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.

February 2003

La Cucina: a novel of rapture Lily Prior Fiction
Italy, food, passion, what more can you ask for? Perhaps her second novel, Nectar: A Novel of Temptation. Reviewed by AP

In the Bleak Midwinter Julia Spencer-Fleming Fiction This mystery involves a female Episcopal priest trying to solve a killing in a small Adirondack town. The chilly atmosphere only serves to heighten the suspense. Reviewed by MMS

This Organic Life: confessions of a suburban homesteader Joan Dye Gussow Non-Fiction
This inspiring memoir comes from a gardener living in the Hudson Valley. It focuses on the author's determination to grow her own food and includes her adventures in renovating a 150-year-old house. Reviewed by KLS

Pobby and Dingan Ben Rice Fiction
A quick read, this is the story of a young girl's imaginary friends and the impact they have on her and everyone around her. Reviewed by sjc

Cemetery Stories: haunted graveyards, embalming secrets, and the life of the corpse after death Katherine Ramsland Non-Fiction
A fascinating and frank look at death, peppered with interviews with everyone from funeral directors to cemetery "hobbyists." Not for the easily squeamish. Reviewed by Barbara Gordon

Crow Lake Mary Lawson
Fiction A first novel by an author to watch for, Crow Lake is the story of siblings coping through tragedy and learning about themselves as they mature. It speaks of rivalry issues that can, if allowed, cause people to miss out on what family really means. Truly an unforgettable story. Reviewed by sjc

Small Pieces Loosely Joined: a unified theory of the Web David Weinberger Non-Fiction
Small Pieces... tracks the Web's development and impact from conception in 1993 through the dot-com crash and beyond. Weinberger weaves several cultural and socio-political themes into a cohesive whole, a large metaphor for the Web itself and the basis of his theory. Reviewed by BF

The Sunday Wife Cassandra King Fiction Interesting story of a southern minister's wife who breaks out of the mold and all restrictions of her life. Lots of southern flavor and a good mystery to boot. Reviewed by dal

Cold Zero Christopher Whitcomb Non-Fiction This well-written book is by an FBI agent from the hostage rescue team who was at Waco & Ruby Ridge. It provides an exciting inside look at the FBI. Reviewed by MMS

Best American Nonrequired Reading, 2002 Dave Eggers, Ed. Non-Fiction This eclectic work includes writings from David Sedaris and Eric Schlosser, as well as excerpts from The Onion, Spin and The New Yorker. The mixture of satire and thought provoking essays make this an original debut. Reviewed by KLS