What We're Reading: Abby

This is a coming-of-age story, at least in the political arena, of Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain. It's a memoir of her experiences on her father's 2008 presidential campaign where she had the responsibility of maintaining the blog, mccainblogette.com. This was a daily blog about life on the campaign trail from the vantage point of a young republican. There are many bad hair days and lessons in how to dress properly as well as how to behave and how not to behave when everything reflects on the candidate. Though she at times comes off as a spoiled drama queen in many parts she seems to have such an out-going and fun personalilty that you can't help but like her. She adores her parents and tried in her own way to contribute to the effort to have her father elected president.

What We're Reading: Edward

Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire

by Margot Berwin

There are many fiction books that feature recipes either at the beginning of chapters or at the end of the book. This novel features a description of a plant at the beginning of each chapter. Lila Nova is newly divorced and living in a Manhattan studio apartment. Her apartment is as empty as her life. Lila buys a tropical plant to put in her only window. Soon Lila purchases several more and turns her studio into a hothouse.Walking home one day, she sees an unique plant in the window of a laundromat. Inside Armand's laundromat are more plants and a special aura. Because of Lila's big mouth, Armand's place is wrecked. Lila promises to replace the nine plants of desire that were stolen. They travel to the Yucatan to search for replacement plants. While searching for the plants Lila embarks on an adventure of self-discovery. The perfect book to make you feel the sweltering Yucatan on a cold winter evening!

What We're Reading: Edward

From Square One: a meditation, with digressions on crosswords

by Dean Olsher

Olsher's book on crossword puzzles is like a crossword itself. It is a lose collection of facts, information, trivia and musings on crosswords, all related but unique. Olsher gives the history of the crossword puzzle since its debut in 1913. Over 50 million Americans regularly solve crosswords. Olsher explains the differences between American (trivia heavy) and the British (verbal play) crossword puzzles. Olsher wants the British type to become more popular in America. He also goes behind the scenes to show how crossword puzzles are made and who makes them. Olsher even describes his attendance at a crossword puzzle tournament. Every crossword puzzler can learn something from this book.

What We're Reading: Edward

Spy Who Came For Christmas

by David Morrell

Agent Paul Kagan is undercover inside a group of Russian mobsters. He is told to steal a "package". The "package" turn out to be the infant son of a peace activist. Kagan goes rogue. He steals the baby and tries to escape the Russians. So begins a game of cat and mouse during the Christmas Eve celebration in Old Town Santa Fe. It begins to snow as Kagan tries to evade capture and certain death. He hides in a house with a mother and son. Kagan is injured and needs their help. He turns them into commandos. Will any of them survive to see Christmas morning?

Great read for both men and women!

What We're Watching: Laurie

I'm Not There directed by Todd Haynes. Starring Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Wisham, Bruce Greenwood, Richard Gere, Julianne Moore and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Haynes takes on an incredibly difficult project about a fascinating, complex individual- Bob Dylan. This film is labeled as a biopic but Haynes uses an unconventional approach to tell the story of this cultural icon. Haynes delves into the many facets of Dylan's personality by having different actors portray six different aspects of Dylan's life. A young aspiring singer/songwriter named Woody (Franklin) helps tell the beginnings of this story. Ledger plays Dylan as a lover and father; Bale portrays Dylan as the stage performer and born-again Christian; Wisham is Dylan the rebel; Gere depicts an older Dylan and Blanchett delivers a stunning, dead-on performance as the acerbic, thoughtful interviewee Dylan during the mid 1960s who refuses to be pigeon-holed by the press.
This is an intriguing take on the life of a man whom the media labeled the 'Voice of a Generation' when all he really wanted was to be a songwriter. Devotees of the musician will enjoy deciphering aspects of the backstory used to tell the tale. Casual fans of Bob Dylan will enjoy the background music which includes some original tracks as well as covers by other musicians. I loved this film. It was dark and full of complexity just like Dylan himself. Rated R.

What We're Reading: Cathy

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd.

This is the start of a new mystery series starring Bess Crawford, a WWI nurse. We meet Bess just before her hospital ship, the Britannic (sister ship of the Titanic), is blown up by a mine in the Mediterranean. While she recuperates and waits for her new orders, she decides to fulfill a promise she made to deliver a message to the brother of a soldier who died in her care. Off she goes to Kent where she meets the dead soldier's family and discovers that they have hidden away both a brother and a murder. Bess' sense of justice requires her to set things right and make sure that the true murderer is identified.

What We're Reading: Judy

Written In Bone : Buried Lives Of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland, by Sally Walker.


If you are a CSI buff and love a good historical mystery, this title is a must read. In 2005 scientists discovered the remains of the James Fort and started to carefully examine the lives of the early colonists in Jamestown. Numerous remains were discovered while excavating the site, some in shallow graves, others carefully buried in leaden coffins. One mystery focused on a young body buried in the kitchen under the floorboards, perhaps a victim of murder. As you follow the investigation scientists will piece together their lives. The bones reach beyond their graves to tell their story. This title is located at j614.17 W, but adults will be caught up in this historical mystery, too.