Beth recommends "False Mermaid" by Erin Hart

Two mysteries skillfully interwoven: Nora Gavin, an American forensic pathologist who works in Ireland with archaeologist Cormac Maguire, returns to the United States, determined to prove that her brother-in-law was responsible for her sister’s violent death. Meanwhile back in Ireland, Cormac delves into mermaid legends, and the disappearance of a local woman. The best of literary fiction combined with the best elements of a masterful thriller make this a page turner not to be missed.

Recommended for adults.

Lisa recommends "A Family Album"

I love when groups that I listened to when I was younger come out with quality recordings for kids today. Similar in scope to The Barenaked Ladies Snacktime! or They Might Be Giants, The Verve Pipe has now joined the family music scene with A Family Album. My favorites on the cd include Wake Up and Suppertime! A Family Album by The Verve Pipe is a fantastic listen for the whole family!

Recommended for all ages.

Matt recommends reading some poetry

April is National Poetry Month, and I feel like it's my duty as one of the English majors on staff to encourage you to check out some poetry before the month is over. I can almost see you wrinkling your nose, saying that poetry is not your thing. I know that reading it is not most people’s idea of a good time, but it could be! And even if it’s not, is there any harm in trying, one month out of the year?

CMPL has a huge selection of poetry books for your enjoyment. If you’re looking for something contemporary and accessible, look up the work of former US poet laureate Billy Collins, who writes simple, unassuming poems that are nonetheless quite powerful. If you’re interested in a particular subject, check with a librarian to see if we have a book of poems on that subject, or if we could request one from a different library. (In our collection, for example, see The Oxford Book of War Poetry, Marriage Poems, Poems for Easter, and Obliviously On He Sails: the Bush Administration in Rhyme, to name a few different examples.) We have a wide assortment of books by classic poets too, so if you’ve always wanted to read Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost or Langston Hughes, for instance, now’s the time! Our collection of poetry anthologies is excellent and diverse, from An Anthology of Poetry by Women to The Poetry of Black America, and from The Best American Poetry 2009 to Another Kind of Nation : an Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Poetry. If you’re feeling really adventurous, give Postmodern American Poetry a try (or just check out the collected poems of Allen Ginsberg).

If you insist that you just don’t get poetry, then try some instructional books, like How to Read a Poem or A Grain of Poetry: How to Read Contemporary Poems and Make Them a Part of Your Life. (My personal advice: take your time. Read a poem several times, slowly. And then out loud. It really helps!) Or if you’d rather listen than read, I highly recommend Poetry Speaks, one of my favorite items in the collection, a wonderful book that comes with three CDs of poets reading their work out loud.

My point is that there are about as many kinds of poems and poetry books as there are people, and National Poetry Month is the perfect time to see what you like! Talk to a librarian today about finding the right poems to enrich your life.

Kathy recommends "Heartland: an Appalachian Anthology"

The Appalachians have given America some of the most beautiful music in the world. Violinist, Joshua Bell and friends James Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss and many others come together to evoke the musical tradition of the region be it hornpipe, lullaby, waltz or reel. Sometimes lively, often haunting, the music of Heartland speaks to the soul as it conjures up visions of a place and time unique to America’s heritage.

Recommended for all ages.

Jamie recommends "Game Change"

If you love politics and want to relive the 2008 presidential campaign then Game Change is the book for you. John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, arguably two of the best political journalists in the country, shed light onto one of the most dramatic campaigns in current memory. The book spends a lot of ink on the Democratic primary and, though we all know the outcome, the authors do a great job in highlighting the reversal of fortunes of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, throwing in the strange tale of John Edwards’ campaign for good measure. There were times when I had to remember that this was nonfiction, as some of the inside tales were so intriguing that I almost forgot that Clinton lost the nomination. The Republican side of the ticket was no less intriguing. The actual campaign between Obama and McCain is glossed over in comparison to the primaries, but no less interesting. The book was put together with information from sources who were actually there and it is quite a good read for anyone who likes or loathes politics.

Bethany recommends "The Thief"

Megan Whalen Turner’s excellent series begins with The Thief. Gen is faced with the ultimate test of his skill as a master thief. The subtle layering of plot and character development is more amazing each time I read this book. The author creates a wonderfully realized world reminiscent of ancient Greece with some Renaissance Europe thrown in too. The subsequent titles The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia further the adventures of Gen. I hope there will be a fourth title but if not, The Thief is a great read.

Bethany recommends "The Sea of Trolls"

I read this over the summer and immediately had to read the second title The Land of the Silver Apples. Nancy Farmer writes the best characters. The Sea of Trolls is a great mix of fantasy and history with lots of adventure and exciting plot twists mixed in. The author creates characters that make you stick with you. I would read anything by Nancy Farmer and plan to read her other science fiction titles. This title is also an excellent choice for listening to on audio book. Third in the trilogy is Islands of the Blessed.