Get Cozy in December with a Book

The mercury is dropping, the fireplace is running hot and the kids are in bed.  Instead of watching TV, why not pick up a book?

Book clubs have become a strong thread in communities throughout the country, so much so that reader guides and celebrity endorsements are the norm for quality pageturners. On a monthly basis, this column will focus its attention on local residents' picks – and pans – and give some suggestions along the way. So, grab your iPad and a cup of coffee, and get ready to read!

• Local pick: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Highly recommended by Weston resident Rose Swanson, this book is actually "non-fiction…[that] reads like a science thriller." An "unforgettable" story, Henrietta Lacks is a poor African American woman who died at age 30 of an aggressive cancer. Her cancerous cells were taken from her without permission and later became central to many of the 20th century's most important medical discoveries, while her family continued to live in poverty. Over several years, Skloot gains the trust of Lacks' family and unearths the tale of what actually happened. 
• New & Notable: Life, by Keith Richards (see review). Weston resident Keith Richards, with ghost writer James Fox, tells a personal tale behind "the most dangerous rock and roll band in the world," the Rolling Stones. Aspiring musicians will find the descriptions of guitar techniques helpful, and Stones aficionados will appreciate the backstories to some of classic rock's greatest songs. Others will simply be amazed that Richards is able to recall anything from the 1970s (please note that this book may not be appropriate for impressionable teenagers). 
• Library picks: Our local libraries are excellent resources for those looking to join a book club. The is sponsoring a discussion of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, on December 16. Weston is offering two book discussions this month: the Tolstoy classic Anna Karenina, on Dec. 9, and modern author Ian McEwan's book Enduring Love will be discussed on Dec. 15.  The in Redding will be examining Ron Chernow's The House of Morgan on Dec. 13. The Mark Twain Library also has a suggested reading list.
• Pick of the month: Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. This dark but wickedly funny and thought-provoking novel by the author of The Corrections paints a vivid, dead-on portrait of modern family life. Rich with irony and woven like a fine tapestry, Freedom examines the relationships between parents, children, friends, and coworkers, and in doing so, defines the very nature of friendship, loyalty, and love — a true portrait of our times. 

Your picks: What are you reading? Did you like it, and if so, why? Send me your current favorites at lisabigelow@hotmail.com.