The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death by Corinne May Botz
This is one of the oddest books I’ve ever read. It is a meticulously photographed collection of dollhouse dioramas of murder scenes from the 1940s and ’50s, based on real crime scenes. The level of detail is astonishing. Tiny carpets are realistically frayed. Food scraps litter dishes on a table. Teensy clothespins pin garments to a thread-like clothesline. And then there are the dolls with their itsy cut throats and blood spattered on the wallpaper. These scenes were created by Frances Glessner Lee, a wealthy grandmother and criminal investigator who founded the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard in 1936. ~ Christiane, Queen Anne
To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl Jarrett and Carol Wallace
Do you watch “Downton Abbey?” Do you wonder how Cora Crawley snagged the Earl of Grantham and his gorgeous mansion? Authors Jarrett and Wallace take us back to the early 20th century when New York society, led by Caroline Astor and Ward McAllister, defined who were the 400 socially acceptable people. The wealthy who didn’t make this crowd often took their daughters to England where the British aristocracy wasn’t so choosy — in fact the gentlemen found American girls refreshing. American money and British status: a perfect match as the Crawleys attest! ~ Jen, Central
Prom by Mary Ellen Mark
The word “prom” conjures up strong feelings and memories for a lot of us—some wonderful, some disastrous. Now, I’ll happily associate it with this stunning book, simply titled “Prom.” It’s a fascinating collection of photos taken by Mary Ellen Mark. Using a rare, large-format Polaroid camera, Mark shot black-and-white photos of couples at high school proms around the U.S. from 2006 to 2009. The teens reveal a range of emotions and truths as they stare into the camera or, sometimes, at their dates. Fabulous bonus: a delightful DVD documentary of interviews with the prom goers, in full color. ~ Hannah, Ballard
Look for our new Staff Favorites booklet at your favorite branch! We have 50 book recommendations for kids and adults.
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