Guests
by Sheila N., April 26, 2014 12:31 PM
My father gave me the entire series to read one end-of-year vacation when I was 11. I devoured the books, often laughing so hard that my sides hurt and causing some consternation to others in the same room. William the Good is a really good entry into the series. While not easily available now, if you find a copy (especially the ones with the original artwork), read
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Guests
by Sheila N., December 31, 2013 5:34 PM
One of the Financial Times picks for best political books of the year, The Blood Telegram is a horrifying and shocking story of the birth of Bangladesh and the terrible part that Nixon and Kissinger played in all of it. The worst thing is that one comes away with the realization that nothing has changed — and that Kissinger, at least, has managed to undeservedly clean up his
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Guests
by Sheila N., September 9, 2013 5:40 PM
Mostly about the author Eyres and what he gleaned from Horace's poetry and wisdom, this charming book will inspire one to spend several late summer nights savoring Horace's poems over a glass (or two) of
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Guests
by Sheila N., December 29, 2012 12:00 AM
Would the sequel live up to expectations? Actually, yes. Hilary Mantel's talent for rich detail and sensuous atmosphere is still apparent, and Bring Up the Bodies is, in some ways, a much more gripping, riveting, and textured read than Wolf Hall. For one thing, the plotting is tighter. We know what's going to happen, but watching Cromwell plotting, planning, and out-maneuvering his rivals and enemies still makes for extremely fascinating reading
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Guests
by Sheila N., September 4, 2012 11:32 AM
A couple of years ago, I was stuck in Japan for an entire day because of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. I had the brilliant notion to watch three Japanese horror movies in a row while waiting, and as a result, I found it difficult to fall asleep at the hotel in which they kindly put me up. Fortunately, someone had abandoned the first two installments of the Hawkwood series by James McGee in the lobby. They were my lucky find. Darkly atmospheric, fast paced, riveting, and possessing an attractive and mysteriously reticent hero, I was hooked from beginning to
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Guests
by Sheila N., August 9, 2012 12:31 PM
Based on the true story of an emancipated slave who risked her life to spy on the Confederacy for the Union during the Civil War, this book is a must-read. Written with grace and passion, fantastic historical detail and fully realized characters, The Secrets of Mary Bowser is immensely enjoyable. I'd also recommend it for young teens, 15 and up, who are interested in history and looking for a gripping
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Guests
by Sheila N., January 4, 2012 12:28 PM
Julian Barnes won the Man Booker Prize for this lyrical little tome, and, in spite of the controversy surrounding the prize and the 2011 shortlist, I believe he deserved the award. It's the kind of book that one races through, stopping every now and then to relish a particularly elegant turn of phrase
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Guests
by Sheila N., October 31, 2011 11:15 AM
Winner of the 2010 Costa Children's Award, Jason Wallace's debut novel is a powerful and compelling account of life in 1980s Zimbabwe. The times are fraught; the new black government is intent on dismantling the old colonial power infra-structures and the colonial whites resent their loss of power. A new boy at a prestigious boarding school, Robert Jacklin wants desperately to fit in. But when becoming one of the boys makes him complicit in their crimes, Robert must decide if it is more important to fit in or to be true to his beliefs... (Recommended for readers fourteen and
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Guests
by Sheila N., August 26, 2011 3:47 PM
I was captivated by the time I had finished the first paragraph. Set in 17th-century Scotland, The Betrayal of Maggie Blair follows the adventures of 16-year-old Maggie as she tries to save herself and her relatives from the accusation of witchcraft. While the book does unfold a little sedately at first, the rich prose, together with the vivid imagery and precise historical detail, all work together to make this book a riveting and compelling read. Recommended for readers 13 and
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Guests
by Sheila N., June 14, 2011 12:49 PM
Struck by the sudden realization that she possesses quite a few books she's never read, author Susan Hill decides to take a year off buying books so that she can read, and reread, the many treasures in her possession. Howards End Is on the Landing is the delightful result of this experiment. It's a compilation of observations about books, novelists, and the publishing business. Quirky, yet charming, the book was a joy to
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