New World Lingo

Amglish in, Like, Ten Easy Lessons by John G. Doherty. Amglish is informal English, combined with Americanisms, including slang, new words, mispronunciations, acronyms, and area dialects. Famous speakers of Amglish include George Bush and Sarah Palin, whose word refudiate (a combination of refute and repudiate) was the subject of much press. Amglish can also include selective grammar – for example Rodney Dangerfield’s “I don’t get no respect.” And Amglish isn’t alone as we also read about Chinglish, Spanglish and others. My favorite part of this book was reading about the abuse of English in advertising by those with little understanding of the language, as with the company in China who called their new line of plus-sized clothing “lard bucket.” You will enjoy the fun and be highly entertained with this little book celebrating the new world lingo. SG

Feelin' Lucky?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. This adage aptly describes a weekend trip taken by Art and Marion. After 30 years of marriage, they must do something to save their home from foreclosure. Valentine's Day finds them in the bridal suite of a ritzy hotel-casino in Niagara Falls with the last of their savings. Art has a plan, and they make a last-ditch effort to save life as they know it. The Odds: A Love Story by Stewart O'Nan is an enjoyable short read that takes an honest look at current problems. You will get an intimate look at these two characters and be privy to their personal thoughts. DB

Everywhere Around the World

In her book, Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy, author Barbara Ehrenreich explores what exactly it is that makes us want to get together and kick up our heels. From ancient Greek cults to the manic displays of soccer fans, we have a long history of sharing our happiness and exuberance with others -- why? By providing historical examples, Ehrenreich makes a strong argument that we are actually hard-wired to experience the greatest joy amongst our fellow human beings. HM

Island of Misfit... Children?

As a child, Jacob was always fascinated by his grandfather's stories about the magical, mythical orphanage where he spent much of his youth. The children at Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children had all sorts of cool magical powers, it was always summertime, and, most importantly, the children were safe from the terrible monsters that stalked them as long as they remained under the care of Miss Peregrine. As Jacob grew, he dismissed the stories. The so-called "monsters" must have been the Nazis who killed his grandfather's family. As for the rest... pure fiction. That is, until the night Jacob witnesses his grandfather's brutal murder at the hands of a creature straight out of a nightmare. His curiosity (and his shrink) lead him to the remote island and the site of the orphanage. What he finds there is something beyond imagining. Could his grandfather have been telling the truth all along? Although this is cataloged as a Teen Book, it's something adults could enjoy too. Give it a try! --AJL

Live and Learn

Luke Crisp is a lucky man. He is heir to a fortune and the next man in line to become CEO of a large Fortune 500 Company—Crisp’s Copy Centers. After finishing his MBA at Wharton, he decides to really live. Luke squanders his trust fund, distances himself from his loving father and finds himself a homeless man in Las Vegas. The future for this prodigal son looks bleak…until fate intervenes and he is given a second chance. The book Lost December by Richard Paul Evans is a modern-day retell of an old biblical story. It’s a gratifying tale with current issues that captures readers with a few heart-felt twists. Easy and enjoyable! DB

The Girl Who Went to the Movies

Have you gone to see the Hollywood remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the book by Stieg Larsson? I saw it last weekend, and though I was very impressed with the actors and enjoyed the story's reinterpretation, I'm still in love with the Swedish original (and Noomi Rapace's chilling portrayal of Lisbeth Salander). Check it out -- along with the other two films in the trilogy, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.


Have you seen both versions? What do you think? HM