If you’re getting this email it means that you’re participating in the 15 in ’16 reading challenge at the Homer Public Library. Many of you participated last year and are back for more reading. Others of you are new. Either way, Welcome!
Each month I will send out an email that highlights a few books from the list as well as any news that seems relevant. On occasion I will send out announcements or invitations to special events, but I promise not to overload your inbox. If you would rather not receive these emails, please let me know and I’ll remove your name from the list.
In January we had a total of 74 book entries from 41 participants. What a fantastic beginning! Because I’m here at the library and I’m thinking about 15 in ’16 so often, I am often surprised at how many people don’t know about this reading challenge. Many who are reading from the list don’t know that entering the books they’ve read puts their name in the monthly prize drawing and gets their name on the list for this monthly email. If you could help spread the word, I’d appreciate it.
Our prize winner chosen from the January entries is Frances Kaye. Congratulations, Frances!
Now for some books! Below I’ve featured one from each category that you might enjoy reading sometime over the course of the year:
· All Over the Map: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck – In 1960, John Steinbeck and Charley, his French poodle, set out on a road trip around America. This book is a chronicle of his journey. One of our 15 in ’16 participants, Jerri Nagaruk left this comment when she submitted online: “I savored this book reading just a few pages at a time. I love the way Steinbeck put words together. He also was very insightful about racial tensions developing in the South at the time. This was one of my father's favorite books and now it is one of mine.”
· Animal Nature: Beyond the Bear by Dan Bagley – At 25 years of age, Dan Bagley was doing what many of us have done over the years—fishing for salmon where the Russian and Kenai Rivers converge—when his life took a turn. But don’t mistake this book for a bear attack story. It’s much more than that. This is about Bagley overcoming great loss and choosing, “not just to live, but to live fully.” To be honest, this book could easily have fit into the “Isn’t it Romantic?” category.
· Creative Types: Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett – The author of this book is the lead singer and songwriter for the indie rock band EELS. In this memoir he reveals some of his personal tragedies and his subsequent journey into the music industry. Through it all he remains hopeful stating, “Some of the most horrible moments in my life have led to some of the best.”
· Election Year: Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin – I didn’t know it was possible for one book to get so many starred reviews. Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, School and Library Journal, plus a few more all deemed this Young Adult, nonfiction account of the behind-the-scenes workings of the Vietnam War as worth reading. The New York Times Book Review stated, “Young people in the United States are growing up in a vastly changed world, one where endless war and all-pervasive surveillance is a matter of course. 'Most Dangerous' will help them understand how it has become so."
· Isn’t it Romantic?: When Love Comes by J.H. Croix – A little story about this book: The author (J.H. Croix is a pen name) used to live in Homer where she had a tough job as a social worker. She was also one of the Homer Public Library’s most avid readers riding her bicycle over to the Pioneer Avenue location and loading up her backpack with stacks of books each week. Well, to make a long story short, she moved away several years ago to further her education and somewhere along the line she started writing romance novels as a way to unwind from social work and academics. What started out as a hobby turned into something significant when this book, the first in her Diamond Creek, Alaska series, made it onto the Amazon Bestseller list. Pretty cool, eh? If you give this one a read, you’ll likely recognize many of the places she describes.
· Laugh Out Loud: Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol – First published in 1842, Dead Souls is a satirical novel that exposes the corruption of Russian nineteenth century society. Smartly written and funny, modern readers still find this book relevant and enlightening.
· North Country: The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton – Here is yet another book that could have found a home in the “Isn’t it Romantic?” category of the 15 in ’16 list. It’s described as “a gripping tale of survival and an epic love story in which a husband and wife–separated by the only battle of World War II to take place on American soil–fight to reunite in Alaska's starkly beautiful Aleutian Islands.” Here is a link to a wonderful review of this book from the Alaska Dispatch News: http://www.adn.com/article/20150118/s...
· Southern Flair: Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell – School Library Journal summarizes the plot of Winter’s Bone: “In the poverty-stricken hills of the Ozarks, Ree Dolly, 17, struggles daily to care for her two brothers and an ill mother. When she learns that her absent father, a meth addict, has put up the family home as bond, she embarks on a dangerous search to find him and bring him home for an upcoming court date.” For me, Woodrell’s spare and spot-on writing make this book worth reading and rereading, and I don’t know if I’ve ever cheered so vehemently for a character in literature.
· Staff Picks: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain – Probably a good many people who love books and the solace reading can bring would describe themselves as introverts. If you find yourself in this category, this book is an affirming read. Backed by plenty of research, this is a great one for those interested in personality and psychology. I listened to the audio version of this book to kick off my personal 15 in ’16 reading challenge, and I highly recommend giving it a listen.
· Wild West: I Follow in the Dust She Raises by Linda Martin – Since this poet lives in Homer, there is a good chance that many of you know Linda Martin. But even if you’ve never met her, she’ll seem like a friend after you’ve followed her from her beginning in Montana to her current life in Alaska. This collection was published the year the poet turned seventy and her wisdom and love for life and family come through in an honest and down to earth way. Here’s a link to a 49 Writers blog post written by Linda on turning seventy: http://49writers.blogspot.com/2015/06...
And now for a little news:
-Sadly, Eva Saulitis, local author of Into Great Silence from our “Animal Nature” category, passed away on January 16th. She was a gifted writer and a talented teacher. In addition to Into Great Silence, she wrote two books of poetry and a book of essays, all of which are at the library. For those of you who haven’t read it, here is a link to an essay of hers called “Wild Darkness.” https://orionmagazine.org/article/wil...
-Ernestine Hayes, the author of Blonde Indian will give an author talk and reading at the Homer Public Library on Feb. 19th at 6:00pm. Blonde Indian was chosen as the first Alaska Reads book. Statewide people are reading and discussing this memoir. The book was on last year’s list and was included again in 2016. We have several copies for checkout at the library.
-We have added a couple of features to our online submission form that you’ll probably appreciate. First, Holly made the comment section considerably larger, so you can see all of what you’re typing. She also created a permissions option: After you’ve entered a comment, the permission options will pop up. You can choose to allow us to use your comment with your name or anonymously or not at all. (See how I used Jerri Nagaruk’s comment about Travels With Charley? That’s because she gave us permission!) Anyhow, I think this will allow for more sharing among participants while still respecting everyone’s privacy. Thank you, Holly!
-And while we’re saying thank you… A big thank you to the Homer Bookstore for donating a portion of the grand prize from last year’s program. We’re fortunate to have such a wonderful, locally owned, library-supporting bookstore in Homer! Thank you also to the Friends of the Homer Public Library. In addition to all the other events and programs that they sponsor, they foot the bill for 15 in ’16. If you’re not already a member, I hope you’ll consider joining. Here’s a link to their website: http://friendshomerlibrary.org/
-And last of all, a reminder that there is a Homer Public Library 15 in ’16 group on Goodreads that you are all welcome to join. It’s a place to track what you’re reading, see what other group members are up to and leave reviews and comments. Here’s a link for that: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
As always, I love hearing from you all. So please don’t hesitate to ask questions, contribute news or offer comments.
Have another great month of reading!
Teresa
Homer Public Library 500 Hazel Ave Homer AK 99603 (907)235-3180
If you’re getting this email it means that you’re participating in the 15 in ’16 reading challenge at the Homer Public Library. Many of you participated last year and are back for more reading. Others of you are new. Either way, Welcome!
Each month I will send out an email that highlights a few books from the list as well as any news that seems relevant. On occasion I will send out announcements or invitations to special events, but I promise not to overload your inbox. If you would rather not receive these emails, please let me know and I’ll remove your name from the list.
In January we had a total of 74 book entries from 41 participants. What a fantastic beginning! Because I’m here at the library and I’m thinking about 15 in ’16 so often, I am often surprised at how many people don’t know about this reading challenge. Many who are reading from the list don’t know that entering the books they’ve read puts their name in the monthly prize drawing and gets their name on the list for this monthly email. If you could help spread the word, I’d appreciate it.
Our prize winner chosen from the January entries is Frances Kaye. Congratulations, Frances!
Now for some books! Below I’ve featured one from each category that you might enjoy reading sometime over the course of the year:
· All Over the Map: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck – In 1960, John Steinbeck and Charley, his French poodle, set out on a road trip around America. This book is a chronicle of his journey. One of our 15 in ’16 participants, Jerri Nagaruk left this comment when she submitted online: “I savored this book reading just a few pages at a time. I love the way Steinbeck put words together. He also was very insightful about racial tensions developing in the South at the time. This was one of my father's favorite books and now it is one of mine.”
· Animal Nature: Beyond the Bear by Dan Bagley – At 25 years of age, Dan Bagley was doing what many of us have done over the years—fishing for salmon where the Russian and Kenai Rivers converge—when his life took a turn. But don’t mistake this book for a bear attack story. It’s much more than that. This is about Bagley overcoming great loss and choosing, “not just to live, but to live fully.” To be honest, this book could easily have fit into the “Isn’t it Romantic?” category.
· Creative Types: Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett – The author of this book is the lead singer and songwriter for the indie rock band EELS. In this memoir he reveals some of his personal tragedies and his subsequent journey into the music industry. Through it all he remains hopeful stating, “Some of the most horrible moments in my life have led to some of the best.”
· Election Year: Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin – I didn’t know it was possible for one book to get so many starred reviews. Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, School and Library Journal, plus a few more all deemed this Young Adult, nonfiction account of the behind-the-scenes workings of the Vietnam War as worth reading. The New York Times Book Review stated, “Young people in the United States are growing up in a vastly changed world, one where endless war and all-pervasive surveillance is a matter of course. 'Most Dangerous' will help them understand how it has become so."
· Isn’t it Romantic?: When Love Comes by J.H. Croix – A little story about this book: The author (J.H. Croix is a pen name) used to live in Homer where she had a tough job as a social worker. She was also one of the Homer Public Library’s most avid readers riding her bicycle over to the Pioneer Avenue location and loading up her backpack with stacks of books each week. Well, to make a long story short, she moved away several years ago to further her education and somewhere along the line she started writing romance novels as a way to unwind from social work and academics. What started out as a hobby turned into something significant when this book, the first in her Diamond Creek, Alaska series, made it onto the Amazon Bestseller list. Pretty cool, eh? If you give this one a read, you’ll likely recognize many of the places she describes.
· Laugh Out Loud: Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol – First published in 1842, Dead Souls is a satirical novel that exposes the corruption of Russian nineteenth century society. Smartly written and funny, modern readers still find this book relevant and enlightening.
· North Country: The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton – Here is yet another book that could have found a home in the “Isn’t it Romantic?” category of the 15 in ’16 list. It’s described as “a gripping tale of survival and an epic love story in which a husband and wife–separated by the only battle of World War II to take place on American soil–fight to reunite in Alaska's starkly beautiful Aleutian Islands.” Here is a link to a wonderful review of this book from the Alaska Dispatch News: http://www.adn.com/article/20150118/s...
· Southern Flair: Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell – School Library Journal summarizes the plot of Winter’s Bone: “In the poverty-stricken hills of the Ozarks, Ree Dolly, 17, struggles daily to care for her two brothers and an ill mother. When she learns that her absent father, a meth addict, has put up the family home as bond, she embarks on a dangerous search to find him and bring him home for an upcoming court date.” For me, Woodrell’s spare and spot-on writing make this book worth reading and rereading, and I don’t know if I’ve ever cheered so vehemently for a character in literature.
· Staff Picks: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain – Probably a good many people who love books and the solace reading can bring would describe themselves as introverts. If you find yourself in this category, this book is an affirming read. Backed by plenty of research, this is a great one for those interested in personality and psychology. I listened to the audio version of this book to kick off my personal 15 in ’16 reading challenge, and I highly recommend giving it a listen.
· Wild West: I Follow in the Dust She Raises by Linda Martin – Since this poet lives in Homer, there is a good chance that many of you know Linda Martin. But even if you’ve never met her, she’ll seem like a friend after you’ve followed her from her beginning in Montana to her current life in Alaska. This collection was published the year the poet turned seventy and her wisdom and love for life and family come through in an honest and down to earth way. Here’s a link to a 49 Writers blog post written by Linda on turning seventy: http://49writers.blogspot.com/2015/06...
And now for a little news:
-Sadly, Eva Saulitis, local author of Into Great Silence from our “Animal Nature” category, passed away on January 16th. She was a gifted writer and a talented teacher. In addition to Into Great Silence, she wrote two books of poetry and a book of essays, all of which are at the library. For those of you who haven’t read it, here is a link to an essay of hers called “Wild Darkness.” https://orionmagazine.org/article/wil...
-Ernestine Hayes, the author of Blonde Indian will give an author talk and reading at the Homer Public Library on Feb. 19th at 6:00pm. Blonde Indian was chosen as the first Alaska Reads book. Statewide people are reading and discussing this memoir. The book was on last year’s list and was included again in 2016. We have several copies for checkout at the library.
-We have added a couple of features to our online submission form that you’ll probably appreciate. First, Holly made the comment section considerably larger, so you can see all of what you’re typing. She also created a permissions option: After you’ve entered a comment, the permission options will pop up. You can choose to allow us to use your comment with your name or anonymously or not at all. (See how I used Jerri Nagaruk’s comment about Travels With Charley? That’s because she gave us permission!) Anyhow, I think this will allow for more sharing among participants while still respecting everyone’s privacy. Thank you, Holly!
-And while we’re saying thank you… A big thank you to the Homer Bookstore for donating a portion of the grand prize from last year’s program. We’re fortunate to have such a wonderful, locally owned, library-supporting bookstore in Homer! Thank you also to the Friends of the Homer Public Library. In addition to all the other events and programs that they sponsor, they foot the bill for 15 in ’16. If you’re not already a member, I hope you’ll consider joining. Here’s a link to their website: http://friendshomerlibrary.org/
-And last of all, a reminder that there is a Homer Public Library 15 in ’16 group on Goodreads that you are all welcome to join. It’s a place to track what you’re reading, see what other group members are up to and leave reviews and comments. Here’s a link for that: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
As always, I love hearing from you all. So please don’t hesitate to ask questions, contribute news or offer comments.
Have another great month of reading!
Teresa
Homer Public Library
500 Hazel Ave
Homer AK 99603
(907)235-3180