Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Adult Summer Reading


 
During week 8 42 readers read 143 books, and five new people joined the program.  For the summer so far, 155 readers have read 979 books!

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Book reviews from participants Aug 31: 

Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara:  The book is a historical novel detailing the Civil War from the aftermath of Gettysburg to the surrendor at Appomatix.  Seen through the eyes of Robert E. Lee and Ulyssess S. Grant, the narrative makes compelling reading.

Ladies of Garrison Gardens by Louise Shaffer:  When Laurel McGready unexpectedly inherits a large fortune and estate she also inherits mysteries, including how her benefactor acquired her money and how an old suitcase from Vaudeville days figures in.  Very readable.

War Boys by M. A. Schaffner:  Fairly interesting novel of American teenagers growing up in the Philippines while their familes are stationed at the military bases there.  Takes place during the Vietnam War (1968).  Excessive use of foul language, I thought.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows:  A thoroughly interesting story of the German occupation of the British island of Guernsey, during WWII.  It's told through the exchange of letters from various fictional characters.  Authors do a good job of bringing the characters to life.

Top Secret Restaurant Recipes by Todd Wilbur:  If you know you like a certain recipe from a certain restaurant try it.





The Last Full Measure





The Last Full Measure
By Shaara, Jeff
1998-05 - Ballantine Books
9780345404916 Check Our Catalog


As The Last Full Measure opens, Gettysburg is past and the war advances to its third brutal year. On the Union side, the gulf between the politicians in Washington and the generals in the field yawns ever wider. Never has the cumbersome Union Army so desperately needed a decisive, hard-nosed leader. It is at this critical moment that Lincoln places Ulysses S. Grant in command - and turns the tide of the war. For Robert E. Lee, Gettysburg was an unspeakable disaster - compounded by the shattering loss of the fiery Stonewall Jackson two months before. Lee knows better than anyone that the South cannot survive a war of attrition. But with the total devotion of his generals - Longstreet, Hill, Stuart - and his unswerving faith in God, Lee is determined to fight to the bitter end. Battle by staggering battle, Shaara dramatizes the escalating confrontation between Lee and Grant - complicated, heroic, deeply troubled men. …More


The Ladies of Garrison Gardens



The Ladies of Garrison Gardens
By Shaffer, Louise
2005-09 - Thorndike Press
9780786277926 Check Our Catalog


Small-town secrets, star-crossed lovers, and the power of the past to determine the future come together to prove that behind every great fortune there is a great crime. …More


War Boys



War Boys
By Schaffner, M. A.
2002-09 - Welcome Rain Publishers
9781566492447 Check Our Catalog


Reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies" in its depiction of the brutal playing field of adolescent competition, Schaffner's accomplished first novel tells a unique story of America's overseas empire at its apogee and of the coming of age of a group of boys as well as of their entire nation. …More


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society



The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Shaffer, Mary Ann
Author Barrows, Annie
2008-09 - Center Point Large Print
9781602852693 Check Our Catalog


It's January, 1946, and London is emerging from the shadow of World War II. Author Juliet Ashton is having a terrible time finding inspiration for her next book when she gets a letter from Dawsey Adams from Guernsey, a British island that had been occupied by the Nazis. He finds her address in a used Charles Lamb volume and wonders if she might be able to help him learn more about the author. As Juliet and Dawsey exchange letters, she learns about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a unique book club formed on the spur-of-the-moment, as an alibi to protect its members from arrest by the Germans. Captivated, Juliet sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds there will change her life forever. …More


Boys Without Names

Browse Inside



Boys Without Names
By Sheth, Kashmira
2010-01 - Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
9780061857607 Check Our Catalog
BookPage Notable Title

Sheth pens a compelling novel about a boy in contemporary India who is kidnapped and forced to work in a sweatshop. …More


The Pleasure Slave



The Pleasure Slave
By Showalter, Gena
2005-02 - Harlequin Books
9780373770328 Check Our Catalog


Antiques dealer Julia Anderson gets more than she bargains for when she acquires her own love slave in the form of sinfully handsome Tristan. Revealing his true heart will break the centuries-old spell, but Tristan will risk eternity to stay with Julia. Original. …More


Ancestor





Ancestor
By Sigler, Scott
2010-06 - Crown Publishing Group (NY)
9780307406330 Check Our Catalog


New from the bestselling author of "Contagious": a heart-pounding ride that's part Frankenstein-style cautionary tale, part monster movie, and part medical thriller, as science accidentally unleashes a fearsome ancient predator on the modern world. …More


That Camden Summer



That Camden Summer
By Spencer, LaVyrle
1996-01 - Putnam Publishing Group
9780399141201 Check Our Catalog


In the summer of 1916, Roberta and her three daughters arrived in Camden, Maine. As Roberta tries to rebuild both her life and a ramshackle house overlooking the harbor, she endures violence, betrayal, and pain. But she also finds love, friendship and acceptance from the most unlikely source. …More


The Brothers Story



The Brothers Story
By Sturtevant, Katherine
2009-11 - Farrar Straus Giroux
9780374309923 Check Our Catalog


A fascinating portrait of a young person struggling to balance family and freedom, "The Brothers Story" is also a frank depiction of Restoration London in its bawdy, raucous glory. …More


A Duty to the Dead



A Duty to the Dead
By Todd, Charles
2010-09 - Harper Paperbacks
9780061791772 Check Our Catalog


"A Duty to the Dead," the first book of an exciting new series, is set in England during World War I, and features a spectacular female protagonist. …More


A False Mirror

Browse Inside



A False Mirror
By Todd, Charles
2007-01 - William Morrow & Company
9780060786731 Check Our Catalog


A love triangle turned deadly sends Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge to Hampton Regis, a small harbor town that simmers with secrets. Accused of beating the husband of a woman who jilted him, Rutledge's former trenchmate takes her hostage to escape arrest, and he demands Rutledge prove his innocence. …More


Canaan's Gate



Canaan's Gate
By Wall, Kathryn R.
2010-04 - Minotaur Books
9780312601843 Check Our Catalog


Bay Tanner's agency is hired to investigate a bank employee's suspicions that a coworker is running a scam on the elderly and wealthy Castlemain family. Twenty-four hours later, Mrs. Castlemain dies of an apparent heart attack, and Bay discovers that divided loyalties can be painful--and sometimes fatal. …More


Top Secret Recipes: Creating Kitchen Clones of America's Favorite Brand-Name Foods



Top Secret Recipes: Creating Kitchen Clones of America's Favorite Brand-Name Foods
By Wilbur, Todd
1993-06 - Plume Books
9780452269958 Check Our Catalog


Thanks to years of Wilbur's painstaking research, now you can enjoy the guilty pleasures of all your favorite junk foods--from Big Macs to KFC Original Recipe Chicken to Reeses Peanut Butter Cups--assembled in the privacy of your very own kitchen. Line drawings. …More


The Great Fables Crossover





The Great Fables Crossover
By Willingham, Bill
Author Sturges, Matthew
Illustrator Buckingham, Mark
2010-02 - Vertigo
9781401225728 Check Our Catalog


All nine issues of the long-awaited crossover between two popular series--Fables and Jack of Fables--are collected in one volume. …More

Subsidized Health Insurance for High-Risk Michiganders

Subsidized Health Insurance for High-Risk Michiganders: From the RedTape Blog: "Michigan is set to launch a subsidized insurance pool for people who haven't been able to get coverage because of a pre-existing health condition, but it's not clear if the program will be big enough to handle everyone who wants to buy in.

The program is available only to those with pre-existing health conditions who have been uninsured for at least the previous six months, including those that have been denied coverage for health reasons.


For the full article, see Tim Martin, 'Michigan preps insurance pool', Battle Creek Enquirer, August 29, 2010.

Student Jobs

Student Jobs: From GovGab: "woman taking an order from a customer at a restaurantWhen I was in high school and college I almost always had a part-time job. I worked at the mall, in department stores, sold shoes, lifeguarded, and did some office work in an academic office on campus. I always avoided being a waitress. I’m so clumsy that I would have surely dropped a tray of drinks in someone’s lap.
All of these jobs lined my pockets with a little extra cash, but it was really that job in the academic office in college that was something that gave me the skills and experience I needed to enter the workforce. And who would guess that it was a federal work study job that would get me started? The university got the money to pay me through a federal grant program.
Students looking for a job have a lot of options. I wish I knew about all these different programs when I was in school.
If you’re looking for a paying position like I had at the university, talk to the people in your financial aid office. They know where the work study jobs are. If you want to branch out a bit, I recommend looking at the student jobs section of usajobs.gov, the official source for federal government jobs.
Internships are also a great place to gain experience, and sometimes they pay too. There are many internship opportunities with government and non-government organizations.
And if you’re really not in it for the money, think about volunteer opportunities like Job Corps or Peace Corps that offer rich life experiences.
What was your favorite student job? I think the one that I really liked the most was teaching swimming lessons."

Upcoming Events at Hackley Public Library


Composting
Tuesday, September 7


 6:00 pm
 
Compost is composed of organic materials derived from plant and animal matter that has been decomposed largely through aerobic decomposition. (Wikipedia). Join Advanced Master Gardener Joe Hill as he discusses how to make and use compost to benefit your yard and garden.   
For more information call HPL at 231-722-7276.

New Links on Our Site

Monday, August 30, 2010

Consumer Help from the FCC

Consumer Help from the FCC: From GovGab: "Every week we receive many calls at the National Contact Center from people looking to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission because they have a problem with a cell phone, internet and/or cable company.
I was happy to see that the FCC launched their Consumer Help Center earlier this month. The new website's FCC consumer complaint form will be very helpful for our callers and the public but the FCC created the website to help people get the best value out of their phone, TV and internet services.

You can watch the video I posted in this blog to learn more about the site, but I wanted to highlight some features. If you are confused with advertisements about broadband speed, the new page has a resource to figure out what you need and you can even test your current broadband speed. My favorite section is the one on "bill shock," which happens when you get a bill with unexpected charges. Here you can learn how to avoid it and see how the FCC is taking steps to prevent it.

What do you think of the FCC's Consumer Help Center?"

Friday, August 27, 2010

Adult Summer Reading


During week 8 42 readers read 143 books, and five new people joined the program. For the summer so far, 155 readers have read 979 books!

To have this newsletter arrive in your e-mailbox, go to our Newsletter sign up page. You can also see all the newsletters we have available!

Book reviews from participants Aug 27:

Home Gardener's Problem Solver by Ortho: A great reference book, photographs with descriptions, easy to use.

Raven's So Gold Guide to Life by Michael Paryes: Haven't seen the tv show much, so this gave me an insight on its characters.

Terror Descending by Don Pendleton: Lots of action and the good guys end.

Dead and Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer: Haunting tale of the aftermath of an asteriod hitting the moon and knocking it out of orbit. Captivating and thought provoking. Can't wait to read book 3.

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult: Pretty good. Interesting courtroom drama with plenty of twits and turns.

Codex by Douglas Preston: Mega twists and turns in the plot! Fast paced, exciting, tough to put down. Great characters. I think I've found a new favorite author.

Impact by Douglas Preston: At first it jumped back and forth from character/place to another character/place. Then the segments came together for a thrillling suspenseful story to the very end. It is a good book for sci-fi/thriller readers. Hard to put down.

Vernor's Story by Lawrence Rouch: A tasty tale from a bygone era of Detroit. Lern a few of the secret ingredients and found out why there is mandatory schooling laws in MIchigan. It's too bad the family sold off this marvelous drink, it just isn't the same.

Every breath you take by Ann Rule: I give this book an A. Its size is a bit intimidating, but it moves at a good pace. It is well written and well researched. A very good read for those who like the "true crime" genre.

Rubicon by Steven Saylor: A historical novel set in ancient Rome just after Caesar crosses the Rubicon River. A fictional detective (called the "finder of secrets") tries to solve a mystery amidst the chaos of civil war. Makes very interesting reading.





The Widow



The Widow
By Neggers, Carla
2006-10 - Mira Books
9780778323037 Check Our Catalog

Four days after Abby Brownings wedding, her life changed forever. Her husband was shot. Haunted by his murder, Abby became a homicide detective. Now, seven years later, she receives an anonymous tip and is determined to find her husbands killer. …More

Home Gardener's Problem Solver: Symptoms and Solutions for More Than 1,500 Garden Pests and Plant Ailments



Home Gardener's Problem Solver: Symptoms and Solutions for More Than 1,500 Garden Pests and Plant Ailments
By Ortho
Editor Schrock, Denny
Editor Ortho Books
2004-01 - Ortho Books
9780897215046 Check Our Catalog

Targets specific North American locations to address plant problems.

Detailed color photos identify plant problems and solutions by plant type.

How and what plants to treat chemically and nonchemically. …More

That's So Raven: Raven's So Gold Guide to Life



That's So Raven: Raven's So Gold Guide to Life
By Godwin, Parke
Author T/K
Manufactured by Volo
2005-02 - Disney Press
9780786846627 Check Our Catalog

Illustrated with full-color photos from the show and tons of Raven's own doodles, this fabulous book will help readers live their own "so gold" lives and gives them the inside scoop on how to deal with friends, boys, school, parents, annoying little brothers, and more. …More

Terror Descending



Terror Descending
By Pendleton, Don
2009-08 - Gold Eagle
9780373619863 Check Our Catalog

Dedicated to a cause 30 years in the making, a powerful militant group has amassed a private army of mercenaries and a mandate of world peace--by way of mass murder. When enough of the world is gone, they'll step into power, unless Stony Man does the impossible. Original. …More

The Dead and the Gone



The Dead and the Gone
By Pfeffer, Susan Beth
2008-06 - Harcourt Children's Books
9780152063115 Check Our Catalog

BookPage Notable Title

With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful novel--a companion to "Life As We Knew It"--explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities. …More

Lucky Streak



Lucky Streak
By Phillips, Carly
2009-11 - Wheeler Publishing
9781410420282 Check Our Catalog

Phillips delivers the second book in her hero-driven trilogy. Mike Corwin hits the jackpot in Vegas by winning $100 grand and marrying gorgeous Amber. But the next morning, Mike learns Amber is a con-artist who has taken his money and run. Seems the Corwin curse hits Mike--hard. When a twist of fate reunites them, can they turn their run of bad fortune into a lucky streak? Original. …More

Perfect Match



Perfect Match
By Picoult, Jodi
2002-05 - Atria Books
9780743418720 Check Our Catalog

Attorney Nina Frost prosecutes child molesters--and she's seen all too many of them walk free. Nina's husband Caleb glories in the stonemason skills that allow him to construct barriers to keep out the unwanted. But even the strongest walls cannot guard Nina and Caleb from the shattering discovery that their own son has been sexually abused. …More

Melting Stones



Melting Stones
By Pierce, Tamora
2008-10 - Scholastic Press
9780545052641 Check Our Catalog

An Indie Next Selection

Pierce returns to the world of the Circle of Magic quartet with this new story. Four years have passed since Evvy left Chammur to begin her training as a stone mage. She's unhappy to be on a new journey with her mentor, prickly green mage Rosethorn, who has been called to the Battle Islands to determine why the plants and animals there are dying. …More

The Codex



The Codex
By Preston, Douglas
2010-01 - Forge
9780765316127 Check Our Catalog

From the "New York Times" bestselling co-author of "The Relic" and "Riptide" comes a novel of family, greed and power. As a final challenge to his three sons, deceased Maxwell Broadbent has hidden his body, along with his priceless collection of rare art. If his sons wish to claim his inheritance, they must race to find their father's concealed tomb. …More

Fever Dream



Fever Dream
By Preston, Douglas J.
Author Child, Lincoln
2010-05 - Grand Central Publishing
9780446554961 Check Our Catalog

Special Agent Pendergast embarks on a quest to uncover the mystery of his wife's murder. But as Pendergast probes the circumstances of her death, he is faced with an even greater question: Who was the woman he married? …More

Impact



Impact
By Preston, Douglas
2010-01 - Forge
9780765317681 Check Our Catalog

From the "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Blasphemy" comes an apocalyptic thriller in the tradition of "The Andromeda Strain." An unusually alarming and thoughtful thriller . . . clever and terrifying.--"Kirkus Reviews." …More

Her Mother's Hope



Her Mother's Hope
By Rivers, Francine
2010-02 - Tyndale House Publishers
9781414318639 Check Our Catalog

The first in an epic two-book saga, this sweeping story explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters as each woman is forced to confront her faulty but well-meaning desire to help her daughter find her God-given place in the world. …More

Immortal in Death



Immortal in Death
By Robb, J. D.
1996-07 - Berkley Publishing Group
9780425153789 Check Our Catalog

When a top model is murdered, police lieutenant Eve Dallas discovers that the world of high fashion thrives on an all-consuming obsession for youth and fame. One that leads from the runway to the dark underworld of New York City, where drugs can be found to fulfill any desire--for any price. J.D. Robb is the pseudonym of New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. …More

Portrait in Death



Portrait in Death
By Robb, J. D.
2004-05 - Berkley Publishing Group
9780786539482 Check Our Catalog

The "New York Times" #1 bestselling police thriller series featuring futuristic cop Eve Dallas continues in this brand-new, first-time-in-print novel. Author tour for Roberts's next hardcover, "Birthright, " to be released in March 2003. Original. …More

Black Hills



Black Hills
By Roberts, Nora
2009-07 - Putnam Adult
9780399155819 Check Our Catalog

New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts takes us deep into the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, where the shadows keep secrets, hunters stalk the land, and a childhood friendship matures into an adult passion. …More

High Noon



High Noon
By Roberts, Nora
2007-07 - Putnam Adult
9780399154348 Check Our Catalog

Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara is Savannah's top hostage negotiator, defusing powderkeg situations. Now, she must establish contact with a faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage to fear, before she becomes the final showdown. …More

Key of Light



Key of Light
By Roberts, Nora
2004-02 - Thorndike Press
9780786261345 Check Our Catalog

Book 1 of "The Key Trilogy"

New York Times bestselling author

The life of gallery manager Malory Price is stalled when she is invited to a reception at a mansion near her small Pennsylvania town. Upon her arrival, she discovers that she is one of only three guests. Their mysterious hosts explain that centuries earlier, they allowed the souls of the three demigoddesses under their care to be stolen by a sorcerer. Legend says the demigoddesses cannot be freed until three mortal women find the keys to the glass box in which they are housed. Should they agree, Malory, Dana Steele and Zoe McCourt will each receive $25,000 to search for the keys, plus a million dollars if they succeed. …More

Key of Valor



Key of Valor
By Roberts, Nora
2004-03 - Thorndike Press
9780786261321 Check Our Catalog

Book 3 in "The Key Trilogy"

A #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Fate brought three women - Mallory, Dana, and Zoe - together for a chance to unlock their deepest desires. Zoe is about to discover her true courageous spirit. On the last of three dangerous quests, she must find the Key of Valor that will force her to confront her darkest fears . . . or suffer immeasurable loss. …More

Vision in White



Vision in White
By Roberts, Nora
2009-05 - Large Print Distribution
9781594133312 Check Our Catalog

The women at Vows a wedding planning company in Connecticut make it their business to create memorable events for couples sealing their bonds. And though the bonds among Parker, Emma, Mac, and Laurel may not be official, they are very real and equally worthy of celebration …More

The Hypnotist



The Hypnotist
By Rose, M. J.
2010-05 - Mira Books
9780778326755 Check Our Catalog

International bestselling author Rose conjures a mesmerizing follow-up to the first books in her reincarnation series, "The Reincarnationist" and "The Memorist." …More

The Vernor's Story: From Gnomes to Now



The Vernor's Story: From Gnomes to Now
By Rouch, Lawrence L.
2003-10 - University of Michigan Press
9780472066971 Check Our Catalog

An illustrated history of one of the greatest success stories in the American beverage industry
…More

Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder



Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder
By Rule, Ann
2002-01 - Free Press
9780743202961 Check Our Catalog

The bestselling author and true crime writer peels away the mask of a multimillionaire genius to reveal a violent sociopath who left a trail of deceptions, ex-wives, and death in his wake. photos. …More

Black Creek Crossing



Black Creek Crossing
By Saul, John
2004-05 - Thorndike Press
9780786265183 Check Our Catalog

<>A New York Times Bestselling Author< /b><>The dark history and dire secrets of a peaceful small town are summoned from the shadows of the past. Unholy forces are stirred from long slumber to monstrous new life. And two young misfits discover the chilling art of turning persecution into retribution. With these eerie ingredients, bestselling master John Saul once again works his unique brand of sinister magic to conjure an unforgettable tale of unspeakable terror. …More

Black Lightning [With Headphones]



Black Lightning [With Headphones]
By Saul, John
Read by Gigante, Phil
2009-11 - Playaway
9781441823618 Check Our Catalog

For five years Seattle journalist Anne Jeffers has pursued the horrifying story of a sadistic serial killer's bloody reign, capture, trial, and appeal - crusading to keep the wheels of justice churning toward the electric chair. Now the day of execution has come. A convicted killer will meet his end. Anne believes her long nightmare is over. But she's dead wrong. . . . Within days, a similar murder stuns the city. As the butcher stalks his next victims, creeping ever closer to her, Anne is seized by an icy unease, a haunting sense of connection to these unspeakable crimes. And, relentlessly, she hears the eerie echo of the dead man's last words to her: Today won't end it. How will you feel, Anne? When I'm dead, and it all starts again, how will you feel? …More

Rubicon



Rubicon
By Saylor, Steven
2010-05 - Minotaur Books
9780312582425 Check Our Catalog

As Caesar marches on Rome and panic erupts in the city, Gordianus the Finder discovers, in his own home, the body of Pompey's favorite cousin. Before fleeing the city, Pompey exacts a terrible bargain from the finder of secrets-to unearth the killer, or sacrifice his own son-in-law to service in Pompey's legions, and certain death. Amid the city's sordid underbelly, Gordianus learns that the murdered man was a dangerous spy. Now, as he follows a trail of intrigue, betrayal, and ferocious battles on land and sea, the Finder is caught between the chaos of war and the terrible truth he must finally reveal. "Rubicon," set in early days of the Roman Civil War, is a pivotal novel in Saylor's bestselling and critically acclaimed series of novels set in late Republican Rome. …More