Book of the Week: ‘The White Shepherd’
The White Shepherd: An Oxford Dogwalkers’ Mystery Annie Dalton 2015, 249 pages Fiction Anna Hopkins is a loner, and she has a very good reason to be one. Years ago something terrible happened to her family. But recently Anna adopted a beautiful white shepherd, a rescue dog, named Bonnie. When she and Bonnie find the body of a beautiful acquaintance stabbed to death in the park, a series of events is set in motion. Two other women help...
Book of the Week: ‘A Library Book for Bear’
A Library Book for Bear Bonny Becker 2014, 32 pages Fiction In this children’s book, Bear is sure that his seven “very nice books” are all the books that he would ever need. But his friend Mouse is insistent that they visit the library. Bear had promised, so he reluctantly takes Mouse to the library and says that “There are far too many books in there” . . . “Most excessive!” But Mouse persists, and while in the library Bear makes an...
Book of the Week: ‘The Red Collar’
The Red Collar Jean Christophe Rufin 2015, 158 pages Fiction If you had to explain to someone what it means to be human, you could give them this book. The Red Collar is about Wilhelm, a briard sheepdog mix, who followed Jacques Morlac when he was mobilized to fight in the French army in 1915. When the book opens, Morlac is in prison and Wilhelm is outside “baying relentlessly.” Major Hugues Lantier du Grez is the officer...
Book of the Week: ‘Carry On’
Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow Rainbow Rowell 2015, 522 pages Fiction The latest book by Rainbow Rowell is everything you could expect from one of her books; it has the same wit, charm, pacing and relatable characters, with the added touch of fantasy. Carry On is a mashup of common tropes, and a few unexpected twists. As a stand-alone novel, it’s an enjoyable read, something exciting and fun to take you to a new world that...
Book of the Week: ‘Ana of California’
Ana of California Andi Teran 2015, 353 pages Fiction Ana of California, which is “inspired” by Anne of Green Gables, is both familiar and fresh. Ana Cortez is an orphan from Boyle Heights in East L.A. She’s almost 16, the age when she can “emancipate” out of the foster care system. In the meantime, she’s in trouble for telling off her latest foster mother. Her social worker suggests Garber Farm in northern California, owned by brother...
