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.

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

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

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

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

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 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