BOOK GROUP TO GO
BOOK GROUP KIT COLLECTION

Titles in the Collection

22 new titles as of June 2010!

Book Group Kits can be checked out for 8 weeks and cannot be placed on hold or renewed.
To reserve a kit contact Mary Alice Wollam. mwollam@ci.glendale.ca.us or 818-548-2047

Return to Book Group Kits main page

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
This inspirational fable is a charming tale of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of a treasure in Egypt and leaves Spain to follow his dream. Reaching Egypt Santiago has a fateful encounter with an alchemist who offers the traveler self-enlightenment and spiritual understanding. Magical, wise and gentle, this is a memorable read. Fiction.

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes Frank McCourt in this memoir of his own childhood. Colorfully and painfully told, often with great humor. Non-fiction. Autobiography.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Faulkner drafted this story, broken into 59 separate monologues by 15 characters, in six weeks. Addie Bundgren was promised that she would be buried with her family in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi. The tale of the arrival and journey of her body on its way to be buried is told without narrative or character description. Fiction. Classic.

Atonement by Ian McEwan
On an English country estate prior to World War II, a young couple she, Cecilia, the wealthy daughter and he, Robbie, the son of the cleaning women share moments of intimacy and a lover’s quarrel. Not understanding adult motives, the woman’s young sister Briony claims that Robbie has committed a crime unrelated to her sister. Later, as the brutality of the war unfolds, Briony tries to atone for the lie and its consequences. Fiction.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
Growing up in rural Kentucky, Marietta Greer had two goals: avoid getting pregnant and escape Kentucky. Headed west in an old Volkswagen she finds herself in Arizona with a baby, literally dropped into her arms in Oklahoma, and a car that has run out of gas. In Tucson she finds friendship and a home with other exiles. Kingsolver’s first novel, this is a story of fear, flight and the meaning of home. Fiction.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
A ragtag group takes over an embassy in an unnamed South American country just as a soprano is about to launch into song and entertain the embassy’s guest of honor, a Japanese industrialist. Based loosely on a real event, this magical novel has hostages and terrorists bonding in the most civilized ways. Fiction.

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Blending fiction and fact and set in tumultuous 15th century Florence, this is the story of a young upper-class woman constrained by the society of the day. A historical romance lush with storylines about art and conspiracy, this is a seductive and imaginative novel. Historical Fiction.

Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan
Divided into three parts, this is the story of two Chinese women: Ruth, a self-sufficient Chinese-American woman with relationship problems and her mother LuLing, who has dementia, and is forgetting the family history. Reading the story is like looking into a carved ivory ball that has other balls within and the book reminds us that the memory keeps and sometimes hides. Fiction.

Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Iris Chase has been waiting fifty years to reveal what led to her sister’s suicide. This Canadian saga, a novel within a novel, tells the story of a well-to-do Canadian family haunted by family problems and secrets. Grand storytelling on a grand level. Fiction.

Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan
A journalist focuses on the relationship between humans and four everyday plants--the apple, the tulip, the potato and marijuana. Plant and human history commingle in this surprising and engaging book. Non-Fiction.

Burnt House by Faye Kellerman
Kellerman’s signature characters, Orthodox Jewish wife Rina Lazarus and LAPD detective Peter Decker, are back in this solid police procedural about two murders that take place years apart, yet the bodies are found near each other. A page turner for mystery lovers. Fiction.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Abducted from his comfortable California home, Buck the Saint Bernard Shepherd mix is sold as a sled dog during the Alaska/Yukon gold rush. Learning to survive the elements and the cruel people who control his life, Buck becomes the lead sled dog and then returns to his canine roots. Originally published in 1903, this classic continues to be a compelling story and a great read. Fiction. Classic.

Cane River by Lita Tademy
Four generations of women born into slavery along the Cane River in Louisiana are chronicled in this hundred year family saga. The novel explores the resilient women, the intricate relationships between slaves and slave owners and the provocative issues of class and racism in the African-American community. Vividly told, the novel captures some of the history of the author’s ancestors. Historical Fiction.

A Civil Action by Jonathan Haarr
This compelling and true story of a quest by a young lawyer to secure damages from two corporate giants for allegedly polluting the water in a Boston suburb will be especially enjoyed by readers who like courtroom drama. Characters come to life in this page-turner. Non-Fiction.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier, deserts his Civil War hospital bed to make a treacherous 300 mile journey home to see his fiancé Ada. Lavish with period detail, this elegantly told story is a very satisfying read. Historical Fiction.

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
This unique and moving story, told by her son, is about a Jewish woman raised in the South who moves to New York, marries twice, to African-American men, and raises twelve children. Poverty and racism cannot mar the great will of Ruth McBride Jordan and her desire to give her children a good life. A terrific book. Non-Fiction. Biography.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
This sprawling novel about the Lamberts, a modern American family, contrasts the lives of the Midwestern parents, with their simple values, with their hip and troubled adult children. A tragicomic tour-de-force. Fiction.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Unusual and understated, this is an autistic teenager, who does not liked to be touched and is unable to decipher an insightful story of a boy trying to navigate his own world and the world around him. Fiction.

Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
In this hardboiled story set in post-World War II Los Angeles, African American Easy Rawlins takes on the task of finding a missing woman and, in the process, finds his calling as a private detective. This powerful mystery is also a compelling look at race and gender. First title in the Easy Rawlins series. Fiction. Mystery.

Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 was a triumph of imagination that debuted Juicy Fruit Gum, Cracker Jack, Shredded Wheat and more electric lights strung in one place that had ever been seen before. Architect Daniel Burnham brought together some of the nation’s greatest architects to build a White City on the fair site. While everyone was focused on the fair, a doctor went on a killing spree, murdering more than 200 people in his own slaughterhouse. Momentum builds and the book balances beauty with terror. Non-fiction.

Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell
Her world is turned upside down when World War II intrudes on the life of a young girl growing up in Shanghai with her beautiful mother and wheeler-dealer father. Moving to South Pasadena, the girl forgives her father’s personal demons. Vivid descriptions of life in China and a local setting make this a very readable epic story. Historical Fiction.

Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
When Lexy mysteriously falls out of a tree, the only witness to her death is a dog named Lorelei. Lexy’s husband, a linguistics professor, is convinced that if he can teach Lorelei to talk, he will learn the truth about Lexy’s death. With its quirky premise and some odd twists and turns, this debut novel offers much to think about. Fiction.

Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman’s Skiff by Rosemary Mahoney
Despite cultural and local traditions that are obstacles to a dream, writer and experienced traveler Mahoney is determined to take a solo rowboat trip down the Nile River. She takes readers with her as she describes the history, heat, crocodiles and prejudice against women. Balanced with this are experiences of goodwill and her reflections on the river travelers who preceded her. Witty and vivid writing. Non-Fiction.

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
After a painful divorce, a woman in her early thirties takes a soul-searching journey of self-discovery. Visiting three different countries, she experiences and savors life in unexpected ways and creates a travelogue filled with great candor and wonderful anecdotes. Engagingly written in a warm and chatty manner. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriael Barbery
Told in alternating chapters, this is an unlikely story of the relationship between a French concierge and the precocious twelve-year-old who lives in her Paris apartment building. Each hide their true personalities, but bring out the best in each other. Much to discuss in this very unique and quietly philosophical story. Fiction.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo
With compassionate scrutiny and the ability to evoke the cherished hopes and dreams of ordinary people, the author captures a wonderful story about the misfits and misguided good citizens of a crumbling Maine mill town. Lively characters and an involved plot. Fiction.

Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario
One Book/One Glendale 2008
Originally a Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times series, this is a true story. Many years after Enrique’s mother has left Honduras to find work and send money home, teenage Enrique decides to join her and takes a perilous trip through Mexico to illegally enter the United States. The author risked her own safety, riding on top of speeding trains, to retrace Enrique’s journey and report the story. This compelling work of non-fiction illuminates the controversial topic of immigration and highlights a human tragedy. Non-Fiction.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
A lonely New Englander, his wife and the cousin whom he loves share the tragic consequences of romance gone awry. The cold and barren setting echoes the deeply affecting story, which will keep the reader thinking long after the book is finished. Fiction. Classic.

Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
This inspirational book, part melodrama and part parable, weaves together three stories about an 83 year old maintenance man. Combining stories of the man’s early life, death and afterlife, the story is a compelling look at the meaning of life. Fiction.

Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
In turn-of-the century Appalachia the trials (flood, illness, swindlers) of young Julie Harmon are chronicled. Told with great dignity and without sentimentality, this memorable heroine will earn readers’ compassion. Fiction.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows
During World War II when the island of Guernsey, just south of England, was occupied by Germany, a group of islanders used the ruse of forming a reading club so they could get together: After the War, the story of the Society is told in letters, exchanged by its quirky members and a young writer who wants to know more about their adventures. Wonderfully original. Historical Fiction.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Seventy-seven year-old John Ames, a preacher in a small Iowa town, gives a mesmerizing account of his own life and family history in the form of a letter to his young son. Written in simple, shimmering prose, this quiet and powerful novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Fiction.

Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Forced by economic circumstances to take a maid’s job in the house of the Dutch artist Vermeer, young Griet stands as an outsider, observing the tumultuous life of a family in 1664 Holland. When the artist notices her intelligence and sense of color, she secretly becomes his assistant and almost ruins her own reputation. An absorbing and delicate story that gives a real sense of the atmosphere and behavior of that time and place. Historical Fiction.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson Coming Soon
The first book of the Millennium trilogy, this absorbing and unsettling mystery is about a muckraking journalist and his unlikely companion, a pierced and tattooed computer hacker, who unravel a complicated and devious family story. Powerful and compelling, this worldwide bestseller has two popular sequels. Mystery.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
A twelve-year-old boy who lives in a “Utopia,” where the lack of painful emotions, disease, hunger and war have been traded for rigid rules and control over everyone, discovers the terrible truth about his community. Compelling and thought-provoking. Good choice for teens, but great discussion for adults. Fiction. Fantasy.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The daughter of eccentric and tempestuous parents tells a heart-breaking and page-turning story of growing up in a wildly dysfunctional family. Original and darkly humorous, this is a triumphant autobiography with an author who never claims to be “poor pitiful me”. Non-fiction. Autobiography.

God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Told from the perspective of 7-year-old twins, this Indian novel focuses on two tragic events in 1969—the drowning of the twins’ cousin and the murder of an Untouchable carpenter. Moving back and forth through time, the author reveals the “small things” that inhabit her characters’ lives and furnish the dwellings that cannot protect them. Fiction.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This classic novel captures the spirit of the Jazz Age and all its over-the-top excess that comes crashing down. Self-made and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, the girl who marries another man while Gatsby is away, tries to use his wealth to regain Daisy. Crisply written, short and tragic. Fiction. Classic.

The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
While making a documentary on the anniversary of D-Day, veteran television reporter Tom Brokaw was flooded with emotion and his own memories of World War II. For the next 15 years he collected memories of people, at home and in the military, who defined the generation who came of age in the Depression and in the War. The 50 reminiscences are engrossing and food for thought about the value of “ordinary people.” Non-fiction.

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
Author Walls follows her very popular The Glass Castle with this “true life novel” about her spirited, no-nonsense grandmother. Lily Casey Smith helped break horses at the age of six, taught in a frontier town, learned to fly a plane, ran a ranch in Arizona and raised two children—one of them the very memorable mother in The Glass Castle. New York Times 10 Best Books 2009. Fiction.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Although fiction, this mostly true memoir is about the author’s parents’ death from cancer and the experiences he has raising his younger brother and running a magazine in San Francisco. Far from being a sentimental tear-jerker written to make money, this is a high octane and honest work that is told in a compelling way. Fiction.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This very popular much-to-discuss novel about black domestic servants working in white Southern households in the 1960’s is deeply moving and very readable. The author creates extraordinary, nuanced characters whose courage is palpable. Some critics thought it was unusual for a white author to write about African American characters, who speak in dialect, but even the most critical have found this a very winning story. Fiction

The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus
This tragic story about who really owns a house is told from the points of view of its two adversaries, Behrani, an immigrant who left his high position in Iran to become a laborer in America, and Kathy, a self-destructive alcoholic who remembers her better days. Rich, complex and full of emotion. Fiction.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford Coming Soon
When Chinese-American Henry Lee, who has just lost his wife, hears that the belongings of Japanese immigrants who were interned during WWII have been found in the basement of a Seattle hotel, he starts to think about his youth. As the narrative shifts from 1986 to the 1940’s he thinks about the Japanese girl he was forbidden to love by his Japanese-hating father and how she and her family were interned. Henry also reflects on how the distance between him and his father is being duplicated by his distance from his own son. Historical Fiction.

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
This much acclaimed book tells the story of two orphaned sisters, Ruth and Lucille, who grow up in a series of homes with increasingly odd relatives (their grandmother, bumbling great aunts and their mother’s sister) and struggle their way to adulthood. Loss, love, loneliness and longing permeate this modern classic. Fiction.

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
While trying to care for his paranoid schizophrenic brother Thomas, Dominick Birdsey reviews his own difficult life as a “normal” family member. Although an unflinching look at dysfunction, this dramatic story is filled with a vivid tapestry of characters, gallows humor and some real surprises. Fiction.

An Innocent Man by John Grisham
Grisham’s first work of non-fiction reads like one of his novels. A small town Oklahoma baseball hero, down on his luck, is railroaded onto death row for crimes he did not commit. Shocking and enthralling. Non-Fiction.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Mountain climbers ascending Mt. Everest confront the worst forces of nature and the selfish inclinations of their fellow climbers. Palpable with the physical effects of climbing to the top of the world, this page-turner is a tragedy waiting to happen. Non-fiction.

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Based on historical events, this story is about the three Mirabal sisters who try to help overthrow a dictatorship in the Dominican Republic and in the process become martyrs for a cause. Known as las mariposas (the butterflies), each sister is different and the characterizations are strong. The story starts slowly and builds to gripping intensity. Fiction. Historical Fiction.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Five women and one man form a book group that will only read and discuss novels by Jane Austen. As the characters meet monthly, they not only debate the Austen characters and narratives, but also reveal their own lives and feelings. With good company and a happy ending, this is a great book group title. Fiction.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Betrayal and redemption are two powerful themes in this stunning debut novel about a boy named Amir, son of a well-to-do Afghan merchant, who betrays his best friend, the servant boy Hassan. Amir and his father immigrate to America, but Amir cannot forget his friend. Learning that the Taliban have killed Hassan, the now adult Amir returns home to rescue Hassan’s son. Great storytelling, surprising plot twists and indelible characters that truly come to life make this a very memorable story. Fiction.

The Known World by Edward P. Jones
With its large cast of characters and shifting storylines, this complex book will reward the patient reader. Set twenty years before the Civil War, the novel tells the story of a little known part of the history of slavery, African American people who owned slaves. Historical-Fiction.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
After Pi survives a sinking ship in the Pacific Ocean he ends up adrift, for 227 days, in a large lifeboat that contains a 450 pound Bengal tiger, a skittish zebra, a vicious hyena and a lumbering orangutan. The story of these unlikely castaways sounds ridiculous, but the quirky and original story is magical and hilarious. Fiction.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave Coming Soon
This dual narrative story of a 16-year-old Nigerian orphan and a well-off couple, whose lives collide when the couple, who might have stayed behind the walls of their vacation resort hotel, pivots on a secret plot point . Unique and captivating, this book is about refugees, survival and personal responsibility. Timely. Fiction.

Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott
The four March sisters, Amy, Beth, Jo and Meg, live in genteel poverty with their mother Marmee while their father is away during the Civil War. This American classic, a lively portrait of how one family lived in the nineteenth century, could be paired with a contemporary novel, March by Geraldine Brooks, which chronicles the life of Mr. March while he is absent from the family. Good choice for teens. Fiction. Classic.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
After being raped and killed, 14-year-old Susie Salmon keeps watch, from heaven, on her grieving family, her brazen murderer and the police who are trying to solve the crime. This heartbreaking debut novel is a moving exploration of loss. Sweet, touching and an incredible read. Fiction.

Lying Awake by Mark Salzman
Sister John of the Cross, who for many years has been a cloistered Carmelite nun in a Los Angeles convent, begins to experience mystical visions which reignite her religious commitment. When she finds out that the visions may be caused by epilepsy, she must decide what has the greater value, her health or her need to live a richer life. This short, imaginative and moving work has much to discuss. Fiction.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
An impoverished young Japanese girl becomes a geisha during the 1930’s. This seductive and unique story describes the elaborate and mysterious life of a geisha and is rich with detail. Historical Fiction.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen Coming Soon
Wonderfully funny, for a change, this is a memoir of a woman who gets in a car wreck right after her husband leaves her for a guy he meets on the Internet and saddles her with a big mortgage She finds herself moving back in with her parents who are Mennonites. A warm, wonderful story from a self-deprecating author who is a good sport about going through life’s travails and getting back on her feet. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
While driving his pregnant wife Norah to the hospital, a snow storm causes Dr. David Henry to, instead, stop at his own medical clinic, where he delivers two children, a boy and a girl with Down syndrome. Telling his wife that the second child has died, he gives the girl to his nurse to raise. Many years later Norah discovers that her daughter is alive. Sympathetic exploration of how grief can be healed. Fiction.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
“I was born twice: first, as a baby girl..in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy in August of 1974.” So begins this story of hermaphrodite Calliope Stephanides who becomes the teenage boy Cal and narrates the story of his life that of his Greek family. The author helps readers overcome the initial surprise and become comfortable with different ideas of gender and individuality. This terrific and enthralling novel. Fiction.

Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes
Set in Petal, Mississippi in the late 1950’s, this is a wonderfully-told story about how the lives of black and white friends and neighbors become intertwined. From separate universes, the characters come together and form a family. Heartwarming, ironic and funny. Fiction.

My Antonia by Willa Cather
This classic story of Antonia, a spirited immigrant in 19th century Nebraska, is as memorable for its main character as it is for its portrait of pioneer life. Romantic and beautifully written. Fiction. Classic.

My California by Various Authors
California has been called “a state of mind” and “all things to all people.” Twenty-seven of California’s best known authors, including Patt Morrison, Aimee Liu, T. Jefferson Parker, Carolyn See, Hector Tobar, Firoozeh Dumas and DJ Waldie, examine California with original travel and adventure essays. Essays.

My Life in France by Julia Child
Bon Appetit! Julia Child’s final book (she passed away at the age of 91 in 2004) recalls her love affair with France. Living in France with her much-adored husband Paul from 1948-1954, she experiences the excitement of all things French, culture, cuisine and learning to cook at the celebrated Cordon Bleu cooking school. The six foot two inch Child’s gentle stories are spirited and delightful. Non-Fiction.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Right after a newlywed Indian couple moves to Cambridge, Massachusetts, their son is born and, through an odd set of circumstances, is given the name Gogol. As the parents try to navigate American life, second generation Gogol has his own problems trying to fit in and make his way in the world. Beautifully written, comic and tragic, this many layered story has great appeal. Fiction.

The Number One Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
More of a leisurely read than a mystery, this gentle story about “traditionally-sized” Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s first, and maybe only, lady detective is delightful. With sass, great detecting skills and common sense, she solves a variety of cases. Pull up a chair, make a cup of bush tea and enjoy the first in a series. Fiction.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Thirteen short stories, set in a small town in Maine, are linked together by the character of Olive Kitteridge, a seventh-grade math teacher. Though the stories often pack an emotional wallop, there are also flashes of humor. Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2009. Short Stories

On Gold Mountain by Lisa See
Lisa See’s first book is the autobiographical saga of her family, beginning with her Chinese, great-grandfather Fong See, who came to California in 1871 to work on the railroad, and his second wife, Caucasian Lettice Pruett. Taking place over a hundred year period, the book describes the family’s fractured relationships and hard work that brought them success and failure. The final couple depicted in the book are See’s eccentric parents, Richard and Carolyn See. As in her fiction work, it is the women’s stories that are the most powerful. Terrific history that reads like fiction. Non-fiction.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Before Henry VII ever considered making Anne Boleyn his wife, her older sister Mary was his mistress. Historical novelist Gregory uses the perspective of this “other Boleyn girl” to reveal the rivalries and intrigues swirling through England. The author’s knowledge of history and her ability to make the splendor and turbulence of the times come to life make this an enthralling read. Historical Fiction.

102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn.
Why and how did some people escape from the World Trade Towers and why did some die? This heart-pounding, meticulous account written by two newspaper reporters is a different approach to a painfully familiar subject. Focuses on the human experience and allows readers to put themselves in the place of the men and women who lived and died. Non-fiction.

Peony in Love by Lisa See
Peony, a 15-year-old already betrothed Chinese girl, breaches etiquette when she accidentally sees a man who has entered the family garden. Mirroring a well-known opera called The Peony Pavilion, the story tells of a young woman who chafes at social conventions. Like her earlier Snowflower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See fills her books with colorful historical details. Historical Fiction.

Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
This mesmerizing chronicle of “man against nature” is a reconstruction of the last moments of a fishing boat during a fierce 1991 storm off the coast of Nova Scotia. The author recounts the harrowing story of the Andrea Gail, which operated out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and how the boat sank and its six crew members fought to live. Gripping. Non-fiction.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Holt, Colorado, a small town where everyone knows everybody’s business before it happens, is home to a group of people brought together by a teacher who makes them interact. Gentle and plainspoken, this is a very satisfying story that relies on vivid characters that bring it to life. Fiction.

Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Doomed by his own self-righteousness, a Baptist minister’s move to the Congo with his family becomes a foolhardy and dangerous venture. With its great background detail, excellent characterizations and biting humor, this is both a compelling family saga and a tragic look at Africa. Fiction.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Three stories of human love are woven together in this story of those who live in the forests and on the small farms of Appalachia during one wet summer. The characters in the story never meet, but their lives overlap and readers discover the connections between each of them. Fiction

The Reader by Bernard Schlink
A teenager in post-World War II Germany and an enigmatic woman unexpectedly become lovers. Their routine of lovemaking is followed by his reading to her from the German classics, but he knows little about her and they drift apart. When he is older and a law student he sits in on a case and discovers that his former lover is being tried as a Nazi war criminal. Lots to talk about in this coming-of-age story that is also a story about good versus evil and the role of moral responsibility. Fiction.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick Coming Soon
This Gothic tale, which takes place in 1907, is the story of Ralph Truitt, a man burning with the desire of living a solitary life, who awaits his mail order bride, only to discover that the woman is interested in his wealth. Marrying her anyway, he soon begins to sicken because she is poisoning him. He does not die, but the story unfolds in ways neither the characters nor the readers expect. Fiction.

Reading Lolita in Teheran by Afar Nafisi
After she resigned from her job as a university professor in Iran, the author invited seven former students to secretly read and discuss great books of Western literature, books that were banned by the government. As the women read and talked they began to share stories of their own lives, the repression they experienced and their small acts of freedom in the face of that repression. Non-Fiction.

Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Dinah, daughter of Jacob and sister of Joseph, and a tribal midwife in Biblical times assists the women who enter the red tent, the place where they are sequestered during menses and childbirth. Sharing gossip and encouragement, they bring to life the women of the Bible. Historical Fiction.

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
This memoir by an author who chose his own name is a hilarious and original tale of a boy who is raised in a chaotic home with an eccentric family. Ultimately a feel good story, this memoir (among many memoirs about dysfunctional homes) stands out because of the wonderful characters and the apparent fact that our main character is a survivor. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Just as the Japanese are invading China, a young Chinese man with tuberculosis is sent to a small Japanese village to recuperate. His relationships with the locals bring him to a greater wisdom about love, honor and loss. Historical Fiction.

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
Mentioned more often than President Franklin Roosevelt in newspapers of the 1930’s, the race horse Seabiscuit was a national hero who gave hope to people during the Great Depression. Expertly researched, this page-turning book tells the story of how the horse, with knobby legs and a down-on-his-luck jockey, became such a triumphant winner. Non-fiction.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Living with her abusive father on a middle-of-nowhere peach farm, fourteen-year-old Lily yearns for her dead mother. When Lily’s only friend, the African-American nanny Rosaleen, is attacked by racists in their 1964 South Carolina town, the two of them set off on a journey that takes them to the home of three beekeeping sisters, who shelter them and give Lily an optimistic future. Fiction.

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
ONE BOOK/ONE GLENDALE 2009
Spanning 1937 to 1957, this is the story of sisters Pearl and May whose lives in Shanghai are disrupted by arranged marriages and the Japanese invasion of China and must immigrate to California. Incarcerated at the Ellis Island-like Angel Island, they then are able to come to the Los Angeles Chinatown, where they start new lives. Rich in history and detail, this book is a wonderful exploration of the relationship of two sisters. Historical Fiction.

She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Narrating her life from four to forty, Dolores Prince, who sipped Maalox in elementary school, recounts the awful people and occurrences in her life. Anesthetizing herself with Mallomars and soap operas, Dolores” parade of disasters makes for terrifically biting reading and her black humor keeps us turning the pages. Fiction.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Quoyle, a sad sack writer who moves his children and straight-talking aunt back to their ancestral home in Newfoundland, is the central character in this story of a group of people confronting the hard, cold life of an island fishing village. Told with great wit and glorious language, this is novel is a page turner. Fiction.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Set in the 1950’s in the Puget Sound islands of Washington, the murder trial of a Japanese-American fisherman is the focal point of this novel that also calls up lingering memories of the World War II internment camps. Great characterizations and the beautiful Pacific Northwest setting make this a poetic and thoughtful novel. Historical Fiction.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Two 19th century Chinese girls, meant to be friends for life, are imprisoned by rigid rules of conduct, which require that their feet be bound. This engrossing and poignant novel, which takes the girls into womanhood, is based on the author’s meticulous research. Historical Fiction.

The Soloist by Mark Salzman
An emotionally distant one-time cello prodigy is transformed by two events--his involvement as juror in a murder trial and the music lessons he gives to a new student. This spiritual journey by a local author is beautifully written. Fiction.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
Two cultures clash in this extraordinary story of a Hmong (Laotian) immigrant family with a very ill child and the California doctors who try to care for her. The author of this thought-provoking, beautifully woven story never takes sides. Non-fiction.

Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir
After living a life of great abundance as friends of the king of Morocco, a family is forced into exile after the father engineers a failed coup against the King. Enduring twenty years of solitude and infested prison cells, the family is finally released. The grim ordeal, told in first person narrative, is a compelling chronicle of how a family survives in spite of the most demeaning life. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
Thinking that it will be an idyllic adventure, a San Francisco couple moves to Mexico to re-start a family business. Living without electricity and water in an unfamiliar culture, Sara and Richard experience life in a subtle and surprising way. Great depth of character and setting add to the quiet quality of the book. Fiction.

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi
A perennial outsider because she is a dwarf, Trudy Montag lives in a small German town prior to and after World War II. She exploits her gift for eliciting secrets from people and protects those who show her kindness. Drawing strength and wisdom from her inability to fit into a conformist society, this book is sensitive and rewarding. Fiction.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Imagine meeting your husband, who is naked, in a field when you are six year’s old. Clare and Henry seem like an ordinary couple, but he is a prisoner of time who travels back and forth from the present to the past. An original love story and dazzling science fiction for non-science fiction readers. Science Fiction.

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
Former New York Times restaurant critic and present editor of Gourmet magazine tells a wry tale of growing up with food. Her stories of family members (her mother could not cook, but their housekeeper was a magician in the kitchen), mentors and the author’s own anxieties are filtered through the lens of cooking and eating. Seasoning her own story with glorious descriptions of adventurous meals, this is a unique coming of age story. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

Three Cups of Tea One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson
In return for being sheltered by a small Pakistani village after a failed mountain climbing attempt, an American promises to build the village its first school. By the seat of his pants, with little funding and an openness to cultures different from his own, author Mortenson constructs schools throughout Pakistan and Afghanistan. Lively and inspiring. Non-fiction.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Considered very frank when published more than fifty years ago, this story of a girl growing up in the squalor of turn-of-the-century New York is now considered a classic. Francie Nolan, a dreamer like her father and practical like her mother, is like a tree that grows out of the cement and survives the odds. Gentle and memorable, this book appeals to adults and teens. Fiction.

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Writer Mitch Albom saw his former professor Morrie Schwartz on television one night talking about what it was like to be dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease. What started as a reunion between student and teacher became the project of a lifetime, an inspirational account of Morrie’s outlook on life, gleaned from sixteen Tuesdays spent together. Inspirational. Non-Fiction.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Moving from the present to the past, a ninety-year-old man remembers his days as a veterinarian with a Depression era circus. This original and wonderful story has romance, a very memorable cast of characters and provides a gritty description of circus life that makes readers feel as if they are there. Fiction.

The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy
The well-known author’s second book is an autobiographical account of his experiences as a teacher on a small impoverished island off the coast of South Carolina. Teaching students who have never even heard of George Washington, Conroy optimistically reaches out to give them a glimpse into a wider world. This is a funny and touching book. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
Appearing to live charmed lives in their rambling New York farm house, the members of the Mulvaney family feel the bottom fall out of their lives when teenaged Marianne Mulvaney is raped. The book heartbreakingly traces the impact of the rape on each parent and sibling. A richly textured novel. Fiction.

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
One Book/One Glendale 2007
A Japanese American family is forced to leave its Berkeley home during World War II and is incarcerated in a Utah internment camp. Sparely told and modest in length, the story is related by each of the four family members. Historical Fiction.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Twelve-year-old Astrid, whose free-spirited mother is convicted of murder, is forced to become a foster child in three very different Los Angeles homes. With sensitive characterizations and spot-on locale descriptions, this is also a very provocative portrait of people in need. Fiction.

White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
A fast-moving and darkly comic novel set in India, this is the story of a chauffeur who murders his employer and then tries to justify it by recounting his transformation from hard-working boy to killer. Contrasting the rich and poor of India, where many are often sacrificed for the elite few, this sharp satire is hilarious. Fiction.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
This magical story of the Land of Oz, before and up to the time Dorothy arrives, tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West. Born with green skin and huge teeth, she turns out to be a character we never knew, one with spirit, panache and intelligence. Imaginative, humorous and quite captivating. Fiction. Fantasy.

THE WORLD IS FLAT: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Centruy by Thomas Friedman
Analyzing globalization, this bestselling writer uses the metaphor for a flat world to describe how a level playing field now exists for countries who want to compete commercially. Friedman’s excellent writing skills and unique insights make this a thought-provoking, and never boring, book. Non-Fiction.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Writers Joan Didion and her husband John Gregory Dunne were a couple well known for their innovative books and solid marriage. When Dunne died of a heart attack, just after the two had returned from the hospital where their only child was lying in a coma, Didion tries to make sense of a world where little makes sense. This memoir is how one woman tries to get a grip on the unthinkable. Original. Non-Fiction. Autobiography.

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
Cool-headed and clever Warsaw Zookeeper Jan Zabinski and his wife Antonina sheltered Jews and war resisters by hiding them in bombed out animal cages, and in their own house, in World War II Poland. Antonina’s quiet, but knowing, personality and great kinship with animals highlight this marvelous true story. Sympathetic and quietly humorous, this marvelous work is a special treat for animal lovers. Non-Fiction.