Click on a book title in the list to the left to read about a variety of different books available at the Alamogordo Public Library.

Reader's Choice - here's a short bit about some of our favorites!

"Liar" by Justine Larbalestier (call number YA F Larb). The story of an 17-year-old girl who is a compulsive liar and who may also be a werewolf. She is the narrator, and freely admits lying to those around her and to us, but after introducing her werewolf story halfway through the book she sticks to it. The book is marketed as Young Adult, but the character development is very strong and the book also works as adult science fiction / fantasy and as a postmodern novel with an unreliable narrator. - contributed by Allen Stenger

"The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court" by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong (call number 347.732 Wood). A look at the deliberations and internal workings of the US Supreme Court during 1969-1975, a period that included the Roe vs. Wade abortion case, claims of presidential privilege regarding the Nixon tapes in the Watergate case, prior restraint of the press regarding the Pentagon Papers, and overturning the death penalty. Concentrates on personalities and politics rather than legal points. Unrelenting harsh on Chief Justice Warren Burger, giving the impression that he was a schemer, a publicity hog, and not smart enough to be a Justice. - contributed by Allen Stenger

"Uncommon Carriers" by John McPhee (call number 388.044 McPh). A up-close look at the day-to-day life of freight transportation in the United States, with chapters on coal trains, tanker trucks, river barges, live lobster storage, training on model ships, and more. Lots of backstory on how these fit into the larger economic picture and on the backgrounds of people who work in these fields. - contributed by Allen Stenger

"Branded Nation: The Marketing of Megachurch, College Inc., and Museumworld" by James B. Twitchell (call number 658.827 TWIT). A look at how nonprofits have become more like for-profit businesses, particularly in their marketing, and how this is shaping their missions. The most interesting part to me was the section on universities and how insignificant education has become in their operation; as the author says (p. 166), "Teaching adds nothing to the brand." - contributed by Allen Stenger

American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, by Joseph J. Ellis. (call number B Jefferson) Thomas Jefferson had a complex and contradictory character, illuminated in this book by a study of four separate periods during his long life. National Book Award winner. - contributed by Allen Stenger