Great Listens

There are a lot of great audiobooks out there, so I am helping you narrow it down to some of the best readers. The first group is fiction, mysteries, and science fiction/fantasy. The second group is nonfiction and biographies/memoirs. Who are your favorite readers?

Jim Dale

The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone                 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets             

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban            

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire                    

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince                

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows                  

J AD FIC ROWLING and YP AD FIC ROWLING

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern                  

AD FIC MORGENST

 

Jayne Entwistle

Flavia de Luce Series by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie              

The Weed that String’s the Hangman’s Bag          

A Red Herring Without Mustard                         

I am Half-Sick of Shadows                                

AD MYS BRADLEY

Stephen Fry

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams            

AD SF ADAMS

Neil Gaiman  (reads some of his own books)

AD SF GAIMAN 

Neverwhere                                                          

Stardust                                                                   

George Guidall

John Wells Series by Alex Berenson

The Ghost War                                                                                   

The Silent Man                                               

The Midnight House                                         

The Secret Soldier                                           

The Shadow Patrol                                          

AD FIC BERENSON

Gunslinger by Stephen King                               

AD FIC KING

Katherine Kellgren

Austenland by Shannon Hale                                      
AD FIC HALE

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund        

AD MYS PATTERSO

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance

---Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem by Seth Grahame-Smith           

AD FIC GRAHAMES 

Lorelei King

Charley Davidson Series by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right                                    

Second Grave on the Left                                 

AD MYS JONES

Lizzy and Diesel Series by Janet Evanovich

Wicked Appetite                                             

Wicked Business                                             

AD MYS EVANOVICH

James Marsters

The Dresden Files Series by Jim Butcher

Death Masks (#5)                                           

Blood Rites                                                    

Dead Beat                                                     

Proven Guilty                                                  

White Night                                                    

Small Favor                                                    

Turn Coat                                                      

Changes                                                        

AD SF BUTCHER

Will Patton

Hackberry Holland Series by James Lee Burke

Lay Down My Sword and Shield                         

Rain Gods                                                      

Feast Day of Fools                                          

AD MYS BURKE

Kate Reading

Codex Alera Series by Jim Butcher

Furies of Calderon                                           

Academ’s Fury                                                         

Cursor’s Fury                                                  

Captain’s Fury                                                

Princep’s Fury                                                 

First Lord’s Fury                                              

AD SF BUTCHER

The Host by Stephanie Meyer                                     

AD SF MEYER

Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

The Eye of the World                                                

The Great Hunt                                               

The Dragon Reborn                                         

The Shadow Rising                                          

Lord of Chaos (#6)                                         

A Crown of Swords                                          

The Path of Daggers                                       

Knife of Dreams (#11)                                     

The Gathering Storm                                        

Towers of Midnight                                          

AD SF JORDAN

Barbara Rosenblat

Away by Amy Bloom                                                

AD FIC BLOOM

Simon Vance

The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo                        

The Girl Who Played With Fire                          

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest               

AD FIC LARSSON

 

Non-Fiction and Biographies

Julie Andrews (written and read by)

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years                    

AD 791.4028092 ANDREWS

Tony Danza (written and read by) 

I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: 

My Year as a Rookie Teach at Northeast High

AD 371.10092 DANZA                                           

Tina Fey (written and read by)

Bossypants                                                    

AD 792.7028092 FEY

Michael J. Fox (written and read by)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: 

Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned

AD 791.43028092                                                 

Malcolm Gladwell (written and read by)

What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures           

AD 814.6 GLADWELL

Elizabeth Gilbert (written and read by)

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything 

Across Italy, India, and Indonesia:

AD B GILBERT                                                                                            

Edward Herrmann

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption 

by Laura Hillenbrand

AD B ZAMPERIN                                                      

Stephen Hoye

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin 

by Erik Larson 

AD 943.086 LARSON                                            

Diane Keaton (written and read by)

Then Again                                                    

AD 791.43082092 KEATON

Steve Martin (written and read by)

Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life                       

AD 792.7028092 MARTIN

David Sedaris (written and read by)

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim           

Live for Your Listening Pleasure                         

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

AD 814.54 SEDARIS                     

Gary Sinise

Travels with Charley in Search of America 

by John Steinbeck              

AD 917.3 STEINBEC                                               

Patti Smith (written and read by)

Just Kids                                                        

AD 782.42166092 SMITH

Betty White (written and read by)

If You Ask Me: (And Of Course You Won’t)                   

AD 791.45028092 WHITE

Food Fiction

The holidays are a time about food, as well as family and gifts. These books will get you into the dining spirit. There is also a bibliography of these books (with even more books on the list) online and beside the catalog computers. Bon Appetit! 


FIC ANDREWS
by Mary Kay Andrews
Deep Dish   in Large Print and on audio, too




FIC BAUERMEI
by Erica Bauermeister
The School of Essential Ingredients on audio, too




FIC BENDER
by Aimee Bender
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake




FIC BENJAMIN
by Zelda Benjamin
Love by Chocolate Series
Chocolate Secrets
Chocolate Magic
Chocolate Muse




FIC CAPELLA
by Anthony Capella
The Food of Love




FIC CRUSIE
by Jennifer Crusie
Agnes and the Hitman   in Large Print and on audio, too




FIC EDWARDS
by Louisa Edwards
Recipe for Love Series
Can’t Stand the Heat
Just One Taste




SF ESTEP
by Jennifer Estep
Elemental Assassin Series
Spider’s Bite




FIC HARRIS
by Joanne Harris
Chocolat Series
Chocolat                                            in Large Print, too
The Girl with No Shadow   in Large Print and on audio, too
Peaches for Father Francis on audio, too




FIC ISREAL
by Andrea Isreal
The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship




FIC JACOBS
by Kate Jacobs
Comfort Food on audio, too




FIC JAMES
by Kay-Marie James
Cooking for Harry




FIC KELBY
by N.M. Kelby
White Truffles in Winter




FIC KURLANSK
by Mark Kurlansky
Edible: A Novel in Sixteen Parts




FIC MALLERY
by Susan Mallery
Already Home   in Large Print, too




FIC MEHRAN
by Marsha Mehran
Pomegranate Soup




MYS MYERS
by Tamar Myers
Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery Series
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Crime
No Use Dying Over Spilled Milk
Just Plain Pickled to Death
Eat, Drink, and Be Wary
Play it Again, Spam
The Crepes of Wrath
Custard’s Last Stand
Thou Shalt Not Grill
Assault and Pepper in Large Print, too
Grape Expectations
Hell Hath No Curry
As the World Churns
Batter Off Dead                                        in Large Print, too
Butter Safe Than Sorry                              in Large Print, too




FIC SENATE
By Melissa Senate
The Love Goddess’ Cooking School




FIC WIDMER
by Eleanor Widmer
Up from Orchard Street



FIC WINGATE
by Lisa Wingate
Texas Hill Country Series
Texas Cooking
Lone Star Café                                            (on OneClick Digital)
Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner in Large Print, too



FIC WISLER
by Alice J. Wisler
How Sweet It Is

Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics by Ross Douthat

I’m happy to review this book, since I’m related to the author. It’s a bit difficult, however, because the book’s subject matter encompasses some very weighty material, and as well as generating praise and attention, it has also garnered some dismissive, out-of-hand evaluations from reviewers. (But I can, thankfully, offer some summation and pointers without having to settle all such controversies.)

Douthat deliberates that the decline in membership of Protestant mainline and Catholic churches in America is not from simple disenchantment with old fashioned rituals, but instead represents a shift in our allegiance from Christianity to other religions.  These religions may call themselves Christian but they have actually mixed and matched strands of self, power, and nationalism.  Tea party politics are singled out, as is Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling book Eat, Pray, Love, and Joel Osteen’s prosperity preaching. 

Douthat faults many Protestant and Catholic leaders for being too accommodating to modern sensibilities, softening Jesus’ hard core teaching with regard to sacrifice, morality, pain and suffering.  Implicit in these alternative religions, or heresies, is that happiness, material comfort, self actualization, an end to the separation of church and state - whatever is promoted, is what we were meant to have.  In today’s world, an admonition to “pick up your cross” can sound like giving in to difficulties instead of actually looking for new life and meaning in painful situations.

Some critics argue that rather than there being a rise in alternative spiritual beliefs, that heresies exist in every age.  Douthat does not dispute that, but he instead notes how gradually our culture and our sensibilities have become immersed in these concepts.  He mentions the mystical “Force” in Star Wars, among other examples. That made me think of the instance of Professor Dumbledore suggesting to Harry Potter that if their post-Earthly encounter was just happening inside Harry’s head, that it could still be “real”.

In reading this book, it’s a good idea to have a dictionary close by, or better yet, reading on a device that gives you a word’s meaning at the touch of a finger.  I found the book slow going, whether from Douthat’s complex reasoning or simply from the depth of the issues presented.  Maybe that’s more evidence of what Douthat calls ‘accommodation’ in today’s world, where ease and ready access are so highly prized.   But whatever the reason, the extra effort involved was worth it for me, and I recommend our readers to take up that challenge.

To see the book in our catalog, click here. 

In the Bag Video Book Review

Sorry that it has taken so long to finally put out a video book review. This video book review is for the book In the Bag by Kate Klise. Let me know what you think about the video!

Family Fiction Series

Since it is getting so close to the holidays and family time, here are some series that focus on the family to get you into the spirit of things. For a list of these series (and more) look for the bibliography next to the catalog computers or online under Books Lists for Adults.

Mary Balogh                                  FIC BALOGH

Bedwyn Saga

Slightly Married                                      

Slightly Wicked                                     

Slightly Scandalous                                 

Slightly Tempted
Slightly Sinful
Slightly Dangerous

Simon R. Green                        SF GREEN

Secret Histories Series

The Man with the Golden Torc                  

Daemons are Forever                             

The Spy Who Haunted Me                       
From Hell with Love
For Heaven’s Eyes Only
Live and Let Drood

Philippa Gregory                         FIC GREGORY

Tudors Series

The Constant Princess                 

The Other Boleyn Girl                  

The Boleyn Inheritance                

The Queen’s Fool
The Virgin’s Lover
The Other Queen
   

John Jakes                                    FIC JAKES

North and South Series

North and South

Love and War

Heaven and Hell

Karen Kingsbury                           FIC KINGSBUR

Redemption Series

Redemption                                

Remember                                 

Return    
Rejoice
Reunion               

Firstborn Series

Fame                                    

Forgiven                                      

Found
Family 
Forever

  

Lisa Lutz                                         MYS LUTZ

The Spellmans Series

The Spellman Files                      

Curse of the Spellmans                 

Revenge of the Spellmans
The Spellmans Strike Again
Trail of the Spellmans

Nancy Martin                                  MYS MARTIN

Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series

How to Murder a Millionaire               

Dead Girls Don’t Wear Diamonds       

Some Like it Lethal                          

Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die     
Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too
A Crazy Little Thing Called Death
Murder Melts in Your Mouth

No Way to Kill a Lady

Alexander McCall Smith              FIC MCCALLSM

44 Scotland Street Series

44 Scotland Street                            

Espresso Tales                               

Love Over Scotland

The World According to Bertie
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones
The Importance of Being Seven  

Larry McMurtry                             FIC MCMURTRY

Berrybender Narratives Series

The Berrybender Narratives (all four in here)

Sin Killer

Wandering Hill

By Sorrow’s River

Folly and Glory

Julia Quinn                                      FIC QUINN

The Bridgerton Family Series

The Duke and I                                

The Viscount Who Loved Me              

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton                 

To Sir Phillip, With Love
When He Was Wicked  
It’s in His Kiss
On the Way to the Wedding

Mario Puzo                                      FIC PUZO

Mario Puzo’s Mafia Series           

The Godfather

The Sicilian

The Last Don

Omerta

FIC WINEGARD by Mark Winegardner

The Godfather Returns  

The Godfather’s Revenge

The Family Corleone by Ed Falco (FIC PUZO)

Charles Stross                               SF STROSS

The Merchant Princes Series

The Family Trade                              

The Hidden Family                             

The Clan Corporate                            
The Merchant’s War
The Revolution Business
The Trade of Queens

Carl Weber                                      FIC WEBER

Church Series

The Preacher’s Son

So You Call Yourself a Man

The First Lady

Up to No Good  

Susan Wiggs                                    FIC WIGGS

Calhoun Chronicles Series

The Charm School

The Horsemaster’s Daughter

Enchanted Afternoon

A Summer Affair  

              

9 Books That Will Stress You Out

With the holidays coming up, there are probably a lot of people out there that are starting to feel the stress. An article released in the Huffington Post on November 8 listed nine books that will add to that stress. It is up to you whether you want to see if what the Huffington Post says is true, but don't say they didn't warn you. Do you know of any other books that could be called stressful?


House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
FIC DANIELEW

Room by Emma Donoghue
FIC DONOGHUE

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
813.52 FAULKNER


Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
FIC FLYNN

Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
FIC JOYCE

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
SF MARTIN

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
FIC MILLER

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
822.33 SHAKESPE


Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
FIC WALLACE

Quotes about Books

The great thinkers, writers, musicians, politicians, and many others have a lot of things to say about books and reading. I just wanted to share some of them with you. Feel free to comment back with some of your favorites.


“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
― Jorge Luis Borges

“One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles William Eliot

“Here’s to books, the cheapest vacation you can buy.”
― Charlaine Harris

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
― Ernest Hemingway

“Good books don't give up all their secrets at once.”
― Stephen King

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
― C.S. Lewis

“My Best Friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.”
― Abraham Lincoln

“Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.”
― Arnold Lobel

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

“I don't believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.”
― J.K. Rowling

“All the secrets of the world are contained in books. Read at your own risk.”
― Lemony Snicket