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Staff Recommendations – August 2005

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INDEXES TO PAST STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: BY TITLE | BY REVIEWER
TV SERIES/SPECIALS ON DVD | AGATHA CHRISTIE | LGBTQ+ | STAR TREK | STAR WARS

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These recommendations posted in August 2005

sweetmythteryThe “Myth Adventures” series
by Robert Asprin & others… (Asprin)

If you’re a fan of puns and parody, then this light-hearted fantasy series should be right up your alley. This wonderful sequence of novels pokes fun at the conventions of not only fantasy literature, but science fiction, westerns, mysteries, romance and nearly every other genre as well. Follow the adventures of apprentice magician Skeeve, his irascible mentor Aahz, and a colorful array of supporting characters, as they stumble their way through multiple dimensions and slapstick situations. Humorous illustrations accompany several of the novels, and I recommend looking for the early editions of the books, which included drawings by humorous artist Phil Foglio.

( MythAdventures page on Wikipedia )

See more books like this on our In Space…No One Can Hear You Laugh booklist

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Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library


colorsofthemtColors of the Mountain
by Da Chen (951.056 Che)

True story of a Chinese boy who beats the odds to become educated and successful. The grandson of a landowner, Da overcomes this legacy in communist China in spite of his political challenges. A great story!

Recommended by Andrea S.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries]

andthentherewerenoneAnd Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie (Christie)

This book is at once a baffling mystery, psychological thriller, and a scary read-with-all-the-lights story. One of Agatha Christie’s best, it keeps you quickly turning the pages until the very end (be warned: you will want, no, need, to read it in one sitting!).

(The libraries own at least six different editions of this book. Also available in downloadable audio and stage play formats.)

( official Agatha Christie Web site )

Recommended by Elizabeth J.
Circulation Department — Bennett Martin Public Library


columbophileThe Columbo Phile
by Mark Dawidziak (791.457 ColYd)

An essential read for any true Columbo fan! This detailed compendium goes into loving detail about every episode of the original 1968-1978 series of Columbo TV-movies, starring Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo. Loaded with behind-the-scenes notes and remembrances from cast and crewmembers, and including a huge episode guide to each and every one of the NBC tv-movies, this book will appeal to both TV fans and mystery fans alike. With the Columbo movies continuing to air on cable networks, and DVDs now being released, this book is your opportunity to revisit a television legend. What’s your favorite episode? I’d have to pick “Double Exposure,” with Robert Culp as the killer!

(Also available: a series of Columbo mystery novels.)

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Recommended by Scott C.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library]

hornblowercompanionThe Hornblower Companion
by C.S. Forester (823 qF76z)

This book is extremely useful to help keep characters and events straight when reading the Horatio Hornblower Saga. I especially liked the maps and historical background.

( official C.S. Forester Society Web site )

See the Hornblower books and other naval adventure sagas on our Anchors Aweigh booklist

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Recommended by Kim J.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library


gfguidetotoddlersThe Girlfriends’ Guide to Toddlers
by Vicki Iovine (649.122 Iov)

Real-life, humorous advice that works from “your girlfriends” on what to expect and how to survive your toddler, and teach him/her to become human beings. Not the clinical stuff from the pediatrician or your mother. If nothing else, you’ll learn everyone else is having the same issues and that you’ll survive in the end.

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Recommended by Charlotte M.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library


lifeofpiLife of Pi
by Yann Martel (Martel)

The survival story of a boy stuck in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. You’ll never read anything else like this.

(One of the five finalists for the 2005 One Book — One Lincoln program!)

( Life of Pi entry on Wikipedia ) | ( Yann Martel entry on Wikipedia )

Recommended by Andrea S.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries]

centennialCentennial
by James Michener (Michener)

If you like exciting historical novels, you’ll like Michener! He’s done his research, and writes extremely well. This one deals with early Colorado history, but Michener isn’t just a Western author. He’s written history as well as novels which range over the entire world. I also really enjoyed The Source — about Israel from the very earliest — pre-historic — times, and I’ve heard good things about his novels Chesapeake and Alaska, as well as Tales of the South Pacific.

Recommended by Bob B.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library


formatCDmusic2holygrailalbumspamalotThe Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
by Monty Python (Compact Disc 817 Mon) and Monty Python’s Spamalot (Compact Disc 782.14 Mon)

The first is an absolutely hilarious comedy album, based on the unforgettable film Monty Python and the Holy Grail but including so much more as well. Thrill to the battle with the Black Knight. Cower before the Knights Who Say “Ni!” Learn the odd definition of a “Witch.” Shake a leg in “Camelot.” Be amazed at the air speed velocity of an unladen Swallow (European or African?). And don’t forget the answer to the question of “What is your favorite color?”! Snippets of dialog and music from the film are interspersed with other Monty Python schtick, much of which can be extremely bawdy or off-color. I would consider the “rating” of the comedy album to be “R”, or “PG-13” at the very least. The film also serves as the basis of the current Broadway hit, Spamalot, winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005! The soundtrack album for that musical is a fun, wacky combination of big show-stopping numbers and self-mockery. Familiar scenes and songs from the movie (“Camelot”, “Bring Out Your Dead”, “The Ballad of Sir Robin”) are mixed with completely new material, including the excellent “Find Your Grail”, the hilarious “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway”, the questionable “His Name is Lancelot” and writer Eric Idle’s always popular “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.

( official IMDb page for the movie site ) | ( official Monty Python’s Flying Circus Web site ) | ( official Spamalot Web site — no longer active, but still viewable via the Wayback Machine archive )

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Recommended by Scott C.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library


lovelybonesThe Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold (Sebold)

I loved the story of Susie Salmon and her version of Heaven.

( Alice Sebold entry on Wikipedia )

Recommended by Rayma S.
Reference Department — Bennett Martin Public Library


last updated December 2022

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