|
|
Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
|
From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico.
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.
|
|
|
|
 |
The Pull of the Stars:
A Novel
by Emma Donoghue
In Dublin, 1918, a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu is a small world of work, risk, death, and unlooked-for love, in "Donoghue's best novel since Room." (Kirkus Reviews)
In an Ireland doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city center, where expectant mothers who have come down with the terrible new Flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders -- Doctor Kathleen Lynn, a rumoured Rebel on the run from the police , and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.
In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over three days, these women change each other's lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.
In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue once again finds the light in the darkness in this new classic of hope and survival against all odds.
|
|
|
|
How to Be Fine:
What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books
by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer
A humorous and insightful look into what advice works, what doesn’t, and what it means to transform yourself, by the co-hosts of the popular By the Book podcast.
In How to Be Fine, Jolenta and Kristen synthesize the lessons and insights they’ve learned and share their experiences with everyone. How to Be Fine is a thoughtful look at the books and practices that have worked, real talk on those that didn’t, and a list of philosophies they want to see explored in-depth.
Before they began their podcast, Jolenta wanted to believe the promises of self-help books, while Kristen was very much the skeptic. They embraced their differences of opinion, hoping they’d be good for laughs and downloads. But in the years since launching the By the Book, they’ve come to realize their show is about much more than humor. In fact, reading and following each book’s advice has actually changed and improved their lives. Thanks to the show, Kristen penned the Amish romance novel she’d always joked about writing, traveled back to her past lives, and she broached some difficult conversations with her husband about their marriage. Jolenta finally memorized her husband’s phone number, began tracking her finances, and fell in love with cutting clutter.
|
|
|
|
|
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
The unforgettable, inspiring story of a teenage girl growing up in a rural Nigerian village who longs to get an education so that she can find her “louding voice” and speak up for herself, The Girl with the Louding Voice is a simultaneously heartbreaking and triumphant tale about the power of fighting for your dreams.
Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her path, Adunni never loses sight of her goal of escaping the life of poverty she was born into so that she can build the future she chooses for herself – and help other girls like her do the same. Her spirited determination to find joy and hope in even the most difficult circumstances imaginable will “break your heart and then put it back together again” (Jenna Bush Hager on The Today Show) even as Adunni shows us how one courageous young girl can inspire us all to reach for our dreams…and maybe even change the world.
|
|
|
|
The Water Keeper
(A Murphy Shepherd Novel Book 1)
by Charles Martin
A riveting new story of heroism, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds.
Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners, and he’s dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes. When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, Murph’s mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.
With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past—and the ghosts who tried to bury them.
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Pine Away Motel and Cabins
by Katarina Bivald
From New York Times bestselling author of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend comes a charming tale of a ramshackle roadside motel: a heartwarming story of love, friendship, community, and the art of living, even when it's already too late.
The Pine Creek Motel has seen better days. Henny would call it charming, but she's always seen the best in things. Like now, when she's just met an untimely end crossing the road. She's not going to let a tiny thing like death stop her from living fully―not when her friends and family need her the most.
After the funeral is over, her body is buried, and the last casserole dish is empty, Henny is still around. She's not sure why, but she realizes she has one last opportunity to help her friends discover the happiness they once knew before they lose the motel and cabins they've cherished for years.
"Hopeful, heartening, and humane, this is the novel I needed to read right now." ―J. Ryan Stradal, author of The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Kitchens of the Great Midwest
|
|
|
|
The Chill
by Scott Carson
Far upstate, in New York’s ancient forests, a drowned village lays beneath the dark, still waters of the Chilewaukee reservoir. Early in the 20th century, the town was destroyed for the greater good: bringing water to the millions living downstate. Or at least that’s what the politicians from Manhattan insisted at the time. The local families, settled there since America’s founding, were forced from their land, but they didn’t move far, and some didn’t move at all…
Now, a century later, the repercussions of human arrogance are finally making themselves known. An inspector assigned to oversee the dam, dangerously neglected for decades, witnesses something inexplicable. It turns out that more than the village was left behind in the waters of the Chill when it was abandoned. The townspeople didn’t evacuate without a fight. A dark prophecy remained, too, and the time has come for it to be fulfilled. Those who remember must ask themselves: who will be next? For sacrifices must be made. And as the dark waters begin to inexorably rise, the demand for a fresh sacrifice emerges from the deep...
|
|
|
|
|
Closer Than She Knows
by Kelly Irvin
Teagan O’Rourke has always loved murder mysteries. In her job as a court reporter, she has written official records for dozens of real-life murders. She’s slapped evidence stickers on crime scene photos. She’s listened to hours of chilling testimony. But she’s never known the smell of death. And she never thought she might be a victim.
Until now.
A young police officer is murdered just inches away from her, and then a man calling himself a serial killer starts leaving Teagan notes, signing each with the name of a different murderer from her favorite mystery novels.
Panicked, Teagan turns to her friend Max Kennedy. Max longs for more than friendship with Teagan, but he fears she’ll never trust someone with a past like his. He wonders how much of God’s “tough love” he can take before he gives up on love completely. And he wonders if he’ll be able to keep Teagan alive long enough to find out.
As Teagan, Max, and Teagan’s police officer father race to track down the elusive killer, they each know they could be the next victim. Desperate to save those she loves, Teagan battles fears that once haunted her in childhood. Nothing seems to stop this obsessed murderer. No matter what she does, he seems to be getting closer...
|
|
|
|
Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Reinvention
by Patricia Heaton
An entertaining, inspirational book about second acts in life and reinventing yourself from beloved television actress Patricia Heaton—Emmy Award–winning star of Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle, and most recently, Carol’s Second Act.
Patricia Heaton is one of TV’s most recognizable and beloved moms.
She’s won two Emmys for her starring role as Debra Barone on the long-running comedy Everybody Loves Raymond, and followed that career-making role with another gem as Frances Heck on the popular sitcom The Middle. Now, she returns to television as the lead in the new series Carol’s Second Act, which follows divorced fifty-year-old Carol Kenney (played by Heaton), who after raising two children and retiring as a teacher decides to finally pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
Patricia Heaton knows what it’s like to stage a second act and navigate pivotal transitions in life. Just like Carol, when Heaton’s children left the nest, she found herself in a new and unfamiliar stage of life, compelling her to evaluate which direction to take next. She discovered she had the time to pursue passions that were previously placed on hold, both personally and professionally. She made her move and took a step forward in her career and for the first time, Heaton is not only the star of her own show, but also the executive producer. She also now finds her greatest fulfillment in using her influence to support humanitarian efforts as a Celebrity Ambassador for World Vision, the world’s largest non-governmental organization. She and her husband support their work in poverty relief around the globe, something that was planted in her heart long ago.
|
|
|
|
Available immediately in the East Central Regional Library catalog is a new type of kit called an Active Living Kit. These kits are a great way to try a new activity and stay active! Kits must be returned to any branch during open hours, as they do not fit in book returns. They were made possible with funds from the Chisago County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Grant.
-
Bocce Ball – One of the oldest forms of lawn bowling, the relaxing yet strategic game invites players of all ages and skill levels to participate.
-
Bottle Bash – Throw the disc at your opponents’ bottle and/or pole to score points. The defending team tries to catch the disc and bottle before they hit the ground.
-
Disc Golf – A flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target. The course usually consists of 9 or 18 holes, and the game is played using rules similar to golf.
-
Football Red Zone Challenge – A brand new and exciting game for football fans of all ages! Step up to the Red Zone Challenge where you have 4 quarters to score the most points in a gridiron faceoff.
-
Pickleball – A paddleball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, with 26-40 round holes, over a net.
-
Pro Pitch Challenge – A brand new and exciting game for baseball fans of all ages! Step up to the Pro Pitch Challenge where you have 9 innings to score the most points in a ballpark faceoff against the competition.
-
Snow Ball Making – Whether enjoying the sandy beaches of Florida over the summer break or visiting family in the Midwest winter holidays, a complete range of snow toy mold kit is ideal to bring along for kid’s playtime. The kit includes 12 assorted piece snow molds and tools, such as snowman maker clip, snow penguin molds, 5-in-1 snowball maker, snow-brick making mold, snow shovels, bucket and complete with bonus mesh bag storage.
-
Snow & Sand Blocks – Quickly construct snow forts, igloos, sand castles, walls and more. Plastic mold makes easy-to-stack building bricks from snow and sand.
-
Spikeball – This is a fun, active, and competitive 2 on 2 outdoor/indoor sports game. Spikeball is perfect for the backyard, the beach, or even your living room.
-
Yard Dice – These large hand sized dice are meant for playing a wide variety of dice based games in outdoor settings.
Expanded Play and Learn Kits
Play and Learn kits are a great resource for parents during this time when we are all spending more time at home. They make learning fun, inviting early learners to engage with rhymes, colors, numbers and more. East Central Regional Library recently added 10 new Play and Learn kits thanks to a generous donation by the Midco Foundation. The following Play and Learn kits can be searched and requested through the East Central Regional Library catalog:
Each kit is available for a three-week checkout. Can’t find the kit you want at your local ECRL location? Then simply place it on hold at your branch library or online at ecrlib.org by doing a keyword search for “play and learn kits.”
Geared to ages 3 and up, Play and Learn kits offer children an avenue to practice their logical thinking, problem-solving and gross and fine motor skills by using one of the five basic literacy skills: play. Interactive play makes learning fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
