“I wanted to bring happiness to people.”

This Saturday, Berkley Books canceled Herbert Rosenblat’s Holocaust memoir Angel at the Fence, originally due out in February, because portions of it were fabricated.

EW lists the 5 WORST books of 2008

Have you read any of them?  KFL owns 4 out of the 5

5) Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs

4) Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey

3) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (KFL does not own)

2) Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

1) Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

See what Entertainment Weekly says about these books (many bestsellers!)

Free from Alexander McCall Smith…

…a novel, published as a serial (in both textual and audio formats) at the Telegraph.

Gatsby remake?

Baz Luhrmann just bought the rights.

If you loved Edgar Sawtelle…

…you’re in luck.  The author is working on a prequel.

Love romance novels? Own an iPhone?

Harlequin just released four free ebooks on Stanza.

KFL Favorites of 2008.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our favorite reads of the year.  Today, we’re featuring Elyse’s picks:

Dragon’s Egg by Sarah Thomson

(excerpt at Barnes and Noble)

A girl and a boy, not just an ordinary boy and girl are on a journey to bring a dragon’s egg to the birthing ground of the wild dragons. Thomson who hooked me right from the beginning of this book and The Secret of the Rose is a Maine author. What I really liked about this book is that the characters had a lot of depth to them.

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks

(excerpt at Book Movement)

This book gives you a great look into how the plague affected one town through one of the survivors. Although very heartwrenching at times it was just a fascinating look at how the plague affected the lives of the town members and the decisions that were made to keep the plague from spreading. After reading this book I immediately did some research on the actual town and it just captivated me even more.

The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh

(excerpt at BookBrowse)

This story has everything, ghosts, love, greek mythology, the dead communicating with the living, a mystery and I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover but it has a pretty awesome cover. This is a YA book which is very appealing to adults. It is a very satisfying read.

Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali by Kris Holloway

(author interview at Here on Earth) 

A women spends her time in the peace corps living and working beside a midwife in Mali. It’s a great memoir that allows you to experience an African village through all seasons. What I really liked about this book is that it goes through not only when she was in Mali but her reentry into the United States and the communication she had with Monique and her family after her experience.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

(excerpt at Barnes and Noble)

This is a newly published book but it tells an old tail of an old Norwegian folktale that will appeal to contemporary readers. As I was reading this I was making connection after connection to books or stories that I had seen or read in the past 10 years. A good one to read right by the fireplace.

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Previously:

Allyson’s picks
Gillian’s picks
Janet’s picks
Susan’s picks
Bernie’s Picks
Stephanie’s Picks

KFL Favorites of 2008.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our favorite reads of the year. Today, we’re featuring Stephanie’s picks:

Axle Annie by Robin Pulver and illustrated by Tedd Arnold

Axle Annie is not your average school-bus driver; she can always make it up Tiger Hill no matter how big the snowstorm, much to the chagrin of the meanest school bus driver in town, Shifty Rhoades. When Shifty Rhoades teams up with the local ski-resort owner Hale Snow they hatch a plot to stop Annie from delivering kids to school.  A definite favorite in the Limmer household!

Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
(excerpt at Bookreporter)

This novel takes place in Victorian London and follows a heroine India Selwyn Jones as Doctor and Feminist. This book is perfect for those who love the long epic novels that follow characters throughout their twisting and turning lives for decades.

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Previously:

Allyson’s picks
Gillian’s picks
Janet’s picks
Susan’s picks
Bernie’s Picks

Vote for Kennebunk’s Great Person: Carol Whitten

Have you voted yet for Kennebunk’s Great Person sponsored by the Kennebunk Post? Voting ends Wednesday 12/17 at 5 PM. You must use an official ballot found in the newspaper (still some available at KFL) Photocopies are accepted.

Our own Carol Whitten has been nominated:

Carol Whitten of Kennebunk was nominated by Adam Perkins. Carol spends an enormous amount of time contributing to our community. In addition to her job at the Kennebunk Free Library, she spends time volunteering for other library activities. Bi-weekly she appears at Atria to read to the residents and has been active in the West Kennebunk Village Committe

We are proud to call her one of us- she gets our vote!

KFL Favorites of 2008.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our favorite reads of the year.  Today, we’re featuring Bernie’s picks:

The Wild Trees by Richard Preston
(excerpt at BookBrowse)

The ancient Redwood Forests of Northern CA are a magical, mystical, mysterious place.  Walking among them I feel in the presence of God.  Recently, scientists have discovered that the Redwood canopy hosts another world.  Instead of climbing to a point like Maine’s pine trees, redwoods have multiple trunks at the top.  Soil has gathered here, up to a meter in depth, creating hanging gardens.  Over thousands of years, the lifetime of the oldest trees, huckleberries, ferns and even small trees have taken root in their uppermost branches.  Worms, voles and other organisms have been found in this soil!  Because this ecosystem has taken hundreds of years to form, the scientists are using a spider web of ropes to explore without knocking the soil to the ground.  It sounds like flying!  And you can’t see any of this from the ground!  Wow!  Hear Mr. Preston discuss this study on youtube: 

Freak Show by James St. James

Billy Bloom is one of the most realistic characters I met this year.  She is at times fabulous, terrified, heartbroken, and Queen of the World.  She’s also a teen drag queen, recently transplanted to Florida.  This book will save someone’s life, either by giving someone the strength to continue, or educating potential bullies.  Highly recommended for everybody.  Check out the video on youtube:

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Previously:

Allyson’s picks
Gillian’s picks
Janet’s picks
Susan’s picks