Appeal Factor: Story
Annotation:Paige Dunn is paralyzed by polio at 22 while pregnant with her daughter Diana. We Are All Welcome Here chronicles the life of the now adolescent Diana and her mother along with the stern, but caring wisdom of Peacie, one of Paige's caregivers. The Tupelo, Mississippi setting gives the story a southern pacing and an irresistible Elvis connection.
Place a Hold
Annotation:In Black Flies, the setting is a strong partner to the appeal factor of story. It is a raw, down and dirty story of the life of a paramedic in Harlem during the 1990's. Threads of brotherhood, despair, ,and heroic effort are woven to give you a wild, but true to life feeling, ride with the paramedics.
Annotation:Amiably divorced schoolteacher Alison Banks meets and falls in love with film professor, only to discover he'll soon be undergoing a sex change. Will her teen daughter, ex-husband and community be willing to accept her new situation? An issue-driven story similar to others by Bohjalian, Shreve, Mitchard and Picoult.
Annotation:Set in an exclusive NYC private school where most of the school work is done by tutors, we find first year teacher Anna who had big dreams of making a difference. Her dreams are shot down fast and she easily gets caught up in the world of money and designer labels. Fans of The Nancy Diaries and Gossip Girl will enjoy this light read.
Annotation:Not at all for the faint of heart, Chuck Palahniuk (who has a cult-like following and is most famous for Fight Club) tells the story of 3 men waiting to film an adult movie. While they are in the waiting area, the 3 men discuss their lives, including their hopes, dreams, and many mistakes in life. Soon it becomes clear that there's a fascinating story to be read - if you dare!
Annotation:When his best friend from childhood murders his girlfriend and then commits suicide, Nick Framingham reevaluates his own life through his memories of their friendship and realizes unsettling truths about himself and their suburban New York community. Read-a-likes: Tana French’s In the Woods, and Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent.
Annotation:The only white man left on the island reads Great Expectations to the black children and they begin to feel like the characters are coming to life. Pace of this story builds and comes to a climatic end. Shocking events happen a couple of times and this also adds to the climatic end.
Annotation:Set in Italy during WWII, three soldiers are under orders to complete a reconnaissance mission to the top of a nearby mountain. Plot and pacing were the strong appeal of this book, with a couple of intense moments that make you want to keep reading. Strong characters and setting also could be the appeal.
Annotation:A mystery across time periods and continents (Australia and Europe) that has almost a magical quality. The intriguing mystery and keeps you reading, and the most distinctive features include realistic events with fantastical twists and family connections.
Annotation:Set in a post-apocalyptic future, a young student applies to the Academy (an elite school that runs society) and faces a grueling oral exam. As the exam progresses, it becomes clear that there is more to the interview and the Academy than meets the eye. A quick, thrilling read that tackles big philosophical ideas and has a twist at the end.
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Description
From Now Read This III by Nancy Pearl and Sarah Statz Cords: When Story is the primary doorway through which readers access a novel, the reader can be assured that the plot and pacing dominate the reading experience. Descriptions of these books focus heavily on the events of the novel, with considerations of other attributes, such as character, often of secondary concern.
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