Monday, June 18, 2012

Summer Reading

Summer has always been a special time at libraries.  With the kids out of school we try our best to keep them reading during vacation to help them maintain their literacy skills.  That's why most libraries offer some sort of summer reading program - it's a way to add a little bit of fun while encouraging them to continue reading.  Our Summer Reading Clubs have started, and Devin and Kayla have a lot of fun activities planned for our children and teens. 

We also thought that this summer we would give adults a chance to have bit of fun while reading this summer, so we're offering a summer reading program for them as well. And because we know life doesn't always slow down for adults during the summer, we've made it as simple as possible.  Here's what you do:
  • The next time you're in the library, stop by the check-out desk and pick up a "Between the Covers" Reading Log. 
  • Take it home, read 5 books between now and August 16th, and record the titles and authors on the log, along with a rating of 1 to 5 stars. 
  •  Return the log to the library, and you'll be entered into a drawing to be held at the end of the summer. 
  • Prizes include gift cards from Maine Diner, Mike's Clam Shack, Joshua's, and more.
  • Only one entry per person, please.
As reading logs are returned, we'll create a list of the summer's 5 star books.

Don't know what to read?  Check out one of the Suggested Reading Lists at the library, visit one of the sites listed  on our website, check out one of the Summer Reading lists here, or as always, ask a librarian.

Have a great summer, and we'll see you at the library.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Calling Invisible Women

Note: This is the first of what we hope will be regular book reviews from Library Staff members.


Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray tells the story of Clover Hobart, a middle-aged wife, mother, and journalist, who wakes up one morning to discover she's become invisible. And I don't mean invisible in the metaphorical sense, but actually, clothes-floating-in-space invisible. While her best friend notices right away that Clover's appearance has changed, Clover's own family doesn't notice that anything is different.

Her new condition, along with her family's indifference sends Clover into a state of depression, until the day she reads a notice in the local paper calling all invisible women to meet at the Sheraton Hotel.  There, Clover discovers a support group for other invisible women who eventually decide to take action - to use their invisibility kind of like a super power- to right wrongs, including taking on the big pharmaceutical company  believed to be responsible for their invisibility.

When I read the review of this in Library Journal, I was intrigued, but skeptical.  I'm not a fan of fantasy and thought this might be too fantastic for my taste.  But, I was surprised. Despite its premise, it was grounded in realism, and Ray obviously spent a lot of time thinking about the problems that invisibility would cause, and how to overcome them. The characters are likable, and Ray manages to inject humor into the situation.  And even though Clover's invisibility was an actual physical manifestation, the author does cause the reader to think about invisibility in the larger, metaphorical sense. I found Calling Invisible Women to be a light, enjoyable way to spend a summer afternoon.


This book is not yet available at the Wells Public Library but may be requested from another library through the MINERVA online catalog.