September 2008 Staff Book Reviews

Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 September 2010 15:14

Frequently Asked Questions - Reader Services

As school starts, you may be in need of some good books to fulfill requirements or just escape. The staff has selected some great reading material to fulfill your needs. Go to Scotland, Ghana, or a fantasy world and find mystery, romance, and action. We even have a few books to listen to on your MP3 player while traveling to school or work. Enjoy!

Death of a Gentle Lady by M.C. Beaton Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series

Genre: Adult Fiction
Staff Reviewer: Anne Masters, Director, Pioneer Library System

I enjoyed my first Hamish Macbeth mystery this weekend. How have I missed M.C. Beaton's series about this brilliant police constable who is utterly without ambition? Hamish is the police constable in a small village in the Scottish Highlands. Never married, but with multiple admirers, Hamish is the bane of his supervisor's existence. All he wants is to maintain his little police station in Lochdubh and he is willing to give the credit for his many successes to others so that he can avoid promotion. In Death of a Gentle Lady Hamish sees something vicious in Mrs. Gentle that others seem to miss. In fact, he has such sympathy for her undocumented maid that he offers to marry her temporarily to save her. When Mrs. Gentle and the maid are murdered, Hamish must solve the crimes, deflect the interest of a Russian policewoman, a hotel owner, a reporter and a colleague while also saving himself from the jealous plotting of his supervisor.
Pioneer has several of the titles in the series in print, including some in large print. In addition, DVDs are on order and this title, Death of a Gentle Lady, is available as a downloadable book through Pioneer's OverDrive subscription. It was this downloadable book read by Graeme Malcolm that introduced me to Hamish Macbeth. His wonderful Scottish accent enhanced the experience.

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Teen Fiction
Staff Reviewer: Jenny Stenis, Center for Reader's Services

In Ever Levine retells the story of Jephtha and repackages it in the style of Greek mythology. Told in alternating chapters by KeZi and Olnus the story begins with the birth of Olnus, son of Hannu, the goddess of earth and pottery, and Arduk, god of agriculture. Olnus is the god of winds and travels far and wide. He tries to make friends with mortals but they are afraid of him. He spies Kezi one day on one of his excursions and falls in love with her. Kezi is a dancer and weaver of renown in her town. Her gods are different from the country where Olnus is worshiped. When Kezi's mother is sick, her father prays for her healing promising that he will sacrifice the first person to congratulate him if she lives.
Everyone is kept from seeing the family for the requisite three days, however Kezi's favorite aunt bullies past the servant and in order to save her aunt, Kezi blurts out the congratulatory phrase. She has thirty days to live until the sacrifice. Olnus, aware of what has happened, conspires to save Kezi. He meets, woos and convinces Kezi that he can save her. Olnus and Kezi must fulfill separate quests to make their plea before the company of deities. Read Ever to find out if Kezi and Olnus survive their quests! It's a little slow in the middle, but Carson pulls it out in the end. If you enjoy this book you might also like the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan or books by Donna Napoli.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Genre:Teen Fiction
Staff Reviewer:Crystal Inman, Shawnee Public Library

I originally bought the first two books in this series for my almost thirteen year old. I ended up reading them myself and enjoying them immensely. The series centers around thirteen year old Kendra and her eleven year old brother, Seth. The pair are shipped off to Fablehaven Farm and their grandparents, who they barely know, when their parents go on vacation. The visit comes with plenty of rules about what the siblings can and cannot do. The woods that surround the home are off limits, which is where, of course, any red-blooded eleven year old boy would go. Kendra, meanwhile, is intrigued by three keys that her grandfather gives her. Each key unlocks something in her room. She concentrates on that puzzle while Seth ponders a way, any way, to get into those woods. But the children don't realize there are rules for a very good reason. Their grandfather is a caretaker for the grounds that house Magical Creatures. For Fablehaven is no ordinary farm, it is a safe haven for beings that need refuge from those that would harm them. It is also a confinement for dark things so evil that they cannot be let loose on the world. It's a delicate balance that Kendra and Seth don't fully understand until it's almost too late.
Fablehaven is a wonderful series for tweens and teens. The stories are fast paced and exciting with twists and turns that will leave the reader surprised, pleased, and waiting for the next book in the series. If you're looking for a great Fantasy read, I highly recommend Fablehaven.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Genre: Adult Fiction
Staff Reviewer: Cindy Stevens, Center for Reader's Services

In this story the nameless narrator tells an epic story of love and redemption. The story begins with the terrible automobile accident that burns the narrator over 90 percent of his body.
Once a perfect specimen of male perfection he is now horribly disfigured and looks like a monster. While recovering in the hospital he meets a beautiful sculptress, Mary Anne Engle, who tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. Through her stories of their past life together and her devotion to him and his recovery he finds a will to live. This is a first novel and has caused quite a stir in the publishing world. Dante's Inferno and Divine Comedy are woven into the story with skill and the astute reader will soon pick up on all the spiritual connections. The descriptions of the treatment of massive burns can be quite difficult but is not gratuitous. This is a story that will linger with most readers and many may have "book hangover" for days. This is a book to discuss! Also available on audio download.

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Genre: Adult Fiction
Staff reviewer: Nancy Chowning, Noble Public Library

This book was recommended to me by a fellow staff member. I listened to the unabridged audio version read by Stephen Briggs. This was a truly delightful book, appealing to my fantasy side, science fiction side and my funny bone. it really makes you stop and think about how our society works and where things actually got started - such as postage stamps. A great read/listen!

One Hen by Katie Smith Milway

Genre: Children Fiction
Staff Reviewer: Jenny Stenis, Center for Reader's Services

One Hen tells the story of how one hen changed not only the life of one boy, but also a whole village. Based on the life of Kwabena Darko of Ghana, One Hen tells how Kojo builds a thriving poultry business for the purchase of one hen. If you like this story you might enjoy Galimoto by Karen Williams and The Fortune-tellers by Lloyd Alexander.