Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Library Bookclub!


We are implementing a library bookclub - so if you have ever wanted to join a bookclub or make some new friends, now's the time! It sounds like we plan on having two discussion times, one during the day and another in the evening, in order to make it more flexible for anyone who wishes to participate.
An organizational meeting will be held this Thursday at 2:00pm at the library.
If you can't attend the meeting, no worries, as I will post more information as it becomes available.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Bookworm


Large Print Fiction
The Cowpuncher by Bradford Scott: Huck Brannon’s dream was to have a ranch of his own. When Old Tom, a cowpoke, showed him a scrap that was alleged to be a map to a lost mine full of treasure, Huck decided this might be his only chance to have his dream come true.

Crawlspace by Sarah Graves: Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree, having left her career on Wall Street to remodel a 1823 Federal-style house, continues to struggle with her renovation while also teaming up with her mother-in-law to find her son and a true-crime writer who have disappeared and they believe are the targets of a serial killer.

Flint by Louis L’Amour: Suffering from incurable cancer, Flint heads back to New Mexico to die alone after making it big back East. But when all-out range war erupts, Flint chooses to help Nancy Kerrigan, a local rancher, save her ranch using his cash, his connections and his gun.

Ghost Legion by Johnny D. Boggs: Trying to escape a brutal husband, Marty McKindrict disguises herself as a man and joins the Patriot cause. Meanwhile, Stuart Brodie, a freedman, joins the Loyalists after his brother is lynched by a gang of Patriot renegades. In the heat of the American Revolution, fate will bring the two together in a bloody climax.

The House on Sugar Plum Lane by Judy Duarte: When Amy Masterson finds the Victorian house that belongs to her great-grandmother; she's surprised to discover a run-down building. Amy rents the house, fully furnished, and as she begins cleaning out the debris, she opens a window into the past she knows almost nothing.

The Inn at Angel Island by Thomas Kinkade: Liza Martin arrives on Angel Island to sell the inn she and her brother inherited from their aunt. She wants to quickly return to her busy life, so disposing of the inn is an easy decision. Not to easy is what to do with her unstable career and recent divorce. Once on Angel Island, she begins to doubt her decision.

The Hangman's Row Enquiry by Ann Purser: After moving to an old folk's residence, Ivy Beasley along with her cousin Deirdre and her admirer Roy are recruited by Gus Halfhide to start a detective agency called Enquire Within.

The Guns of Parral by Lauran Paine: A pair of lawmen ride into the town, with the intentions of arresting an old outlaw named Pete Harkness, even though he had not committed a reported crime in nearly 15 years, when people in the area find out who they were looking for, for duo find plenty of trouble.

Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine: Freelance writer Jaine Austen finds herself working to clear the name of her friend Lance, who has been pegged as the murderer of millionaire Marv Cooper's trophy wife, a dreadful diva named Bunny.

Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon by Stephen Bly: A man looks back on his days spent as a ten-year-old at the Matador Hotel in New Mexico, listening to his grandfather and his friends, who spent their lives as cowboys in the Southwest, tell stories and pass down the way of life and western traditions that were quickly becoming extinct.

The Singing Scorpion by William Colt MacDonald: A gang called the Scorpions loot and kill with abandon until Tucson Smith, a slow-talking and not easily riled man, decides to avenge the death of a loved one who has fallen victim to their murderous ways.

Sean's Reckoning by Sheryl Woods: Fireman Sean Devaney knew love never lasted, so he made sure he'd never be in a position to experience that kind of loss again. But he never counted on meeting Deanna Blackwell, who had just lost everything in a fire.

The Man from Battle Flat by Louis L’Amour: Collected for the first time are completely restored texts of three of Louis L'Amour's finest Western Stories.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Operation Paperback


Via the LibraryThing Blog (to read more about how awesone LibraryThing is, click here), I stumbled across the non-profit organization called Operation Paperback, which works to send books to troops deployed overseas. They are looking for donations of "gently" used books. It appears that you do the mailing and they will supply the address. What a great way to recycle books! For more information about the organization and how to help, visit their website at http://www.operationpaperback.org/

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Non-fiction Connection at Nebraskaccess


A new searchable reader's advisory database called Non-fiction Connection is available at NebraskAccess. The platform is identical to Fiction Connection, which I posted about a long time ago here; however, the books are all nonfiction narratives that are based on fact yet read like fiction.

The database is available through a subscription and is made accessible to all Nebraskans free of charge courtesy of the ever wonderful Nebraska Library Commission - so thank you NLC! All you need to access the database is your Nebraska driver's license number, or you can contact us for a password.

There are a number of ways to go about finding new books, such as title search and browsing by tags. The site strikes me as pretty user friendly, so have some fun and explore. As always, if you have any questions, just let me know and I'll be happy to help :-)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Book Sale Starts Today!


Don't forget to support the library by attending the Friends of the Library Book Sale!
Hours are as follows:
Tuesday: 12-4pm Members Only & 4-6pm Public
Wednesday: 10am-7pm Public
Thursday: 12:00-5pm Public
Monetary donations are welcome!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Bookworm


Fiction
A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher: Journalist Joshua Crawford is outraged by the depiction of his grandfather as the villain in a dime store novel series penned by a D. B. Morgan, the unknown pseudonym of Daphne McKinley, but just as she begins to reassess her life Joshua rolls into town.

No Distance Too Far by Lauraine Snelling: Astrid Bjorklund, having attended a missionary training school in the South with the hopes of eventually helping sick people in Africa, is called home to Blessing for a family medical crisis, and finds opposition to herself and her work, as well as a man who makes her question her faith in God and love.

The Rule of Nine by Steve Martini: Paul Madriani, a defense attorney in San Diego, attempts to evade a variety of dangers while hunting down an extremist intent on attacking the heart of Washington, D.C., with a catastrophic weapon.

The Search by Nora Roberts: Fiona Bristow, the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer who shot and killed her fiancé and his K-9 partner, runs a dog-training business. Has her life disrupted by Simon Doyle who is desperate for help in calming his puppy, and by the emergence of a copycat killer who wants the woman that got away.

Skein of the Crime by Maggie Sefton: The knitters at the House of Lambspun have begun their fall projects, but Kelly Flynn decides to focus her attention on a murder investigation when one of her knitting students is found dead on the river trail near her house.

Take Four by Karen Kingsbury: Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison are weary about landing a popular young actor for their film, "Unlocked," because of his wild reputation, until he develops an interest in his costar, Bailey Flanigan, which could motivate him to improve himself.

Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum: Just when Maya Davis's life seems to be perfect her best friend starts dating Travis, Maya's long-term boyfriend from high school, who does not seem to recognize Maya, confusing her so much she begins to question everything, including her faith in God.

Fever Dream by Douglas J. Preston: Special Agent Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta set out to investigate the mystery of Pendergast's wife, and who loaded her rifle with blanks, thus leaving her defenseless against the ferocious lion that took her life

Foreign Influence by Brad Thor: Homeland Security agent Scot Harvath is assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a politically connected family in Afghanistan.

Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch: Twenty years after her father's mysterious disappearance, Hannah Legare returns to her family home in Charleston, South Carolina, hoping to learn what really happened on that long ago day that changed her life.

The Overton Window by Glen Beck: Public relations executive Noah Gardner refuses to help Molly Ross and her group of patriots advance their cause, until an attack on American soil shakes the country to the core and convinces Noah that helping Molly is the most important thing he will ever do, even if it means risking his life.

Predator by Terri Blackstock: After the murder of her fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator, Krista Carmichael tries to lure the killer by creating an online persona, and when Ryan Adkins, who started the GrapeVyne social network, meets Krista, he helps her in her attempt to obtain justice.

Private by James Patterson: Former CIA agent Jack Morgan runs Private, an international investigation company involved in solving important cases. When he learns that his best friend's wife has been killed, Jack devotes all of the company's resources to tracking down her killer, while navigating a workplace romance that threatens to disrupt his plans.

Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk: Thirteen-year-old Pygmy, a young terrorist in the United States under the pretext of being a foreign exchange student, tries to make sense of American life while plotting his attack.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Friends of the Library Book Sale!


The Friends will be hosting their semi-annual booksale next week!
The hours are as follows:
Members only:
Tuesday, August 17, 12:00-4:00pm
Open to the public:
Tuesday, August 17, 4:00-6:00pm
Wednesday, August 18, 10:00am-7:00pm
Thursday, August19, 12:00-5:00pm

Monetary donations are welcome and encouraged. So much of what we do here at the library is made possible by this wonderful organization and the funds raised at the books sales. The more you donate, the more we are able to do. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Book donation information: any newly donated books will likely not make it into next week's sale; however, books can be donated year round. Simply drop your donation off at the circulation desk, and we will take it downstairs.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Gloria Clark Air Base Presentation this Thursday!

Capt. Robert D. Rae of Service Company, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment prepares for a training jump in Alliance, Nebraska, in 1943. (image and caption found at www.armcairgeneral.com courtesy of Albert "Bud" Parker)

In conjunction with the military cemetery dedication, Gloria Clark, former Alliance resident, will give a presentation on her book
World War II: Prairie Invasion
at 6:00pm this Thursday
August 12th
in the Alliance Learning Center
Community Rooms.
We still have a few copies of the book available for checkout. See the circulation desk for details.


Monday, August 9, 2010

Based on the Book

The movie Eat, Pray, Love, which I am sure you know is based on the book of the same name by author Elizabeth Gilbert, is expected to hit our theatre soon. So why not be prepared and read the book before seeing the movie.

This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls “Anne Lamott’s hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister”) is poised to garner yet more adoring fans.




Friday, August 6, 2010

Bookworm



Fiction
Family Ties by Danielle Steel: Architect Annie Ferguson puts her life on hold in order to raise her sister's three orphaned children; but now in her forties and the children facing major challenges in their own lives, a chance encounter changes Annie's destiny yet again.

Imperial Bedroom by Bret Easton Ellis: Clay establishes a career in screenwriting in New York City and returns to Los Angeles to find a cast for his new movie, but after encounters with old friends and interactions with a very persistent actress, Clay's inner demons pose a threat to the life he has built.

The Lion by Nelson DeMille: John Corey fears his allotment of good luck may have run out when he signs on as a contract agent with the federal government's Anti-Terrorist Task Force and is assigned to apprehend an alleged Libyan terrorist known as "The Lion."

Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Tilly Bagshawe: Socialite Grace, wife of Lenny Brookstein, one of the founders of the most profitable hedge fund in history, must find a way to clear her own name and that of her husband after investors lose billions of dollars, Lenny disappears while sailing solo, and she is arrested for securities fraud.

The Spy by Clive Cussler: The Van Dorn Detective Agency assigns Isaac Bell, a private investigator, to a case that will reveal whether an American battleship gun designer's death was a suicide or murder, but Bell uncovers a plot set to destroy the great minds of America that are somehow connected to a secret project known as Hull 44.

Broken by Karin Slaughter: When Special Agent Will Trent investigates a prisoner's death he finds a tight-lipped police department following a second death, the county's police chief. When he tries to help the dead chief's widow, Dr. Sara Linton, he is forced to put pressure on officer Lena Adams, who he believes is concealing a dark secret.

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris: Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, having survived the Fae War and is recovering from the torture she endured, realizes the doors to Faery were closed before some fae were able to leave the human world and they are holding her responsible.

Nonfiction
A Baker's Dozen by Karen Costello Soltys: As the publisher of America's Best-Loved Quilt Books, we just had to get in on the fun of quilting with precut fabrics! For this book, we commissioned 13 fabulous quilts designed and made by the stitching experts on our own staff. Now you can indulge your craving for fat quarters, Jelly Rolls, 5-inch charm squares, and 10-inch Layer Cakes!

The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick: Explores the inside story of Facebook, its founders, and how it became a social networking sensation.

The Oglala Sioux Warriors in Transition by Robert H. Ruby: The book presents a picture of the ways in which the lives of the American Indians were altered under the influence of the U.S. government, and it details the heroic struggle of the Sioux to recover and maintain their culture and sovereignty.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin: The author gives a personal account of her life as an autistic person, describing the way her visual mind works and how she managed to go beyond her impairment and succeed in the outside world.

Surviving the Loss of a Child by Elizabeth B. Brown: The book offers encouragement and hope to those who may think they will never be able to live fully after such tragedy.

Rethinking the Fur Trade by Susan Sleeper-Smith: Exposes what has been called the “invisible hand of indigenous commerce,” revealing how it changed European interaction with Indians, influenced what was produced to serve the interests of Indian customers, and led to important cultural innovations.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis: Chronicles the events leading up to the economic crash in 2008 by following the lives of various individuals, including Steve Eisman, Vincent Daniel, Michael Burry, Greg Lippmann, Gene Park, Howie Hubler, and others.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Back From Training!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizzardo/2189776899/


I am back from my workshop and training programs in Sidney, and boy do I have a long list of new to-do items. I am very excited about the new website! It also sounds like we will be able to transfer some of the blog content over to the new platform :-)

I hope to have the website ready to roll by the end of the month (my fingers are crossed as I say this) and I would love to hear any of your suggestions for the site. After all, the website is being made for you to use and enjoy! So, what would you like to see? Leave a comment or you can email me at tkeenan@cityofalliance.net with your ideas. I would love to hear them!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Tech Training

I am in Sidney today for training on how to maintain and enhance our new website, about which I am very excited!!! So, over the next few day the posting will be sparse, and very soon I'll have a new website to share where all of our online services can be accessed from one spot. Yay!

More info coming soon :-)

Monday, August 2, 2010

And the winner of our trivia contest is . . .

Pam Becker!
You have won a handmade garden stone. It will be ready to be picked up Wednesday afternoon. (I still need to pour it.)

And I want to thank all of you who took the time to participate in this contest. I hope you had as much fun answering the questions as I did finding them :-) Is this something you would like to continue with? I'm thinking of putting together another one this fall.

And here were all of the questions and answers:
1. What percentage of the human brain is made up of water? 77-78% (The source was the University of Washington Biology Dept.)
2. What was the original name for popsicles, and how old was the inventor? They were originally called Epsicles and were invented by an 11 year old boy.
3. What time officially marked the beginning of summer? 7:48 PM
4. What was the name of the girl who was the original model for the Coppertone logo and how old was she when the ads came out? Cheri Brand and she was 3 years old
What actress made her debut starring as the Coppertone Girl in TV commercials? Jodi Foster
5. What do the colors of our flag represent? No one knows for sure because it has never been found in any documents. (This was verified by more than one source.)
6. In the sport of surfing, what does the term "goofy foot" refer to? The surfer’s stance
7. How old is the world's oldest rose and where is it located? 1000 years old, Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany
8. Early explorers used watermelons for what practical traveling accessory? A canteen
9. In china, the discarded skins of cicadas are ground up, placed in tea and given to crying babies in hopes of doing what? Quieting them.
10. Who invented the Ferris Wheel and what was it meant to celebrate? George Ferris and it celebrated the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus
11. What is the highest recorded temperature in the state of Nebraska and what city is "lucky" enough to bear this honor? 118 degrees in Minden

Friday, July 30, 2010

#11 Final Trivia Question!

Man, it sure has been hot lately! It makes me ever so thankful for working someplace with central air. When I go home, where there is a definite shortage of air conditioning, I just try to remind myself that it could be worse. So with this in mind, I give you the final question to the Trivia Contest.


#11 What is the highest recorded temperature in the state of Nebraska and what city is "lucky" enough to bear this honor?

Now, since this is the last question for the contest, be sure to go back and answer all the ones you missed. The answers must be submitted either by email to rlarson@cityofallince.net or delivered to the circulation desk by the end of the day tomorrow. I'll announce the winner and post all of the correct answers here on Monday afternoon. Good luck!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Adult Summer Reading Trivia Contest Prize!

In just a few short days we will have a winner for our trivia contest. Yay!
I know I have been promosing pictures of the trivia contest prize, which I have yet to post, mainly because I am not yet finished with it. However, I will tell you what it is. One lucker trivia fan will win a handmade mosaic glass stepping stone that I designed and made specifically for the contest :-)

So, I will be posting the last question tomorrow. Be sure to have all of your answers in to Ronda by the end of the day this Saturday, the 31st. The stone is pretty, so be sure to answer all of the questions!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Bookworm

I have been out of the office ill the last few days, so I will try to catch up with my posting throughout the day.
Fiction
Cold Ice by Tess Gerritsen: Medical examiner Maura Isles's SUV stalls on a mountain road, leaving her and her friends to seek refuge in a seemingly abandoned village, but when homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives word that Maura's charred body was discovered in a ravine, she sets out to hunt down the killer and unravel the secrets concerning Maura's fate.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker: Lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch return to find Amos Callico, a politically-ambitious chief of police, and twelve officers working in their town, but when Cole and Hitch refuse to work with Callico, the chief begins to threaten the local merchants into paying for his protection.
Anthropologie of an American Girl by H.T. Hamann: Eveline, growing up in East Hampton, learns to accept herself as she navigates her way through high school graduation and college and deals with death, rape, love, and other life challenges.
The Alchemaster's Apprentice by Walter Moers: Echo the Crat, a cat-like creature that can speak multiple languages, finds himself starving on the streets of Malisea after the death of his mistress and is forced to sign a contract with Ghoolion the Alchemaster who plans to kill Echo and render him down for his fat at the next full moon.

No Mercy by Lori Armstrong: Mercy Gunderson, on leave from military duty, returns home to South Dakota after her father's death, and as she tries to determine what to do with the family ranch, she is pulled into a dangerous investigation involving a local Native American boy who was found dead on her land.

Wrecked by Carol Higgins Clark: Private investigator Regan Reilly and her husband Jack decide to celebrate their anniversary by spending four days at a beach front home, when a violent storm demolishes their plans for a quiet vacation, and they are called to duty when an elderly neighbor disappears.
The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver: A criminal terrorizes New York City and forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme is leading the investigation, but Rhyme's determination, despite his physical impairment and his involvement in another investigation, causes conflict within his team.

Nonfiction
Hitch-22 by Christopher Hitchens: Tells the life story of controversial public intellectual, Christopher Hitchens, describing his views on war, religion, and other topics.

Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg: The author, who had a promising career in the publishing industry, recounts his descent into addiction and the odyssey of his two-month crack binge.

Pandora's Seed by Spencer Wells: Explorer, geneticist, geographer, and author Spencer Wells looks over ten thousand years of human progress maintaining that man's desire to control his own food supply contributed to urbanization and overcrowding, disease, and alienation from one another.

Rush Limbaugh: And Army of One by Ze’ev Chafets: A biography of Republican radio personality Rush Limbaugh, discussing his childhood, the jobs Limbaugh held prior to becoming an outspoken conservative, his marriages, and his political views throughout the several presidential terms since he has been on the radio.

Original Intent by David Barton: An essential resource for anyone interested in our nation's religious heritage and the Founders' intended role for the American judicial system.

To Save America by Newt Gingrich: Newt Gingrich offers his opinion of the Obama administration, characterizing it as desiring to further a socialist, secularist agenda, and discusses what he believes to be solutions for improving the legislative process, replacing Obama's programs, and more.

A Doctor Among the Oglala Sioux Tribes: The Letters of Robert H. Ruby 1953-1954 by Robert H. Ruby: In 1953, surgeon Robert H. Ruby began work as the chief medical officer at the hospital on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He began writing almost daily to his sister, describing the Oglala Lakota people he served, his Bureau of Indian Affairs colleagues, and day-to-day life on the reservation.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Adult Summer Reading Trivia #10

#10 Who invented the Ferris Wheel and what was it meant to celebrate?
We hope you enjoy the carnival this weekend and the rest of the Heritage Days activities!
If you have missed any questions, feel free to go back and answer them. You have through July 31st to submit all of your answers!
To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Seussical the Musical at Theatre West

Seussical the Musical is in Scottsbluff at WNCC's Theatre West!
I saw this musical presented by the Lincoln Community Playhouse a few years back and it is
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
They manage to role all the Seuss classics like Horton, Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, and the Butter Wars into a wonderful plot full of laughs and excitement.


So if you are a fan of Seuss, or you have a kid who likes Seuss, or you like musicals, or you're simply looking for somethig fun and different to do, contact Theatre West to purchase your tickets. The play runs tonight through Saturday and then next Wednesday through Saturday. They even have a family night on Wednesday, where admission for children under 12 is only $1 with the purchase of adult admission.


For more information contact the box office at 308-635-6193 or visit their website by clicking here.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Adult Summer Reading Trivia Question #9

#9 In china, the discarded skins of cicadas are ground up, placed in tea and given to crying babies in hopes of doing what?

Sticking with the mini recipe theme I have going on this summer, click here for a host of cicada recipes and enjoy! The cicada granola chews sound especially appetizing :-)


If you have missed any questions, feel free to go back and answer them. You have through July 31st to submit all of your answers!
To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: a Review

I recently requested the book The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. The title was perfect, the synopsis was intriguing and the book was on several summer "must read" lists I had seen in the media. So when the book arrived, I took it home and began to read.


The prose in this book is so beautifully written I found myself reading sentences two or three times on many occasions. Aimee Bender constructs beautiful similes and metaphors, and I love the way she had her characters use them frequently in conversation.

The book begins with 8 year old Rose Edelstein discovering she can taste, in any kind of food, the emotions of the person who made it. As you can imagine, this can be very cumbersome and on occasion flat-out horrifying. She goes on to discover that not only does she taste the emotions of the preparer, but the entire history of the ingredients, be they factory produced or grown on a farm, etc. She tries to explain her skill early on, but soon finds it better if she keeps her ability to herself and copes with it as best as she can.


The book moves on to explore the other characters in the book, most of whom are above-average intelligent members of her family, unfolding the separate but intersecting lives of her distant father, her borderline-insane genius brother, who harbors a mysterious and unsettling skill of his own, and her unfulfilled and disloyal mother.

While the overall plot of the story is a little strange, and your heart aches for many of the characters (whom I found myself wanting to either hug on slap on more than one occasion) this is overshadowed by Aimee Bender's ability to construct beautiful metaphors and elegant sentences. It is a novel that kept me glued to the pages, and one I would read again. I have a feeling there is still so much to discover in the pages.



Click here for review of the book from NPR and to read an excerpt.