2007

Reviewer: Pat, library staff
Book: By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie
Category: Fiction/Mystery
Christie's husband and wife detective duo, Tommy and Tuppence is once again in action, but they are now in their sixties and not so spry as they used to be. Tommy Aunt Ada's has passed on at at nursing home and there is a mystery about one of the residents, Mrs. Lancaster, who is suddenly taken away. It all centers around a landscape painting that reminds Tuppence of something she has seen and she believes that Mrs. Lancaster may be in danger. Tommy is off at a conference and Tuppence decides to find the place she remembers and try to find Mrs. Lancaster at the same time. Tuppence finds an old mystery and family secrets that people are trying to keep as secrets. Its a wonderful confection of tension, action and confusing clues, what Agatha Christie is best at. This book will keep you on your toes to the very last page. It was wonderful!
Highly recommended for mystery lovers.
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Reviewer: Pat, library staff
Book: Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross
Category: Fiction
This is the 8th book in the Miss Julia series and once again Miss Julia gets herself embroiled in a heck of a predicament. This time she's out to get back her stolen jewelry, even if it means driving down to Florida and sobering up a pie-eyed P.I., Mr. Tuttle - a friend of her favorite local P.I. Her husband Sam and friend Hazel Marie are vacationing in foreign lands and there is no one to stop her, though her housekeeper Lillian tries real hard. Etta May Wiggins provides the common sense and anchoring that Miss Julia so often needs before she takes off on her hair-brained schemes. Once again Miss Julia provides lots of action, incredible situations and humor to keep you shaking your head in wonder and smiling all day.
Highly recommended for people who like funny, wacky and unbelievable stories.
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Fall 2006

Reviewer: Rosa Margarita, library staff
Book: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
Category: Non-Fiction, Biography, Adventure
Call no: 371.822 M
This is a story about someone doing good. Greg Mortenson comes from a long line of do-gooders. He was recovering in a small village in the HImalyas after attempting to climb K-2. Greg decided that he would help the villagers who had helped him, and did so by promising to build them a school. This started him on a longterm program where he tried to raise money to help this village and many others in Pakistan and Afghanistan to build schools. He slept for a year in his car so that he could save the money he was raising. Greg writes about the people he met, how little they and yet are happy. It was wonderful to see someone accomplish so much with so little support or means.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: J.N.
Book: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Category: Fiction
Its on the edge. Fast-paced, well written.The lawyer is sleazy, but it is interesting to watch as he develops his strategies for all the cases he is involved in, including the main action.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lynn, library staff
Book: My Life in France by Julia Child & Alex Prud'Homme
It was a beautiful book and I did not want it to end. They don't make women like that anymore. Ahw loved life. Julia couldn't even boil an egg when she started out. You experience Paris through this book, as if you were living in it. Julia describes life in Paris so well and she has an excellent sense of humor. If you love food and like France - this is a very enjoyable, easy read.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Cynthia
Book: Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Category: Fiction
Its real southern and the characters are endearing. Its real cute & lots of fun. Even shed a tear at the end. Will buy it as a present for my mother.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Elaine, library staff
Book: Three Junes by Julia Glass
Category: Fiction
Brought me a better understanding of what it means to be gay. An English family of a father and three brothers. The oldest brother is gay and part of the books shows the world through his eyes. Shows how he deals with sex and partners, and the death of friends from AIDS. The family comes to acceptance of him and he comes to self acceptance. There are some hilarious moments, as well as poignancy. The book also has sections on the father after the death of his life and a woman he has met. The main part of the book is about the son. Also loved Ms. Glass' other book The Whole World Over.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Pat, library staff
Book: At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (first book of Mitford series)
Category: Fiction
Father Tim has been the rector for decades in the small town of Mitford, N.C. He feels lonely and his faith being tested. Suddenly his life is full - with a very large stray dog that literally bowls him over with his love, a stray boy who both wants to be wanted & feels it necessary to push people away, and then finding out that he can still find love late in life. It is heartwarming, endearing and loads of fun, with wonderful small town characters.
Highly recommended for people who enjoy stories about small town life.
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Reviewer: Elaine, library staff
Book: The Birthdays by Heidi Pitlor
Category: Fiction
A family celebrates the father's 75th birthday and the book looks over the lives of his three children. They seem to be a typical happy family, but there are unexpected underlying themes. Realistic portrayal of everyday people. Poignant, not typical Hollywood.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Gerri.
Book: Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
Category: Non-Fiction, Biography
A woman, a former professor at a Tehran university, invites her "open-minded" students to discuss Western literature in her home. The books talks about the women's lives, how constricted they are; how difficult it is for them to even walk alone through the streets. The book shows how the women really live under constant harassment. It would be a good book to send down to D.C. to show them the real world.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Connie, library staff
Book: Digging to America by Anne Tyler
Category: Fiction
This is the most remarkable book I have ever read. The book explains in a wonderful way what it means to be family and to be American.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Thom B.
Book: Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow
Category: Non-Fiction, Biography
Call no: B Rockefeller
Though large, is fast-paced, well-written & fascinating. Chernow says that Rockefeller was every bit bad as he was good. Contrasted the ruthless businessman with the benevolent philantropist.
Highly recommended for biography lovers & those fascinated with the Rockefellers.
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Reviewer: Pat, library staff
Book: Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Category: Non-Fiction, Biography
Call no: B Farmer
This is a wonderfully inspiring book about a doctor, Paul Famer, who has an almost indomitable will and how he dedicates his life to for better health facilities for Haitian poor and the poor worldwide. It is not the usual dry and chronological biography. Mr. Kidder meets with Dr. Farmer at different times in his life and provides back story to their meetings. Suggested to anyone who wants to know there are good and great people out there.
Highly recommeded.
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Reviewer: Elaine, library staff
Book: Taken by Chris Jordan
Category: Fiction.
This is a well-written suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. There is a surprising twist. The mother of the kidnapped adopted son is very believable as a distraught woman who will do anything to get her child back.
Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Thom B.
Book: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War by Nathaniel Philbrick
Category: Non-Fiction, History.
Call no. 973.22 P
Totally different perspective of the Pilgrims' boat passage and settlement in the New World. It is guaranteed to change your outlook on your country, then and now. Shows Pilgrims to be religious extremists. Origins of American slavery. Extremely well researched & written.
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Reviewer: Van, library staff
Book: Terrorist by John Updike
Category: Ficton
This is a fast action suspense focusing on a isolated young man who is drawn deeper & deeper into the Muslim religion and finds himself attracted to terrorism. His mother is Irish-American and his vanished father is Egyptian. The book contains very detailed accounts of Islam. Updike is as good as ever.
Highly recommended.
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