Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“The Paper Tigers”
Website / Reviews
In this action-comedy, we’re introduced to three martial artists who were notorious in their teenage years as “The Three Tigers.” Fast forward 25 years, and each has grown into a washed-up middle-aged man seemingly one kick away from pulling a hamstring. But when their old master is murdered, the trio reunites, soon learning that avenging their sifu will require conquering old grudges if they are to honorably defend his legacy. Continue reading “New DVD List: Paper Tigers, Gangs of London & More”
In the book “Life’s Too Short,” we’re introduced to Vanessa and Adrian. Vanessa is a travel vlogger with an unorthodox and frustrating family. Adrian is a lawyer with a black and white life. Both have unhappy pasts and Vanessa’s future seems tragic. In her third book by Abby Jimenez readers once again truly get to know her characters through wonderful characterization and dialogue making it a delightful read for someone who loves character-driven romantic comedy. BUT … as a die-hard happily-ever-after romance reader, Jimenez’s books skirt the edges of Jodi Picoult-ish/Oprah book club-ish books (emotionally manipulative and often WAY too dramatic) by including some deeper emotions and conflicts than are often written into classic happily-ever-after romance novels. But they only skirt those edges and the characters are SO GOOD you have to read them, anyway! This one was almost as good as her first two books.
Three words that describe this book: Characters. Dialogue. Humor.
You might want to pick this book up if: You like romance novels and you like good dialogue and smart characters.
-Kristen
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
For adults, the 2021 summer reading theme of Tails & Tales could hold many meanings. I’ve so far interpreted the theme through the lens of horror and those legends and myths from which our collective nightmares are made. My earlier post on folklore and horror focused on the “tales” portion of this summer’s theme. This time around, I’m bringing you the “tails,” the monsters that we fear when things go bump in the night, the sasquatch that lurks around your campground and the serpent that nips at your feet when you go for a summer swim. Maybe it’s just a snapping turtle or maybe it really is old Nessie? Whatever it is, those fears are very real, and they probably explain why tales of fantastic and frightening beasts will always be with us.
The following books explore this realm of myth, legend and cryptozoology. Continue reading “Horror-ific Monsters”
In the book “Nothing To See Here,” Madison gets caught with drugs at a prestigious boarding school, and Lillian takes the fall and ends up expelled. Madison goes on to marry a wealthy senator, but Lillian finds herself living in her mom’s attic and working at a local grocery store. The women stay in touch with occasional letters until Madison calls Lillian with a strange request. Following the death of her husband’s ex-wife, Madison must take in her two stepchildren. The kids have a weird quirk: they spontaneously combust when they are upset. Madison needs someone to care for the children over the summer as they look for a more permanent solution, and Lillian agrees to be their governess. I loved Lillian as the book’s protagonist and narrator because she was so honest and funny. If you don’t listen to the audiobook, you’re missing out; the narrator does such a great job capturing the humor and emotion in this book.
Three words that describe this book: Quirky, Funny, Sincere
You might want to pick this book up if: You’re looking for a quick read that will make you laugh.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in August. All of the mentioned titles are available to put on hold in our catalog and will also be made available via the library’s Overdrive website on the day of publication in eBook and eAudiobook format (as available). For a more extensive list of new nonfiction books coming out this month, check our online catalog. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: August 2021”
Movie adaptations of books can really be a mixed bag (and an incredibly sore subject for Eragon fans, I’ve noticed). With that said, there are some movies that are every bit as good as (and sometimes better) than the book on which they were based. Continue reading “The Book Isn’t Always Better”
“What’s Done in Darkness” follows Sarah (Sarabeth) who grew up in a ultra religious family in the Arkansas Ozarks. Right before turning 18 she’s kidnapped. About a week later she’s released without ever knowing who abducted her or why. Rather than embrace her return her family shuns her. Five years later Sarah is living a completely different life in a city near St. Louis. A detective contacts her asking for help finding a couple of recently missing girls who might be related to her case. This forces Sarah to go back to her past and deal with the difficult feelings around her abduction and her family. Very fast paced mystery/thriller. Bonus, Laura McHugh is a Missouri author who also has three other great mystery books that take place in the Midwest.
Three words that describe this book: intriguing, dark, compelling
You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoyed the author’s previous books, or if you’re a fan of dark mystery/thrillers.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
Justin Hamm is a Mid-Missouri author whose latest book is “The Inheritance.” It’s a book of poetry and photographs that focus on various aspects of the Midwest. He’s published two other collections of poetry, “American Ephemeral,” and “Lessons in Ruin,” as well as a book of photographs titled “Midwestern.” Last year he also released a spoken word album featuring his poetry, “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues.” Originally from the flatlands of central Illinois, Hamm now lives in Mid-Missouri with his family and works as a Librarian in a small rural school district. I emailed some interview questions to him, and he was kind enough to take time to write back some answers. Continue reading “Q&A With Justin Hamm, Author of “The Inheritance””
“Into the Planet” is a memoir about the dangerous field of cave diving and is written by a woman — often the only woman on her expeditions. The book discusses the beauty and danger in diving deep into caves, along with the challenges of sexism and maintaining healthy relationships while pursuing your dreams. There’s also a theme of the importance of learning about the environment we live in and our impact on it, particularly related to our drinking water, but also the myriad ways our actions impact others personally, professionally, and in ways we cannot imagine, such as the way the cave divers influence space exploration. I read the audiobook, which was narrated by the author, and I often found myself holding my breath while listening to her brushes with the limits of what the human body can endure. My favorite part was when Heinerth traveled to Antarctica to dive into a iceberg(!), although the book was interesting throughout as she conveyed the language and science of cave diving in a way someone with no real prior knowledge of the subject could understand and enjoy.
Three words that describe this book: Breathtaking, Claustrophobic, Educational
You might want to pick this book up if: You would never actually don a wet-suit, but want a firsthand telling of diving deep into the planet.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
“In America I live in New York, or dip into Chicago or San Francisco. But New York is no more America than Paris is France or London is England. Thus I discovered that I did not know my own country.”
~John Steinbeck
“Travels with Charley: In Search of America” was published in 1962, coincidentally the same year that John Steinbeck earned a Nobel Peace Prize, and rightfully so. Steinbeck travels America in a truck with a camper and his grey Standard Poodle named Charley. This well known writer expresses his travels in a satiric, witty and down right blunt way.
He encounters people of all walks of life and details their uniqueness. Whether it be camping with a farmer on his property in New Hampshire and discussing politics while sharing a few drinks, stopping by a dairy in Massachusetts to buy milk and discovering the dairyman has a Ph.D in mathematics but just loves his job as a dairyman, or a stay in Maine where his lodging is accompanied by a grey cat named George who Steinbeck hilariously describes as disgruntled: “I am told that when guests sleep in the house, George goes into the pine woods and watches from afar, grumbling his dissatisfaction and pouring out his dislike.” Continue reading “Reader Review: Travels With Charley”
