The Law of Attraction Plain and Simple

The Law of Attraction Plain and Simple: Create the Extraordinary Life that You Deserve
by Sonia Ricotti

This is a short & simple book about how to attract the life you want through positive thoughts & beliefs. In very clear terms she presents the 11 steps to clearing the way to manifesting your dreams.

The bottom line is that we choose our thoughts & feelings. By making a choice to be positive, we are creating a positive life. This book is for anyone who enjoyed the film What the Bleep Do We Know or the book & movie The Secret.

-Holly

Very Valentine

Very Valentine
by Adriana Trigiani

Valentine Roncalli is thirty-three, single, and lives with her eighty-year old grandmother in an apartment in Greenwich Village. Her life centers around her family and saving the family’s business, Angelini Shoe Company. In her spare time, Valentine does try to have a relationship with her boyfriend, Roman. They plan to meet for a rendezvous on the Isle of Capri but the unexpected happens and Valentine’s life changes.

The author is an excellent story teller and has a great sense of humor. I can hardly wait for the second part of this trilogy! In the meantime, I highly recommend some of the author’s other books: Lucia Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, Rococo, or the Big Stone Gap series.

- Rose

Young@Heart

Young @ Heart
DVD

This documentary follows the musical group Young@Heart as they rehearse for a big show in their hometown. The average age of the group members is over 70, and they sing rock songs. Their musical selections include songs by Coldplay, James Brown, and The Clash. The BeeGee's Staying Alive takes on a whole new meaning when sung by a man carrying a container of oxygen. I cried when they sang Forever Young.

This movie shows how fun life can be if we stay open to new ideas, and keep active. The attitude, passion, and talent of this group of seniors is inspiring. Fantastic!

- Kathy S

Heart and Soul

Heart and Soul
by Maeve Binchy

Maeve Binchy's newest book, Heart and Soul, is filled with her usual wonderful characters; some new, and some familiar to readers from her other books. Written with her usual warmth and humor, Heart and Soul tells the story of Dr. Clara Casey, who is given the thankless task of establishing an underfunded cardiology clinic. Added into the mix are two difficult adult daughters and a needy ex-husband.

This is one of Maeve Binchy's better books - I was sorry to see it end.

- Lynn

The Visitor

The Visitor
DVD

Starring Richard Jenkins, (Six Feet Under), The Visitor tells the story of a recently widowed professor, Walter, whose grief has caused him to struggle with his everyday life. Visiting the NYC apartment that he rarely uses, Walter is surprised to find a young couple living there. His life is changed forever through the new friendship he makes with the illegal immigrant couple. Walter's life becomes whole when he steps in to help his new friends when they find themselves in trouble with the law.

This movie is an unexpected gem. We both enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

- Dixie & Kathy

Dog Days

Dog Days
by Jon Katz

Jon Katz is back this time with another great chronicle of modern day rural life. His farm, Bedlam Farm, located in upstate New York, is full of unpredictable adventures thanks to his two Border Collies, Rose & Izzy, two Labrador retrievers, Pearl & Clementine, donkeys, sheep, chickens, a ram, and Elvis, the 2,000+ pound steer. In between animal escapades, Jon manages to write and oversee renovations on his barns, make endless trips to the vet, and, if time permits, squeeze in some physical therapy sessions for his bad back. A must read for all animal lovers!

- Ann

Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman

Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman
(DVD)

Jennifer Fox is a documentary filmmaker who turns the camera on herself and her friends to explore what it means to be a woman in our modern era. Her travels take her to England, South Africa, Pakistan & India. The six hours of footage are broken down into 6 episodes that are equal parts soap opera & reality TV.

Jennifer ponders who she wants to spend the rest of her life with as well as the sudden urge to have a baby. In the midst of her journey, we get the perspective of different cultures and generations. This is a thinking persons documentary about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

-Holly

Cosmic!: The Ultimate 3D Guide to the Universe

Cosmic! The Ultimate 3-D Guide to the Universe
By Giles Sparrow

Even though this book was written for children, I found it interesting and enjoyed the pop-up illustrations as well as the explanations of the cosmic universe. The author, artists, and paper engineers did an outstanding job explaining and illustrating the solar system, formation of a star, the sun’s layers, planets, solar system, and much more. The book would be an excellent teaching tool for the classroom.

- Rose

Hamlet 2

Hamlet 2

DVD

This is a funny and actually heart-warming and well-acted story of a down-on-his luck actor turned high school drama teacher with issues! When the drama program is cut from the school budget, Mr. Marschz figures "what the heck" and writes a cathartic play from his heart - Hamlet 2. What if everybody didn't die? Steve Coogan is brilliant as Mr. Marschz. The character is so goofy, but instead of wanting to dismiss him, I found myself really liking him.

- Linda

Nine Parts of Desire

Comments from the Tuesday Evening Book Club

Nine Parts of Desire: the hidden world of Islamic Women
by Geraldine Brooks

As a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Geraldine Brooks covered events in the Middle East during the religious resurgence in the 1980's. Everyone in our book club enjoyed her writing and thought that she framed the narratives well with political & religious background. Throughout the book, Brooks compares the oppressive rules with the text of the Koran and in many cases reveals a different interpretation. Her background as a reporter was helpful in presenting a fair & balanced approach throughout the book.

What we found interesting was the fact that the men had more to say than the women. The truth was the women were horrified by the fact that women were enforcing these rules upon women. From female circumcision to social isolation, the women were creating a world based on fear for themselves & their families. This book is a real eye opener about how ideas based on fear can take hold & alter a belief system.

An Infinity of Little Hours

Comments from Our Thursday Afternoon Book Club

An Infinity of Little Hours
By Nancy Maguire

It was a typical cold snowy January day last Thursday, but our afternoon book club disregarded the gloomy weather and heated things up with an intense discussion about our latest selection. An Infinity of Little Hours by Nancy Maguire is the tale of five young men striving to become members of the most ascetic monastic order in the world. The author's husband was one of the men attempting to dedicate himself to God by joining the Carthusian order. The book recounts his and the other men's experiences. Our book club was fascinated by the subject matter. The author goes in to great detail and it is an obviously painstakingly well researched book. We agreed that while it promoted great discussion it was not a book that most could sit down and read quickly. It is rather a book that one would read slowly and ponder over. It was a stimulating selection to start off 2009! 4.5 out of 5 coffee cups - Extremely interesting subject matter, but a little difficult to wade through.

The Longest Trip Home

The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir

By John Grogan

If you enjoyed reading Marley & Me, this will be an equally enjoyable book for you. John Grogan’s memoir is about growing up, breaking away and coming home again. He describes growing up in a strict Catholic family, attending Catholic school and many mischievous incidents in-between. I laughed, I cried, I felt like I grew up with him.

- Dixie

Braiding Manes and Tails

Braiding Manes and Tails: A Visual Guide to 30 Basic Braids
by Charni Lewis

Now is the time to start perfecting your horse’s braids for the 2009 horse show season. The excellent step-by-step instructions contained in Braiding Manes and Tails will certainly help to master techniques and simplify braiding. This book is good for beginners too and has information on getting started, braiding tools, safety, and other tips for having a well-groomed horse.

- Rose

Olive Kitteridge

Olive Kitteridge
by Elizabeth Strout

Olive Kitteridge is a novel made up of short stories that tell of the lives of people in a small town in Maine. All of the stories are linked through the main character, Olive. Each new tale builds off the previous one so readers have many related short stories that enable them to see the true Olive. When we first meet her, she appears to be nothing more than a crabby old woman, but as the book unfolds, we learn more about this complex and interesting person, and come to identify with her. A wonderful read –

- Kathy S.

Alex & Me

Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--And Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
by Irene M. Pepperberg

Scientist Irene Pepperberg worked with Alex, the African Grey Parrot, for 30 years. Her research showed that Alex was able to go beyond simple mimicry and actually understood what he was saying. He knew over 100 words and could distinguish color, shape and knew numbers up to six. This is the story of their relationship that resulted in a deep bond and extraordinary scientific achievements.

- Dixie