More Roseville Library Favorites of 2006!

Turning Angel, Greg Iles, 2005
This is a suspenseful and well-plotted thriller, perfect for long airplane trips. The plot involves the main character, Penn Cage (an attorney) discovering that his best friend, respected and happily married Dr. Drew Elliott, had been sexually involved with a bright and beautiful 17-year-old and is now suspected of killing her. Iles is particularly effective in delineating an assortment of characters among them babysitter Mia Burke. Iles has selected an attitude for her that mixes blasé precocity with neediness. This helps to underline the novel's theme: today's teens mature sooner than most adults realize and can pay a very high price for their early maturity.--Rachel

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
10 year old Abilene loves her china rabbit, Edward, who has a pretty high opinion of himself until he falls overboard on the family’s ocean cruise. Over a period of time, he finds himself in unusual situations, owned by several different people. Each experience makes Edward more human, and ultimately humble, until he finally learns the meaning of love. Reading this will make you care about what happens to Edward. Will he eventually be re-united with Abilene? You’ll have to read this touching story to find out!--Mary Beth

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
A sparely written novel about a family slowly becoming dysfunctional due to the mother’s descent into depression and her ultimate abandonment. Naturally this book as all the required elements: death, family, teenage pregnancy, romance, and compassion. The varied characters in the book (the town is included as a character) slowly learn to heal and help each other. The end is not the pat “happily ever after” ending but rings true with reality.--Gail


Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Much better than the movie! Golden has a great sense of humor.--Mitch


Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon--Vicki


Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll
It is an extremely well written account of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy’s marriage, which takes place after Pride and Prejudice. They begin their marriage finely in-tune, and the bond between them, which started in P & P, grows stronger and more passionate every day. Add in Elizabeth’s wacky family, a servant obsessed with her, a question of infidelity, and other plot twisters make this sequel to P & P well worth the 191 year wait.--Jaime


The Afghan" by Frederick Forsyth
This was a great thriller combining terrorism and political intrique. I enjoy espionage and this was a page turner.--Myrna

Look for upcoming author interviews on this blog--plus the 2007 Roseville Reads title will be announced on January 17. Fantastic things on the horizon!