Staff Picks

Alexis at Basha suggests One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
(on audio)
This book was great from beginning until the very last page. Based on the scenario of, "What if the American government had given 1,000 White women to the Cheyenne tribe for peace?" The book is told by May Dodd a woman unjustly incarcerated in a women's insane asylum and finds that the Indian bride program will be her only way of escaping. The book is written like a diary, but flows with great ease. With some history, adventure and romance this book will keep readers turning each page wanting more. And I know this is probably breaking some kind of library law somewhere, but after listening to the audio I cannot imagine reading it with the same amount of enthusiasm as the audiobook reader does. Each character is perfectly portrayed by the audiobook reader and I would not have had it any other way!


Michelle at Sunset suggests The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing by Sumbul Ali-Karamali
If you could sit down with an American Muslim mom and talk to her about her religion, what would you ask? Ali-Karamali talks about her experience growing up Muslim in Southern California, explains the basic facts and history of Islam, and discusses the media's misconceptions about Islam and why they persist. A fascinating introduction to an often misunderstood topic.

Audiobook Review: Loser's Town by Daniel Depp

A literary winner who feels like a loser in Loser’s Town by Daniel Depp, read by Don Leslie, reviewed by Star Lawrence.

New stuff in town. That town would be Hollywood, of course, where Robert Mitchum once said losers come to succeed. Daniel Depp is the author. Depp, Depp—yes, he’s Johnny Depp’s half-brother and a darn fun writer. His new series character is David Spandau, a stuntman turned mavericky employee of a staid bodyguard and security firm in Tinsel Town.

I absolutely fell in love with Don Leslie, this reader. He has a slowish, distinct, bass voice and sounds very wry and precise, perfect for describing this Pulp Fiction-like cast of characters, who ruminate or blab on as juicily as Royale with DOUBLE cheese. Elmore Leonard—do you feel Depp’s hot breath on your neck?

The plot is a little sketchy. Spandau is hired by an up-and-coming young actor named Bobby Dye, who is in the clutches of a mob punk named Richie Stella. Everyone smooches Dye’s butt except Spandau, who prefers to protect it instead. Something about a personal code of honor or something.

I particularly liked Spandau’s friend Terry, an Irishman short of stature but gifted in talk, lovemaking, and the martial arts. What more could a woman ask, really? Of course, he is a little bit of a loose Howitzer.

We want more Spandau! And be quick! Terry? Well…Terry. You’ll find out..

Star Lawrence owns a recession coping and humor site called Do the Hopey Copey, at http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com. She can be reached at jkellaw@aol.com.

Staff Picks

Katie at Downtown suggests Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones de Sierra

Follows the fortunes of the Estanyol family in medieval Barcelona, whose rise from peasantry is marked by their stoneworker son's role in building the Santa Maria del Mar cathedral and his forbidden love for a Jewish woman.

Ray at Sunset suggests The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter

A collection of vignettes set in a coffee shop explores the subtle movements of love between ordinary people.

In Search Of..

Do you like reading books about women who are on a search for something different in their lives? Whether it's love, money, a home or peace of mind, each of the books below illuminates the author's search for fulfillment and might give you inspiration to change your own life.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

The classic book of one woman's adventure renovating a crumbling, but beautiful house in Cortona, Italy. You can also watch the movie made from this book starring Diane Lane.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

When her marriage falls apart, one woman goes in search of peace in Italy, India and Indonesia. This book is also being made into a movie, which will be released in 2011 and stars Julia Roberts.

The Wishing Year by Noelle Oxenhandler

This book details the author's year-long experiment in wishing. Can practicing positive thoughts and the law of attraction really bring good things to your life?

A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena di Blasi

An American chef falls in love with a surly Venetian and learns to adapt to him, her marriage, and her move to Venice.

The Guynd by Belinda Rathbone

An American woman's experiences in Scotland, where she marries a Scottish laird and deals with living in a mouldering, damp mansion.

Book Review: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

In Remember Me?, Chick Lit author, Sophie Kinsella does a thorough job of placing our heroine, Lexi Smart, in a very unique and interesting situation. This average working girl, with “snaggle teeth and fizzy hair” accidentally falls down running in the rain and the year is 2004. The bump on her head causes “retrograde amnesia,” therefore, poor Lexi cannot remember a three year chunk of her life after the 2004 fall, due to the fact she was in yet another accident, three years later, which left her with a similar concussion in 2007. Confused? You won’t be with Kinsella’s lighthearted tone, and appealing characters to clarify our heroine’s dilemma. Lexi cannot remember one major event of her new “Cinderella-like” life, not her meteoric rise up the corporate ladder at her company, her marriage to “perfect husband,” Eric, or her transformation into a “swan” from a “snaggletooth.” Lexi does realize with the loss of her two dress sizes and “quaint single-girl” apartment, she also lost her three best friends as well.
Half way through Lexi’s quandary enters Jon, Eric’s architect for his building development company. Not remembering any detail of her last three years, Lexi must make a decision about the true love Jon is professing to her, or try even harder to fit into her new ultra-elite lifestyle and career. The reader truly is entertained and fighting for Lexi to make the “right” decisions and be true to her values and who she really is on the inside. Remember Me? is a great beach read for the summer, to take you away from real life. - Kathy (Hamilton)

Staff Pick

Meredith from Basha suggests The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson.

Laurel Gray Hawthorne's life seems neatly on track--a passionate marriage, a treasured daughter, and a lovely home in suburban Victorianna--until everything she holds dear is suddenly thrown into question the night she is visited by the ghost of a her 13-year old neighbor Molly Dufresne.

Budgeting and Debt Management

In this perilous economic climate it is more important than ever to have a budget and to manage your debt. Join us at the Downtown library this Thursday, June 18 for tips on how to become more successful at these tasks. Gabriella Buchanan from Credit Counseling Services will present strategies for tracking your own expenses, developing a realistic budget, and handling debt responsibly. Register online here or call 782-2803 for more information.

Budgeting and Debt Management
Thursday, June 18
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Downtown Chandler Library

Staff Pick

Amy at Hamilton suggests The Intruders by Michael Marshall
Traveling to Seattle when his wife goes missing during a business trip, Jack Whalen uncovers unsettling truths and is enlisted by a childhood friend to untangle other mysteries involving a businessman's will and the disappearance of a young girl.

The Lost Symbol

The sequel to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, will finally be released on September 15. The library now has a record for it in our catalog so you are able place a hold on it. Click here to get on the waiting list!

If You Like Jodi Picoult..

Jodi Picoult is one of America's most popular authors and she is just about to get hotter as the movie based on her book, My Sister's Keeper, comes out on June 26. Her novels center on "ripped from the headlines" issues that create conflicting feelings and a strong emotional response. If you've read all of her novels and are looking for books that are similar, try one of the titles below:

The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg

Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian

Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Awake by Elizabeth Graver

Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson

Disobedience by Jane Hamilton

Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman

Properties of Water by Ann Hood

The Inn at Lake Devine by Eleanor Lipman

Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller

The Four Temperaments by Yona Zeldis McDonough

A Theory of Relativity by Jacqueline Mitchard

Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson

The River Road by Karen Osborn

Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

Black and White by Dani Shapiro

Light on Snow by Anita Shreve

Daughter's Keeper by Ayelet Waldman

Book Review: Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker

Bruno Courreges is the chief of police in St. Denis, a small village in the Dordogne region of France. When an elderly Arab gentleman is viciously murdered in his cottage, Bruno immediately suspects a hate crime and begins to investigate the National Front, a right-wing organization known for their abhorrence of immigrants. Soon, Bruno is pushed aside by bigwigs from Paris who want to take charge of this high-profile crime. Bruno, however, knows the locals and the village so well that he proceeds to solve the case single-handedly. This novel seems at first to be mystery-lite. The main draw of the book is its descriptions of the local area and its “Frenchiness”. Bruno is a wonderful character who I’ve included on my short-list of literary dream men (which also includes Dawsey Adams from the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society). I quite loved reading about his bravery, his intelligence, and his skill with a spatula. I also enjoyed reading about the quirkiness of the proudly French characters. Though there are definite aspects of the cozy mystery about this book, Walker does illuminate the problems facing modern France and doesn't spare the reader a look at the dark side of French society. The crime itself is tied to a particularly heinous event in French history. If you like mysteries that are not violent or dark, but aren't too sweet either, or if you like mysteries with a lot of local color, try Bruno, Chief of Police.
-Anbolyn (Downtown)

Find a Good Book

The adult summer reading program, Master the Art of Reading, allows customers to participate online and also allows you to write reviews of your summer reading books. This is a great way to find book suggestions because you can read your fellow library customers' reviews! Just go to our summer reading page and scroll down until you see the reviews. You just may find that perfect book you've been looking for. And while you're there, why not participate yourself for a chance to win prizes?

Choosing the Right Breed of Dog for Your Family

Have you wanted a dog and just didn’t know what breed was right for your family? We have the perfect program for you to attend! This coming Monday, June 8, the Hamilton Library is hosting Choosing the Right Breed of Dog for Your Family from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. “Chris Nolting brings 20 years of Dog Behavior Training to discuss with you breed types, along with how to instill good behavior in your dog and strategies to deal with those not so good other behaviors. Information the whole family can enjoy!” If you can’t attend the program or just want to supplement your knowledge of this subject, try one of the books below:


Choosing a Dog by Kim Campbell Thornton

New Dog: Choosing Wisely and Ensuring a Happy Ever After by Bruce Fogle

Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family by Brian Kilcommons

The Simple Guide to Choosing a Dog by Diane Morgan

Your Dream Dog: A Guide to Choosing the Right Breed for You by Bashkim Dibra

Choosing the Right Breed of Dog for Your Family
Hamilton Library
Monday, June 8
6:30 – 7:30 pm
No registration required
Call 480-782-2822 for more information

A Small Slice of Life

Sometimes history can be daunting so why not break it down into a smaller slice? Micro-histories are accounts of a specific item or event that focus on that subject within the context of the larger historical events of the time period. Try one of the following micro-histories this summer and make history fun!

Bananas: An American History by Virginia Scott Jenkins

Big Cotton: How a Humble Fiber Created Fortunes, Wrecked Civilizations and Put America on the Map by Stephen Yafa

Coal: A Human History by Barbara Freese

Cod: A Biography of a Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky

Crying: The Natural and Cultural History of Tears by Tom Lutz

Electric Universe: The Shocking True Story of Electricity by David Bodanis

Glass: From the First Mirror to Fiber Optics, the Story of the Substance That Changed the World by William Ellis

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel

One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw by Witold Rybczynski

The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance by Henry Petroski

Olives: The Life and Lore of a Noble Fruit by Mort Rosenblum

Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

The Secret Life of Dust: From the Cosmos to the Kitchen Counter by Hannah Holmes

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Tank: The Progress of a Monstrous War Machine by Patrick Wright

Tobacco: A Cultural History of How an Exotic Plant Seduced Civilization by Iain Gately

The True History of Chocolate by Sophie Coe

Vanilla: The Cultural History of the World’s Favorite Flavor and Fragrance by Patricia Rain

Book Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The latest novel by Lisa See continues her focus on Chinese culture, but this novel is relatively modern compared to her others. The story begins in 1937 in Shanghai and centers on two sisters, Pearl and May, best friends and "beautiful girls" who model for calendars and live the good life in Shanghai, earning their own money, frequenting dance clubs and spending large chunks of money on expensive Western dresses. All good things must come to an end though, so when their father loses the family money while gambling, the sisters are sold off in marriage to repay their father's debts. At the same time, the Japanese army invades China. The rest of the novel relates the tale of their escape from China and their struggle to connect with their new family while experiencing poverty and racism in the United States. See is an engaging storyteller who keeps the busy plot moving in a swift and concentrated manner. Her characterization is nearly flawless as she brings Pearl and May to life, rarely resorting to cliche. It was fascinating to read about the experience of Chinese immigration in the early twentieth century and how hard it was for the Chinese to be accepted in this country. If you enjoy multi-generational family sagas or reading about Chinese culture, this would be the book to put on your summer reading list. - Anbolyn (Downtown)