My Top Ten list so far - Part 2 - Literary and Historical Fiction

Here is my Top Ten list for the first half of this year in Literary and Historical Fiction. I gave most of these 5 stars on Goodreads.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez
I listened to the audio version and loved the different voices of the six narrators.

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
I read Life After Life first, but you don't necessarily need to. They are companion books, with Life after Life following the life of Ursula Todd through the last century, and A God in Ruins following the life of Ursula's beloved brother, Teddy. Both are wonderful!

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
Once again, Genova, a Harvard trained Neuroscientist, extensively researches a difficult subject to give us a heart-wrenching story about a tight-knit Boston family. Genova does a fantastic job of capturing the resilience of the human spirit.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Not a little novel at 720 pages, but so worth it! Deeply moving, disturbing, and uncomfortable to read at times, the novel follows the lives of four college friends as they tackle adulthood in New York City after graduation. The author did such a superb job of bringing these four friends to life, I forgot I was reading fiction at times. Longlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
I loved that there were two very different sisters who were the focus of this novel. It
follows them through WWII in war-torn France. If you liked All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, you'll love The Nightingale.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Beautifully written short stories centered around Olive, a retired school teacher. Realistic and at times quite sad, I did chuckle sometimes too. A Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner in 2009.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Set in small-town Minnesota in the summer of 1961, this coming of age story is told from the perspective of 13 year old Frank. An Edgar Award winner for Best Novel in 2014.

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Haruf's last novel before his death is gentle, sweet, endearing, and unique.

The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton
This is Scotton's debut novel. A coming of age mystery/thriller set in Appalachia, an adult Kevin narrates as he looks back on one particular summer that was life-changing. I can't say enough about this exciting new author!

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
The author takes us on a journey through three generations of the Whitshank family. If you've read any of Tyler's other books, you know her novels are delightfully effortless to devour. Longlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize.




Beth Moore
Information Specialist
Hampton Park Library

LearningExpress Library Helps with SAT, ACT, and more

Did you know that your library can help students prepare for standardized tests, help adults prepare for earning a GED or career certification?

LearningExpress Library is an interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and eBooks related to job search and workplace skills improvement, exam preparation for career certification and licensing, GED, college entrance and graduate school admissions, and basic skills improvement in reading, writing, and math, for all ages.

As a library patron, you can create you own personal login using your email address.  This allows you to save tests, eBooks, or tutorials you are working on, and return later.  You’ll also get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results.

LearningExpress Library is arranged into nine sections:

• The School Center includes improvement skills preparation for various subject areas in Elementary, Middle, and High School.  
• The College Preparation Center includes ACT, SAT, AP, PSAT, TOEFL iBT, and college admission essay writing.  
• The College Center includes math, reading, grammar, writing, and science skills reviews and various graduate school admissions tests such as the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT and more.  There are also CLEP exam practice tests in various subjects.  
• The High School Equivalency Center includes basic skills building in reading, writing, math, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and GED test prep in both English and Spanish.  
• The Adult Learning Center includes sections on building math skills, becoming a better reader, improving writing, speaking skills, grammar skills, and a section on preparing to become a U.S. citizen, including preparing for the citizenship exam and getting your green card.  
• The Career Center allows you to learn more about specific career fields, study for various civil service exams, military exams such as the ASVAB, certification tests and entrance exams in many different occupations, including areas such as nursing, teaching, commercial driving, and real estate.  
• Recursos para Hispanohablantes (Resources for Spanish Speakers) includes writing, grammar, speaking and math skills, and citizenship and GED test prep for Spanish speakers.
• The Computer Skills Center uses interactive tutorials and videos to teach basic computer and internet skills including Microsoft Office software, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop software, email and social media, and internet safety.
• From the Job and Career Accelerator you can explore careers, search for jobs, create resumes and cover letters, prep for interviews and more.  

LearningExpress Library is available from the Education and Test Prep category, the Jobs and Careers category, and the Students – High School category from the eResources page on www.forsythpl.org.

Summer Reading was Simply Super!

July 31 marked the last day of our Summer Reading Fun program. It was special time for all our patrons to discover that every hero has a story and to celebrate superheroes of all kinds.

Across age groups, we had 5,943 patrons register to participate in the summer reading program. Those patrons read 58,969 books!

This was an adventurous summer season and our staff planned about 500 events in June and July for babies, children, teens, and adults. A grand total of 21,658 patrons attended those programs.

On behalf of all the staff at each library branch, please accept our congratulations on another successful summer of reading!

And, if you'd like to reminisce on the fun you had this summer (especially now that school is back in session), please check out our summer photos on Facebook.

Staff Picks: Best of Romance

I've recently been reading lots of romance novels for our new GoodReads page (check it out, if you haven't already.) Here are some of the ones I have enjoyed the most. Perfect for laid-back afternoons next to the pool or on the beach. The couch works, too.

A Single Kiss by Grace Burrowes

The First Kiss by Grace Burrowes

Kiss Me Hello by Grace Burrowes

The Longest Night by Kara Braden

The Deepest Night by Kara Braden

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

Waiting on You by Kristan Higgins

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins

You're So Fine by Kieran Kramer







Meredith Bowermeister
Information Services Supervisor
Sharon Forks Library

Bookmarks: A Book Club for Grades 7 & up - Cumming Library - August 27 at 1:00 p.m.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Fantasy and adventure team up for this suspenseful tale about Matt, a teenage cabin boy, who lives aboard a luxury airship and dreams of becoming an officer.  When he meets headstrong Kate, a wealthy passenger, the two become involved in an exciting escapade with pirates and mysterious flying animals on a deserted island.  This action packed tale is the selection for the Bookmarks book club for teens in grades 7 and up. This book club meets at the Cumming Library on Thursday, August 27 at 1:00 p.m. and is designed for the schedule of homeschoolers, but all teens available at this time are welcome to attend.  Registration is recommended.


Julie Boyd
Youth Services Supervisor
Cumming Library

Staff Picks: So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson - Adult Nonfiction

You’ll think twice before posting anything on Instagram after reading So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson.

Scandals, lies, humor that misses the mark, and lapses in judgement – it’s an odd commentary on our times that I found hard to put down.  Jon Ronson’s witty take on modern culture will appeal to the morbidly curious as well as fans of karma and just deserts.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Staff Picks

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

This is Mary Kubica's debut book and it was excellent - a psychological thriller with so many exciting turns.  The Good Girl was a well thought out story about a kidnapping gone wrong.  I listened to the audio version, told from four different perspectives.  The voice of the main character was perfect.  Without giving away the book, the twist at the end was so unexpected.  I can't wait to read/listen to Kubica's next novel!

Diana Wolski
Information Specialist

Early Literacy Program Kicks Off with Beloved Book Character

Clifford the Big Red Dog will visit all Forsyth County Public Library branches this month to help kick off 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, an early literacy program designed to help infants, toddlers, and preschoolers develop the pre-reading skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

Clifford, a much-loved book and television character, will appear for stories and photos with children at six “1,000 Books with Clifford” events. The first event will be held at the Cumming Library on Tuesday, August 25 at 11:15 a.m. On Wednesday, August 26, Clifford will appear at the Sharon Forks Library at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and at the Hampton Park Library at 6:30 pm. Clifford will visit the Post Road Library on Thursday, August 27 at 11:15 a.m. and on Saturday, August 29 at 11:15 a.m.

All the “1,000 Books with Clifford” events are free and are intended for families with children under age 5. No registration is required to attend.

As an added bonus, the library will be raffling off family four-packs to the Center for Puppetry Arts at the "1,000 Books with Clifford" programs.  All attending families are encouraged to enter the raffle.

“Clifford is coming to help the library kick off the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program because he is a familiar character to many young readers. Having a character they know and love is important to spark their interest in books and building their early literacy skills,” says Laura Bradley, Program Manager.

Research cited by the Georgia Public Library Service indicates that a significant number of students are entering kindergarten without the early literacy skills required to become independent readers. And children that have trouble reading are more likely have trouble learning new skills and concepts.

“One of the easiest ways to help a child build their vocabulary and pre-reading skills is to read aloud. At first, reading 1,000 books may seem like an unreachable goal. But if you read just one book at bedtime every night, then you can read 1,000 books in less than three years,” says Bradley. “Most board and picture books take only about five minutes to read aloud. If you commit to reading just 15 minutes a day, you can finish over 1,000 books in just one year.”

Families are encouraged to keep track of their progress with a free Reading Log. All stories and books count – even books read to the child at grandma’s house or books you’ve read more than once.

As the child reaches various milestones, they can visit the library for a commemorative photo. The library is also providing tips and information on early literacy on the #1000BooksB4K section of the Bookmarked Blog and will be hosting special 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten storytimes throughout the year.

For more information about the upcoming “1,000 Books with Clifford” events or the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Page Turners - A Book Club for Grades 3-5

Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles is a heartfelt story with plenty of silly and amusing situations. When Ruby's grandmother, Miss Eula goes to visit a new grandchild in Hawaii, nine-year-old Ruby is sure that she will have a lonely and boring summer in Halleluia, Mississippi. After all, what other granddaughter-grandmother duo would drive the getaway car for chickens rescued from the slaughterhouse, or paint a house Shellshock Pink? Instead, Ruby makes a new friend, saves the school play, writes plenty of letters to her favorite (and only) grandmother ... and finally learns to stop blaming herself for her grandfather's death.

Love, Ruby Lavender is the featured selection for the Page Turners book club for children in grades 3-5 at the Cumming Library on Thursday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. Registration is recommended.

Holly Raus
Information Specialist - Youth Services

My Top Ten list so far - Part 1 - Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Here is my Top Ten list for the first half of this year in Mystery, Thriller, and  Suspense.  I gave most of these books 5 stars on Goodreads.

After the Storm by Linda Castillo
(Kate Burkholder series, #7)
Set in Amish country, this crime thriller series centers around Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder. Best read in order - start with Sworn to Silence.

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
Historical mystery/suspense takes place in Boston and alternates between 1830 and present day.

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
Psychological suspense at its finest. Besides being a writer, the author is a police intelligence analyst in Great Britain, and it shows. As far as the plot of the book goes: If he seems too good to be true ........

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Called a modern re-imagining of Patricia Highsmith's classic novel  Strangers on a Train (also a Hitchcock classic film), this twisted tale begins with two strangers sharing a drink in an airport lounge.

Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton
The Falkland Islands is a small community where everybody knows everybody. Over the course of a short period of time, three children go missing, and everyone becomes a suspect. It will keep you guessing until the very end!

Little Pretty Things by Lori Rader-Day
Two old friends, one seemingly stuck forever in a dead end job in the same town she grew up in and the other appearing to have grabbed the golden ring. But appearances can be deceiving. And then murder happens.

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni
A woman is on a mission to find her sister's real killer. A gripping legal police procedural.

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
(Cormoran Strike series, #2)
J.K. Rowling writes this adult mystery series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Set in London, P.I. Cormoran Strike is faced with personal and professional obstacles as he sets out to solve crimes. Start with The Cuckoo's Calling. Career of Evil, the third in the series, is due out in October.

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens
Contemporary psychological thriller centered around the abusive household of three sisters, a pivotal event, and how each one is able to deal with the past to move on.

Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay
This contemporary thriller has the feel of one of my all-time favorite Hitchcock movies, Rear Window, but instead of binoculars to spy on people, one of the main characters uses a fictional computer program called Whirl360.com.




Beth Moore
Information Specialist
Hampton Park Library

Reading Rules: A Book Discussion Group for kids in Grades 3 - 6

Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles is a heartfelt story with plenty of silly and amusing situations. When Ruby's grandmother, Miss Eula goes to visit a new grandchild in Hawaii, nine-year-old Ruby is sure that she will have a lonely and boring summer in Halleluia, Mississippi. After all, what other granddaughter-grandmother duo would drive the getaway car for chickens rescued from the slaughterhouse, or paint a house Shellshock Pink? Instead, Ruby makes a new friend, saves the school play, writes plenty of letters to her favorite (and only) grandmother ... and finally learns to stop blaming herself for her grandfather's death.

Love, Ruby Lavender is the featured selection for the Reading Rules Book Club for children in grades 3-6 at the Cumming Library on Thursday, August 27 at 1:00 p.m. Registration is recommended.  Reading Rules is designed for the schedules of families who home school their children, but all children are welcome to attend.

Holly Raus
Information Specialist - Youth Services

Chatterbooks: A Book Club for Grades K-2

Chatterbooks is a book club designed for children in grades K-2 that incorporates a story, book discussion and a craft. This month’s book is What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. This very well illustrated book takes a fun look at various animals, some you may know, others not so much. Children will enjoy guessing which animal belongs to that tail, nose or other animal limb. It is not necessary to read the book ahead of time.

Chatterbooks meets August 27, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. at the Cumming Library.   Please register to attend.

Lorraine Lane
Information Specialist – Youth Services

Best-selling Author of THE HELP to Speak at Forsyth Reads Together

Kathryn Stockett, author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Help, will speak at the Forsyth Conference Center on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. Stockett’s appearance and book signing are part of the Forsyth County Public Library’s annual Forsyth Reads Together program.

Published in 2009, The Help is the story of three Mississippi women who start a movement of their own while in the midst of the civil rights movement in the early 1960s.

The novel spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was the basis for an Academy Award-winning movie starring Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone.

The book is available in a variety of formats for checkout from the library. Attendees can bring their own copies of the book to be signed by Stockett or may purchase a copy of the book from Barnes & Noble at the event.

Admission to the event is free, but registration is requested. Participants may register online at www.forsythpl.org or visit the Ask Us Desk at any library branch.

“This year’s Forsyth Reads Together book selection is unique because it allows readers to imagine what it might be like to walk in someone else’s shoes in an important time in our country’s history,” says Laura Bradley, Program Manager. “Forsyth Reads Together includes opportunities for readers to discuss the novel and explore the very real issues faced by these fictional characters.”

Forsyth Reads Together goes beyond simply reading the book. Several other events related to the civil rights themes of The Help are also planned during the month-long program.

Actor and champion of human and civil right issues Charles Black will speak about his experiences in the Atlanta Student Movement and studying under Martin Luther King, Jr. in a program entitled “Charles Black Remembers” at the Sharon Forks Library on Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m.

Genealogy is a popular topic of study among library patrons and one of the biggest challenges for African American genealogy researchers is finding formerly enslaved persons before the 1870 federal census, when former slaves were first recorded by name. Elyse Hill, an expert in genealogical research, will lead a workshop called “Breaking Through the 1870 Brick Wall” at the Sharon Forks Library on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Book clubs for adults will be reading and discussing The Help during Forsyth Reads Together.
The Lit Chicks group at the Post Road Library will meet on Wednesday, August 12 at 10:15 a.m. The Hampton Park Library will host a special Forsyth Reads Together book discussion on Tuesday, September 8 at 2:00 p.m.  The Literazzi group at the Sharon Forks Library will meet on Wednesday, September 9 at 2:00 p.m. The Coffee Talk book club at the Cumming Library will meet to discuss The Help on Thursday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Three library branches will also offer screenings of the movie based on Stockett’s book. The Help will be shown at the Sharon Forks Library on Tuesday, September 8 at 5:00 p.m., at the Cumming Library on Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m., and the Hampton Park Library on Monday, September 14 at 5:00 p.m.

“Forsyth Reads Together has customarily focused on books and events for adult audiences, but our audience of younger patrons has grown significantly in recent years and we’ve decided to expand the program in a way that includes young readers,” adds Bradley.  “Civil rights is a prominent theme in The Help so we have decided to address this same theme with our younger audience by providing a youth component to Forsyth Reads Together.”

Coretta Scott King Honor illustrator R. Gregory Christie will lead an illustration and book binding workshop as part of the monthly Storytellers Crafternoon program at the Post Road Library on Tuesday, September 8 at 4:30 p.m. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will learn about Christie’s experiences illustrating books related to civil rights and create their own illustrations and hand-bound books.

For the first time, the library has selected a Forsyth Reads Together title for tweens and teens.  Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson has won various awards, including the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Coretta Scott King Award. In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, Woodson shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South.

Programs focusing on Brown Girl Dreaming will be held at the Sharon Forks Library on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m. and at the Hampton Park Library on Thursday, September 10 at 4:30 p.m. Tweens and teens are invited to compose poetic memories of their own at these programs, in addition to discussing the book and its prominent themes.

The Post Road Library will focus on Brown Girl Dreaming during their Wednesday Writer’s Workshop program on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m.  In this program, writers will be encouraged to share their own work as they draw inspiration from Brown Girl Dreaming.

Finally, the Bookmarks book club for teens in grades 7 through 12 will discuss Brown Girl Dreaming at the Cumming Library on Thursday, September 24 at 1:00 p.m.

Forsyth Reads Together is made possible by generous contributions from The Forsyth County Arts Alliance Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation, Forsyth County Public Library Friends and Advocates, Literacy Forsyth, and BookLogix.

For more information, or to register for any of these Forsyth Reads Together events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.