Author Lilian Jackson Braun dies at age 97

If you are a lover of cozy mysteries, you've probably run across Lilian Jackson Braun's  Cat Who..series.  The series features two Siamese cats and their owner, James (Qwill) Qwilleran.  Qwill is a newspaperman whose cats help him solve mysteries.  The series starts with "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards". The three main characters develop over the series and their growth and development, as cats and a person, are important to the stories.  As with other cozy mysteries, there is little blatant violence and the series is actually described as being heartwarming.  The stories have a leisurely pace with the solution to the mystery nicely concluded at the end of each book. 

For further information on this wonderful author check out Novelist via the MARVEL databases available at MARVEL databases.

Novel Destinations---This Summer @ Your Library!

Please stay tuned.  Your library staff is going to be taking you places this summer!  Like to travel?  Like to walk?  Like to read?  Tried listening to audiobooks?  We'll help you answer these and many other questions starting this June.

The children of Falmouth have had the joy of a summer reading program to themselves for years.  Now it's time for the adults to join in on all the fun.  Watch out for wayward gold stars.  Dig out your passport.  We'll help you go places you only imagined!

Do E-Readers Intrigue You?

Your library received a grant and has purchased several e-readers.  The library staff will be learning to "play" with them this coming Monday, April 25th during our Staff Development Day.  The library will be closed, but the staff will be working behind the stacks learning how to use the devices so we can lend them out to our patrons!  The break-out for the new e-readers will be at the next 2nd Saturday Book Chat Cafe on Saturday, May 14th. 

At the Book Chat Cafe, library patrons will be able to do a little hands on training with library staff.  We will have a limited number of the e-readers available, so sign up is suggested.  Just let the Circulation Staff know you'd like to attend the E-Reader Book Chat Cafe and we'll keep a list.

Andi JD

The Falmouth Memorial Library Book Group needs a name....

The Falmouth Memorial Library Book group meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 1pm.  This month we will be reading and discussing Maine poets.  We'd love to have you join us.  But we'd also like to have a catchy name to call ourselves.  Any ideas?  Please contact me at library@falmouth.lib.me.us.

Andi JD

Busy, Busy, Busy

We've had some input on our blog...thank you!  Appears that several of our readers would like to see some lists of must reads, staff reads and other lists beyond the bestseller list.  We'd like to hear from other readers, we're starting on the lists with a What We're Reading Now" list.  This list will let you know what some of the staff are reading and why they'd recommend these books to others.

We just had Falmouth poet, Eleanor Steele do a reading at our Friends Group, LunchBox Friends monthly event.  If you didn't make it, you missed out on a fine time.  The group even created a group poem with Eleanor's help.  Thank you Eleanor!

And finally for today, there is a monthly group that meets on the 2nd Saturday @ 10am here at your library.  It's called the Book Chat Cafe.  A small group of avid readers meets and discusses whatever each person is reading.  We'd like to see that group grow.  Keep checking back, we will be posting a list of books recommended by this group each month, starting with the April 8th meeting.  Baked goodies could be provided, along with coffee, if there is a request....

Ever Read a Cookbook?

Have you ever sat down and read through, not just the couple of recipes you like, but the WHOLE cookbook?  I never have, well until now.

"The City Cook; Big City, Small Kitchen, Limitless Ingredients, No Time" by Kate McDonough is my first attempt! I'm not a great cook (understatement of the year), but decided, like Kate McDonough, that it might just be time to work on that.  Part 1 of her book details how and why she got started cooking.  It also includes lists of "must haves" for kitchen equipment as well as a well stocked pantry.   Part II of the book includes her recipes, as well as tips for working in a small kitchen.

And there is more than just the book;  McDonough, like many nonfiction authors these days, maintains a website The City Cook.  The focus is on cooking in an urban, small kitchen

If you enjoyed reading "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell, check out "The City Cook".  Although McDonough doesn't share any inner life angst, this is a good choice for going beyond reading about someone else's cooking struggles and getting your own hands working in your kitchen!   Who knows, maybe next I'll tackle "The Joy of Cooking".

AJD

Love a Good Mystery?

Do you love a good mystery? Want to find out more about your favorite mystery author or find out when the next mystery in a series is coming out? (Yes, the next book in the Maisie Dobbs series is due to be released this month).

Check out the Stop You're Killing Me! website Stop You're Killing Me

But don't stop there.  Your library also has some great information available through the Marvel database Novelist Plus.  You may access this database from home in your jammies and all you need is your library card number! 

Want a quick tutorial?  Stop by your Falmouth Memorial Library and have one of the staff show you how to access all sorts of information from the Marvel databases, including Novelist Plus.