“The curiosity of cats is, like their affection, of a purity and intensity rarely seen in humans. We would be jaded when faced with the fiftieth paper bag. Not so our cats.” ~From Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats
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Laura recommends: Marlena: A Novelby Julie BuntinTold in flashbacks, this debut novel is a gut-wrenching and poignant dissection of a friendship between two young girls that ends when one of them dies. New in economically depressed Silver Lake, and reeling from her parent’s messy breakup, 15-year-old Cat is desperately lonely until she meets her wild and intoxicating neighbor, Marlena. Affected by poverty, absentee fathers, drugs, and drink, Cat and Marlena connect briefly, but deeply. As their lives spin out of control, the one thing that separates them is their view of the future: Cat knows she will leave town, and Marlena knows she is trapped there. And then Marlena is found dead, drowned in six inches of icy water. Does Cat bear responsibility for her friend's death? Years later, adult Cat is still haunted by her time with Marlena, and is struggling to overcome alcoholism and a sense of alienation. Marked by vivid prose, and precise and perfect word choice, this is a gritty and dark read.
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Julia recommends: All the Light We Cannot See: A Novelby Anthony DoerrThis suspenseful novel entwines the tale of a blind French girl and a disillusioned young German soldier who finally meet during the battle to free Saint-Malo, a port in Brittany, northwest France. The old town and fortress sit on an islet that is reached by a causeway. The architecturally distinctive Romanesque and gothic buildings were bombed to rubble during the town’s liberation in World War II. (The intrepid Malouins later rebuilt it as close to the original as possible.) The lead up to the bombing by the Americans and the disaster itself make up the backdrop to this novel’s climactic denouement. The town’s demise is a metaphor for the lives damaged and demolished by political extremism and the brutality of war that destroyed so many innocents. Marie-Laure is blind and her father, a locksmith at a Parisian museum, flees with her from the Nazi occupation to Saint-Malo. We also follow Werner, a thoughtful and intelligent German boy, as he is trained and bullied into becoming a soldier for the Third Reich. His innocence is lost along the way but his humanity shines through when he chances to meet Marie-Laure during the bombing. A poignant and bittersweet narrative that presents the resiliency of humanity and selflessness even in the midst of war.
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Roseanne recommends: All the Summer Girlsby Meg DonohueAn engaging story about three friends Kate, Vanessa and Dani who reconnect at Dani’s father’s house in the New Jersey beach town of Avalon. Kate is just recently dumped by her fiancé and then finds out she is pregnant. Dani is fired from yet another job and living a life with no direction while also trying to write a book. Vanessa is married with a daughter and is still coming to terms with her husband’s infidelity. Avalon is where Kate’s twin brother tragically drowned eight years before. Each must come to terms with the part they may have played in his death, repair their friendship, and figure out the next step in their lives. A good book on audio. Narrated by Heather Henderson.
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Astrid recommends: The Seagullby Ann CleevesIn this continuation of the excellent DI Vera Stanhope series, Vera is contacted by crooked cop Brace, whom Vera helped send to jail. Brace is suffering from MS and wants Vera to keep an eye on his daughter Patty, a troubled mother and ex-wife, and in exchange he will divulge where they can find the remains of a long-missing member of the criminal Gang of Four to which not only Brace belonged but also Vera’s father Hector and another man named the “Prof.” When Vera’s team goes to the burial site they find the missing member alright, but buried with him is the skeleton of a young woman. Publishers Weekly writes that this “nuanced, adroitly paced tale should satisfy both series fans and new readers.” The whole series is highly recommended, as is the TV show called Vera.
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Christine recommends: My Favorite Thing Is Monstersby Emil FerrisI usually tear through graphic novels, but I had to stop and savor many of Emil Ferris’ gorgeous, grotesque and creepy illustrations which hearken back to B-movies and horror comics. This compelling mystery with adult themes is set in Chicago in the 1960s and has a cast of unusual characters. Young Karen loves to visit the Art Institute and put herself into the paintings. When her upstairs neighbor dies, details just don’t add up. Did a member of her family kill poor Anka?
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Stacey recommends: Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe's Americaby Andrew FergusonA self-proclaimed Lincoln buff, Andrew Ferguson takes us with him on his exuberant travels through America in search of Abraham Lincoln sites and events. In this wryly funny mash-up of travel, history, and sociology, the author explores Lincoln’s influence on modern-day America, with his long-suffering family in tow. Beyond visiting the prominent historical sites, Ferguson also drops in on a conference of Lincoln reenactors (“the Abes” do not like to be called “impersonators”), where his commentary blends humor and admiring incredulity. If you enjoy American history, armchair travel, and unabashed enthusiasm, give this book a try.
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Misty recommends: The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats: A Journey Into the Feline Heartby J. Moussaieff MassonThis book was sweet and adorable. It’s not super scientific, as much of it is based on the author's impressions while living with his 5 cats. For those who love cats, it's a deeply enjoyable time spent thinking about the inner workings of our furry friends and the emotions that drive them.
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Lee recommends: A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Travelerby Jason RobertsBritish Naval officer James Holman lost his career when his sight vanished. But he was still a young man, and after an initial period of shock, he couldn’t bear to remain cooped up for the rest of his life as the seeing world expected him to do. So he applied his formidable energy to learning to get around on his own. Having invented his own method of reading the world around him—apparently a form of echolocation using a cane—he took his show on the road. First just across the channel to France, but he was soon ranging farther and farther afield, and writing bestsellers about what he found. An inspiring story of a man whose biggest obstacles were the limitations others tried to put on him.
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For More Reading Pleasure...
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Check out our Readers' Corner:
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BPL Contemporary Literature Book Discussion:
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Come join us on the second Tuesday of the month. We meet in the Conference room at 7:30 pm. No registration required (and we serve cookies). Here are the next dates and titles: (One Book, One Batavia Selection) There are extra copies available behind the circulation desk that can be checked out by Batavia Public Library cardholders.
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