The Mirror Thief - Martin Seay

Seay's prose, pacing and proportioning might be perfect. The writing in The Mirror Thief feels so natural that I practically tumbled into each of these intertwined worlds and eras. His word choice is so correct, I felt I was living his characters in real time. The Mirror Thief enchanted me Vegas to Venice, page one till the end. - Tony

"Fruit! They're healthy, happy, colorful and cute!" But poor Orange is on the sidelines and sulky because grapes wear capes and canteloupe can be fed to antelope. Even Nietzsche makes an appearance in this rollicking rhyming book that ultimately finds a way to include Orange in its infectious fun. - Catherine

If compassion is the ultimate subtext of the Holiday Season, then Jenny Erpenbeck, who grew up in East Germany and experienced the nationwide embrace of Reunification, has written an impeccable Holiday novel. Go, Went, Gone is the story of a retired university professor who reinvigorates his own life through a deepening involvement with African refugees, whose former lives have been erased more thoroughly than his own. José

This is the new authoritative history of what has become known as the Donner Party. Wallis maintains perspective, cultivates context, and interweaves the tale seamlessly with first-hand accounts. It's more than an exposition on survival cannibalism, though that is covered extensively, it's about the overwhelming drive of Americans to uproot themselves in the search of something better, despite all costs. - Stephanie

Shakespeare's True Love - Helen E. Burton

The thief, young, arrogant and irreverent, is taken out of prison by the court's Magus on a cross-country mission to steal a king-maker relic. But Gen isn't about to go quietly and this character-driven tale evolves into a thrilling, political, and mysterious intrigue in an Ancient Greece-like land, complete with a pantheon of Gods. The latest in the series came out this year, but start with The Thief! - Morgane



Eleanor Flood is the most natural parts of us all embodied: insecure, off-kilter, and struggling to find joy in her life. A wealthy Seattle artist, mother approaching middle age, increasingly distant wife, and daughter of an alcoholic single father, Eleanor is overwhelmed and wondering if the aspirations she built her life around will ever be actualized. Wrought with everyday rumpus, Eleanor's story is relatable, heartfelt, hilarious, and satisfyingly concluded in Semple's gratifying yet realistic style. - Lila Ann

Being a fan of non-fiction, I rarely encounter such an exciting read.   The Lost City of the Monkey God is a real-life adventure involving the   new technology "Lidar", used to scan the triple-canopy rainforest of   Honduras, revealing ruins and artifacts of a lost civilization.  Explorers encounter buzzing insects, torrential rain, poisonous snakes,   howling monkeys and a bizarre infectious disease.  I read it, gave the   book to my dad; he read it, and passed it on to his father: so it has   been enjoyed by three generations of my family.

reporter Helen Baxter is approached by a young music student, who claims to have provided key details that led to the capture of Bundy, thanks to his visions. Was there a psychic link between Joseph and the killer?

Echoes from the Mind: The Psychic and the Gainesville Student Murders: Helen Baxter performs her own investigation of Florida murders with the help of several unusual sources: psychics. Would they be able to provide the police with enough credible information to stop the killings?

     

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 3 PM

  Weller Book Works and We Olive present our next in the Books and Cooks Culinary Competition: Xmas Cookies ! Do you have a family recipe or original creations? This battle is for you!

Contact Lane for entry details: [email protected], or 801-328-2586. There will be giveaways and prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Judging is done blind, with a three judge panel. We'd love to see you there! And if you don't want to compete, come watch to be part of the fun and taste some awesome Christmas treats!