Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch, set in WWII-era London, is something of a narrative juggling act.  The multiple characters and story lines intersect at numerous points before their interconnectedness is gradually revealed–all while the story moves in reverse.  The novel opens in 1947 and moves backwards to 1944 before ending in 1941, prompting more than one reviewer to suggest rereading the beginning of the story to fully appreciate what Waters’ has done.

Don’t worry if you only read it once; we’d still love to talk to you at Lunch and Lit.  Come join use on January 13th at 1 pm.

Is your pile of outgoing Christmas cards stressing you out?  Why not take some time to read the Monday Night Book Group’s next selection:  Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace — One School at a Time ?  No, it won’t get those cards sent for you, but after reading this non-fiction account of the trials Greg Mortenson faces while attempting to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, you may find that the stack of envelopes isn’t so daunting in comparison.

The Monday Night Book Group next meets January 4th, at 7:00 pm.

The Chicago Tribune described Brunonia Barry’s The Lace Reader as “[a] gorgeously written literary novel that’s a doozy of a thriller, capped with a jaw-dropping denouement that will leave even the most careful reader gasping.”

Agree?  Disagree?  Just intrigued to read any book by an author named “Brunonia”?  Come share your thoughts on this modern-day mystery at the Monday Night Book Group.  We’ll be discussing The Lace Reader on December 7, at 7:00 pm.  Gasping not required.

**Saturday, November 21st, 10:30 AM**
FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Guest storyteller Jonathan Larson will share African tales and real life adventures from his experiences living in Africa. Join us for stories, photos, songs, and crafts from Africa.

When retired CEO Ramsay Peard, 61, called his old friend David Morine, 59, and asked the longtime conservationist if he wanted to canoe the Connecticut River, Morine said he’d do it under one condition: no camping. “We’ll rely on the kindness of strangers.” And that’s what they did. Mooching their way down the river and staying with strangers every night, Morine and Peard got an inside look at such issues as the demise of farming, the loss of manufacturing, gay rights, and Wal-Mart versus Main Street, and were able to delve deep into the lives of complete strangers. But Morine soon realized the one life he never dug into was Peard’s. After spending a month together in a canoe, he had no idea that his friend’s innermost thoughts had taken a fateful course.

a celebration of teens and reading

October 18-24

Teens (grades 6-12) are invited to the Grabill Library Book Bingo Program on Wednesday, October 21st @ 3:30.  We’ll play a little Bingo and win books as prizes.  What could be better?