The Garden Color Book

As the end of a dreary winter approaches, it’s time to look forward to spring planting. Perhaps you want an ornamental garden, but don’t know which plants can live together harmoniously. You might know your plants but have difficulty coming up with pleasing combinations. The Garden Book of Color can assist you with all of this. Pages are divided into three sections that flip individually like flashcards. Each page displays a tic- tac- toe of plants grouped by color and height. You can flip the page sections to match them up with a myriad of others displaying annuals, perennials and shrubs of different shapes and colors. On the opposing page you will find concise information on size, light/moisture requirements, hardiness and bloom times. Also included are suitable companion plants, along with maintenance and propagation tips. If you need a little extra help, the back section of the book contains “planting recipes” for colorful, enticing gardens. This is a very practical book, with lush, seductive photography. It’s a must read for any garden enthusiast, even apartment dwellers looking for a good fantasy.

 

The Diviners by Libba Bray

 

Evie is a girl with a penchant for trouble—which she uses to cover the sadness at the loss of her good-guy of a brother in the war.  She’s such trouble, in fact, that her actions get her into MAJOR trouble with the local rich kid’s family. The situation left Evie tipsy and out of control of her weird talent: psychically reading objects to find out about the owner’s life. As a result, Evie’s parents send her away for a while to live with her uncle in New York City.  Uncle Will (aka Unk) runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition and the Occult and is an expert on the topic. Beside him is his lurching assistant Jericho, who despite being pretty animatronic, actually isn’t a bad guy.  Together they embark on the strange and fantastic journey to get to the bottom of the unsolved crimes of ghost Naughty John.   

I was just over the moon listening to this title because the setting is so rich and vivid.  The 1920s envelope you from beginning to end.  I always worry when I read a story from this time period; it's a particular favorite of mine and so few authors do it justice. The setting, however, feels simply jake...the lingo, the bustle of New York and the vastness that is the Ohio plain are all spot on. The characters in this story are richly painted in their entirety as completely imperfect; there is not a hero or heroine without a temptable, dark side. The darkest moments could not make you feel any more creeped out. The audio on this was spot on; the voices sang like the Jazz Age and the speaker crossed color lines and gender roles flawlessly. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next. I love, love Libba Bray. She just gives me a full serving of amazing every time she writes.

Archie: The Married Life: Book One by Michael Uslan and Paul Kupperberg

Did you know that the library has Graphic Novels for adults?  Archie and the gang are back in "Archie: The Married Life: Book One" by Michael Uslan and Paul Kupperberg.  One would assume from the title of the book that Archie is married to either Betty or Veronica.  Instead, the reader is treated to two different versions of Archie's life.  The book goes back and forth between Archie's married life with Betty and his married life with Veronica.  The reader also gets to see how Archie's friends turned out.

I enjoyed the two different story lines.  I loved finding out how Archie and the gang turned out as adults.