Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, reference librarians Jennifer Mattern and Angela Taylor will lead another session of their new Bright Spot Book Group. 

They will be discussing “Sold on a Monday” by Kristina McMorris.

This unforgettable work of historical fiction was inspired by a stunning piece of history from Depression-Era America.

“2 CHILDREN FOR SALE.” The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931 but could be found anywhere in the Depression Era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past.

He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication.

But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined. 

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, “Sold on a Monday” is a powerful novel of love, redemption and the unexpected paths that bring us home. 

Kristina McMorris’s poignant historical novel will capture fans of “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate and “The Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly and inspire any book club.

This Bright Spot Book Group will meet using Zoom meeting software.

“Sold on a Monday” is available in ebook format via Hoopla and as an audiobook via Rbdigital.  Both are available through Clark County Public Library’s online library tab at www.clarkbooks.org.

To sign up for the discussion, go to the CCPL’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/clarkbooks.  Once on the page, click on the events link on the left-hand side of the page.  On the events page, click on the Bright Spot Book Group and then on the link provided for sign-up.  Easy-peasy. 

Jennifer and Angela will send you a reminder about the meeting and a link you can use to join.

While you’re there, you can also read about the Science Fiction Mystery Short Story Discussion Group I mentioned last week. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, we will be discussing  “Lord Elgin at the Acropolis” by Minsoo Kang. 

It isn’t your typical science fiction story full of alien beings or threatening monsters.

It’s a mystery in which the characters use SF motifs to speculate about a crime. Think Jeff Van Der Meer or Jorge Luis Borges.

I’ll email a scan of the story to anyone interested in attending.  The group will meet on Zoom.  For a scan of the story and a Zoom invitation, email john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.

While you’re visiting the library’s Facebook page, take time to scroll through the news feed to see all the other posts made by the staff.  There are sign language lessons, interactive questions, reading suggestions, recipes, puzzles, films, curiosities and comics.  It’s a great place to while away some time on a sunny afternoon.

Thank you for your patience and your continuing patronage during the pandemic.

Library staff receives good wishes and encouragement from many of their friends and it means a lot to them.

It’s hot, hard work dealing with material cleaning and quarantine guidelines.  All staff members wear protective masks all day and follow mandated social distancing practices while they work.

If you have questions about library services, need help using any of the digital products available through the online library or you want to better understand how to join and participate in a Zoom meeting, contact me. 

I have enjoyed helping patrons with everything from reading suggestions to movie download questions to Zoom microphone connections. 

If you’ve got a question, the library is still, as it has always been, the place to go for an answer.

Take care of yourself.  Wear your mask. Practice social distancing.  That’s basic, like having a library card.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.