JENNIFER RECOMMENDS
THE SILENT LAND by Graham Joyce (Doubleday)

After an avalanche covers over Zoe and Jack on their vacation in the French Alps, they emerge to a world of silence. Efforts are continually thwarted as they try to rejoin society, until they finally realize they are trapped in a sort of limbo. Cracks begin to appear in their relationship as figments and sounds rush in and out of their reality. A strange tale, definitely, but the true enjoyment is in the prose. An enjoyable read (not to be taken on a ski trip!)

REVENGE OF THE RADIOACTIVE LADY by Elizabeth Stuckey-French (Random House)

Septuagenarian Marylou Ahearn is planning a murder. Fifty years ago she was tricked into taking a radioactive cocktail, which years down the road proved to have caused the death of her daughter. Now she has one goal: to kill the man responsible for those experiments on pregnant women. Her obstacle? His dysfunctional family keeps getting in the way! The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady is a fun romp of a tale with a very dark twist, and will definitely appeal to anyone looking for a great read with clever characters.

BRIAN RECOMMENDS
BLOOD, BONES & BUTTER by Gabrielle Hamilton (Random House)

This gripping memoir of a New York City chef is as unique as Gabrielle Hamilton’s restaurant Prune. Within the first few pages one finds Blood, Bones & Butter is not about how to perfectly braise a rabbit or the antics of a drug fueled kitchen staff, instead it is one woman’s story about her broken childhood; facing difficult challenges growing up and finding her way no matter how hard she tried to escape her ultimate destination. It’s a memoir of a working mother and wife in an unsteady marriage carefully balancing all of her responsibilities like everyone else. But it never strays from the overall theme of a woman with great talent and drive injecting herself into a world difficult for women of any ability or ambition. Hamilton tells her story in such vivid detail that one has the sense of being a family friend, awkwardly standing in the kitchen and witnessing the crumbling of the family unit and wishing her well. And eavesdropping years later while living in New York City as she is advised over the phone by her lawyer, “you need to enroll in school and get out of state”. In the end, there is no Hollywood ending. But there is Gabrielle Hamilton standing tall with a successful restaurant and a life filled with blood, bones & butter. See Brian's full review at: http://thesaucyjalapeno.com/

CAROL RECOMMENDS
THE ATTENBURY EMERALDS by Jill Paton Walsh (Minotaur Books)

Jill Paton-Walsh has channeled the spirit of Dorothy Sayers and given us a new Peter Wimsey-Harriet Vane mystery. While sharing the history of his first case with Harriet, his wife of 15 years, the death of old Lord Attenbury brings a new mystery that hinges on the old. Requiring both Peter and Bunter’s memories, Harriet’s common sense, tracing cold trails and interviewing the newly impoverished peers of the realm, Paton-Walsh has brought the doings of the Whimsy family up-to-date. A multi-layered book by the author selected to finish the two books left incomplete at the time of Sayer’s death. A must read for Peter and Harriet fans.

CHRIS RECOMMENDS
AND FURTHERMORE
by Judi Dench (St. Martin’s Press)

Widely considered one of the great actresses of film,TV and theatre, Judi Dench has captivated audiences since her stage debut in 1957. Her new memoir recounts her early experiences on the English stage to playing “M” in the James Bond series. Dame Judi has worked with the best actors, actresses, writers and directors in England and seems to have enjoyed every moment. She is honest not only about her successes but also her failures and insecurities. If you’re looking for nasty gossip, you’ll be disappointed. She loves the company of other people and is having too much fun to be mean. Reading this book is like having a great long lunch with your best friend.

ME...JANE
by Patrick McDonnell (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

The main character in this new picture book is a little girl named Jane who, with her toy chimp Jubilee, loved to explore the outdoors. She observed the birds, spiders and squirrels in her neighborhood and then read about them in her books. One series of books she especially enjoyed were about Tarzan of the Apes, who lived in the jungles of Africa with someone also named Jane. Jane then dreamed of living in Africa and working with the animals. SPOILER ALERT! On the last page of the book we realize that Jane is not a fictional character. This is the true story of Jane Goodall. Patrick O’Donnell has written and illustrated a lovely book that will inspire children to be curious about the world around them.

ROBIN RECOMMENDS
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly

Andi, an angry, disconsolate senior has lost her brother in a tragic accident. Her father, a prestigious scientist is heading to Paris for work and insists on her company to get her away from her destructive behaviors. While she is in Paris, staying with a family friend, she finds a diary of a girl whom lived two centuries ago. These two stories, one present, and one during the reign of terror, collide with a vicarious intensity. Both young women, so broken, in the end choose to be heroes of their own stories. Jennifer Donnelly is a special favorite author of mine. Her books have a depth and breadth that stays with me long after I’ve read the last page and her characters have such intelligence and grace.

SISTERHOOD EVERLASTING by Ann Brashares (Random House)

I had forgotten how much I love this author. She really is at her best when she is writing about Carmen, Tibby Bee, and Lena. Sisterhood Everlasting opens up at the end of their 29th year. Tibby reaches out to the Septembers, inviting them to meet in Greece for the milestone celebration. What happens next will shake you. I’m not going to spoil it, but read it, and get swept up in the immense and deeply satisfying friendship all over again.

THOM RECOMMENDS
AND I SHALL HAVE SOME PEACE THERE
by Margaret Roach

Author Margaret Roach finds satisfaction and fulfillment on a patch of earth in upstate New York after years in a high-demand job at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She has made enough money to retire at 50 and move on to her next conquest, the idyllic life. The New Yorker-cum-bumpkin blogger cliché is all but worn out but this tale does lay some new ground. At 50, she is divorced, alone and lonely -- living inside her head, constantly juggling thoughts, summoning Buddhist quotes and 60’s music lyrics at will, and organizing plans of attack in the form of to-do lists. Her absolute control issues are constantly challenged as people and wildlife enter and leave during some very trying seasons. Ultimately, she transforms her overgrown, vine-strangled acreage into a ‘magic kingdom’ and favorite stop for the area’s garden tourists, giving her some inner peace as well. The writing can be a little uneven, and that is okay, since her journey is decidedly so. And that’s the fun.

BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey

Comedian, actress, and Emmy award-winning writer/producer Tina Fey is at the top of her game, and she knows it. It’s no wonder Bossypants sits confidently atop the independent bestseller list. This smartly written memoir from an extremely articulate author is equal parts sentimentality, self-deprecation, and smart-ass. Fans of Ms. Fey will immediately recognize the writing style and tempo she made so identifiable on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update segments. Newcomers will delight in how she has viewed her path to Primetime – from childhood days in summer theatre camp to falling for gay guys, working improv in Chicago, arriving at SNL, arriving at 30 Rock, responding to haters, becoming a mom, making time for family, and the hopes for her infant daughter, etc. It’s all great, fun insight from an above-average woman in the primetime of her life.

ELLIOT RECOMMENDS (one of our young reviewers)
THE BLUE COMET by Rosemary Wells

Trains are in my basement. Toy trains to be exact. I am Oscar, and the year is 1931. The stock Market Crash causes my Dad to lose our house and our trains. To escape the chaos my life becomes, I simply jump, and end up traveling through time and space on one of my very own toy trains. My train, The Blue Comet, delivers me into 1941, where I suddenly grow a foot taller and am 21 years old! Old friends and new friends try to help me get home. What happens next? Does Oscar get his trains, his home, and his father back? Read On The Blue Comet to experience Oscar’s full adventure. This book is good for Back to the Future fans, young and old alike. Read this book and it’s just how Oscar said it, you simply jump. . . and the next thing you know you’re jumping onto the train of ADVENTURE! (Candlewick) MORE...

YOUNG FREDL
by Cynthia Voigt (Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Elliot is one of our young reviewers Fredle the mouse has spent his entire life asking questions. He lives indoors. But... outside (as Fredle finds out) isn’t at all what he expected. You will read this book and find yourself fully immersed in the story as the mouse finds out how to: dodge hawks and snakes, laugh like a raccoon, and (most importantly) how to make friends. Cynthia Voigt won a Newbery Medal for her book Dicey’s Song and lives with her husband in Maine.

A BOY AND HIS BOT by Daniel Wilson (Bloomsbury)

Daniel Wilson is the only author I’ve ever heard of who would dream of writing about a boy named Code who tumbles into Mekhos (the land of the robots.) Most people would just try to cover it up. Not him. He included every single detail. From Code’s gargantuan slaughter bot to his tiny Mecno-bee Peep. This story is full of suspense, friends and enemies.

FLIP by Martyn Bedford (Wendy Lamb Books)

Alex Gray wakes up in a different body. Creepy. And of course nobody believes him. Scary. The body Alex’s soul is in is named Philip. Not bad. The body’s nickname is FLIP. Cool. But then when he’s surfing the web he finds out that his old body is in PVS. Coma. Can Alex get back to his old body before it’s too late? Souls, deaths, schools, moms, dads, and girlfriend troubles. This book has it all. OK so it’s a little complicated. Really complicated. All right, All right! Most people won’t understand it! This book is a little bit like The Metamorphosis by Kafka (minus the giant bug).

ANDREA RECOMMENDS
AFTER THE FALLS: Coming of Age in the Sixties by Catherine Gildiner

TIf you remember growing up in the turbulent 60’s, or just wish you had, you will truly enjoy After the Falls. Beginning where her first memoir, Too Close to the Falls, left off, Cathy Gildiner crafts a fascinating coming of age story which can stand alone on its own merit, set in a time when growing up meant not only dealing with challenging personal and family struggles, but also with the political and social upheaval that defined that decade. Quirky little Cathy was once her Dad’s best pal, and the many threads of that changing relationship are deftly woven throughout her compelling story, told with spirit, grace and good humor. (Viking) MORE...

TURN OF MIND by Alice LaPlante (Atlantic Monthly Press)

Imaginative, haunting, and certainly engrossing, Turn of Mind is a stunning first novel written by Alice LaPlante. Dr. Jennifer White is 64 years old and a brilliant orthopedic surgeon who is forced to retire because she is suffering from dementia. Her lifelong best friend, Amanda, has just been found murdered, and all signs are pointing to her. The police are trying to extract the truth, but this is impossible, because she has no memory of the event. LaPlante’s story of friendship, family and personal tragedy is told through her main character’s powerful, confused voice, as well as her skewed perception of reality. How the mystery unfolds will keep you fascinated.

ANDREW RECOMMENDS
AVEC ERIC by Eric Ripert

Simple and fresh. These are the two most common words found in cookbooks, so that ordinary folk can attempt to recreate wonderful food in their own kitchens. Is it no different in Eric Ripert’s cookbook that is a companion to his TV show of the same name. Featured are recipes from the show, recipes inspired by the places he visits, plus a look in the kitchen of the restaurant he co-owns, Le Bernardin in New York City. Elegantly laid out, with exactly the kind of beautiful photography you’d expect, this would be a welcome edition to any kitchen’s cookbook collection, full of recipes to try, and inspiration from one of America’s more interesting chefs. (Wiley) MORE...

HIGH ON THE HOG by Jessica Harris (Bloomsbury)

This is a history in food, richly detailed and, in parts, highly personal, outlining the deep and abiding influence African-American culinary culture has on overall American culinary tradition and culture. The author looks at not only how the colonisation of the Americas changed food in Africa, but also how that became a two-way exchange of food and ideas through the tragedy of slavery. Harris delves into the way slaves adapted to the dreadful conditions they had to endure, with food being a primary way of rising above this, and a touchstone of community. Of course, slaves cooked for their masters, too, and so began to influence every palate, and continue to influence the palates of all, with the two-way exchange between Africa and the Americas remaining a large part of the story. What an enlightening and entertaining read about a little known part of the culinary map!

UNFAMILIAR FISHES by Sarah Vowell (Riverhead)

Vowell’s latest in a line of quirky, obsessive books about the history of the US takes us to the Hawaiian Island, their annexation by the USA and the peaceful overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. Surprisingly, like her previous book, The Wordy Shipmates, this is another quintessentially New England story. Both the whalers and the missionaries who respectively formed the largest visitor and settlement populations of non-Hawaiians came ultimately from New England. In fact, it was these missionaries’ descendants who overthrew the monarchy. Unfamiliar Fishes has all the things we’ve come to expect from Vowell, with her disgressions adding to her narrative as well as tying her subject matter to current events, particularly President Obama. This is certainly an entertaining follow up to The Wordy Shipmates.

THE SORCEROR'S APPRENTICES: A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adria's Elbulli
by Lisa Abend (Free Press)

El Bulli in Spain is arguably the world’s best restaurant, and its chef, Ferran Adria, is widely acclaimed as the most innovative culinary mind in the world. But no restaurant can operate successfully without a largely anonymous staff, and with El Bulli taking on unpaid apprentices every year, Abend’s book is the story of these unknowns. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the wizardry and drudgery involved in running a renowned restaurant. El Bulli certainly has its own peculiarities, and each apprentice is given their fifteen minutes in the spotlight. The reader is well served by Abend’s focusing on the underlings rather than the Famous Chef, giving a refreshing look into the operations of El Bulli from an otherwise neglected perspective.

RICHARD RECOMMENDS
THE SOCIAL ANIMAL
by David Brooks (Random House)

The Social Animal could be described as a manual for human nature. New York Times columnist David Brooks has mined vast brain research of the last thirty years. Turns out the unconscious is responsible for much of our personality and predilections. Brooks follows a fictional American couple from their parents’ courtship, to illustrate everything from choosing a mate to controlling our mothers in infancy to careers and social standing. Did you know that we begin dreaming as a third-trimester fetus? Packed with fascination in every sentence, Brooks’ groundbreaking book gives one almost too much knowledge over our fellow Homo-sapiens.

RUBBER BALLS AND LIQUOR by Gilbert Gottfried (St. Martin’s Press)

Gilbert Gottfried is an acquired taste. With his squint and abrasive voice, comedy fans either love or hate him. He was even recently fired from his voice-over gig playing the AFLAC duck due to some offensive Twitter comments after the Japan disaster. Frankly though, Mr. Gottfried is among a handful of people who can still make me laugh until the tears flow, and his first book perfectly captures his stand-up voice. From the schoolyard to the movie set, I guarantee a good time with Gilbert. As long as, unlike the comedian, you go in with your eyes open.

THE HYPNOTIST by Lars Kepler
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

For those who need a Scandinavian fix after the “Millennium” trilogy, I heartily recommend The Hypnotist. Gambler Anders Ek and his wife and children have been brutally murdered. Homicide investigator Joona Linna’s only witness is one desperately traumatized little boy who somehow survived. To question him and learn the truth, Linna must enlist the aid of retired hypnotist Erik Maria Bark, whose dubious past has made him swear off his mesmerizing capabilities. Bark should have kept his vow, because getting involved now unleashes a frightening chain of events. This European bestseller, the first of another hit trilogy, invades our shores.