Check These Out: December 17, 2015

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? How do you like this title? “What do I do if…? How to get out of real-life worst-case scenarios.” Who doesn’t need this book? It appears that author Eric Grzymkowski sprinkles a bit of acerbic humor into his actual, useful, practical solutions. Some of the “what ifs” are more likely to happen than others. For instance: what if I need to break into my house? But here is one I have always worried about: What if I drive into water? I now know what to do; consequently, have one less concern. 613.69 GRZ

About Grace
By Anthony Doerr
FIC DOE

I love the word “grace” so when I saw two books on my shelving cart with that word in the title, I had to investigate. “About Grace” has swirling, foaming waves and ominous clouds on the cover plus a tiny, house being coated with snowflakes. The inside cover flap reveals that the main character starts life in Anchorage, Alaska interested as a boy in the volatility of weather and he’s especially keen on snow. Well, that explains the cover art doesn’t it? So, is there a character named Grace or does this Alaskan boy do something that makes him experience grace? I don’t know. This book by Anthony Doerr can be found in the adult fiction area.

101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out
By Josh Pahigian
796.357 PAH

Another sports book!? I’m not even that much of a sports fan; however, this has appeal on many levels. Bright photographs on the soft cover and a detailed drawing of a baseball. You can almost feel the stitching. “101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out.” Now that title can set you thinking about wasting time can’t it? Since I recently returned from 11 days on Route 66, I am in a travel frame of mind. This could be an idea book. Each site has from 2-4 pages of description plus a photo and website for more fact finding. Author Josh Pahigian (a Red Sox fan) not only loves baseball, but also has book-writing credentials as an English major, creative writing teacher at the college level, and ESPN contributor. Check out pages 77-79 for an explanation and photo of an emblem of Chicago’s ambition and vigor: the Batcolumn found downtown in front of the Harold Washington Library since 1977. Who knew about that public sculpture? 101 feet tall!

The Rewrite
107 mintes, 2014
DVD REW

Hugh Grant. He’s on the cover of a DVD titled “The Rewrite.” I love Hugh Grant with his ditzy, innocent, bumbling, boy-next-door personality. I did not even need to read the plot summary to know I wanted to check out this movie with a 2014 production date supposedly set in upstate New York (although it was probably filmed in Albuquerque).

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