The Virtues of War by Steven Pressfield

Title:  The Virtues of War:  A Novel of Alexander the Great

Author:  Steven Pressfield

Call #:  PRE

This book reads like a memoir of Alexander The Great. Ancient Greece, Egypt and Persia are brought back to life in vivid detail during the telling of this remarkable story based on true events. One of the greatest military minds in history, Alexander tells the reader how he set out to become “master of the known world” before he was 25. This is a true treat for anyone who loves ancient Greece.

Recommended by:  John

The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone

Title:  The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors

Author:  Michele Young-Stone

Call #:  YOU

The magic and power of lightning threads through the lives of strange and quirky characters in this imaginative story that is ultimately about redemption.

Recommended by:  Bobbie

Jim the Boy by Tony Earley

Title:  Jim the Boy

Author:  Tony Earley

Call #:  EAR

It is 1934 in rural North Carolina and 11 year old Jim, his mother and uncles are all watching the electricity poles go up around town.  In this coming-of-age story, the reader watches with a nostalgic eye as Jim and his town grow and change. This is a heart-warming and timeless story for any reader looking for a “good read.”

Recommended by:  Becky

The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

Title:  The Inner Circle

Author:  Brad Meltzer

Call #:  MEL

There is a lot of baiting and hooking in this fast-moving plot. If you don’t mind plot twists and red herrings, this book will be for you. There is more than enough suspense and a very likable hero in this great page turner.

Recommended by:  MEL

 

The Canary Sang But Couldn’t Fly by Edmund Elmaleh

Title:  The Canary Sang But Couldn’t Fly:  The Fatal Fall of Abe Reles, the Mobster Who Shattered Murder, Inc.’s Code of Silence

Author:  Edmund Elmaleh

Call #:  364.1092 ELM

This book tries to answer the proverbial question “Was he pushed or did he fall?” but the answer remains a mystery.  Abe Reles was a cold blooded mobster who killed at will but to avoid the electric chair he decided to cooperate with the authorities and became, as one district attorney put it, “the most effective informer in the annals of criminal justice.”  On the morning of November 12, 1941, while under police protection, Reles plunged to his death from the sixth floor window of the hotel he was being hidden in.  Though many theories exist as to what happened the truth remains a mystery to this day.  Elmaleh tells a fast moving, detailed story of American crime and a half- hearted pursuit of justice.  Sadly, the author passed away while the book was being prepared for publication.  It would have been interesting to see where else his writing would have led him.

Recommended by:  Mike

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Title:  The Last Lecture

Author:  Randy Pausch

Call #:  158.1 PAU

Many teachers are asked to think of their last time they will speak in front of a class. They are to think of their last days and what they would want their legacy to be.  Randy is a dying; but he refuses to let that stop him from telling the world how to really achieve your childhood dreams. The Last Lecture is an extremely inspirational story that will make you sit up and take notes.

Recommended by:  Crystal

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

Title:  The Family Fang

Author:  Kevin Wilson

Call #:  WIL

This book is about a family in which the parents are artists whose art involves creating chaos in public spaces and then filming it.  When their two children are born, they include them in their schemes.  The book alternates chapters from the present, when the kids are grown and the past when they detail one of their art installations.  It has all my favorite things – family dysfunction, a discussion of what makes art, a coming-of-age story and dark humor.

Recommended by:  Kathy