March Recommendations for Adults

Fiction

A Lady Raised High: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Laurien Gardner - Anne's story told from the point of view of Frances Pierce, a simple country girl who becomes Anne's favorite after rescuing her from an angry mob.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - The wives of Henry VIII have provided material for countless books and movies, the most recent based on this novel is due out this year. Gregory, a past master at combining accurate period detail with a dramatically plotted storyline, tells the tale of sibling rivalry for the greatest prize in their world, the throne of England that put the Boleyn siblings at the center of court intrigues. The story continues in the next novel, The Boleyn Inheritance, with Henry's subsequent wives.

Daughter of York by Annie Easter Smith - Fans of War of the Roses historical fiction will enjoy the well researched and dramatically recreated story of Margaret of York, sister to Edward IV. Forced to marry Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, she comes to oversee one of the greatest estates of France but never returned to England, or her lover, again.

The Dying Crapshooter’s Blues by David Fulmer - Winner of the Shamus Award for Best First P.I. Novel, the Storyville saga continues introducing Joe Rose--rambler, gambler, and professional thief--who finds himself caught between a black-hearted police officer, the pimp and crapshooter Little Jesse Williams, and a wicked beauty named Pearl. Set in the 1920s when Atlanta was the richest, busiest metropolis in the South.

Four Wives by Wendy Walker - In Walker's brilliant debut, the lives of four wives and mothers intertwine and collide in a tale of suburban angst among outrageous wealth. The women must face the most difficult and heartbreaking challenge of their lives--to reconcile their innermost desires with the lives that each of them has chosen.


Nonfiction

Why Women Should Rule the World: A Memoir by Dee Dee Myers - In her first book, the former Clinton White House Press Secretary offers a provocative and inspiring look at women and leadership, interweaving her own experiences working in the highest echelons of power.

Chasing Kangaroos: A Continent, a Scientist, and a Search for the World's Most Extraordinary Creature by Tim Flannery - Part natural history, part travelogue, paleontologist Flannery searches for the "first" kangaroo. Filled with fascinating facts about the species, Bill Bryson calls the book "absorbing, funny, and wonderously learned."

The Christian World: A Global History by Martin Marty - Renowned Christian historian Martin Marty delivers concise account of Christianity and how it spread from a few believers two thousand years ago to become the world's largest religion. While giving a broad overview, Marty also focuses on specific issues, such as how Christianity struggles with the polar tensions inherent to many of the faith's denominations, and how it attempts to reconcile some of its stances on armed conflict, justice, and dominion with the teachings of Christ.

Dinner at Mr. Jefferson's: Three Men, Five Great Wines and the Evening that Changed America by Charles Cerami - President George Washington faces his first serious challenge to the future of the new nation when Jefferson and Hamilton cross swords. Employing all the diplomatic and culinary skills he learned as Ambassador to France, Jefferson throws an elegant dinner party during which a compromise is reached. Recipes and wine list are included in this fascinating tale of a little known event in American history.

Green Babies, Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby by Lynda Fassa - Need help figuring out which baby gear, food, shampoo, cleaning products, and other baby-related household items are "green"? Lynda reviews the best organic products for your home and baby.