Season of Ice
by Diane Les Becquets

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Chosen By: Naomi in WMRL

Why She Picked It: When seventeen-year-old Genesis Sommer’s father disappears on Moosehead Lake near their small-town Maine home in mid-November, she must cope with the pressure of keeping her family together, even while rumors about the event plague her.  They must wait until the ice thaws as the winter drags on.  Rumors fly around about a faked death and an extramarital affair.  Genesis takes her own search for the truth about her father.  It is intense for this young woman as she waits for answers.   It is well written and holds one to continue reading to find the outcome.

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Annie Fiery Barrows

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Chosen By: Carrie in WMRL

Why She Picked It: The summary of the book in our catalog is rather uninspiring compared to the actual text of the book. “As London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subject in a book club on Guernsey--a club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi after its members are discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island.”  The story is told through exchanges of letters, some of which made me laugh out loud, some of which made me cry.  It’s hard to believe that the characters don’t actually exist; their voices and stories are so distinct and intriguing.  The book is a celebration of literature and its power to sustain even in the darkest of times—even for people who don’t consider themselves readers.  It is also downright fun; I don’t think I’ve met a better, more interesting group of people in a long time.

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Total Yoga: A Step-By-Step Guide to Yoga at Home for Everybody
by Tara Fraser

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Chosen By: Rachael in Adult Reference

Why She Picked It: This book provided a welcoming, eye-catching introduction to yoga when I first began to practice.

Total Yoga is an easy-to-read invitation to yoga – neither esoteric nor complicated - with concise summaries of the history, main tenets of yoga, posture practice, diet, and meditation for those interested in the basics of the origins and goals of the practice.  Even a skeptic would enjoy the encyclopedic entries with great photos and illustrations that simply tell the story of the centuries-old practice.  The latter half of the book devotes a page and several photos of each of the individual postures with variations for different ability levels, as well as whole practice sequences for gentle, morning, evening, and challenging routines.  Much as Fraser encourages practitioners to open up to their own personal journey through yoga, I encourage interested novices to check out this book!

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Dangerous Business: The Risks of Globalization for America
by Pat Choate

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Chosen By: Joseph in Adult Reference

Why He Picked It: A persuasive refutation of America’s prevailing free trade policy by Choate, author of Hot Property: The Stealing of Ideas in an Age of Globalization. Choate examines three critical issues: the integration of the American economy with the rest of the world that has created no safety net for displaced workers; a declining standard living in the United States, a loss of sovereignty, and weakened national security; and the possibility of the United States not benefiting from globalization and facing economic ruin.  Choate argues that unfettered globalization should be counterbalanced by a stronger national leadership “who will thwart the corporatism and elitism that undermining our national future, and who will in every decision put the interests of the United States above all others.” Highly recommended for students of international business and public policy.

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Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story
by Leonie Swann

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Chosen By: Shannon in Adult Reference

Why She Picked It: As soon as I saw the subtitle of this book, I knew I had to read it.  A sheep detective story?  Little woolly lambs trying to solve a murder?  I was hooked before I even began to read.  Once I got into the story, I was impressed by Leonie Swann’s ability to take a farcical idea and turn it into something almost believable.  From Miss Maple (the smartest sheep in the flock) to Othello (the black ram with the mysterious past that left him very worldly) to Zora (the whitest and woolliest sheep, who hopes to become a cloud one day), all of Swann’s bleating characters win you over with their clever deductions about the death of their shepherd.  If you are a fan of Jasper Fforde, Ian Rankin, or Mark Haddon, you will most certainly enjoy this visit to the world of the smartest fictional flock in Glennkill, Ireland.

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Black Ice
by Anne Stuart

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Chosen By: Elizabeth in Adult Reference

Why She Picked It: American Chloe Underwood is eking out a living in Paris translating children’s books.  When the opportunity arises for her to act as a translator for a group of international businessmen on a country estate she jumps at the chance.  However, it doesn’t take Chloe long to figure out that something is not right, and that these businessmen are actually illegal arms traders.  Cold-blooded assassin and undercover agent, Bastian Touissant saves Chloe from death but not before she is tortured.  Bastian is not sure if Chloe is a spy or the innocent she appears to be.  Regardless, he cannot resist her.  Is she really a spy?  Will he leave her to her fate?   Anne Stuart writes a fast paced, suspenseful tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  Thriller and romance fans alike will enjoy this read.  This book contains some torture scenes and some sex scenes.  Not for the faint of heart, but milder than some strictly thriller titles.  This is the first title in a series of five.

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