Invisible Boy, Cornelia Read

The next 'new' author - is Cornelia Read. I just read Field of Darkness (2006), then The Crazy School, and finally Invisible Boy (2010). Still reeling from all the stories, from all the personal chaos, from all the intertwined histories. Interesting mix of Yankee, Hamptons, murder and social dysfunction. Riveting reads. There are still moments that resonate, that mystify, that rankle, that outrage, that are hysterical, that make you weep. Not cry, but weep.

These are novels, mysteries, serious fiction about an ex-debutante Madeline Dare from 1988-1990. "the money is so old there's none left" but it leaves huge social scars and an historical abyss that she feels deeply. How she is married to this upstate farm boy greek god is totally mystifying, but they work; perhaps it is their dreams, their laughter, their hopes. You like them, whatever they are. The murders in each book are particularly gruesome/horrific, especially as they are filled with social injustice. No one comes out unscathed, but they do go forward. You gradually learn more of Madeline's past, but it feels even more complicated.

I do not understand half of the NY phase/face, don't really want to know that that is the general life of many people, managed to get past the f-words and all the 'everyday' drugs.... The author is 'a reformed debutante who currently lives in NH' (previously mentioned a husband and twin daughters) and is obviously writing alot of personal history into these plots. That in itself is scary. Not my usual read, but found these utterly intriguing. Many written gems. "A good marriage is when you know the other person will always make sure you have a place in the lifeboat' when you least expect them....
 
They will stay with me for some time, and will be recommended to many others. These were also library books.

Kindle options

I should have included the open door of the  helicopter in this shot! A new adventure every day!

"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." Johann wolfgang van Goethe author of the epic drama Faust. Goethe spent 50 years working on this two-volume masterpiece.

I spent nearly 10 hours in a plane over a long weekend, and of course was accompanied by my Kindle. I have so many books to share! I downloaded a dozen books, partly in preparation for longer trips, but also just to have them NOW. (The Library has a long wait on several new releases; still with a Kindle book, you can't share it or give it to the library to shorten that waiting period).

But also several comments on word games. I downloaded the two new free games - Shuffle Row and Every Word and found them both fun. It does feel a little restrictive after using another favourite Chicktionary on the iPhone (now iPad/iPod) where I like reshuffling the letters to visualize the words faster. Several of my friends didn't know there were these games available, so I thought I would include comment here!

Read 'em and eat! photo contest

You still have two more days to send in a photograph of your reading, eating, cooking, etc photo and comments! We need your entries! And look forward to viewing your creativity!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

This is a book review by Lily Grebe, one of our young adult reviewers: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins


Mockingjay was the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I absolutely loved it. This whole series has been excellent and this last book is no exception. It is basically  the rebellion and a wrap up of the story. I must admit, the ending is sad. I literally cried! Some parts I didn't completely like, such as how wimpy Katniss was at some points but then you remember what she went through and you don't mind as much. I also didn't like how they didn't tell us anything about Gale in the epilogue. Perhap, that is understandable.

All in all, Mockingjay is a great (and sad) conclusion to the magnificant Hunger Games Trilogy. I highly recommend reading it.

Rochester Public Library - expansion

This is an article for the Friends' Newsletter that the Director of the Library, Audrey Betcher, wrote to be published in our autumn newsletter. 

The citizens of Rochester have a long history of library service dating back to the mid-19th century. The Rochester Public Library was formally established in 1895, and three years later the first library was built. The library moved three more times, in 1937, 1972, and 1995. Each new building was in direct response to the need for greater access to library resources from our ever-growing, ever-changing community.

The existing library building was completed in 1995. Some still call it the “new” library despite the fact that it’s already 15 years old! When you think about 1995, it seems like a long time ago: Windows 95 was released, the DVD format was announced, the OJ Simpson trial took place, the Murrah Federal Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, and “Braveheart” won the Oscar for Best Picture.

A lot has changed in the library since 1995, too. Here is a sampling of what is new since that time:

 DVDs (23,000 in the library’s collection)

 Public internet access (27 computer stations on-site)

 Wireless capability throughout the building

 Homework assistance (in the library three nights per week and online)

 Early literacy story time kits

 Little Tykes computers

 Reference by email, instant messaging, and texting

 Downloadable audio, video and music

 Adult and young adult programming

 Book discussion kits

And library use continues to grow. In 1996 (the first full year in this building), 1,133,993 items were circulated. In 2009, that number was 1,647,333, a 45% increase. In the past ten-plus years, our circulation grew faster than the area’s population!

As we look to the future, we know the city and county will continue to expand. Rochester Public Library must do so as well in order to meet the new and continued needs of our residents.

More than 550,000 people walked into the Rochester Public Library last year. Compare that to Mayo Clinic with approximately 350,000 patients in 2009 or the Rochester airport with 63,143 passengers in 2009.

The public library holds an important place in our city. It is an essential component of the highly-regarded quality of life in our community. It provides free access to information while also providing a physical space downtown to learn, meet, and imagine. Rochester Public Library provides great value for its taxpayer support. Let us continue to grow together.

Your support of the Library expansion is very important. The meeting of the Sales Tax Advisory Committee will be Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 11:30 am. (City Hall, Room 104).  Airport projects are first on the agenda for September 1, with the Library to follow on that date if time permits. If the Airport runs over then the library would be the first item on Sept. 8th at 11:30 AM. (City Hall, Room 320). Please attend if at all possible.

Book thoughts of the day

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested....Francis (1561-1626)
I added to this "and some you just want to throw across the room as a complete waste of time".

I thought this would make a great question/answer session. Which books fit which category? The first 'taste' are summer reads, or books you dip into, return to, or yes, even cookbooks! Swallowed, would include my favourite authors, and chewed and digested are specials, like all of Robertson Davies, Non-fiction as a category! John McPhee or Edward Hoagland - books/essays  you return to again and again.

and yours?!

Last week we added blog readers from the Philippines and from Arkansas! As well as someone from Victoria in Australia. Welcome all! Happy reading. Look forward to your book recommendations as well.

ARTigras - This Saturday!

Don't forget to join the Friends in the Mayo Park downtown this Saturday! Remember it is just a short walk across the Road to our Friends' BOOKSTORE with the airconditioning ;-)

Back to School!

ALREADY??!!
Well, anytime is a good time to read a classic, or catch up on literature, or just a great read.

What a fabulous display we have in the Friends' Bookstore!  It will be changing daily with new selections as they are selling like hotcakes!

ARTigras Village - Join Us this Saturday August 21

The Friends of the Library will be selling books, mostly art books at their booth near the Art Center parking lot this Saturday as part of ARTigras. Please join us from 10 am - 6:00 pm. We hope to see you there! Another chance to get great book deals and find the next summer read. Summer is not over yet!

Dog Days of Summer Contest - Winner

The winner is Zeke! This dog was attentively listening to Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. This was a summer reading assignment for his owner, Justin Erbe, who decided to share the book with Zeke. This made it a much faster read. Note to Justin,  "Do not read the ending to Zeke. He won't like it."
Justin gets to pick whichever story he thinks Zeke will like to listen to next.

The runner-up is Chris Sigurdson for her fabulous relaxing in a hammock photo. We were all envious. She will get a book of The Book Whisperer's choosing because she waits for her reviews anyway. She is also a loyal follower of this blog.

Reminder: We still have two contests running: The Adult summer reads and the Read it and Eat contest. (We're still waiting for bribes!)

Ebooks, Ereader, Unusual and Special books COVERS

Just in a recommendation from the Librarian in Black (do check out that blog!!)

Vintage book covers for your ereader


By Paul Biba

This is too good to pass up. Over at Etsy (where I buy a lot of stuff) Randy is making ereader covers from vintage books. Here’s what he says:

For those who want to go hi tech but still stay classic, I am making covers from vintage books, comics and magazines, for the iPad, Kindle, Kobo, Sony, Nook and more.

The reader is held securely inside with elastic straps. It looks like a regular “old school” book, which makes it easy to identify, store and truly unique!
Some of the covers are made from vintage books and some I use traditional book binding methods to construct the cover to the highest standards and quality. The images I use on the covers are the original material and not photocopies. The best part of these is that you can choose the book cover!

I am adding new covers all the time so please stop back and check them out.

Summer reads

Reversing the feeling of autumn!

Just yesterday I was posting the dog days of summer, with how hot, sultry, and sticky/muggy it was. I have to say the weather is a definite improvement - BUT why did it have to go to 52 degrees, why has the maple TOP turned colour already?!!! why have the wrens and orioles left?!! and today, this morning  - the geese flew overhead.  Not yet!!!!
So after two hours of weeding, I am contemplating the TBR pile next to the bed (to be read pile of library books).
These include:
The Intellectual Devotional (David Kidder, Noah Oppenheim)\
(I couldn't resist the subtitle: revive your mind, complete your education and roam confidently with the cultured class)!
Gifts of War (2008, Mackenzie Ford) Britain 1914 Debut novel by respected historian.
Birdology (Sy Montgomery)
Faithful Place (Tana French - and no doubt the first one I will read!)
The Climate War (Eric Pooley)
Iphone for Dummies - well - it has already been useful in that at last I know how to have multiple photo albums! There is always a way to do something, but not everyone seems to know! Clever marketing - you were smart enough to buy this book (or borrow rather!)...
Enjoy reading while the sun shines!

Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer are technically the hottest, sultry days of the summer, when air is stagnant. Named by the Romans (although the Greeks had also called this period dog days) for the time from late July to early Sept. The brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (large dog) Sirius, the dog star, rises with the setting sun at the end of July/beginning of August. The Romans designated 40 days, 20 before and 20 after this event, as the dog days of summer, and sacrificed a brown dog in order to appease/prevent hot weather (they believed the earth received heat from this star, which combined with the sun at this time was responsible for the hot days of summer.).


The old farmers almanac has the dates at 3 July to 11 August. Seems to be slightly longer this year, although cooler weather ahead, after all these violent storms!

The Patron saint of dogs, St Roch has his feast day on August 16th, which was during most European dog days. Hello Rochester!

"It was an 'evil time when seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad and all creatures became languid" Brady's 1813 Clavis Calendarium

Olive Kitteridge Elizabeth Strout

What a difference a book makes. I haven't been terribly fond of her previous books, but absolutely loved this one. Olive Kitteridge won the Pulitizer in 2008, and was a book I thought to get to eventually (I still haven't forgotten the previous minister tale, although not for the right reasons). However, Olive is an incredibly complex book - I can't describe it as a Maine or NE book, it is more deeply perceptive into the human condition/narrative. There are 14 different people/stories in this book, with Olive involved in all of them. She is fiercely proud of her heritage (10th generation American, from Scotland as indentured servants) but I think of this as more a generational book (specific voice / era or small town (anywhere)) than Yankee. Perhaps I don't feel Yankees are so intensely lonely, alone, full of loss all lives full of quiet grief. I read it curiously, not heart wrenching - as layers of character were revealed. I admired Olive for her relentless views, although that was some time coming (your introduction to her charming husband colours your initial impression, as is her point). Everyone has a different perception of people, relationships are all complex, but need to change with time, place and with the relationship as well. She was a fierce math teacher, but remembered by all fairly. (Ok, not by her son!). Her one concern at 77 was her daily exercise - the 6 mile walk, to exclude people, but that it was exercise that would make her live longer - only if she could die quickly, and not in a home lingering, like Henry). Her quest to learn, to grow, to understand. Not just within her community, but into the bigger picture. (I absolutely adore her comments/opinions of Bush in the White House). "Bad things happen. Where have you been?" - do not make excuses.
a few haunts : Rebecca "This can't be my life."
When I read a review that said it was a "penetrating portrait of ordinary coastal Mainers, ...with sweeping descriptions of lush Maine landscape - I can't believe we read the same book. It is the people in here that are absolutely fascinating, their grappling with their lives and unexpectedly intersecting lives and those impacts that will stay with you for weeks.

School Books

Excerpt ascribed to Creesbrook School, Kirkby Lonsdale

Guide to the Use and Purpose of Books in the School Library

1. The primary use of a book is not that it should be used as a weapon.
Further: it is no excuse to say: "We were so inspired by Froissart that we decided to re-enact the Battle of Hastings, but we had no arrows", or similarly,
"Hercules had a giant wooden club; this is just a slim octavo of poetry."
To say  "It is only a paperback and wouldn't hurt a flea" is also an unacceptable excuse".
2. Every copy of Kennedy's Shorter Latin Primer in the school has now been changed to read Kennedy's Shortbread Eating Primer; you should not waste your whole reading period thinking of imaginative ways to re-title Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, or whatever other book you are pretending to read.
3. You should not write:
"If my  name you wish to see
Turn to page one-o-three"
and then write on p. 103;
"If my name you wish to know
"to page eight, you must go"
and similarly throughout the book until you are bored and tail off with 'Ha, Ha'.
4. Book illustrators are professional artists; you are not. It is not acceptable to say that a moustache adds dignity to Queen Victoria nor a skirt encircling Julius Caesar balances the composition.
5. You should remember that Mrs Curtis-Twigg who replaces me on my day off (Wednesday) is as much a human being as a librarian. You should not obviously cross yourself before entering the library, nor say just outside the door, in intentionally audible voice, "I've got some onion from the stew at lunch in my pocket; do you think it will works as well as garlic?"

I suspect that quite a few lovely comments could be added to this!!

Dog Days of Summer Contest

One of our favourite dogs was caught listening to one of his favourite books : Note the Attention!!
So we need your help to choose between some of the submissions...

Second Saturday Cook Book Sale - August 14

Second Saturday Sale on August 14 features Cookbooks! We have literally hundreds of cook books of all kinds - grilling, pastry, baking, health food, church cookbooks, regional, local, ethnic, holiday, etc.

Spend $10 and receive an apron or oven mitts.

Spend $20 and receive a t-shirt or tote bag.

This is a great time to pick up a new recipe and new ideas for dinner!

ARTigras Village - Join Us on August 21

The Friends will be selling art books and materials at the ARTigras fair. Find our booth!

A Celtic Evening - Fundraiser for Rochester Public Library

The winner of the random drawing for the first people to sign up online for the Celtic Evening is...Mike Watson! He won a bottle of single malt whisky from the Tomatin distillery. He's obviously preparing for Minnesota Winter and perhaps this will make the pipes sound sweeter.This is Mike playing the Highland pipes during the Threads of our Community Quilt ceremony in May.

There are still several more prizes to be won! Sign up today!

RACE at the Library

The RACE (Are we so different?) exhibition has been extended until the 11th September at the Rochester Public Library.  There have already been over 20,000 people that have attended this incredible display; nearly 8,000 school children were here before school let out in June! This was a great educational opportunity for them, but everyone will learn something. Take a couple of hours and come downtown. Or extend your downtown shopping, a trip to the library, a walk in the park to stop in and enjoy this display. The Air Conditioning could be incentive enough on these muggy days - and you will learn something! We were very lucky that the Mayo Clinic sponsored this excellent event and made it free for everyone to see.

It's a Book by Lane Smith

Published August 31, 2010.
Don't miss this!

Book Group in a Bag

Just to let you know that the Library has some wonderful books for book groups - the selection of titles by author is listed below. There are generally 10 books in a book bag (although more may be available if you have a larger book group). The Friends' sorting volunteers try to keep extra copies of these books as they are donated. This is a great way to read a classic and enjoy a discussion. Try a new piece of non-fiction and be taken away! Experience another culture or another time. Set a date to meet your friends and enjoy the reading experience!

Alexie, Sherman. The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian Flight
Almond, Steve. Candyfreak
Angelou, Maya. I know why the caged bird sings
Austen, Jane. Pride and prejudice
Bancroft, Ann and Liv Arnesen. No horizon is so far
Barbery, Muriel. Elegance of the hedgehog
Barrows, Annie. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Berg, Elizabeth. We are all welcome here
Bingham, Clara. Class action
Blackmore, R.D. Lorna Doone
Blum, Jenna. Those who save us
Bohjalian, Chris. Before you know kindness
Boyle, T. Coraghessan. The tortilla curtain
Brockmeier, Kevin. The brief history of the dead
Brooks, Geraldine. Year of wonders
Brown, Dan. Angels and demons
The Da Vinci code
Buck, Pearl S. The good earth
Carr, Caleb. The alienist
Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s adventures in Wonderland; Through the looking-glass
Cather, Willa. O Pioneers!
Chevalier, Tracy. Falling angels
Child, Julia. My life in France
Clark, Walter. The ox-bow incident
Clinton, Catherine. Mrs. Lincoln: a life
Courtenay, Bryce. The power of one
Crane, Stephen. The red badge of courage
Cross, Donna W. Pope Joan
Diamant, Anita. The red tent
Dickens, Charles. A Christmas carol
Dubus, Andre III. The house of sand and fog
Dumas, Firoozeh. Funny in Farsi
Edwards, Kim. The memory keeper’s daughter
Eliot, George. Silas Marner
Elliott, Elissa. Eve
Eugenides, Jeffrey. Middlesex
Farmer, Nancy. House of the scoprion
Franklin, Ariana. City of shadows
Franzen, Jonathan. The corrections
Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain
Gladwell, Malcolm. The tipping point
Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a geisha
Grisham, John. The innocent man
Grogan, John. Marley and me
Gruen, Sara. Water for elephants
Haddon, Mark. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
Hansberry, Lorraine. A raisin in the sun
Hemingway, Ernest. For whom the bell tolls
Holman, Sheri. The dress lodger
Horan, Nancy. Loving Frank
Hosseini, Khaled. The kite runner and A thousand splendid suns
Hugo, Victor. The hunchback of Notre Dame
Kanon, Jospeh. The good German
Kidd, Sue Monk. The secret life of bees
Kidder, Tracy. Mountains beyond mountains
King, Thomas. Green grass, running water
Kingsolver, Barbara. The bean trees
Kinsella, W.P. Shoeless Joe
Kozol, Jonathan. Letters to a young teacher
Krakauer, Jon. Into the wild
Lahiri, Jhumpa. The namesake
Landvik, Lorna. Angry housewives eating bon-bons
Larson, Erik. The devil in the White City
Larsson, Stieg. The girl with the dragon tattoo
Le Carre, John. The constant gardener
Lee, Harper. To kill a mockingbird
Levin, Ira. Stepford wives
Levine, James. The blue notebook
Loewen, James. Lies my teacher told me
Logue, Mary. Blood country
Lord, Bette. Spring moon
Lowry, Lois. The giver
Martel, Yann. The life of Pi
Mayes, Frances. Under the Tuscan sun
McBride, James. The color of water
McCourt, Frank. Angela's ashes
McEwan, Ian. Atonement
McGhee, Alison. Shadow baby
McLaughlin, Emma. The nanny diaries
Moriarty, Laura. The center of everything
Morgan, Robert. Gap Creek
Mortensen, Greg. Three cups of tea
Myers, Walter Dean. Riot
Obama, Barack. Dreams from my father
Paretsky, Sara. Bleeding Kansas
Parks, Gordon. The learning tree
Petterson, Per. Out stealing horses
Picoult, Jodi. Plain truth
Power, Susan. The grass dancer
Quindlen, Anna. Blessings
Razor, Peter J. While the locust slept
Robinson, Marilynne. Gilead
Rölvaag, O.E. Giants in the earth
Rostand, Edmund. Cyrano de Bergerac
Russell, Mary Doria. The Sparrow
Sachar, Louis. Holes
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis
Schmidt, Monique Maria. Last moon dancing
Sebold, Alice. The lovely bones
See, Lisa. Shanghai girls
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet
Shen, Fan. Gang of one: memoirs of a Red Guard
Steinbeck, John. The grapes of wrath
Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom’s cabin
Strout, Elizabeth. Olive Kitteridge
Taylor, Kathrine Kressmann. Address unknown
Thackeray, William. Vanity fair
Tracy, P.J. Monkeewrench
Wilder, Thornton. Our town: a play in three acts
Wroblewski, David. The story of Edgar Sawtelle
Yang, Kao Kalia. The latehomecomer
Young, William P. The shack
Zaslow, Jeffrey. The girls from Ames
Zusak, Markus. The book thief

Read 'em and Eat Contest

Reading and tasting Cake!

Remember we have a special Saturday Sale this week: August 14th in the Friends' Bookstore. This is also a great time to think of your photo opportunity to win the Read 'em and Eat Contest on the internet! Hard work!! Enjoy!

Her Side of It, Marilyn Bushman-Carlton

How many of us have ever been on the cover of a book, let alone such a striking photograph? Can you guess which Friend this is?

This is also an interesting collection of poems.

Well done!

Calling all Readers!

A chance to flaunt your bluestocking tendencies. Our blog is buzzing with exciting summer reads to help you fill your list for the Adult Summer Reads. If you are enjoying these free book recommendations, and are considering purchasing any of these titles, please remember that if you do it through the Friends' Amazon portal, we (and therefore the library) gets a tiny commission! So please consider making a purchase.
We also like the increased circulation in the library!

Read Local.

A Cricut in the Library

 This article was in the Rochester Public Library August newsletter.
The library is the proud owner of a new Cricut machine thanks to the generosity of Judy and Jim Sloan and the Friends of the Library. This machine cuts letters and shapes out of paper, vinyl, cardstock, etc. The photo below shows just one of the projects the Children’s staff accomplished with the machine. They cut out the letters that spell READ in 15 different languages on vinyl and placed the words on the windows facing the children’s area of the library. Janna, children’s librarian comments, “The machine is amazing, fun to use, with much potential.”

An hour in the Library

I went into the Rochester Public Library yesterday to pick up several books (from my online search, after the first few chapters on Kindle), and walked out with an armload. There were  SO many new arrivals, fabulous displays (especially the wall of new additions to the collection, with most of the books facing out), and the carts of books that have just been returned......that I added another 5 books to my arm for checkout. I can only hope the weather keeps me indoors for a couple of days ;-) 4 books in one series, a completely new author (French! historical fiction), a continuation of another series. I don't know which one to read first! You will find the reviews here next week!

ART WALK

ART WALK will be held this Thursday in Rochester! The Friends' Bookstore will participate again, with a wide ranging display on art, artists, museums, paintings etc. The Bookstore also has many craft books, interesting fiction and non-fiction to suit the interest of almost any reader! We hope you will take the time to join all the fun downtown, and to drop into the store for your next new read.

Literary Bookstore Display

There is another great display in the Friends' Bookstore which highlights all kinds of literature - we have a GREAT selection for you to choose from. Indeed, some of them you might have always been meaning to get to, others could be 'hmmm this looks interesting' and of course all of them have unbelievable prices to entice you to buy several, many, more, as well as hardcover, paperback, tradesize, fiction, nonfiction, comics, humor, childrens, ETC. Stop in soon, as always the selection changes daily. We have just ALPHABETIZED some of the paperbacks too with the intent to do ALL of them this month. That will make finding the book you are looking for so much easier.

Read it and Eat - contest!

Here is your chance to "read it and eat." Cookbooks are full of wonderful reading and fabulous food. Many other books are full of wonderful eating and fabulous reading (for example, many mystery series include recipes, restaurants, or references to cooking from gourmet through the gamut to backyard BBQ.)

Your mission: Submit a photo of your favorite literary book, your favorite meal from a cookbook, or anything else relating to the topic of a summer feast. Include a caption or short commentary on what makes a good eating (reading) book.


The judges are partial to chocolate and could be open to sample bribery ;)

The best entry will win a book of your choice from our prize bookshelf including a selection of cookbooks.

Entries must be submitted by August 27, 2010.

A huge selection of cookbooks will be on Sale in the Friends' Bookstore during their Second Saturday Sale on August 14.
If you spend more than $20 you will receive a free t-shirt or tote bag.
Spend $10 or more and receive a free apron or oven mitt.

Kindle books

One of the many things I love about my Kindle is the free downloads of sample books - the first three chapters to see if you are going to be interested in pursuing the author/title. Another plane ride of over 3 hours, had me scouring the Kindle for the next new read! Of six samples that I had previously downloaded, five were definite "I can't wait to read this" and four were just reserved on the library website! (One had a waiting list of 36 earlier patrons = The Passage by Justin Cronin, so I reserved his earlier work, which I was also unfamiliar with. Yes, the NYTimes book review of a couple of weeks ago alerted me, and many others,  to his book.)
Another book by Diana Norman which I had recommended previously, Taking Liberties, has a prequel "A Catch of Consequence" which includes one of the characters I was so curious about in Taking Liberties. No one seems to have that book, so it will become a Kindle order! I wish the Library had more of her titles; again in one of my last book clubs we were passing around her other series The Mistress of the Art of Death. Find them all full of wonderful historical detail.
Which brings me to one I am very excited about, but again, can't figure out why the library doesn't have this one either! Lauren Belfer "A Fierce Radiance" - which concerns the trial and error during WWII of making penecillin a useful antibiotic. After its discovery years before, no one could figure out how to make it available for 'production'/ treatments. And with so many people injured in Pearl Harbor and the coming war, the need was enormous. The main character is a woman who lost her child to a staph infection; she is now a photographer and is assigned to document the scientfic process of trying to save patients/learn how to administer the drug. The writing was absolutely breathtaking, the characters were fascinating within the first chapter, and it is top on my list to read! It has been 10 years since her last book The City of Light about Buffalo NY. Her research is meticulous and the stories are intricate, believable, heartwarming and tragic.
I think I have found another fun series of (probably) victorian romance - by Deanna Raybourn. I could tell from the first few chapters that Silent on the Moor had a prequel, but it appears there are at least 5 of them! They were classified as mysteries, but the writing style felt more like Amanda Quick or Stephanie Lauren. They all have ladies who are free thinkers, acting against the constraints of society and with moral consciences. If the temperatures get back into the 90s I have something light to read!