Wench
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Fiction
Amistad/Harper Collins
January 2010

I celebrated Black History Month by reading.

Visiting popular museums or attending local parades were not on my agenda. Instead, I just sat in my favorite chair with my favorite blanket pulled up to my chin. Surrounded by several shiny hardcovers, I savored the freedom to read.

You too can read with abandonment. Experience the pleasure that comes from turning the crisp pages of a well written book, and consider yourself fortunate.

Lizzie, Mawu, Sweet, and Reenie are not so fortunate in the debut novel “Wench,” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. At the Tawawa House resort in the free territory of Ohio, books are just one of many temptations that separates blacks from whites and stirs more than a bit of controversy among slaves and free blacks.

Perkins-Valdez writes flawless, historical fiction that reveals the restricted lives of four memorable slave women at a resort where their white slavemasters, minus the piercing eyes of their jealous wives, stake claim to their female property.

This is no ordinary summer vacation. Despite their tiresome, unending duties, these four black mistresses form an unpenetrable bond. Will their delicate friendship stand the test of time? What besides captivity do these four unique women have in common?

Each carries a torch for freedom, a desire to learn to read, a desire to protect their children born of an often unpleasant union, and a strong craving to be loved, even if this affection comes from an unyielding master.

Perkins-Valdez further examines the stormy relationship between black mistresses and wives, and house slaves and field slaves. Both enlightening and disturbing, fact or fiction, these forced bonds are deeply rooted in humiliation.

Lizzie, named Elizabeth at birth, is not entitled to her given name. She bears two children, a boy and a girl, by her slavemaster Drayle. Nate and “Rabbit” are deemed more important and an asset to their white father. How far will this advantage take them? Awaiting the plight of the mistresses and their offspring stirs mixed emotions – anger, surprise, and dread.

So, brace yourself for one of the most enlightening and entertaining works of historical fiction ever published. You will savor every every punctuation, every word, every paragraph, every page.

MORE DEBUT NOVELS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

A Reliable Wife
by Robert Goolrick
Fiction
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
January 2010

Union Atlantic
by Adam Haslett
Fiction
Knopf Doubleday Publishing
February 2010

Snow Angels

What’s the most fascinating crime novel you’ve ever read?

Well, I just devoured one erotic thriller that will change your mind – James Thompson’s ”Snow Angels.” Pages explode with murder, mystery, sex, and just enough gore to earn a prime spot on your reading list.

Thompson paints a sharp contrast between day and night, warmth and cold, trust and deception, calm and fear, and life and death. With the help of determined Inspector Kari Vaara and the memorable snowdrifts of northern Finland, this hard-to-put-down mystery is a puzzle with many shady players and even more missing pieces.

Visibly shaken, Finnish residents, in the small town of Kittila, are frightened when the discarded, brutalized body of a Somali movie actress is discovered. Her naked body is discarded like infectious rubbish on a secluded reindeer farm blanketed in fallen snow.

In the solitude of lifeless, arctic nights, and kaamos (Finland’s two weeks of darkness), it’s easy for a crimes (even ones as savage and as ruthless as this one) to go unnoticed and unsolved.

It’s not long before suspects become too familiar and too close to home, adding to the small police force’s difficult task of solving what appears to be an unsolvable crime. Is this case too big for Vaara and his sidekick Valtteri, a religious man?

Well, one thing’s for sure, with his Columbo-style tactics readers will wage a bet that this cool cat will eventually catch his prey. But what will he lose to solve this crime? What will he gain?

What’s most unique about Thompson’s debut thriller, “Snow Angels,” is his uncanny ability to introduce readers to believable characters whom they’ll never meet: Sufia Elmi, the first victim;  Vaara’s deceased sister Suvi, who died 30 years ago; and Heiki, the son of officer Valtteri.

But the true measure of a true crime novel is the author’s creative gift of keeping the reader in the dark, like the Polar nights of Finland, from the first page to the very end. James Thompson achieves this incredible feat and much more.

The Inspector Vaara series will solve crimes and reader fatigue – one book at a time.

MORE BOOKS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
Fiction
Little, Brown & Company
May 1991

Dear John
by Nicholas Sparks
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
December 2009

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

Author Heidi W. Durrow provokes me to the point where time stands still and a new, intriguing world is discovered as this fresh voice in literature strikes a nerve.

Inspired by true events, “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky” parades colorful, memorable characters like Brick, Drew, Nella, Laronne, Roger, and a Grandma who can easily conjure up old childhood memories.

But no character is as unforgettable as the brave voice of the young narrator, Rachel, who is the offspring of a Danish mother and a black father. One day she has two parents and then … one day, one selfish act leaves her without them.

It’s the year 1980, and time for lovely, blue-eyed Rachel to confront her personal idea of beauty, while struggling with the false perception of others. Often ridiculed, she is rather bold for a young girl without parents. She has her own way of standing up for herself, including standing up to her Grandma whose love is unconditional and strong, even when Rachel’s childhood antics tick her off.

I know I’m not interesting to Grandma anymore — what with my new ways. My new ways are back talk. I call it explaining. My new ways are wearing my shirts too tight. I call it fashion. My new ways are paying too much attention to boys. I call it being lonely.

Rachel, only one of many narrators, bleeds life into a story that first appears as just another book about race. But surprisingly, it’s way more than a conversation about black and white. The substance of this debut novel also touches on the colors in between, the layers one cannot see — pain, abuse, fear, and bravery. 

A lone survivor proves that beauty exists even in the midst of an unspeakable act as her plight challenges the kindness of strangers. And those closest to Rachel are desperate to see her through.

More entertaining than preachy, there are lessons to be learned, introductions to life that are color blind. Lesson 1: Love, self-acceptance, and tolerance, are universal. Lesson 2: Blood is not always thicker than water.

Will readers identify with Rachel? Her weak mother Nella? A strong African-American grandmother? The love of a doting aunt?  An alcoholic father who chooses not to be around? A wayward boy who never gives up on a promise?

Many questions remain. But the most perplexing question of them all deserves an answer.

Is it fair to force a biracial child to choose sides? Durrow’s highly anticipated novel, “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky” answers this question.

The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Fiction
September 2009

Climb aboard and experience one of the most magical train rides ever. Your destination? The North Pole.

“The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg captures the spirit of the holidays with colorful, engaging illustrations and a clever storyline.

A holiday favorite, this Christmas classic will test your belief in Santa, as a young boy, dressed in only his pajamas, a robe and slippers, sets out on an unforgettable journey.

And if you don’t believe in Santa, actor Liam Neeson might just change your mind as he eloquently narrates this beautiful, dramatic tale.

Enjoy the new hardcover twentieth anniversary edition, along with a compact disc or cassette audio recording.

Enjoy the spirit of the holidays with a good book and a little imagination.

B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style
by Barbara Smith
Scribner
NonFiction
November 2009

It’s that time of year again — time to make a longer grocery list, pull out those oversized heavy duty pots and pans, and reinvent traditional family recipes.

The first Thanksgiving feast, according to food historian Kathleen Curtin, took place at Plimoth Plantation in 1921. The celebration included celebrating harvest and giving thanks for a bountiful crop. And much like today’s traditional cooks, pilgrims used flavorful spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Meat consumption consisted of goose, duck, crane, swan, eagles, partridges, and wild turkey.

And today, the Turkey still dominates as the most popular of family traditions. And over the years, turkey variations have caused family chaos, debates and debacle. Some turkey concoctions (the deep fried version) can result in a trip to the nearest emergency room.

Renew your Thanksgiving tradition with Barbara Smith, author of “B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style.” She is reigning “queen” of a home products empire and is proprietor of three restaurants in New York City, Washington, D.C.’s Union Station, and Long Island’s Sag Harbor.

Smith celebrates cooking with a touch of class by endorsing flavorful dishes that not only taste good, but are good for you. And for cooks who dare not buck the family tradition, the cornish hens with cranberry-chestnut stuffing is a Thanksgiving classic.

While praising the great flavor that fat adds to dishes, Smith encourages healthy eating by putting a wholesome spin on Southern dishes like alligator-stuffed eggplant, smothered chicken livers, and grilled okra and tomato salad, to name a few.

Heat up your kitchen with the comfort of Southern cuisine!

MORE COOKBOOKS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

My New Orleans: The Cookbook
by John Bess
Andrews McMeel Publishing
NonFiction
September 2009

Rose’s Heavenly Cakes
by Rose Levy Beranbaum
Wiley, John & Sons
NonFiction
September 2009

The egg. The larva. The pupa. The adult butterfly. The complex life cycle of a butterfly occurs in four separate stages and what once was a colorless, wormlike caterpillar is miraculously transformed into one of the most beautiful insects in the world.

You can witness an endless array of winged beauty from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, thanks to celebrated photographer Harold Feinstein whose noted works are represented in collections at major museums and in numerous periodicals.

Feinstein is the author of “One Hundred Butterflies,” which offers a unique look at these stunning insects through 100 colorful photographs. Scientists estimate that there are approximately 12,000 to 15,000 species which leaves room for 14,900 more beautiful creations.

Ideal as a gift or an excellent visual tool for any classroom project, “One Hundred Butterflies” proves there’s much to learn about the wondrous butterfly. For example, did you know that butterflies play an important role as pollinators? Can you identify the Ruddy Daggerwing? The Blue Diadem? The Jungle Queen?

This unique, coffee table-style book will definitely spend more time in the hands of readers.

MORE BOOKS BY PHOTOGRAPHER HAROLD FEINSTEIN

One Hundred Seashells
by Harold Feinstein
Bulfinch
Non Fiction
September 2005

One Hundred Flowers
by Harold Feinstein
Bulfinch
Non Fiction
March 2000

Must Have Boots Books For Fall

FICTION
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood (a Winnie-the-Pooh sequel), David Beneditcus, illustrator Mark Burgess, Penguin Group (USA), October 2009
Little Bird of Heaven, Joyce Carol Oates, HarperCollins Publishers, September 2009
The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood, Knopf Doubleday Publishing, September 2009
The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown, Knopf Doubleday Publishing, September 2009

——————-

NON FICTION
Shooting Stars, LeBRON James and Buzz Bissinger, Penguin Group (USA), September 2009
29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life, Cami Walker, Da Capo Press, October 2009
Permission Slips: Every Woman’s Guide to Giving Herself A Break, Sherri Shepherd, Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
True Compass: A Memoir, Edward M. Kennedy, Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King, James Patterson and Martin Dugard, Little, Brown & Company, September 2009

The Lion & The Mouse

Pinkney’s wordless picture book will leave you speechless

Fall is fast approaching … and with cooler temperatures come festive fairs, irresistible carnival food, and a publishing frenzy of even cooler children’s books.

But the coolest book of them all is “The Lion & The Mouse,” by author and illustrator Jerry Pinkney. This captivating and incredibly artistic picture book boasts a wordless depiction of an unusual encounter between a lion and a mouse. This enduring story is portrayed with powerful illustrations in place of words, except for an occasional whooo, screech, squeak, roaarrr and scratch. 

Pinkney revisits one of his favorite Aesop fables with this timeless adaptation about two creatures, exact opposites in size and presence, who engage in a venture that brings to light the gift of kindness.

Pinkney proves the popular theory, “pictures are more powerful than words.” Page after page, colorful pencils and watercolors paint a telling portrait of friendship.

You don’t need words to read this tale out loud. All you need is your imagination and an audience. 

MORE PICTURE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Tarra and Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends
by Carol Buckley
Fiction
Penguin Group (USA)
September 2009

Waddle! A Scanimation Picture Book
by Rufus Butler Seder
Fiction
Workman Publlishing Company, Inc.
October 2009

If you can’t go to the beach, let the beach come to you, in the guise of another fantastic read by Nicholas Sparks. The author of 15 New York Times bestsellers, Sparks does it again — he leaves you crying and celebrating.

“The Last Song” is, of course, a tear-jerker, but it’s so much more than that. This coming-of-age love story is also the ideal substitute for soft, white sand and a salty ocean breeze, without leaving the comfort of your favorite chair.

North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach is the breathtaking setting where Steve, and his two kids, Ronnie and Jonah, get reacquainted after a three-year separation. This is their first summer together.

How does a father go about reclaiming the lost years? It’s not going to be easy, and his daughter Ronnie makes sure of that. Even as she settles in the old, out-of-place bungalow, situated amid oceanfront mansions, she too feels out of place. Compared to New York, it looks like one long, boring, hot summer. Then she meets up with a strange, rebellious girl called Blaze.

The two seem to hit it off at first; they do have at least one thing in common — Blaze and her mother don’t get along so well either. Their attempt at becoming friends is short lived. Who or what is standing in the way?

Well for starters, a few hoodlums, love, and a desire to do the right thing. Fire and water, opposing elements, play a memorable role, in this intensely emotional and impulsive tale.

As the summer heats up in more ways than one, Ronnie fears the worst, and protects her emotions from the two men she loves most, her father and now Will, with as much rigor as she protects the endangered sea turtle preparing to lay eggs at the water’s edge. Is this “thing” with Will just a summer fling or is it something way more serious?

In contrast, Jonah’s world is easygoing; it’s just a father and son getting to know each other, again. 

A melody of music and self-realization, “The Last Song” gives you permission to reconnect with someone you love. As with all Spark’s novels, his memorable characters portray a wide range of emotions. Page after page, “The Last Song” hits the right notes by evoking feelings of fear and bravery, blame and forgiveness, hate and love, joy and grief.

And how does the Carolina coast figure into these miracles? Maybe it’s the serenity of the beach … the long, barefoot walks; the private conversations with God; the captivating, endangered sea turtles; or maybe it’s the peace that comes with the rise and fall of the miraculous ocean tide.

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Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Memoir
by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
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September 2009

The Eleventh Victim
by Nancy Grace
Fiction
Hyperion
August 2009

Thug Lovin’
by Wahida Clark
Fiction
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August 2009

Ravens

What does it feel like to hold a winning lottery ticket worth $318,000,000?

Patsy Boatwright is a gin and tonic, scotch-drinking, Bible-quoting mother of two who fades in and out of reality. And finally, one ticket in Patsy’s large collection matches the jackpot numbers announced on Wednesday night. She’s super rich! Her worries are over. But can she cope with instant wealth, fame and more attention than one person could ever imagine? She’s about to find out.

Patsy’s hopes are dashed when she finds out that for the entire Boatwright family to survive, they must split the winnings with two complete strangers … or die. Mitch, Patsy, Tara, and Jase are up against the egotistical whims of two amateur thugs. Delusional Shaw McBride and his spineless friend Romeo Zderko have their eyes on the prize.

Her fury running away with her. She polished off the gin in a single swallow, and got up to fix herself another … May they burn in hell! And they would, she thought. Because if they ever tried to leave Brunswick, to enjoy their loot, she’d bring the FBI down on them like a hive of hornets. The FBI would put so many holes in them, their own mothers wouldn’t want what was left.

Author George Dawes Green spins a gritty tale of greed in “Ravens.” Shaw and Romeo, both dejected employees of Dayton Techworld in Ohio, travel Interstate 95 without a plan, but swoop down into the small, Bible Belt town of Brunswick, Georgia. And like a pair of desperate ravens, these simple-minded misfits are full of mischief, darkness, depression and death. One with a huge appetite for money and death. Both with a sinister, greedy plan to claim half of the Boatwright’s fortune.

A well-blended recipe of originality, danger and humor highlight a cast of characters searching for riches and love. And no one has waited longer for love than Burris “Deppity Dawg,” a down-in-the-dumps cop with a withering career and a 40-year crush on Nell Boatwright, who refuses to give him the time of day. But that doesn’t stop him from trying again and again to get close to her.

And in the meantime, Romeo’s blind dedication and love for his childhood friend, Shaw, keeps him driving aimlessly in his old Tercel. He watches the Boatwright family’s every move and awaits Shaw’s command to kill. Does Romeo have it in him to harm such nice people? Does he share Shaw’s dream to own a piece of the world?

Green’s vivid imagination comes to life with characters so believable and a plot so unpredictable, this third novel reads more like “True TV.” He skillfully manipulates every chapter with clues to bring an exciting and original novel to a roaring climax.

It takes love, persistence, and a map to get to the bottom of this charade. And you will never guess who  connects the dots.

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Jericho’s Fall
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Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
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A Plague of Secrets
by John Lescroart
Dutton
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June 2009