July 2011 Movers & Shakers
Here are the noteworthy titles that have been racing up our most popular charts this month.
(showing 1-6 of 6)
The Map of Time
by Félix J. Palma
London, 1896: Characters real and imagined experience the consequences of time travel in this epic work of historical fiction. A man hopes to reverse time and save his lover from Jack the Ripper, a free-spirited woman yearns to escape the Victorian era, and celebrated author H.G. Wells jumps through time to prevent a crime against literature. Hayley says, "It's superbly crafted, beautifully penned, tirelessly researched, and flaunts intelligence I can only ever hope to grasp." London, 1896: Characters real and imagined experience the consequences of time travel in this epic work of historical fiction. A man hopes to reverse time and save his lover from Jack the Ripper, a free-spirited woman yearns to escape the Victorian era, and celebrated author H.G. Wells jumps through time to prevent a crime against literature. Hayley says, "It's superbly crafted, beautifully penned, tirelessly researched, and flaunts intelligence I can only ever hope to grasp."
Don't Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life
by Sandra Beasley (Goodreads Author)
Food can kill in this eye-opening and often humorous memoir by a poet who has suffered from severe food allergies all her life. Beasley describes her strict diet, knowing that any mistakes can be deadly. Peppered with personal anecdotes, the book also provides the scientific history of a long-misunderstood disorder. Danielle says, "Full of interesting tidbits about food, allergies, and how the world views individuals with medical issues." Food can kill in this eye-opening and often humorous memoir by a poet who has suffered from severe food allergies all her life. Beasley describes her strict diet, knowing that any mistakes can be deadly. Peppered with personal anecdotes, the book also provides the scientific history of a long-misunderstood disorder. Danielle says, "Full of interesting tidbits about food, allergies, and how the world views individuals with medical issues."
The Devil All the Time
by Donald Ray Pollock
An eccentric cast of hillbilly derelicts rounds out this literary inquest of evil. Pollock entangles the stories of a husband-and-wife serial killer team, a Bible-thumping but lecherous preacher, and an anguished war veteran and his son, who must come-of-age among a morally bankrupt collection of dark souls. Jill calls it "as raw as it gets—a train wreck that's careening out of control, but readers can't help but keep their eyes glued to the catastrophes that unfold." An eccentric cast of hillbilly derelicts rounds out this literary inquest of evil. Pollock entangles the stories of a husband-and-wife serial killer team, a Bible-thumping but lecherous preacher, and an anguished war veteran and his son, who must come-of-age among a morally bankrupt collection of dark souls. Jill calls it "as raw as it gets—a train wreck that's careening out of control, but readers can't help but keep their eyes glued to the catastrophes that unfold."
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West
by Dorothy Wickenden
Well-bred college girls Dorothy and Rosamond shocked their families when they abandoned New York society to become schoolmarms in a tiny Colorado town in 1916. Reconstructing this true story from her grandmother's letters, Wickenden relates their spirited adventures in the Wild West among cowboys and pioneers. L_manning says, "These were two women I could have been friends with. They lived their lives on their terms." Well-bred college girls Dorothy and Rosamond shocked their families when they abandoned New York society to become schoolmarms in a tiny Colorado town in 1916. Reconstructing this true story from her grandmother's letters, Wickenden relates their spirited adventures in the Wild West among cowboys and pioneers. L_manning says, "These were two women I could have been friends with. They lived their lives on their terms."
Once Upon a River
by Bonnie Jo Campbell
After her father's violent death, teenager Margo Crane heads downriver on her motorboat through the backwoods of Michigan. She brings a rifle, her father's ashes, and a biography of Annie Oakley—and hopes to find her absent mother. Stef says, "Campbell has a powerful, musical way with words, and her characters are some of the strongest, most memorable people I've met lately in fiction." After her father's violent death, teenager Margo Crane heads downriver on her motorboat through the backwoods of Michigan. She brings a rifle, her father's ashes, and a biography of Annie Oakley—and hopes to find her absent mother. Stef says, "Campbell has a powerful, musical way with words, and her characters are some of the strongest, most memorable people I've met lately in fiction."
Texas Gothic
by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Goodreads Author)
Even though Amy Goodnight has a mad scientist sister and comes from a long line of witches and psychics, she's perfectly normal. That is, until she's left in charge of her aunt's ranch. Amy begins seeing ghosts in this spine-tingling young adult novel. Jamie says, "Holy Moly! This book was SO scary in the best possible way! If you're looking for a ghost story that still brings the fun, then this is the book for you!" Even though Amy Goodnight has a mad scientist sister and comes from a long line of witches and psychics, she's perfectly normal. That is, until she's left in charge of her aunt's ranch. Amy begins seeing ghosts in this spine-tingling young adult novel. Jamie says, "Holy Moly! This book was SO scary in the best possible way! If you're looking for a ghost story that still brings the fun, then this is the book for you!"
