Monday, February 14, 2011

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult's new book, Sing You Home is a must read and a real page turner!

Zoe Baxter and her husband Max have just lost another baby. After years of attempting to have one, this loss is too much for Max. Knowing that Zoe will insist on continuing with fertility treatments attempting once more to have a baby, he realizes he simply can't try anymore. He is done, he can't go through another loss. He files for divorce.

Max turns to alcohol to drown his sorrows. After a near fatal car accident he turns to his brother's pastor for help and joins the church where he finds forgiveness, acceptance, and understanding. Living with his brother Reid and his sister-in-law Liddy also presents a few issues of there own.

Zoe suffers from depression, for not only did she lose her husband, but she also agonizes through another more devastating loss--she needs a hysterectomy which will forever prevent her from having a baby of her own. In time Zoe turns to her best friend Vanessa, where she finds unconditional love, compassion, and understanding. Zoe and Vanessa soon get married and decide to start a family.

Zoe wants the frozen embryos that she and Max have at the clinic where they underwent all their invitro treatments. This would be her only chance of having a biological baby with Vanessa. The problem arises when the clinic needs both Zoe and Max's signatures. What lies ahead is a battle ending up in a courtroom.

Who decides whom would make better parents? Two parents; one male, one female? Two parents, both male? Two parents, both female?

Who decides what home would be better for a child? One which practices a religion, or one which does not?

What happens when people from the outside judge what is right and what is wrong?

Jodi Picoult has once again written a controversial story with such openness, empathy, and insight that you'll want to keep reading and reading till you get to the end!

Monday, February 7, 2011

The Last Time I Saw You

Have you ever been invited to or attended one of your high school class reunions? Do you remember contemplating should I go or should I skip it? Who would be there that I would like to see? I wonder what a certain friend has been up to all these years? Boy, I would sure like to reconnect with.......

The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg is just the book for you! In this book the characters reconnect with one another. They recalll the "last time" they saw a specific person, or shared a conversation-good or bad. They plan, prepare and gather to celebrate their fortieth class reunion, the very last one.

As they gather and celebrate the reunion brings many new possibilities-reconnecting with a classmate who was the "heartthrob", forging new friendships, patching up old misunderstandings, forgiving, and rediscovering new bonds.

For anyone who has gone to a class reunion or is planning on attending a class reunion. Take a few moments, relax, and enjoy this delightful, easy read book by Elizabeth Berg!

Monday, January 17, 2011

For book lovers

This is what the book clubs are reading next:

The Adult Book Club will read and discuss Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 6:30 pm

The Mystery Book Club will read and discuss Manslaughter by Parnell Hall on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 1:30 pm

The Busy Moms will read and discuss Little Giants of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

New members are always welcome! Have fun!

No Doors, No Windows


Are you in the mood for a scary story? I just read one that was super creepy. No Doors, No Windows by Joe Schreiber tells the story of the Mast family and the curse they are suffering from. Scott Mast returns to his hometown for his father's funeral and is surprised to discover that his brother Owen is an alcoholic raising a little boy on his own. Scott's ex girlfriend Sonia is still living in town, although she's not happy about it. Scott finds a ghost story written by his father about a creepy old house in the woods that has some connection to the Mast family. Scott feels beckoned to visit this house and discovers a dark, hidden corridor where unspeakable horrors took place.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Faithful Place by Tana French


Faithful Place is a poor neighborhood in Dublin, Ireland. Frank Mackey is a nineteen year old guy waiting for his girlfriend Rosie. They plan to leave Faithful Place and elope to England, but Rosie never shows. Frank is confused and heart broken thinking Rosie changed her mind. So he decides to leave Faithful Place without her to get away from his alcoholic father and his critical mother. Twenty two years later, Frank receives a call from his sister saying that someone found Rosie's suitcase behind a fireplace in an old abandoned house. Reluctantly, Frank goes home to get to the bottom of the mystery of Rosie's disappearance.
I listened to Faithful Place, hoping to get an earful of the Irish brogue, which I did.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Room by Emma Donoghue

I was hesitant at first about reading Room. It seemed pretty dark, and even though I enjoy reading dark fiction, I thought it might be too dark, even for me. But it struck me as such an interesting story, so I downloaded it to my ipod and let the journey begin. Room is the story of a mom and her 5-year-old son Jack being held captive in an 11 x 11 foot space by a man Jack calls Old Nick. Ma and Jack live, eat, play, watch TV, and sleep in this room 24/7. Even though Ma tries very hard to give Jack a normal life under the circumstances, Jack begins to question what's beyond their room and Ma eventually tells him the truth. Room is not a depressing story, although if you you read between the lines of what Ma is saying to Jack, you can feel the horror of her situation. Room also offers a look into the love between a mother and child and the patience, strength and bravery it takes to live a life in captivity while keeping hope alive. Emma Donoghue stated that she was inspired by the true story of Felix Fritzl, a 5-year-old boy and one of seven children born to Elisabeth Fritzl. Elisabeth and three of her children were imprisoned for 24 years by her father in Amstetten, Austria between 1984 and 2008. This story created the spark to write the story of Ma and Jack. The Room is about "a boy's story of courage and love." Emma Donoghue

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Busy Moms' Book Club

The Busy Moms' Book Club group meets in Meeting Room B from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

The group will discuss Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker on Tuesday,
February 8, 2011 and Welcome to the Great Mysteries by Lorna Landvik on Tuesday,
April 12, 2011.

Please ask for a copy at the Adult Services desk on the second floor.
Strollers Welcome!