Falling to Earth

Falling to Earth by Kate Southwood is the 2014 Carroll County on the Same Page selection. Set in 1925 in the small fictional town of Marah, Illinois, the novel focuses on the Graves family. Amid the destruction and devastation piled on the town by the "Tri-State Tornado of 1925," the Graves family survives unscathed. The Graves house wasn't touched while neighbors saw theirs blown to ruins. The Graves children were home sick from school so were not there when the school building crumpled on top of many youngsters. The family loyalty, revenge, and jealousy, and deftly leads readers on a path through the tornado's aftermath. Multiple copies of Falling to Earth are available at all three county libraries (Delphi, Flora, and Camden). You're cordially invited to come to a book discussion to share your thoughts. These will be held July 16 at 10:30 am at the Flora Monroe-Twp Public Library, July 25 at 9 am at the Delphi Public Library, and July 30 at 7 pm at the Camden Jackson-Twp Public Library.
business, Graves Lumber, was unscathed by the storm and in fact will profit largely from all the rebuilding that must occur afterward. What does this mean? It means that the Graves family become the targets of everyone's anger, resentment, and sorrow over their own personal losses. Southwood's beautifully written narrative explores the universal emotions of guilt, compassion,

What Makes Olga Run?

 By Bruce Grierson

Olga Kotelko is a 91 year old masters track champion.  In most events she participates in, Olga must either compete with men of her age or in younger age divisions because there aren't always competing females in her category.
In this nonfiction book the author interviews and follows Olga to determine how she has managed to continue competing and winning in the track and field events.  Mr. Grierson becomes friends with Olga and is inspired by her drive and dedication.
Olga started running and track events at the age of 77, but as a 90 year old she drew the attention of the media.  The author became interested in discovering Olga's secret to her uncommon physical abilities at an age when many much younger have given up most physical challenges. Olga submitted to various physical tests such as an MRI, a muscle biopsy, and blood tests all in an attempt to pinpoint why Olga seems to age differently than an "average" person.  Is she physically superior or does her attitude play a part in her abilities?
As "Boomers" age, many look for ways to maintain their health, functionality, and independence.  Reading about Olga's amazing physical achievements as a 90 year old and beyond makes one believe that we may be able to defy conventional aging limitations.

Joni & Ken

Marriage has its challenges, but imagine marriage where one of you is a quadriplegic!  In Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story, Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada are amazingly honest and open about the struggles of keeping love in a marriage.

You might remember Joni Eareckson. When 16 she had a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic. She now is a cheerleader and an encourager to the disabled. She speaks around the world doing so.

So why did this couple write this book?  Because they want to show that to the weakest couple, Jesus Christ is the answer. They know well that dreams don't usually work out; that life is hard on high expectations; and that things hardly ever fall together as we hoped.  But their message has hope! We are not to give up on dreams but to realize that there is a God who has bigger dreams for us, though obstacles will be faced causing us to rely on a big God.

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 This book is full of reality and hope and proves God is the answer for all of us.

This book is the June 2014 selection for the Faith Inspired Book Club at the Delphi Public Library. We meet the 4th Thursday of the month, 9:00 a.m. on the mezzanine. 

Mr. Mercedes

Stephen King’s latest novel, “Mr. Mercedes”, invites readers to join protagonist, Retired Detective Kermit Hodges, on a hunt for damaged mass murderer, dubbed by the press as Mr. Mercedes.  The novel opens outside of a large auditorium, set the next morning to host a job fair. The promise of a thousand jobs attracts large numbers of the impoverished city’s unemployed.  Desperate, they begin lining up long before midnight.  After weathering cold temperatures and damp fog, potential applicants are heartened by the slow creep of dawn, until a silver Mercedes emerges from the mist.  It is only at the last moment that members of the queue realize the driver’s intent: to run them down. Having murdered several and injured more, the killer disappears into the fog from which he emerged. Enter detective Kermit Hodges, who began his retirement sometime after the case had gone cold.  Bored and depressed, Hodges spends his time watching cheap television and developing a suicidal fondness for his dead father’s gun.  This spell is broken when Hodges receives a bizarre letter from the killer, the self-titled “perk” of the Mercedes massacre.  Told from the perspective of both detective and “perk,” the novel also provides the reader with an all-access pass into mind of Brady Hartsfield, murderer and secret keeper.  Intelligent, twisted, and at times sympathetic, Brady is baffled and enraged when his plans for Hodges begin to go awry.  A departure from King’s tried-and-true supernatural vein, “Mr. Mercedes” is both fast-paced and engrossing.  This novel should prove to be a favorite amongst old fans and new readers alike.