The phrases range from "Old age is not for sissies" to "Motherhood is not for sissies." As many "women of a certain age" will tell you, menopause also fits into the "not for sissies" category. Besides never being able to remember where you put things and why you walked into a room (this is labeled by experts as "trouble concentrating"), there are other joyful symptoms, not the least of these being hot flashes. I used to think hot flashes would actually be quite nice, seeing as how I am normally a cold natured person, but personal experience is telling me otherwise. If being put in a microwave oven on a high setting until you reach your boiling point is "quite nice," then I've hit the jackpot. Hot flashes are what sell fans and air conditioners that have settings rivaling ice age proportions. "The dead of winter" holds a certain appeal when a hot flash hits, because it's way cheaper to go outside when your body temperature goes haywire than to wait for the air conditioning to get up to speed. The Chinese, however, see the middle age years of a woman's life as a "Second Spring." In "Second Spring: Dr. Mao's Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age," the menopause years and beyond are met with special herbs, tonics, exercise and supplements that allow women to rejuvenate their bodies, minds and spirits in ways that traditional hormone replacement therapy and other medications cannot. Dr. Mao, where have you been all my life?
This new nonfiction title is just waiting to be checked out from the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library, along with these other new nonfiction titles.
Taking on a series of life-altering challenges leads A.J. Jacobs on one adventure after another in "The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life As An Experiment." This hilarious book finds the author going to the Academy Awards disguised as a movie star, reasoning that by doing this he can better understand the warping effects of fame and fortune. Another adventure leads Jacobs on a quest to commit to the use of cutting edge science in an all out effort to use only rational thinking, thus making the best possible decisions from what to buy at the grocery store to how to talk to his kids. Complete and utter honesty ushers in another of Jacobs' escapades, encouraging readers to "remove the filter between the brain and mouth" in a "radical honesty movement."
Meatless meals need not be bland when you check out "Vegan Lunch Box Around the World" by Jennifer McCann. Balanced international and American menus that include 100 recipes from across the globe offer meat, egg, and dairy-free fruit and veggie recipes that will please even the pickiest of eaters and offer a variety of palate pleasing vegan lunches to pack.
Gender stereotypes have been a subject of angst and debate for centuries. The difference between the male and female psyche have been examined by neuroscientist, Lisa Eliot, and after years of exhaustive research, Eliot zeroes in on the precise differences between boys and girls, erasing some of the myths and stereotypes that have followed the sexes over the years in "Pink Brain, Blue Brain" by Lisa Eliot.
When it comes to books, you may prefer to stick to Hot Topics, or you may run Hot 'n Cold about what you read. You may just like to read them for some Hot Fun in the Summertime, but if I were you, I'd get 'em while They're Red Hot. In any case, I have to wonder if you agree with my Pink Brain when I ask, is it hot in here, or is it just me?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Here's the "Skinny" on New Fiction at JCPL
It started with hot coffee at McDonald's, now we are a "warning weary'" society. Danger lurks where you would least expect, on products far and wide, and here is proof. A warning found on shampoo for dogs reads, "Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." Doing your hair may also be hazardous to your health when you consider these warnings: "Do not use while sleeping," found on a hairdryer, and "Warning: This product can burn eyes," found on a curling iron. Pretty much the scariest of these warns, "Do not use for drying pets," found in a microwave oven manual! While shopping recently, I discovered one consumer product that does not come with a warning label that actually should, and if you've ever tried on a pair of "skinny jeans," you'll identify with me here. I was just excited to find some jeans in my size, and didn't pay attention to whether they were boot cut, classic cut, flares, high rise, low rise, or any other style. Once I got them past my ankles in the dressing room, I knew I was in trouble, and thought I'd have to call out the National Guard to get the things off! A second set of skin couldn't have fit any tighter, and I seriously thought I'd either have to end up purchasing the things and wear them home or call "9-1-1, what's your emergency!"
That's the "skinny" on skinny jeans. Now here's the "skinny" on what's new in adult fiction at the Jasper County Public Library.
A loss that occurred fifteen years earlier has put a wedge between Emily and her physician husband, Simon. On his way to discovering a major breakthrough in the management of chronic pain, Simon is oblivious to the deep divide that is growing ever wider between he and Emily. When an old lover of Emily's resurfaces, the pair is faced with the realization that their marriage is on the brink in "Remedies" by Kate Ledger.
Not the typical English gentlewoman, Bess Crawford is independent and understands the importance of duty, responsibility and honor. The year is 1916, and as World War I begins, Bess volunteers in the nursing corps. There, she meets the young and severely wounded Lieutenant Arthur Graham, whose dying wish is for Bess to deliver a message to his brother. Fulfilling the duty of this last request, however, thrusts Bess into a maelstrom of mystery, endangering her very own life in "A Duty to the Dead" by Charles Todd.
The sudden disappearance of his daughter, Sydney, leads Tim Blake on a wild goose chase. Thinking that he knew his daughter as well as any parent could, Tim finds he must face the fact that his beloved daughter has not only disappeared without a trace, but that she led a double life as well. Retracing her steps, Tim tries to piece together the secrets of his daughter's darker side in "Fear the Worst" by Linwood Barclay.
Financially secure and living a luxurious life with his wife, Dana, and daughter, Marissa, Dr. Adam Bloom has it all. Everything changes in an instant, however, when Adam wakes up one night to discover two armed intruders have broken into his home. Able to gun down one of the intruders while the other one escapes, Adam and his family no longer feel secure in their own home. Recovering from the break-in takes time, and in the midst of healing from the violation of their property, Marissa meets young Xan, a talented artist with whom she quickly falls in love. As strange things begin to happen in the Bloom household, however, Adam knows his first instincts about Xan were right in "Panic Attack" b y Jason Starr.
Panic attacks come in all sizes and shapes, and for lots of different reasons. Try on a pair of skinny jeans for size, and you'll know what I mean.
That's the "skinny" on skinny jeans. Now here's the "skinny" on what's new in adult fiction at the Jasper County Public Library.
A loss that occurred fifteen years earlier has put a wedge between Emily and her physician husband, Simon. On his way to discovering a major breakthrough in the management of chronic pain, Simon is oblivious to the deep divide that is growing ever wider between he and Emily. When an old lover of Emily's resurfaces, the pair is faced with the realization that their marriage is on the brink in "Remedies" by Kate Ledger.
Not the typical English gentlewoman, Bess Crawford is independent and understands the importance of duty, responsibility and honor. The year is 1916, and as World War I begins, Bess volunteers in the nursing corps. There, she meets the young and severely wounded Lieutenant Arthur Graham, whose dying wish is for Bess to deliver a message to his brother. Fulfilling the duty of this last request, however, thrusts Bess into a maelstrom of mystery, endangering her very own life in "A Duty to the Dead" by Charles Todd.
The sudden disappearance of his daughter, Sydney, leads Tim Blake on a wild goose chase. Thinking that he knew his daughter as well as any parent could, Tim finds he must face the fact that his beloved daughter has not only disappeared without a trace, but that she led a double life as well. Retracing her steps, Tim tries to piece together the secrets of his daughter's darker side in "Fear the Worst" by Linwood Barclay.
Financially secure and living a luxurious life with his wife, Dana, and daughter, Marissa, Dr. Adam Bloom has it all. Everything changes in an instant, however, when Adam wakes up one night to discover two armed intruders have broken into his home. Able to gun down one of the intruders while the other one escapes, Adam and his family no longer feel secure in their own home. Recovering from the break-in takes time, and in the midst of healing from the violation of their property, Marissa meets young Xan, a talented artist with whom she quickly falls in love. As strange things begin to happen in the Bloom household, however, Adam knows his first instincts about Xan were right in "Panic Attack" b y Jason Starr.
Panic attacks come in all sizes and shapes, and for lots of different reasons. Try on a pair of skinny jeans for size, and you'll know what I mean.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Let JCPL Point You In the Right Direction!
Only a directional dyslexic could end up lost in the space of a lunch hour. Geographically challenged as I am, I decided to take the scenic route on my lunch hour one day when I worked in Rensselaer instead of my home library in DeMotte. Multiple turns, however, don't agree with me, and I somehow found myself lost. Everyone who knows me well and takes their chances traveling with me instinctively checks the gas tank to be sure that when we end up in Timbuktu, we'll at least have the means for escape. Seems I'm not alone. "You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon, But Get Lost in the Mall," written by behavioral neuroscientist, Colin Ellard, opens by highlighting the animal instincts that light the way for our feathered and furry friends, going on to describe experiments that reveal how hopelessly disconnected the human race has become from our surroundings, resulting in advances such as GPS, Google maps and other modern conveniences and tools designed to keep us on course.
You won't need a tracking device to find this new nonfiction title on the shelves of JCPL, or any of the others listed here, for that matter. Read on!
Food and restaurant icon, Ruth Reichl, reminisces about her mother, exploring the mystery of the mother-daughter relationship as she recounts her mother's kitchen misadventures in "Not Becoming My Mother: And Other Things She Taught Me." Reichl's mother, Miriam, but called Mim, had a highly eccentric and sometimes even reckless way of cooking. With at least one incident of mass food poisoning to her credit, Mim's kitchen adventures will go down in history in this ironically funny memoir.
A request to write the eulogy of an 82 year old rabbi from Mitch Albom's hometown takes Albom on a journey of faith, exploring issues and questions that are probably on the minds of many readers as they struggle through the tough times of today's fast paced society. "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom is the true story of the author's involvement in the lives of two men of God, each of whom serve their Maker and congregations in completely different settings, but who share an uncommon unity as their two worlds combine to bring hope, endurance and faith to people who are seeking to find peace in whatever setting or situation they find themselves in.
Here's to the sweet life: Let them eat cake! "Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla and a Pinch of Salt" by Leslie Miller delves into the moist underbelly of the cake world, tracing the history and evolution of our most beloved comfort food; cake. Through her travels and interviews with famous chefs, as well as visits to bakeries and wedding cake boutiques, the author samples some of the best cakes ever made, learning along the way to celebrate the pure pleasure and taste explosion of the ingredients that combine to create the most joyful dessert of all time.
Overcoming desperate situations with the intervention of miraculous twists of fate are defined as miracles by many who have had such experiences. "Christmas Miracles" by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson is a collection of stories that transcend the ordinary, chronicling special moments that can renew the joy of everyday living just because they were so unexpected and so extremely incredible, encouraging the reader with its simple message of hope.
If you need help with navigating while traveling, consulting a loggerhead turtle, who understands the importance of magnetic fields, or a goose that can cut a path and migrate without losing its way, may be a good idea. I would love to be of assistance, and I would, if only you could point me in the right direction!
You won't need a tracking device to find this new nonfiction title on the shelves of JCPL, or any of the others listed here, for that matter. Read on!
Food and restaurant icon, Ruth Reichl, reminisces about her mother, exploring the mystery of the mother-daughter relationship as she recounts her mother's kitchen misadventures in "Not Becoming My Mother: And Other Things She Taught Me." Reichl's mother, Miriam, but called Mim, had a highly eccentric and sometimes even reckless way of cooking. With at least one incident of mass food poisoning to her credit, Mim's kitchen adventures will go down in history in this ironically funny memoir.
A request to write the eulogy of an 82 year old rabbi from Mitch Albom's hometown takes Albom on a journey of faith, exploring issues and questions that are probably on the minds of many readers as they struggle through the tough times of today's fast paced society. "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom is the true story of the author's involvement in the lives of two men of God, each of whom serve their Maker and congregations in completely different settings, but who share an uncommon unity as their two worlds combine to bring hope, endurance and faith to people who are seeking to find peace in whatever setting or situation they find themselves in.
Here's to the sweet life: Let them eat cake! "Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla and a Pinch of Salt" by Leslie Miller delves into the moist underbelly of the cake world, tracing the history and evolution of our most beloved comfort food; cake. Through her travels and interviews with famous chefs, as well as visits to bakeries and wedding cake boutiques, the author samples some of the best cakes ever made, learning along the way to celebrate the pure pleasure and taste explosion of the ingredients that combine to create the most joyful dessert of all time.
Overcoming desperate situations with the intervention of miraculous twists of fate are defined as miracles by many who have had such experiences. "Christmas Miracles" by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson is a collection of stories that transcend the ordinary, chronicling special moments that can renew the joy of everyday living just because they were so unexpected and so extremely incredible, encouraging the reader with its simple message of hope.
If you need help with navigating while traveling, consulting a loggerhead turtle, who understands the importance of magnetic fields, or a goose that can cut a path and migrate without losing its way, may be a good idea. I would love to be of assistance, and I would, if only you could point me in the right direction!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Books are Like American Express: Don't Leave Home Without Them!
Vacation destination: Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Using Mapquest to cut the quickest path to the cabin we had rented in the mountains, we set out on our excursion, making our way into the heart of Tennessee, where the Mapquest directions began to get a little dicey, because each road turned into another. Reading one street sign after another, I marveled at the originality of the names. When we passed a sign that read, "Stinky Creek Road," my first thought was, "Oh boy; I hope that doesn't turn into the Little Valley Road we're in search of!" Luckily, it did not, but the more we drove the more Twilight Zone-y things got. Watching street signs like it was my job, I read each one out loud. "Shiloh," I said as we passed a road that cut to the right. The next was "Old Shiloh," and after that, "Shiloh Church," and the next, "Little Shiloh." By now, I'm getting the picture, and decided to read something other than street signs!
To me, books are like American Express; I never leave home without them. Opening "Love Mercy" by Earlene Fowler, I was instantly transported to Morro Bay, California, where the main character, Love Mercy Johnson, is living her life, running her restaurant, The Buttercream. Estranged from her three granddaughters and giving up hope of ever seeing any of them again, Love's predictable life gets turned upside down when her eighteen year old granddaughter, Rett, hitches her way across the country in search of her grandma, hoping to make a connection with her. As the story unfolds, both women, each grieving in her own way for the losses she has experienced, forge a bond, realizing the possibility of reestablishing their lost family ties.
Looking for more "vacation destination" titles to read? Check out the new adult fiction from the Jasper County Public Library listed here!
Sharing a nursery business and twelve years of marriage, Charlie and Laura Rider are settled and happy in their daily lives. Crossing their paths is Jenna Faroli, the host of the most popular radio show in town. Forming a bond with Jenna via email correspondence, Charlie allows Laura to hone her writing skills, crafting colorful stories through the emails sent to Jenna, transforming each woman's views of themselves, and blurring Charlie's feelings enough to complicate things in "Laura Rider's Masterpiece" by Jane Hamilton.
Vampires are more popular to the fiction genre than ever, their immortal lives spilling over tenaciously into the mainstream, and the Dark-Hunter Novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon are no exception. Tormented and inventive hero, Kyrian of Thrace, journeys through the night, happily stalking his prey, until he becomes the victim, finding himself handcuffed to Amanda, a smart, sexy woman who, unlike other women, wants nothing to do with the attraction he finds himself feeling toward her. "Night Pleasures" by Sherrilyn Kenyon is the fourth book in the Dark-Hunter Series, a story that rattles the toughest of the vampire breed, Kyrian of Thrace, an immortal hero who finds himself more than just a little disturbed by a human who may turn out to be his worst nightmare.
Haunted by years of past trouble, rebellion and bad behavior, Chris Flynn finally gets it right, and settles into the routine of a daily job at his father's company. Things are looking up for Chris, with stability and his mistakes firmly in the past, he forms what he hopes to be a lasting bond with a woman he respects and admires. When the temptation of his past behavior comes knocking, threatening his new-found peace and the hope of redemption, Chris must look to his father and most trusted friends to pull him back from the brink of is own destruction in "The Way Home" by George Pelecanos.
The way home from Little Valley Road took me in the reverse, passing Little Shiloh Road, Shiloh Church Road, Old Shiloh Road, and finally, just plain Shiloh Road. When we passed Stinky Creek Road, I knew we were headed in the right direction. Now that we're home, and I'm through reading "Love Mercy," all roads lead to JCPL, where the next great story is set to "transport" me to a brand new destination!
To me, books are like American Express; I never leave home without them. Opening "Love Mercy" by Earlene Fowler, I was instantly transported to Morro Bay, California, where the main character, Love Mercy Johnson, is living her life, running her restaurant, The Buttercream. Estranged from her three granddaughters and giving up hope of ever seeing any of them again, Love's predictable life gets turned upside down when her eighteen year old granddaughter, Rett, hitches her way across the country in search of her grandma, hoping to make a connection with her. As the story unfolds, both women, each grieving in her own way for the losses she has experienced, forge a bond, realizing the possibility of reestablishing their lost family ties.
Looking for more "vacation destination" titles to read? Check out the new adult fiction from the Jasper County Public Library listed here!
Sharing a nursery business and twelve years of marriage, Charlie and Laura Rider are settled and happy in their daily lives. Crossing their paths is Jenna Faroli, the host of the most popular radio show in town. Forming a bond with Jenna via email correspondence, Charlie allows Laura to hone her writing skills, crafting colorful stories through the emails sent to Jenna, transforming each woman's views of themselves, and blurring Charlie's feelings enough to complicate things in "Laura Rider's Masterpiece" by Jane Hamilton.
Vampires are more popular to the fiction genre than ever, their immortal lives spilling over tenaciously into the mainstream, and the Dark-Hunter Novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon are no exception. Tormented and inventive hero, Kyrian of Thrace, journeys through the night, happily stalking his prey, until he becomes the victim, finding himself handcuffed to Amanda, a smart, sexy woman who, unlike other women, wants nothing to do with the attraction he finds himself feeling toward her. "Night Pleasures" by Sherrilyn Kenyon is the fourth book in the Dark-Hunter Series, a story that rattles the toughest of the vampire breed, Kyrian of Thrace, an immortal hero who finds himself more than just a little disturbed by a human who may turn out to be his worst nightmare.
Haunted by years of past trouble, rebellion and bad behavior, Chris Flynn finally gets it right, and settles into the routine of a daily job at his father's company. Things are looking up for Chris, with stability and his mistakes firmly in the past, he forms what he hopes to be a lasting bond with a woman he respects and admires. When the temptation of his past behavior comes knocking, threatening his new-found peace and the hope of redemption, Chris must look to his father and most trusted friends to pull him back from the brink of is own destruction in "The Way Home" by George Pelecanos.
The way home from Little Valley Road took me in the reverse, passing Little Shiloh Road, Shiloh Church Road, Old Shiloh Road, and finally, just plain Shiloh Road. When we passed Stinky Creek Road, I knew we were headed in the right direction. Now that we're home, and I'm through reading "Love Mercy," all roads lead to JCPL, where the next great story is set to "transport" me to a brand new destination!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Even Dinosaurs Like to Read!
Art Linkletter used to host a program called, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." That was back, oh say, in the day of the dinosaur. That must be why I remember it; because I AM a dinosaur. That is the uncontested observation of my three year old granddaughter, who, I am sure, tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. With her, it came out the blue, but earlier in the week, I had an appointment with a dermatologist, who, probably unwittingly, basically told me the very same thing. I had a spot on my back that had begun to plague me with worry. Too many news stories about greenhouse gasses and holes in the ozone persuaded me to have it checked out, not to mention the episodes of Grey's Anatomy that led poor Izzy to be the cliffhanger at the end of the season last spring. As I sat in the examining room, a very young, very pretty, blond woman came in, took one look at the spot in question and called it a medical term that, she explained in English, meant, "old age spot." Relieved, but sort of reeling from what I now perceived as "old age syndrome," I was in such a tizzy I almost left without the library book I had brought with me for company. It's a new title, "Castaways," by Elin Hilderbrand, and its cast of characters kept me occupied during my life or death verdict. Here are more, great new fiction titles from the Jasper County Public Library that may make or break your next moment of truth!
Shock is an understatement for the way that Isabel Raines feels when her perfect world is shattered by one truth after another in the wake of her husband's untimely disappearance. "Die for You" by Lisa Unger finds Isabel bound by one lie after another as the web of deceit left behind by her husband leads her and the police on a chase for the stranger who was able to dupe her and everyone around him for five years.
Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for Pat Conroy's newest novel, "South of Broad." Narrated by Leopold Bloom King, this saga spans two decades, from the turbulent 1960's to the AIDS crisis of the '80's, revealing the struggles encountered by Leo's family after his older brother commits suicide, and the friendships that strengthen Leo through his college years and into his adulthood.
With their once affluent family on the verge of bankruptcy, May and Pearl, two sophisticated sisters from Shanghai, travel to LA in the hopes of marrying "Gold Mountain Men." But the harsh reality that is their new life greets them when they arrive at Angel's Island only to discover that a clash of cultures awaits them in "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See.
Hairdressers know that their touch is not only healing to a person's hair, but sometimes, to their very soul, and that on any given day, they may be the only person to physically touch that other person. "The Crowning Glory of Call Lily Ponder" by Rebecca Wells reveals the compassion and healing power that comes from the art of "fixing hair," and features Calla Lily, a main character whose own soul is touched by the power that soothes others. This stand-alone novel, brought to you by the author of "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," is a tale of family, friendship, loss, and the sweetness of new love.
There's a lot of hype out there about "real age." You can spend time taking a test to find out your "real age," or you can just ask a three year old, who will give you the unvarnished version of the truth; you are a dinosaur. But, there is one thing that even my three year old granddaughter does not know, and that is that her grandma is a special breed of dinosaur; a decorated dinoaur; a dinosaur with spots.
Shock is an understatement for the way that Isabel Raines feels when her perfect world is shattered by one truth after another in the wake of her husband's untimely disappearance. "Die for You" by Lisa Unger finds Isabel bound by one lie after another as the web of deceit left behind by her husband leads her and the police on a chase for the stranger who was able to dupe her and everyone around him for five years.
Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for Pat Conroy's newest novel, "South of Broad." Narrated by Leopold Bloom King, this saga spans two decades, from the turbulent 1960's to the AIDS crisis of the '80's, revealing the struggles encountered by Leo's family after his older brother commits suicide, and the friendships that strengthen Leo through his college years and into his adulthood.
With their once affluent family on the verge of bankruptcy, May and Pearl, two sophisticated sisters from Shanghai, travel to LA in the hopes of marrying "Gold Mountain Men." But the harsh reality that is their new life greets them when they arrive at Angel's Island only to discover that a clash of cultures awaits them in "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See.
Hairdressers know that their touch is not only healing to a person's hair, but sometimes, to their very soul, and that on any given day, they may be the only person to physically touch that other person. "The Crowning Glory of Call Lily Ponder" by Rebecca Wells reveals the compassion and healing power that comes from the art of "fixing hair," and features Calla Lily, a main character whose own soul is touched by the power that soothes others. This stand-alone novel, brought to you by the author of "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," is a tale of family, friendship, loss, and the sweetness of new love.
There's a lot of hype out there about "real age." You can spend time taking a test to find out your "real age," or you can just ask a three year old, who will give you the unvarnished version of the truth; you are a dinosaur. But, there is one thing that even my three year old granddaughter does not know, and that is that her grandma is a special breed of dinosaur; a decorated dinoaur; a dinosaur with spots.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Settle in With a Good Book From JCPL This Fall!
The world of medicine is a wonderful thing, especially at this time of the year, when germs breed at the speed of light. Picking up some cold medicine the other day, I brought it home, and after several attempts to open the bottle, felt as if I should be arrested for breaking and entering. Peeling away one shrink wrapped safety label after another was a feat in itself, and when I finally reached the actual bottle of medicine and had it in my grasp, I encountered the dreaded "child proof" cap, which, in all actuality, should be renamed "people proof." The instructions read, "push down while turning." Pushing with all my might, and trying to turn at the same time, I thought I must be doing something wrong, because the cap stayed stubbornly still. There were even arrows, pointing me in the right direction. "Righty tighty, lefty loosey," I coached myself. Just when I thought I'd have to resort to an extreme bottle makeover to reach the medicine inside, the cap popped loose, and lo and behold, relief was on the way.
With the right medicine and a good book to read, recovering from a cold or whatever ails you is just the right prescription. Here, you'll find a "fiction prescription" from JCPL that's just what the doctor ordered!
Molly Marx leads an enviable, but complicated life. With a husband who has a tendency toward a roving eye, a twin sister that is more competitor than comrade, a controlling mother in law, and a cast of other well-meaning friends and relatives, Molly cherishes most facets of her life, that is, until it ends abruptly, leaving all who knew her to untangle the mystery behind her sudden demise while she looks on from a place called, "The Duration" in "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" by Sally Koslow.
Three sisters, each with their own unique qualities, find themselves at the center of jealousy, betrayal and tested loyalties in "True Colors" by Kristin Hannah. In this fast paced, compelling novel, you'll meet the Grey sisters, Winona, an overweight bookworm seeking the approval of her stern father, Aurora, the middle child and peacemaker in the family, and Vivi Ann, the youngest of the three for whom everything seems to come easily. When a shocking crime rocks the small town in which they live, nearly shattering the Grey family, secrets are revealed, putting each sister to the test, pitting one against the other in ways they never would have imagined.
In 1950's Enniscorthy, Ireland, jobs were desperately scarce. When a job offer from America was presented to Ellis Lacey, she left her family and country to head for the unfamiliar territory of Brooklyn, New York. Feeling isolated and terribly alone, Ellis slowly begins to adjust to her new life, forming bonds and establishing a routine when she must make a return trip to Enniscorthy for a family emergency, leaving behind her new love and going toward the possibilities that await her across the ocean in "Brooklyn" by Com Toibin.
Iranian scientist, Dr. Ali, is an informant for the CIA, relaying to them the latest secrets of the Iranian nuclear program. Intercepting the encrypted codes is Harry Pappas, who must decide if the codes are authentic. When Dr. Ali gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse with someone hot on his trail, Pappas enlists the help of a British spy team called the Increments, a team whose operatives are licensed to kill. "The Increments" by David Ignatius is a thriller with a hard edge, highlighting betrayal and espionage with boundless energy.
Boundless energy...that's hard to come by when you have a cold, and when you have to try to open a bottle that's sealed up tighter than Fort Knox just to get relief, you might as well settle in, grab your Kleenex, make a nest, and find relief in a good book from your friends at JCPL!
With the right medicine and a good book to read, recovering from a cold or whatever ails you is just the right prescription. Here, you'll find a "fiction prescription" from JCPL that's just what the doctor ordered!
Molly Marx leads an enviable, but complicated life. With a husband who has a tendency toward a roving eye, a twin sister that is more competitor than comrade, a controlling mother in law, and a cast of other well-meaning friends and relatives, Molly cherishes most facets of her life, that is, until it ends abruptly, leaving all who knew her to untangle the mystery behind her sudden demise while she looks on from a place called, "The Duration" in "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" by Sally Koslow.
Three sisters, each with their own unique qualities, find themselves at the center of jealousy, betrayal and tested loyalties in "True Colors" by Kristin Hannah. In this fast paced, compelling novel, you'll meet the Grey sisters, Winona, an overweight bookworm seeking the approval of her stern father, Aurora, the middle child and peacemaker in the family, and Vivi Ann, the youngest of the three for whom everything seems to come easily. When a shocking crime rocks the small town in which they live, nearly shattering the Grey family, secrets are revealed, putting each sister to the test, pitting one against the other in ways they never would have imagined.
In 1950's Enniscorthy, Ireland, jobs were desperately scarce. When a job offer from America was presented to Ellis Lacey, she left her family and country to head for the unfamiliar territory of Brooklyn, New York. Feeling isolated and terribly alone, Ellis slowly begins to adjust to her new life, forming bonds and establishing a routine when she must make a return trip to Enniscorthy for a family emergency, leaving behind her new love and going toward the possibilities that await her across the ocean in "Brooklyn" by Com Toibin.
Iranian scientist, Dr. Ali, is an informant for the CIA, relaying to them the latest secrets of the Iranian nuclear program. Intercepting the encrypted codes is Harry Pappas, who must decide if the codes are authentic. When Dr. Ali gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse with someone hot on his trail, Pappas enlists the help of a British spy team called the Increments, a team whose operatives are licensed to kill. "The Increments" by David Ignatius is a thriller with a hard edge, highlighting betrayal and espionage with boundless energy.
Boundless energy...that's hard to come by when you have a cold, and when you have to try to open a bottle that's sealed up tighter than Fort Knox just to get relief, you might as well settle in, grab your Kleenex, make a nest, and find relief in a good book from your friends at JCPL!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
"Find Yourself" With a Good Book From JCPL!
I have never painted anything in my life, with the exception of walls and paint by number sets. Picking up a paintbrush and using my imagination to create something out of nothing are not in my MO. That's why when I brought home a ceramic piece, crafted by my mother in law years before she passed on, I really didn't intend to paint it myself. But, being the do-it-yourselfer that I am, I decided to give it my best shot. Dragging out the paints and brushes, my kitchen table became a study in art as I began to get creative early one afternoon. By 11:00 pm that night, I was bleary eyed and getting clumsy, but decided to do just one more thing before packing it in for the night. That was a bad idea; just ask my cat. Timing is everthing, and as I spilled the brown paint I had just opened back up, my 25 pound orange cat got caught in the crossfire, and in just seconds, his striped, orange coat became a brown blob. Running for cover with me close behind, the hissing and biting ensued as I did the best I could to relieve his hair from permanently splotchy, blotchy brown, back to his original color. My day of self-discovery ended in a mass of brown towels and one really mad cat, which brought me to realize that I should have followed my first instict; do not try to be creative when I already know I don't have a creative bone in my body. I should have stuck to my real bedtime ritual, and that is to open a good book until sleep takes over.
That's my story, and here are some new fiction titles from JCPL, just waiting to be part of your daily ritual!
Grief and denial turns to shock for the friends and family of Greg and Tess MacAvoy when their anniversary sail turns tragic and the pair is found dead. Along with 3 other couples, Greg and Tess were part of a group lovingly called, "The Castaways." "The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand is a masterfully woven tale, intense in character driven plot, bringing to life the loyalty, devotion, and love of closely knit friends who also have skeletons in their closets and secrets to be revealed.
The silence of autopsy patients speaks volumes to forensic psychiatrist, Jo Beckett, as she unravels the mysteries behind cadavers while performing psychological autopsies, determining the cause of death for each subject. When Jo is asked to perform a psychological autopsy on a living person who has lost his memory, she has to read between the lines, stringing clues together only to discover that her patient's amnesia must be reversed before disaster strikes San Francisco in "The Memory Collector," Book 2 of the Jo Beckett Series by Meg Gardiner.
As Jericho Ainsley lay dying, the former head of the CIA and Wall Street tycoon summons former lover, Beck DeForde to his bedside. "Jericho's Fall" by Stephen L. Carter features Beck DeForde as an unforgettable heroine, plunging her into the intricately woven plot and battle of wits between foreign governments and powerful corporations with an edge of the seat suspense that delves into the morality of our government offices and the possible meltdown of America's financial system.
Searching for peace from a too-eventful career as a detective, Cam Richter buys a seven hundred acre plantation in North Carolina, but the pretty plantation has its price, and the cost may be Cam's life as the history of the house comes back to haunt him in "Nightwalkers" by Peter T. Deutermann.
Clearly, creativity also has its price. Cost of paints to cover a ceramic piece; $10, cost for brushes; $5, an 11 pm voyage through the house in hot pursuit of an orange cat who is about to color my world and everything in it brown; priceless.
That's my story, and here are some new fiction titles from JCPL, just waiting to be part of your daily ritual!
Grief and denial turns to shock for the friends and family of Greg and Tess MacAvoy when their anniversary sail turns tragic and the pair is found dead. Along with 3 other couples, Greg and Tess were part of a group lovingly called, "The Castaways." "The Castaways" by Elin Hilderbrand is a masterfully woven tale, intense in character driven plot, bringing to life the loyalty, devotion, and love of closely knit friends who also have skeletons in their closets and secrets to be revealed.
The silence of autopsy patients speaks volumes to forensic psychiatrist, Jo Beckett, as she unravels the mysteries behind cadavers while performing psychological autopsies, determining the cause of death for each subject. When Jo is asked to perform a psychological autopsy on a living person who has lost his memory, she has to read between the lines, stringing clues together only to discover that her patient's amnesia must be reversed before disaster strikes San Francisco in "The Memory Collector," Book 2 of the Jo Beckett Series by Meg Gardiner.
As Jericho Ainsley lay dying, the former head of the CIA and Wall Street tycoon summons former lover, Beck DeForde to his bedside. "Jericho's Fall" by Stephen L. Carter features Beck DeForde as an unforgettable heroine, plunging her into the intricately woven plot and battle of wits between foreign governments and powerful corporations with an edge of the seat suspense that delves into the morality of our government offices and the possible meltdown of America's financial system.
Searching for peace from a too-eventful career as a detective, Cam Richter buys a seven hundred acre plantation in North Carolina, but the pretty plantation has its price, and the cost may be Cam's life as the history of the house comes back to haunt him in "Nightwalkers" by Peter T. Deutermann.
Clearly, creativity also has its price. Cost of paints to cover a ceramic piece; $10, cost for brushes; $5, an 11 pm voyage through the house in hot pursuit of an orange cat who is about to color my world and everything in it brown; priceless.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Personal Touch Not a Lost Art at JCPL
Running to answer the telephone, tripping over toys, cats, and dogs along the way, I hurriedly pressed the "talk" button before the answering machine kicked in, only to hear, on the other line, an automated voice ask me if I could please hang on for the next available representative. Not only did I get roped into answering a telemarketer's call, but I was placed on HOLD for someone who had called ME! Everyone who tries to make a simple telephone call these days knows the drill; the automated recording that gives the inevitable message, "Please listen carefully, as our menu has changed." Several minutes later, if you're like me, you're so confused about which number choice pertains to your particular situation and how to go about finding someone who can answer your question that you have to dial again, just to hear the menu a second time to figure out what you have to do to get results. Is it just me, or is customer service a thing of the past?
"Your Call is (Not That) Important to Us: Customer Service and What it Reveals About Our World and Our Lives" by Emily Yellin is an eye-opening account of the role that customer service plays in today's companies, chronicling the author's meetings with sales reps from around the country, the corporate decision makers, and the distress of customers as they relate their infuriating experiences with her during her travels. This is just one of the new nonfiction titles on the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more great titles!
There are design flaws in everything if you look hard enough, and that goes for the human race as well. With our busy days and multi-tasking ways, mistakes are part and parcel of everyday life. "Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average" by Joseph T. Hallinan is the complete synopsis of the author's quest to understand the imperfections that we all have, and the science of human error that allows us to err in judgment, thereby making mistakes. Real life stories make this a valuable resource of the way our minds work, and the reasons behind the mistakes that make us vow to "do better next time."
Is there life beyond our five senses? "Unbelievable: Investigations Into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena" by Stacy Horn delves into the paranormal, as a group of scientists from Duke University investigate bizarre occurences, such as reports of clairvoyance, ghosts, poltergeists, and other strange happenings, bridging the gap between science and the mysteries of the paranormal.
The solar system of the 21st Century is explored in "Where Did Pluto Go?" by Paul Sutherland. This guide to the solar system will take you on a journey through the planets, detailing every aspect of the universe and giving full descriptions of the "bright planets," Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, as well as offering information about asteroids, meteors, shooting stars, and more with this easy to understand guide.
"Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide" by Caroline Adams Miller offers science based advice for setting goals, making lists, and sticking to them. Complete with exercises and quizzes that help to identify your own individual needs, this book will open your eyes to a self-discovery that you never knew existed, inspiring you to set the goals that you must to live a more productive and happy life.
Is customer service a thing of the past? British writer and journalist, Nelson Boswell states, "Here is a simple rule: Always give to people more than what they expect to get." The personal touch; a human voice on the other end of the phone line; no menu choices; just GREAT choices when it comes to books, magazines, and audio-visual materials; that's what you'll find when you call or visit any branch of JCPL, because your call IS important to us!
"Your Call is (Not That) Important to Us: Customer Service and What it Reveals About Our World and Our Lives" by Emily Yellin is an eye-opening account of the role that customer service plays in today's companies, chronicling the author's meetings with sales reps from around the country, the corporate decision makers, and the distress of customers as they relate their infuriating experiences with her during her travels. This is just one of the new nonfiction titles on the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more great titles!
There are design flaws in everything if you look hard enough, and that goes for the human race as well. With our busy days and multi-tasking ways, mistakes are part and parcel of everyday life. "Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average" by Joseph T. Hallinan is the complete synopsis of the author's quest to understand the imperfections that we all have, and the science of human error that allows us to err in judgment, thereby making mistakes. Real life stories make this a valuable resource of the way our minds work, and the reasons behind the mistakes that make us vow to "do better next time."
Is there life beyond our five senses? "Unbelievable: Investigations Into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena" by Stacy Horn delves into the paranormal, as a group of scientists from Duke University investigate bizarre occurences, such as reports of clairvoyance, ghosts, poltergeists, and other strange happenings, bridging the gap between science and the mysteries of the paranormal.
The solar system of the 21st Century is explored in "Where Did Pluto Go?" by Paul Sutherland. This guide to the solar system will take you on a journey through the planets, detailing every aspect of the universe and giving full descriptions of the "bright planets," Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, as well as offering information about asteroids, meteors, shooting stars, and more with this easy to understand guide.
"Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide" by Caroline Adams Miller offers science based advice for setting goals, making lists, and sticking to them. Complete with exercises and quizzes that help to identify your own individual needs, this book will open your eyes to a self-discovery that you never knew existed, inspiring you to set the goals that you must to live a more productive and happy life.
Is customer service a thing of the past? British writer and journalist, Nelson Boswell states, "Here is a simple rule: Always give to people more than what they expect to get." The personal touch; a human voice on the other end of the phone line; no menu choices; just GREAT choices when it comes to books, magazines, and audio-visual materials; that's what you'll find when you call or visit any branch of JCPL, because your call IS important to us!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Live the Life of Riley; Check Out a New Book From JCPL!
Where in the world do we, as Americans, come up with some of the phrases that we do? Maybe you don't "know beans" about this question, and need to "pull strings" and "go gaga" to find the answer. Or maybe you're too "bushed" to care or would rather "beat around the bush" before you "nip it in the bud." If someone else "beats you to the punch" in discovering the answer, would it "rub you the wrong way?" Boy, that would sure feel like a "double cross," but it would sure be a "red letter day" if you "spilled the beans" yourself, then you could "read the riot act" to your opponent, "lock, stock and barrel."
After all of your hard work, you can kick back, relax, and "live the life of Riley" by checking out a book from the Jasper County Public Library. These new fiction titles are sure to put you "on cloud nine."
Bound together by a kinship that only twins can understand, Marion and Shiva Stone are orphans who grow up sharing common interests, from their fascination with medicine to their love for the same woman. Fresh out of medical school, Marion decides that his passion for the same woman that his brother loves has put a wedge between him and his twin, and flees his homeland. Finding solace in a New York City hospital internship, Marion's past catches up with him, nearly destroying his life, leaving him no choice but to place his trust in the brother who betrayed him in "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese.
Instilling the love of music in others is a passion for Barbara Hall. Playing the violin herself, Barbara knows that her own musical skills will never amount to anything but mediocre, but when she begins teaching Hallie, she recognizes the girl's talent for music as the real thing. Barbara's drive for Hallie to be the best backfires on her, however, and she makes a terrible mistake, leaving the teacher to reevaluate her past, present, and future in "The Music Teacher" by Barbara Hall.
Not every fairy tale ends happily ever after, and that becomes evident to Julie Hanrahan after her whirlwind courtship and subsequent marriage to Dr. Thomas Larkin when she uncovers unthinkable truths about her new husband in "Die Before I Wake" by Laurie Breton.
Dreaming of a life outside of her father's apothecary where she prepares herbs and remedies, Lilly is haunted by memories of her mother who mysteriously disappeared years before. A trip to London offers Lilly new pleasures and an introduction to the world of fashionable society, as well as the truth about what really happened to her mother in "The Apothecary's Daughter" by Julie Klassen.
Arriving in Summerville, Ohio with her Newfoundland, Bowser, Abby goes to work in her newly owned coffee shop, courtesy of her deceased grandmother. Trouble finds Abby, however, in the shape of an exasperating college professor. Enter Daisy, a web code writer with a hyperactive Jack Russell as a sidekick, and Shar, an ancient history professor with a neurotic dachshund named Wolfie, and the three women pair up to dig in and find out what on earth is happening in the small Southern Ohio town before an ancient goddess stages an apocalyptic takeover in "Dogs and Goddesses" by Jennifer Crusie.
That brings us to the "dog days of summer," which call for something "of a different climate" to read, and in order to "get on the stick" and "find your niche" as the summer comes to an end, just stop in any branch of JCPL, where the new fiction on the shelves will make you want to "check us out!"
After all of your hard work, you can kick back, relax, and "live the life of Riley" by checking out a book from the Jasper County Public Library. These new fiction titles are sure to put you "on cloud nine."
Bound together by a kinship that only twins can understand, Marion and Shiva Stone are orphans who grow up sharing common interests, from their fascination with medicine to their love for the same woman. Fresh out of medical school, Marion decides that his passion for the same woman that his brother loves has put a wedge between him and his twin, and flees his homeland. Finding solace in a New York City hospital internship, Marion's past catches up with him, nearly destroying his life, leaving him no choice but to place his trust in the brother who betrayed him in "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese.
Instilling the love of music in others is a passion for Barbara Hall. Playing the violin herself, Barbara knows that her own musical skills will never amount to anything but mediocre, but when she begins teaching Hallie, she recognizes the girl's talent for music as the real thing. Barbara's drive for Hallie to be the best backfires on her, however, and she makes a terrible mistake, leaving the teacher to reevaluate her past, present, and future in "The Music Teacher" by Barbara Hall.
Not every fairy tale ends happily ever after, and that becomes evident to Julie Hanrahan after her whirlwind courtship and subsequent marriage to Dr. Thomas Larkin when she uncovers unthinkable truths about her new husband in "Die Before I Wake" by Laurie Breton.
Dreaming of a life outside of her father's apothecary where she prepares herbs and remedies, Lilly is haunted by memories of her mother who mysteriously disappeared years before. A trip to London offers Lilly new pleasures and an introduction to the world of fashionable society, as well as the truth about what really happened to her mother in "The Apothecary's Daughter" by Julie Klassen.
Arriving in Summerville, Ohio with her Newfoundland, Bowser, Abby goes to work in her newly owned coffee shop, courtesy of her deceased grandmother. Trouble finds Abby, however, in the shape of an exasperating college professor. Enter Daisy, a web code writer with a hyperactive Jack Russell as a sidekick, and Shar, an ancient history professor with a neurotic dachshund named Wolfie, and the three women pair up to dig in and find out what on earth is happening in the small Southern Ohio town before an ancient goddess stages an apocalyptic takeover in "Dogs and Goddesses" by Jennifer Crusie.
That brings us to the "dog days of summer," which call for something "of a different climate" to read, and in order to "get on the stick" and "find your niche" as the summer comes to an end, just stop in any branch of JCPL, where the new fiction on the shelves will make you want to "check us out!"
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
"Do-able" Fiction Titles From JCPL
Unless you've been living on another planet entirely, you know that the past month has been a bad one for celebrities. Leaving behind the legacies of their talents and their star quality, all of these celebrities have, at one time or another in our lives, left an imprint. Michael Jackson gave us a different spin on music and dancing, moonwalking his was to stardom, Karl Malden, also a native of Indiana, was cast in many dramatic roles throughout his career, and Farrah Fawcett, as we all know, left us the legacy of great hair. Thinking of that, I decided to take a trip down memory lane and have a look at my high school yearbook. I was a child of the '70's...and as I paged through my past, it came to me that many of us who take this trip back in time must be asking ourselves, "What was I thinking?!" That was the day of the "unisex" hairstyle; the pre-Farrah style that had NO style, parted straight down the center and hanging limply around the curves of our faces, actually leaving very little face to see the light of day. You had to look closely at the photographs and read the names of the kids pictured, just to make out who was male and who was female, because the boys sported the same do's as the girls; do's that would, these days, be considered, "don'ts."
Thankfully, time marches on, and with that, we have found simpler, more fashionable ways of doing things. The Jasper County Public Library has kept up with the times, and here are a few fiction titles that you'll find "do-able."
In the aftermath of discovering that her husband had become a casualty of the Iraq War, Abby Fitzgerald is confronted with truths about her husband and the complex life that he led, leaving her shell-shocked in "One September Morning" by Rosalind Noonan.
Sixteen years old and diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, Will Heller boards an uptown B train in New York City. Convinced that the world is being changed by the climbing temperatures brought on by Greenhouse Gasses, Will believes that he can reverse the heating up of the planet by cooling down his own body. "Lowboy" by John Wray takes the reader on a journey through the tunnels of the city as Will searches for Emily Wallace in his own psychotically haunted attempt to save the planet.
Set in the coastal area of New England, "The Geometry of Sisters" by Luanne Rice introduces the reader to Maggie Shaw, a woman torn by the tragic disappearance of her husband and oldest daughter. Taking a teaching position at Newport Academy, Maggie, along with her fourteen year old daughter, Beck, struggle to adjust to their new lives, but the age old rift between her own sister and herself haunts Maggie, and similarly, Beck can't forget her own sister, Carrie.
The old Victorian house that Ivy and her husband, David, purchased is full of unwanted items that need to be cleaned out. When they decide to hold a yard sale for their unwanted items, a woman who turns out to be a classmate of David's appears, wanting to see the inside of their home. "Never Tell a Lie" by Hallie Ephron, Ph.D is a thriller that you won't be able to put down, full of secrets, betrayals, and lies that spin a fantastic web of deceit, making everyone who reads it ask the compelling question, "How well do you really know someone?"
The year is 1944, and Johnny Wrigley is a newly minted marine headed for overseas. Baseball is his true passion, and the dream of one day playing in the major leagues is what he holds onto while away. "Oh Johnny" by Jim Lehrer is a coming of age story about a talented athlete who never gives up on his dreams.
Everyone, at one time or another, has to ask themselves, "What was I thinking?" It's just a right of passage as we go through life. Checking out reading material that suits you does not have to fall into the "What was I thinking" category, however, and that is because the Jasper County Public Library offers such great choices that you can never go wrong!
Thankfully, time marches on, and with that, we have found simpler, more fashionable ways of doing things. The Jasper County Public Library has kept up with the times, and here are a few fiction titles that you'll find "do-able."
In the aftermath of discovering that her husband had become a casualty of the Iraq War, Abby Fitzgerald is confronted with truths about her husband and the complex life that he led, leaving her shell-shocked in "One September Morning" by Rosalind Noonan.
Sixteen years old and diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, Will Heller boards an uptown B train in New York City. Convinced that the world is being changed by the climbing temperatures brought on by Greenhouse Gasses, Will believes that he can reverse the heating up of the planet by cooling down his own body. "Lowboy" by John Wray takes the reader on a journey through the tunnels of the city as Will searches for Emily Wallace in his own psychotically haunted attempt to save the planet.
Set in the coastal area of New England, "The Geometry of Sisters" by Luanne Rice introduces the reader to Maggie Shaw, a woman torn by the tragic disappearance of her husband and oldest daughter. Taking a teaching position at Newport Academy, Maggie, along with her fourteen year old daughter, Beck, struggle to adjust to their new lives, but the age old rift between her own sister and herself haunts Maggie, and similarly, Beck can't forget her own sister, Carrie.
The old Victorian house that Ivy and her husband, David, purchased is full of unwanted items that need to be cleaned out. When they decide to hold a yard sale for their unwanted items, a woman who turns out to be a classmate of David's appears, wanting to see the inside of their home. "Never Tell a Lie" by Hallie Ephron, Ph.D is a thriller that you won't be able to put down, full of secrets, betrayals, and lies that spin a fantastic web of deceit, making everyone who reads it ask the compelling question, "How well do you really know someone?"
The year is 1944, and Johnny Wrigley is a newly minted marine headed for overseas. Baseball is his true passion, and the dream of one day playing in the major leagues is what he holds onto while away. "Oh Johnny" by Jim Lehrer is a coming of age story about a talented athlete who never gives up on his dreams.
Everyone, at one time or another, has to ask themselves, "What was I thinking?" It's just a right of passage as we go through life. Checking out reading material that suits you does not have to fall into the "What was I thinking" category, however, and that is because the Jasper County Public Library offers such great choices that you can never go wrong!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Make a New Book From JCPL Your All Time Favorite!
My favorite book of all time is " The Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough. This family saga, set in the Australian Outback, spans three generations of the Cleary family, their trials, tribulations, tragedies, loves and losses. The main focus of the story is the forbidden romance between Meggie Cleary and the family's parish priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart. When Meggie marries Luke' O'Neill out of desperation to get her mind off of Father Ralph, you suspect that things are going to go downhill for her in a hurry, but as an innocent bystander, and not the one who penned the story, you are powerless to stop the unfolding events.
"The Thorn Birds" is a classic story, and one that will live on as a favorite for many who pick it up. Read on for a list of new adult fiction that may become a favorite to you sometime in your near future.
"All the Colors of Darkness" by Peter Robinson features Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks and Detective Annie Cabbott as they investigate a double murder, unveiling nightmarish motives and one enormous surprise after another, unhinging the reader with shocking details and plot twists and turns that make for page-turning suspense.
With the planet on the verge of eco-disaster, a series of strange events begin to unfold when a mysterious sign appears everywhere that natural disasters, terrorist activities, or sites of conflict are occurring. Is this a sign of resolution in the world, or could it be a portent of catastrophic events to come? Only one man understands the mysterious meaning behind the symbol in the sky. Will he be able to save mankind with his knowledge, or could it all be a hoax? Find out in "The Sign" by Raymond Khoury.
The "Spellman Series" continues with side-splitting antics and hilarious character develpment in "Revenge of the Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz. In this latest installment, Private Investigator, Izzy Spellman, is on court-ordered therapy after getting too close to the previous subject of her investigation. Not quite mentally on board yet for another case, Izzy decides that tailing the wife of a suspicious husband should require no real mental muscle and takes on the case. The simple case becomes more and more complicated and vexing wtih each day of boring surveillance, and more questions than answers begin to pop up, bringing Izzy to the conclusion that her mental health must be taking a turn for the worse. Add to that her confused feelings for Detective Harry Stone, and the result is Spellmania at its best.
Committed to ridding the world of its depraved human members, Arlan is enlisted by another member of the Kahill clan's kill team to assist in uncovering the mastermind of the Buried Alive Killer case. Agreeing to meet with the key informant, Macy Smith, Arlan is taken by surprise when he becomes enamored with the blonde, petite, and beautiful lady who holds a deeper connection to the Buried Alive Killer than anyone could have imagined in "Undying" by V.K. Forrest.
Some stories are just more memorable than others. What is your favorite book of all time? If you don't have an answer, it's definitely time to visit your local branch of JCPL, where the most memorable title for you is just waiting to be checked out!
"The Thorn Birds" is a classic story, and one that will live on as a favorite for many who pick it up. Read on for a list of new adult fiction that may become a favorite to you sometime in your near future.
"All the Colors of Darkness" by Peter Robinson features Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks and Detective Annie Cabbott as they investigate a double murder, unveiling nightmarish motives and one enormous surprise after another, unhinging the reader with shocking details and plot twists and turns that make for page-turning suspense.
With the planet on the verge of eco-disaster, a series of strange events begin to unfold when a mysterious sign appears everywhere that natural disasters, terrorist activities, or sites of conflict are occurring. Is this a sign of resolution in the world, or could it be a portent of catastrophic events to come? Only one man understands the mysterious meaning behind the symbol in the sky. Will he be able to save mankind with his knowledge, or could it all be a hoax? Find out in "The Sign" by Raymond Khoury.
The "Spellman Series" continues with side-splitting antics and hilarious character develpment in "Revenge of the Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz. In this latest installment, Private Investigator, Izzy Spellman, is on court-ordered therapy after getting too close to the previous subject of her investigation. Not quite mentally on board yet for another case, Izzy decides that tailing the wife of a suspicious husband should require no real mental muscle and takes on the case. The simple case becomes more and more complicated and vexing wtih each day of boring surveillance, and more questions than answers begin to pop up, bringing Izzy to the conclusion that her mental health must be taking a turn for the worse. Add to that her confused feelings for Detective Harry Stone, and the result is Spellmania at its best.
Committed to ridding the world of its depraved human members, Arlan is enlisted by another member of the Kahill clan's kill team to assist in uncovering the mastermind of the Buried Alive Killer case. Agreeing to meet with the key informant, Macy Smith, Arlan is taken by surprise when he becomes enamored with the blonde, petite, and beautiful lady who holds a deeper connection to the Buried Alive Killer than anyone could have imagined in "Undying" by V.K. Forrest.
Some stories are just more memorable than others. What is your favorite book of all time? If you don't have an answer, it's definitely time to visit your local branch of JCPL, where the most memorable title for you is just waiting to be checked out!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Make these Great, New Fiction Tltles Part of Your Summer "To Do" List
Anyone who is old enough to remember the Ray Rayner Show is old enough to remember that one of the trademarks of that children's show was Ray Rayner's jumpsuit, filled with papers that were his own personal "to do" lists. You knew the show was over when all of the papers on Ray Rayner's coveralls were gone. Are you a list maker, or do you throw caution to the wind?
Here, you'll find a list; but this list is one you won't want to ignore, because in it, you'll find the key to summer relaxation...a new fiction title from the Jasper County Public Library. Here are just a few of the new books you'll find among "lists" of many others!
There are always three sides to every story. In "Above the Law" by Tim Green, nothing is as it appears when an illegal Mexican immigrant is shot to death on a ranch outside Dallas, Texas. The shooter is a well respected young Senator who tearfully and convincingly claims that the shooting was a tragic hunting accident. When the victim's sister-in-law comes forward telling a different tale, Casey Jordan, an attorney from the local legal aid clinic, takes on the case, determined to uncover the truth. But, the real truth is that the popular Senator is a wily and vindictive opponent, and will stop at nothing to save himself.
When you win the lottery on the very worst day of your life, it's time to go into hiding. That's exactly what Lucy Parker does in "Good Luck" by Whitney Gaskell. With a cheating boyfriend, a failed career, and now a media circus at her heels, all that Lucy Parker wants to do is become invisible. Escaping to Palm Beach to stay with an old college friend, Lucy does her best to put her notoriety behind her, but no matter how discreet she tries to be, her past catches up to her, and just when she's ready to give up and cash it all in, fate intervenes, giving Lucy a glimpse of what she's really worth.
Seeing things from the perspective of a four legged canine is what "Nose Down, Eyes Up" by Merrill Markoe is all about. Narrated by one of four dogs owned by Gil, this hilarious romp of a book is the story of "Jimmy" the dog, and how he shares his knowledge of people with all the other dogs in the neighborhood. Gil, Jimmy's owner, finds his pet's lectures to be ingenious, and comes up with the idea to take Jimmy's show on the road and merchandise his advice on the Internet. This, combined with Jimmy's realization that he is adopted and that Gil is not even the same species as him, brings the canine-human existence under scrutiny, while at the same time, leaves no doubt of the bonds that are forged as humans and "man's best friend" co-exist.
Thanksgiving dinner is ready and Eve feels abundantly blessed as she shares the perfect holiday feast with her family. When a phone call interrupts their peaceful meal, Eve's husband, Jonathan, retreats to their bedroom to take the call. Irritated by his lack of hospitality, Eve walks in on what looks like a very intimate conversation with her husband and a woman that she later learns is named Laney. Jon swears that there's nothing physical between he and Laney, but can a man and a woman be "just friends?" Find out in "Love and Other Natural Disasters" by Holly Shumas.
If you have a paper trail following you everywhere you go, you're in good company. As long as that paper trail is inevitable, you may as well add one more stop to your list, and that is a trip to JCPL, where you'll be glad with all of the new fiction on the shelves that the list goes on and on!
Here, you'll find a list; but this list is one you won't want to ignore, because in it, you'll find the key to summer relaxation...a new fiction title from the Jasper County Public Library. Here are just a few of the new books you'll find among "lists" of many others!
There are always three sides to every story. In "Above the Law" by Tim Green, nothing is as it appears when an illegal Mexican immigrant is shot to death on a ranch outside Dallas, Texas. The shooter is a well respected young Senator who tearfully and convincingly claims that the shooting was a tragic hunting accident. When the victim's sister-in-law comes forward telling a different tale, Casey Jordan, an attorney from the local legal aid clinic, takes on the case, determined to uncover the truth. But, the real truth is that the popular Senator is a wily and vindictive opponent, and will stop at nothing to save himself.
When you win the lottery on the very worst day of your life, it's time to go into hiding. That's exactly what Lucy Parker does in "Good Luck" by Whitney Gaskell. With a cheating boyfriend, a failed career, and now a media circus at her heels, all that Lucy Parker wants to do is become invisible. Escaping to Palm Beach to stay with an old college friend, Lucy does her best to put her notoriety behind her, but no matter how discreet she tries to be, her past catches up to her, and just when she's ready to give up and cash it all in, fate intervenes, giving Lucy a glimpse of what she's really worth.
Seeing things from the perspective of a four legged canine is what "Nose Down, Eyes Up" by Merrill Markoe is all about. Narrated by one of four dogs owned by Gil, this hilarious romp of a book is the story of "Jimmy" the dog, and how he shares his knowledge of people with all the other dogs in the neighborhood. Gil, Jimmy's owner, finds his pet's lectures to be ingenious, and comes up with the idea to take Jimmy's show on the road and merchandise his advice on the Internet. This, combined with Jimmy's realization that he is adopted and that Gil is not even the same species as him, brings the canine-human existence under scrutiny, while at the same time, leaves no doubt of the bonds that are forged as humans and "man's best friend" co-exist.
Thanksgiving dinner is ready and Eve feels abundantly blessed as she shares the perfect holiday feast with her family. When a phone call interrupts their peaceful meal, Eve's husband, Jonathan, retreats to their bedroom to take the call. Irritated by his lack of hospitality, Eve walks in on what looks like a very intimate conversation with her husband and a woman that she later learns is named Laney. Jon swears that there's nothing physical between he and Laney, but can a man and a woman be "just friends?" Find out in "Love and Other Natural Disasters" by Holly Shumas.
If you have a paper trail following you everywhere you go, you're in good company. As long as that paper trail is inevitable, you may as well add one more stop to your list, and that is a trip to JCPL, where you'll be glad with all of the new fiction on the shelves that the list goes on and on!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
From Dog-Rearing to Miracles, JCPL Has Everything You Need in New Nonfiction!
President Obama has made good on one campaign promise so far. He has fulfilled the dream of his little girls by purchasing a pet. A Portuguese Water Dog named Bo is the lucky Whitehouse canine. The President has nothing on my family, however, as we also have a dog named Bo. Our Bo is far from the furry, non-allergenic White House pooch, though. Our Bo has more hair than any living creature needs, and has more stamina than the description of the Portuguese Water Dog breed, which is "lively and needs lots of exercise." Our version of Bo could be described as "lively" if you consider acting as a wrecking ball to everything within his reach "lively," knocking things over with a tail that doesn't know it's own strength, and digging his way to China in every soft spot he can find outdoors.
I could have used Ali Canova's "Agility Training for You and Your Dog: From Backyard Fun to High Performance Training" when Bo came along. This new nonfiction title at the Jasper County Public Library offers a step by step approach for agility training methods that will improve and maintain your pooch's fitness, as well as behavior, providing fun for you and your pet. It also comes complete with diagrams, course illustrations, and color photographs. Read on for more great, new nonfiction titles!
In "In Lincoln's Hand: His Original Manuscripts," leading Lincoln scholars, Harold Holzer and Joshua Shenk feature President Lincoln from a fresh and intimate perspective by offering an unprecedented look at the late President's handwritten letters, speeches, and childhood notebooks, bringing a new perspective to our thoughts on a man who so profoundly affected American history.
Get an inside look at Madonna in "Madonna Confessions" by Guy Oseary. This 224 page book, written by Madonna's manager, showcases one of the most famous women in the world with color photographs of Madonna's live performances and the highlights of her career, as well as including previously undisclosed information about the queen of Pop.
Recognizing the gifts of everyday life doesn't always come easily when you find yourself or a loved one battling an incurable or debilitating illness. With heartwarming humor, wit and the wisdom of a man who has gone the distance to be a beacon of light to others, Michael J. Fox shares his personal philosophy on beating the odds and staving off depression in "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist."
Is your mind open to the possibility that miracles exist in this day and age? Do you sometimes need the inspiration that can only come from the feeling that there is a higher power, or the possibility of divine intervention? "God Stories: Inspiring Encounters With the Divine" by Jennifer Skiff is a collection of stories of the extraordinary experiences of people who have felt the power of God's presence in their lives. This book will make you look back at some of your own experiences and wonder; have you been touched by a miracle?
The Jasper County Public Library's mission statement promises to "inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community." Stop in your local branch of JCPL, check out a new nonfiction title or two and you'll find that it's true; a promise is a promise.
I could have used Ali Canova's "Agility Training for You and Your Dog: From Backyard Fun to High Performance Training" when Bo came along. This new nonfiction title at the Jasper County Public Library offers a step by step approach for agility training methods that will improve and maintain your pooch's fitness, as well as behavior, providing fun for you and your pet. It also comes complete with diagrams, course illustrations, and color photographs. Read on for more great, new nonfiction titles!
In "In Lincoln's Hand: His Original Manuscripts," leading Lincoln scholars, Harold Holzer and Joshua Shenk feature President Lincoln from a fresh and intimate perspective by offering an unprecedented look at the late President's handwritten letters, speeches, and childhood notebooks, bringing a new perspective to our thoughts on a man who so profoundly affected American history.
Get an inside look at Madonna in "Madonna Confessions" by Guy Oseary. This 224 page book, written by Madonna's manager, showcases one of the most famous women in the world with color photographs of Madonna's live performances and the highlights of her career, as well as including previously undisclosed information about the queen of Pop.
Recognizing the gifts of everyday life doesn't always come easily when you find yourself or a loved one battling an incurable or debilitating illness. With heartwarming humor, wit and the wisdom of a man who has gone the distance to be a beacon of light to others, Michael J. Fox shares his personal philosophy on beating the odds and staving off depression in "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist."
Is your mind open to the possibility that miracles exist in this day and age? Do you sometimes need the inspiration that can only come from the feeling that there is a higher power, or the possibility of divine intervention? "God Stories: Inspiring Encounters With the Divine" by Jennifer Skiff is a collection of stories of the extraordinary experiences of people who have felt the power of God's presence in their lives. This book will make you look back at some of your own experiences and wonder; have you been touched by a miracle?
The Jasper County Public Library's mission statement promises to "inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community." Stop in your local branch of JCPL, check out a new nonfiction title or two and you'll find that it's true; a promise is a promise.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Avoid Brain Strain With These New Fiction Titles From JCPL!
Recently, while working with my 5 year old grandson by holding up flash cards with common, everyday words assigned by the teacher, I discovered something. The English language is not very consistent. Surprised? Really, if you don't just "know" some of the words, phonetics won't get you too far. Take the word "was." Not recognizing it on sight, I tried to help. "Sound it out. What sound comes first?" We got through the "w," but then came the "a," which, in theory, should be the short "a" sound, as in cat. Not so. And if it's confusing to us, imagine the dilemma that comes up for other countries trying to communicate in English.
Some examples of sentences gone wrong include this one outside of a Hong Kong tailor shop as they invite, "Ladies may have a fit upstairs." In Japan, a detour sign read, "Stop: Drive sideways." The awkward English is not limited to other countries, however. In the U.S., a general store window advertises, "Why go elsewhere and be cheated when you can come right here?" This Tennessee highway sign warns drivers, "Take notice. When this sign is under water, this road is impassable." Huh?
Don't let these convoluted sentences strain your brain! Read on for some new fiction titles from the Jasper County Public Library that will cure that "brain strain."
As a crowd gathers outside of the Panama Hotel, boarded up for decades and under new ownership, the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internmnet camps during World War II surface, and among these items is a Japanese parasol. Henry Lee watches as someone opens the parasol, and this small act takes him back to his school days, snubbed by his American classmates, but befriended by Keiko, a young Japanese-American girl with whom Henry forms a fast bond of friendship. "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford is a story of hope, love, and the extraordinary committment of an unforgettable duo who have learned to forge ahead because they possess the power of forgiveness.
Milena Shabnov flees the home she loves to come to America, finding that the mining town she is living in is barbaric and the working conditions inhumane. Greed, brutal treatment of women, and a company with little regard for the safety and wellbeing of its workers is a way of life, but Jack Buchanan, a worker at the mine, knows no other life. When miners begin to disappear, Milena, gifted with "the sight," feels the despair and restless spirits all around her, trusting no one, especially Jack Buchanan, a man haunted by his own past in "Jasper Mountain" by Kathy Steffen.
The magic of food comes alive for eight students who gather weekly in Lillian's restaurant to learn a new recipe, but as the group begins to connect on a different level, their secrets are revealed. One by one, each student is transformed by what they learn in the class, not only of what they create in the kitchen, but the companionship that they find in one another in "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister.
It is 1962 Mississippi and twenty two year old Skeeter has just graduated from Ole Miss. When she meets up with Aibileen, a black maid, and her best friend, short and stocky Minny, the three women form a bond as a clandestine project brings them together in "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, a story full of hope, humor, and the bonds of mothers, daughters, caregivers, and women everywhere who want to make a difference.
More thoughts to ponder: If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what other language can you recite at a play, but play at a recital; and who can figure out how noses can run, but feet can smell?
For more "awkward English," check out "The Play of Words: Fun and Games for Language Lovers" and "The Revenge of Anguished English: More Accidental Assaults on Our Language," by by Richard Lederer, both available at JCPL. Still confused? Me too; coz it's all Greek to me!
Some examples of sentences gone wrong include this one outside of a Hong Kong tailor shop as they invite, "Ladies may have a fit upstairs." In Japan, a detour sign read, "Stop: Drive sideways." The awkward English is not limited to other countries, however. In the U.S., a general store window advertises, "Why go elsewhere and be cheated when you can come right here?" This Tennessee highway sign warns drivers, "Take notice. When this sign is under water, this road is impassable." Huh?
Don't let these convoluted sentences strain your brain! Read on for some new fiction titles from the Jasper County Public Library that will cure that "brain strain."
As a crowd gathers outside of the Panama Hotel, boarded up for decades and under new ownership, the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internmnet camps during World War II surface, and among these items is a Japanese parasol. Henry Lee watches as someone opens the parasol, and this small act takes him back to his school days, snubbed by his American classmates, but befriended by Keiko, a young Japanese-American girl with whom Henry forms a fast bond of friendship. "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford is a story of hope, love, and the extraordinary committment of an unforgettable duo who have learned to forge ahead because they possess the power of forgiveness.
Milena Shabnov flees the home she loves to come to America, finding that the mining town she is living in is barbaric and the working conditions inhumane. Greed, brutal treatment of women, and a company with little regard for the safety and wellbeing of its workers is a way of life, but Jack Buchanan, a worker at the mine, knows no other life. When miners begin to disappear, Milena, gifted with "the sight," feels the despair and restless spirits all around her, trusting no one, especially Jack Buchanan, a man haunted by his own past in "Jasper Mountain" by Kathy Steffen.
The magic of food comes alive for eight students who gather weekly in Lillian's restaurant to learn a new recipe, but as the group begins to connect on a different level, their secrets are revealed. One by one, each student is transformed by what they learn in the class, not only of what they create in the kitchen, but the companionship that they find in one another in "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister.
It is 1962 Mississippi and twenty two year old Skeeter has just graduated from Ole Miss. When she meets up with Aibileen, a black maid, and her best friend, short and stocky Minny, the three women form a bond as a clandestine project brings them together in "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, a story full of hope, humor, and the bonds of mothers, daughters, caregivers, and women everywhere who want to make a difference.
More thoughts to ponder: If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what other language can you recite at a play, but play at a recital; and who can figure out how noses can run, but feet can smell?
For more "awkward English," check out "The Play of Words: Fun and Games for Language Lovers" and "The Revenge of Anguished English: More Accidental Assaults on Our Language," by by Richard Lederer, both available at JCPL. Still confused? Me too; coz it's all Greek to me!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Attention all Avid Readers!
Truly avid readers will almost always have something nearby that they can browse through. Whether it's a newspaper, a current book or magazine, or even the back of a cereal box at the breakfast table doesn't matter; everything is fair game to an avid reader. One morning, for lack of anything better to look at while I ate my morning doughnut, I picked up a Menard's ad that came with the Sunday paper. While browsing its pages, I noticed that at the bottom of each page, there is, in small print, a short sentence that I guess would constitute "words of wisdom." For example, at the bottom of page 7 you'll find, "Laws are not invented; they grow out of circumstances." Another, on page 6 says, "Silence is not always tact and it is tact that is golden, not silence." (whoever coined this one does NOT have children or grandchildren!) I just wonder how many folks look at that paper on a regular basis and never realize that the pages include anything more than advertisements for windows, doors, tools or other household necessities.
While reading tidbits of wisdom from the Menard's ad was a fun way to learn something new, checking out some new nonfiction from the Jasper County Public Library may be just the step up that you need to learn something more! Check out these new titles.
If you're lucky enough to be making money at all these days, you're doing well; and being able to not only make money, but to also find creative ways to invest, save, and eliminate debt are awesome in today's financial world. "The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough" by Smart Cookies features five young women who formed a money club and developed strategies for turning their own sinking finances around. This recipe for success is a how-to guide for everyone who is looking for a fun and simple way to effectively manage their money.
Federal Agent, Jay Dobyns, chronicles the amazing feat of infiltrating Hells' Angels in "No Angel," the incredible, but true account of his harrowing journey into the world of society's most notorious group of bikers, as he leads a double life in his quest to become "fully patched" into the ranks of the Angels. This highly charged, adreneline rush of a true crime book will have you "white knuckling" your chair, as you see the author lose himself in this group of rebels, coming a hairsbreadth away from sacrificing his wife, children and very life when he realizes that the success of infiltrating this band of bikers has come with a hefty price.
World renowned psychic, Sylvia Browne, lays to rest the question of where our beloved pets end up after they leave us. Bereft pet owners will be comforted by "All Pets Go to Heaven" as Sylvia Browne describes the uniqueness of animals, their quirks, habits and emotions, providing heartwarming tales of the never ending loyalty and heroic deeds that show us how pets are true companions on both sides of life.
If you're shopping for tools, household gadgets, siding or other necessities, or even looking for "words to live by" to get you through the day, don't hesitate to refer to a Menard's ad. But if you want to really kick back, relax and forget about the yard or house for even a short time, stop in any branch of JCPL and "step up" your game with a new non-fiction title that will keep you riveted from beginning to end!
While reading tidbits of wisdom from the Menard's ad was a fun way to learn something new, checking out some new nonfiction from the Jasper County Public Library may be just the step up that you need to learn something more! Check out these new titles.
If you're lucky enough to be making money at all these days, you're doing well; and being able to not only make money, but to also find creative ways to invest, save, and eliminate debt are awesome in today's financial world. "The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough" by Smart Cookies features five young women who formed a money club and developed strategies for turning their own sinking finances around. This recipe for success is a how-to guide for everyone who is looking for a fun and simple way to effectively manage their money.
Federal Agent, Jay Dobyns, chronicles the amazing feat of infiltrating Hells' Angels in "No Angel," the incredible, but true account of his harrowing journey into the world of society's most notorious group of bikers, as he leads a double life in his quest to become "fully patched" into the ranks of the Angels. This highly charged, adreneline rush of a true crime book will have you "white knuckling" your chair, as you see the author lose himself in this group of rebels, coming a hairsbreadth away from sacrificing his wife, children and very life when he realizes that the success of infiltrating this band of bikers has come with a hefty price.
World renowned psychic, Sylvia Browne, lays to rest the question of where our beloved pets end up after they leave us. Bereft pet owners will be comforted by "All Pets Go to Heaven" as Sylvia Browne describes the uniqueness of animals, their quirks, habits and emotions, providing heartwarming tales of the never ending loyalty and heroic deeds that show us how pets are true companions on both sides of life.
If you're shopping for tools, household gadgets, siding or other necessities, or even looking for "words to live by" to get you through the day, don't hesitate to refer to a Menard's ad. But if you want to really kick back, relax and forget about the yard or house for even a short time, stop in any branch of JCPL and "step up" your game with a new non-fiction title that will keep you riveted from beginning to end!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
New Fiction to Ring in Spring at JCPL
One of my favorite magazines is Reader's Digest. Within the folds of its pages, you can laugh, learn and every once in awhile, enjoy "sniglets." These imaginary words are fun, and are always good to bring about that "aha!" moment; the moment that strikes a chord and you identify with the meaning behind the word. For example, this winter introduced the folks of northwest Indiana to the "chorecast." A "chorecast" is just a forecast with a twist; one that lets you know that along with whatever Mother Nature is sending our way, there will be shoveling involved. If you were lucky enough to get out of the house this winter, you may have encountered an "acceligator," someone who, while yakking on a cell phone, is also tailgating you. Reaching your destination, you'll want to be on the lookout for a "pickparker," someone who brazenly steals the parking space that you are about to pull into.
If you've had enough of the chorecast, been followed by one too many acceligators, or have been aggravated by a pickparker, stop in your local branch of JCPL and check out a new fiction title that will take your mind off your troubles.
After the state shuts him down for practicing detection without a license, Teddy gives up the idea of investigating altogether. But when a man that Teddy had just befriended the day before turns up dead in front of his office, Teddy suspects foul play and his investigative skills kick into high gear. Add to that two unexpected visitors from the pound, and "The Highly Effective Detective Goes to the Dogs" by Richard Yancey becomes a humorous romp of twists, and turns into the hot pusuit of a comically colorful murder investigation.
Entrepreneur and billionaire, James Sands, is riding high on the tide of success in the world of business, but is losing ground in his personal life and marriage to wife, Anne. Delving even deeper into a business deal that will give him control over all of the public water in the Pacific Northwest, Sands finds his empire crumbling when he discovers that his business partner has been murdered in "The Army of the Republic" by Stuart Archer Cohen, a novel of political intrigue.
Taking on the problems of the world, Claire Danner Crispin readily agrees to co-chair the Nantucket Children Summer Gala, and realizes only too late that she has been duped into hosting the event because of her connections to rock star, Max West. One catastrophe leads to another, and Claire comes to the conclusion that it's time to establish some boundaries in her life in "A Summer Affair" by Elin Hilderbrand.
Time to "op-up" (push your glasses back up on the bridge of your nose), and find your "nagivator" (spouse or partner who enjoys being a backseat driver) and come to the Jasper County Library, where you can stock up on good books right before the budding bushes, flowers and trees bring on a fit of one sneeze after another, better known in the world of sniglets as a "sneezure."
If you've had enough of the chorecast, been followed by one too many acceligators, or have been aggravated by a pickparker, stop in your local branch of JCPL and check out a new fiction title that will take your mind off your troubles.
After the state shuts him down for practicing detection without a license, Teddy gives up the idea of investigating altogether. But when a man that Teddy had just befriended the day before turns up dead in front of his office, Teddy suspects foul play and his investigative skills kick into high gear. Add to that two unexpected visitors from the pound, and "The Highly Effective Detective Goes to the Dogs" by Richard Yancey becomes a humorous romp of twists, and turns into the hot pusuit of a comically colorful murder investigation.
Entrepreneur and billionaire, James Sands, is riding high on the tide of success in the world of business, but is losing ground in his personal life and marriage to wife, Anne. Delving even deeper into a business deal that will give him control over all of the public water in the Pacific Northwest, Sands finds his empire crumbling when he discovers that his business partner has been murdered in "The Army of the Republic" by Stuart Archer Cohen, a novel of political intrigue.
Taking on the problems of the world, Claire Danner Crispin readily agrees to co-chair the Nantucket Children Summer Gala, and realizes only too late that she has been duped into hosting the event because of her connections to rock star, Max West. One catastrophe leads to another, and Claire comes to the conclusion that it's time to establish some boundaries in her life in "A Summer Affair" by Elin Hilderbrand.
Time to "op-up" (push your glasses back up on the bridge of your nose), and find your "nagivator" (spouse or partner who enjoys being a backseat driver) and come to the Jasper County Library, where you can stock up on good books right before the budding bushes, flowers and trees bring on a fit of one sneeze after another, better known in the world of sniglets as a "sneezure."
Sunday, March 1, 2009
New Fiction Titles Offer an Adventure in Choice Reading Material!
A recent episode of the Bonnie Hunt Show featured George Lopez as a guest. As Bonnie interviewed George about his family life, the topic turned to kids, and the many conveniences and choices that are available to them today. As the conversation continued, it led to how things were when WE were kids. Our choices were limited to fried bologna to eat and Kool Aid to drink, with only two flavors to choose from, and they were both red.
Things have changed, I'll admit. A trip to the grocery store can be a visit to the state of confusion because of all the choices. Even choosing toothpaste feels like a test. Whiter teeth and fresher breath can be mine if I only choose the right one. Therein lies the confusion; do I want the added bonus of tartar control, extra whitening, fluoride, or do I have sensitive teeth that require extra ingredients? Soup is a study in confusion for me as well. They all boast the word "healthy." I bought a can of potato soup called, "Healthy Potato Soup." I bought it because I didn't want the unhealthy version of potato soup.
Take a break from the mind boggling parade of choices by visiting your local branch of JCPL, where the new adult fiction titles on the shelves can make your book shopping experience an adventure in choices that you'll actually enjoy!
In "Just Breathe" by Susan Wiggs, Sarah Moon works out the issues of her own life through the characters that she has created in her cartoon comic strip. While her personal life and marriage are falling apart, Sarah goes on hiatus to the small town in California where she grew up, reconnecting with her emotionally distant father and coming to terms with the loss of her marriage as she begins her life again, all the while, keeping her alter ego comic strip hero, Shirl, close at hand.
What starts out looking like a tragic drowning accident for Christina Haynes, the daughter of a popular U.S. Senator, ultimately turns into a murder investigation with well respected African American attorney, Rayne Martin, held as the chief suspect. "Undertow" by Sydney Bauer builds lies, deceit, and threats, one on top of another, taking unexpected twists and turns into the mysterious world of politics, creating page-turning suspense until the shocking finale.
Illicit love affairs with the wife and stepdaughter of his boss leave Cason Statler unemployed from his job at a prestigious Houston newspaper. Never a person to consider the possibility of staying politically correct, Cason struggles to find his place in the world. Latching on to a story about a young college student who mysteriously went missing six months before may be just the jump start that Cason's career needs in "Leather Maiden" by Joe R. Lansdale.
In th blink of an eye, the lives of the Churchill family are irrevocably changed when Kara Churchill, a high school student driving home one spring afternoon, goes through a crosswalk, striking and fatally injuring another young student. "The Rest of Her Life" by Laura Moriarty resonates with the deeply drawn lines that connect mothers and daughters, illuminating those relationships with real emotion and depth of feeling.
Eeny, meenie, miny, mo; that was the technically scientific method that we used as children to make choices, and when deluged with too much information, it sometimes still works for me today. But when you shop for a book at JCPL, you won't have to resort to any extreme approach. All you have to do is ask a staff member the magic question: Have you read anything good lately that you can recommend?
Things have changed, I'll admit. A trip to the grocery store can be a visit to the state of confusion because of all the choices. Even choosing toothpaste feels like a test. Whiter teeth and fresher breath can be mine if I only choose the right one. Therein lies the confusion; do I want the added bonus of tartar control, extra whitening, fluoride, or do I have sensitive teeth that require extra ingredients? Soup is a study in confusion for me as well. They all boast the word "healthy." I bought a can of potato soup called, "Healthy Potato Soup." I bought it because I didn't want the unhealthy version of potato soup.
Take a break from the mind boggling parade of choices by visiting your local branch of JCPL, where the new adult fiction titles on the shelves can make your book shopping experience an adventure in choices that you'll actually enjoy!
In "Just Breathe" by Susan Wiggs, Sarah Moon works out the issues of her own life through the characters that she has created in her cartoon comic strip. While her personal life and marriage are falling apart, Sarah goes on hiatus to the small town in California where she grew up, reconnecting with her emotionally distant father and coming to terms with the loss of her marriage as she begins her life again, all the while, keeping her alter ego comic strip hero, Shirl, close at hand.
What starts out looking like a tragic drowning accident for Christina Haynes, the daughter of a popular U.S. Senator, ultimately turns into a murder investigation with well respected African American attorney, Rayne Martin, held as the chief suspect. "Undertow" by Sydney Bauer builds lies, deceit, and threats, one on top of another, taking unexpected twists and turns into the mysterious world of politics, creating page-turning suspense until the shocking finale.
Illicit love affairs with the wife and stepdaughter of his boss leave Cason Statler unemployed from his job at a prestigious Houston newspaper. Never a person to consider the possibility of staying politically correct, Cason struggles to find his place in the world. Latching on to a story about a young college student who mysteriously went missing six months before may be just the jump start that Cason's career needs in "Leather Maiden" by Joe R. Lansdale.
In th blink of an eye, the lives of the Churchill family are irrevocably changed when Kara Churchill, a high school student driving home one spring afternoon, goes through a crosswalk, striking and fatally injuring another young student. "The Rest of Her Life" by Laura Moriarty resonates with the deeply drawn lines that connect mothers and daughters, illuminating those relationships with real emotion and depth of feeling.
Eeny, meenie, miny, mo; that was the technically scientific method that we used as children to make choices, and when deluged with too much information, it sometimes still works for me today. But when you shop for a book at JCPL, you won't have to resort to any extreme approach. All you have to do is ask a staff member the magic question: Have you read anything good lately that you can recommend?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
JCPL Has Romance Titles You'll Love!
Love is in the air; and in February, love and romance conjure visions of flowers, candy, and hearts. Love songs abound, and poets run amuck with words to express the sheer elation and devastation of LOVE! Authors do their best to dissect the whole phenomenon of love. A great example is John Gray's "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus," which was not only a great guide to understanding the opposite sex, but also wonderful fodder for many a comedian and talk show host. The late George Carlin summed up his take on the idea with, "Men are from earth; women are from earth. Deal with it!"
At the Jasper County Public Library, we bring love and romance to the table with a variety of authors, plots, and settings designed to appeal to the romantic in you. Check these out!
For contemporary romance at its best, check out a book by Susan Wiggs. Most of her books highlight women's issues, focusing on her protagonist's struggles to attain balance in a world that can be a roller coaster ride. Intelligent and sometimes funny dialogue, along with a leisurely but irresistibly enticing pace, take the reader on a woman's journey into self discovery, with a dynamic subplot of romance that gives her characters a realistic quality that you come to care about as you read. Two of my favorite titles by Wiggs are "Home Before Dark," featuring Jessie Ryder, a woman who has discovered that she is losing her eyesight and wants to reconnect with her daughter before her world goes dark and "Summer at Willow Lake," the first installment of the Lakeshore Chronicles, featuring Olivia Bellamy, as she and her former friend, Connor, reconnect during a project they are both working on at her family's New York resort.
Other authors of contemporary romance include Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, Danielle Steel, and Jennifer Crusie.
If you prefer to be on the edge of your seat as you enjoy your ride with romance, check out books by Sandra Brown, Suzanne Brockmann, Lisa Scottoline, and Iris Johansen. Mastering the romantic suspense genre with expertise, these authors manage to keep their readers turning pages, combining mystery and romance to a thrilling conclusion. "Long After Midnight" by Iris Johansen introduces us to Kate Denby, a young scientist in search of a cure for diseases, specifically zeroing in on a medicine that will keep the human body from rejecting donated organs. But when an explosion rocks Kate's world and kills two people in her life, she realizes that she was the intended target and must save herself and her 9 year old son from certain death.
What is love? Here are Woody Allen's thoughts on the matter: "To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down."
So, I say, why suffer? Celebrate love in the best way possible; by curling up in your favorite easy chair and losing yourself in a great book from JCPL!
At the Jasper County Public Library, we bring love and romance to the table with a variety of authors, plots, and settings designed to appeal to the romantic in you. Check these out!
For contemporary romance at its best, check out a book by Susan Wiggs. Most of her books highlight women's issues, focusing on her protagonist's struggles to attain balance in a world that can be a roller coaster ride. Intelligent and sometimes funny dialogue, along with a leisurely but irresistibly enticing pace, take the reader on a woman's journey into self discovery, with a dynamic subplot of romance that gives her characters a realistic quality that you come to care about as you read. Two of my favorite titles by Wiggs are "Home Before Dark," featuring Jessie Ryder, a woman who has discovered that she is losing her eyesight and wants to reconnect with her daughter before her world goes dark and "Summer at Willow Lake," the first installment of the Lakeshore Chronicles, featuring Olivia Bellamy, as she and her former friend, Connor, reconnect during a project they are both working on at her family's New York resort.
Other authors of contemporary romance include Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, Danielle Steel, and Jennifer Crusie.
If you prefer to be on the edge of your seat as you enjoy your ride with romance, check out books by Sandra Brown, Suzanne Brockmann, Lisa Scottoline, and Iris Johansen. Mastering the romantic suspense genre with expertise, these authors manage to keep their readers turning pages, combining mystery and romance to a thrilling conclusion. "Long After Midnight" by Iris Johansen introduces us to Kate Denby, a young scientist in search of a cure for diseases, specifically zeroing in on a medicine that will keep the human body from rejecting donated organs. But when an explosion rocks Kate's world and kills two people in her life, she realizes that she was the intended target and must save herself and her 9 year old son from certain death.
What is love? Here are Woody Allen's thoughts on the matter: "To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down."
So, I say, why suffer? Celebrate love in the best way possible; by curling up in your favorite easy chair and losing yourself in a great book from JCPL!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Get a Good Book at JCPL ASAP
We are a short order society. The quicker, the better. And getting in touch with one another is easier and quicker than ever these days as well. Speed dial and texting get you in touch, ASAP. Whether in the AM, the PM, CST, EST, or PST, we can reach each other 24/7. A little TLC in your communication may make you BFF, or even make you LOL.
FYI, however, keep in mind that you need ID for everything these days. If you go to the ATM, you need a PIN on payday, and to that I say, TGIF! Getting home, you'll want to settle in, grab a PBJ or a BLT, pour an OJ and watch TV. Or, maybe you'd rather read? No need for a PI's help in that area. Just go to JCPL, where TEAM is the buzz-word. We'll help you find some great new fiction, PDQ! Check out these new titles!
"The Importance of Being Married" by Gemma Townley is the first in the Wild trilogy. Creatively written, the main character in this series is Jessica Wild, a young woman who befriends Grace, a sweet old lady in a nursing home. With each visit, Jessica's nonexistent love life blossoms into a fabricated, tangled web of deceit, as Jessica leads Grace to believe that she is engaged, and then married, to her glamorous boss, Anthony Milton. When Grace passes away, she leaves her fortune to Jessica; not Jessica Wild, but Jessica Milton. Oh the tangled webs we weave, Jessica! Will Jessica be able to snag her boss and make him her husband? And is it worth the fortune that awaits her?
Abbie Grace Coleman and Doss Michaels come from two very different backgrounds. Despite their different upbringings, they marry and believe that they are one another's true soul mates. When Abbie falls ill, she makes a list of 10 things she wants to accomplish before she dies. With Doss at her side, the pair embark on a journey that takes them down the St. Mary's River in "Where the River Ends" by Charles Martin.
A twenty year absence finds Randall Wilkes back in Pilgrim's Rest, Tennessee, where he accepts a low profile position from once governor, Sonny McMahon. But when Sonny's mother is brutally murdered, Randall must put his past investigative skills to the test and draw on his knowledge of his old stomping grounds in "Damnation Falls" by Edward Wright.
Ebb, Nebraska is a quaint farming town. More than 100 days without rain have the residents of this small town seeking miracles, and they believe the answer to their prayers lies in Vernon Moore, a traveling salesman and occasional miracle worker. But the town millionaire, Clem Tucker, has a proposal for Vernon that defies the town in "The Widows of Eden" by George Shaffner.
If you would like to RSVP to anything in this column, just contact any branch of JCPL, and we'll fill you in with info, YTD. You don't need a UPC to check out books, which all have an ISBN. At JCPL, we strive for good PR, which means that we'll BBL with more titles, which are TBA. TIA, and we'll TTYL.
FYI, however, keep in mind that you need ID for everything these days. If you go to the ATM, you need a PIN on payday, and to that I say, TGIF! Getting home, you'll want to settle in, grab a PBJ or a BLT, pour an OJ and watch TV. Or, maybe you'd rather read? No need for a PI's help in that area. Just go to JCPL, where TEAM is the buzz-word. We'll help you find some great new fiction, PDQ! Check out these new titles!
"The Importance of Being Married" by Gemma Townley is the first in the Wild trilogy. Creatively written, the main character in this series is Jessica Wild, a young woman who befriends Grace, a sweet old lady in a nursing home. With each visit, Jessica's nonexistent love life blossoms into a fabricated, tangled web of deceit, as Jessica leads Grace to believe that she is engaged, and then married, to her glamorous boss, Anthony Milton. When Grace passes away, she leaves her fortune to Jessica; not Jessica Wild, but Jessica Milton. Oh the tangled webs we weave, Jessica! Will Jessica be able to snag her boss and make him her husband? And is it worth the fortune that awaits her?
Abbie Grace Coleman and Doss Michaels come from two very different backgrounds. Despite their different upbringings, they marry and believe that they are one another's true soul mates. When Abbie falls ill, she makes a list of 10 things she wants to accomplish before she dies. With Doss at her side, the pair embark on a journey that takes them down the St. Mary's River in "Where the River Ends" by Charles Martin.
A twenty year absence finds Randall Wilkes back in Pilgrim's Rest, Tennessee, where he accepts a low profile position from once governor, Sonny McMahon. But when Sonny's mother is brutally murdered, Randall must put his past investigative skills to the test and draw on his knowledge of his old stomping grounds in "Damnation Falls" by Edward Wright.
Ebb, Nebraska is a quaint farming town. More than 100 days without rain have the residents of this small town seeking miracles, and they believe the answer to their prayers lies in Vernon Moore, a traveling salesman and occasional miracle worker. But the town millionaire, Clem Tucker, has a proposal for Vernon that defies the town in "The Widows of Eden" by George Shaffner.
If you would like to RSVP to anything in this column, just contact any branch of JCPL, and we'll fill you in with info, YTD. You don't need a UPC to check out books, which all have an ISBN. At JCPL, we strive for good PR, which means that we'll BBL with more titles, which are TBA. TIA, and we'll TTYL.
Friday, January 16, 2009
JCPL's New Nonfiction Keeps You in the Know
What do you know? This ordinarily casual question was taken to new heights by former Secretary of State, Donald Rumsfeld, with this quote: "There are known knowns. There are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know."
Are you dazed and confused yet? Don't be! Just read on for the latest and greatest in nonfiction at JCPL, and you'll really be "in the know."
If you had to guess what the number one cause of mortality in women is, what would you say? Possibly breast cancer, or something relating to women, right? Would you believe that the answer is actually heart disease? "Women's Heart: An Owner's Guide" by John A. Elefteriades, M.D. gives lifesaving guidance on the cardiovascular health of women, and how to best monitor heart health.
In "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey" by Jenny McCarthy, the author uses raw honesty and humor to share her experiences as she delves into the world of autism, searching for answers as her son, Evan, is ultimately diagnosed with the disorder.
"Thousand Mile Song" by David Rothenberg brings us in touch with the mystery of whales, and the sonic sound of their undersea world, entertaining the reader with his observations as he studies the natural habitats of these mysterious mammals. Traveling from Russia to Canada to Hawaii, this philosopher and musician uncovers profound intelligence in the ocean's depths.
The loving relationship of Bart and Jenn Corbin turns out be more than meets the eye when Jenn commits suicide, shattering the facade of their happy home. "Too Late to Say Goodbye" by Ann Rule is true crime at its best, relating the events of Jenn's death and the subsequent investigation that uncovered Bart as a phony who lived a double life, ultimately leading him to be charged with Jenn's murder.
What do you know? No doubt, you know what you know with no question, and knowing that, you know that no matter what, no one is in the know more than you. There's only one more thing you need to know, and that's that to know JCPL is to know that nothing is really unknown. Do you know what I mean?
Are you dazed and confused yet? Don't be! Just read on for the latest and greatest in nonfiction at JCPL, and you'll really be "in the know."
If you had to guess what the number one cause of mortality in women is, what would you say? Possibly breast cancer, or something relating to women, right? Would you believe that the answer is actually heart disease? "Women's Heart: An Owner's Guide" by John A. Elefteriades, M.D. gives lifesaving guidance on the cardiovascular health of women, and how to best monitor heart health.
In "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey" by Jenny McCarthy, the author uses raw honesty and humor to share her experiences as she delves into the world of autism, searching for answers as her son, Evan, is ultimately diagnosed with the disorder.
"Thousand Mile Song" by David Rothenberg brings us in touch with the mystery of whales, and the sonic sound of their undersea world, entertaining the reader with his observations as he studies the natural habitats of these mysterious mammals. Traveling from Russia to Canada to Hawaii, this philosopher and musician uncovers profound intelligence in the ocean's depths.
The loving relationship of Bart and Jenn Corbin turns out be more than meets the eye when Jenn commits suicide, shattering the facade of their happy home. "Too Late to Say Goodbye" by Ann Rule is true crime at its best, relating the events of Jenn's death and the subsequent investigation that uncovered Bart as a phony who lived a double life, ultimately leading him to be charged with Jenn's murder.
What do you know? No doubt, you know what you know with no question, and knowing that, you know that no matter what, no one is in the know more than you. There's only one more thing you need to know, and that's that to know JCPL is to know that nothing is really unknown. Do you know what I mean?
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