A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   R   S   T   U   V   W   Y   Z 
Previous    Next  

Leslie Feinberg
Stone Butch Blues
a favorite of Jim's, Administration
I was introduced to Stone Butch Blues during the development of the Library's Transgender Resource Collection. I knew nothing about the book, but was intrigued by the blurb on the book jacket that it was an "underground classic" published in 1993 which had gone out of print, and was re-released in 2003. Since reading Stone Butch Blues, I have been recommending it because I think it deserves a wide audience. Anyone interested in recent American history, social movements, labor and unions, portrayals of working class people, sexual and gender issues, will find much to appreciate in Stone Butch Blues. The book tells the story of the American experience from the late 1940's through the late 1980's through the eyes of Jess Goldberg, a butch lesbian growing up in Buffalo, New York. The novel skillfully reflects the social movements during the period that changed this nation: civil rights, anti-Vietnam War, Women's Liberation, and Gay Liberation through their effects on Jess. Author Feinberg vividly portrays the fear of not fitting in, and the violence that being different provokes. 12/17/07
view title in Library Catalog

Katie Fforde
Wild Design
a favorite of Irene's, Information Services
Frothy, frivolous, and fun. Althea Farraday, 38-year-old divorcee, has a midlife crisis. To her dismay, she has been deemed redundant and loses her job as the school secretary. She loves flower gardening but feels she can't earn enough money as a garden designer. She then loses her house to her philandering ex-husband and current flame, the young voluptuous and extremely fit Topaz. Her three teenage children need more and more in the way of financial support. Juno, her domineering, younger sister tells her she is not fit but rather flabby. Then she meets handsome, wealthy Patrick Donahue and falls madly in love. Sparks fly and posies bloom. A delightful read. 8/2/01

Jonathan Safran Foer
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
a favorite of Donna's, Maze Branch Library
Generally I do not like modern novels. Too many books and too little time means I wait until a novel has held its own for fifty or more years before it gets on my "must read" list. This book may have changed my mind. Foer's story is about a nine year old boy who lost his father in the World Trade Center on September 11th. A year later while exploring his father's still filled closet, he comes across a key and sets out on a search of the five boroughs of New York City to discover what lock his father's key opens. A parallel story is that of the boy's grandfather who experienced the trauma of the fire-bombing of Dresden during World War II and never quite recovered. For those who usually read only dusty, old classics, try this book to experience a great contemporary novel. 9/1/05
view title in Library Catalog

Jonathan Safran Foer
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
a favorite of Nancy's, Information Services
recommendation: Oskar Schell is an unusual 9 year-old kid, and an appealing, endearing one. His integrity and emotional honesty are beguiling, although somewhat inappropriate, and his sense of humor is "pun"ishing, and off the wall. This engaging story of Oskar's search for a piece of his dead father's life (who died in the World Trade Tower bombings) includes constant and painful questioning and reflection, journeying all over New York City, crossing paths with an interesting and odd assortment of people. A subplot involving his grandparents, survivors of Dresden's WWII firebombing, verges on the tragic, and beautifully illuminates the story. This book fully deserves the "humorous fiction" category, and the offbeat humor is enormously entertaining. 11/1/06.
view title in Library Catalog

Gianni Francione
Bali Modern: The Art of Tropical Living
a favorite of Karen's, Technical Services
A beautiful book featuring Balinese architecture and interior design. The writer and photographer present gorgeous examples of contemporary residences, stunning resorts, shops, and restaurants. The swimming pools are amazing! A wonderful book for browsing and dreaming of tropical places. 12/2/03
view title in Library Catalog

H. Bruce Franklin
Vietnam and Other American Fantasies
a favorite of Jim's, Administration
The war in Afghanistan and the amorphous War On Terrorism, has sparked a renewed interest in the Vietnam War and its lessons. H. Bruce Franklin, Professor of English and American Studies at Rutgers University, has gathered together a number of topics pertaining to that War and presented them in an insightful, fascinating manner. Franklin discusses the use of images that came out of the War, the manipulation of the history of the antiwar movement, Vietnam veteran literature, the myth-making and lies surrounding the POW/MIA issue, and the consequences for the future. I highly recommend. 5/1/02

Alexandra Fuller
Scribbling the Cat: Travels with an African Soldier
a favorite of Irene's, Information Services
Scribbling the Cat is a true story of Fuller's journey back through Africa's war-ravaged history with K, a deeply scarred veteran of the Rhodesian Light Infantry Commando Unit in the Rhodesian war. Like the other war veterans, Mapenga and St. Medard, K is tormented by his own demons and the brutalities he committed. There was racial strife, jungle battles, torture, savaging of women and murdering of innocent civilians. All of these men have blood on their hands. Fuller befriends K and the two travel from Zambia, where Fuller had lived, to Mozambique where much of the horrors took place in the Rhodesian war. This gripping tale of terror, love, war and hate is wonderfully read on the audiobook by Lisette Lecat, a native of South Africa. 11/19/07
view title in Library Catalog

Dale Furutani
Death at the Crossroads
a favorite of Irene's, Information Services
Furutani's samurai mystery takes place in ancient Japan, in the tumultuous year of 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu declared himself Shogun of Japan. For the next 250 years, the oppressive Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan. Matsuyama Kaze, a ronin (a masterless samurai) warrior, is roaming Japan looking for his dead lord's daughter. Tokugawa's warriors had killed Kaze's wife and children, as well as his master. While roaming the countryside, he finds a dead merchant at the crossroads, pierced by an unusual arrow. He feels it is his duty to find the murderer. Authentic details and compelling characters make this a wonderfully suspenseful and enriching novel. 2/4/02