Great Books to Read!

Expand Your Reading Repertoire!

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkin's first book based on the story of her daughter's addiction to crank.  A powerful book for parents, teens, and all adults to read.

A German family hides a Jewish man during the rise of the Nazi's in World War II.  You will have to read this book to find out why this book is titled, "The Book Thief." 

Popular author Barbara Kingsolver and her family decide to move from their home in Tucson, Arizona and begin a new life in North Carolina.  They make a commitment  to grow all of their own food for one year with no exceptions.  Read about the ups and downs of the Kingsolver's journey in local farming.

An inspirational book that will touch your heart and warm your soul.  Randy Pausch's vignettes of stories and memories will stay with us forever. 

If you love cats and libraries, you have probably read this book!  This is a wonderful story how a library-owned cat changed the town and united it's patrons.  

Travel to Newfoundland and explore the fishing world and small town life with a journalist, his aunt, and his two children.  Proulx won the Pulitzer Prize for this novel.

Enjoy reading this memorable tribute to Tim Russert's dad.  The stories of Buffalo and the surrounding areas are interesting too.  Tim Russert was a fine man and journalist.  We all miss him and his famous "Go Bills!" at the conclusion of Meet the Press.

Since 1996, American Greg Mortenson has dedicated his life in building schools in Pakistan and in Afghanistan.  Read his story on how he made this happen in two volatile countries in the Middle East.

Now is the Time to Open Your Heart  by Toni Morrison

Morrison's character Kate Nelson, embarks on a spiritual journey of self discovery by going to the wilds of the Amazon.  Her partner stays behind ends up on a path of self discovery of his own.  This book has a new age style that is very unique.

A true story, zookeepers in Warsaw, Poland hide Jews among their zoo animals during World War II.  If you have never read a book on  how the Nazi's affected Poland, you will want to read this one.

American journalist Martha Raddatz, chronicles the days of battle within Sadr City, Iraq.   Raddatz painfully describes the urban warfare that took place and the after affects on the families left behind in the United States.  A must read for every American who cares about what our troops and what Iraqi civilians are going through.

English author Ian McEwan, captivates his readers with his love story about two virgins on their wedding night.  Set in England in the 1960s, the book will leave you wanting more information about the two lovers. 

Do ghosts really exist?  Set in the post Civil War, Toni Morrison's compelling novel  is about a woman and her daughter who wrestle with a ghost from the past who haunts their present lives.

One of Cormac McCarthy's finest novels, The Road is bound to make readers think about the end times...if there is one.  The relationship that McCarthy develops between a father and his son is both powerful and memorable.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Enjoy reading this story of a Greek immigrant family with their trials and tribulations in the United States.  Filled with humor, tears, and  challenges, Eugenides beautifully writes this story which is bound to entertain all you.

Al Gore's passion for the planet is incredibly detailed in his book, An Inconvenient Truth.  Even if you have seen the film, the book is a great companion to the movie.  The book is filled with wonderful graphics to aid in the layperson's understanding of global warming.   

Enter the world of a homeless man and a photographer.  Find out the mystery and suspense that surrounds the existence of some old photographs that were left behind by the homeless person.  A book surely to entertain!

Sixteen year-old Steve Harmon records his life in prison as he awaits his trial as an accomplice to murder.  Walter Dean Myers (known as a young adult author) is popular with adult audiences as well.  

Follow the love triangle of three people over the span of a fifty year period.  Colombian writer Gabriel Marquez writes with humor and expression writes this poignant story set in the country of Colombia.

Los Angeles Times Reporter J.R. Moehringer writes his memoir about growing up in a neighborhood bar in Massachusetts.  This story will surely entertain readers young and old.

This novel set in Chile and in San Francisco,  depicts the challenging life of Eliza Sommers.  Known as one of Isabel Allende's best novels, Daughter of Fortune is definitely an excellent read.

Presently on the New York Times Best-Seller List

Whether you have read this classic or not, it is a book that one must read!  Questions of love, morality, wealth, and friendship are explored in F. Scott Fitzgerald's American novel. 

Famed Southwestern writer Tony Hillerman's novel Coyote Waits takes place in New Mexico with Navajo police officers Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, trying to discover who murdered fellow Navajo police officer Delbert Nez.

Weapons and good-luck charms carried by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam here represent survival, lost innocence and the war's interminable legacy.

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

To say that Augusten Burroughs had an unusual childhood would be an understatement. His eccentric mother -- a poet -- left him in the care of her shrink, a man who might have benefitted from a little therapy himself. Somehow, Augusten survived, and the result is this memoir, one both horrifying and hysterical.

The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan

To say that 45-year-old Marilyn Grimes is suffering from a midlife crisis is to understate. Her three children have left the nest; her boring engineer husband, Leon, is in career crisis and apparently philandering; her mother may be developing Alzheimer's; and Marilyn herself is searching for new frontiers or a place to leap. By turns, hilarious and heartbreaking; Terry McMillan in vintage form.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

During the summer of 1964 in rural South Carolina, a young girl is given a home by three black beekeeping sisters. As she enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, she discovers a place where she can find the single thing her heart longs for most.

Sidney Poitier, one of America's finest actors, details his life experiences in his latest autobiography. This book was selected in honor of African American History month.

A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

Haven Kimmel writes a fun and snappy memoir about her life in the small town of Mooreland, Indiana.

The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian

An African American child lives with a grieving couple in Vermont as they begin to heal from the death of their daughters. How will this small child affect the couple that he is living with? There are many twists and turns in this novel that will keep you turning the pages.

A classic by Willa Cather, My Antonia is a must read for every person who appreciates fine literature. Ms. Cather’s gift of writing is evident as she develops each character throughout the story. Find out who Antonia is by reading this work of art.

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Piccoult

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

Written by Latin American author Sandra Cisneros, this novel is actually based in part on Ms. Cisnero’s life and experiences. The audio version of the book is fabulous! Cisneros incorporates English and Spanish throughout the novel making the scenes come alive with humor and drama.

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver

A little Cherokee girl named “Turtle” is adopted by a white woman in the Southwest. This novel illustrates quite a bit of the Cherokee culture and also the experience of a white woman having an adoptive Native American child. Turtle’s mother soon finds herself (and Turtle) running from away from the Cherokee Nation as she discovers Turtle’s adoption was illegal.

Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

This is a true story about a little Chinese girl that experienced a horrific childhood.  Adeline's love of books as a child helped her to become the doctor and author that she is today.  Read this riveting account of how one little girl rose above her childhood to find happiness outside of her family.

Born and raised in Iran Nafisi's memoir details her life in Tehran from 1979-1997, as an English professor.  A woman far ahead of her time, Nafisi broke many cultural mores while trying to empower other Iranian women.

Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Girls by Lori Lansens