LIBRARY CORNER | 03/24/23

Circle, underline and highlight April 1 on your calendar. That’s the date of An Evening of Art @ the Library. The evening begins at 6 and ends at 8. This event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is always a highlight of the year.

Local artists are featured, the dulcimer music is soothing, and the chocolates from  Sweet Shop USA are delicious. Of course, paintings are on display along with pottery, hand-made jewelry and glass etchings. Local author/illustrator Jared Chapman will be introducing his digital art. As a special treat, for a small donation, Jared will be doing caricatures. Tickets for the evening are $10 and are available in the library and at the door. This is going to be a fun night!

So many good books come out in the spring and are reviewed in Library Reads, including Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge. “In Paris after WWII, Julia Child, her husband Paul, sister Dort, and half French American ex-pat Tabish, are all recent arrivals. The romance, sights, sounds, and food of the city are delightful enough; add a murder committed with one of Julia’s knives, and a wonderful series is born. This is for fans of culinary mysteries, historical mysteries and City of Light.” (4-25) Jennifer Winberry

The Moorewood Family Rules is by HelenKay Dimon. “Jullian Moorewood is out of jail after covering for the crimes of her grifting family. She heads home to the family mansion to take back control of the business and force them into legitimate jobs, but none of her extended family wants to change. Quirky characters, a hot bodyguard, attempts on her life, and a battle worthy of Succession keep readers engaged to the end.” (4-25) Linda Quinn

Also on the list is Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang. “This hauntingly beautiful and chilling novel showcases the otherworldly experience the main character goes through at the expense of her health and beauty. It was bleak, but atmospheric and luminous in a weird way. The descriptions were interesting and drew me in further and further. It is a mind bender that readers will plow through in a day or two.” (4-4) Erin McLaughlin

Sisters of the Lost Nation is by Nick Medina. “Anna Horn wants to know why young girls are disappearing on the reservation. When Anna’s sister Grace goes missing, Anna and the tribe seek answers to the disappearances and discover that the tribe’s difficulties are linked to the past. This mix of mythology and horror that deals with unsolved disappearances of indigenous girls and tribal love is a gripping read.” (4-18) Theresa Coleman

Brendan Slocumb’s latest is Symphony of Secrets. “In 1920s NYC Fred Delaney is about to be kicked out of his jazz combo when he meets Josephine Reed, who helps him improve. In the present day, Bern Hendricks, an expert on composer Delaney, is asked to look over a manuscript of a lost symphony. However, questions about attribution arise. This is a suspenseful book that will be fantastic for discussion.” (4-18) Joan Hipp

Happy reading and we’ll look for you Saturday at An Evening of Art. See you at six!

Helen Thompson, Director – Mount Pleasant Public Library