When Crickets Cry - a review by Debbie

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

Realistic Fiction

A man with a painful past, a child with a doubtful future, and a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts. On the shaded town square of a sleepy Southern town. a spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest. Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives. Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.

This book has such a strong message, it truly fills the reader with hope - - - - after squeezing lots of emotions into your life and out of your soul.  The characters became so real, I found it hard to disconnect from the drama of the story when it was time to close the cover.  The story holds up to reading again and again.

I DO recommend this book to others – constantly!  I even own multiple copies of it so I can loan ‘em to several friends at the same time.

Submitted by Debbie (aka The FroggyOne)

The Hunger Games - a review by Jenn

I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This book is in the sci-fi/fantasy realm of Young Adult Fiction, but has been read by multiple age groups. In book one, you encounter the 12 districts for the first time. These districts have two types of people, those living a hand to mouth existence and those who have everything they need. Katniss, the protagonist of this story, steps into the spotlight as she sacrifices herself to save her sister. She is one of 24 people (two from each district), between the ages of 12 and 18 who have to fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capital. I decided to read the book after reading a wonderful review in the Sunday paper. The review said that the trilogy is “an overt critique of violence, the series makes warfare deeply personal, forcing readers to contemplate their own roles as desensitized voyeurs.” In retrospect, I find that the review was much better than the book. This subject seems especially troublesome and engaging, since it is something we are facing in today’s society. We are becoming more and more desensitized to the cruelties that the people around us are encountering. However, I don’t think that this novel did justice to this subject. I think that the idea was solid and the concept was interesting, but the reality of the novel just didn’t get to the meat of the subject, at least not for me. I feel like Collins left some vital information out of her novel, namely the reasons why the districts she describes came about. I would have liked more details about the society itself and why the society came to be the way it was. With at least as much emphasis on this as she puts into the violence and deaths encountered in the Hunger Games, I think I would have enjoyed the novel much more. I am told that in the second book, Catching Fire more about the society will be revealed. Overall, I would encourage anyone interested to read it. It was a quick read and I think it would be a good book to incite a discussion on how we, as a society, view reality and entertainment.

Book Reviews

We want to hear what you think. Write a 150-200 word book review about any book on our library shelves. Turn your review into Socastee Library’s Circulation. Each week, we will randomly pick a review to post to our library blog.

Your book review should include:

· Your name and contact information (only your first name will be posted in the blog).

· The title, author, and genre of the book you are reviewing.

· A short description of the book.

· What did you think of the book?

· Would you recommend this book to other readers?

· Anything else you would like to say about the book.

All ages are welcome to enter.

Complete your TicTacToe for prizes!

Have you been looking for a good non-fiction book to read to complete your form for Adult Summer Reading? If you like animals you'll probably enjoy Ever By My Side by Dr. Nick Trout. Think of vet Nick Trout as an updated, urban James Herriot. His first book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, takes you to Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston where he is a staff surgeon while this latest book is memoir about his growing up with animals. Both are filled with the joys and tribulations of owning pets and how pets make our lives richer. I listened to the books on CD (yes, they count on your forms) while traveling and truly enjoyed the behind the scenes look at veterinary medicine and how relationships with animals shape our lives.

Remember your TicTacToe entry forms for Adult Summer Reading are due by Monday, August 15. There are lots of great prizes this year and you can enter multiple times - every time you read three more books to complete a new form. Just drop the form off at the main desk at Socastee Library!
~Sharon

One World, Many Stories

Registration for our 2011 Summer Reading Program begins Thursday, June 2! Come by the library on or after June 2 to pick up a packet and register kids for the Program. More information about the Program:

Children Ages 5-11
Events Thursdays at 1:30PM - advance tickets required!

June 9 - Kickoff with Magician Tim Sonefelt
June 16 - Zelnick the Magician
June 23 - Bruce Weaver Puppets
June 30 - Sharks, Tails & Teeth with Ripley's Aquarium
July 7 - Horry County Fire Department
July 7 - Last day to turn in completed Reading Logs & get tickets for Awards Day
July 14 - Awards Day for children who turned in a completed Reading Log by July 7.

Reading Log for ages 5-11: Record and add up time spent reading. When you reach 10 hours or more, turn in your log by July 7 to receive a reading medal.


Children Ages 3 & 4
Events Tuesdays at 11:00AM

June 7 - Bird stories with Red Robin
June 14 - Cow stories with the Chick-fil-a cow
June 21 - Bat stories with Celebrations Theatre
June 28 - Police stories with Sgt. Kegler
July 5 - Bear stories with Ms. Kim & Ms. Ameka
July 5 - Last day to turn in completed Reading Logs & get tickets for Awards Day
July 12 - Library stories with Ms. Darby and Ms. Ameka; Awards Day

Reading Log for ages 0-4: Read or listen to stories. Parents may list titles and record time reading. When you reach 10 hours or more, turn in your log by July 5 to receive a reading certificate.


Teens Ages 12-17
Read for at least 10 hours and complete three book reports of one page each. Turn them in by Thursday, July 14 to get tickets to the Awards Day party on Thursday, July 21 at 1:30PM. Everyone who turns in the completed Reading Log and 3 book reports will receive a certificate and medal.

Other notes: for all ages, please print your name clearly in the reading logs and book reports, so that we know what to put on your certificate.

Also, due to overcrowding and safety concerns, all programs at 1:30 on Thursdays are ticketed events. Parents and caregivers may pick up tickets to the following week's program after they drop off their child at the program. Due to overcrowding, no strollers are permitted in the meeting room or hallway during the program.

Have questions? Call or email us as listed at the top of the page. Hope to see you in the library soon!

Going Somewhere?

Just in time for summer, we have some new books about travel and vacations. Try some of these books and who knows where you'll end up? Click the links below to see a title in our catalog:

• All aboard: the complete Noth American train travel guide -- Why take a train? Read this book to find out (and to find out how).




• The 100 best affordable vacations -- This book eschews traditional vacation hot spots in favor of interesting, out-of-the-way destinations. Sleep in a tree house in Oregon, hear cowboy poetry in Nevada, or learn to make jewelry in North Carolina.




• Finally, if, like me, you're not going anywhere this year, take a look at these travel books. Fodor's Amsterdam & the Netherlands, Lonely Planet's Discover New York City, and DK's Hawaii and Washington, D.C. feature beautiful full-color photographs on every page. Almost as good as being there!

-Alan

New Book Friday

Bossypants by Tina Fey -- Amazon calls this book "short, messy, and impossibly funny." It's part memoir, part comedy routine, and laugh-out-loud funny throughout. Visit the catalog to request a copy!

-Alan