Now in its 5th edition, How to be a perfect stranger is a unique and essential resource for the cross-cultural guest. Voted Best Reference of the Year, I highly recommend checking out this book at need. Anyone who is invited to a wedding or other service of a religion other than their own will be completely assured of their dress and behavior after consulting this terrific introductory resource.  Each chapter answers the questions in the essential checklist: How should I be dressed? What will happen during the service? What will happen after the service?

    Recommended by a teacher, the book Dope sick is based in the realism found in many of the popular urban fiction titles. But Myers gives the nod to acclaimed South American writers Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez by adding magical realism to his usual NYC inner-city setting. It opens with a young man, Lil J, on the run from the police with a bullet in his arm. Then the book takes a detour into fantastic realms when Lil J runs into an abandoned building.

    A funny!  I was delighted  to discover that the book Dog on it by Spencer Quinn was a hoot.  Not expecting anything beyond a cozy PI book, Dog on it turned out to be one of the better reads this year. This series is told by Chet the Jet, an almost K9 trained mutt.

A huge shout-out to the Jackson Citizen Patriot for deciding to keep the library's newspaper column At the library when the format changes take effect. There will be no break in the articles appearing on the book page of the Live It Up section.  Thanks so much!