Staff Picks
Eric Idle recounts his amazing life, the formation of Monty Python, and all the fun he has had in between, with some sad parts. A must read for any Monty Python fan! (Kim)
This is a wonderful family story set mainly on an island off Greece in the Aegean Sea. It starts out present day with Anna who is struggling in her marriage and with the recent death of her mother so she decides to travel with her dad back to the Greek island of his birth. It is there that she discovers the true story of her family's history before, during, and after WWII broke out. Family secrets, love, loss, and survival are all wrapped up in this compelling tale and the setting is magical. It makes you question how well do you really know your parents lives before they became your parents. (Sue)
I just finished "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and it was fabulous! The fact that two people found in each other their soulmates despite being stripped of everything they held dear was one of the most moving and amazing stories I've read all year. I highly recommend this tale filled with hope, courage and love in the midst of the atrocious world of Auschwitz. (Lisa)
Elodie Winslow is an archivist, who comes across a beautiful leather satchel with a sketchbook. In the sketch book she finds a picture of a beautiful women and a twin gabled house. The pull she feels from these pictures makes her want to dig more into who this woman is and where is this all to familiar house. Rewind 150 years earlier and you have Edward Radcliffe, an up and coming artist who's just bought his dream house Birchwood Manor. Edward has invited a group with him to spend the summer relaxing and working on their art. But the summer takes a turn for the worst when Edwards fiancé is murdered and his model has mysteriously disappeared. Told from more then one perspective this story is a must read for historical fiction fans! (Bonnie)
Three strangers and one life-changing day set the stage for this touching story of unexpected friendship, growth, and self-discovery. This was my first Gayle Forman book but it won't be my last. Loved it! (Leah)
I always enjoy biographies & this one is no exception. I really knew nothing about Fred Rogers & while this book delivers the basic information about his childhood, his parents, his wife & colleagues, it also delved into what motivated Fred Rogers to become Mister Rogers. One quote really stood out for me: "I'm very much interested in choices, and what it is that enable us human beings to make the choices we make all through our lives. What choices lead to ethnic cleansing? What choices lead to healing? What choices lead to the destruction of the environment, the erosion of the Sabbath, suicide bombings or teenagers shooting teenagers? What choices encourage heroism in the midst of chaos?" A wonderful book about a truly good, kind & innovative man. (Kim)
A psychological page-turner about a wealthy couple and the devious woman who is trying to worm her way into their lives because her ultimate goal is to live their life. Filled with greed, envy, deception, this tale takes many turns , but the real question is who is manipulating who? A can't- put- down, headshaking read that is very entertaining! (Sue)
Another wonderful, heartwarming story from one of my favorite authors. This one has been out for a while and I can't believe I never read it because it is fantastic. The setting off the coast of Washington state and the characters pull you right in and tug at your heartstrings along the way. The plot is a little predictable, but you won't care and you won't be able to put it down. My co-worker Bonnie loved it as well and we both want a sequel! (Sue)
The sequel to "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is just as wonderful as it's predecessor. The story picks up after the accident where Eddie saved little Annie's life. The journey of her life is filled with rocky times and bad decisions. Mitch Albom's writing is poignant, compassionate and captivating from start to finish in this beautiful book. Like the first book, I didn't want this one to end. (Lisa)
Three brothers grow up poor on the Lower East Side of NYC in the early 20's. Morris and Sol work hard and go into the garment business together, building a very successful company. Harry, plagued by an early childhood tragedy, winds up hanging with the criminal elements of the neighborhood. This book was a fascinating look into the early years of not only the fashion industry but the powerful arm of organized crime as they tried to control everything from running numbers to the longshoremen and garment unions. Based on his grandfather's life, Andrew Gross again makes history come alive with this epic tale of family loyalty, persistence, courage, and crime. I highly recommend this book! (Lisa)
While broken down on a rural country road, Ellis Reed, a reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper, takes a photo of two children with a sign in front of them reading "For Sale". Lillian Palmer, a secretary at the same paper, sees more in the photo than just a story and submits it to their boss. So begins a tale of secrets and lies against the backdrop of the desperate times of 1931 America. Kristina McMorris once again creates a spellbinding tale that drew me in from the very beginning. The perilous environment of the Great Depression where your livelihood balances on a fine edge between survival and the breadlines, the sacrifices made in the name of family are vividly brought to life in this heartbreaking novel. Inspired by an actual photo, this book sheds the light on a desolate period in our country's history. I highly recommend this book! (Lisa)
Charlie Parker is once again in the pursuit of evil. Great characters and storytelling that keeps you guessing and laced with a vein of horror. Great read!! (Ann)
Margaret "Patsy" Jefferson was a fascinating character. While this book is a work of fiction, it is based off of letters in history. I loved the way they portrayed Patsy and I learned so much about Jefferson. Although this story does have an ending I was sorry it did! Such a great read! (Bonnie)
What do you do when you get an invite to the wedding of "the one that got away"? Why you plan a trip around the world so you can be far away from the nuptials that will surely break your heart. Failing author Arthur Less decides to accept every invite to every event, boring or not, that he's been invited to. While working on his latest rejected book and celebrating the big 5-0, Arthur travels take him around the world and away from his problems. Funny and quick-witted, a great read! (Bonnie)
Amelia was a mermaid who always wished to live on land as a human and see the world beyond the sea. But once she takes the leap into the human world she marries a fisherman and lives a quiet life until her husband dies. One day a man who has heard stories about Amelia "the mermaid" approaches her and asks her if she would like to come and perform at a museum in New York owned by P.T. Barnum. Weary of the man, she also knows the money she will make will help her travel as she always wished she could. But P.T. Barnum has other plans of his own to keep "his" mermaid. This was a great read that kept me captive till the very end! (Bonnie)
I can't quite begin to share how much I love this book. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. Marisa de los Santos is one of my favorite writers, she never disappoints and in "I'll Be Your Blue Sky", she delivers again. Not only is her prose enviable, but the story is riveting, heartwarming and charmingly funny in all the right ways. I'm still smiling recalling the experience of it. With the same characters as "Belong to Me" and "Love Walked In", but it stands alone. (Leah)
A different sort of book from Rick Steves in which he promotes the power of travel to affect change. Certainly we should enjoy ourselves, but there's more to it than nice hotels and great food. It can be a chance to dispel myths about ourselves as Americans as well as those we meet. He's his usual upbeat self, but there is a bit more of an edge to this book as he discusses, topics you might not expect and does show concern with the way things are going in some parts of the world. He suggests following a few simple rules that will make travel so much more rewarding: Leave your preconceptions behind, be open to new experiences, and connect with people. Travel can change you, says Steves, don't be afraid to let that happen. (Bob)
The statistics regarding the opioid crisis are staggering, but Dopesick starts at the street level and shows the roles played by law enforcement, doctors, big pharma, and of course the victims and their families. In a culture that embraced painkillers as a norm, it's amazing, all the players involved that got us to where we are with a combination of marketing and malpractice. But, It's also about the people who are fighting back, and the progress that's being made. Much like Atul Gawande's Being Mortal, it's a book everyone should read. (Bob)
