Summer 2011 Book Reviews

Winners of Novel Destinations

2011-09-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the winners of the random drawings for the submitted photographs and book reviews:
Lori Leduc
Suzanne Bertrand
Gerry Fitta
Katelin Zucker
Barbara McCormick
Gene Burgess

Still Life by Louse Penny

2011-08-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

An interesting muystery that takes place ina rural village south of Montreal. Chief Inspector Arman Gamache is called upon to determine if Miss Jane Neal's demise is an accident or murder.
The people of Three Rivers is an area where loyalists to the crown came at the time of the American Revolution.
Great characters an intriguing plot.
Reviewed by Gene Burgess

The Duchess by Amanda Foreman

2011-08-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Originally published as Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, this is a biography of a fascinating woman of the 18th century, the great, great, great, great aunt of Princess Diana. The time period is the French Revolution when the aristocracy inherited wealth, gambled, used drugs, alcohol and were promiscuous.
There is a lot of discussion about politics and power. All the demons of yesteryear have not rested. This is an interesting look back at history.
Reviewed by Gene Burgess

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

2011-08-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

Dorian Gray has his portrait painted by artist Basil Hallward. Gray, a handsome and rather self indulgent young man wishes that he could stay youthful and the portrait would age. Plenty of suspenseful twists and turns to the story. Be careful what you wish for....
Reviewed by Gene Burgess

Beastly by Alex Finn

2011-08-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Beastly is a great book if you love romantic books with drama in it as well. The character Lindy was my favorite, she is so romantic and does not want to tell the guy (Kyle) she is in love with him until the very end. Kyle turns into the Beast and starts to fall in love with Lindy.

Reviewed by Erica K Badessa

Guilty as Sin by Tami Hoag

2011-08-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

This book focuses on the prosecution of Dr. Garrett Wright, professor of psychology at Harris College, who is accused of kidnapping Josh Kirkwood. Prosecuting attorney, Ellen North goes against defending attorney Anthony Costello, with whom she had a liaison with while they were working in the cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota) before Ellen moved to Deer Lake, MN. That relationship had ended years before. Ellen had lost cases to Anthony before and found him to be an unscrupulous lawyer who considered winning the case a game.

Another ten-year-old boy is kidnapped while Garrett Wright is being held for Josh Kirkwood's kidnapping. Wright's attorney makes his case to the judge that perhaps Wright is not guilty of the first kidnapping either. Costello manages to get the circumstantial evidence against Wright dismissed and Wright is released on bail, free to return to his home two houses away from the Kirkwood residence.

The local police, sheriff's office, and BCA all cooperate to investigate Garret Wright's background to try to rebuild the case against him. Their efforts pay off and eventually justice is served.

This book is a "page turner" with lots of twists and turns keeping the reader off guard. It answers the questions left hanging in the author's previous book, Night Sins.

Reviewed by Suzanne Bertrand

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2011-08-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

The first time I read this book was February of last year, I re-read it multiple times last year because I loved it so much. I found it easy, with Cashore's writing, to really immerse myself in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I fell in love with the characters, even in their bad times and with their downfalls. Katsa is such a strong character and it was great to watch her come into her own and finally become her own and be comfortable with herself. It was also great to watch her build friendships and relationships with the characters she meets along her journey, even trust others as she hadn't before. Po is of course amazing, though he can be a little self centered at times, but he is always patient with Katsa and tries to do what is best for others. But of all the characters I love Bitterblue the most. Even after all she has been through, or maybe because of it, she is strong, trusting and has more courage than so many others. She is prepared to face any challenge even if it is a large group of grown men with swords, to protect those she loves. A fantastic adventure in a beautifully created world that teachers us to each find our own strength.

Reviewed by Angie Stroud

Huntress by Malinda Lo

2011-08-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this book. I have to say though that this is the first book I have come across that has an openly female/female love relationship. This is made clear from the very beginning and it may disturb some readers or parents, but it didn't bother me (please note there is nothing explicit, just strong feelings and some kisses). I enjoyed the fact that Kaede was so believable, she had normal reactions to things. There are some weird twists and the ending did seem a bit rushed and left open- maybe another book coming? I hope so! The only drawback I found was that a lot of the mystical/magical elements weren't exactly explained and some of it did need a little more filling out or detail to make the story feel complete. I also would have liked to know more about Con, he seemed to be important but yet felt as though he was just thrown in because there needed to be a king's son.

Reviewed by Angie Stroud

The Late Bloomer's Revolution: A Memoir by Amy Cohen

2011-08-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Will Amy or won't she find the man of her dreams before it's too late? We go through a series of adjustments in Amy's life; the loss of her mother, jobs, and various men. Also changes in thinking and how she finally resolves her dilemma.

Reviewed by Gene Burgess

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

2011-08-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

The arranged marriage of Ashoke and Ashima takes place in Calcutta. Ashoke, a student takes his bride to America. Their introduction to America brings the agony of change for Ashima and adjustments of Ashoke. Family, traditions, children and coping with everyday struggles are major themes.

Reviewed by Gene Burgess

Warriors: Fire and Ice by Erin Hunter

2011-07-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Cats scratching, hissing and dead cats everywhere. Arraw is all you can hear it's a war zone. Let's rewind it to the beginning. There are a bunch of different clans such as the shadow clan, riverclan, thunderclan, windclan, cats outside clans. So far those are all the clans except for the cats outside the clans. There are cats in each of the clans; there are leaders, hunters, elders, and medicine cats. All of the mess happened because prey was getting low and the weather was starting to change into winter and the hunters were having trouble. The hunters of each clan decided to take the prey of the other clans. The leaders of the clans got sick of stealing each others prey and so they decided to have a war.

Reviewed by Katelin Zucker

Thinner by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman

2011-07-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Life was good for overweight lawyer William (Billy) Halleck until he accidentally hit a Gypsy woman jaywalking across a street who died from her injuries. Billy's trial was presided over by his friend, Judge Cary Rossington, who absolved Billy of any guilt. The dead woman's father, Taduz Lemke, felt that justice had not been served and takes things into his own hands by putting a curse on Billy by touching him and uttering a single word- "thinner." Billy begins to lose weight immediately and continues to do so until he becomes so thin that he begins to look like a walking skeleton. He takes a leave of absence from his job and sets out on the Gypsies' trail convinced that he can get Taduz to remove the curse if he could speak to him. However, things do not go as Billy Planned, and the ending takes the reader by surprise.

This book makes for good summer reading.

Reviewed by Suzanne Bertrand

Against All Odds by Scott Brown

2011-07-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

This is the autobiography of Scott Brown's dysfunctional childhood. Basketball and sports saved his childhood. Scott was voted America's sexiest man and modeled for awhile. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps and is now a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.

Reviewed by Shirley Capwell

Summer Reading 2011 Novel Destinations Reviews

2011-07-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Read some books this summer and write a review!
Now that it is beach weather, stay cool any place you can weather, it is time to start your summer reading.
Your thoughts on any book can be four sentences or four pages long. It is up to you. The first 25 people who submit a review will receive a Novel Destinations book bag.
There will be three random drawings at the end of the summer on August 24th and each review is a chance at one of these great prizes.
The books can be either fiction and nonfiction and they can be on any topic or in any genre.

Submit them to this blog or you can email them to ref@wwlibrary.org or mail to/drop off at -

West Warwick Public Library
Reference Dept.
1043 Main St.
West Warwick, RI 02893

Visit the library! Win prizes! Have fun!

Newsletter Titles for 2011

2011-03-11T11:58:00.001-08:00

By popular demand, each month we will post the newsletter titles and the new books added to our collection! We are a little behind. so here is the list for January-March:

JANUARY 2011

All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis by Bethany McLean
American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do about It) by Jonathan Bloom
Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention by Katherine Ellison
Cooking At Home by Chuck Williams
Double Delicious!: Good, Simple Food for Busy, Complicated Lives by Jessica Seinfeld
Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes
Ghosts of the South Coast by Tim Weisberg
Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America by Matt Taibbi
How to Stop E-mail, Spyware, Malware, Computer Viruses and Hackers from Ruining Your Computer or Network: The Complete Guide for Your Home and Work by Bruce Cameron Brown
Jolt!: The Impending Dominance of the Electric Car and Why America Must Take Charge by James Billmaier
Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires by Tim Wu
Monster: How a Gang of Predatory Lenders and Wall Street Bankers Fleeced America – And Spawned a Global Crisis by Michael W. Hudson
Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson
Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Comfort Food by Sandra Lee
Steig Larsson: Our Days in Stockholm by Kurdo Baksi and Laurie Thompson
Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man by Steve Harvey
Tao II: The Way of Healing, Rejuvenation, Longevity, and Immortality by Zhi Gang Sha
Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia De Rossi
Whoopie Pies by Sarah Billingsley
Wonders in the Sky: Unexplained Aerial Objects from Antiquity to Modern Times by Jacques Vallee

FEBRUARY 2011
400 Calorie Fix by Liz Vaccariello
Bring It!: The Revolutionary Fitness Plan for All Levels That Burns Fat, Builds Muscle, and Shreds Inches by Tony Horton
Cannabiz: The Explosive Rise of the Medical Marijuana Industry by John Geluardi
The Case Against Flouride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There by Paul Connett
Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All by Paul A. Offit
The Everything Guide to Macrobiotics: A Practical Introduction to the Macrobiotic Lifestyle-and How it Can Work for You by Julie S. Ong
Force for Nature: The Story of the NRDC and the Fight to Save Our Planet by John H. Adams
Full-Body Flexibility by Jay Plahnik
Good Kids, Tough Choices: How Parents Can Help Their Children Do the Right Thing by Rushworth M. Kidder
How to Use, Adapt, and Design Knitting Patterns by Sam Elliot
The Man Who Invented the Computer: The Biography of John Atanasoff, Digital Pioneer by Jane Smiley
The Monster Within: The Hidden Side of Motherhood by Barbara Almons
Not Quite Adults: Why 20-Somethings Are Choosing a Slower Path to Adulthood, and Why It’s Good for Everyone by Richard Settersten
The Offensive Internet: Speech, Privacy, and Reputation by Saul Levmore
The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias
Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear by Seth Mnookin
Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women’s Health by Gail A. Sulik
Our Man in Tehran: The Truth Behind the Secret Mission to Save Six Americans During the Iran Hostage Crisis and the Foreign Ambassador Who Worked With the CIA to Bring Them Home by Robert Wright
Play Their Hearts Out: A Coach, His Star Recruit, and the Youth Basketball Machine by George Dohrmann
The Playful Brain: The Surprising Science of How Puzzles Improve Your Mind by Richard M. Restak
Sexy Forever: How to Fight Fat After Forty by Suzanne Somers
Slow Cooker: 403 Recipes for Today’s One-Pot Meals by Taste of Home Magazine
Soups, Stews, and Chilis by Cook’s Illustrated Magazine
The Squeaky Wheel: Complaining the Right Way to Get Results, Improve Your Relationships, and Enhance Self-Esteem by Guy Winch
Super Body, Super Brain: The Workout That Does It All by Michael Gonzalez-Wallace
Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 3: The Secret Formulas for Duplicating Your Favorite Restaurant Dishes at Home by Todd Wilbur
Toward the Setting Sun: John Ross, the Cherokees and the Trail of Tears by Brian Hicks
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong
Twin: A Memoir by Allen Shawn
Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It by Gary Taubes

MARCH 2011
10 Commandments of Monet: Survive and Thrive in the New Economy by Liz Pullman Weston
2012 and the End of the World: The Western Roots of the Maya Apocalypse, by Matthew Restall
Ardency: A Chronicle of the Amistad Rebels by Kevin Lowell Young
Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume I by Mark Twain
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
Becoming Raw: The Essential Guide to Raw Vegan Diets, Brenda Davis
Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Font Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstien
Caught in the Act: A Courageous Family’s Fight to Save Their Daughter from a Serial Killer by Jeannie McDonough
Dead Reckoning by Caitlin Rother
Diabetes Manifesto: Take Charge of Your Life by Lynn Crow
Double Life: Discovering Motherhood by Lisa Catherine Harper
Getting to Heaven: Departing Instructions for Your Life Now by Don Piper
Good Caregiver: A One-Of-A-Kind Compassionate Resource for Anyone Caring for an Aging Loved Oneby Dr. Kane
Googlization of Everything: (And Why We Should Worry) by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Heaven Is for Real, A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo
Henry’s Demons: Living with Schizophrenia, a Father and Son’s Journey by Patrick Cockburn
I, Monster: Serial Killers in Their Own Chilling Words by Tom Philbin
Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick
Kill the Irishman: The War That Cripples the Mafia by Rick Porrello
Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
Mindful Way Through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life by Susan M. Orsilla
Money Class: Learn to Create Your New American Dream by Suze Orman
The Next Decade: Where We’ve Been…and Where We’re Going by George Friedman
Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster’s Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago’s Murderous Crime Family by Frank Calabrese
Paranormal Realities II by Keith Johnson
Planet Home: Conscious Choices for Cleaning and Greening the World You Care About Most by Jeffrey Hollender
Prevent a Second Heart Attack: 8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease by Janet Bond Brill
Red Flags or Red Herrings?: Predicting Who Your Child Will Become, Susan Engel
Townie: A Memoir by Andre Dubas III
Wrong War: Grit, Strategy, and the Way Out of Afghanistan by Bing West
Young Al Capone: The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1899-1925 by William and John Balsamo

Newsletter Titles for 2010

2011-02-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful request from a patron to list the new titles from previous newsletters on our website. We thought it was a great idea-so here it is! This is the complete list from 2010(we did not have lists in April, July, or August’s newsletters). We will begin posting a new blog entry for each month’s newest library books beginning in March

Feel Free to comment here about the books or what you would like to see added to the collection.

JANUARY 2010
Baking by James Peterson
Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy by Bill Simmons
Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays by Zadie Smith
Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry by Elizabeth Grossman
Child Sense: From Birth to Age 5, How to Use the 5 Senses to Make Sleeping, Eating, Dressing, and Other Everyday Activities Easier by Priscilla Dunstan
Comeback 2.0: Up Close and Personal by Lance Armstrong
Common Sense Mutual Funds by John C. Bogle
Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East
Dying for Heaven: Holy Pleasure and Suicide Bombers – Why the Best Qualities of Religion Are Also Its Most Dangerous by Ariel
Gluklich
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe by Greg M. Epstein
Last Words by George Carlin
Lit by Mary Karr
Paranormal Realities by Keith and Sandra Johnson
So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week by Ellie Krieger
Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson
Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James
Wicked Good Year: How the Red Sox, Patriots & Celtics Turned the Hub of the Universe Into the Capital of Sports by Steve Buckley

FEBRUARY 2010
Bubble Gum and Hula Hoops: The Origins of Objects in Our Everyday Lives by Harry Oliver
Emerging Epidemics: The Menace of New Infections by Madeline Drexler
Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care by T.R. Reid
I Want to Be Left Behind: Finding Rapture Here on Earth by Brenda Peterson
Live a Little! Breaking the Rules Won’t Break Your Health by Susan M. Love
Master Your Debt: Slash Your Monthly Payments and Become Debt Free by Jordan E. Goodman
Settled in the Wild: Notes from the Edge of Town by Susan Hand Shetterly
Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things by Rick Smith
So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore
Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity by James Hansen
Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies Table Our Journey Through the Middle East by Ted Dekker
The Allergen-Free Baker’s Handbook: How to Bake Without Gluten, Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, and Sesame by Cybele Pascal
The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future by Robert Darnton
The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half: The Strategic Shopping Method Proven to Slash Food and Drugstore Costs by Stephanie Nelson
The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr by Ken Gormley
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sklott
The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050 by Joel Kotkin
The Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism by Joyce Appleby
This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson
You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier

MARCH 2010
After the Ice: Life, Death, and Geopolitics in the New Arctic by Alun Anderson
Barney Frank: The Story of America’s Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman by Stuart E. Weisberg
Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery by Richard Hollingham
Change Your Brain, Change Your Body: Use Your Brain to Get and Keep the Body You Have Always Wanted by Daniel Amen
Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang by Chelsea Handler
Everyday in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life by Frances Mayes
Fifty-Nine in ’84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had by Edward Achorn
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann
High Heat: The Secret History of the Fastball and the Improbable Search for the Fastest Pitcher of All Time by Tim Wendel
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt
No Apology: The Case for American Greatness by Mitt Romney
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier
The Bread of Angels: A Journey to Love and Faith by Stephanie Saldana
The Fairtax Solution: Financial Justice for All Americans by Ken Hoagland
The Sono Baking Company Cookbook: The Best Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Occasion by John Barricelli
The Tudors: The Complete Story of England’s Most Notorious Dynasty by G.J. Meyer
We’ve Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication by Judith Warner
Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History by Megan Smolenyak
Willie Mays: The Life, the Legend by James S. Hirsch

MAY 2010
A Funny Thing Happens on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned by Michael J. Fox
Be Centsable: How to Cut Your Household Budget in Half by Chrissy Pate
Dead End Gene Pool: A Memoir by Wendy Burden
Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan
Forgotten Tales of Rhode Island by Jim Ignasher
Full Plate Diet: Slim Down, Look Great, Be Healthy! by Stuart A. Seale
Getting Organized in the Google Era: How to Get Stuff Out of Your Head, Find It when You Need It, and Get It Done Right by Douglas C. Merrill
Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California by Giada de Laurentiis
Guide to Newport’s Cliff Walk: Tales of Seaside Mansions & the Gilded Age Elite by Ed Morris
Hidden History of Rhode Island: Not-To-Be-Forgotten Tales of the Ocean State by Glenn Laxton
Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye: A Do-It-Yourself Mouth Care System for Healthy, Clean Gums and Teeth by Ellie Phillips
Making Haste from Babylon: The Mayflower and Their World: A New History by Nick Bunker
Married to Distraction: Restoring Intimacy and Strengthening Your Marriage in an Age of Interruption by Edward M. Hallowell
Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic Techniques for Sewing, Applique, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing by Martha Stewart Living Magazine
Oprah: A Biography by Kitty Kelley
Recipes from Historic New England: A Restaurant Guide and Cookbook by Linda Bauer
Seasonal Fruit Desserts: From Orchard, Farm, and Market by Deborah Madison
Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
The Secret Life of the Grown Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind by Barbara Strauch
Ten Things to Do When Your Life Falls Apart: An Emotional and Spiritual Handbook by Daphne Rose Kingma
Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C. Smith
Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given by Duane Dog Chapman
Wicked Conduct: The Minister, the Mill Girl and the Murder That Captivated Old Rhode Island by Rory Raven

June 2010
Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs by Roger Whitaker
Anti Cancer Book: How to Cut Your Risk with the Most Powerful, Cancer-Fighting Foods by Julia B. Greer
Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Maria R. Miller
Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran by Roxana Saberi
Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
Devils Rooming House: The True Story of America’s Deadliest Female Serial Killer by William M. Phelps
Digging up the Dead: A History of Notable American Reburials by Michael Kammen
Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods by Tracey Ryder
Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style , Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern by Joshua Zeitz
French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook by Mireille Guillano
Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1,500 Years by Philip Jenkins
Last Stand: Custer, Sittting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Big Horn by Nathaniel Philbrick
Master Your Metabolism Cookbook by Jillian Michaels
Suicide by Sugar: A Startling Look at Our #1 National Addiction by Nancy Appleton
To Your Dog's Heatlh: Canine Nutrition and Recent Trends within the Pet Food Industry by Mark Poveromo
Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence by Gail Sheehy
Trigger Point Therapy for Lower Back Pain: A Self-Treatment Workbook by Sharon Sauer
War by Sebastian Junger
Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth
Welcome to the Jungle: Everything You Wanted to Know about Bipolar but Were too Freaked Out to Ask by Hilary Smith

September 2010
American Cancer Society’s Complete Guide to Nutrition for Cancer Survivors: Eating Well, Staying Well During and After Cancer by Barbara Grant
Between a Heart and a Hard Place by Pat Benetar
Bleeding to Ease the Pain: Cutting, Self-Injury, and the Adolescent Search for Self by Lori G. Plante
Bob Marley: The Untold Story by Chris Salewicz
Breaking the Addiction to Please: Goodbye Guilt by Les Barbanell
Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century by Michael A. Hiltzik
Decisive Parenting: Strategies That Work with Teenagers by Michael Hammond
Home Staging That Works: Sell Your Home in Less Time for More Money by Starr C. Osborne
Letters to My Torturer: Love, Revolution, and Imprisonment in Iran by Asadi Houshang
Living Canvas: Your Total Guide To Tattoos, Piercings, and Body Modification by Karen L. Hudson
Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming by Naomi Oreskes
Momover: The New Mom’s Guide to Getting It Back Together (Even If You Never Had It in the First Place!) by Dana Wood
New Resume, New Career by Catherine Jewell
Preparedness Now!: An Emergency Survival Guide by Aton Edwards
Psychic: My Life in Two Worlds by Sylvia Browne
Step-By Step Resumes, 2nd Ed: Build an Outstanding Resume in Ten Easy Steps! By Evelyn U. Salvador
The Cheapskate Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happily Below Their Means by Jeff Yeager
The Longevity Prescription: The 8 Proven Keys to a Long, Healthy Life by Robert N. Butler
Uber Origami: Every Origami Project Ever! by Duy Nguyen
You Never Gave Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup by Peter Doggett
Your Money: The Missing Manual by J.D. Roth
Wilderness Survival for Dummies by John F. Haslett

October 2010
Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future by Robert B. Reich
Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t by Paul Sullivan
Conventional Idiocy: Why the New America Is Sick of Old Politics by Rick Sanchez
Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart
Designer Genes: A New Era in the Evolution of Man by Steven Potter
Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain
Disconnect: The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family by Devra Davis
Drop Debt: Surviving Credit Card Hell Without Bankruptcy by Harvey Z. Warren
Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age by Nicholas Perricone
Grace of Silence: A Memoir by Michele Norris
Grand Design by Stephen Hawking
Home Made Simple: Fresh Ideas to Make Your Own by the Experts at Home Made Simple
Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama by Bill O’Reilly
Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga by Maureen Callahan
Promise Me: How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer by Nancy G. Brinker
White House Diary by Jimmy Carter

November 2010
Acid Christ: Ken Kesey, LSD, and the Politics of Ecstasy by Mark Christensen
Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz
Bobby Flay's Throwdown!: More Than 100 Recipes from Food Network’s Ultimate
Cook This, Not That! Easy & Awesome 350-Calorie Meals by David Zinczenko
Cooking Challenge by Bobby Flay
Conversations with Myself by Nelson Mandela
Countdown to Lockdown: A Hardcore Journal by Mick Foley
Crimes Against Liberty: An Indictment of President Barack Obama by David Limbaugh
Deeds of My Fathers: How My Grandfather and Father Built New York and Created the Tabloid World of Today by Paul David Pope
Don't Vote: It Just Encourages the Bastards by P.J. O’Rourke
Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and America Slavery by Eric Foner
Fred Jones’ Tools for Teaching: Discipline, Instruction, Motivation by Fredric H. Jones
Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays by Ron Jaworski
In the Dark Streets Shineth: A 1941 Christmas Eve Story by David McCullough
In the Still of the Night: The Strange Death of Rhonda Reynolds and Her Mother’s Unceasing Quest for the Truth by Ann Rule
Journey: My Political Life by Tony Blair
Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood by Jane Leavy
Mob and Me: Wise Guys and the Witness Protection Program by John Partington with Arlene Violet
Monk Eastman: The Gangster Who Became a War Hero by Neil Hanson
Obama's Wars by Bob Woodward
Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin
Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives by Annie Murphy Paul
Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet by Robb Wolf
Power by Rhonda Byrne
Rhode Island Founders: From Settlement to Statehood by Patrick T. Conley
Guide to Haunted New England: Tales from Mount Washington to the Newport Cliffs by Thomas D’Agostino
Third World America: How Our Politicians are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream by Arianna Huffington
What If Latin America Ruled the World?: How the South Will Take the North Through the 21st Century by Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

December 2010
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? Fabulous Recipes & Easy Tips by Ina Garten
Beginner’s Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life by Kate Braestrup
Chewy Gooey Crisp Crunchy Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich
Cookie Party Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Cookie Exchange by Robin L. Olson
Decision Points by George W. Bush
Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Empty Pleasures: The Story of Artificial Sweeteners from Saccharin to Splenda by Carolyn de la Pena
Essential “New York Times” Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century by Amanda Hesser
Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time by David Laurie
First Family, Abigail and John by Joseph J. Ellis
I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections by Nora Ephron
Keep the Change, A Clueless Tipper’s Quest to Become the Guru of Gratuity by Steve Dublanica
Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence by Gerald Blaine
Lessons in Loss and Living: Hope and Guidance for Confronting Serious Illness and Grief by Michele A. Reiss
Me by Ricky Martin
Pain Chronicles: Cures, Myths, Mysteries, Prayers, Diaries, Brain Scans, Healing, and the Silence of Suffering by Melanie Thernstrom
Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House by Richard Wolffe
Scorpions: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR’s Great Supreme Court Justices by Noah Feldman
Semi-Homemade: The Complete Cookbook by Sandra Lee
Unbroken: A Word War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Some Recommendations from One of Our Summer Readers

2010-08-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Gene Burgess, our friend and patron here at the West Warwick Public Library, has agreed to share her summer reading list with us. We welcome everyone to do the same. The more titles that we can get on this blog, the easier it will make it for someone the next time they need to find a great book to read!

Here are Gene's recommendations based on her summer reading list:

READ:

The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde

The Biography of Frank Lloyd Wright

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

The Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

SKIP

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Foer

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski

Thanks Gene! We look forward to hearing about more of the summer reading adventures of our patrons!

Tara Road by Maeve Binchy

2010-08-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Review: Ria, the insecure meets and becomes involved with charming Danny Lynch. After discovering that Ria is pregnant, they marry and purchase a big run down house, Danny becomes involved with Barney McCarthy, a well know business tycoon in Dublin who treats him like a son. But Barney's life is full of deception which Ria soon learns when she is offered a job at Barney's lovers dress shop. Marriage seems to make Ria bloom and her time is spent making the house a beautiful comfortable home which is always filled with the noise of family and friends and the smells of Ria's cooking, but not enough time alone with Danny who has risen to the ranks along with Barney in the real estate world.
It is not until Danny tells her that he is leaving her for his young pregnant girlfriend, that Ria realizes her life may change and she tries to find ways to bring Danny back.
An unexpected phone call from Marilyn, a woman in Connecticut who both her and Danny met years ago, gives her the opportunity to exchange homes for the summer and give her the courage to sort out the crisis in her live that is threatening to destroy her. For Marilyn, who only wants to be alone, the exchange bring many new friends into her life and she is able to sort out and bring solutions to their problems and her own.
The story is filled with deception, not only from a wayward husband but from friends and family as well. Too often we cannot see through the veneer of others when their lives become entangle with ours. It is also the story of unexpected friendships and above all hope. Of picking up ones live and going on despite making change and great sacrifices.
A thoroughly enchanting and thought provoking novel.

Joan Boucher

Fall On Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald

2010-08-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Review: This is the saga of the Piper family of Cape Breton Island. The saga begins in 1898 when James Piper, an eighteen year old piano tuner falls in love and elopes with Materia, a twelve year old Lebanese girl. Hearing of their daughter’s marriage her wealthy family immediately disowned her and she becomes isolated from society until she meets Mrs. Luvovitz, who takes the child bride under her wings and teaches her what it means to be a wife and mother and gives her the comfort and love she so desperately seeks.
Like most family sagas the characters evolve around one another. Kathleen, the oldest, is beautiful with a singing voice to match. Mercedes, is the compassionate one who tries to keep the family from falling apart. Frances, the disobedient one and finally gentle, quiet Lily. The four sisters are all at the mercy of their father James a deeply flawed individual who is responsible for most of the horrific happenings that wrecked his family. The story jumps between the present and past, Canada and Harlem,so it can be confusing at times. It is full of passion, incest, fantasies and horror and it is only at the end that the mystery is revealed.
I found the story interesting but had parts that just dragged along and other parts had fantasy written all over them.

Submitted by Joan Boucher

The Child Thief by Brom

2010-07-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Review: The story of Peter Pan has been rewritten. Peter is now a violent, sinister, sociopath out to do whatever is necessary to save his magical world from being totally destroyed. The basic original story is still evident, but because of the use of descriptive language and violent battles this is not a bedtime tale for the children. Brom has created his own version of Peter and his own version of Neverland.
submitted by Lorna Hill

After All These Years by Susan Isaacs

2010-07-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

Review: How would you like to wake up after your very lavish twenty fifth wedding anniversary and be told by your husband that he is leaving you for someone more beautiful and sophisticated? Well, that’s not all Rosie Meyers had to endure. Late one night she awakens after hearing a noise downstairs in her house. She goes to investigate only to find her Ex on the kitchen floor with a knife protruding from his chest. Rosie made the mistake of trying to remove the knife to see if her Ex, Richie was still alive. This act plus the fact that she is the only one at home at the time of the murder makes her Sergeant Gevinski’s only suspect. Rosie leaves her home town and goes on the lam into Manhattan where she starts putting clues together to prove her innocence. Rosie is only an English teacher, but she is resourceful and with the help of some people that were close to her solves the case.

The story portrays Sergeant Gevinski as a very narrow minded detective who couldn’t seem to set his mind on exploring other clues as to who would have motive for the murder. Rosie, herself is a delightful witty character who shows great strength and goes to any length to prove her innocence.

Another good summer read. No concentration necessary. Let the story take you where it may for you know that most of it is very unrealistic.

submitted by Joan Boucher

Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber

2010-07-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

Review: Four widows meet in Ann Marie Roche’s bookstore on Valentine’s Day. One of them suggests the idea of making a “wish” list of things they secretly wanted to accomplish but never did. Their list gives them hope and changes their lives in many unexpected ways. Each of them discover that dreams can come true.
A very enjoyable and heartwarming story ideal for summer reading.

Written by Joan Boucher

2010-06-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

The West Warwick Public Library’s Adult Reference Department is introducing a Book Review contest for Summer 2010!

Our Adult Summer Reading Program theme is “Water Your Mind: READ”. We are asking our readers to submit book reviews for our blog here and each book review will be tossed into a random drawing. At the end of the summer reading program in late August, we will have a drawing and prize awarded to the lucky reader and book reviewer!

You will be able to post all of your book reviews on our blog. Please submit your name with each book review so that we can enter you in our drawing.

All of you who are interested in submitting a book review, please post your book review comment(s) below. For book review examples, please scroll down to the next post.

We look forward to receiving your book reviews!

Note: If you are having any trouble commenting below, please feel free to email us your questions at ref@wwlibrary.org or give us a call at 401-828-3750 ext. 4. We are here to help!

Summer Reading Contest Samples

2010-06-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a few book review samples to help you when you’re writing your own book reviews for our Summer Reading contest. You can write as little as three sentences or as many as you’d like.

Sample #1:

Book Title: The Kite Runner

Book Author: You can write Khaled Hosseini or Hosseini, Khaled

Review: It is so good, I cried! A lot. Both from the beautiful writing and the line “for you, a thousand times over” I cried. Everyone should read this book (instead of seeing the movie, even though that is probably good too) In this country, we’re given such a bleak image all the time of Afghanistan…and this book really brings life and hope and color to that image. Plus, it’s such an artful tale of friendship and weakness turning into strength–sigh. Read it now! Best book since The Time Traveler’s Wife. Hands down.

Sample #2:

Title: Moby Dick

Author: Herman Melville

Review: So, what really is the point of Moby Dick? Is it about obsession? The things that drive each of us in our ambitions, whether they be wealth, hate, prejudice or love? Is it a deconstruction of Puritan culture in colonial America? Is it a Joseph Campbell-esque heroic tale? Is it a good ol’ yarn of men against the sea? Is it all of these things?

Perhaps.

Is it a colossal bore?

Decidedly.

Sample #3

Title: The Lovely Bones

Author: Sebold, Alice

Review: I enjoyed this story of a murdered 14 year old girl who is able to observe her family and other living people after her death. The book is told from her point of view, most of it taking place after her death. This is primarily the story of a family and how each member relates with each other and the world, including how this girl’s death and life has affected them; that was the aspect of the story I found fascinating and most of it rang true. It was a sad book and the girl’s dying experience was horribly upsetting, but I didn’t find it a depressing book at all, even though it was poignant as the dead girl narrator is the only one who knows what happened to her; parts of the book were even funny and parts suspenseful.

My Sister, My Love by Joyce Carol Oates (Fiction)

2009-03-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

This dark post-modern novel examines a highly dysfunctional New Jersey family in lurid detail. Oates’s tale, seemingly inspired by the unsolved JonBenet murder mystery, explores what happens when parents sacrifice their children to promote their own selfish dreams and desires. True Oates fans may be willing to endure the psychic battering the book inflicts on the reader, taking solace in her moments of wry satire. For the novice, however, reading the book may feel like watching a horrific accident unfold. You want to look away (you really do), but your gaze remains fixed on the terrible carnage. Read this book at your own risk.

Submitted by Patricia Jempty

Fall Brevies (Book Reviews)

2008-12-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

Reading is very personal. As with food, some authors’ styles are an acquired taste so read what you like but keep your mind open and try something new now and then.

The following books we have read and either liked, disliked, loved or hated. Let us know what you think and don’t forget to share your favorites and not so favorite.

The Complete Stories of Truman Capote by Truman Capote (Fiction)

Great imagery concocted in these stories, the plots aren’t always the most realistic. If you can suspend disbelief, these stories should be very enjoyable reading. Submitted by Tom James

Darkness Take My Hand by Denis Lehane (Mystery novel)

Story of a serial killer that borders on horror…but I liked it any way. Plot and character development pulls reader right in and won’t let go until the last page. After this read Lehane’s Shutter Island for another fun ride. Submitted by Maureen Delovio

Flashback by Nevada Barr(Mystery novel)

Law enforcement ranger, Anna Pigeon, who is on temporary assignment at Dry Tortugas confronts illegal drugs and illegal immigrants. She also reviews a mystery that that involves two aunts who lived there during the imprisonment of two Lincoln assassination conspirators. Pigeon makes a big personal decision in this book. Recommended to fans of mysteries, history and scuba diving. Submitted by Janet S. Handford

Blood Lure by Nevada Barr(Mystery novel)

In Glacier National Park law enforcement ranger, Anna Pigeon, investigates a stepmother’s murder. She confronts a weak father, troubled teens, a con man, and a massive grizzly bear.

Recommended, especially to lovers of nature, wild animals, and smart strong female detectives. Submitted by Janet S. Handford

For others like me who dark adventures seek, into these books you may peek: Killing Yourself to Live, by Chuck Klosterman; Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon by Pamela Des Barres.

If it’s murder, mayhem and death you’re into, then here are some books that may beguile you: The History of Torture by Brian Innes; The Last Face You’ll Ever See by Ivan Solotaroff; Among the Lowest of the Dead: the Culture of Death Row by David Von Drehle.

If it’s tales of the macabre that delight, or things that go bump in the night, then here are some titles that will excite: Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits and Haunted Places by Brad Steiger; Ghosts: The Illustrated History by Peter Haining. Submitted by Susan LaPorte

Big Trouble by Dave Barry big-trouble (Humorous fiction)

The newspaper columnist has written a hilarious piece of fiction reminiscent of Donald Westlake. Bizarre, but believable, characters collide in this farcical novel. You will be sorry when it ends. Submitted by Kate Carroll

Becoming Eichmann: Rethinking the Life, Crimes and Trial of a “Desk Murderer”
by David Cesaraini (Biography/History)

This is a chilling book about Adolph Eichmann, the fulcrum of the Final Solution. The chapter dealing with Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem gets a bit dry and bogged down with legalese, otherwise, a book that shows Eichmann in a different light, other than the “banality of evil” that Hannah Arendt labeled him as being. Instead Eichmann is seen as a more than willing executioner, who actually enjoyed and took pride in his work. Submitted by Tom James

The Cave Painters: Probing the Mystery of the Worlds First Artists by Gregory Curtis
(Art History)

A somewhat dry book which does also possess at times flashes of brilliant insights. He puts forth the idea that the pre-historic cave paintings found in southern France and northern Spain are comparable to the serene, graceful art of the classical world. The author notes, “It’s a conservative view of the world, that hasn’t any need for stirring up any trouble, as we’ve become accustomed to Art doing.” Ho, ho. Submitted by Tom James

Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe
by Laurence Bergreen (History)

A vivid description of the Straights of Magellan as well as the bad food and befogging miasma the Navy shoves down your bologna hole at every given turn…all written in a very easy, accessible style. Highly recommended. Submitted by Tom James

They Did It with Love by Kate Morgenroth (Mystery novel)

An ok mystery read set in a ritzy Connecticut neighborhood with more than a few twists and turns. I wanted to find out what happened but I didn’t have much invested in the characters. Submitted by Maureen Delovio

Brevies (Book Reviews)

2008-11-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

The West Warwick Public Library, in the spirit of sharing great and not so great books, created this blog as a space for library staff, book club members and everyone who loves books, to express their book thoughts. We hope the reader enjoys these brevies and will add some of their own.