GOOD READS
Beyond Best-Sellers: What B&ECPL Staff Recommend
The following are recently published titles which 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.
April 2005
The Corporation: the Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power by Joel Bakan
Non-Fiction
Corporations have become an inextricable part of daily life. Canadian attorney Joel Bakan examines how and why big business dominates our culture. This book is the basis of the 2004 documentary, "The Corporation" which features Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Michael Moore.
Reviewed by Barbara Gordon
Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald edited by Jackson R. Bryer and Cathy W. Barks
Non-Fiction
These romantic letters, dating back to 1918, reveal not only elements of Scott and Zelda's relationship but also much about their own personal strengths (in literature and art) and weaknesses (alcoholism and mental instability). Most letters provided are written by Zelda. Photos are included. A must-read for any hopeless romantic or nostalgic heart.
Reviewed by AA
Little Earthquakes: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
Fiction
A story about how the lives of four young women intertwine as they face motherhood for the first time. This book depicts all of the up's and down's, the trials, and tribulations that they meet along the way.
Reviewed by RD
The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology by Simon Winchester
Non-Fiction
Simon Winchester masterfully tells the story of the man who created the first geologic map ever. William Smith, a man of humble beginnings and little formal education, made some rather startling discoveries that served as the basis for Darwin's discoveries later in the 19th century. While this may sound like rather dull stuff, Winchester's knowledge and enthusiasm for his topic make it a very good read. Winchester will be speaking in Buffalo this fall.
Reviewed by minerva
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