Masked Book Challenge

As part of Adult Summer Reading, we’re inviting you to participate in the Masked Book Challenge. Starting on Monday, June 29, we’ll have a selection of books ready to be checked out – the kicker is that they’ll all be disguised! A short clue to their identity will be available, and based on this, we dare you to take one home and read it.

Give your Masked Book a chance – at least a couple of chapters. Once you’re finished, fill out the included ratings form (or pick another up at the Reference Desk), and tell us what you thought. Drop off the form before August 1 and we’ll enter you into our drawing for a cool prize.

That’s it! Do you think you have what it takes to accept the Masked Book Challenge?

The Way Back Machine – Best Sellers 1993

It’s starting to warm into Summer here in the Magic Valley, so let’s get in the Way Back Machine (I’m sure it’s air-conditioned) and zoom back to 1993. I can’t guarantee it will be any cooler in temperature, but we were all “cool” then, amiright? If you’re having trouble remembering back that far, here are a few 1993 events that might trigger your memory:

• Bill Clinton is sworn in as the 42nd President of the U.S. (January)
• Professional tennis player Monica Seles is stabbed in the back by an unbalanced fan. (April)
• Actor River Phoenix dies outside The Viper Room in Hollywood, CA. (October)

And what were we reading? The following were all at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list for the week of June 20, 1993.

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FICTION

1. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

2. Pleading Guilty by Scott Turow

3. The Client by John Grisham

4. The Scorpio Illusion by Robert Ludlum

5. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

6. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

7. I’ll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark

8. Gai-Jin by James Clavell

9. The Last Command by Timothy Zahn

10. A Season in Purgatory by Dominick Dunne

11. Paper Doll by Robert B. Parker

12. J Is for Judgment by Sue Grafton

13. Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman

14. Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons

15. The Red Horseman by Stephen Coonts

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NONFICTION

1. Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

2. The Way Things Ought to Be by Rush H. Limbaugh

3. The Real Anita Hill by David Brock

4. Secret Ceremonies by Deborah Laake

5. Healing and the Mind by Bill Moyers

6. Embraced by the Light by Betty J. Eadie With Curtis Taylor

7. Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore

8. The Fifties by David Halberstam

9. Thinking Out Loud by Anna Quindlen

10. Remembering Denny by Calvin Trillin

11. Bankruptcy 1995 by Harry E. Figgie Jr. With Gerald J. Swanson

12. Culture of Complaint by Robert Hughes

13. A World Waiting to Be Born by M. Scott Peck

14. Conduct Unbecoming by Randy Shilts

15. Race Matters by Cornel West

Take Ten: Superheroes

With Summer Reading underway, it’s a good time to take a look at our theme, in a slightly different way. Across the board – Kids, Teens, and Adults – we have a superheroes theme, which is popular for all sorts of reasons. And, while we’re more familiar with the comic books and graphic novels, there are also some great superhero novels and nonfiction to be found. Take home one of the following for a great adventure!

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FICTION:

After the Golden Age – Carrie Vaughn

Hero – Perry Moore (YA)

Masked – Lou Anders, editor

Soon I Will Be Invincible – Austin Grossman

Vicious – V.E.Schwab

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NONFICTION:

The Law of Superheroes – James Daily

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story – Sean Howe

The Physics of Superheroes – James Kakalios

The Secret History of Wonder Woman – Jill Lepore

Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Creators of Superman – Brad Ricca

Summer Music Playlist

We’ve been doing a monthly playlist, featuring songs you can download (5 free each week) using our Freegal service. But, for Summer Reading, we thought we’d do something a little different. Instead of us creating a list we think you’d like, we’re asking you to help us create a list!

Think about “summer songs” – you know, those songs that just scream long days, warm nights, baseball, swimming, and barbecues. The music you listen to on vacation, hanging out in the back yard, or even blasting in the car with the windows rolled down. Find your favorite summer song on Freegal, and then post the title in the comments section of the Summer Music Playlist page. We’ll add it to the page list – with a link – so everyone can find it and enjoy. Posting also helps you to complete one of the tasks on the Adult Summer Reading Comic Panel Chart, which gets you that much closer to winning a prize drawing. How easy is that?

Then, each week, don’t forget to download your 5 free songs so you can create your own custom Summer Music Playlist. Then blast it as loud as you want (or as loud as the kids will let you) this summer!

Summer Reading Is Coming…

Summer Reading starts next week – June 8 – and runs through August 1, so now’s a good time to start planning! Check out our website for information, or stop in and ask a Librarian. We’ve got some fun activities planned for Kids, Teens, and Adults – plus prizes! Come in this summer and “Escape the Ordinary.”