The Good Book Psychic Blog

Fiction Pick of the Week: Gods of Greenwich

2012-02-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Gods of Greenwich, by Norb Vonnegut 2011

Vonnegut follows his debut novel, Top Producer, with another financial thriller about Wall Street's hedge fund industry. In 2007, Jimmy Cusack, an honest money manager, finds himself in trouble after his hedge fund collapses thanks to the pullout of his biggest investor. He takes a job with Leeser Capital, run by the shady Cy Leeser, whose investment strategies have always been far from transparent. Cusack's misgivings grow as losses begin inexplicably mounting at Leeser amid rumours about the company's involvement in an Icelandic bank and a hedge strategy based on life insurance claims. This is an enjoyable murder mystery too, written with a quick wit and a keen knowledge of the financial industry!

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Honeymoon in Tehran

2012-02-09T17:19:00.007-05:00

Honeymoon in Tehran: Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran by Azadeh Moaveni 2009

Born and raised in the United States, Moaveni is the daughter of two Iranian immigrants. Throughout her reporting career, she has repeatedly travelled to Iran to explain its politics and religion to the outside world. In this book, Moaveni has opted to begin a family and marry an Iranian man. She must decide if Iran, with all its beauty, culture, and extended family, is the place in which she can live out her dreams. This book focuses heavily on the details of Moaveni’s daily life and her point of view as she encounters a repressive regime that is increasingly omnipresent and omnipotent. It is a moving portrait of a beloved country struggling to retain its culture and character.

Read-alike: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Fiction Pick of the Week: A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman

2012-02-07T14:43:00.007-05:00

A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman by Margaret Drabble 2011

To the many fans and followers of Margaret Drabble this collection of short stories is pure pleasure.

These 14 tales venture into the past four decades of her writing career to explore the complex psyche of independent women as they reveal their love affairs, their shattered marriages, their class origins, and their jobs. Her dry British humour is part of the joy of reading this collection. The stories showcase Drabble’s keen literary talent and present her complete short fiction for the first time in one volume. This may be the last new fiction we will read from the 72-year-old Dame Margaret Drabble as she retired from writing in 2009 to prevent as she says “repeating myself without knowing it which is what old people do endlessly.” These stories are a fitting end to a brilliant career.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Finders Keepers

2012-02-02T17:50:00.004-05:00

Finders Keepers by Craig Childs 2010

In this book, Craig Childs puts the reader into the middle of an ethical dilemma: Is it better for archeologists to preserve the history they find around the world, or should they leave it to the land and the people it belongs to? While no easy answers are found, Childs takes the reader on an adventure through the seedy underbelly of archeology through to its most noble aspirations. We see how museums get caught up in a world of subterfuge, what happens when history is taken from the place it originates, and how people can be the heroes and villains of history at the same time. The author is most familiar with digs in the Southwest United States, but does take touch upon both major archeological events and major cultural institutions.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Scared Stiff

2012-01-31T14:13:00.007-05:00

Scared Stiff by Annelise Ryan 2010

This light cozy mystery is the second book of the Mattie Winston mystery series written by an ER nurse. Typically following the pattern of “cozies”, this crime fiction is set in an intimate small-town community where everyone knows everyone. The book has a cast of quirky characters, forensic details, and a very likable lead character in the wry Mattie.

Mattie a nurse-turned-coroner is back on the dating scene (she caught her surgeon husband cheating in the first book of the series) but is relieved to be rescued from a boring date when she is called to check out the latest murder in town. Shannon, a waitress cum part-time model is found dead on a front yard littered with fake bodies and blood, all part of a gory Halloween display gone bad. Shannon’s husband is the obvious suspect, but Mattie is determined to dig deeper to find the real killer.

Readers who enjoy Janet Evonovich’s sassy heroine Stephanie Plum will find a kindred soul in the wry and humourous Mattie Winston. An enjoyable no-pressure fun read, the next in the series is Working Stiff.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Saving Max

2012-01-26T10:47:00.009-05:00

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten 2010

Attorney Danielle Parkman knows that her teenage son Max is having mental health issues that seem to be getting worse. She places him in the Maitland Institute which is a renowned psychiatric facility in Des Moines. Once Max is admitted to Maitland, his behaviour becomes very violent and he is accused of murdering a fellow patient, Jonas.

Appeal factors of this book are a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns. There are many subplots going on in the story that keep up the interest of the reader. The courtroom setting and writing style are similar to John Grisham. A very good thriller for this debut author.

For your consideration: Graphic descriptions of child abuse and the mindset of a serial killer.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Hanging Shed

2012-01-17T18:35:00.005-05:00

The Hanging Shed by Gordon Ferris 2011

Douglas Brodie, a former officer in the British 51^st Highland Division, is contacted by an old school friend, Hugh Donovan, to save him from the gallows. Donovan has been convicted for the rape and murder of a young boy. Donovan claims he is innocent but the mountain of evidence against him makes his claim questionable. Brodie only has 14 days to clear his friend before he is hung for the crime.

A fast-paced plot, a bunch of tough IRA gangsters, and a pretty blond Scottish advocate make for a thrilling read. Fans of Ian Rankin won’t be disappointed in this action-packed tale.

For your consideration: sexual content and many violent scenes

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Sweater Quest

2012-01-12T17:30:00.006-05:00

Sweater Quest: my year of knitting dangerously by Adrienne Martini 2011

Can knitting generate philosophical discussions? Adrienne Martini certainly thinks so. Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously, is a quirky romp through her adventures of knitting a Mary Tudor sweater designed by the reclusive knitter Alice Starmore. This project is Martini’s holy grail and she interviews some of the best known knitters in the United States and Canada to discuss the deeper questions of knitting such as, who owns a piece of work – the knitter or the pattern maker? Is knitting done for the pleasure of knitting itself, or the final product? And, can knitting save your sanity? This is a cozy, leisurely read written for knitters or knitter wannabes.

Read-alikes: The Knitting Diaries by Debbie Macomber

Fiction Pick of the Week: Joy for Beginners

2012-01-10T14:19:00.004-05:00

Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister 2011

The friendship between six women – all in different situations – began when Sara moved in with her newborn twins. To help the young mother, a “holding circle” is formed. When Kate announces that she has cancer, the friends’ focus shifts. Months later, at a celebratory dinner, a healthy Kate announces that she is going white water rafting. Kate challenges each do something that frightens them. The catch - Kate gets to pick their task.

Even though they seem simple, Kate knows that each woman will struggle confronting her deepest fear. This moving, character-driven novel will make you laugh, cry, and smile. Each lyrical chapter chronicles the women’s lives, how they met and how they conquer their personal challenges. Fans of Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher will enjoy Bauermeister’s heart-warming stand-alone follow-up to The School of Essential Ingredients.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Made to Stick

2012-01-05T10:53:00.005-05:00

Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath 2007

Why do some ideas thrive and others die? This is the question posed by brothers Chip and Dan Heath. In researching this question, the authors have come up with 6 principles that are foundational for making ideas memorable. From education to business to non-profit, this book is a must-read for those hoping to make a big impact with their ideas and plans. Communication can involve anything from a simple memo to an advertising campaign – and we all want the ideas involved to remain with people afterward. This quick-paced, insightful read is guaranteed to give the reader something to think about and challenge them to make their ideas stick.

Read-Alike: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T19:44:00.002-05:00

Welcome to 2012! Have you made your resolutions? If so, why not head over to the library for some help keeping them.

Whether you plan to get fit, get organized, lose weight, manage your money better, or stop smoking, here's a list to help you get started:

New Year's Resolutions

My resolution is to give up chocolate... perhaps I'll read about it instead...

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T11:43:00.001-05:00

May this Christmas bring you and your family a good book or two under the tree and peaceful days to enjoy them!

Cozy Christmas Audiobooks!

2011-12-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

With Christmas fast approaching, we have been receiving some cozy Christmas stories on audibook. Why not place a hold so that you can listen to a story while doing Christmas baking, running around doing errands in the car, or just sitting by the fire?

Here is a list of our latest books, some by some very well-known authors!

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts

The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck

Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Festival of Lights falls between December 20th and December 28th this year. If you are looking for any books on the subject of Hanukkah, recipes for the season, or music to enjoy, the following Hanukkah list gives a taste of what you might find in the library.

Warm wishes from the Burlington Public Library!

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: There are Things I Want you to Know about Stieg Larsson and Me

2011-12-15T10:50:00.008-05:00

There are Things I Want You to Know about Stieg Larsson and Me by Eva Gabrielsson 2011

Everyone knows the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson with the books The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. When Stieg Larsson died unexpectedly in 2004, he was just in the process of getting his first book published and didn’t live to see the huge success that his books would become, translated into many languages and made into films, both in his native Sweden and in Hollywood.

What many people do not know is that this was only one facet of his life. Many people do not about his life as an activist and his relentless pursuit for social justice and human rights. Who better to tell this story but his partner of 32 years Eva Gabrielsson. This is a fascinating book about both Stieg and Eva and the incredible life and drive they both shared. Since his death she has struggled to survive without him and to obtain control over Larsson’s literary estate. It is an easy read, written in chapters like snapshots of their life. You will come to appreciate just how truly driven and talented Stieg Larsson was and how together, he and Eva created the Millennium trilogy.

And for those who are interested in knowing more about the fascinating life of Stieg Larsson, swing by the library on January 19th to view the film Millennium: The Story.

This is a free screening. To register, please call 905-639-3611 Ext. 1321.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Guilty Plea

2011-12-13T20:32:00.003-05:00

The Guilty Plea by Robert Rotenberg

Following on the success of his debut Old City Hall, Toronto criminal lawyer and novelist Robert Rotenberg uses his inside knowledge to bring us a Toronto legal scene as exciting as anything on Law and Order. On the eve of his tabloid-fodder divorce trial, grocery heir Terry Wyler is found brutally murdered in his kitchen -- his estranged wife Samantha is found in possession of the murder weapon and makes no attempt to provide an alibi. But if it’s an open-and-shut case, why is she still hiding something? Is she really guilty, or protecting someone else? Detective Ari Greene tries to untangle the complex secrets of the Wyler clan, while treading carefully through the backroom deals and plea bargaining tactics of high-powered Toronto lawyers, whose personal relationships might just make all the difference to whether a case is won or lost.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: The Night Shift

2011-12-08T15:43:00.006-05:00

The Night Shift by Brian Goldman 2010

Dr Brian Goldman of CBC Radio’s ‘White Coat, Black Art’ takes the reader through a regular 12 hour night shift in the Emergency Room of a large hospital in Anywhere, Ontario.

All the patients’ and physicians’ stories are based on true cases; the names and circumstances have been changed to protect the guilty and the innocent. Goldman has taken cases from colleagues and from his own 20 plus years spent working the night shift at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital. He takes us behind the emergency room doors and shows us what really happens in the struggle between life and death. A fascinating look at the Canadian medical scene, both the good and the bad; with an authoritative glimpse into the future for anyone who has ever been, or has yet to be, a patient in the Emergency Room.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Damage Control

2011-12-06T19:21:00.005-05:00

Damage Control by Denise Hamilton 2011

In this stand-alone thriller, Maggie Silver is trying to carve out her public relations career, handle her addiction, and care for her ailing mother. Her employer, The Blair Company, assigns her to cover the murder of a young female aide to Senator Henry Paxton. This case assignment is no coincidence – Maggie was best friends with his daughter, Anabelle, when they were teenagers. Anabelle was everything her family was not – rich and powerful. The girls were inseparable, but one violent act, many years ago, changed their relationship forever.

Now Maggie is torn between loyalty, betrayal, and her renewed feelings for Anabelle’s brother. During this fast-paced novel, as Maggie tries to spin the Senator’s crisis into something more positive, the reader discovers how one wild teenage night can impact many lives years later. This is a plot-driven, suspenseful book that leaves Maggie guessing who to trust until the very end.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Death Spiral

2011-11-29T20:51:00.004-05:00

Death Spiral by James W. Nichol 2009

Canadian WWII Spitfire pilot and wounded war hero Wilf McLaughlin returns to his rural Ontario hometown after almost 2 years in rehab hospitals in France and England. His body may be permanently damaged, but Wilf is determined to get his law degree, join his father’s law firm, and rebuild his life.

However, strange things begin to happen as soon as Wilf starts looking into the firm’s clients’ affairs. Bodies start turning up in mysterious circumstances. Is it just a coincidence, or did Wilf’s homecoming stir up some long forgotten resentments?

This psychological thriller will keep you in your chair reading through until it’s done. A tour de force that will haunt you, if you let it.

Canada Reads Finalists 2012

2011-11-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

CBC has just announced the finalists for the 2012 Canada Reads competition. This year the books are all non-fiction. Swing by the library for your copies of the top contenders!

The Game by Ken Dryden

Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat

On a Cold Road by Dave Bidini

Something Fierce by Carmine Aguirre

The Tiger by John Vaillant

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: My Lucky Life in and out of Show Business

2011-11-24T17:36:00.006-05:00

My Lucky Life in and out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke 2010

Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke’s memoir of his extraordinary life makes a fast and entertaining read. Who doesn’t remember his character Rob Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke show and Bert from Mary Poppins? These characters still entertain today just as they did in the 1960s.

His memoir traces his public and personal life from his first job at 17 as a part-time radio announcer for the local CBS radio station, to his ongoing projects in which he is currently involved. It doesn’t appear that he has any plans for retirement! Van Dyke also discusses his 36 year marriage to his wife Margie, his children and his 35-year relationship with Michelle Triola.

The library has this book available in a variety of formats; print, book on CD, and downloadable ebook and audiobook! Pick your favourite format and enjoy reading about one of North America’s favourite entertainers.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Bedtime Story

2011-11-22T20:28:00.004-05:00

Bedtime Story by Robert Wiersema 2010

I was quickly drawn into the trying life of Christopher Knox, a one-time successful author, columnist, and father. Christopher is struggling with work obligations, and is separated from his wife Jacqui. He decides to give his son David a fantasy novel for his eleventh birthday. With David being a reluctant reader, Christopher makes a habit of reading part of the book to his son every night. David looks forward to their nighttime ritual and is quite enjoying the story. Then he begins to suffer from mysterious seizures and has to be hospitalized when he slips into a coma. Devastated, Christopher is determined to continue to read to David every night until he realizes that there is a connection between the novel and his son’s seizures. It would seem that David has become trapped in the story.

Christopher’s family must work together to uncover the secrets of the novel and defeat their enemies if they are to regain their life and survive the Bedtime Story. They must save David before the story ends.

Definitely a late night page turner for fantasy readers.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: The Typewriter is Holy

2011-11-17T17:23:00.004-05:00

The Typewriter is Holy by Bill Morgan 2010

Bill Morgan’s The Typewriter is Holy: the complete, uncensored history of the Beat Generation is a broad look at all the major literary figures of ‘The Beats’. It is also a no-holds-barred exposé of the radical revolutionaries of the 60s who shook America to its roots. The literary giants with feet of clay have been the focus of Bill Morgan’s career. He was a friend of Lawrence Ferlinghetti from the early days of the City Lights bookstore, and the archivist to Allen Ginsberg. His singular perspective gives us an insider’s view of literary and social history in the making.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Heads You Lose

2011-11-15T18:43:00.005-05:00

Heads You Lose by Lisa Lutz 2011

In her first novel since the Spellman Files mysteries, Lisa Lutz teams up with her ex-boyfriend, editor-poet David Hayward. The concept - write alternating chapters without a pre-determined storyline or the ability to change what was written. The result – a fun, fast read that will leave a smile on your face. The antics of the main characters and their supporting cast are in competition for laughs with the flippant notes written back and forth between Lutz and Hayward.

In this comical tale, pot growing siblings Lacey and Paul, share a house - in a small town that Lacey cannot wait to leave - but little else. When a headless body, identified as Lacey’s ex-fiancé, shows up in their yard the amateur sleuthing begins – so does the climbing body count! If you like Janet Evanovich, you will enjoy Lisa Lutz.

Evergreen Winner: Room

2011-11-13T13:41:00.008-05:00

Congratulations to Emma Donoghue for winning the Evergreen Award for her brilliant novel Room!

See here for our staff review of this compelling story of a little boy and his mother who are held captive for years in an 11 X 11 room, the only world this child has ever known.

This book will stick with you, so if you would like to come out and chat about it with other readers, why not sign up for our BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) Club? This discussion of Room will be held on February 23rd, 2012. For more details, please phone 905-639-3611 Ext. 1320.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: My Boyfriend Wrote a Book about Me

2011-11-10T17:12:00.006-05:00

My Boyfriend Wrote a Book about Me by Hilary Winston 2011

Hilary Winston had a boyfriend, and when they broke up, he wrote a book. The book was supposed to be fiction; however, she discovered when she picked the book up in a bookstore one day that it most definitely was not completely fiction. In fact very intimate details of their love life were published there for the world to see, not to mention the fact that he refers to her as his fat-a@$ed girlfriend! Hilary, a writer herself on the sitcom Community and formerly on the series My Name is Earl, decided to get even with said boyfriend by writing a book of her own, and her book would be decidedly non-fiction.

This book made me laugh out loud--it also made me blush. Hilary gives a no-holds-barred account of her life as a single woman in Hollywood in all its glory-- and shame. Crazy cat lady or swinging single? You will have to decide for yourself! Fans of Sex in the City or the movie Bridesmaids might enjoy this honest, hilarious memoir.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Cape Disappointment

2011-11-08T20:01:00.005-05:00

Cape Disappointment by Earl W. Emerson 2009

The bomb that nearly killed Thomas Black, the main character in the author’s mystery series, goes off in a school gymnasium after a Senate candidate has spoken. When Black, widower, hero, and private investigator is released from the hospital, he must face the fact that his wife, Kathy, a lawyer who died in a plane crash weeks before the bombing, is really gone. Although he knows she is dead, he keeps seeing her and her cell phone is being used to call him late at nights. Questioning explanations investigators give for the crash he then becomes interested in what a former CIA hit man has been trying to tell him about the crash and people keep dying. The storyline is fast-paced, and makes a strong case that the government's prime role is to cover-up the mistakes of its leaders. A great thriller.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: The Wave

2011-10-27T17:46:00.007-04:00

The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey 2010

Toronto-born journalist and author, Susan Casey tells the stories of big wave surfers and oceanographers, from Hawaii to Alaska to the tip of Africa. The book reveals the science of waves, i.e. giant water (the largest wave ever recorded is 1740 feet high!) including the challenges waves pose to shipping, and the stories of a group of surfers she shadowed for her story. She also interviews scientists exploring the danger that global warming will bring us more and larger waves. She makes the world of big wave surfers and the jargon of physicists engaging. It was interesting to join the world’s legendary surfers in their world. An approachable, engaging read. For more about the author: http://www.susancasey.com/

Target audience: An exciting and informative read for readers of any age perhaps looking to venture into non-fiction

Man Booker Prize Winner: The Sense of an Ending

2011-10-20T17:12:00.012-04:00

On Tuesday night the Man Booker Prize was presented to Julian Barnes for The Sense of an Ending. Barnes has triumphed and won the prestigious Man Booker Prize after being shortlisted on three other occasions. This is a well-deserved win by a master of his craft.

Memory is a key player in this compelling book. The narrator begins to look back on the events of 40 years after receiving an astonishing inheritance. His memories of his friendships at school and with the women in his life were not always as they appeared on the surface. Shades of meaning, misinterpreted remarks and small gestures were seen by others in a whole different light.This short novella can be read in one sitting, but I was so intrigued by what I had read that I went back and read it two more times – something I have never done before. Each time it shed more light on the missing fragments of the narrator’s memory that altered with the passage of time to turn long-held truths upside down.

If you're on the holds list and want to check out Barnes's earlier shortlisted works, BPL has the following:

England, England

Arthur and George

Flaubert's Parrot

Ontario Public Library Week!

2011-10-19T09:00:00.002-04:00

It's Ontario Public Library Week--a week dedicated to recognizing the difference public libraries make in our communities each and every day. At libraries across Ontario, individuals come to the library to study, to look for information, to conduct job searches, to attend programs, and for many other reasons too numerous to list here!

If you haven't visited for a while, drop in and see what your library has to offer! There are lots of programs happening at many community libraries this week.

Fiction Pick of the Week: State of Wonder

2011-10-18T16:16:00.006-04:00

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 2011

Patchett (Bel Canto) has the habit of dropping ordinary characters into extraordinary circumstances. With State of Wonder she has done just that. Minnesota pharmaceutical researcher Dr. Marina Singh has been sent into the most remote region of the Amazon jungle to track down her former mentor. Marina’s former lab partner Anders Eckman has already walked this path before her, never to have been heard from again. This is both a grueling physical, and more importantly, a complex psychological journey for Marina. Will she find Dr. Annick Swenson and if she does, what will she discover? I highly recommend this imaginative, thought provoking novel.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Accident

2011-10-13T16:24:00.002-04:00

The Accident by Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay fans are going to love his latest thriller. The Burlington author has done it again with The Accident. When Glen Carver’s wife is killed in a car accident, he is left to raise their young daughter alone. Glen has trouble accepting that his wife Sheila was a drunk driver as the police conclude following their investigation into the accident that killed 2 innocent people. As he tries to get on with his life, unfortunate deaths and dangerous situations seem to be occurring all around him. The more he investigates the more dangerous things become, resulting in a climax that was totally unexpected. This is a fast paced, exciting read, so pick it up soon and enjoy a great book by a local author.

Farewell to Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T15:49:00.008-04:00

The world is reeling after last night's news of the loss of the co-founder and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs. The most recent biography about Jobs called simply Steve Jobs: a biography is currently on order, but holds can be placed on this book.

If you're looking for other works on this amazing innovator, you might try one of the following:

The Steve Jobs Way: Ileadership for a new generation

The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Inside Steve's Brain

ICon: Steve Jobs, the greatest second act in the history of business

Fiction Pick of the Week: Juliet

2011-10-06T15:45:00.004-04:00

Juliet by Anne Fortier 2010

This first novel is an original blend of historical fiction and contemporary intrigue. It will keep you riveted in both its historical tale that formed the basis of Shakespeare’s play, and its modern tale as we travel with Julie in search of her family history.

In alternating chapters, we relive the tragedy of Romeo Marescotti and Guileitta Tolomei in medieval Siena, Tuscany and are caught up in the mystery of Julie and Alessandro, descendants of the star-crossed lovers. Despite the engaging wit of our modern heroine, the danger is as real as Juliet faced, and Julie is never sure who can be trusted. There are lots of twists and turns before that ancient curse can be put to rest.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: The Boy in the Moon

2011-09-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown 2008

The Boy in the Moon is an intense memoir by Globe and Mail writer, Ian Brown. Brown first introduced readers to his son Walker in a series of articles published in The Globe and Mail and his writings elicited such a response that a book soon followed. In vivid detail, Brown describes what life is like for himself, his wife, his daughter, and his son Walker, who was born with an extremely rare genetic condition rendering him profoundly disabled. The exhaustion, frustration, humour, and love Brown has experienced caring for his son are brought to life here, but this book is far more than a parent’s reminiscences. Brown explores the ethics surrounding how society handles those living with disabilities; he confronts his own guilt as a parent who is unable to provide all the care his son requires, all the while searching for the meaning and value of his son’s life. The Boy in the Moon has won several awards, including the 2010 Trilliam Book Award. It was also a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction. Brown pulls you into his world and it is likely one you’ll never forget.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Dahanu Road

2011-09-27T20:48:00.003-04:00

Dahanu Road by Anosh Irani

Set outside Bombay in the quiet coastal community of Dahanu, young Zairos Irani must decide whether or not to become involved with the daughter of one of his farm workers who has tragically died. Attracted by the beautiful but tragic Kusum, does Zairos have the courage and commitment to try to rescue her from a life of poverty and misery, or will he weaken before the barriers of class and ethnicity? And can any efforts of his possibly succeed enough to justify the price they both must pay?

As the story unfolds, Zairos learns from his embittered grandfather that he, too, faced this same decision sixty years in the past, and his choices led to tragic consequences for both the farm worker’s family and his own. A compelling story of the tension between hope and hopelessness, desire and fear.

Evergreen Award Selections 2011

2011-09-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

Have you read the 2011 Evergreen Award Selections? If you're wondering what is on the list this year, please check here. After you've done your reading, please visit our website to vote for your favourites. Voting will take place at Ontario public libraries until October 31st. If you would like to vote for your favourite book, please visit our website.

I've only read one so far! Better get cracking!

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Hope Unseen

2011-09-22T17:32:00.006-04:00

Hope unseen : the story of the U.S. Army’s first blind active-duty officer by Captain Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall 2010

Scott Smiley lost sight in both eyes and received a shrapnel wound to his skull when an Iraqi terrorist detonated a car bomb 30 meters from his Army tank. This memoir recounts the events that changed Scotty and his family’s life. This brave soldier wanted to continue to serve and found the means to live a full and meaningful life regardless of his disabilities. His strong faith and indomitable spirit helped him to overcome obstacles to reach his goals. Scotty did many amazing things while blind, he surfed in Hawaii; climbed Mt. Rainier; skied in Val; got him MBA from Duke University and became an instructor at his alma mater West Point.

For your consideration: Smiley is a very religious Christian and there are many Bible passages in the book. His tone is not preachy and it does not detract from the memoir.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Pulse

2011-09-20T15:55:00.005-04:00

Pulse by Julian Barnes

Pulse is a new collection of 14 short stories by an elegant master of the form. These stories of mostly middle-aged British characters pulse with hope and optimism and demonstrate that Julian Barnes is an impeccable story teller.

The first nine stories resonate with humour and wit. The dinner-party conversations of a group of old friends are exposed as smug, middle-aged liberal elites. Barnes has captured the sharp dialogue exchanges between these upper-class British dinner guests with a wicked sense of style. The stories reveal the way people misunderstand one another because of the ambiguities that often exist between lovers and friends. The five stories in the second half of the book are skillfully and delicately rendered around the senses of hearing, sight, touch, and taste as people get closer to one another as they try to connect. Barnes explores the themes of love, loss and death with acute observations that are deeply affecting. Pulse is a gem of a collection written by a very well-respected author.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Accident

2011-09-13T20:34:00.004-04:00

The Accident by Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay fans are going to love his latest thriller. The Burlington author has done it again with The Accident. When Glen Carver’s wife is killed in a car accident, he is left to raise their young daughter alone. Glen has trouble accepting that his wife Sheila was a drunk driver as the police conclude following their investigation into the accident that killed 2 innocent people. As he tries to get on with his life unfortunate deaths and dangerous situations seem to be occurring all around him. The more he investigates, the more dangerous things become, resulting in a climax that was totally unexpected. This is a fast-paced, exciting read, so pick it up soon and enjoy a great book by a local author.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: The Price of Stones

2011-09-01T13:46:00.005-04:00

The Price of Stones: building a school for my village by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri 2010

This is an inspirational book about a Ugandan man who studied in the United States and returned to his village to build a school for AIDS/HIV orphans in 2003. If you liked “Two cups of tea “you will enjoy this book. The author saw a need in his community and he and his American wife , family and friends did fund raising and applied for grants to build a two- room school house to provide free schooling and uniforms to HIV/AIDS orphans in his village of Nyakagyezi. By 2008 the school had grown to accommodate eight primary classrooms and had obtained funding to pay the tuition cost for the first year of secondary school for the grade 8 graduating class. (Primary and secondary education is not free in Uganda).

For your consideration: The author is a Seventh Day Adventist and so there are some sections that speak of his faith and there are sections that have verses from the New Testament.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Talk-Funny Girl

2011-09-01T13:38:00.007-04:00

The Talk-Funny Girl by Roland Merullo 2011

Marjorie is the seventeen-year-old “talk funny” girl whose first person recollection of her upbringing in a poor rural area of New Hampshire is the basis of this compelling novel. Her parents are completely isolated from the community with their own mountain hybrid dialect that makes Marjorie a subject of teasing at school and abuse at home. Her distrust of adults is well entrenched, learned from the actions of her parents and a sadistic minister, and heightened by the unsolved abductions and murders of several young girls. Only the kindness of an aunt and a young stoneworker, with a dream of building a “real cathedral” out of the debris of an old church, can save her.

This novel is captivating, the suspense low grade but building to an unexpected ending It is apparent from the opening chapter that Marjorie, with her inspiring resilience, finds her way out of this hopelessness. Having lost her dialect as an adult, she is aptly able to express herself: “I wanted to go back and hunt it down and close the hurt museum for good though I discovered you cannot really do that. What you can do, what you have to do is not pass much of it on.” It is a journey and a moral lesson the reader will remember.

Fiction Pick of the Week: THE CITY & YTIƆ ƎHT

2011-08-23T20:28:00.016-04:00

THE CITY & YTIƆ ƎHT by China Miéville 2009

How do you solve a murder in a city that you’re not allowed to see? A women’s body is discovered in a children’s playground. Inspector Tyador Borlú, of the Extreme Crime Squad for the city of Besźel is assigned to find the killer. When he discovers that she was a resident of Ul Qoma he knows he has a problem. Besźel and Ul Qoma are two cities on the other edge of Europe, somewhere between Budapest and the Urals. These rivals are not adjacent, but geographically superimposed, with shared streets and buildings. All citizens learn to “unsee” those in the other city. All visitors must be trained in unseeing. The mysterious but powerful Breach enforce this ancient separation.

It is a treat to read the matter-of-fact way in which Miéville reveals the intricacies of the accommodations that the Besź and Ul Qoman must make every day.

Winner of the Hugo, Arthur C. Clarke and World Fantasy Awards for Science Fiction.

For Your Consideration: “Cops & Robbers Violence”

Non-Fiction PIck of the Week: Ever By My Side

2011-08-18T17:11:00.006-04:00

Ever By My Side: a memoir of family, fatherhood and the pets with me through it all by Nick Trout 2011

After writing two books on his life’s work with animals, veterinarian Nick Trout has written a memoir about his life. He tells the story of his childhood, growing up in England and the path that he follows to his career and family life in the United States. Each part of his life is beautifully defined by the pet that he had at the time. His love of animals began at an early age and his experiences with them led him into the world of veterinary medicine.

The memoir has a strong focus on the relationship between the author and his father. He always felt that he had disappointed his father by not going into practice in the English countryside. His father had a vision of him as a modern day James Herriott. The story is both funny and sad as it celebrates the joys and sadness having a pet brings to your life. There is definitely a special bond between a person and his pet.

A great choice for animal lovers.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Started Early, Took My Dog

2011-08-16T20:43:00.004-04:00

Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson

Set in Leeds, England this is the fourth book in what has become a series of literary crime novels featuring, Jackson Brodie a “semi-retired” private detective. His current client is an adoptee, Hope McMaster, who hires him to search for her roots, as it seems she has sprung from nowhere. Crimes and murders committed in the 1970s flip to the present where Tracy Waterhouse, who like Brodie is a former police officer, finds herself entangled in the web of intrigue that ensues.

Tracy makes a snap decision that in one rash moment places her on the other side of the law and consequently on the run. Brodie likewise makes a snap decision that is quite out of character when a small dog crosses his path.

Atkinson knits together the plots and subplots with extraordinary style, and her sense of humour lurks around the darkness of her themes. Her characters will chill you and thrill you. As a former winner of the Whitbread Award for Behind the Scenes at the Museum Atkinson has triumphed yet again. You really must read this book.

What would McDreamy read?

2011-08-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

The Good Book Psychic has been having a Grey's Anatomy marathon and thought it might be fun to share some fabulous books on the brain that neurosurgeon extraordinaire Dr. Derek Shepherd, also known as "McDreamy", might enjoy.

The brain is a hot topic these days... and why not? We all have one, and its mysteries are still being uncovered. Dream of meeting McDreamy one day and hope to have something to chat about? How about checking out this list on popular books with a neuroscientific focus: Books that Dr. Derek Shepherd Might Enjoy. You might enjoy them too!

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week:The Top 100 Canadian Singles

2011-08-11T17:03:00.004-04:00

The Top 100 Canadian Singles by Bob Mersereau 2010

This is a fascinating book that tackles the job of trying to list the top 100 music singles from Canada. Canadians from across the country, famous and just regular folk, took part in deciding what songs were included. The list includes songs from many decades and all types of music. It was lots of fun looking through the list for some of my most loved songs, from Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind to Blue Rodeo’s Try. Included with each song is a bit of history about the artist and the song. So take a look and see if some of your favourite Canadian musicians and songs are included.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Time's Legacy

2011-08-09T20:15:00.004-04:00

Time's Legacy by Barbara Erskine 2010

This prolific author is adept at using polarizing themes in her latest book: history and the supernatural, Christian and pagan legends, present day and Druidian suspense. Two simultaneous stories form the plot. Abi Rutherford is the new assistant priest in the English town of Cambridge. She quickly is in trouble with the minister who fears her visions of ghosts are the work of the devil. Her ghosts are actually a replay of a long ago happening when a healer from Galilee was a visitor among the Druids at Glastonbury. There is enough history to bring the Celtic tale alive, exploring the historical legends of pre-Arthurian Glastonbury, one of Britain’s most sacred places.

As Abi follows the story in broken psychic visions, her own safety is at issue. Her boss, Kieran Scott, becomes increasingly deranged in his effort to save her. Abi is an endearing character, intelligent and even with her theological training, open-minded.

The author is very skilled at keeping both stories at equal levels of suspense so the reader willingly leaves off one to join the other. This tactic actually heightens the suspense and once in mid-story, this book is hard to put down.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: From a Clear Blue Sky

2011-08-04T17:31:00.008-04:00

From a Clear Blue Sky by Timothy Knatchbull 2009

Timothy Knatchbull is the grandchild of Earl Louis Mountbatten (a cousin of the Queen). He and his twin brother Nicholas and parents were on their grandfather’s boat which was blown up by the IRA near Mullaghmore, County Silgo in August 1979. Timothy was fourteen years old when he lost his grandparents and twin brother, Nicholas. Twenty-four years later he returned to the area to grieve and heal from this traumatic event. What I most enjoyed about this book is the ability of Timothy and his family to have the capacity to forgive the Irish people and the role that a loving family has to overcome adversity.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Guardians

2011-08-02T19:04:00.008-04:00

The Guardians by Andrew Pyper

It only took me two days to read The Guardians by Andrew Pyper – it was that good. The story centres around four childhood friends, who played on their high school hockey team called “The Guardians”. The novel opens with Trevor, Randy, and Carl each going back to their small Ontario town for their friend Ben’s funeral. Ben has committed suicide and the remaining three must come to grips with not only his sudden death but with something even more sinister. Trevor, Randy, and Carl have been keeping details of a mysterious crime they were all involved with twenty-four years earlier locked up. But travelling back to Grimshaw and once again seeing the abandoned house at 321 Caledonia Street brings all the bad memories back – and more!

Man Booker Prize Longlist Announced

2011-07-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Man Booker Prize longlist was announced this week. Canadians will be excited to note that 3 Canadian authors made the list: Alison Pick, Patrick deWitt, and Esi Edugyan.

Click here to see which ones are available at Burlington Public Library and place your holds today!

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: My Maasai Life

2011-07-28T17:36:00.004-04:00

My Maasai life: from suburbia to savannah by Robin Wiszowaty 2009

Robin Wiszowaty spent a year living with a Maasai family in a remote village in Kenya. She was taking a course in International Development from the University of Illinois. Robin was the rebellious middle child of an affluent Polish-American family living in a suburb near Chicago. Robin wanted to challenge herself and set out on an adventure. This inspirational memoir chronicles how she embraced the Maasai culture and fell in love with her African family. This young woman introduces the reader to the realities of the harsh and difficult conditions that the Maasi must endure: poverty, high incidence of AIDS/HIV, female/male circumcision, youth crime , violence and early marriage rates for female teens.

Robin develops a special relationship with a young man. Samuel is struggling to support his mother and younger siblings due to the lack of family support from his alcoholic father.

After returning to Chicago after one year in Kenya Robin is trying to find a direction for

her life. She finally gets a job with Free the Children and is eventually promoted to Kenya Projects Director. This job allows Robin to visit her Maasai family and Samuel.

This memoir is a fresh look at the aspirations of today’s youth to become actively involved in helping the youth in Third World countries.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Venom

2011-07-26T20:00:00.012-04:00

Venom: a Novel of Suspense by Joan Brady

In this sequel to Bleedout, wealthy Helen Freyl owns a small farm in Caton, Ala., where a unique strain of honeybees produces honey with unheard of healing properties. Helen, along with her imperious grandmother, become enmeshed in a struggle between two pharmaceutical giants vying for the patent to the bees' venom. Then the women discover that one of the companies is conducting deadly experiments on the unsuspecting inhabitants of a region in Belarus not far from the Chernobyl disaster. After several deaths, Helen realizes her life is in danger, and turns for help to her ex-con former lover. A medical thriller that should appeal to Robin Cook fans.

Nancy Pearl's Summer Reading List

2011-07-22T09:00:00.009-04:00

Nancy Pearl is very well known in the library world. Burlingtonians have Pearl to thank for the One Book One Burlington program, as she was the librarian who founded this type of program with her ground-breaking "If all of Seattle Read the Same Book" initiative. She even has the distinction of having an action figure modelled after her.... an action figure with "amazing push-button SHUSHING action"!

But you don't get your own action figure for nothing! Nancy Pearl has proven herself to be a champion of books and her knowledge of literature is unequaled. Recently on National Public Radio, Pearl announced 10 Great Summer Reads. For the star librarian's list of best bets for Summer 2011, please click here.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: 101 Places Not to See Before You Die

2011-07-21T13:16:00.003-04:00

101 Places Not To See Before You Die by Catherine Price 2010

If you spend time in the library or a bookstore, you will have seen a wide variety of books telling you where to go, what to read, what to eat, what movies to watch, what wines to taste all before you die. Author Catherine Price was tired of so many books telling her what to do with her precious spare time that she decided to write a book telling you what not to bother seeing or doing.

Her writing style is funny and quick, sometimes silly, and reads like a blog. It is a nice light read if you need a book that you can put down and pick up later without having to refresh your memory. It would be a great book for trivia lovers.

So you can read this book and save yourself time by not going to Time’s Square on New Year’s Eve, or the Beijing Museum of Tap Water, or on an overnight stay in a Korean Temple.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Best Kept Secret

2011-07-19T18:31:00.001-04:00

Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany 2011

Cadence had it all once – an adorable son, a successful husband and a promising career in freelance journalism. But everything changes once her divorce is finalized; she is struggling to make ends meet and has writer’s block. It all begins with a glass of wine - just one drink to take the edge off. Before long, it is no longer a glass but a bottle or two. Cadence does not realize how her “best kept secret” has taken over her life until her husband comes to take their son away.

This third novel by Amy Hatvany details the ongoing journey of Cadence and her alcoholism. This haunting tale starts at the beginning of her addiction and realistically portrays the heartbreak of her child custody battle and the healing of her recovery. Along the way, secrets from her family’s past and new friends assist Cadence in her struggle for sobriety.

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Priceless

2011-07-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

Priceless: how I went undercover to rescue the world's stolen treasures by Robert K. Wittman

In the world of North American crime, art theft does not rank high on the list of priorities for the FBI. For one man, however, stopping the theft of cultural artifacts is as important as stopping the sale of drugs or solving violent crime cases. Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures is the story of Robert K. Wittman’s FBI career and how he spent years travelling around the globe reclaiming works of art for both museums and personal collections.

Wittman makes a convincing argument for the importance of pursuing the recovery of paintings, sculptures, historic flags, swords, items from archeology sites, and other culturally relevant objects. He notes that their disappearance robs us all of our history, culture, and sense of identity. Wittman details a number of his undercover exploits as he ingratiates himself with members of the criminal underworld to recover works by Rodin, Goya, Rembrandt, and objects such as Geronimo’s eagle feather war bonnet and a crystal ball originally from Beijing’s Forbidden City. He tracks the growth of the fledgling art crime unit within the FBI and its eventual dissolution, while outlining both its successes as well as its failures.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The English American

2011-07-12T09:00:00.004-04:00

The English American by Alison Larkin

Alison Larkin was adopted at birth by a British couple; her birth parents were from Georgia. This novel is partially based on her quest to find her birth parents. Her mother had an affair with a married man who was a prominent politician in the United States and she had to give up her daughter for adoption. Larkin needed to find out who she inherited her looks and talents from as she felt so out of place with her loving adopted parents who had totally different personalities from her. In the end this journey was painful but resulted in Larkin feeling better about herself and being able to love both set of parents regardless of their faults. This book would make an excellent choice for a book club group and is an excellent choice for for adoptees and their adopted and birth parents.

Going on a road trip? The library can help!

2011-07-08T09:00:00.002-04:00

Well, school is out and families everywhere are hopping in the car and heading out to visit family, friends, and attractions. As you are planning your vacation, why not visit your local branch to help you survive the hours on the road?

1. DVDs

Many vans and SUVs are equipped with DVD players these days, and if they are not, lots of families have their own portable DVD players. How about checking out a few DVDs to keep everyone happy in the back seat?

2. Books on CD

The library has books for adults and children on CD and MP3. Click on the above link and then limit your search to Adult or Children's material. You might check out some classics that can be enjoyed with all members of the family!

3. Playaways

Can't agree on the same thing to listen to? A Playaway might be the solution! A Playaway is an audio device that has an entire book on it. All you have to do is put in a AAA battery and your headphones and you're set. The whole family could be listening to their books of choice!

4. Downloadable Audiobooks

For those who would like to listen to your iPod or MP3 devices, visit our Download Centre to download audiobooks that can be transferred to your portable device. There is a selection of both children's and adult titles.

As for me, I've just stocked up on some Children's books on CD for our car trip. Hopefully they will keep everyone happy!

Non-Fiction Pick of the Week: Heidegger and a Hippo Walk through those Pearly Gates

2011-07-07T11:53:00.002-04:00

Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through those Pearly Gates : using philosophy (and jokes) to explore Life, Death, The Afterlife and everything in between by Thomas Cathcart & Daniel Klein 2009

From the authors of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar comes yet another philosophical quest, or jest rather. With majors in philosophy from Harvard, the authors know their subject area, but their real skill lies in employing jokes, cartoons, and light-hearted dialogue to illuminate various thinkers’ (and some comics’) approach to the big, heavy question that confronts us all- our own mortality.

Recognizing that “humour allows us to express our fears about death while defusing anxiety”, the authors succinctly deliver the in-a-nutshell version – from the Ancient Greeks to the 20^th Century existentialists. An accompanying index and notes round out the simple but profound offering. For anyone who claims they can’t understand philosophy.

Fiction Pick of the Week: The Queen's Lady

2011-07-05T13:31:00.000-04:00

How about some royalty to help celebrate the Royal Tour!

The Queen’s Lady by Barbara Kyle 2009

If you enjoy historical fiction, you will enjoy The Queen’s Lady by Barbara Kyle. In this fast-paced and riveting tale, the main character, Honor Larke, is a handmaid for Queen Catherine of Aragon. Honor volunteers to carry letters to the Queen’s allies to help the Queen in her quest to save her marriage to Henry; on the way she meets the dashing Richard Thornleigh, a shipping merchant. Thornleigh overheard a secret conversation and promises to keep it confidential if Honor kisses him. This chance meeting sets up their relationship in the novel. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot and the many scenes that are action packed and suspenseful. Many historical figures are present in the novel (Thomas Moore, Cromwell, Henry VIII, Catherine , Anne Boleyn, and Erasmus) and the powerful role of Church and state are vividly depicted.

There are many romantic scenes yet the strength of this novel is in the strong characters and historical details that are portrayed.

A Canada Day Reading Challenge!

2011-07-01T08:40:00.000-04:00

The Good Book Psychic is a big fan of Can Lit, and so she was very excited to hear about a reading challenge put forth by John Mutford in the Northwest Territories. Now in its 5th year, the idea is to read and review at least 13 Canadian books between Canada Day 2011 and Canada Day 2012. Check out Mutford's blog The Book Mine Set for details. There are prizes to be won!

What a fabulous way for readers to celebrate Canada Day!

Non Fiction Pick of the Week: The Four Walls of My Freedom

2011-06-30T14:16:00.000-04:00

The Four Walls of My Freedom by Donna Thompson 2010

Another Canadian pick in honour of Canada Day!

Three months after Donna Thomson delivered her son Nicholas, life as she knew it changed forever. After months of wondering why Nicholas was not developing like typical babies, doctors informed her that he had cerebral palsy and would “never be normal”. The Four Walls of My Freedom is a memoir about her experience parenting a child with severe physical needs—from trying to find an appropriate school to dealing with Nicholas’s extreme pain and seizures. Her descriptions paint a clear image of how debilitating it can be for a family who has to navigate this world with such challenges.

Thomson is the wife of former Canadian High Commissioner to the UK James Wright, so she brings to the book experience from both Canada and abroad. Her years with Nicholas have transformed her into a disability activist and with The Four Walls of My Freedom, she examines theories of quality of life and how they can be applied to create the best possible life for all citizens, regardless of ability. It is an excellent work for those who are interested in the politics and social issues involving individuals with disabilities. It’s not an easy read, but rather an academic discussion of how society could work with families to create happy lives for all individuals. Canadians with an interest in the rights of the disabled would be particularly interested in this work.

Two More Sleeps...

2011-06-29T15:41:00.018-04:00

...until the Canada Day weekend!

If you're looking for a fun family event this Friday, why not stop by the Joseph Brant Museum and Spencer Smith Park for Burlington's annual Strawberry Social By the Lake ?

Enjoy a variety of activities, including the White Pine Native Dancers and Costumed Heritage Characters. Don't forget to visit the library booth if you want to find out about our summer programs.

The event runs from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM. For more information, click here.

Fiction Pick of the Week: Now You See Her

2011-06-28T15:39:00.000-04:00

Now You See Her by Joy Fielding 2011

A Canadian pick in honour of Canada Day!

Canadian author Joy Fielding’s latest book is a gripping suspense story set in the Irish city of Cork. Marcy Taggert travels to Ireland alone, seeking solace for a broken heart. Her marriage has ended after the loss of her twenty-one-year old daughter, an apparent suicide. Only her upturned canoe was found floating in Georgian Bay.

Despite her family’s insistence that Devon is dead, Marcy thinks she sees her daughter on a day trip from Dublin to Cork. She returns the next day to launch a desperate search to discover the truth. She meets an assortment of interesting characters, some sinister, but the reader is never sure where this story is taking them.

I haven’t read Joy Fielding’s novels in a long while, and am pleased to find that an engaging heroine and a compelling plot are still her hallmark.