Customer Review: The Wanderer

The Wanderer
by Sharon Creech [j Creech]

This book is one of Creech's best works. The story takes place in the perspective of all the main characters. This story takes place out in the open ocean, with all the adventure anyone could possible want. there is pure family love and trial, tests of trust, and mystery. I recommend this book to anyone who has the spirit to do anything they want, even against the people who criticize their very hopes and dreams. -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Customer Review: Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park
by Michael Crichton [Crichton]

I thought this book was amazing because the story just kept on going and there was no part in this book where it was boring. The characters feel so real to the reader, you don't ever want to forget them. The dinosaurs themselves are so terrifying, you feel like they've been brought back from the dead. Once you close that book, you feel like your putting the dinosaurs back into ancient time. I recommend this book to anyone who has a love and appreciation for science and adventure. -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (on DVD)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
[DVD Star]

This Star Trek movie takes place some years after the original series TV show left off. Kirk has become an admiral and the Enterprise crew have moved into different positions on different ships. Most of the original actors are the same, and because there was about 10 years between the filming, you can see that time has passed for the actors and the characters. Former Enterprise crewman Chekov is aboard the USS Reliant on a mission to locate a dead planet for a science experiment known as Genesis. Project Genesis has created a device to create life from nothing on a dead planet. The crew of the Reliant believe they have found a suitable plant for the experiment but then discover a just a few life forms on the surface. When the beam down to investigate, they are confronted by Khan, an old nemesis of Captain Kirk. Khan, hungry for revenge, hijacks the USS Reliant and project Genesis. When Kirk finds out he goes to investigate and put an end to Khan. If you are goi ng to watch this movie, I highly recommend watching the episode in season one of the original series where Khan first appears to understand the back story. If you have seen the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness, this is the same Khan character, however the plots are different and are not in the same continuity. I would recommend this to those who enjoyed the new Star Trek movies and to science fiction movie goers. -- recommended by Kristen A. - Gere Branch Library [ see Kristen's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Star Trek the Original Series: Season One (including the episode "Space Seed" that sets up the events in this film), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).]

[Also available in movie novelization by Vonda McIntyre.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Star Trek 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!

Customer Review: Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
by Louise Rennison [j Rennison]

Absoulutely hilarious! This was one of the books that I couldn't put down! I honestly thought the word 'snogging' was a bit gross sounding, but this was awesome with enough of everything that goes in a great book. -- review submitted by Lia 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, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman

In Want of a Wife
by Jo Goodman

1891 New York City. Jane Middlebourne's parents died when she was very young. She was reluctantly taken in by her mother's wealthy cousin who truthfully didn't really want Jane nor did she treat Jane properly. Now that Jane is an adult, she has no prospects and no future. As a result she accepts a proposal from a Wyoming rancher as a mail order bride. Morgan Longstreet didn't have a happy childhood either and as we later learn, he went to prison for six years when forced to assist his family to rob banks. Now he's just trying to build himself a life and is seeking a partner to work by his side. Unfortunately, his brothers are now out of prison and believe he has the loot that was stolen. This is Book #3 in the Bitter Springs historical romance series. You don't have to have read the first two books to understand what's going on here. You watch as they figure out their relationship, plus we have the added adventure of his brothers trying to mess up things. This was a nice, enjoyable read that had some surprises. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Charlotte's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[ official Jo Goodman 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!

Customer Review: Good Omens (on CD)

Good Omens
by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, narrated by Martin Jarvis [Compact Disc Gaiman]

Good Omens is the story of an angel who owns a bookshop, a demon whose not really all that bad, and and impending apocalypse that really should have been planned out better. This is a great novel full of all the wit, sarcasm, and satire, that comes with misplacing the Antichrist. -- review submitted by Amanda R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

How About Never...Is Never Good For You? by Robert Mankoff

How About Never...Is Never Good For You? My Life in Cartoons
by Robert Mankoff [Biography Mankoff]

I've always enjoyed the cartoons in The New Yorker magazine -- in fact, I hardly ever read any of the actual articles. Robert Mankoff has been the cartoon editor (as well as a contributor) to that venerable magazine for many years. This book is sort of a mishmash combination of autobiography for Mankoff and history of how cartoons (or "drawings" as they're referred to by the magazine) are submitted to the New Yorker, evaluated by the NY art staff, and ultimately make it into publication. As a bonus, Mankoff gives detailed advice on how best to turn in entries into the New Yorker's weekly "Caption This" contest. Mankoff loads this large book with almost 300 cartoons, both from himself and from other noteworthy New Yorker cartoonists. Mankoff has a terrific writing style - very conversational and sarcastic. This was a very fun, light but informative read. A must for fans of the dying art of traditional single-panel cartooning style. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[There have been a lot of special New Yorker cartoon compilation books put out over the years. Two I'd recommend would be The Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker (2004), and The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collection (1999).]

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

[ official Story Behind This Book web site ] | [ official New Yorker Cartoon Bank 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!

Customer Review: The Sisters Grimm - The Fairy-Tale Detectives

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives
by Michael Buckley [j Buckley]

The first book in the Sisters Grimm series is a wild adventure of mystery, magic, and a brand new take on the classic fairytales. Prince Charming is the mayor, the three little pigs are the police, and someone just set a giant loose on the town. This story is great for middleschoolers, and full of twists and turns and laugh out loud moments. -- review submitted by Amanda R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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 Ultimate Protein Pow(d)er Cookbook by Anna Sward

The Ultimate Protein Pow(d)er Cookbook: Think Outside the Shake
by Anna Sward [641.563 Swa]

This cookbook is nothing short of amazing for people who are looking for a way to fit more protein into their diet without adding sugar, fat, or preservatives. The cookbook provides readers with so much more than just the simple shake recipes more people think of when they think of protein powder. Anna gives the reader recipes for healthy protein bars, breads, soups, quiches, pizza, muffins, pancakes, cookies, cakes, and more! Things you've never thought of doing with protein powder are explored in this book and the results look fantastic. Anna uses a range of protein powders — everything from whey to hemp protein — so readers can find recipes that work with what they have. She also does a great job explaining the differences between protein powders so readers can understand what the pros and cons are of each protein, as well as which can be used as substitutes for one another in recipes. -- recommended by Sam N. - Gere Branch Library

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Protein Pow(d)er: the Cookbook, also by Anna Sward.]

[ official Anna Sward's ProteinPow 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!

Customer Review: The One

The One
by Kiera Cass [j Cass]

A riveting end to the series. Kind of predictable. But very fast-paced and well thought-through. -- review submitted by Ellie R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Nerd in Shining Armor
by Vicki Lewis Thompson

First book in the Nerd Series, but each one is actually a stand-alone. Computer nerd Jack is in love with the office secretary Genevieve who's in love with the boss Nick. The three are in the office plane, with Nick as the pilot, so that Jack can fix a computer issue for their biggest client, while Nick is attending a meeting and taking Genevieve along to "take notes." However, it turns out that Nick has been embezzling funds and is taking the only parachute thus leaving Nick and Genevieve to die in a plane crash over the ocean and leaving no witnesses. But guess who grew up playing Flight Simulator as a nerdy kid and is able to crash-land the plane next to a deserted island? And so it goes. This is not high-grade literature, but so much fun. It's predictable, it's hilarious, and Jack is so likeable. You'll also meet Genevieve's mother and brother, and Nick's business partner, Matt, who can't figure out why the company is not as profitable as it should be. And guess who's the same age as Genevieve's mother? This is a quick, entertaining read with no surprises, and of course it ends the way it should. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Charlotte's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[ official Vicki Lewis Thompson 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!

Customer Review: Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe [Achebe]

I read this book in my high school English class, which I feel is the best way to tackle this work. "Things Fall Apart" requires deep analysis in order to get at the subtle themes and plot events. Achebe boldly told a story that had rarely been heard before, the colonization of Africa from an African perspective. I had never read a novel written by an African author before, and this book made me want to explore that part of the world's literature a bit more. My favorite part of the book was how Chinua Achebe changed his writing style to more European style writing as the Europeans started to take over. Overall, "Things Fall Apart" was a beautifully written novel. -- review submitted by Gillian 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, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Burlesque (on DVD)

Burlesque
[DVD Burlesque]

Small town girl Ali moved to Los Angeles to follow her dreams. She comes across the Burlesque Lounge and becomes a waitress. While waiting tables Ali learns all of the routines the dancers perform and auditions to join their crew. The lead dancer decides Ali is trouble and tries to destroy her career by shutting down the music while she's onstage, but Ali surprises everyone by busting out into song. Tess, a former dancer and the lounge owner, is impressed and decides to change the act to revolve around Ali and her singing. Meanwhile Tess is facing eviction and is forced to decide whether to go bankrupt or sell her club. Excellent soundtrack, good acting, and an interesting storyline. -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Carrie's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Moulin Rouge, Rock of Ages, and other musicals where people are following their dreams.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Burlesque 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!

Customer Review: Loch

Loch
by Paul Zindel [j Zindel]

This book was amazing!!!! It kept you on your toes with horror and mystery. The characters were either one of two things, lovable,or out of this world nasty. I recommend this book to the people who like horror or mystery. Also to those who are open minded... -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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 Cairo Affair (audiobook) by Olen Steinhauer

The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer [Compact Disc Steinhauer]

This is a complex novel that entwines personal secrets and intelligence secrets. Emmett and Sophie Kohl inadvertly set the wheels in motion twenty years ago when they were on their honeymoon in Yugoslovia. When the book opens, American diplomat Emmett Kohl is murdered in front of his wife. Sophie, feeling guilty because she had confessed to Emmett that she had had an affair while they lived in Cairo just before he was shot, searches for Emmett's killer. As Sophie probes, she is shocked to learn they were forced to move from Cairo to Budapeste, because Emmett was supected of passing secrets to the enemy. But as she digs deeper she learns about "stumbler", an aborted CIA plan to oust Khaddaffi from Libya. Was this long abandoned scheme the real reason that Emmett killed? -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department [ see Donna's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of John le Carré, Len Deighton and Chris Pavone.]

[Also available in downloadable audio and traditional print formats.]

[ official The Cairo Affair and Olen Steinhauer 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!

Customer Review: Icefire

Icefire
by Chris D'Lacey [j D'Lacey]

This book was written with Characters that you could never forget. The only drawback was that the book was written in a way so that it is hard to follow along. I would recommend this book who has a love of dragons and has a strong mind that is capable of wrapping around the impossible and the possible. If you can understand it, then you will really enjoy it. -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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' London by Higashiyama Kobayashi

Sherlock Holmes' London: Following the Footsteps of London's Master Detective
by Higashiyama Kobayashi [914.21 qKob]

First published in 1984 (UK, 1986 US), this large book is jam-packed with photographs, illustrating London from the perspective of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The first section of the book features reproductions of historical photos from the era in which the Holmes stories are set, showing what the world of London -- and specific sites mentioned in the stories -- looking like when Holmes would have been solving his cases (1877-1903). The remainder of the book is filled with both color and black-and-white photos of sites throughout London and the immediate surrounding countryside, taken in the 1980s, that illustrate the current appearance (in many instances this can be timeless) of scenes described in the Holmes stories and novels. Although a bit dated, since it was published 30 years ago, I still found this to be a fascinating read -- and, because 80% of the content is photos (or reproductions of the illustrations from the original stories), this can be a quick read, depending on how long you want to study the photos. Holmesian fans will definitely appreciate this one, as well Anglophiles in general. Just remember, even the "modern" photos are now historical in nature too! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[ official Sherlock Holmes Literary Tours 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!

Customer Review: Everything for a Dog

Everything For a Dog
by Ann M. Martin [j Martin]

This book is actually 3 stories in one. All are about the relationships between dogs and humans, either friendship, rivalry and forgiveness, and healing. All of them are heart warming. -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer 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, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Maus: A Survivor's Tale - My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Maus: A Survivor's Tale - My Father Bleeds History
by Art Spiegelman [940.531 Spi]

Maus I is the first of two graphic novels (the second being Maus II: and here my troubles began) detailing the life of Art Spiegelman's father, Vladek, a Polish-Jewish holocaust survivor. These are extremely important books in terms of what they do for the medium of comics as well as the history of the holocaust. As a cartoonist, Spiegelman's prior work had been extremely avante garde, experimental, and difficult to parse, but Maus marks a change towards something more concrete. The style is rough but straightforward, opting to deliver its story efficiently. To contrast this, however, Spiegelman has chosen to depict the various European ethnicities as having the faces of different species of animals. The most poignant example being: Jews are depicted as mice, Germans as cats. This achieves two aims. 1) It highlights the racist/anti-semitic attitudes of mid-century Europe, and 2) it simplifies the face of each character to the point where we are able as readers to put ourselves in that place. Maus is a necessary read for anyone wishing to understand the narrative power of comics, as well as any student of history. Each page is a carefully diagrammed account, taking us step-by-step through Vladek Spiegelman's ordeal as told through a series of interviews with his son. These accounts are punctuated with scenes of the present, detailing the complicated and infuriating relationship between Art and his father. I'll say it again more simply: you need to read this book right now. -- recommended by Ben F. - South Branch Library

[Also available : The second volume Maus II: A Survivor's tale - And Here My Troubles Began.]

[ Wikipedia page for Art Spiegelman ] | [ official Art Spiegelman and the Making of Maus web site from PBS ]

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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!

Customer Review: Allegiant

Allegiant
by Veronica Roth [YA Roth]

The third book in the best selling Divergent series is full of twists and turns and packed with secrets, betrayals, and bravery. The entire series is a unique look at a dystopian world, but the final book is absolutely brilliant in its portrayal of discrimination and the value of humanity. There is also plenty of Tris/Four interaction for fans. Unfortunately, the switching between Tris and Four's perspectives can be confusing. Also, the ending may disappoint some readers. However, overall it is a good book and certainly worth reading. -- review submitted by Amanda R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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 Kill Artist by Daniel Silva

The Kill Artist
by Daniel Silva

This is the first book in the Gabriel Allon series. Gabriel works in Europe as an art restorer of Old Masters paintings. He's also a retired Mossad agent and wants only to be left alone to work on the paintings. If you're not into spy novels, such as the Bourne series or those by Le Carre, don't worry. These books are actually mysteries as Gabriel tries to pull together all the clues to figure out who did what, when the next event is going to happen, and by whom. In this novel, Gabriel is reluctantly pulled into a search for a terrorist who has recently resurfaced - a man who was responsible for the destruction of his family - and is planning a high-profile murder. We meet characters who recur throughout the series, and some will become very dear to you. The people and events are well fleshed-out but not tediously so. At the same time, the action is suspenseful as the story unfolds with plans within plans within betrayals. Read this series in order. Character histories unfold throughout the books, as well as references to events of past books. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Charlotte's Reviewer Profile and Other Reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White.]

[ official Daniel Silva 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!

The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman

The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains
by Neil Gaiman, with illustrations by Eddie Campbell

I've been a fan of Neil Gaiman's writing ever since his days working on the Sandman comic books for DC Comics back in 1989-1996. I continue to watch for, and enjoy, each new work he puts out, whether a juvenile picture book, a young adult novel, or a short story collection for adults. The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains is the latest release -- a re-release of a story which won Gaiman the Locus Award for Best Novelette in 2011, when it appeared in the anthology Stories. This time, Gaiman has collaborated with graphic artist Eddie Campbell, who has created numerous highly-stylized illustrations to accompany Gaiman's fluid and evocative prose. The story itself is fairly simple, but is still a thoughtful exercise in regret, vengeance, and relationships. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Campbell's art -- it varies from grotesque to charming, but it definitely captures the tone of Gaiman's story. I wouldn't necessarily call this one of Gaiman's all-time best works, but it is a great example of his excellence in literary craftsmanship. -- recommended  by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and other Reviews ]

[This is most appropriate for Gaiman fans, but if you're unfamiliar with his work, I would strongly recommend The Graveyard Book, Coraline, or any of his short story collections as similar to this book. His novels are also highly recommended, but I'd start with his shorter works!]

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

[ official Neil Gaiman web site ] | [ official Eddie Campbell blog 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!

Customer Review: Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars
by Sara Shepard [YA Shepard]

This book is SUCH a page turner (it's not even funny). It is a true mystery. You will want to read every other book in the series. You WILL enjoy this! -- review submitted by Ellie R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Customer Review: The Giver

The Giver
by Lois Lowry [j Lowry]

What if you thought you lived in the perfect world? What if everyone around you thought so too? What if you found out that your world wasn't so perfect after all? This is what happened to Jonas when he meets "The Giver". This is a MUST READ!!! -- review submitted by Ellie R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Customer Review: Divergent

Divergent
by Veronica Roth [YA Roth]

This very face-paced novel is a page turner. It's thought-provoking and interesting. It is another book about a dystopian society. It is very well written and a book any teen or adult will love. -- review submitted by Ellie R. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Customer Review: The Arrivals

The Arrivals
by Melissa Marr [Marr or YA Marr]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the concept of the story was so different, and it was like nothing I have ever read before. On the other hand, the characters were written as though even Marr took them at face value. Each person who shows up in the Wasteland is a murderer. This fact is apparent at the beginning. In my opinion, this book would have been astronomically better if it contained a personal story for each character and how they ended up doing what they did. It is said a lot that this book is about redemption, but how can they be redeemed or how can we want them to be redeemed if we don't know anything at all about these characters? I felt that despite the fact that the setting and the premise of the story was so out there and original, it was ruined by the lack of time spent in character development. -- review submitted by Gillian 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, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Customer Review: How to Break a Dragon's Heart

How to Break a Dragon's Heart
by Cressida Cowell [j Cowell]

I really like this book because it has a very good story line and if you have read the previous books,it fills in some of the blanks. Plus, the characters are very real and you will have a hard time forgetting them. There is Adventure and Mystery. I reccomend this book to anyone who has a heart. -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

3 Days to Kill - on DVD

3 Days to Kill
[DVD 3 Days]

After being diagnosed with lung cancer, ex-CIA agent Ethan Renner is forced to take on one last mission in exchange for an experimental drug that will cure him. Meanwhile Ethan is trying to fix his relationship with his wife and daughter and when family and work start to mix things get complicated. Interesting plotline, good acting, but I could see why it wasn?t a huge blockbuster. -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library - See Carrie's Reviewer Profile.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Taken and Taken 2 starring Liam Neeson; other Kevin Costner movies like Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit or Revenge.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official 3 Days to Kill 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!

Customer Review: fml

fml
by Shaun Hutchinson [YA PB Hutchinson]

I really liked this book. More than I thought I would. What intrigued me about the book was the cover page. I would recommend this book to teens (maybe especially teen boys) because its really funny, has lots of twists, and goes through the struggle of any other slightly wimpy/slightly unpopular boy. I think the book's strengths were how there were two alternative ways that the story played out. A weakness was that, in the beginning, it was confusing with the two different stories, but I should have read the back of the book more carefully to remind myself that there were two alternative stories. -- review submitted by Jadina 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, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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.

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Far From You
by Tess Sharpe [YA Sharpe]

Sophie repeats the months, weeks, and days over and over. No drugs for nine months, two weeks, six days. Not that anyone believes her. Four months ago, Sophie's best friend was killed in what looked like a drug deal gone wrong. Sophie was there that night and everyone from the police to her parents believe that she is the reason for the deal, that she relapsed and brought Mina down with her. Sophie and Mina had their secret, but doing drugs together wasn't it. Sophie is forced to attend a drug rehab center and then see a counselor to focus on her mental health. Anyone would need a counselor after seeing their best friend die. And Mina was so much more. Sophie never saw the killer's face because of his mask, but knows the police are on the wrong track with the drug bust. Can Sophie figure out who killed Mina and why before the killer silences her, too? A fresh perspective on the difficulties of bisexuality in the modern world. -- recommended by Sam N. - Gere Branch Library 

[ official Tess Sharpe 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!

Customer Review: Prey

Prey
by Michael Crichton [Crichton]

This book is amazing! I think it is really sad that there aren't a lot of books by this guy in the library. I would recommend this book to teens who are looking for a very intense sci-fi book. It has great details and is a big page turner. I would not recommend this book to younger kids because of the language and the suspense. Anyway this is honestly the best book I have ever read! All I ask for, is a little bit more books by Michael Crichton. -- review submitted by Ethan G. - a customer 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, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. 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 Angel by Linda Fairstein

Death Angel
by Linda Fairstein

This was the title selected for the June 2014 Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group sponsored by the libraries, and I've got to say, I really enjoyed it very much. Even though it's the 15th volume in a series, I didn't feel like I was lost in the introduction to the characters. The police procedural portion of this novel felt like a Law and Order episode, while the intense relationship plot elements felt more like a soap opera. All that aside, though, Fairstein's detailed descriptions of Central Park -- its layout, its history, its..."character" for lack of a better word -- are what make this book a winner. Having never been to New York City, let along Central Park, I felt after reading this novel that I new a lot more about this exotic locale than ever before. I may not continue with this series, but I highly recommend this individual entry! recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library - See Scott's Review Profile.

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

[ official Linda Fairstein web site ]

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

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!