River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler
Non-Fiction
Lively account of a Peace Corps volunteer's two years in Fuling, a town on the Yangtze River. Fascinating look at the lives and dreams of the Fuling people and interesting insight into the Chinese culture.
Submitted by Ed
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox
Non-Fiction
I stopped complaining about cold lake water after reading this rousing adventure of a champion ocean swimmer who swims across the Bering Strait, the Cape of Good Hope, and in Antarctica. Interesting insights into the emotional and physiological aspects of endurance.
Submitted by Ed
Non-Fiction
I stopped complaining about cold lake water after reading this rousing adventure of a champion ocean swimmer who swims across the Bering Strait, the Cape of Good Hope, and in Antarctica. Interesting insights into the emotional and physiological aspects of endurance.
Submitted by Ed
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Any mystery by Diana Mott Davidson
Mystery
This is a fun series of light mystery stories featuring caterer Goldie Schultz (her motto: Where everything is just right!), set high in the Colorado Rockies. Murder, tasty recipes and interesting characters make these books a quick, light read.
Submitted by Foodie
Mystery
This is a fun series of light mystery stories featuring caterer Goldie Schultz (her motto: Where everything is just right!), set high in the Colorado Rockies. Murder, tasty recipes and interesting characters make these books a quick, light read.
Submitted by Foodie
Monday, October 22, 2007
Minister's Daughter by July Hearn
Historical Fiction
Here's a great historical novel for those who loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond, or anything to do with the Salem Witch Trials, when they were young. The year is 1645 and the Puritans are warring with the Royalists in England. Hearn uses three young women in a small village to tell her story: Nell, apprentice to a local healer, and Grace and Patience, the two daughters of the new minister. Excellent book for teens and adults.
Submitted by Linda
Historical Fiction
Here's a great historical novel for those who loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond, or anything to do with the Salem Witch Trials, when they were young. The year is 1645 and the Puritans are warring with the Royalists in England. Hearn uses three young women in a small village to tell her story: Nell, apprentice to a local healer, and Grace and Patience, the two daughters of the new minister. Excellent book for teens and adults.
Submitted by Linda
Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison
Mystery
Skull Mantra is the first in Pattison's beautifully written series following Shan Tao Yun, a Chinese inspector of the Ministry of Economy in Beijing, exiled in a Tibetan prison. The description of the Tibetan culture, landscape, and the Buddhist monks who share his imprisonment by Chinese authorities make these books extraordinary. I would liken Pattison's writing to Amy Tan's Bonesetter's Daughter. Although I will never see Tibet, I've been there in part through his writing.
Submitted by Linda
Mystery
Skull Mantra is the first in Pattison's beautifully written series following Shan Tao Yun, a Chinese inspector of the Ministry of Economy in Beijing, exiled in a Tibetan prison. The description of the Tibetan culture, landscape, and the Buddhist monks who share his imprisonment by Chinese authorities make these books extraordinary. I would liken Pattison's writing to Amy Tan's Bonesetter's Daughter. Although I will never see Tibet, I've been there in part through his writing.
Submitted by Linda
Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
Mystery
I am not going to Laos, and this book is why; it's TOO HOT. That aside, go there vicariously with Dr. Siri Paiboun, age 72, the state coroner, in a somewhat surrealistic mystery taking place a year after the 1975 Communist takeover. Naturally there is a corpse or two, lots of bureaucratic red tape, and hidden secrets...all to be solved by Dr. Siri sitting on the river bank talking with his good friend over lunch. The series continues with Disco for the Departed and Thirty-Three Teeth.
Submitted by Linda
Mystery
I am not going to Laos, and this book is why; it's TOO HOT. That aside, go there vicariously with Dr. Siri Paiboun, age 72, the state coroner, in a somewhat surrealistic mystery taking place a year after the 1975 Communist takeover. Naturally there is a corpse or two, lots of bureaucratic red tape, and hidden secrets...all to be solved by Dr. Siri sitting on the river bank talking with his good friend over lunch. The series continues with Disco for the Departed and Thirty-Three Teeth.
Submitted by Linda
The Damascus Gate by Robert Stone
Novel
Follow Christopher Lucas, an American journalist, as he walks from his apartment high on a Jerusalem hill down through the crowds of Muslims, Jews, and Christians as the crowd awakes in the heart of this political hot spot. Holy sites, holy visionaries, holy wars, in a wonderfully written book. Lucas' story enlightened me about the particulars of the Middle East conflict. Stone covers Vietnam, Central America, and Hollywood in his previous novels.
Submitted by Linda
Novel
Follow Christopher Lucas, an American journalist, as he walks from his apartment high on a Jerusalem hill down through the crowds of Muslims, Jews, and Christians as the crowd awakes in the heart of this political hot spot. Holy sites, holy visionaries, holy wars, in a wonderfully written book. Lucas' story enlightened me about the particulars of the Middle East conflict. Stone covers Vietnam, Central America, and Hollywood in his previous novels.
Submitted by Linda
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Mystery
First in a series featuring a young female detective in post-World War I England. Once people discover this series, they seem to get hooked on it. I loved the strong character development, vivid historical setting, and compelling plot.
Submitted by Judith
Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father by John Matteson
History/Biography
Fascinating, well-researched look at the tense yet loving relationship between Louisa May and Bronson Alcott.
Submitted by Judith
Mystery
First in a series featuring a young female detective in post-World War I England. Once people discover this series, they seem to get hooked on it. I loved the strong character development, vivid historical setting, and compelling plot.
Submitted by Judith
Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father by John Matteson
History/Biography
Fascinating, well-researched look at the tense yet loving relationship between Louisa May and Bronson Alcott.
Submitted by Judith
Monday, October 1, 2007
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