The Odds by Stewart O'Nan

I read a couple of books by O'Nan earlier this year and loved them. This was good but it is short. (I generally favor long books!) I think that it shows his skill as a writer that he can produce great work in so few pages. This book takes place over one weekend. It is not the first time Marion and Art Fowler have been to Niagara Falls. Thirty years ago they were there after their wedding. Now here they are back. And it's Valentine's Day weekend. And Art has booked the bridal suite. Sounds so romantic...... Actually they are in financial ruin. Both are jobless and although they have been trying to sell the house, they will will probably lose it. And did I mention that the marriage is going to be lost also? This weekend is a farewell to what they had and lost. So what are the odds that you will like this book? I think the odds are excellent.

Unsaid by Neil Abramson

This book was a little different - it is narrated by Helena. And it is well-narrated. The only thing is.....well, Helena is dead. But she is hanging around and looking in on her former life. It breaks her heart to watch David, her husband. He is a high-powered NY lawyer who was willing to commute in order to give Helena the life she craved. Helena, a vet, was working in a small clinic and living on a farm with her assortment of adopted animals (dogs, cats, horses and a pig). As she was dying of cancer she tried to convince David that he should move back to the city. But David wants to stay in the place where they were happy. It is a very touching story (especially if you are an animal lover). Of course David quickly finds out that he can't handle anything. He also finds out that Helena had been keeping a very dark secret from him and the anger almost overwhelms him. The characters are so well-defined that I felt that I knew them. I laughed and I cried during this book. I loved it!

The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

I have listened to this entire series on audio books. They are entertaining stories and I usually learn a little history a long the way. This one was not as enjoyable. There was a lot of jumping around and I got the impression that maybe this is the last in the series because Chiaverini seemed to be wrapping up several threads from previous books. The book begins with an invitation to the wedding of Caroline. I hadn't paid attention to the date - and was very confused by the fact that she was old enough to marry. Well the year is 2028! There are lots of updates on characters from Elm Creek but don't ask me - too many to remember! So although this was my least favorite from the series I have to recommend that you read it if you have read all of the others. I would be curious to know what others thought of this book.

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

A few years back I had several friends who walked a half-marathon in Des Moines. They trained for months so that they would be in good shape. In this book Helga and Clara (mother and daughter) walk across the country with no training (unless you consider the fact that Helga gave birth to 9 children, lived in a sod house as a teenage bride and mother, and was obsessed with cleanliness in order to keep her family safe.) What a fascinating book! Before I tell you about the book, I want to tell you that this is based on a true story. Helga was born in Norway and moved to Minnesota as a young girl. At 15 she was pregnant and married. Soon she and her husband were living in a sod house with several children. (I was so intrigued by this story that I am reading a non-fiction book about them and that is where I read this information.) Later they moved to Washington State. One of her children died shortly before the walk. The book begins in 1896 with Clara's mother, Helga, informing her oldest child that the two of them were going to walk from Spokane to New York City! Clara is very unhappy. She had been working for a rich family but had plans to attend a university the next fall. Instead she takes off on a journey to win $10,000 in prize money to save their farm from foreclosure. Helga leaves her husband and seven children (the youngest is 2) at home. The first part of the book is about the journey. They took off with $5 each, a few items in a bag and that's it. No extra clothes or anything! The rules set forth required that they could not 'beg' for anything along the way, but if someone offered something they were allowed to take it. To make money they would have to find jobs in cities along the way. The second part deals with the aftermath of the trip - Clara's name change, why she became estranged from her family and her new career. I have attached a picture of Helga and Clara. In it they are sporting the new 'reform dresses' that they wore to promote some of their sponsors. This is one fascinating story!

Death Benefit by Robin Cook

As usual, Robin Cook has delivered a great medical thriller. There are three different story lines going on that are intertwined. First is a med student named Pia. She had a very difficult childhood and was part of the foster care system. That experience has affected her ability to trust and to love - which is why she does not return the affections of fellow student George. Pia has been working for a well-renowned geneticist, Rothman, who is on the brink of a discovery that will help prolong the lifespan of people in need of organs. Second is a group of 'suits' who use their brains and experience to prolong the lifespan of their bank accounts. They buy insurance policies for the terminally ill. The faster those people die, the richer they become. When they hear about the possibility of new organs being grown, they are most unhappy! The third group is from the Albanian mob. (I am so out of it that I didn't even know that they had a mob!). They were my least favorite part of the story. There is romance, suspense, science, murder - a bit of everything.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

We don't own this book, but it is available to be checked out as an e-book. This was my first e-book that I have checked out and read. All of the staff has been checking out and returning e-books so that we could become proficient enough to help all of you patrons who received e-readers for Christmas! During one of my practice sessions I saw this book and decided to put a hold on it. I downloaded it on Friday and was able to return it on Saturday - because it read quickly and I really liked it. It caused a lot of controversy when it was published - and it was easy to see why. Amy grew up in America but raised by a traditional Chinese mother. (Although Amy's mom is Chinese, she points out that anyone can be a Chinese mother!). As a former teacher I can tell you that most teachers were thrilled to see a name on their rosters that seemed to be Asian - because normally they were kids that would do what was asked of them - and more!. They tended to have Chinese mothers. It would take too long to tell you what a Chinese mother does. Suffice it to say you will probably be as shocked as I was. This book is the story of the marriage between a Chinese Catholic woman and a White Jewish man who had two daughters. Amy is going to raise her girls the way she was raised. It worked well with daughter number one - and not so well with daughter number two! I know one thing. I would not have the stamina to be a Chinese mother (or the daughter of one) for even a week! Well worth reading - it will keep you thinking for quite a while.

South of Superior by Ellen Airgood

This book has been in the library since June and every time I saw the cover I thought "that looks like a good book". Last week I finally checked it out. Once again my instinct was correct - good cover= good book. Well, that may not always work, but it did this time. I very much enjoyed the cast of characters - the good, the bad and the strange. There is a family story that is told bit by bit which kept me wanting to know what happened in the past. The main character is Madeline Stone. She was raised by Emma after being abandoned by her mother and rejected by her grandfather. Now she is grown up and living in the house Emma left her when she died. Her life consists of doing some art, working as a waitress and spending time with her boyfriend. Then one day she receives a request from Gladys. Gladys was her deceased grandfather's "friend". Every year Madeline would receive a birthday card and $5 from Gladys. Now Gladys wants Madeline to move up to the UP in Michigan and help care for Gladys' sister, Arbutus. Madeline is angry that she would be asked to do that. I bet you have already guessed that she ends up there anyway! This book is a story of a small town, the people who live there and learning to forgive. I enjoyed it a lot.

Close Your eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward

Lauren and Alex were typical kids. They loved to have adventures. So one night they slept out in the tree house their father had built for them. When they go into the house the next morning Alex discovers the body of their mother - and soon after their father is arrested. They are now grown up. Lauren is working as a real estate agent and living with her boyfriend Gerry. Gerry loves her and wants to get married but Lauren has trust issues. The only one she knows won't betray her is Alex. Then he tells her that he has been in touch with their imprisoned father - worse yet, Alex thinks he is an innocent man. To make matters as bad as they can get Alex also announces that he is going to the Middle East to work with Doctors Without Borders. Lauren is finally forced to confront the memories from her childhood and to face the truth. I really liked the book- it kept me interested from start to finish!

the world as we know it by Joseph Monninger

On the back cover is one paragraph that gives you a lot of information. Two young brothers, Ed and Allard, meet their new neighbor, Sarah, when they are skating. Sarah has broken through some ice in the river and would have died if it were not for the quick-thinking and heroic actions of the brothers. A strong bond is formed among the three of them. And for Sarah and Allard love soon followed. Nothing can break their bond until a tragedy in Wyoming. My first reaction is that there isn't much left to reveal in the book other than what the tragedy is! The book, however, is much more than these events. The descriptions of the area, of the dreams of these young people and of the reactions to the events were wonderful. Definitely worth reading!