FDL Reads: Violeta
Violeta by Isabel Allende
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, library volunteer
Genre: Fiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is the Book About?: Written in the form of a letter to her grandson, Violeta details the story of Violeta’s 100 years on planet Earth. Bracketed by two pandemics – born during the 1920 flu epidemic and ending during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 – the engrossing story of Violeta’s lifetime navigates family and national crises, tragedy, joy and passion.
My Review: Award-winning author Isabel Allende has created in Violeta, a saga that melds history and fiction. Set in an unnamed South American country, Violeta’s life story echoes Allende’s own story as Chilean exile. Reading Violeta’s story, one doesn’t know exactly what is fiction and what is taken from the pages of Allende’s personal history or Chile’s history. But that ambiguity only makes the story more intriguing; it draws the reader further into Violeta’s story and dares the reader to explore more of Allende’s and Chile’s histories. I enjoyed this book – its warmth, its heartaches, and its joys. I listened to the digital audio version and especially enjoyed the way narrator Yareli Arizmendi brought Violeta to life. I hope you will check out this engaging tale, in print or audio!
Three Words That Describe This Book: historical, passionate, heartbreaking
Give This a Try if You Like… Books or films that tell a person’s life history against a backdrop of history and national events, such as In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez or Bernhard Schlink’s Olga.
Rating: 5/5
#FDL: Book Giveaway for National Media Literacy Week
In honor of National Media Literacy Week, we are giving away a copy of Dr. Seema Yasmin’s book, What the Fact? Read more about this book below and tune in for an online interview of the author tomorrow at 7:00p.m.
Book Information:
“From acclaimed writer, journalist, and physician Dr. Seema Yasmin comes a much-needed, timely book about the importance of media literacy, fact-based reporting, and the ability to discern truth from lies.
What is a fact? What are reliable sources? What is news? What is fake news? How can anyone make sense of it anymore? Well, we have to. As conspiracy theories and online hoaxes increasingly become a part of our national discourse and “truth” itself is being questioned, it has never been more vital to build the discernment necessary to tell fact from fiction, and media literacy has never been more vital.
In this accessibly-written guide, Dr. Seema Yasmin, an award-winning journalist, scientist, medical professional, and professor, traces the spread of misinformation and disinformation through our fast-moving media landscape and teaches young readers the skills that will help them identify and counter poorly-sourced clickbait and misleading headlines.”
Program Information:
PBS Books, in collaboration with PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs, is pleased to present a conversation with Emmy-winning journalist Seema Yasmin, author of What The Fact, in connection with The US and the Holocaust: A film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and Sarah Botstein, and in celebration of National Media Literacy Week.
This free, online program will be at 7 p.m. this Tuesday, Oct. 25. Click here to access the live program.
During the program, Seema Yasmin will be interviewed by PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs’ Isaac Harte, who is 10th-grade student at the Shipley School and a MediaWise Teen Fact-Checker. In addition, a PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs story about misinformation and activism will be shared.
Giveaway
Enter your name here for a chance to win a copy of the book mentioned in this post. One entry per person. Drawing to be held approximately 7 days after this post.
#FDL is a weekly update on books and more at Fondulac District Library.
#FDL: YA Gothic Novels Giveaway
YA Gothic Novels Giveaway
Creepy settings and frightful mysteries are perfect for this time of year. Read the descriptions below of these young adult new releases and put your name in to win copies of the books!
Never the Wind by Francesco Dimitri
1996 – Luca Saracino is thirteen and has been completely blind for eight months when his parents move to a Southern Italian farmhouse they dream of turning into a hotel. With his brother dropping out of university and the family reeling from Luca’s diagnosis, they are chasing dreams of rebirth and reinvention.
As Luca tells his story without sight – experiencing the world solely through hearing, smell, taste and touch – he meets the dauntless Ada Guadalupi, who takes him out to explore the rocky fields and empty beaches. But Luca and Ada find they can’t escape the grudges that have lasted between their families for generations, or the gossiping of the town. And Luca is preyed upon by the feral Wanderer, who walks the vineyards of his home.
As Luca’s family starts to crack at the seams, Luca and Ada have to navigate new lands and old rivalries to uncover the truths spoken as whispers on the wind.
The Path of Thorns by A.G. Slatter
Alone in the world, Asher Todd travels to the remote estate of Morwood Grange to become governess to three small children. Her sole possessions comprise a sea chest and a large carpet bag she hangs onto for dear life. She finds a fine old home, its inhabitants proud of their lineage and impeccable reputation, and a small village nearby. It seems an untroubled existence, yet there are portraits missing from the walls, locked rooms, and names excised from the family tree inscribed in the bible. In short order, the children adore her, she becomes indispensible to their father Luther in his laboratory, and her potions are able to restore the sight of granddame Leonora. Soon Asher fits in as if she’s always been there, but there are creatures that stalk the woods at night, spectres haunt the halls, and Asher is not as much a stranger to the Morwoods as it might at first appear.
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.
When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.
But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.
Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.
-Annotations from the publishers
–Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Giveaway
Enter your name here for a chance to win ARCs of the books mentioned in this post. One entry per person. Drawing to be held approximately 7 days after this post.
ARCs are “advanced reading copies.” These are free copies of a new books given by a publisher to librarians and other reviewers before the book is printed for mass distribution.
#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria.
FDL Reads: Peach Blossom Spring
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
Reviewed by: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this book about? Peach Blossom Spring is the story of three generations of the Chinese Dao family who are in search of a permanent home from the late 1930s until 2005. Dao Xiaowen was married to Shui Meilin and they had a young son named Dao Renshu. Dao Xiaowen’s older brother, Longwei, was married to Xue Wenling, and they had two daughters, Liling and Lifen. Dao Xiaowen was killed in the war with the Japanese leaving Meilin to raise Renshu with the help of Longwei. As the Japanese raid their homeland during WWII, the Dao family must relocate. They scramble to seek shelter and to search for a new place to live. It is during one of these raids that Liling, Renshu’s favorite cousin, suffocates in a cave. Renshu, Meilin, and Wenling never recover from Liling’s death. After this tragedy, Longwei insists that the family move to Shanghai by way of steamer ship. Meilin agrees that she and Renshu will join the family on the ship, but she changes her mind and they do not board. Instead she guides Renshu up into the hills in search of her family’s compound. To her dismay, her childhood home has been destroyed by the Japanese, and she and Renshu decide to head for Shanghai in search of their family. Following WWII, the Chinese engage in a Civil War. The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Fearing the Communists, Meilin and Renshu leave the mainland and head for Taiwan. Meilin makes her home in Taiwan, and Renshu leaves for the United States following his graduation from National Taiwan University. He receives a scholarship to study engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Though he is happy to be in the United States, he is fearful of socializing with Chinese immigrants and engaging in Chinese politics. He fears for the safety of his mother in Taiwan. Dao Renshu changes his name to Henry Dao and he marries an American girl named Rachel. He becomes a citizen, they move to Los Alamos, New Mexico where he works for Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and they have a child named Lily. Though Lily wants to know her Chinese heritage, Henry is reluctant to share. He wants to protect her from what he fears can harm her, and he does not want to talk about his traumatic childhood. When his mom passes away, Lily and Henry go to Taiwan to lay her to rest. It is in Taiwan that Henry decides to share with Lily some of her Chinese heritage.
My review: The title of this novel is from an ancient Chinese fable that Meilin shares with Renshu. The fable is etched on a scroll that Meilin carries with her. The scroll pictures an old fisherman who happens upon a peach grove in full blossom. The fisherman enters the grove and discovers a village of paradise where all of the citizens are happy and they have everything they want and need. The fisherman is welcome to stay, but if he chooses to leave, he may never return. So the fisherman decides to stay. Throughout the story, Meilin shares a variety of fables with Renshu, Liling, and Lifen. These fables are a great addition to this novel. I also liked how the author included locations, dates, and maps in addition to the chapters. This is my favorite novel so far that I have read for FDL Reads. If this book sounds appealing, give this picture book a try: Peach Blossom Spring by Fergus M. Bordewich
Rating: 5/5
Three words that describe this book: historical, engaging, traumatic
Give this a try if you like… Pachinko by Lee Min-jin, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht
If you are interested in viewing East Asian Scroll Paintings, visit https://scrolls.uchicago.edu/view-scroll/53
#FDL: What We’ve Been Reading
FDL staff has been busy reading all kinds of things this fall. Check out our recommendations below!
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Kean
I just finished Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane, as it was recommended to me by another librarian. This story of two families gripped me from the beginning and allows the reader a glimpse into their joys and struggles as the families tackle love and marriage, addiction and recovery, and illness and treatment. While that seems like it might be a recipe for a depressing downer of a book, perseverance and hope made me as the reader want to get to the end of the story. – Genna, Library Director
King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
A warrior princess, Isolde, and her father, the king, are losing a war with the vampire nation. To end the war and avoid complete destruction, they must surrender to Vampire King Adrian in exchange for peace and protection. To seal the deal, Princess Isolde will have to forge an alliance by marrying the vampire king, thus becoming queen of the vampires. – Jeremy, Adult Services
The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
This book is a sequel to Richardson’s earlier book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Both books are true stories based on the program that began in the 1930’s of horseback delivery of library and literacy materials through the Appalachian mountains in southeastern Kentucky. Honey Lovett is the daughter whose story takes place in the 1950’s and details the struggles that women faced in all areas of their lives whether working in forestry, mining, literacy efforts or simply as wives. – Becky, Adult Services
Horus Rising: Book 1 of the Horus Heresy by Dan Abnett
I’ve played Warhammer 40,000 for 24 years and have recently decided to read some books that detail the history of the setting in more depth. The book was much better than I expected. – Nick, Circulation Manager
Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin
This novel is about an isolated community living amongst the clouds in a mountain valley. Idyllic, except for the ‘affliction’ that marks their community: the regular disappearance of young mothers. Atmospheric and culty, I love the framing and how the mystery is unfolding. – Beth, Communications
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Verity Crawford is an esteemed and respected author, most famous for her series of fictional novels written through the viewpoint of the villain. When she has a terrible and mysterious accident that leaves her unable to finish the last three installments of the series, her husband and publisher seek out Lowen Ashleigh to ghost write the remainder of the series. Lowen, unqualified and virtually unknown as an author, soon finds herself in Verity’s home office sifting through her personal notes and records when she comes across some very troubling documents. Was the death of not one, but two of Verity’s children the result of two separate freak accidents? Was Verity’s injury due to yet another freak accident, or was something more sinister at play? Are Verity’s injuries as severe as they seem? Why is Jeremy so adamant to have Lowen of all people finish the series his wife spent so many years carefully crafting? This thriller will keep you guessing all the way to the end and have you split between what to believe. – Katie, Circulation
Forbidden City by Vanessa Hua
I was drawn to this book by its title. I have always been fascinated with China’s Forbidden City, the fortified gilded palace of its past emperors. But the novel is not about the Forbidden City. Rather, it’s about Chairman Mao Zedong’s Communist Cultural Revolution and a sixteen year old girl who becomes his lover and a model revolutionary. – Deb, Circulation
Normal People by Sally Rooney
This is the coming-of-age story of Connell and Marianne, two students from a small Irish town. Despite differences in social standing and class, they are drawn to one another and begin a secret relationship while in high school. There are intense feelings and communication disasters, but Connell and Marianne continue to connect and reconnect during their college years, discovering a bond that is irresistible to ignore. – Susie, Adult Services
Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville
Just in time for spooky season, this is an engaging book on what makes America’s cemeteries unique. From the first burying grounds at Jamestown, to the development of cemeteries as real estate investments, to modern “green” burial, there is a wealth of interesting information in this quick read. – Sylvia Shults, Circulation
Flash Fire by T.J. Klune
I read Flash Fire as an audiobook, and the narrator brought life to all of these lively characters, especially the teenage protagonist Nick. As a sequel to The Extraordinaries, it built on the story with new challenges to overcome and a couple twists, and the ending made me immediately put book three on hold. – Alice, Youth Services Manager
Books by author/illustrator Jon Klassen
These picture books have a great autumn vibe! I love the simplistic art style as well as the dry humor – these titles are great for kids and adults! – Chelsea, Youth Services
The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Thrawn Ascendancy Series by Timothy Zahn
Right now I am reading the Thrawn Ascendancy series by Timothy Zahn. This series is the origin story of Grand Admiral Thrawn – first seen on screen in the Star Wars Rebels series. It follows him on his rise in the ranks of the Chiss Ascendancy and shows how he developed his unparalleled tactical skills that he uses for what he views as the greater good. – Rebecca, Business Manager
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
Celebrate the Friends of FDL!
Join us in celebrating the Friends of Fondulac Library during National Friends of Libraries Week, October 16-22! The Friends of FDL provide crucial support to the library through advocacy, financial support, and volunteerism. Our Friends are an amazing group of volunteers who dedicate countless hours of their time to the library. The Friends of FDL maintain our ongoing Book Sale and host the annual BIG Book Sale, volunteer for events like Star Wars Day and the Big Rig Petting Zoo, sponsor our summer reading programs and babysitting classes, and more! We’re so grateful for all they do!
The best way to support the Friends is to join them (annual dues are only $5), but there are many others ways to support them throughout the year. Donations of gently used books are always needed to keep the book sale stocked. Visit the library on October 27 to sign holiday cards for members of the U.S. military and watch for them in the Veterans Day Parade on November 5. After the parade, they’ll pass out book sale coupons and give free books to veterans.
The Friends always bring some holiday cheer to the library with their Holiday Basket drawing in December – enter for the chance to win one of three amazing family baskets! And find wonderful treats, gifts, stocking stuffers, and handmade items at their annual Holiday Craft and Bake Sale on December 1-3. Proceeds from the sale support the library and its programs.