Henry’s Sisters by Cathy Lamb Copyright 2009 352 p.
This is an excellent book. Heartbreaking and funny at the same time. It is about three sisters, Cecilia, Isabelle and Janie and their domineering mother. Their mother, who is a holy terror, needs open heart surgery and so the two sisters who live away from their home town come home to help out and take care of Henry who is mentally challenged. As the book unfolds we see that all of the family is damaged in different ways and all face their challenges as the book progresses, from a cheating husband, to a problem with alcohol and obsessive compulsive disorder. Throughout the book, one gets the sense that Henry, while not the main character is the glue that holds the family together.
There is a note of humor with the grandmother who thinks she is Amelia Earhart. The book is wonderful and heartbreaking. I loved it. The character of Henry reminded me of my brother, Matt, who is also mentally challenged, though not the degree Henry is. The things that happened to Henry remind me that they can also happen to Matt, which is terrifying.
This is a wonderful book for fans of Jodi Picoult and anyone else who loves a gripping story with strong female characters. I strongly recommend it.
Young adult fiction is fiction that generally has adolescents and teens as protagonists dealing with the issues facing youths today; with many being “coming of age” stories. Young Adult fiction is targeted to adolescents age 12-18.
The main distinction between Juvenile Fiction (chapter books for children ages 6-11) and Young Adult Fiction is the challenges the protagonists face. In Juvenile Fiction, protagonists face issues which confront elementary school aged children such as friendship, peer pressure, school and the occasional problems at home. In Young Adult fiction, the protagonists face more complex problems including substance abuse, peer pressure, relationships, sexuality and bereavement. Also, young adult fiction often includes graphic language. In the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, both Manga (Japanese comic books) and Graphic Novels (hardbound comic books) which include violence, language and some nudity, may be found in this section.
Why is this in the library? Not only is the Cavendish Fletcher Community library a school library, it is a town library. As such we have a responsibility to serve the needs of all patrons, including young adults with as much quality reading materials as possible. Young Adult fiction can be quality reading materials.
Can my child check this stuff out? At this time we actively discourage children under grade 6 from checking out the books. If a young child is adamant about checking out an item from this section, we request a parent phone call or note before allowing the materials to go out.
No Way to Treat a First Lady by Christopher Buckley Audible Download
I chortled my way through Christopher Buckley’s audio book No Way to Treat a First Lady. It is truly wonderful to look forward to driving to work simply because you want to hear what happens next in an audio book. Buckley whose books never fail to delight didn’t disappoint with this one.
It’s the story of First Lady, Beth McMann who is charged with assassination when her husband, the president is found dead in bed with her sporting a large bruise on his forehead. She hires “Shamless” Boyce Baylor to defend her, even though the two of them had been an item in law school and she had dumped him for her late president. Chaos ensues as the “trial of the millennium” goes underway. What made this book irresistible to me are the many references and thinly disguised Washington characters who find their way into the book. The character of District Attorney General Clintock can only be Marcia Clark. The presiding judge, Judge Uman bears a distinct resemblance to Judge Ito. The trial itself, complete with jury tampering, conspiracy theories and as much objecting as possible becomes an OJesque farce. Add to this the first couple who strongly resemble the Clintons giving the whole listen a wonderful sense of the absurd. And if you can’t tell who Babette van Anka is, well you’re just not trying!
This audio book is charming, funny, and full of puns. Check it out for a listen soon.
The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale 339 pages, copyright 2009.
I generally don’t write reviews about books I don’t really like, but I’m going to make an exception in the hopes of saving the time of unsuspecting readers. The Actor and the Housewife tells the tale of Becky Jack, a Mormon housewife who writes movie scripts in her spare time. She flies to Hollywood to discuss the sale of a script and meets Felix Callahan, a movie star. The two become friends.
The story twists on and on with Becky and Felix deciding not to spend time together because it bothers a spouse, then getting back together. The only novelty in the book is that they are friends who are not of the same gender.
There are a few predictable plot twists, some crying and wringing of hands. I kept reading it because I was stuck under a hairdryer at the beauty parlor and I kept hoping it would get better. Really, the best part of this book was the ending, and it was unsatisfactory.
Don’t read this book.
This book will be hidden behind a potted plant at the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library. Please don’t ask for it.
Seriously, it can be found on the shelves in the library, but spare yourself the trouble. I can suggest a much better book.
Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar Copyright 2004
“What if” may be the two most powerful words in the world. Mark Millar takes that phrase and elevates it to an art form in his graphic novel Superman: Red Son. The story answers the question “What if Superman’s ship had landed in Soviet Russia?” For those of you who might not have read the original comic book, Superman’s ship crashed in Smallville when he was a baby and he was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent. He grew up and moved to Metropolis where he fights for truth, justice and the American Way.
In this case, his rocket lands in Ukraine in 1938 where he is raised by peasants. As an adult he moves to Leningrad. He devotes himself to saving the Russian people and eventually determines that the only way to do that is by become president of the Soviet Union. Paralleling his life is the life of Lex Luthor, who as in the “regular” DC universe devotes himself to destroying Superman. There are many supporting characters who appear in the “real” comic book series who appear in this as well, including a Batman like figure and Wonder Woman. The whole story is tied together with beautiful artwork by Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett. It is well written, well drawn and a tribute to those who survived the cold war and who, like me, like to wonder “what if”. It also features a few real suprises in the tale and a twist in the ending that really surprised me.
If you read one graphic novel, read this one.
Superman: Red Son
may be checked out of the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library.