February 2012 

Although it pains me to write this, I haven't read all that many of the Classics. As both a librarian and an English major, I am embarrassed by this fact. I came to my love of reading later in life, choosing to be an English teacher more because of my enjoyment of grammar than my love of literature. So, as a result, I've been playing catch-up for many years now...and I'm still very far behind where many of  my peers are insofar as their reading resume is concerned. That's why I was very excited when our faculty book club selected Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James as our next book. Who is P.D. James you might ask? Well, she isn't one of the masters of world literature. However, she is an extremely talented and very popular British author and crime novelist with the title OBE (Order of the British Empire) after her name. Not Austen, but she's legit. So, who better, then, to pick up where Jane Austen left off at the end of Pride and Prejudice, complete with Austen's tone and style. So, although this book isn't a CLASSIC, it made me feel better because it kinda sorta felt like one!

Death Comes to Pemberley begins with a proper introduction of Austen's characters from Pride and Prejudice and catches the reader up with what's been going on since the close of the venerable classic to the present time period of the book, the year 1803. James open the book with an apology to Austen, just to set the stage: "I owe an apology to the shade of Jane Austen," she writes in her author's note, "for involving her beloved Elizabeth in the trauma of a murder investigation…" And thus Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley, and Lydia and Mr. Wickham,  are thrust into an event which Austen never dabbled in: murder. 

The real action of the book begins on the eve of the annual Pemberley Ball as many of the guests are dining and anticipating the next day's glorious events. Unexpectedly Lydia arrives in a whirlwind of a careening coach, alone with just the driver, and without Mr. Wickham. Condisering that the Wickhams had not been invited to the ball, this was indeed an unexpected event. As the plot quickly unfolds, we learn that Mr. Wickham's friend, Mr. Denny, as been murdered in the woodland on the Pemberley property, and Mr. Wickham is suspected of committing the crime.

Mr. Darcy, always proper and noble,  retrieves the magistrate and begins a proper investigation into the true details of this crime while Elizabeth maintains Pemberley and manages her distraught sister and, quite possibly, her murderer of a husband.  Murder aside, everything is as it should be. A full investigation ensues all while the propriety of true English aristocracy attempts to maintain the dignity of hearth and home amidst a true scandal. 

November, December, and January...Oh My!

I have no excuse for where those last few months disappeared to, but, fortunately for me, they did include some reading! I seem to be stuck in a historical frame-of-mind as everything I've read (outside of my Mix Club selection) seems to be of the historical nature. So, if you are anti-history, stop reading now. Just kidding. Keep reading, you might learn something, just like I did!

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks is a true gem of historical fiction. Brooks yet again embraces a time and place often gone untouched by historians, and I now feel smarter for having read it. Just as in The People of the Book, she skillfully pains us a picture of a people and a time gone but not forgotten.

Caleb's Crossing is loosely based on what little is known about the life of Caleb Cheeshahteaumauk, the first Native American graduate of Harvard College. In the 17th century, on the island now known as Martha's Vineyard, a young girl named Bethia struggles to balance her innate intelligence with the subservience expected of her by the Puritan society in which she lives. She begins an unlikely and secretive friendship with Caleb, a "savage" boy who is a member of the Wompanoag tribe. Learning one another's language, they also introduce one another to their vastly different ways of life. Bethia tells both his story and her own through many triumphs and tragedies, both on their unfriendly island and on the mainland as she follows both Caleb and her brother to Harvard. Bound by the chains of her womanhood in that time and place, Bethia operates within those confines while still seeking knowledge and equality at every turn. It is at Harvard that she finds true "enlightenment"...and love...all the while supporting and facilitating Caleb's endeavor to become the first "savage" to graduate from the first and only college in America.



One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus continued the Native American theme, just jumping ahead a few centuries. I am always intrigued with books written in the journal format, and this book was no exception. Loosely based upon an historical even that never acutally happend, the author draws upon history to create a beautiful picture of "What If?"

1,000 white women for 1,000 Native American horses. That was the deal. A highly esteemed Cheyene chief suggested this transfer between the Great White Government and the Cheyene tribe in order to introduce and integrate the two cultures. As a matrilineal culture, that would mean that the babies which would inevitably spring forth from this arrangement would be raised in their mother's culture, thus joining the societies irrevocably. Historically, this never happened. It was suggested and quickly dismissed as utter lunacy. However, One Thousand White Women is the account of what MIGHT have happened if it actually had happened.

May Dodd  captures her account of this unique adventure. Committed to a Chicago insane asylum by her upper-class family for loving a man beneath their standards, May finds her path to freedom by agreeing to particpate in this secret program where women from the "civilized" world are to become the brides of "savagee" Cheyenne warriors. Through the pages of her journal we trace May's passionate romance with a young Army captain, her marriage to the tribe's cheif, Little Wolf, and the great conflict and pain that arises from being stuck between two worlds and having loyalty to both. The friendships May forms with the other women who accompany her on this adventure provide her with love, support, and a real family for the first time in her tumultous life. With a cast of truly memorable and unique characters, Fergus has painted a vivid yet disturbing picture of the American West during a time of great conflict and carnage.

Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz jumps us ahead another few centuries in history and leaves behind the Native American theme, instead delving back into one of my other favorite historical events, the Civil War. A non-fiction book born from the author's boyhood passion for all things War-Between-The-States, Horwitz sets forth on a search for the places deep within the South that still embrace the Lost Cause with ritualistic zeal and an almost religious fervor.

Horowitz starts his journey in Virginia with a band of hard-core reeenactors who go to amazing lengths to recapture the authenticity of the time. Employing strategies such as crash dieting, sleeping in the freezing cold with only one another's body heat to keep warm, and using their own urine to achieve the proper patina on their uniform button, we meet many colorful and "enthusiastic" individuals whose one goal is to accurately re-create the exact circumstances of that day. He visits Andersonville and learns about the infamous prison's commander. The man, who was executed as a war criminal is actually held in high esteem and viewed by most as a martyr and hero in this town. From Klu Klux Klan rallies in Kentucky to Gettysburg to Appomattox Courthouse, Horwitz brings many of the battlefields, towns, and courthouses to life as he seeks out those whose undying quest is to keep them alive for our future generations.

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assissination That Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

I was really excited to read this book as I'd heard many good things about it, but in the media and from people I trust. Or, should I say...TRUSTED. Billed as a "new Lincoln assissination thriller, " I supposed it does hold up its end on the "thriller" part of the bargin. However, I could not get past the glaring factual inaccuracies that were throughout the book. As a student of history by choice, there are certain things that just cannot be flubbed. Just a few examples of egregious inaccuracies:

1. There were many scenes in the book set in the Oval Office. However, the Oval Office was not built until 1909.

2. The book states clearly that Lee and Grant never met at Appomattox. Howeve,r this is false. They actually met many times to discuss many things.

3.  And, less terrible....the fire at Ford Theater happened in 1862, not 1863.  

Honestly, as a story, I enjoyed tracing the timeline of Lincoln's last days and the war itself through the last two weeks of his life. I did learn a few things about Grant's pursuit of Lee from Petersburg to Appomattox. However, even that leaves me wondering: "Was it true?"

I'd not recommend this to a student or even a friend as misinformation is worse than no information at all. As much as I wanted to really, really like this book, you'd be better served to just stick to the history textbooks

Here I am, in the waning days of November, and I have not written about my reading since September. Do not take that lament to mean that I have read so much as to be throroughly drowned with work in order to catch up. Much to the contrary. The fall of 2011 has not afforded me much time to escape in my love of literature. However, as is often the case, I heretofore solemnly vow to change that trend. Hopefully, someday soon, it will snow, ice, sleet, hail, and flood...all at once...and I'll be forced to retreat to my couch with a warm cup of coffee, a nice snuggly blanket, and a stack of books just yearning to be cracked open. Until then, let's catch up...

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood is a feel-good

book which I quickly identified with as a nearly life-long

resident of smalltown America. Set in the Upper

Peninsula of Michigan, the setting itself almost acted

as another character in the book with which the reader

became quickly enamored. A beatiful yet brutal

dichotomy, the UP is both friend and foe as Madeline Stone
quickly discovers. After walking away from her life in Chicago
and into the small, remote town of her forefathers, she is not
fully prepared for just how much her life is bound to change.
As the caretaker for her an aging pair of sisters bound by the
loose ties of her long-lost family, Madeline becomes bound by
ties of frienship. Both Gladys and Arbutus win her love and devotion as they endure the
drama and hardships in this town where tough-times abound but frienship and loyalty are
the threads that keep their close-knit tapestry woven tightly.

Althouth Airgood leaves much room for character development, she does a mighty fine job
of capturing the beauty and foboding that is the UP of Michigan. Many of her characters will
stick with the reader and will be easily compared to those you or I might know from our own
hometowns. Airgood hones in on the real-ness of caring for one another, truly focusing on the
fact that true happiness comes from the small things in life and from the relationships we create
no matter what the circumstance of our lives.

What I've Been Reading Lately...

With summer behind me and another year off to a great, busy, and hectic start, I've neglected keeping up my more-usually-than-not reliable reporting of books I've been reading. Thus, I'm going to mash up all the books I've read recently into one post!

Motivational Reading Materials....Everyone Needs 'Em:



Since running is a passion of mine, I often enjoy reading about it, too. It's a rather simple formula...Passion (reading) + Passion (running) = Awesome! These two books gave me a lot of positive thoughts and were wonderful to read in order to justify (enable?) spending so much time doing something that seems so odd and pointless to so many others. I'd recommend them both, but only if you like running. That's obvious.

Non-Fiction Favorites:



The memoir is my favorite genre of all-time, and if you follow this blog at all you'll know that finding a funny memoir is about as important to me as a good red velvet cupcake, ya know? Well, Bossypants by Tina Fey is red velvet with sprinkles. I laughed myself silly throughout this entire book! I listened to the audio version which Tina Fey narrates herself and it was as good as seeing her doing stand-up on SNL. I actually limited myself to 2 chapters a day so that I could prolong the humor as long as possible.

Let's Take the Long Way Home was a wonderful memoir of the intimacy of true friendship. As someone who has found my conspirator in friendship, I basked in the author's description of how she met her best friend, how it developed through common careers, hobbies, and their love and regard for one another. Her account of how their friendship became a guidepost through her friend's terminal illness was heart-wrenching and poignant. This book reminds us all to not take a moment for granted and to always let those you love the most know it...perpetually.



Eric Larsen is one of my favorite authors of narrative historical non-fiction. The author of Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck, Larsen chooses to examine life in Berlin during Hitler's rise to power, before WWII. Through the lives of the American ambassador to Germany's family, Larsen examines just how Hitler was able to sway so many seemily good and sane people to follow him and commit crimes of such unimaginable magnitude against their fellow citizens and, eventually, the entire world.

Scout, Atticus, and Boo is a collection of essays by well-known people (actresses, tv personalities, authors, etc.) reflecting on the importance of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird on both their personal lives and society in general. TKM is one of my all-time favorite books, and, it seems, I am not alone in holding it in such high regard.

Fiction:

Although I'd not recommend taking the time to read The Girls She Used to Be when there are so many other books out there way more deserving of your time, I did enjoy the plot of this book. The book follows the life of Melody McAllister (aka Kim, Shelly, Ann, Lynn, etc.) who has been in the Federal Witness Protection Program since she was six years old and her family witnessed a mob muder and turned state's evidence against powerful mob boss John Bovaro. I enjoyed the mob-out-to-get-innocent-girl aspect of the book, but the writing was mediocre and predictable.

Divergent, on the other hand, was a wondefully written YA book which I'd classify as a Hunger Games read-alike. Although predicable, too, (Teenage angst/parental discord/love) I enjoyed the idea of a post-appocolyptic Chicago as the setting for a dystopian world. The plot was also compelling in that the society was formed into factions dictated by the character of the citizens. This is the first in a trilogy by Veronica Roth that I anticipate reading.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris - This collection of essays is based on the diary which Sedaris has kept every day for some thirty-odd years. Moving back and forth through David's life from childhood to his troubled adolescence to his strange new life as a literary icon, the quirky, odd, and ultimately hilarious hodge-podge of every day life within the Sadaris clan gives each reader a reason to both draw uncanny comparisons to his or her own familial sitatuions as well as laugh out loud in that no-holds-barred, tear-enducing sort of fashion.
I'd started this book several years ago upon the recommendation of a collegue and feel a bit sad that I had not finished it until just now. In the same fashion of my most favorite authors, the witty, hilarious, snarky memoir is something I intensely enjoy. Now that I am on to Sedaris, I will keep reading his other works and plan for a particularly funny summer of reading!

700 Sundays by Billy Crystal - When Billy Crystal was 9, he saw his first stand-up comic. It was in the Catskills, and the guy's material is so-so: "He comes home, finds his best friend in bed with his wife and says, 'Lenny, I have to. But you?' " It was in that moment that the young Billy find his life's calling: "I say to myself, 'I could never play baseball like Mickey Mantle ever, but this I could do.' I memorized his act instantly."
Crystal tells that story in 700 Sundays the memoir of the 700 Sundays he spent with his father before his untimely death when Billy was 15. Through laughter and tears we see the funny childhood that formed the hilarious comedian we all know today.

I read this book quickly and enjoyed it immensely. The funny memoir is my favorite genre, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a light, quick read.

If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster - Anticipating my favorite author's first foray into fiction, I was estatic when I learned she would be including my local bookstore in Buckhead on her promotion tour to kick off its release. After racing from work to the bookstore, I was among the first to get my golden ticket (allbeit pink if we are getting literal). Jen is an amazingly funny author, and her book discussion and Q & A did not dissappoint. After too many years of following her blog, reading her books, and virtually stalking her brother (more about that later...maybe!), finally getting to meet her and chat for just a moment was a memory I'll never forget. Picture to come later...

Now for the book...

Gangster neighbors and a landlord akin to Paris Hilton force, nay, ENCOURAGE our main characters Mac and Mia (Fletch and Jen?) to flee city life in search of the greener pastures and tiled foyers of Chicago's northern elite suburbs. Mia, a young adult writer of a teenage amish zombie series (yup, you read that correctly) and Fletch, an engineer with WAY too much vacation time. With visions of travertine marble, gabled roofs, and chandeliers, Mia and Mac set out on their quest for the perfect first home for them and their menagerie of animals. After a tireless search they find their dream home, also known as the home used as the set in John Hughes' movie "Sixteen Candles." Whoever said you can't judge a book by its cover is right. But, in this case, you can't choose the cover by the book, either. What looks like a home that will require minor repairs turns into the proverbial money pit, complete with toilets raining from the ceiling, mold, ants, $45 light bulbs, a safe-room with a broken doorknob, and neighbors hell-bent on getting revenge over ornamantal cabbages.

My take on the book:

If I could be objective I'd probably comment upon how this book is just too over-the-top to be believable in any way. From the never-ending supply of money Mia and Mac seem to have to the Moltov cocktails their gangster neighbor attempts (and fails) to chuck at them while they still live in the city, the scenes seem to get more and more out-there. However, THIS IS fiction and THIS IS Jen Lancaster. With a little coaxing I could believe this is non-fiction with her track record. For me, I loved the book, not just because I love Jen and all things Jen, but because it is where I am at in my life now, too. Moving from the city to the suburbs, the right of passage that is buying your first home, the love affair one can maintain with travertine marble tile. I get it. And, in true Jen style, she keeps her snarky footnotes and off-the-cuff attitude in her writing. I don't think this one will win too many literary awards, but it was at #14 on the NYT Bestseller list after week 1. Her fans are ever faithful. Kudos, Jen!

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton - Michael is what's known as "boxman" --code for safecracker. After a minor brush with the law after picking a lock so that some jocks could trash the house of a rival football player, Michael spends a fateful summer learning the art of being a boxman from the Ghost. After using his own uncanny talent with what the Ghost has taught him, Michael is forced to put his safecracking skills to use in order to protect the girl he loves. When he gets a call, he goes. No questions asked.

As a child, Michael survived a tragic event involving his parents. Although the event goes unnamed for much of the book, the brutality of it left Micheal unable (or unwilling?) to utter a word...which makes him the perfect criminal. A skilled artist, Micheal commits to continuing his safecracking in order to protect his true love and artistic counterpart, Amelia. Indeed, it is Amelia's father who introduces him to his live of true crime, so Micheal has no choice but to go along with the plan. His unwilling life of crime leads him across the nation doing jobs for hard-core criminals until he is presented with a way out...a very dangerous way out.

This book was our last student book club selection of the year, chosen jointly with the students at Shoals Jr-Sr HS. An Alex Award winner, this book is an adult book suitable for older teen readers. Although it did have some language, my students really enjoyed this gripping novel!

Valley Forge by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen - The second book in the George Washington series, Valley Forge recounts the grim existence of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-1778. Mired down in Valley Forge, PA, George Washington was saddled with saving and rebuilding an army that had reached the point of breaking. Undernourished, improperly clothed, and utterly defeated by the lack of organized support from Congress, Washington and his troops endure a brutal winter of disease and the elements. With causualities beyond compare, these brave forefathers managed to build shelter, forage for food, and after surviving the worst of these hardships, managed to rebuild their regiments into fighting forces capable of driving the British from the shores of our fair nation.

Not the very best historical fiction I've ever read, but the story was compelling, especially since I have recently visited Mt. Vernon and have learned a lot about George Washington. I don't think I'd take the time to read the first or the third books in this series, but I am glad I kept with this one as I feel much better versed on such an important time in our nation's history.

Recently Read...

I've not been doing a great job of keeping up with blogging about my reading, and to be honest, I have not been doing a lot of reading in and of itself over the past few months. However, here is a quick rundown of the books I did get around to reading (either in print or on audio).

The Long Run by Matt Long - I picked this book up on a leisurly Saturday evening spent sitting in Borders. I'd read about Matt, and his forthcoming book, in Runners World in October, and was astounded with his story. When I saw it on the display at the bookstore, I thought I'd skim it for a bit. I had no intentions of spending my money on it, as book money seems to be quite the commodity these days, and I've become much more selective with my purchases. I knew the story. End of story. Oh how very wrong I was. Needless to say, I ended up purchasing the book and encouraged my friend Sue (who would be running the New York City Marathon in just a few weeks) to read it also. What followed was a wonderful trip through my own running memories by revisiting both the city and the sport I love the most through the words of an incredibly inspiring and amazing man.

Matt's story begins with a race. Not just any race, but the New York City marathon on a crisp November morning. Intent on qualifying for the Boston Marathon, the Holy Grail of all running endeavors, Matt takes us through the fastest 26.2 miles of his life in the first chapters of the book. Scorching his goal and achieving his goal, we are introduced to a man who seemingly knows no limits...a man to whom the word "can't" seems foreign. But, oh how quickly life can play a cruel melody where once a symphony had been heard. Fast forward just barely a month and Matt's life comes crashing down, quite literally, as he is hit by a commuter bus while riding his bike to work one snowy December morning. Pinned under the bus, Matt had to be physically cut from his bike in order to save his life. What transpires in the weeks, months, and years therafter is a journey to hell and back which Matt is forced to traverse with the help of his friends and families. The obvious emotional upheavel of the experience compounded by the loss of his atheletic lifestyle and his failure to get to run his own Boston Marathon take its toll on Matt, eventually forcing him into a downward spiral. However, athletes are strong of body AND of mind, and Matt overcomes his obstacles, one by one, to again beat the odds by conquering his fear and physcial limitations to toe-up to the start line of the NYC Marathon one more time. Another first step on an amazing journey that is different than before but oh so much more meaningful!

After reading the book, Sue and I were honored to get to meet Matt at the NYC Marathon Expo.
The man is even more amazing in person, and even invited us for a drink to his bar Third and Long! (and we went!)

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich - Okay, I'm going to finally put this series to rest after reading this book. I do not care if she comes out with 40 more books, Stephanie Plum, Lula, Ranger, and Joe Morelli have finally lost all appeal to me after reading this incredibly over-the-top book that I now feel dumber for having read. Really. I'm done. Finished. Finito. I'm not even going to waste my time talking about the hobbits and Hobbit Con and Mooner and Vinnie being naked for 3/4 of the book. Nope. Not gonna do it. I bid adieu to an old friend. It's time we broke up and go our seperate ways. It's been fun. Dont' call me, I'll call you.....

The Help by Kathryn Sockett - Another "Sue and Charity Reading Club" selection, it was my turn to choose our recreational reading book of the moment. I'd gotten SO many recommendations from the staff at Loogootee who read this book, but I kept putting it off as it was a little larger than my weary eyes could embrace at the point in time. However, having moved and wishing to have something to occupy my poolside intentions for the remainder of the summer, it seemed like the perfect time to pick it up and commence reading. Little did I know that my intentions were lofty and poolside time was sparse. As a result it took me nearly two months to finish the book...yes, embarrassing to admit I realize. However, it worked as the book was incredibly compelling and well-written and being forced to take it in slowly in small chunks really helped me prolong a wonderful, wonderful experience and for that I am glad.

The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi, at the height of the civil rights era. The world is changing, Martin Luther King is marching on Washington, and in Jackson, black women still serve white women as if it were still the 1860s, not the 1960s. That is until Skeeter, an unmarried Ole Miss graduate and Jackson socialite misfit, and Abileene, the black maid of her best friend Elizabeth, hatch a plan to write a racially ground-breaking book about the stories of black maids and the white women they serve. The stakes are high, much higher for Abileen and the other black maids involved in the project, and some of their worst fears are realized after the book is released and the proverbial jig is up. However, their dedication to the social change they are affecting never wavers and through the tragedy comes triumph for Skeeter and the maids of Jackson.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and, although it was slow at points, the message was a resounding gong in my soul that change is good no matter the stakes. The belief in your cause, even when that cause might be costly, is enough to forge ahead. I'd recommend this book without hesitation to any of my fellow readers and would suggest taking your time and absorbing the message as much as the words.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert - Over the summer, I did not get the opportunity to read very much in between all the traveling and moving and such. However, one book I did read in anticipation of the release of the movie with Julia Roberts was Eat Pray Love.

I had resisited reading this book as its huge popularity among the masses made me doubt how good it really might be. Consequently I missed out for much too long!

The scenario of the book seems simple enough: woman gets divorced, packs up all her belongings and moves first to Italy to learn Italian (and ingest enough carbs to last a lifetime), next to India to explore her spiritual nature, then to Bali just because an old shaman told her she would return one day. Along the way she learns that it's okay to be alone, that Balinese real estate transactions can be tricky, and a load of other things that can't be summarized.

Although many of the events in Gilbert's book are mundane, her writing style and voice bring her experiences to life and make the reader feel apart of the culture she is in a the time. I'd certainly recommend this book to those of you who enjoy memoirs and non-fiction in general. Honestly, at points it even FEELS like fiction, so I'd recommend it to those fiction fanatics too!

The Greatest Generationby Tom Brokaw - I've seen this book many times on the shelves of both my previous library and here at Loogootee. I've been drawn to it but never had either the time or the impetus to delve into it deeper. However, after attending a session of my Teaching American History fellowship and listening to two WWII veterans relive their harrowing experiences during this time, I felt compelled and inspired to finally read more about the amazingly heroic men who alterted the history of our great nation.

In this moving book, Tom Brokaw goes out into America, to tell through the stories of individual men and women the story of a generation, America's citizen heroes and heroines who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America. This generation was united not only by a common purpose, but also by common values--duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of family and country, and, above all, responsibility for oneself. In this book, you will meet people whose everyday lives reveal how a generation persevered through war, and were trained by it, and then went on to create interesting and useful lives and the America we have today.

Fish! by Stephen C. Lundin et al. - Suggested to me by a fellow teacher at a recent faculty book club meeting, this is a short and poignant parable that draws its lesson from an unlikely source-- the fun-loving fishmongers at Seattle's Pike Place Market. In Fish! the main character , Mary Jane Ramirez, is a recently widowed mother of two who is asked to engineer a complete turnaround of her company's troubled operations department, a group that authors Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen describe as a "toxic energy dump". Most managers would call it quits and move on, having no hope of changing a long-established environment of uninspired work practices. But the authors don't make it so easy for Mary Jane. Instead, she's left to sort out the colossal mess by drawing upon the inspriation she finds from head fishmonger Lonnie. Based on a bestselling corporate education video, Fish! strives to help employees create a fun and happy workplace. While some readers might find the storyline and prescriptions for change--such as "Choose Your Attitude", "Make Their Day" and "Be Present"--downright juvenile or laughable, others will find a healthy dose of timely motivational management techniques. If you loved Who Moved My Cheese? then you'll feel the same about Fish!.

Wintergirls

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Another chilling YA title by the author of Speak, this book explores the power of friendship for evil as as well as good, and examines the inexplicable ties that bind girls together even after they've parted ways.

What happens when competition between friends turns deadly? That's exactly what we find out from Lia and Cassie, two teens who make a secret pact to be the "skinner" friend. Lia copes with anorexia while Cassie battles bulemia, all in the quest to be the skinniest. The friends have a falling out and go their own ways and shortly thereafter Cassie dies tragically, alone, in a motel room. Lia's anorexia escalates as she tries to cope with her culpability in Cassie's death. Lia not only is battling her own demons within, but also battling her guilt for not answering Cassie's calls for help on the night of her death.

Half Broke Horses

By Jeanette Walls

I waited with much anticipation for this book by Walls, author of the NYT bestseller Glass Castles. This book is classified as fiction simply because she got her stories from her mother who, as you know if you read Walls' previous book, isn't all that realiable of a source. Since she couldn't verify all the stories about her grandmother, Walls just went with historical fiction and man, does it work. Read as either a story or real-life, Walls once again uses her phenomenal writing skills to spin a story that won't dissappoint even the most critical reader.

The value of hard work, perserverance, and family values are at the forefront of this novel about Lily Casey Smith's life. Raised like a boy, she turns into a trailblazing woman who fends for herself in the Wild West. A factory worker, a rancher, a teacher, and pilot...you name it and Lily did it. From taking on Chicago on her own early on to returning to find her way in the Southwest, we see the development of many new technologies through her eyes. The reader quickly learns that spunk and intelligence will take you far in life.

I've recommended this to several colleagues, all of who have adored it. If you are a strong woman (or aspire to be), you really need to read this book!

A Few Quick Reads - Upon looking back at my own reading notebook I noticed several titles I've read over the past few months but haven't felt passionately enough about to relate them to the world as a whole. I'll just throw out a few tidbits so that you'll see I've not been slacking when it comes to my reading!

1. The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer - Legal thriller that is not usually my reading fare. Recommended by a great friend, I was impressed with the insight it gave into the seedier side of the Supreme Court.

2. Eat This, Not That 2010 by David Zinczenko - I always love reading these books. Now I know I should NOT eat that grilled stuffed burrito from Taco Bell. Well, I know I shouldn't, but I probably still will!

3. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom - I really connected with Albom's previous books (Tuesdays With Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven), so I was anticipating another memorable book. I wasn't dissappointed, either. Albom explores faith and relgion by writing a eulogy for Reb, his Jewish rabbi. Interesting caveat: Reb is still alive.

4. The Runner's Rule Book by Mark Remy - Hilarious but all-too-true rule book for anyone who is a runner or is thinking about taking up the sport. Covers all the basics plus those small things that one may overlook, such as Rule #53: Look behind you before spitting or blowing your nose!

5. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - In anticipation of my trip to D.C. in June, I couldn't wait to read Brown's new book. Set in Washington, he introduces the reader to the mysteries that were built into our nation's capital by our forefathers and how, if unlocked, can mean the destruction of our nation.

6. An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld - Loosely based upon the life of Laura Bush, this isn't the type of book I usually read but I enjoyed it all the same. Laura Bush is someone I admire greatly and her life up until the point she meets and marries George eerily parrallels mine. I don't know if this is one I'd recommend, but I'll own up to reading it all the same.

7. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut - I read this as a part of our required reading for this year's English Academic Team. An anti-war novel set during WWII but written during the Vietnam war era, you can easily discern the differences from other WWII novels. Skipping forward and backward in time, from earth to Tralmalfadore, and from fantasy to realistic fiction, the novel is hard to follow but does have memorable passages that relate Vonnegut's disdain for war.

8. A Game Plan for Life by John Wooden - I read nearly everything written by or about the venerable Coach Wooden, and I was elated to see a new book by him. This one focuses on the importance of mentoring, both for the mentor and the mentee. Very inspiring to think of all the people that you can affect throughout your life whether or not you realize it.

9. Bright-Sided by Barbara Ehrenrich - Another non-fiction book by the author of Nickel and Dimed (one of my favorites) which asks the reader to look critically at the world in which we live. This book confronts the idea that society's obsession with positive thinking is over-the-top. Honestly, I believe the premise is correct. There honestly isn't always a bright-side to everything!

10. The Way to Rainy Mountain by M. Scott Mommaday - Another English Academic Team reading, this is a folk legend of the Kiowa Indiana tribe of the southwestern U.S. Told in part legend, part historical narrative, and part personal reflection, this book weaves a story about the Kiowas from the earliest times until their eventual virutal demise from our culture.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch - Another faculty book club selection, I honestly wasn't as taken with this book as most of the individuals I've spoken to. I will admit that it probably had to do with the fact that the man was in the midst of dying, spending his last days with his wife and children. I found myself depressed and wondering, "Why bother?" Although he addresses this line of thinking early on, I just never embraced the concept. There were many, many poignant passages and life lessons that one who still has a lot of time to live would benefit from applying to his or her life. Pausch, the eternal "fun guy" takes that attitude as much into his dying as he did into his living. I'd recommend this book to anyone as the lessons will stick with you and, hopefully, enhance the life that's out there for you to live!