Good Reads & Views

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson 
CD Audiobook Patterson, James 

This is a sweet enjoyable book about a woman, Jennifer, a newspaper columnist with the Chicago Tribune who is mourning the loss of her husband when she receives word that her grandmother, Sam, is in a coma.  She travels up to Lake Geneva to be by her grandmother's side when she discovers a stack of letters written by her grandmother addressed to her.  The letters reveal that her grandfather was not the great love of her life. Instead, Sam was swept off her feet by a man whom she still loves to this day. Jennifer learns secrets about her grandmother and at the same time finds herself falling for a handsome neighbor Brendan.  This is wonderfully narrated by actress Anne Heche. 

Shepherd’s Abiding by Jan Karon  
CD Book Karon, Jan

Father Tim is back for the eighth installment of the Mitford series by Jan Karon.  In this installment of the series, Jan Karon gives us a glimpse into what Christmas would be like in the little town of Mitford.  Father Timothy Cavanaugh refinishes an old nativity scene that he finds in very bad condition, a gift for his wife Cynthia, the children’s book author.   While some of the more common characters don’t play as big of a role as they usually do, the book gives us a better idea of who some of the other characters are like in the story such as Lew Boyd and Hope Winchester.  John McDonough once again does a delightful job narrating.   

House Rules by Jodi Picoult  
CD Audiobook Picoult, Jodi  

Set in New Hampshire, this is another interesting story by Jodi Picoult.  Jakob Hunt is an 18 year old high school student with Asperger’s Syndrome.  Jakob likes a television show called “Crime Busters” and creates crime scenes and often shows up at real life crime scenes using his police scanner often telling police what to do.  When his social skills tutor, Jess Ogilvy, is found dead Jakob and his family are drawn into the spotlight when he is accused of the murder.  His mother Emma, brother Theo, lawyer Oliver and his father create the circle of support to get him through the trial.  A full cast narration makes this a great novel to listen to.

Negative Image by Vicki Delany
FIC Delany, Vicki

A murder in the mountain town of Trafalgar B.C. turns personal for Sergeant John Winters when an old and very revealing photo of his wife, Eliza, is found with the victim, a has been fashion photographer.  When Eliza becomes a suspect and Sergeant Winters is taken off the case constable Molly Smith must work the case without her caring mentor replaced with a less than understanding Royal Canadian Mounted Police detective who wants to look no further than Eliza. This mixture of crime solving and small town life is fast paced from start to finish.

The Doctor’s Wife by Elizabeth Brundage
FIC Brundage, Elizabeth

Doctor Michael Knowles seems to be living the American dream. He is a highly regarded Ob/Gyn, his wife is a popular professor at the local girls’ college, they have 2 children and a house in the country.  Their idyllic life changes dramatically when the already overworked doctor gets involved in increasingly dangerous work at an abortion clinic and his bored wife turns to an artist from the college for solace and more. When the neurotic wife of the artist joins an anti-abortion lunatic fringe group the lives of everyone are endangered.  An edgy and compelling read full of thought provoking issues.

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
643.1 BRY

Bill Bryson knows how to make history entertaining. The man asks questions that perhaps no one else would think to ask and look through obscure texts by the score to come up with quirky facts that not only amuse but help illuminate his points. For example, the Crystal Palace at London’s Great Exhibition was the idea of an accomplished head gardener named Joseph Paxton, who based his iron-and-glass design on that of a greenhouse. Window glass had been expensive up to that time and cheaper plate glass had only recently been invented, so the sight of that much glass dazzled visitors and made the building a standout.
In this book, Bryson takes on the evolution of the English and American house, from modest one-room beginnings through huge manor homes to our modern day abodes. What he discovered is that a history of the house is a discussion of all of the great inventions of the ages and how they have affected the way we live.
If you like Bryson’s quirky style, check out the books of Mary Roach.

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria and Warren Pleece
YA 741.5 ABE

Think it’s cool to be a vampire? Dave Miller doesn’t think so. After his convenience store boss, Radu, bites him, Dave (a former vegetarian) is stuck working the night shift and drinking blood for all eternity. Then a Goth girl named Rosa comes into his store, and Dave’s afterlife takes on new meaning. But can he tell her the truth? This story might appeal to fans of “Freaks and Geeks” and “Supernatural.” Life Sucks has been included on a number of recommended graphic novel lists, including YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2009.

Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry selected by Billy Collins
811.608 POE

During his tenure as Poet Laureate of the United States, Billy Collins selected these short, clear, contemporary poems for a project called Poetry 180, in which poems could be read aloud at high schools—just for the joy of hearing a poem each day. Collins, who was Poet Laureate from 2001-2003, is known for the humorous tone of many of his poems; that spirit is evident in his Introduction to this collection. The poems range from funny (yet thoughtful), as in Collins’ own poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to joyful (“Birth Day” by Elise Paschen)—to painful (“Before She Died” by Karen Chase). While high school students were the intended audience of the poems, adults—even those who do not claim to love poetry—can find much to enjoy in this collection, which lends itself to opening to a random page and reading a poem… or two.

Ape House by Sara Gruen
CD Audiobook Gruen, Sara

From the author of the wildly popular Water for Elephants, this novel also revolves around animals: bonobo apes, whose communication abilities make them seem startlingly similar to humans. The story begins with the visit of a reporter, John, to the language lab where the apes receive loving care from researchers, including a woman named Isabel. Early on, things take a shocking turn when the lab is bombed and the apes escape, only to turn up as the (exploited) stars of their own reality TV show. Meanwhile, Isabel faces the challenge of recovering from the injuries she suffered during the explosion, as well as the pain of being separated from her ape “family.” John’s life also is turned upside-down as he and his wife face a challenging time in their marriage and in their professional lives. The plot twists and the narration by Paul Boehmer combine to make this a fine audiobook.

Final Target by Steven Gore
FIC Gore, Steven

In this debut thriller, Graham Gage, ex-cop turned private investigator, finds himself in a race against the FBI and Ukraine gangsters to solve a stock swindle and arms deal to save his friend who unwittingly became involved with both.  In spite of detailed legalese and multilayer plots this is a fast placed ride in corporate fraud and international crime full of suspense and intrigue.