Let's Play Ball!

Batters up! Opening day is fast approaching! While you wait for that first pitch try one of these great novels or feature films about America’s favorite sport. Go Cubs! Go Sox!

Novels:

Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
Merkle's Curse by Jerry Jacover
Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace
The Curious Case of Sidd Finch by George Plimpton
The Southpaw by Mark Harris
Blockade Billy by Stephen King
The End of Baseball by Peter Schilling
Murder at Wrigley Field by Troy Soos
Ballpark Blues by C.W. Tooke
The Fan by Peter Abrahams

Feature Films:
Moneyball (2012)
Mr. 3000 (2005)
Fever Pitch (2005)
Bang the Drum Slowly (2003)
The Rookie (2002)
The Natural (2001)
Bull Durham (2001)
Major League (2001)

It's Christian Fiction Time of Year

This is the time of year for hope and renewal and for me, the time that I like to revisit the genre of Christian fiction. This genre is based on biblical attitudes, motives, and actions. It focuses on ordinary people who struggle to develop a relationship with God and live according to Christian beliefs. It's usually an inspirational or a gentle read. Try a sampling of the following award-winning Christian fiction of 2011 and 2010:

Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock (2011)
Carny Sullivan, suspicious about suave, handsome Logan Brisco and his charming ways, is drawn to him, despite her best intentions and her determination to expose his plans for her quiet Texas town.

Lion of Babylon by T. Davis Bunn (2011)

When a CIA operative goes missing in Iraq, kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region, Marc Royce must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy--from both the Americans and the insurgents.

Forbidden by Ted Dekker (2011)

After exposing himself to a vial of blood contained in an old leather-bound journal, Rom realizes the entire human race has been drained of all emotions except fear and embarks on a journey to bring love and passion back into existence.

Pompeii: City on Fire by T. L. Higley (2011)

An enslaved Jewish girl and a struggling aristocrat separately escape to Pompeii. They both encounter religious persecution and political corruption just before the city is destroyed by Mount Vesuvius.

Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker (2010)

In 1772, Catherine the Great sends trusted warrior Toma Nicolescu to protect the Cantemir family, but when their daughter, Lucine, steals his heart, he is forced to keep silent while another lad begins courting her.

Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead (2010)

When Kit Livingstone learns that Britain's "ley lines" are not legends but pathways to other worlds, he's determined to find a map tattooed on a piece of skin in order to travel to the dangerous realms.

Twelfth Imam by Joel C. Rosenberg (2010)

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and rumors that the Islamic messiah has returned, Iranian-American CIA operative David Shirazi must infiltrate and disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons program, leaving no trace of U.S. involvement.

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (2010)
Longing to reconnect with her daughter, Josephine Droberger travels to Paradise, but what she finds is more than she bargained for, as her world collides with the Amish of Lancaster County.

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love

With Spring in the air, the itch to garden is strong! But until we can do so, take a peak at this memoir. 

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball is the story of a couple who took a chance on each other, and took a chance on creating a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Their farm is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. and is a 500 acre draft horse powered farm that provides a full diet for 200 people. This book is the story of their first year. Full of information about short season growing, butchering and trying to revitalize a farm that had not been farmed in years, Kimball makes us cheer them on as they go through their growing pains; both in their personal relationship and preparing the land.

This is definitely a book for those who always wanted to farm (in a non-concrete sorta way), and for those who are interested in CSA farming and eating organic.

If this title is checked out - try these similar farming and gardening titles:

This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader by Joan Dye Gussow

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

The Quarter-acre Farm: How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn,and Fed My Family for A Year by Spring  Warren

Get your seed catalogs out now! 

Spring Into Teen Programs!

The Glenview Public Library has a great assortment of teen programs coming up for April and May!

Brush up your financial planning skills during Money Smart Week with Financial Aid 101 on Wednesday, April 25th from 7-8:30PM. Karen Macella, U.S. Department of Education, will be on hand to talk about the college planning process and the complex FAFSA form, as well as other areas of interest. For high school students and their parents.

Later that week, Gamer's Paradise will resume on Friday, April 27th from 5-9PM. This monthly event has been going strong since 2007. All teens ages 13 and up are encouraged to use the Library's many gaming systems (Nintendo Wii, XBOX360, Playstation 3) as well as variety of games. Come solo, bring a friend, or bring a group of friends! Pizzas are donated by generous Glenview-area vendors each session, and pop is also provided. What is better than of entertainment AND dinner? Free of charge! Teens may also bring their own games to play and share.

Free Comic Book Day will take place on Saturday, May 5th. Teens will be able to choose from an assortment of free comic books provided by Comix Revolution, Mount Prospect, in the Teen Scene. Available all day for the taking!

Any questions or suggestions for future teen programs, please contact Nicole M. Mills, Young Adult Librarian, at 847-729-7500 x2613.

Titanic Centennial

April 15 marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. If you find yourself haunted by the thought of this tragic event, you may be interested in taking a look at one of these recently published titles available at the Glenview Public Library.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
A spirited young maid on board the Titanic captures the attentions of two men including a kindhearted sailor and an enigmatic Chicago millionaire and barely escapes with her life before witnessing media scorn targeting her famous designer mistress. Fiction.

The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf
Recreates the 1912 sinking of the Titanic as observed by millionaire John Jacob Astor, a beautiful young Lebanese refugee finding first love, "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, Captain Smith, and others including the iceberg itself. Non-fiction.

Building the Titanic: The Creation of History's Most Famous Ocean Liner by Rod Green
Features a detailed account of the creation of the Titanic, telling the story of how the ship was designed and constructed and why its legend continues to fascinate. Non-fiction.

Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived by Andrew Wilson
Wilson presents the post-Titanic lives of survivors, both rich and poor. Non-fiction.

Voyagers of the Titanic: Passengers, Sailors, Shipbuilders, Aristocrats, and the Worlds They Came from by R.P.T Davenport-Hines
A history of the Titanic and its ill-fated voyage focuses on the passengers, crew, and builders and illuminates the heroism, sacrifice, hope and love that emerged from the tragedy. Non-fiction.

How to Survive the Titanic: The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay by R.P.T. Davenport-Hines
Accused of cowardice and of dictating the Titanic's excessive speed, Ismay was the first victim of a press hate campaign. He never recovered from the damage to his reputation and never spoke of his beloved ship, the Titanic, again. Wilson explores Ismay's desperate need to tell his story, and to find a way of living with the consciousness of lost honor. Non-fiction.

Forthcoming Fiction for April

Here are some titles coming out this April. You can reserve these by going to our Online Catalog, Bibliocommons or by calling the Reader Services Desk at 847-729-7500 x7600!

Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch by Nancy Atherton

The Innocent by David Baldacci

The Big Cat Nap by Rita Mae Brown

Gypped by Carol Higgins Clark

The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark

True Sisters by Sandra Dallas

An Accidental Affair by Eric Jerome Dickey

The Mysterium: A Hugh Corbett Medieval Mystery by P.C. Doherty

Calico Joe by John Grisham

Death Comes Silently by Carolyn G. Hart

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

What Doesn’t Kill You by Iris Johansen

A Wandering Heart by Thomas Kinkade

Beastly Things : A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon

The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis

Capitol Murder: A Novel of Suspense by Phillip Margolin

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall-Smith

Dorchester Terrace: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel by Anne Perry

Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Come Home by Lisa Scottoline

The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani

The Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler

More Than You Know: A Novel by Penny Vincenzi

Harbor Nocturne by Joseph Wambaugh

Rage of the Dragon by Margaret Wise

Unnatural Acts: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods

Think Green

St. Patrick's Day is this weekend, but here are some other ways to "Think Green". Try these fiction novels with a "Green" and Eco-fiction theme.

Ecotopia: the notebooks and reports of William Weston by Ernest Callenbach
Investigative reporter William Weston crosses the Sierra Nevada mountains and enters Ecotopia, the first American to do so since the Ecotopian secession from the U.S. in 1980.

Anthill by Edward O. Wilson
Presents the adventures of Raff, a modern-day Huck Finn in Alabama, whose love of ants transforms his life and those around him as he fights condo developers intent on destroying an endangered tract of land.

Endangered Species: an Anna Pigeon mystery by Nevada Barr 
Park ranger Anna Pigeon investigates the crash of a drug-interdiction plane on an isolated Georgia island. Was it an accident or sabotage that downed the plane, killing both the pilot and his passenger? It's up to Anna and her crew to solve the mystery.

Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain
Scandalizing her seventeenth-century Puritan community with her scientific experiments with butterflies that are believed by others to be the souls of the dead, Eleanor Glanville pursues a passionate desire to find an all-consuming love and sense of self-worth.

Saints at the River by Ron Rash
Maggie Glenn, a newspaper photographer sent to cover an incident in her home town, becomes caught in the middle of the conflict between environmentalists, opening old wounds and forcing her to revisit a past she wanted to leave behind.

Elephant Song by Wilbur Smith
An internationally renowned ecologist embarks on a quest to stop the ivory trade in Africa and resorts to violent measures after his lifelong friend is murdered by poachers.

Spring is in the Air

Yes, this past Winter was talked about, not for the predicted record snowfall, but rather the lack of it. Regardless of, or perhaps because of the mild winter season, I think we are all looking forward to Spring - the promise of new beginnings and new life.

It is only March, but it’s never too early to start thinking about our lawn and garden. What should we be doing now? What new plants will be available this year? If you need some help or just looking for new ideas on what to do, here are a few good sources.

Garden Gate – the latest issue has articles on the best new plants, what to do now, and how to grow a green garden.

Chicagoland Gardening –  Read about the best  flowering trees, gardening basics, and Chicagoland native plants in the latest issue.

Fine Gardening – the April issue has columns on picking the best peonies, spring containers, and pruning.

Natural Home and Garden – among other topics, you will find articles on spring planting, a quick-start garden plan, and an alternative to having a lawn.

Fresh Home – offers solutions on how to turn problems in your garden such as too many weeds and “puddling” into paradise.

Just looking through the pages of these magazines will inspire you. Planting season will soon be upon us,  and not too long after, it'll be time to smell the flowers.

New Audiobooks at the Glenview Public Library

Be sure to check out the following new audiobooks that have recently become available at the Glenview Public Library.  You can reserve these titles through our online catalog by clicking on the titles below or by calling the Audiovisual Desk at 847-729-7500 ext. 2602.

Fiction:
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Plugged by Eoin Colfer
Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
When She Woke by Jordan Hillary
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
On Canaan’s Side by Barry Sebastian

Nonfiction:
Here Comes Trouble by Michael Moore
The Man Who Couldn’t Eat by Jon Reiner
Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow
Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil