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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.
May 2008
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