“Forget about what you are escaping from. Reserve your anxiety for what you are escaping to.” ~From Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
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This historical novel takes place in England during the 1940s, when Hitler declared war against London, at the time of World War II. Two step sisters, 15 year old Emmeline and 7 year old Julia, live with their single Mum in London. Their mother works and leaves the care of Julia to Emmy. WWII interferes with Emmy’s dreams of designing bridal dresses, forcing the sisters to leave for safety reasons to live in a foster home in the countryside of the Cotswolds. Emmy’s one track mind of returning to London results in danger for both of the sisters. The day the Blitz begins leads to a series of choices that separates the sisters and completely changes both their lives.
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Laura recommends: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay: A Novelby Michael ChabonThis vibrant portrayal of life in New York City during the glory years of comic book heroes and American strength begins when artist Joe Kavalier meets his Brooklyn cousin, Sammy Clay. Joe has narrowly escaped Nazi Czechoslovakia, and he is grieving the family he left behind, particularly his young brother. Fatherless Sammy has a creative imagination and big plans to strike it rich publishing comic books, and Joe’s artistic talent as well as his training as a magician and escape artist make them perfect partners in this exciting venture. Their masked hero, “The Escapist,” who fights evil in a “thinly disguised Europe,” quickly becomes a success, but Joe cannot escape his survivor’s guilt about his life in exile from his family. When an attempt to rescue his young brother ends in tragedy, Joe joins the navy, leaving his girlfriend in a precarious position. This witty and moving tale of a fabled partnership is rich with detail and filled with authentic, engaging, and complex characters.
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Stacey recommends: The Underground Railroad: A Novelby Colson WhiteheadIn a lush, lyrical style, Colson Whitehead conveys the harsh reality of slavery in this inventive novel that reimagines the Underground Railroad as an actual railroad that carried slaves to freedom. By incorporating a touch of magical realism, Whitehead gives a fresh view of the unrelenting horrors of slavery. Cora, a young woman escaping slavery, faces brutality before and after her escape, which carries her into various states, each with its own culture of violence. A powerful story, beautifully and heart-wrenchingly told.
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A young man found dead on the side of the road, an older man found dead at the house the younger man was looking after while the owners are overseas. What connected them, what did they have in common? And what about the neighbors in this quiet community in Northumberland? They are three older couples, calling themselves “retired hedonists,” who have their own secrets. Is one of them the killer? There are puzzles to solve and clues to discover, all with a bit of humor thrown in. This is #7 of one of my favorite series and you don’t have to read the others in order to get great enjoyment out of this one; DCI Vera Stanhope never disappoints.
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Roseanne recommends: The Rumor: A Novelby Elin HilderbrandAnother novel written by Elin Hilderbrand that is filled with rumors about some of the residents who live on beautiful Nantucket Island. The residents in the line of fire include Grace Pancik and her real estate husband Fast Eddie, who live in a beautiful house with their twin teenage daughters Allegra and Hope; Grace’s best friend Madeline King, a novelist, her husband Trevor and son Brick, who is dating Allegra and who are Grace and Eddie’s best friends; Eddie’s sister, Barbie who is also his business partner and Grace’s Gardner, Benton Coe. Rumors are running rampant and everyone is wondering who started them, if they are true and when and how will they stop. The audiobook is narrated by Erin Bennett, Kathleen McInerney and Rick Zieff.
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Dr. Paul Kalanithi was in the last part of his residency to become a neurosurgeon when he found out he had stage 4 lung cancer. How could he go on living? How could he continue working? What should he do with the rest of his suddenly shortened life? I read this after my own father was diagnosed with terminal cancer as a way to understand what my dad was thinking about. Parts of the book were disturbing (including how cadavers are used in medical labs), other parts uplifting. If nothing else, his beautifully written story reminds us that we have a limited lifespan, though we try to forget that fact. What will you do with the rest of your life?
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This is a powerful book, written by John Baker, the founder of Celebrate Recovery, a Christ centered 12 Step program based on biblical principles. The perception of Celebrate Recovery and this book may seem to be more directed at substance abuse issues such as drugs and alcohol but that’s so NOT TRUE. Everyone has some form of hurts, habits or hang-ups that they need help identifying. This book helps you do that in such a way that while you are identifying your flaws and character defects, you still feel encouraged and know that there is hope and freedom. I HIGHLY recommend reading this book and finding a Celebrate Recovery in your area!
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Lee recommends: Turner: The Extraordinary Life and Momentous Times of J.M.W. Turnerby Franny MoyleGrowing up with a compulsion to draw in London’s colorful, vice-ridden Covent Garden, J. M. W. Turner learned from any artist he could find. As he matured enough to realize an artist’s precarious financial position, he also developed a determined ambition to get ahead. It helped his career immensely, but was hard on those who loved him. He drew to suit the fashion, but he also experimented, traveled, politicked, and came, in some ways, to set the fashion. His more unusual efforts wouldn’t be understood until the Impressionists came along a century later, but his reputation now, especially for painting light, is that of a master.
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For More Reading Pleasure...
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Check out our Readers' Corner:
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BPL Contemporary Literature Book Discussion:
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Come join us on the second Tuesday of the month. We meet in the Conference room at 7:30 pm. No registration required (and we serve cookies). Here are the next dates and titles: There are extra copies available behind the circulation desk that can be checked out by Batavia Public Library cardholders.
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