What the postcard didn’t say by Shoshanna Shy

A book of mostly upbeat poetry by this Wisconsin author. I don't read much poetry, but I enjoyed Shy's collection. Many of the poems deal with exes, everyday life, though there is one that examines domestic violence from multiple viewpoints. Here’s the title poem.

What the postcard didn’t say #17

Tonight I sleep
On this cabin floor
Tomorrow bleach my hair
Change my name
From now on your dad
Gets to deal with you
I’ll look you up
When you hit 18

BOOK REVIEW


Running wrecked by Mark Combes

In ten words or less: Scuba shop owner find abandoned sailboat adrift—suspects foul play.

Phil Riley escapes from his life on the mainland and buys a dive shop on Isla Tortuga in the Caribbean. He finds a luxury sailboat adrift; no one is on board but he finds an infant’s pacifier. Is there a missing family? When he tows the boat back, Chief of Police Bourgois seems unconcerned. And the Chief seems very chummy with a newcomer to the island—Donald Bennett.
When Riley starts investigating, he is warned to stay out of it. But when his teenage helper Chubby goes missing, and then Riley gets a beatdown, he is determined to find out what Bourgois is hiding.

Why bother? Readers of Randy Wayne White’s Doc Ford series will find a good read here.

BOOK REVIEW

Tuna: a love story by Richard Ellis

In ten words or less: Everything you always wanted to know about tuna.
Because of the popularity of tuna as a food fish, especially in Japan where it is prized as sushi, it is now on the brink of extinction. The seas have been over-

Fished, and now “tuna ranches”—similar to cattle feed lots—have become Multi-million dollar businesses.
Ellis addresses the importance of tuna to the global economy, the ocean ecosystems, and as a food and sport fish. No longer will you take the ubiquitous can of tuna for granted.

Why bother? Great insight into how humans are driving fish and the fishing industry into extinction.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Librarians are my sex symbols. Growing up, other kids had Charlie's Angels. I had my librarian." --Author Sherman Alexie, quoted in Library Journal, November 15, 2008

THIS WEEK: NONFICTION

Worst hard time: the untold stories of those who survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan
One of the worst man made disasters in recent history, the “black blizzards” of the dust bowl were caused in part by unscrupulous land speculators who enticed immigrants and farmers to the great plains. The land there was unsuitable for farming, and coupled with eight years of drought, caused untold misery. Egan interviews survivors of those hard times.

If you enjoyed this book, here are some others that you may like.

Hard Times: an oral history of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel
Terkel interviewed men and women who lived through the Depression of the 1930s. Included were the rural poor, sharecroppers, gangsters, immigrants, and politicians. Pulitzer Prize winner. More stories of personal lives affected by the Depression, in their own words—and not all were stories of hardship. Terkel was a master interviewer.

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Pulitzer Prize winning epic tale of the Joads and their journey from Oklahoma to California. One of the jewels of American literature—it will fill the reader with many emotions, and paints a vivid picture of the times.

Following the harvest: a novel by Fred Harris
Harris, a former Senator from Oklahoma and author of two previous novels, writes a coming of age story. Sixteen year old Will joins a wheat-harvesting crew with his father, and travels to North Dakota. Lots of period detail. Harris’s style is plain-spoken and forthright; a comfortable read.

Dust bowl descent by Bill Ganzel
Photographer Ganzel revisits the subjects of the famous photos of the Farm Security Administration for an update on the faces of the Dust Bowl. Putting faces to the stories of the Dust bowl, this book includes some of the images that immediately come to mind when the Dust bowl is mentioned.

THIS WEEK: CHRISTIAN READING

In Booklist (9/15/2008) an article by John Charles and Shelley Mosley stated, “At their worst, faith-based romances can be staid and dogmatic.”

A Measure of Grace by Al Lacy
Knight Coburn’s father died in a cattle stampede. Knight and his mother are born-again Christians, but Knight wishes his best friend, Jordan Shaw, would become born-again. When Jordan’s parents pressure him to marry neighbor Belinda Ashworth, he decides to advertise for a mail order bride.
Diana Morrow answers the ad. Her father is in jail for beating up a young man who asked to date her, her mother, and he has threatened to beat her when he is released from jail. Diana’s mother is Saved while in the hospital, Diana is Saved while on the train traveling to Idaho, and her father is Saved somewhere along the way. Everyone lives happily ever after—except Jordan, who is eaten by a bear, mostly likely because he was not Saved.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
In a retelling of the biblical tale of Hosea, this is the story of
a prostitute and the upright farmer who marries her. It’s set in the 1850s gold rush era.

Promise me the dawn by Amanda MacLean
In this book set in early 20th century San Francisco, the heroine leaves England to seek her fortune in America. The 1906 earthquake plays a pivotal part in this Christian romance.

Don’t throw away tomorrow: living God’s dream for your life by Robert Schuller
The “Hour of Power” preacher delivers advice and reflections, teaching values and principles with personal stories.

Mosaic: pieces of my life so far by Amy Grant
Christian singer and songwriter Grant offers glimpses into her life as a celebrity and as a wife, mother, and friend.

BOOK REVIEW


Fenzig’s fortune by Jean Rabe

In ten words or less: Gnome gets caught stealing treasure; is sent on dangerous mission.

Fenzig is a gnome who decides to help himself to some of King Erlgrane’s treasure. When caught, the King sends Fenzig on a mission to steal a neighboring Duke’s emeralds. There is a magic sword, a homing spell, dangerous villains, a gypsy peddler of potions, and wizards. The author has written twenty fantasy novels.

Why bother? Humorous—and short—fantasy tale for readers looking for something less than an 800 page tome. Tolkien lite.

October’s Books

Monsters by Roy Milano features wonderful black and white photos from the classic monster films, with essays by descendants of the famous actors, such as Ron Chaney, Bela G. Lugosi, and Sara Karloff. There are additonal essays by actor Jennifer Beals, director John Landis, and makeup artist Rick Baker. But the full page, stunning photos are the highlight of the book. A movie fan must!

Cell by Stephen King
A measure of grace by Al Lacy
Dying in the gutters: CSI by Steven Grant
Soul music by Terry Pratchett
Just a taste by Dierdre Martin
Brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Beyond oatmeal by Carlene Duda
Bloody murder: CSI NY by Max Collins
Dead hot shot by Victoria Houston
Quaker book of wisdom by Robert Smith
Worst hard time by Timothy Egan
Monsters: a celebration of the classics from Universal Studios by Roy Milano
Dolly departed by Deb Baker
Cicada summer by Dallas Releford