NoveList Plus - An Online Readers' Resource

Are you looking for a good book to read? Do you belong to a book discussion group and need help selecting a title and preparing discussion questions? Have you read a book in a series and want to learn about other books in the same series, and in what order to read them? Do you like cozy mysteries, but you need a suggestion for a new author to read?

All these questions and more can be answered by NoveList Plus, a Readers Advisory database that the Glenview Public Library subscribes to. All you need is your Glenview Public Library Card number and you'll have access to information beyond your wildest dreams!

A partial list of NoveList Plus features includes:

• Over 150,000 fiction and 50,000 nonfiction titles


• Booklists organized by genre or topic


• Book discussion guides


• Recommended reads - by genre


• Author read alikes


• Award lists


• Series information


• Titles for adults, young adults and kids


• Full-text searchable reviews and descriptions from top review sources


• Subject and keyword access


• Book cover images


• First chapters


• Booktalks for young adult titles


• More!

Please take a minute to explore this informative and exciting database. As always, if you need help, contact the Reader Services Desk at extention 112 and we'll be happy to help.

The Last Child

It has been a year since 12 year-old Alyssa Merrimon disappeared on her way home from the library. Her twin brother Johnny continues to search the town for her, street by street, keeping meticulous records of the movements of known sex offenders and other undesirable characters in this small unnamed rural North Carolina town. His father abandon’s the family soon after the abduction, never to be heard from again and his beautiful and grief-stricken mother has succumbed to drugs and alcohol, supplied by her wealthy and abusive new boyfriend. Detective Clyde Hunt, lead cop in Alyssa’s abduction, is obsessed with the case and her mother Katherine Merrimon. It has cost him his marriage and his reputation on the force. When a second young girl is snatched, Johnny is convinced the perpetrator is the same person who took Alyssa and he is even more determined to find her. The dark secrets that Johnny and his best friend Jack uncover will shake this rural North Carolina town to it core and put many lives in danger.

This 2010 Edgar Award winning novel will not disappoint, The Last Child by John Hart will takes its place alongside the other great novels of the genre. Hart’s brilliant portrayal of a broken family and a desperate boy looking for closure is close to perfection. Teens will be drawn to the boy who shows determination and tenacity and proves to the adults around him that he is smarter than them.

Upcoming movies based on bestselling novels

Of course, many bestselling novels (or nonfiction books) eventually make it on the screen. But there's a couple coming out in the next year or so that I think might have the potential to be blockbuster hits, based on popularity of the books. I have mixed feelings about my favorite novels being made into movies. What have been your favorite books made into movies? I personally really enjoyed the film version of "The Namesake".




Coming soon to the theater:

Eat Pray Love (ok, not a novel, but still a bestselling book) by Elizabeth Gilbert
With Julia Roberts playing the role of Elizabeth, how can this not be a blockbuster? Also, you can see the interview with Julia Roberts and Elizabeth Gilbert from a recent Oprah espisode. It seems the film has been given Gilbert's stamp of approval, so this one may be worth seeing, since I loved the book. Eat Pray Love will be in theaters on August 13.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
The Swedish film was released last year, but the English-language American version is currently in production, with a release date of December 2011.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
On the New York Times Bestseller list for a stunning 66 weeks, it's finally making a film debut in 2011. Casting has just been announced for the film.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Although many details are still unknown, it looks like the movie has recently been picked up by Fox Searchlight and will have a 2011 release date. It has been reported that Hugh Jackman will have a role in the film.


Will Hollywood do these bestsellers justice? We'll have to wait and see!

Pitchfork Music Festival

The summer music season is now in full swing and local outdoor concerts abound in the summer heat. From Ravinia to Glenview's 'Bearfoot in the Park' to the myriad outdoor street festivals hosted by various neighborhoods in Chicago, your out-of-doors music opportunities come fast and furious this time of year. While many music fans hold out for the super-sized Lollapalooza, next weekend Chicago's Union Park (Ashland and Lake) hosts the increasingly popular Pitchfork Music Festival. Self-described as "a three-day event showcasing over 40 of independent music’s best bands and artists on three stages" this year's festival is anchored by a reunited Pavement and tickets for Saturday and Sunday (July 18th, 19th) are already sold out. The word is a batch of extra tickets will be released on Thursday at the box office, but whether you have a ticket in hand or NOT, what's more important is (once again) your library card is a passport to catching up with many (if not most) of these exciting new/young/reunited/aging hipster artists right HERE at your library. Come check out new (and old) releases by Tallest Man on Earth, Liars, Broken Social Scene, Delorean, Bear in Heaven, Local Natives, Dam-Funk, Titus Andronicus, Beach House, and yes, Pavement. See you at the shows!

Reading Book Club Experience

Many book readers feel that reading is a solitary activity. There are times when a reader wants to share a cherished passage from a book. Often, parts of a book one has recently read NEED to be discussed with others, or one has questions to ask other people. Joining or forming a book group is a perfect way to enrich your reading experiences and meet new friends. Here are a few books to help you find the right Book Group or form one. Stop by the Reader Services desk too, we'd love to help you get your Book Group started.

Don't forget our handy “Book Club in a Bag” kits! Each one has 12 copies of the book and a Readers guide.


Read 'em Their Writes by Gary Niebuhr is a handbook for mystery and crime fiction book discussions. This is a guide for anyone who wishes to begin a mystery book club or join an established one. Fascination for a mystery should not be limited to the plot alone, but should be strong in characterizations, setting, pace and theme.


Book Group Book by Ellen Slezak is a thoughtful guide for anyone interested in book groups. It includes fascinating essays on the subject and innumerable book lists. Some enticing essay titles are: :"One Good Book Deserves Another", "Every Woman Has a Story", "If I Read Enough Books, Will I Someday Have Been Everywhere?" and "The Poets Are Coming."


"Book Club Companion" by Diana Loevy is an excellent source for book titles for discussion. There is no such thing as a perfect book club. Each club is continually changing and working toward becoming the "ideal" book club for each member. The main event is "the book". The best suggestions come from many sources: librarians, friends, other book clubs, book stores, newspapers and magazines. Book Clubs offer ongoing opportunities to enrich your life.