I decided I wanted to try a Romance title this time but had experienced difficulty in the past in finding a recorded Romance that took me 'beyond' reading the book. So I went exploring and stumbled across a contemporary title (not my normal romance genre cup of tea) that was well-reviewed and had dual narrators to boot! The almost, but not quite, over-the-top voices had me laughing in enjoyment as the characters (also) stumbled into romance!
As always, check the For Listeners tab to find this month's audiobook and scroll up and down the page to discover other suggestions for your listening pleasure.
Showing posts with label August. Show all posts
Showing posts with label August. Show all posts
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Titles to Watch for NEXT WEEK: August 23-29, 2015
Forthcoming titles which may be of interest ...
ADULT FICTION
The Fall of Princes by Robert Goolrick - "In a compelling, wholly seductive narrative voice, Rooney tells of his high-flying days as a Wall Street trader during the 1980's; however, his fall is as precipitous as his rise, and he recounts his days of great wealth and even greater excess with both wistfulness and regret, never failing to mention the people he hurt along the way." (Booklist review, June 2015)
A Good Family by Erik Fassnacht - "Fassnacht's debut works as a read-alike for both Jennifer Weiner and Jonathan Franzen for the way it so convincingly melds domestic drama, suburban angst, and beautifully descriptive writing." (Booklist review, July 2015)
Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore - "In San Francisco, the souls of the dead are mysteriously disappearing and you know that can't be good in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore's delightfully funny sequel to A Dirty Job" (HarperCollins, publisher)
Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig - "Raised in the mid-1950's by his beloved grandmother in Montana's Two Medicine Country, orphaned Donal Kyle fells as if he's been tossed into cold water when Gram, recovering from surgery, sends him to live with her bossy and mean-spirited sister in Wisconsin. Aunt Kate is so put out with Kyle that she sends him back, to be placed in the custody of the authorities. Gratifyingly, though, Kate's harassed husband slips away to join him." (Library Journal review, March 2015)
Last Ragged Breath by Julia Keller (A Bell Elkin mystery) - "A beautifully craftey mystery in which Keller (Summer of the Dead, 2014, etc.) explores love, hate, and poverty in a place of stunning natural beauty with pockets of overwhelming ugliness. The ending may leave you in tears." (Kirkus Reviews, June 2015)
Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (A Chief Inspector Gamache novel) - "A strong sense of place, a multilayered plot, and well-crafted (and for Penny's fans, familiar) characters combine for a thoughtful, intriguing tale. More than a simple mystery, Penny's novel peels away the emotional and psychological layers of the inhabitants of Three Pines." (LJ Reviews, July 2015)
X by Sue Grafton - " ... features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton waste little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim." (Penguin Putnam, publisher)
Iron Wolf by Dale Brown - "The first woman president of the United States is tested by a Russian invasion of Ukraine and Moldova that compel a previous U.S. president to organize a radical counterattack involving manned robot soldiers." (NoveList annotation)
A Window Opens: A Novel by Elisabeth Egan - "... Elisabeth Egan brings us Alice Pearse, a compulsively honest, longing-to-have-it-all, sandwich generation heroine for our social-media-obsessed, lean in (or opt out) age. Like her fictional forebears Kate Reddy and Bridget Jones, Alice plays many roles (which she never refers to as "wearing many hats" and wishes you wouldn't, either)." (Simon and Schuster, publisher)
ADULT NONFICTION
Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots by John Markoff - "...New York Times reporter John Markoff, the first reporter to cover the World Wide Web, offers a sweeping history of the complicated and evolving relationship between humans and computers." (HarperCollins, publisher)
Rising Strong by Brené Brown, Ph.D. - " Brené Brown isn’t a spiritual guru, or someone who’s risen from the ashes to tell us how to live our lives. She’s a researcher. And Rising Strong isn’t some feel-good-get-over-it regimen; it’s more investigative reporting on the common denominators of people who whole-heartedly get back up and go another round after getting their asses handed to them in big and small ways." (Amazon Best Books of August 2015 review)
The Face That Changed It All: A Memoir by Beverly Johnson - "Featuring stunning never-before-seen photos, the first black supermodel to grace the cover of Vogue and one of the most successful glamour girls ever shares her childhood growing up in the racially charges 1960's, her meteoric rise to fame, her struggles with racism, drug addiction and divorce and her triumph over adversity." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
Kissinger’s Shadow: The Long Reach of America’s Most Controversial Statesman by Greg Grandin - "A new account of American's most controversial diplomat that moves beyond praise or condemnation to reveal Kissinger as the architect of American's current imperial stance." (McMillan Palgrave, publisher)
The Last Love Song: A Biography of Joan Didion by Tracy Daugherty - "Explores the life of the distinguished American author and journalist, following Didion's life as a young woman in Sacramento to her adult life as a writer interviewing those who know and knew her personally. (Baker & Taylor annotation)
ADULT FICTION
The Fall of Princes by Robert Goolrick - "In a compelling, wholly seductive narrative voice, Rooney tells of his high-flying days as a Wall Street trader during the 1980's; however, his fall is as precipitous as his rise, and he recounts his days of great wealth and even greater excess with both wistfulness and regret, never failing to mention the people he hurt along the way." (Booklist review, June 2015)
- Fantasy
Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore - "In San Francisco, the souls of the dead are mysteriously disappearing and you know that can't be good in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore's delightfully funny sequel to A Dirty Job" (HarperCollins, publisher)
- Historical Fiction
Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig - "Raised in the mid-1950's by his beloved grandmother in Montana's Two Medicine Country, orphaned Donal Kyle fells as if he's been tossed into cold water when Gram, recovering from surgery, sends him to live with her bossy and mean-spirited sister in Wisconsin. Aunt Kate is so put out with Kyle that she sends him back, to be placed in the custody of the authorities. Gratifyingly, though, Kate's harassed husband slips away to join him." (Library Journal review, March 2015)- Mystery
Last Ragged Breath by Julia Keller (A Bell Elkin mystery) - "A beautifully craftey mystery in which Keller (Summer of the Dead, 2014, etc.) explores love, hate, and poverty in a place of stunning natural beauty with pockets of overwhelming ugliness. The ending may leave you in tears." (Kirkus Reviews, June 2015)
Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (A Chief Inspector Gamache novel) - "A strong sense of place, a multilayered plot, and well-crafted (and for Penny's fans, familiar) characters combine for a thoughtful, intriguing tale. More than a simple mystery, Penny's novel peels away the emotional and psychological layers of the inhabitants of Three Pines." (LJ Reviews, July 2015)
X by Sue Grafton - " ... features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton waste little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim." (Penguin Putnam, publisher)
- Suspense Thriller
Iron Wolf by Dale Brown - "The first woman president of the United States is tested by a Russian invasion of Ukraine and Moldova that compel a previous U.S. president to organize a radical counterattack involving manned robot soldiers." (NoveList annotation)
- Women's Fiction
A Window Opens: A Novel by Elisabeth Egan - "... Elisabeth Egan brings us Alice Pearse, a compulsively honest, longing-to-have-it-all, sandwich generation heroine for our social-media-obsessed, lean in (or opt out) age. Like her fictional forebears Kate Reddy and Bridget Jones, Alice plays many roles (which she never refers to as "wearing many hats" and wishes you wouldn't, either)." (Simon and Schuster, publisher)
ADULT NONFICTION
Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots by John Markoff - "...New York Times reporter John Markoff, the first reporter to cover the World Wide Web, offers a sweeping history of the complicated and evolving relationship between humans and computers." (HarperCollins, publisher)
Rising Strong by Brené Brown, Ph.D. - " Brené Brown isn’t a spiritual guru, or someone who’s risen from the ashes to tell us how to live our lives. She’s a researcher. And Rising Strong isn’t some feel-good-get-over-it regimen; it’s more investigative reporting on the common denominators of people who whole-heartedly get back up and go another round after getting their asses handed to them in big and small ways." (Amazon Best Books of August 2015 review)
- Biography / Memoir
The Face That Changed It All: A Memoir by Beverly Johnson - "Featuring stunning never-before-seen photos, the first black supermodel to grace the cover of Vogue and one of the most successful glamour girls ever shares her childhood growing up in the racially charges 1960's, her meteoric rise to fame, her struggles with racism, drug addiction and divorce and her triumph over adversity." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
Kissinger’s Shadow: The Long Reach of America’s Most Controversial Statesman by Greg Grandin - "A new account of American's most controversial diplomat that moves beyond praise or condemnation to reveal Kissinger as the architect of American's current imperial stance." (McMillan Palgrave, publisher)
The Last Love Song: A Biography of Joan Didion by Tracy Daugherty - "Explores the life of the distinguished American author and journalist, following Didion's life as a young woman in Sacramento to her adult life as a writer interviewing those who know and knew her personally. (Baker & Taylor annotation)
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Titles to Watch For NEXT WEEK: August 16-22, 2015
Some titles hitting the shelves next week ...ADULT FICTION:
The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore - "A seemingly idyllic, affluent northern California family is tested by Ivy League ambitions, over scheduling, impossible expectations by the Bay Area elite and difficult personal secrets. By the author of So Far Away." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford - "For centuries, New York City has been a magnet to dreamers with fantasies of catapulting themselves into the upper echelons of society. Unfortunately, as Evelyn Beegan discovers ... , the higher you rise, the farther you have to fall should you lose your grip on the social ladder." (BookPage Reviews, 2015 August)
- Historical Mystery
A Pattern of Lies: a Bess Crawford Mystery by Charles Todd - "A horrific explosion at a gunpowder mill sends Bess Crawford to war-torn France to keep a deadly pattern of lies from leading to more deaths, in this compelling and atmospheric mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of A Question of Honor and An Unwilling Accomplice." (HarperCollins, publisher)
- Horror
Deceptions: A Cainsville Novel by Kelley Armstrong - "Haunted by visions of a blond child with an urgent message, Olivia Taylor Jones outmaneuvers her stalking ex-fiance while investigating how her destiny is being shaped by ancient scripts." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
- Mystery Suspense
Hostage Taker by Stefanie Pintoff - "Strong writing, a well-paced plot, and intriguing characters make this one of the best thrillers of the year. Fans of Lisa Gardner will find much to like here." (LJ Reviews, July 2015)—
The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman - "Engaging in high-risk activities to escape from her regimented life as a psychologist, Grace Blades has a one-night stand with a man who turns our to be her new client -- one who claims a unique connection to Grace's foster father." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F. H. Bacatan - "Fans of forensic mysteries as well as readers who enjoy their crime fiction in under explored settings [The Philippines in 1967] will want to add this to their reading lists." (LJ Reviews, May 2015)
- Romantic Suspense
Friction by Sandra Brown - "Petitioning to regain custody of his young daughter in the aftermath of a reckless decision, a Texas Ranger intervenes during the attempted assassination of an attractive judge, who he risks his life to protect when the gunman escapes." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
- Science Fiction Thriller
Zer0es by Chuck Wendig - "Five iconoclastic hackers are recruited against their will to serve the U.S. government by working as cyberspies before discovering an NSA artificial intelligence program that is rapidly growing out of control." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
- Short Stories
Fortunes Smiles by Adam Johnson - "In six masterly stories, Johnson delves deep into love and loss, natural disasters, the influence of technology, and how the political shapes the personal." (Random House, Inc, publisher)
- Women's Fiction
We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh - "When her parents return to Mexico, 15-year old Letty Espinosa is forced to become a parent to her young sister and considers a risky move that jeopardizes their fragile hopes for the future. By the best-selling author of The Language of Flowers." (Baker & Taylor annotation)
ADULT NONFICTION:
The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan - "How a year of being thankful led to big changes in a woman's life. When editor and producer Kaplan (A Job to Kill For, 2008, etc.) made a New Year's resolution to take a full year and show more appreciation in life, she didn't realize what a difference that pledge would make." (Kirkus Reviews, May 2015)
TEEN / YOUNG ADULT:
Court of Fives by Kate Elliott - "In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott's first young adult novel weaves an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege." (Grand Central Publications, publisher)
Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman - "This exhilarating start to the Blood of Gods and Royals series is a fascinating historical fantasy, bringing high drama, ardent romance, and dark magic to the tale of Alexander the Great." (Booklist Reviews, July 2015)
Monday, August 3, 2015
RA Tip: Display Ideas for August
I subscribe to Famous Daily and receive an email each morning showing fun informational facts related that day. The posts include 'on this day in history' events, celebrity birthdays, and even subject specific spotlights for 'On this day in' business, entertainment, geography, and sports.
Any one of these would make an interesting topic for creating a display.
Consider instead mixing the events together and develop a month long display featuring titles related to selected fun facts. Choose a specific day of the week, such as Monday, to use as a turn over point for swapping out the events and refreshing the materials in the display.
A simple full or half-size sheet (depending on the size of the display area) could be typed up listing 'On this day ...' topics along with a question or statement to tease the interest of customers. An alternative would be to make individual fold-over tents for each topic, matching them up with groupings of subject specific material throughout the display. Either could be switched out each week as the display turns over to highlight new events.
This creates a rotating display that can run all month long, keeping it fresh with the inclusion of a new set of materials each week. Staff can plan everything in advance by picking the day to use as the turn over point, choosing which events to highlight (or not), and then gathering material ahead of time to include in the display. Don't forget to mix Adult, Teen, and Children's titles along with varying formats, including e-Media!
For example, using the heading: Fun Facts for August 3rd
On this day ...
In 1996 - "The Macarena" reached #1 on the charts
- How many times/places did you see this dance performed at events throughout the year?
In 1980 - Closing ceremonies of Summer Olympics take place, without the U.S., who had boycotted the games
- Did you know anyone who was on the U.S. Olympic team that year?
In 1934 - Adolph Hitler became Fuhrer of Germany
- Ultimately leading to WWII and a sad time in world history ...
In 1492 - Christopher Columbus began the journey in which he 'discovered' America
- And look where we are today ...
Celebrity birthdays for days-of-the-month can make for a fun display as well.
Create a calendar, add a few names for each day, then find books, music CDs, DVD's etc, in the branch collection which are representative of all the birthday girls & boys. This is a great way to mix media into a display.
August 3rd birthdays:
- Evangeline Lilly (of 'Lost' and the current, popular movie 'Ant Man' fame) turns 36
- Tom Brady (Quarterback & Superbowl MVP/Champion) turns 38
- Martha Stewart (entrepreneur, domestic diva & TV personality) turns 74
- Martin Sheen (movie actor, father of Emilio Estevez & Charlie Sheen) turns 75
- Tony Bennett (pop singer, known for rendition of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco") turns 89
Check out famousdaily.com for more August 3rd (or any other day) fun facts to consider using for displays in the branch.
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