Reading Rescue, February 2009: Adult Winter Reading

It's still cold, and snow is still flying. What could be better than a great book and a hot beverage of your choice? One way it could be better is to sign-up for the Adult Winter Reading Program at Penn Area Library. It is better because you have a chance to win a $50.00 Wal-Mart gift card just for signing up! If you read and follow the categories, you have 18 chances to win other fabulous prizes including a $25.00 Bath Bed and Beyond gift certificate, Giant Eagle gift cards, Eat'n Park gift cards, a basket, and much more. Are you still undecided? The six categories are: Books with a Pennsylvania setting; Classic Books; Mystery with a Foreign Setting; American Presidents; Sports Theme; and Cooking and Food. Just to make it a little easier, this article will give you some highlights in each category.

One category is books with a Pennsylvania setting. Tracie Peterson wrote a series of three books called Ladies of Liberty. The second selection in the series is A Lady of Hidden Intentions (FIC PETERSON). The story begins in England, but swiftly moves to the Philadelphia area. In England, Catherine overhears her father in conversation with his business partner. The partner has been illegally shipping slaves and is about to flee the country. Catherine confronts her father, and they leave England for Philadelphia. She becomes a fashion designer. A gentleman she had known in England recognizes her and is about to say something about her father. She gives up her own dreams to clear her falsely accused father. This is a delightful historical fiction book and will surely keep your attention. The other books in are series are: A Lady of High Regard and A Lady of Secret Devotion.

Batter Off Dead: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery by Tamar Myers (FIC MYERS) is a well written mystery that showcases the picturesque Pennsylvania Dutch. Magdalena is the owner of the Pennsylvania Dutch Inn. She has to close it for a while since she is eight and a half months pregnant at the age of 48. Operating the inn as well as being the town's mayor is extremely stressful. However, she is still hosting the Beechy Grove Mennonite Church Brotherhood fundraising all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Magdalena irritates Minerva J. Jae by filing gluttony charges against her. Minerva J. had eaten twenty-six pancakes and seventeen pork bellies! Shortly after devouring the feast, Minerva J. drops dead. The police are called, and they find that the pancake batter is loaded with pills making her death a homicide. Magdalena has helped the police before, and they ask again for her help. What happens? Find out where and in what strange circumstances that Magdalena has her baby by reading this book.

How about a mystery in a foreign setting? A Greek island may sound like a fabulous place to go especially on these cold winter nights, but you might have second thoughts if you are a female traveler! In Jeffrey Siger's Murder in Mykonos (FIC SIGER), female travelers' bodies are being discovered. A score of female bodies have begun to surface after a new police chief is transferred. Many of them had been missing for over two decades. He interviews many suspects, but it is only after a new abduction takes place that he finally comes to a conclusion that shakes him professionally and personally.

Skizzer written by A.J. Kiesling takes place in North Carolina and England. Claire's sister Becca is missing. She leaves a note for her husband telling him not to worry, but he is bewildered. Claire and Rainey investigate. Claire begins to understand long-cherished family secrets. This is a quick and engaging read. It is an adventurous story that will give you insight to the real meaning of sisterhood.

Classic books are ones that we have cherished for centuries. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (FIC LEE) is one of the best-loved stories of all time. It is a gripping, heart-wrenching tale of coming-of-age in the South poisoned by prejudice. The story gives the view in the eyes of a young girl as her father, a crusading local lawyer, risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime. Your mind will wonder and you will ponder, such questions as: Was Tom Robinson real? Did it really happen? Can I do something? Can I stop it? Everyone, at some time or another, should read this book.

Before Green Gables (FIC WILSON) by Bridge Wilson is a prequel to the beloved classic Anne of Green Gables (MONTGOMERY) by L. M. Montgomery. This story tells about Anne's early life. She is orphaned at a young age and shuffled from one family to the next. Despite poverty, hardship and heartbreak, Anne never looses her spirit and hunger for knowledge. It would be a good idea to read this book before Anne of Green Gables because it will answer questions like where she came from, how she was brought up and what her parents were really like. Classic books are located on the last range of shelves directly behind reference in the main adult library.

February 16th is President's Day, and we couldn't or wouldn't forget them in the Winter Program. Harry S. Truman was a simple man from Independence, Missouri, but his presidency was anything but simple. Robert Dallek's Harry S. Truman: The American Presidents Series (92 TRUMAN) is a book by an author with vast knowledge of President Truman and his era. The author talks about historical events such as the ending of the war with Japan, authorizing the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, firing General Mac Arthur, ordering troops to Korea, and so much more that you will be able to visualize how important this President was in our history. He accomplished a lot and during his presidency the "United States truly came of age."

John Gartner's In Search of Bill Clinton: A Psychological Biography (92 CLINTON) is an insightful analysis of the former President. He claims that many people become euphoric in his presence. It is as if he was a drug, and you feel exuberant as he speaks. Clinton's early life made a huge impression on his later life. To be sure, he is brilliant. As you read this book, you will begin to realize that John Gartner had fallen under the "Clinton spell." Yes, he does write about the sexual promiscuity and hypo-manic temperament, but still he does a good job illuminating Clinton's unique contributions. This is a very insightful and just plain good book.

In the category of cooking and food, Philip and Alice Shabercoff's Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on our Children (618.92 SHA) is an essential read for everyone. The book is well-documented, highly readable, and gives a lot of shockingly important information. The authors point to the fact that the children of baby boomers, the first to be raised in a truly "toxified world", have higher rates of birth defects, asthma, cancer, autism, and other serious illnesses. They point to some cases such as the one in Dickson, Tennessee where babies were born with cleft lips and palates after landfill chemicals seeped into the water. Another in Port Neches, Texas where many high school graduates living near a synthetic rubber and chemical plant contracted cancer, that the school was nicknamed "Leukemia High." They go on to explain how our homes are infested with everything from flame-retardants in crib sheets to harmful plastic softeners in teething rings. However, people are fighting back. Find out how they are fighting and how you may be able to help.

We all have friends or maybe even ourselves whom are allergic to certain foods. What Else to Eat? (641.5 COS) by Linda Coss supplies us with a fabulous collection of recipes for those with allergies to dairy, eggs, and nuts that are easy, fast, and emphasize no fuss. There are recipes for the entire family and you don't have to have an allergy to enjoy them. The book is designed for our busy lifestyles. You will enjoy using this book to plan fabulous menus.

The final category is sports. Has your heart slowed down from this year's Super Bowl? I think we should call the Steelers the "Cardiac Kids!" Speaking of the Steelers, Steve Hickoff's The 50 Greatest Plays in Pittsburgh Steelers History (796.332 HIC) takes us back to all the previous Pittsburgh Super Bowls and much more. The book was written by sportswriters from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Press. They talk about the Steelers as a true sports dynasty. This book is a trip down memory lane that captures those unforgettable memories of glory and triumphs in the '70s, Myron Cope's favorites, Steelers struggles in the '80s, and the dazzling return in the '90s. This book is fun to read and a wonderful way to think of our Steelers. Here's to 7th Heaven!

Finally, Football’s Greatest Stars (796.332 MAK) by Allan Miki features quite a few Steelers and well as many other famous football stars. Maki does report that the Steelers are the fifth oldest franchise in the AFC North. The team was named by Art Rooney in 1933 as the Pirates, and in 1940 he renamed them as the Steelers. This book is full of facts about the NFL and its twenty-two franchises. It is informative as well as fun to read.

We hope that everyone will try these great books and the Winter Reading Program. The program goes on until April 20th.

At the library Children's Story Hours are on Mondays (toddlers) at 10:00 am and 11:00 am; Tuesdays (pre-school age) at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm; and Baby Lap Sit at 11:00 am on Thursdays. The children hear stories, sing, and do great crafts. Every third Thursday is Guy's Read at 6:30 pm and every fourth Wednesday is Girl's Read.

The Friends of the Penn Area library will hold an audio/visual sale on February 27 and 28th in the multi-purpose room from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm each day.

As always, if you have questions or comments, please either e-mail mfulmer@pennlib.org or phone at (724) 744-4414.

Thanks to all the individuals and businesses that contributed prizes for the Winter Reading Program.

See you in the Library!

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