Delphi Public Library's Read Spot

Wolf Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Hilary Mantel's newest novel blends fact and fiction to tell the story of Henry the VIII's challenge to the church's power, when he was determined to make Anne Boleyn his queen. It is told from the eyes of Thomas Cromwell who rose from the gutter to become Henry's right hand man, taking the place of Cardinal Wolsey from whom he learned the tricks of his trade.
Cromwell changed the course of history by backing Henry's quest for Anne Boleyn and Henry's desire for absolute authority (which all kings and queens since, including Queen Elizabeth II subscribe to. He was a covert Protestant who protected other militant Protestants from Thomas More. His main goal was to help the common people which he thought could be achieved by destroying the Catholic clergy whom he despised and he wanted more limits on the power of the aristocracy, who despised him. He was also an administrative genius who transformed England from a fiefdom to a nation-state.
Mantel is able to bring all of these themes together by making us privy to Cromwell's every thought and calculation. Wolf Hall is the seat of the Seymour family clan where the goings-on symbolizes what Cromwell despised about the Catholic church.

The Sixties in the South

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:51:00 +0000

The Help takes readers back to the burgeoning civil rights era in Mississippi. It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel. It's a wonderful story full of women characters who are drawn so believably that you just cannot accept that they are fictional. Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss to find that her family's maid, Constantine, has disappeared. No one will tell her what happened. Like many well-to-do families in the South, the black maid spent more time raising the children than the parents did, and Skeeter feels a terrible loss in Constantine's absence. She starts to pay more attention to the black maids of her friends and begins seeing the world through their eyes as she tries to find out what happened to Constantine. Gradually she comes to see that the world she inhabits holds some terrible secrets and many injustices. She decides to interview black maids and write a book about their lives. It is a dangerous undertaking in 1962 Mississippi, especially for the black women she talks to, but they bravely decide that their stories need to be told. This is a poignant, fascinating book about this period in history. It does exactly what a great book should do: make you think, see, and feel like someone else entirely outside your own skin.

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Debra Dean's debut novel, The Madonnas of Leningrad, takes readers back to a dark part of the world's history, World War II. Although many novels have focused on this pivotal moment in history, not so many have been written from the Russian citizens' point of view. Set during the siege of Leningrad, in which the residents were completely cut off from food and medical supplies and military assistance, The Madonnas of Leningrad focuses on the plight of the workers at the Hermitage Museum and their families. The main character, Marina, was a tour guide in the museum, and her memories of the Madonnas and other beautiful works of art that used to hang in the Hermitage and have been sent away for safekeeping help to keep her sane during the months of deprivation, fear, and sorrow. The families have been invited to stay in the basement of the museum for safety from bombing and looting, and Marina spends much of her time trying to look out for bombers, bailing out flooded areas, and other assigned tasks. With the rest of her time, she walks through the many rooms of the museum, remembering what was there and describing it in detail to herself. Her memory saves her. Ironically, in the present time, her memory is deserting her as she succumbs to the symptoms of Alzheimers. The novel moves from past to present effortlessly, as we see the world through Marina's eyes and learn about the power of memory and of a rich inner life, even during times of physical and mental decline.

Same kind of different!

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, is a true story told by two guys who didn't know they were being set up by God.

I can't say enough good about this book. It is the best! Why? Because it touches you in a deep place and wakes you up to seeing what you probably missed.

This is a story about a homeless drifter who grew up in virtual slavery in the 50's. His name is Denver and you will fall in love with him and he will bless you with the wisdom from within a man who never went to school. It is also about a profitable art dealer accustomed to the good life. This is Ron. We grow along with Ron. And then it is about a gutsy lady...I like gutsy.....who is moved and inspired by God to see something unlikely happen with these two men.

A story of friendship, faith, homelessness and pain! Don't pass this one over because we are the same kind of different.

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Laura Moriarty has once again built a great book. While I'm Falling is an appealing story about a young college student whose life is falling apart. Sound like a real downer? Well, it is, and yet it isn't. So many things begin to go wrong in Veronica's life that you may find yourself cringing or holding your breath to see what comes next. She's trying very hard but makes so many mistakes--the kind you as a reader can see coming a mile away. It's almost like watching a horror movie and wanting to yell at the female victim, "No, DON'T open that door! Or run, run as fast you can, RIGHT NOW!" There are no boogey men or monsters in Veronica's story, just a lot of normal people trying to make it through life. And in Veronica's defense, some of her problems are not her fault at all. Her parents are divorcing, she's struggling in her pre-med classes, she's not well suited to her RA job--any one of these situations would be enough to create a great deal of stress. And in the end, Veronica does OK. She finds out a lot about herself, and about her mother, who due to bad circumstances ends up spending a lot more time with her. I felt almost proud of Veronica after all was said and done. And I admired her mother greatly. Take a chance and read While I'm Falling.

Sailing the Open Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Sea of Poppies by Indian author Amitov Ghosh is a very weird and wonderful book--weird because this epic saga spends most of its pages building a cast of oddly interconnected characters, and wonderful because these numerous characters are the most colorful and intriguing ones I have ever met. I will admit that it is difficult to keep them all straight. There are many, and they have unusual names (to this American, English-speaking reader anyway) that simply do not roll off the tongue. But they are incredibly well drawn, unique, endearing (some), and appalling (others). The language had me laughing out loud at times--some of the characters speak a language that is a rough combination of English, shipboard slang, and probably some Farsi or Bengali or Bhurundi thrown in. Even if you don't understand the exact words, you know exactly what they meant to say by the context. This author is very skilled at dialogue and at helping you understand what is going on, even if the character is speaking nonsense. The story begins upriver from Calcutta, at the beginning of a journey of the sailing ship the Ibis and takes us down the Ganges and out to the open sea. The Opium Wars have begun, so the Ibis is substituting its normal load of opium with a different cargo this time--coolies to work the plantations on the Mauritius Islands, and convicts to be interred at the prison at Port Louis. I waited to read this book for a long time, because apparently the publisher could not keep up with the demand. The author intends this to be the first in a trilogy, the Ibis trilogy, and I simply can't wait for the next one. I won't give away the ending, but when it comes, you will slam the book shut and immediately call your local librarian to see when the second in the series is coming out. I'll save you that step and tell you: October 2010.

A FUNNY Walk in the Woods

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:47:00 +0000

Back in America after 20 years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacqauint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings. But this book is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, A Walk in the Woods is also the Carroll County on the Same Page selection for 2009.

A Thriller with a Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:27:00 +0000

You have got to read this book. Put everything else aside, find a comfortable chair, and start reading. Actually, you won't even need a comfortable chair, because once you start reading, you won't notice where you are or what you're sitting on. This book is that good. This was my first time to read John Hart, and after reading The Last Child, I intend to go back and read his two previous books as soon as possible. It is the perfect blend of page-turning suspense, intriguing plot, and characters that come alive on the page. Johnny Merriman is a 13-year-old boy who has had to grow up way too fast, and Clyde Hunt is the detective who always seems to be one or two steps behind Johnny. (That was my one and only complaint about this book--I was disappointed that it took Hunt so long to figure out what Johnny was up to!) Johnny's sister Alyssa disappeared a year ago, his father left shortly after that, and his mother totally fell apart. Johnny's life is devoted to trying to find Alyssa, escaping the wrath of his mother's cold and heartless "boyfriend" (more like drug supplier) Ken, and trying to watch out for his fragile mother as best as he can. Hunt, who was the lead detective on Alyssa's case, is obsessed with the case and tries to keep tabs on Johnny and his mother. Then another young girl is abducted, and the nightmare escalates. If you like a good crime novel, or a good character-driven novel, you will love this book. Read it.

A Remembrance of Times Past

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Remembering the Bones, by Frances Itani, is a delightful book about a delightful woman in a not-so-delightful predicament. Georgina Danforth is on her way to visit the queen when her life takes a big turn. She shares Queen Elizabeth II's birthday, so she is one of 99 who is invited to a big party celebrating their 80th birthdays. On her way to the airport, Georgie, who is excited and distracted, veers off the road and into a ravine. She is injured and unable to move very far. Her car and herself are hidden from the road. She comforts herself by remembering and naming all the bones of the body, which she learned as a child by poring over her grandfather's anatomy books. She also remembers many scenes from her life, and reflects on whether she has lived a worthy one. At least one reviewer has said that Georgie's musings are very awkward and disordered, but wouldn't your thoughts be a little in disarray if you were in pain and lying in a ditch, wondering if you would ever be found? This is a wonderful story about a woman's life, with a tension growing with every page, as the reader wonders about Georgie's fate. This is the Morning Book Club's selection for June. Come and discuss the book with us on June 26, at 9 a.m.

Dark truths hidden in Dark Places

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:54:00 +0000

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day is the sole survivor of a family massacre that took place in 1985. Seven years of age at the time of the murders, her testimony clenches a life-sentence for her brother Ben, 15, who at the time was rumored to have been dabbling with Satanism. Libby, now in her early 30s, is in a financial fix. She becomes involved with a club whose members are interested in true crime and finds that none of the members believe her story. When they offer her cash for digging up her past and investigating key possible suspects, she reluctantly agrees and soon begins to question what she saw or didn't see on that cold and tragic January night.

The Broken Cord

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:18:00 +0000

This title is an exploration of one man's experience with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Michael Dorris adopted a Native American boy who was eventually diagnosed with FAS. He explores this horrible affliction from both an emotional standpoint as a grieving, struggling father, and from an analytical viewpoint as an anthropologist and author. Adam is a loving but difficult boy who has numerous problems that will plague him all his life. Dorris shows us a window into that difficult life, with all its joys and sorrows. This title is the May selection for the Morning Book Club, which will meet to discuss it on Friday, May 22 at 9 a.m.

Starvation Lake: A mystery

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:56:00 +0000

This is Bryan Gruley's first book which is surprising because the writing is so relaxed. It reads like a well told story and the characters are very typical of those found in a small town, without being cliched. Starvation lake is a small dying resort town located at the northern end of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. In better times, the town was known for its summer resort and its dedication to hockey. Coach Jack Blackburn came to Starvation Lake determined to win the state championship and had the whole town behind him. Gus Carpenter was the goalie who lost the game for the coach and the entire town and now that he is back, no one lets him forget it. Gus has returned with his tail between his legs, because he has also failed in his chosen profession-journalism when working for a Detroit newspaper. Now he is the editor for the local paper and he is trying to avoid
dealing with the mess he left behind in Detroit. Soon he is involved in a local mess-Jack Blackburn was thought to have been killed in an accident on the ice a decade ago, but his snowmobile washes up on the shore of an entirely different lake. Bullet holes are found which point to murder. Gus must pursue the truth, although it is apparent most of the town would rather ignore the entire business. Secrets are uncovered and friendships are tested and no one is left the same.

Reading an Old Favorite

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:42:00 +0000

The Morning Book Club at the Delphi Public Library decided to read a classic for this month's discussion. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith fits the bill perfectly. Even though it is set in Brooklyn, which may seem far away from Delphi, Indiana, and was first published way back in 1943 and set even earlier at the beginning of the 20th century, this novel has a timeless appeal for readers anytime and anywhere. The story of Francie Nolan's growing-up years is uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. She's smart, idealistic, and sensitive, and has some tough times in the slums of Williamsburg. Read about Francie and her friends and family in this beloved classic, and join in the conversation at the book club's get-together on Friday, April 17, at 9 a.m.

Things We Should Know

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ, by Brother Andrew.

This book is an eye opener all Americans should read. In Secret Believers you will read real stories of Muslims turning Christian and what they have to deal with in their Islamic countries. You find out that many Muslims are finding Christ and how. And you will see how key people are used by God to disciple these Christians in a threatening environment.

Brother Andrew (God's Smuggler) tells us we are in a war...a spiritual war with Islam... and we must decide how we will respond. With bombs and guns or with love and prayer? Secret Believers will change your way of thinking. Really!

This book is the March 2009 pick for the "Faith Inspired Book Club."

Soul Watered

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Love to Water My Soul , by Jane Kirkpatrick, is the story of a Asiam, lost at a very young age, from a wagon train traveling across Oregon country. Found and raised by Indians, often treated as an outcast, this young girls story will keep you up late reading. The story is more than being about relations between white settlers and Indians, though it teaches us much about that. But this book touches something very deep. It is about longing to be filled, or watered as Asiam, the main character would say, with love and acceptance. This is a work of fiction by Jane Kirkpatrick, but what is so amazing, is that it is based on a true story told her by her husband's mother about her own grandmother. You can read more about that in the "Author's Notes." This book is found in our religious fiction section.

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Irish author Tana French has done it again with her sophomore effort, The Likeness. Detective Cassie Maddox, from French's first novel, In the Woods, returns smarter and sassier than ever. Listen to this plot: Years ago, before her stint in the Murder division, Cassie did an undercover job, posing as Alexandra (Lexie) Madison in an attempt to bust some drug dealers. She was stabbed in that job, was pulled out of undercover, and Lexie Madison's created identity was left hanging in the wind. Now, several years later, a body has turned up in a rural community near Dublin, victim of a stabbing, and guess what her name is? Lexie Madison. And, to make the story even more fantastic, the dead woman is a dead ringer (pun intended) for Cassie herself. In a stroke of daring, Cassie's old boss asks her to go undercover yet again, as Lexie Madison. They pretend that the dead woman was actually just injured and comotose, and Cassie steps into "Lexie's" life, into a household of four PhD students who are definitely hiding something. The story is a fascinating premise, and French pulls it off. She is so talented at character development, enabling you to get right inside Cassie's head. This is not your average crime novel. It will keep you reading late into the night.

The Private Patient

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Remember those old Agatha Christie mysteries where a murder would take place in an isolated English house and the murderer, of course was part of the group in residence? If you enjoyed Agatha you will enjoy the latest mystery by P.D. James featuring the detective skills of Adam Dalgleish and his team. This huge old English house is in an isolated part of Dorset and is now a private clinic used by a famous plastic surgeon in London. The murdered patient who came in to have a scar removed, was an investigative journalist known for uncovering devastating secrets. Indeed she has already been the cause of one young writer's suicide. This is a typical James novel where lots of emotion seeths underneath, but seldom surfaces-which is probably why someone gets murdered! Dalgliesh and his team must investigate everyone at the clinic in order to find the murderer. And of course almost everyone has secrets to hide including a resident who has already served time for murder. On a lighter note, there is a wedding to look forward to-that of Dalgleish and his Emma. This is a book to enjoy and savor on a cold winter day curled up with a cup of tea and English scones.

Nineteen Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:31:00 +0000

What can you do in nineteen minutes? In this novel by best-selling author Jodi Piccoult, one young man takes a gun to his high school and wreaks havoc and tragedy in that brief span of time. We know from the beginning of the book that this act of violence has occurred, but not all the details of how and why. The author takes us back in time to the main characters involved and tries to make sense of this senseless event. Picoult is adept at tweaking all the angles of major societal issues, such as school violence, and making us think about the perpetrators, their families, and their victims. She doesn't provide answers, but much food for thought. This is the February selection of the Delphi Morning Book Club, which meets on Friday, February 27 at 9 a.m. at the library. Feel free to join us.

The icelandic mysteries of Arnaldur Indridason

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Indridason has won the Crime Writers Association Golden Dagger award for his mysteries. He is a great storyteller whose main character, Erlendur is hard to forget. Erlendur and his colleagues focus on missing person crimes in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is a particular interest of Erlendur because his brother disappeared when they were children. The pain of his past although submerged has greatly influenced his relationships with both of his children. His daughter Eva Lind is a drug addict who has a love/hate relationship with him and his son is not interested in any relationship with his father. His colleagues know that his personal life is a mess and he deals with it by focusing on the job. So he is not content every angle is checked or the crime is solved.
The library has four of his mysteries. Jar City is about a rapist who may have been murdered for his crimes. In the Silence of the Grave, Erlendur investigates the finding of a skeleton buried for 50 years and in The Draining Lake, the remains may be that of a cold war spy. In Voices, he investigates the murder of a Santa Claus in a luxury hotel.
Iceland is a major component of these novels. Most crimes of murder there are crimes of passion. Everyone knows everyone in the country or are related to them. Incredibly people do go missing and are never seen again. But you will be drawn to these mysteries not only for the story which is always interesting, but because you want to see Erlendur change as he begins to reach out to his colleagues, his children and possibly a love interest.

Genocide and Forgiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Left To Tell, by Immaculee Ilibagiza,
is a true and first-hand story of the Rwandan Holocaust. Immaculee Ilibagiza tells her story of fear, terror, murder and loss. Hiding in a tiny bathroom with 7 other women for 91 cramped and terrifying days, Immaculee survived and now tells us of her experience in a shocking and deplorable onslaught of innocent lives. The evil man is capable of will stun you, but Immaculee's story of faith and finding God in the midst of horror will lift you. Left To Tell is the other side of the coin to "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" and will serve as a true inspiration to anyone at odds with a brother, a people or themselves. Left To Tell will stay with you for a long long time.

This selection is the January 2009 pick for the "Faith-Inspired Book Club" meeting January 13th, 2009 at 9 a.m. Please join us on the library mezzanine for rich discussion!

"Dumpster Girl"

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:40:00 +0000

GRACE is another amazing story written by the author of THE CHRISTMAS BOX. For those who have never read anything by Richard Paul Evans, GRACE will not disappoint, and will most likely lead you to read the rest of his works.

Eric's life is far from wonderful. After his father hurt his back, the family packed up everything they owned and moved from California to Utah. Money has dried up in the summer of 1962 and, to survive, his family moves into the house left vacant by the death of his maternal grandmother. The house is falling apart, but they are together and have family nearby to help them.

To help with finances, Eric works at McBurger Queen after school. It's there, while cleaning up after closing, that he discovers a girl "dumpster diving" (sorting through the dumpster for food). He recognizes the girl from one of his classes, but doesn't want to embarrass her. Instead, he invites her inside and offers her the food that would otherwise be discarded.

While she is eating, he learns her name is Grace. She admits she is running away. Eric can't fathom what a girl his age will do to survive. Without thinking of the consequences, he offers up the only place he can think of, the clubhouse in the far corner of his backyard that he built with his younger brother, Joel.

He sets Grace up in the clubhouse with a heating pad for warmth, a flashlight, a transistor radio, and a supply of sleeping bags. As time goes by, the two become friends. He sneaks her food when he can. She sneaks out when it seems safe, and passes her time in the clubhouse with a collection of books from the library.

But her family starts a frantic search for Grace. Announcements are made at school. Flyers are put up around town. And eventually it makes the evening news. Eric is terrified he will be found out and that they will find Grace. He vows to keep her secret. His resolve grows more so when she reveals the reason for running away.

Eric is only fourteen, and the pressure from all sides start to mount. He knows Grace can never be turned over to her family, but what can a teenager do to help her in the end?

Mr. Evans has a way of bringing forth buried feelings. GRACE touches you deep in the spirit and makes you want to be a better person. With the upcoming Christmas season, may we all show a bit of grace to those around us.

What Really Happend to Mark Everley?

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:38:00 +0000

Dooley Takes The Fall by Norah McClintock

Dooley's on a mission. A mission to discover what happened the night of classmate Mark Everley's suicide. A suicide that Dooley witnessed and is now under suspicion for due to a previous police record. What makes matters worse? An unfortunate doping at a party that Dooley attends (and shouldn't be attending), causing him to lose all credibility in the eyes of the police and most importantly, his Uncle, who is currently allowing Dooley to reside at his residence. Toss in some romantic interest involving the victim's sister and you have a fast-paced and enjoyable read.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:35:00 +0000

Dashti is a mucker girl from the Steppes. Muckers are a nomadic people who live in tents called ghers. Dashti has the gift of healing song, common to muckers and these songs are used to heal and help people with illness, depression and other ailments. She has just been sent to be the maid of Lady Saren, the daughter of the Kahn of Titor's Garden, one of the Eight Realms of this fantasy. On meeting her new mistress, she finds that Lady Saren has refused to marry the man her father has chosen for her. Her father has just told her that she will spend the next seven years locked in a tower for her willful disobediance. Dashti is given the choice, will she go with her new mistress or leave? She chooses to stay and help her new mistress all she can. They are taken to a tower in the wilderness where they are bricked inside with only a slit to let in air and a small trap door to throw out waste. There is a seven year supply of food and firewood. There are guards who keep watch, day and night outside. Dashti starts to keep a journal of their seven year stay in the tower, the Book of a Thousand Days. In this journal she records her life and her attempt to befriend and understand her distant mistress. She keeps a detailed account of their life in the tower.

One dark night when the guards are sleeping, they hear a voice outside the trap door. It is the young Kahn Tegus that Lady Saren has secretly promised to marry. But Lady Seran refused to speak to him. "You speak to him for me, Dashti! Pretend you are me! I cannot talk to him!" So Dashti talks with Kahn Tegus for several evenings through the trap door and discovers that he is gentle, kind and brokenhearted that Lady Seran has been put into this prison tower for seven years. When Dashti tells of their struggle to protect their food supply from the rats that have invaded their cellar, he returns the next night and brings them a cat. When he does not return, Dashti finds that she misses him very much.

One night a very disturbing voice comes through the trap door. It is Kahn Khasar, the one Lady Saren's father had chosen for her. Once again, Lady Saren has Dashti pretend to be her and talk with him. He threatens that if she should ever reveal his dark secret, he will kill her. Lady Saren is so frightened of this man that she falls into a deep depression and refuses to talk. Whatever his dark secret is, Dashti, too, is terrified of this man.

Soon after this, the guards are attacked and killed by a vicious wolf. The wolf tries to get in through the trap door, tearing at the opening with his strong jaws. Their cat pounces at the wolf and disappears.

The girls are left completely alone. Weeks and then a year goes by. The rats return to ravage their food supply and Dashti must make the decision that will change both of their lives forever. She plans to break out of their prison and go to the Realm of Kahn Tegus for refuge. Will they make it? What is the dark secret of Kahn Khasar? This version of an old Mongolian fairy tale will keep you enchanted until the final page. You will find Book of A Thousand Days in Teen Fiction.

Tethered

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:34:00 +0000

Clara Marsh is an undertaker who spends most of her solitary life taking care of the dead. From picking them up in the hearse, washing them, making them look their best. She chooses flowers from her own garden for the casket making her choice significant for the deceased and bereaved family. Her only friends are the owner of the funeral home and his wife. When a little girl begins spending time and hiding out at the funeral home, Clara becomes afraid she is involved in a child abuse ring. And Clara knows all about childhood abuse. This is a haunting story with a flawed heroine who prefers the dead to the living and the grieving cop who would like to change that.

The Leper by Sigmund Brouwer

noreply@blogger.com (Library Staff) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:31:00 +0000

This story is riveting! It is 1853, London, England and three days before Christmas. Returning home from military service in India, Nathaniel discovers his worst fears. His has leprosy. He must abandon his family and everything he loves rather than expose them to this dreaded disease. But after years of isolation, Nathaniel's loneliness and longing for his family is more than he can bear. Distraught, he decides to end his life. But before that can happen, he discovers an abandoned baby girl and experiences his first human touch in years. A delightful and moving story line evolves with characters that will make you laugh as well as cry. This story is sure to touch your heart!

The Leper is the November 2008 selection for the "Faith Inspired Book Club" and can be found in our religious fiction area.