The Round Rock Public Library staff has put together a list of fiction and non-fiction books that they have enjoyed and recommend to others looking for a good book. These books are all available at the library.

Fiction
Staff Member	Title/Author	Comments
Linda S.	Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri	"Lahiri’s best yet—stories as satisfying as novels. The title quote (from Hawthorne) suggests the immigrant experience, which is thoughtfully considered. But each scenario also illustrates universal themes, suggesting that acclimatization is a never-ending challenge for all of us".
Elaine T.	The Giver by Lois Lowry	"Jonas' society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory" the person who stores all the memories of the time before "Sameness". As he stores the memories, he realizes how shallow his community has become.
Candy M.	Beauty : a retelling of the story of Beauty & the beast   by Robin McKinley	"The most lovely and lyrical retellings I have ever read.  Perfect if you love fairy tales but also if you just love the English language."
Eric T.	Ishmael by Daniel Quinn	"Teacher seeks pupil, must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person. And learn from a gorilla!"
Linda C.	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson	"Tech thriller, set in Sweden, features disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who is hired to re-examine evidence regarding an industrialist’s missing niece. He and the girl with the dragon tattoo discover much more than they bargained for.  Fast paced and engrossing."

Non-Fiction
Staff Member	Title/Author	Comments
Dale R.	Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen by Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle	"This book is part recipes, reminiscences, Japanese history lessons, and medical reports all stirred together to create a wonderful taste of fact and stories. The recipes sound generally tasty, if you like oriental food and it is much cheaper to make it than to buy it. And, learn about Japanese teas, too! Enjoy!"
Pat M.	The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch	"After being diagnosed with cancer, Randy gives an inspiring last  lecture about really achieving his childhood dreams."
Tricia B.	Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace - One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson	"Drama -- Suspense -- Hope. One person CAN make a difference. Greg Mortenson recounts his experiences in Afghanistan and Pakistan building schools, especially for girls. Should be required reading."
Shelley	A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World by Tony Horwitz	"On a visit to Plymouth Rock, Horwitz realizes that he knows nothing about American history between Columbus's voyage of 1492 and the Pilgrims landing at the Rock in 1620. So - he goes on a voyage through libraries and landscapes to fill in the missing pieces. Riveting reading that's also good history."
Elaine T.	Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping  by Judith Levine	"A lively and thoughtful look at consumerism and what prompts us to buy unnecessarily."