Sad news everyone. The Library’s Geek Out event (May 2nd) has been canceled, Free Comic Book Day has been postponed, new comics aren’t being shipped. And Star Wars day, May the 4th? Well, I guess Star Wars day is OK, but you can’t celebrate it with everyone you’d probably like to. Luckily, the Library’s got a way to get you […]
Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women–a socialite, a farm girl, an abolitionist, and a widow–who were spies. After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity of a man to enlist as a Union private, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The beautiful widow, Rose O’Neale Greenhow, engaged in affairs with powerful Northern politicians to gather intelligence for the Confederacy, and used her young daughter to send information to Southern generals. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper Southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring, right under the noses of suspicious rebel detectives. Using a wealth of primary source material and interviews with the spies’ descendants, Abbott seamlessly weaves the adventures of these four heroines throughout the tumultuous years of the war. […]
Take one amateur sleuth. Mix in some eccentric Minnesota locals. Add a generous dollop of crackling suspense, and you’ve got the recipe for this delicious new mystery series featuring Hannah Swensen, the red-haired, cookie-baking heroine whose gingersnaps are almost as tart as her mouth and whose penchant for solving crime is definitely stirring things up. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder Hannah already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother’s attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden’s most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah’s famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can’t get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. But if she doesn’t watch her back, Hannah’s sweet life may get burned to a crisp. […]
When you walk into the Main Library on Harnish Drive, or the Eastgate Branch, it’s not hard to find your way around. Not only is there friendly staff available to help, you can see for yourself where things are located. Adult fiction is on the right. New releases are straight ahead, and video, audio book and music collections are toward […]
We are not alone. They are here. And there’s no going back. Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the I Am Number Four series, Dark Energy is a thrilling stand-alone science fiction adventure from Robison Wells, critically acclaimed author of Variant and Blackout. Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing-or no one-has come out. If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching the fallout on the news. But her dad is director of special projects at NASA, so she’s been forced to enroll in a boarding school not far from the crash site. Alice is right in the middle of the action, but even she isn’t sure what to expect when the aliens finally emerge. Only one thing is clear: everything has changed. […]
Social distancing means getting used to working from home. While I was a home based freelance writer for a long time, working from home while two other family members are working too, is a challenge. Music is my workday friend. Not only is listening fun and relaxing, there’s the added benefit of cutting down on distractions. There are lots of […]
National Poetry Month was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, marking poetry’s important place in our lives. Now, as we face an unprecedented circumstance, National Poetry Month has taken on new meaning and importance. Poetry and inspiring language can help bring solace and […]
Confession. I’m hooked on the news. These days, I suspect a lot of us are. It’s also more important than ever that we can trust our news sources. As someone who started college as a journalism major, and worked as a freelance reporter for a number of years, daily newspapers are my preferred medium. I like to read the news, […]
Even though we’re shut down, everyone at AAPLD sends a big shout-out to Virginia Donohue, who retired from her position as Adult Programming and Community Outreach Librarian on April 1. Virginia joined the Algonquin Area Public Library District twenty three years ago, as the Young Adult Librarian. Previously, she had served as a trustee on the AAPLD Board, and also […]
One of the more enjoyable decisions I’ve had to make during the shutdown is what to read next. Right before we closed, I brought home two novels for each member of my family. These, along with books we already had, ought to be enough to keep us well-read through the end of April. Since I read mostly at bedtime, finishing […]
