My LINKcat AccountIf the Summer Reading Program has officially started, can the meteorological start of summer be far behind? I think to answer to that is we must begin by defining our terms. Does summer mean highs in the upper 80s with enough humidity to be noticeable? Then I think you are going to have to wait a bit longer for that kind of weather (at least according to my favorite weather app). Does it mean mild days with highs barely reaching into the 80s with little humidity and gently wafting breezes? Then I think that’s what we will be experiencing for at least the 10-day forecast (once again, according to my favorite weather app --Weather Kitty). While we are waiting for the heat and humidity and, frankly the first day of astronomical summer to arrive which is only a week from today on Friday, June 20th at 9:42 p.m. there are programs to attend at the library – check out our website at deforestlibrary.org. The Concerts at the Rocks begin on June 17th with Elmore Lawson getting everyone moving and grooving with percussion instruments of all kinds. There at craft programs in the Workshop. There is Qigong 3 times a week for adults. There are book clubs for all ages. The Summer Reading Program isn’t just about reading books. It’s about attending programs too! But it is about reading books. Below you will find some of the books which recently arrived at the library. Enjoy!
Jan's Column 2025
If you want to reserve any of these titles, give us a call at 846-5482 and have your library card handy!
Can't make it in when we're open? Call and ask about our electronic locker system.
New Non-Fiction:
“We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions” by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, & Amanda Doyle. Explores twenty essential life questions, offering wisdom, personal insights, and transformative lessons designed to help readers confront challenges, find healing, and share inspiration through courage, solidarity, and meaningful conversations.
New Fiction:
“Beach House Rules” by Kristy Woodson Harvey. A mother-daughter duo learn to lean on their community of women—and each other—after their world is turned upside down.
“The River Is Waiting” by Wally Lamb. Corby Ledbetter, grappling with addiction, prison life, and the tragedy that shattered his family, finds unexpected kindness and connection behind bars, as he seeks redemption and hopes for forgiveness from those he’s hurt the most.
“Death at a Highland Wedding, No.4 (Rip Through Time Novels)” by Kelley Armstrong. Living as a Victorian-era housemaid after slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day detective Mallory Atkinson joins Dr. Duncan Gray at a Highland wedding-turned-murder in the fourth novel of the series following “Disturbing the Dead”
“Hidden Nature” by Nora Roberts. Surviving a near-fatal shooting, injured police officer Sloan Cooper moves back to her quiet hometown and investigates a string of mysterious disappearances across three states in the new novel from the “New York Times” best-selling author.
“The Love Haters” by Katherine Center. Video producer Katie Vaughn heads to Key West to profile Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, but between his family drama, her escalating lies, and their growing attraction, she must confront her fears and find courage in paradise.
“The Doorman” by Chris Pavone. In a new novel from the bestselling author of “Two Nights in Lisbon”, a New York City doorman is drawn into a web of intrigue, robbery and murder.
“The Last Ferry Out” by Andrea Bartz. Abby travels to the storm-ravaged Isla Colel seeking answers about her fiancée Eszter’s mysterious death, but as expats reveal chilling secrets and a key witness vanishes, she uncovers a web of lies that may put her own life in jeopardy.
“Never Flinch” by Stephen King. With a killer on a revenge mission, Buckeye City Police Detective Izzy Jaynes turns to friend Holly Gibney for help; meanwhile, a vigilante targets controversial feminist activist Kate McKay, and Holly is hired as bodyguard.
“The Ones We Love” by Anna Snoekstra. After a mysterious party leaves Liv bruised and locked out of her bedroom, her family unravels under the weight of buried secrets, as her father struggles to keep the truth hidden, her mother grows increasingly guarded, and her younger brother Casper searches for answers about that fateful night.
“Parents Weekend” by Alex Finlay. Five families gather for Parents Weekend at a small college in Northern California, but their kids—Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—never show up for dinner, and FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller must discover if the sins of their parents have caused them peril.
“South of Nowhere, No. 5 (Colter Shaw)" by Jeffery Deaver. When a levee collapses in Northern California, Colter Shaw and his disaster response specialist sister, Dorion, race to locate a missing family and uncover whether sabotage, not nature, threatens the town's survival.
“Tom Clancy Line of Demarcation, No.13 (Jack Ryan Jr.)" by M.P. Woodward. In Guyana to secure a business deal, Jack Ryan Jr. is thrust into a deadly conflict involving Russia's Wagner Group and Venezuelan narco-terrorists after a U.S. Coast Guard cutter is destroyed, forcing him to unravel shifting alliances to stop a potential war.
We are only four days from the kickoff for the Summer Reading Program. Gee Funny Farm will be returning with many of their furry friends to help launch the Reading Program. Abish, the two-toed sloth, will be back again this year. Abish will be with the other animals at “The Rocks” – across the street from the Library Street entrance. Abish will be there if the weather is warm enough. Last year the outdoor temperature was too cool for her so her climbing tree was set up in the children’s room – possibly with space heaters. Sloths do live in tropical rainforests so temperatures below 75 degrees seem like arctic temperatures would seem to us. Details of the long-awaited Summer Reading Program are available on our website, but I will give you a high-level overview. Sign up for the Summer Reading Program on our Beanstack App and add the number and /or title of the books you read during the program (June 10th – August 16th) into the app. You earn “Dragon Dollars” which can be redeemed in our store or donated to my designated charities (I will convert those “Dragon Dollars” into U.S. dollars and make a donation to said charity). You can also earn tickets by writing reviews, answering trivia questions, attending events, and completing certain challenges. These tickets can be entered into various drawings. There are lots of incentives to get you reading and keep you reading. Below you will find another reason to read – the new books which recently arrived at the library. Read on! Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction:
“The Sailing of the Intrepid: The Incredible Wartime Voyage of the Navy’s Iconic Aircraft Carrier” by Montel Williams with David Fisher. From 22-year naval and Marine veteran Montel Williams comes a history of how one World War II aircraft carrier's crew defied all odds, redefining the very meaning of what it means to struggle, persevere, and survive.
“Taking Midway: Navel Warfare, Secret Codes, and the Battle That Turned the Tide of World War II” by Martin Dugard. Chronicles the events leading to the pivotal Battle of Midway, highlighting Lt. Commander Joseph Rochefort’s efforts to decode Japanese plans despite skepticism from U.S. Navy leadership, and detailing the high-stakes strategies and dramatic confrontations that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific.
“The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football” by Bill Belichick. A successful NFL coach delivers important life lessons that he learned from his time coaching.
“They Will Tell You the World is Yours: On Little Rebellions and Finding Your Way” by Anna Michael. This collection of vignettes follows a woman’s journey from childhood to early adulthood as she navigates identity and relationships, offering lyrical reflections on questioning societal messages, seeking deeper truths, and finding fulfillment through self-discovery and divine love.
New Fiction:
“Speak to Me of Home” by Jeanine Cummins. A deeply felt multigenerational family story is augmented with a family tree and map. By a #1 “New York Times” best-selling author.
“Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears” by Jack Ford. In 1954 Washington, former war correspondent Lee Carson chases a thrilling tip about a Russian spy, recalling her daring feats during World War II when she fought to report from the front lines of Europe’s pivotal battles.
“The Blackbirds of St. Giles” by Lila Cain. In 1780s London, Daniel and his sister Pearl, former slaves seeking freedom after fighting for the British Crown, face betrayal, poverty, and violence in the underground world of St. Giles, where Daniel must fight to protect Pearl from a ruthless gang leader.
“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club” by Martha Hall Kelly. In 2016, grieving Mari Starwood visits Martha’s Vineyard and uncovers a surprising connection to the Smith sisters, who, during World War II, balanced family struggles, romance, and whispers of espionage while running a farm and forming a transformative book club.
“Marble Hall Murders (Hawthorne & Horowitz Mysteries)” by Anthony Horowitz. Back in England, editor Susan Ryeland is working on a continuation novel called “Pünd’s Last Case”, in which writer Eliot Crace has concealed clues about his grandmother’s death by poison, but when another murder follows, Susan becomes the number one suspect.
“It’s a Love Story” by Annabel Monaghan. No longer an adolescent punch line in a sitcom, Jane is a Hollywood exec desperate to get her project greenlit—but after lying that pop star Jack would write a song for her movie, she must spend a week in one-time crush Dan’s hometown for the festival Jack’s attending.
“The Keeper (Murphy Shepard)” by Charles Martin. Reeling from the loss of his mentor Bones, Murphy Shepherd must lead a desperate global mission to rescue the kidnapped daughters of his friend, the vice president, while battling a dark trafficking network tied to sinister political ambitions.
“Storybook Ending” by Moira Macdonald. In a Seattle bookstore, a misinterpreted note sparks a tangled web of mistaken identities as tech worker April and single mom Laura form an unexpected connection, all while oblivious Westley becomes the unintentional center of their romantic hopes.
“The Children of Eve, No. 22 (Charlie Parker)” by John Connolly. When private investigator Charlie Parker is hired to find Wyatt Riggins, who vanished after a cryptic message, he uncovers a sinister web involving the abduction of four children linked to relentless killers, a cartel boss, and the chilling truth about the enigmatic Children of Eve.
“Going Home in the Dark” by Dean Koontz. Three childhood friends reunite in their hometown after a fourth falls into a coma and uncover a dark, forgotten past that threatens to consume them all in the new novel by the “New York Times” best-selling author of “Odd Thomas".
We have made it past the first almost-official holiday of summer. After an initial burst of summer-like weather (Remember that day a couple of weeks ago that made it to 87-degrees with humidity?) the weather has turned down right chilly. During that heat wave, I called to have the pre-season tune-up done on my air conditioner. It was scheduled for the week of the 19th and had to be rescheduled because it was too cold to do the tests. That chilliness has persisted making those warm, sunny days of late May and early June seem like impossible dreams. As of this publication date, we are still 11 days away from the kick off of our Summer Reading Program on June 10th. It is still 21 days until the summer solstice occurs on June 20th (at 9:42 p.m.). It is still 35 days until July 4th. Surely, by one of these dates the temperatures will have warmed up. In the meantime, the rain and the cold, and the gloom are perfect weather for reading. Below are some of the new titles which recently arrived at the library. Stay warm! Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction:
“The Power of Parting: Finding Peace and Freedom Through Family Estrangement” by Eamon Dolan. The author recounts his journey of estrangement from his abusive mother, offering guidance on recognizing abuse, setting boundaries and navigating the process of parting from toxic relationships, while addressing the stigma, emotional challenges and generational cycles tied to familial estrangement.
“How to Love Better: The Path to Deeper Connection Through Growth, Kindness, and Compassion” by Yung Pueblo. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Lighter” offers a blueprint for deepening your compassion, kindness, and gratitude so you can truly grow in harmony with another person and build stronger connections in all your relationships.
“Hollywood High: A Totally Epic, Way Opinionated History of Teen Movies” by Bruce Handy. A “Vanity Fair”explores nearly a century of teen movies, connecting iconic films to cultural shifts, societal anxieties and youth influence, revealing how classics from “Rebel Without a Cause” to “Mean Girls” shaped and reflected generations of adolescence in America.
“Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing” by Lili Taylor. An actor recounts her journey into birdwatching, blending vivid observations of birds in urban and natural settings with reflections on mindfulness, creativity, and the beauty of everyday moments, encouraging readers to embrace a deeper connection with the natural world.
“Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity” by Eric Topol. A detailed guide to a revolution transforming human longevity explains how the present-day is a breakthrough moment in the history of human health care.
New Fiction:
“All That Life Can Afford” by Emily Everett. Anna's dream of London's elegance collides with harsh realities until the glamorous Wilders sweep her into their world of wealth, temptation and self-discovery, where she's torn between her ambition, her identity and the allure of belonging.
“The Road to Tender Hearts” by Annie Hartnett. Sixty-three-year-old lottery winner PJ Halliday sets out on a cross-country trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart, bringing along his estranged brother’s orphaned grandchildren, his drifting adult daughter, and a death-predicting cat.
“The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power” by Alison Weir. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey rises from humble origins to become Henry VIII’s closest advisor, but his loyalty and efforts to maintain peace unravel when the king’s desire to divorce Katherine of Aragon for Anne Boleyn pits Wolsey against powerful enemies and personal tragedy.
“My Name is Emilia de Valle” by Isabel Allende. In 1800s San Francisco, young writer Emilia, daughter of an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat, journeys to South America with talented reporter Eric to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.
“Big Bad Wool, No.2 (Sheep Detective Stories)” by Leonie Swann. The sheep of Glennkill, led by their shepherdess Rebecca, must use wit and courage to solve the mystery of a disappearing flock, unnatural deer deaths and a possible werewolf in the second novel of the series following “Three Bags Full”.
“Marble Hall Murders (Hawthorne & Horowitz Mysteries)” by Anthony Horowitz. Back in England, editor Susan Ryeland is working on a continuation novel called “Pünd’s Last Case”, in which writer Eliot Crace has concealed clues about his grandmother’s death by poison, but when another murder follows, Susan becomes the number one suspect.
“The Retirement Plan” by Sue Hincenbergs. Three best friends turn to murder to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies, but the husbands have a plan of their own.
“Return to Sender, No. 21 (Longmire Mysteries)” by Craig Johnson. When Blair McGowan, the mail person with the longest route in the country, goes missing, the Wyoming postal inspector tells Sheriff Longmire to investigate her disappearance; posing as a letter-carrier, the sheriff follows her trail and finds himself enveloped in an otherworldly cult.
The spring book titles just keep showing up at our door. They are almost as thick as dandelions on the medians on I90/94. Soon, the titles from the publisher’s spring book lists will start to be replaced by the summer “beach” reads. “And what,” I hear you ask, “is a beach read. Please define your terms!” Thanks for asking. I shall do just that. AI says that a beach read is “a book that is considered ideal for reading during a vacation, especially at the beach. It is engaging, entertaining, easy to read, and offers a sense of escape or relaxation”. According to an article by the Los Angeles Public Library the term first appeared around 1990, but the idea of summer reading was purportedly an invention of the publishing industry in the 19th century which sprung up in response to the creation of idea of the summer vacation. Apparently the construction of railroads and grand hotels during the late 1800s made summer vacations more accessible to the middle classes. For those newly-vacationing (mostly) women, these summer reads told you how to enjoy your summer vacation. Picnics, fireworks, dances, dressing up, boat rides, carriage rides, and romance were common plot points. Summer was seen as a time to read to escape, not a time to read for enrichment or education. If you care to read for more information on this topic Donna Harrington-Lueker has written “Books for Idle Hours: Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading”. Below are some of the new books which recently arrived at the library. You can decide whether or not they are Beach Reads. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction:
“Alive Day: A Memoir” by Karie Fugett. A young woman, thrust into the role of caregiver after her Marine husband’s devastating war injury, struggles with love, addiction and systemic failures in this poignant and darkly humorous journey of resilience, sacrifice, and the hidden costs of war.
“The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland” by Michelle Young. A saga set in Paris during World War II uncovers how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world's most treasured masterpieces.
“Queen of All Mayhem: The Blood-soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr, the Most Dangerous Woman in the West” by Dane Huckelbridge. A deeply researched, blood-on-the-spurs biography of Belle Starr, the most legendary female outlaw of the American West.
“Into the Ice: The Northwest Passage, the Polar Sun, and a 175-year-old Mystery “by Mark Synnott. Determined to navigate the treacherous Northwest Passage solo, an internationally certified mountain guide and Air Force Pararescuemen trainer embarks on a pulse-pounding journey to both complete this rare feat and investigate the 250-year-old mystery of Sir John Franklin's lost expedition.
New Fiction:
“Aftertaste” by Daria Lavelle. Set in the bustling world of New York restaurants and teeming with mouthwatering food writing, this novel is a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction.
“The Bombshell” by Darrow Farr. In 1993 Corsica, seventeen-year-old Severine Guimard, kidnapped by militant separatists, charms her captors and becomes the face of their cause, navigating a volatile summer of radicalization, romance, and the dangerous allure of celebrity and idealism.
“Heart, Be at Peace” by Donal Ryan. In a small Irish town scarred by economic collapse, fragile recovery gives way to rising tensions when a new, insidious threat emerges, stirring old resentments and drawing young people into a dangerous underworld threatening the community's hard-won peace.
“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman. Jarrod has felt distanced from his daughter Liv since the death of Jarrod’s partner Charlie, but when Liv finds boyfriend Zel murdered, Jarrod rushes to her aid and they comb for clues across the Coachella Valley while a killer’s on the loose.
“The Names” by Florence Knapp. Cora’s hesitation to name her son triggers three alternate paths over thirty-five years, revealing the lasting impact of domestic abuse and the complexities of family in her search for autonomy and healing.
“Old Indian School” by Aaron John Curtis. A coming-of-middle-age novel about an Ahkwesáhsne man’s reluctant return home and what it takes to heal.
“Run for the Hills” by Kevin Wilson. Madeline Hill and her mom have lived alone on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee, since her dad left; one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and announces she’s his half-sister, and he wants Mad to join him for a crazy road trip to find their father and half siblings.
“Where the Rivers Merge” by Mary Alice Wilson. The first of two epic novels celebrates one intrepid woman's life across multiple generations in the American South.
“One Golden Summer” by Carley Fortune. Charlie was 19 when Alice took his photo near her Nan’s cottage in Barry’s Bay, but now he’s a grown-up flirt who makes Alice feel seventeen again—warm nights on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but she begins to worry for her heart.
Temperatures are rising. The trees are almost completely leafed out. Ornamental flowering trees and shrubs are solid masses of pinks, fuchsias, whites, and purples. In places the ground is littered with petals. tulips, daffodils, jonquils, and hyacinth are busting out of the ground and adding their bursts of colors to the palette of spring. These various hues color our world with the promise of new life and with hope. And speaking of coloring our world, the theme of the Summer Reading Program this year is "Color our World" (notice the nifty segue?).The Summer Reading Program is a mere 600 hours away ( 25 days). There is still plenty of time to tune-up your eyes and get your reading speed up. The number of books read by individuals and as a group wins prizes for participants. Don't delay. Start training today. Below are some of the books which recently arrived at the library. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction:
“Uptown Girl: A Memoir” by Christie Brinkley with Sarah Toland. Although the popular model and actress has lived more than 50 years in the public eye, the full story of her roller-coaster life has never been told—until now.
“Who Deserves Your Love: How to Create Boundaries to Start, Strengthen, or End Any Relationship” by K.C. Davis. Explores the complexities of relationships, offering practical tools and insights to help distinguish mistreatment from abuse, establish boundaries, and navigate vulnerability. With a focus on emotional regulation and decision-making, she provides clarity on when to stay and when to step away from a relationship.
“Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up” by Dave Barry. A noted American humorist tells his life story.
New Fiction:
“Anima Rising” by Christopher Moore. From “New York Times” bestselling author comes a humorously deranged tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter and an undead woman’s electrifying journey of self-discovery.
“The Butcher’s Daughter: The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs. Lovett” by David Demchuk & Corinne Leigh Clark. In 1887 London, journalist Emily Gibson investigates the chilling past of a woman claiming to be Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd's infamous accomplice, through a series of letters revealing a harrowing life in Victorian London, drawing her into a dangerous mystery.
“A Curse Carved in the Bone, Now 2 (Saga of the Unfated)” by Danielle Jensen. Caught between divine heritage and a dark prophecy, Freya must navigate forbidden alliances and the clash of gods and mortals to save her people in the second novel of the series following “A Fate Inked in Blood”.
“The Book of Records” by Madeleine Thien. A novel that leaps across centuries past and future, as if different eras were separated by only a door.
“The Dark Maestro” by Brendan Slocumb. Curtis Wilson, a cello prodigy from D.C. who rose to classical music stardom, is forced into witness protection after his drug-dealer father turns informant, but when the cartel remains untouchable, Curtis and his family must use their wits and his musical gifts to fight for survival.
“The Emperor of Gladness” by Ocean Vuong. In the struggling town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai is saved from despair by Grazina, an elderly widow with dementia, forging an unexpected bond that reshapes their lives and reveals dynamics of love, memory, and resilience on the margins of society.
“The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits” by Jennifer Weiner. Cassie and Zoe Grossberg, former pop superstars as The Griffin Sisters, have been estranged for two decades since their band's rise and tragic fall, when Zoe's ambitious daughter Cherry sets out to uncover the hidden truths behind their breakup and heal their fractured family.
“Home of the American Circus” by Allison Larkin. A story of redemption, breaking generational curses and the power of family in its truest form.
“I See You’ve Called in Dead” by John Kenney. In a coming-of-middle-age tale, obituary writer Bud Stanley gets a second chance to write his life’s story.
“Fever Beach” by Carl Hiaasen. A dim-witted Proud Boys reject becomes entangled in a bizarre web of corruption and intrigue involving a hitchhiker, a con artist, an eccentric millionaire and a power-hungry politician in the new novel by the best-selling author of “Bad Monkey”.