Books listed in this issue of Braille Book Review were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection.
To order books, contact your cooperating library.
This page includes Web-Braille links to full-text braille versions of books. Eligible patrons may sign up for Web-Braille through the library that handles their braille magazine subscriptions.
Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."
Fiction
For Whom the Bell Tolls BR 12455
by Ernest Hemingway
4 volumes (Reissue)
American Robert Jordan has joined the Republicans fighting
against the Fascists during the Spanish civil war. He is on a
mission to destroy a strategically located bridge with the help
of a band of guerillas. At their camp he falls in love with
Maria, a young torture victim. Some violence. 1940.
Shooting at Midnight BR 12586
by Greg Rucka
3 volumes
P.I. Bridgett Logan must fight her old addiction when she enters
the drug world to save a friend arrested for the murder of a
pusher. Not even her lover, Atticus Kodiak of Keeper (BR
11413), knows of her past, so Bridgett is on her own.
Violence and strong language. 1999.
Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero BR 12598
by William Makepeace Thackeray
7 volumes (Reissue)
Great Britain, early nineteenth century. Two young women--wellborn, humble Amelia Sedley and social-climbing, amoral Becky
Sharp--meet at boarding school. Both marry, but Amelia's husband
wants to leave her for Becky until he is killed at the Battle of
Waterloo. 1847.
The Witching Time BR 12660
by Jean Stubbs
4 volumes
Following the death of her husband, Londoner Imogen Lacey accepts
the invitation of her friend Alice to move to northern England.
Imogen quickly becomes involved with the locals, taking on a
leading role in an Elizabethan drama and opening a hat shop. As
the play's first night approaches, strange things begin to
happen. 1998.
Thirst BR 12663
by Ken Kalfus
2 volumes
Fourteen stories varying in theme and setting that explore the
sometimes harsh realities of love, family ties, and social
relationships. In "The Weather in New York," a Florida retiree is
hopelessly stranded in his parents' New York apartment during a
blizzard. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.
1998.
The World I Made for Her BR 12664
by Thomas Moran
2 volumes
Confined in an intensive-care unit because of complications from
chicken pox, James Synge Blatchley, in his mid-thirties, cannot
move about or speak normally. On heavy doses of painkiller, he
slips in and out of consciousness fantasizing about his young
bereaved Irish nurse, Nuala. Some strong language. 1998.
A Prayer for the Dying BR 12666
by Stewart O'Nan
2 volumes
Following his Civil War service, Jacob Hansen serves as pastor,
sheriff, and undertaker for his small Wisconsin town of
Friendship. When a diphtheria epidemic strikes, he is driven to
make a series of fateful decisions that carry tragic consequences
for himself and the town. 1999.
The Fisherman's Son BR 12670
by Michael Köepf
2 volumes
Shipwrecked and adrift on a raft, a commercial fisherman reflects
on his life and the events that brought him to this desperate
pass. He recalls shipping aboard his father's boat at age twelve,
the arduous work on the water, and the loss of friends at sea.
Some strong language. 1998.
One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest BR 12698
by Ken Kesey
3 volumes (Reissue)
A part-Native American long-term inmate of a mental institution
relates the story of a struggle for control of the ward,
centering around the hateful nurse Ratched and a new patient,
former work-farm prisoner R.P. McMurphy. Some strong language.
1962.
Stamboul Train: An Entertainment BR 12722
by Graham Greene
2 volumes
Events on a three-day journey from Ostend to Istanbul aboard an
express train. Portrays interactions among the passengers,
including the young chorus girl Coral Musker, Jewish businessman
Carleton Myatt, and the enigmatic doctor Richard John. Also
published as Orient Express. 1932.
The Silent Duchess BR 12723
by Dacia Maraini
3 volumes
As a child in eighteenth-century Sicily, Marianna suffers a
trauma that leaves her deaf and mute. Throughout a life of
silence, Marianna endures a forced marriage, bears children,
loses her elderly "uncle husband," and learns to love a younger
man. Only at the end of her life does she discover the truth
behind her silence. 1992.
Kill Me First BR 12752
by Kate Morgenroth
2 volumes
Injured in the car crash that killed her husband, Sarah expects
to die at her convalescent home. Instead, she and other patients
are captured by Merec, an assassin who pits his victims against
each other. When Sarah volunteers to be murdered, Merec is
intrigued and takes her hostage. Violence and some strong
language. 1999.
Paint Me Rainbows BR 12762
by Fern Michaels
1 volume
After Jill Barton is left standing at the altar, she gets in her
car and heads north, ending up at an artists' colony in New
England. There she meets Aggie Beaumont, who helps her heal, and
Logan Matthews, the owner, who steals her heart. Some
descriptions of sex. 1981.
The House on Hope Street BR 12765
by Danielle Steel
2 volumes
California divorce lawyers Liz and Jack Sutherland have five
children and an idyllic marriage. But after Jack is killed by the
deranged husband of a client, the family gradually learns to cope
without him. Then an accident brings a new person into their
lives. Some strong language. 2000.
Tulip Fever BR 12784
by Deborah Moggach
2 volumes
In seventeenth-century Amsterdam, a prosperous but elderly
merchant commissions a portrait of himself and his young wife,
Sophia. Soon thereafter Sophia begins an affair with the artist,
who gambles their future on the market for tulip bulbs. Some
descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.
Calder Pride: Calder Saga, Volume 5 BR 13022
by Janet Dailey
3 volumes
Following her fiancé's death, Cat Calder returns home to
Montana vowing never to love again. Then a one-night stand with
Logan Echohawk leaves her pregnant. When Logan becomes sheriff,
Cat has some decisions to make. Sequel to Calder Born, Calder
Bred (BR 5637). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some
strong language. 1999.
The Ewe Lamb BR 13023
by Margaret Bacon
3 volumes
Describes the lives of childhood friends Judith and Alice from
England's Yorkshire Dales. After Judith's mother abandons her
family, the girls separate but are buoyed by their occasional
meetings. Judith becomes a London barrister, while Alice turns
her family farm into a bed-and-breakfast. Some violence. 1999.
Sixty-Six Laps BR 13024
by Leslie Lehr Spirson
2 volumes
Thirty-two-year-old new mother Audrey fights aging by swimming a
daily mile in her backyard pool. But her enjoyable life begins
unraveling when her husband befriends a female coworker, who
Audrey suspects desires him. Paranoia causes Audrey to
contemplate an affair of her own. Strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 2000.
Sounding Drum BR 13025
by Larry Jay Martin
3 volumes
Native American attorney Steve Drum is given a newly discovered
colonial treaty that concedes the island of Manhattan to the
local tribe. Drum plans to use the document to open a gambling
casino in New York City to benefit the tribe's remaining heirs.
But many oppose his move. Some violence. 1999.
Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter BR 13028
by J. Nozipo Maraire
2 volumes
A Zimbabwean mother's long letter to her daughter, who is on her
way to study at Harvard. Reflects on the elder woman's life and
her role in the nation's struggle for independence. Explores the
concept of family and what it means to be a woman in this African
culture. 1996.
A Face in Every Window BR 13030
by Han Nolan
2 volumes
After the death of the grandmother who held the family together,
fifteen-year-old JP O'Brien is left with his mentally challenged
father and free-spirited mother, who decides to change their
lives. When she wins an old farmhouse in an essay contest, an
assortment of outcasts moves in. For junior and senior high
readers. 1999.
The Poyson Garden: An Elizabethan Mystery BR 13032
by Karen Harper
2 volumes
Princess Elizabeth Boleyn is sent into exile in the countryside
by her half-sister, Queen Mary. While there, Elizabeth uncovers
her enemies' plot to have her poisoned by an evil herbalist. The
princess, her cousin, and her other loyal followers join together
in a fight for survival. Some violence. 1999.
Singer from the Sea BR 13035
by Sheri S. Tepper
4 volumes
Genevieve has been raised as a proper young lady on the planet of
Haven and knows she must follow the laws of her land that govern
women of her status. But Genevieve has a rebellious side,
instilled in her by her long-dead mother, which will lead to the
uncovering of a terrible truth. 1999.
The Scapegoat BR 13037
by Daphne du Maurier
3 volumes
John, an English professor on holiday in France, encounters his
exact double, Frenchman Jean de Gué. Monsieur de
Gué, who is beset by family and business problems,
deceitfully shifts identities with John, leaving the hapless
Englishman in a sea of troubles. 1956.
Rain Line BR 13043
by Anne Whitney Pierce
3 volumes
A violin student at the Beacon Conservatory, Leo, like her
Harvard hockey-star lover, Danny, is a Cambridge townie. After
escaping drowning in the car accident that took Danny's life, Leo
returns to her odd, reclusive parents and discovers she is
pregnant. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
2000.
Invisible World BR 13046
by Stuart Cohen
3 volumes
Artist Clayton Smith kills himself after sending an airplane
ticket to attend his Hong Kong "going away party" to his
childhood friend, Chicago plumber Andrew Mann. In Asia Andrew
follows Clayton's further instructions to find a mysterious
textile. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and
some violence. 1998.
Last Trolley from Beethovenstraat BR 13048
by Grete Weil
2 volumes
After World War II, Andreas, a poet, marries Auschwitz survivor
Susanne. Their marriage and his writing career are jeopardized by
his obsession with the memory of Daniel, Susanne's young cousin
whom Andreas had attempted to hide during the Holocaust. 1997.
Lucy Crocker 2.0 BR 13050
by Caroline Preston
3 volumes
At her husband Ed's urging, artist Lucy Crocker designed a wildly
successful fantasy computer game. But when she can't get
motivated to design the sequel, Ed fires her. Learning that Ed is
fooling around with a colleague, Lucy flees to a childhood cabin
to rethink her life. Some strong language. 2000.
The World and Other Places BR 13051
by Jeanette Winterson
1 volume
Seventeen stories exploring the nature of identity and
experimenting with the short story form. In the title piece, a
young pilot tells how his career grew out of a boyhood hobby. But
wherever he travels, he is confronted by the dilemma of how to
live. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998.
The Negotiator BR 13052
by Dee Henderson
3 volumes
As a case she's working becomes more complex and personal, Kate
O'Malley, a negotiator for Chicago's hostage-rescue team,
receives gentle pressure to accept God from her new beau, Dave,
an FBI agent afraid for her life, and from her recently born-again sister, who has cancer. Some violence. 1999.
The Intuitionist BR 13053
by Colson Whitehead
2 volumes
In this allegorical mystery set in the 1940s, Lila Mae Watson,
the city's first minority woman elevator inspector, works by
psychic intuition. When an elevator fails on her watch and her
empiricist rivals seek her undoing, Lila conducts a secret probe
that yields a startling discovery. Some strong language. 1999.
Fog Heart BR 13055
by Thomas Tessier
3 volumes
Carrie is alarmed to see her father's ghost; he seems to be
warning her about her husband, Oliver. Meanwhile Jan and Charley
are tormented by memories of their infant daughter's death. Both
couples turn to Oona, a troubled young medium. Violence, strong
language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1997.
Waltzing the Cat BR 13057
by Pam Houston
2 volumes
In a series of connected stories, photographer Lucy O'Rourke
participates in daredevil outdoor adventures and disastrous
relationships. In the title piece Lucy thinks she will finally
become important to her father after her mother's death. Instead,
he turns to the cat. Some strong language. 1998.
More Than You Know BR 13059
by Beth Gutcheon
2 volumes
Elderly Hannah Gray describes spending her seventeenth summer
vacationing at a haunted house in Dundee, Maine, falling in love
with local boy Conary Crocker, and trying to identify the ghost.
Alternating chapters tell the century-old story of Claris Osgood,
whose marriage to islander Danial Haskell leads to isolation,
heartbreak, and murder. 2000.
Like Normal People BR 13060
by Karen E. Bender
2 volumes
Fourteen years ago Ella's daughter Lena and Lena's boyfriend Bob,
both mentally challenged, got married. Ella has tried to help the
couple live "like normal people." But now alone again, forty-eight-year-old Lena has set a fire in her group home. And Lena
and her niece have run away. 2000.
Dating Big Bird BR 13102
by Laura Zigman
2 volumes
Wildly in love with her three-year-old niece, thirty-five-year-old Ellen Franck wants a child of her own. But Ellen's current
relationship is complex and celibate, and her fashion-industry
career leaves little free time. She and another child-hungry
friend give themselves nine months to find a solution. Strong
language. 2000.
The Heavenly Village BR 13128
by Cynthia Rylant
1 volume
Seven tales of recently deceased persons who are not quite ready
to give up Earth and enter Heaven. God places these embodied
spirits in the Heavenly Village, a wayside where they can "finish
their stories" before ascending to perfect happiness. For junior
and senior high and older readers. 1999.
The Silence of the Lambs BR 13149
by Thomas Harris
3 volumes
Young FBI agent Clarice Starling tracks down a serial killer
known as Buffalo Bill, who preys exclusively on overweight women.
The only clues are provided by another sociopathic killer,
psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, who practices cannibalism. Prequel
to Hannibal (BR 12326). Violence, strong language, and
some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1988.
Letters from Vinnie BR 13151
by Maureen Stack Sappéy
2 volumes
Fictionalized life account of sculptress Vinnie Ream as told
through letters to her friend. In 1861 thirteen-year-old Vinnie
moves to Washington, D.C. She later convinces President Lincoln
to pose for her, resulting in the commission for the noted
Capitol building statue. For junior and senior high and older
readers. 1999.
Heartwood BR 13162
by James Lee Burke
3 volumes
Texas attorney Billy Bob Holland, last seen in Cimarron Rose
(BR 11339), is defending hapless cowboy Wilbur Pickett,
accused of stealing bonds from his wealthy employer, Earl
Deitrich. Wilbur's blind wife kills an intruder, while Billy Bob
focuses suspicion on Earl's wife and son. Violence, strong
language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.
Foreign Brides BR 13173
by Elena Lappin
1 volume
Twelve short stories about women who married foreigners and
emigrated from their homelands. In "Yoga Holiday" a Frenchwoman
encounters the Englishwoman for whom she had once been a teenage
au pair. In "The Gladstone Brothers" two Englishmen wed Czech
women. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1999.
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