Ferndale Library Recommends: Tracy's Picks - From Binchy to Zombies!

Librarian Tracy Wilson returns to the Ferndale Patch page to offer some picks for you.

Tracy helps out as a Substitute Librarian at the Ferndale Public Library from time to time, and we're always happy to have her. She recently graduated from Wayne State and currently works over in Redford.

It's getting towards the end of winter...(...we hope...) so it'd probably be nice to have a zesty blend of recommendations, colorful catches that run the gamut from zombies to cookbooks, poignant swan song melodramas to good ol' finespun historical fiction! Tracy does not disappoint. 

Tracy's Picks

By Tracy Wilson

World War Z by Max Brooks
Fic B
So as a general rule I don’t read zombie books or watch zombie movies. I feel similarly about vampires. I’m not much for the either the horror genre or gore, so I avoided this book for a long while. Two things convinced me to give it a try. First, finding out that Max Brooks is the son of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft and second, hearing who was providing the voice talents for the audiobook: Carl Reiner, Alan Alda & Mark Hamill to name just a few. I’m very glad I gave it a try. I greatly enjoyed the book, an oral history of a zombie war. 

Jamie's Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver
(non-fic) 641.555 O
After finishing school one of my goals was to eat better and cook more. As it turns out, I’m not really much of a cook, so that goal turned into checking out cook books from the library and finding recipes for my husband to cook. He enjoys cooking, and I enjoy what he makes. This is one of the cookbooks we have enjoyed. I especially like Jamie’s focus on using fresh ingredients and avoiding processed food.

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
FIC P
One of my favorites. This is the story of Penelope Keeling, who is the daughter of an older artist father and his much-younger French wife. The story opens when Penelope is in her 60s and shifts in time from World War II to the present day. A painting by her father, “The Shell Seekers” is a central theme throughout the book.

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
FIC G
I am a big fan of historical fiction, especially set in Tudor England. Philippa Gregory has written many books in this era, this is one of her best. The story is told from the point of view of Katherine of Aragon. She is betrothed to Arthur Prince of Wales and destined to be Queen of England. After Arthur dies she must find a way to fulfill her destiny. She does so by marrying his brother, the future Henry VIII.

A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy
FIC B
I have just started Maeve Binchy’s latest book, A Week in Winter. The author passed away after finishing the novel. One hundred pages in I am enjoying it as much as Binchy’s previous books. Her books are like comfort food for me. Ferndale has quite a few of her books including my favorites: Firefly Summer, Evening Class & Scarlet Feather