Selecting books to purchase for our patrons to check out here at Rhoads Memorial Library can be a daunting task. With so many tried and true, timetested, favorite authors reaching an advanced age and retiring or passing away, the necessary task of finding different authors becomes more urgent.
One area librarian told me that her patrons resist reading works by new authors. She said it is like pulling teeth to get them to check out a new author. I feel fortunate that our patrons are more open to new writers and will at least take a chance on reading their works. Feedback is most appreciated, so please tell us if, and why, you like a book. Your opinion matters and may be used toward book purchases.
Authors themselves can be helpful, too. One case in point: Colleen Hoover is an author of romances that has developed quite the following. Residing in Sulphur Springs, Texas, with her husband and three sons, she has written several novels that have become best sellers in recent years. Her website color-coats her books into three categories: green means “Young Adult 14+” while yellow means “Mature 17+.” Red means “WHOA! Very mature and dark!” (No, we don’t have any of her WHOAs!)
But despite these helpful ratings, what one patron finds acceptable may be seen as prurient by others. It is virtually impossible to find books devoid of bad language, and it is getting harder to find works that do not contain questionable situations. Yet librarians do not want to censor - what a conundrum now I’m getting a headache!
Young Scientists’ take-andmake kits for March feature the subject of “Bee Hummer.” Creator of the popular kits for youngsters is FeliceAcker, local agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The kits are ready to be picked up on a first come, first served basis.
Newly released books that have arrived and are ready for checkout include: -”The Sister Effect” (a novel) by Susan Mallery; -”Lemon Curd Killer” (a Tea Shop mystery) by Laura Childs; -”Standing Dead” (a Timber Creek K-9 mystery) by Margaret Mizushima.
More new releases include: -A work of historical fiction titled “The Sun Walks Down” by Fiona McFarlane. Set in a small town in the South Australian outback in September 1883, the book tells the story of a six-year-old boy who goes missing during a dust storm. What transpires among the townspeople searching for him is presented in a many-voiced, many-sided story.
-”Small World” by Laura Zigman is deemed a “heartfelt novel about two offbeat and newly divorced sisters who move in together as adults, and finally reckon with their childhood.” Joyce is settling into being single again when older sister Lydia announces that she is leaving Los Angeles to move back east after a 30-year absence. Joyce invites her to live with her – temporarily - and the dynamics of their sisterhood evolve.
Until next week, Happy Reading!