Recommended Reading

Saratoga Reads 2007 Selection. I couldn't put it down. Ever thought about running away with the circus? Or have you ever wondered about behind the scenes at the circus? Even if you've never thought about either, I still recommend this book. It's a fast read and weaves a tale of a man's extraordinary journey from a college boy on his way to becoming a veterinarian, through heartbreak and unbelievable luck (good and bad) all the way to becoming a man. The novel intertwines the story of Jacob as an elderly man looking back on his life, and the young Jacob discovering himself through his adventures with outrageous characters on a circus train during the Depression

Ever wonder how food critics can write truthfully about restaurants if those restaurants know who they are? Ruth Reichl wondered the same thing. Her answer, as a famous restaurant critic for the New York Times, was to disguise herself and turn herself into various characters. Not only does she fool the restaurants, but also at times her friends don't recognize her. Sometimes she doesn't even recognize herself. This memoir describes her forays into fancy restaurants and interesting dives, and her descriptions of the human element as well as the food are too good to put down.

Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, is a beautifully intense story of a 14-year-old who was mistreated by her father and pines for the mother she can barely remember. She finds the strength to follow her heart and leave her home. She finds a most unusual new family and comes to understand her own life story and what it means to her.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, this next installment won't disappoint you. As the series winds towards the close, Harry is more grown up but he is still distinctly a teenager, searching for his place in the world of girls and school. He is also discovering a new relationship toward the authority figures in his life. Yes there is a surprise at the end, but my friends and I are still debating what the ending means.