The content of this program is intended for people who are blind and print impaired. Hello, and welcome to our November 2021 edition have heard any good books lately, a program from the North Carolina reading service. I'm George Douglas. This program is brought to you by the friends of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and organization of citizens, volunteers and patrons, all interested in supporting the library and the services it provides. Now the Friends Group was founded in 1989, and now has more than 300 members across North Carolina. If you'd like to join the friends group yourself, we'll have information on how to do that later in the program. This program is all about books with special emphasis on those available from the North Carolina Library for the Blind. The library has more than 86,000 titles in its collection, books and magazines are available in large print Braille and Talking books as well. The library has more than 11,000 patrons across the state. And if you're not a patron, but are interested in becoming one, I'll have more information at the end of the program about that too. And this month, we'll take a look at some of the most popular books checked out in the month of October at the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. And we're going to begin the program today with a look at a program I had a program at a book called Amish promises. Neighbors of Lancaster County now this is book number one. And it's by Leslie Gould. journey down a quiet Lane in Lancaster County where love and heartache and friendship and healing all meet. Here's the plot. When Joel and Shawnee Beck arrive at their new home, they're looking for peace. Shawnee is thrilled to have Joel back from Iraq but he needs time to heal and the quiet of Lancaster seems just the place. They can't imagine any trouble with their Amish neighbors the layman's, but things get off to a rocky start when their son is involved in an accident that injures one of the layman boys. Eve layman has run her brother's household ever since the death of his wife, but Tim's a stern patriarch. Despite his protests, she's drawn to the new neighbor, Shawnee and the two began to form a strong friendship forged on faith and family. Things seem like they've quieted down until Joe's single and handsome army friend Charlie catches Eve's attention, a man unlike any Eve has ever met, suddenly, life for both families becomes more complicated than any of them could ever have imagined. Again, the name of that book is Amish promises neighbors of Lancaster County, and it is book number one. So there are more to come by the author, Leslie Gould. Now let's turn to our next book that was one of the most popular during the month of October at the Library for the Blind, this one, his call, I'm sort of chuckling here because this one is called How to kill your best friend by Leslie Elliot. And this is a new book too and became popular very fast. It was just just released in August of this year.

Here's the plot. A group of university friends who flown to an island paradise to mark the passing of one of their number finds that her death has brought the conflicts among the survivors to a boil. Lisa Kate tab, Georgie Ayers and Bronwyn Miller, were all competitive swimmers when they were in school together. So it seems especially ironic that Lisa has drowned in Kanu cove where her husband Jim Kay tab, manages a luxury resort. Well now that the survivors have accepted Jim's offer of free accommodations. On the occasion of Lisa's memorial service, cracks gradually begin to appear to appear in their nostalgic group portrait. years ago, Ron had cheated on her husband Rob Miller, with Lisa's first husband Graham Williams, who has since died. Eternal singleton Giorgis friendship with Lisa looks more and more like a rival rate nor are the group's problems in the present someone is sending Braun and Georgie mocking vaguely threatening notes. Someone attacks GEORGE He may be a mugger maybe someone after a bigger prize and her money. The sudden resignation of gems assistant manager Christina coincides all too neatly with the news that the resort is bleeding money. And that Lisa's high school buddy Duncan, a private equity powerhouse has a larger stake in it than Georgie or Braun ever suspected. The question of whether Christina has been embezzling only deepens when she turns up shot to death. As the paying guests drift away the old school friends left to ask how Lisa could possibly have drowned. Realize that once you suspect one of us, you have to suspect all of us slightly escalating head games that will make you think twice about booking their next getaway that it shouldn't be hard to remember the name of this book. It's an odd one I'll say it's called How to kill your best friend and it is by Leslie Elliot.

Now let's move on to our next book for this month here we're going to talk about a book called A good day for Chardonnay by darynda Jones. Here's the plot for this one. Running a small town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth carefree kind of job. Sadly, full time sheriff and even full time coffee guzzler sunshine vikrum didn't get that memo. All sunshine really wants is one easygoing day. You know the kind that starts out with coffee and a doughnut or or three and ends with takeout pizza and a glass of Chardonnay or maybe seven? Well, turns out that that's about as easy as switching to decaf what kind of people do that and who hurt them? Well before she can say iced mocha latte Sonny's got a bar fight gone bad. A teenage daughter hunting a serial killer, and oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder. But son knows he is not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath at all he possesses the keys to her disappearance, at the very least beneath at all. He possesses a serious set of ABS. She's seen it once accidentally. Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls for since short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi, which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit. Sonny's life is about to rock it to a whole new level of crazy. Yep, definitely a good day for Chardonnay. And that's the name of the book a good day for Chardonnay, the author is de renda Jones. Now, here's another book that was very popular this past month, and it's called Love Boat Taipei, by Abigail Han when when Abigail ping when was a teenager, she spent a summer in Taiwan to get in touch with her Chinese roots. The program funded by the Republic of China has been dubbed The Love Boat, but has nothing to do with chips or the sea started during martial law in the late 1960s to provide North American Chinese teenagers with a cultural experience back in the old country. The Love Boat program took on this nickname, a reference to an American TV sitcom of the 1970s and 80s after it became known, perhaps among participants rather than their parents, more for debauchery than serious studies. It's been a mainstay for teens with family ties to Taiwan, including restaurant tour and TV personality. Eddie Wong, the subject of a recent documentary It was perhaps inevitable that it would be mind for a novel. And since heritage programs to place places like Israel and Greece are rites of passage for American teens of many ethnicities, Abigail hang when has chosen a setting and the title for her debut, young adult novel Love Boat Taipei, and that is likely to resonate beyond Asian Americans.

Her protagonist is 18 year old Everett Wong, who goes by the nickname of ever, her parents emigrants from Fujian via a short spell in Singapore In Singapore before settling in a Cleveland suburb are set on her becoming a doctor. Well, after rejections from the Ivy League ever finally received an offer from Northwestern University, ever his parents are delighted what they don't know and certainly wouldn't approve of is that ever really wants to dance, and has also gotten herself admitted to the fine arts program at New York University's Tisch School ever keeps this secret to herself, and before she can spring it on them, her parents reveal a secret of their own. They've applied for her to attend the Chen Tang heritage summer program in Taiwan. Now at first, it sounds like punishment ever knows nothing about Taiwan. Apart from that it's an island off the coast of China. For many of the students in the program, including ever, their strict Chinese parents haven't allowed them to date in high school. During their summer in Taipei, they attend classes in Chinese language along with electives like calligraphy, Chinese traditional medicine, Chinese dance and martial arts. But at night in the dorms, it's anything goes the counselors and the teachers look the other way. When the students sneak out at night to go clubbing or pair up. Ever has a running list of all her parents rules ticking them off in her mind each time she breaks one he had, she can't help but enjoy the freedom even though she feels that she really is for ever won in her parents eyes. The characters and love both Taipei aren't just concerned with dating and clubbing. They also bond to discuss issues that their non Asian friends or their parents for that matter would not understand college admission quotas every day racism and the pressures to succeed and go into professions their parents choose for them ever finds friends who can relate to her love of dance and how she is afraid to tell her parents that blood makes her feel queasy. How can never, ever become a doctor if she can't stand blood? Well, there's also a bit of Crazy Rich Asians to the story. As middle class Midwestern ever, is courted by two ultra wealthy boys from prominent Taipei families. The Reader is brought into a polished Asian city, in this case, Taipei. A dragonfly shoots over the grass after him quick daring movements from flower to flower. I follow him to the Queen style mansion and through sliding panel doors into an inner courtyard, where sunlight spills over scalloped eaves onto a square of a dirt floor. More carved panel doors on three sides slide open two bedrooms displaying historical Chinese furniture. The sense of parched grass and oiled would float on the wind. But despite the peaceful setting my mind words like the leaves sweeping ahead of us. That's a part of the reading from the book. As in Crazy Rich Asians. The protagonists are all Asian, yet presented in a way relatable to readers, no matter their backgrounds, less like Crazy Rich Asians hang when discusses topical issues like domestic violence, gender equality, and mental illness. But it's the chin 10 setting that sets this book apart. teens face the same pressure to feel accepted and love both Taipei brings readers to a place of acceptance for many Chinese Americans that hasn't been shown in young adult literature before. Once again, the name of this book is Love Boat Type A by Abigail hen when

you're listening to hurt any good books lady from lately from the North Carolina reading service. I'm George Douglas. Thanks for joining me today. Hope you're enjoying the program. Now we'll move on to a book another book with an Amish setting like we read at the beginning of the program. This one is called a reluctant bride and Amish of birch Creek novel by Kathleen fuller. She never wanted to marry he hopes to make amends for past wrongs can love find a way to heal both of their hearts. Here's the plot of this one. Sadie Schrock swore she would never marry all of her other Amish friends could court and marry she was content to manage the family business and eventually take it over when her parents are ready to retire. But all of that changes when a reckless driver kills both of her parents and seriously injures her younger sister. With mounting hospital bills adding to the pile of debt her parents left behind. Sadie is left with no choice she must marry. And not just any man, the man who saw her at her weakest and walked away. Aiden knows what his brother did to Sadie years ago was inexcusable. And every day since that incident, Aiden has lived with the guilt for not intervening sooner. When he is faced with the chance to protect Sadie once again, he can't let her down, even if it means living with the scorn of the woman he loves for the rest of his life. Working alongside Aiden at the store, Sadie realizes he isn't the same boy who once betrayed her. Just when Sadie starts to let her guard down and perhaps develop feelings for her new husband. Dangerous secrets are revealed. Now everything Sadie has worked so hard to protect is threatened and she must find a way to save her family and herself. And once again, this one is called a reluctant bride and Amish of Burke Creek novel by Kathleen Fuller and sounds like a good one. Our next book is entitled The 1000 crimes of Ming soo by Tom Lin and other Chinese based a story that was very popular last month. Here's the plot for this one. Orphaned young Ming Su, the son of Chinese immigrants, is raised by the notorious leader of a California crime syndicate, who trains him to be his deadly Enforcer. But when Ming falls in love with ADA, the daughter of a powerful railroad magnate and the to elope he seizes the opportunity to escape to a different life. Soon after, in a violent raid, that tycoons henchmen kidnap Ada and conscript Ming into service for the Central Pacific Railroad. battered, heartbroken and yet defiant. Ming partners with a blind carrot clairvoyant, known only as The prophet. Together the to set out to rescue his wife and to exact revenge on the men who destroyed Mang, aided by a troupe of magic show performers, some with supernatural powers, whom they meet on the journey. Ming blazes his way across the West, settling old scores with a single minded devotion that culminates in an explosive and unexpected finale. written with a violent ardor of Cormac McCarthy and the other worldly and veden may have said Ted Chang the 1000 crimes of Ming Soo is at once a thriller, a romance and a story of one man's quest for redemption in the face of a distinctly American brutality. And once again, the book is entitled The 1000 crimes of Ming Soo and it was written by Tom Lin.

The next book we're going to take a look at today is in the sports genre and it was very popular in October at the Library for the Blind, it is entitled till the end by CC Sabathia. And this is a new book. It was just released in July. 2021 Here's what it's about. One of the best pitchers of his generation and often the only black man on his team shares an extraordinary life in baseball. A high school star in several sports Sabathia was being furiously recruited by both colleges and professional teams. When the death of his grandmother whose Social Security checks supported the family, meant that he couldn't go to college, even with a full scholarship. He recounts how he learned that he had been drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round over the PA system at his high school. In 2001. After three seasons in the minor league, Sabathia became the youngest player in Major League Baseball, he was age 20. His career took off from there, and in 2008, he signed with the New York Yankees for seven years, and $161 million, at the time, the largest contract ever for a pitcher. With the help of Vanity Fair contributors, Smith's mafia tells the entertaining story of his 19 seasons on and off the field. The first 14 ran in tandem with a poorly hidden alcohol problem, and a propensity for destructive Barbara calls. his high school sweetheart Amber, who became his wife and the mother of his children, did her best to help him manage his repressed fury and grief about the deaths of his two beloved cousins and his father. But Sabathia pursued drinking with the same till the end mentality as everything else. Finally, a series of disasters led to a month of rehab in 2015. Leading a sober life was necessary but it did not tame Sabathia is trading trademark feistiness. He continued to fiercely rile his opponents and foment the fighting spirit in his teammates, until debilitating injuries to his knees and pitching arm led to his retirement in 2019. This book represents an excellent launching point for Jay Z's new imprint rock lit 101. Well, everything about Sabathia is larger than life yet, he tells his story with honesty and humility, a book of nonfiction and an autobiography by CC Sabathia, the baseball player. And this is a book that is now available at the library for the blind, and it was released just in July of this year. Next, a book of fiction, The Strange Case of the moderate extremists. Detective Varg story by Alexander McCall Smith. Here's the plot. Detective Ulf Varg, from the Department of sensitive crimes is often called upon to investigate unusual matters. But rarely is he asked to conduct an inquiry on behalf of his own family is such a thing ethical? Well, adding to ofs moral discomfort is the fact that he does not exactly see eye to eye with his younger brother beyond a leading player in one of Sweden's right wing parties, the moderate extremists, still family, his family, so elf finds himself working to uncover the mole leaking secrets to a rival party, the extreme moderates. All of this in addition to his responsibilities to the department, which include investigating the case of cat related sabotage. As always, it's up to OHF to close the case, even if he encounters unexpected resistance from the victims themselves. From literary master McCall Smith, this is a bewitching short foray witty and warm into Scandinavian mystery. And that sounds like a good one. Again, it's called The Strange Case of the moderate extremist. That was the name of the party. Detective Varg story by Alexander McCall Smith.

Now here's another book with a funny title. This one is under the category of fiction and humor. And the title of it is everyone in this room will someday be dead by Emily our Austin. First little information about the author cuz she's new Emily Austin was born in Ontario, Canada, and received a writing grant from the Canadian Council for the Arts in 2020. She studied English literature in library science at Western University, and she currently lives in Ottawa. Everyone in this room will someday be dead is her first novel, and here's what it's about. Gilda 20 Something atheist and an animal loving lesbian cannot stop ruminating about death. alienated from her repressive family. She responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic Church. Well, assuming she's there for a job interview, Father Jeff hires her to replace the recently deceased receptionist grace, Gilda strikes up an email correspondence with Grace's old friend. She can't bear to ignore the kindly old woman who has been trying to reach her friend through the church inbox. But she also can't bring herself to break the bad news. Desperate, she begins impersonating Grace via email. But when the police discovers suspicious circumstances surrounding Grace's death, Gilda may have to finally reveal the truth of her mortifying existence. That's an interesting story. Randy Van Den is called everyone in this room will someday be dead by Emily are Austen and time for just one more book. This is all the little hopes a novel by Leah Weiss of southern story of friendship forged by books and Bs when the time was troubled as of growing up meet the murky shadows of World War Two. Deep in the tobacco land of North Carolina. Nothing's been the same since the boys shipped off to war and worry took their place. 13 year old Lucy Brown is precocious and itching for an adventure. Then the alley bird Tucker wanders into town and Outcast with a puzzling past. And Lucy figures the two of them can solve any curious crime they find. Just like her hero Nancy Drew. Their chance comes when a man goes missing. A woman stops speaking and an eccentric gives the girls a mystery to solve that takes them beyond the ordinary. They're quiet town seasoned with honey bees and sweet tea becomes home to a Nazi prisoner of war camp. More men go missing. And together the girls embark on a journey to discover if we ever really know who the enemy is. Lunch was southern atmosphere all the little hopes is the story of two girls growing up as war creeps closer, blurring the difference between what's right what's wrong, and what we know to be true. All the little hopes a novel by Leah Weiss and that's all the time we have for this month's edition have heard any good books lately. I'm George Douglas hope you enjoy the program. If you'd like more information about how to become a patron of the North Carolina Library for the Blind. Simply Google or search for an NC Library for the Blind call toll free 888-388-2460 You can also use those same numbers to join the Friends of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped our sponsor for this program. This program is intended for people who are blind or print impaired. heard any good books lately will be available right after the broadcast at our website in C reading service dot O R G so long until next time

Transcribed by https://otter.ai