And the Mountains Echoed VS The Husband's Secret: Dubuque Tournament of Books, round 3

We've reached the semi-finals of the Dubuque Tournament of Books, and there's still time for you to enter the prize drawing by submitting your guess for which book will win the Tournament.

Today's match-up is between And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini and The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, and our judges are:

• Fran (River Lights Bookstore)
• Marie (River Lights Bookstore)
• Bethany (Finding Pins and Needles)
• and Charleen (Cheap Thrills)

Click here to see the round 2 decision for And the Mountains Echoed.
Click here to see the round 2 decision for The Husband's Secret.

If you ask a hundred different people what they thought of a book, you'll get a hundred different responses. We may all be reading the same words, but we bring to those words a piece of ourselves and come away with a reaction that is entirely unique.

As you might imagine, when you ask four judges to compare two books, trying to take all of our opinions and arrive at a single decision is a challenge.

So first, here are some of our reactions:

And the Mountains Echoed

“I want to be entertained by a story (so sue me), and I didn't like being yanked around, having to restart without a compass.”

“I find the novel itself to be intricate and beautiful. It grabbed my attention at the outset and still stands as one of my favorite recent reads.”

“I thought I was the only one feeling like I was leaping from decade to decade and spending time trying to figure out the characters.”

“Hosseini made me forget I was reading a book. Those are the books I want to read.”

The Husband’s Secret

“I liked The Husband's Secret although it made me nervous at times.”

“Despite my misgivings, I couldn’t stop turning the pages.”

“This may be the more accessible novel, but I feel it is ultimately forgettable.”

“It built a puzzle with multiple characters converging and successfully pulled together with the crescendo that I enjoy.”


These excerpts from our conversations should give you an idea of just how varied our opinions were. In the end, we had one strong vote for The Husband’s Secret, two strong votes for And the Mountains Echoed, and one judge who “could go either way.”

The two novels are very different, but as Marie points out, they both deal with the decisions we make when faced with tough situations, and how, even when reacting with love, our missteps have consequences. Thinking about that it's rather fitting that these two came up against each other in the tournament.

Either book will take you on a compelling journey. Which one you think is better will come down to personal preference. But our choice to advance to the final round is And the Mountains Echoed.

Sycamore Row VS The Husband's Secret: Dubuque Tournament of Books, round two

This week we'll be posting the judges' decisions for the second round of the 2nd Annual Dubuque Tournament of Books. To see an overview of the judges and contestants, check out this blog post. To see why Bethany selected The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty in the first round, click here. To see why Charleen selected Sycamore Row by John Grisham in the first round, click here.

Judge: Bethany

Finding Pins and Needles 

This one is rough for me to review because it's outside my normal genre preferences. I've read John Grisham before and can appreciate his storytelling abilities and his expertise of the legal system, but UHG, this one was drawn out for me. A bit forgettable too. I generally prefer my thrillers to come together like puzzles, with pieces finding their way together from all over the board; but this one felt very linear to me. I'd say the last 15 pages of the 447 pages were page turners. And the fact that I know the number of pages without looking it up, indicated that I referenced page 447 too many times while reading. A countdown... 200 pages to go, 100 pages, 75 pages to go... I wouldn’t say the book is boring, it just builds very slowly, with a lot of details. The mystery element was enough to keep me reading, and the end culminates in a very satisfying way.

On the pro side, it was a smart story with likable characters. I have to say I learned a lot about racism in the south, and racism in the 1980’s. It has impacted my world view and I’m grateful for that. If you're into legal thrillers, it was good. It just didn’t thrill me much.

My round 2 choice is The Husband’s Secret. To compare these two books with the same standard doesn’t quite seem fair. For me, The Husband’s Secret, was a simple, easy, and page turning-read. I identified strongly with the characters and the storyline felt relevant to me. Sycamore Row is a different world, set apart from me and I couldn’t relate on most levels. Sycamore Row is also bogged down with a mountain of details and information, which slows the pace down substantially. The pace alone was enough for me to prefer The Husband’s Secret. I require an enticing story to keep my interest, a book I don’t want to put down. I found that in The Husband’s Secret, and found the opposite in Sycamore Row. Don’t get me wrong, Sycamore Row is a smart novel, but just didn’t make my list of most enjoyable.

Judge: Charleen 
Cheap Thrills book blog  
I find it oddly fitting that Bethany describes the world of Sycamore Row as one she can't relate to, because I had mixed feelings while reading The Husband's Secret, and for similar reasons.

All three of the main characters are flawed in their own way, which is of course what makes them so real. Still, even though I sympathized with all of them at one point or another, I also felt at a distance from them, questioning rather than relating. Even in the midst of their new, life-altering circumstances, each of these women remains defined by her motherhood... but I'm not a mother. Could I identify more with their actions and their motivations if I were? I don't know.

That being said, I did find the story compelling, and it comes together very well in the end. I can't help but be impressed by the book as a whole, even if it wasn't my favorite.

Personally, my preference is still for Sycamore Row. The Husband's Secret, though enhanced by extraordinary circumstances, was a bit domestic for my tastes. However, Bethany brings up a good point: "I require an enticing story to keep my interest, a book I don't want to put down." I think most readers would agree with this, and while I quite enjoyed it, I can't argue against the fact that Sycamore Row was an easy book to put down (at least to a point). So, setting personal taste aside, I'll concede to The Husband's Secret.

Suspect VS Sycamore Row: Dubuque Tournament of Books, Round One

This week we'll be posting the judges' decisions for the first round of the 2nd Annual Dubuque Tournament of Books. To see an overview of the judges and contestants, check out this blog post.

Judge: Charleen

Cheap Thrills book blog 

 

My reaction upon finishing the second of my two books was, "Why did you agree to do this?" Both books were so good! How could I possibly choose a winner?

Suspect features an unconventional character duo that it's hard not to root for. I especially loved Maggie, the veteran military dog who feels like she's lost her pack. The mystery is a good one, but the growing bond between Maggie and Scott nearly overshadowed the rest of the story.

While Suspect was an enjoyable read, Sycamore Row is the one I keep thinking about. Grisham paints a complex picture of how one man's final act captivates a Southern town. I loved slowly losing myself in this community, and once the trial started, I had to finish the rest of the book in one sitting.

This was a hard decision as I thoroughly enjoyed both of them, but it's Sycamore Row that wins Round One for me.

Charleen @ Cheap Thrills

Staff Review: Death Without Cause

Wahlert High School and University of Iowa graduate Pamela Klauer Triolo now lives in Texas.  When she emailed the Library last summer to ask if we’d like to accept a copy of her first novel, I was pleased to find Death Without Cause was already on our shelves.  Now that I’ve read her book, I’m equally glad to report that I want to read The Imposter, the next title in her planned series of health care mysteries featuring nurse Santos Rosa, but it doesn’t have a release date yet.

Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen are authors of medical thrillers I’ve read in the past.  Pamela Triolo compares favorably; a bit less graphic and a touch more cozy.  All three authors use their medical backgrounds to give an insiders’ view of health care settings, professional ethics and politics. 

The first chapter of Death Without Cause begins with Santos and fellow nurse Patrick Sullivan facing a tense code blue emergency when a local public figure scheduled for a routine knee replacement begins hemorrhaging.  The following chapters alternate from Santos’ point-of-view to the thoughts of an unnamed hospital employee who is plotting a deadly game for patients.  I like that many of the chapters are relatively short; some are less than a page long.

Triolo’s cast of characters and well-plotted storyline kept me absorbed.  The good guys weren’t perfect, and the bad guy wasn’t inexplicably evil.  His motivation, if not his identity, was revealed as the story progressed.  There was a balance in not only the characters, but the action as well.  Details of Santos’ family life and friendships counter the riveting medical action.  Triolo’s time spent working in hospital is evident in her knowledgeable account of how staff respond to unexpected and unexplained problems for patients.  If I ever end up in a critical care situation, I’d want a team like Santos’ co-workers from the Texas Medical Center in my corner. 

The descriptions of Houston reinforce my desire to visit Texas someday; I’d like to attend the Nutcracker Market.  Maybe Pamela Triolo will be there autographing copies of her next book.

 - Michelle, Adult Services

Reading Resolution, 2013

In 2012 I made a reading resolution for New Year's: listen to at least one audiobook each month. It turned out to be so much fun that I decided to set a new reading resolution for 2013: read at least one mystery novel each month.

As much as I enjoyed adding audiobooks to my reading routine, it seems that mysteries just aren't my genre. While I greatly enjoy books that incorporate elements of mystery and suspense, if the main focus of a story is whodunit I'm done with it the minute that I solve the puzzle. The result is that I checked out a number of mysteries this year, but only read a few cover to cover. Below I've listed the ones that I enjoyed the most.

Suspect by Robert Crais
I started my year off with the newest title by Robert Crais, Suspect. Crais is known for his series of hardboiled mysteries featuring Elvis Cole, an LA private eye. I wasn't looking to jump into a series though, so I was happy to see that Suspect is a stand alone title. It's a suspenseful and fast-paced tale of a LAPD cop, Scott James, who is hunting for the men who killed his partner.  James is aided in his investigation by his new partner, Maggie, a German Shepard. Maggie carries her own wounds from her deployment in Afghanistan. I liked this book so much that I've already blogged about it once, and I went and bought a copy for my mom to read.

Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbøl & Agnete Friis
Invisible Murder is actually the second book in a series, I recommended the first, The Boy in the Suitcase, in an earlier blog post. While you could certainly jump into this series with the second book, if you skip the first, though, you'll miss a lot of the character development. This fast-paced, gritty series is the product of Danish coauthors Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis. Nina isn't a detective, she's a dedicated nurse, who finds herself unable to balance the pressures of her job working with refugees for the Red Cross with her life as a wife and mother.


The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes
Marian Keyes is known for writing humorous chick-lit, not mysteries, but! with a title like The Mystery of Mercy Close and a main character who is a private investigator, I'm going to go ahead and count this as a mystery. Because this is the fifth novel in her series following the Walsh sisters, that means I have four other books to read and enjoy. Helen Walsh is struggling with a bout of suicidal depression, a new relationship, and a missing person case involving a former boy band (that her ex is managing). I listened to the audiobook, and Irish narrator Caroline Lennon provided a clear and lively delivery.


The Last Policeman by Ben Winters
At first glance, the premise of a setting where there are only six months until the end of the world might seem unbearably depressing, and that isn't wrong. The Last Policeman, first of a trilogy, is not a cheerful book, but there is something hopeful in the story. Hank Palace was promoted to detective shortly after the announcement that the asteroid Maia is on an unavoidable collision course with Earth. Hank has dreamed of being a detective since he was a kid, but trying to solve his first murder in the chaos of looming disaster is nothing like he expected. The plot is fast-paced and twisted, but it's the characters that make the story shine. Even the characters who don't rate names are vividly alive, and it's terrible to think how they'll all be dead so very soon.


Trying to read 12 mysteries in 2013 left me feeling pressured (self-imposed goal or no), but I never would've discovered these books without reading books outside my comfort zone. I want to keep pushing my reading interests, so for 2014, I plan to explore the world of superhero comics. It's hard to tell where to start with a genre that's been building backstory for decades, but luckily I have coworkers to help guide me on my journey.

Spotlight: Spycraft

When I say "spy" what do you think of? James Bond? The NSA? Chuck? There's no shortage of spy stories from the comic to the thrilling, from pure fantasy to real life. This means that there's likely to be an espionage book, movie, or tv show to suit your every mood and taste.

Today we've gathered together mix of movies, television shows, and books to suit most any fan of the spy genre. Did we miss your favorite secret agent? Be sure to leave a comment (anonymous commenting is enabled, to protect your cover)!

Television
The second season of Homeland will be out on DVD at the end of August. This tense and suspenseful series is set in a fictionalized (and rather dramatic) world that is recognizably based on reality. The main character, Carrie, may be based, loosely, on an actual CIA operative or operatives.


The BBC series MI-5 (originally aired as Spooks) explores the hidden world of the spies in MI-5, the British equivalent to our FBI, meaning they deal with domestic intelligence. This is a serious take on the spy world, and isn't for viewers who don't care for violence.

Chuck is a far more comic look at the spy world. Starring Zachary Levi as an average nerd who has a wealth of super spy information downloaded into his head, turning him into a super weapon. Hijinks and romantic tension abound.

Covert Affairs features Piper Perabo as a new CIA recruit, gifted with languages, who rises quickly through the ranks. There's romance and action, without being overly violent. 

Archer is a comic animated series for adults that takes popular spy tropes, pop culture jokes, and an anachronistic setting. 

Movies

The story of the CIA's hunt for Osama Bin Ladin, Zero Dark Thirty is certainly not a documentary, but it's very much based on real events, requiring viewers to have familiarity with current events of the past 15 years to appreciate.

Tom Cruise is no stranger to the spy genre. You can watch him as super spy Ethan Hunt in the action-packed Mission Impossible film series. Or for more of a romantic-comedy twist, check out Knight and Day where he plays a super spy on the run, who sweeps Cameron Diaz's character along for the ride.

The star-studded R.E.D., based loosely on a comic book series, is an action-packed comedy romp starring Bruce Willis as a retired spy drawn back into the game to save the civil servant he has a crush on. A sequel came out in July, but the DVDs won't be out until at least November.

Matt Damon stars as amnesiac super spy Jason Bourne in the series of movies based off of Robert Ludlum's novels. Although the most recent film, The Bourne Legacy, stars Jeremy Renner. 

Books
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
How can we not include Ian Fleming's James Bond? The resourceful British spy, and the inspiration many modern spy stories, both literary and big screen. Fast-paced, action-packed, with exotic locations, and les femmes fatales, Fleming's gritty novels will grab your attention. The first book in the series, Casino Royale, was the source for two film adaptions, including Daniel Craig's first turn as Bond.

Queen and Country by Greg Rucka
Rucka has written for some of the big names in comics (like Batman and Wonder Woman), but his creativity isn't limited to superheroes. His suspenseful Queen and Country series features Tara Chance, Lead Agent for Special Operations of the British Secret Intelligence Service. This tense, gritty series will appeal to fans of Daniel Craig's Bond, and titles are available both as traditional novels and graphic novels with a variety of illustrators.

Once a Spy by Keith Thomson
Charlie's father, Drummond, lived an average life before his diagnosis with Alzheimer's. An assumption that is blown to pieces, along with his house, one night by assassins. This father/son spy-thriller is a lighter in tone look at the world of spy craft, while still maintaining an action-packed plot.

Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre
Conman Eddie Chapman trained as a spy for the Germans, but when given a mission to destroy a British airplane factory, he became a double agent for MI5 instead. A fast-paced and suspenseful true story of WWII espionage.

Charles Cumming

Mr. Cumming writes delightfully twisted novels of modern espionage. His books are full of cunning twists, international locations, and gritty politics. You can read his novels in any order, and expect to find a careful attention to character and the political landscape of spycraft.

Alan Furst's The Night Soldiers series
Alan Furst’s suspenseful and carefully researched loosely connected series of novels about espionage in the Europe of the 1930s and 40s. From the ghettos of Warsaw to the streets of Paris, these books give a glimpse into the dark shadow world of WWII spies.

Read Alike Dan Brown

Love him or hate him, there's no question that Dan Brown has a gift for writing a real page turner. His most recent book, Inferno, is the fourth to feature the popular symbologist and conspiracy magnet, Robert Langdon. Brown's writing is fast-paced and plot-driven, with interesting puzzles and elements drawn from a variety of disciplines, from art to science.

Two of the Robert Langdon novels, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, have been adapted as movies with Tom Hanks in the starring role. While neither film received rave reviews from the critics, both did quite well at the box office, so it's likely that Hollywood is at the very least considering movies for The Lost Symbol and Inferno.

You can read more about Dan Brown on his website: www.danbrown.com

If you're waiting to borrow a copy of Inferno from the library, or if you've already finished it, we've gathered together a few reading suggestions for you to check out:

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell
Mr. Caldwell has written one novel so far, inspired, in part, by the success of The Da Vinci Code and his experiences at Princeton. His Rule of Four, is fast-paced and suspenseful, but somewhat more scholarly with rich historical and academic detail. Set in Princeton, the action follows a group of seniors who get caught up in the puzzle of a mysterious 15th century text, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, and then one student is murdered.

The Confessor by Daniel Silva 
Bestselling author Daniel Silva is known for his fast-paced thrillers. His protagonist usually has a background in espionage, and his books tend to be violent. His series featuring Mossad agent and art restorer Gabriel Allon is packed with suspense and corruption. The series starts with The Kill Artist, which is available as an eBook in our OverDrive collection. If you're not a fan of eReading, try The Confessor, Allon partners with Pietro, a priest, to uncover secrets of a Catholic society and an assassination.

The Charlemagne Pursuit  by Steve Berry
Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series has a suspenseful mix of historical research and action, as the former Federal agent tackles globe-spanning conspiracies. The series starts with The Templar Legacy, which is available through OverDrive as an eBook. The Charlemagne Pursuit is another good starting point for this series. Cotton Malone is on the trail for answers to his father's mysterious death in a submarine, and the key might be in a manuscript found in Charlegmagne's tomb.

Ark of Fire by C.M. Palov
C.M. Palov's first novel, Ark of Fire, is a fast-paced puzzler that will keep the reader guessing along with the characters. Photographer Edie Miller finds herself drawn into a larger mystery after witnessing the theft of an ancient Hebrew relic. She's joined in her suspenseful, globe-spanning pursuit by historian Caedmon Aisquith, but can they find the truth before the villains catch them?

Other authors to check out include: Matthew Reilly, Raymond Khoury, and Scott Mariani.

You might also enjoy checking out Cheap Thrills, a book blog devoted to the thriller genre by a local blogger: cheapthrillsbookblog.wordpress.com


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Check these books out from the comfort of your own home

This week we're spotlighting a few titles available as eBooks through Carnegie-Stout's OverDrive collection. Some of these titles are only available as eBooks, and if you'd like some help downloading one give us a call (563-589-4225) or stop in! We offer drop in tech help on Wednesday nights starting at 6:30 p.m. In order to checkout an eBook from Carnegie-Stout, you need to live within Dubuque city limits, but most other Dubuque County libraries provide access to eBooks for residents of their communities.

We've pulled together a selection of titles from various genres, so hopefully there's something here for every reader! Print aficionados, never fear, some of these titles will be added to our print collection, or we may be able to borrow a copy from another library (another service only available to city residents).

Destiny's Embrace by Beverly Jenkins
Beverly Jenkins is one of the foremost authors of African-American romance writing today. Over the course of her career she’s written historicals, romantic suspense, and even Westerns. Her heroines are sassy, her writing is engaging, and the romance is steamy. Her most recent title, Destiny's Embrace, follows Mariah Cooper as she starts a new life as a housekeeper on a ranch in California, and the sparks fly between Mariah and rancher Logan Yates. This is an engaging start to a new series with sharp characters and interesting historical detail.

Prophet by R.J. Larson

R.J. Laron’s first novel is a fast-paced and engaging fantasy novel that draws on the stories of the Old Testament for inspiration. Prophet tells the story of Ela, a teenage girl who never expected to be called on by the Infinite as a prophet, but she rises to the challenge and sets off to serve His will in distant lands. Currently, Carnegie-Stout only owns this title as an eBook as part of our OverDrive collection. If you don’t own an eReader, this book would be a great excuse to try out one of the Sony eReaders we have available for checkout!

Split Second by David Baldacci 
Baldacci is known for his fast-paced political suspense novels and pulse pounding plot twists, though there's never any question that his heroes are the good guys. The first book in his Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series, Split Second introduce two Secret Service agents who turn to a second career as Private Investigators. The series is ongoing, with the latest book, The Sixth Man, coming out this April.


Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
Our collection includes dozens of titles by prolific fantasy author Terry Pratchett, but we are missing one or two print copies out of the 39 from his Discworld series. Pratchett is known for his humor, world-building skills, and memorable characters. Wyrd Sisters puts a new spin on Shakespeare's Macbeth, with allusions to several of his other plays, and has, in turn, been adapted as a play itself. Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick become embroiled in politics when they suddenly become the guardians of a murdered king's only child.


The Feast Nearby: how I lost my job, buried a marriage, and found my way by keeping chickens, foraging, preserving, bartering, and eating locally (all on $40 a week) by Robin Mather
If you're interested in the local food movement or tales of frugal living, you should check this book out. The story of her exploration of the local food options of her Michigan community are interspersed with delicious and straightforward recipes. This is an upbeat book and Mather's writing has a warm humor, rather than dwelling on her personal upheaval.


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Meet the Contestants

Voting for the first ever Dubuque Tournament of Books begins on Sunday, March 3rd. There's still time to enter the contest with your picks for the winning books. Entry brackets are available in the February 28th issue of 365Ink, you can download one from our website, or you can pick one up at Carnegie-Stout. All entries must be returned to Carnegie-Stout by March 8th to be eligible for the drawing.

Of course we don't expect you to have had a chance to read all the entrants in the contest, so today we're providing you with a brief introduction for each title!

Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed 
Wild is a deeply personal and inspirational memoir about grief, hiking, and personal growth. This was the first title selected for Oprah's new book club, and was the topic of a Read Alike post on our blog. 

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel 
Are You My Mother? is the second witty and intellectually challenging graphic memoir by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Her first, Fun Home, will be the book under discussion at the April 9th meeting of Graphic Content here at C-SPL.

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett
This stand alone novel by the prolific fantasy author is a thought-provoking exploration of parallel worlds told with Pratchett's trademark humor. The main character's journey starts out in a Madison, WI orphanage stretches to the bounds of reality.

Redshirts by John Scalzi
Scalzi is an award-winning author known for both his science-fiction and his blog. Redshirts is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking examination of many popular science fiction tropes with great appeal for any Star Trek fan.

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
How could we not include the latest installment in Evanovich's hilarious mystery series featuring hapless bounty hunter Stephanie Plum? Be sure to check out our Janet Evanovich Read Alike list if you haven't. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 
Most readers hadn't heard of Gillian Flynn before the publication of her third novel, Gone Girl, but this suspenseful story of a dysfunctional relationship kept readers turning pages long into the night. Flynn's weeks at the top of the best seller lists earned her a Read Alike post as well.

Building Stories by Chris Ware  
Ware's unconventional take a graphic novel captured the attention of many critics, landing Building Stories on several Best of 2012 lists (as well as Andrew's Graphic Novels for People Who Don't Read Graphic Novels post). Melancholy and complex, the way the reader approaches the 14 pieces changes the experience.

Batman: Court of the Owls by Scott Snyder
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion team up for a new look at an old comic book favorite: Batman. If you've never read a Batman story, this gritty murder mystery would be a good volume to start with.

50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James 
Everyone and their mother has heard of the self-published erotica turned #1 best seller that is the 50 Shades trilogy. This steamy read has convinced legions of readers to explore their inner goddess, or maybe just given them the giggles. This was the 2nd place choice in our November voting.

Bared to You by Sylvia Day
The popularity of 50 Shades brought long time steamy romance author Sylvia Day to wider recognition due to the similarities in her Crossfire trilogy: a dominant business man, a young woman just starting her career, and their steamy (and somewhat kinky) passion. Bared to You has also spent significant time on the best seller lists.

Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly 
Librarians across Iowa will tell you that Bill O'Reilly and coauthor Martin Dugard's dramatic exploration of President Kennedy's assassination is a popular title. A follow-up to their earlier Killing Kennedy, readers shouldn't doubt the host of Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor's continuing popularity.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
This beautifully researched book about life in one of India's slums by journalist Katherine Boo was the winner of the 2012 National Book Award for Non-Fiction. You can read more about this book in Sarah's staff review.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling 
The first novel from the author of the wildly successful Harry Potter series was bound to receive attention. The Casual Vacancy is a character-driven and darkly humorous novel of small town politics with not a single wizard. It also tied for 5th place in our November voting.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Bring up the Bodies is the sequel to Mantel's Man Booker winning Wolf Hall, the first two novels in a proposed trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell in King Henry VIII's court. In fact, Mantel was also awarded the Man Booker for Bring Up the Bodies. She is only the fourth novelist to receive two, and the first woman.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein's haunting novel about friendship in WWII received a Printz Honor for 2013, as well as being a C-SPL staff pick for the best books of 2012. Suspenseful, with moments of dark humor, and a powerful twist near the end, this is a great pick for readers old and young. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
John Green's witty take on first love, and winning online presence, has earned him a wide readership. The bittersweet romance between two teens who meet at a cancer support group had most readers laughing and weeping by turns. Don't miss our March 12th meeting of Let's Talk Books, where Amy will be leading a discussion of this book!

Be sure to check back here on Sunday to cast your votes for the first round of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

A Spiritually Cleansing Trip to the Hot Springs

NaNo writers, not to put any pressure on you or anything, but you only have four days left!!! To help push you over the edge, here are some blurbs from reviews of novels which are actually being published in the next few weeks. Enjoy! And then grab your pencil nubs and get back to work!!!

Occasional moments of fine writing cannot salvage this unpromising debut. 

Unfortunately, the combination of a melodramatic storyline and a focus on minutiae make for a forgettable read. 

A novel that badly wants to be cool but is rarely more than sophomoric. 

The climax is no more believable than its antecedents. 

It was an interesting and enjoyable story, however the numerous grammatical errors (almost on every page) detract from it. 

The odds that this book will be eliminated in the first round are high.  

... readers should be prepared for some wooden dialogue. 

... feels too overburdened with coincidences to be credible. 

Blatant metaphors of winter, spring, and a spiritually cleansing trip to the hot springs don't buoy the disagreeable proceedings. 

Readers who find the sophomoric jokes funny will enjoy the hijinks. 

Those looking for a thriller with action beyond the occasional gun battle should search elsewhere. 

... yet another religious thriller with a gimmick that fails to match that of The Da Vinci Code. 

... the excessively complicated plot makes for slow-going. 

A disappointing example of how thorough research can hobble a novel. 

Even as a spoof, which is how it reads, this lurid work is less than entertaining. 

The excitement is somewhat undermined by instances of clunky dialogue and the too-familiar setting and cast …  

... the narrative, carried by so many disparate points of view, never quite comes into focus. 

New York's hipster youth scene is ripe for satire, but unfortunately this novel fails to find the mark. 

If this all sounds more than a little familiar, it is.

Read Alike: The Wettest County in the World

Shia LaBeouf's new movie, Lawless, is scheduled for release next week. The story tells of three brothers who make their living in the violent world of Prohibition era bootlegging. The plot is based on the Depression era ancestors of author Matt Bondurant. Mr. Bondurant used their story in his suspenseful 2008 novel, The Wettest County in the World.

When you add in the recent excitement around Western inspired novels, many of which have been adapted to the big screen in recent years, you wind up with today's list of reading suggestions.

For more on the Prohibition and the rise of organized crime during the Depression, check out Boardwalk Empire: the birth, high times, and corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson (974.985 JOH). This nonfiction title about the rise of Atlantic City and the powerful men behind the city served as the basis for the HBO drama of the same name.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Mr. McCarthy is not a cheerful author. His menacing novels delve into the dark sides of humanity and our propensities for violence. He's known for setting his stories in the Southwest, whether in the lawless past, or the lawless future. No Country for Old Men is the story of Llewelyn Moss, who gets himself caught up in the violence of drug trafficking in the '80s. The 2007 film adaptation starring Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin received the Academy Award for Best Picture.

True Grit by Charles Portis
In his career, Mr. Portis has been both a journalist and a novelist. In fact his second novel, True Grit, was originally serialized in The Saturday Evening Post. This engaging, suspenseful novel takes its cues from the Western genre, but creates something unique. A dialog-rich story told from the perspective of 14 year-old Mattie Ross, and her quest for revenge on the man who killed her father and the not quite upstanding men who join her in her quest. This novel has seen multiple film adaptations, from the 1969 version with John Wayne to the 2010 version, which also stars Josh Brolin.

Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Ms. Russell's most recent novel is, like her earlier works, richly detailed and character-driven, as she plays with genre conventions. Ms. Russell is known for experimenting with genre, often combining science fiction elements with historical settings. Doc is the story of the infamous Doc Holliday and how he came to meet up with Wyatt Earp in Dodge City, Kansas, though not the infamous shootout at the OK Corral. While there is no movie adaption for this title yet, rumor has it there might be an HBO series in the works.

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Mr. deWitt's second novel, The Sisters Brothers, has garnered quite a bit of positive attention, including winning The Morning News' 2012 Tournament of Books. It's a gritty and darkly comic novel of the California Gold Rush. Eli and Charlie Sisters, brothers and hired guns of fearsome reputation, are on a mission to kill Hermann Kermit Warm. Eli, the narrator, begins to question their violent life. While there is no movie yet, John C. Reilly's production company has purchased the film rights.


Readers who enjoy stories about living on the wrong side of the law in a lawless land should also check out Joyce Saricks' recent Booklist column on books with a Western inspiration. It's a creative field, whether you prefer something historical or fantastic, violent or less so. Which was your favorite, Deadwood or Firefly?

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Read Alike: Gillian Flynn

Chicago author Gillian Flynn earned a loyal following for her novels of psychological suspense. Her first novel, Sharp Objects, was published in 2006, and was inspired, in part, by Ms. Flynn's desire to write about women's dark sides. She has an interesting essay on this topic available on her website: gillian-flynn.com/for-readers

Disturbing at the mildest, Ms. Flynn is not for readers bothered by violence, but readers who enjoy a suspenseful read with great characters and plot twists are in for a treat.

Her most recent novel, Gone Girl, has received some great reviews and already has a waiting list here at Carnegie-Stout. Amy disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary, and her husband is left to piece together the story from her diary, even as he is under suspicion for her murder.

If you're looking for more authors of darker psychological suspense, you might like these authors as well:

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Mr. Watson's debut novel, Before I Go to Sleep, also features a marriage that isn't as happy as it appears on the surface, with secrets revealed by the wife's journal. Christine's memory is damaged, and the past 22 years of her life, including her marriage to Ben, are missing. The first person narration of Christine's attempt to understand who she really is and what really happened to her is fast-paced and suspenseful.

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
Chelsea Cain's popular mystery series focuses on the twisted relationship between the damaged detective, Archie Sheridan, and the twisted serial killer, Gretchen Lowell. The plots are thrilling, the crimes are gruesome, and the humor is darkest black. The series starts with Heartsick, Archie is haunted and broken by his time as Gretchen Lowell's prisoner, but he returns to the force to catch a killer targeting young girls.

In the Woods by Tana French
Irish author Tana French’s grim and compelling mysteries have won her an international success. The character-driven stories follow the suspenseful cases of the Dublin Murder Squad. Start with In the Woods, a young girl is found murdered in the woods near Dublin, the same woods where one of the detective’s two friends disappeared twenty years ago. Detective Ryan struggles to catch the killer as his long-suppressed memories resurface.

End of Story by Peter Abrahams
In addition to psychological suspense novels, Mr. Abrahams writes for teens and younger readers, as well as a mystery series narrated by a dog named Chet (published as Spencer Quinn). In End of Story, struggling writer Ivy takes a job teaching at Dannemora Prison. Ivy becomes fascinated by Vance Harrow, a charming convict, and unconvinced of his guilt, Ivy slips deeper into a dangerous world. 

The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis
Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis are the co-authors of the Nina Borg suspenseful mystery series. The first book in the series (and only with an English translation so far), The Boy in the Suitcase, is fast-paced with a twisted plot, and was the topic of an earlier staff review. Nina is a deeply flawed character, a nurse who works tirelessly to protect strangers in dangerous situations, a mother who can't remember to pick her son up from daycare.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Kate Atkinson suspenseful mystery series follows private investigator Jackson Brodie as he investigates crimes with offbeat characters and dark secrets. The series starts with Case Histories, Jackson takes on three seemingly unrelated cases, all involving the death or disappearance of a young girl from the Cambridge region over the course of 30 years.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Patricia Highsmith remains a favorite for fans of psychological suspense. Her dark, creepy stories of charming evil, like The Talented Mr. Ripley, make for compelling reads. Expect ambiguous morals and exciting plot twists.

You may also want to take a look at Becky Spratford of the Berwyn Public Library write ups on Ms. Flynn's books for some more reading suggestions!

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!