Why does the government in Lebanon keep toppling? In the first 80 years of the 20th century, why did Brit. and U.S. intelligence pour so much effort, arms and cash into strengthening radical Islam? The answers to these, and many more complex questions are answered in this gripping tale of just how the West did such a good, if unintended, job of contributing to the desatablization of the Middle East(with, of course, lots of help from many Middle Easterners themselves.) A good read if you are interested in the details of the subject.

This is a work of alternate history: what if the nations of Africa colonized Europe and enslaved Europeans? Evaristo creates a somewhat lacking plot to investigate this scenario from all sides and situations. But the plot is secondary to the conceit she masterfully creates. She invents two new cultures: a hegemonic African empire and a subjugated, enslaved "whyte" population. She cleverly creates vocabularies, songs, dialects, political tracts, cuisines, and many other cultural aspects, to ultimately show that the tables could have easily been turned and stereotypes affixed to different races. Readers are forced to keep reminding themselves that (most of) the oppressors are black and (most of) the sufferers are Caucasian, as they create mental pictures of this mirror universe. We are forced to face our own racial prejudices, which alone makes this book important and a worthwhile read. Evaristo has done her homework and spares readers of none of the horrors of the slave industry. Some passages are graphic, devastating, and difficult to get through--mostly because we know they actually happened. Don't expect too much from the plot or the ending, but enjoy Evaristo's quite brilliant literary exercise.

Are there praises enough for a book by an author who combines: deep learning worn lightly, the intellectual honesty and courage to eschew rhetorical and debating tricks that overstate or bend the truth, a realistic and sophisticated sense of the world -and- an abiding, orthadox (and Orthadox,)Christian faith? No there aren't. Therefore, if you would like to read a refutation of the the New Atheists by an intelligent, scholarly Christian as devoted to reason and historical accuracy as any human, let alone any atheist, could wish,--this is the book for you. And if you are a Christian or non-Christian who is interested in these issues, this book might also please you.

If you like your history to be both fairly accurate and yet read like a well made thriller -- have we got a book for you. The author zooms in on post-war Europe in 1945 where art historian Walter Horn, a German-born, immigrant American army officer, is assigned 3 weeks to find the lost Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. Can he cut through red tape, the obscurations of ex-Nazi collaborators, and post-war chaos in order to achieve his goal? And what deep and dark Nazi secrets will he uncover along the way? Read it and find out.

Here is an intelligent, informative guide that helps the reader through the process of creating or recreating a garden. What makes it special is its sensitivity to what used to be called the soul of a place. The authors understand that making a garden is not just about following blueprints, but is about discovering the feel and contexts of the local plants and enviroment. What grows best here? What shapes fit best? How can one balance various qualities into a harmonious whole? The reader is helped through all this with excellent plant lists and elegant illustrations. Good for both new and experienced gardeners.

This story, set in 19th century New England, chronicles the life of a headstrong young woman, Aimee Slater, who goes off to work int he textile mills in Lowell, MA at the age of 15. The book is written in deeply beautiful and lingering words.

Jena, Skye, Owen, and Dakota are four very different teens who all happen to be on vacation in the Caribbean. They’re all running or hiding from something—Jena struggles with her self-esteem, while beautiful Skye is too depressed to make decisions about her life. Dakota parties too hard, trying to forget his girlfriend’s death, while his younger brother Owen hides behind his computer. As they get to know each other, they talk, they hook up, they become friends, and they push each other away. Will the threads of their lives continue to tangle together when they return home?

Jack is five years old and has never been outside. He and his Ma live in Room, their lives completely governed by a man Jack knows only as Old Nick. This gripping story of an imprisoned woman and her son, who are kept locked in a room for years, has a ripped-from-the-headlines feel. But perhaps because it’s told from the point of view of a five-year-old, it is a unique and fascinating read. The way Jack sees the world, the courage he and his mother display as they fight their way out of Room, and the twists and turns their healing journey takes, are all detailed here. I haven’t read a book quite like this for years, and I doubt I will for years to come. Highly recommended.

If you’ve ever felt tied down by your family, you’ll be able to relate to Katarina Bishop. Kat comes from a family of sophisticated, infamous art thieves. After deciding that the family tradition is not for her, Kat enrolls herself in boarding school. But she’s only been in school a few months when she is drawn back into the world of crime she had hoped to leave behind. Can she pull off one last heist to end them all? This book reads like a movie and if you like fast-paced adventure stories, it’ll keep you guessing. I’m a big Ally Carter fan, and I highly recommend this stand-alone title, Heist Society, along with her Gallagher Girls series!

Wills is an old-fashioned reporter, the spotlight goes on what he is reporting, not the reporter. And such habits linger, even while ostentatiously writing about himself, as he does in this autobiography. Therefore, what is most revealing is what he has to say about others, how he says it, and the implicit whys behind his saying it. As he describes important people in his life, such as his wife, Studs Turkel, Bill Buckley and others, what emerges is the portrait of a wise but not sly old fox. This ex-seminarian, current classics scholar and all around groovy writer could write about falling off a clog and make it interesting, so, given the subject matter of his extraordinary career,--he creates a work well, well worth reading.

Looking for a fun, unique read? Look no further! Soulless is the first book in an exuberant new series that crosses genre boundaries and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster through and through, or so she assumes, until she meets her match in Lord Conall Maccon. Having no soul may have presented Alexia with unique challenges, even in a society that accepts vampires and werewolves, but she has always been able to rise above them. But when a vampire dares to attack her and Alexia is forced to dispatch him with her trusty parasol, she finds she may need the assistance of a certain arrogant Lord to deal with the aftermath of the attack. If you appreciate a little camp with your science fiction, a little humor with your romance, and a little fantasy with your history, you’ll love Soulless.

It is the little things that make a life, including the life of faith and gratitude. Here two of our foremost Christian writers, one Roman Catholic, one Anglican, engage in a series of essays on everyday topics such as doubt, the past and otherness. There are no Zeitgeist-toppling pronouncements here, just small, not quite still voices meditating on the great little truths that make life worth living. And for those who think Christians lack subtlety of wit--please, please read Rowan Williams essay "Sinners."

What does it mean to have a consiousness, and to be self-consious of this self-consiousness? Rarely in recent times has this question been examined as engagingly, as insightfully, or as subtely, as it is here by this Pulitzer winning writer. In our practical age of quantification, she advocates for virtues of mind at the heart of our humanity. This is not only an important book, it is a great book in that it uniquely demonstrates the worth of its thesis by the excellence of its presentation.

The Perfect Square is the perfect read for a Sunday afternoon in the Square. Have you ever wondered how this lovely spot, Rittenhouse Square, was developed? If so, you will find this book a beguiling social and architectural history. The author distills the dry, historical information into pleasant anecdotes and interesting facts, painting a picture of not only the Square's, but also Philadelphia's evolution. If only it included more pictures!

This jaunty tour through the politics and culture of 19th-century France is a delight for all of us who love the era but get confused between this Louis-Philipe and that Louis-Napoleon. The witty and well-informed, N.B.C.C.-winning author guides us through the major conniptions of the time, enriching both our savoir faire and our elan vital.

Though written in 1962, this novel really has a modern feel and sensibility. Being nearly the same age as the narrator made it very real for me. George is an Englishman living in California. His lover has died in a car crash while visiting his family and George is completely left out. How he copes is explored here. P.S. The movie, though super stylized was good, but veered from the novel in one significant way.

This was a fairly pleasant read for me. With the setting some 30+ years ago, I was able to relate to the time period. I'm not sure that it will be so interesting for today's tweens to read. The references to "A Wrinkle in Time" made for a pleasant reminder of that great book, but seemed slightly self-serving. Maybe it needs a second more thorough reading?

I confess up front that I am a devoted Roger Federer fan. This book is the chronicle of one tennis match from the first point to the last: the gentlemen's Wimbledon final 2008 between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain. In between, there are diversions into the lives and the psyches of each man. Despite my knowing the end result and my lamenting the eventual Federer loss, this is an utterly compelling and intriguing read.

Futuristic novel about gene experimentation and the legalities thereof. Too preachy and not well-written. Repetitive.

Excellent collection of stories, each quite different from the next, but with the unmistakable Cheever edge. The bulk of them reflect life in the suburbs during the fifties and sixties. If you are a Mad Men fan, you should try some of these.