Tim's January Staff Pick

The Help

Written by Kathryn Stockett

Audiobook

What is fascinating about this story isn’t necessarily the events that took place, but what transpired because of those events and that would be lasting relationships. This story above all else is a relational story that not only connects the characters, but takes the reader and make them a part of the story as well. If you don’t have a lot of time to read this remarkable story, then check out the audiobook and let it captivate your heart. Enjoy!

Jan's January Staff Pick

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Written by Jamie Ford

PS 3606 .O737 H68 2009

What a special read this book is! The story begins in current times with flashbacks to the era of the government’s confinement of the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. You will share the frustration, anger, young love, and loss as the different ethnic communities of California respond to this action within their own cultural prejudices. I hope that you take the time to meet these interesting characters as they deal with generations of emotions.

Tim's December Staff Pick

Lincoln

By David Herbert Donald

E 457 .D66 1996

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.
Abraham Lincoln

What determines a person’s success or legacy is really up to the person. One can say many things, but it takes action for those things to come to fruition. If you ever get a chance to look at one of American’s most successful persons of all time, in President Lincoln, you’ll see that there is no way that this man should have ever succeeded. What was it that pushed Abraham through failure after failure? Whatever the reason, he is a prime reason in truly overcoming. If you feel like sometimes life is too much, than take a look at Abraham Lincoln and his life and let that be the inspiration that will help you overcome any life trial.

Casey's December Staff Pick

The Matrix

PN 1995.9 .S26 M38 2007

Follow Neo, an average Joe computer software technician, working a bureaucratic office job in a life he hates. By night, Neo lives a life of computer crime, “guilty of virtually every crime we have a law for” says the agent who arrests Neo for his law breaking habits. Neo is contacted by mysterious rebel leader Morpheus who offers Neo a new life. Breaking out of the Matrix, Neo joins the fight to free humankind from an oppressive domination of machines, hell-bent on enslaving the human race.

Kelsey's December Staff Pick

The Great Debaters

DVD PN 1995.9 .M45 G7438 2008

The Great Debaters is a story that takes on sexism, racism, and low expectations from the surrounding society. The students who attend Wiley College are forced to push through the negative and learn from every aspect of it. This is an inspiring story about finding who you are and believing in yourself.

Cory's December Staff Pick

The End of Overeating

by David Kessler

QP 141 .E467 2009

What a revealing book! I read it a year ago and still quote it regularly. Can you believe rats will knowingly give their lives to eat when the proper combination of fat, salt and sugar. The combination overrides the brains ability to convince you that you're full and should stop eating. Think about it. All your favorite foods layer these in spades!

The author is a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. In an interview, he discussed his reason for researching this topic:

"I wanted to figure out what was going on, and the book was written to help people who don't understand why they have such a hard time overeating. My family doctor said to me, "You're describing me. No one explained to me why I keep on eating."

Wes' December Staff Pick

1776

by David McCullough

E 208 .M396 2005

Have you ever wondered how close the U.S. was to losing the war for independence? Well I don't, because I read this book. It is a wonderfully written book about an important single year where the young United States almost lost its fight for freedom from British rule. There are a lot of great battle stories and journal entries from General George Washington to the young Privates fighting the bloody battles. There are stories of hardship and excitement. Good book. Good writer.