Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled Blog

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena! 

Beartown by Fredrik Backman DB88118 

The Bears of Beartown are in the semi-finals of the hockey championship.  The small community of Beartown is a hockey town. A win will put Beartown on the map and bring the community together.  As the story moves on, you get to know the players, members of the community, coaches and former players. After winning the semi-final there is an incident that changes everything for the players, the community and the team. The town takes sides and things get ugly. The whole town is changed and there are hints about events that will occur in the next book. If you love sports and particularly hockey you will enjoy this book. 

The Library Book by Susan Orlean  BRC01820, DB92869 

In 1986, the Los Angeles Central Library caught fire and burned for seven hours. This tells the story of the library: the directors, the collections, the politics, librarians, the suspected arsonist, and of course, the books and how they worked to save them. This is a very interesting look into the library and how things were done in the past and how things have changed, and libraries have adapted. To this day no one has ever been charged with the burning of the library. 

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett  BR22980, DB96739 

This is told from the point of view of Danny. Danny is in high school when his stepmother kicks him out of the house, after his father dies. He and his older sister, who is on her own and working, are very close. 

They become obsessed with the Dutch House where they grew up.  The house is now owned by their father’s widow, and they often come by and sit in the car together watching the house and talking about their future and their past. Their lives are changed when the mother who abandoned them returns.  She feels they must confront their past by knocking on the door of the Dutch House. 

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page.