Author Archives: Diane

I read an extraordinary book recently that I think many people overlooked when it was first released.  The author’s previous novels were science fiction, so some may have expected this one to be in that genre as well.  However,  A … Continue reading →

The last time I wrote, I promised some fiction for my next post, and I have to say, I have discovered a wonderful mystery writer. A couple of my colleagues here at the library recommended Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series … Continue reading →

Before February gets away, let me tell you about a couple books I have read since my last posting. The first is My Mother, Your Mother by Dennis McCullough. It’s simply the best thing I have read about caring for … Continue reading →

It’s been a long time. I have been out on medical leave, but the positive thing about that is I had some extra time to read. I have a few books to recommend. First, the new Margaret Maron book is … Continue reading →

How Children Succeed:  Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough.  New York and Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Paul Tough has written many times before, movingly and effectively, about the lives of children in marginal situations.  … Continue reading →

Fall has finally arrived after our long and very hot summer.   Our libraries are humming with activity right now, and I wanted to share some highlights of what will be happening this month. This week—October 1-6—is Banned Books Week.  Hundreds … Continue reading →

Mystery readers love books in series. For proof of this statement, talk to a person who is obsessed with reading mysteries, and I contend you will quickly find that their love of the genre is often character-driven. By this, I … Continue reading →

I have gotten hooked on genealogy. I haven’t been doing my own charts or finding out what limb of the tree that third cousin who went around the corner to buy a cantaloupe and never came back fell from–nothing as … Continue reading →

In May, I noted that the Chatham library sponsors and hosts a book discussion group on the second Thursday of the month at 4 pm. Currently, the group is doing a series around the theme Places in the Heart—how place … Continue reading →

Librarians believe in the power of stories.  Many of us tend to think of life as a series of interwoven narratives, and in fact when someone in my family is working through a problem, I often wonder with some anticipation, … Continue reading →