Monthly Programs
ADULT BOOK CLUB
Third Thursday of Every Month
10:00 AM
The Adult Book Club will meet at 10:00 AM on the third Thursday of each month. Copies of the books to be discussed will be available at the Circulation Desk on the First Floor.
April 17
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Pines
by Nancy E. Turner
Sarah Agnes Prine begins her diary in 1881 when her father decides to move the whole family-and their horse ranch-from Arizona Territory to Texas, where life will be easier. Sarah, at seventeen, is a tomboy: though she longs to be educated, gracious and beautiful like other women. But when the family sets out on the wagon trail and disasters strike in rapid succession, Sarah turns out to be the only thing that keeps them from certain death. Sarah stays brave, strong and determined through everything that befalls her. But she longs to be loved, like any other woman, and she is to meet her destiny in Captain Jack Elliot.
May 15
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books
by Kirsten Miller
When Lula Dean, trying to rid public libraries of “pornographic” books, starts her own lending library in front of her home, Lindsay, the daughter of Lula’s arch nemesis, sneaks in nightly, secretly filling it with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets, changing the lives of those who borrow them in unexpected ways.
June 19
Small Mercies
by Dennis Lehane
In the summer of 1974, a heatwave blankets Boston, and Mary Pat Fennessy is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the housing projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave that stubbornly adheres to old tradition and stands proudly apart. One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train under mysterious circumstances. The two events seem unconnected. But Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her missing daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched–asking questions that bother Marty Butler, chieftain of the Irish mob, and the men who work for him, men who don’t take kindly to any threat to their business.
July 17
Sea Stories
by William H. McRaven
Admiral William H. McRaven is a part of American military history, having been involved in some of the most famous missions in recent memory, including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, and the raid to kill Osama bin Laden. Sea Stories begins in 1960 at the American Officers’ Club in France, where Allied officers and their wives gathered to have drinks and tell stories about their adventures during World War II — the place where a young Bill McRaven learned the value of a good story. Sea Stories is an unforgettable look back on one man’s incredible life, from childhood days sneaking into high-security military sites to a day job of hunting terrorists and rescuing hostages. Action-packed, inspiring, and full of thrilling stories from life in the special operations world, Sea Stories is a remarkable memoir from one of America’s most accomplished leaders.
August 21
A Painted House
by John Grisham
Racial tension, a forbidden love affair, and murder are seen through the eyes of Luke Chandler, a seven-year-old boy in a 1950s southern cotton-farming community.
HORROR BOOK CLUB
Second Thursday of Each Month
6:00 PM
The Horror Book Club will meet at 6:00 PM on the second Thursday of each month. Copies of the books to be discussed will be available at the Circulation Desk on the First Floor.
April 10
The Last House on Needless Street
by Catriona Ward
In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. A teenage girl who isn’t allowed outside, not after last time. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all.
May 8
Nothing But Blackened Teeth
by Cassandra Khaw
A Heian-era mansion stands abandoned, its foundation resting on the bones of a bride and its walls packed with the remains of girls sacrificed to keep her company. It’s the perfect venue for a group of thrill-seeking friends brought back together to celebrate a wedding. A night of food, drinks, and games quickly spirals into a nightmare as secrets get dragged out and relationships are tested. But the house has secrets too. Lurking in the shadows is the ghost bride with a black smile and a hungry heart. And she gets lonely there in the dirt…
June 12
The Spite House
by Johnny Compton
Eric Ross is on the run from a mysterious past with his two daughters in tow. Having left his wife, his house, his whole life behind in Maryland, he’s desperate for money–it’s not easy to find steady, safe work when you can’t provide references, you can’t stay in one place for long, and you’re paranoid that your past is creeping back up on you. When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them. The job calls to Eric, not just because there’s a huge payout if they can make it through, but because he wants to explore the secrets of the spite house. If it is indeed haunted, maybe it’ll help him understand the uncanny power that clings to his family, driving them from town to town, making them afraid to stop running.
July 10
Home Is Where the Bodies Are
by Jeneva Rose
After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before. While going through their parents’ belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.
August 14
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn’t right at the Sun Down, and before long she’s determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden there. Upstate NY, 2017. Carly Kirk has always been fascinated by her aunt Viv who disappeared from the Sun Down before Carly was born. Using a small inheritance from when her mom dies, Carly leaves college to go to Fell to figure out what happened to her aunt thirty-five years ago. Soon, Carly is mirroring her aunt’s life, working as the night clerk at the motel, which hasn’t changed since 1982. The guest book is still handwritten, the rooms still have actual keys, and a haunting presence still lingers. Carly discovers that Viv had been trying to unravel mysteries of her own–including a possible serial killer working in Fell. If Carly can find the answers Viv was searching for, she might be able to solve the mystery that has haunted her family for years.
BINGO
Third Tuesday of Every Month
April 15 | May 20 | June 17 | July 15 | August 19
3:00 PM
Join in a fun game of Bingo on the third Tuesday of every month at 3 PM. Brought to you by High Point Residents.
FAMILY HEIRLOOM RECIPES FROM THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR:
A Presentation by Catherine Lambrecht
April 7
6:30 PM
Since 2009, Catherine Lambrecht has judged Family Heirloom Recipes contests on behalf of Greater Midwest Foodways in Illinois. Contestants would enter their best scratch family heirloom recipe suitable for a family or community dinner. The recipe should have originated 50 years ago or earlier. Contestants would bring to the fair a prepared dish along with a history of who passed the recipe down to them. This presentation offers an opportunity to follow the judging experience by providing the histories and recipes presented as submitted at the Illinois State Fair (2009 – 2019) with pictures of the food as presented at the fair. The foods were sometimes submitted simply in their transport container, or more elaborately on the family’s china with relevant props of family pictures, kitchen paraphernalia, and their loved one’s handwritten recipe. If Catherine inspires you to document a family favorite recipe to share with loved ones, then she has accomplished her mission.
General Programs
RIP & STITCHERS: KNITTING AND CROCHET WORKSHOP
First Tuesday of Every Month
April 1 | May 6 | June 3 | July 1 | August 5
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Patrons who have taken a beginner class of crochet and/or knitting or who already know who to crochet/knit are welcome. This group is not for beginners. Attendees must have a library card in good standing with the Illinois Heartland Library System and must sign up to attend. Meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Call 242-6322, ext. 2, to register.
LIBRARY GAME DAY
April 26 | May 31 | June 28 | July 26
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Come join us for our monthly Library Game Day! Play a round of your choice from our collection of board games, card games, and role-playing games. Children are welcomed if accompanied by and adult. Snacks and drinks will be provided.