FDL Reads: The Sentence
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Reviewed by: Beth Weimer, Communications Specialist
Genre: Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is the book about?: A mildly eccentric ex-convict has forged a quiet life for herself working at an Indigenous bookstore in Minneapolis. Now happily married to the man who arrested her, Tookie doesn’t ask for much more than to be left alone with her books. But then her most irritating customer dies and audaciously decides to haunt her, and Tookie’s forced to confront and explore the pain of past transgressions (personal and collective), traditions, relationships, community, and more – as the haunting intensifies amidst the unfolding chaos of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.
My Review: I haven’t encountered a character I love as much as Tookie in a very long time, and she haunts me still. Louise Erdrich is an author I’ve long heard of but just never got around to, and now I definitely have to read the rest of her work. This weird little plot may not sound that appealing, but it merely sets the stage for deep thematics and an ode to the transformative power of literature, and Erdrich’s mastery will hook you. She crams so many seemingly disconnected themes into the story (marriage, colonialism, incarceration, the pandemic, police violence, literature, parenting, etc.), but the disparate plotlines work because her main character is so fiercely funny and endearing, and her observations are entirely on point. While slyly bordering on autofiction, it perfectly captures the surrealism that 2020 unleashed upon us and the chaos of everyday life, how we experience a multitude of crises big and small, internally and externally, all at once and endlessly, as we plod along within our own sentences. Plus, Erdrich narrates the audiobook, and I cannot recommend the warmth of her natural storytelling enough.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Relevant, Layered, Endearing
Give This a Try if You Like… The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Rating: 5/5
Book Giveaway for AAPI Heritage Month
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
It is 1938 in China and, as a young wife, Meilin’s future is bright. But with the Japanese army approaching, Meilin and her four year old son, Renshu, are forced to flee their home. Relying on little but their wits and a beautifully illustrated hand scroll, filled with ancient fables that offer solace and wisdom, they must travel through a ravaged country, seeking refuge.
Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. Though his daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, he refuses to talk about his childhood. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down? Yet how can Lily learn who she is if she can never know her family’s story?
Spanning continents and generations, Peach Blossom Spring is a bold and moving look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It’s about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the haunting question: What would it mean to finally be home?
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Frida Liu is struggling. She doesn’t have a career worthy of her Chinese immigrant parents’ sacrifices. What’s worse is she can’t persuade her husband, Gust, to give up his wellness-obsessed younger mistress. Only with their angelic daughter Harriet does Frida finally feel she’s attained the perfection expected of her. Harriet may be all she has, but she’s just enough.
Until Frida has a horrible day.
The state has its eyes on mothers like Frida — ones who check their phones while their kids are on the playground; who let their children walk home alone; in other words, mothers who only have one lapse of judgement. Now, a host of government officials will determine if Frida is a candidate for a Big Brother-like institution that measures the success or failure of a mother’s devotion. Faced with the possibility of losing Harriet, Frida must prove that she can live up to the standards set for mothers — that she can learn to be good.
My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding Sajni Patel
Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip hop beats. But when you’re part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don’t include hip hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri’s last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during Zuri’s sister’s extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.
In the midst of the chaos, Zuri’s mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom’s South African cousin Naveen—who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri’s spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is to wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen’s charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister’s big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?
*Annotations from the publishers
-Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Giveaway
Enter your name here for a chance to win ARCs of the books mentioned in this post. One entry per person. Drawing to be held approximately 7 days after this post.
ARCs are “advanced reading copies.” These are free copies of a new books given by a publisher to librarians and other reviewers before the book is printed for mass distribution.
#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria.
FDL Reads: Things That Matter
Things That Matter by Joshua Becker
Reviewed By: Rebecca Cox, Business Manager
Genre: Nonfiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About? Joshua Becker, a minimalism and decluttering guru, has just released his newest book about what to do after your house is decluttered. Becker moves beyond the decluttering to help readers recognize and overcome the other distractions that exist that keep you from discovering what things truly matter in your life.
My Review: I have not historically been a fan of self-help type books but I have followed Joshua Becker’s blog for years and love his way with words. The way he breaks down the distractions that keep people from pursuing what really matters in life and make a difference is relatable and understandable. Becker helped me to change my perspective on relationships, careers and passions and figure out what types of distractions are keeping me from pursuing the things that I truly want to. A must read for anybody who is feeling a little stuck and needs a push to help them find satisfaction in the every day.
Three Words that Describe this Book: Thought-provoking, inspiring, relatable
Give This a Try if You Like… Everything That Remains by Joshua Fields Milburn & Ryan Nicodemus, The More of Less by Joshua Becker, A Million Miles in A Thousand Years by Donald Miller
Rating: 5/5
TikTok Favorites
Check out one of these books frequently recommended on TikTok.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath. They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name
The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up— she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.
Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.
As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?
A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time.
Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?
-Annotations from the publishers
Posted by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
Summer Reading 2022: Read Beyond the Beaten Path
Where will reading take you this summer? We encourage readers of all ages to embark on outdoor adventures, explore nature, and get creative with FDL for the library’s 2022 Summer Reading Program: Read Beyond the Beaten Path!
From June 1 through July 30, kids, teens, and adults can earn badges for reading materials from FDL and attending library events — and earn prizes! Participants earn a variety of fun incentives for their reading achievements, and everyone who finishes the challenge is entered into raffles for stellar prizes, including games, gift cards, packages from local businesses, and more! Readers can register and track their progress online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org or on-the-go with the Beanstack app, or pick up a reading log from the library!
Engaging programs are scheduled throughout the summer focusing on a variety of fun outdoor activities like camping, letterboxing, and family movie nights. We’ll also have family favorites like story times and crafts, as well as a lineup of exciting presenters to share rope jumping skills, stories about Bigfoot, tents full of butterflies, and more! Register for programs at fondulaclibrary.evanced.info/signup/calendar.
Start Reading!
• Borrow books, audiobooks, and magazines from Fondulac District Library or download or stream eBooks and audiobooks from fondulaclibrary.org.
• Whether it’s reading a graphic novel, listening to an audiobook, or reading an article, it counts! All reading must occur within the program dates.
Earn Badges
• Record your minutes in Beanstack.
• Earn 1 badge for every 50 minutes (PreK-2nd graders), 100 minutes (3rd-8th graders), or 150 minutes (high schoolers and adults).
• Earn one badge for attending any three Fondulac District Library programs.
• Earn 10 badges to complete the program.
Win Prizes
• Participants receive prizes for reaching the halfway point by earning 5 badges AND for completing the program by earning 10 badges.
• Participants who complete the program will also be entered into a prize drawing!
• Halfway prizes can be picked up starting June 13, and completion prizes can be picked up starting June 27. Prizes are available while supplies last.
• The last day to pick up prizes is August 13.
Summer Reading 2022 Brochure & Reading Log
Our programs are made possible thanks to our amazing community sponsors!
The Past Inside the Present
Don’t miss our latest Fine Arts at FDL exhibit, featuring the work of Noah Otten, a multidisciplinary artist from Peoria. In The Past Inside the Present, Noah uses color theory, simultaneous contrast, and material and inspiration from his late grandmother to explore the fine art of abstract quilting.