Staff Picks: Christmas Books

Rita

  12 Days of Winter by Stuart McBride

This collection of short stories takes place in North East Scotland during the jolliest time of the year. These twelve interconnecting chapters, however, are anything but jolly. There are bungled burglaries, drug deals, kidnapping, and murder and those are just the lighter anecdotes.   

This is a quick read and oddly entertaining. I liked the way each story revealed a new twist to the characters from previous chapters. If you’re a fan of authors such as Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiassen then add this to your holiday reading list.

(Note:  a copy is available through Tennessee READS!)

Jeanne

   A Gift From Bob by James Bowen

Of course I’m going to pick a book with a cat in it! This is the third book about James Bowen, a drug addict who turned his life around when he found an injured cat and took responsibility for his care.  Even though this book covers some of the same territory as the first two, I found it to be a sweet and thoughtful look at the season as seen by someone who didn’t have a lot to celebrate at the time.   

If you’re looking for something a bit more fantastical, then I would recommend Miracle and Other Christmas Stories by Connie Willis.  She’s a science fiction-fantasy writer with a sense of humor and a deft way with characters.  All of the stories in the book are well done, but I found three to be especially memorable for chills, tears, or cheer:

• ·         Inn, in which a choir singer finds a homeless couple hiding in the church

• ·         In Coppelius’s Toyshop, about a self-centered man who gets stuck in a toyshop near Christmas

• ·         Miracle, wherein a young woman receives a Christmas Spirit.  Literally.

If you’re looking for something fantastical, funny, satirical,and definitely off beat, then I recommend The Hogfather by Terry Prachett.  In Discworld, presents are delivered by the Hogfather, a jolly man in a red suit who rides in a sleigh drawn by eight pigs.  When the Hogfather disappears just prior to his usual gift run, a substitute is drafted—Death.  Let’s just say Death doesn’t quite understand the concept.  

Kristin

Everything I Need to Know About Christmas I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow is a lighthearted romp through a variety of Little Golden Books.  Remember that "Christmas is Coming", as you see an old fashioned Santa Claus and little animal helpers readying the house for the holidays.  The nostalgic pictures may bring to mind Christmases gone by.  I certainly enjoyed this book as well as other recently published "Everything I Need to Know" Little Golden books.  If you're a fan of Star Wars, Disney, or simply Christmas, be sure to check out this modern take on old classics.

Nevermore: 18 Acres, The Inquisitor, 13th Tribe and more

Nicolle Wallace has years of Washington experience both as a political commentator and as White House communications director under George W. Bush. She puts this experience to good use in Eighteen Acres, a novel about the first woman president.  Charlotte Kramer is considering a run for a second term when a close friend makes a terrible error in judgment which threatens national security and Charlotte’s husband’s affair with a reporter is revealed. The book was characterized as a fun read, but without a lot of serious political insights.

Another first novel is The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith which features an interrogator known only as Geiger, a man who specializes in getting information out of even the most taciturn of subjects.  Geiger’s methods are mostly psychological rather than physical but his goal is to get information no matter the physical, emotional or mental cost to the interrogated.  Then a client brings in a twelve year old boy to be questioned, and soon both their lives are at risk. Our reviewer found this to be a thrilling page- turner of a book. 

The Thirteenth Tribe  by Robert Liparulo is a fantasy thriller which pits a former Army Ranger against a band of immortals who were once a part of the twelve tribes of Israel, but who were cursed for worshipping a pagan idol.  They hope to earn God’s forgiveness by executing sinners, and unless Jagger Baird can stop them, they’re going to wipe out millions.

Another one of our readers is making his way through all of Terry Prachett’s writing.  Currently he’s working on the Discworld series, which features golems, werewolves, dwarves and other fantastical creatures in a long running, extremely funny series that provides some of the best social satire around. A favorite character is Death, who rides a pale horse named Binky.  Death likes humans, even if he doesn’t quite understand them—not even his granddaughter, Susan, a no-nonsense teacher who has had to substitute for her grandfather on occasion.

Although The Woman Who Wasn’t There by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo sounds as if it would be fiction, it’s the true story of Tania Head, a woman whose story of escaping from the 96^th floor of the South Tower made her a champion for those who had been injured or had lost loved ones.  She helped found the “World Trade Center Survivors’ Network,” spoke tirelessly on behalf of survivors, and inspired many with her quiet courage.  There was only one problem: Tania wasn’t even in the U.S. when the attacks occurred. One reviewer said that this read like a thriller.

Daniel Woodrell isn’t yet a household name, but our reviewer thinks that should change.  Woodrell is the author of Tomato Red, a fine example of what Woodrell calls “country noir.”  His stories are dark, violent, and utterly unforgettable.  Most of his books are set in the Missouri Ozarks.  His best known book is probably Winter’s Bone which was made into an award-winning film.  It tells the story of sixteen year old Ree Dolly, trying to take care of her two younger brothers and ill mother.  Things take a turn for the worse when Ree discovers that her father used the house as collateral to get out of jail, and unless he shows up in court, the family will be homeless so Ree sets out to find him.  Booklist describes the writing as “spare but evocative” and that the story is told with “stunning realism.”

The Nevermore Book Club meets every Tuesday at 11:00 AM.  We talk about what we're currently reading, listen to recommendations from others and enjoy doughnuts from the Blackbird Bakery!

Genetics, Prodigal Summer, Flavia, Birds, Ex Libris and The Hogfather

The November 22 Nevermore Book Club readers were enthusiastic about their selections, which were fairly evenly balanced between fiction and non-fiction.

Genetics for Dummies by Tara Rodden Robinson was the first book discussed.  Our reader was thoroughly enjoying it.  The author explains a complex subject in relatively simply fashion.  If you want to feel a bit less important, just note the number of genes in corn (maize) verses the number in a human being.  Along the way one learns about the history of corn, information about European royalty, gene therapy, gene splicing and how DNA is revolutionizing crime solving. 

Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer was next up.  This novel weaves three storylines together as a female forest ranger, a young widow, and two elderly neighbors redefine the concepts of home and family.  One aspect that everyone enjoyed was the amount of information about the environment, ecology, culture and wildlife was woven into the story.  The setting is local, which made it all the more appealing. 

Ex Libris: Reflections of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman enchanted our next member.  The book is a collection of essays by a woman who is passionate about reading and books.  Witty and thoughtful, Fadiman covers language, books and the moment she finally felt married: when she and her husband merged book collections.

Eleven year old chemist and sleuth Flavia de Luce has acquired a devoted following since her debut in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.  In I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, the delightful fourth entry in the series, Flavia’s father has rented out the family home during the Christmas holidays to a movie company in hopes of raising some badly needed cash to keep the family solvent.  Flavia had been quite involved in her latest project—capturing Father Christmas—but finds the newcomers to be a bit of an intriguing distraction.  Series fans will be glad to know that the sisters are as spiteful as ever and that Dogger has a good role.  You don’t have to read the series in order.

Another holiday title of sorts is The Hogfather by Terry Prachett.  In Discworld, presents are delivered by The Hogfather, a jolly man in a red suit who rides in a sled pulled by pigs.  Due to some unfortunate meddling, the Hogfather is not in a state to do his job in that he is. . . um, sort of dead. Since there must be a Hogfather, the role is assumed by another immortal of sorts, only this one usually carries a scythe.  Let’s just say that Death is not the life of the Christmas party, though his grasp of the concept of a commercial Christmas is one to celebrate. If you like satiric British humor and word play, by all means put The Hogfather  on your holiday reading list.

January 1^st is not only New Year’s Day, it’s the kick-off date for an annual bird-watching competition. On that day, a number of bird-watching enthusiasts will decide to embark on a “Big Year” which when a birder spends an entire year trying to see as many bird species as he can throughout North America.  The Big Year:  A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik chronicles the year 1999 when three highly competitive men set out to beat the record.  Even non-birders will enjoy this entertaining and true story, and come away with a bit more interest in what goes on at the backyard feeder.

October New Book News!

The Affair by Lee Child is just out.  It’s set back in Reacher’s Army days and explores the reasons he left the service. Reserve it today!  (Did you know that there’s a Reacher movie in the works, with Tom Cruise as the star? Do you think Cruise can pull it off?)

Nicholas Sparks has a new book out this month!  The Best of Me tells the story of two star-crossed high school sweethearts who meet again after 25 years. Nobody does romance like Sparks!  Get your name on the reserve list today!

If you’re a Beverly Lewis fan, the wait is over!  The Mercy, the third book in “The Rose” trilogy is out now! Call or stop by the library to get your name on the reserve list!

John Sandford is famous for the Lucas Davenport  “Prey” books, but some fans are even fonder of his new series starring Virgil Flowers. Shock Wave is the new book out in October and early reviews say this is one of his best!

Janet Evanovich has a new Stephanie Plum adventure due out in November.  It’s called Explosive Eighteen.   You can put it on reserve now! The movie version of One for the Money starring Katherine Heigl as Stephanie will be in theaters in January.

Dexter fans will definitely want to get on the list for Jeff Lindsay’s latest entry, Double Dexter.  Dexter isn’t pleased to find that someone is copying his methods of eliminating other serial killers-- and we all know what happens when Dexter isn’t happy….

Vince Flynn fans, it looks as Kill Shot is going to be delayed until February, 2012. Mr. Flynn has been ill but according to his website, he hopes to back writing as soon as his treatments are finished.  The plot sounds intriguing:  Mitch Rapp is hunting a target in France when the tables are turned and he becomes the hunted.  

Just in time for Halloween, F. Paul Wilson comes out with the last of the Repairman Jack novels, The Dark at the End.  What, you don’t know Jack? He’s just one of the best supernatural characters to come along in the past decade or so!  If you’re intrigued, start no earlier than Bloodline.

Terry Prachett fans, rejoice! There’s a new Discworld book out, Snuff.  The master of satiric fantasy remains at the top of his game.  Yep, Snuff  is up to snuff!

John Grisham has a new book out in October!  The title is The Litigators, and the story revolves around two all but down and out attorneys who suddenly acquire a new associate and maybe a case that will net them millions.  Several reviewers have said this one has more humor than some of Grisham's books and it seems like the author is really having fun.  When authors have fun, readers usually do too!

If you love British historical fiction, then you know the name Sharon Kay Penman.  After a long hiatus, Penman has a new book out:  Lionheart, about Richard I.  It’s full of the same detail and romance Penman fans have come to expect!

New York to Dallas is the latest installment in J.D. Robb’s very popular “In Death” series.  A violent pedophile has escaped prison, and Eve is determined to track him down.  The trail leads her back to Dallas and to face some of the ghosts from her past.