Books

What We're Reading...

Beth Says:

Benny & Shrimp by Katerina Mazetti
This perfect beach read is light and humorous on the surface, with greater truths about self and relationship underneath. Benny and Shrimp couldn't be more poorly matched...is it possible for them to adjust for one another and still stay true to their selves? Delightful little gem of a book.

Bill Says:

Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of FitzcarraldoThis is Werner Herzog's diary he kept during the filming of his masterpiece, Fitzcarraldo ...at times, matter-of-fact and surprisingly poetic. As an artist, Herzog has been incredibly influential to me. I find his persona and views sometimes more compelling than his films, and this book (as well as "Herzog on Herzog" by Paul Cronin) graphically illuminates his manner of being.

Christine Says:

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain: Anthony Bourdain loves food. If you have read "Kitchen Confidential" or watched his show "No Reservations" this book is a delectable treat. Filled with real people, real food, real chefs, "Medium Raw" is more of a collection of humerous, if angry, disjointed essays directed at the food industry in general. All in all, it is a book about the food he loves and the people and chefs he admires.

Dinah Says:

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a biography, a mystery, a historical account of the world's most daring outdoorsmen and a guide to wilderness exploration all in one. The national bestseller traces the path of Christopher McCandless, a young man from an upper class Washington family who after graduating college gave away his possessions and disappeared in 1992 into the wilds of Alaska, never to be seen again.

Hadley Says:

The Summer We Fell Apart by Robin Antalek: A magnificent debut novel from new author Robin Antalek! Four siblings, all seriously flawed characters, vie for role of narrator, telling their sides of the story of their lives. Their unpleasant childhood is reminicent of Jeanette Wall's Glass Castle, and fans of that book will be sure to like this one!

Jonathan Says:

Donkey Gospel by Tony Hoagland: Looking to celebrate National Poetry Month, but think you're not the poet type? Pick up Donkey Gospel, which is sure to delight. Never flowery, trite, or grandiose, Hoagland is quirky, wacky and often irreverent. Quick and clever, he brings a poet's insight to the often banal without once batting an eyelash or feigning suicide.

Rozena Says:

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman: The His Dark Materials series are truly mind-expanding and some of my
alltime favorite books. I first read the trilogy when I was ten, loving Pullman's fantastic imagination and flawless storytelling. I then rediscovered the series at the age of seventeen and was so moved by Pullman's genius that I can honestly say these books have had a palpable impact on my life. The story is, among so many other things, a masterful recreation of Milton's Paradise Lost. The Golden Compass begins the series. While it is an excellent read, it only gives glimpses of Pullman's brilliance; it is not until the the second book, The Subtle Knife, that the reader begins to reach enlightenment.