Motorsports Park regularly hosts Kart racing, too
April 3, 2013
Andrew Calise Freeman
April 8, 2013
JEFFERSON: THE ART OF POWER
By Jon Meacham
Random House $35
Meacham writes as though he were there, observing Jefferson the husband, father, statesman, politician, governor and president. His observations are so personal as to reveal the man behind the historical figure, the farmer, gardener, architect (of Monticello) and horseman. Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the West and authorized the Louisiana Purchase. He was also the man who, while abhorring slavery, had some 600 slaves, mostly inherited from his father and father-in-law. Jefferson bought only 60, the others were born on his lands. He was a Christian but rewrote the bible to suit his beliefs. This is the best biography of Jefferson I’ve ever read.
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
By Tim O’Brien
Mariner Books $14.95
O’Brien’s “Big Read” book is a tale of young men, average age 19, fighting in Vietnam against an almost invisible enemy, homesick and afraid, carrying with them reminders of better things and times: Platoon leader, First Lt. Jimmy Cross carries letters from his unrequited love back home; Kiley, a skilled medic, carries brandy and M&Ms; and Dobbins wears his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck as a warming scarf. These guts-wrenching, yet poignant stories will touch, in the author’s words, “… your heart, and your stomach, the whole human being.” Prize winning author O’Brien will keynote the Jambalaya Writer’s conference in Houma at the Main Library this month.
THE WALNUT TREE
BY Charles Todd
William Morrow $16.99
Suffering withdrawal pains now that “Downton Abbey” has ended its third season? Get immediate relief with this similar tale in which Lady Elspeth, haunted by visions of the wounded solders she saw in France, defies her aristocratic family and becomes a nursing sister. She then returns to France to nurse the wounded soldiers, and, not to mention, find the man she met there and whom she now loves. This should give you some comfort ‘till Downton returns.
GHOSTMAN
By Roger Hobbs
Knopf $24.95
When a perfectly planned heist of an armored truck delivery to an Atlantic City casino goes horribly wrong, only one of the robbers, although seriously wounded, escapes with the money. Now, the mastermind who planned the robbery calls on “Jack,” alias the ghostman, to find the cash. Trouble is, the money is booby-trapped and will explode in 48 hours. Worse still, another mastermind also wants the loot and sends goons to track Jack and take the money. In a surprising twist, we learn, through alternating chapters, how Jack learned his craft, culminating in the most ingenious and imaginative bank robbery ever.
12th of NEVER
By James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
Little, Brown $27.99
There’s lots of action and suspense in this new Women’s Murder Club adventure. Lindsay, who has just delivered a beautiful baby girl, is called in only a week later to investigate multiple grisly murders. Then, the girlfriend of a 49ers star football players is found dead and he’s the prime suspect, until her body disappears from the morgue. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Yuki is prosecuting an arrogant millionaire for the murder of his wife and daughter in what she’s sure is a cinch case until his intimidating lawyer pulls some surprises. Patterson and Paetro deliver another non-stop thriller.
INSANE CITY
By Dave Barry
G.P.Putnam’s Sons $26.95
Seth Weinstein is on his way to Miami to marry Tina, an amazingly beautiful woman who is so far above him in money, education and status, he can hardly believe it. Traveling with him is his Groom Posse, three friends who create pranks designed to upset the festivities. In Miami, Seth rescues a Haitian refugee and her two children who, along with a “stripper” ordered up by the Groom Posse, become firmly ensconced in the lavish suite provided him by the bride’s billionaire father. Add a sea battle between a Pirate ship and tour boat, an orangutan and giant python, and the insanity has only just begun.
By Jon Meacham
By Tim O’Brien
By Charles Todd
By Roger Hobbs
By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
By Dave Barry
