The Tribe of Tiger

The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and their Culture, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas; Simon and Schuster, 1994.

Reviewed by Kathryn Holmes

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas' book The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and their Culture offers insightful observations of the social lives of domestic and wild cats, from lap loving tabbies to lions and tigers. Of special interest are the descriptions of the author's time spent in African bush country with prides of lions and native tribesmen. I also recommend the book Tricky Business, by Dave Barry, which is a light, humorous story of characters aboard a Florida gambling ship, whose lives change quickly when a gangland doublecross and robbery extinguish the fun. There is more than meets the eye in The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I want to read this one a second time to absorb the wisdom that lies at the conversational crossroads between a Buddhist monk and an American psychiatrist.

Murder on K Street

Murder on K Street, by Margaret Truman. Ballantine Books; 2007.

Reviewed by Linnea Patrick

In Murder on K Street, Margaret Truman explores the world of the power brokers, lobbyists and influence peddlers in our nation's capital. This book is the last--her 23rd--book in Truman's "Capital Crimes" series. The story revolves around a Maryland prosecutor who helps to find the killer of a U.S. Senator's wife. The quest is personal, since the Senator was the prosecutor's closest friend in college. Bestselling fiction writer John Grisham presents The Last Juror, a story about a 23 year old small town newspaper publisher in Mississippi who covers a murder trial. As the trial progresses, the jurors are murdered, one by one. Michael Connelly's mystery novel, The Narrows, is the story of a female FBI agent and an unemployed Los Angeles cop who team up to track down a serial killer. They discover the killer is a former FBI agent who is stalking and killing his former proteges.

Queen Isabella

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England, by Alison Weir; Ballantine Books, 2006

Reviewed by Alice Fraser

Queen Isabella is a compelling and accessibly written account of Isabella of France's marriage into the English royal family. Her husband, Edward II, was bisexual, launching Isabella into situations that pushed the conventional boundaries of her time. This is an interesting portrayal of a charismatic and politically astute woman, and her subsequent rise to power. Lord Jim, by Joseph Conrad, is a classic story of Jim, and his momentous personal struggle with ethics, as seen through the eyes of Captain Marlow. Although this book requires some fortitude to wade through the more viscous half of the narrative, Conrad's writing is full of brilliant descriptive passages. The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, is yet another classic book to enjoy. It is the engrossing story of Dorian Gray and his life of progressive corruption. The novel plays heavily on the themes of beauty, love, death, and morality, and ends with a gruesome twist.

A is for Alibi

A is for Alibi, by Sue Grafton; Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1982

Reviewed by Mike Hamilton

A is for Alibi is a top notch story about Kinsey Millhone, a twice-divorced private eye. Sue Grafton has created a well developed plot studded with interesting places and real characters. Another very good choice is Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach. How do you write a readable, and quite amusing book about cadavers? This author does, and makes an excellent read by taking a unique approach to issues surrounding death. For a change of pace, try C.S. Forester's The Hornblower Series. The series chronicles the career of Horatio Hornblower, from midshipman to top admiral in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The book offers a good glimpse at life in England and other parts of the world at that time.

The Girl With No Shadow

The Girl With No Shadow, by Joanne Harris; Black Swan Publishing, 2008

Reviewed by Cathy Colson

If you enjoy modern fairy tales, read The Girl With No Shadow, the sequel to Joanne Harris' bestselling book Chocolat. The characters have evolved; the romance between Vianne and Roux continues. Do they finally get it together? This book is full of magic and chocolate, with plenty of romance and a contest of wills. Craig Lesley's River Song is the modern-day story of Indian tribes that have historically lived along the Columbia River. This book tells of the process through which they lost all but 40 acres of their ancient homeland. Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, by Alexander McCall Smith, is a very peculiar mystery. This story revolves around the recipient of a heart transplant who needs to find the family of the donor to understand his recurring nightmares. Isabel is a kick!

Comfort Food

Comfort Food, by Kate Jacobs; Putnam, 2008

Reviewed by Diane Allen

Comfort Food is a tasty novel about the competitive lives and occupations of two television cooking mavens--Augusta "Gus" Simpson, and former beauty queen Carmen Vega, who are forced to work together. This rivalry spices up the show, and a rating battle begins. Born on a Blue Day is an interesting memoir written by Daniel Tammet, an autistic savant. Tammet shares his life story, and recounts his meeting with Kim Peek, who was the inspiration behind the movie "Rainman". Tammet was also featured as "Brainman" in a BBC documentary. Hot House Flower and the 9 Plants of Desire by Margot Berwin, is an intriguing blend of botany, betrayal, strange people and exotic locations that enhance the story's magic and thriving romance.

The Ingenious Edgar Jones

The Ingenious Edgar Jones, by Elizabeth Garner. Random House Publishing, 2009

Reviewed by Paul Rogland

Set in Oxford, England during the 1800's, The Ingenious Edgar Jones is a well-written and unique story of a young boy and his exceptional talents, and the impacts these talents have on his family. I also enjoyed the "noir" storyline of Amberville, by Tim Davys, about a city which is populated by stuffed animals who exhibit the range of human motivations and characteristics. This book also incorporates spiritual conflicts and paradoxes. The Sacred Book of the Werewolf, by Victor Pelevin, is a stimulating, fun and profound read. Pelevin is widely considered as one of the best Russian novelists. His writing is creative, funny, and tightly constructed.

People of the Book

People of the Book, by Sally Fallon. 2007

Reviewed by Colleen McCaffrey.

This book provides a wonderful, fictionalized account of a modern day discovery of historic Jewish illuminated texts in Sarajevo. This storyteller weaves historical events from 1400 AD to present day. I also recommend the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall-Smith, is a great, light summer read, with well-defined characters and an exotic location. I also enjoyed Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri. This beautifully written book of short stories covers the immigrant experience in America. The characters are so vivid that they seem to come directly off the page.

Pillars of the Earth

Pillars of the Earth
Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett. William Morrow. 1989

Reviewed by Mariah Watson


Be warned...this is a long book (almost 1000 pages of small print). Set in medieval twelfth century England, this book weaves the tale of a monk named Philip, who sets out to build a huge cathedral, with Tom, the mason who becomes the architect of the structure. It is a fun, interesting book. I also enjoyed the well-written A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. It shows the disturbing reality of women's lives in Afghanistan. The story unfolds through the interwoven lives of two women who end up married to the same abusive husband. It's sad, but a good read. I highly recommend reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver--a true, fascinating story about a family who sets out to eat locally and seasonally for a year. This book also includes many interesting facts about growing vegetables, tips for planting, and recipes. Kingsolver's fine writing has literally changed the way I think about food.

Summer Reading Program Winner 2009

Nourishing Traditions: the Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition. by Sally Fallon. 1999

reviewed by Brooke Forman

This book provides a great foundation for eating healthy. Every receipe I have made was delicious. I also enjoyed Sign with Your Baby, by Garcia W. Joseph. It helped my baby to communicated with me and we enjoyed the mustache man!

Now just for me, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. The description of the footbinding was a little hard to take but totally worth it. This is a love story worth reading.