Halloween Trivia at Sharon Forks Library - Round 4

Have you had a chance to test your Halloween trivia skills at the Sharon Forks Library? Don’t worry – it’s not too late! The last round of Halloween trivia questions are posted in the library. Stop by and check it out! 

Can’t make it to the library? Simply zoom in on the pictures below to see the questions! (The answers are on the back of the board, so you are on your own to find those!)

Check out our Halloween Trivia Display Board... 

 And more Halloween Trivia on an end cap display!

Which questions were your favorites? Which ones stumped you? Stop by and share some of your answers with us!

More trivia fun coming soon in November . . . .  

Jeanne McMahan
Information Specialist – MLIS
Sharon Forks Library

Staff Picks Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman describes an unlikely encounter between a bank robber, police, and prospective buyers at an apartment open house in a small town in Sweden.  As in Backman’s international bestseller, A Man Called Ove, the lives of quirky characters intertwine in unexpected ways. Backman uses a light touch and humor to tackle tough topics like economics, real estate, separations, grief, and guilt.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

#WeKnowBooks

 

Staff Picks: The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku

The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku 

While there are many novels, memoirs, and biographies about the Holocaust, none match up to this one. At the age of 100, which is a feat itself, Eddie Jaku writes to his readers, who he calls his friends, about the struggle of survival as a refugee and as a death camp survivor during WWII. But this memoir is so much more than a war novel. Eddie writes of his life after the war as an immigrant in Australia and his inner struggle to cope with his past and how to look and move forward to a happy future. He also examines his experiences through a psychological perspective, wondering how his neighbors went from having dinner with his family to throwing stones at them and cursing them only because they were Jewish, despite he and his family considering themselves as Germans first and Jews second. It is hard to write a review for this book because you have to read the book for yourself to fully immerse yourself in Eddie’s story. No review or synopsis can sum up his incredible life story. 

I will tell you that I read Eddie’s memoir in two days, and after I finished it, I told my mom to read it. My mom, who has not read a book in over 10 years, could not put this one down and she read it in three days. Eddie’s words are powerful and captivating, yet reading his book is like having a conversation with a friend at a coffee shop in that his words are casual, comforting, and warm. I cried, I laughed, and I felt grateful for the life I had, and I feel as though I have gained a new friend.

“There are always miracles in the world, even when all seems hopeless. And when there are no miracles, you can make them happen. With a simple act of kindness, you can save another person from despair, and that might just save their life. And this is the greatest miracle of all.” 

This book is a quick yet powerful read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for hope, support, and most importantly, a friend, because Eddie provides all of that through his words.

On October 13, 2021, Eddie Jaku passed away at the age of 101 at his home in Sydney, Australia. Let us remember his legacy by following his advice to slow down and savor each day and to be kind and make the world a better place. As Eddie says, “Happiness does not fall from the sky. It’s in your hands.”

Jessica Doss

Information Specialist - MLIS

#WeKnowBooks

OverBOOKed to Read: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Murder, love, ambition - all can be found in The Wife Upstairs, a modern reimagining of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. Set in Birmingham, Alabama, this Southern Gothic mystery introduces us to Jane, a down-on-her-luck dog walker who knows that her gated-community clientele won't notice if she swipes a few pieces of their jewelry or other valuables. They also won't ask if Jane is her real name.

Jane's luck may be about to change when she meets and falls for the wealthy and mysterious widower, Eddie Rochester. However, Jane's curiosity about Eddie's dead wife leads to even more questions and Jane finds that all may not be as it seems.

Join the overBOOKed book club for a discussion of this title on Thursday, November 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cumming library. OverBOOKed meets at 10:00 a.m. every third Thursday of the month.

The eBook and eAudiobook versions of The Wife Upstairs are available through OverDrive. Anyone with a Forsyth County Library card can sign up for a free OverDrive account. Sign up for a free card today to start enjoying FCPL's digital catalog from wherever you are!

Jen

Information Specialist

Cumming Library

#WeKnowBooks

Halloween Trivia at Sharon Forks Library - Round 3

Have you had a chance to test your Halloween trivia skills at the Sharon Forks Library? Don’t worry – it’s not too late! We posted the first couple of trivia rounds in the library and on the Bookmarked Blog last week, and here is Round 3. Stop by and check it out! 

Can’t make it to the library? Simply zoom in on the picture below to see the questions! (The answers are on the back of the board, so you are on your own to find those!)

Which questions were your favorites? Which ones stumped you? Share some of your answers with us!

More trivia fun coming soon . . . .  

Jeanne McMahan
Information Specialist – MLIS

#WeKnowBooks

 

Forsyth Writes Together

 

Wastebasket by J.M. Tompkins

Recently author J.M. Tompkins shared insights into self-publishing with local writers at the Sharon Forks Library. Tompkins is the founder of The Next Level Writing Group and author of the dystopian science fiction series, Habitual Humanity. The first book in the series, Wastebasket, describes life in the year 2069 for a reluctant Navy sailor assigned to patrol the world’s largest trash depository. The five-book series focuses on environmental issues and emerging technologies.  

The twenty local writers who attended the Forsyth Writes Together program, Overcome Self-Publishing Myths and Get Started, received valuable insights and resources, including a step-by-step guide to self-publishing. Tompkins signed books and spoke with the authors about their individual publishing goals and her experiences with book cover design, formatting, marketing, and how to make money as an indie author, her preferred term for a self-published author. Each of the participants gained valuable knowledge, ideas, and information on where to start with self-publishing.     

Got a concept for a futuristic story? Writers interested in crafting believable science fiction stories will have the opportunity to meet Tompkins in person next month when she presents Using Science in Your Science Fiction, on November 18 at 7 p.m. at the Post Road Library. Please register in advance if you’d like to attend. 

Both programs are part of Forsyth Writes Together. Check out our event calendar to see the full list of FCPL programs for all ages. 

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks

October 2021 Reading Challenge - Kids' Book Spotlight - Teen Collection

This month we're challenging our staff and our patrons to read books featured in an FCPL Book Club or NextReads Newsletter. The whole family can get in on the fun and join this month's challenge! Take a look at some of these books from our Teen Collections.

Teen Middle (Grades 6-8)

Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy

by Melissa de la Cruz

Nothing ever happens in Cara Jefferson-Cho's sleepy little suburban town of North Pasadena. The sun shines every day, the grass is always a perfect green, and while her progressive school swears there's no such thing as bullying, she still feels bummed out. But one day, when Cara is walking home on her own, something strange happens. Cara is being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the Thirteenth Fairy, a series of books she loves about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends who save their world from an evil enchantress. She must be dreaming, or still reading a book. But Jack is insistent--he's real, the stories are real, and Cara must come with him at once! Soon, Cara is thrust into the world of evil fairies and beautiful princesses, sorcerers and slayers, where an evil queen drives her ruthless armies to destroy what is left of the Fairy tribes. To save herself and the kingdom of Westphalia, Cara must find the truth behind the fairytales and set the world back to rights before the cycle of sleep and destruction begins once more.

This title was featured in the February 2021 Teen Middle Reads newsletter!

Scar Island

by Dan Gemeinhart

Twelve-year-old Jonathan Grisby has been sent to the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys, a former lunatic asylum which is currently run by a sadist who enjoys punishing the boys and setting them against each other; but when a lightning strike kills all the adults the boys find themselves suddenly free--and trapped on Scar Island which seems to be sinking into the ocean.

This title was featured in the April 2021 Teen Middle Reads newsletter!

All You Knead is Love

by Tanya Guerrero

Banished from her abusive home for a summer with her estranged grandmother in Barcelona, twelve-year-old Alba feels hope and love while exploring a newly discovered passion for bread baking.

This title was featured in the June 2021 Teen Middle Reads newsletter!

Teen High (Grades 9-12)

Opposite of Always

by Justin Reynolds

Jack and Kate met, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks. Jack falls--hard. But then Kate dies. Somehow Kate's death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate's there again. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack thinks he's losing his mind, but takes the chance to prevent Kate's death. He learns actions are not without consequences when it turns deadly for someone else close to him. Now Jack has to figure out what he's willing to do to save the people he loves.

This title was featured in the September 2021 Teen High Reads newsletter!

It Came from the Sky

by Chelsea Sedoti

When one of his science experiments went wrong, Gideon Hofstadt and his older brother Ishmael blamed the resulting explosion on extraterrestrial activity. Their lie was embraced by the town. As the brothers go to increasingly greater lengths to keep up the ruse and avoid getting caught, the hoax flourishes. There are UFO sightings, close encounters--even abductions! Soon Lansburg, Pennsylvania was invaded--not by aliens, but by believers, Truth Seekers, and, above all, people who looked to the sky and hoped for more. Can Gideon find a way to banish the aliens before Lansburg, and his life, are changed forever?

This title was featured in the July 2021 Teen High Reads newsletter!

Life in a Fishbowl

by Len Vlahos

Fifteen-year-old Jackie is determined to reclaim her family's privacy and dignity by ending a reality television program about her father's terminal brain tumor.

This title was featured in the March 2021 Teen High Reads newsletter!

You can find book clubs and other programs on our Events Calendar and sign up for our newsletters for more recommendations. 

Stephani Lindsey

Youth Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

#WeKnowBooks

Staff Picks Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian 

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian tells the story of Bostonian Mary Deerfield who discovers a fork buried in her yard in 1662. The utensil is viewed by many as a Devil’s Tine and a symbol of witchcraft. Mary suspects she’s being targeted by persons unknown but has a more pressing matter to deal with – divorcing her abusive husband. The details of Mary’s petition for divorce offer a fascinating look at Colonial laws and customs. The second half of the book is packed with suspense as accusations of witchcraft arise and Mary tries to figure out who wishes her harm and who - if anyone - she can trust.

Chris Bohjalian weaves historical details about Puritan customs and beliefs and the status of women in Colonial New England into an insightful and mesmerizing historical legal thriller. Fans of historical fiction and suspense novels will enjoy this fascinating story.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks   

 

October 2021 Reading Challenge - Kids' Book Spotlight - Juvenile Collection

This month we're challenging our staff and our patrons to read books featured in an FCPL Book Club or NextReads Newsletter. The whole family can get in on the fun and join this month's challenge! Take a look at some of these books for independent readers.

Beginning Chapter Books (Grades 1-3)

Henry Heckelbeck Gets a Dragon

by Wanda Coven

Future spy Henry discovers that he has magic, like his big sister, Heidi, when he accidentally creates a tiny dragon, which definitely does not belong at Brewster Elementary School.

This title was featured in the January 2020 Kids' Book Newsletter!

From the Mist

by Kiki Thorpe

Mysterious mist horses have come to Pixie Hollow. Kate befriends one, but Silvermist finds an old legend that says they might be dangerous.

This title was featured in the April 2020 Kids' Book Newsletter!

Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters

by Andrea Beaty

Rosie Revere is no stranger to flops and fails, kerfuffles and catastrophes. After all, engineering is all about perseverance! But this time, Rosie has a really important project to tackle--one that feels much bigger than herself. Rosie's beloved Aunt Rose and her friends, the Raucous Riveters--a group of fun-loving gals who built airplanes during World War II--need help inventing something new. And Rosie is just the engineer for the job! After one flop . . . then another . . . and another . . . Rosie starts to lose hope. But thanks to some help from her fellow Questioneers Iggy Peck and Ada Twist, Rosie gets the job done. And, along with the Riveters, she rediscovers the meaning of home.

This title was featured in the December 2020 Kids' Book Newsletter!

Chapter Books (Grades 3-5)

Word of Mouse

by James Patterson

The illuminating journey of a very special mouse, and the unexpected friendships he makes along the way.

This title was featured at the Steam Rollers Book Club in February 2021!

The Accidental Apprentice

by Amanda Foody

Eleven-year-old Barclay Thorne yearns for the quiet life of a mushroom farmer, but after unwittingly bonding with a beast in the forbidden Woods, he must seek Lore Keepers to break the bond and return home.

This title was featured in the May 2021 Kids' Books Newsletter. 

Otto P. Nudd

by Emily Butler

While his corvid buddies spend their days cracking jokes at the dump, raven Otto P. Nudd invents things with his human neighbor Old Man Bartleby, but when one of Bartleby's contraptions puts him in danger, Otto must join forces with kids and critters to save the Old Man.

This title will be featured at the Steam Rollers Book Club at the Cumming branch on Tuesday, October 26th!

You can find book clubs and other programs on our Events Calendar and sign up for our newsletters for more recommendations. 

Stephani Lindsey

Youth Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

#WeKnowBooks

Halloween Trivia at the Sharon Forks Library

Do you think you know everything there is to know about Halloween? Stop by the Sharon Forks Library during the month of October, take a peek at our Halloween Trivia Display, and test your trivia skills! You can find new Halloween themed questions (and answers) every week this month.

Can’t make it to the library? If you missed the first round of trivia, simply zoom in on the picture below to see the questions! (The answers are on the back of the board, so you are on your own to find those!)

See below for Round 2 -- our most current questions. Again, simply zoom in on the picture below to see the questions!

Which questions were your favorites? Which ones stumped you? Share some of your answers with us!

 

More trivia fun coming soon . . . 

 

Jeanne McMahan
Information Specialist – MLIS
Sharon Forks Library
#WeKnowBooks

October 2021 Reading Challenge - Kids' Book Spotlight - Easy Collection

This month we're challenging our staff and our patrons to read books featured in an FCPL Book Club or NextReads Newsletter. The whole family can get in on the fun and join this month's challenge! Take a look at some of these books for our youngest readers.

Picture Books

Inky the Octopus

by Erin Guendelsberger

Out of this tank, I must be free. I must explore the open sea! Follow Inky the octopus as he escapes from the National Aquarium of New Zealand to the ocean! Based on a true story, Inky the Octopus chronicles the adventure that the real-life Inky might have taken on his escape to freedom in the open ocean!

This title was featured at our Chatterbooks Book Club in January 2021!

My Two Border Towns

by David Bowles

A boy and his father cross the United States-Mexico border every other Saturday, visiting their favorite places, spending time with family and friends, and sharing in the responsibility of community care.

This title was featured in the September 2021 Picture Book newsletter!

The Great Paper Caper

by Oliver Jeffers

When tree branches begin disappearing and paper airplanes are left in their place, the forest creatures carry out an investigation to find the culprit who has been stealing their homes.

This book will be featured at the Chatterbooks Book Club at the Cumming branch on Tuesday, October 26th!

Early Readers

Fish and Sun

by Sergio Ruzzier

One day, bored little Fish journeys up to the surface of the ocean where it meets Sun, and a wonderful friendship blooms... Only, right in the middle of their fun, Sun starts to set!

This title from our Easy Graphic Novel collection was featured in the July 2021 Picture Book newsletter. 

Thunder and Cluck: Friends Do Not Eat Friends

by Jill Esbaum

Big, scary, and hungry Thunder the dinosaur wants to chase and chomp Cluck, a small but brave dinosaur, but Cluck has decided that they will be friends.

This title from our Easy Graphic Novel collection was featured in the August 2021 Picture Book newsletter. 

You can find book clubs and other programs on our Events Calendar and sign up for our newsletters for more recommendations. 

Stephani Lindsey

Youth Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

#WeKnowBooks

Staff Picks Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss

Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss 

For cat lovers, the prospect of communicating with our feline companions is an intriguing idea.  In the hands of author Lynne Truss, the premise takes a dark turn when a British librarian, grieving his wife and suddenly unemployed, discovers that his sister has gone missing.  An unusually perceptive cat seems to know something and reveals a mesmerizing story about a worldwide cat conspiracy. Fans of literary fiction, mysteries set in quaint British towns, Gothic tales, dark humor, and cat stories will love this grim, witty tale. 

Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and never let your cats out of your sight because they are definitely plotting something.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

#WeKnowBooks

Staff Picks Billy Summers by Stephen King - Adult Fiction

Billy Summers by Stephen King

Stephen King departs from the horror genre into noir in his latest novel Billy Summers. I haven’t read much noir but I’m a huge Stephen King fan so I checked it out and was hooked from page one. 

Billy Summers is a hitman with his own moral code (he only kills bad people) who goes undercover as a writer while waiting to take out his target.  While waiting for the call to action, Billy taps into his own tragic past and discovers a passion for writing he never knew he had.  

Unfortunately, Billy still has a nasty job to do and things don’t seem to go as planned. You need not be a fan of noir or horror to enjoy this exciting story.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks  

Library Limelight: Leslie Marinelli, Communications Manager

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

Name            Leslie Marinelli       

Position         Communications Manager

Location        Headquarters

Where is your hometown?

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and really miss the Primanti Bros. sandwiches. Oh, and my family. 

How long have you been at FCPL?

Staff Picks The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr

The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr

This summer I got hooked on an addictive television series called The Sinner. The show revolves around a detective with a talent for understanding the complex motivations of unlikely killers. Season One was an adaptation of a book by German novelist Petra Hammesfahr. Hammesfahr's dark psychological fiction has earned her comparisons to Patricia Highsmith, author of Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley. 

While waiting with much anticipation for the fourth season of The Sinner to air, I checked out the slim translation.  Set in Germany, the book begins when a woman spending a day with her husband and son suddenly stabs a stranger on the beach. Under questioning, Cora Bender seems oddly detached and investigators can find no motive for the attack. The unusual crime raises the interest of a police commissioner who digs into Cora’s past and strange family dynamics to explain her actions.  As in the show, the story takes some extremely dark twists. Fans of psychological stories like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn will enjoy this international bestseller! 

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks

 

October 2021 Reading Challenge - Read a Book Discussed at an FCPL Book Club

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
 
2021 Reading Challenge - Read a Book Discussed at an FCPL Book Club

Or in my case, almost discussed . . . 

Back in early 2021, before Forsyth County Public Library shut down due to COVID-19, I was supposed to lead a book group discussion about the book The Bear and the Nightingale, by Katherine Arden. We never got to have that book discussion. So now is my chance to share this wonderful book with you! 

The Bear and The Nightingale tells the story of Vasya, a young girl growing up in a remote village in Northern Russia, on the edge of the wilderness. Her nanny, Dunya, tells magical stories to the whole family around a blazing oven, stories of frost-demons and other spirits. However, for Vasya, these are more than just stories - for she is gifted with the Sight, which she inherited from her mother, who died giving birth to her. Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the annoyance of her family. However, when Vasya's father remarries and brings her new step-mother Anna home, life begins to change for Vasya; and the arrival of a new priest in the village brings further change, but worse still a rising threat of danger. A danger that it seems only Vasya can save them all from.

This is an enchanting story, and it pulled me in from the very first chapter. Set in medieval Russia, it is a wonderful blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and mythical folklore, with an adult fairy-tale-like feel. Vasya is a strong, brave, and captivating heroine . . . and she is unforgettable. The wintry setting is completely captivating, making it the perfect nighttime read.

If you like The Bear and the Nightingale, it is the first in a series. It is perfect for readers of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Neil Gaiman’s books.

I hope you will read and enjoy this book. At FCPL, We Know Books!

Jeanne McMahan

Information Specialist - MLIS 

#WeKnowBooks

October Poe Fest at the Cumming Library

Beware... the Cumming Library is celebrating Edgar Allan Poe all month long! Join us for October Poe Fest with programs and activities that are frighteningly fun.

Upcoming Programs:

"Reading Poe: What Should We Take Seriously?"

Sunday, October 17 @ 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Join Dr. Samuel Prestridge as he discusses the mystery surrounding Edgar Allan Poe's life and the influence Poe's work has had on literature. Register here!

"Writers' Night of Fright"

Wednesday, October 20 @ 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Are you an Adult or High School patron who loves writing and/or listening to spooky tales? Look no further than "Writers' Night of Fright"... if you dare. Register for it here.

Also, drop into the library for Poe-related activities for all ages. Test your knowledge at "Do You know Poe?" or create your own version of Poe's poems at "That's Not A-POE-Priate." There is Poe much to do at the Cumming Library this month.

If you're in the mood to be scared and celebrate the Father of Horror, come join us!

Brianna
Information Specialist
Cumming Library

FCPL Reading Challenge- October 2021

October Reading Challenge

This month we challenge our staff and our patrons to read books featured in an FCPL Book Club or NextReads Newsletter.

FCPL has newsletters for a variety of themes and interests! You can sign up for newsletters here as well as view past issues. Take a look at our Events Calendar for upcoming Book Club titles!

We'd love to hear about the books you chose! Still catching up on previous challenges? We want to hear about those books too! 

Leave a comment on this blog post, join our conversation on Facebook, or tag us in a photo of what you're reading on Instagram. 

#WeKnowBooks

If you need help selecting a book for any Reading Challenge in 2021, please Email a Librarian, or visit the Ask Us desk of any Forsyth County Public Library branch.

September Reading Recap

We challenged our staff and our patrons to read a biography, autobiography, or memoir. Here are some of the titles we read:

• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
• Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
• Vincent by Barbara Stok

We're so glad to have you reading along with us and crushing your reading goals for 2021. There are a few months left to take on the challenge. You're doing great!