Good Reads & Views

Life's Healing Choices by John Baker
Nonfiction

This is a powerful book, written by John Baker, the founder of Celebrate Recovery, a Christ centered 12 Step program based on biblical principles. The perception of Celebrate Recovery and this book may seem to be more directed at substance abuse issues such as drugs and alcohol but that’s so NOT TRUE. Everyone has some form of hurts, habits or hang-ups that they need help identifying. This book helps you do that in such a way that while you are identifying your flaws and character defects, you still feel encouraged and know that there is hope and freedom. I HIGHLY recommend reading this book and finding a Celebrate Recovery in your area!

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The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand              
Fiction

Another novel written by Elin Hilderbrand that is filled with rumors about some of the residents who live on beautiful Nantucket Island. The residents in the line of fire include Grace Pancik and her real estate husband Fast Eddie, who live in a beautiful house with their twin teenage daughters Allegra and Hope; Grace’s best friend Madeline King, a novelist, her husband Trevor and son Brick, who is dating Allegra and who are Grace and Eddie’s best friends; Eddie’s sister, Barbie who is also his business partner and Grace’s Gardner, Benton Coe. Rumors are running rampant and everyone is wondering who started them, if they are true and when and how will they stop. The audiobook is narrated by Erin Bennett, Kathleen McInerney and Rick Zieff.

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The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

The White Queen is the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the commoner and former Lancaster supporter, who married the newly crowned Edward IV from the house of York. They married in secret, for love, and kept it quiet for a time because marriages during that time among nobles were arranged for political alliances. The book starts in 1463 when Elizabeth first meets Edward until 1485 when Edward's brother Richard III holds the throne. Gregory’s books are always meticulously researched and often contain extensive bibliographies. By using the first person, she fills in the thoughts of Elizabeth as well as the behind the scenes dealings in the king's court. Perfect for lovers of historical fiction who appreciate a good read.

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Crosstalk by Connie Willis
Fiction

Want to get more connected with your love interest? Briddey Flannigan does in this quirky novel that blends screwball romantic comedy with science fiction. In the near future, a trendy new surgery known as EED makes it possible to open emotional pathways between two people. Briddey plans to get the surgery with her co-worker and boyfriend Trent, despite objections from her nosey Irish-American family and her nerdy colleague, C. B. Schwartz. But soon after the EED, Briddey realizes that she isn’t connected with Trent; instead, her head is filled with C. B.’s thoughts. Briddey’s desperate attempts to keep her telepathic connection with C.B. a secret lead to a series of hilarious misunderstandings as well as some frightening threats to her privacy and sanity. This satirical yet warm-hearted commentary on modern society dependent on electronic connections might make you want to disconnect with your technology, but you’ll be laughing while you do it.

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The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Fiction

Grouchy Department Q Detective Carl Morck and his assistants, Assad and Rose, get to work on a supposed suicide from over two decades ago that may have been murder. Their investigation reveals that several other people disappeared at the same time and were never heard from or seen again. Publishers Weekly writes the following: “Adler-Olsen merges story lines from 1955, 1987, and 2010 with ingenious aplomb, effortlessly mixing hilarities with horrors. . . This crime fiction tour de force could only have been devised by an author who can even turn stomach flu into a belly laugh.” And Library Journal opines that the book "has a lot to offer to fans of Scandinavian procedurals, grumpy heroes, and hilariously dysfunctional workmates." This is the fourth installment in the series that started with The Keeper of Lost Causes.

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The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Nonfiction

This is a fantastic book focused around Dr. van der Kolk's work throughout his career on the issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to combat veterans, victims of accidents and crimes, abuse victims, etc. I liked The Body Keeps the Score because it explained in detail the brain’s reaction to trauma and how it effects the body. I found comfort in finally being able to understand that you are not defined by your trauma, but you are programmed by it. This book has also been a great tool for learning about other types of therapeutic approaches that one might want to explore for themselves. This book is not light reading, but it’s written in such a way as to educate a layperson with an interest in the topics.

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Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves
Fiction

It’s Christmas time and Detective Joe Ashworth’s young daughter discovers an old woman stabbed to death on a crowded metro train. Joe’s boss Vera Stanhope starts to investigate and shortly thereafter another woman ends up dead. As Vera begins her research into the past of the two women, the denizens of the town where the murdered women lived seem to be rather reluctant to cooperate with Vera’s inquiries. Any case Vera works on makes for great reading and the surprise ending here did not disappoint. Each title in the series can be read independently, but if you want to read them in order, start with The Crow Trap.

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Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
Fiction

This is the first of a trilogy taking the reader through Marie Antoinette's life and death. Told in the first person (mostly) from Marie's point of view the reader is submerged in history. Throughout this story, Juliet Grey shows the reader a different view versus most other novels about Marie Antoinette. Before reading fictional history, I personally like to investigate how accurate they are. After exploring more about Juliet Grey herself as an author, I was pleased to learn that as a historical novel, this one is very well researched with amazing details.

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Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Fiction

This is King’s follow-up to his 1977 book The Shining, which established him as the successful writer he has become. Doctor Sleep won the 2013 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel and I’d be remiss to give away too much of the plot. Danny Torrance, the young boy in The Shining, is now an adult with issues that can be traced back to the horrible events of his childhood. A young girl shares the same powers he has but there’s a group of people, especially their charismatic leader, who wants them both dead. RVs and their traveling owners are involved, so are the measles (yup!), recovering alcoholics, and a cat, together with some remnants of the first book. I found this follow-up much more enjoyable than the first one, possibly due to the fact that King is now much older and demonstrably much wiser.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson             
Nonfiction       

Jenny Lawson writes a candid book about depression and anxiety, but the reader is not at all depressed at the end of the story.  In the follow up to her first book Let’s pretend this never happened listeners laugh out loud at the craziness of her taxidermist father helping her with the raccoon for the cover of this book and how she has driven her husband crazy over the last 18 years.  Her weird life is told by her, the author, as she narrates her own audiobook.  A brilliant move because no one else would be able to tell the tales of her life.  Along the way she inspires people by coming out about her illnes and in return is moved and inspired by their messages of hope.