Smythie
The monthly e-newsletter of the Smyth Public Library
July, 2019
Volume 13, No.4

Events…

Summer Music at the Gazebo Returns!

Windham Swing Band
Wednesday, July 17th at 6:30
An 18 piece with music from the 20’s. Come hear many of your favorite swing and Big Band standards. With great instrumentals, this band is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Travel with us back to a time of top hats and tuxes!

If the forecast is storms or rain, we’ll hold the concert at the CYAA building
(Candia Youth Athletic Association at 27 Raymond Rd)

Nicole Murphy
Wednesday, July 24th at 6:30

Candia favorite! Nicole can be found playing over a hundred shows a year at Bars, Clubs, Fairs, and Festivals though out New England. Along with her award-winning original music, Nicole’s set includes some great classic country and rock covers.

Granite Planet
Wednesday, July 31st at 6:30

Granite Planet is a retro cover band with a diverse playlist includes rock, pop, dance/disco, today’s country & a bit of blues. Most of their songs are upbeat and high energy – you’ll want to get up and dance!

Windham Community Band
Wednesday, August 7th at 6:30

Celebrate the end of the Summer Reading program with traditional and family-oriented music!

Bedford Big Band
Wednesday, August 7th at 6:30

Come join the BBB for their annual night of summer fun at the Smyth Library in Candia!

HOW-TO’s

Have taken the summer off…
If you have a special talent you’d like to share, please see Heidi at the front desk

Check out our monthly calendar on our website for all our events and programs.

New!!!

TRY OUT NEW: KANOPY
WE ARE THRILLED TO PRESENT OUR NEW FILM STREAMING SERVICE
Started in February, Smyth Library Patrons Will Have Access to Kanopy featuring more than 30,000 Films, For Free!
Library card holders can access Kanopy and view up to four films per month. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku.
With the motto of “thoughtful entertainment,” Kanopy provides patrons with access to films of unique social and cultural value; films that are often difficult or impossible to access elsewhere, and programming that features diversity, with a wide array of foreign language films and films on race, and current affairs.
TRY IT AND DOWNLOAD NOW AT: smythpl.kanopy.com

New on our shelves…

New Fiction…

Big sky Atkinson, Kate
Aunt Dimity & the Summer King Atherton, Nancy
Their little secret Billingham, Mark
Murder in Bel-Air Black, Cara
Rules of engagement Bruns, David,
My enemy’s enemy Buettner, Robert
Tom Clancy’s enemy contact Maden, Mike
Sharpe’s prey : Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Copenhagen, 1807
Cornwell, Bernard
The oracle: a Sam and Remi Fargo adventure Cussler, Clive
This storm: a novel Ellroy, James
This is your life, Harriet Chance!: a novel Evison, Jonathan
City of girls Gilbert, Elizabeth
The friends we keep Green, Jane
Forrest Gump: the novel Groom, Winston
Heat and light Haigh, Jennifer
Summer of ’69 Hilderbrand, Elin
The long flight home Hlad, Alan
The sentence is death Horowitz, Anthony
Paranoid Jackson, Lisa
The island Ragnar Jónasson
This is paradise: stories Kahakauwila, Kristiana
Sisters like us Mallery, Susan
Hot shot Michaels, Fern
The burning chambers Mosse, Kate
Murder in an Irish churchyard O’Connor, Carlene
The fall of Crazy House Patterson, James
Unsolved Patterson, James
Rogue strike Ricciardi, David
The royal secret: a novel Riley, Lucinda
Black rose — 2 Roberts, Nora
Blue dahlia — 1 Roberts, Nora
Red Lily — 3 Roberts, Nora
Normal people: [a novel] Rooney, Sally
The thirteenth tale: a novel Setterfield, Diane
The Rosie result Simsion, Graeme C
Spring Smith, Alison
Lost and found: a novel Steel, Danielle
The kind worth killing: a novel Swanson, Peter
Backlash: a thriller Thor, Brad
The body in the castle well: a Bruno, chief of police novel Walker, Martin
The summer country: a novel Willig, Lauren
The lying tongue Wilson, Andrew
The cartel: a novel Winslow, Don
Skin game Woods, Stuart
Death’s mistress: sister of darkness Goodkind, Terry

“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”
– Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson

New Non-Fiction…

Lucky in love: traditions, rituals, and symbols to personalize your wedding Gage, Eleni N.,
The Wolf Connection: What Wolves Can Teach Us About Being Human Alfero, Teo.
A fierce heart: finding strength, courage, and wisdom in any moment Washam, Spring,
The sword and the shield: the Mitrokhin archive and the secret history of the KGB Andrew, Christopher M
Whales: an illustrated celebration Oseid, Kelsey.
Prisoners, Lover, & Spies: the story of invisible ink from Herodotus to al-Qaeda Macrakis, Kristie
The shepherd’s life: modern dispatches from an ancient landscape Rebanks, James.
Everyday Italian: 125 simple and delicious recipes De Laurentiis, Giada
Draw your day: an inspiring guide to keeping a sketch journal
Baker, Samantha Dion,
Open: an autobiography Agassi, Andre
Eyewitness travel — Turkey Swan, Suzanne
South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland
A necessary end Taylor, Nick,
The ghost ships of Archangel: the Arctic voyage that defied the Nazis
Geroux, William
Secrets of a Civil War submarine CD (3): solving the mysteries of the H.L. Hunley
Walker, Sally M
Sisters first: stories from our wild and wonderful life Hager, Jenna Bush
Blood moon: an American epic of war and splendor in the Cherokee Nation
Sedgwick, John

New Books on CD…

Blood Oath: a Novel CD (8) Fairstein, Linda
Happier at home CD (8): [kiss more, jump more, abandon a project, read Samuel Johnson, and my other experiments in the practice of everyday life] Rubin, Gretchen Craft
American radical: inside the world of an undercover muslim FBI agent CD (8) Elnoury, Tamer,
Apollo 8: the thrilling story of the first mission to the moon CD (9) Kluger, Jeffrey.
Ice bound CD(5): a doctor’s incredible battle for survival at the South Pole Nielsen, Jerri
Shadow divers CD (5): [the true adventure of two Americans who risked everything to solve one of the last mysteries of World War II] Kurson, Robert
Rise to greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America’s most perilous year CD (15)
Von Drehle, David,
Big sky: a novel CD (10) Atkinson, Kate
Resistance women: a novel CD (16) Chiaverini, Jennifer
The oracle: a Sam and Remi Fargo adventure CD (9) Cussler, Clive
Queen bee: a novel CD (9) Frank, Dorothea Benton
The ghost writer CD (5) Harris, Robert
Summer of ’69 CD (12) Hilderbrand, Elin
Paranoid CD (11) Jackson, Lisa
Someone to watch over me: a novel CD (5) McNaught, Judith
Final justice CD (6) Michaels, Fern
Unsolved CD (10) Patterson, James
Tyrannosaur Canyon CD (5) Preston, Douglas J.
Seating arrangements: a novel CD (10) Shipstead, Maggie
The Silmarillion CD (13) — Vol. 1-3 Tolkien, J. R. R
Skin game CD (6) Woods, Stuart

New Video…

Instant family DVD 1181 [PG13]
Gunpowder DVD 1182 [PG13]
A little princess ; The secret garden DVD 146 [G]
Waist Deep DVD 151 [R]
Legion DVD 158 [R]
The clearing DVD 161 [R]
Moulin Rouge DVD 178 [PG13]
Fracture DVD 179 [R]
Chronicle DVD 190 [PG13]
Life DVD 191 [R]
Peoples and cultures of the world DVD GC (4) Fischer, Edward F.,
The remarkable science of ancient astronomy DVD GC (4) Schaefer, B. E.
Albert Einstein: physicist, philosopher, humanitarian DVD GC (4) — Parts1&2 Howard, Don
NH Remembered: with Fritz Wetherbee NF DVD

“In our village, folks say God crumbles up the old moon into stars.”
—Alexander Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Friends On-going Book Sale
You can browse at your leisure now and bring home a favorite to keep or to give away to a friend. Just look for the bright signs just inside our main doors on the left. Pay at the front desk. Only… $1 for hardcover and $.50 for paperbacks. Proceeds go to the Friends of Smyth Library. See the new “Blind Date with a Book” Sale and $1 Cookbook magazines available.

YOU ARE INVITED~ More Friends welcomed! Would you like to help the library? Then please consider becoming a Friend! See Heidi or Ginny for more information!

Tip from the front desk

VACATION IDEAS

For a mood booster-Cure it with Culture

Come in and check out one of our many Museum Passes!

Hitting cultural attractions like galleries and museums every few months is associated with a one-third lower risk of developing depression over a 10-year period, according to a study of more than 2,000 adults over 50 in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Going on these types of outings at least once a month bumps that risk reduction up to almost 50%. Researchers think the social interaction, creativity, mental stimulation and light physical activity built into many cultural activities may work together to enhance mental health. “The arts may also reduce our rate of cognitive decline or risk of dementia,” says Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D., senior research fellow at University College London and the study’s lead author. “In the same way we have a ‘five-a-day’ rule for fruit and vegetable consumption, we should plan regular engagement in arts and cultural activities into our lives.”
Excerpt from GH June 2019
Check out all the offerings we have available for you and your family at Smyth Public Library
-Heidi Deacon, Director

Fun Family Museum Trips for Hot Summer Days:
Now Available: NH State Park Passes! From epic mountains, spanning lakes and evergreen forests, NH State Parks has 93 properties and endless experiences to choose from. The NH Division of Parks and Recreation’s Library Pass entitles admission to all day-use parks (except a few) for two adults and four dependents. It is not valid for use at the metered parking or for camping. This is a wonderful program offered and we hope that it is enjoyed by many families!
Aviation Museum
Boston Museum of Fine Arts Pass
Boston Museum of Science
Currier Museum of Art
Fuller Gardens
Libby Museum
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne State Park
SEE Science Center
Squam Lakes Science Center
Strawbery Banke
Woodman Museum
Check our website for passes!!!All are listed in the “museum passes” tab of the website and can be reserved there.

Coloring night for all ages, all supplies provided, Fridays 6-7 pm

Try out our new “Volunteer Your World” ideas at Smyth Public Library. Visit our Volunteer Your World Page

Writers’ group
On the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 6:30pm
The Smyth Public Library hosts a gathering of writers once or twice a month where we work together on timed writing exercises using prompts and other sources of inspiration. The writing periods will be followed by sharing some of the work with each other. The goal of the group is to loosen up and get the pen moving on paper. We don’t seek to have a finished work by the end of the session and you don’t need to arrive with a finished piece of writing to share. The writer’s group is a place to meet with other writers and to flex your writing muscles. Please come ready with a writing medium of your choice: paper and pen/pencil, computer, tablet, etc.

Drop In Family Game Nights!!
First Friday of every month at 6:30

Knitting & Crochet Circle
Help with the cap, blanket, and scarf charity project, work on your own items, or just come to learn. Call Lisa 587-0603 for more info.
Third Thursday of the month, 6:30pm

Monthly Lego Night!
EVERY third Friday 6:30-7:30 for all ages.

Family Movie Night
Friday, July 26, 6:00 p.m.

“Wonder Park”rated PG

Did you Know???
Known as “The Man in the Swimming Trunks”, Franz Kapka would attend nudist camps but refuse to drop his trousers.

In theGallery…

The Woodford’s Family Art Show

ART WANTED!!!
Our art gallery and (locked) glass case is always available for the works of local artists. Just see Heidi at the front desk to display your works

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Brought to you by the Friends of the Smyth Public Library
The Little Free Library is up and running at the CYAA complex – anyone can take advantage!

LOVE TO SHARE A GOOD BOOK?
Now! 2 groups! 2 times!
How about sharing your thoughts on a book at the friendly monthly book discussion group?

Thursday, July 25th, 11:00 a.m.
The Sapphire Widow
By Dinah Jeffries
A sweeping, breathtaking story of love and betrayal from the internationally bestselling author of The Tea Planter’s Wife
Ceylon, 1935. Louisa Reeve, the daughter of a successful British gem trader, and her husband Elliot, a charming, thrill-seeking businessman, seem like the couple who have it all. Except what they long for more than anything: a child. While Louisa struggles with miscarriages, Elliot is increasingly absent, spending much of his time at a nearby cinnamon plantation, overlooking the Indian ocean. After his sudden death, Louisa is left alone to solve the mystery he left behind. Revisiting the plantation at Cinnamon Hills, she finds herself unexpectedly drawn towards the owner, Leo, a rugged outdoors man with a checkered past. The plantation casts a spell, but all is not as it seems. And when Elliot’s shocking betrayal is revealed, Louisa has only Leo to turn to . . .
Extra titles of this book are available at the front desk

Thursday, July 25th at 7:00 pm
The Hungry Ocean
by Linda Greenlaw

“Known to millions of readers of The Perfect Storm as the captain of the Hannah Boden, sister ship to the Andrea Gail, Linda Greenlaw is also known as one of the best sea captains on the East Coast. Here she offers an adventure-soaked tale of her own, complete with danger, humor, and characters so colorful they seem to have been ripped from the pages of Moby Dick. “A beautiful book . . . a story of triumph, of a woman not only making it but succeeding at the highest level in one of the most male-dominated and most dangerous professions.”
— Douglas Whynott, The New York Times Book Review*

Extra titles of this book are available at the front desk

Library Assets…

SERVICE FOR HOMEBOUND PATRONS:
Smyth Public Library is now offering home delivery of library materials for any Candia community residents in need. Please contact us for a registration form for this service or use the link to a form to fill out on our website.

The library is proud to now offer The Healing Library; reading kits to aid with coping with difficult situations. We offer The Death of a Loved One, The Death of a Pet, plus Alzheimer’s & Your Family. These are located in the children’s room, along with books relating to each topic. The kits are available now for check out.

STILL HERE!:
Digital Movies, Music and More –Instantly Available –24/7 –Free with your Library Card!
Movies, TV,Music Albums, eAudiobooks , eBooks, and Comics/Graphic Novels. All in one location, from your computer, tablet or Smartphone!
With hoopla, there are no hold lists, no extra apps or accounts needed or special steps to use it.
It just works! On a mobile device, borrowed content may be temporarily downloaded and accessed offline or, in either the app or on a computer, all borrowed content may be enjoyed while connected to the internet by streaming.

Don’t forget – you can always borrow our internet hot spot, telescope and newly offered Ukulele and a dozen baking pans!
Making Your Life Easy:
By going to our website, you can search our entire catalogue for books, CD’s, DVD’s and movies. Once found, you can check to see if what you want is in. If so, just to our website and reserve the book. The next time you come in, it will be waiting for you at the front desk. WITH OUR NEW WEBSITE YOU CAN DO IT WITH YOUR MOBILE DEVICE!
PLUS!! Check out our smythpl.org website updates and Smyth Library’s Public Catalog featuring:

– A crawl of new items.
– “What’s Hot” now covers several choices.
-“Most Popular” titles (a combination of checkouts and reserves are used to determine this list).
– “More Search Options” includes Medium that lets members search by DVD or Large Print, etc.
More Research Options:

Full text articles from thousands of magazines, journals and national newspapers, plus NoveList. Call or e-mail us and provide your name and your library card number, and we’ll give you the password.
Smyth Library has available:
The Candia Heritage Commission is pleased to announce the acquisition of a valuable historical resource, bound volumes of the Rockingham County News encompassing the years 1978-1998. A two week loan of a volume can be arranged by contacting Sis Richter 483-2585, president of the Historical Society or Diane Philbrick 483-8239, chair of the Heritage Commission.

Memories, Pictures and stories!
The Candia Heritage Commission is looking for stories and photos of Smyth Library experiences. It is compiling a story of our very active Candia library from the last days at the “Old Library” to the present in the “New” library. How has the library been part of life in Candia? Leave your contribution at the front desk or email: Heritage@candianh.org.

We’re on Facebook!
Like the Smyth Public Library
Look at our page on Facebook for events and updates about our library!

Downloadable Books!!!!
Ipods and Kindles work and you can
Order right from our website!

Kids’ Stuff…
Check out our monthly calendar for children on the children’s tab on our website.

A UNIVERSE OF STORIES

SUMMER READING IS HAPPENING Wednesdays FROM JULY 3- AUGUST 14
SIGN UP NOW!

Baby—Preschool children- stories, games, crafts, music, puppets-During Thursday Story Time 10am

School Age Children (K-6)
Wednesday, July 17th 3pm- Galaxy Painting
Wednesday, July 24th 3pm- Cardboard Space Shuttles
Wednesday, July 31st 3pm- Space Suncatchers
Wednesday, August 7th 3pm- Make a Bottle Rocket!
Wednesday, August 14th 3pm- Make a Solar System

FOR TEENS!!
TWEENS/TEENS SUMMER READING
~Read a book~ fill out a mini review form at the front desk~ enter for gift card raffle prizes~

Wednesday, July 17th 4pm- Make Chocolates
Wednesday, July 24th 4pm- Water Balloon Relay Race
Wednesday, July 31st 4pm- Bubble Paint

Baby—Preschool children-
Stories, games, crafts, music, puppets
During Thursday Story Time 10 a.m.

NOW presenting two Storytimes:
Thursdays, 10 am with Jessica
Thursdays, 6 pm with Autumn
Preschoolers and babies welcomed
Read to Simon, Gwen Paprocki’s Certified Therapy dog.
Want to boost reading confidence?

Why is reading to a dog educational AND fun? Because Simon is soft, furry and warm and he loves the attention you give him when you practice your reading out-loud skills! In the Children’s Library Room ~ one-on-one with Ms. Gwen and Simon present. (Simon and Gwen Paprocki are certified through Therapy Dogs International)
Please sign up if interested. Call Gwen for more info at 483-8245

FUTURE ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS!!
Second Friday, 6:00 p.m.
We break out our snap circuits! Build exciting projects including computer interfaced experiments and solar cell applications. Build over 175 exciting projects now with lights. All new kits and all ages welcome! Check our Facebook page for some cool snap circuit projects.

1000 BOOKS before Kindergarten
Personal memory registers and book bags are available for parents.

New books for children…
All about rattlesnakes Arnosky, Jim
Border collies Sabelko, Rebecca,
Freshwater fishing Hamilton, Sue L.,
Grandma according to me Beil, Karen Magnuson.
The Smurfs E DVD 043 — True blue friends
Herbie goes to the Heartland County Fair
Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the wildest, smartest dog ever Lowell, Barbara,
Mrs. Katz and Tush Polacco, Patricia
You are home: an ode to the National Parks Turk, Evan,
More than enough: a Passover story Wayland, April Halprin

New books for juni ors…
Arms & armor Byam, Michele
The secret history of Tom Trueheart CD (5) Beck, Ian.
My brother Sam is dead CD (4) Collier, James Lincoln
Cracker!: the best dog in Vietnam CD (6) Kadohata, Cynthia
The storm runner Cervantes, Jennifer,
Escape from the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants novel — 4
De la Cruz, Melissa,
Marge in charge Fisher, Isla,
Ali-A adventures — Game on! Ali-A
Darwin: an exceptional voyage Grolleau, Fabien,
Gamayun tales — [Volume 2], — The water spirit / Utkin, Alexander,
The trail Hashimoto, Meika
Sadie’s story Heppermann, Christine,
Diary of an awesome friendly kid: Rowley Jefferson’s journal Kinney, Jeff
A guide book to the great tree Huang, Kathryn.
The coming of Hoole — 10 Lasky, Kathryn
Exile — 14 Lasky, Kathryn
The first collier — 9 Lasky, Kathryn
The golden tree — 12 Lasky, Kathryn
The river of wind — 13 Lasky, Kathryn
To be a king — 11 Lasky, Kathryn
The war of the ember — 15 Lasky, Kathryn
Grip of the shadow plague: Fablehaven — 3 Mull, Brandon

From the Junior Shelves~

The Storm Runner
by J.C. Cervantes, Jennifer Cervantes

Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He’d much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno — for his one good leg. What Zane doesn’t know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy.

A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he’s destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in — unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane. When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. To survive, Zane will have to become the Storm Runner. But how can he run when he can’t even walk well without a cane?

Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.
Goodreads

New books for young adults…
The 57 bus Slater, Dashka
The dirty streets of heaven Williams, Tad
The poet X Acevedo, Elizabeth
The beholder Bright, Anna,
Keeping the moon Dessen, Sarah
I was their American dream: a graphic memoir Gharib, Malaka,
Through a life Haugomat, Tom,
Slam Hornby, Nick
As death draws near: a Lady Darby mystery — 5 Huber, Anna Lee
A brush with shadows: A Lady Darby mystery — 6 Huber, Anna Lee
A grave matter: a Lady Darby mystery — 3 Huber, Anna Lee
Mortal arts: A Lady Darby mystery — 2 Huber, Anna Lee
A study in death: a Lady Darby novel — 4 Huber, Anna Lee
All American boys Reynolds, Jason
Sorcery of thorns Rogerson, Margaret,
The bone charmer: fate is predictable ; choice is not Shields, Breeana,

From the Young Adult Shelves~

Slam
by Nick Hornby

Bestselling author Nick Hornby delivers his first novel for young adults.

For 16-year-old Sam, life is about to get extremely complicated. He and his girlfriend—make that ex-girlfriend— Alicia have gotten themselves into a bit of trouble. Sam is suddenly forced to grow up and struggle with the familiar fears and inclinations that haunt us all.

Nick Hornby’s poignant and witty novel shows a rare and impressive understanding of human relationships and what it really means to be a man.
Goodreads

Trivia Time!

Every month we ask a trivia question. If you know the answer, drop it off at the front desk or e-mail it here. We will randomly select the winner from the correct answers and the WINNERwill win ONE FREE WEEK of OVERDUE FINE AMNESTY ON ONE BOOK

Last month’s question and answer:
Q. What was Agatha Christie’s husband’s occupation?
A. My answer was archeologist. Agatha even wrote a book about it, book I got schooled:
Hi Heidi,
I read the trivia question for this month, and you should let Rick know that
Agatha Christie had two husbands.
One was in the military (I think a pilot) and they divorced, and her second
husband was an archeologist.
My grandmother was a big Agatha Christie fan, so I remember her talking
about it.
-Amie Jones

Big Winner!

This Month’s Trivia Question:

What famous American author lived next door to Mark Twain in Hartford, Connecticut?
From the New and Recent Shelves~
We (being I) are always looking for contributors to this reviews section. The editor has a limited range of taste, so any reviews would be more than welcomed. Just e-mail them in reply to this, or to librarian@smythpl.org
I admit to a rather limited taste in reading materials. I generally eschew science fiction, fantasy and what are euphemistically referred to as “chic books”. I realize this is a deficiency in not only me, but the “From the New and Recent Shelves” section of “The Smythie”.
I may therefore resort to pilfering reviews from Goodreads.com for a book at times to widen the breadth of this service. I’d much rather have a contributing reviewer (or twelve). If you’ve read a book you’ve loved, please shoot me a review so we can enjoy a more personal perspective.

Fiction…

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson is a very different murder book. Not a mystery since it discloses – almost all – of the plot(s) as it goes. It starts with a fairly drunken millionaire confessing to a stranger in an airport lounge that he wants to murder his wife. She has cheated on him with their contractor. The lovely listener offers to help. To reveal anything after that is a spoiler.

The book is engrossing and filled with unexpected twisted turns that – as they say – will keep you reading late into the night.

I have only one criticism. The story is told in chapters narrated by each of the characters. The voices never change, so you have to keep reminding yourself of who is doing the telling as you read. A minor rebuke for a terrific thriller.

More Fiction…

The Relic Master is a very good satire on the medieval Christian practice of relic collecting, sales and showcasing along with selling indulgences. Taking place during the time of Martin Luther Mr. Buckley constructs a clever novel based upon the two shrouds that have been alleged to be Jesus’s burial wraps. The “big name” characters are real, but Didmas, the relic seller and mastermind, is not. The author includes a recap at the end of the book that includes the post-book lives of the participants and excerpts from the Vatican’s scientific study of the second shroud.

I thought the book was very good and the plot clever until the very end when it almost morphed into a chapter from THE THREE MUSKETEERS. But still well worth the read. A good book for anyone with an interest in and a sense of humor about this period of the Catholic Church.

Non-fiction…

Down From the Mountain is a wonderful account of the author’s interaction with grizzlies in Montana. The writing is almost poetic, making it an ode to the animals while outlining in stark realism the pitfalls of man and grizzly interaction. It never gets preachy and the author does not make any political or social stand, other than lamenting the populating of wilderness. Even then, he cannot blame the humans who want to be in rural Montana. His mission bears (no pun intended) this out. He wants to protect a farmer’s field of corn while protecting the grizzlies at the same time.
Highly recommended.

Ever want to be one of those know-it-all reviewers?
Got a book to recommend?
Want to write a blurb?
Have a child with a favorite book who would like to contribute to the Smythie?

We welcome contributors (less for us to write!), especially children and teens to review and recommend favorite books. Just drop Heidi Deacon an e-mail at librarian@smythpl.org or “reply” to this and we’ll include it here. It need not be a new book – it can be a golden oldie, a classic, a trashy beach book or whatever you have enjoyed.
I hope you have enjoyed this edition. Comments, suggestions and, of course, reviews are always welcomed.
Rick Mitchell and the library staff
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