Library holiday closure this month
The library will be closed Monday, Feb. 18, in observance of Presidents Day.
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 It's a book lover's Mix & Mingle!
Back by popular demand! Join other readers and lovers of all things books to discuss all your favorites and maybe find your next great book love. Snacks will be provided. Registration is required. Register at the front desk or online starting 1/19.
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2
in the Community Room, registration is required
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Check out one of the library's three book clubs in January
We have three active book groups here at the library that are open to everyone. If you love to read and talk about the books you read, pop in to one or more of the book groups! Bemused Bibliophiles meets during the day and reads popular books that have been on the bestseller list. Hauntingly Good Reads meets in the evening and explores all kinds of books that have a supernatural/magical/unexplainable kind of bent—we look far beyond the traditional vampires, ghosts and witches. Joyful Page Turners is the most enduring book club at the library—it's been meeting regularly since May 2000! Books selected for this book club include just about everything: classics, modern bestsellers, non-fiction, and more. Click on the book titles below to see them in the library catalog. Sign in to your library account on the catalog and you can place a title on hold.
(Yep! That's correct above. Both Hauntingly Good Reads and Joyful Page Turners are reading the same book in February.)
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 See what photographers see in "Through the Lens" exhibition
Now up in the Gathering Space Gallery and the High Wall Gallery in the library is "Through the Lens" a collection of photographs that will let you see the world with a photographer's eye. Works from five gifted local photographers are featured in this exhibition: Mike Ciskowski, Bill Fales, John Gabor, Steve Marler and Barney Tull.
Please join us at a reception honoring the artists, where you will also have a chance to meet them and learn more about their work.
Artist reception 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 in the Community Room
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 Can you solve the murder mystery of "The Governess of Yardley Zem"?
This Gothic murder mystery tells the tale of Yardley Zem, a Victorian estate full of terrible secrets. When Miss Clara Bloodrose arrives at Yardley Zem as governess to the wealthy master's twin girls, she lasts mere months before she is brutally murdered. Dicsover the truth of Yardley Zem at this wickedly dark event.
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Community Room, registration is required
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 Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Celebrate at Chamber Pancake Feed
Derby Public Library is partnering with the Derby Chamber of Commerce during Derby's 150th Celebration to bring you a party for Dr. Seuss.
March 2, 2019, is Dr. Seuss's 115th birthday! We will celebrate with books, story time, characters and door prizes.
All of this takes place during the Chamber's annual Pancake Feed and food drive, so you can grab breakfast with the family while you enjoy books.
8-10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, in the Austin Room at the Derby Welcome Center
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New-release book review:
A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler
First LIne: When they asked her about the Vanderbilts and Belmonts, about their celebrations and depredations, the mansions and balls, the lawsuits, the betrayals, the rifts—when they asked why she did the extreme things she’d done, Alva said it all began quite simply: Once there was a desperate young woman whose mother was dead and whose father was dying almost as quickly as his money was running out.
Summary: Alva Smith is from an old New York family. However, after the death of her mother and her father’s financial troubles they are nearly destitute. Through the scheming of her friend, Consuelo Yznaga, she meets William K. Vanderbilt. He is the grandson of railroad tycoon, Cornelius Vanderbilt. William is looking to bring his family into New York society and Alva needs to take care of her family by marrying a wealthy husband. With this marriage of convenience Alva appears to get everything she wants. She helps the poor, builds grand new homes and travels the world. Yet it appears that something is missing…
My thoughts: Before picking up this novel I had never heard of Alva (Smith) Vanderbilt. I remember the Vanderbilt name from high school history on the robber barons. While reading it was hard to imagine living the life of Alva Vanderbilt. The amount of money she had and what she spent it on. If you have time, you should Google their house, Petit Chateau, on Fifth Avenue. Spectacular! The costume ball she threw in 1883 was so extravagant that they spent nearly one million dollars (in today’s money) on champagne alone. Can you imagine? If you love the Gilded Age then this is a book you should read.
Release date: Oct. 16, 2018
Check out our blog for more on this book and for other book reviews.
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Six of Crows
by Leigh Bardugo
First line: Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache.
Summary: Kaz Brekker, a master thief and part of the Dregs gang, is offered the job of a lifetime. He must enter heavily guarded Ice Court and breakout Bo Yul-Bayur, the scientist responsible for the drug jurda parem. With his team of outlaws, Kaz develops a plan to enter Fjerda unnoticed and bring home a prize of thirty million kruge.
My thoughts: When I first heard about this novel it was described to me as Ocean’s Eleven with magic! I think this is a fairly accurate description. The first half is meeting the characters, laying the groundwork and traveling to the dreaded Ice Court. The second half is fast paced and thrilling. I loved the characters. Each and every one was unique with their own set of talents and secrets. My favorite though has to be Nina, the Grisha Heartrender, who is determined to right a wrong while securing her future. This is the first book in a duology and I am really looking forward to seeing how Bardugo finishes the story in The Crooked Kingdom.
Release date: Sept. 29, 2015
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New-release book review:
Girls of Paper and Fire
by Natasha Ngan
First line: Our shop is busy this morning.
Summary: In a land where the inhabitants are separated into castes, the lowest caste is the Paper caste. Eight girls each year from the Paper caste are selected to serve the king. When Lei, a shop girl from a small village, is taken from her family to the palace, she is determined to not let her fate be decided by the king. While learning the lessons of a consort she does the unthinkable and falls in love. However, danger and intrigue are entering her life and she must decide where she stands in the coming conflict.
My thoughts: The cover is absolutely stunning! This book reminded me a lot of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor. The world building is beautiful and the characters are unique. Young adult books are slowly becoming more grown up and inclusive. I really enjoy this even though the themes are sometimes hard to deal with. I liked the relationship that Lei forms while living at the palace. It was a nice slow romance that built rather than just happened instantly. The author delves into scary issues such as rape and slavery. While reading these are hard, it is a real thing in this world. I think it was handled very well.
Release date: Nov. 13, 2018
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The podcast returns:
Listen to season 2
The library podcast is back with new episodes for season 2. Subscribe to Novel Ideas: The Library Podcast wherever you find your podcasts, or listen online at Soundcloud.com.
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Follow us on social media:
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February 2019 
Issue 206
