Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford; Ballantine Books, 2009

Reviewed by Claudia B. Wagner

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a moving story of generations; Henry, a Chinese boy, whose sweetheart--a Japanese girl--is relocated to an internment camp in 1942, and Henry's son, Marty, who helps him revisit those memories and put them to rest. It illustrates life and bittersweet first love during the early years of World War II in Seattle, Washington. Good reading for Northwesterners. Penelope Lively's Passing On is an understated, literate and enjoyable read of cross-generational influences. The main characters, Helen and Edward, have buried their domineering mother, and now begin to understand themselves and to live life more fully. I also enjoyed Under A Flaming Sky; The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894, by Daniel James Brown. This book is derived from eyewitness accounts and government documents of a range fire (combined with dry forests and drought) which took hundreds of lives, including the author's great grandfather. Of special interest--my own grandmother and great-grandparents survived this tragic event.

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science, by Atul Gawande; Picador, 2008

Reviewed by Cheryl Maglosky

Dr. Gawande's outstanding book Complications" A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science is full of anecdotes, insights and perspectives on the medical system from an insider. The author's honesty and revelations are appreciated, and serve to demystify and humanize doctors and their work. Dr. Gwande is brutally honest about his mistakes and the limits of medicine, and takes you through the thought processes of physicians when making life-altering decisions. He also raises ethical questions you won't often hear discussed. Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri, is a re-read for me. Indulging in a 'second course' of this book gave me the opportunity to return to the exquisitely rendered places, the cultures, and characters in these short stories, and was no less rich an experience than the first visit. Despite (and because of) not being able to travel at the moment, I picked up Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road, by Marybeth Bond. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book full of fresh perspectives, insights, and unexpected information and suggestions for traveling women.

Dark Places

Dark Places: A Novel, by Gillian Flynn; Shaye Areheart Books, 2009

Reviewed by a Patron

I recommend Gillian Flynn's latest novel Dark Places, a very well-written story that is as good as her first book, Sharp Objects. Out of financial desperation, the selfish, hardened main character, Libby, becomes involved with a strange secret society which forces her to reexamine a past family tragedy. The book is full of extremely unlikeable characters, and shows the fallibility of traumatic memory. Leonard Downie Jr.'s The Rules of the Game seems too close to the real machinations of U.S. politics to be an enjoyable read. This author is a former executive editor of the Washington Post, so he knows Washington D.C. intrigue firsthand. On a lighter note, Valerie Laken's Dream House was easy to read. This book is full of psychological intrigue surrounding a couple's purchase of a dilapidated house that only one of them wants, and the resulting, irrevocable changes in their lives.

Sex, Death & Oysters

Sex, Death & Oysters, by Robb Walsh; Counterpoint Publishing, 2007

Reviewed by Lauren Brown

Restaurant critic and author Robb Walsh presents Sex, Death & Oysters, a surprisingly enjoyable tour of oyster geography, history and culture. Walsh's five year quest for the perfect oyster takes him on far-flung culinary journeys through North America, Ireland, England and France. Lots of oyster facts, recipes and humor, as well as suggestions on the best beverages to accompany your meal. Ben Yagoda's intriguing nonfiction book, The Sound on the Page: Great Writers Talk About Style and Voice in Writing, is an eye-opening exploration of writing and choices, going beyond mechanical competence to the territory of Art. If you're looking for a good story to read for content (not style), try A Breath of Snow & Ashes, by Diana Gabaldon. This novel (also audiobook) is a part of an extensive saga, but it was enjoyable on it's own (after a bit of acclimation!)

The Glister

The Glister, by John Burnside; Nan A. Talese Publishing, 2009

Reviewed by Paul Rogland

I highly recommend reading The Glister, a very well-written "horror light" story set in the coastal village of Innertown. Burnside's engaging novel revolves around the mysterious disappearances of five teenagers, and the ensuing coverup. It is a cautionary tale that illustrates how greed and an indifference to suffering are the real horrors of modern life. Chuck Palahniuk's Pygmy is the story of young North Korean terrorists who are embedded in a small American town with plans to wreak havoc in the United States. Despite the subject matter, the book has humor and a strong undercurrent of timely truth. I also read As Time Goes By, by Abigail Trafford. This book takes a look at various types of relationships that retirement-age people have, and how they have been altered from traditional patterns. Of interest, but not recommended as an "engaging read".

The Seven Daughters of Eve

The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry, by Bryan Sykes; W. W. Norton & Company, 2001

Reviewed by J. Anne Holman

Now here is a true scientific mystery, marvelously written by the man who did much of the original work on decoding mitochondrial DNA. The Seven Daughters of Eve describes how genetic evidence from all humans tested (so far) can be traced from seven major groups that originated from one woman. With a subject matter that could have been dry and dull, this book is well written and clearly explained, and the British humor kept me laughing. Gina Kolata's Flu is an exhausting review of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Kolata's journalistic background comes through the story in careful reporting of the names, title and qualifications of the people searching for the origins of this deadly illness. As a scientific report, it was very complete; as a flowing story, it began to drag. By midway, I'd had enough of The Flu, and the politics that surrounded it. As a change of pace, I read Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love. Here's yet another take on food, memories, longing, loneliness, and being lost in foreign lands. This story is blended together with words and images that held my attention and stirred my memories. Good, deep humor was generously sprinkled on top.

Beach Girls

Beach Girls, by Luanne Rice; Bantam Books, 2004

Reviewed by Carole L. Huelsberg

Luanne Rice's Beach Girls is the story of three youths whose growth and sturdy bond endures life's challenges, strengthening their friendships over the years. This book is more sentimental and less suspenseful than Rice's previous novels. In a different direction, I suggest reading The Ultimate Gift, a novel by Jim Stoval. The main character--Jason--is given lessons about living a meaningful life, which are the prerequisites to meet the requirements of his multi-billionaire great uncle's will. Mark Spragg's An Unfinished Life is the story of three generations caught in dysfunctional, broken family relationships. The ten-year-old girl initiates the healing between her mother and her estranged grandfather, gradually easing the pain caused by poor choices in her mother's past relationships.

Stones From The River

Stones From the River, by Ursula Hegi; Simon and Schuster, 1995

Reviewed by Amy Heath

An Oprah Book Club choice, Stones From the River is a vivid picture of small-town life in Germany between World War I and II. Author Hegi tells her tale from a female dwarf's perspective, examining the human spirit, particularly in the face of fear. Order, obedience, conformity and rigid class differences are forced on the community through ideology and religion. Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love is the author's effort to restore her emotional health. Gilbert eats her way through Italy, while fulfilling her strong desire to learn Italian. She then prays/meditates her way through India, ending up in a loving relationship in Indonesia. She shares wonderful insights and techniques along the way, seasoned with great humor. I also recommend Labyrinth, by Kate Mosse. This tale suggests parallels between the present and the past, set in the southwestern region of France. It is a Holy Grail story with an interesting twist. (For more information on this topic, readers might want to also read Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln for supplemental information about this region and its history.)

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.