Do you ever feel let down after you finish a book because you just had an amazing reading experience that no one else can appreciate?  Do you often wish you could share your thoughts about the characters or the story with people who actually know what you’re talking about?  If so, you should check out one of our many book clubs here at the Library.  Discover new books and authors while meeting others who enjoy reading as much as you do!

Book clubs meet regularly each month and you don’t need to sign up ahead of time.  Just stop by the Adult Services Desk at the Main Library to pick up copies of the books being discussed each month.  Books will be available to check out the month before each discussion.

Book Clubbers:
Meets the first Thursday of each month.

Thursday, February 6th @ 7pm (Harnish)

Weird Sisters
by Eleanor Brown

When three sisters gather to care for their mother we are treated to the hilarious and thought provoking complications of sisters who love each other fiercely but don’t like each other much.

 

Spine Crackers:
Meets the first Friday of each month.

Friday, February 7th @ 1:30 pm (Harnish)

The Flight of Gemma Hardy
by Margot Livesey

In this modern retelling of Jan Eyre, Gemma Hardy, a brilliant and determined young woman, accepts a position as an au pair on the remote Orkney Islands, where she faces her biggest challenge yet.

 

 

Nite Readers:
Meets the third Thursday of each month.

Thursday, January 16th @ 7pm (Harnish)

Isaac’s Storm
by Erik Larson

Erik Larson, author of Devil in the White City, tells the fascinating story of another up and coming city – Galvaston, Texas. At the turn of the century, Galvaston was poised to become the New York of the Gulf until the deadliest hurricane in our nation’s history destroys everything.

 

Thursday, February 20th @ 7pm (Harnish)

Beneath a Marble Sky
by John Shors

A novel of the Taj Mahal.  the story of the princess whose tomb became a world of wonder.

 

 

Bookalicious:
A new book club for adults who love to read Young Adult literature.
Meets the second Monday of the the month.

Monday, January 13th @ 7pm (Harnish)

The Future of Us
by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Set in the year 1996, best friends Josh and Emma discover their future selves on a mysterious web site called Facebook. Does knowing the future change it?

 

 

Classics Book Club:
Meets the third Wednesday of the month.

Wednesday, January 15th @ 7pm (Harnish)

The Ambassadors
by Henry James

Lambert Strether has one job. Bring Mrs. Newsome’s wayward son Chad back home to America from Paris. Yet, as Lambert is seduced by the city and the mysterious Madame de Vionnet, he may never want to leave himself.

 

Wednesday, February 19th @ 7 pm (Harnish)

Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer

On a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, travelers entertain themselves by telling stories ranging in genre from fable, to romance, to bawdy comedy in 13th century England.

 

 

 

Visit LibraryReads for more information about how this list was created, and to view favorites from previous months!

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches:
A Flavia de Luce Novel
by Alan Bradley

“Flavia de Luce is still on the loose! This time, the almost-twelve-year-old prodigy explores some tantalizing mysteries involving her own family. Flavia uncovers surprising secrets about the characters we know and love and meets some fascinating new people, including a precocious distant cousin. You’ll enjoy seeing new depths in Flavia–this novel takes the series in an exciting direction.”

–  Nancy Russell, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH

A Star for Mrs. Blake: A Novel
by April Smith

“A little-known slice of American history receives meticulous, elegant treatment in this compelling novel about a group of mothers who travel to post-WWI Europe to visit the graves of their fallen soldier-sons. Cora Blake, grieving the loss of her only child, pulls the group together to provide support on their difficult pilgrimage. Sure to be a sleeper hit with book groups looking for heart-tugging history.”

– Kaite Stover, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO

Lost Lake: A Novel
by Sarah Addison Allen

“I was thrilled to find out that Sarah Addison Allen had a new book out, and it did not disappoint. Allen’s trademark magic is woven throughout the story and can be found in the lake, the town, and the people, but at its heart, this story is about finding home—something we can all relate to.”

– Ally Watkins, Central MS Regional Library System, Pearl, MS

The Days of Anna Madrigal: A Novel
by Armistead Maupin

“So good to see all these beloved characters again! And we finally get the true story of Anna Madrigal. If you’re either a fan of the Tales of the City series, Burning Man or both, this is a fun Sunday-afternoon kind of book.”

– Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego County Library, San Diego, CA

A Highly Unlikely Scenario, or a Neetsa Pizza Employee’s Guide to Saving the World: A Novel
by Rachel Cantor

“Leonard works for Neetsa Pizza, a Pythagorean pizza chain, in the near-ish future. His job is to take calls, listen to complaints and help his customers achieve maximum pizza happiness. His employee manual gives him an answer for every scenario–until he gets a call from Marco, who seems to be calling from another time or space. Think of Terry Pratchett crossed with Douglas Adams.”

– Jane Jorgenson, Madison Public Library, Madison, WI

The Wind Is Not a River: A Novel
by Brian Payton

“A tender love story about a reporter stranded during World War II on one of the Aleutian Islands, and his feisty wife, who travels to find him. The geographical and historical setting of American warfare in the North Pacific, little known to most, is very intriguing. Readers will fall in love with the main characters’ fierce determination to survive and love against all odds.”

– Paulette Brooks, Elm Grove Public Library, Elm Grove, WI

Orfeo: A Novel
by Richard Powers

“Experimental music and genetic engineering? Heady stuff indeed, but what is most remarkable about this thought-provoking journey is how intensely it makes you feel about human creativity, experience, and the enigmatic fugitive Peter Els, whose flight from an uncomprehending world anchors the narrative. A perfect introduction to this brilliant but sometimes forbidding author.”

– David Wright, Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA

The Kept: A Novel
by James Scott

“Scott has written a haunting novel about two characters who are tormented by regret and guilt and who do all the wrong things to find redemption. Beautiful writing and unforgettable characters mark this first novel that has been compared to the work of Cormac McCarthy and Michael Ondaatje.”

– Alison Kastner, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Little Failure: A Memoir
by Gary Shteyngart

“Little Failure is the marvelous tale of the Shteyngart family’s journey from Leningrad to Queens in the 1970s. Gary Shteyngart captures an amazing snapshot of that time in history, and this engaging memoir is suffused with conflict, love, and a lot of hilarity.”

– Laura Scott, Park Ridge Public Library, Park Ridge, IL

The First True Lie: A Novel
by Marina Mander

“An unusual, well-written story told by a young boy who lives with his talented, but troubled mother in a city apartment in Italy. One morning, Luca finds his mother dead, and his worst fears paralyze him. How long can he hide the truth from his teachers and classmates? Luca uses what he loves most, words, to reach a place where he can finally open the door to others. An excellent reading group selection.”

– Margaret Donovan, Cary Memorial Library, Lexington, MA

No visit to the library is complete without first picking up your complimentary copy of BookPage. Each month, this publication is packed with reviews, book news, and interviews from your favorite authors.

The December issue is always highly anticipated not only for their great gift ideas, but also for their editors’ picks of Best Books of the Year.

Here are a few of the highlights:

 

   

    

    

  

So, how many on the list have you read?   Did your favorite books make the cut?  See the complete list of the 50 Best Books of the Year and let us know. What were your favorite books of the year?

This year, for the first time, the National Book Foundation is announcing longlists of 10 books in each of its award categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Young People’s Literature. Monday’s announcement was the Young People’s Literature Longlist and as a young adult librarian currently and a youth services librarian previously, this is the list that most interested me personally. For the last few years, the Young People’s Literature Shortlists have skewed heavily towards young adult literature rather than children’s literature, but this year’s Longlist looks like it has a pretty good balance. The only one I’ve read so far is The Summer Prince which I adored, so I’m looking forward to reading the rest. The Algonquin Area Public Library either owns or has most of these on order, so stop on in to check them out or to place a hold! Let us know in the comments if there’s any of these you’re excited to see on the list or a favorite author you think was overlooked. Plus, what do you want to see make the 5 book shortlist?

The 2013 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlist

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt

Kathi Appelt’s first novel, The Underneath took home a Newbery Honor and with her return to a swamp setting, I’m not surprised to see this latest effort make the longlist.

 

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo isn’t the most prolific author out there, but she’s already racked up quite the list of awards including a Newbery Honor, a National Book Shortlist, a Geisel Honor, A Geisel Medal, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction. Release date for this one is September 24th.

A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff

Most of Lisa Graff’s previous books have been solidly mid-list crowd pleasers, well received by children, but ignored by award committees. It’s nice to see her get some awards recognition!

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

See my previous post for more details about my love for this one. Part of what’s so impressive to me is that this is Johnson’s first novel specifically for the young adult market, but she manages to capture the feel of being on the cusp of adulthood brilliantly.

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata

Kadohata’s first book for children won the Newbery Medal and The Thing About Luck has been getting uniformly wonderful reviews, so no surprise to see this one make the cut.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

The reviews on this latest David Levithan title have been mixed, but since I loved Boy Meets Boy I’m looking forward to reading this one when it comes in although it sounds like it’s got a very different tone.

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

Another title that’s been getting fantastic reviews, Far Far Away has an intriguing concept: Jeremy Johnson Johnson can communicate with the ghost of Jacob Grimm and soon finds himself at the center of a string of disappearances in town.

 

Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff

Meg Rosoff won the Printz Award for her debut novel how i live now back in 2005 (the movie adaptation will be out this November) and while responses to her works have been varied since then, this one has been getting some good buzz. Picture Me Gone is due out October 3rd, so place your holds now!

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu

Ursu’s last novel Breadcrumbs got quite a bit of Newbery buzz although it had its detractors. I liked it, but thought it had some issues. With The Real Boy (due out September 24th) Ursu returns to fantasy but this time focuses on a main character that some have identified as being on the autism spectrum – an interesting twist that the National Book Award jury seems to feel pays off.

Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang

It’s interesting that the jury chose to name this as one book since it’s published in two volumes. Yang’s graphic novels explore the Boxer Rebellion in China from both sides of the conflict. In Boxers we follow Little Bao who leads the rebellion. In Saints we see things from the viewpoint of Vibiana, one of the Chinese Christians persecuted by the rebellion. Yang takes historical fiction and adds touches of magical realism. This is the one title our library doesn’t own so feel free to place a hold and we’ll request it from another library!