Catherine Coles
Coles Notes
The staff of the County of L&A Libraries are avid readers and always eager to share their favourite books. Here we bring you a list of some of the reads we’ve recently enjoyed. This month you’ll find quite a mix: juvenile and YA titles, true crime non-fiction, a celebrity memoir, and a novel of historical fiction.
Chantell suggests My Tooth is Lost (Monkey & Cake series) by Drew Daywalt
“Monkey has lost a tooth and is feeling very sad about it. Cake tries to cheer him up by telling him all about the tooth fairy. Cake reassures Monkey that the tooth fairy will still come, but Monkey is still unsure. Will they find the lost tooth? A fun twist concludes the story, with a third character being revealed. The quirkiness of the characters, the simple text and bright illustrations in this book makes it perfect for read-alouds and great for children just starting to read. If you’re a fan of Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books, you’re sure to enjoy My Tooth is Lost as well as the other books in the Monkey & Cake series.”
Kristin suggests Ghosts of the Shadow Market by Cassandra Clare
“Cassandra Clare returns with an exciting new short story collection that is sure to be a hit among fans of The Mortal Instruments series. We reunite with Jem Carstairs, now known as Brother Zachariah, as he travels around the world to various Shadow Markets on a very special yet dangerous mission. Is he willing to risk his safety to honour his one true love? These stories will be a wonderful treat for readers of Cassandra Clare, especially since many familiar and beloved characters from the author’s previous books appear throughout this fascinating collection.”
Jennifer suggests The Killer Across the Table by John E. Douglas
“This book incorporates a series of interviews and insights by one of the founders of criminal profiling. Have you ever wondered at what point does a person lose their humanity? What type of early childhood event or trauma would drive someone to channel their rage by killing people? What are the broad strokes or red flags that suggest a predilection towards being a serial killer? What’s the difference between a modus operandi and a signature? How do serial killers choose their victims and how does it reflect a psychodrama of their own staging? It is a great resource to delve deeper into these questions. The interviews clearly show how a serial killer sees their crimes: the fantasy, the plan, the staging of the crime itself. If you liked American Predator, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, The Spider and the Fly, the classic movie Silence of the Lambs or current television series like Mindhunter or C.S.I, then this is your next good read!”
Julie suggests Home Work: A Memoir of my Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews
If celebrity memoirs are your thing then look no further than Julie Andrews’ new autobiography. After starring in numerous plays on Broadway, Andrews was cast in the coveted role of Mary Poppins in Hollywood and since then has never looked back. This book offers a little bit of gossip all while showing that celebrities are human too. She writes candidly about her complicated family life, the breakup of her first marriage, and raising children all while juggling her busy acting schedule. This book was filled with tidbits about her films including whether she really did hold a grudge against Audrey Hepburn who was cast as Eliza in the Hollywood production of My Fair Lady despite being the fact that Andrews originated the role of Broadway. I suggest that you listen to this one in audiobook format as Julie Andrews is one of the most iconic voices on the planet.”
Karen S suggests The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
“If you like to read historical fiction with a strong female lead character, consider checking out The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, the story of five strong women who come together to form the Baileyville Packhorse Library in small-town Kentucky. Alice comes from England after marrying a charming American, imagining for herself a more exciting life than her repressive life in England; Margery is a moonshiner’s daughter who is fiercely independent, and along with Beth and Izzy, they travel many miles through the Appalachian Mountains delivering books to isolated and impoverished families. But, of course, not everybody is happy about the spread of information and knowledge to the people, many of whom were formerly illiterate, and least of all the local mine owners. This is a story of friendship, love, overcoming hardships, and the power and strength of community that will make you both laugh and cry and, above all, cheer on the ladies of the Packhorse Library.”
All of these items can be reserved from your local branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries or online at www.CountyLibrary.ca.