My Own Country

My Own Country: A Doctor's Story, by Dr. Abraham Verghese; Phoenix Publishing, 1995

Reviewed by Mary Grace Swift

I am recommending two books here by Dr. Abraham Verghese. They are both excellent, but My Own Country: A Doctor's Story, is a standout for it's masterful prose. Dr. Verghese has the eye, ear and the voice of a novelist, and the compassion of a healer recounting his experiences as the doctor from Africa who comes to the U.S. to do battle with AIDS in east Tennessee. In the course of the book, he has to come to term with a new country, his failing marriage, and dealing with infectious diseases, including the growing 'plague' that becomes known as AIDS. I also highly recommend Dr. Verghese's novel Cutting for Stone, focussing on twin boys, their adoptive parents, and their life's journey from India, to Africa, and to the U.S. Another recommendation is The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession, by Susan Orlean. This nonfiction book is a John McPhee-ish account of Florida, orchids, and people with a passion for these exotic plants.

Liquor: A Novel

Liquor: A Novel, by Poppy Z. Brite; Three Rivers Press, 2004

Reviewed by Peter Gritt

Cult horror novelist Poppy Z. Brite's book Liquor: A Novel, features the experiences and many obstacles facing two young men--"foodies"--who attempt to open a gourmet restaurant in New Orleans. The restaurant's entire menu features alcohol in one form or another, blending culinary passion with Big Easy politics and lots of intrigue. If you are an artist-at-heart, and love to dabble in oil pastels, take a look at Oil Pastel, by Ken Leslie. This is a very informative book for beginners and experienced artists alike, offering plenty of good tips in the use of this medium. Author Paul Theroux serves up another great travelogue--this time in Kawloon Tong, which involves the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong. I have read all of Theroux's books in our library, and truly appreciate his "non-sugar coated" approach to travel.

Working The Sea

Working the Sea: Misadventures, Ghost Stories and Life Lessons from a Maine Lobsterman, Wendell Seavey; North Atlantic Books, 2005

Reviewed by Jim Tolpin

I enjoyed Wendell Seavey's Working the Sea, a lively portrait of an old-school Maine lobsterman. The story covers his life, and his transition from an unquestioning harvester to environmental activist. And what a life...from a two-room schoolhouse to college; from boatyards to back alleys; from strikes to plenty of soul searching. Here is a humble fisherman who has evolved into a great storyteller. Another fine book of the sea is Jack London's The Sea Wolf. London's classic novel is set aboard a sealing schooner in the early 1900's, as seen through the eyes of a young, intelligent, but naive "landlubber". This is a great coming-of-age story. I also enjoyed The Wayfinders, by Wade Davis. This is an eye-opening, insightful investigation into the lives of Third World people who are confronted with profound globalism and exploitation.

In Working the Sea, Wendell Seavey paints a lively portrait of life both off and on the shores of Maine. Journeying from a two-room schoolhouse to the College of the Atlantic, from boatyards to back alleys, and from labor strikes to soul-searching road trips, he is accompanied by not just fisherman, but by professors, psychiatrists, and environmentalists. A man of humor and humility, open to both nature and the supernatural, Wendell Seavey is living proof that fishermen are indeed the best storytellers.

Tailspin

Talespin, by Catherine Coulter; Putnam Adult Publishing, 2008

Reviewed by Cathy Parkman

If you're looking for a good book full of thrills, chills, political intrigue and a little romance, try Catherine Coulter's Talespin. Yeah...it is relatively mindless, but it kept me pageturning at the beach. The heroine is on the run, and heading for refuge in a remote area when she witnesses a plane crash. An interesting variety of good, bad and demented characters flesh out the intrigue. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (yes--a very short name) is an interesting story about a teenage girl traveling alone--and unchaperoned--on a transatlantic voyage in 1832. Charlotte's adventures and experiences aboard the ship have a profound impact on the rest of her life. Another enjoyable novel of adventure (add place and love to the mix) is The Hungry Tide, by Amitav Ghosh, set in the Sundarban archipelago--coastal islands off India. A female American biologist studies rare and endangered river dolphins has a life entwined with local tradition/culture, tides, weather and men.

The Horse Boy

The Horse Boy, by Rupert Isaacson; Little, Brown & Company Publishing, 2009

Reviewed by Tyler Buckham

Rupert Isaacson's The Horse Boy is the story of a father who takes his wife--a psychology professor--and young son on a quest to Mongolia, in hopes of healing his son's autism. Their real journey through Mongolia is full of intense challenges, and amazing rewards. Their last-ditch effort against the child's autism leads the parents to shamans, and the somewhat unorthodox therapy found in the repetitive rocking from horseback riding. I also enjoyed Changes, by Jim Butcher, a delicious, fast-paced blend of humor, horror, action and emotion. The stakes are always high, the plot twists surprising, and the language is a delight. Tana French's Faithful Place is a very well-written novel about an Irish undercover policeman who visits the dysfunctional family he had left 22 years earlier. Tensions run high as he tries to find answers to an unsolved death.

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, by Thad Carhart; Random House Publishing, 2002

Reviewed by Jim Tolpin

I enjoyed The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, by Thad Carhart, a witty and fascinating autobiographical story of an expatriate American in Paris, who discovers his way back to the piano--his childhood passion. In the process of his rediscovery, he learns French customs, new skills in playing the piano, and the intriguing history and inner workings of the instrument. Ian Oughtred's A Life in Wooden Boats offers an enjoyably deep look into the life (personal and professional) of an influential, contemporary designer of small rowing and sailing craft, who specializes in adapting pricey boat designs of the rich and famous into those for more "financially challenged" amateurs. I also enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle, a pleasing "coming of age" story for people of all ages. I consider it a "breakout of the mold" type of book. One quotable take-away was: "You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself."

Time for Tea: Tea & Conversation with 13 English Women

Time for Tea: Tea and Conversation with 13 English Women, by Michele Rivers; Crown Publishing, 1995

Reviewed by Lauren Brown

I found Michele Rivers' nonfiction book Timefor Tea: Tea and Conversation with 13 English Women to be surprisingly engaging, with unique explanations of why English society has so steadfastly preserved its teatime traditions. Rivers offers a series of candid interviews from the thirteen women of various backgrounds, who range in age from six to eighty. There are lots of tempting recipes to try too. Another interesting nonfiction book (with sometimes excessive detail) is James Herriot: The Life of a Country Vet, by Graham Lord. This book was published shortly before Herriot's son wrote his father's biography, and offered a lot of information about Herriot that I hadn't known before. I also enjoyed A Highland Christmas, by M.C. Beaton. This was the first book I'd read by this author, and offered an inviting introduction to the cozy village world of Scottish Constable Hamish MacBeth.

The Day the Red Baron Died

The Day the Red Baron Died, by Dale M. Titler; Walker & Company Publishing, 1970

Reviewed by Karen Hamilton

For those readers interested in World War I intrigue, try Dale Titler's book The Day the Red Baron Died. This "oldie" book offers plenty of background about the notorious flying ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen, his many victims, and definitive proof about what ended his reign of terror in the skies during the Great War. We now know who--and what--was responsible for his demise. In another "historic" vein, I enjoyed Wallis and Edward--Letters 1931-1937, edited by Michael Bloch. This book provides the details of before, during and after the British abdication crisis, as expressed by the two major participants. For something closer to home, try A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. Bill and a companion rediscover America on the historic Appalachian Trail, encountering struggles and plenty of natural beauty along the way.

The Secret Scripture

The Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry; Penguin Books, 2009

Reviewed by a library patron
I highly recommend The Secret Scripture, a deeply sad story...with a (mostly) happy ending. You just can't beat the Irish for individual human 'experience' and writing quality. Sebastian Barry, a contemporary Irish writer, uses two contradictory narratives against each other in an attempt to solve the mystery of a 100-year-old Roseanne McNulty, a mental patient locked up for decades in an asylum in western Ireland. Mystery, corruption, tragedy, emotion--this book has it all. I also recommend Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road. This novel has a difficult subject matter, but is well worth the read. It has excellent development of the characters through their various responses to a profound and sudden tragedy. On the flip side, I cannot recommend All Other Nights, by Dara Horn. All in all, I found this book somewhat disappointing. The use of a race and religion through a Jewish-American viewpoint during the Civil War seemed like an interesting premise, but the novel turned out to be nothing special.

A Lost Lady

A Lost Lady, by Willa Cather; Book Jungle Publishing, 2009

Reviewed by Stephanie Achten

I'm exploring three 'classics' here from two very different genres, starting with (my) highly recommended novel A Lost Lady, by Willa Cather, first published in 1923. Cather's story is set in Nebraska, and features Marian Forrester, a classy older woman adored by the book's young, innocent male narrator. His lifelong friendship with Marian evolves, exposing her life's reality that causes her to slip from her "pedestal". I decided to explore another Willa Cather novel, O Pioneers--the story of a Swedish immigrant family, enduring hardship and heartache while trying to tame the prairielands of Nebraska during the late 19th century. For a real "classic" change of pace, I read Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs. Clarice Starling, an FBI agent-in-training is working against the clock to try and stop a serial killer who is preying upon young women.