Niceville

Niceville
by Carsten Stroud

Niceville, a small southern town where things aren't so nice. There's a giant cliff that reaches over the town, and a sink hole that defies science -- so black and too deep to measure. And the black crows that are always gathered. There's a missing boy, and then the boy is back. Or is he? And a daring bank robbery that goes terribly wrong. There's Nick, the cop; his wife Kate, the attorney; Dillon Walker, her dad and history prof at VMI who was researching 80 years of stranger abductions in Niceville; Glynis Ruelle and her sister Clara Mercer; Abel Teague, a rake; and a mysterious mirror -- that feels warm as blood; and a long-standing feud between the four founding families of Niceville that reaches from the past. Everything intersects. A well-written, quick read even at 383 pages. The plot moves along quickly and is full of interesting characters. Each chapter has a one-line title that gives a hint as to its contents -- sometimes tongue-in-cheek or understated and makes you chuckle ("Bock Gets More Consequences Than He Can Handle"). This is a supernatural story, a thriller, and a crime story rolled into one. Caution: some of the characters are not so nice so there will be language to match. All the threads were not as neatly tied up as this reader would have preferred but overall an excellent read. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Niceville web site from Carsten Stroud ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Review - Mockingjay

Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins [YA Collins]

I think that Mockingjay was very informing; it gave you more of a background to what happened to District 13, although, I got very bored with it. I think it was kind of a let down compared to the first two books in the Hunger Games trilogy. -- review submitted by Jadyn B. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Redemption

Redemption
by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley

When Kari Baxter Jacobs finds that her husband is involved in an adulterous relationship and wants a divorce, she decides to love him and remain faithful to their marriage no matter what. This book shows how seemingly hopeless relationships can be redeemed, and illustrates that love is a decision. "Redemption" is the first book in the five-book Redemption series that Gary and Karen will write about the Baxter family. Each book explores key relationship themes as well as the larger theme of redemption, both in characters' spiritual lives and in their relationships. Each book includes study questions for individual and small-group use. The Redemption series won "Christian Retailing"'s 2005 Retailer's Choice Award for Best Series. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try other books by Karen Kingsbury, Nancy Moser, Tracie Peterson, Francine Rivers, Kristen Heitzmann, and Beverly Lewis.] -- recommended by Kathy H. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in book-on-cd and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ official Karen Kingsbury web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Giant George: Life With the World's Biggest Dog

Giant George: Life With the World's Biggest Dog
by Dave Nasser [636.73 Nas]

Dave and his wife adopted a Great Dane runt. George ended up being named the Guinness biggest dog in the world AND the biggest dog ever. This is their story of raising and living with such a big and loving dog. You learn not only George's story, but the Nasser family story and how George was a comfort in times of stress. If you love biographies and/or dogs, you must read this book! -- recommended by Jodene G. - Walt Branch Library
 
[ official Giant George web site ]
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Review - Ranma 1/2

Ranma 1/2
by Rumiko Takahashi [YA PB Takahashi]

Ranma 1/2 is a manga that I'd recommend to most teenagers. It has a good sense of transition between moods, ranging from slapstick to mildly dramatic. The extensive use of tropes (some of which this series created) adds more to the story and character development. It's fairly long, having 36 volumes, but I think it is a rather enjoyable series as a whole, and recommend it to people who might have liked her other works, including Inu Yasha: A Feudal Fairytale. -- review submitted by Jeevan R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

The libraries do not own all 36 volumes in this series -- you may wish to order missing volumes through our InterLibrary Loan service.

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Death on Tour

Death on Tour
by Janice Hamrick

Jocelyn Shore has gone through a messy divorce. As a treat she decides to cross off one of the items on her bucket list. She invites her cousin Kyla to go on an Egyptian tour with her. Shortly after they arrive in the land of pyramids, the obnoxious Millie Owens apparently falls to her death. A close examination of Millie's body reviews that she was stabbed in the neck. Thus begins a series of unnerving events with Jocelyn as the prime target. Mysteries that take place on tours require a delicate balance of travel log and plot and Hamrick did a good job. As a reader, I felt what it's like to be accosted by aggressive street venders trying to drag you to their stalls and Hamrick smoothly integrated this annoying experience into the plot and makes it seem sinister. It's easy to see why this book won the Mystery Writers of America/Minotaur Books First Crime Novel award. I look forward to reading the second book in this series, Death Makes the Cut. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Maddy Hunter and Wendy Dingwall.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department
 
[ official Janice Hamrick web site ]
 
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Two New Customer Reviews of The Replacement

The Replacement
by Brenna Yovanoff [YA Yovanoff]

Normal is not a familiar word for Mackie to live by. He has never been that way and has always had to hide who he really is. Only his family and best friend know what he truly is. I enjoyed this book and came across it as one of the books for the Gere Branch TeensRead Book Group. I felt that the story was well crafted. I would recommend this title because it looks into some common teen issues about trying to fit in and have fun with others. The book does seem slow at time, but it is offset through action and the climax of the story. One of the biggest appeals of this book is how it makes you think about the world around you, and how others generally react to issues that occur. This book is a good read for almost anyone and especially young adults looking for something to read. -- review submitted by Alex A. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library



In a town of strange occurances and dark strangers, where people lie to themselves to retain a balance of normalcy, there is Mackie. He longs to belong but when you suffer just from being near iron and and you can't go near the consecrated church and cemetery ground it can make things difficult. He knows he's different and must lie to everyone, including himself, just to seem human. Dark, mysterious, strange, all words to describe this interesting and fun book. The characters are relatable and flawed, some dark and kinky. The town of Gentry is a character in and of itself. For me, the main character Mackie was the most relatable to me, and I could understand his longing just to have a normal, easy-going conversation. But if I had to pick my favorite, I would have to choose Morrigan, who is so darkly cute and kind and odd, you can't help but like her. -- review submitted by Wyatt P. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - Close to Famous

Close to Famous
by Joan Bauer [YA Bauer]

This book is a great story, about the sad life of a poor girl living in Memphis, who has a very hard time reading and isn't doing very good in school, and whose dad died in the Army. Her mom is being abused by a Elvis impersonator named Huck. He just broke a window into their home, so then they start driving away from the evil Elvis, and drive all the way to Culpepper, West Virginia. -- review submitted by Natalie S. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
[DVD Monty]

I can't believe one of my co-workers hasn't already recommended this! This movie is a brilliant addition to the Monty Python troupe's long list of irreverent and bawdy humor output. Holy Grail is both a parody of film-making, and a hilarious poke at the whole King Arthur mythos, which gives each of the Pythons plenty of moments to shine. Graham Chapman is perfect as the stuffy, heroic Arthur, who assembles an eclectic group of knights from across the realm, in a quest to locate the mythical Holy Grail of Christian legend. I can't count the number of times I've seen this movie -- and every time makes me laugh even harder. The unforgettable comedic moments from this film just keep coming: The Black Knight, the Knights Who Say Ni, the Holy Hand Grenade, the Killer Rabbit, What's Your Favorite Color, I'm Being Persecuted, She's a Witch, Brave Sir Robin, I'm Not Dead, and so on. This film, and its marvelous "The Knights of the Round Table" musical number, served as the inspiration for the Tony-Award-winning musical Spamalot. A true masterpiece of subversive comedy film-making! [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Spamalot, or, frankly, any other Monty Python production.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available as The Album of the Soundtrack of the Movie of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
 
[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Pythonline web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Review - Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse
by Lucas Klauss [YA Klauss]

The writing is great, so is the character development. At times the plot is sloppy but it's mostly pretty tight and well thought out. My only complaint is the side story with Phillip's mom. I wished there was more about her so I could feel a connection with her death; the parts about her fell flat. -- review submitted by Wyatt P. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - The Inheritors

The Inheritors
by William Golding [Golding]

The basis for this story was clever and well thought out. I did not however really care for the wrtiting. At times it was unclear what was happening. -- review submitted by Wyatt P. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

The Big Empty

The Big Empty: Contemporary Nebraska Non-Fiction Writers
edited by Ladette Randolph [810.098 Ran]

A collection of 27 essays and book excerpts by contemporary Nebraska nonfiction writers. The authors examine the many facets of life in Nebraska, showing their affection toward the state. Something for everyone; a great sampler. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the companion volume, A Different Plain: Contemporary Nebraska Fiction Writers.] -- recommended by Meredith M. - curator of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors
 
[ official Big Empty page on the official Ladette Randolph web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Review - The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor

The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor
by Robert Kirkman [Kirkman]

The story by itself was alright but when added to the Walking Dead universe it feels very lacking. The awkward third person present tense narrative adds to the confused atmosphere of the novel -- at times I like it and think it adds dimension; at many other places though it's just plain odd. I have read all the comics and they are thematic masterpieces, I had hoped a written format would add to the awsomeness, against my hopes however it fell flat. The twist ending was in a few words was disapointing, odd, against all previous character developments, and just plain stupid. If you discounted the Walking Dead comics tie in it would work, I do not however feel it worked here. For die hard Walking Dead comics fans or someone who is just looking for a good undead action story. -- review submitted by Wyatt P. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - Twilight

Twilight
by Stephanie Meyer [YA Meyer]

I really loved this book. The characters all had very specific traits, were easy to identify, and were very well crafted. The amount of suspense in this book was very good. The thrilling ending to the book was just what it needed. -- review submitted by Taylor J. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories

Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories
by Agatha Christie

This is a wonderful collection of short mystery stories. The stories are gathered into four groups. The first set, The Tuesday Club Murders, share the same group of characters who tell stories to one another to see if anyone can guess the correct ending to their mystery. Each character takes a turn telling a story. This was my favorite set because even though each story stands on it?s own, you feel as if you?re sitting in on their evening of mysteries. The later stories are just as enjoyable, and are told as the mystery unravels rather than in hindsight. This is the first Agatha Christie I have read, but will certainly be reading more. If you haven't tried these classic mysteries, I suggest you do. -- recommended by Kristen A. - Gere Branch Library
 
[ official Agatha Christie web site ]
 
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Review - Odd is On Our Side

Odd is On Our Side
by Dean Koontz and Fred Van Lente [YA PB VanLente]

An epic cartoon-type book, with an interesting story line about a upper teen boy who can see the dead. He uses this ability to help others. But he is having trouble with this case, and it is very serious. It could mean life or death for a lot of people. And the problem is, he's not getting anywhere... -- this review submitted by Jonas S. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - Watership Down

Watership Down
by Richard Adams [Adams or j Adams]

Some novels will feel like an endurance test just four pages in. Without fail, whenever I read Watership Down, those four hundred pages feel to me like a summer holiday. "The rabbits arrived at their new home " but I'm not even halfway through the book," my husband observed. "What in the world can happen next?" Richard Adams never ceases to amaze me with how he handles pacing. On the surface, his rabbit tale is a fairly simple one: rabbits must escape their doomed warren and find a new home. In less capable hands, Watership Down would have been half as long and packed with chases, storms, brawls, and catastrophes. But Adams never hurries his tale. Adams also never resorts to implausible plot twists. Instead he is perfectly content to tell his simple tale and trust his readers to listen -- and so we do. I am also astounded at how imperfect and yet captivating are Adams' rabbits. Take Fiver, a runt who has been blessed with the gift of prophecy. Then there is Fiver's older brother, Hazel, whose greatest strength is his ability to identify and trust the strengths of others. Yet even he also makes errors in judgment. Darker characters also exist. For example, Strawberry who lives in a different warren almost becomes the downfall of one of Hazel's companions. Despite his betrayal, he eventually joins Hazel's warren and becomes a great asset. These rabbits are fallible, allowing Adams to present many stirring moments of heartache and redemption. Adams considered the Berkshire countryside to also be a character in Watership Down. That's not to say Adams wastes time waxing poetic. In each paragraph, he details the scenery but also the place of the rabbits within it: "The May sunset was red in clouds and there was still half an hour to twilight. The dry slope was dotted with rabbits -- some nibbling at their grass". Those paragraphs might be long, but they effectively establish a tone of peace, which within a few pages is quietly interrupted. Readers are all the richer for how saturated in reality Watership Down really is. "No author today would think of writing a four-hundred-page book about rabbits," my husband observed. Adams himself did not begin with such an audacious goal; Watership Down started out as story told by Adams to his daughters on car rides. After a small-time publisher accepted it for a two thousand copy run, it has rightfully sold millions. -- this review submitted by Allison H.-F. - a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

The Strawberry Shortcake Murder

Strawberry Shortcake Murder
by Joanne Fluke

When Hannah gets to judge a bake-off for her hometown, everyone is taken by surprise when a fellow judge ends up face-down dead in Hannah's dessert. Hannah does her sleuthing and finds plenty of suspects. There are yummy recipes included for you to try. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs; A midsummer night's scream : a Jane Jeffry mystery by Jill Churchhill; Agatha Raisin and the quiche of death by M.C. Beaton.] -- recommended by Kathy H. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in paperback and book-on-cd formats.]

[ official Joanne Fluke web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Reviews - Three of the Sookie Stackhouse novels

Dead Until Dark
by Charlaine Harris [Harris]

This series is not your typical vampire books. Sookie is the human/heroine who falls in love with vampires, not the gory vampires, but the ones who are sexy with a sense of humor.

Dead as a Doornail
by Charlaine Harris [Harris]

Sookie, the human/heroine, now meets and falls in love with the Werewolf, to the frustration of her previous vampire lover. I like this series because it has 'love' scenes, but not the ones that you feel uncomfortable reading while sunning by the pool with the kids.

Dead Reckoning
by Charlaine Harris [Harris]

The latest of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I like this one because although she was challenged by another woman (and vampire queen) she still stands up to her although she is just a 'human'. Sookie is the typs of heroine you want to be, gutsy and strong. -- all three reviews submitted by Christy T. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Johnny Carson: King of Late Night

Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
[DVD Biography Carson]

Heeeeere's Johnny! Warts and all. This episode of PBS' American Masters arts biography series takes a look at King of Late Night, from his beginnings as a teenaged magician in Norfolk, NE to the height of his popularity as the host of The Tonight Show for over 30 years. Filled with rare home video footage from his childhood and punctuated by interviews with dozens of comedians and Tonight Show staff, this is an engaging look at Carson's enduring popularity and influence. It's particularly interesting to see how much credit some of today's entertainment superstars give to Carson for helping to launch their careers. This DVD includes two "special features" -- a behind-the-scenes of Kevin Spacey doing the voice-over narration and reminiscing about Johnny, and additional interview outtakes. Watch for Drew Carey nearing breaking down as he remembers his first appearance on The Tonight Show! [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Here's Johnny by Ed McMahon; Forty Years at Night: The Story of the Tonight Show by James VanHise; various DVD collections featuring Johnny's favorite Tonight Show moments.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [subscribe to Scott's monthly booklist newsletter -- It's All Geek to Me! -- or any of 37 other booklist-style newsletter on the libraries Books, Movies & More subscription page]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official American Masters - Johnny Carson web page ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Corduroy Mansions

Corduroy Mansions
by Alexander McCall-Smith

This novel is centered on the residents of a block of flats in London called Corduroy Mansions. The book does not have a central story line that ties everyone's on-goings together, rather it switches between the characters and their acquaintances in a way where there are multiple stories going on at once. I found myself getting into a few of the stories more than the others and kept skipping over a few sections about the other characters to read about what happened next in my favorites. I did of course go back and read what I had skipped, and I'm looking forward to reading the second and third books in the series. Personally I enjoy this style of writing, but I know that it might irritate other kinds of readers who prefer a continuous plot. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Dog Who Came in From the Cold (Corduroy Mansions 2), A Conspiracy of Friends (Corduroy Mansions 3), or the 44 Scotland Street Series by Alexander McCall Smith.] -- recommended by Kristen A. - Gere Branch Library

[Also available in book-on-cd and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ official Alexander McCall-Smith web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

New Customer Review - The Search for Wondla

The Search for Wondla
by Tony DiTerlizzi [j DiTerlizzi]

It is a book that will be hard to turn away from. It is about a girl who has lived in an underground bunker called a sanctuary for all of her 12 years of her life with her robot caretaker Muthr. Then a ruthless alien bounty hunter destroys the sanctuary. The girl Eva Nine is then forced to escape and finds herself on a strange planet. I won't tell you any more so I don't spoil it. -- review submitted by Matthew D. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Sherlock Holmes & Kolchak the Night Stalker: Cry of Thunder

Sherlock Holmes & Kolchak the Night Stalker: Cry of Thunder
by Joe Gentile (author), Andy Bennett and Carlos Magno (art) [741.5 Kol]

This graphic novel compiles the entire storyline of a 3-issue comic book miniseries from 2009. Having been a huge fan of both Sherlock Holmes and Carl Kolchak for decades, I was initially leary of any attempt to cross them together. Gentile, however, manages to tell a story with elements set in both the 1890s and the 2000s -- Kolchak having been updated from his original 1970s era -- with surprising effectiveness. While I found the artwork incredibly uneven -- at times excellent and at times awful, Gentile's characterization was top-notch. Holmes is brilliant, sharp-tongued, crafty, manipulative, physical and surprisingly compassionate in his pursuit of justice in the name of an unjustly imprisoned immigrant. Meanwhile in modern times, reporter Kolchak is approached by a woman to investigate a mystery in her family's history. Gentile's narrative voice for Kolchak perfectly captures Darren McGavin's noirish voiceovers and downtrodden schmuck-who-won't-give-up personality. The Kolchak part of the storyline involves unusual supernatural elements, which provide the method by which the characters sort-of cross over with each other...the weakest plot element. However, the strengths of each of the separate storylines make this a highly recommendable entry for fans of both sleuths. I particularly appreciate that there are writers trying to keep the Kolchak character alive -- he's always been a "cult" figure, and it's a pleasure to see some well-told stories featuring him, over 35 years since he was first introduced in The Night Stalker. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try other Kolchak stories from this publisher -- Moonstone. Also, the excellent original Kolchak novel "The Kolchak Papers: Grave Secrets" by Mark Dawidziak, available through Interlibrary Loan.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [subscribe to Scott's monthly newsletter - "It's All Geek to Me!" - and others on the Books, Movies & More subscription page]
 
[ official Kolchak page on the Moonstone publishing web site ]
 
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New Customer Review - Unbelievable

Unbelievable
by Sara Shepard [YA (Series) Shepard]

This series of books are some of the best books I've ever read. They really convey the true desperation of Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily in their search for A. The author does a really good job in laying on the suspense and drama. -- review submitted by Taylor J. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - I.Q.: Independence Hall

I.Q. - Independence Hall
by Roland Smith

I really enjoyed this book. It is about a boy and a girl that become brother and sister who track down the girl's mother who others think is not alive. -- review submitted by Emily K. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Cape Refuge

Cape Refuge
by Terri Blackstock

This is the first in the Cape Refuge series of Christian Suspense. Thelma and Wayne Owens, owners of a bed and breakfast for refuges, are murdered. The main suspect is their son-in-law, other suspects include questionable tenants of Hanover House. Their daughters must put aside their differences and work together to solve the mystery of their parents' killer as well as stop an innocent man from going to prison. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Southern Storm, or Shadow in Serenity, both by Terri Blackstock; A dangerous silence, by Catherine Palmer; Mr and Miss Anonymous, by Fern Michaels or anything by Grace Livingston Hill or Michael Phillips.] -- recommended by Kathy H. - Walt Branch Library
 
[ official Terri Blackstock web site ]
 
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

A Different Plain: Contemporary Nebraska Fiction Writers

A Different Plain: Contemporary Nebraska Fiction Writers
edited by Ladette Randolph [813.08 Ran]

Nebraska has long been known for its strong literary heritage; today's writers continue that excellence as shown in the 25 short stories and books excerpts chosen for this anthology. There is something for everyone. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the companion volume, The Big Empty: Contemporary Nebraska Non-Fiction Writers.] -- recommended by Meredith M. - curator of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors
 
[ official A Different Plain page on the official Ladette Randolph web site ]
 
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

New Customer Review - Eragon

Eragon
by Christopher Paolin [j Paolini]

This book starts out with the main character in a forest called the Spine where he finds a blue stone that appears out of nowhere and he is soon to find out it is a DRAGON. The long gone Dragon Riders have been gone for so long that Eragon is the only Dragon Rider who is free of the control of Galbatorix the mad king. -- review submitted by Tyler P. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

My Life as a Furry Red Monster

My Life as a Furry Red Monster
by Kevin Clash [791.53 Cla]

You may know that the beloved toddler Muppet "Elmo" is voiced and operated by Kevin Clash, a now-middle-aged "six foot African American male" but did you know that Clash began making puppets and performing before he was even in his teens? His life is truly a dream come true -- from watching Sesame Street as a shy but creative youngster, to being one of the mainstays of the long-running children's series. This 2006 autobiography highlights Clash's experiences from young neighborhood showman to voice of one of the best-selling Christmas toys ever, all the while emphasizing the importance of love, acceptance, and following your dreams. -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library


[ official My Life as a Furry Red Monster entry on the Muppet Wiki site ] | [ official Kevin Clash entry Muppet Wiki site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance
by Gilbert and Sullivan [DVD 782.14 Pir]

Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt lead a very charming production of The Pirates of Penzance. The singing is phenomenal-- I especially enjoyed Rondstadt's first entrance as "Mabel" - a naive young daughter of a Major General who runs into trouble and young love with pirates. Other highlights include Kline's version of "Cat-Like Tread," where the pirates dance around in a not so cat-like fashion, and of course the famous hit, "Modern Major General" sung by George Rose. Witty, funny, charming, and incredibly virtuosic. [If you like this, you may also enjoy The Mikado - by Gilbert and Sullivan (DVD); HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury - by Gilbert and Sullivan (DVD); Gilbert and Sullivan: a Dual Biography - by Michael Ainger] -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[The Pirates of Penzance is also available in a variety of other formats, including Score, Compact and annotated sheet music.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]
 
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

People's Pops

People's Pops
by Nathalie Jordi, David Carrell and Joel Horowitz [641.862 Jor]

The colorful cover of this one caught my attention. I've enjoyed getting gourmet frozen pops at a vendor at the Haymarket Farmers Market, and it was great to see a book focused on the types of recipes that create these unique treats. People's Pops is a NYC-based specialty food shop, that focuses on using fresh, locally-grown ingredients in their "popsicles" -- although they can't officially call them that, since "Popsicle" is trademarked to the Unilever Co. In this book, the shop's owners break their palate of ingredients into seasons -- Spring, Early Summer, Midsummer, Late Summer and Autumn. Each season, they identify fresh fruits or vegetables that should be commonly available, and how those ingredients are best prepapred. For examply, the Midsummer season focuses on apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums -- each section also then has 12 unusual recipes, incorporating the theme ingredients with various herbs and spices and a simple syrup. Each recipe then has recommendations for additional ingredient substitutions, which multiply the recipes exponentially. Scattered among the recipes and ingredient profiles are a series of essays from the authors, recalling the evolution of their popsicle business and busines philosophy. I found this book to be a fun, quick read, with beautiful color photos of the featured ingredients and final "pop" results. I can recall having a homemade popsicle kit from Tupperware that allowed my mom, sister and me to experiment with various Koolaid or fruit juice flavors. This book takes that summertime fun to a whole new "foodie" level -- I look forward to trying some of these recipes, as soon as I get my hands on some popsicle molds. Standout recipes for me included: "rhubarb and strawberry", "blackberry and rose", "peach and japapeno", "cantalope and mint", "apple and salted caramel" and "pear and almond". Yum! [Note: A final chapter at the end of the book gives recipes for flavored syrups that can be used when creating "shaved ice" dishes.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official People's Pops web site ] | [ puplisher's official People's Pops book web site ]
 
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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received

The Best Investment Advice I Ever Received
by Liz Claman [332.6 Cla]

Liz Claman, has compiled a collection of stories and general investment advice from Suze Orman, Warren Buffet, Steve Forbes, and others. There isn't anything new or earth-shattering in this book, but it is a great refresher course on some steadfast investment advice: retirement, investing, and general finance. The stories and anecdotes have a little more power and credibility coming from big name experts. A surprisingly quick read, the bulk of which come from smaller personally shared stories. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Suze Orman Money Book (series); How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; and the Morningstar Investment Research Center online database.] -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia page for Liz Claman ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

New Customer Review - Peak

Peak
by Roland Smith [j Smith]

This is a great book about a boy who enjoys climbing mountains. He is living in new York and he starts climbing skyscrapers. Eventually he gets caught and is forced to leave the country. His dad takes him and he goes to Mount Everest. When he finds out he will get to climb it he is in shock...just wait till his mom finds out. -- review submitted by Emily K. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - Peace, Love and Baby Ducks

Peace, Love and Baby Ducks
by Lauren Myracle [YA Playaway Myracle]

I thought this book was so awesome. The one who read it on the playway read it so it was really funny and enjoyable. Once I started reading it I could hardly put it down. [This review is for the Playaway Audio version of this title.] -- review submitted by Katy K. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

New Customer Review - Storm: The Infinity Code

Storm: The Infinity Code
by L.E. Young [j Young]

Storm: The Infinity Code is an exciting story, especially for teens who are into science, inventing, and changing the world. It is a story of three bright British teens, one who is a computer genius multimillionaire, another chemistry whiz, and the third an inventor. When they work together, they are able to do things that even impress the British Foreign Intelligence Service. -- review submitted by Sander S. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.