Staff Favorites of 2015 - 4th in a series

As the year comes to a close, library staff members and volunteers reflect on the best books they've read in 2015. Here are a few more recommendations from our staff:

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
This book was part of our Book Club discussions for adults over the summer.

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly
This book was also recommended by a member of our Sharon Forks Library staff.

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
This book was part of our Book Club Discussions for adults over the summer.

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

Staff Favorites of 2015 - 3rd in a series

As the year comes to a close, library staff members and volunteers reflect on the best books they've read in 2015. Here are a few recommendations from Cleo Joyce, Youth Services Supervisor at the Sharon Forks Library, who says "From picture books to teen thrillers, there's something for every age in my top 5 of 2015!"

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Reading Rules: A Book Discussion Group for kids to meet Dec. 3

Reading Rules is a Book Discussion Group for kids in grades 3-6 featuring STEAM crafts and activities based around the chosen book for the month. This book club meets during the day and is designed for the schedules of families who homeschool their children, but all children are welcome to attend.

The featured book this month is Encyclopedia Brown, Super Sleuth. Encyclopedia Brown is the son of the police chief and he helps his dad solve his most baffling cases and runs his own detective agency for the neighborhood kids.

Several mysteries are presented with the solutions revealed at the back of the book. We will be honing our detective abilities by testing our powers of observation, examining fingerprints, writing and reading secret messages and making our own message decoders.

Reading Rules Book Club is for children in grades 3-6 at the Cumming Library on Thursday, December 3 at 1:00 p.m. Registration is recommended.

Page Turners: A Book Club for Grades 3-5 to Meet December 3

Page Turners: A Book Club for Grades 3-5 featuring STEAM crafts and activities based around the book will meet at the Cumming Library on Thursday, December 3 at 4:00 p.m.  

The featured book this month is Encyclopedia Brown, Super Sleuth. Encyclopedia Brown is the son of the police chief and he helps his dad solve his most baffling cases and runs his own detective agency for the neighborhood kids.

Several mysteries are presented with the solutions revealed at the back of the book. We will be honing our detective abilities by testing our powers of observation, examining fingerprints, writing and reading secret messages and making our own message decoders.

Page Turners book club is for children in grades 3-5. Registration is recommended.

Staff Favorites of 2015 - 2nd in a series

As the year comes to a close, library staff members and volunteers reflect on the best books they've read in 2015. Here are a few recommendations from Sharon Anderson, Collection Support Supervisor at the Post Road Library:

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly

Sense of Deception by Victoria Laurie

Foreign Affairs by Stuart Woods

The Murder House by James Patterson

The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark

Staff Picks

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine is the 16th book in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.   Alexander McCall Smith once again brings us to the thoughtful world of Mma Ramotswe’s Botswana.  This book finds Mma Ramotswe being encouraged to go on vacation by everyone, especially by her former secretary, now Deputy Detective, Mma Makutsi.  Mma Ramotswe resists these calls for her to take time off feeling suspicious of the motives to have her out of the office.  She feels a little lost in the first hours of her vacation.  Soon she is pulled back into business again even though she is not in the office.  Her fears of what is going on with the latest new case soon show her things are not always what they seem.  A good read for sure, those who love keeping up with the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency and for those who like a mystery to sort out.

Lola Nichols
Information Specialist

Royal Scottish Country Dancers to Perform at Cumming Library

Hearts and feet will pound in rhythm with traditional Scottish music at the Cumming Library as dancers from the Atlanta Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society perform on Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m.

The performance is part of the Forsyth County Public Library’s One World Forsyth cultural programming and will include a dance demonstration and traditional Scottish treats. Patrons will also have a chance to design their own clan tartan.

All ages are welcome at the event. The event is free and advance registration is not required.

Scottish Country Dancing is the traditional ballroom and barn dancing of Scotland. Most of the dances were devised in the 18th century and have been preserved through the efforts of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland.

“Unlike the folk dances of most other countries, Scottish Country Dance doesn’t seem to have been confined to one grade of society only,” explains Bob Messner of the Atlanta Branch of the RSCDS. “Tenants and crofters participated in these dances just like their lairds or landlords.”

Lessons in Scottish Country Dance are available – and popular – among people all over the world. RSCDS has 160 branch groups spread across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa, and Australia that offer classes, dance events, and demonstrations of this living art form.

“These dances are fun and there are only five basic steps to learn,” says Messner. “We encourage families to come out and watch the demonstration and give the dances a try.”

One World Forsyth is sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library Friends & Advocates. For more information on this and other One World Forsyth events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Chatterbooks: A Book Club for Grades K-2 – Cumming Library – December 3 at 4:00 p.m.

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 On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne.  Our selection is about a boy with an active imagination that brought his ideas to life. Albert Einstein had a brilliant mind that conceived some of the most revolutionary ideas. Often distracted, Albert was curious with how things worked and came into existence. A fascinating story about a genius doing great things.   December 3, 2015 – 4:00 p.m. – Cumming Library – Registration required.

Lorraine Lane
Information Specialist-Youth Services
Cumming Library

Staff Favorites of 2015 - 1st in a series

In August I posted My Favorites of 2015...so far. Here are my 10 favorites since then.

Dead Scared by Sharon Bolton

The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

Last Ragged Breath by Julia Keller

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter

Whiskey and Charlie by Annabel Smith

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon







Beth Moore
Information Specialist

Staff Picks

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

What a compelling premise!  Survivors of a transcontinental journey engage in a battle of wits and wills on board a lifeboat adrift in the Atlantic Ocean.   Narrator Grace recalls the horrific circumstances of the 21 day ordeal as she faces another challange– a trial for her life.  Charlotte Rogan’s historical novel takes a hard look at human nature and the psychology of survival.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist.

Staff Picks

When a story really captures my imagination I'll read the novel and listen to the audio-book both.  I love to hear how the narrator brings the characters to life but I also want to read the story in the original form.  The latest book to warrant so much attention is The Echo Maker by Richard Powers.

This National Book Award winning story takes place in the year following the 9-11 attacks.  With the nation still recovering from the shock, twenty-something Mark Schluter survives a horrific accident but suffers memory loss in the aftermath.  A rare condition called Capgras Syndrome leaves Mark convinced that his sister Karin is an impostor.   Even after months of recovery Mark is unable to view Karin as his “real” sister.   Tragically, they’re the only family either of them has left and out of desperation Karin contacts author/researcher Gerald Weber for some expert advice.  But outside of his comfort zone in rural Nebraska (a surprisingly evocative setting thanks to Power's descriptions of the dancing sandhill cranes and the "sideways" Platte River)  Dr. Weber faces a crisis of his own.

The Echo Maker explores small town life, the nature of family, and how much perceptions (and misconceptions) can impact our lives.  Bernadette Dunne's thoughtful rendition strikes just the right chord for this cerebral mystery.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Library Limelight: Sharon Anderson, Collection Support Supervisor, Post Road Library

Library Limelight is intended to be a quick read to help FCPL patrons get to know our librarians and staff.  We hope you enjoy learning about the people who make our libraries great!

Sharon Anderson
Collection Support Supervisor
Post Road Library

Where is your hometown?

Detroit, Michigan

How long have you been at FCPL?

11 years

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

Circulation Assistant and Information Specialist

Why did you choose to work in a library?

I have always loved reading and I was a volunteer at my children’s school library and enjoyed it so much, I decided to find a job in a library.

Describe your job in five words or less.

Keep the collection looking great.

What is unique about your job?

I train CSAs and volunteers 

What is your favorite part of your job?

The people I work with and being involved in circulation.

What’s the most interesting place you’ve lived or traveled?

I visited Hawaii several times and absolutely love it there, but it is too expensive for me to live there.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, computers, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles

What are you reading right now?

Dishing the Dirt by M.C. Beaton

Paper books or eBooks?

Paper

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I have two daughters who graduated from UGA. One graduated in 2013 and is working in Kennesaw, and one who graduated in July of this year and is still looking for a job. I also have a 5 year old granddaughter from my son who passed away 2-1/2 years ago.

Staff Picks: Teen Fantasy Series

I just discovered this great teen fantasy series after one of my patrons recommended it to me. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories with strong female characters, and especially if you enjoyed Kristin Cashore's book, Graceling.

This is the story of a young girl whose family was murdered by an evil king. She was saved and raised by the leader of assassins. He trained her into a lethal killing machine, while helping her hide her true identity. You will grow up with this young lady and learn all about who she is and cheer her on as she and her friends fight to overcome the evil king, end slavery, and free magic.

You will meet several people throughout this series that you may not always like, as Maas has plenty of surprises in store throughout the series. I recommended starting with The Assassin's Blade, a collection of five short-stories that fill in some back history to the series. By the end of Queen of Shadows you will be clamoring for more, as there are two additional books planned for this series.

The Assassin's Blade
by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire
by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows
by Sarah J. Maas






Meredith Causey
Information Services Supervisor
Sharon Forks Library