Bradley Reads

Check out the latest Library Staff Pick!

2012-02-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

Before I Go to Sleep
By Watson, S. J.

A promising writer makes his debut with this disturbing psychological thriller, reminiscent of "Shutter Island" and "Memento," in which an amnesiac desperately tries to uncover the truth about who she is--and who she can trust.

Reviews
Review by Julie Hale

Best paperbacks for reading groups

SIBLINGS FOR HIRE
Patrick DeWitt’s one-of-a-kind Western, The Sisters Brothers, has the trappings of a classic but an attitude that’s decidedly contemporary. Charlie and Eli Sisters are brothers and guns for hire. When they’re enlisted by a wealthy settler to locate and eliminate a prospector named Herman Kermit Warm, they leave Oregon for California, embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. In the foothills of the Sierras, they find Warm’s prospecting claim, but along the way they encounter a variety of obstacles, including a group of crazed fur trappers, a witch and a bear. Their adventures are recounted by Eli, whose commentary infuses the novel with sensitivity and humanity. Shedding new light on old myths about frontier life, DeWitt’s book has plenty of action, and his sharply etched characters, though rooted in tradition, stand firmly on their own.

REMEMBER THIS
S.J. Watson’s electrifying debut, Before I Go to Sleep, has all the makings of a classic thriller. At the center of the novel is Christine, an amnesiac who has lost her memory after a strange accident. Each day, her husband, Ben—whom she no longer recognizes—must supply Christine with the backstory of their life together. At the prompting of her doctor, Christine begins writing in a journal, an exercise that will hopefully spark her memory. When Christine discovers that she’s written the words “Don’t trust Ben” in her notebook, she feels the ground beneath her feet shift yet again. Faced with fresh misgivings about the past as well as the present, Christine finds herself struggling to navigate a daily existence that’s marked by danger and doubt. Should she rely on Ben? And what, exactly, was the nature of her accident? Watson, who lives in London, writes with the assurance and polish of a seasoned author in his gripping first novel.

TOP PICK FOR BOOK CLUBS
The Weird Sisters, Eleanor Brown’s wonderfully appealing first novel, tells the story of a trio of sisters, each named by their eccentric scholar-father for a character from Shakespeare. Raised in Barnwell, Ohio, a quiet college town, Rosalind, Cordelia and Bianca Andreas spent their childhood engrossed in books and listening to their pater quote the Bard. Once out of the nest, though, the girls have very different experiences: Cordelia hooks up with a painter in New Mexico and gets pregnant, while Bianca has legal and financial troubles in New York. Meanwhile, Rosalind, the levelheaded oldest, remains faithfully in Barnwell, working as a math teacher. When the sisters learn that their mother has cancer, they return home for an unexpected reunion. Their time in Barnwell proves to be a period of awakening as they learn all over again the importance of family. Brown’s characters, like her prose style, are fresh and original.

© 2011, All rights reserved, BookPage

Publisher Comments

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love--all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life.

Check out these newly released titles

2011-12-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

11/22/63 By King, Stephen2011-11 - Scribner Book Company9781451627282 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
King's heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination. Jake Epping is a 35-year-old high-school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. Jake's friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. 864 pp. 2,000,000 print. (General Fiction) …More

V Is for Vengeance By Grafton, Sue2011-11 - Marian Wood Book9780399157868 Check Our Catalog 22nd book in Kinsey Millhone series
BookPage Notable Title
A woman with a murky past who kills herself. A dying old man. A lovely woman. A professional shoplifting ring. A brutal and unscrupulous gangster. A wandering husband. A spoiled kid. A lonely widower. An elegant but ruthless businessman whose dealings are definitely outside the law: the spider at the center of the web. And in the middle of it all is Kinsey Millhone, whose 38th-birthday gift is a punch in the face that leaves her with two black eyes and a busted nose. 448 pp. 1,250,000 print. (Mystery/Detective) …More

The Night Circus By Morgenstern, Erin2011-09 - Doubleday Books9780385534635 Check Our Catalog
To enter the black-and-white-striped tents of Le Cirque des Reves is to enter a world where objects really do turn into birds and people really do disappear. Even though visitors believe the performances are all illusion, they are obsessively drawn to this extraordinary night circus. Those who run and perform in the circus are its lifeblood. Marco Alisdair runs the operation from London as assistant to the eccentric proprietor. Celia Bowen holds it all together from her role as illusionist. As magicians, Marco and Celia are bound to each other in a deadly competition of powers, creating ever more fantastical venues for circus goers to marvel at. But falling in love was never part of the game, and the players struggle to extricate themselves from this contest while keeping the circus afloat. …More

Explosive Eighteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel By Evanovich, Janet2011-11 - Bantam9780345527714 Check Our Catalog 18th book in Stephanie Plum series
With the arrival of "Explosive Eighteen", readers won't have to wait very long to find out what happens next in Evanovich's popular Stephanie Plum adventure series. 320 pp. (General Fiction) …More

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman By Massie, Robert K.2011-11 - Random House9780679456728 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
Massie returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography--the extraordinary story of an obscure young German princess who traveled to Russia at 14 and rose to become one of the most remarkable, powerful, and captivating women in history. History offers few stories richer in drama than that of Catherine the Great. In this book, this eternally fascinating woman is returned to life. 688 pp. (Biography/Autobiography) …More

Bradley Public Library Staff Picks

2011-11-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

Wingshooters By Revoyr, Nina2011-02 - Akashic Books9781936070718 Check Our Catalog
In Nina Revoyr's best novel to date, the events of 1974 forever change Michelle LeBeau, her town, and her family. …More

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever By O'Reilly, BillAuthor Dugard, Martin2011-09 - Henry Holt & Company9780805093070 Check Our Catalog
The anchor of "The O'Reilly Factor" delivers a riveting historical narrative of the heart-stopping events surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. With an unforgettable cast of characters, vivid historical detail, and fast-paced action, "Killing Lincoln" is history that sounds like a thriller. …More

How to Do Everything iPad 2 By Ballew, Joli2011-06 - McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media9780071780919 Check Our Catalog
…More

Cloudburst By Andrews, V. C.2011-10 - Gallery Books9781439155042 Check Our Catalog 2nd book in Storms series
When their play opens, Sasha's foster parents attend, but neither of Duane's parents show up. Duane goes into a depression, and he begins to ignore not only his schoolwork, but also his appearance. She tries to warn his mother to be more concerned, but she resents Sasha's inserting herself into their private lives and does nothing. 432 pp. 8,000 print. …More

Beat the summer heat! Relax with a good book this summer.

2011-07-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Tinkers By Harding, Paul2009-01 - Bellevue Literary Press9781934137123 Check Our Catalog
An INDIE NEXT Selection
An astonishing first novel of memory, consciousness, and man's place in the natural world. …More

One Summer By Baldacci, David2011-06 - Grand Central Publishing9780446583145 Check Our Catalog
"New York Times-"bestselling author Baldacci delivers a moving family drama about learning to love again after terrible heartbreak and loss. …More

Rainwater By Brown, Sandra2009-11 - Simon & Schuster9781439172773 Check Our Catalog
A historical novel from bestselling, award-winning author Brown, "Rainwater" follows an independent woman who runs a boarding house in Texas. …More

The Hangman's Daughter: A Historical Daughter By Potzsch, OliverTranslator Chadeayne, Lee2010-12 - Amazon Encore9781935597056 Check Our Catalog
…More

Home Upgrades Under $600 By Better Homes & Gardens2011-06 - John Wiley & Sons9780470887189 Check Our Catalog
…More

In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day That Changed Everything By Waltrip, MichaelAuthor Henican, Ellis2011-02 - Hyperion Books9781401324315 Check Our Catalog
"In the Blink of an Eye" the memoir of NASCAR's most colorful character, racing legend Michael Waltrip, focuses heavily on his historic win at the 2001 Daytona 500--which was immediately followed by news of the tragic death of racing legend Dale Earnhardt. …More

The Triple Agent: The Al-Qaeda Mole Who Infiltrated the CIA By Warrick, Joby2011-07 - Doubleday Books9780385534185 Check Our Catalog
The story of how the Central Intelligence Agency continued its record of failure in the so-called war on terrorism, with fatal consequences. …More

David Crockett: The Lion of the West By Wallis, Michael2011-05 - W. W. Norton & Company9780393067583 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
Steeped in legend, shrouded in folklore, the real David Crockett, American frontiersman and cultural icon, finally emerges in this engrossing biography. …More

Betrayal By Michaels, Fern2011-06 - Zebra9780821779545 Check Our Catalog
In the new novel by the #1 "New York Times"-bestselling creator of the acclaimed Sisterhood and Godmother series, a woman devastated by a betrayal embarks on a daring quest for justice. Original. …More

Feed your need to read!

2011-05-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Sixth Man By Baldacci, David2011-04 - Grand Central Publishing9780446573108 Check Our Catalog
Sean King and Michelle Maxwell dig into the past of an alleged serial killer, but the more they investigate, the harder it is to separate fact from fiction. Each new revelation pushes them to the limit, and this deadly case might be the one that leaves the duo permanently parted. …More

Dead Reckoning By Harris, Charlaine2011-05 - Ace Books9780441020317 Check Our Catalog
With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot--which is much more complicated than she knows. …More

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin By Larson, Erik2011-05 - Crown Publishing Group (NY)9780307408846 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history. A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha. Written by the bestselling author of "Devil in the White City, In the Garden of Beasts" lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity. …More

Seal Team Six By Wasdin, Howard E.Author Templin, Stephen2011-05 - St. Martin's Press9780312699451 Check Our Catalog
For the first time ever, a Navy SEAL Team Six sniper chronicles how he became an elite warrior and the ferocious battle that nearly cost him his life. …More

Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incrediblea Rescue Mission of World War II By Zuckoff, Mitchell2011-05 - Harper9780061988349 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
One of the last untold stories of World War II, the extraordinary mission to rescue male and female survivors of a U.S. military plane crash in an isolated corner of the South Pacific, and the ancient indigenous tribe members that aided those stranded on the ground in this Shangri-La. …More

2011-05-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

2011-04Simon & Schuster9781439163528Check Our Catalog A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS By Conant, Jennet

BookPage Notable Title
Bestselling author Jenny Conant presents a stunning account of Paul and Julia Child's early lives as OSS agents in the Far East.

Undercover lovers

Review by Edward Morris
Jennet Conant is a genius at finding significant World War II-era stories that have largely gone untold or unnoticed in the more comprehensive chronicles of that period. As the granddaughter of James Bryant Conant, the eminent chemist, statesman and longtime president of Harvard University, she has had particular access to the behind-the-scenes workings of history. From that access have come the dramatic and well-documented narratives Tuxedo Park, 109 East Palace and The Irregulars.
Now Conant is back with A Covert Affair, an equally readable account of larger-than-life Julia Child and her husband, Paul Child--not as culinary pioneers, but in their earlier incarnations as information-gatherers and propagandists for the World War II intelligence network, the Office of Strategic Services. Fascinating as these two figures are, though, the book's real focal point is their good friend, the daring and alluring socialite and spy Jane Foster.
Julia and Jane were both from wealthy, conservative families in California; Paul, who was 10 years older than Julia, grew up relatively poor in Boston. Idealists all, they volunteered for the war effort and initially served together in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), working in league with the British. Later, in various configurations, they would continue their government services in Indonesia, China and Vietnam. An impulsive do-gooder, Foster grew incensed that the Dutch, French and English were intent on reasserting their colonial claims in the East once the Japanese were driven out. After the war ended, she argued eloquently and publicly on behalf of the Indonesian resistance movement--one of many political indiscretions that would come back to haunt her when the American government embarked on its witch hunt for Communists.
Conant devotes the last half of her book to showing how the Childs were caught up in Senator McCarthy's red-baiting. Both were indignant at what they perceived as Foster's persecution, and both spoke out in her defense, even when evidence filtered in that she might be more culpable in spying for Russia than she admitted. As Foster's star was sinking, the irrepressible Julia's was rising. After the war, she took cooking classes to impress hard-to-snare Paul--they were finally married in 1946--then expanded her studies when they were posted to France. By the time Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking was published in 1961 to near-universal acclaim, Foster was living in exile in Paris, embittered, separated from her old friends and contemplating the enormous costs of her political sympathies. Conant's account of the three friends' stories is another masterpiece of historical reporting.
© 2011, All rights reserved, BookPage

Publisher CommentsBestselling author Jennet Conant brings us a stunning account of Julia and Paul Child's experiences as members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in the Far East during World War II and the tumultuous years when they were caught up in the McCarthy Red spy hunt in the 1950s and behaved with bravery and honor. It is the fascinating portrait of a group of idealistic men and women who were recruited by the citizen spy service, slapped into uniform, and dispatched to wage political warfare in remote outposts in Ceylon, India, and China.
The eager, inexperienced 6 foot 2 inch Julia springs to life in these pages, a gangly golf-playing California girl who had never been farther abroad than Tijuana. Single and thirty years old when she joined the staff of Colonel William Donovan, Julia volunteered to be part of the OSS's ambitious mission to develop a secret intelligence network across Southeast Asia. Her first post took her to the mountaintop idyll of Kandy, the headquarters of Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the supreme commander of combined operations. Julia reveled in the glamour and intrigue of her overseas assignment and lifealtering romance with the much older and more sophisticated Paul Child, who took her on trips into the jungle, introduced her to the joys of curry, and insisted on educating both her mind and palate. A painter drafted to build war rooms, Paul was a colorful, complex personality. Conant uses extracts from his letters in which his sharp eye and droll wit capture the day-to-day confusion, excitement, and improbability of being part of a cloak- and-dagger operation.
When Julia and Paul were transferred to Kunming, a rugged outpost at the foot of the Burma Road, they witnessed the chaotic end of the war in China and the beginnings of the Communist revolution that would shake the world. "A Covert Affair "chronicles their friendship with a brilliant and eccentric array of OSS agents, including Jane Foster, a wealthy, free-spirited artist, and Elizabeth MacDonald, an adventurous young reporter. In Paris after the war, Julia and Paul remained close to their intelligence colleagues as they struggled to start new lives, only to find themselves drawn into a far more terrifying spy drama. Relying on recently unclassified OSS and FBI documents, as well as previously unpublished letters and diaries, Conant vividly depicts a dangerous time in American history, when those who served their country suddenly found themselves called to account for their unpopular opinions and personal relationships.

Wishing to escape to an island destination but can't? Escape into these reads at the Bradley Public Library.

2011-04-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

Unfamiliar Fishes By Vowell, Sarah2011-03 - Riverhead Books9781594487873 Check Our Catalog From the bestselling author of "The Wordy Shipmates" comes an examination of Hawaii, the place where Manifest Destiny got a sunburn. With her trademark smart-alecky insights and reporting, Vowell lights out to discover the emblematic and exceptional history of the 50th state, and in so doing finds America, warts and all. …More

The Floating Islands By Neumeier, Rachel2011-02 - Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers9780375847059 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title When Trei loses his family in a tragic disaster, he must search out distant relatives in a new land. The Floating Islands are unlike anything Trei has ever seen: stunning, majestic, and graced with kajurai, men who soar the skies with wings. Trei is instantly desperate to be a kajurai himself. …More

When the Killing's Done By Boyle, T. Coraghessan2011-02 - Viking Books9780670022328 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title Principally set on the wild and sparsely inhabited Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, Boyle's powerful new novel combines pulse-pounding adventure with a socially conscious, richly humane tale about endangered animals and those who protect them. …More

This March, march on into the library and pick up a good read

2011-03-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

Against All Odds: My Life of Hardship, Fast Breaks, and Second Chances By Brown, Scott2011-02 - Harper9780062015549 Check Our Catalog
The extraordinary personal story of Senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts), a man who, against all odds, rose up to become one of America's most surprising and promising new political figures. …More

Townie: A Memoir By Dubus, Andre2011-02 - W. W. Norton & Company9780393064667 Check Our Catalog
An acclaimed novelist reflects on his violent past and a lifestyle that threatened to destroy him until he was saved by writing. …More

The Paris Wife By McLain, Paula2011-02 - Ballantine Books9780345521309 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, "The Paris Wife" captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley. …More

When the Killing's Done By Boyle, T. Coraghessan2011-02 - Viking Books9780670022328 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
Principally set on the wild and sparsely inhabited Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, Boyle's powerful new novel combines pulse-pounding adventure with a socially conscious, richly humane tale about endangered animals and those who protect them. …More

Tick Tock By Patterson, JamesAuthor Ledwidge, Michael2011-01 - Little Brown and Company9780316037914 Check Our Catalog 4th book in Michael Bennett series
A rash of horrifying crimes tears through New York City, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that these offenses are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind. All too soon, another appalling murder leads Detective Michael Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan. …More

Check-out these best selling non-fiction selections today

2011-02-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman By Ferriss, Timothy2010-12 - Crown Archetype9780307463630 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
"The 4-Hour Body" is the result of an obsessive quest, spanning more than a decade, to hack the human body. It contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of jaw-dropping personal experimentation. From Olympic training centers to black-market laboratories, from Silicon Valley to South Africa, Tim Ferriss, the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of "The 4-Hour Workweek, " fixated on one life-changing question: For all things physical, what are the tiniest changes that produce the biggest results? Thousands of tests later, this book contains the answers for both men and women. …More

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption By Hillenbrand, Laura2010-11 - Random House9781400064168 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
In her long-awaited new book, Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in "Seabiscuit." Telling an unforgettable story of a young lieutenant's journey into extremity, "Unbroken" is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit. …More

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1 By Twain, MarkEditor Smith, Harriet ElinorEditor Griffin, Benjamin2010-11 - University of California Press9780520267190 Check Our Catalog
The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death. In celebration of this important milestone, Twain's uncensored autobiography is available in its entirety and exactly as he left it. …More

Fiction Best Sellers

2010-11-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

The Confession By Grisham, John2010-10 - Doubleday Books9780385528047 Check Our Catalog
Grisham delivers his most extraordinary legal thriller yet. Filled with his trademark intriguing twists and turns, this newest novel proves that no one keeps readers in suspense like America's favorite storyteller. …More

Worth Dying for: A Reacher Novel By Child, Lee2010-10 - Delacorte Press9780385344319 Check Our Catalog 15th book in Jack Reacher series
BookPage Notable Title
There's deadly trouble in the corn country of Nebraska . . . and Jack Reacher walks right into it. First he runs afoul of a local clan that has terrified an entire county into submission. But it's the unsolved case of a missing child, already decades old, that Reacher can't let go of, in this follow-up to the "New York Times" bestseller "61 Hours." …More

Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files By Butcher, Jim2010-10 - Roc9780451463654 Check Our Catalog
The first short story collection in the #1 "New York Times"-bestselling series includes a brand-new Harry Dresden novella. Here, together for the first time, are the shorter works by Butcher--a compendium of cases that Harry and his cadre of allies managed to close in record time. …More

In the Company of Others By Karon, Jan2010-10 - Viking Books9780670022120 Check Our Catalog 2nd book in Father Tim series
Father Tim and Cynthia arrive in the west of Ireland, intent on researching his Kavanagh ancestry from the comfort of a charming fishing lodge. The charm, however, is broken entirely when Cynthia startles a burglar and sprains her already-injured ankle. …More

Room By Donoghue, Emma2010-09 - Little Brown and Company9780316098335 Check Our Catalog
Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, "Room" is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another. …More

Non-Fiction Best Sellers

2010-11-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Broke: The Plan to Restore Our Trust, Truth and Treasure By Beck, GlennAuthor Balfe, Kevin2010-10 - Threshold Editions9781439187197 Check Our Catalog
"New York Times"-bestselling author Beck's new work features his distinctive humor--timed for the midterm elections. …More

Earth: (the Book) A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race By Stewart, Jon2010-09 - Grand Central Publishing9780446579223 Check Our Catalog
Jon Stewart and The Daily Show take readers on an intellectual voyage through time--a quest back to the very moment of creation--that will maybe, just maybe, help them to figure out exactly how and why everything got so irretrievably messed up. …More

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood By Leavy, Jane2010-10 - Harper9780060883522 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
Drawing on interviews with friends and family, as well as teammates and opponents, "New York Times"-bestselling author Leavy delivers the definitive account of one of the biggest talents and most tragic figures ever to play baseball. color insert. …More

Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1 By Twain, MarkEditor Salamo, LinEditor Smith, Harriet E.2010-11 - University of California Press9780520267190 Check Our Catalog
The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death. In celebration of this important milestone, Twain's uncensored autobiography is available in its entirety and exactly as he left it. …More

Washington: A Life By Chernow, Ron2010-10 - Penguin Press9781594202667 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
From National Book Award-winner Chernow comes a landmark biography of George Washington--a richly nuanced portrait of the father of the nation featuring a breadth and depth unmatched by any other narrative. …More

Relax by the pool this August with these reads!

2010-08-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America By Rakove, Jack2010-05 - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)9780618267460 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
A new and revealing perspective on the men who invented America. Spanning the most crucial decades of the country's birth, from 1772 to 1792, Rakove uses the stories of famous (and not-so-famous) men to capture the intensely creative period of the Republic's founding. …More

Declaration: The Nine Tumultuous Weeks When America Became Independent, May 1-July 4, 1776 By Hogeland, William2010-06 - Simon & Schuster9781416584094 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
Hogeland relates the story of nine weeks in 1776--May 1-July 4--when a small band of patriots carried out a plan to break with England, culminating in the Declaration of Independence. …More

Sh*t My Dad Says By Halpern, Justin2010-05 - It Books9780061992704 Check Our Catalog
In the vein of bestselling humor collections by Chelsea Handler, David Sedaris, and Laurie Notaro, "Sh*t My Dad Says" is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father-son relationship from a major new comic voice. …More

Private By Patterson, JamesAuthor Paetro, Maxine2010-06 - Little Brown and Company9780316096157 Check Our Catalog 1st book in Jack Morgan series
Jack Morgan, a former Marine and CIA agent, inherits his father's renowned security and detective business. Getting to the bottom of an NFL gambling scandal and an unsolved LAPD investigation into 18 school girl slayings would be enough. On top of all that, Morgan takes on solving the horrific murder of his best friend's wife. …More

Sizzling Sixteen By Evanovich, Janet2010-06 - St. Martin's Press9780312383305 Check Our Catalog 16th book in Stephanie Plum series
This 16th Stephanie Plum adventure will wear the blockbuster crown for grand scale fun, it's a surefire bet. Someone wants to kill Vinnie, but who? The list is long, and it's up to Stephanie to whittle it down to one. …More

Look forward to these titles in June

2010-05-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

Frankenstein: Lost Souls By Koontz, Dean R.2010-06 - Bantam9780553808018 Check Our Catalog
Every city has secrets, but none as terrible as this. His name is Deucalion, a sleight-of-reality artist who's traveled centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives as a serial killer, one who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that he is missing. Detective Carson O'Connor and her partner Michael Maddison get on the case and may just end up in hell itself. …More

The Devil Amongst the Lawyers: A Ballad Novel By McCrumb, Sharyn2010-06 - Thomas Dunne Books9780312558161 Check Our Catalog
From the author of "The Ballad of Frankie Silver" comes this stunning novel set in the mountains of Virginia in 1934, where a young woman is on trial for the murder of her father, and a young journalist sets out to find the truth. …More

Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy By Watson, Bruce2010-06 - Viking Books9780670021703 Check Our Catalog
"Freedom Summer" presents finely rendered portraits of the courageous black citizens--and Northern volunteers--who refused to be intimidated in their struggle for justice, and the white Mississippians who would kill to protect a dying way of life. …More

Check it out!

2010-05-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks By Skloot, Rebecca2010-02 - Crown Publishing Group (NY)9781400052172 Check Our Catalog
Skloot brilliantly weaves together the story of Henrietta Lacks--a woman whose cells have been unwittingly used for scientific research since the 1950s--with the birth of bioethics, and the dark history of experimentation on African Americans. …More

Outliers: The Story of Success By Gladwell, Malcolm2008-11 - Little Brown and Company9780316017923 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title
In this landmark work, the author of "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" asks what makes high-achievers different? Brilliant and entertaining, "Outliers" is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate. …More

For American History Lovers

2010-05-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Henry Clay: The Essential American By Heidler, JeanneAuthor Heidler, David2010-05 - Random House9781400067268 Check Our Catalog
For American history lovers comes the long-overdue, definitive, and engrossing new biography of an essential American, whose life story is the story of the country from the time after its founding to the Civil War. …More

Bradley Library Staff Reads

2010-05-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Walk
By Evans, Richard Paul
2010-04 - Simon & Schuster
9781439187319

Evans presents the first novel in an inspiring new series about an executive who loses everything and embarks on a walk that takes him across America. …More

The Biggest Loser 30-Day Jump Start: Lose Weight, Get in Shape, and Start Living the Biggest Loser Lifestyle Today!
By Forberg, Cheryl
Author Roberson, Melissa
Author Wheeler, Lisa
2009-02 - Rodale Press
9781605297828

The experts and cast from "The Biggest Loser" television show guide dieters through a daily integration of healthy nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle changes that are easy to follow and produce real results. …More

Caught
By Coben, Harlan
2010-03 - Dutton Books
9780525951582

In this explosive new thriller, a reporter's investigative work has resulted in a man being taken into custody in front of a shocked television audience. But months later, she realizes she may have unwittingly been part of a grand manipulation aiming to destroy an innocent man. …More

When Chicago Ruled Baseball: The Cubs-White Sox World Series of 1906
By Weisberger, Bernard A.
2006-05 - William Morrow & Company
0060592273

Published to coincide with its centennial anniversary, here is an enthralling look at one of the most exciting moments in American sports. …More

The Pacific
By Ambrose, Hugh
2010-03 - Nal Caliber
9780451230232

In this companion to the HBO miniseries--executive produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman--Ambrose reveals the intertwined odysseys of four U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy carrier pilot during World War II. …More

What It Means to Be a Cub
By Vorwald, Bob
2010-03 - Triumph Books (IL)
9781600782770

…More

What It Means to Be a White Sox
By Vorwald, Bob
2010-03 - Triumph Books (IL)
9781600782787

…More

It's Up to You: A Practice to Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind
By Casey, Karen
2008-01 - Conari Press
9781573243148

…More

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

2010-02-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

This a touching family story, that shows the relationship between two sisters. The effects of a mother who's history prevents her from showing love, and how it shapes the women they become.
Loss of a loved one brings the remaining family members back together to try and mend their relationships. Retelling of old Russian fairy tales is the mothers only way of communicating, her feeling to her daughters. This was a very good read and I would highly recommend this to others.

Reviewed by Karla

2010-02-09T12:11:00.001-08:00

Whiskey Sour By Konrath, J. A.Author Konrath, Joe2004-06 - Hyperion Books9781401300876 Check Our Catalog
A BookPage Notable TitleBetween avoiding the FBI and its moronic profiling computer, joining a dating service, mixing it up with street thugs, and parrying the advances of an uncouth P.I., Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels must find a frightening killer who calls himself "The Gingerbread Man." …More

Bradley Library Staff Picks

2010-02-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

Whiskey Sour

By J. A. Konrath

Vanished

By Joseph Finder

Kisser

By Stuart Woods

The Lightning Thief
By Rick Riordan

Destination Unexpected: Short Stories
By Donald Gallo

The Lost Symbol
By Dan Brown

Vicksburg, 1863
By Winston Groom

The Busy Scrapper: Making The Most of Your Scrapbooking Time
By Courtney Walsh

Eat This Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 pounds-Or More!
By David Zinczenko

Last Song

By Nicholas Sparks

Galligrapher's Daughter

By Eugenia Kim

Cleopatra's Daughter

By Michelle Moran

Dillinger's Wild Ride: The Year That Made America's public Enemey Number One

By Elliott Gorn

The Catcher in the Rye

By J. D. Salinger

Twelve Ordinary Men

By John MacArthur

Twelve Extraodinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible, and What He Wants to Do with You.

By John MacArthur

Hitlers Cross

By Erwin Lutzer

The latest in library staff picks.

2009-11-19T07:34:00.001-08:00

Staff Book Club Selection

Whiskey Sour by J. A. Konrath

She Always Knew How: Mae West, Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler
Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

A Seperate Country by Robert Hicks

Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Jeff Guinn

Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

2009-11-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

FORD COUNTY

by John Grisham

I really enjoyed this book of short stories by a remarkable and entertaining author! These seven stories grab you on the first few pages and take you for a short ride to the end. All of the stories take place in Clanton, Mississippi where Grisham's first novel, A Time To Kill, transpires. After I finished, I was ready for seven more!

reviewed by Kathie

2009-11-04T10:12:00.001-08:00

September Staff Picks

2009-09-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Come Sunday by Isla Morley

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The Power of Premonitions by Larry Dossey

The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin

The Serpent's Tail by Ariana Franklin

The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Recent Releases

2009-08-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is always a great time to read and relax. By now, you have undoubtedly devoured your favorite author's newest book and need something to fill the void until his or her next book comes out. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Rude Awakening of a Jane Austin Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
Austin character Jane Mansfield wakes up in the body of a 21st century Los Angelino who happens to be a die-hard Jane Austin fan. Find out how this Regency era character adjusts to the LA of today. This is a sequel to Confessions of a Jane Austin Addict where the die hard fan wakes up in 1813 in the body of Jane Mansfield. However, you don't have to read them in order. This is also suggested for teen fans of Jane Austin.

High Bloods by John Farris
Fans of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series or Kat Richardson's Greywalker series may be interested in this new series set in the near future where 60% of the population has succumbed to a werewolf epidemic and the main character must keep the peace.

The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski
Recommended for fans of Robert Ludlum and Steve Barry, and everyone waiting anxiously for the Da Vinci Code sequel to be released.

Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup
An Agatha Christie-like mystery set in modern India by the author of the book on which the movie Slumdog Millionaire was based.

Cherry Bomb by J.A. Konrath
Like Jeffrey Deaver and Ridley Pearson? Try this new suspense novel set in Chicago.

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
A young woman travels to Ireland to recover from a recent break-up and ends up in a little bed-and-breakfast where the ladies in the local lace-making guild take her into their group. For readers of Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher.

Seen the Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Gettysburg by John Hough Jr.
A tale of two brothers who joined the Union Army and the realities of being in the middle of a country at war.

Something Missing by Matthew Dicks
If you liked Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time about an autistic amateur sleuth or are a fan of Monk, the TV detective with OCD, perhaps you would like to read about Martin Railsback who has both autism and OCD and is a professional criminal.

Happy reading! Jodie

Dog On It

2009-07-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

"Dog On it" by Spencer Quinn is a clever detective story narrated by Chet the dog. The author has to own & love dogs because the way he portrays how Chet's mind thinks is hilarious. Bernie is a private investigator that is a bit down on his luck, and Chet is his dog. Together they are working on the case of a missing teenage girl and this leads them on quite the adventure. I can't wait for the next book to come out! by Cindi C

July Staff Picks

2009-06-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker
Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
Who We Were by Michael Williams
Women by T. Coraghessan Boyle
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

Leisure Seeker

2009-06-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

The Leisure Seeker is about John and Ellen Robina taking one more cross-country trip together. Their children are against this trip and even threaten to call the police if they continue on their journey. Even though Ellen is in her eighties she gives her kids the 'what for' and shows she is still the boss. Her husband is slipping further into dementia and she suffers sometimes from unbearable pain from cancer. This does not stop them from enjoying new sights, and re-living old memories. While on the road they experience some new adventures, but mostly they relish the few lucid moments John has, and watch slides from their vacations when they were a young family. The road trip ends too soon with a surprising ending.This book gave me an understanding of what our older generation has been through, and how they cope now in this modern world: with humor, understanding, some regret, but mostly with a respect for a life that goes too fast. I hope to have the same courage as John and Ellen.
Reviewed by Kathy L.

How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler

2009-05-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Leaving behind her painful break-up and her job as a pastry chef in Atlanta, Deena Livingston embarks to North Carolina to re-invent her life. However, she quickly learns that she must teach a cooking class to a group of teens at a local community center, in order for her to remain living in her grandfather's cabin. In this book, Deena triumphs from tragedy in this heartfelt and quirky novel.
Reviewed by Debbie

May Staff Picks

2009-05-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S. G. Browne

Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin

In the Dark by Brian Freeman

Drood by Dan Simmons

Testimony by Anita Shreve

Lima Nights by Marie Arana

The Piano Teacher by Janice Lee

Three Weeks to Say Goodbye C.J.Box

2009-04-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

This was a new author for me. I was pleasantly surprised. Sometimes you just have to think outside the "BOX"! It’s an absorbing story involving an adoptive parent’s worst nightmare. Jack McGuane, an employee of Denver’s convention and visitor’s bureau, and his wife suddenly discover that Garrett Morland, the birth father of their nine-month-old daughter, Angelina, didn’t sign away his parental rights. Garrett and his powerful father, a sitting federal judge, give the McGuanes three weeks to return Angelina. In this bleak scenario, Box builds perfect characterizations especially that of McGuane, who grew up with uneducated but hard-working parents on a series of Montana ranches. His wife will do anything to save their daughter. She agrees to do many things unknown to her moral character to save Angelina. The story follows numerous interesting and nasty twists and turns to the climax of good versus evil. The author reveals that whatever the cost, such truth exists, and ordinary folks have the strength to find it. It is a fast, "cannot put it down" read.
Reviewed By: Kathie

Beneath The Southern Sky

2009-04-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

This is a beautifully written Christian fiction about a young missionary couple starting
out their lives in Timone’ Cambodia. Nate and Daria are very much in love and sharing
a beautiful yet difficult life . Daria is informed of Nate’s tragic death and returns to the states to live with her parents. On arriving home she discovers that she is with child, and tries to move on with her life. Daria remarries and starts a new life, only to face some of the most painful choices thinkable. This is a very touching book that demonstrates the power of faith, and how important it is to seek guidance though the Lord .I really enjoyed this book, which I listen to in audio format. I down loaded this title from MyMediaMall on Bradley’s website.
Reviewed by Karla

April Staff Book Picks

2009-04-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

The China Lover by Ian Buruma

I see you Everywhere by Julia Glass

The Duchess by Amanda Foreman

Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels

Three Weeks To Say Goodbye by C.J. Box

The Replacement Child by Christine Barber

Safer by Sean Doolittle

2009-02-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

We Are All Welcome Here
Author: /Elizabeth Berg.

The author has written a novel set back in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1964. Paige Dunn, contacted polio while pregnant and is confined to an iron lung machine struggling to raise her daughter, Diana. Paige’s husband is no longer in the picture. The care of Paige falls to her 13 year old daughter and her black care giver Peacie .Diana is split between love and resentment for the time it takes to care for her mother. This book is funny with colorful characters that are struggling through life in 1960. This book touches on adult and adolescents responsibilities, with a brief look at the relationships of race and class in the 60’s. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a quick read.
Reviewed by Karla

February Staff Picks

2009-02-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

January Staff Picks

2009-01-05T13:01:00.000-08:00

A Killing Frost by Michael A. Black

The Lace Reader by Brunionia Barry

Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid by Denis Leary

Sail by James Patterson

November Staff Picks

2008-11-04T11:48:00.000-08:00

The Birth House by Ami McKay

Ghost Radio by Gout Leopoldo

Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz

The Toss of a Lemon by Padma Viswanathan

The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen

Bitterly Divided: The South's Inner Civil War by David Williams

October 2008 Staff Favorite Book Picks

2008-09-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Birth House by Ami McKay

The James Boys: A Novel Account of Four Desperate Brothers by Richard Liebmann-Smith

Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons

The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Coming Soon!

2008-08-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Check back soon to find out what we're reading at the Bradley Public Library.