Staff Recommendations – June 2006

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June 2006 Recommendations

The Lost German Slave Girl
by John Bailey (326 Bai)

A young German girl emigrates with her family only to find that they’ve been sent to New Orleans not Philidelphia as planned. Her family is split up and sold an indentured servants and for all intents disappear and never have contact again. 25 years later a fellow passenger on the boat sees a young woman she thinks is the daughter of a fellow immigrant. The long drawn out attempt to prove her identity in a court of law is the basis of this story. Is she the missing German girl or an opportunistics mixed blood slave? The author comes to some surprising conclusions.

( official Publisher’s website — enter book title or author in search box )

Recommended by Rayma S.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

Great Lodges of the National Parks
by Christine Barnes (917.9 qBar)

Anyone with an interest in early 20th-century architecture or National Parks history will find a treasure chest of information in this beautifully illustrated book. The color photographs are especially stunning. This book is a companion to the PBS “Great Lodges” series.

Recommended by Kim J.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith
by Marcus Borg (230 Bor)

If you believe there is more to Christianity than the literalist claims about the Bible, if you seek a better understanding of what Jesus and Christianity are truly all about, this is the book for you. Is belief more important than what you are? Borg continues making the case as he has in his earlier books for a more honest, more vibrant, more caring Christianity.

( official Publisher’s Web page for this book ) | ( Marcus J. Borg Foundation )

Recommended by Bob B.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles
by Geoff Emerick (Music 781.66 BeaYe)

Geoff Emerick was there throughout the Beatles recording career. A fascinating look at the inner workings of the band that made some of rock’s most enduring music.

( Geoff Emerick entry on Wikipedia ) | ( Interview with Geoff Emerick at BeatlesStory.com )

Recommended by Scott S.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

Rated by — John T.
Customer of the Arnold Heights branch

Here’s Johnny: My Memories of Johnny Carson, the Tonight Show and 46 Years of Friendship
by Ed McMahon (791.452 CarYm)

An affectionate look back at a 46-year friendship with the King of Late Night, by his long-time sidekick. This somewhat autobiographical account of McMahon’s relationship with Johnny Carson focuses primarily on their years together on The Tonight Show, but also includes glimpses of their early years in New York, and the period after Johnny’s retirement in 1992 and leading up to his death in 2005. Poignant and humorous, I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read, for an old Tonight Show fan. My only complaints? I wish Ed had gone into more detail in most of his anecdotes, and I wish he’d kept to strict chronological order — he tends to bounce around from time period to time period. Overall, though, a very entertaining read, about a Nebraska boy done good!

( official Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson website )

Recommended by Scott C.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

The Bluest Eye
by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is risky, honest and a brilliant storyteller!

( The Toni Morrison Society website )

Recommended by Andrea S.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries

Rated by — Anonymous.
Visitor to the BookGuide site

Poison Study
by Maria V. Snyder

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered the chance to live by becoming the food taster for the Commander, ruler of Ixia. Magic, love and adventure fill this book as Yelena discovers her strength and her hidden power.

( Excerpt from “Poison Study” at the official Maria V. Snyder Web site )

Recommended by Tammy T.
Collection Management Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

Rated by — Pam H.
Visitor to the BookGuide site

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson

If you think you know this story by its Hollywood treatments – you’re wrong. Not so much horror as a blend of mystery and moral allegory, the story is also remarkable for its unusual narrative structure. While modern readers (knowing the story’s key “surprise” in advance) may not be able to read it the same way as its original audience, it is still a compelling read.

( The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde entry on Wikipedia )

Recommended by Peter J.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

The Wisdom of Forgiveness
by The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gayatso (294.3 Ten)

Chinese journalist Victor Chan shares in this book his personal interviews with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Forgiveness and compassion are the ultimate topics of conversation between the two men. However, Mr. Chan weaves this discussion along with a very intimate description of the Dalai Lama’s day to day activities, providing for the reader, a rare set of images that are found in no other book.

( publisher’s official Wisdom of Forgiveness web page )

Recommended by Patty L.
Walt Branch Library

Sister Emily’s Lightship and Other Stories
by Jane Yolen

A marvelous collection of short fantasy and science fiction stories for adults, from an author more commonly associated with juvenile or young adult fiction. The majority of the tales here are fantasy in nature, and there is an overall theme of stories involving the Fey, or fairies. As with any collection, the strength of the stories varies from piece to piece. I particularly enjoyed the stories told from the fairies’ points of view. Yolen is excellent at bringing a scene and characters to life with a small amount of wordage. I recommend this collection for all fantasy readers, or for anyone with an interest in “fairy tales with a twist.”

( Sister Emily’s Lightship page on the official Jane Yolen website )

Recommended by Scott C.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library

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