Fireworks Fiction!

Escape on July 4th and discover a new novel/genre in which our national holiday plays a part.
Be patriotic and consider the following Independence Day Reads:


First Light by Charles Baxter (Fiction)
Traces the experiences that have separated and the ties that have bound Dorsey Welch, an astrophysicist, and her brother Hugh, a Buick salesman still living in their Michigan hometown.

Independence Day by Richard Ford (Fiction)
Real estate agent Frank Bascombe moves into his newly married ex-wife's old home, and is looking forward to the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, but somehow nothing turns out the way he expects.

4th of July by James Patterson (Mystery)
After losing one of its own, Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club make a courageous return for their fourth and most chilling case ever--one that could easily be their last. A young girl is killed in crossfire after a routine arrest goes terribly wrong, and Lt. Lindsay Boxer has to defend herself against a charge of police brutality. In a landmark trial that transfixes the nation, Lindsay fights to save her career and her sanity. While awaiting trial, Lindsay escapes to the beautiful town of Half Moon Bay, but the peaceful community there is reeling from a string of unspeakable murders. Working with her friends in the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay finds a link between these killings and a case she worked on years before--an unsolved murder that has haunted her ever since.

Liberty by Garrison Keillor (Fiction)
Having transformed the annual Fourth of July parade into a Lake Wobegon extravaganza, steadfast mechanic Clint Bunsen attracts the attention of the governor and the media before announcing his intention to run for Congress.

Ferris Beach by Jill McCorkle (Fiction)
Young Katie Burns thinks of the small town which is home to her cousin Angela in the mid-1960s as a place of secrets when she begins to mature..

Remember When by Judith McNaught (Romance)
Dallas magazine publisher Diana Foster finds her life changing for the better when she meets Texas billionaire Cole Harrison at the White Orchid Charity Ball in Houston.

Red, White, and Blue Murder by Bill Crider (Mystery)
Struggling with a series of frustrations including the cancellation of the Fourth of July fireworks display and false accusations by a reporter, Blacklin County sheriff Dan Rhodes begins to wonder at the reporter's hidden agenda in the wake of a murder and arson case.

Exit Wounds by J. A. Jance (Mystery)
Juggling the demands of her career and her family, Southwestern Sheriff Joanna Brady faces her most unsettling case yet in the disturbing murder of a loner and her seventeen dogs.

Star Spangled Murder: a Lucy Stone Mystery by Leslie Meier (Mystery)
When her Houdini-esque canine instigates a feud with her neighbor Mrs. Pratt, Lucy Stone becomes the number one suspect when Mrs. Pratt is murdered.

Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic (Nonfiction)
A former marine paralyzed from the chest down as a result of an injury suffered in Vietnam recalls his youth, battlefield experiences, and the agonies of his slow reentry into American society.

Summer Reading - Not Just For Kids!

Join the Summer Reading Program at the Glenview Public Library, a low-calorie solution to summer fun.

Register at the Reader Services Desk where you will receive a folder with reading suggestions and a log to record the books you read. Each book you read entitles you to a chance to win a prize in the weekly raffle. Once you have read a total of five books, you win a special prize, are entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for restaurant gift certificates and earn a raffle ticket to win one of the Grand Prize Chocolate, Italian or Grilling gift baskets. Keep reading more than five books for more chances to win.

It's not to late to join and you still have plenty of time to read five books before the program ends on July 29!

God Save the Queen!

This month, Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her diamond jubilee as the Head of State of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms. Upon the death of her father, King George VI, she acceded to the throne and was crowned on June 2, 1952 at the young age of 25.

If you’ve watched all the festivities on TV, and now want to learn more about her, there is a DVD called The Diamond Queen. It is a documentary of Queen Elizabeth II’s life: the defining moments of her monarchy and her impact around the world.

After watching that, you might become interested in learning more about the rest of her family. If so,  there's Bertie & Elizabeth, a fictionalized movie, but nonetheless a very good portrayal of the life of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, her parents. Then you can move on to her grandchildren and watch The Royal Wedding, which is about William and Kate’s special day.

If you don't have time to sit and watch the movies, there is also an audio book Elizabeth the Queen, by Sally Bedell Smith and read by Rosalyn Landor.

There has always been a fascination with English Royalty, and who knows, there might be great-grandchildren in the not too distant future.

Forthcoming Fiction for July

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

Some Like it Hawk: A Meg Langslow Mystery by Donna Andrews

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris A. Bohjalian

Orion and King Arthur by Ben Bova

Creole Belle by James Lee Burke

Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card

The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen L. Carter

Fireproof by Alex Cava

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Jill Churchill

Backfire: and FBI Thriller by Catherine Coulter

The Wurst is Yet to Come: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery by Mary Daheim

Night Watch by Linda Fairstein

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

Magistrates of Hell by Barbara Hambly

Haven by Kay Hooper

Judgment Call by J.A. Jance

Close Your Eyes by Iris Johansen

Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz

Heron’s Cove by Carla Neggers

I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson

The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Hellbox by Bill Pronzini

The Tintern Treasure by Kate Sedley

Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva

Criminal by Karin Slaughter

Friends Forever by Danielle Steel

Black List by Brad Thor

Coup d Etat by Harry Turtledove

The Crowded Grave: A Mystery of the French Countryside

 by Martin Walker

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

Cake Boss For a Day, Sensational Smoothies, and More!

Ever wanted to learn how to work with fondant?  Love to create bakery masterpieces?  All teens ages 13-18 are invited to learn more about mini-cake decorating from GBS Foods Teacher, Kelli McDonald, as she takes students through a decorative journey.  Event takes place Friday, June 29th from 1-2:30PM.  Put on your smocks and get ready to frost!
Food programs for teens have become quite popular at the Glenview Public Library.  We have had the pleasure to work with Whole Foods Northbrook for the past two years, and will do so again in February 2013 when we will host Iron Chef 3! 

Another great food-related program this quarter will be Scrapbooking and Smoothies on Saturday, July 21st from 2-3PM.  Teens ages 13-18 will be able to bring 4-6 photos to create their own scrapbook page.  All materials will be provided, as well as a healthy fruit smoothie! 

And don't forget to register for the Summer Reading Program, Reading Is So Delicious, starting June 9th for a chance to win some AWESOME food-related gift cards and other prizes.  Read books, magazines, listen to music, or attend a teen program all count in the quest for raffle prizes.  Program runs June 9-July 29th.  Teen Grand Prize Raffle Prize will be a Movie Basket, with a $50 Crown Theaters gift card, movie candies, popcorn, and other tasty treats.  Grades 9-12 only. 

Any questions about teen programs can be directed to Nicole M. Mills, Young Adult Librarian, at 847-729-7500 x2613. Registration can be done online at http://www.glenviewpl.org/ and click on Calendar and Events.

Sad Passings

It seems every six weeks I'm writing about another passing and eulogizing yet another great writer or musician. In April it was author Harry Crews. This month it's three influential musical minds that leave behind a great pile of songs and memories.  Adam Yauch died on May 4th after a long battle with cancer. Known by the stage name MCA, Yauch was an American rapper, songwriter, film director and human rights activist best known as a founding member of the Beastie Boys.  Yauch also founded the Oscilloscope Laboratories film production company and was also a tireless spokesman for global human rights, in particular in Tibet.





Donna Summer needs no introduction.  Summer has been described as the "undisputed Queen of the Seventies Disco" and she had a mezzo-soprano vocal range. She was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the United States Billboard chart and she also charted four number-one singles in the United States within a 13-month period. Sadly, The five-time Grammy Winner died May 17, 2012 at her home in Englewood, Florida at the age of 63 after a battle with lung cancer.

Another musician associated with the disco era is Bee Gees vocalist Robin Gibb. The Bee Gees were founded by Robin, his fraternal brother Maurice and older brother Barry.  Gibb maintained a career spanning six decades, from the excellent Beatles-esque psych-pop or their early records (Bee Gee's 1st, Horizontal, Odessa) to the disco era and beyond, the Bee Gees became one of the enduring pop groups of all time.  Gibb died on May 20 from liver and kidney failure.

Visit the Audiovisual room and use your library card to check out some music by these extraordinary artists.

Fathers in Fiction

It seems appropriate to be thinking about fathers these days.  After all, those who still have a father around are probably thinking about ways to show their love and appreciation for him on his special day, June 17^th.

Readers of the beloved classic To Kill a Mockingbird clearly see the powerful paternal influence of Atticus Finch in shaping the hearts and minds of Scout and her brother Jem. Atticus embodies courage, compassion, and integrity and helps his children find those qualities in themselves.

Relationships with fathers also play a key role in each of the following books:

The Great Santini - Pat Conroy

Marine pilot Bull Meecham's stern and unyielding personality challenges his southern-bred gentle wife and his top athlete son to stand up and fight back against the hard knocks of life.

East of Eden – John Steinbeck

The story highlights the conflicts of two generations of brothers. The first brothers are the kind, gentle Adam Trask and his wild brother Charles. Adam eventually marries a prostitute who betrays him by joining his brother Charles on their wedding night. Later, after giving birth to twin boys, she shoots Adam and returns to her former profession. In the shadow of this past Adam raises their sons, who then desperately vie for their father's approval.

Tinkers -– Paul Harding

In this 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner, an old man lies dying. As time collapses into memory, he travels deep into his past where he is reunited with his father and relives the wonder and pain of his impoverished New England youth.

Empire Falls - Richard Russo

Miles Roby surveys his hometown with bemused regret from the Empire Grill, owned by a local magnate but run by him ever since he was called home from college to take care of his ailing mother. His ex-wife's new love has suddenly become a loyal customer and is constantly challenging him to an arm-wrestling contest; his father, always a day late and a dollar short, has talked a senile priest into running off to Key West for the winter; and the diner owner's daughter, aware of Miles' impending divorce, is forever trying to capture him in an embrace.

The Grace That Keeps This World – Tom Bailey

On the edge of the Adirondack wilderness, survival is a way of life for the Hazen family. Gary Hazen is a respected forester and hunter, known for his good instincts and meticulous planning. He and his wife, Susan, have raised their sons to appreciate the satisfaction of this difficult but honest life. In spite of this, the boys, now men, are slipping away. On the first day of hunting season the Hazen men enter the woods, unaware that the trip they are embarking on will force them to come to terms with their differences and will forever change their lives.

Bee Season – Myla Goldberg

Nine-year-old Eliza Naumann transforms herself from underachiever to spelling prodigy, while her family is gradually breaking down in front of her: father Saul, whose self-absorbed passion for Jewish mysticism blinds him to the suffering of those closest to him; mother Myriam, whose quest for perfection leads her into kleptomania; and brother Aaron, who rebels against his faith and turns to Hare Krishna. Eliza attempts to put her family back together by an act of will, spelling her way to harmony, assisted by her father's Kabbalah masters.

A Thousand Acres – Jane Smiley

A successful Iowa farmer decides to divide his farm between his three daughters. When the youngest objects, she is cut out of his will. This sets off a chain of events that brings dark truths to light and explodes long-suppressed emotions.

Durable Goods - Elizabeth Berg

This lyrical coming-of-age story is narrated by a thoughtful 12-year-old named Katie. Katie's young, gentle mother died of cancer, and now she and her older sister, Diane, are at the mercy of their father, an army man with a wretched temper and a heavy hand.

The Doctor’s Daughter – Hilma Wolitzer

One morning Alice Brill awakes with a sudden awareness that something is wrong. One cause of her unease is her father. Formerly one of New York's top surgeons, he now rests in a nursing home, his mind gripped by dementia. The romance of her parents' famously perfect marriage makes her own domestic life seem fatally flawed. While struggling to find the roots of her restlessness, Alice realizes that the mystery she's been trying to solve lies not in the present, as she had assumed, but in the past, and in the secrets of a marriage and family life that was never as perfect as it appeared.

Father Melancholy’s Daughter – Gail Godwin

This book is widely recognized as one of the author's most poignant and accomplished novels -- a bittersweet and ultimately transcendent story of a young girl's devotion to her father, the rector of a small Virginia church, and of the hope, dreams, and love that sustain them both in the wake of the betrayal and tragedy that diminished their family.