The Lost Valentine

The Lost Valentine
based on the book by James Pratt [DVD Lost]

I'm a sucker for the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions that pop up on television two to three times per year. Invariably heart-warming and frequently sappy, these "movies with a message" are always well-made, with impressive casts and great production values. I originally watched The Lost Valentine when it aired on TV, mainly to see how Betty White did in a purely dramatic role. She is the heart and soul of this movie, and her performance is emotionally resonant. The rest of the cast, including Jennifer Love Hewitt as a pushy, but ultimately good-hearted reporter, who ends up falling into a relationship with Betty's character's grandson. It's all schmaltzy, but it's good schmaltz...and I dare you not to be teary eyed as White's Caroline learns what happened to her true love 65 years earlier. Good stuff! [Most other entries in the Hallmark Hall of Fame DVD series would work well -- I personally recommend Silver Bells, a Christmas-themed story of love, redemption and perseverance.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Have you seen this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 Booktalk Booklist - A Celebration of Sisters!

Erin S., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, presented an all-new booktalk at the Bethany Branch BooksTalk session on September 16, 2011 and at the Gere Branch BooksTalk session on October 10, 2011, on the theme of A Celebration of Sisters!

The booklist from her booktalk is now available on the BookGuide web site on the Booktalk Booklists page. Click the preceeding link to see the master index, or click the link for her booktalk title to see just that specific booklist!

Erin is also one of the library staff members who has a monthly "column" newsletter as part of the libraries' Books, Movies & More newsletter service. Visit the sign-up page (click here) to learn more about "Through the Pages With Erin S." and all the other newsletters you can subscribe to and receive in your email each month!

And don't forget -- although they are on hiatus right now, the Gere BooksTalk and Bethany BooksTalk winter/spring sessions will be starting up again shortly -- starting in early January, we encourage you to stop by Bethany on Friday mornings at 10:30 and Gere on Monday afternoons at 2:30 to hear presentations about great books for you to read!

The House Without a Christmas Tree

The House Without a Christmas Tree
by Gail Rock [j Rock]

In many ways this story feels like what anyone in a small town might experience -- up to a point. Addie and Carla Mae are best friends who like to hang out at each other's homes. This particular December day, they're talking what to buy for the student exchange at school and Addie is stumped about what to buy snobby Tonya. As Addie and Carla Mae spell their names with soup noodles, the conversation shifts to what each girl wants for Christmas. Sound like typical small town life? Oh, and Addie and Billie have a crush on each other, but of course neither will admit it. Then Carla Mae asks, "How come you haven't got your Christmas tree up yet?" Addie parrots the argument that her dad uses: they cost too much. The reality is sadder, to the point that the topic is a forbidden topic. When telling my husband about this book, he easily guessed its big secret. Yet my biggest problem, instead, is how long the secret is withheld and then how quickly Addie's problems are resolved once we know the truth behind them. Even so, The House Without a Christmas Tree remains a charming seasonal classic. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. - a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

[Editor's note: This was also adapted in 1972 into a TV special, starring Jason Robards, which remains a perennial holiday favorite for viewers, as well!]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

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 Night Circus

The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern

I LOVED this book! From the very first pages I was completely engaged and could not wait to find out where this story was going to go. Le Cirque des Rêves is only open at night and travels from city to city without notice. Morgenstern's descriptions of each tent and the acts within them are so wonderful that I can only hope this book is made into a movie so I can see it all come to life! At the heart of the story is a competition between two illusionists, Marco and Celia, who have been brought up to think of nothing else. The circus is somewhat of a stage for the competition and showcases each competitor's skill and imagination. Marco and Celia fall deeply in love. A love that will not only change the course of the competition, but will dramatically affect each person involved with the circus as well. This story has many layers and I think has a little bit for everyone. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Time Traveler's Wife or Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger or Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.] -- recommended by Alyse S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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

[ official Night Circus page on the official Erin Morgenstern web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 - A Lantern in Her Hand

A Lantern in Her Hand
by Bess Streeter Aldrich [Aldrich]

Abbie Deal through the course of the book matures from an eight-year-old whose family has recently migrated to Iowa into an "old lady who dies while the meat burned and the children played 'Run, Sheep, Run'." With that opening, who could resist turning the page? For the first few chapters, Aldrich recounts Midwest adventures akin to those in the Little House books. While this is interesting enough, I most enjoyed reading about Abbie's creative pursuits. I also related to how she used every opportunity to dream of being a singer, painter, or writer. At the age of eighteen, Abbie faces a decision not uncommon at that time about who to marry. Here's where Abbie's story really begins, for true to pioneer life the family meets very few people and face year after year of crop failure. Aldrich has written a beautiful fictional tribute to the memories of her mother and all the other settlers whom she interviewed about the forging of this state. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. - a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

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 Lucky Life, In and Out of Show Business [on CD]

My Lucky Life, In and Out of Show Business
by Dick Van Dyke [Compact Disc Biography Van Dyke]

Dick Van Dyke does a marvelous job of narrating this audiobook format of his recent best-selling autobiography. Like many TV and movie buffs, I've been a fan of Van Dyke's for his legendary sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, as well as the movies Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and his more recent series Diagnosis Murder. I was also aware of Van Dyke's bouts with alcoholism in the past. This bio is not a "tell all" about anybody except for Van Dyke himself. But the memories he shares of working on the various projects that have contributed to his professional life are fully engaging. His frank discussion of the disintegration of his marriage, and falling in love a second time, are both sad and uplifting at the same time. Van Dyke's open and gregarious personality on screen conceals a much more private and thoughtful persona out of the spotlight. This biography does a great job of bringing the private Van Dyke to the forefront. The only drawback to listening to this as a Book-on-CD is that you don't get to enjoy the large section of photos that is featured in the traditional print version of the book! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in downloadable audio, regular print and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ Wikipedia page for Dick Van Dyke ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 Booktalk Booklist - Lights, Camera, Books - Take Two!

Shannon K., from the Walt Branch Library, presented an all-new booktalk at the Bethany Branch BooksTalk session on October 28, 2011 on the theme of Lights, Camera, Books - Take Two!

The booklist from her booktalk is now available on the BookGuide web site on the Booktalk Booklists page. If you're curious about which recent and forthcoming movies have been based on previously-published books and short stories, check out some of her prime examples!

And don't forget -- although they are on hiatus right now, the Gere BooksTalk and Bethany BooksTalk winter/spring sessions will be starting up again shortly -- starting in early January, we encourage you to stop by Bethany on Friday mornings at 10:30 and Gere on Monday afternoons at 2:30 to hear presentations about great books for you to read!

Amazing Cows

Amazing Cows
by Sandra Boynton [j741.5 Boy]

Sandra Boynton, best known as a childrens' board book illustrator and the creator of a long-running line of greeting cards featuring cartoon animals (such as "Hippo Birdie Two Ewe"), occasionally tackles a bigger project, and always with satisfyingly hilarious results. Amazing Cows is her latest -- appropriate for all ages, "up to a hundred and moo". This book, cataloged in our youth collection, is jam-packed full of cow jokes, poems, fake facts and humorous comic books. It's all illustrated with Boynton's highly-recognizable cartoony animals. Anyone who's a fan of cows, or of Boynton's other works, should get a chuckle out of this one. [Note: a song, referenced and linked to at the end of the book, is no longer available at the publisher's website!] [Obviously, Boynton fans can check out all the many board books for little kids. But for the slightly older reader, I recommend Rhinoceros Tap and Philadelphia Chickens.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Sandra Boynton web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Destiny of the Republic

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
by Candace Millard [364.152 Mil]

This is no ordinary biography of a mostly- forgotten president. Candice Millard brings President James A. Garfield to life. Not only did I learn a great deal about Garfield's early life and short presidency, I was also fascinated to learn so much about his assassin as well as the doctors and scientists who tried to keep him alive. Although I knew how this story was going to end, there were moments of suspense as well. I also was unaware of the part that Alexander Graham Bell played in trying to save Garfield's life. This really was an enjoyable read, and peaked my interest in the medical world at that time. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey also by Millard or Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.] -- recommended by Alyse S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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

[ official Candace Millard web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs
by Walter Isaacson [Biography Jobs]

A detailed and very interesting book even at 600 pages. It bogged down only for 40 pages or so when Jobs was being expelled from Apple, and Isaacson seemed to go on and on and on about how nasty Jobs could be - we'd already figured this out. This also turned out to be a fascinating history of the computer industry as well. Jobs seemed to be bipolar, slightly psychotic, and missing the social filter most of us have that prevents us from speaking EXACTLY what's on our mind and deliberately hurting people's feelings. Told mostly chronologically, this includes the requisite photos in the middle of the book, as I feel all good biographies should. It was made more poignant knowing Jobs died of cancer shortly before this book came out. Some of the events in this book I vaguely remember occurring, such as the "1984" Super Bowl commercial, so I went online to You Tube and got to giggle again during 13 "Hi, I'm a PC, and I'm a Mac" commercials, watched some of Jobs' product releases during the MacWorld conferences, and viewed the Jobs/Gates co-interview. It was interesting to visit these videos as a supplement to reading this book. One does not need to be a computer nerd to understand or enjoy this biography. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Roone: Memoir by Roone Arledge.] -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in book-on-cd format.]

[ Publisher's official Steve Jobs book web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Walter Isaacson ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger [2011]
[DVD Captain]

The story follows Steve Rogers, an American who desperately wants to join the military and serve his country. The problem is that he is too small and has too many ailments so he is constantly turned down. After a mysterious doctor approves his application he joins a special military project that turns him into a super soldier. Now known as "Captain America" Steve fights to save the world from the evil hands of Johann Schmidt and his army known as Hydra. While the storyline wasn't all that fantastic, the special effects were very impressive as they were able to make Chris Evans look tiny and frail in every scene until his tranformation. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk and all the other movies leading up to the great anticipated "Avengers" movie coming out in 2012.] -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Captain America: The First Avenger web site ]

Have you seen to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 Booklist - NYT 100 Notable Books of 2011

A new booklist has been added to the web pages of the libraries' BookGuide readers advisory site! The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2011 is a collection of the 100 most noteworthy books, in both fiction and non-fiction, released in the English language during the course of 2011. At least, in so far as The New York Times Book Review's staff is considered.

At the time of the list's release, in the December 4th issue of the Book Review, the Lincoln City Libraries has 61 of the 100 titles in our collection. This online booklist has those 61 titles hotlinked into our catalog. We encourage you the use the libraries' InterLibrary Loan service to request the remaining titles, or fill out our online Suggest-a-Title form to recommend them for our collection!

The Pilgrim's Progress

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan was once the most widely read and translated book in the English language apart from the Bible. If you are not already familiar with The Pilgrim's Progress, it is an allegory about the Christian journey. At its core is a thrilling story. The first part of The Pilgrim's Progress is about Christian, who undertakes a dangerous journey. Carrying a burden of sin, Christian leaves behind his family and friends to seek deliverance from an impending judgment on his city. Christian must overcome many dangers if he is to reach his final destination. The second part is about Christian's wife and sons who undertake a similar journey. John Bunyan doesn't simply recreate his original tale, but imagines new adventures that might happen to other pilgrims. By now, you might also be thinking that both parts are simply one danger after another, when that is simply not true. Christina's sons and Mercy find marriage. We also meet some new types of pilgrims, with whom many of us probably readily identify. Besides being a thrilling tale, The Pilgrim's Progress is also an allegory about the Christian journey. Not everything on a pilgrim's journey is dark. There are places of excellent sights and rest such as Palace Beautiful, the Delectable Mountains, and Country of Beulah. Too often for my taste, there are the moral passages. Sometimes this Christian classic felt like being in at everlasting church service, which is the main fault I find in this otherwise epic tale. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress for Christians. It seems as it's a reflection of Bunyan's own realization that the Christian life is a journey that can be fraught with strife while also having moments of joy. It's is an important and encouraging book to read. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. -- a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

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.

Poe's Detective: The Dupin Stories

Poe's Detective: The Dupin Stories
by Edgar Allan Poe [Compact Disc Poe]

As a long-time fan of the mystery genre, I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never read Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", nor any of the other stories to feature his intellectual crime solver C. Auguste Dupin. When I saw that Bronson Pinchot -- one of my favorite TV actors (Balki on Perfect Strangers) was the narrator of this audiobook set, I couldn't pass it up. Pinchot was almost unrecognizable and his heavily accented Dupin is perfectly appropriate for these stories. I will admit that the Dupin stories are historic for their role in helping to create the modern genre of murder mysteries. However...though intriguing, I found these stories somewhat bland and unengaging. I did, however, love the biting humor of the fourth (non-Dupin) story in this audio collection. Despite some disappointment, I would still recommend this set to any mystery fans! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[The works of Poe are available in a variety of formats through the libraries.]

[ Wikipedia page about C. Auguste Dupin ]

Have you listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Habibi

Habibi
by Craig Thompson

Habibi is Craig Thompson's latest graphic novel bound, drawn and written with an exquisite attention to detail. The story follows two young slaves, Dodola and Zam, through the ins and outs of desert life, a harem and a developing urban center. The story transcends any specific time and place giving it a seemingly post modern setting. Thompson has clearly labored intensively to integrate the Arabic language throughout the book. While written in English, Arabic calligraphy is incorporated throughout, providing a stunning text layer to the backgrounds on many pages. The story itself is a rather dark romance. Dodola and Zam's story is filled with terrible tragedy. As Dodola and Zam face the environmental and social challenges of poverty and slavery, they incorporate mythical stories and Islamic parables into each problem in efforts to overcome. The book's binding and drawings are breathtaking. The drawings will make you feel as though you are looking at a fine art piece, not simply a graphic novel. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Ghost World by Daniel Clowes, Blankets by Craig Thompson, and Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Habibi web site ] | [ official Craig Thompson web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 - SLOB (and other Ellen Potter titles)

SLOB
by Ellen Potter [j Potter]

When I read the first lines of SLOB, I wondered what I was in for: "My name is Owen Birnbaum, and I'm probably fatter than you are." Was this going to be another "pity the fat kid" story? Or was it going to be another "here's how to lose weight" story? I should have known better than to wonder. This is Ellen Potter. SLOB starts out with a simple problem: The cookies which Owen eats for lunch everyday have disappeared. After you read about Owen's gym class, you'll probably also understand why Owen needs those cookies. On the heels of gym class is a third problem: Owen is trying to build something called Nemesis. What amazes me about SLOB is how organic it is. SLOB goes in one direction and then another. Yet no matter what surprises crop up, when you think about them in hindsight they all make sense. Something else I love about Potter's books is how easily she weaves in lessons, without ever preaching about them. Owen is all of us who have ever run away from a problem. He is also every person who has faced up to problems. For so many reasons, including this one, SLOB is my favorite Ellen Potter book. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. - a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

Visit the Customer Reviews page on BookGuide (linked below) to see three additional recent reviews by Allison of other Ellen Potter titles!

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

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.

Tour de Lincoln: Artistic Bicycles Celebrating Lincoln's Unique Trails System

Tour de Lincoln: Artistic Bicycles Celebrating Lincoln's Unique Trails System
by The Lincoln Arts Council [739 Tou]

Remember the Tour de Lincoln public arts project from 2003? You know -- when 71 different variations on the same bicycle sculpture were scattered throughout Lincoln during an entire Spring and Summer, and then at the end of the event, most of them were auctioned off to support the arts in Lincoln? Well, this cute little book was released at the time that all 71 bikes were on display that year. Though it's a bit artsy-fartsy, and occasionally uses fonts and layouts that aren't very pleasing to the eye, the Tour de Lincoln book is none-the-less an excellent guide to all 71 of the bikes. After a general introduction to the background of the project as a whole, each bike then gets its own two-page spread, with photographs, bike title, artist and sponsor names, some brief information about how the design was chosen and created. An article in the November 27th, 2011 Lincoln Journal Star, about a local woman's quest to find all of the surviving indicated that 60 of the 71 bikes are still around (a few in other cities), in case (like me and my wife) you'd like to track them down all over again! [Note: I just wish a similar book had been published in conjunction with the Star Art public arts project that was a follow-up to Tour de Lincoln!] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ 11/27/11 Lincoln Journal Star article about bikes' locations as of 2011 ] | [ Collections of photos of the Tour de Lincoln bikes: Steve Adamson (Omaha) | Dietrich family (of Lincoln) | CannellFan (Flickr user) ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Across a Wide Horizon

Across a Wide Horizon: Discovering the Beauty of Nebraska's Plains
by Jorn C. Olsen [917.82 qOls]

Originally from Oregon, Olsen has lived in Nebraska for over 30 years and clearly demonstrates his affection for his adopted home state in this volume of photography. Most of the selections are 2-page landscapes, with a few gate-folds for the extremely panoramic compositions. Many of the most striking images have intense or deep colors, or a wow factor, such as the butter-colored mist over a lake in "Morning Glow" or the dramatic cloud formation of "Framed by the Trees II". As one who loves Nebraska's wide prairie views, I very much enjoyed the volume and I especially appreciated Olsen's clever phrasing in many of his titles. -- recommended by Becky W. C. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Jorn Olsen web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

One Man's Paradise

One Man's Paradise
by Douglas Corleone

Kevin Corvelli was a rising star in New York City's legal world until his arrogance cost a client his life. Corvelli, appalled at his own behavior, packed his bags and moved to Honolulu vowing to handle only misdemeanors. He is through with high-profile murders and the accompanying media spotlight. But his first case is a headline grabbing murder. Joseph Gianforte, Jr. is accused of tracking his ex-girlfriend to Hawaii and bludgeoning her to death. Corvelli is convinced that Gianforte is innocent and he is determined not let another innocent man go to jail. This page-turner sparkles with great characters and wit. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Robert Dugoni or John Verdon.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official Douglas Corleone web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Library Word Search Dec 2011

Library Word Search Dec 2011, a photo by BookGuide at LCL on Flickr.

Hey, Lincoln City Libraries fans who are also Flickr users! Stop by this puzzle on the BookGuide Flickr account to try out a library-term Word Search puzzle!

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home
by Jeni Britton Bauer [641.862 Bau]

The colorful graphics -- spoons of multi-colored ice cream flavors -- on the cover of this book grabbed my attention immediately. The author is the owner/operator of a chain of gourmet ice cream shops in the Columbus, Ohio area, and here shares her philosophy of ice cream construction and use of fresh, seasonal, regional and thematic ingredients. Nearly all of the recipes in the book are built around a simple ice cream base of frozen yogurt base, and Jeni gives the scientific and culinary reasons for how add-on ingredients affect both the chemical balance and the taste experience for her rather unorthodox flavor combinations. Bauer's recipes are designed around the use of a table-top electric ice cream machine, with its clear cover so that you can see the ice cream as it churns. So...if you've got an ice cream machine that's not so sophisticated you may be handicapped. However, if you've got the right equipment, and you're up for some intriguing experimentation, this book is for you. Bauer organizes the book into "seasons", and each season has some flavors I'd love to try making, including: Savannah Buttermint Ice Cream, Sweet Basil and Honeyed Pine Nut Ice Cream, Sweet Potato Ice Cream with Torched Marshmallows, and Brown Butter Almond Brittle Ice Cream. Some recipes require some advance preparation for some of the ingredients, but many require very little time. The illustrations are gorgeous, and Bauer includes instructions on preparing various sauces and other toppings, as well as how to make waffle cones. She also includes an index to sources for uncommon ingredients. All in all, this is a delicious cookbook. If you love ice cream, give this one a try! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official jenisicecreams.com web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 - The Distant Hours

The Distant Hours
by Kate Morton [Morton]

A wonderful Gothic novel, very much in the style of Lincoln's OBOL a few years ago, The Thirteenth Tale. This tells the story of three sisters in an English mansion and their story, told both in flashback and in present time. The present-time narrator is the daughter of a young woman who stayed at the mansion as an evacuee from London and so we have a variety of viewpoints. Make a pot of cocoa, put a log in the fire and enjoy The Distant Hours. -- review submitted by Barbara R. - a patron of the Gere Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

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.

Ghost Story

Ghost Story
by Jim Butcher

Spoiler Alert! Harry Dresden, Chicago's wizard/private-eye is dead. He was gunned down in the final few pages of the previous volume of The Dresden Files (Changes), leaving fans apoplectic with anger and frustration at author Jim Butcher. However, being dead is only a minor inconvenience to Harry, who finds that eternal rest is not exactly next on his agenda. Sent back to the land of the living, Harry is charged with discovering who killed him -- before others that were close to him come to dark ends. Life as a ghost proves complicated for Harry -- his wizardly powers are close to non-existent, and only a very small fraction of people can even sense his presence. But when Harry sees what the results are of his world-altering actions in Changes, and how precarious the lives of his friends have become, he eagerly tackles the afterlife head on. This is one of the most unusual volumes this series has seen, and the characters are all vibrant and alive (if you'll pardon the jest). I particularly liked the major roles that former minor characters enjoyed in this particular story. I recommend this one strongly, but the Dresden Files books have a strong level of continuity, and you really need to start with one of the first 3 or 4 books -- you'll easily be lost if you try to pick up Ghost Story without any prior knowledge of the series. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in book-on-cd format.]

[ official Jim Butcher web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.

Jeannie Out of the Bottle (on CD)

Jeannie Out of the Bottle
by Barbara Eden

As a kid, I grew up on the weekday afternoon repeats of I Dream of Jeannie, and easily grew to love the cute, spunky, perky, energetic Jeannie, as played by actress Barbara Eden. Years later, reading reports of how uncomfortable the set of the show was, with star Larry Hagman a drugged up egocentric mess, I felt somewhat disillusioned. Barbara Eden's new autobiography, Jeannie Out of the Bottle, brings it all back to vivid life, both the good and the bad. I chose to enjoy this title as a Book-on-CD, with Eden reading her own work. She's a fun narrator to listen to (frequently chuckling or laughing at her own text), and seems to enjoy her opportunity to share memories of her career, both pre-Jeannie and post-Jeannie. This particular book is fairly lightweight, but it was a joy to listen to, as she reminisces about past relationships, including ex-husband Michael Ansara, acting achievements, and the sad passing of her son as a result of drug addiction. But, for me, as for many other Jeannie fans, it is her chapters dealing with the origins of I Dream of Jeannie, and her experiences working on that 4-season series, that brought the biggest smile to my face. Her tales of Larry Hagman at his ego-maniacal worst are easily tempered by the love and friendship she still obviously feels for him after all these years. If you grew up on 1960s and early 1970s television sitcoms, you'll enjoy this one too! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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

[ official Barbara Eden web site ]

Have you read (or listened to) this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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 - Speak

Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson [j Anderson]

Speak is well-crafted. Anderson undertook the challenge of introducing a disenfranchised teenager and convincing readers to like her. How much easier that challenge would have been if Anderson had revealed from the start what had happened to Melinda. Anderson also undertook the challenge of revealing details about the events of one August night, only as Melinda was ready to deal with them. How much easier Anderson's challenge would have been if she'd simply told a straightforward story about how Melinda came to terms with the fact that bad things can happen. That she instead took the higher road, readers are blessed with a complex and richly textured story that is still applauded over ten years after its publication. Anderson is still writing problem novels. Speak is an impressive introduction to her writings. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. -- a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library

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Dead in the Water

Dead in the Water
by Dana Stabenow

Kate Shugak is working undercover on the Avilda, a crabbing boat, hoping to learn why two crewmembers disappeared on its last trip. The skipper, Harry Gault, claims that when water supplies ran low the men went ashore on Anua Island to find fresh water. They never returned to the ship. Stabenow's description of life on a crabber is riveting. The work is grueling and dangerous as the crew battles high seas and ice storms. Kate and her shipmate, Andy Pence, are such well drawn characters that they just pop off the pages. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Sue Henry, Louise Penny and Nevada Barr.]

[ official Dead in the Water page on the official Dana Stabenow web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. 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.