Library Staff Were Reading 2002 Edition...
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ALPHABETICAL BY TITLE [AC = Audiocassette, CD = Compact Disc, LP = Large Print] Non-fiction April 1865 : the Month that Saved America by Jay Winik, c2001 [AC] This is a must
read for anyone interested in the Civil War.
An extremely well-written and thought-provoking study of the month which
was a watershed in the history of our nation. (Arthur M. Woodford from SCS) Bad Blood by
Lorna Sage, c2002 This is a
non-sentimental memoir of growing up in a rural village as the granddaughter of
the local vicar. A compelling read,
this book is witty, self-deprecating and at times a comedy - a delight to read.
No wonder it won the British Whitbread Award for Biography. (Midge Lusardi from
CHE) D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose, c1994 [AC, LP] This pivotal
"Battle of the Century" becomes even more riveting and amazing when
one considers the difficulties recently faced in "Operation Iraqi
Freedom" 60 years later. Told by a leading historian of our time, this is a
story that every American should hear. (Sue S. from CHE) Dare to Repair: a Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the
Home by Julie Sussman & Stephanie Glakas-Tenet,
c2002 With its
easy-to-follow instructions and simple illustrations, this book deserves a
prominent place in every woman's home. (Suzanne
from HPW) A Dog Year : Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me by Jon Katz, c2002 [LP] A sit down,
laugh-out-loud true tale of a man and his four dogs. This book will hit home
with any animal lover. (Kathleen from SCS) Fear Less: Real Truth About
Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism by Gavin De Becker, c2002 [AC] De Becker's
expert analysis and advice helped to replace panic with confidence. (Anne Marie
from EPL) The Final Season : Fathers, Sons, and One Last Season in a Classic American
Ballpark by Tom Stanton,
c2001 Stanton draws
from his personal memoirs to create a powerful tale of fathers and sons,
extended families, and a city's love affair with its baseball team. (Dale Parus
from HPW) The Gifts of the Jews : How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way
Everyone Thinks and Feels by
Thomas Cahill, c1998 [AC, CD, LP] Promise
yourself to make it through Chapter 1 or skip it entirely, for the last 200
pages present an entirely thought-provoking look at the relationship of God and
the individual. (Dale Parus from HPW) Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence by Paul Feig, c2002 This is a very
funny memoir about growing up in 1970's Macomb County.
It brought back so many memories and just as many laughs. A gem! (Debbie
Vercellone from SHL) Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad
Medicine, and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill by Robert Whitaker, c2002 A fascinating
look at how the philosophy behind psychiatric treatment has--and hasn't--changed
over the last two centuries. Dark
humor balancing the seriousness of the subject made the book fun to read. (Anne
Marie from EPL) Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich, c2001 A well-known
writer poses as a poor working woman in three different American cities for an
inside take on those who work hard but can barely get by. (Cindy from CHE) The Other Side of Ethel Mertz: the Life Story of Vivian Vance by Frank Castelluccio and Alvin Walker, c1998 A must read
for all "I Love Lucy" fans. This book goes beyond Vance's "Ethel
Mertz" to reveal a fascinating, multi-talented actress. (Suzanne from HPW) Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip,
Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman, c2002 Along with
"Odd Girl Out" by Rachel Simmons, these groundbreaking efforts provide
some understanding and finally a "vocabulary" with which to discuss
the insidious persecution among some girls in schools today.
Strongly recommended for mothers of daughters in middle or high schools.
(Sue S. from CHE) Retro Desserts: Totally Hip, Updated Classic Desserts from the '40s, '50s,
'60s, and '70s by
Wayne Harley Brachman, c2000 This is a
great cookbook for baby boomers. Remember fondue parties? Bits of historical
information precede each recipe. Mouth-watering photos! (Suzanne from HPW) Summers with the Bears : Six Seasons in the North Woods by Jack Becklund, c1999 I love animal
stories, especially the true ones! This story of a Minnesota couple's
relationship with a group of 10 bears, including one named Little Bit, is
amusing, heartwarming and sad. (Margaret DuMouchel from MCL) Fiction All Is Vanity by
Christina Schwartz, c2002 [LP] This dark book
draws you in with the voice of its main character; to the very end, I could not
put it down! (Librarian from SCS) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, c2000 [AC] A story about
two cousins whose career writing and drawing comic books mirrors events during
WWII. One of the best books I've
ever read. (Kristen from SLC) The Analyst by
John Katzenbach, c2002 [LP] A
psychoanalysist must discover who is sending him letters.
If he fails after two weeks, he must commit suicide or the letter-sender
will start killing off his family. A
thriller to end all thrillers. (Ruth Richards from SCS) Beach Music by Pat
Conroy, c1995 [AC, LP] Ever wonder
why you are so tied to your quirky, exasperating family?
This quintessential "southern" novel captures the
"soul" of the family, the good, the bad, and that which transcends all
reason. A terrific summer read! (Sue
S. from CHE) The Best Revenge by
Stephen White, c2003 This
thought-provoking book deals with the issue of crime, punishment and revenge.
(Librarian from EPL) Calculating God by
Robert J. Sawyer, c2000 What if a
space alien came to Toronto? And what if she challenged a scientist's view on
the nature of God? A great science fiction novel that speculates why God lets
bad things happens to good people. (Kristen from SLC) The Chocolate Bear Burglary: A Chocoholic Mystery by JoAnna Carl, c2002 [LP] Funny and
inventive mystery about a woman detective and chocolatier in Michigan.
The description of exotic chocolates will have you running out to the
nearest sweets shop. (Annette from MPL) Coming Back to Me by
Caroline Deavitt, c2001 Gary and Molly
find their marriage tested, when the birth of their long-awaited first baby,
leaves Molly with a life threatening medical condition.
A vivid and emotional story of a marriage and a family coming together in
a time of crisis. (Margaret Hanes from SHL) Darwin's Blade by Dan
Simmons, c2000 A thoroughly
enjoyable page-turner - almost impossible to put down due to the unfolding
suspense, the interesting romantic twist, the unusual accident investigations.
(Beth Martin from ROG) Doomsday Book by
Connie Willis, c1992 [AC] The amount of
research that clearly went into this science fiction novel of time travel
between the future and the Middle Ages (during the Black Plague) blew me away.
A great story. (Kristen from SLC) Enemy Women by
Paulette Jiles, c2002 [AC, LP] Canadian book
award winner about a young Missouri girl wrongly accused of spying during the
Civil War. Love with a Union Major complicates the tale. This is a good
historical novel with a prisoner of war setting. (Cindy Bieniek from SCS) Entering Normal by Anne
D. LeClaire, c2002 A story rich
in the details of human relationships. (Margaret Hanes from SHL) Eyre Affair by
Jasper Fforde, c2002 [AC, CD] An alternate
version of our world where dodo birds have been recreated and literature is all
important. So when characters start
disappearing from books, its Thursday Next's job to find the perp quickly.
(Catherine from SHL) A Fine Balance by
Rohinton Mistry, c1996 [AC, LP] The fact that
the unthinkable poverty and despicable socio-political agenda of the 1970's
"Emergency" in India did not kill the spirit and kindness of the
characters in this story was humbling and awe-inspiring to me. A disturbing but
riveting read. (C. Federspiel from MCL) The Floating City by
Pamela Ball, c2002 This book is a
small gem. Set in
turn of the century Hawaii, this subtle mystery features characters whose
motives and personal histories are as elusive as sunlight in a dense jungle
mist. Pamela Bell writes exquisite prose that evoke the dark side of Hawaii as
it was a hundred years ago. (Midge Lusardi from CHE) Heresy by Sharan Newman,
c2002 Catherine
LeVendeur saves Astrolabe from being framed for the murder of a noble woman and
becomes involved in a major church conference on heresy. You really feel you've
visited medieval France when you read Sharan Newman's books. (Catherine from SHL) In a Dark Wood by
Amanda Craig, c2002 Family
relationships and depression are described in vivid detail and moves one to
understand mental illness and how it affects the family. (Librarian from EPL) Justice Hall : a Mary Russell novel by Laurie R. King, c2002 [AC, CD, LP] Latest
installment of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series.
All of the novels have offered the Doyle standard of mystery with the
addition of an intelligent female assistant. (Kathleen from SCS) The Laurentian Channel by
Christopher Knight, c2001 Christopher
Knight (aka Michigan Chillers author Jonathon Rand) spins an adult tale of
murder and mystery on the Great Lakes. Familiar
Michigan locations make the imagination run wild. (Cindy Bieniek from SCS) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien [AC, CD LP] I reread the
Trilogy 25 years after completing it in high school and found its magic still
totally enthralling. New insights to the characters were found with a mature eye
-- and a faithful screen adaptation as well. (Dale Parus from HPW) The Lovely Bones by
Alice Sebold, c2002 [AC, CD, LP] Mesmerizing,
intriguing, bittersweet. The hype is not exaggerated; this was wonderful.
(Librarian from SCS) Must Love Dogs by
Claire Cook, c2002 This is a
modern-day love story with wonderful characters and often hysterical situations.
A young woman tries to find love but must first find out what love really
means. Similar to Jeanne Ray. (Ruth
Richards from SCS) Our Lady of Darkness by
Peter Tremayne, c2002 Sister Fidelma
has to save Brother Eadulf from false accusations of murder before he is put to
death under new harsh Roman church law instead of the customary Irish law.
(Catherine from SHL) The Runaway Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilt novel by Jennifer Chiaverini, c2002 [LP] The fourth
offering in the Elm Creek Quilts series is a modern-day family mystery that
explores the lore surrounding the use of quilts to signal runaway slaves
traveling the Underground Railroad. (Annette from MPL) Second Draft of My Life by
Sara Lewis, c2002 How many of us
wouldn't like to reinvent our lives at some point? Charlotte Dearborn, decides
to do just that. This novel is part
romantic comedy, part manual on teaching strategies, and just a whole lot of
fun. (Margaret Hanes from SHL) Second Hand: a novel by
Michael Zadoorian, c2000 Richard and
his Detroit-area second hand store made me think about my own relationship with
the cherished "junk" in my life. This emotional story is a real
keeper. (Debbie Vercellone from SHL) Seven Up by
Janet Evanovich, c2001 [AC, CD, LP] This book
makes one laugh out loud at the hilarius antics of a bounty hunter. (Librarian
from EPL) The Sparrow by Mary
Doria Russell, c1996 (Celeste from
CMS) Standing in the Rainbow by
Fannie Flagg, c2002 [AC, CD, LP] Lots of
heartwarming, funny small town characters made me want to rent a room at the
local boarding house and join them! Many great story lines. (Debbie Vercellone
from SHL) The Story of Lucy Gault by
William Trevor, c2002 This wonderful
novel transported me to early 20th-century Ireland for a beautifully-written,
heartbreaking story about love, loss, and trust in human relationships.
Impossible to put down! (Anne Marie from EPL) Time and Again by Jack
Finney, c1970 [AC, LP] History,
mystery, romance, and time travel melded together in an unusual tale that will
cause you to forever question what time it really is. (Cindy from CHE) Tulip Fever by
Deborah Moggach, c2000 [LP] This is a
truly wonderful story about the fate of untethered love and greed.
The characters are wonderful as is the author’s description of Holland.
A real gem! (Ruth Richards from SCS) Utopia by Lincoln Child,
c2002 Loved the
colorful, Disneyworld-like setting - but much more techno - lots of suspense.
Characters - including a robot - you
care about, even after the
last page. (Beth Martin from ROG) Vanishing Act by
Thomas Perry, c1995 [LP] Jane
Whitefield, a Seneca Indian woman, uses ancient native Wisdom and high-tech
slight of hand to help desperate people "disappear".
First in a riveting series. (Cindy
from CHE) Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks, c2002 [AC, LP] *Historical novel set in a 1666 England village; fascinating in its use of
real and imagined characters as well as its point of view (a 20 year old
housemaid). (Librarian from SCS) *Interesting because although this is a novel, it is based on the events in
an English village during the Plague; the characters really draw the reader into
the story. (Beth Martin from ROG) [AC = Audiocassette, CD = Compact Disc, LP = Large Print] Suburban Library Cooperative |