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What We're Reading NowDecember 2014
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The Winthrop woman
by Anya Seton
First published in 1958, this “biographical fiction” (the term preferred by Seton) stands the test of time.
Both niece and daughter-in-law to the high-minded Governor of Massachusetts, John Winthrop, Elizabeth “Bess” Fones Winthrop raised eyebrows with her first marriage (hasty, and to her first cousin), out-of-wedlock cohabitation with a later lover, and many questions about Puritan doctrine.
Well-researched and involving, this story imparts a wealth of historical detail surrounding a memorable character. LS
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The girl on the train : a novel
by Paula Hawkins
Poor Rachel. Tortured by happy pre-divorce memories, she longingly views her former home every day on the train ride into London.
She imagines the perfect life of the “golden couple” just a few houses away—until one day when she catches a glimpse of that perfect women that no one was meant to see. Determined to intercede, Rachel enters into a scenario that dislodges old memories (which now appear as new threats) She doesn’t know whom to trust. You won’t, either. Terrifically tense. For those who loved Gone Girl and psychological fiction fans in general.
LS
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Mort(e) : a novel
by Robert Repino
Publication Date 1/20/2015
Do you have a pet? Do you appreciate fiction with an Orwellian vibe? Are you eager to discover another debut novelist before all your friends do? Do you yearn for an antidote to Disney-fied creatures?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above (and/or can’t get enough of well-done post-apocalyptic fiction) watch for this one.
In Repino’s upended scenario, ants and four-legged animals have discovered a means of cross-communication. They now rule the world. It’s a very bad time to be a human—but a lucky opportunity for anyone seeking a memorable, engrossing read.
LS
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Retronaut : the photographic time machine
by Chris Wild
This is a very eclectic look at human history under the category of Visual Anthropology. Who knew that there was enough subject matter to generate such a heading?
But I digress: the book may be thought- provoking, but it is a humorous collection of vintage photography, Victoriana, vintage advertising and even Italian frescos. The book is composed of unusual categories that impose a charming randomness. Human history is seldom so fun.
Chris Wild walks a not so straight line between esoteric knowledge and wacky humor. If you want more visit his website—www.retronaut.com.
TB
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Hiding in plain sight
by Nuruddin Farah
Bella is beautiful, successful (a sought-after fashion photographer), and independent, with a satisfying life based in Rome but affording travel opportunities worldwide.
When Bella’s half-brother, a UN staffer assigned to Mogadishu, is killed by terrorists, Bella must re-think every aspect of her life—and quickly. Her niece and nephew in Nairobi require a parent figure, and their mother abandoned them years back.
Focusing on this domestic crisis, the reader is invited to consider complexities of politics and identity in Africa far beyond what Americans typically encounter. A significant, thought-provoking read.
LS
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As you wish : inconceivable tales from the making of The princess bride
by Cary Elwes
Elwes’ witty insider account of casting, filming, and dealing with the public’s affection for the film is a must-read for fans of The Princess Bride (or listen to the audio version, which Elwes narrates).
If you’ve viewed The Making of Gone with the Wind exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center, you’ll particularly appreciate parallels between the two all-time classics that nearly weren’t produced because they were initially viewed as impossible projects.
Elwes’ use of sidebars to inject different participants’ viewpoints enhances an already marvelously entertaining text.
LS
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Three minutes in Poland : discovering a lost world in a 1938 family film
by Glenn Kurtz
What a remarkable and riveting story.
The author discovered a 1938 vacation film in his parents’ closet and has it restored. It includes 3 minutes of film showing the life and people of Nasielsk, Poland, a Jewish shetetl. A year later that community would be utterly destroyed by the Nazis. Kurtz donates the film to the United States National Holocaust Memorial Museum and is later contacted by the descendant of a boy in the film. From there, he begins a four-year journey locating seven survivors and weaving their memories and photographs into a compelling account of everyday life in town that would be virtually wiped from the face of the earth.
TB
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Craft beer for the homebrewer : recipes from America's top brewmasters
by Michael Agnew
Do you like beer? Do you know why you need malt? And what is a hop back or a firkin or Lovibond? Do you know why cans are better than bottles? Are porters stouts or stouts porters? Do you know how to get started brewing your own ideal beer?
Well, here’s a book to answer those questions (except the first) and more. The authors provide detailed recipes and instructions for making some of the best beers offered by microbreweries from across the country.
Accompanying the recipes are profiles of the 23 featured breweries and their brewmasters.
TB
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A matter of grave concern : a novel
by Brenda Novak
1830s London boasts several medical schools, all with the same problem: how to teach human anatomy with no cadavers? Except for bodies of executed prisoners, they’re almost impossible to come by—unless you’re willing to deal with “resurrection men” who rob graves to meet the demand.
That’s how we meet Abigail and Maximillian: she’s procuring a cadaver for her father’s medical school, and he’s working for the London Supply Company—a gang of the notorious “sack ‘em up” men.
A romance with real chemistry—and not the medical school kind!
LS
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