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January 8, 2020
Book some time at the Bandera Library
By Mike Garr, Library Director
Special to the Prophet
After the extensive coverage, it is no longer a secret about the change of directors at the Bandera Public Library. Stop by and say hello to the new Director Mauri Fagan, who has worked here as an assistant librarian the year and a half. I will move into Director Emeritus status, while on my year-long volunteer assignments at various National Parks. I will end my career at the library the way it all began in 2008, as a volunteer. So, you haven’t seen the last of me.
What’s on the current New York Times Bestseller list in the new year? Still at number one after 68 weeks is Delia Owens “Where the Crawdad Sings.” In a quiet town on the North Carolina coast in 1969, a young woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect. John Grisham’s “The Guardians” is second. Cullen Post, a lawyer and Episcopal minister, antagonizes some ruthless killers when he takes on a wrongful conviction case. Number three is bestselling writer, Stephen King with “The Institute” telling the story of children with special talents that are abducted and sequestered in an institution where the sinister staff seeks to extract their gifts through harsh methods. At Number four is “Criss Cross” by James Patterson, featuring his longest character in a series, Alex Cross, in the 27th book where a copycat killer makes Cross question whether an innocent man was executed.
Long time fan favorite, Lee Child, releases at number five, “Blue Moon” an interesting Jack Reacher tale as Reacher, just Reacher, gets caught in a turf war between Ukrainian and Albanian gangs. Sixth on the list is “A Minute to Midnight” by Daniel Baldacci, an Atlee Pine sequel, as she returns to her hometown to investigate her sister’s kidnapping from 30 years ago and winds up tracking a potential serial killer. At number seven after 13 weeks is Ann Patchett’s “The Dutch House” describing how a sibling relationship is impacted when the family goes from poverty to wealth and back again over the course of decades.
Rounding out the top ten at number eight is Stephanie Plum’s return in the 26th book by Janet Evanovich, “Twisted Twenty-Six” which finds New Jersey gangsters going after the bounty hunter’s widowed grandmother. The ninth book has been on the NY Bestseller list for 29 weeks and is “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides. Recently read by the Director, it has an unusual storyline that will leave you in suspense until the very end of the story. And the last book in the top ten is Margaret Atwood’s long-awaited sequel to the “Handmaid’s Tale”. Her latest book is “The Testaments” where old secrets bring together three women as the Republic of Gilead’s theocratic regime shows signs of decay. The Bandera Library also has the 11th through the 15th books on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Remember, if you are uncertain about what to read next, the knowledgeable staff can provide some suggestions. In the new age of binge watching of TV series, many readers like to binge read a particular author. Are you ready to take on the 50 books in the J.D. Robb series, set in 2060, featuring Detective Lieutenant Eve Duncan? Or do you need a recommendation for a new series author for the next binge? The Bandera Library is slightly old fashioned in that it tries to maintain an entire series, from first book to last. Other libraries are often limited by space considerations and only carry the last few books in a series.
It has been an extreme pleasure to serve these last three years as the director of a wonderful community library. I have enjoyed the direction and fantastic support of the Library Board, the warm friendships with so many patrons and the opportunity to work with a truly outstanding staff. We have three great libraries in the county. As one of your New Year’s resolutions visit them all in 2020. Read well and travel safely in the New Year.
What’s on the current New York Times Bestseller list in the new year? Still at number one after 68 weeks is Delia Owens “Where the Crawdad Sings.” In a quiet town on the North Carolina coast in 1969, a young woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect. John Grisham’s “The Guardians” is second. Cullen Post, a lawyer and Episcopal minister, antagonizes some ruthless killers when he takes on a wrongful conviction case. Number three is bestselling writer, Stephen King with “The Institute” telling the story of children with special talents that are abducted and sequestered in an institution where the sinister staff seeks to extract their gifts through harsh methods. At Number four is “Criss Cross” by James Patterson, featuring his longest character in a series, Alex Cross, in the 27th book where a copycat killer makes Cross question whether an innocent man was executed.
Long time fan favorite, Lee Child, releases at number five, “Blue Moon” an interesting Jack Reacher tale as Reacher, just Reacher, gets caught in a turf war between Ukrainian and Albanian gangs. Sixth on the list is “A Minute to Midnight” by Daniel Baldacci, an Atlee Pine sequel, as she returns to her hometown to investigate her sister’s kidnapping from 30 years ago and winds up tracking a potential serial killer. At number seven after 13 weeks is Ann Patchett’s “The Dutch House” describing how a sibling relationship is impacted when the family goes from poverty to wealth and back again over the course of decades.
Rounding out the top ten at number eight is Stephanie Plum’s return in the 26th book by Janet Evanovich, “Twisted Twenty-Six” which finds New Jersey gangsters going after the bounty hunter’s widowed grandmother. The ninth book has been on the NY Bestseller list for 29 weeks and is “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides. Recently read by the Director, it has an unusual storyline that will leave you in suspense until the very end of the story. And the last book in the top ten is Margaret Atwood’s long-awaited sequel to the “Handmaid’s Tale”. Her latest book is “The Testaments” where old secrets bring together three women as the Republic of Gilead’s theocratic regime shows signs of decay. The Bandera Library also has the 11th through the 15th books on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Remember, if you are uncertain about what to read next, the knowledgeable staff can provide some suggestions. In the new age of binge watching of TV series, many readers like to binge read a particular author. Are you ready to take on the 50 books in the J.D. Robb series, set in 2060, featuring Detective Lieutenant Eve Duncan? Or do you need a recommendation for a new series author for the next binge? The Bandera Library is slightly old fashioned in that it tries to maintain an entire series, from first book to last. Other libraries are often limited by space considerations and only carry the last few books in a series.
It has been an extreme pleasure to serve these last three years as the director of a wonderful community library. I have enjoyed the direction and fantastic support of the Library Board, the warm friendships with so many patrons and the opportunity to work with a truly outstanding staff. We have three great libraries in the county. As one of your New Year’s resolutions visit them all in 2020. Read well and travel safely in the New Year.