Book Review - Almost Friends by Philip Gulley

The sixth novel in the Harmony series finds Pastor Sam Gardner struggling with the issues of faith, community and loyalty. His Quaker congregation (known as "Friends") also struggles with similar issues when Sam takes a leave of absence to evaluate his future.
Philip Gulley paints a picture of a small town church community that fits into the mold of the "gentle read" genre perfectly. Filled with eccentric but endearing characters, humor and an uplifting story, Almost Friends is entertaining and satisfying. The reader will not find it necessary to have read the first five books in the series. Gulley re-caps his characters and traditions of the community in each novel without becoming redundant. Even though the setting is a church and Philip Gulley is, in real life, the pastor of the Fairfield Friends Meetinghouse in Camby, Indiana, the Harmony series is not "preachy" or "religious." The characters give Gulley enough fodder for clever humor; his message of tolerance, self-discovery and the need for community is universal. - Linda G.

Book Review - Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin

In the ancient times before Rome was founded on seven hills, a girl named Lavinia leads a simple life, tending the vestal fires and honoring her family’s household gods with salt and meal. But Lavinia is the daughter of the king of Latium, and it is not long before her father’s allies and rivals begin to fight over who will marry her. Lavinia will not choose among her suitors, though, because her father has heard a prophecy that fortells her marriage to a foreigner - a refugee from the fallen city of Troy who has been commanded by fate to conquer Latium and build a great city there, and plunge Latium into war in the process.

Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Le Guin turns her hand to history in this retelling of Vergil’s Aeneid, the epic poem dramatizing the Trojan War and the founding of Rome. In Vergil’s telling Lavinia, fated to marry the hero Aeneas, does not speak a single word. It is up to Le Guin to give voice to this vital character, fleshing out the peaceful world of her youth, the violence into which it descends, and her headstrong will to follow the fates.

Ursula K. Le Guin is the author of the award-winning Earthsea series, as well as children’s books including Catwings and several short story collections. Readers new to her science fiction may be interested in Four Ways to Forgiveness, four stories set in the world of her popular Hainish novels. - Michelle

Book Review - Mary

Mary, by Janis Cooke Newman, is an engrossing historical fiction novel about Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln. The author's meticulous research and attention to detail has produced a first-person narrative that comes across as autobiographical. History has not been kind to Mary Todd Lincoln. She has been described as insane, shrewd, conniving and compulsive - none of which are desirable qualities for a First Lady or any lady of the Victorian era. Mary had some good reasons to be somewhat neurotic and depressed; three of her four sons died at young ages due to disease, the Civil War wreaked havoc on the country, her husband was assassinated and her remaining son had her committed to an insane asylum. Victorian era women were expected to be quiet and demure; Mary was not. Raised in a political household, she used her knowledge to shape her troubled husband into a great orator and politician. To her chagrin, he never quite cared about outward appearances as much as she would have liked, but Mary adored her presidential spouse anyhow. After Lincoln’s death, Mary’s misery and grief deepened. She turned to the occult for clarity and laudanum for sleep. Her struggles were interpreted as "madness" and her son, Robert, had her committed to a lunatic asylum. With the help of a good friend and lawyer, Mary convinced her doctors that she was not insane and was released.
Janis Newman Cooke is a champion for Mary Todd Lincoln. She has taken this historically misunderstood figure and made her a lady who was ahead of her time. -Linda G.

Book review - Mistress of the Sun

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland is the story of Louise de la Valliére (b.1644-d.1710), one of King Louis XIV early but well-loved mistresses. As a young girl Louise (or "Petite") loves horses and uses forbidden dark magic to tame Diablo, a wild white stallion. This undercurrent of dark magic flows throughout the book which gives the story an unexpected twist and intrigue. The ambitions of Petite’s mother and stepfather land her in the service of Princess Henriette, the sister-in-law to King Louis XIV. The King is unhappily married to the ever-devout Spanish Queen Marie-Thérèse. To further complicate matters, he is also in love with Princess Henriette. Affairs and assignations run rampant in this 17th century French court and it is not long before Petite captures the heart of the King. Petite takes her love for Louis seriously but not the trappings of her life as his mistress; this poses an ethical dilemma for the young woman. Her search for peace and normalcy uncovers the dark underbelly of the French court and helps Petite realize that power/magic can be used for good or for evil.
Mistress of the Sun has all the qualities of a well crafted historical fiction novel. The story is rich in detail, the characters are real and intriguing and the opulence of early reign of the "Sun King" comes to life. -Linda G.

Appaloosa - The Movie

Unfortunately Appaloosa- the movie- is nowhere near the entertaining quality of Appaloosa-the book by Robert B. Parker. If I were an academic snob, I would say this is because Robert B. Parker has a PhD. in English Literature and is not a product of Hollywood screenplay writing. Instead, I’ll just say that the screenplay, when compared to the book, seems to have gone through the Salem Witch Trials. To promote character development, Robert B. Parker expertly utilized that human Achilles heel called sex. For whatever reason, almost all of this is deleted from the movie. The end result is a flick without zest that borders on boredom! If you want to see the last great Hollywood Western, check out 3:10 to Yuma (the 2007 movie starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe) and leave Appaloosa to the New England Puritans. - Henry

League of Women Voters' Voter Guides

They're finally here! We have print copies of the League of Women Voters' Voter Guide (explaining the state ballot measures) at the Downtown Library, and you can also find them online at the League of Women Voters' website.

Don't forget that October 6 is the deadline to register or update your registration in time to vote in the November 4 General Election! If you have an Arizona driver license, you should be able to register to vote online at servicearizona.com, or you can pick up a registration form at the library.

Banned Books Week

Celebrate your freedom to read! September 27 - October 4 is Banned Books Week. Are you curious about which books have been banned this past year? Or what authors have been banned the most? Visit the American Library Association's Banned Books Week website to learn more about this important celebration.