Thursday, February 25, 2010

Recommended Reads: Brick Lane

Recommended Reads: Brick Lane by Monica Ali (FIC ALI)

Brick Lane is the story of Nazneen. Nazneen is born into poverty in Bangladesh but when she is 18 she travels to London to marry an older man chosen for her by her parents. Nazneen passively accepts her fate with her boorish, foolish husband and soon becomes a mother to two girls. As time passes, Nazneen gains confidence and begins to challenge the rules set for her by the immigrant Muslim community in which she lives. This fascinating novel gives readers insight into the contemporary immigrant life in Great Britain as Nazneen pursues her modest dreams with quiet tenacity.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Recommended Reads: Imperial Life in the Emerald City

Recommended Reads: Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran (956.7044 CHA)


This suspensful, true life story tells of life in Baghdad's Green Zone during the American occupation of Iraq. After toppling Saddam's regime, American forces set up their headquarters in a protected bubble away from the turmoil and uncertainity that Iraqis faced daily. The narrative details the numerous mistakes the Americans made early in the occupation from spending billions of dollars to make the Green Zone just like America (complete with GMC Suburbans and bottomless quantities of pork available at every meal) to hiring people for important positions based on political affiliation. A movie based on the book and starring Matt Damon will soon be in theaters; read the book before heading to the show!

Monday, February 15, 2010

January DVDs

Big Fan
The Boys Are Back
Bright Star
Gamer
Halloween II
The Hurt Locker
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself
In the Loop
The Invention of Lying
Michael Jackson's This Is It
Moon
Pandorum
Post Grad
Saw VI
Sergeant York
Surrogates
Whip It
Whiteout


New February Books

General Fiction
Secret Whispers by V.C. Andrews
Letter to My Daughter by George Bishop
Secrets of Eden by Chris A. Bohjalian
Poor Little Bitch Girl by Jackie Collins
Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens
Model Home by Eric Puchner
Big Girl by Danielle Steel
An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor
Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate

Christian Fiction
Matthew's Story: From Sinner to Saint by Tim LaHaye

Historical Fiction
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank DeLaney
Conspirata by Robert Harris
The Crimson Rooms by Katharine McMahon
The Information Officer by Mark Mills
Black Hills by Dan Simmons

Horror
The New Dead: a Zombie Anthology by Christopher Golden
Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by A.E. Moorat
A Dark Matter by Peter Straub

Mystery
Wild Penance by Sandi Ault
Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton
Knit, Purl, Die by Anne Canadeo
Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean
Winterland by Alan Glynn
Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy
Short Squeeze by Chris Knopf
Wicked Craving by G.A. McKevett
Split Image by Robert B. Parker
Broken Places by Sandra Parshall
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
A Night Too Dark by Dana Stabenow

Romance
Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian
Dead by Midnight by Beverly Barton
The Golden Season by Connie Brockway
The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie
Street Game by Christine Feehan
The Wild Zone by Joy Fielding
Beguiled by Deeanne Gist
The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins
Ravishing in Red by Madeline Hunter
Shattered by Joan Johnston
The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens
Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner
The Prodigal Wife by Marcia Willett
The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs

Science Fiction/Fantasy
Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass
Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

Suspense/Thriller
The Midnight House by Alex Berenson
The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd
False Convictions by Tim Green
Devils in Exile by Chuck Hogan
The Breach by Patrick Lee
Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader
The Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer
Heresy by S.J. Parris
Worst Case by James Patterson
Freedom by Daniel Suarez

Urban
Heard It All Before by Michele Grant
Big Girls Do Cry by Carl Weber
In My Sister's House by Donald Welch

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Recommended Reads: I See You Everywhere

Recommended Reads: I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass (FIC GLA)

I See You Everywhere is the story of two dramatically different sisters. Louisa is the responsible older sister who builds a life for herself as an artist in New York. Clem is the unpredictable and rebellious younger sister whose passion for wildlife leads to a career as a biologist in the West. The novel is narrated by each sister in alternating chapters over a span of 25 years. Louisa and Clem love and hate each other, support and comfort each other, and struggle to understand each other. In beautiful prose, Glass fashions a realistic portrait of ups and downs between two siblings over a number of years.

Monday, February 01, 2010

New January Books

General Fiction
Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Small Wars by Sadie Jones
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith
The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers
A Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates
The Secret of Everything by Barbara O'Neal
Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler
First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival by Ken Wheaton

Historical Fiction
Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell
Unfinished Desires by Gail Godwin
The Queen's Governess by Karen Harper
Roses by Leila Meacham

Mystery
Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton
The Godfather of Kathmandu by John Burdett
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
Merry Wives of Maggody by Joan Hess
A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky
Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn
Gone 'Til November by Wallace Stroby
Snow Angels by James Thompson
The Red Door by Charles Todd

Romance
Early Dawn by Catherine Anderson
How I Met My Countess by Elizabeth Boyle
Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr
Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr
Carolina Isle by Jude Deveraux
Hunting Julian by Jacquelyn Frank
Fit to be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher
Guilty Pleasure by Lora Leigh
Midnight Sons Volume 3 by Debbie Macomber
The Taking by Erin McCarthy
Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan
Tate by Linda Lael Miller
Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles
On Fire by Carla Neggers
Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts

Science Fiction/Fantasy
Catalyst: a Tale of the Barque Cats by Anne McCaffrey
The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn

Suspense/Thrillers
Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
Gutshot Straight by Louis Berney
The First Rule by Robert Crais
Burn by Ted Dekker
Silencer by James W. Hall III
The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins
Blood Ties by Kay Hooper
Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart
Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker
Impact by Douglas Preston
The 5 Greatest Warriors by Matthew Reilly
Altar of Eden by James Rollins
Kisser by Stuart Woods

Urban
Snapped by Tracy Brown
Be Careful What You Pray For by Kimberla Lawson Roby