Nortonville Public Library

Jennifer Hillier makes her fiction debut with Creep, a thriller sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dr. Sheila Tao, professor of psychology, doesn’t know what she is in for when she ends a months long affair with her teaching assistant, Ethan Wolfe. Newly engaged to an investment banker, Sheila’s conscience steers her toward this decision. Ethan isn’t accustomed to being turned down and his obsession with her grows. A cat-and-mouse game begins with blackmail and threats. While evading Ethan’s determined will, one of her students is found stabbed to death. Can she escape his clutches without her colleagues or her fiance’ discovering her most intimate secrets?

At first, you might believe you know where this novel is going, but don’t write it off so easily. The surprising end has an unexpected twist. So, cancel your plans and settle in because this book is difficult to put down.

Reviewed by Marjorie Belveal for Young Adults

Scotty, a fifteen year old sophomore has two thing on his mind, Krista and basketball, and attends high school in the middle of nowhere. As the snow starts falling in the morning, students wait for school to be cancelled. This does not happen and by the time school dismisses for the day,  there were blizzard conditions. At the end of the day, seven students waited for rides from their parents, including Scotty. No one came for them. There was no cell phone service, lights, heat or water. This is a story of seven people, not really friends, coming together to survive. It was as if no one knew they were there. With Scotty telling this story, I felt as if I was there with them. At the end, I felt there were some issues left unsolved, but I liked the book because the students were able to work together with minimal disagreements.

We have added many new video game items to our library. We now have two gaming TVs, one for PS2 and one for our Gamecube. In addition, we have added PSP, Nintendo DS and XBOX360 games to our collection. Check-out periods for these items are 3 library business days, with a maximum of two checked out at one time.  Late fees remain $1 a day per item, up to a maximum of $3.

If we don’t have a title you would like to play, let us know. Many times we can request them from another library.

Thinking about those New Year’s resolutions? We are here to help. Stop by the library for titles on organizing, money management, healthy eating, yoga and more. We also have several DVD workout videos.

Some to check out:

Dr. Andrew Weil’s The Healthy Heart Kit, Christopher Lowell’s Seven Layers of Organization and Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the library. Our Gift Basket Silent Auction is under way and we have fabulous baskets this year. These include themes such as chocolate, dog care, car care, entertaining, KU and K-State. In addition, we have enlarged our $5 table.  Bidding for silent auction items will be finalized at 6pm on Saturday, December 4. Our $5 items can be purchased at any time.

Our Holiday Homes Tour will be held on Saturday, December 4 from 3-6pm. We are featuring 4 homes on the tour, three in town and one outside town. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance or the day of the tour.

The library will be open on Saturday, December 4, from 9-noon and then 2:30-6:15. We will make every effort to call winning bidders after 6pm. Many bidders choose to be at the library until the last moment so they can take their baskets home with them.

A lot of our customers have told us they will make a day of the events in town on Saturday, as the Beta Sigma Phi event goes until 2pm that same day. Be sure to stop by the library for your gift-giving needs.

Many adults are choosing young adult fiction as an enjoyable pastime. It seems Twilight gave them permission to explored these reading opportunities. It is more than that, though. When you have a best selling author in adult fiction, everyone reads those books, even if the literary quality declines, over time, to the point that you question whether someone is ghost writing for that author.  On the other hand, young adults have quite a discerning  view when it comes to their fiction.  If you have not taken the opportunity to read young adult fiction, ask us for some recommendations. We’d be glad to help.

One of my favorite young adult authors is Suzanne Collins. She is creating waves with her Hunger Games trilogy. The series is a blend of adventure, fantasy, and drama. Set in a post apocalyptic time where the United States ceases to exist and is replaced with the country of Panem. Panem consists of the Capitol and 12 districts. Each of those districts is required to send two participants to the televised Hunger Games, a fight to the death with only a single winner.

Enter Katniss Everdeen. A young girl who volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in this deadly game. Her skill and attitude endear her to the viewers of this game. 

In Catching Fire, book two of the trilogy, Catniss has become the symbol for rebellion in the districts. At the same time, this has raised the ire of  President Snow who now focuses on controlling her.

Mockingjay, the final book, has been shrouded in mystery. The publishers have requested total secrecy. Advance copies haven’t been allowed to circulate for reviews, and no one knows what its pages hold. The book will release on August 24, 2010. While we do have two copies ordered, the hold list may be long. This can be a blessing, as it will allow readers new to the series to read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire before diving into Mockingjay.

 We hope you take to opportunity to read these books, and if you like them, we will be happy to offer additional titles that we’re sure you will enjoy. Also, be sure to ask your favorite teen to guide you to their favorites and let them impress you with their brilliant taste.

 By Megan Domann

    When a rebellious teenager, Ronnie, and her little brother, Jonah, are forced to visit her dad for the summer it creates a story of love, forgiveness, and heart-breaking sadness that will have you crying over the pages. Ronnie has felt a strong hatred for her dad since her parent’s divorce, as well as hating the fact of being  with her dad for the summer. But soon Ronnie realizes what’s important in life. She grows and learns from her experiences of the summer. This is what makes this book by Nicholas Sparks worth reading.    

    I very much recommend this book to all teenagers and adults. This book is indeed a good read, a book you could sit down and read for hours. I love this book, though it is sad, at the same time it is very romantic and loving. This book is full  of good humor and fun-loving romantic situations. I feel this book will be enjoyable to all who read it.

    Nicholas Sparks has created a book full of truly real characters in real life situations. Within the pages of this book, Ronnie learns to love and to be loved, and to cherish life. Her summer with her dad and brother, changes her forever and for the better.
    I very much recommend this book. I don’t expect that this loving book would disappoint anyone. The Last Song is definitely a book worth reading.