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The Girls by Lori Lansens: Cojoined twins Ruby and Rose Darlen were born outside of Toronto during a tornado and promptly abandoned by their mother "Liz Taylor". Taken in by a warmhearted nurse and her husband, the twins are raised as if they had no deformity of disability. Hoping to reach the age of 30, the longest any cojoined twins have lived was 29, Rose realizes that her days are numbered and decides to write a book about their life. Interspersed with chapters from Ruby, this enchanting novel is beautiful memorable story. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: Cantankerous Jacob Jankowski is 93 years old and reliving his life while living in a nursing home and being reminded of his life when a circus comes to town. As a young destitute man he hops a train that by chance belongs to The Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on

Earth. Jacob begins working for them by caring for their animal menagerie. Rich charachers bring this vivid story to life. The Nature of Monsters by Clare Clark: Sixteen year old Eliza Talley is pregnant and unmarried in 1718 England. Abandoned by her wealthy lover, he has paid for her to work for Mr. Black, an apothecary in England. As Eliza grows more pregnant, the sinster goings on of the black veil wearing master only cause despair for a future for her and her unborn child. Gothic England at its best, "slow- wiited, kind hearted servant" included. Punk Love by Henry Rollins (Foreword), Ian MacKaye (Introduction), Susie J. Horgan (Photographer). Music afficionados will enjoy this book. Punk Love documents specifically the birth of the early Washington, D.C., punk movement in 1979. With photos taken by Susie Horgan, its amazing how young and harmless the subjects seem. She captured iconic photographs of such hardcore legends as Minor Threat, S.O.A., Teen Idles, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, The Cramps, Untouchables, Youth Brigade, the Germs, and many others. Flipping through this book is like looking through pictures your friends took during a time when you were young and brave and nothing else in the world mattered. My favorite are the photos of much younger pre-tatooed Henry Rollins working at an ice cream shop.

Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund. After Sophia Coppolas film came out, the interest in Marie Antionette has sky rocketed and the book stores have been infused with more biographies than you can shake a petticoat at. Naslund's version is told from the ill-fated queens perspective. Opening with the line, "Like everyone, I was born naked", this "journal" of Marie's Antoinette's life is a fascinating read.