticity and emotional authority of "The Cider House Rules" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany." - back cover
"U is for Undertow" by Sue Grafton - "..Set in the 1980s, when old-fashioned footwork, telephones, and typewriters still ruled the lives of PIs, this entry picks up the character as she investigates a kidnapping and presumed death of a child, brought to her attention by a young man two decades after the fact. Although Michael Sutton is an unreliable narrator, and the only fact that's provable now is the child's disappearance, Kinsey's stubborn curiosity keeps her on the case. Then Michael turns up dead, and some weird coincidences begin to make sense. Grafton uses her characters' childhood memories (including Kinsey's own) to lead the reader smoothly across the years, at the same time exploring how long-held feelings of resentment, self-hatred, and fear add up to murder, both in the past and the present. Worth the wait for Grafton fans; Margaret Maron devotees will like this one, too."--Stephanie Zvirin, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"The Vintage Caper" by Peter Mayle - "Never was a novel more aptly titled than this latest effort by Englishman Mayle...The vintage part of this title refers to rare and expensive wine. The caper part adds the element of stolen rare and expensive wine. Danny Roth is a Hollywood lawyer whose wine collection is his pride and joy. One day a major portion of that collection turns up missing, and his insurance company--before handing over the $3 million Roth feels the bottles are worth--hires an investigator to look into the matter. The California setting soon gives way to Mayle's trademark south of France, and the trail to resolving the case provides a richly atmospheric ride for the reader. Mayle delivers what is almost a French version of Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels: good, clean writing; a sophisticated and mouthwatering use of food and wine as the story's upholstery; and a quick yet captivating plot, well sprinkled with humor. This novel is a special invitation for newbies to begin appreciating Mayle's talent as a writer."--Brad Hooper, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
BIOGRAPHY
"Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home" by Rhoda Janzen - "Janzen was raised in a strict Mennonite society, and while she upheld the values as a child and maintained her faith even as an adult, she couldn't help but rebel. However, after marrying an emotionally abusive atheist who leaves her for a man he met on Gay.com, and then barely surviving a terrible car accident, Janzen finds herself back home reliving her Mennonite childhood as an adult. In her compelling memoir, Janzen explores her past and her present with honesty and self- deprecation, and the result is both hilarious and touching. She delves into her relationships with her mother, sister, and ex-husband without holding back, and she explores some of the Mennonite traditions that helped shape her life. No prior knowledge of Mennonite culture is necessary for enjoying and learning from this lively chronicle of the patience and strong sense of humor one needs to go home again."--Claire Orphan, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army" by David Cloud and Greg Jaffe - "Two seasoned defense journalists impressively profile four generals who have earned the fourth star..in Iraq. John Abrazaid possesses insight afforded by family ties to the Middle East. George Casey's father was a general killed in Vietnam, and he is filled with the determination not to let Iraq collapse as Vietnam did. Peter Chiarelli may remind some of George Patton, but he pushes himself as well as his men and his superiors to the limit. David Petraeus, the best known of the four, simply pushes the rethinking of methods wherever he finds that it isn't being done. The careers of the four suggest that the modern army is far more capable of rewarding innovation than it was in the Vietnam era, which is good news for national security. The book also deals a blow to any monolithic conception of the 'military mind,' a balloon that cannot be deflated too often."--Roland Green, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Going Rogue: An American Way of Life" by Sarah Palin - "No good deed goes unpunished. Just ask Steve Schmidt, John McCain's campaign manager and the guy who pushed Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate. Now, in Palin's much-hyped book, he's just a fat, smoking bullet- head who told her to 'stick to the script.' The feeling running through Going Rogue is that Palin has been bursting to take a whack at those she believes didn't do right by her during the campaign...Before readers get to that, however, there's personal biography. We're introduced to Sarah the reader--loved to read- -the basketball player, hunter, wife, mother. Then lots and lots of Alaska politics..Once Palin gets into the 2008 campaign, the tone is folksy, but the knives are out. Much has been made of her criticisms of Schmidt and another McCain staffer, Nicolle Wallace. But less has been said about Palin's comments about Barack Obama. For instance, she notes that when she and husband Todd first heard Obama speak, they saw the wow factor but worried that his 'smooth' talk would hide his radical ideas. She also implies that Obama wanted to shield only his own children from the press, though, in fact, in September 2008, he told CNN that Palin's children must be off limits as well. Ronald Reagan's name is mentioned by page 3 and invoked regularly throughout. There's no doubt Palin sees herself as heir to his legacy. But many readers will see the Sarah Palin revealed in these pages as much closer to George Bush, someone you'd like to have a beer with. Or perhaps dinner: 'I always remind people from outside our state that there's plenty of room for all Alaska's animals--right next to the mashed potatoes."-- Ilene Cooper, Online Review. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
NON-FICTION
"Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves" by Andrew Ross Sorkin - This blow-by-blow narrative centers on the near implosion of Wall Street in September 2008. Sorkin, ...concentrates his story on Lehman Brothers, AIG, and Merrill Lynch. With these and other financial firms at risk, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, other government officials, and hundreds of bankers scrambled to avoid what they thought could be financial Armageddon...Sorkin constructs a detailed account of the meetings, phone calls, and even the thoughts of the participants, depicting scenes of bankers and government officials under extreme stress as Lehman went bankrupt, Merrill merged with Bank of America, and AIG became essentially a ward of the government. Sorkin's analysis ends with Paulson's forcing Troubled Asset Relief Program funds on the nine largest banks in October 2008...The level of detail and the multiple typos in the published edition will test many readers' patience. General readers may not find this the introduction and explanation that they were looking for, but Sorkin's historical account of this critical time is highly recommended for motivated readers already in the know. “- Lawrence Maxted, LJ Express Online Review. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.
JUVENILE FICTION
"Closed for the Season" by Mary Downing Hahn - "Gr 5-8--Another well-done, action-packed mystery from Hahn."--Terrie Dorio, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.
"Raiders' Ransom" by Emily Diamand - "Gr. 4-8 Much of twenty-second-century England has been flooded by the sea and is in danger of attacks by piratical Raiders. Lilly Melkun lives in the Last Ten Counties of England and is the last in a line of fishermen trying to get by when her village is attacked by Raiders, and the prime minister's daughter is kidnapped. Hoping to spare her village from the prime minister's retribution, Lilly steals a mysterious jewel and sets off in her boat in a daring attempt to free the young child. She inadvertently makes friends with the Chief Raider's son, Zeph, and the two try to unravel the plot behind the kidnapping and the scheme to find the jewel that Lilly wields. Diamand, winner of the first London Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition, tells her tale in alternating perspectives and delivers a fast-paced adventure with something for everyone. Pirates, fishing, and life on the seas give the novel a historical bent, while talking computers disguised inside jewels show readers a future world where technology and infrastructure have collapsed."--Shauna Yusko, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume - "For anyone who has ever been 'burdened' by pesky younger brother, there's fast and funny reading in store." --Children's Digest
"Zoobreak" by Gordon Korman - Gr. 4-7 'The Man with the Plan' Griffin, animal expert Savannah and her Great Dane Luthor, and Everykid Ben join forces to solve a mystery. This time, they're out to rescue Savannah's pet monkey Cleo from an unethical zoo owner. When Cleo disappears from Savannah's backyard and is later spotted on a school field trip to a decrepit floating zoo, madcap plans and adventures ensue: getting to and from the zoo in the middle of the night; distracting Klaus, the overzealous security guard; springing Cleo from her cage; and ultimately stashing more than 40 freed zoo animals in classmates' houses without any parents noticing. Although often implausible, the action is fast and entertaining, with just the right amount of realistic drama to ring true. Korman knows his audience well, and readers will clamor for a third installment featuring these intrepid young crime solvers. Diane Foote, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Shadow of the Leopard" by Henning Mankell - Gr. 10-12 Mankell, the acclaimed mystery writer for both youth and adults, once again draws on true events in Mozambique in this haunting, contemporary story of violence and courage...Mankell writes without sentimentality in a clear, matter-of-fact style, and it is the frank, vivid details of Sofia's struggle that will stay with readers ...the drama of betrayal is riveting and will draw many of Mankell's high- school and adult fans. Hazel Rochman, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Return to the Hundred Acre Wood" by David Benedictus - Gr. 2-4. It's been 80 years since A. A. Milne hinted that Christopher Robin had to grow up and leave the Hundred Acre Wood, but Benedictus does away with the decades with a nifty bit of magic: 'Let's call it eighty seconds,' says Pooh in an introduction, 'and then it'll be as though no time has passed at all.' Indeed, readers moving on from The House at Pooh Corner (1928) will not notice the interruption. That said, Christopher Robin is not exactly the same. He's 'quite tall these days,' and goes on about boarding school and playing cricket. The woods are a place, it seems, that he needs less now than in the past--but that doesn't diminish the imaginary three months he spends adventuring with his kindhearted but daft friends (including new addition Lottie, an egotistical otter). Ten chapters, copiously illustrated by Burgess in the miniature manner of Ernest H. Shepard, detail unthreatening events ranging from spelling bees to tea parties. Though the tales can underwhelm when isolated (aside from the near-perfect chapter in which Tigger fantasizes about Africa), the cumulative effect is a warm jumble of happy memories. It's both surprising and comforting that tales of such soft tenderness are still relevant. -- Daniel Kraus, Online Review. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
EASY READERS
"Froggy Plays T-Ball" by Jonathan London
"Grumpy Bird" by Jeremy Tankard
"This is Olivia"
"I Heard a Little Baa" by Elizabeth MacLeod
AUDIO BOOKS
"Rough Country" by John Sanford - Investigating the shooting murder of a kayaker at a women-only Minnesota resort, investigator Virgil Flowers finds more suspects than anticipated including the victim's fellow patrons and a talented local country singer, a case that is further complicated by the discovery of other murders. Read by Eric Conger. Simultaneous. --Baker and Taylor
"Last Night in Twisted River" by John Irving - "In a story spanning five decades, "Last Night in Twisted River" depicts the recent half-century in the United States as "a replica of Coos County, where lethal hatreds were generally permitted to run their course." From the novel's taut opening sentence to its elegiac final chapter, "Last Night in Twisted River" is written with the historical authenticity and emotional authority of "The Cider House Rules" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany." - back cover
"U is for Undertow" by Sue Grafton - "..Set in the 1980s, when old-fashioned footwork, telephones, and typewriters still ruled the lives of PIs, this entry picks up the character as she investigates a kidnapping and presumed death of a child, brought to her attention by a young man two decades after the fact. Although Michael Sutton is an unreliable narrator, and the only fact that's provable now is the child's disappearance, Kinsey's stubborn curiosity keeps her on the case. Then Michael turns up dead, and some weird coincidences begin to make sense. Grafton uses her characters' childhood memories (including Kinsey's own) to lead the reader smoothly across the years, at the same time exploring how long-held feelings of resentment, self-hatred, and fear add up to murder, both in the past and the present. Worth the wait for Grafton fans; Margaret Maron devotees will like this one, too."--Stephanie Zvirin, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"The Vintage Caper" by Peter Mayle - "Never was a novel more aptly titled than this latest effort by Englishman Mayle...The vintage part of this title refers to rare and expensive wine. The caper part adds the element of stolen rare and expensive wine. Danny Roth is a Hollywood lawyer whose wine collection is his pride and joy. One day a major portion of that collection turns up missing, and his insurance company--before handing over the $3 million Roth feels the bottles are worth--hires an investigator to look into the matter. The California setting soon gives way to Mayle's trademark south of France, and the trail to resolving the case provides a richly atmospheric ride for the reader. Mayle delivers what is almost a French version of Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels: good, clean writing; a sophisticated and mouthwatering use of food and wine as the story's upholstery; and a quick yet captivating plot, well sprinkled with humor. This novel is a special invitation for newbies to begin appreciating Mayle's talent as a writer."--Brad Hooper, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
BIOGRAPHY
"Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home" by Rhoda Janzen - "Janzen was raised in a strict Mennonite society, and while she upheld the values as a child and maintained her faith even as an adult, she couldn't help but rebel. However, after marrying an emotionally abusive atheist who leaves her for a man he met on Gay.com, and then barely surviving a terrible car accident, Janzen finds herself back home reliving her Mennonite childhood as an adult. In her compelling memoir, Janzen explores her past and her present with honesty and self- deprecation, and the result is both hilarious and touching. She delves into her relationships with her mother, sister, and ex-husband without holding back, and she explores some of the Mennonite traditions that helped shape her life. No prior knowledge of Mennonite culture is necessary for enjoying and learning from this lively chronicle of the patience and strong sense of humor one needs to go home again."--Claire Orphan, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army" by David Cloud and Greg Jaffe - "Two seasoned defense journalists impressively profile four generals who have earned the fourth star..in Iraq. John Abrazaid possesses insight afforded by family ties to the Middle East. George Casey's father was a general killed in Vietnam, and he is filled with the determination not to let Iraq collapse as Vietnam did. Peter Chiarelli may remind some of George Patton, but he pushes himself as well as his men and his superiors to the limit. David Petraeus, the best known of the four, simply pushes the rethinking of methods wherever he finds that it isn't being done. The careers of the four suggest that the modern army is far more capable of rewarding innovation than it was in the Vietnam era, which is good news for national security. The book also deals a blow to any monolithic conception of the 'military mind,' a balloon that cannot be deflated too often."--Roland Green, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Going Rogue: An American Way of Life" by Sarah Palin - "No good deed goes unpunished. Just ask Steve Schmidt, John McCain's campaign manager and the guy who pushed Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate. Now, in Palin's much-hyped book, he's just a fat, smoking bullet- head who told her to 'stick to the script.' The feeling running through Going Rogue is that Palin has been bursting to take a whack at those she believes didn't do right by her during the campaign...Before readers get to that, however, there's personal biography. We're introduced to Sarah the reader--loved to read- -the basketball player, hunter, wife, mother. Then lots and lots of Alaska politics..Once Palin gets into the 2008 campaign, the tone is folksy, but the knives are out. Much has been made of her criticisms of Schmidt and another McCain staffer, Nicolle Wallace. But less has been said about Palin's comments about Barack Obama. For instance, she notes that when she and husband Todd first heard Obama speak, they saw the wow factor but worried that his 'smooth' talk would hide his radical ideas. She also implies that Obama wanted to shield only his own children from the press, though, in fact, in September 2008, he told CNN that Palin's children must be off limits as well. Ronald Reagan's name is mentioned by page 3 and invoked regularly throughout. There's no doubt Palin sees herself as heir to his legacy. But many readers will see the Sarah Palin revealed in these pages as much closer to George Bush, someone you'd like to have a beer with. Or perhaps dinner: 'I always remind people from outside our state that there's plenty of room for all Alaska's animals--right next to the mashed potatoes."-- Ilene Cooper, Online Review. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
NON-FICTION
"Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves" by Andrew Ross Sorkin - This blow-by-blow narrative centers on the near implosion of Wall Street in September 2008. Sorkin, ...concentrates his story on Lehman Brothers, AIG, and Merrill Lynch. With these and other financial firms at risk, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, other government officials, and hundreds of bankers scrambled to avoid what they thought could be financial Armageddon...Sorkin constructs a detailed account of the meetings, phone calls, and even the thoughts of the participants, depicting scenes of bankers and government officials under extreme stress as Lehman went bankrupt, Merrill merged with Bank of America, and AIG became essentially a ward of the government. Sorkin's analysis ends with Paulson's forcing Troubled Asset Relief Program funds on the nine largest banks in October 2008...The level of detail and the multiple typos in the published edition will test many readers' patience. General readers may not find this the introduction and explanation that they were looking for, but Sorkin's historical account of this critical time is highly recommended for motivated readers already in the know. “- Lawrence Maxted, LJ Express Online Review. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.
JUVENILE FICTION
"Closed for the Season" by Mary Downing Hahn - "Gr 5-8--Another well-done, action-packed mystery from Hahn."--Terrie Dorio, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.
"Raiders' Ransom" by Emily Diamand - "Gr. 4-8 Much of twenty-second-century England has been flooded by the sea and is in danger of attacks by piratical Raiders. Lilly Melkun lives in the Last Ten Counties of England and is the last in a line of fishermen trying to get by when her village is attacked by Raiders, and the prime minister's daughter is kidnapped. Hoping to spare her village from the prime minister's retribution, Lilly steals a mysterious jewel and sets off in her boat in a daring attempt to free the young child. She inadvertently makes friends with the Chief Raider's son, Zeph, and the two try to unravel the plot behind the kidnapping and the scheme to find the jewel that Lilly wields. Diamand, winner of the first London Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition, tells her tale in alternating perspectives and delivers a fast-paced adventure with something for everyone. Pirates, fishing, and life on the seas give the novel a historical bent, while talking computers disguised inside jewels show readers a future world where technology and infrastructure have collapsed."--Shauna Yusko, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume - "For anyone who has ever been 'burdened' by pesky younger brother, there's fast and funny reading in store." --Children's Digest
"Zoobreak" by Gordon Korman - Gr. 4-7 'The Man with the Plan' Griffin, animal expert Savannah and her Great Dane Luthor, and Everykid Ben join forces to solve a mystery. This time, they're out to rescue Savannah's pet monkey Cleo from an unethical zoo owner. When Cleo disappears from Savannah's backyard and is later spotted on a school field trip to a decrepit floating zoo, madcap plans and adventures ensue: getting to and from the zoo in the middle of the night; distracting Klaus, the overzealous security guard; springing Cleo from her cage; and ultimately stashing more than 40 freed zoo animals in classmates' houses without any parents noticing. Although often implausible, the action is fast and entertaining, with just the right amount of realistic drama to ring true. Korman knows his audience well, and readers will clamor for a third installment featuring these intrepid young crime solvers. Diane Foote, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Shadow of the Leopard" by Henning Mankell - Gr. 10-12 Mankell, the acclaimed mystery writer for both youth and adults, once again draws on true events in Mozambique in this haunting, contemporary story of violence and courage...Mankell writes without sentimentality in a clear, matter-of-fact style, and it is the frank, vivid details of Sofia's struggle that will stay with readers ...the drama of betrayal is riveting and will draw many of Mankell's high- school and adult fans. Hazel Rochman, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
"Return to the Hundred Acre Wood" by David Benedictus - Gr. 2-4. It's been 80 years since A. A. Milne hinted that Christopher Robin had to grow up and leave the Hundred Acre Wood, but Benedictus does away with the decades with a nifty bit of magic: 'Let's call it eighty seconds,' says Pooh in an introduction, 'and then it'll be as though no time has passed at all.' Indeed, readers moving on from The House at Pooh Corner (1928) will not notice the interruption. That said, Christopher Robin is not exactly the same. He's 'quite tall these days,' and goes on about boarding school and playing cricket. The woods are a place, it seems, that he needs less now than in the past--but that doesn't diminish the imaginary three months he spends adventuring with his kindhearted but daft friends (including new addition Lottie, an egotistical otter). Ten chapters, copiously illustrated by Burgess in the miniature manner of Ernest H. Shepard, detail unthreatening events ranging from spelling bees to tea parties. Though the tales can underwhelm when isolated (aside from the near-perfect chapter in which Tigger fantasizes about Africa), the cumulative effect is a warm jumble of happy memories. It's both surprising and comforting that tales of such soft tenderness are still relevant. -- Daniel Kraus, Online Review. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.
EASY READERS
"Froggy Plays T-Ball" by Jonathan London
"Grumpy Bird" by Jeremy Tankard
"This is Olivia"
"I Heard a Little Baa" by Elizabeth MacLeod
AUDIO BOOKS
"Rough Country" by John Sanford - Investigating the shooting murder of a kayaker at a women-only Minnesota resort, investigator Virgil Flowers finds more suspects than anticipated including the victim's fellow patrons and a talented local country singer, a case that is further complicated by the discovery of other murders. Read by Eric Conger. Simultaneous. --Baker and Taylor
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