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Nov

2009

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story

Written by Sue, Main Library

Sometimes there is a divine convergence between reader and material on an audiobook. Think Jim Dale and the Harry Potter books, or Judy Kaye and the Stephanie Plum novels. Author Leonie Swann and reader Josephine Bailey have divinely converged in this audiobook to wonderfully entertaining effect. The novel, which concerns the mysterious death of an Irish shepherd and the subsequent unraveling of the murder plot by his sheep, is delightful enough when read in print. But hearing how Josephine Bailey constructs the personality of each sheep and trips lightly through the many accents of the surrounding humans adds just that much more delight. This is one of the rare audiobooks that, at its finish, I popped right back into the player again. Leonie Swann’s depiction of the inner life of sheep is clever, plausible, and laugh-out-loud funny at times. And what the sheep make of the humans they encounter is truly eye-opening. Of course, this is all conjecture. At least I hope it is.

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Nov

2009

Just Like Beauty

Written by Mary, Burkhardt Branch Library

I could not remember why I checked this book out of the library; I hate books about girly stuff-a book about beauty pageants? How did that end up in my bag? But out of boredom I picked it up one night, and then I didn’t put it down until I had finished it. Just like Beauty is set in a near-future sci-fi dystopia with echoes of contemporary suburbia-swarms of mutant grasshoppers lurk innocuously in every corner. Gangs of blowtorch wielding teenage boys roam the streets. With the goal of competing in beauty contests, teenage girls are taught to be the perfect epitome of feminine beauty. Under the training of their overbearing mothers, they engage in synthetic sex with synthetic rubber men. They raise and train pet rabbits to be ninja-dancers and then club them to death for their skins. In this highly competitive world, Edie can’t keep her mind and hands off of the girl next door long enough to concentrate on the pageant. The writing is a little rough in places; it’s Lerner’s first novel. The title of the books is echoed in every product mentioned in the book (Just Like Cotton Sheets. Just Like Aspirin.). This is funny at first but gets old fast. I was disappointed with the ending, which just didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the book. But overall the story was just so bizarre that I LOVED IT.

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Nov

2009

Bright-Sided

Written by Doris Pettit, Vandalia Branch Library

Barbara Ehrenreich is an author I seldom pick up because the subjects she writes of remind me of the evening news-filled with doom and gloom. I noticed Ehrenreich’s newest title, Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America, sitting on the new shelf at our branch and picked the book up out of curiosity. I tend to read a lot of books that I like to call “self reflection”; titles that inspire the power of positive thinking or striving to do your best. Ehrenreich’s book was a radical departure from my usual reading fare. The author feels our country has fallen off track due to the need to bolster our high opinion of ourselves by putting a positive spin on anything and everything, including poverty and unemployment. She has a chapter entitled, “God wants you to be rich”, in which she blasts the high profile television minister, Joel Osteen, for his message of hope. The author feels always being hopeful is crippling our country into believing that we will always come out on top. The idea of failure or its possibility is considered taboo to think about. The author feels we need to snap out of the delusion that life will be rosy if we just believe it. The multimillion dollar businesses that motivational speakers generate by selling the public on how to become a success or a better person is part of our culture. Is this healthy? The author believes that we’ve pumped our egos for so long on the concept of how great the United States is that we have a warped perspective of our ability to realistically view and understand our current economic crisis. Barbara Ehrenreich’s concept is interesting; I’m not sure I agree with her, but it’s always good to be presented with the flip side of a thought provoking idea.

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Nov

2009

A Dirty Job

Written by Bonnie, Main Library

Christopher Moore, author of "You Suck," "Lamb," and most recently "Fool," has a cult following, and for good reason. His rambunctious sense of humor isn't for every reader; his works can be a little bawdy, a little surreal and just a bit skeptical of the status quo. Take "A Dirty Job," his 2006 book on the fine art of death and dying... well, death anyway. Charlie Asher is a shy, neurotic everyman who owns a second-hand shop in San Francisco. Charlie is about to become a father for the first time when it goes all wrong. In one awful moment, Charlie suddenly finds himself a widower, a single father-- and a death merchant. He and his fellow merchants have to unite the souls of the newly-dead with the people they belong to, while keeping the souls safe from the ancient evil spirits known as the Morrigan. He's lost the instruction book to tell him how it all works, but with a supporting cast of his sister Jane, daughter Sophie, Lily the Goth girl, the hellhounds, the squirrel people, and the Emperor of San Francisco, Charlie is making his way. Moore's writing is vivd and funny, conveying just how lost Charlie is in every aspect of his confusing new life. The audio edition, read by Fisher Stevens, engages the imagination. Minor characters like Minty Fresh and the Emperor have voices as rich and real as those of daughter Sophie or Charlie himself. If you are a fan of audiobooks, this 10-disc set is well worth the listen; if you prefer reading, check out the book instead.

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Nov

2009

Sheer Abandon

Written by Shawna, Main Library

Three 18 year old English girls are having a gap year. One of them gets pregnant, gives birth while flying home from Thailand, and abandons the baby at the airport. Sixteen years pass. A lovely young girl wonders about her mother. We, as the reading audience, are left in suspense as to the identify of the mother. The book follows the lives of the three successful, glamorous, rich, 34 year old women and the 16 year old girl. The author does a great job keeping the reader wondering until revealing the identity of the mother 2/3 of the way through this book. Even then, there is a major twist toward the end and we don't know how all the threads are going to tie together in the end. The suspense and glitter reminds me of V. C. Andrews, but with none of the creepiness of an Andrews' book. I understand why this author is so popular in the U. K. and would recommend her to our U. S. audience.

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Nov

2009

The Handmaid's Tale

Written by Joy, Main Library

Margaret Atwood, one of the twentieth century’s most forceful, innovative poets and novelists, delivers a suspenseful tale of a dark world set in a not so distant future. Drugged and disoriented, the main character begins a frightening life in a strange new world where a religious coup has created an oppressive theocracy where women no longer have rights and are relegated to strictly defined and subservient roles. Renamed "Offred" because she has become the property of Fred, a high-ranking Commander in the new Republic of Gilead, her sole function is to be his handmaid and produce a child for him since his wife is infertile. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, she slowly begins to remember fragments of her former life and learns how to survive in a world where the wrong answer or action can result in torture, public hanging, or banishment to the radioactive wastelands. Like Orwell's 1984, Atwood takes existing trends and philosophies and stretches them to their logical and chilling conclusions. This book has been hailed as scathing satire and a dire warning. Also available as audiocassette and video.

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Nov

2009

The Devil Wears Prada

Written by Pat C., Audio/Visual Division

I just finished viewing the DVD, “The Devil Wears Prada”, starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. Ms. Streep stars as Miranda Priestly, the tough-as-nails executive of Runway Magazine. Ms. Hathaway is the young, naïve girl hired as one of Miranda’s assistants. I’m not a big fan of the high fashion scene, so I frankly did not expect the film to be so entertaining for me! Meryl Streep’s Miranda is so terrorizing that all of her staff actually jump at the sound of her voice. . . really. She is the boss from you-know-where! Watching Anne Hathaway’s Andrea learn and grow as her job consumes her life and changes her values is the heart of the movie. Will she survive Miranda? Can she keep her long-time friends? Will her boyfriend walk away as Andrea becomes more and more attached to this upscale lifestyle? If you LOVE glamour and fashion, and even is you don’t, this DVD is one you don’t want to miss.

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Nov

2009

About Face

Written by Michael Grear, Belmont Branch Library

Fans of Comissarrio Guido Brunetti will not be disappointed in this latest edition to the seventeen mysteries of this series set in Venice, Italy. In this 2009 offering, what is the connection between municipal garbage and the disturbing woman who has undergone too many plastic surgery procedures? Why is she so attractive to Brunetti, a committed family man? Full of the charm, history, food and style of modern Venice, Leon’s works weave a lock on your heart as you follow the special people you wish you knew with each book: Brunetti, the honest policeman with a passion for the works of Cicero and Ovid; Paola, his wife, a university professor with a profound wisdom of the world and gourmet cooking skills entangled with her love of the novelist Henry James; Vice-Questure Patta, Brunetti’s boss who is pompous and yet, so insecure, and finally, the brilliant and beautiful, Signorina Elettra, Patta’s secretary, who no man--- straight, gay, old, young, rich or poor who will not give her their heart with each installment of this cultured, mystery series which requires the reader to think…not just sit back and enjoy!

Michael Grear – Belmont

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Nov

2009

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Written by Cathy, Miamisburg Branch Library

Adopted as a child, Jessica Packwood has grown up to be a “normal” teenager. She attends Woodrow Wilson High School. She likes to ride horses. In school, she is a Mathlete (aka, Geek). She plans to have a normal future. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And, it turns out, she’s a vampire. When Jessica’s family receives a surprise visit from Lucius Vladescu of Romania, Jessica’s ancestry comes to light, and her “logical” world is turned upside down. She is royalty – a member of the Dragomir clan, and she is betrothed to Lucius. She is to marry him and move to Romania where their marriage will prevent an all out war between the two vampire clans. Jessica is NOT interested. It’s true - Lucius is a gentleman, but he’s also a real snob. He’s arrogant. And he’s possessive. And he’s overprotective. And yes, OK, he is gorgeous, and all the other girls are falling all over him. And he’s generous and rich. But he’s just not Jessica’s type. Jessica wants Jake – a farm hand. A “nice” guy. Author Beth Fantasky writes a laugh-out-loud-funny vampire novel with some nail-biting suspense, some fast action, and some romantic sizzle.

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