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!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
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!"
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!"
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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!"
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!"
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
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?
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?
Friday, March 4, 2011
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!"
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!"
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