Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

1. Join the Mary Lib Saleh Euless Public Library Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Group.

2. Read a book and share a review in this post.

3. Pick up your prize mug at the library!

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table
Enjoyable stories with interesting recipes.

In the Unlikely Event
Truly enjoyed reading this book about Elizabeth, NJ in 1951 and 52. Historic events became the centerpiece of the story as seen through the eyes of a 15 year old girl living in Elizabeth during that tragic winter.

I liked it a lot more than the last Shopaholic book. Very silly fun read.

Vianne and Isabelle are sisters who have dealt with the death of their mother and subsequent neglect of their father in very different ways. Vianne, the rule follower, is tucked away safely with her family in the French countryside. Isabelle, the rule breaker, has run away from boarding school headed for an exciting life in Paris. Both of their lives are forever changed by the Nazi invasion and occupation of France. The story of how each woman left her mark on a war torn world is why this book was rated one of the best of 2015. I LOVE reading stories about the "Greatest Generation" and this one does not disappoint.

The Poisoner: The Life and Crimes of Victorian England's Most Notorious Doctor by Stephen Bates
Dr. William Palmer, eminently respectable member of the middle class in the mid 1800s, became the "greatest villain that ever stood in the Old Bailey" according to Charles Dickens. Palmer's choice of weapon was strychnine which he used to dispatch many victims including his best friend, mother in law, wife, children and dozens more. This is a fascinating book about Victorian England and an infamous serial killer.

Yes, My Accent Is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You by Kunal Nayyar
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The Big Bang Theory is one of my absolute favorite shows, so I jumped at the chance to read a little more about one of the actors. The book journeys through the life of Kunal Nayyar and his twists and turns on the road to the big bang.

Station Eleven

Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel, is a story about a virus that spreads rapidly throughout the world, killing people within 12 hours of exposure. 99% of the planet's population dies, and this is the story of how humanity carries on in the face of such a devastating pandemic. You may think you've heard this story before but believe me: you haven't heard it like this. The book is understated and haunting in the best possible way. Station Eleven follows the intersecting lives and inner thoughts of a cast of vastly different characters and St. John Mandel elegantly describes how mankind struggles on after the day that changes the world. 5 stars. Recommended for fans of post-apocalyptic and contemporary fiction.

I don't know how to share a review to this post.

Erik wrote: "I don't know how to share a review to this post."

You can just post your review in the comments. To add the book link, just click on "add book/author" which is right above the comment box.

Then you can come pick up your prize mug at the library!

The Book of Speculation
Librarian Simon Watson receives an old book in the mail that is a log from a traveling carnival in the 1700's. Simon reads the book with interest as his own mother was a mermaid in a carnival. As Simon reads the book he discovers a connection between his own mother's tragic drowning death and other women relatives who played mermaids in carnivals. Could there be a curse on Simon's family? This book started out slow for me but by midway through I was hooked. Great story with a gripping ending.

I read The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith. I got through the whole thing and *then* remembered that Robert Galbraith is the pen name of J.K. Rowling. D'oh. No wonder I enjoyed it.... I liked the writing style, the flawed humanity of the main character (Cormoran Strike), and the story kept me guessing. I'm on book two of the Cormoran Strike series now (The Silkworm).

I read the latest Lisa Scottoline's book in her series of women lawyers that solve a crimes. As always, it was very exciting! Bennie Rosato the founder of the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm hides her big heart beneath her tough exterior and she doesn't like to fail. Now she has a case from her past that shows her how different her life could have turned out. Bennie took on a twelve-year-old boy 13 years ago who was sent to a juvenile detention center after fighting with a class bully. Bennie wasn't able to free the boy and it's the case that has haunted her for 13 years. Bennie no longer represents people accused of murder, but Jason is indicted for killing the same bully he fought with as a kid she has to represent him. She doesn't know if she can believe his claim of innocence, but she knows she owes him for what happened in the past and the failure of the law, of the juvenile justice system, and of herself. She is forced to relive the darkest period of her life, Bennie will do everything in her power to get the truth, and justice. I totally enjoyed this book and all the books in this series. There are several women lawyers with many personalities and of course they are always getting in trouble! I highly recommend reading all of them!

I read The Martian in anticipation of the movie. Both do not disappoint. The book is very detail oriented. You feel as though the author is an engineer, botanist and astronaut. It lends credence to the entire story. The details and explanations are balanced by the action adventure aspect of the book. It is a real page turner! The movie does a great job of following the book, but (of course) the book is better. There are many details that are glossed over and entire plot lines that are erased. If you enjoyed the movie, give the book a try. It will really satisfy all your "but how is that possible?" questions. You come away believing that manned trips to Mars are quite possible!

Redshirts

I had "Redshirts: a novel with three codas" recommended to me a couple of years ago by a friend, but had totally forgotten about it until recently. I thoroughly enjoyed John Scalzi's humorous sci-fi yarn about the crew aboard the Universal Union flagship the "Intrepid". There are some fun/surprisings twists to the story, but I won't tell you what they are...you need to check out this great book to find out!

Just finished this book last night and I literally cried halfway through! This book challenges status quo and should move anyone who reads it to think deeply about their social constructs and what that means in America. It doesn't answer the original question the author poses, but I think that is because there are no real questions. What is race? Why do we use it to define and divide? What do we do to change it?
This entire book is just a man's letter to his son, and that is quite beautiful.

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan is a compilation of stories that are intertwined around a magical harmonica. This book is also on the 2016 Texas Bluebonnet List . I would also recommend listening to it on audiobook or through our 3M app.

Micah I read this about a year ago now. The whole series is great. This one in particular changes how you see Micah as just part of the pack. He's a real business man and does what it takes to make things run smoothly for other races. Treaties among other races for protection. Very good book, very enlightening.

Letter to My Daughter
This book is like an autobiography by Maya Angelou. It's an easy read, but well worth the read. It flows through twenty-eight short essays that tell various stories about how she has traveled the world. It includes how it was when she was young and how it is now. There are bits and pieces of poetry throughout the book. I found it hard to put down as I related to some of her life experiences. She speaks against vulgarity and violence as she has been through it and has come out on the other side still sore at the ones who committed the acts. She saved a few chapters to tell about her friends who left marks on her life and in her heart. She passes all these experiences on to me. What a gift I feel Maya Angelou has given me in this book.

The Wrath and the Dawn

If you liked the idea of A Thousand and One Nights (aka Arabian Nights) then you'll love this book. When I was reading this book, I didn't want to stop. Warning: A couple spoilers are in the next few sentences. Essentially, it's about Khalid the caliph of Khorasan who has a curse that forces him to murder one girl a night for the welfare of his people. Sadly, they do not know his intentions and assume he's just a monster. But then comes the day he meets Shahrzad, the girl who volunteered to be his bride. She tells him a story every night-but with a cliffhanger. Her intentions are not so pure, but in the end they both fall in love with each other. This book was humorous, sad, and so very poetic. You can't help but fall in love with Khalid after you've heard his words, and Shahrzad's got a big mouth on her that will definitely make you laugh. After reading this I was left wanting more, and now I'm just counting the days until the sequel comes out. If it was possible to give this book more than 5 stars I would. I recommend this to everyone, young and old.

Pretty Girls
If you are looking for a book that you cannot put down once you start, try this one. It grabs you on page one and will not let you go until the end. I will not summarize for fear of revealing one of the many plot twists! Read, enjoy, then take a walk to return to reality!!

I really enjoyed Girl on a Train. It was suspenseful and surprising.

The Forever War

Loved this book from beginning to end. Gym time is also my dedicated reading time. I like to end my workout with a stationary bike, and I found myself going longer because I didn't want to put the book down.

This is a sci-fi war novel that draws on the author's experience in Vietnam but is not simply a story about that war set in space. As a veteran, I found the characters and their experiences strangely relatable to my own experiences both in and since Afghanistan, but don't be deterred if you don't have a similar background. It's a fast, vivid read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi.

Fair warning: Time dilation is a key concept in this novel. While accepting the scientific principles, I struggle to wrap my mind around the concept and instead have to just roll with it. If you can do neither, it will be hard to enjoy this book.

Circling the Sun
McLain has a way of making you feel like you really know Beryl, who she is, and what she is thinking. After reading the book, I had to search out more information on Beryl, Karen (Isak Dinesen), and Denys. I felt like I jouneyed through time and was dropped in the middle of Kenya during the 1920's. It was such a different, fascinating world. After reading this I also had to check out and read "West of the Night" by Beryl Markham. Next will be "Out of Africa".

This is a quick, entertaining read. Moriarty's characters are likable and relatable. After reading this story I had to read all of the other stories by Liane Moriarty. All were equally good and entertaining. I like that the characters are from Australia, which makes the dialogue slightly different.

Enjoyed. I love Sue Grafton books. I llke the main character Kinsey Millhone, who is a private eye. The book is very entertaining. She uses the alphabet for the title of each of her books. This book makes me wish there were more than 26 letters for her use.

I have read all of John Grisham's books and this edition definitely belongs in the top 10%.

Connie wrote: "

This is a quick, entertaining read. Moriarty's characters are likable and relatable. After reading this story I had to read all of the other stories by Liane M..."

The one I enjoyed was The Husbands Secret. I received Big Little Lies as an ARC and have yet to read it. I'm glad to hear that the author stayed true to the Australian characters. I enjoyed that as well.

Where Is the Parthenon?

My 10 year old son Aneesh read the book. He mentioned it is a really good book that gives a fantastic overview of the Parthenon which is located in Athens and the first Greek temple. The book talks about the friezes, i.e. long strip of sculpture or painting on the wall of a building which people still can't figure out the meaning of. I am looking forward to visiting Greece and seeing the Parthenon in person with my family.

The Lier by Nora Roberts.

Loved it!

I can't add a book nor can I edit the last post. It's

"The Liar " by Nora Roberts

I read The Status of All Things and it was great! Finished it in two days and really enjoyed the whole story. Really great for young women as a reminder to be grateful for what we have, even if it seems negative at the time.

The Complete Chronicles of Conan
If you are looking for an adventurous read, look no further than this amazing compilation by Robert E Howard. Collecting all of Howard's Conan stories, this book is a must have for any literary thrill-seeker!

Food52 Vegan: 60 Vegetable-Driven Recipes for Any Kitchen
Found this gem on the "new book" shelf. Great variety of Vegan recipes, with beautiful photos. Great resource for ideas for new combinations. Will update my go-to Roasted Ratatouille with their suggestion of adding chickpeas! Great Breakfast section - Breakfast Tostadas with Cabbage Slaw! Yummy ideas!

1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2�12
by Thomas W. Phelan

I recommend this book to all parents! It's a short, straightforward read!

It teaches how to train kids to STOP doing unwanted behaviors, without yelling or spanking. It also teaches how to START behaviors with some good strategies. I love this book because it is easy to implement, is very practical and it works fairly quickly. It has helped me to be able to manage my kids and know what to do so I don't feel so overwhelmed and have more emotional energy to do positive things with them. It's a great general guide how to effectively deal with typical things that come up with parents and kids on the spot. I have previously read good back up information on the whys of a lot of parent topics but this book helped me to actually apply a real tangible strategy (which is important when your toddler is having a huge tantrum in the grocery store!). Also, there is a section for teachers.

A great, fairly simple way to get structure going at home without all the frustration!