I was initially bored with the descriptions of stylish clothing worn by the "beautiful girl" sisters — 21-year-old Pearl and 18-year-old May. However, as I persisted listening to the CD of Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, I became totally immersed in the imagery of the sights and sounds of 1930s Shanghai. The sisters were somewhat "modern" Chinese girls, living with traditional parents, while hiding their modeling job for a local commercial artist. The two also enjoyed late night dining and entertainment.

Here is what Pearl said about her relationship with her younger sister May: "Whenever you have two sisters – or siblings of any number or either sex – comparisons are made. May and I were born in Yin Bo Village, less than a half day’s walk from Canton. We’re only three years apart, but we couldn’t be more different. She’s funny; I’m criticized for being too somber. She’s tiny and has an adorable fleshiness to her; I’m tall and thin. May, who just graduated from high school, has no interest in reading anything beyond the gossip columns; I graduated from college five weeks ago. "

When their father’s financial circumstances decline, Pearl and May are shocked and dismayed to learn that he has arranged marriages for them in exchange for monetary assistance. 

With the onslaught of war, the family is torn apart and nothing is ever the same again. Pearl and May discover troubling family secrets, lies, and betrayals as they face the harsh realities of coming-of-age in a war-torn world.  Eventually they both endure the often tedious, humiliating immigration process into the United States via Angel Island — only to face even more difficult challenges in a new country.

The bonds of love, friendship, and sibling rivalry were brilliantly exposed in Shanghai Girls. Share this gem with your sisters! Chock-full of universal themes worth discussing, I would recommend See’s engaging, thought-provoking novel for most book clubs. 

Elaine Johnson – Central Library

I am a sucker for dragons. I’ll read just about anything that has dragons, although I prefer them to be intelligent creatures instead of marauding predators. I was thrilled when Tanya Huff introduced me to cool new dragons in The Enchantment Emporium. These dragons are suave, debonair fellows, except when they get bored — and they tend to have short attention spans.

When Allie Gale inherits her grandmother’s antique and yo-yo shop in Calgary, she moves to Canada because she’s at loose ends. Plus, Allie’s family has certain talents to charm (literally) the world into going their way, and she’s not entirely sure that all is what it seems. She has good intuition because she quickly befriends a homeless leprechaun, discovers her attraction to a reporter who writes about the arcane, and deals with her wild-child cousin Charlie.

When you mix all these elements together with dragon lords who like to fly over the shop, you get a story that runs on non-stop action and surprises. Huff has a talent for entertaining her readers with snarky banter and hysterical situations. There’s one scene in which a bar fight doesn’t go exactly how anyone planned (do you plan bar fights?). And if this weren’t enough, twelve Gale aunties arrive for the final showdown between good and evil…beware the pie.

If you enjoyed The Enchantment Emporium, Huff has also written several series. Keeper’s Chronicles begins with Summon the Keeper, another fun urban fantasy featuring a kick-butt young witch, a particularly vocal cat, and Hell in the basement. Her military sci-fi series Confederation follows the career of Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr as she saves the universe and keeps the recruits in line.

Kristen Blount – Administration

It has been years since the publication of Sister Souljah’s last literary masterpiece The Coldest Winter Ever. Souljah, a gifted storyteller and social commentator, is much wiser than her earthly years. As an educator/advisor to at-risk urban youth, she is an ardent spokesperson. Her latest offering Midnight: A Gangster Love Story represents a fictional account of a handsome Sudanese youth’s complex adjustment to the often brutal life in the slums of New York City.

When just seven years old, Mayonaka and his pregnant mother Uumma are sent to America by his father to avoid the political strife and human devastation in Sudan. Prior to the civil unrest, their family enjoyed a life of wealth and relative tranquility. Mayonaka’s father, educated abroad, was a brilliant advisor to Sudan’s Prime Minister. His father taught him how to conduct himself with dignity, guard his family at all costs, and practice the Muslim faith.

Once in New York, Mayonaka is responsible for protecting his mother and baby sister, while dealing with the cultural shock of American urban life (gang violence, disrespect of the elderly, crooked police). Through all of his trials, Midnight – dubbed this name as he frequently played basketball well into the night — remains calm, thoughtful, and courageous. While working at a fish market in New York’s Chinatown, 14-year-old Midnight meets 16-year-old Akemi, a stylish Japanese student in the U. S. on an art scholarship. The two forge an instant friendship, although Akemi does not speak English.

Midnight will send chills up and down your spine. The more you read, the more you will be shocked and amazed. The author cleverly uses the first person narrative to heighten suspense. Because of the myriad of issues that are covered, this is a wonderful novel for book discussion.

Excerpt:
"Everything you have ever seen or heard about Africa is wrong. My African grandfather taught me that the storyteller is the most powerful person in the world after God. My grandfather said be careful who you listen to and what they are saying. The storyteller is clever and masterful and has already decided exactly what he wants you to think and believe."

Author Sister Souljah scores another hit right out of the ball park with her latest tour de force. Awesome! Bravo! (Due to its range and explicit language, Midnight is recommended for sophisticated readers.)
 
Elaine Johnson – Central Library

I remember watching Frasier on TV when it first aired in 1993, and I’ve loved it ever since. The show features Frasier Crane, played by Kelsey Grammer, who is recently divorced from his ex-wife, Lilith (Bebe Newirth), and returns to his hometown of Seattle, Washington. He must learn to live with his father, a retired police officer (John Mahoney), his father’s dog, Eddie, and Daphne, his father’s physiotherapist (Jane Leeves). Frasier is a psychiatrist who graduated from Harvard (something he mentions every time he gets a chance). In Seattle, he has his own radio show at KACL where his trademark phrase is, "I’m listening," while dispensing psychiatric advice.

Niles, Frasier’s brother, also a psychiatrist, is even more haughty and uptight than Frasier, while Martin is nothing like either of his sons. He enjoys simple things like ballgames and beer, as opposed to opera and fine wine. The brothers and their father are like oil and water, but every now and then, they give in and try something they don’t like, just because they’re family. If you do decide you like it, there are ten seasons of the show to keep you busy.

The vignettes of everyday life in Frasier are so appealing that, most likely, you’ll want to come back for more.

Michele Happel-Miller Branch

Big Love is an HBO series about a man from Salt Lake City and his unconventional family. Bill Henrickson belongs to a polygamous Mormon sect, and lives a secret family life with his three wives and seven children. To the outside world, he is a local businessman who lives with his family in a small house and is friendly with the neighbors.

Bill’s extended family lives in the commune he left as a boy. He vowed never to return. Due to business necessities, he must learn to work with or against his father-in-law, the leader of the commune. The story evolves in interesting ways as Bill tries to live a "normal" life while dealing with his family.

This television series provides some insight into the communal and polygamous lifestyle, as well as the different groups within the Mormon church. In Big Love, one group doesn’t support polygamy, and looks down on those who do. The polygamists are divided between those who live on the commune and those who left it behind to try to live a more typical life. The show hints at current events and the backlash against polygamy in Utah.

But what I like best about this series are the different views of the family, which sticks together through the good and the bad. They all work with one another as they try to keep their secret.

Robert Bates – Glenwood Branch