Book Review-The Book of Speculation

I recently read The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler.  It had me at "Book." Simon, a librarian (!), receives a book in the mail from Martin, a used book dealer. The book is handwritten, the earliest entries are from the 1700's. Martin sent the book because one of the women mentioned in it is an ancestor of Simon. The women in Simon's family are "swimmers"-people who can hold their breath for up to 10 minutes-who perform at carnivals as mermaids. Most of them also read tarot cards. Simon's younger sister works as a tarot card reader, but not as a mermaid. Simon realizes that all these women drowned themselves on July 24 and starts to fear for his sister. She, on the other hand, is worried about Simon because of her readings. The book alternates with this story and the story of a menagerie (or carnival) from the 1700's, owned by Peabody. He takes in a "wild boy" who cannot speak. His tarot card reader, Madame Ryzhkova, takes the boy under her wing and names him Amos and teaches him to read the cards. When a young woman appears out of nowhere Amos is enchanted but Mme Ryzhkova is horrified. I enjoyed following the two stories and wondering how they would intersect. Each story was interesting in its own right. Each had a point where I had to cover the page so I wouldn't read ahead! There is a hint of the supernatural in this book, so people who only like realistic fiction probably would not be happy with it. If you liked The Night Circus you'd probably like this one as well.

The Book of Speculation By Swyler, Erika 2015-06 - St. Martin's Press 9781250054807 Check Our Catalog One of BuzzFeed's 24 Best Fiction Books of 2015 "As Simon, a lonely research librarian, searches frantically for the key to a curse that might be killing the women in his family, he learns strange and fascinating secrets about their past. A tale full of magic and family mystery, "The Book of Speculation" will keep you up all night reading." Isaac Fitzgerald, BuzzFeed Simon Watson, a young …More

Complimentary Reads

The Night Circus By Morgenstern, Erin 2011-09 - Doubleday Books 9780385534635 Check Our Catalog Awards: Alex Awards (2012), Locus Awards (2012), Nutmeg Book Award (2014) To enter the black-and-white-striped tents of Le Cirque des Reves is to enter a world where objects really do turn into birds and people really do disappear. Even though visitors believe the performances are all illusion, they are obsessively drawn to this extraordinary night circus. Those who run and perform in the circus are its lifeblood. Marco Alisdair runs the operation from London as …More

Geek Love By Dunn, Katherine 2002-06 - Vintage 9780375713347 Check Our Catalog Geek Love is the story of the Binewskis, a carny family whose mater- and paterfamilias set out-with the help of amphetamine, arsenic, and radioisotopes-to breed their own exhibit of human oddities. There's Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly …More

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane By Howe, Katherine 2009-10 - Thorndike Press 9781410418951 Check Our Catalog Written by an author completing a Ph.D. in New England Studies, and whose ancestors had been accused witches in Salem, "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" travels seamlessly between the trials in the 1690s and a modern woman's story of mystery and discovery. …More

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Upcoming Events at HPL

WRITE FOR FRIGHT CONTEST--LAST DAY 5.00 MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 This is the last day to turn in stories for the Write for Fright scary story contest! Be sure we have yours before 5 PM!

Tablet Tips and Tricks 1:00 pm, Wednesday, November 2 Want to do more with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:00 to get tech help. Walk ins welcome.

MINECRAFT FOR KIDS 2:00 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Mine for resources, build with blocks and defend your territory. This is Minecraft. Play along with 19 other participants in a world of your own making. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. BEGINNING OCTOBER 17, CALL 231-722-8014 TO REGISTER.

Tablet Tips and Tricks 1:00 pm, Wednesday, November 9 Want to do more with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:00 to get tech help. Walk ins welcome.

Genealogy/Family History Workshop 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, Saturday, November 12 Presented by the Muskegon County Genealogy Society. For anyone who is excited about researching their family history. You must pre-register; limited to 6 individuals for each workshop. Held in the Local History & Genealogy Department at the Torrent House. Please call 722-7276 ext. 240 to register.

CHARLES HACKLEY & THE LUMBER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD PROGRAM FOR KIDS 2:00 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Who was Charles Hackley? Why was he important to Muskegon? What did he do? Drop in between 2-4 pm, get answers, and have some fun at Hackley Library and Lakeshore Museum as we explore charles Hackley's life and contributions to the city of Muskegon. We'll make and take crafts, and there will be a drawing for a great prize just for participating. You'll leave knowing just what was so special about this man so many important places around town are named for.

Genealogy/Family History Workshop 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Saturday November 12 Presented by the Muskegon County Genealogy Society. For anyone who is excited about researching their family history. You must pre-register; limited to 6 individuals for each workshop. Held in the Local History & Genealogy Department at the Torrent House. Please call 722-7276 ext. 240 to register.

What to Read While Waiting for...

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Small Great Things By Picoult, Jodi 2016-10 - Ballantine Books 9780345544957 Check Our Catalog With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma that will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race, Small Great Things is the stunning new page-turner from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult. Picoult] offers a thought-provoking examination of racism in America today, both overt and subtle. Her …More

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

A Mercy By Morrison, Toni 2008-11 - Knopf Publishing Group 9780307264237 Check Our Catalog Awards: ALA Notable Books (2010) A Mercy is a powerful tragedy distilled into a jewel of a masterpiece by the Nobel Prize-winning author of Beloved and is almost like a prelude to that story, set two centuries earlier. HPL patron: This is the first Toni Morrison book I have read. While I listened to this through the audio book program of Overdrive, I enjoyed the …More

Glowing Embers By Reece, Colleen L. 2009-03 - Thorndike Press 9781410411761 Check Our Catalog …More

The Secret Life of Bees By Kidd, Sue Monk 2002-10 - Viking Books 9780670032372 Check Our Catalog A stunning debut, "The Secret Life of Bees" follows a young girl who is taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters. As she enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, she discovers a place where she can find the single thing her heart longs for most. …More

Upcoming events at HPL

LEGOs FAMILY FUN 2:00 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Let's play with LEGOs and build something great! Compete for candy prizes and ahow off your LEGO-building skills.

FALL STORYTIME FOR AGES 3-7 6:45 MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 Stories! Toys! Crafts! Songs! Learning is so much fun at Hackley Public Library.

Tablet Tips and Tricks 1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 26 Want to do more with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:00 to get tech help. Walk ins welcome.

PUMPKIN CARVING DAY 2:00 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Adult accompaniment is recommended. Bring your own pumpkins to this family event. Create a pumpkin masterpiece using your own ideas, or our Super Stencil Spooky Faces. Safe carving tools are provided.

WRITE FOR FRIGHT CONTEST--LAST DAY 5.00 MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 This is the last day to turn in stories for the Write for Fright scary story contest! Be sure we have yours before 5 PM!

MINECRAFT FOR KIDS

2:00 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Mine for resources, build with blocks and defend your territory. This is Minecraft. Play along with 19 other participants in a world of your own making.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

BEGINNING OCTOBER 17, CALL 231-722-8014 TO REGISTER.

Upcoming Events at HPL

MINECRAFT FOR KIDS 2:00 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. CALL 231-722-7276, EXTENTION 230. Don't miss your opportunity to get in on the experience of surviving and building your own virtual world with a group of Minecraft players with different levels of expertise. You might learn something, teach something, or just have a great time!

FALL STORYTIME FOR AGES 3-7 6:45 MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 Playing creatively with stories, songs, and fingerplays is a great way to get ready to read. Come see Ms. Cassandra for storytime fun.

Tablet Tips and Tricks 1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 19 Want to do more with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:00 to get tech help. Walk ins welcome.

LEGOs FAMILY FUN 2:00 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Let's play with LEGOs and build something great! Compete for candy prizes and ahow off your LEGO-building skills.

FALL STORYTIME FOR AGES 3-7 6:45 MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 Stories! Toys! Crafts! Songs! Learning is so much fun at Hackley Public Library.

Tablet Tips and Tricks 1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 26 Want to do more with your tablet? Bring it to HPL on Wednesdays at 1:00 to get tech help. Walk ins welcome.

PUMPKIN CARVING DAY 2:00 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Adult accompaniment is recommended. Bring your own pumpkins to this family event. Create a pumpkin masterpiece using your own ideas, or our Super Stencil Spooky Faces. Safe carving tools are provided.

What to read while waiting for...

Woman of God By Patterson, James Author Paetro, Maxine 2016-09 - Little Brown and Company 9780316274029 Check Our Catalog St. Peter's Square, Rome. White smoke signals that a new Pope has been chosen. Is it possible that the new Pope...is a woman? The world is watching as massive crowds gather in Rome, waiting for news of a new pope, one who promises to be unlike any other in history. It's a turning point that may change the Church forever. Some followers …More

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

The Third Secret By Berry, Steve 2005-05 - Ballantine Books 9780345476135 Check Our Catalog Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, The Third Secret is a remarkable international thriller. Bestselling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion. Fatima, Portugal, 1917: The Virgin Mary appears to three peasant children, sharing with them three secrets, …More

White Smoke: A Novel of Papal Election By Greeley, Andrew M. 2013-05 - St. Martins Press-3pl 9780765375506 Check Our Catalog he cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have gathered in Rome for the papal election following the death of the incumbent pope. Torn by internal conflict and with many of its members alienated, the Church faces one of the most serious crises in its history. A coalition of cardinals favors a more moderate and pluralistic style of papal governance, but must contend with shadowy Vatican forces …More

Angels & Demons By Brown, Dan 2006-05 - Washington Square Press 9780743493468 Check Our Catalog From the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Da Vinci Code" comes the explosive thriller that started it all. …More