STAFF PICKS

Author Kathleen McCleary has created a marvelous balance in portraying issues of a Woman's Heart without the weight of maudlinness. Interspersed with humor, this debut novel is a delight! - Kathleen

This is not just another expose of the behind the scenes restaurant world. The writer trained as a waiter at the four-star "Per Se" in New York City and she gives the reader a fascinating glimpse into high-end dining. Foodies will salivate at entrees priced at a week's salary, chefs will appreciate the aesthetic values of Chef Thomas Keller(of French Laundry fame) and everyone will relate to the missteps of trying to find Mr.(or Mrs.) Right. The author's romantic travails add spice and humor to this entertaining read. *Michele

What exactly is a good rat? A good rat stays close to the curbs, keeps his tail in a straight line, and never ever goes out in the daytime. Josiah was a bad rat, or so Professor Perimeter told him. Josiah daydreamed, wandered away from walls and carried on during the daytime. AND Josiah wanted to be an artist! This delightful picture book reminds us that it is important to listen to our hearts as well as our minds. - Amy

In 1911, a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory killed 146 people, mostly women. Weber tells the tale of the only remaining survivor, Esther Gottesfeld. In 2001, Esther lives in a nursing home visited often by her granddaughter, Rebecca and Rebecca's fiance, George. Esther's tragic story of losing her twin sister and her fiance in the fire, comes to the attention of a feminist scholar and secrets begin to surface. Rebecca, a geneticist and George, a composer, find their careers linked in a curious outcome fueled by Esther's recollections. This is a very unique and surprising book, I completely enjoyed it. -Amy

Chopra, in his new book, offers the reader a stunning depiction of Jesus as a universal teacher; viewing Christ's biblical exhortations as an invitation to join Him on a higher spiritual plane. The first Jesus is presented as a "sketchy historical figure" and the second, as an" abstract theological creation". This third Jesus, however, offers a direct relationship which is personal and present; "the living aspect of the gospels. This Jesus we cannot ignore. -Kathleen

Dave Eggers had a difficult time finding the right voice in which to tell the story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost boys of Sudan. It took him years to determine the most effective way to translate the heartbreaking saga of one boy's experience of war and genocide and survival. Eggers came close to giving up. In the end, he decided to write Deng's story in the form of a novel and let his voice tell his own powerful story. Eggers succeeded brilliantly. The novel begins with Deng's life in America and his struggle to assimilate into a modern society. Told through flashbacks, Deng relates the horrors of being driven from his homeland and forced to walk across three continents, facing lions, militias, starvation and disease. Incredibly moving, terrifying and at times, even humorous, Deng's voice is authentic and true, a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. The current genocide in Darfur makes this novel even more timely and essential for compassionate understanding . This should be required reading for every American who values their freedom. -Michele

From the first paragraph to the last page, Cassella has poignantly captured the unfolding circumstances surrounding the unanticipated death of a patient of anesthesiologist, Dr. Marie Heaton. The pain accompanying the loss and the steady eroding of Dr. Heaton's confidence impacts with profundity both her personal life and that of the hospital anesthesia team. Clearly an "I can't put this down" read! -Kathleen