Librarian, Nancy Fort, has reviewed two new books that just arrived via the library’s McNaughton new book collection.  The McNaughton collection, located near the front of the library in the browsing shelving section, is a rotating collection of books based upon The New York Times Best Sellers Fiction and Non-Fiction list as well as some and popular DVD titles.  This service is exclusively paid for by the RFL Association through donations made to it’s Annual Appeal.

Image, with thanks from NPR

Kate Atkinson’s A God in Ruins:  The stunning companion to Kate Atkinson’s #1 bestseller Life After Life, “one of the best novels I’ve read this century” (Gillian Flynn). “He had been reconciled to death during the war and then suddenly the war was over and there was a next day and a next day. Part of him never adjusted to having a future.” Kate Atkinson’s dazzling Life After Life explored the possibility of infinite chances and the power of choices, following Ursula Todd as she lived through the turbulent events of the last century over and over again. A GOD IN RUINS tells the dramatic story of the 20th Century through Ursula’s beloved younger brother Teddy–would-be poet, heroic pilot, husband, father, and grandfather-as he navigates the perils and progress of a rapidly changing world. After all that Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge is living in a future he never expected to have. An ingenious and moving exploration of one ordinary man’s path through extraordinary times, A GOD IN RUINS proves once again that Kate Atkinson is one of the finest novelists of our age.

Image, with thanks Simon & Schuster

David McCullough’s The Wright Brothers: A New York Times Bestselling Author and two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly.Far more than a couple of unschooled Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success, Wilbur and Orville Wright were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity. David McCullough draws on the immense riches of the Wright Papers to tell the human side of the story, including the little-known contributions of their sister, Katharine.

Librarian, Nancy Fort, loves books in series and sequels.  This is her 7th book review in her series of book reviews!  See what appeals to you.

I love to read books that are part of a series. My preference for series started with Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene. Every book was a new adventure but featured the same main characters that I had come to love. As a teenager, I pulled The Bastard off my mother’s bookshelf and became entranced by John Jakes’ Kent Family Chronicles, an American Bicentennial Series. I continued reading series and very often mourned the ending of them. My opinion about series has changed though and I blame that on Stephen King. For years, I read the Dark Tower series starting with the Gunslinger. I fought my way through the strange landscapes alongside the main character, Roland of Gilead. I gritted my teeth as each book got longer and longer. I wondered if it would ever end when Mr. King was involved in a serious accident and stopped writing. He did finish that series and I was very disappointed by the ending. Putting that experience behind me, I turned to A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. The series is called Song of Ice and Fire and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters, the story and the action but it seemed that every time I found a character that I really liked, he or she was killed off in the next chapter.   The series is incomplete and I am undecided whether I will read the next installments.

Of course I am still a sucker for any Nora Roberts series; I just love how she gives each character a chance to have their own story. I also just read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, the first book in the Neopolitan Series. I devoured the next two in the series and am eagerly awaiting the fourth book. It is nice to have something to look forward to and I know there are many other good books to read in the meantime.