Grant County Library

Yes, your teen is crazy! By Michael J. Bradley. (A/649.125) Bradley, a psychologist drawing on current brain research, argues that teenagers are basically nuts. While 95 percent of the brain develops in early childhood, the most advanced parts aren’t completed until adolescence is nearly over. As a result, teens can appear unstable, dysfunctional and unpredictable, with temporarily impaired judgment and decision-making processes. In addition, Bradley argues, contemporary culture further challenges teens’ thinking capabilities; the prevalence of sex, drugs and violence makes the teen’s job of cognitive balancing even more precarious. The good news is that parents do make a difference, and Bradley clearly explains how parents can encourage and guide their kids through these tumultuous years. Stressing that teens are still “children,” Bradley encourages parents to respond like “dispassionate cops,” teaching and remaining calm even when teens behave outrageously. While Bradley’s prose which he admits might be shocking and offensive at times may be initially off-putting to some, the book is compelling, lively and realistic. Using crisp, believable anecdotes that are alternately poignant and hysterically funny (while avoiding generic examples, jargon or psychobabble), Bradley homes in on real-life scenarios, showing parents, for instance, how to respond when their teen is “raging,” and how to set curfews and limits. Bradley draws a vivid picture of what the teen is going through, and gives parents the tools to tackle contemporary issues together. An invaluable parachute to parents diving into the teen years.

Sustenance and hope for care givers of elderly parents by Gloria G. Barsamian. ( A/649.8084)

Introduction: caregiving-a major social issue — Reinventing and rediscovering the relationship between caregiver and care receiver — Adult children and elderly parents — The man with the 10,000 names — Attachment behavior in adult life — Betty Brillo’s diary (spousal caregiving) — The story of illness — Mothers and daughters — A new life passage — Ourselves rediscovered — Anxiety, stresses and strains of caregiving — Voices of grandchildren — A good death — Discussion and conclusion.

Family fun and fitness by Knute Keeling. (A/613.0432) Parents who are concerned about their child’s weight are up against formidable adversaries. Super-sized portions of bad-for-your-kids foods are everywhere. Television, video games, and computer-based socializing are taking over where playgrounds and neighborhood backyards once predominated. Cash-strapped schools and overscheduled family lives are conspiring to keep kids from getting the physical activity and nutritious foods their bodies need. It’s no surprise that children in America are getting fatter and unhealthier with each passing year. But, so too are many parents-a child’s most influential role models.

Stand by her by John W. Anderson. (A/616.99) Every year, more than a million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. They are shocked, depressed, and terrified-and they shouldn’t have to fight this battle on their own. They are going to need support from their families and close friends, and in particular from husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and other men in their lives. But as brave and strong as those men want to be, they too are facing what may be the challenge of a lifetime-and they are going to need help. Based on the author’s personal experiences and extensive research, Stand by Her is both a practical guide and an uplifting, inspirational work.

The Gift of an ordinary day by Katrina Kenison. (A/306.874) In her second affecting memoir about motherhood and nurturing (after Mitten Strings for God), Kenison, here at middle age with two sons in their teens, pursues with graceful serenity a time of enormous upheaval and transformation in her family’s life. As her sons grew out of babyhood and into the “new, unknown territory” of adolescence, she no longer felt clear about what her life’s purpose was supposed to be; their comfortable suburban Boston house of 13 years grew restraining, and Kenison longed for a simpler, more nature-connected lifestyle. Since neither she nor her husband, a publishing executive, was tied to a workplace (indeed, she was suddenly let go as the series editor of The Best American Short Stories after 16 years), they were content to be rootless for over three years, living mostly with Kenison’s parents until the building of their new home on bucolic hilltop land purchased in New Hampshire was completed. Meanwhile, Kenison’s youngest, Jack, began a new high school, while the older boy, Henry, a musician, applied to colleges, and the family had to adjust both to the move and to the startling, delightful pleasures of country life.

Today, I will…. By James Downton, Jr. (A/170.44) Today is filled with possibilities. You have power over your thoughts, attitudes, and perspectives. Today, I Will… asks you to shift the way you think and to cultivate your amazing potential. Using declarations, each containing the words “”I will,”" this book helps you focus on what’s positive and good in your life. It steers you onto a path of self-improvement, inspiring you to be the person you’ve always wanted to be – one day at a time.

Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn (AF) King, warrior, and lover Brian Boru was stronger, braver, and wiser than all other men-the greatest king Ireland has ever known. Out of the mists of the country’s most violent age, he merged to lead his people to the peak of their golden era. His women were as remarkable as his adventures: Fiona, the druidess with mystical powers; Deirdre, beautiful victim of a Norse invader’s brutal lust; Gormlaith, six-foot, read-haired goddess of sensuality. Set against the barbaric splendors of the tenth century, this is a story rich in truth and legend-in which friends become deadly enemies, bedrooms turn into battlefields, and dreams of glory are finally fulfilled. Morgan Llywelyn has written one of the greatest novels of Irish history.

Too much money by Dominick Dunne (AF and AFCD) For every striver who claws his way to the top of the moneyed heap, another must fall from grace to make room; in the work of late novelist and journalist Dunne (1925-2009), those falls are usually preceded by a vigorous shove. In his final novel, the players include grande dame Lil Altemus, banking heiress (and suspected murderess) Perla Zacharias, and flight attendant-turned-jetsetter Ruby Renthal, alongside journalist Gus Bailey (Dunne’s minimally-fictionalized surrogate). A sequel to 1988’s People Like Us based on Dunne’s real-life experiences as a society crime writer, Dunne brings an expected level of intimacy to his unflattering look at New York’s wealthiest citizens, incorporating his own spectacular Hollywood fall from grace and subsequent comeback, as well as his legal standoff with a congressman whom Dunne implicated in the disappearance of intern Chandra Levy. A fitting cap to Dunne’s notable career, this novel is more parody than satire-populated by jeer-worthy caricatures hard to sympathize with-but proves to be a compulsively readable diversion, showcasing Dunne’s razor wit and furious disdain for those who believe that laws apply to everyone but themselves.

Energy every day by Ron Woods. (A/613.7) There’s a worldwide energy crisis that has nothing to do with fossil fuels or nuclear and solar power. It’s a crisis of personal energy. You’re working longer hours, sleeping less, and spending less time being active. But this is one trend you don’t have to accept. In fact, the solution is in your hands.

Women’s home workout bible by Brad Schoenfeld. (A/613.704)

Shed unwanted weight, sculpt your physique, tone muscles, reduce joint pain, or simply be healthier and more fit. Women’s Home Workout Bible will show you how—all in the privacy and comfort of your own home. In Women’s Home Workout Bible, best-selling author and renowned personal trainer Brad Schoenfeld shares his secrets on the perfect at-home workout. Step by step, you’ll identify the home gym setup and workouts for your fitness goals, schedule, and budget. You’ll learn how to set up your personal gym for as little as $100, or expand your options with more equipment for $500, $1000, or more than $2500. Whatever your budget, with over 160 exercises, you’ll have plenty of variety, including bands, balls, free weights, and fitness machines. Women’s Home Workout Bible will then ensure you get the most out of your investment. You’ll learn how to set up workouts and organize your training for noticeable results. To get you started, there are 12 four-week programs for conditioning, sculpting, and core stability, plus three levels of fat-burning cardio workouts. And with expert advice, exercise tips, and answers to the questions you always wanted to ask, it’s like having your very own personal trainer and fitness consultant. If you’re ready to reclaim your body without the expense or scrutiny of public health clubs, you need Women’s Home Workout Bible.

The Sleep Lady’s good night, sleep tight by Kim West. (A/649.122) In this expanded edition, first published in 2004, child and family therapist West (aka “The Sleep Lady”) further explores the ways parents can teach their infants and toddlers the indispensable skill of falling and staying asleep. West has added the latest pediatric research on sleep safety, pacifier use, and breastfeeding, as well as expanded sections on toddler naps, interpreting newborn cries, and phasing out nighttime feedings. She has also included sections on bedtime baby yoga poses, a chapter on room sharing and bed sharing (encouraging parents to carefully assess their attitudes before making a decision on whether to co-sleep) and postpartum depression. West eschews the “cry it out” approach, which may leave parents feeling guilty and exhausted. Instead, her “Sleep Lady Shuffle” is a gentle behavior modification technique that helps babies gradually master solo sleeping and self-soothing. The author covers such general sleep tips as creating a sleep-friendly environment and using “loveys,” and then offers individual chapters addressing various age groups from newborn to five; readers can readily find information pertinent to their particular child and situation. In this detailed guide, West advises parents to practice patience and consistency, and maintain a united front as they lull their baby into slumber land.

 Deduct it! Lower your small business taxes by Stephen Fishman. (A/343.73) Fishman, an attorney who has written other legal self-help books, shows small business entrepreneurs how to maximize business deductions. He provides basic background on how different business structures are taxed and how tax deductions work, and gives advice on keeping audit-proof records, avoiding common mistakes, and choosing the right tax-saving strategies for businesses year-round. Information on deductions is organized into categories according to the most common deductions. Coverage encompasses the latest tax laws through the beginning of 2004.

Every nonprofit’s tax guide by Stephen Fishman. (A/343.7305) Roughly 1.4 million 501 (c) (3) organizations are operating in the U.S. And, according to recent data, the nonprofit sector is growing, with the number of registered public charities having jumped over 30% between May 2000 and May 2006. All of these nonprofits enjoy special privileges not available to other organizations-but not without a price; each must comply with a set of special rules and regulations. Every Nonprofit’s Tax Survival Guide, explains these rules and what nonprofits must do to maintain their tax-exempt status and avoid problems with the IRS.

The history of Egypt by Jason Thompson. (A/ 962) This history of Egypt from prehistory to the present will suit readers who want an introduction to the major epochs in Egyptian history and the elements of continuity and transition between them, and will also supply travelers with historical background. Nearly half of the book is concerned with the periods before the Muslim conquest. A bit more space is devoted to the past two centuries. Although the book pays attention to society, culture, religion, economics, and other aspects of history, its organization is primarily political in order to maintain a coherent narrative. B&W historical and contemporary photos and maps are included. Thompson has written other historical works.

La’s orchestra saves the world by Alexander McCall Smith. (AF) Set mainly during WWII in England, this quiet story about a woman who makes a new life for herself. After La Stone’s husband leaves her for another woman in France, La retreats to a small cottage in Suffolk given to her by her mortified in-laws. The isolation and peacefulness suit La, who joins the Women’s Land Army soon after the outbreak of war. When Feliks Dabrowski, an attractive Polish ex-pat, is assigned to the same farm where La is assisting with chores, La is attracted to him, despite her suspicions that Feliks hasn’t been fully truthful about his past. La’s idea to launch an amateur local orchestra to boost morale proves an unexpected success and helps give her purpose during the war’s darkest days.

The disciple by Stephen Coonts. (AF and AFCD) Last seen together in bestseller Coonts’s The Assassin (2008), Tommy Carmellini, a CIA operative, and Jake Grafton, the new CIA head of Middle Eastern Operations, try to stop the Iranian president, madman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, from starting WWIII in this nail-biting near-future thriller. When they fail to do so, Tommy and Jake must attempt to knock out the conventional and nuclear missiles that Iran fires at targets throughout the Middle East. Coonts carefully builds his plot using a wide cast of characters, from insider Iranian spies to cutting-edge aircraft pilots and government officials both high and low. Hardly a page passes without nerve-stretching tension or flat-out action. One can only hope the U.S. president, the head of the CIA and the Israeli prime minister will have this book on their nightstands for easy reference in case fiction turns to reality, an all-too-real possibility as evidenced by recent headlines.

Becoming a calm mom by Deborah Roth Ledley, PhD. (A/155.6) Ledley outlines techniques for new mothers that will help them overcome self-doubt and anxiety about their abilities to parent. She describes strategies for healthy thinking, behavior, communication, and decision-making, and relaxation techniques. She addresses challenges with infants such as feeding, sleep, development, and illness, and dealing with emotions and loss of identity and freedom, self-confidence, and alone time. She includes discussion of both stay-at-home and working moms, and strategies for dealing with changes in relationships, from friends to family. An appendix addresses postpartum depression and anxiety. Ledley (Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple U.) is a mother and practicing clinical psychologist who works with new mothers.

Ride a shadowed trail by Eunice Boeve. (AF) In the seaport town of Indianola, on the Texas coast, eight-year-old Joshua Ryder’s mother, a Mexican prostitute, is murdered. Pete Waters, an old ex-cowboy, takes him to raise and teaches him the cowboy trade. After Pete’s death, Josh is hired to help drive a herd of longhorns to the cattle markets in Kansas. Totally enamored of Belle, the widowed ranch owner’s beautiful daughter, Josh is surprised and pleased that Mrs. Rawlins and her daughters are to accompany the herd. On the drive, Josh and Belle fall in love and want to marry, but Josh knows his mother’s killer is the cold-blooded Cole Slade, who robs and murders at will and kidnaps, abuses, and kills young Mexican girls. He has vowed to bring him to justice, but it means leaving Belle, maybe forever, for who would lay bets on an eighteen-year-old going up against a seasoned, ruthless killer?

Under the dome by Stephen King. (AFCD) King’s return to supernatural horror is uncomfortably bulky, formidably complex and irresistibly compelling. When the smalltown of Chester’s Mill, Maine, is surrounded by an invisible force field, the people inside must exert themselves to survive. The situation deteriorates rapidly due to the dome’s ecological effects and the machinations of Big Jim Rennie, an obscenely sanctimonious local politician and drug lord who likes the idea of having an isolated populace to dominate. Opposing him are footloose Iraq veteran Dale “Barbie” Barbara, newspaper editor Julia Shumway, a gaggle of teen skateboarders and others who want to solve the riddle of the dome. King handles the huge cast of characters masterfully but ruthlessly, forcing them to live (or not) with the consequences of hasty decisions. Readers will recognize themes and images from King’s earlier fiction, and while this novel doesn’t have the moral weight of, say, The Stand, nevertheless, it’s a nonstop thrill ride as well as a disturbing, moving meditation on our capacity for good and evil.

One word answer by Charlaine Harris. (AFCD) Sookie’s cousin Hadley ran away years earlier and hasn’t been heard from since. When Mr. Cataliades visits on behalf of the vampire queen of Louisiana, Sookie finally learns that Hadley was murdered during a cemetery ritual. Now, the queen has an unusual request of Sookie that will force the telepathic cokcktail waitress into a difficult situation.

War dances by Sherman Alexie. (AFCD) When a famous writer begins to develop symptoms of a brain tumor, he’s not sure how to tell his wife and two sons. As he confronts his own mortality, he remembers the last moments he spent with hes Spokane Indian father. Even the thickest blanket couldn’t keep his dad warm whil he lay dying from alcoholism and diabetes.

The disappearance of Elaine Coleman by Steven Millhauser. (AFCD) When Elaine Coleman disappears without a trace from inside her locked apartment, an entire town is left in wonder. Police are baffled, and missing persons posters create no leads. Townsfolk trade spotty memories about a woman they barely know. One obsessed citizen finds what he believes is Elaine’s picture in an old high-school yearbook, but even he can’t be sure. Still, he comes to a startling conclusion about just what caused Elaine’s disappearance.

The key to midnight by Dean Koontz. (AFCD) Joanna Rand left the U.S. ten years ago to sing in a Japanese nightclub. Ever since, she’s been plagued with nightmares of terror. There is only one man who can help her–Alex Hunter. Ten years ago he saw her picture in the papers–as a senator’s daughter who had disappeared. Now he has to bring her memories back to her, memories of a past more terrifying than they dreamed possible…

Going rogue by Sarah Palin. (A/92, ALP/92 andACD/92) One year ago, Sarah Palin burst onto the national political stage like a comet. Yet even now, few Americans know who this remarkable woman really is. As chief executive of America’s largest state, Sarah Palin had built a record as a reformer who pushed through changes other politicians only talked about: Energy independence, ethics reform, and the biggest private sector energy infrastructure project in U.S. history. While revitalizing public school funding and ensuring the state met its responsibilities to seniors and Alaska Native populations, Palin also brought Big Oil to heel. She was a Main Street American woman: a working mom, wife of a blue collar union man, and mother of five children. But as the presidential campaign unfolded, Palin became a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. And few knew the real Sarah Palin. In this eagerly anticipated memoir, Palin paints an intimate portrait of growing up in the wilds of Alaska; meeting her lifelong love; her decision to enter politics; the importance of faith and family; and the unique joys and trials of life as a high-profile working mother. She also opens up for the first time about the 2008 presidential race, providing a rare, mom’s-eye view of high-stakes national politics-from patriots dedicated to “Country First” to slick politicos bent on winning at any cost. Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen’s extraordinary journey, and imparts Palin’s vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.

From cradle to grave by Patricia McDonald.(AF) Mary Higgins Clark fans who aren’t too finicky about legal detail will welcome this domestic suspense novel from MacDonald (Stolen in the Night). When Brooklyn grad student Morgan Adair, who’s agreed to be godmother to the infant son of her best friend, Claire Bolton, attends the baptism in West Briar, Long Island, it’s clear that the stresses of motherhood have overwhelmed Claire. A few days later, Claire phones Morgan at the airport, where Morgan’s about to depart for England to do research on feminist Harriet Martineau (and pursue romance with an English poet), to say she’s killed her son and husband. Despite this confession, which Claire also made to the police, the skeptical Morgan launches her own investigation.

Love and war; finding the marriage you’ve dreamed of by John and Stasi Eldredge. (A/248.8)  The Eldredges’ newest book has bestseller written all over it. The pair addressed men and women separately in Wild at Heart (John) and Captivating (Stasi) and now put that knowledge together in a book on marriage. Christianity, they say, is a love story set amid war, with marriage “a living, breathing portrait laid out before the eyes of the world so that they might see the story of the ages.” For them, marriage is the perfect storm that brings together basic differences in men and women, individual styles of relating, sin, and brokenness. The Eldredges offer sound advice on topics such as the delights of companionship, understanding the enemy is Satan and not your spouse, finding your marriage’s mission, taboo topics, and, yes, sex. They are honest and forthright, never skirting a difficult issue; instead, they offer hope, insight, and their own lives as examples of what God can accomplish. Their summation of marriage: “It can be done. And it is worth it.” So is this book.

None left behind; the 10^th Mountain Division and the triangle of death by Charles W. Sasser. (A/956.7044) The War on Terror has drawn the Army’s 10th Mountain Division to the most dangerous parts of Iraq. This book documents that danger, specifically the events of May 12, 2007, when Iraqi insurgents killed four soldiers and an Iraqi translator and, presumably, seized three others.

Mayo Clinic wellness solutions for High Blood Pressure. (A/DVD) Mayo Clinic, one of the top medical centers in the country, and GAIAM, the health and wellness experts, team up to bring you this groundbreaking, integrated health action plan designed specifically to help you control high blood pressure. Changing the way you live can change the way you feel. Part 1: Understanding your condition, Part 2: Eat well to feel well, Part 3: Soothing therapies. Also includes 52 pg. booklet.

Also in the series solutions for:  Back Pain, Diabetes and Insomnia.

The Coupon Mom’s guide to cutting your grocery bills in half by Stephanie Nelson. (A/640.73) A book that pays for itself! The creator of couponmom.com, with 1.6 million subscribers and counting, shares her strategic money-saving techniques for saving big while living well Americans are hungry for bargains these days, but one woman has developed the ultimate strategy for enjoying a feast of savings. Taking the nation by storm, with appearances ranging from The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today and Good Morning America, Stephanie Nelson has shown countless women and men how to save thousands of dollars by becoming savvy coupon clippers-without sacrificing nutrition or quality. Now, in The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, Nelson demonstrates all of the tricks of the trade-beyond coupons and tailor-made for a variety of shopper lifestyles. Whether you’re a “busy” shopper and have only a small amount of time each week to devote to finding the best deal; a “rookie” shopper who is ready to put more effort into cutting bills; or a seasoned “varsity” shopper who is looking for new ways to get the deepest discounts possible, this book offers techniques that will make it easy to save money at any level and on any timetable. Extending her Strategic Shopping protocols to mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, natural-food stores, drugstores, and other retailers, Nelson proves that value and variety can go hand in hand. With meal- planning tips, recipes, and cost-comparison guides, as well as inspiring real-life stories from the phenomenal Coupon Mom movement, this is a priceless guide to turning the checkout lane into a road of riches.

Impact by Douglas Preston. (AF) Near the start of this solid thriller from bestseller Preston, the U.S. president’s science adviser asks former CIA operative Wyman Ford, last seen in 2008’s Blasphemy, to look into the sudden appearance of radioactive gemstones, in particular to identify the precise location of their origin in Cambodia. Meanwhile, college dropout and frustrated astronomer Abbey Straw, who believes she witnessed a meteor’s fall, embarks on a search of small islands near her Maine home to locate pieces of the meteorite to sell on eBay. In California, soon-to-be murdered professor Jason Freeman sends Mark Corso, a Mars mission technician at the National Propulsion Facility, a classified hard drive with evidence of gamma rays emanating from the red planet. The three story lines end up neatly intersecting.  Preston refrains from inserting the scientific minilectures of which the late Michael Crichton was so fond.

Not my daughter by Barbara Delinsky. (AF) Delinsky proves once again why she’s a perennial bestseller with this thought-provoking tale of three smart, popular teenage girls who make a pact to become pregnant and raise their babies together. Lily, Mary Kate, and Jess also happen to be the daughters of best friends Susan, Kate, and Sunny, and the mothers are thrown into a tailspin by this unexpected news. Susan, the principal of the town’s high school, has the most to lose, when the schools superintendent and editor of the local newspaper question her abilities as a leader and mother, and other parents prove quick to blame her-a single mother herself who got pregnant as a teenager-as a poor role model. But all three women must come to grips with where they failed as mothers, how the dreams they had for their daughters are disappearing, and scathing small town judgment. Timely, fresh, and true-to-life, this novel explores multiple layers of motherhood and tackles tough questions.

The vintage table by Jacqueline Demontravel. (A/642) From creating a party that plays on nostalgia to planning a more opulent affair, the possibilities in these pages show how setting the table can be a festive and imaginative process. Photographs throughout.

Noah’s compass by Anne Tyler. (AF) Like Tyler’s previous protagonists, Liam Pennywell is a man of unexceptional talents, plain demeanor, modest means and curtailed ambition. At age 60, he’s been fired from his teaching job at a “second-rate private boys’ school” in Baltimore, a job below his academic training and original expectations. An unsentimental, non-contemplative survivor of two failed marriages and the emotionally detached father of three grown daughters, Liam is jolted into alarm after he’s attacked in his apartment and loses all memory of the experience. His search to recover those lost hours leads him into an uneasy exploration of his disappointing life and into an unlikely new relationship with Eunice, a socially inept walking fashion disaster who is half his age. She is also spontaneous and enthusiastic, and Liam longs to cast off his inertia and embrace the “joyous recklessness” that he feels in her company. Tyler’s gift is to make the reader empathize with this flawed but decent man, and to marvel at how this determinedly low-key, plainspoken novelist achieves miracles of insight and understanding.

The honor of spies by W.E.B. Griffin. (AF) Set in 1943, the  fifth entry in bestseller Griffin’s sprawling Honor Bound series, coauthored with son Butterworth, picks up where Death and Honor (2008) left off, with Don Cletus Frade, a U.S. Marine Corps major, still trying to expose two Nazi secret missions: Operation Phoenix, which concerns large sums of money being smuggled into Argentina to be used by high-ranking Nazis who plan to flee the Reich if Germany loses the war, and another program that ransoms rich Jews out of Germany. Most of the many characters continue to scheme against one another and  discuss their plots, coups, and assassination attempts. Brief, violent altercations occasionally interrupt the talk. As usual, the plot abruptly stops, presumably scheduled to resume in the next installment. Newcomers are advised to start with the first of the series.

Sizzle by Julie Garwood. (AF) “New York Times”-bestselling author Garwood weaves magnificent stories of passion, adventure, and intrigue. Now she raises the heat and spices up the action with a sexy, smart, daring new heroine and a smoldering thriller.

Food rules by Michael Pollan. (A/613.2) From the bestselling author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food” comes this collection of simple, sensible, and easy to use rules–the perfect guide for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food he or she eats. (Consumer Health)

Days of gold by Jude Deveraux. (AF) The inevitable prequel to Lavender Morning places Deveraux on familiar historical romance ground as she traces the journey to America of the namesake of the fictional town of Edilean, Va. English-born Edilean Talbot is very out of place when she arrives in 1766 Scotland to live with her uncle. A pressing problem presents itself when her uncle plans to marry off the rich, beautiful and well-educated Edilean to one of his unsavory friends the moment she turns 18. Reluctantly, Angus McTern, the highland hunk who laughs at Edilean even as he falls for her, helps her escape and accompanies her on a transatlantic voyage acting the role of husband. Once in Boston, they go their separate ways, later reuniting when old friends help Edilean dispense with an enemy. After dozens of novels, Deveraux has a sure hand evoking plucky heroines, dastardly villains and irresistible heroes, as well as a well-rounded supporting cast. If the plot seems familiar and occasionally contrived (how convenient laudanum is available when someone needs to be knocked out), the pace moves quickly and the romance sparks with enough voltage to keep readers turning pages.

The time traveler’s guide to medieval England by Ian Mortimer. (A/942.03)Profiles everyday life in fourteenth-century England, covering everything from period beliefs and styles to hygiene and medical practices, and also discusses the influence of warfare.

Remarkable creatures by Tracy Chevalier. (AF) Chevalier’s newest is a flat historical whose familiar themes of gender inequality, class warfare and social power often overwhelm the story. Tart-tongued spinster Elizabeth Philpot meets young Mary Anning after moving from London to the coastal town of Lyme Regis. The two quickly form an unlikely friendship based on their mutual interest in finding fossils, which provides the central narrative as working-class Mary emerges from childhood to become a famous fossil hunter, with her friend and protector Elizabeth to defend her against the men who try to take credit for Mary’s finds. Their friendship, however, is tested when Colonel Birch comes to Lyme to ask for Mary’s help in hunting fossils and the two spinsters compete for his attention. While Chevalier’s exploration of the plight of Victorian-era women is admirable, Elizabeth’s fixation on her status as an unmarried woman living in a gossipy small town becomes monotonous, and Chevalier slows the story by dryly explaining the relative importance of different fossils. Chevalier’s attempt to imagine the lives of these real historical figures makes them seem less remarkable than they are.

 Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker. (AF) In bestseller Parker’s third Charlie Hood novel (after The Renegades), Hood, a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy, joins Operation Blowdown, an attempt to staunch the near constant flow of money and guns across the U.S.-Mexican border. When a shootout during a botched weapons buy leaves the son of the head of a powerful Mexican cartel dead, the fight becomes personal as cartel soldiers cross the border to take revenge on Hood’s team. Meanwhile, a faulty product has driven Pace Arms, a family-owned gun manufacturer, nearly to bankruptcy. Unbeknownst to Hood, the man brokering an illegal deal between Pace and another Mexican cartel chief for the production of a revolutionary handgun is Bradley Smith (aka Bradley Jones), the son of bank robber Allison Murrietta, the antiheroine of L.A. Outlaws, the first and best entry in the series.

Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant. (A/791.450) In this addition to the stunt-blog memoir genre, 35-year-old yoga instructor and performer Okrant spent 2008 living by Oprah’s advice as dispensed via her show, magazine and Web site. The author was fascinated with the way Oprah evokes equal parts admiration and disdain, and curious about whether it’s “even possible to follow someone else’s advice to discover one’s authentic self.” Despite skepticism about the validity-or possibility-of finding happiness through Oprah, she embarked on 12 months of Oprah-prescribed activities and expenditures, plus blog updates. Monthly tallies detail activities, expenditures and the author’s thoughtful observations. For example, she writes: “I believe Oprah’s ultimate goal is to empower women and girls,” but “I think Oprah devalues women by focusing so much on our bodies.” The author is honest about her own experiment-inspired conflicts: as a result of her endeavors, she has a book and has lost weight, but is “almost always a stressed-out, insecure, exhausted mess.” Okrant posits that, in many ways, pursuing a “best life” detracts from “real life.” In the end, while there are few real revelations, Okrant has written a thoughtful, honest examination of her journey.

Treasure hunt by John Lescroart. (AF) Bestseller Lescroart’s lackluster third Hunt Club thriller (after The Suspect) finds PI Wyatt Hunt near the end of his rope. Business has slowed to a trickle; Hunt’s relationship with his old high school friend, homicide detective Devin Juhle, is on the rocks; his receptionist, Tamara Dade, has walked out; and Tamara’s brother, Mickey, is his only remaining employee. When Mickey discovers the body of Dominic Como, San Francisco’s most prominent civic activist, he proposes a way for Hunt’s agency to get involved in the murder investigation and perhaps return to solvency. Como’s extensive charities, like the Sunset Youth Project and its subsidiaries, operated with a budget of about $50 million-a sum large enough to put all sorts of murder motives into play. And just how jealous was Como’s wife of her husband’s young and pretty female driver? A labored gathering of suspects, police, and Hunt Club operatives allows Hunt to produce the killer in melodramatic fashion.

Dogtown; death and enchantment in a New England ghost town by Elyssa East. (A/917.445) This is a work of narrative nonfiction in which I attempt to tell the story of a landscape-Gloucester, Massachusetts’s Dogtown.” The author’s succinct description of her fascinating, richly detailed and remarkably evocative exploration of a long-deserted colonial village amid a 3,600-acre woodland doesn’t do justice to the quirky originality of Dogtown. Part history of a most unusual region; part commentary on the art of the American Modernist painter Marsden Hartley; part murder mystery/true crime police procedural; and part memoir, East’s first book is likely to appeal to a varied audience for whom “Dogtown,” Mass., is utterly unknown. East was initially drawn to Dogtown through the landscape paintings of Hartley-a gifted and undervalued contemporary of Georgia O’Keeffe, Arthur Dove and John Marin. Led to investigate the landscape Hartley painted, East soon finds herself, like the protagonist of a mystery, ever more deeply involved with the colonial ruin-is it a place of mystical wonder, or is it an accursed landscape? In colonial times, Dogtown was a marginal area of Gloucester said to be a “haven” for former slaves, prostitutes and witches; in the 20th century, it was largely abandoned and became a sort of uncharted place where, in a notorious 1984 incident, a mentally deranged sex offender murdered a young woman teacher in the woods. East is thorough in her descriptions of the attractive young victim and the loathsome murderer-a devastating portrait of the type of predator of whom it’s said “he would never hurt anyone.” Though the true crime chapters-which alternate with chapters presenting the tangled history of Dogtown-are inevitably more interesting, East gracefully integrates her various themes into a coherent and mesmerizing whole. In her admiration for Hartley, East kindles in the reader a wish to see his works, as well as the allegedly “mystical” landscape that inspired them; it would have been a good idea to include color plates of some of Hartley’s work, juxtaposed with the landscapes. Also, the true crime chapters-written with appalled compassion-and the detailed portraits of individuals involved-the murderer, the victim, the victim’s husband and his family, several police officers-would benefit from photographs as well. Late in Dogtown, as if the author’s inventiveness were flagging and her material running thin, there are digressions into local politics that will be of limited interest. Dogtown is surprisingly spare in personal information. We learn only a few facts about the engaging young writer whose life was so changed when she first saw Hartley’s paintings that, five years later, she was led to the adventure of Dogtown, which would involve her for 10 years. This is most unusually self-effacing, particularly in our rabidly confessional times. Some readers will appreciate the author’s vanishing into her subject, which is certainly strong enough to stand alone, while others might feel an absence in this evocation of, as Hartley described it, “one of these strange wild places… where the chemistry of the universe is too busy realizing itself.” Joyce Carol Oates’s latest novel is Little Bird of Heaven.

We feel fine by Sep Kamvar and Jonathan Harris. (A/152.4) In this dazzling exploration of contemporary human feelings, digital whiz kids Sep Kamvar and Jonathan Harris use their computer programs to peer into the inner lives of millions, constructing a vast and deep portrait of our collective emotional landscape. Armed with custom software that scours the English-speaking world’s new Internet blog posts every minute, hunting down the phrases “I feel” and “I am feeling,” the authors have collected over 12 million feelings since 2005, amassing an ever-growing database of human emotion that adds more than 10,000 new feelings a day. Drawing from this massive real-world stockpile of found sentiment, We Feel Fine: An Almanac of Human Emotion presents the best of the best — the euphoria, the despair, the passion, the dreams, and the desires that make us human. At turns touching and thought-provoking, humorous and heart breaking, We Feel Fine combines the words and pictures of total strangers to explore every corner of the human experience. Packed with personal photos, scientific observations, statistical info graphics, and countless candid vignettes from ordinary people, We Feel Fine is a visual, fiercely intelligent, endlessly engrossing crash course in the secrets of human emotion. Are men or women happier? Does rainy weather affect how we feel? Is beauty the bridge between happiness and negativity? How do our emotions change as we age? What causes depression? What’s sexy? What’s normal? What’s human? We Feel Fine finally provides a way to answer these questions that is both quantitative and anecdotal, putting individual stories into a larger context and showing the stories behind the statistics — or as the authors like to say, “bringing life to statistics and statistics to life.” With lush, colorful spreads devoted to 50 feelings, 13 cities, 10 topics, 6 holidays,5 age groups, 4 weather conditions, and 2 genders, We Feel Fine explores our emotions from every angle, providing insights into and examples of each. Equal parts pop culture and psychology, computer science and conceptual art, sociology and storytelling, We Feel Fine is no ordinary book — with thousands of authors from all over the world sharing their uncensored emotions, it is a radical experiment in mass authorship, merging the online and offline worlds to create an indispensable handbook for anyone interested in what it’s like to be human.

Saving CeeCee Homeycutt by Beth Hoffman. (AF) Hoffman’s debut, a by-the-numbers Southern charmer, recounts 12-year-old Cecelia Rose Honeycutt’s recovery from a childhood with her crazy mother, Camille, and cantankerous father, Carl, in 1960s Willoughby, Ohio. After former Southern beauty queen Camille is struck and killed by an ice cream truck, Carl hands over Cecelia to her great-aunt Tootie. Whisked off to a life of privilege in Savannah, Ga., Cecelia makes fast friends with Tootie’s cook, Oletta, and gets to know the cadre of eccentric women who flit in and out of Tootie’s house, among them racist town gossip Violene Hobbs and worldly, duplicitous Thelma Rae Goodpepper. Aunt Tootie herself is the epitome of goodness, and Oletta is a sage black woman. Unfortunately, any hint of trouble is nipped in the bud before it can provide narrative tension, and Hoffman toys with, but doesn’t develop, the idea that Cecelia could inherit her mother’s mental problems. Madness, neglect, racism and snobbery slink in the background, but Hoffman remains locked on the sugary promise of a new day.

 Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. (AF) Dekker and Healy follow their collaboration in Kiss with another odyssey into the paranormal that transports readers into another dimension and returns them head spinning, never to see their own world in quite the same way. Two young friends are propelled out of their Gypsy clan when shady characters burn their kumpania (community). The girls lose family and friends in the fire and grow up separated from each other and the boy they both loved. One is faced with an impossible choice that haunts her until the girls meet 15 years later, where a reality-bender twist is revealed. Readers who enjoy allegorical stories that are rooted in the Bible will find dozens of connections, some force-fed (“He was the Jesus to Janeal’s Judas”) and others unorthodox but mind-zinging (” `Who can imagine what God and Satan discuss? Certainly Job had no idea God was gambling with his life.’ “) Christian fiction lovers who enjoy romantic interest, frantic chases by sinister figures of biblical proportions, suspense, and the old-fashioned joy of suspending disbelief will find this new dynamic writing duo, once a writer-editor combo, fiery hot.

 How to save your own life by Michael Gates Gill. (A/158) The author of the “New York Times” bestseller “How Starbucks Saved My Life” perks up America with inspiring lessons on finding true happiness at any age and any stage of life.

Butterflies of Grand Canyon by Margaret Erhart.(AF) Erhart (Bully Creek) steers clear of the earnest obsessions that weighed heavily on her early books in her fifth outing, a quaint novel of the American West enlivened by a quirky mystery. En route from St. Louis to visit her in-laws in Flagstaff, Ariz., young Jane Merkle meets two women botanists on the train. Their paths cross again after Jane, having lost her luggage and traded her fancy dresses for dungarees and a butterfly net, becomes enthralled with her new surroundings and ranger Euell Wigglesworth. As it turns out, Elzada, one of the botanists, is in town to help investigate a 13-year-old murder, and as the mystery unfolds and dark secrets come to light, the canyon works its magic on Jane. Erhart, a river and hiking guide, teases her readers about the sweet silliness of human affairs in the face of the magnitude of nature, and the cleverly plotted mystery becomes a lark of a vehicle for Erhart’s thoughtful prose. This novel is light and agreeable, touched with just the right amount of awe at the splendors of nature.

Love Haiku by Patricia Donegan.(A/895.6) In this elegant anthology, love is explored through beautiful images that evoke a range of feelings. Written by contemporary Japanese poets as well as by haiku masters, these poems share the poets’ vision of love and the poignant moments that mark love.

 100 questions and answers about Macular Degeneration by Jeffrey S. Heier, MD. (A/617.7) Whether you’re a newly diagnosed patient, or a friend or relative of someone suffering with Macular Degeneration, this book offers help.100 Questions & Answers About Macular Degeneration provides authoritative, practical answers to common questions about this condition to help patients and families achieve a greater understanding of all aspects of dealing with Macular Degeneration including treatment options, sources of support, and much more. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this disease.

Live help from Homework Kansas is not  available on four holidays a year.  The program is closed on New Years Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The new “Books Sandwiched In” program for adults will be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month, with new books, dvds and cds for 2009. Bring a brown bag lunch at noon and enjoy reviews, lively discussion and the company of fellow readers. The Library will provide a drink and dessert. You may check out any material presented that catches your interest after the program.

Using the State Library of Kansas Digital Catalog is easy! If you need help there is a quick guided tour created by OverDrive, the company that provides this downloadable service. The guide walks you through the basics, from getting started to downloading to burning a CD. In just a few minutes, even the newest user can be enjoying a downloaded title.

The State Library of Kansas is proud to announce the arrival of Digital Video and MP3 Audiobooks in addition to WMA Audiobooks, Digital eBooks and Digital Music. Our new MP3 Audiobooks will play on virtually any MP3 player available including iPod and Zune! You can browse and search hundreds of great titles and download them to your computer, transfer them to a portable device, or burn to a CD for your reading and listening pleasure anywhere, anytime. Try it, it’s easy!

Loan policies: Audio & eBooks- 14 days

                              Music- 14 days

                              Video- 7 days

www.kslib.info

Enjoy the reading experience. Kansas Talking Book Services provides reading materials, decriptive videos, and equipment for the visually impaired. For more information, call: 1-800-362-0699. Or visit the website: www.kslib.info/talking.

ChiltonLibrary provides exclusive photographs, diagnostics designed by instructors, step-by-step repair procedures, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for automobiles and light trucks in one easy-to-use web site. Since the Grant County Library subscribes to ChiltonLibrary, you are now equipped with decades of data to maintain your vehicle. Phone the Library for informaton or stop by for a demonstration. Access the databases by visiting this site, Click on:

1. Grant County Library Catalog (listed under  Library Links )

2. Account Login

3. Type in your Library card number and last name as directed

4. The Swiftnet catalog search and databases will open, click on “Gale Chilton Online Auto Repair Manuals“ to access.

You may also access through the website for the State Library of Kansas at www.kslib.info. The site will open to a find bar in a yellow box. Underneath the find bar is “Explore Our Resources“. Click on it to open the available databases. Chilton’s is under “Specialized Information“.  

Kan-ed, Kansas State Library and the Regents Library Database Consortium Bring Databases to Kansas Schools, Libraries, Homes and Hospitals.

The databases will be available, beginning in August, are as follows:

• Worldbook Encyclopedia
• Worldbook Advanced
• ProQuest Nursing Journals
• Heritage Quest
• WorldCat
• The Gale/Cengage package which includes Academic OneFile, General OneFile, Literature Resource Center, Chilton’s Auto Repair, Health & Wellness Center, Alternative Health Module, Business & Company Resource Center and Profiles ASAP, Custom Newspapers, gale Virtual Reference Library, Military & Intelligence, Nursing & Allied Health, Legal Trac, Religion & Philosophy, Professional Collection, Computer Database, and Informe

The Ebsco package which includes Novelist, Ultra Online Package, Middle Online Package, Primary Online Package and includes K-12 specific products such as; Encyclopedia of Animals, ERIC, Health Source: Consumer Edition, MAS Ultra School Edition, Middle Search Plus, Newspaper Source, Primary Search, Professional Development Collection, and TOPICsearch.

Available on the Kansas Library website: www.kslib.info. Find information by subject, or click on “explore our resources”.

The databases are available to anyone in Kansas. Outside of the state, a Kansas Library card is needed, you may apply for a temporary card on the site. Homework Kansas is also available on the Kansas State Library site. It has been changed to include tutors for 4th grade through adult learners, including college students. You also may access through  the State Library site without a Kansas Library card if you are in the state of Kansas.

 Any patron 18 years or older with a library card in good standing can check out up to 5 movies at a time: VHS tapes for two weeks and DVDs for a week. We have movies for every age….from babies to adults!

New videos (DVDs) at the library:

The Haunted Mansion

Gifted Hands

Young Frankenstein

The Wizard of Oz

The Covenant

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Scooby Doo the Mystery Begins

Hocus Pocus

The Messengers

Duplicity

Lost and Found Family

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Madea Goes to Jail

and many more… come in and see!