Christian fiction advisor, audio-book advocator, e-book educator, tax form supplier, book group leader...these are just a few of the things I am privileged to do at one of my favorite places...the Library!
Contact Deborah at dbryan@tscpl.org
The cracks of bats and the thumps of balls hitting gloves have signaled the start of another baseball season. After recently listening to The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach I find myself thinking about those sounds in a slightly different way because of experiencing a vivid portrayal of the consequences of the pressure to succeed on the [...]
I’m sure there are many things you could get out of reading The Great Gatsby for our Big Read program, but as I read the book I was entranced by all of the objects mentioned in it. The clothes, jewelry, telephones, perfume bottles, and other items are a visual treat for those that like collecting [...]
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes–Benjamin Franklin The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library receives and distributes Federal and State tax forms and instruction booklets. We are also a host site for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program which will begin Saturday, February 2nd. VITA Hours [...]
Fiction can take us to a place where kindness, gentleness, and a sense of community prevail. Try one of these books when you feel like escaping from the harsh realities of life. Dearest Dorothy Are We There Yet by Charlene Ann Baumbich Introduces the colorful inhabitants of Partonville, a small farming town in southern Illinois, including [...]
I’m addicted to tales of survival, whether real or fiction, that show the power of the human spirit to overcome all sorts of obstacles and challenges and live to fight another day. Here are some of my favorites: Real Life Black Wave: A Family’s Adventure at Sea and the Disaster That Saved Them by John [...]
Vote with confidence this November 6th by using Vote 411…a new tool created by the League of Women Voters. Tap into it inside this post.
The Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association recently announced the winners of their annual book awards. These awards have been given since 1978 and honor fiction and non-fiction books published by Christian publishers. I always make a point of adding these to my reading list and I have discovered many great reads I wouldn’t have otherwise. [...]
June and July will bring a variety of movies based on books–including new installments in the Spiderman and Batman series. There will also be another fairy tale adaption of Snow White and a fanciful tale based on Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Happy reading and viewing! Opens June 1st Snow White and the Huntsmen: In a [...]
Bargain hunters love a good garage sale. My favorite find at a garage sale was a crockpot I got for $5 that I used for many years. One upcoming event of interest to bargain hunters is the TADA (Topeka Antiques Dealer Association) Summer Antiques and Collectibles Flea Market. It will be June 1st and 2nd [...]
April and May will bring a variety of movies and TV series based on books…including the latest Nicholas Sparks flick–The Lucky One–and movies and TV series based on classics by Dickens, Poe, and Hemingway. Here’s what to check out and read before heading to the theater or turning on the TV…after checking our local showtimes to confirm [...]
My review of the audiobook Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly I was thoroughly engrossed by this story about a teenager–Andi–who fights her own personal demons while vividly encountering the world of the French Revolution. Andi is, in short, a mess. Her younger brother Truman’s death has reduced her to popping anti-depressant pills just to make it [...]
