Angelology
by Danielle Trussoni (Fiction)

To Sister Evangeline, Rose Convent had been her home since she lost her mother at the age of 12. Even at that young age, she knew that her family had a long history with the convent, though she never knew the reason why. It is only when an mysterious man hires an investigator to seek out documents in the convent's archives that Evangeline begins to realize that angels are not just religious symbols but very real beings whose mission it is to cause strife and suffering in the world. Through mysterious letters between the convent's Mother Superior and philanthropist Abigail Rockerfeller, the story of the angelologists unfolds: their study of these mystical creatures, their struggle to control and imprison them, and the importance of rare artifacts, which lead to a startling revelation about Evangeline's own connection to this magical race.
Reviewed by Clare Hanman

Cooking Light
Dinner Tonight
Essential Cookbook
by the Editors of
Cooking Light Magazine
(Non-Fiction)
Whether you're looking for new ideas for everyday dinners or planning a dinner gathering for a special occasion, the Cooking Light Dinner Tonight Essential Cookbook offers easy, healthy and delicious meal recipes that will satisfy everyone's taste buds.
The editors of Cooking Light Magazine have put together a lovely presentation of more than 350 delicious recipes, complete with colourful, mouth-watering, life-size photos. The cookbook also has great suggestions for accompanying side dishes. Easy to follow recipes come complete with nutritional analysis to help you make smart, healthy choices for you and your family. Selections such as bell pepper and fresh mozzarella couscous, (one of my favourites), parmesan herb chicken and flank steak with creamy mushroom sauce are just a few of recipes that will tantalize your taste buds. Oh, and let's not forget dessert: marble cheesecake squares, yummy!
Reviewed by Maria Trinca


The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook
by Mireille Guiliano
(Non-Fiction)

This is not a diet book and neither is it solely a cookbook. Instead it is a lifestyle book and a very interesting one at that. Mireille Guiliano continues what she started in French Women Don't Get Fat by encouraging people to embrace and benefit from a little bit of French lifestyle. In this book, Mireille describes how eating sensibly can be eating pleasurably, with recipes for simple French-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Throughout the book she includes sage advice for getting the best out of ingredients, applying special but simple cooking methods, and enjoying every meal, from special-occasion banquets to everyday luxuries.

Reviewed by Clare Hanman

J'Adore New York
by Isabelle Lafleche (Fiction)

It's a jungle out there; and by out there I mean the world of the young, professional and rich. This debut novel by Canadian Isabelle Lafleche, herself a corporate attorney, delves into what it is like to be on the front lines of corporate law in America. Catherine Lambert is used to life as a lawyer in Paris. When she hears that she is being transferred to New York, she is excited about the prospect of leading an even more glamorous life in Manhattan. She soon discovers that everything is not quite as glamorous as it seems. Office politics and unreasonable clients threaten to derail her plans until she falls in love with a too-good-to-be-true client. But tying her love life too closely to her work life turns out to be a dangerous venture, putting all that she worked for in serious jeopardy.
Reviewed by Clare Hanman

Lavinia
by Ursula Le Guin
(Fiction)

Lavinia is a minor character in Vergil's epic poem The Aeneid and never speaks a word herself. In Le Guin's novel Lavinia, she is given a voice and tells a heartrending story. She is the daughter of King Latinus in ancient Italy before the founding of Rome. She tells of her life before the Trojan warriors arrive, the bitter war that follows, her happy marriage to the Trojan hero Aeneas, the early years of what was to become the Roman Empire, and her life after Aeneas' death. Lavinia's story is all the more poignant when the spirit of Vergil appears and tells her she is only a character in his poem. This is a moving tale of prophecy and myth, elegantly written.
Reviewed by Etta De'ath

Master of Happy Endings
by Jack Hodgins
(Fiction)

Axel Thorstad has entered a crossroads in life. Once a successful teacher, he now finds himself, retired, widowed and isolated. The mere suggestion of an "old folks home" forces him into immediate action, and he places an ad in a local paper offering his services as a tutor in exchange for being "adopted" by a family. His "new" family comes in the form of Mrs. Montana and her teenage son, Travis, a budding actor who has recently landed a part in a television series. The resulting trip to Los Angeles carries special meaning for Axel who now has an opportunity to revisit his past. Between scenes and tutoring sessions, Axel has chance to investigate his stuntman father's tragic death and rediscover his friendship with an actress that he admired long ago. Described as "an irresistible novel" this book combines the wisdom of age with the freedom of youth into an imaginative story of contrast between rural British Columbia and the bright lights of Hollywood.
Reviewed by Clare Hanman

The Secret of Rain and Lightning
by Nancy Pickard
(Fiction)

For Jody, the events of a single day meant the loss of her family. Her father was killed and her mother disappeared, all because of one man, Billy Crosby. For Collin, the same day also meant the loss of his family. His father, Billy Crosby, ended up spending 23 years in jail for a murder he claims he did not commit. For years, Jody and Collin had been close neighbours who deliberately avoid each other. Yet when Billy is released from jail, largely due to his son's legal efforts, Jody must face the reality of having the man who destroyed her family practically on her doorstep. An unlikely chain of events brings Collin and Jody together as they learn that their shared sense of loss can overpower the horrible history that first forced their families apart.

Reviewed by Clare Hanman

This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can
Save Us All
by Marilyn Johnson
(Non-Fiction)

Everyone who thinks libraries are boring needs to read this book and discover what they are missing. From the author who brought life to the obituary-writers' profession in her previous book Dead Beat, this book is a glimpse into the hidden world of librarians. And you'd be amazed at what they get up to! Being a librarian doesn't mean just a love of books but also a love of technology and information. The world of blogging was pioneered by many librarians. Librarians also abound in virtual worlds such as Second Life, where they socialize, network, host conferences and provide virtual library service to the world. From scraping "goo" off library books to providing a permanent resting place for a famous author's life work, librarians have many roles to play. You cannot read this book without gaining a new respect for these guardians of information.
Reviewed by Clare Hanman

The Way of a Gardener: a Life's Journey
by Des Kennedy
(Non-Fiction)

In this memoir, celebrated novelist, satirist and gardening writer, Des Kennedy describes his own life and spiritual journey. Born near Liverpool, England to working class Irish-Catholic parents, Des describes a childhood, where class comparisons mattered little, and the priest and doctor's words were "law." Des' religious education continued in Canada after his family moved to Toronto and culminated at age 15 when he entered Holy Cross Seminary in Dunkirk, New York. It was while at the seminary that Des created his first garden and discovered a passion that would last a lifetime. Even though Des eventually abandoned religions life, he continued in his appreciation of nature and plants. In this book he uses this passion as a backdrop to explain his understanding of the world around him.
Reviewed by Clare Hanman

The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness and Meaning of Soccer
by John Doyle
(Non-fiction)

The Globe and Mail's television critic, John Doyle, takes the reader on a tour of the world of soccer from the 1960s to the 2010 World Cup. Part history, part personal memoir, this book describes soccer from a fan's point of view including hilarious anecdotes of the lengths people will go to keep up with "the beautiful game". Included are detailed accounts of games leading up to the World Cup along with a viewer's guide, which includes full descriptions each World Cup team. Whether you are interested in the game, the players or some truly amazing accounts of the fans, this book goes to great lengths to explain the appeal that soccer has to so many people all over the world.

Reviewed by Clare Hanman