Tag Archives: 2020

The Splendid and the Vile

THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE

  by Erik Larson

Erik Larson is always my go-to author for narrative non-fiction. His newest, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE, focuses on Winston Churchill, and those around him, during the Blitz. There has been plenty written about the courage and stoicism of the British citizens during World War II, especially during the terror of the Blitz, but Larson delves deeper. His descriptions of the night raids- from the air raid sirens, to the different kinds of bombs, to the fiery destruction left behind, is enthralling. Churchill’s reaction to the air raid sirens (he ran to the roof as everyone else ran for the underground shelters) illustrates his strong and defiant personality. Readers will gain a new respect for this leader and his ability to convince his countrymen, and the world, that they would persevere even as fire literally rained down from the sky. Anyone interested in WWII history, Churchill, or just a great recounting of a seminal event in history will be captivated. ~ Sue, Circulation

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Check Out These New True Crime Books!

THE THIRD RAINBOW GIRL by Emma Copley Eisenberg

“Two young women, Vicki Durian, 26, and Nancy Santomero, 19, were murdered on June 25, 1980 in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Three girls were on their way to a gathering called the Rainbow Festival, and two were murdered en route. What happened to the third? Emma Copley Eisenberg was living in West Virginia when she first came across the story of the murders, and her time spent in the state helps get the texture and nuance right. The result is dazzling.” ~Lisa Levy, CrimeReads contributing editor

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Kidnapped By a Client by Sharon R. Muse, JD

“Attorney Sharon Muse experienced every defense attorney’s worst nightmare when a former client of hers escalated a pattern of harassment to the point of kidnapping her. After escaping by the skin of her teeth, Muse soon realized her path to justice—and safety—would be long and arduous. This powerful new memoir details  her long journey to justice and healing.” ~CrimeReads

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Start the New Year Off With a Great Book!

There are lots of great books coming out in January. Here is a sampling of some of the most anticipated titles:

DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano

“Imagine the pain of losing a single family member. Now, imagine getting on a plane with your entire family, both parents and an older brother, and when the plane crashes, you are the only passenger to survive. Such is the fate of 12-year-old Eddie Adler in this penetrating new novel from Napolitano… The painfully vivid story of one boy’s coming of age redirected by tragedy.” ~Library Journal

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

NAKED CAME THE FLORIDA MAN by Tim Dorsey

“As a hurricane wreaks havoc upon Florida, the never-more-aptly-named Serge A. Storms, Florida’s most avid history buff (not to mention its most cheerful serial killer) is determined to finish his latest foray into the state’s past: a tour of Florida’s most notable cemeteries. Along the way, he rights wrongs in his own violently clever fashion and investigates a legendary story of a local bogeyman. Readers who have not yet met Mr. Storms are in for a real treat: he’s one of contemporary fiction’s most entertaining and idiosyncratic creations, a killer who believes he’s only doing what’s right, an amateur historian who gets almost unendurably thrilled about the tiniest historical fact concerning the state he loves. Dorsey, a former newspaperman, writes economically; the dialogue is sparse and frequently hilarious, and the narrative passages are as descriptive as they need to be but not a syllable more. A fine entry in this consistently strong series.” ~Booklist

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict

“Behind every successful man, they say, stands a strong woman. Lady Clementine Churchill was an example of such, as this self-narrated fictional recounting makes clear…This outstanding story deserves wide readership. Fans of historical fiction, especially set around World War II; readers who appreciate strong, intelligent female leads; or those who just want to read a compelling page-turner will enjoy this gem of a novel.” ~Library Journal

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid

“Say you’re a white, professional woman in the midst of a late-evening crisis. Would you call your African American babysitter, catching her at a friend’s birthday party, and ask her to come tend to your toddler? Say you’re that African American babysitter. After taking your charge to the local market, wouldn’t you be annoyed, then humiliated, then downright scared and angry when a security guard accuses you of kidnapping? …In her debut novel, Reid illuminates difficult truths about race, society, and power with a fresh, light hand. We’re all familiar with the phrases white privilege and race relations, but rarely has a book vivified these terms in such a lucid, absorbing, graceful, forceful, but unforced way. ~Library Journal

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.