The Summer Kitchen by Lisa Wingate

This is a great read. Particularly in light of the Christmas season and the economic challenges this past year. It is a heart-wrenching story written in first person from two persons viewpoint, a middle-aged wife and an orphaned girl on the run.

It is a moving story of second chances involving two orphaned siblings attempting to making it on their own, a disintegrating family, and an once-thriving community slowly changing into a less savory area. The book takes us through a tale of how a family tragedy brings the community together once again. It makes the reader take a good look at their own life and how misplaced priorities might lead to missed opportunities. While inspirational, it is not preachy.

Kathy Stutzman
Public Relations Manager

Lost Symbol

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Exciting, thrilling, a roller coaster ride mystery based in Washington, D.C. Full of twists and turns. A few parts were a bit gruesome (and creepy), however, they weren't a major part of the book. A few cuss words popped up but overall pretty clean. Definitely will be made into a movie! Loved the puzzles and codes. It was hard to put down. My only criticism was the romanticizing of the Freemasons. Having been in the Eastern Star in the past and knowing some Freemasons, it is not as innocent as made out to be in this book, despite Dan Brown's and others protestations made in the Matt Lauer interview last week. Outside of that, it is a good read.


Kathy Stutzman
Public Relations Manager

Ladies in Lavender movie

An English movie definitely. The story is built slowly, layer by layer. Two sisters befriend a mysterious foreigner who washes up on the beach of their 1930's Cornish seaside village. Multi-talented, Judi Dench plays her role wonderfully as Ursula. As the film progresses, you begin to wonder if she is a little slow, mentally handicapped somehow or just incredibly sheltered by her sister. It is actually a sad movie. The young foreigner brings out their maternal instincts while at the same time causes internal conflict with Ursula who has never experienced a love relationship. Very poignant tale.

Kathy Stutzman
Public Relations Manager

Chocolate is divine but Johnny is better!

Good movie! The only thing missing was a box of chocolates to eat while watching it. In the beginning, there is a love scene with nudity but you can always fast forward through it and I would suggest you do as the movie is worth seeing.

Set in a small French town, the movie chronicles town life and its residents. It is a movie about redemption and salvation from a battered wife rescued from her husband, to the Mayor who comes to grip with his judgmental attitude which nearly ends in the death of some visiting gypsies. In the end a mother stops smothering her son, a wife-beater gets his due, a love unrequited for years takes bloom, a grandson is reunited with his grandmother, a married couple regain their love and passion for each other, etc. All of this resulting from the compassion of the new chocolatier in town and her mystical chocolate recipes.

Be prepared and get some chocolate to nibble on before watching this movie! My husband and I ended up having a double chocolate fudge shake after watching this!

Kathy Stutzman
Public Relations Manager

John Adams

I first heard about this HBO seven-part movie series featuring Paul Giamatti from facebook. Unfortunately, it was so popular at our library that I had to keep watch on the returns in order to check it out myself and I work at the library. It was worth the wait! This was quite a series. It chronicled most of John Adam’s political life and his role in founding our country. The depiction of his life and role was fascinating. So much so that my husband and I watched a dvd from it nearly every night, wanting to know what would happen next.

I learned more about John Adams than I ever had before. I was amazed at his tenacity and perseverance that led to us having independence from Britain. Granted, he was a stubborn, opinionated person. However, it was these qualities that made him who he was…a leader and ultimately, Vice-President and President of the United States. I was surprised to learn how much his wife affected his decisions. He sought her advice time after time despite his being a college graduate and she having no formal education.

An amazing love story and a riveting historical account of the early years of our country’s existence and unforgettable glimpses into the lives and roles of other important historical figures of that same time period-Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and many others. Those who view this series will not be disappointed.

Kathy L. Stutzman
Public Relations Manager

The Lovely Bones

First of all let me say that this book isn't about happy endings. Sadly most stories in life don’t have happy endings and this is what the author, Alice Sebold was trying to tell us. The Lovely Bones is about how the Salmon’s family’s world was turned upside down one winter night when their eldest daughter, Susie, disappears on her way home from school.
With next-to-nothing clues to go on, her father becomes obsessed with the neighbor who he thinks did it. The mother drowns her sorrow into escaping from the family. Lindsey, the sister, has to endure the stigma of being the murdered girl's sister and Buck, the baby, has to endure everyone's loss as well as his. Not only does Susie's death affect her family, it affects two of the people she knew in life, her first love and a friend she barely knew.

Written from Susie's point of view as she observes life on earth from heaven, it is written in a very touching way. This book should have come with a warning on the front cover; "Kleenexes are necessary while reading this book." It is haunting, and the sorrow lingers long after the last page has been turned. This novel is about how people deal with grief and how they move on in spite of the death of a loved one. It is about letting go and remembering. It is about life and death. In spite of its premises, it really isn't a book about revenge. It is about life.

I would definitely recommend you read The Lovely Bones, more so now since the movie based on the novel hits theaters on December 11, 2009.

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Two thumbs up for this movie. Yes, I realize it is an older one. Buy hey, cheese and wine get better with age and this video is no exception.

I had purposely ignored this dvd for years despite others saying it was a good movie. It just seemed like it would be boring. After all, Bobby Fischer? Chess? However, this week was one of those weeks and I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did. Based on a true story, it is an eye opener on the world of chess and a demonstration of true sportsmanship. This is a story about finding one's character and courage in the face of mounting pressure and high expectations. Although Bobby Fischer’s story and name are weaved in and out of the movie, it is about prodigy chess player, Josh Waitzkin, a young man who even now is the highest place chess player under 18 in the country. You get to experience the world of chess behind the scenes and what a world it is.

It has a great cast of actors such as Laurence Fishburn, Joan Allen, Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, David Paymer, and William H. Macy.

Intensely fascinating, thought-provoking, and heartwarming aptly describe this gripping movie. You will be fascinated by the chess world, aghast at the motivations of some, warmed by the ultimate decision of Josh’s parents and thrilled by the end result. You will find yourself rooting and cheering for Josh as the movie progresses.

This is a must see! You won’t be disappointed.



Kathy L. Stutzman
Community Relations Assistant

The Girl With the Crooked Nose

If you like true story murder tales, you will find this book interesting. Written by Ted Botha, this book follows Frank Bender as he goes from being a photographer to creating plaster busts of unidentified murder victims. His uncanny ability to "see" a face through a blank skull, leads to identifications of many missing people, and arrest of the murderers.
This informative book also has photos detailing his procedures and the finished busts with photos of the actual victim. It is uncanny the ability that he has to do this "artwork."
A mix of true murder and creative crime solving, you'll enjoy this book from beginning to end!

“Alive a must read for anyone interested in learning what being human really means”

Time has not diminished the drama of the tale of the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes Mountains on October 12, 1972. Of the forty-five people on the plane, thirty-five initially survived but only sixteen came down from the mountain 72 days later with a saga of survival that is still remembered 37 years later.

Piers Paul Read unfolds a tale that is gripping in the telling, as enthralling as it is almost unbelievable. Masterfully written, it is a well-balanced narrative that takes great pains to ground the experience of the survivors deep into your mind. I must admit there were a few parts I skipped over due to the fact I was a little bit squeamish (yes can you believe that?) but nonetheless I felt this story would somehow make a difference in my life so I continued on and I am so glad I did.

What most of the world remembers about this story is that after their food supply had run out and realizing that their days were numbered and if they didn’t have sustenance they would never get off that mountain, they all made a decision. Digging deep into their conservative, religious souls, they found a way to justify what they were about to do. Their fallen comrades would now provide the means of their nourishment. At first some refused but all eventually succumbed to this only means of survival.

As horrifying as it was, there is an upbeat message in this book about the unshakable will to live, about the utility of human solidarity in the face of death (and some 30 years later all these men are still very close with one another), and the mystical communion between the survivors and their dead comrades who saved their lives by providing the nourishment to survive.

A movie was made about these events, which is on DVD, included in the special features is a documentary about the 16 survivors 25 years later. One of the survivors, Nando Parrado, (one of the two who actually hiked through the perilous mountains to find help) has written about his experiences on the mountain the memoir is called Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home. This is an excellent read as well due to the fact you get to actually hear from one of the survivors and what was going on in his mind during those 72 grueling days.

The means that these men took to let the world know that indeed they were still ALIVE will astound even the most jaded of readers. It is an account of human endurance that is thought provoking and compelling, a quest to reconcile physical needs with the spiritual. It is, above all a testament to life.

The Paper Architecture

I just happened to see the book on display at the Library and was instantly intrigued by it. Filled with fascinating architecture origami from easy to advanced levels, it drew me in. I was awestruck by the 20 different projects ranging from a simple pyramid to the Tower Bridge in London. One of the staff and I just oohed and aahed over the examples shown. Soooo, I thought I would try one. I went for an easy project. Not wanting to waste card stock, I tried the process initially on plain paper. Not too hard. It looked decent too. Emboldened, I tried it on card stock. That’s when it got difficult. I had a terrible time attempting to fold the valley folds without crumpling the paper.

I think anyone with a mathematical mind or someone loving origami (or even a curious person like me) would absolutely love attempting the projects. Working with card stock can be a little tricky and I found the project to be much simpler on plain 8.5 x 11 paper. They look just as good as good also, just not as sturdy. An origami project from this would be a great activity on a rainy day or even a bad winter day.

Review by Kathy Stutzman Community Relations Assistant

True Stories of C.S.I.

I have to admit..I love anything to do with crime, especially True Crime. Although this book has nothing to do with the C.S.I. television show, it discusses true crimes which some of the C.S.I shows were based on.

Written by Katherine Ramsland, this book portrays behind-the-scene insights into stories that made the real headlines. The insights into the methods used to solve crimes in this book intrigued me. Although slightly gruesome at times, it really makes me think about the depravity that is in this world.

If you, like me, enjoy books on criminals and crimes, I think you will find this one interesting. The chapters are short, and they really hold your attention. It is a fast and easy read. And it will probably make you shake your head and ask "Why?"

At long last on the "Twilight" Bandwagon

Ok I admit it, I thought it would never happen but to my shock it did! A few months ago I finally found myself at long last on the “Twilight” bandwagon. I fought it for long as I possibly could. How did I manage to find myself tangled up in something that is definitely not my style? While I do have a thing for vampires and such, I normally don’t have a thing for all the mushy stuff that comes with the Twilight series. How wrong I was! I was pleasantly surprised that there is still a young, innocent 17-year-old girl lurking inside of me somewhere. I watched the movie while I was sick (Yeah that's the excuse I will use for being so shameless) and was expecting cheesy and sappy instead my heart and mind was transported back to when I was 17 and still in that fairy tale stage of love. Back to a time when the only worries were what to wear to school and high school crushes. I ended up watching the movie several times (which I rarely do) and decided I had to run right into the library and get a copy of Twilight to read. While reading Twilight I found some parts of it that irritated me. The “movie” Bella I was fond of but the “book” Bella was a huge irritation for me. Not since Jay Gatsby has a character aggravated me more. With that said I did like the other main character Edward Cullen (and who wouldn’t?) and that gave me the desire to root for their forbidden love.

It is a typical teenage love story with a twist – When young Bella Swan moves to a new town and starts school, the boy she inevitably falls in love with turns out to be a vampire. What happens next is somewhat predictable: vampire boy struggles with whether to hold her hand in the hallway or shove her into a dark corner and drink her blood. There are no real surprises to the story - but that doesn't stop it from being a page-turner, I did find myself from time to time wondering what the Adonis-like Edward saw in plain, boring ordinary Bella but, despite all of that, I enjoyed the book. Stephanie Meyer is a wonderful storyteller. There was a cliffhanger at the end of each bite-sized chapter pressing the reader to continue on, if for no other reason than to see whom else is glaring or grimacing at whom. The story also had a light-hearted comedic edge, which played in its favor. For some reason once you’ve started reading it’s hard to stop. I realized this when I found myself quickly moving through the other books in the series, I had to wait a little while on the last book “Breaking Dawn” but I can tell you it was definitely worth the wait. I was a little apprehensive about how it was going to end, I had my worries that Ms Meyer wouldn’t see the logical ending the way I saw it. In the end she and I both were in agreement and I was satisfied with the ending. My biggest dilemma now is… waiting patiently until the release of the movie “New Moon.” November 20th seems like a long way away!

For those who are interested in reading the series here are their titles....

1. Twilight
2. New Moon
3. Eclipse
4. Breaking Dawn

Finding Oz: How Frank L Baum Discovered the Great American Story

This interesting book follows the life of Frank L. Baum, not just the history behind the famous Wizard Of Oz classic that we all know and love.
From the beginnings of his life, episodes that affected Frank as a youth and adult, played parts in what became the Wizard of Oz.
Although Baum failed at many ventures, and his family lost their fortune and ancestral home, none of these things deterred him from becoming successful later in life. Baum blends his life and his circumstances into a wonderful classic that has stood the test of time.

Directed Verdict

Directed Verdict by Randy Singer.

Fast paced, twists and turns, mysteries within mysteries, and a dash of romance… I would have to agree with those critics that say Randy Singer is as good as, if not better than, John Grisham in writing legal thrillers. I couldn’t put it down and was racing to read it to the end.

Although it starts out a little slow in building the background for the trial, it quickly turns into a fascinating tale with multiple plot lines that keeps you guessing and at the edge of your seat. The book is about an unprecedented civil rights suit brought against Saudi Arabia and the ruthless head of the Muttawa, religious police, who think nothing of killing those who defy them and the Muslim religion. “A case with David and Goliath odds with one lawyer willing to challenge an entire nation.” Witnesses disappear, jurors are bribed, lives are threatened and the defense team appears to be infiltrated. There is a maze of deception and treachery as the attorney risks his career, his case and his personal life.

I highly recommend this new book and predict this book will be another one that will keep flying off the shelf.

Review by Kathy Stutzman, Community Relations Assistant

So you think you know what happened at Columbine?

Anyone who was alive in America on April 20, 1999 knows how Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot and killed 12 students, a teacher, wounded 23 others, and then killed themselves. We've all heard the story of the girl who --- seconds before she was shot --- looked the killers in the eye and told them she believed in God. We've heard about the "Trench Coat Mafia" and the violent video games. And we've heard that Harris and Klebold were social outcasts who, angered by continual bullying, decided to get even by staging the biggest massacre ever at an American high school.

You will be shocked to learn that most of what you've heard is wrong. If David Cullen is even slightly correct, Cassie Bernall was not killed because she said yes (Turns out it was another girl), Harris and Klebold weren't outcasts or bullied,(in fact the two of them did more bullying to others than what was done to them). They weren’t targeting jocks or Christians (anyone and everyone was fair game), and they most certainly weren’t “addicted” to violent video games (They enjoyed playing them). Truth be told, "Columbine" presents a much more terrifying story than the one you know.

David Cullen’s “Columbine” let’s us into the lives of Harris and Klebold and what motivated them to kill. For Eric Harris it was raw hatred, a desire to kill as many people as possible-to end the world if he could. For Dylan Klebold, it was the hunger for love. And when he couldn’t find it, an all-consuming desire for death.

We come to know a side of these boys that was never portrayed in the media. Dylan was a secret drunk who was deeply depressed, while Eric, seemingly obedient, was really a psychotic control freak with a messianic-level superiority complex.

But why should we take Cullen’s word for what happened against the media’s and what was widely reported in the first 10 days after the shootings? Cullen was one of the first reporters to arrive on the scene that fateful Tuesday, April 20th 1999. At first he fell for most of the false conclusions, but after investigating the teen killers for 10 years he came to realize that what happened wasn’t because of bullying, Hitler, violent video games, or Marilyn Manson instead it was the pure unadulterated hatred of one rage filled teenager and his bewildered disheartened sidekick.
If indeed this is the case, and there was no motive apart from hatred and rage, then the nationwide reaction to the Columbine massacre has given us no reason to feel secure --- metal detectors and guards can't tell the difference between a kid with a bit of teenage angst and the grinning psychopath with raging violence in his heart. A bit scary don’t you think?


While reading you will ask yourself who in their right mind would dream up a plan like that? Who would spend years planning it? And who, when the plan went haywire, would settle for taking out as many as possible before blowing their brains out? Some really disturbed kids, if you’re charitable you could say, “sick” if not then “evil” might be a better term. If Cullen got it right (and I believe he did) don’t call them “tormented” or “misunderstood” (which is how I viewed them for years) because they weren’t. They gave away clues, they committed some serious crimes prior to their “day of reckoning” and not only did they bamboozle their parents, but they managed to fool everyone.

It is unfortunate to say that each set of parents has remained tight-lipped even after 10 years. So we cannot truly know how really unaware they were about the gun purchasing, the bomb making, the video diaries and the hate filled journals.

Cullen beseeches us to remember there are psychopaths in every city and small town and that what happened at Columbine can happen anywhere. Most psychopaths are nonviolent, and very few are as diabolical as Eric Harris, but when they are beware, because there are plenty of despondent teens like Dylan Klebold for them to snare.

I would recommend you read “Columbine” for the stunning reportage and the heroism of the students and teachers. And at the end instead of letting out a sigh of relief that this nightmare didn’t happen to our town, you should ask yourself a variation of the infamous question, “Do you know who your children are?”

Double minds

Double Minds by Terry Blackstock

Terry Blackstock is one of my favorite authors. In fact, I wait anxiously for any new books authored by her. As a result, I was excited to see that WCPL had the latest release of hers now on the shelves, Double Minds.

The plot centers around singer/songwriter Parker James who is struggling to make her mark on the Nashville music scene amidst fierce competition,
Parker gets drawn into a murder mystery when a young woman is killed at the recording studio where Parker works. Putting her own life at risk, she attempts to uncover high-level industry corruption and unmask the murderer.
I earnestly plowed through the book, hoping it would pick up speed. It never did. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I couldn’t seem to get engaged in the story. Was it too much focus on character development and not enough focus on the plot? Perhaps.

Admittedly, it was difficult to figure out who the murderer was. So in that respect, the book succeeded. However, the book bogged down in the long, detailed description of the heroine, Parker James, to the degree that it sapped the energy from the book’s story.

Sooooo… Sad to say, I can’t recommend the book. Perhaps you might think differently, but that’s my say on it.

Review by Kathy Stutzman Community Relations Assistant

Bread Alone

BREAD ALONE


"[Bread baking is] one of those almost hypnotic businesses, like a dance from some ancient ceremony. It leaves you filled with one of the world's sweetest smells...there is no chiropractic treatment, no Yoga exercise, no hour of meditation in a music-throbbing chapel that will leave you emptier of bad thoughts than this homely ceremony of making bread."
M. F. K. Fisher, The Art of Eating

I first read Bread Alone in 2002. The cover art intrigued me, and I turned it over to read the back; before I'd finished reading, I was already pulling out my money to take it home. I read it in a single night, the first of many such times I would do that, always wanting more when I reached the final page.
Justine Wynter Franklin knows her marriage isn't very happy just now, and nothing seems to symbolize that more to her than taking a 'cube' of bread from the bread machine, a gift from her husband. David has never understood that making bread, for Wyn, is not just about the end product, but the entire creative process. This is a woman who has studied in a Paris bakery for an entire summer, and learned how to really feel the dough come alive, in a way that only true bakers know. (And yes, I know this feeling very well.)
As her marriage crumbles, Wyn leaves California for Seattle, where her best friend CM lives. She's come there just to get away and ponder through the situation, but when she returns home she finds her possessions outside the house, the locks changed, and life--as she knew it—over. She returns to CM's place, and makes a loaf of bread, and if you think that's too simple a sentence, it doesn't begin to show the depths of this woman; that loaf of bread lands her a job.
Judith Ryan Hendricks is a writer of such skill that every one of her characters come alive in this book, become people you recognize, identify with, love or pity or hate. There was so much of my own life at the time that mirrored Wyn's, and I wanted to see how she would come through the fire, better on the other side. I wanted to know how Wyn had come to lose so much of herself in her marriage, and when she would realize that who she had become was someone she'd never meant to be. I wanted to know more about CM, and Mac, and Wyn's own mother Johanna, and the father Wyn still missed and mourned. I loved watching what had been a loving but distant relationship between mother and daughter bloom into something based on more similarities than Wyn could ever have imagined.
Ultimately, I wanted to live in the small house she found, decorate cakes with Diane, sling espresso with Ellen. I wanted to hang out at the bar where Mac worked, listen to the mixed tapes he made for her. I loved the way Wyn began creating new bread recipes, because that's something I do, myself, and it is a wonderful feeling when something no one ever dreamed of—until you—turns out to be something delicious. Most of all what I loved was watching this woman emerge from a feeling of victimized hopelessness into someone who knew with all surety who she was, and is, and will be. I liked the woman she became, and I learned a lot from her, fictional though she is.
Anyone who loves baking will love this book. Anyone who is a fan of someone making something good for herself, when everything she thought was hers is taken, will love this book. And it is not a 'chick lit' book by any means; my husband read it, and was as drawn into it as I was. I have read this book so many times that I now own it in paperback—my copy to lend—and hardcover, which is my copy to keep. I was delighted to find a sequel a few years later (The Baker's Apprentice) and to read in an author interview just yesterday that a third book is in the works:
“I think my next project is going to be the third part of Bread Alone. I’m kind of interested in finding out what those characters are up to about 15 years down the road.”
Apparently a lot of other readers have found Wyn and Mac unforgettable, too.

Review by Beth Anne Cox
Children's Services

Vivacious Reading: Very Valentine

After filling my head with DNA templates and shark intestines all week (yes, I've been studying for finals...), I must say that this book was exactly what I needed! Set in modern day Manhattan it follows the ups and downs of an Italian family desperately trying to maintain their history, while keeping up with the times.

Valentine, the middle, only un-married child, is turning 34, and obviously will soon be destined to spinsterhood if she doesn't find herself a beau immediately. However, the real love of Valentine's life is her grandmother, and the family shoe shop. The shop has been in the family since they came to America from Italy over a hundred years ago, and despite the impending financial crisis, Valentine is determined to keep the shop up and running.

If you're familiar at all with the author, you know that Adriana Trigiani ("The Big Stone Gap" series, and "Lucia Lucia") weaves excellant stories, full of cultural flavor in a very unique voice. I really think she came into her element with this book though. Her style is light, and pulls you in the same way "SALE" signs in front of a shoe shop do. The dialogue is witty, and a little reminenscent of "Gilmore Girls," yet it is still full of rich Italian culture and history.

If you've had as stressful a week as I have, I suggest you treat yourself to a few hours with this book. It just might be the refreshment you need!

Play It Again, SAHM

Play It Again, SAHM by Meredith Efken

Like creative approaches? Tired of the cut and dried themes? Get ready for a truly innovative way of writing. The author manages to tackle serious topics but with just enough light-hearted humor to keep you reading. I discovered it by accident at the library and wasn’t sure I would really like it. However, it deals realistically with issues moms deal with and in an entertaining way. It’s based on a friendship between 7 ladies who have never met before. A friendship forged in emails, no less.

They finally meet and like a blind date, all sorts of unknown things come to the surface. Personalities clash, belief systems collide, and attitudes surface. Yet, amazingly the friendships survive, strengthened by the disasters and trouble encountered together.

If you are a stay at home mom, you will quickly relate to this book and the different struggles they all face, both alone and together. It’s so realistic, that it’s scary. Chances are you will see yourself in one of these dynamic women.

Review by Kathy Stutzman Community Relations Assistant

Book Thief

It is a strange thing for a librarian to admit she doesn’t want to return a book, that she would like it to make a book be part of the “extremely overdue” collection. However strange the feeling, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is such a book for me.

I’ve just finished reading it and am now trying to put into words how this book moved me.

It’s the story of Liesel Meminger who is the book thief. It follows her life as a foster child in Molching, Germany, a small working class town outside of Munich, from 1939 to 1943. She is a girl with a dead brother and mother, and no father. She moves in with Mama and Papa, her foster parents. She can’t read or write yet, but she can steal. She makes friends and enemies and helps her parents keep a secret that will change all their lives. She goes from a little girl to an almost women while the world around her deals with the insanity of war torn Nazi Germany.

The complex nature of this book surprised me. But the first surprise comes early in the book. Should I tell you? I will. The books narrator is Death. And he is an excellent narrator, at that. As he says often in the book, he is always surprised at how much humans can take and still survive and still want to live.

If you’d like to read a book about the power of the human spirit that is real, that doesn’t sugar coat the darkest aspects of human nature and that recognizes that ordinary people can turn the smallest glimpse of hope into “a yellow raining sun,” then you’ll like the book thief.

For now, I may have to buy a copy for myself, or possibly at least donate one to the library to replace the “extremely overdue” copy.

Review by Childrens Librarian Patricia Schroader

Brace yourself; you will need tissues for this movie!

It is through an eight-year-old boy named Bruno that the movie "Boy in the striped pajamas" unfolds. Bruno's father, Ralf, is a Nazi soldier, a highly ranked one at that. Bruno's grandfather is proud of his son's position in the German military, convinced that his son is "making history." Bruno's grandmother is a German citizen who opposes Hitler's views, much to the chagrin of her own son. And Bruno's mother is a society wife, who at the beginning of the film is concerned only with her own family and their secular German life. At the beginning, you see these four points of view and how sheltered Bruno has been -- politics isn't discussed in front of the children, so Bruno and his older sister Gretel have a cheerfully ignorant childhood. When Bruno’s dad is promoted he brings his family to the country and Bruno discovers a “farm” in the distance and wonders why the farmers wear their pajamas all day. As Bruno explores he finds a boy named Shmuel who is also 8 years old sitting on the “farm” side behind an electric barbed wire fence. Bruno and Shmuel become good friends, despite their different backgrounds and situations. The movie eventually leads up to one critical moment where Bruno makes a mistake he immediately regrets and seeks to right the wrong. Without hesitation the boys make a pact…one made in innocence and friendship. The boys who play the two eight year olds are brilliant both with expressive eyes and believable acting.

I read some reviews citing that the boy Bruno is too naïve, but I think Bruno represents not just a boy but also something bigger. Bruno seems to be a representation of Germany, perhaps even humanity, itself, and the failure to deal with the evil right before one's very eyes. So many Germans claimed the innocence that we see in Bruno, saying they had no knowledge of the Final Solution to the Jewish Problem that Hitler and his SS were carrying out across the European continent. Even today, despite all the existing evidence, there are still those that deny the Holocaust happened, not wanting to acknowledge the great evil of which humanity, perhaps even their neighbors and family members, is capable. More than anything else, this film shows the great price humanity pays for such utter naivete.

This is a Holocaust movie with sufficient realism to remind the viewer that this horror did in fact happen. I would not recommend it for younger viewers for there are no attempts to 'sanitize' this film. This is no doubt probably one of the saddest movies you’re likely ever to see, not so much for the wrenching intimate tragedy it portrays but for the historical reality it epitomizes. Toward the end I realized what was going to happen, I saw it coming practically from the beginning and when it did happen my jaw still dropped and I cried and by the time the credits rolled I was too stunned to move, still doubting what I had seen. I probably won’t watch this movie again due to the fact my heart just couldn’t take it. Watch it, it will leave a lasting impact on you.

A Son's Treachery and a Father's Forgiveness

"Murder by family" by Kent Whittaker is a quick read, partly because you cannot put it down. I found this book fascinating. I had watched this story on "48 Hours" and on "Oprah" and was interested in the forgiveness this father had for the son that murdered the rest of the family. Mr. Whittaker talks in detail of how God allowed different circumstances and events to happen as they did and how He used them to show Mr. Whittaker that He is in charge and although we may not understand, He is all about His own glory. Mr. Whittaker also is very candid about his own anger and confusion and clearly states that some of this anger was based on not knowing all that the police knew. I must say that while I find his forgiveness remarkable, I am not convinced of his son's repentance but, then again, I don't have to be. I felt bad for the father, but do think the son got what he deserved especially since the murder was his third attempt to kill his family. It is the ultimate betrayal any child can do to their parents and the fact that Kent can not only forgive his son, but also write about the journey is incredible.

The only downside to this book is that I wanted to know more about Bart, Kent’s son, and the whys and how this son who came from a good Christian family could end up being the mastermind behind the murders of his mother, brother and the attempted murder of his father. If you are looking to understand the mind of a killer, you only get one chapter in the book to illumine that question. Instead this book is a peek into the heart of a grieving husband and father who determined that he would live out his faith in the face of the worst circumstances imaginable. It's a glimpse of the prodigal son’s father, of King David mourning Absalom. It will leave you humbled and in awe. What makes this book so mesmerizing is the wrenching agony of the father as he comes to grips with the knowledge of what his son has done. And then to read how, as a devout Christian, Kent painfully tries to forgive his son and heal the rift between them. Anyone who is interested in the how-to of forgiveness and mercy will be engrossed by this story.

His life changed history. His courage changed lives.

Before the movie I had heard of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician and how he and the Mayor of San Francisco George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White on November 27,1978 and the whole “Twinkie defense” theory. So I was very interested in seeing "Milk" and learning a little bit about the life and times of this famous activist. Milk is a stunning achievement and I love the fact that it manages to make its point without ever being preachy or trite, while remaining as true to the facts as any film bio could ever hope to be. The movie skillfully tells us the story of Milk's rise as a leader in the Castro Gay Community of San Francisco. Gus Van Sant, who directs the movie, shows Milk as a resilient man, an idealist with hope for the future no matter how many times he gets knocked down (and believe me he does get knocked down more than you can imagine). The movie makes him a martyr, but so was Martin Luther King, Gandhi and so many others who defied contemporary morals and ethics.

Sean Penn gives the performance of a lifetime as Harvey Milk and he certainly does deserve that Oscar he won.When I first heard that Sean Penn was playing Harvey Milk, it was hard for me to imagine, but he pulled it off brilliantly. Josh Brolin as Dan White and James Franco as Scott Smith do outstanding acting as well. Josh Brolin was superb as the lonely outcast council member who murders Mr. Milk and Mayor Moscone. James Franco, as Harvey Milk's partner, did a wonderful job showing compassion, limit setting and support for Harvey Milk's endeavors. Even after their relationship ended, he was Milk's unconditional friend.

If there is a villain in the film it is Anita Bryant who had an agenda of prejudice and hate that motivated Milk and his allies. This film gives everything a sense of urgency and intensity, which adds to its power. In the end Milk dies (and we knew that) but what he started and accomplished lives on so the movie does end on a hopeful note. In comparison to life now as opposed to the 70's portrayed in the film, there appears to have been a great amount of progress when it comes to the acceptance of all those who are different. It's a scary thought to know that the denunciation by some, who would like the world to think they lead perfect lives, can bring themselves to sneer or attack another human being because of religion, race, sexual orientation, disability or even one's physical appearance. By the end of the movie you realize that Harvey Milk was just not an activist for the gay community but for all those who have struggled to be heard and accepted. Harvey Milk's life's work can be summed up in two of his famous quotes. “Without hope, life's not worth living.” and “All men and women are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.”

Intriguing Mystery

Farraday Road by Ace Collins


I absolutely love mysteries and especially those I can't solve, which I firmly believe is a sign of a good mystery. This book is a good mystery book, no, make that a "great" mystery. It is about a small-town lawyer, determined to find out why his wife was murdered, after both are chased by killers on a deserted road.

Twists and turns filled the pages and kept me reading the book until the wee hours. I finally had to put it down because I was falling asleep reading it! It has a surprise ending. (No cheating! Read it from the beginning). I passed it to my husband who enjoyed reading it also. I had to force him to put it down to eat.

Review by Kathy Stutzman

Graveyard book

By early 2009 The Graveyard Book written by British-born author Neil Gaiman and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books had spent over 15 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. I hesitated reading the book because I didn’t think I was ready for a spooky fantasy tale in midwinter. But recently I learned that the book was nominated and just won The John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature. At that point I knew I had to check it out for myself from our library and start reading. After a few pages I recognized I had a book in my hands from a writer with a gifted imagination for people of all ages to enjoy.

The Graveyard Book revolves around the life of a normal boy, Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, who just happens to be growing up in a graveyard. I understand the theme of this book was inspired twenty summers ago when the author was watching his then two-year-old son ride a tiny tricycle between gravestones. The book starts out when Bod was a baby and tragically his family was murdered in their sleep. Bod amazingly managed to escape a similar death by crawling out of his baby crib, down the stairs and out the open front door. He reached the safety of the neighborhood graveyard where over the years he remained protected and educated by the resident ghosts he can see and a mysterious solitary guardian.

I returned to the book frequently eagerly awaiting whatever new breathtaking adventures young Bod would get tangled up as he slowly matured into a thoughtful and considerate young man. Dave McKean’s dramatic illustrations and Neil Gaiman’s suspenseful cliffhanger chapter endings made for an effective “can’t stop reading” novel. I regretted the book ending so soon and look forward to a sequel.

Review by Ann Zydek

Debating Racism

As many know, February is Black History Month. There are endless names of people you could read about in honor of this month, but there are lots of movies you could see, too. Just the other day I watched "The Great Debaters" starring (and also directed by) Denzel Washington. It looked entertaining - Denzel normally puts on a good show - but I did not expect it to be so moving. I cannot begin to describe how impactful this movie was - by the end of the movie, I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat, shaking - but I have 300 words here to try to interest you in it enough that you go and watch it for yourself!

The movie tells the true story of Melvin Tolson, an African American professor at Wiley College in Texas in 1935. He leads an all black debate team, and they are the best in the state. His dream is to take his team to debate Harvard...but Harvard is an all white university, and the white people of the little Texas community are determined to make sure that this professor and his team "remember their place."

To make matters worse, Tolson is also giving a voice to the share croppers - black and white alike. He recognizes their poverty and lack of education, and organizes rallies for them, trying to inspire change and better working conditions. Most smart men of his social statis and ethnicity would have minded their own business, did what good they could and turned a blind, albeit sad, eye to the attrocities being committed in the name of superiority. But Tolson wouldn't stand for that. He refused to be silent, and neither the threat of prison or lynching could persuade him to keep quiet.

Better yet, he encouraged both the sharecroppers and his students to stand up to injustice. He told of a man named Lynch who used fear to drive slaves out of their minds, so that they would be submissive. He said, "I am here to help you to find, take back, and keep your righteous mind."

So I'll spoil it a bit in hopes that you'll watch it: The debate team does make it to Harvard, without Tolson. But will they be able to use their strong minds to carry their voices? Will they say what so many are leaving unsaid? Will they be able to battle the best?

You'll have to see for yourself!

The staff is reading...

It's still bitterly cold outside and a good excuse to stay inside and read. Here are the books that some of the library staff is reading. You will find a great mix to perhaps explore on your own.

K. S. has just finished Healing Waters by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn, the second book in the Sullivan Crisp series. This is a great read for any woman struggling with self worth. Involving an offbeat psychologist, it combines romance, mystery and self discovery. J. B is reading two books, Simon Green's new Nightside novel, Just Another Judgment Day. It is an urban fantasy novel set in an alternative world called The Nightside. The novel follows the protagonist John Taylor as he tries to stop the Walking Man who has come to clean up the Nightside by killing all sinners (which is pretty much the entire population of Nightside). J.B. is just now starting a lunch time read, Shirley Damsgaard's, The Witch's Grave. It's a mystery series that follows Ophelia Jensen who happens to be a small town librarian who is also a good witch. It's a mystery cozy with a little supernatural thrown in for good measure. L.B. is reading Micheal Greenberg's, Hurry Down Sunshine. The story is about Sally, the author's fifteen year old daughter who was diagnosed as bipolar. Revealing insights to help those interested in learning more about Bipolar Disorder. S.R. is just starting Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. Called by reviewers as "an emotional hanky read". A novel showing what friendship really is and how it can endure over the years. S.R. is also currently listening to The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller, an audiobook, in her car on the way to work. The author gracefully addresses marital infidelity in the world of politics.

I did believe!

Wally lamb has once again created a great American novel. "The Hour I First Believed" speaks to our current generation. It's the story of Caelum Quirk and his wife Maureen and how they attempt to put their lives back together after Maureen miraculously survives the massacre at Columbine High School. Even though she survives she is deeply scarred, because of this the couple move back to Caelum's family farm in Connecticut in attempt to escape the horrible memories left by the tragedy. As you follow their journey you learn life is not so easily put in a box and sometimes destiny has more tragedy in store. The core of the story is Caelum's quest to discover his past through a cache of old letters, diaries, and newspapers he finds hidden in the old family house. From this he is able to reconstruct his legacy that hold long "buried" secrets. His past is the backdrop for the couple as they struggle to form a future.

"The Hour I first believed" takes us on an epic journey from 1998 to present day. Lamb throws in tidbits of real life events so much so it gives the feel of almost non-fiction instead of fiction. In the ten-year span the Quirks do stupid things, as well as good things. I felt sorrow as well as disgust for the Quirks but even when I was feeling disgusted I still cared for them.

Wally Lamb is an excellent storyteller, he can write and even though I loved this novel I think he wrote a little bit too much this time around. The book is 740 pages, definitely not for those who like to breeze through a book. Still he manages to wrap so much into Caelum's story...Columbine, Hurricane Katrina, prison reform, Mark Twain, marital infidelity, family secrets, etc. With all the interwoven plot lines, thematic parallels and rich allegory the main premise of the story is about finding your way in a world that seems to have gone mad, yet being able to find hope when all hope seems to be gone, hence "The Hour I first believed"

The Chosen

While this is not a new book by any means, it is worth revisiting. Written in 1967 by Chaim Potok, an ordained rabbi, it gives a revealing picture of the Jewish community.

It chronicles the life of two Jewish boys from two different Jewish communities, the Hasidic Jews (who live completely within the bounds of traditional Jewish law) and Orthodox Jews (who follow modern methods of studying Judaism) . Although the two grew up only blocks away from one another, they had never met, due to the differences between the Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish religions.

While the story is taking place, many references are made to outside events, including World War II, the Holocaust, and the founding of the State of Israel. Potok reveals the reactions of the different Jewish groups to each of these events. It was intriguing to read of these events in light of recent developments in Israel.

This book was an eye-opener for me. I was surprised to read that there were Jews against the formation of the State of Israel. I really enjoyed learning more about the Jewish religion and the intricacies of thier religion and customs.

I found this book to be very fascinating and would highly recommend it.

Princess Leia tells all!

Long ago in a galaxy far far away two Hollywood icons decided to marry and procreate and the product of their union was none other than the icon herself, Carrie Fisher.
In "Wishful Drinking" Carrie shares with us what it's like to grow up as an ultimate Hollywood child (being the daughter Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds). She describes her famous parents as the Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt of their era with Elizabeth Taylor playing Angelina Jolie. Carrie gives us a glimpse of what it’s like to grow up in Hollywood and believe me it isn’t pretty. With that said the entire undertone of the book is quite funny and entertaining so much that I laughed till I cried. Even though she seemed to have it all by being born into Hollywood royalty not to mention adored by Star wars fans, I still felt sorry for Carrie living in this fast paced atmosphere. She reveals her life from the inside; the scandals, the marriages and remarriages of each of her parents and her own marriage to Paul Simon as well as her battle with addiction and mental illness. Her glib style objectifies her painful reality and allows the reader to grasp some of her loneliness and despair while laughing at it. She even manages to find humor in her electroshock therapy.

There is a disturbing but knee-slapping moment in the book in which Fisher describes how someone told her that she is actually in the "Abnormal Psychology" textbook. "Obviously, my family is so proud," she writes. "I'm a PEZ dispenser and I'm in the Abnormal Psychology textbook. Who says you can't have it all?" It's funny, until she reveals that the picture they use of her for the textbook is none other than Princess Leia with her hair in side buns. (Hey at least it wasn’t one of her in that bikini chained up next to Jabba the Hut!) The book almost feels as if you are having a conversation with Carrie herself, the downside to this is that it’s way too short and leaves you wanting and asking for more. The part in the book that made me the saddest is that she tells her younger friends that one day they’ll be somewhere and look up at the television set and there will be a picture of Princess Leia with two dates underneath and they’ll say "awww ---she said that would happen." What makes it sad is that it will probably happen, however Fisher is smart enough to realize that she and Princess Leia are forever intertwined and she has learned to find it amusing. I recommend this to everyone, because let’s face it, in this day and age we’re all a little nuts and it helps to have someone a little nuttier than we are to laugh at.