What was the Best Book You Read this Year?

It's that time of year: The Internet is littered with best books lists for 2012. But why let critics and publishers get the last word? What was your favorite book this year?

  It's December, which is the unofficial "taking stock" month of the Internet. And one of the Internet's favorite year-end topics focuses on the best book of 2012. There are plenty of takes to choose from, like the newsy list, the most-purchased list, the best-as-voted-by-social-media-users list, the traditional list, the contrarian publication's list. We could go on. But now it's time to hear from you. What was the best book you read in 2012? And "best," of course, is subjective. It can mean your favorite, the one you thought was crafted best, the one you thought was most thought-provoking — or the one that you just had to renew from Marian J. Mohr Library more than once. It's up to you. Got a favorite book you read in 2012? Use the …

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5 Things To Know Today

Five Things for Tuesday: Clearing, Connections, Cards, Colors & More

Check today's weather, news, and events in Johnston.

  Johnston Weather: Connections: Looking for a unique way to make contacts with other businesspeople and grow your business? The North Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting a "speed networking" event this morning starting at 7:30 am. Get your coffee early and click here for more info. Cards: Marian J. Mohr Library hosts the second week of its Card Tournament today at 2:30 pm. For students in grades 6 to 12. Colors: Is your house decorated for the holidays? If you think you've got a showcase abode, enter the Patch "Deck the House" contest and show off your work. Celebrity Birthdays:

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Kids Not Reading Enough? JohnstonPatch Has Tips from Author James Patterson

Bestselling author James Patterson gives tips on making your child an avid reader. Plus, here's a great reading list for the fall to get you started.

  At Patch, we're always trying to pull together into one place all of the best local resources on every topic, including books and reading. We have the good fortune to be working with a best-selling author James Patterson in this endeavor, and we'll be continually sharing his reading list selections for every age here on Patch. Plus, we'll showcase reading lists from our local librarians, bookstores, and you—our readers. But here, an open letter to moms and dads of reluctant readers from James Patterson. Dear Moms and Dads, I’ve had the good fortune to meet hundreds of teachers and librarians around the country. They always wow me with their tips and tricks to get kids into reading. I thought it was time to get these great ideas out in …

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Mohr Library to Host Noted Heart Health Expert Tomorrow Night [UPDATE]

Dr. Barbara Roberts, Director of the Women’s Cardiology Center at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, is scheduled to speak at Ferri Middle School about her book "The Truth About Statins" on Tuesday night at 6:30 pm.

Update: Due to the size of the audience expected, Roberts's presentation has been moved to Ferri Middle School, next door to the library. As part of its continuing series of discussions with authors from the area, Marian J. Mohr Library is scheduled to host Dr. Barbara Roberts, Director of the Women’s Cardiology Center at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, tomorrow night starting at 6:30 pm. The noted heart health specialist's recent work, The Truth About Statins: Risks and Alternatives to Cholesterol-lowering Drugs, was just published about a month ago, and covers the importance of new developments in the field of statins and their potential dangers. "Her honest, patient-friendly appraisal of the most widely used medications in the world …

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