This is a novel that was nominated for many prestigious awards, including the IMPAC (update: it was announced that The Master won the IMPAC June 12, 2006) and Man Booker prize. And I can understand why it was nominated –this is a well-written book with beautifully-crafted sentences and description that bring up vivid images and give life to the long-dead author, Henry James.

I can’t recall having read anything by James, even though I majored in English in University, but I’d certainly heard of him and for some reason, I’ve always regarded him as ancient and boring. But after reading this book, I’ve changed my mind about him, and am now tempted to pick up some of his novels, something I am sure Toibin hoped would result from the reading of this book.

The book focuses on major events in James’ life, beginning with the humiliating failure of his first play, Guy Domville, and continuing with his struggles to make peace with a number of troubled relationships that had caused him to feel guilt, confusion, grief, and self-reproach over. We discover that these influences on his life are what provided the inspiration for his most successful works. (more…)

Noises at Night – Beth Raisner Glass and Susan Lubner, Illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Told in couplets, this story has good sounds to make together as you read along. It’s about a little boy who turns all the different sounds he hears during the night into adventures in his imagination. Would be a good story to read to children who are afraid to sleep alone at night because of odd noises.

Duck Skates – Lynne Berry, Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

A cute story about 5 ducks that go outside on a winter day to play together. It’s a great story for kids just starting to learn basic adding skills as the ducks are all accounted for in different ways.

Gladys Goes Out to Lunch – Derek Anderson

Gladys is a gorilla who lives in a zoo. Gladys l-o-v-e-s bananas. Then one day, she gets the scent of something that smells even better and she breaks out of the zoo on a mission to find it.

Haunted House – Jan Pienkowski

A book about the things you can find in a haunted house. Has lots of pop ups that little kids are sure to love. Would be a good story for Halloween.

Do Pigs Have Stripes? – Melanie Walsh

No, but zebras do! Good for young children to help them recognize animals and their distinguishing features. A simple story, but fun reading.

Pilobolus: The Human Alphabet – Photographed by John Kane

Pilobolus is a troupe of dancers who contort themselves and fit into each other to make the letters of the alphabet for this book. Some of the pictures were a little disturbing (almost looks like some of the dancers are copping a feel on each other). Some people will find it an amazing work of art. Me? Not so much.

The Baby Goes Beep – Rebecca O’Connell, Illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

This is a book about the sounds a baby makes before it is able to speak. I was kind of bored by it, but I can see moms of little babies liking it. Illustrations are simple too.

Faucet Fish – Ray Robinson, Illustrated by Wayne Anderson

Elizabeth’s plumbing is crossed with the aquarium’s down the street and fish keep coming out her faucets. A fun story with good illustrations.

This book is very good. I’m tempted to leave it at that and ask you to take my word for it because there is so much happening in this story that it’s daunting to even think about how to review it well enough to give those of you who haven’t read it a good sense for it. But I’ll try.

This is a novel that combines true science with thrilling story-telling. It addresses the way the media, environmental agencies and government institutions can manipulate scientific facts to perpetuate a state of fear about something that need not be feared over at all. This is a novel about politics, science, and terrorism; three things I admit that I don’t care much for thinking about. So I never thought I’d pick up a book like this, let alone enjoy it, but I did (if you’re wondering what made me pick it up in the first place, it’s because it showed up on many “If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you might want to try…” lists. So I did and I didn’t bother reading the jacket, I just jumped in. That, plus I’ve liked Crichton’s other books).

Let me just say however, that I don’t want to lead anyone to believe I’m throwing my personal beliefs behind the theories presented in this book. I do think that his theories and ideas are well-documented and are certainly not unbelievable, but at the same time, I don’t know much about global warming beyond what I hear on the news and read from time to time. Reading this one book is not going to give me all I need to know to make some informed opinions on the matter. (more…)

Nell Dysart’s husband left her on Christmas Day for another woman. Broken and depressed, she lets her life fall apart. Her friends (and former sisters-in-law) Margie and Suze worry that Nell isn’t taking care of herself, becoming too thin and lackluster. Her brother-in-law arranges for Nell to start a job as the secretary for a local detective agency so that she can start a new life. Nell goes to interview with the agency owners, Gabe and Riley McKenna, two incredibly handsome, noble, respectable men. She has to agree to three rules before she gets the job: 1) Don’t talk about cases to anyone outside the office, 2) Don’t break the law, and 3) Don’t f*ck the help. She agrees, and she’s hired.

Gabe is a kind man, a good father to his teenage daughter and a friend (with benefits, the cad!) to his ex-wife, Chloe. He and Riley took over the agency from his deceased father, and he’s become one of the best detectives in the industry. But he’s a pig-headed boss when it comes to managing his employees, and he’s reluctant to change anything from the way his dad left the office; he refuses to let Nell fix the place up, and insists on fighting whatever ideas she brings forth every chance he gets… they’ll (not surprisingly) be falling in love later in the story. (more…)