Today’s Harrisburg bookmobile stop is canceled due to a mechanical issue. All library locations will be closed Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for Thanksgiving.
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Posted on Monday, July 11, 2022 by Decimal Diver
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
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Season 1
Website / Reviews
In this series a waning comedy legend (Jean Smart) and an entitled young writer (Hannah Einbinder) must put aside their differences to save their careers. The reluctant pact for mutual professional survival and the generational friction that follows fuels this engaging HBO comedy-drama. Continue reading “New DVD List: Hacks, the Northman, & More”
Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2022 by cs
A few years ago, we highlighted the world of audiobooks in a “Literary Links” article. It was the beginning of the pandemic; the library was actually closed to the public during this time, and we knew listening to downloadable and streaming audiobooks would become more popular. We are revisiting the world of audiobooks, as the pandemic continues to affect us, summer road trips have begun and audiobooks remain very popular. I personally began using digital services more frequently to combat my inability to stay awake for more than a few pages at bedtime.
As in our original article, I used the same team effort to gather recommendations from staff and quoting some of what they told me about the narrators. You can find these titles in our collection as audiobook CDs or on our downloadable audiobook platforms (Overdrive and Hoopla, at www.dbrl.org/download.) Continue reading “Literary Links: The Joy of Being Read To”
Posted on Friday, July 8, 2022 by patron reviewer
“Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” is about how humans have evolved and how we got to be such complex and civilized creatures. It explains how we overtook the world and the effect it had on other creatures. The book also explains how different cultures compare and how they came to be. I really enjoyed this book because it was a very good overview of human history. It taught me a lot about humanity and made me want to learn more about our species and about the world. The ending really stuck out to me, realizing that our species will most likely go extinct is very jarring. Humans one day being replaced with a species that we created through genetic modification is a very big possibility which I found fascinating.
Three words that describe this book: very mind opening
You might want to pick this book up if: you are interested in history, culture, science, or want to expand your knowledge of the world.
-Abby
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.
Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 by patron reviewer
With promotional blurbs from Joy Harjo and Roxane Gay, and an award from the Academy of American Poets, Emily Skaja’s “Brute” commemorates the desperate clawing and the trying-to-find-any-foothold-you-can feeling of endings. It remains approachable in both form and content, making it a good starting point if you’d like to read more poetry. My only complaint is that I wish individual poems stood on their own a bit more, though that is personal taste.
Three words that describe this book: human, human, human
You might want to pick this book up if: You’ve been meaning to read more poetry.
-Anna
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.
Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 by patron reviewer
Author Abby Jimenez delivers again! I’ve read all of her books and they are all nothing short of delightful. If you want a break from the seriousness of the world and are looking for something that will make you feel good, then her books are what you need. “Part of Your World” might be my favorite out of them all, too.
Alexis comes from a long line of city doctors while Daniel’s family is deeply rooted in his small-town community. At first look, their lives are completely different, but that doesn’t stop their attraction to each other. Not only is the book about finding love, but it’s also about figuring out what you want for your life, not what others want for you.
If you like romance, you’ll love this!
Three words that describe this book: sweet, romantic, satisfying
You might want to pick this book up if: you are in the mood for a quick, light-hearted romance.
-Mary
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.
Posted on Monday, July 4, 2022 by Liz
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.
“Endless Forms: The Secret World of Wasps” by Seirian Summer (Jul 12)
Everyone worries about the collapse of bee populations. But what about wasps? Deemed the gangsters of the insect world, wasps are winged assassins with formidable stings. Conduits of Biblical punishment, provokers of fear and loathing, inspiration for horror movies: wasps are perhaps the most maligned insect on our planet. But do wasps deserve this reputation? “Endless Forms” opens our eyes to the highly complex and diverse world of wasps. Wasps are 100 million years older than bees; there are ten times more wasp species than there are bees. There are wasps that spend their entire lives sealed inside a fig; wasps that turn cockroaches into living zombies; wasps that live inside other wasps. There are wasps that build citadels that put our own societies to shame, marked by division of labor, rebellions and policing, monarchies, leadership contests, undertakers, police, negotiators and social parasites. Wasps are nature’s most misunderstood insect: as predators and pollinators, they keep the planet’s ecological balance in check. Wasps are nature’s pest controllers; a world without wasps would be just as ecologically devastating as losing the bees, or beetles, or butterflies. Wasps are diverse and beautiful by every measure, and they are invaluable to planetary health, Professor Sumner reminds us; we’d do well to appreciate them as much as their cuter cousins, the bees. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: July 2022”
Posted on Friday, July 1, 2022 by Katherine
Here are a few of the most notable adult fiction debuts for July. These titles have all received positive reviews in library journals. For a longer list, please visit our catalog.
“The Book of Gothel” by Mary McMyne
Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there?
Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda — a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.
Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of — a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing.
But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It’s also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known…
Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2022 by patron reviewer
“Set on You” follows a young woman who is attempting to live her life joyfully and positively and project that to others watching her. She is “curvy” and fit and wants others to realize that a person does not have to be model thin to be happy or healthy. She meets a very attractive young man who understands that as well. The books is very funny and a really quick read but it does focus on a few lessons that are very serious — accept yourself just as you are while making yourself the most healthy possible, and cruel, degrading words can hurt even the most seemingly confident person. I liked the humor and the life lessons. It was a much “steamier” read than I normally choose so I would recommend it for young adult and older.
Three words that describe this book: timely, open, honest
You might want to pick this book up if: you need a reminder that you are the best you there is and no one can tell you how you should change to be a “better, prettier” you.
-Anonymous
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.
Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 by Kat
As the sun continues to shine and the Midwest humidity kicks in, summer reading sometimes means staying inside where it’s cool and reading about the beach instead of going there. LibraryReads shares the books being published this month that are most loved by library staff. We have a great lineup of LibraryReads books for July, so read on to find a favorite to stay cool with.
“Wash Day Diaries” by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
“At its core, this graphic novel is a story about four beautiful, strong black women and their friendship. Within the framework of hair wash day, we see each character dealing with her own issues, from work and relationships to mental health struggles.”
–Aryn O’Connor, Cabarrus County Library, Concord, NC
“What Moves the Dead” by T. Kingfisher
“A retelling of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Kingfisher’s latest adds the creepiest of flesh to the bare-bones tale by Poe. Complete with a scary, isolated mansion and eerie behaviors of the residents, this version not only makes perfect sense within the original narrative, but adds a depth of understanding that suddenly makes all the pieces fall into place.”
-Sheri Stanley, Gulfport Library, Gulfport, FL
“The Pallbearers Club” by Paul Tremblay
“Tremblay always knows how to tap into the deepest of emotions, and this dual-narration horror thriller is both unrelentingly creepy and filled with the bittersweet pathos of a formative, toxic, unforgettable friendship in which one participant may or may not be a vampire.”
-Kate Currie, Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis, MN
And here are the rest of the favorites for July:
Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 by patron reviewer
I am apparently always a year behind on reading author Jennifer Weiner’s annual beach reads. Last summer, I read her “Big Summer” (published in 2020) and now I’ve read her “That Summer” (published in 2021). This year’s release is “The Summer Place.” Keeping all of those “summer” titles straight in one’s head is a task in itself! I am patiently waiting on the library’s holds list for the newest book, so hopefully, I will manage to get to it soon and get caught up with the masses.
Judging from its cover, “That Summer” is a light, fluffy beach read. However, having read several of Weiner’s books previously, I knew to expect some depth, particularly in regard to exploration of female relationships and body image issues. However, this one is perhaps darker than her others (and certainly darker than the cover would suggest), with a lot of references to the #MeToo movement. Rape is depicted and its lifelong effects on the victim and others involved is explored. So yeah, not exactly a light and fluffy read!
I enjoyed the alternating perspectives and the mystery that pulls you in as you unravel the connections among the characters. The characters themselves are enjoyable and relatable, and I especially enjoyed the mother/daughter relationship that was explored. The settings were evocative, especially Cape Cod. The conclusion left me wanting more, but then, Weiner was dealing with enormously difficult and emotional issues without clear-cut, easy solutions in real life or in fiction, so I don’t fault her too much for that.
Three words that describe this book: #MeToo, evocative, summer
You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy chick lit — or if you’ve never tried it before and wonder what you might be missing out on. I feel that books about the female experience are important for those of us who relate to them directly but wouldn’t it be nice if those on the “outside” would also read them occasionally and have a better understanding of what it’s like to live in our shoes?
-Erin
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.
Let us find your next great read!
