Book Review: Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best

Henry loves tennis, but she's not crazy about her real name (Henriette) and she really doesn't like being from New Jersey. Her best friend, ballet student Eva, tells her she has to learn how to stand up to the jokes, that if she can survive Jersey, she can survive anything, and to just keep telling herself, "Jersey tomatoes are the best." But while Eva seems confident and strong, her real life is spiralling out of control.

Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best is a teen novel that alternates between Henry and Eva, each telling their stories as they navigate their complicated lives, their sometimes difficult parents, and the competitive worlds of tennis and ballet. Like many teen "issues" books, this one takes on weighty topics including anorexia and the pressue to have sex, but the engaging voices of the narrators keep the book always entertaining and never preachy. The author's gift of description is also a plus, and her depictions of the characters' beloved sports made this reviewer - who has never successfully hit a tennis ball in her life - feel as if she was part of the game. - Michelle (Sunset)

DVD Review: Unstoppable

Unstoppable is a suspenseful thriller that transforms a freight train into a thunderous villain, with Denzel Washington and Chris Pine as unique supporting characters along for the ride. From the first minutes, our “bad guy” train is moving and is not going to stop for anything. As the uncontrollable behemoth barrels down rural Pennsylvania track, we learn the engineers’ back stories, while the train creates havoc for the station house and corporate executives responsible for this mammoth monster’s destruction. Director Tony Scott includes a comprehensive documentary on the making of the film that is not to be missed. Using real, life-size trains for all stunts and action sequences is what makes Unstoppable not only believable but fun to watch. This film is rated PG-13 for intense scenes and language. - Kathy (Downtown)

New Arrivals: Insight Guides

Whether you're planning a vacation or you're just an armchair traveler, you'll love Insight Guides. Much more than just a list of destinations, Insight Guides include background information about a country's culture and history, a fascinating addition for the educated traveler, besides being useful for students doing country reports. Insight guides are also beautifully illustrated with full-color photos on nearly every page. Interspersed throughout each guide are recommended hotels, restaurants, and other attractions.

New Insight Guides that arrived this week include China, Cuba, and Norway. Or you can search our catalog for Insight Guides for a complete list.

Audiobook Review: Caribou Island

The last frontier of relationships? A review of Caribou Island, by David Vann, read by Bronson Pinchot, and reviewed by Star Lawrence (also available as a book) In the interest of TMI, let me reveal that I spent a decade of my life with a man who was a “dreamer” with limited follow-though. I also tended to martyr out from time to time and still do. Maybe this is why I can’t get David Vann’s Caribou Island out of my mind, but I tend to think it’s more because this is good storytelling—if you define that as making the reader always wonder what comes next, what will happen, then what. But by good storytelling, I don’t mean it's easy to take. In loosely wandering between the stories of a couple who had settled into the icy wilds of Alaska decades before and now are picking at the remains of their relationship, along with their two grown children and two tourists—Caribou Island is a study in endurance, missed connections, stunted emotional growth, and escapism. A friend once chided me for recommending a book in which animals suffered, so fair warning—the people do most of the suffering in this one, but there is mention of a starved dog and many, many salmon have a bad time of it. Did I “enjoy” this book? I can’t get it out of my mind. Is that the same? One more thing. I can’t read novels anymore, so I listened to Bronson Pinchot read this. He does a perfect job—perfect! You might want to take a flyer on audio with this one. Star Lawrence owns two blogs— http://healthsass.blogspot.com/ and a recession site called http://dothehopeycopey.blogspot.com/. She is a long-time reporter.

Food Books Roundup

New this week at the Chandler Library are several food-related books:

How Italian Food Conquered the World

How did Italian food go from a workday cuisine commom only among immigrants to a worldwide phenomenon that has put a pizza place in almost every country and an ethnic cookbook in every would-be gourmet's kitchen? This dense and thoroughly researched history of Italian food provides an answer. From the tiny eateries opened by new Americans to celebrity restaurants and famous wineries, the spread of Italian food in America and other countries is covered in detail. Recipes are featured throughout the book for readers who want to re-create the meals described. It even includes a history of food in various Italian regions from Roman times to the 19th century, which may be useful to students doing country reports.

Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies

Sloane Miller has spent her life dealing with numerous food allergies, and she brings her experience to a book that's part memoir and part medical guide. How are allergies diagnosed and treated? How do you deal with the stress of choosing meals and the fear of eating something bad? How do you get your family and friends to understand what you can and can't eat? How do you handle those office parties and holiday dinners? Each of these questions is answered with personal recommendations and a useful checklist at the end of each chapter.

The Essential Diabetes Cookbook

There are many diabetes cookbooks, but few so gorgeously illustrated with such indulgent-looking, gourmet-style food. Flavors from around the world come together to make healthy recipes including Curried Pickled Eggs, New Potatoes with Marckerel, Spice and Rice, and Citrus and Honey Cheesecake. While some of the ingredient lists can be long, most of the preparation instructions are suprisingly simple.

Book Review: Growing Up Laughing

The back cover is almost more entertaining than the front of Marlo Thomas’ autobiography, Growing Up Laughing (also available as a downloadable ebook). Thomas interviews other contemporary comics and weaves their stories and philosophy into her own life story. We get to look inside the minds of Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, and others. Thomas allows the reader to understand what makes these famous funnymen (and women) hit the road and do “stand up” for 160 shows a year, whether constantly yearning for parental approval and laughter, or just needing the admiration of an audience night after night.

Growing up as the daughter of 1940s/50s entertainment icon Danny Thomas, Marlo is driven to continue the family business on her own terms. She delves into her personal involvement with the feminist movement in the 70s, and shares with readers her continued work with her father’s charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Readers will enjoy a litany of jokes and personal memories from Marlo and many other great comics we currently enjoy. - Kathy (Downtown)

New Arrivals

Spring can be a time for getting out, starting new projects, and focusing on sports and fitness, and new books that arrived this week at the Chandler Library will encourage you in these activities.

Crafts and Gardening
The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making
175 Fresh Card Ideas
Tomorrow's Garden

Fitness and Sports
You Are Your Own Gym
Essential Golf Skills
Shoot Like the Pros [Basketball]
The Anatomy of Martial Arts