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The Woman on the Orient Express

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The Woman on the Orient Express by Lyndsay Jayne Ashford
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Adults

Agatha Christie didn’t want to be around for her husband’s wedding.  Make that her ex-husband’s second wedding.  So, under the alias of “Mary Miller,” Agatha boarded the Orient Express bound for Baghdad.  On the train, she shared a compartment with beautiful yet controlling Katharine Keeling.  Agatha also encountered archaeologist Max Mallowan.  Max mysteriously requested that Agatha not disclose his presence to Katharine.  Agatha befriended Nancy Nelson on board too.   Agatha, realizing that Nancy was pregnant and alone, hired Nancy to be her secretary during their time in Mesopotamia.  While grieving the end of her marriage, Agatha drew closer to Katharine and Nancy.  And she explored exotic Baghdad in the delightful company of Max. 

The Woman on the Orient Express is a wonderful escape-read.  While the protagonist Agatha is taking a break from her troubles in England, the reader travels through her eyes to a far-flung locale.  While the story is not a mystery per se, it is suspenseful.  Moreover, the author interwove fact with fiction.  Archie Christie did divorce his wife for another woman.  Agatha Christie truly mourned the end of her marriage.  Katharine Keeling was based on the historical person of Katharine Woolley, nurse and archaeologist.  In fact, Agatha Christie did travel on the Orient Express and tour the archaeological dig in Ur with Mr. and Mrs. Woolley.  Indeed, at the dig she met and later married archaeologist Max Mallowan.

If you’re as big of a fan of Agatha Christie’s mysteries as I am, this book is for you.

And you can find it in the catalog right here.

Chaos Walking Series

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Series: Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness
First Book: The Knife of Never Letting Go
Who’s it For: Teens and Adults

“My name is Todd Hewitt. My name is Todd Hewitt.”

Perhaps if Todd repeated his name, he could control his mind. He hated that his thoughts were broadcast, like every other male in Prentisstown. And animal. Todd’s dog, Manchee, frequently reported to him, “Poo, Todd. Gotta poo.”

Todd kept busy working on the farm for his two fathers, Cillian and Ben. He wasn’t really related to them. They had promised to take care of Todd years ago when his mother died of the disease. In fact, there were no females at all in Prentisstown. He vaguely recalled that his mom sang to him. He had no memory of his deceased father. Ben had a small leather diary that his mom left for Todd. Yet Todd didn’t know how to read.

One day Todd came across an injured girl who seemed to be about his age, 13.  Had she crash-landed? Strangest of all, she had no noise!  Her thoughts were completely private.  Her name was Violet.  Back at the farm, Ben shoved a sack of food, emergency supplies, a map, and the diary to Todd. “Go!”  Mayor Prentiss and a posse were galloping their way.  Todd heard gunshots.  Cillian!  “We lied. Your mother was killed by Mayor Prentiss.  Go!” What would Mayor Prentiss do if he caught them?  Todd, Violet, and Manchee, fled into the forest.  Where would they go? Why was Todd’s mother murdered?

I actually saw the movie Chaos Walking before I read the series.  The movie intrigued me.  I was thoroughly engrossed in the plight of Todd Hewitt and Violet.  I loved the humor of the talking animals, from Manchee, my favorite, to talking sheep, horses, and more.  And I appreciated Todd’s sense of honor and the bond that he and Violet developed.  Yet, life is complicated and sometimes hard choices have to be made…

Discover the first book in this trilogy here!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

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Title: Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Format: book on CD, e-book, book
Who’s It For: Teens and Adults

 

Lena always thought it was a good thing to have the cure. Sure, she was a bit nervous. She knew the procedure would leave a three-pronged scar behind her ear. Her sister Rachel once thought she was in love. After she was cured, Rachel accepted her arranged marriage. Wasn’t that a good thing? One night, Lena slipped out to a concert after curfew with her best friend Hana. And she also met Alex. Alex said he was safe.  He had the scar. Was it wrong to care about Alex? Or was Lena just delirious?

And Delirium is the first book in a series! 
Find it here. 

This is Motherhood: A Motherly Collection of Reflections and Practices

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This is Motherhood: A Motherly Collection of Reflections and Practices by Jill Koziol and Liz Tenety
Publication Date: March 2019
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Mamas everywhere

Published by the co-founders of “Motherly,” an online community, This is Motherhood is a collection of essays and practices written by mothers from all walks of life. Each woman’s voice helps to address the complexity of motherhood and gently reminds us that there is no one right way to be a mother. To further the reader’s introspection of a particular topic, each chapter also concludes with a journaling or meditative exercise. As a reader makes their way through the book, one central message remains loud and clear: motherhood can be hard and ultimately, mamas have to do what is best for them and their children–unsolicited parenting advice, be gone!

My first thoughts after reading this book were: “Oh my goodness, why couldn’t this book have been published before my oldest child was born?!” As any new mother might experience, our inner voices can sometimes be overwhelming and our thoughts can be nonsensical:
“Am I feeding my baby enough?”
“Is my baby happy?”
“My baby hates me! I can’t make him stop crying!”
“Wow…I really need a shower…but taking a moment for myself is so selfish!”
“If I go out with my friends, will my baby think that I left her?”

Concerned with the many worries and doubts that motherhood brings, mothers can often feel alone in their struggle to understand it all. This book hides nothing in addressing both those great highs of motherhood (My baby smiled at me!!) and those low-lows (When was the last time I got a restful night’s sleep?). I found so much comfort in these women’s words and stories. Reading about other mother’s perspectives has shown me that women everywhere are experiencing and thinking similar things while navigating through motherhood, which is so wonderfully reassuring. Mamas, we are not alone and we’ve got this!

Bonus: This book is now my go-to baby shower gift! Babies are adorable and new and exciting…but let’s not forget about supporting those mamas too!

Find it in our catalog.