Mike can't get enough of Sherlock Holmes

In my quest to read genres new to me, I've tried tackling mysteries. They're an untapped vein of literature that has sadly remained outside of my purview for some time--and for those of you who are die-hard mystery fans (like half of all of our patrons) you're probably shaking your head, wondering if you should even bother reading further. Do not despair however, because I am a convert, and have been baptized by one of the best--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.


There are a ton of great ways to get into the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick/chronicler, Dr. James Watson. For instance, if you're taking a long drive or making a daily commute, you can't go wrong by listening to the BBC Radio dramatizations. Produced with a full cast, the performance has a wonderful radio nostalgia feel about it; they performed every work in the series but you might try cutting your teeth on the first volume of the Sherlock Holmes Essentials, recently released.

If you want to listen to the work as it was originally written, however, you can't go wrong with a reading by Simon Prebble. Check out The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, which features some of the notable moments in Sherlock Holmes' career, such as an instance when he was incorrect about his deductions (and that's not his tax deductions).

Or would you rather watch something on the telly? Look no further than the recently produced Sherlock series on BBC. This modern re-envisioning of the world's greatest detective is as dark as it is witty and was an absolute hit; the series won a BAFTA for "best drama series" and Martin Freeman, who portrayed Dr. Watson for the series, garnered another one for his supporting role.

And if you're a novitiate in the Church of Holmes, you'll of course need to peruse the originals. Reading a copy of the two-volume Annotated Sherlock Holmes will make you better informed than almost any Holmes expert and will look handsome on the bookshelf, which you can admire while thoughtfully smoking a pipe or playing your violin.

Mike wonders why you don't like Dylan

Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz

I picked this one up because I'm a rabid Dylan fan, have appreciated Sean Wilentz's writings in the Bootleg Series books & on bobdylan.com, and had run out of audiobooks to listen to on my daily 2 1/2 hour commute to and from work. For casual listeners of Dylan, or of music in general, the book will probably frustrate you if it doesn't bore you. For those of us who would rather take five essential albums rather than books to a deserted island, this work will thrill you. Not only does the author make masterly demonstrations of how Dylan weaves an intricate tapestry with and within American music, but only Sean Wilentz has the ability to make you believe "Masked & Anonymous" wasn't only a decent movie, but one that demonstrates a key point in Dylan's canon. Most highly suggested as an audiobook, with its inclusion of snippets of tunes that demonstrates Wilentz's points.

Mike Suggests You Give Ol' Hank a Try

Lovesick Blues by Paul Hemphill

For some reason I haven't read many biographies that focus on musicians--what I find to be more worth-while and enticing are the broad brush-strokes of books about a style of music, rather than the day-to-day studio (and drug/alcohol, and love) life that seems to pervade most of the poorly-written musician bios I've come across. But boy, was I wrong to pass this one up so many times in the past. Paul Hemphill's "Lovesick Blues" stands head-and-shoulders above the competition, with its succinct story--but this may be only because his subject died at 29. Abruptness aside, Paul Hemphill's ability to draw as many bittersweet emotions from Hank's life is achieved with as much artistry as is evinced in Hank's own songs. If you're looking for a story that dishes plenty of dirt, this one provides it--but only because Hank was too willing to get dirty on his own. If you're looking for a story that draws you in and forces you to put an album or three on heavy rotation, this will do it for you too. Or if you're just want a book that will give you a new-found appreciation of country music, and of musicians in general, then look no further.

A short aside, I listened to this version on CD, and Jonathan Hogan did a wonderful presentation--his Southern drawl contributed immensely, and for the one song that he sung he did a pretty fine job on it.

Mike Suggests: Drood

Drood by Dan Simmons, read by Simon Prebble

I ended up listening to the audio presentation of this stunning historical literary mystery because I read Deb's post on our other blog about the reader, Simon Prebble, who won the "Voice of Choice" from the publication Booklist. I can't say enough good things about Drood--its pacing, plot, and characters were all masterfully written that I'll be sure to check out other Dan Simmons books. Drood is a tale full of mystery and madness, where Dickens and his fellow author (and collaborator) Wilkie Collins are drawn into the search for a shadowy and violent master of mesmerism known only as Drood. The reading by Simon Prebble was flat-out fantastic--he made my hair stand on end at the end as Wilkie Collins is finishing his confession, and made Collins' madness so palpable that I was absolutely thrilled.

Sue Recommends Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Perkins-Valdez' Wench is a great title to offer to readers who enjoyed The Help by Katherine Stockett. Like The Help, it focuses on the lives, treatment, and relationships of black women, although in another time period.

With Wench we are taken back to the days of slavery and focus on the life of Lizzie who is owned by a plantation owner; she is also his sexual companion and has two children with him. He takes her to Ohio where she and three other slave women develop a bond and learn that there are "free" blacks that live there. They share stories of their lives on the plantations in the South and explore the opportunity of freedom which forces them to make a decision--do they stay in their lives as someone else's property OR run and take a chance for a new life, and in some cases, leave their children behind? SH

Rob gives a thumbs up to Carl Hiaasen

I was driving to Vermont a couple of weeks ago and I waited until the last minute to try to find a book to listen to with my two sons on the way up. I ended up choosing a book I really enjoyed, not really remembering if it was appropriate for 10 and 14-year-olds. The book was Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen. For those who haven't had the pleasure, Hiaasen specializes in nutty characters and bizarre plot twists wrapped around an environment-friendly message. He's very funny. Nature Girl features a wacky/wise single mom intent on teaching a civility lesson to a telemarketer who has insulted her during dinner. So back to the car ride. I knew the kids would like the humor and the environmental message (they'd already read Hiaasen's young adult books), but I wasn't quite sure about the sexual content. Not to worry though. There were sexual allusions, as there usually are in Hiaasen's novels, but they were brief, mild and humorous. All of Carl Hiaasen's novels are available in a sound format and all are guaranteed to make your drive shorter.

Sue Recommends Altar of Eden by James Rollins

In Altar of Eden, James Rollins leaves behind his Sigma Force stories to send the reader into action and adventure from the bayous of Louisiana to private Caribbean islands. The story begins with a shipwreck where the Border Guards find a cargo of animals--not just any animals, but a saber tooth tiger cub , a parrot without feathers, and more. Missing, however, is the cub's mother. Where is she and where did these bizarre creatures come from? Now the thrills begin!

Rollins, a veterinarian by training, draws upon that knowledge to tell this story that delves into viruses, fractal science and genetic engineering. The story is a thrill a minute and the Cajun characters are captivating. Highly Recommended. SH

Sue Recommends ABANDONED by Cody McFadyen

Cody McFadyen, author of The Darker Side, The Face of Death, and Shadow Man, continues his series of suspense novels featuring Smoky Barrett, a female and special agent with the FBI specializing in profiling serial killers in Abandoned.

Smoky herself has been the victim of one of the very psychopaths she hunts and even lost her husband and child to the same monster. In this novel, she is faced with a new type of psychopath, one who doesn't do it for the thrill, but finds a lucrative career in causing mental and mortal pain to his/her victims.

Once again readers have the opportunity to learn of procedures and insights for finding these criminals as the FBI and Smoky hunt down another serial killer and try to understand what motivates and drives the killer. Could cause some readers to want to sleep with the light on at night but once you read the first novel, Shadow Man, you won't quit until you have read them all.

It is not necessary to read them in order but in my humble opinion Shadow Man and Abandoned are the most riveting. SH

Sue suggests DeMille's John Corey series

If you haven't discovered Nelson DeMille's John Corey novels, you have treat in store for you. These thrillers (currently there are 4 with a new one in the works) combine suspense, humor and a quick reading pace to enable you to finish one and yearn for the next. DeMille is eager to build his novels on actual events such as 9/11, Flight 800 crash, terrorism, etc. Do you have to read the novels in order? I would recommend that you do or you may miss the significance of some of the allusions to people, places, and events that crop up.

If you are an audiophile, Scott Brick does a fantastic job of becoming John Corey. I enjoy his style SO much that if I see his name on the book on CD, I will pick it up. I haven't been disappointed yet.

Start your reading pleasure now with

Book 1: Plum Island
Plum Island Audio


Book 2: The Lions Game
The Lions Game Audio



Book 3: Night Fall
Night Fall Audio



Book 4: Wild Fire
Wild Fire Audio

Debra suggests : The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

"What shall we have for dinner?" is often called the omnivore's dilemma as we choose among the countless offerings of nature and try to assess our foods' safety, nutritive value,health benefits and potential implications for the health of our environment. Best selling author Michael Pollan's brilliant and often shocking examination of eating in America is an eye opener. As we begin to recognize the profound implications of our everyday food choices, we realize that we really are what we eat and what we eat can remake the world. -DB