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Browsing all staff pick reviews written by 'Abbey'

Beloved

Title: Habibi
By: Craig Thompson

Habibi is an Arabic word which means Beloved. This graphic novel is, quite simply, a masterpiece. Each page is gorgeously illustrated. It spans from ancient to modern times, weaving stories from the Qur'an and the Bible. It is at once heartbreaking and uplifting, beautiful and wretched. I highly recommend this. ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on Feb. 25, 2013
Tags: fiction, graphic novel
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An Everyday and Special Occasion Handbook

Title: Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
By: Martha Stewart

This is a beautiful book full of baking inspiration. There are basic recipes for brownies, tarts, and pies, as well as special occasion treats such as Banana-Caramel Cake. The photographs of the desserts and the baking equipment are a treat themselves. Don't miss the Carrot-Ginger Layer Cake with Mini Marzipan ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on Dec. 3, 2012
Tags: non-fiction
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Tips for Family Togetherness

Title: The Family Dinner: Great ways to connect with your kids, one meal at a time
By: Laurie David

This book is full of great ideas for family togetherness at mealtime, including kid friendly preparation ideas, conversation topics, fun place settings, and even some great recipes. Featured along the way are tidbits of advice from Nora Ephron, Maya Angelou, Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, Jonathan Safran Foer, and many others. ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on June 30, 2011
Tags: non-fiction
1 Comment

The Petty Bringing Down the Great

Title: Hellhound on his Trail
By: Hampton Sides

I am not one to read history for pleasure, but I found reading "Hellhound on his Trail" is like reading a thickly plotted novel. This engrossing tale is all the more interesting because it is based on true events. Hampton Sides shows us the little known, gritty bits about Martin ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on Sept. 30, 2010
Tags: non-fiction, history, biography
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Sleuthing Fun in San Francisco

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 ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on Jan. 2, 2010
Tags: fiction, mystery
1 Comment

Tale of Two Sisters

Title: Shanghai Girls
By: Lisa See

Sometimes I think I am the only person who didn't enjoy Lisa See's earlier novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. For this reason I was reluctant to try Shanghai Girls, but I found myself with a copy in my hands and decided to give it a chance. I'm glad ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on Nov. 1, 2009
Tags: fiction
1 Comment

Midwifery on Trial

Title: Midwives
By: Chris Bohjalian

Reading this book was my first taste of Chris Bohjalian and it leaves me hungry for more. The story is told by Connie, who is fourteen the fall of her mother's trial. Her mother, Sibyl Danforth, is charged with manslaughter for the death of a mother in a home birth ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on July 27, 2009
Tags: fiction
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Like Reading an Episode of "The Wire"

Title: Lush Life
By: Richard Price

Reading Lush Life is like reading an extended episode of HBO's series "The Wire." Not coincidentally, Price writes for the series and was recently nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for his writing on the show. The novel starts with the murder of a young screenwriter and bartender ... [Read more]

Posted by Abbey on June 1, 2009
Tags: fiction
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