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Staff Reads — July 1, 2016

Book

Here are your staff reads as you gear up for Independence Day Weekend!

Molly:

  • He Named Me Malala; Directed by Davis Guggenheim; Staring Malala Yousafzai.
    “One child, one teacher, one book and one pan can change the world.” ~Malala Yousafzai
    This documentary gives an intimate glimpse into the life of Malala Yousafzai. I’ve long admired Malala for being so well spoken, compassionate and composed as she advocates for girls’ and women’s education. Despite being shot by members of the Taliban, she has remained a devout Muslim and firm believer in the empowerment of young women and girls when she could have renounced her religion and deserted her cause. I love this about her. After watching it I felt even more of a connection and love for her. She is not only the superwoman we have heard about, she is also a daughter, sister, friend and student.
  • Please, Baby Please book cover
    Please, Baby, Please; Written by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee; Illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
    Ohhh Baby! The writing is sweet, simple and true. The illustrations… extraordinary. Kadir Nelson brings this story to life with his beautiful images depicting a day in the life of a very busy toddler. A great bedtime story to read to kids, and repetitive enough for new readers to have a go.
  • What Do You Do with an Idea? book cover
    What Do You Do With An Idea?; Written by Kobi Yamada; Illustrated by Mae Besom.
    One of the best books I’ve ever read. What an inspiring read to encourage creativity and individuality. I’m sure many young readers (and adults) will be encouraged to change the world with their own ideas after reading this book.

Janice: I read All the Presidents’ Gardens by Marta McDowell. This is full of fascinating tales which any lover of American history, gardens, or landscape architecture will enjoy. It gives us the Lincoln sons, Willie and Tad, whose pet goats ravaged the carefully kept flowers. We learn about Helen Taft’s famous 3,020 cherry trees planted along the newly designed Tidal Basin in Potomac Park, formerly open water. We even have a Waltham connection: President James Monroe’s goodwill country tour of 1817 found him in July enjoying a feast of strawberries with his old friend Christopher Gore, ex- Massachusetts governor, at his elegantly designed Gore Place, still a favorite tourist site in this city.

Tory: I recently listened to A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab and it was so good! The narrator was very entertaining and fitting. I must admit I judged this book by its cover but I was rewarded. I also read The Raven Boys, which is the first of the Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater, which I couldn’t put down all weekend! Can’t wait to start the next one. Lastly I’m finally reading the Mary Russell book that came out last year, since the newest one just came out and I was behind. Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King is quite intriguing as usual! Looking forward to the latest Murder of Mary Russell as well.

Maureen:

  • Currently reading Wilde Lake : a novel / Laura Lippman.
    Luisa “Lu” Brant is the newly elected state’s attorney of Howard County, Maryland, a job in which her widower father famously served. Lu is taking on a murder case that involves a mentally unstable homeless man and a local woman. As she deals with the case she is forced to confront her family’s past and some inconsistencies that have her questioning her memories.
  • Just finished reading:

  • Twisted River / Siobhan MacDonald: A clever thriller that exposes the dangers of secrecy. What could go wrong when two couples swap houses? A couple from Limerick, Ireland and their two children swap their house for a lovely Manhattan apartment owned by Hazel and Oscar Harvey and their two children. Hazel is originally from Limerick so she is anxious to show her family around where she grew up. It doesn’t take long for both families to realize that each host family has secrets that should not be revealed.
  • I Let You Go / Clare Mackintosh: I can honestly say this is one of the best psychological thriller I’ve read, completely addictive. After a tragic accident,Jenna has retreated to a remote Welsh village where there is the possibility of moving forward. However things from her past keep pulling her back. There a major twist in the story that you never see coming. I want to read more like this story, very clever and excellent character development. Hard to put down.
  • Thursday’s Children : a Frieda Klein Mystery / Nicci French: Thursday’s children is the story of the past, the present, and how the secrets come back to haunt us.Frieda left her home in Braxton twenty-three years ago and hasn’t been back since. Now a young teenage girl, the daughter of an old school acquaintance from Braxton,confides a horrific secret. Something that arouses all of Frieda’s worst memories. Frieda is drawn back to Braxton to see if she can make sense of what has happened.
    It’s a well developed story, this is the fourth in the series so I think I’ll go back and start with the first.
  • Just finished listening to Splinter the Silence [electronic resource] : a Tony Hill and Carol Jordan Novel / Val McDermid. ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON Hoopla!
    Val McDermid’s Carol Jordan/Tony Hill series is back and tremendously enjoyable. In this police procedural, Hill and Jordan join up once again to investigate mysterious deaths that involve vicious cyber-bullying. Carol recognizes that she has an alcohol problem and Tony steps up to give Carol some much needed sound advice and moral support. Can’t go wrong with Val McDermid!

Celeste: I recently read The Accidental Adventures of India McAllister by Charlotte Agell.

Laura:

  • Untwine by Edwidge Danticat: Identical twins, Giselle and Isabelle, are devoted to each other. On the way to flutist Isabelle’s concert, the entire family is in a car accident and Giselle lies in a hospital not knowing the fates of her parents or sister. She looks forward, holding on to the upcoming birthday trip to Haiti to be with family, and backward, as she and Isabelle forge their own identities. This emotional, thoughtful, and, at times, sad young adult novel is a beautiful entry into Danticat’s canon. Giselle is a fully realized character and narrator.
  • Me before You by Jojo Moyes: In a small town in England, unemployed Louisa (“Lou”) becomes the caretaker/companion to Will, a quadriplegic. While working together, Will learns to become less bitter, and Lou learns to have more faith in herself, that is, until hearing of Will’s plans. This plot driven fast paced book presents an interesting discussion regarding the treatment of those with physical disabilities as well as the ethics regarding assisted suicide. The characters, however, including the narrator, are not fully realized. Will’s ex-girlfriend and Lou’s current boyfriend are, especially, stock characters. The only secondary character who came alive for me was Treena, Lou’s sister.
  • I’m currently reading In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford. Guerrero, who currently has supporting roles on two of my favorite shows, Jane the Virgin and Orange is the New Black, was born in the United States to Colombian parents. When she was fourteen years old, and living in nearby Roxbury, Diane came home to discover that her parents were deported. The book explores her life as a child of illegal immigrants, how she was treated here, and how she later became an advocate for other children in her situation. This book is compelling and gives a voice to so many who don’t have one. I’m really enjoying it.

Todd:

  • One of my favorite punk bands from the 90s, Plow United, has a new album out so I downloaded the first few songs of their new album, Three, from the library’s subscription to Freegal.
  • I just finished Hap and Leonard by Joe R. Lansdale. It was a fun read of some new short stories from characters who have been around for over 5 years. I have yet to watch the TV show that premiered a few months ago. This book was much different than the splatterpunk books that he is well known for.

Luke: I’ve been reading 2666 by Roberto Bolaño.

Doreen:

  • Circling the Sun by Paula McLain: If you liked The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain, you will also enjoy Circling the Sun. This historical auto-biographical fiction novel is based on the adventurous life of Beryl Markham. In 1936 Beryl became the first woman to fly solo East to West across the Atlantic Ocean. This story takes place in early 1900’s, East-Africa. In the novel, Beryl Clutterbuck and her family settle in colonial-Kenya after leaving England in 1904. Her father owns and trains racehorse. Beryl’s mother abandons them after two years of the harsh land and lifestyle. Beryl’s is raised by her father. He teaches her all about the farm and horse training. Young Beryl is a tomboy and is more comfortable with the Kipsigis people than finishing school. The majority of the story takes place during the 1920s. Beryl is forced to marry at 16 in order to stay in her beloved Kenya, after her father has to give up his struggling horse farm. As determined and independent spirit, Beryl decides to become an apprentice to become the first licensed woman horse trainer. Because of her love of horses, she thrives. As a horse trainer she has successes and failures. She meets and falls in love with rugged Denys Finch Hatton, who inspired Beryl to fly.
  • The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom: Wonderful historical fiction novel. Takes place in pre-civil war era, 1791. Story follows the lives of slaves of the Kitchen House and the tobacco plantation master and family in the Big House. Novel told in multiple viewpoints of Lavinia and Belle. Lavinia, an orphaned Irish girl, is taken in by “The Captain” after her family perishes aboard his ship. She is forced to work and live in the Kitchen House. The Kitchen House slaves accept Lavinia, treating her as their own in the kitchen house. Lavinia becomes torn between the Kitchen House family she has grown to love and her slow acceptance into the Big House family. Lavinia looks to Belle like a surrogate mother. Belle is the illegitimate daughter of the Captain. Belle is angry, and struggles with the reality that she will never be considered his blood relative. Belle worries that he might send her away. Despite the fact that she is treated as a slave, the Captain refuses to allow Belle to marry the field hand she is in love with.
    Rich characters, intriguing story about indentured servitude, slavery and the horrors that go along with it; starvation abuse and disease and control.

Marie: I’m reading Louisa: the Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas; The Rainbow Comes & Goes: a Mother & Son Talk about Life, Love & Loss by Anderson Cooper & Gloria Vanderbilt; The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue de Martryrs by Elaine Sciolino. I’m listening to the audiobook, The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley.

Pat A.: I just finished The Assistants by Camille Perri. It features lots of young women who come out of college with $$$$$ in college loans and take jobs as personal assistants to high powered men. One of the girls does something that changes her life and the life of many others. (Illegal – sure). Written with humor. A nice beach read.

Camila: Last month I read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Me before You by Jojo Moyes, and Diario de Anne Frank (The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank in Portuguese). I watched the movies, The Big Short and Concussion.

Jeanette:

Gerry C.:

  • Brooklyn (DVD/Blu-Ray): An Irish immigrant comes to Brooklyn in the early ’50’s where she quickly falls into a romance with a local guy. However when her past catches up with her, she must choose between two countries and her life in two places. Saoirse Ronan beautifully portrays this young Irish woman. Really enjoyed this movie.
  • Fool Me Once (audiobook): Harlan Coben’s newest thriller. I love the twists and turns
    Coben puts in each of his stand alone stories. The endings always amaze and this book is no exception!! Don’t miss it!
  • Foreign Affairs(audiobook): Stuart Woods – didn’t finish this. I think I am finally done reading/listening to Stuart Wood’s Stone Barrington books.
  • The Fall series 2 on DVD. All I can say is bring on Series 3!!!
  • The Intern (DVD): Robert DeNiro plays a 70 year old widower who discovers
    Retirement isn’t as great as he thought it would be. Then an opportunity comes along for him to get back in the work force as a senior intern at an online fashion site run by Ann Hathaway. This was an enjoyable movie.
  • The Obsession (audiobook): Nora Roberts newest novel is about Naomi Carson who as a child her family was torn apart when they discovers her father isn’t the man he portrayed to others in the town or the church. Years later she moves far away to finally put down roots. She buys a beautiful old house, makes new friends including the attractive, Xander Keaton. But as she plans her future, her past is catching up with her.
    I hadn’t read Roberts in a long time and I am so glad I took a patron’s suggestion and listen/read this book.
  • A LowCountry Wedding: Mary Alice Monroe – I didn’t realize this book was the newest in Monroe’s LowCountry Summer series. The story finds the Muir sisters planning their weddings when a stranger arrives and a long held family secret could stop the festivities. I loved the characters in this story. A great beach read!!
  • Bridge of Spies (DVD): Story about the tense negotiations over the recovery of U-2 Pilot Gary Powers in Berlin. Intense storyline with a wonderful cast.
  • Spotlight (DVD): Story about the Boston Globe Spotlight team and their reporting of the Catholic Church’s cover up of the molestation of children. This movie won the Oscar this year for Best Movie.
  • Shaken (audiobook): This J.A. Konrath book was too gory and gruesome for me. Didn’t get past the first disc.

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