Review - Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

The writing is beautiful! The description of the island setting is captivating. The storyline is easy to follow, and the tone is almost ethereal. The characters are complicated, and Hepinstall keeps the reader guessing as to who is truly sane and who is actually a raving lunatic. Hepinstall allows the reader to learn each asylum patient's story from flashbacks, and she allows us into the emotions of the doctor, his wife, and his young son Wendell.

I cannot give this book a complete 5-star rating because there were some loose ends that did not compute. For instance, there was a point where Wendell claims to have math homework, but the entire storyline leads the reader to believe this island is isolated with the only contact to the outside world coming through the loading dock at the ocean. There are two other things that stretch logic, but I will not comment lest I reveal a spoiler.

There is a character (whom I was convinced was sane) who did something so unexpected that I literally gasped. Hepinstall tricked me so completely that I had to laugh at being taken in so easily. An author who causes the reader to react (laugh, gasp, cry) is truly a gifted wordsmith.

Review - The House of Gentle Men

I am intrigued by the title of Kathy Hepinstall’s, The House of Gentle Men. This surely must be a fictional place! Seriously, I easily give this book a 5-star rating. To give any book a fair review, I look at the character, theme, plot, style and setting. I focus on the book’s purpose, content, authority, and I evaluate the quality meaning and significance of what I have just read. Hepinstall nails it on every level. She draws the reader into a setting of World War II where innocence is lost, crimes are committed, sins are atoned, and life goes on. The author succeeded in making me feel as if I am that fly on the wall of every scene who sees all yet cannot read the mind. On three occasions as I was reading, I literally gasped in reaction to my sudden understanding of the reasoning behind a character’s earlier action. Hepinstall cleverly leads the reader to pre-judge a character’s senseless action, then suprises the reader with a reasoning that makes perfect sense. The plot is well-developed and woven tightly. Kathy Hepinstall is an exceptional writer, and I can easily say that this is one of the best novels I have ever read. As Marvin Bergman says, “another magical book, brilliantly written, with emotional depth and insight.” If I was a writer, I would want to do it like Hepinstall. Visit www.goodreads.com

Library Notes by Delene H. Allen

Wood County Democrat – Wood County, TX During the week of the Old Settler’s Reunion, the library invites visitors to the genealogy department to view family files and records of early settlers of Wood County. We offer Wi-Fi, and you may research online genealogical records using Ancestry.com Library Edition, Heritage Quest, Geni, and digitized images from our database. Also available is a microfilm reader/printer for viewing the Wood County Democrat (1914-2011). The library has several copies of Wood County 1850-1900 available for $15.00 each. Proceeds benefit the Wood County Historical Society. The library appreciates other businesses in our community who offer their time and services in support of their local library. Special thanks go to The Quitman Garden Club for maintaining the library’s patio areas, McCluney Pest Control for keeping the library pest free, Potts Feed Store for keeping the weeds under control, SuddenLink for providing television cable service for the Thurman Shamburger Community Room, and Ray Roberts Service of Quitman for providing routine inspections of the library’s heat and cooling system. Friday Night Bluegrass Jam Fever is always on the second Friday of the month at the Quitman Public Library. The next acoustical jam is Friday, August 10, 6 - 9 p.m. Acoustic musicians of all ages and musical levels are invited to join in, and listeners are always welcome. Refreshments will be available. For more information, call 903-952-8305. Patron cards are available for those residents who can provide proof of residence in Wood County and photo identification. A guardian must sign for children ages 5-17. Regular hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Call 903-763-4191 for more information or visit our website at www.quitmanlibrary.org. Stop by soon and check out what your library has to offer. Adult Services English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are suspended until September. Classes will be taught by Sandra Grider, Certified Instructor, and are scheduled for Thursdays 10 a.m. – noon and 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friends of the Library The Friends are on summer break and will reconvene with regular meetings this in September. QPL Library Friends is an active group of volunteers dedicated to the growth and improvement of the library. Genealogy The Wood County Texas Genealogical Society will be on break until September; however, the club remains active the summer hosting ancestral research activities. Updated information can be found at http://www.woodtxgene.com. New Arrivals Silent Witness by Diane Burke, Twin Peril by Laura Scott, Navy Seal Rescuer by Shirlee McCoy, Ricochet by Christy Barritt, The Witness by Nora Roberts, Standing Guard by Valerie Hansen

Review - Hitler's Teutonic Knights: Ss Panzers in Action by Bruce Quarrie

This book perfectly and accurately recounts the major Panzer Divisions of the Waffen-SS -- Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking, Hohenstaufen, Frundsberg, and Hitlerjugend. This author gives what I believe to be an accurate account that was not seen in the American press, and it is obvious that he did his research. There are blatant Geneva Conference violations. For instance, they were not to kill American POWs but they did, but this book brings forth eyewitness accounts. I recommend this book for anyone interested in WWII history.

27 Jun 2012

Wood County Democrat – Wood County, TX

June is National Audiobook Month, and if you enjoy listening to the occasional audiobook, stop in and check something out.  We also have hundreds of titles available that are downloadable to your listening device.  The Quitman Public Library has nearly 40,000 books in regular print, large print, audio and electronic format, so stop in soon and check out what’s new.

Friday Night Bluegrass Jam Fever is always on the second Friday of the month at the Quitman Public Library.  The next acoustical jam is Friday, July 13, 6 - 9 p.m.  Acoustic musicians of all ages and musical levels are invited to join in, and listeners are always welcome.  Refreshments will be available. For more information, call 903-952-8305.

The Quitman Garden Club and its volunteers have done a wonderful job keeping the library’s patios beautiful.  The plants are all native to this area and are in full bloom.

The library will be closed Wednesday, July 4, 2012 to observe Independence Day.  Regular hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Call 903-763-4191 for more information or visit our website at www.quitmanlibrary.org. Stop by soon and check out what your library has to offer.

Adult Services

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are suspended until the fall.  However, the Latino Family Literacy Project is going on right now at the library for families who want to read together.  Activities are planned for each Thursday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.  Activities are led by Sandra Grider.  This program is free, and the public is invited.  For more information, please call 903-763-4191.

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Quitman Public Library elected the following officers to serve for 2012-13:  Teresa Meeks - President, Tony Ragsdale - Vice President and Program Chair, Diane Moseley - Secretary, Annette Wilbourn - Treasurer, Jean Fox - Hospitality Chair, and Judith Sanders – Communications Chair.  The Friends will take a summer break and reconvene with regular meetings in the fall.

QPL Library Friends is an active group of volunteers dedicated to the growth and improvement of the library. 

Genealogy

             The Wood County Texas Genealogical Society will be on break until September, however, the club remains active the summer hosting ancestral research activities.  Updated information can be found at http://www.woodtxgene.com.

New Arrivals

Riders of the Rimrock Trail by Jackson Cole, The Last Voyage of the Steamer Barnard Clinton by David E. Unruh, Summer Nights by Susan Mallery, Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods, Against the Sun by Kat Martin, Small Town Protector by Hope White.

Library Notes by Delene H. Allen

 

Wood County Democrat – Wood County, TX

    

It's August, which means it is National Golf Month! Do you where the largest green is, what's inside a golf ball, or your odds of scoring an albatross? Before you go out and play 36 holes in a day, swing by the Quitman Public Library and check out our display of the best books on golf written by those who know the game.          

Patron cards are available for those residents who can provide proof of residence in Wood County and photo identification.  A guardian must sign for children ages 5-17.  Regular hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Call 903-763-4191 for more information or visit our website at www.quitmanlibrary.org. Stop by soon and check out what your library has to offer.

Adult Services

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are suspended until September.  Classes will be taught by Sandra Grider, Certified Instructor, and are scheduled for Thursdays 10 a.m. – noon and 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. 

Friends of the Library

The Friends will hold their first meeting of the 2012-13 season in the library’s Shamburger Community Room at noon on September 11, 2012.  QPL Library Friends is an active group of volunteers dedicated to the growth and improvement of the library. 

Genealogy

             The Wood County Texas Genealogical Society will meet on Monday, September 17, 2012.  Club members gather for a pre-meeting social at one of the area restaurants, and the public is invited to join them. Updated information can always be found at http://www.woodtxgene.com.

New Arrivals

When Lightning Strikes by Brenda Novak, Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods, Cast Into Doubt by Patricial MacDonald, False Impressions by Laura Caldwell, Danger on the Mountain by Lynette Eason.

Library Notes by Delene H. Allen

Friday Night Bluegrass Jam Fever will take place at the Quitman Public Library this Friday, April 13^th, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Special guest jammer will be Gerald Jones who is known as one of the best banjo players in Texas. Gerald is a professional bluegrass artist and music instructor whose many students include Dixie Chick, Emily. He has also accompanied many recording artists such as Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Michael Martin Murphy, and Jerry Douglas with Alison Krauss and Union Station. Visit www.thegeraldjones.com to learn more. Acoustic musicians are invited to join in, and listeners are welcome. Refreshments will be available. For more information, call 903-952-8305.

Gardening season officially begins in April, and the library is ready with a large selection of books dealing with everything a gardener needs to know. Many of these books were donated by the Quitman Garden Club and Wood County Master Gardeners. Stop in and check out the display near the front desk. Also, the Quitman Garden Club has a display in the lobby showcase highlighting its many programs. Among the interesting items is the club’s first scrapbook from the 1940s with a photo of its first presiding officer, Mrs. H.C. Braly.

Library hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Call 903-763-4191 for more information or visit our website at www.quitmanlibrary.org. Stop by soon and check out what your library has to offer.

Adult Services

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are available each Thursday 10am - noon and 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Classes are taught by certified instructor, Sandra Grider. ESL and citizenship materials are also available. Sign-up is available during class hours.

Advisory Board

The Quitman Public Library Advisory Board will meet Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Shamburger Community Room. Among the items on the agenda will be updating the library’s media policy and approving the summer reading program. The public is always welcome to attend advisory board meetings.

Friends of the Library

The Friends of the Quitman Public Library invite the public to join them at noon on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. The Wood County Fibre Lovers will present “Fibre Arts in America,” and there will be examples of knitting, crochet and tatting. The Friends is an active group of volunteers dedicated to the growth and improvement of the library.

Genealogy

The society will meet on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Shamburger Community room at the Quitman Public Library. The society recently acquired Wood County Death Records 1879-1984 and Wood County Birth Records 1879-1934 in print format. Also, the library still has several copies of Wood County 1850-1900 available for $15.00 each. Anyone is welcome to join society members for their “pre-meeting” social at one of the area’s local restaurants. That information is always posted at their web blog: http://www.woodtxgene.com.

Youth Services

Story Time meets each Friday at 11:00 a.m. The program and craft activities are designed for preschoolers, but anyone who wants to hear a good story is welcome. Special thanks go to Friends of the Library member, Diane Mosely, for volunteering her time to read to the children. If you would like to volunteer 30 minutes occasionally to read to our youngest patrons, contact Stephanie Felty at the library or call her at 903-763-4191.