Daniel Boone Regional Library

I picked “The Rock Hole” off the New Mysteries shelf entirely because of the author’s name.  I just knew “Reavis Z. Wortham” had to be an old country boy who could tell a good tale.

And by golly, I was right. Wortham’s debut novel is simultaneously a charming portrait of small-town life in rural 1960s Texas and a dark and gruesome murder mystery.

On page one we’re introduced to Top, the 8-year-old narrator, as he steps off a Greyhound bus into the welcoming arms of his grandpa Ned and grandma Becky. Minutes after this heartwarming scene, Top and his grandpa (who also happens to be the constable of Lamar County, Texas), are in a cornfield staring at the body of a sadistically mutilated hunting dog.

And that’s how the book goes. Sometimes the story is pure Mayberry, with Top roaming the East Texas countryside with his hound dog Hootie, eating Miss Becky’s fried peach pies and hanging around his adored Uncle Cody, a Vietnam vet and rodeo rider. Then suddenly, Hell’s portals open wide:  a madman known as the Skinner has struck again.

As the Skinner progresses from animal to human prey (and we’re talking children here), I found myself taking refuge in the story’s many lighthearted moments. Wortham is very good at down-home dialect and country characters (he grew up in a small Texas town), and there’s quite a bit of both to lighten the mood—which you will surely appreciate.

So, if you can take the psychological roller-coaster ride and some disturbing violence, “The Rock Hole” makes a solidly entertaining read. Perhaps not at bedtime, though.

Books in the Red River Mystery series at DBRL
“The Rock Hole” (2011)
“Burrows” (2012)

Below is a list of recently released and best-selling young adult novels. Let us know which title you are looking forward to reading. Do you have a favorite book that should be on the list? Have you already read some of these books? Share your thoughts about these and other must-read titles in the comments below. You might also consider submitting a review of a book that you’ve found particularly captivating. Select teen reviews will be published at teens.dbrl.org.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Below is a list of recently released and best-selling young adult novels. Let us know which title you are looking forward to reading. Do you have a favorite book that should be on the list? Have you already read some of these books? Share your thoughts about these and other must-read titles in the comments below. You might also consider submitting a review of a book that you’ve found particularly captivating. Select teen reviews will be published at teens.dbrl.org.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

We recently added “I’m Carolyn Parker” to the DBRL collection. The film played last year on the PBS series POV and currently has a rating of 86% from audiences at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

Carolyn Parker was the last to leave her neighborhood when Hurricane Katrina approached New Orleans in the summer of 2005. After the floodwaters subsided, she was the first resident to return to her now flood-devastated community with what many thought was the “impossible dream” of bringing her ruined home back to life.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

Katniss Everdeen took volunteerism to a new level when she stepped up to take her little sister’s place in a fight to the death. Fortunately, volunteering in the real world is not nearly as painful as it was in the fictional world of “The Hunger Games.”

In fact, the folks at Points of Light would like for us to know volunteering can be fulfilling and meaningful, fun even. Since 1974, they’ve sponsored National Volunteer Week, a time dedicated to “inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.” The dates this year are April 21-27.

Check out some of the following resources to help kindle your volunteering spirit.

• “If It Takes a Village, Build One” - In this book, Malaak Compton-Rock shares her own experiences with volunteerism and provides practical tips for adults and kids who wish to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.
• “Everyone Helps, Everyone Wins” - Author David T. Levinson shows how everyone can help, whether they have loads of free time, or only a few hours per year.
• “The Volunteer’s Guide to Fundraising” provides ideas for raising money for your favorite nonprofit.
• DBRL has put together a subject guide for those wishing to investigate volunteer opportunities, with local, national and international options.
• Check out the National Volunteer Week list in the DBRL catalog.
• Columbia Public Library Display – For the week beginning Monday, April 22 you can find books about volunteering on the table display near the second floor Reference Desk at the Columbia Public Library.

This is a good week to remember to thank those who are already volunteering. At the library, you can identify them by the helpfully labeled name tags that say “Volunteer.” Happy helping!

Why I checked it out: A friend who knows my sense of humor recommended this wonderful book.

Why I liked it: While zombie stories are currently the norm rather than the exception, this book remains exceptional. Directionless Sam finds himself the center of attention as a recently discovered necromancer who can interact with the dead. Have you ever read a story that included a zombie panda? I’m betting the answer will be no. You’ll also find werewolf families, friendly feys, a corpse’s reanimated talking head, and a waffle-eating harbinger of death among other fun oddities.

Three words that describe this book: supernatural, witty, horror.

If you liked this book, you should try reading ”Warm Bodies“ by Isaac Marion.

‘Tis the season of Earth Day celebrations, community-based educational events to increase public awareness of environmental issues. The library’s trusty World Book Online Reference Center (free with your library card!) tells me that the first Earth Day celebration was held on April 22, 1970 and was based on U.S. Senator Gaylord A. Nelson’s suggestion that a day of environmental education be held on college campuses. More than 40 years later, Earth Day celebrations have expanded beyond educational institutions to communities around the world.

Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources sponsors an Earth Day event each April and also provides a nice round-up of other area Earth Day events, including Columbia’s annual celebration.

If you would like to learn more about Senator Nelson’s contribution to environmental awareness and education, check out his biography, “The Man from Clear Lake” by Bill Christofferson. Or if you want to know about present-day environmentalists’ efforts to save the planet, check out Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Edward Humes’ book “The Eco Barons: The Dreamers, Schemers, and Millionaires Who Are Saving Our Planet.” Finally, check out the library’s Sustaining the Environment subject guide to learn more about green living, local events and environmental organizations.

 

Earth Day information source: Hayes, D. (2013). Earth Day. In Public Libraries. Retrieved from
http://www.worldbookonline.com/pl/referencecenter/article?id=ar171620

April 22:  “Harvest of Empire” 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Forum 8. (via)
April 22: “Bidder 70” 8:00 p.m. at Ragtag, free. (via)
April 22: “Honor Flight” 6:00 p.m. at The Crossing. (via)
April 24: “The Queen of Versailles” 6:30 p.m. at Columbia Public Library, free. (via)

It turns out that our predictions for the 2013 Gateway and Truman award winners were pretty accurate. Jonathan Maberry is the recipient of this year’s Gateway Readers Award for his book “Rot and Ruin.” The main character, Benny, has never known a world without zombies, but that doesn’t mean that he’s excited about apprenticing with his half-brother, Tom, as a zombie hunter.

Congratulations also goes to April Henry who is this year’s Truman Readers Award recipient for her book, “Girl, Stolen.” Griffin, a high school dropout, steals a car, but later realizes that he has kidnapped a blind girl, Cheyenne, who was sleeping in the backseat. Sick with pneumonia, Cheyenne tries to gain sympathy from Griffin, though she wonders if she can trust him.

This past October, April was a guest blogger for DBRLTeen and shared her thoughts on writing and kung fu. We hope you’ll enjoy her advice for young writers and check out some of her recommended reading which includes “Life as We Knew It” by Susan Beth
Pfeffer, “Ashes” by Ilsa Bick and more!

It turns out that our predictions for the 2013 Gateway and Truman award winners were pretty accurate. Jonathan Maberry is the recipient of this year’s Gateway Readers Award for his book “Rot and Ruin.” The main character, Benny, has never known a world without zombies, but that doesn’t mean that he’s excited about apprenticing with his half-brother, Tom, as a zombie hunter.

Congratulations also goes to April Henry who is this year’s Truman Readers Award recipient for her book, “Girl, Stolen.” Griffin, a high school dropout, steals a car, but later realizes that he has kidnapped a blind girl, Cheyenne, who was sleeping in the backseat. Sick with pneumonia, Cheyenne tries to gain sympathy from Griffin, though she wonders if she can trust him.

This past October, April was a guest blogger for DBRLTeen and shared her thoughts on writing and kung fu. We hope you’ll enjoy her advice for young writers and check out some of her recommended reading which includes “Life as We Knew It” by Susan Beth
Pfeffer, “Ashes” by Ilsa Bick and more!

We recently added “Madonna: Truth or Dare” to the DBRL collection. The film from 1991 made it to last year’s 100 “Greatest” Documentaries list and currently has a rating of 80% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

Documentary which presents an intimate view of the rock music star, Madonna and a backstage look at her 1990 “Blond Ambition” tour.

Check out the film trailer for more info.

That’s the type of thing that you’re likely to hear if you’re ever near me when I’m reading a new recipe. I’m also prone to make statements like, “Who the frell has that just lying around their kitchen?” Or, “Where am I supposed to find that?” This is because I am what those in the culinary arts field might call a “hack.” (It’s a technical term that’s rarely used outside of five-star kitchens. Don’t fret if you’re unfamiliar with it.) If I can’t grill it, I don’t know how to make it.

Luckily, I discovered that through one of the greatest treasures that the library has to offer (and I make that statement fully cognizant of the fact that the public library has many treasures to offer), I can fill the appalling gaps in both my knowledge and my pantry through a singular source.

Ladies, gentlemen, fellow hacks and culinary specialists alike, I present to you ”The Food Substitutions Bible.”

This tasty piece of literary craftsmanship is the single greatest tool in my kitchen. My kitchen toolset is admittedly quite limited, but that simply makes this book all the more useful. When I need to know what bulgur is, “The Food Substitutions Bible” not only explains it, but also – as you may have guessed – tells me what I can use instead of it. When my one and only tablespoon (yes, seriously) is lost in a pile of dirty dishes, I can flip to the back where there are conversion charts and find another measuring implement to use. Canned corn instead of fresh? Yup, the conversion is there. Should you add your favorite beverage to your dish, there is even a chart to find out how much alcohol cooks out of the food at given times and temperatures.*

There is, however, one drawback to this book. It’s so useful that you’re going to want to own a copy. But don’t take my word for it. Test drive ours.

*Hint: you want to leave in as much as possible.

 

Wii U Launch Party
Wednesday, May 1 › 6-8 p.m.
Columbia Public Library

Test drive the library’s new Wii U game console. Become a ghost hunter in “Luigi’s Ghost Mansion,” defeat evil aliens in your own “Metroid” spaceship, or team up with your friends to conquer Bowser in the new “Super Mario Bros.” We’ll also have snacks and a selection of the library’s newest teen fiction, music and DVDs for you to check out. Don’t have a library card? We’ll have library card applications on hand for your parent or guardian to sign. Ages 12 and older. Registration begins Tuesday, April 23. Call (573) 443-3161 to sign up!

We recently added “Rarely Has Reality Needed So Much to be Re-imagined: A Mostly True History of the True/False Film Fest” to the DBRL collection. The book was released at the 2013 True/False Film Fest. Here’s a synopsis from the book website:

Your favorite film fest is almost ten years old (no, we can’t believe it either)! To immortalize this milestone, and all the people who helped make it happen, we’re putting out a shiny, lovingly designed anniversary book. Titled, Rarely Has Reality Needed So Much to be Re-imagined: A mostly true history of the True/False Film Fest, this book is a 160 page, art-packed, small scale keepsake documenting the first 10 years and pointing forward to the next 10.

Be sure to check out our True/False Film Fest movies at DBRL to see lists of films from the past 10 years of the festival.

This is one of my favorite quotes from Dave Ramsey’s book, “Total Money Makeover.” I’m not ashamed to admit that I have a huge crush on the nationally-recognized financial and leadership guru. I learned about his “Seven Baby Steps” from my husband who tunes into his radio show on 1400 AM KFRU. We both have a respect for Dave’s direct, yet compassionate, way of dispensing financial advice. At first I was skeptical of Dave’s approach, but since beginning our journey to financial freedom nearly two years ago, we have been able to pay off our car and thousands of dollars in student loan debt. I am now a proud believer.

Later this month the American Library Association will be celebrating Money Smart Week. It’s a great time to evaluate your personal finances and explore the money-saving resources available for free through the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Let me say that again. FREE.

For example, if you are looking to make a major purchase this year, you will be glad to know that the library provides cardholders with free access to Consumer Reports‘ popular subscription website. Learn about the different types of digital cameras, research the safety features on new car models or compare top-rated appliances like washing machines, dryers and more. Well-informed consumers are less likely to waste their money on unnecessary upgrades, warranties and frills.

The library also provides free online access to the Value Line Investment Survey and Morningstar. Both tools provide analyst reports and ratings for thousands of stocks, mutual funds and ETFs. Not sure what an ETF is? Then you should plan to attend our introductory seminar on investing in stocks on Thursday, May 9 at the Columbia Public Library. Beginning at 7 p.m., Hanna Klachko and Fred Tonnies, representatives of the Kansas City Chapter of Better Investing, will explain commonly used terms, how to interpret stock reports and which tools they use to evaluate and pick stocks.

Later this month through our film series Center Aisle Cinema, we’ll be screening a documentary that demonstrates what can go wrong when you get too extravagant. We are showing “The Queen of Versailles” on Wednesday, April 24 at the Columbia Public Library at 6:30 p.m. This character-driven documentary follows a rags-to-riches billionaire family as they face the 2008 economic crisis. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000-square-foot palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis.

As my boyfriend Dave Ramsey would say, “You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.” When you’re ready, I’ll be at the Reference Desk waiting to show you the resources to help you toward financial freedom.

My first taste of a fried morel mushroom was a revelation. I was in my chemistry class at Fulton High School (go, Hornets!), and Mr. Simpson, our teacher, cooked up a batch over a Bunsen burner in the lab. The earthy, delicate flavor of the morel makes it a favorite among mushroom hunters, and on April 20, Fulton’s Brick District Association is giving this group of fungi some much-deserved time in the spotlight. From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on that Saturday, visit downtown Fulton for the Morels & Microbrews Festival. Enjoy live music, face painting and games, as well as a morel mushroom auction. Admission is free (though there is a fee for the beer sampling).

Want some advice on hunting wild mushrooms and safely identifying the magical morel? Need to know how to cook these little beauties? Here are just a few books from your library to help you enjoy these mushrooms, whether you harvest them yourself or purchase them at Morels and Microbrews.

• “How to Find Morels” by Milan Pelouch
• “Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois & Surrounding States: A Field-to-kitchen Guide” by Joe McFarland and Gregory M. Mueller
• “Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms” by Maxine Stone
• “Morels” by Michael Kuo

Why I checked it out:  A friend recommended this book. She said, “Between the Lines” is your kind of book, Jerilyn. It has fairytale people coming alive inside a book.”

Why I liked it: The story is told in the alternating voices of Delilah, a 15 year-old girl in the present, and Prince Oliver, a character in a fairytale book. When no reader is present, the characters in the book have other lives. Prince Oliver is unsatisfied with his life and wants to join the world of the readers. Even though the fairytale book is for young children, Delilah finds herself drawn to the story of Prince Oliver and is very surprised when he starts to talk to her.

Three words that describe this book: magical, romantic, funny.

You might this book if you like: Books about storybook characters coming to life include “Half Upon a Time ” by James Riley, “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke, “The Looking Glass Wars ” by Frank Beddor and “Into the Wild ” by Sarah Beth Durst.

We recently added “Soul Food Junkies” to the DBRL collection. The film played in January on the PBS series Independent Lens and filmmaker Byron Hurt made a local appearance in February to promote the film. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

Filmmaker Byron Hurt looks at the past and future of soul food, covering its roots in Western Africa, its incarnation in the American South, and the role it plays in the health crisis in the African American community. Examines the socioeconomic of the modern American diet, and how the food industry profits from producing cheap calories while healthy options remain expensive and hard to find.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

Funeral services were held this week for Roger Ebert, journalist, film critic and extraordinary human being. In spite of physical challenges, including a battle with thyroid and salivary gland cancer that eventually left him unable to talk or eat, Ebert continued to review and tirelessly promote films, believing that, as his friend Michael Barker put it, “movies can explain the complexity of the world to us AND can also show us who we are as individual human beings.”

Even though he couldn’t physically speak, Ebert’s written voice was strong until the end. His writing was smart, insightful and intellectual without being stuffy. And you can’t help but admire a man who proclaims, “‘Kindness’ covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do…We must try to contribute joy to the world.”

This sentiment comes from Ebert’s 2011 memoir, “Life Itself,” a moving portrait of his childhood, career and those personal relationships that affected him most deeply. Check out this book as well as other collections of this Pulitzer Prize-winner’s writings.

• “Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert” (2006)
• “The Great Movies III” (2010)
• “Scorsese” (2008)

Funeral services were held this week for Roger Ebert, journalist, film critic and extraordinary human being. In spite of physical challenges, including a battle with thyroid and salivary gland cancer that eventually left him unable to talk or eat, Ebert continued to review and tirelessly promote films, believing that, as his friend Michael Barker put it, “movies can explain the complexity of the world to us AND can also show us who we are as individual human beings.”

Even though he couldn’t physically speak, Ebert’s written voice was strong until the end. His writing was smart, insightful and intellectual without being stuffy. And you can’t help but admire a man who proclaims, “‘Kindness’ covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do…We must try to contribute joy to the world.”

This sentiment comes from Ebert’s 2011 memoir, “Life Itself,” a moving portrait of his childhood, career and those personal relationships that affected him most deeply. Check out this book as well as other collections of this Pulitzer Prize-winner’s writings.

• “Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert” (2006)
• “The Great Movies III” (2010)
• “Scorsese” (2008)