Tag Archives: Grand Rapids Public Library

On the shelf: ‘Eleven on Top’ by Janet Evanovich

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Although her novels are classified as mysteries, Janet Evanovich really deserves a category of her own. Her stories fall somewhere between soap opera and a cheesy whodunit by combining over-the-top drama with a healthy dose of humor and a Nancy Drew twist or two.

 

The beauty of this series is that readers don’t need to read each book in succession to get a sense of the characters. Stephanie Plum is a moderately successful bounty hunter with a little too much spunk and not quite enough common sense who can’t seem to commit to a permanent relationship. The difficulties between Stephanie and the men in her life, Joe Morrelli and Ranger, pale in comparison to the difficulties she encounters in her job, all of which brings her to a life changing decision: time for a career move.

 

In Eleven on Top, Stephanie convinces herself that life in the law enforcement field is over for her, so she attempts to start a new career. While this is great in concept, she just can’t seem to adapt to the mundane and finds herself doing office work for Ranger instead. The tension escalates as Stephanie walks the line between Ranger and Joe and tries to maintain her balance while seeking the identity of the stalker who is trying to kill her.

 

On the shelf: ‘Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette’ by Sena Jeter Naslund

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By Kristen Krueger-Corrado, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

I am new to the world of historical fiction, having assumed that it would be similar to a very dry history course full of esoteric facts and dates. I selected Abundance to read because I was interested in seeing the recent film about Marie Antoinette and thought this might be a good primer. Imagine my surprise when I read the entire book (over 500 pages) in one day, dragging myself away from the engrossing story only to eat dinner or to tell my husband to stop talking to me while I was reading. For days afterwards, I delighted him with interesting facts I had picked up until he begged me to stop.

 

Marie Antoinette gets a bad rap in history textbooks — the frivolous young queen who cares little about her subjects, an attitude that ultimately leads to her demise. But in Abundance, the queen is portrayed in a much more flattering light. The story begins with her marriage to the Dauphin, Louis August, at the age of 14 and chronicles their 22-year marriage, the births of their four children, the fall of their monarchy and their beheadings.

 

Marie Antoinette was a devout Catholic, dedicated to her family and friends, determined to keep her marriage together and lived to serve the people of France. The book is told in the first person, and it is very evident that while Marie Antoinette had good intentions, she could not even begin to understand the plight of her people. And although I knew how the story would end, I was rooting for her to succeed. Abundance is a good read, but not one to lose your head over.

On the shelf: ‘The Terror’ by Dan Simmons

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By Amy L. Cochran, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

In this historical novel The Terror, Dan Simmons weaves known facts, extrapolation, and Inuit beliefs into his own vividly harsh version of the fate of the lost Franklin Expedition. The book is part thrilling arctic survival fiction, part horror, part nautical adventure, and completely impossible to put down.

 

Back in 1845, Sir John Franklin led an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage and disappeared completely along with two ships and 128 men. Simmons uses the last known whereabouts of the ships Erebus and Terror to alternate between the present in 1847, as the men try to make it through their second icebound winter, and flashbacks that show how badly informed route decisions and cheap supplies have left the expedition stranded and low on food.

 

You’d think that being stuck in two wooden ships in pack ice 1200 miles from any chance of rescue would be enough to handle, but Simmons just keeps increasing the tension. After expedition leader Sir John Franklin dies, Captain Francis Crozier of the Terror must somehow get his men home in spite of encroaching scurvy, -82 degree daily temperatures, rotten canned food, and the constant fatal attacks of a terrible beast that seems to be a 14-foot polar bear impervious to bullets. Just about the time the beast appears, Lady Silence, a mysterious Inuit girl with no tongue, comes aboard. She alone can find fresh meat; unfortunately, none of the surviving men have any luck hunting during even the slightly warmer summers. A last-ditch attempt to build morale by staging a winter carnival goes horribly awry, and on top of the deadly natural conditions and animal attacks, human nature shows its ugly side and turns sailor against sailor.

 

Simmons does an amazing job of providing in gritty detail the nasty, smelly uncomfortable conditions on board ship and the symptoms of advanced scurvy, as well as the harsh realities of surviving for any length of time in the Arctic. In conditions almost beyond comprehension, the men fiercely struggle to stay hopeful and escape their doomed situation. And after reading this excellent historical novel, I have to say that, despite our nasty Michigan winters, we’ve got it pretty good. Compared, at least, to the plight of the men of the ships Erebus and Terror.

On the shelf: ‘Capital Crimes’ and ‘Short Straw’

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

I was feeling rather sluggish and thought a good mystery would get my blood moving, so I decided to try something by an author I hadn’t previously read. I turned to bestselling authors to help with my selection.

 

Short Straw by Stuart Woods seemed to fit my criteria; Woods is a bestselling author and the synopsis promised an intriguing, fast-paced mystery, and I looked forward to diving into my first Stuart Woods novel. Unfortunately, this will also be my last Stuart Woods novel. While there were a couple of interesting twists in the plot, overall I found it to be very dull and predictable. The characters were flat and lifeless, and I found myself not caring what happened to any of them. In fact, I felt like they got what they deserved for the most part.

 

Apparently, a familiar character from an earlier book, Ed Eagle, resurfaces in Short Straw only to be taken to the cleaners by his soon-to-be-ex-wife. A pair of incompetent men, hired by Eagle, follow Barbara all over Mexico to prevent her from getting her hands on all of Ed’s money. If this is typical of his work, I certainly don’t plan to read any further.

 

On the other hand, I found Capital Crimes by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman to be just what the book jacket promised: “…a gripping pair of original crime thrillers…” This was my first experience with Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, also bestselling authors, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this time I wasn’t disappointed.

 

Although I didn’t initially realize that Capital Crimes was actually two novellas combined under one cover, both stories stood well on their own, and I will definitely read more of their work. The characters were far more colorful than those in Short Straw, and the pace moved much quicker. I felt more involved with the stories and interested in the outcomes.

 

The only criticism I have is that the language in Capital Crimes was a little rough. While the usage of rough language was well within the boundaries of keeping in the voice of the character, I sometimes find it distracts from the story when the dialogue is spotted with conversational swearing. I didn’t find it distracting enough, however, to put this book down and recommend it for a taste of both Jonathan and Faye Kellerman.

On the shelf: ‘Rescue My Child’ by Neil C. Livingstone

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

When Betty Mahmoody’s story first came to light, the United States was confronted with a problem of epic proportions: international parental abduction. Countless parents around the county were finally heard. Author Livingstone wrote Rescue My Child to help inform an entire generation of the cruelty these parents face every day.

 

Livingston focused on Corporate Training Unlimited (CTU), an organization composed of ex-Delta Force commandos, who would intervene in international cases. This book tells of four such cases. The stories detail the rescues of five children and one mother from various countries and situations. Laurie Swint Ghidaoui and her daughter Leila were rescued from Tunisia. Lauren Mahone was recovered in Jordan. Brittney Chowdhury was located in Bangladesh while Jeremy Hefner and his sister Amy were rescued in Ecuador.

 

Rescue My Child endeavored to alert the world about international parental abduction at a time when such a crime was hardly imaginable. CTU risked much to be able to help these families: prison, injury and even death. Had these men and women been discovered while on foreign soil and in possession of a child of a citizen, the United States could not have helped them. It is a reminder that some children do come home and also a reminder that some are still missing.

On the shelf: ‘Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony’ by Eoin Colfer

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

Artemis Fowl has done many things in his short life. He has mastered criminal enterprise. He has taken on Russian mobsters to save his father’s life. He has even saved the entire faerie world from a master criminal pixie. What a teenager! In this adventure, Artemis has met his match in a girl named Minerva, who kidnaps a demon, one of ten families of faerie, from an opera house in Italy.

 

Author Eoin Colfer is a former educator who had amazing success with the first Artemis Fowl novel and has continued to toss the boy genius into exciting adventures. Colfer’s stories have been compared with C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia as well as J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter series. Children around the world love the way Artemis uses technology, education and logic to expose the faerie world, endanger it, and then ultimately save it.

 

Artemis has always been a lonely, unique boy. Minerva is his ultimate competitor.
The Artemis Fowl series contain enough world travel, fantasy and mystery to intrigue any child. Who knows, it may even give the grandchildren some ideas! Start with the original Artemis Fowl and end the series with The Lost Colony. Your grandchildren will love them!

On the shelf: More books for the grand kids by various authors

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Empress Orchid
by Anchee Min

At one time in China, a woman’s value was judged by her marriage and children. For Imperial wives and concubines, this could mean life or a secret death. Author Anchee Min introduces Tzu His who became China’s last empress. Orchid, as she was known in the Forbidden City, began life as an innocent country girl who became the Emperor’s fourth wife.

 

While others have told Empress Orchid’s story, author Min uses her own childhood in China to tell this story of a girl turned goddess. Orchid rises above all other women in the Forbidden City to become her Emperor’s favorite wife. She gives him an heir and, when enemies threaten China, leads her people as regent for 46 years.

 

Min’s native tongue helps give the story its scope. Her descriptions tell a tale of a time when the Boxers were gaining power and the Imperials were losing it. It was a time when the wives and concubines of an emperor fought for the chance to have an heir and the power and security that a son could bring. Orchid is the Cinderella of 19th century China: a woman who had to become more than a simple country girl to rule her people in peace and justice.

 

By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

The Commissario Guido Brunetti Series
by Donna Leon

Your plans for a trip to Italy fell apart? Until you can visit Rome or glide through Venice’s canals, do this: Take up with a policeman.

 

Donna Leon, an American living in Italy, has just brought out the 15th book, Through a Glass Darkly, in her mystery series set in Venice. Commissario Guido Brunetti is patient, principled and long suffering in the pursuit of justice in a bureaucracy that is often corrupt. He is married to Paola, who cooks wonderful meals and provides shrewd commentary. You finish a book feeling you’ve had a privileged homestay and seen sites far from the tourist track.

 

It’s best to begin the series with the first book, Death at La Fenice, since the author often refers to earlier incidents. Here, in the celebrated opera house, the world-famous conductor Maestro Helmut Wellauer, is poisoned during a performance of La Traviata. Brunetti, accustomed to the mazey corruptions of Venice, is surprised at the number of enemies Wellauer has made on his way to the top. That title is followed by Death in a Strange Country, in which the body of an American soldier is found in a canal. Next in the series is Uniform Justice, in which a cadet from Venice’s elite military academy is found hanged. The investigation leads to a wall of silence and hostility.

 

The series is very popular throughout Europe, and is gathering lots of fans in the U.S., many of whom also couldn’t vacation in Venice this year.

 

By Bill Hill, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

March of the Penguins
by Luc Jacquet and Jerome Maison

It is a strange life.

 

The Emperor penguins are born into darkness at the coldest end of the earth. To get to their mating territory 70 miles inland, they must waddle in short steps for a week through a hazard of up thrust ice scored by crevasses. As deep winter comes on, the females hatch one egg each, pass it to their partner and make the long march to the shore to feed and recover. The male Emperors stay behind cradling their precious eggs on the tops of their feet. They will huddle together through the long Antarctic winter going without food for as much as four months.

 

The darkness and terrible cold ease as the sun climbs higher. Shortly after the eggs hatch the females return, ready to spell the exhausted males who now must totter to the sea. The parents take turns shuttling to the sea for food till their chicks are old enough to make the journey themselves, and the cycle begins again.

 

Despite its billing as the “Official companion to the major motion picture,” this book is a distillation of the movie in 160 pages of photos with the movie’s narration for text. There is a short end chapter on the making the film. The publisher, National Geographic, has produced a handsome and fascinating book, one that could be shared with the rising generation.

 

By Bill Hill, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

Dakotah Treasures Series (Ruby; Pearl; Opal; Amethyst)
by Lauraine Snelling

Hearing that her father is dying, Ruby Torvald takes her little sister Opal and leaves New York City for the wilds of Little Missouri in Dakota Territory. When they arrive in this pioneer town, they are shocked to discover their father is very near death and owns Dove House — a sordid bar, complete with barmaids. Before he dies, Per Torvald makes Ruby swear she will “take care of the girls” — the soiled doves in residence. Ruby finds herself suddenly faced with life on the frontier in a barely-there town.

 

Over the course of four books, Snelling tells the story of Ruby Torvald and Little Missouri. The author focuses on each of four women: Ruby Torvald, Pearl Hossfuss, Opal Torvald, and Amethyst O’Shaunasy. These women find themselves in circumstances often beyond their control in a time when women were not considered strong in body or emotion.
Ruby finds herself taking on the reform of Dove House while her younger sister Opal confronts societal views of women in the West. Pearl goes from riches in Chicago to a one-room schoolhouse in Little Missouri, and Amethyst comes to find her lost nephew Joel in Medora. The four women learn something about themselves and about God in this Inspirational Fiction series.

 

By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

On the shelf: Good books for grand kids by various authors

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No back-to-school season would be complete without Kevin Henkes’ wonderful picture book, Chrysanthemum. This book tells the story of a young mouse’s first experience at school and the confusion she feels over having a unique name. The story touches on teasing and self-confidence in a gentle and humorous way. Although targeted at pre-school and kindergarten readers, it appeals to slightly older children as well through the universal experiences of Chrysanthemum. A nice family read with a fun twist at the end.

 

Shug by Jenny Han, follows Annemarie “Shug” Wilcox through the perils of seventh grade: new friends, first crushes and a new school. Han appeals to a wide audience through a main character who is not your average girl. Shug is believable—a real person with real problems, normal family issues and less than perfect solutions. While some of the situations seem more likely to happen to a slightly older girl, Jenny Han is right on with the details, and readers will empathize with Shig’s experiences.

 

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar uses humor through the viewpoint of a geeky kid named Scott who approaches high school with a very different perspective than his older brother Bobby. Scott sets out to win a classmate’s heart by joining the school newspaper, running for student council and auditioning for a play. Although Bobby is popular with the girls, Scott becomes invisible. Many of Scott’s difficulties appear as hilarious lists dedicated to helping his unborn sibling make it safely through high school. The situations Scott encounters are realistic, and Lubar has a superb comic sense.

 

Bass Ackward and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain looks at four girls embarking on their first year of college. Written in chapters that feature each of the characters (similar to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares), the story covers four months of their lives as they follow their various dreams. At first, this book appears to be somewhat predictable, but the authors stay true to the characters Harper, Kate, Sophie and Becca in developing the story and keeping it real.

By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

Grand Rapids—Community and Industry
by Thomas R. Dilley

A second book by Tom Dilley, one of Grand Rapids premiere postcard collectors, has just been released by Arcadia Publishing in their Postcard History Series. This volume covers aspects of Grand Rapids History between 1900 and 1960. Intended to supplement the themes developed in Dilley’s first book, Grand Rapids in Vintage Postcards 1890-1940, the book features 116 postcards, most from the author’s personal collection.

 

Dilley gives us glimpses of life in Grand Rapids in the first half of the 20th Century. Postcards portray street scenes, scenic views, recreation and local events, such as the flood of 1907 and John F. Kennedy’s visit to the city in 1960. The book features businesses of Grand Rapids, including formerly prominent establishments such as Herpolsheimers, the Pantlind Hotel and Joppe’s Dairy Company.

 

The earliest postcard views of neighborhoods portray Heritage Hill streets and homes. As the city grew outward, neighborhoods such as Madison Square, Eastown and Ottawa Hills are shown. Ramona Park and Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids became favorite amusement spots, as evidenced by many postcards.

 

Different types of postcards are reproduced in the book, including rare leather cards and double or panoramic postcards. Dilley also included two collectible series of cards: the Mr. Rover cards and the 1910 Homecoming postcards. Dilley’s book will interest postcard collectors, historians, researchers and anyone who might enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane.

 

Tom Dilley will be a presenter at the Grand Rapids Public Library’s annual Celebration of the Book on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm in the Ryerson Auditorium, Main Library.

 

By M. Christine Byron, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

On the shelf: ‘The Hot Flash Club’ by Nancy Thayer

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

When I picked up this book, I was looking for something light to read that involved characters that I could relate to—and I was not disappointed. In The Hot Flash Club, Nancy Thayer introduces the reader to four very diverse women ranging in age from fifty-two to sixty-two. The only things they have in common are a mutual acquaintance and the process of menopause.

 

I found my self quickly drawn into the world of Faye, Alice, Shirley and Marilyn, characters who give the term “aging gracefully” a whole new meaning.

 

As the four women plunge into an unexpected relationship with each other, they explore many current women’s issues with gentle humor, honesty, and nerve. Rather than viewing menopause as the end of childbearing years, Thayer suggests it is the launching point into late middle-age. Her characters are far too busy living their lives and following their dreams to focus on things that might hold them back, like arthritis, divorce, retirement and widowhood. Those topics are simply a part of their lives, not the main focus, and this positive approach works well within the framework of the story.

 

While the story holds a lighter tone than works by authors such as Elizabeth Berg, it is an entertaining and positive look at women and aging, as well as being a gentle reminder that life is a journey, not a destination, and our perception of the process is vital to how much we enjoy the ride.

On the shelf: ‘Dead Wrong’ by Mariah Stewart

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

In February, 2004, three criminals sit together at a courthouse. They decide to play an innocent game: name three people you would kill if you knew you couldn’t be caught. Then the twist: they exchange lists.

 

Mariah Stewart’s Dead Wrong is the beginning of a four-book series which tells the tale of this horrid game and the lives threatened by it. In this first book, Mara Douglas is a Child Advocate for the Lyndon courthouse. She stands for those who have no voice: the abused, the neglected, and the lost. One of her cases has earned her a place in the game. The prize: her death.

 

When someone begins killing women in Lyndon, the police and the FBI get involved. What truly haunts them is that all the women so far have one similarity: their name is M. Douglas. Mara finds herself saddled with a former FBI agent as a bodyguard because her own sister, another FBI agent, fears something bigger.

 

As events unfold and two more die, Mara makes the connection. Once upon a time Mara advocated in court on behalf of the Giordino children. She helped their mother Diana take them away from their father Vincent. Vincent didn’t like that idea and decided that if he couldn’t have them no one would. In jail for murdering his family, Vinnie also happens to have played that game in the courthouse. And the man who took his list is after Mara.

 

Dead Wrong is full of twists and turns. It is both romance and thriller, genres that Mariah Stewart blends convincingly. But what may be the Dead Wrong’s best promise is that there are still two more lists out there with two more killers waiting.

On the shelf: ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James

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By Stephanie M. White, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

A good ghost story never hurt anyone, and this ghost story is up there with the best of them. Henry James’s famous tale of a governess, her charges, and a big, scary house is wrought with mystery and suspense. Even after you’ve finished the last sentence, you’ll still be wondering on whose side you should be.

 

James weaves the story from the point of view of a young governess whose first position is in a large, country house with only two children and a few servants. She is given strict instructions never to bother the master of the house, who lives in town. When the governess begins seeing strangers around the house, she quickly learns that they are the ghosts of the children’s last governess and the master’s valet, who may have been involved in a scandalous pregnancy. As the governess determines a plan of action for keeping the children safe, the plot thickens.

 

James’s readers, on a first reading, are likely to trust the governess when she tells us of the apparitions. As the story continues, though, it becomes more and more difficult to understand whether she is really seeing ghosts, whether the children are trying to trick her, or whether she is trying to trick them. The less their governess trusts the sweet children, the less readers trust the governess.

 

While this short novel will leave you wondering about who’s seeing ghosts, it will also leave you amazed at James’s talent for weaving a tale with such ambiguity and suspense.

On the shelf: ‘Yoga Over 50’ by Mary Stewart

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By Kelly Helder, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

So you’ve been watching your diet and eating all the right foods in the hopes of keeping the weight off and your cholesterol down. You’re walking every day, getting out in the fresh air, working those leg muscles. “But,” you say, “that’s not enough; I need more” (and more not being cardio boot camp!). What could you do that is low impact, practiced by millions, and could improve your blood pressure while relieving symptoms of arthritis?

 

Yoga, of course! It doesn’t matter if you are over 50, can’t cross your legs or don’t know a word of Sanskrit. Yoga doesn’t discriminate.

 

Mary Stewart, author of Yoga Over 50: The Way to Vitality, Health and Energy in the Prime of Life, has been teaching yoga for over 20 years (and is herself over 50). After a brief introduction about yoga and its history, there is a section on the healthy body and how it works. Then we dive into the meat of the book — yoga poses. All of the classics are here, such as Triangle, Warrior and Downward Facing Dog.

 

Accompanying each pose is a brief description, which includes instructions on how to get into the pose and why it is beneficial to you. Step-by-step color photographs of each pose give an idea of what you are eventually aiming for (remember, the models in the book have been practicing yoga for years).

 

Through bringing together body, mind and spirit, we are shown how to relax and let our tensions dissolve. Photos and text illustrate the techniques of proper breathing, meditation and Savasana, or the relaxing Corpse pose. Beginner to advanced routines round out the book. There are also short programs for people who want to target specific problem areas of the body, such as stiff hips and backaches.

 

According to statistics, over 19% of US yoga practitioners are over 50, so come on, join the fun!

On the shelf: ‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

Originally published as Ten Little Indians, And Then There Were None invites ten complete strangers to a weekend getaway on a fictitious island outside of Devon, England. The host of the weekend is a millionaire who is nowhere to be found. Each guest was invited by the host under a different name.

 

Sounds like a classic mystery novel from Christie. Wait. It gets much better.

 

While most murder mysteries feature one crime, And Then There Were None tells the story of murder and mayhem over an entire weekend. The story is set to the tone of a nursery rhyme called Ten Little Indians. In the rhyme each little Indian meets a horrible fate. It’s no coincidence that there are only ten house guests.

 

Agatha Christie was no doubt the Queen of Crime when it came to the modern murder mystery. Her narrative style is enough to hold the reader by itself. Each of the ten characters is completely developed and faces their own demons as the weekend continues. Wicked pasts cannot be hidden. The rhyme ends with, “One little Indian left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.”

 

Take a look at And Then There Were None to find out who survives the weekend.

On the shelf: ‘The Condition’ by Jennifer Haigh

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By Amanda Bridle, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

An initial glance at the cover of Jennifer Haigh’s novel The Condition might lead you to believe the book tells the story of Gwen McKotch, a woman diagnosed with Turner’s syndrome. However, the “condition” of the title is so much more than Gwen’s genetic condition. The book instead explores the conditions each member of the McKotch family finds themselves in as they struggle with the complexities of family relationships.

 

Haigh dives deep into the minds of each character, first setting the scene in 1976 when Gwen is diagnosed and then fast forwarding us ahead twenty years to the state of each of the three siblings, now adults, and their parents, now divorced. The characters each reflect on the current state of their lives. Through dramatic circumstances they are forced to confront the unsettling realization that their lives, even their very own selves, are not what they wanted or expected. The real story begins as each decides what, if anything, to do about his or her own “condition”.

 

If you enjoy family dramas and books full of introspection and internal debate, you will appreciate getting to know the McKotch family. My heart ached for each of them as the story unfolded. I wished for each of them to find their own happiness, both as individuals and as a family. Don’t miss your chance to meet and love this family and cheer them on as they discover their own happy ending.

On the shelf: ‘The Siege of Budapest: 100 Days In World War II’ by Krisztian Ungvary

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By Will Miner, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

In the waning months of the Second World War, the city of Budapest was placed under siege for 108 days. Krisztian Ungvary utilizes previously unavailable records and interviews to illustrate, from military and civilian perspectives, the misery and drama that ultimately cost 180,000 soldiers and civilians their lives.

 

Great detail has gone into a sparsely documented chapter of the war. Ungvary quickly describes the events leading up to the siege, followed by a detailed account of the battles throughout the city, the politics and intrigue of the German and Hungarian defenders, their Soviet and Romanian opponents, and the city’s populace caught in the middle. He remains remarkably objective throughout and documents the atrocities committed by the Nazis, Hungarian fascists, and Soviets in equal detail and remains focused on describing the drama of events.

 

Ungvary’s work is not without criticism, however. The detail becomes dense at times; particularly when describing the battles that rage through various neighborhoods of the city. This may have been helped by the use of maps but the maps provided are small and often unreadable. Also, the story is told primarily from the Hungarian perspective and it would have been better balanced with accounts from the Soviet side.

 

In the end, this is an excellent story that describes the bitter disrespect war has for the human condition. It captures the suffering and ultimate survival of the people of Budapest masterfully and illustrates how the strength of a people’s spirit can overcome the horrors and challenges of war.

On the shelf: ‘We Learn Nothing: Essays and Cartoons’ by Tim Kreider

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By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

“Fourteen years ago, I was stabbed in the throat. This is kind of a long story and less interesting than it sounds…”

 

Ack! Quite an opening…

 

So, the author’s humor can be a bit dark at times as he illustrates a wide selection of intriguing people, unusual situations, and their moral ambiguities. Cartoons compliment the essays, adding unusual layers. The tone is deeply funny, but in a compassionate way, as he tears into the foibles of human nature. Oddly, with each chapter I felt I liked people more — that in life it isn’t so much “how could this happen?”, but as he wonders, “why doesn’t this happen all the time?”

 

Like the NASA astronaut who drove cross-country in a diaper to confront and dispatch her rival. Initially, the author’s “unhealthy empathy” for her, seems farfetched. But as he leads us along, revealing more and more similarities to our own lives, we’re willing to agree that in some way, “We’ve all worn the diaper.”

 

Kreider says, “turning pain into laughter is my job, and it’s the best you can do sometimes, but it’s a sad impotent sort of solace…”. He does more though, in these thoughtful essays, by revealing the thinness of the line between us and them.

 

It could be the Mennonite upbringing, but for a man who tries for a secular outlook, he seems grounded in “family values”. Proustian themes of time, community, and family, are the backbone of his writing, and the question of how can we truly “know” anyone, even ourselves.

On the shelf: ‘This Old House Salvage-Style Projects’ by Amy Hughes

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By Diana Wenger, Grand Rapids Public Library, West Leonard Branch

 

Have you been hanging on to that old window because you know it can be used to create something special, or the few pieces of tile left over from your last home improvement project “just in case”? Then this is the book for you. This Old House Salvage-Style Projects by Amy Hughes, editor of the magazine This Old House provides some wonderful ideas and projects to keep you busy for seasons to come. Projects range from re-purposing a medicine cabinet to making a headboard out of an old door. Great photographs illustrate the step-by-step directions.

 

The 22 ideas for using old house parts have the potential for keeping you occupied for many hours. Ideas include using old metal door handles to create a coat rack, making a stained glass window into a door for a wall cabinet, and creating a picture frame out of a salvaged wood window. These projects show you how to create new functional pieces for your house. Each project includes a list of resources needed to complete the project.

 

If you’re ready to re-purpose some of the items you have been holding on to or just like to recycle what you find, this book offers ideas to get you started on salvage-style projects that you can use in and around your house. Included in the book are tips for installing your own vintage house parts, tips for finding pieces to re-purpose at salvage yards and reuse centers, and what you need to set your own workshop.

On the shelf: ‘The Round House’ by Louise Erdrich

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By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Winner of the 2012 National Book Award, Erdrich’s novel works as a mystery, a thriller, and a psychological study.

 

Out in North Dakota in the ’80s, a terrible crime has been committed against the wife of a tribal judge, but she is either unable or unwilling to name her attacker. The husband and her only child are determined to obtain justice, but are blocked at every turn by arcane jurisdictional issues involving non-Indians committing crimes on tribal lands.

 

Unlike much of Erdrich’s earlier, postmodern works, combining anachronistic events and multiple perspectives, this follows a linear path with a single narrator. Joe is a man now, and has followed his father’s path into law; and he is looking back, telling the story as it was seen and felt by him when he was just 13. Joe is one of Erdrich’s most engaging protagonists; striking that unusual chord — the sound of a character coming to life.

 

The author flawlessly weaves the threads of the reservation community into her plot, as many locals provide a crucial piece of the puzzle. I chose the library’s audio version, and the excellent reader, combined with Erdrich’s prose, make for an unforgettable read. I felt like I was listening to a Shakespearean play– beautiful language, lingering images, and hilarious bawdy humor interspersed throughout, (most coming from the geriatric relatives).

 

The loss of innocence is a universal theme, suffered by all, and Erdrich brings a new poignancy to these wounds. Her books always involve the clash of nations, the loss of connections, the devastation of a people’s culture, and the whirlwind that follows. Against these epic traumas, Erdrich brings out her people’s love of family, their strength, and the power to endure.

 

Those who like Amy Tan may love Erdrich, and The Round House offers a wealth of discussion points for book clubs.

On the shelf: ‘The Circle’ by Dave Eggers

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By Drew Damon, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Dave Eggers offers us a very interesting new take on the Dystopia genre with his most recent novel, The Circle. The plot follows Mae Holland, a recently hired employee of the world’s most powerful internet company, The Circle (think Google and fFacebook combined), and their desire to create a more honest and just society. Mae’s experience at the company grows very complicated when the company’s innovations become more intrusive, and mantras such as “Secrets are Lies – Sharing is Caring – Privacy is Theft,” begin to be taken more seriously.

 

What I enjoyed most about the book, was that I had a very difficult time figuring out if the choices being made by the Circle were beneficial or detrimental to humanity. The entire book revolves around the tension between social justice and human rights, and whether constant access to anyone’s life would be worth it if everyone also had access to yours.

 

Unfortunately, the book felt like it was written in a bit of a rush, and I can see why some fans of Eggers are disappointed. However, the ideas and concepts he engages with still made it a very compelling read, and I for one couldn’t put it down. He also references Grand Rapids on page 411!

 

I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the future impact of the internet.

On the shelf: ‘Planthropology: The Myths, Mysteries, and Miracles of My Garden Favorites’ by Ken Druse

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By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

A coincidence? I think not. In March, before spring begins in Michigan, I was out admiring some Hen & Chicks succulents out in the rock garden, that I’d only planted last year, delighted with their liveliness when everything else was still asleep.

 

Then I opened Planthropology later that day, and the book fell open to page 172, where the author discusses Sempervivum (Semper = “always”, vivum = “live”), thus in Latin, “live forever” plant. Yay! The perfect plant for me, who like the reptilian mother, loves to give birth (or plant) all kinds of trees and perennials, only to then walk away and completely forget about them.

 

Wherever you happen to open this gorgeous book there is something surprising and interesting to read. It’s full of natural history, design, philosophy, myth, and of course plain old growing tips. Reading about Skunk Cabbage alone involves Thoreau, physics, history. It’s one of those odd little facts that Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is able to metabolize starch to raise the interior temperature of the spathe up to 70 F., which is why you often see a little melted snow patch around them. Well, who knew? This is just a great book, whether or not you plan on taking shovel in hand this year.

 

And in case you are going to look up the name (as I did)– “Planthropology” is a name that the author made up to reflect a combination of “anthropology” and “plants”. Or, in the author’s own words:

 

Planthropology= plăn’thrə-pŏl’ə-jē, The study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of plants.

 

Ken explains further:

 

“I invented the word Planthropology to tell the stories about the plants we appreciate and even those that people take for granted. I felt that I needed to communicate to both gardeners and non-gardeners just how remarkable plants are. Every plant has a story to tell, and they are often sensational. Stories about plants that were once worth their weight in gold; others that are potential cancer cures; some that were thought to be extinct; and a few plants that gave rise to wars.”

On the shelf: ‘You: On a Diet … ‘ by Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

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By Michelle Hannink, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

This New York Times bestseller is not another fad diet book. Roizen and Oz use simple language, humor and comical diagrams to help the reader understand the chemical and hormonal biology of food and fat metabolism within the human body. The authors present the “You Plan,” a diet and healthy lifestyle with recipes, and the “You Activity Plan,” an exercise regimen.

 

The human body has amazing and intricate systems for the processes of hunger, food consumption and satiety. The authors use a competitive sports metaphor for the eating/hunger signals as the offense and the satiety/satisfaction signals as defense. They explain the interaction of the brain, stomach, hormones, muscles, heart, genetics and daily stresses together to influence the waist and body size. The waist size has become more significant to medical practitioners than weight as an indicator of health risks associated with poor diet and lack of exercise.

 

A particularly interesting chapter explains the relationship of feelings and food. The authors explain the chemical relationship of emotions and stress on the brain chemistry of appetite and eating responses.

 

Little boxes of illustrations and facts give sideline explanations. Throughout the book, the reader will find practical tips and tidbits to help establish healthy eating habits. For example, eating a cup of soup or handful of nuts shortly before a meal will help appease the appetite and prevent overeating.

 

The book continues with the “You Turn” chapter, the presentation and encouragement towards a new lifestyle. It is all about gaining knowledge, changing your behaviors regarding eating and health, and gaining a permanent healthy lifestyle. The reader will continue on to the “You Activity Plan,” the 20-minute physical exercise program which does not require a gym membership or expensive equipment. The book is complete with the “You Diet,” the waist management eating plan and recipes.

On the shelf: ‘Home Before Dark’ by Susan Wiggs

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

Lucinda and Jessie Ryder have always been close. The only two daughters of a golf tour pro, they find themselves living a life of constant upheaval. They go to new schools, conquer new stepfathers, and raise each other to become beautiful young women.

 

Lucinda, called Luz, finds a release from her frantic life in the form of photography and she shares her new love with her younger sister Jessie. But when Jessie’s life takes a turn after meeting a handsome law student, Luz steps up to be what their mother has not ever been: a parent.

 

Jessie’s fling ends with her pregnant and alone. She makes the decision to give up her child to her older sister and then flees Texas. Jessie follows her lover/professor around the world to photograph the most beautiful places on earth for sixteen years. Until a doctor’s diagnosis sidelines her hopes of a further career. She suddenly yearns to return home to see her sister Luz and the daughter they share. Lila has only ever known Jessie as her eccentric aunt who does anything she wants.

 

From the beginning, Jessie’s ways cause tension in her sister’s family. As Jessie meets and begins to fall in love with Luz’s neighbor, she sees that her two largest secrets could tear her family apart. One secret is not hers alone and traps her sister and brother-in-law in a veil of lies. One man only knows the other secret, her former professor, so that she can live her life on her terms rather than allow Luz to swallow her up.

 

Too many secrets. Too little time.

On the shelf: ‘High Fidelity’ by Nick Hornby

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By Karen Heeringa, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Rob Gordon is a music lover in London who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. He’s relieved, but miserable at the same time. As his usual way to cope with anything, he and his two socially inept co-workers spend their time making ‘Top 5’ lists of movies, music and books that they love while working at a record store no one visits. Rob, of course, makes a list of his all time biggest break ups, which leaves him in the same state as when he was first dumped. He learns to look at things differently in life, while learning he can’t change the past, and ultimately things seem to work out for him.

 

Throughout the book, Rob discusses heartache, hardship, lost love, and even songs he wants played at his funeral. He looks back at when he used to DJ at a club (where he found Laura, the woman who just broke up with him), and where his life has led him since.

On the shelf: ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ by Maurice Sendak

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By Sarah Bruursema, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main 

 

Some of the most amazing books can be enjoyed by all ages. The release of director Spike Jonze’s adaptation of the beloved children’s book Where the Wild Things Are offers an opportunity to revisit why both adults and kids alike are so captivated by this classic read. No matter if it’s your first time entering Max’s world, introducing the story to a child, or reading the book for the third, twelfth, twentieth time… mischief will certainly ensue!

 

From the very beginning we get to know the playful, misbehaving main character Max as he is sent to his room without dinner. While sulking in his bedroom wearing his infamous wolf suit we are lead into Max’s imaginary land full of Wild Things and adventure. The brave young boy rules over his new world, displaying his recently acquired magic skills, and creating all sorts of wild rumpus. The wonderful quality this book contains is that the story can morph into something new for each reader.

 

The detailed illustrations make this a book that can be enjoyed by all. The carefully crafted, minimalist storyline is transformed by the images of giant, yellow eyed creatures that manage to create a scary excitement without crossing the line into real fear. You may even find that each page turned just makes them more endearing.

 

In the end, no matter how you experience the story the resounding call for home gets whispered into each reader’s ear. Although we may all want to crawl into an imaginary land, there’s nothing quite like coming back to a place we love.

On the shelf: ‘The Housekeeper and the Professor’ by Yoko Ogawa

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By Jean Sanders, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

I find myself continually drawn to fiction by Asian writers such as Julie Otsuka and Anchee Min. Their books give me the opportunity to experience life through the eyes of someone from another culture and at the same time savor the details I learn about life in Japan or China. It is for these reasons that I recommend The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa.

 

The book, which was first published in Japan in 2003, won a prestigious award in 2004, and was adapted to film in 2006, centers around the housekeeper, the math professor she cares for and her son “Root” who is so nicknamed by the professor because the shape of his head and hair remind the professor of the square-root sign. She is a single mother who has never been married, has always been a housekeeper and finds herself assigned to a new client who has already fired nine housekeepers. She soon learns that the professor has an unusual disability that was the result of a long ago car accident—his short-term memory only last 80 minutes.

 

Through the book the reader sees a friendship and relationship grow among the woman who must re-introduce herself each day (sometimes several times a day), a man who must pin notes to his suit to remind himself of the things he would otherwise forget, and the boy who shares a common love of baseball with the professor.

 

Nothing very dramatic happens in this story—there is little conflict. Instead we learn and come to care about these characters by observing their lives. While the housekeeper prepares meals the professor works on math puzzles in his study or shares his wonder and enthusiasm for numbers with the housekeeper. After school Root comes to the cottage and does his homework and talks about baseball with the professor. Together they work to find unique ways to adapt to the professor’s disability.

 

Everything about this novel is so deceptively simple but the end result is a story that is deeply touching. This is one of those books that quietly seeps into your being and leaves you with a feeling of peace and serenity.

On the shelf: ‘ReSew: Turn Thrift-Store Finds into Fabulous Designs’ by Jenny Wilding Cardon

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By Amisha Harijan, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

The $12 vintage lace tablecloth was a must-have. But you questioned the bargain once you got it home and noticed discoloration along the edges. What now? Don’t panic. Jenny Wilding Cardon offers smart and fun ways to remake great finds (and the not so great) into head-turning pieces in her book ReSew: Turn Thrift-Store Finds into Fabulous Designs.

 

The pages are filled with detailed instructions accompanied by color pencil drawings, there are also color photos of before and after transformations give glimpses of Cardon’s inspirations. For example she re-purposes men’s and women’s shirts to create the Diner Dress, “reminiscent of those worn by diner waitresses.” There are plenty “re-tips” to get you started and keep you going.

 

This book is perfect for novice and experienced sewers, and those searching for fun projects to work on with children and teens. ReSew will have you rethinking what to do with an old fitted sheet, sweatshirts that your teenagers have outgrown, or a creative solution to a certain vintage lace tablecloth.

On the shelf: ‘High Energy Living’ by Robert K. Cooper, Ph.D.

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library

 

Upon opening this book, I expected to find the typical chapters challenging the reader to identify personal shortcomings when it comes to diet, how to foster changes in behavior, and a slew of recipes containing specialty ingredients that are impossible to find in most grocery stores. There are a few recipes and the occasional multiple-choice test, but somehow it seemed to be less abrasive than other books I’ve read that promote this type of self-improvement.

 

What I actually found was a fairly practical approach to achieving balance in daily life. According to this book, like others of its kind, if you change your lifestyle good things will happen. While this is pretty much common sense, Dr. Cooper offers suggestions and explanations for changes that take the reader into consideration with his overall theme appearing to be based upon reaching a balanced state in daily life. He makes several recommendations in each chapter which are centered on research and practicality with an emphasis on improving the reader’s overall outlook and attitude toward life.

 

Instead of feeling like a failure before I began, High Energy Living offered me enough incentive to actually read beyond the first chapter and consider taking some of the recommendations to heart. I also had most of the ingredients for the recipes already in my cupboard… including those found in the recipe for Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Biscotti.

On the shelf: ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ by Philippa Gregory

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

Mary Boleyn, brought to court at fourteen, soon catches the eye of the lecherous Henry VIII. She begins a dashing affair with England’s king and begins to love her role as the unofficial queen. After the birth of two children, Mary begins to see her family for what they really are.

 

Her own uncle begins pushing Mary’s own sister Anne at the king. Soon, Mary is forced to step aside as her best friend and worst rival begins an affair with Henry. The world knows the story of Anne Boleyn—a young girl who twists a marriage out of King Henry VIII. But many do not know how she got there.

 

Mary is forced to find a life for herself and her illegitimate children while her uncle demands her support in bettering Anne’s position at court. She is present for all of Anne’s triumphs: Henry’s divorce from Katherine of Aragon, her marriage to the king, and the birth of Elizabeth. She is also present for the disasters: Anne’s miscarriage of a prince, her brother George’s arrest for treason and Anne’s execution.

 

Sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning between the Boleyn girls. Author Philippa Gregory takes the story and fleshes it out. She brings a morality tale to a historical event. This book is a real treat for any history buff.

On the shelf: ‘Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln’ by Doris Kearns Goodwin

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By Marcie Beck, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main 

 

This is a big, long book! But the author is so skillful and the subject so interesting that I was sad when page 754 brought Team of Rivals to an end. Author Goodwin has brought together the lives and careers of Lincoln and his three major Republican rivals William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates in a highly original work, one that added a whole new dimension to my understanding and appreciation of our 16th President.

 

Nominated only because he was the most acceptable second choice of various party factions, Lincoln went on to win the presidential election and then took a most unusual step. He invited his former adversaries to be his advisors and brought the three Republican contenders plus three high profile Democrats into his Cabinet. Together this “Team of Rivals” would face the greatest crisis in America’s history. Every member of his administration was more well-known and more experienced in public life than the prairie lawyer from Illinois, yet Lincoln was somehow able to lead this diverse group of ambitious men to save the Union and restore the peace. How did he do it? That’s where his “political genius” came in to play.

 

At first, many of his rivals held Lincoln in low esteem and their comments behind his back could be scathing. When Lincoln was asked why he had surrounded himself with such a contentious group, he responded that these were the strongest men and the country needed them. The president refused to answer personal attacks and rose above personal slights and maintained a steadfastness of purpose. His skill in combining a dedication to the greater good with a suburb sense of timing enabled Lincoln to harness the talents of these strong men.

 

What lessons can be learned from Lincoln’s success? Be magnanimous in both victory and defeat. Take almost nothing personally. Keep your sense of humor. Be patient and kind. Put away resentment and forego revenge. Keep checking your moral compass. Speak from your heart and tell the truth.

 

This is a big, long book but well worth the effort. Goodwin’s research was exhaustive, her writing style engaging, her analysis insightful. Lincoln’s example can inspire us to face the crises of our generation by working together.

On the shelf: ‘The Other Side of the Bridge’ by Mary Lawson

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By Michelle Hannink, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main 

 

If you enjoy a family saga and watch the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, then you might enjoy reading Canadian author Mary Lawson’s second work, The Other Side of the Bridge. Lawson’s ability to draw the reader in is wonderful, allowing them a fine escape into her world.

 

This is the story of two brothers growing up on a farm during the Depression and onset of war in northern Canada. Arthur and Jake Dunn couldn’t be more different. Arthur is the hardworking, quiet, dull but dependable son who naturally belongs on the farm. Jake is the opposite—very intelligent, better at schoolwork than farm work, seemingly clumsy in all physical labor and unable to please his father. Their relationship reaches a climax one day when crossing the bridge over the river while accompanying a nervous cow—an event which changes their lives forever and lends title to this book. War breaks out and neither son is able to enlist. A new minister and his beautiful daughter Laura come to town and take up residence next to the farmhouse. Arthur is instantly smitten and Jake sets out for revenge.

 

Lawson tells the story within two time frames—the first during the 1930s and into World War II and the second during the 1950s when teen Ian Christoperson enters their life. Ian is the town doctor’s son. He too has a crush on the now-married Laura and goes to work for her husband Arthur on their farm so that he can be near her. When Jake returns unexpectedly to the farm after a fifteen-year absence, the emotions and apprehensions culminate in a tragic and surprising ending.

On the shelf: ‘Home Before Dark’ by Susan Wiggs

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By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

Lucinda and Jessie Ryder have always been close. The only two daughters of a golf tour pro, they find themselves living a life of constant upheaval. They go to new schools, conquer new stepfathers, and raise each other to become beautiful young women. Lucinda, called Luz, finds a release from her frantic life in the form of photography and she shares her new love with her younger sister Jessie. But when Jessie’s life takes a turn after meeting a handsome law student, Luz steps up to be what their mother has not ever been: a parent.

 

Jessie’s fling ends with her pregnant and alone. She makes the decision to give up her child to her older sister and then flees Texas. Jessie follows her lover/professor around the world to photograph the most beautiful places on earth for sixteen years. Until a doctor’s diagnosis sidelines her hopes of a further career.

 

She suddenly yearns to return home to see her sister Luz and the daughter they share. Lila has only ever known Jessie as her eccentric aunt who does anything she wants. From the beginning, Jessie’s ways cause tension in her sister’s family.

 

As Jessie meets and begins to fall in love with Luz’s neighbor, she sees that her two largest secrets could tear her family apart. One secret is not hers alone and traps her sister and brother-in-law in a veil of lies. One man only knows the other secret, her former professor, so that she can live her life on her terms rather than allow Luz to swallow her up.

 

Too many secrets. Too little time.

On the shelf: ‘The Condition’ by Jennifer Haigh

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By Amanda Bridle, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

An initial glance at the cover of Jennifer Haigh’s novel, The Condition might lead you to believe the book tells the story of Gwen McKotch, a woman diagnosed with Turner’s syndrome. However, the “condition” of the title is so much more than Gwen’s genetic condition. The book instead explores the conditions each member of the McKotch family finds themselves in as they struggle with the complexities of family relationships.

 

Haigh dives deep into the minds of each character, first setting the scene in 1976 when Gwen is diagnosed and then fast-forwarding us ahead twenty years to the state of each of the three siblings, now adults, and their parents, now divorced. The characters each reflect on the current state of their lives. Through dramatic circumstances they are forced to confront the unsettling realization that their lives, even their very own selves, are not what they wanted or expected. The real story begins as each decides what, if anything, to do about his or her own “condition.”

 

If you enjoy family dramas and books full of introspection and internal debate, you will appreciate getting to know the McKotch family. My heart ached for each of them as the story unfolded. I wished for each of them to find their own happiness, both as individuals and as a family. Don’t miss your chance to meet and love this family and cheer them on as they discover their own happy ending.

On the shelf: ‘Unbroken: A World War II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption’ by Laura Hillenbrand

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By Elaine Bosch, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

Laura Hillenbrand knows how to turn a tale. Her first book Seabiscuit: An American Legend told the true story of the famous racehorse  with all the depth and drive of great fiction. Her second book, Unbroken: A World War II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, an equally compelling historical read, proves Seabiscuit was more than beginner’s luck.

 

In 1931, Louis Zamperini was an energetic, incorrigible high school student with a penchant for stealing and scheming. Saved from self-destruction by the efforts  of his older brother Pete, Louis learned to pack  his considerable emotional baggage into running, a talent he had long possessed, but which he had heretofore used only to elude the authorities.

 

Louis became a record-breaking local hero known as the “Torrance Tornado”. At the age of nineteen, he represented the United States in the 1936 Olympic games. He returned from Berlin, his passion intact, intent on being the first man to run a mile in four minutes or less.

 

World War II intervened. The 1940 Olympics, scheduled for Tokyo, were canceled, and Louis found himself a bombardier in the Air Force. In 1943, his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean. Louis suddenly found himself battling for something far more serious than a world record — his life.

 

For two years, Zamperini faced deprivation and degradation that few can imagine — first as a survivor adrift in the ocean, and then as a prisoner of war at  the worst prison camps in Japan. Singled out due to his officer and celebrity status by “The Bird,” a psychotic, sadistic camp commander, Louis became the target of an intense campaign waged to utterly humiliate, demoralize, and destroy him. That he survived at all is amazing. That he did so with his spirit and joy intact is a miracle.

 

Hillenbrand will captivate you with  this story, shocking and inspiring in turn. It is life and times writ large.

On the shelf: ‘Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster)’ by Dave Barry

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By Grand Rapids Public Library

 

Need a lift? Try a bit of Dave Barry’s humor in his newest book.

 

Born in 1947, in the vanguard of the “Boomer” generation, Barry’s journalistic work has long provided a humorous slant to that demographic lump in the American loaf. As he’s gotten older, it’s worthwhile reading to see what Barry makes of how the overly self-absorbed generation has come to terms with its time on the field.

 

The chapter that resonated with me the most was the one where he is looking back on three generations, with a fourth one just coming onstage, and decides that his parents had more fun than he did.

 

“That’s not how it was supposed to be. My parents belonged to the Greatest Generation; they grew up in hard times. My mom was born in Colorado in an actual sod hut, which is the kind of structure you see in old black-and-white photographs featuring poor, gaunt, prairie-dwelling people standing in front of what is either a small house or a large cow pie…”

 

Dave speculates that the Greatest Generation may have triumphed by not realizing all the mistakes they were making — mistakes that the Boomers rectified by turning “parenting” into a verb, among other things. The laughter has a poignant bite to it, as Barry admits that “The harsh truth is that happiness is an elusive thing.”

 

But that does not slow the author down, as he travels to Brazil with his daughter for the World Cup, and goes to Russia with Ridley Pearson for a literature tour (the State Department tapped them to go). He meets David Beckham, tries Google Glass, and reveals a stunning secret confided to him by Johnny Carson about do-it-yourself home improvements. Great stuff!

 

Going back to a Dave Barry book was like meeting an old friend for lunch — you realize how much you’ve missed them and wondered where the time went.

On the shelf: ‘China A to Z’ by May-lee Chai and Winberg Chai

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By Cher Darling, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Since the cost of traveling overseas is a little beyond my reach, I chose to do my traveling by armchair instead and read China A to Z: Everything You Need to Know to Understand Chinese Customs and Culture.

 

The “A to Z” is literal with the first selection about animals: such as dragons who are said to rule the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and the heavens. The last selection is about Ziyi Zhang, who “is without a doubt China’s most famous actress in America ever since her star-making performance as the (butt)-kicking princess in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).”

 

One engaging theme of the book is information about appropriate behavior that would keep a visitor to the country from making social and cultural mistakes. An important part of this information is how to behave in a way that will ensure your own comfort with food, tours, and lodgings, but will not cause your hosts to “lose face”.

 

I must mention the martial arts topic, since it is so cool. The Shaolin Temple in China is the most famous of China’s martial arts schools, and a major tourist attraction. The martial arts are known as wu shu in China, and “Far from being seen as a sport or a means of fighting, wu shu is considered an art form, a philosophy, and a means to cultivate unity of the body, the soul, and the universe.”

 

Though each selection is only a page or two long, dozens of sources for in depth information are listed in the back of the book. So if you are like me and can only afford to travel in the company of a good book, China A to Z tells much about China and its history, the lifestyle of the people, and how to act while enjoying the culture of another country. Even if you have no plans to visit the wonderfully complex land of the dragon, the book gives many insights into the customs and culture of another part of this Global Village we call Earth.