What to read while waiting for...

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto By Albom, Mitch 2015-11 - Harper 9780062294418 Check Our Catalog Mitch Albom creates his most unforgettable character Frankie Presto, the greatest guitarist ever to walk the earth in this magical novel about the power of talent to change our lives. In Mitch Albom's epic new novel, the voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, Frankie Presto, a Spanish war orphan raised by a blind music teacher. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to …More

Are you patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for that best seller?  Here are some suggestions.

The Time Keeper By Albom, Mitch 2012-09 - Hachette Books 9781401322786 Check Our Catalog The inventor of the world's first clock is punished and banished for centuries. With his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom and a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time. …More

Forrest Gump By Groom, Winston 2012-02 - Vintage Books 9780307947390 Check Our Catalog First published in the late 1980s and then made into a multiple Academy Award-winning film starring Tom Hanks, "Forrest Gump" is a heartwarming classic about the amazing adventures of a modern (and unexpected) hero, now in a 25th-anniversary edition. …More

The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century By Ross, Alex 2007-10 - Farrar Straus Giroux 9780374249397 Check Our Catalog Awards: Guardian First Book Award (2008), National Book Critics Circle Award (2007) Ross, music critic for "The New Yorker," journeys from Vienna before the First World War to New York in the 1970s and 80s. The result is not so much a history of 20th-century music as it is a history of the 20th century through its music. …More

Music in the 20th Century (4 Vol Set) By DiMartino, Dave 1998-01 - Routledge 9780765680129 Check Our Catalog This is an examination of the crucial formative period of Chinese attitudes toward nuclear weapons, the immediate post-Hiroshima/Nagasaki period and the Korean War. It also provides an account of US actions and attitudes during this period and China's response. …More

Upcoming Events at HPL

LEGO FAMILY FUN DAY 2:00 PM, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 Wondering what to do after the holiday. Come to HPL to get your crative building thoughts going. Use our LEGOs to build magnificent creations.

WATERCOLORS WITH LORI 2:00 PM, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 Local artist, Lori McElrath-Eslick has been working professionally in art for 20 years, first with Halmark Greeting Cards, and now as a professional children's book artist. Also, just recently, you could have seen her work at Art Prize 2015. Kids, spend a day learning to paint using watercolors with Lori. Materials will be supplied.

Birthplace of Snowboarding: 50th Anniv. of the Snurfer 6:00 PM, Tuesday, December 29 Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the snowboard and learn about its beginnings here in Muskegon with Ron Pesch. Ron is an expert on Muskegon history.

NEW YEAR'S EVE STORYTIME COUNTDOWN 11:00 AM, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 Join Ms. Cassandra for a couple of stories, a craft, a treat and the big New Year's Eve countgdown, just for kids.

Trouble with Tablets 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 30 Having trouble with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:30 to get tech help.  Walk ins welcome.

Computer Class-Basics of Computers 10:30 am, Saturday, January 2 De'ondra Pentecost will teach computer classes on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Registration is required. Call HPL at 231-722-7276 to register.  This weeks' topic--Basics of Computers.  Basic Computing will offer an introduction to what a computer is and how to use it.  It is designed for beginners with little or no knowledge of computers.  Topics covered will include an explanation of Windows and files, how to turn on a computer, and how to use the mouse. Brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of Hackley Library.

Hackley Handicrafts-Stamped Tea Towels 6:00 pm, Monday, January 4 Join Nancy Hartman to learn how to make stamped towels. Supplies will be provided, although you can bring your own non terry cloth towel if you prefer. Brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of Hackley Library.

How the Pere Marquette Railway Impacted West Michigan 6:00 pm, Tuesday, January 5 At one time, the Pere Marquette was the largest railroad in Michigan, a product of the consolidation of three Michigan railroads. The railway provided access to cities stretching from Buffalo, New York, to Chicago, and from Bay View (Petoskey) to Toledo, Ohio, with trackage in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Ontario. Join Tom Buettner at Hackley Public Library to learn more about the railroad named after the explorer. Brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of Hackley Library.

Trouble with Tablets 1:30 pm, Wednesday, January 6 Having trouble with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:30 to get tech help.  Walk ins welcome.

MINECRAFT 2:00 pm, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 Join HPL and others in creating your own 3D world using your digital building skills. Can you survive in the minecraft world? Seating is limited. Registration is required. Call 231-722-7276, ext. 230 to register beginning January 2.

WATERCOLOR WITH LORI ESLICK

3:30 pm, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9

Learn to paint with watercolors with artist Lori Eslick.

What to read while waiting for...

The Guilty By Baldacci, David 2015-11 - Grand Central Publishing 9781455586424 Check Our Catalog Will Robie is the government's most professional, disciplined, and lethal assassin. He infiltrates the most hostile countries in the world, defeats our enemies' advanced security measures, and eliminates threats before they ever reach our shores. But now, his skills have left him. Sent overseas on a critical assignment, he fails, unable to pull the trigger. Absent his talents, Robie is …More

Are you patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for that best seller?  Here are some suggestions.

The Ambler Warning By Ludlum, Robert 2006-10 - Large Print Distribution 9781594131639 Check Our Catalog Locked away in a secret government facility designed to hide former intelligence employees whose ramblings might endanger ongoing operations, Hal Ambler is kept heavily medicated and closely watched. With the help of a sympathetic nurse, Hal manages to clear his mind of its drug-induced haze and pull off a daring escape. Now he's out to discover who stashed him away and why. . . . …More

The Bourne Identity By Ludlum, Robert 2010-01 - Bantam 9780553593549 Check Our Catalog Originally published: New York: Richard Marek Publishers, c1980. …More

The Heist By Silva, Daniel 2015-05 - Harper Paperbacks 9780062320087 Check Our Catalog A fallen spyA missing masterpieceA daring missionThe Heist Legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon is in Venice repairing an altarpiece when he receives an urgent summons from the Italian police. The art dealer Julian Isherwood has stumbled upon a murder scene in Lake Como, and he's being held as a suspect. To save his friend, Gabriel must perform one simple task: find the most famous …More

Staff Picks

We like to read, and we like to share what we read! This is a list of recent favorites. STAFF PICKS

Nooks & Crannies By Lawson, Jessica Illustrator Andrewson, Natalie 2015-06 - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 9781481419215 Check Our Catalog "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory "meets "Clue "when six children navigate a mansion full of secrets--and maybe money--in this humorous mystery with heart. Sweet, shy Tabitha Crum, the neglected only child of two parents straight out of a Roald Dahl book, doesn't have a friend in the world--except for her pet mouse, Pemberley, whom she loves dearly. But on the day she receives one of …More

A Banquet of Consequences By George, Elizabeth 2015-10 - Viking 9780525954330 Check Our Catalog George's mystery unfolds with great psychological depth, finely drawn characters and gorgeous portraits of the English countryside. . . . George] is an essential writer of popular fiction today. "The Washington Post" The #1 "New York Times" bestselling author's award-winning series returns with another stunning crime drama featuring Scotland Yard members Detective Inspector Thomas …More

Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks By Goldacre, Ben 2010-10 - Faber & Faber 9780865479180 Check Our Catalog Awards: Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction (2009) Taking aim at quack doctors and nutritionists, bogus credentialing programs, and biased scientific studies, Goldacre takes on America and its bad science, in this revised version of his runaway UK bestseller. …More

Prisoner's Base By Stout, Rex Introduction by DeAndrea, William 1992-10 - Crimeline 9780553242690 Check Our Catalog This latest addition to the Rex Stout Library features an introduction by Edgar Award-winning author William De Andrea. Nero Wolfe take in a woman boarder? Never. The woman in question is an heiress due to come into her inheritance in one week, and though Wolfe refuses to take her in, he allows Archie to do so. So, when she turns up dead, he has no choice but to find her killer. …More

The Heist By Silva, Daniel 2014-07 - Harper 9780062320056 Check Our Catalog Legendary spy and art restorer Gabriel Allon is in Venice repairing an altarpiece by Veronese when he receives an urgent summons from the Italian police. The eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood has stumbled upon a chilling murder scene in Lake Como, and is being held as a suspect. To save his friend, Gabriel must track down the real killers and then perform one simple task: find the …More

Firebirds Rising: An Anthology of Original Science Fiction and Fantasy By November, Sharyn 2006-04 - Puffin Books 9780142405499 Check Our Catalog This star-studded follow-up to the acclaimed "Firebirds" contains riveting, original stories by some of today's masters of science fiction and fantasy, including Fancesca Lia Block, Alan Dean Foster, Diana Wynne Jones, and Tanith Lee. …More

Upcoming Events at HPL

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO HPL 2:00 PM, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 Write your wish list and give it to Santa in person as he makes his annual stop to see who's been naughty and who's been nice. Picture taking is encouraged, so bring your camera. And then, make a Christmas wreath to hang on your door for the holiday season.

Sewing Clinic-Soft Christmas Ornaments 6:00 pm, Monday, December 21 “Soft Christmas Ornaments” Participants will be able to make a some sew, low sew, or no sew fabric/felt Christmas ornament.

Ardan Academy of Irish Dance 6:00 pm, Tuesday, December 22 These highly-skilled dancers range in age from 7 to 20 and have performed all over the Midwest. Their choreographed performances will thrill you! The sound of their skillful footwork and the brilliance of the colorful costumes leave you wanting more. For more information visit their website

Trouble with Tablets 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 23 Having trouble with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:30 to get tech help.  Walk ins welcome.

Tech Wednesday 3:00 PM, Wednesday, December 23 Bring your laptop or tablet and follow along while we explain tech topics in an informal setting. Today we'll take a look at Google Drive.

LEGO FAMILY FUN DAY 2:00 PM, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 Wondering what to do after the holiday. Come to HPL to get your crative building thoughts going. Use our LEGOs to build magnificent creations.

WATERCOLORS WITH LORI 2:00 PM, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 Local artist, Lori McElrath-Eslick has been working professionally in art for 20 years, first with Halmark Greeting Cards, and now as a professional children's book artist. Also, just recently, you could have seen her work at Art Prize 2015. Kids, spend a day learning to paint using watercolors with Lori. Materials will be supplied.

Birthplace of Snowboarding: 50th Anniv. of the Snurfer 6:00 PM, Tuesday, December 29 Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the snowboard and learn about its beginnings here in Muskegon with Ron Pesch. Ron is an expert on Muskegon history.

NEW YEAR'S EVE STORYTIME COUNTDOWN 11:00 AM, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 Join Ms. Cassandra for a couple of stories, a craft, a treat and the big New Year's Eve countgdown, just for kids.

Trouble with Tablets 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 30 Having trouble with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:30 to get tech help.  Walk ins welcome.

Computer Class-Basics of Computers

10:30 am, Saturday, January 2

De'ondra Pentecost will teach computer classes on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Registration is required. Call HPL at 231-722-7276 to register.  This weeks' topic--Basics of Computers.  Basic Computing will offer an introduction to what a computer is and how to use it.  It is designed for beginners with little or no knowledge of computers.  Topics covered will include an explanation of Windows and files, how to turn on a computer, and how to use the mouse. Brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of Hackley Library.

Book Review-Started Early, Took my Dog

Titles to books often pique my interest, and one by an author I like really makes me want to read.  One such title is Started Early, Took my Dog, and it is by one of my favorite authors, Kate Atkinson.  Her novels are always interesting. This story follows Jackson Brodie, a detective looking for information on an adoptee in Australia; Tracy Waterhouse, a former police officer now head of Mall security; and Tilly, an aging actress battling the onset of dementia.  Their paths criss cross throughout the book, both physically and metaphorically.  Jackson saves a dog from an abusive relationship, and Tracy saves a child from neglect, but not without unintended consequences. The writing is superb, and the plotting is brilliant.  I would definitely recommend this book!

Started Early, Took My Dog By Atkinson, Kate 2011-03 - Reagan Arthur Books 9780316066730 Check Our Catalog Awards: L.A. Times Book Prize (2011) Retired police detective Tracy Waterhouse leads a quiet, ordered life--until she cares for a young child. Meanwhile, Jackson Brodie, the beloved detective from "Case Histories," rescues an abused dog. Jackson is about to learn, along with Tracy, that no good deed goes unpunished. …More

Other books by the same author.

A God in Ruins By Atkinson, Kate 2015-05 - Little Brown and Company 9780316176538 Check Our Catalog Awards: Costa Book Awards (2015) HPL patron: Kate Atkinson's 10th book A God in Ruins is her best work by far. The characters are well developed. The historical perspective is clear and meaningful and provided an understanding of world events related to WWII. I highly recommned this book to anyone looking for an engaging summer read. …More

Life After Life By Atkinson, Kate 2014-01 - Back Bay Books 9780316176491 Check Our Catalog In 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, and embarks upon a life that will be unusual. Does Ursula's infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? …More

Case Histories By Atkinson, Kate 2004-10 - Doubleday UK 9780385607995 Check Our Catalog A BookPage Notable Title This new novel from award-winner Kate Atkinson is a breathtaking story of families divided, love lost and found and the mysteries of fate. As Private Detective Jackson Brodie investigates three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge. …More

Complimentary Reads

The Goldfinch By Tartt, Donna 2013-10 - Little Brown and Company 9780316055437 Check Our Catalog Awards: ALA Notable Books (2014) Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence (2014) Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (2014) National Book Critics Circle Award (2013) Pulitzer Prize (2014) "The author of the classic bestsellers The Secret History and The Little Friend returns with a brilliant, highly anticipated new novel. A young boy in New York City, Theo Decker, miraculously survives an accident that takes the life of his mother. Alone and abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by a friend's family and struggles to make sense of his new life. In the years that follow, he …More

The Hand That First Held Mine By O'Farrell, Maggie 2010-04 - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) 9780547330792 Check Our Catalog Awards: Costa Book Awards (2010) A stunning portrait of motherhood and the artist's life in all their terror and glory, O'Farrell's newest novel is a gorgeous inquiry into the ways in which even the most accidental legacies often connect people. …More

What to read while waiting for...

Tom Clancy Commander in Chief: A Jack Ryan Novel By Greaney, Mark 2015-12 - G.P. Putnam's Sons 9780399176760 Check Our Catalog The newest electrifying thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series has President Jack Ryan and his allies facing a treacherous foe threatening to unleash chaos around the globe. …More

Are you patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for that best seller?  Here are some suggestions.

Robert Ludlum's the Geneva Strategy By Freveletti, Jamie 2015-02 - Grand Central Publishing 9781455577583 Check Our Catalog On one evening in Washington, DC, several high-ranking members of government disappear in a mass kidnapping. Among the kidnapped is Nick Rendel, a computer software coding expert in charge of drone programming and strategy. He is the victim with the most dangerous knowledge, including confidential passwords and codes that are used to program the drones. If revealed, his kidnappers could reprogram …More

Mightier Than the Sword By Archer, Jeffrey 2015-02 - St. Martin's Press 9781250034519 Check Our Catalog "Mightier than the Sword" opens with an IRA bomb exploding during the MV "Buckingham's" maiden voyage across the Atlantic - but how many passengers lose their lives? When Harry Clifton visits his publisher in New York, he learns that he has been elected as the new president of English PEN, and immediately launches a campaign for the release of a fellow author, Anatoly Babakov, who's …More

Code of Conduct: A Thriller By Thor, Brad 2015-07 - Atria Books 9781476717159 Check Our Catalog Thor tops himself again and again. BookReporter.com Feels like the TV show "24" on the page. The Associated Press #1 "New York Times" bestselling author Brad Thor presents his greatest thriller ever an action-packed literary tour de force Hidden deep within one of the world's most powerful organizations is a secret committee with a devastating agenda. Its …More

Upcoming Events at HPL

Investor Ed-Retirement: Making Your Money Last 1:00 pm, Friday, December 11 Retirement: Making Your Money Last is a seminar designed for people who are thinking about retiring or have retired recently. The workshop discusses ideas to help build a reasonable and sustainable strategy for managing income and expenses during retirement, utilizing the framework of Plan for the Expected, Prepare for the Unexpected and Position the Portfolio for Both. Please call Jennifer at 231-777-3102 or email farrah.starr@edwardjones.com by Friday, Dec 4 to reserve a seat.

MEET THE REINDEER! 12:00 PM, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 It's that time of year again! See reindeer up close and personal. Learn all about them and get that warm, fuzzy feeling with some hot cocoa as we prepare for Christmas! Bring your camera for a wonderful photo opportunity.

Book Discussion 6:00 pm, Monday, December 14 The Silversides Museum is sponsoring a film and book discussion group on the topic of the Holocaust. The film will be shown at the Museum, the book discussion will take place at HPL. This month the book is Defiance by Nechama Tec and the movie is “Defiance” which will be shown at 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm at the Silversides Museum on Wednesday, December 16.

Finances for Lunch sponsored by PNC Bank 12:00 pm, Wednesday, December 16 Bring your lunch and learn about finances with employees from PNC Bank. This month's topic is “Financial Recovery.”

Trouble with Tablets 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 16 Having trouble with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:30 to get tech help.  Walk ins welcome.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO HPL 2:00 PM, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 Write your wish list and give it to Santa in person as he makes his annual stop to see who's been naughty and who's been nice. Picture taking is encouraged, so bring your camera. And then, make a Christmas wreath to hang on your door for the holiday season.

Sewing Clinic-Soft Christmas Ornaments 6:00 pm, Monday, December 21 “Soft Christmas Ornaments” Participants will be able to make a some sew, low sew, or no sew fabric/felt Christmas ornament.

Ardan Academy of Irish Dance 6:00 pm, Tuesday, December 22 These highly-skilled dancers range in age from 7 to 20 and have performed all over the Midwest. Their choreographed performances will thrill you! The sound of their skillful footwork and the brilliance of the colorful costumes leave you wanting more. For more information visit their website

Trouble with Tablets 1:30 pm, Wednesday, December 23 Having trouble with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:30 to get tech help.  Walk ins welcome.

Tech Wednesday

3:00 PM, Wednesday, December 23

Bring your laptop or tablet and follow along while we explain tech topics in an informal setting. Today we'll take a look at Google Drive.