Monday, June 8, 2009

Deb recommends "Flygirl"

Ida Mae Jones faces more than the normal challenges of early women aviators, the prejudices of the South and the military to realize her dream. It’s 1941 and she wants to help the war effort not by collecting scrap metal and growing a victory garden but by becoming a pilot in the Women Airforce Service Program (WASP). Her daddy taught her to fly in his crop-dusting plane and she has the desire and determination that make her a good candidate. But the biggest hurdle is a personal one: she must pass for white. And with her light skin she just might be able to. In Flygirl Sherri Smith has crafted an exciting story about a little known part of our history during World War II. An afterword gives a brief history of the WASP. An excellent read for ages 12 and up; adults will enjoy it as well.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

"The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel"

The Sorceress is the third book in the series of “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel”.

Perenelle Flamel has been trapped on Alcatraz with a host of hibernating monsters. These monsters have been collected by “ The Elders” in an effort to retake the world from the humani.

Meanwhile Nicholas Flamel, Sophie and Josh, are trying to escape from England to rescue Perenelle. This book is as exciting and fast paced as the first two, The Alchemyst, and The Magcian. These are a little more edgy than Harry Potter.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Phyllis recommends "Lethal Legacy"

If you like mysteries and libraries, Linda Fairstein’s Lethal Legacy will give you entertainment and information. There may be moments of wondering exactly where Fairstein is going with the characters’ actions, dialogue and their importance or the author’s purpose and connections. Whether or not you agree with the how the author “maps” her writing, the book is still a good read that may have you looking at libraries and their collections with new eyes. You’ll come away from this reading with more than a little history about public libraries and the philanthropists who contributed to them, especially the New York Public Library. Fairstein provides her novel’s Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper with an abundance of villains and stalwart companions. Appropriate for adults, Lethal Legacy will be fun for those who are curious about what goes on behind the stacks!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Kathy recommends "Heavens to Betsy"

Reverend Betsy Blessing is looking for a good man. Having reached the ripe old age of thirty, Betsy is wondering if her chosen career path with all its restrictions will ever allow her to find someone with whom to share her life. While dealing with parishioners who keel over during her sermons, steal money from the collection box, and set her up with relatives who happen to be ex-cons, the Reverend doesn’t recognize what’s right under her nose, fellow seminarian and long-time friend David Swenson. This is a funny, heartwarming look at “a single girl’s life on the other side of the altar.” Appropriate for young adults and adults.

Lisa recommends "Under Her Skin"

There just aren’t many good chick lit books coming out right now so it was a great surprise to read Under Her Skin by Susan Mallery. This is the first book in the trilogy, with the 2nd and 3rd following at the end of May and June. Lexi Titan needs two million dollars in 30 days or she will lose her business and her chance at winning the contest for her father’s inheritance. The only way she can find to get the money is to pretend to be engaged to Cruz Rodriguez for six months. It was the first book in a long time that I didn’t want to put down!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Bethany recommends "Jellicoe Road"

Jellicoe Road is the Printz Award Winner for 2008 and is an excellent read. The characterization is in depth and I was really intrigued by the story. This would appeal to Young Adults and Adults.

Jamie recommends "The Geography of Bliss"

I’m not usually a big nonfiction-reader, but the premise of defining happiness around the globe was intriguing to me. Eric Weiner, a self-proclaimed grump, offers an extremely interesting study in happiness. How is happiness in America different from happiness in places like Switzerland or Bhutan? Part travelogue, part research, this book is something of an anomaly because while it doesn’t explain how to concretely define happiness, it certainly goes to great lengths to find it. I found it interesting because geography has a lot to do with what constitutes the feeling of happiness. Although Weiner does sometimes get bogged down with the minutiae of certain locations , this book was a fairly fast and very enjoyable read. For those who have found happiness, are looking for happiness, or wonder just how you measure happiness, this book is a great choice.

Adult.