Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holy S**t: Managing Manure to Save Mankind

Title notwithstanding, this book is short on sensationalism and long on common sense and good humor with practical observations about sustainability and economy.  Pass this one up if the mere thought of tiptoeing around meadow muffins makes you faint.  The average urbanite may not be able to implement much in this book, but it could give one cred at the local farmers' market.  You'll learn which pitchfork is best for the job, whether the author has a composting toilet, how to toilet-train a pig... you get the idea!  Make sure to check out chapter 16 for consideration of methane and its sources - and be sure you check out Holy S**t: Managing Manure to Save Mankind @the library!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story by Chuck Klosterman


Music writer Chuck Klosterman goes on a cross country trip to visit the places where rock stars died. Starting in the Chelsea Hotel where Sex Pistols Sid Vicious came to an early end, and ending in Seattle at the sight of Kurt Cobain's untimely demise, this is a journey in music. Of course, like all good solo road trips, he does a bit of thinking about his past relationships and the music that brings them up. If you've ever spent a day watching VH1 Classic, own more music than you could ever listen to, or have defined a relationship by a song, album or group, Killing Yourself to Live might resonate with you.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

In the 1950’s, a headstrong young woman leaves her home in the English countryside to make a life for herself in London. Meanwhile, in present day London, a young couple struggles to care for their newborn infant after the difficult labor and birth nearly killed the mother. The life of the first young woman leaps forward in months, years and decades. She broadens her life as she makes friends, takes lovers and develops a career as a world-traveling journalist. The life of the new young mother creeps by in minutes, hours and days and narrows into the exhaustion and isolation that come with new motherhood. What is the connection between these two women? Although the author drops some broad hints, these serve only to deepen the mystery, and later the suspense of the story. Check out The Hand That First Held Mine @the the library!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) By Mindy Kaling


Writer and actress Mindy Kaling writes a book that is similar to talking to one of your best friends over coffee. Readers will see her grow up, from her early exploits as a chubby Indian girl to immigrant parents, to her years living in New York city with two best girlfriends, to finally getting her big break as a writer on the show, The Office. Filled with funny stories, observations and lists, fans of Chelsea Handler, Jen Lancaster and yes, Tina Fey will enjoy Kaling's concerns.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

When Hannah Payne wakes up, she is Red.  In a not-too-distant future United States where church and state are no longer separate, convicted felons are no longer incarcerated, but melachromed - injected with a virus that color-codes their skin depending on their crime - and then set free to live in a society that hates and fears them.  Hannah has been convicted of murder.  Her victim?  Her unborn child.  Hannah's refusal to reveal the father - United States Secretary of Faith, and married man, Aiden Dale - is an act of fierce love and devotion and results in an unusually harsh sentence of 16 years as a Chrome.  A dystopian retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel The Scarlet Letter, When She Woke is a heart-wrenching tale that unflinchingly explores faith, spirituality, love and the deepest reserves of human strength, kindness, and compassion.

Friday, December 2, 2011

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper


Judd’s life has fallen apart after his wife leaves him for his boss.  Then his atheist father dies and requests that his family sit shiva for him after he dies.  By spending a week’s worth of forced family time dealing with his own and his sibling’s drama Judd sees his family in a new light.  This Is Where I Leave You is a funny, bittersweet look at family life.