Lucky 7 Book Recommendations-Oct./November 2008
These selected reviews are commended by our reviews (and us) as books that they read and reviewed recently, and really liked. See our reviews for each by typing in book title in SEARCH box on book review page–or look for it in the genre and link from there.
Reviewed by Paul Markowitz
The Nine
Jeffrey Toobin
Anchor Books
Public Affairs
The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court Is a fascinating and well-written book giving us a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Supreme Court. In the course of Toobin’s description of the disparate personalities who make up the court, we learn little known facts about their backgrounds, political and judicial philosophies. With the likelihood of several new justices to be appointed over the next four years, the book takes on added relevance as to the outcome of our impending presidential election and the political and judicial ramifications of that choice.
Reviewed by Wendy Hines
Tethered: A Novel
Amy McKinnon
Shaye Areheart Books
Fiction
Amy McKinnon’s debut novel, Tethered, is a bright yellow sunflower in a dull grey world. A haunting, beautifully written novel takes us into the depths of a mortician’s life and the fragility of the human heart.
Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann
What Are You Wearing to Die?: A Thoroughly Southern Mystery
Patricia Sprinkle
An Obsidian Mystery / New American Library / Penguin Group
Mystery
The 10th in the cozy “Thoroughly Southern Mystery” series, this one has an especially searing climax. Magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough is working in the family business (Yarbrough Feed, Seed and Nursery) when her husband Joe Riddley comes in and handcuffs her to her huge oak desk–to prevent her from meddling in another murder, he claims. You can see the tone of this cozy and humorous mystery. Sprinkle’s Magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough is a wonderfully kind and caring grandmotherly woman who works to help find solutions to the problems in the lives of the people around her. The changing economic climate in Hope County is chronicled as well, as the big chain stores and restaurants move into the area, following the wave of retirees moving to a warmer clime. Small town business is suffering, and the whole community is affected by the changes.
Reviewed by Rachael Dimond
Skin and Bone
Kathryn Fox
Harper
Mystery
Skin and Bone is the first novel that I’ve read by Kathryn Fox, and I am immensely impressed! The mystery is tightly woven and there are plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the exciting conclusion. Every page of this novel is suspenseful and filled with clues to put together to solve the case. The characters are strong and the dialogue is well written. This is a truly fantastic, superb read that will knock your socks off!
Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart
Titanic’s Last Secrets: The Further Adventures of Shadow Divers, John Chatteron and Richie Kohler
Brad Matsen
Twelve Books
Non-fiction
Not since Dr. Robert Ballard et. al. first glimpsed Titanic’s rusting wreckage in 1985 has there been new to report. Until now. Get ready to unearth one of the greatest historical cover-ups of the twentieth century. Brad Matsen’s new book, Titanic’s Last Secrets: The Further Adventures of Shadow Divers John Chatteron and Richie Kohler can take its place as the definitive answer to the world’s most unanswerable question: Why did Titanic sink as quickly as she did? From what Chatteron and Kohler discover, Martsen weaves the mystery effortlessly that results in an amazing work. I’m dying to tell you what they learned, but I hate reviewers who spoil an ending. A little hint though: the biggest scene in the movie is wrong.
Reviewed by Connie Anderson
The Spirit of the Snowpeople
Diane Keyes; illustrated by Helen Stevens
Down East
Children’s (and Grief and Grieving)
This children’s book has a simple theme on first read, and then you realize it goes deeper, much deeper, delving into our adult issues with loss. The real message is: _Snowpeople_may be for kids—but it is also for adults who have lost a loved one—and miss then deeply. The Snowpeople (our loved ones) are always remembered and return to us in our memories. The book is about celebrating the seasons of life—and the memories we have of those gone from our lives. Those who have left, like the Snowpeople, return to us in many ways—whatever reminds us of them. Be prepared to get a little chocked up as you read this to a child who is experiencing loss–and you are too, along with them. Wonderful wintertime illustrations with so many things on each page waiting for the children to discover.
Reviewed by Beth Cummings
In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor’s Journey in the Saudi Kingdom
Qanta A. Ahmed, M.D.
Sourcebooks Landmark
Non-fiction
Dr. Qanta Ahmed is a Muslin British citizen of Pakistani descent. She grew up in London and then attended medical school in New York City–obtaining certifications in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care medicine and sleep disorder medicine. Then in 2000 her visa renewal was denied. While rectifying this problem, she needed to live and work outside the U.S., so she took a two-year position at the top hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This memoir details her time there. Dr. Ahmed carefully depicts Saudi life.It is a substantial book and should be savored by readers who feel as I do, that the more we know about the inner workings of countries the more understanding we have of their policies and their view of us.
Reviewed by Beth Cummings
The Night Villa
Carol Goodman
Ballantine Books
Fiction
Prolific writer, Carol Goodman, has created another exciting page-turner in The Night Villa. The villa of the novel is located in the Italian (Roman) village of Herculaneum that was destroyed in 79 A.D. by the same volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried the city of Pompeii. In the novel, Classics scholar Professor Sophie Chase is recruited as a member of an expedition to help translate ancient Greek and/or Latin scrolls that have been found at an archeological site–the Night Villa which is named for a statue of a night goddess that was found there. This book’s literary style would make it an excellent book club choice.
BONUS—books for writers and authors, recommended by Connie and Andrea
The Fine Print of Self-Publishing (Third Edition)
Mark Levin
Bascom Hill Publishing Group
Writing
Levin divides these publishers/book printers into categories and answers the same questions for each. 1) Outstanding self-publishing companies, 2) Some pretty good self-publishing companies, 3) Publishers who are use OK and 4)Publishers to avoid (Sadly, the longest list with 21, many well-known names.)
Info given in each area above is: Format, Publishing fee, Other services, Retail price of author’s book, Price author pays for book, Royalties paid to author, Publishing agreement, and Author-friendly rating. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone contemplating getting your own book published.
Resources for Novel and Romance Writers
The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel
Christie Craig and Faye Huges
Adams Media
Writing
How does an author get from the bottom to the top of the agent/publisher slush pile? Read The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel. The information is vast and authors discuss most things in a concise but in-depth manner. They will help the reader through the subjects of critique groups, brainstorming ideas, targeting markets, grammar, sentence structure, openings, dialogue and narrative, character sketches, pacing, writing drafts and so much more. Info in the 305 pages will save you time.
From First Draft to Finished Novel: A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building
Karen Wiesner
Writers Digest Books
Writing
In this book, Karen Wiesner will help the reader/writer 1) Brainstorm the idea, 2) Research process, 3) Create a working outline 4) Create story checklist 4) Write cohesive first draft 5) Work with revisions and 6) Finish the editing and final polishing. She also helps with the necessary and often dreaded query letter, synopsis, cover letter and partial manuscript to be sent to the agent or editor.
Painless Grammar (Second Edition)
by Rebecca Elliot, Ph.D.
Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
Writing
Written for middle grade and high school age, the book is designed “so grammar doesn’t hurt,” –no matter your age. So, do you ever find yourself at home or at work wondering whether “its” or “it’s,” is correct, or how to use “ and ‘ –or whatever your “grammar challenge is? The down-to-earth examples make Painless Grammar fun and a learnable moment for any age. Buy several copies for your kids, home office or work.
Watch for more recommendations in the future.