Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: Caught reading...Scottish romance

Do hunky Highlanders make your heart race? Earlier, a patron at the Readers’ Advisory desk (at the foot of the stairs, near the Quiet Study room) asked for help finding Scottish-themed romances. For all of you Highlander fans out there, the Readers' Advisory Librarian recommends these recent publications:

McCarty, M. (2010) The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel
In order to secure his command of the deadliest fighting force the world has ever seen, Highland warlord Tor MacLeod is forced to marry Christina Fraser, a woman determined to break down his defenses and lay siege to his heart.

Scott, A. (2010). Tempted by a Warrior
Sir Richard Seyton is honor-bound to guard Lady Fiona Jardine, whose husband has gone missing in the Scottish borderlands, and he will do anything to keep her safe from her enemies, but cannot protect her from his own desire.

Quinn, P. (2010). Seduced by a Highlander
When he discovers that the woman he stole a kiss from at the king's court is one of his clan's greatest enemies, Highland warrior Tristan MacGregor is still unable to forget her and vows to possess her at any cost.

Other authors to try include Kathleen Givens, Hannah Howell, Lynn Kurland, Julia London, Karen Moning, Bertrice Small, and Veronica Wolff.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

Caught reading...Scottish romance

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