The Country of Ice Cream Star/Sandra Newman/629 pages

Ice Cream Star is a young woman living somewhat innocently in a dystopian America when her older brother's epidemic illness thrusts her into the leadership role for her small band of children. What follows is a wrenching struggle for survival for herself and her people as she attempts to find a cure to her brother's disease.

Analysis - An impressive exercise in creativity, this book involved peoples from various cultural groups and is told by the narrator in a pidgin English that becomes almost comfortable by the end of the book. 

Originality is the strong suit of this novel. But that originality also makes it hard to classify. While it is dystopian, it is firmly anchored in a very real America. While some aspects of the storyline seem science fiction-ish, the content is not hard-line science fiction. Its epic length and unusual language may make this book a challenge for some. But it is worth a read. The depictions of familiar places that have been shambled by the rigors of war and disease and the emotions wrought by its main character make it a worthy read.

    

The Disagreement/Nick Taylor/360 pages

An engrossing novel about a young man who didn't fight in the American Civil War. Most Civil War novels seem to center around either soldiers during the Civil War or the women folk they left behind. But this novel covers men of soldier age who went to college instead and how the war affected them.

Synopsis 
John Muro is the son of a successful Virginia woolery owner. When Virginia joins its Southern counterparts in voting to secede from the union, Muro's life is changed forever. His father gifts him with the opportunity to study medicine at the University of Virginia. John goers through the passage rites of most young man -- love, social affairs, and studies -- cocooned at the university as the war rages on. But the impacts of the war are felt on John, his family, and friends as he works at a hospital where he saves the life of a Union officer and they become friends.  Eventually, the war envelopes the university and John is forced to make decisions that will forever impact his life.

Analysis
This is the author's debut novel and it is wonderful. Unlike too many Civil War novels with wooden stereotyped characters, Taylor's characters have real depth and become like personal acquaintances to the reader. The plot is written from the viewpoint of Muro as he looks backward on the events of his life. This allows the author to give context to many of the events that occur in the book that would otherwise be lost. While obviously historical fiction, the prose can also be considered literary. The book is an easy read with a plot line that flows nicely, but the strength of the novel is its poignant depiction of the emotions and inner workings of its characters. The wonders of young love are experienced by the reader just as poignantly as the shock of wartime injury and destruction. The novel also deals deftly with social issues of the time -- slavery, social class and gender relationships.

I recommend this book for all readers high school and up, especially those interested in the homefront during the Civil War. While pleasingly light on sexual content and gore, the subject matter in the book may still be too adult for many children younger than ninth grade. A nice addition to the Civil War fiction canon
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Seeing America / Nancy Crocker / 276 p.

In this new novel out July 2014, a young Missouri man and two of his friends leave home in a brand new Model T Ford on a quest to see Yellowstone Park in 1910.

Synopsis

It is 1910 and John Hartmann is tired of his small Missouri town. When a blind acquaintance buys a new Model T Ford and invites him to drive it, the two of them hatch the idea to leave town and have an adventure. They decide to take along one of the town's rowdies for driving help and take off.

Before long, they learn the lessons of acting with inadequate preparation. During the trip, they learn to not only face the dangers of being naive on the road, but they also learn to become less selfish, take care of each other, and, in the process, find themselves.

Analysis

Author Nancy Crockett is an award winning writer of juvenile and young adult fiction. That is evident in the way the story is constructed. While some of the subject matter is definitely adult, the dominant focus on the struggles of youth and the way the main characters see the world could come straight out of a YA novel. Some of the historical background of the story also seems a little awkward. Despite that, the story is consistent and the plot is warmly satisfying.

This novel does not fit neatly into any specific genre. The publisher classifies it as literary fiction, but that may be a stretch for adult readers as the prose is more akin to YA Fiction. This book will appeal to patient readers who, much like the characters in the book, don't mind a leisurely trek through its pages.

Last to die / Grippando / 369 p.

The third in a lawyer-as-detective series featuring Jack Swyteck, this title falls squarely in the middle of the action-detective genre. Readers who enjoy their mysteries with a little more grit, masculinity, and violence (but not too much gore) will enjoy this book.

Synopsis
Lawyer Jack Swyteck is asked to defend an accused murderer by the murderer's brother, whom Swyteck saved from death row. The wealthy victim of the murder in question leaves a will with six beneficiaries, all of them former enemies. The one to inherit the money will be the last one alive. Thus ensues a murderous game to eliminate the other inheritors. Jack's client has a nasty past that makes him the chief suspect and so Jack must use his best lawyerly wiles to keep his client free while he searches for the real killer. There are a plethora of twists and turns in the fast-paced plot that will surprise the reader until the book ends in a satisfying conclusion.

Analysis
I have not read the first two books in this series, but this books stands very well on its own merits. Though some characters' backstories must have been covered in the previous two books, those backstories do not interfere with the plot in this volume. Instead, those backstories are intriguing enough to make the reader want to read those previous titles as well.

For a books that involves involves violence and some unsavory characters, I found this book to be quite charming. With none of the sense of foreboding that seems to accompany too many novels of this kind, Grippando constructs a storyline that reflects a hope for humanity along with the suspense that readers seek. That sense of hope allows the reader to enjoy the ride without feeling dirty afterward.

Swytek is flawed and is aware of his own failings, but is utterly likable. He is surrounded by characters who are also flawed. But not all of them are likable. The bad guys are clearly bad. Characters do not switch loyalties. All the switching happens in the plot. That plot is a bumpy, unpredictable ride all the way to its surprising end.

Set in Florida, this would be a great summer beach read. I highly recommend this book for readers of mystery and suspense. It will not leave you looking over your shoulder and is relatively light on the gore, despite it's violence, but it will still leave you wanting more.

American lightning: terror, mystery, movie-making & the crime of the century / Howard Blum / 339 p.

In 1910 Los Angeles, a bomb ripped through the Los Angeles Times building, killing 21 people. Enter Billy Burns, the world's most famous detective, Clarence Darrow, one of the nation's foremost attorneys, and, by extension, D. W. Griffith, one of the fathers of motion pictures in America.

Genre
This is narrative history that reads like a detective/legal procedural. Readers who enjoy a good mystery will enjoy this. Fans of legal procedurals will find it hard to put down. And history buffs will be impressed with the storytelling in this book.

Synopsis
Author Blum takes a narrative look at the bombing which came to be called the crime of the century. While doing so, he interweaves the story of three famous American figures of the early 20th century: detective Billy Burns ; director D. W. Griffith ; and defense attorney Clarence Darrow. He delves into their private lives and personalities to show motives for their actions at the time. He also examines the cultural history of the United States of the time to expose factors that led to the bombing and heavily influenced the investigation and prosecution of the crime. Weaved throughout the story is the struggle between organized labor and capitalists.

Analysis/Recommendation
Occasionally, a great history book comes along about a subject that has mostly faded from the American consciousness. This is one of those books. Blum is a journalist, but tells this story like a novel. The plot moves chronologically from event to event as the investigation discovers evidence and the perpetrators' motives and efforts are exposed. Even a surprise ending makes this book read more like a novel than nonfiction. The book takes fascinating side trips into the early history of motion pictures and movie theaters in America. It is well worth the read.

I recommend this book for everyone, nonfiction and fiction reader alike. Not only is it a good read, but it teaches the reader of a historical event that was impacted by factors not too different from those today, one hundred years later.

Christmas Carol / Charles Dickens / 80 pages

Spurred by a discussion among friends, I realized that I had never read this classic work by Charles Dickens.
What better time to read it than over the holiday season. It is the story of miser Ebeneezer Scrooge, who is taken through Christmases past, present and future in his own life. From the terrifying experience, he learns to become less selfish and reach out to others.

Analysis

Dickens is a brilliant writer. The wry deftness with which he tells the story and the amazing details he includes are amazing. I found myself with a smile on my face during my entire reading. The book is short, well under 100 pages and moves at a rapid pace. Scrooge is no lukewarm villain. He is all villain until his transformation begins. And then the transformation proceeds at a measured pace until we have the joyful ending with which virtually everyone is familiar.

Recommendation

It is obvious that the best time to read this book is during the Christmas season. It takes on more meaning and can make your season more giving and fulfilling. It is an easy read and so can be read from middle school-age children on up to senior adults. It is a fine read-aloud or a nice cozy read by the fireplace. But wherever or whenever it is read, this is definitely a must read!    

Mrs. Kimble / Jennifer Haigh / 400 p.

This is a personal look into the lives of three women who were all married to the same man over the course of 25 years in the 1960s to the 1980s. It is the pitiful story of how one man can affect the lives of the women who put their trust in him.

Analysis
Author Jennifer Haigh is possessed of impressive literary talent, although it took me halfway through the book before I appreciated what she was trying to do. What she does is create honest, individual characters who all deal with their life circumstances in unique ways. One woman is handles things with maturity while another totally loses control of her life. There are no cookie-cutter characters here.

The historical depiction of American in the late-90s is interesting. The author presents an America that is not perfect but is very different from the one we have today. And the portrayal of the children in the story is heartwrenching.

Recommendation 
Another person who read this book called it a "manhater" book, but I disagree. It is true that this book will likely appeal more to women than men, especially to women older than 30. But, rather than a novel about gender issues, this book is a depiction of how the decisions of one person can affect the lives of those around them. While one of the male characters is truly worthy of some ill feeling, not all men  (albeit few) in the book  are so bad. The book shows women strong and weak and children affected by abandonment.

If you are seeking a feel-good story, this is not it. It is a serious book for readers looking for a novel that deals with the consequences of human dishonesty.

Sushi for Beginners: a novel / Marian Keyes / 426 pages

Genre - Chick Lit, Humor, Romance included

Plot overview - Set in the British Isles, magazine editor Lisa Edwards is a career climber, striving for a high profile spot in New York City, when her corporation instead sends her to start up a magazine in Dublin, Ireland. Her assistant there is Ashling Kennedy, native Irish girl with an unspectacular life, a strong sense of duty and an attractive best friend who is bored with life as a married mom to the near-perfect man. Lisa's boss is a handsome, laid-back manager who seems short on pizazz.

Over the course of this novel, lives change and lessons are learned. Friendships and marriages fail, while the magazine flourishes. But, most of all, the reader is treated to wry observations of everyday life, every day insecurities and pointed pokes at the humor in the average person's life. The plot moves along well and never seems to drag despite the book's length, but the true highlight of this novel is the author's wit.

Analysis/Recommendations

This is not Marian Keyes' first novel. She has drawn praise for the humor in her previous books, but she has not missed a beat in this one. Her humor is over-the-top funny and left me laughing out loud with no one else around (I hope). But she also weaves a many-faceted storyline that leads to unexpected places and surprise outcomes.

Keyes is hilarious while,a t the same time, weaving a storyline that deals with some issues that are not funny at all. She adeptly shows her characters as they deal with the consequences of choices they make and provides one of the most accurate depictions of emotional turmoil that I have read in a very long time. I will stop there so as not to spoil anything.

A great read, this book will especially be enjoyed by women from 19-60. But, it's also a good read for men like m who aren't afraid to be seen with chick-lit in their hands. I give it a strong recommendation. 
If the reader is seeking a romance novel, this may not fill the bill. Although there is plenty of romance here, it is not the end-all of the plot line. Some of its romantic encounters lean a little bluer than I prefer, but that is the only criticism I can make of this book.

Attack the Lusitania: a World War I novel / Jerry Borrowman / 221 pages

I will begin by admitting that the St. Charles City-County Library District does not own this book. So, if you are interested in this book, you will need to visit a bookseller or try to get it through Interlibrary Loan.

About the genre- Attack the Lusitania is Mormon fiction centered around the events leading up to and including the sinking of the steamship Lusitania during World War I. For those unfamiliar with Mormon fiction, it is very similar to Christian fiction in that the heroic characters are usually unfailingly true to their religion and the writing style is usually more mainstream than literary. This book is a quick read without a lot of depth but does provide some brief historical facts about the sinking of the Lusitania with which I was not very aware.

Synopsis - A Wyoming coal mine operator, who happens to be Mormon, chooses to take the Lusitania on a round trip business excursion to England. During the trip, he discovers that his room steward is also a Latter-day Saint, as well as the steward's brother, who works shoveling coal for the steam ship engines. The miner protects his steward from discrimination at the hands of a supervisor, after which a German submarine torpedoes the ship and we see the crew, passengers, and  main characters' struggles to survive the horrific event.

Analysis/Recommendation- There are some historical facts about early World War I and the events leading up to the Lusitania's sinking that will interest those not familiar with them. There is also some detail about the operations of a luxury steam liner. But, for the most part, the storyline comes across as a Titanic wannabe. The Mormon storyline is rather predictable but not overbearing. Non-Mormon reader will not feel that they have been proselyted by this book. Overall, it's a decent read, but recommended mostly for fans of Mormon fiction and those who didn't know much about the sinking of the Lusitania.