Christmas Ideas From Prolific Readers

Jay Barshinger- Retired Teacher/Coach, Galesburg

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle.  Stories and reflections of a gang intervention program in LA.  Everyone deserves a chance to change and grow.

An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Author's husband worked for JFK and LBJ (and RFK).  Together the couple go through letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia from those years.

The Testament by John Grisham.  Not a recent read, but one of my favorites of the Grisham books.  A wealthy man changes his will and the main character must battle himself and Brazil as he searches for the heir.

Kathy Callison- Retired Librarian, Galesburg

Briar Club by Kate Quinn

The story of an all female boarding house in DC set in the 1950’s.  Explores  themes of racism, misogyny, and homophobia with a murder or two thrown in!  Great read!

Holly by Stephen King

Holly, of the Finders Keepers detective agency, must find out why young, healthy people are disappearing..and could a couple of elderly professors have something to do with it??  Hard to put this one down!!

The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin

Memoir of Lara Love, soccer mom turned heroin addict, who funds her addiction by stealing her neighbors’ credit cards.  How Lara survives jail and is able to forgive herself and rebuild her life is a fascinating read.   

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

The story of twin brothers who are born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian  nun and a British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance they come of age as Ethiopia is on the brink of revolution.  Verghese is an amazing story teller and this is one book I will never forget.  

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard

The story of a family…….from the early days of young love and  marriage through parenthood, tragedy and divorce ….from anger and bitterness to forgiveness and hope.   Another favorite.

Gary O’Malley- Retired Educator, Iowa

How 'bout three authors? 

1. Walter Issacson: Einstein; Leonardo Da Vinci. 

2. Jimmy Breslin: The Church That Forget Christ; I Want To Thank My Brain For Remembering Me. 

3. Rachel  Maddow: Prequel; Blowout. 

4- Anything written by David Marannis. 

Bill Allison- Retired Teacher/Coach, Galesburg

Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove is about two aging Texas Rangers that have one last adventure in this Pulitzer Prize winning classic of the American West. It might be the best Western novel of all time. Also one of TV’s best series. 

Another very good read is Camino Winds by John Grisham. It is the second book in the Camino Island series. In this book, Hurricane Leo threatens the island. Despite evacuation orders, a few people decide to stay. A murder victim is discovered. It becomes a great mystery. 

Triptych authored by Karin Slaughter is another very good mystery novel. It introduces Will Trent as a complex police investigator in Atlanta. He leads the reader to a great climax. This is the first novel in a number of Will Trent books. He is also featured in a series on ABC television. 

Jay Hatch- Teacher/Coach, Riverdale, Il

Originals - By Adam Grant 

This book is basically about the value in unconventional thinking. Very interesting and thought provoking.

Five Banners - By John Feinstein 

This one is not for Duke Haters. Feinstein takes the reader behind the scenes of the Duke’s five national championships. An easy read as well.

The Barn - By Wright Thompson

This book is about the Emmett Till murder. It is written from a very poignant perspective. I would highly recommend you listen to this on audible as it is read by the author

Jean Trumpy- Retired Librarian 

The Women, by Kristen Hannah

Story of a nurse in Viet Nam and what it was like when she returned to the states.

Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larsen

The story of Fort Sumter, the start of the Civil War.

Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon

Midwife in the late 1700’s, based on a real person who kept a journal, we see how as much time has gone by some things haven’t changed.

The God in the Woods, by Liz Moore

A young girl disappears from a camp owned by her family 14 years after her brother vanished from their nearby home and was never found.

Unfinished Love Story, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her husband Dick was a speech writer for JFK and LBJ, and worked for Bobby Kennedy. She worked by LBJ. Fascinating story of their lives and the times.

Mark Massey- Retired Teacher/Coach- Clinton, Iowa

Anything written by Roger Angell.