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.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)