Bound by Sally Gunning

A entertaining historical fiction set in New England pre Revolution. It's the story of a young girl who becomes indentured due to the loss of her parents. The picture of her life and times reveals her strength and interesting characters she meets. There is adversity, adventure and triumph - all the best of historical fiction.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Born Round by Frank Bruni

Restaurant critics seem to live a fascinating life, at least to those of us who like good food, but this story is more interesting than some. This is really his story and how his passion for food impacted his life for the good and not so good. A much more complicated person than one would expect for a food critic.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Love Child by Allegra Huston

I thought this would be about Angelica and John Huston but was surprised to realize it is the story of Allegra, Angelica's sister, whose life was not typical but quite interesting. You keep reading because you want to know who Allegra is and how she deals with the unusual circumstances of her life. Well written.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison

The title really tells the story. This is a very lovely memoir of a woman living in our time and facing the transitions as we get older and our children grow up. It makes one pause and realize that each day is a gift even with all the ups and downs we face.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Clara's War by Clara Kramer and Stephen Glantz

A very moving story of a young Jewish girl in Poland gathered from her diary. The details of the eighteen months her family lived in the basement of a family who protected them is amazing. Just the daily activities were unbelievable. Holocaust stories are always moving but can be uplifting when you admire the courage of the oppressed and the kindness of others in a tragic time in history.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Alchemy of Loss by Abigail Carter

The tragedy of 9/11 hit many families and this is one widow's story from the beginning with the disbelief at the loss of her husband, dealing with the circumstances of managing her family and coming to terms with her life. She discovers her strengths and leaves the reader with admiration and respect.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

I'll Never Be French by Mark Greenside

A charming story by the author who follows his girlfriend to Brittany and creates a new life for himself. The trials and tribulations of buying a house, dealing with issues unfamiliar to him and making friends with people who speak a different language grabs your attention and makes you laugh out loud. Delightful.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Wall of White by Jennifer Woodlief

The true account of the deadliest avalanche in the history of the United States. The detailed description of the avalanche as well as the miraculous rescue of a woman buried for days, makes this a page turner.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

This Time Together by Carol Burnett

A collection of delightful stories of her life and career, some sad and many amusing. Not a big book but a pleasant read and a reminder of what a real, thoughtful and amusing person Carol Burnett is.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

Match Day by Brian Eule

Match Day has been the process of matching medical students to the hospital where they will be a resident in the final process of becoming a medical doctor. The author follows three young women as they struggle with their lives and the dedication to their profession. Well done and interesting.

Submitted by Sallie, CFPL Staff

River of Doubt : Theodore Roosevelt’s darkest journey by / Candice Millard, 2005

Non-fiction/history

The true story of Theodore Roosevelt's harrowing 1914 exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth, a black, uncharted tributary of the Amazon that snakes through one of the most treacherous jungles in the world. He and his men faced an unbelievable series of hardships, losing their canoes and supplies to punishing whitewater rapids, and enduring starvation, Indian attack, disease, drowning, and a murder within their own ranks. Gripping narrative and fascinating insight into the personality of Theodore Roosevelt.

Submitted by Judith, CFPL Staff

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Nonfiction
This a book which should be read by everyone. Well written, thoroughly researched. This is a book of faith, science, medical science and medical ignorance, racism, poverty, with issues that are being discussed today. Henrietta Lacks was a 31 year old black mother of five in Baltimore when she died of cervical cancer in 1951. Without her knowledge, doctors treating her at Johns Hopkins took tissue samples from her cervix for research. they spawned the first viable, indeed miraculously productive, cell-line known as HeLa. These cells have aided in medical discoveries from the polio vaccine to AIDS treatments. Skloot writes in a clear understanding fashion and makes no judgments.

Submitted by Patron

Gardens of Water by Alan Drew

Novel

Explores interactions of a Muslim and Christian family in an Istanbul suburb brought together during a massive earthquake in 1999.

Submitted by Mimi

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

Travel/History

Vowell takes readers to the sites of presidential assassinations and brings into focus the figures involved and the social and political backgrounds. Unusual tour makes for fascinating reading.

Submitted by J.G.

Amagansett by Mark Miller

Novel

A reclusive fisherman finds his life transformed when he pulls up the body of a beautiful young woman in his fishing nets. Literary thriller set on Long Island in 1947.

Submitted by J.G.

The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak

Novel

Linked short stories set up contemporary Japan that explore the need to be loved, understood, and accepted as characters deal with life's sorrows. Perceptively written.

Submitted by Mimi

Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson

Novel

Journeying from New Zealand to Poland and on to Sweden, composer Adam Anker uncovers the truth about his parents' fate during World War II and struggles to come to terms with the consequences of a life-altering choice he had made twenty years earlier.

Submitted by Mimi

The Lost City by Henry Shukman

Novel

Combines thrilling adventure and personal discovery in a page-turner set in the Peruvian Andes. Was a New York Times editor's pick in 2008.

Submitted by Mimi

The Dream by Harry Bernstein

Biography

A very interesting biography of the life of the 98 year old author as
his family moves from England to Chicago in the 1920s. Experiencing the
adjustment to a big city, the depression, and falling in love with his
wife of over sixty years, is a touching and good story of the immigrant
experience.

Submitted by The Queen of the Hop

Ten Degrees of Reckoning by Hester Rumberg

Memoir



A gripping story of the hit-and-run collision of a merchant ship and a 47 foot sailboat with a family aboard. The mother's survival and coping with her life make up most of the book. One of the worst cases of post-traumticstress she was able to sue the company who owned the ship and create a foundation to improve maritime safety. Reading it reminds one of the strength of the human spirit.

Submitted by Queen of the Hop