Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

The practice of alchemy and the world of the seventeenth century collide in contemporary times in this suspense novel. Cameron Brown commissions his former lover Lydia Brooke to ghostwrite an Isaac Newton biograhpy by his late mother Elizabeth Vogelsang, who died under mysterious circumstances. Lydia moves into Elizabeth's home to immerse herself in Elizabeth's notes for her biography. As Lydia reads Elizabeth's work and talks with a few people close to Elizabeth, she discovers links between murders that occurred in Cambridge (England) during the seventeenth century and vicious attacks by an animal rights group in present day Cambridge. All the links point to Isaac Newton and his practice of alchemy. The further Lydia delves into Elizabeth's research and conclusions, the more dangerous her life becomes. Comprehending the clues from the past may just save Lydia's life. And then, there is the white-haired man in seventeenth century clothing who watches Lydia - what is his connection to all of this?

Stott writes her novel in the first person from Lydia's perspective. There are many plot twists in the end, leaving for a surprising ending. I liked the link established between present and past; history can repeat itself if individuals fail to observe past actions. I think Stott's concept is very interesting, making aspects of the seventeenth century come to life while walking around in a modern day city. In one instance, Lydia becomes so immersed in imagining a seventeenth century setting that she can hear and smell and experience a seventeenth century market, as if she was actually there, though she obviously remains rooted in present day Cambridge. While this is a book of suspense, it also has elements of scholarly information: throughout the book, Stott includes chapters of Elizabeth's Newton biography, providing a nonfiction-feel to a fiction book. At times thrills and chills and at other times romantic, this book may interest historical fiction readers and suspense readers.

Reviewed by Jessica

Banana: the Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World by Dan Koeppel

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Many people eat a banana during the course of their day. In the United States, we eat bananas in our cereal, as a quick breakfast, or in an ice cream sundae. But, what is the story behind the banana? Koeppel examines the history of the banana in this nonfiction account of a world favorite fruit. Touring plantations and fields that grow bananas, as well as combing through documents and histories of world-leading banana companies, Koeppel discovers the banana's role in politics around the world and the struggle of some scientists to save the banana from disease.

Koeppel's smooth writing makes his narrative very easy to read. He documents his sources at the end of the book and provides a concise timeline of major banana events. I found this book to be quite enjoyable and eye opening: I was completely unaware of the political and scientific turmoil surrounding the banana. Not only have I gained a greater appreciation of the banana, but I will never look at the fruit the same way again. After reading this book, you will not either.

Reviewed by Jessica

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

What if Jane Austen left a journal of a secret love affair? In the movie Becoming Jane, Jane's encounter with Tom LeFroy is fictionalized into a love story. In Syrie James' novel, written in Jane's voice, Jane meets Mr. Frederick Ashford, a wealthy gentleman who matches Jane's personality and character very well. They fall in love during short accidental encounters. Ashford's constant attentions drive Jane to return to writing novels, something that she had neglected for several years. Using elements of her life, Jane begins to edit and rewrite her novel Sense and Sensibility.

Written in a memoir style with "editor's" footnotes explaining events, terms, and situations, James creates a fictional love story for Jane Austen. James uses a lot of circumstances and conversations Austen portrays in her novels Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice to try to connect Austen's real world with the world in Austen's novels. Readers of Austen's novels will see these connections throughout James' novel.

I found this novel to be a fun, and at times heartbreaking, read. Keeping in mind that not much is known about Jane Austen's life, any novel written about her just adds to her mystery. Readers who enjoy this novel may also want to try Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries. Barron's mysteries are also written from Austen's perspective and have a touch of romance in the storyline.

Reviewed by Jessica

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

Age Level: Teen
Format: Book

Girl meets boy. Girl loses boy. Girl gets boy back...sort of.

Ava and Jackson are in love. They go everywhere together, do everything together, share everything. Then, Ava's fifteen year old world falls apart when Jackson dies; and, Ava thinks she caused his death. Written in verse, this book takes readers through Ava's thoughts and feelings about the accident and about the aftermath. Oh, did I mention that Ava's dead boyfriend seems to hang around Ava, playing music, touching her, kissing her, enveloping her house in his sandalwood scent, not willing to let her go? Ava must make a choice: move on with her life, or keep her ghost boyfriend with her forever.

Schroeder weaves first love and tragic loss into a beautifully revealing book about loss and picking up the pieces. Fans of Sonya Sones' style of writing, what is termed as verse novels (or novels written in prose format), will enjoy this book. This is definitely one storyline that will "haunt" me for quite awhile.

Reviewed by Jessica

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Imagine waking up in a hospital room to discover your mind has blacked out three years, and everything is different about your life. Lexi Smart finds herself in this predicament in the latest "chick lit" novel by Kinsella, best known for her Shopaholic series. Lexi's last memory is an evening on the town with her friends in 2004. She wakes up in 2007, learning she's been in a car accident, she drives a Mercedes, works in management at her job, lives in a loft-style apartment, and has an extremely handsome (and extremely rich) husband. Sounds like the fairy tale life, right? At least Lexi thinks so, until she begins to realize that she does not recognize the person she has become - her friends hate her, her staff calls her the Cobra (among other more colorful names), and she may or may not have been having an affair with one of her husband's colleagues. Readers follow Lexi on her journey through recovery, putting the pieces of her new life together, and discovering the true meaning to the words "success" and "happiness."

I enjoy reading Kinsella's Shopaholic series, and could not wait to try one of her stand alone novels. I was not disappointed. Kinsella uses her magic in the genre of chick lit (humorous books about women making it in the real world) to create Lexi Smart, a character both flawed and likable. There are some laugh-out-loud scenes, so be careful where you read this!

If you like light and fluffy books, or you need something to read to escape from reality, try Remember Me?.

Reviewed by Jessica