 | Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a SweaterWritten by Linden-Ivarsson Anna-StinaNon-Fiction This book is full of inspiring ideas about how you can re-use your old sweaters and turn them into new clothing and accessories. Make mittens, scarves, slippers, bags and more from the raw materials you already have in your closet. Includes an overview of how to re-purpose sweaters, basic instructions, and lots of pictures and ideas for how to embellish your re-purposed woolies. Recommended by Cheryl |
 | 500 Art Quilts: An Inspiring Collection of Contemporary WorkNon-FictionThis wonderful book, which contains an amazing variety of quilts created by contemporary quilters, is both inspiring, if you are a quilter, or simply enjoyable to browse, if you're not a quilter. Some of the quilts in this book are astonishingly elaborate. Information about the artists and what techniques they used are included. Other books in the '500' series include 500 Baskets, 500 Cups, and 500 Handmade Dolls. Recommended by Nila |
 | Still LifeWritten by Louise PennyFiction Still Life is the first book in a series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete Du Quebec (roughly equivalent to our state troopers), who is called to the small town of Three Pines to investigate the seemingly accidental death of Jane Neal, retired schoolteacher. However, nothing is as it seems, and Gamache, with calm, kindness and dogged determination, navigates the complex, and sometimes troubled, relationships between the residents of Three Pines (and his own colleagues), to solve the mystery. If you like a mystery than unfolds slowly, layer by layer, with well-drawn characters, give Still Life a try. If you like this book, continue on with the rest of the series (the library has them all). One of my colleagues strongly recommends the audiobook version, especially for help with the frequent French names and words that pop up in the story. Recommended by Catherine |
 | FeedWritten by Mira GrantFiction A Zombie Apocalypse novel goes something like this: the infected start to multiple slowly, with the mass media thinking it’s a hoax until it’s almost too late. A plague of zombies sweep across the world, overwhelming the military so that only isolated pockets of stalwart humans remain to scavenge in a post-industrial wasteland. This is not that book. This book is the adventures of Georgia Mason, political blogger and investigative reporter, who is hot on the campaign trail of presidential-hopeful Senator Peter Ryman. As things begin to go wrong with Ryman’s campaign, Georgia, her twin brother Shaun, and their best friend Buffy have the chance to make breaking news, assuming that they can stay alive long enough to do so. There are also zombies. I love this book because Feed takes a deep look at the new social and political landscape of America twenty years after the zombie hordes started shuffling. Our characters have grown up in a world where the CDC is the most powerful political organization in the country and George Romero is the accidental savor of humanity. Mira Grant’s world-building is phenomenal, the characters are complex and realistic, and the action is well written. However, the writing style of this book won’t appeal to everyone; it has a first person narration with professional blog posts, newspaper articles, and personal journal entries interspersed between chapters. And the ending? Well, all I will say is: You Are Not Prepared. Feed is the first novel in a trilogy (the library has all three). It, along with the sequels Deadline and Blackout, have all been nominated for the Hugo Award. Recommended by Andi |
 | Faithful PlaceWritten by Tana FrenchFiction Frank Mackey hasn't been back to the Dublin neighborhood where he grew up (known as Faithful Place) since his high school sweetheart, Rosie Daly, failed to meet him on the night they planned to elope to England. Everyone, including Frank, assumed that Rosie went on to England on her own, but now, twenty-two years later, her suitcase, packed for that night, has been found. So where is Rosie? Against his better judgement, Frank, now an undercover cop, goes back to Faithful Place, and to the dysfunctional family he had hoped to avoid for the rest of his life, to try and found out what happened. In French's novel, things start out badly and get worse, as Frank gets drawn back in to the old neighborhood, and bad relationships he thought he had escaped. Tensions between Frank and his family, the police and the neighborhood, as well as old Ireland and new, run high in this well-written thriller. If you enjoy Faithful Place, you should also try The Likeness and Broken Harbor. Recommended by Catherine |
 | Arthur & GeorgeWritten by Julian BarnesFiction Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (of Sherlock Holmes fame) is the Arthur of our story and George Edalji is the George. This book is based on a true event, "The Great Wyrley Outrages", a series of animal mutilations that took place in Britain in 1903. George Edalji was convicted of one of the crimes and sentenced to 7 years in jail. Conan Doyle came to his defense and got him released from prison, and got the conviction overturned. That is the basis of the story. However, it contains so much more.. we are given insight into Britain and "Britishness", spiritualism, racial prejudice (even when the victim denies that it exists), love and marriage, guilt and innocence, the penal system at the turn of the century, and how our personalities can influence our realities and experiences. A wonderful story that moves well and addresses the issues of what we think, what we believe and what we know. This book is available from the library in regular print, large print and as an audio book. Recommended by Suzi |
 | Gulp: Adventures in the Alimentary CanalWritten by Mary RoachNon-Fiction Mary Roach fans, rejoice! The author's latest is in the same interesting, humorous, and yes, sometimes weird and/or gross, vein as her much-loved previous titles. If you've never read one of Mary Roach's books, here's the main thing you need to know: they are very funny. In this book, Roach examines the digestive system, and all things directly and tangentially related to it. As in her previous books, Gulp contains oddball historical research, current science, and meandering yet hilarious footnotes. Roach is an intensely curious person, and she is not squeamish, so be prepared to go wherever her research takes her. If you are of a similar bent, you will enjoy the trip. The library also has Roach's other books. If you like Gulp, try Packing for Mars, or Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Recommended by Catherine |
 | Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Volume 1Written by Hayao MiyazakiFiction Hayao Miyazaki, found of Studio Ghibli, is best known for his cute animated kids films like "My Neighbor Totoro," "Ponyo," and "Kiki's Delivery Service." This graphic novel series is something else entirely. Similar in plot to his movie of the same name, but having a much longer and more involved storyline, this series is Miyazaki's masterpiece and delves into the issues of good and evil, hope and despair, fate, human nature, and humankind's relationship with the planet. In a radiation-poisoned postapocalyptic future, Princess Nausicaa, heir to the tiny kingdom in the Valley of the Wind, is drawn into a war between two of the largest remaining nations and has to protect her people without sacrificing her ideals, striking a balance between being a head-of-state, a warrior, and a woman. Even more than in Miyazaki's other works, it can be difficult to figure out who is supposed to be the "bad guy" - everyone is capable of heroism, but can also be forced to make condemnable choices. One of my all-time favorites, but beware of gore and some nudity. Recommended by Jenna |
 | Life After LifeWritten by Kate AtkinsonFiction "What if we had a chance to do it again and again, until we finally did get it right? Wouldn't that be wonderful?" In Kate Atkinson's remarkable book, Life After Life, Ursula Todd, born during a snowstorm in England on February 11, 1910, does have a chance to do it again and again, until she finally gets it right. Set against the backdrop of two world wars, Ursula's story plays out in all the various ways one's life could come to an end during those tumultuous years, and then, just when you think you know how it ends, the story resets itself and is retold. Sit back, let go of your pre-conceptions of how a novel should be written, and enjoy the ride. If you prefer a more linear plot, try Atkinson's Jackson Brodie mysteries, starting with Case Histories. Recommended by Catherine |
 | Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight TableWritten by The Moosewood CollectiveNon-Fiction I read cookbooks when I can't concentrate on a plot. This particular cookbook is lovely to read and has lots of pretty pictures. Written by the folks at the Moosewood Restaurant, it focuses on recipes that are simple and easy to prepare for everyday dinners at home. Recommended by LouAnn |