Monthly Archives: March 2022

Duma Key is a psychological horror novel by Stephen King

After crushing his hip and losing an arm and his memory in a construction accident Edgar Freemantle’s family and life falls apart while in recovery. Trying to start anew, Freemantle moves from Minnesota to Duma Key, Florida at his psychiatrist’s suggestion. While staying at “Big Pink,” he takes up painting and finds that all the art he creates has a certain sinister theme to them; the neighbors are a bit eccentric too.

When one talks about Stephen King, you think instantly of The Stand, The Shining, and Salem’s Lot, but I would consider Duma Key to be just as good, if not better than these works. The protagonist is easily likable. Freemantle has quirks and admits to many of his flaws; he’s human. In fact, all of the characters and scenery are so thoroughly fleshed out that King, a part-time Sarasota County resident, had to let readers know that Duma Key is a fictionalized island.

Anyone who enjoys reading supernatural horror and/or mythology would really find this book an interesting, quick read.

Robyn Matako

I asked the library staff to share their favorite funny movies.

What are your favorite comedies?

Jan recommends 

any of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies

Jen G. recommends

Bridesmaids

Jen M. recommends

Despicable Me

Jim recommends

Heavyweights

Kim recommends

The Proposal

Linda recommends

Groundhog Day

Lisa recommends

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Liz and Paula recommend

Animal House

Robyn recommends

Napoleon Dynamite

Sherrel recommends

Coco

Syrena recommends

Billy Maddison

Wayne’s World

Wendy recommends

The Wedding Crashers

Christine recommends

Oh Brother where art thou?

Denise recommends

Laurel and Hardy

Ellen recommends

Stepbrothers

Jamie and Mallory recommend

Clue

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, is a Historical Fiction novel. It is a book about the take over of the Germans and specifically a family that was taken to a concentration camp and how or if they survived.  The jobs that were assigned to them helped and hurt them in their survival or demise. It gave a depiction of life in the concentration camp based on true lives and events.

The story is sobering and sad but yet something that needs to be told.  I cried several times reading it, but it also showed people with the will to live and help others to get through the worst times that anyone could ever imagine.  It is not for the faint of heart.  It shows how we can come back from the brink of death and despair and have a willingness to live and thrive and help others to do the same.  It is an amazing story based on a real life person who comes out of this horrific time strong and resilient.  

Anyone that loves stories on the human experience, history and human rights should read this story, just have kleenex nearby. 

Recommended by Jen Gardner

Syrena recommends

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’neill

Maus by Art Spiegelman

XMen ‘92 by Alti Firmansyah

Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Jim recommends 

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf

Liz recommends

Any classic literature adaptation by Gareth Hinds like The Odyssey

Americus by M. K. Reed

A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Ōima – Syrena also recommends this book

Mallory recommends

5 Worlds by Alexis Siegel and Mark Siegel

Cucumber Quest by Gigi D. G.

Blindsprings by Kadi Fedoruk

Namesake by Megan Lavey-Heaton and Isabelle Melancon

Robyn recommends

Watchmen by Alan Moore

Sherrel recommends

March 123 by John Lewis

Denise recommends

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Over the holidays I sat down to read a book recommended to me by teen librarian Liz Strauss. The book was One of Us is Next and was written by Karen McManus. I won’t go into the details about the plot.  At one point in the book a popular athlete (Cooper) was coming home from college and everyone in town wanted to see him and get his autograph.  A small group of Cooper’s friends planned to meet in the back room of a local cafe.  But other people heard about the gathering and crowded into the cafe in hopes of getting a glimpse of the famous hometown hero. Here is the description of the crowded cafe: “not only is every table full, but Mr. Santos brought out all the extra chairs that are usually stored in the basement and it’s still not enough. People are standing in groups against either side of the wall, shuffling back and forth as I weave through them with a drink-laden tray for Addie and her friends.”

My library brain immediately  thought: They should have had this homecoming in the community room at the library where more people could be accommodated.

That’s when it hit me. I am constantly on the lookout for possible programs at the library…even while I am reading for pleasure. 

Many times, people come to me (or leave word at the front desk) suggesting a topic or speaker that would be interesting to people in our community.  I always follow up on these suggestions and I almost always find a person willing to share their experience with us. 

So, the invitation is open. Contact me if you are willing to present a program, or if you know someone who has had an interesting and unique experience, or if you would like to suggest a topic. I welcome your input. After all, this is YOUR public library!

Sherrel

Adult program specialist