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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Posted by Jane on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 4:29 PM

Title: Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Set just after World War II, writer Julia Ashton receives a letter from a Guernsey resident. This begins an extensive correspondence between Julia and residents of Guernsey and their difficulties during the war when they were occupied by the Germans. We are drawn into their lives through the letters and this is a delightful but serious book. Highly recommended for devotees of 84 Charring Cross Road.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Posted by Jane on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 4:29 PM

Title: Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Due to the death of her Aunt Eva, Towner Whitney returns to the place of her birth in Salem, Mass. Her aunt was a lace reader which means that she could tell fortunes and much is made of the mysticism that still permeates Salem. Towner states at the beginning that she is an unreliable narrator and it is difficult see the lies and deceit until they are revealed in the shocking conclusion.

James K. Polk by John Seigenthaler

Posted by Ray on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM

Title: James K. Polk by John Seigenthaler

Who IS James K. Polk? I had no idea other than he was president and it was during his administration that the Mexican War was fought.

From Tennessee, Mr. Polk idolized President Jackson and was known by many as "Young Hickory." Congressman, Governor, he eventually became president through astute political maneuvers. At the beginning of his term he announced he was NOT seeking re-election, that he would only serve one term. He had four goals to achieve: Take Federal funds out of private hands and put them in the Treasury Department as a sort of Bank; lower to Tariff; obtain Oregon; obtain California for the Union. Amazingly given his lack of political base, he achieved all four goals. Surprisingly when historical are polled for the most effective presidents, he is right near the top with the great ones. Another of the Times Books American Presidents Series, this brief biography (about 160 pages) swiftly presents the like of Polk and is a great window to the politics of the first half of the 19th century.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Posted by Juli on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Title: Story of Edgar Sawtelle by Wroblewski David

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is an absolutely wonderful literary novel. Although it is quite lengthy and moves quite slowly it is one of those books that you want to savor. I didn't want it to end! It is a coming of age story set on a farm in Wisconsin. The central character is a boy who although he can't speak has the ability to communicate by sign language with his dogs. The drama is straight out of Hamlet. The adventure will remind you of The Incredible Journey. In the end you'll know you've read what is destined to be a classic.

Zachary Taylor by John S. D. Eisenhower

Posted by Ray on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:51 PM

Title: Zachary Taylor by John S. D. Eisenhower

Another in the Henry Holt and Company/ Times Books "The American Presidents" series of new, short biographies by distinguished authors, this one retired brigadier general John S. D. Eisenhower, son of the late former president. While not as "delightful" as others in this series, it is very interesting and offers a few little nuggets such as his son-in-law was Jefferson Davis, later to be president of the Confederate States of America and at the funeral of Dolley, Taylor coined the phrase "First Lady", a term used even unto today.

The book offers a 160 page sweep of American history. If it was just on his presidency, it would be 10 pages per month that Taylor spent in office before his untimely death in 1850. As it is, it covers his early years and military career-which includes the Indian Wars and with some interesting detail, the Mexican War during Mr. Polk's administration. As his life unfolds in Mr. Eisenhower's portrayal, we affirm with him that Zachary Taylor was indeed a man of the union in a time of deep and pervasive sectionalism. He yearned to be a president of "the whole people", too, not just a party. In the short time he was in office, he succeed.

Girls Like Us by Sheila Welles

Posted by Jill on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:50 PM

Title: Girls Like Us : Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon - and the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Welles

Girls Like Us : Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon-and the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Welles tells the intertwining life stories of three female pop icons of the 1970s. It is a mixture of nostalgia, feminist history, beautiful music, and juicy gossip about the common factors in these women's lives-namely their ties to certain famous men.

Charlatan by Pope Brock

Posted by Jill on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:50 PM

Title: Charlatan : America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock

Charlatan : America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock is the dual story of an audacious con man who became rich and famous for transplanting goat testicles into impotent men and the crusading editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association who spent over ten years trying to stop him. This nonfiction book reads like a novel with interesting characters and a great storyline that ends with a climactic trial.

Judgment Day by Sheldon Siegel

Posted by Juli on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:48 PM

Title: Judgment Day by Sheldon Siegel

Judgment Day by Sheldon Siegel is the newest addition to the author's long running Mike Daley mystery series. This installment throws the legal team of Fernandez and Daley into the middle of a death row case and a possible police cover-up. If you like legal thrillers, don't miss this series by New Trier graduate and practicing attorney Siegel.

The Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner

Posted by Juli on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:48 PM

Title: Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner

One of the best new thrillers to come around in a long time is The Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner. The plot centers on a forensic psychiatrist in San Francisco and a series of murder-suicides. All of the deceased were prominent and all of them belonged to an organization called the Dirty Secrets Club. This is a must for fans of Lee Child and Harlan Coben. I guarantee you won't be able to put it down.

Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noel

Posted by Librariann on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:47 PM

Title: Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noel

Recommended Grade Level: 8+

During the summer before their sophomore year of HS, two best friends, Sloane and Winter, make a pact. They'll both become popular. Armed with some serious summer weight loss, Sloane accomplishes their goal and is accepted into the folds of the “Pastel Posse” while Winter - product of a smoothie-selling hippie mom - does not. Crushed by her BFF's betrayal, Winter runs off to NYC for a week to visit her dad, an ex one-hit wonder pop star. While in New York, she meets a guy and develops her own style - a totally hip, anti Pastel Posse look. Without Sloane, she settles in with a new group of friends, including new guy, Rey. (Imagine: West Coast Dan Humphrey) To get back at Sloane, she starts an anonymous blog dishing all of her ex BFF's dirty secrets.

Don't be fooled by the pink cover, which makes this book look a lot more fussy and prissy than it is. A touch of Rachel Cohn ("Gingerbread") lurks behind the book's Caboty exterior.

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Posted by Librariann on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:47 PM

Title: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Recommended Grade Level: 7+

18 year old Danielle has been her mother's accomplice for her whole life, moving from town to town and robbing silver from the homes of wealthy people. But one summer in the seaside town of Heaven, Danielle (aka Sydney, aka Rebecca) begins to develop relationships with the wrong people - a charming young cop and the daughter of the family whose house her mom is planning to divest of its flatware. A very readable story that will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen.

Night Road by A.M. Jenkins

Posted by Librariann on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Title: Night Road by A. M. Jenkins

Recommended Grade Level: 8+

Cole is a heme - short for "hemevore." His skin goes from zero to scalding in the sun, he's eternally 18, and his diet is mainly human blood. After years as a bit of a drifter, he's called back to NYC and the Building - the heme's home base. At first, he thinks it has to do with the Tragic Reminder of the Past that lives on the fifth floor, but no - he's been called upon to usher Gordon the Accident (a brand new heme) into the lifestyle. Begrudgingly, Cole accepts this task, and along with Sandor (the comic relief/Gordon's creator), embarks on a strange road trip, feeding and reminiscing. These hemes aren't bad, but they're not sparkly Cullens either. A good read for dudes, horror fans, and people who enjoyed the similarly off-kilter vampire tale "Peeps" by Scott Westerfeld.

Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson

Posted by Librariann on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Title: Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

Recommended Grade Level: 7+

Clio is set to have the perfect summer: she's just landed a job at the art supply store where her crush works and she's determined that this will be the summer that she finally gets kissed. Then her dad wrecks all her plans. Soon, she's adrift on a luxury yacht, sailing around Italy with her dad and her dad's new girlfriend (ick), the girlfriend's daughter (the impossibly cool milkmaid goddess, Elsa) and an irritating Yale-student research assistant. Cut off from email and phone, she's convinced that arty crush Ollie will totally forget about her. Worst of all, her dad won't even tell her what they're doing at sea - and there is definitely something mysterious going on. Of course, action and romantic entanglements ensue. Entertaining summer reading.

Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann

Posted by Jane on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:10 PM

Title: Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann

In a departure from her Ellie Foreman mysteries Hellmann elevates a character from her previous novel to lead the investigation. Georgia Davis having been suspended from the police force is now an independent p.i. She is called upon to find evidence to exonerate an autistic man accused of murdering a high school girl. It turns out that the murder is connected to a hazing incident and the plot escalates from there. Suspenseful and engrossing despite some over the top plot turns, I hope to see Georgia in future novels.

Pershing : a Biography by Jim Lacey

Posted by Ray on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 4:42 PM

Title: Pershing : a Biography by Jim Lacey

Although by the nature of the events, the section detailing Gen. Pershing's movements in World War I are somewhat, well, detailed. However and overall, this books is a wonderful, intelligent, streamlined, story filled with great little stories and insights. Pershing's career covers such varied events of American history as the Indian Wars, the American chase of Poncho Villa into Mexico, the Spanish American War (and his amazing job of post-war pacification in the Phillippines) as well as the efforts in France during the Great War. Lacey shows conclusively Pershing was the right man at the right place at the right time for America. Having toured the Dawes House in Evanston, and learned that Pershing had visited there a number of times, I was pleased to learn how they met in Lincoln, Nebraska, at, of all things, law school. Recommended reading AND it is wonderfully short and lightweight. Fine companion for that plane flight (or at least waiting for it!).