Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb's lively and educational Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter shows why beavers should be respected as 'ecosystem engineers.
Goldfarb is a fan of beavers, but he admits that they are not loved by all. To some, he writes, 'beavers still appear more menacing than munificent.' To make beavers seem more appealing to nature lovers, the book traces the history of beavers, tying their evolution to the colonization of North America, and shows their positive impact on the natural environment. Humans who recognize beavers' importance can help by relocating them to areas where they can do the most good. Skip Lisle, founder & owner of Beaver Deceivers International, is located in Grafton, VT. Reviewed by Pat
'Chesapeake Requiem' by Earl Swift is a chronicle not only of his year spent on the disappearing island of Tangier, but also a fair regional and cultural history of the people there and its industries. Swift's writing is clear and his sympathy genuine, but perhaps soft on some questions relating to the state and federal government's lack of response to the island's plight and to the islanders own refusal to get out of their own way. Reviewed by Myles
Kristin Hannah’s new novel makes Alaska sound equally gorgeous and treacherous — a glistening realm that lures folks into the wild and then kills them there. What it was like for people from the lower 48 to move to Alaska in the 70's- people without the survival skills necessary to make it through the winter... Coupled with a story about a Vietnam War veteran with PTSD that was uncared for by the Veterans Admin. 13 year old Leni has the strength to become a survivor and care for her mom too. I am sure that Vermont's Northeast Kingdom required survival skills too in those days. Reviewed by Pat
Andromeda Romano-Lax's 'Plum Rains' is a compelling, deeply relevant tale of our near-future. In 2029 Japan, a fertility crisis and an increase in life expectancy creates a demand for foreign nurses and caregivers. It is a hard life, however, as Angelica, a Filipino woman, must pass constantly changing language exams and deal with a society that needs immigrant workers but doesn't accept them. Her client, Sayoko, a woman approaching her 100th birthday, receives a new prototype care-giving robot that threatens her fragile position. Angelica and Sayoko have more in common than they know, however and the robot may draw out secrets that have been buried for decades. Reviewed by Myles
Rice Moore is hiding from the Sinaloa Cartel while working on a private forest preserve in the Appalachians in Virginia. Rice finds the carcass of a bear and recruits the former caretaker scientist to try to catch the poachers. Great read for nature lovers and fast-paced action for thriller-detective readers. Reviewed by Pat
The McElroy's podcast "Adventure Zone" is transformed into a graphic novel with art by Carey Pietsch. This is a hilarious rendition of a D&D campaign that captures the zany spirit of the game. Some language issues keep this from being a kids' title, but adults will enjoy this fresh look at the oldest RPG. Reviewed by Myles
Paul Tremblay's 'Cabin at the End of the World' is a thriller about the end times descending on an innocent family's weekend getaway. Four strangers turn up at their door telling them that the apocalypse is coming and only by choosing to sacrifice themselves or their daughter will they save billions of lives. An unusual premise, spaced only over two days, this is an interesting novel. Reviewed by Myles
R.O. Kwon's 'The Incendiaries' is a quick, gripping novel about identity, faith and an attempt by Will Kendall to rationalize his former girlfriend's involvement in a religious terrorist group. Will meets Phoebe Lin early on in their college career, and is dazzled by her, but ultimately unable to respond when she is recruited by charismatic former student and cult leader, John Leal. Kwon challenges the reader to confront extremism and religious and racial identities by presenting John and Phoebe's stories as well as Will's. Reviewed by Myles
Adina Gewitz in 'Blue Window' takes children's portal fantasy to new heights. I loved these children and getting to know each of them in turn as different sections of the novel are told from their point of view. One evening a window in their living room turns blue and, upon investigating, the five siblings are thrown into a strange land with no clear idea of what they are there for and how to get home. The people in the land beyond the window are twisted by a curse and are driven on by their own fears and animal instincts. As they search for answers, the children must learn the rules of this world and find a way to wake up the better instincts of the people there, before its too late, for everyone. There is a strong message in 'Blue Window', and an important one. I think this will be easily embraced by children looking for a fantasy with teeth. Reviewed by Myles
I loved the hell out of this book. A dark-tinged fantasy reminiscent of Neil Gaiman, the bleaker stories of Diana Wynne Jones, and of John Connelly. I'm going to read that every time, but even better, this one is good, too! The Hazel Wood feels fresh as its plot spirals its characters in what could have been well-charted territory in less-capable hands. This is being pegged as a teen novel, but I see opportunities with adult readers as well. Reviewed by Myles
Joe Hill continues to grow as a writer with this collection. He may have faced some comparisons with his father, but he is his own artist and the strength of the stories here proves it. These stories were horror, thriller, sf, post-apocalyptic, satire, mystery....across the board for recommendations. Short stories can be a hard sell in some cases, but not here. Fantastic read! Reviewed by Myles
A love letter to noir cinema and Hitchcock's classics, The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn is the best reimagining of the 'Rear Window' I've ever read or seen. Films like the Third Man, Laura, and Shadow of a Doubt layer the already unreliable narrator's tale with rich atmosphere. Finn is a top-notch plotter and he avoids the pitfalls of a too-tidy ending. Reviewed by Myles
Recent Book Club Pick - Why is Anna a recluse? What really happened to her husband and daughter? As that story unfolds, there's another- what is happening in the house across the park? Pycho;logical suspense that will keep you guessing... Reviewed by Pat
Dava Sobel's book is on the Harvard College Observatory's employment of women as calculators, or "human Computers" to interpret the observations their male counterparts made via telescope each night. As the ladies turned to studying photographic images of the stars on the glass plates, they began to make extraordinary discoveries. Reviewed by Myles
It's June 1939- two brothers are on an ocean liner from Ireland bound for their brother Martin's home in New York City, having stolen a small fortune from the IRA. Tom Cronin, an erstwhile assassin forced into one last job, tracks the brothers down. Pre-World War II picture of Irish-American NYC. Reviewed by Pat Also in paperback...
Middlemarch illustrates the plight of women in the 19th century with skill and compassion. Eliot conveys the few options that women had in those days, in a fictional nineteenth-century Midlands town in the midst of modern changes. The proposed Reform Bill promises political change; the building of railroads alters both the physical and cultural landscape; new scientific approaches to medicine incite public division; and scandal lurks behind respectability. The quiet drama of ordinary lives and flawed choices are played out in the complexly portrayed central characters of the novel. Reviewed by Myles
