Brown Bag Book Discussion - October 2001

Campbell, whose extensive credits in the film industry include roles in the cult hit Evil Dead, Congo, and a brief stint in his own television western, a spoof called The Adventures of Briscoe County Junior, among many others, gives us a fun, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a working Hollywood actor.

Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old criminal mastermind who hatches an evil plan to kidnap a fairy in exchange for a huge ransom in fairy gold. He severely underestimates his quarry, Commander Holly Short of the exclusive LEPrecon unit, in a smart-alecky, fun romp of a modern fantasy. For fans of the Lemony Snicket books or others eagerly awaiting the next Harry Potter.

If you can get past the title (it's a brand name, not a put-down) this book is invaluable for folks who've been curious about the Ebay phenomenon and who are interested in buying or selling collectibles over the Internet. Each chapter is self-explanatory and goes from the very basic to more sophisticated. Works for complete Internet-newbies, too.

This novel about a resilient orphan who doesn't hold grudges (as long as you call him Bud) won the Newbery Medal in 2000. Armed only with a suitcase of his unknown father's belongings and a few clues that his dad was involved in the music business, Bud runs away from his adopted family in Flint, Michigan. Some gritty and realistic scenes.

This classic is even better than the much-loved movie by the same name. An impoverished but virtuous girl marries a rich man and goes to live at Manderley, his estate, which still bears the weight of his dead first wife's presence. Rebecca is the perfect creepy gothic to read by a hot fire so save it for a crisp autumn evening.

When a young agent is murdered by Hell's Angels, Emile Cinq-Mars, Sergeant-Detective of the Montreal police, tries to discover the identity of a secret informer whose tips have long fueled Cinq-Mars's career. Plenty of good cop / bad cop plot twists, ties to the Russian mafia, and second guessing, set in a moody, snowy French Canadian landscape.

Though young in age, Alexander Short is an old-school obsessive-compulsive librarian at New York Public Library whose libido is lagging despite a sexy French wife. He becomes flattered by an educated gentleman who seeks his help researching a stolen antique watch. Loaded with library and publishing in-jokes, this is a mystery for all bibliophiles. Very entertaining!

In a novel straight out of the headline news, an angry young man is sent to a remote Alaskan island rather than prison as alternative Native American punishment for the horrific beating of another teen. At first, Cole remains unapologetic and in denial, burning his only shelter and all his supplies in defiance. Then an encounter with Spirit Bear changes his attitude and slowly he begins to heal.

Those crazy quilters just got "whackier"! More how-tos on making stack quilts.

Just like the title advertises, you'll find plenty of creative projects using rubber stamps, along with clear how-to instructions.

One woman's experiences with breast cancer. This memoir pulls no punches, yet is very funny at times. An insightful, straight-forward look at living with a life-threatening illness.

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