Working out; I never gave the term so much thought as I did the other day when I went to the local health club for some exercise. I decided to keep it moderate; I didn't want to overwork muscles that hadn't seen the light of day for a really long time. Huffing and puffing on one machine after another, I began to look around the gym. School was out that day, and if I ever felt "mature," that clearly was the day that it hit home. "Cardio" takes on a whole new meaning when you're positive that the very thing that's supposed to be so good for you is for sure going to do you in. Is there a doctor in the house? No? Well, then, in that case, let's take a "breather" and read about some real health care issues in "Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life and Everything In Between" by Theresa Brown. "At my job, people die," writes Theresa Brown. Brown is a former English professor at Tufts University, and chronicles her first year an an R.N. as she works in the oncology unit, offering day to day accounts of the struggles she faces in tending to her patient's needs, and the constant battle that nurses endure to preserve the dignity of their patients. This new non-fiction title is an informative look at health care from a nurse's point of view. This and other new, non-fiction titles found on the shelves of JCPL may be just the "breather" you need. Read on!
Get an inside glimpse of the political and economic climate during the historical battle of Little Bighorn in "The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of Little Bighorn" by Nathaniel Philbrick. The year was 1876 and General Custer was up against a formidable opponent in his Indian enemies and their fearless leader, Sitting Bull. As events unfolded during that historical battle, Custer's defeat and ultimate demise were totally unexpected. This well researched narrative chronicles, in vivid detail, one of the worst defeats in American history, enhanced with 32 pages of black and white photos, as well as color photos and maps.
Families who enjoy the magical wonder of the holiday season can make more memories with "Family Fun Homemade Holiday: 150 Crafts, Recipes, Gifts, and Parties" by Deanna F. Cook, a book full of fabulous games, crafts, activities, and decorations, as well as party plans that will create a special atmosphere for those upcoming parties.
"The Complete Equine Veterinary Manual" by Tony Pavord offers guidance for all horse and pony owners, written from many years of experience that will unravel the confusion that can result when equine medical problems arise. From preventative treatment to unique cross referencing that will aid in providing the proper care in case of illness or injury, this complete medical guide is a well organized wealth of information that will prove an invaluable resource for all horse and pony owners.
Whether in the car, in the workplace or just out in public, women are, many times, an easy target for would-be assailants. Knowing how to defend yourself in the event of an attack so that you're not the next victim of a violent crime can be found in "Personal Defense for Women: Practical Advice for Self-Protection." Written by Gila Hayes, a 10 year veteran of the Seattle Police Deparment, this common sense guide explores self-defense, avoiding conflict, and safe, responsible use of deterrents, such as pepper spray, Tasers, handguns and other firearms.
Getting in shape is the mature thing to do. But, I ask you, with so many shapes to choose from, which one is the best to be considered "in shape?" After all, round is a shape, isn't it?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Think Twice...Then Check Out a Good Book From JCPL!
Comic strip author, Bill Watterson, is quoted as saying, "Sometimes when I'm talking, my words can't keep up with my thoughts. I wonder why we think faster than we speak. Probably so we can think twice." Thinking twice is a great idea, if you can remember to do it. Listening twice is an even better idea. Shopping with my 4 year old granddaughter the other day, the only thing on her mind was that she didn't want to have to walk through the store; she wanted to ride in style, like her 2 year old sister, in a cart provided by the store. Thinking I was using psychology with her, I asked, "Doesn't it make you feel like a big girl, walking alongside Mommy and me?" Exasperated by my psychobabble, she looked at me and said, "No, and that's why I'm so oppwessed! (translates to depressed in adult language) I just want to wide! (ride.) Being oppwessed is no fun, and reading can take the doldrums out of my day quicker than thinking OR talking. Here are some great, new fiction titles from the Jasper County Public Library; a sure cure for oppwession.
A seaside vacation that was meant to recapture her happy childhood unexpectedly triggers deeply disturbing and haunting memories that were, previous to now a well kept secret in "A Secret Kept" by Tatiana De Rosnay.
Perfect parents and neighbors, Patty and Walter Berglund, appear to do an about face and their lives become a mystery as one change after another in their habits force their friends and neighbors to do a double take in "Freedom," a book that explores the darker side of family life, by Jonathan Franzen.
Karena has always watched out for and taken care of her bipolar twin, Charles. As a teen, Charles began to refuse his medication and Karena found herself following her brother around, just to be sure he was safe. Obsessed with the unpredictability of the weather, Charles' greatest passion was chasing dangerous storms. After a deadly storm chase separated the twins from one another, Karena embarks on a dangerous journey to find him once again before he does damage to himself or someone else in "The Stormchasers" by Jenna Blum.
After forty years, Anne Marie Smeaton has returned to her hometown. A normal life is not easy to come by for Anne, however, as she bears the scars from a memory too awful to forget. At the age of eleven, Anne Marie killed a little boy, and feels the only way to escape the tragedy of that event is to confront it head on by telling her story to journalist, Joe Donovan. As old nightmares surface and Anne suffers from horrifying visions of the past, a teenager in her housing unit is murdered and Anne fears the worst in "Speak No Evil," Book 4 in the Joe Donovan series.
How about that; a cure for depression without side effects. However, if sleeplessness occurs, it'll only be because you can't put the book down once you start reading it, and if trouble concentrating or operating heavy machinery occur, it'll only be because you're so absorbed in your book that you can't think of anything else! Sort of makes you think twice, doesn't it?
A seaside vacation that was meant to recapture her happy childhood unexpectedly triggers deeply disturbing and haunting memories that were, previous to now a well kept secret in "A Secret Kept" by Tatiana De Rosnay.
Perfect parents and neighbors, Patty and Walter Berglund, appear to do an about face and their lives become a mystery as one change after another in their habits force their friends and neighbors to do a double take in "Freedom," a book that explores the darker side of family life, by Jonathan Franzen.
Karena has always watched out for and taken care of her bipolar twin, Charles. As a teen, Charles began to refuse his medication and Karena found herself following her brother around, just to be sure he was safe. Obsessed with the unpredictability of the weather, Charles' greatest passion was chasing dangerous storms. After a deadly storm chase separated the twins from one another, Karena embarks on a dangerous journey to find him once again before he does damage to himself or someone else in "The Stormchasers" by Jenna Blum.
After forty years, Anne Marie Smeaton has returned to her hometown. A normal life is not easy to come by for Anne, however, as she bears the scars from a memory too awful to forget. At the age of eleven, Anne Marie killed a little boy, and feels the only way to escape the tragedy of that event is to confront it head on by telling her story to journalist, Joe Donovan. As old nightmares surface and Anne suffers from horrifying visions of the past, a teenager in her housing unit is murdered and Anne fears the worst in "Speak No Evil," Book 4 in the Joe Donovan series.
How about that; a cure for depression without side effects. However, if sleeplessness occurs, it'll only be because you can't put the book down once you start reading it, and if trouble concentrating or operating heavy machinery occur, it'll only be because you're so absorbed in your book that you can't think of anything else! Sort of makes you think twice, doesn't it?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Celebrate the end of Summer With Some New Books From JCPL!
September means a lot of things to a lot of people. Labor Day is summer's last hurrah, and most of us celebrate this nationally known holiday by taking the day off and enjoying that last picnic of the year. There are, however, quite a few special remembrances for the month of September, some that I myself have never heard of. How many of us have been acquainted with the name Emma M. Nutt? When I first saw that September 1 was Emma M. Nutt Day, I was sure that maybe M & M's with peanuts were being celebrated, until I discovered that Emma M. Nutt was actually the first female telephone operator, and September 1 marks her anniversary. September is also Great American Low-Cholesterol, Lowfat Pizza Bake Month, and if you know a way to make pizza that is low cholestrol and low-fat and still tastes as yummy as the high cholesterol, high fat version, you'll probably make a million dollars by selling the recipe. Other commemorations for September include International Chocolate Day on the 13th, and the whole month of September is Subliminal Communications Month. I am, right now, subliminally communicating something special to everyone reading this article, but just in case my telepathic communicator is on the fritz, here are some great, new fiction titles just in at the Jasper County Public Library!
When Warren Ziller relocated his family and himself to California, the Geiger counter of happiness began to fall short, and the American dream that he counted on became a nightmare. The 0nce happy family began to separate, and to make matters worse, Warren's real estate investment failed, leaving the family in financial straits. Then, as fate would have it, tragedy strikes, and the Ziller family is forced to relocate once again, this time to a house in an abandoned development in the middle of the desert. Marooned and stuck with one another, this family must face their predicament together in "Model Home" by Eric Puchner.
Shoko is a Japanese woman married to an American GI. Their grown daughter, Sue, finds her American dream shattered when life as an American housewife sadly disappoints. When a trip to Japan planned by Shoko becomes impossible due to illness, Sue takes her place, and her travels reveal family secrets that change their lives in "How to Be An American Housewife" by Margaret Dilloway.
Drawn back to the past by an unexpected event, Lily Davis Woodward journeys back in time to the year 1945 when her new husband is sent to war and all she can think about is his return so that they can begin their new life as husband and wife. When the small town of Toccoa, Georgia celebrates the soldiers' return from war with a homecoming party, Lily meets Jake Russo, and finds herself torn between the one man who may be her soul mate and the true love of her life and the man to whom she has committed her life in "Fireworks Over Toccoa" by Jeffrey Stepakoff.
Hector Brennan, a handsome GI, was stationed in Korea during the Korean War when he met June Han, a girl orphaned by the fighting. Thirty years later, their lives cross paths again, and the unusual mission that they are both on brings them together, forcing the pair of them to come to terms with their wartime experiences and the secret that they both share in "The Surrendered" by Chang-Rai Lee.
During the month of September, you can do a lot of celebrating. You can celebrate the chickens in your life with National Chicken Month, or ahoy there, me hearty, you can "Talk Like a Pirate" on the 19th as you give your wife the royal treatment with bon bons on Wife Appreciation Day, also on the 19th. Whatever you choose to do, take the time to stop in your local branch of JCPL, where, aye! All you landlubbers will find some real treasures on the shelves!
When Warren Ziller relocated his family and himself to California, the Geiger counter of happiness began to fall short, and the American dream that he counted on became a nightmare. The 0nce happy family began to separate, and to make matters worse, Warren's real estate investment failed, leaving the family in financial straits. Then, as fate would have it, tragedy strikes, and the Ziller family is forced to relocate once again, this time to a house in an abandoned development in the middle of the desert. Marooned and stuck with one another, this family must face their predicament together in "Model Home" by Eric Puchner.
Shoko is a Japanese woman married to an American GI. Their grown daughter, Sue, finds her American dream shattered when life as an American housewife sadly disappoints. When a trip to Japan planned by Shoko becomes impossible due to illness, Sue takes her place, and her travels reveal family secrets that change their lives in "How to Be An American Housewife" by Margaret Dilloway.
Drawn back to the past by an unexpected event, Lily Davis Woodward journeys back in time to the year 1945 when her new husband is sent to war and all she can think about is his return so that they can begin their new life as husband and wife. When the small town of Toccoa, Georgia celebrates the soldiers' return from war with a homecoming party, Lily meets Jake Russo, and finds herself torn between the one man who may be her soul mate and the true love of her life and the man to whom she has committed her life in "Fireworks Over Toccoa" by Jeffrey Stepakoff.
Hector Brennan, a handsome GI, was stationed in Korea during the Korean War when he met June Han, a girl orphaned by the fighting. Thirty years later, their lives cross paths again, and the unusual mission that they are both on brings them together, forcing the pair of them to come to terms with their wartime experiences and the secret that they both share in "The Surrendered" by Chang-Rai Lee.
During the month of September, you can do a lot of celebrating. You can celebrate the chickens in your life with National Chicken Month, or ahoy there, me hearty, you can "Talk Like a Pirate" on the 19th as you give your wife the royal treatment with bon bons on Wife Appreciation Day, also on the 19th. Whatever you choose to do, take the time to stop in your local branch of JCPL, where, aye! All you landlubbers will find some real treasures on the shelves!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Don't Dump the Dog and Other Great Nonfiction at JCPL
Looking up at me with the most innocent expression ever, the evidence hanging out of his mouth gives him away. Spud the dog may be small, but he is mighty, and the messes he makes are even mightier. Remnants of what may have once been a soccer ball litter the living room floor, because Spud the dog has struck again. The arm cover to my couch is also a casualty of Spud the dog. Putting things up out of his reach can only accomplish so much, because he has discovered that with just a little perseverence, he can finagle his way into toy boxes, jump until he can reach countertops, and generally wreak havoc on anything that fits in his mouth. I must check my watch several times a day, wondering, "Is the pound still open!?"
Randy Grim emphatically believes that dogs are worth their weight in gold, and that any and all behavior problems that come from pooches of all types can be solved. In "Don't Dump the Dog: Outrageous Stories and Simple Solutions to Your Worst Behavior Problems," Grim provides dog owners with everything they need to turn things around with their dogs, offering solutions to even the worst habits that Man's Best Friend may have acquired. This dog friendly guide is full of humor, but is written with the experience of a veteran dog trainer who can help you to connect with the Bowser in your life. Read on for more, great, new nonfiction titles, designed to enrich your brain and make your life easier!
Stick with what you know...that's the advice given to writers; and as a general rule of thumb, it's good advice no matter what you attempt to do, and that includes making a living. Having a passion can be profitable, and "Crush it! Why NOW is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion" by Gary Vaynerchuk offers sound advice on how to convert what you're truly passionate about into cash, with step by step instructions on using Twitter, Facebook, and other online networking systems to become profitable, no matter what line of business you choose to make your living.
In her lifetime, Geneen Roth has gained and lost over a thousand pounds. From being seriously overweight to extremely underweight, Roth has been plagued most of her life with feelings of shame and self-hatred because of her body image and eating habits. Finally, she ended the struggle by trusting her body and realizing that our relationship with food is directly related to our feelings about love, fear and our core beliefs. In "Women, Food and God," Roth leads readers to the doorway to freedom, demystifying the weight loss puzzle by trusting your own belief system, bringing peace and ending the compulsions once and for all.
Investigative reporting at its best, "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" by Michael Lewis combines logic with the timely topic of today's financial crisis to give an overview of the head in the sand investment strategies that led the inflated egos running many of today's top financial institutions to make the colossal cash blunderes that required a government bailout. Covering a dizzying cast of characters, Lewis even covers "where are they now," updating readers on the various heroes and villains that were instrumental in some of the worst financial debacles of our time.
"In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving" by Leigh Anne Touhy is the astonishing tale of Leigh Anne and Sean Touhy, and their mission in life to raise their children to be cheerful givers. With their deep Christian faith and their commitment to make a difference, Leigh Anne invited a homeless young man into their lives, making him a part of their family, transforming his life by opening their hearts, and ultimately, their door, showing that the power of giving can teach unforgettable lessons to us all. This book is the inspiring story of one couple who truly believes that "Everyone has a blind side, but a loving heart always sees a path toward true charity." Based on the movie, "The Blind Side," this incredible, true story will touch your heart.
We've really debated as to what "mixed breed" might be Spud's parentage, and have decided that no matter what breed of dog he may be, Billy Goat must be somewhere in the mix. Anyway, Spud (a.k.a. "Scud," as in missile) the dog gets another chance because "Don't Dump the Dog" says so. He should be breathing a sigh of relief...but he's kind of busy right now, chomping on some unidentified household item.
Randy Grim emphatically believes that dogs are worth their weight in gold, and that any and all behavior problems that come from pooches of all types can be solved. In "Don't Dump the Dog: Outrageous Stories and Simple Solutions to Your Worst Behavior Problems," Grim provides dog owners with everything they need to turn things around with their dogs, offering solutions to even the worst habits that Man's Best Friend may have acquired. This dog friendly guide is full of humor, but is written with the experience of a veteran dog trainer who can help you to connect with the Bowser in your life. Read on for more, great, new nonfiction titles, designed to enrich your brain and make your life easier!
Stick with what you know...that's the advice given to writers; and as a general rule of thumb, it's good advice no matter what you attempt to do, and that includes making a living. Having a passion can be profitable, and "Crush it! Why NOW is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion" by Gary Vaynerchuk offers sound advice on how to convert what you're truly passionate about into cash, with step by step instructions on using Twitter, Facebook, and other online networking systems to become profitable, no matter what line of business you choose to make your living.
In her lifetime, Geneen Roth has gained and lost over a thousand pounds. From being seriously overweight to extremely underweight, Roth has been plagued most of her life with feelings of shame and self-hatred because of her body image and eating habits. Finally, she ended the struggle by trusting her body and realizing that our relationship with food is directly related to our feelings about love, fear and our core beliefs. In "Women, Food and God," Roth leads readers to the doorway to freedom, demystifying the weight loss puzzle by trusting your own belief system, bringing peace and ending the compulsions once and for all.
Investigative reporting at its best, "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" by Michael Lewis combines logic with the timely topic of today's financial crisis to give an overview of the head in the sand investment strategies that led the inflated egos running many of today's top financial institutions to make the colossal cash blunderes that required a government bailout. Covering a dizzying cast of characters, Lewis even covers "where are they now," updating readers on the various heroes and villains that were instrumental in some of the worst financial debacles of our time.
"In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving" by Leigh Anne Touhy is the astonishing tale of Leigh Anne and Sean Touhy, and their mission in life to raise their children to be cheerful givers. With their deep Christian faith and their commitment to make a difference, Leigh Anne invited a homeless young man into their lives, making him a part of their family, transforming his life by opening their hearts, and ultimately, their door, showing that the power of giving can teach unforgettable lessons to us all. This book is the inspiring story of one couple who truly believes that "Everyone has a blind side, but a loving heart always sees a path toward true charity." Based on the movie, "The Blind Side," this incredible, true story will touch your heart.
We've really debated as to what "mixed breed" might be Spud's parentage, and have decided that no matter what breed of dog he may be, Billy Goat must be somewhere in the mix. Anyway, Spud (a.k.a. "Scud," as in missile) the dog gets another chance because "Don't Dump the Dog" says so. He should be breathing a sigh of relief...but he's kind of busy right now, chomping on some unidentified household item.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Dog Days of Summer Call for Good Reading Material!
No matter where you go, chances are you'll have to do some waiting. Waiting to be called for your appointment at the doctor or dentist's office; waiting in line at the grocery, drug, or department store; wait, wait, wait. Standing in line just about anywhere I go, I can almost count on the person ahead of me needing a price check, or having a problem of some sort that's going to require LOTS of time to remedy; but my wait pales in comparison to the headline that reads, "Two sisters reunited after 18 years at checkout counter." And I thought MY wait was long! Another headline states the obvious with, "If strike isn't settled quickly, it may last awhile." Sometimes animals make headlines, and in this case, a cow on a rampage makes news with, "Enraged cow injures farmer with ax;" and while we know that some animals eat their young, humans aren't supposed to (although sometimes we wonder if we should consider it), but the headline, "Kids make nutritious snacks" makes you second guess the choices of some folks. Speaking of choices, check out these new fiction titles, and just WAIT until you read on for some really good entertainment for the "dog days of summer!"
As the country's brightest doctors race to find the cure for infections that kill thousands each year, photojournalist, Claire Shipley, is following the story, dear to her heart, because her young daughter died from a sudden illness that possibly could have been cured by this new drug called penicillin. As doctors close in on their research for the miracle drug that will change history, a researcher at the institute dies suddenly, and Claire finds herself entrenched in a battle to find the killer before it's too late in "A Fierce Radiance" by Lauren Belfer.
When Eric Shaw takes on the job of making a documentary about Alyssa Bradford's 95 year old father in law, Campbell Bradford, he travels to the older man's hometown, where its charming history turns into an eerie mystery in "So Cold the River," an intensely frightening novel by Michael Koryta that centers around an old hotel that has been restored and the dark history and long forgotten evil surrounding it.
The year is 1704, and young Elizabeth is sent to Versailles, Louisiana in search of a husband. When she is paired with the charismatic and ruthlessly ambitious soldier, Jean-Claude, she is surprised to find herself not only attracted to him, but falling in love with him as well. Auguste, as well, must manage to find happiness in a new world when he is abandoned, and then befriended by Elizabeth's husband, Jean-Claude. When both Elizabeth and Auguste are ultimately betrayed by Jean-Claude, they find themselves drawn together in unexpected ways in "Savage Lands" by Claire Clark.
Growing up as the product of professional parents in Glasgow, Scotland, Kit Philipson had every advantage. While his mother lay dying, she confessed to Kit that he is adopted, and soon after, vague memories of Kit's early life begin to plague him, sending him searching through old newspaper files that reveal Kit's true identity and the actual facts of the abduction that led him to become part of the Philipson family in "A Stranger in the Family" by Robert Barnard.
You've probably heard it said that "good things come to those who wait," but Abraham Lincoln summed it up with, "Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle." There you go; don't let the good titles be left behind; just get in your car and head to your local branch of JCPL, where every new title is an experience worth its WEIGHT in gold!
As the country's brightest doctors race to find the cure for infections that kill thousands each year, photojournalist, Claire Shipley, is following the story, dear to her heart, because her young daughter died from a sudden illness that possibly could have been cured by this new drug called penicillin. As doctors close in on their research for the miracle drug that will change history, a researcher at the institute dies suddenly, and Claire finds herself entrenched in a battle to find the killer before it's too late in "A Fierce Radiance" by Lauren Belfer.
When Eric Shaw takes on the job of making a documentary about Alyssa Bradford's 95 year old father in law, Campbell Bradford, he travels to the older man's hometown, where its charming history turns into an eerie mystery in "So Cold the River," an intensely frightening novel by Michael Koryta that centers around an old hotel that has been restored and the dark history and long forgotten evil surrounding it.
The year is 1704, and young Elizabeth is sent to Versailles, Louisiana in search of a husband. When she is paired with the charismatic and ruthlessly ambitious soldier, Jean-Claude, she is surprised to find herself not only attracted to him, but falling in love with him as well. Auguste, as well, must manage to find happiness in a new world when he is abandoned, and then befriended by Elizabeth's husband, Jean-Claude. When both Elizabeth and Auguste are ultimately betrayed by Jean-Claude, they find themselves drawn together in unexpected ways in "Savage Lands" by Claire Clark.
Growing up as the product of professional parents in Glasgow, Scotland, Kit Philipson had every advantage. While his mother lay dying, she confessed to Kit that he is adopted, and soon after, vague memories of Kit's early life begin to plague him, sending him searching through old newspaper files that reveal Kit's true identity and the actual facts of the abduction that led him to become part of the Philipson family in "A Stranger in the Family" by Robert Barnard.
You've probably heard it said that "good things come to those who wait," but Abraham Lincoln summed it up with, "Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle." There you go; don't let the good titles be left behind; just get in your car and head to your local branch of JCPL, where every new title is an experience worth its WEIGHT in gold!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Let JCPL Be Your Lucky Charm This August!
Reading the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris, I am getting an education, learning the ins and outs of vampire life, werewolf drama and also getting the inside scoop about the lives of shape shifters. One of the most educational parts of reading this series, however, is that Sookie Stackhouse, the main character in the series, has a best friend who supplies her with a Word of the Day calendar each year, and occasionally, one of the words applies to the plot in the story. One morning, while taking breakfast orders from my three grandchildren, my two year old granddaughter requested "Chucky Arms." Hmmm...that wasn't part of the educational Word of the Day, and Sookie doesn't have kids, so the Vampire series would be no help in solving this mystery. Opening up the cabinet, I began to peruse the various foodstuffs that could translate to "Chucky Arms," and after a careful inspection, the light bulb above my head lit up and I asked her, "Do you want Lucky Charms?" BINGO! Mystery solved! And so, the breakfast mystery is solved, and our stomachs are full, so read on for some refreshing food for your mind and check out these new fiction titles from the Jasper County Public Library!
The Darling Dahlias is a Depression era, garden-club group of ladies from Darling, Alabama who welcome members from all walks of life. The ladylike behavior of the Darling Dahlias is challenged, however, when a set of sterling silver is found buried under the town's famous Cucumber Tree, and two members of the group claim ownership. The town and ladies club are further shaken by the discovery of the body of an unidentified young woman outside of town, and the mystery deepens in "The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree" by Susan Albert Wittig.
Seven year old Lavinia was orphaned on her journey to America from Ireland, and arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation, working in the plantation's kitchen under the tutelage of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter. As time goes on, Lavinia is accepted into the fold of the family in the Big House, but finds herself straddling two very different worlds in "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom.
The birth of a new baby daughter should be a happy occasion, but in a remote Indiana village where only sons are favored, the birth of a daughter is a tragedy. In "Secret Daughter" by Shilpi Somaya Gowder, Kavita and her husband struggle with the decision to give their newborn daughter, Asha, away. The decision to give the baby up haunts both parents, even after the birth of their son, but placing her in an orphanage is the only way to save her life. Meanwhile, across the globe, American doctor, Somer, and her husband, Krishnon, desperately want a child, but cannot have one of their own, and when they see a photo of baby Asha, decide to adopt the child. "Secret Daughter" weaves the lives and cultures of two families together, exploring the issues of culture and belonging, dramatically comparing the lives and cultures of two families who have the common goal of wanting only to be happy.
When nine year old Rose Edelstein bites into the lemon-chocolate cake prepared by her mother for her birthday, she discovers a magical gift; she can actually taste the emotions of her mother with every bite she takes. The gift, however, is not welcome when Rose discovers that the mother she has always seen as happy and cheerful is truly unhappy, desperate and full of despair. "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" by Aimee Bender brings to light the enormous burden of knowing too much and loving those closest to you anyway.
Sookie's Word of the Day in "Dead to the World," the fourth in the Southern Vampire Series, was "farrago," which the dictionary defines as "a jumble," and Sookie describes as "a confused mess." I'm not sure how I would use it in a sentence, but it could be a good replacement word for what's on the menu at our house for breakfast; Chucky Arms.
The Darling Dahlias is a Depression era, garden-club group of ladies from Darling, Alabama who welcome members from all walks of life. The ladylike behavior of the Darling Dahlias is challenged, however, when a set of sterling silver is found buried under the town's famous Cucumber Tree, and two members of the group claim ownership. The town and ladies club are further shaken by the discovery of the body of an unidentified young woman outside of town, and the mystery deepens in "The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree" by Susan Albert Wittig.
Seven year old Lavinia was orphaned on her journey to America from Ireland, and arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation, working in the plantation's kitchen under the tutelage of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter. As time goes on, Lavinia is accepted into the fold of the family in the Big House, but finds herself straddling two very different worlds in "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom.
The birth of a new baby daughter should be a happy occasion, but in a remote Indiana village where only sons are favored, the birth of a daughter is a tragedy. In "Secret Daughter" by Shilpi Somaya Gowder, Kavita and her husband struggle with the decision to give their newborn daughter, Asha, away. The decision to give the baby up haunts both parents, even after the birth of their son, but placing her in an orphanage is the only way to save her life. Meanwhile, across the globe, American doctor, Somer, and her husband, Krishnon, desperately want a child, but cannot have one of their own, and when they see a photo of baby Asha, decide to adopt the child. "Secret Daughter" weaves the lives and cultures of two families together, exploring the issues of culture and belonging, dramatically comparing the lives and cultures of two families who have the common goal of wanting only to be happy.
When nine year old Rose Edelstein bites into the lemon-chocolate cake prepared by her mother for her birthday, she discovers a magical gift; she can actually taste the emotions of her mother with every bite she takes. The gift, however, is not welcome when Rose discovers that the mother she has always seen as happy and cheerful is truly unhappy, desperate and full of despair. "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" by Aimee Bender brings to light the enormous burden of knowing too much and loving those closest to you anyway.
Sookie's Word of the Day in "Dead to the World," the fourth in the Southern Vampire Series, was "farrago," which the dictionary defines as "a jumble," and Sookie describes as "a confused mess." I'm not sure how I would use it in a sentence, but it could be a good replacement word for what's on the menu at our house for breakfast; Chucky Arms.
Friday, July 16, 2010
You Might Be an Avid Reader if...
"You might be a redneck when you take a trip to the dump and bring back more than you took," is one redneck phrase that made comic, Jeff Foxworthy, famous. If I had to choose a topic to write about, I'd turn "redneck" into "menopause," and the phrases would go something like, "You might be in menopause when you spend more time rearranging the contents of your freezer than eating them, just to get a blast of cold air during a hot flash," or, "You might be in menopause when you discover that the local petting zoo's llama died, and you find yourself choking back tears, even though you didn't even know its name," or, "You might be in menopause when your body gives off enough heat during a hot flash to solve the world energy crisis." You get the picture. Similarly, you know you're at the Jasper County Public Library when you can check out the best new fiction titles around. Here are just a few of our newest to choose from.
It's been two years since Abbie Fox has seen her father, but a family crisis forces her to return to Nantucket, where her sisters, Lily and Emma, are struggling with losses of their own. As the summer wears on, each of the three sisters find themselves in unpredictable situations, undergoing personal transformations that may change their lives in "Beachcombers" by Nancy Thayer.
As a reporter for the Bergen County News, Chris Turley strives to live up to the legendary career of his father, Edward Turley, but never seems to make the grade. Everything changes for Chris, however, when an explosion rocks the building next door and Chris heroically saves five people from the burning building. Instant celebrity that he is, Chris receives an anonymous tip after the incident that leads him into a reporter's dream that quickly turns into a nightmare in "Down to the Wire" by David Rosenfelt.
You can't fool Mother Nature, and when Dr. Claus Rhumkorrf struggles with one experiment after another to replace failing human organs and tissue with that of animals, a process called xenotransplantation, he succeeds, only to regret it when his creation turns on him and society in general in "Ancestor" by Scott Sigler.
The dawn of a new day brings tragedy to the world of the Amish in "Pray for Silence." When the police are summoned to a small, quiet Amish family farm, they discover the horror of an entire family wiped out; brutally tortured and slain. With Kate Burkholder and Agent John Tomasetti investigating the case, one secret after another is revealed in this, the second book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.
Shep Knacker has plans for his nest egg. He thinks of this phase of his life as "The Afterlife," and when he sells his home repair business for a cool million bucks, he is ready to "get out of Dodge" and head for his dream retirement destination. His wife of twenty six years, Glynis, though has just returned from her doctor's appointment, and announces a medical condition that requires enough treatment that Shep's nest egg, as well as his plans for "The Afterlife" are irrevocably changed in "So Much for That" by Lionel Shriver.
If I had to choose one of the titles listed above to describe how I feel about menopause, it would have to be "So Much for That," and if you have to ask me why that is, "you might not be in menopause."
It's been two years since Abbie Fox has seen her father, but a family crisis forces her to return to Nantucket, where her sisters, Lily and Emma, are struggling with losses of their own. As the summer wears on, each of the three sisters find themselves in unpredictable situations, undergoing personal transformations that may change their lives in "Beachcombers" by Nancy Thayer.
As a reporter for the Bergen County News, Chris Turley strives to live up to the legendary career of his father, Edward Turley, but never seems to make the grade. Everything changes for Chris, however, when an explosion rocks the building next door and Chris heroically saves five people from the burning building. Instant celebrity that he is, Chris receives an anonymous tip after the incident that leads him into a reporter's dream that quickly turns into a nightmare in "Down to the Wire" by David Rosenfelt.
You can't fool Mother Nature, and when Dr. Claus Rhumkorrf struggles with one experiment after another to replace failing human organs and tissue with that of animals, a process called xenotransplantation, he succeeds, only to regret it when his creation turns on him and society in general in "Ancestor" by Scott Sigler.
The dawn of a new day brings tragedy to the world of the Amish in "Pray for Silence." When the police are summoned to a small, quiet Amish family farm, they discover the horror of an entire family wiped out; brutally tortured and slain. With Kate Burkholder and Agent John Tomasetti investigating the case, one secret after another is revealed in this, the second book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.
Shep Knacker has plans for his nest egg. He thinks of this phase of his life as "The Afterlife," and when he sells his home repair business for a cool million bucks, he is ready to "get out of Dodge" and head for his dream retirement destination. His wife of twenty six years, Glynis, though has just returned from her doctor's appointment, and announces a medical condition that requires enough treatment that Shep's nest egg, as well as his plans for "The Afterlife" are irrevocably changed in "So Much for That" by Lionel Shriver.
If I had to choose one of the titles listed above to describe how I feel about menopause, it would have to be "So Much for That," and if you have to ask me why that is, "you might not be in menopause."
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