For Adults - Fondulac District Library | East Peoria, IL

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|

We’re hiring!

The library is now accepting applications for a part-time Library Page position. Please visit https://www.fondulaclibrary.org/about-us/jobs for more information.

genna2018-11-15T16:34:55-06:00July 2nd, 2018|

New and Upcoming Titles for Summer 2018

An updated list of New & Upcoming Titles at Fondulac District Library has been added to the website! The books on this list are available to check out or place on hold.

Here is a sampling of a few of the latest titles:

Download (PDF, 545KB)

Elizabeth Anderson2018-07-02T11:55:29-05:00July 2nd, 2018|

Check out Equipment

You can check out more than books from the library. Try something new today!

Roku:
Stream popular movies and more to your television over WiFi with this device.

“Kill-A-Watt” Load Tester:
Measure the AMPS or WATTS used by plug-in electrical appliances.

MaKey MaKey:
A MaKey MaKey is a basic computing and circuitry tool for all ages. This device turns any item that can conduct electricity into a touchpad.

Wi-Fi Hotspots:
Hotspots allow patrons to borrow free, mobile internet access for use at home or while traveling.

Please visit or call the library at (309) 699-3917 with questions.

Elizabeth Anderson2020-07-17T13:41:47-05:00June 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 Reads: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

Reviewed by: Jacob Roberts, Reference Assistant

Genre: Horror

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: Readers have been intrigued, disturbed, and confused by Stephen King’s writing throughout the years. However, his short story collection that was released back in November of 2015, allows his fans to appreciate, and perhaps better understand, where he derives his inspiration for the bulk of his fiction. In The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, he puts on display a collection of short fiction he has worked on over the years. He starts with a story that he had reworked many times over the years, titled “Mile 81,” and ends with a short story called “Summer Thunder.” Each story is prefaced by a page that discusses where and how the idea originated. Some are fun stories, like “Ur,” where there is an unpopular English professor who discovers a tablet with a seemingly endless possibility of alternate timelines that contain new and different literature than what was published in his own. Other stories within his collection take on darker, and possibly more fantastical plots, such as “Mile 81,” where an alien car lands at a rest stop and continues to take victims as the plot unfolds.

My Review: Although not all of the stories were King’s best work, I enjoyed reading the collection of “bad dreams” that was put together in this volume. It demonstrates the weakest points of an author, along with the strongest. The reader is able to see King’s “best hits” right next to some of the stories maybe only some of his groupies would have ventured to read themselves. It also gives the reader a great advantage by allowing them insight into how a successful writer comes up with his own works. It makes writing more relatable, and it helps his more established fans understand the man behind the book—not to mention some of the stories were just good fun to read.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Insightful, Horrific, Fun

Give This a Try if You Like… The Best Horror of the Year by Ellen Datlow, Dark Screams: Volume 1 by Brian James Freeman (Editor), or From a Buick 8 by Stephen King

Rating: 4/5

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!

admin2018-06-19T09:19:16-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Summer 2018 Newsletter Now Available

The latest issue of Community Connection, Fondulac District Library’s quarterly newsletter, is now available! It is mailed to residences within the library district and also is available for download and printing from our website. Printed copies can also be picked up at the library.

Whether you are into history, writing, gaming, music, science, or crafts, we’ve got something planned for everyone at the library this summer! Please take a moment to review the newsletter and mark your calendars with the great lineup of programs happening at Fondulac District Library through September. Enjoy!

Download (PDF, 3.55MB)

Elizabeth Anderson2018-06-19T08:08:36-05:00June 19th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe

Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe by Erica Henderson and Ryan North

Reviewed by: Dave Gibbons, Library Volunteer

Genre: Graphic Novel – Superhero

Suggested Age: Teens, Adults

What is the book about?: Squirrel Girl has single-handedly defeated the greatest powerhouses the Marvel Universe has to offer: Dr. Doom, Thanos, Galactus. Is it any surprise that Squirrel Girl would triumph against the collected might of the Marvel universe? Well sort of. Due to cloning gone awry, a villainous duplicate of the superhero is created and (as usually happens in these cases) goes evil. After evil Squirrel Girl takes out other hero teams such as the Avengers, and the X-men it is up to the original Squirrel Girl to “kick butts and eat nuts” and take out her duplicitous doppelganger.

My Review: In the current world of increasingly dark and brooding incarnations of superheroes, Squirrel Girl has been a great beacon of light, and this original graphic novel is a prime example of this. Optimism and cleverness rule the day in great inclusive style that hearkens back to the best of what superhero comics have been, all the while not feeling for a moment dated or out of touch. Unique touches such as running MST3K-esque commentary along the bottom of the pages and the main hero’s use of Deadpool’s Guide to Supervillains Cards to identify the myriad of villains she comes up against are just some of the things that add a mildly meta feeling to this title. Squirrel Girl is the perfect jumping on point for both new and lapsed comic fans.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Kitschy, Fun, “Squirrely”

Give This a Try if You Like… Madman by Mike Allred, Batman: Brave and the Bold animated series, any silver age superhero comics

Overall Rating: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Art: 4/5

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!

admin2018-06-14T16:31:48-05:00June 14th, 2018|

FDL Reads: Space Opera

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

Reviewed by: Joscelyn Lockwood, Youth Services Assistant

Genre: Science Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: After years of thinking they’re alone, humanity is finally visited by beings from another planet… In the form of a seven-foot tall flamingo-esque alien that pops into everyone’s living room around midday. This alien offers humanity an once-in-a-lifetime chance to become part of the greater universe. Not via war or conquest, via space battles or exploration, but by a singing and dancing competition.

My Review: This book has one of the most intriguing tag lines I think I’ve ever seen. “In space, everyone can hear you sing.” Think of American Idol or Eurovision, but in space. Winner take all, and the contestants are fighting for their species’ right to survive. The first quarter of this book kept my interest, but after that it was hard to pay attention. It felt as if the author wanted to go in several different directions with the story, or cram several storylines into one book.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Exciting, Fun, Jumbled.

Give This a Try if You Like… Eurovision, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, glitter, lots of glitter.

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!

admin2018-06-12T16:28:39-05:00June 12th, 2018|