Category: Fiction

Posted in Adult, Award Winners, Fiction, Nonfiction, Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: And the Nobel Prize in Literature Goes To…

Posted on by Anneliese

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature was announced recently – along with the 2018 prize, which was skipped last year. The 2019 winner is Peter Handke, and the 2018 winner is Olga Tokarczuk – clicking their names will take you to a list of their works in our catalog. There’s a great deal of controversy surrounding the prize, which you can read more about in the New York Times.

But this is Throwback Thursday, so we’re looking into the past. 70 years ago, the Nobel Prize in Literature was given to novelist William Faulkner “for his powerful and artistically unique contribution to the modern American novel.” And since the Nobel Prize is not given for a specific work, I thought I would highlight what would have been his most recent novel when he received the prize in 1949.

Intruder in the Dust by William Faulkner

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Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novels & Memoirs, Kids 5-12, Uncategorized

Graphic Novels for Early Readers

Posted on by Bree

Graphic novels provide fun, visually stimulating reading options for children of all ages and reading abilities. They are an especially great option for reluctant readers and new readers. Graphic novels are full-length stories that pair a limited amount of text with sequenced pictures. This format helps new readers to more easily follow the plot of the story and to help build the reading stamina needed to read chapter books with more text. We have a large collection of graphic novels in our children’s library that cover a variety of genres. This month, I have some recommendations for early readers.

A Good Team by Heather Ayris Burnell

This is the second book in the early reader series about the friendship between Unicorn and Yeti. These two friends have different abilities and enjoy different activities, but find ways to modify their activities so they can both participate in the fun. Humorous text and bold illustrations add to the appeal of this collection of three short stories.

Do You Like My Bike? by Norman Feuti

This is the first book in the Hello, Hedgehog early reader series. There are three humorous short stories about Hedgehog and his bike, and his friendship with Harry. The stories are relatable for young readers and show great examples of a supportive friendship.

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Posted in Adult, Fiction, Horror

My Coworker Aleah Picks Some Horror Books!

Posted on by Anneliese

It’s almost time for Halloween, which means there should probably be a post about horror books. But there’s a problem – I don’t really read horror books! (The last one I can remember reading is Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas, which I did enjoy… but it’s just not my genre.)

So instead, I decided to ask my coworker Aleah because she reads a lot of horror books! Below are five picks from her – books that she’s read and enjoyed, books that she thinks you should check out for a spooky, scary Halloween read.

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The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

“From a master of the short story, a collection that includes stories never before in print, never published in America, never collected and brand new- with the magnificent bones of interstitial autobiographical comments on when, why and how Stephen King came to write each story” – from the publisher

Why you should read it: Each story was different and had its own creepy twist to it. And it’s Stephen King! His short story books are always the best.

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Posted in Fiction, Kids 0-5, Kids 5-12

Sharing Kindness

Posted on by Bree

Acts of kindness sometimes feel like they are in short supply when we as a society are so often bombarded by negative stories. But if you look for it, you will see that kindness can be found in many places. Children don’t always know how to show kindness, but they can learn through our examples. It’s important to model kind behavior and to be mindful of what we say to and about others. Setting examples of how to show gratitude and sharing encouraging words, as well as modeling how to feel empathy for others are wonderful ways to teach kind behavior. Sharing picture books with children about kindness is also a great way to provide different perspectives and methods of showing kindness. Through these stories, children will see how even small gestures of kindness can leave a lasting impression on others and how kind acts often multiply as the kindness is paid forward. There are many fantastic books about kindness in our library, that when shared with children, can lead to wonderful discussions on how we can choose to act with kindness in our own lives. The following are some of my favorite picture books about kindness.

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Tanisha spills juice on her outfit at school and gets laughed at by other children. One of her classmates feels bad when she sees that happen and wants to try to make her feel better. This leads her classmate to ponder what it means to be kind and to wonder how she can help. Readers are taken through a series of thoughts on ways to be kind in small ways, and then shown how those simple acts of kindness can have a ripple effect that touches even more lives.

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Posted in Adult, Fiction, Nonfiction, Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: 1989 and The Satanic Verses

Posted on by Anneliese

Salman Rushdie’s latest novel, Quichotte, just came out last month. Inspired by Cervantes’ Don Quixote, it was a finalist for this year’s Booker Prize.

But twenty years ago, Salman Rushdie had a different novel on the New York Times best-seller list (and the Booker Prize list of finalists). And it’s fitting to look at it now, with Banned Books Week just behind us.

This book ended up banned in multiple countries; there were attacks against various translators (and possibly the stabbing death of its Japanese translator, Hitoshi Igarashi); a $6 million dollar bounty was placed on Salman Rushdie’s head. So just what was so controversial about this book?

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The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

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Posted in Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Teen & Young Adult

8 New Twists on Fairytales and Myths

Posted on by Carol

There were two sisters, one dark and one fair. There is a beast in the woods. There is a witch in the deepest part of the forest, or the ocean, or high in the mountains. Seven brothers have been turned to swans. Fairytale tropes are timeless and authors love to subvert and play with new versions. Here a handful of the best modern retellings and adaptations.

The Mythic Dream edited by Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe

Editors Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe have a remarkable knack for collecting luminous fantasy short stories by some of today’s top authors, including the reigning queen of fairytale retellings, Naomi Novik. With a lineup that includes Rebecca Roanhorse, sci-fi powerhouse Ann Leckie, and Seanan McGuire, these stories should offer a sneak peek into what fantasy will look like for upcoming years.

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Posted in Adult, eBooks & eAudio, Fiction, Mystery

International Mysteries

Posted on by Anneliese

I really enjoy reading mysteries, and my favorite ones are ones set in foreign countries. I guess I feel like I get to see the country the way someone visiting for a long time would, not just like a tourist. You see the lives, generally, of ordinary people; you see them dealing with violence and grief; you see them dealing with authority and what that relationship is like as well.

Below, I’ve listed some international mysteries that I’ve particularly enjoyed recently – or, in some cases, the first book of a series that I think is very good. I hope you’ll check some of them out – library books are, without a doubt, the cheapest way to travel!

All the summaries below are taken from our catalog unless otherwise noted.

Palm Beach, Finland by Antti Tuomainen

Summary: “Sex, lies and ill-fitting swimwear … Sun Protection Factor 100. Jan Nyman, the ace detective of the covert operations unit of the National Central Police, is sent to a sleepy seaside town to investigate a mysterious death. Nyman arrives in the town dominated by a bizarre holiday village – the ‘hottest beach in Finland’. The suspect: Olivia Koski, who has only recently returned to her old hometown. The mission: find out what happened, by any means necessary” – provided by publisher.

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Posted in Adult, Games, Horror, New & Upcoming, Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult, Top 5

Leaves are Changing, Games are Falling

Posted on by Zachary

At Mead Library, we’re constantly adding to the videogame collection. A few games are coming out this fall that I’m looking forward to. There are links for both PS4 and Xbox One versions next to the game titles, except Nintendo Switch games or exclusives.

The Outer Worlds (PS4/Xbox)

ESRB Rating: Mature

I’m a huge fan of the Fallout series. My favorite is Fallout: New Vegas so I was excited when I heard that Obsidian is developing another RPG in that vein. The retro-futuristic art style and dark sense of humor have me hopeful that this will be the spiritual successor to New Vegas that I’ve been waiting for.

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Posted in Fiction, Kids 0-5, Kids 5-12

Back-to-School Favorites

Posted on by Bree

Summer vacation has come to an end, and many of the children in our lives are getting back into the routine of more structured days, and reuniting with old friends as well as making new friends. For some, it is a brand-new experience that can be both scary and exciting! Reading picture books about school can help calm some of those fears, as well as share common experiences. As parents and caregivers, we can use these stories as a starting point to talk to our children about the experiences they are having at school. School should feel like a safe and enjoyable place to be. We have many stories about school in our children’s book collection ranging from serious to silly, and I will be highlighting some of my personal favorites here.

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

This is a must-read! With bold, detailed illustrations and a story that follows a day at school for a diverse group of students, children are given the message that they are all welcome at school. “We’re part of a community. Our strength is our diversity. A shelter from adversity. All are welcome here.” This book promotes acceptance and brings warm feelings to readers.

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