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Have you ever read a book and said "Now there's a person I'd like to spend a day with." Tasha Tudor is definitely one of those persons. At 81 she is a children's author, illustrator, gardener, and craftswoman. She lives on a farm in Vermont where she has recreated a Victorian world in which she goes about daily life doing all the things herself that today we depend on others to do for us. She also paints happy family outings, animal families, and peaceful scenes. There are more than 100 color photographs of a simpler life. This is not 1800's; it is the Private World of Tasha Tudor and you won't want to miss it.

Reviewed by Carol S., South County Regional

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Imagine having a French instructor throw chalk at you, because you failed to assign a French word the appropriate gender. Or, picture your career in performance art ending the day your drug dealer enters rehab. If you can envision these situations then you are ready for David Sedaris' latest offering. Sedaris paints a wickedly funny portrayal of his experiences in Raleigh, New York and Paris, as well as some offbeat situations involving his family. Most of the essays deal with Sedaris' father, including an especially hilarious one, where Sedaris' sister dons a "fatty suit" and nearly gives her father a heart attack while visiting him for the holidays. The rest of the book is equally engaging and if you want a book that is guaranteed to keep you in stitches--then this is the one!

Reviewed by LaJuan P., University City Regional

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"I was built with the love of the night and the unquiet coffin," - with these words Stephen King invites us into his inner life -and such a surprise it is! Contrary to the familiar horror-laden prose, this very engaging quasi-autobiography draws us nearer to King's true nature, and to a better understanding of his consummate abilities. Weaving crucial aspects of his life - from his ordinary beginnings as an English school teacher, to early literary rebuffs, to his ultimate success as the premier horror fiction writer of the century, King informs and mesmerizes. His recent car accident, leaving him almost disabled, privately tortured him that his writing days were over. Happily, it didn't - and in fact, for him, was a cathartic renewal, enabling him to write with as much prowess as always!

Reviewed by Rosanne L., Matthews Branch

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Personally I don't read too much but this was one book I wasn't able to put down. It takes you into the real Stephen King's world outside of the thrillers and horror stories that we know him for.
-Courtney, Perth, Western Australia

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Anne Lamott gives us glimpses into her turbulent past of alcohol and drug abuse. Against all odds her life experiences lead her to belief in God and then in herself. Here is an honest look at dating, dimpled thighs, dreadlocks, doubt, death, life, family - forgiveness and faith connect them all together. Her heart-rending stories will fill you with laughter and tears. Anne Lamott's thoughts on faith are insightfully witty and charmingly humorous. You too will become an Anne Lamott fan.

Reviewed by Tammi C., Main Library

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Readers all over the world recognize Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes as literature’s foremost detective. Many modern readers, however, do not know that Doyle was something of a sleuth himself. The True Crime Files of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collects Doyle’s arguments and evidence in two British criminal cases. In the first case, a man is convicted of committing a bizarre series of animal mutilations. The second case involves a brutal murder and the theft of some valuable jewels. If these two cases were fictional they might be included among Sherlock Holmes’s greatest adventures and Doyle’s work in these real-life cases rivals the imaginary sleuthing of his greatest creation. Recommended for any fan of Sherlock Holmes or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Reviewed by William N., Morrison Regional

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Anyone that is an afficionado of the Fitzgeralds (Scott and Zelda) MUST read this insightful retelling of their tragic love story. What was most amazing to me, is that this outlandish young southern belle, subordinated her dreams, her ambitions, and her talents to this young man, Scott, who had neither the strength nor the inclination to fulfill this young woman's desires and needs. Professor Taylor paints a moment to moment picture of the decline of them both...and tells us, much more than anyone ever has, of the importance Zelda played in Scott's work--for which,of course, she received little or no credit.

Reviewed by Barbara C.

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Even with a plethora of information out there on Mark Twain, this special book offers insights seldom seen, precisely because the gorgeous sepia-toned photographs and intimate glimpses into Twain’s heart and mind lend a heightened sensibility and affinity for this man’s complex and highly acclaimed life. Stunningly photographed, this book is a follow-up to the Ken Burns 1999 PBS documentary on this gargantuan of the American literary scene. Twain shines brightly here, with witty and sarcastic asides, but it is his amazingly deep heartfelt devotion and love for his wife and children that will impress you, particularly if you were not aware of this very endearing side of this beloved literary giant. Read it for pleasure, for information, or read it simply because you admire and love Mark Twain.

Reviewed by Rosanne L., Matthews Branch

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Lucky is the true story of Alice Sebold who was raped and beaten during her freshman year in college. The police initially told her that another girl had been found murdered at the same location of the assault. Therefore, in comparison, she was “lucky". Sebold’s memoir not only details the graphic depictions of the rape itself, but also discusses the legal battles that led to the conviction of her assailant. She talks about her recovery as well, which includes encounters with alcoholism and drug use. These harrowing moments are chronicled with a literary zest that keeps readers wanting to know what happens next. Sebold shares a poignant lesson about violence and its aftermath that leaves the reader feeling lucky to have read this.

Reviewed by LaJuan P., University City Regional

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Sebold's memoir provides an honest window into a crime victim's psyche.
-Amy, Mint Hill, NC

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Wolff's electrifying memoir is the sort of book that someone recommends to you with a slightly awed, slightly crazed look in their eyes, as if THIS is the book -- above all other books -- that has refused to 'go away' quietly since first reading it. Certainly its inclusion this year on the Top 100 Nonfiction Books Of The Century is proof alone that THIS BOY'S LIFE is not just another memoir (in a period of time in which we have seen, let's face it, an exhausting glut of memoirs and autobiographies), but something altogether unique. The story follows the experiences of the teenage Wolff as he follows his wandering mother around California and the Pacific Northwest, eventually ending up in a mountain town in Washington, where in desperation she has married a man she hardly knew, but should have known better. It is in this situation that the major portions of the book take place, as the young Wolff ("Jack" in the book) finds himself more or less the prisoner of a harrowing home-life. Dwight, his abusive step-father, is a monstrous creation, a brutal and belittling man prone to corny homilies like," You can call me anything you like, but don't call me late for dinner!" The young Wolff is not helpless, however, and through deception, deceit, and disguise (not bad training for the writer-to-be), he eventually triumphs over a situation that might have defeated others.

Reviewed by Sam S., Main Library

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Fans of New York Times best selling author E. Lynn Harris will not be disappointed in his newly released memoir entitled What Becomes of the Brokenhearted . Harris holds no bars when he openly admits that he is gay. A question many of his readers pondered considering the content of his widely read fiction novels. Some of the many disappointing aspects of his life included being physically abused by his stepfather, suffering from several bouts of depression, his closeted lifestyle, and his struggle to overcome his dependency on alcohol. Much like his novels, Harris’ memoir is hard to put down. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Vickie C., West Boulevard Branch

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For her skill in depicting the subtleties of character, Carol Shields ranks Jane Austen with Chaucer and Shakespeare as a literary trailblazer. Shields is a novelist herself and so sympathizes with Jane Austen as the latter perfects her craft, loses and regains her creative energy, and feels the boon of recognition. For brevity's sake, Shields discusses only the overall structure and tone of each novel and examines a few crucial scenes. Readers, therefore, should know most of the six Austen novels beforehand so they can follow the analysis of familiar ones and feel inspired to read the others. In 2004, Carol Shields died of breast cancer, the most likely cause also of Jane Austen's death at age 42. This loss makes the biography doubly poignant.

Reviewed by Tom C., Main Library

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Carlos Fuentes of Mexico is primarily known for his exquisite novels. He is, however, much more – he is a true Renaissance man interested in everything around him. This collection of alphabetically arranged essays illuminates the depth of Fuentes’ thinking on a wide array of topics ranging from art to love to literature to time and xenophobia. The essays are a sort of autobiography of the mind of a brilliant man. The clarity of these pieces shine a light on one of today’s true intellectuals and will give any reader fuel for their own mental examination of the world. Whether you agree with his take on things or not, his essays will prod you to rethink your own beliefs; that is the real value of these essays.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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This is a thorough telling of the life of Mark Twain, with much of the story told by the subject himself through his letters, newspaper columns and books. Samuel Clemens went through several stages during his life. We meet young Sammy, the adventurous boy from Hannibal, MO. Then Sam the riverboat pilot and seeker who, during the civil war, moved west to find his fortune in mining but instead found his calling in writing. After that comes Mark Twain, internationally known author, speaker, humorist and the creator of the first true American voice in literature. Powers weaves these three aspects together and shows how they evolved together into Samuel Clemens, family man, successful literary figure and American icon. Patient readers will enjoy this thick challenging biography that successfully portrays the essence of the man behind the name along with the facts of his day to day life.

Reviewed by Ed M., Morrison Regional

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Claire Asquith’s amazing Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs and Coded Politics of William Shakespeare reveals a Bard many never knew. Readers of Shakespeare have noted for centuries his lack of political dissent. Although studies have deciphered many of the political nuances of his historical plays, until Shadowplay there wasn’t one solid volume to help in sorting out the many clues Shakespeare left us. Asquith examines phrases and quotes from many plays to show us that there is a genuine critique of the political culture of Elizabethan England in Shakespeare’s work. Much of it was hidden to avoid persecution from both the throne and the Church. Shadowplay sorts it out and gives a modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s political concerns. Fascinating and informative, Asquith’s text brings new life to Shakespeare’s.

Reviewed by Nathan C., Main Library

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“I wrote this for Alice. Actually, I wrote everything for Alice.” This was Calvin Trillin’s dedication to the first novel he wrote after his wife’s death in 2001. About Alice is a love letter to his wife. She was a character in his New Yorker articles and books where she felt she was portrayed as “a dietitian in sensible shoes.” In fact, Alice was a stylish woman who was a mother, writer, educator, and Trillin’s ultimate editor. Alice “believed in the transformative power of pure, undiluted love,” according to Trillin. Trillin’s love for her resonates in his funny and touching memories. In a letter to Trillin, a woman, pondering her relationship with her boyfriend, muses, “But will he love me like Calvin loves Alice?”

Reviewed by Megan ., Main Library

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