Mini Staff Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

When a patron made a point of telling me how much she'd loved reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin this summer, I knew I had to check it out. I'd read several positive reviews saying that this was a perfect book for book lovers, which always makes me cautious. There's nothing less fun than being the one person to not like the book everyone else loves, but I'm happy to say Zevin's writing is witty and charming, and the characters are engaging. Of course, I'm a sucker for short stories, and the book is organized around a love of short stories. Add in a character with a love of nail polish, and I was hooked. Hopefully, it's not too much of a spoiler to warn that you might need some Kleenex by the end of the book.

As I was reading I was reminded of the literary romances in Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows. If you haven't picked up either of these books yet, I highly recommend them as well!

~Sarah, Adult Services

Little Free Libraries in Dubuque Map

DECEMBER 2020 UPDATE:

The map below is no longer maintained. Try the official Little Free Library World Map for current info.

Full-screen map

The Dubuque Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the AmeriCorps VISTA program recently set up Little Free Libraries at five of Dubuque's six fire stations. These join several other Little Free Libraries which already exist throughout Dubuque.

Carnegie-Stout Public Library supports these initiatives and will furnish books to the Little Free Libraries at the fire stations if inventory runs low.

What are Little Free Libraries?

From the City of Dubuque: "A Little Free Library, in its most basic form, is a small box that houses free books for anyone to take and exchange at any time. Returns and/or exchanges are not mandatory, but encouraged. Dubuque’s Little Free Libraries are open to everyone regardless of income level, age, or residence. Non-residents are welcome to participate." For more information, see Little Free Library, Ltd.

For additions or corrections to this map, please leave comments below.

Mini Staff Review: When We Wake by Karen Healey

What will the world be like in 100 years? Odds are we won't be around to see it, but Australian teen Tegan Oglietti cares about the future she can't see. Okay, she might be slightly more interested in her new boyfriend, but she's hoping to make a difference in the world by attending a protest of government policies on the day she dies, shot by an inept sniper. A hundred years later, Tegan is revived in an experimental military procedure, the first human ever to return from cryogenic suspension. When We Wake by Karen Healey is the story of Tegan's attempt to adjust to the Australia of the 22nd century, where everyone she knows is dead. Some things about the future are better, but very little is familiar, and Tegan isn't sure who she can trust. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, When We Wake and its sequel, While We Run, will appeal to fans of dystopian fiction.

For a quieter, more romance centered dystopian novel, try For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion set in a future reeling from the effects of genetic modifications gone awry.

~Sarah, Adult Services

Mini Staff Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
If you're feeling burned out on paranormal love stories, especially paranormal love stories featuring vampires, I highly recommend Team Human. A fast-paced yet thoughtful look at the genre that draws inspiration from everything from Dracula to, yes, Twilight with plenty of wit and sarcasm. Imagine that one of the ships that landed in New England during the 17th century was packed with vampires instead of pilgrims, and you have the origin story for New Whitby, Maine. Mel has lived her entire life in New Whitby, neighbor to vampires. Some of her classmates have vampire relatives. Some of her classmates are, like the tourists who flock to New Whitby, vampire obsessed. Mel has nothing against vampires, except for Francis, the 150 year-old teen vampire currently wooing Mel's best friend Cathy. Justine Larbalestier's and Sarah Rees Brennan's writing blend together into an entirely enjoyable read.

For a more serious take on paranormal love stories, try The Raven Boys, the first book in Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle. Blue, who grew up in a family of psychics, has always known that if she kisses her true love, he will die. Unfortunately, no one can tell her who her true love is.

~Sarah, Adult Services

August Magazines of the Month: Vegetarian Journal & Allrecipes

August is likely peak harvest time for those of us with home gardens, or for those of us exploring the abundance of the Farmer's Market. If you're looking for new and tasty ways to use your tomatoes and zucchini, check out our magazines of the month, and the cooking display on the second floor of the library. And make sure to register for Food Preservation 101 with Cindy Baumgartner from ISU Extension on Thursday, August 14th at 6:30 p.m. Call (589-4225) or stop by the Reference Desk for more information or to register.

The Vegetarian Journal is a publication of the Vegetarian Resource Group, a non-profit group dedicated to the cause and promotion of vegetarianism. Their magazine and website provide information on nutrition, locating vegetarian and vegan foods, recipes, and more. You can check out their website here: www.vrg.org

Allrecipes magazine is published by Meredith, a media conglomerate based in Des Moines, and their first issue saw print in August of 2013. Allrecipes began life as Allrecipes.com, a site devoted to all things culinary that allows you to create a profile and join their social network. Because the recipes are posted to the site, voted on, reviewed and refined by the members of the site, readers are presented with recipes for a variety of appetites.

Staff Review: The End of Always by Randi Davenport

The End of Always by Randi Davenport

It’s the turn of the century in Waukesha, Wisconsin and seventeen-year-old Marie is trying to break out of her family history by not marrying a violent man. Both her grandmother and her mother were controlled by the men in their lives and Marie will not take it anymore. After her mother dies in a mysterious accident when her father was the only witness, Marie knows that she is next. Her older sister does not want to disturb the rules of the family and maintains that this world belongs to men and the women belong to them. Her younger sister is too young to understand the truth about their family, but Marie knows that it won’t last for long because her father is still in charge of the household. 

Marie is forced to get a job and is still dominated by an older man who does not hide his true feelings for her. Then she meets a young man who gives Marie her sense of freedom, and she believes that he is her way out of her controlling family. She is head over heels in love and he feels the same about her, but her father will not permit this. So Marie and her love are forced to meet at night when her father is at work. Eventually they do run away together to get married and begin their new life. Then things change and Marie realizes she left one controlling family for a different one. 

Based on a true story about the author’s great grandmother, The End of Always highlights the struggle of women in trying to find their place in society. Many think the old ways should not be disturbed, but there are some that stand up for justice. Marie was one of those women and it is amazing to read the rest of her story.

~Andrea, Circulation