from the kitchen of half truth by Maria Goodin FIC Goo

This is a debut novel and I thought it was great!  Meg is enjoying her life in the city and her boyfriend, Mark.  When the novel opens Mark is waiting with Meg at the train station.  She is going home to see her sick mother, Val.  Meg adores her mother - except for one thing.  She never answers questions.  For instance, the only thing Meg knows about her father is that he died in a tragic pastry-mixing accident. (really?????)  Any questions about her early life are answered with silly stories - like taking hot dogs for a walk or watching the runner beans chase one another around the kitchen.  So Meg really has no memories but her stories made her popular with her friends.  But only for a while and then they scorned her for saying such things.  Meg rejects anything to do with fantasy and becomes interested only in scientific things.  Now she has to find a way to make her mom tell her the truth before it is too late.  Here is a quote from the back of the book:"        From the Kitchen of Half Truth explores the stories we tell ourselves and others in order to create the lives we want."  I really liked it! 

Daddy's Gone a Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark MYS Cla

  

This 'mystery' was a bit contrived - but as long as MHC keeps writing I will be reading her books.  I am still entertained even if I am not on the edge of my seat.  The story centers around sisters Kate and Hannah.  When they were quite young their mother died in an accident.  Their father, who preferred to be called Doug instead of Dad, was crushed by the lost and wasn't a very caring parent.  He did give them financial stability with the success of the family furniture firm which specialized in authentic reproductions.   All of that becomes shaky when an explosion rips through the building destroying the precious antiques in the museum part of the building. Worse yet is that Kate was there early that morning when it happened.  She had arranged to meet a former employee, Gus, who had been fired five years before.  The explosion killed Gus and seriously injured Kate who ends up in a coma.  There is more than one crime to investigate when a sinkhole produced by the explosion reveals a long-hidden secret.  Of course there is a little romance sprinkled in here and there. 

Falling to Earth FIC Sou

I really liked this book.  I got goosebumps from the beginning because a tornado comes out of no where and some of the victims were children who were caught in the school and died when walls collapsed.  Ripped from the headlines?  We did read those headlines last month  but the tornado in this story was also in the headlines.  It was back in the 1920's and was referred to as the Tri-State tornado. It was also the most deadly one in history.  About 700 were killed and thousands were injured.  This is the story of Paul Graves.  He owns the local lumber mill in Marah, Illinois. (The tornado and damage are based on what happened in Murphysboro, Illinois.)  When the tornado hits he is at work and saves himself by hanging on to a pole.  His wife, two young children and his mother have just enough time to run to the storm shelter that Paul had built (even though he was laughed at by many).  It wouldn't have made any difference if they had stayed in the house - because their house was spared, as was Paul's business.  Their neighbor's house was turned around and the new baby was ripped out of its mother's arms and never found.  You would think that Paul and his family were really lucky.  And they were........they were the ones who had lost nothing.  And they were also really unlucky......they were the ones who had lost nothing.  This book tells the story of the year following the storm.  It is a study of survivor's guilt and human nature.  Not your run-of-the-mill fiction book.  Check it out!

A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy FIC Bin

Maeve Binchy is one of my all-time favorite authors.  When I heard she died I was so sad to think I had read the last book...ever.  Then like a gift from beyond I find out that she had written one more book and it would be published in February.  I immediately pre-ordered a copy of it for my Kindle (to join my collection of Binchy books and also so I wouldn't have to wait in line at the library!).  The day arrived and there is was - on my Kindle waiting for me to begin that last journey.  And I found out that I couldn't do it.  I didn't want to start it because I didn't want it to be over.  Four months later I finally listened to the audio version from Wilbor.  It was classic Binchy. Chicky Starr opens a holiday place in an old mansion (that needs some work) located in the small town of Stoneybridge (where nothing much happens).  Few people think she will succeed but she gets some help and one week in winter she opens the door to her first guests.  If you are a Binchy fan you will know that all of the guests come with a background story - and that is what makes her books so rich.  I will miss her so much..........

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg (Only available from Wilbor - audio and ebook)

I enjoyed listening to this book a lot.  I find the subject of habit fascinating and I am always trying to change my bad ones.  (I am finally doing a great job of making my bed every morning - for the first time ever in my life!).  The examples given in the book are interesting.  By studying habits managers and CEOs can turn around their companies.  Febreze was a great product but it was not selling and was going down the tubes quickly.  Then marketers watched videos of people making beds and they noticed something about what the people did.  They shifted the way they advertised it and success.  By the end of the book I was totally convinced that understanding how habits work is the answer to a lot of problems! Duhigg talks about Michael Phelps, Martin Luther King Jr., Rick Warren's church, Target superstores and hospitals.  Habits - they can make huge changes in our own lives, in our communities, in our country and in our world. 

Benediction FIC Har (also available as an audiobook)

If you are looking for an action-packed story keep on looking.  But if you are the sort of person who enjoys a book where it is all about the characters check out this one.  Dad Lewis and his wife Mary had been married for a long time.  Their daughter, Lorraine, lives in Denver and their son Frank? Well, they aren't too sure where he is.  Dad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and he doesn't have long to live.  Lorraine comes home to help Mary look after him and to make his final days comfortable.  And like most people who are at the end of their journeys, Dad does a great amount of reminiscing.  And that is how we find out his real story.  There are also stories of their neighbor who has taken in her granddaughter because she has lost her mother.  A new preacher in town is fighting battles both at home and in church.  It was a well-written book.  (I enjoyed the audio version).  

Obsessed : America's Food Addiction--and My Own by Mika Brzezkinski 362.1963 BRZ

  

    We only own this title as an audiobook. And that is because I was the one who made a request to purchase and I knew the audio would be great.  Not to brag but I was right.  Mika reads it and I always love listening to her on tv so I knew this book would be great.  She is so passionate about this subject that is hard not to become enthused too.  Mika knew that many would not be interested in hearing what she had to say about food obsessions.  After all she is super thin, in great shape and always being a 'food nazi' on her tv show.  But she had secrets about food.  One day she confronted one of her best friends, Diane Smith.  Mika thought she might be destroying their friendship when she called Diane fat and told her that she needed to do something to change before her obesity killed her.  Diane scoffed at skinny Mika's suggestion.  Then Mika described to Diane her obsession with junk food that began in high school.  Eating two Big Macs? Yeah, she did it.  Missing classes in college because she felt compelled to run off the calories that she had ingested from her 'secret' pizza.  They made a pact.  Mika would pay for whatever Diane needed to lose weight - but Diane had to lose 75 pounds.  Mika would have an equally hard challenge.  She had to gain weight. That wouldn't just involve eating brownies with every meal! It had to be 'good' weight.  They both still have their struggles but they feel that they are winning.  The book is filled with insights and personal stories from many well-known people.  She also brings in information from doctors and scientists who are studying the problems of food obsessions.  It was a very interesting book.  

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini FIC Chi

I have never 'read' a book by Chiaverini but I think I have listened to all of them. As with all of her previous books I have been entertained and I've always learned something new about history.   Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was born a slave.  She was raped by a white man on the plantation and gave birth to a son.  She was eventually able to earn enough money to buy freedom for herself and her son.  These facts are just briefly stated in the book.  The story actually begins shortly before Elizabeth becomes - I bet you already guessed it -  a dressmaker for Mrs. Lincoln!  It is a fascinating look into the private part of the White House.  I have already downloaded to my Kindle the book that Keckley wrote about her time in the White House - and someday I will find time to read it.  It is called Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. 

Until I Say Good-bye by Susan Spencer-Wendel 616.83 Spe

You won't get through this book without your eyes at least leaking a bit.  You also will smile and perhaps laugh out loud from time to time.  You will definitely be inspired by Susan Spencer-Wendel.  For those of you who may not know, Lou Gehrig was an outstanding baseball player who began losing use of his muscles.  When he said good-bye to baseball he gave a great speech out in center field.  And he said that he was 'the luckiest guy in the world'.  That disease, ALS, is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.  In her early forties Susan began to notice some symptoms and was diagnosed with ALS.  She was happily married with three kids and a career in journalism.  Instead of complaining she decided to live her final (semi-) healthy year with joy!  As the symptoms progressed things became more difficult but it is absolutely amazing what she did during that year.  A wonderful story!

there was an old woman by Hallie Ephron FIC Eph

    I really liked this book.  It is not from the mystery section  but it was still a mystery - of the psychological type.  Sandra Ferante is an alcoholic who refuses to face her problem.  Her daughter Evie has distanced herself because her mom won't try to stop drinking.  Ginger, the other daughter, lives closer to Sandra but has not been to her mother's home for months.  When Ginger receives a call from Sandra's neighbor, Mina, saying that her mother is on the way to the hospital after a fall she immediately calls Evie.  This time she insists, it is Evie's job to take care of things.  Evie heads to her childhood home before going to the hospital.  When she arrives she is shocked to see the condition of the house - disorder and confusion everywhere.  (Sorry -  I stole that from the theme song for Monk!) Amid the chaos is a new tv and very expensive liquor.  She finds cash - a lot of it.  Where did the money come from?????  I loved the characters, especially Mina who starts each day out with her notebook where she carefully writes down the deaths of anyone she knows in that morning's paper. A great read!

Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella 818.54 Sco

  

   This is the perfect book if you just want to be entertained!  If you are a mother or a daughter (or a man trying to understand a woman) you will enjoy this book.  Like previous books by this team Lisa and Francesca take turns giving us insight into their lives and their philosophy.  Mother Mary (Lisa's mom) did not have any chapters in this book like she did in previous ones but there were plenty of entertaining Mother Mary stories.  Lisa still can't keep her nose out of Francesca's life but she is beginning to give her daughter a bit more credit for being able to survive on her own.  It astonishes me how these women can take the most mundane topics and have me laughing out loud.  We have the book but I listened to the audio book from WILBOR.  The audiobook was read by the authors and they do a great job. 

Nano by Robin Cook FIC Coo

I enjoyed this latest Cook novel because he brought back the quirky character Pia who had quite the experience in a previous novel (Death Benefit).  Taking time off from her medical studies Pia heads to beautiful Colorado.  It should be peaceful living there and working at a high tech company that is working on teeny tiny robots that can gobble up viruses and bacteria.  Of course security is very tight.  Pia doesn't mind the strange rules - until she sees a guy from work who seems to be having  a seizure.  The aftermath of that seizure makes her think that she might have discovered why there was so much secrecy.  Thank heavens she doesn't have to fight against evil all by herself - her old friend George (who is still madly in love with her) shows up.  He really should find a nice girl who can have a real relationship.  This wasn't my favorite Cook novel but I was still entertained. 

Six Years by Harlan Coben FIC Cob

  I don't read all of Coben's books but I have never been disappointed in any that I have picked up.  This is the story of Jake Fisher.  He is enjoying his job as a professor but it never erases the sadness that is always present.  Six years ago he watched Natalie, the only love of his life, walk down the aisle and marry someone else.  They had only shared one summer but it was magical.  He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.  He thought she felt the same but then she suddenly announced she was marrying an old boyfriend, Todd.  At the wedding when he spoke to her she made him promise that he would leave them alone.  He did.  But one day he happens to see a picture of a man that died and he recognizes him as Todd.  Jake thinks this sort of changes the promise so he decides to go to the funeral.  But the grieving widow isn't Natalie.  It's a mystery!  An entertaining book.