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Stealing the Countess

Stealing the Countess by David Housewright

Paul Duclos is a famous violin maestro who had gone back to his hometown of Bayfield, Wisconsin to play in a small outdoor summer concert. Once the concert is over, his Stradivarius, the Countess Borromeo is stolen. When his insurance company refuses to offer a reward for the Stradivarius, Duclos becomes so desperate he rounds up $250,000 in reward money and hires Mckenzie to find the violin.

Mckenzie, a former police officer, reluctantly agrees to search for the violin. Once he gets to Bayfield, he soon discovers there is more to the story than he has been told and there are many different people who might be behind the theft. Things get even more interesting when his long time rival, Heavnly Petryk appears on the scene looking for the same violin.

This is actually one book in a series with the main character of Mckenzie. Although I had not read any of the other books in this series, I was able to read it and not feel lost. I would give this book approximately a 4 out 5 rating. It was a little slow throughout the book, but still a good read.

Les Miserables

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Who doesn’t know the story of Jean Valjean? Movies, plays, musicals, and countless abridgments have been made, and each usually covers the basic plot.

The unabridged book is one of the longest novels ever penned, and I’m probably not the only one who took a really long time to get through it. There is SO much going on. The meat of the story is of Jean Valjean’s life as a parole-breaker on the run and his own redemtion, and every version of the story gets that part right. It’s all the other stuff going on that makes the story so affecting—the tragedy of Fantine, the sly and terrible Mr. and Mrs. Thernandier, the hopeful and loving Marius, the inspiring Bishop who give Valjean’s life meaning—all  these characters and more give a richness to the story that feels larger than life.

As rich and thought-provoking as many elements of the story are, there are several very long tangents that Hugo takes. There is a lengthy section on the battle of Waterloo that is strictly for background. There is a section on the construction and maintenance of the Parisian sewer system. There’s another long section on the history of some street slang used by two characters so minor that by the time it gets back to the story, the reader may have forgotten what they were reading about.

That said, the abridged version has a grandeur that other versions simply do not have. The first 70 pages of the novel are about the life of a bishop in a small town. The bishop is a good man, and kind and thoughtful and an inspiring character. Jean Valjean is taken in by him after those 70 pages, and it is at that point where most abridgments begin.

Overall, Les Miserables was an inspiring story about redemption and kindness. Bad things happen to good people, and sometimes bad people get just what they wanted. The author paints a vivid picture of each character and the reader can learn a great deal about humanity through Hugo’s work.

If I were to read this again, I admit that I’d probably go with an abridged version. I’d also recommend an abridged version to someone who is more interested in the story than the history of Paris and France (and its sewers).

The audiobook version is around 60 hours, but it is great to hear the French pronunciations of the character names. I also found that it was easier to get through some of the “tangent parts” via audiobook than by reading it.

There’s good reason Les Miserables has been famous for so long—it’s a great story that anyone can learn from. Give it a try, there are muggets of wisdom on every page!

Les Miserables can be found in the adult fiction section and in the audiobooks.

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The Royal Nanny

The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper

I have to admit I was drawn to this story before I realized it was based on a real person. I suppose I should have known that but it somehow just didn’t occur to me for some reason. Parts of the tale are fictionalized but the woman at the heart of the story cared for the two young boys who would become Edward VIII and George VI not to mention all of their siblings.

Charlotte Bill was recommended to a position in the royal nursery but when she arrived and settled in she found that the head nurse (what we now know as a nanny) was mistreating the young royals. She had the courage to speak up and then surprisingly found herself in charge of the nursery. The children and the royal family ended up calling her Mrs. Lala and so she remained for the rest of her life.

The story follows Charlotte as she manages and yes loves her growing brood of royal children. The reader sees that despite their privilege they are still just children looking for love and acceptance but it was not coming from their parents. They got it from their grandparents and always from Mrs. Lala. While the novel is about Charlotte’s care of all of the children the bulk of it focuses on her time with the last of them, little John who had epilepsy. In those days children with the disorder where hidden away. It was not at all understood. Charlotte fought hard to care for her young charge.

This was a fascinating look into the world of the royal family and it did not always paint a rosy picture of the various members. The only constant through all of the turmoil in the family and the world is Mrs. Lala. The book follows her into her retirement where she remained a friend to the royal family. She was ever loyal to them, sacrificing a personal life to the care of her charges. It was a hard book to put down once I started reading and I enjoyed learning some new bits and pieces of English history.

Amazon Review

Lab Girl

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Never have I so badly wanted to be a scientist. 

I've never actually wanted to be a scientist.

Hope Jahren makes me want to be a scientist.

I checked out this book without an inkling of what it was about, and within the first few pages I was ready to declare my love for it. I love when a book takes you by surprise and changes your perspective. Hope Jahren is a renowned geobiologist and tenured professor at the University of Hawaii. In her life she has built three laboratories where she studies plants, trees, flowers and soil, and she has kindly shared some of her knowledge with us in this memoir. 

The stories that Jahren shares range from hilarious, to surprising, to heartbreaking, and each one of them is worth reading. It is fascinating to read, especially, about this woman who has had such great success in a predominantly male field. And she takes on these issues in the book, in a way that is meaningful and powerful, and not angry or man-hating. She speaks of many difficult topics in a very frank way that makes them easier to read and think about. Her own struggle with mental illness is a subject that might lend to a more open dialogue if we discussed it like she does. 

An overarching theme is her relationship with her lab partner Bill. Bill is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. He is tough, and distant, and the kind of person that you are constantly surprised by. The two have worked together for many years, and it is clear that he is fiercely loyal to Jahren and would never abandon her. I loved reading about Bill because he is such an interesting character, but he's also an actual human being, which makes him even more interesting. Most of the adventures center around these two, and there are definitely some unexpected outcomes. Through them you learn about the correct way to collect soil, what to do (or not do) while driving in bad snow, and that sometimes you spend several days acquiring samples that get unceremoniously trashed.

While I certainly enjoyed the stories of her own life, my favorite sections of the book were those in which she talks about plants. I don't think I ever in my life expected to be brought to tears by the description of a seed starting to sprout. But the beauty with which she writes of the process makes you feel a connection to the seed; makes you root for it (pardon the pun). 

“Each beginning is the end of a waiting. We are each given exactly one chance to be. Each of us is both impossible and inevitable. Every replete tree was first a seed that waited.”

 This memoir is not one that you pick up for a bit of light reading, but it is also not one that you would put down because it's too depressing. It is unique in that you can get to know Jahren and her life, but also learn so much about the world around you. You learn lessons you wouldn't expect to learn, in ways that you wouldn't expect to learn them. I would recommend this book to science lovers and non-lovers alike, as it gives you further appreciation for how the world works.

Lab Girl is located in our non-fiction section.

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne

Peirrot first loses his father to post-traumatic syndrome from WWI and then a few months later, his mother to tuberculosis. At 7 years old, he is sent to live in an orphanage, but must leave behind his dog and best friend, Anschel.

When his Aunt Beatrix finds out that Peirrot has lost both of his parents, she sends for him and he is sent to live with her at the top of an Austrian mountain where is aunt is a servant. It doesn't take long for Peirrot to find out that the "Master" of this huge home on the hilltop is none other than Hitler.

Peirrot is an innocent and good natured young boy who is trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs. During his time in Hitler's vacation home, he comes to see the power of the uniform and begins to yearn for the power and prestige that goes along with it. Not wanting to see the consequences of some of his actions, he wants only to find a place where he can belong and feel needed.

This book is found in our intermediate section. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book, it was well written, but a little depressing. At a  young age, when life should be carefree, Peirrot is forced to make decisions that will affect him for a lifetime. It has some violence in it and the subject matter could be a little disconcerting to a younger audience, I would suggest the reader be at least early teens.

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Narrowly escaping the murderer that killed his family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard and is taken in by its inhabitants--the ghosts, of course. They give him the name Nobody "Bod" Owens, and they, along with the mysterious Silas, raise him to be a gifted and unusual boy. The story takes him through many years of his life, and many different adventures. His curiosity often leads him into dangerous situations, but he is rarely afraid.

As Bod grows older, he wonders more about the world around him and his own background. Through finding some answers, he also puts his life and his unconventional family at risk.

Having been written by Neil Gaiman, this book is definitely an original. While it is a little scary, the word I would most readily use to describe it is "charming." Bod Owens lives in a simpler time in the middle of a modern world. He doesn't know much of anything outside the fence, and he spends most days learning about ghoul gates and practicing Fading.

The fact that most of Bod's acquaintances are ghosts makes for a variety of interesting characters. We meet everybody from a ancient Roman, to a failed poet, to a drowned witch. These ghosts are some of the many who help Bod to learn and grow.

While some of Bod's adventures don't seem entirely pertinent to the story, I still really enjoyed reading about them. Sometimes they just help to develop his character. And some of the stories become relevant as you continue to read. You also get to see Bod's use of special abilities awarded to him as a member of the graveyard, and they are really cool!

I can't begin to describe how clever his villain is, mainly because I don't want to give anything away. I am so amazed by the ideas that come out of Gaiman's brain.  It is always thrilling to read his books, and The Graveyard Book is no exception.

Find this book today in the Intermediate section!

The Great Trouble

The Great Trouble:  A Mystery of London, The Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson

London 1854 is not a kind city for an orphan. Eel lives in a world where children live day to day in the filthy streets, sleeping under bridges, and begging, working, stealing for food. Eel has a steady job as an errand runner and a second job taking care of animals for Dr. John Snow a prominent London physician. Eel has it a bit better than other twelve-year-olds, but unfortunately he loses the errand job due to a thief and liar who has a grudge against him and the job with Dr. Snow does not pay him as much as he needs to make live.

Back on the streets, with a bad man from his past looking for him would seem like the worst thing that could happen. But Eel has a secret. This secret is costing him money each week that he does not have due to the boy that caused him to lose his job. His desperate attempt to make money forces him to make decisions that would terrify grown men, let alone a young boy.

With all of this going on, Eel goes to see a friend of his only to find the father of the family dying from “the blue death” which was cholera. The common theory is that this disease is spread by poisonous air, but Dr. Snow has a different theory. When he enlists Eel to help him investigate and support his theory.

Working against the clock amid the death knocking at almost every door in the neighborhood, Eel faces friends and foes to help the Doctor. This just might be the best thing that has ever happened to him.

This book was written for children 10 years and up. I am way past 10 and was thoroughly engrossed in this story. There was history, mystery, science, intrigue and relationships to wonder and worry about. The story is based on real people and the actual cholera epidemic in London.

Amazon Review

The Firebird

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

Told in two alternating times and characters, this book was a pure delight! Nicola "Nik" Marter has the power to "read" the past of an object, see where it's been, or who has touched it (which would be really quite neat actually). But she likes to keep this gift close to her chest, and doesn't tell many people. Then, one day she finds herself wanting to authenticate a wooden Firebird brought into her museum for the sad and the lonely patron seeking money from the object. 

She enlists the help of Rob—who she trained within a special program developing psychic gifts—and together they begin a journey from Scotland to Paris, and finally to Russia following their visions of a certain young lady who holds the keys to all the secrets of the Firebird. 

Through the use of their powers, Nik and Rob are able to experience flashbacks of the past, and it is amazing! I just wanted more and more. Every time a vision concluded and it was back in to their "real lives," I felt a little deflated. Their story line was good too, but the historical visions were so beautiful and exciting! Overall, it is a well written and executed book.

The really interesting part of this novel is that all of the historical events mentioned actually happened. And the historical characters were real people. So while this has a cool supernatural element, it is also a great historical fiction. This book is the second in the Slains series, but can be read as a standalone novel. 

Find The Firebird in our adult fiction section!