The Raising by Laura Kasischke

  Booklist magazine calls The Raising "[A] literary page-turner reminiscent of Donna Tartt's The Secret History." I totally agree with their review. Set at a midwestern university, this is a very intelligent, very dark story that centers around the death of one student. The secrets of sorority life play a huge role as the tale unfolds. Not an easy read, but worth the time and effort needed.

Karen

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

I can certainly understand why Sarah's Key is one of the most-read books for discussion groups, with all of the elements of mystery, tragedy, deception, etc. Those that enjoy historical fiction will love this, as it appears to be pretty accurate. (Yes, I did look up some of the "facts".) This is the story of a young Jewish girl in France in the summer of 1942, and the horrors she endured during the Nazi occupation.  It is also the story of a journalist in present day trying to find out informaton about this little girl. The novel is very well done; however, I would caution that this is a very, very depressing novel that really bothered me in many ways. Be prepared when you pick this up; it can be quite upsetting.

Karen

The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West

The Bartlett Public Library District holds a Community Book Discussion on Tuesday, May 17, at 2:00 and 7:00 pm.  This featured book, which was published in 1945,  is set on a Quaker farm in Indiana during the American Civil War.  Paperback and large print copies of the book are available at the Information Desk.  The book is considered a classic of 20th century American literature and has received  stellar reviews over the years.  The Washington Post said, "West writes gracefully, occasionally poetically, in a voice both innocent and brave."  The New York Times Book Review writes, "West is an advocate of human respect, reason over emotions, and a tough, all-purpose femininity that can face and solve most situations on its own terms."  Check back in May for another posting on this book.

Dawn

http://www.jessamyn.com/jessamyn/jessbio.html for biographical information about Jessamyn West

Bible: the story of the King James Version by Gordon Campbell

2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible.  Although many readers may be familiar with the translation, they do not know its legendary history.  It was not the first translation into English, as versions such as the Geneva Bible (1557 - 1560) preceded it.  Nor was it a new translation, but rather a revision of the Bishops Bible of 1568.  The translation was undertaken by six Companies based in Westminster, Oxford and Cambridge and completed between 1604 - 1611.  The first few editions, including the "He", "She" and "Wicked" Bibles, were printed by the King's Printer.  Years later Oxford and Cambridge publishes their own editions.  The book details the numerous revisions to the text that have led to familiar translations such as the Revised Standard Version of the 20th Century.  The enormous cultural influence of the KJV is also detailed, as many common English idioms originated in the KJV, and many American churches still hold the KJV to be the only true and ihnspired version of the Bible.

http://catalog.bartlett.lib.il.us/polaris/

Dawn

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

This novel Alas, Babylon was published in 1959 at the height of the Cold War, and all of the fear and anxieties about the possibility of World War III are certainly reflected in this story. It takes place in a small city in Florida, one of the few places to have survivors after hydrogen bombs are dropped all over the United States. It is the story of what lengths people will go to survive, as well as a story of love, friendship, and hope. A true classic!

Karen

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

A girl plunges to her death on the campus of a private academy in upstate New York, and this isn't the first time there's been a mysterious death at the school. Meg Rosenthal and her daughter Sally arrive at the school shortly before the second death occurs. Meg and Sally moved to Arcadia Falls when Meg accepts a teaching position at Arcadia Academy. It's going to be a fresh start for them after Meg's husband and Sally's father dies. They soon discover that the school is shrouded in mystery. Besides her teaching position, Meg has come to Arcadia to finish her dissertation on the school's founders. During her research, Meg discovers that the founders, Vera and Lily, both had many secrets. The past quickly catches up to the future, and they are soon intertwined.

I enjoyed this book. Goodman is always very descriptive, and makes you feel as if you're a part of the action. The book kept me guessing, and wasn't predictable or easy to figure out.

Check it out here: Arcadia Falls

Carrie

No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

I am very excited that I may have actually found a Harlan Coben read-alike. This author was recommended to me by a patron who is a huge lover of suspense novels. No Time for Goodbye is the first book I have read by this author, and it was quite a thriller. Here's the hook: You wake up. Your house is empty. Your family has disappeared. That certainly got me hooked, and the book took a lot of twists and turns right up until the end. The pace is a bit slower than Coben's books, but the suspense is equal. I fully intend and look forward to reading more by Linwood Barclay.

Karen