Murder Will Out: July 2017

July 5, 2017 | madame librarian

Maybe you missed these first time around?

Spiraled by Kendra Elliot

FBI Special Agent Ava McLane solves crimes; she doesn't witness them. When she's trapped in a mall without her weapon as a shooter picks off victims, she hides with a wounded teen and prays for her survival. But that's only the beginning... An epidemic of mass shootings has swept across Oregon. The young shooters terrify the public, committing random murders before taking their own lives. The task force assembled to solve the case--which includes Ava's boyfriend, detective Mason Callahan--remains stumped. And on top of this chaos, Ava's troubled twin sister reappears, throwing Ava's already-tumultuous life into a tailspin. An old-fashioned cop with a strong sense of duty, Mason struggles to find the cause of the shootings as workaholic Ava spins ever closer to breaking down. But can one detective save the lives of countless innocents--and prevent the woman he loves from going over the edge?.

A ring of truth by Michelle Cox

In this second book of the series, Henrietta and Clive delightfully rewrite Pride and Prejudice --with a hint of mystery! Newly engaged, Clive and Henrietta now begin the difficult task of meeting each other's family. "Difficult" because Clive has neglected to tell Henrietta that he is in fact the heir to the Howard estate and fortune, and Henrietta has just discovered that her mother has been hiding secrets about her past as well. When Clive brings Henrietta to the family estate to meet his parents, they are less than enthused about his impoverished intended. Left alone in this extravagant new world when Clive returns to the city, Henrietta finds herself more at home with the servants than his family, much to the disapproval of Mrs. Howard--and soon gets caught up in the disappearance of an elderly servant's ring, not realizing that in doing so she has become part of a bigger, darker plot. As Clive and Henrietta attempt to discover the truth in the two very different worlds unraveling around them, they both begin to wonder: Are they meant for each other after all?

Savvy Seniors: July 2017

July 4, 2017 | madame librarian

On the road this month?   National Institute on Aging's Go4Life suggests travelers:

Pack your fitness clothes. Be prepared. Take your sneakers or walking shoes, exercise clothing, and bathing suit. If you’re taking your laptop, you might also include your favorite exercise DVD.

Stop along the way. If you’re traveling by car, take frequent breaks; get out and stretch or walk around. Not only will it help you feel better, it will help you stay more alert while driving. If you’re flying, walk around the airport while waiting for your flight.

Stick to your routine as much as possible. Being active is one of the most important things you can do each day. If you’re a morning person, exercise before going out for the day. Work out at lunch time. Or, if your day is too hectic, unwind with a workout in the afternoon or early evening.

...and take along a good read.

The road to Little Dribbling [large print] : adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson

A loving and hilarious--if occasionally spiky--valentine to Bill Bryson's adopted country, Great Britain. Prepare for total joy and multiple episodes of unseemly laughter. Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to discover and celebrate that green and pleasant land. The result was Notes from a Small Island, a true classic and one of the bestselling travel books ever written. Now he has traveled about Britain again, by bus and train and rental car and on foot, to see what has changed--and what hasn't. Following (but not too closely) a route he dubs the Bryson Line, from Bognor Regis in the south to Cape Wrath in the north, by way of places few travelers ever get to at all, Bryson rediscovers the wondrously beautiful, magnificently eccentric, endearingly singular country that he both celebrates and, when called for, twits. With his matchless instinct for the funniest and quirkiest and his unerring eye for the idiotic, the bewildering, the appealing, and the ridiculous, he offers acute and perceptive insights into all that is best and worst about Britain today. Nothing is more entertaining than Bill Bryson on the road--and on a tear. The Road to Little Dribbling reaffirms his stature as a master of the travel narrative--and a really, really funny guy. From the Hardcover edition.

Blue latitudes [large print] : boldly going where Captain Cook has gone before by Tony Horwitz

Two Centuries After James Cook's Epic Voyages of Discovery, Tony Horwitz takes readers on a wild ride across hemispheres and centuries to recapture the captain's adventures and explore his embattled legacy in today's Pacific. Horwitz, a Pulitzer Prize -- winning journalist, works as a sailor aboard a replica of Cook's ship, meets island kings and beauty queens, and carouses the South Seas with a hilarious and disgraceful travel companion, an Aussie named Roger. He also creates a brilliant portrait of Cook: an impoverished farm boy who became the greatest navigator in British history and forever changed the lands he touched. Poignant, probing, antic, and exhilarating, Blue Latitudes brings to life a man who helped create the global village we inhabit today. Book jacket.
 

What We're Reading: July 2017

July 1, 2017 | madame librarian

Films can transport us to another time, another place--that's the wonder of film.  

Reading the silver screen : a film lover's guide to decoding the art form that moves by Thomas C Foster

"No art form is as instantly and continuously gratifying as film. When the house lights go down and the lion roars, we settle in to be shocked, frightened, elated, moved, and thrilled. We expect magic. While we're being exhilarated and terrified, our minds are also processing data of all sorts--visual, linguistic, auditory, spatial--to collaborate in the construction of meaning. Thomas C. Foster's Reading the Silver Screen will show movie buffs, students of film, and even aspiring screenwriters and directors how to transition from merely being viewers to becoming accomplished readers of this great medium. Beginning with the grammar of film, Foster demonstrates how every art form has a grammar, a set of practices and if-then propositions that amount to rules. He goes on to explain how the language of film enables movies to communicate the purpose behind their stories and the messages they are striving to convey to audiences by following and occasionally breaking these rules. In Reading the Silver Screen, readers will gain the expertise and confidence to glean all they can from the movies they love,"--Amazon.com.

Talking pictures : how to watch movies by Ann Hornaday

Whether we are trying to impress a date after an art-house film screening or discussing Oscar nominations with friends, we all need ways to watch and talk about movies. But with so much variety between an Alfred Hitchcock thriller and a Nora Ephron romantic comedy, how can everyday viewers determine what makes a good movie? In Talking Pictures, veteran film critic Ann Hornaday walks us through the production of a typical movie-from writing the script and casting to the final sound edit-and explains how to evaluate each piece of the process. How do we know if a film is well-written, above and beyond snappy dialogue? What constitutes a great screen performance? What goes into praiseworthy cinematography, editing, and sound design? And what does a director really do? Full of engaging anecdotes and interviews with actors and filmmakers, Talking Pictures will help us see movies in a whole new light-not just as fans, but as film critics in our own right.

Looks What In Large Print: July 2017

June 22, 2017 | madame librarian
Forever a hero [large print] by Linda Lael Miller

For the youngest Carson brother, finding and fixing trouble seems to be all in a day's work. Mace Carson doesn't consider himself a hero. Back in college, he came upon a woman in trouble and intervened but he was just one irate Wyoming cowboy with his boots planted firmly on the side of right. Now a successful vintner, Mace is shocked to be reunited with the woman he saved. But it turns out she's in Wyoming on business, a corporate executive representing the company that wants to buy his winery. Only he's not selling. Kelly Wright has never forgotten that horrible night ten years ago when Mace came to her rescue and has never forgotten him . The surprising success of a winery in the middle of ranch country has brought her to Mustang Creek, and she's secretly thrilled to discover Mace at the helm. Reluctant to mix business with pleasure, Kelly vows to keep things professional, until her attacker is released from prison and comes for vengeance against both of them..

In this grave hour [large print] : a novel by Jacqueline Winspear

"A female investigator every bit as brainy and battle-hardened as Lisbeth Salander." -- Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air, on Maisie Dobbs Sunday September 3rd 1939. At the moment Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain broadcasts to the nation Britain's declaration of war with Germany, a senior Secret Service agent breaks into Maisie Dobbs' flat to await her return. Dr. Francesca Thomas has an urgent assignment for Maisie: to find the killer of a man who escaped occupied Belgium as a boy, some twenty-three years earlier during the Great War. In a London shadowed by barrage balloons, bomb shelters and the threat of invasion, within days another former Belgian refugee is found murdered. And as Maisie delves deeper into the killings of the dispossessed from the "last war," a new kind of refugee -- an evacuee from London -- appears in Maisie's life. The little girl billeted at Maisie's home in Kent does not, or cannot, speak, and the authorities do not know who the child belongs to or who might have put her on the "Operation Pied Piper" evacuee train. They know only that her name is Anna. As Maisie's search for the killer escalates, the country braces for what is to come. Britain is approaching its gravest hour -- and Maisie could be nearing a crossroads of her own.
 

Murder at Rough Point [large print] by Alyssa Maxwell

In glittering Newport, Rhode Island, at the close of the nineteenth century, status is everything. But despite being a poorer relation to the venerable Vanderbilts, Emma Cross has shaped her own identity-- as a reporter and a sleuth. Her skills will be needed at an artists' retreat at her cousin's cottage when an artist is murdered.

Murder Will Out: June 2017

June 7, 2017 | madame librarian
At close range by Laura Griffin

New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin "delivers the goods" ( Publishers Weekly ) again with the eleventh title in the gritty, heart-pounding Tracers series. When a lakeside tryst ends in a double murder, police detective Daniele Harper arrives on the scene determined to get answers. Clues are everywhere, but nothing adds up. Dani turns to the Delphi Center crime lab for help, but soon regrets it when her secret attraction to their chief firearms examiner threatens to distract her from the most important case of her career. As a ballistics expert and former Navy SEAL, Scott Black knows firearms, and he knows he can help Dani unravel her case. Scott has managed to hide his interest in his best friend's younger sister for years, but when her investigation brings them together, the sparks between them quickly burn out of control. Scott resolves to keep his hands off Dani and his eyes on the goal--identifying a killer. But when that killer zeroes in on her, all bets are off. There isn't a line Scott won't cross to convince Dani to trust him so that he can help her take down a ruthless murderer who has her in his sights.
 

A deadly affection by Cuyler Overholt

"One of the first women practicing in the advanced new field of psychology, Dr. Genevieve Summerford is used to forging her own path. But when one of her patients is arrested for murder--a murder Genevieve fears she may have unwittingly provoked--she is forced to seek help to solve the crime and clear her patient's name ... and her own"--.

Stripped bare by Shannon Baker

Kate Fox is living the dream. She's married to Grand County Sheriff Ted Conner, the heir to her beloved Nebraska Sandhills cattle ranch, where they live with Kate's orphaned teenage niece, Carly. With the support of the well-connected Fox Clan, which includes Kate's eight boisterous and interfering siblings, Ted's reelection as Grand County Sheriff is virtually assured. That leaves Kate to the solitude and satisfaction of Frog Creek, her own slice of heaven. One night Kate answers a shattering phone call from Roxy at the Bar J. Carly's granddad Eldon, owner of the ranch, is dead and Ted has been shot and may never walk again. Kate vows to find the killer. She soon discovers Ted responded so quickly to the scene because he was already at the Bar J . . . in Roxy's bed. And to add to her woes, Carly has gone missing. Kate finds out that Eldon was considering selling his ranch to an obscenely rich environmentalist. Some in town hate the idea of an outsider buying up land, others are desperate to sell . . . and some might kill to get their way. As she becomes the victim of several "accidents," Kate knows she must find the killer before it's too late. . . .

Savvy Seniors: June 2017

June 6, 2017 | madame librarian

Planning for care in the event of a serious illness is an important topic to discuss with your doctor and your loved ones. These plans usually include advanced directives—written instructions letting others know the type of care you want if you are seriously ill or dying. Experts recommend preparing now for aging at home.

Planning for long-term care for dummies by Carol Levine
Also available in: e-book

This comprehensive guide gives you questions to ask yourself and others about how best to achieve your goals, whether you have immediate needs or can take some time to sort out the possibilities.  Covers home modifications so that you can stay at home safely for as long as you like.  Lays out the opportunities and costs associated with independent living, assisted living, and other options. Gives you a range of driving and transportation alternatives. Sorts out the various sources of care at home. Helps you navigate the healthcare system Reviews the legal documents you should prepare and update. Helps you determine whether you need long-term care insurance. Offers checklists and other resources to help you make decisions. Gives you guidance on how to talk to your family about sensitive issues. If you're looking for trusted information on how to prepare for the future care needs for yourself or a relative, this sensitive, realistic, and authoritative guide will start you on the right road.

Long-term care : how to plan & pay for it by J. L. Matthews

Get the best care, in the right place, at the right price To find the right kind of long-term care, you may need to make difficult personal, medical, and financial decisions during emotionally tough times. Long-Term Care helps you and your family understand the range of available choices. Even more important, it guides you toward the best care you can afford. You'll learn how to: explore your options for home care, assisted living and nursing homes get the most out of Medicaid, Medicare and veterans' programs evaluate long-term care insurance consider the special needs of people with dementia or Alzheimer's, and protect your loved ones from elder fraud. This completely updated edition includes an expanded discussion of Medicaid coverage, special long-term care insurance, assisted living, and long-term care. Plus, you'll get up-to-date benefit numbers, laws and taxes, and revised information on veterans' benefits.

What We're Reading: June 2017

June 3, 2017 | madame librarian
Stuck : why we can't (or won't) move on by Anneli S Rufus
Also available in: e-book

Rufus also tells the stories of people who have managed to become unstuck and of others who, after much reflection, have decided that where they are is best. After all, she writes, "what looks to you like a rut, others might say is true absorption in a topic, a relation­ship, a career, a pursuit, a place. What looks to you like bore­dom, others call commitment. And even contentment." A brilliant glimpse into what truly motivates-or doesn't motivate-us, Stuck will inspire you to take a look at yourself in an entirely new light.

Junk : digging through America's love affair with stuff by Alison Stewart

"When journalist and author Alison Stewart was confronted with emptying her late parents' overloaded basement, a job that dragged on for months, it got her thinking: How did it come to this? Why do smart, successful people hold on to old Christmas bows, chipped knick-knacks, VHS tapes, and books they would likely never reread? Junk details Stewart's three-year investigation into America's stuff. She rides along with junk removal teams like Trash Daddy, Annie Haul, and Junk Vets. She goes backstage to a taping of Antiques Roadshow, and learns what makes for compelling junk-based television with the executive producer of Pawn Stars. And she even investigates the growing problem of space junk--23,000 pieces of manmade debris orbiting the planet at 17,500 MPH, threatening both satellites and human space exploration"--.

Look What's in Large Print: June 2017

June 2, 2017 | madame librarian
The blood of Emmett Till [large print] by Timothy B. Tyson

In a time when discussions of race are once again coming to the fore, the event that launched the civil rights movement -- the 1955 lynching of a fourteen-year-old black boy named Emmett Till -- is now reexamined by an award-winning author with access to never-before-heard accounts from those involved as well as recently recovered court transcripts from the trial..

The lullaby sky [large print] by Carolyn Brown

"After seven years of misery and abuse, Hannah O'Malley is officially divorced with full custody of her five-year-old daughter. With the help of her close-knit circle of friends--including her high school crush, Travis Wilson--Hannah begins turning her spacious old house into a safe house for other women who've endured the pain she's known"--.

Canton Seniors Book Discussion: June 22, 2017

May 25, 2017 | madame librarian

Canton Seniors Book Group will meet on Thursday, June 22 at 2:00PM-3:00PM in the Canton Public Library Friends' Activity Room (FAR).  We will be discussing GO SET A WATCHMAN by Harper Lee. 

Go set a watchman by Harper Lee
Also available in: e-book | audiobook | e-audiobook | large print

From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird. Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch-"Scout"-returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town, and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past - a journey that can only be guided by one's own conscience. Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor, and effortless precision - a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context, and new meaning to an American classic.
 

Murder Will Out: and the winners are...

May 23, 2017 | madame librarian

Late last month, both the Malice Domestic, Ltd. convention and the Edgars Symposium were held, the events where the Agatha Awards and the Edgars Awards are announced. The Edgars Awards are a general mystery fiction award nominated by THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA while the Malice Dometic's Agatha Awards are given to “traditional mystery” works in the vein of Agatha Christie. 

Best Contemporary Novel: Agatha Award

A great reckoning by Louise Penny

When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes. Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Sûreté du Québec to places even he is afraid to go. But must. And there he finds four young cadets in the Sûreté academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map. Everywhere Gamache turns, he sees Amelia Choquet, one of the cadets. Tattooed and pierced. Guarded and angry. Amelia is more likely to be found on the other side of a police line-up. And yet she is in the academy. A protégée of the murdered professor....

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