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Run: A Novel by Ann Patchett

What makes a family? Think your family has secrets? In this novel, which spans 24 hours see how choices made in seconds can affect others for a lifetime. Former mayor of Boston, Bernard Doyle has 3 sons; Sullivan, 33, and African American Tip, 21, and Teddy, 20, brothers adopted 20 years earlier. On a snowy night Tip is pushed out of the way of an oncoming SUV by a woman who is hit and severely injured. She is the boys' birth mother and, along with her 11-year-old daughter Kenya has been watching the boys for years. Become part of their lives as the story progresses and issues of race, religion and duty are explored.

Author, librarian, bookseller, and action figure model Nancy Pearl is the queen of reading recommendations. She has written several books about books, including Book Lust: recommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason. She provides reviews of great reads covering all genres. She includes everything from mysteries to non-fiction to children's books. In fact, her most recent work, Book Crush, recommends titles especially for children and teens.

You can now read her latest picks right from MPL's Website. Each month Nancy provides reviews and information on her latest recommendations. Simply go to MPL's home page, click on her picture, select a month, and discover a new favorite book!

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Kawanza Newson, Dani McClain, and book editor Geeta Sharma Jensen got together to discuss Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. The discussion is featured in Bookmarks, the Journal Sentinel's podcast about books.

The book was selected by the Milwaukee Public Library as the featured piece of literature for the Big Read. There are many more programs and events centering around Their Eyes Were Watching God in Milwaukee throughout February, March and April.

Tom Olson is the acquisitions librarian for the Milwaukee Public Library. He is frequently a guest on WUWM's Lake Effect in which he recommends new books.

The Senator's Wife: A Novel by Sue Miller

Two unconventional women, neighbors in adjacent New England townhouses--Meri Fowler, pregnant, newly married, and discovering the gap between reality and expectation, and Delia Naughton, wife of a notoriously unfaithful liberal senator--confront the costs and challenges of love.

Looking for ideas about what to read next? Take a look at Read @ MPL! This new MPL blog features book reviews and recommendations from our staff. It is a great place for you to leave your comments about our recommendations and about other books you've been reading.

Read @ MPL is part of the newly revised MKE Reads web page highlighting resources for readers. MKE Reads has links to book awards, book club resources, booklists and online reviews, genre fiction information, downloadable books, and a special section on Urban Fiction authors and publishers.

These two new resources have something for every reader, so be sure to check them out!

MPL’s Jacki Potratz was featured on WUWM’s “Lake Effect” program on Thursday, May 8 where she reviewed some up and coming fiction titles.

Click to listen!

MPL’s Jacki Potratz was featured on WUWM’s “Lake Effect” program on Thursday, July, 17th where she reviewed some old and new memoirs.


Click to Listen!!!

The Milwaukee County Federated Library System is pleased to bring social networking to the CountyCat Catalog. As of October 1st, content from LibraryThing for Libraries is now available from CountyCat. This means means that you can read other patron's reviews of library items as well as post your own reviews. Another exciting enhancement is the addition of the "You May Also Like" function which lists other similar titles you may find interesting. Moreover, other editions of the title as well as tag clouds complete the greatly enhanced CountyCat record. So take a look at the new Library 2.0 version of CountyCat!

Hear about the best books 2012 has to offer for gift-giving. Suggestions from Milwaukee Public Library librarians Tom Olson and Jacki Potratz will make holiday gift-giving a breeze. This is your chance to ask questions before you buy. Many genres, including children's and young adult recommendations, will be presented. All books on display at the program will be available for checkout. This program is open to the public and is also part of the MPL docents' ongoing enrichment training. For more information, please call (414) 286-8720, or email Friends@mpl.org.

Date: Wednesday, November 14th, 2012
Time: 10:30 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Location: Central Library's Meeting Room 1