Brianna’s Comments (group member since May 23, 2017)

Brianna’s comments from the Gaston Library group.

Explore our selection of nonfiction titles to help inspire and transform your life in 2021. From a new hobby to a new perspective, its never too late to build a better you!

All titles are currently available for checkout at the original time of posting. Please call 704-868-2164, option 1 to check out these titles and more using our curbside pickup program.

Designing Your Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
"From the authors of the #1 New York Times best seller Designing Your Life ('Life has questions. They have answers' --The NYT)--a job-changing, outlook-changing, life-changing book that shows us how to transform our work lives and create a dream job that is meaningful without necessarily changing the job we have." (Goodreads)


Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
"A memoir of marriage and self-discovery by bestselling author Glennon Doyle Melton, Love Warrior is a gorgeous and inspiring account of how we are all born to be warriors: strong, powerful, and brave; able to confront the pain and claim the love that exists for us all. This chronicle of a beautiful, brutal journey speaks to anyone who yearns for deeper, truer relationships and a more abundant, authentic life." (Goodreads)


Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by B.J. Fogg
"The world’s leading expert on habit formation shows how you can have a happier, healthier life: by starting small.

When it comes to change, tiny is mighty. Start with two pushups a day, not a two-hour workout; or five deep breaths each morning rather than an hour of meditation. In Tiny Habits, B.J. Fogg brings his experience coaching more than 40,000 people to help you lose weight, de-stress, sleep better, or achieve any goal of your choice. You just need Fogg’s behavior formula: make it easy, make it fit your life, and make it rewarding. Whenever you get in your car, take one yoga breath. Smile. Whenever you get in bed, turn off your phone. Give yourself a high five." (Goodreads)


Never Too Old to Get Rich: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting a Business Mid-Life by Kerry E Hannon
"When you think of someone launching a start-up, the image of a twenty-something techie probably springs to mind. However, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are just as likely to start businesses and reinvent themselves later in life. Never Too Old to Get Rich is an exciting roadmap for anyone age 50+ looking to be their own boss and launch their dream business.

This book provides up-to-date resources and guidance for launching a business when you're 50+. There are snappy profiles of more than a dozen successful older entrepreneurs, describing their inspirational journeys launching businesses and nonprofits, followed by Q&A conversations, and pull-out boxes containing action steps. The author walks you through her three-part fitness program: guidelines for becoming financially fit, physically fit, and spiritually fit, before delving more deeply into how would-be entrepreneurs over 50 can succeed." (Goodreads)


The 4 Season Solution: The Groundbreaking New Plan for Feeling Better, Living Well, and Powering Down Our Always-On Lives by Dallas Hartwig
"With his runaway bestsellers It Starts with Food and The Whole30, health trailblazer Dallas Hartwig has helped millions of people improve their lives by changing how they eat. In this groundbreaking new book, he reveals the antidote to today’s epidemics of burnout, weight gain, disease, and fatigue. Rooted in ancestral health, yet designed for our busy, modern lives, The 4 Season Solution is a blueprint for not just eating better, but living better." (Goodreads)


Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over by Nell Irvin Painter
"How are women, and artists, "seen" and judged by their age, race, and looks? And how does this seeing change, depending upon what is asked of the viewer? What does it mean when someone states (as one teacher does) that "you will never be an Artist"—who defines "an Artist," and all that goes with such an identity, and how are these ideas tied to our shared conceptions of beauty, value, and difference?

Old in Art School represents an ongoing exploration of such questions, one that ultimately honors curiosity, openness, and joy—the joy of embracing creativity, dreams, the importance of hard work, and the stubborn determination of your own value." (Goodreads)


National Geographic Photo Basics: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Great Photography by Joel Sartore
"This entertaining book from beloved National Geographic photographer and Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore shows aspiring photographers how to take great pictures, from framing and F-stops to editing and archiving. Whether you're using your phone or a DSLR camera, you'll learn the fundamentals of photography--and how to put them to work every day." (Goodreads)


Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces by Michelle Slatalla
"The team behind the inspirational design sites Gardenista.com and Remodelista.com presents an all-in-one manual for making your outdoor space as welcoming as your living room. Tour personality-filled gardens around the world and re-create the looks with no-fail planting palettes. Find hundreds of design tips and easy DIYs, editors’ picks of 100 classic (and stylish) objects, a landscaping primer with tips from pros, over 200 resources, and so much more." (Goodreads)


Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines by Martha Stewart
"Trust Martha to help you master all things organizing—sorting, purging, tidying, and simplifying your life—with smart solutions and inspiration. Here, she offers her best guidance, methods, and DIY projects for organizing in and around your home. Topics include room-by-room strategies (how to sort office paperwork, when to purge the garage or attic), seasonal advice (when to swap out bedding and clothing, how to put away holiday decorations), and day-by-day or week-by-week plans for projects such as de-cluttering, house cleaning, creating a filing system, overhauling the closet, and more. Martha’s indispensable expertise walks you through goal-setting, principles of organizing, useful supplies, and creating systems for ongoing success. A look into Martha’s own personal calendars offers a template for scheduling essential tasks. Last, plenty of strategies, how-tos, timelines, and checklists will help you stay organized all year long." (Goodreads)


The Evolved Eater: A Quest to Eat Better, Live Better, and Change the World by Nick Taranto
"Taranto provides eye-opening facts about how we acquire and eat food and easy and practical things that you can do to improve the way you eat (and live) starting today. Eating doesn't need to be complicated or painful or over-thought. We're starting The Evolved Eater revolution right here, right now." (Goodreads)

I will definitely be adding Chrismukkah to my reading list!

GCPL is celebrating the end of the week with graphic novel memoirs that span from acclaimed middle school author Raina Telgemeier to famous memoir adaptations from famous figures such as Stan Lee and Anne Frank.

All titles are currently checked in at the Main Library at the original time of posting. Please call 704-868-2164, option 1 to check out these titles and more using our curbside pickup program or visit us in person Monday - Friday from 10AM - 2PM . Happy reading!

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
"Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the Fun Home. It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve" (Goodreads).


Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder
"From before her mother's first oncology appointment through the stages of her cancer to the funeral, sitting shiva, and afterward, when she must try to make sense of her life as a motherless daughter, Tyler Feder tells her story in this graphic novel that is full of piercing--but also often funny--details" (Goodreads).


Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman, David Polonsky, and Anne Frank
"This adaptation of Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl into a graphic version for a young readership, maintains the integrity and power of the original work. With stunning, expressive illustrations and ample direct quotation from the diary, this edition will expand the readership for this important and lasting work of history and literature" (Goodreads).


Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
"In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery -- Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents -- two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along" (Goodreads).


Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir by Stan Lee
"Moving from Stan Lee's impoverished childhood in Manhattan to his early days writing comics, through his military training films during World War II and the rise of the Marvel empire in the 1960s to the current resurgence in movies, Amazing Fantastic Incredible documents the life of a man and the legacy of an industry and career" (Goodreads).


March: Book One by John Lewis
"March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation" (Goodreads).


Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
"Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family" (Goodreads).


Stitches by David Small
"One day David Small awoke from a supposedly harmless operation to discover that he had been transformed into a virtual mute. A vocal cord removed, his throat slashed and stitched together like a bloody boot, the fourteen-year-old boy had not been told that he had cancer and was expected to die" (Goodreads).


Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spieglman
"A story of a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe and his son, a cartoonist who tries to come to terms with his father's story and history itself" (Goodreads).


Smile by Raina Telgemeier
"Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama" (Goodreads).

North Carolina is quickly moving into its own wedding season, fall! The cooler weather and beautiful hues appeal to North Carolinian couples across the state. In fact, 43% of weddings took place between September and November in 2015 (theknot.com). Get in the wedding bells mood with one of our wedding titles in every genre, from be mystery to young adult fiction!

All titles are currently checked in at the Main Library at the original time of posting. Please call 704-868-2164, option 1 to check out these titles and more using our curbside pickup program.


A Wedding on Bluebird Way by Lori Wilde, Janet Dailey, Allyson Charles, and Stacey Keith
"The sun is shining, the garden's in bloom and every detail is perfect as the wedding of the year gets underway at the charming Bluebird Inn. But when the Big Day becomes an even bigger fiasco, the surprises unfold in four entwined tales featuring the unforgettable Loving family . . ." (Goodreads).


The Wedding Day by Catherine Alliott
"For a frazzled, single mom, summer was to be a season of fun, sun, and planning her wedding to the perfect man. Soon her world is turned upside down as uninvited guests turn her summer hideaway into a madhouse" (Goodreads).



Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews
"Up-and-coming floral designer Cara Kryzik is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for Savannah society nuptials. The only problem is, life seems to be conspiring against her" (Goodreads).


Wedding Girl by Stacey Ballis
"Top pastry chef Sophie Bernstein and her sommelier fiancé were set to have Chicago’s culinary wedding of the year…until the groom eloped with someone else in a very public debacle, leaving Sophie splashed across the tabloids—fifty grand in debt on her dream wedding and one-hundred percent screwed on her dream life" (Goodreads).


The Story of Us by Deb Caletti
"After jilting two previous fiancés, Cricket's mom is finally marrying Dan Jax, whom Cricket loves. But as wedding attendees arrive for a week of festivities at a guesthouse whose hippie owners have a sweet, sexy son—Ash—complications arise" (Goodreads).


Wedding Cake Murderby Joanne Fluke
"Everyone in Lake Eden, Minnesota, may have had their doubts, but at long last, Hannah Swensen is getting married! Hannah is thrilled to be marrying Ross Barton, her college crush. And her excitement only grows when she learns he’ll be able to join her on her trip to New York City for the Food Channel’s dessert chef contest. It’s nerve-wracking enough being judged by Alain Duquesne, a celebrity chef with a nasty reputation. But it’s even more chilling to find him stabbed to death in the Lake Eden Inn’s walk-in cooler—before he’s even had a chance to taste Hannah’s Butterscotch Sugar Cookies" (Goodreads).


A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn by Shelly Shepard Gray
"Emma Keim was heartbroken when her husband, Sanford, passed away, leaving her to raise three young daughters alone. When she meets Jay Hilty—a handsome widower with three young sons of his own—Emma is delighted to have a new friend who understands her struggles. Still, she is dismayed that her family is so opposed to their friendship—and the idea of it ever becoming anything more. She honors her husband's memory every day, but is she destined to be alone forever?" (Goodreads).


Wedding the Widow by Jenna Jaxon
"Of all the widows of Lyttlefield Park, Elizabeth Easton seems least likely to remarry. Though many gentlemen would love to get to know the charming Mrs. Easton better, she is devoted to the memory of her late husband. Which is why she's so shocked to be overtaken by passion during a harvest festival, succumbing to an unforgettable interlude with the handsome Lord Brack" (Goodreads).


The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman
"In the middle of a "Saints and Sinners" themed wedding, a bridesmaid finds a young woman's dead body in the restroom. None of the wedding guests claim to know the well-dressed victim--but Delaware and Sturgis aren't so convinced" (Goodreads).


The Second Chance Boutique by Louisa Leaman
"Francesca Delaney's wedding gown shop has two necessary rules to guarantee success: 1. Never covet a dress 2. Never sell a dress that led to a doomed marriage. These two rules have helped Francesca build her reputation as a woman with a knack for matching a bride-to-be with the perfect gown" (Goodreads).



The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt
"Sixteen-year-old Holly wants to remember her Grandpa forever, but she’d rather forget what he left her in his will: his wedding chapel on the Las Vegas strip. Whatever happened to gold watches, savings bonds, or some normal inheritance?" (Goodreads).


A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan
"In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret of their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland" (Goodreads).


The Wedding Thief by Mary Simses
"Two sisters in love with the same man -- one engaged to him and the other about to sabotage the wedding -- struggle to reconcile in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café" (Goodreads).


The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steel
"The Parisian design houses in 1928, the crash of 1929, the losses of war, the drug culture of the 1960s—history holds many surprises, and lives are changed forever. For richer or for poorer, in cramped apartments and grand mansions, the treasured wedding dress made in Paris in 1928 follows each generation into their new lives, and represents different hopes for each of them, as they marry very different men" (Goodreads).


The Wedding Letters by Jason F. Wright
"When Noah Cooper bumps into Rachel, it's love at first sight—at least for Noah. Rachel isn't so sure. But Noah's charm pays off, and he introduces his bride-to-be to a special Cooper family tradition—the wedding letters" (Goodreads).

Happy Monday from GCPL! Our newest book display is inspired by summer's favorite treat: ice cream! Cool off with original recipes or ice cream inspired novels as the sun sets on summer.

All titles are currently checked in at the Main Library at the original time of posting. Please call 704-868-2164, option 1 to check out these titles and more using our curbside pickup program.


Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Bauer
"In her debut cookbook, Jeni Britton Bauer is on a mission to help foodies create perfect ice creams, yogurts, and sorbets—ones that are every bit as perfect as hers—in their own kitchens" (Goodreads).



Ben & Jerry's Double Dip: How to Run a Values Led Business and Make Money Too by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield
"Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield offer the ultimate insider's guide to creating a values-led business that makes money while benefiting the entire community. Using examples from their own company as well as a host of others, these renowned innovators reveal: How your commitment to worthy social causes will result in unprecedented customer and employee loyalty -- and increased profit, practical advice on everything -- from hiring employees to choosing suppliers, nuts-and-bolts information on values-led finance, retailing, and human resources" (Goodreads).



A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
"Recent MBA grad Bronwyn Crewse has just taken over her family's ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and she's going back to basics. When construction delays build up, though, Win has a literal cold opening: the day she opens her doors an early first snow descends on the village and keeps the customers away. To make matters worse, that evening, Win finds a body in the snow, and it turns out the dead man was a grifter with an old feud with the Crewse family" (Goodreads).


Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America by Amy Ettinger
"A journalist channels her ice-cream obsession, scouring the United States for the best artisanal brands and delving into the surprising history of ice cream and frozen treats in America" (Goodreads).


The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman
"Taken in by a tough-loving Italian ices peddler, Malka Treynovsky manages to survive through cunning and inventiveness. As she learns the secrets of his trade, she begins to shape her own destiny. She falls in love with a gorgeous, illiterate radical named Albert, and they set off across America in an ice cream truck. Slowly, she transforms herself into Lillian Dunkle, 'The Ice Cream Queen' -- doyenne of an empire of ice cream franchises and a celebrated television personality" (Goodreads).


Paleo Ice Cream: 75 Recipes for Rich and Creamy Homemade Scoops and Treats by Ben Hirshberg
"Indulge yourself without giving up that healthy paleo lifestyle. With the delicious, dairy-free ice cream recipes in this book, you can delve into all your favorite flavors" (Goodreads).


Vegan a la Mode: More Than 100 Ice Creams, Gelatos, Granitas, and Other Frozen Delights by Hannah Kaminsky
"Hannah Kaminsky shares more than 100 of her best frozen dessert recipes, including coconut chai ice cream, blood orange frozen yogurt, pink pomegranate marble gelato, chocolate sorbetto, and apples and honey semifreddo" (Goodreads).


The Ice-Cream Makers by Ernest van der Kwast
"As the heir to a proud Northern Italian ice-cream dynasty, Giovanni Calamine's family is none too happy when he decides to break with tradition and travel the world as a notable poet. So when Giovanni receives an unexpected call from his brother, he is faced with a difficult decision: return home to serve in his family's interests or continue on his own path in life once and for all?" (Goodreads).


The Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman
"In the ruins of a future America, fifteen-year-old Ice Cream Star and her nomadic tribe live off the detritus of a crumbled civilization. Theirs is a world of children; before reaching the age of twenty, they all die of a strange disease they call Posies--a plague that has killed for generations" (Goodreads).


The Everything Ice Cream, Gelato, and Frozen Desserts Cookbook: Includes Fresh Peach Ice Cream, Ginger Pear Sorbet, Hazelnut Nutella Swirl Gelato, Kiwi Granita, Lavender Honey Ice Cream...and hundreds more! by Susan Whetzel
"With this delightful collection of recipes, you can craft flavor-infused ice cream anytime. Whether it's a twist on plain vanilla bean or an artisan flavor like Fresh Fig Gelato, "The Everything Ice Cream, Gelato, and Frozen Desserts Cookbook" includes recipes for hundreds of cold delights" (Goodreads).

Hello, and welcome to GCPL's first virtual book display. In honor of current heat waves and dreams of beach waves, our first display will be Beach Reads!

All titles are currently checked in at the Main Library at the original time of posting. Please call 704-868-2164, option 1 to check out these titles and more using our curbside pickup program.

The Summer Set by Aimee Agresti
"The real drama happens backstage in this juicy novel about an idyllic summer theater where hot stars, has-beens and hopefuls chase roles—and each other" (Goodreads).


Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner
"When a baby is left on the doorstep of a Cape Cod beach house, an unlikely group of women risks all they hold dear to harbor and protect her in this "touching, nuanced summer yarn (Publisher's Weekly)."


Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
"Capturing the distinct rhythms of Jamaican life and dialect, Nicole Dennis-Benn pens a tender hymn to a world hidden among pristine beaches and the wide expanse of turquoise seas" (Goodreads).


Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton
"Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their desire for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood. But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for “just two weeks,” Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble" (Goodreads).


The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
"Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges" (Goodreads).


On a Summer Tideby Suzanne Woods Fisher
"Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. 'Moving on' is Cam's mantra. But there's a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on . . . and one who keeps moving" (Goodreads).


Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite
"When a school presentation goes very wrong, Alaine Beauparlant finds herself suspended, shipped off to Haiti and writing the report of a lifetime…" (Goodreads).


Barefoot in White by Roxanne St. Claire
"Meet the Barefoot Brides -- three destination wedding planners who are experts at arranging dreamy 'I do's' but haven't found their own happily ever after...yet. All that's about to change in Barefoot Bay, a beloved tropical setting for heartbreak and happiness from New York Times bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire" (Goodreads).


The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley
"The Harmony Resort promises hope for struggling marriages. Run by celebrity power couple Drs. Miles and Grace Markell, the 'last resort' offers a chance for partners to repair their relationships in a luxurious setting on the gorgeous Mayan Riviera" (Goodreads).


Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Wasburn
"Sharks in the Time of Saviors is the story of a family, a people, and a legend, all wrapped in one. Faith and grief, rage and love, this book pulses with all of it. Kawai Strong Washburn makes his debut with a wealth of talent and a true artist's eye" (Victor LaValle).


Other new and popular beach read titles to put on your holds list:

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews
"Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks" (Goodreads).


28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
"When Mallory Blessing's son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he's not sure what to expect" (Goodreads).


Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
"The iconic author of the bestselling phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians returns with a glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds–the WASP establishment of her father’s family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with" (Goodreads).


On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe
"It’s been sixteen years since Caretta 'Cara' Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South Carolina. Over those years, she has weathered the tides of deaths and births, struggles and joys. And now, as Cara prepares for her second wedding, her life is about to change yet again" (Goodreads).


The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
"When seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins submits a sexy essay to the 'Become a Jetsetter' contest, she dreams of reuniting her estranged children: Lee, an almost-famous actress; Cord, a handsome Manhattan venture capitalist who can't seem to find a bride; and Regan, a harried mother who took it all wrong when Charlotte bought her a Weight Watchers gift certificate for her birthday" (Goodreads).


Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
"Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask" (Goodreads).