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FDL Reads: Canto Bight

Canto Bight: Tales From the Star Wars Universe by Saladin Ahmed, Rae Carson, Mira Grant and Jackson Miller (audiobook)

Reviewed by: Dave Gibbons, Library Volunteer

Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure

Suggested Age: Adults, Teens

What is the book about?: As seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, people from all across the universe came to Canto Bight, the gleaming city of greed and opulence. But the brightest things can have the darkest shadows, which is exactly were these four tales take place – in the unseen underbelly of the Canto Bight casinos. This quartet of stories spans several genres from adventure to thriller to noir each following a different person trying to make their fortune. This first is a tale of an honest (to a fault) salesman who gets swept up in the intrigue of Canto Bight’s underworld. The second is about a sommelier gets in over her head trying to procure a mystical bottle of wine. Next readers follow a masseuse whose dark past may be the only thing that can save his daughter. Finally, a down on his luck gambler strikes it big in one crazy night, provided he can survive it, proving anything can happen in the high stakes world of Canto Bight.

My Review: Many years ago I was a die hard Star Wars fan. I read all comics, novels, and anything remotely involved with Star Wars expanded universe. But in the early 2000s the quality of the books (and films) took a dramatic plunge and I left this particular fandom. After years of new content I have gradually “dipped a toe” back into it, starting with canon and now trying the EU (expanded universe) elements of the franchise, so I was delighted that this book was such a great place to jump back in. Unlike other expanded universe entries this collection does not delve into Star Wars minutia but rather uses the universe as the setting for four different stories. These novellas don’t require any prior knowledge of the franchise to appreciate them.

These stories were very fun. While not overly complex or introspective, each has its own flavor and twist on the genre. It is exactly what one would expect from a Star Wars property: an exotic location, good guys triumphing over evil, and a good balance of humor and action. Initially my interest in it was piqued by the inclusion of a story by Mira Grant, as I am a huge fan of her Wayward Children books (under the name Seanan McGuire). Her story was very solid, very character driven with some of the less important details left to the readers’ interpretation. Saladin Ahmed’s entry was bright and cheery in a very “ma and pa kettle go to town” sort of fashion this also made it feel a bit trope-y. Rae Carson took a more “film noir” direction as she put a masseuse with a past up against tall odds in a story that that would make a great short film. John Jackson Miller’s rounded out the collection by telling a high paced humorous entry focused on a down and out gambler who encounters three unlikely characters which comes very close to an unintentional homage to the Marx brothers via Star Wars.

If you are looking for something complex and deep with layers of intrigue, this is not the book you are looking for. However if you are looking for something on the lighter side, or possibly as a palette cleanser from something denser, then this is a great choice.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Light, Adventure, Monte Carlo

Give This a Try if You Like… Star Wars: the Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn, Proposition Player by Bill Willingham, and The Cincinnati Kid

Rating: 3.5/5
Narration: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

admin2018-07-17T16:40:56-05:00July 17th, 2018|

#FDL: Notary Service Dos and Don’ts

Notary Service Dos and Don’ts

Hello FDL friends! Some of you may already know this, but FDL provides notary service free of charge to anyone who needs it – you do not have to be an East Peoria resident or have an FDL card to take advantage of this service. However, there are some things to know about notary service before you come over and we stamp your documents.

The purpose of a notary public and getting your documents notarized is to prevent fraud and forgery. When a notary signs and stamps your document, all they are doing is saying that you are the person you say you are. Getting a notary signature does not verify any other information.
Make sure that all parties who need to sign the document are also present at the library. Notaries cannot notarize a document that needs multiple signatures if not all parties are present to sign.
Do call the library ahead of time to make sure one of our notaries is on staff when you need to come in. Chances are, one will be available but it’s good to call and check.
Do bring a valid, non-expired photo ID with you when getting a document notarized. IN order to prevent forgery or fraud, notaries need to make sure you are who you say you are. If your ID is expired, we cannot notarize your document. Examples of accepted photo IDs are a driver’s license, state ID, military ID, passport, or FOID card.
Do bring witnesses if your documents call for witness signatures. Library staff cannot act as a witness, nor can we ask other library patrons to act as witnesses. Any witnesses you provide will also have to present a valid photo ID.
Do come in with plenty of time to have your documents notarized. If you have a large stack of documents that require multiple signatures, notarizing them will take time. Allow both yourself and our staff an appropriate amount of time to get your documents notarized, especially if you need to fax them afterward.
Do read over all of your paperwork carefully before filling it out. Some organizations that request your documents be notarized can have requirements as seemingly small as the color ink you use.
Do Not, under any circumstances, sign your documents before bringing them in to be notarized. Notary publics must watch you sign your documents before we notarize them. By watching you sign your documents, and also looking at your valid photo ID, we are verifying your identity. Notaries cannot notarize documents that have already been signed.

Once you have all of your documents and IDs in order, call us and come by and one of our notary staff will be happy to get you squared away.

Post by Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria.

admin2018-07-12T18:14:28-05:00July 12th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Parents Need to Eat Too

Parents Need to Eat Too: Nap-Friendly Recipes, One-Handed Meals, and Time-Saving Kitchen Tricks for New Parents by Debbie Koenig

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

Genre: Non-Fiction, Cookbook

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Debbie Koenig presents a cookbook for new parents who still want to cook nutritious meals while caring for a baby. Its organizational method is unique in that each section is grouped according to how much time a person has to spend on a meal. For example, Koenig presents quick, easy meals that parents can start after work as well as ones that require a bit more prep time. The more time-consuming dinners are divided up by tasks that can be accomplished during the day while baby is napping. She also includes a section on slow cooker recipes and one-handed meals that are easy to eat while you have a baby in your lap. Big batch recipes are grouped together as well and are very helpful for weeks when you want leftovers for lunches or a night off from cooking. This book also has quite a bit of advice on feeding baby solids and how to adapt each recipe to make baby food.

My Review: As a new parent myself, I found Parents Need to Eat Too practical as well as inspiring. I love to cook and it is a challenge to juggle getting home, the baby, and starting dinner. I tried some of the recipes included but also adapted them according to what food I had in the house or what seemed more realistic for me as a cook. One thing that I appreciated about this cookbook was the fact that it offers a variety of recipes from different ethnicities. I tried out several recipes including Middle Eastern Meat Pies, Hummus with Mediterranean Salad, and Quinoa Salad. While I don’t think that all the recipes (such as falafel) are realistic for a weeknight, many are practical and healthy. The techniques that Koenig presents to manage cooking are what I really took away from the book as a whole.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Practical, Helpful, Tasty

Give This a Try if You Like… International cooking, quick/easy meals

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

admin2018-07-12T17:18:38-05:00July 12th, 2018|

FDL Reads: The Wind Blows Backward

The Wind Blows Backward by Mary Downing Hahn

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Anderson, Communications Assistant

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Suggested Age: Tweens, Teens

What is the book about?: Lauren and Spencer used to be close friends who enjoyed reading books together. Then Spencer changed and started hanging out with a more popular crowd. Now he has withdrawn from that crowd and focused his attention on Lauren again. Are his sentiments sincere? What is he hiding? What is the source of his brooding moods?

My Review: This book is a classic exploration of teenage feelings and dynamics. There’s romance, parental tension, and a pinch of angst. Hahn does a good job of being true to these experiences while weaving a story that is engaging and characters that are endearing and fairly believable. That being said, I did think that Lauren was a bit slow to catch on to a few really big red flags about Spencer’s mental health, but that’s a bit of a nitpick on my part. This book illustrates a loyalty that extends deeper than infatuation, and while it is made clear that Spencer is an “attractive” person, this book isn’t just surface level “girl hooks up with hot guy” fare. It has intimacy, but no raunchiness. It is tasteful and classy without being preachy or prudish. It’s basically real people with typical human drives and concerns, and I think Hahn does an excellent job of writing these things in a way that is fair and appropriate for a teenage audience. If you enjoy Hahn’s “slice of life” types of books, this one is worth reading, especially if you want some 90’s throwback, which I did.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Suicide, Tension, Misunderstanding

Give This a Try if You Like… Daphne’s Book by Mary Downing Hahn, The Two Sisters by Honor Arundel

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

admin2018-07-10T17:18:28-05:00July 10th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Annihilation

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Circulation

Genre: Weird Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Thirty years ago, an event occurred, leaving behind what is now called Area X. This is the tale of the twelfth expedition to go in. A party of four unnamed women, referred to only by their occupations (The Biologist, the Psychologist, the Anthropologist and the Surveyor) have entered Area X. Inside the area, they find a jungle-esque paradise with no people. After a four day hike, they set up base camp. The next day they find a structure that our narrator, the Biologist, refers to as The Tower. This structure actually goes deep underground with little on the surface. There they discover words written on the walls. Within 72 hours, everyone but the Biologist is dead. And is she even still human? There’s clearly more going on than they were told. Can the Biologist escape Area X?

My Review: I chose to go with the audio book this time. It’s short, clocking in at 5 discs. The narrator does a good job, but there were times I felt like I was listening to NPR and not a book about exploring an uncharted area. This is definitely a book with an unreliable narrator. The whole book is essentially a gigantic journal entry. And toward the end, the Biologist outright tells us that she has omitted or altered things. The Southern Reach, the leaders of this project, definitely aren’t telling their teams everything. The story felt like it was picking up at the end of disc one, but it never felt like it resolved. It just sort of….petered out. The blurb described this as being about Area X, but at least half of it is the Biologist describing her relationship with her late husband. That style isn’t my cup of tea, so that left me feeling flat as well.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Intriguing, Unexpected, Riveting

Give This a Try if You Like… Spill Zone by Scott Westerfield, Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston, unreliable narrators

Rating: 3/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

admin2018-07-05T16:25:35-05:00July 5th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Unf*ck Your Habitat

Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess by Rachel S. Hoffman

Reviewed by: Sylvia Shults, Circulation

Genre: Nonfiction, Life Advice

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: We all struggle with mess. But cleaning your home doesn’t have to be this huge, intimidating chore. Hoffman gets it. Keeping a tidy home kind of sucks, but it has to be done. Hoffman is here to walk you through this. If you’d like to have a clean (okay, clean-ish) home, but you think Marie Kondo is a bit weird, this is the book for you.

My Review: I honestly thought twice and three times about doing this review, because it’s not usually my nature to review books with swear words in the title. (Read ’em? Sure, no problem. Review them? Um…) But this is such an important book, I would feel guilty NOT telling you about it. I am an indifferent housekeeper at the best of times. Do I wish my house didn’t look like I’ve been battling a poltergeist for the past six days? Of course I do. But life happens. And sometimes, I don’t feel like cleaning. Get this — the author of this book says It’s okay. It’s okay to not feel like cleaning. As a matter of fact, the author points out that there can be mitigating circumstances that mess with your ability to clean. You could be depressed, and not give a toss about having a super-clean house. You could have trauma left over from childhood, when you were maybe forced to clean and told you hadn’t done a “good enough” job, or weren’t told when you could stop. (Raises hand. Yeah, that’s me.) Hoffman explains this quietly, respectfully, and absolutely without judgement. Then she explains how to have a cleanish house in spite of yourself. One of her most valuable suggestions, one that really resonated with me, is the 20-10 rule. Instead of wading into a marathon cleaning session (which will probably just lead to getting burned out halfway through and abandoning the whole project), clean for twenty minutes, then take a ten-minute break. Or make a 30-10 rule. Or 5-15. Whatever works for you. Another thing I found incredibly helpful is the suggestion to clean one flat surface. Just one. A kitchen counter. A desk. Just. One. If you can do one, you can do more. And that kind of gentle encouragement is worth overlooking a swear word.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Compassionate, Firm, Nonjudgmental

Give This a Try if You Like… The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondō, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

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!

admin2018-07-03T15:32:52-05:00July 3rd, 2018|

FDL Reads: The Cardboard Kingdom

The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell, and Co.

Reviewed by: Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

Genre: Graphic Novel – Fantasy

Suggested Age: Kids, Tweens, Teens

What is the book about?: This is a book about a group of neighborhood kids who have huge, fabulous imaginations, and and endless supply of cardboard to build whatever or whoever they want. Each story in The Cardboard Kingdom is written by a different author, but interconnected with the others. We get a look at the regular lives these kids lead in addition to their alter-egos who live within the Cardboard Kingdom. This book has everything – robots, mad scientists, super-heroes, and a Blob. It also has both adversary and joy, often showing how these kids overcome the one to arrive at the other, but in ways that feel organic.

My Review: I love this book. I’m an adult and I don’t have children, so I’m saying right now that even though kids are the target audience, there’s a lot to like as an adult as well. This is a book I wish had been around when I was a kid and it’s so important that kids have diverse, inclusionary books now. It’s also important that those books don’t feel preachy or after-school-special-y. The Cardboard Kingdom tells a series of stories about a diverse group of kids that have the feel of being written by those kids themselves. This is an especially important fact considering that this book is the product of 10 writers and 1 artist – it’s an anthology of bite size stories that at the end of the day is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s also crazy cool to look at. Sell’s artwork is bold and vibrant and joyous. This is the kind of book where you can tell the creators had fun with it. And if you have kids or students, they will also have fun with it. If you do end up checking this out for yourself, your kids, or your classroom, there is also a pretty great set of free papercraft projects that go with the story, which you can access right here.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Fun, Imaginative, Diverse

Give This a Try if You Like… Adventure Time (television show or comic), Lumberjanes (comic), Calvin and Hobbes (comic strip)

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!

admin2018-06-27T12:14:42-05:00June 27th, 2018|

FDL Reads: If I Built a Car

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

Reviewed by: Genna Buhr, Library Director

Genre: Good question! This is an imaginative picture book set in verse.

Suggested Age: Older preschoolers, early grade schoolers, and kids-at-heart

What is the book about?: From the backseat of his dad’s station wagon, creative and confident Jack regales and astounds his dad (and dog!) with details of his ideal mode of transportation. Given his druthers, inventive Jack would design a car with amenities and abilities far beyond those found today in even the most luxurious vehicles.

My Review: This book was a joy to read out loud! Reading in verse always catches my attention and increases my interest (and my kids’). The impressively-detailed illustrations definitely have a mid-century vibe and offer readers more fun and little extras to seek out. Van Dusen incorporates some of kids’ favorite things while introducing a variety of vehicles as inspiration. I think Jack’s creativity matches those of the most imaginative of children, and the very premise of the book is a wonderful conversation starter for grownups looking to hear more from their little ones and what they would want their perfect ride to look like. Mine? Bring on the bookshelves, blankies, and auto-coffee-matic.

Side note: If I Built a Car was the first place winner of the 2008 Monarch Awards. Children in Kindergarten through third grade who read or heard at least five of the award nominees voted for their favorite book. Sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association, the award program is designed to encourage Illinois students to read critically and to become familiar with children’s books, authors, and illustrators. Monarch Award winners and other award-winning children’s picture books can be found in the AWARD neighborhood of the library’s picture book collection.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Imaginative, Amusing, Energetic

Give This a Try if You Like… things that roll, float, or fly, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, retro styling

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!

admin2018-06-25T10:23:11-05:00June 25th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Year One

Year One by Nora Roberts

Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, Library Volunteer

Genre: Thriller, Fantasy

Suggested Age: Adults, Teens

What is the book about?: In Dumfries, Scotland, at the end of a year-end holiday with his family, Ross MacLeod goes hunting with his brother. He shoots a pheasant, and in cleaning the bird in preparation for the meal, “nicks his thumb” on the bird’s bone. Ross becomes Patient Zero, unleashing both an epidemic and a Pandora’s Box of evil into the world. He infects his family with the disease and all, in turn, infect everyone with whom they come in contact as the family members travel home. Thus begins the pandemic. By the end of the second week of January, more than 10 million people have died worldwide. Schools and businesses close. The President of the U.S. and other heads of state succumb to the infection. Governments around the world are in chaos. “Urban areas become war zones,” populated by frightened citizens and vigilantes who are looting, stealing, raping and killing at random. Especially at risk are the immune (who are sought by governments seeking antidotes and answers to the pandemic) and the “Uncanny,” groups of supernatural beings and humans with supernatural powers. Year One follows the adventures and misadventures of these humans and supernatural beings as the world becomes embroiled in a fight of good versus evil.

My Review: Year One entwines fantasy with a concern that is periodically voiced by world political and health leaders: the threat of a global, unstoppable pandemic. This possibility that from time-to-time make news headlines is what makes Year One such a riveting read. You never forget, when reading this book, that a pandemic could actually happen. The elements of fantasy – characters that are supernatural or have supernatural powers – add to the pull of this book. You will find yourself cheering for the good guys, sympathizing with their misfortunes, and hoping that they will prevail against the human and supernatural evil that has the world in its grip. A chilling tale! I’m really anxious to read the next installment in the series!!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Threatening, Pandemic, Dystopian

Give This a Try if You Like… World War Z by Max Brooks; I Am Legend by Richard Matheson; The Strain by Guillermo del Toro

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!

admin2018-06-21T09:28:39-05:00June 21st, 2018|

#FDL: Music Review

Blood Money by Tom Waits

Title: Blood Money

Artist: Tom Waits

Release Year: 2002

Genre: Alternative

Track Listing: Misery’s The River Of The World – Everything Goes To Hell – Coney Island Baby – All The World Is Green – God’s Away On Business – Another Man’s Vine – Knife Chase – Lullaby – Starving In The Belly Of The Whale – The Part You Throw Away – Woe – Calliope – A Good Man Is Hard To Find

Run Time: 42 minutes

Review: I can’t lie to you folks – Tom Waits isn’t for everyone. He is, to put it mildly, an odd duck. He can croon surprisingly well, but his voice was once described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding as though “it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car.” This album actually showcases both styles really well. If you’re not sure he’s for you, I recommend two songs to Google: “Downtown Train” and “God’s Away on Business” (if the version with Cookie Monster comes up on that search, watch it, it’s hilarious). If you’re okay after those two, give this album a spin.

If you like barking, growling Waits, then you’ll enjoy “Misery’s the River of the World,” “Everything Goes To Hell,” “God’s Away on Business,” and “Starving in the Belly of the Whale.” “Coney Island Baby,” “All the World is Green,” “Lullaby,” “The Part You Throw Away” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find” are a nice mix of gentle and upbeat; the last one has a strong New Orleans vibe. Add in a few instrumental tracks, and you’ve got a roller coaster of feelings and styles. The lyrics often tell stories, although the album does not as a whole. But it’s still a fun ride.

Three words that describe this album: Eclectic, Surprising, Fun

Give this a try if you like… the wrong-side-of-the-tracks aesthetic, Primus, Dvotchka

Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Post by Sarah Baker, Circulation Assistant

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.

admin2018-06-19T17:53:51-05:00June 19th, 2018|

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