The Novel Life

A. J. Fikry runs a small bookstore on Alice Island. He is a literary snob who doesn’t much believe in promoting children’s books or community outreach. It’s a good thing his wife Nicole takes care of these things. When Nicole dies suddenly in a car accident, A. J. loses his way. He attempts to drown his grief in drink and muses over the meaning of life by reading his prized possession, a copy of Tamerlane by Edgar Allan Poe. Invariably life strikes another blow. Tamerlane turns up missing and a toddler is abandoned at Island Books. To find out how A. J. copes, read The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. The book is full of twists, turns and colorful characters. DB

An Explosive Mystery!

Kate and Hannah Connelly are two sisters living in New York who are heirs to an antique reproduction company founded by their grandfather. Kate is suspicious of the business dealings of her father and she convinces Gus Schmidt, a former employee, to meet her at the company warehouse to investigate. A mysterious explosion kills Gus and injures Kate. Now Hannah will do anything to prove Kate’s innocence and find out who caused the explosion. In her spring bestseller, Daddy’s Gone A Hunting, Mary Higgins Clark intertwines family drama and suspense with some very interesting characters and sub-plots. If you like mysteries, this one does not disappoint. DB

Murder in a Seaside Town

Broadchurch is the name of a TV series, new to the library. We have season one, all the episodes. The story is a murder mystery. A young boy is found dead on the beach in a small English seaside town. On the surface the town is sunny and safe, but its secrets give way under investigation. An abrasive police detective, an outsider, is another irritant to the townspeople. What really stands out in the series is the depth of character development and the stellar acting. Riveting!

Guest Blogger - Orange is the New Black

While I was interested in reading Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman's Prison by Piper Kerman because I had watched the T.V. show with the same name, the two were quite different.  The memoir told the story of Piper Kerman and the story of how she survived a year in prison with the help of her family, friends and her fellow inmates.  The message in the story was that the prison system does little to provide inmates with the tools necessary to be successful in the outside world.  Whether you have watched the show or not I would recommend Orange is the New Black.  Stacy Tines, guest blogger.

Cool Crafts!

School’s out for summer! In a few days the kids will be bored and looking for something to do! In his book  MADE BY DAD: 67 BLUEPRINTS FOR MAKING COOL STUFF, Scott Bedford combines engineering, science and household leftovers to make things only a dad could love. I especially like the spaghetti and marshmallow Eiffel Tower. It’s a great cheap way to entertain the young ones. While quite a few projects are made of cardboard, paper and glue, some do require adult participation. Check it out--you have all summer! DB

Literary Elements

This years Adult summer Reading Program is Literary Elements which runs June 6th through August 8th.  For every book you read you get a chance to win a prize - it's that easy!  If you choose a title from one of our recommended lists you get an extra chance to win and if you write a book review you not only get an extra chance but you may be selected to be a guest blogger!  We're also encouraging you to "read a movie."  Watch a subtitled film and it totally counts as reading.  Be sure to read my previous blog about one of my favorite international films, Amelie.  We have a bibliography available with other film selections including Masquerade (Korean), Run Lola Run (German) and The Intouchables (French).  SG

Crafty!

Just Us Girls: 48 Creative Art & Craft Projects for Mothers & Daughters to Do Together  by Cindy Ann Ganaden is a lovely book. In the age of phones, computers, kindles, ipods, and other electronic devices, this is literally a breath of fresh air. There are many photos of all the crafts and detailed instructions. Most of them are nature based, such as making flower crowns, fairy houses and painted spoon garden markers. The book is divided into seasons, with appropriate crafts for each, such as salt dough crafts for winter and a butterfly catcher for summer. Fun for the little girl or girls in your life! ML