Johanna's Favorites

Johanna might be too modest to recommend her own book, but we (the webmaster and the bookstore owner) can do so enthusiastically. Please click for more about Calabash, the locally published poetry collection Johanna's shares with three other poets.

Johanna recommends...

Gloryland
Shelton Johnston
A gem of a book that shows how amazing was the influence of the black folks who basically built the national parks..

Await Your Reply
Dan Choan
A complex story that the author pulls off very well, it's set in motion by the Nigerian email scam we've all seen. I cared for all the characters, even the crazy ones.

Marley & Me
John Grogan
A funny memoir about a wildly neurotic labrador retriever named Marley. Marley had no brakes on his loyalty, exuberance or passion.

Hoop Queens
Charles R. Smith
I love this game, and Charles Smith shows their talents and game with his action poetry.

Boxes for Katje
Candace Fleming, Stacey Dressen-McQueen (Illustrator)
Rosie is just one little girl in 1945-America who sends a small box of soap, socks, & chocolate to Katje, a small girl in war-torn Holland with an equally giving and thankful spirit. Based on a true event, the rich drawings add much to a well-told story of the far-reaching impact of simple acts of kindness ... and the importance of saying thanks in special ways. A lovely story to share with a favorite child or savor after a long day.

Kalimantaan
C.S. Godschalk
The hero is a young Englishman who founds a Raj on the coast of Borneo in the 1800's. This is the author's first novel and I am raving about it to anyone who asks, "Have you read a good book lately?"

The Whole Story
(series includes Around the World in 80 Days, The Jungle Book, Treasure Island & many more)
You know the story -- now you can have the background. Amazing tidbits of history, geography, customs from the time of each story. Unabridged text and lovely illustrations. Exploring the story becomes an exciting discovery.

Last updated January 11, 2010