Danbury Library Blog

Our Foodies say:
Eating for Life (Bill Phillips). This is a book that is a return to common sense. He states the obvious that "diets don't work", but eating is good for your health when you eat good foods. The book also has great recipes and is very encouraging. -Unsigned

3 Fat Chicks on a Diet (Barnett sisters). Loved this book. Great for anyone who has tried to lose weight. Funny and informative. Good for someone who doesn't know which diet to try. -J. W.

Your Trying-to-Be-Less-Round Editor Says:
The phrase Eating for Life is so popular I found two similarly titled books in our collection: Eating for Life: Boost Immunity, Prevent Disease, Celebrate Good Food and Eating for Life: One Simple Diet for Total Health. Worth comparison?

Worried about gaining weight when you travel? Calculate this!

Check out 3 Fat Chicks on the web.

Posted by Claudia at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The July 21, 2006 edition of "Publishers Weekly" brings us the happy news of a new title from the elusive, reclusive novelist. His only appearance recently has been as a character on The Simpsons whereby we were able to actually hear his voice. The new novel will be published in the fall and is titled "Against the Day."

Posted by John O'Donnell at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Author Kinky Friedman's run for Texas governor--at first taken as a joke is now being taken very seriously. Acquaint yourself with the Kinkster's books--they are often hilarious, feature best friend Willie Nelson as a recurring character --not your standard detective novels. It's worth paying attention to Kinky--governors of Texas can wind up in the White House. It's not politics as usual with Kinky who once said "a fool and his money are soon elected'.

Posted by Mary at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz. Beautifully written, inspirational, and brave. Bravo. The best book I've read in 2006.

Posted by Claudia at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Don't miss the latest installement in the series featuring Temperance Brennan. It is titled "Break No Bones." Kathy Reichs, practicing forensic anthropologist, has crafted another great mystery centering around the discovery of a decomposing body at a prehistoric gravesite near Charleston, South Carolina.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 01:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reclusive To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee has an essay about her love of reading in the current issue of Oprah's magazine--her first published work in decades. Check out the new biography Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee or the movie Capote in which Harper Lee figures prominently. Many believe she helped more than a little in the writing of In Cold Blood--her friend Truman's book about the Clutter murders--she's not saying.

Posted by Mary at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Start with a workaholic lawyer who makes a HUGE mistake at
work and end up with a hillarious read about Samantha Sweeting who after
walking out of her office in utter despair knocks on a stranger's door
for help and is mistaken for a housekeeper applying for a job. She gets
the job, but doesn't know a thing about housekeeping and we are so glad
she doesn't because it's just one smile after another while reading
about her adventures. An enjoyable read that I just couldn't put down by
author Sophie Kinsella also know for her "Shopaholic" books. -S.L.

The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
This is the first book that I ready by these authors and was
pleasantly surprised that the book was great! Several different
subplots going on at the same time. All were suspenseful and I couldn't
decide which was the best, I just couldn't wait to keep reading! THUMBS
UP! -L.M.

Posted by Claudia at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Go to Wired for Books and get an alphabetical list of interviews with authors like John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Mary Higgins Clark and many of your other favorite authors.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 08:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Excellent page turner! Couldn't put the book down. Kristin Hannah proved once again how talented a writer she is by bringing her characters to life on almost 400 pages. No matter what their part in the story, they seemed to become a part of the reader. A definite MUST READ! - G.C.

Posted by Claudia at 08:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

High school summer reading list books are available at the library. Even if you're not in high school you may want to reacquaint yourself with an old favorite like Silas Marner or a more recent addition such as The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri --a beautifully written story of one immigrant family's struggle to learn what it means to be an American.

Posted by Mary at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's what you readers are saying:

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Excellent! MH Clark at her best. Great story line and intriguing. Special extra that it takes place in Danbury and Ridgefield.

Left to Tell by Ilibagiza, Immaculée
During the 1994 Rwandan holocaust, Immaculee and 7 other women hid in a small cramped bathroom for 91 days. A triumphant story of faith, hope & forgiveness. - R.M.

Cover of Night by Linda Howard
Thumbs up, but I won’t be checking into the Nightingale B&B or rock climbing anytime soon! - Staff

The Doctor’s Daughter by Hilma Wolitzer
Enjoyed the book. The contrast between a child’s view of her parents’ marriage and what really was, hit home.

Hitched by Carol Higgins Clark
Too fluffy! It’s her typical style but even a little light for a beach book!

My Life by Bill Clinton
An inner look into a professional liar. - S.S.

Posted by Claudia at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Andrea Rock presents a succinct, easy-to-read yet not dumbed-down overview of our most current understanding of how and why we dream. As someone who remembers her dreams quite frequently, I found it fascinating to read about some of the "explanations" as to what crazy things happen in one's head once one falls asleep. While the language gets somewhat technical, it's completely fathomable and even fun to read - it's rare that one can describe a non-fiction science-based book as a "page-turner," but this one is it! Request The Mind at Night. - J.D.

Posted by Claudia at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Deborah Crombie's book "Mourn Not Your Dead" is the subject of our next adult book discussion on July 18 in the Farioly Program Room. Please join us for the book discussion.

More suggestions for mystery reads:

If you like the English police mysteries of MARTHA GRIMES or ELIZABETH GEORGE, try:
Catherine Aird
W. J. Burly
Deborah Crombie
Clare Curzon
Colin Dexter
E. X. Ferrars
Frances Fyfield
Carolyn Graham
Ann Granger
John Harvey
Reginald Hill
Kay Mitchell
Janet Neel
Sheila Radley
Ruth Rendell
Peter Robinson
Dorothy Simpson
Susannah Stacey
June Thompson
Peter Turnbull
Margaret Yorke

Posted by John O'Donnell at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday July 2 marked the 45th anniversary of the suicide of Ernest Hemingway in Ketchum, Idaho (view image for Hemingway home). Hemingway wanted to write one simple true declarative sentence and early in his career he produced outstanding novels. He was responsible for the Hemingway hero, the Hemnigway coda ("grace under pressure") and the Hemingway woman. My favorite Hemingway novel: "A Farewell to Arms." What's yours?

View image

Posted by John O'Donnell at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)