Bargain hunters will find an extraordinary selection of books, music and DVDs at fire sale prices, and proceeds support library programming for children and adults.

Thursday's sale is an early-bird preview for members of the Friends group; memberships can be purchased at the door. Those shoppers waiting until Monday pay only $2 for as many items as they can fit into a grocery bag. The library is located at 1020 Ulatis Drive; call 866-572-7587 for more information.

In this historical novel, fact and fiction blend as the author chronicles the relationship between seminal architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney, from their meeting, when they were each married to another, to the clandestine affair that shocked Chicago society.

Once in a while I read a book so good that I can't help telling people about it. I talk and talk about the book --- until finally my victims edge away, murmuring about the time.

I feel for the Ancient Mariner and the people he buttonholed. But at the risk of making you think about skeleton ships and "water, water, every where," I must tell you about a book I just read. "Cost," by Roxana Robinson, explores a family in extremis.

"Friend of the Devil" by Peter Robinson
Review by Floy H.
Rating: None
Banks and his unrequited love interest Annie are working two strange murders. Then -- the two cases become one as clues converge in each. Strange but good read.

"The Wanderer," by Fritz Leiber
Review by Bradford J.
Rating: * * * of 5 stars
A blast from the past -- this 1964 classic provides a futuristic tale set in our contemporary past. As an enormous artificial plant enters the solar system to arrive in Earth's orbit -- a number of very different people are thrown together to face the perils of unknown.

"The Dark Tower" by Stephen King
Review by Crystal M.K.
Rating: * * * * of 5 stars
This is the final book in the Dark Tower series. Was a little hard "to get into" but boy, once I did, it was riveting. There are times of joy and such feelings of loss that I cried a couple of times and there was a very satisfying ending for a series that took him 30 some odd years to write.

"Year of Wonders," by Geraldine Brooks
Review by Rebekah D.
Rating: * * * of 5 stars
Set in a small rural English village seized by the Plague in 1666, Year of Wonders tells the story of Anna Firth, a maid and mother. Surrounded by death and weakness she struggles with finding the inner strength to keep going.

"The Emerald City of Oz," by L. Frank Baum
Review by Crystal M.K.
Rating: none given
This, the sixth book in the Oz series, is a wonderful book for all ages. Dorothy goes back to Oz, bringing with her this time her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. They go galivanting all throughout Oz, meeting many interesting and unique people. Also an encounter with gnome king has Ozma guessing how to settle conflict without physical violence.

"Fast Track," by Fern Michaels
Review by Bianka E.
Rating: ***** of 5 stars
This is one of the "Sisterhood" best-selling series. The seven lady vigilantes are up against time and unforeseen circumstances that keep them out of touch with Charles Martin, who mans their control center. Keeps you on the edge, a true page turner.

"The Book Thief," by Zusak, Markus
Review by Mary U.
Rating: none given
Powerful story narrated by Death, Liesel lives with her foster parents in Germany during WWII. Family hides a Jewish young man in their basement. Story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief.

"Primal Shadows," by Alan Dean Foster
Reviewed by Bradford J.
Rating: *** of five stars
A new horizon for this prolific science fiction/fantasy author, as he tells the tale of a man caught by chance in search for a thief and an unlikely gold mine in the savage jungles of Papua, New Guinea. Which will prove more lethal -- the deadly wildlife and natives or his own companions?

"Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel,: by Wolfman, Ruiz, and Rubin
Reviewed by Arielle Vale
Rating: none given
This is the best history of the State of Israel to date (and I've read a lot of them). Well written, concise, covers biblical times to the present. Truly fantastic.

"Angela and the Baby Jesus," by Frank McCourt
Reviewed by Crystal Kitchen
Rating: ***** of 5 stars
Very sweet and endearing book about a little girl's love for the baby Jesus and her inner struggle to keep him warm. Beautifully written with some very pretty pictures. I enjoyed every second of this short read.

"Stalemate" by Iris Johansen
Rating: none given
Review by Arielle Vale
This book continues the Even Duncan forensic scenes. While many of the characters are intriguing, there are several disturbing plot points, including disgusting murders, torture, and adultery. While I frequently enjoy Iris Johansen, this book is not one I recommend.

"Marriage Most Scandalous," by Johanna Lindsy
Review by Arielle Vale
Rating: none given
A light, fun summer read. Adventure, love and romance ensue. The only flaw: It suffers from too many endings. It is nevertheless a fun read!

"How to grow more Vegetables," by John Jeavons
Reviewed by Hannah Crowe
Rating: * * * of 5 stars
Great book for the gardening enthusiast and those interested in organic and sustainable gardening. Book discusses compost and benefits to help nurture your garden in a natural way. Plants and their needs are also reviewed in great detail. Help your planet -- read this book.

"Protecting Palanthis," by Douglas Clark
Jerry Kitchen
Rating: * * * * of 5 stars
A story of mortal enemies joined together on a quest to save the world. Joined by a Kender, they grudgingly find respect for each other.

"10 Days to Toned Arms," by Matthew Grace
Reviewed by Crystal M. Kitchen
Rating: * * * * * of 5 stars
This was a good and informative read for all those who cringe at the site of those other "health novels". It was an easy read for the exerciser on the go. Lots of good information put out for you in an easy to read format.

"13 Bullets," by David Wellington
Reviewed by Bradford Jones
Rating: * * * * of 5 stars
Vampire fans, you don't know what you're missing if you haven't read this twisted tale of a police officer caught up in an intricate web of vengeance planned by a modern blood-sucker. A must-read before the sequel "99 Coffins," which carries the story on adrenaline wings of darkness.

When you read Rick Bragg, it's fair to wonder how much is true, how much imagined, and how much borrowed from someone else's life. He is, after all, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist who was ousted from the New York Times for slapping his byline on the work of an unpaid freelance stringer. His celebrated memoirs have the feel of stories that get better with every telling. And he does tell a good story.

"Eat, Pray, Love," by Elizabeth Gilbert
Reviewed by Renata Kmecova
Rating: ***** of 5 stars
A very personal journey around the globe as much as journey into her own self. Raw and daring in language and her actions, yet still gentle and sensitive, even entertaining and humorous. She lightens for us the road from deep despair to balance love and happiness.

"A New Earth," by Eckhart Tolle
Reviewed by Kristal Serna
Rating: ***** of 5 stars
The gentle, beautiful outlook on life and mindset. He is showing what it takes to live happy, content, sane, healthy, and fulfilling life right now. You can also watch his lectures on Oprah. Come enjoy both!

"Firebird: A Memoir," by Mark Doty
Reviewed by Rebekah Deans
Rating: **** of 5 stars
Poet and memoirist Mark Doty looks back at how the arts, a complex relationship with both parents, and an early self-awareness of his sexual orientation shaped his childhood and adult life. Fascinating and sweet, while full of the inaccuracies of memory. Other books by this author are: "Heaven's Coast," "Atlantis," and "Sweet Machine."

"One Thousand White Women" by Jim Fergus
Review by Mary C. Undlin
Rating: **** of 5 stars
This book consists of the journal entries of May Dodd, who was a participant of a government program in 1875 where white women lived with the Cheyenne Indians. Well written-great characters, exciting events!

"Blind Alley" by Iris Johansen
Review by Arielle Vale
Rating: none given
In the continuing saga of Eve Duncan forensic sculptor and Joe Quin, Atlanta detective, their adoptive daughter's life is threatened by a mad man obsessed with the face of a statue from Pompey. In this supernatural thriller spanning lifetimes, love and determination face down evil.

"Revelation Space" by Alastair Reynolds
Review by Bradford Jones
Rating: **** of 5 stars
Cyber Goth science fiction? An ancient civilization destroyed but for a buried cryptic memorial and a vast starship whose captain is being consumed by an organic parasite are two threads woven into the complex tapestry of a future where humankind may be threatened by an alien past waiting to be triggered again.

The plot is easy, but the emotional landscape it explores is vast and complicated. Georgina Danforth Witley was born on the same day as Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Hillary Clinton has remarked that she's a Rorschach test.

What do you see when you look at her? "Thirty Ways of Looking at Hillary," is a collection of essays by women writers who parse Hillary in unexpected ways.

That being said, I enjoy the occasional bookish trash -- and wallow as much as I glory in the forbidden pint of Chubby Hubby. I just have to watch myself or I'll end up in the gutter, bloated with tawdry mysteries and Hollywood potboilers, chin smeared with chocolate and wondering where I can find my next fix.

We catch a glimpse of the everyday lives of a secular Iranian family as they struggle with the changes in their country -- from the way in which the educational system begins to restrict individual thought, to forcing women and girls to wear veils. This is a realistic glimpse at the beginnings of the fundamentalist domination of Iran.