Thursday, March 25, 2010

Recommended Reads: The Diana Chronicles

Recommended Reads: The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown (BIOG DIA)

This week's recommended read is inspired by March's Women's History Month. The Diana Chronicles is perhaps the definitive biography of Princess Diana. Not just a recounting of juicy gossip, this book provides insights into Diana's private life, the British Royal Family and the celebrity culture of the late 20th century. The various triumphs and setbacks of Diana's life resemble a real-life soap opera and Tina Brown uses vivid, propulsive language that truly puts readers into the action. This biography paints a portrait of a complex woman who captured the hearts of many in the not too distant past.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Recommended Reads: Sharp Objects

Recommended Reads: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (FIC FLY)

To say that journalist Camille Preaker has serious issues is an understatement. Fresh out of a stay in a mental hospital for carving words into her flesh with a razor, Camille is sent on assignment to her home town of Wind Gap, Missouri ("one of those crummy towns prone to misery") to write about the murders of two young girls. While there Camille is forced to interact with her dysfunctional family and confront the her troubled past. This lurid thriller is a cross between V.C. Andrews and Chuck Palahniuk and features a propulsive plot that will keep you turning the pages to find out what creepy secret will be revealed next.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Recommended Reads: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Recommended Reads: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (289.33 KRA)

Under the Banner of Heaven is an intriguing blend of true crime narrative and religious history. The book opens with the murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter by two of her brothers-in-law who claim that they were following a commandment from God. Krakauer then traces the founding of Mormonism by Joseph Smith and the contemporary practice of Mormon fundamentalism. The fascinating page turner explores the boundaries between faith and insanity in contemporary America while explaining the influence of the past.