Adults

I was so hopeful that I'd be able to resume my KJ's Reader Getaways this fall, but the rise of the Delta variant has postponed those plans.  However, I am still determined to meet with other adults who love kid lit as much as I do!  So I'm hosting a little something called Chill with Katie Jane on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 4 p.m.  We'll meet outside on the Plaza Patio to relax and chat about the amazing books we've been reading.  And there will be paletas from La Sabrosita Ice Cream Shop on Lorna Road!  (So, really, it should be called Double Chill with Katie Jane.)  I'll need to know how many popsicles to buy, so please register online ASAP.  Can't wait to see you there!

Inclusion, awareness, accessibility - these are all things that beg for more attention. Whether a disability is seen or unseen, individuals with disabilities share common stories -- and these stories are worth exploring whether to gain understanding or share commonalities. Luckily, there are some great books that have been published in the past few years. Representation is a very important thing - seeing our stories reflected in popular culture.  If I had not had the personal support of family, my own journey with depression might have taken a different turn. I did not see myself in books or movies.  Thankfully, I saw myself in family members who had conquered and fought valiantly to overcome the unseen demons. Enjoy selections from both nonfiction memoirs to essay collections and fiction, many of which are available in a variety of formats. Don't see what you want?  Ask a librarian on your next visit!

Although librarians always claim the book is better than the movie, I hold judgement for some cinematic interpretations.  No movie can entirely recreate the inner dialog of a character or sweeping perspectives of world-building that have been crafted by an experienced author. However, a 2-hour movie can sweep you away and hold you hostage to horror, terror or the romantic chemistry between actors. I look forward to seeing the adaptation of Patrick deWitt's French Exit -- a delightfully funny novel adapted for film and portrayed by the incredible Michelle Pfeiffer. I cannot wait to see how she takes on the role of Frances. As for the others, I look forward to anything with Timothée Chalamet and recreating the world of Dune will be a massive undertaking! I did catch Angelina Jolie's portrayal of hard living Hannah Faber in Those Who Wish Me Dead -- while not a block-buster, it did evoke many feelings and left me satisfied.  Now I just need to read the book!!

Whether you watch the movie or read the book, get involved in a good story. The escape they provide will lift you out of the normal worries of the day.

Read a Romance Month in August is not only a month of sultry summer heat but sultry romance in stories that transport the reader. Whether it is an Earl to be pursued or a plan to find the perfect mate, we’ve most certainly got a romance suited for you. Romance is a subjective thing but most everyone can agree that it elevates and highlights the best in everyone. There will be a central love story and there will be an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. These novels may have diverse settings and unusual pairings but all of them will leave you loving love! If none of the selections below are to your taste, ask a librarian for help in finding a rewarding Romance book for you.

No matter your reading habit, there is likely to be a great inspirational title fit for you!  The inspirational or Christian fiction market is growing due to its loyal readership and the hope these novels bring to a chaotic world. Historical Romance and Romantic Suspense are the strongest growing genres in this market. Contemporary Realism is trending due to the news of the day (bombings, school shootings, suicide). Even legal thrillers are on the rise.  And there is always the Amish fiction market, which remains a steady producer of new titles.  According to a blogger for the New York Public Library:

Christian fiction can be defined as follows, according to a Library Journal Book Buzz on Christian Fiction (2009):

We just wrapped up the nerdiest time of the year here at the Hoover Library!  Although the geeks take over, everyone needs a little science fiction in their lives! (Although sometimes if feels like reality is coinciding with science fiction!)  Library Lue is dressed as Leia in order to show off some really great materials that we recommend to everyone. As you may know, we not only have books and movies, we have a large variety of video games for all kinds of players. We also have adult designer board games for every member of the family. We can help whether it is Movie Night or Family Game Night at home! If you were not fortunate enough to catch the online events for the SciFi Fantasy Festival, you can always view some of the recorded sessions at https://www.hplscifi.com/. Get your fill of all things nerdy here at the Hoover Library!

Legends of Dragons have captured the human imagination across time. While Lu’s flying skills are very, VERY limited, she is named for her similarities to fire-breathing reptiles of fantasy. Medieval tales often feature dragons, but finding your wings is also often used as a metaphor for finding courage and freedom. Whether it is finding individual freedom or the courage to undertake the impossible, stories lift us up and allow us to escape the ordinary. As Daenerys Targaryen, mother of dragons on Game of Thrones, said, "Our fathers were evil men. All of us here. They left the world worse than they found it. We’re not going to do that. We’re going to leave the world better than we found it.” Find that inspiring tale in the Sci-Fi Room in the Fiction department, and other stories about flying all throughout the library! 

When Australian reporter, Sarah Turnbull, was in her twenties she decided to take a year long leave of absence from her job and travel around Europe. While in Romania she had a chance encounter with a French attorney named Frederic. They had only one dinner together in a group of other people, but hit it off, and Frederic invited Sarah to visit him for a week or two in Paris. She hadn’t planned on going to Paris – but, her logic was that she was out for adventure; she liked him, so why not pursue it and see where it took her.

Well, that has been over twenty years ago and she is still in Paris and married to Frederic. Her book, Almost French, is a great read about her life in Paris as an expatriate adjusting to Frederic's culture, family and friends. Her candid experiences with the French and their acceptance, or unacceptance of her, in many cases gives the reader intelligent perspective on what living in France as a foreigner is like.

Many of the back issues of our popular magazines are available for a three-week checkout period. Popular subjects include business, cooking, crafts, entertainment, health, home decorating, home improvement, sports, travel and weddings. Several times a year, we purchase special interest magazines that are also available for checkout. These subjects range from cars to crafts to photography, sports, tattoos and cinematography.

Stop by the newsstand on the Plaza to see the current issues of our magazines, though not all of our current issues are displayed there. Business magazines are displayed in the business area of the Nonfiction Department and Spanish language magazines are displayed in the Spanish area of the Fiction Department.

We are always happy to consider requests for new titles. If there is a title that you would like for us to consider, please fill out a comment card and drop it by the Nonfiction Department.

Military history buffs will be fascinated by Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and its Aftermath by Michael and Elizabeth Norman (940.547252 NOR New Book). It offers many new insights into this infamous World War II event. A must read.