Daniels County Library Notes

The Friend of the Family

by Dean Koontz is a historical fiction/thriller that takes place during Depression- era America. Alida has been a feature of the Museum of the Strange for as long as she can remember. This traveling show, a carnival of sorts, is under the direction of the Captain, who ‘adopted’ her as a small child, using and profiting from her physical deformities.

Now, at 17 years of age, her love of books becomes her only escape. Until Franklin and Loretta Fairchild witness the abuse she endures, which sets the wheels in motion for her salvation. They buy her freedom and she takes the name of Adiel, and becomes a member of the family. This all takes place in Hollywood, with the big names of the movie stars of this era.

There are villains and threats to the family, but there is a special power within Adiel. With such a wonderful home life, brother Harry and Isadora and Gertie, her sisters, growing up into young adults. But Adiel doesn’t age in the same way, as you will find out in the last chapter.

Land by Maggie O’Farrell is a historical fiction with a touch of magical realism. This story takes place in Ireland around 1865. It’s the time of the Great Hunger, following the failed potato harvest. Tomas and his young son, Liam, are working for the British Ordnance Survey, mapping a remote coastal peninsula.

Tomas is determined to tell the real story through his maps. He wants his people to know exactly what the Red Coats did to this land, rather that the colonizer writing the history.

And, during this endeavor, he stumbles upon a copse. What he finds is a sacred spring and, when he returns days later, he is not the same. This causes young Liam to work out how to finish the mapping before the English return. The reader will be pulling into this multi-generational family saga and you will find the real story is beneath the land.

Library Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 am.. - 6 p.m.

Story Hour will be Monday at 3 p.m. and Wednesday at 10 a.m. for ages 3-5 years old. Stories, songs, and crafts. Come join the fun.

Book Club is reading Breakfast with Buddha

by Roland Merullo. Otto and Cecelia grew up on a North Dakota farm. Both of their parents were killed in an automobile accident, and now they must make their way to the farm to settle the estate. Cecelia has a dreadful fear of flying, and insists they drive, from New Jersey!

Otto is a successful editor, while Cecelia tells fortunes. But she backs out at the last minute and substitutes her guru, Volya Rinpoche, in her stead. She plans on giving her half of the estate to him, which Otto views as reckless. Otto is borderline Protestant, but he questions his beliefs, to himself, anyway.

Well, this road trip will have him questioning everything. In his effort to show the guru the American way of life, it kind of backfires. Otto learns how to see his life from a different perspective.

We will meet Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. for discussion. Join us — we have treats!

Daniels County Library will be hosting a Mobile Memory Café Aug. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. We will have details shortly.

We will resume winter hours the week of Sept. 14. After-school programming will begin that week. Book Worm Buddies, first and third Wednesday for grades K-6, 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the library.

Lego Club, second and fourth Thursday for grades K-4, 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the library.

Cooking Club, third Thursday for grades 3-8, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Be sure to sign up at the Library, space is limited!

Little Sprouts, first and third Saturday for ages 0-3. New time: 9-9:30 a.m. at the library.