Fiction
Adventure Between Mexico and the States
‘All the Pretty Horses’ By Cormac McCarthyThe first of Cormac McCarthy’s “Border Trilogy,” “All the Pretty Horses” follows the young man John Grady Cole on his quest for love and adventure across the U.S. border into Mexico in 1949. There he traverses an era of ranching that’s being swept away by the modern world.
Murder Mystery in the Library
‘The Broken Spine’ By Dorothy St. JamesWhen the town council of Cypress, South Carolina, decides to turn the public library into a tech center, getting rid of all the books, librarian Tru Becket springs into action, storing discarded volumes in a basement vault, where she lends out books under the radar. Meanwhile, the head of the tech project is murdered, crushed by a library bookshelf, and we spend the rest of the story, along with Tru and her two best friends, hunting down the killer. No hanky-panky and no obscenities, it’s a great beach read.
History
Busting Heads in Pre-WW2 America
‘Gangsters vs. Nazis: How Jewish Mobsters Battled Nazis in Wartime America’ By Michael BensonTold in a colorful, Runyonesque style, the tale is about one of the strangest campaigns of the late 1930s. It shows how the Jewish American community organized to fight the German American Bund and other fascist groups in the United States in the years prior to America’s entry into World War II. To break up Nazi rallies and bust heads, the community enlisted Jewish gangsters, the author claims—not “good guys” protecting the American way. This is a fascinating and entertaining read.
Tech Knit into Society’s Fabric
‘The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World’ By Virginia PostrelFabric is interwoven with our history and our civilization. Its creation is a story of human ingenuity. Postrel examines textiles’ building blocks and then the finished cloth. She demonstrates how making textiles drove civilization. Collecting enough fiber, spinning it into thread, and weaving it—for just a single bolt of cloth—was tremendous work when everything was done by hand. You may never take cloth for granted again.
Biography
Keys to His Heart
‘Chopin’s Piano: In Search of the Instrument That Transformed Music’ By Paul Kildea“Chopin’s Piano” focuses on Polish composer Frédéric Chopin’s creation of his 24 Preludes and the pianino he used while staying in Mallorca, Spain. This is only the beginning of a journey describing in delicious detail the development of piano-making and how music is transmitted, transformed, and interpreted through the ages.
Classics
Finding the Right Path
‘Great Expectations’ By Charles DickensAlthough it’s centered on orphan Pip Pirrip, this coming-of-age novel also features such characters as the half-insane Miss Havisham, a bride jilted at the altar who wears her wedding dress the rest of her life; her beautiful adopted daughter Estella, whom she raises as a cold-hearted weapon of revenge on men; and Magwitch, a convict who eventually looms large in Pip’s later life. In the entangled relationships of these people are battles between the real values of honesty, affection, and loyalty versus status and money.
For Kids
Young Person’s Guide to the Bard
‘Stories From Shakespeare’ By Marchette ChuteIs your high school student struggling with “Macbeth” or “Romeo and Juliet”? Chute’s retellings will ease their pain, give them a clear picture of each play, and deepen their appreciation. This is a well-written, readable, and wise guide.
The Journey of Life
‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’ By Dr. SeussA fun and inspiring children’s read-aloud book and a favorite graduation gift to boot, Dr. Seuss’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” is a confidence-boosting book that chronicles the journey of life and is relatable to readers of any age.
