{"id":1439,"date":"2012-10-25T21:39:11","date_gmt":"2012-10-25T21:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/207.210.128.61\/?page_id=1439"},"modified":"2025-10-02T10:41:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T14:41:24","slug":"august-2012","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westhavenlibrary.org\/?page_id=1439","title":{"rendered":"August 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

Angelina, Youth Assistant (Graham Room)-<\/p>\n

Offbeat Bride:\u00a0 Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides? by Ariel Meadow Stallings<\/p>\n

I’ve always fa\"Offbeatncied myself as an independent, creative woman who doesn’t really fit into any molds.\u00a0 I recently became engaged, and in the slew of wedding planning literature I’ve read, this is the only book I’ve found so far that doesn’t try to sell or dictate the “perfect” (read: cookie-cutter and boring) wedding.\u00a0 The writer of this book shares stories from her own offbeat wedding and those of many other happily married individuals who did not bow to the wedding-industrial-complex, impractical and silly etiquette rules, and nonsensical, outdated traditions.\u00a0 It shows how brides (and grooms) can work together to plan a personalized, meaningful wedding, on a tight budget, and still have fun.\u00a0 This book also examines real issues about gender roles in today’s society and how wedding choices can reflect the couple’s stances on them.\u00a0 It offers tips on tiny, practical things, such as lubricating the rings before the ceremony, as well as more serious general advice on how to deal with more traditional family members and friends who may baulk at your choices for your wedding or be outright offended that you don’t want to use their time-honored wedding traditions as your own.\u00a0 The book is at different times funny, touching, practical, and off-the-wall.\u00a0 I’ve been recommending this book to all of my engaged friends, and they’ve all agreed with me that this is a must-read for all brides-to-be.<\/p>\n

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Claudia, Assistant Director-<\/p>\n

Our Husband by Stephanie Bond\"Our<\/a><\/p>\n

Three women each receive calls from officials letting them know their husband has been hospitalized after a car accident. The three women all end up in the same patient’s room and are stunned to learn they are married to the same man, Raymond Carmichael, a charming, handsome bigamist, compulsive gambler, debtor and shortly thereafter…dead man. Ultimately murder is determined and the three wives are implicated. This is a humorous novel with a touch of mystery and romance. The plot is a bit light, but it’s a fun, silly romp with enjoyable characters: Wife #1, a 50-something socialite; Wife #2, a 30-something doctor and, Wife #3, a 21-year-old stripper. I listened to this book narrated by the brilliant C. J. Critt. Her reading gave realistic, endearing voices to the characters and I found myself laughing out loud frequently. In the end this was a novel about sisterhood. Chick lit and Janet Evanovich fans should enjoy this.<\/p>\n

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Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn<\/p>\n

New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn take us on a passionate global voyage to learn the stories of real \"Half<\/a>women and girls who have endured brutal conditions (lack of education, demoralization, rape, beatings, sex trafficking, mutilations, and murder) in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This is some tough material, but very moving, enlightening and written in a very approachable style. The book is organized into short chapters that focus on these extreme \u00a0women\u2019s\u00a0 conditions. We meet the women and learn of the successes and failures in the outcomes of aid directed toward improving their situations.\u00a0 When my book group finished this reading, we knew we had to help our sisters to overcome their plights. As a result, we started two Dining for Women<\/a> chapters in CT to support the education, empowerment and survival of women and girls worldwide. Empowering women and girls has proven to be the key to improving their lives and thus, the lives of families and communities worldwide. This should be a must-read for all \u2013 it\u2019s really an eye-opener\u00ad, but instills hope.<\/p>\n

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Ray, Branch Manager (LP)-<\/p>\n

One phenomenal read that captivates your curiosity and never lets go is written by the legendary champ of television\u2019s popular game \"Brainiac\"<\/a>show, \u201cJeopardy.\u201d Ken Jennings\u2019 well written, humorous and insightful memoir is surprisingly fascinating and easy reading. One learns all the answers to all one\u2019s questions about the behind the scenes details of a popular television game show all the while keeping you informed, entertained and mesmerized. There is a great deal of history of the subculture that thrives on competitive word games, puzzles, college bowl quiz tournaments and the many trivia buff luminaries throughout the ages. You learn how invested Ken Jennings became as a dedicated trivia buff while keeping an engaging personality. You may not feel as smart as Ken Jennings but you will learn so much by reading the answers to each chapters\u2019 quizzes at the end of each few pages. For an informative, fun, and page turning read I highly recommend Brainiac, Adventures in the Curious, Competitive World of Trivia Buffs.<\/p>\n

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For superb storytelling and exquisite atmospheric surroundings, Dorothy Frank Benton is unsurpassed. Any of her ten or more charming and convincing tales will transport you to the essence of Southern gentility, hospitality and neighborly friendships while lurking underneath are family struggles and secrets. \u201cLowcountry Summer,\u201d pits Caroline Wim\"Lowcountry<\/a>bley Levine against a formidable array of family and friends struggling against breakups and teen rebellion. Caroline is in line to take over as matriarch of the family after the passing of her mother, Miss Lavinia, even while she is trying to rein in a rambunctious teen, cantankerous sister-in-law and difficult brother. Eric, Caroline\u2019s college age son, who is the center of her life, takes up most of her energy except \u00a0when she is\u00a0 working on her own romances with the local pig farmer, civic leaders,\u00a0 businessmen\u00a0 and law enforcement agents.\u00a0 Lowcountry Summer is one page after mesmerizing page turning read that will have you laughing uproariously one minute and wiping away your tears from the previous page another minute. You will not be able to put this perfect summer read down.<\/p>\n

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Dani, Circulation Assistant (LP)-<\/p>\n

For those who are interested in an alternative version of fairy tales I think you should read “A Hole in the World” by Sophie Robbins.\u00a0 The story follows Bianca who finds this mysterious cave inside of a wall.\u00a0 She hears a voice cry out “Help Me”.\u00a0 She runs away but for years after she dreams of the cave and the voice that had called out to her.\u00a0 Bianca life is anything but adventurous.\u00a0 She is sent to an all girls boarding school by her parents and dreads every moment being there.\u00a0 Through no fault of her own she is expelled from the school and sent back home.\u00a0She is happy to reconnect with her best friend Scotty and hopes that her life gets better.\u00a0 Bianca tells Scotty of the cave and how she is drawn to it but also scared at the same time of what she might find.\u00a0 She eventually goes into the cave and that’s where her life changes for the better.\u00a0 She rescues Princess Alexandra\u00a0 from imprisonment and a large troll.\u00a0From then on Alexandra\u00a0views Bianca as her Prince Charming.\u00a0 Bianca introduces Alexandra to her world of going to school, iPods, and what its really like to be a teenager with all the confusion emotionally and hormonally that comes along with being a teenager.\u00a0 This book is full of adventure and all the magical things that happen in “fairy tales” and\u00a0in the end true love conquers all.<\/p>\n

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