My Antonia by Willa Cather

I heard about this classic, written in 1918, on NPR's "You must read this" series. I will now have to add it to my list of all time favorites! Set in the harsh environment of turn of the century Nebraska, Cather tells the story of the hard working homesteaders through the eyes of young Jim Fugate. First of all, there are no vampires, witches or any sort of extra terrestials in it! Secondly, it is so wonderful to read someone who writes as beautifully as Cather. The characters  come to feel like old friends  and the stark beauty of the prairie comes to life also. In today's world, we need more role models like Antonia, who takes what life brings her yet continues to find laughter and happiness.

The Penny by Joyce Meyer - Christian Fiction

I picked this Cd up from the public library - I love Joyce Meyer's tapes (although I don't particularly like watching her on TV!) I expected this to be a sappy type of book, but was surprised at its authenticity and grit. Meyer is an abuse survivor and this story about a young girl and her sister who have been abused by their father has the ring of someone who has been there. The free-floating anger of the girl, the constant lies and fear, the resentment of her mother who does not stand up for her and her sisiter, the love/hate bond between the two sisters - all these come through. The book ends on a hopeful note, with the message that God loves us no matter what.

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Although I am about burned out with books about some sort of paranormal activity, this had enough Biblical references to make it interesting. The author uses the Genesis verses about the Nephilim, creatures who are the offspring of fallen angels and mortals. They are bigger than mere humans, and have abilities that make them powerful and also ruthless. And they also have these large beautiful wings. The story weaves back and forth between some nuns in upstate NY, a college art professor, and a group of angelologists from 1940's France. Trussonni weaves history, suspense, a love story and references to real people to make a good read. A movie is in the works.

What I Talk About when I Talk About Running, Haruki Marukami

  Adam gave me this collection of essays for my birthday and I read it off and on for several months. The author is a Japanese novelist who, at 55, writes about his experiences running marathons.  I could relate to the pain he went through with the training and his feelings about aging. He also gives an interesting account of running the Athens' marathon in the middle of the summer heat.

Beautiful Creatures - YA, Kami Garcia, Magaret Stohl

I read this young adult Twilight knock-off to see if it was appropriate for the media center. Didn't find anything inappropriate, but the writing is poor, and the story got to a point where it didin't make alot of sense. It is a shame, because the setting of a small town in SC is pretty realistic and there is a cool librarian in it! This time the story is told from the teen age boy's point of view when he falls in love with the strange new girl at school. The girls will like it, but I think I will pass on the sequel.

Size 12 Is Not Fat, Meg Cabot

If you can relate to this title, then you will love this fun, quick read! Written by the author of "The Princess Diaries", this series is more adult oriented, but has the same down to earth wit. The main character is a former teen age pop star (think Miley Cyrus in 5 years) who now works at a college in NYC where odd murders start happening.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

 Jacob is a young veterinary student during the Depression whose parents are killed in a car accident as he is preparing to take his final exams. In his grief, he runs off, hops a train and finds himself with a circus. The story is told through flashbacks from "old Jacob", now in a nursing home and largely forgotten by his 5 children. "Young Jacob" is pretty naive, and is quickly shown the cruelties of life as a working man. He falls in love with Marlena, the beautiful horse performer, who is unfortunately married to an abusive man who is Jacob's boss in the circus. Overall the book was good, although at times it felt like Ms. Gruen was trying too hard to show life in the 30's - in Chicago they go to a speak-easy (and get raided) and Jacob passes a hobo town. But I love historical fiction, and I remember my father talking about the excitement of the circus coming to town, and she captures this well. The parts with the old man were hard for me, since my mother is in a nursing home, but I liked the ending, because this is after all a fiction book. The movie is coming out this year with Robert Pattison and Reece Witherspoon.