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Health & Fitness

More great reads from the Rochester Hills Public Library

Are you looking for your next good book to read? Check out these staff suggestions!

Butter by Erin Jade Lange (2012)
A morbidly obese teen, weighing in at over 400 pounds, is unhappy and almost friendless.  Has he gotten his nickname by once being forced to eat a stick of butter or, as one teacher has said, because the sounds coming from his saxophone sound like butter?  When he creates a website and announces to the world he is going to eat himself to death on New Year’s Eve, he finds a huge crowd of cheering peers.  This almost makes him feel popular and accepted.  But is he really liked and what will happen if he does not go through with his plan?  Butter is definitely a likeable guy, but we all have our prejudices against a fat person. Why does he have to eat so much and how did he ever get this way?  This story brings up issues of bullying which I had not thought of and has made me more aware of issues of obese people.  Even though this is a teen book I highly recommend it for all readers.   ~ Recommended by Sue

In the Land of Second Chances by George Shaffner (2004)
A traveling salesman of card and board games comes to small town Ebb, Nebraska. The wacky townspeople doubt his occupation and try to find out his purpose for coming to town. The salesman learns of a young girl's illness. His self-proclaimed mission is to instill hope to the girl's father, and ultimately, to everyone else. With rational discourse, the salesman debates the existence of God and the afterlife. This is a thought-provoking fictional story told in a simple, engaging way.   ~ Recommended by Connie    Available as a downloadable ebook from Freading

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker (2009)
We’re introduced to Truly Plaice, her fragile family, and the quirky residents of her small New York town of Aberdeen in this enjoyable tale.  Truly was born large, suffering from a medical condition that causes her to grow beyond normal size.  Her life is filled with suffering and tragedy.  She grows up feeling like an outsider, but despite that, finds a place in the world that accepts her.  She stays true to herself all of her life which makes her a compelling character, and aptly named.  Baker paints a picture of Aberdeen both in place and in its inhabitants that endears the reader to both the good and less flattering features.  The writing is expressive and evocative in the most beautiful way.  I left this novel feeling that Truly would be alright… no, better than alright, she’d be happily content. ~ Recommended by Sheila     Available as downloadable audiobook from OverDrive

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The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross (2010)
When snooty Ansley Waller is dumped by her fiancé, she moves to New York City to live with her estranged grandmother, Vivian, who gives her eight weeks to find a job.  Ansley decides to use her love of baking and her business sense to open a cupcake boutique.  As she prepares for her bakery’s opening, Ansley has to help Vivian uncover her husband’s tax fraud and, in addition, attempts to find out why Vivian left years earlier.  By the end of the book Ansley matures and is a much nicer person.  The baking advice and recipes woven into the plot add to the ambiance of the novel.   ~ Recommended by Jennifer

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Laura Weisberger (2010)
From the liner notes, the reader will think Last Night at Chateau Marmont  is the story of the angry dissolution of a marriage of a singer/songwriter husband who hits it big, and the wife who worked two jobs to support them till hubby made it big. Well, the marriage only hits a bump, hubby's head isn't turned completely with fame, wifey forgives hubby for the scandal, which was set up by hubby's manager, which isn't really a scandal, and their marriage goes on stronger than ever. This is no Jackie Collins' sex, drugs, and rock and roll novel.  It's too sickening sweet to be believed as something that really could happen in show biz.  ~ Reviewed by Michele

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