Want Something Done Right? Do It Yourself. These Books Can Help.
From decorating to beauty projects to canine costumes, these how-to guides may inspire you to take matters into your own hands.
Dear Santa
unCovered review
by Christine Szymanski, ACLS Somers Point Branch
Dear Santa,
I just finished a lovely, little Christmas book by Debbie Macomber called Dear Santa. It’s about a woman named Lindy Carmichael who arrives home for the Christmas holiday after a not-very-good year. Her job is no longer creatively satisfying. Even worse, she has recently discovered that her boyfriend, the one she thought was “the one,” is cheating on her with her best friend.
After sharing her woes with her mother, Mom brings out a box of Christmas letters Lindy wrote when she was a kid. After reading them, Lindy decides to write a letter to Santa telling him her wishes now. What follows are lessons in gratitude, friendship, and love!
Dear Santa is perfect for this time of year. It’s a fast read with lots of heart. You’ll love it, Santa, especially because your character is so wise and wonderful!
Debbie Macomber’s Christmas books remind us of the good things about Christmas, all the joys and blessings. I hope you enjoy Dear Santa.
Merry Christmas, Santa,
and thank you!
Literary fiction dominates Maureen Corrigan's 2021 Best Books list
Fresh Air book critic Maureen Corrigan says 2021 was a spectacular year for literary fiction. As such, her annual Best Books list is exclusively composed of novels and short story collections.
(Image credit: NPR)
In Nadifa Mohamed’s Latest, a Man Hangs for a Murder He Didn’t Commit
A Booker Prize finalist, “The Fortune Men” fictionalizes the story of the Somali seaman who became the last man to be hanged by the state in Cardiff, Wales, in 1952.
Thrillers and Suspense: December 2021
Footsteps behind you... Conspiracy theories... A race against time... Horrific consequences... If you're seeking white knuckles and a racing heart, you've come to the right place. Monthly.
Delivered: 12/13/2021 12:00:00 AM
Delivered: 12/13/2021 12:00:00 AM
Shang-Chi and the legend of the ten rings [DVD]
Author: Cretton, Destin Daniel, film director, screenwriter. Callaham, David, 1977- screenwriter. Lanham, Andrew (Screenwriter), screenwriter. Feige, Kevin, film producer. Schwartz, Jonathan (Film producer), film producer.
Published: 2021
Call Number: SHANGCHI
Format: Video disc
Summary: Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization controlled by his father, a man who gained immortality and the desire for unlimited power when he acquired an ancient artifact centuries ago.
Published: 2021
Call Number: SHANGCHI
Format: Video disc
Summary: Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization controlled by his father, a man who gained immortality and the desire for unlimited power when he acquired an ancient artifact centuries ago.
The Brokenwood mysteries [DVD]. Series 7
Author: Wolfe, Katie, 1968- television director. Walker, Aidee, television director. Beesley, Mark (Director), television director. Cawthorn, Geoff, television director. Smith, Mike (Television director), television director.
Published: 2021
Call Number: BROKENWO SERIES 7
Format: Video disc
Summary: In the sleepy town of Brokenwood, New Zealand, the affable residents may seem harmless, but killers, blackmailers, and thieves lurk in every picturesque corner. To quell the community's alarming murder rate, Detective Mike Shepherd uses an unconventional style that contrasts with the methodical approach of his partner, Detective Kristin Sims, and the eager assistance of DC Sam Breen.
Published: 2021
Call Number: BROKENWO SERIES 7
Format: Video disc
Summary: In the sleepy town of Brokenwood, New Zealand, the affable residents may seem harmless, but killers, blackmailers, and thieves lurk in every picturesque corner. To quell the community's alarming murder rate, Detective Mike Shepherd uses an unconventional style that contrasts with the methodical approach of his partner, Detective Kristin Sims, and the eager assistance of DC Sam Breen.
Malignant [DVD]
Author: Wan, James, 1977- film director, film producer, screenwriter. Clear, Michael, 1983- film producer. Bi?u, Ingrid, 1987- screenwriter, actor. Cooper, Akela, screenwriter. Wallis, Annabelle, 1984- actor.
Published: 2021
Call Number: MALIGNAN
Format: Video disc
Summary: Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.
Published: 2021
Call Number: MALIGNAN
Format: Video disc
Summary: Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.
Shang-Chi and the legend of the ten rings [DVD]
Author: Cretton, Destin Daniel, film director, screenwriter. Callaham, David, 1977- screenwriter. Lanham, Andrew (Screenwriter), screenwriter. Feige, Kevin, film producer. Schwartz, Jonathan (Film producer), film producer.
Published: 2021
Call Number: SHANGCHI
Format: Video disc
Summary: Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization controlled by his father, a man who gained immortality and the desire for unlimited power when he acquired an ancient artifact centuries ago.
Published: 2021
Call Number: SHANGCHI
Format: Video disc
Summary: Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization controlled by his father, a man who gained immortality and the desire for unlimited power when he acquired an ancient artifact centuries ago.
The Brokenwood mysteries [DVD]. Series 7
Author: Wolfe, Katie, 1968- television director. Walker, Aidee, television director. Beesley, Mark (Director), television director. Cawthorn, Geoff, television director. Smith, Mike (Television director), television director.
Published: 2021
Call Number: BROKENWO SERIES 7
Format: Video disc
Summary: In the sleepy town of Brokenwood, New Zealand, the affable residents may seem harmless, but killers, blackmailers, and thieves lurk in every picturesque corner. To quell the community's alarming murder rate, Detective Mike Shepherd uses an unconventional style that contrasts with the methodical approach of his partner, Detective Kristin Sims, and the eager assistance of DC Sam Breen.
Published: 2021
Call Number: BROKENWO SERIES 7
Format: Video disc
Summary: In the sleepy town of Brokenwood, New Zealand, the affable residents may seem harmless, but killers, blackmailers, and thieves lurk in every picturesque corner. To quell the community's alarming murder rate, Detective Mike Shepherd uses an unconventional style that contrasts with the methodical approach of his partner, Detective Kristin Sims, and the eager assistance of DC Sam Breen.
Malignant [DVD]
Author: Wan, James, 1977- film director, film producer, screenwriter. Clear, Michael, 1983- film producer. Bi?u, Ingrid, 1987- screenwriter, actor. Cooper, Akela, screenwriter. Wallis, Annabelle, 1984- actor.
Published: 2021
Call Number: MALIGNAN
Format: Video disc
Summary: Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.
Published: 2021
Call Number: MALIGNAN
Format: Video disc
Summary: Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.
Breathing lessons : a doctor's guide to lung health
Author: Han, MeiLan K., author.
Published: 2022
Call Number: 612.24
Format: Books
Summary: "An authoritative, accessible guide to how our lungs work and how to protect them. Most of us pay little attention to the workings of our lungs, but the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked interest in their functioning and fear about the risks they face. Dr. MeiLan K. Han, a leading pulmonologist and a national spokesperson for the American Lung Association, takes readers on a fascinating tour of this most vital organ. Han explains the wonder of breathing and reveals how the lungs serve as the body's first line of defense. She provides a timely overview of the latest scientific thinking about the leading respiratory risks--including indoor and outdoor pollution, smoking and vaping, wildfire smoke, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2--and offers a practical guide to keeping lungs healthy. And with authority as both practitioner and medical researcher, she argues powerfully for a social policy that makes a priority of preserving lung health nationwide"--
Published: 2022
Call Number: 612.24
Format: Books
Summary: "An authoritative, accessible guide to how our lungs work and how to protect them. Most of us pay little attention to the workings of our lungs, but the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked interest in their functioning and fear about the risks they face. Dr. MeiLan K. Han, a leading pulmonologist and a national spokesperson for the American Lung Association, takes readers on a fascinating tour of this most vital organ. Han explains the wonder of breathing and reveals how the lungs serve as the body's first line of defense. She provides a timely overview of the latest scientific thinking about the leading respiratory risks--including indoor and outdoor pollution, smoking and vaping, wildfire smoke, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2--and offers a practical guide to keeping lungs healthy. And with authority as both practitioner and medical researcher, she argues powerfully for a social policy that makes a priority of preserving lung health nationwide"--
Small things like these
Author: Keegan, Claire, author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: F KEEGAN
Format: Books
Summary: "It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. Already a bestseller in France and certain to be read worldwide for generations to come, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers"--
Published: 2021
Call Number: F KEEGAN
Format: Books
Summary: "It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. Already a bestseller in France and certain to be read worldwide for generations to come, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers"--
Under pressure
Author: Driscoll, Sara, author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: F DRISCOLL
Format: Books
Summary: "Diamonds are no one's best friend when the jewels in question are smuggled conflict gems. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, have undertaken many search-and-rescue missions, but this case has an unusual twist. A Philadelphia syndicate is importing diamonds from war-torn African nations and selling them with fake certificates to Stateside dealers. Agent Finn Pierce of the Organized Crime Program is embedded with the syndicate, but being caught with a wire or tracking device would mean instant execution. If Meg, her partner Brian Foster, and their dogs can track Pierce to a deal location, they can break the smuggling chain while maintaining Pierce's cover. With the syndicate monitoring every move, it's a risky operation with more players than Meg and Brian first assumed--on both sides of the law. And when one of their own gets caught in the line of fire, the team embarks on a desperate rescue mission, knowing that mere seconds are all that separate life and death..."--publisher's description.
Published: 2021
Call Number: F DRISCOLL
Format: Books
Summary: "Diamonds are no one's best friend when the jewels in question are smuggled conflict gems. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, have undertaken many search-and-rescue missions, but this case has an unusual twist. A Philadelphia syndicate is importing diamonds from war-torn African nations and selling them with fake certificates to Stateside dealers. Agent Finn Pierce of the Organized Crime Program is embedded with the syndicate, but being caught with a wire or tracking device would mean instant execution. If Meg, her partner Brian Foster, and their dogs can track Pierce to a deal location, they can break the smuggling chain while maintaining Pierce's cover. With the syndicate monitoring every move, it's a risky operation with more players than Meg and Brian first assumed--on both sides of the law. And when one of their own gets caught in the line of fire, the team embarks on a desperate rescue mission, knowing that mere seconds are all that separate life and death..."--publisher's description.
Arctic Sea : a Dan Lenson novel
Author: Poyer, David, author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: F POYER
Format: Books
Summary: "New threats surface in the aftermath of WWIII-this time, in the remote waters of the Arctic. Arctic Sea is the next thrilling entry in David Poyer's critically-acclaimed future war series. In the aftermath of a world war with China, Admiral Dan Lenson is assigned to set up a US Navy base on the rugged North Slope of Alaska, in response to Russian seabed claims that reach nearly to the US coast. Yet the current administration seems oddly reluctant to confront Russian aggression. At the same time, the International Criminal Court is accusing Dan of a war crime. Back in Washington, Blair Titus is running Jim Yangerhans's campaign for president, while Dan's daughter Nan battles disease in a radiation-soaked Midwest. But when Moscow plans to test the Apocalypse, a nuclear powered city killer torpedo, in the Arctic Sea, Dan is sucked into a perilous covert mission. Will a barely victorious America survive dangerous new threats...both from without, and within?"--
Published: 2021
Call Number: F POYER
Format: Books
Summary: "New threats surface in the aftermath of WWIII-this time, in the remote waters of the Arctic. Arctic Sea is the next thrilling entry in David Poyer's critically-acclaimed future war series. In the aftermath of a world war with China, Admiral Dan Lenson is assigned to set up a US Navy base on the rugged North Slope of Alaska, in response to Russian seabed claims that reach nearly to the US coast. Yet the current administration seems oddly reluctant to confront Russian aggression. At the same time, the International Criminal Court is accusing Dan of a war crime. Back in Washington, Blair Titus is running Jim Yangerhans's campaign for president, while Dan's daughter Nan battles disease in a radiation-soaked Midwest. But when Moscow plans to test the Apocalypse, a nuclear powered city killer torpedo, in the Arctic Sea, Dan is sucked into a perilous covert mission. Will a barely victorious America survive dangerous new threats...both from without, and within?"--
Life from scratch : family traditions that start with you
Author: Lachey, Vanessa, author. Gachman, Dina, author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: 641.568
Format: Books
Summary: "Television host, actress, wife of Nick Lachey, and mother of three Vanessa Lachey's Life From Scratch is a season-by-season guide to the recipes, holiday hacks, birthday rituals and date night ideas Vanessa has come up with in her own life, offering readers inspiration for unique family celebrations and proof that you don't have to be the product of a traditional upbringing to create your own traditions"-- From the television host, actress, and mother of three, a fabulous collection of season-by-season recipes, holiday hacks, birthday rituals, and date night ideas for creating wonderful family celebrations and cherished memories. Vanessa didn't come from a family whose traditions were passed down from generation to generation. Her mom left when she was nine, and when she began her own family, Vanessa had to rely on her own imagination to create celebrations and milestone markers that would become annual rituals. In Life from Scratch, Vanessa shares personal stories, ideas, delicious recipes, and parenting tips you can use to make your own celebrations unique and unforgettable. Inside you'll discover the simple gift-giving custom Vanessa shares with her best girlfriends each year; the date-night tradition that she and Nick swear by; and her fool-proof recipe for "authentic" Chicken Adobo she serves to family and friends. A fun, uplifting yearlong guide that celebrates families that color outside the lines, Life from Scratch will inspire people to make each season, and each special moment, their own.
Published: 2021
Call Number: 641.568
Format: Books
Summary: "Television host, actress, wife of Nick Lachey, and mother of three Vanessa Lachey's Life From Scratch is a season-by-season guide to the recipes, holiday hacks, birthday rituals and date night ideas Vanessa has come up with in her own life, offering readers inspiration for unique family celebrations and proof that you don't have to be the product of a traditional upbringing to create your own traditions"-- From the television host, actress, and mother of three, a fabulous collection of season-by-season recipes, holiday hacks, birthday rituals, and date night ideas for creating wonderful family celebrations and cherished memories. Vanessa didn't come from a family whose traditions were passed down from generation to generation. Her mom left when she was nine, and when she began her own family, Vanessa had to rely on her own imagination to create celebrations and milestone markers that would become annual rituals. In Life from Scratch, Vanessa shares personal stories, ideas, delicious recipes, and parenting tips you can use to make your own celebrations unique and unforgettable. Inside you'll discover the simple gift-giving custom Vanessa shares with her best girlfriends each year; the date-night tradition that she and Nick swear by; and her fool-proof recipe for "authentic" Chicken Adobo she serves to family and friends. A fun, uplifting yearlong guide that celebrates families that color outside the lines, Life from Scratch will inspire people to make each season, and each special moment, their own.
The president and the freedom fighter : Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and their battle to save America's soul
Author: Kilmeade, Brian, author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: 973.7092
Format: Large print
Summary: "In The President and the Freedom Fighter, Brian Kilmeade tells the little-known story of how two American heroes moved from strong disagreement to friendship, and in the process changed the entire course of history. Abraham Lincoln was White, born impoverished on a frontier farm. Frederick Douglass was Black, a child of slavery who had risked his life escaping to freedom in the North. Neither man had a formal education, and neither had had an easy path to influence. No one would have expected them to become friends--or to transform the country. But Lincoln and Douglass believed in their nation's greatness. They were determined to make the grand democratic experiment live up to its ideals. Lincoln's problem: he knew it was time for slavery to go, but how fast could the country change without being torn apart? And would it be possible to get rid of slavery while keeping America's Constitution intact? Douglass said no, that the Constitution was irredeemably corrupted by slavery--and he wanted Lincoln to move quickly. Sharing little more than the conviction that slavery was wrong, the two men's paths eventually converged. Over the course of the Civil War, they'd endure bloodthirsty mobs, feverish conspiracies, devastating losses on the battlefield, and a growing firestorm of unrest that would culminate on the fields of Gettysburg."--Amazon.com.
Published: 2021
Call Number: 973.7092
Format: Large print
Summary: "In The President and the Freedom Fighter, Brian Kilmeade tells the little-known story of how two American heroes moved from strong disagreement to friendship, and in the process changed the entire course of history. Abraham Lincoln was White, born impoverished on a frontier farm. Frederick Douglass was Black, a child of slavery who had risked his life escaping to freedom in the North. Neither man had a formal education, and neither had had an easy path to influence. No one would have expected them to become friends--or to transform the country. But Lincoln and Douglass believed in their nation's greatness. They were determined to make the grand democratic experiment live up to its ideals. Lincoln's problem: he knew it was time for slavery to go, but how fast could the country change without being torn apart? And would it be possible to get rid of slavery while keeping America's Constitution intact? Douglass said no, that the Constitution was irredeemably corrupted by slavery--and he wanted Lincoln to move quickly. Sharing little more than the conviction that slavery was wrong, the two men's paths eventually converged. Over the course of the Civil War, they'd endure bloodthirsty mobs, feverish conspiracies, devastating losses on the battlefield, and a growing firestorm of unrest that would culminate on the fields of Gettysburg."--Amazon.com.
Disability visibility : 17 first-person stories for today : adapted for young adults
Author: Wong, Alice, 1974- editor.
Published: 2021 2020
Call Number: 305.908
Format: Books
Summary: According to the last census, one in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some are visible, some are hidden-- but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Wong brings together an urgent, galvanizing collection of personal essays by contemporary disabled writers. Inside you will find activists, authors, lawyers, politicians, artists, and everyday people whose daily lives include the vast richness and complexity of the disabled experience. They invite readers to question their own assumptions and understandings, while documenting disability culture in the now. -- adapted from original edition
Published: 2021 2020
Call Number: 305.908
Format: Books
Summary: According to the last census, one in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some are visible, some are hidden-- but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Wong brings together an urgent, galvanizing collection of personal essays by contemporary disabled writers. Inside you will find activists, authors, lawyers, politicians, artists, and everyday people whose daily lives include the vast richness and complexity of the disabled experience. They invite readers to question their own assumptions and understandings, while documenting disability culture in the now. -- adapted from original edition
Fear no evil [large print]
Author: Patterson, James, 1947- author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: LP F PATTERSO
Format: Large print
Summary: "Alex Cross enters the final battle with the all-knowing genius who has stalked him and his family for years. Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson venture into the rugged Montana wilderness--where they will be the prey. They're not on the job, but on a personal mission. Until they're attacked by two rival teams of assassins, controlled by the same mastermind who has stalked Alex and his family for years. Darkness falls. The river churns into rapids. Shots ring out through the forest. No backup. No way out. Fear no evil."--
Published: 2021
Call Number: LP F PATTERSO
Format: Large print
Summary: "Alex Cross enters the final battle with the all-knowing genius who has stalked him and his family for years. Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson venture into the rugged Montana wilderness--where they will be the prey. They're not on the job, but on a personal mission. Until they're attacked by two rival teams of assassins, controlled by the same mastermind who has stalked Alex and his family for years. Darkness falls. The river churns into rapids. Shots ring out through the forest. No backup. No way out. Fear no evil."--
Autopsy [large print] : a Scarpetta novel
Author: Cornwell, Patricia Daniels, author.
Published: 2021
Call Number: LP F CORNWELL
Format: Large print
Summary: "Scarpetta is back! In this twenty-fifth in the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts an ingenious killer who has mastered cutting-edge science for the most nefarious ends"-- Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has come almost full circle, returning to Virginia as the chief medical examiner, the state where she launched her storied career. Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years, she's inherited not only an overbearing secretary, but also a legacy of neglect and potential corruption. She and her husband Benton Wesley, now a forensic psychologist with the U.S. Secret Service, have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she's headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world that's been torn by civil and political unrest. Just weeks on the job, she's called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman's body has been shockingly displayed, her throat cut down to the spine, and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail, it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood. At the same time, a catastrophe occurs in a top-secret laboratory in outer space, endangering at least two scientists aboard. Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases, Scarpetta is summoned to the White House and tasked with finding out exactly what happened. But even as she works the first potential crime scene in space remotely, an apparent serial killer strikes again very close to home.
Published: 2021
Call Number: LP F CORNWELL
Format: Large print
Summary: "Scarpetta is back! In this twenty-fifth in the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts an ingenious killer who has mastered cutting-edge science for the most nefarious ends"-- Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has come almost full circle, returning to Virginia as the chief medical examiner, the state where she launched her storied career. Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years, she's inherited not only an overbearing secretary, but also a legacy of neglect and potential corruption. She and her husband Benton Wesley, now a forensic psychologist with the U.S. Secret Service, have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she's headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world that's been torn by civil and political unrest. Just weeks on the job, she's called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman's body has been shockingly displayed, her throat cut down to the spine, and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail, it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood. At the same time, a catastrophe occurs in a top-secret laboratory in outer space, endangering at least two scientists aboard. Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases, Scarpetta is summoned to the White House and tasked with finding out exactly what happened. But even as she works the first potential crime scene in space remotely, an apparent serial killer strikes again very close to home.
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