A few of our favorite things 2014

A Few of Our Favorite Things 2014

reading

wake county public libraries www.wakegov.com/libraries

Introduction

Season’s greetings from Wake County Public Libraries and welcome to the 2014 edition of our annual booklet featuring some of our favorite books - and some of yours, too! We’re pleased to present these books as selected by our adult services librarians and managers for your consideration and enjoyment. The last page of this year’s booklet features favorite books that were submitted by library members across Wake County during Freedom to Read Week.

More book suggestions and tools for readers!

Find more great book suggestions on our Book-a-Day blog! Visit www.wakebookaday.wordpress.com for a different book every day! Our staff love sharing their book suggestions with you through short book reviews.

For even more reading ideas, including a customized list of reading suggestions based on your interests, please check out the Reading page on our library’s website: www.wakegov.com/libraries/reading.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

1

Staff Picks Proof of Heaven: a Neurosurgeon’s Journey Into the Afterlife

by Eben Alexander Nonfiction 133.901 ALEXA

How can anyone who has gone through a near-death experience analyze it medically? Well, a neurosurgeon did. In 2008, Dr. Eben Alexander caught a rare illness and went into a coma for a week. He awoke miraculously with vivid memories of a fantastic journey to another world, and has since changed his skeptical mind. This book explains what he discovered and how he came to his conclusion.

— Celia G. Lost Lake

by Sarah Addison Allen

Fiction ALLEN

Kate has finally awoken, to the delight of her daugher Devin.

Kate had been sleepwalking through life in the year since her husband Matt’s death. Now she’s ready to live again. Eby Pim is about to change her life too. Owner of “Lost Lake,” Eby has decided to sell the old cabin resort in Georgia. When Devin finds an old picture postcard of Lost Lake addressed to her mother, an enchanting journey begins and they find magic at Lost Lake.

— Sandy A. Longbourn

by Jo Baker

Fiction BAKER

This book takes place during the events of Pride and Prejudice, but focuses on the servants at Longbourn, the home of Elizabeth Bennet and her family. The main character is a young housemaid named Sarah. She is grateful for her job, but she longs for something more. Then, two men offer Sarah their love along with very different futures. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this look at the everyday lives of ordinary people in Regency England.

— Sue S. 2

Bittersweet

by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Fiction BEVERLYW

Freshman college student Mabel Dagmar is invited by her wealthy roommate Ev Winslow to summer in Vermont at Winloch, her family’s estate on Lake Champlain. In this idyllic setting, Mabel befriends Ev’s sister and her eccentric aunt who enthralls her with hints at family secrets and scandal. In this suspenseful coming of age novel, Mabel experiences first love and discovers shocking details of how the Winslow family came into their money and what they would do to keep it.

— Lisa L. Tell the Wolves I’m Home

by Carol Rifka Brunt

Fiction BRUNT

It is 1987, and only one person really understands fourteenyear-old June -- her uncle, renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy and awkward, June can only be herself with Finn; he is her godfather and best friend. When he dies of a mysterious illness, June’s world is turned upside down. Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance that will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

— Marsha B. Glitter and Glue: a Memoir

by Kelly Corrigan

Biography CORRIGAN

Looking for post-college adventure, Corrigan (The Middle Place and Lift) sets off to travel the world. As funds run short, she finds herself accepting a nanny job for a young family in Australia who has recently lost their mother to a tragic death. The bonds between mother and child take center stage as Corrigan discovers how mothers are the glue of families. She reflects on her relationship with her own mother, finding a new admiration for that complex, nurturing role.

— P.J. G.

3

The Circle

by Dave Eggers

Fiction EGGERS

Just two years out of college, Mae Holland has scored a job at The Circle, the hottest, highest-tech company in the world.

They’ve developed TruYou, which brings together everything about everyone online – it’s super-convenient. Mae decides to use The Circle’s technology to look for her long-lost boyfriend. What could be wrong with that?

— Kat he R. The Tilted World

by Tom Franklin

Fiction FRANKLIN

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 is the background of one of my favorite historical novels. Bootleggers, revenuers, an orphaned child, crazy weather, a disintegrating marriage, romance--there are no dull characters or moments in this beautifully written story.

— Janet L. The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street

by Susan Gilman

Fiction GILMAN

Historical fiction with a bite! 1913 New York City: Malka is a Russian Jewish immigrant foundling raised by the Italian ices peddler who runs her over in the street, maiming her for life.

Reinvented as Lillian Dunkel, she becomes a shrewd and sassy entrepreneur (think: Donald Trump crossed with Leona Helmsley) who with her husband, Albert, invents the modern ice cream market and makes a fortune. Spanning 70 years of Lillian’s life, this is a romp of a novel, with laugh-aloud moments set in quintessential New York.

— Heidi B.

4

Local Souls: Novellas

by Allan Gurganus

Fiction GURGANUS

The cover of local writer Allan Gurganus’ book of three novellas features an idyllic vintage photograph, but Mayberry, this is not. In the first story, we meet a striking couple whose relationship slowly unfolds with bits of dark humor. Next, we witness the fallout after an altruistic teen is supposedly murdered while on a mission trip to Africa. Decoys – duck carvings of wood -- become the obsession of retired Doc Roper in the third and final novella. Check out these masterfully written stories about some of the local souls of mythical Falls, North Carolina.

— Ashlyn B. The Dog Stars

by Peter Heller

Fiction HELLER

Hig survived the flu that killed everyone he knows. Now he lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog and across a field from his new neighbor, a paramilitary survivalist.

When Hig picks up a static-broken transmission on the radio of his 1956 Cessna, he decides to push himself and his plane past the “point of no return”—not enough fuel to fly home—to seek out what might remain of the former world.

— Gordon J. Nos4A2

by Joe Hill

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror HILL

Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son, and NOS4A2 reads so much like one of his father’s classics it’s uncanny. This is an epic story about an evil man with an even more sinister car (the title refers to his vanity license plate) who squares off with a young woman with a gift for finding anything in a journey down the secret roads that criss-cross the country and beyond, to a magic land where it’s always Christmas.

— Rob C.

5

A Long Way Down

by Nick Hornby

FIction HORNBY

What is the one thing missing from an unplanned meeting of four hapless souls on the top of a London apartment building on New Year’s Eve, each bent on ending their life with a tumultuous leap? A pizza delivery guy of course, also with self-destructive intent. So begins Hornsby’s love letter to our shadow side.

— Melissa K. War of the Whales: a True Story

by Joshua Horwitz

Nonfiction 333.95 HORWI

Marine life drowns in manmade noise, and sonar used by navies to track submarines can result in the mass death of whales.

As environmental law attorney Joel Reynolds takes the U.S. Navy to court to expose the Navy sonar program and reduce ocean noise pollution, marine biologist Ken Balcomb witnesses an atypical mass stranding of whales. Balcomb investigates the disaster and his hard evidence leads him to join Reynolds: the stage is set for a clash between an intrusive manmade world and the need to protect life in the ocean.

— Emil S. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

by Rachel Joyce

Fiction JOYCE

Recently retired Harold Fry hasn’t heard from his one-time co-worker, Queenie Hennessy, in over twenty years. So, he is quite surprised when a letter from her arrives, expressing her goodbyes from a hospice in northern England. Harold pens his response and steps out to send it off in the mailbox but then he decides that he must hand deliver it. If he walks the 600 miles, he is sure that Queenie will stay alive until he gets there.

— Tess A.

6

A Man Without Breath

by Philip Kerr

Fiction KERR

In the winter of 1943, former Berlin detective Bernie Gunther has left the Criminal Police and is working for the German War Crimes Bureau. A mass grave has been discovered and the bodies are rumored to be Polish officers murdered by the Soviets. This massacre is perfect propanganda for the Germans. The right man is needed to investigate, one who can walk a fine line between Berlin, the SS, and even more dangerous elements. Hopefully, Bernie Gunther is that man.

— Edward W. The Glass Kitchen

by Linda Francis Lee

Fiction LEE

All Portia ever wanted was to carry on her grandmother’s tradition of cooking at The Glass Kitchen. After her grandmother’s death and the revelation of a cheating husband, Portia decides to move to Manhattan. Though she thinks she left all her problems behind in Texas, she quickly realizes you can’t run away from the past. As Portia finds her inner strength, she also finds that surprises are not always bad and love is where you least expect it.

— Rita B. The Corsican Caper

by Peter Mayle

Fiction MAYLE

Billionaire Francis Reboul owns the Palais du Pharo, which was originally built for Napoleon III and is the biggest and most glamorous private residence in Marseille. Russian businessman Oleg Vronsky, accustomed to getting whatever he desires by fair means or foul, covets the Palais du Pharo, which Reboul has no interest in selling. Raboul’s friend, master detective Sam Levitt, heads negotiations with an underworld of mercenaries and hit men as well as the Corsican mafia to prevent the billionaire’s demise.

— Mary M.

7

That Part Was True

by Deborah McKinlay

Fiction MCKINLAY

Eve Petworth is so struck by a passage in Jackson Cooper’s newest novel, she writes him. Thus begins a rare correspondence of letters in a digital age. Eve is adrift following the death of her domineering mother. Jack is dealing with another divorce. But, this is not just another trite story of desperate people finding “true love”.

Rather it delves into the human spirit, and shows that we can come to know our place in the world at any age.

— Clare B. Kenobi

by John Jackson Miller Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror STAR WARS

Not just for Science Fiction fans, this novel also appeals to lovers of Western novels and old movies like Shane. After the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi disappears into hiding on the desert world of Tatooine, where he inadvertently stumbles into trouble. Settling not far from a small ranching and farming town, Ben, as he is now known, saves the life of the daughter of the local shopkeeper and quickly becomes a source of gossip and mystery.

— Dan B. Coffee Obsession

by Anette Moldvaer

Nonfiction 641.637 MOLDV

If coffee is your world, this is your travel guide. Who knew there were all these species of coffee growing in so many places?

Knowing how coffee is processed will help you choose the perfect beans. Knowing how preparation affects your coffee will help you get magic from your beans. If you are looking for something special, this book includes some off the beaten path recipes that will thrill your palette without having to fly to Paris or Vietnam.

— Tara B.

8

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat

by Edward Kelsey Moore

Fiction MOORE

Meet the “Supremes”, Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean; they have been friends since high school. Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat is a local restaurant this trio has been frequenting since their teens, and provides the backdrop for this story. The “Supremes” have their own table at Earl’s and still dine there every Sunday. This is a great tale of friendship and life; the bond these women share is amazing and makes me reflect upon the many friendships I have formed.

— Carla P. The Crane Wife

by Patrick Ness Fiction NESS

One night George Duncan finds an injured crane outside his London flat. He removes the arrow that has pierced its wing, and the crane flies away. The next day a lovely, but mysterious woman named Kumiko arrives at his shop. George is soon smitten with Kumiko, and she begins to tell a tale of long lasting love and terrible anger that may reveal her secrets.

— Lisa W. Orfeo

by Richard Powers

Fiction POWERS

Seventy-year-old composer Peter Els is searching for musical answers in genetic patterns by injecting music into DNA cells. This alerts Homeland Security, who think Els is a bioterrorist. When they arrive at his door, he panics and runs, making him an international fugitive with the Internet world calling him “Bioterrorist Bach.” What happens next is a series of flashbacks: the origins of Els’ love of music, his human relationships -- all leading up to that fateful door knock, changing his life forever.

— Susan N.

9

Everybody’s Got Something

by Robin Roberts

Biography ROBERTS

Robin Roberts, the host of Good Morning America, shares her victorious recovery from breast cancer and MDS (a.k.a preleukemia). She traces step-by-step her experiences through the treatment that included a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Sally-Ann. Her beloved mother, who passed away right before Robin was admitted to the hospital, is the driving force in this story of resilience and faith. The title is inspired by something her mother used to say. She offers readers a deeply intimate and endearing glimpse into the human side of battling illness.

— Mary A. Turn Around Bright Eyes: the Rituals of Love and Karaoke

by Rob Sheffield Biography SHEFFIEL

In this smart, funny, and inspiring memoir, Rob Sheffield relocates to New York City after the sudden death of his wife. (You can—and should!—read about his relationship with her in his other memoir, Love is a Mix Tape.) Depressed and unable to find his footing, he’s dragged out to a karaoke bar by his friends, where he finds a catharsis that also happens to be really fun. As Sheffield begins to move on, eventually falling in love again and remarrying, karaoke continues to be a means for him to make sense of his own life. Sheffield has a talent for working in clever references to pop music and culture that never feel gimmicky, making this a great read for anyone interested in those subjects.

— Carrie L. The Heiresses

by Sara Shepard

Fiction SHEPARD

This was a fun, frothy thriller full of surprises! I thoroughly enjoyed the shenanigans of these aristocratic beauties, each with their own dark secrets. As they try to sort out their own lives, they are also dealing with the legendary “Saybrook Curse” and are compulsively followed by the avid public who are drawn in by their nonstop scandals. From hidden affairs, to dubious business dealing, on to suspected murder, this was a compulsive page turner!

— Janet M. 10

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

by Robin Sloan

Fiction SLOAN

Newly employed Clay Jannon is not allowed to look inside any of the books at the 24-hour bookstore where he works the night shift. The customers are odd, the books are odder, and Clay can’t figure out how the store makes any money. Eventually, he peeks inside a book – and his adventure begins. Books and technology live in harmony in this book, and Sloan has created a delightful quest novel for the techies and book lovers in all of us.

— Amy F. American Tapestry: the Story of Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama

by Rachel Swarns

973.932 SWARN

This is a fantastic book for those who like genealogy and history.

The author places the reader in the shoes of Melvinia, First Lady Michelle Obama’s great-great-great-grandmother. The story begins in 1852 with Melvinia living as a 8-year-old slave girl in South Carolina and takes the reader through a journey that could have only been seen through her eyes. Pain, love, sorrow and happiness are all expressed in the pages of American Tapestry.

— Saundra C. Rules of Civility

by Amor Towles

Fiction TOWLES

New Years Eve 1937, New York City -- boarding house roommates Eve and Katey are ringing in the New Year in a Greenwich Village jazz club. Enter Tinker; alone, handsome, and clearly rich. The consequences of this chance encounter of three fast friends have long-lasting ramifications. Set primarily in the martini drinking, big-band listening, fast-paced world of 1938, Rules of Civility spans the social strata of late depression-era New York City.

— Katrina V.

11

The Age of Miracles

by Karen Thompson Walker

Fiction WALKER

Julia lives in California and during her middle school years, the earth’s rotation has gradually begun to slow. Days and nights are lasting longer which results in catastrophic effects on the planet and those inhabiting it. Equally as important as the setting is the coming of age story of Julia, who not only is dealing with the drastically changing world but also struggling with issues with her first crush, her former best friend, and her parents’ marriage.

— Emma M. Salvage the Bones

by Jesmyn Ward

Fiction WARD

It wasn’t that the Batiste family decided to stay in their home while Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast, they just had bigger battles to fight. Having never recovered from the death of their mother, Esch (the narrator), her brothers and her alcoholic father live a hand to mouth existence in rural Mississippi. Every chapter moves the storm one day closer in this beautifully written 2011 National Book Award winner, a tough but rewarding read.

— Amy W. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

by Gabrielle Zevin

Fiction ZEVIN

Bookstore owner A.J. Fikry says about his life “If this were a novel, I’d stop reading right now. I’d throw it across the room.” His wife has died, sales are down, and his most valuable rare book is stolen. Isolated from his friends, a mysterious package is left for him which ends up transforming his life. Each chapter is the name of a short story, Fikry’s favorite genre, and begins with Fikry’s thoughts on the story. It gradually becomes clear to whom he is writing, and why.

— Cat hy P.

12

Patron Favorites From patron votes during Freedom to Read Week at Wake County Public Libraries.

1.

The Holy Bible

2.

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

3.

Harry Potter

by J. K. Rowling

4.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Mark Twain

5.

The Catcher in the Rye

by J. D. Salinger

6.

The Color Purple

by Alice Walker

7.

Fahrenheit 451

by Ray Bradbury

8.

The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green

9.

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

10.

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

Regional Library Locations and Operating Hours

Monday – Thursday Friday – Saturday Sunday

9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Cameron Village Regional Library 919-856-6710 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh, NC 27605 East Regional Library 946 Steeple Square Ct., Knightdale, NC 27545

919-217-5300

Eva Perry Regional Library 2100 Shepherd’s Vineyard Dr., Apex, NC 27502

919-387-2100

North Regional Library 7009 Harps Mill Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615

919-870-4000

Southeast Regional Library 919-662-2250 908 7th Ave., Garner, NC 27529 West Regional Library 4000 Louis Stephens Dr., Cary, NC 27519

919-463-8500

Wake County Public Libraries offers 16 monthly programs and book discussions at each of our regional libraries. From live music to monthly crafts, and from small business expertise to author visits we have programs to suit your interests!

Please inquire with our librarians or visit our website to learn more about our events for adults: www.wakegov.com/libraries/events