Fayetteville Free Library Reading Room

Race of the Century: The Heroic True Story of the 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race
By: Julie M. Fenster

Non-Fiction

February 12 marks the centennial anniversary of the world class endurance race of the French, German, Italian and American men and their automobiles across more than 21,000 miles, three continents and six countries. Curious to know how they made it through Syracuse in the middle of winter? How did they manage in both Arctic freeze and desert heat along the route? Many people in the towns and villages had never even seen an automobile in 1908. How did they respond? Read how a spirit of adventure along with tenacity, skill and leadership determined the outcome of the race. Local author Julie Fenster acknowledges the services of our own Onondaga County library system in her research. For more information about the race, visit www.thegreatautorace.com.

Linda Ryan
Local History Librarian

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Now Voyager
Brief Encounter

Classics
For all you “Old movie lovers”, I just took a leisurely walk down memory lane with some of the movies of Bette Davis. She was in her element in the 1930’s and 40’s. Two titles of favorites are “Now Voyager” and “Brief Encounter”. To reserve any of these, just search “Bette Davis” and her movies will appear in our new Polaris circ system.

Bobbi Hampson
Motto Music Curator

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How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

Non-Fiction

I read it because of the catchy title and the fact it is soon to be a movie starring Tom Hanks…The story began with a man named Michael in his mid 60’s, he’s lost his 6 figure job that he held for decades, had a affair on his wife that produced one child and a divorce. His kids don’t talk to him and he’s been diagnosed with a slow growing brain tumor…Out of work and almost out of money he stops in for his last indulgence, Starbucks coffee, and that’s where his life will begin to change. He’s offered a job at Starbucks and he takes it. For the first time he begins to see life not from his privileged upbringing and Ivy League degree but from the other side of the tracks. Michael begins to understand it’s not the job that counts it’s how you treat people. It’s also about how we interact with the people we love and slowly the transformation begins. Michael is given another chance to make a difference, mend fences and not be afraid to make changes and take some chances.

Released in September 2007

Barb Craner
Volunteer Coordinator

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Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
Barbara Kingslover

Non-Fiction
A must read for anyone interested in wholesome, farm raised food. It takes the reader on a journey with the family as they spend one year committed to eating food entirely grown or raised locally. Each page is educational, thoughtful and entertaining as you read about their experiences growing their own vegetables, raising chickens,and building relationships with local farmers, artisans and the joy of coming together with friends and family.

Dianne Settineri
Circulation Clerk

Released on May 1, 2007

Look for on Rapid Reads at Fayetteville Free Library

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Children of Men
P. D. James

I usually like to read a book before I watch the movie adaptation, but after seeing Children of Men recently I was so intrigued that I decided to go back to the source material. In both the movie and the book, humanity faces extinction due to the sudden and complete inability of people to reproduce. Almost everything else in the plot is different, but both are very interesting for the ways they explore how humanity would react to such an extreme and horrible state of affairs.

The protagonist of Children of Men, Theo, is a history professor who also happens to be the cousin of the Warden of England, who rules Britain with the authority of a dictator. When Theo is approached by a small group of radicals who want to change the way the Warden treats those who have become a burden on society (such as the elderly, immigrants and prisoners), he has to decide where his loyalties lie and whether or not it is worth trying to change anything in a world that will quickly come to an end. The book is by turns creepy, exciting and uplifting, and I think it provides some great insight into our collective psychology.

Ilka Noel Datig
Circulation Clerk

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The Teahouse Fire
Ellis Avery

Late nineteenth century Japan was a time of cultural confusion as traditional Eastern customs were being challenged by innovations from the Western world. This fascinating period of time is brought to life in The Teahouse Fire, the story Aurelia Bernard, a nine year old American girl who accompanies her cruel Jesuit uncle to his mission in Japan following the death of her mother. When a fire sweeps through their compound and takes the life of her uncle, Aurelia is alone in the world. She flees the fire and inadvertently ends up at the Bashian Teahouse, one of the most powerful teahouses in Japan, where she will remain for the next 25 years. Aurelia, renamed Urako by the mistress of the house, struggles to find her place as an unacknowledged “foreigner” in the small village, protected by her place in the Shin household yet ultimately without rights or a say in her future.

The Teahouse Fire is an epic novel that beautifully describes the culture clash happening within Japan and within Urako herself. The descriptions of the sacred tea ceremony are beautifully rendered, as is Urako’s search for love and acceptance. This novel will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, those interested in Japanese culture, and anyone who appreciates a story of personal growth written with tenderness and subtly.

Karen Rutkowski
Story Program Coordinator

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The Eyre Affair
Jasper Ffordes

Ever wonder what the world would be like if artists and authors were so highly revered that a person could start a riot by suggesting the superiority of their favorite author or artistic period? How about a world where time travel, cloning, and genetic engineering have become commonplace sciences? Do you often find yourself lost in a suspenseful mystery? This book has all of this and more!

Jasper Ffordes’s novel creates a brilliant picture of this alternate reality world, where the main character, Thursday Next, battles the evil Acheron Hades and the Goliath Corporation. She does this all while trying to face the horrors of her past as a soldier in the Crimean war (which has been going on for over 130 years), coming to terms with her feelings for old flame Landen Parke-Laine, and dealing with annoyances such as family and pesky door-to-door lecturers. The story takes some humorous turns, with eccentric characters such as Thursday’s rogue time traveling father and her “mad scientist” Uncle Mycroft. Lovers of Jane Eyre will especially enjoy all that Thursday does for Jen, Rochester, and Bronte’s novel.

Monica Crandall
Circulation Clerk

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Meg Cabot
author of The Princess Diaries series and other novels

Anything by Meg Cabot! She puts a humorous look on events that many teenagers experience. While her books are shelved in the teen section, I would recommend these books to adults. It has been fun reading these books and comparing how events in these books relate to what I experienced growing up. Her use of humor and realistic characters makes these books a must read!

Robin Hess
Circulation Clerk

works by Meg Cabot available through OCPL

The Last Full Measure
Jeff Shaara

It’s about the Civil War after the battle of Gettysburg, centering on General Grant, General Lee and General Chamberlin. After the battle at Gettysburg the armies were beat up and ragged, President Lincoln brought General Grant to assume control of the North Armies. Grant was surprised at the fight left in Confederate army and that it was not going to be easy to defeat Lee, even with a larger Army. The book follows the routes the armies take as they move to Virginia and the final surrender of the Confederate Army. Chamberlin shows real class at the surrender. The book showed the hardships and the elements that faced each army all the while the chess-like moves were being made by both sides. It was so well written that you felt you were fighting right alongside of the men in the book.

Gary Krajacic
Technology Administrator

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Love Walked In
Maria de la Santos

A light romance set in the fair city of Philadelphia (ok, I am biased) tells the story of unattached café manager Cornelia Brown in a modern version of The Philadelphia Story. Handsome and debonair, Martin Grace sweeps Cornelia off her feet, and out of her rut. At the same time eleven-year-old Clare Hobbes must learn to fend for herself on the other side of town. As she tries to deal with her mother’s breakdown and disappearance, Clare seeks out her estranged father, and when the two of them show up at Cornelia’s café, the lives of Cornelia and Clare are changed in drastic and unexpected ways.

Rebecca Shaffer Mannion
Director of Community Relations, Teen Librarian

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Blood and Thunder
Hampton Sides

“Blood and Thunder follows the history of the American West between the years 1825-1850. Hampton Sides shows the actions of many historical characters such as John C. Fremont and Stephen Kearney, but he centers his book around the exploits of Kit Carson. Carson became a symbol of the West, a self-made man who was a trapper, scout and soldier, and who, despite taking two Indian wives and speaking their languages, was also instrumental in the destruction of their societies and forced relocation to reservations. Blood and Thunder is an engaging read and a fascinating look at American history. ”

Ellen Glazier
Director of Reference

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The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Haruki Murakami

Originally published as a set of three books in 1994 by critically acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami, this enthralling read begins with a man’s missing cat and and turns into a labyrinthine mystery concerning the relationships between human beings. The protagonist Toru Okada soon finds his wife missing as well, and his quest to discover what happened to her sets the backdrop for a mesmerizing parade of people, places and events. This tale leaves the reader questioning the role of responsibility, the nature of dreams, the power of coincidence, and the limits of human consciousness. Worth noting in particular is Murakami’s depiction of the relationship between Japan and China during World War II.

Also be sure to check out his latest works, Kafka on the Shore and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.

Brian Dobreski
Adult Services Librarian

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