Lost in the Stacks

Every year the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards to honor some of the best books published that year. The five judges for the award this year consisted of four published authors and one librarian. They chose winners in five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature and Young People’s Literature. This is a post consisting of the winners, with a spreadsheet of all of the longlist of nominees that are available at the library.

This is a wonderful, complex historical novel about a group of Smith College graduates who go to France during World War I to give aid to French villagers whose homes were devastated by the German invasion. The novel focuses on Kate and Emmie, two friends from very different backgrounds, and how the tensions created during their time in the war zone threaten to destroy their friendship. Author Lauren Willig paints an unforgettable portrait of life in the war-torn French countryside.

As we are in the middle of leaves changing, trips to the pumpkin patch, horror movie marathons, and perfect sweater weather... I present a book collection that is there for all your fall book reading needs.

Mistress of the Sun is a historical novel about Louise de la Vallière, the first mistress of Louis XIV. The daughter of an impoverished nobleman, Louise is an excellent horsewoman who, at the age of six, tames a wild stallion no one else has been able to tame. Later, she becomes lady-in-waiting to Louis XIV's sister-in-law, and finds herself drawn to the king, who shares her love of horses, and of reading. They keep their relationship a secret at first, then, when it comes out into the open, Louise becomes the object of intrigue at court. It is also during his relationship with Louise that Louis XIV transforms Versailles from a hunting lodge into a grand palace.

September 15-October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. In celebration, I have highlighted various Latinx authors and books from amidst our collection that you can check out.

The Last Mona Lisa is a multi-layered thriller inspired by an actual event. In 1911, Vincent Peruggia, a former employee of the Louvre, stole the Mona Lisa and ransomed it to the Italian government. Ever since then, there have been rumors that the painting returned to the Louvre was a forgery. Santlofer invents a great-grandson of Peruggia, Luke Perrone, who finds his great-grandfather's diary and searches for the truth behind the theft. But danger awaits as a killer stalks him, and everyone who has touched the diary turns up dead. Will Luke discover the truth before he becomes the next victim?

In this mystery novel set in a seaside town in England, Harbinder Kaur, a gay Sikh police detective, investigates the murder of a ninety-year-old woman who had served as a "murder consultant" to mystery authors: helping them come up with ways to murder people. As Harbinder and three friends of the victim try to solve the crime, Harbinder discovers the victim may have been involved in espionage in Russia. Did someone take revenge? The plot takes many twists and turns. Griffiths also paints a vivid portrait of the world of crime fiction and the publishing industry. Harbinder is a strong character who faces prejudice in the police and elsewhere.

Enjoy some summer rest and relaxation reading with these recently acquired titles for the Library's OverDrive Collection.

July 30th is International Day of Friendship. Check out these OverDrive titles on friendship: works that share the joys and challenges of staying connected, nurturing friendships, and creating community.

Enjoy some summer rest and relaxation reading with these newly acquired titles in OverDrive.