Summer Reading Reviews, Week One

Thanks to our Barnard Crossing patrons for submitting reviews of the books they've been reading for the summer reading program this year!

Country by Danielle Steel
Reviewed by Susan W.
"A classic, happy love story by this well written and well known author. Likable characters; light story line of girl meets boy and eventually end up together. Easy read even though it's a bit predictable." 8.5/10

Freedom's Child by Jax Miller
Reviewed by Kim T.
"Debut novel from a new author. Interesting story line and a good read." 8/10

The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer
Reviewed by Jane B.
"Two families unknowingly rent the same beach cottage on Nantucket Island, so they share. Happiness all around. Perfect, light beach read." 7/10

The Hummingbird's Cage by Tamara Dietrich
Reviewed by Susan W.
"A new twist on the unfortunate story of abuse and how it's dealt with and the ramifications physical and emotional abuse has on many lives. Thought provoking, honest, and heart-wrenching. A bit of mystical throughout. Fast paced and hard to put down." 9/10

Patron Favorites

We now have a new "Patron Favorites" display at Barnard Crossing Branch! This display contains books that our patrons have really enjoyed and have left good comments for on the sheets in the back of the books.

We are constantly replenishing and updating the titles on the display so be sure to check it frequently! Below are just a FEW of the recent favorites:

Then and Always by Dani Atkins

Dollface by Renee Rosen

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline

The Returned by Jason Mott

Paw Enforcement by Diane Kelly

The Blessings by Elise Juska

What We've Lost is Nothing by Rachel Louise Snyder

Thief by Mark Sullivan

2015 Pulitzer Prize Winners

This year's Pulitzer Prize winners have been announced! This is an award for journalism, literature, and music named after the late Joseph Pulitzer, a newspaper publisher.

Congratulations to all of the winning authors. Below are this year's winners with links to the items in our catalog for you to check out.

Fiction: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

General Nonfiction: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert

Biography or Autobiography: The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pope Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe by David I. Kertzer

History: Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People by Elizabeth Fenn

Have you read any of these titles yet? Which ones are you planning on reading?

Review: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

Title: The Mistletoe Promise Author: Richard Paul Evans Genre: Christmas fiction, contemporary Pages: 272 Published: 2014 Richard Paul Evans' novels are generally formulaic and cheesy... but I absolutely love them and can't get enough! This is my 6th RPE book and it was just as good as all his others. As usual, the characters endure some kind of hardship to find hope.  In this story, we meet Elise Dutton, a broken woman with a secret past that eats at her and causes her pain and guilt. She is approached in the cafeteria by a stranger who works in her building, Nicholas, who essentially asks her if she would like to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays so neither of them have to be lonely. She agrees to this "mistletoe promise" contract and finds herself falling for him for real, a man with a secret of his own.  This book was sweet, hopeful, and perfect for Christmas, as are all of his novels. I look forward to reading his books every Christmas. Unlike most of his other holiday books, this one did not seem to be based off a biblical story (though I could be mistaken). I liked the contemporary feel of this one, as well as the touching love story and messages of redemption. Another winner from RPE! I can't wait to see what he comes up with next year. 4.5/5 stars! ----- Reviewed by Stephanie As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: The Art of Adapting by Cassandra Dunn

Title: The Art of Adapting

Author: Cassandra Dunn

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 354

Published: 2014

Lana is a recently separated mother of two teenagers who decides to have her brother, Matt, who has Asperger's syndrome, move in with them.  In spite of and maybe because of his personality quirks, Matt is able to see the struggles his niece and nephew are going through that Lana is unable or unwilling to acknowledge. 

 

I was so impressed with this first-time novelist's debut.  The characters were so well written and real and it was really cute how Matt was able to connect and help with the family's problems in his own way, given his social limitations.  I would highly recommend this and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

5/5 stars

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Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!   

Review: Invisible Ellen by Shari Shattuck

Title: Invisible Ellen

Author: Shari Shattuck

Genre: Women's fiction, contemporary

Pages: 294

Published: 2014

Ellen is overweight, socially awkward, and utterly alone. She rarely leaves her apartment except to go work the night shift at Costco. Her whole life changes when she meets a charismatic blind woman named Temerity, by surprising herself when she steps in to save her from two violent muggers. Ellen's brave act sparks an intense friendship between the unlikely pair of the "invisible" girl and her blind sidekick.

I absolutely loved this book. The author's dedication reads "This book is for anyone who has ever felt they didn't count. You do. Your spirit shines as strong and pure as any other." I enjoyed Ellen's evolution, albeit somewhat reluctantly under Temerity's exuberant personality. There were some sad moments when Ellen relates her past, but overall an uplifting story. I would highly recommend this!!!

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Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!  

Review: Real Happy Family by Caeli Wolfson Widger

Title: Real Happy Family

Author: Caeli Wolfson Widger

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 361

Published: 2014

Lorelei Branch is a struggling actress and actually lands a part-time gig on a reality show. That is until she does not get picked as a permanent cast member and her mother, Colleen, launches into a racist rant on national TV and ruins any future Lorelei may have in the public eye. Lorelei decides to cut ties with her mother, who is overly attached to her. The story centers around Lorelei's descent into drug use and her mother's search to find her. To that end, Colleen agrees to be in a reality show with a staged intervention to get the family back together.

This book started out kind of slow, but then it got more interesting. The main characters were not very likeable, but the story line really hooked me. I gave this an 8 out of 10 just because it did start out kind of slow and I wasn't sure I was going to finish it, but I'm glad I stuck with it. 

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Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!  

Review: The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick

Title: The Good Luck of Right Now

Author: Matthew Quick

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 284

Published: 2014

38-year-old Bartholomew Neil has always lived with his mother and when she dies, he has no idea how to be on his own. While going through his mother's things, he finds a "Free Tibet" form letter from Richard Gere. Since at the end of his mother's life, she was calling him Richard, he believes that Richard Gere must be his life guide, so he begins chronicling his life in a series of letters to the actor.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting and I've heard raves reviews of Silver Linings Playbook, both the book and the movie, which Matthew Quick also wrote, so I had really high expectations. I was a little disappointed, in that I thought the book was pretty good, but not outstanding. If you are deeply offended by foul language, I would not recommend this, as the character Max has a terrible potty mouth. Overall, an okay read, but not one of my favorites.

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Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: More Things In Heaven and Earth by Jeff High

Title: More Things In Heaven and Earth: A Novel of Watervalley

Author: Jeff High

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 358

Published: 2013

This book is the story of a doctor named Luke Bradford, fresh out of school, who moves to the town of Watervalley in rural Tennessee to begin his career.  This is not Luke’s ideal career choice, as he would rather be doing research.  However, student loans need to be paid back so he takes a job as Watervalley's only doctor.  Luke is determined from the start to dislike the small town and his new job, since he believes he has a bigger world view and sees himself working in a more “happening” place.  As Luke becomes more familiar with how the town works, and the quirky people that live there, he quickly sees that his assumption of Watervalley’s residents being “simple” is not at all accurate.  I found it very easy to take to each character, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Luke’s housekeeper, and each of the other Watervalley residents featured in this first novel.  Luke has had his own challenges in his life, and soon learns the reason why his family wanted him to experience life as a doctor in a small town.  The quirkiness of the town and the depth of the characters make this novel so incredibly heartwarming.  I found it similar to All Creatures Great and Small, except the patients in this novel are human.  I look forward to the next novel of Watervalley.

5/5 stars    

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Reviewed by Laura Beth

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: Exposure by Therese Fowler

Title: Exposure

Author: Therese Fowler

Genre: Contemporary fiction, drama

Publication: 2011

Pages: 366

Anthony, 18, and Amelia, 17, two high school seniors, are deeply in love. They have big plans for the future that all include each other. However, their world comes crashing down when Harlan Wilkes, Amelia’s overprotective and wealthy father, discovers nude "sexting" photos of Anthony on Amelia’s computer, and immediately contacts the authorities. Within days, Anthony has been arrested and accused of being a sexual predator. He has become a pariah to everyone around him, except for Amelia, who remains faithful and loving. Then, things take a turn for the worse when photos of Amelia are discovered as well, and she too is arrested. Life has become a disaster for both teens and their families, and nothing will be the same ever again. Desperate to be together, and afraid to spend life in prison, Amelia and Anthony take drastic measures to escape what their lives have become.

This book is breathtaking, heart-pounding, and gripping – impossible to put down. It is raw, shocking, scandalous, and unforgettable. I became immediately entranced by this story, and delved into the characters lives as if they were my own.

At the core of this story is the true and intimate love between Amelia and Anthony. Their love is real, palpable, and heartbreaking when they are forbidden, by both law and Amelia’s parents, to see, or even contact, each other. Despite how out of control their lives have become, they are desperate for each other and never once relinquished their love. Even though this book is about the scandal that envelopes their lives, the love makes this story real and enchanting. So touching and true is their love that I, as a mere reader and spectator, became all the more invested in their story.

The story fascinated me and the writing was exceptional, almost poetic and lyrical, despite the dark and troubling aspects. Fowler managed to make beautiful a story that seems nothing but controversial and desolate. An interesting aspect of the book is that the perspective shifts between the characters, giving us glimpses and insights into the thoughts of all the main players, including Amelia, Anthony, Harlan Wilkes, and Kim Winter, Anthony’s mother, who also becomes deeply entwined in the trouble, despite her lack of involvement or prior knowledge of the photos.

This story is shocking and unforgettable. Truly. This is by far one of my favorite books, warranting a rare 5 star rating! I will be reading Fowler’s two previous books, Souvenir and Reunion just as soon as I can get my hands on some copies. I promise you will love this book! It is explosive!

My Rating: 5/5

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Reviewed by Stephanie

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: The Mouse-Proof Kitchen by Saira Shah

Title: The Mouse-Proof Kitchen

Author: Saira Shah

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 352

Published: 2013

I have been looking at this book on the shelf for a little while now, very intrigued by the title, when I finally decided to read the description in the book jacket. Anna is a professional chef and when she and her husband are expecting their baby, they decide they are going to move away from London and relocate to France to raise their child. Unfortunately, things do not go according to plan when their baby is born with some major disabilities and they have to reconsider their decision to uproot their lives.

The subject matter of this book is absolutely heartbreaking, having a baby born with major medical problems and they are afraid to fall in love with their baby, not knowing what the future holds for her. I thought this was very well written and honest, although very sad. I would definitely recommend it.
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Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Barnard Crossing Staff's Favorite Reads: 2013

The staff over at our Barnard Crossing Branch Library read a lot of amazing books this year. Check out the below list to see what some of their favorites were!

The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms is "delightful (...) it has a touch of romance with a whole lot of friendship and heart!" - Stephanie (full review HERE)

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison "had such a cute and original premise and the characters were so endearing." - Kim (full review HERE).

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella is "a great book about friendship. I loved the character Lara. This was my second time reading it!" - Karen

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman is "a wonderful book and I am only sorry I took so long to get to it!" - Kim (full review HERE)

Hollywood Strip by Shamron Moore was "a fun and scandalous tale of a struggling Hollywood transplant who finally has her big break. This book was fast paced, exciting, and I didn't want to put it down." - Stephanie (full review HERE)

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty has a "really interesting concept and makes you look at your own relationships, past and present." - Kim

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult "did not disappoint. It was a great read." - Karen

The Sound and the Furry by Spencer Quinn is "the latest in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Chet (...) is a 100+ pound dog and the stories are told in his voice. This sounds like it would be silly, but it is actually very clever." - Kim (full review HERE)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion was "SUCH a unique and refreshing twist on the zombie tale. It is funny and full of heart!" - Stephanie (full review HERE)

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg is "another Southern delight by a much loved author." - Kim

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks is "a fun read, but don't watch the movie!" - Karen

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes tackles "a tough subject matter and is very sad but thought-provoking." - Kim

Which ones of these titles have you read? Do you have any favorite reads to add from 2013? Leave us a comment below!
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As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title(s) above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Title: The Rosie Project

Author: Graeme Simsion

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Pages: 295

Published: 2013

Summary: Don Tillman is a brilliant, yet socially challenged professor of genetics who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. So he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner – a sixteen page questionnaire designed to weed out the drinkers, smokers and late arrivers.

Rose Jarman is all of these things and while Don quickly disqualifies her as a candidate for the Wife Project, he begins to help her in her quest to find her biological father.   As an unlikely relationship develops, Don is forced to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie and despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love, it finds you.

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book. It had such a cute and original premise and the characters were so endearing, I just couldn’t wait to find out how it turned out. It was a quick, fun read and probably my favorite part is that Don doesn’t even realize how OCD he is. I love a book full of quirky characters and this had them in spades. I would recommend this book to anyone (and I have been quite forceful in convincing people to try it!!). So what are you waiting for – go get yourself a copy!!!

My Rating: 5/5

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Reviewed by Kim

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: Christmas on Nutcracker Court by Judy Duarte

Title: Christmas on Nutcracker Court

Author: Judy Duarte

Genre: Christmas, contemporary fiction

Pages: 313

Published: 2011

 

Small town Fairbrook, California is home to Carly, a single mother and her two boys, Josh and Mikey. She works hard as a hairdresser to stay afloat, but can barely make her rent payments on time and can hardly make ends meet. She wants to make Christmas special for her boys, but just doesn’t have the money. Worse still are the incidents she keeps having with Max Tolliver, a new bachelor and aspiring novelist, who insists her boys keep letting his dog out of his yard, though they vehemently disagree. Fairbrook is also home to the Diamond Lils, a woman’s social group that meets weekly for poker games and gossip. They’ve also decided to do a little matchmaking this Christmas, to find Carly a man, like Grant, the wealthy single businessman who lives across the street. Carly’s not looking for romance, just a little hope to give her boys what they need this holiday season, but sometimes love takes you by surprise…

Overall, this was an enjoyable, cute, and festive story. I especially like the cover. To me, that cover embodies Christmas, and I want to live on a street just like that someday! I liked the storyline with Carly, Max, and her boys the best (including the dog, Hemingway) and enjoyed reading about them a great deal. However, this book had a ton of other side stories going on as well that I didn’t enjoy as much. To me, the focus should have been entirely on the Carly story, but it split time between Carly and each of the four Diamond Lils. I was really invested in Carly and her boys, and kept hoping they would have a wonderful Christmas and that Carly would find some way to get out of debt. I liked her hardworking nature and compassion. Buuut, each time I really started getting into it, it would shift to one of the other characters which was kind of frustrating. If you’re looking for a heartwarming and hopeful story this holiday season, you may want to pick up Christmas on Nutcracker Court. I would recommend it but with some reservations, being that I wish there were less characters and side stories going on.

My Rating: 3/5

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Reviewed by Stephanie

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron

Title: The Dogs of Christmas

Author: W. Bruce Cameron

Genre: Christmas, contemporary fiction

Pages: 238

Published: 2013

This is a heartwarming tale of a young man named Josh who suddenly finds himself with a dog he did not ask for nor want.  Despite this, he realizes that the dog needs him and he takes on the responsibility of caring for her and the “baggage” that she brought with her.  I found myself on a roller coaster of emotions while reading the book, which is typical of W. Bruce Cameron’s books.

This book is a very easy, one day read.  While the focus of the book is dogs, there is a bit of family drama, holiday traditions, and a budding romance thrown in to the story as well.  The story emphasizes the true meaning of family and caring for others.   Because of this, I think that the book would appeal to those who are not currently dog lovers.  But just like Josh, a person who never thought twice about dogs,  he fell in love with dogs in this book, you never know if you might fall in love with a dog yourself.

4/5 stars 
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Reviewed by Laura Beth

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!

Review: The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms

Title: The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane

Author: Kelly Harms

Genre: Women's fiction, contemporary

Pages: 304

Published: 2013

The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is, in one word, delightful!

The HomeSweetHome Network has just announced their newest sweepstakes winner: Janine Brown, of Iowa, has won a brand new, beautiful home on the coast of Maine. Janey Brown is shocked to hear this news, and assumes it was just another move by her great Aunt Midge in an attempt to bring Janey back to life after the loss of her fiance. On the other side of town, Nean Brown also hears the news and can't wait to leave her life of dead-end jobs and abusive boyfriends for a new beginning in Maine.

Both Janine Browns, along with great Aunt Midge, head for Maine for what each of them thinks is their new home. Both are in for the shock of their lives when they discover the other. Tempers flare and personalities clash as they both learn to cope with the news, with each other, and with learning to live - and love - again.

This book was extremely clever with a fantastic and fresh new storyline. It was funny, sweet, and full of heart with a cast of top notch characters. The three main characters, both Janines (Janey and Nean), as well as great Aunt Midge were all well drawn out and very distinctive.

The story alternates narration between Nean and Janine which was very useful in this novel. We were able to see both sides of the coin and undesrstand what each of them was feeling. It also was part of what helped distinguish each character and bring them to life.

Aunt Midge and Nean both cracked me up. They both had a bit of a wild side to them and Aunt Midge had some truly hilarious one liners. Janey was the total opposite, very serious, anxious, quiet, and sad since dealing with the tragic loss of her fiance. She has long since holed herself up, blocked herself off from the rest of the world, and spends most of her free time cooking elaborate meals to keep herself occupied  (I must say, this kind of inspired me to want to become a better cook).

All in all, this was a pretty amazing book. The three women help each other see life through new eyes, and bring out both the best and worst in one another, though ultimately helping one another grow and evolve. It has a touch of romance with a whole lot of friendship and heart. I definitely recommend this one!

My Rating: 4.5/5
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Reviewed by Stephanie

As always, feel free to call us to check on an item's availability at 720-4106, or try our Barnard Crossing Branch at 663-3357. You can also check our online catalog 24/7 at http://greecepubliclibrary.org/. Click on the title above to link directly to the item in our catalog!