This Week: February’s The Many Faces of BARD Virtual Program

On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6:00pm (central), the Patron Engagement Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) will hold its monthly virtual program called The Many Faces of BARD on Zoom.  Join NLS for an hour-long session that will begin with a discussion of new BARD Express features and a demo of the upcoming new version release. The remainder of the time will be spent answering questions about the presentation or other questions related to BARD usage.

The event is free to attend, and will be recorded and made available for later viewing.

To learn more and join the conversation, visit The Many Faces of BARD page from NLS.

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Top Ten Most Popular Fiction Books on BARD Last Month

A set of books with headphonesHere are the most popular fiction books downloaded from BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) last month:

Mercy by David Baldacci DB105787

The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly DB105770

Fear No Evil by James Patterson DB105776

Game On: tempting twenty-eight : a Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich DB105777

The Midnight Lock: a Lincoln Rhyme novel by Jeffrey Deaver DB105749

Criminal Mischief by Stuart Woods DB106177

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty DB77238

Clive Cussler’s the Devil’s Sea by Dirk Cussler DB105769

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult DB105742

Flying Angels by Danielle Steel DB105744

Top Ten Most Popular Fiction Books on BARD in December 2021

A set of books with headphonesHere are the most popular fiction books downloaded from BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) last month:

The Whistler: a novel by John Grisham  DB86026

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman  DB100981

Birthright by Nora Roberts  DB55869

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin  DB100040

The Night Bird by Brian Freeman  DBC16046

All the Light We Cannot See: a novel by Anthony Doerr  DB79182

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty  DB92901

The Affair: a Reacher novel by Lee Child  DB73922

Comfort & Joy: a novel by Kristin Hannah  DBC16784

Black Hills by Nora Roberts  DB69690

Book Reviews from Deena

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!

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.

The Crush by Sandra Brown  DB55058
Oren asks his old, friend, Wick to join him in a search for a killer of a doctor at the hospital.  Their number one suspect is Dr. Rennie Newton.  Dr. Newton served on a jury recently that acquitted Rick Lozada of murder.  Lozada is convinced Dr. Newton is interested in him and he tries to woo her.  The lives of all the characters become tangled when a second murder follows.  This is romantic suspense at its best.

Have You Seen Luis Velez?  DB96316
On the way out of his apartment to go to school, Raymond hears someone call “Have you seen Luis Velez?” and he sees an elderly woman.  When Raymond returns he sees the same woman, and as he visits with her he learns she is blind.  She explains she is looking for Luis Velez, who used to come by weekly and help her with her shopping and banking.  She has been unable to contact him.  Raymond volunteers to help Millie by taking her to the bank and going grocery shopping with her.  As Raymond and Millie become friends, Raymond decides to try to help find Luis Velez for Millie.   As their friendship deepens Raymond’s life begins to change along with his relationship with his family. This is a heartwarming story about kindness and stepping in to help.

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham  DB102496
Jake Brigance returns with a capital murder case. Drew Gamble has shot and killed his mother’s boyfriend, who was a policeman, after he physically assaulted his mother.  Drew is only sixteen years old but looks a lot younger.  Jake becomes a pariah in Clanton, Mississippi and his income dries up as the town turns against him for taking the case. Jake masterly defends Drew and becomes involved with his family.  This is the third book in the Jake Brigance series.

Book Reviews from Deena

Check out these book reviews from Deena, a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team.  Let us know if you would like any titles added to your book list or head over to BARD to download the titles now.

Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth
Lorraine Kindred has lost her husband of many years.  The book switches back and forth from present day to the 1940’s when Lorraine met her husband as a young girl. The iconic Surf Ballroom figures into the story where Lorraine attended many dances. Lorraine’s son-in-law is very intrigued with the history of the Surf Ballroom.  He has done some research and found that the original Surf Ballroom was destroyed by fire in 1947.  It was later rebuilt. Knowing that Lorraine had attended dances about that time, he asks her about the fire.  Lorraine remains evasive. This is great love story with an Iowa setting and a little bit of mystery.  DBC15165

The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up by Rich Blake
This is the true story of Donny Herbert, a Buffalo, New York fire fighter who was injured on the job and went into a coma in December 1995. He woke up from his coma in April 2005 and talked to his family for 16 hours straight.  Was it the family’s faith in God, the doctor’s drug cocktail or Donny’s own determination to come back to his family or a combination of those things? Soon afterwards, Donny slipped back into his comatose state and died in February 2006 of pneumonia.  A wonderful story of a miracle, faith, and courage.  DB64976

Link to Title on BARD

Tisha by Robert Specht
Based on the true story of Anne Hobbs who traveled to Alaska in 1927, on horseback to become a teacher in the small town of Chicken, Alaska.  Anne faces harsh weather and has some harrowing experiences as she finds love in this in this isolated wilderness.  She takes in two children when their mother dies of tuberculosis.  The boy calls her “Tisha” instead of teacher. She and her husband, Fred, adopt the two children along with several others. This is one of 100 Favorite Novels Recommended by Librarians.  DB41798

Link to Title on BARD

The All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the superstar whose Life Ended of Murderer’s Row by James Patterson
Aaron Hernandez was an extremely talented young man drafted by the New England Patriots.  He was a rising star on the team. On June 18, 2013, for unknown reasons he killed his friend, Odin Lloyd who was the boyfriend of his fiancée’s sister.  All evidence pointed to Hernandez and he was convicted and sentenced to death row.  While on trial for Lloyd’s murder he was charged with shooting two men in their car.  Almost two years to the day of Odin Lloyd’s murder, Hernandez hung himself in his prison cell.  Recommended for football fans and readers of true crime.  DB90220

Link to Title on BARD

Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance
J.D. Vance grew up in a poverty-stricken area in Ohio. His mother was a drug user and abusive. When things got too bad at home he would go to his grandparent’s house.  Despite his situation, J.D. grew up and joined the Marines and eventually graduated from Yale Law School. This is a touching memoir of overcoming the odds and becoming an inspiration to others.  DB85796
Link to Title on BARD