The Larry McMurtry biographies

Books | Literary Life | Hollywood
by Larry McMurtry [Biography McMurtry]

This trio of slim autobiographies was an unexpected delight. I haven't read any other titles than these from McMurtry's large output but I am a big fan of the Lonesome Dove TV installments and am familiar with the film of Terms of Endearment, primarily because part of it was made here in Lincoln. Whether you are a McMurtry devotee or not, these memoirs are very engaging on a cerebral, social, and cultural level. The chapters are short, sometimes carrying a similar thread throughout several, and give the sense that you are confabbing with Larry one on one -- whether it's talking about his childhood and a pivotal box of books given to him by an uncle or describing the M.O. of a persistent impersonator. Reading all three installments creates a fascinating yet down-homey portrait of this multi-faceted man of letters, bibliophile, and accidental screenwriter. His fond recollections of friends have charm and poignancy and his no-nonsense observations about acquaintances and events confirm his "outsider" status. The first volume is probably the 'dryest' but all three contain adroit and concise anecdotes about the people he's known and the things he's done and seen, from glimpsing Paul Newman only from afar when he visited the set of the first movie (Hud) made from one his novels (Horseman, Pass By), to owning rare-books stores in Washington DC and Texas, to winning a Pulitzer Prize and an Oscar. -- all recommended by Becky W. C. - Walt Branch Library

[ Larry McMurtry on Wikipedia ]
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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.

Buck

Buck
[DVD 636.1 Buc]

Buck is not your typical big screen western cowboy movie, because unlike John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, Buck is the real thing. Buck is a documentary about the life of horseman cowboy Buck Brannaman. Brannaman is a leader in natural horsemanship and spends much of the year touring the country teaching horse clinics. Brannaman's personal story begins with a troubled childhood. Growing up he was a child rodeo star with an abusive father. As an adult he channeled his difficult past into a passion for teaching away the abusive training methods common in horse breaking and training. His empathy and understanding of the unique relationship between humans and animals is expressed in his gentle teaching style and methodology. The documentary weaves Buck's personal story with his philosophy of horsemanship. Buck is soft spoken, but articulate and straight to the point thus leading to some humorous and blunt moments throughout the film. Buck's many students play an important role in the documentary as well. An interview with Robert Redford credits Buck with much of the inspiration for the 1998 movie Horse Whisperer. Redford divulges quite a bit of interesting background information on Buck's contributions to the film's production (including the use of Buck's personal horse in the movie). Documentary enthusiasts will be pleasantly surprised by Meehl's style, which captures Buck's personal story through archival footage, and small subtle details. Keep watch for a small funny moment that allows Buck's personality to shine through in a diner, where he consumes many meals on the road. Those who are horse owners and western fans might appreciate a high quality genre documentary, which captures the spirit of the west. Everybody can expect to learn a thing or two about leadership, compassion and respect too. Buck is a must see uplifting documentary. [If you like this, you may also enjoy Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (Book & DVD), and War Horse by Michael Morpurgo j Morpurgo/YA PB Morpurgo.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Buck 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.

Death Comes to Pemberley

Death Comes to Pemberley
by P.D. James

As a fan of both Jane Austen and P.D. James, I felt compelled to read the latest attempt to provide a sequel to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Acclaimed mystery writer P.D. James provides an interesting follow-up story using the death of one of Jane Austen's characters as the basis for this mystery. Although James does an excellent job of writing in the style of Austen, she changes the character of Mr. Darcy enough that it does not seem like a sequel at all; it just seems like one of many attempts to pick up where Jane Austen left off following the marriage of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Regardless, this is a fun read and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good, clean mysteries. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and P.D. James, A Mind to Murder by P.D. James.] -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

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

[ official P.D. James / Death Comes to Pemberley 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.

Let's Be Reasonable

Let's Be Reasonable
by Joel Sartore [814 Sar]

Native Lincolnite and renowned National Geographic photographer/essayist Joel Sartore's latest book combines his two great creative loves -- interesting photography and thought-provoking commentary. In this spare collection, he pairs iconic and/or quirky images, shot in many different locales (although quite a few of them are from right here in Nebraska), with truly thoughtful essays, both short and long. The images and words are indelibly entertwined, and the topics run the gamut from environmentalism, to commercialism to the issues of families and traditions. Though a fairly quick and easy read, I did end up finding myself thinking more strongly about many of the issues Sartore brings up. Ultimately, though, I enjoyed this book for his beautifully captured images. Recommended for fans of photography, and thoughtful prose, especially if you're from Nebraska! [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Sartore's Rare: Portraits of America's Endangered Species.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Joel Sartore 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.

How the West Was Won (on compact disc)

How the West Was Won (on compact disc)
by Louis L'Amour

L'Amour's version is based upon the screenplay for the movie How the West was Won which in turn was based upon a series in "Life" magazine (seven consecutive issues beginning April 6, 1959; available at Bennett Martin library). This story follows one family through several decades of Westward expansion in the 1800's including the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads. In this case, I recommend you view the movie first. While listening to the cds I kept envisioning the movie actors and could easily follow the tale. This version differs slightly from the movie but remember this was based on the screenplay and screenplays are frequently altered during filming. More in-depth with some characters than the movie, and a very enjoyable story. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in Print and DVD formats.]

[ official Louis L'Amour 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.

Murder in C Major

Murder in C Major
by Sara Hoskinson Frommer

Joan Spencer grew up in Oliver, Indiana. After her husband dies suddenly, she and her teenage son, Andrew, move back to her hometown to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Oliver has grown into a busy college town and Joan finds a few familiar faces and revives an old friendship. She lands a job as director of the senior center and she joins the Oliver Civic Symphony where she plays viola. Rehearsals go well until the obnoxious first oboist, George Petris, collapses during the big oboe solo in the Schubert. He is rushed to the hospital where he dies. Violinist, Yoichi Nakamura, is the first person to suggest that George's death may not have been natural because it reminds Yoichi of his uncle's death in Japan from fugu poisoning. An autopsy confirms that he was poisoned. Lieutenant Fred Lundquist determines that the deadly puffer fish may not be the only source of this poison. And he turns to Joan for guidance in the musical world. Frommer weaves her love of classical music into this well-crafted debut novel. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the Benni Harper series by Earlene Fowler, the China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert and the Deborah Knott series by Margaret Maron.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

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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.

Support Your Local Sheriff

Support Your Local Sheriff
[DVD Support]

This movie was a fabulous combination of the perfect cast, a witty and sarcastic script, and an era in which the traditional, staid, heroic western was ripe for satirisation. Garner's wise-ass persona, exemplified in his role of Bret Maverick, pokes perfect fun at the overly heroic "white hat" stars of tradtional westerns. His Jason McCullough is looking for a quick buck while making his way to Australia, and stumbles across a temporary position as Sheriff of a small gold-rush town. He sobers up the town drunk, Jack Elam, to become his deputy, and goes up against the powerful Danby family in a hilarious showdown on main street. There's also an unwanted romance with Mayor's daughter, and the complication that McCullough doesn't really like to work very much at all. It's all goofy fun, with an extremely wry sense of humor. Elam's particularly funny in one of his first major film roles! [There was a follow-up film, Support Your Local Gunslinger, which was entertaining but not quite as good as this film. Of course, Garner fans should see Maverick and The Rockford Files.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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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.

The Garner Files

The Garner Files
by James Garner

James Garner has always been one of my absolute most-favorite television actors. Though I was born a little too late to have enjoyed him in Maverick, I consider The Rockford Files to be, perhaps, one of the most perfectly-constructed television series ever made. And James Garner deserves the lion's share of the credit for that. He puts out the impression of gruffness or, as he mentions in his biography, "crochetyness", but underneath it, he's got a warm personality. His autobiography is definitely written in his voice -- he shares anecdotes, both positive and negative, from throughout his career. He's blunt but honest about the people whom he has issues with, but cordial and sentimental about the creative types whom he respects. He spends about equal time on his TV and movie careers, but also a large amount of the book covers his personal life outside of the show-biz trappings -- his hard-scrabble youth, his love of both golf and racing cars, and the issues of growing older. I very much enjoyed this book, and recommend it highly to anyone who's a fan of Garner's extensive body of work on screen. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try This is Jim Rockford..., Maverick on DVD, The Rockford Files on DVD, James Garner's feature films, particularly The Great Escape, Murphy's Romance, My Name is Bill W., Support Your Local Sheriff, and so many others...] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ James Garner page on Wikipedia ] | [ official Internet Movie Database page for Garner ]

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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.

Lake Eden Cookbook

Lake Eden Cookbook
by Joanne Fluke [641.5 Flu]

Christmas is near and Delores Swenson is holding her 4th Annual Cookie Exchange luncheon and we?re invited. Hannah is catering the lunch and she has thoughtfully provided a binder of her recipes for each guest. There are no photos in this cookbook. Instead, it has the feel of a real community cookbook. The kind put out by church groups where everyone contributes a recipe or two with notes and serving suggestions. The recipes range from appetizers to soups and main dishes to the cookies that Hannah serves at The Cookie Jar. Fix yourself Hannah's Razzle Dazzle Champagne Cocktail and snuggle into a comfortable chair and enjoy the cookbook. This is a well-done series tie-in book and a delight for culinary mystery fans. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook and the Coffeehouse mystery series by Cleo Coyle.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department


[ official Joanne Fluke 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.

New Booklist - If You Like...The Help

Carrie K., of the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, has put together a new "If You Like..." booklist, for fans of the 2009 bestseller The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Set during the civil rights era of the 1960s and dealing with issues of race relations and domestic help, the novel is touching, comical and full of wry observations on human relationships.

It was also turned into a feature film in 2011, which is being mentioned as a possible Oscar contender.

Carrie's booklist -- If You Like "The Help"... -- is now available on the BookGuide web site on the Author Readalikes page.

Feynman

Feynman
by Jim Ottavanian [Biography Feynman]

This is a fascinating, and very readable biography of one of the most interesting and influential minds of the 20th century. Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was one of the foremost theoretical physicists in scentific history. His story is told here, in graphic-novel semi-autobiographical format. The art, while occasionally sketchy and off-putting, never-the-less captures Feynman's spirit (as evident in Feynman's own words), and serves as an extremely simplified introduction to numerous concepts in advanced physics. I was only vaguely aware of Feynman's contributions to world of science, but through this intriguing telling of his life's story, I'm curious enough now to want to track down some of the more traditional books that both he and his biographers have published over the years. Congrats -- job well done, Mr. Ottaviani! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ publisher's official Feynman web site ] | [ official Publishing site of Jim Ottaviani ]

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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.

New Customer Review - Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
by Anne Mazer [j Mazer]

Abbey Haye's family is super talented. In the introductory book of the series, Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining, Abbey wishes to be like anyone else in her family. Then Abbey's fifth-grade teacher announces that this year their grade will have a special creative writing workshop every week. As part of this special writing class, Abbey receives a notebook in which she can write whatever she wants. Soon after Abbey receives that notebook, she gets so caught up with writing in it that her teacher has to reprimand her: "Put the notebook away. We're going to begin our math quiz." Yet Abbey continues to believe that she needs to become a sports star for her to be a "super member" of the Hayes family and so she diets, trains, and works out. I'm not sure why she latches specifically onto sports, but ultimately Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining is a light-hearted story about a girl who struggles to find her talent in all the wrong places. -- 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.

New Booktalk Booklist - Kim's Kart 2011

Kim S., supervisor of the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, presented an all-new booktalk at the Bethany Branch BooksTalk session on December 2, 2011, talking about a mixture of fiction and non-fiction titles that appealed to her recently.

The booklist from her booktalk -- Kim's Kart 2011 -- 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!

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!

New Customer Review - My Antonia

My Antonia
by Willa Cather [Cather]

The introduction of My Antonia is contrived. For another thing, because My Antonia is often about everyone but Jim, for awhile I wasn't sure who I should care about. Moreover,Cather's style initially felt like descriptive treatises. Eventually though, Cather reeled me in with her complex portrait of the folks of Black Hawk. Not only does each different culture have its share of drunks, partiers, rapists, murderers, and, oh, also good people, but they're expertly intertwined. These lines written by Jim, about the weather, accurately summarize the feel of My Antonia: "This is reality, whether you like it or not. All those frivolities of summer, the light and the shadow, the living mask of green that trembled over everything, they were lies. This is what was underneath. This is the truth." -- 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 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 ]

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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.

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!]

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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 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 ]

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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.

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

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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 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 ]

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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.

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 ]

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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.

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 ]

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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.

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 ]

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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.

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 ]

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