Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For November, we’re looking at an infamous romance in literary history, a thought-provoking YA romance, an unsettling new suspense novel, a nonfiction history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and an audiobook courtesy of the one and only Willie Nelson.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Historic Scandals, Dancing Visions, Suburban Suspense, WWII Heroes, and Willie Nelson”Ben Macintyre’s A Spy Among Friends (2014) and Agent Sonya (2020)
If you’re a long-time blog reader, you know that I can be pretty enthusiastic for some of my favorite authors. So, brace yourselves, gentle readers. I have a new favorite author I want to talk about. 🙂
Continue reading “Ben Macintyre’s A Spy Among Friends (2014) and Agent Sonya (2020)”What a Wonderful World: November
This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and November’s is peaceful periwinkle. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it) on the cover!
Continue reading “What a Wonderful World: November”Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: October
Our theme for the library this year is What a Wonderful World, and to that end, we’re focusing on seeing the wonder in our world. Usually, every month at the desk, we have an article available for patrons to read and discuss with Julie, our library director, but this year, we’re handing out poems instead. Our trusty library goose is also helping us pen a monthly column that focuses on some of the gems in our poetry collection.
For October, our poem is Sophie Jewett’s “In Harvest.” Born in the first year of the Civil War, Jewett came from a well-to-do family in rural New York State. Her childhood, however, was dominated by a series of devastating losses–first her parents and then her relatives who had taken her and her siblings in after they were orphaned. Eventually, Jewett found her way to the home of a minister and his family. Her friendship with the family provided her with support for her budding poetry career, as well as the means to travel to Europe. Jewett eventually worked as an English professor at Wellesley College, and by her mid-thirties, she was publishing her poetry and translations as well.
Continue reading “Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: October”Everyone Needs a Little Help from Their Friends!
I’ve often written on here about the importance of Friends of the Library groups, in particularly our own hard-working Friends of the Berryville Library, Inc. And that importance can’t be overstated now, especially since we launched our fundraising campaign for a new library facility six months ago.
We’ve raised an amazing amount of money in that time (nearly $985,000–39% of our goal), and we have continued to grow our Friends membership to a record 175 people.
Continue reading “Everyone Needs a Little Help from Their Friends!”Movie Review: What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Viago has similar struggles to all of us. He misses the love of his life and has had a difficult time moving on. He wishes his roommates would do their dishes and other agreed-upon household chores. He sometimes has a hard time getting a bite to eat. He’s just trying to find his way in the world, one night at a time.
Oh yes and he and his roommates are centuries-old vampires.
Thanks to Kelli for recommending this delightful movie to me! It was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed watching it. It’s perfect viewing as Halloween approaches.
Continue reading “Movie Review: What We Do in the Shadows (2014)”What a Wonderful World: October
This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and October’s is harvest wheat. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it) on the cover!
Continue reading “What a Wonderful World: October”September Treasure Hunt Challenge Answers
Did you seek the treasure during our September Treasure Hunt? Curious what the answers are? Read ahead!
Continue reading “September Treasure Hunt Challenge Answers”Book Buzz: Treasure Hunts, Mysterious Games, Nostalgic Rivers, and Awkward Vacations
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For September, we’re looking at a caper mystery surrounding artifacts, an inspirational novel about a treasure hunt in the hills of West Virginia, a fun cozy mystery series, a memoir/family history companion piece to A River Runs Through It, and an audiobook suspense novel about a destination wedding gone very wrong.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Treasure Hunts, Mysterious Games, Nostalgic Rivers, and Awkward Vacations”Jeff Guinn’s War on the Border: Villa, Pershing, The Texas Rangers, and an American Invasion
John “Black Jack” Pershing’s Punitive Expedition in 1916 into Mexico remains an under-explored period in American history. However, Jeff Guinn, best known for his true crime books, has turned his attention to it in his latest book.
Continue reading “Jeff Guinn’s War on the Border: Villa, Pershing, The Texas Rangers, and an American Invasion”
Berryville Book Buzz 