Surprise Ending!

Uncharted, by Angela Hunt, is a read worth checking out. Five long-time friends find themselves stranded on a desolate island. Not only are they stranded but it seems impossible to get off by any efforts they make. A diversified cast of characters soon realize that the island is no ordinary island. In fact it is eerie, even bizarre with quicksand and caves covering buried secrets, hidden passions and a truth that is the surprise of all surprises. It is a gripping book and may even change your life, so check it out next trip to the Delphi Public Library.

Outstanding Christian Fiction....

A GREAT and entertaining read found in the Christian Fiction genre! Next trip to the library, look up this fascinating book, The Begotten, by Lisa T. Bergren. It's a page-turner for sure. Lisa Bergren takes you back to the year 1339 to medieval Italy where she accurately brings to life the church of that era while she uses a colorful cast of characters to develop her story line which is one of mystery and miracles. Bergren holds to historical and scriptual truth, dealing with light versus darkness, as well as prophecy and deceit. The plot, which is sometimes intense, and leaves you waiting for her sequels which, to our delight, are soon coming: The Betrayed, 2007 and The Beloved, 2008.

A wonderful read you won't want to put down. Check it out! Literally!

So Many Books, So Little Time ...

The reader's dilemma--how to squeeze in more time to read all those books stacked up on your nightstand! 2006 has been a good year for great new books, and 2007 promises to offer even more of our favorites. Every now and then, though, it's nice to revisit an old friend, a favorite from childhood, or perhaps take a stab at that old classic you never got around to reading. One of my "old friends" is John Irving, and every now and then it's nice to reacquaint myself with some of his many unique and fully drawn characters. Owen Meany is one of those fictional characters that seems to linger in my thoughts as if he were a real memory. A Prayer for Owen Meany is a gem of a book, and when you reach the last page you will feel as if you have said good-bye to a part of your family. Irving delves into serious social issues (the Vietnam War) and religious issues (Christian martyrdom), but he does so with great humor and sensitivity. Critical reviews have been mixed, but Owen Meany has stayed with me for years. I believe that's the sign of a great book.

Holiday Reading

The first of the holiday books are hitting the library shelves right about now. Anne Perry, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more of your favorite authors have special Christmas titles out. Elizabeth Berg has a short sweet Christmas offering entitled The Handmaid and the Carpenter. It's a fictionalized version (duh!) of Mary and Joseph's courtship, romance, and marriage. Berg portrays Mary as a sassy teenager who is devout, thoughtful, and nature-loving and loves to speak her own mind in a time when women were NOT encouraged to do so. Joseph is seen as a loving, hard-working, husband who is sometimes gruff and is a stubborn, rule-abiding man. Mary's pregnancy shakes him to the core but he remains supportive and takes good care of Mary and Jesus and the rest of their family. The book is a nice, easy read that you could tackle in an evening or a weekend. It allows you to see these familiar Biblical characters in a new light and more easily understand the hardships they faced. A great way to start the Christmas season!

A Plug for One of Our Own

Haven Kimmel is an Indiana author you don't want to miss. She has written two memoirs, A Girl Named Zippy and She Got Up Off the Couch, and several well-received novels. In Zippy, she talks about growing up in tiny Moreland, Indiana. She writes about her family in a respectful and yet truth-baring way. Many people reportedly asked her at book signings about her mother, and wanted to know particularly if she ever got up off the couch. (Haven's mom spent a lot of time reading, knitting, and talking on the phone, while ensconced on the living room sofa.) Well, in her second memoir, you can read all about the further exploits of Haven and her mother and find out that she did indeed Get Up Off the Couch. Not only that, she went to college and became a teacher. Keep your eye on Haven Kimmel. More great things are undoubtedly in store for us readers from this intelligent and witty author.

Ready for some action?

Two well-known authors have proven they know how to get your attention immediately, and keep your pages a-turnin' and your minds a-clickin'. I recently read Harlan Coben's new Myron Bolitar novel, Promise Me. Although I had read some of Coben's later stuff, I had never "met" Myron and his pack of eccentric friends and cohorts. They are terrific! Coben blends great plotting, tingling suspense, and some humor thrown in for good measure. It is not for the squeamish, because there are some violent scenes involving Myron's friend Win and his odd ways of "handling" bad guys. But it's a great story. Another good suspense title is One Shot by Lee Child. This is not brand new, but is my first sampling of Child's well-known Jack Reacher character. What a guy! Again, the story is peopled with some very intriguing characters and a good storyline. It's set in an unnamed city in Indiana, which is always another appeal factor for our Hoosier readers. Although it's not too hard to figure out whodunnit, the suspense continues until the end. And I wouldn't mind having a guy like Jack Reacher on my side. He's a rebel. He reminds me of another Jack--anyone watch 24? Happy reading!

Best Summer reads

Best books I read this summer- Suspense- "Kill Me" by Stephen White and the "Lincoln lawyer" by Michael Connelly. And if you haven't read "Crow Lake" do so. It is a wonderful book about the importance of communication in a family.
Jane Cruz

New Online Book Suggestion Form

Are you looking for something good to read? We can help! We have a new online book suggestion form on our web page. From our home page, just click on Online Book Suggestion Form. You can tell us your past favorites, your likes and dislikes, and other features you want us to consider. We'll develop a personalized list of reading suggestions just for you. Print forms are available at the library's circulation desk if you'd prefer to fill it out on paper.

Carroll County on the Same Page

There's still time to read the inaugural selection for "Carroll County on the Same Page." This year's book is Crow Lake, by Mary Lawson. Multiple copies are available at all three county libraries (Camden, Flora, Delphi). On October 8, at 2 p.m., come to the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center in Delphi to the final program in the series: Capturing Carroll County: Completing the Circle. This event will include a "show and tell" featuring stories, poetry, photographs, and other creative works that have been submitted throughout the program. Desserts will be served!