Before I Let You Go

 

By Kelly Rimmer

Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Michelle from the Altona Branch

    Before I Let You Go is the story of two sisters, one, a doctor, the other, a pregnant drug addict.  As they navigate their hurts, their loves, and their lives they ultimately have one goal: to love and provide for the newborn baby, who is addicted to drugs and going through withdrawal.  A heartbreaking story of how far a mother will go for her child, and how important family truly is.

    I didn't give much thought to what it would be like for a young drug addicted mother until this book.  It gave me pause for reflection.

To put this book on hold, click here.

The Priory of the Orange Tree

 By Samantha Shannon

Adult Fiction/Fantasy

Reviewed by Cynthia from the Altona Branch

    The Priory of the Orange Tree follows four characters as they make their way through a divided world on the brink of destruction.  Ead secretly protects Sabran, the queen of Inys, and belongs to a hidden group of mages. Loth, a Lord from Inys and a friend of Sabran, is sent south to a rival nation. Tané is a dragon rider in training from across the sea and Niclays is an exiled alchemist living in enemy territory and desperate to return home.

    The main characters have differing histories and world views which results in interesting perspectives of the same situations.  This gives a clearer picture of the world and the people living in it.  Several of the main characters know each other which gives you a deeper understanding of the characters and their inner dialogue.

    With so many different characters telling the story, there is a message or lesson for everyone.  This story focuses on many aspects of life and the struggles people face over the course of their lives.

    One issue I had with this book was that it is very long (848 pages to be exact).  This is mainly due to the deep history and world building aspects of the story, which makes reading this book a bit slow. However, this is also what makes it a great book because it makes the story and world so lush and full.

    If you liked Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones or The Witcher, then this book is for you.  The Priory of the Orange Tree has myths, magic, dragons, and so much more.

Place this book on hold here

The City of Ember

by Jeanne DuPrau

Young Adult

Reviewed by Shirl-Winkler Branch

In a post apocalyptic world, the City of Ember was created as a refuge, containing everything needed for human survival. After hundreds of years living in this underground city, supplies are becoming scarce and the lights are failing.  At the age of twelve, when the children are assigned different jobs, Lina is assigned to be a messenger and her friend Doon is assigned to the pipeworks.  One day, when Lina comes home from work, she finds her Granny going through her closet searching for something but she can't explain to Lina what she lost.  Lina finds her baby sister playing with a fancy box and chewing on a piece of paper.  The piece of paper contains a message that Lina has to decipher and she thinks it may have the key to save the city.  With the urgency of the lights flickering and then staying out for longer and longer, light bulbs being in short supply and clothing and food becoming hard to come by, Doon and Lina are anxious to find out what the secret message is. 

I enjoyed the adventure and the imagination of this underground world and what it may look like to live there.  It seemed to be pleasant enough but at the same time it was sad.  It gave a new meaning to the word recycle as nothing is thrown away there.

This is the first book in a four book series.

Check out the book here

The Outsider

By Stephen King

Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Gail-Morden Branch Administrator

    I have been a Stephen King fan forever.  When he publishes a new book it isn't IF I will read it, but WHEN will I get to it?

    The Outsider is part mystery, part thriller, and part science fiction.  As always, King has a way of climbing into your brain and leading you through his story.

    This story starts with the brutal murder of a young boy.  All the evidence points toward a good guy that everyone likes, a pillar of the community. The first 1/3 of the book had me bouncing back and forth as evidence argued both his innocence and his guilt.  Then came the twist and what a twist it was.  I wondered how I could still have 2/3 of the book to read after everything that had already happened.

    I haven't loved all of King's books but this one held my interest from beginning to end.  The twists and turns kept me wanting to jump ahead but I couldn't because the story had captured me completely and it needed to be read in order.

    While I loved the story, I have to admit I didn't love the ending.  It felt a little too convenient, like they gave the author X number of pages and he had to wrap it up.  Fast.  Having said that, I would still recommend this book because the story is good enough to make up for the ending, and another reader may like the ending better than I did.

Place the book on hold here

Place the audiobook on hold here