Adult Books

A Thanksgiving Feast

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Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I thought it might be fun to FEAST on a variety of books. Run, TURKEY, run All I know learned about animal behavior I learned in Loehmann’s DRESSING room If MASHED POTATOES could dance The SWEET POTATO Queens’ book of love Lucky and SQUASH A little story about a big TURNIP The ugly VEGETABLES The monster who ate my PEAS Gimme cracked CORN & I will share Buried ONIONS Dry BEANS in the snow CARROT in my pocket Onions and GARLIC APPLESAUCE season In a PICKLE OLIVE Kitteridge 44 CRANBERRY Point Sharing the …

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Shirley Jackson, anyone?

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It’s not a come-back.  It’s not a rediscovery.  It is more like delayed appreciation.  Suddenly the author Shirley Jackson is back in the media press.  60 years after she was first published, her more famous pieces were collected into a volume and published by The Library of America in 2010.  Last year a collection of some of her short stories never before collected was published by two of her children under the title Let Me Tell You: new stories, essays, and other writings. Of this new collection, Library Journal says, “Remember the chilling excitement of reading Jackson’s The Lottery for …

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A 1 Diner

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In 2006 a local publisher, Tilbury House, published a book by Sarah Rolph that celebrated a local diner, the A 1 Diner.  The book gives a history of the diner featuring both those who work behind the counter and those in the kitchen.  Many recipes that have become customer favorites are revealed in the book.  Below is one of them.  For more of these wonderful recipes and to enjoy the history of this local institution, visit the library to borrow the book, A 1 Diner: real food, recipes, and recollections by Sarah Rolph. Hazel Newell’s Squash Custard Pie: This pie …

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Got Non-Fiction

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As a teacher, I am always encouraging my students to read more non-fiction. Recently, I decided I ought to take my own advice and move away from my go-to mysteries. As I pondered what non-fiction area to delve into, I thought back to my childhood and remembered the times spent at camp making terrariums with my aunt. She patiently and carefully showed me what to do and we got busy collecting items for our terrariums. These fond memories sparked my interest and I decided to do some research into terrariums. I started looking on Minerva, the electronic “card catalog” and …

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Book Review: ‘The Miracle on Monhegan Island’ by Elizabeth Kelly

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Recently, I was hunting at the library for my next book to read when I came across Elizabeth Kelly’s ‘The Miracle on Monhegan Island’. Typically I stick with mysteries, but the fun, summery cover caught my eye, and I love all things Monhegan, so I thought I’d give it a try. It took a whole chapter for me to realize that Ned, the narrator in this novel, is a dog. Yes, it is Ned the dog’s voice we hear as the story unfolds. I thought this was really bizarre, and to be honest, it just didn’t appeal to me as …

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Great Summer Reads

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As you are packing for your vacation, or heading out to camp, don’t forget to take a stack of books with you! Summer is a great time to relax with a good book. Following are some great summer reads you may want to take with you! All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank If you’re a hopeless romantic, then this is the perfect read for you. A young couple from New York finds themselves at odds when a move to South Carolina causes strife in their relationship. A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams Lily’s story unfolds in 1930’s Seaview, Rhode …

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