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What Our Staff is Reading
The following are fiction and non-fiction titles that have been read and recommended by members of our staff. The initials or pen name of the contributing staff member are noted after each review. The titles may include award winners, not-so-recent bestsellers or a new look at the classics.
April and May 2008
Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction by David Sheff
Nonfiction 2008
If you know of any parent dealing with their child's addiction this brutally honest memoir will help you understand what they are experiencing. Sheff tells of the heartbreak that consumed him, and how he came to terms with the realization that this is one thing a parent can't fix, no matter how hard they try.
Reviewed by sjc
The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center
Fiction 2007
Imagine you have the house you've always dreamed of, the fiance, big plans for a beautiful wedding and a baby on the way. Now imagine what happens when the fiance vanishes, the wedding is cancelled and you go into labor all within a day.....welcome to Jenny Harris's world!
Reviewed by AJS
Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee
Nonfiction 2007
This is a penetrating biography of the famous American writer who was born in 1862 and somehow escaped the stifling fate of most rich and socially prominent women of that time. Besides writing, she was known for her garden and home designs. She moved with an exciting social set, but was never successful in her intimate relations on the homefront. An excellent picture of the turn of the 20th century and a fascinating portrait of a great woman writer, at home and out in society.
Reviewed by Jack
Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert
Nonfiction 2007
If you've ever wondered what it's like to work in a public library, this book will give you some insight. Although the author's experience as an Assistant Librarian is set in Los Angeles, no matter where they are located, public libraries share many common elements. They can be funny, appalling, poignant, and even humbling. Borchert's stories of patrons, pages, clerks, and librarians nicely weave these elements together.
Reviewed by Barbara G.
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Fiction 2008
Set in the WWII era in Mississippi, this is a story of two families and the racial issues that impact their lives. Told in the alternating voices of several characters, this book kept me intrigued to the very end. Well written, with rich characters, this is a debut novel by an author and understandably the winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction.
Reviewed by SJC.
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
Fiction 2008
Laurel has not seen a ghost for years, but one night her present and past collide when a new ghost appears. How this impacts the interactions between her nuclear and extended families, makes for a good read.
Reviewed by sjc
Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
Fiction 2008
A truly heartwarming story, this book is about a preacher's daughter who grows up dreaming of a life outside of the small town of Ringgold, Georgia. With a great hunger for city life and Dilly bars, this loveable character ends up finding herself and her place in the world.
Reviewed by AP
Rayzor's Edge: Rob Ray's Tough Life on the Ice by Rob Ray (with Budd Bailey)
Nonfiction 2007
Former Buffalo Sabres enforcer Rob Ray takes you through his humble beginnings in junior hockey, the NHL Draft, the infamous fights, the Sabres' ups and downs, and his broadcasting career. An insightful, fast paced read.
Reviewed by Barbara Gordon
The Soul Thief by Charles Baxter
Fiction 2008
Primarily set in Buffalo in 1973, Nathaniel Mason is a graduate student with several puzzling relationships. The most perplexing is with Jerome Coolberg, a fellow student who is suspiciously fascinated with the details of Nathaniel's life. The situation between the two men eventually escalates culminating with a confrontation in Los Angeles decades later. Local readers will recognize notable Buffalo locations such as Hertel Avenue, Allentown and the Buffalo Zoo. Recommended for enthusiasts of Donna Tartt's The Secret History.
Reviewed by KLS