Nevermore: Becoming Odyssa, Forgotten, Phantom and more!

Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis was the first book up for discussion, prompted by Ms. Davis’ appearance at the library Monday night. Over a hundred people showed up to hear her stories of the Appalachian Trail. She is the current record-holder for the fastest time walking the Trail, but her book is about her first trip, whe was just out of college and looking for direction for her life. She decided that walking the Trail would give her time to consider. She didn’t expect how much the journey would change her life.

In Phantom by Jo Nesbo, policeman Harry Hole has fled Oslo for Hong Kong, but returns to prove a young man’s innocence. Our reviewer was really looking forward to this new book in the series but said a friend had warned her that this one was slow going at first. She gave it over a hundred pages before she gave up in disappointment. She had really enjoyed his other novels, but felt this one just dragged.

Army Special Agent John Puller suspects that his aunt’s death was not an accident, so he goes into action to find out what exactly is going on in the Florida town of Paradise. This is the plot of the new David Baldacci thriller, Forgotten, and it drew mixed reviews from our members. One said it lived up to its title and would best be forgotten: she found it formulaic and repetitive. There were gangs, shooting, more gangs, more shooting, and a few beatings thrown in for good measure. Another reader enjoyed it, saying that Puller was a hero for standing up for the “Forgotten” people of the title and that it was a good, fast paced novel.

Even with winter upon us, it’s hard to keep a good gardening book down. Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? by Andrew Keys lists a number of popular plants which may not do well in a particual space (or do TOO well) and suggests alternatives to the current plant fads. Color photos and clear explanations will have gardeners making notes for spring.

In Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate, author Robert Kaplan presents a survey of how geographers view terrain, climate, and physical features of a place influence people and their culture.

The book everyone was still talking about was DNA USA: A Genetic Portrait of America by Bryan Sykes, the book which uses genetic testing to see the difference between who Americans think they are and what their genetic heritage actually is. Several members were considering checking into the National Geographic Genographic program. At least two members decided they also wanted to read the book.