What We're Reading: Jan

Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger


Even the title of this new book about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is telling: “furious love”. Definitions of furious - stormy, turbulent, and full of fury - all describe this famous relationship of nearly 25 years. Their meeting on the set of Cleopatra and the scandalous affair that broke up both of their marriages led to a vagabond lifestyle with children in tow, great and not-so great filmmaking, and alcoholism. Their passion is legendary and fueled both love and the basis for their nickname, the “Brawling Burtons". The Burtons lived extravagantly with famous jewels that Elizabeth adored (and expected), a yacht, entourages of family and assistants and homes around the world. It was an over-the-top existence lived by a couple that was defiant in their lifestyle. The paparazzi were relentless, revealing all the drama to the world (including the Vatican who condemned their behavior). The authors were able to delve deep into the soul of the couple with Elizabeth Taylor and Burton family interviews and access to Richard’s diaries and love letters. The result is an extremely readable, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most tempestuous romances in recent history.

What We're Reading: Edward

Lucy, a novel

by Laurence Gonzales

Jenny Lowe is awakened by the sounds of intruders at her research station. Civil war is raging in the Congo; and now she is in danger. Jenny heads for civilization, stopping on the way at the station of researcher David Stone. She finds Stone dead and his daughter, Lucy, holding on to a lifeless body. Jenny takes Lucy with her.Jenny persuades a State Department official to let Lucy on the plane to safety with proper identification. Back in Chicago, Jenny tries to find Lucy's family. But Lucy has no one. Jenny decides to adopt Lucy. Teenage Lucy has trouble adapting to high school and civilization. Slowly Jenny becomes aware that Lucy is really different. Jenny reads Stone's journals and realizes that Lucy is his child by inbreeding with a Bonobo. Lucy's story becomes known and creates a world wide sensation. Luckily, Jenny and her friends have plan to keep Lucy safe. But will it work when a covert government agency comes for Lucy? Lucy's story will make you cry, laugh, and THINK!

What We're Reading: Cathy

Captive Queen by Alison Weir

Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most famous people of medieval Europe. This novel is full of authentic detail from Alison Weir's previous biography of Eleanor. It was also influenced, she admits, by the film Lion in Winter. We follow Eleanor from her marriage to King Louis of France, their divorce, her marriage to Henry, Duke of Anjou and Normandy, and his/their attainment of the English crown. Eleanor and Henry are both very passionate and opinionated people which eventually leads to a disintegration of their marriage and Eleanor supports their sons over her husband in a war. Henry then locks her up for 16 years. We follow her through frustrations and triumphs and see how this strong woman became the person remembered even now, over 800 years later as Eleanor, Queen of England, Duchess of Aquitaine, Normandy, Brittany, and Anjou, Countess of Poitou and mother of King Richard the Lionheart and King John.

What We're Reading: Edward

The Doctor Is In: a 7-step prescription for optimal wellness

by Travis Stork M.D.


Dr. Travis Stork gives you his doctors orders for optimal wellness. As an ER doctor Stork has seen the consequences of bad lifestyle choices. Changes you make in your lifestyle can have a profound impact on your health. His seven steps are:
1. Become your own health guru
2. Eat to savor life
3. Give your body a daily vacation
4. Nail your health stats
5. Master the medical process
6. Open your mind to alternatives
7. Make the mind-body connection.
Stork gives us the tools we need to get on the road to optimal wellness. Check this book out and change your life!

What We're Reading: Edward

Strip

by Thomas Perry

Manco Kapak is robbed by a masked gunman as he tries to make a late night bank deposit. Kapak runs several strip joints outside Los Angeles. He is also helping a drug dealer launder money, some of the dirty money was part of the night deposit. Kapak knows that he can not be weak. He needs to find and kill the robber and get his money back. His thugs are sent out to find a man who is freely spending money. They begin to track Joe Carver. Carver had nothing to do with the robbery. In fact he was in the witness protection program. Carver witnessed a mob hit back in Chicago. Now he wants to try his luck in Los Angeles. Carver gets tired of evading Kapak's thugs. He tries to convince Kapak that he did not rob him. Kapak shoots at him and still believes that he was the robber. But it was an ex-boyfriend of one of Kapak's waitresses that did the robbery. After getting dumped by the waitress , he joins forces with a crazy girl who forces him to be even more daring in his robberies. Will Kapak or Carver get what they want? The ending is a real surprise!

What We're Reading: Abby

Just Kids by Patti Smith

This is a beautifully written memoir of a difficult yet poignant time in the lives of Patti Smith and her good friend Robert Mapplethorpe. The time was the late 1960's and 1970's the place was New York City. They were homeless, hungry and pooled their meager resources to survive. Each believed that they were destined for something big but they weren't sure how. They made a vow to take care of each other and for the most part did just that. Mapplethorpe found his art through the camera but Smith found fame first as a rock star. It is a touching story of their struggles, their loves, their adventures and their rise to fame. But in the end it is also a eulogy to Mapplethorpe upon his untimely death from AIDS in 1989.

What We're Reading: Tracy

The Grimm Legacy, by Polly Shulman.

Many real-life libraries have what are referred to as "Special Collections." These may be comprised of rare books, assortments of paper ephemera, even local history objects.
The Grimm Collection at the fictional New-York Circulating Material Repository is a very special collection indeed, housing magical items from famous fairy tales. Need a pair of seven-league boots? Want to check your reflection in Snow White's stepmother's mirror? Like to take a spin on a flying carpet? The Grimm Collection has what you need...until, that is, its magical objects begin disappearing. It's up to new library page, Elizabeth Rew, to find the objects, and the thief, before it's too late.