It took me more than a week to get through the first 200 pages of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.” I felt confused and disengaged. Most of the characters were barely related to each other, if at all. All of them felt very self-centered, unsympathetic and uninteresting. Author Stieg Larsson also has a penchant for meandering into subplots every once in a while.
But then, if you persist, something clicks. You are in for a mystery thriller. The foundations of the trilogy are laid down and off you go. It took me three days to read the remaining 400 pages after that.
Three words that describe this book: Gripping, Mysterious, Hacker-punk
You might want to pick this book up if: You want a light yet gripping read for the week. Continue reading “Reader Review: The Millennium Trilogy”
It’s time to post something like “The 10 Best Vacation Getaways!” and “Summertime Activities With the Kids!” and I do not want to disappoint! Let’s look at some old-fashioned summer activities and how you can learn more about them at the library.
Let’s Watch an Old Time Baseball Game
When you enjoy or play baseball this Summer, whether it is a game in the backyard with friends or a professional game played by your favorite team, you are continuing an activity that started in mid-1800s. According to Britannica: “it was once thought to have been invented in 1839 by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, N.Y., but it is more likely that baseball developed from an 18th-century English game called rounders that was modified by Alexander Cartwright.” The first American league was formed in 1871 to help organize and publicize the professional teams being formed. Continue reading “Historic Summertime!”
In 2019, a reporter interviewed a notable presidential candidate on a well-kept secret. The reporter? John Hendrickson, just a few months into his new job at The Atlantic. The candidate? Former vice president of the United States, Joe Biden. And the secret: his stutter.
At that point, we didn’t know much about Biden’s speech disorder — he’d become an expert at hiding it, working around his stutter with word substitutions, and maneuvering strategically out of difficult moments. But Hendrickson saw through the maneuvers, noticed the thoughtful pauses that were really the “blocks” characteristic of stuttering. He identified the coping mechanisms because he’d used similar ones his entire life. In January 2023, four years after writing an acclaimed, vibrantly human story on the potential president-elect’s lingering stutter, Hendrickson published a book detailing his own experience with the disorder. Continue reading “Staff Review: Life on Delay by John Hendrickson”
Whether you’re seeking hard-earned wisdom from those persevering through harrowing situations, or to experience an adventure vicariously through literature, there is a veritable forest of options available for the literary thrill-seeker. Below are a few recent favorites.
David Koepp has spent most of his career writing thrilling screenplays (“Jurassic Park”) but has spent the last few years writing thrilling novels. His most recent, “Aurora” begins by informing the reader that a solar flare strong enough to fry the earth’s electrical infrastructure is expected roughly every 150 years, and that the last one happened in 1859. With that terrifying knowledge in tow, the reader accompanies a few characters through the process and aftermath of the world losing power. This page-turner primarily follows partially estranged siblings: a sister and her neighbors trying to survive a world without electricity and her billionaire prepper brother discovering that his super fancy apocalypse bunker is not all he needs to survive. Continue reading “Literary Links: How to Survive Seven Very Specific Calamities”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“The Quiet Girl”
Website / Reviews
This dramatic film is set in 1981 rural Ireland. Nine-year-old Cait is sent away from her overcrowded, dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. Quietly struggling at school and at home, she has learned to hide in plain sight from those around her. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth. Continue reading “New DVD List: The Quiet Girl & More”
“The Liminal Zone” was a breath of fresh air when it comes to Junji Itō’s work. There are four short stories; Weeping Woman where a man and his girlfriend encounter a professional mourner at a funeral and his girlfriend finds herself unable to stop crying. Madonna, where Catholic schoolgirl Maria is preyed upon by the lecherous principal and becomes scorned by his wife, who believes herself to be the reincarnation of Mother Mary. The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara is a tale of two lovers who go into the forest of Aokigahara to commit suicide, but things in the forest are not all that they seem. And finally, Slumber is a story of a man who has nightmares where he commits violent murders only to awaken and see those murders on the news as having actually happened — but how can this be?
Previously, I had felt that I was growing away from Junji Itō as a writer and artist, but as explained in the afterword of the book, this collection was published through an online publisher rather than print, so page count was not a restraint. All four short stories were compelling, horrific, and entirely original. Each fully captured my attention (which is hard to do these days).
Three words that describe this book: Horror, manga, contemporary
You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy horror and/or manga or if you were previously a fan of Itō’s work turned off by some of his recent works like “Black Paradox.”
-Victoria
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
In July, we will be “antiquing” during our Crafternoon. Well, maybe not “antiquing,” but our project has been popular since the 15th century. Paper quilling is the art of using paper strips and glue to create simple and complicated shapes and patterns. Strips of paper are quilled onto a skewer to make a shape and glued onto a canvas to create a picture. All supplies are provided. This is a more complex process, so fine motor skills win the day here! Join us on July 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Friends Room as we Crafternoon at night. This program is for adults and registration is required — register early as these classes fill quickly.
For more ideas on decorating with paper, check out these library resources. You can also explore CreativeBug, which is our database on arts and crafts activities. You can view tons of creative jewelry ideas with instructional videos, on everything from wire-wrapping to beading to leathercrafts, and more are added monthly! You will need your library card and pin (your birthdate in MMDDYYYY format) to use this database.
Stay tuned for our August Crafternoon in our program guide, on the website and in social media!
Hoover’s exquisite storytelling skills immediately draw you into the world of Lily Bloom, a resilient young woman determined to break free from her painful past. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Lily crosses paths with Ryle Kincaid, a charismatic and successful neurosurgeon. Their magnetic connection sparks a passionate romance. However, beneath the surface lies a darkness that threatens to shatter Lily’s newfound happiness.
“It Ends With Us” delves into the sensitive topic of domestic violence with unflinching honesty and sensitivity. The story unfolds with a rawness that tugs at your heartstrings, compelling you to empathize with Lily’s internal struggle. The book was able to portray multi-dimensional characters that feel remarkably real. Their flaws, fears, and vulnerabilities are intricately woven into the narrative, making them relatable and deeply human. The narrative balances heart-wrenching moments with tender and uplifting scenes, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Hoover’s thought-provoking exploration of difficult themes prompts introspection and encourages conversations about love, sacrifice, and personal boundaries. “It Ends With Us” challenges conventional notions of love and pushes readers to confront the complexities of human relationships. Prepare to be moved, enlightened, and deeply touched and ready to dive into the next part of the story with, “It Starts with Us.”
Three words that describe this book: Emotional, Empowering, Unforgettable
You might want to pick this book up if: You like raw love stories that you can relate to!
-Shela
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in July. All of the mentioned titles are available to put on hold in our catalog and will also be made available via the library’s Overdrive website on the day of publication in eBook and downloadable audiobook format (as available). For a more extensive list of new nonfiction books coming out this month, check our online catalog.
Top Picks
“Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse” by Kim Wickens (Jul 11)
The early days of American horse racing were grueling. Four-mile races, run two or three times in succession, were the norm, rewarding horses who brandished the ideal combination of stamina and speed. The stallion Lexington, named after the city in Kentucky where he was born, possessed these winning qualities, which pioneering Americans prized. Lexington shattered the world speed record for a four-mile race, showing a war-torn nation that the extraordinary was possible even in those perilous times. He would continue his winning career until deteriorating eyesight forced his retirement in 1855. But once his groundbreaking achievements as a racehorse ended, his role as a sire began. Horses from his bloodline won more money than the offspring of any other Thoroughbred — an annual success that led Lexington to be named America’s leading sire an unprecedented 16 times. Yet with the Civil War raging, Lexington’s years at a Kentucky stud farm were far from idyllic. Confederate soldiers ran amok, looting freely and kidnapping horses from the top stables. They soon focused on the prized Lexington and his valuable progeny. Kim Wickens, a lawyer and dressage rider, became fascinated by this legendary horse when she learned that twelve of Thoroughbred racing’s thirteen Triple Crown winners descended from Lexington. Wickens spent years meticulously researching the horse and his legacy — and with Lexington, she presents an absorbing, exciting account that transports readers back to the raucous beginning of American horse racing and introduces them to the stallion at its heart. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: July 2023”
The AUX cord in my car finally gave up. Now, to listen to music while I drive, I have to use these things called “CDs.” Good thing the library has some of my favorites! Here’s what I’ve been listening to, between point A and point B.
Solange “A Seat at the Table” (2017)
When to Listen: When you’re too tired to be angry, when you need to be reminded of your magic. When it’s time to set down that weight you’ve been carrying.
Feels Like: A bubble bath, a blessing. A long conversation with a friend who understands. Relief from the machine, before you do it all again tomorrow.
Favorite Songs: “Weary,” “Where Do We Go,” “Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)”
From the Artist: ”Although I wanted the album to have those moments of grief, and being able to be angry and express rage, and trying to figure out how to cope in those moments. I also wanted it to make people feel empowered and [that] in the midst of all of this we can still dream, and uplift, and laugh like we always have” (Fader). Continue reading “Songs for the In-Between”
