Think Ahead With These New Non-Fiction Titles From JCPL!

“You’ll shoot your eye out!” Ralphie’s mother in “A Christmas Story” knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if he got that Red Ryder BB Gun that he wanted so badly for Christmas, he would definitely shoot his eye out.

Most mothers (and grandmothers) would see things that way, anticipating the dreaded consequence of one moment’s carelessness before it even happens. It’s not a “crystal ball” realization; it’s not a “gut feeling;” and it’s not even a skill, such as mothers have, with eyes in the back of their heads and all. You can call it experience, or you can call it wisdom, or you can call it expertise, or just chalk it up to intuition, but in “The Two Second Advantage: How We Succeed by Anticipating the Future” by Vivek Ranadive, it would be chalked up to “predictive technology,” or mastering the ability to predict what will happen BEFORE it happens. This powerfully written guide to “thinking ahead” is the result of fifteen years of scientific data that has separated the good from the great, and the finding is that the one distinguishing factor to greatness is the ability to anticipate events just seconds before they occur. For example, what made Wayne Gretzky the greatest hockey player of all time? The answer is that he had the ability to predict where the hockey puck was going to land just before it met its destination. Similarly, companies that use “predictive technology” to see snafus and operational problems before they occur are much more successful in their business than those that don’t.
Anticipating the future by checking out this new non-fiction title from your local branch of the Jasper County Public Library, as well as the others listed here, is a sure bet that you’re on the road to success. Check these out!

When a health scare prompts journalist, Jenkins McKay on a quest to find out what toxins he might be harboring in his body, his investigation led him to find out the truth about toxic chemicals that reach alarming levels; and they’re in ordinary things and familiar places. “What’s Gotten Into Us? Staying Healthy in a Toxic World” by Jenkins McKay will empower you as a consumer with the knowledge that you need to regain control over your life, making your environment, thus, your body, less toxic.

The role reversal that an adult child faces when taking care of an aging parent becomes a necessity is addressed in “A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents and Ourselves.” Remembering that caring for your parent is much worse on them than it is on you is the first key to a successful, insightful experience. This valuable guide offers important facts, including state laws and licensing requirements for financial, legal and other matters that affect the elderly. Qualifying for Medicare is also addressed, along with the options of assisted living and round the clock care verses nursing home care; all in all a very valuable resource for those facing the possibility of caring for aging parents.

The ever increasing divorce rate in this country is testament to the fact that many marriages just don’t fall into the “happily ever after” category. Failure to achieve marital bliss is a well-known fact, but we don’t hear much about the marriages that last. In “The Secret Lives of Wives: Women Who Share What It Takes to Stay Married” by Iris Krasnow, over 200 women whose marriages have lasted anywhere from 15-70 years were interviewed, and their secrets are revealed in this guide to “till death do us part.”

An expert at overcoming obstacles, both personal and professional, Bethany Frankel offers no-nonsense, tell it like it is advice for dealing with daily challenges in “A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life.” This book includes rules that set examples for learning the route to success by not doubting yourself and having an “I can” attitude, leading to a more fulfilled, healthier and downright amazing future for you.

Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” definitely had a “can do” attitude, and visited “A Place of Yes,” because in the end, he got his Red Ryder BB Gun, against his mother’s better judgment. Mother Knows Best, especially when it comes to keeping both eyes intact, because you won’t want to miss all of these great, new titles at JCPL!

Variety is the Spice of Life With all That JCPL Has to Offer In Reading Material!

Shopping around is a great way to unearth deals and bargains. The best bargain, by far this holiday season, is right in your hometown, and the deals right at your fingertips. Are you a traditional reader, who enjoys the feel of a book in your hand, or is your choice of reading material more along the lines of Nook, Kindle, or some other mobile device? Maybe you prefer to hear your favorite books read aloud as you drive or as you work; in that case, audio-books are the perfect choice for you.


Books come in all shapes, sizes and forms, and at the Jasper County Public Library, we understand your need for access to the hottest, most popular titles available, and we strive to provide the most current titles, no matter which genre you prefer.


Each branch of JCPL houses the newest titles of print materials in a separate space, so that you can shop quickly and see, at a glance, the most current books available. For those who prefer eBooks, JCPL now offers a new collection of titles through a service called, “Overdrive.” Through Overdrive, you can check out popular e-Book titles with your library card and enjoy them for a lending period of 7-14 days. Titles automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are no late fees. To get started with Overdrive, first go to the Indiana Digital Download Center site at iddc.lib.overdrive.com and download the software that you’ll need for your system, then you can browse the collection and download your favorite titles. There are hundreds of titles to choose from!


Audio-books are available in a myriad of titles, which may also be checked out for a three week lending period and renewed for another three weeks as well.


The weather outside may be cold, but the choices of materials at the Jasper County Public Library are hotter than ever. Stop in and check it out!

Kick Start Your Autumn Break With These New Fiction Titles at JCPL!

Remember the story problems that we did as kids in school? Here is a story problem: If today is November 9 and there are 30 days in November and thirty one days in December and Christmas falls on December 25, how many days are left until Christmas? I never was a whiz at math, but if I cheat and look at the calendar, I can tell you that there are 46 days until Christmas, and if I divide the 46 days into weeks, it’s still OVER 6 weeks until Santa makes his appearance. Department stores and TV ads are already playing Jingle Bells and “decking the halls.” Halloween is barely out of the woods and Christmas is already making an appearance. Have I slept through the fall months? Have I already missed my most favorite of all holidays; Thanksgiving?! Gee whiz, is it fair to shortchange Turkey Day and the fall season and jump straight into winter? Time to take a break and kick back and enjoy these cool, blustery days and snuggle into the nest that will soon enough be hard to find time for, and read, read, read! Here are a few new fiction titles from your friends at JCPL that will kick start your autumn break!

Dewey Andreas is searching for peace, and hopes to find it in rural Australia. Unfortunately, the powers that he once fought against are out for revenge, and now they’ve found him, forcing him to fight for his life. On the other side of the globe in Pakistan, a radical cleric has gained power, starting an all out war with India that quickly escalates out of control. With the threat of nuclear response a high probability, the need for a cease fire is more important than ever, and there is only one man who can lead a team that can pull off the impossible task; Dewey Andreas. But can he get out of Australia alive? Find out in “Coup d’Etat” by Ben Coes.

Amelia Wilkes and Anthony Winter are high school seniors, desperately in love. Amelia’s father, Harlan, however, will not allow his daughter to date. Her mother, Kim, though, is more open minded and keeps the couple’s secret. When Harlan discovers the couple’s passion for one another via intimate pictures on Amelia’s computer, his fury turns to a lust for revenge against the young man, and Harlan turns him into local law enforcement, creating a public case that takes disturbing twists and turns in “Exposure” by Therese Fowler.

When a hostage situation arises in a television studio, former investigative journalist, Tom Pegg finds himself embroiled in the mess when the kidnapper chooses him as a go-between. Events turn chaotic and the drama reaches a fever pitch when two very different people are thrown together by the crisis, resulting in gripping and page-turning suspense in “The Blue Light Project” by Timothy Taylor.

With streets named Nutcracker Court and Sugar Plum Lane, Fairbrook is the perfect town for Christmas glitz. But the holiday season isn’t what it’s cracked up to be for all of Fairbrook’s residents, including single mom, Carly Westbrook, who is struggling to make ends meet and still provide a nice Christmas for her boys, and Grant Barrows, a formerly wealthy businessman struggling to come to grips with his shrinking bank account. Still, the local ladies group holds out hope that a Christmas miracle may come to pass in “Christmas on Nutcracker Court” by Judy Duarte.

If there are 24 hours in a day and 46 days until Christmas, that adds up to 1,104 hours. Taking time out to relax and escape into the characters and plot of a good book checked out from the Jasper County Public Library might just fit into that schedule. If you do the math, you’ll discover that I’m 100% correct!

"Teachable Moments" Are Within Each and Every Book You Read!

Life is full of “teachable moments.” “You learn something new every day” is my mantra. If you’re an avid reader, you know this phrase to be true. Even if what you normally read is fiction, there’s always a grain of truth and a lesson or two in each story. In a previous article, I had described a book written by Lisa Genova entitled, “Left Neglected,” using the blurb from the front of the book to explain the story. After writing it up, I decided to check the book out from the Jasper County Public Library and read it myself, and found it to be one “teachable moment” after another. The story revolves around Sarah Nickerson, a “yuppie” who has it all; a high powered job as the vice president of a human resources firm, three children, involved in sports and other recreational activities, a wonderful, supportive husband, who is also an overachiever in his chosen career, and a beautiful home in a well-to-do Boston suburb, as well as a house in Vermont. Having it all, however, comes at a price, and Sarah finds that out one rainy day while multitasking on her way to a meeting, texting and driving at 70 miles per hour straight into a line of traffic that has come to a complete stop. Totaling her car and waking up in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury, Sarah is shocked to find that the left side of everything, including her body, has literally disappeared off of her radar. She is suffering from “Left Neglect,” a syndrome that entails much physical therapy to restore the left half of everything, including things we take for granted every day; the food on the left half of her plate, anyone seated to the left of her, even the left half of her own face is devoid of makeup after she’s sure she’s covered all ground during her usual makeup routine. During her therapy and recovery, her husband, Bob, needs help with their three children and calls in Sarah’s mother. Sarah has unresolved issues with her mother, feeling neglected herself during her childhood after her only brother, Nate, drowned in a friend’s pool at a young age, leaving her mother so depressed and guilt ridden that she couldn’t bring herself to care for her remaining child and husband. Sarah’s recovery is slow, and the author does a fabulously hilarious job of describing in detail one comical misadventure after another as Sarah accepts her Left Neglect, along with the help of her mother, healing both her body and psyche as she comes to fully understand her mother’s longstanding depression and her own shortcomings as well.

After reading the book, I looked up “Left Neglect” and discovered that it is a real medical condition, brought on by stroke, or other injury to the brain. Want to learn more? Check out these other new fiction titles from JCPL.

John and Laura Foster are aboard a steamship headed straight for a hurricane on the Atlantic coast, and are faced with the terrifying possibility of being separated when the women and children on the ship are evacuated to another ship. “Deepest Waters” by Dan Walsh is set in a pre-Civil war era, and is based on the true-life sinking of the SS Central America, carrying a payload of gold. This character-driven novel is full of historical events as well as drama and adventure, containing subplots along with the main storyline.

Professional home stager, Sandy Sullivan, is quite an expert at taking a cluttered space in a home and turning it into a cozy and attractive living area, ripe for selling. Sandy’s career as a home stager is the easy part of her life; one she can change with a dash of paint and proper placement of furniture. Her personal life, however, is sorely lacking the same pizzazz as her work life. Living in a suburb of Boston along with a “back burner” husband and a grown son who has turned their basement into a “bat cave,” Sandy takes a job in Atlanta staging a boutique recently acquired by her best friend’s boyfriend. In “Best Staged Plans” by Claire Cook, you’ll recognize the characters to be believable enough to be your own next door neighbors, and the storyline full of not only fun twists and turns, but great tips and tricks for fixing up any humble abode.

Maybe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but by reading these or any other of the new, fiction titles on the shelves of your local Jasper County Public Library, you’ll be sure to experience a “Confucius” moment; “You cannot open a book without learning something.”

What Does Your Future Hold? New Fiction at JCPL, of Course!

If you would have told me a few years ago that I would be driving a mini-van someday, I would have told you that you’re wrong. No way would I drive a “bus.” My vehicles have always been compact; after all, I’m only 4’11” tall. So now, in my driveway, sits a red van, and every time I walk through my living room and see that “bus” out in my driveway, I wonder who is visiting, because, mentally, I still have not adjusted to the large capacity vehicle that is sitting where my little Toyota should be. I tote around 4 grandkids quite frequently, and buckling them into safety seats was getting way too cramped, hence the decision to buy a van. According to Carter, the character in the book I’m currently reading, buying a van is an inevitable consequence of getting older; everyone is doing it. In the story, he arrives at a party, driving a van, and when the hostess spies his new ride, she asks, “What is that?” “That,” Carter replies, is your future. You laugh now, but no one can escape the minivan. It’s like wrinkles and nursing homes.” Ouch…I had to learn from a character in “Finny” by Justin Kramon just how OLD I am. “Finny,” by the way, is one of the best, character driven novels I’ve read in awhile. At the beginning of the book, the main character, Finny Short, is fourteen years old, and a defiant teenager she is. Her parents are so exasperated with her antics that they send her to boarding school, where Finny must slightly readjust to her new surroundings. Her precociousness prevails, however, and Finny moves into adulthood after much mischief in a remarkable adventure, with no shortage of charm as she recklessly seeks happiness and true love.

This new title on the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library is one you won’t want to miss; and for the upcoming cooler weather, don’t miss these new titles either!

When John and Irene got married, they were each certain of one thing; this would never work. When their daughter, Sadie, came along, the pair of them at least had one thing in common. Sadie was the center of their lives, and each of them held their daughter in their hearts as only parents can treasure their child. When John and Irene divorced, Sadie stayed the one common denominator in their lives, even though they lived across the country from each other. At eighteen, Sadie was like most teenagers, and began testing her strength and freedom, but when she dared to strike out on her own, going behind her parent’s backs to meet the boy of her dreams, Sadie found herself in deep trouble. John and Irene were then forced to meet once again, but this time under circumstances that neither of them ever expected in “Once Upon a Time, There Was You” by Elizabeth Berg.

Realizing that her days of lucid thinking are numbered because of early onset dementia, Ann Biddle desperately tries to resolve issues and hurts that have plagued her for decades, with the tragic death of her young daughter being the most difficult cross to bear. Blessed with Ellie, the eight year old granddaughter that she dearly loves, Ann finds common ground with her daughter in law, struggling to help the young mother unwind her tightly wound protectiveness toward Ellie in “The Bird House” by Kelly Simmons.

Taking an online test called, “What kind of car are you,” I discovered that beneath it all, I am really a VW Beetle, stuck in a red van’s body. What kind of car are you, and what does your future hold? Only one answer comes to mind for that question; that is a trip to JCPL, where the only thing you can really count on for your near future is lots of great, new fiction!

Ageless, Timeless Fiction at JCPL!

I’m not one of those women who hate to admit their age. I don’t advertise it, but if I it happens to come up in conversation, I’ll admit how old I am. I have, however, been known to be wrong about how old I really am. An honest mistake, so to speak. One year, as my birthday got closer, a friend of ours was visiting, and the fact that my birthday was a month away was mentioned. When asked how old my upcoming birthday would make me, I answered, “I’ll be thirty eight.” Several beats went by, and finally, my friend said, “I could be wrong, but haven’t you been thirty eight for an awfully long time now?” Hmmm…Maybe the age thing is more of an issue than I thought. When it comes to that subject, I guess I’m sort of on the same page with India Bishop, a thirty eight (really forty three) year old woman who has literally reinvented herself and then falls for a wealthy older man named Marcus Croft. The only thing missing from her life now is a baby, and when her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, her life intersecting with the lives of Jules Strauss and Annie Barrow, leading readers into the hearts of women’s lives in unforgettable and tender ways in “Then Came You” by Jennifer Weiner.


I could describe this book as “not old” at the Jasper County Public Library. In fact, it’s NEW, and so are the following titles! Read on!


Banished from New York to the balmy seaside resort of Port Fontaine, Florida due to political fallout, forensic pathologist, Dr. Edward Jenner hopes that the change of scenery will do him good. Jenner’s hopes are dashed, however, when he finds himself embroiled in another death investigation, this one hitting close to home, because the corpse belongs to his former mentor, Dr. Martin Roburn. Putting the pieces together gets a little dicey when four more corpses turn up, seemingly tied to the murder of Roburn and an up and coming drug trade, common in the sleepy little town in “A Hard Death,” the sequel to “Precious Blood” by Jonathan Hayes.


With prominent canines, an uncommon affinity for plants like blood-wart and Dracula orchid, Vlad Servan dresses entirely in black and hails from Romania. Could it be that this friend of Abby Knight’s fiancé is truly a vampire? When a local woman’s corpse is found drained of blood, the search for a killer is on. With Vlad as suspect #1, Abby and her fiancé, Marco, must race against time to prove him innocent in “Night of the Living Dandelion: A Flower Shop Mystery” by Kate Collins.


Retired American schoolteacher, Dorothy Martin has chosen to live out her retirement enjoying the English countryside. Invited to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night at the fully restored Branston Abbey, a major storm blows through, dimming the festive nature of the party. When a tree blows over, revealing a human skeleton tangled within its roots, intrigue follows in “A Dark and Stormy Night” by Jeanne M. Dams.


These “not old” books from JCPL would be great ways to celebrate, say, your 38th birthday. Mark Twain had it right when he quipped, “There is no cure for the common birthday.” Not your 38th birthday? Mine, either, but I still plan to make a trip to JCPL, where the new fiction on the shelves are as ageless as we all are, because, after all, age is just a number, and you can never have enough to read, no matter how old you are!

You'll "Go Bananas" Over These New Non-Fiction Titles!

In the English language there are lots of ways to get your point across. Newspaper articles often recount escapades of people, just like you and me. Upon reading those stories, you might be inclined to say we’ve “gone bananas,” “lost our marbles,” “didn’t have both oars in the water,” were “loony tunes,” “totally bizarre,” or, as the famous candy bar commercial claimed in the 1970’s, “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.”


Funny that someone would use this popular jingle as a title for her memoir. In “Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut: Essays and Observations,” Jill Kargman offers funny, insightful slices of life that entertain readers, tackling issues big and small with wit and laugh out loud humor. In this collection, she shares her experiences of life, love, hate, kids, work, school, and adventures in New York City from a wickedly funny perspective.


This new non-fiction title from the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library uses zany humor to keep you turning pages. Read on for more, great, new titles!


Living, as the author puts it, “a ridiculously good life” is what Nick Vujicic imparts with his new book, “Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life.” Vujicic, born without limbs but for a tiny foot, has learned to be a shining light of help and hope for others, inspiring family and friends by overcoming his disabilities and sharing his faith with others, living independently and becoming a model for anyone who is struggling for true happiness in life.


After a blistering hot summer, fall is making an appearance. If the cooler weather brings more of an appetite for “comfort food” to you and your family, check out “Semi-Homemade Comfort Food” by Sandra Lee. You’ll rejoice in this money saving, easy, breezy cookbook that is perfect for seasoned cooks and novices alike, featuring over 125 delicious recipes for everything from casseroles to side dishes and soups to desserts. Easy to prepare and pocketbook friendly recipes make this cookbook a winner!


The abortion debate has brought about more than a little controversy over the years, and with that debate, violence has escalated throughout history, particularly on the sites of many women’s health care clinics. On May 31, 2009, Scott Roeder took the law into his own hands and fatally wounded abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. “The Wichita Divide: The Murder of Dr. George Tiller” by Stephen Singular presents the portrait of a violent act that was borne out of the war against late term abortions, a war that has been raging for decades where the key battleground is Kansas, home to Brown vs. Board of Education and some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War.


Social networking is not just for the younger population. Believe it or not, people over 55 are the fastest growing user group on Facebook and becoming Twitter bugs, as well. Seniors (and I use that term loosely, being of the over 50 age group myself) can jump on the social networking bandwagon quickly and easily after reading “Facebook and Twitter for Seniors for Dummies” by Marsha Collier. This easy to use guide explains step by step how to use these forums in a user friendly style, supplying everything seniors need to function on Facebook with confidence.


So, “go bonkers,” “go gaga,” “go crazy” or “go bananas” if you need to, but, by all means, while you’re on the way, go to JCPL, where all of the new titles on the shelves will be “the WAY to go!”

A Perfect Plethora of Printed Books, Presented by JCPL

I hate making mistakes, and what I hate even more is having to admit to making them. “Nobody is perfect,” “To err is human,” and to quote the famous Benjamin Franklin, “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” Everyone has bad days, and makes boo boos from time to time. This correction in the Arizona Republican verifies that: “The Jumble puzzle which appeared on page D1 of Thursday’s edition actually was the puzzle scheduled to appear today. The Jumble originally scheduled to appear Thursday, as well as the answers to Wednesday’s puzzle are on page E1 today. The answers to the puzzle published today appeared Thursday and the answers to the puzzle published Thursday will appear Saturday.” Published puzzles seem to be puzzling even to the publishers of the printed puzzles, don’t you think? Maybe the puzzle publisher who printed the puzzles could have used a guardian angel to help them avoid such puzzlement. Don’t you wonder sometimes what a guardian angel would have to say if they recorded their thoughts in a journal every day? “The Guardian Angel’s Journal” by Carolyn Jess-Cooke tells the tale of a Margot Delacroix, a woman who has returned to earth as a guardian angel named Ruth. Sent back to life as her very own guardian angel, Ruth follows herself throughout her life, from birth through a troubled childhood, and all of the events of her adult life, as sort of a second chance to re-experience the biggest mistakes that led to her deepest regrets, eventually learning to love herself as unconditionally as she should have the first time around.

This new fiction title is just one in a long line of books, new to the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more!

If you love Robin Cook, Michael Palmer and Patricia Cornwell and the pageturning medical drama that they bring to their novels, “Public Anatomy” by A. Scott Pearson, with its intriguing characters and high octane medical drama will be just what the doctor ordered. In this medical thriller, you’ll meet Doctor Eli Branch, a surgeon with a hand injury who is approached by two FBI agents investigating the subsequent deaths of two people who have undergone routine, but robotic, surgeries. Plot twist after plot twist lead Branch on a kaleidoscope of adventures as he seeks the truth, enlisting the help of forensic pathologist, Meg Daily in this thought-provoking novel.

Case closed turns out NOT to be the case for Nina Reilly in “Dreams of the Dead” by Perri O’Shaughnessy. The setting is South Lake Tahoe, California and the characters range from adventurers to criminals to lawyers. When disaster walks into a Lake Tahoe Ski Resort in the form of Jim Strong, a sociopath who Nina defended two years before against murder charges, Nina must expose the secrets of someone very close to her to prove that the dead cannot destroy the living. Written with a breakneck pace and plenty of twists and turns, this novel outlines human drama, establishing its right at the top of legal thriller genre.

Crime solving, 1970’s style, laced with a plucky police detective named Monika Paniatowski, offers readers pageturning police procedural drama when a murder case is reopened after the deathbed confession of the convicted killer of a thirteen year old girl becomes a declaration of his innocence for the crime. The last confession of accused rapist and killer, Fred Howard, is one that declares his innocence to the Priest performing the last rites for the convicted killer just before his death. Enter Detective Chief Inspector Tom Hall and Chief Constable George Baxter, along with Monika, the complex details begin to unravel as cobwebs of clue after clue build to a satisfying conclusion.

Are you puzzled? Well, from my “experience,” being puzzled is not so bad if you have a good distraction, so postpone your puzzle on purpose and pore over the plethora of pristine printed books in the Jasper County Public Library within your proximity; you’ll be pleased, we promise!

Come Into JCPL to Get Your New Fiction Before It's Going, Going, Gone!

Going, going, gone; that is the rule of thumb for our electricity this summer. The louder the thunder gets, the better the chances that the electricity will be "gone with the wind." I've got it down to a science by now. Candles and flashlights ready to pick up the slack for the lights we won't have for hours to come, and NIPSCO on speed dial, right up there with friends and family. A trusty oil lamp sits nearby, ready to light my way and maybe even help me to finish the book I'm reading. I'd just gotten to the good part; almost to the end of the story when the lights went out. It was one of those books that draws you in, with characters so real that you cheer them on in some parts, and try to talk them out of something they are about to do in others. "Night Road" by Krisin Hannah is the story of one family's struggle to find a new way to be "normal" after tragedy strikes. In it, you'll meet Jude and Miles Farraday, the parents of Mia and Zach, twins who have been inseparable from the time they were born. Zach is the "golden child" with looks, personality and popularity, while Mia is a beautiful but unique girl whose tastes in clothes are anything but trendy. When Mia meets Lexi, the new girl in school, they form a fast friendship and Lexi grows to love the Farraday family until she makes a mistake that changes all of their lives forever. "Night Road" is the first in a long line of new fiction just waiting to be checked out from the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more!

Living in an upscale apartment on the Upper West side, Emily and Sandy Portman are a busy, happily married couple who seem to have it all. When Sandy dies in a tragic accident one night, however, reality hits Emily squarely in the face, and she discovers that her whole marriage and life with Sandy was a sham. Before the funeral is even over, Emily finds that she is on the verge of being evicted from her home, and one after another, more unwelcome surprises await her. When a scruffy dog named Einstein enters her life, Emily finds his presence oddly comforting. But is Einstein's determination and good nature enough to help Emily move on in her future? Find out in "Emily and Einstein" by Linda Francis Lee.

The absence of the men in their lives and the constant fear that their husbands will be the next casualty of war is the focus of "You Know When the Men Are Gone" by Siobhan Fallon. This collection of stories begins with "You Know When the Men Are Gone," in which a war bride from Serbia decides that she just can't cope with the loneliness of being a military wife and finds her own way out. The collection continues with "Inside the Break," featuring a military wife who is confronted with the possibility that her husband is being unfaithful to her with a female soldier. "Remission" is the story of a cancer patient awaiting the results of a crucial test who becomes devastated by the behavior of her teenage daughter, depicting the sensitive nature of the relationship between military parents and their children. Each story in this collection is woven tightly together with the next, zeroing in on military families living in Fort Hood Texas, connecting each through the special bond shared by only those familiar with the military way of life.

Santa Claus is a magical character known to children far and wide. Adults, too, feel the magic of Christmas because of the inspiring story of Old Saint Nick and the memories of their own childhoods. "The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus" by Tim Slover brings the story of Santa Claus to an adult level, weaving various popular Christmas tales together, entertaining the reader with a marvelous, magical novel about the Santa Claus that we all know and love and the magic that he brings to the holiday season for all of us.

Thinking of Christmas in these dog days of summer may cool you off a bit. Just think of it as "Christmas in July, JCPL style," so hitch up the sleigh, make a list, check it twice and visit your local branch of JCPL before all of these new books are "going, going, gone!"

Leaping Lizards! Check Out These New Non-fiction Titles From JCPL!

One of the biggest music hits of the 1970’s was a song by Jim Stafford called, “I Don’t Like Spiders and Snakes.” If I had written the lyrics, they would have included lizards. Creepy crawly creatures just aren’t my thing; they belong in the wild, like way OUT in the wild; the wild that is nowhere near my house. One wayward lizard mistakenly thought it was a good idea to hole up in my house, and with 3 cats and a dog with a sense of smell rivaling a blue ribbon winning bloodhound, this little creature did not stand a chance of fading into the woodwork. The only thing about relying on animals to exterminate the unwanted reptile (or whatever species a lizard is) is that they enjoy the thrill of the hunt more than actually catching the thing. I know how to get rid of a mouse that’s illegally entered my humble abode, but, besides a broom and some great timing, how can you send a lizard packing? Leaping Lizards! I may be stuck with the creature until it grew to Jurassic Park proportions! I should get in touch with the reptile smugglers in “Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skullduggery” by Jennie Erin Smith; they’ll know what to do, because that is their specialty. These devious, dangerous and creepily charming humans deal strictly in the reptile business, illegally smuggling them into and out of the country, making trades with zoo keepers and collectors who pay top dollar for them, breaking the moral codes that make environmentalists and the law abiding animal lovers cringe.


This is not the only new non-fiction title that will keep you entertained and enlightened on some off the beaten path subjects. Read on!


“Australians: Origins to Eureka” by Thomas Keneally is volume 1 in a series of books that sheds light on the “land down under,” describing in detail the formation of the continent as it separated from the supercontinent of Pangaea 140 million years ago. Written by Booker-Prize winning novelist and non-fiction writer, Thomas Keneally, this first volume collectively informs the reader on Aborigines, transplanted convicts, settlers, soldiers and miners who all played a part in the early settlement of a new and harsh land.


When her olfactory nerve was damaged by the use of a common nasal spray that is used to combat the common cold, Bonnie Blodgett lost her sense of smell. Strangely enough, the loss of smell began with a stage called “phantosmia,” a constant stench of, as she puts it, “every disgusting thing you can think of tossed into a blender and pureed.” “Remembering Smell” by Bonnie Blodgett is a memoir recounting the author’s journey into the world of smell, and the unfortunate events that led her into the workings of the human body and its extraordinary power to heal itself.


Roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Golden Girls,” and other popular TV programs made Betty White an icon for TV viewers everywhere. Now 89 years old, Betty White is widely recognized for not only her television roles, but for her lifelong work for animal welfare. A force of nature and determined to continue in her celebrity successes as she still goes strong after seven decades in show business, Betty White shares anecdotes , wisdom and humor in “If You Ask Me: And of Course You Didn’t.”


I’ll bet you’re wondering how the lizard story turned out, aren’t you? Let’s just say that in one fell swoop, we “threw the book” at the little creature and he no longer has to worry about where he is going to live.

New Non-Fiction From Your Local Branch of JCPL Will Be Memorable!

Getting married is generally one of the most memorable occasions in your life. The birth of babies is next on the list for most folks. My niece got married last year, and had a baby just this past month, and as I related the news of the baby's birth to my 5 year old granddaughter, I tried to help her understand who my niece is by reminding her that she was the flower girl in her wedding last year, and that the little boy who stood up as ring bearer was my grand-nephew. After a bit of thought, she said that yes, she did remember the wedding, and she did remember little Clayton, who stood up in the wedding with her. Her recollection of her part in the wedding, however, went something like, "Oh yeah...wasn't Clayton the one I married that day? And you know what? I don't think I've seen him since!" Just goes to show that a five year old's memory of a special occasion is a far cry from the memory of someone my age. Speaking of age, as America grows older, it still focuses on its youth, but are we really "over the hill" at a certain age, or has our life just begun? "Lastingness: The Art of Old Age" delves into the idea of permanence, experience and duration, discussing the life-long habits of those who have thrived in old age, relinquishing the thought that younger is better. After all, in contest after contest, the elders of the tribe reign as the preferred, and are honored for their experience, training and life long achievements.

This title is just one in a long line of non-fiction books that are new to the Jasper County Public Libraries in Rensselaer, DeMotte and Wheatfield. Read on for more!

Living legend, Steven Tyler says, "I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized," and that's just the beginning of his long list of "brain-jangling" tell all in "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" In his own voice, Tyler recounts his rock 'n roll days as lead singer of Aerosmith, playfully and poetically weaving the money, notoriety, motels, hotels, romance and rehab of his past into this meaningful memoir.

At one time or another in our lives, we all feel as though we could use or we would NEED a miracle to change or improve our circumstances. In "Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have Into What you Want," author Melanie Beattie shares her own stories of overcoming obstacles and facing tragedy, offering help in the form of gratitude, surrender, and connecting with our essential power by implementing a six-week action plan that will jump-start the transformation to better mental balance. In this Miracle Workshop guide, twenty five year veteran, Beattie, provides us with the tools to acknowledge the pain we're feeling and progress over a forty day period to feeling more in control, less confused and more vitally alive than ever.

At the age of 53, John Kralik found himself at a crossroads in his life. Everything seemed to be slipping out of control and his personal and professional life were both in danger of failing. On New Year's Day of that year, a walk in the hills brought John to the realization that something had to change, and he began to change his thought process and beliefs by focusing on being grateful for what he had instead of dwelling on what he didn't have. "365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik is the inspiring story of the day after day journey of one man who found "thank you" to be the word that changed his life forever.

Asking a five year old a question or to recall a story can be an eye-opening experience. But whether you're five or fifty, a trip to your local branch of JCPL can be an eye-opener too, and when you check out books from Rensselaer, DeMotte, or Wheatfield, we want to make sure that you enjoy your visit enough to come back again so that we won't be saying, "We haven't seen you since!"

JCPL Invites Dads to Sit Back & Relax With These New Fiction Titles!

Fathers come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life. In the old days of black and white TV, there were no blue collar worker dads. There were only dads dressed in suits, like Robert Young in Father Knows Best and Ward Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver. Those dads had wisdom seeping out of their pores, thanks to the clever script writers that kept them on the air. Ward Cleaver always knew just what to do when "The Beaver" got himself into a jam, or when Eddie Haskell tried to pull a fast one, or when Theodore (The Beave) had a run-in with one of his BFFs, Whitey or Larry Mondello. Words of wisdom come from all dads, and as they get older, the words of wisdom coined are priceless. In my family, we call them "dad-isms" or "grandpa-isms." One such "grandpa-ism" voices how we all feel when ordinary words are not enough to convey how we really feel; "Too bad, so sad" carries lots of weight, as does "You can't fit 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound bag." Both pearls of wisdom let you know you've either gone too far or are about to. A salute, then, to the dads of America, and the wisdom they impart to all of us on a daily basis. The Jasper County Public Library has just the thing for dads to relax with this Father's Day. Read on for some great, new fiction!

In World War II Germany, the Compound of Scribes is a multi-lingual group of intellects who have been selected to go underground and write letters to concentration camp detainees who have probably passed on to the netherworld. Meant to assuage the dead, the practice of this letter writing becomes dangerous when a letter from genius philosopher, Martin Heidegger to his friend, Asher Englehardt, is to be answered, setting in motion a chain of events that threatens the Auschwitz Compound in "Heidegger's Glasses: A Novel" by Thaisa Frank.

Luz Avila, abandoned by her mother and raised by her grandmother, finds herself facing many regrets when her beloved Abuela dies before making a trip to Mexico to see the monarch butterflies in their migration. In an effort to set things right, Luz drives from Milwaukee to Mexico, following the path of the butterflies in their migration and meeting one extraordinary woman after another, including the mother who abandoned her many years before in "The Butterfly's Daughter" by Mary Alice Monroe.

When the economic crisis in the United States of America goes from bad to worse and a recession threatens to cripple the nation, newly elected President Kenneth Phoenix must order a series of tax cuts, eliminate the positions of high profile cabinet members, and reduce government spending drastically. When bands of militiamen begin attacking various government agencies, Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan takes to the skies to fight the insurgency in "A Time for Patriots" by Dale Brown.

Death, betrayal, and the darkest magic have followed the alliance of rebels as led by tarboy, Pazel Pathkendle, and warrior, Thasha Isiq during their crossing into the southern empire of Bali Adro. Upon landfall, a battle ensues between the rebel forces and centuries-old sorcerer, Arunis; a battle that can bring only death to those who fail in "The River of Shadows," the gripping sequel to Robert V.S. Redick's "The Red Wolf Conspiracy" and "The Ruling Sea."

The life of the legendary Doc Holliday is recounted in "Doc" by Mary Doria Russell. Arriving in Tombstone in 1881, Doc Holliday is a legendary gambler and gunman, but the author begins with Doc's birth in 1851, when his mother, Alice, mourning the death of her firstborn daughter, goes to extreme lengths to keep her baby boy, born with a cleft palate, alive. Feeding him through an eyedropper for the first eight weeks of his life, John Henry Holliday was raised to be an intelligent, thoughtful gentleman who would earn the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery before the age of twenty-one.

So, for all of you Ward Cleaver's, Bill Cosby's, Robert Young's and other dads, the Jasper County Public Library has Father's Day wrapped up with gifts you can give yourself, because, dads of America, for all you do, these books are for you!

Do you Have Your Ears On? Check Out These New Fiction Titles at JCPL!

In the prehistoric days before cell phones came to be the #1 mode of communication, CB radios were all the rage. When learning to use a CB, the firt thing you had to do was come up with a "handle," or a nickname for other CB users to call you. Then, once you became familiar with other users, they got to be your "good buddy." Good Buddies liked to travel in convoys, so the leader of the pack was always at the "front door," and those bringing up the rear were at the "back door." When something important came up or you just wanted to get in your two-cents worth, all you had to do was yell, "Breaker, breaker, do you have your ears on?" If you have your ears on right now, you should "put the pedal to the metal" or "put the hammer down," grab your favorite "seat cover," start up the "four wheeler" in your garage and head straight for the Jasper County Public Library, where you'll be saying "ten four" to all the great, new fiction on the shelves. Check these out!

Working as an independent reporter, Annika Bengtzon is busy investigating stories with a terrorist theme when a fellow journalist dies in a hit and run accident. Suspicious that what happened to her colleague was no accident, Annika traces the slaying back to a Swedish military base, where the man behind the brutal crime plots to kill again in "Red Wolf" by Liza Marklund.

In "The Illumination" by Kevin Brockmeier, pain and loss make themselves evident in each character as their mortal wounds reveal themselves as a visible light after a mysterious event called The Illumination changes the characteristics of physical and emotional pain, revealing the depth of the human heart and mind.

The year is 1880, the town, Georgetown, Colorado. Seventeen year old Nealie Bent is the new girl in town, and marries Charlie Dumas. As the story unfolds, three generations of females that begin with Nealie go on to live their lives, experiencing love, loss, happiness and tragedy in "The Bride's House" by Sandra Dallas.

A skiing holiday nearly ends the lives of Zoe and Jake when a freak avalanche buries them, but they manage to dig themselves out only to discover that they are all alone in the Pyrenean resort town. When they exit their hotel and travel to the next town, they not only find themselves alone, but traveling in circles as well. When Zoe begins to hear bits and pieces of speech and catch glimpses of other figures around them, the pair find themselves caught up in strange, supernatural circumstances in "The Silent Land" by Graham Joyce.

The small, peaceful fishing community of Fjallbacka, Sweden is forever changed when a young boy discovers the remains of two holiday-makers who disappeared twenty years before, along with a fresh victim. When a second young girl goes missing, it is up to Patrik Hedstrom to unravel the mystery and focus on the true suspect as secrets are revealed in "Preacher" by Camilla Lackberg.

Breaker, breaker, do you have your ears on? If that's a big "ten four" "good buddy," put the "hammer down," don't let those big "eighteen wheelers" or "Smokey the Bear" slow you down, and find the "front door" of your local branch of JCPL, make that your "twenty," grab some of these new fiction titles, and say, "I'm gone!"

Directional Dyslexics Need Good Books Too!

The letters "DD" universally stand for "designated driver." It could also stand for "Directional Dyslexic," and I know this because I am one. Famous for losing my way, I have been known to take the scenic route as though I have all the time in the world, and that goes for finding my car in a parking lot, too. I recently purchased a new vehicle, and am still getting used to finding it when I shop. Most everything on it is power, including the doors and back hatch, so my keychain comes complete with keyless entry that is supposed to make things like grocery shopping easier, and it would, if I could ever find my vehicle in the parking lot. Coming out of the grocery store, I headed for a red van, pushing buttons all the way, trying to get the doors to open and be ready to load the groceries. Mumbling under my breath that the thing never works when you want it to, I happened to turn around and see that the van parked in the opposite lane was obeying the command of my keyless entry; probably because it WAS my van, and not the one I was facing at the time.

Could I use a book to "take me away?" You bet...and here are some new fiction titles that will do just that!

A twisted killer with a perverted sense of style is on the loose in "Fever to the Bone" by Val McDermid. Youth and innocence are the objects of his desire and it is up to investigator, Tony Hill to end the ruthless campaign of murder and brutality before more young lives are lost.

The death of Tim Overleigh's ex-wife threatens to send him over the edge. To combat his grief, he makes the life-altering decision to give up his career in the world of extreme sports and joins a team of mountain climbers in Nepal. The spiritual awakening of the mountain ascent is short lived for Overleigh, however, and turns deadly for he and the entire team of climbers when, one by one, they become the victims of murder in "The Ascent" by Ronald Malfi.

Music has marked each milestone in Zoe Baxter's life, and after suffering a series of personal tragedies, Zoe begins a career as a music therapist. As an unexpected romance buds for Zoe, she begins questioning the relationships she has with those closest to her as they voice their disapproval for the new love in her life in "Sing You Home" by Jodi Picoult.

Taking a break from her college studies, Ingrid Holburne meets and marries art dealer Gil Grey. Ingrid's cousin, Ralph, and her friend, Julia, however, do not see reason for celebration of the couple's happy news. When the tragedy of September 11 takes Ingrid's life, Ralph and Julia are sticken with grief, and find themselves retracing her steps of that day only to encounter one mystery and web of deceit after another in "The Legacy" by Kirsten Tranter.

We can all identify with the "Excedrin headache" commercial or the "Calgon Take Me Away" ad with the woman overwhelmed by screaming kids, barking dogs, and a ringing doorbell. Excedrin and Calgon are just the beginning for directional dyslexics like me, because pointing me in the direction of my local branch of JCPL is the best way to "get away from it all" that I can think of!

On Second Thought, Books From JCPL Are Just What I Need!

We all have "second thoughts." Some examples of second thoughts for me are thinking that I might dig in and get some real spring cleaning done, and when I get close to starting that project, I have second thoughts and decide to have a cup of coffee and a doughnut instead. Other times I second guess my first decision are mainly when I go to a restaurant. Because there are so many choices on the menu, I have a decision making dilemma on my hands when it comes time to order. Would I like to have that double decker hamburger for lunch, or should I stick to something healthy and nutritious, like maybe a soup or salad? Then there is always the possibility of just skipping the main dish and going straight for the desserts, which poses yet another dilemma, and that is, would it be wise to opt for the cherry cheesecake or should I splurge and have a nice slice of that chocolate cake that looks so awesome? My "gut" tells me to go for the chocolate, but my more sensible side opts for the cheesecake, because, after all, it's sure to be healthier, since it contains so many of the necessary components of the food pyramid.

If you're like me, and find yourself sweating every decision you make, "On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind's Hard-Wired Habits" by Wray Herbert is for you! Because our lives are literally full of millions of choices, some trivial and some life-altering important, our brains help us to differentiate between the right and wrong choices we make every day. Things get a little dicey, however, when we rely on our "gut" reactions, which may sway us into making poor decisions, and some that can be downright perilous. This book explores the workings of the mind and how to know when to trust the instant response that may come naturally and when to question it and alter our perceptions to make more sensible and rational decisions. For more great, new, non-fiction choices at JCPL, read on!

Leaving their families behind in Ohio and Wisconsin, Bobbi Montgomery and Alice Honeywell set out on a cross country journey 3600 miles long powered by their bicycles and their sense of adventure. Defying the aches and pains, these two friends saw the countryside in all its glory, discovering challenges and a deeper bond of friendship along the way. "Across America by Bicycle" by Alice Honeywell and Bobbi Montgomery offers a glimpse of America through the encounters of these two retirees.

Artfully separating fact from fiction, "Wicked River: The Mississippi When it Last Ran Wild" by Lee Sandlin is action packed with history, people, and their fates as they live along the banks of the Mississippi River. This elegant story includes the days of the river before manmade concrete lined the banks, and comes complete with topographical maps and temperature charts that give the true picture of the mighty, majestic Mississippi.

How we see and how our eyes see are two different things. Our perception of what is before our eyes is enhanced by our brain, our experiences, and our memories. What our eyes see are details of what is before us. In "The Mind's Eye" by Oliver W. Sacks, the author shares his knowledge of neurological issues that affect the eyes by presenting case histories as experienced by patients in his neurological practice at Columbia University Medical Center. This exploration of the human condition when devastating events hinder normal vision is told from the compassionate viewpoint of a physician who has not only seen the results of vision loss in his patients, but has also experienced a devastating loss of vision himself.

In my mind's eye I see cherry cheesecake on the food pyramid, and lots and lots of books to choose from at my local branch of the Jasper County Public Library. Put the two together, and it's one of the easiest and best decisions I've ever made!

Yippee Skippy; New Fiction at JCPL!

Raccoons are smart animals. They can scout out a meal or a snack with very little effort. A recent news story in the Post Tribune recounted the tale of one raccoon that came pretty close to living his life out in the dark recesses of a peanut butter jar. The peanut butter must have been good to the last drop; in an effort ot get every last scrap of peanut butter, the raccoon put his head in the jar and promptly got it stuck. Resourceful to the very end, the raccoon sat on a post with the jar on his head until some kindhearted passerby stopped and relieved him of his temporary head-gear. He has been affectionately nick-named "Skippy" by the locals, and is presumably living happily ever after. Not to be outdone by a raccoon, in "Skippy Dies" by Paul Murray, Daniel "Skippy" Juster falls in love with Frisbee-playing siren, Lori, a girl who is just about as unattainable for Skippy as the hope of getting an empty jar of peanut butter off of the head of a hungry raccoon. Lots of crazy things have been done in the name of love, and Skippy Juster's situation is no exception. He's heading for a showdown; a fatal doughnut race which will leave only one man standing, and that one man will be the lone survivor. "Skippy Dies" is just one in a long line of new fiction titles available at the Jasper County Public Library. Read on!

In the days just prior to the Civil War, two women from very different backgrounds embark on a journey, risking everything for the sake of freedom. Hannelore Blessing is a plantation mistress who befriends Livie, a slave girl. The two women learn the meaning of trust, love, and friendship as, aided by Hannah's suitor, Colt, they move ever closer to the secret of the Underground Railroad and the freedom, but also the unimaginable danger, that lurks along the way in "Promise Bridge" by Eileen Clymer Schwab.

Former homicide detective, Mike Wire, has had enough of the violence of the big city and finds refuge on a Montana ranch. Trouble seems to follow him, however, and peace is hard to find in the badlands, where, beneath the calm surface, lie the bones of a dinosaur family; bones that are very valuable and much sought after in "The Dinosaur Hunter" by Homer Hickam.

After serving five years in prison for shooting, but not killing, her husband, Sunny has been released. Jackson is an anthropology professor who only wants to return to Africa, but meets Sunny and is mesmerized by her instantly. As the two begin a relationship, Jackson finds himself entranced by Sunny's past involvement with a snake-handling church, and follows her to the Church of the Burning Bush with Signs Following to do fieldwork. "Snakewoman of Little Egypt" by Robert Hellenga is the vivid portrait of intimacy between Sunny and Jackson as they dance between the "safe harbor" of their lives and the "wider sea of courage, risk, and adventure," that is the inspiration for this melancholy but uplifting story.

Little Guadalajara is a trailer park inhabited by illegal laborers. The park manager has been hired by a financial syndicate with intentions of developing the property, but a teenage girl living in Little Guadalajara stands in the way of their plans. The residents there believe that she has a gift, and when she is the only witness to a murder, she runs for her life, and the only person who can possibly save her from certain death is Doc Ford in "Night Vision" by Randy Wayne White.

That raccoon with a jar of peanut butter stuck on his head inspired some good Samaritan to stop and do the good deed of saving him. To that and to the great, new fiction titles on the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library, I say, "Yippee Skippy!"

How Hard Can it Be to Find Good Fiction? Check it Out!

How far will you go to "get away from it all?" National Geographic's "How hard can it be?" campaign goes to the extreme by piling on the hot air balloons and lifting a 16'x16' house from the ground, taking the house up, up and away to a destination unknown. Answering the question, "How hard can it be?" can be tricky. In theory, and with a little imagination, (and the help of scientists and other experienced professionals), adventures such as this one undertaken by National Geographic may be a cinch. With a little help from your friends at JCPL, you can answer the "how hard can it be" question easily...with a stack of new fiction titles, just waiting to be checked out for your next great escape! Check out these new books!

When Frank Mackey was nineteen, he and his girlfriend, Rosie Daly, planned to meet at Faithful Place. From there, they were going to run away to London to start their life together. Rosie, however, never showed up for their rendezvous, and Frank never heard from her again. Twenty years later, working as an undercover cop in Dublin, Frank gets a call from his sister, informing him that Rosie's suitcase has turned up, leading Frank on a journey into his past in "Faithful Place," Book 3 of the Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox series by Tana French.

Researching deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, Diana Bishop dredges up bewitching information in an old manuscript. Descended from a long line of witches and sorcery, Diana takes a few notes from the manuscript and returns it to the stacks, but has unwittingly scratched the surface of the underworld in the process, drawing forth a horde of centuries old witches and vampires and a coveted treasure in "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness.

Deep in the recesses of Pakistan, Sonia Laghari and eight others have been captured by terrorists. Using her psychology background and her religious training, Sonia delves into the kidnappers' psyches to estabish a connection, while her son, Theo, uses military strategies to unhinge the group. Can the agenda of this deadly group of armed terrorists be changed? Find out as Sonia and her son race against time to save each captor in "The Good Son" by Michael Gruber.

Isolated and set in an uninhabited section of the Spanish sierra, the Our Lady of Mercy Convent stands alone with its six women, cut off from the world that they have chosen to leave behind. When an abandoned baby is left on the doorstep of the convent, Mother Superior Maria Ines must face the fact that their quiet, uneventful world has been forever changed, and that her own past must be confronted in "The Convent" by Panos Karnezis.

You don't have to tie thousands of hot air balloons to your house for a great getaway. The best getaway can be found right around the corner at your local branch of JCPL, where the great escape is shelved within the stacks of great, new fiction! After all, when choosing books, with a little help from your friends at JCPL, how hard can it be?

New Non-Fiction at JCPL: It's All Good!

Never one to dress any way but casually, the fashion police would have a field day with me. Blue jeans, sweatshirts, and whatever footwear is readily available is the outfit of the day. My three year old granddaughter, however, knows how to dress in style. Her ensembles consist of whatever strikes her fancy, and may include several sets of clothes, layered upon each other all at once, topping the outfit with her favorite Minnie Mouse costume. She changes it up on some days, though, and dresses as Tinkerbell, complete with wings on her back, accessorizing her wardrobe with plenty of bling-bling. I wonder what Carson Kressley or Clinton Kelly would have to say about her wardrobe choices? From muffin tops to suntan colored hosiery to visible panty lines, every fashion faux pas has crossed the paths of these "fashion police," and in "Oh No She Didn't: The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make," Clinton Kelly talks straight about style, offering detailed critiques for the most common 100 slip ups that women make in the fashion department. This famous host of TLC's "What Not to Wear" examines wardrobe, hairstyle, posture, and accessories, presenting easy and practical suggestions for creating stunning outfits for women of every age.

I'd like to list 100 of the most wonderful, new non-fiction titles on the shelves of JCPL in this article, but to save space, I chose a few I thought you'd really like. Read on!

Searching for greener pastures annually is what migration is all about for a variety of birds and animals, but migration is one of the deadliest phases of life for both bird and beast. "Great Migrations: Epic Animal Journeys" by Karen Kostyal follows the National Geographic film documentary, "Great Migrations" as different species race against time, battling freezing temperatures, scorching heat, and the threat of predators in their long distance travels, desperately crossing thousands of miles despite the dangers that await them.

Do you have a spare hour to settle your finances? According to Ellie Kay, sixty minutes is all it takes to revolutionize your financial situation. If you are looking for long-term economic recovery and stability, "The 60-Minute Money Workout" by Ellie Kay offers feasible and fun alternatives to being debt-free, covering topics such as saving for college, having and enjoying a debt-free vacation, paying cash for your cars, giving and living generously, finding financial peace with your spouse, and being content with your current financial circumstances.

You say "Achoo!" and we automatically say, "gezondheid" or "bless you!" The commercial for a popular cold medicine shows a woman TV producer's alternate personality whispering to her, "You can't do anything about a cold." What exactly is a cold? Some colds come on with a vengeance, leaving the sufferer feeling like they've been hit by a truck, and still others are nothing more than a sniffle or an annoyance for a few days. In "Achoo! The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold" by Jennifer Ackerman, we learn what a cold is, how it works and whether it's possible to really "fight one off." This ode to the common cold also dispels myths about the common cold, and offers advice for treating the symptoms as the search for a cure continues.

When it comes to wardrobe choices of any kind, my motto is "let freedom ring" and "variety is the spice of life." Never apologize for your taste in clothing, and more importantly, your reading tastes, because, as the saying goes, "It's all good!"

No Need to Be Rich and Famous; I Just Want a Good Book!

American Express has made their organization a memorable one throughout the years by using the slogan, "American Express: Don't leave home without it." My three year old granddaughter lives up to that phrase, but not with American Express. Getting ready to travel anywhere with her must always include an entourage of her favorite toys, and in the words of Woody on Toy Story, there must be NO TOY LEFT BEHIND! To those of us doing the assembling of necessary items to take children on a road trip, these toys are the last items on our minds. But to a three year old whose obsessions range from Angelina Ballerina to Mickey and Minnie Mouse, this entourage of her inanimate associates can't be ignored. I understand; I have few obsessions more important than always having a book somewhere nearby, and taking a book almost everywhere I go is almost as important to me as Angelina Ballerina is to a three year old. Read on and see for yourself what you can learn from a good book from the Jasper County Public Library!

From playing games to downloading music to troubleshooting, "How to Do Everything iPod, iPhone & iTunes" by Guy Hart-Davis is an updated and easy to use guide that offers great tips on managing your device, and includes instructions on a wide variety of subjects, some of which include installing applications for playing games, creating video files, connecting to wireless networks, setting up email accounts, surfing the Web, and much, much more!

Extreme situations can occur at any time during a vacation or outing, and avoiding incidents that can become life threatening is the first step to learning successful survival skills. Rich Johnson, one of the country's best known experts on wilderness survival, offers advice for every outdoorsman in "Rich Johnson's Guide to Wilderness Survival: How to Avoid Trouble and Live Through Trouble You Can't Avoid." Johnson, an experienced and avid outdoorsman, is an Army Special Forces veteran who lived in a remote area of Utah for a year, living off the land and taking cover in primitive places, and in this book shares survival skills and techniques during emergency situations that may save your life.

Stranded in the middle of the frigid waters of the Bering Sea, the fishing trawler, "Alaska Ranger" sent out a Mayday call to the Coast Guard for help. By 4:30 am on March 23, 2008, most of the forty seven crew members were in the water, wearing inflated survival suits, but were freezing to death in the icy waters, battered by twenty foot swells. In "Deadliest Sea: The Untold Story Behind the Greatest Rescue in the Coast Guard History" by Kalee Thompson, it is man versus nature, and what was expected to be a routine rescue mission turns into a race against time to save the men and women that were on board "Alaska Ranger."

Feelings of anger, depression, and frustration all combine to become what we call "stress." Stress in today's society is a much relevant subject, and relates to all of us in one way or another. In "The Myth of Stress: Where Stress Really Comes From," author Andrew Bernstein teaches readers how to combat thoughts and feelings that lead to stress with the seven-step ActivInsight Program, a form of cognitive therapy that banishes stress, letting the air out of thoughts that induce those bad feelings.

Rock stars have groupies; other famous people have "peeps," and still others in the limelight have paparazzi following them. Being among the "not so rich and famous" has its appeal, but still carries the need for an entourage. Be it Angelina Ballerina or a new book from JCPL, I understand; we all have our obsessions.

Hazards to Your Health Don't Include Reading!

I read. I read a lot. I read everywhere I go and with just about everything I do. Even if I am not "hands free," I try to find a way to read. I read newspapers, but not always the main articles. Sometimes the small and obscure ones that nobody else notices catch my eye, because they're usually short, sweet, and to the point. Catching up on the news on the Internet, I came across an article entitled, "Why You Shouldn't Text and Walk." I've heard and agree that texting while driving is a bad idea, but apparently, being too wrapped up in your text messages is bad for your health while walking as well. Just ask the woman who ended up falling into a fountain in the mall because she couldn't take her eyes off of her phone long enough to see the man-made pond in front of her. Lesson learned: from now on all of the reading that I do will be done while I'm stationary, as I have no desire to take an unintentional dip in ANY pond, man-made or otherwise. While you're pondering the possibilities of where you'll read your next book, text, newspaper or magazine, keep reading this article to get a few ideas on WHAT to read.

A loner and a misfit, high school freshman, Xing Xu is one of the only Asian students at his all white school. Bullied by the other students because he is different, Xing ducks into the school music room, where the teacher assumes Xing is auditioning for the school musical. Meanwhile, high school sports star, Justin Dorsey is found murdered, and when two other students go missing, Xing is targeted as a suspect in "Crossing" by Andrew Xia Fukuda.

Detective Benny Griessel's main goal is just to stay sober. After stepping on the toes of too many higher-ups, Benny knows his chances of ever getting a promotion are next to nil, so he puts his energies into mentoring a new generation of crime fighters in South Africa. When an American backpacker disappears, Griessel and his colleagues have a mere thirteen hours to save the girl in "Thirteen Hours" by Deon Meyer.

After her father passes away, Bijou Roy leaves Washington D.C. to travel to her father's native India, intending to scatter his remains in the river that runs through his native city. Meeting Naveen, the son of her father's closest friend, leads Bijou to discover the intimate details of her father's life and the family history that holds the key to replacing her deep sorrow with hope in "Bijou Roy" by Ronica Dhar.

Darius Jones has it all; a lucrative basketball career, a lovely wife and a son he adores, but when a drunk driver slams into his car, his wife becomes comatose with only a 50 percent chance of survival. "Darius Jones" by Mary B. Morrison continues the drama in the lives of characters made famous in her Soul Mates Dissipate series.

Dark secrets threaten to blanket the glossy facade of the perfect life in a suburban community where a murder had been committed twelve years earlier. Librarian, Betsy Treading was tried and convicted and later exonerated for murdering her neighbor, Linda Sue. Released from prison, Betsy returns to her old neighborhood, delving into the details of the murder in an attempt to uncover the identity of the real killer in "Neighborhood Watch" by Cammie McGovern.

The master of horror returns with a quartet of stories that will curl your hair in "Full Dark, No Stars" by the one and only Stephen King. From "1922," a tale of murder and madness to "Big Driver," the story of a woman seeking justice after being victimized to "Fair Extension," the shortest and funniest of the tales to "A Good Marriage," one with a horrifying discovery, these tales will generate the chills that even the dead of winter cannot.

Where you read doesn't really matter. It's WHAT you read that does, and at the Jasper County Public Library, we have enough new fiction on the shelves to make your trip worthwhile; just make sure that when you do check out books, you wait until you're stationary to start reading them.

Living in a State of "Winter Denial?" Check Out a Book From JCPL!

Bundled up in my warmest winter gear, I resemble an Eskimo, and probably will until about early May. Some other folks, however, seem to be in denial that the winter season has actually arrived. Dressed in shorts, T-shirts and even tank tops, I see them out and about; not even flinching in the winter cold. Maybe these brave people are part of the Polar Bear Club; you know the ones; they take an annual dip in Lake Michigan, no matter what the temperature is outside. You've heard of "The Bucket List;" that list of things that you want to do sometime in this lifetime before bidding it farewell. Well, I can tell you one thing that will NOT be on my bucket list, and that's wearing shorts, a tank top, or any other obviously summer clothing in 20 degree or colder weather, as well as taking a dip in Lake Michigan anytime before the official swimming season begins. Some things that may be on my Bucket List, however, include good reading material; and here are some great non-fiction title to add to that list!

Job searching techniques are what "200 Best Jobs Through Apprenticeships" by Michael Farr is all about. This book offers a route to job seekers for career entry that allows you to earn a paycheck while participating in worksite training and classroom learning, and includes more than 60 best jobs, along with detailed, commonsense advice for the best job-searching results.

Every day interactions that we have with our children are part of the learning process for them. In "Mind in the Making" by Ellen Galinsky, the author identifies seven life skills that help children to reach their full potential for learning. Each chapter is devoted to explaining a life skill that will help parents and their children to tap into and grasp different kinds of knowledge that will foster and promote self-motivation, providing a valuable place to start in the learning process.

Slice of life essays make for hilarious reading in "How Did You Get This Number" by Sloane Crosley. This collection offers a humorous and witty glimpse into everyday situations that, paragraph for paragraph and chapter for chapter, will make the reader laugh out loud and experience Crosley's adventures from a fresh and funny perspective.

It's the New Year, and lots of folks have made resolutions to eat healthier and get in shape. "Change Your Brain, Change Your Body" by Daniel G. Amen is a user-friendly book that offers a blueprint for changing your way of thinking, therefore, changing the state of your body. The key to having the body that you want is first having a healthy brain, and that fact is based on medical research as well as two decades of clinical research done by Dr. Amen and his associates. Fifteen practical and easy to implement solutions that include nutrition, positive thinking, and natural supplements, will help you to reach your ideal weight, smoothe your skin, sharpen your memory and avoid depression, among other things that offer a powerful argument in favor of the mind-body connection.

Create the colorful, all season, flower garden that you've always wanted with "The Ever Blooming Flower Garden: A Blueprint for Continuous Color" by Lee Schneller. This easy to use manual consists of a five step system that includes a flower catalog, plant planning chart, easy care options and straightforward, no nonsense growing information, as well as color photographs of each specimen and the month of the season that it will produce the most vivid color.

Living in a state of denial about the chill in the air may be the way to go for some folks; I, however, live in the state of Indiana, where the fashion forecast for the next couple of months calls for nothing without sleeves or warm, thick winter gear. If you want to "think spring," go to your local branch of JCPL, where you can mentally sow the garden of your dreams by checking out books that will plant the seed of spring in your mind, keeping you cozy till it arrives, once and for all!