Curl up with a good book
The holidays are upon us, the weather is getting cooler and family and friends will be gathering for all manner of festivities in the coming weeks. Fall at the SouthArk Library included several additions to our collection, so this month we are featuring a few new titles that are just right for holiday break, chilly afternoons, or late-night binge reading!
“The Candidate” by Lis Wiehl. Do you need a bit of political suspense fiction, now that election 2016 is over? If you’re running low on media manipulation, government intrigue, corruption of power and 24-7 news cycles, this thriller should keep you up for the next four years at least. Watch as the war hero Mike Ortiz makes a run for the White House, while cable news reporter Erica Sparks fights a feeling that something is very wrong with this seemingly perfect candidate.
“Code Blue” by Richard L. Mabry. This author, a real physician, specializes in medical thrillers with a spiritual side. Here he introduces us to cardiac specialist Dr. Cathy Sewell as she struggles for acceptance while setting up a practice in her old hometown. However, odds are against her success after an accident is blamed on her, and Cathy finds herself watching her back for enemies she never expected in her own home.
“Smoke” by Dan Vyleta. Imagine an England in a Dickensian era, but an alternative historical time where the air is filled with smoke—emitted from people. In this imaginary place, smoke is a representation of sin. Why does this happen? Thomas, Livia and Charles are three teenagers who unwittingly discover a secret about Smoke that makes them question everything that they knew before, and sends them on a daring adventure to uncover its mysteries. If you like fantasy, alternative history, science fiction, you might want to try it.
“Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS” by Joby Warrick. The Islamic State, or ISIS, is in the news every day, but do we really know where it began? We think the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction is a good book if you’re interested in learning about the roots of the movement. It’s fast-paced and reads like an action story, and the author is a journalist with the Washington Post.
“Commonwealth” by Ann Patchett. All it takes is one incident at a family party in 1964, and the repercussions last for years. The Keatings and the Cousins kids are thrown together against their will, but somehow forge a relationship, just like families in our own lives break up, regroup and create their own tribes. A family saga that spans five decades, “Commonwealth” should be a treat for fans of Patchett’s works and new readers as well.
“The Truck Food Cookbook: 150 Recipes and Ramblings From America’s Best Restaurants on Wheels” by John T. Edge. Everyone loves a good food truck, and there’s no reason why we can’t enjoy the delightful cuisine that’s produced in them at home! Why not try Barbacoa de Borrego (barbecue tacos) from Santa Rosa Tacos in Austin, Texas? Grilled Cheese Mac and Cheese Sandwiches from The Grilled Cheese Truck in Venice, California, sounds like a winner for kids. The best part is, you don’t have to have a food truck to make these recipes! You can do them in your own kitchen.
All of these new titles and more are available at the SouthArk Library, open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Free and open to the public, the SouthArk Library staff members look forward to meeting you and helping you find the perfect read. Be sure to check out our Twitter and Instagram accounts @SouthArkLibrary, and Like our Facebook page!
Contact library staff at librarystaff@southark.edu<mailto:librarystaff@southark.edu> or (870) 8647115. Happy holidays!