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September 2009

Hi folks!

I logged a lot of air miles in August, criss-crossing the country so often that I memorized several scenes from the in-flight movie. Missed my family but enjoyed a lot of great books. Besides the short reads that I always favor, I managed to devour Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (one of those authors who only comes around once in a generation) and Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas (who, coincidentally, shares a lot of witty pieces on Eggers’s McSweeney’s website), really learned a lot of great tips from Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman (Po Bronson also wrote the excellent What Should I Do with My Life?) and got my first taste of why Charlaine Harris is such a hot commodity by reading From Dead to Worse.

Anyhow, enjoy this month’s book selections below. I hope you are all reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me all about them. If you're an author or a publisher and would like to send me review copies of your book(s), please send them to the address listed for authors and publishers.

I hope you are reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me about them by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Have a wonderful September, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
Mama Makes Up Her Mind

Mama Makes Up Her Mind

By Bailey White 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

My life has been a little too fast-paced lately, and Bailey White is the perfect antidote. She has always regaled me with her stories of life in rural Georgia on NPR, and I can hear her voice as I read the wonderful short stories in this delightful collection of some of White’s most unusual characters. Georgia’s version of Garrison Keillor or Tom Bodett.
Buy on Amazon
Nature Noir

Nature Noir

By Jordan Fisher Smith 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

Incredible memoir by a California state park ranger. If you read this book and do not come away feeling deeply disturbed about our treatment to the environment, perhaps you began your day kicking puppies and dumping cigarette butts out your car window. The last nature book I read that hit me this deeply was Farley Mowat’s Never Cry Wolf. I highly recommend this book, and I know I will seek more books by Jordan Fisher Smith.
Buy on Amazon
Does Anything Eat Wasps?

Does Anything Eat Wasps?

By New Scientist 211 pages Adult

Danny Says

What can I say – I am an aspiring Cliff Clavin who loves random information to impress people (or, more likely, myself) with at parties. This book is filled with all sorts of wonderful useless information, making it the perfect book for waiting in the car or dazing on the toilet.
Buy on Amazon
Heaven

Heaven

By Angela Johnson 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I’ve been on a roll lately, as it seems like every book I pick turns out to be amazing. Thus is the case with Angela Johnson’s riveting story of a 14-year-old girl who discovers her family is not exactly as it seems. Perfect book for discussing the differences in 21st century families. Who’s to say what a family is supposed to look like? A book that will stick with you days later.
Buy on Amazon
The Samurai's Tale

The Samurai's Tale

By Erik C. Haugaard 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Wow! Yeah, this is the kind of book I would have liked to read when I was a teenage boy. Haugaard immerses the reader in 16th century Japan. There, the young protagonist Taro (an orphan – of course!) serves the great warlord Takeda and avenges the death of his family. Boys can read this book faster than the Nestle Quik bunny downs a glass of chocolate milk.
Buy on Amazon
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

By Joan Aiken 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

For those who often complain of not enough stories with strong female protagonists, I give you Joan Aiken. She has the rare gift of creating tales that girls and boys can appreciate, and all of her books fly off bookcases once teachers and parents treat their children to this first tale of misery, suspense and adventure. A fantastic book.
Buy on Amazon
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Graphic Novel

By Blake A. Hoena & Ricardo Tercio 40 pages Children

Danny Says

With great illustrations by Ricardo Tercio, this graphic novel version of the children’s classic is a fast-paced thrill ride that pleases even the most reluctant readers.
Buy on Amazon
The Kids' Yoga Book of Feelings

The Kids' Yoga Book of Feelings

By Mary Humphrey 40 pages Children

Danny Says

Sadly, I cannot do many of the poses photographed in this book. Am I that out of shape? Anyhow, to me yoga is a wonderful way to get children to focus on their breathing and creating positive mental images. This is a good intro for those purposes.
Buy on Amazon
The Fiesta Dress

The Fiesta Dress

By Caren McNelly McCormack Children

Danny Says

Little Lolo is not thrilled at the attention her big sister Eva receives for her quincenera (15th birthday). Great illustrations by Martha Aviles and a handy glossary for readers to pick up some simple terms in Spanish make this a classroom library favorite.
Buy on Amazon

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