We hope you enjoy our latest VPL Newsletter; to subscribe, email library@vintonia.gov. See you at the library!

• 'The Midnight Feast' by Lucy Foley
• 'One Last Summer' by Kate Spencer

• 'The Last Love Note' by Emma Grey
• 'A Novel Love Story' by Ashley Poston
• 'Love Letters to a Serial Killer' by Tasha Coryell
• 'Trust Her' by Flynn Berry

• 'Shelterwood' by Lisa Wingate
• 'Horror Movie' by Paul Tremblay
• 'One Of Our Kind' by Nicola Yoon

• 'The Wives' by Simone Gorrindo
• 'You Could Make This Place Beautiful' by Maggie Smith.

• 'Cross Her Heart' by Melinda Leigh

• 'Dead Against Her' by Melinda Leigh

• 'A Murder Most French' by Colleen Cambridge

• 'The Deepest Kill' by Lisa Black!

• 'Love, Mom' by Nicole Saphier, MD
• 'The Explorers: A New History of America in Ten Expeditions' by Amanda Bellows
• 'Quanta and Fields: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe' by Sean Carroll
• 'The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi' by Boyce Upholt
• 'Nobody Cares About Your Career' by Erika Ayers Badan
• 'Short Stories in Spanish' by Olly Richards

• 'The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry' by John Mark Comer
• 'Anyplace But Here' by Sheriff Tony Thompson
• 'Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul' by Jennifer Tucker

I wonder if this title causes other readers to be confused, as it did me! I was expecting to hear about a child who was neglected or abandoned but got something entirely different.

In an unexpected twist, the story delves into the idyllic life of Bob and Sarah Nickerson, their devoted nanny, and their three children, Lucy, Charlie, and Linus. As vice-president of Human Resources for Berkley Consulting in Boston, Sarah often feels like a "balloon about to burst." Her daily routine is hectic and timed to the last minute. She is over-scheduled, overworked and nearly overwhelmed.

Into this mix comes a message from her son's school about his behavior. The teachers think that Charlie has ADHD and are demanding tests and parent-staff conferences. Bob and Sarah both have carefully planned schedules consisting of chauffeuring the children to school, day care, piano lessons and soccer, and this is one more hiccup in their tightrope-walk of life.

On her way to work one morning, Sarah makes a quick call while driving and looks away from the road just one second too long. As a result of the ensuing crash, she sustains a traumatic brain injury requiring surgery. When she awakes, she learns about Left Neglect, a severe condition that causes the victim to be unaware of the left side of the body. How this situation is handled and the changes that must be made seem too much to bear.

I highly recommend this second book by Lisa Genova. I felt as though I was right there with the family as they learn to cope with this disaster. Read this one very soon!

~Connie

*Warning: Contains Spoilers*

~Review of 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry~

I was 5 years old when this book was released, so I never really had the opportunity to pick it up and read it. Growing up, I had heard about the title and later learned about the book receiving a Newbery award among other accolades. The colorless and harmonious storyline was giving me 1998 "Pleasantville" vibes. Jonas is nervous about the Ceremony of the Twelves, because he is unsure what he will be assigned. As numbers are being called out and his friends are assigned their jobs, Jonas's number is skipped over. At the end of the ceremony Jonas learns that he was selected and chosen by the Committee of Elders to become the new Receiver. Jonas must meet with the Giver daily to learn of his new role and have memories passed down to him. At first, Jonas starts seeing color and is starting to have feelings/emotions that he has never had before. The Giver starts slow and passes down happy, good feeling memories. Jonas is eager to learn and asks for the memories that are painful. Jonas learns that before his time there was war, hunger, love, sadness, joy, different skin colors, holidays, etc. With his new emotions and awareness, Jonas wants others to feel and experience them as well. The Giver has already given so many of his memories to Jonas that the only way for others to experience these memories is if Jonas leaves his community. Jonas and the Giver come up with a plan in hopes that one day this community will have their own freedom of choice and individuality.

I also watched the movie after reading this book. I like the book much more than the movie. However, I did like 5 minutes of the ending because it gave me a little more closure.

~Kellie

In my opinion, one of the hardest things to do when writing is to portray intelligence. It's always difficult to write characters and societies like that because to write about their thought processes and systems, you have to understand them and think of them yourself. With that being said, 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov does this perfectly.

The book is essentially a collection of short stories focusing on a small research colony at the very edge of a galaxy. The galactic government is falling, and through what he calls "psychohistory," a made-up realm of science that allows mathematicians to predict the future with shocking accuracy, a man sets up the colony to serve as historians and rulers of the age after the fall.

The colony is unarmed and surrounded by warlike neighbors, so the main plot of the book is about the political, economic, and religious maneuvering that allowds it to survive and gain influence. The book is cerebral, yet explained in a way that can be understood. 'Foundation' is by far the best story of a fictionalized government that I have ever read.

~Loren, VPL Volunteer

I'm currently reading Kevin Kwan's latest novel 'Lies And Weddings.' It is full of juicy social satire aimed at the ultra-wealthy and reminds me of a modern take on Tom Wolfe's 'Bonfire of the Vanities.' The novel begins with a flashback to a traumatic event in 1995, then weaves into the busy preparations for the wedding of the year. The wedding is to be held on a resort at the top of a volcano in Hawaii and things don't go according to plan. Drama, deception, and high fashion abound, and at the core we know that all that glitters isn't gold.

Kwan is the author of the book 'Crazy Rich Asians' which was adapted into a film starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina and others. In 2018 he was named by Time magazine as one of the one hundred most influential people in the world (credit: book jacket bio). I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good over-the-top comedy.

Happy Reading!

~Kelly Henkle, Library Director

Is there a book you've always wanted to read but haven't? Have your friends been shocked to hear of a book you haven't read? Let us know in the comments below!

We appreciate our volunteers! Thank you, Thomas L., for volunteering your time at the library!

Thank you to Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson for tonight's presentation on 'Anyplace But Here: The Uncomfortable Convergence Between Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System.' This was a very engaging and informative presentation for our community. This book is now available for checkout at our library.

She is determined to get to 1,000 and she just hit 200 books! Great work!

This gal has read 200 books. She is cruising!

Looking for your next nonfiction read? Here are the highest circulation adult nonfiction books at our library so far this year. Happy Reading!

Thank you, Toby KID Comedian, for coming from a galaxy far, far away to teach us about conservation and how to become Jedi Knights! We had so much fun!!!

Our patrons are so nice! Thank you, Jordan C., for the lovely flowers!

Did you know our library's Summer Reading Program is for adults too? Check out these ways to get involved with the library this summer! Happy Reading!

Congrats to Lindsey M.! She took home a sweet corn themed prize pack in honor of National Sweet Corn Day!

This week's Volunteer Spotlight: Micah R.! Micah volunteers weekly with our Next Chapter Book Club and frequently helps us with our children's programs! Thank you for your time, Micah!

FY23 Iowa Public Library Statistics are now available through the State Library of Iowa! What a great time to visit your local library!

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Email: library@vintonia.gov
Website: vinton.lib.ia.us
Location: 510 2nd Avenue, Vinton, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 472-4208
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