OKelly Memorial Library

It is always a great thing to find an author that one really enjoys, especially one who has written a bevy of books. It is a sad thing when you have read them all and then must wait until the author comes out with another. That was the dilemma I found myself in towards the end of 2020. I had read all my favorite author’s novels and had just finished his most recent one. What was I to do now? I posed my problem to Rick Vetsch, my boss at O’Kelly. He suggested I try James Lee Burke. He said, “Burke is probably the most gifted fiction writer in America today.” But that was his opinion. Others had offered recommendations before that had proved fruitless for me. But then I was listening to Bill O’Reilly’s end-of-the-year podcast in which he listed the best five books he had read in 2020. One was the latest by, surprise, surprise, James Lee Burke! O’Reilly went on to echo my boss’ assessment, that Burke is, “the most gifted fiction writer in America today.” Such confirmation...

The House of the Rising Sun is the second novel by James Lee Burke in his Holland Family Series. The first being, Wayfaring Stranger, that tells the story of Weldon Avery Holland. One of the significant characters in that novel is Avery’s grandfather, Hackberry Holland, a crusty individual who struggles with a number of personal issues, one of which is relating to other people, especially those of his own family. The House of the Rising Sun is a precursor to Wayfaring Stranger. Though second in the series it covers events in the life of Hackberry Holland and the demons that he has had to contend with that makes him the grandfather that he is to Avery. In much the same vein as Wayfaring Stranger that has the recurring reference to one of the notorious duos of the 1930s, Bonnie and Clyde, The House of the Rising Sun has Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and their Hole in the Wall Gang functioning in much the same way. They pop up periodically as minor antagonists to Hackberrry, es...

In my review of the DVD, “Mulan”, I noted that I was looking for stocking stuffers before Christmas and was fortunate to have found the Disney remake of their animated movie, “Mulan,” using real characters. But I have two daughters living at home and “Mulan” was just one movie. I needed another DVD. My fifteen-year-old has been a swimmer for her middle school swim club for two years. Due to COVID the 2020-2021 season was canceled. Undaunted by this disappointment, she decided to give soccer a try. Being Colombian in origin one would assume that soccer would be in her blood, but she has never played. Consequently, she is going into tryouts with significant apprehension as to whether she will make the team. I decided she needed some inspiration, and so I looked for a DVD to put in her stocking that would serve as such. “Overcomer” fit the bill. “Overcomer” is in the line of movies that are being produced that are ladened with strong Christian themes. Others in this vein that com...

Stocking stuffers were on my mind a few days before Christmas. Having fifteen and eleven-year-old daughters, the standards are a given. A set of those squishy things that hold back their hair in a ponytail. They are forever losing them. Mentos gum is always appreciated. Ferrero Rocher is a favorite. But there needed to be something that was a bit of a surprise. Fortunately, Disney had come out with another of its remakes of an animated film using real life characters. They have done it with “Lion King” and “Jungle Book.” This past summer it was “Mulan” which was out just in time for Christmas in DVD. Perfect. I like getting my daughters DVDs that have a strong female character. Stocking stuffers complete. You may know the story if you saw the animated version. The kingdom is threatened by the evil Bori Khan and his minions who are supported by the witch, Xianniang. A decree goes out that all families of the empire must contribute one male to the emperor’s army to confront...

This story is about a man, Owen Pick, who’s quiet life is turned upside down when he is accused of the responsibility of a young teen’s disappearance. There is no body found. Only her blood is discovered outside his bedroom window. Saffyre Maddox is a somewhat troubled teen because of the death of her sister years before. Therefore, her parents decided she should see a Psychologist to help her deal with her feelings. It just so happens that her therapist, Roan, whom she’s been seeing for three years now at his office, lives across the road from Owen Pick! The novel has lots of twists and turns that leaves it’s reader not wanting to put the book down. I recommend this one. by S. M. OKelly Associate