Month: January 2015

February 2015 Book Discussions

January 30, 2015

Stop by the Adult Services Desk at the Main Library (Harnish) to pick up your copies today!

* Book Clubbers – Thursday, February 5th @ 7pm (Harnish)
Meets the first Thursday of each month.

China Dolls
by Lisa See

In 1938, Ruby, Helen and Grace, three girls from very different backgrounds, find themselves competing at the same audition for showgirl roles at San Francisco’s exclusive “Oriental” nightclub, the Forbidden City. Grace, an American-born Chinese girl has fled the Midwest and an abusive father. Helen is from a Chinese family who have deep roots in San Francisco’s Chinatown. And, as both her friends know, Ruby is Japanese passing as Chinese. At times their differences are pronounced, but the girls grow to depend on one another in order to fulfill their individual dreams. Then, everything changes in a heartbeat with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Suddenly the government is sending innocent Japanese to internment camps under suspicion, and Ruby is one of them. But which of her friends betrayed her?

* Spine-crackers – Friday, February 6th @ 12:30pm (Harnish)
Meets the first Friday of each month.

Longbourn
by Jo Baker

In this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice, the servants take center stage. Sarah, the orphaned housemaid, spends her days scrubbing the laundry, polishing the floors, and emptying the chamber pots for the Bennet household. But there is just as much romance, heartbreak, and intrigue downstairs at Longbourn as there is upstairs. When a mysterious new footman arrives, the orderly realm of the servants’ hall threatens to be completely upended.

* Bookalicious – Monday, February 9th @ 7pm at the Village Vintner
Meets the second Monday of each month.

A Mad, Wicked Folly
by Sharon Biggs

In 1909 London, as the world of debutante balls and high society obligations closes in around her, seventeen-year-old Victoria must figure out just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.

 

 

Classics Book Club – Wednesday, February 18th @ 7pm (Harnish)
Meets the third Wednesday of each month.

Beowulf

Britain’s oldest epic brings to life the warrior named Beowulf who defeated the ogre Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon that threatened his kingdom. This work is considered by many to be one of the most important works of Old English literature.

 

 

Nite Readers – Thursday, February 19th @ 7pm (Harnish)
Meets the third Thursday of the month.

Under the Wide and Starry Sky
by Nancy Horan

Chronicles the unconventional love affair of Scottish literary giant Robert Louis Stevenson, author of classics including Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and American divorcee Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne. They meet in rural France in 1875, when Fanny, having run away from her philandering husband back in California, takes refuge there with her children. Stevenson too is escaping from his life, running from family pressure to become a lawyer. And so begins a turbulent love affair that will last two decades and span the world.

January 2015 LibraryReads List

January 6, 2015

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

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: A Flavia de Luce Novel
by Alan Bradley

“After the unexpected recovery of her mother’s body brings the de Luce’s family secrets to light, Flavia’s life is turned upside down. Now on her way to a Canadian boarding school, she must survive her first term–and more importantly, uncover the mystery of a corpse found in her dorm room chimney the night she arrives. A delightful installment in the series!”

- Lizzie Gall, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, MI

The Rosie Effect: A Novel
by Graeme Simsion

“Don Tillman and Rosie are back again, and they’ve relocated to New York. Rosie is continuing her studies, while Don is teaching and even adding to his small circle of friends. But when Rosie announces that she is pregnant, Don is once again out of his depth. What follows are crazy situations that could only happen when Don is involved. Funny and heartwarming.”

- Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, MA

The Magician’s Lie: A Novel
by Greer Macallister

“Arden is a famous illusionist whose show involves sawing a man in half, but one night, she grabs an axe instead of a knife and her husband is found dead under the stage. Can Arden, an expert at deception, get away with murder–or is she really innocent? Recommended to anyone who likes historical fiction, strong women characters, and surprisingly twisty plots.”

- Paula Jones, Brockton Public Library, Brockton, MA

The Girl on the Train: A Novel
by Paula Hawkins

“Rachel is a washed-up thirty-something who creates a fantasy about the seemingly perfect couple she sees during her daily train ride into London. When the woman goes missing, Rachel manages to insert herself into the investigation of the woman’s disappearance. In the vein of Gone Girl, this dark psychological thriller is fast-paced and features some very unreliable narrators.”

- Andrea Larson, Cook Memorial Public Library, Libertyville, IL

Golden Son: Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy
by Pierce Brown

“After reading Red Rising, I was looking forward to seeing more of the politics of this world. Darrow has infiltrated the Golds and works to bring them down from the inside, end their tyranny, and free his people. There’s so much political drama and action. Brown does a wonderful job describing it all through Darrow’s eyes. It’s exhausting, thrilling, and heartwrenching!”

- Nita Gill, Brookings Public Library, Brookings, SD

The Dress Shop of Dreams
by Menna van Praag

“Tidy, romantic, and fine escapism. All the characters here have interesting back stories: Cora is believable as a no-nonsense gal trying to rebuff sweet Walt’s advances, and Etta is someone I’d like to meet in real life. Reminiscent of Love Actually and P.S. I Love You, this cute little book is recommended to readers who want to be charmed by the possibilities of love.”

- Andrienne Cruz, Azusa City Library, Azusa, CA

The Bishop’s Wife
by Mette Ivie Harrison

“As a practicing Mormon, I felt Harrison did a great job of detailing Mormon culture and doctrine without evangelizing. I appreciated that the bishop is a good man, and the bishop’s wife is a woman who has been through her own struggles. The bishop’s wife sometimes can barely keep up with all the drama and mysteries around her. But she does, and does it quite well under the circumstances. This is a rather brave book.”

- Amanda Monson, Bartow County Library System, Cartersville, GA

Vanessa and Her Sister: A Novel
by Priya Parmar

“Told uniquely as part diary, part epistolary novel, Parmar focuses on the relationship of Vanessa (later Bell) and Virginia (later Woolf) Stephens, one filled with unspoken jealousy and a fierceness of love that will ultimately destroy their kinship. This well-researched novel with gorgeous prose brings the characters to life with a unique perspective.”

- Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ

First Frost
by Sarah Addison Allen

“First Frost is a great continuation of the stories of sisters Claire and Sydney, and Sydney’s teenage daughter, Bay. Each of the Waverlys has their own somewhat supernatural gift, and all of them struggle with issues of identity and family. As with Allen’s previous works, this novel will appeal to fans of Alice Hoffman and readers who enjoy family stories that are not overflowing with angst and drama.”

- Lauren Mitchell, Pima County Libraries, Tucson, AZ

Full Throttle
by Julie Ann Walker

“Readers can always count on Walker to deliver a suspenseful, action-packed read, and she delivers on all counts. However, it isn’t the heart-pounding adventure that makes this a fabulous story–it’s the characters. Abby and Steady, college friends who were torn apart by a mutual loss, have great chemistry. Walker has created a complete and suspenseful narrative.”

- Vanessa Gempis, Dallas Public Library, Hampton-Illinois Library, Dallas, TX