American History

David McCullough
Stephen Ambrose
Nathaniel Philbrick

These are three of my favorite history writers writing today.  You can’t go wrong if you pick any of the books from any one of the authors.  To make it easier for you:
My favorites from McCullough are:
Path Between the Seas
This book is about the construction of The Panama Canal.

The Great Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is another feat of mankind.  One of the things I like so much about McCullough’s style is the research he puts into each book he writes.  He writes for the layperson without sacrificing knowledge.  You can actually pick up any one of his many books and not be disappointed.

My favorites from Ambrose are:
Nothing Like it in the World
This is about the construction of the Trans-Continental Railroad.  You’d think I had a building fetish what with the three books I’ve spoken of thus far.  I don’t know.  Maybe I do.  Ambrose is another writer like McCullough who writes for the layperson.

Undaunted Courage
This is my favorite book by Ambrose.  It details the trek across the country by Lewis and Clark and opening of the American West.  For a similar tale, McCullough’s Brave Companions tells the story from McCullough’s point of view.  It might be interesting to read them back to back.  Honestly, it’s been so long since I’ve read these books that I don’t recall the similarities and differences.  However I can say without reservation that they were both well written and well researched.

My favorite from Philbrick is:
In the Heart of the Sea
This is the book that put Philbrick on the map and it still after several years resonates deeply with me.  The incident discussed in the book laid the groundwork for Melville’s quintessential novel Moby Dick.  I highly recommend scoping out Philbrick’s other books as well, including Mayflower and The Last Stand Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  While as well written and researched as In the Heart of the Sea, the latter two books don’t pack as big a punch for me as did In the Heart…  I think it’s because In the Heart… is the first book I read by Philbrick and it made such a huge impression on me seeing as I’m a big Moby Dick fan.  Not to take anything away from Philbrick’s other books because he is a fabulous writer and you certainly can’t go wrong in choosing to read any of his books.

Check any of these three writers out and I think you’ll come away more informed, entertained and appreciative of history.

Until next time…
…Turn the page.
—
Chris

Character Mysteries

Thomas Perry
(Jane Whitefield Series)
Jane Whitefield:
“I’m a guide . . . I show people how to go from places where somebody is trying to kill them to other places where nobody is.”
From The Thrilling Detective.com.

I’ve only read the Whitefield series.  Thomas Perry has written many other stand alone books, but I’m particularly enamored by series characters, because I like following a character as they develop.  When returning for a new adventure it’s like reconnecting with an old friend.

Jane Whitefield is a Native American woman living in Upstate New York, who helps people disappear who are running from something.  One of my compatriots who I work with here at the library recommended Thomas Perry and I went through every Jane Whitefield book in matter of about two months.  Check the series out.  I think you’ll find them captivating

James Grippando
(Jack Swyteck Series)
Jack Swyteck is criminal defense lawyer in Florida.  His best friend, Theo Knight was on death row being wrongly convicted of murder.  Jack’s father the former governor of Florida signed Knight’s death warrant.  Theo was eventually freed when Swyteck discovered DNA evidence that exonerated his friend.

Now Theo helps Swyteck with his defense cases.  There is sporadic humor laced throughout the series.  Some of the humor reminds me just a bit of Carl Hiaasen.  That shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Florida Fiction as most all Florida mystery writers can trace the good fortune back to Hiaasen.

Randy Wayne White
(Doc Ford Series)
Doc Ford, ex CIA now living on the West coast of Florida and trying to lead a restful life doesn’t quite work out for him.  Being ex CIA has its pratfalls as his talents keep him busy.  Looking for someone to read after John D MacDonald’s Travis McGee?  Doc Ford fits the bill nicely.  Having read several Travis books, I can rightly agree.

You won’t be disappointed.  I can pretty much recommend John D MacDonald’s Travis McGee as well.

Until next time…
…Turn the page.
—
Chris

Science

Coming of Age in the Milky Way
Timothy Ferris
Timothy Ferris is an author I was introduced to through this book.  I’ve since read many others by him.  Coming of Age… is a detailed account of science.  One of the reasons this book appeals to me to such a degree is the way it is written.  Ferris never writes down to his audience.  He keeps the dialog going as well.

Coming of Age… tells the story of science through many of the great scientists of the past, including Galileo, and Kepler.  You’d think with scientists like these peopling his book he would get verbose and write over his audiences head.  To Timothy Ferris’s credit he does not.  He writes in such a way that the lay person will understand what he is saying.  For anyone wanting an intimate knowledge of science from its very beginning, you certainly can’t go wrong with Coming of Age in the Milky Way.

A Brief History of Time
Stephen Hawking
Two books of somewhat the same nature as both our science related.  That’s where the similarity ends however.  Hawking, unlike Ferris is not writing for the layperson.  His language is tremendously challenging to comprehend. The themes hawking discusses are probably challenging for many scientists to understand as well.  Even after reading A Brief History of Time several times over I’m still not sure I grasp everything he discusses.  That being said, I must also say this is an important book to at least attempt a read through, even if you only understand a bit of what he says.  It also presents a dichotomy of two writing styles.  That in itself should be reason enough to read both of these books.

In the Shadow of Man
Jane Goodall
While attending Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut, I enrolled in many anthropology classes; So many in fact, that I could very well have minored in Anthropology.  In one of the classes we studied Jane Goodall extensively.

I’d always been fascinated by anthropology as a child.  I knew quite a bit about Lucy the Australopithecus from having studied on my own before attending Southern, knew she was discovered at Hadar in Ethiopia.

Jane Goodall has always been an important figure to me.  Having no degree, Ms Goodall was one of a select few to have been accepted at Cambridge University to receive a PhD.

In the Shadow of Man was one of the required readings from one of the Anthropology classes I took at Southern.  The book details Ms. Goodall’s life as Chimpanzee researcher.  Amazing detail of a chimps life is in this book.  Sharing so many qualities between human and chimp is what drew me into this fascinating character study.  And boy, each chimp that Goodall discusses in this and each of her books have distinct character traits.

If you are interested at all in the origin of Mankind, you can’t go wrong starting out by reading Jane Goodall.

Until next time…
…Turn the page.
—
Chris

Childhood Memories

One Fish Two Fish
Red Fish Blue Fish
Dr. Seuss
This book and Hop on Pop are very dear to my heart as my maternal grandfather used read them to me all the time.  I vividly recall seeing these two books in my grandparents living room sitting on the top of a headrest of a white chair, waiting to be read.  One Fish… was returned through the book drop last week and I was flooded with memories of sitting in that white chair while my grandfather read from the book.

I loved the rhyming when these books were read to me and every time these two books cross my view I must set aside the time to read them again.  Because these books were read to me by my grandfather, they have become my favorite Seuss books.

Where Does the Butterfly Go When It Rains?
May Garelick
This was the VERY first book I EVER bought at a book fair.  In 1970 while attending Noah Wallace School in Farmington, Connecticut, Scholastic sponsored the school book sales.  I was in first grade at the time and I came across this book.  I still have the original copy of the book at home.  Surprisingly some area libraries still carry it and it looks like the book is still in print.
It is such an important book to me as it carries much sentimental value.

Encyclopedia Brown
Donald J. Sobol
Wow!
Talk about childhood memories.  Living in Branford, Connecticut and attending Branford Intermediate School at the time.  Now the school is named after the principal at the time I was going. (Francis Walsh Intermediate School)  It seems so odd to call it that after attending the school when he was principal.

Think I read every Encyclopedia Brown book while going to the Intermediate school.  Leroy Brown is a ten year old trivia buff.  With is encyclopedic sense of knowledge (hence his name) he solves mysteries in his hometown with the help of his friends.

Loved this series growing up in middle school and I heartily recommend it to any middle school student.  Pick one up and I bet you’ll be hooked.

Until next time…
… Turn the page.
—
Chris

Destination Fiction

Margaret Coel
Wind River Reservation
Father John O’Malley and Vicky Holden are characters I’ve followed for awhile now.  The Wind River Reservation stories take place in Wyoming.  Tight storytelling.  Place takes a character all to itself.  I’ve turned on several Scranton Library members to this series and last week someone came in and thanked me for talking Margaret Coel up.  He said if it hadn’t been for me he would never have known about the author.

See?  That’s what gives this job meaning for me.  That’s what drives me.  That’s what brings me so much joy.  When someone comes back to me after a first recommendation and tells me how much they enjoyed my opinion.  I’ve made another person happy and now they trust me enough to offer more opinions.  I know what my readers like and I steer them in the right direction.  Every once in awhile I like to take someone outside their comfort zone.  If they are a mystery fan and that’s all they read I like to stir the pot a little and offer them something else.  How about a bit of magic realism ala Alice Hoffman?  What I’m doing here is turning them onto my favorite genre which is strict fantasy but I’m approaching them carefully.  I will start out out with someone who dabbles in fantasy, then move them further down the road.

Rose Connors
Sandwich, Cape Cod
I’ve spent time in Cape Cod and I know the area quite well.  When reading Rose Connors I can close out all thought and be in the same places that she describes in her books.  That’s the mark of a talented writer.  When you can sense every scene as if you’re there, there is nothing better.  I felt the same way when I read Tom Corcoran’s Key West Series.  These writers that tell stories about the home are few and far between and if you want a true sense of place, I can’t recommend a better place to start then Margaret Coel, Rose Connors and Tom Corcoran.

John Sanford
(The Prey Series)
John Sandford, author of Lucas Davenport’s “Prey” series has many books in the Davenport Catalog.  Of all the books he has written my two favorites are:
–Certain Prey (The 1st w/female serial killer Clara Rinker)
–Mortal Prey (the 2nd and concluding Chapter of Rinker.)  Mortal Prey has the 2nd best ending of a Prey book.

My favorite ending was the 1st in the entire series:
Rules of Prey.

You MUST MUST MUST read this series in order as there is HUGE character development of Lucas throughout.  Mortal Prey in my opinion was the last best book in the series.

Minnesota in the winters can be brutal, especially if you are police detective Lucas Davenport.  Lucas is probably one of all time favorite fictional detectives as he has been so finely developed through this entire series.  It is extremely extremely important to start this series with the first book and read each book in succession only because with each book more layers are built on from the last book.  Lucas develops a history and what an amazing character he develops into.  Because of his development throughout the series, he has become like a cherished friend.  I can’t recommend this series highly enough; and the wonderful part is that there are so many in the series that it will take you a bit if time to get through.  The first thirteen are my favorites:
1. Rules of Prey (1989)
2. Shadow Prey (1990)
3. Eyes of Prey (1991)
4. Silent Prey (1992)
5. Winter Prey (1993)
6. Night Prey (1994)
7. Mind Prey (1995)
8. Sudden Prey (1996)
9. Secret Prey (1998)
10. Certain Prey (1999)
11. Easy Prey (2000)
12. Chosen Prey (2001)
13. Mortal Prey (2002)

You won’t be disappointed if you start.  I believe the last best book in the series is Mortal Prey.  After that I attempted two or three others and was never as excited about the series.  I’ve only listed the first thirteen in the collection because these are the books that I like the most.  My concept for this blog is to only recommend books that I resonate with.  I never want to steer someone down a wrong path.  It’s up to you, my fellow readers whether to continue reading after you’ve reached number 13.

Until next time…
…Turn the page.
—
Chris

Adventure

The River of Doubt
Candice Millard
After his U.S. Presidential defeat in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt wasn’t about to sit still.  For his next phase in his life, he opted to travel down a tributary The Amazon River; one that was uncharted.  Facing danger and imminent death at every turn, Roosevelt accomplished a goal that many thought was surely to fail.  This quite a rousing tale, one that was a definite page turner.  Every page left me breathless and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.  Cinematic in scope, this would surely render well to the big screen.

The Lost City of Z
David Gann
Another tale of The Amazon.  This one does not take place on the river however, but in the jungles of the dense forest.  British Explorer, Percy Fawcett traveled deep into the jungle searching for the fabled El Dorado.  Fawcett never returned.  Author David Gann attempts to follow in Fawcett’s footsteps, traveling the most likely path that Fawcett himself went.

Just like in The River of Doubt, Fawcett brought his son, Jack on the expedition.  When Fawcett didn’t return after, the search for his group became almost as legendary as the search for the lost City.  Another unputdownable book.

Diving into Darkness
Phillip Finch
January 8, 2005
South Africa
David Shaw, a thrill seeker who was also a pilot living in Asia with his wife always sought new adventures.  His newest escapade was cave diving, and not just any cave diving, but extreme diving.  One of the things I look for in books I read is whether there is sufficient backstory, as with The Bureau and the Mole about the FBI agent turned spy, Diving Into Darkness turned on its backstory as well.  You learn enough about David Shaw and what made him tick.  I also enjoyed becoming familiar with his diving friends as well.

Until next time…
Turn the page.
—
Chris

Past Lives

What Dreams May Come
Richard Matheson

Old Souls
Tom Shroder

Soul Survivor:
The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot
Bruce and Andrea Leininger

While my choice in literature may not always resonate with my audience, I won’t steer you wrong.  You’ll always come away with at least one Ah-ha moment in every book I discuss.

All three of these books have a subject that I’m a firm believer in.  The first book on the list:
What Dreams May Come while not entirely about past lives certainly has that as a theme.  That book is one of the most important books I’ve read as it is one of the few books that I can honestly say brought about a life change.  It altered my worldview on death and dying.  It created a whole new worldview for me.  It changed my entire perspective on life as well.

I thoroughly and whole heartedly say to everyone:
Read this book!

If it doesn’t at least create some questions about the meaning of life and death and the possibility of reincarnation then come back to me and tell me so.  Even if it does cause you to question some of your long held beliefs, I’d still like to hear from you

While the movie was visually stunning and well done and was excellent on its own, the book offers so much more.  You MUST read this book.  If it left such a huge impression on myself and caused me to reconsider everything I knew about death and dying upto the point before I read What Dreams May Come, I’m convinced that at least some of you will walk away from the book with similar feelings.

Old Souls
Tom Shroder, the author of this book accompanied researcher and scientist, Dr Ian Stevenson across the globe to investigate young children’s claims of recalling past lives.  The evidence put forth in the book is compelling enough to have the author, Mr Shroder go from skeptic to believer after returning from the scientific journey.  Quite an amazing book.  I hesitate to give any of the stories away only to say that the bulk of the book takes place in India.  There are cases upon cases in this book where children who are of such a young age three to six, years old who have recalled earlier lives with other families.  Dr Stevenson, accompanied at all times by the author have tracked down the child’s previous family when the child claims to have lived another life.  Countless times the children are able to recognize family without any aid or assistance from any of the previous family.

Soul Survivor
Plane on fire! Little man can’t get out! These are the words of James Leininger who a bit after his second birthday started having nightmares and not just just bad dreams but night terrors where, the young boy would waken night after night screaming that phrase and others.  This went one for months with no resolution.  When little James provides details to aircraft that he should have absolutely no knowledge of, his parents become first concerned then that concern leads to curiosity.

Until next time…
…Turn the page.
—
Chris

Spiritual Quest

Breaking my three book rule today.
After All aren’t rules made to be broken?
You’ll understand why after seeing the books I recommend today.

The Alchemist
Paulo Coelo
Was at the Madison Coffee Shop in Madison, Connecticut last Tuesday and someone I know was reading The Alchemist.  Whenever I overhear someone mention a book that I’ve read my ears pop up.  Funny thing with this book as I said to the person who read the book is that The Alchemist came into my view several times over the past fifteen years.
Had I read the book when it first came across my purview I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of the book.  The protagonist is a young boy who sets out on a journey to find his place in the world.  Along the way he discovers enlightenment and treasure beyond his imagining.

Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse
Though written years apart, Siddhartha, first these two books tell parallel stories.
–Both tell of a quest to become men from boys.
–Both require journeying far from home.
–Both protagonists have fathers who are apprehensive about their sons leaving.

They diverge in surprising ways however and Siddhartha diverges in a human way from The Alchemist’s mostly spiritual quest.  Both books are well written and I thoroughly recommend reading them in conjunction with each other.  My belief is that you should begin with The Alchemist then move onto Siddartha.

Until next time…
…Turn the Page
—
Chris

Florida Writers

In The Grand Tree of Florida writers, the father of all Florida writers is

Carl Hiaasen
When I worked at RJ Julia, for several years before moving across the street to The Scranton Library, a friend of mine had come up to the cash register with his new book called Sick Puppy.  As I do now when a book crosses my threshold at the circ desk, I leafed through the first few pages as I rung up the order.  I was laughing hysterically immediately.

One funny writer.  You can’t go wrong with Hiaasen.  Having read all his fiction, I’d have to recommend three favorites:
The above mentioned:
Sick Puppy
Tourist Season
Skin Tight

Wait until you see what happens in Skin Tight with a dead frozen fish and a weed whacker.  Hilarious!

Tom Corcoran
Having just returned from Key West in January 2006 and having fallen in love with the island I wanted to return, at least in my mind.  I began searching on our library’s catalog for Key West fiction.  I came across a name I wasn’t familiar with and the brief description of Corcoran’s recurring character resonated deeply with me:
Alex Rutledge, a photographer gets caught up in crime scenes in Key West.

I’ve read the entire series now and upon reading the first book after returning (not the first in the series) Air Dance Iguana, I was transported back to that island.  It was amazing, as I read each line I was right there with Alex as he spent time in The Green Parrot Bar on Whitehead Street.  I passed the bar every morning as I walked to town.  I loved reading Corcoran as he knows Key West so well and it was nice being mentally transported back to a place that quickly became like home for me.

Bob Morris
Zack Chasteen is former Miami Dolphins football player who after he retired from football became a part time detective.  His partner, Boggy claims to be the last living Taino Indian.  Having written five books in the Chasteen series, someone looking for a new author should ahve no problem getting caught up before a new book appears.

Something all these authors have in common is the humor intertwined.  We can thank Carl Hiaasen for introducing us to Florida Humor in crime novels.  When you say Florida and Humor in the same breath, I can pretty much guarantee Mr. Hiaasen will be mentioned.

Until next time…
Turn the page.
—
Chris

Parallel Worlds

Fantasy and Science Fiction is my favorite genre.  Unfortunately, there seems to be more poorly written books in that genre than any other.  So when I come across several authors who consistently write well I’m drawn back to them over and over.

The Lost Gate
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite fantasy writers.  He has yet to let me down and I’ve read many of his books.  The Lost Gate is his latest and it is forecast to be a trilogy.  Danny North, the protagonist is lives in rural Virginia, his family hidden away from the mainstream.  Why?  He is among a family of Gods, ancient and once powerful.  Each of his brothers and sisters are born with a gift.  His has not yet shown itself, thus he has been shunned by his family, mercilessly  provoked.

It isn’t until he realizes he does have a gift that he uses it to his full extent.  And this si when the book really takes flight.

The Long Earth
Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
I’ve been reading Terry Pratchett off and on for awhile now and I came across The Long Earth about a month ago.  About three quarters through the book and it is amazing.  Parallel worlds play a role here and being a huge follower of the Many Worlds Theory you can clearly see why I’m fascinated by stories such as these.  Both The Lost Gate and The Long Earth share similar traits as they both bring us to alternate worlds through different means.

The Veil of Gold
Kim Wilkins
A solid gold bear is discovered in the St. Petersburg.  Scientist Daniel St. Clair and a colleague attempt to identify its age.  On their way to a university where they can perform  a series of tests on the artifact, they become hopelessly lost.  Perhaps even in an alternate time and space.  Another fantastic story of parallel worlds.  Even if you think Science Fiction and Fantasy is not your usual taste,  I highly recommend checking these books out.  You may come away with a new sense that the SF/F genre is not all bad.

I wouldn’t steer you down the wrong path.

Until next time,
Turn the page.
—
Chris