Kara recommends "Me Before You"

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.  What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of color. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

This book is suitable for adults.

Kara recommends "The Story of Beautiful Girl"

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.

This novel is suitable for high school aged students and adults.

Kate recommends "In a World..."

In A World… tells the comical story of an aspiring yet underachieving voiceover artist as she competes for a much sought-after movie trailer contract.  She’s one of few women in a male-dominated field, and must prove herself by going up against the industry’s greatest legend – her own father.  Audiences will really be rooting for her to beat the odds and finally get her life off the ground.  This quirky and fun comedy stars Lake Bell and features lots of laughs from rising comedians such as Nick Offerman, Demetri Martin, and Tig Notaro.  Rated R.

Gretchen recommends "A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home"

Sue Halpern’s latest nonfiction work recounts how she trained her Labradoodle, Pransky, to be a therapy dog .  The pair begin to visit a local nursing home.  The story unfolds of encounters with the residents—each chapter named after a virtue—where her dog becomes the true teacher.  Sometimes humorous, often reflective, and always honest, Halpern discovers through their visits what truly matters at a time of life when one’s world seems to be shrinking.  Have hankies on hand when you read this.  It’s poignant, touching, and full of life—both canine and human.  Suitable for adults.

Michelle recommends "Annie's Ghosts"

This is the 2013-2014 selection for The Great Michigan Read and it is an excellent selection. The author is locally connected and really takes the reader on his impossible genealogical adventure.  Annie is actually buried within 2 miles of the South Branch of Clinton-Macomb Public Library, taking Steve’s story right into our neighborhood. It was a well-researched project and interesting to follow as the author discovers a few long forgotten family secrets. Additionally, it is an amazing historical perspective of the mental health system in Michigan throughout the 1900s, showing how things were done in the early decades in comparison to today’s system.  There is a lot of heart in this story, but it does a wonderful job of educating the reader, too.
The South Branch will be discussing Steve Luxenberg’s Annie’s Ghosts on Saturday, November 9^th at 12 pm with our monthly book discussion group.

Recommended for Adults

Kathy recommends Charlie LeDuff's "Detroit : an American autopsy"

If you think you are aware of the troubles Detroit is facing, read reporter Charlie LeDuff’s Detroit : an American autopsy.  Be forewarned, what Charlie has to say is not for the faint of heart.  Detroit’s litany of woes borders on the unimaginable, and how the city has survived this long is a mystery. Through his own very personal experiences in the city and his interviews with Detroit’s movers and shakers, along with those who still work and live there, he paints a dismal picture of a once vibrant metropolis now in the final stages of decay. Although it would require a herculean effort to right all that is wrong with Detroit, he still maintains it is a tragedy that is impossible to ignore.  Riveting!

Recommended for Adults

Beth recommends: "This Case is Gonna Kill Me" by Phillipa Bornikova

How would I describe this book?  Legal thriller?  Urban fantasy?  Mystery? Race relations?  Actually it’s a wonderfully off-beat, slightly quirky mixture of all of those.  Linnet Ellery is a newly-minted lawyer, starting with a prestigious law firm.  On her first day, she is assigned to work, with another associate, on a disputed-will case that has languished for 17 long years.  She is dismayed at being stuck with a seemingly minor case, but delves in in a professional manner.  Okay, bright, enthusiastic new lawyer, first case = legal thriller.  But here is what hooked me in the reviews…please keep reading!  Back in the 1960’s, it was revealed that the major players in the world – the top businessmen, lawyers, financiers, etc, - were supernatural beings.  Vampires, werewolves and the Alfar – collectively known as the Powers -  had somehow managed to rule from the shadows for centuries.  By the time our story opens, humans have been aware of the Powers for half a century, creatively working out their co-existence - not the least of which was the arrangement by which Linnet was raised in a vampire household.   Linnet’s case turns out to be not so humdrum after all, and she ultimately has to use skills and resourcefulness not acquired in law school to stay alive.

Now – if you are tempted to brush this aside – “I don’t read vampire books” (actually a typical reaction for me) – STOP!  Consider trying a chapter or two – perhaps you will enjoy, as much as I did, the intriguing characters and their fast-moving adventures – which continue in the sequel, Box Office Poison.

Recommended for adults.