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New Title Tuesday
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of #NewTitleTuesday, where we look at a new release that hits the shelves of bookstores (and your local libraries!) today.
Camilla Sten, the Swedish author responsible for 2019's sleeper hit The Lost Village and the daughter of best-selling Swedish crime novelist Viveca Sten, returns with a new novel that has serious breakout potential. The Resting Place focuses on Eleanor, a young woman who suffers from prosopagnosia, a real condition that prevents people from recognizing facial features. Hair, nose, eyes, lips - they're all a blur. Eleanor's been living with her grandmother, Vivianne, who is murdered right in front of Eleanor - but of course, because of her condition, Eleanor cannot recognize the culprit and cannot help the police. Eleanor inherits her grandmother's large country house, and she soon moves in, looking for clues from her grandmother's childhood that might provide some answers to her murder. She brings along her long-time boyfriend, an estate lawyer, and a lurking aunt, among some others. At the country estate, a secret diary is found, the power goes out, and a blizzard cuts off the grounds from the outside world. Plot threads intertwine to a powerful and dramatic conclusion.
The novel starts off at a steady pace, and then quickens as Eleanor arrives at the country house and then reaches a feverish crescendo at the end, with stunning reveals on every page. The Resting Place lies between two genres that share similar DNA - one is the psychological thriller that relies on shocking crimes, buried secrets, and plot twists hiding behind every page. The other, the gothic thriller, relies heavily on a menacing, brooding atmosphere, with looming ancestral homes and dark family secrets passed down from one generation to another. The Resting Place deftly balances between the two, and alongside the success of her previous novel, this has the potential to be a crossover hit. We hope you enjoy, and be sure to place your holds now!
Johnson County Genealogical Society 1950s Sock Hop
No April foolin’ – it’s a 1950 Census Sock Hop! The 1950 Federal Census will be released on April 1 and the Johnson County Genealogy Society and the Library are celebrating with a Virtual 1950 Census Sock Hop. Don’t be a square, daddy-o! Come groove on this new record set and hang with other genealogy hepcats for a crazy evening of fun, ’50s music, and genealogy games. Open to the public. 1950s attire is highly encouraged but optional. It will be held via Zoom and if you are interested, please send an email to info@jcgsks.org to receive the Zoom link.
Johnson County Genealogical Society 1950s Sock Hop
Friday, April 1
6 - 8 p.m.
This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can join us at:
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Your doorway into live and archived programs. Arts & Culture, Career & Finance, Community Matters, Writers and more!
Online Storytime – Wednesday, March 30, 10-10:30 a.m.
The whole family will enjoy these flexible Storytimes. Hearing stories is a great way to spend time with your kids and help them foster a love of reading. Stories, songs, fingerplays and movement activities foster pre-reading skills. Fun for the whole family!
Johnson County Genealogical Society 1950 Sock Hop – Friday, April 1, 6-8 p.m.
No April foolin’ – it’s a 1950 Census Sock Hop! The 1950 Federal Census will be released on April 1 and the Johnson County Genealogy Society, and the Library are celebrating with a Virtual 1950 Census Sock Hop. Don’t be a square, daddy-o! Come groove on this new record set and hang with other genealogy hepcats for a crazy evening of fun, ’50s music, genealogy games and refreshments. Open to the public. 1950s attire is highly encouraged but optional. It will be held via Zoom and if you are interested, please send an email to info@jcgsks.org to receive the Zoom link.
Which Senior Housing Option is Right for You? – Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m.-noon
While many of us would like to "age-in-place" in our own homes, for most of us, this isn’t a realistic option. We need to develop a "Plan B." As you explore various retirement communities, it's easy to become overwhelmed with the many options and providers available. Navigate through this maze of options in a unique, two-part program developed by The Education Group, an organization of retired seniors who have lived the experience, studied the industry, and want to share what they have learned. You will learn the lingo, the pros and cons of various options, what to look for in a community, and questions you need to ask. The presenters will share information that you won't hear at a community's sales presentation. They'll explain why delaying a move may not be in your best interest, how some facilities enable you to extend the time you're able to safely live independently, and the costs of the various options.
Celebrate World Theatre Day!
World Theatre Day is Sunday, March 27, and we've got your celebration covered with our access to the U.K. National Theatre Collection. Stream 50 stunning full-length productions on your own schedule, including classics, Shakespeare and modern works.
Career and Finance Help is a Click Away
You are probably aware of all of the great Career and Finance resources available to you on the Johnson County Library website. But, have you visited our YouTube channel? There you'll find our Career and Finance Video Series. We've procured field experts to produce an impressive 32 videos with topics as varied as:
... just to name a few!
JoCoHistory Blog Reveals History's Mysteries
Happy Throwback Thursday! Sure, you love to time-travel through local history at JoCoHistory, but how did a history lover like you not know about the JoCoHistory Blog?!
With such varied and interesting topics like:
- History of the Central Resource Library
- A Brief History of Metcalf South Shopping Center: An Interview With Brad Moore
- Farming in January? The History of Hotbeds
- Redlining
You'll come back again and again! Johnson County history will not remain a mystery to you!
Learning More About Ukraine
"What do you do when calamity strikes the world yet again? How do you handle the confusion of trying to unravel the news?" Our librarian Bet has one strategy: "As someone who works at a library, perhaps it’s not surprising that I turn to...the library. What book or film can I find that connects me to someone’s story so I can more clearly see and hear the events from those involved?"
Bet has created a rich list of recommendations for those who are looking to expand their knowledge of Ukraine and its people, culture and history. Her picks include fiction, nonfiction, DVDs and more! Explore Bet's recommendations »
Meet the Authors: B.J. and Henry Hollars
Library events help tell the Story of Your Life
How do we conjure our long-forgotten stories? And how can we recall those details from the past that we thought had vanished? There’s a technique for that. On Saturday, March 26, author B.J. Hollars will provide a series of generative writing prompts that will be sure to spur your memory, bring your past to the present and help you write your life’s story.
The virtual workshop, presented by the Library’s Local Writers group, is one of a three-part program series featuring Hollars, an award-winning author of several books and English professor at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. His most recent book “Go West Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail” is the story of an eye-opening 2,500-mile road trip with his six-year-old son, Henry.
Make Every Mile a Memory: A Reading and Presentation with B.J. and Henry Hollars on “Go West Young Man.”
Tuesday, March 22, 6:30 p.m.Travel Writing for Dummies: On Rattlesnakes, Wagon Ruts and Making the World Feel Like Home
Wednesday, March 23, 6:30 p.m.The Story of Your Life: Writing Your Forgotten Past Workshop
Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m.
Looking for more events along these lines? The Library loves writers just as much as readers! To support writers at every stage, from a casual hobby to a life’s calling, Johnson County Library has developed a suite of programs, resources and opportunities to develop your craft and grow your portfolio. If you are a writer, we want to meet you, read your work and celebrate you in the community. There is even a writing contest with a $200 honorarium!
Visit For Writers for more information about the Library’s writing programming and go to Events to register for upcoming events and workshops, including the B.J. Hollars events.