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FDL Reads: 5 Minute Facial Workout

5 Minute Facial Workout by Catherine Pez

Reviewed by: Jessica Reeves, Reference Specialist

Genre: Face Workout (it’s a genre now)

Suggested Age: Everyone

Today we’re posting FDL’s first video book review ever! Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/8c6CzgjavNA

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2018-01-19T14:43:51-06:00January 19th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Reviewed by: Joscelyn Lockwood, Youth Services Assistant

Genre: Fantasy

Suggested Age: Teens, Adults

What is the book about?: Alina Sarkova is an orphan, raised in the household of a Duke known for taking on charity cases. Drafted into the army with her childhood best friend Mal, a dormant power reveals itself to save his life… and change Alina’s forever. She’s swept away to the capital, to be trained as a Grisha under the enigmatic Darkling. The Grisha are treated as a Second Army in Ravka, using their magic, often referred to as “small science” to provide support to the First Army. Attacked on all fronts, the nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold. A strange, almost living swatch of darkness filled with monsters and crossed only by the bravest, or most foolhardy, people. But Ravka, its ruling family, and its people, will soon find out that they have more to worry about than just the Fold.

My Review: Admittedly, what hooked me into this book was the description of magic and the Grishas. What kept me reading? Wanting to know how it would end. There were some annoying inconsistencies, and most of the time, I couldn’t stand Alina or the superficial Grisha. But I ended up caring about other characters in the story, especially as I got into the second and third books. Overall, it was enjoyable but a bit unremarkable in the ever-growing field of YA books available.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Decent, Enjoyable, a Bit Predictable

Give This a Try if You Like… Quick reads, happily ever after.

Rating: 3/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2018-01-16T12:37:54-06:00January 16th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Took: A Ghost Story

Took: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Anderson, Communications Specialist

Genre: Horror

Suggested Age: Tweens, Teens

What is the book about?: Daniel and his family relocate to a ramshackle house in a new town after his father loses his job in the economic recession. Life is miserable for the entire family. The inhabitants of the small town see them as outsiders and Dan’s parents are working unhappily at their new jobs. Dan watches them slip into depression and bad habits, and his sister, Erica, begins to behave the most strangely of all. When she disappears, Dan realizes that the townspeople’s talk about the legendary “Old Auntie” taking a girl and keeping her as a slave for 50 years isn’t a farfetched legend after all. Determined to rescue his sister, he summons all of his courage to face the witch and her monstrous minion – before it’s too late.

My Review: One of the things that I appreciated the most about this book was that it implemented elements of a folktale into a modern story with seamless ease. Took presents the disturbing manifestation of a legend in a real world setting. The story features both the realistic elements of a missing child, with police searches and interrogations, as well as the supernatural chills of someone being kidnapped by an otherworldly entity. Hahn delivers a fast paced story with no shortage of immersive sensory details and light touches of tactful humor in her characters’ observations and personalities.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Folktales, Family, Witchcraft

Give This a Try if You Like… Ghost stories by Dan Poblocki, such as The Ghost of Graylock, “The Books of Elsewhere” series by Jacqueline West, or Coraline, by Neil Gaiman.

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2018-01-11T15:27:45-06:00January 11th, 2018|

#FDL: Tax Season is Coming

Helpful Tax Information from FDL

I know it’s only January, but for a lot of people, tax season has already started. FDL has been getting calls about tax forms and tax help since December – you guys are on the ball. Here are some helpful pointers for you about how the library can (and cannot) help during tax season.

For the first time in several years, AARP is setting up appointments at FDL to offer free tax help. You do not have to be an FDL card holder to use this service. However, you do have to call and schedule an appointment as they do not take walk ins. Starting at 9am on January 16th, you can call 309-699-3917 and press 2 for Adult Services to set up your appointment.
Appointments go up until April 15th but they will fill up faster than you can blink. If you want an appointment, call on the 16th.
Remember that tax help at the library is provided by CPAs through AARP. The librarians at FDL legally cannot give tax help or advice. However, we can print tax forms for you and help you find resources to get tax help.
FDL (and other libraries in the area) get a certain number and type of tax forms from the federal government. Those forms don’t always get sent right away and some of them run out fast. If you need a form that we haven’t gotten, librarians at the upstairs information desk can print them for you at 10 cents per page.
The closer we get to April 15th, the more our computers will fill up with people doing their taxes. If you come to FDL to do your taxes on the computer, tell the staff at the information desk that you may need your computer time extended. We will be happy to do this for you. Also, please be very aware of our closing times and computer shut down times. Computers shut down at 8:45pm Monday through Thursday, 5:45pm on Friday, and 4:45pm Saturday and Sunday. Make sure you have enough time to do your taxes. Once the computers shut off for the night, staff cannot turn them back on.
If you have questions – please ask. I know, I said up top that we legally cannot offer tax help or advice and this is true, but we can help guide you to people and organizations who can help.

Post by Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

About #FDL

Welcome to #FDL! #FDL is a twice weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria. Twice a week, library staff will make posts that highlight some aspect of library life and relate it to you – our readers. Have you ever wanted to know which Dewey number represented a certain topic? Are you looking for book recommendations based on your favorite television show or television recommendations based on your favorite book? Have you ever wondered about the secret details of librarian life? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then #FDL is for you. We look forward to writing posts that are informative and entertaining and hope that you enjoy getting better acquainted with Fondulac District Library.

admin2018-01-09T16:11:43-06:00January 9th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Sleeping Giants

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

Genre: Science Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: When Rose Franklin was a little girl, she found a giant metal hand buried in her back yard. Rose becomes a scientist and devotes her career to unlocking the secrets of the hand’s origin and purpose. She is joined by a team of experts, including Vincent Couture and Kara Resnik. Vincent is a linguist tasked with deciphering glowing symbols that accompany the object. Kara is military pilot who discovers another giant piece of the mysterious puzzle. The entire team soon finds themselves in the midst an international race to control the new technology.

My Review: Told in a collection interview transcripts, journal entries, and mission logs, Sleeping Giants tackles big questions like humanity’s place in the universe, weapons of mass destruction, and technological responsibility. Sylvain Neuvel’s debut novel is engaging and fast-paced. It’s hard to put the book down as chapters often leave the reader on a cliffhanger. I actually listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the full cast production. It was truly worthy of being nominated for an Audible Award in 2017.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Exciting, Engaging, Thought-provoking

Give This a Try if You Like… Ancient Aliens, Mecha Anime

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2018-01-09T15:19:52-06:00January 9th, 2018|

FDL Reads: The Murders of Molly Southbourne

The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

Reviewed by: Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

Genre: Horror

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: The book opens with Molly suffering a beating at the hands of… herself? But who is she? Where is she? Why did a woman who looks exactly like her beat her up? And why is she in manacles? The free Molly sits down and proceeds to tell the chained Molly the story of her childhood. Every time Molly bleeds, clones grow from the blood. These clones are benign at first but over time – whether three hours or three days – they become violent and try to kill the original Molly. Growing up wasn’t easy. But how did Molly get this way? And who’s the original Molly now?

My Review: This book is both a creepy account of a hideous, uncontrollable problem and a coming of age story. While the narrative is bookended by one Molly talking to another, the bulk of the story is the account of Molly’s childhood and teenage years. You never really stop to think about how crucial it is to keep all of your blood inside of your body until you’re told that you have to for the sake of your own survival. What I really like about this story is that Thompson tells a compelling horror tale but also a tale of how hard it is to be a girl going through puberty and growing up. We don’t have to fight our own clones every time we get our periods, but puberty is full of plenty of horrors all on its own, and can be very isolating emotionally and mentally, much like the physical isolation Molly grows up in. The story is also a bit open ended, making room for more, which is awesome because my only real complaint about this is that it’s too short (128 pages). I’m looking forward to more cool stuff by Tade Thompson.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Bloody, Coming of age, Survival

Give This a Try if You Like… The X-Files, zombie apocalypse survival stories

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2018-01-04T17:30:45-06:00January 4th, 2018|

#FDL: New Year, New You!

Happy New Year from all of us to all of you!

It’s only 3 days into 2018 but a lot of you are probably working hard on New Year’s resolutions. Heck, maybe you’re not working hard but working moderately or a little bit at a time – those are totally okay too. Whether your resolutions are big or small, a new year seems to be a good time to get started on them, and they usually involve some kind of change to your life.

Eat better and/or exercise more. FDL has a ton of recipe and cookbooks covering a variety cooking styles. We have books that cover entire meals and books that specialize on one particular dish (macaroni and cheese). We also have books dedicated to certain diet types and health related food restrictions. Need gluten free, low salt, or diabetes specific recipes? We’ve got you covered. We also have a number of books and instructional DVDs on basic exercise from yoga to weightlifting. It’s good to check some of this stuff out to see if it is a good fit for you before spending a ton of money.
Get that dream job. Like many resolutions, this one can be tough, but FDL has some pretty excellent tools to help you get there. We have resume writing and job search books. We have online tools to help you actually write those resumes and cover letters. We also have instructional DVDs and books to help you get a professional leg up on the competition. If you ask our reference staff, we’ll be happy to get you the items you need.
Cut back on swearing. We might not be able to help you stop swearing all together. But we can teach you how to swear in different languages with all of our language learning dictionaries and CD kits. Travel somewhere new, equipped with the right words for any situation!
Save money. This is another big resolution that could take some time, but we’ve definitely got some books to help you out. Sometimes, saving money can be as easy as a life hack where you put loose change into a jar every day. Sometimes, it’s a major economic undertaking. But we’ve got the tools to help you be better with your budget.
Broaden your reading horizons. Do you feel stuck in a bit of a reading rut? Do you want to try new genres but aren’t sure where to start? Do you feel like you need to get more non-fiction into your life? You’re always welcome to talk to our reference staff for book recommendations based on both reference and leisure. But if you want to brave the stacks on your own, FDL has some handy spine labels on books to help you figure out which genres your looking at. We’ve got stickers on fiction books denoting Western, Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Suspense, Inspirational, Romance, and even Christmas to help you pick new books and widen your reading experience.

Post by Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

About #FDL

Welcome to #FDL! #FDL is a twice weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria. Twice a week, library staff will make posts that highlight some aspect of library life and relate it to you – our readers. Have you ever wanted to know which Dewey number represented a certain topic? Are you looking for book recommendations based on your favorite television show or television recommendations based on your favorite book? Have you ever wondered about the secret details of librarian life? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then #FDL is for you. We look forward to writing posts that are informative and entertaining and hope that you enjoy getting better acquainted with Fondulac District Library.

admin2018-01-03T13:44:57-06:00January 3rd, 2018|

FDL Reads: Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender

Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Circulation Assistant

Genre: Mystery

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Eleanor Swift runs the Slice of Delight Pizzeria in Timber Ridge, North Carolina. It’s a business she stared with her late husband and now runs with her sister Maddy. She looks out for her two other employees in a combination manager/big sister role too. And now her delivery driver Greg is accused of murdering his brother. In her shop! And with her favorite rolling pin! Eleanor knows Greg isn’t capable of murder, no matter how rocky his relationship with his brother was. And she’s not going to let Sheriff (and ex-boyfriend) Kevin Hurley railroad him for a crime he didn’t commit. But Eleanor’s investigation might make her the next victim…

My Review: This is book 2 of the “Pizza Lovers” series. You do not have to have read book 1 (A Slice Of Murder) in order to read this book. I make it a point to give any series 2-3 books to prove themselves, but I think I’ll be done after this one. This book was trying, in every sense of the word. Despite its best efforts, it just left me flat. The characters seem quite different than in the previous volume – the sisters go from lovingly argumentative to catty, and Eleanor herself now acts rather rude and ill-tempered – which takes away some of the overall charm. The sisters continue to insist on butting in where they have no business, pushing others to do things that they aren’t comfortable with (Bob Lemon, I’m looking at you), making them more unlikable. And I won’t get started on the whole Eleanor-Kevin thing; I’ll let you judge that for yourself.

The pacing was good and the events flowed in a reasonable path. The added touches of small-town living (neighborly chats that border on gossip, small business owners looking out for each other, etc.) gave a good sense of what the town is like in normal circumstances. In the end, it’s a bit like pineapple on pizza. Maybe not right for me, but it might be just right for you.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Trying, Touching, Cheesy

Give This a Try if You Like… Cozy mysteries, pizza

Rating: 3/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2018-01-02T19:34:05-06:00January 2nd, 2018|

#FDL: Podcasts!

Podcasts!

They are so hot right now. Information and entertainment are available in so many formats and one of the more surprising ones is that of the podcast. It’s like radio is having a second golden age but in a digital format, and with all kinds of cool extras online. Podcasts are great on their own, but there’s some real overlapping interest points for those who enjoy audiobooks, or those who simply enjoy a good story. For those unfamiliar with podcasts, they’re like television shows, with episodes and seasons, except they’re also like radio plays of old, where you listen to them and they’re mixed with music and sometimes sound effects. Podcasts can be fiction or non-fiction, or a mix of the two. They can tell a linear story, or have a different topic for every episode. They usually run from about 30 minutes to a couple of hours.

So, based on your reading habits, here are some podcast suggestions to put in your ears. Also, this is a shameless plug for the library’s new podcast group, Listen Up Meet Up, that will have its first meeting on January 10th to talk about the podcast Crimetown (a half hour, 18 episode podcast about organized crime in Providence, Rhode Island in the 1970s and 1980s – good for true crime buffs).

True Crime (which is also so hot right now)
Serial
Crimetown
My Favorite Murder
Sword and Scale

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Thinking Sideways
Someone Knows Something
Missing Richard Simmons

Horror
Welcome to Night Vale
Lore
The Black Tapes
Last Podcast on the Left

Sci-Fi/Fantasy
The Nerdist
PodCastle
The Orbiting Human Circus (Of the Air)

Non-fiction/Factual
This American Life
99% Invisible
Freakonomics Radio
Stuff You Should Know

There are a ton of other podcasts out there to fit your interests. And if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment!

Post by Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

About #FDL

Welcome to #FDL! #FDL is a twice weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria. Twice a week, library staff will make posts that highlight some aspect of library life and relate it to you – our readers. Have you ever wanted to know which Dewey number represented a certain topic? Are you looking for book recommendations based on your favorite television show or television recommendations based on your favorite book? Have you ever wondered about the secret details of librarian life? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then #FDL is for you. We look forward to writing posts that are informative and entertaining and hope that you enjoy getting better acquainted with Fondulac District Library.

admin2017-12-28T18:26:08-06:00December 28th, 2017|

FDL Reads: Spirits of Christmas

The Spirits of Christmas by Sylvia Shults

Reviewed by: Sylvia Shults, Circulation

Genre: Non-fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring … but are you sure about that? Ghost stories don’t stop when the calendar page turns from October 31 to November 1 — as a matter of fact, the long, dark, cold nights of winter are the perfect time to cuddle up with a good ghost story. Sylvia Shults has collected over 120 true stories of Christmas catastrophes, midwinter madness, and ghoulish tales for the ghostly-minded. The book is divided up into several sections for ease in reading. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” takes a look at the Victorians and why they popularized the telling of ghost tales at Christmas. “We Wish You A Merry Christmas — Or Else!” looks at the bizarre traditions and celebrations of Christmas Past. “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping” is a rogues’ gallery of the demons and monsters of Christmas around the world. “In The Bleak Midwinter” is a look at creepy stories that happened in the depths of the biting cold. “The Darkest Midnight in December” tells the stories of December tragedies. ” ‘Tis the Season” is a collection of true ghost stories of December, and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” focuses on ghost stories of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You’ll find plenty of true tales, both spooky and touching, in this collection.

My Review: I had so much fun writing this book! There were plenty of Christmas- and December- and winter-themed ghost stories out there that I’d never heard of, and I’m so pleased to be able to bring you guys these tales. The part about December tragedies was not easy to write — I’m not gonna lie. And some of the stories in here even creeped ME out! But all of them were just so wonderful that I had to share them.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Creepy, informative, FUN!

Give This a Try if You Like… anything by Troy Taylor, or collections of true ghost stories, or books that explore folklore.

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!

admin2017-12-27T09:52:33-06:00December 27th, 2017|

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Helpful Tax Information from FDL

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Happy New Year from all of us to all of you!

About #FDL

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Podcasts!

About #FDL

About FDL Reads