Staff Picks - The View from the Cheap Seats (Adult Non-Fiction)

The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman

You may know Neil Gaiman from his books for children, like Coraline or Fortunately, the Milk. Or maybe you know him from his works for adults, like the book American Gods or the Sandman comic series.

The View From the Cheap Seats isn't like any of those other books. It's a collection of introductions, articles, speeches, and other miscellany that Neil Gaiman has written or spoken over the years.

The book feels like a long conversation with a friend, complete with interesting episodes from Gaiman’s life and recollections of the many interesting people he has known. Gaiman is a lifelong fan of fantasy, science fiction, and horror and has a lot to say about each of these genres. Give the audiobook a try - it's read by the author and Neil Gaiman is talented at both speaking and writing.

#ShelfLife - December 22, 2016

We are so excited to see that the Red's Planet team stopped by to comment on our UFO photo on the #ShelfLife feed on Instagram this week! We had such a fun time reading the story and studying the illustrations for inspiration for the photo.

It's getting pretty quiet around the library this week as many patrons gather at home with their families to celebrate the holidays. We'll be taking a break from our #ShelfLife feed on Instagram next week, too.

All Forsyth County Public Library branches will close Friday, December 23 at 5:30 p.m. and remain closed on Saturday, December 24 through Monday, December 26.

Just remember that our eLibrary is always open, so you can check out eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, videos, music, and reference materials at www.forsythpl.org any time. Seasons Readings!

Hiking around a strange planet is hard when aliens run off with your shoes. See what happens to Red in the first book of the RED'S PLANET series by Eddie Pittman (@redsplanet), former writer/storyartist for Disney's Phineas and Ferb. #ShelfLife #RedsPlanet #DisneyAnimation #PhineasandFerb #Scifi #comics #graphicnovel #kidlitart #kidlit

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 20, 2016 at 7:30am PST

You may have heard of Mother Jones or Charley Parkhurst, the most celebrated stagecoach driver in the West, but do you the stories of women like gold miner Nellie Cashman? Do you know Maria Amparo Ruiz De Burton, the first female Mexican-American novelist? Or Donaldina Cameron, who rescued thousands of Chinese girls from trafficking rings on the west coast? Learn more about these brave women in FRONTIER GRIT by Marianne Monson. #ShelfLife #nonfiction #womenshistory #history #frontiergrit #mariannemonson

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 21, 2016 at 11:14am PST

And, before he heads back to the North Pole to give Santa his scout report, Jingles the Elf on the Shelf recommends Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau as a relaxing book for young readers.

Being a scout elf is a hard job, but Jingles knows just how to relax: a hot bath and a good book! Keep up with all the antics of Jingles, the Elf on the Shelf at the Post Road Library, at https://www.facebook.com/108166622536919/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1339091872777715. #elfontheshelf #libraryelf #librariesofinstagram #fcplstories

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 20, 2016 at 10:47am PST

Find these book recommendations and more in the online catalog at www.forsythpl.org. Happy Reading!

Staff Picks: The Underground Railroad

By now you’ve at least heard of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, as it launched as an Oprah Book Club selection, won the National Book Award for Fiction, and has ended up on multiple best-of-the-year lists. What gets lost under the growing pile of accolades, though, is just how readable the book is. The story of Cora’s harrowing journey through the American South is told as equal parts adventure yarn and alt-history fantasy. Colson Whitehead plays fast and loose with American history to explore American’s fraught racial past in a surprisingly imaginative way.

Central to the novel’s reimagined past is a very literal approach to the Underground Railroad itself. This is a railroad in its truest sense with tracks, train stations, station masters, and a chugging locomotive. Cora, after escaping her enslavement on a plantation in Georgia, uses this subterranean escape route to find a new life in a number of different Southern states. However, in Whitehead’s reimagined America, the Civil War never appears to have happened, and instead each state has dealt with the issue of slavery in its own unique, and often horrible, way.

Cora’s desperate race to freedom is also complicated by the vicious slave catcher, Ridgeway. After failing to find Cora’s escaped mother, Ridgeway is relentless in his pursuit of young Cora and unfeeling for those who stand in his way. Cora meets many fellow escapees and a number of white men and women who offer varying degrees of help or hindrance on her journey, each with complex motivations and backgrounds. By rearranging the past, Cora’s journey in The Underground Railroad is able to provide a thoughtful condemnation of not just slavery itself, but the whole of America’s checkered racial past.

The Book Buzz Book Club will be discussing this novel at the Cumming Library on Thursday, February 9. We’d love to have you drop in and talk about it with your fellow readers.

Ross Gericke
Branch Manager
Hampton Park Library

Book Chat - A Book Club for Adults at the Sharon Forks Library

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A memoir by a man who will die from pancreatic cancer before his three young children ever get to know him sounds like a grim read.  But Randy Pausch’s inspiring story is more about living than dying. In fact he originally titled his lecture, “Living your Childhood Dreams”.  Under either title this powerful message has resonated across the globe with millions of readers and viewers.

Join us Wednesday, January 18th for our first Book Chat of 2017 at the Sharon Forks Library.  We’ll discuss The Last Lecture and share our own ideas about what we’d include in a “last lecture.”   Newcomers are always welcome!  We look forward to seeing you in 2017.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

#ShelfLife - December 16, 2016

So many of our patrons are science enthusiasts, so we know you're looking forward to the Christmas Day release of the new film Hidden Figures. While you're waiting, be among the first to check out The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel.

And, speaking of pioneering women, what would happen if a woman became an NFL quarterback? It's an interesting premise and the focus of The Legend of Jesse Smoke, a new novel by Robert Bausch.

Scroll down to see more books in this week's #ShelfLife or visit us on Instagram. Seasons Readings!

Today is National Gingerbread House Day! Show us your gingerbread houses with the tag #fcplstories. Need inspiration? Check out A YEAR OF GINGERBREAD HOUSES by Kristine Samuell. #nationalgingerbreadhouseday #ayearofgingerbreadhouses #kristinesamuell #gingerbreadhouse #librariesofinstagram #shelflife

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 12, 2016 at 8:03am PST

Finders keepers, right? When Ruben picks up someone’s lost money, he finds out how hard it can be to do the right thing in A BIKE LIKE SERGIO’S by Maribeth Boelts. #ShelfLife #maribethboelts #abikelikesergios #picturebooks

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 13, 2016 at 8:41am PST

From Pushcart Prize nominee Danny Johnson comes a powerful debut novel that explores race relations, first love, and coming-of-age in North Carolina in the 1950s and '60s. Check out this new voice in Southern literature and read THE LAST ROAD HOME. #ShelfLife #fiction #southernliterature

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 14, 2016 at 8:51am PST

A female quarterback in the National Football League? Around this surprising premise, Robert Bausch explores the way America's most popular and most violent sport defines--but could dramatically change--gender attitudes in THE LEGEND OF JESSE SMOKE. #ShelfLife #fiction #football #thelegendofjessesmoke #robertbausch

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 15, 2016 at 5:28pm PST

This seems like a good month for recognizing women in science, particularly in astronomy and space travel. While you’re waiting for @hiddenfiguresmovie, check out THE GLASS UNIVERSE by Dava Sobel. #womeninscience #davasobel #astronomy #harvard #theplanets #galileosdaughter

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 16, 2016 at 9:01am PST

Book Buzz - A Book Club for Adults at the Cumming Library

A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi 

Zeba, an Afghani woman, is charged with murdering her husband.  The story of injustice, sisterhood, and the lengths that a mother will take to protect her child (or another’s) will keep you on edge.  The story revolves around Zeba’s arrest, time in prison and her lawyer’s attempts to defend her against a justice system that only considers a woman’s word as half that of a man’s. Family secrets are slowly revealed throughout the book adding twists and surprises along the way. The book brings to light the many injustices done to women, even today, in a country caught between the past and the future.

Nadia Hashimi has also written The Pearl that Broke Its Shell and When the Moon is Low.

Join us for Book Buzz on January 12th at 1:30 at the Cumming Library for a discussion of this fascinating novel.  

Joan Dudzinski
Collection Support Supervisor

Staff Picks The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - Adult Fiction

The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Whether you enjoy reading or listening to books, The Golden Son is a great choice. This novel is set in India and in Dallas as it follows one of the main characters from his home to medical school in the United States. This novel has everything. Romance, check. Family drama, check. Hateful bad guys, check. Redemption, check.

Kim Ottesen
Youth Specialist

#ShelfLife - December 9, 2016

Seasons Readings! We hope you got a laugh out of a few photos of Jingles, the Elf on the Shelf at the Post Road Library, this week. If you'd like to see more of Jingles and his crazy antics, check out our Facebook Page.

Packing books for your holiday travels? We've got a few recommendations for you in the #ShelfLife this week. Place a hold on any of these books by visiting the online catalog at www.forsythpl.org.

Join The Lit Chicks book club at the Post Road Library on Wednesday, December 14 to discuss THE NEST by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (@cynthiadsweeney). #ShelfLife #bookclub #thenest

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 5, 2016 at 1:14pm PST

Today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In COUNTDOWN TO PEARL HARBOR, Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Twomey examines the twelve days leading up to the attack on the morning of December 7, 1941 and unravels the crucial characters and moments, producing an edge-of-your seat drama with fascinating details about America at this moment in its history. By the end, the reader understands how assumption is the root of disaster, and how sometimes a gamble pays off. #ShelfLife #WWII #pearlharbor #pearlharborday

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 7, 2016 at 8:46am PST

Make sure you have tissues on-hand before you sit down to read THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch. When you finish, meet us at the Sharon Forks Library for a casual Book Chat conversation about Randy’s advice for following your dreams. . Book Chat will meet on Wednesday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. #randypausch #thelastlecture #ShelfLife #bookclub #bookchat #forsythreads

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 8, 2016 at 11:55am PST

And, if your New Year's resolution is to learn a foreign language, get a head start with Mango Languages! Access Mango in the eLearning section on www.forsythpl.org and learn over 60 languages at home, in the library, or from anywhere on your smartphone or tablet.

Happy Holidays! Get a head start on your New Year’s resolution to learn a foreign language with @mangolanguages! Access to Mango Languages is free with your FCPL library card account and can be used in the library, at home, or on your mobile device. #mango #ShelfLife #elearning #languagelearning

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 9, 2016 at 9:27am PST

Staff Picks: A Gentleman in Moscow (Adult Fiction)

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles features a wonderfully unique premise: in 1922, during the tumultuous times surrounding the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in his current residence, the grand Metropol Hotel, for the rest of his life.  (“…make no mistake: should you ever set foot outside of the Metropol again, you will be shot.”)

The aristocratic and erudite Count Rostov, who is only 32 at the time he is sentenced, is considered to be a “Former Person” by the authorities, the term used for those who lost their status after the October Revolution in 1917. Despite his confinement, Count Rostov enjoys a social life with a number of memorable personalities, including hotel staff members, an actress, and a precocious 9-year-old girl.

A Gentleman in Moscow is a delightful and satisfying read, not only for those who have an interest in Russian history but also for anyone who finds the idea of living in an old hotel glamorous (fans of The Grand Budapest Hotel, perhaps?).

If you enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow, you might also like The Mayakovsky Tapes by Robert Littell, Selected Stories by Anton Chekhov, and Towles’s first novel, Rules of Civility.

Stephen Kight
Assistant Director for Public Services

Literazzi Book Club for Adults - Wednesday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City
One Step at a Time by Mark Adams

Join us at the Sharon Forks Library on Wednesday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m. as we discuss Mark Adams' travelogue of his adventures as he re-traces Hiram Bingham's exploration of Peru and ultimate "discovery" of Machu Picchu. I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version. If you're a fan of Bill Bryson, you'll love Mark Adams! Adams does a brilliant job balancing the historical aspects with his own journeys through Peru. You'll long to lace up your own hiking boots by the end of the book.

Meredith Causey
Information Services Supervisor

#ShelfLife - December 2, 2016

December is finally here! Thanks to local Girl Scouts, all our branches have lovely trees decorated with handmade ornaments. Check out photos of their handiwork on Facebook.

The Post Road Library received a special visitor after Thanksgiving to help us celebrate the season: our very own Elf on the Shelf! Photos of our clever Elf's antics will appear on Instagram and you'll find pictures from our Elf on the Shelf Welcome Parties on Facebook.

We hope you're all finding a moment to escape the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and snuggle up with a good book. Not sure what to read next? Take a look at what's happening in the #ShelfLife this week...

Check out an eBook from the recently updated OverDrive website! #OverDrive #ShelfLife #ebooks #libraryinmyhand #librariesofinstagram # #christmaswithtucker #dogs

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 1, 2016 at 7:18am PST

When scientist-in-the-making Madeline Little starts sixth grade, she soon learns that middle school is nothing like a perfect lab experiment. Now she must find the cure for her newly messed-up life in THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT by @ekteagan. #tweenreads #teenreads #ShelfLife #ya

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 1, 2016 at 2:44pm PST

“Dorie has written the perfect book to satisfy the Cookie Monster in all of us,” says Ina Garten of DORIE’S COOKIES by @doriegreenspan. Be among the first to check out a copy and you’ll be the envy of all the holiday cookie swaps this season! #ShelfLife #dories_cookies #cookiemonster #cookbooks #baking #cookies #cookieswap #librariesofinstagram

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 22, 2016 at 11:37am PST

Did you sign up to bring cupcakes for your kid’s class holiday party? Get in the kitchen with them and try a recipe from PINKALICIOUS CUPCAKE COOKBOOK by Victoria Kann. There are even recipes for gluten-free yellow and chocolate cupcakes! #holidaybaking #cookwithyourkids #pink #glutenfreerecipes #pinkalicious #victoriakann #classparty #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 30, 2016 at 5:08pm PST

Reclaim, repurpose, refurbish, or restore your way to the country home of your dreams with RUSTIC HOMES: BARNS, CABINS, COTTAGES & FARMHOUSES from @countrylivingmag. #magazinemonday #ShelfLife #crafty #homedecor #diy

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 29, 2016 at 3:11pm PST

Need to bake a spectacular cake for your holiday gatherings? You need to check out SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL HOMEMADE CAKES by Lindsay Conchar (@lifeloveandsugar)! #ShelfLife #simplybeautifulhomemadecakes #cake #cakedecorating #cookbook #christmas #thanksgiving #parties #partyfood

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 21, 2016 at 1:00pm PST

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and place a request for the materials featured in #ShelfLife this week. Seasons Readings!

Free Holiday Events for Families at the Library

Escape the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and enjoy some time with the family at your local library. Throughout the month of December, Forsyth County Public Library will host free holiday-themed storytimes, movies, craft sessions, and activities for patrons of all ages.

Photo Credit: Richards Studio

Sensitive Santa

“Sitting on Santa’s lap can be uncomfortable or scary for children with special needs, as well as frustrating for their parents who just want to give their child a positive experience with such a beloved part of the holiday season,” says Program Manager Laura Bradley. “This is the third year we’re offering Sensitive Santa events where the lights are dim, voices are quiet, and children can enjoy a visit with Santa at a slower pace.”

Parents or caregivers may take as many photos of their child with Santa as they like. Advance registration is required to participate. Events will be held on Saturday, December 10 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Cumming Library and at 2:00 p.m. at the Hampton Park Library. The program will be hosted at the Post Road Library on Sunday, December 18 starting at
1:45 p.m. Please visit the library’s website to learn more about these special programs and about how to register to attend.

Special Character Visit

Fans of Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie can meet Cookie Mouse at a series of special events promoting the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.

Listen to holiday stories, sing, dance, make a special Cookie Mouse craft, and take a picture with Cookie Mouse on Thursday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cumming Library and on Thursday, December 15 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. at the Hampton Park Library. The Post Road Library will host events on Friday, December 9 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 at 11:15 a.m.

“The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program helps parents understand the importance of reading aloud with children from birth to age five,” explains Bradley. “The library offers special recognition to children as they meet 100-book milestones on their way to reading 1,000 books to encourage their language development and to foster a love of reading.”

Popular Polar Express Storytimes Return

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is a favorite holiday story and the library will host several events to get families into the spirit of the season. Children are invited to wear their pajamas and listen to The Polar Express and make crafts. A special visitor from the North Pole may also stop by! This program is sponsored by the FCPL Friends & Advocates.

The Polar Express storytimes will be held at the Hampton Park Library on Tuesdays, December 6 and 13 at 6:00 p.m, at the Post Road Library on Monday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 17 at 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m., at the Cumming Library on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 14 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

For more information on these and other December events at the library, please visit www.forsythpl.org.