2007 Staff Picks Book Reviews

For more reviews go to Novelist

December 2007

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
(Reviewed by Robin)
Adult Fiction
F AUS
This lesser known novel of Austen's is shorter and somewhat less polished than her more famous works, but I think it is also her funniest. The social satire that undercuts all of her novels is closest to the surface here as she follows the adventures of the naive, but well-read, Catherine Morland. Catherine's prodigious consumption of thrilling gothic novels sends her imagination into overdrive when she is invited to visit historic Northanger Abbey. Her imaginings result in embarrassing misunderstandings, but Catherine's instincts turn out to be correct on at least one front. Though the character she surmised to be a villain proves himself to be one, it is not in as chillingly evil a manner as she had imagined. Readers who enjoy Jane Austen or the gothic novels she satirizes here will enjoy this book.

A Power Governments Cannot Suppress by Howard Zinn
(Reviewed by Zeb)
Adult Non Fiction
A well written and easy to follow book that analyzes many of today’s popular issues. Zinn explores government imperialism and dishonesty, the nation’s beginnings which created a predestined preference for the wealthy and major corporations, in addition to the growing disparity between public opinion and government policy. Throughout an underlying message of hope that things can and do change to create a more peaceful and universal world for everyone is offered.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
(Reviewed by Heather)
Adult Fiction
F GRU
This novel is told in flashback by ninety-something, Jacob Jankowski. He remembers his brief time spent with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, during the Great Depression. When Jacob is 23, he learns that his parents have been killed in a car crash. He drops out of Cornell veterinary school and finds a job with the circus, where he cares for the animals. His bond with the elephants and Marlena, one of the show's star performers, are heartwarming.

November 2007

It’s All About Him by Denise Jackson
(Reviewed by Linda)
Adult Biography
B Jackson
Denise Jackson, wife of country music icon, Alan Jackson, describes her spiritual journey. Money did not buy happiness for Denise. Developing a stronger faith did. The Jackson’s family story is detailed from their young marriage through Alan’s ascent to fame. An interesting read for Alan Jackson fans and those interested in Christian spiritual growth.

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
(Reviewed by Robin)
Adult Non-Fiction
394.12 POL
A natural history of four meals, by Michael Pollan In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan traces four types of meals back from the plate to their ultimate origins. A meal from McDonald's leads to discussion of the agro-industrial cornfields and feedlots of the Great Plains, the rise of corn and corn byproducts in the American diet, and the resultant economic and health impacts (but without being preachy). An organic meal from a big natural foods chain shows that when organic products increase in popularity their production methods become increasingly industrial. A locally grown meal from a small family farm that uses ingenious and old-fashioned stock rotations to achieve fully sustainable meat and poultry production was the most interesting to me. Finally, Pollan takes to the "wild" to forage a meal without the help of agriculture. A great read for foodies or anyone interested in environmental issues, nutrition, or the mechanics of the American food production and distribution system.

Bitter Grounds by Sandra Benitez
(Reviewed by Heather)
Adult Fiction
F BEN
This book tells the story of three generations of women in war-torn El Salvador. After losing most of their family during the massacres of 1932, Mercedes Prietas and her daughter Jacinta go to work for Elena de Contreras and her family, who own enormous coffee and cotton plantations. During the next 40 years, the women of both families help each other endure many hardships amid the country's political turmoil.

October 2007

Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman
(Reviewed by Linda)
Adult Fiction
F KEL
An absorbing tale about a teenager whom psychologist Alex Delaware treated for obsessive compulsive disorder as a child. Tanya returns to Delaware looking for help in deciphering an apparent deathbed confession to a crime from her mother.

The Departed by Martin Scorsese
(Reviewed by Dave)
DVD 791.43 DEP
Scorsese does in this movie what Alfred Hitchcock did in several of his (most notably in Shadow of a Doubt), which is to mirror two characters to uncomfortably question identity. Sullivan’s (played by Matt Damon) slick police identity gradually destabilizes and Costigan (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), turning into a frenzied embodiment of panic attacks, is roused into actually saying, “I just want my identity back.” And Mark Wahlberg’s character, Sgt. Dignam, is just quick, crude and cool, a suitable description of the overall identity of the film itself.

Sold by Patricia McCormick
(Reviewed by Chris)
Young Adult Fiction
YA MCC
An eye-opening well written novel that uses prose like descriptions of a 13 year old girl’s life in a mountain village of Nepal. Her life is poor but simple and innocent until her stepfather sends her away to a far away town where she thinks she will be working as a maid to help the family income. She then slowly realizes the harsh realities of the real world that she has been sold into.

The View from Mount Joy: a novel by Lorna Landvik
(Reviewed by Heather)
Adult Fiction
F LAN
In the beginning, one meets the narrator, Joe Andreson, who is a new student and senior at Minneapolis high school class of '72. Like everyone else, Joe has a crush on head cheerleader Kristi Casey. Kristi befriends him, when she feels like it. After graduation, they stay in touch from time to time, when she feels like it. Joe isn’t able to let go of his infatuation. With a twist of fate, Joe becomes a successful grocer. Surprising everyone, Kristi becomes a Bible-thumping radio/televangelist. Joe reconnects with his best friend from high school, Darva Pratt and comes to his senses. -Quirky and larger than life characters.

September 2007

The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer
(Reviewed by Dave)
Adult Fiction
F MAI
If you can get past the scatological preoccupation and the several-lessons worth of bee-keeping, this is a great book, very stylized and witty. It’s a fictionalized account of Hitler’s youth, told from the perspective of a demon whose job it is to nudge Hitler in the direction of Satan’s service. The spiritual fight between good and evil that characterizes the story allows for a psychoanalytic case study with surprising compatibility. It’s Norman Mailer’s last novel and definitely worth the read.

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
(Reviewed by Linda)
Adult Fiction
F COB
A mystery filled with humor, romance, suspense and twists. Myron Bolitar, sports agent, signs one of the most promising college football players in Deal Breaker. During contract negotiations the player receives a call from his missing and presumed dead fiancé

The Lost Painting: the quest for a Carvaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr
(Reviewed by Heather)
Non-fiction that reads like Fiction
759.5 HAR
In this book, Jonathan Harr, author of A Civil Action, takes the reader on an historical journey. The lost painting is by the artist, Caravaggio, a master of the Italian Baroque. The reader learns more about Carvaggio’s interesting life as a mystery unfolds. The “characters” include a young graduate student from