The PCL Reader

OverDrive is now available!

2012-01-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

OverDrive is now available for free access to eBooks and digital audiobooks. Download and enjoy digital books on your computer, smartphone, iPod, or eBook reader anytime, anywhere.

Go to www.parklandlibrary.org and click on the OverDrive icon, or go to http://cldl.lib.overdrive.com

At this website you can checkout and download…

•Kindle Books
•Adobe EPUB eBooks
•Adobe PDF eBooks
•OverDrive WMA Audiobooks
•OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks

To checkout and download you need…

•A valid library card
•Internet access
•A computer or device that meets the system requirements for the type(s) of materials you wish to download
•Free software for the computer or device on which you wish to use the materials available at this site

Need assistance? There is online help and guides, or contact a librarian.

Buy Book, Support Library

2011-12-06T16:23:00.000-04:00

Don't know what to get the bird lover on your holiday shopping list? Buy a signed copy of "Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success: Hundreds of Surefire Tips for Attracting and Feeding Your Favorite Birds" by Deborah L. Martin. Copies of the book are available for purchase at the library for $20, and a portion of the proceeds will support the library's building fund.

Design Your New Life

2011-11-21T14:00:00.000-04:00

Don't miss Successful Retirement Strategies for Baby Boomers & Beyond held on Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A panel of experts present a variety topics, and light refreshments will be served. This will be held in the South Whitehall township building. It's free and open to the public.

Find Out Faster!

2011-11-09T10:52:00.001-04:00

Waiting for a library item? If you have supplied us with your email address, the library will now be emailing you throughout the day as your holds become available.

To update or enter your email address, please go to www.parklandlibrary.org and click on My Account. After entering your library card number and PIN, click on Edit Account. Or call 610-398-1361 or stop in at any library location to set up email notifications.

Why email? You get faster notification that your holds have arrived.
No email? No worries. The library will still call you when your holds arrive.
Please note that you have three days to pick up an item before it goes to the next person on the list or back on to the shelf.

Shop Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble Bookfair to support Parkland Community Library

2011-11-01T13:21:00.000-04:00

Just in time for the holidays: it’s easy to support the Friends of the Parkland Community Library (FPCL) this year simply by visiting www.parklandlibrary.org and using the amazon.com search box, or by visiting Barnes & Noble of the Lehigh Valley Mall on November 19th or bn.com/bookfairs from November 19th-November 24th.

The Friends of the Parkland Community Library are now a part of Amazon's Affiliate program. This program earns up to 8% of every product purchased through the library's link to Amazon--all at no cost to you. Help support the FPCL and get your shopping done at the same time by visiting www.parklandlibrary.org and using the amazon.com search box. There are no time limits on this fundraiser.

The Barnes & Noble Bookfair for the Friends of the Parkland Community Library starts on Saturday, November 19th from 9 am to 10 pm. Events include children’s storytimes at 10:30 am with storyteller Kathy Long, and 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm with librarian Hannah Killian; scavenger hunt race at 11:30am to race around the store and find answers to win; and an adult and teen storytelling at 7 pm with Robin Berry and Kelly Fitzpatrick. Acclaimed local storytellers, including Karen Maurer and members of the Parkland Community Library Teen Tellers, will share tales from around the world and from their own backyards. The International Day of Storytelling is brought to you by the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild.

Can’t make the Bookfair? Visit bn.com/bookfairs to support the FPCL online from November 19th through November 24th by entering Bookfair ID 10525723 at checkout.

Thanks for your support!

Parkland Community Library has something for everyone!

2011-10-06T16:51:00.002-04:00

Miss your eaudiobooks through Netlibrary? We now have “One Click Digital” icon on our website to tide you over until Overdrive arrives in mid-December with both eaudiobooks and ebooks in a user-friendly format!
In other news, the library is separating the children’s and adults’ DVD collections. Now kids can browse the DVDs with the red labels or search the catalog by setting limits for “Juvenile DVD”. There are also “new” stickers on our most recent DVDs, and they are searchable in the catalog by setting limits for “New DVD”.
Story times have started and are a hit, as always, thanks to the Youth Services department.
School children looking for assistance for National History Day can click the icon on our website created by the Reference Department, or they can also ask a reference librarian for personalized assistance.
Teen Tellers meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:30pm.
Parents have been enjoying the monthly workshops on parenting by Redirecting Children’s Behavior of the Lehigh Valley. There is still room for Thursday, October 13th and Thursday, November 17th at 6:30pm.
Adults attend movie night the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm; Bookquest the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm; and Knitting Circle the fourth Thursday of the month from 1:30pm to 4pm.
Other programs vary but include Read About It! Books on Screen, author visits, financial planning and more!
Seniors can attend free monthly programs once a month at the library. Upcoming programs include:
“Yikes, I’m Retiring!!! Now What???” on Tuesday, October 18th 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Road Scholar Ambassador on Tuesday, November 1st 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Elder Care Planning on Tuesday, December 6th 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s: The Basics on Wednesday, January 11th 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Shopping for the holidays? Consider using the library’s secure Amazon.com search box on our website; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the library. On Saturday, November 19th, Barnes & Noble shoppers can benefit the library through their purchases online or in the store. Vouchers will be available at the library.
Please contact us at 610-398-1361 or visit the library for more information about our programs and services. The calendar of events can be found at www.parklandlibrary.org

PARKLAND COMMUNITY LIBRARY TO OFFER BOOK DISCUSSION PROGRAM "BOOKS ON SCREEN"

2011-08-23T11:31:00.000-04:00

Parkland Community Library has been chosen to sponsor a series of book discussion programs called Read About It!. A discussion group will meet at Parkland Community Library for four sessions from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on the second Wednesday of the month: September 14th, October 12th, November 9th, and December 14th.

The Parkland Community Library will offer Books on Screen. Led by Dr. Carrie F. Myers, English professor at Lehigh-Carbon Community College, the discussion group will explore the relationship between literature and film adaptation. Participants will read and discuss popular titles, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, True Grit, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Winter Bones.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is free and open to the general public, and requires no special knowledge about literature. The first 15 participants will receive their own copies of the books featured in Books on Screen. The program is limited to 30 participants. To register, contact Maryellen Kanarr at 610-398-1361 x13 before Wednesday, September 7th or stop by the library for a form.

Quality programs such as Books on Screen make Pennsylvania libraries the place where learning starts. Books on Screen is part of Read About It!, a book discussion series of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. The program is supported with the federal Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. For more information, visit www.pahumanities.org or contact 800-462-0442 or phc@pahumanities.org.

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday August 17th, for a special guest!

2011-08-16T11:13:00.000-04:00

Parkland Community Library will host PCL’s Annual Summer Celebrity:Elaine VietsWed., August 17, 2011 at 7pm in Parkland High School Auditorium 2700 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown, PA 18104.Free and open to the public! Reservations Requested 610-398-1361 x13.Elaine Viets is the author of two national bestselling mystery series. Her Dead-End Job series is a satiric look at a serious subject – the minimum wage world. Her character, Helen Hawthorne, works a different low-paying job each book. She’s been everything from a telemarketer to a hotel maid. The South Florida series has been called “Janet Evanovich meets The Fugitive.” Publishers Weekly called “Murder Unleashed,” Elaine’s hardcover debut “wry social commentary.” Ms. Viets will be discussing her unique experiences in the business, answering audience questions and more. She will also sign copies of her books, which will be available to purchase.

PCL 21st Annual Used Book Sale

2011-07-21T12:43:00.000-04:00

Got books?

The Friends of Parkland Community Library holds its 21st Annual Used Book Sale from July 30th through August 6th at the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), 4500 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, PA 18078.

Hours are Saturdays 8am-3pm, Sunday 11am-3pm, and Monday-Friday 10am-8pm.

There is a special preview night Friday, July 29th from 3:30pm-8:30pm with a $10 donation per adult and $3 donation per child (free for FPCL members).

Book donations are currently being accepted until July 28th at LCTI.

Successful PCL Capital Campaign and Summer Reading Club Kickoff Event

2011-06-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

The Parkland Community Library’s Capital Campaign Kickoff Event on Saturday, June 25th from noon to 3pm at the site of the future new library building on 354 Grange Road in Upper Macungie was a success!

Executive Director Debbie Jack organized the event as a fun-filled day for families, who received information about the library’s campaign, summer reading clubs, and Friends of the Library.

Library volunteers were honored by government officials including Senator Robert Casey, Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning, South Whitehall Township Commissioner Brad Osborne, and Representative Gary Day. Special honors were presented to Adult Volunteers Jean Kuttruff and Cynthia Kuzma; Friends of the Library Gloria Hamm and Lorna Rabe; and Teen Volunteers Nicholas Dyszel, Maria Galassi, Andrew Derhammer, Keshav Kumarankandatt, Kelsey-Emily Leinert, Hannah Ticho, Andrew Ivankovits, and Farids Gafarova. Renderings of the new library building were presented to the public.

Community support was vital to the event, such as the donated food and drink from local businesses and individuals including Heeps Inc., Weis, Giant, Wegmans, Aldi, A-Treat, Bottom Dollar Food, Josh Early Candies, Utz, Taylor Rental, Plaza Beverage, Greentree Nurseries, Roberta Marcus and Betsy Drizos.

While event goers enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, cupcakes, cookies, water, soda, and juice boxes, musical entertainment was provided by Steve Pullara of the Cool Beans Band, and face painting was provided. Cetronia Ambulance Corps and Troy Hein from Channel 69 news provided community interest while characters Curious George and FeRROUS, the Iron Pigs' mascot, also paid a visit and delighted the crowds.

A fun raffle had event goers visit seven tables and get stickers to fill a “passport” that was then entered for a prize. Fyodor D’Souza won the Nintendo DSi and the Woytek family won the Kindle. Everyone went home with a gift bag.

For more information or to donate to the capital campaign, go to http://www.parklandlibrary.org.

Join the Summer Reading Club!

2011-06-22T13:21:00.003-04:00

The Parkland Community Library Summer Reading Club begins this year on June 20th and runs through August 13th.

There are four different clubs: one for each age group!

Three Youth Reading Clubs "One World, Many Stories" include:

Read-to-Me Club is for children ages 2 through entering 1st grade
Kids Read Club is for readers entering grade 2 through entering grade 5
Teen Read Club welcomes readers entering grades 6 through 12

One Adult Summer Reading Club "Novel Destinations" includes:
Adult Read Club welcomes readers age 16 years and over.

For Youth Reading Club events and information, go to http://catalog.parklandlibrary.org/Parkland/uploads/Newsletter%201%20color.pdf

For the Adult Reading Club, submit book reviews and get a chance to win a prize through weekly drawings. Each week covers a different continent. Programs held in South Whitehall township building or outside.

Events include:

Travel: Saturday, June 18th at 1pm: Trouble-free Disney Travel presented by Jill Kuritz of the AAA.

Europe: Tuesday, June 21st at 7pm: Bookquest discusses Earthly Joys by Philipa Gregory in South Whitehall township building.

Australia: Thursday, June 30th at 6:30pm: Learn about boomerangs with Boomerang Dave.

North America: Saturday, July 9th at 10am: Northeast Woodland Indians History by the Museum of Indian Culture.

Asia: Saturday, July 23rd at 10am-2pm: Origami with Mark Kennedy.

Africa: Saturday, August 6th at 1pm on library lawn: Drum Circle with Moe Jerant of the Lehigh Valley Drummers.

Finale: Celebrate with Florida mystery writer & summer author Elaine Viets, Wed. August 17th at 7pm at Parkland High School!

There’s Something for Everyone!

2011-06-08T11:24:00.002-04:00

“Parkland Community Library to Kickoff Capital Building Campaign with Community Event”

The Parkland Community Library Capital Building Campaign and Summer Reading Club Kickoff Event will include food, games, raffles, prizes, presentations, including Volunteer Appreciation by local officials, arts and crafts, facepainting and photo opportunities with some surprise guests! Our summer reading club kicks off as well with a concert by Steve of Cools Beans Music. It’s a fun-filled family day! We hope you can join us!

When: Saturday, June 25, 2011 (rain date June 26, 2011)

Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.-Presentations including Volunteer Appreciation

1:00- 2:00 p.m.- Steve of the Cool Beans Band

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Surprise Guests and fun for all!

Location: Grange Road and Ruppsville Road, Upper Macungie Township, PA (future building site)

Please RSVP to the library by June 20th

This is an outdoor event! Please dress appropriately.

PCL's Annual Summer Celebrity

2011-05-27T11:15:00.000-04:00

Save the Date!
PCL’s Annual Summer Celebrity: Elaine Viets
Wed., August 17, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Parkland High School Auditorium
Reservations Requested 610-398-1361 x13

Elaine Viets is the author of two national bestselling mystery series. Her Dead-End Job series is a satiric look at a serious subject – the minimum wage world. Her character, Helen Hawthorne, works a different low-paying job each book. She’s been everything from a telemarketer to a hotel maid. The South Florida series has been called “Janet Evanovich meets The Fugitive.”

Publishers Weekly called “Murder Unleashed,” Elaine’s hardcover debut “wry social commentary.” The magazine gave her ninth Dead-End Job mystery, “Half-Price Homicide,” a starred review.

Her Dead-End Job series is taught in universities in the United States and Japan.

Elaine’s second series, featuring Josie Marcus, is a look at the pink collar world of secret shopping. This critically acclaimed series debuted in October 2005 with “Dying in Style” and tied with Stephen King on the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association bestseller list.

Elaine’s short stories have appeared in two New York Times bestselling anthologies. “Vampire Hours” was in “Many Bloody Returns,” edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner and reprinted in “Vampires in Love,” published by Barnes & Noble. Her short story, “The Bedroom Door,” was in Mystery Writers of America’s “Crimes by Moonlight,” edited by Charlaine Harris.

She has had short stories published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and anthologies such as “Drop-Dead Blonde,” “High Stakes,” the award-winning “Chesapeake Crimes I,” Mystery Writers of America’s “Blood on Their Hands,” edited by Lawrence Block; Mystery Writers of America’s “Show Business Is Murder,” edited by Stuart Kaminsky; and “The World’s Greatest Mystery and Crime Stories,” edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg.

Her short stories have been published worldwide, including Britain, Australia, Turkey and France.

Elaine has appeared on national television including the Discovery Channel and the Sally Jesse Show. She was featured on National Public Radio station WLRN with Jeff "Dexter" Lindsay on "Literary Florida."

Elaine has served on the national boards of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

She won the Agatha, Anthony and Lefty Awards.

From http://www.elaineviets.com/default.asp

It's an exciting time for the Parkland Community Library!

2011-05-10T14:18:00.001-04:00

We are now a free Wi-Fi spot. No laptop? Borrow one to use in the library with your driver's license or other official photo ID.

Also, we have e-books that you can download for free (just need a library card) to your Sony Reader, Nook Color, and other e-reading devices that support the Adobe Content Server. Visit our website at www.parklandlibrary.org or call a reference librarian for more information. And congratulations to the winner of our Nook Color drawing, Jen Stempel!

Need a library card but can't get to the library right away? We have online registration through our website.

Can't remember when your library items are due? Sign up for Library Elf on our website, which will send you email reminders.

Need ideas for what to read next? Try Book Browse, a new database available through our website or contact the Adult or Youth Services Librarians for a personal touch.

Looking for new items to check out or place on hold? Do a search of your favorite author or genre in our catalog and click on the RSS feed to get notifications of new items automatically.

Celebrate Get Caught Reading Month every Tuesday in May at noon-1pm. “Like” us on Facebook and then answer a question about the library every Tuesday within one hour timeframe to get a chance to win an autographed copy of a book!

Check the sidebar for our events. All events are free and open to the public unless indicated otherwise.

We hope to see you soon!

The 2011 Pulitzer Prize Winners-Fiction

2011-04-27T15:56:00.000-04:00

Awarded to "A Visit From the Goon Squad" by Jennifer Egan, an inventive investigation of growing up and growing old in the digital age, displaying a big-hearted curiosity about cultural change at warp speed.

Finalists
Also nominated as finalists in this category were: “The Privileges,” by Jonathan Dee (Random House), a contemporary, wide ranging tale about an elite Manhattan family, moral bankruptcy and the long reach of wealth; and “The Surrendered,” by Chang-rae Lee (Riverhead Books), a haunting and often heartbreaking epic whose characters explore the deep reverberations of love, devotion and war.

Check them out at the library!

National Library Week

2011-03-30T16:08:00.002-04:00

Celebrate National Library Week with us from April 10th-16th. Create your own story @ your library!
Check out our events and enter a raffle for a Nook Color! Tickets are 6 for $5 or $1 a piece. Benefits the library. Prize donated by Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Tilghman Street office. Requires your Parkland Community Library card. Ask how to sign up if you don’t have one!

2011-02-23T14:48:00.003-04:00

Don't know what to read next? Want to broaden your horizons? The Adult Services librarian can suggest books that may interest you! Reader's advisory...just one more service offered by Parkland Community Library.

The 2011 Tournament of Books

2011-01-21T13:39:00.007-04:00

Book lovers, start your reading! The Morning News has recently announced the contenders for this year's Tournament of Books. Now in it's seventh year, this event (presented by Field Notes and sponsored by Powell's Books) pits some of the past year's best books against each other in a bracket-style showdown. Some of this year's judges include popular fiction author Jennifer Weiner, Time assistant managing editor Radhika Jones and The Walkmen lead singer Hamilton Leithauser. You also have a chance to alter the course of events through the "Zombie Round" - where the two most popular books among readers that were earlier eliminated get a second chance to take down the semi-finalists. The winning book is crowned "The Rooster" aka "The Champion Book of the Year." The contest starts on Monday, March 7th, but the titles are announced early to give readers a chance to savor each book before the battle begins. Take a look at this year's nominees and get ready to cheer on your favorite in the 2011 Tournament of Books!

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Nox by Anne Carson
Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky
Room by Emma Donoghue
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon
Bloodroot by Amy Greene
Next by James Hynes
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Model Home by Eric Puchner
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart
Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne
Savages by Don Winslow

January 2011's Must-Reads

2011-01-07T10:30:00.006-04:00

Kick off the new year with some fantastic new books! This month's selections include a coming-of-age story with a dash of magic, an engaging new detective series set in South Africa, an enthralling treatment of the 1920 Wall Street bombing, a Shakespeare-quoting, lively trio of homeward-bound sisters and the poignant stories of military wives. If January is any indication, 2011 is sure to bring outstanding books for all!

Among Others by Jo Walton (Jan. 18th) - "World Fantasy Award-winner Walton (Tooth and Claw) turns the magical boarding school story inside out in this compelling coming-of-age tale...this outstanding...tale draws its strength from a solid foundation of sense-of-wonder and what-if." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The October Killings by Wessel Ebersohn (Jan. 18th) - "South African author Ebersohn kicks off a promising new series pairing psychologist Yudel Gordon...with Abigail Bukula, chief director of South Africa's justice department, who can more than hold her own with the brilliantly eccentric Gordon...The complexities of South Africa a decade after the end of white rule help fuel a compelling plot that builds to several dramatic climaxes." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld (Jan. 20th) - "The 1920 bombing of Wall Street, the most deadly act of terrorism in the United States until the Oklahoma blast of 1995, provides the framework for Rubenfeld's excellent follow-up to The Interpretation of Murder...Rubenfeld deftly wends his way through the shifting landscape with a historian's factual touch and a storyteller's eye for the dramatic and telling." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (Jan. 20th) - "The Weird Sisters in Eleanor Brown's delightful debut could have been weirder, considering their upbringing...With lively dialogue and witty collective narration, the sisters' untangling of their identities and relationships feels honest and wise, and the questions they raise about how we carry our childhood roles into our adult lives will resonate with all readers, especially those with their own weird sisters." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2011)

You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon (Jan. 20th) - "The crucial role of military wives becomes clear in Fallon's powerful, resonant debut collection, where women are linked by absence and a pervading fear that they'll become war widows...Fallon writes with both grit and grace: her depiction of military life is enlivened by telling details, from the early morning sound of boots stomping down the stairs to the large sign that tallies automobile fatalities of troops returned from Iraq. Significant both as war stories and love stories, this collection certifies Fallon as an indisputable talent." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Best AV of 2010

2010-12-30T10:50:00.003-04:00

Now that the list of the best fiction of 2010 has been covered, it's only fair to give audiovisuals their due. This past year marked Eminem's comeback album and Taylor Swift's continued domination of the charts. A CGI-laden sci-fi film stole our hearts, toys came back to life in a big way and a cantankerous musician gave us hope. The world of video games welcomed back several old friends, including the Mario Bros., Kirby, Donkey Kong and Sonic. All in all, 2010 was packed with winning audiovisuals.

Read on for the Adult Services Department's lists of the best DVDs, CDs and video games of 2010. These compilations include some of the best reviewed and most popular titles at PCL.

DVDs

~Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) - "Fantastic Mr. Fox is a delightfully funny feast for the eyes with multi-generational appeal - and it shows Wes Anderson has a knack for animation." - Rottentomatoes.com

~The Hurt Locker (R) - "A well-acted, intensely shot, action filled war epic, Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the Iraq War." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Crazy Heart (R) - "Thanks to a captivating performance from Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart transcends its overly familiar origins and finds new meaning in an old story." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Inception (PG-13) - "Smart, innovative, and thrilling, Inception is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Up in the Air (R) - "Led by charismatic performances by its three leads, director Jason Reitman delivers a smart blend of humor and emotion with just enough edge for mainstream audiences." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Despicable Me (PG) (Coming soon to PCL) - "Borrowing heavily (and intelligently) from Pixar and Looney Tunes, Despicable Me is a surprisingly thoughtful, family-friendly treat with a few surprises of its own." - Rottentomatoes.com

~How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - "Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars." - Rottentomatoes.com

~The Blind Side (PG-13) - It might strike some viewers as a little too pat, but The Blind Side has the benefit of strong source material and a strong performance from Sandra Bullock." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Toy Story 3 (G) - "Deftly blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, Toy Story 3 is a rare second sequel that really works." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Avatar (PG-13) - "It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking." - Rottentomatoes.com

CDs

~Contra by Vampire Weekend - "The scholarly Upper West Side Soweto of Vampire Weekend's debut sounded self-assured, but on Contra, they step out of their ivory tower with just as much confidence." - Allmusic.com

~Union by Elton John and Leon Russell - "Surely, it's a revival for Leon Russell, who has spent decades in the wilderness, but it's not a stretch to say The Union revitalizes Elton John just as much as it does his idol: he hasn't sounded this soulful in years." - Allmusic.com

~My Beautiful, Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West (Coming soon to PCL) - "Whether loved or loathed, fully enjoyed or merely admired, this album should be regarded as a deeply fascinating accomplishment." - Allmusic.com

~Need You Now by Lady Antebellum - "Here, the band's seamless, polished, and savvy brand of contemporary country is even more consistent than it was on their debut; it's virtually flawless in its songwriting, production, and performance." - Allmusic.com

~The Suburbs by Arcade Fire - "It's serious without being preachy, cynical without dissolving into apathy, and whimsical enough to keep both sentiments in line, and of all of their records, it may be the one that ages so well." - Allmusic.com

~The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson (Coming soon to PCL) - "...it makes plain the music contemporary country is trying to erase, while being a thoroughly accessible modern offering. Given its wonderfully crafted and performed material and stellar production, it is the country album of 2010." - Allmusic.com

~Brothers by The Black Keys (Coming soon to PCL) - "And that's the great thing about the Black Keys in general and Brothers in particular: the past and present intermingle so thoroughly that they blur, yet there's no affect, just three hundred pounds of joy." - Allmusic.com

~Recovery by Eminem - "It may be flawed and the rapper's attitude is sometimes one step ahead of his output, but he hasn't sounded this unfiltered and proud since The Marshall Mathers LP..." - Allmusic.com

~Congratulations by MGMT (Coming soon to PCL) - "From the opening moments of the sublime "It's Working" all the way to the titular closer, Congratulations is an incredible follow-up from a band that is still maturing into some unknown entity." - Allmusic.com

~Speak Now by Taylor Swift - "She writes from the perspective of the moment yet has the skill of a songwriter beyond her years, articulating contradictions and confessions with keen detail and strong melody." - Allmusic.com
Video Games

~Gran Turismo 5 (PS3 / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "...if you've ever fantasized about a Ferrari or dreamed of driving at Daytona, Gran Turismo 5 is a game that you're sure to get a lot out of. This is simultaneously the most accessible GT game yet and the most uncompromisingly realistic driving game on a console to date." - GameSpot.com

~3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3 / E10+) - "...a pleasant retreat for anyone who pines for the good old days, but even those without nostalgic links to the past will find an enjoyable experience." - GameSpot.com

~Monster Hunter Tri (Wii / T) - "...if you're hungering for some fun, challenging action and online comaraderie, Monster Hunter Tri will satisfy your cravings." - GameSpot.com

~Rock Band 3 (Wii / PS3 / T / Coming soon to PCL) - "All told, Rock Band turns in an absolutely stellar performance...easily one of the most ambitious music games ever produced, and that it is so successful in its ambition makes it something really special." - GameSpot.com

~Final Fantasy XIII (PS3 / T) - "...a legitimately great game for its stunning beauty, fantastic story, and enjoyable battles, which means it has a lot in common with the Final Fantasy games that came before it." - GameSpot.com

~NBA 2K11 (Wii / PS3 / E) - "...a huge improvement over last year's edition. Just about every facet has been improved or overhauled, which makes this a richly rewarding experience with enough depth to make even diehard NBA fans feel like rookies." - GameSpot.com

~Sonic Colors (Wii / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "...a welcome surprise: a fresh-faced 3D Sonic with great looks and breezy action...This is a Sonic game with verve and imagination..." - GameSpot.com

~Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "This is a traditional take on 2D platformers, and it excels because the brilliant level design makes old obstacles seem new again. Every level hides a new surprise, and you'll replay them over and over again not only to nab every hidden collectible, but also because they're exquisitely entertaining." - GameSpot.com

~Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "...makes it clear from the get-go that it is an adorable game that will put a smile on your face through its outstanding visual design, but the delights go much deeper than the delectable aesthetics." - GameSpot.com

~Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii / E) - "...simply an outstanding game. It never rests on its laurels for a second, constantly presenting new objectives and mechanics to push you to never before seen places." - GameSpot.com

Best of 2010

2010-12-23T14:32:00.011-04:00

It's that time of year again...time to make plans and resolutions for a bright, shiny new year. Time to gleefully anticipate a fresh batch of promising books, movies, CDs and video games. But before you charge full steam ahead into 2011, take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights of the retreating year. Many a book, DVD, CD and video game brought joy and insight to the PCL community this year.

Peruse the Adult Services Department's picks for the best fiction of 2010, included below. The list is a combination of some of the best reviewed and most popular items at PCL.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson - "As the finale to Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is not content to merely match the adrenaline-charged pace that made international bestsellers out of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire. Instead, it roars with an explosive storyline that blows the doors off the series and announces that the very best has been saved for last." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, May 2010)

Room by Emma Donoghue - "Emma Donoghue's Room is rife with moments of hope and beauty, and the dogged determination to live, even in the most desolate circumstances. A stunning and original novel of survival in captivity, readers who enter Room will leave staggered, as though, like Jack, they are seeing the world for the very first time." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best of the Month, September 2010)

Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey - "Richly atmospheric, this wonderful novel is picaresque and Dickensian, with humor and insight injected into an accurately rendered period of French and American history." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Faithful Place by Tana French - "Faithful Place is Tana French's best book yet (readers familiar with In the Woods and The Likeness will recognize this as an incredible feat), a compelling and cutting mystery with the hardscrabble, savage Mackey clan at its heart." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2010)

A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan - "Readers will be pleased to discover that the star-crossed marriage of lucid prose and expertly deployed postmodern switcheroos that helped shoot Egan to the top of the genre-bending new school is alive and well in this graceful yet wild novel." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee - "Powerful, deeply felt, compulsively readable and imbued with moral gravity, the novel does not peter out into easy redemption. It's a harrowing tale: bleak, haunting, often heartbreaking - and not to be missed." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Great House by Nicole Krauss - "This stunning work showcases Krauss's consistent talent...Much like in Krauss's The History of Love, the sharply etched characters seem at first arbitrarily linked across time and space, but Krauss pulls together the disparate elements, settings, characters, and fragile connective tissue to form a formidable and haunting mosaic of loss and profound sorrow." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - "In his zinger of a debut, Rachman deftly applies his experience as foreign correspondent and editor to chart the goings-on at a scrappy English-language newspaper in Rome...As the ragtag staff faces down the implications of the paper's tilt into oblivion, there are more than enough sublime moments, unexpected turns and sheer inky wretchedness to warrant putting this on the shelf next to other great newspaper novels." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - "Every page is overfull with language, events, and characters, exuberantly saturated in the details of the time and the place but told from a knowing and undeniably modern perspective. It's a story that seems to contain a thousand worlds in one." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2010)

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What were your favorite books of 2010? Stay tuned for upcoming posts on the best CDs, DVDs and video games of 2010!

Also, don't forget to check out the Youth Services blog for lists of the best Picture, Juvenile and YA books of the year and the Reference Services blog for the best Non-Fiction titles of the year.

Author Spotlight: Tanya Wright

2010-12-14T10:02:00.012-04:00

As if playing a starring role on HBO's True Blood isn't enough, Tanya Wright has also found time to write a screenplay, translate it into her first novel, and direct and star in said screenplay. Fans worldwide know her as the saucy, outspoken Deputy Kenya Jones on HBO's hit series based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. Wright's debut novel, Butterfly Rising, was inspired by the loss of her own brother and the transformation she experienced in her life at that time. According to Wright, "I hope the message in Butterfly Rising inspires people to believe in their dreams, no matter how far-reaching they may seem. In today's world, it's easy to put our dreams last on our daily list of 'things to do.' Butterfly Rising - a bumpy and emotional journey towards hope and rebirth - is a story that suggests our dreams may actually be the bridge to leading a productive, fulfilling and extraordinary life. The journey of Lilah and Rose also exemplifies that second chances are infinitely real and deserved."

Meet Tanya Wright at PCL on Thursday, February 17th at 7pm. Reservations requested, but not required - 610-398-1361 x13. Read on for fun facts about the author and place your hold on Butterfly Rising today.

*She has appeared in ground-breaking shows including 24, NYPD Blue, ER, The Cosby Show and the Morgan Freeman-produced NBC feature Mutiny
*A native of Bronx, N.Y., Wright moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career
*She worked briefly at The New York Times
*While attending Vassar College, her studies focused on comparative literature and writing
*She is the writer and creator of several screenplays and television pilots, a soap opera, a web-based series and a reality show
*In her spare time she enjoys yoga, dance, bike riding, hiking and mentoring projects for young girls and other artists

December 2010's Must-Reads

2010-12-07T15:10:00.002-04:00

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, you may be on the lookout for the perfect gift for loved ones. You may also be longing for a good book to help escape the hubub of this busy time of year. Look no further than this month's list of must-read books for the solution to both quandaries!

The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip (Dec. 7th) - World Fantasy Award winner McKillip (The Bell at Sealey Head) offers a rich, resonant story of poetry, riddles, mystery, and magic...McKillip seduces readers with lyrical prose; intriguing, complex characters; and resonant riddles-within-riddles." - Publisher's Weekly

The Four Stages of Cruelty by Keith Hollihan (Dec. 7th) - "Hollihan manages to combine a labyrinthine plot, full of intrigue, secret societies, and arcane lore, with a nuanced, character-driven narrative that provides insights into prison life while keeping readers guessing until the last page." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings (Dec. 7th) - "Meekings is a bangup storyteller, and his easy handling of rich and varied material - rustic splendor, class warfare, profound anguish, drastic social changes - will keep readers apt. This is a beautifully told love story as well as an absorbing study in Chinese folklore and history." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal (Dec. 21st) - "O'Neal's tale of strong-willed women and torn family loyalties is a cut above the standard women's fiction fare, held together by lovingly sketched characters and real emotion." - Publisher's Weekly

The Radleys by Matt Haig (Dec. 28th) - "This witty vampire novel from British author Haig (The Possession of Mr. Cave) provides what jaded fans of the Twilight series need, not True Blood exactly, but some fresh blood in the form of a true blue family." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Knit, Purl, Read

2010-11-30T11:30:00.001-04:00

If you like a clever mystery that is short on gory details but long on quirky characters, then cozy mysteries are for you. (See my previous post to learn more.) If you also love to knit, then knitting cozy mysteries are right up your alley.

There are many sub-genres in the cozy category, such as mysteries featuring knitting, cooking and/or baking, tea houses, coffee houses, wine country, animals, antiques and many more interesting themes. Read on for a list of popular knitting cozy mysteries available at the library.

Barbara Bretton - Sugar Maple series - Meet Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks and String knitting shop in Sugar Maple, Vermont...and a sorcerer's daughter. Sparks fly when she meets human police officer Luke MacKenzie, who is hard at work investigating Sugar Maple's first murder. Perfect for the reader who enjoys a breezy mystery, knitting, romance and a dash of magic.

Monica Ferris - Needlecraft Mysteries series - When Betsy Devonshire's sister Margot is found dead in her needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy begins her own investigation. She finds plenty of suspects, including a disgruntled landlord and a scheming competitor. Recommended for fans of strong characters, well-paced plots and needlecraft.

Sally Goldenbaum - Seaside Knitters Mystery series - Welcome to Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, home of Isabel "Izzy" Chambers' knitting shop and the Seaside Knitters, a diverse group of women who meet weekly to knit...and solve the occasional murder. This series is great for anyone who enjoys knitting with others (such as members of the library's Knitting Circle!)

Maggie Sefton - Knitting Mystery series - Kelly Flynn travels to Fort Conner, Colorado for the funeral of her Aunt Helen, who was recently murdered. Although the local police have written the death off as the result of a random break-in, Kelly is not so sure. She launches her own investigation and learns to knit at the House of Lambspun. Both journeys prove to be enlightening. Recommended for first-time knitters and those who remember the triumphs and tribulations of their own knitting beginnings.

What are your favorite cozy mysteries?

Harry Potter

2010-11-18T15:00:00.005-04:00

As the latest glimpse into the enticing world of Harry Potter rapidly approaches (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I hits movie theaters in a mere nine hours!) interest in "the boy who lived" is back on the rise.

The world's fascination is intensified by the fact that this is the second to last part of a long and incredible journey. All of the books have been published and now only two movies remain to be savored. Instead of wringing your hands in despair, use them to pick up a great book, similar in style to Harry Potter. Also, enjoy some fun facts and links to enhance your understanding of this blockbuster series.

Harry Potter Read-Alikes

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones - "...this comic fantasy follows two orphans, one of whom is a witch, when they are summoned to live in a castle full of necromancers." Publisher's Weekly

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper - "Susan Cooper, in her five-title Dark is Rising sequence, creates a world where the conflict between good and evil reaches epic proportions. She ranks with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in her ability to deliver a moral vision in the context of breathtaking adventure." Amazon.com Review

Eragon by Christopher Paolini - "Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend." Amazon.com Review

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - "In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist." Amazon.com Review

Graceling by Kristin Cashore - "In this debut fantasy novel, Cashore treats readers to compelling and eminently likable characters and a story that draws them in from the first paragraph." School Library Journal (Starred Review)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is, in turn, beautiful, frightening, wise." New York Times

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge - "The author is as inventive with language as she is with social and cultural constructs. This novel is just plain fun." School Library Journal

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin - "...Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at out hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms." Amazon.com Review

Fun Facts

*The Hogwarts motto, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" means "never tickle a sleeping dragon."

*The last name Dumbledore means "Bumblebee" in Old English.

*During the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the part of Dobby was played by a ball on a stick (he was later added digitally.)

*The newspaper headline "Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament," seen in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was considered for the title of the fourth book.

*Several members of the Black family are named after astronomical objects, including Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda, Arcturus, Bellatrix and Cygnus.

*On one of the many occasions in the book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that Professor Slughorn gets Ron's name wrong, he calls him Rupert (Chapter 22.) In all movie adaptations of the Harry Potter books Ron Weasley is played by Rupert Grint.

Recommended Websites

jkrowling.com - The official website of the genius behind Harry Potter

harrypotter.scholastic.com - Explore Harry's magical world for yourself - Repel a dementor! Transfigure a rock! Unlock Moody's trunk!

Fun facts found at www.imdb.com

Veterans Day

2010-11-10T12:45:00.011-04:00

November 11th is a day to honor all veterans on a national scale. This particular date is quite significant, given that on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice was called between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War. The following year, November 11th was celebrated as Armistice Day. It became a legal federal holiday in 1938. After WWII and the Korean War, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The library has a wide variety of resources to help honor American veterans on November 11th and all year long.

CDs
The Civil War: Its Music and Sounds
United States Army Field Band
United States Marine Band

DVDs
Band of Brothers
The Deer Hunter
Full Metal Jacket
Muse of Fire
The Pacific
Platoon
Vietnam: A Television History
The War
WWII in HD

Fiction Books

All Quiet on the Western Front by Eric Maria Remarque
The Marines of Autumn by James Brady
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
The Sandbox by David Zimmerman
The Thin Red Line by James Jones
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson

Non-fiction Books
Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie
Joker One by Donovan Campbell
The Last Stand of Fox Company by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
Never will We Forget: Oral Histories of WWII by Marilyn Mayer Culpepper
Radioman by Ray Daves

Websites
History.com
Lehigh Valley area Veterans Day events (from The Morning Call)
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Interesting Facts
~There are currently about 23.2 million military veterans in the United States
~9.2 million of those veterans are over the age of 65
~1.9 million veterans are under the age of 35
~Congress passed a bill that moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, in 1968 (the law went into effect in 1971.) President Ford returned the holiday back to November 11th in 1975, due to the date's historical importance
~Britain, France, Australia and Canada also honor the vets of WWI and WWII on or near November 11th

How will you commemorate Veterans Day this year?

Interesting facts found on History.com's Veterans Day Facts page.
Information about Veterans Day found on History.com's Veterans Day page.

November 2010's Must-Reads

2010-11-03T12:35:00.003-04:00

If you are boldly attempting the NaNoWriMo challenge, you may not have too much time to devote to reading this month. On the other hand, you might appreciate a good book to make your procrastination interesting and/or to help inspire your own words. If you have no idea what NaNoWriMo is (see my earlier post on the subject) and just need help finding your next favorite book, read on for some of November's best and brightest.

The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick (Nov. 1st) - "Hollick does a remarkable job of bringing to life a little known but powerful queen, as well as the milieu and world she inhabited. The scope is vast and the cast is huge, but Hollick remains firmly in control, giving readers an absorbing plot that never lags over the course of a fat, satisfying book." - Publisher's Weekly

The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent (Nov. 8th) - "Kent doesn't disappoint in this prequel to The Heretic's Daughter, taking readers back to Massachusetts before the Salem witch trials as strong-willed 23-year-old Martha Allen falls in love with strong-armed hired hand Thomas Carrier...Kent weaves in references to her first novel while creating an immersive stand-alone...Kent brings colonial America to life by poking into its dark corners and finding its emotional and personal underpinnings. - Publisher's Weekly

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (Nov. 9th) - "A letter posted in 1941 finally reaches its destination in 1992 with powerful repercussions for Edie Burchill, a London book editor, in this enthralling romantic thriller from Australian author Morton." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King (Nov. 9th) - "King fans (and those who have always wanted to give him a shot) will devour this collection of campfire tales where marriages sway under the weight of pitch-black secrets, greed and guilt poison and fester, and the only thing you can count on is that 'there are always worse things waiting.' Full Dark, No Stars features four one-sitting yarns showcasing King at his gritty, gruesome, giddy best, so be sure to check under the bed before getting started." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, November 2010)

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley (Nov. 11th) - Mosley (Known to Evil) plays out an intriguing premise in his powerful latest: a man is given a second shot at life, but at the price of a hastened death...Mosley's depiction of the indignities of old age is heartbreaking, and Ptolemy's grace and decency make for a wonderful character and a moving novel." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

The Baker Street Irregular by Jon Lellenberg (Nov. 30th) - "Lellenberg...makes an impressive fiction debut with this gripping period spy novel...His own background as former director of the Pentagon's special operations bureau's policy and strategy office serves him well in recreating the grind and tedium of actual intelligence work." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

*If you do happen to be participating in NaNoWriMo, honorable mention goes to the book you are writing. Keep up the good work!

Pumpkin vs. Jack O'Lantern

2010-10-28T12:00:00.004-04:00

Now that we are in the thick of the fall season, the age-old question returns...what should be done with all of those pumpkins? From baked goods to scary lanterns to unique centerpieces, pumpkins are one of the most diverse plants around. With so many options, it can be hard to decide on the best use of your "pompion." Read on for fun facts and festive ideas.

Pumpkin
Recipes
~AllRecipes.com - Includes recipes for savory dishes, such as Pumpkin Turkey Chili and Pumpkin Fritters, along with sweet treats, such as Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins and Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll.
~FoodNetwork.com - Embrace your inner TV chef by sampling some of the unique pumpkin recipes from big names like Paula Deen, the Barefoot Contessa, Bobby Flay and more! Recipes range from Pumpkin Mousse Parfait to Pumpkin Roulade with Ginger Buttercream to Spicy Pumpkin Seeds and beyond.

Decorative Ideas
~No surprise here, Martha Stewart offers some eye-catching decorative ideas for pumpkins. Give the Pumpkin Cachepots or Glittered Pumpkins a try.
~Real Simple has easy, no carve pumpkin ideas that make great use of tape, tacks and paint.
~Good Housekeeping is another handy resource for no fuss, no muss pumpkin decorating. Don't miss the beautiful celestial vase.
~Kaboose.com shares some cute ideas, such as Eeeek! Pumpkin, Swarm of Bats Pumpkin, Creepy Eyeball Pumpkin and Giant Pumpkin Bowl.

Fun Facts

~Pumpkins are fruits. They are a type of squash in the gourd family.

~The largest pumpkin ever grown was 1,689 lbs. It was grown by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, Rhode Island.

~In colonial times, pumpkins were emptied of seeds and filled with milk, spices and honey, then baked in hot ashes for a tasty treat.

~Pumpkins are 90% water.

~French explorer Jacques Cartier first called pumpkins "gros melons," which translates into "pompions," which has developed into "pumpkin."

~U.S. farmers produce more than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin annually.

~Pumpkins were once recommended to help remove freckles and cure snake bites.

Jack O'Lantern
Recipes (although recipes tend to fall under the pumpkin category, there are a few that bend the rules a little)
~Martha Stewart's Jack-o'-Lantern Tartlets, Pumpkin-Seed Brittle and Stew in a Pumpkin
~Betty Crocker's Jack-o'-Lantern Cake
~AllRecipes.com's Jack-O-Lantern Burgers

Carving Ideas
~Go back to basics with this helpful Pumpkin Carving Primer from Disney's FamilyFun website. Two other nice resources are the jack-o'-lanterns 101 poster and the Pumpkin Carving Tips: Carving the Perfect Pumpkin article, also featured on the site.
~After you learn all there is to know about pumpkin carving and are ready to go, Disney's FamilyFun site also provides ideas for what to actually carve into the pumpkin. Visit the Printable Halloween Patterns & Pumpkin Carving Templates page and the Jack-o-Lantern Patterns & Ideas page.
~Never one to miss a craft opportunity, Marth Stewart comes through again with impressive ideas for pumpkin carving. Check out her Carrot-Nose Jack-o'-Lanterns, Starburst Pumpkin Sconces, Jack-o'-Lanterns Made Tall, Spooky Silhouette Designs, Pierced Openwork Pumpkins and Pumpkin Creatures.
~Why carve alone, when you can host a pumpkin-carving party? Real Simple provides a step-by-step guide to throw a smashingly successful event. The guide includes a play list, menu ideas and carving tips.

History of the Jack O'Lantern
~The practice of carving jack o'lanterns began in Ireland with the myth of "Stingy Jack." According to legend, Stingy Jack played a few tricks on the devil in his lifetime. When he died, God would not allow Stingy Jack into heaven, due to his misdeeds in life. The devil would not allow him into hell, since Stingy Jack had duped him twice and make him promise not to take his soul. With nowhere else to go, Stingy Jack was forced to wander the earth with nothing but a burning coal to light his way. He placed this coal in a carved-out turnup for easier transportation. The Irish referred to him as "Jack of the Lantern," which developed into "Jack O'Lantern" over time. Irish and Scottish people started carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes, in order to scare away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits. Immigrants from Ireland and Scotland brought this tradition to America, but soon found pumpkins to be an easier plant to carve.

Pumpkins are a staple of Halloween and the fall season, in general. Their versatility allows chefs, bakers, crafters and families, alike, to express themselves in fun and unique ways. What will you do with pumpkins this year?

Sources of fun fact info: History.com and the University of Illinois Extension's Pumpkins and More site
Source of Jack O'Lantern history: History.com

NaNoWriMo

2010-10-18T14:35:00.004-04:00

"Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!" For all you current/sometimes/hopeful authors out there...NaNoWriMo beckons. Put aside your fears and judgements and pick up your pens and laptops. Your inner characters and storylines are begging to be set free.

What on earth is NaNoWriMo, you ask? National Novel Writing Month. The one glorious month out of every year (since 1999) that authors (published and wannabes, alike) are challenged to write relentlessly (a 50,000 word novel) about anything their heart desires. The goal is quantity, not quality. In fact, editing is deeply frowned upon.

The point is to spur anyone interested in writing into action. Too often, internal criticism, fear and lack of motivation keep people from writing. NaNoWriMo combats these setbacks with a breezy, seat-of-your-pants attitude toward novel writing. If you don't suffer from such writing hang-ups, you should consider participating anyway. Here are some fun reasons from the NaNoWriMo website:
-To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms!
-To write without having to obsess over quality.
-To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties.
-To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.

Whatever the reason, you won't regret partaking in the exhilarating experience that is NaNoWriMo.

Additional Resources:
*Websites
Nanowrimo
Nanowrimo's Young Writer's Program
Meriiam-Webster - online dictionary and thesaurus
Bartleby.com - find quotes from literature
Dropbox - sync your files online and across your computers (in case you write on a variety of computers)

*Books
No plot? No problem! : a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days by Chris Baty
How I write: secrets of a best-selling author by Janet Evanovich & Ina Yalof
The lie that tells a truth: a guide to writing fiction by John Dufresne
This year you write your novel by Walter Mosley

Author Spotlight: Steven Walker

2010-10-14T17:35:00.002-04:00

True crime fans will not want to miss Steven Walker's visit to the library on Mon., Oct. 25th at 7pm. His most recent work, Predator, hits close to home with the story of Timothy Krajcir. Read a helpful review of this book on the PCL Reference blog. Learn all about Walker by visiting his website, and find out even more about the author and the true crime cases he has profiled by attending his book discussion/signing at PCL on Oct. 25th. (Reservations requested, but not required - 610-398-1361 x13.)

5 Facts about Steven Walker:
1. He has approximately 1,500 published credits to his name.
2. He was born in Heidelberg, Germany.
3. He founded the Lehigh Valley Writers Academy in 2001.
4. He was a reporter for The Morning Call for three years.
5. He has won several awards for his macabre style of poetry.

Movie Marathon

2010-10-08T11:59:00.007-04:00

Fall is a great time to cozy up on the couch and enjoy a movie marathon with friends and family. Themes can range anywhere from Hollywood classics to award-winning documentaries to movies starring Tom Hanks. Films are a unique way to learn about other people and places, observe different perspectives on the human condition or simply enjoy a brief escape from reality. Grab some popcorn, friends and DVDs from the library today!

Movie Marathon Ideas:
Academy Award Winners
Crash (2005 / R)
Shakespeare in Love (1998 / R)
The Deer Hunter (1978 / R)
In the Heat of the Night (1967 / Not rated by the MPAA)
All About Eve (1950 / Not rated by the MPAA)

AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies
Citizen Kane (1941 / PG)
The Godfather (1972 / R)
Casablanca (1942 / PG)
Raging Bull (1980 / R)
Singin' in the Rain (1952 / G)

Documentaries

The Cove (2009 / PG-13)

Man on Wire (2008 / PG-13)

Taxi to the Dark Side (2007 / R)

An Inconvenient Truth (2006 / PG)

March of the Penguins (2005 / G)

Fall Classic
The Natural (1984 / PG)
A League of Their Own (1992 / PG)
Major League (1989 / R)
Bull Durham (1988 / R)
Eight Men Out (1988 / PG)

Family Friendly
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001 / PG)
Toy Story (1995 / G)
Up (2009 / PG)
The Princess Bride (1987 / PG)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009 / PG)

Foreign Films
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009 / R)
Departures (2008 / PG-13)
The Counterfeiters (2008 / R)
The Lives of Others (2006 / R)
Tsotsi (2005 / R)

Fright Fest
Misery (1990 / R)
Nosferatu (1922 / Not rated by the MPAA)
Psycho (1960 / R)
The Shining (1980 / R)
The Thing (1982 / R)

Musicals
Cabaret (1972 / PG)
West Side Story (1961 / Not rated by the MPAA)
Moulin Rouge! (2002 / PG-13)
My Fair Lady (1964 / G)
The Sound of Music (1965 / G)

Romantic Comedies
When Harry Met Sally (1989 / R)
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997 / PG-13)
Say Anything (1989 / PG-13)
The Wedding Singer (1998 / PG-13)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002 / PG)

War Films

Platoon (1986 / R)

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957 / PG)

Schindler's List (1993 / R)

Full Metal Jacket (1987 / R)

Saving Private Ryan (1998 / R)

Westerns
Unforgiven (1992 / R)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969 / PG)
3:10 to Yuma (2007 / R)
Tombstone (1993 / R)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966 / R)

John Lennon

2010-10-06T11:57:00.003-04:00

Imagine a world without John Lennon. No Beatlemania or "Give Peace a Chance," no Across the Universe or The Beatles: Rockband. In short, no legendary musician to inspire millions of people around the world for countless generations. John Lennon needs no introduction. He was beloved and controversial, but the indelible mark he made on the world cannot be denied. On Saturday, October 9th he would have celebrated his 70th birthday. Check out the resources included below to help celebrate this occasion.

DVDs - Across the Universe, A Hard Day's Night
CDs - 1, Abbey Road, Anthology 1, Imagine: John Lennon, Love, Magical Mystery Tour, Lennon Legend
Adult Non-Fiction - John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth by Elizabeth Partridge, John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman, The Lives of John Lennon by Albert Goldman, Memories of John Lennon edited by Yoko Ono, The Songs of Lennon & McCartney, Ticket to Ride by Larry Kane, Once there was a Way by Harry Benson, Can't Buy Me Love by Jonathan Gould, The Beatles by Bob Spitz
Juvenile Non-Fiction - The 10 Most Revoluntionary Songs by Andrea Cameron, John's Secret Dreams by Doreen Rappaport, Real Love: The Drawings for Sean by John Lennon
Video Games - The Beatles: Rockband (Wii, PS3)
On the Web - The Beatles / Yoko Ono reflects on John Lennon's 70th birthday / John Lennon 70th birthday events
Television - LENNONYC

Watch the movies, read the bios, listen to the music and remember the man.

October 2010's Must-Reads

2010-10-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

As the month and season change, so does the list of must-read books. This month's list includes lyrical storytelling from the Pacific Northwest, a thoughtful and romantic monster, an intriguing mystery set in 1686 Paris, distinct stories linked by a perplexing writing desk and a promising crime novel debut. Just enough to keep you happily reading all month long.

Mink River by Brian Boyle (Oct 1st) - "The fantasical blends with the natural elements in this original, postmodern, shimmering tapestry of smalltown life that profits from the oral traditions of the town's population of Native Americans and Irish immigrants. Those intrigued by the cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest will treasure every lyrical sentence." - Publisher's Weekly

Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe (Oct. 5th) - "The eponymous monster of gothic horror rises once again in this well-wrought sequel to Mary Shelley's classic tale...O'Keefe credibly extrapolates the moods and thoughts of the monster from how Shelley first imagined them in one of the better recent treatments of the Frankenstein theme." - Publisher's Weekly

Great House by Nicole Krauss (Oct. 5th) - "This stunning work showcases Krauss's consistent talent. The novel consists of four stories divided among eight chapters, all touching on themes of loss and recovery, and anchored to a massive writing desk that resurfaces among numerous households, much to the bewilderment and existential tension of those in its orbit..." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

The Rhetoric of Death by Judith Rock (Oct. 5th) - "Rock's superb historical debut opens with 28-year-old Charles du Luc arriving in 1686 Paris to serve as a teacher of rhetoric in a Jesuit school...With an experienced writer's ease, Rock incorporates details of the political issues of the day into a suspenseful story line." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva (Oct. 12th) - "The serial torching of Mount Hope, a deteriorating Providence, R.I., neighborhood, sparks an investigative reporter's mission to smoke out the firebug in DeSilva's promising debut...A twist in the tale will keep reader's turning the pages until the bitter end." - Publisher's Weekly

Banned Books Week 2010

2010-09-27T12:44:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again...Banned Books Week. This annual celebration of your right to read is held during the last week of September. According to the American Library Association "intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored." This concept is the foundation of our democracy and an inalienable right of all U.S. citizens. Despite this truth, attempts at book censorship, banning and even burning are made daily. The long list of challenged books include Pulitzer Prize winners, New York Times best-sellers, classic works of literature, beloved narratives and more. Avoid the perils of book banning and enjoy the pleasures of reading during Banned Book Week 2010 (and all year long!)

To learn more:

*Check out the BBW video included above. It was created by Andy Woodworth (author of the blog Agnostic, Maybe) to highlight this important week. He was inspired by the new "iPad is" ad.

*If you only have the time or inclination to pursue one of the options included here, I highly recommend Anna Quindlen's New York Times article Public & Private; Don't Read This. Published in 1994, the piece still holds true today and delivers a poignant message.

*The New York Times also published a piece this year by Amanda Christy Brown and Holly Epstein Ojalvo titled 10 Ways to Celebrated Banned Books Week. Although it is geared toward school teachers and students, everyone can benefit from the interesting ideas and links.

*Don't miss the section of ALA's website devoted to Banned Books Week. Here you will find a heaping serving of facts about banned and challenged books.

*Embrace your freedom of speech by sharing your thoughts on book banning and challenging.

Book Trends: Scandinavian Crime Fiction

2010-09-22T10:02:00.000-04:00

Vampires not your thing? Not to worry, there's another trend blazing up the bestseller charts right now. Scandinavian crime fiction is hotter than ever here in the states, and abroad. If you don't know the girl with the dragon tattoo , chances are you soon will. She's Lisbeth Salander who, along with Mikael Blomkvist, is the complicated star of Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy. This wildly popular series (with support from the publications of some consistently first-rate Scandinavian authors) is leading the movement to put Scandinavian crime fiction on the map and in your hands. Check out some of the most popular authors in this genre and start your international love affair today.

Karin Fossum - Inspector Sejer series
Peter Hoeg
Arnaldur Indriðason - Reykjavik Murder Mysteries
Camilla Läckberg - Patrik Hedstrom
Stieg Larsson - Millenium Trilogy
Henning Mankell - Kurt Wallander series
Jo Nesbø - Harry Hole series

What are your thoughts on these authors? Any to add to the list?

Super Mario Bros.

2010-09-13T14:35:00.008-04:00

Happy anniversary Mario! Today is the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. Celebrate this beloved character (and his colorful friends!) by checking out the info below.

Don't miss this fun video from Nintendo made in honor of Mario's anniversary:

Guardian offers 25 Super Mario Bros. facts for 25 super years. Read Keith Stuart's complete article here.

Visit Nintendo's Super Mario anniversary website to enter a video competition, learn about Mario's history, find Mario anniversary events near you and more! Click here to go directly to the site.

Gather the family together to play some of the great Super Mario Bros. video games for Wii from the library:
Mario Party 8
New Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Paper Mario
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wario Land: Shake It!

What is your favorite Super Mario Bros. game?

Oprah's Book Club

2010-09-09T11:10:00.007-04:00

Next week marks the 14th anniversary of Oprah's Book Club. Launched in 1996, the club has helped foster a love of reading and book clubs around the world, along with rocketing many authors to stardom. It has evolved beyond simply recommending and discussing books. Fans can now receive weekly book club newsletters, scan a variety of book lists, see and read author interviews, take book-related quizes, participate in book-related classes and much more.

Celebrate this phenomenon by reading one of the club's books! The list can be found on the library's website from the homepage, or by clicking here. To experience all the club has to offer, go to Oprah's official book club website by clicking here. Don't forget to mark your calendar, because a new club selection will be announced on Sept. 17th. See some highlights from the selections below.

The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard - The first selection (1996)
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan - The latest selection (2009)
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey - Possibly the most controversial selection (2005)
The Meanest Thing to Say, The Treasure Hunt and The Best Way to Play by Bill Cosby - The only juvenile fiction selections (1997)
Toni Morrison - Most selected author (Song of Solomon, 1996 / Paradise, 1998 / The Bluest Eye, 2000 / Sula, 2002)

For more info, check out Kate Pickert's article for Time titled "Oprah's Book Club" and/or Marjorie Kehe's article for The Christian Science Monitor called "What's Next for Oprah - And Her Book Club."

September 2010's Must-Reads

2010-09-01T12:04:00.003-04:00

Something new to look forward to is a regularly scheduled post of each month's must-read fiction. Here you will find info about some of the best books being published in a given month. Ready your bookmarks and place your holds - here are the must-reads of September!

Ape House by Sara Gruen (Sept. 7th) - "Gruen's astute, wildly entertaining tale of interspecies connection is a novel of verve and conscience." - Booklist (Starred Review)

The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott (Sept. 7th) - "In this vivid portrait of Katherine Sedley, mistress of King James II, Scott unravels the intricate web of court intrigues that has long fascinated historical romance enthusiasts." - Publisher's Weekly

The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass (Sept. 7th) - "Glass handles the coalescing plot elements with astute insights into the complexity of family relationships, the gulf between social classes, and our modern culture of excess to create a dramatic, thought-provoking, and immensely satisfying novel." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Revew)

Room by Emma Donoghue (Sept. 13th) - "Despite its profoundly disturbing premise, Emma Donoghue's Room is rife with moments of hope and beauty, and the dogged determination to live, even in the most desolate circumstances. A stunning and original novel of survival in captivity, readers who enter Room will leave staggered..." Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best of the Month selection, September 2010)

Fame by Daniel Kehlmann (Sept. 14th) - "Layers of connection, irony, despair, and humor distinguish this masterful work and announce Kehlman as a worthy heir to Bowles and Camus." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

Book Trends: Vampires

2010-08-27T11:40:00.005-04:00

The latest and greatest trend in books right now is paranormal fiction. It's not for everyone, but many readers are hungry for all things supernatural. This subject has been hot for some time now, thanks in large part to the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse series'. Bella, Edward, Jacob, Sookie, Bill Compton and True Blood are all virtually household names at this point. Most likely you've at least heard of them, if not read all the books, watched every movie/episode and Googled your way to every fan site available. If you can't wait for the next Sookie book or True Blood episode and don't know what to read now that the Twilight saga has come to a close, sink your teeth into one of these popular works of vampire fiction:

*Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton (Adult Fiction) - Vampire hunter and detective Anita Blake lives in a world where most people think the undead are just humans with fangs - but she knows better AND she carries a captivating secret of her own.

*Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward (Adult Fiction) - A war rages in Caldwell, New York between vampires and their slayers. A secret band of vampire brothers, called the Black Dagger Brotherhood, solemnly defend their race and dare to find love in a dangerous world.

*The Hollows series by Kim Harrison (Adult Fiction) - Bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan works to keep Cincinnati, and herself, safe from supernatural lawbreakers.

*House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast (YA Fiction) - 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's life is forever altered when she is "Marked" by a vampyre tracker and starts to "Change" into an actual vampyre. As if that weren't enough, she must leave her family and friends to live at the House of Night - a boarding school for young vampyres.

*Insatiable by Meg Cabot (Adult Fiction) - Sparks fly in a romantic triangle between psychic TV writer Meena Harper, Romanian history professor/vampire Lucien Antonescu and vampire hunter Alaric Wulf, all while a vampire war brews in NYC.

*Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine (YA Fiction) - When 16-year-old Claire Danvers starts college early, due to advanced placement, she soon has worse problems than making friends and adjusting to new courses. Along with her school, Texas Prairie University, Morganville is also home to vampires and vampire hunters. Claire must band together with three unique friends to survive.

*Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead (YA Fiction) - Best friends Rose (half-human/half-vampire) and Lissa (mortal vampire princess) must defend themselves against the dangerous enemies out to get them, along with navigating peer pressure, gossip and new relationships at school.

*The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith (YA Fiction) - This series was the inspiration for the popular CW show of the same name. A dangerous love triangle ensues when popular high schooler Elena meets handsome, but dangerous, vampire brothers Stefan and Damon.

Have you read any of these? Do you have a favorite vampire book/series?

Detectives by the Book

2010-08-18T10:00:00.120-04:00

Avid readers can attest to the fact that many movies and television shows are based on books. For example, three incredibly popular movies, Mystic River, Gone, Baby, Gone and Shutter Island, were all based on books written by Dennis Lehane. The list of movies and television shows based on books is impressive, but this post is all about detective fiction that has been translated to the small screen.

There is something intrisically interesting about solving a mystery. Keys to success in both detective series' and TV shows include quirky characters, puzzling crimes and an evolving storyline...of course, some romantic tension never hurts. Shows based on books already have a built in audience - the legions of fans who love the books. Who wouldn't like to see their beloved characters in real life? This doesn't always keep a show on air, however, as was the case for Women's Murder Club - the ABC drama based on James Patterson's series of the same name that only ran for a year. Other stories enjoy long-lasting popularity in both book and TV format.

*Here are a few TV detective shows based on books:

Bones (FOX) - based on the Temperance Brennan series written by Kathy Reichs and based on the author, herself

Jesse Stone made-for-TV movies (CBS) - based on Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (HBO) - based on Alexander McCall Smith's series by the same name

Rizzoli and Isles (TNT) - based on the Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritsen

*On the flip side, here are some books that were inspired by TV shows:

Heat Wave by Richard Castle - based on the ABC show Castle

Mr. Monk series by Lee Goldberg - based on the USA Network show Monk

Murder, She Wrote series by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain - based on the CBS Network show Murder, She Wrote

What are your favorite detective novels and/or TV shows?

Roller Derby

2010-08-11T10:00:00.167-04:00

Roller Derby is on the rise! This action-packed, full-contact sport is the fastest growing female sport in America. Have you heard of it? Chances are you know a roller girl, are a roller girl or have at least seen Whip It. If your curiosity is peaked, read on for a quick intro to this wildly popular sport and links to more resources.

History
-The birthday of Roller Derby is August 13, 1935, the day that Chicago promoter Leo Seltzer debuted The Transcontinteal Roller Derby. It was initially started to compete with the Dance Marathon mania and was meant to be an endurance test. Teams of one man and one woman took turns skating 57,000 laps. It caught on in a flash, attracting 20,000 viewers in just the first week.
-Roller Derby was transformed in 1938 when New York sportswriter Damon Runyan saw some competitors get jumbled up during the race. He mentioned to Seltzer that making the event full-contact and keeping score might increase audience numbers.
-During the 1950s, television helped add to the popularity of Roller Derby. The show's fan base increased and legends were made out of competitors such as Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn.
-Roller Derby's popularity lagged in the '70s, while the gas crisis and overhead costs caused Leo Seltzer's son (who had taken over the business) to shut down the show. Several promoters tried to revive Roller Derby, but none had any staying power.
-The game was successfully resurrected several years ago, through the tenacity of all-girl leagues rising up around the country. Today's Roller Derby is more of a sport, with female athletes paying to play, training throughout the week and following a fixed set of rules, enforced by referees.

Rules
Roller Derby has a defined set of rules. Here is a brief summary:
-Teams are made up of ten players, with no more than five players on the track per team - One Pivot, three Blockers and one Jammer.
-The Jammer has a star on her helmet and her role is to score points by passing opponents.
-The Pivot has a stripe down the middle of her helmet and sets the pace for the pack.
-The Blocker sets up plays to help her teammates or sets up blocks for opposing Jammers.
-There are a total of four referees - two Jammer Referees and two Penalty Referees.
-The game consists of four eight-minute periods.
-Play begins when the first whistle blows and starts the pack. The Jammers begins when the second whistle blows. Jams can last up to 60 seconds or when the lead Jammer calls it off.
-There are rules regarding leaving the track, penalties, legal and illegal blocks.

Resources
-Pamela Ribon, author of Going in Circles (which she amusingly refers to as Eat, Cry, Shove), wrote a very interesting article for Oprah's website called Show Me Who You Really Are: How Roller Derby Can Save Your Life. The article discusses her experiences playing roller derby, especially in conjuction with her divorce.
-A&E has a site devoted to its show Rollergirls, where much of the information for this post was found. It includes a history of the sport, rules, lingo and profiles of some real roller girls.
-The Women's Flat Track Derby Association has a comprehensive website featuring info about leagues around the country, FAQs, news, stats and more.
-Get to know the local Roller Derby organization - the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls - by visiting their website.
-Check out Whip It, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut starring Ellen Page. This movie is about a small-town girl with big dreams who finds an outlet on the Roller Derby rink.

Great Summer Reads: International Literature

2010-08-04T10:00:00.066-04:00

Avoid luggage fees and traffic by experiencing the world through these great reads. From Germany to Syria and beyond, each of these books transport the reader to a unique place and time. Peruse the list of suggestions, along with highlights from a Publisher's Weekly review, and place a hold today!

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - "Fans of Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind and new readers alike will be delighted with this gothic semiprequel."

Broken Glass Park by Alina Bronsky - "...a stark, moving tale of resiliency and survival."

The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas - "Adamsberg's indirect approach, his ability to sense cruelty and to let solutions percolate to the surface make him one of the more intriguing police detectives in a long time."

The Dark Side of Love by Rafik Schami - "...despite the grim plot line of revenge, this is essentially a joyous book, an exile's book of love and a surprisingly fast read."

Delhi Noir edited by Hirsch Sawhney - "Few books can alter one's perception about the state of a society, but this does, while delivering noir that's first-class in any light."

The Disappearance at Pere-Lachaise by Claude Izner - "...the increasingly tight plot and several deftly constructed characters keep the story moving."

Monsieur Pain by Roberto Bolano - "One of Bolano's first novels, this already displays his brilliant, alchemical gift for transmuting the dead-ends of life into sinister mysteries."

Once on a Moonless Night by Dai Sijie - "It's fitting that a story of a love affair with language should be written so beautifully."

The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum - "...Fossum sets in motion an inevitable collision that's as unsettling as it is unexpected."

The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho - "Coelho's latest blends spiritual allegory with elements of a thriller..."

"It was a dark and stormy night..."

2010-07-27T10:47:00.003-04:00

This iconic line from Paul Clifford by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton is the inspiration behind one of the most unique literary contests in history. The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest commenced in 1982, when San Jose State University Professor Scott Rice decided to hold an candid writing competition with short entries. Thus began "a whimsical literary competition that challenged entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels." Since then, tens of thousands have tried their hand at writing the best loser of an opening line. The contest has received publicity from The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, Time and the BBC, to name a few. Entries are due April 15th, with the results posted by mid-June. Check out the 2010 winner and runner-up and start thinking of your own atrocious opening lines.

Winner
"For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity's affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss - a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity's mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world's thirstiest gerbil."
Molly Ringle
Seattle, WA

Runner-Up
"Through the verdant plains of North Umbria walked Waylon Ogglethorpe and, as he walked, the clouds whispered his name, the birds of the air sang his praises, and the beasts of the fields from smallest to greatest said, 'There goes the most noble among men' - in other words, a typical stroll for a schizophrenic ventriloquist with delusions of grandeur."
Tom Wallace
Columbia, SC

In case you haven't read Paul Clifford recently, here is the complete opening line:
"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents - except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness."
Paul Clifford by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

To learn more, visit the official site of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, where all information for this post was found.

"Behind every recipe there's a story"

2010-07-21T15:21:00.004-04:00

What's the recipe for finding a good book? It all starts with a helpful recommendation. Whether a friend fills you in on the latest book she can't put down, the bestseller charts heat up with the next must-read novel or you see an interesting review on the PCL blogs, book recommendations help readers of all genres find new and exciting reads. Be proactive in your quest for good books by signing up for DearReader's Online Book Club, a unique service provided through the library's website.

Subscribers of this free service receive daily emails with a portion of a chapter of a book. The emails only take about five minutes to read, but provide readers with enough info to help them decide whether to pass on the book or rush to put a hold on it. New book excerpts begin each Monday and readers can sign up for the Fiction, Nonfiction, Classics, AuthorBuzz or KidsBuzz clubs...or all five! To join, simply click here.

Along with interesting book suggestions, the Online Book Club also features fun contests - such as the current "Write a Dear Reader Contest." This is an annual contest held by DearReader's very own Suzanne Beecher. This year's theme is "Behind every recipe there's a story." Suzanne invites readers to submit a recipe, along with the story behind it - see a sample entry here. Winners could receive free books and more!

Find your next favorite book by signing up for an Online Book Club today!

Great Summer Reads: Adult-Friendly YA

2010-07-12T11:31:00.008-04:00

As promised, here are more reading suggestions to add some zest to your summer.

Think Young Adult books are just for teens? You'd be surprised to learn that many have cross-over appeal. Plenty of adults enjoy them just as much as teens. Pick up one of these popular books today!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - Native American coming-of-age tale

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd - historical love story set during the Ireland "Troubles" of the '80s

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti - based on the true story of a German teen who started a resistance against the Nazis

Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman - an award-winning account of the life and love of Charles and Emma Darwin

Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers - a troubled teen finds himself through the support of his girlfriend, uncle and Debbie Harry

Going Bovine by Libba Bray - humorous fantasy adventure

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - a futuristic suspense novel with current social commentary

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge - imaginative adventure/fantasy story

Maximum Ride series by James Patterson - thrilling sci-fi saga

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury - a cross-country mystery

Do you have any favorite Young Adult books?

Great Summer Reads: New Authors

2010-07-02T10:51:00.008-04:00

Sitting on a park bench on a sunny afternoon, relaxing on the front porch as a warm breeze drifts by, lying on the beach under a bright umbrella...all excellent places to read during the summer. Brighten up your summer with a book by these brand new authors:

Bellfield Hall by Anna Dean - historical mystery

Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines - humorous thriller

Fireworks over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff - historical romance

The Gin Closet by Leslie Jamison - family drama

The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young - Stone - unique slice of life

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - newspaper novel

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - romance in England

Once a Spy by Keith Thomson - action-packed thriller

The Sandbox by David Zimmerman - fictionalized Iraq war story

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - Southern coming-of-age tale

For more summer reading fun, take O's Summer Reading Quiz and find out which of the books on Oprah's 2010 Summer Reading List is best for you.

Also, keep an eye on The PCL Reader all summer long for more Great Summer Reads!

First Impressions

2010-06-23T09:42:00.010-04:00

What is it about a book that draws you in? The cover? The title? For the following books it's the first sentence that makes all the difference. It's nearly impossible to stop reading once the peculiarity of the first line grabs you.

"Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last." - Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund

"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974." - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenedies

"It was bitter cold, the air electric with all that had not happened yet." - A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." - The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley

"In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly-fishing." A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean

"If I could tell you one thing about my life it would be this: when I was seven years old the mailman ran over my head." - The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." - 1984 by George Orwell

"Mum starved herself for suffrage, Grandmother claiming it was just like Mum to take a cause too far." - A Short History of Women by Kate Walbert

"I remember with utter clarity the first great shock of my life." - Trinity by Leon Uris

"It was a pleasure to burn." - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

"It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love." - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

"The last camel collapsed at noon." - The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett

For more info read or listen to NPR's "Famous First Words," check out The Guardian's Books Blog post "What's Your Favourite First Line?" and peruse American Book Review's list of the "100 Best First Lines from Novels."

What is your favorite first line from a book?

The Mother of Father's Day

2010-06-18T10:06:00.005-04:00

Did you know that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Father's Day? It all started with a young woman from Spokane, Washington.

Sonora Smart Dodd was just 16 years old when her mother passed away, leaving her father, William Jackson Smart, to raise six young children. He did such an admirable job that upon hearing a Mother's Day sermon at Central United Methodist Church in 1909, Sonora was spurred to propose a similar honor for fathers. With the help of Reverend Dr. Conrad Bluhm (her pastor at Old Centenary Presbyterian Church,) the Spokane YMCA and the Ministerial Alliance, Sonora organized the first Father's Day on June 19, 1910. Sermons honoring fathers were given throughout the city.

This special day did not receive national recognition for many more years. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge celebrated Father's Day and encouraged the states to follow suit. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation for Father's Day to be celebrated on the third Sunday in June and for flags to be flown that day on government buildings. In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon signed a proclamation officially marking the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.

What began as a young woman's wish to honor her own father's dedication to his family, along with recognizing all fathers , has become a 100-year-old, worldwide, annual celebration of fathers, grandfathers, uncles and father figures.

Click here to learn more.

Bloomsday

2010-06-16T09:42:00.007-04:00

Celebrate the 106th anniversary of the day that James Joyce's masterpiece, Ulysses, took place! Fans around the world rejoice by reading from the novel, playing and listening to traditional Irish tunes, re-enacting scenes from the story and/or raising a glass in honor of Joyce.

The novel, set in Dublin, Ireland on June 16, 1904, focuses on the escapades of several characters, particularly Leopold Bloom, throughout an extraordinary day.

Join in the fun by picking up a copy of Ulysses or James Joyce's Ulysses: a critical commentary today at the library. Or, try another of his famous works, such as Dubliners or Finnegans Wake.

To learn more about Bloomsday, visit BloomsdayNYC, The Rosenbach Museum & Library, or read The New York Times article Stream of Conviviality for Leopold Bloom's Day.

Glee

2010-06-11T14:25:00.007-04:00

Can't wait until next season for more of the songs from the hit TV show Glee? Place a hold on Glee: the Music, Volume 1 & Glee: the Music, Volume 2 at the library today.

Volume 1 includes the popular covers of Don't Stop Believin', Gold Digger, Somebody to Love, Alone, No Air and more. Volume 2 features the Glee versions of Proud Mary, True Colors, a mashup of Don't Stand So Close to Me and Young Girl, And I am Telling You I'm Not Going, Lean on Me and other fun tunes.

If you like the sounds of Glee, you'll also enjoy these other CDs in the library's collection:
American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording
Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture
Funny Girl: A New Musical
Wicked: A New Musical
Mamma Mia!: The Movie Soundtrack
Battlefield by Jordin Sparks
Breakthrough by Colbie Caillat
The Essential Heart
Battlefield by Jordin Sparks
Every Breath You Take: The Classics by The Police

Check out one of these great CDs today and sing along all summer long!

Armchair Vacations

2010-06-10T11:54:00.009-04:00

Travel the world this summer from the comfort of your favorite chair! Set sail on the open sea, travel to the wild west, explore present day and first-century Jerusalem, enjoy a sunny visit to the Outer Banks, head to a state fair, brave a futuristic America and more! Start your journey today by checking out one of these fascinating books:

The Barbary Pirates by William Dietrich - travel from France to Greece to Italy on a non-stop adventure in search of the Mirror of Archimedes with early 19th century adventurer Ethan Gage.

Beautiful Maria of My Soul by Oscar Hijuelos - explore mid-20th century Cuba through Hijuelos' richly drawn and enthralling characters and story.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker - head back to the wild west for a rowdy ride with fast-talking, gun-slinging lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch.

The Galilean Secret by Evan Drake Howard - if you enjoyed The DaVinci Code, you won't want to miss this tale of religious intrigue set in both present day and first-century Jerusalem.

The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme - spend some time in Reconstruction North Carolina with seventeen-year-old Abigail Sinclair as she learns about love and life.

The Passage by Justin Cronin - fans of vampire fiction should try this highly anticipated first in a planned trilogy, set in a futuristic America.

Pearl of China by Anchee Min - travel from China to America and back again through this fictionalized account of Pearl S. Buck's unique life.

State Fair by Earlene Fowler - enjoy a trip to California's San Celina Mid-State Fair, complete with quilt exhibits and a clever whodunit plot.

Author Spotlight: Carol Higgins Clark

2010-05-27T11:47:00.006-04:00

Get to know PCL's Annual Summer Celebrity before her visit to Parkland High School's auditorium on Wed., June 9th at 7pm!

Carol Higgins Clark is the author of thirteen Regan Reilly mysteries, all of which have hit the New York Times bestseller list. A native New Yorker, Carol has four siblings and an incredibly famous mother, America's #1 bestselling suspense writer, Mary Higgins Clark. They have co-authored five bestselling holiday suspense novels, including Dashing Through the Snow.

Carol obtained her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College. She then studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. After several acting gigs in theater, film and television, Carol tried her hand at writing a novel. The result was Decked, the first Regan Reilly novel and a nominee for both an Anthony and Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Here are some fun facts about Carol:
*Her first job was at a dry cleaners, which inspired her to cast a character in Iced as an employee at a dry cleaners.
*One critic has noted "Mary Higgins Clark goes for the jugular; Carol Higgins Clark goes for the funny bone."
*Together, Carol Higgins Clark and Mary Higgins Clark received the University of Scranton's Distinguished Author Award in September 2000.
*Carol has recorded several of her mother's works, as well as her own novels. She received AudioFile magazine's Earphones Award of Excellence for her reading of Jinxed in 2002.
*Her training as a novelist began early on, as she typed up some of her mother's novels on a manual typewriter.
*She starred in Who Killed Amy Lang?, a mini-mystery aired on "Good Morning America."
*Carol was the lead in the film A Cry in the Night, based on the novel by her mother. The film was shown at the Cannes TV Festival and nationally on U.S. television.
*She was named one of Irish America magazine's Top 100 Irish Americans in 2005.
*Some of Carol's favorite films include The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, The Birds, The Exorcist, Arthur and It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

To learn more about this popular author, visit her website. Also, check out Barnes and Nobles' "Meet the Author" page featuring Carol Higgins Clark. Information for this post was found on both sites.

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Fiction

2010-05-18T13:03:00.003-04:00

Looking for a good book? Pick up one of these Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction today! Each novel includes an excerpt from its Publishers Weekly review.

2010
Tinkers by Paul Harding - "The real star is Harding's language, which dazzles whether he's describing the workings of clocks, sensory images of nature, the many engaging side characters who populate the book, or even a short passage on how to build a bird nest. This is an especially gorgeous example of novelistic craftsmanship."

2009
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout - "Thirteen linked tales from Strout (Abide with Me, etc.) present a heart-wrenching, penetrating portrait of ordinary coastal Mainers living lives of quiet grief intermingled with flashes of human connection."

2008
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz - "...Junot Diaz's dark and exuberant first novel makes a compelling case for the multiperspectival view of a life, wherein an individual cannot be known or understood in isolation from the history of his family and his nation."

2007
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - "McCarthy establishes himself here as the closest thing in American literature to an Old Testament prophet, trolling the blackest registers of human emotion to create a haunting and grim novel about civilization's slow death after the power goes out."

2006
March by Geraldine Brooks - "Brooks's luminous second novel...imagines the Civil War experiences of Mr. March, the absent father in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women...Brooks's affecting, beautifully written novel drives home the intimate horrors and ironies of the Civil War and the difficulty of living honestly with the knowledge of human suffering."

2005
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - "Robinson's prose is beautiful, shimmering and precise; the revelations are subtle but never muted when they come, and the careful telling carries the breath of suspense...Many writers try to capture life's universals of strength, struggle, joy and forgiveness - but Robinson truly succeeds in what is destined to become her second classic."

For a complete list of Pulizer Prize-winning fiction, click here. Visit the Pulitzer Prize homepage to learn more about this prestigious award.

Choose Privacy Week

2010-05-03T12:22:00.006-04:00

Choose Privacy Week Video from 20K Films on Vimeo.

Celebrate the first ever Choose Privacy Week (May 2-8, 2010) by checking out this video featuring individuals such as Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow and ALA President Camila Alire.

According to the American Library Association's Privacy Revolution website "Choose Privacy Week is a new initiative that invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age." For more info, visit Privacyrevolution.org.

What are your thoughts on privacy?

PCL's Annual Summer Celebrity

2010-04-29T16:41:00.009-04:00

Mark your calendar and save the date for PCL's 2010 Annual Summer Celebrity: Carol Higgins Clark! This special event will be held on Wednesday, June 9th at 7 pm in the Parkland High School auditorium. Reservations are requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13.

This is the fourth year of a unique event that brings the community up close and personal with celebrities. Past speakers have included Anna Quindlen, Andrew Gross and J.A. Jance.

Carol Higgins Clark is the author of twelve previous bestselling Regan Reilly mysteries and coauthor of five bestselling holiday suspense novels with her mother, Mary Higgins Clark. Also an actress, Carol lives in New York City.

Check out her latest book, Wrecked, and make a reservation for this one-of-a-kind event today!

Da Vinci Science Center

2010-04-20T11:37:00.006-04:00

Celebrate science at the Da Vinci Science Center! Located on Hamilton Boulevard in Allentown, PA, the Center strives to "inspire the exploration, understanding, and appreciation of science through curiosity, creativity, and imagination." The Center features various camps, events and exhibits such as the Little Learners Lab, The Fossil Wall, and Watts Up? Of note this month is the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This event will be saluted on its anniversary date of April 24th at the Center's 12th annual Science Hall of Fame Awards program. This year's keynote speaker is former NASA Astronaut Winston E. Scott; click here to learn more about this pioneering American. Visit NASA's site on the Hubble Space Telescope to learn fascinating facts such as these:

*Hubble completes one orbit around the Earth (crossing over the same longitude line) every 96 minutes. Its speed is approximately 8 km per second (5 miles per second.)
*On August 11, 2008 the Hubble Space Telescope completed its 100,000th orbit.
*Provided that Hubble passes closely enough overhead, it is relatively dark, and the skies are clear enough, Hubble can be seen with the naked eye.
*The farthest objects Hubble has seen are galaxies well over 12 billion light years away.

Final NLW Trivia Answers

2010-04-19T16:06:00.007-04:00

Saturday's Answers:

13. According to USA Today, what was the best-selling book of 2009?
a. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
b. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
c. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
d. Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

- The Lost Symbol came in at #5, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw was #7 and Going Rogue was #10. Click here for USA Today's complete list of the best-selling books of 2009.

14. According to the American Library Association, what was the most frequently challenged book or series of 2009?
a. Internet Girls series (TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R) by Lauren Myracle
b. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
c. Twilight Series (Twilight; New Moon; Eclipse; Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer
d. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

- To Kill a Mockingbird was #4, the Twilight series came in at #5 and My Sister's Keeper was #7. Click here for the American Library Association's complete list of the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009.

Thanks for taking the trivia challenge and supporting libraries!

NLW Trivia Finale

2010-04-17T10:00:00.008-04:00

Yesterday's Answers:

11. Which book begins with the following line: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
a. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
b. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
c. The Stranger by Albert Camus
d. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

- Click here to learn more about this classic novel.

12. The Parkland Community Library circulates video games for which systems?
a. Wii and PS3
b. Wii and XBox 360
c. PS3 and XBox 360
d. None of the above

- PCL circulates a variety of video games for both Wii and Playstation 3. Stop by the library to check one out today!

Final Questions:

13. According to USA Today, what was the best-selling book of 2009?
a. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
b. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
c. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
d. Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

14. According to the American Library Association, what was the most frequently challenged book or series of 2009?
a. Internet Girls series (TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R) by Lauren Myracle
b. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
c. Twilight series (Twilight; New Moon; Eclipse; Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer
d. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Today is the final day of National Library Week. Thanks for celebrating libraries - the heart of the community! Check back on Monday for the final trivia answers and more library news.

Friday's NLW Trivia

2010-04-16T11:42:00.010-04:00

Yesterday's Answers:

9. This person was the model for a librarian action figure.
a. Laura Bush
b. Melvil Dewey
c. Nancy Pearl
d. Jessamyn West

- According to Nancy Pearl's website "The New York Times calls her 'the talk of librarian circles.' Readers can't get enough of her recommendations while bookstores and libraries offer standing room only whenever she visits. Since the release of the best-selling Book Lust in 2003 and the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness Nancy Pearl has become a rock star among readers and the tastemaker people turn to when deciding what to read next." Click here to learn more about this famous librarian and here to read her blog.

10. Which actor/actress has not played a librarian on TV or in a movie?
a. Rachel Weisz
b. Noah Wyle
c. Donna Reed
d. Emily Deschanel

- Rachel Weisz played librarian Evelyn Carnahan in both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns.
- Noah Wyle played librarian Flynn Carsen in the made-for-TV movies The Librarian:Quest for the Spear, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines and The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice.
- At one point in the movie It's a Wonderful Life, Donna Reed's character, Mary Hatch, is employed as a librarian.

Today's Questions:

11. Which book begins with the following line: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
a. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
b. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
c. The Stranger by Albert Camus
d. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

12. The Parkland Community Library circulates video games for which systems?
a. Wii and PS3
b. Wii and XBox 360
c. PS3 and XBox 360
d. None of the above

Check back tomorrow for answers and the final NLW trivia questions!

Thursday's NLW Trivia

2010-04-15T12:45:00.007-04:00

Yesterday's Answers:

7. Which children's book author was also a librarian?
a. Tomie DePaola
b. Jan Brett
c. Eric Carle
d. Beverly Cleary

- According to Scholastic.com, Beverly Cleary graduated from junior college in Ontario, California and the University of California at Berkeley. She then entered the School of Librarianship at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she specialized in library work with children. She went on to become the children's librarian in Yakima, Washington, a position she held until she moved to California.

8. The Parkland Community Library started in what year?
a. 1965
b. 1973
c. 1982
d. 1990

- The Parkland Community Library started in 1973 as a grassroots effort, and was housed in a converted building in Guthsville, South Whitehall Township. Click here to learn more about the library's history.

Today's Questions:

9. This person was the model for a librarian action figure.
a. Laura Bush
b. Melvil Dewey
c. Nancy Pearl
d. Jessamyn West

10. Which actor/actress has not played a librarian on TV or in a movie?
a. Rachel Weisz
b. Noah Wyle
c. Donna Reed
d. Emily Deschanel

Wednesday's NLW Trivia

2010-04-14T15:32:00.005-04:00

Yesterday's Answers:

5. Who is the Honorary Chair of this year's National Library Week?
a. Julie Andrews
b. Neil Gaiman
c. Laura Bush
d. Jamie Lee Curtis

- Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, picture books, short story collections and a graphic novel series. Some of his more popular works include the Newbery Medal winning novel "The Graveyard Book" and "Coraline," which was adapted to film. In addition to the Newbery Medal, he has also won the Hugo, Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Awards. Visit his website to learn more.

6. Approximately how many items are added to the Library of Congress' collections daily?
a. 550
b. 5,000
c. 10,000
d. 25,000

- According to the Library of Congress' website "The Library receives some 22,000 items each working day and adds approximately 10,000 items to the collections daily." For more fun facts about the oldest federal cultural institution in the nation, click here.

Today's Questions:

7. Which children's book author was also a librarian?
a. Tomie DePaola
b. Jan Brett
c. Eric Carle
d. Beverly Cleary

8. The Parkland Community Library started in what year?
a. 1965
b. 1973
c. 1982
d. 1990

Tuesday's NLW Trivia

2010-04-13T08:57:00.006-04:00

Yesterday's Answers:

3. Which University has a library named after Dr. Seuss?
a. Harvard University
b. University of Michigan
c. Lehigh University
d. UC San Diego

-According to UCSD's website "On December 1, 1995 The University Library Building was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) for the generous contributions they have made to the library and their devotion to improving literacy." Click here for more info about the library. Click here to read about the interesting urban legends surrounding the Geisel Library.

4. What are the names of the two marble lions that stand before the New York Public Library?
a. Patience and Fortitude
b. Freedom and Justice
c. Knowledge and Power
d. Courage and Truth

-According to the New York Public Library's website "Patience and Fortitude, the world-renowned pair of marble lions that stand proudly before the majestic Beaux-Arts building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan have captured the imagination and affection of New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world since the Library was dedicated on May 23, 1911." Although they had a few different names over the years, Patience and Fortitude were the names with the most lasting power. The library's website further explains "During the 1930s, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression." Click here to learn more.

Today's Questions:

5. Who is the Honorary Chair of this year's National Library Week?
a. Julie Andrews
b. Neil Gaiman
c. Laura Bush
d. Jamie Lee Curtis

6. Approximately how many items are added to the Library of Congress' collections daily?
a. 550
b. 5,000
c. 10,000
d. 25,000

Answers to these questions and more trivia to be posted tomorrow!

Monday's NLW Trivia

2010-04-12T10:15:00.010-04:00

Yesterday's Answers:

1. Which movie was not based on a book?
a. Precious
b. Up in the Air
c. Avatar
d. Shutter Island

-Avatar is the only film listed that was not based on a book. According to the Internet Movie Database "Avatar is based on an original screenplay penned by writer/director/producer James Cameron."
-Precious was based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Up in the Air was based on the novel Up in the Air by Walter Kirn and Shutter Island was based on the novel Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.

2. Which presidential library is located in Abilene, KS?
a. Eisenhower
b. Truman
c. Ford
d. Hoover

- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library is located in Abilene, KS.
- The Harry S. Truman Library is located in Independence, MO. The Gerald R. Ford Library is located in Ann Arbor, MI. The Herbert Hoover Library is located in West Branch, IA.
-To learn more about the presidential libraries, click here.

Today's Questions:

Were you stumped by yesterday's questions or did you ace them both? Either way, give today's trivia a try:

3. Which University has a library named after Dr. Seuss?
a. Harvard University
b. University of Michigan
c. Lehigh University
d. UC San Diego

4. What are the names of the two marble lions that stand before the New York Public Library?
a. Patience and Fortitude
b. Freedom and Justice
c. Knowledge and Power
d. Courage and Truth

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the answers!

National Library Week

2010-04-11T10:00:00.014-04:00

It's time to celebrate libraries - the heart of the community! This year's National Library Week runs from April 11-17 and the theme is "Communities Thrive @ Your Library."

Show your love of libraries this week by visiting PCL to pick up a great book or video game, check out the display case featuring the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum's exhibit "Energy Past & Present," and attend a free movie showing, a family, preschool or drop-in storytime, the "Read to the Pups" program or the "Animal Kingdom Zoo Expedition." Click here for a complete calendar of events.

Also, take the National Library Week Trivia Challenge! Library trivia will be posted here each day this week. Test your knowledge with this first round of questions and check back tomorrow for answers and new trivia.

1. Which movie was not based on a book?
a. Precious
b. Up in the Air
c. Avatar
d. Shutter Island

2. Which presidential library is located in Abilene, KS?
a. Eisenhower
b. Truman
c. Ford
d. Hoover

Fly a Poem

2010-04-06T10:02:00.007-04:00

Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere) arranging
a window, into which people look (while
people stare
arranging and changing placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here) and

changing everything carefully

From "Spring is like a perhaps hand" by E.E. Cummings

Celebrate poetry all month long! April is National Poetry Month and there are many ways to join in the fun.

*Take part in PCL's "Fly a Poem" festivities (the combination of National Poetry Month and National Kite Month.) Put a poem in the box in the Children's area. The poems can be original, or favorites by someone else. The authors of the submitted poems must be clearly and honestly stated on each one. The YS staff will put the poems on kite shapes and display them in the library.

*Carry a poem in your pocket on April 29th as part of National Poem in Your Pocket Day.

*Learn some great ways to foster a love of poetry in children by reading Marilyn Singer's School Library Journal article "Knock Poetry Off the Pedestal: It's time to make poems a part of children's everyday lives."

*Check out the Poets.org list of 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month. While there, browse the site (created by the Academy of American Poets) for more inspiration.

Movie Madness

2010-03-31T10:28:00.003-04:00

College basketball isn't the only major event on television in March. Some of the fall and winter's biggest films have been released on DVD this month, including several Oscar winners. Take a look at these fan favorites and then visit PCL's webpage to place a hold on one (or more!)

*2012 (PG-13)
*The Blind Side (PG-13) - Winner of the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Sandra Bullock
*Broken Embraces (R)
*An Education (PG-13)
*Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG)
*New Moon (PG-13)
*Precious (R) - Winner of the Oscars for Best Writing and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Mo'Nique
*The Princess and the Frog (G)
*Sherlock Holmes (PG-13) - Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Robert Downey, Jr.
*Up in the Air (R) - Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay
*Where the Wild Things Are (PG)

And keep an eye out for these April DVD releases:

*Crazy Heart (R) - April 20th - Winner of the Oscars for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures - "The Weary Kind" and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Jeff Bridges
*The Lovely Bones (PG-13) - April 20th
*The Young Victoria (PG) - April 20th - Winner of the Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design
*Avatar (PG-13) - April 22nd - Winner of the Oscars for Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Cinematography and Best Achievement in Visual Effects
*It's Complicated (R) - April 27

The "Lost" Books

2010-03-29T14:53:00.012-04:00

Fans of the hit television show Lost are treated to more than just an intriguing story line. The show also features many unique literary references. According to co-creator, executive producer and writer Damon Lindelof, the inclusion of such books is due to "...the fact that we've been influenced by literature in the way we've shaped the show, and it's a nod to that process...We pick the books with a great deal of meticulous thought and specificity and talk about what the thematic implications of picking a certain book are, why we're using it in the scene and what we want to audience to deduce from that choice." (Bradner)

Whether you watch the show or not, you may want to pick up one of these featured titles:

*Watership Down by Richard Adams
*A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
*Lancelot by Walker Percy
*Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
*Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
*The Chosen by Chaim Potok
*Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard

For more info, check out the Oprah Book Club article "Get Lost in Sawyer's Bookshelf," and read the Los Angeles Times piece "The books of 'Lost' and TV-inspired book clubs."

Bradner, Liesl. "The books of 'Lost' and TV-inspired book clubs." Los Angeles Times. 19 March 2009. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/03/literature-lost.html.
Hellstern, Melissa. "Get Lost in Sawyer's Bookshelf." Oprah's Book Club. 24 March 2010. http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Get-in-Sawyers-Bookshelf.

Prepub Alert

2010-03-22T14:34:00.008-04:00

Can't wait for your favorite author's next book? Mark your calendar and gather your bookmarks, because there are a number of hot titles coming out this spring. Here is a list of some of the most highly anticipated publications:

Richard Paul Evans - The Walk (April 6th)
Mary Higgins Clark - The Shadow of Your Smile (April 13th)
Anna Quindlen - Every Last One (April 13th)
David Baldacci - Deliver Us From Evil (April 20th)
Alexander McCall Smith - The Double Comfort Safari Club (April 20th)
Iris Johansen - Eight Days to Live (April 20th)
Stuart Woods - Lucid Intervals (April 20th)
Isabel Allende - Island Beneath the Sea (April 27th)
Fern Michaels - Return to Sender (April 27th)
Nora Roberts - Savor the Moment (April 27th)
Andrew Gross - Reckless (April 27th)
Dorothy Garlock - Stay a Little Longer (April 30th)
Robert B. Parker - Blue-Eyed Devil (May 4th)
Lee Child - 61 Hours (May 18th)
John Sandford - Storm Prey (May 18th)
Stieg Larsson - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (May 25th)

Which books will you be placing on hold?

Irish Fiction

2010-03-11T15:00:00.010-04:00

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by picking up one of these top-notch books set in Ireland, each accompanied by an excerpt from a Publisher's Weekly review.

*Darling Jim by Christian Moerk - "Like the itinerant Irish storyteller at the crux of this riveting novel, Danish-born author Moerk mixes mythology, Arthurian legend, fairy tales, noir and horror in his American debut." (Starred Review)

*The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville - "With this stunning debut, Neville joins a select group of Irish writers, including Ken Bruen, Declan Hughes and Adrian McKinty, who have reinvigorated the noir tradition with a Celtic edge." (Starred Review)

*An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor - "...Taylor's novel makes for escapist, delightful fun."

*The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri - "...Barbieri's world generates convicing warmth and emotion, making it worth a look for Friday Night Knitting Club fans..."

*Song of Ireland by Juilene Osborne-McKnight - "...her characters are vivid and her action scenes well handled, making her latest a sure winner among Irish history buffs and fans of rich, multilayered fantasy."

*Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney - "This hybrid quest saga, bildungsroman, and grassroots view of Ireland in its post-civil war era is immersive and enjoyable, and it showcases Delaney's talent for inventive metaphor, which he manipulates with an expert hand."

Do you have any favorite Irish authors or books?

All About Alice

2010-03-03T10:47:00.019-04:00

The upcoming release of Tim Burton's 3-D movie version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has sparked a renewed interested in the famous story and author. Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, was inspired to write the tale by his ten-year-old neighbor Alice Liddell. The publication of this classic book proved to have a profound impact on the real-life Alice, along with readers worldwide. This is evident in a letter written by Alice Liddell to her older sister: "But oh my dear, I am getting tired of being Alice in Wonderland. Does it sound ungrateful? It is. Only I do get tired."

Interested in learning more?

Check out Alice I Have Been, Melanie Benjamin's fictional take on Alice Liddell and her life. Click here to read the starred review from Publisher's Weekly, and here to read "Years Beyond the Rabbit Hole, 'Alice' Looks Back," NPR's coverage of the book.

Also, give the Syfy channel's mini-series version of Alice a try. Click here for details, including a behind the scenes video.

Click here to read critic reviews of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Library Journal published an in-depth reader's advisory article for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland that can be read here.

Stop by the library and pick up one of the many items related to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, including the books Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin, Alice's Adventures: Lewis Carroll and Alice in Popular Culture by Will Brooker, Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy: Curioser and Curioser edited by Richard Brian Davis, The Annotated Alice, and the films Alice and Alice in Wonderland.

Quote by Alice Liddell taken from NPR's article "Years Beyond the Rabbit Hole, 'Alice' Looks Back."

Author Spotlight: Lisa Spahr

2010-02-24T17:33:00.004-04:00

Lisa Spahr is the author of World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion. This fascinating book is about strangers helping each other during a time of war. The book features more than 30 letters and postcards sent to the author's family in 1943, alerting them of her grandfather's capture and status as a prisoner of war. Upon discovering these letters, Ms. Spahr began researching and uncovered intriguing WWII history and a great humanitarian story.

Here are a few interesting facts about this Pittsburgh based author:

1. Ms. Spahr worked for the American Legion's Washington, D.C. office for several years as a researcher and advocate examining issues related to the Gulf and Vietnam conflicts.
2. She has lived in and visited cities around the world such as Rome, Liverpool, Side, Amsterdam, Glasgow and Heidelberg.
3. Ms. Spahr is a member of the Military Writers Society of America, Business Networks International, Pittsburgh Professional Women and several Chambers of Commerce.
4. She has two dogs - Syrah Jayne (an Airedale) and Louie B (an American Bulldog/Staffordshire mix.)
5. She is an investigative psychologist who owns a life coaching and consulting business in Pittsburgh.

To learn more about this author, please visit her website. Meet Lisa Spahr and hear about a little-known piece of WWII history on Thur., March 4th at 7 pm in the library. Reservations requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13.

Best in Show (and Fiction)

2010-02-16T13:42:00.017-04:00

Today's post is a double-feature to celebrate the Westminster Kennel Club's 134th Annual Dog Show (Feb. 15th-16th.) First, enjoy some interesting info about the show's history and, then, peruse the reading list to find a great book for dog lovers!

Westminster Kennel Club Historical Highlights:
*The club was formed in 1876 (or earlier) by a group of sporting men who often met to discuss their hunting achievements and the skills of their dogs at a bar in a Manhattan hotel. They decided to form an official club called The Westminster Breeding Association, named after their favorite hotel.
*"The Czar of Russia" was noted as the breeder for a Siberian Wolfhound entered in the 1889 show.
*A German Shepherd named Filax of Lewanno was exhibited at the show in 1917. The dog was a hero of WWI, bringing 54 wounded soldiers to safety.
*The Westminster Kennel Foundation established an annual scholarship program for veterinary students in 1987.
*In 2009, a ten-year-old Sussex Spaniel called "Stump" (formally named Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee) became the oldest dog ever to win Best in Show. Stump was later featured on the cover of AARP Magazine.

Fiction for Dog Lovers:
*Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt
*The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
*Dog Lover's Mystery series by Susan Conant
*Dog on It by Spencer Quinn
*Melanie Travis series by Laurien Berenson
*Nose Down, Eyes Up by Merrill Markoe
*The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
*The Unscratchables by Cornelius Kane

All Westminster Kennel Club info found on the group's webpage.

Winter Works of Fiction

2010-02-09T18:59:00.017-04:00

With snow in the air (and on the ground) now is the perfect time to read one of these exceptional books with winter-related titles:

Hard Winter by Johnny D. Boggs - a suspenseful western written by a Spur Award-winner

Ice by Linda Howard - a romantic thriller set in the woods during a harsh ice storm

Ice Land by Betsy Tobin - a winning fantasy based on Norse mythology

Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader - a tale of international intrigue written by the best-selling author of many Jason Bourne novels

When Autumn Leaves by Amy S. Foster - an enchanting book that includes quirky residents of a charming town and a dash of magic

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah - a pleasing family drama filled with laughter and tears

Winter of Secrets by Vicki Delany - a multifaceted mystery featuring Constable Molly Smith

What book(s) are you currently reading?

Happy Birthday, Norman Rockwell

2010-02-03T14:57:00.008-04:00

Born on February 3, 1894, Norman Rockwell grew into one of the 20th century's most enduring and beloved artists. His paintings call to mind a sense of nostalgia, as this excerpt from a PBS biography of the artist affirms:

"'I paint life as I would like it to be,' Rockwell once said. Mythical, idealistic, innocent, his paintings evoke a longing for a time and place that existed only in the rarefied realm of his rich imagination and in the hopes and aspirations of the nation. According to filmaker Steven Spielberg, 'Rockwell painted the American dream - better than anyone.'"

Here is some interesting trivia, in honor of this American icon's birthday:
*Rockwell's first commission was for four Christmas cards, which he received before he turned sixteen.
*He painted 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post.
*Rockwell, in collaboration with his son Thomas, published an autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960.
*He was hired as art director of Boys' Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America, while still in his teens.
*Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, in 1977.
*He is the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

All information found on the Norman Rockwell Museum's website and the "About Norman Rockwell" section of PBS.org.

Cozy Up with a Good Book

2010-01-28T11:37:00.006-04:00

Keep warm this winter with the help of some cozy mysteries. These fictional detective tales are usually set in quaint towns and involve some sort of domestic crime, minus any graphic violence or language. The hero tends to be an amatuer detective, adept at solving puzzling problems. Cozies are very popular among readers looking for a light mystery that engages the mind. Get acquainted with this genre, or find a new favorite author, with this list of top-notch cozy mystery writers and their series' titles.

*Nancy Atherton - Aunt Dimity

*Emily Brightwell - Mrs. Jeffries

*Laura Childs - Tea Shop Mysteries / Scrapbooking Mysteries / Cackleberry Club Mysteries

*Mary Daheim - Bed-and-Breakfast / Emma Lord

*Carola Dunn - Daisy Dalrymple / Cornish Mystery

*Sarah Graves - Home Repair is Homicide Mysteries

*Carolyn Hart - Death on Demand / Henrie O / Bailey Ruth

*Joan Hess - Claire Malloy / Arly Hanks

*G.A. McKevett - Savannah Reid

*Maggie Sefton - Knitting Mystery

Do you have a favorite cozy series?

Beloved Novelist Passes Away at 77

2010-01-19T16:03:00.010-04:00

Best-selling author Robert B. Parker passed away on Monday, January 18th in his Cambridge, Massachusetts home. A spokesperson for the Cambridge police department reported that the death was due to natural causes, but no other details have been released. Parker wrote more than 60 books, covering such genres as westerns, young adult and mystery. His most popular characters include Spenser, a detective whose first name is never revealed, and Jesse Stone, a small-town police chief. Spenser was the basis for a 1980s television series and Stone has been played by Tom Selleck in several made-for-TV movies.

The Associated Press reports "...he was acclaimed as a master in his own right. 'Hard-boiled detective fiction was essentially dead in the early '70s. It was considered almost a museum thing,' said Ace Atkins, author of 'Devil's Garden,' 'Wicked City' and several other novels. 'When Parker brought out Spenser, it reinvigorated the genre...I wouldn't have a job now without Robert Parker.'"

All information found in articles in The Associated Press and ArtsBeat blog of The New York Times.

2010 Golden Globes

2010-01-18T10:48:00.010-04:00

January 17, 2010 marked the airing of the 67th Golden Globe Awards show. This annual ceremony is organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA.)

The HFPA began in the early 1940s, in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and the beginnings of World War II. Directors were working hard to fill audience demand for films offering escape and entertainment. At the same time, a group of Los-Angeles-based overseas journalists united to share resources. Informal meetings at private homes grew into group functions at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and an award presentation for notable accomplishments in the film industry.

What began as a group of journalists striving to cover all aspects of the entertainment industry has grown into a non-profit organization that has donated over $10.5 million to entertainment-related charities and hosts one of the three most watched award shows on television.

Here is some Golden Globe trivia:
1. The awards were given out by journalists until 1958, when Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. stormed the stage and took over the show. The stunt was such a hit that stars have hosted the show ever since.
2. The actors with the most individual nominations include Jack Lemmon, with 22, and Meryl Streep, with 19.
3. The only three-way tie in Golden Globe history was in 1989 between Jodie Foster (The Accused,) Shirley MacLaine (Madame Sousatzka) and Sigourney Weaver (Gorillas in the Mist) for Best Actress.
4. Ricky Schroeder holds the title of youngest winner ever. He was nine years old when he won Best New Star of the Year in 1980 for The Champ.
5. The oldest winners of a Golden Globe are Jessica Tandy, Best Actress for Driving Miss Daisy in 1990 at the age of 80, and Henry Fonda, Best Actor for On Golden Pond in 1982 at the age of 76.

All information found at the HFPA's website. Visit this site for more information, including this year's winners.

Roeper's Best Films of the Decade

2010-01-11T10:52:00.008-04:00

To continue the theme of "best of the decade," here is movie critic Richard Roeper's top ten films of the 2000s, along with a few of his comments.

10. Hotel Rwanda (2004) - "One of the most heartbreaking and inspirational movies I've ever seen, based on a true story."
9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - "Epic, exotic, romantic, gorgeous - and filled with breathtaking fight sequences."
8. 25th Hour (2002) - "Works as a social commentary, a crime story, a buddy film and a story about the bond between father and son."
7. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - "'The Usual Suspects' meets 'It's a Wonderful Life,' with a whole lot of 21st century Charles Dickens, as well."
6. Mystic River (2003) - "If Clint Eastwood had never acted in a single frame of film in his life, he'd be an American treasure for his work behind the camera."
5. House of Flying Daggers (2004) - "The most beautiful film of the decade."
4. Memento (2001) - "Ingeniously inverted puzzle that goes from finish to start, like Hitchcock walking backward."
3. Traffic (2000) - "Soderbergh's sprawling masterpiece about the myriad ways in which drugs have invaded our culture is a triumph of style and content."
2. In America (2003) - "In this beautiful, heart-wrenching, fictionalized version of his own story, director Jim Sheridan explores the theme of 'aliens' in America while continually referencing another alien: 'E.T.'"
1. The Departed (2006) - "Great, juicy performances, a brilliant screenplay and enough twists and turns to leave you breathless."

Do you agree with this list?

For Roeper's complete list of the 100 best movies of the decade, along with comments and honorable mentions, read his Chicago Sun-Times article.

Rolling Stone's Best Albums of the Decade

2010-01-04T16:50:00.011-04:00

Rolling Stone has compiled a list of "the most important music of the '00s as chosen by more than 100 artists, critics and industry insiders." This list includes 100 albums considered to be the best of the past decade. Here are the top ten albums with brief quotes from the magazine.

10. The College Dropout / Kanye West - "Maybe all he wanted to do was become an international superstar, but in the process, Kanye expanded the musical and emotional language of hip-hop."
9. Kala / M.I.A. - "The London-via-Sri Lanka art-punk funkateer came on like she knew she was kind of a big deal, and it didn't take her long to convince everyone in earshot."
8. Modern Times / Bob Dylan - "Mother Nature's revenge, silk-suited robber barons, the spiritual and romantic salvation always just beyond reach: Modern Times is history repeating itself, in Dylan's specific echoes of Slim Harpo and Memphis Minnie, and his refusal to bend even in the harshest winds."
7. The Marshall Mathers LP / Eminem - "...a masterpiece of psychodrama, 18 tracks that solidified Em's position as the new decade's most fascinating pop star and rap's most inventive new voice."
6. Funeral / Arcade Fire - "Built on family ties (leader Win Butler, his wife, Regine Chassagne, his brother Will) and a rich, folkie musicality, the band made symphonic rock that truly rocked, using accordions and strings as central elements rather than merely as accessories, with a rythm section that never let up."
5. Elephant / The White Stripes - "After they grabbed the world's ear with White Blood Cells, it turned out Jack and Meg were just getting warm. They went from minimal to maximal on Elephant, with a hot-blooded rock throb that blew every other band off the radio."
4. The Blueprint / Jay-Z - "...what really stands out is the rapper's sheer musicality: the new flows, timbres and tones that Jay-Z unveils in every song, with a virtuosity that marked him a vocal stylist on par with pop's greatest singers."
3. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot / Wilco - "Wilco's great leap forward was a mix of rock tradition, electronics, oddball rhythms and experimental gestures: a new vocabulary for an overwhelmed, dislocated age where we'd need to draw on both history and invention to survive."
2. Is This It / The Strokes - "...there was no missing the burn marks left by the guitars and Casablancas' vocals, mixed to the fore and ringed with distortion like he was singing from a pay phone. We got only two more albums from the Strokes, but they inspired a ragged revolt in Britain, led by the Libertines and Arctic Monkeys, and reverberated back home with the Kings of Leon."
1. Kid A / Radiohead - "...the weirdest hit album of that year, by a band poised to be the modern-rock Beatles, following the breakthrough of OK Computer. In fact, only 10 months into the century, Radiohead had made the decade's best album - by rebuilding rock itself, with a new set of basics and a bleak but potent humanity."

Visit Rolling Stone's website for the complete list. Do you agree with these selections? What were your favorite albums of the last decade?

Author Spotlight: Michael Davis

2009-12-28T16:41:00.012-04:00

Get to know New York Times bestselling author Michael Davis better before his visit to the library on January 21st!

Davis is a journalist and the author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. He regularly contributes freelance writing and photography to regional and national publications, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and O: The Oprah Winfrey Magazine. He was a senior editor and Family Page columnist for TV Guide from 2000-2007. Davis holds both an undergraduate and master's degree. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University during the 1986-87 academic year. He is also the recipient of a Congressional Medal of Merit for Leadership.

Here are five fun facts about Michael Davis:
1. His favorite Sesame Street character is Grover.
2. In 1978, he played against the Harlem Globetrotters as a member (for a night) of the New Jersey generals.
3. He owns a greyhound named Janie.
4. In 2006, he moderated panels on Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Atlantis at Comic-Con in San Diego.
5. The audiobook version of Davis' book is narrated by legendary puppeteer and television performer Caroll Spinney, who has been Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street since the debut season of 1969.

Stop by the library on Thur., Jan. 21st at 7 p.m. to hear the unforgettable story behind Sesame Street, meet Michael Davis and pick up a signed copy of his fascinating book. Reservations requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13. Copies of Street Gang will be available to purchase.

All information taken from the Street Gang website. Photo credited to Adrian Kinloch.

Best Fiction of 2009

2009-12-21T13:24:00.023-04:00

Here it is...the ultimate compilation of the best fiction of 2009! This list features selections from the "best of" lists of Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, The New York Times, Amazon.com, The Washington Post and NPR, cross-referenced against the most popular titles at PCL. The result is a year's worth of great books.

*Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

*Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

*A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore

*The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

*Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

*The Help by Kathryn Stockett

*Little Bee by Chris Cleave

*The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

*Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

*Spooner by Pete Dexter

What were your favorite books of 2009?

Delicious Dishes

2009-12-14T15:53:00.011-04:00

One of the most special aspects of the holidays is food. From cookies and pies to stuffing and yams no friend or family get-together would be complete without these memorable dishes. If you're looking to spice things up with some new recipes, look no further than these helpful websites:

All Recipes - This site features a variety of recipes from several magazines, including Taste of Home and Healthy Cooking. There are even recipes for restricted diets, such as diabetic, gluten-free, high-fiber, low-carb, sugar free, low glycemic impact, and more. To find these recipes, select "More Recipes" on the left hand column on the homepage, and then select "Healthy Cooking" on the next left hand column.

Epicurious - With contributions from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines, this site offers recipes with flair.

Food Network - From the network devoted to shows about all things food-related, this site features recipes for any course from your favorite TV personalities, such as Guy Fieri, Giada de Laurentiis, Paula Deen, and many more.

Hershey's - The beloved candy company's website includes a wide range of delectable dessert recipes. It even features "fun for kids" recipes that children can make with their parents.

Vegetarian Times - Hosted by the magazine of the same name, this site provides a plethora of tasty recipes for vegetarians and vegans (although non-vegetarians and non-vegans are sure to enjoy them as well!)

What are your favorite holiday recipes and recipe websites?

DVD Guide

2009-12-07T11:53:00.002-04:00

There's no shortage of popular DVD releases around the holidays. The trouble is figuring out which films are all hype and which are worth your time. Here are some of this season's most anticipated DVD releases, along with the critic consensus from Rotten Tomatoes.

*Angels and Demons (Rated PG-13) - "a fast-paced thrill ride, and an improvement on the last Dan Brown adaptation, but the storyline too often wavers between implausible and ridiculous"
*Funny People (Rated R) - "features the requisite humor, as well as considerable emotional depth, resulting in Judd Apatow's most mature film to date"
*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Rated PG) - "Dark, thrilling, and occasionally quite funny, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is also visually stunning and emotionally satisfying"
*Julie and Julia (Rated PG-13) - "Boosted by Meryl Streep's charismatic performance as Julia Child, Julie and Julia is a light, but fairly entertaining culinary comedy"
*Public Enemies (Rated R) - "Michael Mann's latest is a competent and technically impressive gangster flick with charismatic lead performances, but some may find the film lacks truly compelling drama"
*Star Trek (Rated PG-13) - "reignites a classic franchise with action, humor, a strong story, and brilliant visuals, and will please traditional Trekkies and new fans alike"
*Terminator Salvation (Rated PG-13) - "offers plenty of great effects but lacks the heart of the original films"
*Up (Rated PG) - "Another masterful work of art from Pixar, Up is an exciting, hilarious, and heartfelt adventure impeccably crafted and told with wit and depth"

With all that being said, the most important critic review is your own. What are your thoughts on any of these films?

Best Video Games of 2009

2009-11-30T10:52:00.016-04:00

Since the holidays are upon us and the year is moving toward its close, it's time for some obligitory "Best Of 2009" lists. The library introduced video games for Wii and PlayStation 3 to the collection this year, so it only seems right to kick things off with a "Best Video Games of 2009" list. Here are the video games that have been the most popular at PCL this year:

*Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii)

*Little Big Planet (PS3)

*Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip (Wii)

*Soul Calibur IV (PS3)

*Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Wii, PS3)

*Civilization Revolution (PS3)

*NASCAR Kart Racing (Wii)

*Cooking Mama: World Kitchen (Wii)

*MLB 09: The Show (PS3)

*Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Which video games made your list of favorites? Check back again soon for more on the best of 2009!

Author Spotlight: Andrew Gross

2009-11-23T12:37:00.010-04:00

Andrew Gross, PCL's 2008 "Annual Summer Celebrity," specializes in thrillers. He has co-written several books with James Patterson, including 3rd Degree and The Lifeguard, and penned three solo best-sellers, including his latest Don't Look Twice. Here are five fun facts about this popular author:

1. The Jester is his personal favorite of the books he has written with James Patterson.
2. At one time, he was president of HEAD Ski and Tennis, a manufacturer and marketer of premium sports equipment, and then Le Coq Sportif, a French sports fashion line.
3. One of his favorite quotes is "Some people think they can and some think they can't and they're probably both right!" - Henry Ford.
4. He owns two dogs - Westies, to be exact.
5. Some of his favorite books include Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, The Wind-Chill Factor by Thomas Gifford and Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.

All information found at Andrew Gross' website: http://www.andrewgrossbooks.com. Photo credited to Jan Cobb.

Fictional Book, Fictional Author

2009-11-17T16:53:00.012-04:00

It's not every day that a book written by a fictional character on a television show is published. Especially not a book based on said television show. If that's not enough to peak your interest, here's a brief synopsis of the new book Heat Wave, written by Richard Castle:

NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat is faced with an unusual challenge when the commissioner allows Pulitzer Prize-winning magazine journalist Jameson Rook to tag along with her while he researches an article. Sparks fly as they race to uncover the secrets behind the murder of a New York real-estate tycoon.

Fans of the popular TV show Castle, along with readers of popular mystery/romance fiction, may want to give this unique book a try.

Author Fest

2009-11-09T15:03:00.021-04:00

Meeting the mastermind behind a great book is a one of a kind experience. It allows readers to come face-to-face with beloved authors and get behind the scenes insight into thought-provoking books. Whether you've never been to a book discussion and signing before or have been to many, you won't want to miss PCL's first ever "Author Fest"! This community celebration of authors and readers is sure to be a special event.

Featured authors include:

*Julie Longacre - The Dirty Old Ladies' Cookbook

*Diane McKinney-Whetstone - Trading Dreams at Midnight, Leaving Cecil Street and Blues Dancing

*Maria V. Snyder - Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study, Storm Glass and Sea Glass

*Dr. Gene Witiak - True Confessions of a Veterinarian and The Hug: A Veterinarian's Secret Potion

*Evan Burian - Football Legends of Pennsylvania and Ancient Rivals and Thanksgiving Day Football

*Members of the Bethlehem Writers Group - A Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales

This event is free and open to the public. It will be held Thursday, November 12th at 7pm in the South Whitehall Township building. For more information, please call the library at 610-398-1361 x13.

Which authors, if any, have you met at book discussions/signings?

Adult-Friendly YA Books

2009-10-27T10:07:00.021-04:00

Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA,) celebrated each year during the third week in October. This week is dedicated to fostering a love of reading among teens. There are a plethora of great books aimed at teens but, the truth is, many of these books have the same appeal for adults. Most people are probably quite familiar with some of these genre-defying gems, such as Twilight and Harry Potter, but there are a host of other excellent adult-friendly YA books. In celebration of Teen Read Week, here are a few highly recommended books that both YA and adult readers are sure to enjoy:

*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

*Graceling by Kristin Cashore

*The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

*The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

*Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

*Madapple by Christina Meldrum

*The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

*What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Are there any YA books that you recommend?

Another "Lost Symbol" Twist

2009-10-20T09:24:00.011-04:00

Marilyn Schlitz, president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California, woke up one day to find that Dan Brown's clever surprises weren't confined to the pages of his best-selling books. After reading rumors on Twitter that one of the main characters in The Lost Symbol was a researcher at the Institute, Schlitz picked up a copy and read through the night.

She was amazed to find many correlations not only between the Institute's research and the book's plot, but also between the fictional character Katherine Solomon and Schlitz herself. She noticed several experiments done at the Institute in The Lost Symbol, but also found much that tended more toward science fiction. In addition, despite a lack of physical similarities, Schlitz and Solomon both started their careers at age 19 and studied prayer and healing and distant intention and both women's father and brother were 32nd degree Masons and members of the Scottish Rite.

Schlitz was especially surprised to find herself and the Institute starring in The Lost Symbol because she had never spoken with Brown. The day the book was published, however, "Dan Brown sent a very sweet e-mail saying, 'As you know, I'm a big fan of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. I had hoped to give you a heads-up,' Schlitz says. 'But because of the security around the book, he wasn't able to. But he was hoping we were enjoying the attention'" (Hagerty). With increased activity on the Institute's website and calls for interviews with NPR and Dateline NBC, it seems as though Schlitz truly is finding this to be a pleasant surprise.

Hagerty, Barbara Bradley. "Woman Reads Dan Brown Novel, Discovers Herself." NPR. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113676181>.

TV on DVD

2009-10-15T14:22:00.007-04:00

It's that time of year again - when TV stations debut their new Fall lineups and air season premieres. There are old favorites and new pilots on every channel. This is the perfect time to check out the library's TV on DVD collection. Featuring a wide range of entertaining and educational programs, this collection has something for everyone. Search the library's catalog for programs such as 24, 30 Rock, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Band of Brothers, Cranford, Damages, Gilmore Girls, House, M.D., Mad Men, Midsomer Murders, Lost, The Office, The Presidents, The Rosa Parks Story, Survivorman, The Tudors, Unlocking the Great Pyramid and many more!

Is there a particular show that you look forward to watching each season? Are there any new shows that you're hooked on?

Fall Fiction

2009-10-06T15:03:00.006-04:00

Looking for something interesting to read this Fall? Here are a few highly recommended works of fiction:

*The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim - A beautiful piece of historical fiction, this book follows the life of a young girl in 20th century Korea

*The Longshot by Katie Kitamura - A must-read for sports fans, Kitamura's debut goes behind the scenes of Mixed Martial Arts to share the powerful story of an underdog fighting to prove himself as a competitor and understand himself as a man

*Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan - Family rivalries, unique characters and a dash of magic make this an interesting and enjoyable read

*The Arms Maker of Berlin by Dan Fesperman - This first-rate thriller involves four missing WWII documents and plenty of international intrigue

*Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon - A gripping tale of three distinct characters and their peculiarly connected lives from a National Book Award finalist

Banned Books Week

2009-10-02T10:15:00.021-04:00

It's fitting that this blog can count Banned Books Week as its birthday, because both this special week and libraries worldwide champion intellectual freedom. Here are some fun facts in honor of Banned Books Week (Sept. 26 - Oct. 3, 2009):

*The 1987 Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved by Toni Morrison has been challenged multiple times on the grounds of violence, language and sexual content.

*One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey was challenged by a California school district in 2000 after parents protested that teachers "can choose the best books, but they keep choosing this garbage over and over again."

*Little Red Riding Hood retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, a 1984 Caldecott Honor book, was pulled from recommended reading lists in two California school districts in the early 90s because one of the items the heroine carries in a basket for her grandmother is a bottle of wine.

Do you read banned books?

Thanks to the American Library Association and multiple newspapers, including The Seattle Times, for the image and information. For more info, please visit the ALA's Banned Books Week website.

Inaugural Post

2009-09-30T15:15:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the Parkland Community Library Adult Services Department blog! Stop by weekly to read news from the library world and PCL, in particular. Find fascinating book reviews, useful websites, fun polls, new fiction, DVD, CD, video game, CD book and large print arrivals, program information and other enlightening snippets.