NOVEL IDEAS

Winter 2005

 

 

READ ANNOTATIONS

A Grave Denied by Dana Stabenow (mystery)

In this installment of the Kate Shugak Alaska mysteries, Kate’s semi-adopted son Johnny is on a school field trip and finds a body at the mouth of a glacier.  The body is identified as Len Dreyer, a local handyman, and has been there for months.  With an already heavy workload, State Trooper Jim Chopin hires Kate to investigate.  Although Dreyer had worked for almost everyone in the park, no one really knew him or anything personal about him and no one even realized he was missing.  When Kate learns Dreyer’s true identity and his past history, the motive becomes clear and several of Kate’s neighbors become suspects.  However, the killer is determined to put an end to Kate’s questions, putting both her and Johnny in jeopardy.

 

 

Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick (fiction)

This is the third book featuring the romantic sleuthing duo of Lavinia Lake and Tobias March.  While attending a weekend country house party and hoping for some time alone, the duo’s plans are quickly dashed when one of the guests is murdered.  Aspasia Gray, a beautiful woman from Tobias’ past, seeks Tobias’ protection despite Lavinia’s suspicions and jealousy.  Aspasia and the unfortunate victim were recipients of a “memento mori” ring that was the calling card for a now-deceased killer.  Now, with the help of Lavinia’s niece Emeline and Tobias’ adopted brother Anthony, Lavinia and Tobias must track down this copycat killer connected to other suspicious deaths.

 

 

 

Death is a Cabaret by Deborah Morgan  (paperback mystery)

Jeff Talbot was once a desk jockey for the FBI.  Now he jockeys a pristine 1948 Chevy woodie around Seattle in search of antiques.  As a professional picker, his job is to find and buy unusual items to resell. One client, Blanche, is searching for a Napoleonic porcelain coffee service (a cabaret) that was once owned by her family.  Unbeknownst to her, the cabaret set is up for auction at an antiques festival on Michigan's Mackinac Island.  Talbot is attending the festival and intends to get the set back for Blanche, but he isn't the only one after the treasure.  Frank Hamilton, an obnoxious picker and Talbot's main competitor in the trade, is also there and his presence means trouble.  Talbot doesn't realize how much trouble until his rival turns up dead in the hotel's fountain.   When a second death occurs on the island, Jeff is drawn deeper into the investigation by Detective Cal Brookner.  Talbot is aided long-distance by his agoraphobic wife Sheila who no longer ventures outside their Seattle home.  An expert internet surfer, she researches clues on her computer while Talbot investigates the other festival attendees on the island and he soon discovers that old hatreds are the worst kind.  This is the first book in the series and the author includes a bibliography and a webliography of the antiques discussed in each book.

 

 

2005 ADULT WINTER READING PROGRAM – And the Winner is…..!

Continues through March 31

 

Read from a selection of award-winning fiction in our 2005 Adult Winter Reading Program, And the Winner is…..!  Each participant in the reading program must read six (6) titles between now and the end of March.  Everyone is eligible to participate in the reading program and receive a gift for completing the six reading requirements.  However, only STDL patrons are eligible for the grand prize drawing at the program’s end: $100 worth of books chosen by the winner from a list of current titles in a variety of genres (compiled by the Readers' Advisory staff).  Sign-ups continue at the Central Library Readers’ Advisory Desk or at the branch libraries.  For more information, call our Readers' Advisory Desk at (847) 923-3189.

 

 

AUTHOR PROFILE:  Eloisa James

Author of four award-winning romances, Eloisa James is a professor of English literature who lives with her family in New Jersey.  All her books must have been written in her sleep, because her days are taken up by caring for two children with advanced degrees in whining, a demanding guinea pig, a smelly frog, and a tumbledown house.

 

Her debut novel, Potent Pleasures (1999), received raves from reviewers who compared her to the best of Amanda Quick and Judith McNaught and hailed James as “vibrant new voice in the genre.”  The trilogy continued with Midnight Pleasures and Enchanting Pleasures and both books received numerous award nominations.  James followed up on her success with the Duchess quartet (Duchess in Love, Fool for Love, A Wild Pursuit and Your Wicked Ways), which continued to rack up awards and positions on bestseller lists.   Her most recent book, Much Ado About You released in December 2004, begins a new quartet featuring the four Essex sisters.

 

James is known for fast-paced stories written with a “wily wit and distinctive characters.”  Mixing humor with a sensual romantic story, Publishers Weekly wrote that “some might be tempted to call her ‘the historical Jennifer Crusie.’"   

 

See below for a description of Ms. James’ visit to the Schaumburg Township District Library in January!

 

 

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

 

Author Visit – Eloisa James

Monday, January 17 -- 7:30 pm  (PLEASE NOTE – This event is a last-minute addition and does not appear in our program guide)

Rasmussen South

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James splits her time between teaching Shakespeare to college students and writing intelligent, funny romances that hit the top of the charts time and again.  She’ll discuss her new novel, Much Ado About You as well as writing from the heart and how to defeat the odds to find an editor.  A Q&A will follow her talk.  Copies of her works will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

 

Author Visit – Daniela Kuper

January 18 –  We regret to announce that the visit planned for this evening had to be cancelled.  We hope to re-schedule Ms. Kuper’s visit at a later date.

 

Author Visit – Jay Bonansinga

Thursday, January 27 – 7:30 pm

Rasmussen South

The Chicago Tribune calls author Jay Bonansinga “one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers.”  Bonansinga will discuss his books (Head Case and Oblivion, as well as his non-fiction debut The Sinking of the Eastland: America’s Forgotten Tragedy), his plays and screenplays, and the art of writing.  Copies of his books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

 

 

ALL FOR LOVE Romance New and Used Book Sale and Autographing Party

Saturday, February 12 – 10 am - 2 pm

Rasmussen Rooms

Schaumburg Township District Library is pleased to host the seventh annual All For Love New & Used Book Sale and Autographing Party benefiting the American Heart Association.  This event presents local area romance authors who will sell and autograph copies of their latest works.  The event will also include raffles for items donated by local businesses and a used book sale (with prices starting as low as 25 cents).   STDL is also pleased to continue its participation in Hugs With a Heart, an organization founded by romance cover models Leland and Leslie Burbank.  Stuffed bears are collected and sent to children's hospitals and organizations all over the world.  Anyone donating a new bear (12 inches or taller) will be entered into a raffle for a special gift basket created by Leland and Leslie who will personally present the prize after their presentation at the All For Love event.  New teddy bears may be brought to the All For Love program on that day, or you may make your donation in advance at the Readers' Advisory Desk at the central library.   For more information, please call Susan Gibberman, Head of Reader Services, at (847) 923-3339.

 

 

The Mystery Shop

Wednesday, March 23 – 7-9 pm

Rasmussen South

Love mysteries or ever think about writing your own?  Get your M.O.D. (Master of Deduction) Squad training with members of the Mystery Shop, the Chicago area’s leading plotter of participatory mysteries.  This lively discussion will acquaint you with the basic “deadly” elements of any mystery.  Using this knowledge, participants will solve baffling cases!  No fee, but registration is required.

 

 

DISPLAY CALENDAR

 

MAIN DISPLAYS

 

January	And the Winner Is…
February	African-American Authors
March	Lights, Camera, Action!

 

MINI DISPLAYS

 

January 1 – 15	Best of 2004
January 16 - 31	Mysteries on the Menu
February 1 - 15	Love in the Middle Ages
February 16 - 28	Time Travel Romance
March 1 - 15	Coming to America
March 16 – 31	TBA

 

STAFF PICKS TABLE

 

This table includes an assortment of titles from the various fiction collections (general fiction, mystery, sci-fi) that library staff have read and enjoyed.

 

 

PAGES ON SCREEN

 

The following is a list of upcoming theatrical releases based on novels (all of the titles are available in our collection):

 

January	Hostage – by Robert Crais
February	Bride and Prejudice – based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
	Because of Winn-Dixie – by Kate DiCamillo
March	Be Cool – by Elmore Leonard
	Country of My Skull – by Antjie Krog (non-fiction)
	A Sound of Thunder – short story by Ray Bradbury
	Sahara – by Clive Cussler

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW….?  (A bit of trivia with a literary bent)

 

The longest words typeable on a qwerty keyboard with only the left hand, each made up of 12 letters, are  desegregated, desegregates, reverberated, reverberates, stewardesses and watercresses.

 

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843.  Initially six thousand copies of the book were printed and this first printing sold out in only five days.   

 

The oldest version of the fairy tale Cinderella comes from 9th Century China.

 

In the Harry Potter saga, evil antagonist Lord Voldemort's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle.  The name and title are anagrams of each other, such that "Tom Marvolo Riddle" becomes "I Am Lord Voldemort."  The anagram, however, does not translate well into other languages, so Riddle is given a different proper name in each translation.  For example, in France, Riddle’s name is changed to “Tom Elvis Jedusor" which becomes the anagram of "Je Suis Voldemort."