Staff Book Picks
Charlie Bone and the Beast by Jenny Nimmo (Youth Fiction)
Charlie and his magically gifted classmates at Bloor Academy try to save a fellow student who becomes a were-beast every sundown. (BV)
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet (Youth Paperback)
This intriguing story takes a numbers of twists and raises the possibility that a number of Vermeer’s paintings may be fakes. (CD)
Child of the Jungle by Sabine Kuegler (995.1/KUE)
Sabine spent her early years living in the jungle with her family, alongside tribal Indonesians. Adjusting to life in the west again has not been easy. A vivid and engaging book. (PT)
Circle in the Sand: Why We Went Back to Iraq by Christian Alfonsi (956.704431/ALF
A thorough documentation of why this decision became inevitable when George W. Bush listened to his father’s advisors. (MW)
Dark Tower Series by Stephen King (Fiction)
These books are menacing and thrilling with a variety of settings from a post-apocalyptic wild west to New York in the near future. (SE)
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandria Fuller (Biography)
A young English girl grows up in various parts of Africa on a series of farms managed by her father. A fascinating and sometimes tragic story. (MD)
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Fiction)
The reader is pulled into the future where a battle between humans and an insect-like race forces the military to train children as soldiers. There are psychological, social, political and moral themes in this book. (SE)
Family Romance: a love story by John Lanchester (Biography)
Although he knew that his mother had been a nun, it was not until after her death that John Lanchester discovered the details of her fascinating story. (PT)
The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank (Fiction)
The main character’s take on her relationships is fraught with pain, love and wit. (RS)
The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter by Sharyn McCrumb (Mystery)
Appalachian folklore is woven into this story about a murdered Tennessee family and the minister’s wife who comforts the bereaved. (RS)
Heart Seizure by Bill Fitzhugh (Fiction)
Spencer Tailor’s mother Rose is next up for a heart transplant when folks from the dark side try to cut in line. It’s hilarious, fast moving and witty. (RS)
Hurricane Punch by Tim Dorsey (Fiction)
It’s Florida in the middle of a raging hurricane season and there’s a killer on the loose. The book is full of mayhem and wit. (RS)
I Feel Bad About My Neck: and other thoughts on being a woman by Nora Ephron (814.54/EPH)
Short, witty essays on topics including looks, marriage, parenting and reading. Women may particularly relate to the essay “I Hate My Purse”! (CB)
Jewels: a Secret History by Victoria Finlay (553.8/FIN
Amber and opals, emeralds and diamonds and more. Where do they come from? How are they found? This is a fascinating look at the history of precious stones. (CB)
The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones (Fiction)
An interesting story infused with the subtleties of Chinese culture and cooking. (MD)
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (Biography)
In his jersey with a thunderbolt motif, and using a towel as a cape, the young Bryson became ‘The Thunderbolt Kid’.
This is a poignant and funny tale of growing up in the 1950’s, in the Midwest. (CB)
The Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries by Lindsey Davies.
In this mystery series the plots are intriguing, the history interesting, and the wisecracking of the title character provides many a laugh. (GU)
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan (636.752/GRO
A tale of a goofy dog and the people who own him. It made me laugh and cry. A fast, very heartfelt read. (SBS)
The Shape of Snakes by Minette Walters (Mystery)
A twenty-year-old case of accidental death is re-opened and a careful examination of the evidence points to murder. A gripping tale. (RS)
The $64 Tomato by William Alexander (635.097473/ALE)
Did you ever add up what you spend to create your home garden, and then divide that by what you harvest? William Alexander did. Read about his search for the perfect garden and his battles with beetles and opossums. (CB)
So B. It by Sarah Weeks (Young Adult)
This is an excellent story about survival and the relationships between a young girl, her mentally disabled mother, and the woman who takes care of them. (CD)
Television Without Pity: 752 Things We Love to Hate (And Hate to Love) About TV by Tara Ariano and Sarah Bunting (791.4503/ARI)
This book breaks down the world of TV into hilarious encyclopedic entries, treating the medium with equal parts of scorn and worship. (MJR)
War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clinton and the Generals by David Halberstam (327.73/HAL)
A clear explanation of American politics and strategies, particularly with regard to the Balkans. My teenage son found it interesting and enjoyable. (CD)
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