Month: April 2021

Hi everyone, here is the weekly list of New York Times Bestsellers.

Each title is followed by a listing of which formats it is available in for check out within the three catalogs: StarCat (Print, Large Print & CD Audiobooks), The Digital Catalog (eBook & Downloadable Audiobook) and the Hoopla Catalog (Hoopla instant checkout eBook & Hoopla Audiobook).

For more information on the three catalogs skip to the section below the bestselling titles*

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New York Times Bestseller blog postings are published on Sundays; and the next New York Times Bestselling blog posting will be published on Sunday, April 18, 2021.

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FICTION

A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES by Sarah J. Maas

(Available Format: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The fifth book in A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Nesta Archeron is forced into close quarters with a warrior named Cassian.

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THE DUKE AND I by Julia Quinn

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

The first book in the Bridgerton series. Daphne Bridgerton’s reputation soars when she colludes with the Duke of Hastings. The basis of the Netflix series “Bridgerton.”

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ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook, Downloadable Audiobook)

Three people involved in a love triangle find everything they hold dear is tested as Mussolini’s power grows and laws change in Rome.

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THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

As dust storms roll during the Great Depression, Elsa must choose between saving the family and farm or heading West.

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THE HILL WE CLIMB by Amanda Gorman

(Available Formats: Print, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The poem read on President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day, by the youngest poet to write and perform an inaugural poem.

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THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab

(Available Formats: Print Books, Large Print, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A Faustian bargain comes with a curse that affects the adventure Addie LaRue has across centuries.

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KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro

(Available Formats: Print Book & Downloadable Audiobook)

An “Artificial Friend” named Klara is purchased to serve as a companion to an ailing 14-year-old girl.

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LATER by Stephen King

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook coming soon)

An N.Y.P.D. detective asks the son of a struggling single mother to use his unnatural ability to track a killer.

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LIFE AFTER DEATH by Sister Souljah

(Available Formats: Print Book)

In a sequel to “The Coldest Winter Ever,” Winter Santiaga emerges after time served and seeks revenge.

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LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner

(Available Formats: Print Book & Downloadable Audiobook)

An aspiring historian in London finds a clue that might put to rest unsolved apothecary murders from 200 years ago

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THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobooks)

Nora Seed finds a library beyond the edge of the universe that contains books with multiple possibilities of the lives one could have lived.

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OF WOMEN AND SALT by Gabriela Garcia

(Available Formats: Print Book)

Jeanette, the daughter of a Cuban immigrant, takes in the daughter of a neighbor detained by ICE and seeks to learn about her own family history.

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THE RED BOOK by James Patterson and David Ellis

(Available Formats: Print Book, Large Print, CD Audiobook & eBook)

The second book in the Black Book thriller series. Chicago detective Billy Harney investigates his own past.

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THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook coming shortly)

As a post-World War II royal wedding approaches, an encrypted letter resurrects an alliance between three female code breakers.

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THE SONGS OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

(Available Formats: Print Book & Hoopla instant checkout eBook & audiobook)

 

 A reimagining of Homer’s “Iliad” that is narrated by Achilles’ companion Patroclus.

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SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

During the Civil War, sisters Georgeanna and Eliza join the war effort together while sisters Jemma and Patience are enslaved on separate plantations.

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WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker

(Available Formats: Print Book)

Trouble might start for the chief of police and a self-proclaimed outlaw teen when a man is released from prison.

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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens

(Available Formats: Print Book, Large Print, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

In a quiet town on the North Carolina coast in 1969, a young woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect.

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WILDE CHILD by Eloisa James

(Available Formats: Print Book)

The sixth book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series. Lady Joan plans to perform the role of a prince in the manner of Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick.

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WIN by Harlan Coben

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

Windsor Horne Lockwood III might rectify cold cases connected to his family that have eluded the F.B.I. for decades.

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NON-FICTION:

BEAUTY OF LIVING TWICE by Sharon Stone

(Available Formats: Print Book)

The actress and human rights activist recounts her childhood difficulties and biggest accomplishments.

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BECOMING by Michelle Obama

(Available Formats: Print Book, Large Print, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The former first lady describes how she balanced work, family and her husband’s political ascent.

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BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook, Downloadable Audiobook & Hoopla Audiobook)

How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery.

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BREATH by James Nestor

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A re-examination of a basic biological function and a look at the science behind ancient breathing practices.

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CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson

(Available Formats: Print Book, Audiobook on CD, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines aspects of caste systems across civilizations and reveals a rigid hierarchy in America today.

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THE CODE BREAKER by Walter Isaacson

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook coming shortly)

How the Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues invented CRISPR, a tool that can edit DNA.

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EVERY DAY IS A GIFT by Tammy Duckworth

(Available Formats: Print Book)

A memoir by the biracial daughter of an American father and a Thai-Chinese mother who served in the Iraq War and is currently a senator from Illinois.

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GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey

(Available Formats: Print Book, Audiobook on CD & Downloadable Audiobook)

The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over the last 35 years.

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HOOKED by Michael Moss

(Available Formats: Print Book)

A Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter formerly with The New York Times looks at ways food can be addictive.

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HOW TO AVOID A CLIMATE DISASTER by Bill Gates

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A prescription for what business, governments and individuals can do to work toward zero emissions.

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JUST AS I AM by Cicely Tyson with Michelle Burford

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

The late iconic actress describes how she worked to change perceptions of Black women through her career choices.

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A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

In the first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama offers personal reflections on his formative years and pivotal moments through his first term.

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THE SUM OF US by Heather McGhee

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

The chair of the board of the racial justice organization Color of Change analyzes the impact of racism on the economy.

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THINK AGAIN by Adam Grant

(Available Formats: Print Book)

An examination of the cognitive skills of rethinking and unlearning that could be used to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

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THIS IS THE FIRE by Don Lemon

(Available Formats: Print Book)

The CNN host looks at the impact of racism on his life and prescribes ways to address systemic flaws in America.

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UNTAMED by Glennon Doyle

(Available Formats: Print Book, Audiobook on CD, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The activist and public speaker describes her journey of listening to her inner voice.

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WORLD ON THE WING by Scott Weidensaul

(Available Formats: Print Book & Hoopla instant checkout audiobook)

The navigational and physiological undertakings performed by billions of birds as they circumnavigate the globe.

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Be well and read on!

Linda Reimer, SSL

 

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*Information on the Three Catalogs*

Digital Catalog: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog has two companion apps, Libby & OverDrive. Libby is the app for newer devices and the OverDrive app should be used for older devices and Amazon tablets.

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features instant check outs of eBooks, downloadable audiobook, comic books, albums and streaming videos. Patron check out limit is 4 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla App is available for Android or Apple devices and most smart TVs & media streaming players.

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StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

The StarCat app is called Bookmyne and is available for Apple and Android devices.

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Southeast Steuben County Library Tel: 607-936-3713

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, April 16, 2021.

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Blue Skies by Eva Cassidy (Genre: Jazz, Vocal, Guitar)

Eva Cassidy was a terrific jazz singer and guitarist who hailed from Washington, D.C., who unfortunately died of cancer, age only 33, in the fall of 1996.

Fortunately for music fans, she left behind several top-notch albums including the one containing Blue Skies – Live At Blues Alley (1997).

From The Album: Live At Blues Alley (1997).

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Breakfast In Bed by Dusty Springfield (Genre: Pop/Rock, R&B)

Dusty Springfield hailed from London and was one of the best blue-eyed soul singers of the sixties. Her rich, sultry voice added great depth to each song she sang. Dusty Springfield was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

From The Album: Dusty In Memphis

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Caledonia Soul Music by Van Morrison (Pop, Rock, Folk)

Caledonia Soul Music is a long, mellow, feel-good instrumental from Van Morrison and The Caledonia Soul Orchestra; a perfect song to listen while relaxing and unwinding.

From The Album: His Band And The Street Choir (1970)

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Henry & Sam by Colter Wall (Genre: Country, Folk)

Singer-songwriter Colter Wall hails from Saskatchewan, Canada; and his music sounds like he’d be right at home playing a double-bill with Johnny Cash in the mid-sixties.

From The Album: Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs (2020).

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Corner Pocket by Count Basie & His Orchestra (Jazz, Swing)

The great Count Basie and his original orchestra performing a classic song!

From The Album: April In Paris (*1956)

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Don’t Do Me Like That by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Genre: Rock)

A rockin’ song, from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers who are obviously trying not to get their hearts broken!

From The Album: Damn The Torpedoes (1979).

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Good Times by The Rolling Stones (Genre: Rock, Classic Rock)

With Good Times, The Rolling Stones showed their love of classic American soul and R&B, by performing and recording a song written by the great singer Sam Cooke.

From The Albums: Out Of Our Heads (1965).

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Ruby My Dear by Thelonious Monk (Genre: Jazz)

Thelonious Monk was at a high point in his career when he recorded for Blue Note Records from 1947-1952. Ruby My Dear is from a terrific collection, titled ‘Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Singles 1947-1952 (2014), that features all the 78-RPM singles he recorded during that era.

From The Album: The Complete Blue Note Singles 1947-1952 (2014).

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So Much In Love by The Tymes (Genre: R&B, Classic R&B)

The Tymes, consisting of Ceasar Berry, George Hilliard, Norm Burnett, Don Banks & George Williams were a terrific R&B quintet, based in Philadelphia. The group’s charting era was relatively short, from 1963-1964, but their music is sweet and smooth – prefect sixties soul music!

Their biggest hit So Much In Love was original released on the album of the same name So Much In Love (1963); and today can easily be found on the collection The Best Of The Tymes: Cameo & Parkway 1963-1964.

From The Album: So Much In Love (1963), or The Best Of The Tymes (Cameo & Parkway) 1963-1964 (2007).

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Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart (Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Pop/Rock)

Scottish singer-songwriter Stewart came to the attention of music fans in the 1970s when he released several bright, dreamy sounding, introspective albums and singles including Time Passages, On The Boarder and The Year Of The Cat.

From The Album: Year Of The Cat (1976).

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Hoopla Recommendation of the Week

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos (1970) (Genre: Blues, Blues-Rock)

In celebration of April being International Guitar Month, here is a classic album featuring two phenomenal guitarists – Eric Clapton and Duane Allman.

And from that same album the song:

Key To The Highway

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Have a good weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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REFERENCES:

Print References

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn

Online References

AllMusic. 2021. AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands. [online] Available at: <https://www.allmusic.com/&gt;.

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Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, etc.

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The Digital Catalog (OverDrive & Libby Apps)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

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Hoopla

A catalog of instant check out items, including eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, TV shows and movies for for patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here are our recommended reads for the week.

Format Note: Under each book title you’ll find a list of all the different formats that specific title is available in; including: Print Books, Large Print Books, CD Audiobooks, eBooks & Downloadable Audiobooks from the Digital Catalog (OverDrive & Libby apps) and Hoopla eBooks & Hoopla Downloadable Audiobooks (Hoopla App).

*More information on the three catalogs is found at the end of the list of recommended reads*

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Weekly Suggested Reading postings are published on Tuesdays. The next Suggested Reading posting will be published on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

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Best Laid Plans by Gwn Florio

(Available Formats: Print Book)

Nora Best and her husband, Joe, planned to travel the country with a truck pulling an Airstream while she wrote a book about their adventures. At their going-away party she discovers Joe having sex with her best friend. Furious, Nora posts the video for all her guests to see, then pulls out with the trailer. She drives from Colorado to a Wyoming campground, where the hosts, Miranda and Brad, seem welcoming–until a screaming Miranda wakes her up saying Brad went out during the night, and he was probably eaten by a bear. The sheriff doesn’t believe that, and he suspects the newcomer, Nora. Despite her protests, she’s arrested. With her mug shot plastered all over the internet, Joe tracks her down. Now that she’s had a taste of freedom, Nora is unwilling to handle Joe’s issues. She has her own worries. What really happened to Brad? Who stole her Airstream when she wasn’t looking? Who is making Nora the patsy in an evil game?

VERDICT The first in a new series, told from the viewpoint of a woman over 50, on her own for the first time, introduces a complex story. Florio’s (“Lola Wick” series) suspenseful mystery will have readers rooting for amateur sleuth Nora.–Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN – Starred Library Journal Review

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The Bounty by Evanovich, Janet & Steve Hamilton

(Available Formats: Print Book & CD Audiobook)

In the seventh Fox and O’Hare novel (after The Big Kahuna, 2019), FBI agent Kate O’Hare and partner Nick Fox engage in a series of breathtaking chases across Europe and Africa from Vatican City, where they pursue an intrepid thief who turns out to be Nick’s father. He has stolen a precious map fragment that, when combined with other pieces hidden in treacherous-to-reach places, will reveal the location of a cache of Nazi-looted gold. O’Hare and her team want to find the treasure to return it to its owners or donate it to a righteous cause, but they are up against enemies with decidedly other plans, one of whom is a seemingly unkillable giant who makes every interaction a brush with grisly death. The duo of Evanovich and Hamilton, each best-selling authors in their own right, start the action on page one and keep up the pace throughout. The dynamic, often-humorous storytelling won’t let readers out of its grip, and there’s a compelling romantic subplot, to boot. Fans of Evanovich won’t need any convincing here, but also offer this one to fans of The Da Vinci Code, as ancient symbols and academic sleuthing play a strong part in the unraveling of the mystery. – Booklist Review
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Danger In Numbers by Heather Graham

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD audiobook & Hoopla instant checkout audiobook)

When a heart attack takes her Florida Department of Law Enforcement partner John Schultz out of commission, Special Agent Amy Larson joins forces with FBI Agent Hunter Forrest to solve the ritualistic murder of a young woman. All signs indicate an active cult deep in the heart of the Everglades and clues at the crime scene point to more murders to come. The locals claim to know nothing, but someone knows more than they’re saying. Is there a connection to one of the many local churches? What about the missing woman who’s been hiding from someone or something at the old motel? Hunter’s inside knowledge of how cults operate and Amy’s crime scene sketches give them a starting point, but the twisted mix of faith, greed, and corruption isn’t going to be easy to decode and stop. As the case intensifies, so does the attraction between Amy and Hunter. Fans of Allison Brennan’s romantic suspense will enjoy this hot new stand-alone from veteran author Graham (Dreaming Death, 2020). – Booklist Review

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Every Waking Hour: A Mystery by Joanna Schaffhausen

(Available Formats: Print Book & Hoopla instant checkout audiobook)

Schaffhausen’s excellent fourth novel featuring Ellery Hathaway, who as a teen was the sole survivor of a serial murderer/kidnapper, and Reed Markham, the FBI agent who rescued her (after 2020’s All the Best Lies), finds Ellery and Reed, now in a romantic relationship, enjoying a street fair with his seven-year-old daughter in the Boston Common. When 12-year-old Chloe Lockhart vanishes from the fair, Ellery, still on tryout as a Boston PD detective, latches onto the case, seeing parallels with her own history; her captain is thrilled that renowned profiler Reed can assist. A theory soon emerges that Chloe was escaping the strict surveillance of her wealthy parents, Martin and Teresa Lockhart. This is not Teresa’s first tragedy—20 years earlier her son from her first marriage was murdered when he was 12 years old, along with her housekeeper. Tight plotting and sophisticated surprises fuel the rich storytelling. Schaffhausen layers much emotion into each tension-filled twist as she deepens Ellery and Reed’s characters. Readers will eagerly await their further adventures. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. – Starred Publisher Weekly Review

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The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh by Molly Greeley

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & downloadable audiobook)

Anne, the daughter of Pride and Prejudice’s Lady Catherine de Bourgh, takes center stage in Greeley’s latest (after The Clergyman’s Wife, 2019). Anne was a fussy baby, and the prescribed treatment–daily doses of laudanum–restricts her growth and leaves her in a constant dreamlike state. Her domineering mother defies all attempts to wean Anne from her “magic drops,” leaving her daughter sickly, placid, and addicted. Lady Catherine’s grand plan for Anne includes a marriage to her cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy, which would bring together their two grand estates. Anne’s only comfort is her governess, Miss Hall, who eventually inspires Anne to break free both from her laudanum addiction and from her toxic mother. Safely ensconced in the London home of her cousin, John Fitzwilliam, Anne befriends Eliza Amherst, a spirited young woman who introduces her to fashion, parties, and the writing of Mary Wollstonecraft. Their attachment grows into love, and Anne must decide whether to marry for security or to be true to herself. Greeley is faithful to the original story, while creating an imaginative and vivid inner life for the beleaguered Anne. This inventive novel will delight Pride and Prejudice fans, and win over readers who are skeptical of Austen reimaginings.—Booklist Review

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A Matter of Life and Death: A Robin Lockwood Novel by Phillip Margolin

(Available Formats: )

Portland attorney Robin Lockwood takes on the defense of a homeless boxer who’s been framed but good for murder. Joe Lattimore has a bad feeling about allowing himself to be drafted into an illegal no-holds-barred fight, but the $300 he’s offered would settle his wife and baby daughter in a motel room for a few nights while he looks for work. Things go from bad to worse when he apparently kills the man he’s fighting and agrees to burgle a stranger’s home as his price for the recording of the fight. Inside, Joe finds the corpse of Elizabeth Carasco, the wealthy wife of Judge Anthony Carasco, whose life has changed in dramatic ways ever since he was picked up by escort Stacey Hayes. Joe swears he’s innocent, but the cops have his fingerprints inside the house and a pair of witnesses, one of them Judge Carasco, who saw a man who looks a lot like him fleeing the scene shortly after the murder. It’s an ideal case for Robin, who’s not only a dab hand in the courtroom, but a former mixed martial arts warrior who, in a rare dead end, expresses an interest in returning to the ring undercover in order to expose the culprits who arranged the illegal fights and a whole lot more felonies. Margolin keeps the story steadily absorbing, replacing whatever surprises you might have expected with new revelations of the plotters’ ever more violent and treacherous behavior that make you nod with appreciation. Everything purrs along until one character too many gets killed and Robin suddenly finds herself wrestling with a genuine whodunit. “I feel like I’m in a movie sequel,” the presiding judge observes, but there’s nothing wrong with that. – Kirkus Review

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Murder in the East End: A Below Stairs Mystery by Jennifer Ashley

(Available Formats: )

Set in 1882, Ashley’s solid fourth Victorian mystery (after 2019’s Death in Kew Gardens) opens with criminal investigator Daniel McAdam introducing his foster brother, the Rev. Errol Fielding, to his sweetheart, Kat Holloway, a cook in service to Lady Cynthia Shires with a reputation as an amateur sleuth. Fielding serves on the board of London’s Foundling Hospital, from which a nurse, Nell Betts, and three children have vanished. Nell was too reliable to depart without warning, and though the institution’s director claims that the children were adopted, the addresses to which they were ostensibly sent do not exist. Kat gleans information from the hospital’s cook and one of its maids, while Lady Cynthia’s niece and Elgin Thanos, Daniel’s mathematician friend, use their social clout to probe its board and donors. The investigation takes a dangerous turn after Nell is found beaten to death. Though the puzzle’s resolution falls short of the intriguing setup, fans will appreciate new revelations about Daniel’s backstory and the nuanced depictions of period London. Readers will look forward to Kat and Daniel’s further adventures. Agent: Bob Mecoy, Bob Mecoy Literary. – Publishers Weekly Review

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The Promise by Damon Galgut

(Available Formats: Print Book & Hoopla instant checkout eBook)

Three decades of South African sociopolitical history are woven into a saga of loss and missed opportunity that upends a dysfunctional Afrikaner family living outside Pretoria.

Rachel Swart has just died of cancer. Her husband, Manie, and three children, Anton, Astrid, and Amor, are all walloped by different incarnations of grief. Only Amor, the youngest daughter, cares about her mother’s dying wish—that Salome, the Swarts’ domestic servant, receive full ownership of the house where she lives with her family, though under apartheid law, Black people are not legally allowed to own property in White areas. Nobody else pays any mind: Amor is 13 years old at the start and functionally voiceless in her family. The promise is buried along with Rachel, only to be unearthed years later when subsequent family deaths force the Swarts to recollide for the rituals of mourning. Galgut moves fluidly among accounts of every single major and minor character, his prose unbroken by quotation marks or italics, as though narrated from the perspective of a ghost who briefly possesses every person. The language is peppered with regional geography, terminology, and slang, with sentences ranging from clipped (“One day, she says aloud. One day I’ll. But the thought breaks off midway…”) to lyrical (“There’s a snory sound of bees, jacaranda blossoms pop absurdly underfoot”) to metafictional (“No need to dwell on how she washes away her tears”). Galgut’s multifarious writing style is bold and unusual, providing an initial barrier to entry yet achieving an intuitive logic over time. “How did it become so complicated?” Amor wonders at one point. “Home used to mean only one Thing, not a blizzard of things at war.”

Galgut extends his extraordinary corpus with a rich story of family, history, and grief.
–Starred Kirkus Reviews

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The Queen’s Weapons by Anne Bishop

(Available Formats: Print Book)

Born to serve and protect, Warlord Princes are sworn to their Queen. Daemonar Yaslana has always been bossy and protective, but he has reached an age where his behavior walks a fine line, and an emotional attack on his sister by a young Queen results in Daemonar beginning a new set of lessons under Witch, the Queen that many think of as old myth. When a curse is revealed to be rising in Kaleer, Daemonar along with his uncle and father, the High Lord and Demon Prince, respectively, must use his skills to uproot the stain before it sets too far. For Warlord Princes are their Queen’s weapons, and they will destroy any enemy–even if it wears a beloved face. Bishop (Wild Country) leans into references and characters from past books to build a century-spanning saga, tying together pieces of plot and creating new stakes that could break hearts and power. VERDICT The latest “Black Jewels” novel (after The Queen’s Bargain) continues to deliver dark fantasy with lush worldbuilding, strong characters, and high-stakes action.–Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton – Starred Library Journal Review

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Your Inner Hedgehog by Alexander McCall Smith

(Available Formats: Print Book)

In the latest entertaining and hilarious Professor Dr. Dr. Moritz-Maria Von Igelfeld novel, our hopelessly out-of-touch hero is forced to confront uppity librarians, the rector of the university, and a possible hostile takeover, all while trying to remain studiously above it all. An Anchor Original.

Professor Dr. Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld and his colleagues at the University of Regensburg’s Institute of Romance Philology pride themselves on their unwavering commitment to intellectual excellence. They know it is their job to protect a certain civilized approach to the scholarly arts. So when a new deputy librarian, Dr. Hilda Schreiber-Ziegler, threatens to drag them all down a path of progressive inclusivity, they are determined to stop her in the name of scholarship—even if that requires von Igelfeld to make the noble sacrifice of running for director of the Institute. Alas, politics is never easy, and in order to put his best foot forward, von Igelfeld will be required to take up a visiting fellowship at Oxford and cultivate the attentions of a rather effusive young American scholar. Still, von Igelfeld has always heeded the clarion call of duty, especially when it comes with a larger office. – Publisher Overview

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Have a great week!

Linda Reimer

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*Information on the Three Catalogs*

Digital Catalog: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, a catalog containing eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, Digital Magazines and a handful of streaming videos, has two companion apps, Libby & OverDrive. Libby is the app for newer devices and the OverDrive app should be used for older devices and Amazon tablets.

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features instant checkouts of eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV series. Patron check out limit is 6 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla App is available for Android or Apple devices and most smart TVs & media streaming players.

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StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

The StarCat app is called Bookmyne and is available for Apple and Android devices.

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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

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Have questions or want to request a book?

Feel free to call the library! Our telephone number is 607-936-3713.

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here is the latest edition of Library Connections, our weekly readers, viewers and listeners advisory videocast.

The next Library Connections video will be posted on Monday, April 12, 2021.

Have a great day,
Linda Reimer, SSCL

P.S. A better version of the Odd Duck section included in the April 2 Library Connections; which offers a brief, cockeyed tour of smart TVs & video streaming players, will be featured in the next edition of Library Connections. I simply ran out of week, last week, to re-record the clip a third time! And I promise the video will not be crocked next week!

Hi everyone, here is the weekly list of New York Times Bestsellers.

Each title is followed by a listing of which formats it is available in for check out within the three catalogs: StarCat (Print, Large Print & CD Audiobooks), The Digital Catalog (eBook & Downloadable Audiobook) and the Hoopla Catalog (Hoopla instant checkout eBook & Hoopla Audiobook).

For more information on the three catalogs skip to the section below the bestselling titles*

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New York Times Bestseller blog postings are published on Sundays; and the next New York Times Bestselling blog posting will be published on Sunday, April 11, 2021.

 

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FICTION

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THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR by Jacqueline Winspear

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The 16th book in the Maisie Dobbs series. As Nazi occupation increases, Maisie looks into a possible murder that might affect Britain’s war efforts.

 

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DARK SKY by C.J. Box

(Available Formats: Print Book & Large Print)

The 21st book in the Joe Pickett series. The Wyoming game warden becomes a target when taking a tech baron on an elk hunting trip.

 

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THE DUKE AND I by Julia Quinn

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

The first book in the Bridgerton series. Daphne Bridgerton’s reputation soars when she colludes with the Duke of Hastings. The basis of the Netflix series “Bridgerton.”

 

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ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook, Downloadable Audiobook)

Three people involved in a love triangle find everything they hold dear is tested as Mussolini’s power grows and laws change in Rome.

 

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THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

As dust storms roll during the Great Depression, Elsa must choose between saving the family and farm or heading West.

 

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THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab

(Available Formats: Print Books, Large Print, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A Faustian bargain comes with a curse that affects the adventure Addie LaRue has across centuries.

 

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KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro

(Available Formats: Print Book & Downloadable Audiobook)

An “Artificial Friend” named Klara is purchased to serve as a companion to an ailing 14-year-old girl.

 

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LATER by Stephen King

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook coming soon)

An N.Y.P.D. detective asks the son of a struggling single mother to use his unnatural ability to track a killer.

 

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LIFE AFTER DEATH by Sister Souljah

(Available Formats: Print Book)

In a sequel to “The Coldest Winter Ever,” Winter Santiaga emerges after time served and seeks revenge.

 

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LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner

(Available Formats: Print Book & Downloadable Audiobook)

An aspiring historian in London finds a clue that might put to rest unsolved apothecary murders from 200 years ago

 

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THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobooks)

Nora Seed finds a library beyond the edge of the universe that contains books with multiple possibilities of the lives one could have lived.

 

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THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook coming shortly)

As a post-World War II royal wedding approaches, an encrypted letter resurrects an alliance between three female code breakers.

 

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THE SONGS OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

(Available Formats: Print Book & Hoopla instant checkout eBook & audiobook)

 

 A reimagining of Homer’s “Iliad” that is narrated by Achilles’ companion Patroclus.

 

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THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett

(Available Formats: Print & Large Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The lives of twin sisters who run away from a Southern black community at age 16 diverge as one returns and the other takes on a different racial identity.

 

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WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker

(Available Formats: Print Book)

Trouble might start for the chief of police and a self-proclaimed outlaw teen when a man is released from prison.

 

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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens

(Available Formats: Print Book, Large Print, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

In a quiet town on the North Carolina coast in 1969, a young woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect.

 

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WIN by Harlan Coben

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

Windsor Horne Lockwood III might rectify cold cases connected to his family that have eluded the F.B.I. for decades.

 

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NON-FICTION:

 

BECOMING by Michelle Obama

(Available Formats: Print Book, Large Print, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The former first lady describes how she balanced work, family and her husband’s political ascent.

 

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BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook, Downloadable Audiobook & Hoopla Audiobook)

How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery.

 

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BRAIDING SWEETGRASS by Robin Wall Kimmerer

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook, Downloadable Audiobook, Hoopla instant checkout eBook & Audiobook)

A botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation espouses having an understanding and appreciation of plants and animals.

 

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BREATH by James Nestor

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A re-examination of a basic biological function and a look at the science behind ancient breathing practices.

 

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CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson

(Available Formats: Print Book, Audiobook on CD, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines aspects of caste systems across civilizations and reveals a rigid hierarchy in America today.

 

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THE CODE BREAKER by Walter Isaacson

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook coming shortly)

How the Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues invented CRISPR, a tool that can edit DNA.

 

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GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey

(Available Formats: Print Book, Audiobook on CD & Downloadable Audiobook)

The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over the last 35 years.

 

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HOW TO AVOID A CLIMATE DISASTER by Bill Gates

(Available Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A prescription for what business, governments and individuals can do to work toward zero emissions.

 

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HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi

(Availalbe Formats: Print Book, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A primer for creating a more just and equitable society through identifying and opposing racism.

 

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JUST AS I AM by Cicely Tyson with Michelle Burford

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

The late iconic actress describes how she worked to change perceptions of Black women through her career choices.

 

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NOMADLAND by Jessica Bruder

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook)

A look at an expanding low-cost labor pool, which largely consists of transient older adults, and what this might portend.

 

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A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama

(Available Formats: Print Book, CD Audiobook, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

In the first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama offers personal reflections on his formative years and pivotal moments through his first term.

 

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REMEMBER by Lisa Genova

(Available Formats: Pritn Book)

The neuroscientist and novelist explores the strengths and weaknesses of memory.

 

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THE SUM OF US by Heather McGhee

(Available Formats: Print Book & eBook)

The chair of the board of the racial justice organization Color of Change analyzes the impact of racism on the economy.

 

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THINK AGAIN by Adam Grant

(Available Formats: Print Book)

An examination of the cognitive skills of rethinking and unlearning that could be used to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

 

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THIS IS THE FIRE by Don Lemon

(Available Formats: Print Book)

The CNN host looks at the impact of racism on his life and prescribes ways to address systemic flaws in America.

 

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UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN by Emmanuel Acho

(Avaialble Formats: Print Book, Large Print, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

A look at some questions and concepts needed to address systemic racism.

 

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UNTAMED by Glennon Doyle

(Available Formats: Print Book, Audiobook on CD, eBook & Downloadable Audiobook)

The activist and public speaker describes her journey of listening to her inner voice.

 

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Be well and read on!

Linda Reimer, SSL

 

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*Information on the Three Catalogs*

Digital Catalog: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog has two companion apps, Libby & OverDrive. Libby is the app for newer devices and the OverDrive app should be used for older devices and Amazon tablets.

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features instant check outs of eBooks, downloadable audiobook, comic books, albums and streaming videos. Patron check out limit is 4 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla App is available for Android or Apple devices and most smart TVs & media streaming players.

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StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

The StarCat app is called Bookmyne and is available for Apple and Android devices.

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Southeast Steuben County Library Tel: 607-936-3713

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, April 9, 2021.

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Black Mountain Side by Led Zeppelin (Genre: Rock)

Led Zeppelin, consisting of Robert Plant on vocals, Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass and John Bonham on drums, is one of the most popular rock groups of all time. They released their debut LP, simply titled Led Zeppelin, at the end of the sixties.

From the album: Led Zeppelin (1969).

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Come Dancing by The Kinks (Genre: Rock, Pop)

Originally part of the sixties British Invasion, The Kinks grew into one of the most influential hard rocking groups of the sixties and continued to tour, record and release albums for decades.

The single Come Dancing was released early in the MTV era and had a companion video – this one!

From the album: State of Confusion (1983)

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Feel Like Going Home by Muddy Waters (Genre: Blues)

The great blues master Muddy Waters was born 106 years ago this Sunday, on April 4, 1915 in Rolling Fork Mississippi; and he is, without a doubt, one of the greatest blues player of fall time!

From the album: Folk Singer (1964).

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I Just Realized by Fanny (Genre: Rock, Classic Rock)

Fanny was one of the first all-female rock bands to break into the mainstream. The group formed in the late sixties and consisted of singer and guitarist June Millington, bassist Jean Millington, keyboardist Nickey Barclay and drummer Alice de Buhr; and they played rock with great gusto!

From the album: Fanny (1970).

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In A Big Country by Big Country (Genre: Pop-Rock, Folk)

An ode to the 1980s! In A Big Country was a big hit for the group Big Country and their biggest hit in the U.S.

Dig those bagpipe sounding guitars!

From the album: The Crossing (1983)

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Misty by Sarah Vaughan (Genre: Jazz)

The great singer Sarah Vaughan with a classic song!

This version of Misty was recorded live in Sweden in 1964.

From the album: Vaughan and Violins (1959).

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Something On My Mind by Karen Dalton (Genre: Folk)

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Karen Dalton was an exceptionally talented singer-songwriter with a unique voice. She was a part of the sixties Greenwich Village folk scene. And she is one of those players whose music simply didn’t gain the attention that it deserved during her music playing heyday. The song Something On My Mind gives you a good idea of her style and the almost haunting beauty of her music.

And if you keep listening after this song plays, as it is the first one on the album, the rest of the album will play too – great music – check it out.

From the album: In My Own Time (1971).

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Topsy by Count Basie & His Orchestra (Genre: Jazz)

A top twenty hit for Benny Goodman in 1937; The County Basie Orchestra subsequently recorded this buoyant version of the song.

From the album: One O’Clock Jump Remastered (1989)

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Whenever You’re Ready (I’m Here) by Paul Stanley’s Soul Station (Genre: Rock, R&B/Soul)

Kiss lead singer Paul Stanley shows his love of classic R&B by covering a collection of soul classics, on his new, upbeat album Now And Then. Classic tunes covered include The Tracks of My Tears, O-o-h Child, Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) and of course, Whenever You’re Ready

From the album: Now And Then (2021).

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When You Wish Upon A Star by Craig Duncan (Genre: Bluegrass, Instrumental)

Nashville based multi-instrumentalist and producer Craig Duncan has recorded an entire album of Disney classics all in the bluegrass style!

From the album: Bare Necessities: Instrumental Bluegrass Renditions Of Disney Classics (2021)

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Why Can’t We Live Together by Dr. Lonnie Smith (Genre: Jazz)

Jazz master organist Lonnie Smith collaborated with punk icon Iggy Pop to create his cool new album Breathe; on which he covers the classic seventies tune Why Can’t We Live Together.

From the Album: Breathe (2021).

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Hoopla Recommendation of the Week
Carly Pearce by Carly Pearce (Genre: Country)

The second album from the popular country singer-songwriter; available for instant checkout through Hoopla now!

And from that same album the song:

Closer To You

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Have a good weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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REFERENCES:

Print References

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn

Online References

AllMusic. 2021. AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands. [online] Available at: <https://www.allmusic.com/&gt;.

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Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, etc.

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The Digital Catalog (OverDrive & Libby Apps)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

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Hoopla

A catalog of instant check out items, including eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, TV shows and movies for for patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.