| by: Karen D. Toonen, MSLIS, Adult Services, Naperville Public Library | |
 | Title: The Star Machine Author: Basinger, Jeanine Summary: An interesting look into movie studies during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. By focusing on various stars' careers, Basinger notes how the star machine worked, its successes, and its failures. She includes great discussions of the human aspects. She concludes with an insightful analysis of what became of the star machine and why it is no longer in practice today. |
 | Title: Memoirs of a Geisha Author: Golden, Arthur Summary: Chiyo is a 9 year old girl when her mother dies and she is sold to a geisha house as a way to insure her future security. The novel chronicles her development into one of Gion’s most financially successful and popular geishas. After facing many different obstacles and in spite of limited culturally acceptable options, she eventually finds a path to realize her dreams. Overall, a traditional Cinderella fairytale set in an exotic location and different cultural view. Chiyo’s story will anger, amaze, and surprise you. |
 | Title: Thunderstruck Author: Larson, Erik Summary: The stories of a technological advance and a domestic murder intersect in this work by the author of Devil in the White City. Guglielmo Marconi races to invent and perfect the wireless, or radio, as murderer Hawley Crippen flees England for coastal New England. Larson's narrative style provides historically accurate details about Marconi's life, scientific discovery and invention in the Edwardian era, and the events which caused a mild manner gentleman to kill his wife. Without Marconi's modern marvel, the police would not have caught Crippen. But without Marconi's wireless, the crime would also not have been sensationalized on both sides of the Atlantic. As Larson illustrates, Marconi indirectly forced the police and press to become bedfellows in the world of true crime. |
 | Title: The King of Elfland's Daughter Author: Lord Dunsany Summary: The Parliament of Erl wants to be ruled by a magic lord because they want Erl to have a place in history. The King believes they have asked for a foolish and dangerous thing, but he will bow to their will. The King sends his son to find Elfland and there to find a wife. When the son falls in love with the King of Elfland's Daughter, Parliament has their wish. Further, where love reigns, everyone is happy. But it is always wise to be careful what you wish for, because you might get it. Lord Dunsany's writing style as beautifully lyrical as a Shakespeare sonnet. The plot and storyline may not seem as fresh as they did in 1924, but that is only because Dunsany wrote such a marvelous tale that it has reused by many others. The story of these star-crossed lovers may not be told of but only in song. |
 | Title: A Far Country Author: Mason, Daniel Summary: Set in an unnamed Latin American country, this novel recounts the search by a fourteen-year-old girl for her older brother, who has moved from the rural family home near a sugarcane plantation to the city hoping for a better life. A long drought, land grabbing by government officials, and incipient civil war force Isabel’s parents to send her to the city to live with her aunt and her brother. Isabel finds the city is far from the paradise she imagined; the poor live in crowded shantytowns with polluted air and water, and are constantly threatened with violence. Worst of all, her brother has gone missing. The poetic language and the characters’ bravery in the face of suffering give the story the power of a modern fable. |
 | Title: Red Land, Black Land: Daily life in ancient Egypt Author: Mertz , Barbara Summary: Barbara Mertz (better known these days as Barbara Michaels or Elizabeth Peters) received her PHD from University of Chicago's Oriental Institute and became an acknowledged expert on daily life and role of women in ancient Egypt. This book, originally published as a text book in 1966, has been revised for the new 2008 edition. Updated information and diagrams are included but Barbara Mertz's style and wit never change. She places the reader in Egypt, interpreting archaeological finds to bring the place and time alive. No wonder it has been a must read for those interested in ancient Egypt for over 40 years. |
 | Title: The Queen's Man Author: Penman, Sharon Kay Summary: In this book set between December 1192 and March 1193, the main question on everyone’s mind is: Where is Richard the Lionheart? Justin de Quincy fulfills a dying man’s request to deliver a letter to Queen Eleanor and soon finds himself caught in royal politics between Eleanor and Richard’s younger brother John. Justin becomes the Queen’s man and is sent to investigate the death of the original messenger. This is great historical fiction, and the first in the de Quincy mystery series. |
 | Title: The Priest Author: Rivers, Francine Summary: While everyone knows the story of the Moses and the Exodus from the Bible, this book gives a glimpse of Moses' older brother Aaron and tells Aaron's side. Rivers writes with compassion and understanding for Aaron's mistakes and shows his heart for God. I would read it again to gain more insight. Although the book is fiction, it is written believably. |
 | Title: Tribute Author: Roberts, Nora Summary: Great characters, a good story, and a lovable pooch all combine to make this one a hit. An ex-child-star tries to come to terms with her dysfunctional family by restoring the Appalachian mountain get-away of her famous (and infamous) Hollywood star grandmother. In the process she discovers that her grandmother's supposed suicide may have been murder instead. Her new neighbor becomes her friend, lover, and savior when a series of stalker-like events threaten her home and her life. Enjoy! |
 | Title: Manhunt: The twelve day chase for Lincoln's killer Author: Swanson, James L. Summary: Swanson provides a detailed yet riveting account of how John Wilkes Booth plotted and carried out Lincoln's murder, then eluded capture for twelve days. The action follows changes in the conspirator's plans through to Booth's exciting escape through the streets of Washington D. C. across the swamps of Maryland and into the forests of Virginia. Although the ending is well-know, this retelling is surprisingly suspenseful and less well-known details of the crime and conspiracy provide fascinating plot twists. The abundant and vivid details draw readers into the action, and grip them as tightly as any scripted crime drama on television or at the movies! |