Leisure Reading at University Park

A Murder Over a Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 22:05:00 +0000

It is no question that gender identity is a hot topic in the media today. The transgender movement has brought the spotlight to some of the issues surrounding this matter.

Psychologist Ken Corbett’s book A Murder Over a Girl: Justice, Gender, Junior High is a true account of the violent murder of a potentially transgender student by his eighth grade classmate. In February 2008 in Oxnard, California, fourteen-year-old Brandon McInery opened fire at fifteen-year-old Larry King. Larry had recently opened up about his gender identity and begun to identify as Leticia.

Upon noticing a trend in media reports covering the story tending to sidestep the ties to gender identity, Corbett attended the trial and embarked on a thorough investigation of the case. The book compiles observations, interviews and research to analyze perspectives of perpetrator, victim and witnesses. In the process, Corbett paints a vivid and shocking picture of the two boys and their scarred community “dangerously blind to the needs of children and to the power of hate.”

If you’re interested in contemporary social issues or the mechanisms of the human psyche, pick up A Murder Over a Girl in the Leisure Reading Atrium today.

If you need some Comedic Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 20:35:00 +0000

A Carlin Home Companion: Growing up with George is a memoir of the tumultuous childhood of Kelly Carlin, daughter of the late comic genius George Carlin. Many of us remember George Carlin for making us double over in laughter with his satirical takes on real life situations we all face. George was a man with a smaller inner circle, however; few outside of his family ever had the opportunity to glimpse into the personal life of this beloved comedian.

As his only child, Kelly was bore witness to it all: the humor and the genius, as well as the alcoholism, the cocaine addiction, the life-threatening health scares, and the financial hardship. From political protests to acid trips, Kelly spent her childhood in the front-row seat of the show that was her father’s life – and it wasn’t always comedic.

More than anything, the memoir describes her journey to distinguish herself outside of her father’s fame and find her own voice. If you’re looking to take a ride on an emotional roller-coaster of humor and heartbreak, pick this book up from the Leisure Reading Atrium today.

Real Food, Fake Food

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 20:36:00 +0000

Think about what you had for breakfast this morning. Do you know where it came from? Do you know exactly what was it was made of? For many of us, even when we think we know the answers to these questions, in reality we do not. Real Food, Fake Food: Why you don’t know what you’re eating and what you can do about it is Larry Olmsted’s exploration of the unregulated food industry today.

It’s easy to be deceived by the plethora of fake foods in our diets today: fake foods line our kitchen cabinets and fill our restaurant plates. The deception is not limited to fast food and processed goods: it exists in high end foods like olive oil and wine, as well as in staples like honey and coffee. Get this: more than 99.9% of Kobe beef sold in this country is fake, and a third of the seafood sold is intentionally mislabeled.

The book is stocked with shocking facts like these, but Olmsted does more than steer us away from fake foods. He digs deeper – he instructs his audience on how to identify authenticity in food. Furthermore, he puts forth a convincing argument for the power of real food and being a smart consumer.

Award winning broadcaster Michael Patrick Shields says, “Do not take another bite or swallow another sip of anything, for your sake and the sake of your children, before reading Real Food, Fake Food.” So, before you get too hungry, come check this one out from Leisure Reading today!

January Theme: New Year, New Me

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 20:03:00 +0000

Looking to be a new you this New Year? If you recently resolved to be better in some way this year, be it physically, nutritionally, morally, professionally, socially or intellectually, there are a wide selection of books available in the library’s atrium geared to motivate you to stick to your resolutions. This month in the atrium, you’ll find titles like Level Up Your Life, a guide to becoming your own hero; Eat & Run, a book about training for marathons, I Got my Dream Job and so Can You, 7 steps to finding your ideal career; and much more. Next time you feel yourself losing hope and giving up on your resolutions, remember that a source of inspiration is just a short walk (or jog) away in your Penn State Library.

New Year, New Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 17:17:00 +0000

We’re nine days into 2017: hopefully, you are all still holding on to your New Year’s Resolutions. Often times, resolutions deal with health: both emotional and physical. Doctor Deepak Chopra and Doctor Rudolph E. Tanzi’s book Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being covers both these topics and more.

The book, described as “a manual for relating to the brain in a revolutionary new way,” explains how to use your brain to get to be a healthier person: physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. The coauthors' credentials speak for themselves: bestselling author and renowned physician Dr. Chopra and Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Tanzi know a thing or two about the brain. Together, their knowledge and expertise forms a new perspective on the untapped potential on the “three-pound universe” inside each of our heads.

Chopra and Tanzi argue that we can use increased “self-awareness and conscious intention” to train the brain to surpass perceived limtiations. They guide readers through how to use your brain instead of letting it use you, create the ideal lifestyle for a healthy brain, reduce the risks of gaining, access to enlightened brain, and more. If you’re ready for a new relationship with your brain this New Year, stop by the Leisure Reading Room today!

Here Comes the Snow...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 16:49:00 +0000

The first snowflakes have officially fallen in State College. It gives me shivers to say it: winter is among us. There is no more perfect read for this week than Sarah Addison Allen’s First Frost.

The story opens in late October in Bascom, North Carolina. Leaves have fallen, temperatures are dropping, and the previously peaceful lives on the Waverly women are erupting into a stormy chaos. As in most of Allen’s novels, there is an air of magic in the story, centered around the Waverly family’s mischievous backyard apple tree and all the enchantment that surrounds it.

For Claire, Sydney and Bay Waverly, the dawn of winter brings about different issues. Despite the success of Claire’s handmade confections shop, the magical powers of her desserts are eating away at her happiness. Sydney is desperate for a baby, and her continuous failed attempts at pregnancy are quickly depleting her spirits. Young Bay is madly in love with a boy who barely knows she exists (yet it is his existence that is called into question). The biggest challenge will prove to be holding their family together in the face of an ominous season of change.

Upon the arrival of a stranger to their town, each woman’s strength and pride are challenged as they’re forced to make difficult decisions.

As we soar into finals week, keep your cool and pick up First Frost in the Leisure Reading Room today.

Ads, Ads, and More Ads

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:26:00 +0000

Image source: amazon.com

Advertisements – as customers, we tend to hate them. They are obnoxious, distracting, and a waste of time. On the other hand, companies rely on advertisements as one of their major sources of income every quarter. Tim Wu, a Columbia University professor, explains how businesses depend on advertisements but as customers, we may feel bombarded with random pop-ups or thirty second videos aiming to sell a product to us.

There is not a day where we are not pestered by these “attention merchants,” and Wu enlightens us of the history of advertising and where it is heading right now. It is quite shocking to see the extent of how far some advertisers go, and we realize that we have now become not only the consumers but also the producers as well. As Tom Vanderbilt of The New Republic states, “We are selling ourselves to ourselves.”

Grab a copy of this book and see how advertising has evolved and has affected our daily lives!

BLAST OFF! Away From Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:55:00 +0000

Anyone else trying to escape reality as finals week inches closer and closer? The Dream Life of Astronauts by Patrick Ryan is the perfect get-away. The book is a compilation of nine touching short stories, all of which take place in the ‘60s and ‘70s in and around Cape Canaveral. With each story, you’ll be pulled between humor and heartbreak, hope and dejection, and relationship and ruin.

In one story, a “would-be Miss America” auditions in front of a sketchy local talent scout. In another, a father, recovering from a stroke, tries to prevent his sons from bullying a boy in the Boy Scout troop he leads. In still another, an aerospace engineer starts to suspect that the woman he’s having an affair with is slowly killing her husband with poison. References to space programs and topics appear in these and the five other stories. In some way, the main character in each story hasn’t quite “lifted off” yet in life. Still, however, Ryan goes through every motion to make sure we’re rooting for them until the second they leave the launch pad.

Many of these private dramas unravel alongside important moments in the history of space exploration. As an audience, we get to probe into the unknown on several fronts and blast off from the all-too-familiar monotony of finals week. Check out The Dream Life of Astronauts in the Leisure Reading Room today!

Do Yourself a Flavor this Week

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:17:00 +0000

With temperatures dropping quickly, now is the time to get your final ice cream fix. If you’ve ever been to any of Big Gay Ice Cream’s four store locations, you know there is no better final celebration than this sweet sensation.

Big Gay Ice Cream: Saucy Stories & Frozen Treats: Going All the Way with Ice Cream is Bryan Petroff and Douglas Quint’s laugh-out-loud recipe book presented in the form of a high school yearbook. Interspersed in the book is the duo’s story of their escapades in the ice cream business, and each page is graffitied with hilarious yearbook style signature messages.

The main attraction of the book, by far, is the mouth-watering recipes. From blueberry-balsamic sauce to the maple-biscoff shake to extra-virgin olive oil ice cream, the varities are endless. Plus, each recipe is preceded by a short backstory about how it came to be. If your mouth isn’t watering more with the turn of each page, you must be lactose intolerant.

If you’re wondering how Petroff and Quint came up with this peculiar presentation for a recipe book, you can read more about their sources of inspiration here.

If you’re looking for one last lick, pick up the Big Gay Ice Cream recipe book from the Leisure Reading Room today!

Humans of New York Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 19:59:00 +0000

You’ve probably heard of Brandon Stanton’s extremely popular blog Humans of New York (otherwise known as HONY), but did you know that last October, Stanton authored a book called Humans of New York Stories? It’s the perfect coffee-table book for any HONY fan or lover of human journeys.

For those of you who have never heard of HONY, it is a project started by photographer Brandon Stanton in New York City in 2010 to “create an exhaustive catalogue of the city’s inhabitants.” Soon after starting the project, he decided to include quotes from interviews with the subjects as captions for the photos. Today, HONY has over 20 million social media followers and has expanded beyond the streets of New York to the stories of people from all over the globe.

Humans of New York Stories is the follow-up of Stanton’s original Humans of New York book, filled with hundreds of stories about all new humans that will make you laugh, cry, think and love. Now a #1 New York Times Best Seller, this book brings out the innate human emotion in every reader.

If you’re ready to be moved, pick up Humans of New York Stories in the Leisure Reading Room today!

Election Week Special: The Victory Lab

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:13:00 +0000

With just one short week until the 2016 Election, all eyes are on the polls. This election has surely been an interesting one, to say the least. One notably different thing about this year’s presidential election is the way the Presidential candidates ran their campaigns. Whether this distinction has to do with the nature of the candidates’ policies, their personal policies, or the social and technological landscape of modern times, the relative absurdity some techniques used in some campaigns this year are undeniable.

The Victory Lab: the Secret Science of Winning Campaigns, by Sasha Issenberg, though written a few years before the commencement of this election season, sheds some light on important campaign tactics, providing valuable insight on what works for the American people and what doesn’t. It describes the various efforts of the entrepreneurial political operatives operating political campaigns today. Each chapter is dedicated to a different method of campaigning, backed with thorough evidence and well-explained data. In fact, there is ample discussion about the prevalence of big data in modern campaigns and how, despite its indisputable importance, it remains poorly understood by citizens and the media alike. In the end, Issenberg’s book seems to almost a plea for public acknowledgement of these field-tested campaign techniques, as an informed populace will be less likely to fall for the often-underlying trickery.

Be informed: find this book in the Leisure Reading Room today!

Spooky Special: Who Buries the Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 17:51:00 +0000

If you’re not quite in the Halloween mood yet, C.S. Harris’s Who Buries the Dead is an easy fix. This historical tale of disaster and adventure will keep all of you murder mystery lovers on the edge of your seats.

The story begins in 19^th Century London with the decapitation of Stanley Preston, a wealthy plantation owner known for both his social ladder climbing efforts and his collection of royal memorabilia (including heads). Enter Sebastian St. Cryer: a nobleman called upon to assist in the investigation, which quickly becomes quite bewildering and very dangerous.

A body of evidence connects Preston’s death to the beheading of the Stuart Monarch a century earlier. Equally troubling is the return of Sebastian’s old army commander, Lord Oliphant, whose presence resurfaces horrible memories for Sebastian. What’s more – Sebastian’s exploitive, money-seeking father-in-law, Lord Jarvis, is undeniably aware of the victim’s connection to the current Home Secretary, and thus his access to wealth. With suspects popping up at every turn, Sebastian and his wife Hero are completely overwhelmed by their involvement in this case. When more beheadings occur and attempts are made on Sebastian’s life, it is almost too much for the emotionally exhausted couple to bear.

Readers are drug through every turn of tragedy and triumph alongside Sebastian, this novel’s confident and charismatic protagonist. To join in on his adventure, pick up this book in the Leisure Reading Room today!

If you were at the Kanye West Concert...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 18:01:00 +0000

Kanye West Owes me $300: & Other True Stories from a White Rapper who Almost Made it Big, by Jensen Karp, caught my eye a few weeks ago as I filed through books in the Leisure Reading Room. At the time, I had tickets to the upcoming Kanye West concert at the Bryce Jordan Center and had been listening to his music all week, so I was immediately drawn to the title. Plus, who wouldn’t wonder why and how this man owes Kanye West such a large sum of money?

Karp’s memoir tells how, as a white suburban teenager in Southern California, he nearly made it big in the rap industry. Karp, who started his rap career at age 12 as “Hot Karl”, gained popularity after his record-breaking winning streak on Roll Call, a popular radio rap battle contest. Soon after, he signed a contract deal worth a combined million dollars. Within the next few years, however, his rap career quickly and quietly fizzled out, as another white rapper took the main stage. Karp calls himself “the most famous white rapper you’ve never heard of.” His memoir is filled with humor, truth, growth, and, not surprisingly, the story of how the young producer Kanye West came to owe him $300.

Check out Kanye West Owes me $300, available in the Leisure Reading room today!

Autumn Read: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:17:00 +0000

David Sedaris’s Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: a Modest Bestiary is the perfect book to warm your heart on a crisp fall day. If you have read or listened to David Sedaris before, you’ll immediately recognize his distinctive mix of sarcasm, comedy and heartwarming human connection. And though the characters in this book are indeed not human, you’ll surely be able to relate to the common cycle of chaos and concord in their little furry lives. The book is composed of 16 short animal fables alongside adorable animal illustrations by Ian Falconer. These animals, many of whom are caught in situations of injustice and perplexity, are inimitably outspoken and uncensored. Sedaris brings the stories full circle, however, by ending all of the stories with clear underlying moral lessons.

If you’re looking to cozy up to a book that will crack you up, pick up Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk from the Leisure Reading room today.

Penn State Reads Presents: The Circle

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:17:00 +0000

“Secrets are Lies. Sharing is Caring. Privacy is Theft.”

This year’s Penn State Reads common book is the novel The Circle by Dave Eggers. Penn State invites students to join Eggers in his exploration of the effect of technology on our lives today.

The story follows Mae Holland as she begins a new career at The Circle, the world’s most powerful Internet company. At first, Mae is enamored with her new placement – the dazzling new facility, the company parties, the active employee involvement. Before she realizes, her life outside of work begins to slip away from her, and her role in the company becomes increasingly public.

As Mae falls deeper and deeper into the trap of the Circle, she relentlessly draws all other aspects of her personal life into the Circle, only to unveil trauma and tragedy. Despite the efforts of an unlikely coworker, Mae becomes a slave to the system, as well as the novel’s jaded antagonist. What starts as a story of commendable ambition spirals into a debate of “memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.”

On October 10^th, Dave Eggers joined Penn State students and faculty in Alumni Hall for a conversation about the novel’s key themes presented by Penn State Reads. The discussion will continue on October 16^th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium of the Paterno Library. This time, Sue Paterno will lead the conversation as a part of Penn State Parents’ Weekend.

If you haven't read it yet, check out The Circle in the Leisure Reading Room today.

October: A Good Month for A Murder Mystery

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Though the title refers to February 2013, rather than October, A Good Month for Murder: the Inside Story of a Homicide Squad, by Del Quentin Wilber is the perfect book to get in the spooky spirit with this Halloween season.

A Good Month for Murder pulls readers into the captivating true story of twelve homicides, three shootings involving law enforcement officials, and the ongoing search for a violent serial killer in suburban Washington D.C.

Written during a month of shadowing the strikingly talented detectives who respond to these crimes, Wilber follows one chaotic case after another, until every detective in Prince George’s County is occupied with one of these shootings or stabbings. One particular case about a 17-year-old honors student gunned down in her own bed is highlighted.

The plot delves deeply into the drama inside and outside of the detectives’ office. Wilber’s virtually unlimited access to the homicide unit brings readers behind closed doors into otherwise undisclosed conversations and investigations.

October is the perfect month to pick up a murder mystery in the Leisure Reading room. Look for A Good Month for Murder on display this month!

MOVIE ALERT: The Girl on the Train

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 17:25:00 +0000

The Girl on the Train tells the story of Rachel Watson, a woman pushed to alcoholism after a tumultuous divorce from her husband Tom. Each day on her daily commute, Rachel catches view of a seemingly perfect couple and fantasizes enviously about their life together. Coincidentally, this couple lives just a few doors down from her and Tom’s old home, which he now shares with his new wife and their child.

Rachel’s perception of the couple changes, however, when she witnesses a blatant act of adultery by Megan, the wife. When Rachel learns a few days later that Megan has gone missing, she goes to the authorities to share what she saw from the train window. Because of her history with alcohol use, however, neither the police nor Rachel herself can trust her memories, so Rachel is forced to take the investigation into her own hands. The story follows Rachel as she tries to uncover her own memories and ends up turning up a rough past.

The Girl on the Train is full of mystery, suspense, and jaw-dropping shock. Last year, the book was both the #1 New York Times Bestseller and the USA Today Book of the Year. Next Friday – October 7^th, 2016 – the story will be released as a major motion picture starring Emily Blunt as Rachel Watson. Grab it from the Leisure Reading Room before you get your tickets!

To Eat or Not to Eat?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 17:19:00 +0000

Today, nearly 7% of America’s population follows a vegan diet, and this number is growing. The appeal of this trend extends beyond those who avoid animal-based products for ethical reasons to people in search of healthier, cleaner lifestyles.

Many consumers find themselves torn between cleanliness and convenience, health and satisfaction, price and worth. Many experts even argue that veganism does more harm than good, as this diet eliminates some crucial nutrients.

Jorge Cruise, the author of Tiny and Full, proposes the perfect compromise for these conundrums: being vegan only for breakfast. “What if I told you that your breakfast holds the power to total health, natural weight loss, and increased all-day energy?” Cruise questions. The book suggests that vegan breakfasts give the most full for the least calories and keep you making healthy animal-based choices later for lunch and dinner.

The book is rife with scientific evidence, logic, inspiration and personality. Also included are a 12-week meal plan and fitness guide, as well as countless recipes, both vegan and non-vegan.

If you’re ready to be tiny and willing to be partially vegan, your solution is within this book. Look for it in the Atrium now!

The Index Card

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 05:17:00 +0000

Image source: amazon.com

Instead of the long-winded process of explaining the steps of successfully maintaining one’s personal finance, Harold Pollack condenses everything you need to know on a 4”X6” index card. That index card has now evolved into a novel with the help of Helaine Olen. Personal finance is a frightening topic that the majority of people avoid at all costs, but Olen and Pollack make personal finance fun and easy.

Pollack, a University of Chicago professor, revolutionizes the way people perceive personal finance. Rather than being intimidated by financial analysts and other professionals, Pollack and Olen simplify the essentials of seizing control of your financial life by giving you easy-to-follow tips and tricks.

Grab a copy of this book and see how these simple steps outperform analysts and money managers!

Failing to Succeed? What's the Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 02:16:00 +0000

Image source: amazon.com

Why do some people succeed while others fail? It is a question that is asked by numerous individuals who are trying to combat this unfortunate outcome. Angela Duckworth, an American psychologist and science author, investigates this million-dollar question in order to find the answer.

Duckworth gathers past experiences and hypothesizes that the key to success does not necessarily come from talent; rather, it is a combination of perseverance and what she likes to call “grit.” Success is hard to come by, but there are a multitude of solutions in order to get there. Duckworth takes the readers on a journey of her numerous interviews with renowned individuals like JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll to further support her hypothesis of how being successful does not always have to correlate to being a genius. She emphasizes the significance of one’s perseverance and passion for what he or she is doing.

Duckworth truly revolutionizes how to become successful with her buzzword “grit.” Find out how this New York Times bestseller can help change your lifestyle!

Key to Success

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 03:53:00 +0000

Image source: amazon.com

Although it may be cliché, a common goal that everyone strives for is to be successful. There are multiple ways to achieve this status; Whitney Johnson, one of the world’s most influential management thinkers of 2015, redefines the process of becoming successful. Rather than climbing the corporate ladder as most people have done, Johnson revolutionizes the way people view the basic stepping-stones of success with Clayton Christensen’s concept of “disruptive innovation.” Johnson echoes Christensen’s theory and advises that people take risks rather than following the norm.

With a multitude of case studies, Johnson exemplifies the process one has to take and the consequences that may occur because of those said risks. Being willing to venture off the beaten path may be difficult at first, but Johnson shows how disrupting your own career and daring to innovate will eventually pay off. So the real question is: are you ready to disrupt yourself?

Being Original? Who Cares?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 02:55:00 +0000

Image source: amazon.com

Originality has long been perceived as something to aspire for – something that is easier said than done. As students, we are always told to be creative and think outside of the box. What we lack, however, is the explanation and the proof that risking it all and being a non-conformist will pay off. We are never shown how disturbing the universe could result in such a company as Warby Parker or such a TV sitcom like Seinfeld. Adam Grant, Wharton’s top-rated teacher, revolutionizes the way people should look at originals through this New York Times bestseller.

Grant pinpoints the essentials of becoming a non-conformist and explains the challenges of championing your originality. He quickly addresses the false assumption that all non-conformists are risk-takers who are bold and act rashly through a multitude of examples in business, entertainment, and sports. So how are originals so successful? How are they different from all of us? Find out more with Grant’s #1 national bestseller Originals.

"One Plus One"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 May 2016 16:19:00 +0000

While I am aware that this is the third Jojo Moyes book I’ve blogged about since the end of January (sorry everyone), it is an easy, feel-good read that is perfect for this time of the semester!

Image source: goodreads.com

One Plus One tells the story of Jess Thomas, a mother who is desperately trying to make ends meet. After many of her husband’s ill-advised schemes to make money ultimately resulted in depression, he left her to raise their young daughter and his teenage son on her own. She works two jobs to pay the bills since he does not contribute child support, but she still cannot seem to get ahead. She is barely keeping her head above water when her daughter, Tanzie, receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A math whiz, Tanzie is accepted to a highly reputed private school on a 90 percent scholarship. Jess is looking for ways to make enough money to pay the remaining 10 percent when she receives a phone call from Tanzie’s math teacher. There is a math Olympiad in Switzerland that comes with a $5,000 grand prize—more than enough money to pay Tanzie’s first year of tuition.

Believing that Tanzie has a good chance of winning, Jess packs up her family to head to Switzerland; however, she is faced with various setbacks. In the end, she is forced to accept a ride from Ed, the slightly pompous tech millionaire whose vacation home she cleans… and who has even bigger problems of his own. What ensues is a dysfunctional, chaotic road trip that you won’t soon forget, as all of these characters—even Ed—will worm their way into your heart.

If you want to read One Plus One, you can stop by the Leisure Reading Room to pick up a copy!

"As Time Goes By"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 20:13:00 +0000

In Mary Higgins Clark’s latest bestseller, As Times Goes By, a news reporter attempts to find her birth mother—while simultaneously covering a high profile murder trial.

Image source: maryhigginsclark.com

Reporter Delaney Wright is assigned to cover the trial of a woman who is accused of murdering her wealthy husband. Her coverage lands her on the six o’clock news; however, her fame is eclipsed by thoughts of her unknown birth mother. As the trial continues to unfold, two friends look into the mystery surrounding her birth, discovering a secret that they do not want to reveal. Meanwhile, Delaney becomes convinced that Betsey Grant, the woman who is on trial, is innocent. As the evidence against Betsey begins to pile up, Delaney works frantically to ensure that an innocent woman does not wind up behind bars.

If this brief synopsis leaves you with questions, you aren’t the only one. Mary Higgins Clark has been nicknamed the “Queen of Suspense” for a reason. If you want to have your questions answered (though this likely won’t happen until the very end), stop by the Leisure Reading Room to check out As Time Goes By!

Climbing the Charts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 20:59:00 +0000

Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s The Nest was released just three short weeks ago on March 22, but it has already become a New York Times Best Seller!

Image source: harpercollins.com

The Nest delves into the lives of the dysfunctional Plumb family. Adult siblings Melody, Beatrice (Bea), and Jack plan to confront their reckless older brother, Leo, following his stint in rehab. After an accident in which a drunk and high Leo was driving with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger, he dipped into the family’s “nest” money. The siblings had been counting on receiving this money within the next few months—after the youngest of them turned forty—to alleviate their various financial burdens. Upon discovering that Leo has burned through almost all of their savings, the four siblings are brought together in a way they have never been before. Ultimately,

This is a story about the power of family, the possibilities of friendship, the ways we depend upon one another and the ways we let one another down…. Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney brings a remarkable cast of characters to life to illuminate what money does to relationships, what happens to our ambitions over the course of time, and the fraught yet unbreakable ties we share with those we love. (amazon.com)

On the book’s cover, comedian and actress Amy Poehler writes, “Intoxicating… I couldn’t stop reading or caring about the juicy and dysfunctional Plumb family.” Poehler’s endorsement seals it for me—I can’t wait to get my hands on The Nest! If you’re like me, you can stop by the Leisure Reading Room to pick up a copy today!