A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods

 

By Bill Bryson

 

 

The Granddaddy of all HIKES" - The Appalachian Trail.. 2,200 miles...
This book was quite delightful. His memoir of attempting this hiking feat with a friend is detailed and hilariously funny!  It is interspersed with tons of facts, statistics, and history of the trail itself, The National Forest Service is a big theme in this book, tourism, animals, and also quaint little lodging towns along the way.
For instance there is a town, just off the trail, (an old coal mining town). It has been burning under the surface for years and years.. so much so that the town was evacuated.  It is a ghost town now, and the ground is still smoking.  Geologists suspect it will burn for many more years!! I find stories like that so interesting!!!
But, put aside all those little side stories and think about the majestic beauty of nature he definitely saw along the way and how literally breathtaking it must of been! ... I will say it again.. it was delightful.!!  Oh how I LOVE the mountains! The way they look, the way they smell, the way they make you feel so insignifigant!
One description in the book, (when he describes an encounter with a moose) I felt immediate recognition of because I felt like I had that same experience a couple weeks before at a friend's cabin
"....we stared at each other for a good minute, neither of us sure what to do. There was a certain obvious and gratifying tang of adventure in this, but also something much more low-key and elemental---a kind of respectful mutual acknowledgment that comes with sustained eye contact. It was this that was unexpectedly thrilling--- the sense that there was in some small measure a salute in our cautious mutual appraisal. I was smitten"
Another fun part of the book is all of the different characters they meet along the way. People attempt to hike this trail all the time, and there is little shelters built along the way for people to sleep under.  You get to know these people and their backstories, and that was fun to read about.
 Bill Bryson is a very funny author and this book is full of his type of humor. Some may find it a little raunchy, but none of it really bothered me. A really great read! The book was just made into a movie this year starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. I was not super pleased with the movie, but delighted in this story of the majestic wonder of our planet.  

Bird Box

Bird Box

By Josh Malerman

 

I love a good thriller! Who doesn't like being scared and jumping at every little sound ? And I really enjoyed this book! He writes suspense very well. Like those old Hollywood movies. I don't need alot of gore to be scared. The possibilty of what could be there is enough to make you shiver and jump at every noise. I mean, could you imagine not being able to open your eyes for fear of what creatures lurk out there and those said creatures...,well just the sight of them will turn you into a ravin       I love a good thriller! Who doesn't like being scared and jumping at every little sound ? And I really enjoyed this book! He writes suspense very well. Like those old Hollywood movies. I don't need alot of gore to be scared. The possibilty of what could be there is enough to make you shiver and jump at every noise.       Something is causing the world to go crazy, something is causing humanity to kill each other, something is out there and it is causing FEAR.  A young pregnant woman is one of the last survivors, and along with a rag tag group of others lives in a boarded up home trying to decide what to do next, and what comes next.  You can't open your eyes outside, because that's all it takes. One look, and whatever is out there will CHANGE you. It will make you a killer.  (There is some cursing in this book,  just so you are aware)      I mean, could you imagine not being able to open your eyes for fear of what creatures lurk out there and those said creatures...,well just the sight of them will turn you into a raving lunatic murdering pyscho... Fun right??? ;). I recommend this book to anyone who wants to curl up in a chair,with a blanket, late at night and all alone.  sip a cup of coffee...And wonder what all those creepy noises are.. and probably finish the book in one setting because.. well, you need answers!! And that brings me to my final point ... I didn't get the answers I seeked. I wanted to know what the creatures looked like!! What caused this to occur?? I'm not sure why we left on such a cliff hanger.. but other then that.. it was a great ride!



Dreamer's Pool

By Juliet Marillier

     If I was to describe this book in a few words I would say - "Law and Order -- In Fantasy Land"

But it is so much more and I loved it!! Blackthorn is a woman who has a been imprisoned for a very long time for trying to do the right thing and is awaiting her execution, when one night a Fey being  visits her in prison and offers her a proposition.  He will get her out of there and help her get away if she promises to stay away from that city for 7 years and not seek vengeance for what was done to her. Also, she is a wise woman, and a healer, and as part of the agreement, she will need to live in a specific village and NEVER turn down help from anyone who asks.  She agrees and so begins her journey.  She is accompanied by a man she first met in prison (Grim) and they set up shop in a little village and begin serving those around her.  Before she knows it the King has asked her to assist him in solving a very peculiar thing that has just happened to him.  And others are asking for her assistance as well.  She investigates a missing person case, and begins helping the king on the side. 

Something happened to the king's betrothed on the way to their wedding.  She is not the same woman he imagined she would be based on the correspondence they had leading up to their meeting.  

     A chance swim in the entranced and magic "Dreamer's Pool" on the way to the estate has changed some people in the princess's entourage, but those who know are not saying.  Blackthorn and Grim investigates the lore of the place and a plan is laid out to see who the princess really is.. but what kind of outcome could it have?  I have read several of Juliet Marillier's books and LOVE each and every one! She laces her beautiful and lyrical story writing with Celtic lore and legend and unforgettable characters.  She loves dogs(as do I) and a canine friend plays an unforgettable part in each and every book!! This is the first in a trilogy and I just started the second one, which looks to be just as great, and a very interesting story is unfolding which is so peculiar and interesting and I can't wait to find out what happens! Check out Dreamer's Pool or one of Juliet's other books if you love Celtic folklore and fantasy and I promise you won't be disappointed!! 

The Other Side of Quiet

The Other Side of Quite by Tara C. Allred

Mrs. Child's handed out a journal to her creative writing class that was suppose to be completely private.  A place where they could write their feelings and deepest thoughts and no one would ever see. But when their journals were confiscated because of the murder of a girl in the high school, the trust it took all year to build is destroyed.

Through the journals you glimpse the heartache and the different family situations that each of these ten teenagers are going through and the challenges that they face. Even though they put on a good front to their fellow classmates and teachers, they each had challenges that they were dealing with and trying to overcome.

This was a good read that had me rooting for each of the kids and hoping things would turn out alright.

Be sure to join us....

for the December Book Club tomorrow night!

The Mistborn Trilogy

The Mistborn Trilogy 

By Brandon Sanderson

     This trilogy is a great story! I'm not a big fantasy reader, but I'm so glad I gave this book a shot.  The setting, characters, plot, and really cool magic system held me captive during the entire duration of the story.  One element that I really liked was the author's ability to reveal things slowly, and in a way that made me smile and think, "How did I NOT see this coming?!"

     What initially drew me to this book was the premise of what if the "bad" guys were right?  While that was an important part, the themes of consequence, loyalty, and being true to oneself while making difficult choices were what makes this story so great.

     Lastly, I loved that the trilogy is really just one VERY well planned out tale.  From the beginning to end, and all the pieces of the puzzle reveal themselves and come to rest in place.  The tale is neatly wrapped up in the end, and as I finished it, I thought, " I want to read this again!!" 

A Memory of Violets

A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor

A Memory of Violets tells the story of two young handicapped Flower Sellers from London in 1876. Florie and Rosie are sisters born to impoverished Irish immigrants trying to survive and both are handicapped. Florie has a bum leg that slows her down and Rosie was born blind. They gather wild flowers and watercress, with their mother, to create bouquets to sell to passengers at the railway station. When they are just 8 and 4 years old, Florie must take over as both mother and provider when they lose their mother to Cholera, which leaves them with an abusive father who will beat them if they don't bring home a few tuppence from selling their flowers. More tragedy strikes the sisters when Rosie gets snatched from Flories grasp and is no where to be found.

Fast forward a few years to 1912 when Tillie embarks on a new venture to take on a new position to become a house mother in a home for former flower and watercress selling girls. The home had been created to help the handicapped flower girls of London by giving them a safe place to live and be gainfully employed making intricate silk flowers.

When Tillie arrives, she is putting away her things and discovers a wooden box with an old journal and a few "treasures" that belonged to Florie. Here their stories come together and Tillie is determined to find the sister that Florie spent her life searching for.

This is touching story that creates a vivid picture of the poverty and depravation that so many suffered from during that time in London's history.

Join us tomorrow night!

The Immortal Nicholas was my first Glenn Beck book I have read, and I was super impressed! What a wonderful storyteller he is! 

The main character, Agios, is a warrior type who is always on the fringes of events in Christ's life beginning with the Star of Bethlehem and ending (and continuing on) after Jesus death. He is a wood carver, and we experience him creating figurines that will become staples of the familiar manger scene. He secretly delivers these to children in the villages he comes across.  Both heart wrenching and beautiful in equal measure, Agios becomes the man who he was destined to become and we watch that change as goes on his life journey following in the footsteps of Jesus.  

Glen Beck masterfully weaves the story of Santa in with the true meaning of Christmas.  I read an article that stated he wanted to teach his children more the meaningful side of the Christmas season and that is why he began coming up with these characters, and writing this book.

This story was so riveting, I devoured it in a day, I just could not put it down. Definitely a new Christmas classic and highly recommended. 5 out of 5 stars

The White Ghost

The White Ghost by James R. Benn

The Billy Boyle World War II mystery series presents the reader with a double whammy: A thoroughly researched story about the period combined with an excellent crime tale. Until this novel, the series has concentrated on the European Theater of Operations where Billy, a Boston detective in civilian life, serves on the staff of General Eisenhower’s Supreme Command, tracing the progress of the war from North Africa through Sicily, Italy and, finally, the Normandy invasion. For a change of pace, this novel takes Billy and his sidekick, Kaz, to the South Pacific.

The impetus for this sudden development is at the behest of Joe Kennedy, who pulls strings to have Billy investigate a murder in the Solomon Islands. The reason for Billy’s selection derives from the fact that the body was discovered by Jack Kennedy, who was recovering after the loss of PT 109. The Boyles and the Kennedys had a history back in Boston and the theory was that if Billy exonerated Jack as the perpetrator it would not be questioned, and if he accused the future President of murder it would be the result of a grudge.

The novel develops into more than a historical recounting or a mystery with a detailed look at the war operations in the Solomons, which were occupied by both U.S. and Japanese forces, on land, sea and in the air. And a rousing finish with Billy and Kaz in the middle of a firefight between marines and Japanese infantry. All the novels in the series are equally enjoyable, and “The White Ghost” is highly recommended.

Amazon Review

"The Lost Boy" by Greg Ruth is an easily accessible graphic novel with a pretty interesting, Alice in Wonderland-type set up.  The artwork is really great, easily my favorite part of the book.  I felt like the book isn't as scary as it tries to be, and the pace is so fast that the tension and drama didn't build as effectively as it should have.  Although it's a shorter tale, it has some violence and language, which puts this book into YA territory.  The story itself is very much a "part one" story: only the beginning of a much deeper story is told, which left me feeling unfulfilled.  However, the art was lifelike and spooky at times, and that kept me going.  The setting reminds me strongly of the Spiderwick Chronicles.  There are several flashbacks, told via an old tape recorder, and those were great.  I wish there were more of them!  Overall:  Good art, good promise, quick read, but not a great ending.  Fans of "Spiderwick" will probably really like this book, and it's also a good graphic novel for people who don't want Manga. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. 

Support the Lehi Library

You can support our library this holiday season and throughout the year by doing all of your Amazon shopping through our Lehi Library Amazon link. If you click on this link every time you shop through Amazon, we will receive a percentage of your purchases. So bookmark this link and support us now and throughout the year using our link. Thank You!

 

 

The Jewel

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

After testing positive for the Augories gene, Violet is taken from her home in the Marsh, the poorest part of the country, to train and be educated so that she can become a surrogate for the Royalty. After spending years in a holding facility preparing to become a surrogate, Violet is about to be sent to the auction where she will be sold to the highest bidder.

Some of the surrogates were thrilled to be chosen and are looking forward to living in the Jewel, the wealthiest city in their country. Violet just wants to go home, be with her family and help her mother support their family.

This is another YA dystopian novel with all of they typical elements. The heroine is forced from her home, those in charge of the society are wealthy, inherently evil and only worry about themselves. And of course the typical love interest pops up about half way through. Despite all of that, I did enjoy reading this book.

Thanksgiving Puppet Shows

We had a lot of fun this week at the library with our Thanksgiving Puppet Shows! If you want to see a few clips from a couple of the shows here is a link....

https://youtu.be/L7XCRjd-oN8

Be sure to register for our special Christmas Storytimes on Dec 1st and 2nd.

And join us for our Christmas Puppet Shows Dec 8-10th!  (No Registration Required)

The Young Elites

Adelina is tired of being hurt, of being used. A survivor of the mysterious blood fever, she lost an eye. One would think that would be enough, but her father has hurt and hated her for years, trying to find some value in having a malfetto for a daughter. When Adelina finds out her father is going to sell her, she escapes … and murders him in the process.

On the day of her execution, a fire already set at her feet, Adelina is rescued by the Young Elites. They are a group of malfettos with magic powers, and they want Adelina because she’s one of them. But the rescue isn’t quite what it seems, because the Young Elites want to use Adelina, as does Teren, leader of the Inquisition that nearly killed her.

All of that? Pretty promising, I’d say. But there was just something missing in THE YOUNG ELITES, something that’s very difficult for me to put my finger on. I should have flown through this book, but it took me days to finish. That’s abnormal for me, because I usually read a book a day. THE YOUNG ELITES just didn’t hold my interest. I feel like I trudged through it, and there were several points where I just wanted to put it aside. I didn’t, but only because I’d heard the ending was worth it. The ending was okay, the best part of the book for me, other than the epilogue.

Why didn’t THE YOUNG ELITES hold my interest? To start, there’s a real lack of worldbuilding for a fantasy book. The world feels a lot like Renaissance Italy, and there are lots of descriptions of buildings and pretty masks and clothing, but not of the important stuff. Where did the blood fever come from? How does magic work for the Young Elites? Adelina describes using her powers, but I didn’t quite get the idea behind the threads, or many of the powers of the other Elites. Etc.

I also never connected to Adelina. I don’t necessarily have to like a main character to like a book, but there has to be *something* about a character to grab me if the story doesn’t. I should have loved that Adelina is making steps towards being the bad guy, but she didn’t feel very developed to me. I read in the Acknowledgments that she was originally a side character, and then the author rewrote the book around her.

Amazon Review

Don't Forget.....Book Club Tommorrow Night!

A Song for Summer

A Song for Summer

As the daughter and niece of three of Britain's most powerful and influential women in the late 1930's, Ellen's future and options are limitless. But instead of attending Oxford, she shocks her mother and aunts by enrolling into a cooking and housekeeping academy, and then accepts a position as a school matron at Hallendorf School, in Austria. Hallendorf is far different than any boarding school that Ellen's ever known. The teachers and students are free spirited, lively, and dramatic. But most mysterious is the gardener, Marek. Marek is plagued by years of guilt, and Hallendorf school is just a cover for a secret mission that he is driven to accomplish...one that he might not be able to complete without Ellen's help.

Ibbotson's spirited voice rings true in this enrapturing novel with a varied and colorful cast of characters and a complex and multilayered plotline. Though the ever changing points of view and lack of extensive elaboration on many subjects may disorient the reader slightly, A Song for Summer exudes a relaxed and comfortable air that makes it simple for the reader to step into the time period and setting and experience every wonderfully depicted detail with Ibbotson's clever use of imagery. Her smooth delivery builds up suspense on every page, making each sentence of this realistic and frank novel all that more enjoyable, culminating in a tasteful and artfully crafted masterpiece.

Amazon Review

Don't Forget....USU Extension Class Tomorrow Night

New Book Club Books

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

Calaena is a notorious assassin who has been captured and sent to work in the salt mines, where no one survives for long. Dorian, the Crown Prince and Chaol, the Head of the Kingsguard seek her out to offer her a proposition that seems unthinkable but ultimately she cannot refuse: compete to be the king's champion and if she's the victor she will earn her freedom in four years time or stay in the mines and undoubtedly die sooner rather than later. Calaena is brought to the Ice Castle to compete against a group of other mercenaries, thieves and murderers who also want to earn their freedom competing to be the King's Champion. A mystery evolves as the "contestants" begin to be murdered and Calaena finds herself in the middle of it.

Calaena is not a one dimensional character. Trained by the famed King of the Silent Assassins himself, Calaena is deadly and widely known for her success in completing her missions. On the other hand she can't pass by a dress shop without turning her head, she loves a good party and yet she is often content to stay in her room and read a good book.

As they progress through the competition the tests actually turn out to be rather anticlimactic or are glossed over completely, but there is definitely plenty of mystery, intrigue, laughs and tears and of course buddings of romance.  I enjoyed the book enough to definitely read the next one, "Crown of Midnight".

Five Little Pumpkins

Halloween Fun At The Library

House of Thieves

House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure

John Cross married into the upper crust of New York Society of 1885 and yet he must support his family with his modest income as an architect. To maintain his status in this elite moneyed group, he and his family must always be on guard so that they stay in the good graces of their fickle Aunt Caroline, who not only has the money to help them fit in, but her opinion determines who is accepted into this tight circle and who is not.

When James Kent, the leader of New York's most notorious gang, approaches Cross about his son's extensive gambling debts, John thinks it is a practical joke, until things get a little violent. With a fear of the scandal that would ensue if his son's debts were discovered, John agrees to provide the inside architectural knowledge that will help Kent rob a few of his past wealthy clients.

Although the story got a little redundant and far-fetched at times, it was a quick read, and fairly entertaining.

Check Us Out!!

Swipe

Swipe by Evan Angler

America as we know it, is no more. In the aftermath of a war that all but destroyed the country, the government has created a plan where there will be no more war and all is fair, if you are willing to make a pledge to the new government and receive the Mark. The Mark allows  you to  make purchases at the store, ride transportation, get a job and become a citizen of the new country.

Logan is about to turn thirteen, and will finally reach the eligible age to receive the Mark. At one time he was excited at the prospect, but now he is nervous and is beginning to question the purpose behind the Mark.

Although this book is definitely geared toward young adult readers, it was still a fun quick read.

The Tragedy Paper

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

 “Enter to Find a Friend and be a Friend” is the motto at Tim’s new school, a boarding school with many traditions. But Tim isn’t expecting to make friends. Tim is an albino and has always been a loner. He doesn’t want people to notice him. However, Tim makes that nearly impossible when he meets a popular girl named Vanessa while waiting for flight to school. Although they make an unlikely pair, there is a spark between Vanessa and Tim which grows. However, Vanessa has a boyfriend and her popularity to worry about so Tim and Vanessa keep their relationship a secret. Tim and Vanessa sneak around and hope not to be caught. During all this chaos, they have their biggest project ahead of them, The Tragedy Paper.

 The Tragedy Paper is a thesis all the seniors must write for English class. In Tim’s case, the tragedy becomes all too real. We learn about Tim’s tragedy through Duncan, another character in the book. One of the traditions at the school is that graduating seniors leave a gift for incoming seniors. Tim leaves CDs telling his story for Duncan. Duncan, has a role in Tim’s tragedy, and that is part of the mystery of the book as the reader doesn’t know how or why Duncan was involved. The narration alternates between Tim and Duncan’s point of view. Duncan, like most high school seniors, is trying to figure out his own life and deal with what happened to Tim.

 If you liked 13 Reasons Why, then you’ll love the Tragedy Paper. If you’re a teen then you will 100% relate to both Tim and Duncan as they both struggle with school, friends, popularity and love. With many twist and turns it’ll keep you at the edge of your seat. You will never know what’s coming next. So walk a day in Tim’s shoes, live a day in Tim’s life, be a part of the tragedy.

Amazon Revew

Don't Forget.....Book Club Night at the Library

Court of Fives

Court of Fives by Kate Elliott

Jessamy's father is an upper-class patron and her mother is a commoner, which leaves her not fitting into either of their worlds. To make matters worse, her one goal and dream is to compete in a game of Fives, an intricate, multilevel athletic competition. But doing so would destroy her father and ruin any kind of chance her family has to fitting into the world of the upper-class.

I felt like there was a lot of potential in this book. The author was able to develop the main characters in the book and I really liked how the friendship started between Jes and Kalliarkos.  The plot was a little confusing, it was never clear why the bad guy in this story was so intent on destroying Jes’s family. I also thought that Jes’s father made some very questionable decisions…I don’t really care what position he was put in.  Overall, I did enjoy the book and will read the second one.

Video featuring some of our local authors.

 

We have had a few requests for the authors that participated in our local Author's Night. So I have put the video up that features the authors and their books.

A Thousand Miles to Freedom

A Thousand Miles to Freedom by Eunsun Kim

Eunsun Kim was born in North Korea in 1986 during the reign of Kim Jong-Il, the socialist leader of one the most oppressive countries. Up until the age of 11, Eunsun lived what for her was a normal happy childhood, despite the increasingly constant hunger and the school field trips to public executions.

As the country grows deeper into despair and famine, Eunsun loses her grandparents and father to starvation. After surviving on next to nothing for months, Eunsun's mother realizes that if she and her two daughters are going to survive, they need to escape North Korea. Once the decision is made, they embark on a journey that ends up taking them 9 years to complete and leads them to human traffickers in China, through a labor camp in North Korea and the deserts of Mongolia.

This is an amazing story of survival and the will to live and also reveals the horrific wrongs that are still taking place in North Korea by a regime that cares only about power and has no care for the tens of millions of North Koreans that are starving and abused.

Come And Meet Some Local Authors!!

Silver in the Blood

Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

Seventeen year old cousins, Dacia and Lou, finally get to embark on their long awaited trip to see their mothers' native country of Romania. Dacia and her aunt are traveling ahead of Lou and her parents and so this story takes place with the two cousins exchanging letters as they travel through Europe on their way to meet their maternal cousins and grandmother.

The closer they get, they begin to discover their family's dangerous secrets and the unlikely centuries-old bond they have with the Dracula family and how it will affect their future.

This book really had a slow start and it wasn't until about 100 pages in that I felt like the story was ready to begin. I also didn't really understand the need of keeping the girls in the dark for so long about their transformative abilities. Once the story got started, George did a good job of giving a classic folktale new life.

Children's Fairytales, Fables and Folklore!

When I Found You

When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Over the years, Nathan McCann had drifted into a steady but monotonous rhythm with his life and marriage.  The only thing he had left that he really looked forward too were his early morning duck hunts with his faithful hunting dog, Sadie.

On a chilly Fall morning as he and Sadie set out to hunt, Sadie, who was a well trained and obedient hunting dog, went off on her own and would not listen when he called her. As Nathan went to figure out what had Sadie so riled, he found an abandoned baby boy that could not be more than a few hours old.

Nathan, who had never had children of his own, felt an inexplicable bond with this little baby boy and immediately began to plan a future where he would raise him as his own. When the boy's grandma came forward to claim the infant, Nathan was unaccountably disappointed and against his normal passive personality, insisted that the grandma one day bring the boy to meet him.

As a teenager, the boy becomes to much for the grandma to handle and when she has no where else to turn, she remembers her promise to Nathan and takes the boy to meet his rescuer.

This is a touching story of a man's conviction to helping a young boy, who is angry and lost and needs an unconditional love and support that is otherwise so hard to find.

Out of the Easy

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Josie Moraine is seventeen years old and lives on her own above the bookstore where she works. Her second job is cleaning a French Quarter brothel where her mother works. Her mother is a self absorbed thieving prostitute that doesn't even want to admit that she has a daughter.

Josie is determined to leave life in the Big Easy and her mother's reputation behind and attend the prestigious Smith College in Northhampton. She is saving every penny she can to achieve her goal and just when she feels like she might have a shot at it, her mother gets her entangled in the death of wealthy businessmen and leaves her with a mob debt that Josie might end up paying for with her life.

This was a captivating read with well developed characters, especially Josie who, despite being abandoned by both her mother and her father, was able to create a unique family of her own that included the madam of her mother's brothel, a local taxi driver and the owner of the bookstore where she works.

USU Extension Class

Come join us on Thursday for a class on how to prepare fresh vegetables by the USU Extension Office.

Don't Forget!!

September Book Club at the Library Thursday (tomorrow) night!!

Whether you have had a chance to read the book or not...come join us for some fun and games!

All The Light We Cannot See

By Anthony Doerr

Set in World War II France and Germany, All the Light We Cannot See is a long, rich novel populated by a range of imperfect characters, some who try to transcend that imperfection, others who cannot see it.

The cast of characters includes Marie-Laure, blind since age six, with a quick mind and a great deal of self-confidence; her father, locksmith for the Museum of Natural History in Paris; Marie-Laure’s great-uncle, an agoraphobic haunted by ghosts since he returned from World War I; the great-uncle’s elderly housekeeper, who finds the courage to join the French resistance; Werner, a German orphan who is a prodigy in the creation and repair of radios; Werner’s sister Jutta, left behind when Werner is accepted into a science academy for Hitler Youth that offers more political indoctrination than science; and a whole host of others.

Anthony Doerr brings this wide assembly of individuals to life, moving among them, slowly drawing them nearer one another, fleshing each of them out so that even those we might expect to be stereotypes are much more multifaceted.

And among these multifaceted characters lies a multifaceted stone: a diamond with a legendary history. In less able hands, the diamond would have dominated this story, which would have degenerated into a variation on Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it’s the characters who are the heart of All the Light We Cannot See. There are a few we hate, but for the most part, we can’t help but see the better parts of them. The question is whether they will discover these better selves in time to make a difference of some sort in a world quite literally in flames.

Amazon Review

September Book Club

September Book Club at the Library Thursday night!!

 

Stay

Stay by Victor Gischler

Put on leave by the US Army, David Sparrow has become a stay at home dad who is very efficient at getting the kids to school and keeping the house in order. Although the powers that be don't think he has had time enough to heal, David is ready to get back to work and is getting impatient with his bosses in the military that are keeping him on the sideline.

His wife Amy, the newly minted Assistant District Attorney for New York, is completed swamped with her new responsibilities which include building a case against the New York crime lord, Dante Payne. When their home is burglarized and Amy's office is ransacked, David quickly jumps to the task of protecting his family and in the process reveals a skill set that Amy had no idea he possessed.

Soon David realizes that his wife and family are no longer safe and he doesn't know who he can trust. This is a quick paced, action packed book about a man who is willing to risk everything to save his family.

Although it is a little over the top at times. This is still a good, quick read.

Ghost Boy

Ghost Boy:  The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body 

 by Martin Pistorius

This is a truly amazing story of a boy from South Africa who at the age of twelve, came home from school complaining of a sore throat. He quickly and progressively became more ill and within a year, lost all control of his body and even lost the ability to speak. His parents took him to doctor after doctor and no one could tell them why their boy had become a shell. His parents fed and bathed him while they waited for him to die.

Inexplicably, at around the age of 16, he began to become of aware of his surroundings once more. The devastating reality was that he had no way of communicating with the world and so no one knew that he was waking up. For four long years, he suffered in silence and despair until a perceptive caregiver thought she could see recognition in his eyes.

This is an incredible story of survival and triumph. If it wasn't a true story there is no way you would believe this could happen.

Read Aloud Chapter Books for Young Kids!

Before Midnight

 

Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey

You know the basic story but in this version there are some changes. Cinderella's name is really Cendrillon and her father is alive, but has abandoned her because the death of her mother makes Cendrillon's company too painful. There is another boy whose birthday is the same day as Cendrillon's who grows up with her but has an unknown past. Add to the mix two countries torn by centuries of war, but currently at peace and you have the makings for a great Cinderella retelling.

I loved that Dokey approached this retelling a bit differently, in some ways she stuck truer to the Brothers Grimm version than the Disney version. In some ways, she made everything a bit more sweet too. Most of the story focuses on the power of love and wishes. When Cendrillon wishes for sisters and a mother to love, her wish comes true but not in the way she imagined. Her stepsisters and stepmother aren't as horrible as they are in some renditions, and the ways they are horrible are because their own pain.

There are a lot of twists to the plot, making it more interesting than the traditional Cinderella story. All the characters involved are paired up happily in the end too, which while unlikely and a bit goofy, is also very fairy tale like and sweet.

Overall an excellent retelling of Cinderella. Very sweet and loving characters, a very fairy tale like ending. I loved that the plot was complicated by sympathetic characters and had some additional politics thrown in. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. If you like fairy tale retellings I can recommend this as a good read.

Amazon Review

Fall Programming

Lehi Library Web Page

Diary of a Waitress

Diary of a Waitress: The Not-So-Glamorous Life of a Harvey Girl by Carolyn Meyer

When Kitty Evans gets the bad news that pursing her life long dream of going to college and studying journalism is no longer an option, she starts looking for ways to escape her hometown and avoid working at the local shoe store "selling shoes to persnickety old ladies with stinky feet!" On a whim, she fills out an application to waitress as a Harvey Girl for the Harvey House Restaurants that have sprung up along the route of the railroads.

A little unsure and wondering what she has gotten herself into, Kitty heads to Kansas to train as a Harvey Girl. Once there, she finds that there are a lot of rules and a lot of hard work.

This was an interesting story about a piece of railroad history that I had not heard of before. The story gets a little repetitive but was still a good read.

Last Day of Summer Puppet Shows at the library!

The Alphabet House

The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Two young British pilots are shot down while they are flying a reconnaissance mission near Dresdan, Germany. Once they are on the ground, the Germans are quick to send a patrol to eliminate the downed pilots. The pilots are not exactly sure where they've landed, but they do know they have to find a way to save themselves from their two worst enemies, the freezing cold temperatures and the Germans. When they stumble upon a train loaded down with senior SS officers who have been wounded on the Eastern Front, they decide to take the place of two of the officers. After pitching their bodies through the window of the train, they climb into the dirty, stinking beds, hoping that they will live through the train ride.

When the train finally reaches its destination, these two young pilots find themselves in a remote village in Germany in a hospital for the mentally insane. Somehow they need to convince the Germans that they are indeed insane until they can find a way to escape. With each day they are imprisoned in the hospital, the daily rounds of shock treatments and experimental drugs make their dreams of escape more distant.

The atrocities of WWII are incomprehensible at times and this stories just brings to light more of the terrible injustices that were inflicted in that terrible war.

Summer Puppet Show

The Spy's Son

The Spy's Son:  The True Story of the Highest-Ranking CIA Officer Ever Convicted of Espionage and the Son He Trained to Spy for Russia

This is an incredible story about a man who first betrayed his country and then his youngest son. Jim Nicholson had spent his life serving his country first in the military and then in the CIA, so how does he turn from a dedicated CIA agent to selling out his country for money? Author, Bryan Denson delves into his life and tells a story of greed and ego that brings down Nicholson and even more incomprehensible, how he lures his youngest son into helping him hand over secrets to the Russians.

Denson does a good job laying out the facts and creating a timeline of this real life betrayal of Nicholson's country and family.

Teen Scene

Memory Man

Memory Man by David Baldacci

David Baldacci's latest offering, Memory Man, introduces yet another character who is unlike anything you’ve read before. Amos Decker is an ex-football star and a highly decorated ex-cop. Life has a way of dealing cruel and harsh blows. Decker was a promising footballer, but it was cut short by an accident he met as a twenty-two year-old NFL rookie. The injury opened a new chapter in his life, resulting in a condition of possessing an extremely detailed autobiographical memory wherein he forgets nothing. The grisly murders of his loved ones left him directionless. But the chance arrest of Sebastian Leopold who was suspected of being involved in a mass shooting at the local high school brought the cold case back to life, and reunited Decker with his former partner, detective Mary Lancaster, and they had to dig deep to bring the two cases to its logical conclusion.

Memory Man by David Baldacci is an exciting, fast-paced thriller which fans of Baldacci’s other series will enjoy. There is enough suspense in the book which will keep you going all the way to the end. In Amos Decker, Baldacci has created a fascinating character while Mary Lancaster is as wonderful. The plot is wonderfully conceived, and the ending will leave you delightfully satisfied. I wonder how the character of Amos Decker will evolve in the next book in the series. Though he's not your ideal hero I'm sure you'll still root for him!

Amazon Review

Tribute to our Veterans

Due to inclement weather, this event has been moved to the

 Legacy Center North Gym

 

A Man of Good Hope

A Man of Good Hope by Jonny Steinberg

Asad Abdullahi is an eight year old boy when armed militias attack his home in Mogadishu and he begins a journey that most of us cannot comprehend. His father is missing and his mother is killed by the invading militia men, so Asad is left in the care of an uncle. As he and his uncle flee Mogadishu, they are attacked again and he is separated from his uncle.  Asad is shuffled between refugee camps in Somalia and Ethiopia and cities like Nairobi where he lives with distant relatives and is eventually abandoned at the age of about seventeen.

Asad becomes quite resourceful in finding ways to survive and eventually ends up in the Capital of Ethiopia, Addis, where he becomes quite successful as a broker between thousands of Somalia refugees and the businessman there. Eventually, the search for a better life leads him to South Africa, where there are opportunities to make money, but it is very dangerous to be a Somalia refugee.

This is an amazing story of survival and ingenuity. It is hard to imagine the life of a refugee in Samalia and Asid's instinct to survive and continue forward in this journey of life is inspiring.  

USU Extension Class

Come and join us for the USU Extension class on making better beverage choices!