Staff Recs :: July 2010


Mary K.	The Tiger by John Vaillant August 2010 This is one of the most gripping books I've read. In 1997, an amur tiger stalked a Russian poacher, obliterating him and his property, then began to target other hunters in the area. But this book is more than just a recounting of that attack - it's the history of human/tiger interactions. I was stunned to learn how intelligent these animals are, and terribly saddened to read about the destruction of their territory. This is a powerful, powerful book. $26.95	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:


Carol	The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear April 2010 Maisie is hired by a wealthy American couple to find the lover of their long dead son, Michael, killed in WW I. Michael was a cartographer for the Brits during the war; hence the title. The investigation leads Maisie on a course that, of course, includes the military and a long lost cousin bent on revenge. I so admire Winspear's ability to "refresh" the reader's memory of Maisie's past. Is there romance in her future? Read and find out. This story alters Maisie's life forever! $25.99	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Joe S.	Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes April 2010 This novel is the opposite of gung-ho celebrations of war. Instead, it concentrates on the fear and pain experienced by those on the ground, fighting not only a determined and capable human enemy but the mud, diseases and exhaustion that are constant accompaniments. Matterhorn also reflects the political interference and racial tensions that were factors in the Vietnam War. This is an often difficult read but an emotional rendering of the human toll and futility of war. $24.95	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Carol	31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan March 2010 Boy, I loved this one! Based on a true story of murder, betrayal, and power, this novel is much more than a great historical mystery. Who brutally murdered Dr. Harvey Burdell in New York in 1856, a few years before the Civil War? Was it his housemistress, Emma Cunningham? This novel depicts the political climate and the social structure of life back then and it is reminiscent of the works of Caleb Carr. Its a fine mystery to boot! $25.99	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Candy	The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot February 2010 Henrietta Lacks is a hero. Too bad her incredible contribution to the world of science came posthumously. This fascinating true story of cells, privacy rights, tissue samples, research ethics, legalities and money- all stirred by one woman's immortal cancer cells- is not-put-downable. $26	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:


Doris	The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot February 2010 We should all be grateful to this woman who has helped mankind in more ways than one can imagine. It's just sad that her family has not been rewarded in any way for the drug companies profits. $26	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:


Gail	A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole February 2010 Celeste the field mouse finds much more than a nest in a plantation house near New Orleans in the early 1800's. She becomes a secret assistant to non-other than John James Audubon, master naturalist and wildlife artist, and his youthful apprentice Joseph. Charmingly illustrated by. the author and and sweetly written with a warm read-aloud flavor, this middle reader novel will delight every member of your family. $15.95	Children's
	Not Rated:


Candy	The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone February 2010 As a Chicago-area girl, I adored the Thorne Rooms, so reading this book was a fun fantasy for me. The author sprinkles the story with bits of history and a new little world (literally) of exploration. It's a "what if . . ." adventure that reminded me of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler. Size it up for yourself! $16.99	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Carol	Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah February 2010 This will be a wonderful book for book groups! What made Anya Whitcom so distant and cold to her two daughters? On his deathbed the beloved father of Meredith and Nina pleads with his wife Anya to tell her "fairy tale". Why? Anya agrees, and as her story develops, the reader learns so much about her life in Leningrad during the siege in WW II. Being part Russian, this one hit home. Enjoy!!! $26.95	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Carol	Bloodroot by Amy Greene January 2010 Is this novel magical? You bet, and in more ways than one. It is the saga of the Lamb family, specifically the wild and beautiful Myra, that spans their history from the Great Depression to modern day. The reader suffers along with the Lamb family through abuse, injustice, passion and pain, but in the end it is the draw and safety of Bloodroot Mtn. that saves them. The writing is exquisite, and at times will tear your heart out. I loved this book. $24.95	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	Bloodroot by Amy Greene January 2010 Readers who want to feel an emotional connection to a particular book's characters will love Bloodroot. By the time I had finished this book, I had lived along with Myra, Byrdie, Laura and the rest of the Lamb/Odom family. I shared their tears and laughter; celebrated and mourned with them and agreed that Bloodroot Mountain may be one of the most beautiful places on the faces of the earth. Blodroot is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Julia	Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper January 2010 Adorable and it includes the recipe to make deliciously plain vanilla cupcakes with frosting!	Children's
	Not Rated:


Candy	Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink January 2010 We know $$$ doesn't buy happiness, but it doesn't necessarily buy good workers either, at least according to Dan Pink in this fascinating new examination of motivation. Bottom line: it's autonomy that does the trick. Isn't that so satisfying to hear? People are not robots. Turns out they like to use their gray matter upstairs. If you want to succeed, you need opportunities to problem solve and think. Sorry carrot-and-stick theory. You're so old (business) school. $26.95	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:


Carol	First Rule by Robert Crais January 2010 Guess I've been waiting for a story about the enigmatic Joe Pike and here it is. This time it was Joe's turn to "run the show", with a bit of help from Elvis, of course. Opening with the brutal murder of one of Pike's former mercenaries and his family, First Rule finds Pike compelled to find the killers. Thus he becomes involved with a vicious Serbian gang, illegal arms deals, and an orphaned baby boy. Get the picture here? There is a side to Joe Pike not seen before. Enjoy! $26.95	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Candy	Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup January 2010 One part humor. One part tragic. A pinch of worry. A dash of anger. A dollop of uncertainty, but sizeable measures of love and you have a book to savor in Marriage and Other Acts of Charity. It's a thoughtful examination of what marriage is, and isn't, and is a real heart warmer. Try this sample to kick off your own marriage discussion: Nothing is more important than ______________. Honest and revealing about what's most significant. $24.99	Non-Fiction
	Not Rated:


Candy	The Privileges by Jonathan Dee January 2010 The Privileges begins with an opening chapter so descriptive you feel you're attending the wedding of Cynthia and Adam Morey, a young bride and groom who, through offshore accounts and insider trading, become insanely wealthy gazillionaires. But clearly, their great wealth carries great weight as well. At times I was both sympathetic and incensed at their behavior (more the latter)...but definitely intrigued till the very last page. $25	Fiction
	Not Rated:


Kathleen	A Small, Brown Dog with a Wet, Pink Nose by S. A. Bodeen January 2010 This is a laugh out-loud fun book that parents will enjoy reading as much as their children will enjoy hearing it! Amelia is desperate to get a dog. But whenever she asks her parents if they can get one, she is always told "no". But Amelia finds a loophole. Instead of asking for a dog, she changes the questions ever so slighty: "If we had a dog, could we name him Bones?" or "If we had a dog could we feed him?" or(the clincher)"If we did have a dog and he got lost, would we find him and bring him back?" I think Amelia has a promising future ahead of her as a lawyer, a negotiator or as an ad whiz. $16.99	Children's
	Not Rated:

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