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The Odyssey
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Order Books Here! Type in author, title and/or ISBN and follow the simple directions. |
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The Odyssey
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Order Books Here! Type in author, title and/or ISBN and follow the simple directions. |
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Pictures of recent events
The Odyssey Bookshop is one of five independent
bookstores participating in WAMC's Roundtable on Tuesday mornings,
just after the 10:00 news. People from the Odyssey will be on about once a
month, talking about our favorite books. The Odyssey Bookshop 413-534-7307 email odysseybks@aol.com
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Archived staff reviews Neil
| Joan | Sara | Darcy | Elli
| Bob | Cindy | Click on any title to order Return to staff list
Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell Henning Mankell is my favorite mystery writer! His Swedish detective, Kurt Wallender, is a divorced and lonely, middle aged man who is relentless in his pursuit of criminals. Mankell's plots are complicated and take the reader around the globe. Start with Faceless Killers and keep going. A
Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry
Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline Cate Fante is a young, new-to-the-bench federal judge in Philadelphia, presiding over an intellectual property case in which a former prosecutor sues a Hollywood producer over a successful TV series, Attorneys@Law. After she grudgingly rules in favor of the defendant, a murder and a suspected suicide follow in quick secession, and a corrupt cop threatens to expose Cate Fante’s secret double life. This is a smart, fast-paced, sexy drama that takes on the conflict between public and private life for a public figure, and questions whether law and justice are always the same thing.
Margarettown
by Gabrielle Zevin
Margarettown
is a breeze of a book. And I mean that in the most positive way. One night,
feeling low and gloomy, I picked it up, hoping for distraction, and that is
what I found. I couldn't put it down! A welcome fresh breeze and new
voice in light-but-not-lite fiction, Zevin delivers the goods: a love story
rich and complex and problematic just like in real life, yet anything but like
real life. In fact, the story is rather fantastical, but all the more fun for
it. A great summer read, perfect for the beach or when traveling.
Novels by Rebecca Pawel: Death of a Nationalist, Law of Return, The Watcher in the Pine, and The Summer Snow If you like your mysteries to be good novels, too, and if you enjoy also learning about another country and its history when reading a good novel, well, then Pawel's award winning mystery series may be for you. Subtitled: A Carlos Tejada Alonso y Leon Investigation set in Spain, the series, beginning with Death of a Nationalist, is set in Spain immediately after, and then in the years following, the Spanish Civil War with our hero, Tejada, an unexpected one, namely of the Guardia Civil. Just as Tejada is forced to acknowledge that not everyone on the "wrong side" is bad and vice versa, so do we. I highly recommend this historically fascinating, complex, and appealing mystery series. A Watery Grave by Joan Druett Druett, an award-winning nautical nonfiction writer, has turned her hand to a very interesting and satisfying mystery series, which she launches with A Watery Grave. For the series, she took the 1838 U.S. South Seas Exploring Expedition, commanded by Lt. Charles Wilkes, as her backdrop, and added a ship and our hero, Wiki Coffin. Coffin, half Maori, half American--his father was a Salem, MA, whaler--is a most fascinating character, and along with the expedition itself, a great vehicle with whom to introduce us to interesting historical and anthropological information. Shark Island, the second book in the series, continues where A Watery Grave left off, as far as the overarching story line is concerned; however, each book's "mystery" is wrapped up at its conclusion, so one is not left dangling completely. If you like mysteries and the Patrick O'Brian novels (which I do!), I recommend you give Druett's series a try. I, for one, am looking forward to its continuation. Absolutely Not by Matthew McElligott Ages: 3 + This is one of my new favorite children's picture boos: intelligent, humorous, and just the right amount of text along with vibrant, endearing, and playful illustrations. The weather is beautiful, and Gloria wants to go for a walk with her friend Frieda. Frieda, however, is rather timid--with her imagination tending to get the better of her: the river looks like a huge snake, shadows in the leaves look like frogs (and because Gloria and Frieda are grasshoppers, this is not a good thing), etc. And on second look, there is something in what she says. But take a walk with Gloria and Frieda and see what you will see! I promise you fun, delight, and a bit of adventure.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Young Adults, 14+) WOW! This book had me: it sunk its teeth into me and would not let go. I stayed up to 3 a.m. reading (on a work night!), got up the next morning (remarkably early), and finished it--before having to be at work at noon. Okay, I was 15 minutes late. But I just could not stop. I HAD to finish it. And then all day that day, at work, I had this weird energy and could not stop thinking about and talking about it. And I am not even into vampires--haven't even read an Ann Rice book. Yeah, it's about vampires, but not in the usual way--i think. And really it is a first-love love story. And, boy, is it heady and thrilling, without anything really happening (we are talking PG13 at most here). I am still not sure why this book got under my skin so, but it did. I highly recommend it for girls 14 and older. It is a great read. Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa by Karin Muller Wow! How I envy Karin Muller her Japan adventure—and her energy and guts and stamina. Normally, I do not read travel memoirs/literature, but since I am interested in Japan, I thought I’d give Japanland a try—and I am glad I did. It is a fabulous read—funny and sad, informative and fascinating. The book kept me up reading many a night, wanting to know what would happen next. Muller writes well and humorously and is very self-deprecating, which made me like her all the more. For anyone with an interest in Japan or thinking of going to Japan, this is a must read Muller has an honest eye, telling it as it is, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the strange and exotic along with the normal and everyday. If I wrote fan letters, I’d be writing Muller a long one. Shark Island: A Mystery by Joan Druett Druett, an award-winning nautical nonfiction writer, has turned her hand to a very interesting and satisfying nautical mystery series. If you like mysteries and the Patrick O’Brian books, you should give these a try. First in the new series is A Watery Grave, and while it is not absolutely necessary to read them in sequence, I do recommend doing so. Shark Island is the second book and takes off where the first left off, as far as the overarching story line is concerned; however, each book’s "mystery" is wrapped up at its conclusion. Druett has taken the 1838 U.S. South Seas Exploring Expedition, commanded by Lt. Charles Wilkes, as her backdrop, adding a ship and our hero, Wiki Coffin. Coffin, half Maori, half American, is a most fascinating character and, along with the expedition itself, a great vehicle with whom to introduce us to interesting historical and anthropological information. I’m hooked. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger It is not a science fiction book! Don’t let the title fool you. It’s a love story, if anything. The book is great, and even though it was long (500+ pages), it was never dull, always fresh, and, though not in the usual way or by the usual means, a page turner. The story pulls one in; it’s absorbing, spellbinding – all those blurb-words. And I was devastated when I finished. Silly, I know but I was sooooo sad. However, I thought the ending was great. So often I am disappointed in the ends of books, which ruins them for me. But Niffenegger handled this one superbly. It was the perfect ending. Berlin Noir by Phillip Kerr This is a collection of three books. Two are set in Berlin itself, the first right before WWII, with the Nazis in power. The other during the war, and the third is placed right after the war - all with a much more likable and funny Marlowe-like hero. Intrigue, political twists & turns, well-researched historical story lines, red herrings, remarkable language, hard-boiled romance, wit and humor: It’s all there. The Widow Killer by Pavel Kohout What more can you want? Kohout’s The Widow Killer is not only a fantastic mystery, but also a top notch political thriller an superb literary novel. 3 in 1!. Is there anything better? A gripping, suspenseful, dark mystery/thriller/novel making others pale in comparison.
SAVING THE WORLD by Julia Alvarez
This book surprised me. At first, I thought it was a “guy story” – 17-year-old Travis discovers marijuana on a neighbor’s land, steals some, gets caught in a bear trap, is threatened, leaves home and gets caught up in a world of bad men and lost men. But, as Travis takes control of his life, he learns about the terrible Civil War massacre that occurred in his Appalachian town, and transforms that knowledge into a way to grow up. The story is first rate.
Very few contemporary writers could tell this story with such grace and clarity. To move from tragedy and rage to self-awareness and forgiveness takes surefooted and unsentimental prose and characters so authentic, flawed and yearning, that the reader wants to know them better. Long after finishing, I continue to think about Meg and Rex and their lives. Manette is a stunning writer, and I loved this book THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU by Carolyn See This novel is set in the near future, a very recognizable near future with heightened global panic about terror and homeland security, and it is both spookily futuristic and absolutely believable. Los Angeles dermatologist Phil has been recruited for a top-secret medical term, trained to respond to an anticipated attack with an unspecified chemical or biological agent. He is also dealing with his grieving widowed mother, his miserably unhappy wife, and his son on the brink of self-destruction. I loved this book’s ability to pinpoint the intersection of ordinary lives and the catastrophic events of our time. THE WHOLE WORLD OVER by Julia Glass When Greenie Duquette, Greenwich Village baker and mom, is introduced to the visiting governor of New Mexico by her friend and colleague, gay restaurant owner Walter, her life’s path is seriously derailed. The governor woos her away from New York, her beloved business, her depressed psychiatrist husband, and for what? Greenie doesn’t really know. As with her National Book Award-winning Three Junes, Julia Glass weaves and balances multiple narrators – each a wonderful complex and quirky character - and several story lines, with great skill and subtlety. When 9/11 occurs, each of these characters must face their own deceptions and choices. I loved this book. DON’T I KNOW YOU? by Karen Shepard Three separate but interconnected stories circle around a murder in Manhattan in the 1970’s: 12-year-old Steven’s discovery of his mother’s body, neighbor Lily Chin’s discovery of her fiancé’s possible involvement with the dead woman, and dying neighbor Louise Carpanetti’s fear that her damaged adult son might have been the killer. Spanning more than a decade, Karen Shepard’s multi-layered psychological drama explores fascinating questions about what we know, what we believe, and what we have to accept as unknowable about the people closest to us. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai Orphaned teenager Sai lives in the northeastern Himalayas with her bitter Judge grandfather and his cook. While political insurgency erupts around them, Sai falls in love with her Nepali tutor. He struggles with his mixed responses to the political upheaval threatening their rural lives. Across the world, the cook’s son Biju tries to survive as an illegal immigrant in New York city. The conflicts are classic and profound – tradition versus change, personal versus political – and Desai’s language is fresh and strong. The
History of Love
by Nicole Krauss In this creatively structured novel, an elderly man is reunited with the love story he wrote in his youth in Poland and thought was lost. He learns about the extraordinary effect his words have had on other people. An unusual family saga with characters who stay with you after the book is finished. (paperback due 4/06) Snow
Flower and the Secret Fan
by Lisa See Through the eyes of a nineteenth-century Chinese farm girl named Lily, this story reveals a detailed world of foot-binding (amazing descriptions – I was fascinated!), a secret women’s language, domestic life and lifelong friendships between women matched like arranged marriages. All against the backdrop of intense national struggle and brutal sexual politics. A Little Love Story by Roland Merullo
A Taxonomy of Barnacles by Galt Neiderhoffer. This is a wacky story about six privileged sisters and their father’s challenge. A madcap, movie-bound story, it resonates of both King Lear and Jane Austen, with Darwin thrown in for good measure. An enjoyable read. OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon No one writes historical novels like Diana Gabaldon! Outlander, the first in the saga, introduced us to Jamie Fraser and his time-travelling wife, Claire. A WWII nurse, Claire accidentally traveled to 18th century Scotland and found herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict between the Scots and the English. She and her Highlander husband, Jamie, fought the English and crossed continents. This is historical fiction at its finest. Gabaldon brings the Highlands alive in this wonderful saga. OUTLANDER Series Guide Diana Gabaldon (These links are for the least expensive editions. Search on Gabaldon and title for other available editions) 1. Outlander
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova Kostova brings the myth of Dracula to frightening life in her first novel, The Historian. After the disappearance of her father, a young woman uncovers his life long obsession with Vlad the Impaler. With the help of a few friends, she begins her own hunt to find her father, her family and Dracula himself. Kostova keeps the pace quick with her masterful storytelling. You won't want to put this one down. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is perhaps the most famous romantic novel ever written. Relax and enjoy as Elizabeth Bennet, the original lively heroine, and Mr. Darcy, the original "tall, dark and handsome," weave through love and society to create one of most satisfying denouements in literature. Emma Kate by Patrica Polacco Emma Kate and her best friend share everything. Polacco’s story and Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye
by Geronimo Stilton My seven year old son devours these books. I finally took some time to
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown Most people know Margaret Wise Brown for “Goodnight Moon”, but The Runaway Bunny is truly another treasure. This is one of those books I hope my children pick off the shelf to be read to at night. Page after page my children are excited to see what the bunny will turn into and it is heartwarming for a me (as a mother) to think about what a mother would do for her children. The message is great too—mom is always going to be there for you! Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
Green
Tea by Mary Lou Heiss Princess Academy by Shannon Hale Fourteen-year-old Miri and all the teenage girls in her remote mountain village are ordered to attend an academy to learn princess skills as it has been decreed that one of them will be chosen to marry the young prince. Miri is bold and outspoken and quickly gets into trouble. However, it is also clever Miri who uses her astute mountain knowledge to save all the girls from a dangerous situation. Princess Academy won a well-deserved Newbery Honor award this year. It is a very satisfying coming of age story focused on family, friendship, and the power of home. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Fast Food by Saxton Freyman We know that young children love books about things that go, and we know they love fruits and vegetables (mostly). So a book with a zucchini train, a banana airplane, and a cucumber car will have them laughing as well as learning. You will never look at a red pepper or a mushroom in the same way again. Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Helper Teenage life: a chaotic wanderer meets a stable rules-guy; sparks ensue. Adults come in and out of the story. Staged at a Renaissance Fair and a Christian Camp in Texas and told from both viewpoints with humor and introspection. I enjoyed the banter and the outcomes and the ways people showed up for each other. If you like Sarah Dessen or Joan Bauer this is similar in characterization and insights. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen I am a fan of Sarah’s books – and I found this as satisfying as her others. I enjoy the process her main characters go through, a believable awakening. In this book the themes of honesty and healing are shown in many perspectives. As always she takes on many social themes, but this time within the structure of an intact family. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult Every time I read Jodi’s books, I am intrigued. It isn’t "great" writing; what draws me are the ideas and story she weaves. Again Jodi visits the time where a teen protagonist and a parent are figuring out how to differentiate. The parent is a dad, a comic book writer, so graphics are interwoven. Much of it takes place in Alaska, offering glimpses into a lives built around surviving the cold both literally and figuratively. If you like romantic fiction, this has the same kind of feel and resolution. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern This is a sweet story about grief and being seen by someone who loves you. Yes, it is romantic fiction, and the book has an added quality of intelligence and connection that helped me think differently about my relationships and how I choose to interact in them. I enjoyed how the monthly messages unfolded and the protagonist’s courage in trusting the plan of her dearly departed. Mother Daughter Revolution by Elizabeth Debold, Marie Wilson and Idelisse Malave I read the first chapter of this book when my eldest daughter was 10. I sobbed because I finally felt understood. I called a friend. She read the first chapter. She said “it will take more than just the two of us” and we started a mother/daughter group that has lasted 10 years. Written in 1993, the original subtitle was “From Betrayal to Power” - the book helps show how the internalized oppression of women creates adversity instead of alignment in moms and teen daughters. It gives many choices and options of a more connected way to hold those transitions. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult Jodi Picoult has held my attention from her first book – she is usually investigating some convoluted issue in women’s lives, often untangling an underlying mystery. This book intrigued me because of the identity issues the sisters struggle with. Most of the characters were engaging and I thought about the implications of the modern western medical system differently than I had previously. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell My husband reads Habermas for fun. I read romantic fiction. We both enjoyed this book. It is a great cross between ideas and stories that explain them. I had not considered the inter-relationship between bias and intuition before. I noticed myself paying more attention to how I interact with the world as I read it and after. Mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein Mordicai Gerstein is a local author/illustrator. This book has been one of the most useful books in talking about “death” or life-cycles with young children. It is a book that invites conversation to arise as the pictures unfold. We ended up talking about more philosophies than the book evokes – it was a great jumping off point. Both my children kept their copies in their personal libraries when they left home. A great gift book, though I am careful with Christian friends that only want to share the Christian notion of heaven with their children. Sunshine by Robin McKinley Known for her well-written young adult fiction, Robin can spin a story, finding ways to show the underlying complicated emotions that fill in a fabrication. This is a "vampire/romance/mystery" genre, but only because we don't have "community", "coming of age" and "trust" genres (yet). I enjoyed it and found it to be a great gift for fiction lovers of all kinds. MOBY DICK by Herman Melville. We all have one: that book we were supposed to read in high school or college, but never did; that book we vowed we’d someday read anyway. Mine is MOBY DICK. I’ve attempted it a half dozen times over the years, but always found it dull and dry. Well, I gave it another try last fall, and this time I was hooked! Told from the vantage point of Ishmael, a crewman aboard the doomed Pequod, this is the story of Captain Ahab’s maniacal quest to slay the great white whale Moby Dick to avenge the loss of Ahab’s leg in an earlier encounter. A blend of literature, nautical history, whale science (from the classification of whales to how spermaceti is harvested and blubber is boiled down to oil), and action-packed adventure, Herman Melville’s epic masterpiece is captivating and often poignant and very funny. Dive in and check this American classic off your list at last. APEX HIDES THE HURT, by Colson Whitehead. The
“hero” of this novel is an extraordinarily gifted nomenclature
consultant—-he names things—-whose greatest success was naming the Apex
multi-ethnic adhesive bandage and turning it into a commercial phenomenon.
Called out of a mysterious, self-imposed exile, he’s asked to decide on the
name of a town founded by freed slaves. With energetic language and
crackling syntax, wit and humor, and insight into the damaged and yearning soul,
the author of THE INTUITIONIST and JOHN HENRY DAYS offers a thought-provoking
meditation on the power of naming and of discovering a thing’s (and a
person’s) true name. Deep Pockets by Linda Barnes
Dead
Ringer by Lisa Scottoline
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Set
in Boston, this mystery will take you on a tour through the hallowed halls of
Harvard and wild rides through the streets of downtown and beyond.
Carolotta Carlyle, Private Eye, has been hired by Harvard professor Wilson
Chaney to track down the person blackmailing him after the student with whom
he'd been having an affair died in a mysterious fire. Just how involved is
Chaney in Denali's death, and what does he really have to lose if the truth
about their affair gets out? A great read for mystery lovers and
Bostonians alike!
Dead
Ringer by Lisa Scottoline. Lawyer Mary DiNunzio is back - along with the
other women from Bennie Rosato's law firm - and she's uncovered another mystery.
This one brings her back in time to find out the truth about an Italian
immigrant's death. Was it truly a suicide? Or was it murder?
If it's murder, will she be able to figure out who did it? And will she be
able to get these questions answered before she gets herself killed (by
Premenstrual Tom or the guy in the black Escalade)? Lisa Scottoline has
become one of my favorite authors - good mysteries told with a great sense of
humor.