Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Comedy in a Minor Key by Hans Keilor

What happens to ordinary people trying to do the right thing during dangerous times?  A young Dutch couple hides a Jewish man in their home during the German occupation of The Netherlands during World War II in Comedy in a Minor Key. They manage to handle all the small difficulties that arise, but when the man sickens and dies, the matter of disposing of the body brings the biggest danger of exposure into their quiet lives.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

Born somewhere between the Baby Boomers (always worried about retirement) and the Millennials (technology addicted and lazy) there is Generation X. These are the people who have to start growing up, taking charge and making things happen.

Who better to lead Generation X than Jen Lancaster? Her humorous observations of everyday life turn into smart observations about buying a house, hiring lawyers, raising kids (or pets) and surviving Thanksgiving. Even for a 40(something) growing up can be a bit of a challenge, but Jen takes every challenge head on.

Fans of humorous essays, such as the books by  Laurie Notaro or Chelsea Handler will want to pick up Jeneration X. Trust me, you'll want to get her other books once you've checked out this one.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

Eli Sisters is a hired gun with a heart of gold. Riding through the American West of the 1850s, he is inclined to feed the hungry, shelter the shelterless, give his money away and share his delight in his newly learned skill of tooth brushing. Partnered with his older brother, Charlie (a more flint-hearted killer), he seeks out and kills men on the orders of his powerful boss, the Commodore, no questions asked. But on this particular trip to the hills of northern California, in pursuit of a gold prospector, Eli does question what he is doing and longs for the more peaceful existence of a storekeeper. Furthermore, the outcome of the mission will change the brothers’ relationship and way of life forever. Despite the Sisters Brothers many ruthless acts of violence to man and beast, Eli is a likeable narrator trying to make sense of his life in a violent land and time. This book is less a Western than a wry, dark comedy about the struggle between the forces of Evil and More Evil.  The Sisters Brothers was a big win with two of our librarians!

Friday, May 18, 2012

The Memory of Blood: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler

This book is the ninth in a series that is funny, light-hearted yet has dark and tragic undertones. There is a quirky cast of characters; however the focus is on the beyond-retirement-age senior detectives of the unit. It’s not a cozy mystery, because of the violent nature of the crimes. A wacky fictional Wikileaks post starts things in a hilarious manner and describes the characters and the history of the PCU (Peculiar Crimes Unit.)  You do not have to read the previous books in the series to enjoy The Memory of Blood!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton

Grace rushes into a burning school to rescue her daughter.  Both are overcome by smoke and fire and end up in the hospital fighting for their life.  The story is narrated by Grace who is able to leave her body and move around and communicate with her daughter, Jenny, who is also having an out of body experience.  Adam, Grace’s son, is accused of starting the fire.  Jenny and Grace know this can’t be true and set out to find the real arsonist.  Lupton does a great job of slowly revealing clues and throwing some twists in that you won’t see coming.  Checkout Afterwards @ the library!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt

FACT: Winston Churchill suffered from depression his entire adult life and he referred to this depression as a “black dog.”

FICTION:  Churchill’s depression was an actual large, odorous, obnoxious black dog (Black Pat) who walked on two legs and spoke English. He was visible only to Churchill, and lurked ominously in all aspects of his life.  As Churchill prepares to retire from public life in July, 1964, Black Pat introduces himself to a young widow, Esther Hammerhans, seeking to move into her home. Esther, too meek and confused to resist Black Pat’s insidious advances, seems destined for a dark future. Well-drawn characters, humor and creative use of language help the author to succeed with this preposterous plot.  Check out Mr. Chartwell @the library!

Friday, May 4, 2012

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox puts a modern spin on the “mad woman in the attic” motif. After spending more than sixty years in a mental hospital, Esme Lennox is released to the custody of her great niece, Iris. Iris, having never heard of Esme, is taken completely unawares by this turn of events. Because of the coping skills Esme developed in the hospital, great wariness and strict self-control, she refrains from telling Iris much about herself. Iris’s only other relative, Kitty, her grandmother and Esme’s older sister, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and unable to give any coherent answers to Iris’s questions. Despite their inability or reluctance to talk, the sisters have vivid interior memories (Esme’s clear and concise, Kitty’s befuddled and disjointed). It is from these memories that the reader is able to piece together Esme’s story, a story of tragic consequences for a young woman of an earlier generation who could not live up to society’s rigid expectations of her.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

When Bee learns her sister, Tess, is missing she rushes home to London to help in the search.  Tess is found dead and the police conclude that her death is suicide.  Tess knows her sister would never kill herself and feels guilty for not answering her calls in the days before her death.  She is determined to uncover what actually happened.  Told in flashbacks and the present time there is a twist ending that you won’t see coming.  Check out Sister @the library!