Talking Times, Summer 2022 - Section 1

Talking Book Topics in Large Print

Patrons who subscribe to Talking Book Topics (TBT) in large print did not receive the January-February 2022 issue in paper format due to ongoing supply-chain issues and worldwide paper shortages. Unfortunately, we are not sure when these issues will be resolved. Patrons can access the Talking Book Topics catalogue online in HTML and PDF formats. TBT in HTML contains direct links to BARD for downloading or adding books to wish lists, and TBT in PDF includes printable order forms for mailing. TBT in audio will be available on cartridge, for downloading on BARD, and through BARD Mobile. Additionally, TBT Abridged will be available through Braille Book Review in hardcopy braille and BRF. Let us know if you would like to receive the audio version of the Talking Books Topic catalog by calling the Talking Books staff at (401)574-9310.

United States Postal Service, USPS - Delays

Talking Books Library members across the country have complained about delays in the receiving and returning of talking books materials. We have heard from some of our members here in R.I. and understand your frustration. If you experience delays in receiving your books or equipment or have a postal worker who refuses to take your materials for return, please let us know by calling the talking books staff at (401)574-9310 or by email talking.books@olis.ri.gov. In March of this year, the Office of the Inspector General for the USPS visited the National Federation for the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Baltimore Central Mail Facility to investigate delays in mail delivery of items labeled Free Matter for the Blind. The National Library Services in Washington, D.C., will receive a copy of the report from the Inspector General for the USPS. We are hopeful USPS will resolve delays, and postal workers are reminded of the importance of processing items labeled "Free Matter for the Blind or Visually Impaired" on time.

Summer Reading Program

This summer, connect with your local public library and discover new books, outdoor programs, virtual events, and hands-on activity kits. Kids and teens who meet their summer reading goals can earn prizes and other incentives. But why let kids and teens have all the fun? When you sign up for the Adult Summer Reading Program, summer reading is a family affair. The 2022 Summer Reading Theme is "Read Beyond the Beaten Path." The broad theme of "summer camp at the library" encompasses a world of different summer experiences: from outdoor activities such as hiking, campfires, stories, and s'mores to nature programs, arts and crafts, music, and so much more! The Summer Reading Program runs from June through August and is free, though some libraries may require registration. Call or visit your local public library for more information and to register. The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program is supported by the R.I. Office of Library and Information Services, with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Read on the Beach or at the Park - Summertime Reading

As You Wish by Jude Devereaux (DB 90489)

One summer, three very different women find themselves together in Summer Hill, Virginia. Sixty-year-old Olivia is finally getting another chance at love. Kathy, in her forties, learns her husband is in love with someone else. And young Elise has just married a man with a mistress. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Romance. 2018.

Golden Girl by Elin Hildebrand (DB 103607)

Novelist Vivian Howe was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Nantucket. In the afterlife, she is allowed to watch what happens below one last summer. As she observes her three adult children and ex-husband, she worries about the reaction to her final book, which reveals personal secrets. Secrecy. Fiction. 2021.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (DB 103564)

In the summer of 1983, Nina Riva was hosting her annual celebrity-filled party, despite the impending end of her marriage. Nina and her three siblings, all connected to the world of surfing, might have survived their unconventional upbringing, but each is hiding secrets. Psychological Fiction. 2021.

No Somos de Aqui by Jenny Torres Sanchez (DB 105900)

When the threats that lurk around every corner suddenly become all too real, three teens--Pulga, Chico, and Pequen~a--cross from Guatemala through Mexico in search of a better life. Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. Spanish language. General Fiction. 2021.

One Summer by David Baldacci (DB 73451)

As former army ranger Jack Armstrong lies dying, his wife Lizzie is killed in a car accident, and his three children are sent to various relatives. But Jack miraculously recovers, collects his kids, and moves to Lizzie's childhood home on the South Carolina coast. Bestseller. Short Book. Family Story. 2011.

Pocho by Matt De la Peña (DB 105589)

Aspiring baseball pitcher Danny Lopez struggles with identity issues while living with his white mother and attending private school. Danny spends the summer with his father's Mexican family in the barrios of San Diego, where he befriends the local teens and learns about his roots. Some strong language. Commercial audiobook. For senior high readers. Spanish language. 2021.

The Summer House by James Patterson (DB 99921)

Once a luxurious southern lake getaway, then reduced to a dilapidated crash pad, the Summer House is now the grisly scene of mass murder. Eyewitnesses point to four Army Rangers known as the Night Ninjas, who recently returned from Afghanistan. The Army sends veteran and former NYPD cop, Jeremiah Cook, to investigate. Bestseller. Mystery/Detective. 2020.