Staff Book Reviews for July

Forever Chic by Tish Jett (2013)

American ­born beauty ­writer Tish Jett informs the reader of the various components that make the French woman enduringly beautiful. Jett has lived the past twenty­five years in France and is married to a Frenchman. She has worked for magazines on both sides of the Atlantic. She, herself, is a woman of a “certain age”, who explores the elements of beauty and style that most would admit French women have. Each chapter reveals products, regiments, techniques, and philosophies of various French women and translates it for Americans, as well as herself. One can find many tips on how to stay fresh, energetic, and stylish without denying ones age and self.

Paris, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down by Rosecrans Baldwin (2012).

Baldwin has been in love with Paris ever since he visited with his family at fourteen and when he receives a job offer from an advertising firm in Paris he has to take it. The problem is that he has never worked in advertising and he barely speaks French. This is a fairly light, humorous read that looks at Paris through the eyes of an American and despite what the title may lead you to believe, Baldwin never seems to be able to get too down on Paris (even with the lack of credit cards, language barrier, and bureaucracy problems), but who can hate Paris?

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown  (2013)

The audience best suited to read this book are Adult/Teen. Word on the street is that this book is being produced as a film. This story reminds me somewhat of the story of Joseph in the Bible. The challenges/demands/odds against this young boy were insurmountable. This non fiction epic begins in the 1930's, including aspects of WWII, especially the Olympics. The popular saying  "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" could have been birthed from this man's beginning years. It is one of the best stories I have ever read. It is available at RHPL in hard copy, large print, audio, and ebook.

The Small Hand & Dolly: Two Novels by Susan Hill (2013)

The first story, The Small Hand, tells of Adam Snow, an antiquarian bookseller, who “accidentally” finds himself at a rundown home and public garden in rural England. His vague memory begins to surface of a drowned little boy whose “hand” he feels so comfortingly in his. Is he going mad, or did he really feel a ghost hand? The next story, Dolly, brings Edward Cayley to an isolated house in remote western England, where he briefly spent his childhood. A willful, spoiled cousin, Leonora, spent a summer there with him. She had a birthday and was given a doll which she hated. Edward buried the doll near the house and has forgotten it as years pass and the two go on to live their lives. The doll, however, holds an unknown power over them which Edward uncovers with terrifying repercussions. These two stories will give you chills.