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.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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!
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