All posts by Jessica FitzHanso
A few quick reading suggestions for the Holiday weekend
The Christmas holiday is upon us! The library will be closed until Tuesday next week, but we’re open until 5:30 today. There are some great titles sitting on the shelves in the new book room, waiting to entertain you during the downtime this weekend. Call us and we’ll put them aside for quick pick up!
The After Party by Anton Discalfani: A novel which immerses the reader in all of the sun-drenched glamour of 1950s Texas, where the potentially scandalous behavior of one woman tests the lengths her closest confidante will go to save her. An immersive romance.
Alice and Oliver by Charles Bock: A tale full of heart and heartbreak told with grace and humor about a strong and beautiful mother of a young family up against the behemoth of cancer and the challenges of the American Health Care system. Based on the author’s own experience.
Cross Talk by Connie Willis: Willis’ soon-to-be-married main characters elect to participate in a procedure that will allow them to communicate emotionally with one another. This being a comedy of errors, invisible wires are crossed and the woman ends up telepathically connected to an irreverent tech genius. A fun, irrepressible near future romance involving the possibilities of technology and how hilarious it can be when it fails.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave: Cleave’s moving novel follows four young Londoners at the brink of England’s involvement in World War II. The most engaging of these enters the war effort as a teacher, an experience that transforms her from her privileged upbringing and introduces her to a love that can only emerge from the loss and pain of war.
The Girls by Emma Cline: Slow burning and suspenseful, the novel follows a teenage girl in the 1960s through emotional development, family turmoil and growing involvement with a cult-like group reminiscent of the Manson family.
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer: Darkly humorous and rich in both biblical allusion and sharp contemporary dialogue, Foer relates the story of three sons watching as their parents’ marriage crumbles at the same time an earthquake hits the Holy Center of the Middle East sparking a Pan-Arab conflict. Foer’s novel aims at the true meaning of family and identity in the midst of crisis and chaos.
Katherine of Aragon, the true queen by Alison Weir: The first in an anticipated six part novel series covering Henry VIII’s six wives. This installment relates the story of the princess of Spain, as she is married to the heir to the English throne, and her struggle as, once he is King, his attentions veer toward her own handmaiden. Royal drama and dense period detail will satisfy Tudor fans.
The Wonder, by Emma Donoghue: Set in 1850s Ireland, a young nurse is called to investigate and help a young girl who refuses to stop a fast that has lasted over four months. As the nurse becomes increasingly sympathetic to the girl’s struggle, and fails to immediately remedy the problem, she witnesses the sad and mysterious strength religious orthodoxy holds over the rural communities. Donoghue composes a tense atmosphere and builds a rich setting reminiscent of her previous novel Room.
Zero K by Don DeLillo: A literary science fiction novel light on action but intensely ruminative and philosophical, in which a Soros-like billionaire builds a cryogenic compound where wealthy citizens on the verge of death can be preserved until advancements in medical technology are able to reawaken them to new lives.
Are you experienced?
How about a trip to Paris without the expense or travel? Maybe you’d prefer a cool weekend with the kids filled with fun and interesting projects? Well, now you can do both with our Experience Bags!
We’ve gathered together different items (books, movies, DVDs, even video games) around a certain theme and packaged them up in a tote to create an Experience.
For example, the “Taste of Italy” bag is filled with a cookbook, a book on Italian wine, an Opera CD, a food-themed novel, and a couple of movies known for featuring Italian food. See how it works? Check out all the collections below:
- Parisian Cafe
- Game on!
- Geek Out Family Pack (Pictured above left)
- A Taste of Italy (pictured above right)
- Women on the Home Front
- Starry Nights
- Beyond Downton
- Hit the Road
Reserve a kit in our catalog, or find one of the luggage tags, displayed on the kiosk in the Library’s lobby, and experience something new this weekend!
Have an idea for a theme we can build around? Let one of our BookWise librarians know and we’ll design the rest.
Friday Fiction: Too Much Turkey edition
Enjoy your dinner – and try to tolerate your relatives – this Holiday season. If you’re lucky enough to have some time off over the holidays, then you might need something to read. Here are a few new books from different genres we think you’ll enjoy. To view the full list of over 20 titles we recommend for the season, click here. Happy Holidays!
humans’ growing dependence on new technologies results in social
media implants, memory manufacturers, harmfully immersive virtual
reality games, and disturbingly intuitive robots.
destroys her best friend’s future, Shelby connects with a circle of lost and
found souls, including a guardian angel, to fight her way back to her own
future. By the best-selling author of The Marriage of Opposites.
Hannah Rosenthal forges a pact that she will remain true to her best
friend, Leo, before embarking on a refugee ship bound for Havana,
where rumors of a deadly plot force her to make an impossible choice.
wife’s growing obsession with a beautiful thoroughbred horse and her
dreams of becoming a serious competitor. By the best-selling author of
The Flight of Gemma Hardy.
an orphan girl, who was kidnapped and raised by Kiowa raiders, back to
her family in San Antonio in this new novel from the author of Enemy
Women.
woman who upends his sense of personal history and forces him to
reevaluate his life, work and position in the world. By the award-winning
author of The Sound of Things Falling.
Find out what you should read next – BookWise and 3 for 5
Have you tried our personalized reading recommendation service yet? You just give us 3 titles you’ve liked, and we’ll give you 5 new titles that should be right up your alley. Simply answer a few questions about your reading preferences on this little orange card pictured to the left, or contact one of our librarians through our BookWise service!
Here are a few completed recommendations we’ve given out recently. Click on the book covers below to read descriptions and connect to the book in the catalog. How’d we do? Any appeal to you too? Don’t forget to try this service for yourself!
Scenario 1 –
Liked: 
Did not like: 
Prefers in a book: Good writing, that it teaches you something, and that it is entertaining
What we recommended: 
Scenario 2 –
Liked: 
Did not Like: 
Prefers in a Book: Good character development, Historical or dramatic titles
What we recommended: 
Scenario 3 –
Liked: 
Did Not Like: 
Prefers in a book: interesting plot, well-developed characters and a good story
What we recommended: 
The next time you get stuck for something to read, give BookWise a try!
Book list: That Summer feeling
The temperature outside is rising, and so is your anticipation of beach days and afternoons in the back yard with a great summer read, right? Well, provided you are one of the lucky ones that can afford a few days like that, you wouldn’t want to waste them with a bad book, so here are some great accessories for the beach bag or hammock-side-table, sure to help you relax and enjoy.
Modern Lovers, by Emma Straub: From the author of the 2014 summer hit The Vacationers comes a story about 3 college friends, reluctantly aging and skeptically watching their cooler teenage children navigate the troubled waters they once did. It’s a refreshingly honest examination of giving in to aging, and all of the humor, and humility that accompanies the experience.
The Assistants, Camille Perri: Imagine if you were the hardworking, but woefully debt-ridden assistant to a Rupert Murdoch like magnate witnessing the streams of money that flow like water through your office. Now, imagine if you had accidentally stumbled upon a no-fail way to retain some of that money for yourself. This is where executive assistant Tina’s story starts in this smart, riveting and hilarious working world adventure that will have you turning pages faster than Warren Buffet turns a profit.
Everybody’s Fool, by Richard Russo: Sully fans rejoice: the characters of North Bath are back. Bestselling and beloved author Russo returns to the quintessential upstate New York setting to continue the stories of its residents’ struggles with life, love, and aging, filled with authenticity and humor.
Before the Fall, by Noah Hawley: This is hyped to be the big summer thrill ride, and with a plot structure reminiscent of the TV show Lost, it’s likely to live up to the noise. Nine passengers take off from Martha’s Vineyard, but shortly afterward the plane drops into the ocean, killing all but two. The duration of the novel tells the survival story of the two remaining passengers, amid flashbacks to the stories of the other passengers before they boarded the plane, revealing a deeper mystery behind the crash.
You Know Me Well, by Nina LaCour and David Levithan: Two major YA authors team up to produce this sharp, moving portrait of love and friendship: Two longtime classmates become inseparable friends over the course of Pride Week in San Francisco and together help each other to navigate the pitfalls of new relationships with humor and honesty.
Stuck in a hold queue for any of these titles? Check out some of our lists for more popular titles for what to read while you’re waiting:
The Assistants, by Camille Perri
Everybody’s Fool, by Richard Russo
Before the Fall, by Noah Hawley
Book list: Graphic Memoirs
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. These titles certainly support that argument. Like more traditional memoirs, Graphic Memoirs tell moving, often difficult stories about the lives of their authors. Images and colors assist the artist to further communicate pain and humor where words may prove superfluous or lacking. The result can be more immersive and lasting for the reader. Maus and Persepolis are perhaps the most popular of this genre, but here’s a list of others you may want to check out:
The Arab of the Future: A childhood in the Middle East 1978-1984, by Riad Sattouf – The author relates his and his family’s tumultuous and at times absurd experiences in Libya and Syria under the Gaddafi regime during that time period.
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast: Author and New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast uses th graphic memoir form to relate her experience watching her aging parents slow decline. Chast, through her stories and drawings imbues her brave and honest tale with humor and love.
Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel: Recently adapted into a Broadway Musical of the same name, Bechdel’s poignant memoir tells a quiet, tragic story of her father: a historic preservation expert, funeral home director, high school English teacher and closeted homosexual.
Invisible Ink: My mother’s secret love affair with a famous cartoonist, by Bill Griffith – Using the detective story formula and evocative period detail, artist Bill Griffith tells the intriguing tale of his mother’s affair with cartoonist Lawrence Lariar, for whom she worked in Manhattan during the fifties and sixties, when the author was a teen.
Marbles: Mania depression, Michaelangelo and me, by Ellen Forney: The artist relates a lighthearted, but earnest account of her struggle with bipolar disorder.
Relish: My life in the kitchen, by Lucy Knisley: Artist Knisley uses vibrant colors, charming stories and fully-illustrated recipes to depict her life from childhood in Brooklyn and then Upstate New York among chefs and artists and foodies; to art student at college in Chicago.
March: Book 1, by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, and illustrated by Nate Powell – Congressman John Lewis relates his experience growing up on a farm in rural Alabama to his introduction to the civil rights movement. Accompanied by Powell’s evocative images, this memoir tells a powerful story.
Rosalie Lightning, by Tom Hart: An extremely intense and personal account of a young mother and father (the author) reeling after the devastating loss of their two year old daughter. Images are ethereal and dreamlike, and the story is nonlinear, as would be an experience of this magnitude.
Syllabus, by Lynda Barry: The author tracks through narrative and philosophical investigation, along side illustrations that range from doodle to high art, her experience trying to figure out how to teach a course to use a notebook to track and develop the creativity by tracking her own creative process in a notebook.
Windows 10 at the Chelmsford Library
The computers at the library are getting a makeover! All of the public computers on the lower level of the library will soon be upgraded with Windows 10 and Office 2016. A few of the computers have already received the upgrade, so the next time you are in, check for the little blue star (pictured right) which identifies the upgraded computers, (or avoid them for now if you are not ready for the switch!)
Windows 10 is available to many home customers as well. If you have not already encountered it, it is similar to Windows 7, with a Start menu and traditional file structure, but includes many of the features that were introduced with Windows 8, such as dynamic app tiles and touch screen capability. The new Windows 10 operating system also has many new features, like Universal apps that can be accessed and used across multiple Windows-based devices, and a new task management system that includes Task View and the ability to create virtual desktops.
If this sounds a bit daunting, or if you would simply like an introduction and a little more information about the new features, join us for our next Tech Talk on Wednesday, June 22, from 10-12 in the library conference room. A few of our librarians also take appointments for computer help; just call 978-256-5521 x211. For a more self-directed learning experience, check out the tutorials available online at gcflearnfree.org. This independent educational website contains a wide variety of resources for tech learning, including a section on Windows 10 and the Microsoft Office 2016 Suite.
Book list: Austen translation
Adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels sometimes seem as common as those of Shakespeare’s plays, but there is certainly no shortage of Austen-ites eager to read them. The most recent addition to this collection in Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible, a charming update of Pride and Prejudice, in which sisters Liz and Jane Bennett, both moderately successful New Yorkers in their late 30s, return home to Hyde Park Cincinnati to assist their aging parents, and inadvertently, of course, find love. Here’s a list of some other notable reinventions and celebrations of Austen’s regency-romances that keep reader’s crazy for Jane:
Bridget Jones’ Diary, by Helen Fielding: This hilarious debut novel from Helen Fielding stars a 30-something modern London woman attempting to find “inner poise” and a stable boyfriend . Through Bridget’s sharp, witty diary entries, a modern social structure is revealed and analyzed and then thoroughly rejected, both vigorously and inadvertently with generous nods to it’s predecessor, including an eligible but misanthropic character called Mark Darcy, (played, of course, by Colin Firth in the Bridget Jones movie.) Though the book was published 20 years ago, it still resonates for readers.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Seth Graheme-Smith: The title pretty much says it all for this one: Elizabeth Bennett and co. must battle the onslaught of zombies after a plague has fallen upon their English country village. The author combines Austen’s original language and text with lines befitting the Walking Dead.
Clueless, directed by Amy Heckerling; starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacy Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd. This classic film of teenage life is firmly representative of mid nineties culture, but actually owes it’s twisting hilarious, romantic plot to Austen novel of the early nineteenth century. The original ditz with a heart of gold is Austen’s Emma, a young aristocratic beauty whose primary hobby is ensuring a suitable match for her friends.
The Marriage Plot, by Jeffery Eugenides: English major and Austen loyalist Madelaine Hanna is forced to rethink her devotion as she comes face to face with the structuralists and post modernists of the Brown University literature department in the 1980s. Will her Romantic ideals hold up against the rigid academic scrutiny? Is it possible to be a feminist and an expert on the Victorian Marriage Plot?
First Impressions, by Charles Lovett: Through modern-day bibliophile and Jane-ite Sophie Collingsworth, Lovett delves into a mystery of the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen’s personal life and loves. Though not technically an update, this story provides a loving celebration of the author that continues to captivate so many readers.
Among The Janeites, by Deborah Yaffe: And speaking of devoted fans, check out this journey through the wild and very real world of Jane Austen obsession. Yaffe, an Austen fan herself, examines everything from the collective quest for the perfect regency ball gown to groups devoted to meticulously analyzing every detail of Mansfield Park. Readers of this book will not easily dismiss Jane Austen as romantic fluff again.
Wednesday Morning Book Group: The Columbus Affair, a One Book Chelmsford selection
The Wednesday Morning Book Group meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 10AM in the Main Library, and is always looking for new members. Please check our website here for upcoming dates and titles.
On March 16, the Wednesday Morning Book Group met to discuss The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry. The Columbus Affair is one of the selections for the 2016 One Book Chelmsford program, along two other suspense titles, There Was an Old Woman by Hallie Ephron, and The Other Woman, by Hank Philippi Ryan. Two of the library’s other book groups held discussions on those titles.
For those not familiar with Steve Berry, he primarily writes politically charged historical suspense novels. His main vehicle for these stories is the character Cotton Malone, a federal agent turned rare-book dealer who uses his knowledge in history and tracking criminals to uncover great conspiracies. Berry has penned 11 in this series so far, alongside many standalone novels including The Columbus Affair.
The March meeting to discuss The Columbus Affair was well-attended. Each member began by sharing their thoughts and most were entertained by the story, with at least one member expressing her love of “everything Steve Berry writes.” The most common compliment expressed was an admiration of the depth of research, including the 8-page writer’s note at the end that helped the reader to separate truth from literary license.
The “Affair” of the title concerns the idea that Christopher Columbus, controversial conquistador of the “Indies,” was actually a Jew attempting to establish a Jewish colony in Jamaica, maybe for them to escape the persecution they were experiencing in Europe at that time. In addition, “Columbus” may have hidden some significant treasure which, if found, could be used by nefarious present day organizations to ignite major territorial war. What is probably the most intriguing aspect of the novel, however, is the way it plays with the most well-known fact about Columbus – that there is so very little known about him at all. It’s possible the true purpose of the novel may be to implore the reader to do more research and fill in these gaps.
For many it was clear that character development was not the main goal of the novel, but then, this is often the case for suspense novels such as these. The plot moves at breakneck speed and the reader is transported from the Orlando sunshine to the streets of Vienna or Prague to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica in a reality-defying space of time. No one worries about up-to-date passports or baggage fees. Readers are distracted from contemplating these possible violations, as rich descriptions of medieval stone architecture, lush tropical settings and the dangerous and deadly figures just a few feet behind overwhelm more practical concerns. This is, after all, why suspense and thrillers are so sought after.
As noted above, most of the group agreed that they appreciated the deep level of research that went into the novel and found the history, of both the Jewish people and Jamaica to be compelling. Berry and his wife are extensive travelers, and this is clear in the detailed descriptions of the places he describes. His passion for history is obvious too, as well as his respect for primary documentation, evidenced through Alle Becket’s scholarship, as well as the extensive notes in the back. For the Berry detractors in the group though, the insertion of fictionalized primary sources into the text was problematic, and broke the momentum of the narrative.
In the end, it seemed that, this example of Steve Berry’s work simply did not resonate enough to create new fans in the group. Meanwhile, his Cotton Malone series continues to entertain and draw in new readers. And for those readers who were fortunate enough to attend his recent talk at the library, Berry’s warmth and enthusiasm certainly won them over.
Related reading:
This list is composed of books mentioned by Berry in his Writer’s Note included at the end of the 2013 mass market paperback edition from Ballantine Books. Some of these items are available through the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium; others are available through libraries in other parts of the state and can be requested:
- Fincham, Alan. Jamaica Underground: the caves, sinkholes and underground rivers of the island. Barbados ; Kingston, Jamaica : Press University of the West Indies, 1997. 447 pp.
- Gottlieb, Karla. The Mother of Us All: A History of Queen Nanny. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2000. 119 pp.
- Kingsley, Sean. God’s Gold: a quest for the lost temple treasures of Jerusalem. New York, NY : Harper Collins, 2007. 318 pp.
- Kritzler, Edward. Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a generation of swashbuckling Jews carved out an empire in the new world in their quest for treasure, religious freedom and revenge. New York: Doubleday, 2008. 324 pp.
- Wiesenthal, Simon. Sails of Hope: the secret mission of Christopher Columbus. New York : Macmillan, 1973. 248 pp.
- Wolter, Scott F. The Hooked X: key to the secret history of North America. St. Cloud, Minn.: North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2009. 276 pp.
Here are links to the titles in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry:
- The Templar Legacy (2006)
- The Alexandria Link (2007)
- The Venetian Betrayal (2007)
- The Charlemagne Pursuit (2008)
- The Paris Vendetta (2009)
- The Emperor’s Tomb (2010)
- The Jefferson Key (2011)
- The King’s Deception (2013)
- The Lincoln Myth (2014)
- The Patriot Threat (2015)
- The 14th Colony (2016)
This is a small list of other titles that you may enjoy if you liked reading The Columbus Affair:
- The Last Templar, by Raymond Khoury
- Seven Wonders, by Ben Mezrich
- Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown
- Napolean’s Pyramids, by William Dietrich
- Spartan Gold, by Clive Cussler
Spring into action at the library
Happy spring! Here are a few ways to shake off winter at the library:
Catch some local art: They say March comes in like a lion. How about a Chelmsford Lion? The talented students of Chelmsford, grades K-12, have their art on display here in the library throughout March. Artwork ranging from drawing and painting, to photography, mixed media and computer graphic design fill the walls and display areas of the McCarthy Meeting room and the main floor. Information about this show and exciting future exhibits are available on our exhibits page. If you’re interested in going a little further afield for your art experience, check out our list of Boston-area art museum passes, including the Museum of Fine Arts, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, which offers an enchanting outdoor experience on a warm spring day. Browse the whole list of museums, and other “non-traditional” items available for borrowing, on our webpage.
Make something: March is National Craft month! Come to the library for some excellent crafting ideas and programs. From the Library Lab programs and MacKay craft-ernoons for middle grades, to the MacKay knitting circle and our Bibliobites cooking group, we have a little something for all crafty types. If solo crafting is more your mode, the library has a book, DVD, or downloadable for that. Browse this list in our catalog to find project books both fun and the functional to DIY your way to warmer weather this spring.
Get in the Garden: There’s probably no better springtime activity to get you outdoors than gardening. If you love to garden, you’re probably already digging deep into plant planning. If you’re looking for some tips during your preparation, we have a few experts joining us to get ready for the summer blooms. On April 24, R. Wayne Mezitt of Weston Nurseries and Hort-Sense will join us to deliver a talk on Invasive plants. He’ll discuss how to determine whether a plant is invasive and coping strategies for when these aggressive species invade. Then on May 22, Jen Valentine of Valentine & Sons Seed Co. will discuss heirloom gardening and getting the most out of small spaces. Both programs will begin at 2 PM with time at the end for questions. Check the Chelmsford Library events calendar or call 978-256-5521 for more details.
Spring into action in your community: If you’re looking for a way to do something good for the community, but have fun and meet new people at the same time, consider volunteering in your community! If you missed the volunteer fair on March 12, many of the organizations that participated are also listed on our Get involved web page. Visit anytime to connect to library and Chelmsford area volunteer opportunities. You might also consider joining the Friends of the Library!
The pictures in this post come from our library’s Instagram account. View the whole collection here, and follow the account for updates!