Reader's Link - January 2010 Staff Picks Archive

The funniest travelogue ever?
January 30, 2010

Title: Into the heart of Borneo
By: Redmond O'Hanlon

Possibly the funniest travel memoir ever written, as well as an unexpected gold mine of accurate scientific information. When O'Hanlon invited his Borneo travel companion, the poet James Fenton, on a succeeding journey, the answer was an earbreaking NO! Would most readers want to accompany O'Hanlon? Probably not. But a vicarious ridealong is another matter entirely. NB: I have given this book to at least 15 people, most of whom have gone out and bought two copies: one for themselves, and one to share.

View similarly tagged posts: non-fiction,biography,travel
Posted by curious on Jan. 30, 2010 at 3:22 p.m.
2 Comments

Justice and Atonement and Capital Punishment
January 11, 2010

Title: Change of Heart
By: Jodi Picoult

Change of Heart is a thought provoking and compelling novel about religion, murder, incest, organ donation, and the death penalty. As the characters in the book reevaluate their beliefs and feelings about these issues, the reader is compelled to do the same. Picoult skillfully weaves together a story of all the people touched by a heinous crime over the course of the eleven years between the crime and the scheduled execution of the criminal. This is a book that will make you think.

View similarly tagged posts: fiction,audiobook
Posted by ogradyj on Jan. 11, 2010 at 2:50 p.m.
1 Comment

Sleuthing Fun in San Francisco
January 2, 2010

Title: Revenge of the Spellmans
By: Lisa Lutz

Everybody's favorite thirty-something, Guinness-drinking private investigator with a checkered past is back in this third installment of the Spellman mysteries. Isabel Spellman continues to entertain as only she can in this heavily footnoted, case file format mystery set in San Francisco. Isabel's court-ordered therapy, insomnia, and secret new digs, along with the author's wry sense of humor kept me chuckling aloud as I read. Those familiar with San Francisco will recognize many of the locations.

View similarly tagged posts: fiction,mystery
Posted by Abbey on Jan. 2, 2010 at 12:04 p.m.
1 Comment