Thunder Dog by:  Michael Hingson with Susy Flory and now available at the Genoa Branch Library.

This book is the true story of how a blind man and his guide dog escaped from the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  Not only is this book a fascinating look at that terrible day but it also tells what it was like for Michael to grow up blind in a seeing world.  His story is really quite remarkable. 

Reviewed by:  Mimi Fintel - Branch Manager - Genoa Branch Library

Animals Make Us Human by:  Temple Grandin and now available at Genoa Branch Library.

Temple Grandin not only has a Ph.D. in animal science but  is one of the best know adults with autism.  Grandin feels that animals do have emotional needs that need to be met in order for them to have a satifying life.  She not only discusses cats and dogs but also cows, horses, poultry and wild animals.  This book is contains information as well as stories.  I found this book to be quite interesting.  (I was relieved to find that I am meeting the needs of my 8 backyard hens.)  If you love animals, you'll enjoy this book.

reviewed by:  Mimi Fintel - Branch Manager, Genoa Branch Library

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath available at the Genoa Branch Library.  This novel is actually based on Sylvia Plath's life including her mental breakdown and suicide attempt.  Instead of being depressing though, it is a rather humorous book although one feels Plath's uneasiness about not wanting the traditional life path of women in the 1960's.   Plath's writing style is superb.  Her descriptions are exceptional.  For example from chapter 15:  "In front of me I could see the Spam-colored expanse of the Chauffer's neck, sandwiched between a blue cap and the shoulders of a blue jacket and, next to him, like a frail, exotic bird, the silver hair and emerald-feathered hat of Philomena Guinea, the famous novelist."  The copy that I read had a biographical note at the back of the book which I found quite interesting.

reviewed by Mimi - Genoa Branch Library

Camp Nine by:  Vivienne Schiffer
This new book at the Genoa Branch Library, is historical fiction about an interment camp for the Japanese built in Arkansas.  The author of this book grew up in the Arkansas Delta town of Rohwer, which was the site of the Rohwer Relocation Center.  She based this book on the Rohwer Relocation Center.  This story is primarily about a widow and her young daughter and how this camp changes their lives.  Some secrets Chess, the daughter, doesn't find out about until she is an adult and her mother is dead.  I found this book to be a very interesting snapshot of what it must have been like for people living in the Interment Camps, as well as though living near them.
Reviewed by:  Mimi Fintel, Branch Manager at Genoa Branch Library

This book (now available at Genoa Branch Library) is the second book in the Hater trilogy.  David Moody is the author of this strange, twisted series of books.  This is usually not the kind of book I read, but I found the first book, Hater, to be so fascinating that I decided to read the whole trilogy.  This book is not for the faint of heart.  It is rather gruesome, yet the characters got under my skin and I kept reading to find out what happens to them.  This dark tale tells of a world gone mad when two factions of the human population are fighting.  No government exists any longer, no goods or services are being offered and its every individual for him/herself.  The gore is pretty extreme but I need to find out what happens next so I will be reading the third book soon.

Reviewed by:  Mimi Fintel, Branch Manager of Genoa Branch Library  

This English film, starring Cate Blanchett and Judy Dench, deals with the friendship of two teachers and how one teacher's secret affair with a student impacts their friendship.  This isn't the only secret in the film however, as the other teacher struggles with her own dark secrets.  If you are in the mood for a rather dark, moody film this should be your choice.  I enjoyed it, but I confess my husband did not.  This 2007 film is available at the Genoa Branch Library.

Reviewed by:  Mimi Fintel, Branch Manager of Genoa Branch Library

This movie set in the late 1950's/early 1960's deals with the  civil rights of Blacks and how change came about in the U.S.  A young journalist moves back to her home town in the southern U.S. and is disturbed by the way the Black maids in her town are being treated.  She secretly meets with the maids (putting them and herself in danger) and publishes a book.  Discover what ploy she uses to keep the people in the town from finding out she has written about them!  I found this historically accurate film to be quite fascinating.  It is currently available at Genoa Branch Library.

Reviewed: by Mimi Fintel, Branch Manager, Genoa Branch Library

This haunting movie deals with the French round up of Jews in 1942.  The movie though, moves back and forth between 1942 and the present thus showing how events from the past may still have repercussions today.  An American journalist living in Paris with her French husband discovers a tragic secret connected to his family's apartment which they have inherited.  Did his family know of the secret?  You will have to watch to find out.  this new movie is now available at the Genoa Branch Library.

Reviewed by:  Mimi Fintel, Branch Manager - Genoa Branch Library