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Well, have you made a New Year’s Resolution? I never do because I know me; I’m a softie and won’t keep it.
I guess the two things I can say I don’t enjoy about the New Year is (1) The cold—Please give me the sun, an iced tea and a good book. (2) Getting dark at 5:00 pm. Can anybody say long evening? It’s too cold to go out; who wants to warm car, bundle up and then as soon as you get the car warm enough you are where you intend to go and have to jump out?! Also, it’s too dark to go out. Is it me or does everything look different in the dark? I mean, I guess it’s just me. I really do appreciate a new year, a fresh start to begin again; I guess I would probably appreciate it more if the temperature was turned up just a little.
Do any of you suffer from seasonal depression? I do and I have to fight it. I know spring will come; it just seems to take longer than the other seasons!
Here’s a January quote I found:
“January, the first month of the year, a perfect time to start all over again. Changing energies and deserting old moods, new beginnings, new attitudes.” --Charmaine J. Forde
However, I do intend to start this New Year by enjoying more of each day. I have found out you really can’t take your life or health for granted. If 2022 has taught me anything it definitely taught me and my husband this.
BOOK REVIEW TIME
The Tidelands by Philipa Gregory
I’ve started a Trilogy by Phillipa Gregory. I will admit I never read anything by this author. She is famous for her historical fiction. Not a genre I usually lean toward. Anyway, this Trilogy is called The Tidelands. The first book is about a woman named Alinor and her two children. They have been left on this island surrounded by water and mire to survive as her husband is presumed dead or lost at sea. But is he? She and her daughter are forced to take menial jobs just to have food and clothing for the family. They grow and sell herbs; they glean wheat the farmers drop, do laundry or anything to survive another day in the Tidelands. Read how luck begins to change for her and her family. How will their lives intersect with a Priest named James? Does Elinor really possess powers that of a witch? Is she a healer? Or are some of the island people just paranoid of Elinor’s striking beauty? Who will free King Charles? Will he return to the throne or be bound to serve the New Parliament? This is such a fascinating book I couldn’t put it down. I was engrossed throughout the whole book. Please take a chance on this one. Oh, and stay tuned for Book Two of the Tidelands Trilogy.
Tears of the Giraffe (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency) by Alexander McCall Smith
I was looking at the reading list for the Book Club held here at the Library. The group chose Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. I did some research. This is definitely the next series I will begin to blog about. This is the second book, so of course I had to check out the first one. It’s called… wait for it…The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. The main character is Mma Precious Ramotswe who is committed to helping people with their problems. She sets up a storefront in Gaborone and she’s hired to find a missing husband, uncover a con man and follow a wayward daughter. Oh, and she runs into some witch doctors. Sound intriguing? I thought so. I will definitely have more info on this series. So stay tuned to my next blog….
If you are looking for an edge of your seat heart stopping suspense….check out novels by B.A. Paris. I’ve read all the books by this author so far, but happened to be scouring the new shelf upstairs here at the main library and what do you know? A new one…called “Prisoner.” So as you can see I’ve got a trilogy to finish and my No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to start, but have no fear, “Prisoner” will be right on my winter reading list.
DVD REVIEW TIME
Ticket to Paradise
Ok, I watched the DVD, Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney and Julia Roberts---Awesome! Their chemistry is off the charts. It is such a fun movie. If you are a parent who will do almost anything for your child---even if it’s something wonky--watch this one!!
Please don’t forget to check out the Raleigh County Public Library’s website and Facebook page for all meetings, adult and children’s programs, as well as closings or any changes.
Remember you will also find Bookmobile’s schedules posted there. This will help you keep track of where our wheels will be rolling this January 2023!