On Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. the Signal Mountain Library will host a presentation by journalist David Cook, co-founder of Food as a Verb (foodasaverb.com), the Chattanooga region’s only online resource devoted to local food, farms, chefs, and restaurants. Cook will discuss the role media, food, and community play in our lives.

In addition to his background as former city columnist with the Times Free Press and veteran educator at both Girls Preparatory School and McCallie School, Cook is the proud son-in-law of Signal Mountain Library director emeritus and beloved grandmother Karin Glendenning.

The library also hosts two regular book clubs: Rogue Reading Club (Thursday, April 3, 2 p.m.), which chooses a topic rather than a specific book, and Library Book Club (Thursday, April 17, 2 p.m.). For current reading selections or any other questions, please call (423) 886-7323.

Regular hours of operation: M (12 - 8), T - W (10 - 6), Th (12 - 8), Sat (10 - 2).

Please be aware that anything sent through this email is considered a public record and shall be subject to the provisions of the Tennessee Public Records Act. 
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by John Atkinson

Summer Reading Events at the Library
In addition to encouraging children to read, read, read, this summer the Library will also sponsor seven enrichment events. These programs, designed to expose our youngest patrons to a wide variety of fun activities, are appropriate for ages up to fifth graders, but older children are welcome, too. All will take place at the Library, except for our visit to the Signal Mountain Playhouse next door to see a preview of the summer musical, “Seussical: The Musical.”

The summer events line-up is at right. Be sure to notice that all but one program will take place at 11 a.m., one program will take place on Wednesday, and one on Thursday. We encourage you to come early for easier parking and bring newcomers from your neighborhoods. Call the Library at (423) 886-7323 for more information. We hope to see you here!

Recently Added New Books
We have ordered lots of new books that we believe will appeal to our patrons, especially those who look forward to reading more often during the summer. It seems that while life does go on, in June, July, and August, people do find more time to read. Maybe it’s because there are so many books planned for publication just in time for some lazy days of vacation. What is more relaxing than reading by the pool or, if you’re lucky, the beach!

And for students and young readers, we have your school reading lists and most of the books listed on them. If you’d like help in picking out books for your children, just ask and our staff will be happy to oblige.
So, come browse our laden stacks, full of the latest fiction and nonfiction as well as standard favorites. And don’t forget to visit the Book Nook in our lower level, where you will find hundreds of great reads at bargain prices.

New Fiction
A dear friend recommended “Search” by Michelle Huneven. She was sure I would like it, and she was so right! The storyline follows a group of people who have been selected to nominate a new minister for their Unitarian/Universalist congregation.

Set in Los Angeles, the book delves into not only the methods of choosing a leader but also the personalities of those who are serving on the search committee. Amusing and insightful, the book unfolds in the voice of Dana, a restaurant critic and writer who has long belonged to the church. She takes the responsibility very seriously and resents the committee members who don’t.

Dana often regrets her decision to join this group of somewhat diverse people, but she has secretly decided that she will write a book about her experience and spice it up with recipes of the meals the members serve each other at their frequent meetings. Therefore, the desire to publish another book drives her commitment almost as much as her devotion to finding a preacher who is the perfect fit.

Church politics, human nature, and the factions within the committee are very believable, and the drama that they create will keep you turning pages until the end. This is Whiting Award winner Huneven’s fifth novel.

Lee Smith is well known on the literary scene and has been here many times to light up the memorable Chattanooga Conference on Southern Literature. Those of us lucky enough to have heard her speak and to have read her many books know well how delightful she is and how poignant and fulfilling her novels are.

Now she has a much-anticipated new book, “Silver Alert,” and the only problem I have with it is that I wish it were twice as long. Readers will applaud and truly care about the eccentric characters she has created for this funny and poignant story.

Set in Key West, “Silver Alert” finds an elderly man, Herb Atlas, living with his stunning wife, Susan, who is rapidly disappearing into dementia. When Herb hires a young woman, DeeDee (who calls herself Renee), to come to his posh house to be his wife’s manicurist, he is surprised to see how DeeDee is able to reach his poor Susan.

There is certainly more to DeeDee than meets the eye. She has an ingrained naivety and a checkered past, but, above all, she is kind and believes that, despite her former mistakes, things will work out for her. She and Herb have an unlikely affinity for each other, which leads to an ill-planned joy ride and an unexpected denouement.
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Smith is a writer who plays on her readers’ compassion. Her characters may not be anyone you actually know, but they are understandable and familiar, and you pull for them. I am so glad she wrote “Silver Alert” and hope there are more books in her fertile imagination just waiting to be released. Her fans will certainly rejoice!

David Graybeal to Speak About His New Book
Signal Mountain resident David Graybeal will talk about his new book, “Faith in The West Wing: The Portrayal of Religion in a Primetime Presidency” at 6:30 p.m. on March 23 in the Library’s lower level. His book will be offered for sale, and he will sign copies at the event.

Graybeal, pastor at Signal Crest United Methodist Church, says he became fascinated with the series “The West Wing” that aired on television more than 20 years ago. “I had an idea about writing about religious themes in the show when I first saw it,” he said, adding that the book was “several years in the making.” He will also discuss his writing process.

“The West Wing” still has many fans today, as evidenced by the fact that it was shown in all its seven seasons in a marathon presentation the week after Thanksgiving and again after Christmas this year. It’ also available on DVD to check out from the Library.

The book begins with Graybeal’s astute observations about the opening episode of the series: “The pilot … reverberates with religious rhetoric, perspectives, and personalities,” writes the author. He continues with summaries of various episodes, interspersed with his comments on “navigating not only the relationship between church and state, religious and political power, but all the important relationships in our lives.”
One of the interesting aspects of this fascinating book is that it affirms that “The West Wing” is just as relevant today as when it debuted. In fact, one of the book’s endorsers, professor of religion William P. McDonald, posits, “It’s enough to make a reader long for such leaders on the stage of American politics today.”

For more information, call the Library at (423) 886-7323.

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Girl Scouts to Launch Seed Library
Fifth grade Girl Scout Troop No. 40487 will initiate a seed library at the Signal Mountain Library this spring. They plan to gather and label seeds that library patrons may then plant in their gardens. The idea is to promote seed saving and sharing and continue the cycle throughout the planting season. According to troop leader Kris Bespalec, “The girls got interested in the seed library when we were thinking of ways we could support local gardeners on Signal Mountain. The girls are excited to see how people use the seeds and want to grow things in gardens at home as well.” More information about this exciting new program will be announced soon.

Signal Mountain Lions Make Gift to Library
The Library wishes to express thanks to the Signal Mountain Lions Club for a recent donation. The Lions have supported the Library for many years as part of their commitment to serve our community. We are lucky indeed to have them as advocates.

New Nonfiction
Following are some brief reviews of some of the latest additions to our nonfiction collection.

“The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness” by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, presents the insights from interviews with hundreds of people who were studied for their whole adult years. The conclusion of these studies is that meaningful connections with others is the ultimate driver of happiness. Waldinger’s TED talk about this subject is one of the 10 most viewed ever: more than 42 million times.

“A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré” is a collection of the correspondence that the late great writer sent to numerous people, among them famous artists and politicians, other writers, and spies. They shed light on the innermost thoughts of le Carré, sharing his interests, his sense of humor, and his fascinating mind. Lovers of le Carre’s spy novels will find them engrossing.

“Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature’s Secrets to Longevity” by Nicklas Brendborg, a molecular biologist, looks at ways that plants, animals, and even some humans adapt to their environment so that they can live longer. Written for laymen, the book explores such amazing creatures as a Greenland shark that is 390 years old and a tiny jellyfish that can age both forward and backwards.

“The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life” by CBS business analyst Jill Schlesinger discusses the many options that you may take to reinvent your life. During the pandemic, many people reassessed their futures, adding goals or completely refocusing their lives. If you are thinking about making dramatic changes, this book offers advice on when and how to manage your money so that you can make these changes successfully.
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“On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans discovered Europe” by Caroline Dodds Pennock examines the stories of people from the Americas who traveled to Europe after Columbus’s 1492 voyage. These indigenous peoples were often enslaved or exploited for their differences, and Pennock reveals their influence on Europeans, from common people to monarchs.         ​

Avid Louise Penny fans are basking in the afterglow of her new novel, “A World of Curiosities,” the prolific author’s 18th entry in her Armand Gamache series. The book debuted at the end of November and immediately jumped to the No. 1 spot on bestseller lists. If you haven’t read it yet, get in line, because it is a winner!

I would never want to spoil the book for a reader, so this review is missing many important details of the story. But I can attest to the fact that it is a terrific book, rich in motivations, insights, and, above all, mystery.

“A World of Curiosities” is set primarily in Three Pines, the fictional village in the Eastern Provinces of Canada where Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, live. As head of the homicide department of the Sûreté du Quebec, this most empathetic policeman is, as always, the main character in this drama by the award-winning writer. Characters, in addition to the Gamaches, include his right-hand assistant Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and villagers Ruth, Myrna, Clara, Gabri, and Olivier, beloved by and familiar to Penny fans.

The book opens with a bleak scene where Gamache and Jean-Guy are recovering from a remote lake the body of a young woman who had been reported missing. When the officers go to tell the woman’s children, daughter Fiona and son Sam, what happened to their mother, the events of the novel are set in motion. And thus begins the spiraling tale of vengeance and violence, though the denouement takes many years to be realized.

Penny is well known for including quotes from poems in her novels, usually ones written by Margaret Atwood and fictionally attributed to her character Ruth Zardo. In “A World of Curiosities,” she borrows the following chilling stanza from one of W.H. Auden’s poems:

“Behind the corpse in the reservoir, behind the ghost on the links,
Behind the lady who dances and the man who madly drinks,
Under the look of fatigue, the attack of migraine and the sigh.
There is always another story, there is more than meets the eye.”

The last line in the above quote, is repeated throughout the book and epitomizes the overwhelming tension with its distinct foreboding.

The title of the book refers to an artwork that Gamache and the villagers uncover in a walled-up section of Myrna’s attic. Itself a “world of curiosities,” it is modeled on the Paston Treasure, a real painting completed in 1600’s England. You can look up the original still life and see the somewhat fiendish and cluttered design that it presents of various collectibles as well as persons and animals, not necessarily in their real sizes. “There is more than meets the eye” is particularly appropriate,

Another interesting facet of the book is its plot line that concerns the true-life tragedy known in Canada as the Montreal Massacre. In 1989 a crazed gunman attacked a group of female students at the Ecole Polytechnique, an engineering school, killing 14 and injuring 10 more, claiming to kill them because they were feminists. Penny herself was a young reporter and covered the event. One of the survivors of the attack, Nathalie Provost, actually plays a role in the book.

Penny uses this historical event to subtly address the need for stricter gun control laws, a cause she has also supported in earlier novels. Hers is a compelling argument, and her not-so-hidden message is a notable counterpoint to the many cryptic and foreshadowing messages found in the painting from the attic.

The action in the book whirls around Sam and Fiona, damaged beyond belief by their early life. Fiona was sponsored by Gamache, who, believing her to be salvageable, had helped her obtain a degree in engineering. But Sam has never won Gamache’s trust. When the two, now grown, arrive in Three Pines, Gamache and Jean-Guy know there is something afoot, and set out to discover their motivation.

Penny is a master in creating an atmosphere of steadily growing dread. The tension in the book is quite palpable, making a reader rush through, propelled by the need to solve the mystery. I consumed it over two days when it was first released, but when I was preparing to write this review, I decided to revisit some scenes. Alas, I was unable, again, to put the book down and reread every word. It is that compelling!

Note: If you just can’t get enough of Louise Penny, and I definitely can’t, be sure to check out “Three Pines,” the eight-part television series on Amazon Prime.

Before I watched the production, I made a decision that I would not let seeing it change my own vision for any of the characters or scenery of the books.  After all, I had already pictured my own Gamache (Roger Allam), Jean-Guy (Wilmer Valderrama) and Ruth (Cloris Leachman) and didn’t want to give them up. And I know from experience that it’s easy to let the movie supplant the book, which is only in the mind’s eye.  
 
I watched “Three Pines” as if I had never heard of it and enjoyed every minute. I found it to be like watching a foreign film since the only actor with whom I was familiar was Alfred Molina, who is terrific as Gamache. The story is somewhat different since it includes a theme not in the books, but that just made it more fascinating.
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So, if you have some extra time on one of our dreary winter days, binge on!        ​

​I hope you all received lots of books for Christmas! At my house, books have always been some of the best presents, ones that last and that give us all an excuse to relax after the crazy days leading up to the holidays.

I remember how my children used to stack up their new books on Christmas morning and take them to their rooms, where they would delve into them and escape into whole other worlds. That’s the real beauty of reading. It allows us to experience things beyond our own lives.

There were many wonderful books that were published in 2022. Lists of the best of the best of last year have filled publishers’ trade magazines for several weeks, so I thought it would be interesting to mention some of the most touted ones that we have here in our own Library.

Here are brief reviews of books chosen as memorable in 2022 by The New York Times, Lit Hub, and a few other sources, and they are ones which our readers have and continue to enjoy. Even if they may not have made the top of the bestseller lists, they are considered worthwhile reads by critics.

“The Candy House” by Jennifer Egan is a sequel to the popular “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” which debuted in 2010 and has been hailed as the Egan’s best yet. The book examines consciousness and identity and creates a world where social media plays an important role while characters explore their own and even others’ memories.

“Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver is the esteemed author’s much-awaited book, set in today’s Appalachia. It tells the story of a boy in his own voice and how that boy makes his way through poverty, addiction, and the pitfalls of contemporary rural society. Rich with detail and drama, it is a contemporary “David Copperfield” that will hold readers spellbound.

“The Furrows: An Elegy” by Namwali Serpell is the author’s sophomoric effort and follows the story of a young woman who loses her 12-year-old brother and how his death colors her life well into adulthood. “I don’t want to tell you what happened,” the narrator says. “I want to tell you how it felt.”
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“Trust” by Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer finalist, offers four different accounts of a 1920s Wall Street tycoon and his wife, and it’s up to the reader to ferret out the truth and decide ultimately whom to trust. Diaz’s beautiful prose will enlighten and surprise readers. It “glints with wonder and knowledge and mystery,” writes author Rachel Kushner.

“The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell follows the author’s much-lauded “Hamnet” and introduces readers to Lucrezia de’ Medici. Set in Renaissance Italy, the novel focuses on the life of Lucrezia, who is catapulted into an elaborate and often devious life when she marries Alfonzo, ruler of Ferrara, Modena, and Regio, after her older sister, who was supposed to marry him, suddenly dies. A surprise ending makes this fascinating book truly worth reading.

“The Disappearance of Josef Mengele” by Olivier Guez is a chilling and compulsively readable novel based on Mengele, the “angel of death” of Auschwitz. After his escape from Germany, Mengele lived undetected in South America for 30 years, never recanting his allegiance to Nazi principles. Based on painstaking research and recovered papers, the book is a true thriller.

“The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan became popular early in 2022 when it landed on the Read with Jena Book Club list, plus it was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. It tells of a mother, Frida, who has a lapse in judgement and then is subjected to scrutiny by the government for not caring properly for her young daughter. Publishers Weekly calls it “a powerful story, made more so by its empathetic and complicated heroine.”

Most Check-Outs
You might be surprised to know what were the most popular adult books at the Signal Mountain Library during 2022. We certainly were!

In the fiction category and in order of their popularity are “The Maid” by Nita Prose, “The Paris Apartment” by Lucy Foley, “Verity” by Coleen Hoover, “Shadows Reel” by C. J. Box, and “Dream Town” by David Baldacci.
Our most checked out nonfiction books were “Small Batch Baking” by Saura Kline, “I Left My Homework in the Hamptons” by Blythe Grossberg, “The Bucket List: 1,000 Adventures Big and Small” by Kathy Stathers, “Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones” by James Clear, and “Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life - with 100 Recipes” by Kristen Hong.

If it’s fall, it must be time for the new Louise Penny mystery in her winning series of Armand Gamache novels. After last year’s “All the Devils Are Here,” which was set in Paris, she has returned to Quebec and to her familiar and well-loved characters in “The Madness of Crowds,” her 17th in the repertoire. Debuting at No. 1 on many bestseller lists when it was released, this scintillating adventure is just what Penny’s fans have been anxiously awaiting.

The book opens as the current pandemic is winding down. People are coming together again, happy to be out of quarantine but still wary and wounded by loss. The villagers of Penny’s Three Pines, her beloved fictional setting in Quebec, are enjoying the snow and looking forward to the upcoming holidays. The last months have been difficult, and the extended family of Armand Gamache, the often-profound chief inspector of the Canadian Sûreté, is finally back together. But unexpectedly, le patron, as he is called by his second in command and son-in-law Jean Guy, is asked to provide security for Abigail Robinson, a visiting professor who is speaking at a nearby university.

Gamache can’t imagine why she would need protection, but as he soon learns, her message is both odious and divisive. In fact, her theories, which evolved throughout the COVID-19 crisis, propose that drastic steps be taken to protect the healthy at the expense of the most vulnerable. Robinson’s position repels many, but, horrifyingly, galvanizes others; and, in the ensuing turmoil of her talk, there is an attempt to silence her.

Now Gamache and his team must determine who is responsible for the attack. While they are investigating and observing, another person is killed, adding to the mystery. As in all of Penny’s books, discovering the motive of the killer is what leads to solving the crime, but again, it is certainly not clear why there was a killing. Many red herrings offer plausible explanations, and it’s up to Gamache to weed through them before someone else is murdered.

Not only is the book absorbing, but it is also quite relevant. Penny has created a situation where issues are clouded by misinterpreted information that appeals to a certain questionable group of citizens. The idea that a person can offer a solution based on wild and unfounded claims is, unfortunately, quite timely.

Throughout her books, Penny’s overriding theme is “goodness exists,” but for most of this cunning novel, you may wonder how these words can possibly be reflected in the story. But once again, the author devises a believable and powerful dénouement, one that proves to be most satisfying.

We may have to wait until August 2022 for the next Gamache installment, but Penny’s new collaboration with Hillary Clinton, a political thriller named “State of Terror” that debuted October 12, affords readers another appointment with the revered Canadian writer. Watch for a review of it in next month’s Mountain Mirror.

A Bounty of New Books Awaits
A flood of destined-to-be-popular books has been released recently by prominent publishers. Many of these were delayed by the pandemic, but November and December will be awash with great reads. Here are brief reviews of some of these. For more, come by the Library and look for the bright orange and yellow new stickers marking our latest acquisitions.

Adult Nonfiction
“Alpha: Eddie Gallagher and the War for the Soul of the Navy SEALS” by Pulitzer winner David Phillips is an account of the court-martial of the man who was a platoon chief in the Iraq war and who, according to the author’s extensive investigation, abused his power. Though he was pardoned by Trump (via Twitter, no less), the facts revealed in the trial exposed a disturbed and dangerous man, and this book has been hailed as sad, shocking and “deeply damning.”

“Dear Highlights: What Adults Can Learn from 75 Years of Letters and Conversations with Kids” by Christine French Cully and Amy Dickinson is a compilation of some of the most compelling and heart-tugging posts that children have sent to the magazine. Reproduced here in the children’s own handwriting, some also illustrated by their senders, the letters ask powerful questions, relate experiences that are challenging, and express joy as well as sorrow. Even if it’s been a long time since you read Highlights, you will find many passages that offer poignant insights.

“Sidecountry: Tales of Death and Life from the Back Roads of Sports” by Pulitzer winner John Branch collects the best of the author’s pieces from The New York Times. Branch doesn’t limit his writing to conventional team sports. He covers subjects such as alligator hunting, rock climbing, and wingsuit flying. But he also focuses on uplifting situations and players who would not have ever been recognized if it were not for his interest in them. You definitely don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy this book.

“Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty” by Anderson Cooper is the journalist’s exposition of his own family, the illustrious and legendary Vanderbilts, whose rise to fame and fortune began with Cornelius, The Commodore, Cooper’s great-great-great grandfather. The book looks at the family through a series of essays on family members, concluding with the tragic story of his mother, Gloria, who died in 2019.  Publishers’ Weekly calls it “a memorable chronicle of American royalty.”


Children’s Books
We have also added some fun books aimed at grade levels three through seven called “The Last Kids on Earth.” We have seven volumes of this series starring zombie-fighting kids who form a team to combat the monster apocalypse. Both text and illustrations relate these stories that will appeal to most middle schoolers.
Also new are three editions in the “I Survived” series: “I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies;” “I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944;” and “I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018.” These books tell the thrilling stories of actual events and feature capable and brave young people who have experienced them. They are written for ages 7 through 10.

Nominated for National Book Award
Finalists for the 2021 National Book Awards were announced last month. On November 17, the winners will be revealed at the 72nd National Book Awards Ceremony. Of the nominees, we have the following available for checkout: “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr; “Matrix” by Lauren Groff; “Zorrie” by Laird Hunt; “The Prophets” by Robert Jones; “Hell of a Book” by Jason Mott; “All That She Carried” by Tiya Miles; and “Too Bright to See” by Kyle Lukoff.

by Karin Glendenning

Most of us who adored Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “All the Light We Cannot See” have been anxiously looking forward to his next book, “Cloud Cuckoo Land” (Scribner. 656 pages. $30.). It was released on September 28, and I can say unequivocally that it was worth the wait and lives up to every bit of fanfare it is receiving!

The novel, quite different from its immediate predecessor, is again an engrossing tale, but this time the author leads readers into three different time periods. The action is divided between the mid-1400s during the siege of Constantinople, present day Idaho, and 2146 on a starship hurtling towards a distant planet. The story follows five main characters, each of whom is seeking to understand his or her own relevance. All are affected in different ways by an ancient book, written in Greek, that captures the promise of storytelling.
In the 15th century, we meet Anna, an orphan who shares a small cell with her sister in a community of women who embroider garments for priests. She yearns to know more of the world, manages to teach herself to read, and discovers an ancient manuscript, purportedly written by Diogenes, that tells of Aethon who is seeking a magical world, Cloud Cuckoo Land, that exists in another realm.

In the same time frame is Omeir, a young boy living in Bulgaria in very primitive circumstances with his grandfather, mother, and sister. His two oxen, Tree and Moonlight, are his beloved companions. He and his animals are conscripted by an army planning to sack Constantinople, and Omeir is unprepared for the horror and inhumanity of war.

Another thread in present day Idaho follows a troubled teenager, Seymour, who is devastated when the area surrounding the pitiful doublewide trailer he shares with his mother is cleared for new construction. The development destroys not only the forest, but also Seymour’s talisman, a great grey owl he had named Trustyfriend. The ensuing situation leads Seymour to seek out and attempt to fit in with a questionable environmental group.         

Elderly Zeno, who grew up in the same town where Seymour lives, became enchanted by another soldier who had introduced him to Greek literature when both men were prisoners of war during the Korean conflict. After the war Zeno returned to a simple and lonely life in Idaho, but he remembers his friend by working to translate the Cloud Cuckoo Land manuscript and fill in the gaps that proliferate throughout what remains of the ancient text. He frequents the library in his hometown where he shares his passion for the story of the mythical land with a group of children.

The last character, and the first one that readers meet at the beginning of the novel, is Konstance, a young girl who lives on an interstellar spaceship that is hurtling toward an unknown planet. Her connection with the story of Aethon is rooted in her love for her father who read it to her when she was a young child. As she tries to understand her situation, she accesses the past through the virtual technology of the future.

The book is compelling, surprising, and mesmerizing. Even though it moves from place to place and from time to time, it is never confusing. Doerr has created a rich and hopeful story, one that celebrates books, honors heroism, and rejoices in redemption, while illustrating that our connectedness is what makes life worth living. Don’t miss reading it!

Addition Moving Right Along
The Library’s addition is finally beginning to look like a room! We have watched eagerly as the patio was repoured and smoothed, the elevator shaft was built, and the beams were erected. It’s amazing how defining the space can make it seem truly real!

Teddy Burns, the supervisor for J and J Contractors, has won our admiration with his skill at seeing that everything is done correctly. He is here every day at 7 a.m. to make sure all goes smoothly, and we all have grown to count on him for daily progress reports.

If you haven’t been to see us lately, please stop by and watch from the upstairs windows as the men work their magic. You will be surprised and impressed by their handiwork!

by Karin Glendenning

We are proud to announce that Stephen M. Monroe’s new book, “Heritage and Hate: Old South Rhetoric at Southern Universities,” has recently been added to our Library’s collection. The author, son of Brenda and Dun Monroe, who gave the book to us, grew up on Signal, attended Baylor School, and is currently chair and assistant professor in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric at the University Mississippi in Oxford. The book was published by the University of Alabama Press.

An erudite and quite relevant study, the volume discusses how the words, symbols, and customs of many Southern universities have served to uphold and influence harmful traditions. Monroe writes in the introduction that the “book focuses on Southern university communities to explore how they have struggled with their linguistic and symbolic inheritance: a panoply of Old South words and symbols.”

Covering the period from Reconstruction to the election of Barack Obama, the book examines both the attitudes that have changed and the many traditions that are still being questioned. He notes that, “This study is not about unearthing inactive and forgotten shards of linguistic history. It is, instead, about understanding a blaring and ongoing rhetorical event. In Mississippi, Confederate rhetoric remains active, loud, and influential.”

Monroe also looks at “the Confederate rhetoric” in several other universities, including the Universities of Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Tennessee. He adds that these schools all have rich histories that can be examined to better understand the cultures they continue to support.

John T. Edge, author of “The Potlikker Papers” and a frequent presenter at the Chattanooga Conference on Southern Literature, says of the book, “This is a very important book that offers insights into the historical development of Confederate rhetoric on Southern college campuses, as well as the ways in which it is sustained and resonant in the contemporary era. Monroe skillfully explicates its hidden nature and offers abundant evidence pointing to the ways in which its subtlety functions to ‘protect’ it from the forces of modernization, even in the setting of academic institutions (ostensibly) committed to the progressive ideals of inclusion, critical thinking, and fairness.”

Book Reviews
If it’s summer, it must be time for a new Daniel Silva novel, and once again, readers will be captivated by the author’s enigmatic hero, head of Israeli intelligence Gabriel Allon, now in his 21st incarnation.

The book, entitled “The Cellist,” is even more timely and provocative than usual as it involves the nefarious activities of the current Soviet leader and his minions who are doing their best to beat the West by creating and promoting misinformation, practicing uber money-laundering, and carrying out an unthinkable and incredibly violent plot.

Allon gets involved after the murder of Viktor Orlav, a Russian ex-pat who once saved Allon’s life and is living in splendor in London, believing he has escaped Putin’s reach. One day as Orlav opens a dispatch of documents, he is quickly exposed to a mysterious powder that turns out to be a deadly nerve agent known to be a Russian weapon.

Working with Isabel Brenner, who is the cellist of the title, Allon seeks to beat the Soviets at their own game and steal millions from them by using their own money-laundering schemes. Isabel is a financial whiz who also wants to turn the tables on the Russians by dismantling the RhineBank, the institution that is embroiled in cleaning their vast and ill-gotten sums. The tricky maneuvers work, but beating the self-proclaimed “czar” is not over. In a chase scene in the French Alps, somewhat reminiscent of a Bond escapade, Isabel’s mettle is severely tested.

The action then moves to Washington where the former president, determined to deny the results of the election, foments a scheme, part fiction and part fact, to hold onto his power, with the help of his now financially crippled Soviet counterpart. No spoilers here, but there is action to the end.

In an author’s note at the end of the book Silva explains that he rewrote the ending of “The Cellist” after the events of January 6, and his take on the incidents before, during, and after the storming of the Capitol is decidedly pro-Biden and anti-former president. But, as Admiral James Stavridis, former 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, said in his review of the book, “This is the starkest of cautionary tales.”

Short Reviews of More New Books
“Appleseed” by Matt Bell, Young Lions Fiction Award-finalist, deals with climate change and moves from the 18th century to 50 years from now to a thousand years in the future. Its speculative storyline is shocking, enlightening, and ultimately hopeful.

“Atlas of Disappearing Places” by Christina Conklin and Marina Psaros focuses on the threat of rising sea levels and illustrates the narrative with stunning graphics and photos. Locations from around the world are highlighted in this inspiring work.

“Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health” by Dr. Leana Wen tells the Chinese immigrant’s uplifting story of surviving a sometimes-homeless childhood to attending college at 13, becoming a Rhodes Scholar and eventually a public health official, CNN medical analyst and contributor to the Washington Post. Believing in the vital importance of public health, Dr. Wen has worked to promote treating social ills, as well as medical issues. According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, “Dr. Wen’s hopeful and wise account is a reminder of why she has quickly become one of America’s most important physician leaders.”

by Karin Glendenning

The Library is so excited to be open and to have so many new members. In June alone, we added 41 to our rolls, and in just the first full week of July, nine new families signed up for library cards. We are so happy to welcome them to library and to the mountain. And, if you haven’t seen the progress of our construction, please come by. It’s amazing!

After months of not seeing young people inside our building, we have had many here since we reopened in June. It’s been such a delight for us to see how much everyone has grown and to help them find books. We have most of the required books on schools’ reading lists, and these books have seen steady ins-and-outs all summer. Please let us know if you need something that we don’t have, and we’ll try our best to obtain it.

During our limited-service months, along with adding lots of new children’s books, we also purchased many adult titles, both fiction and nonfiction, including multiple copies of the most popular new fiction. We have all the current bestsellers and are constantly on the lookout for the next blockbusters.

Beatriz Williams is an author whom our patrons have gravitated to, so when her latest book debuted, I decided to read it. Williams has been prolific in the realm of historical fiction, and we have 13 of her titles here at the library. Here is a brief review what I think many of our patrons will enjoy.

“Our Woman in Moscow” by Beatriz Williams. William Morrow, 448 pages. $27.99.
In her latest, Williams creates two sisters and fits their fictional life and that of their families and lovers into a true Cold War setting. Ruth and Iris Macallister are quite different but devoted to each other. Ruth is the glamourous one, while Iris is more retiring. Visiting Rome in the summer of 1940, they are unprepared for the impending war. When Iris meets and falls in love with dashing American diplomat Sasha, she remains in Europe with him while Ruth returns home, and the sisters remain estranged for years. Iris and her family disappear from London, and the suspicion is that Sasha is a traitor and has defected to Moscow, similar to the real-life defectors Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean of the Cambridge Five. Chapters alternate between the two sisters’ perspectives and occasionally that of another woman, Lyudmila, a shadowy Russian NKVD operative. While the book is not overly complicated, it is dense enough to be engrossing, and the eventual denouement is shocking and satisfying.

Other new and engaging fiction includes the following:

“Aviary” by Deirdre McNamer is set in a senior residence where a fire breaks out. The town’s fire inspector sets out to find out why it started and what has happened to two of the home’s residents, who are missing.

“The Damage” by Caitlin Wahrer concerns brothers, Nick and Tony. When Nick is attacked, Tony’s wife, attorney Julia, tries to help the detective assigned to the case. The novel is full of surprises and is an explosive psychological drama.

“The Great Mistake” by Jonathan Lee takes place at the turn of the 20th century and spins off the true murder of an elderly man who had made his mark on New York City. Hailed by many reviewers, it tells a “rich and unforgettable story.”

“Hostage” by Clare Mackintosh is billed as a “locked-room thriller.” It is set on a long-haul flight and stars an attendant who must make a terrible decision. Full of twists and turns, it is one of summer’s hits.

“Lizzie and Dante” by Mary Bly is a romantic novel set on the island of Elba that considers serious issues and is ultimately affecting and inspiring. Booklist calls it “an emotional roller coaster” and claims, “Bly writes with a Prosecco-fizzy wit.”

“The Maidens” by Alex Michaelides follows his bestseller “The Silent Patient” and continues his penchant toward psychological suspense. In this book, a therapist, Mariana Andros, becomes convinced that a renowned professor of Greek tragedy at Cambridge, Edward Fosca, is a murderer. As her suspicions become stronger, Mariana herself becomes a target in what has been called “a mesmerizing tale.”

“The Cape Doctor” by E. J. Levy is a historical novel based on the life of Dr. James Miranda Barry, born a woman, but who assumed the guise of a man in order to go to medical school. Set in Edinburgh, London and finally Cape Town, it is described as “gorgeous, thoughtful and heartbreaking.”

“Dream Girl” by Laura Lippman is a thriller that has been compared to Stephen King’s “Misery.” The central character is an author who is bedridden after an accident and must rely on the care of two unpredictable women. When he receives a phone call from someone purporting to be the embodiment of one of his fictional characters, he is at first confused and then frightened, but who will help him? It’s a tricky read!

“Songs in Ursa Major” by Emma Brodie, the author’s debut, takes the reader into the world of the ’70’s music scene. Named an Amazon Best Book of 2021, it will have a particular appeal to those who came of age when that musical genre was king. Said to be based on James Taylor and Joni Mitchell’s relationship, it deals with universal problems and especially gender discrimination.

“The Sweetness of Water” by Nathan Harris is an Oprah’s Book Club pick. Set in the last days of the Civil War, it tells the story of two brothers, Prentiss and Landry, who, now freed, are trying to make a new life. Said Winfrey about the book, “As the best writers can do, Nathan takes us back in time, and helps us to feel we are right there with Prentiss and Landry as they get their first taste of freedom. I rooted for them, and feared for them, too.”

by Karin Glendenning