The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Recently, on my drive into work, I listened to National Public Radio and there was a piece on Sandra Cisneros. It was the 25th anniversary of The House on Mango Street. Having not read it, I thought I would borrow it from our library. The author’s poetic and narrative style in this short novel truly captivated me. Each short chapter left me with a feeling that I was in the protagonist's mind and knew her well. Cisneros, with her fluid and descriptive writing style, managed to paint a vivid picture of life for a Mexican-American girl in her early teens growing up in a poor neighborhood in Chicago. Now I am hooked and want to read her other works. - Reviewed by Patricia

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Ralph Truitt, a wealthy businessman, ran a newspaper ad, seeking a “reliable wife”. As a widower, he was lonely living in a desolate Wisconsin town. Catherine Land responded and journeyed through the middle of the winter with plans to marry Ralph and then slowly poison him to gain his wealth.

This story takes place in Wisconsin at the turn of the century when the local economy has suffered major setbacks. Ralph, as the wealthiest citizen, is both envied and pitied. As the story develops, we learn of his tragic life and of his "reliable wife's" checkered past. Throughout the story, we see scenes from their past lives which help us to understand their relationship and the culmination of the gradual effects of the poison. Goolrick’s development of the characters throughout this story gives us an intriguing look into lives which were torn apart by love and greed. The surprising ending reassures us that sometimes love does prevail. - Reviewed by Deb

Losing Mum and Pup: a Memoir by Christopher Buckley

Christopher Buckley has written a touching and often funny memoir of his famous parents. He is also the narrator and has a very easy-to-listen-to voice. Both his parents were captivating, exceptional people. Of course, William F. Buckley was the more famous former host of Firing Line and author of many, many books, newspaper and magazine articles. Patricia Buckley, apparently, was quite a memorable individual all on her own. It’s a wonderful thing to hear Mr. Buckley’s tribute to his parents and compassion for the difficulties they faced at the end of life. For those of us who have watched our parents go through somewhat similar travails in their final months or years, it’s comforting. - Reviewed by Nancy

Blackout by Gianluca Morozzi

Bologna, Italy is suffering from one of the hottest Bank Holidays ever seen. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the three people trapped in a high-rise elevator in a downtown apartment building. Readers learn early in the book that Aldo Ferro, a successful businessman and bar owner, is not who he appears to be. Actually a sadistic serial killer, he is returning to his private apartment in the building when he gets stuck in the elevator with Claudia, a young waitress returning home from work, and Tomas, a teenager who is planning to run away to Amsterdam with his girlfriend. What will happen to the three of them when the elevator gets stuck halfway up and there is no cell phone reception and the emergency alarms don’t work?

This psychological suspense novel is a perfect summer read for those who like suspense, characters with hidden secrets, and a shocking twist at the end. As the temperature rises in the elevator, and Ferro’s madness can’t be contained any more, readers are in for a fast-paced ride that never slows down. Morozzi switches characters often so readers can understand how all three characters are dealing with the stress of being trapped and there is plenty of tension to keep readers guessing what will happen in the end. While TCPL doesn’t own the movie version, there was a horror movie made in 2007 that closely (but not completely) follows the book and is available on Netflix. Readers looking for a quick, suspenseful summer read should find it in Blackout. – Reviewed by Sarah

Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man's Inspirational Journey by Richard LeMieux

I was walking through the New Book section when this title caught my eye. I wondered, “Who is Sally and why is she making breakfast?” Within the first few pages, I learned that the author had been a very successful businessman in the publishing business. When his company failed, his life spiraled downward to the depths of despair. As his depression increased, his relationship with his family disintegrated and so did his finances. He eventually began to live in his car along with his dog and faithful companion, Willow.

Richard takes us through his journey of homelessness by sharing the stories of the people he befriended. It was through the kindness of strangers and groups like The Salvation Army ( Sally’s) and a church that he began to put his life back together. He learns that by caring about others, he is able to regain some of his former life. His relationship with his dog is a very special one. At one point in his life, the author was on the brink of suicide and it was only the love of his dog that saved him.

This is an inspirational story for these difficult times. - Reviewed by Deb

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Did you know that you can check out games for the Nintendo Wii at the library? Well, you can – our library system owns a few and can loan them. Ask your reference librarian how! In the meantime, here’s one suggestion for you: Super Smash Brothers Brawl!

It is a bit harder to review a video game than a book or movie, as a video game is by its nature an interactive experience. In the end, however, the question on any video game is: “Will I have fun playing this?” In the end, the answer is a resounding yes, especially if you have a multiplayer game going on.

We put this game in at a party having never played it before. So here’s the weakness of the game: you will have no idea what is going on, and you probably won’t gain one. But here’s the strength: you won’t care. It is just fun. Pick a character. Any character, and there are so many characters – 20 or so to start, with another 10 or so unlockable – and pick a stadium, and start pressing buttons. Each character has its own special moves, and I suppose you could try to learn them. But more fun things happen just button mashing.

And that’s the main fun of this game. 3 friends and I fighting, handing off Wiimotes to our friends between bouts, playing random characters to see what they could do, and different stadiums to see what would happen. And the stadiums matter – some of them shift shapes, or are constantly being destroyed at one end and built at the other. Some are more static. And weird stuff just happens. Probably the weirdest was when, in the middle of a 4 person brawl, a yellow lab from Nintendogs just popped up on screen – like 3/4s of the screen – and started barking at us for a few seconds. We don’t know if we caused that or if it just happened, but it’s something that we still talk about.

In other words, the game is just bizarre fun. You don’t know what’s going on, and that’s the point. Just play and have fun.

For Nintendo Wii only. - Reviewed by John

Home: a Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews

The best part of this audiobook experience is being able to listen to Julie Andrews. She may not be singing, but her reading voice is very pleasing to the ear. She tells of her close, warmly supportive relationship with her father and the sadness of her parents’ divorce. It was her stepfather who started her on her career path though his effect on her was not completely positive by any means. For many years she performed in music halls with her mother and stepfather and the money she earned helped her family through the difficult postwar period in Britain. Eventually her talent, intelligence and luck led her far from home. There are plenty of good stories about the years on Broadway. Her naturally upbeat outlook and compassion for the human condition shine through this memoir. - Reviewed by Nancy

My Abandonment by Peter Rock

13-year-old Caroline lives with her father (only known as Father throughout the book) outside of Portland, Oregon. The two don’t live like a normal family, instead choosing to live hidden in caves and shelters in an Oregon state park. Father is meticulous about not being detected, and has worked out an elaborate life full of living off the forest, covering their tracks, and having separate “city” clothes for when the two venture weekly into the city for trips to the bank, library, and grocery store. Extremely intelligent for her age, and loving Father dearly, Caroline accepts this way of life and relishes her freedom in the forest. Unfortunately the two are detected by police one afternoon because of Caroline not being careful enough.

Based on a true story, yet a fictional account, Rock draws readers in to the quiet, simple survival-based life of Caroline and Father. When their unconventional lifestyle forces authorities to house them on a farm, making Father work on the farm and preparing Caroline for school, it becomes too much for Father and he takes Caroline back into the woods, with tragic consequences. In real life, the father and daughter have never been seen again since retreating back to the woods. In Rock’s fictional tale, readers slowly begin to realize what is actually happening to the two and why they need to retreat from the real world.

While the story is full of unsettling moments, and readers may want to look away at the end of the story, it is also a gorgeous story of love, survival, and human mystery. Rock has captured the innocence of Caroline as a 13-year-old confused girl perfectly, and also the counter-culture community of Portland rings true. I finished this book at 1 A.M. one morning and could not stop thinking about it. While people may be intrigued that this is based on a true story, Rock is a confident writer who takes readers onto a journey they won’t forget, even if he used real life for inspiration. Highly recommended if you are looking for something different to read or if you are interested in fiction set in the Northwest. -Reviewed by Sarah

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: a Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale

A horrible child murder took place in the summer of 1860 at Road Hill House in a small English village. One of the first Scotland Yard detective inspectors was sent to solve the mystery of who might be cruel enough to kill a sleeping three year old boy and cast his body in the servants’ privy. Countless lurid, highly opinionated newspaper articles and average, everyday gossip made this case a national sensation.

Kate Summerscale does a wonderful job of interweaving the history of detective novels with the events and personae of this real life case. The basic facts of the case will capture your interest and the individual characters intrigue you with their layers of deep, dark secrets that may well have laid the groundwork for a violent death. - Reviewed by Nancy

Spain and the World Table by Martha Rose Shulman

Having spent my third year of college in Spain, I am always on the look out for Spanish cookbooks. In Spain and the World Table, I found a treasure trove of traditional and modern recipes. Martha Shulman worked in conjunction with the Culinary Institute of America to assemble dishes that range from tapas to desserts. My favorite part of any cookbook is always the introduction and the history behind the recipes and ingredients.

Martha addresses the beginnings of the Spanish table through the regional dishes which were based on ingredients which were readily available to the people. This is why Spanish cities near the sea are famous for paella (a saffron, rice and seafood dish) and many that use salt cod as the main ingredient. The National Dish of Spain is the tortilla Espanola which is an omelet made with eggs and potatoes and is served both as a main dish as well as an appetizer or tapa. Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup, has many variations. The author even includes a recipe for one with beets and cherries. Cocido is a stew with beans, meat and sausage that I ate each week with my Spanish family. The recipe in this cookbook is just as I remember it.

Spaniards eat a light breakfast, a large meal after noon, have drinks and snacks in the late afternoon and then another meal later in the evening. Each evening on our way home from class, we would stop and have chocolate and churros. Chocolate is something like hot, thick chocolate pudding in which you would dip your churro ( a stick-like fried donut). Many evenings, we would also head to the local tavernas to “tomar algo” ( which literally means, “to take something”). There we would enjoy a glass of wine or beer and some tapas. Tapas are small snacks that range from a thin slice of ham, a pickled egg, slice of tortilla, anchovies or olives.

The most famous Spanish dessert is flan, which is a custard with caramel topping. Martha has recipes for several versions of this, including one topped with mission figs. This is a colorful and informative cookbook that took me back to my special year in Spain. - Reviewed by Deb