BooksReadAround

Vote for the newest book group titles!

2010-06-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Here is your opportunity for helping to choose the next book group titles!

In the next few months I will need to purchase 6-10 book group kits and there are so many wonderful titles to choose from!

Voting forms have been sent to groups via email, and will be included with your July kit. If you have not received a form and you want to vote, please email me your top 10 from the following list.

Fiction

The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barberi
Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
The Little Book by Selden Edwards
The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Tinkers by Paul Harding

Nonfiction

The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes
The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America by Timothy Egan
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba
A Brave Vessel: the True Tale of the Castaways who Rescued Jamestown by Hobson Woodward
Broken, a Love Story: a Woman's Journey Toward Redemption on the Wind River Indian Reservation by Lisa Jones
Cadillac Desert: the American West and its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner
Farm City: the Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter
The Flying Carpet of Miracles: One Woman's Fight to Save Two Orphans of War by Hala Jaber
The Girls from Ames: a Story of Women and a Forty-year Friendship by Jeffrey Zaslow
In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: a memoir by Neil White
Lit: a memoir by Mary Karr
Lords of Finance: the Bankers who Broke the World by Liaquat Ahamed
Shop Class as Soulcraft: an Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford

KRL Foundation has some great benefit events coming!!

2010-05-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out on two great author events presented by the KRL Foundation this year.

Between the Pages: Jackie Collins, Jane Smiley, Lisa Rinna, Josie Brown, and Eileen Goudge
Thursday, September 16, 2010 | 6:30pm
Town Hall, Seattle, WA
General Ticket price: $50.00
VIP Tickets (limited to 50 people): $150.00

Chocolate and Wine with Romance Authors: Susan Wiggs, Sheila Roberts, Kimberly Fisk, and Julia Templeton
Friday, October 1, 2010 | 6:30pm
Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo, WA
Ticket Price: $25.00

For full descriptions of these events click here.

The KRL Foundation raises, manages, and allocates funds to support library programs which benefit all the communities that make up Kitsap County.

Manchester Book Group makes donation!

2010-05-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

With a donation from the Manchester Book Worms I have been able to purchase a new book group kit!

The Lost City of Z by David Grann follows British explorer Col. Percy Harrison Fawcett as he searched the jungles of South America to uncover an ancient Amazonian civilization in 1925.

I hope you will enjoy this incredible and passionate historical account!

Richard LeMieux: Meet the Author of Breakfast at Sally's

2010-03-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

Meet author and Kitsap County resident Richard LeMieux, who had it all until the trappings of success were stripped away and he was left homeless. "Breakfast at Sally's," written by LeMieux on a discarded typewriter while he was living in his minivan, reveals who the homeless really are, what redemption really means.

Come hear his story of his descent into homelessness and his inspirational journey to peace and a new life.

At the Poulsbo Library, Tuesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.

New titles available for use

2010-02-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

The Florist's Daughter by Patricia Hampl. Memoirist Patricia Hampl tells the very personal story of growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, the dutiful daughter of a Czech florist and a wary, tale-telling Irish mother who imbues Hampl with her passion for words. In transcendent prose, Hampl speculates on why she never left home in spite of her black sheep tendencies: "nothing is harder to grasp," she writes, "than a relentlessly modest life."

A Journal for Jordan by Dana Canedy. Killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2006, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King left behind a 200 page manuscript for his infant son Jordan that forms the basis of A Journal for Jordan. Part memoir, part love story, A Journal for Jordan tells of King's relationship with his wife Dana, his love for the son he never knew, and Dana's fiercely honest account of her quest to find answers about her husband's death.

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. Trapped in a go-nowhere job and yearning for more in her life, Julie Powell challenges herself to cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking—all in the space of a single year. The result is a hilarious culinary memoir, true to Julia Child's indomitable spirit, about finding fulfillment—and a new life—through food.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Descended from a long line of Salem fortune tellers, self-proclaimed unreliable narrator Towner Whitney returns to Salem after a lengthy exile only to find herself drawn into investigating the mysterious disappearance of two women, a mystery that threatens to reprise shocking secrets from Towner's childhood.

Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas. Dallas brings readers to her home state of Colorado during the Great Depression, where 17 year-old Nit Spindle meets 86 year-old Hennie Comfort, whose front door boasts the sign "Prayers for Sale," something Nit desperately needs. The two create an instant bond and their friendship offers surprising twists and turns in Dallas' unforgettable tale.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. Calling herself a simple, honest woman, enterprising Catherine Lord answers an ad for a reliable wife, planning all along to slowly poison her husband, leaving herself a wealthy widow. Soon we find that her new husband is not what he claims to be either, in this suspenseful and surprising gothic thriller set in 1907 Wisconsin.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore. In this inspirational and gripping true story a modern-day slave and an international art dealer are bound together by a dying woman's faith.

New funding brings guarantee of new titles in 2010

2010-02-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

In the past the KRL Book Group Collection has been fully supported by donations, gifts, and funding from the KRL Foundation. Due to the continuing popularity of the service the Library has now decided to add the collection to its budget. Now $2,500 per year will be available for new purchases which will provide about 15 new kits this year. Thank you to the KRL Board for adding this funding for a wonderful library service!

More new titles available!!

2009-10-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

With generous support from our community, the following titles have been purchased for the Kitsap Regional Library book group collection. This collection of book kits are borrowed by book discussion groups all over Kitsap County. KRL currently offers over 60 book kits. Each kit includes 15 copies of the title and a discussion guide.

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber. When family court judge Olivia Lockhart denies a divorce petition to a young couple struggling after the death of their infant daughter, it starts the whole of Cedar Cove (loosely based on Kitsap County's own Port Orchard) talking in this charming entry in Macomber's popular Cedar Cover series.

Apples & Oranges by Marie Brenner. New York writer Marie Brenner's memoir of her lifelong rocky relationship with her brother, Carl, and their struggle to reach some accord after Carl is diagnosed with cancer. Carl's love for his apple orchard in Eastern Washington provides a local backdrop for this story of how family relationships can both harm and heal.

Breakfast at Sally's by Richard LeMieux. In this compassionate and eye-opening account of life on the streets, local author LeMieux tells of his experiences living as a homeless person in Bremerton, Washington, after his business fails and he loses his house. Donated by the Kingston Library Book Group.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The story of the Isle of Guernsey under German occupation during World War II is told through a series of letters by the island's occupants in this surprisingly feel-good novel of courage and hope in adversity. Graciously provided by the KRL Foundation.

The House on Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper. Whitehouse correspondent Helene Cooper's very personal memoir of growing up in an elite household in Liberia, until a political coup sends her family on the run first from Sugar Beach, then from Liberia to America. On the way, they must leave behind Cooper's best friend and foster sister, a member of Liberia's Basso tribe.

I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven. In this classic by Margaret Craven, a young vicar diagnosed with a fatal disease journeys to Kingcome, a Kwakiutl village on the coast of British Columbia, in the hope that he will learn enough, fast enough, to be prepared to die. A gift from the Manchester Bookworms.

An Ordinary Woman by Cecilia Holland. The true story of pioneer Nancy Kelsey who traveled from Missouri via covered wagon in 1841 to become California's first white woman settler.

The Other by David Guterson. Two friends growing up in 1970s Seattle take radically different paths in adulthood, one becoming a teacher and family man. When the other chooses a life in the wild, his friend must decide whether to help him disappear forever. Graciously provided by the KRL Foundation.

The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips. In depression-era Alabama, two sisters in a coal-mining town set out to solve a mystery when one of them witnesses a woman toss a baby into a well in a story that explores themes of community, family, and coming together during hard times. Graciously provided by the KRL Foundation.

Rebecca Wells speaks on Bainbridge Island!

2009-06-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Don't miss best-selling author, and Bainbridge Island local, Rebecca Wells, as she promotes her latest title The Crowning Glory of Calla Lilly Ponder, which debuts a new cast of characters and promises all the warmth, heart and friendship of her extremely popular Ya-Ya series. Join us at the Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave. N., Tuesday July 14, 2009 at 7:30pm.

More new titles available!!

2009-06-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

All About Lulu by Jonathan Evison. Growing up, love, loss, and moving on are just a few of the themes in this funny and deeply felt portrait of a blended family and one man's longing for his unattainable stepsister, Lulu. Enjoy this debut from a Bainbridge Island author!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Set in 1939 Germany, The Book Thief tells the story of 9-year-old Liesel - along with a cast of vivid characters who stand up to the Nazis in small but telling ways - and Liesel's love of books that sustains her through dark times. This book set was donated by the Manchester Bookworms!

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. A picturesque novel of good-natured bums and warm-hearted prostitutes who lived on the fringes of Monterey, California, during the 1930s. A great classic to read or re-read this year, as KRL features Cannery Row as its choice for the One Book One Community read in October!

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg. In this comedy-mystery, those near and dear to Elner discover something wonderful: Heaven is actually right here, right now, with people you love, neighbors you help, friendships you keep. Graciously donated by the First Friday Readers of Port Orchard!

The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature by Jonathan Rosen. Native New Yorker Rosen uses his personal fascination with bird watching to provide an eloquent and thoughtful backdrop for musings on history, philosophy, and the joy of discovering nature in unexpected places.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Thirteen linked tales featuring redoubtable schoolteacher Olive Kitteridge intertwine themes of the beauty and rhythm of ordinary life with the natural wonders of coastal Maine.

Keep looking here for new titles!

2009-03-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to donations of books and cash from book discussion groups around the county, the library has added the following new titles which are available for use now!

Follow the River by Alexander Thom. After being captured in an Indian raid in 1755, Mary Draper Ingles follows the Ohio River for 1,000 miles to return home to Virginia by herself.

The Gentleman from Finland: Adventures on the Trans-Siberian Express by Bob Goldstein. A sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant story of the misadventures of a traveler who discovers that a journey on the world's longest rail line is much more than a long train ride.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. In 1930s China, Wang Lung struggles to hold his family together during a devastating drought in Pearl S. Buck's Pulitzer Prize winning classic.

The Lottery by Patricia Wood. The story of stubborn, simple everyman Perry Crandall, who wins the Washington State Lottery and finds his life changed, Wood's charming novel offers a refreshing glimpse of the world through the eyes of a man with limited cognitive abilities and boundless generosity of spirit.

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Eleven short works by early feminist Gilman combine humor, anger, and visionary insight to explore woman's roles in the early twentieth century, including the haunting title story of madness and control.

New book group titles have been added!

2008-07-31T15:31:00.001-07:00

Thanks to a generous donation from a Poulsbo book group and funds provided by the Little Boston Library, KRL now has four new titles available for Kitsap County book groups!

Author Lisa See comes to Kitsap!

2008-02-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

Exciting news! Lisa See, author of the popular book discussion title Snow Flower and the Secret Fan will be speaking at the Olympic College Student Center in Bremerton on February 25th at 7:00 p.m. See will be discussing her new book, Peony in Love. This program is part of West Sound Reads, which will offer a variety of author appearances in the county in 2008.

New book group kits for 2008!!

2008-01-24T12:49:00.000-08:00

2007-12-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

I have added some wonderful links for book discussion guides on del.icio.us, a website for gathering your favorite links. The links include http://www.readinggroupguides.com/ and http://www.readinggroupchoices.com/. Both of these sites offer discussion questions to hundreds of great titles, and books of all genres. These are good sites to keep current on the latest and best titles for discussion. Both websites offer newsletters that you can sign-up for. Did you know that you can invite an author to you next book club meeting? Well, check out Author Chats at http://www.readinggroupchoices.com/ to see a list of almost 50 authors available for a teleconference. Authors whose books are part of the KRL collection include Debra Dean (Madonnas of Leningrad), Thrity Umrigar (The Space Between Us), Nancy Klein Maguire (An Infinity of Little Hours), and Ann Hood (The Knitting Circle ... coming in 2008). A book group in Poulsbo did a teleconference with an author and said it was great fun!

KRL and Book Groups ... a perfect match!

2007-12-11T21:40:00.000-08:00

Kitsap Regional Library offers a great option for book groups throughout Kitsap County -- called book group kits. Each kit contains 12-15 copies of a selected title and a discussion guide containing information about the book and its author, as well as discussion topics and questions to help spark the conversation at your meeting. Sound interesting? Well, here's how it works. KRL owns about 75 titles of books that have selected based on their ability to spark curiosity and discussion. You can view the titles at the KRL website, under Adult Book Clubs. The kits check out for 4-6 weeks and are sent to your local branch for your book group coordinator to pick up. The kits are immensely popular, and some titles are booked through next year! You can reserve titles using the online Request Form. You can also view the reservation calendar, which is a little difficult to translate, but call me and I'll help you out! It is updated weekly and is the best way to see if your book is available when you want it.