Books we're reading at the station and recommend to you.

When we're not on-the-air or at our desks, we like to pick up good books. Most of us here at the station are, in fact, avid readers. In the style of NPR's "What We're Reading" (an excellent weekly guide) we, too, decided to share what we've been reading. Here's a list of books recently read by WKMS staff members, student workers and volunteers.

Interested in a book on our list? Follow the Amazon link beneath the picture. A small percentage of your purchase of anything on Amazon through this link goes right to WKMS at no additional cost to you.

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	Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi Product Description: Every Thursday morning for two years in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Azar Nafisi, a bold and inspired teacher, secretly gathered seven of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics. Some came from conservative and religious families, others were progressive and secular; some had spent time in jail. They were shy and uncomfortable at first, unaccustomed to being asked to speak their minds, but soon they removed their veils and began to speak more freely–their stories intertwining with the novels they were reading by Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Vladimir Nabokov. As Islamic morality squads staged arbitrary raids in Tehran, as fundamentalists seized hold of the universities and a blind censor stifled artistic expression, the women in Nafisi’s living room spoke not only of the books they were reading but also about themselves, their dreams and disappointments. "With news coming from Iran and the surrounding countries lately, I thought I’d swipe a book off my shelf I’d been meaning to read for a while. Reading Lolita in Tehran is difficult book to categorize. Some libraries put it in fiction because author Azar Nafisi changed so many names and tweaked so many stories. For my money, it’s a memoir with literary criticism sown in, very cleverly. It’s divided into four sections: Lolita, Gatsby, James and Austen. Each section is based on a time in her life during her years in Iran. Nafisi talks about the literature she had to fight to teach during employment at different universities. Perhaps the most touching section is her private study group with just a handful of young Iranian women. By tackling literature they also assess their own life issues. It’s a historically, emotionally and literarily enlightening book. Enjoy!" - Rebecca Feldhaus
	The Places In Between by Rory Stewart Product Description: In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan-surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers. By day he passed through mountains covered in nine feet of snow, hamlets burned and emptied by the Taliban, and communities thriving amid the remains of medieval civilizations. By night he slept on villagers' floors, shared their meals, and listened to their stories of the recent and ancient past. Along the way Stewart met heroes and rogues, tribal elders and teenage soldiers, Taliban commanders and foreign-aid workers. He was also adopted by an unexpected companion-a retired fighting mastiff he named Babur in honor of Afghanistan's first Mughal emperor, in whose footsteps the pair was following. "Stewart’s story begins in western Afghanistan in the winter of 2002, only a few months after September 11. At the time, he was the country’s only tourist. In this account of his hike across the country, Stewart reveals the lives of the many Afghan people who never make it in the spotlight: the rural, the poor, the isolated. Stewart describes his journey with precise authority, but without embellishment. This is an honest book about a place that remains a question mark to many Americans." - Angela Hatton
	Love all the People by Bill Hicks Product Description: Bill Hicks was arguably the most influential stand-up comedian of the last 30 years. He was funny, out of hand, impossible to ignore and genuinely disturbing. His work has inspired Michael Moore, Mark Thomas and Robert Newman among others. The trade paperback published in February 2003 was the first collected work and included major stand-up routines, diary, notebook and letters extracts, plus his final writings, most previously unpublished. This smaller format paperback has extra material discovered subsequently. "Almost as good as hearing his comedy albums. Though, Hicks' social commentary is nearing two decades old, it's still strikingly poignant today." - Chris Taylor
	A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House Product Description: It is the early 1900s in rural Kentucky, and young Saul Sullivan is heading up to Redbud Camp to look for work. He is wary but unafraid of the Cherokee girl there whose beauty is said to cause the death of all men who see her. But the minute Saul lays eyes on Vine, he knows she is meant to be his wife. Vine’s mother disapproves of the mixed marriage; Saul’s mother, Esme, has always been ill at ease around the Cherokee people. But once Vine walks into God’s Creek, Saul’s mother and brother Aaron take to her immediately. It quickly becomes clear to Vine, though, that Aaron is obsessed with her. And when Saul leaves God’s Creek for a year to work in another county, the wife he leaves behind will never be the same again. The violence that lies ahead for Vine, will not only test her spirit, but also her ability to forgive—both others and herself. "If you love House's first book, Clay's Quilt, then you will not be disappointed with A Parchment of Leaves. House writes of Appalachia and uses the same dialect as was in his first novel, but he changes the viewpoint to a strong, female protagonist, a Cherokee woman named Vine. Set in the early 1900s, Vine learns the true meaning of family, prejudice, love, betrayal and all the consequences that ensue." - Laura Cash
	Book of the Hopi by Frank Waters Product Description: In this strange and wonderful book, thirty elders of the ancient Hopi tribe of Northern Arizona--a people who regard themselves as the first inhabitan. In this strange and wonderful book, thirty elders of the ancient Hopi tribe of Northern Arizona--a people who regard themselves as the first inhabitants of America--freely reveal the Hopi worldview for the first time in written form. The Hopi kept this view a secret for countless centuries, and anthropologists have long struggled to understand it. Now they record their myths and legends, and the meaning of their religious rituals and ceremonies, as a gift to future generations. Here is a reassertion of a rhythm of life we have tragically repressed; and a reminder that we must attune ourselves to the need for inner change if we are to avert a cataclysmic rupture between our minds and hearts. "From what I can gather the Hopi didn’t like Frank Waters’ The Book of Hopi because it brought in a lot of gringo new-age people visiting the mesas of their villages, seeking a religious bonding with the tribe that considers itself the first people on earth. And apparently serious anthropologists dismiss the book for its unscientific exposition. Read this book to start catching up with the very oldest Americans one doesn’t learn about in school (or at least not when I went to school). I hope First Nation history is part of the curricula now and children are learning about our own ancient peoples as best they can. Shame on the historians who ceded telling their tales to Hollywood." - Kate Lochte (Read Kate's complete review on The Front Blog - soon.)
	DC's 52 Series (Volume One) by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid Product Description: After the Infinite Crisis, the DC Universe spent a year without Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman - a year in which those heroes were needed more than ever as the fate of the world hung in the balance. This is 52, a four volume collection of the unprecedented, critically acclaimed weekly series of death, danger, romance, terror and the never-ending search for heroism in the DC Universe's most eventful year ever. The series features the best and brightest writers from the comic-book field: Geoff Johns (Infinite Crisis), Grant Morrison (All Star Superman), Greg Rucka (Wonder Woman) and Mark Waid (Kindom Come) working together to tell the tale of a world awakening from a nightmare to face a new day. With their leaders gone, which heroes will stand tall? Who will fail at the most critical moment? Who will live - and who will die? "I finished DC's four volume comic 52. The big 3, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, went on hiatus, other super heroes had to step up to the plate to take care of things for awhile. Lex Luthor takes advantage of Superman's absence and creates a super hero gene for ordinary people, so who needs the real super heroes anymore? What does it take to be a super hero these days? Super villains have an endless supply of money on their tiny island to create anything that leads to destruction. There's time travel, world travel, space travel, and magic in 52. The entire series tracks an entire year in the DC Universe, and you are right there with characters as they grow from the misgivings they had at the beginning of the year and turn them into opportunities at the end of the year. A fun read and a great book to expose anyone to new super heroes to fall in love with." - Katie Villanueva

Previous Good Reads:

Here's an archive of books previously featured above. If you're interested a book, click on the title to purchase the book through Amazon. A percentage of any purchase made from that link supports WKMS without any additional cost to you.

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
Todd Hatton said: If it wasn’t such an engrossing and entertaining read, it would qualify as the most sobering book I’ve ever cracked. In these days of ‘noise/talk’ media and iPhones, Amusing Ourselves to Death is eerily prescient.

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City: A Memoir by Nick Flynn
Jacque Day said: As I made my way through this memoir, I envisioned myself walking with bare feet through Nick Flynn’s life. Suck City is a barefoot walk, at least for me. The dare comes not with the title, but by Flynn’s immediate defiance of the tonal expectation he establishes by using that title as the calling card for this particular story. The title and everything in it is Jonathan Flynn, Nick’s father, the great undiscovered writer, the troubled scribe, the alcoholic with delusions of grandeur, the meek that shall inherit the Earth—or at the very least, finally, a hardcover book in which he, finally at long last and deservedly, is the main event. Of course, of course this title belongs to Jonathan Flynn. He owns it. With all its cynicism and realism and wit, it’s his, hands-down.

The Average American Male by Chad Kultgen
Caleb Campbell said: This book is offensive and raw, but an entertaining read by a new author. I found myself reading this in class instead of listening to my instructor. The characters feel like people you might actually know in the real world. For a quick, fun trip, I recommend this.

Black Boy by Richard Wright
Jacque Day said: Black Boy is an exquisite gift to American letters by Richard Wright, a clear voice rising among millions of unheard southern African Americans living within generational memory of slavery. This memoir opens the eyes and consciousness to the Black struggle in a way unequaled in literature.

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
Tracy Ross said: This book centers around two of my favorite literary subjects – global pandemics and interesting visions of the afterlife. Good fiction thrives when it deals with matters of the life and death variety, and this novel deals with matters of life and death and life after death.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Chris Taylor said: J.D. Salinger's 1951 novel is a quick read and an unforgettable classic. The young protagonist's mile-a-minute account writhes with confusion, angst and budding sexuality in way that just makes for real swell prose! If you missed this classic, you ought to pick it up.

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier
Jenni Todd said: I’m a new dog owner. We welcomed our puppy into our home in early November…and life changed dramatically! I borrowed a copy of Cesar’s Way after watching a few episodes of the show. While I don’t watch the TV program regularly, I loved this book. It’s a quick read and Cesar really puts things into perspective. He promotes easy to remember formulas for a healthy relationship with your dog: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. I especially liked reading about Cesar’s early life in Mexico and his stories about celebrity dog owners, like Oprah.

City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Angela Hatton said: This book answers the question, "do we really need another book about Venice" with a resounding, "yes!" Part investigation, part personal essay, John Berendt takes a looks at the quirky people who inhabit this legendary city, from Ezra Pound's former mistress to an American expatriot looking to contact aliens.

The Common Man: Poems by Maurice Manning
Angela Hatton said: Maurice Manning continues his love affair with rural life. Common Man at times reads like a Library of Congress archive, the poems a transcript of the scratchy dialects recorded on a research excursion. Told through a series of unrhymed ballad couplets, Common Man is Manning’s most tender and entertaining tribute to his Appalachian home to date.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Bec Feldhaus said: Though I'm not reading it right now, I highly recommend Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo to anyone. Yes, yes, it's long, but that just means you get more for your money. It's filled with action, adventure, romance, revenge, a little philosophizing and much more. I read it this summer on my daily subway commute from Brooklyn to Lincoln Center, and I finished it in about a week. I could not put it down. It's a classic for a reason.

The Curse of Lono by Hunter S. Thompson
Chris Taylor said: A wealth of Ralph Steadman illustrations bring this random journey with the Doctor around the Hawaiian islands to life, though it’s not your standard aloha affair. It reads rather uncomfortably: jam-packed with scattered prose, notes, and excerpts from the likes of Mark Twain and others. Thompson is up to his usual mischievous and inebriate debauchery, which is sure to both abuse and amuse you. FYI~ I wouldn’t recommend it be your first HST read.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Matt Markgraf said: I read all four books in this series in four sittings, partly because they are easy and meant for kids who generally dislike reading, but also because they are friggin' hilarious and awesome. Greg, the wimpy kid on the cover, is encouraged to write a 'diary' by his mom, and so he does - chronicling all his hopes, fears and mis-adventures in what may be considered the typical life of a middle-schooler. The power of this series, which both kids and adults would appreciate is in the author, Jeff Kinney's masterful narrative, making Greg hilarious, loveable and most importantly: real.

Drinking Coffee Elsehwhere by ZZ Packer
Bec Feldhaus said: Drinking Coffee Elsewhere is a collection of short stories by ZZ Packer. Packer tackles African American issues in a way that exposes the grit of reality. I enjoyed the collection so much because it was not a happily ever after story. The use of humor, failure and understanding comes together to create a powerful result.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Bec Feldhaus said: After viewing a trailer for this summer's production of Eat, Pray, Love; I was intrigued. A few friends had read the book and  highly recommended it, but I wasn't sold. I'm glad something convinced me. I found myself sitting for hours reading and arising refreshed. The lessons are not earth-shattering, but definitely worth some consideration. I read the book and loved it. In my opinion, it's a  book best read during transition times in life. Happy eating, praying, loving, reading.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Chris Taylor said: This semi-autobiographical novel feels very real. It apparently established  Hemingway as an American writer and was made into a couple of films in the 30’s and 50’s. Ultimately a tragedy, A Farewell to Arms expounds upon Hemingway’s World War I experience as an ambulance driver. The narrative follows the romance between an American soldier and a British nurse during their service on the Italian front. The book doesn’t really show its tragic hand until its end, though; which can leave you writhing with emotion and feeling very miniscule  and inane.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom by Conrad Black
Todd Hill said: Looks at all sides of his very complex personality, good and bad. Best biography of Roosevelt I've read.

From the Mountain From the Valley by James Still
Kate Lochte said: The poems haven’t proven as interesting to me as Still’s autobiographical essay, “A Man Singing to Himself,” which is included in the volume. This essay should be required reading for understanding more about Still’s self-consciously intense drive to shape his writing into art with which he could make a living. It is especially relevant in these financially difficult years, because Still was a young writer during the Depression, motivated to continue despite hunger.

Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann & Mark Halperin
Brian Clardy said: This book is a very insightful and innovative coverage of the 2008 Presidential election cycle that has caused excitement and controversy in the political world. Moreover, this book keeps the reader rivited as new revelations are made regarding recent events and popular personalities. It is a must read for students of current events, politics, and the complexities of human personalities.

Generations of Winter by Vassily Aksyonov
Kate Lochte said: You must read Vassily Aksyonov’s expansive novel Generations of Winter. It opens just as Russia is moving into the Stalin era and closes with World War II. You’re with the Gradov family all the way through with asides from an owl, a tree, a great dog, and other unique commentators on events at hand. Reviewers compare it to works of Tolstoy. I think Dickens comes to mind as well in the sheer fascination of the portraiture of life in the streets as well as the parlors, the meeting rooms, the work camps, the battlefields, and more. Terrific read for a couple of intense weeks!

Girl Trouble by Holly Goddard-Jones
Angela Hatton said: Publishers Weekly called this book of short stories 'a powerful sum of  reflection, loss and regret.' I call it darn good writing. Jones writes about western Kentucky in a way that doesn't demoralize or exploit its people. Often while reading the book, I forgot where I was and completely fell into the scene on the page. If you're not afraid to be deeply moved, read Girl Trouble.

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King
David Weatherly said: I am upset with myself, being a reader of King, for not picking this series up sooner. It's quite different from his other work. The pace is slower and it is riddled with philosophic and religious undertones. King set out to write his great epic in the tradition of The Lord of The Rings but gave his story a western feeling and set it in the post-apocalyptic future. Looks like I've found my summer reading!

Hadji Murad by Leo Tolstoy
Kate Lochte said: Tolstoy died before his final work Hadji Murad was published in 1912.  Critics say that the loneliness of the book's romantic Cacausian Avar hero brings to mind that of Tolstoy himself who died apart from family and friends.The novel pits the noble, but conniving tribesman against the corrupt and scheming Russians. There's pressing danger in the cold air for the colorful, but ascetic Murad and those who assist him. The story is fresh and pertinent in light of our own era's clash of Western and Eastern civilizations.  Humankind doesn't learn.

HAPAX: Poems by A.E. Stallings
Angela Hatton said: Rhyming poetry is not dead! Most contemporary poets eschew rhyme and form for the more contemplative free verse. However, Stallings bucks the trend, bringing "abab" into the 21st century with poems that range from childhood trips to museums to adult cocktail parties. Stalling, who has lived in Greece for several years, brings the rich legacy of Greek mythology and culture into her verses. A thoroughly delightful and accessible entry into neo-traditional poetry.

Heaven's Coast by Mark Doty
Jacque Day said: Mark Doty’s memoir Heaven’s Coast wrenches the spirit and opens the heart to the notion that love knows no boundaries. Doty takes us inside the decline and death of a life partner, and through his honesty and beautiful language, he provides a rare vision into the humanity of living with AIDS. He devotes a significant section to the troubled life and untimely death of his good friend, the poet Lynda Hull—his portrait of Hull isn’t always kind, in keeping with many complicated friendships. Doty stands as one more example of a known poet who writes exquisite prose.

Hidden History of Kentucky in the Civil War by Berry Craig
Todd Hatton said: Hidden History is a twofold pleasure. They’re great stories, historical or  not, and Craig tells them well, much as you’d imagine someone would who’s got to keep it fresh semester after semester. Organized by year, the pieces can be read individually in a few minutes or all in one sitting. It's the history class you always wished you’d taken, written by the one professor you’d want to take it from.

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Angela Hatton said: There are a mountain of books out there that cover relationships, romance, and dating from a gal’s perspective. Hornby takes the other side, giving a candid take on one man’s tangled love life. I’d say this is a male version of Bridget Jones’ Diary, witty, fast-paced; it’s easy-reading for a lazy weekend.

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Chad Lampe said: Painfully funny holiday essays written by Public Radio Personality David Sedaris.

Homecoming by Bernhard Schlink
John Griffin said: In Berhard Schlink's newest novel, Homecoming, as with his other writings, his German readers are expected to confront the question of their own identity  and to ponder what it means to be a German in the 21st century while still be tied to history of the 20th century. And of course, it is likewise important for American readers to have an understanding of why other cultures behave as they do, to keep us from constantly assuming that since they seem so similar in so many respects, they must really be same.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Matt Markgraf said: There's a reason why this book was on the Publisher's Weekly list for young adult fiction for weeks and weeks... Suzanne Collins boldly and creatively kicks sand over the figurative line of what may be acceptable for young adult fiction, while at the same time conquering a great writerly challenge. 'The Hunger Games' are a violent, somewhat sci-fi equivalent of the American Gladiator TV show with contestants who all happen to be between the ages of 12 and 18. The contestants must kill each other to be the last one standing, winner gets food for their homeland. Collins deftly evokes sympathy for a protagonist who must face killing her peers to survive. You will be rooting for Katniss all the way through this enthralling and breathtaking read.

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President
by Josh Lieb
Matt Markgraf said: This book is freakin' hilarius and I recommend it to everyone. Josh Lieb writes with a darkly humorous, snarky wit with an irresitably fresh narrative directed towards the reader. Oliver Watson is my new favorite antihero.

Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer, Rags Morales, Joss Whedon, Michael Bair
Katie Villanueva said: It's a little off the beaten path, but I read DC's Graphic Novel, Identity Crisis. The wives and loved one's of the super heroes of the Justice League of America are being targeted. The league bans together, but find that the threat isn't any super villan, but themselves... It is one of the best stories I have read yet.

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
Kate Lochte said: 'The sweeping story of an unforgettable woman - a slave and concubine determined to claim her own destiny against impossible odds.' That's the jacket cover's hyperbole. I didn't find this novel as enchanting as Allende's The House of Spirits. Island Beneath the Sea is a tough book with a bunch of sex. Some of it is of the hormonally-overcharged romance novel variety, but mostly it's unforgivably hostile rape resulting in three mulatto children whose lives teeter between cruelty and love. The history passages weave in and out of the fictional stories of the slave, her owner, her lover, her friends and finally her husband, and align the plot, the people and the settings with reality, including the Haitian slave uprising led by Toussaint Louverture, the escaping of Haitians to Cuba, thence to New Orleans. Classism and racism threaten anyone on the wrong side of power. Viciousness is a heavy, persistent weight here. Then drums start beating and Tété begins to dance and she is free.

Jazz Anecdotes by Bill Crow
Todd Hill said: Laugh out loud hilarious stories told by jazz players and about legends and near-legends compiled by jazz bassist Bill Crow (possibly best known for his work with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker).

Jakob the Liar by Jurek Becker
John Griffin said: In a Polish ghetto toward the end of the war, Jakob finds himself in a rather untenable position when he casually mentions to friends that he heard of the Russian advance on his radio. This brings such unwarranted hope to his community that it soon becomes burdensome for him to keep up the string of good news.  But Jakob eventually realizes that the hope his lies bring is as important as food for everyone’s survival. Our omniscient narrator gives us a wonderful variety of characters, but never allows us to believe that surviving on hope could be the same as an actual miracle. The tale never strays far from the utter all-encompassing terror that is life within the ghetto, yet the inhabitants somehow mitigate that hell with humor and kindness. Jakob the Liar reminds us that civilization is in a constant struggle with inhumanity, but somehow, seemingly against the odds, it muddles through.

The Land of Green Plums by Herta Muller
John Griffin said: The Land of Green Plums is the story of a group of young people in Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania. As the friends betray each other, we see how the totalitarian state inhabits every aspect of human existence. Of  German heritage, Mueller suffered repeated threats from the Ceausescu  government before finally being able to emigrate in 1987. Muller is the winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Leavings: Poems by Wendell Berry
Bec Feldhaus said: Perhaps this is biased, because I've never read something by Wendell Berry that I didn't like, but Berry's collection titled Leavings astounds me. This collection is made up of shorter poems for the most part, but retains the depth apparent in his longer works. Berry deals with the evolution of a globalized and technologically-based world and how that detracts from personal contact and, at times, moral integrity. Even if you only read one poem out of the entire collection, Berry's voice is clear and thoughtful leaving you with something to consider.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Matt Markgraf said: Leviathan is a quintessential steampunk, alternate history thrill ride featuring two young protagonists, Alek and Deryn, who form an unlikely team to save an embattled Europe in the throes of WWI. Don’t let the huge walking machines and living airships fool you – this book is of literary quality, written with the finest attention to detail and a strong emphasis on characterization. Luckily, it’s the first of a series, with book two scheduled to come out this fall.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Angela Hatton said: To make a cliché like, 'one moment changes everything' work, you have to be a good writer, and Chris Cleave is one. Little Bee is about the dissonance, and surprising harmony, between the commercialized world and the third world. Cleave takes hold of his readers, always keeping a focus on the emotion of his characters, even as he deftly tackles war, genocide, and illegal immigration.

Lost Stories by Daschiell Hammet
Todd Hatton said: I’ve always loved Dashiell Hammett’s detective stories of Jazz Age San Francisco. His economy of language, his spare power of description, and his vivid characters had me from the first “Continental Op” short story I ever read. But there’s obviously a finite body of his work, and when I ran across this book in Chicago, I jumped at the chance to read something new (or new to me) by The Master.

Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father and Son by Michael Chabon
David Weatherly said: I'm finishing up Michael Chabon's "Manhood for Amateurs".  It's a memoir, actually more like a series of essays, reflecting back on childhood from a parent's perspective. He talks about the fears modern parents have, plus the greater freedom and imagination past generations had at their disposal that modern ones don't. It's full of his terrific prose and wit and is a great read for men (and women) raised in the 60's and 70's.

Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
Todd Hatton said: I picked this book up in the bookstore that’s tucked into a corner of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.  I was looking for a good historical non-fiction read while I was in town, and I found it.  Swanson translates his encyclopedic knowledge of the Lincoln Assassination and its players, both major and minor, into a story that reads like a good thriller.  It’s a thorough account (some 392 pages) that neither bogs the reader down nor engages in stereotypes; I finished Manhunt in a mere three days.  An absolute must for Lincoln enthusiasts, history buffs, and even lovers of a good mystery.

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Matt Markgraf said: This book of loosely-connected short stories is an irresistible sci-fi delight. It's a super fast read due to its violent, messy, chaotic prose about man's discovery of intelligent Martian life and the subsequent destruction of culture. On a deeper level, Bradbury seems to write allegorically on mankind's destruction of Earth, and perhaps even mankind's destruction of self and the inevitable demise caused by aging and generation. Whatever symbolism The Martian Chronicles evokes in your imagination, it'll be fascinating and memorable

The Meadow by James Galvin
Jacque Day said: James Galvin’s shimmering chronicle takes us to a very specific time in a very specific pocket of the American West. It is a story of both place, and transcendence. Part memoir, part naturalist work, part chronicle for what might still be, The Meadow has the feel of finding a sack of photos belonging to a stranger, dumping them into a pile, and picking them up one by one. Galvin’s narrative seems to revolve around a question: what is this thing we call the West, and who possesses it?

Mexico as I Saw It (series) by Ethel Alec-Tweedie
Kate Lochte said: Mrs. Alec Tweedie, born Ethel Brilliana Harley, was a pioneering travel writer. In this volume she displays a prodigious nerve, superb social connections, and an eye for "take you there" details. In this book of her adventures originally published in 1901, you ride a new railroad across Mexico on its maiden voyage. You ride a horse up to the mountain ruins Xochicalpa. There are family posadas at Christmas and fancy society festival gatherings. You crawl down into the Cacahuilmilpa caves, wonder at Mitla's tombs and experience a rain forest by riverboat going across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. She's savvy, snobbish in her descriptions of most of Mexico's indigenous peoples, and seemingly fearless -- but then again, she is provided with competent tour guides, available lodgings and guards. Amazon.com carries many other Tweedie titles, like A Winter Jaunt to Norway, Through Finland in Carts, and Russia as I Saw It, and I'll wager that each might have its own oddly smart and fresh, albeit dated, observations I enjoyed in Mexico As I Saw It.

Naked in Dangerous Places by Cash Peters
Mark Welch said: Cash Peters’ self-deprecating approach to his escapades as a “reality show” host is hilarious (imagine an uptight, obsessive-compulsive, brutally honest Brit thrust into staged bizarre third-world conditions!). I loved his zany contributions to the Savvy Traveler, a former public radio series which aired weekly on WKMS.

Our Lincoln: New Perspectives On Lincoln and His World edited by Eric Foner
Todd Hatton said: Our Lincoln isn’t a light read; but then, not much about Lincoln ever is. It is, however, an engrossing one. Pulitzer Prize-winning authors contribute insights into Lincoln the Commander-in-Chief and his relation-ship to the Constitution and civil liberties, but we also find essays that peer into Lincoln’s spirituality and analyze his role as a student and patron of the visual arts. Andrew Delbanco, who edited The Portable Lincoln, even contributes a piece asserting that other than Mark Twain, no other writer had as enormous and lasting an impact on American literature as did Abraham Lincoln. Not bad for a guy with a grand total of 18 months of formal education. (Read Todd's complete review on The Front Blog)

Peace by Richard Bausch
Kate Lochte said: I highly recommend Richard Bausch’s Peace. When you begin reading there’s a wave of recognition that you’ve just entered a black and white World War II movie. So what can be new with this material? Plenty. This one night lasts what seems like a very long time during this short read about a soldier and his patrol experiencing rain, snow, mountains, rocks, trees, meadows with shootings, snipers, executions, moonlight, flashbacks, cold weather, hot blood, and brotherly love.

People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman
Kate Lochte said: Needing a quick, engrossing read, I picked a Hillerman Trilogy off our bookshelves at home and devoured People of Darkness in a couple of evenings. Protagonist Jim Chee is a Navajo policeman who wrestles with leaving the reservation to join the FBI or stay on the reservation and fulfill his spiritual destiny for which he’s been in training. So in the Jim Chee series there are pretty good murder mysteries set in Indian Country, that Hillerman knew and loved. I enjoy the representation of Navajo ways that Chee observes, like not getting out of the car until someone comes outdoors to meet him when he pulls up, like sitting outdoors parsing the night sky for Navajo-named stars, like navigating arroyos and canyons, and pondering Navajo symbolisms. It’s just like being there – peaceful, powerful, exotic landscapes and cultural practices.

Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachout
Todd Hill said: Pops is the best BY ANY MEASURE of all Louis Armstrong biographies - Wonderfully readable even by the non-musician. Most informative (and largely so) due to recent discoveries among Armstrong's personal correspondence and other writings held by the Armstrong House curated by Queens College. More about Louis' strong feelings during the civil-rights movement (he has been vastly misjudged in this regard) than has ever been revealed previously.

Prayers for Bobby by Leroy Aarons
Caleb Campbell said: I was blown away by this biography of a young man shattered by denial and self-hatred. It's a book everyone should be required to read. Bobby is someone in every community and every family. The journey his mother goes through after his death to find acceptance and understanding is one that every parent will be able to relate to. A moving piece of non-fiction.

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio by Terry Ryan
Jenni Todd said: This is a heartwarming true story about a resourceful woman who uses her creativity to keep her family- and their finances- afloat. Evelyn Ryan is the mother of ten children, the wife of an alcoholic husband and …an optimist. She supports her family the only way she can- by using her ingenuity and her natural way with words to win advertising contests. I love Evelyn’s humor, wit, and that she teaches her children to have fun regardless of the circumstances. This story is an honest look at the ups and downs experienced by the Ryan family in the 1950’s.

The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan by James Mann
Dr. Brian Clardy said: For me, this book is a very pleasant trip down Memory Lane. I was in high school and college when many of those events took place. And it also informed me about the importance of Suzanne Massie, a lower level protégé of President Reagan's, who played a tremendous role in helping to transform U.S./Soviet relations.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Laura Cash said: Think of William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" combined with the movie "Road to Perdition." Now combine that scenario with the question "What would you do if your world remained while nearly everyone else's ended?" and you have the makings of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." The narrator takes the reader past the end of the world through the eyes of a father and son who survived it and now have to pay the consequences. They face never-ending cold, hunger and sleep deprivation only to be constantly hunted by cannibals. This book is not for the reader looking for something to spread holiday cheer, but it is a page turner as the reader flips to learn if the duo lasts another day or if the little boy's wish is granted and the two have met the same fate as most of the once living beings.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost
Matt Markgraf said: Unfortunately this book featured neither sex lives nor cannibals, but it was still entertaining non-fiction. The book is more humorous than informative, based on the narrator's presumption that everything will be idyllic and the fact that, of course, he's completely wrong. It's ultimately a book about reestablishing the rules of reality. Troost survived the 'backwards' people who had never heard of spices or functional electricity and comes out on the other end with a new perspective on life and happiness. He never glamorized the remote tropical paradise, but he didn't have to. The beauty of the island comes from its flaws, its misfortunes and the people who step on it.

Something Under the Bed is Drooling by Bill Watterson
Paco Long-Mendez said: Written by Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes is a kid and his stuffed tiger living in a classic suburban life. Suburbia that was developed enough to still have plenty of woods and hills to play in. Reading "Something Under the Bed is Drooling" reminds me of ways that these books influenced my own witty and adventurous childhood.

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
Angela Hatton said: "If you’ve ever seen the television sitcoms The Office or Parks and Rec, you already have an idea of what this book is like. Ferris takes readers through the absurdity of office life, including the saga of the office chair and the burning cubicle gossip, 'does the boss have cancer or doesn’t she?' This book has both character and heart"

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Laura Cash said: A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini is a great second novel for those who loved "The Kite Runner." It, too, elaborates on Afghanistan's tumultuous past, focusing mostly on women's rights - or lack there of. I recommend this book to anyone wanting more than a quick, easy read.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Mark Welch said: A good friend of mine loaned me his copy of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. It’s a remarkable true story of a young man who turned great failure into a quest to help others. Greg Mortenson’s passion to educate underprivileged children in Pakistan and Afghanistan proves that one person CAN make a difference. Three Cups of Tea is inspiring and humbling. I can’t wait to read Mortenson’s latest book, Stones into Schools.

Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Jenni Todd said: The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of my favorite books of all time! This story centers on Henry DeTamble and Claire Abshire. Henry is a time traveler and Clair isn’t. Their love story is quite compelling… but it’s the science-fiction twist, multiple perspective storytelling, and non-linear timeline that keep me reading this book year after year. The movie is okay, but the book is perfect in my eyes.

'Tis: A Memoir by Frank McCourt
Jacque Day said: 'Tis is Frank McCourt's memoir-in-continuation, a follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Angela's Ashes, which chronicled his impoverished childhood in Ireland. We loved McCourt the boy-a life told with heartbreaking humor and a singing brogue. In Angela's Ashes McCourt gives us a clear roadmap into the complex heart of the man recalling the events of a half-century earlier. 'Tis begins, with some necessary overlap, where Angela's Ashes leaves off-a young Frank McCourt stepping off a boat from Ireland to make a life in New York. The memoirist tosses us without apology into his shoes. Frank McCourt is no longer with us, and sadly he wrote precious few books in his lifetime. 'Tis is an exercise in humanity by a man with a rare gift for a story, and a brogue that sings on.