From Karen: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (now in paperback, $16.99) This marvelous novel has been named by many as 'best book of the year', I heartily agree. Barbara Kingsolver has fashioned a tale whose protagonist's mother is Mexican and whose father is an American bureaucrat based in Washington, D.C. Along the way he meets up with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Trotsky. The author's rendition of Frida is particularly compelling. A must read for any lover of contemporary literature!

From Nancy: The Fast and the Furriest by Andy Behrens ($15.99) Meet Kevin Pugh, a 12 year old couch potato. This might not be a problem in some families, but Kevin is the son of ex-Chicago Bears tough guy Howie Pugh. Kevin fails at every sport but finds that he and his portly dog Cromwell excel at dog agility contests. However, dog agility does not count as a sport in Howie's eyes. Laugh out funny dialog in this great story about a boy who discovers his self-confidence with a little help from his dog. Loved it! (ages 9-13)

From Kathleen: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender ($25.95, our price $20.76) Haunting, aching, beautiful. A sweet story with sadness and longing and oh so readable that I read it in one sitting. We all have a relationship of some kind with food, but what if it were an opening to knowing more than you would ever want to know about a person's emotional well being? For Rose Edelstein food is something to be avoided because it comes with a gift, the knowledge of what the cook was feeling or keeps buried, during the time of preparing, mixing and blending ingredients. The story of Rose, her gift and the surface of relationships and their inner truth are gently and convincingly unveiled while a subtle and soft crescendo builds in the background. Two thumbs up!

From Elizabeth: Keeping The Feast: One Couple's Story of Love, Food, and Healing in Italy by Paula Butturini ($25.95) In this beautiful and eloquent memoir we follow the story of two journalists who meet in Rome, fall in love and begin their life together. Shortly before their marriage, Paula is severely beaten while on assignment in Prague. After they are married John is hit by a sniper while riding in a car in war torn Romania. After several surgeries he slowly begins his recovery only to fall into a deep depression. The author deftly goes back and forth between their childhood and present day and the importance of the preparation of meals that sustain them.  She writes about the changes of life that follow severe trauma. With the support of understanding employers, wonderful friends and doctors they are able to slowly return to productive lives. When you finish the last page you want to share this book with others.


From Elizabeth: The Eleventh Man by Ivan Doig ($13.95) Doig's loyal readers will not be disappointed by this story that moves beyond his usual setting of Montana.The eleven starters of the 1941 Montana College championship football team were unusually close. One by one they enlist in various branches of service and move around the world. Narrator Ben Reinking was slated to be a pilot when he was pulled to be a war correspondent for the Threshold Press War Project, known as Tepee Weepy. This was a propaganda arm of the combined armed forces and Ben was sent to Europe and the Pacific to write the stories of this fabled football team. When the book opens two of them are already dead and soon we learn of other tragic deaths. By the end of the book Reinking is the only team member still alive. However, there is enough hope in the story that the reader will want to think that perhaps the author will continue the tale in the not too distant future.

From Vicky: How Rocket Learned To Read by Tad Hill ($17.99) Do you have an emerging reader in the family?  How Rocket Learned to Read is a great new book for ages 3-6. It's by one of my favorite authors, Tad Hills, author of the wonderful Duck and Goose books. Clever, fun and gorgeously illustrated, this is the story of a dog named Rocket who meets a little yellow bird who becomes his teacher.  Rocket loves to hear the bird read stories to him. Soon the bird teaches him the alphabet and how to sound words out himself. Kids will soon be reading some of the words Rocket is learning, too!