Librarians spotted Mennonite in a Little Black Dress at BEA and made it a “Shout ‘n’ Share” pick.

In this memoir, Rhoda Janzen writes about a period when her life takes about as many wrong turns as possible, bringing her to do what she never thought she could — return home to her Mennonite family.

It came out two weeks ago and is gaining momentum. Libraries were showing comfortable hold levels just before publication, but holds have increased rapidly in the last two weeks.

The Daily Beast — calls it hysterical; “In the tradition of David Sedaris, it’s her family who is the source of the book’s biggest laughs, and its heart.”

People Magazine — gave it four out of four stars

And, the author was profiled in USA Today.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home Rhoda Janzen Retail Price: $22.00 Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. – (2009-10-13) ISBN / EAN: 080508925X / 9780805089257

Also in audio from HighBridge:

• CD: 9781598879070; $29/95; 10/13

Downloadable audio from OverDrive

We never tire of books about rescued shelter animals. This week’s People gives 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars to Come Back, Como by Steve Winn, calling it “a sweetly written, poignant tale of puppy love.” (For a look at all the books reviewed in People this week and in the past month, go to our Weekly Magazines listing).

But, poor Como was not reviewed prepub, so few libraries own it. If you need more than the People review to convince you, the introduction and first chapter are available on Harper’s Web site.

Come Back, Como: Winning the Heart of a Reluctant Dog Steven Winn Retail Price: $23.99 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Harper – (2009-10-01) ISBN / EAN: 006180259X / 9780061802591

Downloadable from OverDrive

Just as some libraries are beginning to get out from under their holds lists on the new-widow-confronts-dead-husband’s-mistresses memoir, Perfection by Julie Metz, the author will be featured on Oprah on Thursday.

Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal Julie Metz Retail Price: $23.99 Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: Voice – (2009-06-09) ISBN / EAN: 1401322557 / 9781401322557

Downloadable eBook from OverDrive