Friday, September 29, 2017

The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor


Much like Jillian Cantor's other works of historical fiction, The Lost Letter, beautifully weaves together two stories of love and loss. One part of the storyline, set in 1938 Austria, follows the Fabers, a Jewish family trying to survive as the Nazis march into Austria. Patriarch Frederick Faber is a master stamp engraver making postage stamps for the Austrian government. When the Nazis institute antisemtic legislation in Austria, the Fabers are forced to leave Austria leaving young Kristoff, Frederick's non-Jewish apprentice, in charge. When one of Frederick's daughters refuses to leave Austria, and becomes involved with the resistance movement, Kristoff finds himself falling in love.

Fast forward to 1989 shortly before the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Katie, the daughter of an avid stamp collector is sorting through her father's stamp collection as her father suffers from the late stages of Alzheimer. When Katie finds a letter with a unique stamp on it she begins to journey into the past to uncover the story behind the unopened letter.

Cantor, much like she does in her other historical fiction novels, tells a completely captivating story. With seamless incorporation of historical events, Cantor alternates between characters with ease, perfectly blending the two time periods together.

Friday, September 22, 2017

The Card Catalog: Books, Cards, and Literary Treasures by the Library of Congress


As librarians, we are quite often asked about the card catalogs our older patrons remember from their youth. While technology has completely changed the way one finds the books they're looking, the card catalog still lives on, just in a different format. The Card Catalog: Books, Cards, and Literary Treasures pays homage to those 3x5 manila-colored cards that we all love. Authored by the Library of Congress, with a foreword from new Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, this book explains the origins of the card catalog, the information contained on those little cards, and just how important those cards were in the early days of libraries. The chapter entitled "The Rise and Fall of the Card Catalog" discusses the beginning of the demise of the card catalog following the use of punched cards following the 1890 census and how IBM revolutionized the way librarians cataloged books.

While the background information about the card catalog is interesting, perhaps the best part of this book is the rare photos the reader gets to see. Images of book cover art from Gone With the Wind, The Sound and the Fury, Snowy Day, and many others from the Library of Congress' collection are included. The original card is also included alongside the title. So just what happened to all of those cards? As this book notes, many of the cards have been used as art, jewelry, or collectibles. And those gorgeous wood card catalog drawers? Ask a librarian, chances are they can only dream of ever affording one.

This book, particularly of interest to librarians, would also be of interest to historians, bibliophiles, and avid library users. It's an interesting look at the roots of librarianship and provides a fascinating glimpse at what technology has provided us with.

Friday, September 15, 2017

The Finishing School by Joanna Goodman


It's been twenty years since Kersti Kuusk has been to the Lycée, the prestigious boarding school she attended as a teen. Kersti abruptly left the school during her senior year after her best friend Cressida mysteriously fell from the balcony of her dorm. Cressida's fall was declared an accident, but Kersti refuses to believe it. When a mutual friend of theirs passes away and sends Kersti a strange letter, it leaves even more questions about Cressida unanswered.

Now a successful author, Kersti is invited back to the Lycée's 100th anniversary celebration honoring women who have made a significant contribution to the world. Kersti sees this as the perfect time to delve a little bit deeper into exactly what happened the night of Cressida's accident. When a secret letter and incriminating Polaroids show up at Kersti's hotel, she finally puts together the missing pieces of the puzzle. Just how far will someone go to keep the secrets surrounding Cressida's accident?

The Finishing School is told in alternating chapters between the present day and Kersti's school years leading up to Cressida's fall from the balcony. This technique is effective in that it creates tension and suspense, particularly those chapters that focus on Kersti's present day findings.

Friday, September 8, 2017

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth


Like her mother before her, Anna Forster was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in her late thirties. When her memory begins to rapidly deteriorate, Anna is moved to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility set up to help people who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's. Though she's reluctant to embrace her life at Rosalind House, Anna begins to befriend Luke, the only other person her age at Rosalind House. When the disease takes more of Anna's memory, she fights to hold onto everything she can, including her relationship with Luke.

Eve Bennett has suddenly become a single mother after her husband's death. Forced to provide for her daughter Clementine, Eve takes a job as the cook at Rosalind House. When she realizes Anna and Luke's relationship is what it is, Eve makes a daring move to make sure nobody has to be without the one they love.

Written in the style of Liane Moriarity, Sally Hepworth's The Things We Keep weaves together the stories of Anna Forster and Eve Bennett. These women are faced with their own difficulties, but ultimately help one another.

Friday, September 1, 2017

I Hate Everyone, Except You by Clinton Kelly


Clinton Kelly perhaps best known for all things fashion on What Not to Wear and co-host of the The Chew, is back with an all new book filled with candid, hilarious, and often snarky essays on nearly everything under the sun. From his somewhat awkward childhood to his feud with Paula Deen over whether or not it's acceptable to eat a chicken wing with a fork on TV to what was supposed to a relaxing spa day with his best friend that turned into a muddy fiasco, Kelly isn't afraid to tell it like it is. While known for his TV persona, I Hate Everyone, Except You is an unapologetic, honest, humorous look at Kelly's life; one that we don't always see on TV.