Book Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey by Author C. Clarke reviewed by Sergio Ragno

2001: A Space Odyssey was a joint project between Stanley Kubrick and Author C. Clarke, the two hammered out the basic premise together and then split to actualize the story in their respective mediums. As such Clarke’s Space Odyssey should be very familiar and shed light on elements left ambiguous in Kubrick’s vision but is distinct enough that it can be appreciated as its own entity and neither project can accurately be treated as a Rosetta stone for the other.

Movie Review: 2001 A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey reviewed by Sergio Ragno

I don’t believe much needs to be said about the ground breaking masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. Director Stanley Kubrick set out to tell the greatest science fiction story in history, deeply insightful and scientifically accurate, a love letter from humanity to the stars that have fascinated us since we first gazed upon the heavens, and it is hard to deny his victory towards that end.

Book Review: The Time Traveling Fashonista and Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile

The Time-Traveling Fashionista and Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile by Bianca Turetsky reviewed by Sarah Kramer

4 out of 5 stars.

This book, third in the Time-Traveling Fashionista series (see also The Time-Traveling Fashionista on Board the Titanic and The Time-Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antoinette) is a pure delight to read. Main character Louise Lambert is obsessed with vintage fashion, and has discovered that certain pieces of vintage clothing take her back in time. This third adventure takes place in the ancient past, where Louise gets to experience life as a servant to Cleopatra, and all of the dangers that come with that position. Author Bianca Turetsky manages to teach you about history in a fun way, without making you feel like you're sitting through a lecture, and also makes you want to learn more about the different time periods in which Louise finds herself.  Speaking of main characters, Louise is quite likable; a 12 year old who is struggling to find the confidence to be herself, no matter how different that might make her from her classmates. The drawings throughout the book only serve to round out the story. It's not often you find illustrations in a book aimed at this age group, but these are a treat.

Book Review: Me Before You

Me Before You  by Jojo Moyes reviewed by Nina

A brief overview, I don’t want to reveal too much!
Louisa “Lou”, a young woman that had never left her small town worked in a local tea shop, and when the tea shop closed she had to look for other employment.  With little experience or training she accepts a position as a caregiver for Will, who was a high flying executive before an accident left him paralyzed. They gradually warm to each other and develop a touching friendship.
It is a beautiful, touching story with endearing characters.

***** Stars

Book Review: Audrey Bunny

Audrey Bunny by Angie Smith, Illustrated by Breezy Brookshire Reviewed by Sarah Kramer

Audrey Bunny, a picture book by Angie Smith, is a heartwarming standout. It tells the story of a stuffed bunny who's ashamed of a mark on her fur, and afraid that because of it no child will want her. However,when a little girl named Caroline chooses the bunny, names her Audrey, and makes her a treasured part of her life, the newly-named Audrey Bunny discovers the sweetness of loving and being loved. Through it all, though, Audrey Bunny is afraid that when Caroline discovers her mark, she will stop loving her. Thankfully, there's a happy ending, and kids (and grownups) will be encouraged by the message that we are loved, imperfections and all. The cozy illustrations by Breezy Brookshire are an added treat.

5 Stars

Book Review: Extinction

Extinction: A Thriller by Mark Alpert Reviewed by Sergio Ragno

I’m going to be honest with you.  I picked up Extinction because of the cool cyber arm on the cover.  I have a real weakness for Sci-Fi Espionage stories, and I guess I just have good instincts because Extinction ended up being a member of that rare genre, and an excellent one at that!  Extinction uses very topical world events such as the War on Terror, Wiki-Leaks, and Artificial Intelligence as a foundation to explore the boundaries between man and machine, and reveals the line to be more ethereal than one may assume, and on a more haunting note, may vanish via our own misguided machinations.

Book Review: The Wife's Tale

The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens reviewed by Ellen

The story centers around obese, middle-aged Mary Gooch who has lost herself in food trying to fill the voids in her marriage and in life in general. When her husband bails after 25 years of marriage, she sets off in search of him. We realize long before Mary does that subconsciously she is really in search of “Mary”. Along the way she befriends all kinds of quirky, but heartwarming characters who teach Mary that for every loss, there’s an eventual gain.

(I give it 4 ½ stars.)

Book Review: Untold Story

Untold Story by Monica Ali Reviewed by Sarah Kramer

The cover image is immediately engrossing. The portrait of a woman, recognizable even from a profile view–a beautiful blonde princess–is obviously the late Diana, Princess of Wales. And as such, I was predisposed to dislike this novel. After all, I reasoned, the woman at the heart of it has been dead for over a decade. This book could have easily been just another unscrupulous attempt to make money off of the lightening-rod name of Diana. Ali, however, draws the reader into her imaginary alternate reality skillfully, and without a crass attempt at commercialization of the princess.

Book Review: Food Rules

Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan (with illustrations by Maira Kalman) Reviewed by Sarah Kramer

This slim, brightly illustrated book is easily read in a day, and depending on what kind of information you are looking for, this can be either good or bad news. If you’re searching for a detailed guide to nutritional choices, you would be better off referring to Pollan’s other works, such as In Defense of Food or The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

However, if what you’re looking for is some nutritional advice condensed into 83 pithy entries–some entries so brief that they only consist of a title (see #22 and #23)–you’ve picked up the right book. Pollan divided this book into three subtitles, “What Should I Eat?”, “What Kind of Food Should I Eat?”, and “How Should I Eat?” and the entries are divided accordingly. For example, you’ll find “Don’t let yourself get too hungry,” which is rule #59, in the last section; and “Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food” (#2) in the first.

Book Review: The After Wife

The After Wife by Gigi L Grazer Reviewed by Sarah Kramer

Readers who are familiar with Ms. Grazer’s works know what they’re in for when picking up her latest title. Specifically: witty dialogue, a sunny California ambiance, and down on their luck heroines who are determined to get back on top of their game. The After Wife, while a more somber story, is no different. The tale of Hannah Marsh Bernal, whose husband, John, was hit and killed by a Range Rover while out on his bike one morning, starts out obviously heartbreaking. Hannah is left to raise their 3 year old daughter, Ellie, by herself along with her “grief team,” a collection of her closest friends determined to keep her going. But while Hannah navigates her grief, she is also learning to process a spooky new talent–the ability to speak with the dead. Grazer incorporates a hint of mystery when Hannah must track down her husband’s killer (whom the police are resolutely sure is already in custody) but fans looking for a beach read will not be disappointed by the happy ending. Warning: the beginning chapters, as Hannah adjusts to life without John, are guaranteed to be rough–keep tissues nearby!

My rating: 5 stars

For fans of: The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer, Hedge Fund Wives by Tatiana Boncompagni, The Ex Mrs. Hedge Fund by Jill Kargman

Book Review: Wither

Wither (Book 1 in the Chemical Garden Trilogy) by Lauren DeStefano Reviewed by Sarah Kramer

Wither, the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy, is a young adult novel set in a dark dystopian future– and the future, it turns out, is incredibly bleak and rapidly ending. Seventy years before the time in which the novel is set, “science perfected the art of children,” (p. 8) creating embryos without cancer, allergies, or other various ailments. At first thought, this sounds like paradise. Unfortunately, as protagonist Rhine explains, what humankind didn’t realize was that the children and grandchildren of those embryos were doomed to be “born healthy and strong, perhaps healthier than our parents, but our life span stops at twenty-five for males and twenty for females. For fifty years the world has been in a panic as it’s children die” (p. 9).

Book Review: QuickBooks 2012 for Dummies

QuickBooks 2012 for DUMMIES by Stephen L. Nelson Reviewed by Liz Grantham

I began using QuickBooks in January of this year with a couple hours of training, so I found QUICKBOOKS FOR DUMMIES 2012 to be a great resource.

While there’s a lot of help built into the program, this manual has directions that are very easy to understand and especially helpful when doing things for the first time, like balancing a bank statement or printing checks.

Going to the library and checking out manuals for software, allows you the opportunity to decide if you want to purchase these items by previewing them first.

I checked out a few QuickBooks manuals and this one seemed to be the most helpful.

Rating: 8 stars

Book Review: "Silver Linings Playbook"

Silver Linings Playbook by Mathew Quick Reviewed by Kim Rinaldi

I waited to see the movie until after reading this book and I am so happy that I did! I was riveted from the very first page.

The book tells the story of a man who is struggling with mental illness, specifically delusional thinking, brought on by a traumatic experience and by a lifetime of unhealthy family relationships. If you have seen the movie, then you are under the inaccurate impression that this is a love story. Although the story contains those elements, Quick’s book is really about relationships, and how those relationships can literally drive us insane.

This sounds heavy, I know, but Quick manages to present a topic as serious as mental illness in a way that feels ordinary, comical, comfortable, and even sweet. I have never before read a book quite like Silver Linings Playbook. And the fact that it is set in Philly and much of the plot is centered on the Philadelphia Eagles games makes it an excellent choice for Heggan Library customers, and especially for men looking to break out of the espionage and crime fiction genres for a change.

5 Stars!