Turning Pages

With garden season vastly upon us, here are some murder mysteries that just happen to take place in the garden.

Amendment of Life

by Catherine Aird

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

When a body is found in the center of a Tudor-era yew maze, Detective Inspector C. D. Sloan is placed in charge of a disturbingly complex case.

Aunt Dimity and the Duke

by Nancy Atherton

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

Emma Porter, fortyish computer nerd and gardener, becomes entangled in a mystery involving the Duke of Penford.

Agatha Raisin & the Potted Gardener

by M.C. Beaton

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

To impress her neighbor, James Lacey, Agatha Raisin takes up gardening and plans to enter the prestigious Carsely Horticultural Contest, but the competition is soon threatened by sabotage and murder.

The Garden Plot

by J.S. Borthwick

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

On a free trip to Europe courtesy of her garden club, Sarah begins investigating why people on the tour seem interested in anything but gardens while her husband Alex attempts to find out what happened to missing garden expert Ellen Trevino.

Mulch Ado About Nothing

by Jill Churchill

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

A gardening class sounds like fun for Jane Jeffry and her friend Shelly, but when the teacher is attacked and his substitute murdered, the two friends are digging for clues all over.

The Winter Garden Mystery

by Carola Dunn

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

While on assignment at gloomy Occles Hall, which is under the charge of the autocratic Lady Valeria, Daisy Dalrymple discovers the body of a missing parlor maid buried in the garden and must unearth a killer before she meets the same fate.

The Bone Garden

by Kate Ellis

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

When restoration plans at a historical garden in Devon are interrupted by the discovery of two ancient bodies beneath a stone plinth, Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson finds his hands full trying to solve a modern mystery.

The Poyson Garden

by Karen Harper

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Released from the Tower of London by an insurrection against Queen Mary, her half sister, the twenty-five-year-old Princess Elizabeth immediately puts herself back into harm’s way by investigating a multiple poisoning.

The Deadly Garden Tour

by Kathleen Gregory Klien

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Divorced after twenty-three years of marriage, garden designer Liz Clarke returns to Greenwich, Connecticut, seeking the haven of her childhood. But her nostalgic memories are interrupted by a hysterical phone call – her pregnant goddaughter, Melissa, has discovered the bloody body of the chairwoman of the Backcountry Garden Club’s annual tour. Liz must shift her focus from dirt to detection to save Melissa from suspicion.

The Dancing Floor

by Barbara Michaels

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

Grieving over her father’s untimely death, Heather Tradescent embarks on a tour of England’s historic gardens, an odyssey that leads to Troytan House, its intriguing lord of the manor, chilling tales of local witchcraft, and murder.

Tags: book recommendations, books, Gardens, Mystery

Readers' Advisory, Uncategorized

May 08

Midweek Madness – Zombie Novel Recommendations

Categories:

Looking for a good zombie read? Here’s a list of eight adult fiction books great for men and women.

World War Z: an Oral History of the Zombie War

by Max Brooks

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

Also, Available in eBook Format on OverDrive

An account of the decade-long conflict between humankind and hordes of the predatory undead is told from the perspective of dozens of survivors–soldiers, politicians, civilians, and others–who describe in their own words the epic human battle for survival.

Raising Stony Mayhall

by Daryl Gregory

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

After a zombie attack, Wanda Mayhall rescues a near-dead infant on the side of a frozen Iowa highway and decides to raise him without telling the authorities, but as the boy gets older he realizes that there are other living dead in the world like him.

Zone One : a Novel

by Colson Whitehead

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

In a post-apocalyptic world decimated by zombies, survivor efforts to rebuild are focused on Manhattan, where civilian team member Mark Spitz works to eliminate remaining infected stragglers and remembers his horrifying experiences at the height of the zombie plague.

Handling the Undead

by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Something very peculiar is happening in Stockholm. There’s a heatwave on and people cannot turn their lights out or switch their appliances off. Then the terrible news breaks. In the city morgue, the dead are waking up …. What do they want? What everybody wants: to come home

City of the Dead

by Brian Keene

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

As the world succumbs to a devastating plague that brings its victims back from the dead, eager to destroy all that is living, a group of survivors, trapped inside a fortified skyscraper, must fight for their survival against an indestructible enemy that keeps coming back.

Frail

by Joan Frances Turner

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

As the only human survivor from her town, Amy must escape feral dogs and flesh-eating ex-humans and ex-zombies who succumbed to the Feeding Plague in order to discover how it all began.

Warm Bodies : a Novel

by Isaac Marion

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love with a human, in this original debut novel. R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead. Not just another zombie novel, this is funny, scary, and deeply moving.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

As a mysterious plague falls upon the village of Meryton and zombies start rising from the dead, Elizabeth Bennett is determined to destroy the evil menace, but becomes distracted by the arrival of the dashing and arrogant Mr. Darcy.

Tags: book recommendations, library, zombies

Apr 26

Cookbooks!

Categories:

Here are some recommended cookbooks that were published in the last year.

The mom 100 Cookbook : 100 Recipes Every Mom Needs in Her Back Pocket

by Katie WorkmaM

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Also, Available in eBook Format on OverDrive

Introducing the lifesaving cookbook for every mother with kids at home—the book that solves the 20 most common cooking dilemmas. What’s your predicament: breakfast on a harried school morning? The Mom 100’s got it—Personalized Pizzas are not only fast but are nutritious, and hey, it doesn’t get any better than pizza for breakfast. Kids making noise about the same old lunch? The Mom 100’s got it—three different Turkey Wraps, plus a Wrap Blueprint delivers enough variety to last for years.

Gran Cocina Latina : the Food of Latin America

by Maricel E. Presilla

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Gran Cocina Latina unifies the vast culinary landscape of the Latin world, from Mexico to Argentina and all the Spanish-speaking countries of the Caribbean. In one volume it gives home cooks, armchair travelers, and curious chefs the first comprehensive collection of recipes from this region. An inquisitive historian and a successful restaurateur, Maricel E. Presilla has spent more than thirty years visiting each country personally. She’s gathered more than 500 recipes for the full range of dishes, from the foundational adobos and sofritos to empanadas and tamales to ceviches and moles to sancocho and desserts such as flan and tres leches cake.

Martha’s American Food : a Celebration of Our Nation’s Most Treasured Dishes, From Coast to Coast

by Martha Stewart

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

In this beautiful volume, a love letter to American food, Martha Stewart, who has so significantly influenced the American table, collects her most favorite national dishes, as well as the stories and traditions behind them. These are recipes that will delight you with nostalgia, inspire you, and teach you about our nation by way of its regions and their distinctive flavors. Above all, these are time-honored recipes that you will turn to again and again.

The Preservation Kitchen : the Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves, and Aigre-Doux

by Paul Virant with Kate Leahy

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

The first canning manual and cookbook authored by a Michelin-starred chef and restaurant owner, The Preservation Kitchen reveals a world of endless flavor combinations using revolutionary ideas that bring homemade preserves deliciously to life. Pairing science with art, Paul Virant presents expert preserving techniques, sophisticated recipes, and seasonal menus inspired by the award-winning fare at his restaurant, Vie, in Western Springs, Illinois.

Barefoot Contessa Foolproof : Recipes You Can Trust

by Ina Garten

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

Millions of people love Ina Garten because she writes recipes that make home cooks look great; family and friends shower them with praise and yet the dishes couldn’t be simpler to prepare using ingredients found in any grocery store. In Barefoot Contessa Foolproof, the Food Network star takes easy a step further, sharing her secrets for pulling off deeply satisfying meals that have that “wow!” factor we all crave.

Bouchon Bakery

by Thomas Keller and Sebastien Rouxel

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

The tastes of childhood have always been a touchstone for Thomas Keller, and in this dazzling amalgam of American and French baked goods, you’ll find recipes for the beloved TKOs and Oh Ohs (Keller’s takes on Oreos and Hostess’s Ho Hos) and all the French classics he fell in love with as a young chef apprenticing in Paris: the baguettes, the macarons, the mille-feuilles, the tartes aux fruits.

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

by Deb Perelman

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

The award-winning blogger for Smitten Kitchen presents a long-awaited first cookbook of 100 new and favorite recipes, from Mushroom Bourguignon and Pancetta to Buttered Popcorn Cookies and Chocolate Hazelnut Layer Cake, in a volume that features adapted options for busy home cooks.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks : Food from my Frontier

by Ree Drummond

Available at the Willmar Public Library & in the Pioneerland Library System

A second recipe collection from a #1 best-selling author covers every course and includes such down-home hits as Homemade Glazed Doughnuts, Ginger Steak Salad, Cajun Chicken Pasta, Creamy Cheese Grits With Chilies, Flower Pot Desserts and others in a full-color book that includes ideas for kids’ parties, potlucks and more.

Joy the Baker : 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes

by Joy Wilson

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Joy the Baker Cookbook includes everything from “Man Bait” Apple Crisp to Single Lady Pancakes to Peanut Butter Birthday Cake. Joy’s philosophy is that everyone loves dessert; most people are just looking for an excuse to eat cake for breakfast.

Thanksgiving : How to Cook it Well

by Sam Sifton

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

A former New York Times restaurant critic and Thanksgiving Help Line contact presents an accessible and authoritative guide to cooking and surviving a stylish Thanksgiving dinner, drawing on his extensive experiences to counsel home cooks on everything from different ways to prepare a turkey and selecting accompanying wines to managing difficult relatives and timing side dishes.

Tags: book recommendations, Cookbooks

Apr 19

MN Book Award Winners 2013

Categories:

Award for Children’s Literature:

It’s a Tiger! by David LaRochelle

Available at the Willmar Public Library

A child imagines that he is in a story where he encounters a tiger at every turn.

Award for General Nonfiction:

Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life by David Treuer

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Novelist David Treuer examines Native American reservation life–past and present–illuminating misunderstood contemporary issues of sovereignty, treaty rights, and natural-resource conservation while also exploring crime and poverty, casinos and wealth,and the preservation of native language and culture.

Award for Genre Fiction:

Curse of the Jade Lily by David Housewright

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Hired by an insurance company to help ransom a stolen gem, Rushmore McKenzie learns that the reputedly cursed gem causes the death or ruination of everyone who owns it, a situation that is complicated by the untimely murder of one of the thieves.

Award for Memoir & Creative Nonfiction:

Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works by Atina Diffley

Available at the Willmar Public Library

An organic farmer relates her family’s experiences and struggles in the industry as they faced challenges ranging from inclement weather to the threat of eminent domain.

Award for Minnesota:

Mni Sota Makoce: The Land of the Dakota by Gwen Westerman and Bruce White

Available at the Willmar Public Library

An intricate narrative of the Dakota people over the centuries in their traditional homelands, the stories behind the profound connections that hold true today.

Award for Novel & Short Story:

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Available at the Willmar Publc Library

When his mother, a tribal enrollment specialist living on a reservation in North Dakota, slips into an abyss of depression after being brutally attacked, 14-year-old Joe Coutz sets out with his three friends to find the person that destroyed his family.

Award for Poetry:

Odessa by Patricia Kirkpatrick

Available through MnLink ( www.mnlinkgateway.org)

A grim prognosis, brain cancer, leaves the speaker in Kirkpatrick’s Odessa fighting for her life. The tumor presses against her amygdalae, the “emotional core of the self,” and central to the process of memory. In poems endowed with this emotional charge but void of sentimentality, Kirkpatrick sets out to recreate what was lost by fashioning a dreamlike reality.

Award for Young People’s Literature:

Nothing Special by Geoff Herbach

Available at the Willmar Public Library

When Felton Reinstein’s little brother Andrew goes missing, Felton puts his football aspirations on hold to travel cross-country to Florida to find him.

Tags: Awards, book recommendations, books, Minnesota

Apr 15

READ Poster Contest Voting

Categories:

Contest/Giveaway/Awards

Vote for your favorite READ Poster by placing the corresponding poster number in the Comments Box Below.

You may only vote once.

Poster #1

Poster #2

Poster #3

Poster #4

Poster #5

Poster #6

Poster #7

Poster #8

Tags: library, Read, Vote

26 comments

Apr 12

Graphic Novel Surprise

Categories:

Children, Readers' Advisory, Teens

The first time I ever heard the words ‘graphic’ and ‘novel’ used together, I had my own idea of what it meant. I assumed a ‘graphic novel’ was likely a work of fiction laden with colorful, descriptive action. By ‘colorful’, I didn’t mean pretty pictures. I must admit that, years later, I felt rather dense when I found out what a ‘graphic novel’ truly is.

According to Webster, a graphic novel is “a fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book”. Wikipedia gives us an even more in-depth definition: “A graphic novel is a book made up of comics content. Despite that ’novel’ normally refers to long fictional works, the term ‘graphic novel’ is applied broadly and includes fiction, non-fiction and anthologized work.”

The term ‘graphic novel’ was first used in 1964 and in 1978 became used more widely in the comics community after the publication of A Contract with God by Will Eisner. After the success of Watchmen by Moore and Gibbons and The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller in the late 1980’s, the public became more familiar with the term. Only then, in the 21^st century, bookstores added a category for graphic novels.

Graphic novels are wildly popular among children and teens, yet adults are also finding that they fill a niche in their literary world. I read my first graphic novel in the spring of 2010 after having it gently forced upon me by a good friend. He handed me Neil Gaiman’s Murder Mysteries and with a grin, said, “Just try it. You may be surprised.” I hesitantly agreed and took it from him. The book laid around my living room for a couple of weeks before I finally picked it up and settled in to give it a go. (Keep in mind that this was my first ever attempt at a graphic novel.)

I poured over the book slowly to absorb not only the text, but also the fascinating illustrations. These illustrations, or ‘graphics’, intrigued and entertained me. I love well-written and nicely illustrated children’s books, so in a sense, reading Murder Mysteries was kind of like reading a grown-up children’s book. However, I still wasn’t completely sold on graphic novels. My friend said, “Maybe I should give you a different one. Here, try this one,” and he handed me Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughn.

Pride of Baghdad is a beautifully illustrated novel that grabbed me from the get-go. I finished it in one sitting and told myself that I could ‘do this graphic novel thing’. I went back and re-read Neil Gaiman’s Murder Mysteries and decided that it indeed is a pretty great graphic novel. (I believe I scored points with my friend.)

Since my initiation into the realm of graphic novels three years ago, I have read several more. My die-hard graphic novel friend has suggested several of the titles, but I’m pleased to say that I have sought out many others all by myself. Including the two titles mentioned above, some of my other favorites include The Arrival by Shaun Tan, The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 1 by Denise Mira. My favorite children’s graphic novel is Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith.

I look forward to reading Game of Thrones Volume 1 (recently released) and Volume 2 (due out in June). In addition, Doctor Who – Nemesis of the Daleks due out this month, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book 2 (available in May) are titles that I want to be sure to pick up. Another well-reveiwed graphic novel author I have yet to read is Craig Thompson (Habibi and Blankets).

Graphic novels are the perfect way to get reluctant readers into the groove of just how amazing reading really is. Many children’s book titles now also have a graphic novel version. Kids are enjoying everything from The Boxcar Children to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in graphic novel form. Of course, there are many titles written only as graphic novels too. Jeff Smith’s Bone series is extremely popular with elementary children.

Classic titles like Robinson Crusoe, Sense and Sensibility and Oliver Twist may now be found in graphic novel form. This is a fun and very entertaining way to re-read the Classics or maybe to enjoy them for the first time. Keep in mind that a graphic novel version of a previously published title is a condensed version of that story.

Mythical Heroes by Gary Jeffrey is a newer graphic series with titles about Achilles, Odysseus, Perseus, Hercules and more. There is also a Jr Graphic Famous Explorers series with titles featuring Ponce De Leon, Henry Hudson, Magellan and others.

I recently began to read the Locke and Key series by Joe Hill. I’m excited to page my way through the five graphic novels that make up this dark series about Keyhouse, a mansion in New England with doors that transform all who walk through them.

Graphic novels are the perfect and fun way to mix up your reading repertoire a bit. Stop by Willmar Public Library and check out our great selection for children, young adults and adults. You may end up as pleasantly surprised as I was.

graphic novels for adults

Tags: adult, children, graphic novel, novel, Teens, YA

Apr 09

Willmar Public Library’s Po-Tweet Contest

Categories:

Contest/Giveaway/Awards

April is National Poetry Month and in honor of the month, we are having a Short Form Po-Tweet Contest on Twitter. The contest will run now through April 30^th. Here are the rules:

1) All short form poetry must be 134 characters or less.

2) Must have the hashtag #wplpt in the tweet.

3) You may enter the contest as many times as you would like.

Library staff will vote on their most favorite Po-Tweet, and the Winner will receive a copy of The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling.

Example Po-Tweet: @WillmarPLibrary It snowed today, no!/ We are already in spring!/ It snowed today, no! #wplpt

Tags: April, library, poetry, twitter

Mar 29

Book BFFs – Books on Friendship & Networking

Categories:

On Tuesday, April 9th at 7PM, the Willmar Public Library will be hosting the first ever Book BFFs. Book BFFs is a place for you to find your next BFF, bromance, or buddy. All you have to do is bring one of your favorite books to spark conversation.

Until then here are some books on Friendship and Networking:

Click : the Magic of Instant Connections

by Ori and Rom Brafman

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Draws on psychological and sociological sources to explore the seemingly magical experiences of engagement that can occur when people connect with one another, sharing stories about individuals who have had life-changing moments of positive shared focus.

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

Available at the Willmar Public Library

In Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962, there are lines that are not crossed. With the civil rights movement exploding all around them, three women start a movement of their own, forever changing a town and the way women–black and white, mothers and daughters–view one another.

The Secret Life of Bees

by Sue Monk Kidd

Available at the Willmar Public Library

After her “stand-in mother,” a bold black woman named Rosaleen, insults the three biggest racists in town, Lily Owens, whose life has been defined by the tragic death of her mother, joins Rosaleen on a journey to Tiburon, South Carolina, where they are taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters who show them the true meaning of love and family.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Available at the Willmar Public Library

In 1946, as England emerges from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton finds inspiration for her next book in her correspondence with a native of Guernsey and his eccentric friends, who tell her about their island, the books they love, German occupation, and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club born as an alibi during German occupation.

MWF Seeking BFF

by Rachel Bertsche

Available in eBook Format on OverDrive

A web producer at Oprah.com and former editor at O: The Oprah Magazine documents the year she spent looking for a new best friend after relocating to Chicago, a search marked by weekly girl-dates and her observations on current social research about the friend-making challenges faced by modern adults.

Alone Together : Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other

by Sherry Turkle

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Argues that social-networking sites, companion robots and other technology are fueling disturbing levels of isolation and are causing humans to mistake digital communication for actual human connection.

Friendship Crisis : Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore

by Marla Paul

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Citing the obstacles that challenge adult women in forging new friendships, a collection of personal stories and expert tips suggests ways that women can overcome shyness and fear, make new connections at various stages in life, and turn casual ties into lasting bonds.

How to Click With People : The Secret to Better Relationships in Business and in Life

by Rick Kirschner

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Drawn from the author’s three decades of experience as an interpersonal communication expert, this empowering and insightful resource offers specific techniques for leading, understanding and connecting to people.

How to Talk to Anyone : 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships

by Leil Lowndes

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

The author has spent her career teaching people how to communicate for success. In her book How to Talk to Anyone (Contemporary Books, October 2003) Lowndes offers 92 easy and effective sure-fire success techniques– she takes the reader from first meeting all the way up to sophisticated techniques used by the big winners in life.

How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age

by Dale Carenegie & Associates, Inc. with Brent Cole

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

An up-to-the-minute adaptation of Dale Carnegie’s timeless, commonsense approach to communicating. In today’s world, where more and more of our communication takes place across wires and screens, Carnegie’s lessons have not only lasted but become all the more critical.

Tags: book recommendations, friends, library, networking

Mar 22

Women’s History Month – Books by Women 2012-2013

Categories:

In honor of March being Women’s History Month, here are some good reads written by women in the past year.

Alif, the Unseen

by: G. Willow Wilson

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Forced underground when his ex-lover’s new fiancé breaches his computer, putting him and his clients in jeopardy, young Arab-Indian hacker and shielder Alif discovers the secret book of the jinn and uses its insights to enable life-threatening developments in information technology.

Bring Up the Bodies

by: Hilary Mantel

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Depicts the downfall of Anne Boleyn at the hands of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell as Anne and her powerful family fight back while she is on trial for adultery and treason.

Flight Behavior

by: Barbara Kingsolver

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Tired of living on a failing farm and suffering oppressive poverty, bored housewife Dellarobia Turnbow, on the way to meet a potential lover, is detoured by a miraculous event on the Appalachian mountainside that ignites a media and religious firestorm that changes her life forever.

Gone Girl

by: Gillian Flynn

Available at the Willmar Public Library

When a beautiful woman goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, her diary reveals hidden turmoil in her marriage and a mysterious illness; while her husband, desperate to clear himself of suspicion, realizes that something more disturbing than murder may have occurred.

Lamb

by: Bonnie Nadzam

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Hoping to regain a sense of goodness in himself after the disintigration of his marriage and the death of his father, middle-aged David Lamb focuses on helping awkward and unpopular eleven-year-old Tommie by taking her on a road trip from Chicago to the Rockies.

Life After Life

by: Kate Atkinson

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Follows the experiences of a woman, who after being born on a snowy night in 1910, repeatedly dies and reincarnates into the same life to correct missteps and ultimately save the world.

May We Be Forgiven

by: A.M. Homes

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Feeling overshadowed by his more-successful younger brother, Harold is shocked by his brother’s violent act that irrevocably changes their lives, placing Harold in the role of father figure to his brother’s adolescent children and caregiver to his aging parents.

by: Zadie Smith

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

Growing up in the same 1970s urban planning development in Northwest London, four young people pursue independent and reasonably successful lives until one of them is abruptly drawn out of her isolation by a stranger who is seeking her help.

The Innocents

by Francesca Segal

Available in the Willmar Public Library

As he prepares for his wedding to Rachel Gilbert, the girl he has been with for twelve years, Adam Newman begins to question everything when Rachel’s fiercely independent and beautiful young cousin moves home from New York.

The Light Between Oceans

by: M.L. Stedman

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Moving his young bride to an isolated lighthouse home on Australia’s Janus Rock where the couple suffers miscarriages and a stillbirth, Tom allows his wife to claim an infant that has washed up on the shore, a decision with devastating consequences.

Tags: books, History, library, reading, Recommendations, Women

Mar 15

Books Set in Ireland

Categories:

In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, here are some great books set in Ireland.

Ulysses

by: James Joyce

Available at the Willmar Public Library

This account of several lower class citizens of Dublin describes their activities and tells what some of them were thinking one day in 1904.

Trinity

by: Leon Uris

Available at the Willmar Public Library

The “terrible beauty” that is Ireland comes alive in this mighty epic that re-creates that Emerald’s Isle’s fierce struggle for independence. The story of glories and defeats, triumphs and tragedies, lived by a young Catholic rebel and the beautiful and valiant Protestant girl who defied her heritage to join him.

How the Irish Saved Civilization:

the Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe

by: Thomas Cahill

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Revealing the pivotal role played by St. Patrick and Ireland in the development of Western culture and history, a narrative describes Europe’s evolution from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era.

The Glass Lake

by: Maeve Binchy

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Unable to come to terms with her misfit mother’s bouts of depression, Kit McMahon finds escape in her evening vigils along the lake shore, until her mother’s sudden death changes Kit’s life forever.

Angela’s Ashes: a Memoir

by: Frank McCourt

Available in the Willmar Public Library

The author recounts his childhood in Depression-era Brooklyn as the child of Irish immigrants who decide to return to worse poverty in Ireland when his infant sister dies.

In the Woods

by: Tana French

Available at the Willmar Public Library

Twenty years after witnessing the violent disappearances of two companions from their small Dublin suburb, detective Rob Ryan investigates a chillingly similar murder that takes place in the same wooded area, a case that forces him to piece together his traumatic memories.

Morrigan’s Cross

by: Nora Roberts

Available at the Willmar Public Library

As the powerful vampire Lilith prepares to quench her thirst for destruction by unleashing her fury in battle, a medieval sorcerer, one of the circle of six charged by the goddess Morrigan, must travel through time to stop her.

Love, Rosie

by: Cecelia Ahern

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

The author of PS, I Love You chronicles the ups and downs in the romantic relationship between Rosie and Alex, best friends since childhood whose feelings gradually evolve into something more, but separation, an unexpected pregnancy, dashed dreams, and other romances turn their lives upside down.

The Gathering

by: Anne Enright

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan are gathering in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother, Liam, drowned in the sea. His sister, Veronica, collects the body and keeps the dead man company, guarding the secret she shares with him – something that happened in their grandmother’s house in the winter of 1968.

Three Bags Full: a Sheep Detective Story

by: Leonie Swann

Available in the Pioneerland Library System

In a cozy Irish village, when their beloved shepherd, George, is found struck down by a spade, his flock of clever sheep, led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill, launches its own investigation to find George’s killer among the local village inhabitants.

Tags: books, Ireland, library, Recommendations, St. Patrick's Day