The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Recommended by Jennifer

FIC Diaz

Diaz won the Pulitzer Prize for this book that tells the tale of a young Dominican boy and his family living in Paterson, NJ during the 1980s-1990s. Oscar is an intelligent, but unpopular, quirky kid who struggles through adolescence and the brief years of adulthood to be accepted for who he is and find love. Parts of the story are narrated by Oscar's sister's boyfriend, Yunior, who has a less sympathetic heart than other characters. Diaz does a beautiful job of creating a seamless chronology of Oscar's life from the perspectives of several characters. The book is written in Spanglish, and may be quite a challenge for some readers. It is tragic and triumphant, heart-warming and heart-breaking.
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Annette Vallon: a novel of the French Revolution by James Tipton

Recommended by Danielle

FIC Tipton

Annette Vallon was the mistress of poet William Wordsworth during the French Revolution. William was exiled in England because outsiders were regarded as spies. Annette was left alone to raise their daughter and secretly aide men, women and children who were being unjustly executed. This amazing story is a testament of the bravery and compassion of one of France's heroines during such unsettled times.
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Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman

Recommended by Jo Ann

B Georgiana

An 18th century wealthy and prominent Brit, Georgiana Spencer (Princess Diana was a Spencer) led a life of fashion, gambling, drink, drugs, love affairs and politics. Her biography gives insight into the aristocratic life of the 1700s in Britain and France, and the surprising debauchery that was accepted by society. She was loved by all and died owing $6 million in debts in today's dollars.

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The Shack by William P. Young

Recommended by MaryAnn

FIC Young

This story takes place in the Oregon wilderness where Mac's daughter, Missy, is abducted and brutally murdered while on vacation. Her body was found in an abandoned shack, where four years later, Mac spends a weekend with God. Skeptical? Spiritual? You decide. One of the best books I have ever read - an amazing story about a man's journey with God in the midst of his sorrows.
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Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Recommended by Donna

FIC Hannah

This is a story of two girls who make a pact to be "friends forever." As the two girls grow and become women, their friendship is strained by a betrayal that puts their friendship to the ultimate test. When you finish this book you will want to pass it on to your best friend. I did!

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Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Recommended by Donna

FIC Gabaldon

Claire is a young nurse on her second honeymoon in Scotland in the 1940s. She happens upon a "Stone Henge" that transports her back to the 1700s. She lands in the middle of a battle between Scotland and England. She is taken captive by the Scots where she meets and falls in love with a young warrior named Jamie. Don't think this is a novel about time travel, this is a love story at its best!

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Lonely Hearts (the series) by John Harvey

Recommended by Irene

FIC Harvey

A chance encounter with an avid mystery reader introduced me to John Harvey, particularly the Charlie Resnick series. Beginning with Lonely Hearts, the series runs for 10 books and then stops when the author moves from Nottingham, the setting for the Resnick novels. Charlie Resnick is a middle-aged, overweight, divorced and disillusioned cop who would rather eat delightfully innovative sandwich combinations and listen to jazz than sully himself with the seamy underworld of local crime. Charlie, himself, evolves as a three dimensional character as we follow him through some of the most originally contrived situations imaginable.

In Lonely Hearts the only obvious connection between the murders of two women is that they used a lonely-hearts column to meet men. Nothing more to go on... John Harvey is a poet first, and it shows in his use of vocabulary. His uplifting words that skillfully describe place and person give the reader so much more than just a story.
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Sofie Metropolis (the series) by Tori Carrington

Recommended by Irene

FIC Carrington

Janet Evanovich fans will enjoy these four entries from the husband and wife team of Lori and Tony Karayianni. Sofie Metropolis lives in a Greek community in Astoria, Queens, NY. She suffers from all the Greek family quirkiness you saw in My Big Fat Greek Wedding with a strong undercurrent of New York savvy, and girl PI antics you've witnessed in Stephanie Plum in Trenton, NJ. Although the similarities are obvious, and sometimes overdone, once you suspend your inclination to compare the two, you just sit back and enjoy these delightful and funny characters.

Sofie has had enough of smothering family after her wedding plans fall apart and determines to stop waitressing in her family's restaurant. After an unsuccessful stint at her aunt's funeral parlor, she finds her place in her uncle's PI firm.
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The Secret Bride: in the Court of Henry VIII by Diane Haeger

Recommended by Danielle

FIC Haeger

Mary Tudor, the sister of King Henry VIII, falls in love with Henry's best friend Charles Brandon. Their love must remain a secret because Henry has her betrothed to another to better the cause for England. This story tells of how Mary obeys her brother and marries King Louis XII, but finds a way to keep her true love as well.
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Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon

Recommended by Barbara

FIC Hemon

The Lazarus Project is based on the true story of the killing of a Jewish immigrant by the chief of the Chicago Police Department in 1908. Hemon, a MacArthur Genius Grant winner, masterfully weaves the past with the present where serious contemporary issues are addrsesed with great wit and humor. This book is a well-deserved finalist for this year's National Book Award. This was an extremely satisfying reading experience.
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The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike

Recommended by Barbara

FIC Updike

I am a huge Updike fan and am always pleasantly surprised by his ability to depict modern relationships and situations in highly original ways using language that is clear, crisp, and amazingly insightful. This story picks up on the adventures of Alexandra, Sukie, and Jane, the Witches of Eastwick, now mature women. It can be read independently from the first book and still be enjoyed.

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Oil by Upton Sinclair

Recommended by Gina

FIC Sinclair

A detailed story about a father and son's journey into the California oil industry beginning in the 1920s. Although fictional, it's based on the Teapot Dome scandal in the Harding administration and corruption in government. The book was written almost a century ago, but elements of this epic novel ring true today.
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Loving Frank: a novel by Nancy Horan

Recommended by Gina

FIC Horan

A historical fictional account about the life of Mamah Borthwick Cheney, the mistress of Frank Lloyd Wright. A very engaging read about their families, the paparazzi, and the unthinkable - divorce - in the early 1900s, as well as Wright's architectural triumphs.

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The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

Recommended by Gina

Fic Umrigar

A portrait of separation of class in modern day Bombay from the points of view of a servant, Bhima, and Sera, an upper-middle class housewife. Although their lives are separated by wealth, this novel shows how they are connected as women.

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The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Recommended by Gina

FIC Lahiri

Pulitzer Prize winning author writes about the Ganguli Family and their assimilation from India into American culture. Their son, Gogol, battles with his Indian identity throughout adolescence into adulthood.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

Recommended by Gina

917.4044 BRY

After living in the U.K. for 20+ years, the author decides to hike the Appalachian Trail with his former college buddy to reacquaint himself with America. During their journey, Bryson tells funny anecdotes about people and places on the trail as well as gives historical information about how the Appalachian Trail came about. U.S. Department of Interior anecdotes are laugh-out-loud funny.
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Everyday Food: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Recommended by Gina

A staple reference for weeknight cooking if you are a busy mom! All recipes use simple and fresh ingredients for outstanding flavor combinations for a "gourmet" feel. Most recipes take less than 30 minutes to prepare and are kid-friendly.
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America's Best Lost Recipes: 121 kitchen-tested heirloom recipes too good to forget by Editors of Cook's Country Magazine

Recommended by Gina

641.5 AME

This cookbook is the latest in outstanding offerings from the "Consumer Reports" of cooking. A collection of heirloom recipes for classic cooking.
The Chocolate Blackout Cake recipe is a chocoholic's dream come true on a plate! A must have for any cooking enthusiast.
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The Assassin's Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln by Kate Clifford Larson

Recommended by Jo Ann

973.7092 LAR

Mary Surratt was arrested in 1865 for conspiring with actor John Wilkes Booth, her own son, and other confederate sympathizers in the murder of President Abraham Lincoln. She was the first woman ever to be executed by the federal government, in spite of a petition to President Andrew Johnson. Mary defied 19th century norms of females, and was hung as only men were then. Based on confessions, court testimony and interviews.


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Women of Magdalene by Rosemary Poole-Carter

Recommended by Danielle

Fic Poole-Carter

Set in post-Civil War Louisiana, Dr. Mallory is the new physician at the Magdalene Ladies' Lunatic Asylum. He soon learns of Dr. Kingston's mistreatment of the patients, some of whom are not patients at all but women who have been "disposed of" by their families. Dr. Mallory must prove Dr. Kingston to be a murderer and a swindler before anymore women are injured or killed.
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The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall

Recommended by Donna

Fic Furnivall

The Russian Concubine is the story of a Russian refugee and her young daughter living in China in the 1920s. They struggle to make money but mostly use their wits to survive. The daughter falls in love with a Chinese Communist and they are swept up in a world of secrets and lies that puts their love to the test.
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