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| Today is Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 · The Library is open today from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM | ||
Why should kids have all the fun? Adult summer reading is a joy in itself! Everyone who posted a review on our Summer Sizzlers web page was entered in a drawing to win a gift certificate to a great local restaurant! The lucky five who posted a review and won in the drawing on September 7 are:
Ann ~ Laura B. ~ Lori G. ~ Carol J. Hamblin ~ Wendy R.
Congratulations!
To read the reviews, click on a category below.
Non-Fiction | Fiction | Mystery | Young Adult
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Non-Fiction
Born to Run
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In a quest to figure out why he can't seem to run any distance without getting injured, the author investigates the growing phenomena of ultra endurance athletes, a little known Indian tribe that has been doing this effortlessly for centuries, and a lot of the science behind all this. Woven throughout is his personal story and those of the amazing athletes he comes to know. A fascinating book that questions much of the conventional wisdom about running and is generating tremendous controversy in the running community.
– DS
Confessions of a Reformed Dieter
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Book On CD. Interesting book - good inspiration if you are dieting. Simple plan - 1400 calories, 20-40g fat, 1 hour exercise every day. But, she talks about how she was motivated to actually do it. Also, you learn a little Austrailian - I think 'lolly' means 'candy' - unless she was highly addicted to lollipops.
– BL
Desert Solitaire : a Season in the Wilderness
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I had never read a book by Abbey before this one, but I am grateful that I came upon the title before my husband and I embark on our trip to the Southwest this fall. Abbey writes lyrically, personally, spiritually, and sometimes angrily about his experiences as a park ranger three summers at Arches National Monument (now Park). The book was published in 1968, and much of the turmoil of the times simmer on the surface of his work. Abbey becomes possessive of his place in the wilderness, reluctant finally to share it with others, whose only intent is to act like tourists, and is timely in regard to current environmental issues. In fact, he admits his first two seasons were the best, because there weren't many tourists. Abbey gradually becomes absorbed into the intense physical and emotional roller coaster of solitude. In certain ways, his time in the desert makes a believer out of him, even though God is not part of it, but rather he is one with the universe, a lesson he learns in spite of himself. Though he is not an American Indian, this comes in the form of a vision quest. Don't be put off by the lofty self-righteousness--this book has wonderful humorous touches, and an immense appreciation of just one part of this amazing planet. Trust me, if you read this book, you will never view the natural world and our place in it the same way again.
– Carol J. Hamblin
Lost In Place
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Mark Salzman wrote a wonderful memoir of his childhood, from age 13 through college, recalling his search for meaning in his life. If you think that this sounds too serious, you'd be wrong. He's very, very funny. From page one I was laughing. He became interested in kung fu at age 13 and, by extension, eastern thought and meditation. His early understandings and practices were hysterical. Knowing that now, as an adult, he's an accomplished martial artist and is still involved with Zen, his ability to laugh at these things and himself is all the more enjoyable. He documents many heart-warming conversations with his parents that, while trying to distance himself from them, are filled with affection and admiration. I enjoyed every page and look forward to reading other books by this talented author.
– Jeanette Perkins
The Places In Between
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A really cool adventure book. True-life story, written in the first person, of Rory Stewart. Mr. Stewart, a native Scot, decides to walk around the world. In The Places In Between, he covers his adventure walking through Afghanistan in 2002. This book has everything, from small village description, vivid characters, and even a big dog. Great if you like to travel.
– mo w.
Le Quai de Ouistreham
I read this book in France. It's written by a french journalist who went undercover and spent 6 months among the unemployed in Caen, France. Like everyone around her, she accepted any temporary job available. This book brings you into a world where survival is the only important thing and where you will accept to be verbally abused to earn a few euros that will not even be enough to live.
– Anne-Marie Oliva
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures
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This story is hilarious, sad, and frightening all at the same time. The true story of ethnic Hmong Chinese in America, and the difficulties they face both socially and when trying to obtain medical treatment. Very engaging...a real eye opener to the plight of many hard working, honest immigrants new to this country.
– mo w.
A Vineyard in Tuscany
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Mate takes you through the overwhelming process of starting a vineyard in the Tuscan hills. It is written in a warm, humorous fashion--it's a delightful summer read.
– Ann
Wherever You Go, There You Are: mindfulness meditation in everyday life
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Herein, the most comprehensible, simple definition of "mindfulness." "...paying attention to the particular moment, nonjudgementally." Mindfulness- a vehicle allowing us to become unstuck from the ruts our habitual thought patterns have us trapped in. A worthwhile read.
– Jean
Write It When I'm Gone: remarkable off-the-record conversations with Gerald R. Ford
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It was more curiosity than a burning urge to know that made me pick up this book about the off-the-record Gerald Ford. I had, as many of my cohorts did, an abiding respect for this honest man who was thrust into the presidency by the nefarious Nixon. And I'd always thought Ford got a raw deal in the election of 1976. But, no matter now. Having read this book, I have an even greater respect for him. The face he presented to the public gave the impression of an honest, straight-forward man, and "Write It" bears this out. From unguarded moments regarding his own life, history, and the frustrations of aging, to behind-the-White-House-doors revelations about everything from The Pardon to thoughts on his successor, this profile reveals a man who was what he appeared to be.
– Mark C.
Fiction
Backseat Saints
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This is a fantastic author and a sure hit for any of her books. I've read three of four and haven't been disappointed. The stories are set in the south and are page-turners. Backseat Saints is about Ro Grandee, the facade she puts on while living with an abusive husband while desperately trying to deal with her sad isolated past. There are times when Ro takes the abuse and others when she reverts back to the strong spitfire Rose Mae Lolley of her youth. It is the strength of her youth and past truths revealed that help her survive.
– Laura B.
Breakfast with the Buddha
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In Breakfast with Buddha, author Roland Merullo pairs up a middle-aged “regular” guy, Otto Ringling, on a cross country driving trip with Otto’s sister’s spiritual guru (Volya Rinpoche). As you might imagine, much humor mixed with wisdom ensues as they meet people along the way, and during their own conversations. At one point, the guru allows Otto one question at breakfast…Otto asks, of course, “What is the meaning of life?!” Rinpoche fills a glass of water with dirt, shakes it, and says, “Meaning of life!” With great levity, this author reminds us how with love and mindful living, we can "make the water in the glass clean." I recommended this book to several friends who said they LOVED it and it was exactly what they needed to read. One friend liked the author's explanation of the many choices we have every day (for good vs. not so good), and this made her more aware of practicing tiny acts of kindness in both thoughts and deeds. Merullo has written a feel-good, funny book with a winning combination of memorable characters and an engaging story, leaving the reader smiling yet with a lot to ponder!
– Judy T.
Cape Cod
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This book starts in 1620 with the Pilgrims arriving on the Cape and follows certain family members through the generations to present day. Readers familiar with Cape Cod will recognize towns, beaches and landmarks in the book. This book has drama, history, mystery and a murder. A must read for lovers of reading and Cape Cod.
– reviewer from Guilderland
The Cellist of Sarajevo
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This is a sad but inspiring book. Sad because of the intimate description of the suffering of the people of Sarajevo during the longest siege in the history of modern warfare: 203 weeks, almost 4 years. Inspiring because of the courage and bravery of these people who had to live through it. The everyday struggle to live through this terror is described by the lives of a bakery worker, a young father, and woman who is one of the snipers defending the city. At the beginning of the siege, several mortar shells struck a group of people waiting to buy bread. Twenty-two are killed and over seventy were wounded. For the next 22 days Vedran Smailovic, a noted local cellist, played Albinoni"s Adagio at the site to honor the dead. This story was so moving, I was moved to search for a recording of the Adagio by a cellist, but could not find one, not even Yo Yo Ma had one.
– Dick Connery
Crossing Oceans
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I truly enjoyed this book. It's a very powerful book; very spiritual and moving about a young single mother who is dying and trying to find the best way to provide love and care for her five year old daughter.
– Anne-Marie
Embers
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One day an old Hungarian aristocrat living in his castle receives a letter telling him that a long lost friend of his is coming for dinner this evening. The last time they saw each other was 40 years ago, around 1900 at the dinner in the same mansion after a day of deer hunting. Back then his wife, the mistress of the house, was present; and her absence now is consequential to the events of that day. The questions that day posed still smolder in the heart of the old man. The unusual fairy-tale-like setting and implied mystery pull you in and keep you reading to the end. Written as recollection and contemplation of the past, this book is scarce on dialog, but the prose is elegant, flowing, and easy to read. Although positioned in Hungary right before or during WWII, politics plays no role in this book, and present surroundings are only scarcely mentioned. The castle exists in what feels like a time capsule, indicative of his owner whose zest for life had been left in the time of long ago.
– Ludmila G.
Getting Mother's Body
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This is a slightly twisted tale of an unmarried, pregnant young woman and her family in 1960s rural Texas. The financially challenged group believes that a treasure was buried with the young woman's mother. The plot revolves around their intertwining lives, and their quest to dig up the grave for the jewels. A quick read that keeps you engaged and entertained. The characters are well developed and interesting.
– mo w.
The Help
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This book had wonderful insight on black females living in the south in the 1960s. Interspersed with history of the civil rights acts, the book takes us through the journey of three women, two black maids, and a white woman, as they come together for a special project. It makes you think about this period of time in a vivid way, and the characters are immediately both flawed and incredibly likable. From the first page, it pulls you into a world where some people don't want anything to change, and yet you can feel they are right on the cusp of moving forward in a better direction. And through it all, you want to know every detail of the characters' lives.
– H.
The Help
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This is an easy "page-turner" read about civil rights of African American people in the 60s. It provides a clear picture of life during those times and the distinction between the classes that existed in the south: white upperclass southeners and the Black maids who cleaned their houses and raised their children but were treated as 3rd class citizens. Kathryn Stockett shows the resilience and strength of those Black American women and a window into the climate of change that would come to be. Abileen, one of the Black maids is my heroine as she dares to promote change in a new generation of people through the children she cares for. You will just fall in love with her!
– Deb
In The Name Of Honor
by Richard North Patterson
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Richard North Patterson is a master of creating a complex legal thriller with a social conscience. This story involves two military families, the McCarrans and the Gallaghers, who have been very close. Now a young soldier, Lt. Brian McCarran, having returned from a tour in Iraq is accused of killing his commanding officer who was married to the daughter of the late Jack Gallagher, his father's best friend, who was killed in Vietnam. As the story progresses the complex relationships of these two families become more apparent. Brian's lawyer, Captain Paul Terry, has more than his work cut out for him. Terry, a fascinating character himself, explores the harrowing events that took place in Iraq and the resulting PTSD as he tries to put together exactly what happened with respect to the murder and within these two families. There are twists and turns of the plot that keep you always interested. You also learn a great deal about what our soldiers face in this difficult war and how this effects them once they come home. This is a wonderful book on many levels and I recommend it highly.
– Jeanette Perkins
Innocent
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You have probably read or saw the movie "Presumed Innocent." It was a wonderful story about Rusty Sabich who was accused of murdering his mistress. The prosecutor, Tommy Molto, was humiliated when his evidence was shown to be faulty and Rusty was acquitted. Now, twenty years later, Rusty's wife has died of apparent natural causes. On closer inspection, she may have been murdered. Once again Molto arrests Sabich for murder and a fascinating trial ensues. What I love about Turow is that he not only tells a fantastic story that is extremely well written, but he explores the thoughts and feelings of his main character. In "Innocent" the story is told from the standpoint of four of the main characters alternately, which is extremely effective. To understand what is going on inside each of these characters during the same events and to follow that throughout the twists and turns of this story is a level of depth few authors achieve. I usually guess surprises in books, but not with Turow and certainly not with "Innocent." His writing is unique in its profundity while never lacking in ability to entertain. I was unable to put this book down and can't recommend it highly enough.
– Jeanette Perkins
Little Bee
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What a fantastic story of two lives being intertwined by tragedy. Little Bee is a young African girl seeking a safe haven from an American couple she met years prior. Sarah, the American wife, must now deal with the horrific events that transpired while vacationing, resulting in her husband's suicide. The language and storytelling are incredible. Sarah shows her maternal instincts while Little Bee recalls her life, good and bad, through the stories she tells.
– Laura B.
The Living
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Set in Washington Territory (before it was a state) during the mid 1890s, this story is remarkable and really makes you feel blessed for our modern conveniences. The characters are memorable (for as long as they're alive!), and you really get a feel for what our country was like before it was a whole country. A great read that does honor to the hard, often tragic, lives of the pioneers. Good for those who don't mind a roller coaster of happy/sad moments.
– mo w.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
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I fell in love with the "Major" from the first chapter. Helen Simonson's writing makes you feel like you are in the middle of the room engaging in the conversations between the very English mannered Major, his go-getter son and the lovely Mrs. Ali. The Major is a retired decorated soldier who once again must defend things that are as important to him as his country. He does this with the strict decorum and words of a proper Englishman.
– Laura B.
My Name is Mary Sutter
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Mary is a mid-wife during the Civil War. She wants nothing more than to become a much-needed surgeon, but she's a woman. The setting for this novel is downtown Albany (Dove St. Broadway, Albany Medical College,) a bit of NYC, and Washington D.C. The characters, President Lincoln included, are desperate to win the war and their dreams.
– Laura B.
Point Omega
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Mr. DeLillo continues to amaze. He always continues to amaze. With his pristine sentences he draws you into a conversation between an older academic who has experienced the technocrats in a war room and a middle-aged filmmaker who wants his recollections on film. Mr. DeLillo sets his story in the stark beauty of the desert and uses it as the reminder of where we may be in this time and age. A young guest arrives, bringing a surprise. In this, salvation is only a point of view.
– Wasp.
Remarkable Creatures
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This was a fascinating novel about a town in England called Lyme Regis. It is historical fiction, and I was shocked to read about this place and the people in it, that I never knew really did exist in the 1800s. It follows Mary, a "fossil hunter" as she and her friend search for fossils on the beach. Scientists are just starting to realize that these creatures are indeed from a time long ago, and now extinct. As they come to grips with the fact that God seemed to have created creatures and then let them die out, they meet with opposition from religious people who cannot accept that truth. Mary had no formal training and had a naturally good eye for finding these creatures, and she realizes that the men that she finds them for are usually short on praise for her work and talent. As with all of Chevalier's novels, she seamlessly weaves truth with fiction, and creates a novel that you don't want to put down.
– H.
Shanghai Girls
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I am a fan of this author and genre (Chinese history and traditions) but I must say, this book dragged. The story is set around the historic and turbulent events in the late 1930s. Two sisters are "married off" to pay their father's debt. As they travel from Shanghai to California, they experience incredible hardships, which don't end when they finally arrive at their husband's homes. Despite being in America, the sisters' lives continue to be filled with death, jealousy, and persecution.
– Laura B.
The Swan Thieves
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This book will draw you in from the start. It reads through differing eyes and has an emotional and historical perspective that runs through it. I loved every page. The art information was particularly enthralling.
–Christine Lapinski.
Valley of the Dead
Seventeen years of Dante Alighieri's life is unaccounted for. This is fact. He was in exile during that time, and quite maybe, what he saw while traveling was worse than his vision of hell in INFERNO. Get this book, and prepare to be awed as a fan of literature and zombies. Paffenroth is a genius!
–Trevor
Vanished
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This was a very good book. I listened to this book on CD and got so caught up in the story that I hated to arrive at my destination because I wanted to keep 'reading'. There were several twists and turns in the story and it kept me in suspense. There were also several references to the Capital Region: Altamont, Guilderland, and the Colonie Public Library. I would highly recommend this book.
–Lori G
The Walk
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This is a very easy book to read. Story of a man who lost everything overnight: wife, company, home etc. and sets out to walk from Washington State to Key West Florida and meets people along the way who help him to find peace.
–Anne-Marie.
Without Mercy
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What a great murder mystery! The main character, Jules, goes to 'save' her wayward half-sister from the tough love religious boarding school situated in the middle of nowhere. As Jules arrives, under false pretenses, more death and brainwashing of the students occurs. This book is a very easy read.
– Laura B.
Mystery
The Daughter of Time
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Interesting story - really about whether or not Richard III killed his nephews, but delves deeply into 'revisionist' history; things that are known to be false that end up in the history books anyway.
–elasher
The Glass Rainbow
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The Glass Rainbow follows in the tradition of James Lee Burke’s other ten Robicheaux novels. The past novels have concentrated on mysteries concerning the many reprehensible behaviors of Louisiana society, regardless of social standing. They have also revealed Robicheaux’s developing character as he ages and contends with the crime and its perpetrators. However, this story is slightly different (but not as unusual as The Tie Roof Blowdown, which broke readers’ hearts). The Glass Rainbow shines light on the great number of unsolved female homicides in Louisiana and reveals the character and substance of Clete, Robicheaux’s closest friend and supporter. Clete is an unabashed alcoholic and a junk food eater. Although aware of its dangers, he feels it is his choice and resents preaching. He takes a stand against immoral behavior and, in the face of temptation, stands firm. A very large man who strains the seams of jackets, Clete can use his bulk as a weapon, if needed or if taunted to anger. Here, he is restrains Robicheaux and leads him away from confrontation, danger, and death. However, Robicheaux hears too clearly the paddleboat coming as his exhaustion and despair overtakes him. Clete tells his friend that he will not allow that to happen. As the story progresses, the reader recognizes the illusions that the characters experience. No quarter is given to the health and safety of the family. Death appears to be the only solution.
– Wasp.
Glazed Murder
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Glazed Murder is a Donut Shop Mystery. Suzanne Hart is the owner of Donut Hearts coffee shop in North Carolina. Here Suzanne has opened a shop selling her true passion: donuts. This first book in the new series starts with a dead body being dumped in front of Suzanne's shop and things go downhill from there. Suzanne's ex-husband shows up wanting her back ( he cheated on her), and she soon finds that her snooping gets her in trouble. Glazed Murder is a fun cozy mystery with interesting characters and a good sleuth. A worthy read.
– Wendy R.
Look Again
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Your adopted son's picture shows up on a missing child's flyer and you freak out. That's what happens to Ellen, mom of Will. Ellen uses her skills as an investigative reporter to dig into the sketchy details of her son's past. The idyllic couple, who Will belongs to, have skeletons in their closet, which are revealed, along with the dangerous way Will became Ellen's son.
– Laura B.
Miss Pym Disposes
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A different sort of mystery - less mystery, more character study. I liked the protagonist and will read more by this author.
–elasher
Three Bags Full: a sheep detective story
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Funny and very interesting book. A sheepherder is murdered and his sheep try to figure out what happened. But the author does the sheeps' perspectives very well (as far as I know...) - they are not interested in the things a person would have noticed and they are very interested in things that people would not notice. A good read.
–elasher
Witch Way to Murder
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This was an interesting twist to the regular murder mystery. A librarian who is a witch----and solves crimes too!
– jf
Young Adult
The Book Thief
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A new twist here. The book's narrator, and story teller, is Death itself. The story revolves around a young girl who has, during WW II, been close to death's work several times. Although, evading it herself, it has watched her, and tells her story.
–Jean.
Fahrenheit 451
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If you really don't like classic books that teachers make you read, you will change your mind after reading this. Written in 1946 Bradbury shows how human ignorance can ruin people and societal values as a whole. The main character must realize that he needs to get his point of view out.
– Dan M.
The Incarceron
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In a perfectly preserved society that has been frozen in a more innocent time period, all of the world's evils have been trapped and contained in a fiercely secured prison known as Incarceron. But what if the bad things in the world cannot be escaped, because they are bred within human nature? Incarceron presents a chilling world that consists of two constricted worlds: a prison with a mind of its own and a world frozen in time. The young prisoner Finn tries to escape from Incarceron into an Outside that he sees in his memories, while the future queen Claudia tries to escape an unwanted fate. Through two mysterious crystal keys, Finn and Claudia help each other escape, remember, and discover the truth of who they really are. "or is that man contains within himself the seeds of evil? That even if he is placed in a paradise perfectly formed for him he will poison it, slowly, with his own jealousies and desires?"
–Kelsey