March Book buyers’ picks
Fiction
Think Twice, by Lisa Scottoline. I’m a longtime fan of Lisa Scottoline. And, as a Gemini,
which is almost like being a twin, I was particularly interested in this new novel in which
she tackles the question of nature versus nurture. Attorney Bennie Rosato looks exactly like
her twin, Alice Connelly, but the darkness in
Alice’s soul makes them two distinct women.
After Alice leaves Bennie for dead, she takes
over her sister’s life in order to escape the mess
she has made of her own. But Alice underestimates Bennie and the evil she has unleashed in
her twin’s psyche, as well as Bennie’s will to stay
alive long enough to exact revenge.
—Shana Rawers, assistant book buyer
Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel, by James
Patterson. If you’re a fan of the Maximum
Ride series you will definitely enjoy Fang. This
new installment follows the winged group on
an amazing adventure as Max tries to protect
her second in command, Fang, from a deadly
prophecy: Fang will be the first to die. This
action-packed young-adult novel features
all of readers’ favorite Max
Ride characters.
Nonfiction
The Kitchen Garden, Grow Vegetables and
Grow Fruit, by Alan Buckingham. Having
grown up on a small farm, I know that nothing tastes quite as good as a meal made with
ingredients picked fresh from the garden. I
also know how difficult it can be to navigate
all the weeding and watering to get to that
glorious reward. These three gardening books
are great resources to help guide you along.
With a month-by-month plan of what to
plant, what to maintain and what to harvest,
The Kitchen Garden is perfect for getting
started. The other two titles, Grow Vegetables
and Grow Fruit, are great guides whether you
have a whole yard or just a few pots on a balcony. If only these books could do the weeding, too.
—Jonna Erickson, assistant book buyer
DVD/Blu-ray buyers’ picks
THE ACADEMY AWARDS will be presented on March 7. As this is written, the
nominations have just been announced, and
at least two of these films—Up in the Air and
The Princess & The Frog—could earn one or
more Oscars, and savvy film fans can now
add them to their own collection of winners.
(* denotes a title available in Blu-ray.)
Twilight Saga: New Moon*. Stephenie
Meyer’s books, sensations in their own right,
have now spawned two international film
blockbusters and made the little town of
Forks, Washington, a vacation destination for
fans from around the world. The sequel picks
up where the first film left off and introduces
new characters to capture the imagination.
—Lucy Correa, assistant DVD buyer
Where the Wild Things Are*. If you’re like
me, you were a big fan of Maurice Sendak’s
classic children’s book, but the film—and
many would say the book before it—is not just
for kids. It tells the tale of young Max, who
runs away from a home that, for him, is less
than happy, only to find himself on a strange
island filled with bizarre creatures in search of
a ruler, which Max would love to be, until he
finds out more about what’s required of a
leader. The creatures are voiced by James
Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, Catherine
O’Hara, Chris Cooper and Catherine Keener,
among others.
The Princess & The Frog*. Based on a classic tale, and featuring a great jazzy score from
Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman, it’s
the story of a beautiful girl who has to kiss a frog
to find her prince. I’m sure single people everywhere can identify. Disney has transported the
story to New Orleans and the mystical bayous
of Louisiana and uses the voices of Oprah
Winfrey, Terrence Howard and John Goodman,
among others. You’ll be enchanted.
—Cody Yaple, assistant DVD buyer
Up in the Air. Many people thought this
film, already the winner of several awards and
nominations, was going to be a comedy.
There are light moments, but it’s also a serious
look at a corporate efficiency expert (George
Clooney) who has spent most of his adult life
in airports, flying from one location to
another to do his job and never tying himself
to a location or things … or people.—WW
Also out on DVD this month is 2012*, a
special effects extravaganza, featuring the end
of the world as we know it. C
buyers’ pıcks
JIM FAGIOLO
Cook Yourself Thin Faster: A Delicious Way
to Drop a Dress Size, from Lifetime Television.
I’ve long found more than a grain of truth in
the adage “Never trust a skinny cook.” Then
I found this cookbook. Inspired by the
Lifetime television show Cook Yourself Thin,
this book proves that healthful, good-for-you
food can be delicious and easy to prepare.
Chapters cover breakfast, main courses, side
dishes, soups and desserts. In addition to 74
delectable recipes, this book is filled with full-color photos, sample menus and several success stories.
—Melissa McMeekin,
assistant book buyer
Up in the Air
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA TRISTAR
COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS
MARCH 2010 ;e Costco Connection 41
From Where the Wild Things Are (top) to
Up in the Air (bottom), this month’s DVDs
have something for every cinematic taste.
