Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson. Set in the near-distant future, this YA novel asks the question – what makes us human? Jenna wakes up and discovers that she has been in a coma and is still recovering from a serious car crash. This young woman has many questions but is unable to remember any details of her life. She puzzles over her past as she watches home movies on DVD, reflecting on how much attention had been paid to her by her adoring parents over the years. As memories return, Jenna starts to piece together the mystery of her body, reconstructed after the accident, and the truth is revealed about who she really is. The book raises some fundamental issues about bio-medical ethics and the nature of the soul. Characters are deftly constructed and the well-written plot moves along at a satisfying pace. I highly recommend the book on CD. The narrator, Jenna Lamia, brings Jenna Fox to life, lending a sympathetic voice to the lead character who is embarking upon a journey of discovery.
(Paulette)
Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs by Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand. If you have ever seen and been captivated by the television series, “Deadliest Catch”, or if you love to read about real life adventure, you will want to read this book. Brothers Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, along with their crew, risk their lives every king crab fishing season on the Bering Sea. In order to bring in their lucrative catch, the men must survive icy water, cold and punishing winds, brutal rogue waves, and the dangers of setting and retrieving 1000 lb steel traps from the swaying and heaving ship deck. Not only does this book describe those on ship exploits, it also delves a bit into their off-season lives, recounting tales of their raucous childhood and current adult adventures and interests. (Lori)
Rediscover an old favorite with The A. B. C. Murders,by Agatha Christie. Originally published in 1936, it is one of several Christie mysteries reissued in hardcover by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. This story stars the eccentric, egotistical Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and his friend Captain Hastings. Poirot must track down a maniacal murderer, who chooses his victims alphabetically, and warns Poirot with a boastful letter before each crime occurs. The first victim is Alice Ascher in Andover. Christie's books are accessible and humorous, but still intelligent and mysterious. She is a great choice for those mystery fans who favor clues over corpses, cross-examination over gore, and intelligent contemplation over violent speech. Other Christie titles recently acquired by the library include: At Bertram's Hotel, The Body in the Library, Murder at the Vicarage, and Murder on the Orient Express. (Sarah)
A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery)by Rhys Bowen. This is the second installment in this series set in 1930’s London featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Georgiana enjoys the prestige of being 34th in line for the throne and is called upon by the Queen to take on delicate diplomatic tasks. However, the family fortune was squandered by her father, so Georgiana secretly moonlights cleaning the houses of her peers, which puts her in both enlightening and amusing situations. In this episode, the Queen has burdened her with supervising a young visiting princess who attracts trouble and becomes embroiled in a murder. This book is especially recommended to anyone who likes an old-fashioned mystery with a thoroughly likeable heroine and a bit of humor. (Sue)
Bella, (DVD) is a beautiful tale of how family relationships can offer hope and healing. A struggling, young waitress loses her job, triggering a series of events that change her life. Don't miss the DVD's special features which include the filmmaker's story of how he produced the movie and launched its distribution, apart from the Hollywood mainstream. (Nancy)
Lombardi and Me: Players, Coaches, and Colleagues Talk About the Man and the Myth, by Paul Hornung with Billy Reed. If you are a fan of the Green Bay Packers, you will enjoy getting to know more about their legendary coach, Vince Lombardi. This book was the idea of Paul Hornung, who had a father-son type relationship with Lombardi. He wanted people to understand more about the man who was such a big influence on his career and life. For this book, he selected men who knew Lombardi well (with the exception of David Maraniss), and he and Billy Reed interviewed them. The result is fascinating memories from Packer greats like Jerry Kramer, Jim Taylor, Willie Davis and many others, as well as some wonderful photographs of Lombardi and the players. (Susan)
Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson. Set in the near-distant future, this YA novel asks the question – what makes us human? Jenna wakes up and discovers that she has been in a coma and is still recovering from a serious car crash. This young woman has many questions but is unable to remember any details of her life. She puzzles over her past as she watches home movies on DVD, reflecting on how much attention had been paid to her by her adoring parents over the years. As memories return, Jenna starts to piece together the mystery of her body, reconstructed after the accident, and the truth is revealed about who she really is. The book raises some fundamental issues about bio-medical ethics and the nature of the soul. Characters are deftly constructed and the well-written plot moves along at a satisfying pace. I highly recommend the book on CD. The narrator, Jenna Lamia, brings Jenna Fox to life, lending a sympathetic voice to the lead character who is embarking upon a journey of discovery.
(Paulette)
Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs by Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand. If you have ever seen and been captivated by the television series, “Deadliest Catch”, or if you love to read about real life adventure, you will want to read this book. Brothers Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, along with their crew, risk their lives every king crab fishing season on the Bering Sea. In order to bring in their lucrative catch, the men must survive icy water, cold and punishing winds, brutal rogue waves, and the dangers of setting and retrieving 1000 lb steel traps from the swaying and heaving ship deck. Not only does this book describe those on ship exploits, it also delves a bit into their off-season lives, recounting tales of their raucous childhood and current adult adventures and interests. (Lori)
Rediscover an old favorite with The A. B. C. Murders,by Agatha Christie. Originally published in 1936, it is one of several Christie mysteries reissued in hardcover by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. This story stars the eccentric, egotistical Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and his friend Captain Hastings. Poirot must track down a maniacal murderer, who chooses his victims alphabetically, and warns Poirot with a boastful letter before each crime occurs. The first victim is Alice Ascher in Andover. Christie's books are accessible and humorous, but still intelligent and mysterious. She is a great choice for those mystery fans who favor clues over corpses, cross-examination over gore, and intelligent contemplation over violent speech. Other Christie titles recently acquired by the library include: At Bertram's Hotel, The Body in the Library, Murder at the Vicarage, and Murder on the Orient Express. (Sarah)
A Royal Pain (A Royal Spyness Mystery)by Rhys Bowen. This is the second installment in this series set in 1930’s London featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Georgiana enjoys the prestige of being 34th in line for the throne and is called upon by the Queen to take on delicate diplomatic tasks. However, the family fortune was squandered by her father, so Georgiana secretly moonlights cleaning the houses of her peers, which puts her in both enlightening and amusing situations. In this episode, the Queen has burdened her with supervising a young visiting princess who attracts trouble and becomes embroiled in a murder. This book is especially recommended to anyone who likes an old-fashioned mystery with a thoroughly likeable heroine and a bit of humor. (Sue)
Bella, (DVD) is a beautiful tale of how family relationships can offer hope and healing. A struggling, young waitress loses her job, triggering a series of events that change her life. Don't miss the DVD's special features which include the filmmaker's story of how he produced the movie and launched its distribution, apart from the Hollywood mainstream. (Nancy)
Lombardi and Me: Players, Coaches, and Colleagues Talk About the Man and the Myth, by Paul Hornung with Billy Reed. If you are a fan of the Green Bay Packers, you will enjoy getting to know more about their legendary coach, Vince Lombardi. This book was the idea of Paul Hornung, who had a father-son type relationship with Lombardi. He wanted people to understand more about the man who was such a big influence on his career and life. For this book, he selected men who knew Lombardi well (with the exception of David Maraniss), and he and Billy Reed interviewed them. The result is fascinating memories from Packer greats like Jerry Kramer, Jim Taylor, Willie Davis and many others, as well as some wonderful photographs of Lombardi and the players. (Susan)