Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

Novel
A "must read" for Jane Austen fans! A chuckle on every page. I loved it!

Submitted by Barbara Duffield

Friday, May 23, 2008

How (Not) To Have a Perfect Wedding by Arliss Ryan

Novel
A funny spoof on the runaway wedding industry, set in Newport RI. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, giving the reader an inside view of the thoughts of everyone from the wedding planner to the bartender to the dad's new trophy wife. Entertaining, light and a perfect book to tuck into your beach bag.

Submitted by PJ

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8. Lee

Nonfiction
Jennifer 8. Lee (yes, 8 is her middle name) investigates the history of Chinese food in this entertaining, fact-filled book. In the process, she discovers that many of her beloved childhood dishes have little in common with food served in China, and that fortune cookies may actually be Japanese in origin. Through reading this book, you'll find out how little you know about what is possibly the world's most popular cuisine.

Submitted by PJ

Monday, May 12, 2008

Cold Beer and Crocodiles: a Bicycle Journey into Australia by Roff Martin Smith

Travel/Memoir
Smith, a Time magazine correspondent based in Sydney, realizes that he's never experienced the broad scope of Australian land and character. He embarks on a 10,000 mile bicycle circuit through cities, deserts, mountains, and villages, where the personalities are as diverse as the landscape. A very engaging read.

Submitted by Judith
Here if You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braestrup


Memoir
Poignant and inspiring experiences of a chaplain for the Maine Waren Service, which does search and rescue missions. When her husband, a Maine state trooper, dies, Kate takes up his chosen second career to become an ordained minister, while raising her four children. Her well-written stories, rooted in service to others in their time of need, convey humor, pathos, and love in a very readable and moving book.

Submitted by Judith
The Ponds of Kalambayi by Mike Tidwell

Memoir
Early in his career, Tidwell devoted two years to working in the Peace Corps, teaching villagers to build ponds and raise fish in central Zaire. This well-written book is rich with stories of interesting people and insights into a culture very different from anything I've known. His experiences range from funny to heart-wrenching, and are always attention-grabbing.

Submitted by Judith