GOOD READS
Beyond Best-Sellers: What B&ECPL Staff Recommend
The following were recently published titles which were read and recommended by members of our staff in the month indicated. The initials or pen name of the contributing staff member are noted after each review. Click here for more current recommendations.
December 2004
Slave: My True Story by Mende Nazer
Non-fiction
Unbelievable autobiography of a Sudanese girl forced in to modern day slavery. Her bravery and happy outcome make for a wonderful read. This is a German bestseller - I think it will hit the charts in the U.S. also.
Reviewed by H.T.
Resistance by Barry Lopez
Fiction
A collection of short stories by the National Book Award winning author. The collection reads like testimonials into the respective narrators life. Lopez' use of language is astounding and he combines it with certain themes which make this book quite relevant, particularly in these troubled times. This book also features monotypes by artist Alan Magee, which nicely compliment Lopez' stories.
Reviewed byswg
How I Learned to Snap by Kirk Read
Non-Fiction
This is subtitled a small-town-coming of-age, coming-out story. If you like David Sedaris you'll enjoy this one. The author writes of growing up gay in the Reagan-era South, with stories both comic and heartbreaking. Thought-provoking, and enjoyable, for both adults and those currently in high school.
Reviewed by sjc
A Mighty Fortress: A New History of the German People by Steven Ozment
Non-fiction
This history seeks to understand the German people by examining their entire history rather than focusing solely on the events of the 1930s and 1940s. Conflicts with ancient Rome , dissolution during the Dark Ages, the creation of the Holy Roman Empire , the strife of the Reformation all left their mark on the German character. This is an interesting and enlightening read.
Reviewed by sk-h
The Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz
Non-fiction
The author relates his personal adventure taking him from an ordinary suburban lifestyle in New Jersey to a life-altering rural experiment on an Upstate New York sheep farm. Childhood demons are exorcised and adult problems are resolved through the joys and hardships of caring for a variety of animals as well as through the mounting responsibilities that come with the ownership of a large farm. Katz's self-discovery is fostered by his constant companions, three border collies, who become integral components of his life. An insightful story detailing one man's search for what is truly important, and the path to achieve it.
Reviewed by KMW
|