ICPL Staff Picks (ICPLStaffPicks) - Iowa City, IA (635 books)

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Junonia
by Kevin Henkes

read in August, 2011

My rating:

Alice and her parents spend a week in February every year at a beach cottage on Sanibel Island, Florida, where they celebrate her birthday. This year Alice turns ten and is excited about seeing all the familiar people in the nearby cabins, what kind...more

ICPL Staff Picks added:

Clara and Mr. Tiffany
by Susan Vreeland

read in February, 2011

My rating:

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll and the years she worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio. Clara Discoll was the head of the Tiffany Women’s Division and possibly the p...moreClara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll and the years she worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio. Clara Discoll was the head of the Tiffany Women’s Division and possibly the person who conceived the idea for the iconic Tiffany stained glass lamps.

According to Susan Vreeland, Clara Driscoll’s story came to life through letters she wrote to her mother and sisters:

“By a remarkable coincidence, three individuals unknown to each other, a distant relative of Clara Driscoll, a Tiffany scholar, and an archivist at the Queens Historical Society, each aware of only one collection of Clara’s letters, brought the correspondence to the attention of two art historians steeped in the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Martin Eidelberg and Nina Gray. Astonishingly, they were informed of two treasure troves of letters within just a few days of each other in 2005–one collection owned by Kelso House Museum in Kent, Ohio and housed at Kent State University Library, the other owned by the Queens Historical Society.”

From these letters comes a remarkable story about a woman who forged her way in New York City at the turn of the twentieth century. Clara struggles with being a professional woman at a time when women’s rights in the workplace were not recognized as well as her personal desire for her work to be recognized and attributed to her. Clara’s story unfolds with the backdrop of New York City life, the plight of new immigrants, the evolution of the decorative arts at Tiffany Studios on the heels of the Arts and Crafts Movement and her personal desire for love and companionship.

Susan Vreeland creates a wonderful, compelling story that makes me want to head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or other places where Tiffany’s work is displayed in order to see the beautiful creations that Clara poured her heart and soul into designing and creating. I listened to the book and Kimberly Farr’s narration was excellent. ~~Enjoy~~ --Kara

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ICPL Staff Picks added:

A Sick Day for Amos McGee
by Philip C. Stead

read in February, 2011

My rating:

The husband and wife team of Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead have created a delightful picture book that won the Caldecott Award for its illustrations. Philip wrote the sweet text and Erin won the prestigious award for her artwork done in woodbloc...more

ICPL Staff Picks added:

The Passage (The Passage #1)
by Justin Cronin

read in February, 2011

My rating:

When a scientific expedition in South America is attacked by vampire bats, you get a pretty good idea where this book is headed. When the army tries to militarize vampirism, you know it will end badly. Six year old Amy gets snatched from a convent ...more

ICPL Staff Picks added:

Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus

read in February, 2011

My rating:

Boys in grades 5-8 will especially like this adventure story, inspired by a true adventure on the high seas, about a 14 year-old Japanese boy, Manjiro, who wants to become a samurai. The setting begins in 1841 when he and four friends are rescued on...more

ICPL Staff Picks added:

97 Orchard : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement
by Jane Ziegelman

read in December, 2011

My rating:

For me, the most memorable parts of Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a coming-of-age novel set in the tenements of Brooklyn, involve food. When I think about that book, my mind jumps to the scenes when Francie Nolan buys half-priced stale br...more

ICPL Staff Picks added:

The Crabby Cook Cookbook
by Jessica Harper

read in January, 2011

My rating:

Truth be told, I’m not really. I enjoy the “joy of cooking”. Other than when working until 7 p.m. And coming home to find my nearest and dearest wasting away, wondering if dinner will be on his plate in five minutes. Even then, I enjoy the act of pre...more

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ICPL Staff Picks is now friends with Peter
Jan 10, 2012 01:26am
ICPL Staff Picks is now following Felicia's reviews
Dec 02, 2011 12:32pm
ICPL Staff Picks became a fan of Goodreads Author Felicia Day
Dec 02, 2011 12:32pm · all of ICPL's favorite authors
ICPL Staff Picks added: Junonia by Kevin Henkes read in August, 2011	My rating:
Alice and her parents spend a week in February every year at a beach cottage on Sanibel Island, Florida, where they celebrate her birthday. This year Alice turns ten and is excited about seeing all the familiar people in the nearby cabins, what kind...more
Aug 10, 2011 03:45pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added: Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland read in February, 2011	My rating:
Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll and the years she worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio. Clara Discoll was the head of the Tiffany Women’s Division and possibly the p...more
Feb 26, 2011 11:14am · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added: A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead read in February, 2011	My rating:
The husband and wife team of Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead have created a delightful picture book that won the Caldecott Award for its illustrations. Philip wrote the sweet text and Erin won the prestigious award for her artwork done in woodbloc...more
Feb 09, 2011 02:48pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added: The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin read in February, 2011	My rating:
When a scientific expedition in South America is attacked by vampire bats, you get a pretty good idea where this book is headed. When the army tries to militarize vampirism, you know it will end badly. Six year old Amy gets snatched from a convent ...more
Feb 09, 2011 02:45pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added: Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus read in February, 2011	My rating:
Boys in grades 5-8 will especially like this adventure story, inspired by a true adventure on the high seas, about a 14 year-old Japanese boy, Manjiro, who wants to become a samurai. The setting begins in 1841 when he and four friends are rescued on...more
Feb 05, 2011 01:01pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added: 97 Orchard : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman read in December, 2011	My rating:
For me, the most memorable parts of Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a coming-of-age novel set in the tenements of Brooklyn, involve food. When I think about that book, my mind jumps to the scenes when Francie Nolan buys half-priced stale br...more
Jan 26, 2011 01:26pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added: The Crabby Cook Cookbook by Jessica Harper read in January, 2011	My rating:
Truth be told, I’m not really. I enjoy the “joy of cooking”. Other than when working until 7 p.m. And coming home to find my nearest and dearest wasting away, wondering if dinner will be on his plate in five minutes. Even then, I enjoy the act of pre...more
Jan 26, 2011 01:22pm · see review

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