Lake Country This Month
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Page 4A • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY DECEMBER 2013 Turning the page As year's end approaches, Lake Country librarians discuss top reads By Josh Perttunen Freeman Staff DELAFIELD – As we prepare to turn the page on 2013, librarians from the Lake Country area shared what kept their pages turning this year – and what stories could headline the reading list for 2014. Four of this year's best; two to watch for in January Submitted photo Hartland chamber welcomes new member HARTLAND – The Hartland Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed the GFWC Junior Woman's Club of Hartland. It is a new nonprofit dedicated to community improvement and enhancing the lives of others. Membership is open to all women in the Lake Country area. Pictured from left to right in the first row are Sandy Ferrito, Gina Gaspardo, Brenda O'Neill, Linda Benna, Aimee Crummey and Jill Federspill and in the second row are Mary Menzel, Carole Panawash, Hartland Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Kate McDonald, JoAnn Bahr, Lisa Luterbach and Tina Frey. Go to www.facebook.com/GFWCHartlandJuniors for more information. Sendik's Food Markets to open store in Hartland strip mall HARTLAND – The Balistreri family announced it will open a new Sendik's Food Markets location in Hartland next year. The store will be located at 600 Hartbrook Drive in the Hartbrook Mall, which will be renamed Sendik's Hartland Plaza, according to a recent announcement. It will be the twelfth location for the familyowned grocer. "We frequently hear from customers who would like Sendik's to join their community," said Ted Balistreri, one of the family co-owners of Sendik's, in a statement. "Today, we're excited to announce our new Lake Country location to help us better serve our guests from Waukesha County, and we look forward to meeting all of our new neighbors." The Balistreri family has entered a contract with Devo Properties of Mequon to remodel a 30,000-square-foot vacant store space on the eastern end of Hartbrook Mall. In addition, according to the announcement, Devo Properties plans to enhance the entire 69,300-square-foot mall, which includes Biebel's True Value, Great Midwest Bank, and BP/Colburn's Car Wash. "The village of Hartland has been a great partner already," said Greg Devorkin of Devo Properties in the statement. "We're grateful for all their help and expect a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the good people of Hartland. We can't wait to get started on this project." The Sendik's Food Markets in Hartland will employ about 40 to 45 full-time employees and the same number of parttime employees. "We look forward to working with Devo Properties and Sendik's to re-energize this important part of the Village," said Hartland Village President Dave Lamerand in the statement. Sendik's Family Markets is based in Whitefish Bay and is known for its "red bag." – Katherine Michalets, Special to The Freeman Kelly Schieber, adult services librarian with the Pewaukee Public Library dis, cussed four books that made an impact in 2013 and two to watch for in January . "The All-Girls Filling Station's Last Reunion" by Fannie Flagg leaves the reader feeling satisfied, she said. The tale, by the author of the novel that was adapted into the film "Fried Green Tomatoes," features a healthy dose of Southern charm as a daughter examines her mother's past and how it all ties back to an all-girls filling station. "The latest book by Fannie Flagg has everything," Schieber said. "It has humor, mystery history and a cast of , unforgettable characters." Southern charm also is abundant in "Someone Else's Love Story" by Joshilyn Jackson. In this tale, a woman falls for the man who performed a valiant act during a stickup, saving her 3-year-old son. "Like Fannie Flagg, Jackson is another gifted Southern storyteller," Schieber said. "This complicated love story takes us on all sorts of twists and turns with compassion and humor." Readers can get a glimpse of the publishing industry by reading "My Mistake" by Daniel Menaker. Menaker worked at the New Yorker for 40 years. "This book gives a fascinating insider's view of the publishing industry as well as , the highs and lows of the author's life," Schieber said. "The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son" by Pat Conroy is a reallife follow-up to Conroy largely autobiographical novel, "The Great Santini," in which a young man explored his relationship with his abusive yet loving father. In the book that continues this story the father takes on a , Don Weltzien/Special to The Freeman Melissa Rader, young adult/reference librarian at the Delafield Public Library, displays two of the hot reads for teens that are featured in her Mel's Belles list she publishes for teens each year. new role, defending Pat's right to discuss the family's history after the dirty laundry in his first story drew criticism. Schieber offered readers two highly anticipated book releases to watch for on Jan. 14. "The Dead in their Vaulted Arches" is the sixth Flavia de Luce novel by Alan Bradley . The title character of the series is an 11-year-old pintsized chemist and aspiring detective whose latest mystery is unraveling the meaning behind the words a stranger whispered to her just prior to being pushed under a train. An autobiography by Robert M. Gates called "Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War" chronicles Gates' time in that position, serving under Presidents George W . Bush and Barack Obama. "It's perfect for political junkies," Schieber said. Mel's Belles ring in the new year For the past couple of years, Delafield Public Library librarian Melissa Rader has released an end-ofthe-year list of must-read books called Mel's Belles. She shared just some of the selections that made the list this year – and in previous years. "Good books have characters that you like to spend time with," she said, "and the books help you understand the world you live in and your place in it. If you find the right book at the right time, it can change your life." In "Hideous Love: The Story of the Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein," author Stephanie Hemphill uses verse to breathe life into a biography of Mary Shelley , the 19-year old woman who penned the iconic monster into existence. The historical fiction takes some creative license to explore the relationship between Mary and Percy Shelley the perception of a , female author in what was a male-dominated field and the tragic events in Shelley's life. Rader described "The Influencing Machine" as a nonfiction graphic novel by journalist Brooke Gladstone that is sure to spark conversation among readers of all ages. "It covers the evolution of media and how news has been disseminated since the beginning of time," she said. "It delves into why what you see when watching the news or reading the newspaper is overwhelmingly negative. Triggering that emotional response is what makes readers and viewers react." Being aware of how the news influences society is increasingly important in the age of the Internet, Rader said. "It's not really about finding information anymore, it's about evaluating it," she said. Two of Rader's must-read books for this year are both by Rainbow Rowell. "Eleanor and Park" and "Fangirl" are teen love stories that are being banned in certain places for their gritty and intense portrayal of topics such as abuse and poverty . Supporters of the stories are drowning out that noise, Rader said, as "Eleanor and Park" gathers acclaim. The story centers on the characters that are the novel's namesake as they ride the same school bus in the 1980s. "The two bond as Eleanor reads comic books over Park's shoulder," Rader said. "It is a tender, well-told story about two teens with very different home lives. Eleanor has a terrible life at home, filled with abuse and poverty , while Park comes from a nice, suburban family ." Email: jperttunen@conleynet.com Cover to cover: Barnes & Noble offers some holiday book suggestions Life and Other Musings" are the memoirs of fictional newsman and "Anchorman" BROOKFIELD – Erica Lar- character Ron Burgundy . son of the Barnes & Noble in "Parks and Recreation" actor Brookfield shared a couple of Nick Offerman has penned books that readers may want "Paddle Your Own Canoe: to add to their 2014 reading One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living." list. "The Bully Pulpit" by Doris "This is one of the best Kearns Goodwin is a nonfictimes of the year with all of the new titles out there," she tion examination of Theodore Roosevelt, William said. "A lot of what we've Taft and golden age journalbeen selling ties into movies ism. Kearns Goodwin is also or television shows." For example, science fiction the author of "Team of Rivals," the book that was fans are gravitating toward adapted into the "Lincoln" the box set for Orson Scott film earlier this year. Card's "Ender's Game" and A pair of coffee table books toward Stephen King's "Docthat are getting a lot of attentor Sleep," which is a sequel tion are "Behind the Scenes to "The Shining." at Downton Abbey" and "The Fans of "Duck Dynasty" Wizard of Oz: The Official are flocking toward daily devotionals, bobbleheads and 75th Anniversary Companion." The latter puts readers "Miss Kay's Duck Commanbehind the scenes of the der Kitchen" cookbook. In the humor aisle, "Let Me movie, Larson said, sharing photos and stories that they Off at the Top!: My Classy By Josh Perttunen Freeman Staff 229712001 may never have seen before. With the 11th Doctor in the Dr. Who series set to regenerate as part of the show's Christmas special, anything tied to the series is doing very well, Larson noted. This includes vinyl figurines of all 10 previous Doctors. Popular autobiographies include Donald Driver's "Driven," Malala Yousafzai's "I Am Malala" and volume 2 of Mark Twain's autobiography . For children and young adults, "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins, "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth and "The Day the Crayons Quit" by Drew Daywalt are hot titles. "Catching Fire" is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy while "Allegiant" is , the conclusion of the Divergent trilogy . Email: jperttunen@conleynet.com