Newberg Public Library Book Blog

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Heels

2011-05-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy a sweet love story with some laughter along the way, then Ree Drummond's book is for you. Ree has returned home (Oklahoma) from California, to sort out her life and move on to Chicago. That is until she sees "Marlboro Man" across the room at the local dive and falls in love with those blue eyes and smooth voice. Ride along with Ree as she adjusts her entire line of thinking from city girl to a rancher's wife. This isn't just a love story. Its the story of a cowboy, And Wranglers. And chaps. And the girl who fell in love with them.

Review by Denise R.
This book can be found at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

The Four Ms. Bradwells

2011-04-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

"The natural & proper timidity & delicacy which belongs to the female sex evidently unfits it for many of the occupations of civil life.... The paramount destiny & mission of woman are to fulfill the noble & benign offices of wife &mother. This is the law of the Creator" US Supreme Court Justice Joseph P Bradley from his 1873 opinion in Bradwell v. Illionois, denying Mrs. Myra Bradwell the right to practice law.

Four young women in law school in the early 1960s. Fifty years later, Betts is being considered for the Supreme Court. As the hearing nears its' last day, a question is voiced about an incident that happened during spring break of the girl's senior year of law school. Betts quickly gives a "non" answer and leaves the room. She is joined by her 3 girlfriends where they escape to Cook Island to mentally recreate what "really" did happen that weekend.

Meg Waite Clatyon (The Wednesday Sisters) has written a great book about women struggling to find their place in a primarily man's world in the 1960s.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

2011-04-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Major Pettigrew (retired British army) leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But things get complicated as the Major gets interwined in his son's job & girlfriend, the ladies social event, golf club membership, Mrs. Ali's nephew and more. I wasn't sure what would actually be the "last stand" until the last chapter. Helen Simonson has written a delightful book with twists throughout.

Review written by Denise R.

This book can be found at: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

2011-04-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

Meet Truly, a "large" woman, sister of the beautiful Serena Jane who grow up in Aberdeen, a community stuck between a village and a town. The book is about Truly, shunned due to her size, Marcus the wiz kid in the school, Serena Jane the beauty queen and all the other unique personalities which make up the small minded town. We share in Truly's struggles growing up, her friendships, her lack of family and her heartaches and her dreams.

Along the way, Truly discovers an old and a new secret which end up changing the community and herself forever.

This book is about learning to accept ourselves and others. The book is full of little revelations :"Here's what I know about small towns: People in them are either all-forgiving or intolerant as mules, and the way they choose often comes down to the issue of what you're willing to sacrifice". Throw in a bit of humor and you have a great read.

This book wirtten by Tiffany Baker can be found at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Review by Denise

The Calligrapher's Daughter

2011-03-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

Living in Korea during the early twentieth century, Najin Han is the daughter of a famed calligrapher, from a long line of prestigious artists. Her life spans the Japanese occupation of Korea, the Second World War, and the end of the last Korean dynasty. This debut novel by Eugenia Kim, follows the lives of the Han family as Japan infiltrates the country, their traditons and their lives. Najin, with the support of her mother, seeks independence in a traditional family. She is educated, refined, and equipped to survive war and occupation. Male & female roles, food, living arrangments, marriage, work and the arts are all intertwiend as Father Han stubbornly refuses to let go of tradition and Najiin carefully moves forward to the new world order.

This reveiw by Denise R

This book can be found in our catalog www.newberglibrary.org

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

2011-01-28T16:15:00.000-08:00

Rebecca Skloot has written a moving story of the historic "HeLa" cell. (HeLa standing for Henrietta Lacks) This was the first human cell that could be duplicated and thus opened countless doors for research in many fields. Since its origination it has played a roll in producing the polio vaccination, helped scientists learn more about many cancers and lead to important advances such as gene mapping.

Rebecca first heard about this cell when she was 16 and sitting in on a community college biology class. Though required to learn about the cell, she wanted to know more about the person. There was little known. And so a quest was started. It took her 10 years of research and personal interviews to put this book together. But the effort was worth it. Rebecca has indeed immortalized Henrietta Lacks, the person.

Review written by Denise R

You can find this title at: www.newberglibrary.org

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

2010-12-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

Heidi Durow's book is a story of despair and hope. It is the story of a 14 year old girl in the 1980s trying to figure out who she is and what she is. Rachel, the daughter of a black serviceman and a Dutch mother, lives in Chicago with her mother. After her mother's and sibling's shocking death, Rachel moves to Portland OR to live with her black paternal grandmother. Race now becomes apparent to her. "I learn that black people don't have blue eyes. I learn that I am black. I have blue eyes". The story progress as Rachel matures and grapples with the question "What are you? while at the same time Durrow gradually reveals what really happened to Rachel's mother and siblings on the rooftop.

I really enjoyed the fact that most of the story takes place in Portland, naming familiar sites like Laurelhurst and Oaks Park.

Reveiw by Denise R

This book can be found at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Outlander

2010-12-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

Gil Adamson's first novel is the story of outcasts. The story takes place in 1903 when Mary Boulton, at 19, is fleeing from the twin brothers of her husband who she has just murdered. She runs to the mountains, responding to little more than a primitive instinct to survive at any cost. Retreating ever deeper into the wilderness she meets up with other "outcasts" who have found life in the wild. An absorbing tale of betrayal and honor.

This revew by Denise R

This book can be found at our web page http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Moonlight Mile

2010-12-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

In Moonlight Mile, Dennis Lehane brings back the detective team of Angie Gennaro and Patrick Kenzie after twelve long years away from the series. While revisiting the people and consequences from the previous book Gone Baby Gone, Angie and Patrick are dragged into the violent world of the Russian mob. This is one of my all time favorite series and I’m glad Lehane has returned to it after writing four other books including Mystic River and Shutter Island.

Also Lehane himself praised Nic Pizzolatto’s Galveston by calling it “the coolest noir I’ve read in a decade.” It doesn’t get much better than that.

This review written by Jean S.

These books can be found at our web page (http://www.newberglibrary.org/)

The Hundred-Foot Journey

2010-11-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

Fantastic food which is lovingly described in faraway locations by Richard C Moralis drew me into this book. Narrator Hassan Haji has a rare culinary gift evident from childhood. He and his colorful Muslim family are driven from Bombay, to London, to the French Alps, where they run afoul of their neighbor, the famous chef Madame Mallory. The “hundred-foot journey” refers to the cultural gulf between his family’s Indian restaurant and Mallory’s Michelin-starred restaurant across the street where Hassan is eventually apprenticed. Warm hearted and funny, this is a light look at the Paris restaurant scene and the first novel by journalist Morais.

Review written by Jean S

This book can be found at our web site: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-10-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Two and a half years after it was first published in the U.S., the audience for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson continues to grow. The book’s popularity is partly due to the release of the movie, but the combined force of the three novels in the trilogy has people talking. (The three books were published posthumously, following Larsson’s death in 2005.)

Lisbeth Salander is a brilliant social-misfit computer-hacker. She’s been abused by individuals, as well the system, yet is anything but a victim. Mikael Blomkvist is a disgraced journalist, hired to investigate the disappearance of a girl 40 years in the past. Although the two characters spend very little time in the same place at the same time, and often have different objectives, they make a formidable team, whether battling serial killers or government corruption.

The first book stands alone, but it also sets the stage for the complex and satisfying books that follow, "The Girl who Played with Fire" and "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest".

This reveiw by Jean S

This book can be found at www.newberglibrary.org

Cutting for Stone

2010-09-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Abraham Verghese's book takes place in Ethiopia, a country of intrigue, beauty and coups. The story is told in the voice of Marion, one of the twin boys born to an unlikely couple in a mission hospital. The twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. But it is the love of a woman that forces Marion to leave his home country and go to America. When the past catches up with him, he must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted the least in the world. This is an unforgettable journey into one man's remarkable life and an epic story about power, intimacy and the beauty of the work of healing others.

Reveiw by Denise R

This book can be found in our catalog at www.newberglibrary.org

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

2010-08-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

In Jamie Ford's debut novel, we meet Henry Lee shortly after his wife's death. As he walks past Seattle's famous "Panama Hotel" ,which is being refurbished , he spots a Japanese parasol. Could it belong to Keiko ? The book then flips back forty years earlier where Henry, of Chinese heritage and Keiko, of Japanese heritage become close friends as the two foreign students in the all white school. World War II is in full swing and soon the government rounds up all the Japanese, sending them to internment camps.

As the story unfolds, the reader, Henry's son and Henry himself learn about what made him the man he is today. Henry's father and mother, Keiko and her family, his friend Sheldon, the black saxophonist, and the decisions Henry had to make; all determining his character. Sometimes decisions can be bitter sweet.

Reveiw written by Denise R

This book can be found at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

The Cradle by Patrick Somerville

2010-07-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

At the start of The Cradle, Matt’s wife sends him to find the long lost antique cradle that she slept in as a baby. This turns into a quest that requires Matt to be brave, true and honest as he performs tasks along the way. We learn a lot about Matt and his past as he rises to each challenge.

The story takes place about eight years ago. In addition, another story set today is interwoven throughout the book. By the end of the book the two stories come together in a satisfying way.

I really enjoyed this first novel by Patrick Somerville. I highly recommend it to people who liked "Love Walked In" by Marisa de los Santos.

Review by Jean S

This book can be found at our website: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Born to Run

2010-06-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

Journalist and avid runner, Christopher McDougall, writes about the bare foot running tribe located in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Tarahumara are legendary for their ability to run extreme distances in inhospitable conditions without breaking a sweat or getting injured. They would be considered among the elite runners of the developed world even though their society and technology are 500 years behind it. McDougall has managed to take a nonfiction subject and energize it with situations which may fool the reader into thinking this is fiction. "Born to Run" is a story of sport, an allegory of cross-cultural understanding and a catalogue of philosophies of living.

Flygirl (a young adult book)

2010-04-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

WWII was in full swing & women were desperately needed to fill formerly "men only" jobs. The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were formed to fill the void of men male flyers who had been drafted and sent overseas. Flygirl, by Sherrie L Smith, tells the story of Ida Mae Jones a young African American lady who wants to be more than another housemaid. Ida Mae's father taught her to fly before he passed away, so she applies for the white only WASP organization and because she was light skinned "passes". ("Passing" was a term for African Americans who lived as if they were white, often forsaking their friends and family. ) Ida Mae studies hard and overcomes many obstacles. She makes new friends and loses some along the way. This is an excellent read for anyone wishing to learn more about the WASP. I am an afficionado of World War II, but I still learned several new things about the WASP that I hadn't known!

This review is by Lori B.

This book can be found in our catalog: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Wild Ride

2010-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

This book, co-authored by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer is so much fun. I like scary stories that don't take themselves too seriously and Wild Ride is certainly in that category. Mab Brannigan is restoring Dreamland when she discovers that it is much more than a theme park- it is a prison for five ancient demons secured by The Gaurdia, a motley human crew with a few supernatural tricks up their sleeves. Soon Mab becomes entwined in the inner-workings of the park and restoring the park may just become her last job.This rollicking adventure is full of chaos, humor, sarcasm and steamy romance. A perfect read for taking a break from reality.

Review by Korie B

This book can be found at our web: www.newberglibrary.org

A Thousand Cuts

2010-03-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

This novel by Simon Lelic, is very well done, but there's no one I can recommend it to because it's so upsetting. It opens after a school shooting at a secondary school in England that left two students and a teacher dead, as well as the shooter. Every other chapter is a different monologue from a different speaker talking to Detective Inspector Lucia May about some aspect of the tragedy. The alternate chapters portray what is happening in May's life as she pieces together what led to the shooting. May's own life parallels the shooter's as she is bullied unmercifully in her workplace as the shooter was in his. This is Lelic's first novel and he does a great job. The different characters speak in different voices and are quickly and compellingly fleshed out. I will definitely be on the lookout for his next book.

Book reveiw by Jean

This book can be found at www.newberglibrary.org

The Swan Thieves

2010-03-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you loved The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, you might enjoy The Swan Thieves. Like her first novel, Kostova’s second book is big, dense, and character-driven. It alternates between the present and the past with alternating narrators converging into a single mystery. Somehow I found the story of Dracula more believable and compelling than the story of an obsessed psychiatrist. Though rather long I did think The Swan Thieves was fun to read.

Reviewed by Jean

Another reviewer writes:

Though starting slow, The Swan Thieves is a wild exploration of the artist's universe, a journey deep into the heart of French Impressionism. The book crosses centuries & countries in its attempt to solve a present day mystery. Painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art. Dr. Marlow, assigned to Oliver, becomes frustrated with Oliver for his actions and his odd explanation. Dr Marlow embarks on an unconventional search for answers, however, the journey may reveal truths for Marlow as well as for Oliver. While The Swan Thieves is less accomplished than The Historian, it is a story worth reading and mystery worth solving.

Reviewed by Sue E

This book can be found on our web site: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

The Lace Reader

2010-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry is a mystery with a bit of thriller thrown in. The book starts with the quote, "My name is Towner Whitney....... Never believe me. I lie all the time." Throughout the book, the reader tries to figure out what is true and what is thought to be true. The setting is in Salem Mass. where the local "witches" have opened many tourist attractions and where a sect, the "Calvinists" has set up camp to defy the "witches". The friction of the two groups is intertwined into the story of Towner and why she didn't want to leave Califronia to return home. She said she never would, but now......

This book can be found at the Newberg Public Library www. newberglibrary.org

Book reviewed by Denise R

Jane Bites Back

2010-02-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

Jane Austen never died- she was turned into a vampire. Yep, that's the premise of Michael Thomas Ford's new novel, Jane Bites Back. I was intrigued by the idea, but I figured I would be putting it down after the first 20 pages. Instead I found myself sucked into this sarcastic, witty and humorous story about Jane Austen, an old rival, an old flame, a new flame, publishing in modern times and running a small business.
Despite the vampires the story was not gory, unlike Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (which I never finished). You could enjoy this story without being a Jane Austen fan, although you will miss some of the nuances. If you are a Jane Austen fan and you take yourself very seriously, this book is not for you. If you are a Jane Austen fan who sometimes likes vampires and sometimes likes romance more than you like to admit, this book might be just your cup of tea.

This book reviewed by Korie

This book can be found at our web page www.newberglibrary.org

Firmin by Sam Savage

2010-02-05T09:49:00.000-08:00

Firmin is distraught. One of 13 children, he resides in an old book store in Boston's Scollay Square. His days are filled with reading everything and anything and watching old movies at the run down movie house (where the flicks become x rated after midnight). His only friend Jerry has died and the city is bulldozing down Scollay Square . What is a rat to do? Yes, Fermin is a rat and the narrator of this witty lit story. A fun and short read: only 164 pages.

Reviewed by Denise

This book can be found in our catalog: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

The Ginseng Hunter

2010-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Jeff Talarigo, author of The Pearl Diver, has written another evocative tale. The stories of a lone ginseng hunter who harvests one ginseng root a day and a North Korean mother and daughter who are forcibly separated during a famine are intertwined. Unaware of the larger world and the tragedy happening in his own country, the hunter listens to the tales the young Korean girl shares as he makes his monthly trip to Yanji. Her stories reveal the sad truth of what is happening across the river. Sparsely and eloquently written, the book is well worth every minute you spend reading it.

This book is available at the Newberg Library (www.newberglibrary.org)

Review by Denise and Rea

A Separate Country

2010-01-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Robert Hicks follows his best seller "Widow of the South" with another historical novel. Set in New Orleans shortly after the end of the civil war, General Hood arrives trying to forget the atrocities of the war and the part he played in it. He marries a beautiful and alluring woman, starts a business, hoping to move on. But yellow fever and poverty, lust and greed fill the city and Hood has to make some difficult decisions regarding his life and his family's.

This book can be found at our library www.newberglibrary.org

Review by Denise R

Strength in What Remains

2009-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

By Tracy Kidder

In 1994, a young man named Deo, escapes from the genocidal civil war in Burundi to the United States. He has $200, knows no one, and speaks no English. Deo’s harrowing story of survival both in Burundi and New York City makes fascinating reading. His journey back to Burundi to establish a medical clinic was inspiring. I found myself wondering several times how author Tracy Kidder was able to encourage Deo to tell his story.

This book can be checked out at the Newberg Library. www.newberglibrary.org

Review by Jean S.

The Financial Lives of the Poets

2009-12-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

By Jess Walter

Matt Prior left his reporting job to start a financial advice poetry website, poetfolio.com. When that doesn't work, he returns to the newspaper only to be laid off as the paper downsizes. When the book begins, Matt's house is a week away from foreclosure and he suspects his wife is having an affair. Additionally, the household includes two young sons and Matt's senile father. Matt needs money and so Matt decides he could make a lot of money by selling pot. What could possible go wrong with this plan? He makes so many bad choices that I found the book kind of stressful, although amusing. My husband kept laughing out loud and didn't find it stressful at all. As a bonus, most of the chapters feature Matt's poetry. Well-written and quirky.

This book can be found at our website: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

This book was reviewed by Jean S.

Honolulu

2009-12-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

Alan Brennert has written another wonderful story set in Hawaii. The story takes place in the early 1900s as Koreans and other nationalities immigrate to Hawaii for various reasons. Korea is under attack from the Japanese. Jin and 3 other picture brides from Korea decide to leave and travel to Hawaii, a foreign and tropical land, only to discover their husbands are not what they were led to believe. Spanning four decades, Jin marries, has children, experiences hardships and abuse, joy and love. Additionally Brennert intertwines the history of Hawaii and its governmental struggles throughout the book.

This book is available at the Newberg library (http://www.newberglibrary.org/)

Reviewed by Denise R

Shanghai Girls

2009-10-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Lisa See has again written an intriguing story, this time about 2 young Chinese women. The story starts in 1937 when the city of Shanghai is the Paris of Asia. May (18) and Pearl (21) live in moderate luxury enjoying some of the finer things of life until they find out their dad has gambled away all their wealth and has sold them as wives. As the girls process this news, the Japanese attack and May and Pearl's lives are forever changed. The reader follows the women to America and their struggle to get a foothold in a country that doesn't want them. Though Lisa See takes us through 20 plus years of history, the underlying story line is about two girls forced to become woman and their struggle to find their identity in a new country. Chinese or American? As the sisters face devastating situations their sisterly devotion provides the rock of their existence.

To find this book in our library go to our web page at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reveiw written by Denise R

The Magicians

2009-09-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Lev Grossman's newest book is advertised to be a grown up version of Harry Potter. Though the book does involve a magic school, the similarly ends there. The storyline is about Quentin, a over achieving & brilliant teen, trying to find out who he is and what will bring him happiness in life. His secret desire is to travel to the land of Fillory, a make believe land in a series of children's books. He believes he will bebfulfilled and find happiness. What joy to be accepted into the mysterious and exclusive college of magic. Believing this training will enable him to succeed in his goal, he works hard. But upon graduation life is boring and shallow. When the opportunity comes to travel to another dimension, he jumps at the chance. However the journey is nothing like he expected.

The book holds your attention but leaves loose ends. There are parts of the story that lack follow through. I would recommend the book if you enjoy fantasy and magic, but it is not the next best seller in this genre.

To find this book at the Newberg library, visit our web: www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Denise R

Audio Book Review

2009-08-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

If you are an animal lover, you will enjoy this book about a special barn owl. Stacey, an assistant at Cal State Institute owl laboratory becomes the surrogate mom to a permanently injured owlet. Over the next 19 years, Stacey learns about owl antics, habits and his unique personality. The reader of the audio book, Renee Raudman, does a wonderful job of voice inflections catching the nuances of the emotions and story line. I am sure its a good read, but it is definitely a good listen.

To find this book at the library visit our web page: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

This review written by Denise R

My Stroke of Insight

2009-08-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor

Jill, a brain scientist, has a massive stroke at the age of 37. Her story tells how it felt to have the stroke and her journey through recovery. It would eventually take her 8 years to fully heal. As the reader joins her journey, Jill recounts the thoughts and steps it took to recover the function of her injured left brain. Jill alternates between two distinct realities: the euphoric and kinesthentic right brian and the rational detail-oriented left brain. By stepping into her right brain she learned that the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought away.

This book is well writtien and organized. If you enjoy science and health subjects, this is a great read.

To find this book in our library visit our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

reviewed by Denise R

Lost in Austen

2009-08-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

Lost in Austen: Create your own Jan Austen Adventure

By Emma Campbell Webster

Yes, you read correctly, it's a Jane Austen Choose Your Own Adventure! If you are not a Jane Austen fan you might enjoy this story as well with its abridged plots and occasional death scenes.
With sarcastic wit the author sends the reader (aka Elizabeth Bennett) on a mission: "To marry both prudently and for love." In a delightful tangle of Jane Austen plots and characters, you must wend your way through the story avoiding the many pitfalls along the way. Webster's chiding and occasional praise along the adventure add humor to an already fun Jane Austen romp. I must admit I needed several bookmarks to read this book so I could read out all of options. To be completely honest I would not have survived well in Jane Austen's time (do you paint or stitch a screen?). Nonetheless, as a Jane Austen addict I had so much fun with this book it was hard to bring it back to the library.

Book reveiwed by Korie B.

To find this book, visit our website at www.newberglibrary.org

The Sorceress

2009-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Sorceress by Michael Scott

I love getting carried away by a good story. Michael Scott's latest book, The Sorceress, solidified The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel as one of my favorite series. Book three in a six part series, The Sorceress draws you deeper and deeper into the world of the Immortals,the Elders, Dark Elders and a host of other mythical and magical creatures. A web of historical legends, mythical beings and objects, this book will delight those looking for a great fantasy story.

YA book Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Book reviwed by Korie B.

To find this book visit our website at www.newberglibrary.org

The Angel's Game

2009-07-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

If you enjoyed Zafon's "Shadow of the Wind" you will not be disappointed with his latest book. The Angel's Game again takes place in Barcelona and we again visit the "Cemetary of the Forgotten Books" but 50 some years earlier. Start with a mysterious book and add murder, the devil, love, mystery and friendship and you have an intriguing and bewitching story. If you liked Zafon's writing story in "Shadow of the Wind" you will enjoy his latest book. Though dark, the story keeps the reader hooked as the story twists finally coming to the end without a real end.

This review written by Denise R.

To find this book visit our web site at www.newberglibrary.org

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

2009-07-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

The Sweetmess at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Eleven-year-old Flavia is a brilliant child living in 1950's England, and living life mostly under the radar of the adults in her life. Tormenting and being tormented by her sisters, her life is relatively mundane (although punctuated by her love of chemistry) until she discoveres a dead body on the family estate. Winner of the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award, this delicious mystery is flavored with unpredictability and delightful to the last bite.

This review was written by Korie B.

This book can be found by searching our website at: www.newberglibrary.org

A List of Adult Graphic Novels

2009-06-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson
Goodbye Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson
Jar of Fools by Jason Lutes
Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by Daniel Clowes
Perdida by Jessica Abel

To find these books please visit http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Adult Graphic Novels Arrive

2009-06-24T14:32:00.001-07:00

Graphic novels are the new genre. What are they? They look like bound comic books, but the definition is that the work needs to be of substantial length and be understood as a single work. Much of the growth and popularity of this genre is due to the Japanese graphic novels known as "manga" that often were about superheroes/groups and their adventures. There is now a growing number of graphic novels just for adults that go beyond the superheros. They include autobiographies, historical dramas and first hand documentary journalism. Come in and look over our new collection.

Brooklyn: A Novel

2009-06-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Toibin

Eilis Lacey has come to age in a small town of Ireland in the years following World War II. She lives in the shadow of her older sister Rose who works and seems to have her life in order. Life is not exciting and there is little opportunity for work or love. Eilis is offered a chance to go to America to "better her situation" by Father Flood and agrees to the opportunity. The story line follows her life in Brooklyn as she adjusts to being Irish in America, a job and living in a boarding house with 5 other Irish girls. . She attends dances, helps at the church and studies for her bookkeeping courses and along the way meets a handsome Italian man, Tony. When a family crisis calls her back to Ireland she must decide whether to return to America or stay and continue to live out her mother's and community's expectations.

For those readers who enjoy a book written about the thoughts and feelings of the main character, this book is for them. The book does not move fast and has little plot or tension. It does give a nice rendition of the New York area following the war.

To find this title in our library go to our website at: http://www.newberglibrary.org/

This review was written by Denise

Animals Make us Humans

2009-06-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

Animals Make us Human, Creating the Best Life for Animals by Temple Grandin

Dogs are the only animals that can follow a person's gaze or pointing finger to find out where a piece of food is hidden. Cats have social needs (they aren't the loners we think they are). Cows establish close relationships with their sisters and mothers. Dolphins and whales are multicultural.

Acclaimed animal scientist/author Temple Grandin is a person with autism and a unique ability to understand how animals think. In her latest book, Animals Make us Human, she focuses on how to create the best life for animals - domestic and wild. Grandin explains that a good life needs three things: health, freedom from pain and negative emotions and activities that turn on seeking and play. Even if you believe you know a lot about animals, this book will surprise and intrigue you. I highly recommend it!

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by S. Easterly

A Reliable Wife

2009-06-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

This novel, about a rich man in 1907 Wisconsin who advertises for a wife, is not what I expected. I guess no one in the book, wealthy Ralph Truitt or his mail order bride Catherine Land, got what they expected either. Set just outside a little town rife with madness, the plot develops with twists, turns and a lot of (not very explicit) sex. The Washington Post called this "a bizarre tale of forgiveness", and I guess it is. I liked it a lot.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Jean S.

The Little Stranger

2009-06-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

I love unreliable narrators! At least, I think he was unreliable. This is a gothic novel set in a decaying English country house just before World War II. The narrator, Dr. Farraday, whose mother was once a maid at the house, gets called to the house to care for a sick maid and gradually becomes emeshed with the impoverished family who is barely able to keep the house running. There's a sort of mystery at the core as major and minor tragedies overtake the house and the family. This is a long book, but the kind of book that rolls along in the best gothic brooding tradition.

To find this book in the Library to our website at www. newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Jean S.

Great Children and Adult Read

2009-05-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

Mr. Katapat's Incredible Adventures

by Stephane Barroux

Every day, Mr. Katapat heads to the library. That's right, the library. It's where all the excitement begins." I know, I know, picture books are generally for children, but I think adults would enjoy this one best. It's the story of a man who lives in books until he bumps into someone who opens his eyes to a whole new story. It's a library love story. Sigh.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Korie B.

New Nonfiction

2009-05-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name, by Heather Lende

You wouldn't think life stories based around obituaries would be so charming and uplifting, but I found this collection of short stories to be both. Truly a celebration of life, and an ode to small town Alaska, Heather Lende paints a picture of Alaskan life so appealing I wanted to move next door to her. But then I remembered I don't like really cold weather and I need sunlight all year around, or at least as much as we get here in Oregon.

Heather Lende is also a contributor on NPR's and a columnist for magazines around the U.S.

To find this book in the Library to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Korie B.

The Way Home

2009-05-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

This is another great quick read by The Wire writer George Pelecanos.

Like most of his work it's set in Washington D.C. and involves petty (and not so petty) criminals and gangs. The main charaters in this novel are Chris Flynn, first seen in juvenile prison, and his father George. The story skips ahead a few years, and follows the twisted path of mistakes and violence, but is ultimately a story about redemption. Pelecanos does a great job of drawing his charaters.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Jean S

Check out some of our New Items

2009-05-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

FICTION

Italian Shoes by Henning Mankill
Love Stories in this Town by Amanda Eyre Ward
The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Woodsburner by John Piper

INSPIRATIONAL

Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick
Cousin's Promise by Wanda E Brunstetter
Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark
Take One by Karen Kingsbury

NON FICTION

Just When I thought I'd Dropped my Last Egg by Kathie Lee Gifford
The World is What it Is by Patrick French
Resilience by Elizabeth Edwards
Paul Newman by Shawn Levy

New Author's first Book

2009-05-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

Pictures of an Exhibition by Sara Houghteling

Set in Paris, the majority of the story takes place as WWII has just ended. Max Berenzon is the son of an art dealer and his pianist wife. When Paris falls the family goes into hiding. After the war Max returns to discover all the family's art collection has vanished. The remainder of the book is about Max's quest to find the missing art and hopefully garner his dad's approval. During his search he discovers the truth of the tragic disappearance of his closest friend, the heroism of his lost love and uncovers a family secret.

The book is a good read but sometimes I got lost in the artist's names, their works and the various art dealers. The title interested me but I didn't feel represented this story of lost art.

To find this book in the Library go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Denise R.

The Last Dickens

2009-05-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Last Dickens: A Novel by Matthew Pearl

I'm a sucker for stories that seemingly bring me closer to my favorite characters or authors, and The Last Dickens is exactly that...
Set in 1870's Boston, Matthew Pearl weaves a story of murder and mystery surrounding the unfinished work of Charles Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood. When Dickens' American publishers hear of the author's untimely death, they are anxious to get their hands on the last installment of the tale before anyone else to keep their small publishing company afloat. But it soon becomes a matter of life-and-death when the young man sent to retrieve the installment from the Boston docks is found murdered.
Matthew Pearl is also the author of The Dante Club and The Poe Shadow.

To find these books, please visit our library website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Korie B.

Thanks for the Memories

2009-05-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

I admit it: I often judge books by their covers. This book I read solely on the recommendation of the brilliantly designed cover, but was not disappointed. Cecelia Ahern's latest book is the story of a woman who gets a blood transfusion after an accident only to suddenly find herself suddenly endowed with another person's memories and knowledge. This tale is told back and forth between the donor and recipient, and it isn't long before you start rooting for them to get together. Although the ending is mostly predictable from the first chapter, the read is still delightful. I especially enjoyed the interactions between fathers and daughters in this novel- it was laugh-out-loud-funny at times.

Cecelia Ahern is also the author of the book P.S. I Love You, which is also a movie starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank.

To find these items please visit our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Korie B.

Pulitzer Prize wining fiction

2009-05-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Strout recently won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction with her book Olive Kitteridge. Boy is it well deserved. Set up in 13 short vignettes, the whole book is tied together with one character, Olive Kitteridge who plays both small and large parts depending on the story. Strout evokes the human condition beautifully, describing the simplest details with heart wrenching beauty. In many of the stories, nothing much really happens, but Strout is able to draw the reader in to the inner of lives of her characters so deeply that one becomes mesmerized with their thoughts and feelings. I found this a very emotional but worthwhile read. Highly recommended.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

Against Medical Advice

2009-04-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman

Though one of the authors is the famous thriller writer James Patterson, this true story is told through the voice of Cory, a young boy who suddenly manifests various tics and involuntary utterances.

At the age of 5 Cory awakes one morning with an uncontrollable urge to twitch his neck. Cody is soon diagnosed with Tourette's syndrom and OCD and embarks on a torteous journey of specialists, treatments and drugs. Seeing the disease through the eyes of the victim sheds light on the uncontrollableness of the disease and the struggle a young man has living with the disease's outbursts and trying to be just normal. This is a true story of one's boy journey through hell and his triumph in the end.

The book reads easily and the voice pulls you in as you feel this young man's frustrations. Kudos goes to the parents of Cory for their supernatural support of him, their willingness to try most anything and to love him through all of it.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Denise

Good Help is Hard to Find

2009-03-27T09:23:00.001-07:00

The Help by Kathryn Stockett takes place is a world that is totally alien to me. A world where everybody has a maid. Where the lines between black and white people are carefully drawn. And where speaking out against the status quo can get one killed.

It is 1963 in Mississippi and the civil rights movement is only a murmur in the distance. The white women in town can’t live without their black maids, who cook their food, clean their homes and take care of their children. Yet, at the same time, they don’t want these maids using the same bathrooms as they do. When a young white woman sets out to write the stories these maids have to tell about their lives, we get a keen insight into these color lines and how they affected people both black and white during this turbulent period.

Stockett draws interesting and very well rounded characters and the story is compelling. The white people are not shown as evil ignorant Southerners, just people with some very deeply imbedded ideas about how the world should be. And the black people are not portrayed as noble martyrs but simply as human beings hoping for something better.

Though I know a lot about the civil rights movement, I was touched by the personal stories of bravery in this book. Though they are fictional, I could see how the smallest act of defiance during this time period could be an important step in equality and freedom.

Besides the historical and political themes of the book, it’s also just a great read. There are some terrific characters that you’ll simply fall in love with. I would highly recommend it!

Reviewed by Lori M

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

New at the Library

2009-03-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Non-Fiction
Inaugural Address by Barack Obama
A. Lincoln: a Biography by Ronald C. White Jr.
Crave: Why You Binge Eat and How to Stop by Cynthia M. Bulik
Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 20th Century by George Friedman
Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccariello

Fiction
The Birthday Present by Barbara Vine
Drood by Dan Simmons
Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
Shatter by Michael Robotham
The Vagrants by Yiyun Li

DVDs
Nights in Rodanthe
City of Ember
Brideshead Revisited
The Duchess
Autism: the musical

Inspirational
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
Let them Eat Fruitcake by Melody Carlson
On a Whim by Robin Jones Gunn
Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Rebecca's Reward by Lauraine Snelling

Audio Books
American Lion by Jon Meacham
Bones of the Dragon by Margaret Weis
The Good Rat: A True Story by Jimmy Breslin
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

To find these books in the Library, visit our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Princess Leia did what?

2009-03-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

Maybe you only know Carrie Fisher as the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher (and, infamously, the step-daughter of Elizabeth Taylor). Or you maybe you only think of her as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies. Or perhaps you’ve enjoyed her funny and acerbic novels like Postcards from the Edge and Delusions of Grandma.

Well, if you think you know Carrie Fisher at all, you haven’t read her new memoir Wishful Drinking. Fisher cultivated the book from a one-woman show she does by the same name and she doesn’t hold anything back.

Fisher unhinges her famously sharp wit to make such things as a father’s abandonment, drug addiction, mental illness and a dead friend in one’s bed absolutely hilarious! Holding nothing back, she recounts all sorts of juicy tidbits making them less about gossip and more about the pieces that have made her what she is today. Never whiney, and far for the spoiled Hollywood brats we often see in the media today, Fisher delivers a smart biting tell-all about how growing up famous (and, more importantly suffering from drug addiction and mental illness) affected her. If you like your memoirs nutty, this might be a good read for you!

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Lori M.

Love, secrecy, passion and devotion...

2009-02-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee takes place in Hong Kong during two time periods, 1941-42 and 1952-1953. The reader gets a glimpse of pre-occupation Hong Kong through Will’s eyes and follows his story through the Japanese occupation. The reader then follows Claire, the young British piano teacher, as she teaches young Locket, the daughter of the wealthy Mr. and Mrs. Chen in the 1950s. The story glides back and forth between the two decades revealing Will’s life along with the Chen’s and other characters. The connections among several of the characters unfold as the book progresses.

The story is well written and the characters believable. Love, secrecy, passion and devotion are brought up through the various characters’ stories. The reader is challenged to determine how far one would go under stressful situations to survive and /or hold on to your integrity. What does bring happiness? What is love?

To find this book in the library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Denise

A Good Old Fashioned Adventure Tale

2009-02-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

With touches of Robert Louis Stevenson and a hint of Oliver Twist, The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti is an orphan’s adventure into the dark underworld of Colonial New England. Ren is twelve years old and remembers nothing of life before being abandoned at the orphanage at St. Anthony’s. He also can’t remember how he lost his left hand.

Nearing an age where he’s bound for involuntary army service if he isn’t adopted, Ren suddenly finds himself swept away by a man claiming to be his brother. He soon finds that this conniving con man is not his brother, but he may have a connection to where Ren comes from. Meeting all sorts of shady characters along the way, Ren learns to be a grifter himself. But, as the title suggests, he has a hard time letting go of being good.

This is a terrifically bleak adventure full of great characters and unexpected situations. It’s pretty gross too, but that only adds to the story! For anyone who loves a good old fashioned tale of adventure this is a great read!

To find this book in the Library, visit our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

What's Hot at the Library!

2009-02-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

New Fiction
Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein
Dangerous Laughter: 13 Stories by Steven Millhauser
Among the Mad: a Maisie Dobbs novel by Jacqueline Winspear
The Piano Teacher by Janice YK Lee

New Nonfiction
Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin
Guilty by Ann Coulter
Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan by Suze Orman
We Can Have Peace in the Middle East by Jimmy Carter
The Well Dressed Ape by Hannah Holmes
Voluntary Madness by Norah Vincent

To find these books in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

A Modern Chinese Woman

2009-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo is a strange little book about the experiences of a Chinese woman finding herself despite being lost in a sea of people in a country where she does not fit in. The book is divided into twenty chapters, hence the title, and follows FenFang as she travels from her peasant village to the city. In her quest for simple survival, FenFang also seeks love, friendship, and some vaguely indefinably sense of her artistic self. Weaving in and out of boyfriends, jobs, apartments, and loneliness, FenFang is an outcast, from her family, her culture, and herself. Though there is no clean conclusion to this poetic story, it is a lovely read and quite different from what you might expect from a Chinese writer.

Guo wrote the original novel in Chinese and only recently translated it into English, “reworking” it rather than going for a word-for-word translation. I found the character and the novel fascinating!

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

New Nonfiction for December

2008-12-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

Ascent of Money: a financial history of the world by Niall Feguson
Buyology: truth and lies about why we buy by Martin Lindstrom
Daily Coyote: a story of love, survival and trust in the wilds of Wyoming by Shreve Stockton
Decline and Fall of the British Empire 1781-1997 by Piers Brendon
Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel
My Word is My Bond by Roger Moore
Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell

To these books in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

It's all in the Journey

2008-11-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

If you enjoyed Peace Like a River you will not be disappointed in Leif Enger’s most recent book So Brave, Young and Handsome. It’s 1915 and Monte Becker, a one time author, befriends an old outlaw, Glendon Hale, as he is building boats just down the river from his home in Minnesota.

Frustrated with trying to write another “great” novel, Monte agrees to accompany Glendon in search of “Blue”, Glendon’s love from long ago. As they traverse the United States, Glendon’s colorful past is revealed and Monte’s search for sense of purpose is discovered.

On their journey, they are pursued by Charles Siringo, an ex-Pinkerton who has been hunting Hale for years. On their way they experience a fire, a flood, a gun battle and meet up with characters from Charlie’s past. This story explores the depths of loyalties and the breadth of morality as Monte struggles with what is right and what is wrong.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Denise

Missing person or finally free

2008-11-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Paper Towns by John Green

Under the laws of probability, Q figures that, although no single miracle is likely to happen to any one of us, one of those many miracles is likely to happen to each of us. His miracle could have been the dead man he and his next door neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman find in their park when they’re nine. No, Q’s comet is Margo herself.

Skip to Senior year: Margo is the sun around which their high school revolves. Q’s one of those revolving particles in the band crowd. About a month before graduation, Margo slips into his second-floor room in the middle of the night, a shadow in black face paint. She’s got a stellar carpe diem (make that noctem) planned for them of prankish escapades. Then she disappears, AGAIN, leaving behind complicated & elaborate clues that launch Q and his old friends, along with some new ones, onto an adventurous hunt to find Margo in between their proms, finals, parties, and graduation.

This is a stellar 3rd novel for Printz award winning, Young Adult author John Green. His characters are real, his plot is clever, exciting, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny each in it's own turn. With fascinating tidbits of unexpected information and cleverly woven clues, Green offers a novel of adventure & fun with a gravity of realizations & personal growth. And don't forget to bask in the shining eloquence of Green's words, wit, and language which I've come to admire & adore in his work. Enjoy!

To find these and other materials in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by K'Lyn

History, murder, and wives galore!

2008-11-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

The 19th Wife is a rather creative fictionalization of Mormon history, specifically concerning polygamy. But author David Ebershoff takes special care not to draw conclusions or make judgments.

The novel interweaves two stories, that of Ann Eliza Young (an actual historical figure) and also that of Jordan Scott, a modern day ex-communicated fundamentalist Mormon.

We first meet Jordan. At 14 he was kicked out of the “Firsts”, a secular fundamentalist off-shoot of the Latter-Day-Saints who still practices polygamy as divine direction. After making his way on his own for several years Jordan is suddenly called back to his old life when his father is murdered and implicates Jordan’s mother, his “19th wife”, in his last words.

Then we meet Ann Eliza. She was the “19th wife” of the infamous Brigham Young. After fleeing this life, she wrote a book, Wife No. 19, denouncing polygamy and had some influence on the Mormons' moving away from this practice. Ebershoff fictionalizes Ann Eliza’s story but also weaves in actual history, including some indications that her story may not have been entirely accurate.

Through both of these stories we see the ways polygamy might be horrible for the people who practice it, but also how it might be an important, albeit challenging, aspect of religious practice for those who believe it is their salvation.

Though it seemed to run a little long, and often got bogged down in detail, I found this book very interesting. I learned a great deal about Mormon history and some of the quite amazing things these people did in shaping American history. If you like your history with a good dose of fiction (or vice-versa) check out The 19th Wife!

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

Multitasking at its best!

2008-11-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

When my son was born recently I found I needed two things in my reading materials: The book had to be light enough to hold with one hand while nursing, and the plot had to be easy to follow in the middle of the night. Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year fit the bill. Lamott's frankness about parenthood is tender, funny and reassuring. Her conversational writing style is both charming and witty. This was the perfect book to read in the first few weeks of my son's life, and a book that will strike a chord with many parents.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Korie B.

A Local Mystery

2008-10-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

If you like a fun mystery, Shanghai Tunnel by Sharan Newman might be right up your alley. It takes place in early Portland and has many references to streets, people and historic events that are specific to PDX. It gives a good picture of the lifestyle, politically and personally, in the early days of Portland. I enjoyed it!

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Rea

A Sunny Read for a Rainy Day

2008-10-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows was great fun to read. Written in the form of letters, it's packed with interesting characters who are surprisingly easy to keep track of (considering how many there are).

Set immediately after World War II, the plot revolves around the German occupation of the British Channel Islands, a historical event that I wasn't aware of before. I liked the characters a lot and found myself thinking about them and their stories off and on during the days that I read this fast moving book.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Jean S.

A Fractured American Dream

2008-10-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

America, America by Ethan Canin is narrated by Corey Sifter and intertwines 3 stories into one. Though he is the son of a working class family, Corey is “adopted” into the rich Metarey’s family as a worker.

We then follow the story of a local politician’s journey to almost capture the 1972 Democratic Party’s nomination for President. We get the story from the present tense as Corey is a teen and being exposed to the big political machine at work, and then in the past tense when Corey is the editor of the local newspaper many years later.

The third story line runs through the entire book as we know “something” has gone wrong. The reader follows the rise and fall of the local candidate described against actual historical events of the 1970s.

If you enjoy historical fiction, pick up this book for a good read.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Denise

A Boy and his Dog

2008-09-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

Now that I’ve finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski, I’m not quite sure how to describe it. Certainly there are unmistakable elements of Hamlet: a father killed by an uncle who then immerses himself in the mother’s affections; a son driven mad by his father’s murder and the knowledge of who did it. But it is also a dog story, a family story, a “midwestern” and a very American saga.

Edgar is a sensitive boy born to loving parents on an idyllic farm where they raise a fictional and very special breed of dog called the Sawtelle dogs. Though he can hear perfectly, the new family quickly finds that their child cannot speak or even make any sound. Edgar and his parents develop a sign language that they use to communicate, but this disability soon becomes the least of their problems.

Edgar’s uncle, the black-sheep Claude, shows up after years of self-imposed exile. A short time later, Edgar discovers his father dead of an apparent stroke. But Edgar is sure that Claude has murdered his father and sets out to prove this, with unexpectedly horrific results. Edgar flees into the wild with only a pack of young dogs and his grief. In his journey, he finds both answers and more questions and must ultimately return to the farm to make things right. This being a saga, of course, you may not find a happy ending. Yet I found this brilliantly written novel satisfying, mesmerizing, and very affecting.

Oprah just chose this novel as her latest “Oprah’s Book club” pick. It’s quite a thick tome but perfect for those soon-to-come rainy afternoons of fall.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

The Secret to a Long Life

2008-09-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

In The Alchemyst: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, the title character has found the secret to immortality, but now his wife, Pernell, and the book that holds his secret have been kidnapped by the evil Dr. John Dee. Every day without the book brings Nicholas and Pernell one year closer to mortality. Their only hope may be 15 year-old twins who are just beginning to understand their magical potential. Surreptitiously dumped into a dangerous world, twins Sophie and Josh have entered a world of immortals, werewolves, vampires, gods, goddesses, and creatures they can't even begin to fathom.

I was hooked from the start of this fast-paced read. Michael Scott's writing is brisk and highly entertaining. Myths are articulately woven together to create a web you won't want to escape from!

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Korie B.

An American Family with a Few Issues

2008-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

The “condition” of this title is, ostensibly, Turner Syndrome, a gene deficiency that causes the McKoch family’s daughter Gwen not to go through puberty, basically leaving her with the body of a little girl into adulthood. But as we read further, we find that each member of this family has their own condition that leaves all of them deficient; prim mother Paulette, driven detached father Frank, closeted gay golden boy son Billy, loser blacksheep son Scotty and, of course, the physically and emotionally stunted Gwen.

We meet the family in the summer of 1978, glossy on the outside, but ready to disintegrate on the inside. Twenty years later, we revisit their lives, all grown up and still falling apart. Though they aren’t all totally healed of their condition by the end of the novel, I found a certain amount of satisfaction in their journey. Haigh is an insightful and graceful writer who goes deep into each character extracting the ways people can become so involved in their own conditions that they cannot connect with others. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, I’m not normally one for family drama type novels, but I found this one was different and I enjoyed it very much.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

The Joy of a Good Listen

2008-08-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

I love listening to stories. Some audio books are just so well read they beg to be listened to again and again. Stephen Briggs' reading of The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett is one such story.
This is the tale of Tiffany Aching, a young girl with keen observation skills who becomes entwined in the magical world. With a firm grasp on reality, and her frying pan, Tiffany finds herself in league with the Nac Mac Feegle (also known as the Wee Free Men). While best known for their fightin', stealin' and drinkin', the little blue men also become fiercely protective of Tiffany when she must rescue her sticky little brother Wentworth from the Queen of the Elves.

Although a delightful fantasy, this story is ultimately about common sense, standing up for "them as can't" and the magic of truly seeing what is around you.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Korie B.

Book Club Selection for September

2008-08-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

In Out Stealing Horses, Norwegian writer Per Petterson delivers the simple story of a man reviewing his past. But he does so in such an ethereal and intriguing way that it is by no means a simple novel.

Trond, an aging widower, has set out to live in quiet isolation as, he declares, he always wanted to do. But a chance encounter with a boyhood acquaintance brings back a flood of memories of one summer that shaped his future. The story weaves in and out of this fateful summer and the present like the prominent river that flows through it. Filled with both relationships with people and with nature, Petterson describes even the most mundane tasks with beautiful prose.

This will be our first book group read for September. We’ll meet to discuss it on September 16th at 7:00 p.m in the Library. I encourage you to read this wonderful novel and join us for further discussion!

To find this book in the Library go to our catalog at www.newberglibrary.org or stop in and we’ll supply you with a book group copy.

Reviewed by Lori M.

No spoilers here, just read it!

2008-08-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

OK, so the last few Twilight Saga books by Stephenie Meyer were a bit formulaic, but they still sucked me in. I've been anxiously awaiting Breaking Dawn since I devoured the last book, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I was completely surprised. Meyer breaks the mold in this thrilling conclusion to the saga taking main characters to new depths. Should I say more? I think I would rather let you be surprised by the twists and turns. Just read it, it won't disappoint.

Written for young adults but a great read for adults too!

Reviewed (sort of) by Korie B.

A Satisfying Mystery with More

2008-08-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Although there's a mystery at the center of the novel, What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn doesn't feel primarily like a mystery. The first section follows 10-year-old detective Kate as she navigates her Birmingham, U.K. neighborhood in a world where almost no one notices her. Her whole life has a somewhat sinister feel to it, including her teacher Mrs. Finnegan who is "criminally unsuited to teaching small children."

The second section of the book takes place twenty years later and centers around Lisa, a young woman who works in a music store in the Green Oaks shopping mall in the same neighborhood. The strongest parts of the book are the painful, true and funny descriptions of the tedium and humiliation of working in customer service while serving a sadistic and ambitious boss. According to the author's bio, she was drawing on her experience working in record stores.

The two sections of the book tie together and overlap in many directions for an interesting and satisfying conclusion.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Jean

Books as History

2008-08-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

Imagine a rare religious book is discovered in the aftermath of the Bosnian war in Sarajevo. This is how People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks begins. Dr. Hanna Heath is asked to assess the condition of the Sarajevo Haggadah and try to re-create its historical journey. The book holds religious connections for Jews, Christians and Muslims and therefore is an important find.

Brooks leads the reader back and forth from the present day research and Hanna’s personal story to the past where we enter into the historical episodes of each clue found from the book. The rose colored stains, insect wing, missing clasps, drop of salt and the white hair each hold their own historical story and the reader is transported backwards as each clue unfolds with this book ending at the beginning of the books journey in 1480 Seville.

This is a good read, especially for those who enjoy historical fiction.

To find this book in the Library go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Denise

Searching for Light in a Dark World

2008-08-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

Imagine living in a city where the only light is provided by electricity. Then imagine that electricity is starting to fail. Every time the lights go out, you are plunged into total and utter darkness! That is the scenario of this captivating book, The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau.

Lina and Doon are two twelve year olds living in Ember. They have both just finished school and have become workers in the stringently regulated system that keeps everything flowing in the city. But soon they realize something is wrong. Supplies such as food and clothing are running out, the mayor has a terrible secret, and people are beginning to panic whenever the lights go out (which is more and more often!). Together Lina and Doon must solve the age-old mystery of Ember and find out what is beyond the “unknown regions” surrounding the city.

This is a wonderful and captivating read. It’s geared primarily to middle school readers but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Both the characters and the action are well written and plausible, despite the slightly science fiction quality of this futuristic/apocalyptic world.

This book is part of a series which continues with the People of the Spark and the Prophet of Yonwood, which I definitely have on my list to read next (a fourth and final book is scheduled to come out in the Fall). The City of Ember is also being made into a movie coming out in October.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M.

Historical Fiction conjures up Elizabeth I

2008-07-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir (2008)

Elizabeth Tudor's early life is vividly imagined in this entertaining novel. Perhaps one of the most fascinating women of history, Elizabeth would grow up to be one of the most powerful monarchs of England. Even before she came to power her early life was full of uncertainty, manipulation, political intrigue, and plots against her life. From the time of her mother Anne Boleyn's beheading, through her tumultuous young adult years, Elizabeth set her self apart with her dignity and matched wits with the most brilliant men in England.

Alison Weir's story explores Elizabeth's transformation from a seductive flirt to the Virgin Queen, and while she takes fictional license, she crafts her story with attention to historical detail fashioning a captivating story.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Korie B.

Not Jane's Best

2008-07-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

After just finishing Jane Kirkpatrick’s newest series Change and Cherish, I have to say that I was disappointed in the quality of writing and storyline in this series. As an avid Jane Kirkpatrick fan, I expected a smoother storyline. The author was too wordy with the thoughts of Emma, the main character. However, as far as historical research, Jane does an excellent job. I am ready to go explore Aurora Oregon, which is where most of the story takes place.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I would still suggest this novel as Jane Kirkpatrick researches her material well. If, however, you are looking for another great read by her, this is not it.

Kirkpatrick is writing a new non-fiction book Aurora: An American Experience in Quilt and Craft, about the quilts that are mentioned in this book. It is due out in the fall of 2008.

To find Jane Kirkpatrick’s books in the Library, go to our website at http://www.newberglibrary.org/

Reviewed by Denise

Skeletons out of the closet

2008-07-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

Do I need to talk you into reading the latest David Sedaris book? If you are already a fan, probably not. Like me, you anxiously await his next collection of essays every time you finish one.

You won’t be disappointed with When You Are Engulfed in Flames. As always, Sedaris offers funny insights on both the absurd and the mundane. Sure, he’s a little older and more content, and it certainly shows; most of the essays in this collection have to do with domestic life with his partner Hugh. But he is still just as funny and you will still laugh out loud while reading this book!

If you haven’t ready David Sedaris yet, I would recommend starting with one of his older collections like Holidays on Ice or Naked and working you way through to this latest one. Listening to him is great fun too so you might try one of his audio book versions.

You can find all of Sedaris’ books by going to our catalog at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Lori M

War and Hope

2008-07-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Translator: A Tribesman’s Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari

The terrible situations in this book can make it hard to read. Yet it is also somehow warming to the heart. Though this true story of the genocide in Darfur is appalling, Daoud brings hope and freshness by sharing stories about the people, their customs and way of life.

The story begins as Daoud’s village is destroyed by warring factions. We follow him through 2005 as he fights the rebels and the government. As an educated man, his father encourages Daoud to fight the rebels with words instead of guns. We experience near misses, humbling scenes of war and Daoud’s own hopeful insight as he challenges his enemies in his own unique way. Along this journey the reader learns about village life, the countryside and the history of an ancient land. Though tough to read in some spots, the book is well worth the effort.

If you enjoy audio books, the audio book is read by Mirron Willis. The delightful African accent is like listening to Daoud himself tell his story.

To find this book in the Library, go to our website at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Denise

City of Bones

2008-07-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

Clary's night starts out innocently enough at a club, but in just a few hours, events twist. Her eyes are opened to the world of vampires, faeries, werewolves and the Shadowhunters, the powerful fighters that keep the demons under control. When she tries to ignore the dawning truth, her mother is kidnapped, forcing Clary to join the world of the Shadowhunter to free her mother. Leading the young Shadowhunters is Jace, a sarcastic teenager with a deadly aim and killer looks. As Clary and Jace battle to discover the whereabouts of her mother, the world teeters perilously close to an all out war.

The first in The Mortal Instruments trilogy, City of Bones is a thrilling adventure full of danger, wit and love.

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments: Book 1) by Cassandra Clare
Young Adult: Grades 7-13

If you like this story, check out:
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments: Book 2) by Cassandra Clare
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle Trilogy) by Libba Bray

To find these books in the Library go to our website at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

reviewed by Korie

Back in the USSR

2008-07-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is set in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Leo Stephanovich Demidov works for state security and the author does a great job of conveying how restrictive the society is; it seems everyone is kept in line by fear.

When Leo becomes convinced that a serial killer has been targeting children, he’s considered a dissident since, officially, there's no murder or crime in the USSR. After Leo and his wife Raisa are forced to run from the government and throw themselves on the mercy of strangers, it becomes clear that many people are not ruled by fear and are willing to risk their own lives to do what's right. The middle of the book is a little slow, but the last quarter of the book is fast paced and the ending is exciting. Smith seems to have done a lot of research (this is his first book) and does a great job of conveying life in the Soviet Union in the 50s.

To find this book in the Library, go to our catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Jean

Living la vodka loca

2008-06-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

This irreverent collection of essays, Are You There Vodka, It’s me Chelsea, depicts the wild life of Chelsea Handler and it will either shock you or make you laugh out loud (or maybe both!). Handler is a stand up comic/talk show host who usually spears pop culture with an acid wit.

In this book, Handler mostly makes fun of herself, her friends and her family and the strange situations she seems to find herself in. In one story for example, she finds that she has to pretend to be honeymooning with her father when he lies to the airline to get them upgraded. In another, she goes to extremes to convince her third grade class that she’ll we starring in the sequel to “Private Benjamin”.

If you like your comedy a bit risqué, you may like Handler’s bawdy look at life.

To find this book in the Library go to our website at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Lori M

Magical Car Rides

2008-06-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Our family just finished a suspenseful car ride with our ears tuned to the audio rendition of The Dragon of Doom, the first title in Bruce Coville's Moongobble and Me series. This tale of magic and adventure begins magician-in-training Moongobble's quest to complete three tasks and join the Society of Magicians. Young Edward is bored in his village of Pigbone and jumps feet first into a friendship with Moongobble and a talking toad named Urk. The full cast of voices, performed by eight actors, made us laugh and want to stay in the car even after we had arrived at our destination. Background music introduces each chapter and sound effects add to the story's suspense. Young readers will love this light-hearted fantasy that's not truly scary - just full of action and fun.

To find this and other Moongobble and Me series audio books in the library, go to our catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Amanda

Sci-fi for middle schoolers

2008-06-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

From the author of the popular Sci-Fi series, Shadow Children, comes a new adventure: Found (The Missing: Book 1). Jonah has always known he was adopted, but when strange messages begin appearing in the mail, Jonah begins to ask questions about his origins. When he discovers his friend Chip, also adopted, has received the same messages, they begin to investigate, discovering just how many kids are part of an FBI cover-up of a catastrophic event transcending time and space. Jonah, Chip and Jonah's sister, Katherine, begin a race for their lives through time to make things right.

Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2008) (grades 4-7)

If you like this book check-out: Among the Hidden (Shadow Children: Book 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix, The Book of Time by Guillaume Prevost and Larklight by Philip Reeve.

To find these books in the Library go to our catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Korie

Bee-bim Bop by Linda Sue Park

2008-06-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Inspire your preschooler and/or early reader to step into the kitchen with this playful dinner-time tale. A young girl narrates the preparation of her favorite family dish, bee-bim bop, a popular Korean meal meaning 'mix-mix rice.' The rhyming cadence is great practice for pre-readers and captures the fun each member of the family seems to have shopping, frying, flipping, boiling, chopping and eating together. A recipe is included at the the end with instructions for both kids and their grown-ups. Bee-bim bop was a huge hit at our house and inspired my preschooler to eat cabbage using chopsticks! A testament to a great picture book.

To find this book in the library go to our catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Amanda L.

Dads gone wild

2008-06-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am mesmerized by Augusten Burroughs. This guy has had quite a life and knows how to tell his story in a hilariously acerbic fashion. You may know him from his first memoir Running with Scissors. But he’s also written several other books chronicling his battle with alcoholism and other aspects of his life (Dry, Magical Thinking, Possible Side Effects).

In his latest memoir Wolf at the Table, Burroughs gets a little darker (ok, a whole lot darker) in describing his father; a distant, unaffectionate, alcoholic, perhaps even psychotic man. This was a man who played cruel head games with his son including (possibly) killing and tortuing some of his pets. Burroughs was a sensitive, loving, artistic child and only wanted his father’s love. He writes in anguished detail about how far his father went to withhold that love, even on his deathbed.

If you’ve enjoyed Burrough's other books, I would recommend this one to get more of his story, but be prepared: you won’t be laughing much.

To find this book in the Library go to our catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Lori M.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

2008-05-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series can sink their teeth into something different while they await the next adventure of Bella, Edward and Jacob (place your hold now for Breaking Dawn).

Meyer's newest novel, the Host, is told from the view of the Wanderer, an alien soul whose race has taken over human bodies. Both Science Fiction and Romance, this story focuses on one alien whose human host won't fade away. Although Melanie's body is no longer her own, her consciousness won't leave the Wanderer in peace. As both struggle for control and understanding, Melanie tempts her with memories of the life and love she had with Jared, a survivor of the alien invasion. As they set out to find him, their lives intertwine binding them together. Can they continue to exist together?

To find this book in the Library go to our website at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

reviewed by Korie

Let's Celebrate!

2008-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating 100 years of service here at the Newberg Public Library during the week of May 27th - May 31st. The first public library in Newberg opened on May 26th, 1908 (we're closed that Monday for Memorial Day so we're starting the celbrations on Tuesday). The Library will be having fun activities throughout the week and a big party on Saturday, May 31st with food, fun and festivities. Come on down and help us celebrate!

Sumptuous Reading

2008-05-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Last Chinese Chef
After an American food writer’s husband dies, she returns to China to “clear up some family business” and to write a story on traditional Chinese food. To get her story, Maggie follows a Chinese-American-Jewish chef as he prepares to enter a cooking contest and she learns about the history and meaning of food and family in the Chinese culture. Intertwined is the story of Maggie’s grief, her relationship with the chef and his family, and how food can be healing. If you like stories about relationships, food, and culture, you might like The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones.

To find this book in the library go to our catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library
Reviewed by Denise

Book Club Selection

2008-03-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

Our book club selection this month is Plainsong by Kent Haruf. And like the song style the title alludes to, this lovely little novel is truly lyrical. Weaving together the lives of several residents of a small Colorado town, Haruf describes life, relationships and the landscape in similar ways: starkly, darkly but with tinges of hope and good humor.

Guthrie is a lonely man, unhappy in his job as a schoolteacher and on the brink of loosing his severely depressed wife. Ike and Bobby are his two little boys who suddenly find that they must more or less make their own way when their mother abandons them physically and their father emotionally. Victoria is an introspective quiet girl who finds herself pregnant and out on the streets when her mother kicks her out and the father of her baby is nowhere to be found. The McPherons are two old brothers who keep to themselves and their curmudgeonly ways until their quiet solitude is disturbed, or perhaps filled, with the arrival of the pregnant teenager. Maggie Jones is the kind, take-care-of-business woman who brings them all together.

Though somewhat slow-paced, I enjoyed this novel and the array of characters Haruf presents. The descriptions of the landscapes and the wonderful old coot McPheron brothers are particularly enjoyable assets to this colorful novel.

To find this book in the library go to our catalog at http://www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Lori M

Sex and Religion in America

2008-02-21T19:14:00.001-08:00

Tom Perotta is known for writing about trouble in suburbia. Election and Little Children have been his most popular novels so far and both deal with characters bored with the humdrum and looking for something else, usually to both hilarious and disastrous results. Perotta continues this theme in his latest novel, The Abstinence Teacher but takes a slightly different track. While he says it’s “all about sex education and the culture wars” I found it went a bit deeper than that examining human frailties and how they manifest themselves in enclosed cultures such as suburban America.

In this novel, Ruth is a sex education teacher whose teaching methods come under fire from a local church. Against her own ideals, she is forced to teach only abstinence after the situation blows up. Tim is an ex-junkie who has lost everything but has found Jesus and belongs to the Evangelical church that challenged Ruth’s sex-ed curriculum. Though he is committed to his new religion and grateful for the strength it gives him, Tim struggles with the things he learns in his new church, particularly from the charismatic pastor Dave.

When the lives of Ruth and Tim intertwine, a microcosm of an American rift between conservative and liberal is examined in Perotta’s own dark and humorous style. But I found it interesting that neither of the lives of these two characters are stereotypical and their actions are rarely predictable. If you enjoy realistic books that look at society’s foibles, I would highly recommend this book.

Find this and other Tom Perotta books on the library catalog at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Lori M

The Search for Love

2008-01-10T15:26:00.000-08:00

Somehow, and without conscious effort, I keep reading novels about Jewish people in the Arctic. The novel I reviewed earlier, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, and this one: Away by Amy Bloom. The two novels couldn’t be more different though.

Away is the devestating but delicately written tale of Lillian Leyb, a woman who has lost everything by the time she is 22. After a Russian pogrom wipes out her entire family including her young daughter, Lillian emmigrates to New York in 1924. There she finds herself part of the Yiddish Theater as a seamstress and soon winds up the mistress of the star actor and his powerful father. But Lillian discovers that her daughter may be alive and living in Siberia and, without much to go on, is compelled to find her.

Traveling across the North America, Lillian ends up in a number of seamy situations including taking up with an African-American prostitute in Seattle, being tossed in a Vancouver women’s prison “for her own good” and wandering alone through the bitter Yukon. There are many characters along Lillian’s journey and a number of surprises both for her and for the reader. Love was never examined from so many angles. If you like a good story about a tough woman, try this terrific novel.

To check the availability of this item, go the library website at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library

Reviewed by Lori Moore

Sailing off to Sleep

2008-01-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

Settle in for winter with this cozy bedtime read. Sailing off to Sleep speaks to children's love for adventure, independence and a comforting conclusion. This rhyming picture book tells the tale of a young girl's reluctance to go to bed and her imaginary journey across the Arctic sea. Throughout, the girl's mother asks concerned questions about her daughter's well-being, for which the young adventurer always has a confident answer. She sails with a whale, floats with a walrus, cuddles with polar bears and frolics with all manner of polar animals not often found in children's books. Cool Arctic landscape and warm animal illustrations contrast beautifully. The text's rhyming cadence can also help pre-readers learn to hear that words are made up of smaller parts. The little girl's return to home offers a soothing route to sleep for the little one in your life. Find Sailing off to Sleep at your library under E Ashman.

Ashman, Linda. Sailing off to Sleep. 2001.
New York: Simon & Schuster books for Young Readers .
Reviewed by Amanda Lamb

Minverva Louise on Christmas Eve

2007-12-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

Minerva Louise is back, and this time Christmas is turned upside down by a silly chicken. Christmas lights are mistaken for dressed-up fireflies, Santa's reindeer are mistaken for goats and Christmas tree decorations are mistaken for eggs. Preschoolers will love to correct this silly chicken as she muddles through the holiday in the simply delightful way only Minerva Louise could. Find it @ your library under "E Stoeke."

Stoeke, Janet Morgan. Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve. 2007. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Reviewed by Korie Jones Buerkle

Jewish Mysticism in the Alaskan Wilderness?

2007-11-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

You can always count on Michael Chabon for a word-packed story. He's known for being a real wordsmith. But somehow he manages to create a smooth, snappy and well-paced murder mystery with his novel The Yiddish Policemen's Union.

In this noir-ish present-day novel, Chabon develops an alternate reality where the Jews of the world have settled in Alaska after World War II and losing Israel to the Arabs. The United States has agreed to let them set up their own temporary state, but their time is about to come up and the U.S. is reclaiming the land. After 50 years of self-rule and a very Jewish- centered lifestyle, they are about to become America.

Meanwhile, hard-boiled detective Meyer Landsman is down on his luck and living in a dive hotel after loosing just about everything. He takes on one last murder case before the U.S. comes in and takes over. But he finds that this particular case is much more personal than he thought, and his sanity and maybe even his life may depend on solving it.

Full of Jewish mysticism, gangland style violence, mystery, intrigue, romance and one twist after another this is a fun and interesting read. If you like a mystery with a little more depth and density, pick up The Yiddish Policemen's Union.

To check on the availability of this item, go the Newberg Public Library website at www.ci.newberg.or.us/library.

Reviewed by Lori Moore

Welcome!

2007-11-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Newberg Public Library Book Blog. This blog will be a place where Newberg Library staff post entries about what they reading, new and upcoming books, and general news and information about the world of books.