TBR: What's On Our To-Read Piles

 

We asked our library staff and volunteers which books on their TBR piles they are most excited to pick up next.  Here are their responses:

 

Bronna:

Mind Games by Norah Roberts

Her books are my equivalent of comfort food.  Something that I know I will enjoy reading after a very busy week.  

Crystal:

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

She’s my favorite author and all her books are amazing!  I have a lot on my TBR list, but this is at the top.

 

Zoe

Tidal Creatures by Seanen McGuire

I love everything Seanen writes. The world she created for the Alchemical Journeys series is so fascinating and bizaare.  I just want to jump right into it! 

Rebecca:

Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson: a mystery thriller about a teen girl who has lived her life in the shadow of her mother’s disappearance.  When her family agrees to be part of a true crime documentary, her mother suddenly reappears.  But what really happened? Is her mother telling the truth? 

This book has had such rave reviews, I can’t wait to dive in!

Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle   Dark magic, rival assassins, monsters… Sera’s mother was murdered, and she is set on revenge.  Sera joins the Cloaks and fights the Daggers to control the City’s underworld, a city that resembles Paris with underground catacombs and cobblestone streets.

 Rumored to have a lot of unpredictable plot twists… (They had me with a description of “witty, snarky romantic tension” between Sera and the rival she plans to kill.)

JoJo:

Geopedia by Marcia Bjornerud

I saw this while shelving, and wanted to know more! (Non-fiction book on geodes)

Stephanie:

Weyward by Amelia Hart : Such a beautiful cover and the Bookaholics book club always chooses such great titles!

Looking for salvation at the Dairy Queen : a novel / Gilmore, Susan Gregg.
Here's another book on my list I'm looking forward to reading. Because who doesn't love a good old-fashioned DQ? And I love stories with characters who long to escape their life and are drawn back to their roots, discovering that's where they belong after all.

 

Olivia

All Quiet on the Western Front

I’ve seen both movie versions, I’d like to see the original text and source material for the adaptations.

 

Anonymous

Dirty Laundry: Why Adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help

I’m not exactly excited to read it, but I feel we should all be more aware.

Finding Meaning: Books that have impacted us

Have you read any books that helped you find yourself?  Everyone seems to go through a period in their life where they are looking for meaning, where they feel lost and unsure how to move forward.  Here are some titles that we’ve heard about from others, who felt they helped them find meaning, motivation, or offered an insight that impacted their life.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

True story of a computer science professor who was diagnosed with cancer and the last lecture he gave his students, relating to how they could help others realize their dreams and overcoming obstacles

Reader response: The whole story was impactful. I still think about it a year later.

Hiding in the Bathroom: an Introvert’s Roadmap to Getting Out There (When You’d Rather Stay Home) by Morra Aarons-Mele

Wisdom and practical tips for introverts on building relationships and dealing with challenges at work.

Reader response: This book really enabled me to find ways to get around challenges.

House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus has a solitary life as a case worker for a governmental department that oversees orphaned children with magical abilities.  Called out to an island to look into a group of magical misfits there, Linus feels like he has found family, but has a difficult choice to make.

Reader response: “I loved these characters so much I would fight to the death for them. This book just really restored my faith in humanity and helped my anxiety to know that level of love, kindness, and acceptance.”

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

A labor and delivery nurse is prohibited by a father for caring for a newborn because she is black, but when the baby goes into cardiac arrest, she intervenes and is later sued.

Reader response: “This book made me realize that I was not as aware about racial inequalities as much as I thought I was. It really educated me and changed my perspective.”

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff and E. H. Shepard

Reader response: “It’s an introduction to Taoism through how Winnie the Pooh reacts to things. Simple, but deep, and helped put into words how I wanted to live my life mindfully and with less stress.”

Man’s search for meaning by Frankl

A psychiatrist who survived the Nazi concentration camps reflects on his experiences and how to live a better life.

Reader response:  There’s a quote in the book, "He who has a why can survive any how,” that made me think very critically about how I wanted to live my life. The author talks about visualization and using his imagination as coping tools to move you to a better space, and I think about that a lot.

Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Reader response: Learning how everything is connected on an atomic level was astonishing and actually changed some of my views on spirituality and life.

10 Shades Of Personality: Understanding and Thriving amidst Personality Disorders by Queeneth Agu

Reader response: I had been talking to someone about my ex-wife and she gave me a copy of this book. It helped me better understand my ex’s behavior and work toward healing. It was amazing to read a list of behaviors that described her so perfectly and understand that I was not the crazy one.  It was mind-blowing, honestly. I feel like they should teach this in schools, so people are aware of and can recognize personality disorders in themselves and others.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reader response: I read this in 2017 when it first came out and it really opened my eyes. I remember hearing in the news when I was fairly young about black men being arrested/killed unfairly and asking about it.  I was told that they had done something to deserve it—they had been dealing drugs or looked suspicious when they ran away… I’m ashamed to admit how long I believed that. This book offered a look into that world through the eyes of a very intelligent, honest teen girl who was doing her best to understand what happened with her friend.  Her courage and willingness to tackle giant systemic issues not only impressed me, it inspired me to continue educating myself to become anti-racist and to educate my friends and family when they were perpetuating racist behavior. There are other non-fiction books that opened my eyes even further, but this was the first to jolt me awake, with a main character so likeable, it feels like a conversation with a close friend.

The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Reader response: This book let me know that it’s OK to step outside of our comfort zones, enjoy the little things in life, and do our best not to let our anxieties get the better of us.

Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey

Reader response: This made me realize how much I internalized that one's worth is tied to production.  Our society is brainwashing us into being machines, working an an unrealistic pace and this book shows how rest can be radical resistance.

Libros Nuevos en Español / New Spanish Books

 

Do you like to read books in Spanish?  The Eager Free Library was recently awarded an Adult Literacy grant from The Dollar General Literacy Foundation to be able to purchase adult titles in Spanish and we’d love to hear your suggestions for purchase!  Check out our survey in the Adult Fiction section—you can suggest specific titles or check off the types of books you like to read.  We’d love to see you at our monthly Spanish-English Conversation Group, too!  Join us on the first Friday of the month at 6 pm at El Vallarta restaurant.  Here is a peek at some of our new Spanish titles:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo=Los Siete Maridos de Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When Monique, a relatively unknown author, is chosen to write a biography for famous movie star Evelyn Hugo, she is thrilled. As Evelyn tells her story, Monique finds herself growing closer to her, but is surprised to learn their paths cross in unexpected ways.

Until August=En Agosto Nos Vemos by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Every year, Ana travels to an island to lay flowers on her mother’s grave. Although married, she takes a lover for this one night a year. (Published posthumously.)

The Woman with Jade Eyes=La Mujer de los Ojos de Jade by Marta Camara

Set in Shanghai, China, in 1924 as the Communist Party starts to expel foreigners.

The Color of Invisible Things=Color de las Cosas invisibles by Andrea Longarela

Rain and Jack hate each other, but fate seems to keep throwing them together.

A Perfect Story=Un cuento Perfecto by Elisabet Benavent

(Made into a Netflix series) Margot is an heiress fleeing on the day of her wedding, David works multiple jobs to make ends meet and is dealing with heartbreak. When they meet, however, they realize they can help each other win back the love of their lives.

Summer Reading Finale Week!

 

If library programs were fireworks, this week would be our Grand Finale!  The Summer Reading Program ends this Saturday, Aug. 10, so be sure to turn in your bingo sheets and Adventure maps before then to be entered in our Grand Prize Drawings. We hope you've had (and read) some great adventures this summer!

We have some great programs lined up this week as well: on Tuesday, kids are invited to make a Galaxy Jar, on Wednesday, adults are invited to make a Mini Adventure Sign Post, on Saturday the 10^th, teens are invited for a Mockingjay Scavenger Hunt, and then also on Saturday, Aug 10^th, bring chairs or a blanket to picnic on the Library’s front lawn!  We’ll have live band karaoke and food trucks to celebrate your reading accomplishments! (Rain alternative: Library’s lower level Multipurpose Room)

To register for Galaxy Jars:  https://events.getlocalhop.com/galaxy-jars/event/mAF04fkNBq/

To register for DIY Mini Adventure Sign Posts: https://events.getlocalhop.com/diy-mini-adventure-signpost/event/3GjuQkhvAM/

We’re proud of all your reading accomplishments this summer and hope to see you back at the library soon!

Author Spotlight: Kathleen Grissom

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom is the next book that our Antemeridians book club will be reading. They will discuss it on Thursday, August 15 at 10:30am in the Library's Multipurpose Room. We have copies of the book available in regular print, large print, audiobook, and Playaway. Stop at the upstairs desk to check out your copy today!

Here's a summary of Crow Mary: In 1872, sixteen-year-old Goes First, a Crow Native Woman, marries Abe Farwell, a white fur trader. He gives her the name Mary, and they set off on the long trip to his trading post in Saskatchewan, Canada. Along the way, she finds a fast friend in a Metis named Jeannie; makes a lifelong enemy in a wolfer named Stiller; and despite learning a dark secret of Farwell's past, falls in love with her husband. The winter trading season passes peacefully. Then, on the eve of their return to Montana, a group of drunken whisky traders slaughters forty Nakota - despite Farwell's efforts to stop them. Mary, hiding from the hail of bullets, sees the murderers, including Stiller, take five Nakota women back to their fort. She begs Farwell to save them, and when he refuses, Mary takes two guns, creeps into the fort, and saves the women from certain death. Thus, She sets off a whirlwind of colliding cultures that brings out the worst and best in the cast of unforgettable characters and pushes the love between Farwell and Crow Mary to the breaking point.

Kathleen Grissom has also written two other historical fiction books called The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything.

Friends Summer Used Book Sale & Donation Days

Is it time to purge some  of your personal book collection? Looking to find some great deals on used books? The Friends of the Eager Free Public Library will be having their Summer Used Book Sale and Donation Days on: 

- Thursday, August 1 

  from 12:00pm to 5:00pm

- Friday, August 2

  from 9:00am to 5:00pm

- Saturday, August 3

  from 9:00am to 12:00pm

The sale will be located in the lower level on the Grange Building at 19 W. Main Street. All donations should also be taken to the Grange Building. We will not accept donations at the Library. The Friends will not accept reference or textbooks, magazines (except for quilting ones), damaged books, DVDs and CDs.

 

If you have any questions about the sale or donations, please contact the Friends at friendsefpl@gmail.com

New Adult Graphic Novels

We've been working on adding new books to our Adult Graphic Novel collection! If you need to check off that box on your Adult BINGO sheet for Summer Reading, maybe one of these will appeal to you. Also, if you are someone who is really into graphic novels, please let us know some of  your favorites. We are always open to suggestions and want to have books that our patrons want to read! We recently relocated our Adult Graphic Novel collection, so if you're unable to find them, please ask library staff where their new home is.

The Dead Boy Detectives: Volume One by Toby Litt

Dune: The Graphic Novel: Book One by Brian Herbert

My Favorite Thing is Monsters: Book One by Emil Ferris

The Umbrella Academy: Volume One by Gerard Way

How to Baby by Lana Finck

Victory Parade by Leela Corman

The Asiri: Volume One by Roye Okupe

Evil Eyes Sea by Ozge Samanci

Headed to a State Park Soon?

Once again this year, you can pick up a FREE Wisconsin State Park day pass from EFPL! (You even get a sweet swag bag to go along with it!) According to the WI DNR, "Check Out Wisconsin State Parks at Your Library is a collaborative effort between the DNR, the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The goal of the program is to expand access to Wisconsin State Park System properties to new visitors." So, if you or your family are the outdoorsy types who love to explore new State Parks or repeat visitors of a favorite one, then this is the program for you! Happy exploring! Learn more below.

Here's everything you need to know:

• To make it fair for all of our patrons, there will be a limit of one pass per family per month.

• Library staff will need to write the date that you plan to visit the state park on the pass. This could be the current day's date or any date this summer. The pass will only be valid on the date you select.

• You can visit more than one Wisconsin State Park System location on that same day!

• Passes are valid for one vehicle with Wisconsin license plates. (Excluding busses)

• You will also receive a swag bag filled with information about the state park system, maps, stickers, accessibility information, and more.

• Passes do not need to be returned to the library after being used.

• Passes and swag bags are available while supplies last.

Are You a Weyward?

Our Bookaholics Book Club will get together on Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30pm to chat about Weyward by Emilia Hart. If the gorgeous cover isn't enough to draw you in, below is more about Weyward, which happens to be Emlia Hart's first book. (Emilia's second book, Sirens, will be published in 2025.)

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great-aunt she barely remembers. With it tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she suspects that here great-aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. When Altha was a girl, her mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But Unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence of witchcraft is laid out against Altha, she knows it will take all her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives - and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death, The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the Initial W and the word weyward scratched in the baseboard of her bedroom.

We will meet in the Multipurpose Room, which is in the lower level of the Library. Feel free to bring snacks or treats to share. We hope to see you there!

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

 The upcoming Friends of the Library Ice Cream Social and the hot weather has us thinking about cold, refreshing ice cream. Wouldn't you like some right now?

If you can wait until Friday (6/28), plan to attend the Ice Cream Social fundraiser at Emma's Table from 4-7pm with yummy cake with ice cream, root beer floats, and sundaes, plus an incredible selection of cakes to bid on. More info here. We appreciate the Friends of the Library and how their fundraising benefits the Eager Free Public Library.

Here are some books with lots of ways to enjoy ice cream.

 

 

Easy no-churn ice cream : the 'no equipment necessary' guide to standout homemade ice cream  – Heather Templeton

 

Sweet spot : an ice cream binge across America  – Amy Ettinger

 

À la mode : 120 recipes in 60 pairings : pies, tarts, cakes, crisps, and more topped with ice cream, gelato, frozen custard, and more  – Bruce Weinstein

 

The ice cream sundae book : a step-by-step guide to making America's favorite dessert  – Michael Turback

 

The ice cream book : over 400 recipes  – Lewis P. De Guoy

 

Mexican ice cream : beloved recipes and stories  – Fany Gerson

 

The perfect scoop : 200 recipes for ice creams, sorbets, gelatos, granitas, and sweet accompaniments  –David Lebovitz

"Fire Keeper's Daughter"

Our Antemeridian's Book Club will be discussing novels that feature women navigating between Native and White cultures both from a current perspective in June and during the late 1800's in August.

There are plenty of copies in regular and large print at the Library, so feel free to check one out even if you can't attend the book discussion on Thursday, June 20, at 10:30am.

Our June book is Angeline Boulley's Fire Keeper's Daughter. Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fountaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. After Daunis witnesses a murder, she's drawn into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Fire Keeper's Daughter is an electrifying thriller layered with a rich exploration of the modern Native experience, a reckoning of current and historical injustices, and a powerful celebration of community.

If you want to get a head start for the August discussion, Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom is a richly detailed story about an Indigenous woman caught between two cultures that was inspired by the true story of Crow Mary.

Looking for Adventure

 

Are your kids looking for some adventurous reads this summer? 

There are so many wonderful books full of adventure that are sure to capture your young reader's attention and keep them entertained all summer.

Here are some longtime favorite adventure series that your kids (and you) might enjoy this summer. Keep in mind that audiobooks make a great way to enjoy stories together during a family road trip.

The Lightning Thief (#1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians) -- Rick Riordan

Redwall -- Brian Jacques (this is Book 1 but you really can start anywhere)

Dealing With Dragons -- Patricia Wrede

My Side of the Mountain -- Jean Craighead George

Inkheart -- Cornelia Funke

Eragon -- Christopher Paolini

How To Train Your Dragon -- Cressida Cowell

The Borrowers -- Mary Norton

Lightningborn (Storm Dragon #1) -- Julie Kagawa

Hatchet -- Gary Paulsen

Artemis Fowl -- Eoin Colfer