Reader's Corner Blog

The Accidental Bestseller

2010-09-16T15:17:00.004-04:00

Several years ago, I met a charming author from the Atlanta area, Wendy Wax, at a writers' conference. We had a nice conversation about libraries, writing, and the publishing industry. I'd received one of her books as a gift, and I remember reading and liking it, but her name sort of fell off my radar until recently, when I came across her 2009 release The Accidental Bestseller.

Kendall Aims is a bottom-of-the-midlist author whose personal and professional lives are both falling apart. Her editor barely acknowledges her existence. She can't complete the last book in her contract. She's just lost out on a big award. She comes home to the news that her husband's leaving her. Her kids are going off to college. Alone and abandoned, Kendall undergoes the Mother of All Meltdowns. Her three best friends, also published authors, band together to help the only way they know how: by collaborating on Kendall's book. The only problem is that each of them puts a little too much of herself into the story, and their act of kindness will create major disruptions in the lives of all four authors.

This was a fun read for me, mainly because a lot of it is a thinly disguised roman à clef of the romance-writing world. Deciphering who's a stand-in for which well-known editor, or which giant publisher is being described under a different name, had a certain appeal for me. The plot structure allows the author to explain how a book goes from idea to finished product, and that was interesting, too. Anybody who wants to learn more about book publishing might enjoy this book, but I'd also recommend it to fans of humor-laced books with a "flawed and feisty heroine," the kind of gal Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Elizabeth Phillips write about.

A little humor and a lot of heart made The Accidental Bestseller a pleasant read. I liked it well enough that I went right ahead and put Wax's 2010 title, Magnolia Wednesdays, on hold. I'll let you know how it turns out.

--Nora

My Name is Memory

2010-09-09T14:11:00.002-04:00

Anne Brashares, New York Times Bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, has produced yet another beautifully executed romance filled with intrigue and fantasy. Her new (adult) book, My Name is Memory, blasts us through history and the many lives of Daniel and Lucy (as they are known in their present life). Brashares poses the question of what a person would do if they had spent not just one lifetime, but many lifetimes searching for the same lost love, only to lose them over and over again?

Welcome to the frustrating world of Daniel Grey, a teenager who is old beyond the years of his current body. Daniel has the ability to remember, in excruciating detail, all of his past lives, dating back to the year 541 in North Africa. As Daniel says, "I have fallen in love, and she is the one who endures...I always search for her; I always remember her. I carry the hope that one day she will remember me." To him, Daniel's memory is both a gift and a curse. For you see, despite always loving Lucy (or Sophia, as Daniel prefers to remember her as), he has never grown old with her. Theirs is a painful, haunted history, filled with heartbreak and love torn apart.

The present-day love story is interwoven with details about Daniel and Lucy's previous encounters, and the heartbreak that tore them apart. Central to their heartache is Daniel's older brother from his first life, who is as different from David as two souls can be. Joaquim is spiteful, violent, and unpredictable. What's worse, he too, has the ability to remember his past lives, and will stop at nothing to prevent Daniel and Lucy from being together lifetime after lifetime. Daniel must find a way to stop Joaquim once and for all if he is to have any chance of finally being with the woman he has unequivocally loved for fifteen hundred years.

Though technically classified as a romance, there are elements of mystery, thriller, and fantasy laced into this finely crafted plot. As with The Last Summer (of You & Me), Brashares has mastered the craft of creating characters in a way that most writers can only dream of. The subtle nuances of each character's personality are captured so completely that it's hard to believe they are works of fiction, and not people you have known and loved all of your life. They will stay with you long after you've read the final page.

--Jenn C.

Horribly Good Read

2010-09-07T09:54:00.003-04:00

I picked up Dan Wells's debut novel I Am Not A Serial Killer because I thought it looked like an interesting thriller (have I mentioned I'm on a thriller kick lately?), but I ended up getting so much more than I'd bargained for. It's kind of hard to categorize this book - it's part coming-of-age, part thriller, part horror, and all riveting.

Teenager John Wayne Cleaver lives in Clayton, a small city in an unspecified state. He's known for a long time that there's something wrong inside himself: he lacks empathy. He can't connect with other people, not even his family; on top of all that, he's obsessed with serial killers like Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy. He and his therapist talk about the rules of behavior he's set up for himself, and even though John's fascinated by death and dead things (it doesn't help that the family business is a funeral parlor), he's quite clear that there are lines he dare not cross, for fear of becoming the monster he knows lurks inside.

He's got everything under control - until the day a horribly disfigured body is found behind the laundromat. Then another body shows up, and John recognizes the work of a kindred spirit. At least he thinks he does, until curiosity gets the best of him and he discovers the horrible truth behind the sudden spate of murders. He knows he's the only person in town who can stop the killing, but is it already too late?

Fans of the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay may enjoy this book, for its first-person narrative voice. Like Dexter, John speaks directly to the reader, and also like Dexter he's got a twisted code of right and wrong, and an elaborate set of rules that allow him to blend in with "normal" people. Stephen King fans might like this one too, especially fans of earlier King works like It, where kids confront evil armed only with their wits.

A Moving Childhood Memoir

2010-09-01T09:23:00.005-04:00

A couple of Saturdays ago - you know, one of those days when it was too hot to breathe outside, let alone do yard work - I sat down with a pre-publication copy of a book that had been sitting on my table for a long time. I only stopped to fix a sandwich for lunch, and by the time I'd finished the book, it was getting dark outside. Sometimes a book grabs you and won't let you go until you reach the end, and that was my experience with Thomas Buergenthal's tale of growing up under the Nazi regime, A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy.

At first glance, it's hard to allow that the words "lucky" and "Auschwitz" belong in the same sentence. Buergenthal and his parents found themselves imprisoned first in a Polish ghetto, then a work camp, and finally Auschwitz. Through a series of what can only be described as luck, however, the family wasn't separated until they arrived at the death camp, and even then Thomas and his father managed to stay together for several months. Thomas evaded at least two "selections," times when all the other children around him were removed from their parents and killed. He encountered fellow prisoners who helped him survive, and when the war was over he was reunited with the last surviving member of his family.

It's no wonder that his life experiences led the author to work in the field of international human rights; he now serves as a judge at the International Court of Justice in den Haag. The book carries a forward by Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, a fellow Auschwitz survivor, and those who are familiar with Wiesel's Night may also find this a worthwhile read. I'd certainly recommend it for high-school students, who are still close enough to their own childhoods to identify at least with the narrator, even though they've not been exposed to the horrors he saw as a young child. It would also make for a terrific book club selection. Stop by the library and check it out for yourself.

--Nora

Fall Releases

2010-08-30T11:06:00.001-04:00

The hectic summer days are passing: the kids are back in school, the blistering heat and crushing humidity are finally relenting, and we find ourselves with a little breathing room before the frantic pace of the holidays is upon us. Enjoy your down time with one of these great new books, set to release this fall. Follow the links to reserve your copy today!

September Releases

Safe Haven – Nicholas Sparks

The author of The Notebook and Dear John returns with another inspirational romance. When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Katie seems determined to avoid forming friendships, but reluctantly befriends Alex, a widowed store owner.

Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. Even though she is starting to fall in love, Katie still carries a dark secret that haunts her. She realizes that she cannot run from her past forever, and that in order to have love, she must face her demons.

Getting to Happy – Terry McMillan

Fifteen years after Waiting to Exhale, McMillan revisits Savannah, Gloria, Bernadine, and Robin. Each is at her own midlife crossroads: Savannah is facing single life again-at fifty-one. Bernadine has watched her divorce settlement dwindle, and has convinced herself that a few pills will help. Robin’s dream of getting married has gone unrealized. Gloria learns that being at the wrong place at the wrong time can change everything. All four are learning to heal past hurts and to reclaim their joy and their dreams; but they return to us full of spirit, sass, and faith in one another.

October Releases

The Confession – John Grisham

The master of legal thrillers has produced yet another gripping page turner. What happens when the only person who can save an innocent man from being executed is the man who committed the crime? In 1998, Trais Boyette abducted and strangled a high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.

Nine years later, Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his entire life, he decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?

The Reversal – Michael Connelly

Can’t get enough courtroom drama? Try this new nail-biter from the author of The Scarecrow. After 24 years in prison, convicted child killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Convinced that Jessup is guilty, defense attorney Mickey Haller agrees to prosecute Jessup’s retrial. With LAPD detective Harry Bosch as his investigator, Haller sets off on a case fraught with political and personal danger.

Opposing them is Jessup, now out on bail, a defense attorney who excels at manipulating the media, and a runaway eyewitness reluctant to testify after so many years. With the odds and the evidence against them, Bosch and Haller must nail a sadistic killer once and for all. If Bosch is sure of anything, it is that Jason Jessup plans to kill again.

--Jenn C.

Another Debut Novel, Another Thriller

2010-08-25T11:37:00.004-04:00

I don't know what it says about me that I've been reading a lot of thrillers lately, but gosh, do I enjoy them! Continuing the trend from my previous post, The Mullah's Storm by Thomas W. Young is another thriller that's a first novel, too.

Air Force Major Michael Parson serves as navigator on a C-130 and he's flown over the mountains of eastern Afghanistan ferrying high-profile prisoners and detainees plenty of times. But when the plane crashes, he encounters two enemies: the harsh, unforgiving winter climate of the Hindu Kush, and the Taliban forces who are trying to free one of their most important spiritual leaders. The mullah, along with Parson and an Army interrogator, are the only survivors of the crash. The Americans need to get the mullah back to Bagram before the Taliban catches up to them. Between the weather and his pursuers, Parson's not sure which will be more brutal in the end.

Anybody looking to escape a hot, sticky North Carolina afternoon, for a few hours anyway, may enjoy this book. I'd also recommend it for fans of Alex Berenson's The Faithful Spy, and those who like a good thriller in a very contemporary setting.

--Nora

New Soviet-Era Thriller!

2010-08-23T18:21:00.004-04:00

Attention fans of Tom Rob Smith's Child 44: be on the lookout for The Holy Thief, William Ryan's debut novel, which hits shelves in September.

The place: Moscow. The year: 1936. Stalin's purges have started, no one's safe from denunciation, and to make matters worse, the city is shocked by a brutal murder. On the face of it, it's merely a gruesome crime, but as Captain Alexei Korolev begins his investigation, he senses there might be more to it than just a random act of violence.

There's intrigue involving the NKVD, the criminal underworld of the Soviet capital, a stolen religious relic, and the question of just how much one can really know of another person in a totalitarian state where every gesture, every word, must be carefully guarded. Reserve your copy today!

--Nora

Kathryn Stockett's "The Help"

2010-04-21T10:46:00.002-04:00

I just finished reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett and I wanted to offer an incentive on why it should be read.

To read of a time that everyone knows about and discusses makes this book a 5-star read.
The characters are as distinct as Fannie Flaggs' "Fried Green Tomatoes." The main story line tells from the maid’s point of view what it is like in the mid-60s' in the South. Though fiction, the mention of historical characters keeps the reader eagerly waiting to see if change occurs. Great read.

-Terry S.

Big Read, Part Four

2010-04-14T12:31:00.002-04:00

Question # 9
Why can’t Biff Brannon confide in Singer? How does he feel after his wife’s death?
If Singer’s role in the story is confidant, than Biff’s role is that of facilitator/observer. Other than Singer’s room at the boarding house, Biff’s restaurant, “The New York Café”, is the focal point where each of the main characters interacts and it is his good nature that facilitates their interaction. McCullers introduces Biff in chapter two as an observer, “Biff waited stolidly, his elbow resting on the counter and his thumb mashing the tip of his long nose. His eyes were intent. He watched…” (Page 16). Being in the position of observer, Biff believes he knows people; he acts as philanthropist to freaks and is somehow detached from the goings on in the restaurant. “… he watched them. It was a funny thing. The reason—was it in them or in him? He sat very still with his hands in his pockets, and because he did not speak it made him seem superior. What did that fellow think and realize? What did he know?”(Page 161). I believe that although Biff is curious enough about Singer to leave the safety of his restaurant to visit Singer at his room, he cannot bring himself to lower his position to confide to the freaks that he likes to observe. It would be like a Greek god, confiding in a human. He is also detached from his wife Alice, “With her, silence was better. After her sudden death, he heroically takes the responsibility of seeing to the arrangements. He does this methodically and without emotion, adapting and eventually moving on with his routine.

Question #10
What is the role of religion in the novel? How does this affect the actions and beliefs of the characters, especially Jake and Dr. Copeland?
There is an underlying theme of religion throughout the novel. At the end of chapter two Biff Brannon reposes on his bed in the position of Christ on the cross, “Biff stretched both of his arms outward and crossed his naked feet” (Page 39). We are introduced to Mick Kelly on a Sunday morning while her brother Bubber is attending Sunday school (Page 40). Both Jake and Dr. Copeland seem to have lost God somewhere along the way toward becoming educated people. Jake states, “My first belief was Jesus … I was angry and I drove the nail all the way through. My hand was nailed to the table… I began to read… it was like being born a second time” (Page 181). Portia describes her father as having, “…done read more books than any white man in this town. He done read more books and he done worried about more things. He full of books and worrying. He done lost God and turned his back to religion. All his troubles come down just to that” (Page 59). It is Jake and Dr. Copeland, who seem to be weighted down with the troubles of the world. McCullers suggests that their devotion to improving the world stems from becoming educated, and their failure or inaction is due to their having forsaken God.

Question #11
How and to whom does each of the characters in the novel express love?
John Singer demonstrates his love for Antonapoulos through his devotion to him both before they are separated and after.
Mick Kelly loves her father, but more so, John Singer, he is the only person that is in both her inside world and her outside world.
Biff Brannon has devotion for his wife Alice, but I do not believe there was ever really love present in their relationship. Biff loves the people in who come to his restaurant and the idea that he is somehow better than them.
Jake Blount loved John Singer, but not more than anyone can love their confessor. In my opinion Jake’s one true love was himself.
Dr. Copeland loved his family. He expresses it with every shred of disappointment he can muster when he thinks about them. But in the end it is his family that takes care of in spite of all that has transpired.

Question #12
Do you find the ending of the novel disheartening or hopeful?
Without wanting to give away the ending I will only say that it made me angry.

Question #13
In what ways do the themes of the novel resonate with issues of class and race today?
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929 and was ten years old when The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was published. Although it is obvious that not all viewpoints stated in the text have merit, I wonder if he was influenced by it in any way. Statements such as the one made by Lancy Davis in his essay, “I want to be like Moses, who led the children of Israel from the land of the oppressors” (Page 219) clearly illustrate the ideals of change that lead to the civil rights movement.

--Larry G.

Big Read, Part Three

2010-04-06T19:23:00.002-04:00

Reader’s Guide Question #3
The narrator describes the main characters as both ordinary and heroic. Do you agree?

I will start by agreeing that each of the main characters seem ordinary. That is to say upon first glance that they can all be neatly clumped into a box labeled “Normal People: nothing out of the ordinary”. I would also argue that there is nothing heroic about any of them either.
But the question leads one to start thinking further about the meaning of heroism and what constitutes heroic action. In order to learn more I decided to take a look at the Literature Resource Center database located on the Library’s web site to see if there were any articles written about heroic actions by the main characters. I discovered a few literary criticisms about acts of heroism and will site two of them here just to prove my first impression wrong.
It is argued that “Doctor Copeland, who understands so well the suffering and degradation of the Negroes in the South and has sacrificed his health and happiness to help them, reveals a selfless dedication that is as heroic as it is desperate” (Cook 1975).
McDowell states: “At her best, Mick is heroic in offering to quit high school to support her family by working in the dime store--especially since this decision means she can no longer teach herself to play the piano in the school gym. Her defiant final words, "O.K. Some good!" show that she is still above despair and that she will battle the society that demands of her so unfair a sacrifice...McCullers knew--even when she had completed only Part I and wrote her proposal to her publishers--that Mick, rather than Singer, might seem to some readers the principal character, one of the "heroic, though ordinary" figures to whom McCullers referred in her initial outline of The Mute” (McDowell 1980).
1. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Richard M. Cook. Carson McCullers. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1975. p19-45. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski. Vol. 155. Detroit: Gale, 2005.
2. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1940). Margaret B. McDowell. Carson McCullers. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1980. p31-43. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski. Vol. 155. Detroit: Gale, 2005. From Literature Resource Center.

Question 4
What fuels John Singer’s devotion to his companion, Spiros Antonapoulos? How does Singer feel after Antonapoulos is sent to the asylum?
Singer’s devotion to Antonapolous is fueled by love and the understanding of a friend who shares similar circumstances. It is November when Antonapoulos is sent to the asylum, the story’s timeline moves very quickly afterwards. McCullers writes, “The weeks that followed did not seem real at all. All day Singer worked over his bench in the back of the jewelry store, and then at night he returned to the house alone” (page 12). It is during this period that the reader gets a glimpse into Singers youth; that he was orphaned very young and while in school he had learned American Sign Language and the method of Europeans. He also learned to speak but doing so made him uncomfortable. We also find out that he met Antonapoulos when he was twenty-two years old when he came to the south from Chicago. It was after meeting Antonapoulos that he chose to have “never spoken with his mouth again, because with his friend there was no need for this” (page 13). Singer emerges with “a new feeling of energy” (page 14) in the spring and it is at this time that he decides to move from the rooms he shared with his friend. He walks “silently and alone” through rain and cold and finally reaches a point of “deep calm… In his face there came to be a brooding peace that is seen most often in the faces of the very sorrowful or the very wise” (page 15). It is at this point in Singer’s life that he allows himself to become vulnerable to the hearing world, from which he has had little interaction for ten years, since connecting with Antonapoulos.

Question #5
Why would McCullers choose to tell us so little about Singer’s past?
McCullers allows the reader to develop his/her own theory of what life for as an orphaned deaf child in a major city was like. As an orphan, there could have been other relatives who thought it would be too much trouble to raise a deaf child and therefore put him in an institution. As a child he was intelligent, learning sign language before the other students, which perhaps didn’t make him a favorite among the other children. As an independent young man he moved south to take his first job as an engraver, perhaps arranged by the school/institution where he was raised. The lack of information frames the isolation and loneliness he endured as a child and young adult before meeting Antonapoulos and would endure again after being separating.

Questions #6
Mick Kelly has an “inside room” and an “outside room.” What does this mean? Is this true for the other characters as well?
There are two sides to the character Mick Kelly; the pragmatist and the idealist.
With her it was like there was two places--the inside room and the outside room.
School and the family and the things that happened every day were in the outside
room. Foreign countries and plans and music were in the inside room. ... The
inside room was a very private place. She could be in the middle of a house full of
people and still feel like she was locked up by herself. (195)

Rather than just stating that Mick Kelly is an adolescent, one way in which McCullers shows the reader typical adolescent behavior is by describing how she compartmentalizes her daily life from her dreams. The other characters all have inside and outside rooms; i.e., we witness Dr. Copeland entering his inside room every time he dreams of a better society effectuated by his children. McCullers uses the character of Mick Kelly to develop the theme that each character has secrets, or secret desires. Using the character of an adolescent mind developing a necessary coping mechanism that as adults, becomes so natural we don’t even realize we do it.

Question #7
How different is Dr. Copeland’s view of the world from his daughter’s? What does he want for Portia? Why does she reject her father’s ideal?
Copeland’s view of the world is that of oppression. His mother previously a slave and father a preacher; they educated him and sent him North where he became a doctor. Upon completing his education “he knew his mission and came south again… He went from house to house and spoke the mission and the truth. The hopeless suffering of his people made in him a madness, a wild and evil feeling of destruction.” (Page 172). What he wanted from Portia and his sons was a better life, he wanted them to be educated and able to effect change for equality. Potia rejects her father’s ideals first because she views him as being extreme in his determination toward accomplishing his mission, second he does not hold back his disappointment in his children, and third, he lost the opportunity to have the greatest influence on his children because of his madness. In other words, his view of the world has left a bad taste in their mouths.

Question #8
Why does Jake Blount try to find the person who wrote a Bible passage he saw on a wall?
“Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth” (pg191).
Is this passage significant in any way to Blount’s socialist message?
The evening before Jake sees the message on the wall he tells Singer, “All we can do is go around telling the truth. And as soon as enough of the don’t knows have learned this truth then there won’t be any use for fighting” (page 190). It seems to me that in Jake’s mind, the person who wrote the passage “knows” the truth. Knowing the truth is the foundation for Jake’s socialist message. The truth is that democratic society is based on a lie propagated by the powerful and benefiting only the few. In Blount’s mind, the consumption of that power is necessary for reform and therefore directly related to his message.

Let us know your thoughts on the subject!

--Larry G.

The Big Read: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

2010-04-06T19:08:00.002-04:00

So let’s talk about the Big Read Book, The Heart is a lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers. There will be a number of book discussions coming up in the coming weeks and I thought I would get a head start on the discussion questions supplied by the Library’s Big Read Reader’s Guide.

The first question mentions that the title of McCullers’ book is taken from a poem by William Sharp. More clearly stated the title of the poem is "The Lonely Hunter," by William Sharp writing as Fiona MacLeod which can be found in the University of Virginia online library here.

The second part of this question is: “How does this title relate to the novel’s five main Characters? Why might McCullers have changed it from her original title, The Mute?

Many of the essays written about McCuller’s novel speak of five main characters; I believe them all to overlook Singer’s friend Antonapoulos as being the sixth main character, for it is his relationship with Singer, and his absence that is the driving force for all of Singer’s actions. When Singer loses the only friend he has, the only friend with whom he can communicate, albeit ineffectively, he is thrown into the same circumstance as the four characters who share their thoughts with him, being a lonely hunter. But in the eyes of these four characters Singer is something less than they are; where in his relationship with Antonapoulos, Singer is the well spoken visitor that is not fully understood.

An excerpt from Sharp’s poem.
“Deep in the heart of Summer, sweet is life to me still,
But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.
Green is that hill and lonely, set far in a shadowy place;
White is the hunter's quarry, a lost-loved human face:”

Sharp’s poem is melancholy; and reflects on the loss of a loved one. McCullers transposes the poem to frame each characters hunt to rationalize their existence and make a mark in society. The title speaks more to the story of the five main characters than if the author had focused primarily on John Singer, “the mute” and encompasses the theme of isolation more effectively.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this book! Post a comment, or drop in on one of our upcoming book discussions:

Tuesday, April 13th at 11am: Bordeaux Branch
Tuesaday, April 13th at 7pm: Methodist University
Wednesday, April 14th at 10:30am: North Regional Branch
Wednesday, April 14th at 10:30am: Cliffdale Regional Branch
Monday, April 19th at 7pm: Cool Springs Tavern
Tuesday, April 20th at 12:30pm: Charles W. Chesnutt Library
Tuesday, April 20th at 7pm: Spring Lake Branch
Wednesday, April 21st at 11am: Hope Mills Branch
Thursday, April 22nd at 4pm: John L. Throckmorton Library

Happy reading!

--Larry G.

March New Releases

2010-03-13T15:05:00.003-05:00

Hey, there, Booktown!

There's a lot to be excited about in March as far as new releases go. Some of the big names in fiction, such as James Patterson, Lisa Scottoline, and both Carol and Mary Higgins Clark, have new titles hitting stores, as well as a few favorites of mine (Christopher Moore, David Baldacci, and Ted Dekker, just to name a few). Here's a sneak peek of a few titles coming up that you may not know about:

March 16th: The Girl Who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison Allen

The bestselling author of "The Sugar Queen" brings us another heartfelt and moving novel. Emily came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to find out more about her mother's life. Why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? Why did she vow never to return? However, the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby- they're a way of life.

March 23rd: The Creation of Eve, by Lynn Cullen

Fans of historical fiction will love Cullen's tale of royal intrigue and longing. Based on the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, the first renowned female portraitist of the Renaissance, who flees to Italy after a scandal in Michelangelo's workshop. She becomes a lady-in-waiting to King Felipe II's bride. Sofonisba becomes tangled in a love triangle involving the queen, the king, and the king's illegitimate half brother, Don Juan. The Creation of Eve has all the makings of a great novel: scandal, excitement, and history!

March 30th: 31 Bond Street, by Ellen Horan

Horan brings us a high intensity murder mystery set in New York City in the 1850's, when corruption was a way of life. When an errand boy discovers Burdell’s nearly decapitated body in the bedroom of his home at 31 Bond St, there are no witnesses and virtually no clues. With the city up in arms over the vicious killing, District Attorney Abraham Oakey Hall immediately suspects Emma Cunningham, the young widow who has been caring for Burdell’s home in exchange for a marriage proposal. Can Emma prove her innocence and spare herself from the gallows?

Happy reading!!

--Jenn C

Family Affair

2010-02-23T12:16:00.007-05:00

I've been a fan of Caprice Crane since her first book, "Stupid and Contagious," hit shelves in 2006. Her follow-up, "Forget About It," placed me firmly in her fan club. What I love about Crane is that her characters are perfectly flawed. They bumble through life, as most of us do, with their share of baggage and neurosis, in a way that is both endearing and entirely relatable. I have a hard time reading a book full of perfect characters, who always say the right thing at the right time, and always know how to react in any given situation. I want my love stories to seem as if they might actually last past the last page of the book.

Crane's new release, "Family Affair," has many of the same elements that endeared me to her first two novels. Layla and Brett Foster have been together since...well, forever. They were high school sweethearts who got married shortly after finishing college. Now almost thirty, Brett is struggling with the marriage, feeling like their relationship has gotten stale. Layla has been a part of his family since her mother died in the tenth grade, but lately Brett is beginning to feel as if Layla is more of a sister than a wife. She spends more time cooking with his mother, playing poker with his father, owning a business with his sister, and serving as a confidant to his brother than she does attending his football games (he's the coach). One night at dinner, while Layla is thinking that Brett is going to announce that he wants children, Brett instead announces that he wants a divorce.

Layla is understandably crushed- how could you not be? However, she is determined not to lose both Brett and his family. Over the years, they have come to see her as a part of the family, and she isn't about to lose everything she has simply because her husband no longer wants to be married. Brett becomes increasingly angry and jealous of Layla, especially when he finds that his family (along with most of his friends) have taken her side in this dispute. He becomes absolutely livid when Layla files for joint custody of his family, and becomes determined to push her away by any means necessary.

The insanity that follows Brett's announcement is, in equal parts, both heartbreaking and hysterical. Both Brett and Layla are perfectly aware of how immature they are being, yet seem incapable of rising above their conflicting emotions in order to be the bigger person. "Family Affair" showcases all of the mistakes people make in dealing with loved ones, and how the power of family can overcome (almost) any obstacle. Within Brett and Layla, one can see the answers to the question of what goes wrong in a relationship.

I will admit that the ending is a bit more abrupt and storybook-ish than what seems reasonable for the amount of damage each party has done to the other (after all, Brett DID bring another woman to Christmas with him, knowing Layla would be there. This isn't something that's likely to be easily forgiven). All in all, however, Crane has produced an incredibly realistic, touching, and entertaining story about marriage, family, and love.

--Jenn C.

Handle With Care

2010-02-10T19:23:00.011-05:00

The next four weeks will bring many popular new releases, with highly anticipated titles coming from many of today's top-selling authors. Danielle Steele's "Big Girl" comes out next week, Clive Cussler's "Silent Sea" is set to release March 9th, and Harlan Coben's "Caught" will hit bookshelves on March 23rd. Nonfiction books are also making waves in March, with both Mitt Romney and Karl Rove generating notable buzz about their upcoming memoirs. However, the new book I'm the most excited about is Chelsea Handler's "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang."

Handler is a stand-up comedian and the host of the late-night talk show "Chelsea Lately." Her previous two books, "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" and "My Horizontal Life" were both on the New York Times Bestseller list. Similar to her stand-up act, her books focus on stories from her personal life, which are equally witty, off-kilter, and downright hysterical.

"Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" promises to deliver more of what I have come to expect from Handler: more ridiculous stories told from the odd perspective that can only be Chelsea. Nothing is safe from Handler- from Lean Pockets and Sex and the City to Cabbage Patch Dolls. I'm particularly interested in hearing her story of how she once managed to convince her boyfriend that there were Swiss Army Knives in the soles of her $16,000 shoes (that power of persuasion is something every woman should learn!!)

Fans of Celia Rivenbark (author of "Bless Your Heart, Tramp" and "We're Just Like You, Only Prettier") will love Handler's books. Check out a copy of "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang," set to release March 9th, but beware- this book will likely cause readers to snort unbecomingly from laughter, so you may consider reading alone!

--Jenn C.

Gotham City Murder!

2009-12-04T08:27:00.004-05:00

If you are a history buff as I am, I highly recommend The Murder of Helen Jewett: the life and death of a prostitute in nineteenth-century New York. During this time period murder in New York was not as prevalent as you might think, and brothels were a societal norm. Using historical records, news articles, and letters written by the victim to her patrons, author Patricia Cline Cohen provides a thoughtful and in-depth look into the life of one young lady from her childhood in Maine to her brutal death in a New York City brothel. Cohen discusses Helen's migration from Maine to New York, and touches on commerce, the development of communities, and the mingling of the classes in New England. Upon Helen's death, the reader is witness to every circumstance - from the inquest, to the investigation and trial, and the rumor and sensationalism created by the burgeoning field of investigative journalism. Cohen also includes the scandal involved with the murdered prostitute’s clientele and the fact that during her formative years she was in the care of one of Maine's leading families, who afforded her a formal education.

--Larry G.

Great December Releases

2009-12-02T17:06:00.001-05:00

I know what you're thinking: as if you have time to read this month, what with all of the holiday preparation, shopping, and cooking! However, if you can spare a moment to yourself, check out one of these upcoming releases. Trust me, the break will be worth it!

December 7th: Puttering About in a Small Land by Phillip K. Dick
Roger and Virginia Lindhal’s marriage is already on the rocks when they enroll their son in a private school in the mountains of California. When they meet the Bonners, a complicated series of events, emotions, and traumas are released. This story is typical Phillip Dick, with an intense emotional buildup and very detailed characters. You’ll find that you won’t be able to put it down.

December 7th: The Good Son by Russel D. McLean
Looking for a new author? Try this debut by new Scottish writer McLean. Scottish private investigator J. McNee tries to come to terms with his immense personal baggage as he investigates the apparent suicide of Daniel Robertson. This tale of love, betrayal, and loss successfully blends classic mystery styles with a more edgy modern flair.

December 14th: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
In this gripping dystopian story, 15-year old Wisty and her older brother Whit are thrown in a secret prison with no explanation. While in prison, they discover new and incredible powers, but can they master their skills in time to save themselves- and the world? Patterson delivers another page-turning thriller sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

December 14th: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
In another dystopian world, Eddie Russett has no desire to be anything but completely loyal to the Collective, who rule society through color. When he meets Jane, life as he knew it is shattered as she opens his eyes to the truth behind the “Colortocracy.” Fforde is equal parts humorous, genius, and ridiculous in this new romantic thriller.

Happy reading!!

--Jenn C.

Flash Forward

2009-11-28T10:39:00.001-05:00

What would you do if you got a glimpse of your own personal future and it looked bleak? Would you try to change things or accept that the future is unchangeable and make the best of it? In Flash Forward, now an ABC series on Thursday evening which is loosely based on the 1999 novel by Robert J. Sawyer, you will get a chance to see what some have done when faced with that question.

Give the book a try; it is a little more technical than the loosely based series but an interesting novel that makes you think, “What if....?”

--Lois M.

The Lost Symbol: What Did You Think?

2009-10-30T14:30:00.002-04:00

“The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown is a predictable adventure. Twists and turns that make you scratch your head but still hold your interest enough to want see where it all ends. And as in his previous book, “The Da Vinci Code,” there’s enough intriguing details to investigate further once you put the book down.

What did you think? Leave us a comment and let us know!

--Alana F.

More Historical Intrigue

2009-10-27T15:06:00.003-04:00

What began as just another Showtime series soon became my obsession.
Life in Tudor England and especially the court of Henry VIII caught my attention not only for the main character Jonathan Ryes Myers but also the subject line that followed.
I knew it would be a fictional tale with liberties taken in the plot but soon it proved to be an interesting adaptation of this time in history.

Because of this Showtime series I found myself reading books, some fiction others nonfiction, in an attempt to sort out the true facts from the surreal; what follows are a list of books I found myself reading in a futile attempt to unravel the story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir

The author uses many public records and personal letters of the early 1500's to offer a comprehensive version of the tempestuous private and public lives of Henry VIII and his six wives.

In Triumph's Wake: Royal Mothers, Tragic Daughters, and the Price They Paid for Glory
By: Julia P. Gelardi

Historian Gelardi focuses on the fates of three pairs of royal mothers and daughters: Isabella of Castile and Catherine of Aragon, Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette, and Queen Victoria and Empress Frederick.

The Constant Princess
By: Philippa Gregory

As youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina was promised to the English Prince Arthur when she was three. She leaves Spain at 15 to fulfill her destiny as queen of England but things do not turn out as planned, in this dramatization it shows how Catalina uses her faith, her cunning and her utter belief in destiny to reclaim her rightful title after the death of Price Arthur.

Mademoiselle Boleyn
By: Robin Maxwell

A look at the future queen of England before Henry VIII comes into her life.

Anne Boleyn; A new Life of England’s Tragic Queen
By: Denny, Joanna

For a change of pace read about the true life and tragedy associated with the life of Anne Boleyn.

The Other Boleyn Girl
Starring: Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson
DVD 2008

This is a tale of two sisters competing for the same king. This movie version uses some historical but mostly fictional details to weave an interesting and entertaining story.

The Last Wife of Henry VIII
By Carolly Erickson

In this first-person account of the life of Catherine Parr, who survived marriage to the dangerous and mercurial Henry Tudor, is arguably his most interesting bride. Cultured, well-educated and beautiful, "Cat" catches Henry's eye as a young girl and benefits and suffers from his favor all her life but in the end, gets everything she wants.

The Children of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir

The tragedy of four accidental rivals to a throne, three of them children by different mothers of a much married king does not lose any of its drama by frequent retelling. Along with the royal siblings the doomed Lady Jane Grey is included.

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
By: Alison Weir

Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554), whose ascension to the English throne was briefly and unluckily. Jane's parents groomed her from infancy to be the perfect consort for Henry's son, Prince Edward. When Edward dies, Lord and Lady Dorset maneuver the throne for their 16-year-old daughter. Using multiple narrators, Weir weaves a conspiratorial web with Jane caught at the center.

The Lady Elizabeth
By Alison Weir

The tale chronicles the life of Elizabeth I from her early childhood to her coronation, through the final years of her father, Henry VIII, and the brief reigns of her siblings, Edward VI and Queen Mary.

The Mistresses of Henry VIII
By: Kelly Hart

This is a behind the scenes look at the many other women in King Henry VIII’s life.

I find myself anxiously awaiting the start of season four of Showtime’s “The Tudors” and reading, not only about the wives and children, but the many other fascinating people during this time period.

--Lois

What I'm reading

2009-09-28T13:29:00.006-04:00

1. Just finished Jeff Lindsay's fourth installment in his Dexter series, Dexter by Design. When his sister is stabbed in the line of duty, our favorite serial killer tracks down the person he thinks is responsible. But this time Dexter's made a rare mistake, and somebody's out for revenge. What's a psychopathic predator to do when the tables are turned and he becomes the prey?

2. Currently wrapped up in American On Purpose, Craig Ferguson's hilarious, heartbreaking memoir of his misadventures on the road from substance-abusing Scottish punk rocker to sober comedian with his own late-night TV show - and an American citizen. Enjoying it immensely, even if I'm never up late enough to catch Craig's show!

3. Next up will be An Echo in the Bone, the long (long, long, long)-awaited next chapter in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I can't wait to see what Claire and Jamie Fraser are up to, as the American Revolution gets closer and closer; and whatever happened to their daughter Brianna and her family, once they returned to the twentieth century? I'm not even going to peek at the last page on this one - I'd rather be surprised.

How about you? What have you read lately that you want to tell us about?

--Nora

Which One Gets Your Vote?

2009-09-24T09:24:00.003-04:00

The National Book Foundation is holding a Special Election! Between now and October 21, readers can go to www.nbafictionpoll.org and cast their votes in the race for the Best of the National Book Awards Fiction campaign. The candidates are:

**John Cheever, The Stories of John Cheever
**Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man
**William Faulkner, Collected Stories of William Faulkner
**Flannery O'Connor, The Complete Stories
**Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow
**Eudora Welty, The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty

When you vote, you'll also get a chance to enter into a drawing for a two-night stay in Manhattan and a pair of tickets to the 60th National Book Awards ceremony on November 18.

Cast your ballots now - who knows? You might win!

--Nora

Authors and Book Clubs in September

2009-08-29T10:00:00.004-04:00

We've got a couple of great author visits planned for September, and the book clubs will be discussing a wide range of titles:

Author Events

As part of the North Carolina Literary Festival's Authors on the Road program, author P. T. Deutermann (Sana M. posted about him here) will make an appearance at the Headquarters Library on Tuesday, September 1. A reception and book signing with the author will kick things off at 5:30 PM, followed by a presentation at 6:30 PM.

Audience favorite Dr. Elliot Engel returns to the Headquarters Library on Tuesday, September 22, when he'll talk about Rudyard Kipling, the English novelist and Nobel Prize winner. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and there is a small admission fee: $10 for the public, $5 for Friends members, and $2 for students. Tickets are sold at the door, and you can join the Friends at the event. Dr. Engel's programs are always very well attended, so come early for the best seating!

Book Club Meetings

September 8:
East of the River Book Club (East Regional Library), will discuss The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, at 7:00 PM.
The McArthur Road Irregulars (North Regional Library) will be talking about Swedish author Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, also at 7:00 PM.

September 9:
North Regional's Wednesday Book Club will discuss Dr. Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture at 10:30 AM.

September 15:
The Gen-X Book Club will meet at 7:00 PM at DeDeaux's Java Shop on Ramsey Street to talk about The Help, a novel by Kathryn Stockett.
The Spring Lake Book Break Book Club gets together at 7:00 PM at the Spring Lake Branch and will discuss Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia Stands Her Ground.

September 17:
The Opened Gates Book Club will meet at the Headquarters Library at 7:00 PM. This meeting will be in conjunction with the newly formed African American Family History Study Group, and will focus on viewing and discussing an abridged version of a documentary film, Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep North, which connects a Rhode Island family with their ancestors' role in the slave trade. Contact Wanda Hunter, our Local and State History Librarian and Opened Gates facilitator, for more information.

September 28:
The Great Books Discussion Group will examine The Garden of Forking Paths, a short story by Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges.

Please join us for any of these events! For more information, please call the branch where the event will take place.

--Nora

Should Be an Interesting Fall

2009-08-29T09:47:00.003-04:00

According to this article, publishers and booksellers are cautiously optimistic about the fall book season. There sure are a lot of big names on the list: everything from celebrity memoirs and biographies, to new releases from literary heavy-hitters, to the latest from some popular fiction authors (cough - Dan Brown - cough). Seems like there's going to be something for everybody!

We're happy to reserve a copy of these, and many other new books, for you. Stop by the library and put your name on the list today.

--Nora

Historical Intrigue

2009-08-18T12:02:00.002-04:00

Looking for scandal, political intrigue and religious turmoil? Then check out the goings on in England and France by following the escapades of Elizabeth I of England, Princess Alais of France, and the Boleyn sisters. Cloak and dagger, secrets whispered behind tapestries, unrequited love, courtly misadventures and countries in turmoil abound in The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir, The Rebel Princess by Judith Koll Healey and The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory. Be transported.

--Alana F.

"Amateur Marriage" by Anne Tyler

2009-08-17T09:07:00.004-04:00

Being married 27 years myself, I am always entertained by stories of marriage and family, and all the joys and tribulations associated with both. The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler is set in Baltimore and the plot moves effortlessly over a period of sixty years. Known for capturing the tumultuous lives of the ordinary American middle class, the author symbolizes the rocky road of Michael and Pauline Anton’s relationship using the attack on Pearl Harbor as the back drop for their first meeting.
Without getting bogged down in the details of the social issues of the day Ms. Tyler focuses on the complexities of family life within a changing society as the mismatched couple builds their family through the 1950s: having children, moving from the city to the suburbs, taking care of elderly parents, and suffering through adulterous behavior.
The family is torn apart in the sixties as the reader is witness to the effects of the developing counterculture of hippies, beatniks and drugs leaving Michael and Pauline to struggle with abandonment and wondering what they could have done differently.
Eventually the couple and the family reach a middle ground in which ignoring differences and moving past placing blame allows one character to quietly reflect about Michael and Pauline. ''You were ice and she was glass, two oddly similar substances, come to think of it -- and both of them hell on your children.''
I highly recommend “The Amateur Marriage” and others by Anne Tyler including “Ladder of Years” and “The Accidental Tourist”.

--Larry G.

Author Visit: P.T. Deutermann!!

2009-08-14T11:24:00.003-04:00

P.T. Deutermann, although not a Southerner by birth, is one by choice. After a 26-year career as a Naval officer, Mr. Deutermann retired to Rockingham county to write full-time. His first nine novels are suspense thrillers, many of them having some type of connection to the navy. In 2006, he released The Cat Dancers, the first of the series featuring retired Sheriffs’ Deputy, Cam Richter. The series is set primarily in western North Carolina, in the fictional Manceford County, which is somewhat north and west of Charlotte. The Cat Dancers are a shadowy group of vigilantes, who have an initiation ritual of a face-to-face encounter with a wild mountain lion. Lt. Richter becomes personally involved when his ex-wife, a sitting judge, is killed.

In the next installment, Spider Mountain, Deputy Richter is now ex-deputy Richter, and he has opened his own private investigation business, assisted by the two best sidekicks in crime fiction, a pair of German Sheperds named Frick and Frack. He agrees to help a friend out by looking into the brutal assault on a female forest ranger in a remote area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There, he runs into a sinister Appalachian matriarch named Ginny Creigh who controls the local crystal meth trade, and owns most everything and everyone in their neck of the woods.

In The Moonpool, one of Cam’s investigators is found dead in a convenience store restroom in Wilmington, North Carolina. When her body sets off radiation alarms, a heavily guarded nearby nuclear power plant, becomes suspect. Racing against time, Cam uncovers an inside threat, a plan to use the plant's own systems to initiate an unstoppable, disastrous series of events.

In the most recent novel, Nightwalkers, released this past June, Cam decides to retire (again) and purchases a 700-acre antebellum plantation in the North Carolina countryside. He almost immediately finds himself targeted by a determined stalker, who holds Cam responsible for some unknown crime. Cam will need all of his resources, including his redoubtable German Shepherd companions, to stay alive as he deals with the stalker, some very eccentric people, and all the entanglements of a place suddenly alive with ghostly secrets and the fruits of a bloody past.

P.T. Deutermann is currently at work on his 14th book, a historical novel about World War II, to be called Glory. He is part of the Authors on the Road program, and will be speaking at the Headquarters Library on Tuesday, September 1st at 6:30 pm. This event is free to the public and is sponsored by the the North Carolina Literary Festival, which will be held in Chapel Hill on September 10th through the 13th.

--Sana M.

What Might Have Been...

2009-08-03T10:27:00.002-04:00

Fragment by Warren Fahy is a story about what might have been.

The story opens on a ship called the Trident that happens to be the backdrop for a show called SeaLife. SeaLife chronicles the adventures of a team of scientists as they explore the uncharted reaches of the south Pacific. Unfortunately, the show has lousy ratings, no drama and is basically wrapping up. The Trident is heading home when they get a distress signal coming from Henders Island. They decide to answer the call and from here on out in the story their lives, shortened though they will be, take a turn for the worse.

Henders Island is what the rest of the Earth might have been like if it hadn’t broken up into the continents we know today. Strange and violent species have evolved in a hypercompetitive environment where everything eats everything else. Humans are no match for any of the animals, as some of the Trident’s crew find out the hard way. After the inauspicious and bloody landing of some of the show’s scientist is broadcast on television, the military sends a fleet to the island with their own handpicked experts. Their plan to destroy Henders Island is complicated by the discovery of a benign and intelligent species and the race to save it from destruction.

Fragment is a great read in the same vein as Jurassic Park or Relic. I would highly recommend it.

--Mike N.

What Did You Read on Your Summer Vacation??

2009-08-01T17:30:00.008-04:00

Where did the summer go?

Wasn't it just yesterday that the kids were STARTING their summer vacation? Now begins the madness that is Back to School Season, rivaled only by Holiday Season in its chaos. Moms and dads begin that mad rush to get school supplies, new clothes, and those last-minute required reading books the kids need for their projects.

Before you get lost in the world of pencils, sneakers, paper, and Trapper Keepers (do they still make those?) take a moment to appreciate all the wonderful things you did this summer: the beach, the movies, and especially the books!

With so many wonderful books having been released this summer, I spent many days reading by the pool. My favorite summer read would have to have been Relentless by Dean Koontz. I absolutely love books that scare me, and this one definitely did the trick! It was his best since Velocity, if you ask me.

But enough from me. I want to know what made it into you're beach bag this summer. Did Pahlaniuk's new book thrill you? Did you fall in love with Danielle Steel's new release? Let us know! Either way, we hope you had a safe and happy summer. =)

--Jenn C

August Releases

2009-07-28T14:21:00.002-04:00

Hey there, Readers!

There are plenty of great books coming out in August. Don’t miss the following titles, available at your library!

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon

At the hub of newest Dark Hunter novel is Fang Kattalakis, brother of two powerful members of the Omegrion (the council that leads the Were-Hunters). When war breaks out, Fang must choose between saving the woman he loves and breaking the law of his people, ruining his relationship with his brothers. Don’t miss this suspenseful new novel by this New York Times bestselling author, releasing August 4.

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown

The Queen of romantic thrillers is back with more heart-pounding suspense. Serial killer Chreighton Wheeler is obsessed with re-enacting scenes from films. When Creighton’s uncle is shot dead in a robbery, gallery owner Julie Rutledge is convinced that Creighton is behind it. A rash of crime follows as Julie and criminal lawyer Derek Mitchell join forces to catch Creighton. Brown delivers another fast-paced read, available August 11.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Wildly popular author of “The Other Boleyn Girl” begins a new series, telling the story of Elizabeth Woodville Grey, who assisted in making the War of the Roses take root. As a 27-year old widow, her marriage to 22-year old King Edward IV is not only shocking, but it shifts loyalties: Elizabeth’s family becomes Edward’s strongest supporters while Edward’s chief advisor becomes the epicenter of a plot to overthrow the King. Gregory delivers another entertaining and entirely plausible historical novel, set to release on August 18.

A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

One of the Kings of horror and suspense shocks readers yet again with his new book- but not in the way you’d think. What’s surprising about this book is that it’s not a horror. There’s no evil priest, crazed psychopath, or unimaginable monster in this new release. Instead, it’s a humorous, touching, from-the-heart story about Koontz’s dog, Trixie. He does insinuate that Trixie is special in an otherworldly sense, but what pet owner wouldn’t? This debut nonfiction novel from Koontz is not to be missed, and is available on August 25.

Know of some other new releases that are worth mentioning here? Let us know what you think!!

--Jenn C.

Downtown Owl Makes the Unremarkable Remarkable

2009-07-09T11:40:00.003-04:00

Even if you could find Owl, North Dakota on a map, you probably wouldn’t stop there. It’s just like any other Nothingtown in 1980’s America: no cable. No culture. No nothing. Just boredom, and a whole lot of it. No one moves away and hardly anyone moves in. With a population of only 800, everyone knows what everyone else is doing. All the time. It’s very Big Brother/George Orwell (ironically, the majority of the book takes place in 1984).

Living in this bleak town are several unremarkable characters, living quiet and indistinct lives. Julia Rabia, a schoolteacher who recently moved to downtown Owl, finds herself “more depressed than she had ever been in her entire twenty three year existence,” despite the instant celebrity status that comes with being a beautiful stranger in a small town. Mitch Hrlicka plays high school football and is mainly concerned with how weird he is (or isn’t) and whether he is going to have to fight Chris Sellars. Horace is seventy-three, and thinks a lot about Alma, his wife who passed away of a disease unknown to him.

There are no fireworks in Downtown Owl. Mitch does not become a star NFL quarterback. There is no prince on a white horse to come and rescue Julia. Horace continues to frequent the same coffee shop day in and day out. Klosterman offers an unromanticized looks at small town life. He disregards convention to give readers a look at what it’s like to be a plain person leading a plain life in a plain town. The end result is a raw, honest look into what could be the life of anyone who grew up in rural America.

You would expect the pace of a book about a “down” town to move as lazily as the town itself. However, the plot chugs along nicely, as you find yourself getting more and more wrapped up in the lives of Owl’s citizens. Everything seems complacent, if not perfect, when disaster strikes out of nowhere. Readers will find themselves caught as off guard and unprepared for the story’s climax as the characters are for the blizzard that strands them. In the end, you’ll be dazed, rereading the last few chapters over and over to make sure you understood correctly.

Downtown Owl was only released last year, and is the first novel by Klosterman, a Minnesota newspaper columnist. But you would never know it, because it has a “modern classic” feel to it that is reminiscent of Kerouac or Salinger. Klosterman has accomplished something few people could ever do: he has captured the essence of normality, and recreated it between the covers of his book. In doing so, he has created a novel that is not only timeless, but a true joy to read, too.

--Jenn C

(READ) IT AGAIN, SAM

2009-07-06T11:27:00.003-04:00

This morning, I stumbled across this Newsweek column about the joys of rereading, where author David Gates explains why he keeps going back to certain books over the years. By happy chance, I’ve just finished my annual re-reading of one of my all-time favorites, These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer (I had to buy a new copy, I think my third, because mine is beginning to fall apart, despite my best efforts at preservation). I first read it when I was 11 years old, and it’s a big part of the reason I fell in love with the romance genre. Every time I read it I discover something new about it.

I know I’m not alone in this habit. Everybody has a “comfort read,” a book to pick up when you just want to return to something familiar. It could be a certain mystery or thriller; it could be the books set in the Middle-Earth that J.R.R. Tolkien created for Frodo and company; it could be Bruce Catton’s nonfiction books on the Civil War.

I think the rereading habit starts early in life. I remember as a kid reading, over and over, the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A.A. Milne (the pre-Disney ones, with drawings by Ernest Shepard). Ask any parent how many times he or she has read Goodnight, Moon or Green Eggs and Ham to a child. Adolescent and young-adult readers find and hang on to their favorites, too – books like Bridge to Terabithia or Holes. So it’s only natural that we carry this habit with us into adulthood.

Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a dozen books I’ve returned to over the years, everything from These Old Shades to A Time to Kill by John Grisham and Sharpe’s Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell. Someday I’ll work up the energy to go back and reread all the Patrick O’Brian novels and Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles.

What about you? What books do you find yourself rereading?

--Nora

Another vote for The Strain

2009-06-30T13:19:00.003-04:00

Tammy H. has already mentioned The Strain, by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Here's another endorsement from a library staff member:

I've just finished reading the The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan and I must say I really loved it. After I finished reading it, I realized that this is how vampires are supposed to be - SCARY! They only see humans as a means for their survival and their goal is to finally conquer the human race. Literally, they're out for blood. So much for brooding, sexy vampires with feelings!

--Greta N.

Let's Talk About It!

2009-06-25T14:52:00.003-04:00

Interested in checking out one of the library’s book clubs in July? Here’s the list:

July 14, North Regional Branch:
What really happened to the Bethany girls 30 years ago? Were they actually kidnapped and murdered? NRL’s book group, the McArthur Road Irregulars, will deal with problems of identity, in both pre- and post-DNA-testing eras, as they discuss What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman. To learn more, call 822-1998.

July 14, East Regional Branch:
Join “East of the River: the Book Club” as they discuss The Beach House by Jane Green. This captivating novel about the strength of family, friendship, and self-discovery is a great summer read. For more information, call 485-2955.

July 27, Headquarters Library:
The Great Books Discussion Group will be talking about “The Open Boat,” considered by many to be Stephen Crane’s best short story. Copies of the story and discussion questions are available at the Information Desk, HQU. Learn more by calling 483-7727, x204.

Even if you don’t join us for any of these discussions, keep on reading – and keep on filling out your reading logs for the Summer Reading Club, which wraps up on July 31.The more logs you complete, the more chances you’ll have in the drawing for the grand prize, a gift card to a local bookstore. And your attendance at any of these programs counts as one book read!

--Nora

Science Fiction/Fantasy Panel in Cary

2009-06-21T22:29:00.003-04:00

Hey all!

Anyone out there a fan of Science Fiction or Fantasy? Head on up to the Barnes and Noble in Cary on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7pm for a Science Fiction and Fantasy Panel. James Maxey (author of the Dragon Age series- book one is Bitterwood), David Drake (author of When the Tide Rises), Lisa Shearin (author of the Raine Benares series- book one is Magic Lost, Trouble Found), and Mark Van Name (author of Overthrowing Heaven) will all be there for a discussion of the genres, with book signings afterwards.

The Barnes and Noble is across from the Carytowne Center Mall. The address is 760 SE Maynard. Call (919) 467-3866 for more information.

Head on up for a night of lively discussion from some of the best voices in the genre!

--Jenn C.

Twists and Turns in Swedish Thriller

2009-06-16T16:18:00.004-04:00

I love mysteries, but lately they’ve been getting predictable. If I read even one more tale of a sadistic serial killer preying on defenseless children and young women, pursued by a successful but tormented female detective and her gruff but heroic male sidekick, I may throw the book in disgust. You know the ones — they fairly wallow in the angst, the carnage, the ever-increasing depravity — and is there actually some crime-solving or plot twist in there somewhere? Then, inevitably, the villain sets his sights on the poor female detective, until the sidekick sweeps in for a last-minute rescue.

Hello, writers: formula is for romance novels. Gratuitous violence is no substitute for genuine intrigue. And neurosis is not character development.

Thankfully, the latest book by Swedish author Steig Larsson is anything but predictable. The Girl Who Played With Fire, due out in July, follows the same characters as his 2008 bestseller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is working with two other writers to break a major story about sex trafficking of teen girls, but on the eve of its publication his colleagues are found shot to death. No link is apparent between them and the brilliant but unpredictable super-hacker Lisbeth Salander — yet her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Blomkvist is convinced that Salander did not commit the murders (though “innocent” is not a word he would apply to her) but she has disappeared, and he is far from the only one searching for her.

This book is well-crafted and detailed. Usually when a person says, “I finished it all in one night!” it’s a sign of praise, of a can’t-put-down book. I’m a fast reader and finish almost every book in a night or two, but this one took me several days, by choice. It was long and detailed enough to savor. The details aren’t fluffy character descriptions, either, but complex bits of narrative that flesh out the story in unexpected ways. That thing about Fermat’s Theory? Not relevant to the plot but it gives the reader an example of how Salander’s mind works. In addition, Larsson’s writing style is descriptive, with a pace that builds throughout the novel. Scenes of violence or sex are not gratuitous but are described vividly.

My favorite part about this book is Lisbeth Salander. She has a photographic memory, probable Asperger’s syndrome, and a dark and twisted past. She is legally classified “non compos mentis” and under guardianship, yet she is the most efficient researcher Milton Security has ever hired. Her concept of justice has little to do with any recognized legal system. She is being hunted by the police, assorted villains, and Blomkvist himself, and manages to stay hidden. In contrast, I feel that Blomkvist is not quite as well developed in this book as Salander. His primary purpose as a character is to give Salander an ally, one who is not in hiding and who has access to the official murder investigation. To more clearly understand the relationship between the two characters, I recommend readers start with the first book, which fills in the gaps in their history.

The Girl Who Played With Fire is an excellent choice for mystery fans who like a more complex read. It’s more Lee Child or Jeffrey Deaver than Janet Evanovich. It will appeal to readers who like strong female characters or investigative journalists. Just remember: to get the most out of this book, read the other one first.

--Tiffany H.

(More) What I'm Reading

2009-06-12T10:50:00.005-04:00

The Last Child, by John Hart

I've been a John Hart fan since his first novel, The King of Lies. The author recently spoke at the North Regional Branch and stated that he thought this novel was his best yet. I have to agree. If you haven't yet discovered John Hart, what are you waiting for? In Last Child, young girls are disappearing in an unnamed rural NC town and 12 year-old Johnny is determined to find his twin sister, who's among the missing. What he unearths is more sinister than anyone imagined, sending shock waves through the community and putting Johnny's own life in danger. This is an excellent read that I couldn't put down.

The Strain, by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

Tired of sexy, sensitive vampires? Well, here's an alternative for you! From the creator of the Academy Award-winning Pan's Labyrinth, this novel reminded me of why vampires scared the heck out of me as a kid. The blurb says it all: They have always been here. Vampires. Nesting and Feeding. In secret and in darkness. Waiting. Now their time has come. In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In three months, the country. In six months -- the World. This is a great read -- it grabs you by the throat (pun intended) and doesn't let go. It's the first installment in a trilogy.

Relentless, by Dean Koontz

I've been a Koontz fan for years, but his recent novels were a disappointment. This novel reminded me why I am a fan. Relentless is a great read and fast-paced. Filled with quirky characters and a hint of the supernatural, it had me reading into the wee hours of the morning.

--Tammy H.

What I'm Reading

2009-06-08T08:42:00.007-04:00

What better way to kick off the library's Summer Reading Program than a review of the things I'm currently reading? Over the weekend I finished a couple of books, one older, one new; tore through a memoir by a famous son of famous parents; and began a historical thriller.

--from 1997, Night in Eden, by Candice Proctor. Historical romance. Convicted and transported to New South Wales, Bryony Wentworth finds herself drawn to Hayden St. John, the enigmatic landowner who's arranged for her to be wet nurse to his infant son. It's been a while since I read a genre historical romance, and this one delivered on all the levels I expected it to.

--just published, Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir. Christopher Buckley recalls the nine-month period between the deaths of his parents, William and Patricia Buckley. The author draws a very personal portrait of two complex and at times contradictory personalities. They loved each other to the end, but often didn't speak for weeks at a time. They were a glamorous couple, but Bill was "a bit of a slob," while Christopher never found Pat more beautiful than when she was gardening in jeans and an old T-shirt. You'll laugh; you'll cry. Don't miss the chapter where Christo tells his dying mother, "I forgive you."

--also just out, The Secret Speech, the follow-up novel to Tom Rob Smith's blockbuster debut Child 44. It's 1956 and the Soviet Union is beginning to loosen up just a fraction three years after the death of Stalin. Former secret policeman Leo Demidov struggles to adjust to new political and personal realities. I've just started this book (only on p. 28), but I have no doubt I'm going to relish this as much as I did Child 44.

What about you? What are you reading?

--Nora

Meet the Authors - This Saturday

2009-06-03T10:37:00.007-04:00

(Updated June 4)

Come one, come all to the library's Local Authors Showcase!

This Friends of the Library-sponsored event takes place on Saturday, June 6, from noon until 4:00PM at the Headquarters Library in downtown Fayetteville. Meet some of the region's homegrown writers, learn about their books, ask about their publishing experiences, and help us kick off our Adult Summer Reading Club.

Here's a tentative list of participating authors and their books:

- Timothy T. Ajani, Streams of Refreshing: Inspirational Poems for Our Time

- William Billings, From Cotton Field to University: A History of Methodist University 1956-2006

- Gloria Elliott, Chip the Silent Watchdog

- Pauline Hicks Chapman, Survived to Love

- Suzanne Farrior, Froggie Babies, The Hungry Little Bunny, and A Child's World from My Point of View

- Esther Fay Holcombe, A Young Woman’s Struggle and Delights in 1857 and The Intruder

-Margaret Jefferson, Fear to Faith: A Poetic Journey

-Charles Mathews, Charlie and GI's Best-kept Secret in the Far East

- Matthew McLean, A Bewitching Summer, Shame in a Small Town, and Locked Up Freed Busted

-Shirley McNeill, Exploring Sensational You: Helping Youth Develop Character

- Edna Moore, I Refuse To!

- William Pate, Survival of The Lost Colony, the Untold Story

-Suzetta Perkins, Behind the Veil, A Love So Deep, and EX-terminator: Life After Marriage

- Reginald Pinkney, Pass It On

- Catherine Poole, Bat Boy’s Crazy Day

-Marylou Berry Roche, Fun Golf Games for Women

- Hope Roten, Overthrone

- Janine Scott-Lowe, Reflections, Inspirations

--Nora A.

June Releases

2009-05-30T11:10:00.004-04:00

June is a popular month for new releases. So popular, in fact, that I had a hard time picking just a few to highlight. There are just too many great new reads this summer for me to decide. After much agonizing, I managed to pick out five June highlights to share with you. Here they are, in order of their release date. Pack up the kids, grab a book, and hit the beach!

June 1: Medusa by Clive Cussler
In the latest NUMA Files novel, Kurt Austin must stop a virus from destroying the earth. The Blue Medusa jellyfish may hold the key to stopping this epidemic, but the scientists conducting the research keep dying. Austin and his partner must deal with not just the virus, but the Chinese triad behind the outbreak. Austin may not be Dirk Pitt, but he and Zavala do make for an entertaining pair.

June 8: Relentless by Dean Koontz
Relentless promises to deliver another winning thriller from Koontz, if you can call complete paranoia “thrilling.” Meet Cubby, a man with a picturesque family and successful career as an author. His life is charmed, or at least was, until Shearman Waxx writes a vicious critique of Cubby’s newest book for a leading newspaper. A seemingly innocent encounter between the two men soon escalates into unimaginable terror for Cubby as he struggles to deal with Waxx, who is a complete sociopath. Read this one with the lights on!

June 15: The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
A young mother disappears from her home, with her four-year-old daughter the only witness. Her husband seems more intent to destroy the evidence than assist with the investigation. Time is running out for Detective Warren as she digs under the surface of this seemingly perfect family in an attempt to find the missing woman. The Neighbor is a fast-paced thriller reminding readers that things are not always what they seem.

June 22: Roses and Thorns by Bret Michaels
Alright, I admit it. I love Bret Michaels. I love his band, Poison, I love his solo career, and I love Rock of Love on VH1. Roses and Thorns is Bret’s autobiography, following the rock icon/reality TV star from the creation of Poison through the partying and conflicts with other band members to an accident that left him in the hospital with a broken nose, teeth, fingers, ribs, and jaw. He also details his comeback, solo career, and quest for love on VH1. Fights, love, drama, and rock ‘n’ roll…who says nonfiction is boring?

June 29: Swimsuit by James Patterson
Everything James Patterson writes is an instant bestseller. Fans of his thrillers can expect shocking plot twists and chilling conclusions in Swimsuit that have become classic Patterson. When a supermodel disappears from a photo shoot in Hawaii, her parents travel to the island to investigate, never imagining the horrors they would encounter. Reporter Ben Hawkins is presented with an impossible-to-resist deal with the devil as he investigates the kidnapping in hopes of getting an idea for his next bestseller. As always, Patterson knows how to make our hearts pound and our imaginations wander.

Honorable Mentions:

Watch the shelves for these other hot June releases:

June 1:
Skin Trade: Laurel K. Hamilton
Matters of the Heart: Danielle Steele
Undead and Unwelcome: MaryJanice Davidson

June 8:
Roadside Crosses: Jeffery Deaver
Apocalypse 2012: Gary Jennings
Secret Sentry: The Untold Story of the National Security Agency: Matthew Aid

June 15:
Along for the Ride: Sarah Dessen
Dune Road: Jane Green
L.A. Candy: Lauren Conrad

June 22:
Fixer Upper: Mary Kay Andrews
Prism: Faye Kellerman
Finger Lickin’ Fifteen: Janet Evanovich

June 29:
Any Minute: Joyce Meyer
Apostle: Brad Thor
Return to Sullivan’s Island: Dorothea Benton Frank

--Jenn C

Unforgettable Lexi

2009-05-26T15:59:00.003-04:00

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Congratulations, Lexi Smart: you now have everything you’ve ever wanted. All of the things you hated about your life have magically disappeared overnight. You’re rich. You’re married to a gorgeous man (who's also rich). Your thankless job as an associate junior sales manager has transformed into a corporate management position, and you now have your own personal assistant. You have sleek hair, straight teeth (goodbye, Snaggletooth!), and a toned body that would make Jessica Simpson jealous. Life seems perfect. Now if only you could remember how you got there!

The last thing Lexi knew about her life was that she was having the worst night ever. She was standing on a street corner in the pouring rain, with discount half-size-too-small boots pinching her toes to the point of blinding agony, with her friends caterwauling a dubious rendition of “It’s Raining Men” behind her. Her father had just passed away. Loser Dave had stood her up (again) after promising to meet her at ten. Her hair was frizzy, her teeth were crooked, and (according to her) she was overweight. As she tried to hail a cab home, she slipped in the rain and hit her head on the ground. Suddenly, she's waking up in a hospital bed, it’s three years later, and she's been transformed into....well, into someone who carries a Louis Vuitton purse and has perfectly manicured nails.

As Lexi attempts to meld herself into a life she knows nothing about while struggling to remember how she got there, she begins to realize that her life is not as charmed as it appears. Her best friends will barely speak to her anymore, her colleagues call her “the Cobra,” and everyone (including the irritatingly cute architect with a huge secret) keeps pestering her to remember places, people, and things she is not familiar with.

As the threads of Lexi’s seemingly charmed life start to unravel and reveal its underlying ugliness, she starts to realize that some things are more important than a fancy car and perfect hair. After all, what’s the point of having disco lighting in your loft if your best friend isn’t there to have a dance party with you? She starts to miss her old life, where at least she felt like herself. Memories or not, is it too late to turn things around?

Sophie Kinsella lures readers in with an insatiably devilish wit and then hooks them with her irresistibly charming characters. Lexi’s situation and struggles are relatable to readers who've ever been unhappy with their job, their appearance, or their life. Allow yourself to laugh with Lexi, feel her frustration, and empathize with her situation as she tries to set things right. Remember Me? is an unforgettable blend of mystery, romance, and real-life.

--Jenn C.

The Doctor is In

2009-05-19T18:46:00.004-04:00

“Put this book down. Right now. Do not buy it. Stop Reading. Now. Why are you still reading this? Okay. I warned you.”

Straight from these opening words, it’s clear that Denis Leary’s Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid is not meant for the light of heart. He makes it quite clear that no matter who you are, this book will probably offend you. It's tactless. It's uncensored. It's also absolutely hysterical. Why We Suck is 240 pages of pure comedic ingenuity. “Doctor” Denis Leary expresses his opinion on what’s wrong with America these days – and how to fix it. No one and nothing is safe from his scrutiny - from Angelina Jolie to ice cream to Ritalin.

Part memoir, part self-help, and part rant, Why We Suck declares an all-out war on pop culture, politics, and cats. Yes, cats. Of his cat, Leary says, “I don’t trust him as far as I could throw him - which wouldn’t be very far since he’s the size of a fat raccoon on steroids. He’s the Roger Clemens of catball.” Fans of Leary’s stand-up comedy know that he is not one to sugar-coat his opinions. He thinks that kids these days are spoiled and overmedicated and that Oprah is “the cure for what ails America.” Every opinion Leary has is somehow expressed between the covers of Why We Suck, and the end result is an instant satirical classic.

If you’re a fan of heavy sarcasm and political humor, and don’t mind occasionally vulgar language, then you’ll probably enjoy this book. Just don’t take it too seriously, or you’re likely to end up on the phone with your lawyer. Or, a psychiatrist. :-)

--Jenn C.

Intrigue in Elizabethan England

2009-05-15T10:18:00.002-04:00

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory is the author’s take on what happened while Mary, Queen of Scots was a “guest” in England from 1568-1587. After a failed uprising in May 1568, Mary fled to England seeking protection from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Instead, Elizabeth had her arrested and imprisoned.

The book begins when George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick, agree to take on Queen Mary as a “guest” in their home at Tutbury Castle during her stay in England. They believe this privilege will gain them favor at Elizabeth’s court. However, Elizabeth and her advisors cannot decide quite what to do with Mary, and the “visit” goes on longer than George or Bess ever thought it would.

Queen Elizabeth’s advisors know England cannot support Mary retaking the Scottish throne; if she succeeds, Scottish lords - and some English ones - will support her claim to the throne of England. She remains a “guest,” moving with the family to their different homes.

Early on, Bess is assured that she and her husband will be reimbursed for the cost of keeping Mary with them. As time goes on and there’s no repayment, she begins to wonder if she will ever see the money again. Mary still insists on being treated as a queen and having her entourage with her at all times, which causes a strain on Bess and George’s finances. Will housing all these people bankrupt Bess and George?

The financial strain is unbearable for Bess, who is a self-made woman. She grew up with next to nothing and, through her first three marriages, amassed a small fortune of her own. Bess is the one who keeps the books for all of the property she and her husband own, so she knows better than he how Mary’s stay is hurting them. George becomes so smitten with Mary that he does not care about the finances; he thinks she should have whatever she desires and whatever will make her the happiest.

Queen Elizabeth’s chief advisor William Cecil and his large group of spies are concerned with gathering information about Mary: whom she sees, what she does, who writes to her, whom she writes to, and more. They hope that her activities and whom she socializes with will show that, even from within the borders of England, Mary is plotting with the Scots to overthrow Elizabeth and take the throne. Bess is Cecil’s informant in her household, which upsets the besotted George when he finds out.

Even though I knew how Mary’s part of the story would end, I read to see how she’d react to being imprisoned while being referred to as a guest. I read to learn how hosting Mary would affect Bess and George, personally, financially, as well as how it would affect their relationship with each other. For me, this is proof of Gregory’s abilities as a storyteller.

Gregory’s knowledge about the Tudors in general, and the research she conducts for on each story’s specific subject, make all of her novels historically accurate, as well as good reads. Of course she takes liberties with some parts of her novels, such as conversations between characters; it’s not possible to know exactly what was said between Mary and Bess during Mary’s stay. Gregory’s knowledge of the Tudors also earned her a spot as the Tudor expert on a show called Time Team, a British show about archeological digs in England.

I recommend this book for anyone looking to enjoy a good historical novel about Mary, Queen of Scots and Tudor England.

--Erika E.

Super Short Story Collection

2009-05-12T15:51:00.008-04:00

The Darker Mask: Heroes from the Shadows A collection of short stories, edited by Gary Phillips and Christopher Chambers

As a kid, I grew up loving superheroes and wanted to be one myself. If only I could get bit by a mutant spider or be dosed by gamma rays! Alas, I never became Spider Man or the Incredible Hulk. That didn’t put an end to my insatiable need to read about the do-gooder’s fight against evil. As I got older and realized that situations aren’t always black and white, I came to appreciate the dark hero, like Batman, who deals with inner struggles while trying to right the wrongs of his world. In The Darker Mask: Heroes from the Shadows, the protagonists would make Batman look like a saint.

The collection starts out strong with "Dream Knights," the story of two ordinary, underemployed people, Cassandra and Saddiq, who take on different personas when they fall asleep. Evil beings called Watchers feed on and amplify the negative thoughts and emotions of people from the real world. The more people act out on these thoughts, the stronger the watchers become in both the real and dream world. Cassandra and Saddiq transform into special warriors when they sleep with the ability to fight the watchers in the dream world, thus lessening their influence on the other side. But as they become better warriors on the other side, their waking selves suffer the consequences.

If you believe in karma and enjoy a little vengeance now and then, you’ll like "The Strega’s Last Dance." Angela Sandrini is the most prized Strega in New York City in 1949. She is a marriage counselor, nurse and witch all in one. She has seen much in her long life and has suffered a great deal. Much of this suffering was due to the local gangster, Bruno Maltano. Every business enterprise pays Bruno for the privilege of being in his neighborhood. As a result, he has made many enemies. The one person he doesn’t extort is the Strega. He needs her to find out who is going to make a move on his territory. But Bruno doesn’t realize that the Strega has been waiting for him for many years, and could be the one enemy he cannot defeat.

"The Henchmen" is a satirical look at the superhero versus super villain motif that makes you wonder, “Who are the real heroes?” JobPower is a temp agency that operates out of a tractor trailer. They don’t fill jobs for secretaries and office workers; instead they hire henchmen to tag along with super villains on mostly poorly thought out crime sprees or political crusades. The henchmen are underpaid, have no insurance and often suffer bodily harm at the hands of Night Mare, the local hero. Taurrance Green is one of the henchmen down on his luck until one day his true gifts shine through, and he finds himself in charge of a small army after their leader is killed. In many ways he becomes more of a hero than Night Mare could ever be.

I hope I have given you a taste of the kinds of adventure you’ll find in this unique collection of stories. If you like urban fiction and don’t mind a little strong language and violence, check it out.

--Mike N.

New Release: The Help

2009-05-08T17:14:00.004-04:00

In The Help, a first novel by Kathryn Stockett, it is the 1960s and Jackson, Mississippi is still in the grip of racial segregation. White women trust their black housemaids with the children but not with the family silver, and the black maids are more afraid of the wrath of the society matrons than of the KKK. The two main items on the Jackson Junior League’s agenda are sending food to the starving children of Africa and promoting the Home Help Sanitation Initiative to encourage homeowners to build a separate bathroom for the maid.

Skeeter Phelan sees the irony of the situation, though she doesn’t claim an interest in civil rights or political affairs. But when Skeeter returns from college and finds that her family’s maid and her longtime confidante, Constantine, has disappeared under mysterious circumstances, she starts asking questions that could permanently disrupt the social status quo. She’s just trying to find out what happened to Constantine, while dodging her mother’s criticism and working on her fledgling writing career. But the only writing job she can get is a domestic advice column in the local paper, so she turns to her friend’s maid, Aibileen, for advice about rust stains, silver polish, and laundry.

Aibileen has raised seventeen white children in her career as a maid, but since her own son died in an accident at the sawmill where he worked, she has begun to chafe under the pressure of racial inequality. She is willing to answer Miz Skeeter’s questions about household maintenance, but she refuses to talk about Constantine — and when Skeeter gets a daring idea for a book about the life of a Mississippi housemaid, Aibileen realizes that telling the truth could be a matter of life and death.

Aibileen’s best friend, Minny, doesn’t know how not to tell the truth, and her opinions are about to spell the death of her employment options. She has gotten on the bad side of Hilly Holbrook, queen bee of the Jackson social set, and if word gets out about the Terrible Awful she committed against the all-powerful Hilly, losing another job will be the least of Minny's troubles.

As the civil rights movement heats up, a New York editor agrees to read the book that Skeeter has written with Aibileen, Minny, and several other maids. The stories they tell are about a complex relationship of both love and hate, trust and fear, interdependence and inequality. If anyone figures out the anonymous work is really about Jackson — well, none of them wants to think about what might happen then. The women have a plan to keep their big secret, with the unwitting help of the fearsome Miss Hilly, but the book will change all their lives.

This book is excellent—complex, detailed, engaging, and well-written. The author captures the individual characters’ voices with amazing understanding. A topic like segregation is easily turned into a lecture or a horror story, but The Help shows the full range of emotion — love, friendship, humor, petty squabbles, worries about money or boyfriends or what Mama might say. It gives a rare and insightful view of segregation and racial conflict from the inside, from the personal perspective of seemingly minor players in the larger drama.

And if literary characters can be judged by God, I’m pretty sure Hilly Holbrook is going to hell.

--Tiffany H.

Books into Movies - Summer 2009

2009-05-08T09:32:00.005-04:00

Screenwriters have been adapting books into movies since Georges Méliès used Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon as a source for the first science-fiction film, A Trip to the Moon, in 1902 (included in the bonus features on this DVD). Over a hundred years later, they’re still at it. This summer promises some real treats for book lovers who enjoy a good flick.

The summer action starts off with a bang when Angels & Demons (watch the trailer) opens May 15. Robert Langdon chases the Illuminati across Rome, in an attempt to derail a plot against the Catholic Church. Tom Hanks returns as the intrepid investigator, although I understand the filmmakers wisely decided to do away with the goofy hairdo he sported in The Da Vinci Code.

Next on track is a remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, (watch the trailer) which opens June 12. It’s the third film version of John Godey’s 1973 thriller about the hijacking of a New York City subway train; this time around it stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta, along with a couple of my favorite character actors, Luis Gúzman and John Turturro. All aboard!

Switching gears and slowing down, Michelle Pfeiffer stars in the film version of Chéri, opening in limited release on June 26. Beautiful but aging Léa is asked to see to the worldly education of the son of an old friend. It’s been described as the story of a relationship between a boy who won’t grow up and a woman who can’t stay young. From what I saw in the trailer, the film looks gorgeous – exactly the kind of movie you want to come downtown to see at the Cameo!

Also opening on the 26th: Abigail Breslin stars in My Sister’s Keeper (watch the trailer), the adaptation of Jodi Picoult’s novel about a girl with a very sick older sister. Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric play the parents, with Sofia Vassilieva as the sister, Kate. This movie should be popular with all the book clubs that read and enjoyed the book – remember to bring a box of tissues when you go to see it.

I Love You, Beth Cooper (watch the trailer) is based on Larry Doyle’s novel about what happens when a shy high-school valedictorian throws caution to the winds and tells the cheerleader he adores how he feels – during the graduation ceremony. Hilarity and complications ensue. This teen-geek rom-com opens July 10, and it’s directed by Chris Columbus, who helmed the first two Harry Potter movies.

Speaking of the Boy Wizard, all good Muggles know to keep their date books open for July 15, the day that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (watch the trailer) opens. In this, the penultimate installation of the series, Harry and Professor Dumbledore prepare for the battle they know is coming against Voldemort. If any book-movie is guaranteed money in the bank this summer, it’s got to be this one.

More fantasy is in store on August 14, with the opening of The Time Traveler’s Wife (no trailer available yet). A blend of science fiction and romance, but not quite either of these things, it’s the story of Clare and her husband Henry, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes him to jump from one time period to another. This is another book club favorite whose arrival has been eagerly anticipated by the many loyal fans of the book. Hey – Eric Bana plays Henry, a librarian. What’s not to like?

The summer closes with a tasty morsel of a movie, Julie & Julia (watch the trailer), which is based on not one, not two, but three books. The title comes from Julie Powell’s account of how she spent a year preparing (or trying to prepare!) every recipe in Julia Child’s breakthrough work, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Interspersed with Julie’s struggle to find herself in haute cuisine is the story of how a nice lady from America became an internationally known chef and television star; material for this came from Mrs. Child’s memoir My Life in France. Amy Adams stars as Julie, while Meryl Streep positively channels Julia. Think of this film as a scrumptious dessert for summer’s end – Bon Appétit!

--Nora

What I'm Reading: Michael Robotham

2009-05-07T11:37:00.004-04:00

I just finished reading Michael Robotham’s newest novel, Shatter. This is Robotham’s fourth book, and the third to feature clinical psychologist, Joe O’Loughlin. O’Loughlin is a fascinating character, a skilled therapist with an uncanny ability to read people and discern their motives. Oh, and he has Parkinson’s Disease. “Parkinson’s is not incurable,” he says. “There is a cure; they just haven’t found it yet.” Robotham’s novels are complex and sharply plotted, resulting in thoughtful and subtle thrillers with credible three-dimensional characters.

The first book in the series is called Suspect, and in this book, Joe himself is the suspect when he is arrested for murder by London homicide inspector Vincent Ruiz. This is also when he is diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Joe is eventually cleared of the murder, and he and Ruiz become friends and collaborators.

The second book is called Lost, and in it, Detective Ruiz is hauled out of the Thames with a bullet wound in his leg and no memory of how it got there or the week preceding the shooting. He contacts Joe to help him reconstruct the missing pieces of his memory, and is aided by his partner, Alisha Barba, a young Sikh woman.

The third book is The Night Ferry, and it features Ali (recovering from an injury sustained in Lost) and her partner, Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz. In this story, an old college friend of Ali’s contacts her, claiming that she’s in trouble and needs Ali’s help. Before the visibly pregnant friend can explain, she and her husband are killed in a hit-and-run, then it’s discovered that the pregnancy was faked. Ali and Ruiz end up in Amsterdam, on the trail of an international baby-selling conspiracy.

In "Shatter," Joe is back, and he and his family have moved to Somerset. Joe is teaching part-time at the University of Bath when he’s asked to help talk a potential suicide out of jumping. He fails, but then discovers that the “suicide” is not what it seems. Joe enlists the help of the now-retired Vincent Ruiz, and they go up against a twisted, ex-military interrogator who uses psychological techniques to destroy people.

--Sana M

J.K. Rowling...in Giant Lego Form

2009-05-04T23:03:00.006-04:00

Okay, now this is just awesome. J.K. Rowling, author of the wickedly popular Harry Potter series, has recently received the double honor of having been named the "ultimate hero" of the last ten years AND being immortalized by 48,000 Legos that create a mosaic portrait of the author. Yep, that's right. Legos. Legoland Windsor conducted this study of 700 children under 14, and constructed the enormous mosaic of the winner. (If you haven't already seen this, you can here).

As a librarian, my reaction to Rowling topping the list (beating out Zac Efron and yes, even Obama) was a mix of jubilant relief (Hooray! Kids still read!) and smug satisfaction (See?? Kids still read!) We often hear people say that the internet, television, and video games are replacing books as entertainment for children. With so many electronic gadgets available, kids simply don't want to read anymore. This poll, along with the wildfire success of Rowling's books, proves that an engaging story is still capable of capturing young readers. I have faith in the future generation of readers...even if they did vote Joe Jonas into the top ten. =)

(On a completely unrelated note: Forget leaving your hand prints outside of Mann's Chinese Theater: there is nothing cooler than having your portrait constructed out of Legos, and displayed outside of a theme park. Nothing.)

-Jenn C.

Military SF, anybody?

2009-05-01T12:37:00.007-04:00

Imagine a world plagued by war and a global pandemic, then throw in a climate crisis that threatens to destroy Earth's crops, leading to mass starvation and more war. The only thing missing is a financial crisis, and all of this is beginning to sound eerily familiar, isn't it? Well, not quite - at least not in the hands of John Ringo, 82nd Airborne alumnus and author of The Last Centurion.

The book's narrator, known only as Bandit Six, tells the story of what happens when the world starts to fall apart in the very near future. As the real action begins, he and his platoon find themselves in the Middle East, deep in enemy territory, and they've got to find a way out, back to what's left of the United States. But before that happens, we get a primer from Bandit Six on current events. He has nothing good to say about most of the people in charge, from the President on down to the battalion commander - and the annoying thing is, most of the time, he's right. A fortuitous combination of education and experience has placed him in the right place at just the right time; like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Bandit Six is our only hope.

Sure, the book's riddled with cliches, and it's one of the most politically incorrect novels I've read in a while, and most of the characters are one- or two-dimensional at most, and following Army jargon can be confusing to the uninitiated, but the conversational tone of the writing and Ringo's innate storytelling abilities make up for some of these potential flaws. It's easy to picture Bandit Six eased back in his desk chair, feet propped up on a battered government-issue metal desk, with a cup of too-strong coffee in his hand, spinning yarns about his exploits in the desert and explaining how he saved the world almost single-handed.

Ringo isn't shy about using Bandit Six as a mouthpiece for his opinions on climate change, the green movement, current political figures, and other sacred cows. If you've got a high tolerance for polemic in your fiction, and you enjoy a rousing - if highly improbable - story about a group of warriors who embody the motto "Adapt, improvise, and overcome," you may enjoy reading The Last Centurion.

--Nora

Storm Glass has some cracks

2009-04-29T15:35:00.017-04:00

After running to Barnes & Noble to buy it last Tuesday, I finally finished Storm Glass, which is Maria Snyder's fourth book and the first in her new Glass series. The book follows Opal Cowen, the Glass Magician from book three in Snyder's Study series. Frustrated at her lack of magical abilities, Opal is surprised and doubtful when asked to assist with a special mission. Someone is sabotaging the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing the clan's magicians. It's up to Opal to figure out why the orbs are breaking. As Opal's involvement increases, the situation becomes more and more formidable for her and everyone around her. She must learn to trust her friends, her newfound magical abilities, and most importantly, herself in order to find a way to resolve the situation.

Storm Glass is a blend of new faces and old favorites. Fans of the Study series will be happy to reunite with Leif, the grumpy younger brother of the all-powerful Soulfinder Yelena (and heroine of the Study series). The remaining Master Magicians are all there, and the affable, snarky super-soldiers Ari and Janco even make a guest appearance (no Valek though, much to my disappointment. I was rather looking forward to hearing more about the Commander's gorgeous assassin). Among the new characters is Ulrick, the fellow glassmaker and Opal's self-proclaimed protector; Kade, the mysterious Stormdancer holding on to a pain that Opal knows all too well; and Pazia, the powerful student magician with a lot of hostility towards Opal. All of the characters, both new and old have their part in helping Opal confront her fears and learn to trust.

Which, to be honest, is part of the problem with this book. What I loved about Snyder's first series (especially book one: Poison Study) is the way her characters came to life before your eyes. Even the more minor characters reached out to the reader in such a way that you couldn't help but laugh, cry, or groan with them. Storm Glass, unfortunately, fails to deliver the same quality of character development. At the end of the book, we don't know much more about Kade, Pazia, or Ulrick as we did at the beginning. It's hard to care about the welfare and prosperity of characters we don't connect with. Most of them appear to be there simply to teach Opal something, or to advance the ever-winding plot.

Ahh, the plot. Or plots. Or tangled maze of plots. Snyder jumps us from one adventure to another with little time in between for readers to dust themselves off. Not all of the adventures are plausible, and some read straight like bad fan fiction. If you haven’t read the Study series yet, you may get lost in the tornado, as many of the events referenced and expanded upon are not adequately explained - it’s assumed that the reader will simply know what’s going on.

Despite its problems, fans of Snyder’s first series will enjoy this book. It’s sort of like going to the movie theater on opening night to watch the newest 007 movie - it won’t be Diamonds are Forever, and Daniel Craig is no Sean Connery, but you go in hopes of recapturing some of that earlier magic (pun intended).

-Jenn C.

New Arrival: The Servants' Quarters

2009-04-28T12:20:00.004-04:00

Over the weekend I read a book we’d just received, The Servants’ Quarters, by Lynn Freed. It’s a cross between a coming-of-age novel, a retelling of Beauty and the beast, and (in an odd way) Gigi. I’ve had time to think about it and I’m still not sure what to make of this book.

In the decade after World War II, ten-year-old Cressida lives with her family in reduced circumstances. Her father’s in a coma following an accident on the golf course, her socially ambitious mother is trying to ingratiate herself with the local version of the upper crust, and her older, not-too-bright sister finds herself in a precarious position. Her corner of South Africa is far from Europe, but Cressida becomes obsessed with the Holocaust, which she learns about in a couple of her father’s books; the family is Jewish, and she’s convinced that the Germans are coming to get her.

Enter George Harding, the mysterious former RAF pilot who lives up the hill and goes to great lengths to hide the scars he got in a terrible wartime plane crash. Mr. Harding invites the family to come live on his estate, in the empty carriage house. At first Cressida fears him almost as much as she does her imaginary German pursuers, but she soon becomes accustomed to him. She’s supposed to be a playmate to Mr. Harding’s nephew Edgar, but Edgar is not nearly as interesting as his uncle. For his part, the estate owner recognizes a special quality in Cressida, one that her grasping mother can’t, and he begins a gradual process of grooming the child, now teen, now young woman. But to what end?

It’s a quick read. The story moves along at a pretty brisk pace. In addition to Cressida and Mr. Harding, there are a number of wonderful characters: Phineas, the Zulu manservant; Miranda, Cressida’s hapless sister; old Mrs. Harding, George’s dotty mother who’s not quite as senile as she lets on. And then there’s Cressida’s mother, a social climber of the worst sort, unctuous and insinuating. In some ways she reminded me of Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, only slightly less stupid and way more unpleasant. I enjoyed the South African setting, at once exotic and somewhat familiar (it reminded me of another recent book set in 1950s South Africa, the mystery A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn).

As I said up at the top of the page, though, I’m still not sure what to make of this book. The climax unfolds somewhat abruptly, and the coda struck me as just a little rushed, to the point that I wasn’t quite sure why Cressida, whom I thought I’d gotten to know over the course of the novel, would do the things she did. But that’s a minor quibble, considering how much I liked everything that came before. I’m betting this will be a great title for a book club!

If you enjoy coming-of-age novels, if you’d like reading about a different part of the world, or if you’re interested in characters who learn to look beyond what they see to find the beauty in each other, I would recommend The Servants’ Quarters to you. Call or go online to our catalog to reserve your copy today.

--Nora

What's a Bug Man to Do?

2009-04-24T09:40:00.002-04:00

Tim Downs is a graduate of Indiana University, and a former cartoonist. He has won multiple awards for his books, including the Gold Medallion, the Angel Award, and the Christy Award. He is the founder of a communication training ministry of the Campus Crusade for Christ. Downs lives in Cary with his wife Joy and their three children.
Downs’ “Bug Man” novels feature the recurring character Nick Polchak, a professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He’s an offbeat entomologist who often finds himself embroiled in crime investigations and disaster sites.

To do the research on forensic entomology, Downs signed up for a course that teaches coroners and CSI’s how to collect insect evidence at crime scenes. Every morning, the class watched slides of murder scenes, then went out to a farm where each student was assigned a “victim;” a dead pig. They had to collect maggots and label them. At the end of the course, they had a pig roast. Now those are people with strong stomachs!

The first book in the series is “Shoofly Pie.” The story is set in remote western North Carolina, where Nick helps a woman uncover the truth about the “suicide” of a long-time friend. References to Christianity are limited primarily to the elderly preacher who conducts funerals. He's treated sympathetically, and he never preaches. The message is that Christians are okay people.

“Chop Shop” is the second title. This time, Nick ends up in Pittsburg, helping a young pathologist find explanations for concealed evidence at the Coroner’s Office. A black market in transplant organs has resulted in targeted murders, and the commercial use of genetic information may be a screen for other dubious dealings. The themes of questionable medical ethics and basing human worth on one’s bank statement are thought-provoking instead of preachy.

The third book is called “First the Dead.” It is set in post-Katrina New Orleans. Nick is part of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Response Team), which is the FEMA team assigned to recover human remains. Nick finds bodies of people who were clearly dead before the hurricane, but some officials want them classified as hurricane-related deaths. Readers looking for strong faith references won't find them here, although there are themes of good versus evil and redemption.

In his latest book, “Less Than Dead,” Nick is hired by the FBI to help solve the mystery of an ancient graveyard uncovered on the property of a U.S. Senator. While researching cadaver dogs, Downs and his wife took a tour of the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Virginia. The CETC is run by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, and it’s the facility where they train all of their drug-sniffing dogs, as well as dogs that can detect people and currency.

Downs says his faith is the reason he writes. “Jesus demonstrated the power of stories: Even people who have never read the Bible are familiar with some of the stories He told, and those stories were told two millennia ago. I think He was demonstrating a style of communication that was inherently powerful and interesting; storytelling.”

Downs is working on the next book in the series. This one will be entitled “Ends of the Earth,” and it’s scheduled for release in August. He won’t tell us a lot about the story yet, but we know that Nick is called to investigate a murder, and finds a host of strange insects that could potentially destroy the entire American agricultural industry. What’s a Bug Man to do?

-By Sana M.

What I’m reading right now

2009-04-22T11:29:00.003-04:00

I just finished reading a pre-publication copy of I’m down, a bittersweet memoir by Mishna Wollf. Growing up, the author had a hard time fitting in anywhere, at home or at school. Her dad refused to accept the fact that he was white and insisted that the family live in one of Seattle’s predominantly black neighborhoods. To make matters worse, Mishna was one of the only poor students at the elite school she attended. The book is hilarious and heartbreaking, often on the same page. Look for it at the library in June.

Returned today: an inspirational novel, The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. The title character, an orphan living on the Maryland coast, is just about to take her final vows as a religious sister, when Jesus pays her a visit to tell her He’s got something else in mind for her. How she makes the adjustment, submits to God’s will, and learns about herself and those around her, added up to an enjoyable read for me.

How about you? What book is currently holding your attention?

--Nora

Coming in May: My Top 5 Picks

2009-04-22T11:19:00.009-04:00

May is a busy month in the publishing world. A lot of great authors are putting out new releases just in time for beach weather. Here's a sneak preview of the top five releases I am most looking forward to:

1. "Pygmy", Chuck Palahniuk (May 5)
Fans of Palahniuk know that this is one author who will never be accused of playing it safe. His books don't just toe the line, they stomp it out and draw a new one. "Pygmy" is no exception, telling the story of a 13-year old unnamed terrorist who is planning a large-scale attack disguised as a science project and dubbed "Operation Havoc." In the same horrific and satirical tradition as "Fight Club," readers will find themselves unable to put this book down.

2. "Wicked Prey", John Sandford (May 12)
For twenty years, John Sandford has been shocking and thrilling readers with some of the most entertaining crime fiction ever penned. The Republican National Convention is coming to St. Paul, and Detective Lucas Davenport is supposed to be keeping everyone safe. However, a young man with a sniper rifle, a petty thief out for revenge, and a crew of professional stickup men are making his job difficult, to say the least. This book is full of colorful characters and unexpected thrills, which are classic to Sandford's writing style.

3. "Brimstone", Robert Parker (May 5)
This follow up to the New York Times bestseller "Apaloosa" (which, by the way, is now a movie starring Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellweger) takes us back to the Old West, where Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch set off from the town of Resolution in search of Allie French, the woman who stole Virgil's heart. However, once he finds her, Virgil realizes that he must find a way to come to terms with Allie's past if they ever hope to have a future. As Allie seeks redemption, the boys find themselves in a new town, once again trying to keep the peace as violence turns to murder. Full of action, this is a must-read for any western lover.

4. "Dead and Gone", Charlaine Harris (May 5)
It's hard not to love telepath, bartender, and amateur detective Sookie Stackhouse. She lives in a world filled with werewolves and vampire reality tv-shows, and deals with the constant chatter of human's thoughts in her mind. When the body of a were-panther turns up, Sookie decides to try and determine who was responsible. However, she may have bigger problems, as a secret race of beings more dangerous than vampires and werewolves threatens the town of Bon Temps. Harris delivers another winner that is equal parts charming and absorbing.

5. "The Scarecrow," Michael Connelly (May 26)
I usually have to read Michael Connelly's books all in one sitting, because I can't bear to prolong the suspense. "The Scarecrow" proves to be no exception. Jack McEvoy is one of the latest victims of the Los Angeles Times budget cuts. Before he goes, he decides to write one last crime story. What starts as routine becomes life-threatening and intense as Jack realizes that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime. Extend your Memorial Day vacation by a day, and let yourself get lost in this riveting story.

If you're interested in placing any of these books on hold, please call your local library branch, or click on the linked titles above to be directed to our library catalog. For a more complete listing of upcoming releases, please stop by any library. Happy reading!

-Jenn C.

WELCOME!

2009-04-21T14:49:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the official reader's blog for our library. We plan to use this space to share our love of reading with you. Here you'll find short reviews of books, old and new, that we've enjoyed and that we think will be of interest to you.

We'll also feature news from the world of books and publishing (hey - didja hear that Dan Brown's latest is scheduled for a Sep. 15 release date? Woo-hoo!). And, in the interests of synchronicity, we'll feature occasional posts about books-into-movies.

Of course, we'll also keep you up to speed about book-related library programming for adults. The library has a regular series of book discussion groups, and we also host several author events throughout the year. You can find out about all these happenings by visiting your local branch, or consulting the Calendar of Events on the library's home page.

We're interested in your feedback. Please let us know what works, what doesn't, and what you'd like to see on the blog.

--Jenn and Nora