What’s new at Jacksonville Public Library:
“Between Two Fires” by Christopher Buehlman: The year is 1348. Disgraced knight Thomas finds a young girl alone in a dead Norman village. An orphan of the Black Death — and an almost unnerving picture of innocence — she tells Thomas that the plague is only part of a larger cataclysm. The fallen angels under Lucifer are rising in a second war on heaven and the world of men has become their battleground. Are her words delirium or faith? Either way, she convinces the faithless Thomas to shepherd her across a depraved landscape to Avignon. There, she tells Thomas, she will fulfill her mission to confront the evil that has devastated the earth, and give him — blood-stained and wretched as he is — a chance at redemption he long thought lost. As hell unleashes its wrath, and as the true nature of the girl is revealed, Thomas finds himself on a macabre battleground of angels and demons, saints and the risen dead — and in the midst of a desperate struggle for nothing less than the soul of man.
“Route 66: A Tribute to an American Icon” from the DK Travel Series: Hit the road and experience the magic of Route 66. Taking you on an unforgettable journey along America’s most iconic highway, Route 66 honors the mother of all road trips. From kitsch motels to neon-lit diners, historic towns to roadside attractions, no other road trip has had such an enduring impact on American culture as Route 66. Filled with stories of unexpected encounters, eccentric characters and legendary locations, not forgetting the stops that make this road trip so special, “Route 66” the book will have you yearning for the open roads just in time for the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary.
“The Housemaid”: Trying to escape her past, Millie accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous — a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal and power. Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.
“The Last Resort” by Erin Entrada Kelly: With the help of her skeptical brother, Caleb, and their new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila — the girl who’s vowed to be less dramatic — must uncover her grandfather’s killer and stop the evil spirits desperate to make their way back into the human world.
The next performance in the library’s Music Under the Dome series will be by the Illinois College Percussion Ensemble at 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Feeling a disconnect between yourself and life? Having trouble feeling present in the moment? Come learn some mindfulness techniques to help reduce stress and increase life satisfaction. (Including fun brain games.) It’s part of the library’s new “Brain Boost Tuesday” series, which will run the second Tuesday of each month. This month’s session is at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Registration is not required. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact the Morgan County Extension Office at 217-243-7424.
Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard was committed to the Illinois State Hospital — the state mental asylum — in 1860 and was kept under lock and key for three years, protesting her sanity throughout. Though her husband, Theophilus, insisted to everyone that she was insane, Elizabeth was able to obtain her release and continue her fight on behalf of others.Join Laura Keyes at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the library as she embodies Elizabeth Packard in an informative and inspiring presentation. Admission is free.
The Friends of Jacksonville Public Library will celebrate the winners of its annual Author of the Year contest at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the library’s meeting room. Winners will read their poems or prose. Light refreshments will be served.
John Lynn will explore the Lewis and Clark expedition’s return journey along the Missouri River during a program at 6 p.m. April 29 at the library. Lynn’s program is based on his own paddle down the river, particularly the 2,300-mile descent from Montana to St. Louis. Admission is free.