Cat of the Century

Rita Mae Brown, and her co-author Sneaky Pie Brown (her beloved tiger cat) have written another entertaining cozy! Cat of the Century is the eighteenth book in the "Mrs. Murphy" series starring Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen, former postmistress of the town of Crozet, VA. I whole-heartedly believe you should read these books in series order, as the characters develop with each story and if you begin in the middle you might be confused as to who is who and why they act the way they do! Crozet is your typical small southern town---everyone knows everyone else and tries to meddle in your business, but in a charming way, of course. Harry is a farmer, and is descended from a long line of Virginians who instilled in their children a love of the land, animals and proper manners. In Cat of the Century, Harry is attending a reunion at William Woods College, because her Aunt Tally is the featured speaker and the reunion has been planned around her 100th birthday celebration. The mystery, in this book, occurs when several alumni association officers wind up dead. Even though Harry never attended William Woods, she is thrust thick in the middle of the mystery when she attempts to discover who murdered the officers and for what reason. Harry's trusted companions, her cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter and her dog Tucker, along with Aunt Tally and he best friends' animals, use their animal intelligence to help Harry solve the case. I enjoy this series because the animals talk to each other, and the reader hears their thoughts, but humans cannot understand them and they must use their wits to communicate. These books are great for mystery lovers who love animals and prefer their mysteries not too violent. Check out Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie on their website at ww.ritamaebrown.com.

One Funny and Classy Lady

This blog post has been written by Evangeline, the library's Local History Librarian!

When I was a little girl, I remember watching reruns of the Carol Burnett show on television. I may not have gotten every joke, but I knew it was funny (You really don't seem to find that kind of comedic talent these days). In her latest memoir, This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection, Carol Burnett shares some of the most intimate and poignant thoughts about growing up, as well as discusses her time in show business. She has recently been touring in a show that resembles the question and answer segment she used to do at the beginning of her famous variety show; and this book contains the answers to some of the most often asked of those questions. There are stories about famous people: Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant and even Marlon Brando. There are stories about each of the members of the cast from the Carol Burnett Show--Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Wagoner, Harvey Korman, and, of course, Tim Conway. My favorite stories, though, are those personal stories that she includes about her children, her Nanny, her pets and the everyday people she meets. Be on the lookout for the story of the time she had to take her little dog to the vet in New York during a full blown blizzard, or the time that she was on an airplane with a bunch of Japanese businessmen. One of my personal favorites is the time she was "almost" mugged in New York City! All of these stories illustrate the determination and wit Carol Burnett has used throughout her life to achieve her goals and entertain the masses. She is a regular person with a great talent who is loved by millions. This book is a wonderful and uplifting read and I highly recommend it to those who love Carol Burnett or those who just love good stories.

Saving Gracie

I read a book I could not put down! It contained suspense, horror, murder, retribution and joy. What is this must read book? The title is Saving Gracie: How One dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills by Carol Bradley. The world of puppy mills is frankly awful. The statistics listed in the book are horrifying. Dogs are bred over and over again in cages with not enough room to stand up in and are confined there with their own excrement. If injuries occur, including broken bones or the loss of a limb, they must endure with no medical help. They are useful until they can no longer breed and then they are shot, poisoned, drowned, etc. as one of the many methods used to end their lives. By 2007 the Humane Society of the United States estimated from two to four million puppy mill dogs were sold in the United States and the number of puppy mills had risen to 10,000. In some areas they are regarded as a cash crop. Gracie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was rescued from a breeder with 337 other dogs. She was so matted that she had to be completely shaved. Along with the skin infections, her ears were infected and filled with mucus. She had a case of dry eye so advanced that it had left her half blind and her teeth were almost completely decayed. She was eventually adopted but showed severe emotional problems that her owner had to work hard to overcome. Today she is a beloved pet that will always have some issues but now she is a member of a family and just not a puppy producer.

Gourmet Game Night

While many types of entertainment have suffered during the recession, the popularity of board games is on the rise. And with more game nights at home, there of course is the need for more hours d'oeuvres. Gourmet Game Night by Cynthia Nims comes to the rescue and applies several different snack strategies in an effort to eliminate such social dilemmas as sticky playing cards, greasy dice, and stained Monopoly money. Skewers make for a perfect hands-off approach to treats like lamb and olive kebabs and herb-marinated shrimp. Sandwiches are a time-honored way to stay dainty. Among the ten offered are chicken salad with orange and walnuts and petits croque monsiers with Gruyere and plum tomatoes. And if it is a food that cannot be stabbed or placed between slices of bread, it can probably be miniaturized and self-contained. Witness the baby baja tacos, where seafood, cilantro, and sour cream are wrapped tight in a six-inch tortilla, or the stuffed large pasta shells with kale-rocotta filling. Nims also includes tiny desserts such as mocha cheesecake bars and large drinks like lava lounge punch, with rum and Chambord, to help placate sore losers.

Bite Me! A Love Story...

Christopher Moore is the master of black comedy and his books are always a treat to read! Bite Me is his latest novel, and is the last installment in a trilogy (Bloodsucking Fiends is the first book, and You Suck is the second). Bite Me stars San Franciscan goth girl Abby Normal and her brainiac boyfriend, Stephen "Foo Dog" Wong. They are chasing a huge vampire cat and his vampire kitty minions, but life becomes more complicated when three ancient vampires intent on revenge arrive in the city. The "old ones" want payback for a few deeds Abby and Foo Dog committed in the earlier books, and Abby and Foo are forced into many different actions in order to save their friends, themselves, and ensure the safety of San Franciso. I really enjoyed the appearance of characters from the first two books, especially the Animals (the night stock crew at the Safeway supermarket) and the self-proclaimed "Emperor of San Franciso" and his "men" (a Boston Terrier and a Labrador Retriever). the book is peppered with contemporary slang and some rough language, but it accurately reflects the life of a twenty-something-year-old today, albeit with a lot of vampirism thrown in! Christopher invites all his readers to visit his website at http://www.chrismoore.com/ and e-mail him at BSFiends@aol.com.

House Rules

Every time I read a Jodi Picoult novel, I think to myself, "I'm not reading any more gut wrenching books"....but somehow...I always succomb to reading the next book she publishes. Picoult's latest, House Rules, is another example of fine writing by this author. I truly enjoy how she tackles huge issues (such as leukemia, school shootings, missing children) in such a way that the issue becomes deeply personal for the reader. House Rules focuses on one family, single mom Emma and her two sons Jacob and Theo. Jacob has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (it's related to autism and basically means that Jacob is a brilliant kid who has crippling social and communication skills, who can barely function in the world, and is extremely sensitive to external stimuli such as light and sound), and Emma's whole world is focused on Jacob's daily life. Jacob is eighteen, attends regular high school and has a "social skills coach," Jess, who helps teach him how to act in social situations. Jacob mostly functions okay, except when his carefully structured day is interrupted and he is thrown into super meltdown mode. Emma, Jacob and Theo exist as well as they can until Jess mysteriously dies one day and suspicion falls on Jacob. The exploration of the family dynamics is the best part of this book--I learned a lot of information I didn't know about Asperger's disease and now appreciate the intricacies of life of those who have been diagnosed. If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult try also reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

Law Abiding Citizen

I have a friend who is a BIG fan of Gerard Butler, so naturally, I have to see every movie he plays in so I can discuss the particulars with her. His latest movie, Law Abiding Citizen, has just been published on DVD and is a 3-Day check-out movie at the library. The basic premise of the movie is that Gerard Butler plays the role of Clyde Shelton, an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter were brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice (played by Jamie Foxx) is the up-and-coming Philadelphia prosecutor assigned to the case. Nick is forced to offer one of the suspects a lighter sentence in exchange for his testifying against his accomplice. Ten years later the killer who received the lighter sentence is found dead, and Clyde admits his guilt. Clyde then issues a warning to Nick that he needs to fix the flawed justice system or else other key players in the trial will die. Shelton soon follows through on his threats, orchestrating a string of murders from his jail cell. The movie is very intense, action-packed and full of surprises. Clyde is an ingenious killer and Jamie Foxx plays a great "good guy." It is refreshing to see Gerard Butler play the crafty criminal, and the special effects are wonderful. I think this movie would be great for any fan of taught, suspense-filled thrillers.

Be Crafty with Martha Stewart!

I have been eagerly waiting for the publication of Martha Stewart's latest book, the Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. The book includes basic techniques for sewing, applique', embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing, plus 150 inspired projects from A to Z. It also includes a CD featuring "print-at-home" patterns and templates! Being a quilter and craft lover, looking at this book made my fingers itch to start another project (just ignore the three half-finished quilts I have currently at my house). The book has beautiful pictures and great ideas for projects such as drawstring pants, box pillows and cases, duvet covers, sarongs, handkerchiefs, roman shades, and upholstered dining room chairs. The instructions are detailed and pictures illustrate many of the steps involved with each project. The book ends with a nice section (with colored picture examples) of tools and materials needed to complete the projects, and a buyer's guide, with phone numbers, for each of the projects. If you are thinking about a perfect gift for your crafty friend or relative (or your friendly local librarian), this book is a real winner!

Get a Handle on Herbs and Nutritional Supplements

Every time I work our library's Circulation Desk I discover a really interesting book that I just have to read! The book I found yesterday is Guide to Herbs & Nutritional Supplements: What You Need to Know from Aloe to Zinc by Laura Shane-McWhorter. Endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, this book is essential reading for anyone, diabetic or not, who decides to treat their ailments with natural dietary supplements. The best part of this book is the beginning--the author's preface quickly notes that dietary supplements are not the "end-all-be-all" answer to curing a person's disease. Shane-McWhorter states that all patients should use dietary supplements with guidance from a medical professional on their benefits and cautions. The book does not recommend specific supplements or brands, but gives general information on the safety and effectiveness of many commonly used supplements. Each entry lists the supplements common name (and other names it is called by), uses, the dosage amount, and studies completed on the supplement, and a list of side effects and drug interactions. The only thing that might have made this book better would be pictures of the individual supplements in the forms you would take them. I think this book would be an excellent choice for persons seeking information on the pros and cons of dietary supplements.

The Seventh Witch

The Seventh Witch is the latest book in the Ophelia and Abby Jensen series by Shirley Damsgaard. Ophelia is a small-town librarian in Iowa who has inherited her supernatural talents from a long line of her ancestors. Her grandmother, Abby is talented also, and together they make a great team. The setting of this book is a change from the usual--Ophelia, Abby and Ophelia's adopted daughter Tink travel to the hills of North Carolina for Great-Aunt Mary's 100th birthday. In this small southern town, Ophelia's family is known for its magical abilities, but a vengeful local witch wants revenge for events from the past. Ophelia must use her talents to save her loved ones, before revenge takes them over and bad blood turns deadly! I love the family relationships in this series, as well as Ophelia's reluctant acceptance of her witch heritage. I recommend reading this series in order, as the relationships develop throughout the books.