Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 

Library Book Club – August 2025 

Sadie and Sam meet when they are 12 years old and become best friends. Sam is in the hospital recovering from a foot injury, and Sadie is there with her sister, who has cancer. They spend countless hours together playing video games. After they have a falling out, they don't speak for six years. But a chance meeting in a Boston subway station when they're both in college leads them to a decades-long collaboration making video games. In this novel about friendship, work, the ups and downs of relationships, and the many traumas of life is relatable and compelling. I fell in love with the characters instantly,and was driven to read way past my bedtime several nights by the riveting plot. 

Find it: NOV Zev + Boundless ebook + Boundless eaudio

Diane Tripp, Friend of the Library 

Class Clown by Dave Barry 

It's been quite awhile since I've laughed out loud reading a book.  Reading his book lightened my afternoons for a week.  That used to happen when his column was published in the many newspapers I read. "Class Clown" is lots of fun-try it! 

Find it: BIO Bar + CD Book BIO Bar + Boundless eBook + Boundless + eAudio + Libby eAudio

Lily Hibbert, Library Staff 

The Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare 

The story of the unwanted orphan boy who becomes a prince’s double and seeks to protect the prince – and the kingdom – from a billowing, mysterious threat will keep you turning pages and on the edge of your sofa! I absolutely loved this book and will forever rave about how good it was. The plot is so engaging-- it really sucks you in to this whole other universe, and the writing is impeccable with fantastic, deep characterization and compelling, descriptive imagery throughout. 

Find it: SFF Cla + Boundless eBook + Boundless eAudio + Libby eBook + Libby eAudio

Eva Bunker, Library Staff 

La intérprete/The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi 

Cecilia juggles two big responsibilities: being a kid and being a translator for her Spanish-speaking parents. From navigating the DMV to explaining repairs at the auto shop, she seems to handle it all—but how much can one kid take? Readers of any age who grew up translating for their own parents will likely see themselves in Cecilia. 

Find it: E Abt + SPA E Abt (New)

The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts 

Library Book Club choice – June 2025 

In 1954, Annie, a sixty-three-year-old farmer from Maine, embarked on an impossible journey: to see the Pacific Ocean. She bought a cast-off gelding named Tarzan and donned men's dungarees, heading out without a map. But she had her own unfailing belief that Americans would treat a stranger with kindness. At a time when small towns were being bypassed by Eisenhower's brand-new interstate highway system, and the reach and impact of television was just beginning to be understood, Annie inspired an outpouring of neighborliness in a rapidly changing world. We loved this book, and all of us gave it an unequivocal thumbs up! We discussed how Annie’s journey would be different—even impossible—today. A highlight for all of us is the social and cultural context the author brought to the story. We loved Annie and the many kind people she encountered on her trip, and especially her brave and loyal animals. 

Find it: BIO Let + Libby ebooks + Libby eaudio 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library 

James by Percival Everett 

In this character-driven and moving adaptation of Huckleberry Finn, we get to see the famed story of rafting down the Mississippi River through the escaped slave Jim’s point of view. This is a wonderful book, and I can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction this year. If you think you know Huck’s story, be on the lookout for the surprise twist!  

Find it: NOV Eve + Boundless & Libby ebooks + Boundless & Libby eaudio

Brenda Smith, library patron 

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto  

The stubborn, loving, inquisitive "Auntie" and "Grandmother" has solved another murder mystery!  Just when she is getting bored and the accolades have stopped from her first case, Vera befriends a distressed young woman outside the police station and thus begins her quest for justice. Along the way, her suspects become part of her "family" and, of course, do exactly what the matriarch asks them to do. Add Vera's debut as an internet sleuth, and the humor only increases. Be prepared for the shocking cause of death for a young man that Vera never met.   Sutanto has written yet another great, heartwarming whodunit. I can’t wait until Vera’s next case!   

Find it: MYS Sut (New) + Boundless & Libby ebooks + Boundless & Libby eaudio

The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer by Jessica Bishop 

Eva Bunker, library staff 

If you have no idea where to start with wedding planning, if you need to plan a wedding in just a few months, or if you just need budget-friendly ideas, this book is for you. This useful guide is full of helpful checklists, timelines, and tips for brides who want to keep things simple during a happy yet stressful time in their lives. 

395.22 Bis

The Fury by Alex Michaelides 

Library Book Club choice – May 2025 

Spending Easter with Lana Farrar, a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world, on her idyllic private Greek island, her guests, concealing hatred and desire for revenge, become trapped when the night ends in violence and murder. This suspenseful mystery is compelling! However, the unlikeable characters turned several of our members off. Characters’ motivations and the idea of “character is fate” made for a rousing discussion! 

Find it: MYS MIC, CD-Book F Mic, Libby ebooks, Boundlesseaudio

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood 

Eva Bunker, library staff 

When Rue Siebert's biotech engineer career is on the line as Eli Kilgore's company is trying to take over, the last thing Rue and Eli need is to fall for each other. Told in a dual perspective and taking place in Austin, Texas, this book is perfect for enemies-to-lovers and forbidden romance fans.  

Find it: ROM Haz + Libby ebooks + Boundless eaudio

The Hunter’s Daughter by Nicola Solvinic 

Brenda Smith, library patron 

If your father was a convicted serial killer, would you become a police officer? Anna changed her name and has kept this secret for decades. Now, a copycat killer has come to her small rural town. Is Anna's dad really dead? Is something supernatural causing all these women to be ritually murdered and displayed? Anna's memory was wiped clean years ago, but now she is experiencing lost time episodes, especially since she just killed her first human defending herself. Surprisingly, and shockingly, she feels happy and even powerful when she watches this "bad man" die. Is she becoming like her father? Solvinic, a first time-published author, holds an M.S. in criminology, and her expertise in the means, motivation, and methodology of the killer shine in this debut.  

Find it: NOV Sol + Boundless ebooks

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library 

A comprehensive overview of how caste has been implemented in three different places, this harrowing and insightful read is an important look at how the U.S., Nazi Germany, and India implemented caste systems and how it affects each country's society. The biggest surprise to me was how Nazi Germany used the Jim Crow laws and other racial disparities present in America. I recommend this thought-provoking book to all who are interested in understanding the history of discrimination.  

Find it: 305.512 WIL + CD Book 305.512 WIL + Boundless ebooks + Libby eaudio

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found a Self-Help That Actually Works by Dan Harris 

Becky Bennett, library board member 

ABC news correspondent and anchor Dan Harris recounts his angst and dissatisfaction with life despite a successful career. After a mortifying on-air panic attack, he gives up drugs and seeks help. He finds meditation and 10% more happiness. This book was recommended to me for its information about meditation, but I found it to be an enormously entertaining memoir. Harris's self-deprecating humor and engaging prose make this book enjoyable for anyone, not just those seeking the Middle Way. For those looking to learn mindfulness, this book is an excellent introduction to and explanation of the dharma. 

Find it: Libby eAudiobook

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer 

Just how far should a father go to support his long-estranged adult daughter? Frank is delighted yet apprehensive when Maggie calls unexpectantly to invite him to her lavish wedding at a private expensive estate in New Hampshire. Yet, something is terribly wrong with the entire family that Maggie is marrying into. The more that Frank tries to warn his daughter about his fears, the more he is pushed away-- not what he was hoping to do in order to mend this relationship. This psychological thriller has all one could want: suspense, family drama, dangerous and unlikeable characters, and --of course-- a murder! If I knew what was going to take place at this wedding, I would have been the FIRST one to leave! (But I would have stood in line to get this book.)   

Find it: MYS Rek (New) + Libby ebooks + Boundless eAudio

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskins 

Bethany Williams, library staff 

In Minnesota, quiet librarian Hana Babic, once known as Nura Divjak, must confront her violent past as the legendary warrior Night Mora when a detective informs her of her best friend's murder, forcing her to protect her grandson while unraveling a deadly mystery tied to her family's tragic history in war-torn Bosnia. I LOVED this book! It’s a hard read at times, but the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. If you need an evocative and emotionally intense read, choose The Quiet Librarian as your next pick!  

Find it: NOV Esk (New) + Boundless ebooks

Milk Street 365 by Christopher Kimball 

Cary Kittrell, library staff 

I love watching Milk Street on public TV, but I don’t always have time to jot down the recipes. Having the Milk Street 365 cookbook makes it so much easier. It’s full of practical, everyday recipes—from soups and stews to flatbreads and noodles—that have really changed the way I cook at home. Inspiring and super useful! 

Find it: 641.5 Kim (New) + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebooks

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter! 

A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power 

Library Book Club March 2025 Choice 

Three women’s dolls tell the story of their owners across three generations, bringing light to the damage done to indigenous people throughout history. In LBC, we discussed trauma and how that shapes behaviors and personalities, judgment of others, and forgiveness. Two-thirds of us give A Council of Dolls a thumbs up, but it is a emotionally intense and haunting book.  

Find it: NOV Pow + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebooks + Libby eaudio + Boundless audio 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston 

Becky Bennett, Library Board Member 

Evie Porter has never been this happy. New to town, she meets and falls in love with Ryan, who has everything Evie has ever wanted and is crazy about her. Things are going great until she meets a woman named Lucca Marino at a party. The problem? Evie is really "on a job," and Lucca Marino is her real name. Now Evie has to find out what's going on and who she can really trust. First Lie is a fun, suspenseful, fast read that I finished in three days, staying up way too late at least once. 

Find it: MYS Els + Libby ebooks

The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer 

My favorite author continues to excel by continuing what I call the 3 H's of Dean Koontz:  humanity, humor, and horror. And of course, a dog!  (There is also a rabbit here.) 

An all-around good guy, Benny somehow loses everything he cares about: his job, his fiancée, his favorite chair, and his reputation. One wonders how and why all this is happening to him. To the rescue is a long-lost uncle who sends him a giant crate along with instructions. Inside the huge crate is 7-foot-tall Spike, a new friend (or genie with special abilities?) who is only to be used when difficulties arise and to right all those wrongs. As always, it feels like you are watching a movie in your mind as the imagery is so beautifully written. Goodness reigns over evil (and money and power) with a lot of help from Spike and his willingness to help even in the worst possible situations.   

Find it: MYS Koo + LT F Koo + CD-Book F Koo

The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir by RuPaul 

Judy Misch, patron 

The trailblazing pop culture icon unpacks the baggage of his childhood, broken family, and adventuresome adulthood in this deeply intimate memoir. RuPaul grew up black, poor, and queer in a broken home before discovering the power of performance, found family, and self-acceptance. This is a light read of how RuPaul gets to where he is today with an overarching theme of kindness. If you need a good pick-me-up, pick up this one! 

Find it: BIO Rup + Boundless ebooks

Have you spotted the bright pink cart in the new adult books section? It’s not just bright, it’s home to a fantastic rotating selection of large print fiction, now available at our library! 

We're excited to offer this expanded collection through the Partners Library Action Network (PLAN). This collaborative sharing system allows us to provide additional large print books to you. Because large print books are often significantly more expensive than standard editions, this partnership allows us to offer a much wider selection than our budget alone would allow.  
 
Thanks to PLAN, we receive approximately 50 large print books every three months. After this time. they rotate to other libraries in the network. This means you get access to a constantly changing selection of new titles! 
 
Don't miss out! Browse the pink cart and grab a book from this quarter's collection before they're shipped off to the next library. They won’t be here long so find your next enjoyable large print read today!  

Sources:  Libby [@libby.app]. (2025, February 20). Let's spread the word! The @americanlibraryassocation just launched a new supporter program to champion libraries and the people who keep [post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTtQ4XuXza/   Limbong, A. (2025, March 20). Federal agency responsible for library and museum funding gets a visit from DOGE. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5335600/library-museum-funding-doge- sonderling  Texas State Libraries and Archives Commission. (n.d.). Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/lstaplan/5yearplan  

Get ready to add a vibrant splash of fun to your summer because our Summer Reading Program, "Color Our World," is officially ON THE BOOKS! We're absolutely bursting with excitement to dive into a kaleidoscope of stories, activities, and adventures that are sure to make your summer reading experience truly hue-tasticly delightful. Get ready to paint your summer with the brightest shades of merriment and join us for a season that's anything but black and white! 

 
Starting May 27th, you can start earning prizes! Come to the library and register during Opening Week, and you’ll gain even more opportunities for goodies! If you can’t make it into the library, that’s okay. Navigate to the library’s website and the summer reading tab to create or log back in to your Beanstack account. In your Beanstack app, use the timer to log your reading.  

Anything you read counts! Reading a bedtime story to your toddler? Yes! It counts for BOTH reader and listener! Listening to an audiobook while walking in Fisherman’s Park? Yes! It counts! Reading fanfiction on your phone? Yes! Reading emails? Yes! Reading the back of the cereal box? Yes! It counts! 

When you register to read, youth will receive their registration book and adults (18+) will receive a $2 coupon to use at the Friends of the Library Book Nook, located in the library’s lobby.  

Once you reach your goal of 500 minutes, youth will earn a prize book to keep AND an entry into one of ten grand prize baskets of your choice. Adults will earn a $2 Book Nook coupon and an entry into the grand prize basket of their choice. 
At 1,000 minutes logged, participants get additional books (youth) or Book Nook coupons (adult) and entries into grand prize basket drawings. For every additional 500 minutes read, up to 10,000 minutes, you’ll earn even more entries. There are many opportunities to win prizes, so mark your calendars to start logging minutes in Beanstack on Tuesday, May 27th!   

All minutes must be logged in Beanstack, and ticket entries submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 25th. we will draw winners at the Readers’ Jubilee on Saturday, July 26th. 

Keep reading to get a sneak peak at all the fun and creative opportunities happening at the library this summer!   

Looking for exciting summer activities for your elementary-aged kids? Join us at the library for our Adventures programs! 

Colors Craft Buffet: Monday, June 9  Let's get colorful! Kids will dive into creative challenges using every color of the rainbow. This program is aimed at elementary kids, but younger kids can participate with help from an adult. 
  STEAM Explorers / Exploradores de STEAM: Monday, June 23 Explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through engaging, hands-on activities! This bilingual program (English & Spanish) is a great way for families to learn and create together. This program is aimed at elementary kids, but younger kids can participate with help from an adult. 

Minute to Win It: Monday, July 7  Come and join us for some fast-paced games, fun, and prizes! This program is aimed at elementary kids, but younger kids can participate with help from an adult. You won't want to miss it! 

Rock, Paper, Scissors Crafts: Monday, July 21  Let's get crafty! We'll be using rocks, paper, and scissors to create fun projects and tackle puzzles. This program is aimed at elementary kids, but younger kids can participate with help from an adult. 
  Adventures programs are every other Monday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. On opposite Mondays, join us for Movie Mondays.  

Get ready to "get messy" with us, just like Ms. Frizzle! Mark your calendars!  

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter! 

What Is Color?: The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments, Paint, and the Wondrous World of Art by Steven Weinberg 

In this zany, inclusive, and vibrantly illustrated guide to all things color, the origins of today's pigments come alive across continents and history, with oodles of art, tons of science--and extensive interactive backmatter! 

Find it: J 535.6 Wei (New)

Color Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Exercises for Exploring Color Concepts Through Paint, Collage, Paper, and More by Deborah Forman 

Explore Color through multiple lenses as you work through 52 exciting and approachable projects that explore the infinite potential of the chromatic experience. Great for novices and experts!  

Find it: 701.85 For

Dr. Color Monster and the Emotions Toolkit by Anna Llenas 

In this picture book for kids, we visit Dr. Color Monster, an emotions doctor who can help us learn to name what we feel and strategies for soothing our strongest emotions. We all need calm and centered hearts and minds, and Dr. Color Monster helps us achieve them!  

Find it: E Lle

The Little Artists’ Big Book of Activities: 60 Fun and Creative Projects to Explore Color, Patterns, Shapes, Art History, and More by Shannon Wong-Nizic 

Grab your art supplies and start making messy and fun masterpieces with your little one! Talk through the art process and learn about famous artists as your kiddo collages, paints, writes, colors, and more. Projects are great for kids ages 3 to 10. Have fun... and let’s get messy!  

Find it: J 702.8 Won

Book Suggestions 

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter! 

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton 

Library Book Club choice – February 2025 

Five years ago, Mira Bunting founded a guerrilla gardening group: Birnam Wood. For years, the group has struggled to break even. Then Mira stumbles on an answer, a way to finally set the group up for the long term: a landslide has closed the Korowai Pass, cutting off the town of Thorndike. Natural disaster has created an opportunity, a sizable farm seemingly abandoned. But Mira is not the only one interested in Thorndike in this witty and thought-provoking psychological suspense. The characters in Birnam are the pièce de resistance of this book. They aren’t very likeable (minus one—maybe), but their motivations, flaws, and errors make the book compelling. We recommend this book to readers who enjoy a story with conflict and multidimensional characters but who does not require a happy ending.  

Find it: MYS Cat + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebooks

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer 

Retired police officer Steve and his daughter-in-law Amy are a reluctant crime-solving duo. There seems to be an ordered "hit" on Amy, a private bodyguard. Steve only wants to play trivia at his local bar yet travels all the over the world to help his son's wife. These two main characters are charming and clever and fun to watch figure out who is going to do what! This book had me laughing and sometimes tearing up a little. It is a super clever and witty mystery with other hilarious, lovable characters. There was never a dull moment, and I was sad when it ended.  

Find it: MYS Osm (New) + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebooks

Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera 

Melissa Ashcraft, library patron 

Her best friend was murdered and most people suspect she did it. She can't remember anything about that night and wonders if they're right. Five years later, there's a podcast and the truth finally comes out. A good mystery that will keep you turning the pages! 

Find it: MYS Tin + Boundless ebook + Libby ebook + Boundless eaudio + Libby ebook

Oath and Honor by Liz Cheney 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library 

I watched the insurrection on January 6th, as well as the subsequent hearings. If you did the same, there really isn't anything new in Republican Liz Cheney’s richly detailed memoir. However, the one-on-one conversations Liz had with different representatives and her constituents are interesting and enlightening and make this a useful document as we continue to sort through the aftermath of January 6, 2021—no matter which way you lean politically. 

Find it: BIO Che (New) + Libby ebooks + Libby eaudio

Are you a fan of James Patterson, Kristin Hannah, Deanna Raybourn, or Sarah J. Maas? Wish you could get their newest books without constantly checking the catalog? With Reserve Express, you'll be automatically added to the reserve list for all new books by your selected authors - no more manual holds, just effortless reading!

How it works.

 Whenever a new book by an author you love is added to our collection, Reserve Express will place you on the reserve list automatically. Your position on the list rotates with each title, ensuring fair access for all readers.

 How to Sign up.

 Enrolling is quick and easy! All you need is your library card number and PIN (if you registered before 2021, your PIN is your phone number). Need assistance? Give us a call at 512-332-8880.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your online library account.
2. Click the "My Account" button in the top right corner.
3. Select "Reserves/Requests" under the "My Library Account" section.
4. Scroll past your current holds and find "Reserve Express." Click the blue "Receive New Items" link.
5. Click "See All Available" to browse the list of authors.
6. Check the box next to your favorite author(s) and choose your preferred format (book, large print, audiobook, etc.).

Pro Tips for Getting Your Books Faster!

• Love bestsellers like James Patterson, David Baldacci, or J.A. Jance? Check both "book" and "large type" formats to improve your chance of getting a copy sooner.
• Can't find your favorite author on the list? Email us at infor@bastroplibrary.org, and we'll do our best to accommodate your request!

Happy Reading!

This is a question we get often at the Information Desk, and actually the question makes a lot of sense. An eBook is not a physical book but a digital one that doesn't tangibly exist. Why, then, do I have to wait for it? 

It’s all Napster’s fault. Do you remember Napster from the early 2000’s? It was a website that allowed music to be shared without paying for it. When book publishers started looking at providing digitized versions of books several years later, they saw the piracy that Napster facilitated and decided that wouldn’t happen with digital books.  

Publishers' biggest fear was libraries sharing eBooks without paying fairly. The publishers' thought process was that libraries have to A) purchase multiple copies for popular titles and B) replace physical copies when they get worn out or damaged. Therefore, the publishers reasoned, libraries should have to do the same for eBooks.

Thus, metered eBooks for libraries were born. A metered eBooks is sold to libraries as licenses of a digital copy of a book that can either be checked out for x number of months or checked out x number of times before a new set of licenses has to be purchased.  

The most common meter is 12 checkouts or 12 months, whichever is reached first.  

For example, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, a very popular mystery this year, has a metered amount of 12 months or 12 checkouts. So far, nine patrons have borrowed the eBook since July. At that rate, we are more likely to have 12 checkouts before July 2025, so we will have to purchase another set of 12/12 licenses for more readers.  

As a member library in the Central Texas Digital Consortium, we have the advantage of sharing financial resources for eBooks. However, that also means that we share access to the titles. As such, it is so important that you go ahead and put a hold on the eBooks you want to read. If you wait for it to become available, all the licenses may be used up before you get a chance to check it out.  

When we see that there are several additional patrons waiting to read a book via a holds report, we know how important it is to order more licenses when the current meter runs out.  

Whether you prefer eBooks or eaudiobooks and Libby or Boundless for your digital books, put the titles you want to read on hold!  

If you are an avid Christian Fiction reader, you've probably noticed we've moved some things around. You're also probably asking. "Why did you do this?" The answer is a little complex.

As a library, per guidelines from the American Library Association, we should strive to be viewpoint neutral, meaning we share information while not persuading a person to a particular point of view. This includes avoiding labels that try to persuade or establish an institutional preference for something.

As such, having a Christian fiction section--but not a Buddhist fiction or Jewish fiction or other religious designations--communicates a message of preference for Christianity.

This new-to-us information was quite a surprise! Having a Christian fiction section seemed pretty normal. After all, we are in Texas and most people are Christian, right? Actually, according to the U.S. Religion Census in 2020, 56% of Bastrop county does not identify an affiliation with a Protestant, Mormon, or Catholic congregation.

All this information helped us realize it was time to make a change.

We looked at the 400+ titles in the CHR section and identified them as a mystery (MYS), romance (ROM), science fiction/fantasy (SFF), Western (WES), or none of the above (NOV). We re-printed spine labels and shifted the books around on the shelves.

None of the CHR books were removed from the shelves, and we have kept books by the same author together in the same genre. So, if you're looking for Karen Kingsbury or Beverly Lewis, they are now in ROM and NOV respectively.

Additionally, we kept the blue Christian spine label stickers that typically rest above the call number label to help you find these books. We won't be adding them to new books, but we wanted you to find your favorite Christian fiction authors during this transition.

If you need help locating your favorite Christian fiction author, the library staff are always willing to assist you and the catalog is available wherever you have access to the internet as well.

Thanks for being patient and understanding as we all learn new things and work to be a better library for everyone in out community.

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah 

Library Book Club choice – January 2025 

When her volatile, former POW father impulsively moves the family to mid-1970s Alaska to live off the land, young Leni and her mother are forced to confront the dangers of their lack of preparedness in the wake of a dangerous winter season. Alaska, especially in a prepper environment, is daunting; the cold and the dark are harrowing. We discussed the psychology of battered women and how the law and the culture still fail to protect them. Trauma, too, was a great discussion point. We all gave Hannah’s book a thumbs up.  

Find it: NOV Han + Libby eBook + Boundless eBook 

The Perfect Son by Freida Mc Fadden 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer 

Have a favorite child? Or a son you just know is a kidnapper and possible murderer? Outwardly, Liam is a perfect teenage boy. Granted, he had some psychopathic tendencies as a child, but now he is a top student and member of debate and track teams. Teachers and girls love him! But now that his new girlfriend is missing, everyone in town, including his mother Erika thinks that Liam is responsible for this terrifying crime. I raced through this suspenseful thriller to the disturbing end. I truly was not expecting the ending:  who? why? where? McFadden is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery writers! 

Find it: MYS McC

Building Material by Stephen Bruno 

Dianne Trip, Friend of the Library 

A doorman for the rich and famous in a high-end Park Avenue building presents an often-humorous account of the antics he witnessed and stories he overheard among Manhattan's elite residents in this amusing and richly detailed memoir while he, a Bronx-raised Latino, works to achieve his goal of a master’s in writing and publishing his book. Candid and always animated, his memoir offers a unique perspective on achieving the American dream that is as timely as it is refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed this insightful story.  

Find it: BIO BRU (New)

I’m Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff 

Bethany Williams, staff 

Are you teaching your little one about apologizing? This humorous picture book can help you! After he hurts his friend Zoe's feelings, Jack discovers there's more to an apology than just saying "I'm sorry" in this engaging exploration of how an apology goes deeper than just words. This picture book made me smile as we see all of Jack’s emotions as he reworks his apology note. Highly recommend even if you don’t have kids—we all need a reminder on the intricacies of apologies!  

Find it: E LUK (New)

Book Suggestions 

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter!

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 

Library Book Club pick of 2024 

In 1789 Maine, midwife and healer Martha, who is good at keeping secrets, investigates a shocking murder linked to an alleged rape that has shaken her small town, especially when her diary lands at the center of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart. In 200+ years, many things haven’t changed: women’s opinions are often discounted, the rich are powerful and treated differently by the justice system, and there is still too little justice for rape survivors. This is a harrowing book, but it is so good. We all gave it a thumbs up. 

Find it: NOV Law + Libby ebooks + Libby eAudio 

Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore 

Library Book Club choice – December 2024 

In the early hours of the morning after?Valentine's Day, fourteen-year-old Gloria Ramirez appears on the front porch of Mary Rose Whitehead's ranch house, broken and barely alive. The teenager had been viciously attacked in a nearby oil field--an act of brutality that is tried in the churches and barrooms of Odessa before it can reach a court of law. When justice is evasive, one of the town's women decides to take matters into her own hands, setting the stage for a showdown with potentially devastating consequences. This bleak yet hopeful book garnered great discussion of symbolism, imagery, characterization, and theme. It’s a dark and difficult book to read in some parts, but there are also beautiful parts and a satisfying ending.  

Find it: NOV Wet + CD Book F Wet + Boundless ebooks + Libby ebooks + Boundless eaudio + Libby eaudio

The Singularity Is Nearer by Ray Kurzweil 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library 

In this impassioned and thought-provoking science writing, Kurzweil explores the forthcoming (--and present!--) revolution in knowledge and the expansion of human potential. He touches on nanobots, life extension beyond the age of 120, declines in poverty and violence, and more. This is a fascinating and eye-opening read—and even a little scary, too. The more you learn about AI, the more fantastic and sci-fi it seems. This book is for anyone who is interested in the wild ride AI will provide. 

Find it: 303.483 KUR (New) + Libby ebooks + Libby eaudio

She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer 

The Queen of Plot Twists has done it again! Megan is an ICU nurse and single mom to a teenage daughter. An excellent caregiver, she doesn't usually get involved emotionally with her patients...until Caitlyn arrives. Comatose from jumping (or being pushed?) from a bridge, everyone around Caitlyn is suspicious. Oh...and there is a serial killer on the loose as well. Is Megan involved in any of these terrible events?  A quick read that you can't put down, pick Kubica’s newest up and be thoroughly entertained and surprised.  

Find it: MYS Kub (New) + CD Book F Kub + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebooks + Libby eaudio + Boundless eaudio

AARP will be providing no-charge tax filing assistance anyone needing help. They will be at the library every Saturday from February 9th to April 12th from 9:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.

A limited number of clients will be served on a first-come, first-served basis and an official sign-up sheet will be available at 9:00 a.m. each Saturday for the day's clients.

Anyone arriving before the library opens at 10:00 a.m. should enter by using the side door located to the left of the main entrance.

Skip the Big Easy and do Mardi Gras the easy way in Bastrop! 

Celebrate the “Courir de Mardi Gras” folklife of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana here in Bastrop with the Mardi Gras Ball on Friday, January 31st and free music and festivities downtown on Saturday, February 1st.  

Of special note is the Musical Instrument Petting Zoo that will be hosted here at the library on Saturday from noon until 3:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to try out Cajun and Zydeco instruments—for both kids and adults!  

Get tickets for the Mardi Gras Ball and find out more details online. 

Bastrop has a rich history, and one of our goals as your local library is to preserve and provide you with access to that history.  This sounds like a simple task, but it can be quite challenging. 

Challenge: What is in the Local History Room?  

Over time, the knowledge of what was in the room dwindled. So, our first project was to inventory the room. There are five unique collections in the history room: the Genealogy Collection, Texas Reference, the Vertical Files, the Wildfire Collection, and the Microfilm Collection. We went through everything, and we learned a lot.  

Challenge: As a library, what should we include in the Local History Room?   

As much as we might want to keep everything, our responsibility is to curate a collection about Bastrop County’s history. We examined what other libraries collect and looked for professional guidance to keep materials that support our local history researchers. 

Challenge: How do we make the collections more user-friendly? 

The collections’ organization system was not working. The information was difficult to access and not always detailed or complete.  

First, we wanted to develop a call number system for the Genealogy and Texas Reference Collections that make them more user-friendly and move like items together. The Genealogy Collection now starts with local information and progresses to national/international resources. The Texas Reference Collection is still a work in progress.  

Second, we established a digital archive to preserve and provide access to our history.  The library chose the Preservica platform to serve as a database, a digital storage server, and a digital preservation system for our records. As of January 2025, we have 174 items digitized, fully catalogued, and available to view on the Preservica portal. This will be an ongoing project. 

Third, as we look at each item to assign a new call number or digitize the materials, we are adding more details, if possible, to the records. This project could take years to complete.  

Challenge: How do we generate interest in the collections and promote Bastrop’s history to the public?  

We started Quarterly History Talks. We host speakers knowledgeable about local history and then highlight materials from our collection. We invite you to help us bring history alive on the first Saturdays of March, June, September, and December for these events. Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org to sign-up for History Talk announcements. 

There are many more challenges for the Local History Collections in the future, but we wanted to share what we’ve been doing to make local history more accessible to you. If you are interested in helping, we are always looking for volunteers. Just reach out: info@bastroplibrary.org, and we’ll match you with a project that sparks your interest. 

 Are you a veteran, a senior, or individual with a disability? Starting January 2025, you qualify for a non-resident membership discount when you renew or get a new library card!  

Seniors (aged 55+), veterans, and individuals with a disability will receive a 20% discount on their annual membership. With this discount, annual membership is $20 per year or roughly $1.67 a month! 

Families, we didn’t forget you! An annual non-resident family membership is $40. With a family membership, you will receive 3 library cards for your account. With this account, you can check out up to 40 items at a time. It does not affect how many digital items you can check out at a time.  

These discounts are designed to make library membership more affordable for individuals and families living outside the Bastrop City limits. City residents’ memberships are supported by City property taxes and will not change. 

Be sure to ask about our new discounts when you are ready to renew your library card! 

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter!

The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward 

Library Book Club choice – November 2024 

The bonds between three picture-perfect, viciously protective mothers are tested when their sons uncover a horrible crime in Austin’s Zilker Park. While this wasn’t our favorite book, we loved the strong sense of place—especially since it’s right down the road from us! Once you read it, let us know who your favorite character(s) were. I bet it’s not the protagonist!  

Find it: Libby & Boundless ebooks

The Hunter by Tana French 

Becky Bennett, library board member 

Retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper has lived in a tiny community in western Ireland for just over two years. He has a girlfriend, Lena, and a young apprentice, Trey, whom he considers a daughter. When Trey's worthless father Johnny blows back into town with a scheme to swindle a visiting Englishman and he recruits most of the town's men into the scam, Cal follows along in order to protect Trey. It is soon apparent that the Englishman is not the one getting swindled. When Trey happens on a body near her family's home, Cal and Lena have to think and act quickly to keep Trey safe. I love the Irish voices in French's writing and her beautiful descriptions of rural Ireland. The story's suspense will keep you turning pages right up to the hair-raising end. 

Find it: MYS Fre + CD-Book F Fre + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebooks + Libby Audio

The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by Dave Lipsky 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library 

In this serious yet witty and accessible nonfiction book, New York Times-bestselling author Lipsky explores how “anti-science” became so vitriolic in American life. As he explains it, it started with climate denial, and there have been serious consequences. This is an unusual book, but highly enlightening. 

Find it: 304.25 LIP

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 

Amie Cuvelier, library staff 

A lush cottagecore tale is full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love. This upbeat and whimsical cozy fantasy is perfect if you need something lighthearted and diverting. A little rebellion, a little romance, and a lot of fun. 

Find it: SFF Dur (New) + Libby ebooks + Libby Audio + Boundless ebooks + Boundless Audio

A variety of musicians will perform including the Honor Choir; last year’s crowd favorite Mary Smith, accordionist; singer Terry Moore; singer-songwriter and guitarist Ben Zuniga; and Max Butler, who plays the saw. Your favorite holiday song is bound to be performed at least once from these awesome musicians! 

The fifth annual Great City Decorating Contest (GCDC) challenges City departments to decorate a graham cracker house, and you get to decide which department did the most spectacular job. The competition is fierce, so be ready to make the hard decision! Winners receive Facebook fame, a fabulous trophy, and bragging rights for the entire year!

In between shopping downtown on Saturday, December 14th, stop by the library to celebrate the season!

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter!

Dreams of Arcadia by Brian Porter 

Library Book Club choice – October 2024

Written by an Austin-area author, and the speaker at the Friends of the Library October event, Dreams of Arcadia is about veterinarian Nate Holub, as he takes a job in his father's Texas hometown. We really enjoyed this homegrown book and had a fantastic discussion! We talked quite a bit how places can evoke vivid memories of childhood, and we talked about our own memories of important places. If you like books where the setting is as good as a character, we recommend Dreams of Arcadia. 

Find it: NOV Por (New) + Libby ebooks

Simply Korean by Aaron Huh 

Cary Kittrell, library staff

If you’ve always wanted to make your favorite Korean dishes at home, Simply Korean is for you. With streamlined techniques, minimal ingredients, and clear instructions, you'll learn the easiest methods to make fried rice, bulgogi, kimchi, and more without sacrificing taste. I enjoyed this cookbook! The best part was that I could make my favorite dishes at home with ingredients from my pantry. If you enjoy takeout, I highly recommend this book. 

Find it: 641 HUH

An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library

This dramatic and reflective nonfiction title reexamines the decade of the tumultuous and exceptional 1960s: the politics, the morals, and the long-lasting effects. Having been a teenager during that time, I found Goodwin’s insider accounts of JFK, LBJ, and Bobby Kennedy fascinating. Read it yourself and see if you agree with two of my take-aways: (1) I wouldn’t like these leaders or their staff/aides as individuals, yet (2) I was impressed by their insight on serving their country and the citizens.  

Find it: 973.922 Goo (New) + Boundless ebook + Boundless Audio

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer

Martha is a quiet librarian recently married to a traveling salesman, Alan. When she finds a blood streak on one of his shirts shortly after he returns home from a conference, she begins an investigation into all of Alan's past visited cities. Martha finds an alarming pattern of unsolved murder cases in each locale her new hubby has traveled to for business. Is her sweet, kind husband a serial killer? Enlisting the aid of an old friend, they become enmeshed in a journey that leads to heartbreak --and the identity of a very talented murderer. Thoroughly entertaining and fast paced, I read this mystery in less than 24 hours. Of course, I will read anything by this author. You should try his mysteries as well! 

Find it: MYS Swa (New) + Libby ebooks + Boundless ebook

Is your garden getting ready to harvest? Please save some of your seeds and donate them to our seed library! With your donation, please fill out the donation form available online or in-person near the Circulation Desk.  

Not sure how to save your seeds? We’ve got two new books in our collection that will tell you how!

 The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Seed Saving by Micaela Colley

Find it: 635 Col (New)

 Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth

Find it: 635.042 ASH (New)

Local Bastropian and jazz musician Hannibal Lokumbe will present excerpts from his new book Spiritual Soundscapes of Music, Life, and Liberation on Saturday, November 16th at 6:00 p.m. in the Tough Cookie Bakery location on Main Street. This event will include a performance, an opportunity for questions, and a book signing.

Hannibal Lokumbe: Spiritual Soundscapes of Music, Life, and Liberation by Lauren Coyble Rosen and Hannibal Lokumbe is a captivating, vital portrait and spiritual biography of Lokumbe. For Lokumbe, music is a profound source of spiritual liberation.  

A pathbreaking orchestral composer and visionary jazz musician, he composes resonant works that give voice to the freedom struggle of the African diaspora, the broader African American experience, Indigenous histories, and humanity.  

Many of his works address historical traumas, such as the Middle Passage, the Vietnam War, global environmental disharmony, and targeted racial violence, and focus on major figures, including Medgar Evers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Dr. Kim Phúc Phan Th?, and Anne Frank.  

This innovative book demonstrates that Lokumbe’s musical compositions, created in collaboration with his ancestors, are multisensorial spiritual soundscapes that aspire to chronicle, heal, and liberate. 

Have you loved a book and want to shout it to the world? Email us at info@bastroplibrary.org and tell us about it! We’d love to include it in an upcoming newsletter! 

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Finney Boylan 

Library Book Club choice – September 

Olivia knows what it feels like to start over. Her life in Boston when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined she would end up back in her New Hampshire hometown, taking over her father's beekeeping business. Lily is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start. And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Most of us who attended LBC this month really enjoyed Mad Honey! We had a great discussion on gender roles and issues and how people should get to know others as individuals instead of judging them on superficial characteristics. If you’re a Jodi Picoult fan, you won’t want to miss her newest title! 

Find it: NOV Pic + LT F Pic + CD Book F Pic + Libby ebooks + Libby eaudio

Hero by Thomas Perry 

Brenda Smith, library volunteer 

Our hero Justine is a female private security agent, or bodyguard, protecting very rich L.A. celebrities. When she saves the lives of two elderly clients, she is lauded as a hero in the press.  But wait!... A crime lord who ordered the hit on these people has now put a price on Justine's head to compensate for his botched assassinations! I loved this highly intense game of "cat and mouse" as this smart lady proves she can fend off everyone and everything in her path. I’m now author Thomas Perry’s newest fan, and I plan to pick up more of his books asap! 

Find it: MYS Per

The Women by Kristin Hannah 

Dianne Tripp, Friend of the Library 

In 1965, nursing student Frankie impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows her brother to Vietnam where she is overwhelmed by the destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America. I was in high school and college during the Vietnam War, and I could not put this book down—despite the tears. This war damaged the troops’ minds, bodies, and souls, and, as always, Hannah writes a moving and compelling story to illustrate this harrowing history. 

Find it: NOV Han + CD Book F Han (New) + Libby ebooks + Libby eaudio

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 

Melissa Ashcraft, library patron 

We all have regrets. I should have done this... I should have done that... If you had the chance to undo your regrets, would you? That would fix everything! Right? In The Midnight Library, Nora has the opportunity to change her life for a new one. An amazing, thought-provoking novel. 

Find it: NOV Hai + CD Book F Hai + Libby ebooks + Libby eaudio