BOOK REVIEW

Title: Clemente

Author: David Maraniss

In ten words or less: Terrific biography of the Pittsburgh Pirate great.

Review: Roberto Clemente was the first great Latin American baseball star. The right fielder with the amazing arm spent 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and died in 1972 in a tragic plane crash, while delivering relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. “Clemente never held anything back from the people and gave them more than they had any right to expect from him,” said Joe Brown, Pirates general manager.

Author David Maraniss is a Washington Post staff writer who has written other books, including “First in his class: a biography of Bill Clinton,” (1995) and the Pulitzer Prize winning “When pride still mattered: a life of Vince Lombardi” (1999).

Why bother? Much more than a sports biography—insightful profile of a complex man and the insidious racism of major league baseball.

Insect Fear Film Festival

It's time once again for my favorite film festival. It's about seven hours from the northwoods to Champaign-Urbana, so I hope the weather holds. The theme this year is Japanese insect movies--a tribute to Mothra. For more information, go to http://www.life.uiuc.edu/entomology/egsa/ifff.html

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I had no shoes, and I felt sorry for myself until I met a man with no feet. I took his shoes. Now I feel better." --George Carlin

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"And yet you come bringing me Fink-Nottles. Is this the time for Fink, or any other kind of Nottle?"--P.G. Wodehouse, "Right Ho, Jeeves."

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Ladies’ Man

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

In ten words or less: Handsome young cop falls for older single mother in danger.

Review: Ellen, an English professor at Yale, has a summer fling in New York City with a gorgeous, younger cop named Sam. But will Sam be able to protect her from a deranged stalker? Sam meets Ellen when he is mistaken for a famous author who has agreed to write her uncle’s biography. Fresh from a divorce, Ellen is escaping her suburban Connecticut home for a summer in the city, where she hopes to switch careers and become an actress. After a quick sexual encounter in a limousine, Sam is in love, but Ellen wants just a fling. Who prevails?

Why bother? Romance and danger combine for a satisfying read.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Clearing Customs

Author: Martha Egan

In ten words or less: Gift shop owner is targeted by customs officials.

Review: Folk art dealer Beverly Parmentier is being pursued by crooked agents from the U.S. Customs Service. Beverly is an honest businesswoman who can't figure out why her store is being targeted or why she is being followed, even on a rafting trip on the Yampa River. Could it be that she spoke out on behalf of a fellow importer unjustly accused of smuggling? Or is it her Peace Corps background and her ex-hippie lifestyle?

Martha Egan wrote this novel in 1988 in response to the U.S. customs Service war on small import businesses. Egan was raised in DePere, WI and is a graduate of St. Joseph's Acacemy in Green Bay.

Why bother? Great combination of humor and mystery with a dash of over zealous government agents thrown in for good measure.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Holmes on the Range

Author: Steve Hockensmith

In ten words or less: Two cowboys solve a murder a la Sherlock Holmes.

Review: Gustave "Old Red" Amlingmeyer is a Montana cowboy who dreams of being the Sherlock Holmes of the American frontier. With winter fast approaching and no income to rely on, Old Red and his younger brother Otto "Big Red" hire on as hands at the Bar-VR Ranch. After a stampede, the body of the ranch manager is found, an apparent murder. Soon another man is discovered to have committed suicide--or is it more foul play?
The sights and sounds of the 1890s American west come alive in this mystery-meets-western. This is a first novel from Hockensmith, who is a contributor to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

Why bother? The strange blend of mystery and western works well, because of the likeable brothers.

LOBSTER BOIL WITH ELVIS

That was the sign outside a resort in the Wisconsin Dells this past weekend. Was the lobster named Elvis? Was Elvis boiling lobsters from beyond? So much to ponder.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Cinderella Pact: a Novel

Author: Sarah Strohmeyer

In ten words or less: Overweight friends support each other while trying to lose weight.

Review: Nola Devlin is an editor at Sass! magazine but feels her ideas are not seriously considered because she is overweight. When she turns in sample columns under he own name, she is sure they get tossed straight in the trash. But when she invents sexy Belinda Apple, and submits her identical columns with a picture of the oh-so-trendy Belinda attached, her editor at Sass! is salivating at the thought of snagging Belinda as a contributor.
While the mysterious Belinda is penning columns on weight loss, style, and sex, Nola is making a pact with her two best friends to get in shape over the next six months. Nola has no social life, so what does she have to lose? And her younger sister is sure that Nola is envious of her upcoming wedding, and asks "Belinda" to be her maid of honor.
And then...a handsome computer geek named "Chip" shows some interest in Nola. Is he for real? Lightweight fluff, but readable and fun.

Why bother? Perfect paperback to bring with you on a weekend getaway.

PUGS ON HALLOWEEN

Ruby is not every happy about dressing up for Halloween.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Out of the Frying Pan, into the Choir: a Ruby, the Rabbi's wife mystery

Author: Sharon Kahn

In ten words or less: The murder of a choir member has Ruby investigating.

Review: Temple Rita's choir has a trip to Lake Louise and Banff scheduled but Temple busybody Essie Sue thinks that funds have fallen short. She hires paty planner/grief counselor Bitsy to co-ordinate latke sales in support of the trip.
The choir's lead soprano Serena Salit collapses and dies during the next concert. But the train trip must go on, and despite a warning from her policeman boyfriend, Ruby--rabbi's widow and amateur sleuth--boards the train.
There are plenty of suspects, from Serena's ex-husband to a womanizing tenor. And when Ruby spots a body as she is taking photos from the back of the train, she begins to fear for her safety.
This is a great "kosher cozy"--plenty of humor and Ruby is a thoroughtly likeable heroine.

Why bother? A lighthearted cozy guaranteed to bring a smile. The authors website is http://www.sharonkahn.com

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Cross Bones: A Temperance Brennan mystery

Author: Kathy Reichs

In ten words or less: A skeleton leads Tempe to Israel, seeking an ancient tomb.

Review: After an Orthodox Jew is murdered, a mourner gives Tempe a photograph of a skeleton, and hints it is a clue to the crime. An anthropologist friend tells Tempe the photo was taken in Israel, and the skeleton may be linked to an ancient tomb, one that arguably belongs to the family of Jesus. And are the bones the remains of James, the brother of Jesus?
Reichs combines the elements of a good mystery with history and archeology. "The Da Vinci Code" fans should check out this book.

Why bother? Tempe Brennan fans will not be disappointed, but it's not necessary to read the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read."
--Groucho Marx

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Nerds Like it Hot

Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson

In ten words or less: Witness to a murder hides on a nerds only cruise.

Review: Hollywood makeup artist Gilliam McCormick witnesses a suspect leaving a murder scene. The victim is actor Theo Patterson, and the murderer is Neil Rucker, who lost the starring role that Theo won. To complicate matters, Neil is the stopson of a notorious mobster.

In a panic, Gilliam flees to the home of octogenarian actress Cora, who hires two hot young bodyguards and helps Gilliam to transform herself into a Marilyn Monroe look-alike. They book passage on an "all nerds" cruise.

Most of the cruise is spent trying to figure out if Gilliam is being tailed by a mafia hitman. Included are some humorous situations and hot sex.

Why bother? For fans of romance who like it light, funny, and steamy.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: The Highly Effective Detective

Author: Richard Yancey

In ten words or less: Security guard turned detective investigates the killing of goslings.

Review: Teddy Ruzak always wanted to be a detective, but after he washed out of the police academy, he took a job as a security guard on the night shift. Not endowed with a lot of ambition or drive, there he stayed until his mother died.
He used the money from the sale of her house to bankroll his detective agency. He didn't know he needed a license when he accepted his first case--the hit-and-run murder of a gaggle of goslings. He's in over his head from the beginning.
Ruzak is a likable if somewhat pathetic character--his heart is in the right place but he realizes he doesn't want to do any more work than he has to.

Why bother? A detective for the rest of us--not handsome, fearless, or brilliant--but an average guy in over his head. A refreshing change from the detective-as-superhero.

RESPONDING TO 'THE HATERS'

"You spill love and calm and reassurance....For those of us who have not mastered this advanced technique, a Revolution in Favor of Kindness and Libraries seems like a nice idea."
--Molly Ivins, August 28, 2006

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Lost in the Forest

Author: Sue Miller

In ten words or less: A sudden death affects all members of a family.

Review: Eva is happily remarried, with two daughters by her ex-husband and a small son with her current spouse John. When John is killed in a car accident, the family is thrown into chaos. Eva draws closer to her ex-husband, little Theo doesn't believe his daddy is gone forever, and teenage Daisy is drawn into a sexually abusive relationship with the husband of her mom's best friend. There is graphic sexual description and not the happy ending expected, but characters come to terms with their losses.

Why bother? Fans of domestic fiction by authors like Jane Smiley and Anne Tyler will appreciate the emotion in this story of a family torn apart.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Bookmarked to Die

Author: Jo Dereske

In ten words or less: Humorous mystery featuring humorless librarian solving crimes at work.

Review: Helma Zukas is a 40-something librarian with a relationship with the Chief of Police Wayne Gallant and a suspicious stray cat she has never named. Her library director feels Helma isn't a team player, and orders her to attend a series of self-improvement workshops. And when she organizes a program on local authors, one of them is murdered afterwards. To top it off, her cat is kidnapped and Chief Gallant's ardor is cooling.
This is not the strongest entry in the Miss Zukas series but it's good to see her back.

Why bother? Mystery 'lite' features a likeable if prickly librarian who likes to keep her relationships on a professional level.

BOOK REVIEW

Author: Jane Heller

Title: Some Nerve

In ten words or less: Humorous romance between celebrity journalist and the actor she stalks.

Review: As a celebrity journalist at "Famous" magazine, Ann Roth is about to lose her job unless she can come up with the big interview with reclusive actor Malcolm Goddard. After a disastrous attempt to bribe her way into his favor, he agrees to an interview when she threatens to publishe a not-quite-truthful story about him. But her phobia of flying prevents her from showing up for the interview.
When Ann is fired for not obtaining the story, Ann heads home to small-town Missouri until she can find another job. But surprise! Who shows up but Goddard, checked into the local hospital under an assumed name. A little too much mean spirited deceitin this story to make it totally enjoyable, but a quick, glitzy read for those who enjoy "People" magazine.

Why bother? If you want a smar, celebrity-packed romance, this is it. Not one of Heller's best, but since Olivia Goldsmith's death, Heller leads the pack when it comes to witty romances with plenty of glam.

Jane Heller's website is at http://www.janeheller.com

MOVIE REVIEW

Title: Good luck

Review: Vincent D’Onofrio and Gregory Hines

Seattle Seahawks star receiver Anthony “Olee” Olezniak (D’Onofrio) receives a life-altering injuring during a game—he is blinded by a freak spinal cord injury. After almost a year, he hasn’t adjusted at all to his blindness, and when his ex-lover writes a tell-all book about him, he flies into a rage and throws his furniture out the window.
Geeky dental technician Bernard Lemley, who was paralyzed when a drunk driver ran into his car weeks before his graduation from dental school, was Olee’s biology tutor in college. He asks Olee to go on a whitewater rafting trip with him, to prove that gimps can do challenging outdoor activities. Olee feels he is being used because of his celebrity, but agrees only if Lem agrees to no publicity until after the trip.
Olee complains to Lem at the outset that he hasn’t been to a party, had an erection, or a decent bowel movement since his accident. There is crude toilet and sexual humor here, and a flash of tits at the beginning of the movie, but D’Onofrio and Hines have great chemistry and the buddy story clicks. One of my favorite actors from “Barney Miller,” Max Gail, appears as a marijuana farmer. I borrowed this film from the library, and enjoyed it enough to purchase the DVD.