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Summer reading Library staffers review their favourite summer selections Master of Happy Endings by Jack Hodgins (Fiction) Axel Thorstad has entered a crossroads in life. Once a successful teacher, he now finds himself, retired, widowed and isolated. The mere suggestion of an "old folks home" forces him into immediate action, and he places an ad in a local paper offering his services as a tutor in exchange for being "adopted" by a family. His "new" family comes in the form of Mrs. Montana and her teenage son, Travis, a budding actor who has recently landed a part in a television series. The resulting trip to Los Angeles carries special meaning for Axel who now has an opportunity to revisit his past. Between scenes and tutoring sessions, Axel has chance to investigate his stuntman father's tragic death and rediscover his friendship with an actress that he admired long ago. Described as "an irresistible novel" this book combines the wisdom of age with the freedom of youth into an imaginative story of contrast between rural British Columbia and the bright lights of Hollywood. Reviewed by Clare Hanman The Secret of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard (Fiction) For Jody, the events of a single day meant the loss of her family. Her father was killed and her mother disappeared, all because of one man, Billy Crosby. For Collin, the same day also meant the loss of his family. His father, Billy Crosby, ended up spending 23 years in jail for a murder he claims he did not commit. For years, Jody and Collin had been close neighbours who deliberately avoid each other. Yet when Billy is released from jail, largely due to his son's legal efforts, Jody must face the reality of having the man who destroyed her family practically on her doorstep. An unlikely chain of events brings Collin and Jody together as they learn that their shared sense of loss can overpower the horrible history that first forced their families apart. Reviewed by Clare Hanman This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson (Non-Fiction) Everyone who thinks libraries are boring needs to read this book and discover what they are missing. From the author who brought life to the obituary-writers' profession in her previous book Dead Beat, this book is a glimpse into the hidden world of librarians. And you'd be amazed at what they get up to! Being a librarian doesn't mean just a love of books but also a love of technology and information. The world of blogging was pioneered by many librarians. Librarians also abound in virtual worlds such as Second Life, where they socialize, network, host conferences and provide virtual library service to the world. From scraping "goo" off library books to providing a permanent resting place for a famous author's life work, librarians have many roles to play. You cannot read this book without gaining a new respect for these guardians of information. Reviewed by Clare Hanman The Way of a Gardener: a Life's Journey by Des Kennedy (Non-Fiction) In this memoir, celebrated novelist, satirist and gardening writer, Des Kennedy describes his own life and spiritual journey. Born near Liverpool, England to working class Irish-Catholic parents, Des describes a childhood, where class comparisons mattered little, and the priest and doctor's words were "law." Des' religious education continued in Canada after his family moved to Toronto and culminated at age 15 when he entered Holy Cross Seminary in Dunkirk, New York. It was while at the seminary that Des created his first garden and discovered a passion that would last a lifetime. Even though Des eventually abandoned religions life, he continued in his appreciation of nature and plants. In this book he uses this passion as a backdrop to explain his understanding of the world around him. Reviewed by Clare Hanman The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness and Meaning of Soccer by John Doyle (Non-fiction) The Globe and Mail's television critic, John Doyle, takes the reader on a tour of the world of soccer from the 1960s to the 2010 World Cup. Part history, part personal memoir, this book describes soccer from a fan's point of view including hilarious anecdotes of the lengths people will go to keep up with "the beautiful game". Included are detailed accounts of games leading up to the World Cup along with a viewer's guide, which includes full descriptions each World Cup team. Whether you are interested in the game, the players or some truly amazing accounts of the fans, this book goes to great lengths to explain the appeal that soccer has to so many people all over the world. Reviewed by Clare Hanman Bring Life To Your Party Unique Balloon Arrangements Party Decor - Gifts - Toys Licensed Products and much more... SUMMER · 2010 44 90 Main St. S., Georgetown, ON L7G 3E4 partyballoons_gifts@sympatico.ca www.partyballoonsandgifts.com (905) 877 1214 S I D E R O A D S H A LT O N H I L L S This coupon entitles you to $ 50 OFF an initial consultation on any one of our services. (Coupon expires August 31, 2010 and cannot be combined with any other offer.)