Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt By Beth Hoffman

Adult New Fiction Hoffman


“Momma left her red satin shoes in the middle of the road. That’s what three eyewitnesses told the police.” And thus begins the tale of 12 year old Cecelia Rose Honeycutt, as told by Beth Hoffman in her charming debut novel Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.

The story begins in 1967 in Willoughby, Ohio, a place that is “absolute hell” according to CeeCee’s mother, a transplanted, mentally ill 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen who has a penchant for parading around town in her pageant gowns. Life is truly hell for CeeCee because her mother’s shocking behavior has made her a lonely outcast. When her mother is run over by a Happy Cow Ice Cream truck, CeeCee’s hapless father sends her to live with her great aunt Tootie in Savannah, Georgia, promising her “One day you’ll thank me for this.”

I don’t want to give this beautiful story away so I’m not going to reveal any more details. Suffice it to say that Southern charm, love, eccentricity, and acceptance are all major elements, and female friendship is warmly celebrated.

Anyone who enjoyed Fried Green Tomatoes or Steel Magnolias will love this book.

The Shadows: Books of Elsewhere Volume 1

The Shadows by Jacqueline West
Youth New Book Shelves -Lower Level – WEST

After Ms. McMartin passed away Olive Dunwoody and her parents moved into the fully furnished Victorian house. Olive is an only child so she passes her summer days away by exploring the old house and all of it's furnishings. Olive notices something weird, none of the pictures can be removed from the walls and what is even more weird some of the pictures seem to move! Since Olive was very keen on exploring she was always finding great trinkets. The best thing she found was a pair of spectacles. She discovered that while wearing the spectacles she can acutally go into the paintings. She then meets a most unusual creature, a talking cat! Horatio, the cat, warns Olive not to lose the glasses or spend too much time in a painting or she could be stuck there. While in the paintings she meets a boy named Morton. Olive promises Morton that she will help him be free. Olive is determined to learn more about the house, the paintings, the talking cats but she is not sure who to trust. Join Olive in her adventures into Elsewhere.

A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
Adult New Books Display Main Level– CAMERON

This is a very touching novel told from the dog’s point of view. First off we meet Toby, who is rescued by a lovely lady who unfortunately does not have a license for her dog rescue operation. Senora, as Toby calls her, treats her dogs well, making sure they have food, water, and regular vet checkups. Since the rescue operation is not licensed poor Toby is euthanized. He is reborn again in a puppy mill. Once he was “adopted” his new owner left him in a hot car. A nice lady rescued him out of the car and took him in. He was named Bailey and was very loved by his family. He went on many great adventures and had a lifetime of happiness. His next incarnation he becomes a female! Ellie is a German shepherd search and rescue dog. After Ellie he becomes a black lab named Buddy. Through each of the dog’s reincarnations he/she has learned valuable lessons that stay with the dog throughout the years. Finally as Buddy do we learn the importance of all that he learned through the years as well as Buddy’s true purpose as a dog. This was a wonderful story, although there were a few sad times but overall this is a great book for all animal lovers. This book will make you want to go home and give your pet a big kiss and a hug!

Woodward Avenue: Cruising the Legendary Strip

Woodward Avenue: Cruising the Legendary Strip
by Robert Genat Adult Nonfiction – New Book Shelves Upper Level 977.434 G


Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when gasoline cost under 50 cents per gallon, Detroit was the center of the automotive universe, and big V-8’s ruled the road. “Woodward Avenue: Cruising the Legendary Strip by Robert Genat is a time trip of a book, vividly returning those of a certain age to their youth, and provoking envy in those of us too young to remember the years when auto careers were made or broken on how cars performed on Woodward late at night. The book focuses largely on the street-racing scene of the fifties and sixties, but also provides plenty of nostalgia for the more serene cruisers. Genat reminisces about the iconic Woodward drive-ins like Teds and the Totem Pole during a virtual cruise along the circuit between Royal Oak and Pontiac where the action took place. He goes into detail about the most legendary street racing machines of the time and their drivers, along with the radio stations and music that provided the soundtrack for a generation of drivers. A look at the Dream Cruise phenomenon that has cropped up over the last decade appropriately concludes the book; they are both celebrations of the glory days in the Motor City.

The Last Song

The Last Song
New Dvd Shelves - Main Level - DRAMA LAS

The Last Song tells the story of teenage Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s (Miley Cyrus) summer with her estranged father (Greg Kinnear) at a small Georgia beach town. Her parents divorced years before and in the process, her father stopped visiting Ronnie and her younger brother Jonah. Ronnie is extremely angry about this abandonment and decides to stop nurturing her talent as a pianist which is a gift that her father helped foster.

At first, Ronnie is very unhappy about being forced to spend the summer with her father and little brother. She feels like an outsider because she has been living in New York City for many years. Moreover, there is a rumor that her father started a fire in the historic town church so he has become an outcast in the town. Thus, Ronnie feels very alone until she meets Will (Liam Hemsworth). Will is a blonde, athletic, and caring young local boy who takes a liking to the ornery Ronnie right from the beginning. Ronnie is not having any of his advances until she realizes that Will cares about the things that matter the most to her. Soon Ronnie is wrapped up in her first romance and all the joy and delight that accompany such experiences. As her heart softens, Ronnie even decides to play the piano for the first time in a long while. She is finally happy and begins to make amends with her father. The summer is turning into a joyful time, until a few tragic secrets come to light.

The Last Song which was directed by Julie Anne Robinson was written before the novel of the same name. Both were written by celebrated author Nicholas Sparks. Since the movie was filmed on location in a beautiful beach town called Tybee Island, Georgia, there is a magical feel to it that only enhances viewers’ enjoyment. Anyone who enjoys love stories with deep messages of forgiveness and hope will love The Last Song.

The Tinderbox

The Tinderbox by Jo Bannister
Adult Mysteries - Main Level – BANNISTER


A fifteen-year-old girl goes missing after her clarinet exam. She was a happy, well-loved, cared for, upper-middle class teenager in Birmingham. It makes no sense to her family, and the police have no leads. Six years later, her brother sees a documentary in school about homeless people in an area of London called "The Tinderbox." He thinks he sees Cassie in the background, and shows it to his parents. Laurence Schoefield, their father, heads for The Tinderbox to find her.

The Tinderbox is an incredibly dangerous place. One must belong to a "family" in order to gain protection and stability. "Jonah the Loner" does not belong to a family, though, and somehow finds himself helping Laurence Schoefield try to find his daughter. Jonah and Schoefield find themselves in treacherous situations, barely escaping with their lives on more than one occasion. They have a mutual distrust of each other, and yet a loyalty they can't explain. Their relationship is one of the most interesting parts of the book.

The action is great. This book has a fast pace with enough grit to make you cringe as you feel the discomfort of its homeless characters. Will Laurence Schoefield find his daughter? Will she come home with him? Will Jonah let Schoefield help him? Will they even get out alive? You'll have to read the book to find out. Trust me - it's worth it! I'd read another book by Jo Bannister!

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – GRISHAM

Theodore “Theo” Boone is a very smart 8th grader. When he grows up he can’t decide if he wants to be a lawyer or a judge. Theo’s parents are both lawyers and they have their own law firm called Boone and Boone. Theo’s Uncle Ike used to be a lawyer, but Theo only sees Uncle Ike on Mondays for 30 minutes and in an unspoken agreement Ike never comes around Theo’s parents. Theo likes to spend all his free time hanging out at the courthouse. He knows everyone there; clerks, bailiffs, lawyers and even judges. The biggest case that Strattenburg has ever had is about to start. Peter Duffy is on trial for the brutal murder of his wife. The case is all anyone can talk about. Theo’s friends always come to him for advice. Theo’s friend Julio asked for help in a big way. Julio has information about the murder case that will convict Peter Duffy of murdering his wife. Theo is now in a bind, the trial has already started but he knows a key piece of the story. He promised Julio that he would keep everything a secret so Julio would not get in trouble. Theo makes a very hard decision and asks his Uncle Ike for help. Theo hopes that Ike will be able to keep Julio's secret as well. Grisham leaves a cliffhanger at the end ensuring a sequel. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer 2 is due out 2011.

Killer of Sheep

Killer of Sheep: The Charles Burnett Collection by Charles Burnett
DVD Collection - Main Level - DRAMA KIL

Killer of Sheep takes place in the Watts district of Los Angeles during the 1970s. Stan is a husband and father working long hours at a slaughterhouse while trying to keep up with the work at home. Although there is not much of a plot, the film is filled with sad and interesting situations that are all centered on the difficult lives of these people. “I come from a working-class environment and I wanted to express what the realities were. People were trying to get jobs, and once they found jobs they were fully concerned with keeping them. And they were confronted with other problems, with serious problems at home for example, which made things much more difficult,” Charles Burnett said about making this film.

Charles Burnett wrote, directed, shot and edited this film for his final thesis at UCLA in 1978. The film did not get a theatrical release until 2007 because of licensing issues with the music. For this reason, Killer of Sheep has been relatively unknown to most of the public. Despite its popular anonymity, it has received the Critic’s award at the 1981 Berlin Film Festival, won the 1991 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay, was selected in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1990, and in 2002 was selected as one of the National Society of Film Critics’ 100 Essential Films of all time.

If you enjoy the Italian neo-realist aesthetic (think Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini) or just appreciate a good film, then give Killer of Sheep a try.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake

I Was Told There’d Be Cake: Essays by Sloane Crosley
Adult Nonfiction – Upper Level – 814.6 C


This book of essays by Sloane Crosley, who is a book publicist, is a great read. She writes about her life and the awkward situations she manages to get herself into in New York City after college. For example, one of the longer essays is about how her childhood best friend, who she has not seen or spoken to since high school, suddenly asks Crosley to be her maid of honor. Or there is the fact that Crosley has a collection of plastic toy ponies that she embarrassingly keeps hidden in a kitchen drawer, worrying about what her family will think of her if she dies and they find them. Some of Crosley’s essays are about her childhood memories, such as playing Oregon Trail, attending summer camp, and hiding family members’ toothbrushes when she was angry. Overall, Crosley’s essays are very funny and fans of David Sedaris and similar authors will enjoy her book.

Alone

Alone by Lisa Gardner
Adult Fiction Shelves Main Level- GARDNER

When Catherine Gagnon was twelve years old she was kidnapped, tortured and held in an underground pit for 28 days until hunters found her purely by accident. Now 25 years later she faces new hardships and tragedy. Her husband Jimmy, beloved son of a Federal Judge, was shot and killed by a sniper. Police were called to the Gagnon residence because Jimmy was holding his wife and son at gunpoint. Bobby Dodge is the sniper that pulled the trigger. Little did he know that action would change the course of his career and ultimately his life. Bobby was convinced that he followed protocol and did everything by the book when it came to the shooting of Jimmy Gagnon. Now his life is falling apart, the judge is personally going after Bobby for murdering his son saying that Bobby and Catherine were in on the murder together. Meanwhile the man who was convicted of kidnapping Catherine is out on parole and starts stalking Catherine. Was the shooting of Jimmy Gagnon justified? Who is behind all the strange occurrences? If you enjoy this book check out the others in the D.D. Warren series.

Hide by Lisa Gardner
Adult Mysteries Main Level- GARDNER

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
Adult Fiction Shelves Main Level- GARDNER

Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner
Adult New Book Display Main Level- MYSTERY GARDNER

Sky Masters

Sky Masters by Dale Brown
Adult Fiction – Main Level – BROWN

Brown is a popular and fairly prolific author in the action-adventure category. As a former U.S. Air Force Captain, he brings his inside knowledge of the action and technology of the Air Force into his books. In this book, a conflict over a small island between China and the Philippines brings the U.S. Air Force into play with new, secret and super-powerful planes and miniature, nearly invisible satellites. The technology is described in detail, and the action moves rapidly from one locale to another with cinematic precision. Those who love tales of military action with a focus on the plot and the machines will blast through this and come back for more.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Read by Janet Song
Youth CD Books – Lower Level - LIN

Once upon a time in China, there was a village on Fruitless Mountain where everything was brown with dust and nothing grew. In that village, the only thing with color is Minli, a girl whose hair is glossy black and whose cheeks are pink. Although she works just as hard in the rice fields as anyone else, her joy is listening to the tales of magic that her Da tells her every evening, even though her mother is convinced that they are a waste of time. One day, a goldfish seller comes into town. This sets off a chain of events that leads to Minli going on a journey to find the Old Man of the Moon, who has the Book of Fortune, so that Minli can ask him how to bring life to Fruitless Mountain. On the way, she meets a dragon who wants to ask the Old Man of the Moon why he can’t fly. The main narrative is woven through with other stories, those that Da tells or that Minli hears along the way. At first, they seem to be just another poetic detail in an already lyrical story, but as Minli’s journey goes on, she meets more and more characters from the stories, all of them interconnected in ways that the original stories didn’t hint at. This was a Newbury Honor book, and I’m not sure how I missed it when it first came out last year. Janet Song’s resonant voice conveys the story beautifully. I listened to it in the car with my son and had to force myself switch to my own book after dropping him off. Though he might enjoy this more when he's a bit older than five, I'd recommend this now to fans of Donna Jo Napoli.

Blind Submission

Blind Submission by Debra Ginsberg
Adult Fiction - Main Level – GINSBERG

Angel Robinson is a voracious reader. Her new job at the Lucy Fiamma Literary Agency allows her to read many of the submissions coming in. As it turns out, Angel has a knack for editing and picking the next big bestseller, too. One particular manuscript catches Angel's attention: Blind Submission. It is set in a literary agency, which peaks her interest immediately. The author wishes to remain anonymous, so Angel plays along. She edits each chapter submitted, then emails it back to Anonymous. The story starts to become more and more familiar, more coincidental; more like Angel's own life. She can't figure out if Anonymous is her boyfriend, who is angry that Angel won't use her new position to help him get published, or a new author they signed who seems a bit infatuated with her.

This is a light, easy read that is fun to watch unfold. Who is writing Blind Submission? What will happen when the murder chapter, promised by the author, is submitted? Of course, Lucy Fiamma herself is a difficult person to work for, in a "Devil Wears Prada" sort of way. This is a great weekend or vacation read!

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
Youth Cd Books - Lower Level - GANTOS

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos is the first book in a series of four books about delightfully hyper Joey Pigza. The other books are:
Joey Pigza Loses Control, What Would Joey Do?, and I Am Not Joey Pigza.

Joey's parents are divorced, and when he was quite young his mother left him with his ornery grandmother to look for Joey's alcoholic father, Carter Pigza. Thus, for a few years of his life, Joey is raised by his grandma (his father's mother). Joey's grandma is mean and grouchy and is unable to help Joey with his own problematic behavior which is a result of his ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

As a result, when Joey's mom returns one day, Joey is kind of a mess. He is on "dud meds" and has caused many problems at school. Poor Joey means well, but he gets so curious and energized that he often makes poor decisions. Eventually, there is an accident at school, and Joey is sent to a special education center.

While at the center, Joey is given thorough attention and learns some positive tools to use in order to be successful in life. Most importantly, with the help of new medication, Joey learns he isn't "bad" or "crazy." He's just a bit different.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is interesting and well told. It is a great book to read for all those curious about what it is like to have ADHD. Also, the audio version which is read by Jack Gantos is extremely entertaining. Mr. Gantos really knows Joey and brings the story to complete life. I love this series and would highly recommend it to anyone!

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine

The Big Short By Michael Lewis

New Adult Nonfiction 330.973 L


Michael Lewis, author of The Blind Side, Moneyball, and Liar’s Poker revisits the topic that began his writing career, Wall Street. In The Big Short Lewis explores the collapse of the U.S. financial system in 2008 from the viewpoint of those who saw it coming and profited from it. Lewis does an excellent job at detailing the technical aspect of the financial systems woes that revolved around the creation of exotic financial instruments that consisted of bonds created from home mortgages. Those who saw this collapse coming for years included a lawyer turned financial analyst, an Asperger’s stricken neurologist turned money manager with one glass eye, and an obnoxious Deutsche Bank bond trader. Their various interactions with large U.S. and European banks make for great reading as both sides think they are getting over on the other. In the end, the biggest losers turn out to be the bondholders, stockholders, homeowners, and taxpayers stuck with the bill from these outrageous gambles. This is an excellent addition to the growing literature on our country’s financial system collapse.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2
Youth Video Games-Lower Level – VG SUP

Princess Peach is kidnapped and it is up to Mario to rescue her in Super Mario Galaxy 2. The space based fun continues from Super Mario Galaxy (2007). There are all new galaxies and a new feature of special power up abilities when teamed up with Yoshi. There is Cloud Mario, where Mario can create clouds to jump on. There is Rock Mario, where Mario can turn into a boulder and roll around to break objects. Drill Mario lets you drill through objects. As an added bonus there is Yoshi who can gobble up enemies. There are some stages of the game where you can play as Luigi as well. The goal of the game is to collect stars from planet to planet. To unlock harder levels with more challenges you will need to collect Comet Metals. Super Mario Galaxy 2 improved on all the greatness and fun that Super Mario Galaxy offered.

Roast Figs Sugar Snow

Roast Figs Sugar Snow: Winter Food to Warm the Soul by Mitchell Beazley
Cooking Collection - Upper Level – 641.5 H


My husband likes figs. That's an understatement. He loves figs, and has asked repeatedly to plant a fig tree in our yard. I like figs as much as the next person, but other than eating dried figs out of the bag, I'm not sure what to do with them. When I saw this cookbook, I had to investigate.

What a treat! This book is filled with some of the most beautiful, delicious-looking food photography I've ever seen! One can enjoy just poring over the pictures in this book, whether you like figs or not. Not every recipe has a photo, but those scattered throughout the book are gorgeous.

Some of the recipes...ok, if I'm being honest, many of the recipes are not things I would cook at home. I'm a pretty adventurous eater, and would not hesitate to order most of them in a restaurant, but "Salad of Smoked Duck with Farro, Red Chicory, and Pomegranates" and "Smoked Eel with Poppy Seed Cakes and Apple and Beet Relish" are just not going to come out of my kitchen. "Roast Figs, Shallots, and Chestnuts with Gorgonzola Polenta" just might. "Roast Figs and Plums in Vodka with Cardamom Cream" might, too.

This is more than just a cookbook. It includes descriptions and short essays that are really interesting and describe various ingredients and techniques, as well as food culture and history. I found this a fascinating book to browse through and soak up little tidbits here and there througout. You don't have to be a foodie to get into this one, but what a treat for those interested in food and interesting ingredients!

The Nobodies Album

 The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst

Adult New Fiction Parkhurst

Octavia Frost is a novelist whose life is once again thrown upside down when her rock star son, Milo, is accused of murdering his girlfriend. Did he do it? Did he not do it? Even Milo himself is not sure. Octavia is still recovering from the pain of having lost both her husband and young daughter in a tragic accident when Milo was just 9 years old. Mother and son have become estranged ever since Milo read the line “They were exactly the wrong two to die” in one of Octavia’s novels. Octavia thought she was only writing fiction but now she’s not sure.
In what seems to be an attempt to rewrite her own history, Octavia has decided that she needs to rewrite the endings to all her previous books. Her publisher is willing to support this experiment and publish a book consisting solely of new endings. Octavia submits her new book and heads to see her son. She wants to rewrite real life, as well. Confused and in pain, Milo eventually accepts Octavia’s gentle attempts to reconcile and find out what really happened the night of his girlfriend Bettina’s murder.
Parkhurst intersperses Octavia’s new endings as chapters throughout The Nobodies Album. Sounds confusing, right? This is where Parkhurst really proves her skill as a writer. Rather than come across as confusing, they add to the story’s emotional complexity.
This is a book that works on many levels, and which convincingly explores the concepts of guilt and innocence… and forgiveness. Oh, and it’s a pretty decent little mystery, too.

Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future by Robert Bryce

Power Hungry: the Myths of “Green” Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future
by Robert Bryce Adult Nonfiction – New Book Shelves Upper Level 333.79 B



“Power Hungry” explains and runs the numbers on various types of “Green” energy generation, and the math doesn’t turn out the way supporters would prefer. Anyone interested in the energy debate in this country should read this book; it will open their eyes even if they disagree with the conclusions Bryce reaches. Simply put, he does not feel that solar and wind power are sufficient in their current forms to even begin taking over supplying the world’s power needs and will not be anytime soon. In his opinion the logical choice is Natural Gas in the short term and increased Nuclear power in the long term. He explains the terminology and science understandably without condescending to the reader, and even manages to make it interesting. Bryce notes the inconvenient realities that most authors overlook, such as the need for building natural gas generators alongside windmills to supply power when the wind doesn’t blow. Unfortunately, flipping them on and off reduces their efficiency to the point that leaving them on all the time would use no more fuel and supply enough additional power to make the windmills unnecessary. Heresies like these win Bryce few friends among environmentalists, but it does make for educational reading. For those desiring further reading or disputing what he says, Bryce includes seventy pages of fully cited notes and documentation, with web addresses for the source articles and a full bibliography.

Fallen

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Teen Zone New Fiction-Main Level – KATE

Luce has been seeing dark shadows her entire life. She does not talk about them because she knows that no one else can see them. Luce is spending her senior year of high school at a Sword and Cross Reform School. She is not happy about being there but after the tragedy that took place the year before she has no choice. Luce’s boyfriend died in a mysterious fire and the only thing that Luce really remembers is the dark shadows that surrounded them before the fire. Luce’s new school is interesting, the dress code is all black and there are strict rules to follow. Luce’s new classmates are intriguing as well. She is not sure who to trust and who is her friend. Luce first sees Daniel and feels an instant pull toward him. At first Daniel wants nothing to do with her. The sweet and sensitive Cam is also quite smitten with Luce and will do anything and everything for her. Luce will do anything in her power to get to know Daniel, even if it kills her and eventually they develop a strong bond. Now that Luce is at Sword and Cross the strange dark shadows are appearing more frequently. The triangle between Cam, Daniel and Luce has astonishing twists and turns. Some questions are answered but a lot more are left unanswered leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. Torment (due out September 2010) is the next book is this new paranormal teen fiction series.

Torment by Lauren Kate