Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber

When Shay Benson is released from prison she has no place to go.  Wandering into a church to escape the cold she sits down in a pew to figure out the next step in her life.  Pastor Drew Douglas find her there and although Shay is distrustful and critical they connect and form a friendship. Drew has lost his wife and is struggling with taking care of his children and being an effective pastor. Drew and Shay help each other through difficulties in rebuilding their lives. Shay must stay strong and not help her brother, Caden, again as his request for money and the help she gave him had put her in prison.  Secrets, danger, romance, and imposed judgment make this book more gripping and was greatly enjoyed!

So B. It (DVD starring Talitha Bateman

Twelve year old Heidi has been raised thus far by her mother, So B. It, and her caring neighbor, Bernadette, who suffers from agoraphobia. Heidi's mother has a limited vocabulary, but one day after trying to go on a bus with her mother, her mother becomes extremely upset and repeatedly says the word "soof". Heidi instinctively knows that this new word contains meaning that is important to her life. She is determined to make a long journey to find out what she can about who her mother is and who she herself is. In this, she succeeds, and we too learn the secrets that Heidi sought to reveal. This was a very interesting movie that is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements.

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

Pa keeps saying, “it’s only till Christmas”.   May B. is a 12 year old whose parents have her go live with a couple who has recently moved and are in need of help adjusting to life on the prairie.  A few days after arriving to the “soddie,” the Missus leaves and the husband goes after her.  May B. is now alone and no one knows.  May B. quickly realizes that what her mother and father have taught her is how she will survive; proving to her parents, Teacher and herself that she matters.

I enjoyed the story in verse and how quickly the story moves along.  Fans of the Little House on the Prairie will enjoy this quick read. 

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

Savvy 85-year-old Lillian loves taking walks.  On New Year’s Eve, 1984 she decides to have a fancy dinner at New York’s Delmonico where she has an interesting encounter that prompted her to walk further in the city to her new friend’s party.  Lilian reflects on her life’s ups and downs as the highest paid advertising copywriter for R. H. Macy’s during the 1930s. On her walk, she meets a limo driver, a security guard, a bodega clerk and even thugs whom she handles with ease. 

Rooney tells the story of a remarkable and feisty woman – based on Margaret Fishback - through the War, the Depression, hip-hop music and the onset of the Aids epidemic.  It is a good read!

 

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

WWII Brooklyn.  The Brooklyn Navy Yard has begun to employ women, and Anna Kerrigan has a job measuring tiny ship parts.  Once she becomes aware of the divers repairing ships underwater, her job seems boring and she wants with all her being to become a diver -- something women aren't allowed to do.  How will she convince Lt. Axel to give her a chance?

Egan paints a vivid picture of wartime New York City.  The Navy Yard is humming with activity, as are the nightclubs.  Anna, in green silk dress or 200 lb diving suit, takes the reader through all of it.

The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh by Kathryn Aalto

Winnie the Pooh Day was January 18. This title is found in our adult non-fiction and I picked it for Pooh's special day. Inside you will find an incredible amount of detailed information suitable for Pooh fans to devour. It mostly shows where the stories were written. You will see pictures and statues of Christopher Robin and his beloved stuffed animals, the woods where they played and where the stories were inspired. You will learn about the flora and fauna as well as see the bridge where they dreamed, the holes in the trees and mounds of dirt where the animals had their homes. It is still a place you can visit today if you ever happen to travel to England. A fun book to peruse and read.

The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

   With "The Great Halifax Explosion" John Bacon has given us an in-depth look at a little known, but violent, flash of early 20th century history.

   On December 6, 1917, a French freighter that had left New York City with over 3,000 tons of TNT on board, along with other explosives, was involved in a collision with another ship in the harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The freighter would catch fire, then explode. In 1/15 of second, 325 acres were flattened, 11,000 people became casualties, and over 25,000 residents were left homeless. It was the largest explosion against mankind ever recorded, outside of the atomic blasts that ended World War II. A tsunami would follow the explosion, and on the heels of the massive destruction, a major snowstorm would hit, adding misery to those affected by the blast.
   Bacon does a masterful job describing the event and many of its participants. He places the explosion in its proper framework along with the destruction that was taking place during World War I. He also explores how the incident would improve Canadian/US relations, particularly with residents of the city of Boston.
   This major event in North American history is little-known today, but "The Great Halifax Explosion" should go a long way toward enlightening its 21st century audience. The book is well written and a fast read as Bacon works well is presenting both his subjects and the overall situation.