Deb Egeland

I challenge you to be more a woman/man than I am. I started a very interesting book, entitled “City on Fire”, by Garth Risk Hallberg. It is not for the faint of heart! To begin with, it is an extremely dense, heavy book. That should have been my first clue….

After reading the first 153 pages of 907, I admit that I was somewhat caught up in the characters. However, the next chapter was set 17 years in the past. True, it was going to connect; but, I wasn’t ready, having just figured out how most of the already introduced characters connected. There are asides that are handwritten letters, photos, cartoons. It is a complex book that demands focus.

The book is set in the middle of the 20th century in New York City. Fascinating place, interesting times, interesting people. Maybe my lack of focus has to do with the accumulated sugar in my system, residue from Christmas. Whatever the reason, I concede that at this time, I cannot delve further into “City on Fire”. But, I challenge you to do better. Pick it up. Check it out. Read it in its entirety and then, tell me how fantastic it is!! I promise to try it again….

Deb

Admittedly, I’m a bit behind the times. I have just recently picked up the book, “Outlander”, by Diana Gabaldon. One of my daughters recommended it. The first few chapters were a little slow…

Then, the main character, Claire, steps back in time 2 centuries! We go from WWII Britain, back to the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the clashes between clans; the clashes between Scots and Brits. The story gains momentum. There is action, love, small bits of humor. It becomes a complexity of characters and connectedness.

It’s history. It’s fantasy. It’s romance. It’s action. It’s not for the faint of heart, or the easily embarrassed. There also are hundreds of pages, a real tome! But, I thoroughly enjoyed it and, am halfway through the second book of the series! It too has grabbed, and held, my attention.

Check it out… “Outlander”, by Diana Gabaldon. It’s in the fiction stacks under GAB….

For those readers who love a good mystery, Drake Public Library has a wide array to choose from… Financial mysteries, medical mysteries, political mysteries, ‘who done it’s?’ on Indian reservations, on National Park Service land, etc.

I just finished the latest in the Kay Scarpetta mysteries, by Patricia Cornwell. The main characters in this series include Kay, a chief medical examine, her  FBI husband and her niece Lucy. This latest one pits those three against psychopath, killer and longtime enemy, Carrie. No one knows who to trust, what is fact, what is ‘data fiction’. It is complex, emotional and up to the standard of Cornwell.

Check it out!

If you decide to wander into the stacks of older books, you may be delighted with what you might find! An example would be “The Bean Trees”, by Barbara Kingsolver.

It is the story of a young girl born in rural Kentucky. She manages to graduate from high school, work at a job for a few years and earn enough money to ‘escape’. After buying a decrepit Volkswagen Bug, she heads West, no destination in mind. The adventure, and a new life are finally beginning!

It starts as an interesting, but simple, straight forward seeming book. But, the story and characters draw you in and you just keep turning the pages. It’s not exciting, but there’s a lot there…characters you want to get to know, life lessons taught from a little different perspective.

“The Bean Trees” is worth looking for. You can find it in the Fiction stacks, under Kin. Check it out! This book happens to be the January selection for the book discussion group, Genre Shifters. Their next meeting is Feb 5, 6pm in the upstairs meeting room. All are welcome! Come and hear more about this book and others…

As you gaze out your window at the bleak winter landscape, all you really want to do is escape to somewhere warm and sunny! For most of us, that just isn’t feasible. But…. Might I suggest escaping the winter doldrums by picking up a delightful book entitled, The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater.

It is found in the non- fiction section of the library; but, don’t let that deter you! It is a relatively short book whose setting is the south of France. A couple happens upon a dilapidated French villa that is sitting in the midst of an olive farm. They initially think it is a ridiculous idea to even consider buying it. They take the plunge and the real story begins!

The author is wonderfully descriptive without being tedious. You can envision the hills, the nasty condition of the house and it’s potential; feel the heat of the sun and smell the fragrances of the flowering herbs and wonderful French cooking. A great story as well!

Transport yourself mentally and emotionally from the doldrums of Southern Iowa to the sunny, beautiful south of France! Come in and check out The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater.