Fast-Action Reads

After next weekend’s New Year’s festivities, readers may need some quiet time on the couch lost in a great read. Check out the new book shelves for some exciting new additions or search through the impressive collections on the regular shelves at the Norma and Miller Alloway Muskoka Lakes Library in Port Carling.

Thomas Young’s The Mullah’s Storm, might be compared to a Tom Clancy fast-action nail-biter. According to those with war experience, Young, a decorated former flight engineer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has an eye for detail about military equipment, operations and thinking with the conflict in Afghanistan His descriptions of the terrain, the sound different weapons make, the feeling of fingers and toes succumbing to frostbite, the way things look through night vision goggles, are superb. Young’s debut makes you grateful to be reading safely indoors, but just a little nervous about who might be watching you

Steve Berry is back with a fifth thriller featuring characters Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt. The tomb of China's First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra cotta warriors, has remained sealed for 2200 years. Though it's regarded as one of the greatest archeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won't allow anyone to open it. Why not? That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar web address. Logging on, he sees Vitt, a woman who's saved his life on more than one occasion, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand - "Bring me the artefact she's asked you to keep safe." Those readers that have not read author Steve Berry’s books would be advised to start at the beginning of the series as there are many times when this latest book keeps referring to past encounters and escapades that'll probably leave new readers wondering exactly what is going on.

A reminder about Muskoka Lakes Public Library holiday hours: The Port Carling branch will be closed December 31 to January 2. Bala branch closed January 2; Milford Bay branch closed December 23 to January 5; Walker’s Point branch closed from December 18 to January 11.

Creative Kids Club for children 8+ at the library in Port Carling every Saturday at a new time 1:00pm to 2:30pm January 15 – March 15, 2011. FREE but please pre-register as space is limited. 765-5650.

Wishing all a happy, healthy, and book-filled 2011!