Books, Movies, Music and More!
January 5, 2017 Leave a comment
Sarah says, “The Harry Potter series on audiobook is an excellent choice for a long car ride or your daily commute. Jim Dale narrates J.K Rowling’s world in such a hilarious and ear-catching way that you’ll find yourself immersed in the story and sitting in your car just to finish a chapter. Don’t write them off for being in the juvenile audiobook section; there are lots of stories to reread and also share with your children.”
January 3, 2017 Leave a comment
Published:1/24/2017 by Ballantine Books
ISBN: 9780425285046
“A page turner that is sure to be a hit. Each chapter alternates between two time periods. Back “then,” there is Emma, looking for the perfect flat. Her agent suggests One Folgate Street, built by architect Edward Monkford. In present day, Jane, a single thirty-something also ends up on Folgate Street. Both women learn the sinister history of the property and readers won’t know who to trust as Delaney’s debut clutches you by the throat and won’t let you go.
Kara Kohn, Plainfield Public Library District, Plainfield, IL
Published: 1/10/2017 by Del Rey
ISBN: 9781101885932
“We journey to 14th century Russia where the old ways still hold sway in the outlying villages and spirits and magical creatures are real. When Vasya’s stepmother and the new village priest try to end the pagan offerings, it us up to Vasya to stop the Bear from awakening. Can she find the strength to accept who she really is and protect her family and village? This magical story captivated me and pulled me fully into that world. The last third and the pulse-pounding finish had me on the edge of my seat.”
Joseph Jones, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cuyahoga, OH
Published: 1/10/2017 by Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250105608
“’Luke lied. You lied. Be at the funeral.’ These eight words will change everything for Agent Aaron Falk, summoned by the father or his former best friend. It appears Luke went on a rampage, murdering his wife, son, and then himself. At Luke’s father’s request, Aaron agrees to look into the murders/suicide and learns that the small town has long held grudges and secrets that may be best kept hidden in this atmospheric, chilling complex tale of anger and revenge.”
Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ
Published: 1/31/2017 by Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250111173
“Louise meets a charming man in a bar and is smitten. The attraction is mutual, but David confesses he is married. They go their separate ways…until the next morning when Louise goes to work and realizes that the new psychiatrist who has been hired by the practice is David. Adele, David’s wife, is struggling to keep their marriage alive, but David has tired of her lies. A friendship begins between Adele and Louise. David and Louise are still attracted to each other and the triangle is complete. This is not your average thriller. It is absolutely riveting!”
Mary Vernau, Tyler Public Library, Tyler, TX
Published: 12/27/2016 by Knopf
ISBN: 9780385353540
“‘Every book changes your life. So I like to ask: How is this book changing mine?’ Schwalbe, author of The End of Your Life Book Club, focuses on a personal collection of books that changed his life. Each book he selects provides a lesson, a reminder as to how to live his life. Readers will remember favorite books, find new books to try, and lessons to think about. Schwalbe’s book is warm, charming, and very personal. It’s a book for all avid readers.”
Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Evansville, IN
Published: 1/10/2017 by Algonquin
ISBN: 9781616205812
“Placidia is seventeen when she marries Major Hockaday, an older man and recent widower with a child. After he is recalled to service in the Civil War, she must manage his farm and take care of his son and all with little help. When he returns, it is to find that she has given birth, and said to have murdered the child. Told in journal entries, letters, and court documents, we learn about her life and the answers to this puzzling and horrifically charged event. A dark book that highlights the amazing strength so many of these women had to develop.”
Diane Scholl, Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL
Published: 1/24/2017 by Crown
ISBN: 9781101905609
“Barry takes her readers back to Salem with a mesmerizing tale filled with familiar characters from her previous works and new ones as well. Towner Whitney and John Rafferty come to the aid of Callie Cahill as they attempt to piece together the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of her mother while trying to keep herself from becoming a victim as well. This is a beautifully written story, full of twists and turns. Fans of The Lace Reader will love The Fifth Petal, though the book stands on its own and can be recommended to all readers.”
Marianne Colton, Lockport Public Library, Lockport, NY
“Not for the faint of heart, Johnson’s first book is a beautifully crafted work that delves into the perils of teen-dom in a wealthy, insulated California neighborhood. The story opens with the suicide of an outcast middle-school boy. Fast forward to high school, where seemingly minor struggles of both teens and adults expose themselves to be deeply ominous, leaving few untouched by the ensuing tragedies. As the plot slowly builds, the intricate web of relationships that intertwine the lives of characters and the events that they experience become apparent, ultimately returning full circle.”
Amy Christiansen, Jefferson County Public Library, Wheat Ridge, CO
Published: 1/10/2017 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062427021
“Kate Priddy is moving to Boston to swap apartments with her cousin. Haunted by an abusive ex, she wants to leave behind her previous life. But when her neighbor, Audrey Marshall, is murdered, Kate is drawn into a web of fear even darker than her past. Varying points of view add new perspectives to the narrative as the book goes on; the mystery of what really happened to Audrey is just a part of the intrigue as we delve into the minds of imperfect, broken people. As a fan of Swanson’s previous work, I was not disappointed.”
Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburgh, OH
Published: 1/17/2017 by Harper Voyager
ISBN: 9780062451941
“A fun take on Pride and Prejudice in a fantasy setting. Merrybourne Manor has a gryphon infestation and has contracted with a band of Riders to kill them. As you can imagine, the main Rider is a little haughty and our heroine has a long memory. Familiar trials and tribulations occur with some detailed world-building, laying the groundwork for a sequel. Good for readers who don’t mind literary re-imaginings, love P&P, and Anne McCaffery’s Pern novels.”
Jenna Persick, Chester County Library, Exton, PA
December 20, 2016 Leave a comment
Nicole says, “Those who enjoy a fast-paced, exciting mystery will thoroughly enjoy The Analyst by John Katzenbach. This very intense and thrilling novel will keep anyone turning the pages to find out who is trying to do extreme damage to Dr. Frederick Starks’ life and threatening the lives of his patients.” Nicole asks, “Will you read it to find out?”
December 16, 2016 Leave a comment
Lisa believes, “Psychological suspense fans will love I Let You Go. This debut novel by Clare Mackintosh contains a very surprising twist that you’ll never see coming!”
December 15, 2016 Leave a comment
Linda says, “If you enjoyed the book and/or the movie Forrest Gump, you might
want to read Gump&Co. to find out the further adventures of Mr. Gump
and his son, Forrest Jr. Once again, Forrest interacts with historical
characters and events, and perhaps changes history. There are many
surprises in this book; Forrest happens to meet both of the recent
presidential candidates in the course of his adventures! A quick and
fun read.
December 9, 2016 Leave a comment
Shane at Frostburg Library says, “Bourdain’s cookbook, Appetites, is filled with nastiness, pretension and irreverence. Highly recommended.”
December 7, 2016 Leave a comment
Nora at LaVale Library believes, “Fans of Victorian murder mysteries with heroines will enjoy Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent. The book is the first in a series and features a woman undertaker who solves murder mysteries based on the deaths of her deceased clients. The book also provides fascinating information about the undertaking methods and cultural attitudes of death during Victorian times.”
December 2, 2016 Leave a comment
Maureen thinks, “Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy Meet Your Baker, the first in a series by Ellie Alexander. Pastry chef, Jules Capshaw, returns to her hometown to help run the family bakery and mend a broken heart. But when she discovers a murdered customer in the bakery’s kitchen she is pulled into helping solve the case. Can Jules solve the murder and save the family bakery?”
November 30, 2016 Leave a comment
Chris at the Frostburg Library says, “X-Files fans will love Dark Skies. When strange things begin to occur in the Barrett home, parents Daniel and Lacy look for natural explanations, but as matters escalate, their doubts become a terrifying battle to protect their young sons from extraterrestrial forces. Full of suspense, this film will make you want to sleep with the lights on.”
November 6, 2012 Leave a comment
Review by: Chris
Title: A Northern Light
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Collection: Teen Books
In 1906, seventeen year-old Mathilda Gokey, called Mattie or Matt, is working at the Glenmore Hotel in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York when the body of Grace Brown is discovered in the lake near the hotel. Everyone assumes that Grace and the young man she was with had an accident while boating on the lake, but just before setting out that day, Grace gave Mattie a bundle of letters to destroy. These letters suggest a different story, and Mattie becomes obsessed with the tragedy and the perspective it lends to her own life choices. Alternating chapters flash back to the year before Grace’s death and reveal Mattie’s life as the oldest daughter of a struggling “North Woods” farmer. Mattie aspires to be a writer and has earned a full scholarship to Barnard College in New York City, but at the time of Grace Brown’s death, she has given up those dreams in order to get married and fulfill family obligations. Now she begins to question whether she has made the right decisions.
The real-life death of Grace Brown and the subsequent trial and conviction of Chester Gillette for her murder form a backdrop to Mattie’s fictional story that will appeal to adults as well as teens. In addition, the portrayal of life in the “north woods” during the turn of the twentieth century will appeal to people who enjoy tales of frontier life. But the real power of the novel is Mattie herself. Donnelly has created a character and a narrator who deals with difficult realities with the depth and nuance that they deserve. Mattie, and consequently the whole novel, faces the challenge of seeking her own identity in a society that views women as only caregivers. Grace Brown makes the ultimate sacrifice to the ambitions of her lover, but there are many other role models for Mattie to examine. The novel’s tone is reflective and intelligent, making it a good choice for adult readers who like character-driven literary fiction or historical fiction.
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