| by: Karen D. Toonen, Adult Services, Naperville Public Library 11/08 | |
 | Title: A Clockwork Orange Author: Burgess, Anthony Summary: Having read this book, and seen the movie, many years ago, I was attracted to the new audiobook version. Tom Hollander's narration was a 2008 Audie Award finalist. Hollander's performance give amazing clarity to a book filled with dystopian language and makes listening thoroughly enjoyable. |
 | Title: Brothers and Sisters Author: Campbell, Bebe Moore Summary: Esther Jackson is an ambitious woman working in a bank full of ambitious people, each with their own dreams and agendas. Set in Los Angles immediately after the Rodney King riots, Campbell realistically portrays racism, sexism, and class-ism in this story of relationships between old friends, new friends, lovers, coworkers, and casual acquaintances. Even those who feel they are society’s victims learn that they are also, sometimes, the victimizers. Guaranteed to create discussion in a book group. |
 | Title: In Cold Blood: A true account of a multiple murder and its consequences Author: Capote, Truman Summary: In 1959, two men, in a boched robbery attempted, murdered a weathly Kansas family of four. Capote compiled six years worth of interviews with the killers (until their executions) and town residents trying to elucidate all sides and facets of the crime. In four parts, the book details the Clutter family's character, activities, and community status in the days before the murder, the planning and scheming of the killers, the thorough investigation of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the capture, trial, and execution of the murderers. Capote makes every character sympathetic. In Cold Blood made a huge impact on culture and literature as the first book to treat a true crime story in a narrative nonfiction manner. |
 | Title: Booked to Die Author: Dunning, John Summary: If you enjoy mysteries, this is an interesting read. The main character is a police officer who becomes a bookseller, solving a mystery as he becomes more involved in the book world. Dunning mentions a lot of titles to fill up your reading list. |
 | Title: The Master Butchers Singing Club Author: Erdrich, Louise Summary: Fidelis Waldvogel, a WWI sniper and master butcher with a magnificent voice, emigrates from Germany to America, settling in the fictional town of Argus, North Dakota. His wife Eva and her young son (fathered by his best friend killed in the war) later join him, and the family grows while his butcher shop thrives. The town’s cast of vividly drawn characters counterpoints their story — Delphine, the daughter of the town drunk, her homosexual husband and acrobat Cyprian, the eccentric rag-picker Step-and-a-Half, etc. Surprising secrets are hidden within these and other townsfolk in this elegantly written, expansive story of America between the Wars. |
 | Title: American Gods Author: Gaiman, Neil Summary: In this intriguing story, European gods of myth and legend, who came to America with their immigrant believers, are getting ready to battle with the new gods: Internet, Credit Card, Beeper, Television, etc. Very imaginative and well told! |
 | Title: Learning From the Heart: Lessons on living, loving, and listening Author: Gottlieb, Daniel Summary: Gottlieb tells the story of a quadruplegic and how he learned to approach life. It makes you think about living your life joyfully no matter what situation your are in. |
 | Title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America Author: Larson, Erik Summary: The stories of two men – one representing the future, hopefulness, and inventiveness of America while the other represents the dark side of human psychology – alternate to provide a richly detailed and suspenseful retelling of a turning point in history focusing around the Columbian Exposition. |
 | Title: Love, Stars, and All That Author: Narayan, Kirin Summary: Gita Das is attending graduate school at Berkeley. Before leaving India, an astrologer told her she would meet the man of her dreams in a certain month of a certain year. The time has arrived, and Gita is seeing prospects everywhere. More than a simple love story, Gita’s life takes twists and turns both in the U. S. and in India. This is a great book to get a bit of the flavor of India, and of Indians learning to survive in America. Narayan is a wonderful writer, and a professor at the University of Madison. Personally, I’m anxiously awaiting Narayan’s next book. |
 | Title: What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage: Lessons for people from animals and their trainers Author: Sutherland, Amy Summary: While researching and observing animal trainers, journalist Amy Sutherland began to experiment with their training techniques on her husband Scott. She rewarded the behaviors she wanted and ignored those she didn’t, with such good results that she began to use the techniques with all of the people in her life. She found herself changing into a more optimistic and less judgmental person. This is a light-hearted and perceptive approach to human relationships. — Positive reinforcement works! |