If you would have told me a few years ago that I would be driving a mini-van someday, I would have told you that you’re wrong. No way would I drive a “bus.” My vehicles have always been compact; after all, I’m only 4’11” tall. So now, in my driveway, sits a red van, and every time I walk through my living room and see that “bus” out in my driveway, I wonder who is visiting, because, mentally, I still have not adjusted to the large capacity vehicle that is sitting where my little Toyota should be. I tote around 4 grandkids quite frequently, and buckling them into safety seats was getting way too cramped, hence the decision to buy a van. According to Carter, the character in the book I’m currently reading, buying a van is an inevitable consequence of getting older; everyone is doing it. In the story, he arrives at a party, driving a van, and when the hostess spies his new ride, she asks, “What is that?” “That,” Carter replies, is your future. You laugh now, but no one can escape the minivan. It’s like wrinkles and nursing homes.” Ouch…I had to learn from a character in “Finny” by Justin Kramon just how OLD I am. “Finny,” by the way, is one of the best, character driven novels I’ve read in awhile. At the beginning of the book, the main character, Finny Short, is fourteen years old, and a defiant teenager she is. Her parents are so exasperated with her antics that they send her to boarding school, where Finny must slightly readjust to her new surroundings. Her precociousness prevails, however, and Finny moves into adulthood after much mischief in a remarkable adventure, with no shortage of charm as she recklessly seeks happiness and true love.
This new title on the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library is one you won’t want to miss; and for the upcoming cooler weather, don’t miss these new titles either!
When John and Irene got married, they were each certain of one thing; this would never work. When their daughter, Sadie, came along, the pair of them at least had one thing in common. Sadie was the center of their lives, and each of them held their daughter in their hearts as only parents can treasure their child. When John and Irene divorced, Sadie stayed the one common denominator in their lives, even though they lived across the country from each other. At eighteen, Sadie was like most teenagers, and began testing her strength and freedom, but when she dared to strike out on her own, going behind her parent’s backs to meet the boy of her dreams, Sadie found herself in deep trouble. John and Irene were then forced to meet once again, but this time under circumstances that neither of them ever expected in “Once Upon a Time, There Was You” by Elizabeth Berg.
Realizing that her days of lucid thinking are numbered because of early onset dementia, Ann Biddle desperately tries to resolve issues and hurts that have plagued her for decades, with the tragic death of her young daughter being the most difficult cross to bear. Blessed with Ellie, the eight year old granddaughter that she dearly loves, Ann finds common ground with her daughter in law, struggling to help the young mother unwind her tightly wound protectiveness toward Ellie in “The Bird House” by Kelly Simmons.
Taking an online test called, “What kind of car are you,” I discovered that beneath it all, I am really a VW Beetle, stuck in a red van’s body. What kind of car are you, and what does your future hold? Only one answer comes to mind for that question; that is a trip to JCPL, where the only thing you can really count on for your near future is lots of great, new fiction!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Ageless, Timeless Fiction at JCPL!
I’m not one of those women who hate to admit their age. I don’t advertise it, but if I it happens to come up in conversation, I’ll admit how old I am. I have, however, been known to be wrong about how old I really am. An honest mistake, so to speak. One year, as my birthday got closer, a friend of ours was visiting, and the fact that my birthday was a month away was mentioned. When asked how old my upcoming birthday would make me, I answered, “I’ll be thirty eight.” Several beats went by, and finally, my friend said, “I could be wrong, but haven’t you been thirty eight for an awfully long time now?” Hmmm…Maybe the age thing is more of an issue than I thought. When it comes to that subject, I guess I’m sort of on the same page with India Bishop, a thirty eight (really forty three) year old woman who has literally reinvented herself and then falls for a wealthy older man named Marcus Croft. The only thing missing from her life now is a baby, and when her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, her life intersecting with the lives of Jules Strauss and Annie Barrow, leading readers into the hearts of women’s lives in unforgettable and tender ways in “Then Came You” by Jennifer Weiner.
I could describe this book as “not old” at the Jasper County Public Library. In fact, it’s NEW, and so are the following titles! Read on!
Banished from New York to the balmy seaside resort of Port Fontaine, Florida due to political fallout, forensic pathologist, Dr. Edward Jenner hopes that the change of scenery will do him good. Jenner’s hopes are dashed, however, when he finds himself embroiled in another death investigation, this one hitting close to home, because the corpse belongs to his former mentor, Dr. Martin Roburn. Putting the pieces together gets a little dicey when four more corpses turn up, seemingly tied to the murder of Roburn and an up and coming drug trade, common in the sleepy little town in “A Hard Death,” the sequel to “Precious Blood” by Jonathan Hayes.
With prominent canines, an uncommon affinity for plants like blood-wart and Dracula orchid, Vlad Servan dresses entirely in black and hails from Romania. Could it be that this friend of Abby Knight’s fiancé is truly a vampire? When a local woman’s corpse is found drained of blood, the search for a killer is on. With Vlad as suspect #1, Abby and her fiancé, Marco, must race against time to prove him innocent in “Night of the Living Dandelion: A Flower Shop Mystery” by Kate Collins.
Retired American schoolteacher, Dorothy Martin has chosen to live out her retirement enjoying the English countryside. Invited to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night at the fully restored Branston Abbey, a major storm blows through, dimming the festive nature of the party. When a tree blows over, revealing a human skeleton tangled within its roots, intrigue follows in “A Dark and Stormy Night” by Jeanne M. Dams.
These “not old” books from JCPL would be great ways to celebrate, say, your 38th birthday. Mark Twain had it right when he quipped, “There is no cure for the common birthday.” Not your 38th birthday? Mine, either, but I still plan to make a trip to JCPL, where the new fiction on the shelves are as ageless as we all are, because, after all, age is just a number, and you can never have enough to read, no matter how old you are!
I could describe this book as “not old” at the Jasper County Public Library. In fact, it’s NEW, and so are the following titles! Read on!
Banished from New York to the balmy seaside resort of Port Fontaine, Florida due to political fallout, forensic pathologist, Dr. Edward Jenner hopes that the change of scenery will do him good. Jenner’s hopes are dashed, however, when he finds himself embroiled in another death investigation, this one hitting close to home, because the corpse belongs to his former mentor, Dr. Martin Roburn. Putting the pieces together gets a little dicey when four more corpses turn up, seemingly tied to the murder of Roburn and an up and coming drug trade, common in the sleepy little town in “A Hard Death,” the sequel to “Precious Blood” by Jonathan Hayes.
With prominent canines, an uncommon affinity for plants like blood-wart and Dracula orchid, Vlad Servan dresses entirely in black and hails from Romania. Could it be that this friend of Abby Knight’s fiancé is truly a vampire? When a local woman’s corpse is found drained of blood, the search for a killer is on. With Vlad as suspect #1, Abby and her fiancé, Marco, must race against time to prove him innocent in “Night of the Living Dandelion: A Flower Shop Mystery” by Kate Collins.
Retired American schoolteacher, Dorothy Martin has chosen to live out her retirement enjoying the English countryside. Invited to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night at the fully restored Branston Abbey, a major storm blows through, dimming the festive nature of the party. When a tree blows over, revealing a human skeleton tangled within its roots, intrigue follows in “A Dark and Stormy Night” by Jeanne M. Dams.
These “not old” books from JCPL would be great ways to celebrate, say, your 38th birthday. Mark Twain had it right when he quipped, “There is no cure for the common birthday.” Not your 38th birthday? Mine, either, but I still plan to make a trip to JCPL, where the new fiction on the shelves are as ageless as we all are, because, after all, age is just a number, and you can never have enough to read, no matter how old you are!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
You'll "Go Bananas" Over These New Non-Fiction Titles!
In the English language there are lots of ways to get your point across. Newspaper articles often recount escapades of people, just like you and me. Upon reading those stories, you might be inclined to say we’ve “gone bananas,” “lost our marbles,” “didn’t have both oars in the water,” were “loony tunes,” “totally bizarre,” or, as the famous candy bar commercial claimed in the 1970’s, “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.”
Funny that someone would use this popular jingle as a title for her memoir. In “Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut: Essays and Observations,” Jill Kargman offers funny, insightful slices of life that entertain readers, tackling issues big and small with wit and laugh out loud humor. In this collection, she shares her experiences of life, love, hate, kids, work, school, and adventures in New York City from a wickedly funny perspective.
This new non-fiction title from the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library uses zany humor to keep you turning pages. Read on for more, great, new titles!
Living, as the author puts it, “a ridiculously good life” is what Nick Vujicic imparts with his new book, “Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life.” Vujicic, born without limbs but for a tiny foot, has learned to be a shining light of help and hope for others, inspiring family and friends by overcoming his disabilities and sharing his faith with others, living independently and becoming a model for anyone who is struggling for true happiness in life.
After a blistering hot summer, fall is making an appearance. If the cooler weather brings more of an appetite for “comfort food” to you and your family, check out “Semi-Homemade Comfort Food” by Sandra Lee. You’ll rejoice in this money saving, easy, breezy cookbook that is perfect for seasoned cooks and novices alike, featuring over 125 delicious recipes for everything from casseroles to side dishes and soups to desserts. Easy to prepare and pocketbook friendly recipes make this cookbook a winner!
The abortion debate has brought about more than a little controversy over the years, and with that debate, violence has escalated throughout history, particularly on the sites of many women’s health care clinics. On May 31, 2009, Scott Roeder took the law into his own hands and fatally wounded abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. “The Wichita Divide: The Murder of Dr. George Tiller” by Stephen Singular presents the portrait of a violent act that was borne out of the war against late term abortions, a war that has been raging for decades where the key battleground is Kansas, home to Brown vs. Board of Education and some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War.
Social networking is not just for the younger population. Believe it or not, people over 55 are the fastest growing user group on Facebook and becoming Twitter bugs, as well. Seniors (and I use that term loosely, being of the over 50 age group myself) can jump on the social networking bandwagon quickly and easily after reading “Facebook and Twitter for Seniors for Dummies” by Marsha Collier. This easy to use guide explains step by step how to use these forums in a user friendly style, supplying everything seniors need to function on Facebook with confidence.
So, “go bonkers,” “go gaga,” “go crazy” or “go bananas” if you need to, but, by all means, while you’re on the way, go to JCPL, where all of the new titles on the shelves will be “the WAY to go!”
Funny that someone would use this popular jingle as a title for her memoir. In “Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut: Essays and Observations,” Jill Kargman offers funny, insightful slices of life that entertain readers, tackling issues big and small with wit and laugh out loud humor. In this collection, she shares her experiences of life, love, hate, kids, work, school, and adventures in New York City from a wickedly funny perspective.
This new non-fiction title from the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library uses zany humor to keep you turning pages. Read on for more, great, new titles!
Living, as the author puts it, “a ridiculously good life” is what Nick Vujicic imparts with his new book, “Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life.” Vujicic, born without limbs but for a tiny foot, has learned to be a shining light of help and hope for others, inspiring family and friends by overcoming his disabilities and sharing his faith with others, living independently and becoming a model for anyone who is struggling for true happiness in life.
After a blistering hot summer, fall is making an appearance. If the cooler weather brings more of an appetite for “comfort food” to you and your family, check out “Semi-Homemade Comfort Food” by Sandra Lee. You’ll rejoice in this money saving, easy, breezy cookbook that is perfect for seasoned cooks and novices alike, featuring over 125 delicious recipes for everything from casseroles to side dishes and soups to desserts. Easy to prepare and pocketbook friendly recipes make this cookbook a winner!
The abortion debate has brought about more than a little controversy over the years, and with that debate, violence has escalated throughout history, particularly on the sites of many women’s health care clinics. On May 31, 2009, Scott Roeder took the law into his own hands and fatally wounded abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. “The Wichita Divide: The Murder of Dr. George Tiller” by Stephen Singular presents the portrait of a violent act that was borne out of the war against late term abortions, a war that has been raging for decades where the key battleground is Kansas, home to Brown vs. Board of Education and some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War.
Social networking is not just for the younger population. Believe it or not, people over 55 are the fastest growing user group on Facebook and becoming Twitter bugs, as well. Seniors (and I use that term loosely, being of the over 50 age group myself) can jump on the social networking bandwagon quickly and easily after reading “Facebook and Twitter for Seniors for Dummies” by Marsha Collier. This easy to use guide explains step by step how to use these forums in a user friendly style, supplying everything seniors need to function on Facebook with confidence.
So, “go bonkers,” “go gaga,” “go crazy” or “go bananas” if you need to, but, by all means, while you’re on the way, go to JCPL, where all of the new titles on the shelves will be “the WAY to go!”
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Perfect Plethora of Printed Books, Presented by JCPL
I hate making mistakes, and what I hate even more is having to admit to making them. “Nobody is perfect,” “To err is human,” and to quote the famous Benjamin Franklin, “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” Everyone has bad days, and makes boo boos from time to time. This correction in the Arizona Republican verifies that: “The Jumble puzzle which appeared on page D1 of Thursday’s edition actually was the puzzle scheduled to appear today. The Jumble originally scheduled to appear Thursday, as well as the answers to Wednesday’s puzzle are on page E1 today. The answers to the puzzle published today appeared Thursday and the answers to the puzzle published Thursday will appear Saturday.” Published puzzles seem to be puzzling even to the publishers of the printed puzzles, don’t you think? Maybe the puzzle publisher who printed the puzzles could have used a guardian angel to help them avoid such puzzlement. Don’t you wonder sometimes what a guardian angel would have to say if they recorded their thoughts in a journal every day? “The Guardian Angel’s Journal” by Carolyn Jess-Cooke tells the tale of a Margot Delacroix, a woman who has returned to earth as a guardian angel named Ruth. Sent back to life as her very own guardian angel, Ruth follows herself throughout her life, from birth through a troubled childhood, and all of the events of her adult life, as sort of a second chance to re-experience the biggest mistakes that led to her deepest regrets, eventually learning to love herself as unconditionally as she should have the first time around.
This new fiction title is just one in a long line of books, new to the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more!
If you love Robin Cook, Michael Palmer and Patricia Cornwell and the pageturning medical drama that they bring to their novels, “Public Anatomy” by A. Scott Pearson, with its intriguing characters and high octane medical drama will be just what the doctor ordered. In this medical thriller, you’ll meet Doctor Eli Branch, a surgeon with a hand injury who is approached by two FBI agents investigating the subsequent deaths of two people who have undergone routine, but robotic, surgeries. Plot twist after plot twist lead Branch on a kaleidoscope of adventures as he seeks the truth, enlisting the help of forensic pathologist, Meg Daily in this thought-provoking novel.
Case closed turns out NOT to be the case for Nina Reilly in “Dreams of the Dead” by Perri O’Shaughnessy. The setting is South Lake Tahoe, California and the characters range from adventurers to criminals to lawyers. When disaster walks into a Lake Tahoe Ski Resort in the form of Jim Strong, a sociopath who Nina defended two years before against murder charges, Nina must expose the secrets of someone very close to her to prove that the dead cannot destroy the living. Written with a breakneck pace and plenty of twists and turns, this novel outlines human drama, establishing its right at the top of legal thriller genre.
Crime solving, 1970’s style, laced with a plucky police detective named Monika Paniatowski, offers readers pageturning police procedural drama when a murder case is reopened after the deathbed confession of the convicted killer of a thirteen year old girl becomes a declaration of his innocence for the crime. The last confession of accused rapist and killer, Fred Howard, is one that declares his innocence to the Priest performing the last rites for the convicted killer just before his death. Enter Detective Chief Inspector Tom Hall and Chief Constable George Baxter, along with Monika, the complex details begin to unravel as cobwebs of clue after clue build to a satisfying conclusion.
Are you puzzled? Well, from my “experience,” being puzzled is not so bad if you have a good distraction, so postpone your puzzle on purpose and pore over the plethora of pristine printed books in the Jasper County Public Library within your proximity; you’ll be pleased, we promise!
This new fiction title is just one in a long line of books, new to the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more!
If you love Robin Cook, Michael Palmer and Patricia Cornwell and the pageturning medical drama that they bring to their novels, “Public Anatomy” by A. Scott Pearson, with its intriguing characters and high octane medical drama will be just what the doctor ordered. In this medical thriller, you’ll meet Doctor Eli Branch, a surgeon with a hand injury who is approached by two FBI agents investigating the subsequent deaths of two people who have undergone routine, but robotic, surgeries. Plot twist after plot twist lead Branch on a kaleidoscope of adventures as he seeks the truth, enlisting the help of forensic pathologist, Meg Daily in this thought-provoking novel.
Case closed turns out NOT to be the case for Nina Reilly in “Dreams of the Dead” by Perri O’Shaughnessy. The setting is South Lake Tahoe, California and the characters range from adventurers to criminals to lawyers. When disaster walks into a Lake Tahoe Ski Resort in the form of Jim Strong, a sociopath who Nina defended two years before against murder charges, Nina must expose the secrets of someone very close to her to prove that the dead cannot destroy the living. Written with a breakneck pace and plenty of twists and turns, this novel outlines human drama, establishing its right at the top of legal thriller genre.
Crime solving, 1970’s style, laced with a plucky police detective named Monika Paniatowski, offers readers pageturning police procedural drama when a murder case is reopened after the deathbed confession of the convicted killer of a thirteen year old girl becomes a declaration of his innocence for the crime. The last confession of accused rapist and killer, Fred Howard, is one that declares his innocence to the Priest performing the last rites for the convicted killer just before his death. Enter Detective Chief Inspector Tom Hall and Chief Constable George Baxter, along with Monika, the complex details begin to unravel as cobwebs of clue after clue build to a satisfying conclusion.
Are you puzzled? Well, from my “experience,” being puzzled is not so bad if you have a good distraction, so postpone your puzzle on purpose and pore over the plethora of pristine printed books in the Jasper County Public Library within your proximity; you’ll be pleased, we promise!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Come Into JCPL to Get Your New Fiction Before It's Going, Going, Gone!
Going, going, gone; that is the rule of thumb for our electricity this summer. The louder the thunder gets, the better the chances that the electricity will be "gone with the wind." I've got it down to a science by now. Candles and flashlights ready to pick up the slack for the lights we won't have for hours to come, and NIPSCO on speed dial, right up there with friends and family. A trusty oil lamp sits nearby, ready to light my way and maybe even help me to finish the book I'm reading. I'd just gotten to the good part; almost to the end of the story when the lights went out. It was one of those books that draws you in, with characters so real that you cheer them on in some parts, and try to talk them out of something they are about to do in others. "Night Road" by Krisin Hannah is the story of one family's struggle to find a new way to be "normal" after tragedy strikes. In it, you'll meet Jude and Miles Farraday, the parents of Mia and Zach, twins who have been inseparable from the time they were born. Zach is the "golden child" with looks, personality and popularity, while Mia is a beautiful but unique girl whose tastes in clothes are anything but trendy. When Mia meets Lexi, the new girl in school, they form a fast friendship and Lexi grows to love the Farraday family until she makes a mistake that changes all of their lives forever. "Night Road" is the first in a long line of new fiction just waiting to be checked out from the shelves of the Jasper County Public Library. Read on for more!
Living in an upscale apartment on the Upper West side, Emily and Sandy Portman are a busy, happily married couple who seem to have it all. When Sandy dies in a tragic accident one night, however, reality hits Emily squarely in the face, and she discovers that her whole marriage and life with Sandy was a sham. Before the funeral is even over, Emily finds that she is on the verge of being evicted from her home, and one after another, more unwelcome surprises await her. When a scruffy dog named Einstein enters her life, Emily finds his presence oddly comforting. But is Einstein's determination and good nature enough to help Emily move on in her future? Find out in "Emily and Einstein" by Linda Francis Lee.
The absence of the men in their lives and the constant fear that their husbands will be the next casualty of war is the focus of "You Know When the Men Are Gone" by Siobhan Fallon. This collection of stories begins with "You Know When the Men Are Gone," in which a war bride from Serbia decides that she just can't cope with the loneliness of being a military wife and finds her own way out. The collection continues with "Inside the Break," featuring a military wife who is confronted with the possibility that her husband is being unfaithful to her with a female soldier. "Remission" is the story of a cancer patient awaiting the results of a crucial test who becomes devastated by the behavior of her teenage daughter, depicting the sensitive nature of the relationship between military parents and their children. Each story in this collection is woven tightly together with the next, zeroing in on military families living in Fort Hood Texas, connecting each through the special bond shared by only those familiar with the military way of life.
Santa Claus is a magical character known to children far and wide. Adults, too, feel the magic of Christmas because of the inspiring story of Old Saint Nick and the memories of their own childhoods. "The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus" by Tim Slover brings the story of Santa Claus to an adult level, weaving various popular Christmas tales together, entertaining the reader with a marvelous, magical novel about the Santa Claus that we all know and love and the magic that he brings to the holiday season for all of us.
Thinking of Christmas in these dog days of summer may cool you off a bit. Just think of it as "Christmas in July, JCPL style," so hitch up the sleigh, make a list, check it twice and visit your local branch of JCPL before all of these new books are "going, going, gone!"
Living in an upscale apartment on the Upper West side, Emily and Sandy Portman are a busy, happily married couple who seem to have it all. When Sandy dies in a tragic accident one night, however, reality hits Emily squarely in the face, and she discovers that her whole marriage and life with Sandy was a sham. Before the funeral is even over, Emily finds that she is on the verge of being evicted from her home, and one after another, more unwelcome surprises await her. When a scruffy dog named Einstein enters her life, Emily finds his presence oddly comforting. But is Einstein's determination and good nature enough to help Emily move on in her future? Find out in "Emily and Einstein" by Linda Francis Lee.
The absence of the men in their lives and the constant fear that their husbands will be the next casualty of war is the focus of "You Know When the Men Are Gone" by Siobhan Fallon. This collection of stories begins with "You Know When the Men Are Gone," in which a war bride from Serbia decides that she just can't cope with the loneliness of being a military wife and finds her own way out. The collection continues with "Inside the Break," featuring a military wife who is confronted with the possibility that her husband is being unfaithful to her with a female soldier. "Remission" is the story of a cancer patient awaiting the results of a crucial test who becomes devastated by the behavior of her teenage daughter, depicting the sensitive nature of the relationship between military parents and their children. Each story in this collection is woven tightly together with the next, zeroing in on military families living in Fort Hood Texas, connecting each through the special bond shared by only those familiar with the military way of life.
Santa Claus is a magical character known to children far and wide. Adults, too, feel the magic of Christmas because of the inspiring story of Old Saint Nick and the memories of their own childhoods. "The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus" by Tim Slover brings the story of Santa Claus to an adult level, weaving various popular Christmas tales together, entertaining the reader with a marvelous, magical novel about the Santa Claus that we all know and love and the magic that he brings to the holiday season for all of us.
Thinking of Christmas in these dog days of summer may cool you off a bit. Just think of it as "Christmas in July, JCPL style," so hitch up the sleigh, make a list, check it twice and visit your local branch of JCPL before all of these new books are "going, going, gone!"
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Leaping Lizards! Check Out These New Non-fiction Titles From JCPL!
One of the biggest music hits of the 1970’s was a song by Jim Stafford called, “I Don’t Like Spiders and Snakes.” If I had written the lyrics, they would have included lizards. Creepy crawly creatures just aren’t my thing; they belong in the wild, like way OUT in the wild; the wild that is nowhere near my house. One wayward lizard mistakenly thought it was a good idea to hole up in my house, and with 3 cats and a dog with a sense of smell rivaling a blue ribbon winning bloodhound, this little creature did not stand a chance of fading into the woodwork. The only thing about relying on animals to exterminate the unwanted reptile (or whatever species a lizard is) is that they enjoy the thrill of the hunt more than actually catching the thing. I know how to get rid of a mouse that’s illegally entered my humble abode, but, besides a broom and some great timing, how can you send a lizard packing? Leaping Lizards! I may be stuck with the creature until it grew to Jurassic Park proportions! I should get in touch with the reptile smugglers in “Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skullduggery” by Jennie Erin Smith; they’ll know what to do, because that is their specialty. These devious, dangerous and creepily charming humans deal strictly in the reptile business, illegally smuggling them into and out of the country, making trades with zoo keepers and collectors who pay top dollar for them, breaking the moral codes that make environmentalists and the law abiding animal lovers cringe.
This is not the only new non-fiction title that will keep you entertained and enlightened on some off the beaten path subjects. Read on!
“Australians: Origins to Eureka” by Thomas Keneally is volume 1 in a series of books that sheds light on the “land down under,” describing in detail the formation of the continent as it separated from the supercontinent of Pangaea 140 million years ago. Written by Booker-Prize winning novelist and non-fiction writer, Thomas Keneally, this first volume collectively informs the reader on Aborigines, transplanted convicts, settlers, soldiers and miners who all played a part in the early settlement of a new and harsh land.
When her olfactory nerve was damaged by the use of a common nasal spray that is used to combat the common cold, Bonnie Blodgett lost her sense of smell. Strangely enough, the loss of smell began with a stage called “phantosmia,” a constant stench of, as she puts it, “every disgusting thing you can think of tossed into a blender and pureed.” “Remembering Smell” by Bonnie Blodgett is a memoir recounting the author’s journey into the world of smell, and the unfortunate events that led her into the workings of the human body and its extraordinary power to heal itself.
Roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Golden Girls,” and other popular TV programs made Betty White an icon for TV viewers everywhere. Now 89 years old, Betty White is widely recognized for not only her television roles, but for her lifelong work for animal welfare. A force of nature and determined to continue in her celebrity successes as she still goes strong after seven decades in show business, Betty White shares anecdotes , wisdom and humor in “If You Ask Me: And of Course You Didn’t.”
I’ll bet you’re wondering how the lizard story turned out, aren’t you? Let’s just say that in one fell swoop, we “threw the book” at the little creature and he no longer has to worry about where he is going to live.
This is not the only new non-fiction title that will keep you entertained and enlightened on some off the beaten path subjects. Read on!
“Australians: Origins to Eureka” by Thomas Keneally is volume 1 in a series of books that sheds light on the “land down under,” describing in detail the formation of the continent as it separated from the supercontinent of Pangaea 140 million years ago. Written by Booker-Prize winning novelist and non-fiction writer, Thomas Keneally, this first volume collectively informs the reader on Aborigines, transplanted convicts, settlers, soldiers and miners who all played a part in the early settlement of a new and harsh land.
When her olfactory nerve was damaged by the use of a common nasal spray that is used to combat the common cold, Bonnie Blodgett lost her sense of smell. Strangely enough, the loss of smell began with a stage called “phantosmia,” a constant stench of, as she puts it, “every disgusting thing you can think of tossed into a blender and pureed.” “Remembering Smell” by Bonnie Blodgett is a memoir recounting the author’s journey into the world of smell, and the unfortunate events that led her into the workings of the human body and its extraordinary power to heal itself.
Roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Golden Girls,” and other popular TV programs made Betty White an icon for TV viewers everywhere. Now 89 years old, Betty White is widely recognized for not only her television roles, but for her lifelong work for animal welfare. A force of nature and determined to continue in her celebrity successes as she still goes strong after seven decades in show business, Betty White shares anecdotes , wisdom and humor in “If You Ask Me: And of Course You Didn’t.”
I’ll bet you’re wondering how the lizard story turned out, aren’t you? Let’s just say that in one fell swoop, we “threw the book” at the little creature and he no longer has to worry about where he is going to live.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
New Non-Fiction From Your Local Branch of JCPL Will Be Memorable!
Getting married is generally one of the most memorable occasions in your life. The birth of babies is next on the list for most folks. My niece got married last year, and had a baby just this past month, and as I related the news of the baby's birth to my 5 year old granddaughter, I tried to help her understand who my niece is by reminding her that she was the flower girl in her wedding last year, and that the little boy who stood up as ring bearer was my grand-nephew. After a bit of thought, she said that yes, she did remember the wedding, and she did remember little Clayton, who stood up in the wedding with her. Her recollection of her part in the wedding, however, went something like, "Oh yeah...wasn't Clayton the one I married that day? And you know what? I don't think I've seen him since!" Just goes to show that a five year old's memory of a special occasion is a far cry from the memory of someone my age. Speaking of age, as America grows older, it still focuses on its youth, but are we really "over the hill" at a certain age, or has our life just begun? "Lastingness: The Art of Old Age" delves into the idea of permanence, experience and duration, discussing the life-long habits of those who have thrived in old age, relinquishing the thought that younger is better. After all, in contest after contest, the elders of the tribe reign as the preferred, and are honored for their experience, training and life long achievements.
This title is just one in a long line of non-fiction books that are new to the Jasper County Public Libraries in Rensselaer, DeMotte and Wheatfield. Read on for more!
Living legend, Steven Tyler says, "I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized," and that's just the beginning of his long list of "brain-jangling" tell all in "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" In his own voice, Tyler recounts his rock 'n roll days as lead singer of Aerosmith, playfully and poetically weaving the money, notoriety, motels, hotels, romance and rehab of his past into this meaningful memoir.
At one time or another in our lives, we all feel as though we could use or we would NEED a miracle to change or improve our circumstances. In "Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have Into What you Want," author Melanie Beattie shares her own stories of overcoming obstacles and facing tragedy, offering help in the form of gratitude, surrender, and connecting with our essential power by implementing a six-week action plan that will jump-start the transformation to better mental balance. In this Miracle Workshop guide, twenty five year veteran, Beattie, provides us with the tools to acknowledge the pain we're feeling and progress over a forty day period to feeling more in control, less confused and more vitally alive than ever.
At the age of 53, John Kralik found himself at a crossroads in his life. Everything seemed to be slipping out of control and his personal and professional life were both in danger of failing. On New Year's Day of that year, a walk in the hills brought John to the realization that something had to change, and he began to change his thought process and beliefs by focusing on being grateful for what he had instead of dwelling on what he didn't have. "365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik is the inspiring story of the day after day journey of one man who found "thank you" to be the word that changed his life forever.
Asking a five year old a question or to recall a story can be an eye-opening experience. But whether you're five or fifty, a trip to your local branch of JCPL can be an eye-opener too, and when you check out books from Rensselaer, DeMotte, or Wheatfield, we want to make sure that you enjoy your visit enough to come back again so that we won't be saying, "We haven't seen you since!"
This title is just one in a long line of non-fiction books that are new to the Jasper County Public Libraries in Rensselaer, DeMotte and Wheatfield. Read on for more!
Living legend, Steven Tyler says, "I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized," and that's just the beginning of his long list of "brain-jangling" tell all in "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" In his own voice, Tyler recounts his rock 'n roll days as lead singer of Aerosmith, playfully and poetically weaving the money, notoriety, motels, hotels, romance and rehab of his past into this meaningful memoir.
At one time or another in our lives, we all feel as though we could use or we would NEED a miracle to change or improve our circumstances. In "Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have Into What you Want," author Melanie Beattie shares her own stories of overcoming obstacles and facing tragedy, offering help in the form of gratitude, surrender, and connecting with our essential power by implementing a six-week action plan that will jump-start the transformation to better mental balance. In this Miracle Workshop guide, twenty five year veteran, Beattie, provides us with the tools to acknowledge the pain we're feeling and progress over a forty day period to feeling more in control, less confused and more vitally alive than ever.
At the age of 53, John Kralik found himself at a crossroads in his life. Everything seemed to be slipping out of control and his personal and professional life were both in danger of failing. On New Year's Day of that year, a walk in the hills brought John to the realization that something had to change, and he began to change his thought process and beliefs by focusing on being grateful for what he had instead of dwelling on what he didn't have. "365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik is the inspiring story of the day after day journey of one man who found "thank you" to be the word that changed his life forever.
Asking a five year old a question or to recall a story can be an eye-opening experience. But whether you're five or fifty, a trip to your local branch of JCPL can be an eye-opener too, and when you check out books from Rensselaer, DeMotte, or Wheatfield, we want to make sure that you enjoy your visit enough to come back again so that we won't be saying, "We haven't seen you since!"
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