Book Review: The Round House

Louise Erdrich


This book helped me understand some of the issues with VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) and its connection to Native Americans.

From Amazon.com:
"One of the most revered novelists of our time--a brilliant chronicler of Native American Life--Louise Erdrich returns to the territory of her bestselling, Pulitzer Prize finalist The Plague of Doves with The Round House, transporting readers to the Ojibwe resercation in North Dakota. It is an exquisitely told story of a boy in the cusp of manhood who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a terrible crime that upends and forever transforms his family."

Riveting and Suspenseful, arguably the most accessible novel to date from the creator of Love Medicine, The Beet Queen, and The Bingo Palace, Endrich's The Round House is a page-turning masterpiece of literary fiction--at once a power coming-of-age story, a mystery, and a tender, moving, novel of family, history and culture.

(Reviewed by Ginger)

Book Review: Banished

Lauren Drain

Very fascinating, inside look at what happens behind the scenes of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church. Though not particularly well-written, Banished was too interesting for me to abandon.

(Reviewed by Emily)

Book Review: Unbroken: A WWII Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken is a true story and is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body and spirit. Laura Hillenbrand is the author of Seabuscuit.
On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army bomber crashed into the ocean and disappeared. Then on the ocean's surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane's bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.
The lieutenant's name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he'd been an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiace into running, a talent that carried him to the Olympics. But when war came, the athlete because an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.
Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor and brutality with rebellion.

(Reviewed by Ginger)

Book Review: Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn

Two twisted people married...what do they truly know about each other?
Had me hooked - wanted to read to find out the next "kicker."
The end was never expected.

(Reviewed by Susan)

Book Review: The Red Tent

Anita Diamont

This is one of my all-time favorite books! It is historical fiction set in Biblical times. It was written in 1998, so it has been on my favorite list a long time! Enjoy!

From Amazon.com:
"Little is known of the life of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, sister of many brothers, leaving plenty of scope for fictionalizing her life story. Those who know the Biblical stories of Jacob and his sons, Dinah's brothers, will recognize the framework that gives to the story of The Red Tent. Beyond that, Dinah's story, as told here, is fascinating fictional insight into the lives of the women of that place and time, their hopes, fears, practices and beliefs. The handling of female rites of passage, adolescent awareness of sexuality and motherhood, death and the clashes resulting from the attempt to marry differing belief systems, are just some of the life challenges this book deals with from the perspective of women living their lives in a patriarchal society."

(Reviewed by Ginger)

Book Review: Amazing Bird Facts and Trivia - A Treasury of Facts and Trivia about the Avian World

Roger Lederer

A very interesting and informative book about birds. I really enjoyed reading and learning all kinds of new facts about birds. It's so amazing to read about all the varieties of birds around the world, Jehovah's creation sure is astounding!

Did you know?:

• 60 ostrich eggs equal the weight of one adult ostrich, but it takes only 9 hummingbird eggs to weigh as much as a hummingbird.

(Reviewed by Coral)

Book Review: The Day My Mother Left

James Prosek

Jeremy, a young man of deep thought, endures an upheaval in his life by taking comfort in his drawing and in nature.

Family, art, and being outdoors are the main themes in this book, along with a major emphasis on finding that relationships change and often go backward before they can move forward.

(Reviewed by Vickie)

Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Alexander McCall-Smith
 
The first in a series of fun, easy to read mysteries set in Botswana. There is a missing husband, a kidnapped child, a con man, and a dad who has his daughter followed. A great start!

(Reviewed by Ginny)

Book Review: America's Most Wanted Recipies

Ron Douglas

"What can I cook at home that will taste just as good and be just as much of a treat as eating out?" Ever ask this same question?...well this book provides your answer.

*Try the Cheesecake Factory While Chocolate-Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake

(Reviewed by Coral)

Book Review: Essential Car Care for Women

Jamie Little and Danielle McCormick

Growing up with two older brothers who seemed to live and breathe cars was great! Although I have never completely understood what they talked about or did, I do clearly understand the importance of maintaining your vehicle in good condition; not only for your own protection but for its durability. This book cleared up the whys and hows cars run; along with other essentials dealing with car related situations. Definitely a must checkout!

(Reviewed by Coral)

Book Review: Sweet Hell on Fire

Sara Lunsford

Creepy yet endearing, Lunsford shares her story of what it was like working in an all-male prison. Though some of her experiences seem to unbelievable to be real to those of us who have never worked in a prison, they also seem too bizarre and unheard of to be made up. Quick read!

(Reviewed by Emily)

Book Review: The Art of Fielding

Chad Harbach

I loved this book! 

You don't have to love baseball to love this book. You don't have to love great writing to love this book. You don't have to love a great story to love this book. But this book has all three.

"At Westish College, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for big league intil a routine throw goes disasterously off course. In the aftemath of his error, the fates of five poeple are upended."

"The Art of Fielding is a mere baseball fiction the way Moby Dick is just a fish story." - N. Dawidoff

(Reviewed by Ginger)

Book Review: World's Best Travel Experiences

National Geographic

If you are like me and would love to travel the world, this book is for you. Sometimes current circumstances do not allow such travels to be possible which makes books like this a must read. Allow this book to take you to breathtaking destinations, take the time and picture yourself there...Can you feel the breeze on the coast of Fiji? What color do you eyes focus on among the rainbow of colors found in the Coral Reef? Enjoy the information and beautiful pictures found in this book, I know I did.

(Reviewed by Coral)

Book Review: Ransom

Julie Garwood

A really great historical romance! Gillian's father was implicated in a murder that resulted in a stolen treasure. Years later, she must ask three Scottish Lairds for help to go up against three evil barons and the king of England.

(Reviewed by Ginny)

Book Review: Room

Emma Donoghue

Told by 5-year-old Jack. Room is his whole world. His mom is protecting him from Old Nick. Then, one day, she decides to escape... Great story of a mother/child bond! 4 of 5 stars from me!

(Reviewed by Susan)

Book Review: A Perfect Evil

Alex Kava

Was an innocent man executed for horrible crimes or is there a copy cat killer on the loose? A small town is paralyze with fear and FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell is called in to help solve the case.

First book in the Maggie O'Dell series. If you like this one, there are more to read!

(Reviewed by Vickie)

Staff Pick - Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha

By Arthur Golden

"Geisha" - the word brings to mind beauty, grace, and elegance, however, the world of a geisha is a harsh reality that not many know. Follow a girl named Chiyo become a woman named Sayuri - and watch as a girl becomes an object, a doll, a geisha.

Staff pick by Sashary White

Staff Pick - Billy Straight

Billy Straight

By Jonathan Kellerman

A young runaway living on the streets and in the parks of L.A. witnesses a brutal murder. Frightened, he goes into hiding. Crime scene investigators discover evidence that someone may have witnessed the murder and the story begins. Kellerman keeps you turning the pages as ususal.

Staff Pick by Judy Mark

Staff Pick - The Nine

The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court

By Jeffrey Toobin

This book is wonderful at helping the reading understand the people who make up the Supreme Court. I came away with the realization that the Court is MUCH more political than I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe it was unbaised and made decisions strictly on the law. Oh boy, was I wrong!!

Staff Pick by Ginger McGraw

Staff Pick - The Third Twin

The Third Twin

By Ken Follett

Gripping biotech thriller about identical twins. But not just any twins; these are twins with a twist...

Born to different mothers on different days in hospitals hundreds of miles apart!

And then there were three....

Staff Pick by Vickie Johnson