And the Winner is....

Congratulations to our Summer Reading Game Grand Prize Winner, Jackie Black. She and a friend will be enjoying a lovely dinner for two at the Nordic Dining Room at the Valhalla Inn. Many thanks to all of you who participated in this year's Summer Reading Game. We will be posting a list of books read, it could be a great beginning to your fall reading! Once again congratulations to Jackie!

Two Great Books

My son pushed The Woods by Harlen Coben into my hands and I must admit, he was right it is a great little mystery. Do try it, for a can't put it down, have to find out what happens next kind of book. I also finished The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich. The writing was lovely, and the topic so interesting. It is essentially a family story starting with a First World War German soldier who comes to America as an immigrant and through his family experiences the joys and struggles of this new land. It has a parallel story of a woman with a childhood is marked by an alcoholic father, Delphine cares for the butcher's wife as she ails and struggles with her feelings for the complicated man with the wonderful voice.

A quick read

Hi. This week I read "The last summer (of you and me)" by Ann Brashares. She is the author of the travelling pants books.
It's about two families with summer homes on Fire Island. Alice and her sister Riley have spent their summers next door to Paul and his family. Paul returns to the island after a 3 year absence. Things have changed, they're all a little older. Summer revolves around an attraction between old friends, a serious illness and a huge secret. It was a 7 day book, but quick to read. Enjoy.

New dog book

Hi. Sunday I finished reading "A good dog: the story of Orson, who changed my life" by Jon Katz. With a surname like that, you'd think he'd be more of a cat person. It's the story of Jon and his dogs, especially Orson the border collie. Warning -some of you may not like the ending. Orson has behaviour problems and I think that's part of why I enjoyed reading it. He reminded me of our dog Godzilla, and like Jon I used to live in fear that she could bite someone some day. And when Jon referred to Orson as his lifetime dog, meaning the one dog you had the most special relationship with, that too reminded me of Godzilla. I think she'll be the one dog I remember the most. Happy reading.

At last

Hi. I finally got the new Janet Evanovich novel "Lean mean thirteen". It's a one week loan, but I read it in 3 days. I see there are still over 50 holds on it.
When Stephanie's ex husband goes missing and looks like he may be the victim of foul play, she becomes the prime suspect. It's a quick, fun read. Has all the usual characters.
The sad part is you wait and wait for the next novel to come out, and once you get it, it's over in a flash.
Happy reading.

Camp Reads

I'm off to camp this weekend, with two books competing for my reading time. The first is The Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich and Touching Stars by Emilie Richards. Both were recommendations by other readers, and I have already started both. Aren't we lucky to have so many books to choose from? What book would you recommend as a best weekend read?

We have a Winner!

Congratulations to Diann Uurainen, the winner of the Tide You Over Draw for a dinner for two at the Timbers Restaurant at the Valhalla Inn. She has participated for the last four years in the Summer Reading game and was thrilled to be our winner. Keep reading through the summer and filling out your Menus. All returned menus will be used for the draw for a Gourmet Dinner for Two at the Nordic Room. Books and food - a delicious combination!

Take a trip through time

Hi. I'm on vacation and haven't been reading as much as I usually do. Today I finished "The time traveler's wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. Wow. I found it hard to get started, due to all the jumping around through time. Once I got into it I loved it. It's the love story of Henry and Clare. Henry, a time traveler, first meets Clare when she is six years old. It follows their lives as they meet, fall in love and marry. And all the while Henry is jumping forward and backward through time. And one of the neat things about it - Henry is a librarian.
If you're looking for a good book, I would suggest this one. Then find yourself a bit of shade and enjoy. In this heat you might forego the shade and find yourself a coffee shop and an iced coffee, at least that's what I did. Happy summer reading and enjoy the upcoming long weekend.
KarenPiglet

Great Weekend Reading

It has been a busy week at the library, and most delightful to me has been the number of fiction books we have checked out. I think everyone is reading this summer! I hope you have a couple you want to include on your menu. I have been relaxing with a mystery this week. I am reading Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille. I think I am just enjoying the plot driven writing and quick humour. Write a comment on our blog, we would love to hear from you!

"Playing James"

Hi. This week I'm reading a book that a family member lent to me (the library also carries this book). It's called "Playing James" by Sarah Mason. If I had to describe the main character, Holly Colshannon, I would say she's the British Stephanie Plum. From the start this book had the feel of a Janet Evanovich novel. Holly is a newly appointed crime reporter with a local newspaper. She is assigned a police detective to work with, on a special feature, and he does not like her. It's funny and a light read. I'm really enjoying it. It would be a good summer read. Enjoy.

A brand new book

Hi. This week I got to do something that doesn't happen very often. I was the first person to read a new library book. I read "Let the northern lights erase your name" by Vendela Vida. A young woman, Clarissa Iverton has just lost her father. On the day of his funeral she discovers that he wasn't her biological father. Her mother left the family when Clarissa was 14, and was never heard from again. She sets out to Finland, and on to Lapland in a quest to find her biological father. It was an interesting read, full of twists and turns. I only had a week to read it, since there are other holds on it. It's not very long and easy to read in a week, even if it is nice out. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Waiting for Harry Potter?

During the wait for the next and final Harry Potter (ie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), I've picked up some other popular young adult authors, my favourite so far being Philip Pullman. Pullman approaches the genre by resurrecting the Victorian gothic tradition in writing that was popular in the first half of the 20th century . Recently, I've read "Count Karlstein", which features an evil Count, two adorable orphans, a secret heir and a demon huntsman. This is the type of tale that the Brothers Grimm would be proud of.
His "Sally Lockhart, Victorian Mystery Series", begins with "The Ruby in the Smoke" and follows a a smart and daring orphaned girl who is pursued by villains in search of a cursed ruby. The story is rich in historical details and full of the atmosphere of the grimy underbelly of London in the 19th century.
"The Golden Compass" , is the first book in the His Dark Materials series, also by Pullman. The fantasy novel concerns an alternate earth where your soul is visible as a pet-like creature, and children are being captured to experiment upon. All of Pullman's novels feature strong female characters, and 11 year old Lyra is no exception.
These are great books to share as a family, or to curl up with alone.

Reading Out in the Sunshine

Read and relax, this is the best time of year to just enjoy the out of doors and what better company than an absorbing book. This week my hold came in for The Quest by Wilbur Smith. With a week to complete it, The Quest moved to the top of my pile and I dove into the adventure. There are four books in the complete series, River God, The Seventh Scroll, Warlock and The Quest. The series has been fun reading, with action filled plots, memorable characters and the mystique of ancient Egypt. Place your hold today!

Ahhh - summer at last

Hello. Well it's finally summer, so I guess I've officially started my summer reading. This week I read Snow Flower and the secret fan by Lisa See. All I can say is wow! Set in 19th century China, it's the story of two girls, Snow Flower and Lily, as told through the eyes of Lily. At age 7 they enter into an arranged friendship, or laotong, that is meant to last them a lifetime. We follow them through the years as they grow up, marry and have children. Together they survive person tragedies, a typhoid outbreak and war, but when Lily feels betrayed, it may be the end of their friendship. Lily sums it up saying "Not only had she not been a faithful laotong, she had not even been a very good friend". Can their friendship survive? It has great descriptions of life in China at that time. Personally I found the description of having their feet found, a little hard to read - "Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you have peace". If you haven't read this book, you are in for a treat.

Behind enemy lines

Our favourite gourmand librarian has invited me to start the blog this week, so my tasty entree will be Sebastian Faulks novel "Charlotte Gray". This is a beautifully written work about a young idealist Scottish woman who falls in love with a RAF officer and becomes a covert OSE operative in occupied France in order to find him when he is shot down. The love story that begins the novel takes on new depth when Charlotte arrives in the small village of Lavaurette.
Scenes in the village are vividly painted, some residents have joined the Resistance and are risking everything, while others are using the occupation to curry favour and terrorize their neighbours with threats of exposing them to the authorities. Tension builds as the Nazis close in around Charlotte, Lucien the leader of the Resistance and the two little Jewish boys that they are desperately trying to protect.
Next on my nightstand, is "Children of Hurin" by J.R.R. Tolkien. So happy reading.

Karenpiglet's First Posting

Hello. I've just been invited to be a contributor. Check out the photo in my profile. It's not really me. Or is it??? Last week I read "Tallgrass", the new novel by Sandra Dallas. I've enjoyed her writing since "The Persian Pickle Club". It's the story of life in a small Colorado town during World War II, as told through the eyes of a child. Life in the town changes when the government sets up an internment camp nearby.
This week I read "Hello from Heaven" by Bill Guggenheim. The book is based on 7 years of research interviewing people who believe they have been contacted by deceased loved ones. It has chapters on types of contact, such as by sight, sound or smell. I believe I've had many experiences myself over the last 11 years, so I found this book very interesting.
Have a great weekend.

Reading in a Hurry

It's been one of those crazy weeks, when there just didn't seem to be time to read. I was at camp and forgot my book, so grabbed a mystery off the shelf. I'm reading Plum Island by Nelson DeMille
and just enjoying the quick flow of the plot and the slightly twisted way of looking at the world portrayed by detective John Corey. I would recommend it as a beach read... just fun!

Sweet and Sour Books

This week I was listening to Atonement by Ian McEwan. I loved the feeling the book evoked of both childhood and imagination. That the child's imagination led to such a catastrophe, created great drama in the novel. The CD book was well read and made for pleasant walking companionship.

On the other hand, I am reading the Probable Future by Alice Hoffman and am really struggling to finish it. The concept of each generation of Sparrow women having a remarkable gift should work well. I find however the conflict between all three generations jarring, and so my reading has slowed.

Sitting waiting, I have the Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Aren't we lucky to always have more books ahead of us.

Have you picked up your menu yet? Tell me what are you thinking of as an Appetizer book?

Welcome to Summer!

Summer starts early with the Adult Summer Reading Game. Menus go out this week, so I hope you've started reading. My read of the week has been The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. It was an Alex Award winner, and a lovely rural story with a humourous undertone. I recommend it.
What have you been reading this week?