This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: We Are Water, by Wally Lamb

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids Rice High School

True to form with anything I’ve read by Wally Lamb, this novel left me moved, emotional, and full of deep thought.  It’s one of those books that, even after turning the last page and closing the back cover, I knew I was not done with the book; it’s going to take a good discussion or two with someone else who has read the book to really come to terms with the story.

We Are Water is a powerful fictional story of Annie Oh, a stay-at-mother-turned-infamous-artist, and her family’s journey, both past and present.  Told from multiple points of view, the reader learns of Annie’s life as a child and victim of molestation, her first marriage to a man named Orion and the birth of their three children (later grown adults in the novel), her eventual artist status in New York City, as well as her impending nuptials to her art dealer, a woman named Viveca.  The story is beautifully layered and touches on aspects of the human spirit that few other authors can write as well as Wally Lamb.  A bit disturbing, yet vividly human, this novel explores topics that any reader will be left thinking about for days.

We only have five weeks to go before CMLE goes on summer hiatus from its publishing duties ! Have you read a book recently that you would like us to feature?

I bought a few copies of this book for my book club among some of the adult staff members in my school.  The copies of this book do reside on the shelf in my media center for students and staff to checkout, but it’s worth noting that there are described scenes of molestation and sexual experiences that some might find offensive and disturbing. Beware who takes this book home–it’s not for the easily offended or the faint of heart.

Please share your take on books you have read recently. If you have a book you would like to showcase, please send your review to our offices. Five weeks until we go on summer hiatus!

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books. Please share your take on books you have read recently. If you have a book you would like to showcase, please send your review to our offices

Title: In Sunlight and In Shadow, by Mark Helprin

Written by Maria Burnham, media specialist at Sauk Rapids Rice High School

This was my first experience reading anything by Mark Helprin. I was told his writing was lovely, and I couldn’t agree more. I’m the type of person who LOVES descriptive writing, and that’s just what I got in reading this novel. Lovely details, plenty of sensory notes, a nice balance of plot lines, and a set of characters to believe in. Set during post WWII in New York, Harry Copeland of the famous Copeland Leather Company, has returned home from war to run the family business. Upon arriving home, he meets and falls in love with Catherine, a well-to-do singer and actress of the New York stage. Theirs is a love story for the ages–hopeless, fearless, and intense. However, for Harry, though being in love has lifted his spirits, he now struggles with the mafia requiring payment for “protection” of the business. In an age of corruption and reconstruction, Harry is unsure how he will keep his father’s business and pride afloat while maintaining the steep payments due to the mob.

The novel beautifully blends the story of love, war, and courage through the perspective of the noble Harry, who continually works to do the right thing all the while following his heart.

I was entranced with the book. My only (minor) complaint would be the length of the book. 720 pages is significant, and by the end I was starting to get impatient for a conclusion. Otherwise, a beautiful story–one that ignites introspection and appreciation for life.

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books. Please share your take on books you have read recently. If you have a book you would like to showcase, please send your review to our offices

Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, by Jesse Andrews

Review by Maria Burnham, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Library Media Specialist

This book was on the YALSA 2013 Top Ten Best Young Adult Books, and  I will keep the book on my shelves, but it’s not one I’d recommend to just anyone.

I’m going to start by saying that this is the perfect book for a certain type of reader.  That reader was not me, so I only gave the book 3 stars out of 5.  I originally picked up this book because the summary reminded me a bit of The Fault in Our Stars, a very popular book in my library right now.  I’m always looking for those “If you liked this book, then you should read…” kind of novels, and since the storyline is about high school senior, Greg, who befriends an acquaintance from his past, Rachel, as she is battling leukemia, I thought there might be a connection between the way the reader experiences teen friendships throughout illnesses.  I was wrong.  Me and Earl and the Dying Girl ‘s plotline is, in fact, about a friendship formed thanks to Rachel’s leukemia and Greg’s obligation to make her feel better through laughter while she’s battling her terminal disease.  However, this book reads in short, simple sentences, the characters are quite flat, making it hard for me to feel connected to the story, and the language in this book makes me cautious in getting the book in the hands of the right reader.  The Fault in Our Stars read nothing like what I just described.  In Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, there is much swearing  from both the narrator and his crude, immature friend, Earl.  Many times in the book, sex is referenced and derogatory remarks about female body parts are frequent conversations, mainly from the direction of Earl.  I have no doubt that some teen boys think and talk this way; however, I do think that this book greatly increases the chances of students and/or parents feeling offended by this book.  After all, I was a bit offended and I’m an open-minded reader. At the end of the book, we see another side of Earl; however, his redeemable qualities in the end were not enough to salvage the plotline.

I do believe this book is worth having on my shelves, but I will be sure to be aware of who is picking it up.