Friday, February 28, 2014

Book Review
Dakota by Gwen Florio

I have added Lola Wicks to the list of characters whose adventures I hope to follow for a long time.

Lola, a former foreign correspondent, relocates to Magpie, Montana, and starts a relationship with the local sheriff. That relationship, however keeps her from being able to report on police matters for the local newspaper. But when a girl missing from the Indian reservation Magpie is built in is found dead not far from home, Lola doesn't let the technicality of not being on the police beat stop her from trying to get the story.

She believes the girl's death -- and the disappearances of other girls from the reservation -- is related to the oil boom near Burnt Creek, North Dakota, 500 miles away. The oil fields are drawing men from all over the country for the good-paying jobs. The problem is, with no family to go home to, or reign them in, many of the oil field workers have turned the small town of Burnt Creek into a haven for prostitution, sex-trafficking and all kinds of unseemly behavior.

Lola manages to get herself right in the middle of the action after telling her editor she wants to do a story on men from the Indian reservation who travel all that way to work in the oil fields.

Because we're -- I hope! -- nearing the end of a very rough winter here in the northeast I'd also like to mention that the weather in Dakota should be considered a character as well. After working in Kabul and Baltimore Lola is not ready for a brutal Montana and North Dakota winter but she must deal with it the same as she deals with the people who become obstacles on her path to the truth.

Dakota is the second book in the Lola Wicks series and, while waiting for the third, I'll put Montana on my reading list and Gwen Florio on my list of new authors I like.

4 of 5

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Influx
By Daniel Suarez

In Influx, best selling author Daniel Suarez imagines that current human technology is vastly more advanced than commonly believed. Cold fusion, the cure for cancer and greater-than-human artificial intelligence are among the discoveries that have been kept under wraps by the Bureau of Technology Control.

Scientist Jon Grady, who has discovered mirror gravity, is picked up by the BTC shortly after his discovery and, because he won't work with them is put in the most high-tech jail you could possibly imagine. His escape and the consequences are a page-turning adventure you won't soon forget.

Listen to my conversation with Daniel Suarez by going to http://www.wesb.com/listen/, clicking on the "Local Programs" tab, and scrolling down to today's date (02-27-14).

For more information you can go to Daniel-Suarez.com

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Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero
By Douglas Perry

Award-winning writer Douglas Perry not only chronicles Eliot Ness's legendary pursuit of Al Capone, but continues the largely unknown story of Ness's time as Public Safety Director in Cleveland, where he achieved some of the greatest successes of his career, including rooting out corruption in the police department and taking on the Mob, and instituting what is today considered textbook policing.

And, yes, Perry writes about Ness's time in Coudersport, where he died at the age of 57.

You can hear my interview with Douglas Perry by going to http://www.wesb.com/listen/, clicking on "Local Programs," and scrolling down to today's show (02-27-14).

For more information you can go to http://DouglasPerry.net.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Dancing Through It
By Jenifer Ringer

Former New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Jenifer Ringer gives a behind-the-curtain look at the world of classical ballet, along with her private -- and sometimes public -- struggles.

She writes about her faith, an eating disorder, getting fired from the ballet and "Sugarplumgate," when -- after she'd conquered her eating disorder -- a critic reviewing "The Nutcracker" wrote that her Sugarplum Fairy looked as if she'd eaten one sugarplum too many. But that opened up a discussion on weight issues and got her an appearance on "Oprah."

She also writes about her family and, in our interview, talks about her future plans now that she has retired from the ballet. "Dancing Through It: My Journey in the Ballet" also includes many beautiful pictures any ballet fan will love.

You can listen to my chat with Jenifer here.

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Friday, February 21, 2014

Detroit: An American Autopsy
By Charlie LeDuff

"Detroit can no longer be ignored, because what happened here is happening out there," says Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charlie LeDuff. His bestselling book, "Detroit: An American Autopsy," details his quest to uncover what destroyed his hometown, but also to show that there are people who still care enough to make a difference.

You will be outraged at how the city treats its firefighters. During my interview with Charlie I said, "It's almost immoral." He corrected me and said, "It is immoral."

If someone tried writing a novel about the downfall of Detroit using the stories Charlie used, no one would buy it, saying it wasn't credible because it goes too far. That's the thing. It's all true -- from the firebombing of his mom's flower shop to the man who was found frozen to death in the basement of an abandoned building to the firemen who got in trouble for taking a screen door from a condemned house because the city wouldn't provide their fire station with a screen door.

You can listen to my chat with Charlie LeDuff here.

Note: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Hammett Unwritten
By Owen Fitzstephen (Gordon McAlpine)

What if the character in The Maltese Falcon were based on real people that Dashiell Hammett had met and dealt with while he worked as a private investigator? What if the black bird really did have some kind of mystical power? What if giving up the bird is what caused Hammett's decades-long writer's block?

That's the premise behind Hammett Unwritten, a noir mystery that will keep you riveted from the first page until the "Afterward" by McAlpine.

You can listen to my conversation with McAlpine go here: http://www.wesb.com/listen/. Click on the "Local Programs" tab and scroll down to #61.

For more information: http://GordonMcAlpine.net/

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Thursday, February 13, 2014

George Washington's Secret Six
By Brian Kilmeade

Stories like those found in "George Washington's Secret Six" are what make American history so interesting. A spy ring that helped trick British troops into abandoning a plan to ambush French reinforcements sent to help the Patriots? How can you not love that?

One of the most amazing things about everything the Culper Ring did is that this was -- obviously -- before telephones (let alone cell phones!), computers, even radio. And, the CIA still uses some of the practices George Washington and his spies used during the Revolutionary War.

You can listen to my conversation with Fox News Channel's Brian Kilmeade by going to http://www.wesb.com/listen/, clicking on "Local Programs" and scrolling down to #9. Listen until the end and Brian will tell you how to get a signed copy of the book.


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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

A Sandy Hook Mom Talks About
Nurturing Healing Love

6-year-old Jesse Lewis was one of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012.

His mom Scarlett says just days prior to the tragedy, Jesse wrote three words on his chalkboard at home: “Nurturing. Healing. Love.” We understand these final words as a calling from Jesse that says, ‘I have something for you to do for us. That’s to consciously change an angry thought into a loving one’ because it is a choice," she says.

I had the pleasure and honor of speaking with Scarlett about her son and the cause that bears his name, the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation.

You can listen to our conversation by going to http://www.wesb.com/listen/, clicking on the "Local Programs" tab and scrolling to #8.

You can learn more here: http://www.JesseLewisChooseLove.org/

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Monday, February 10, 2014

The Guts
By Roddy Doyle

Dublin music promoter Jimmy Rabbitte (from The Commitments) is dealing with a few problems going into mid-life: a recent diagnosis of bowel cancer, the recession hurting his business; and his dog-in-law's visit.

When he learns the Catholic Church is planning a world conference in Dublin -- that the Pope may or may not attend -- he comes up with a money-making plan and enlists the help of an American grad student named Ocean and his elderly, deaf gay uncle. Later, the plan develops into a not-totally-honest scheme that turns out better than anyone could have hoped.

Along the way, Jimmy must deal with quite a few quirky characters including his business partner who insists on calling him "Jimbo" despite his disdain for the name; a husband and wife punk music group who break up every time they perform; his father who insists on misspelling his text messages; and his 14-year-old daughter who has declared that she's a vegetarian -- except when the family gets Chinese takeout.

The final act takes place at a Woodstock-like event called Electric Park and is pure perfection. It goes from hilarious to heart-wrenching to exhilarating and back before you can say Dexy's Midnight Runners.

Note: I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

3 1/2 out of 5

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Saturday, February 8, 2014

Play Ball!

Getting antsy while awaiting the start of baseball season? Here are three books that can help you pass the time until America's pastime gets back into full swing.

Calico Joe by John Grisham

Blockade Billy by Stephen King

Bottom of the 33rd by Dan Barry

The reason I like Bottom of the 33rd so much is that it's a true story and, if Dan tried to write a fictionalized version of the longest professional baseball game in history, people would say, "That Barry may be a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist but as a novelist he's a hack." Not that I believe Dan could write anything bad -- Yes. I'm a bit biased -- but there are so many twists and turns in this story that it doesn't seem real sometimes. It's all true, though, and it's about more than baseball. It's about hope, perseverance and a whole lot more.

If you want more baseball books you'll find plenty of suggestions at Goodreads.com.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Sue Monk Kidd and Robin Cook


"The Invention of Wings" and "Cell" are two very different books set hundreds of years apart -- Pre-Civil War and July 2014 -- but I loved both of them. I also enjoyed speaking with both authors, Sue Monk Kidd and Robin Cook.

You can hear both conversations by going to http://www.wesb.com/listen/ and clicking on the "Local Programs" tab. Scroll down to 02-05-14 LiveLine -- Authors Sue Monk Kidd and Robin Cook.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Grounded
By Angela Correll

In her debut novel, Grounded, Angela Correll pulls from her past as it follows a jet-setting woman who returns to her Kentucky roots to find a passion for sustainable agriculture.

During our chat she also talked about the growing farm-too-table movement and a couple of other topics.

You can listen to our conversation here.

Find more information at AngelaCorrell.com.

Like the Library

From the Bradford Area Public Library:

We are busy trying to expand our Facebook reach at the Bradford Area Public Library! "LIKE" our page and "SHARE" it with friends to be entered in a drawing to WIN a $10.00 Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate!! Drawing held Friday, Feb. 7th.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bradford-Area-Public-Library/171638409551112

Monday, February 3, 2014

Your Astrological Compass
By Alice Loffredo


I had a very interesting and informative conversation with Alice Loffredo today. You can listen here: http://www.wesb.com/listen/. Click on the "Local Programs" tab and scroll down to "LiveLine 02-03-14 Your Astrological Compass."

This is ALice's website: http://www.astrologykarmaandyou.com/index.html.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Win Some Books!

Oswayo Valley Memorial Library
We are selling tickets for a chance on a romance Valentine's basket. $1 each or 6 for $5. A winner will be drawn at noon on Wednesday, February 12th, so you can have it to deliver to your valentine on the 14th.

Visit the library's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ovmlibrary

Radio and Reading

I think most people know reading and radio are two of my favorite forms of entertainment. So, when I learned that Martin A. Gardner wrote a book about a radio show it was a no-brainer for me to interview him. His book Quiz Kids: The Radio Program with the Smartest Children in America, 1940-1953 is about one of the most popular radio shows and the kids who made it so popular.

Mr. Gardner and I had a delightful conversation about the book and you can listen to it here.

You'll find more information here.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Interestings
By Meg Wolitzer

Meg Wolitzer paints characters that seem so real by the end of the book you’ll feel as if they’re real people, not a bunch of folks you met in book.

The Interestings starts in 1974 at a summer camp with six students involved in the arts. They decide their group needs a name and come up with “The Interestings.” I’ve read several reviews saying that the name is ironic because the book is anything but interesting. My take on that is the title is supposed to be ironic. Toward the end of the book the husband of one group member even tells his wife his friends aren’t all that interesting.

What made the book interesting for me is the way these six people – most of whom are only a year older than I am – went from their teenage years to today and the lessons they learned along the way, one of which is that what may be your passion when you’re 15 may end up in a closet never to be seen again by the time you’re 50 but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

For me, parts of the book were a trip down memory lane to a time before AIDS, when being carefree didn’t have consequences, when I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to do. But, and this is a sobering thought, readers in their 20s and 30s might consider this historical fiction.

Be that as it may, I liked the story. I didn’t like in a way that I’d get home from work, kick off my boots, grab the book and settle in to see what was happening with Jules. But it was an enjoyable read.

3 out 5