tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54011245787291661912024-03-18T10:00:31.527-04:00Bookblog of the Bristol LibraryReviews by the Reference Department of the Bristol Public Library, Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee.BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.comBlogger2118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-57684708237600046252024-03-18T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-18T10:00:00.409-04:00Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCgnqFt4VhGe735VXkciz6MrlEWEyBZftq0xDixh7-_gGmaZM6qQal3CqXeWLvEaj6JHzmUw3ww7WCGvwy3K5d1mHzOUgeWUqQRn3opPg0BBmsiVrBHssdU1fvTJJFrojir6X8rpQ2iwnrOj10FcvdO8UjM6Z42iI573xaUMX6mJEsx8T78mUVDd-gBw/s200/Bittersweet%20in%20the%20Hollow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCgnqFt4VhGe735VXkciz6MrlEWEyBZftq0xDixh7-_gGmaZM6qQal3CqXeWLvEaj6JHzmUw3ww7WCGvwy3K5d1mHzOUgeWUqQRn3opPg0BBmsiVrBHssdU1fvTJJFrojir6X8rpQ2iwnrOj10FcvdO8UjM6Z42iI573xaUMX6mJEsx8T78mUVDd-gBw/s1600/Bittersweet%20in%20the%20Hollow.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Jeanne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first James woman walked alone out of the Forest in Cabal
Hollow, West Virginia generations ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since then, all the James women have had certain gifts. The current
James family has them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
somewhat small gifts as magic goes; for example Rowan James knows when someone
is lying and Sorrel James can charm bees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Linden James can taste emotions: she knows exactly what people are
feeling, whether or not she wants to. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What Linden can’t do is remember what happened last summer
when she went missing in the woods during the festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was found with a head injury and no
memory of what happened or how she ended up where she was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people seem dubious about her claim of
amnesia, but then the James women have always been the object of suspicion even
as people come to them for tonics and creams.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now the summer solstice is here which means festival time: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Moth Festival, celebrating the legend of
the Moth-Winged Man, a folkloric figure who may bring death or at least warn of
death. Linden’s friend Dahlia Calhoun has come home from college for the
festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dahlia is the reigning Moth
Queen, and it’s time for her to relinquish her crown.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But Dahlia goes missing the night of the festival, only to be found
dead. Linden knows that she is going to have to discover what happened to her
the year before if she is going to be able to solve Dahlia’s murder. She’s also
going to have to uncover a lot of secrets—including some about her own family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes a novel just has you by the opening paragraph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what <u>Bittersweet in the Hollow</u>
did for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked the writing and the
imagery from the start, and the story just drew me in. This is a beautifully
written YA novel set in West Virginia. Appalachian traditions are represented
without condescension or judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
book is a wonderful blend of mystery with some supernatural elements, romance,
coming of age, and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Characters
were well developed, and the setting was very vivid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked that Pearsall took the Point
Pleasant’s Mothman legend and reshaped it into something else, drawing more on
traditional lore. I was drawn to all the characters and the book left me
wanting more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked all the sensory
descriptions Pearsall employed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some
ways, the book reminded me of those written by one of my favorite authors,
Sarah Addison Allen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I understand there is going to be another book in the series,
and I’m already looking forward to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-30894261735041928602024-03-15T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-15T10:00:00.130-04:00 Sleepytime by Joe Brumm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStpcLrh7Ei8INbfvtqDmA36t30FxIOXB9hS56fdqb66k1qBsH2YwA-zIgl0b2hiDM4YRyoI6IUl6ydRxMVqA2dxH5xTRNast-Drw-LJoOxzDwio6LbbORS_QRgsruhJjySc45HdMEAtCm-KaVgjYul6z736ghp08Sgv5TPPoQpmAtvv9Af2q4PDsTFtw/s200/Sleepytime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="200" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStpcLrh7Ei8INbfvtqDmA36t30FxIOXB9hS56fdqb66k1qBsH2YwA-zIgl0b2hiDM4YRyoI6IUl6ydRxMVqA2dxH5xTRNast-Drw-LJoOxzDwio6LbbORS_QRgsruhJjySc45HdMEAtCm-KaVgjYul6z736ghp08Sgv5TPPoQpmAtvv9Af2q4PDsTFtw/s1600/Sleepytime.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or, a love letter to the creators of Bluey books and episodes,
from Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In case you haven’t heard of Bluey, she is a cartoon dog. She
has a little sister named Bingo, and they live in Australia with Mum and Dad.
The show has attracted worldwide attention and is now showing on Disney Plus.
The shows and the books can be viewed and read on many different levels, which
seems to be why adults like Bluey as much as their kids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bluey and Bingo love to play. You won’t find any alphabet
songs, number games, or learning to go potty here. They learn through play with
their friends and their parents. They go with Mum and/or Dad to the creek, the
beach, or the playground. They have cookouts and picnics with family friends.
There is much laughter, silliness, and love. The background music is often
classical, and the theme song is an earworm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have found that some of the paperback books published are a
little stilted, as if someone decided to take a show script and copy and paste
it into a book. That’s not entirely a bad thing, as adults may want to avoid
screens with their young children, whether at bedtime or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sleepytime</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">, however, is another story (no
pun intended). Both the episode and the book are beautifully presented. Little
sister Bingo is the focus of this story, as she decides that she wants to do a
“Big Girl sleep” and wake up in her own bed. Mum has read Bingo a bedtime story
or two, tucks her in, and says, “Remember, I’m always here if you need me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bingo drifts off to sleep and begins to dream of floating
through the universe. Her bunny Floppy floats along with her, swooping past
suns and planets. It’s about this point that I realized Bingo’s dreams are
actually related to her sleepwalking into a variety of other beds. As she finds
a really big planet and decides it’s fun to jump on, Bluey joins in (as they
both kick Dad, aka the big planet).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As Bingo continues to travel the universe (and her blanket
slips off) she becomes cold, and is drawn to an approaching warm sphere of
light, which of course, is Mum. Mum tucks Bingo in again, and says, “Remember,
I’ll always be here for you. Even if you can’t see me. Because I love you.”
(Cue the tears from the adults…)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I highly recommend this as a peaceful bedtime story for
toddlers and pre-schoolers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-82495442735730802462024-03-13T15:53:00.003-04:002024-03-13T15:53:58.760-04:00Read It Before You See It!<p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are a lot of books being made into movies or TV shows
these days. Here are some of the ones getting a lot of buzz:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRzKBLiFZr5fkk8qxXG4qBYdYCvAyWEr5lb2yj8QMGvorwfhBbt0IKWIkGpVVcX46uLYGiyMJUqmr5VWO9hTtJK3eIgDuuHPQo0X6JRn1tww8rATIXXH5S8qP_BEDR-kynV7bCwbTwqLsduv4BooCIOEnpwCuRbc-m5aQtAfjABJdv-QqX4IGOn_nHJE/s200/Shogun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRzKBLiFZr5fkk8qxXG4qBYdYCvAyWEr5lb2yj8QMGvorwfhBbt0IKWIkGpVVcX46uLYGiyMJUqmr5VWO9hTtJK3eIgDuuHPQo0X6JRn1tww8rATIXXH5S8qP_BEDR-kynV7bCwbTwqLsduv4BooCIOEnpwCuRbc-m5aQtAfjABJdv-QqX4IGOn_nHJE/s1600/Shogun.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shogun</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by James Clavell: This story of
an Englishman making his way in Japanese feudal society was a surprise bestseller
in 1975.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1980 mini-series starred
Richard Chamberlain and was a blockbuster success. Main does own a copy of it
on DVD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new F/X version is also a
ratings winner and is receiving much praise for its careful recreation of a
place and time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn2b8nG3-_2occzkt6m_OASIGtUgkMo6D4l7eVjNsS8FzjcNDW4C32SnOCaG3pGZ9X8EvLEYT9tG4td63ZXmH5GbSdn2Tz963CnQnffPMNHJJ4pwSngdfFsONSKO_PgxkPa4JYIQTvTjaHH8ITEGAw4LOK38S2tiWudvY9Cxjv9KINpMVhx0n9GUZz0E/s200/Shogun%20Chamberlain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="140" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn2b8nG3-_2occzkt6m_OASIGtUgkMo6D4l7eVjNsS8FzjcNDW4C32SnOCaG3pGZ9X8EvLEYT9tG4td63ZXmH5GbSdn2Tz963CnQnffPMNHJJ4pwSngdfFsONSKO_PgxkPa4JYIQTvTjaHH8ITEGAw4LOK38S2tiWudvY9Cxjv9KINpMVhx0n9GUZz0E/s1600/Shogun%20Chamberlain.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another 1975 book getting a second mini-series treatment is
Stephen King’s <u>‘Salem’s Lot</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
tale of vampires invading a town was first filmed in 1979; the second version
should air later this year on MAX.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqzrt453loBmUY4jFFTY2mreMd_nN7GQf0o70bXHYXx_b9BZw54jMQQi_PQTYXSlI3oMPbEALEzXKb1ZG_TH3zg0nHZpsqxzBvLlB5GIY4L9NJJWpi90uJb2LXoBOG5fc-Vw6DT9Q-Vr6XRZjyG_Fyrp5T_8lisOlXPsrHn19U_mZTlAAlWyTEFaK72M/s400/salem's%20lot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqzrt453loBmUY4jFFTY2mreMd_nN7GQf0o70bXHYXx_b9BZw54jMQQi_PQTYXSlI3oMPbEALEzXKb1ZG_TH3zg0nHZpsqxzBvLlB5GIY4L9NJJWpi90uJb2LXoBOG5fc-Vw6DT9Q-Vr6XRZjyG_Fyrp5T_8lisOlXPsrHn19U_mZTlAAlWyTEFaK72M/s320/salem's%20lot.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This year’s Academy Award went to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oppenheimer</i>, the story of the scientist who helped create the
atomic bomb. It was based on the book <u>American Prometheus</u> by Kai Bird
and Martin J. Sherwin. It also netted acting Oscars for Cillian Murphey and
Robert Downey, Jr. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The library owns a
DVD copy of the movie.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BnxphOUNFi4aRwNLagAGVjVV2CVjRSFrKjtgBLEW77W3d1lIS2EflZCRQWPLzhHuN18ehEfY0yNVAOVBCT8W3zBKy3Re9IUwA4mrdlLmL0lXMTEupc6BiYdLhPmlEUR82LEQ98z9Eh-8OPIeHTFv2ehl2WK8ejNm_oiD4GRZWwTng05wOPAPgBqo4fU/s200/american%20prometheus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="129" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BnxphOUNFi4aRwNLagAGVjVV2CVjRSFrKjtgBLEW77W3d1lIS2EflZCRQWPLzhHuN18ehEfY0yNVAOVBCT8W3zBKy3Re9IUwA4mrdlLmL0lXMTEupc6BiYdLhPmlEUR82LEQ98z9Eh-8OPIeHTFv2ehl2WK8ejNm_oiD4GRZWwTng05wOPAPgBqo4fU/s1600/american%20prometheus.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fool Me Once</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> is the latest Harlan
Coben book to be turned into a film. Maya’s nanny cam captures an image of her
husband, Joe, playing with their daughter. The catch is that Joe was murdered
two weeks earlier. . . . The filmed version is on Netflix.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs23wfIhmzLB5lemXwy6K08Uk1NJiJkHSkH2a4PGIoYNwC21dwT3bQgeTgSrHjyKlyJ0pTzqaJPnbwdKoHN8-8yh-6hs9I10bCbmfiaGc42_paef1NrksE3frA3v0-VwREN1YspaAt7EavuOOi9izlFzspLulcbYbILBi89-57iMfS0MOvOs-Ix6rqcus/s200/Fool%20Me%20Once.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs23wfIhmzLB5lemXwy6K08Uk1NJiJkHSkH2a4PGIoYNwC21dwT3bQgeTgSrHjyKlyJ0pTzqaJPnbwdKoHN8-8yh-6hs9I10bCbmfiaGc42_paef1NrksE3frA3v0-VwREN1YspaAt7EavuOOi9izlFzspLulcbYbILBi89-57iMfS0MOvOs-Ix6rqcus/s1600/Fool%20Me%20Once.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dune 2</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> is still
in theatres, but if you want to know what happens next you may want to read <u>Dune</u>
by Frank Herbert. This is the first in the series which continues with <u>Dune
Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune,</u> and <u>Chapterhouse:
Dune.</u> The series (and prequels to the series) have been continued by
Herbert’s son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BDB2p48MEP8eoo-6FnzD2DNGEF3l3MDEwYnclq_8FjsM4ZBCG5g9CS0Qs4nIcbvV3jPJuxVHDIMeRw5O_L2sVb0ouH1ZKIR8pd8Ti1r2-eL1r3MPzDSwBBhzZb6uSYseCPASNM5aeeJvwwPOf_ezdguQcfjZkB9-dXcFXNYKKKtp2TLM_TDX1a3FcAM/s400/Dune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BDB2p48MEP8eoo-6FnzD2DNGEF3l3MDEwYnclq_8FjsM4ZBCG5g9CS0Qs4nIcbvV3jPJuxVHDIMeRw5O_L2sVb0ouH1ZKIR8pd8Ti1r2-eL1r3MPzDSwBBhzZb6uSYseCPASNM5aeeJvwwPOf_ezdguQcfjZkB9-dXcFXNYKKKtp2TLM_TDX1a3FcAM/s320/Dune.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A Russian count is placed under arrest in a hotel during the
Revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ewan McGregor stars in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>A Gentleman in Moscow</u> based on the book
by Amor Towles. It will air on Paramount+ and Showtime.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOHCrjONAsdeeTnzJRkW_c4FMOO_uAFghr5gpR-viZg0vI6nfSlClRra22UhiB0kCwRQ8gn_iaFo3_ZdC5MFuJIICUAx5JNCupZ1IhyphenhyphenqYOOvcnm06g-6FRkpix-rPawO1mKmJ8u5Qu_z35ungB8QblcqpOzJdUTS-MPerSCLb6IJIOeF6LyJJFXR8-Ug/s400/Gentleman%20in%20Moscow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOHCrjONAsdeeTnzJRkW_c4FMOO_uAFghr5gpR-viZg0vI6nfSlClRra22UhiB0kCwRQ8gn_iaFo3_ZdC5MFuJIICUAx5JNCupZ1IhyphenhyphenqYOOvcnm06g-6FRkpix-rPawO1mKmJ8u5Qu_z35ungB8QblcqpOzJdUTS-MPerSCLb6IJIOeF6LyJJFXR8-Ug/s320/Gentleman%20in%20Moscow.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Tattooist of Auschwitz</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Heather Morris has been a very popular book at the library. Based on a true story
of the man who was tasked with tattooing numbers on Jewish prisoners and who falls
in love with one of them, the mini-series is scheduled to air on Peacock.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugbMlwwyJ4oWBDHYo8AshAzazWzWWBi5CzbYRpK2goD0J5B3Ud7sZ6F_5z9pI9wJSqBNDtDLQvpbzDNBIX-YxB1kFZj5ug_Qv9u4ru-yy2mDNK9PVRv9hPkFkzVTIi-rqRbh_Y50UwK4HAuQRbL50ehdLIzuunU26qxRpT7oDOfFyi7-lY5B_x6c8sGU/s400/tattooist%20of%20auschwitz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugbMlwwyJ4oWBDHYo8AshAzazWzWWBi5CzbYRpK2goD0J5B3Ud7sZ6F_5z9pI9wJSqBNDtDLQvpbzDNBIX-YxB1kFZj5ug_Qv9u4ru-yy2mDNK9PVRv9hPkFkzVTIi-rqRbh_Y50UwK4HAuQRbL50ehdLIzuunU26qxRpT7oDOfFyi7-lY5B_x6c8sGU/s320/tattooist%20of%20auschwitz.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-72412120826885461582024-03-11T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-11T10:00:00.139-04:00Erin Go Bragh! Irish series <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmyLvrQ3_wKkwr5n1qixmHpjsGh_S7WJiFUyxbyh9aB4ASoChVoXaD1aSYuZVoUwafjax9Z98-dzhjX2Qf6c-vafKuG5YVPPDz1Z1Hl2IeKVZWbwoDYJkq6E85D3PwUMww4H79gGqpI6LZeLccadSE5zqXh7csj-uP0Ayu0eyGaZ-1eIo4EdFEbc3Kaw/s400/library%20at%20the%20edge%20of%20the%20world.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmyLvrQ3_wKkwr5n1qixmHpjsGh_S7WJiFUyxbyh9aB4ASoChVoXaD1aSYuZVoUwafjax9Z98-dzhjX2Qf6c-vafKuG5YVPPDz1Z1Hl2IeKVZWbwoDYJkq6E85D3PwUMww4H79gGqpI6LZeLccadSE5zqXh7csj-uP0Ayu0eyGaZ-1eIo4EdFEbc3Kaw/w170-h258/library%20at%20the%20edge%20of%20the%20world.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, it seems a good time to
mention a few book series with an Irish setting.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finfarran Peninsula series</span></i></b><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> by Felicity
Hayes-McCoy starts with <u>The Library at the Edge of the World.</u> Hanna
Casey thought she’d left rural Ireland behind when she married an English
barrister and began living an upscale, sophisticated lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That ended when she found her husband in bed
with another woman. Now she’s back in Lissberg working as a librarian and
trying to restore an old cottage left to her by a great aunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Readers are introduced to a wonderful cast of
characters in a memorable setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
other books in the series do continue the stories of the villagers, the main
characters sometimes change from book to book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A grand read!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFBel27_q1tCQ_BqKto9w0whMUBJdZIQpDZIWg_y9Xgw_-2ju08WgI7ic3vnrnLfJz-5wNg8mJ68nYYmS5omxhNlY_lGan_mD7Rmik98H2UQtjLWfRuwUcpTHeMN95hOD0lF8oFFprAodtLQrm5YCOvfcaY_-DWGhwv8QV7uQMv7trIATgdfTZuUXjgo/s400/irish%20country%20doctor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFBel27_q1tCQ_BqKto9w0whMUBJdZIQpDZIWg_y9Xgw_-2ju08WgI7ic3vnrnLfJz-5wNg8mJ68nYYmS5omxhNlY_lGan_mD7Rmik98H2UQtjLWfRuwUcpTHeMN95hOD0lF8oFFprAodtLQrm5YCOvfcaY_-DWGhwv8QV7uQMv7trIATgdfTZuUXjgo/s320/irish%20country%20doctor.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Irish
Country series </b></span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by Patrick Taylor is set in 1960s Ireland and
recount the stories of some rural doctors and their patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taylor was born in Ireland and practiced
medicine there before moving to Canada in 1970, so this is familiar territory
for him. He draws on those experiences to create memorable stories with a
strong sense of place and time. He doesn’t ignore some of the era’s problems,
but handles them in an even-handed manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first in the series is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An
</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Irish Country Doctor</u></span>, in which young Dr. Laverty finds himself apprenticed
to Fingal O’Reilly, a larger than life character who cares deeply for his
community despite his gruff exterior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apprentices may come and go but Dr. O’Reilly is a constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These can be read out of order, but I found
it rewarding to at least start with the early titles.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuouvOBPYctuITzZMftdejYnirEJ73mBiIdTyk7oUigo7iqVlA9iWpmEGxnpuTBx9b5H9vMIDKu1eFGPuyWy4CL5rkB3wp6mMwB8uEDJQuLq7mqhF9Wu2Y7hyphenhyphenUA7CvS4-FV1JrlDoJfmcBWJuS5fjtAfMQ2M3IdDQ0R9LUv76cSE0_lv2okUfvXZY2J0/s400/death%20at%20whitewater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuouvOBPYctuITzZMftdejYnirEJ73mBiIdTyk7oUigo7iqVlA9iWpmEGxnpuTBx9b5H9vMIDKu1eFGPuyWy4CL5rkB3wp6mMwB8uEDJQuLq7mqhF9Wu2Y7hyphenhyphenUA7CvS4-FV1JrlDoJfmcBWJuS5fjtAfMQ2M3IdDQ0R9LUv76cSE0_lv2okUfvXZY2J0/s320/death%20at%20whitewater.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Inishowen
Peninsula series </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by Andrea Carter is set on the coast of County
Donegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keefe
usually is kept busy with mundane legal issues such as drawing up wills, but
she’s also proven adept at solving murders. The first book in the series is <u>Death
at Whitewater Church. <o:p></o:p></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVSN-IqdS4RSUO3Bxcq6YXp2xEYKsWcgpvb2BjvNA_f9PxrPBU9-qXpl_z5DtMqyBRS0bL9_fZHqFNmBEPr5K59gfAXgnrNpqcJTBZpv448WUfurYeqOjc5dW4-048BJ9N8S4A5JTweGH5fpqWfYE21vg8ATSccOQT4O6siT9Q3PG1wkuzMLaIuUSAPI/s400/in%20the%20woods.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVSN-IqdS4RSUO3Bxcq6YXp2xEYKsWcgpvb2BjvNA_f9PxrPBU9-qXpl_z5DtMqyBRS0bL9_fZHqFNmBEPr5K59gfAXgnrNpqcJTBZpv448WUfurYeqOjc5dW4-048BJ9N8S4A5JTweGH5fpqWfYE21vg8ATSccOQT4O6siT9Q3PG1wkuzMLaIuUSAPI/s320/in%20the%20woods.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Dublin
Murder Squad series</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Tana French has been described as a cross
between a police procedural and a psychological thriller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main characters are police officers but
each book tends to highlight a different character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>In the Woods</u> is the first in the
series, all of which have been best-sellers. There was also a BBC TV series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dublin Murders</i> which adapted the first
two books.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Compiled by Jeanne</span></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-75892652538411053212024-03-08T10:30:00.001-05:002024-03-08T10:30:00.257-05:00The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P5f9wuj2-AOELQ4xsF9_ZBTV2o6Qb9dvW8t6mOdtDtGC5k70MjqwteBmB5XmX1UgTtflgqUqPpTxDDK4vl5HQBMK24vEGKVMBltCuWnhBT-nso9602arpxxgSsrYYp0-TzKcXzUhTpb8mAF-sJI7wVij6xzm2LS2a1ryPrBN6fxPXEedXtw-uVplozI/s200/Death%20of%20Jane%20Lawrence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P5f9wuj2-AOELQ4xsF9_ZBTV2o6Qb9dvW8t6mOdtDtGC5k70MjqwteBmB5XmX1UgTtflgqUqPpTxDDK4vl5HQBMK24vEGKVMBltCuWnhBT-nso9602arpxxgSsrYYp0-TzKcXzUhTpb8mAF-sJI7wVij6xzm2LS2a1ryPrBN6fxPXEedXtw-uVplozI/s1600/Death%20of%20Jane%20Lawrence.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Reviewed
by Christy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During our January snow days, I was suddenly struck with the
desire to read a gothic book. <u>The Death of Jane Lawrence</u> had been on my
mental back burner for quite some time (I couldn't get that gorgeous cover out
of my head), and since it was available on Libby, I decided to snatch it up.
Jane is a very practical woman who is good with numbers. After doing the
necessary calculations, she creates a short list of suitable husbands-to-be
with Dr. Augustine Lawrence at the top. Augustine is reluctant to marry anyone;
however, he cannot deny the spark between them. He accepts the proposal with
both parties agreeing to keep the arrangement strictly business. Less messy
that way. Augustine's one stipulation is that Jane must never visit his
crumbling ancestral home Lindridge Hall, while he will sleep there every night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I really enjoyed the first third of
the novel, as the pace was enjoyably slow yet still felt like it was building
to something intriguing. My interest waned in the middle but I still held hope
for a climactic ending. I'm sorry to say it built to not much of anything, with
the final third becoming a bit of a slog. It was a disappointment as I really
liked both characters and didn't even mind their instant love. I also enjoyed
Starling's writing for the most part. Without giving too much away, the reasons
for all the strange occurrences felt under developed. At one point, I remember
thinking, "Oh. Okay, I guess this is happening now." I just felt like,
in the end, a lot of things were being thrown at the reader and none of it was
sticking for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I did find the conclusion to be
interesting and satisfying, and it helped save the book the tiniest bit in my
eyes. But overall, I was very underwhelmed, and I am still on the hunt for a
great gothic read – even though our snow days won't be back for quite some
time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-52454277422637383112024-03-06T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T10:00:00.153-05:00March New Books!<p> <b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March New
Books</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQxyQTpvDjL3GCPj1LFfck49GHV2LgV4fsTczfhz4Oa-48Fhcsj6mOloGrZJaSAb-YdyMESZcPs4D6LvnuUPkBCDDh-cpO2Q72EpXLmxozJofcRRlgVKilkpBKzC-Eit7btmkUSi53dq9m1sTuaSgoulcXU9VLyIQTY0LGX6yVP_ISz3Cuxdwee87wUk/s200/Princess%20of%20Las%20Vegas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQxyQTpvDjL3GCPj1LFfck49GHV2LgV4fsTczfhz4Oa-48Fhcsj6mOloGrZJaSAb-YdyMESZcPs4D6LvnuUPkBCDDh-cpO2Q72EpXLmxozJofcRRlgVKilkpBKzC-Eit7btmkUSi53dq9m1sTuaSgoulcXU9VLyIQTY0LGX6yVP_ISz3Cuxdwee87wUk/s1600/Princess%20of%20Las%20Vegas.jpg" width="131" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Banks, Russell<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American
Spirits<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Black, Cara<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder
at La Villette<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bohjalian, Chris<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Princess of Las Vegas<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bowen, Rhys <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Sunshine or in Shadow</i> (Molly Murphy)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cavanagh, Steve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kill
for Me, Kill for You<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coelho, Paulo<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maktub:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Inspirational Companion to the Alchemist<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Colgan, Jenny<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Studies
at the School by the Sea<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNFMc0nXjHiBVDK_nlQRTTYrFRJcx6t42ru1X4MRG3dEQZRQXovW8IBy8aY4vQUQO4ERgCRPFMriqeMXTIltvuz0N0n1cjNdbUX3Ly5G0k-My7wcNo7LdHQAiIjEY2Kw1Vft4g8TEmpfDFEhz0gGbRCJGY0dYXzBBSRKkdVdAk3C1fRwDx5UDmvRCnxc/s200/Finlay%20Donovan%20Rolls%20the%20Dice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="129" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNFMc0nXjHiBVDK_nlQRTTYrFRJcx6t42ru1X4MRG3dEQZRQXovW8IBy8aY4vQUQO4ERgCRPFMriqeMXTIltvuz0N0n1cjNdbUX3Ly5G0k-My7wcNo7LdHQAiIjEY2Kw1Vft4g8TEmpfDFEhz0gGbRCJGY0dYXzBBSRKkdVdAk3C1fRwDx5UDmvRCnxc/s1600/Finlay%20Donovan%20Rolls%20the%20Dice.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cosimano, Elle<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Finlay
Donovan Rolls the Dice<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fisher, Tarryn <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good
Half Gone<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">French, Nicci<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Has
Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">French, Tana<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Hunter<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gardner, Lisa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still
See You Everywhere<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gentill, Sulari<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Mystery Writer<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gudenkauf, Heather<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everyone
is Watching<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hall, Tamron<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Watch
Where They Hide</i> (Jordan Manning)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jones, Stephen Graham<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Angel of Indian Lake<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Michaels, Fern<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wild
Side<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD79rxExLw2uCK890g01G2LtjUxJq24LaJg-Cp471143VP-OtWqzZh4Tjlbx-ee4Y3O__nvM1ccCi9-XTERUY5kBe0SKM6p5sqyyo8iOZP_RNPNp8SIGMIXfzlnuH05b0f0wSTtPl1A7GW-RS8ns253WnZEKJAU27yXCXG0_ooxtg70wPHYUKn-Ds4wvw/s200/wandering%20stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD79rxExLw2uCK890g01G2LtjUxJq24LaJg-Cp471143VP-OtWqzZh4Tjlbx-ee4Y3O__nvM1ccCi9-XTERUY5kBe0SKM6p5sqyyo8iOZP_RNPNp8SIGMIXfzlnuH05b0f0wSTtPl1A7GW-RS8ns253WnZEKJAU27yXCXG0_ooxtg70wPHYUKn-Ds4wvw/s1600/wandering%20stars.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Orange, Tommy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wandering
Stars<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pandian, Gigi<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Midnight Puzzle<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Secret Staircase)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Peterson, Tracie<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Love
Discovered<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Raybourn, Deanna<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Grave
Robbery<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Robinson, Marilynne<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reading
Genesis </i>(non-fiction)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Rose, Karen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cheater
</i>(San Diego Case Files)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLmckPgPAAjfoJWipjQJ3XX3cAucJxQixBg1M_mDVGZvziMkBk9fXnTukRUsULWz3trjrO01rV4IlYUZsPrEEHO3zxIirGCc__HXkjSJJRbMXJ_giPVFNJ4kiKRwpJuocV8xD_nZ3plt0H3thYXjOROjNwpZnKv6aiDQVt8S4Ztux3ub_YsoK9FjjUNc/s200/sunlit%20man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLmckPgPAAjfoJWipjQJ3XX3cAucJxQixBg1M_mDVGZvziMkBk9fXnTukRUsULWz3trjrO01rV4IlYUZsPrEEHO3zxIirGCc__HXkjSJJRbMXJ_giPVFNJ4kiKRwpJuocV8xD_nZ3plt0H3thYXjOROjNwpZnKv6aiDQVt8S4Ztux3ub_YsoK9FjjUNc/s1600/sunlit%20man.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sanderson, Brandon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Sunlit Man </i>(Cosmere)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Serle, Rebecca<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Expiration
Dates<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Steel, Danielle <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never Too Late<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">St. James, Simone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder
Road<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unger, Lisa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New
Couple in 5b<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-30393073855182835422024-03-04T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-04T10:00:00.144-05:00Comfort Reads: Miss Read, James Herriot, and Sarah Addison Allen<p> Sometimes I just need a good book that soothes the spirit while being entertaining and well written. Here are three authors who fit the bill for me: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuCAWzgwTafd9lPZ7u9OoEayHyRrhpQUqtBRDWczdDiqiVlbs6t-uMHIRM3FDzxO8yb2qSrPTHGUoKd7CIzBDCAH_GgIi3SancT3m6bfqeysHBK8avcZ7KSTHJs0W56IFLJcjFUL0PK0tt8rSBih7Hv1dd-a_Z5afkdw6zhCD_mO5G8i7teFn1FgUoa0/s200/Miss%20Read.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="129" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuCAWzgwTafd9lPZ7u9OoEayHyRrhpQUqtBRDWczdDiqiVlbs6t-uMHIRM3FDzxO8yb2qSrPTHGUoKd7CIzBDCAH_GgIi3SancT3m6bfqeysHBK8avcZ7KSTHJs0W56IFLJcjFUL0PK0tt8rSBih7Hv1dd-a_Z5afkdw6zhCD_mO5G8i7teFn1FgUoa0/s1600/Miss%20Read.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Miss Read</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">: “Miss Read” was the pen name of Doris Jessie
Saint. Her books are set in quaint English </span>villages after World War II and follow the everyday lives of
her characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am especially fond of
the ones set in Fairacre and center around the teacher, Miss Read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She works with elementary school children,
sometimes including the “infants,” which I take to be kindergarteners in a sort
of two room school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not all
sweetness and light; there are problems and challenges, some of which may not
be easily resolved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the
characters have annoying habits, but they’re real: we all know people like
them, and the characters are fully developed</span>.<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> That’s the key: I want to
know what happens to them or even just to visit with them for awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miss Read herself is compassionate and kind,
but she can also be rather tart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
not to be bamboozled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books do not
have to be read in order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Miss Read
ones are also known as the Fairacre books, after the name of the village, while
the others are set in Thrush Green.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDEXtNqFeTmNIqm5BwIlO4sNLN6-B-x5Q9RPR0FseLybRDrvbZFYF7zcXIbU2vJk5Gj5TwTzGeRaBiFt3qxErDTWwTDeOD1X6ZaYz3Sp0FtiF_XldpUmasMbvPN7KeNoZjv6hVNycLfV3psSPaHrFyrEH_LBk22EDVLcclbPcIIOJOT2IM4oo0_AMPec/s200/All%20Creatures%20Great%20And%20Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDEXtNqFeTmNIqm5BwIlO4sNLN6-B-x5Q9RPR0FseLybRDrvbZFYF7zcXIbU2vJk5Gj5TwTzGeRaBiFt3qxErDTWwTDeOD1X6ZaYz3Sp0FtiF_XldpUmasMbvPN7KeNoZjv6hVNycLfV3psSPaHrFyrEH_LBk22EDVLcclbPcIIOJOT2IM4oo0_AMPec/s1600/All%20Creatures%20Great%20And%20Small.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">James
Herriot: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I remember laughing almost constantly when I first read these
tales of a young veterinarian in Yorkshire, dealing with sometimes suspicious
locals, a mercurial boss in Siegfried Farnon, and a host of animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>All Creatures Great and Small</u> was the
start of a marvelous series for me, with characters I loved. Some of the stories
move back and forth in time, but are generally in the period from the late 1930s
and 1940s. Based on the experiences of Alf Wight, the books introduced me to
the Dales. There’s humor, romance, mysterious ailments, and a marvelous setting,
beautifully described.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been
two television series based (sometimes very loosely) on the books, but the
books are the best, in my biased opinion. (Note: the titles in the series vary
quite a lot; some of the titles are from the UK publication while others are
U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the U.S. titles actually
contain more than one book from the UK publication.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BiBd_WINJCz3rIDEf1qWrzAl6W2U7XOakI69RNbungHb2hD4i5Q16UGiBl28-_FGE7kem1_fgR1nwEt2GlsXsBG6wvOdzlozsMuy5UaEurAIe3MX8MJfZXJuxB6gvQtsoNNCYUddGaZjCT7pM90xTSt9ceqKZ-Doa_s53Ri8Fwer5RA-cqRyFD7BS4s/s400/girl%20who%20chased%20the%20moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BiBd_WINJCz3rIDEf1qWrzAl6W2U7XOakI69RNbungHb2hD4i5Q16UGiBl28-_FGE7kem1_fgR1nwEt2GlsXsBG6wvOdzlozsMuy5UaEurAIe3MX8MJfZXJuxB6gvQtsoNNCYUddGaZjCT7pM90xTSt9ceqKZ-Doa_s53Ri8Fwer5RA-cqRyFD7BS4s/s320/girl%20who%20chased%20the%20moon.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sarah
Addison Allen</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: With one exception, all her books are
standalones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The settings are always in the
American South, usually one of the Carolinas and food is an important part of
the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s also some touches of
magic, but the books’ real strength is in characters and relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re whimsical in a very good way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite characters include an apple tree,
a white alligator, an invisible bird, and a little old lady who has a
compulsion to give strange items to people because she knows they will need
them. I love them all, but my favorite is probably <u>Garden Spells.</u> Although my first favorite was <u>The Girl Who Chased the Moon</u>. A new favorite is <u>Other Birds</u>. You get the idea. I'll end up listing them all if I'm not careful! All the books have warmth and hopeful endings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you just need that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">List by Jeanne</span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-18520406622262515022024-03-01T10:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T10:00:00.147-05:00The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho534nIB4FK7Fxohp7O-QX4zWs_Ew_mjucH5tq_LDv4FVyOicKfbjHTQuzeE1MfKFO0zBXokGAjAMDsO9ajXowH8cAtaeE1FoWqAFyLZng0IboMAf98iCfzOmo2rYJMAWu1eqwiOJwlunxWph0u7qU5szgcjOLYr03HFyKNJVZqlOJKhO1tnWAZEvJHqc/s200/Lost%20Library%20Stead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="141" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho534nIB4FK7Fxohp7O-QX4zWs_Ew_mjucH5tq_LDv4FVyOicKfbjHTQuzeE1MfKFO0zBXokGAjAMDsO9ajXowH8cAtaeE1FoWqAFyLZng0IboMAf98iCfzOmo2rYJMAWu1eqwiOJwlunxWph0u7qU5szgcjOLYr03HFyKNJVZqlOJKhO1tnWAZEvJHqc/s1600/Lost%20Library%20Stead.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Jeanne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When Al takes the last few remaining library books out of the
store and puts them in a little free library, Mortimer is crushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There goes the last bit of his home, the
place where he and his sister lived before disaster struck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alas, his cries are not understood—Al simply
thinks the fluffy orange cat is hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides,
she is trying to take care of her friends—well, her supervisor who was the head
librarian and one of the library patrons, but she’s very fond of both of
them—and she misses the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
why she puts out the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>library books,
feeling that the books need to be read.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The little free library has an immediate effect on sixth
grader Evan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is absolutely thrilled
to find books, and takes two of them home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He soon realizes that these are library books, but he’s never heard of a
library in Martinville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could have
happened, and why does no one want to talk about it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evan decides to open his own investigation
into the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a juvenile book, but as far as I’m concerned, a good
story is a good story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I found this
to be a particularly charming one. There are multiple viewpoints in the story,
which enriched the tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was charmed
by it, and by the little surprises the author provided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did figure some things out somewhat quickly
but that didn’t impair my enjoyment a bit. Mostly I liked the character
interactions, people who care about one another, and what we will do for those
we love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I also was delighted by the description of the Wednesday Book
Club, because it sounded very much like our adult Nevermore Book Club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members read whatever book they like and then
tell the club about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This may not be a book for every adult, but this adult ended
up buying her own copy to keep.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-66800068536683389882024-02-28T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-28T10:00:00.143-05:00Nevermore: Disc Golf, Speckled Beauty, Just One Damned Thing After Another, March Forward Girl<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBI0XVaIkdX5PI4qIa1tn5rSfBGXFnYu-dmQE2NoK0Ot4gXh_MGlGGmnT4oyAktGv57hbH90H5wgh9AVmuqWB_E_aE0aAtOEljjX2ivc4BvbjKdauvW38TbUSgh4sA_VIfAk6aJjxpDtQUsxNKFd1baeoRY0pYhiDLORDrrZWMgYmX66VRi3VW-SOYEw/s200/Disc%20Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="154" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBI0XVaIkdX5PI4qIa1tn5rSfBGXFnYu-dmQE2NoK0Ot4gXh_MGlGGmnT4oyAktGv57hbH90H5wgh9AVmuqWB_E_aE0aAtOEljjX2ivc4BvbjKdauvW38TbUSgh4sA_VIfAk6aJjxpDtQUsxNKFd1baeoRY0pYhiDLORDrrZWMgYmX66VRi3VW-SOYEw/s1600/Disc%20Golf.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nevermore, February 20, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reported by Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of our Nevermore members Zoomed in to meet with us,
because she was out of town but still wanted to share with us the joy of Disc
Golf, specifically <u>The Definitive Guide to Disc Golf</u> by Justin Menickelli
and Ryan Pickens. Our reader explained that this book discusses a little of the
sport’s history, starting in the late 1960s. Technique is also described, and
all the advantages of the exercise, but her final comment was, “There are all
these different nuances, but all I want to do it get it into the basket!” KM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBB5YduGX9tErSHvDDbkCib2-kjmBew2tVoIJdMRERB4bs6La1hMVAaNKDzFTBW2qB5W7yvN2lETKHXa6a7S5fQOM9ZWQwzEdy6DZ-68vsYahjoO9ScoYe-ZXKpwf5mK74qhtpsVD0InS8umISdeoWHXTYRGJtmXhh3T7lWCdc41GwKtbVcAH82ksXauw/s200/Speckled%20beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBB5YduGX9tErSHvDDbkCib2-kjmBew2tVoIJdMRERB4bs6La1hMVAaNKDzFTBW2qB5W7yvN2lETKHXa6a7S5fQOM9ZWQwzEdy6DZ-68vsYahjoO9ScoYe-ZXKpwf5mK74qhtpsVD0InS8umISdeoWHXTYRGJtmXhh3T7lWCdc41GwKtbVcAH82ksXauw/s1600/Speckled%20beauty.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another reader picked up <u>The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His
People</u> by Rick Bragg. The author tells the story of Speck, a dog who was
definitely not a good boy, yet helped heal Bragg in a time when he needed it
most. Our reader enjoyed this book, noting that “this dog in is trouble
non-stop!” WJ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7DbZS68HXjxGoud7t5aQ-JhTN_X3QvNGpDOxTa6sShjS-kfTcGXpbAyAOLpqicgpD7z6eQqZOt596V2CqWWTANjaNjsIGO_Yw8Xg1uj_NkU0bBzq1XaAibWwYW5wIbTFGXCGLgDEmk-GYvNzfX34nBxeawomDQJtdxAGMxM3iWj8IWVsuJvf4UcP99c/s200/Just%20One%20Damn%20Thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7DbZS68HXjxGoud7t5aQ-JhTN_X3QvNGpDOxTa6sShjS-kfTcGXpbAyAOLpqicgpD7z6eQqZOt596V2CqWWTANjaNjsIGO_Yw8Xg1uj_NkU0bBzq1XaAibWwYW5wIbTFGXCGLgDEmk-GYvNzfX34nBxeawomDQJtdxAGMxM3iWj8IWVsuJvf4UcP99c/s1600/Just%20One%20Damn%20Thing.jpg" width="133" /></a></u></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just One Damned Thing After Another</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
interested another reader, as she immersed herself into the first of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Chronicles of St. Mary’s</i> series by
Jodi Taylor. Dr. Madeleine Maxwell seems to find herself in situations of not
just studying history, but going back in time to revisit it. Our reader found
that the time travel locales were extremely detailed, and she thinks that she
will likely continue with the series. MH<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGl0YIWzc99iG8fT3dxwdPzb8yn90f2LoohBNu9UXBZP4KXG-IB39NERZzRwybBCELnBvZ0f_IVXdHTNh73k19o5s_NBGAxj3LOkdwgPxf1qywMnXPuzaL6tZgsF1MzQE_3RvPE-LSdjvQXoZK4P5Fr4LynOpIyDRBk7-LhjEy22I0n6gpctIGlG_In8/s200/March%20Forward%20Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGl0YIWzc99iG8fT3dxwdPzb8yn90f2LoohBNu9UXBZP4KXG-IB39NERZzRwybBCELnBvZ0f_IVXdHTNh73k19o5s_NBGAxj3LOkdwgPxf1qywMnXPuzaL6tZgsF1MzQE_3RvPE-LSdjvQXoZK4P5Fr4LynOpIyDRBk7-LhjEy22I0n6gpctIGlG_In8/s1600/March%20Forward%20Girl.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, a Nevermore member reviewed what she called “a very
powerful book”—<u>March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine</u>
by Melba Pattillo Beals. Written for young adults but suitable for all ages,
this memoir from one of the Black students who desegregated Little Rock Central
High School in 1957 is an incredibly moving view of the Civil Rights movement.
MS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Also mentioned:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nora Bonesteel’s Christmas Past</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Sharyn McCrumb<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Last of the Moon Girls</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Barbara Davis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This Impossible Brightness</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Jessica Bryant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their
Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Daniel James Brown<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Always Look Up</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Michael J. Fox<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And Then There Were None</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Agatha Christie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Harvest</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Catherine Landis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A Guide to Gardening with Southwest Virginia
Plants<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Around the World in 60 Seconds: the Nas Daily
Journey: 1,000 Days, 64 Countries, 1 Beautiful Planet</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Nuseir Yassin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Dead Romantics</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by
Ashley Poston<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twilight in Hazard: An Appalachian Reckoning</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Alan
Maimon<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-6359338783876095462024-02-26T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-26T10:00:00.192-05:00The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZIzSJ0NiNIRYUW9vH2FspoROrfFfQJ5QSYh9SqGULKkv1VYfu8FeX0UTjDFIk6OsLufTOBJpZuVSuIf5lJNFm7sxDVsiKugwy-7xy97PODz78TqsYKh2LrKh4Q5mhG2B-qezeyBytnF_XLLRIuzRf5Ljf-EtPpco6BMg9l1xI-lZp40y3O8nBYydIg/s200/Dead%20Romantics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZIzSJ0NiNIRYUW9vH2FspoROrfFfQJ5QSYh9SqGULKkv1VYfu8FeX0UTjDFIk6OsLufTOBJpZuVSuIf5lJNFm7sxDVsiKugwy-7xy97PODz78TqsYKh2LrKh4Q5mhG2B-qezeyBytnF_XLLRIuzRf5Ljf-EtPpco6BMg9l1xI-lZp40y3O8nBYydIg/s1600/Dead%20Romantics.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Florence Day escaped her small hometown of Mairmont, South
Carolina, after years of being known as the funeral home director’s daughter
who solved a murder at age thirteen with help from the victim’s ghost. Most of
the adults in town and her fellow students thought that she was downright
weird, or a liar. Florence ran to New York City and became a ghostwriter for
famous romance author Ann Nichols. Her writing was respected and admired, even
with another name on the cover. Florence was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good</i> at writing these love stories, until she was dumped and could
no longer believe in love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With a looming deadline, Florence goes to meet her new editor
Ben Andor. Or shall we say, her extremely hot and sexy new editor. She goes
into the meeting under the guise of being Ann Nichols’ assistant, and lacks the
courage to ask if Ben knows that she is the actual author of Ann’s last several
bestsellers. She leaves with a “message for Ann” that she has one more day to
submit her latest manuscript, because promotion and printing schedules wait for
no one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Florence is in despair about her ability to finish the last
scenes of the romance. Nothing rings true, but then tragedy interrupts and she
is called home to Mairmont to bury her father. Suddenly, her deadline falls
into the background.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Florence has a strict policy of ignoring ghosts, but once back
at her family’s funeral home she sees a familiar shape. No, it’s not her
father. That actually would be a bit of a relief while she is under the weight
of grief missing him. It’s Ben Andor. Her editor is ghostly, and no longer in
New York City, but in Florence’s southern hometown.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No spoilers here. All of this is pretty much covered in the
jacket copy or the first chapters. Florence has several friends and family
members who might be seen as a bit stereotypical, but mostly likeable. Reconnecting
with her family and trying to carry out her father’s final wishes keep Florence
busy, from breakfasts at Waffle House to the cemetery where she is definitely
not supposed to be walking at night. And then there is Ben, who fades in and
out of her vision with stunning regularity, who is turning out to be much
kinder and relatable than he appeared in his New York office. Could it be that
Florence is starting to believe in love again, with a ghost?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before starting this review of <u>The Dead Romantics</u>, I
made the mistake of checking Goodreads. It seems that readers either love this
book, or hate it with a fiery passion. The first negative review was funny
though, if you like the sort of review that rips every chapter apart with the
kind of detail that tells you the reviewer paid a whole lot of attention to a
book that they then claimed not to like.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have enjoyed several of Ashley Poston’s books. She has
written the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Once Upon a Con</i> young
adult series, including <u>Geekerella</u>, <u>The Princess and the Fangirl</u>,
and <u>Bookish and the Beast</u>. Also <u><a href="https://bristol-library-bookblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-seven-year-slip-by-ashley-poston.html">The Seven Year Slip</a></u>,</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> which I reviewed
a few months ago. <u>The Dead Romantics</u> was Poston’s first foray into adult
fiction. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief to fully enjoy Poston’s
writing, but I have found it fun and worth my reading time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">P.S. I do have one issue with this book that cannot be
overlooked. At one point in the days before the father’s funeral, the family
goes out to the cemetery and takes great joy in scrubbing and power washing the
headstones. If that was any kind of historic cemetery—which was implied—power
washing would likely disintegrate the older stones. The proper tools and
cleaning supplies, maybe. But not a power washer. Also, while you’re grieving
and preparing a family member’s funeral? That was just a bit beyond my ability
to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-78446830451792614672024-02-23T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-23T10:00:00.142-05:00 Murderabilia: A History of Crime in 100 Objects by Harold Schechter<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIgArWJ85rXzN2cHBH7yJcKW-z2sRZAqgO9j8aVNGBQBmPNqixwTDCH9c9AANXGH9dT6nkVAdqcA901GBwpyY4LqyOY6LKBdjR-o1XhcwVRIZ_7HVM1_OKTdB3hrQ4Qn6cRqxqYc3y7c0I0PbwYpG5g0OJpO6UtemIeGsrgVfHd2Q1PPLHUE5-S9p7gE/s200/murderabilia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="147" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIgArWJ85rXzN2cHBH7yJcKW-z2sRZAqgO9j8aVNGBQBmPNqixwTDCH9c9AANXGH9dT6nkVAdqcA901GBwpyY4LqyOY6LKBdjR-o1XhcwVRIZ_7HVM1_OKTdB3hrQ4Qn6cRqxqYc3y7c0I0PbwYpG5g0OJpO6UtemIeGsrgVfHd2Q1PPLHUE5-S9p7gE/s1600/murderabilia.jpg" width="147" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Jeanne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">True crime exerts a strong fascination. Long before movies,
television shows, podcasts, and internet sites catered to public interest,
there were books, newspaper articles, pamphlets, and yes, even songs to
immortalize murders, kidnappings, and other crimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this book, author Schechter has an
illustration of an item connected with the crime and puts it in context with a
brief explanation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The book is arranged chronologically, starting with the murder
of Naomi Wise in 1808. The photo is of her tombstone, but the “object” is
actually a murder ballad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her story
became “Little Omie,” a song that has been recorded numerous times, including
versions by Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It follows a pattern that goes back centuries
and has crossed continents, that of a young woman murdered by the man she
loves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The final entry in the book is from 2014, and shows a soil
sample from the “Slender Man” site, where two school girls stabbed a
friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two had concocted the plan
in order to prove themselves worthy to a fictitious internet creature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In between are items as varied as Al Capone’s rap sheet, the
death mask of Burke (as in the infamous Burke and Hare), a message from the
Black Dahlia killer, John Wayne Gacy’s business card, and the remains of a
pressure cooker from the Boston Marathon bombing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the stories are from the U.S., though
there are a few international ones as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The summaries run about two pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Schechter has written several other true crime books,
including <u>Hell’s Princess</u> (about the infamous Belle Gunness) and <u>Ripped
from the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies’ Most Memorable
Crimes</u> so this is territory he knows well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will confess—no pun
intended—that I didn’t read the entire book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s a limit to the amount of real life murder I want to read in a
sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did look up some cases, such
as the Lindbergh kidnapping, just to see how Schechter described it. In a
nutshell, he covered the evidence but acknowledged that in the years since
there have been questions as to Hauptmann’s guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t go into detail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a true crime
aficionado, this may be a good browsing book for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-3393867470481676442024-02-21T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T10:00:00.151-05:00Nevermore: Nettle & Bone, Absolution, The Rhine, Lessons in Chemistry<p> Reported by Rita</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1hLhXc_ytsBZOyN6xaoTm5iNUKdmKWZFBys0zIXBaUH7umTAuKIfunOhoq2srm_xFUje_-SNTpLMWoPEpzx0HLzVK_dOKbVPKbo0zA9wFEr2CbpsPl7-xV4EW1QbrPlfnGErXjaB8LuUppG4kl76V590-tXBaB8gXIQRygo_dDSuAASlEudjS4Gxrls/s200/Nettle%20&%20Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="129" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1hLhXc_ytsBZOyN6xaoTm5iNUKdmKWZFBys0zIXBaUH7umTAuKIfunOhoq2srm_xFUje_-SNTpLMWoPEpzx0HLzVK_dOKbVPKbo0zA9wFEr2CbpsPl7-xV4EW1QbrPlfnGErXjaB8LuUppG4kl76V590-tXBaB8gXIQRygo_dDSuAASlEudjS4Gxrls/s1600/Nettle%20&%20Bone.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nettle & Bone </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">T. Kingfisher</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">To save her
sister and topple a throne, Marra is offered the tools she needs if she
completes three seemingly impossible tasks with the help of a disgraced
ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother and an enigmatic gravewitch and her fowl
familiar</span></span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This sci-fi fantasy is a really fun read! – CW <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.5 Stars<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mb_kf8ascONAa0EoHSvY-tjxzkl8SAWn0wRXmtv8pnjodePbr3UkuGe30XmWoRdgw8Wsis5KpRbojdka_GRlcbv_m0Df4hex7PBtIsiQ4nsKdGSSnP7nVtHAFP6nyMwZ_Fkx86ajnxzEvt8i5qbyH-naiRhIfgOwJaYyWseBHnV3ZMNv3Aq1hvDuX64/s200/Absolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="130" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mb_kf8ascONAa0EoHSvY-tjxzkl8SAWn0wRXmtv8pnjodePbr3UkuGe30XmWoRdgw8Wsis5KpRbojdka_GRlcbv_m0Df4hex7PBtIsiQ4nsKdGSSnP7nVtHAFP6nyMwZ_Fkx86ajnxzEvt8i5qbyH-naiRhIfgOwJaYyWseBHnV3ZMNv3Aq1hvDuX64/s1600/Absolution.jpg" width="130" /></a></b></div><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Absolution </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alice McDermott</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">Sixty years after
they lived as wives of American servicemen in early 1960s Vietnam, two women
reconnect and relieve their shared experiences in Saigon in the new novel by
the author of <u>The Ninth Hour</u>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A wonderful book
about friendship.</span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> - </span></b><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">DC</span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="color: #de3c3c;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5 Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh459mYyJlVbZaG2Kd0MBzpxyhLZ6bmYA1rxvEceu0fHCl89PsOA7BQOtGCTRGSpvBqJ9Hc5gv6lOceVbKsshozgLRxfi5TIB9SnIMnRyfvkmSOEQkzqxMlSxBxBXHw9nt7z4B0EFsgLW8wzh6EudD7IMTdunUeGEsCFtvMcHL8dC5srxEozTjELeK_vi0/s200/Rhine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="124" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh459mYyJlVbZaG2Kd0MBzpxyhLZ6bmYA1rxvEceu0fHCl89PsOA7BQOtGCTRGSpvBqJ9Hc5gv6lOceVbKsshozgLRxfi5TIB9SnIMnRyfvkmSOEQkzqxMlSxBxBXHw9nt7z4B0EFsgLW8wzh6EudD7IMTdunUeGEsCFtvMcHL8dC5srxEozTjELeK_vi0/s1600/Rhine.jpg" width="124" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Rhine : Following
Europe's Greatest River from Amsterdam to the Alps </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ben Coates</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">The Rhine is one
of the world's greatest rivers. Once forming the outer frontier of the Roman
Empire, it flows 800 miles from the social democratic playground of the
Netherlands, through the industrial and political powerhouses of Germany and
France, to the wealthy mountain fortresses of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in
Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In <u>The
Rhine</u>, he sets out by bicycle from the Netherlands where it enters the
North Sea, following it through Germany, France and Liechtenstein, to its
source in the icy Alps. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on
European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and
across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it. Blending travelogue
and offbeat history, The Rhine tells the fascinating story of how a great river
helped shape a continent</span></span></span><span class="contentreplaceable">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full of history and interesting
information, this book is highly recommended. A good travel guide. – WJ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: red;">5 Stars</span></span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0WTMZT9y6eOX3A4T5yWPVtuPkEO4vJbvJjnR6u3jdNNzu_HMSDyf5cn_kVwLZCEq0rWnYJ9ih5k0ZvmC7Ag1vhuXImgEhQ14nUaHzF-1RVu4MWKI4UcuinGTX5yYuUzzdBFXdTD_CPvPj7eQRSj5c8P8BDyGEwrAKVurA5uy2Umt02JrxJiut8bgbqA/s200/lessons%20in%20chemistry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="134" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0WTMZT9y6eOX3A4T5yWPVtuPkEO4vJbvJjnR6u3jdNNzu_HMSDyf5cn_kVwLZCEq0rWnYJ9ih5k0ZvmC7Ag1vhuXImgEhQ14nUaHzF-1RVu4MWKI4UcuinGTX5yYuUzzdBFXdTD_CPvPj7eQRSj5c8P8BDyGEwrAKVurA5uy2Umt02JrxJiut8bgbqA/s1600/lessons%20in%20chemistry.jpg" width="134" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lessons in Chemistry </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bonnie Garmus</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">In the early
1960s, chemist and single mother Elizabeth Zott, the reluctant star of
America's most beloved cooking show due to her revolutionary skills in the
kitchen, uses this opportunity to dare women to change the status quo.</span></span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This book
made our reader laugh-out-loud. Elizabeth’s dog, Six-Thirty, named after the
time of day she found him, is the best character! – VC <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4 Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Also
Mentioned:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Secret Recipe
of Ella Dove</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Karen Hawkins</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Trust </span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Hernan Diaz</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Echo of Old
Books</span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by B<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">arbara Davis</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A River Enchanted</span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Rebecca Ross</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Beartown</span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Fredrik Backman</span></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 6.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Us Against You</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Fredrik
Backman</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Heart is a
Lonely Hunter: The Member of the Wedding</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Carson McCullers</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A Midwife’s Tale:
The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary 1785-1812</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Laurel
Thatcher Ulrich</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A Matter of Life
and Death: Inside the Hidden World of the Pathologist</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Sue Armstrong</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Pioneers: the Heroic
Story of the Settlers who brought the American Ideal West</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by David G.
McCullough</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 107%;">T</span><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">he History of Bees</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Maja Lunde</span></span><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">New Books:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Lost Tomb: and Other
Real-life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Douglas J. Preston<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86",serif; font-size: 6.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Around the World in
60 Seconds: the Nas Daily Journey: 1,000 Days, 64 Countries, 1 Beautiful Planet</span></b></span><span style="font-family: fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86, serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by Nuseir Yassin</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">New to Us:</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Star Garden: A
Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "fb7b6ee5f2e441d9b051b31ab455d86",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by Nancy E. Turner</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-25679264830849280482024-02-19T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-19T10:00:00.153-05:00Twilight in Hazard: An Appalachian Reckoning by Alan Maimon<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF626GT_llqFWSczXdKXBydhs77R69gklyZOc1hCyupFcCGMFwBzw5XnvfrQL0ZZmUqGk9ugUpinA7oG-D7t3D6bP6j0QyPhDD3fMy7V44KeGBoq5yVkkGLDnpjxhz6XNwLewMttdC0M17FsHyEwLhGUWclC4GuijDb5x2nzGai00PcoLt103KKBQToI/s200/Twilight%20in%20Hazard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF626GT_llqFWSczXdKXBydhs77R69gklyZOc1hCyupFcCGMFwBzw5XnvfrQL0ZZmUqGk9ugUpinA7oG-D7t3D6bP6j0QyPhDD3fMy7V44KeGBoq5yVkkGLDnpjxhz6XNwLewMttdC0M17FsHyEwLhGUWclC4GuijDb5x2nzGai00PcoLt103KKBQToI/s1600/Twilight%20in%20Hazard.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twilight in Hazard</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> caught
my eye because in 1949 my dad was born in Hazard. Actually, he was born in one
of the tiny communities along the Right Fork of Big Creek, about five miles
southwest of Hazard. Times were tough then as the coal veins were being tapped
out, and times remain tough in 2020s Hazard, as described by Alan Maimon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maimon had been a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New
York Times</i> reporter based at the Berlin, Germany bureau. As he contemplated
returning to the United States in 2000, he wasn’t committed to living in any
particular geographic area and he decided that he wanted to go somewhere unlike
any place he had previously lived. When a position at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Louisville Courier-Journal</i> became available—specifically the
Eastern Kentucky bureau based in Hazard—Maimon decided to give it a try.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At that point, the coal companies were looking for an easier
way to get coal out of the ground. Sending workers or machines in to hack at
veins of coal just wasn’t efficient, and many had turned to strip mining, or
mountaintop removal. Of course, this resulted in fewer jobs and the dramatic
change of scenery, not to mention water pollution and the occasional rockfall
with devastating consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maimon did not just write another book about a poverty
stricken area. He looks at the root causes of the problems of Eastern Kentucky,
including the opioid pill mill doctors who were instrumental in medicating and
addicting a higher percentage of the local population than the rest of the
country. He also looks at local and national political candidates and office
holders, noting which ones kept promises and which ones vanished in the wind.
He looks at education (and the lack thereof), and how many Eastern Kentucky
communities lose a large number of their young people to the outside world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By the end of Maimon’s time in Hazard and Eastern Kentucky, he
was also lamenting the failure of news outlets as papers shrunk in staff,
column inches, and thickness. It is an alarming nationwide trend as online
sources become increasingly polarized and readers/viewers choose their sources,
seeing only what they want to see. Maimon describes the closing of regional
news bureaus, physical papers only being printed three times a week, (sound
familiar?) and the eventual demise of family owned and even corporate owned
newspapers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I really enjoyed this work of non-fiction. I have read other
histories of Hazard and Perry County, but most of those focused on the earlier
decades when I still had family living in the area. This is a more up to date
work that examines the failures, successes, and hopes for the future for this
area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-38139613759171184722024-02-16T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-16T10:00:00.145-05:00Pickled to Death: A Down South Café Mystery by Gayle Leeson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MfxWVKVuKnv3UeP4jgEBiSnLkWUTna1RdE_xnOeh5f0UYMVrrp4Ay72zhRWDKtqnlrLf76iIUp-YlFZYc-gLEV6oVysiY_UElXkBQwmB7-6Il6ZxM-_ipfSkTugUMnGQz_AJD41190zT93tytbkvDofqxL_wFbM7BesMVoSHltqG22-ptavDQOqDXsQ/s200/pickled%20to%20death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MfxWVKVuKnv3UeP4jgEBiSnLkWUTna1RdE_xnOeh5f0UYMVrrp4Ay72zhRWDKtqnlrLf76iIUp-YlFZYc-gLEV6oVysiY_UElXkBQwmB7-6Il6ZxM-_ipfSkTugUMnGQz_AJD41190zT93tytbkvDofqxL_wFbM7BesMVoSHltqG22-ptavDQOqDXsQ/s1600/pickled%20to%20death.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Jeanne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amy’s Aunt Bess is a woman on a mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mabel Hobbs has been bragging about her prize
winning pickles, even proclaiming that no one else could hold a candle to her in
that department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those can be fightin’
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aunt Bess is determined to prove that Mabel
isn’t the only Pickle Queen around so she comes to the Winter Garden fair armed
with a pickle entry of her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While Mabel’s title of Pickle Queen may be dubious, it’s
undeniable that she was crowned—fatally so, in fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, Aunt Bess was right beside her
when it happened so she becomes the obvious suspect. She’s got a secret weapon,
though:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her crime solving niece Amy is
on the job and she is determined to uncover the real murderer. Unless, of
course, the murderer is the streaker who conveniently ran through the crowd—he could
do with a bit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more</b> covering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Local readers will find a lot that sounds very familiar in
Winter Garden, which I have to confess, is part of its charm to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The descriptions of the county fair bring
back a lot of fond memories, and of course the Ray Stevens jokes have that darn
song stuck in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(“Don’t look,
Ethel!”)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I always enjoy a visit with Amy and her friends and family. I
will have to say that it was shorter than I expected and that the ending seemed
rather abrupt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-9185254544626379012024-02-14T10:00:00.012-05:002024-02-14T10:00:00.133-05:00Nevermore: Private Life of Spies, City of Beasts, Under the Cover of Mercy<p> Reported by Rita</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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Spies: and, The Exquisite Art of Getting Even </span></b><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Alexander McCall
Smith</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">Half spy stories,
half tales of revenge, this new collection from the author of The No. 1 Ladies'
Detective Agency novels illustrates that transparency is paramount and
forgiveness is restorative, reminding us that, in the end, the high road is
often the better one for all involved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A really nice mix of fiction and non-fiction
short stories. – DC</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhlZfPyq2jCvCWI6qsNSvAZWV2oEo4NP-vYprgYZFDnH-uk1gv8xsxO80X6_HQmCjsWttCrwT5WLwcp7tXFEHHvaA-HlHSEuKPnA-r9RNqkVHkx8TGQwPWTXEu8qLF3RFBYz6uIl7IyjIr9yy05D8AkaQcSfbGxUDZHYxSn0liMCUpAHef8_97JDNYWQ/s200/City%20of%20Beasts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhlZfPyq2jCvCWI6qsNSvAZWV2oEo4NP-vYprgYZFDnH-uk1gv8xsxO80X6_HQmCjsWttCrwT5WLwcp7tXFEHHvaA-HlHSEuKPnA-r9RNqkVHkx8TGQwPWTXEu8qLF3RFBYz6uIl7IyjIr9yy05D8AkaQcSfbGxUDZHYxSn0liMCUpAHef8_97JDNYWQ/s1600/City%20of%20Beasts.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br /> </span></b></b></div><b><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">City of the Beasts </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Isabel Allende</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">Joining his
fearless nature journalist grandmother on a dangerous expedition in the Amazon
to track a Yeti-like creature known as the Beast, 15-year-old Alexander draws
on the strength of a totemic spirit guide on a remarkable journey of
self-discovery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
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unexpected ending.</span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> - </span></b><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">MH</span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span style="color: #de3c3c;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4e-BL7Vsqx7xw3VQS_BD4_WJrjL6UuNbz_xNk1AfGNeZZMgb-KJDSbynmeRyJNnRHoEtFXhFsW2jckez_QxUk07Wq0Cwd5yuOktex5iIP2tTZP5NiN2jiwC1Wi2BmZlfIriMCx8EPzjxfy8szGuEco7Fltjl1KZ2g5wdJNkRU8oYSnVWsTVR-oCPmGvY/s200/Under%20the%20cover%20of%20Mercy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="135" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4e-BL7Vsqx7xw3VQS_BD4_WJrjL6UuNbz_xNk1AfGNeZZMgb-KJDSbynmeRyJNnRHoEtFXhFsW2jckez_QxUk07Wq0Cwd5yuOktex5iIP2tTZP5NiN2jiwC1Wi2BmZlfIriMCx8EPzjxfy8szGuEco7Fltjl1KZ2g5wdJNkRU8oYSnVWsTVR-oCPmGvY/s1600/Under%20the%20cover%20of%20Mercy.jpg" width="135" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Under the cover of
mercy : a novel </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rebecca Connolly</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white;">Ordered by a
ranking German officer to stand guard over wounded Allied POWs, Edith Cavell,
Head Nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute, secretly establishes her hospital
as a safe house for the resistance, risking charges of treason—and her life—to
bring hope to her small corner of a war-torn world.</span></span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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</tbody></table><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Our reader was not a big fan of
this title and does not recommend. – WJ</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Also
Mentioned:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Comfort of
Crows: a Backyard Year </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Margaret Renkl</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Of
Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sy Montgomery</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Squeeze
Me </span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Carl Hiaasen</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Under the Cover of
Mercy </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rebecca Connolly<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Life at the Dakota:
New York's Most Unusual Address </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Stephen Birmingham<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="contentreplaceable"><b><span style="background: white; color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Kaufman field guide
to insects of North America </span></b></span><span class="level3"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by </span></span><span class="contentreplaceable"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Eric R. Eaton</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Animal Farm</span><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by George
Orwell</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Unnatural Death </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by
Patricia Cornwell</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A Feast of Eggshells </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by
Florence Stevenson</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Death and Life of the Great
Lakes </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by Dan
Egan</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">New Books:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">UFO: The Inside Story of the US
Government’s Search for Alien Life </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by
Garrett M. Graff</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Teddy and Booker T. </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by Brian
Kilmeade</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Blood Memory </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by Dayton
Duncan and Ken Burns</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #de3c3c; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Goodbye Cat </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">by Hiro
Arikawa</span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-52480514026188020682024-02-12T10:00:00.005-05:002024-02-12T10:00:00.134-05:00This is My Story - This is My Song by Tennessee Ernie Ford<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIibhpePvBfKPZAEKptOvMofCM7LzHaPdrLXR7OqZQELuhkM50EZ6wE8UeZeMTmtumLzlSd0G6wygpraFsNeyGbHkWPkAOK3NDjSQbkHWy3mo31aoZRW2eX3l_z3xtZbDuFQahxXKNjdrq07jUjbjStvF8NsKoA75Nd2oi1kcmuhpbmgsuYa9J7dvdwI/s581/This%20is%20my%20story%20flora.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIibhpePvBfKPZAEKptOvMofCM7LzHaPdrLXR7OqZQELuhkM50EZ6wE8UeZeMTmtumLzlSd0G6wygpraFsNeyGbHkWPkAOK3NDjSQbkHWy3mo31aoZRW2eX3l_z3xtZbDuFQahxXKNjdrq07jUjbjStvF8NsKoA75Nd2oi1kcmuhpbmgsuYa9J7dvdwI/s320/This%20is%20my%20story%20flora.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Mrs. Winnie Coalson in 1963, and Kristin in 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I came across a book review of the above title written by a
public librarian in the Bristol Herald Courier over sixty years ago. Mrs.
Winnie Coalson wrote many reviews, and is one of a long line of librarians who
have worked at the Bristol Public Libra<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Mrs. Coalson discussed the informal nature of the book, and
said “it is generously seasoned with ‘salty’ stories of the picturesque characters
he knew in his early years.” I suspect that Mrs. Coalson’s idea of “salty” is
rather innocent compared to our current standards. In the first chapter, Ford
starts with a story of the preacher coming over for dinner and blessing the
food for a little too long, much to the consternation of Ford’s mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Ford starts with his early life and continues through to his
life in show business. He discusses the values he learned from his parents, and
how he was taught to treat every person with respect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I appreciate the flavor of Mrs. Coalson’s review, and gave a
chuckle at the fast that she also said, “His book has no literary value, nor is
it meant to have. It is, and is mean to be, a thirty chapter ‘cracker barrel’
kind of…informal familiar conversation.” I imagine that his rambles in writing
must compare well to his conversational style in real life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Complete with black and white drawings and several pages of
black and white photographs, this short volume is a lovely snapshot of
Tennessee Ernie Ford’s life. I am glad to have come across it, as well as this
found book review from the Bristol Herald Courier on December 28, 1963.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DROshyphenhyphenoLf2_fQOR4DF7DeGoP1J0m9GvuOW8b5ta9IBAaoQ8au-ofmZPpc6kZxid4CpiFzTJdtmxPnOPwVLEO6ZmcWgK7H6uHJhgbI67ekNUKKwVxvW1unG2nfZkfb0AQ-vrfeY2N_ZIOR4Kbkg_DWWEOW_fhx7QW4B0dyCNbcIS5aXsFe9Q98ewGSBE/s1979/This%20is%20my%20Story%20review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1979" data-original-width="1113" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DROshyphenhyphenoLf2_fQOR4DF7DeGoP1J0m9GvuOW8b5ta9IBAaoQ8au-ofmZPpc6kZxid4CpiFzTJdtmxPnOPwVLEO6ZmcWgK7H6uHJhgbI67ekNUKKwVxvW1unG2nfZkfb0AQ-vrfeY2N_ZIOR4Kbkg_DWWEOW_fhx7QW4B0dyCNbcIS5aXsFe9Q98ewGSBE/w360-h640/This%20is%20my%20Story%20review.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note: We run this in honor of Tennessee Ernie Ford, who would have celebrated his 105th birthday on February 13!</div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-58523229769969048182024-02-09T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-09T10:00:00.135-05:00The Fine Art of Flirting by Joyce Jillson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi1RXRKlvMoFLW74z9B5fY-fcAkPoJ2QsdXxaypg7ouzTktW2fAm7nlWyj8zH17xqQHPa8B1ia9M-V7W1ob7qlCXwssDoj9lSm3u9coR-oIzgcTrppnodXpkSKDkAm1sa6VBu8vC0_3PQqX4GKN3LcbTV8NpuVLwn6qywLBMxJyhU7cfBPCHhwUtAo8w/s640/fine%20art%20of%20flirting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi1RXRKlvMoFLW74z9B5fY-fcAkPoJ2QsdXxaypg7ouzTktW2fAm7nlWyj8zH17xqQHPa8B1ia9M-V7W1ob7qlCXwssDoj9lSm3u9coR-oIzgcTrppnodXpkSKDkAm1sa6VBu8vC0_3PQqX4GKN3LcbTV8NpuVLwn6qywLBMxJyhU7cfBPCHhwUtAo8w/s320/fine%20art%20of%20flirting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The BPL gift shop offers up a wide variety of books for all
ages. As I was walking by the 25 cent cart, I couldn’t resist picking up a book
with a hot pink spine, <u>The Fine Art of Flirting</u>. Turns out it was
published in 1984, which is close enough to the last time I was flirting.
Whether I was ever successful or not is debatable. If only I had this book….I
met my even more awkward husband in 1990 and that began our happily ever after.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you need any flirting tips or just a funny book, you might
want to read this book. Keep in mind that some of these tips go directly
against what passes for common sense in 2023*, and most Human Resources
policies. (Definitely skip Chapter 22: Flirting at Work.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A few ideas on how to be a good flirt:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Say hello with
energy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Repeat the
person’s name<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ask for your
new friend’s life story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Leave them
wanting more<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To get subtle
attention—whisper<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then there are flirting haunts, or places you should frequent
to flirt:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dry cleaners<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Seminars<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take-out food
places<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Sierra Club<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Video cassette
rental stores (remember, 1984)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Author Jillson does include an extremely short chapter
entitled When Not to Flirt. Spoiler alert, the main times not to flirt are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you’re sick<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With your children<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the witness stand (yes,
really)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With your letter carrier<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At family reunions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While I can’t actually recommend this book for any person
wanting to begin a major flirting campaign in the hopes of finding a romantic
partner, I can recommend it for a good laugh. In fact, if you want it, I’ll pay
the 25 cents for the first person who asks me for it at the reference desk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">* Please, please, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">please</i>,
have common sense, courtesy, and respect for boundaries!<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-24325087384339311252024-02-07T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-07T10:00:00.141-05:00Nevermore: Paris Agent, Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, Lincoln Highway, Great Lakes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcQRQK7b6g_rD_ZxpOvPTS1pt0Bh9TqsyV-j5q5_kavA1k2P88br3z8nNZWswP7JslSGiZjcyFneECelPUtu9rouoAKDkywRXdU78HFydHise_Iv4FoWMyWglt385Sc4ekz25PRpcojB-Wej3hRX3F-GqGE3G7E1PZO6r0rOsllygZsc4nqtKnyLVhXY/s2970/Nevermore%2012-12-23%20LibraryAware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2970" data-original-width="2287" height="711" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcQRQK7b6g_rD_ZxpOvPTS1pt0Bh9TqsyV-j5q5_kavA1k2P88br3z8nNZWswP7JslSGiZjcyFneECelPUtu9rouoAKDkywRXdU78HFydHise_Iv4FoWMyWglt385Sc4ekz25PRpcojB-Wej3hRX3F-GqGE3G7E1PZO6r0rOsllygZsc4nqtKnyLVhXY/w547-h711/Nevermore%2012-12-23%20LibraryAware.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prepared by Rita</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is an experiment with a new program. Please comment and let us know what you think!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-14136305007634454372024-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:002024-02-05T10:00:00.161-05:00Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm4z31VOFiporREPGG1TJ6w482DOijFF5I9jsv6kqdYkUNFcWWK4ZxsS567bLYF0YJYQ2LiNaFS6qL6z4QXTPQwE-JCyjSzP01TnyT9FHzTZ8VenB2upDGVb9qifmF5Aa_EsPfz9SVS-DGX1pF4iQPV5jFOIoSaE9w7xnGxyixCuC0cfc6dkvtB8l4qo/s200/other%20birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm4z31VOFiporREPGG1TJ6w482DOijFF5I9jsv6kqdYkUNFcWWK4ZxsS567bLYF0YJYQ2LiNaFS6qL6z4QXTPQwE-JCyjSzP01TnyT9FHzTZ8VenB2upDGVb9qifmF5Aa_EsPfz9SVS-DGX1pF4iQPV5jFOIoSaE9w7xnGxyixCuC0cfc6dkvtB8l4qo/s1600/other%20birds.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Jeanne</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eighteen-year-old Zoey is ready to spread her wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After her mother’s death and her father’s
remarriage, Zoey has felt the odd person out in the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the summer before she starts college, she
decides to move to Mallow Island, SC where her mother owned a condo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s hoping to find some trace of the woman
she barely remembers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, she finds
a community of diverse characters, all of whom have something to hide. . . and
not all of them are alive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have loved all of Sarah Addison Allen’s books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a warmth and a sweetness that
lingers long after the last page has been turned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also feature characters that I come to
know and love and want to spend more time with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allen never leaves you hanging but she also
tends to leave her characters on the cusp of their greatest happiness, so that
the reader has a sense of hope at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> However, </span>I had heard that this book was a bit different from her others, darker,
and with more characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put off
reading it, a bit afraid that I might not like this new direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I need not have worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While there are a lot of characters, I had no trouble following them
along through all the twists and turns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">were </i>twists in this
one, but not the “gotcha!” thiller twists, but little surprises that, in
retrospect, made perfect sense. There’s Mac the chef, who awakens to a
sprinkling of cornmeal every morning; Charlotte the henna artist, who is
running from her past; Roscoe, the apartment manager, who cares about all the
residents; and the elusive Lucy, whom no one has seen in years, but who
occasionally peers out the windows of her condo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This was, for me, vintage Allen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were characters I loved and cared
about; touches of magic with the (fictional, sadly) dellawisps, the little blue
birds who give the apartment complex its name; ghosts who linger and want to
tell their own parts of the story; and secrets, mostly of the human heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also a story of family, not just biological
kinship, but a chosen family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In short, I loved it and am sure it will be on my list of best
books of 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-86033286241400298192024-02-02T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-02T10:00:00.155-05:00Starter Villain by John Scalzi<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79b78WzjMEhsKqXp9SH-SjgJu3yNgl1SWkfGNARgN-mdtNv64JPC3fO-8gAyRr2suuRp3WKOXA5_Qj7hIXG7YD0vkrE9b3coFlXyStwTbz6n2atbgCFReGFmzU9jGIPwKwCn5NvhyphenhyphenBqz-1adD3zWvjaiMAjZh7S3z3rd-OuemhRevCGYM5ArDjTun8ko/s200/Starter%20Villain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="129" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79b78WzjMEhsKqXp9SH-SjgJu3yNgl1SWkfGNARgN-mdtNv64JPC3fO-8gAyRr2suuRp3WKOXA5_Qj7hIXG7YD0vkrE9b3coFlXyStwTbz6n2atbgCFReGFmzU9jGIPwKwCn5NvhyphenhyphenBqz-1adD3zWvjaiMAjZh7S3z3rd-OuemhRevCGYM5ArDjTun8ko/s1600/Starter%20Villain.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Kristin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One morning, Charlie turns on the news and discovers that his
long lost and extremely rich uncle is dead. Not that he actually expects to
receive anything from the man he hasn’t seen since he was five years old, when
Charlie’s mother died.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Charlie is just an ordinary guy with a string of bad luck. His
wife left him, he’s no longer a halfway respectable journalist (he’s now a
substitute teacher), he’s living in his dead father’s house co-owned by his much
older half siblings (who want to liquidate), and he lost his good pair of
shoes. So that explains the black Skechers he is wearing with his black suit as
he goes to the bank to ask for a loan to buy McDougal’s Pub, hoping to turn
that endeavor into financial stability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m sure you can guess how that turned out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As Charlie returns home from the bank, he discovers a woman on
his front porch swing, a woman who is about to change his life. She tells him
that his uncle did leave him something, and now he should come with her to
learn about his extensive business holdings around the world. They include an
island volcano lair, of course, as Charlie’s uncle evidently was something of a
villain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Talking spy cats, unionized dolphins, whales with questionable
motives, assassins, and other competing villains…(oops, I mean, “other totally
upstanding business people”), that’s just the beginning of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John Scalzi has a brutally sharp wit and the ability to make
the totally absurd seem absolutely believable. As soon as I was drawn into the
first few pages, I knew that I was in for an exciting read. I was a particular
fan of the super intelligent talking cats. With a broad cast of characters, human
and otherwise, Scalzi takes us on yet another wild ride with <u>Starter Villain</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-62891691453903354462024-01-31T10:00:00.001-05:002024-01-31T10:00:00.137-05:00Nevermore: After the Cataclysm, Force of Nature, Family Lore, When I'm Dead, To Conjure a Killer, This Time Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI9NwVZTwD1DedTB5KpSVKYdycjqbXsC2kvJq1QPSZEEf7ZrKLzYOWkvr13xLeWgSdauTsLGAA5AsZVXozd1yohz8H74eRDEUAW2-Rz8cxOW61m5JcwtE6Cm5ODWT93Pe5Uma25nIrZPddlNspAsK57_mM09yXdE_1mRlEAmAKhAoow1l4w_oYdL8pvs/s200/family%20lore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI9NwVZTwD1DedTB5KpSVKYdycjqbXsC2kvJq1QPSZEEf7ZrKLzYOWkvr13xLeWgSdauTsLGAA5AsZVXozd1yohz8H74eRDEUAW2-Rz8cxOW61m5JcwtE6Cm5ODWT93Pe5Uma25nIrZPddlNspAsK57_mM09yXdE_1mRlEAmAKhAoow1l4w_oYdL8pvs/s1600/family%20lore.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Reported by Kristin </span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"></p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">We had a small group on this very cold day, but it was nice to Zoom in and talk books!</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">First
up, one reader discussed <u>After the Cataclysm: Volume II: The Political
Economy of Human Rights</u> by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman. Covering
Western influenced political movements in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia,
Chomsky and Herman come together again to look at how the United States
is involved in the political regimes of many other world countries. Our
reader expressed her fraught emotions that so many lives have been lost,
decades past and continuing to the present day.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Another
more life affirming book was mentioned by the same reader:<u> Force of
Nature</u> by Joan M. Griffin. The non-fiction work tells the tale of three
women friends, all 50-somethings, who set off to walk the beautiful John
Muir trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Our reader
noted that alongside the description of the beauty and difficulty of the
trail, the author included nitty-gritty details such as the relief of
receiving food and clothing packages, including the delight of being
able to put on clean underclothing after days of hiking. This comes
highly recommended!</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Another
reader is just getting into another new book, <u>Family Lore </u>by Elizabeth
Acevedo. Dominican American Flor has a special gift--she can predict
when someone will die. When Flor announces to her family that she wants
to have a living wake, their responses are generally along the line of
"Oh no, is Flor going to die soon??"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ3r0i-yuwAV-Fmzzb2mX-YcaVG_UcbcEL3JLi3MDQqfwr4LeAZj6nvsWuOvqIMgVLeLjbtKGIasZel_536bn0GNS5rVA8M03uw_qvrFFs7RzsGei8HkS6-eA1R_AQp1Zi_0FXrrJQa22Uwe27pGfwuq3o69PlJldB_n5iC-wbMncOmPD-M7Iam_FwW0/s200/When%20I'm%20Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ3r0i-yuwAV-Fmzzb2mX-YcaVG_UcbcEL3JLi3MDQqfwr4LeAZj6nvsWuOvqIMgVLeLjbtKGIasZel_536bn0GNS5rVA8M03uw_qvrFFs7RzsGei8HkS6-eA1R_AQp1Zi_0FXrrJQa22Uwe27pGfwuq3o69PlJldB_n5iC-wbMncOmPD-M7Iam_FwW0/s1600/When%20I'm%20Dead.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><u>When
I'm Dead </u>by Hannah Morrissey interested one of our book club members,
with the main characters being a husband and wife team, a police
detective and a medical examiner, respectively. When bodies of their
teenage daughter's friends start showing up, and then their daughter
goes missing, these parents must race against the clock as they
investigate the murders of the young women.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Clea Simon's <em>Witch Cats of Salem</em>
series returned to Nevermore with the fourth in series <u>To Conjure a
Killer</u>. Main character Becca is part of a young coven based in
Cambridge, all members working earnestly to cast spells. Little does she
know that her mystical feline friends may be the ones who have more
substantial power. When Becca's ex-boyfriend shows up (dead), guess who
is a prime suspect? </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Another
recent book read was <u>This Time Tomorrow</u> by Emma Straub. Our reader said
this was another time travel or time slipping book which she keeps
finding in her reading pile. Alice goes out to celebrate her 40th
birthday with her lifelong best friend. Her life is okay, but somewhat
mundane, and she is dealing with anticipatory grief for her hospitalized
father. But when she wakes up the next morning in her childhood home
with her father at the table, she realizes she has returned to her 16th
birthday, and perhaps a chance to live her life a little differently.
Again, and again, and again.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Also mentioned:</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><u>Sigrid Rides: The Story of an Extraordinary Friendship and an Adventure on Two Wheels</u> by Travis Nelson</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><u>Garden Spells</u> by Sarah Addison Allen</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><u>The Haunting on the Hill </u>by Elizabeth Hand</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><u>The Fireman</u> by Joe Hill</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><u>Weyward</u> by Emilia Hart</p></span>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-25444136173565590122024-01-29T10:00:00.003-05:002024-01-29T10:00:00.153-05:00To Conjure a Killer by Clea Simon<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL0ugAYvjqK4EG9je7PmTGncYEKcBdU5gMoS7oNuBTCCJhp87vhQoq5ll0c8JVGwYNiN84Hiw2UxnuAKlKYPM5CIhjRZP7hi2qaDU3gLilxLCiZZVjr-wBX4wYMh4LUsHSwHawl5bYKH5M6neSsxtV_m0qxVgtCr6Cqnv5N4C9e54pfouiNnDztpPQGw/s200/To%20conjure%20a%20killer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="130" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL0ugAYvjqK4EG9je7PmTGncYEKcBdU5gMoS7oNuBTCCJhp87vhQoq5ll0c8JVGwYNiN84Hiw2UxnuAKlKYPM5CIhjRZP7hi2qaDU3gLilxLCiZZVjr-wBX4wYMh4LUsHSwHawl5bYKH5M6neSsxtV_m0qxVgtCr6Cqnv5N4C9e54pfouiNnDztpPQGw/s1600/To%20conjure%20a%20killer.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Reviewed by Jeanne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Becca Colwin, witch detective, is walking home from her job at
the New Age shop Charm and Cherish when she sees a kitten darting into the
street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Becca springs into action,
chasing the kitten into an alley to rescue it—and finding a dead body in the
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not just any dead body
either:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the deceased is Becca’s former
boyfriend, Jeff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course, that’s when the police show up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While Becca isn’t arrested, she is a person of interest in the
slaying. After all, she was found standing over the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to clear her name, Becca is going to
have to use all her powers, supernatural or otherwise, in order to solve the
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means she’s going to have to
find out about the people in Jeff’s life and about the software program he was
working on—one that people are saying could have been an electronic game
changer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately for Becca, she’s not the only one on the
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her three cats also have a vested
interest in keeping her out of jail—and her cats are the ones with actual
supernatural powers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Nowadays, there are many mystery series with some otherworldly
touches, but this series stands alone in that, unbeknownst to her, Becca’s cats
are the ones with magic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Becca’s
belief that she has powers is due to luxury loving Harriet deciding to conjure up
a more comfy pillow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harriet and Laurel,
the two older cats, are more concerned that Becca bring home the cat food and
attend to their every need, while Clara is devoted to Becca as her person and
tries to help in every way she can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new
kitten adds a layer of intrigue to the story as well:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is she just an ordinary cat or is she a witch
cat as well?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The characters are well drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Becca is an appealing protagonist, with her kind heart and empathetic
nature. There are some intriguing supporting characters as well, especially the
enigmatic Elizabeth, whose sister owns Charm and Cherish. The suspect gallery
in this one is quite good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have to
say that the cats steal the show—as well they should.<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-5506201365258024072024-01-26T10:00:00.001-05:002024-01-26T10:00:00.147-05:00 This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dV0zUhBmfSasV_TCpA11nHe76g_lbwCEeL9JBbwfTPB6Q2naUtOYpzvq7R5Rcji8EJqjRRQJm1huBhXDQADNVBIJG-hFV6lQIGGnjcUmr85Y9jaT-bGXFjIKrC8gb-4NDsvNe0RKIMLuPehzDPlKOO8fIDRopfQrMrl-3q4PQkh9B66kSJ8g2WxJ534/s200/This%20Time%20Tomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dV0zUhBmfSasV_TCpA11nHe76g_lbwCEeL9JBbwfTPB6Q2naUtOYpzvq7R5Rcji8EJqjRRQJm1huBhXDQADNVBIJG-hFV6lQIGGnjcUmr85Y9jaT-bGXFjIKrC8gb-4NDsvNe0RKIMLuPehzDPlKOO8fIDRopfQrMrl-3q4PQkh9B66kSJ8g2WxJ534/s1600/This%20Time%20Tomorrow.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div _ref="content" class="contents">
<div id="SafeStyles1705610184"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Reviewed by Kristin</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Alice
is pretty much satisfied with her life. She works in admissions at the
private school she herself attended. She has her own affordable
apartment in New York. She has romantic prospects, but is deciding that
she may be better off unattached. She is still close with her childhood
best friend, even if Sam is married and seemingly eternally pregnant.
Her father Leonard is aging though, and currently in the hospital in a
coma.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">On
the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice finds herself in the exact right
place at the exact right time to find out what might have been.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Yes,
Emma Straub has taken the familiar trope of discovering all the
what-ifs, if only one could travel back in time and live life
differently. But this author takes an atypical angle, and does it very
well.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Alice
finds herself back in her childhood home on the morning of her 16th
birthday. Leonard is there, looking much younger than Alice remembers he
was. It's not some lost boyfriend who Alice is most motivated to bring
into her 40 year old life; it's the healthy version of her father who
she misses.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">I
won't go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. I will say only that
the characters resonated in a way that most don't, and the reason may be
because the author was going through losing her own father, horror
author Peter Straub, while she was writing this novel. In the
acknowledgements, she talks about her father encouraging her to write a
fictionalized version of her own story. I can imagine that writing about
time travel to an earlier time to be with a missing family member must
have been at once wrenching and cathartic.</p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">I'm
now off to find even more Emma Straub books. <u>This Time Tomorrow</u> may
have been the first I have read, but it won't be the last.</p></span></div></div>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-58212064278125173462024-01-24T10:00:00.002-05:002024-01-24T10:00:00.138-05:00Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Rita and Tonia<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7swgHAgxrfeGWhhi6PgvoVzTB5iRWGLAl7sJ1Z-SjFOCwGWZuuf-E7Nj8Oq_ulP4zeYjVq9w0dZyiwFuO36gsard2LeJq0ktswMf96vStrP_gQsRXbzsY_dig86qK5K0QoqwxtkBsO8Q9vBxY18jgsVEbfLDXVaTpK6wk0ORWP19b7xecoe2dNrFJKQ/s200/four%20agreements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="138" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7swgHAgxrfeGWhhi6PgvoVzTB5iRWGLAl7sJ1Z-SjFOCwGWZuuf-E7Nj8Oq_ulP4zeYjVq9w0dZyiwFuO36gsard2LeJq0ktswMf96vStrP_gQsRXbzsY_dig86qK5K0QoqwxtkBsO8Q9vBxY18jgsVEbfLDXVaTpK6wk0ORWP19b7xecoe2dNrFJKQ/s1600/four%20agreements.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Rita<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">The
Four Agreements</span></em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> by Don
Miguel Ruiz - This is a book that I have read multiple times. I find the
insights to be enlightening, and I manage to take away something new with each
read. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Baggage</span></em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> by Alan Cumming - This is a very intimate
look into the life of the Hollywood actor. He shares the tragedies and
adversities he has overcome as well as many joyous moments. It is a very
personal look at how life events shape the person one becomes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7grpSZTs6BoUm23kCAlKXc9nweaSwHl6gfMM-S320D54msNZ2TdM-HdZ_5SScRcSMs28tCpAdu8IvJRwErIw79f_uj03sjKVefxkGf_Qt03c1nNQJ6MGCBEf96u83HytRyeu4c3jPfNwJtozcycw08wnsOuu9vE4lkGUsfCMMrbe6USTjRYVomO5R_A/s200/songteller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="151" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7grpSZTs6BoUm23kCAlKXc9nweaSwHl6gfMM-S320D54msNZ2TdM-HdZ_5SScRcSMs28tCpAdu8IvJRwErIw79f_uj03sjKVefxkGf_Qt03c1nNQJ6MGCBEf96u83HytRyeu4c3jPfNwJtozcycw08wnsOuu9vE4lkGUsfCMMrbe6USTjRYVomO5R_A/s1600/songteller.jpg" width="151" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Dolly
Parton, Songteller</span></em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> by
Dolly Parton - I highly recommend listening to the audiobook and hearing
the stories from Dolly herself. It reads like the ultimate liner note
with all of the stories behind the songs and the inspirations and influences. I
believe this book is not just for fans of Dolly Parton, but for fans of music
in general.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Mad
Honey</span></em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> by Jodi Picoult and
Jennifer Finney Boyle - I was, at first, drawn in by the abundance of amazing
facts about bees. There is a wealth of knowledge about honeybees and beekeeping
throughout the novel, but it also a story of love and acceptance woven into a
murder mystery. With good character development and surprising twists, this
book really held my attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Where
the Deer and Antelope Play</span></em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">
by Nick Offerman - There is a lot to enjoy in this book, from historical facts
about the creation of the National Parks to humorous and often irreverent
observations about the human spirit. Nick Offerman tells of three different
trips taken across the country. One of those trips included Jeff Tweedy from
the band Wilco and American writer George Saunders. I cannot read a Nick
Offerman book without laughing out loud, and this was no exception.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherPgrvGYdkcKtJ2bGBsMefi693uhCxrMimFHmEsARMc9hWWywQ0a_znvYIpEGbcLosdpLWDBcx9kOIjfBzLsdj55dpVMJzJZjHBXM7QKgs_kgYXPlP3koyn4csPf7kiqcE_SVXW2V7lknd20qk0ut3pqNZBjC_4-RlMPTgwgrvmID_yYKruUOgLts1-Y/s400/Mexican%20Gothic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherPgrvGYdkcKtJ2bGBsMefi693uhCxrMimFHmEsARMc9hWWywQ0a_znvYIpEGbcLosdpLWDBcx9kOIjfBzLsdj55dpVMJzJZjHBXM7QKgs_kgYXPlP3koyn4csPf7kiqcE_SVXW2V7lknd20qk0ut3pqNZBjC_4-RlMPTgwgrvmID_yYKruUOgLts1-Y/s320/Mexican%20Gothic.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tonia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">1. <i>Mexican
Gothic</i> by Silvia Moreno-Garcia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">2. <i>The
Christmas Guest</i> by Peter Swanson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">3. <i>Lessons
in Chemistry</i> by Bonnie Garmus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">4. <i>The
Marriage Portrait</i> by Maggie O’Farrell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">5. <i>Messy
Roots</i> by Laura Gao<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">6. <i>The
Ocean at the End of the Lane</i> by Neil Gaiman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">7. <i>At
The Mountains of Madness</i> by H. P. Lovecraft<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">8. <i>The
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo</i> by Taylor Jenkins Reid<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">9. <i>The
Devil Wears Scrubs</i> by Freida McFadden<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">10. <i>We Used
to Live Here</i> by Daniel Hurst<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">11. <i>The
Coal Tattoo</i> by Silas House<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">12. <i>The
Crossroads at Midnight</i> by Abby Howard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">13. <i>Ikigai</i> by
Hector Garcia Puigcerver<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">14. <i>Eerie
Tales from the School of Screams</i> by Graham Annable<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">15. <i>Pattern
Behavior: The Seamy Side of Fashion</i> by Natalie Kossar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM90-OOQSSVdjZNqXbX0x1Et_nQyR_Fm4xAdgp5e8Y7pIItWqoYRR8GFiu0PLSYM8gXkL_8e2eaPl5griGKJMXrc9Pgacqe-NzFEto597J9tltN1dDvpq32lj5DX0xCmVCA4W67zXm62dCBECKgX5_CLPRucryked8HXIzCVjdPX9OrEs4-gOoqWjp7w/s400/Coal%20Tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="272" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM90-OOQSSVdjZNqXbX0x1Et_nQyR_Fm4xAdgp5e8Y7pIItWqoYRR8GFiu0PLSYM8gXkL_8e2eaPl5griGKJMXrc9Pgacqe-NzFEto597J9tltN1dDvpq32lj5DX0xCmVCA4W67zXm62dCBECKgX5_CLPRucryked8HXIzCVjdPX9OrEs4-gOoqWjp7w/s320/Coal%20Tattoo.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><br /></span><p></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5401124578729166191.post-75696420342710380282024-01-22T10:00:00.001-05:002024-01-22T10:00:00.270-05:00Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Jenna and Nena<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jenna</span></b></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0B1w-8dWWK_dhkaxFhHWDpor4ng5wAWNzp0zRdJW7K9TLk7gV72zdx5OBIio3HVhSjUEKkrpqVGKR3OcHPI6J6oznyn6RqLc3nyPGcqJZjy_TYk78ZulFR4iNMHlrzMYJpCjsbKetO7JmMxqSCkcU_Ppy_ENbifoFxdUd4NDgEDmq0RiA3YXXvPPXyw/s200/empress%20of%20salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0B1w-8dWWK_dhkaxFhHWDpor4ng5wAWNzp0zRdJW7K9TLk7gV72zdx5OBIio3HVhSjUEKkrpqVGKR3OcHPI6J6oznyn6RqLc3nyPGcqJZjy_TYk78ZulFR4iNMHlrzMYJpCjsbKetO7JmMxqSCkcU_Ppy_ENbifoFxdUd4NDgEDmq0RiA3YXXvPPXyw/s1600/empress%20of%20salt.jpg" width="125" /></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 4.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">2023 hit me with a reading
slump, so this was the year for short and fast reads. The book that really
pulled me through and got me reading again was <u>The Empress of Salt and
Fortune</u> by Nghi Vo. It’s the first in a series of high fantasy
novellas in a setting comparable to historical China. The series
follows the cleric Chih and their bird Almost Brilliant as they record the life
stories of the people they meet on their travels. It was a quick, charming, and
engaging read that I was able to power through in one sitting and immediately
made me want to get my hands on the rest of the series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHNmNSfrYe490MS57xsilBrNUR388PF7a202xy7UGgcOIBEMqgNKnw5_nTv52_yPd77CVxmifHGFpE7iXu8ngQUzb1s8k4DuQpBmWCwCFT7XaaSTJ5BHR8-SNL3yvDpeWRCKq76AS80JU2RBx8fO3TobYdwez2Ej1WJwveTlEKqArK2Mvn_dlQn9QrWY/s200/fourth%20wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHNmNSfrYe490MS57xsilBrNUR388PF7a202xy7UGgcOIBEMqgNKnw5_nTv52_yPd77CVxmifHGFpE7iXu8ngQUzb1s8k4DuQpBmWCwCFT7XaaSTJ5BHR8-SNL3yvDpeWRCKq76AS80JU2RBx8fO3TobYdwez2Ej1WJwveTlEKqArK2Mvn_dlQn9QrWY/s1600/fourth%20wing.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nena </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fourth Wing </span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Rebecca Yarros<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Iron Flame</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> by Rebecca Yarros<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From Blood and Ash</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> by Jennifer L. Armentrout<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDKpeOPpPImK3PqFOQ3dwHvC7_r8UlFTMGzGpMrfyP8df4sLQeDEDCn6nMkGduBo5LHsDy1um4TcuUPRlPF11os4v3ZbKWZLD8k3S9YKJX089BJsB8-vMJq-u53K1pdNUyI2BKuy9IQ6fxaONarbO_iakE5wC_uB1EBMPNJhCUczVq76Q2BTCBcsw0hs/s200/court%20of%20thorns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDKpeOPpPImK3PqFOQ3dwHvC7_r8UlFTMGzGpMrfyP8df4sLQeDEDCn6nMkGduBo5LHsDy1um4TcuUPRlPF11os4v3ZbKWZLD8k3S9YKJX089BJsB8-vMJq-u53K1pdNUyI2BKuy9IQ6fxaONarbO_iakE5wC_uB1EBMPNJhCUczVq76Q2BTCBcsw0hs/s1600/court%20of%20thorns.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Court of Thorns and Roses</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> series by Sarah J. Maas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A
Court of Thorns and Roses</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A
Court of Mist and Fury</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A
Court of Wings and Ruin</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A
Court of Frost and Starlight</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A
Court of Silver Flames</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB1TebOFChXLPXo5PHSDxVcryCeLhSViByU3_r0pKC8AnxdLKGKCEa2hE7jhrmwynGU4Tj6tep3jwXsmnXTzL4I0kcqdAZIaLXQRiH_3w3HSqB0IptW8Bw6b3YihsaJ0WF2hkW-s8QoHCu4psXk5IJnzPiYtia8p0MraYNoln-iG2nbUOzcK5Z7yG_5k/s200/Throne%20of%20glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB1TebOFChXLPXo5PHSDxVcryCeLhSViByU3_r0pKC8AnxdLKGKCEa2hE7jhrmwynGU4Tj6tep3jwXsmnXTzL4I0kcqdAZIaLXQRiH_3w3HSqB0IptW8Bw6b3YihsaJ0WF2hkW-s8QoHCu4psXk5IJnzPiYtia8p0MraYNoln-iG2nbUOzcK5Z7yG_5k/s1600/Throne%20of%20glass.jpg" width="131" /></a></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throne of Glass</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> series by Sarah J. Maas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Throne
of Glass</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Crown
of Midnight</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Heir
of Fire</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Queen
of Shadows </span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Empire
of Storm</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tower
of Dawn </span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Kingdom
of Ash</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wilder Girls</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> by Rory Powers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Witches of East End</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> series by Melissa de la Cruz<o:p></o:p></span></p>BPL Refhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07206148409183653691noreply@blogger.com0