Louise, Tara, and Teresa's Pick
- All This and Heaven Too Rachel Field
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All This and Heaven Too is based on the true story of a French governess and the aristocratic family she works for. After a shocking murder occurs, Henriette is drawn into one of the darkest scandals of the 19th century.
Tara and Teresa's Pick
- The Lake of Dead Languages Carol Goodman
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The Lake of Dead Languages is an atmospheric mystery that combines the past and present at a posh prep school in the Adirondacks. Only the protagonist knows the truth behind the suicides of her friends.... or so she thinks. Five Stars!
- The Scent of God Beryl Bissell
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The Scent of God is the moving memoir of Beryl, a woman who entered a convent at the age of 18. Her story centers around her struggles with her family, her faith, and above all, herself. A great read!
Tara and Gerry's Pick
- Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight Alexandra Fuller
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Alexandra Fuller's early childhood memoir describes "unusual dysfunctional family life" growing up in Africa. Somehow while describing the hardships and beauty of Africa, she leaves us all envious!
- Cloudstreet Tim Winton
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This remarkable story of an eccentric and suffering family is one beautiful treasure to come out of Australia. Not since Patrick White has the human experience been written about so truthfully. Tim Winton is a genius!
- Shantaram Gregory David Roberts
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This is one of those huge fat books that make you grateful that they will last a while! Fictional autodescriptiongraphical take on Gregory's downfall and rise to a human being in Bombay!
Teresa's Pick
- The Sleeping Beauty Adrienne Sharp
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This story is drenched in the ballet world of the 1980s. When the legendary Balanchine begins to plan a production of Sleeping Beauty, the characters of this brilliant novel begin to find themselves inexorably dragged into a modern retelling of the classic tale - only to discover that not all fairy tales have happy endings.
- I Capture the Castle Dodie Smith
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This coming-of-age novel is told through the eyes of 17-year-old Cassandra, who chroncicles the daily lives of herself, her beautiful older sister Rose and younger brother Thomas, their eccentric father, their melodramatic stepmother, their aesthetically pleasing but intellectually stunted servant Stephen, and their ferocious bull-terrier Heloise. Life is fairly predictable for the two modern girls living in a rundown English castle, but all of that changes when two young American millionaires arrive. Cassandra's sharp sense of humor keeps the reader laughing as the family fights to keep their castle--and their sanity.
- The Island Victoria Hislop
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A fascinating tale of love, honor, and redemption, The Island is a story about four generations of the Petrakis women. Set in a small village in Greece, this beautiful book chronicles these proud and passionate individuals as they sometimes struggle, and sometimes succeed.
Gerry's Pick
- Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Oliver Sacks
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Of all the memoirs craze, Oliver Sacks' stands apart from everyone's. This lovely, remarkable person shows his love of science, humanity, compassion of all life--interwoven through the story of his own unique life and that of his strange relatives!
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
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Lovely story of a bygone age in Brooklyn - family, love, and despair - growing up and dignity in all adversity.
Chuck's Pick
- Acqua Alta Donna Leon
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Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice police must solve a series of brutal murders during the acqua alta - when the rising seas and pelting rains are flooding his city. The well-contrived plot centers on the theft of rare Chinese ceramics and involves an Italian diva, an American archeologist, a crime boss and his thugs as well as Brunetti's colorful colleagues and family. Donna Leon has written several murder mysterys which capture the magical atmosphere and mystery of Venice. Add her central character, Detective Brunetti and his ironic commentary on his fellow contrymen to the mix, and one becomes immersed in the charms and idiosyncrasies of Italy.
Tara's Pick
- Shutter Island Dennis Lehane
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Lehane's novel, Shutter Island, is a mystery filled with twists and suspense! Teddy Daniels is a U.S. Marshal investigating the disappearance of Rachel Solando from a hospital for the criminally insane! It is a riveting novel that you cannot put down!
- Katherine Anya Seton
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Classic romance novel that tells the true story of a love affair that changed history!
Nancy's Pick's
- The Poet of Tolstoy Park Sonny Brewer
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A great book for the more seasoned reader!
Louise's Pick
- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Lisa See
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A historical novel about two girls from different walks of life who become friends. A great read!
- The Samurai's Garden Gail Tsukiyama
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The Samurai's Garden is a beautiful story of unconditional love "between friends". A story to be savored!
Max's Pick
- The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde
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A grand story of a young man as his heart becomes enveloped in darkness. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a story about internal conflict.
- The Girl With a Pearl Earring Tracy Chevalier
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A captivating story of Griet, a sixteen year old servant girl, and her relationship with the master painter Vermeer. The Girl With a Pearl Earring comes to life with many memorable characters.
Entire Staff Recommends
- The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini
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The Kite Runner is a brilliant debut novel. Set in Afghanistan and America, the book follows a friendship between two men that is tested by time, distance, and betrayal. A harrowing, haunting read!
- The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield
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"Politeness is a virtue I neither possess nor esteem in others. We need not concern ourselves with it." With these words, Vida Winter--the reclusive and elusive writer in Setterfield's debut novel--establishes herself as a force to be reckoned with. Margaret Lea, a shy young woman who works in her family's bookstore, has journeyed to Vida's home to begin penning a descriptiongraphy of the famous novelist. Margaret leaves home in hopes of understanding the woman whose very name has symbolized mystery for decades; as the story unfolds, Margaret learns that Vida's outlandish novels pale in comparison with the chaos that has marked the writer's real life; that in spite of our pasts, we still have our futures; and that real life may be more dangerous--and ultimately more rewarding--than she had realized.
- A Walk in the Woods Bill Bryson
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Funny, funny, funny! Enjoy Bill Bryson's wit. You will laugh out loud.