Eat, Drink and Be from Mississippi

How could I find a title for this blog entry that is any better than the title of this book? Nanci Kincaid's Eat, Drink and Be from Mississippi is a beautifully written, lyrical novel about two kids born in Hinds County, Mississippi and their lives there and in California. The two main characters, Courtney and Truely Noonan are your typical "rural Mississippi" kids- Courtney is destined to grow up as the wife of a blue-collar man, just like her mama, and Truely is a High School football star who is trying to live up to his daddy's aspirations. Their world is fine until Courtney arrives at home one day, delivered by her college roommate, and announces to the family that she wants to move to San Francisco to attend Art School. The family is shocked and scandalized, but Courtney leaves, makes her fortune, and is eventually followed by Truely who makes his own fortune in California. The book follows both Courtney and Truely as they use the values they've learned in Mississippi and their relationships with each other and the folks around them to forge a life and create their own happiness in California. The characters are developed and the descriptions of everyday life in California and Mississippi are wonderful (Courtney makes a mean pot of greens, even if she does live in Saratoga, CA). Nanci Kincaid has written several books, but if you enjoy this one, try also reading As Hot As It Was You Ought to Thank Me. This is a touching story about Berry Jackson, a young teenager growing up in Pinetta, Florida, who spends her days soaking up the lives of her parents, her two brothers and an amusing assortment of odd neighbors and friends. The truths and lies she unearths during her observations help her develop her own sense of self and mature into adulthood.

Peek Inside the Head of Carol O'Connell

The stand-alone novel by Carol O'Connell that I recently read, was a shivery, suspenseful journey for me. Bone by Bone is set in the Northern California town of Coventry and details the story of two brothers who go out into the woods one day and only one returns. No one knows what happened to younger brother on that day, not even his older brother, Oren. Oren becomes an investigator for the Army CID and after leaving that job returns to Coventry after twenty years to visit his family. Oren's visit begins well, until pieces of human bones start appearing on his family's front porch. Are pieces of Josh returning, bit by bit? Who is leaving these mysterious human parcels? Oren is compelled to finally solve Josh's mysterious disappearance, a puzzle that has haunted him and his family for years, but navigating through the layers of secrecy in Coventry is challenging. O'Connell's story features great characters, an on-the-edge-of-your-seat mystery and prose that richly describes Northern California. This book is a great choice for a cold, rainy day as you won't be able to set it down to complete any other tasks, until you are finished!

Guernsey, Not Just the Name of a Cow

I just read a book that made me want to book a vacation to the Channel Island of Guernsey. A book written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, is a heartwarming story set in England and Guernsey right after WWII. Told entirely through letters that are witty and entertaining, this is the story of London author Juliet Ashton and how she comes to learn about the society in the title of the book. It is also much more and tells about the German occupation of Guernsey during WWII. I laughed and cried while reading this book. It is a real treat. Unusual titles have always intrigued me and this one certainly got my attention. Let us hear from you with some unusual titles that have grabbed your attention. We will post about this another day.

Meet Forensic Geologist Em Hansen

My latest mystery "find" is Em Hansen, an engaging protaganist who is an inspiration for all women. She is a forensic geologist trying to exist in the rough and rowdy male world of the oil business. She constantly battles stereotypes and is (most of the time) successful at winning the battles. In A Fall in Denver, the second Em Hansen novel written by Sarah Andrews, Em begins her new job as a Geologist at Blackfeet Corporation in Denver, Colorado, where she is the newest employee and nothing seems to make sense. Em struggles to fit in at a place where no one seems to take her seriously--she feels more at home in jeans than corporate tweed and would much rather be riding her horse on her ranch in Wyoming. On Em Hansen's first day at work, a twenty-seven-year-old accountant plunges from the sixteenth floor of her building, and Em's curiosity takes over as she tries to figure out the accountant's ties to Blackfeet Corporation and his motivation for committing suicide. This is truly engaging mystery story and an author not to be missed.

Author Alexander S. Brown Visits the Library on January 29

Meet a dynamic young author on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the library! A Vicksburg native, author Alexander S. Brown will be in the Library Auditorium from 5:30 - 7:00 PM, giving an author talk about his new book, Traumatized. The book talk will be followed by a reception and book signing. Alexander Brown published his first novel, Sweet Dreams in 2003, when he was only eighteen. The story is in the horror-suspense genre and involves a twisting tale of terror set in the fictional Southern town of Havesnburg in 1935. His second novel, published when he was twenty-three, is a more complex novel that shows his increased maturity and writing style. Traumatized is a collection of fifteen fascinating tales on a variety of topics. The stories examine many subjects, from witches, demons and hell to a disturbing exploration of a new type of sushi that has bizarre effects on those who ingest it. Like many younger authors, Mr. Brown is using new technologies to publicize the publication of Traumatized. The book can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.borders.com/ and copies will be available for purchase at the book signing. He is currently publicizing his book on facebook.com and on his myspace page located at http://myspace.com/alexbrownhorrormaster.

"Steamed" and Mysterious!

For those of you like a little romance with your mystery, I have discovered a great new "Gourmet Girl" mystery series, complete with recipes. This book has a little bit of everything, a touch of romance, a splash of humor, and a sprinkling of great characters. Steamed by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant is the first book in this series. Written by a mother-daughter team, Jessica Conant-Park has a master of social work degree from Boston College and is married to Chef William Park. Her mom is author Susan Conant, who holds a Doctorate on Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is the author of the Cat Lover's Mysteries and the Dog Lover's Mysteries and is the six-time winner of the Dog Writers Association of America's Maxwell Award. Included in the book are six pages of recipes to make a romantic dinner that one of the main characters served to the other. The star of this story, Chloe Carter is always on the quest for the perfect meal and the perfect man. Known on the Internet as the "GourmetGirl," she accepts a date with "DinnderDude" online, she discovers he is just another cheap, boring, egotistical man. When he skips out on paying for dinner because he is stabbed to death in the men's room, Chloe goes on the hunt to find his killer- especially since the prime suspect is a cute chef that she has a crush on. The investigation pushes Chloe into the gourmet restaurant scene where competition is as cutthroat as murder!

Get In (and Out) of Trouble with Bobbie Faye

I just finished reading the hilarious second "Bobbie Faye" novel and I admit that I enjoyed it as much as the first one. And exactly who is Bobbie Faye Sumrall? Why, she is the reigning "Contraband Days Queen" of Lake Charles, LA of course! The first Bobbie Faye Sumrall novel is Bobbie Fay's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day and the second is Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels, both written by Toni McGhee Causey. Bobbie is your typical LA girl, concerned with fashion, food and the next cute guy to enter her life. She descends from a long line of women who have passed down the tiara for the Contraband Days Festival Queen (check out information on this festival at http://www.contrabanddays.com), and takes her royal duties seriously. Unfortunately for Bobbie Faye, trouble just seems to follow her around. If she is not getting shot at, blown up or chased by thugs, she is simply not having a typical day. This fact is the center of the book's hilarity as a Bobbie Faye day is cause for Louisiana's Governor to hide under his desk and the FBI and Homeland Security to be called to help with the battle. Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels opens with Bobbie Faye minding her own business at her job at Ce Ce's Cajun Outfitter (the Louisiana version of an outdoor supply store), trying to talk a mad-as-a-hornet older woman out of purchasing a gun because she's 90% sure she's going to shoot her husband with it. Bobbie Faye's cousin Francesca appears and asks for her help in finding some lost diamonds and trouble begins when a sniper starts taking potshots at Bobbie Faye and Francesca in the store. A madcap adventure ensues, complete with a case of mistaken identity and several hot men vying for Bobbie Faye's attentions. If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" series, you are sure to love these books. Being a native of Louisiana, I enjoyed the descriptions of Lake Charles and its citizens and think any person who likes reading about Louisiana should also try reading these books. Author Toni McGhee Causey lives in Baton Rouge where she and her husband Carl are licensed general contractors. Bobbie Faye even has her own website, at http://www.bobbiefaye.com.

Solve a Mystery with Cape Weathers

I stumbled across the mysteries by author Tim Maleeny, because I really enjoyed the cover of his first book, Stealing the Dragon. The cover features the back of a woman covered by an intricate dragon tattoo. The art hooked me instantly! The author mixes wry humor and a serious plot in his third Cape Weathers mystery, Greasing the Pinata, which was published in 2008 (the second book in the series is 2007's Beating the Babushka). In this book, Jim Dobbins, a recently retired California state senator, and his drug-addict son, Danny, disappear in Mexico and Dobbins's estranged daughter hires San Francisco reporter-turned-private investigator Cape Weathers to find them. Weathers travels to Mexico only to learn that the mutilated bodies of both father and son have surfaced in a Puerto Vallarte golf course's alligator-infested pond. Aided by Sally Mei, his Triad-trained associate, Weathers pursues a case that reaches from a Mexican drug cartel to the San Francisco mob as well as the city's boardrooms. This series features an appealing hero, well-crafted villains, snappy dialogue and an energetic plot. The most fascinating part of these books is Cape Weathers association with the Triad through Sally Mei. Sally is deadly but charming, and the reader can't help but be drawn in to her life and how she sees the world.

Get a Head Start on Christmas 2009!

I know, you probably groaned when you read that title, but I am a big fan (and I know there are others out there) of taking advantage of "After-Christmas" sales, especially since our economy is not so wonderful these days. I confess that on New Year's Eve, since the library was closed, I was one of those folks visiting our local craft stores and hunting for bargains for next year's holidays. I did find some wonderful deals on Christmas papers, both scrapbook and decorative, as well as on materials to make Christmas cards. So...now that you have taken advantage of these sales, what will you do with all of the goodies you have purchased? Try getting a jump start on Christmas 2009 with Papercrafts for Christmas: Making Cards and Decorations by Judy Balchin and Polly Pinder. The book has stunning pictures of the completed projects, as well as easy-to-follow directions for even the novice crafter! This book contains three sections: Making Christmas Cards, Making Christmas Tree Decorations, and Making Christmas Table Decorations. I really appreciate the "Basic Materials" pages in each section, because it helps the reader get a sense of how many different materials they will need to complete each craft in the section. It might seem a little crazy, but if you are still in the Christmas mood after New Year's Day, try starting a project for Christmas 2009!