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.

November 2006

Copper River by William Kent Krueger
Fiction 2006
WOW, what a book! Copper River finds Cork O'Connor hiding out and on the mend from a gunshot with his widowed cousin and her son. But circumstances soon put him into another harrowing situation locally. Great characters, lots of twists and even a cougar! Good series.
Reviewed by MJC

Gentlemen & Players by Joanne Harris
Fiction 2006
A mysterious insider, teaching at a venerated British boys school, carries a bitter grudge and plans to destroy the school and its faculty through manipulation and innuendo. Told in alternating voices, past and present, the story builds as seemingly unrelated incidents start to connect and careen out of control, leading to a most startling conclusion. Harris's characters and story unfold in a way that is both mesmerizing and unsettling.
Reviewed by mac

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
Fiction 2005
This would make a very good selection for a book discussion group. I found it to be well written with a captivating plot and character. The major themes are growing up, facing the past and the importance of family. If you like the Oprah book selections you will probably enjoy this; also will probably have more appeal for women than men.
Reviewed by Minerva

The Grays by Whitley Strieber
Fiction 2006
This novel involves extraterrestrial visitors to our planet, the gifted individuals who are able to maintain contact with them, and the government conspiracy to shush it all up. Very well-written, the frightful images and well-drawn characters will stay with you, as will the underlying message expressing the leap of spiritual evolution humankind seems to need more than ever. Reviewed by RP

The Last Days of Dead Celebrities by Mitchell Fink
Nonfiction 2006
University at Buffalo alumnus and internationally recognized journalist Mitchell Fink takes you through the final days of 15 celebs. Fink's well-researched accounts of the last hours of John Lennon, Lucille Ball, and Ted Williams, among others, provide intimate details while retaining a sense of dignity. Reviewed by Barbara Gordon

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Alexie Sherman
Fiction 1993
Both sad and hilarious, this collection of short stories examines life on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
Reviewed by BW

Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
Fiction 2006
BeBe Loudermilk falls hard for a con man who steals her money, her home and her business. Find out how she cons the con man and retrieves her property and discovers what is truly important. This light romantic suspense story is full of quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments. A good "beach read" any time of the year.
Reviewed by mac

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
Fiction 2004
This book centered around a newly opened knitting shop in Seattle, Wa. Using all of her savings Lydia the owner sees this as an opportunity to put her life threatening illness behind her and start anew. As we are introduced to the other women in the story we see how they go from complete strangers who joined a knitting class to ones who are lifelong friends.
Reviewed by cas

The Syringa Tree by Pamela Gien
Fiction 2006
Excellent novel adaptation of the play with the same title by Pamela Gien. The author is from South Africa and the novel (and play) are set in South Africa during the 1950s to the "present" dealing with apartheid and race relations. The play version won an Obie in 2001 and will be presented as a play at the Studio Arena Jan 5-28, 2007.
Reviewed by infoallie