Recommended Read

Maude by Donna Mabry

By Melissa Nunez, Adult Department Assistant

From the book:

In 1906, I was barely over fourteen years old, and it was my wedding day. My older sister, Helen, came to my room, took me by the hand, and sat me down on the bed. She opened her mouth to say something, but then her face flushed, and she turned her head to look out the window. After a second, she squeezed my hand and looked back in my eyes. She said, “You’ve always been a good girl, Maude, and done what I told you. Now, you’re going to be a married woman, and he will be the head of the house. When you go home tonight after your party, no matter what he wants to do to you, you have to let him do it. Do you understand?"

I didn’t understand, but I nodded my head anyway. It sounded strange to me, the way so many things did. I would do what she told me. I didn’t have a choice, any more than I had a choice in being born.

Maude is the amazing biography of author Donna Mabry's grandmother. It takes us from Maude's birth in 1892 to her passing in 1963 -- through two wars, the Spanish flu pandemic, the Great Depression, and the birth and death of Maude's children. Author Donna tells the story of Maude's tragic life with love, compassion, sensitivity, and above all, honesty.  This is not the story of someone rich or famous but of an average person struggling to find peace in a life fraught with heartache. It's a fascinating true story, written with love, that reads like a novel.

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Library Service

Homebound Delivery Brings the Library to You!

By Melissa Nunez, Adult Department Assistant

Love to read but can't come to the library? Did you know that the library will come to you?  Bremen residents who are physically unable to make the trip to the library due to age, disability, or infirmity are eligible for free, direct-to-your-door deliveries every two weeks! At Bremen Public Library we value our community and strive to make sure every resident has access to books, as well as audio books and music.

Whether you're under short term restrictions or permanently unable to travel, we are happy to deliver directly to you, totally free of charge, for as long as you need our homebound services.  Those who are able to access the Bremen Public Library website can browse the online catalog to reserve their own materials or our staff are happy to make selections for you based on your preferences.

If you or someone you care for lives in Bremen, Indiana and needs this service, give us a call today to get started. The only requirement is a library card and we can help with that, too. Let us serve you!

Free Resource

By Melissa Nunez, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

Researching your family tree? Whether you're the family history buff or just curious about where Great Aunt Tillie was born, did you know that the library has great online resources available to aid in your search? Accessing our databases is simple and most of our resources are available right from the comfort of your own home.

Visit our website at www.bremen.lib.in.us. At the top left of the home page, click on the Research tab and from the drop-down menu choose Genealogy. You'll find an abundance of links from which to choose, including Fold3, Heritage Quest and Ancestry.com. While Ancestry.com can only be accessed from within the library, each of the other links can be used anywhere you use the internet. On Fold3 you will find many original military records. With Heritage Quest, you can view original census records and much more. Visit the library for free access to Ancestry.com. Some databases will request a user ID. If that happens, just log in with your BPL card number!

Recommended Read

Hell Divers

By Melissa Nunez, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

"We dive so humanity survives!" Action packed from first page to last, this post-apocalyptic novel by Nick Smith never slows down!

After World War III created a poisoned planet, the last vestiges of mankind survived by taking to the air in ships built for warfare. Now two and a half centuries have passed and keeping the aging ships aloft is a daily battle. Enter the Hell Divers. Engineers, soldiers, thieves, adrenaline junkies, the crazy and the brave...they must dive to the surface for the ancient parts to repair their failing vehicle. Surviving the dive is only the beginning! Radiation, mutants and fierce storms all stand between them and the survival of humanity!

Set the timer on the coffee pot and prepare to read all night because once the ride begins you'll want to see it through to the final word! 5 stars!

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Recommended Read

Good Time Coming

Staff review by Melissa Nunez, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

When I chose this title by C.S. Harris, I guess I was expecting something a bit more light and fluffy. I couldn't have been more mistaken. This is an amazing, epic story of the life of women in the South during the Civil War and the severe hardships they endured. The story is told through the voice of 12-year-old Amrie as her eyes are opened to the brutalities of the day.

Today's world sees the Civil War as the pivotal time in history that truly opened the door to our current freedoms. However, being so far removed from it today, we forget (if we ever knew at all) the atrocities committed in the name of freedom and unity. After reading this book, you may find your viewpoint forever changed.

This is truly one of the best books I've read and I expect it to stay with me for a very long time. It's well written, historically accurate (I found myself stopping repeatedly to research battles, facts and histories), and draws you into the story in such a way that you find yourself "living" it. If you enjoy historical fiction, coming of age stories, or women's issues you'll enjoy this book. If you've ever considered reading Gone With The Wind, start here instead. I give this a solid 5 stars.

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Recommended Read

Twelve Angry Librarians

By Melissa Nunez, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

Things just seem to happen around librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon Cat, Diesel, and this year's SALA conference is no exception. Murder and mayhem abound and Charlie finds himself on the case again. Author and librarian Miranda James, AKA Dean James, provides us with a charming cozy mystery, an antagonist to despise, and kitty antics to make us grin. This was my first Cat in the Stacks read and I found it a fun and entertaining light read.


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