Staff Recommendations
Pages
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Walk through fire
by Johnson, Sheila, 1949-
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionFebruary 13, 2024
Call Number: 658.31242 J69
Sheila Johnson has had an exceptionally rewarding personal and professional life, overcoming many obstacles that would have discouraged and leveled many other people. All her life, from the time she was very young, Sheila Johnson has worked steadily and relentlessly. Among her many accomplishments are: co-founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television); the first African American woman billionaire; the only Black woman to be the co-owner of three professional sports teams; and the founder of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. The pathways to those signal achievements are... Read Full Review
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The Book of Doors
by Brown, Gareth
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryFebruary 5, 2024
Cassie Andrews is living a quiet life in New York City. She spends her days and evenings working in a bookshop, and when she goes home each night, more often than not, she curls up with a good book. A set of unusual circumstances in the bookstore result in Cassie coming into possession of a strange, unassuming little book that, according to the title page, is The Book of Doors. Inside, the book is inscribed with the title, some mysterious symbols and drawings, and the inscription that “any door is every door.” Cassie ponders the book and wonders what it means. When she... Read Full Review
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How not to be a politician : a memoir
by Stewart, Rory
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionJanuary 31, 2024
Call Number: 320.942 S851
Both the title and book jacket of Rory Stewart's political memoir are ironic. The title because it is emblematic of Rory Stewart’s sincere attempts to make a difference, domestically and internationally, by entering British politics, in which he was frequently confounded by the motivational tactics of other politicians. It was very easy for that to happen because elected officials, to whom he was obligated, frequently changed political positions in mid-sentence. If the intricacies of American congressional politics are confusing, well British parliamentary ways and means are even... Read Full Review
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But will you love me tomorrow? : an oral history of the '60s girl groups
by
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionJanuary 22, 2024
Call Number: 789.1 B9835
You know the melodies, the tunes, the lyrics, the remixes because you have heard them, and you do hear them everywhere: the radio, piped-in in stores, online, e-media, movies … Sometimes it’s just the music, sometimes it's the music and the lyrics. There is a certain brightness, rhythm, saucy innuendo in the lyrics or titles, and often some irreverence in the vocal interpretation by those female singers, all in harmony, singing those unforgettable songs. The book's title is the title of a song, "But will you love me tomorrow?" which was controversial in its day, 1961, because it... Read Full Review
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Kill Show
by Sweren-Becker, Daniel
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryJanuary 16, 2024
What is it about true-crime that fascinates us? Why, over a century later, are we still fascinated with the brutal murders of five women in the Whitechapel district of London? What draws people to the life and death of notorious bank robbers Bonnie & Clyde almost a century later? Why was interest in Jeffrey Dahmer high enough to make Netflix’s series about the murders he committed from the 1970s-90s a hit show? Who will be the focus of our next national obsession and what is the next real crime that will become a form of entertainment? Daniel Sweren-Becker explores our... Read Full Review
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The Fragile Threads of Power
by Schwab, Victoria
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryJanuary 8, 2024
It’s been seven years since the events at the end of V.E. Schwab’s A Conjuring of Light. In Red London, Lila and Kell have been sailing the seas as privateers on her ship, the Grey Barron (They also secretly perform tasks for Red London’s crown.). Rhy Maresh, Kell’s brother, has ascended the Arnesian throne. He has married Nadiya Loreni, and the two now have a daughter named Tieren. Alucard Emery, a former noble and a former privateer, is now the king’s consort, rounding out... Read Full Review
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Oh, la la! : homegrown stories, helpful tips, and garden wisdom
by Morris, Ciscoe
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionJanuary 2, 2024
Call Number: 716 M875
Although it might not be apparent from his off-beat, congenial stories and stretched-to-the-limit puns, Ciscoe Morris is an expert gardener, whose inordinate enthusiasm and expertise has created a loyal following. He is well known in the northwest with his weekly radio program on KSQM 91.5, and according to his website gives over 50 garden presentations a year. He and his wife also love to travel and lead worldwide garden tours, as well as embark on their own adventurous junkets, such as a 360-mile hiking trek in France. Their 1,000-mile biking trip in France became the source of... Read Full Review
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The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope
by Andrés, José
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionDecember 26, 2023
Call Number: 641.59 A561
Chef José Andrés tells us, “This book is dedicated to everyone who understands the power of a hot meal in a time of need.”
This is the first cookbook from the World Central Kitchen, aka the WCK. The organization was the inspiration of José Andrés, professional chef and humanitarian. “Since 2010 the World Central Kitchen has cooked hundreds of millions of fresh, nourishing meals for people impacted by natural disasters and other crises." In this book the WCK shares recipes inspired by many global areas where disasters hit, and stories from chefs, volunteers... Read Full Review
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Unnatural Ends
by Huang, Christopher
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryDecember 19, 2023
Call Number: M
Sir Lawrence Linwood, the Lord of Linwood Hollow and a tyrant of a father, is always pushing his adopted children to meet unreasonable demands. Three adult children, Alan, Roger, and Caroline, have escaped their father and their home, but not unscathed. When Sir Lawrence dies, his children return home, as expected, to find not only that their father was murdered but that the latest version of his will declares that the child who solves their father’s murder will inherit his estate.
In Unnatural Ends, Christopher Huang uses elements from the golden age of... Read Full Review
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Camera girl : the coming of age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy
by Anthony, Carl Sferrazza
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionDecember 11, 2023
Call Number: 92 O575An-1
As First Lady of the United States (1961 - 1963), then as the wife of one of the world’s richest men (1968 - 1975), until the time of her death in 1994, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was among the most photographed and well known women in the world. But did the world really know that much about this enigmatic woman, who became an international celebrity? In a 1972 interview she stated,“People often forget that I was Jacqueline Bouvier, before being Mrs. Kennedy or Mrs. Onassis. Throughout my life I have tried to remain true to myself.”
In this new... Read Full Review
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George : a magpie memoir
by Hughes, Frieda
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionDecember 6, 2023
Call Number: 598.864 H893
In the prologue to this memoir Frieda Hughes says, “The things I longed for, other than health, happiness and wealth, probably in that order, were plants, pets, and a home of my own that I would never have to move from. The plants and pets were the embellishment and confirmation of the permanent home and, therefore, the sense of stability and belonging that I craved.”
From her earliest memories, as a very young child, she craved and yearned for a stable permanent home, which for most of her life she did not have. She had a family, but they were never in one... Read Full Review
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Being Henry : the Fonz . . . and beyond
by Winkler, Henry, 1945-
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryNovember 27, 2023
Call Number: 812.092 W775-2
Henry Winkler has worked as an actor, director, producer, and is the author of several series of children’s books. Now, with Being Henry, Winkler tells the story of his own life and it is a fascinating read.
Winkler writes his memoir with charm and grace. He describes the difficulties that faced his parents, who were German immigrants just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He also describes a home life that was an uncomfortable mixture of comfort and abuse. Winkler’s parents were strict authoritarians who often expected more of their son, an... Read Full Review