National Library Week
Connect with a good book during National Library Week, April 10–16, 2011. Reading recommendations by faculty and staff are sure to please whether you are looking for a page turner, a mystery, or something to expand your mind. If the book is not currently available, just place a hold on PCC or Summit titles.
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The Girl Who Fell From the Sky - Recommended by Donna and Birgit
This book contains so many of everyday experiences, that it not only qualifies as a coming of age novel, but also a novel about grief, racial tensions and addiction; it's a breathtaking story that touches the heart and mind, in class with "Beloved" by Tony Morris on; an unforgettable story about how we are all different and yet all the same. Owned by PCC Library. -
Our Dumb World: The Onion's Atlas of the Planet Earth - Recommended by Mary
Filled with political satire, very un-PC and very funny, this publication spoofs every national stereotype you can think of. North Dakota rates a “nothing there” comment; we learn that Chile is the country has been 'Preventing Argentina From Enjoying The Pacific Ocean Since 1818.” Owned by PCC Library. -
Pillars of the Earth - Recommended by Dave
This book takes you on an engaging and fast paced romp through village life in the middle ages. Owned by PCC Library. -
Water for Elephants - Recommended by Katherine
The book is told in retrospect by its hero, now in his 90's. His story begins when, as a young man, he drops out of college and joins the circus. This begins a story of his self-awakening while living among a myriad of characters who range from eccentric to abused to paranoid schizophrenic. It is beautifully written and engaging from beginning to end. Owned by PCC Library. -
The Zen of Seeing - Recommended by Donna
This book offers a technique for drawing that lets one rediscover nature. It does not require artistic ability as much as the willingness to plop under a tree somewhere and see what is there. Available through Summit. -
The Ha-Ha: A Novel - Recommended by Ginger
I like this book for the humanity and relationships of the characters. Available through Summit. -
The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brain - Recommended by Andrea, Gay, and Phil
A well-written, quick read questioning how our addiction with the internet is potentially changing how we think and how our brains work.. Owned by PCC Library. -
Grace and Grit - Recommended by Donna
This is a very moving love story in addition to the fact that it demonstrates how even the most difficult of situations can be an opportunity for healing in unexpected ways. Owned by PCC Library. -
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories - Recommended by Shannan
She is able to take the mundane and ordinary and illuminate the small epiphanies that come in those moments. The nuances of relationships, the loneliness while in the midst of others, wishing and remembering things you can't, or won't, share with others. Really lovely. Owned by PCC Library. -
One More Theory About Happiness - Recommended by Al
I'm a big memoir fan and this one rises to the top of many I've read in the past year for its moving and optimistic glimpse into the life of a quadriplegic writer and teacher. It should be required reading for anyone who encounters the physically disabled. *Well-meaning* isn't always and then there's those who aren't even well-meaning, like Guest's supervisor, who believes it's acceptable to force him to baby sit in the English Department when she repeatedly abandons him with her son. Owned by PCC Library. -
Virgin River Series - Recommended by Donna
This is a series of books all about a fictional town in Northern California called Virgin River. I like the books because each book tells the story of a couple who find love. Characters from past books make appearances in the books. Each book from the series adds to the story of the town and those who live in it. Available at Multnomah County Library. See: Author Robyn Carr -
Darwin's Radio - Recommended by Andy
The book plays with the notion of human evolution occurring in major events rather than as gradual changes, largely manifesting as a viral outbreak. Owned by PCC Library. -
Ape House - Recommended by Joanna
I learned something new (about apes and their communicative abilities) and the story was modern, interesting, and fun. Owned by PCC Library. -
The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid - Recommended by Donna
An hysterical memoir of life in the late 50s and 60s in middle America. Not only did I laugh until I cried, I was astonished to see just how profoundly society has changed in such a short time period -- bittersweet. This is a great read for everyone, but those who remember the 50s and 60's will laugh louder and longer. Available through Summit. -
Just Kids - Recommended by Kate and Linda
A book that places you right in the middle of what it must have been like to be an artist in New York in the 60's. Smith's descriptions of people and events are rich and vivid. Owned by PCC Library. -
Someone Knows My Name - Recommended by Kathleen
"Man stealers" in the 1700's take an 11-year-African girl across the Atlantic to be a slave in the American colonies. Aminata survives the journey and eventually establishes herself as a "baby catcher" and healer for the Negro and white communities. The story illustrates the power of language to fight slavery and stereotypes faced by blacks. Towards the end of her life, Aminata enlightens even the abolitionists on the evils of slavery. The book illustrates how gaining proficiency in spoken language and literacy may be critical to establishing one's worth. Available through Summit. -
Lean on Pete - Recommended by Robin
Compelling story of a 15 year old boy left to survive on his own near Portland Meadows. While it is grim description of severe poverty it also is uplifting and unique. The main character, Charley, is an amazing survivor who bonds with the racehorse, Pete. Owned by PCC Library. -
Lonesome Dove - Recommended by Jim
This is a book populated by characters you'll really care about because they are all (well, almost all) trying to get by and find meaning in the harsh and unforgiving West. Also, I can't think of a book that better captures the feel of the American landscape. Available through Summit. -
Where Good Ideas Come From - Recommended by Heather
This book is so thought-provoking. It parallels in human thought/creativity and innovation in the natural world. Owned by PCC Library. -
Hunger Games - Recommended by Virginia
Great story; good characters including a strong female lead. Owned by PCC Library. -
The Art of Racing in the Rain - Recommended by Becky
A sentimental story of life through the eyes of the family dog, named Enzo. Owned by PCC Library. -
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Recommended by Becky
The story of a few cancer cells, taken from a woman, in 1951, that have gone on to live an "immortal" life in labs worldwide. This one seems a must for Biology students...and I'd recommend it to everyone else too. Owned by PCC Library. -
American Wasteland - Recommended by April Ann
OMG! It's shocking and riveting to read this book!. Owned by PCC Library. -
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales - Recommended by Marta
Amazing, illuminating and creatively rewritten Fairy Tales from all over the world, interpreted and rewritten by contemporary authors. Available at Multnomah County Library. -
Winterdance: The fine madness of running the Iditarod - Recommended by Christine
Humorous and outdoorsy. Owned by PCC Library. -
A widow's story: a memoir - Recommended by Gretchen
Like all of us who have a wonderful person to love and be loved by, the buried little thought "what if I lose this man I love?" lingers in the back of my mind, and I wonder how I would cope. Joyce Carol Oates' book helps with an exploration of sudden death and loss of a loved person. Reading the book is almost like stepping in a stranger's footprints left in the snow, not knowing where you are heading but seeing, learning as you go. This book is real feelings, not fiction, and reading it hurts. Treat it like "homework for life." Available through Summit. -
The Land of Painted Caves - Recommended by Lynda
I love the imagination that creates a world that really might have been. Available through Summit. -
Praying for Sheetrock - Recommended by Rachel
It's the 1970s, but the Civil Rights Movement seems to have missed McIntosh County, Georgia. Enter Thurnell Alston, the first black commissioner, and things begin changing. This riveting nonfiction describes, among other things, the way one impoverished town made its living by hijacking semi-trailers headed north out of Florida. The windfall was always a great unknown, hence the wonderfully ironic title, Praying for Sheetrock. Owned by PCC Library. -
Death of a Chimney Sweep - Recommended by Janet
Mystery- Hamish McBeth is a Highland Scottish cop with no desire to be promoted. He has to solve several murders while keeping a low profile while working around Strathbane Headquarters. The characters are flawed but likeable and hateable. Available at Multnomah County Library. -
Cleopatra: A Life - Recommended by Michael
The author Schiff distills the history and gives a portrait of this remarkable woman in a way that is easily accessible to the average reader. Owned by PCC Library. -
Twilight - Recommended by Shawna
I like it because it is science fiction. Owned by PCC Library. -
A Spell for Chameleon - Recommended by Martha
It's a humorous (punnish) take on the fantasy genre, started in the 1980s, with about a book a year since. Anthony explores ideas by putting us in a parallel world where magic exists, and puns are often literal. Available through Summit. -
Unbroken - Recommended by Bob
This book, which tells the story of Louis Zamperini, is inspirational. Owned by PCC Library. -
No Ordinary Joes: The Extraordinary True Story of Four Submariners in War and Love and Life - Recommended by Ev
An engrossing story of four young men in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, and their pre- and post-war lives. Available through Summit. -
Siddhartha - Recommended by Robin
Beautiful and thoughtful. This is the story of a young Brahmin's search for ultimate reality. Owned by PCC Library -
Let's take the long way home: A memoir of friendship - Recommended by Ann
In this poignant, beautifully written memoir, Gail Caldwell traces the pattern of relationships - one with her best friend and one with her dog. It's a story of how one successfully attaches to another and then, reluctantly, learns to detach and let go. The power of this book is that is stays with you long after it is over - much like love. Available through Summit. -
The Book Thief - Recommended by Maria
This book made me sob uncontrollably in public. And, I haven't stopped thinking about it. Beautifully written! -
The Sun Also Rises - Recommended by Sharon
The story takes place in Spain after the world war they are the lost generation. The free spirited Lady Brett Ashley, was ahead of her time she is the female version of Hemmingway. Available through Summit. -
House of Leaves - Recommended by Jennifer
Phew! What a wild ride! This novel incites the eeriest and most lucid dreams. Owned by PCC Library. -
Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln - Recommended by Chris
Good detail of the personal and professional relationships of Lincoln and his cabinet, who all thought they should have been president instead of him. Owned by PCC Library. -
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World - Recommended by Jessica
From Wikipedia: "a 2009 nonfiction book about events leading up to and culminating in the Great Depression as told through the personal histories of the heads of the Central Banks of the world's four major economies at the time: Benjamin Strong Jr. of the New York Federal Reserve, Montagu Norman of the Bank of England, Émile Moreau of the Banque de France, and Hjalmar Schacht of the Reichsbank." I liked it because it seemed relevant to the financial crisis of 2007-09. By focusing on the central bankers and their stories, it also provided an element of human interest that maintained my interest despite an abundance of quantitative information. Available through Summit. -
Flash Bible CS5 - Recommended by Scotty
Electronic book with 1200+ pages of Flash instruction. Owned by PCC Library. -
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing - Recommended by David
Fforde's Thursday Next series is a laugh-out-loud fantasy world for bibliophiles. -
Caucasia - Recommended by Sara
Great autobiography of growing up mixed-race in the U.S. Owned by PCC Library. -
The Last Lecture - Recommended by Teri
Related to education. Owned by PCC Library. -
Criers and Kibitzers, Kibitzers and Criers - Recommended by Patrick
Often funny, occasionally shocking, always moving short stories. Elkin changes it up story by story, stylistically and tonally, so you're never quite sure what you'll find in the next one. And he has chops, in spades. Owned by PCC Library. -
Geek Love - Recommended by Leslie
The characters and topic are daring and imaginative ...beyond the ordinary into extraordinary. The novel is about an intentional family of circus freaks, their relationships, and their devotion. Also, Dunn is a local author and makes reference to local places. Owned by PCC Library. -
Babbitt - Recommended by Norm
Ironic novel about business people in particular and Realtors in general. I love irony, and my field is economics. Owned by PCC Library. -
Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World - Recommended by Melissa
Inventive, funny, unique novel about alternative worlds. Kind of a dreamy detective novel. -
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Recommended by Sandie
The third edition in the trilogy continues where the previous book in the trilogy left off. Fast moving, exciting, suspenseful, informative, easy to read. PCC Library owns the first U.S. edition. -
Little Bee - Recommended by Amy
Good fast read about very important topics, immigration, war, oil, etc. Owned by PCC Library. -
Hospital by the River - Recommended by Elizabeth
Description and personal narrative of the individuals who constructed and spent their lives working in an Ethiopian maternal health clinic focusing on fistula prevention and reconstruction. -
Catch-22 - Recommended by Mike
It is a story of logical redundancies that are logically illogical wrapped around WWII Europe. A classic that still illustrates that fallacies used in governmental, military, financial, and academic settings to very day! What is not to enjoy about this comical but altruistic novel. Available through Summit. -
The Help - Recommended by Kristy
It's about what it was like to be a black housekeeper in the 1960's south. Fascinating story that transports you to the time. Owned by PCC Library. -
Desperate Voyage - Recommended by Mike
Human pushed to the limits will do just about anything. Owned by PCC Library (eBook). -
What If: The Challenge of Self-Realization - Recommended by Lisa
I like this book because it is spiritual. -
War and Peace - Recommended by Adon
Napoleonic Wars and Russia. It makes Moby Dick look like a minnow. Owned by PCC Library. -
The Last Chinese Chef - Recommended by Tom
Mones gives us wonderful insight into Chinese cuisine and culture -- and tells a good story! Available through Summit. -
Cutting for Stone - Recommended by Liona and Dana
Liona says: Cutting for Stone tells the story of twin brothers born in Addis Ababa to a nun who was secretly pregnant. The brothers grow up in a hospital compound in Addis Ababa. The story and the flawed but likeable characters make this book difficult to put down, even for essentials like food, sleep, and grading. Verghese is a surgeon, and that makes his descriptions even more compelling. Dana says: The writing is excellent and the characters very interesting. You learn a lot about the history of medicine and the culture and recent history in Ethiopia. Owned by PCC Library. -
Leading Change - Recommended by Heidi
Great book on managing change in businesses/organizations with concrete steps and action plan. Owned by PCC Library. -
Wilderness Warrior - Recommended by Corrinne
This is a biography of Theodore Roosevelt that focuses on his influence and contributions to environmentalism in the United States. He was a fascinating and complex person, and the book, although quite long, is never boring as it explores TR's passion for the natural world and his determination to preserve inspiring places. Owned by PCC Library. -
Red Families v. Blue Families - Recommended by George
Comprehensive psychosocial political/cultural perspective at America's current polarization, essentially from a legal/feminist perspective. Owned by PCC Library. -
Foundations of Education Volume 1 and 2 - Recommended by Jeannette
Text book for PSU grad studies in Special Education to become a teacher of the visually impaired. -
At Home - Recommended by Louis
Bill Bryson is an American author who is extremely familiar with the British culture. His writing is insightful, filled with humor and very informative. Owned by PCC Library. -
Bright-Sided - Recommended by Sylvia
This book looks at shallow nature of the discipline of positive psychology. Owned by PCC Library. -
La Sombra del Viento (The Shadow of the Wind) - Recommended by Stephanie
A book you cannot put down and a complex story chock full of mystery, love, intrigue, lust, betrayal and redemption. Available through Summit. -
The Ice Princess - Recommended by Faye
I read a lot of Nordic fiction and find most of it worthwhile. This book is a crime procedural set on a small island off the coast of Sweden. It is a good read - and shows how time changes even the smallest, most remote places. Available through Summit. -
Snow - Recommended by Prudence
I'm just beginning this novel by the Nobel-prize winner because I am going to Turkey this summer. I think I'm going to like it, based on the fact that I liked "My Name is Red," another of his novels. Owned by PCC Library. -
Convictions - Recommended by Christy
Assistant U.S. Attorney writes about his trial experience with Enron, mobsters and drug trafficking in New York. I like this book because it give me a glimpse into a profession I don't know much about providing examples of positive and negatives that come with the job. Owned by PCC Library. -
Crazy Like Us - Recommended by Linda
It takes an interesting look at the way American psychiatric diagnoses have moved to other countries, as well as the way that mental illness is culturally oriented. The author is not a mental health professional, but he makes some very interesting observations. Owned by PCC Library. -
Hocus Pocus - Recommended by Woods
Vonnegut was 20 years ahead of his time -- this critique of the late 20th century American class system is vital and relevant today. Available through Summit. -
Skeletons on the Zahara - Recommended by John
Harrowing true tale of a shipwrecked crew of American sailors enslaved by Saharan nomads at the beginning of the 19th century. Available through Summit. -
The Happiness Hypothesis - Recommended by Elise
This book blends ancient wisdom with modern science and psychology. I found the research interesting in conjunction with many of the ideas from Buddha, ancient Greece and 18th century philosophy I studied in college. Owned by PCC Library. -
Smart but Scattered - Recommended by Christine
I've just started this book which was recommended to me by a friend of mine who is a reading and writing specialist. I hoping to gather ideas on how to help my students reach their full potential. Available through Summit. -
Prose and Poetry of the American West - Recommended by Tony
It had the short story, "Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" by Dorothy Johnson. I wanted to read it and compare it to the movie. Owned by PCC Library. -
Man Walks Into A Room - Recommended by Michelle
Am currently still reading, but Krauss's book A History of Love was, as the reviewers put it, riveting. Man Walks Into A Room is compelling, if a bit slow to start. The metaphor of desert as memory (or forgetting) is intriguing, as is the plot. Everything on the surface of the story seems straightforward, but Krauss manages to weave in a subtle tone of creepiness that keeps me thinking and guessing about where the main character is headed. Owned by PCC Library.