Independence Public Library Staff Favorites

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

2012-02-08T13:13:00.001-06:00

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.
The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and aliens willing to fight for them are common. The universe, it turns out, is a hostile place.
So: we fight. To defend Earth (a target for our new enemies, should we let them get close enough) and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has gone on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.
Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force, which shields the home planet from too much knowledge of the situation. What's known to everybody is that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve your time at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.
John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine-and what he will become is far stranger.

I have been on a sci fi kick lately and it all started with this book. It’s kind of like an updated starship troopers, following a soldier through training and into combat. I couldn’t put the book down and once I finished it I went on to read most of this authors other books.

-John

The Young Victoria

2011-11-01T10:28:00.001-05:00

This beautifully done, and well acted film is about Queen Victoria, from the beginning of her reign through her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. Beloved by her subjects in her lifetime and now, this portrait of a queen is a pleasant movie to watch. I enjoyed it so much I watched it twice!

~Sara

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-11-01T10:22:00.001-05:00

Katniss Everdeen is your average 16 year old of Panem. Panem is the name of post-apocalyptic North America, which has been divided into 12 Districts that are all controlled by the Capitol. Conditions under the Capitol's control are less than ideal. People starve, freeze to death, work in extremely hazardous conditions, and are very poor. Oh, and there's one more thing. Each year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 17 are selected from each district to fight to the death. They are called tributes. Of 24 tributes only one can go home alive. The victor is guaranteed comfortable living for the remainder of their life, and their entire district will be given enough food for one year. Hence the Hunger Games. Each year the Capitol hosts the Games to remind the districts of the "Dark Days," in which the districts rebelled against the Capitol and ultimately fell under the Capitol's rule. Katniss Everdeen hates the Capitol, hates being sick and starved all the time, and hates that her father has been killed working in the mines all for the sake of the precious Capitol. Read the Hunger Games and find out just what she plans to do about it.

~Allison

The Reversal by Michael Connelly

2011-11-01T10:20:00.001-05:00

After years as a respected defense attorney, Mickey Haller continued his stellar career as a state prosecutor by convicting the infamous Jason Jessup with a brutal child murder. Now, 24 years later, DNA evidence clears Jessup of the crime. Convinced of Jessup's guilt, Haller calls on LAPD Detective Harry Bosch to uncover the truth before the killing resumes.

~Becky

Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook: Hannah Swensen’s Recipes from The Cookie Jar

2011-11-01T10:17:00.001-05:00

Join Hannah, from Fluke's Hannah Swensen mystery series, and all the other folks of Lake Eden for a holiday cookie exchange. This is a unique cookbook, full of sweets and delectable delights, perfect for the holiday season. It makes me wish I had a houseful of kids to cook for. There are twists to traditional recipes such as Hannah's Special Carrot Cakeand some interesting new ideas like Grilled Cream Cheese Sandwiches. As for the cookie recipes for the cookie exchange, I want to try the Kiss My Grits Cookies and the Cranberry Pineapple Drop Cookies! But wait, there is more. This cookbook has a few savory items that I am sure you will want to try as well. So, enjoy the conversations of the Lake Eden residents at their holiday cookie exchange, and maybe it will encourage you to have one of your own this year.

~Julie H.

David Crockett: The Lion of the West by Michael Wallis

2011-09-01T10:47:00.001-05:00

I just finished reading "David Crockett: The Lion of the West", by Michael Wallis, Tulsa author of many books. Michael Wallis is an excellent story teller and he has written books ranging from "Pretty Boy Floyd to Route 66 to Billy The Kid". Mr. Wallis was also the voice of the Sheriff in the Pixar movie Cars.
It has been said, “reading a Michael Wallis book is like dancing to a romantic ballad. He offers his hand and gently guides you across the floor, swaying to the song of the American West.”
In his book about the "the real David Crockett", Mr. Wallis writes to distinguish fact from fiction. David Crockett never referred to himself as Davy. He did die at The Alamo but he did not kill a bear when he was only three, though he did love bear hunting. He did not wear a coonskin cap except in publicity photographs. He liked to drink and party, was a failure as a husband and family man. He was most comfortable in the woods hunting bear though he did spend some time in Washington, DC.
I discovered the history we've been taught is not always the real story and that truth is often even more interesting than the romanticized fiction.

~Nancy

King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard

2011-09-01T10:45:00.001-05:00

Long before Indiana Jones, there was Allan Quatermain. Written in 1885, this classic book relates the death-defying journey of Quatermain and his companions in South Africa to find diamonds and a missing man. A great adventure story!

~Blinn

She Walks in Beauty by Caroline Kennedy

2011-09-01T10:43:00.001-05:00

I love poetry, and I especially love Caroline Kennedy's collection of poems that inspired her during her lifetime. This anthology captures the essence of being a woman at different stages in our lives, falling in love, breaking up, marriage, having children, working, growing old, and death. These ordinary moments seem extraordinary by poems that evoke emotion, insight, and clarity.
Caroline's mother, Jacqueline, had her children give her poems every holiday. What a wonderful idea! I wish I had started this tradition when my daughter was young, but it is not too late to start! Jessica, for Christmas please give me a poem that resonates with you, I will treasure it always.

~Julie Hildebrand

Room by Emma Donoghue

2011-06-29T12:07:00.001-05:00

I read Room this weekend; I look forward to discussing this in our book club! Based loosely on the Elisabeth Fritzl case, and written in the voice of five-year-old Jack, it is a gripping look at life held in the captivity of a mad man. It is not gruesome or heavy on the horrors they lived through, but fascinating in that it is written from the viewpoint of a boy, born in room, and a mother who loved him dearly.

-Julie

Morning Glory

2011-04-30T15:00:00.001-05:00

Morning Glory is about a hard working young producer Becky, who dreams of being the executive producer of The Today Show, but her dream is cut short when she gets fired from a local morning show. Desperate to get back in the business she persistently calls and submits resume after resume to every morning show until she finally gets a break when called in to interview for "Daybreak", a failing morning show with warring co-hosts, after little success and poor ratings the company decides to cancel the show, but refusing to give up Becky defies all odds and sends the ratings sky high in a matter of 6 weeks giving the show a second chance. It was light, fun, and inspiring too! Great Cast and an all together great movie.

Kriztina

The Jungle By Upton Sinclair

2011-04-30T14:56:00.001-05:00

This novel essentially depicts the corruption of the meatpacking industry, and the commercially induced poverty in America at the beginning of the 20th century. It follows a Lithuanian family that immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the hopes, dreams, and promising job opportunities they were solicited in their small Lithuanian village. They quickly learn the harsh reality of the "opportunites" that await them. The are forced to live and work under extremely morbid conditions, as well as relinquish most of their core values and beliefs, just to survive. The reader accompanies the characters as they attempt to grow and prosper as a family, but instead we witness them slowly unravel into a state of destitution and degradation. The novel is based on fictional characters, but supposedly the author depicts realistic situations and events of the time. The book ultimately prompted the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. These would lay the groundwork for the Food and Drug Administration which was established in 1930. Towards the end of the novel it turns into a campaign for socialism, but overall a good read!!!

What is the What by Dave Eggers

2011-04-30T14:53:00.001-05:00

This story begins with Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys, being bound and gagged, not in Sudan, but in Atlanta, Georgia where he was attending college. He blends his memories of Sudan with the circumstance he finds himself in, being held against his will by a boy who was about the same age Valentino was when he was facing the atrocities of war.

The memoir tells, in the young boy’s voice, what it was like to live in the Dinka tribe in the village of Marial Bal in Sudan. In 1983 the second Sudanese civil war decimated Deng’s village, killing his parents and leaving him alone to live as one of the 20,000 Lost Boys who walked thousand of miles to try to find safety. Most of these boys were no older than 10, many not strong enough to withstand the dangers of starvation, dehydration, lions, and the Arab militia.

The reader is not bombarded with non-stop grotesque war stories, although there are many, but it builds an understanding of what it was like for a young boy to live through the impossible, and to end up in America with hope.

Julie

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

2011-03-22T10:50:00.001-05:00

I recently loaded this to my kindle on the recommendation of a friend, I planned to slowly ready it over the course of a week. Unfortunately that did not work out I read the entire book in one sitting then loaded the sequel and read that entire thing right after that. Sandman Slim is the story of a wizard who was banished to hell by his friends, he survived in hell fighting in gladiator pits and eventually escaped and now he wants answers and revenge! Make no mistake this is popcorn fare but it sure was fun reading these books and it’s a good addition to the urban fantasy genre.

~John

World Without End by Ken Follet

2011-03-22T10:42:00.001-05:00

Although this is a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, it doesn't matter which order you read them in. They are both set in Kingsbridge, but they take place 200 years apart.

The story begins in 1327 with four kids who witness two men who are murdered in the forest. As the years progress each of the children's lives unfold and intertwine. Written with the same ferocity as The Pillars of the Earth you get a real sense of time and place. One of the main historical events that is a centerpiece in the story is the plague. The novel concludes by tying together the beginning murders to the lives of each of the main characters.

If you enjoy historical fiction I highly recommend Ken Follett's novels about Kingsbridge, a medieval town where life is harsh and can be cut very short in an instant.

Now on to Follett's new book, Fall of Giants, the first in a new trilogy!

~Julie

Collage Journeys by Jane Davies

2011-03-22T10:40:00.001-05:00

If you're looking for some creative ideas as you journal or for scrap-booking this is a great book. Like any typical book on journal techniques is offers a wide array of pictures contributed by artists. However, the most enjoyable part of this book is the variety of writing prompts that it includes. If you've been struggling with writers block then this is the book for you. Don't wait another moment to check out our fantastic copy of Collage Journeys.

~Marisa

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

2011-02-23T10:30:00.001-06:00

Two women in modern-day Kabul, Afghanistan survive war with the Soviets, Mujahideen, Taliban, and an abusive husband. This novel is a great window into a faraway and mysterious country now intimately connected to our own.

Blinn

Bella

2011-02-23T10:28:00.001-06:00

Bella: is a fabulous story of love and redemption. When Jose finds out that a coworker is pregnant and alone he goes above the call of duty to help out his new friend, Nora. As she struggles with the idea of raising this child her relationship with Jose blossoms and grows. The friendship between these two strangers turns into something far richer than they could ever imagine and the ending to this story is really quite beautiful. I definitely recommend this movie!

Marisa

A Christmas Carol

2011-01-28T10:31:00.001-06:00

A Christmas Carol was a remake of Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Story. The movie was very action packed but it did have some seems that maybe a little scary for younger children. The movie overall the movie was a great holiday movie.

~Darnell Lawrie

Paper Heart

2011-01-28T10:27:00.001-06:00

Paper Heart is a documentary on comedian/musician Charlyne Yi and her search for love. Charlyne never believed in love so she travels the country meeting with single people, couples, friends and family from all walks of life and asks them what their opinions are about love.
During filming she meets Actor Michael Cera at a friends party and soon finds that love may very well exist. I absolutely loved this movie, Charlyne really captures what love truly means by speaking to real people about their real experiences. I highly recommend this movie!

~Kriztina Smith

The Countess by Rebecca Johns

2011-01-28T10:24:00.001-06:00

The Countess is an historical fiction novel that depicts the life of
Countess Elizabeth Bathory de Ecsed, a countess from the renowned Bathory
family of Hungary. She has been labeled as the most prolific female serial
killer in history, but evidence of her crimes is questionable. She will
always be remembered as the "Blood Countess" or the "Blood Queen" who was
accused of torturing and killing hundreds of girls and young women. She was
never convicted, but was imprisoned in a bricked in set of rooms in the
Csejte Castle until her death. Johns' story is carefully researched and
brings a unique perspective on Bathory's life.

~Julie Hildebrand

Louis L’amour

2010-12-03T10:27:00.001-06:00

Last night at the library’s holiday festival I happened to be stationed next to the paperback rack. From there I saw a few Louis L’amour books. I used to read these books all the time so I picked up one and started to skim through it again. It made me recall all the good times I had with these books. Louis L’amour writes some good westerns. The good guys always triumph and get the girl and the bad guys always get what’s coming to them. I suggest starting with the Sackett stories. If westerns don’t interest you he has written a few adventure novels including The Walking Drum and Last of the Breed. Several of his books have been turned into movies, such as Hondo and The Sacketts.

Private By James Patterson

2010-11-18T15:42:00.001-06:00

Private, is a stunning book that will keep your attention until the final page. This book has multiple cases throughout the whole book, from gruesome murders to high stakes gambling that will leave you wanting more. Warning, you will not want to put this book down.

-Darnell

The Lion by Nelson Demille

2010-10-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

Very good. The Lion has returned to the U.S. to seek revenge on the persons responsible for the death of his family. John Corey, Anti-Terrorist Task Force operative, has crossed paths with Khalil (The Lion) before and is determined to stop him.

Becky

The Enchantress of Florence

2010-09-08T10:52:00.001-05:00

I liked this tale full of magic and mystery set in Renaissance Florence and the Mughal Empire of India.

Blinn

The Crazies

2010-09-08T10:50:00.001-05:00

My staff pick is on the new movie The Crazies. My Family and I loved this movie! It was completely different from what we expected it to be. It kept you on the edge and covered so many interests. It was gory, suspenseful, exciting and you could even say controversial. The Movie was about a small town infected with a modified disease formed by the government. The Disease was accidentally distributed to the town through a plane crash that poisoned the water supply. Fearful of a spread, the government ordered for a secret quarantine and took to disposing of the town. A local sheriff his pregnant wife, and his best friend battle through the towns infected and the military that are trying to kill them as they try to make it to the next town to alert people of the conspiracy taking place. It was truly the best Zombie/Conspiracy movie I have ever seen. Five stars!

Kriztina

The Red Queen

2010-09-08T10:48:00.001-05:00

After reading Pillars of the Earth I am on a historical fiction kick. I am now listening to The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory. I am really enjoying it! I have seen other books by this popular author, but this is my first time reading her. The characters are described with such art that you feel you are watching the scenes unfold. What would it be like to be betrothed at nine years old, to be married at twelve, and to be a mother and a widow at 13? The political scheming that manipulates the lives of women, using them as crated swine to produce offspring to jostle for political power, is hard to believe, but Gregory makes it believable, and fascinating. The constant drama keeps the reader thirsty for more. Pass me the ale!

Julie

Ladie’s No. 1 Detective Agency

2010-09-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

Not your usual mystery series, the characters are charming the books radiate the warm African sun and reveals the beauty of Africa and it's humorous characters.

Julie Akeman

Invictus by John Carlin

2010-07-06T11:54:00.001-05:00

Invictus is the story of Nelson Mandella and how the South African rugby united a torn nation. It’s an inspiring story and it shows how the love of sport and team can bring people together. It is an integral part of the story of South Africa. There will be a book discussion focused on this book July 15th at 7:00. The library has both the book and the movie if you are interested!

-John

Malazan Book of the Fallen Series by Steven Erikson

2010-06-25T10:31:00.001-05:00

It’s hard for me to put into words how incredibly awesome this series is. It is literally the best fantasy saga I have read and the author is putting out the books like a machine. The series is set during a tumultuous time in a fantasy land ripped by wars of conquest and wars of rebellion. In these books you will meet multiple near immortal badasses who wander the earth in search of answers, revenge, or just being awesome. You would think a book with so many seemingly overpowered characters would be cheesy and uninteresting especially since they seem to be around every corner; however, Erikson pulls it off well, because there aren’t just these ascendant beings in the books, there’s also simple soldiers just trying to survive, clever mages, manipulating noblemen, and many others.

The first book is Gardens of the Moon and can be a bit hard to grip because it just throws you into the middle of a war with tons of characters you don’t yet know and love. If you need to be spoonfed you won’t like this series but if you tough it out I am sure you will come to love it as much as I do.

P.S. No elves

-John

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

2010-06-23T10:05:00.001-05:00

I listened to this book on a road trip to western Kansas. It is about a man that has been alienated by his family and friends because of his life choices. The story makes you stop and think about if you had one more day with a person that you loved, would you do things differently and what would you do if you did get one more day. This is a book that makes you reflect about your own life and the path that you are on. The choices that we make today affect every aspect of our future. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is available in hard copy as well as audio format.

-Haley

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

2010-06-16T16:29:00.001-05:00

12^th-century England came to life for me while reading this Ken Follett novel. It kept me intrigued and eager to find out what was going to happen next. It is a long book, full of interesting characters whose lives span decades and which are all interwoven into a fascinating plot. There are historic tidbits and storylines that follow life in that time period. I loved the descriptions of classic cathedral architecture, and the settings that show the dominance of the church and the destructive effect the decisions of the church had on people’s lives. I listened to this on an audio book, it took a long time to get through it, but it is well worth the time. Starz and Encore cable networks will be airing a series based on this book beginning on July 23^rd. It looks like it will be really good.

Julie H.

The Blade Itself

2010-06-16T10:19:00.001-05:00

It’s no secret that I used to read a ton of fantasy I’ve read pretty much all of the standard fantasy fare and I got tired of it. Nature loving elves who are always archers, dwarves who all seem to be drunk angry furballs who love to fight, noble barbarians from the north it’s all so bleh to me now I thought I was done with fantasy. But then I discovered several authors who write gritty elf free fantasy and here I am reading fantasy again.

The Blade Itself does have a barbarian from the north: Logen Ninefingers, The Bloody NIne, a savage man steeped in legend one of the most brutal and cruel men from the north so the stories say. But this story is anything but cliche fantasy and the characters are not simple black and white fantasy trope. You will meet a man who tortures people because he was tortured himself, a seemingly immortal wizard with a bit of a temper, and many other people none of them completely good or evil. I read it in two days and immediately ordered the second book in the series.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

2010-06-16T09:59:00.001-05:00

I read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, this book was so good and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fantasy reader, werewolves, vampires, etc. Moon called is book 1 of 5 and its about a girl named Mercy Thompson who is shapeshifter raised by werewolves. When her neighbor an area Alpha’s home gets broken into by another pack and kidnaps his daughter Mercy sets herself to finding and killing the kidnappers. The book has so much, from mystery to romance. I give it a definate 5 stars! I cannot wait to get ahold of book 2!

Kriztina

Law Abiding Citizen

2010-06-11T14:59:00.001-05:00

A disturbing movie about a man who’s family was brutally murdered during a home invasion. After his family’s gruesome murder he decides to take revenge on the murderer’s and on the prosecution. He will stop at nothing to achieve his revenge. This movie is Rated R and should not be viewed by children.

Darnell

The Name of the Rose By Umberto Eco

2010-06-11T14:19:00.001-05:00

A Franciscan monk arrives at a monastery in 14^th century Italy to facilitate a high-level political meeting. While he’s there, several monks fall victim to gruesome murders. Eco’s engrossing mystery is an amazing window into the politics, religion, and culture of Europe during this time period, and is also worth reading for the scenes in the monastery’s labyrinthine library.

Blinn

L. Frank Baum’s OZ

2010-06-11T14:15:00.001-05:00

Most people are familiar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz but you might not know he wrote thirteen other books about OZ. We have several of them on Seknfind. I read these books as a kid and was surprised to find out that most of them were published before 1914 so they are freely available on sites like Project Gutenberg. I loaded several of them on my iphone via the stanza app for my vacation and found that they have generally aged quite well. Start with The Marvelous Land of Oz and work your way through them all, you won’t be disappointed.

John

A few good items!

2010-05-28T18:02:00.001-05:00

Good to the Grain

I recommend Good to the Grain for all the cookbook lovers out there.

It is full of delicious recipes, beautiful photography, and great information about cooking with whole grain flours.

I have got to try to make the recipe from the cover, doesn’t it look mouthwatering?

DVDs coming soon to IPL

The Vicar of Dibley is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. If you like to laugh you must check this out! I do not usually laugh out loud when I watch T.V. but I do when I watch this show!

I am hooked on this series! The DVD makes the stories come alive with the colors and beauty of Botswana, Africa. The characters are so interesting, especially Precious Ramotswe played by Jill Scott! It is good, clean, mysterious fun!

Also coming soon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AII4QI/ref=oss_product

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YABIQ6/ref=oss_product

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GCUER0/ref=oss_product

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009VBTP0/ref=oss_product

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GETTKM/ref=oss_product

Hope you enjoy them!

~Julie H.

The Shining

2010-05-28T17:59:00.000-05:00

The 1980 movie version directed by Stanley Kubrick is a horror classic. But the book is even scarier!

~Blinn

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2010-04-13T12:46:00.001-05:00

Cormac McCarthy is probably one of America’s most unique authors, his style of writing, his reclusive nature and the fact that his books are very good are what helps him remain unique. McCarthy’s stark novels typically do not have happy endings and his sparse use of punctuation and style of writing make his books difficult to read. I would say his two most accessible books are The Road, and No Country for Old Men.

The Road is a story of a man and his son trying to survive after a devastating event brought the world to its knees. They contend with starvation, brutal weather, and bands of roving cannibals. This might sound kind of bleak and believe me it is, but it makes for a good tale I highly suggest this book and will be leading a Book Discussion Saturday, May 1st at 2:00 PM. If you are interested pick up a book at the front desk.

John Long

Rework by Jason Fried

2010-04-13T12:33:00.001-05:00

This is a fun business how-to book; yes, that was fun and business in the same sentence. This book offers quirky, silly, and even useful business advice. The subject “Hire when it hurts” asks if you lose someone, should you replace them immediately? The answer is no, find out why. Under “You don’t create a culture” it shows how culture is the by-product of consistent behavior, “like fine scotch, you’ve got to give it time to develop.” The book quotes Henry Ford, “If I’d listened to customers, I’d have given them a faster horse.” The point is to say “no” by default; it is easy to be overly optimistic. “You rarely regret saying no, but you often regret saying yes.” Oh my, I can really relate to that one!

This is an easy to read, fun to read, quick to read, read. Read it!

Julie Hildebrand

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

2010-03-16T11:50:00.001-05:00

This book was so much fun to read! It follows the exact same story as the classic Pride and Prejudice book but Seth Grahame-Smith turned the characters into Martial arts masters that fight hoards of flesh eating zombies everyday. It really adds a fun exciting twist to Pride and Prejudice that I think can be enjoyed by all ages. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good gory zombie romance!

Kriztina

The Hangover

2010-03-09T11:48:00.001-06:00

I had the pleasure of watching the funniest movie I had ever seen. The Hangover, starring Daniel Goldberg and Heather Graham had me laughing so hard I had to watch it several more times before returning it to the library. The Hangover is a story about 3 groomsmen that plan the party of a lifetime and end up losing the groom. They have to retrace their steps to try to figure out what had transpired the night before and where their buddy is. They are in a rush to find the groom because the wedding is just hours away! I would recommend this movie to anyone that is wanting a good laugh. This is an adult movie and I would not recommend it for children. This film is rated R.

The Lovely Bones

2010-02-26T11:22:00.001-06:00

The Lovely Bones has been released as a movie. You can watch the trailer below.

The book is about a 14-year-old murder victim, Susie Salmon who was raped and killed by her neighbor. Susie goes to heaven where she observes how her death has affected her friends and family.

Her father suspects the neighbor, but goes crazy because he can’t prove anything.

Some parts were gripping, others forgettable. I have a feeling the movie will be better than the book. I can’t wait to see it.

~Julie

Bruno

2010-02-12T16:48:00.001-06:00

It was hilarious! It was from the same guy who did Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) and he was simply amazing! Now don't get me wrong this movie was raunchy, vulgar, sexually explicit and completely over the top. I don't recommend letting anyone under 17 watching and if you can't handle crude comedy...don't watch this movie!!

Aaron

Pursuit of Honor

2010-02-04T12:57:00.001-06:00

The action begins six days after a series of explosions devastated Washington, D.C., targeting the National Counterterrorism Center and killing 185 people, including public officials and CIA employees. It was a bizarre act of extreme violence that called for extreme measures on the part of elite counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp and his trusted team member, Mike Nash. Now that the initial shock of the catastrophe is over, key Washington officials are up in arms over whether to make friends or foes of the agents who stepped between the enemy's bullets and countless American lives regardless of the legal consequences. Not for the first time, Rapp finds himself in the frustrating position of having to illustrate the realities of national security to politicians whose view from the sidelines is inevitably obstructed.

Mitch Rapp is back. A very fast paced, heart pounding political thriller.

Becky

The Things They Carried

2010-02-04T12:17:00.001-06:00

Tim O'Brien artfully weaves truths and half truths in a stunning series of connected stories all based on a fictional squad he was a member of in Vietnam. The great majority of the stories are a mixture of gallows humor mixed with moments of stark violence and tragedy. I picked the book up not knowing it was fiction and it was only half way through when he started talking about the merits of truth that I began to doubt myself. A quick check verified that it was indeed a "Fiction" book.
Truth or not I think that the feelings the soldiers in this book felt are probably pretty close to what a lot of the soldiers who served in Vietnam felt and I didn't put the book down until i was on the last page.

Thursday, January 28th at 5 PM I will be leading a book discussion centered around this book. Feel free to join us books are available for checkout at the main desk.

John