OSCAR GRADY PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE LIBRARIANS’
BEDSIDE TABLE
What your friendly librarians have been listening, reading, watching
& MUCH MORE!
Oscar Grady Public Library Mission Statement:
The mission of the Oscar Grady Public Library is to provide high interest, high demand materials and make them readily available from the Library’s collection or through interlibrary loan. The Library supports lifelong learning, information and recreational needs for people of all ages and abilities. Special emphasis is placed on stimulating children’s interests and appreciation for reading and learning. The integration of new technology with traditional library resources is used to expand service beyond the Library’s physical walls.
On this new issue of our “Librarians’ Bedside Table”, we compiled a list of really good titles recommended by your library friends. Each title can be accessed in electronic format for your convenience. Click or tap in the hyperlinks attached to each title that will take you right to them
in the Monarch Catalog. We hope you enjoy this selection of books from your
librarians at the Oscar Grady Public Library!
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Jen Gerber, our Library Director, would like to recommend the following titles:
House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune "A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret. Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a werePomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they're likely to bring about the end of days. But the children aren't the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn. An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place-and realizing that family is yours"-- Provided by publisher.
Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks When two of sixteen-year-old Pete's childhood classmates disappear from a carnival the same night, he is a suspect, but his own investigation implicates other old friends he was with that evening--and a tough, knife-wielding enemy determined to keep him quiet. Provided by publisher.
Debra Jo, Library Assistant and ILL Specialist would like to recommend the following titles:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Addie's life is hardly invisible to the observant reader. Addie is 23 years old when she strikes a deal with the Devil in 1714. Three hundred years later, at the age of 23, she falls in love with Henry.
Addie suffers many consequences thanks to her bargain. However, her wit, resilience, and patience prove her to be a formidable foe. Words are powerful. How they are linked together can be even more powerful, impacting every moment of one's life. Choose your words wisely-especially if entertaining the whims of a devil.
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I learned to wield a sewing needle and thread at a young age. I'm grateful my mom taught me this handy life skill; inevitably buttons pop off shirts, clothes tear and snag, seams give way, wool blankets and sweaters become victims of moths, etc. Not once have I tossed or donated something (other than socks) because I couldn't repair it due to these reasons. My goal was always for renewing the item's function and I used care to conceal my stitches, hoping the outcome would look "as good as new". Recently, I decided to learn about the real ART of mending and darning. Repairs don't have to be simply for function. They can also be for beauty and character! In some cases I now WANT my repairs to be visible. Not only because the stitching/technique results in gorgeous, fun detailing but because my garment becomes more than something mass-produced and purchased at a store. I learned which darning technique to choose based on the type of tear or hole in the fabric. Previously, I defaulted to one or two basic stitches that did the trick but were not always ideal choices. Choosing the proper technique allows for a longer life on the repair and in some cases blends in better with the original fabric than my basic repair stitches did. I discovered the world of darning mushrooms which not only make the job easier but are fun to collect. Who knew there could be so many versions of this simple tool! I even fixed a few of my favorite socks that were wearing thin in spots. Surprisingly a proper mend is smooth to the sole and/or heel and my feet have yet to experience a princess-and-the-pea moment. I highly recommend the 3 titles listed below. Each one offers great inspiration and valuable information for hand-sewers of every level. Happy Stitching! -Debra Jo
Mending Life: a handbook for repairing clothes and hearts by Nina and Sonya Montenegro
Mending matters: Hikaru Noguchi's Darning: repair, make, mend
stitch, patch, and repair your favorite denim & more
by Hikaru Noguchi
by Katrina Rodabaugh
Hope, our Collection Developer would like to recommend these titles:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being lightyears away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he? An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going. Provided by publisher.
I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust: A Memoir of Autism and Hope by Valerie Gilpeer & Emily Grodin A remarkable memoir by a mother and her autistic daughter who’d long been unable to communicate—until a miraculous breakthrough revealed a young woman with a rich and creative interior life, a poet, who’d been trapped inside for more than two decades.
“I have been buried under years of dust and now I have so much to say.” These were the first words twenty-five-year-old Emily Grodin ever wrote.
Born with nonverbal autism, Emily’s only means of communicating for a quarter of a century had been only one-word responses or physical gestures. That Emily was intelligent had never been in question—from an early age she’d shown clear signs that she understood what was going on though she could not express herself. Her parents, Valerie and Tom, sought every therapy possible in the hope that Emily would one day be able to reveal herself. When this miraculous breakthrough occurred, Emily was finally able to give insight into the life, frustrations, and joys of a person with autism. She could tell her parents what her younger years had been like and reveal all the emotions and intelligence residing within her; she became their guide into the autistic experience. Told by Valerie, with insights and stories and poetry from Emily, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust highlights key moments of Emily’s childhood that led to her communication awakening—and how her ability rapidly accelerated after she wrote that first sentence. As Valerie tells her family’s story, she shares the knowledge she’s gained from working as a legal advocate for families affected by autism and other neurological disorders. A story of unconditional love, faith in the face of difficulty, and the grace of perseverance and acceptance, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust is an evocative and affecting mother-daughter memoir of learning to see each other for who they are. Provided by publisher.
Hope would like to recommend these titles:
Devil’s Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke “Devil’s Food Cake Murder” is an easy read. The story involves three sisters and their mother who live in a small town. They as well as some of their business friends have several roles in this small town. Having grown up in a small town, this made sense to me because some of the adults in my hometown also help more than one position in the community. As the story is told and different desserts are mentioned, the author inserts the recipe for that dessert if you would like to try it. It took a little while to really get into the story; however, once I did, I found myself trying to figure out who was the murderer and who really was the victim. In addition to the murder, a romantic twist left me guessing how it would end.
I Sang You Down from the Stars written by Tasha Spillett Sumner/ Illustrated by Michaela Goade “I Sang You Down from the Stars” is a lovely book I discovered while preparing it to go on the shelf at the library. The illustration on the cover was so catching that I took time to read the book. To my delight, the illustrations throughout the book were as beautiful as the message in the story. The author is writing about her newborn baby and the preparation she went through waiting for this baby. I learned the author and the illustrator are both Native American Indians but of two different tribes. This book touched me so that I went home and ordered two copies. One I will be giving to my granddaughter who is expecting my third great grandchild. The other I will keep either for myself or for someone very special when they are expecting a baby.
Wings of Fire by Sutherland, Tui This series of books turned my 10- year-old grandson into a voracious reader. He devoured the first 14 books in very short order. Then, he had to wait for the 15 th book to come out. He describes the series as a realistic fantasy involving several groups of dragons. Every so many books a prophecy is made which is then fulfilled by the dragons. Liam was eager to share his opinion of this series with other young readers. He is now reading the Warrior series and will share his opinions soon.
Some of the titles listed
in these pages are available in electronic format through the
Libby app. Check it out!
Miss Julie, our Children Librarian would like to recommend this title:
The Mexican Home Kitchen: Traditional HomeStyle Recipes That Capture the Flavors and Memories of Mexico by Mely Martínez “I made the flan recipe and it was a hit! Looking forward to trying more of these recipes!” For Martínez, Mexican cooking has always been about family, community, and tradition. She started helping in the kitchen at a very young age, and spent summers at her grandmother's farm in the state of Veracruz, where part of the daily activities included helping grind the corn to make masa. Here Martínez shares traditional and family recipes with easy-to-follow instructions, so you can enjoy this delicious cooking right in your own home. -- adapted from back cover
Lynn, our Cataloging and Circulation Services Specialist, would like to recommend these titles:
I Can Only Imagine (DVD)- 2018 Directed by Andrew Erwin The inspiring and unknown true story behind MercyMe's beloved, chart topping song that brings ultimate hope to so many is a gripping reminder of the power of true forgiveness. Provided by publisher.
The Book on Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies by Erin Jeanne McDowell "Erin Jeanne McDowell, New York Times contributing baker extraordinaire and top food stylist, wrote the book on pie, a comprehensive handbook that distills all you'll ever need to know for making perfect pies. The Book on Pie starts with the basics, including ways to mix pie dough for extra flaky crusts, storage and freezing, recipe size conversions, and expert tips for decorating and styling, before diving into the recipes for all the different kinds of pies: fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold set, savory, and mini. Find everything from classics like Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie, to more inspired recipes like BirthdayCake Pie and Caramel Pork Pie with Chile and Scallions. Provided by publisher.
ULTIMAGE VEG by Jamie Oliver Plant-based and veg-forward dishes and meals to encourage eating more p l a n t s ; b as e d i n nu t r i t i o n a l , economical, and environmental considerations. Provided by publisher. Stages by Josh Groaban (Audio CD) - 2015 Stages is the seventh studio album by American singer Josh Groban. Consisting of songs from Broadway musicals, it was released on April 28, 2015. The album has sold 502,000 copies in the US as of October 2015.[1] Stages received a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. Stages Live received a nomination in the same category a year later. Provided by publisher.
Maggie B. , our YA Program Coordinator, would like to recommend the following titles:
Vision & The Scarlet Witch: The Saga of Wanda and Vision. Englehart, Steve. 2020. GRAPHIC Eng. If you have enjoyed Vision and Wanda Maximoff (aka the Scarlet Witch) in their appearances across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially their roles in the Avengers films and most recently the Wandavision series on Disney+, this is the perfect book to tide you over until characters next return to the big screen. Collecting comic books issues that were first published in the 1970s and 1980s, readers can learn the backstory of how two of earth’s mightiest heroes came to fall in love, marry, and settle down in the suburbs, while also discovering the connections to characters that have yet to be explored the MCU, namely the XMen. This is the in-depth character dive that any Marvel fan could want.
Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold. Provided by publisher.
Martin, our Collection Developing and Adult Services Coordinator would like to recommend these titles:
In Maylis de Kerangal's Painting Time, we are introduced to the burgeoning young artist Paula Karst, who is enrolled at the famous Institut de Peinture in Brussels. Unlike the friends she makes at school, Paula strives to understand the specifics of what she's painting-replicating a wood's essence or a marble's wear requires method, technique, and talent, she finds, but also something else: craftsmanship. She resolutely chooses the painstaking demands of craft over the abstraction of high art. With the attention of a documentary filmmaker, de Kerangal follows Paula's apprenticeship, punctuated by brushstrokes, hard work, sleepless nights, sore muscles, and long, festive evenings. After completing her studies at the Institute, Paula continues to practice her art in Paris, in Moscow, then in Italy on the sets of great films, all as if rehearsing for a grand finale: at a job working on Lascaux IV, a facsimile reproduction of the world's most famous paleolithic cave art and the apotheosis of human cultural expression. An enchanted, atmospheric, and highly aesthetic coming-of-age novel, Painting Time is an intimate and unsparing exploration of craft, inspiration, and the contours of the contemporary art world. As she did in her acclaimed novels The Heart and The Cook, Maylis de Kerangal unravels a tightly wound professional world to reveal the beauty within."-- goordreads.com.
Envious Moon by Thomas Christopher Greene Working at the side of his fellow Portuguese townies on a commercial fishing boat in Rhode Island, seventeen-year-old Anthony reluctantly participates in a burglary only to cause an accidental death, an event after which he becomes determined to help a grieving young girl. By the author of I'll Never Be Long Gone. Provided by publisher.
Rita would like to recommend these titles:
The League of Wives (2019)
by Heath Hardage Lee chronicles the long, unrelenting fight wives of POW/MIAs held in Vietnam (and other nearby countries) had with Washington and Hanoi, to secure the release of information related to their husband’s status, better treatment for the POWS, and the eventual release of (most of?) the survivors. Patronized and ignored, these remarkable women organized The League of Wives and began lobbying (often ignorant) politicians, created a media campaign to educate the country and the world on the conditions in which their husbands were being held (torture, shackles, malnourishment, rat infestations, solitary confinement), met with anti-war activists to keep lines of communication open with Hanoi, traveled to Paris to meet with representatives from Hanoi, and even coded secret messages in letters to their imprisoned husbands.
The women’s tenacity was rewarded when 116 of their husbands were transported to Clark Air Base in the Philippines on February 12, 1973, on their way back to the U.S. Sadly, many of the women in the League did not have a happy ending to their stories, with their husbands confirmed dead or listed as MIA (approximately 2,500 MIA in 1973).
The League of Wives will make readers marvel at the courage and strength of these extraordinary women. Their stories, and their husbands’ stories, are unforgettable.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn The Rose Code (2021) by Kate Quinn, is a novel that blends fictional and real characters with historical and fictional events. The plot concerns events at Bletchley Park, Britain’s top-secret decryption facility during World War II and revolves around three women working there: Osla Kendall, the debutante who wants to prove she is more than a pretty face; Mab, from eastend London, who searches for a society husband in her off time; and, Beth, who is brilliant, but has been abused by her mother and teased all her life. What will be the result of their extraordinary experiences at Bletchley?
The Rose Code jumps between wartime and the week of Princess Elizabeth’s marriage to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (formerly Prince Philip of Greece), in 1947. Events affecting the three women during the war have led to a national security crisis that intensifies during the week before royal wedding. What sacrifices will the women make for each other and for their country? There is a plot line involving Prince Philip, which given his recent death may seem a bit distasteful; in the Author’s Notes at the end of the book, Quinn explains that the Osla Kendall is based on the real-life Osla Benning, who, in fact, was Philip’s wartime girlfriend and remained friends with him throughout her life.
Tyler, our Library Services Assistant would like to recommend these titles:
Drain the Ocean (TV Series DVD)- 2009 "Three-quarters of Earth is an alien world, lying beneath the surface of the oceans. And although it encompasses over half of the world's species, we know more about the surface of Mars than the bottom of the ocean. It's only recently that science has penetrated this world, revealing extraordinary life forms and vast sweeping landscapes on a scale that defies imagination"-- Provided by publisher.
Some of the titles listed
in these pages are available in electronic format through the
Libby app. Check it out!
Now around town! Books for everyone. The Oscar Grady Library with the support of The Friends of the Oscar Grady Library has purchased three Little Free Libraries, which have been installed at three convenient locations: Quade Park, The Oscar Grady Library, and Village Hall. Check them out! Love them, enjoy them, treasure them.
www.oscargradylibrary.org