Library Notes Week of May 3

I don’t know if you keep up with these things, but we have lost several well known authors this year. Erich Segal who wrote Love Story died January 17th at age 72. Robert B. Parker who wrote the Jesse Stone series died January 18th at age 77. J.D. Salinger who wrote Catcher in the Rye died January 27th at age 91. Dick Francis who wrote the horse racing stories died February 14th at age 89. Lastly there was Louis Auchincloss, who is probably not as well known, he died January 27 at age 92. Parker left a couple of books behind and Francis has been writing with his son lately so we may see more books out in his father’s style. It is sad to say goodbye to these talents.

We have new books coming in all the time. Here are a few you might be interested in.

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard. One stormy night in 1986, someone shoots Hugh-Jay Linder dead, and Laurie, his discontented young wife, disappears. The authorities arrest Billy Crosby, a disgruntled ex-employee of High Rock Ranch with a drunk-driving record, in whose abandoned truck Laurie's bloodied sundress is found. In 2009, Billy's lawyer son, Collin, who's certain of his dad's innocence, secures Billy's release from prison and a new trial. Father and son return to Rose, where 25-year-old Jody Linder, the victims' daughter, works as a teacher. Collin's pursuit of justice will force Jody and other members of her family, including her three uncles and her grandparents, to finally confront what really happened on that long ago fatal night and deal with the consequences.

This Body of Death by Elizabeth George. Aggressively career-minded Isabelle Ardery, the new acting superintendent of London's Metropolitan Police, boldly manages to lure Lynley, who's been grieving over his wife's murder, back from Cornwall to look into a murder case. The body of Jemima Hastings, a young woman recently relocated from Hampshire, has turned up in a London cemetery. With suspects in both locales and numerous leads to follow and interviews to conduct, Ardery succeeds in raising the hackles of Det. Sgt. Barbara Havers, Det. Insp. John Stewart, and other members of the investigating team.

State Fair by Earlene Fowler. Racial tensions revolving around the fair's first black general manager, Levi Clark; Levi's half-white daughter, Jazz; and Jazz's various suitors stir the plot. So, too, does the visit from Arkansas of Benni's great-aunt, Garnet Wilcox. A valued African-American quilt stolen from a fair exhibit and a corpse in another exhibit add fuel to the fire.

Library Notes Week of April 26

Did you know you can now check out 3 DVDs instead of 2? The Library Board changed the policy recently since we have so many more movies than we have had in the past. Oh, and a big thank you to those of you who have donated movies. We appreciate you helping us stretch our budget.

If you are looking for something to read, try one of these.

How to be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood by William Mann. In the 60s, Elizabeth Taylor's affair with the married Richard Burton knocked John Glenn's orbit of the moon off front pages nationwide. Yet, despite all the gossip, the larger-than-life personality and influence of this very human woman has never been captured. William Mann uses untapped sources and conversations to show how she ignited the sexual revolution with her on-and off-screen passions, helped kick down the studio system by taking control of her own career, and practically invented the big business of celebrity star-making.

Just Kids by Patti Smith. In 1967, 21-year-old singer–song writer Smith, determined to make art her life and dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities in Philadelphia to live this life, left her family behind for a new life in Brooklyn. When she discovered that the friends with whom she was to have lived had moved, she soon found herself homeless, jobless, and hungry. Through a series of events, she met a young man named Robert Mapplethorpe who changed her life. Smith transports readers to what seemed like halcyon days for art and artists in New York as she shares tales of the denizens of Max's Kansas City, the Hotel Chelsea, Scribner's, Brentano's, and Strand bookstores.

Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life by Bill Minutaglio. Until her death in 2007, Molly Ivins was a staple of the op-ed page, aiming her arrow at favorite targets like George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and the circus of Southern-particularly Texan-politics. The Texas daughter of an oil executive and major player in Houston society, Ivins enjoyed an early, privileged view of Texas deal making and the rise of modern Republicanism. Her subsequent career was a full-fledged rebellion, beginning with her father's conservatism, and culminating in a rejection of both "objective" (read: neutered) journalism and the oil-rich Republican machine. Ivins's insight couldn't be timelier, and the lines she crossed on behalf of women and journalists are overdue for celebration. She was also a fascinating and private person who charmed with her Southern character and was rumored to have had a number of high-profile affairs.

Library Notes Week of April 5

The library now has a Facebook page for all you techies out there. We will post events and pictures. We want to encourage people to discuss books they are reading. I hope the book club will share about the books they are reading. It is just another way to keep in touch. Become a Fan!!

If you need something new to read, here are a few books that just came in.

Why My Third Husband will be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline. Brief, punchy slices of daily life originally published in her Philadelphia Inquirer column allow novelist Scottoline to dish on men, mothers, panty lines and, especially, dogs. Somewhere in her mid-50s, twice divorced (from men she calls Thing One and Thing Two) and living happily in the burbs with her recent college-graduate daughter and a passel of pets. Plunging into home improvement frenzy, constructing a chicken coop, figuring out mystifying insurance policies and how not to die at the gym are some of the conundrums this ordinary woman faces with verve and wicked humor, especially how her beloved dogs have contentedly replaced the romance in her life.

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who’d been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. But providence intervened one day in the form of the United States government, which—after unexpectedly detaining Felipe at an American border crossing—gave the couple a choice: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again. Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Gilbert tackled her fears of marriage by delving into this topic completely, trying with all her might to discover through historical research, interviews, and much personal reflection what this stubbornly enduring old institution actually is.

To Love What Is by Alix Kates Shulman. A fall from a loft bed left author Shulman's 75-year-old husband with traumatic brain injury and utterly dependent on his wife. The fall in the summer of 2004 in their Maine seaside cottage inflicted numerous broken bones, internal bleeding and blood clots to Scott York's brain, causing damage that Shulman gradually learned would take years to heal and probably cause permanent memory loss. Advocating for the best treatment, therapy and eventual care back in their New York City loft became the author's calling for the next year, though to her growing dismay she recognized that her once brilliant husband, a sculptor and former financier, would never make art again or even be able to hold an intellectual conversation.

Library Notes Week of March 29

We are headed into Tulip Festival time! I drive through the countryside coming to work and I see some of the fields have already begun to bloom. Aside from the traffic problems, I enjoy this time of year. If you see a member of the Friends of the Library be sure to buy a ticket for the framed tulip poster they are raffling off. It is an especially nice one this year. They will be out on the streets every weekend in April or you can get tickets at the Book Nook located in the front of the library. The money the Friends raise is very important. It keeps the library going.

Our Children’s Specialist, KJ Cooper, provided the book reviews this week focusing on our young adult books.

Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher. Hannah Baker ended her life two weeks ago. Now, Clay is facing seven audiotapes on which Hannah explains her thirteen reasons why. Clay feels compelled to listen straight through the tapes and follow Hannah’s map to the significant places. The story is told by both Hannah (on the tapes) and Clay (in his reactions to the tapes) and is a moving reminder of how, sometimes, “meaningless” incidents can have a big impact on others.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. In a departure from his “Uglies” series, Westerfeld combines history with science fiction (heavy on the sci-fi). Set in 1914, the Archduke Ferdinand has been assassinated and his son, Alex is on the run from his enemies (Clankers who create amazing mechanical war machines.) In the meantime, a common girl in England, Deryn, disguises herself as a boy to join the British Air Service (Darwinists who biologically engineer fantastical creatures for their war efforts.) The two meet unexpectedly and begin an action-packed, life altering adventure aboard the Leviathan. The second in the series is scheduled to come out in October.

Shadowland by Alyson Noël. In a continuation of the Immortals series, Ever has found Damen, her soul mate across the centuries. Just when they almost reach their happy-ever-after, Damen falls under a powerful curse. Now, with any shared touch, Damen could be plunged into the Shadowland, the home for lost souls. Ever’s quest to find the magickal cure brings her into contact with Jude, who feels strangely familiar…

Library Notes Week of March 22

If you have a teen, be sure they get signed up for the latest teen program from the library—The Super Amazing Race! April 1st, from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Teams will be sent around town to find clues and perform tasks. After they get done, prizes will be awarded at a pizza party in the library. This will be a great activity during Spring Break. Sign up at the library.

If you are looking for something to read, try one of these books off the new book shelf.

Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom. A young woman is haunted by her roommate's murder; a man and his daughter-in-law confess their sins in the unlikeliest of places. In one quartet of interlocking stories, two middle-aged friends, married to others, find themselves surprisingly drawn to each other, risking all while never underestimating the cost. In another linked set of stories, we follow mother and son for thirty years as their small and uncertain family becomes an irresistible tribe.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Pacific Northwest apple country provides a beautiful, chilly setting for this family drama ignited by the death of a loving father whose two daughters have grown apart from each other and from their acid-tongued, Russian-born mother. After assuming responsibility for the family business, 40-year-old empty-nester Meredith finds it difficult to carry out her father's dying wish that she take care of her mother; Meredith's troubled marriage, her troubled relationship with her mother and her mother's increasingly troubled mind get in the way. Nina, Meredith's younger sister, takes a break from her globe-trotting photojournalism career to return home to do her share for their mother. These three women find each other and themselves with the help of vodka and a trip to Alaska.

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky. When Susan Tate's seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned. A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right. She sees the pregnancy as an tragedy for both Lily and herself. Then comes word of two more pregnancies among high school juniors who happen to be Lily's best friends-and the town turns to talk of a pact. As fingers start pointing, the most ardent criticism is directed at Susan. As Susan struggles with the implications of her daughter's pregnancy, her job, financial independence, and long-fought-for dreams are all at risk.

Library Notes Week of March 15

We are excited to announce the library now has downloadable audiobooks available thanks to the Washington State Library. There are brochures at the library to help you walk through the process of checking them out to your computer, I-Pod or MP3 player. There is one little catch—you must establish your account at the library through one of our computers or your laptop using our WiFi. It should only take a few minutes to get you set up then you can download books at home. We have a link on our webpage where you can go straight to the NetLibrary, look at the collection, and download books after you have your account. Come by and we will get you started.

If you are looking for a new book to read, try one of these.

The First Rule by Robert Crais. Frank Meyer had the American dream-until the day a professional crew invaded his home and murdered everyone inside. The only thing out of the ordinary about Meyer was that- before the family and the business and the normal life-a younger Frank Meyer had worked as a professional mercenary, with a man named Joe Pike. The police think Meyer was hiding something very bad, but Pike does not. With the help of Cole, he sets out on a hunt of his own-an investigation that quickly entangles them both in a web of ancient grudges, blood ties, blackmail, vengeance, double crosses, and cutthroat criminal­ity, and at the heart of it, an act so terrible even Pike and Cole have no way to measure it. Sometimes, the past is never dead. It's not even past.

Catalyst: a Tale of the Barque Cats by Anne McCaffrey. Even among Barque Cats, Chessie is something special. Her pedigree, skills, and intelligence, as well as the close rapport she has with her human, Janina, make her the most valuable crew member aboard the Molly Daise. And the litter of kittens in her belly only adds to her value. Then the unthinkable happens. Chessie is catnapped from Dr. Jared Vlast's vet clinic at Hood Station by a grizzled spacer named Carl Poindexter.

Sizzle by Julie Garwood. After she unwittingly captures a shocking crime on camera, a rash of mysterious, treacherous incidents convince Lyra that she's trapped in a sinister scenario headed for a violent ending. Running scared, she turns to her best friend, Sidney Buchanan, whose connections bring dauntless and devilishly handsome FBI agent Sam Kincaid into Lyra's life. As the noose of deadly intrigue tightens and the feelings between them deepen, Lyra and Sam must place their faith in each other's hands—and stand together against the malevolent forces about to break loose.

Library Notes Week of February 22

February 26th is Tell a Fairy Tale Day. This is a day that Fairy Tales are made of (and for). This is a great opportunity to read your kids. If the kids aren't around, it’s certainly okay to read them alone. We all know that everybody loves a good fairy tale. To qualify as a fairy tale, a story does not have to begin with "Once upon a time.....". But, they usually do. It is a requirement that the story has a happy ending. There's nothing better than a good story that ends with "and they all lived happily ever after". So Friday the 26th, cozy up under a blanket with the kids and read a fairy tale book you checked out of the library.

We have lots of new books in the library. If you enjoy biographies you may enjoy one of these recent additions to our new book shelf.

Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me by Howie Mandell. Eleven years ago, Mandel first told the world about his “germophobia.” He’s recently started discussing his adult ADHD as well. Now, for the first time, he reveals the details of his struggle with these challenging disorders. He catalogs his numerous fears and neuroses and shares entertaining stories about how he has tried to integrate them into his act. “If I’m making myself laugh,” he writes, “then I’m distracted from all the other things going on in my head that are, at times, torturous.” And he speaks frankly and honestly about the ways his condition has affected his personal life–as a son, husband, and father of three.

Official Book Club Selection: a Memoir according to Kathy Griffin by Kathy Griffin. Kathy reveals intimate details about her life before and after she made the big time. She opens up about everything from growing up with a dysfunctional family in suburban Illinois to bombing as a young comedian in L.A., from her well-publicized plastic surgery disasters to her highly publicized divorce, and more. Only in this book will you learn how the dinner table is the best training ground for a career in stand-up, how speaking your mind can bite you on the ass and buy you a house, and which people in Kathy’s life have taught her the most valuable lessons—both inside and outside the entertainment industry.

Losing Mum and Pup by Christopher Buckley. In twelve months between 2007 and 2008, Christopher Buckley coped with the passing of his father, William F. Buckley, the father of the modern conservative movement, and his mother, Patricia Taylor Buckley, one of New York's most glamorous and colorful socialites. He was their only child and their relationship was close and complicated. As Buckley tells the story of their final year together, he takes readers on a surprisingly entertaining tour through hospitals, funeral homes, and memorial services, capturing the heartbreaking and disorienting feeling of becoming a 55-year-old orphan.