Category: general fiction
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg I finished reading this book with my son about a month ago and was pleased with how well it has held up. I remember being read this story as a child. I think it must have been fifth grade in Mr. Laskowich’s class. He used to read to us every day-I think…
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The Dog Stars
By Peter Heller I found this book to be extremely moving. While the story is both grim and bleak, it is also wondrously hopeful and beautifully written. The story is about love, courage, and finding one’s home. It is written from the main character, Hig’s, perspective in short segments. While the first part of…
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Bless Me, Ultima
By Rudolfo Anaya It’s been three weeks since I’ve returned from a visit to NYC on a not fun plane trip and a really long time since I’ve posted here. And I read most of this book on this excruciating journey. The woman who was sitting next to me joked about me finishing the book…
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Into the Beautiful North
By Luis Alberto Urrea Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Back Bay Books, 2009 Genre: General fiction ISBN: 9780316025263 Audience: Adult, young adult Number of pages: 338 Setting: Tres Camarones & Tijuana, Mexico, San Diego, CA, & Kankakee, IL Time period: Contemporary Plot summary: When narcos come to the sleepy town of Tres Camarones, nineteen…
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Yes Is Better Than No
By Byrd Baylor Place: Publisher & Year: Tucson, AZ: Silvercloud Books, c 1972, 2011 Genre: General fiction ISBN: 9780984674404 Audience: Adult Number of pages: 187 Setting: Tucson, AZ Time period: Early 1970’s Plot summary: Maria Vasquez is trying to eke out a life for herself and her children in Tucson. It is difficult because the…
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Habibi
By Craig Thompson Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Pantheon Books, 2011 Genres: General fiction, mythic fiction Format: Graphic novel ISBN: 9780375424144 Audience: Adult Number of pages: 665 (672 includes notes and author description) Setting: A Middle-eastern desert, an unnamed village, and Wanatolia Time period: No set time period –seems like the past, present, and…
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Kafka on the Shore
By Haruki Murakami; translated by Philip Gabriel Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Vintage International, c2005, 2006 Genres: General fiction, magical realism, fantasy ISBN: 9781400079278 Audience: Adult Number of pages: 464 Setting: Japan – mostly Takamatsu (Shikoku) & Nakano Ward (Tokyo), but also some unspecified mountains Time period: Contemporary Plot summary: Two stories converge into…
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The Listener
By David Lester Place: Publisher & Year: Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing, 2011 Genres: General fiction, historical fiction Format: Graphic novel ISBN: 9781894037488 Audience: Adults Number of pages: 312 Settings: Vancouver, BC, Canada, Lippe, Germany & other locations in Europe Time periods: Contemporary and 1928-1933 Plot summary: Hitler’s rise to power is described to the main…
Ra's Spiral Path 