RFPL Reads

Visit this page each month to see what RFPL staff are reading! This page contains the same content as our RFPL Reads blog, which you can also find at www.rfplreads.wordpress.com

Lisa’s January Recommendation - Rules of Civility by Amor Towles “Something about the magical allure of Manhattan post depression, pre-war drew me in from the start.Towles presents a savvy,often tragic cast of characters on the verge of adulthood and sophistication. The book is full of great descriptive passages and witty dialogue. There is a lingering sense of melancholy (that [...]

Sue’s January Recommendation - Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner “An old favorite, Stegner’s Pulitzer prize (1972) book is the beautifully written story of Lyman Ward, a distinguished (but disabled) historian studying family documents in order to write a book detailing the story of his pioneer grandparents.  In researching the saga of his headstrong grandmother and steadfast grandfather, a couple whose marriage lasted in spite [...]

Kim’s January Recommendation - Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan “While the cover shows a beach scene, and indeed, much of the action centers on a multi-generational summer home on the coast of Maine, this is more than a summer beach read.  The women of the Kelleher family keep secrets, confront their past, and try to relate with one another [...]

Ellen’s January Recommendation - No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis “I would recommend any of Ellis’ books for adults & teens, as well as the upper elementary students they are geared towards.  She has much to say that we need to hear.  This powerful book is another eye-opener about poverty and the lives of women and girls in other [...]

Rebecca’s January Recommendation - Zone One by Colson Whitehead A wry and lyrical take on the post-apocalyptic zombie novel, author Colson Whitehead describes a world devastated by a plague that has separated the population into two categories: the living and the living dead.  The novel follows a character named Mark Spitz, a man who can be described as ordinary [...]

Pat’s January Recommendation - Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens by Christopher Hitchens “Hitchens can join the list of great conversationalists.  No one can match his “cerebral pyrotechnics.” If you’ve ever seen/heard him interviewed, you know what I mean.  Strong, tough and unafraid to speak his mind on many subjects.    He died recently … too young.” Read about it [...]

Julia’s January Recommendation - The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin “This is the perfect book to read if you are thinking about your new year’s resolutions and wondering how you will keep them. Author Gretchen Rubin describes her year-long project of figuring out how to live a happier life. She focuses on different themes each month beginning in January [...]

Mary Ann’s January Recommendation - Then Again by Diane Keaton “This is an autobiography interspersed with accounts of Diane Keaton’s mother’s life.  Keaton learned a lot about her mom from 85 diaries/journals.  She describes a relationship with a parent that many of us share, including her mother’s decline.  Interesting vignettes about her film career and some of the men in [...]

Hadley’s January Recommendation - The Woman in Black by Susan Hill “I know it’s nowhere near Halloween, but once again I’d like to recommend something scary-  The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. If you are looking for a literary ghost story with a strong sense of place and an overall Victorian feel, Susan Hill has written several. This [...]

Dorothy’s January Recommendation - Born Round : The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater by Frank Bruni “A hilarious and touching memoir from New York Times restaurant critic, Bruni traces the unlikely path to his profession and offers a searingly honest exploration of this lifelong struggle with food”. Also available for download as ebook and audiobook.  The audiobook is [...]