New book Archive, 2006. List of titles reviewed in the Meredith News. (Back to new books. Back to Nichols Home)
Heard a good book lately? (6/13/06) Recorded books that make for good listening.  
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark.  A chilling tale of kidnapping, murder and telepathy.
Marley and Me by John Grogan.  A delightful tribute to a lovably naughty, hyperactive lab puppy.
Beach Road by James Patterson. In the Hamptons, a small-time lawyer defends a sports star accused of murder.
The Husband by Dean Koontz.  A man has less than three days to get $2 million in cash for his kidnapped wife.
The Messiah of Morris Avenue by Tony Hendra. An offbeat novel about the 2nd Coming. Satire with heart.  
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins.  Newberry winner and a great coming of age story for middle and high school readers.
The Chronicles of  Narnia by C. S. Lewis.  All seven stories of the popular series. 

In the News (6/6/06). Deep background on current events.
Kingdom Coming by Michelle Goldberg. Deconstructs "dominion theology."
The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley.  Hurriance Katrina and its aftermath,
Cobra II by Michael Gordon. Impeccably researched account of the Iraq invasion—from concept to insurgency.
American Theocracy by Kevin Phillips. Has the G.O.P. has become "the first religious party in U.S. history?"
Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru-Wadda.  Bonds, BALCO and baseball--the complete story.   
The Devils Highway by Luis Urrea. The human face of the immigation debate.  
The Girls who Went Away by Anne Fessler.  Women who gave up their babies before abortion.
Holy Blood Holy Grail  by Michael Baigent.  Back-story to the Da Vinci Code. Reads like a mystery novel.

Novels (5/31/06). Prize winners, critical raves, and popular favorites.
Theft: A Love Story,  by Peter Carey. A  magnificent high-stakes art heist by the Booker prize winner.
The Elements of Style by Wendy Wasserstein.  Witty look atNew Yorkers by the Pulitzer prize winner.  
Suite Francaise byIrene Némirovsky.  A long lost masterwork restored, with rave reviews. 
Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart. Highly praised satire. The American dream, as experienced by Russian emigres.
Digging to America by Anne Tyler. Two families converge, each awaiting an adopted Korean baby girl.  
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult. Dante's Inferno, through the eyes of a Maine family.
Mendocino by Anne Packer (The Dive From Clauson's Pier). Stories with a sharp eye for human self-deception.
This Granite Island by Sarah Stonich.  Love and adventure set in a frontier mining town. A rich debut. 

Gumshoes.  Recent crime fiction,  by genre so you can find the style that suits your taste.
The Golden Tomb by Elizebeth Peters (cozy).  Peters delivers an irresistible mix of archeology, action, and humor
The Cat who Dropped a Bombshell by Lilian Jakcson Braun (cozy). Money, a greedy heir and cats. 
The Hard Way by Lee Child (hard-boiled), Jack Reacher seeks a kidnapped daughter and her rophy wife mother.
Dark Harbor by Stuart Woods. A family is dead. Local cops say accident. Stone Brannigan suspects murder.
Heart of the World by Linda Barnes. (hard-boiled)  Carlotta Carlyle's little sister Paolina has disappeared.
The Fallen by T. Jefferson Parker (procedural)  The San Diego Ethics Unit uncovers corruption.
Dead Watch by John Sandford (thriller). Virginia senator Lincoln Bowe is missing.  Foul paly is suspected.
Vanished by Karen Robards (thriller). A witness to a  robbery vanishes.
Promise Me by Harlan Coben (thriller). A  chance encounter leads Myron Bolitar into a frantic pursuit.  
False Impression by Jefrrey Archer (thriller). When 9/11 strikes,  two cons sees an opportunity for art theft.
Blood Hunt by Ian Rankin (thriller).  A dead reporter and a possible cover-up. 
The Death of Achilles by Boris Akunin (historical). ATsarist agent investigates the demise of a war-hero.

Nonfiction by the Number (5/16/06).  Recent non-fiction by Dewey Decimel categories!
What, Your’re Wearing That! (100. Psychology) by Deborah Tannen. Miscommunication between moms  and daughters.
The Great Transformation (200. Religion) by Karen Armstrong. The emergence of religious teachings based on compassion.
Self-Made Man (300. Social Science) by Nora Vincent.  The author spent a year disguised as a man.
Plausibility of Life  (500. Science) by Mark Kirschner.  A sensible explanation of how natural selection occurs.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma (600. Applied Science) by Michael Pollen.  Too many food choices, not all of them good. 
Arts and Crafts (700. Arts) by Judith Miller.  “A well-organized catalog of guilds and designers.
The Accidental Empire (900. History) by Gershom Gorenberg. “How the West Bank Gordian knot developed.”
A Godly Hero (Biography) by Michael Kazin. Bryan was ”an eloquent voice for anti-imperialism and refrom.

Heroines (5/9/06). Compelling heroines, including an unlikely one from real life.
We are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg.  A polio victim and her 13-year-old heal family hurts and racial wrongs.
Saving the World by Julia Alvarez'.  Two women living two centuries apart have their fates tied to humanitarian missions.
An Unreasonable Woman by Diane Wilson. Battling polluters on the Texas Gulfcoast shrimping beds.  
Blues Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith. "Traditionally built" Botswana detective Precious Ramotswe returns.
Challenger Park by Stephen Harrington. A women astronaut must juggle career, family and the perils of space travel.
My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman. A 16-year-old child of two hippie professors is the heroine of this comedy of manners

Tales for Teens (5/2/06).  Fun fiction for young adults.
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins ((Newbery Medal). Childhood friends facing the crossroads of life.
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson.  Max & her friends are on the run from predators.
Maxium Ride: School’s Out  by James Patterson.  Max and her flock fly south on a perilous quest to find their parents.
Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn by Sarah Miller. Gid’s every thought is channeled by one of the girls he dreams about.
The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman. When Brenton invents a  machine that does homework, complications ensue.
Ghost Sitter by Peni Griffin.  Susie is a ghost and doesn't know it,  the victim of a firecracker accident 50 years ago.

More Oscars and other films (4/27/06). Brokeback Mountain (Best Director). Quiet, heartbreaking, star-crossed (cowboy) lovers. 
Memoirs of  Geisha (Cinematography; Costumes).  A nine-year-old village girl is sold to a geisha house.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (special effects nominee). A stirring adaptation of the popular C.S. Lewis fantsy.
A History of Violence (best supporting actor). A local hero who may not be than man people think he is.   Intense.
Beyond the Sea.  Kevin Spacey produced and starred in this heartfelt tribute to singer Bobby Darin.  
Herbie Fully Loaded.  “The simple pleasure of watching a car squirt oil in a villain's face never goes away.” 
Into the West. A widowed father, descended from Gypsies, is transformed by the arrival of  a mysterious white horse.  

Investigations(4/20). Buried clues, secret documents, hidden truth... and mayhem.
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. A quest for the Holy Grail, with two linked female protagonists born 800 years apart. 
The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra.  A papal inquisitor's investigation into Leonardo da Vinci's alleged heresies.
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry. A search for the Great Devise, a Templar archive that demolishes Christian dogma.
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury. A theft of  a coding device that can unlock the Templars' secrets. 
Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline.  A rookie judge is threatened with murder and revelation of personal secrets.
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag.  A stunning meld of thriller and police procedural.  
The Ethical Assassin by David Liis. Drug dealers, missing money, and an innocent hero mixed up with bad guys. 

Food for thought? (4/13).  Thoughts on food and life, recipies included.
Dinner for Eight by Amanda Hesser offers forty great party menus, with an "anti-fear" approach to cooking.   
365: No Repeats by Rachel Ray.  Ray(30-minute meal) offers a recipe a day for a year, "Yummo.
The Big Oyster by Mike Kurlansky.  A free-wheeling history of NYC told from the humble perspective of the oyster.
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Glibert. Travel, soul searching and food.
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichel offers a happy mix of memories, recipes, and personal revelations.

Bad guys! (3/28/06). Villains with a capital V that make for gripping reading.   
The Brothers Bulgur by Howie Carr. Details the stranger-than-fiction rise to power of the Massachusetts kingmakers.  
Shooting Star by Tom Wicker brings to life  Sen. Joe McCarthy, one of America's most notorious demagogues,  
American Brutus by Michael Kaufman examines the twisted mind of John Wilkes Booth, the man who killed Lincoln.
The Next Attack by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon warns that another terrorist attack on the U.S. is inevitable.
No Place to Hide by Robert O’Harrow is an eye-opener for those who take their privacy for granted.
Tulia by Nate Blakeslee. Bogus busts, racially motivated, in West Texas. “a masterpiece of true crime writing (PW).”

Whodunnits  (3/21/2006). Crime and detective fiction! 
Sea Change by Robert B. Parker. The body of an unidentified woman is found in a cove off the village of Paradise, Mass. Blindfold Game by Kate Stabenow. Stabenow turns her talent to her first stand-alone thriller. 
St. Albans Fire by Archer Mayor. Mayor's long-running Joe Gunther series continues.
Sunstroke by Jesse Kellerman. The son of well-known novelists Faye and Jonathan.  Talent breeds true.  
Eye of the Wolf by Margaret Coel. "like digging into your favorite layer cake; thoroughly delicious (PW).”
Straight into Darkness by Faye Kellerman."An ambitious historical mystery.., politics, prejudice, and revenge"
Striking back by Aaron Klein. The Israeli assassination campaign that followed the Muncih Olympic hostage incident.

Oscars! 3/16/06). The top films of 2005 are now showing at the Nichols Library!  
Crash (best fim; screenpaly). A dozen Angelenos on a crash course with destiny.
Walk the Line (best actress). Reese Withersppon shines in her portrayal of June Carter Cash.
Pride and Prejudice (best adapted screenplay).  The familiar Austen story comes to life in this exquisite production.
Good Night and Good Luck (many nominations). George Clooney wrote and directed this film in a remarkable rookie effort. The Constant Gardener. Rachel Ward shines as an enigmatic aid worker who betrays her diplomat hsuband.  
March of the Penguins (winner, best documentary). Penguins instantly qualifies as a wildlife classic

Still Cold? (2/25/06).  The thermoter is diving once again, so here’s another set of fireside favorites to enjoy.
The Good Life  by Jay Mcinerney.  New Yorkers find their way in the aftermath of the Twin Towers attack.  
The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman. "enjoy the ride; its twists and turns mesmerize.” PW
Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle comes to the defence in a blatant miscarriage of justice.
Cell by Stephen King.“King's imagining of what is more or less post-Armageddon Boston is rich.” PW
The Hunt Club by John Lescroasrt.  Wyatt Hunt investigate thes murder of a federal judge and his young girlfriend.  
Memory in Death by J. D. Robb. More fun and sleuting from Nora Roberts. PW
Lovers and Players by Jackie Colliins.  ".. a fast-paced, Collins extravaganza." PW

More Cozies.
Leonardo’s Swans by Karen Essex. “Essex brings to life the Sforza court. Powerful historical fiction (BL).”
The Ruby Ring by Daine Haeger. Haeger recreates the love story between the painter Raphae and his model,
The Cat who Dropped a Bombshell by Lillian Jackson Braun. “Comforting as a cat in your lap on a cold day (PW)."
Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn. "CIA agent Rapp battles Saudis, spys and assassins [in this] fast and furious read (PW).”
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury. Ancinet orders and hidden truths provide more fun for Da Vinci  Code fans.
Marley and Me by John Grogan. “This chronicle of this endearing dog is delivered with great humor (PW)."  

Characters! 2/4/06  Great characters in fiction and in life.
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris. "This is one hypnotic page-turner (BL)."
House of Many Gods by Kiana Davenport.  A"lush, ambitious novel.. [on] the contradictions of Hawaiian culture (PW)."
Leaving Home by Anita Brookner.  The Charcter's "blank external life contrasts with her deep inner one (PW)."
Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught.  "Unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and riveting suspense (Ad)."
The Story of Chicago May by Nuala O'Faolain.  "May emerges lively, unique from the cloth of Irish  reinvention (PW)."

More great characters.  1/28/2006.
Queen of the Underworld by Gail Godwin." A master stylist. Godwin has never had as much fun with a character (PW)."
D. H. Lawrence: Life of an Outsider by John Worthen.  A concise life of the controversial novelist.
Sex Wars by Marge Piercy.  The ballte over birth control in the 1890s, with a true-life cast of characters.
The Beatles by Bob Spitz.  "Spitz captures the ironic sadness behind the Beatles' runaway success (PW)."
Cinderella Man by Ron Howard. This movie is "a wholesome slice of old-fashioned Americana(Az)."

Coming attractions (Books on Order). 1/21/2006.
Life All Around Me by Kaye Gibbons. "A folksy sequel to Ellen Foster (PW)."
The Hostage by W.E.B. Griffin. "Is Griffin our Tacitus? The world needs a real-life Charley Castillo (PW)."
Death Dance by Linda Fairstein. "Alexandra Cooper tackles the case of a murdered dancer with the Royal Ballet (PW)."
Turning Angel by Greg Ilses.  "The murder of a17-year-old girl throws the Natchez, Mississippi, into turmoil (PW). “
On the Run by Iris Johansen.  "..a truly evil villain and complex heroes in the shadow world of foreign intrigue (BL)”.
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding. A single woman impulsively goes on a road trip with a man she has recently met.
Get a Life by Nadine Gordimer. Groundbreaking fiction from Nobel Prize-winning on a changing South Africa.

Soul food (religion in fact and fiction).  1/14/05
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice.  Rice explores the mysteries beneath the childhood of Jesus.
Light from Heaven, by Jan Karon."Themes of grace and forgiveness and hope (PW)" .
Prayer: A History by Phillip and Carol Zaleskis.  How people approach the divine through the ages.
The Rosary  by Gary Wills.  Wills finds this devotion timely and timeless, and not just for Catholics. (PW)."
A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong.  A history if the "the sense of sacredness" in human life (PW). "
Jesus and Yahweh by Harold Bloom.  The God of the Hebrew Bible meets Jesus of the new Testament.
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.  Atwood explores the myth Odysses from his wifes perspective.
Jesus Land by Julia Scheere.  "A crisply written examination of the meaning of family and Christian values" (PW)."

New Year? New books! 1/2/2006.  History as fiction, fables as history.. and football!
Next Man Up by John Feinstein. A "fly-on the wall view" of one year in the NFL.  
The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gergory.  A novel about Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry the VIII.
The Thirteen and a half lives of Captain Bluebear by Rebecca Moer. "Endlessly entertaining (PW."
Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman.  An ordinary guy learns that his father was a human form of an African trickster god.
The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn.  A measured, eloquent retelling of Jewish heroine Esther.