Sharpe presented her 28 picks Nov. 17 to a packed audience in McDaniel Lounge. The hour-long session covered fiction and non-fiction for children and adults, a cookbook, biography, picture book and a coffee table book.

“I try to have something for everybody,” Sharpe said. “I approach it as though I’m taking the list of people I would buy for, and I select books I would pick for them.”

Here, in her words, are Jane Sharpe’s book reviews for 2005:

NON-FICTION AND FICTION:

1776 by David McCullough. It gives a good perspective on military history, a sense of battle, and life in the beginning year of the American Revolution.

The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt. The author investigates a fire at an opera house in Venice in 1996. The book contains a glossary and interesting characters (whose names have not been changed) and places featured in the book.

Talk to the Hand by Lynn Truss. The author “rants” about the six areas of rudeness in modern society.

The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory. This tale about an unsolved crime in 1558 Elizabethan England would be a good read for book clubs or reading groups.

Friends, Lovers, Chocolate: The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith. This tells the story of Isabel, the editor of a philosophy journal, who tries to solve mysteries surrounding the soul. It’s something you can polish off quickly.

Light from Heaven by Jan Karon. This is the final book of the Mitford series, and Karon saved the best for last. The book answers many questions about our Mitford friends.

Mark Twain: A Life by Ron Powers. This biography/history is researched from sources, including Twain’s letters and notebooks. This book is not just for the literary critic. Everyone is sure to enjoy it.

Peanuts Guide to Life by Charles Schultz. This is Charles Schultz’s greatest hits. The chapters are based on lessons for life, told with a simplicity that makes you stop and think.

Christmas with Southern Living 2005 (25th Anniversary Edition) This is my cookbook choice, but it’s much more than a cookbook. It contains decorating ideas, menus, and delicious-looking recipes.

MARYLAND INTEREST:

The Forgotten Corner: A History of Oakland Mill by Diana Mills Scott MLA ’98. In 1953, a town was submerged to make space for Liberty Reservoir. The historical book, the author’s master’s thesis here at the College, tells of places that are no longer there.

Bodine’s Chesapeake Bay Country by Aubrey and Jennifer Bodine. This is the Maryland coffee table book of the year. Before I knew his name, I was in love with Aubrey Bodine’s photographs. Bodine worked for the Baltimore Sun from 1924-1970.

Maryland’s Amusement Parks by Jason Rhodes. This book contains 200 images of amusement parks in Maryland including the Enchanted Forest.

FOR THE CHILDREN:

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children by Caroline Kennedy. This is a book of poetry to share with children. It includes all kinds of poems, from authors like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Sylvia Plath, and Langston Hughes.

A Time for Freedom: What Happened When in America by Lynne Cheney. This is a political history from the beginning of America through 9/11. It tells about events, and what people thought of them. This is a history book that kids will enjoy.

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner. This blend of historical fiction and fairy tale tells the story of a girl in London whose father is a mortal and mother is a fairy princess.

Eldest by Christopher Paolini. This is the second in a trilogy about a farm boy who becomes a dragon rider.

How Ms. Claus Saved Christmas by Jeff Guinn. This is a good book to share with a child. Mrs. Santa Claus tells how she saved Christmas.

Encyclopedia Prehistoria Dinosaurs by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. This pop-up book about dinosaurs is simply a work of art.

Honey… Honey… Lion: A Tale from Africa by Jan Brett. This is an African tale about a honey badger that tries to find honey without the help of his honey bird, so he won’t have to share.

Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin. This kid’s book tells the story of a spider a lot like us. It has a friend who is a fly.

If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff. This is good for teaching sequence, and it has beautiful illustrations by Felicia Bond.

Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May) by Barbara Park. This book tells the story of the world’s funniest first grader and her Secret Santa experience.

Snowmen at Christmas by Barbara Park. Someone’s going to get this book, and I hope that someone is me. This beautifully illustrated book shows what snowmen do at night, when everyone is sleeping.

Christmas Mice! by Bethany Roberts. This is a cute read-aloud rhyming book about mice celebrating Christmas.

The Little Engine that Could and the Snowy, Blowy Christmas by Watty Piper. All the reindeers have colds, will the little engine that could deliver the gifts? I think I can…

Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long. The author decided the original version of Hush Little Baby had too much buying in it, so she rewrote the verses.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. This classic tale in little board book form is easy for kids to handle.

The forum Books Sandwiched In is jointly sponsored by the Hoover Library, McDaniel's Communications and Marketing Office, and Locust Books of Westminster.