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.
June 2005
Firethorn by Sarah Micklem
Fiction
This first novel in a projected fantasy trilogy takes place in a quasi-medieval world with a rigid caste system, knights, armor, folk magic, and an interesting religious mythology. The narrator is Firethorn, a foundling with a mysterious past. She is a strong, cunning, adventurous, and very likeable character making her way in a violent and tumultuous world. The language of the book is lyrical and pleasant to read. Hidden inside this novel of magic and war is a surprisingly sweet love story.
Reviewed by She Ra
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Fiction
This story is told by 15-year-old Kambili, the awkward, self-conscious daughter of a rich family in Nigeria . Kambili and her brother Jaja have a life of luxury, but they are terrorized at home by their father, a religious fanatic who flip-flops from loving to vicious at the slightest provocation. When Kambili and Jaja go to visit their Aunty Ifeoma and see what it is like to live in a different home, Kambili starts to blossom. The novel is both horrific and beautiful, with an unexpected ending.
Reviewed by She Ra
Superbia: 31 ways to create sustainable neighborhoods by Daniel Chiras
Non-Fiction
Say “environmental sustainability” and many people picture an existence so dull and stripped down that it isn't worth living. This handbook demolishes that stereotype with a goldmine of ways to make your urban or suburban neighborhood more sociable, more attractive, more kid-friendly, more involved, more walkable, and more fun, at the same time as you accomplish worthwhile goals, such as increasing energy efficiency, reducing traffic, and growing your own food. Oh, and did I mention improved property values?
Reviewed by Betty Barcode
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Fiction
A private detective with issues takes on three dissimilar cases. What he discovers about the cases and himself is both engaging and surprising. Atkinson tells the stories in a way that makes them tragic and comic and a pleasure to read.
Reviewed by sjc
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