Patrons who join our Summer Reading Club fill out purple "Book Review " slips for each title they read and put them in a box to enter our bi-weekly prize raffle. Here are a few of the books and comments that have been entered so far.
Falls the Shadow by William Lashner, Judy comments, "Lashner, always a good read, funny dialogue." Judy also comments on
Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin, "a very funny spoof!"
Killing Time by Linda Howard, Patti comments, "excellent book. difficult to put down."
Soapsuds by Finola Hughes, Julie comments, "light summer fun."
Ya-Ya's in Bloom by Rebecca Wells, "If you liked Divine Secrets, you will like this."
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks, "great story, well told, good character development and engaging story, and a happy ending!"
Vanishing Act by Jodi Picoult, "after page 25, you will lose sleep until you finish reading. Brave father!!"
Enchanted, Inc., by Shanna Swendson, Julie comments, "wonderfully fun read! Can't wait for the next one..."
This Dame for Hire by Sandra Scoppettone, "fun 40's slang."
And many people are reading and laughing their way through Janet Evanovich's Eleven on Top.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
The New Non-Fiction Book Shelf
I try to look over the new book shelves when I have a chance and think about what I would read if I had more time. Here are a few from the new non-fiction shelf that look good.
American Gothic by Steven Biel is the story behind the famous painting by Grant Wood of the dead-pan farmer couple in which the husband holds a pitchfork. One appealing thing, to me at least, is that the book is only 170 pages and the type face is largish, which makes it that perfect size to read between books that take a larger time-commitment. According to the book jacket, 'American Gothic' "painted by a self-proclaimed "bohemian" ... the image was first seen as a critique of Midwestern Puritanism and what H. L. Mencken called "the booboisie." It has been taken seriously as a symbol of strong American values and taken as a parody, and always played an important part in our national identity in some way or another.
The next two books that caught my eye are A Hundred and One Days: a Baghdad Journal by Asne Seierstad (The Bookseller of Kabul) and The 8:55 to Baghdad, from London to Iraq on the Trail of Agatha Christie by Andrew Eames. The first book covers the time just before and during the initial stages of the U.S. invasion of Iraq from this journalist's point of view. Eames' book is more of a history of Iraq and a travelog.
Finally, two books with a European slant. Death and the Sun, a Matador's Season in the Heart of Spain by Edward Levine follows one matador and in doing so tries to show how bullfighting is part of Spanish culture and why. Between Salt Water and Holy Water, a History of Southern Italy by Tommaso Astarita is a history of Italy from Naples to Sicily. Quoting the book jacket (and my grandfather!) one has to "see Naples, and then die." I never totally understood that vow as a child; perhaps this book will illuminate that part of Italy known to so many Italian Americans.
Anne
American Gothic by Steven Biel is the story behind the famous painting by Grant Wood of the dead-pan farmer couple in which the husband holds a pitchfork. One appealing thing, to me at least, is that the book is only 170 pages and the type face is largish, which makes it that perfect size to read between books that take a larger time-commitment. According to the book jacket, 'American Gothic' "painted by a self-proclaimed "bohemian" ... the image was first seen as a critique of Midwestern Puritanism and what H. L. Mencken called "the booboisie." It has been taken seriously as a symbol of strong American values and taken as a parody, and always played an important part in our national identity in some way or another.
The next two books that caught my eye are A Hundred and One Days: a Baghdad Journal by Asne Seierstad (The Bookseller of Kabul) and The 8:55 to Baghdad, from London to Iraq on the Trail of Agatha Christie by Andrew Eames. The first book covers the time just before and during the initial stages of the U.S. invasion of Iraq from this journalist's point of view. Eames' book is more of a history of Iraq and a travelog.
Finally, two books with a European slant. Death and the Sun, a Matador's Season in the Heart of Spain by Edward Levine follows one matador and in doing so tries to show how bullfighting is part of Spanish culture and why. Between Salt Water and Holy Water, a History of Southern Italy by Tommaso Astarita is a history of Italy from Naples to Sicily. Quoting the book jacket (and my grandfather!) one has to "see Naples, and then die." I never totally understood that vow as a child; perhaps this book will illuminate that part of Italy known to so many Italian Americans.
Anne
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