LIBRARY CORNER | 01/19/24

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This week in the library:

  • Monday—Stitch and Chat 9:30 a.m.
    Genealogy Help 2-4 p.m.
  • Tuesday—Preschool Story Time 11 a.m.
    Genealogy Help 2-4 p.m.
  • Wednesday—Sensory Time for Babies 10 a.m.
  • Thursday—Family Night Winter Wonderland 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Friday—Coffee and Cake 10 a.m. (Sit down and just visit)

February’s book list from Library Reads is a mixture of fantasy, mystery, family sagas, romance, and some great nonfiction. The top February book is A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L Jensen. This is Book One in The Saga of the Unfated. “We’re all used to the Viking stories that center around men. This story features Freye, who has to marry a fanatical chieftain to protect her family and her land. She’s been blessed with magical powers, and it’s been foretold that she’ll be the one to unite the kingdoms. This is a great start to a new series that will appeal to everyone who enjoys nonstop action with a strong female warrior and a steamy love story to boot.” (2-27) Kimberly McGee

The Tainted Cup is by Robert Jackson Bennett. “In a world where leviathan blood allows people to acquire amazing abilities, a brilliant investigator, Ana, and her sidekick in training, an “engraver” named Din who can recall details with amazing accuracy, work together to uncover the culprit behind the grisly death of a wealthy official. This hugely enjoyable fantasy and mystery blend will leave readers eager for another installment.” (2-6) Mara Bandy Fass

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a mixture of fantasy and mystery. “Cassie likes her quiet life working in a bookstore in Manhattan. When one of her favorite customers dies in the shop, she finds a book in his possession with an inscription to her and the newfound ability that allows her to go through any door and come out wherever she wishes. This time travel novel has several interesting twists, including the final one.” (2-13) Jennifer Winberry

Popular author, Anna Quindlen, brings us After Annie. “The aftermath of grief following the unexpected death of Annie is told through the eyes of husband Bill, 13-year-old daughter Ali, and best friend, Annemarie. Written with tenderness and raw emotion, the novel lets readers see into the hearts of these characters as they deal with the day-to-day realities of surviving life minus the person they most loved.” (2-27) Sarah Siegel

I am looking forward to the nonfiction selection Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed. Reviewers agree that this is “a hilarious and incisive exploration of the joys of reading.” We read to escape, to learn, to find love, to feel seen. We read to encounter new worlds, find new recipes and to find connections. Sometimes we read to pass a rainy afternoon. No matter why we read, books have power. They can keep us safe, challenge us, and make us more fully human. I believe that we should read for pleasure above all else. For the past 40 years I’ve had the privilege of seeing what happens when a child or adult finds the right book. It’s magic.

We hope you weathered the big freeze and look forward to seeing you in the library.

Helen Thompson, Director – Mount Pleasant Public Library