House Lust, by Daniel McGinn, is a testament to Americans’ obsession with their homes, their neighbors’ homes, and the real estate market.  The house, once a place simply for shelter, is now considered a status symbol, an investment vehicle, and an expression of oneself.  New realty television shows based on home purchasing, renovating, and selling captivate millions of viewers as do the more traditional home and garden shows.  Even now, as the home market has crashed and foreclosures are at an all time high, the passion is still there as owners continue to add on, move up, or downsize.  The reasons for this real estate appetite are discussed in McGinn’s book with humor, fact, and social commentary. (Lori)

Touch and Go: A Memoir, by Studs Terkel.  Studs Terkel is the bestselling author of 12 books of oral history, including Working and The Good War.  Now, at age 95, he has written about his own life, the many interesting people he has known, and his love for his hometown, Chicago.  Although his writing style is somewhat rambling, his memory for details is fantastic, and he tells some great stories going back as far as the 1920s.  This is a slice of American history told with charm and wit. (Susan).

Before Green Gables, by Budge Wilson. If you enjoy the "Anne of Green Gables" books or movies, you'll find this prequel to be a believable beginning to the life of Anne Shirley.  The author takes Anne from her birthplace in Nova Scotia, through her early years with foster families, until she departs for her new life on Prince Edward Island.  Highly imaginative from the start, young Anne Shirley is delightful.  The reader is able to get re-acquainted with this main character, as if meeting an old friend. (Nancy).
 

Jim the Boy, by Tony Earley. A year in the life of ten-year old Jim, who lives in a small town in depression era North Carolina with his widowed mother and his uncles. Folksy, plain language make for a quick read: think Hemingway meets the Waltons. Emotions a-plenty, but no gushing or syrup here. It’s amazing the author can sustain the restraint and grace for the length of a novel albeit a short one. I can’t wait to read the sequel, The Blue Star. (Robert).

The Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions DVD series includes programs on Arthritis, Back Pain, Fibromyalgia, Heart Health, High Blood Pressure, Insomnia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Menopause.  The videos are a collaboration between the Mayo Clinic and Gaiam, a Colorado-based company that provides information, products and services related to natural health and ecological lifestyles.  Mayo physicians and Gaiam lifestyle experts combine mind, body and spirit techniques to provide an integrative approach to healing.  Contributors believe in the human body’s innate capacity to heal itself.  Included with each video is a “Stress Solution” booklet to help viewers form their own action plans for healing. (Sarah).