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Winter reading Library staffers review their favourite winter selections House Rules by Jodi Picoult (Fiction) In her newest book, this popular author uses several different voices to lead her reader through a compelling mystery while at the same time painting a comprehensive and well-researched portrait of a life with Asperger's Syndrome. Emma Hunt is the single mother of two boys, Theo and Jacob. Although her older son, Jacob, is 18 years old and therefore an adult, his social challenges dramatically affect the whole family. His need for routine and predictability and his inability to adapt to unexpected change require constant compromise from Emma. Her son is obsessed with forensics analysis, lacks a capacity for empathy and has a history of being unpredictable. When he starts to show up to a few too many crime scenes, the questions becomes, "Is he capable of being a murderer?" The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (Non-Fiction) This fascinating and moving, true story is about the remarkable, immortal cells of one woman. Henrietta Lacks was a poor African American mother-of-five in Baltimore who died of cervical cancer at the age of 30 in 1951. Without her knowledge or consent, doctors took tumour samples which contained human cells that could survive, even thrive, in the lab for years and used them for medical research. Known as HeLa (from Henrietta Lacks) cells, they became the most famous cell line in the history of medical research, helping scientists discover how viruses work and how cancer develops. However, Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and poor health, and she never knew that her miraculous cells aided in some of the 20th century's greatest medical discoveries. Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving (Fiction) It's 1954, and 12 year-old Danny Baciagalupos and his widowed father live in a logging camp overlooking the Twisted River in New Hampshire. Danny's dad is Dominic or "Cookie", the camp cook. When Danny accidentally kills the local constable's girlfriend with a frying pan, (after mistaking her for a bear), father and son are forced to flee and become fugitives. They spend the next 50 years being pursued by the constable. The novel follows the Baciagalupos to an Italian restaurant in Boston, to Vermont and finally to a French café in Toronto. Last Night in Twisted River is a quirky meandering read with a good story and some likeable characters. It is available in print and as a downloadable digital audiobook from www.downloadcentre.library.on.ca Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction) Katie loved her husband Kevin, but then he changed and the abuse began. In desperation, Katie flees and Southport, North Carolina becomes her refuge -- he'll never find her there. Slowly, Katie blends into the community by finding a job and befriending the children of the local grocer, Alex, who is himself a widower. Alex perceived that Katie is lonely and afraid, and so offers his friendship. In time romance blossoms, but what will happen when Alex finds out that Katie ran away and that she is still married? Oh, and by the way, her real name is not Katie! Safe Haven has an interesting twist at the end that will make you want to read it twice! The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist (Fiction) At 50, Dorrit Weger has been moved to a luxurious suite in a self-contained community. She's not married, has no dependents and doesn't hold a job in an essential field­ she is one of society's dispensable ones. Her new home is intended to meet all of her needs. With state-of-the-art facilities and lush indoor gardens one could even consider it a spa resort. While Dorrit has no choice but to be there, the price she pays for all that luxury turns out to be very high. She will be the subject of medical experiments and drug trials and ultimately may be called upon to donate her organs to a more deserving individual. This excellent read paints a gripping behind-the-scenes picture of what may be required to sustain a utopian world in the very near future. Reviewed by Mary Pires Reviewed by Henrietta De'ath Reviewed by Lisa Hunziger Reviewed by Christine Otto Reviewed by Mary Pires g a J g a W www.wagjag.com WINTER · 2010 44 BUY TOGETHER AND WE ALL WIN! O F S I D E R O A D S H A LT O N H I L L S