Banned Books Week - September 27 - October 3

As hard as it might be to believe, there are still attempts every year to have books pulled from library shelves for what some believe to be inappropriate materials for the rest of us to have access to.  The reasons are as varied as the books - issues with offensive language, mentions of gambling, mentions of alternative lifestyles, books dealing with evolution over creationism - the list goes on and on.

Join us during Banned Books Week and celebrate our freedom to read what we choose and make up our own minds about the subject matter contained within.  The following titles, available in our library in one or more formats, were among the top most challenged titles for 2014.

• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (J and CJ)
• Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (955.0542  S253p)
• And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (E R)
• The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison (F, LT, and C)
• The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini F, LT, MP, and C)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (C)
• A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard (B Dugard and C B Dugard)

Season 11 of "New Tricks"

     As season 11 of this hit British cop series opens, the retired detectives of the Unsolved Crimes and Open Case Squad (UCOS) have a new boss. Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) was offered a position with INTERPOL toward the end of season 10; and now, beautiful and young DCI Sasha Miller (Tamzin Outhwaite) has taken over as gov'ner of this motley crew of veteran detectives. Also missing is the eccentric, but brilliant Brian "Memory" Lane (Alun Armstrong), whose antics were always interesting to watch. Replacing Brian is the scientifically minded detective, Danny Griffin (Nicholas Lyndhurst), who has his own set of quirks. Joining Danny and Sasha are no-nonsense Scotsman Steve McAndrew (Denis Lawson), and (the solo holdout from the original team) Gerry "last man" Standing (Dennis Waterman). This unlikely powerhouse team use their considerable experience and classic skills to solve daunting cases; and it doesn't hurt that they also use a great deal of humor to offset the bleakness of their work. They find themselves tackling crimes involving antinuclear protesters, battle reenactors, an amateur sleuth, illegal immigrants, and state secrets from the Cold War era.

     I wasn't sure how I would like the replacement characters this season, but I have to admit that they have grown on me quite a bit. I also love that each episode isn't just about the case-of-the-week; there are also personal stories that allow a glimpse into each individual's family and past.

 *Warning: Spoilers* 

     Sasha has to work in the building with her lying, cheating, good-for-nothing ex-husband who also happens to be a command officer. Last season, we learn that Danny has a wheelchair-bound daughter named Holly. This season we learn why she is in a wheelchair and what happened to her mother. We also learn that Steve has reconnected with his son after ten years and that Steve's abusive father is dying. Gerry's family life is also a bit in chaos. His youngest daughter is about to marry a *gasp* solicitor (lawyer) and the angst that Gerry inflicts on his soon-to-be-son-in-law makes for a bit of fun. Sadly, it looks like the actor who plays Gerry, Dennis Waterman, will be leaving the show in season 12.

     These stories and the chemistry between these characters have kept this popular series going for a long time now. I hope to see more of these characters' antics in the future. They really do prove that you CAN teach an old dog New Tricks!

Come Check Out Our Huge Selection of Large Print Titles!

Our library has a huge selection of Large Print titles for your reading pleasure - over fifteen thousand titles to choose from.  Biographies, romances, westerns, comedies, mysteries, action, thriller - both older favorites and brand new titles to enjoy.


We've already added thirty-seven new titles this month :

As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers

By Your Side by Candace Calvert

The Cavendon Women by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Daughter of the Regiment by Stephanie Grace Whitson

The Dead Play On by Heather Graham

Don't Go Home by Carolyn Hart

Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge

Emma's Secret by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Endangered by C. J. Box

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

A Faith of Her Own by Kathleen Fuller

The Fall by John Lescroart

The Favorite Son by Tiffany Warren

Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman

The First Wife by Erica Spindler

The Fixer by Joseph Finder

The Forever Bridge by T. Greenwood

Home of Our Hearts by Robin Jones Gunn

The Icing on the Corpse by Liz Mugavero

The Invention of Fire by Bruce Holsinger

Kickback by Ace Atkins

Mademoiselle Chanel by C. W. Gortner

One True Heart by Jodi Thomas

Playing with Fire by Deborah Mello

Pride V. Prejudice by Joan Hess

Puzzled Indemnity by Parnell Hall

The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell by William Klaber

Reservations for Two by Hillary Lodge

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron

A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott

A Stranger's Secret by Laurie Alice Eakes

The Ultimate Betrayal by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Vines of Entanglement by Lisa Carter

The Wedding Circle by Ashton Lee

Wilderness Rising by A. L. Shields

These and the rest of our newest Large Print titles can be found on the white shelves near the elevator on the top floor.  Happy reading!

Cats and Dogs

Here at the library, we love our pets! I grew up in the country and I have owned pets most of my life, so when two new pet books came across my desk, I just had to share.

     The first is a small book with a lot of good ideas for getting your cat to like you. "Yes," it says, "It is possible!" The book is called 97 Ways to Make a Cat Like You and it is written by Carol Kaufman. If you are in a one-sided relationship with your cat (let's be honest, most cat owners are) then this may be the book you need to check-out the next time you are in the library.These 97 inspired, sometimes silly, but absolutely fun-for-you-and-kitty tricks and games will endear you to your cat.

These tips and tricks are based on scientific understanding of cat behavior. For instance, tip #43 suggests you "rack 'em up" by putting pennies in a plastic Easter egg and let your cat have at it. You'll also learn the "Head Butt," the "Hide and Seek," and the useful "Cat Burrito." Almost all of these tips are simple, practical, and very inexpensive ways to play with and connect with your cat.

     The second book we have is called The Complete Dog Breed Book and it is published by DK books. This encyclopedia provides photographic profiles on more than 420 of the world's best-loved dogs. Each dog's profile gives vital statistics such as height range, weight range, average life span, coat colors, grooming needs, and trainability. There are also temperament ratings and descriptions of the breed's origin so that you can best choose the type of dog for you and your family. Do you want an alert watchdog who will be wary of strangers, but calm and dedicated to your household? Then, why not choose a Catahoula Leopard Dog? Want a small, but energetic dog that is also smart and responds well to obedience training? Well, look no further than the miniature schnauzer. This cheerful, friendly dog is good with the whole family.

     Granted, every dog has its individual personality and could use firm, consistent training to help with family socialization and every cat has its own idea about who rules the roost. But, the benefits of owning a pet have been well documented: lower blood pressure, more exercise, ease of depression symptoms, and greater self-esteem. Love your pets and remember; adoption is best, but always choose your pet on whether or not it will fit with your lifestyle and family dynamic, not on how it looks or its breed.

Three Very Different New Biographies

You might be hard pressed to find a more diverse three people than the ones in our most recent group of biographies.  Each of the ones mentioned here can be found in our New Non-Fiction shelves.

---

 The first is 'A Time for Truth' by Ted Cruz, who is currently campaigning to be the GOP candidate for the presidency.

The son of a Cuban immigrant whose father experienced brutality in the Cuban prison system, Cruz became a success story who not only made it into an Ivy League school, but became the 34th US Senator from Texas.

In this autobiography, he covers both the history of his parents as well as his own story from his birth in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to his current campaign.

---

The second biography, 'Model Woman' by Robert Lacey, is about Eileen Ford who, along with her husband Jerry, created the Ford Modeling Agency - the largest and most successful modeling agency in the twentieth century with many of fashion's best known models on their roster : Suzy Parker, Naomi Campbell, Christie Brinkley, Jerry Hall, Christy Turlington and many others.

This biography on Eileen Ford draws on four years of interviews with Ford herself prior to her passing in 2014 as well as interviews with her associates.  He was also allowed exclusive access to agency documents and other memorabilia all of which he uses to flesh out the story of the modeling agency and the woman at its center.

---

Finally, the third biography is 'Deal' by Bill Kreutzman with Benjy Eisen - a rock 'n roll memoir of one of the founding members and the drummer of the Grateful Dead.

This memoir covers the founding of the Grateful Dead and follows along the path of their thirty year/over 2,300 concert career.  Kreutzman not only gives an insider view to the band and the other groups that they interacted with over the years.  He also lets the reader in on what he felt and thought about the events and people making it a very personal account that any Grateful Dead fan should enjoy.

---

These and many other biographies are waiting for you at our library.  Enjoy!