By Carole Howard and the Library Staff

Two different sets of lovely note cards featuring paintings of women reading have been such a hit that the Friends of the Library have expanded the offering to include a journal and two sets of postcards.

The boxed note cards come in two collections. Each decorative box contains 20 note cards and envelopes with five copies of four different paintings at a cost of only $14.95. The artwork is beautiful, with contributions by famous painters like impressionist Mary Cassett. Another, by George Dunlop Leslie, shows a mother and daughter reading “ Alice in Wonderland.” The cards are of heavy stock and measure approximately 5’’ x 7”.

The two books of postcards each feature 30 top-quality reproductions that are bound together in a handy collection and are sure to delight both the sender and the receiver. Paintings included range from French Impressionist Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet to Italian futurist Umberto Boccioni. Each set costs only $9.95.

The Reading Woman journal is a beautiful and useful 120-page volume illustrated with 26 full-color reproductions of paintings plus quotes from well-known female writers. It sells for only $17.95.

All these treasures are available for sale at the library. They would make a very special gift for an important woman in your life – especially if she loves to read. This is truly a win-win situation, as proceeds from these sales support the purchase of more books and materials for the library.

Our thanks to the Friends’ secretary-treasurer Sharee Grazda for organizing this project. Sharee, one of our most creative fundraisers, is also responsible for the popular book bags which were last year’s fundraising item. Some are still available at the library for only $12.

More thanks to the Friends

Judging by the smiling faces of hundreds of people taking home bags and boxes filled with books from the Friends of the Library book sale July 20-21, everyone had a great time and also got terrific deals on paperbacks, hardcover books, CDs and tapes. The book sale raised more than $5,000 for the library, so once again we owe great thanks to the Friends – and to the reading public who support them and us.

New novels: adventure and thrillers

“The Winter of Frankie Machine” by Don Winslow is another of the author’s humorous novels about life in the Mafia. “The Texicans” by Nina Vida is an historical adventure set in San Antonio in the mid-1800s. “State of the Union” by Brad Thor is a thriller about what happens when America discovers the Russian Federation has become our dangerous enemy again, just like in the days of the Cold War. “Havoc” by Jack DuBrul is a thriller about an unimaginable act of terrorism.

Large-print books

“The 6 th Target” by James Patterson is the latest in his bestselling Women’s Murder Club series, this one about a serial kidnapper. “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards is now available in large print. “Hot Stuff” is a new book set in Boston, co-authored by Janet Evanovich with Leanne Banks. “On Chesil Beach” is about a newly married couple by famed British author Ian McEwan.

Non-fiction: Poverty and computers

“The Working Poor: Invisible in America” by Pulitzer Prize winner David K. Shipler is a comprehensive and thoughtful assessment of poverty in 21 st Century America, with a guide to how to resuscitate the American dream. “Networking for Dummies/8 th edition,” which describes how to build and manage a network, has been updated for Windows Vista, plus Windows Server 2003 R2 and VolP.

Stories of real people

“In Buddha’s Kitchen” by Kimberly Snow is a humorous yet insightful accounting of the author’s adventures as head cook at a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center. “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly” by executive chef and FOX TV personality Anthony Bourdain reveals trade secrets that chefs and restaurateurs cringe to read. “Rite of Passage,” edited by Lisa Johnson, contains tales by backpackers taking that all-important first trip to Europe. “Mistresses of Mayhem: The Book of Women Criminals” by Francine Hornberger takes readers on a gripping and often unnerving journey into the lives and minds of female criminals like Lizzie Borden, Bonnie Parker, Ma Barker and Sante Kimes.

How-to and self-help

“Painting Murals: Images, Ideas and Techniques” by Patricia Seligman shows you how to paint all kinds of murals from a trompe l’oeil in the bathroom to nursery characters on the wall of a child’s bedroom and even a mural in the garden. “Zen for Americans” by Soyen Shaku is an explanation of Buddhist beliefs published together with the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters. “Descriptionary/Third Edition” by Marc McCutcheon is a reference tool for when you know the definition of a word but you do not know the word itself.

Thanks to our donors

For books and materials, this week we thank Theresa Austill, Carol and Bill Barrows, Edward Crutchley, Duane Hartleip, Sue Kehret, Chad McInnis, Donna Michael, Jeff Puskas, Frank and Rita Slowen, Arlette Smith and Pat Tanis.

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