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Library & Archives > Blog

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

June 12, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

The Exiled QueenThe Exiled Queen is a continuation of the Seven Realms Series that leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat. Read the review of The Demon King, the first book in the series.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Lisa Williams
Rating: Highly Recommended

Filed Under: Summer Reading

Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories by John Edward

June 11, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the StoriesI have always been a fan of illusionists, and a skeptic (though not cynic) of the paranormal. For the blog that I have with my local news source here in central PA, I was contacted by famous TV psychic medium John Edward’s PR group asking if I’d like to conduct a phone interview with him in preparation for his upcoming show here. I agreed excitedly—I hoped to get to the bottom of whether he was the real deal, or merely another style of illusionist.

John was very candid and amicable over the phone, but my published interview received some backlash (“shame on you for giving this hack one second of attention”). I decided to do some more investigation by reading Crossing Over (the book which shares the same name as his TV show which aired on SciFi from 1999-2004).

If the accounts he gave in his book are accurate, John may truly have the ability to “speak” with the dead. Some of the stories were fascinating, beyond the typical “I’ve got an older male figure whose name begins with an R and had heart problems in this section”— the “cold reading”-style for which he typically gets grief. I picked this book in particular (he has a number published) because it was more biographical—talking about how he got started, why he decided to begin a TV show, etc. To that end, it also read like “damage control” at times, firing back with explanations as to why the cynics are wrong. I found some of his philosophies a bit hypocritical, and some of his arguments got “old” after a while. If he is truly who he says he is, however, I’m sure HE gets tired of trying to convince others, too.

I’d recommend this book if you have an interest in this sort of thing, but if you’re more curious in his psychic readings and the “stories behind the stories,” this biographical account may not be for you. I still don’t know how I feel about the particular “life after life” he asserts. If you’re not interested in the subject whatsoever, it’s probably best it remains avoided—imagining your deceased loved ones watching over you in your not-so-finest moments is enough to make you think twice about how you spend your alone time.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Jordan Gaines (SMCM Alum ’11)
Rating:  Recommended with Reservations

Filed Under: Summer Reading

Front Burner: Al Qaeda’s Attack on the USS Cole by Kirk Lippold

June 11, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

Front Burner: Al Qaeda's Attack on the USS ColeCommander Kurt Lippold provides a gripping account of the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, which was bombed by Al Qaeda on October 12, 2000, off the coast of Yemen.  Commander Lippold leaves nothing out, he reveals the personal feelings of the crew, from the day of the attack to the political backlash of the incident’s aftermath, and delivers it all in a gripping narrative that doesn’t require military experience to understand. I could not put the book down. This book is definitely a must read.

Availability: SMCM Library and USMAI
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating:  Must Read

Filed Under: Summer Reading

Blood, Bones, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

June 11, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

Blood Bones & ButterI found this book very intriguing and interesting. If you have any history of working in a kitchen, you’d love this book. This book explores the life and tribulations of restaurant (Prune) owner, Gabrielle Hamilton, from an early childhood in a very rustic home, through a confusing adolescence, and a rough adulthood, to finally finding her place, her home. The book shows the background, the exhaustion, the work, the satisfaction, and the life of someone who has given themselves as a cook, a mother, and, ultimately, a lover of food. It’s a must read.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Matthew Lachkovic
Rating:  Must Read

Filed Under: Summer Reading

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

June 8, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterI’m not a huge fan of vampires and books about them, but this one was a great read. I honestly picked it up because the movie is coming out this summer, and I’m glad I did! It was a pretty easy read with a history lesson built in, which is what made it so fun to read. I felt like I was reading a non-fictional account of history. The vampires in this book were not romanticized. They were mostly vicious and blood-thirsty, as they should be, and that aspect helped create a lot of emotion in the story. Abe’s accounts mixed into the story as told by a secondary source really made you feel what he was feeling, whether it be happy or sad. Grahame-Smith did an amazing job of portraying Abraham Lincoln as I’ve learned about him with a little twist thrown in. The book even had pictures!

I would highly recommend this book, especially if you plan on seeing the movie this summer.

Availability: USMAI and COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Samantha Schwartz, student at SMCM
Rating:  Highly Recommended

Filed Under: Summer Reading

Letters to God by Patrick Doughtie and John Perry

June 8, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

Letters to GodLetters to God is based on the motion picture.  It is a heartwarming story about a boy’s journey and how his letters to God are used to connect to the questions and issues he is facing.  The letters also connect other people to the boy and his journey.  One thing I did enjoy about this book is that it holds an important message about connecting to people without solely focusing on the religious aspects.  This is a nice read for Christians and non-Christians alike.  All can grasp the message behind this family’s story and this boy’s journey.

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Mandy Reinig
Rating:  Recommended

Filed Under: Summer Reading

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

June 7, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets NestThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is the third in a trilogy, but while jumping right to the last book may have clouded my perspective this book certainly did not give me reason to start from the beginning. It started off with an intriguing opening which had me hook for the first few chapters, however the plot dragged on and about put me to sleep. Towards the end the book pulled together during the last 200 pages. I have mixed feelings about this book.

Availability: SMCM Library
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating:  Recommended with reservations

Read Jordan Gaines’ review of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

Filed Under: Summer Reading

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

June 5, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

The Demon KingThe Demon King is a great read if you like fantasy. It was really neat how the author kept switching point of views in each chapter between two main characters until they met. I had trouble putting it down!

Availability: COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Lisa Williams
Rating: Highly Recommended

Filed Under: Summer Reading

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

June 5, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

The Hunger GamesI just finished the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It was a quick read and extremely entertaining. The story was easy to follow and is appropriate for young adults through adults. It was easy to relate to the characters and root for the Hunger Game participants. it was hard to put the book down since I continuously wanted to know what the outcome would be. I did enjoy all the twists and turns throughout the story that kept the reader guessing without adding unnecessary text and Collins still kept the story moving. Perfect for adventure readers and those looking for a fast read.

Availability: SMCM Library and COSMOS
Review Submitted by: Mandy Reinig
Rating: Must Read

Filed Under: Summer Reading

Read Books. Win Prizes.

May 31, 2012 by Amanda VerMeulen

Summer Reading Program
The Library at St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Summer Reading Program will begin on June 4 and end on August 17, 2012.

The Summer Reading program is open to all members of the SMCM Library community including students, staff, faculty, alumni and residents of the Tri-County area (St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties.) Any book is eligible as long as a copy is available in the SMCM library catalog, the Cosmos catalog, or the USMAI catalog. To get points, you must post a review on the blog.

New this year, Cosmos, the online catalog for the Southern Maryland public libraries has been added to the list of eligible library catalogs. That means more popular fiction, mysteries, sci-fi and fantasy novels will be eligible for points.

For more information, visit the Summer Reading Program Blog.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: summer reading program

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