Latest Additions February 20, 2012
Posted by stacey in Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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Hey! It’s an official holiday today! Happy Combo-Birthday President Washington and President Lincoln! (Actual birthdays? President Washington was born February 22, 1732 and President Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 =that’s a lot of cake to hold all those candles!) I hope in celebration everyone can find time to do something Executive or Governmental or maybe throw a party -and invite a government worker? Why yes, I *am* available for cake tasting! But as I can’t be everywhere at once, I believe many of my co-workers, government employees all, may also agree to attend your impromptu President’s Day parties! The library *is* open, so come by and take a chance? Or you might want to stop by and pick up a book? Maybe you’d like one of these:
In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault
The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Gem of a Ghost by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Or let us suggest something, just for you!, with the Reader’s Request form!
Enjoy!
— Stacey
Latest Additions February 13, 2012
Posted by stacey in Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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Uh oh. I’ve got nothing! Not that this was not an eventful weekend, but relaying my thoughts today seems nearly impossible… I apologize for n0t chatting, but I’m going to just move on to sharing titles today. Yes? Yes!
The Litigators by John Grisham
How It All Began by Penelope Lively
Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
Chocolate Covered Murder by Leslie Meier
And now? Let’s all enjoy the sunshine -with a good book!
— Stacey
Latest Additions February 6, 2012
Posted by stacey in Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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Hey! It’s Monday again! Who knew a week could go by so quickly? Or maybe it felt like forever to you because you’ve been on the edge of your seat, waiting with baited breath for the next list of books recently added to The Reading Room! Now I feel mean that it’s taken me so long to get back to you! I will make you wait no longer:
How to Save a Life Sara Zarr
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
India Black and the Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr
A Winter Haunting by Dan Simmons
Be the Miracle by Regina Brett
1222 by Anne Holt
Enjoy!
— Stacey
Latest Additions January 30, 2012
Posted by stacey in Book List, Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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What a windy weekend! Luckily, I was not wandering around outside with my trusty kite or my over-sized umbrella. (That would be one inexpensive trip though, right?) On the other hand, it made staying inside to do work around the house seem clever and good! And so I did. How about you? Were you lucky enough to enjoy some organizing time, interspersed with some reading time? Are you all out of books?! Never fear! Here come the titles most recently added to The Reading Room:
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer
For Better, For Murder by Lisa Bork
Winter Town by Stephen Emond
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly
The Call by Yannick Murphy
Gil’s All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
So how about that? This just might be a list that could very well blow you away… ha ha!
— Stacey
Latest Additions January 23, 2012
Posted by stacey in Book Awards, Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Today we celebrate the start of the Year of the Dragon -and this looks to be a pretty fabulous occurrence! Strength, originality, and notable might be three words I think might wind-up describing this year, all good things! If you’re looking to read a more about the history of the Chinese New Year, the History Channel has a pleasantly succinct explanation. And then you might want to try a recipe, or try a semi-traditional New Year’s custom?
Once you’ve exhausted yourself with all things Year of Dragon-y, would you like to kick back and read? Maybe you’re looking for an award winning book? Maybe a book that has just won a Big Award at the American Library Association’s Winter Meeting? The Reference and User Service Division has two long lists of winning titles for you to look over! There’s the Reading List and/or the Notable Books list that have just been announced, both full of interesting titles! Or you might want to indulge your inner child with the Newbery Award or Caldecott Award winners, as well as a host of award winning titles for young people!
What a wonderful Monday… Enjoy!
— Stacey
Latest Additions January 16, 2012
Posted by stacey in Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! And what a lovely day to celebrate Mr. King, with a little sunshine and a milder temperature! Of course those lucky enough to be off work today might be looking for something to do? Maybe they want to scamper through the melting snow and drink hot chocolate? Or maybe they want to take a brief walk in the woods? Or maybe they want to swing by the library for a good book that they can read after the sun -and the temperature- goes down? Maybe you’d like to try one of these:
Legend by Marie Lu
The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen
Boxer Beetle by Ned Beauman
The Gift by Pete Hamill
The Sisters by Nancy Jensen
India Black by Carol Carr
The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck
Here’s hoping one of these books, and the weather!, is exactly what you’ve been wishing for!
— Stacey
March Madness is Coming!! January 13, 2012
Posted by Julie in Book Awards, Fiction.Tags: Book Awards, Book news
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Sorry sports fans, this isn’t about basketball – we’re talking books, man, books! The chance to get in on some bracket and betting fever is here for those who aren’t motivated by college ball, but written word one on one action? Oh yeah, sign me UP!
What I’m talking about is the 8th annual TMN Tournament of Books. The Morning News, an online magazine, along with Powell’s Books and Field Notes brings us this compitition of novels written in 2011 that begins March 7, 2012. So get your office pools going and get in on the “action.” Among the competing titles in the first round are Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder vs. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. March madness rules!!
—Julie
Latest Additions January 9, 2012
Posted by stacey in Fiction.Tags: Latest Additions, The Reading Room
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Welcome to the first edition of the Latest Additions -2012 style! (Which will be basically the same style as 2011 -but it sounds more fun that way, no?) And now that most of the Holiday Celebrations have come and gone, it’s time to start turning those pages! Are you looking for a book to start the year off right? Would you like a personalized suggestion? Why not try our Reader’s Request form? Or perhaps you’d like to go old school and take a peek at what’s been added to The Reading Room:
The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan
Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson
Enjoy!
— Stacey
Checking Out Titles December 27, 2011
Posted by Chris in Fiction, Thoughtful Ramblings.add a comment
There’s nothing like a good title that tempts me to take down a book from the shelf, scan it, and consider taking it home. What makes a title good? To me, it’s one that makes me wonder. Looking around now, I see a number that do/did just that: Chango’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoes, Edge, Bed, A Visit from the Goon Squad, The Buddha in the Attic, Baking Cakes in Kigali, Sing You Home, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. A few of them I’ve reached for in the past, read, and felt that they’ve lived up to their titles; some not so much. One title that doesn’t stand a chance with me is one with a pun. I’ve heard authors talk about slaving over the perfect title; heard others mention that their editors came up with it; and one even said that he narrowed his options by flipping coins. So there you have it. And if we’re not familiar with the author, that’s all we have to go on. Unless you’re into arresting graphics.
─Chris
Mona & Steve December 22, 2011
Posted by Chris in Fiction, Thoughtful Ramblings.add a comment
I knew of Mona Simpson long before I knew of her long-lost brother Steve Jobs. I was reading her first novel, Anywhere but Here in ’86 along with my friends and we were very excited about her work. Not only did she have a novel out at 26 years of age, but she was working at The Paris Review. Cool. Mona went on to write, and we went on to read, A Regular Guy, Off Keck Road, and most recently, My Hollywood.
During the time she went from being a struggling writer to an award-winning one, she was also developing a close relationship with her computer-genius brother, Steve Jobs. How lucky for them to connect in 1985 and befriend each other, even if it was only for 26 years.
I think of what their biological mother must feel having given up her son for adoption at birth only to find out later that he had become Steve Jobs. His biological father never found out; Mona met him when she was an adult. Yet, they were the natural parents of two extraordinarily gifted people. Now there’s a story.
─Chris
