Tag: books

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!

The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit DB78457
The use of “we” instead of a specific character is a different approach to this book. There are no specific characters although, several of the first names are used more than once. Interesting book and interesting time when their husbands were developing and sometimes testing the atomic bomb, but the wives knew nothing of what they were doing and were constantly speculating about what was so “top secret”. The families could not leave the state of New Mexico and could not see their loved ones during this time. They could only write letters.

The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson DB108304
This is the sequel or it can be read as a stand-alone to the book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (BR24038, DB95243).
Honey Lovett, 16, finds herself alone when her parents are arrested. Her guardian, Retta Adams is in her nineties, and saves her from going to reform school since she has no parents. Retta soon dies and Honey gets a lawyer to declare herself an emancipated minor. She takes a job as an outreach librarian delivering books to the hill people of Kentucky. A job her mother did back in 1930’s. If you like books and historical fiction this is a great companion book to her mother’s story.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl BR11466 DB33498
This is the delightful story of a poor boy, Charlie Bucket, who lives with his parents and grandparents in ramshackle house with very little food. Charlie receives a golden ticket which entitles him to tour the candy factory of Willie Wonka, whom his grandfather told him much about. He also will receive a lifetime supply of items made at the factory. During the tour Willie shows them various rooms with different kinds of candy, gum, chocolate and nuts. Charlie also gets to ride in a glass elevator. Share in Charlie’s adventures. This is wonderful book to read with children.

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.

Book Reviews from Deena

October 31, 2023

1:05 pm

Book Reviews, library

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.

Book Reviews from Deena

September 15, 2023

9:31 am

library

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!

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey DB101312
I enjoyed the part when he writes of his younger years, but this good ol’ Texas boy is kind of crass. This is not your typical memoir. There are stories of McConaughey’s past. There are also observations on life and his thoughts about life. One fact: his parents married each other three times. Some of the book has raw language and situations.

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas BR11261, DBC13285
The Persian Pickle Club gathers to quilt, gossip and share the ups and downs of life such as illness, births and deaths. One member suffers a terrible loss, after her husband is found murdered. Rita, the newest member of the group, who wants to be a reporter is determined to solve the murder. She gets more than she bargained for when she finds out the truth. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction and books about women’s relationships.

Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf DB10647
Wylie is a writer who goes to isolated farm house to write. A blizzard ensues and she finds a little boy in the snow. She brings him inside. Wylie returns to the blizzard to look for someone the boy was with and finds a woman. The two are silent when Wylie asks them who they are and where they came from. Eventually Wylie coaxes information out of them. Wylie’s past begins to collide with her present. If you are interested in books that take place in Iowa, this Iowa author delivers. She is spot in her descriptions of the landscape.

Book Reviews from Deena

July 28, 2023

8:30 am

library

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!

The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin DB101802

Gerda and Raina are sisters, both are teachers. Gerda is in South Dakota and Raina is in Nebraska. The date is Jan 12, 1888 and one of the biggest blizzards hits the plains. This is a fictional account of what happened that day. If you are interested in a historical account read The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin DB60440. Both girls make different choices on this day. Gerda chooses to dismiss her students early. Raina takes her students and ties them together in a group and they try to make it to the nearest farm.
This blizzard was known as The Children’s Blizzard, as so many children were unable to find their way home in the blinding snow, ice and wind and as a result many perished.

Missing You by Harlan Coben DB78398

Kat Donovan is a policewoman. As a young woman Kat was engaged to Jeff. At that time, Kat’s father, who was also a policeman was murdered on the job. Kat has a hard time dealing with his death which was unsolved. Jeff walks away and years later Kat is still single, and realizes Jeff was the love of her life. A friend believes Kat needs to get out more and signs her up for a dating site. Kat logs on to the site and finds Jeff’s picture. She instant messages him and he seems not to remember her.
At work a young college man, Brandon wants Kat to help investigate the man his mother, Dana is dating. Brandon is concerned because his mother is out of the country with her new love and a large amount of money has been transferred from his mother’s account. Kat learns Dana is dating Jeff. As Kat tries to find out where Jeff lives, it appears he is off the grid. Kat needs to find Jeff and figure out what is going on with Dana. This book has many twists and turns and will keep you guessing until you turn the last page.

In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean DB30076

Skidmore Missouri: After years of putting up with Ken McElroy, the bully of the town of Skidmore who was stealing livestock and various other illegal acts, the men of the town took matters into their own hands. In 1981, Ken McElroy was gunned down on the streets of Skidmore in front of almost fifty people. MacLean recounts the events that led up to McElroy’s murder and explains why the townspeople may have protected the killer. To this day the crime remains unsolved.

Book Reviews from Deena

May 5, 2023

11:24 am

Book Reviews, library

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!

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys DB106794

This carefully researched historical fiction is the story of Romania’s fight for freedom, in the late 1980’s. The author interviewed many people who lived through this period. At the time, Romania was ruled by communist leader Nicholae Ceausescu. His countrymen lacked food, electricity was intermittent and the people were cold. To get what they needed they bartered with packages of cigarettes. They were ruled by fear. Many people were made to inform on their neighbors, friends and even their own family. At the end of the novel, Romania follows East Germany and other countries behind the Iron Curtain and begins a revolution at the cost of many citizens lives. The incidents in this book are true. The author created the characters for the story.

Kisses From Katie: a story of relentless love and redemption by Katie Davis DB75591

Katie Davis convinces her parents that she wants to go volunteer in an orphanage over her Christmas break. Katie and her mother go to Uganda and work with the babies and Katie falls in love with people and the area. After graduating from high school Katie feels God is calling her back to Uganda. Katie again, convinces her parents to take a year off from college to return to Uganda. In her year living in Africa, she sets up a ministry to provide food, medical care and schooling for some of the children in the villages where she lives. She also adopts several girls who have no one else to look after them. She leaves her daughters after a year, to return to the United States to keep her promise to her parents to attend college. While in the U. S. she raises money for her ministry and gets people to sponsor a child so they can go to school. After a semester of college, she drops out and returns to Uganda. She adopts more girls and expands her ability to feed additional children and provide medical care. Her most important job is being a mother to fourteen girls.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins DB98146, Spanish title DB100709

Lydia and her husband, Sebastian live in Acapulco. Lydia owns a bookstore and Sebastian is a journalist. Sebastian’s writings sometimes oppose the cartels in Mexico and the family has to go into hiding until things cool down. Lydia has befriended a man at the bookstore who shares her passion for good literature. Sebastian has recently written a piece about the head of one of the cartels, including a poem written by him. Lydia’s family is gathered at her mother’s house to celebrate her niece’s birthday. The cartel that was written about in Sebastian’s article takes its revenge. Lydia, knowing the cartel will continue looking for her and her son pack to leave the country for the United States. Lydia and Luca suffer a harrowing journey towards the United States. They meet a lot of characters along their journey some good, some bad. If you like action and adventure this is the read for you.

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