Catherine Schine uses her skill with sharply comic language to describe the relationship between twin sisters who are given Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, as a birthday gift. These girls certainly have a way with words. But their love for words and their inherent competitiveness leads them in different directions. One becomes a much-revered grammar columnist for the local newspaper while the other writes poetry and relishes the ever-changing nature of language. The competition between the sisters becomes like toxic mold and leads to hurtful words when it is time to decide who gets the family dictionary.
Main Menu
Catherine Schine uses her skill with sharply comic language to describe the relationship between twin sisters who are given Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, as a birthday gift. These girls certainly have a way with words. But their love for words and their inherent competitiveness leads them in different directions. One becomes a much-revered grammar columnist for the local newspaper while the other writes poetry and relishes the ever-changing nature of language. The competition between the sisters becomes like toxic mold and leads to hurtful words when it is time to decide who gets the family dictionary.
Julia is anything but perfect. She is constantly getting in trouble for her attitude, not helping her parents at home, and frequent sneaking out of her house. When Julia's seemingly perfect older sister, Olga, dies, Julia is left to pick up the pieces of her life and is forced to reinvent how she fits into her now incomplete family. As she struggles to move forward, Julia discovers that Olga may have not been as flawless as everyone thought... Filled with faithful cultural insights about what it means to be a Mexican- American daughter, humor, and loads of internal conflict, this book is not one that will be easy to put down.
We learn a lot about therapy in this book--both from the perspective of the therapist discussing her clients, and also from the same therapist's experiences with her own therapist (that's a LOT of therapy!). Gottlieb is a very good writer and captures the angst of her clients and herself with warmth, humor, and compassion.
Anne Tyler is at it again. In her latest, she lovingly but honestly details the lives of her characters, highlighting their quirks, lack of self-awareness, struggles and ultimate growth. The everyday happenings are relatable, flow at an easy pace, and leave a smile on your face. The book's title is the perfect metaphor for simultaneously seeing and not seeing, awareness and lack thereof. This is another charming, thoughtful, feel-good read.
Parker loves to dance, but one day she goes to the museum and one particular painting changes her life forever. A sweet and and inspiring story that challenges the reader to reflect on what/who makes someone worthy of "looking up".
"A time being is someone who lives in time, and that means you, and me, and every one of us is, was, or ever will be." This beautifully-written novel weaves the story of Nao, a young girl writing in a diary in Japan, and Ruth, a novelist living in the Pacific Northwest. Part mystery, part moving tale of self-discovery, "A Tale for the Time Being" is an engaging read.
In the year 2575, an intergalactic war breaks out. Can our feuding heroes put their differences aside to save the world? While the eBook is visually interesting to read, the eAudiobook was riveting to hear! Sound effects add drama and draw out the suspense!
Ever wondered how the most famous people in history died? It's more interesting than you would expect. Bloodletting, brains in jars, and stomach drilling will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire read!
Talk about the mail order bride from hell! Neither of them got what they expected. Catherine did not realize the enigmatic and lonely Ralph had a plan of his own. And what neither anticipated was that they would fall so completely in love.
Elizabeth Gilbert (author of "Eat, Pray, Love "and "The Signature of All Things") is masterful at bringing a wide variety of characters alive. This book is no different. It introduces us to a young woman in the 1940s, and I found the sense of time and place is remarkably relatable. I don't want to give away too much of the plot--I just suggest you read it!
Staff Picks
Showing 10 of 25 Results
Linda recommends The Grammarians by Cathleen Schine
04/30/2020
Boulder Library
adult fiction,
family life
Catherine Schine uses her skill with sharply comic language to describe the relationship between twin sisters who are given Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, as a birthday gift. These girls certainly have a way with words. But their love for words and their inherent competitiveness leads them in different directions. One becomes a much-revered grammar columnist for the local newspaper while the other writes poetry and relishes the ever-changing nature of language. The competition between the sisters becomes like toxic mold and leads to hurtful words when it is time to decide who gets the family dictionary.
Julia is anything but perfect. She is constantly getting in trouble for her attitude, not helping her parents at home, and frequent sneaking out of her house. When Julia's seemingly perfect older sister, Olga, dies, Julia is left to pick up the pieces of her life and is forced to reinvent how she fits into her now incomplete family. As she struggles to move forward, Julia discovers that Olga may have not been as flawless as everyone thought... Filled with faithful cultural insights about what it means to be a Mexican- American daughter, humor, and loads of internal conflict, this book is not one that will be easy to put down.
We learn a lot about therapy in this book--both from the perspective of the therapist discussing her clients, and also from the same therapist's experiences with her own therapist (that's a LOT of therapy!). Gottlieb is a very good writer and captures the angst of her clients and herself with warmth, humor, and compassion.
Anne Tyler is at it again. In her latest, she lovingly but honestly details the lives of her characters, highlighting their quirks, lack of self-awareness, struggles and ultimate growth. The everyday happenings are relatable, flow at an easy pace, and leave a smile on your face. The book's title is the perfect metaphor for simultaneously seeing and not seeing, awareness and lack thereof. This is another charming, thoughtful, feel-good read.
Parker loves to dance, but one day she goes to the museum and one particular painting changes her life forever. A sweet and and inspiring story that challenges the reader to reflect on what/who makes someone worthy of "looking up".
"A time being is someone who lives in time, and that means you, and me, and every one of us is, was, or ever will be." This beautifully-written novel weaves the story of Nao, a young girl writing in a diary in Japan, and Ruth, a novelist living in the Pacific Northwest. Part mystery, part moving tale of self-discovery, "A Tale for the Time Being" is an engaging read.
In the year 2575, an intergalactic war breaks out. Can our feuding heroes put their differences aside to save the world? While the eBook is visually interesting to read, the eAudiobook was riveting to hear! Sound effects add drama and draw out the suspense!
Ever wondered how the most famous people in history died? It's more interesting than you would expect. Bloodletting, brains in jars, and stomach drilling will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire read!
Talk about the mail order bride from hell! Neither of them got what they expected. Catherine did not realize the enigmatic and lonely Ralph had a plan of his own. And what neither anticipated was that they would fall so completely in love.
Elizabeth Gilbert (author of "Eat, Pray, Love "and "The Signature of All Things") is masterful at bringing a wide variety of characters alive. This book is no different. It introduces us to a young woman in the 1940s, and I found the sense of time and place is remarkably relatable. I don't want to give away too much of the plot--I just suggest you read it!