More than just books

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Veedtte

As the year unfolds, many of us set out to read a specific number of books, whether at the start of the year or with daily reading targets. How’s your reading journey for 2024 going? Have you explored any new authors? Which titles have you enjoyed or not liked as much?

I’m pleased to say I’m on track to meet my yearly goal. I based my target this year on last year’s reading habits, adding six more books to my list. Finding time to slow down, unplug from life’s hustle, and get lost in a good book can be tough, but I’ve discovered some fantastic new authors and writing styles. So why not turn off the TV, pick up a great book, and treat yourself to a relaxing day of self-care?

I most often read on my Libby app with my MJB Library card; on Libby, I have access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks and magazines. 

To help local readers, here are the Top 30 most popular adult fiction books of 2024 here at the MJB Library. Stop in and check them out. 

• “The Women” (Hannah, Kristin)
• “The Teacher” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Things We Never Got Over” (Score, Lucy)
• “The Coworker” (McFadden, Freida)
• “The Women: A Novel” (LP) (Hannah, Kristin)
• “Yellowstone” — Seasons 1-4  (DVD)
• “The housemaid” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Twisted Love” (Huang, Ana)
• “The Housemaid’s Secret” (McFadden, Freida)
• “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” (Rose, Jeneva)
• “The Paradise Problem” (Lauren, Christina)
• “The Unhoneymooners” (Lauren, Christina)
• “Never Lie” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Remarkably Bright Creatures” (VanPelt, Shelby) Funny story (Henry, Emily)
• “Darling Girls” (Hepworth, Sally)
• “Too Late” (Hoover, Colleen)
• “Lone Oaks Crossing” (Dailey, Janet)
• “The Worst Best Man” (Score, Lucy)
• “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” (Dugoni, Robert)
• “First Lie Wins” (Elston, Ashley)
• “Mind Games” (Robert, Nora)
• “The Little Liar” (Alborn, Mitch)
• “The Friendship Club” (Carr, Robyn)
• “The Edge” (Baldacci, David)
• “The Housemaid Is Watching” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Rock Bottom Girl” (Score, Lucy)
• “Hidden Pictures” (Rekulak, Jason)
• “The Cliffs” (Sullivan, J Courtney)

Save the Date

Friends of the Library are planning events: 

• Holiday Showcase Bake Sale: Nov. 7, 5-8 p.m. Looking for Bakers to bake and donate items to Friends to sell. Contact the library with your name and for more information. 
• Holiday Vendor Fair at MJB Library Festival of Trees: Saturday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors $20 to reserve a table. Contact the Library by email: mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us or by phone 641-747-8110.
• Trivia night fundraising event – Feb. 8.  Start rounding up your team and put the date on the calendar. More information will be coming soon. 
• Golf Tournament in June 2025. Watch for more details to come. 

Happy National Friends of Libraries Week

Oct. 20-26 is National Friends of Libraries Week. This is a pretty important week for any library, and this is the case for the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library. We want to thank the members of the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library for their steadfast support of our library. Anyone who would like to have more information about becoming a Friend of the Library, please email, call or stop by the library. We welcome everyone who would like to join. 

Story Hour

Our preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m.; this Friday’s story hour will feature Halloween with a witch hat decorating.  

Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass

The Friends of the Library sponsor the Adventure Pass for local library patrons. Currently, we have adventure passes for Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa, and Des Moines Children’s Museum. Library patrons 18 and older may use their library card to check out a pass to participating locations through the library’s website. Check out our website for more details. 

Programs

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Michelle Cowan, an Iowa author, will present a book talk at 10:00 a.m.  Cowan will discuss her book “Better, Not Bitter,” which is currently available to check out at the MJB Library. 

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club featured recipes from the newly released, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George on this past Thursday. The top two favorite recipes were the: Family Favorite Meatloaf and Au Gratin Potatoes. Stop by to check out this treasured cookbook to help plan your next family menus. “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George is filled with more than 80 delicious dishes as well as photographs of Dolly and Rachel cooking and hosting all year long. Want to join our next meeting? Stop by the library to pick out a recipe from the upcoming cookbook “175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics” and join us on Thursday, Nov. 21 with your dish.  

Boo Bash

The fifth annual Li-BOO-ary Bash,  a not-so-scary Halloween celebration at the MJB Library, will be on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Stop by our family-friendly event featuring games, a photo booth, a “spooky walk” and a treat at the end.