Staff Picks

100 Simple Things You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-related Memory Loss, by Jean Carper
 
I'd been talking with a patron one day about age and memory loss. She returned to the desk a short time later with Jean Carper's book 100 Simple Things You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-related Memory Loss. I decided to take a look. The book explains how this disease ravages the brain. The good news is there are things we can do to prevent, or at least ward off, the onset. Exercise and diet are key to preventing the plaques from building up in the brain and interfering with memory. There are also supplemental drugs you can take to turn the tables in your favor. You can use certain brain exercises to keep your brain healthy. Internet searching has also been credited with helping since it involves quick, frequent decision making. People who develop Alzheimer's carry a certain gene. This doesn't mean they'll get Alzheimer's - only that they are more prone. As the author states, the more you know about the disease and ways to prevent it, the better are your chances of avoiding it. Everyone should read this book to protect their health and quality of life.
-Carl

Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939 - 1945, by Neill Lochery
 
While the role of Portugal in World War II might be considered minor by many, Neill Lochery, in his new book Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939 - 1945, has written an interesting account about how Portugal did manage to remain neutral during that conflict. The Portuguese government faced many issues threatening that avoidance of war involvement : mainly the possible invasion from Spain or Germany into its territory. Portugal has a great natural resource with its wolfram (tungsten) supply, which was a much-needed element in the manufacturing of armaments. Leading the Portuguese government was Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. He began as Portugal's finance minister and then became Prime Minister from 1932 until 1968. Salazar ruled as virtual dictator and guided Portugal through the tricky diplomatic waters of maintaining its neutrality during the war years. Salazar played both the Axis and the Allies against each other with its wolfram trade as well as other political issues.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the war years in Portugal was the collection of refugees and personalities that sought safety there. For many escaping the Germans, Lisbon was the port from which they left for foreign shores. Even the Duke and Duchess of Windsor found temporary refuge there after leaving Nazi-occupied France. Another notable character floating around Lisbon, as an intelligence office for the British government, was Ian Fleming, who gained widespread fame as the writer of the James Bond books after the war. Thus, especially for those who are interested in lesser-known aspects of the World War II years in Europe, Lisbon is a very enjoyable read.
-Roy

The Rembrandt Affair, by Daniel Silva
 
For the legion of Daniel Silva fans, The Rembrandt Affair continues the terrifically engaging series of books featuring the fictional character Gabriel Allon and displays the high level of reading enjoyment found in his other books. Allon is a very interesting character with a double life - in his "cover" career he is a professional restorer of fine art paintings that masks his other life as an intelligence officer for the Israeli government. As readers of Silva's books featuring Allon know, he manages to become involved in episodes of political and international intrigue. In the Rembrandt Affair, Allon has supposedly retired from his high powered adventures to enjoy life on the English coast with is art work. However, he is recruited to help an old friend find a missing Rembrandt painting. By agreeing to do that seemingly simple task, Allon becomes deeply involved in yet another affair of murder, Middle Eastern politics, corrupt business practices and issues of world-wide security. Several characters have appeared in other Silva books and each contributes key actions to help resolve this crisis. The Rembrandt Affair is fun and highly enjoyable reading. For readers who become fans of Silva, this reviewer encourages they read his other Allon books in order of publication. These titles are held at The Greenwich Library.
-Roy

My Brother, the Pope, by Georg Ratzinger
 
Georg Ratzinger's recollections of his family's life, and especially that of his brother Joseph (Pope Benedict XVI) form the basis of this book, starting with memories such as Joseph as a small boy regularly visiting a stuffed bear in the local shop and being heart-broken when it disappeared. His memories are interspersed with sections by the interviewer that help provide context and background. As a student, Joseph was a natural scholar, not only doing assigned work, but always reading additional books to explore ideas more fully. The Ratzingers were a close knit and devout family whose hatred of National Socialism made the war years especially difficult. Both boys always expected to be priests. However, Joseph never sought nor wanted important positions of prominence, but would have been happy spending his life as a teacher/priest/scholar. Being selected Pope came as "a thunderbolt", but, as always, he put himself at the disposal of the Holy Spirit and did/does the best he can.
-Nancy

City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas, by Roger Crowley
 
Venice has remained an extraordinarily dazzling city set on a series of islands in a lagoon off the northern coast of Italy. While it has gathered many romantic and fanciful nicknames over the years, perhaps the most appropriate is Stato da Mar or State across the Sea. And, the trading across the sea was the source of the riches that made Venice into a great empire for centuries. Roger Crowley's latest book, City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas, is a terrifically readable and fascinating history of the rise of the Venetian Empire. With his clear and concise writing style, he relates how the commercially-driven city of Venice grew into a strong, wealthy and colonizing force in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Venetians became extremely efficient in establishing seaside cities as their exclusive trading zones. And, the profit to Venice was huge. Crowley uses primary sources with ease and the descriptions give the reader a first-hand glimpse into the Venetian world of commerce. Equally, the growth of Venice as military power is described. Perhaps the most vivid is the participation of Venice in the Fourth Crusade. That was a horrendously destructive expedition designed to re-establish Christian power over the Holy Land. Venice played a key role in conquering and pillaging Constantinople. However, that control only lasted several decades during the Thirteen Century. In all, City of Fortune is a highly recommended historical account of the rise and fall of the Venetian Empire.
-Roy

The Garner Files, by James Garner
 
My wife, Linda, brought home a book to me titled The Garner Files. This is an autobiography of actor James Garner written in collaboration with Jon Winokur. I was a big fan of the Rockford Files and particularly James Garner, who played the lead. His delivery was so smooth and he was so natural. The book covers his early life in Oklahoma. His mother died when he was young, and his father was always on the road. Jim and his brothers ended up living with relatives. He was a rebel-rouser when he was young, and made money at odd jobs. The book relates how he never finished school, was wounded in the Korean War and fell into acting by accident. There are many anecdotes about his interactions with fellow actors. He imparts his philosophy of acting, which is based on reacting to what other people say. This book is well-written and easy to read. If you're like me, you'll develop a new-found respect for James Garner.
-Carl

Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes
 
Twelve year-old Lanesha lives in New Orleans with Mama Ya-Ya, her adopted grandmother. Mama Ya-Ya has taught Lanesha to understand the "signs" of nature and dreams, and to pay attention to the spirits that surround them. Their special gifts and inner strength are what they rely upon as Hurricane Katrina hits their neighborhood. A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award book.
-Deirdre

Who Was King Tut?, by Roberta Edwards
 
The life and times of the ancient Egyptian ruler, covering the story of the tomb's discovery, as well as myths and stories of mummy curses and life in Ancient Egypt. A popular biography series.
-Deirdre

City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas , by Roger Crowley
 
Venice has remained an extraordinarily dazzling city set on a series of islands in a lagoon off the northern coast of Italy. While it has gathered many romantic and fanciful nicknames over the years, perhaps the most appropriate is Stato da Mar or State across the Sea. And, the trading across the sea was the source of the riches that made Venice into a great empire for centuries. Roger Crowley's latest book, City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas, is a terrifically readable and fascinating history of the rise of the Venetian Empire. With his clear and concise writing style, he relates how the commercially-driven city of Venice grew into a strong, wealthy and colonizing force in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Venetians became extremely efficient in establishing seaside cities as their exclusive trading zones. And, the profit to Venice was huge. Crowley uses primary sources with ease and the descriptions give the reader a first-hand glimpse into the Venetian world of commerce. Equally, the growth of Venice as military power is described. Perhaps the most vivid is the participation of Venice in the Fourth Crusade. That was a horrendously destructive expedition designed to re-establish Christian power over the Holy Land. Venice played a key role in conquering and pillaging Constantinople. However, that control only lasted several decades during the Thirteen Century. In all, City of Fortune is a highly recommended historical account of the rise and fall of the Venetian Empire.
-Roy

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
 
To those who have not yet read Kathryn Stockett's hugely popular The Help, this reviewer is pleased to report that it is as great a reading experience as so many have reported since it publication in 2009. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962, the main character is Skeeter Phelan, a recent graduate of Old Miss. Dreaming of developing a writing career after her college graduation, Skeeter is frustrated by the lack of opportunities for doing that as she moves back to her parents' home after receiving her college degree. Her sole outlet for writing becomes creating a home-maintenance advice column for the local newspaper. Not giving up on her writing dream, Skeeter begins to plot the story she wants to write. It concerns using the lives of assorted maids who work for white families in Jackson to write a work of fiction. She first convinces the indomitable Aibileen Clark to cooperate with her by having Aibileen agree to tell Skeeter all about her life as a black woman being the maid for years in white homes in Jackson. After overcoming much reluctance by many other maids to speak with her, Skeeter finally gains their confidence and she begins to collect the life stories of other Jackson maids.

The Help is so well plotted and written that the reader is totally transported to Jackson, Mississippi during the days of uneasy racial relations between white and black. Being a black woman serving as a maid in a white house was full of twists and turns - many heart breaking and deeply humiliating for those women. Stockett so vividly and humanely brings her wonderful characters to unforgettable life. One in particular, Minny Jackson is a sharp-tongued observer of the life she and Aibileen must endure and survive. In all, The Help is a terrifically entertaining story and highly recommended. If a book club has not yet chosen this title, it is would be a great reading selection.
-Roy

Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo
 
Several years ago, I turned on the television and happened to catch an interview on Good Morning, America with a couple who claimed their son visited heaven during a critical medical emergency. Recently, I spotted a book on the story titled Heaven is for Real. It's the story of the Burpo family from Nebraska. The father, Todd, is a part-time pastor at a church, and has 3 children. His middle son, Colton, suffered a ruptured appendix and almost died in the hospital. Several months after his recovery, Colton began telling his parents about who he had seen in Heaven and what Heaven was like. He also talked about meeting his great-grandfather, as well as a sister who had died in childbirth. Colton also told his parents some other details which amazed them. Although religion is a big part of this book, it's still an interesting story from a scientific point of view. I was so intrigued by it, that I read it in two days! In a way, I felt uplifted and energized by it. You will, too!
-Carl

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
 
Extensively praised since its publication in 2010, Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, combines a recounting of both an incredible medical development involving research on the cells taken from one human being with the effect of the use of those cells for scientific purposes on the family of the person whose cells were taken from her for this research. At the center of this incredibly fascinating book, is Henrietta Lacks, who was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1920. In her late 20's, she developed an extremely destructive form of cervical cancer. Prior to her death in 1951, human cells were removed from her body to be used for research purposes by a doctor at Johns Hopkins without her knowledge or permission. Those cells became known as HeLa cells; so named by using the first two letters of Henrietta's first and last name. The HeLa cells became unique for they could be grown in cultures and used to study various diseases and other areas of scientific research.

It was as a young student that Skloot became aware of the existence of these cells and she was to become enthralled by their history and use within the scientific community. At the early stages of her writing career, she began to meticulously research the story of these cells. Concerned with discovering all she could about the person whose cells became the center of the HeLa research, she tracked down the former husbands, children, grandchildren and assorted family members of Henrietta Lacks. The legacy of the Hela cells on Henrietta's family was a source of great mystery, frustration, resentment and pride within that family.

The HeLa cell story itself at times might make readers question if they are reading fact or fiction. Yet, thanks to Skloot's clear and very well documented writing, the HeLa cell story, as well as Skloot's telling of the Lacks's family involvement with that story, both come vividly alive and make for very readable and extremely interesting reading. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is highly recommended, especially for those readers who have an interest in the biological sciences and the remarkable achievements in research the scientific community has made in the past decades using the HeLa cells.
-Roy