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books

Maine Maple Sunday

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Sunday, March 24th 2019, is Maine Maple Sunday.

For those of us who might be interested in touring a sugarhouse, a list of participants can be found here – Maine Maple Sunday Participants.  This is a great map of the many and varied sugarhouses open for tours.

For those of us who might be more interested in reading about Maple, here are a few titles to choose from.

Anytime Mapleson by Mordicai Gerstein.  Have you ever invited bears for breakfast?  Check out this picture book, and enjoy the story.

Maple by Lori Nichols.  A young girl and her maple tree . . .

Maple moon by Connie Brummel Crook.  Have you ever wondered how maple syrup was discovered?  This children’s book gives us a possible answer.

The maple sugar book : together with remarks on pioneering as a way of living in the twentieth century by Helen and Scott Nearing.  The Nearings discuss their experiences with making a living from maple sugaring, and also give a definitive account of an important American industry.

Maple syrup season by Ann Purmell.  Enjoy this picture book of a family working together to create yummy maple syrup.

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen.  1957 Newbery Medal winner.  The father has returned from the war, moody and tired, so the family leaves the city and moves to the Pennsylvania countryside.

Nature’s sweetness : pure maple syrup by Paul Rossignol.  A good introduction to the maple sugaring process.

Sugaring season : making maple syrup by Diane Burns.  This is another picture filled book describing the process of making maple syrup – from the tree to the table.

Toronto Maple Leafs by Eric Zweig.  Tells the story of the Maple Leafs 100 years of hockey, as well as the importance of professional sports teams to the history and economy of a big city and a big sports league.

Spring!

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How could we not post a blog this time of year without thinking about and looking forward to spring?  So in that frame of mind, here are some books that have the word SPRING in their titles.

Heart Spring Mountain by Robin MacArthur.  A young woman returns to her rural Vermont hometown in the wake of a heavy storm to search for her missing mother and unravel a powerful family secret.

Paris Spring by James Naughtie.  Paris, in April of 1968. The cafes are alive with talk of revolution, but for Scottish-American Will Flemyng–a spy working in the British Embassy–the crisis is personal. A few words from a stranger on the Metro change his life. His family is threatened with ruin and he now faces the spy’s oldest fear: exposure. Freddy Craven is the hero and mentor Flemyng would trust with his life, but when he is tempted into a dark, Cold War labyrinth, he chooses the dangerous path and plays his game alone. And when glamorous, globe-trotting journalist Grace Quincy, in pursuit of a big story, is found dead in the Pe-Lachaise cemetery, the question is raised–what side was she on? Certainly she knew too much, and had become dangerous. But to whom?

Spring fever by Mary Kay Andrews.  Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason Bayless. So she has no problem attending his wedding. But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called off, Annajane begins to wonder if she’s been given a second chance.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.  This was first published in three serialized excerpts in the New Yorker in June of 1962. The book appeared in September of that year and the outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century.

Spring wildflowers of New England by Marilyn J. Dwelley.  Published by Down East Books, can’t you just picture those spring wildflowers poking their heads up?

Come Spring by Ben Ames Williams.  A fictional history of Union, Maine, here is a detailed novel of life in a Maine frontier village at the time of the revolution. Although they are not far from the scene of the war, the Indians and their own daily lives are of more importance to these sturdy pioneers than were wars or rumors of wars.

In the fire of spring by Thomas Tryon.  Not really about spring (but it does have spring in the title), this novel tells the story of women abolitionists in Connecticut.

Beyond the spring : Cordelia Stanwood of Birdsacre by Chandler S. Richmond.  Again, not really spring, but Stanwood was an ornithologist from Maine and known for her photographs.

There now, don’t you feel better already having just thought about Spring?

New Items ~ March 2019

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FICTION

The age of light by Whitney Scharer.  Chronicles the tumultuous working and romantic relationships of photographer Man Ray and model-turned-photographer Lee Miller in early 1930s Paris.

As long as we both shall live by JoAnn Chaney.  A masterful examination of a marriage gone very wrong, a marriage with lots of secrets….

Big bang by David Bowman.  Set in the 1950s, this epic presents a brilliant and wholly original take on the years leading up to the Kennedy assassination.

Connections in death by J.D. Robb. Eve Dallas fights to save the innocent – and serve justice to the guilty – on the streets of New York.

The dead ex by Jane Corry.  One man’s disappearance throws four women’s lives into chaos – who will survive?

Death by chocolate malted milkshake by Sara Graves.  Lively characters, an intricate plot, and enticing descriptions of Down East Maine make this cozy mystery a winner.

The dreamers by Karen Walker.  An ordinary town is transformed by a mysterious illness that triggers perpetual sleep.

Forget you know me by Jessica Strawser.  A video call between friends captures a shocking incident no one was supposed to see.  The secrets it exposes threaten to change their lives forever.

Fugitive Red by Jason Starr.  Love on the internet gone wrong when a man tries a dating app but discovers a murdered dead woman instead of a live one.

The girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib.  A haunting portrait of a young woman’s struggle with anorexia on an intimate journey to reclaim her life.

Good riddance by Elinor Lipman.  One woman’s trash – a high school yearbook with annotations added through the years – becomes another woman’s treasure, with deliriously entertaining results.

The hiding place by C.J. Tudor.  A teacher with a hidden agenda returns to settle scores at a school he once attended, only to uncover a darker secret than he could have imagined.

Judgment by Joseph Finder.  A thriller about a female judge and the one personal misstep that could lead to her – and her family’s – downfall.

The lost girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff.  A story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II.

New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke.  The shocking death of a young woman leads Detective Dave Robicheaux into the dark corners of Hollywood, the mafia, and the backwoods of Louisiana.

The night agent by Matthew Quirk.  To find a Russian mole in the White House, an FBI agent must question everything…and trust no one.

The red address book by Sofia Lundberg.  96 year old Doris writes down the memories of her eventful life a she pages through her decades-old address book.  But the most profound moment of her life is still to come…

The ruin of kings by Jenn Lyons.  A jaw-dropping, action-packed story of betrayal, greed, and grand-scale conspiracy.  Virtually un-put-down-able.

The rule of law by John Lescroart.  Attorney Dismas Hardy is called to defend the least likely suspect of his career: his longtime, trusted assistant who is suddenly being charged as an accessory to murder.

The stranger inside by Laura Benedict.  What if you came home to find a stranger living in your home and everyone around you seems to think it is ok?

That Churchill woman by Stephanie Barron.  The life and loves of one of history’s most remarkable women – Winston Churchill’s scandalous American mother, Jennie Jerome.

Turning point by Danielle Steel.  Four American trauma doctors face difficult choices when they join a mass-casualty training program in Paris.

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal.  In this one of a kind retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, Alys Binat has sworn never to marry – until an encounter with one Mr. Darsee at a wedding makes her reconsider.

Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz.  A man’s quest to find answers for those who are haunted by the past leads him deeper into the shadows.

NEW DVDs

BlacKkKlansman (2018) starring John David Washington and Adam Driver

The wife (2018) starring Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce

Castle Rock (2018) starring Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Scott Glenn

The old man and the gun (2018) starring Robert Redford and Sissy Spacek

Halloween (2018) starring Jamie Lee Curtis

American Horror Story: Asylum (2012) starring Jessica Lange and James Cromell

Ant-man (2015) starring Paul Rudd

Adrift (2108) starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin

NEW MUSIC CDs

This one’s for you too by Luke Combs

A star is born (soundtrack) by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

2019 Grammy nominees

Dua Lipa (Complete edition) by Dua Lipa

NONFICTION

An Arabian journey by Levison Wood.  The author takes us along on a complex expedition: a circumnavigation of the Arabian Peninsula.  This is a thrilling personal journey and a skillful piece of cultural reportage.

The art of the con by Anthony Amore.  The most notorious fakes, frauds, and forgeries in the art world.

Creating compassionate kids by Shauna Tominey.  Young children can surprise us with tough questions.  This essential guide teaches us how to answer them and foster compassion along the way.

The end of ice by Dahr Jamail.  This book will help readers understand how ecosystems have been affected by climate change and how inaction has potentially doomed further generations.

The feather thief by Kirk Johnson.  Beauty, obsession, and the natural history heist of the century.

One-day room makeovers by Martin Amado.  How to get the designer look for less with three easy steps.

The fire this time by Jesmyn Ward.  A new generation speaks about race.

Hidden America by Jeanne Laskas.  From coal miners to cowboys, an extraordinary exploration of the unseen people who make this country work.

How does it feel to be a problem?  by Moustafa Bayoumi.  A look at how young Arab and Muslim Americans are forging lives for themselves in a country that often mistakes them for the enemy.

If we can keep it by Michael Tomasky.  A game-changing account of the deep roots of political polarization in America, including an audacious 14 point plan for how to fix it.

Maid by Stephanie Land.  Work, low pay, and a mother’s will to survive.

Merchants of truth by Jill Abramson.  The business of news and the fight for facts: this is a definitive report on the disruption of the news media over the last decade.

No beast so fierce by Dane Huckelbridge.  American Sniper meets Jaws in this true account of the deadliest animal of all time, the Champawat Tiger – responsible for killing more than 400 humans in northern India and Nepal in the first decade of the 20th century – and the legendary hunter who finally brought it down.

Parkland by Dave Cullen.  This offers an intimate, deeply moving account of the extraordinary teenage survivors who became activist and pushed back against the NRA and feckless Congressional leaders – inspiring millions to join their grassroots  #neveragain  movement.

Women rowing north by Mary Pipher.  How to navigate life’s currents and flourish as we age.

Children’s Books

 PICTURE BOOKS

All you need is love by John Lennon

Donkey egg by Janet Stevens

Dreamland by Noah Klocek

Ear by Piret Raud

Epic adventures of Huggie & Stick by Drew Daywalt

Found by Jeff Newman

Gingerbread Man & the leprechaun loose at school by Laura Murray

Good egg by Jory John

Hands up by Breanna J. McDaniel

Harold Snipperpot’s best disaster ever by Beatrice Alemagna

Hip-hop Lollipop by Susan McElroy Montanari

I love you more than by Taye Diggs

Little Brown by Marla Frazee

Love Z by Jessie Sima

Lucia the luchadora & the million masks by Cynthia Leonor Garza

Mary wears what she wants by Keith Negley

Me and my fear by Francesca Sanna

Niblet & Ralph by Zachariah Ohora

No boring stories by Julie Falatko

Perfect by Max Amato

Say something by Peter H. Reynolds

Spectacular spring by Bruce Goldstone

Squirrel’s family tree by Beth Ferry

Steve goes to Carnival by Joshua Button

The truth about elephants by Maxwell Eaton III

The very last castle by Travis Jonker

When sadness is at your door by Eva Eland

BEGINNING CHAPTER BOOKS

A gift for Goose by Tad Hills

The hair book by Graham Tether

CHAPTER BOOKS

Call of the wraith by Kevin Sands

NON-FICTION

Beavers by Rachel Poliquin

Different families by Steffi Cavell-Clarke

DK findout! Universe by Giles Sparrow

DK findout! Space Travel by Jerry Stone

Maker lab outdoors: 25 super cool projects : build, invent, create, discover by Jack Challoner

Renegade women in film & TV by Elizabeth Weitzman

A round of robins by Katie Hesterman

Secret engineer: how Emily Roebling built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Dougherty

Seeing stars: a complete guide to the 88 constellations by Sara Gillingham

Snowman – cold = puddle by Laura Purdie Salas

MOVIES

Charlie and the chocolate factory with Johnny Depp

Ella enchanted with Anne Hathaway

Enchanted with Amy Adams

Fancy Nancy: Volume 1

Goosebumps 2 with Wendi McLendon-Covey

How to train your dragon 1 and 2 with Jay Baruchel

LEGO Jurassic world : The secret exhibit

Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews

Paw Patrol : Pups save Puplantis

Pegasus : pony with a broken wing with Jonathan Silverman

Fireworks with Suzu Hirose

Kung Fu Panda with Jack Black

Peppa Pig: When I grow up

Notes from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and New York Times Book Review.