Reader's Advisory

April is National Poetry Month!  Celebrate the art of poetry by reading the works of  poets past & present.  From Shakespeare to Whitman; epic poetry from the classical period to more modern works by Sylvia Plath or Ogden Nash, poetry has something to offer everyone.  For inspiration- check out our books by these great poets:

• Robert Frost- An American poet who received 4 Pulitzer Prizes for his work. 
• Edgar Lee Masters- Author of the poetry book Spoon River Anthology a collection of poems based on life along the Spoon River in Illinois.  
• Carl Sandburg- An Illinois poet who wrote a lot about Chicago.  Sandburg was awarded 2  Pulitzer Prizes during his lifetime.
• Shel Silverstein- This poet's wacky poems make poetry fun not only for kids, but kids at heart.
• Laura Van Prooyen- A local Brookfield poet whose first book of poems Inkblot & Alter was released last year.

It's April, Spring has finally arrived, and it's a good time for each of us to consider at least 1 change we can make in our lives that will reduce our impact on the planet and help us live a greener, more environmentally responsible life. If you're in need of an idea or two that will help you practice a more eco-friendly life style, check out our Earth Day display above the "new book" shelves. We've got a great selection of books, one of the newest being LIVING LIKE ED by Ed Begley Jr., a committed environmentalist for the last 30 years. Not only does Mr. Begley share his experiences of what works and what doesn't, he also suggests changes that will save money while, at the same time,help the planet. Mr. Begley professes that we should all "live simply so others may simply live" and our April display provides many suggestions as to how we can easily accomplish that goal.

Trying to make sense of the fluctuating American economy?  Check out a book from our financial & ecomonics section.  Concerned about your investments.  From the stock market to mutual funds and real estate, our books by knowledgeable experts can help you get started investing or make sense of the market today.  If you don't see the book you need ask at the Reference Desk.

It's time to celebrate the end of the Winter Reading Program, Warm Up to A Good Book! 20 participants have logged over 65 books and have written online reviews of 36 great titles. We'll gather on Thursday evening, Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m. to raffle off some door prizes, enjoy some hot drinks and snacks, and talk about our favorite books. Escape the winter chill @ your library!

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
In a world where vampires, the fae and werewolves co-exist with humans, Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson straddles the line as one of the few remaining "walkers" born from a Native American magical bloodline whose descendents can shift at will into the shape of a coyote.
Orphaned as a child and raised by a pack of werewolves, Mercy fled from both pack and an early marriage while in her teens. Now an adult, she lives alone, the owner of her own auto repair shop and a semi-normal life. But when she takes in a newly made, teenage werewolf, she unwittingly draws the attention of a group who are performing experiments on werewolves.
The action heats up from there as both men and werewolves come looking for the teenager, the local Alpha of the werewolf pack gets attacked in his own home, and a dead body is left as a warning on Mercy's front porch. Fortunately, Mercy is quick on her feet, turning her keen, analytical mind to finding out who's causing such trouble and preying on newly made shapeshifters. Even if she'd rather be fixing cars.

Water for Elephants is an amazingly well written novel with wonderful characters and an absorbing plot.

In chapters that move from the past to the present day, Jacob Jankowski, while residing in a nursing home, relates the story of his incredible life and adventures with the Benzini Brothers Circus during the difficult days of the Great Depression. According to the author's note at the end of the book, many of the compelling anecdotes in the story were based upon real events, culled from the diaries and personal histories of one time circus performers. As a result, this book is both an entertaining and informative read.

The characters are richly drawn and even the animals have complex personalities that make them a major part of the story.

I believe there's something in this novel for everyone, in that I found it to be equal parts adventure, mystery, fictional memoir, love story, and historical account. I highly recommend Water for Elephants.

Follow this link to read reviews by other patrons in our Winter Reading Program! Share their opinion? Have a suggestion of your own? You can comment on this blog by clicking the "Add Comment" link below. Happy reading!

Exile's Honor by Mercedes Lackey

Trained from childhood in the arts of war, Alberich strives to walk a careful path between obedience to the priests of Vkandis Sunlord and fairness to the soldiers under his command and the people of his native land of Karse. His attempts to hide his heretical gift of precognition, however, earn him a sentence of death by fire, thwarted by a bold rescue seemingly engineered by his faithful white battle steed-in actuality one of the Companions of the Heralds of Valdemar.

Lackey continues her popular Valdemar series with the story of Alberich, Weaponsmaster and Queen's Champion of a land he was taught to fear and hate, as he struggles to redefine the meaning of the honor he holds so dear while learning to accept the magic he once tried to conceal.