Halloween is here!

We've reached the end of October and what better way to enjoy it than a few stories to go with the season?

Here are a few suggestions :

Easy Reader

• A Ghost in the Toy Box by Fay Robinson
• The Haunted Hamburger and Other Ghostly Stories by David LaRochelle
• Pup and Hound Scare a Ghost by Susan Hood
• Spooky and the Ghost Cat by Natalie Savage Carlson
• Whooo's Haunting the Teeny Tiny Ghost? by Kay Winters

Juvenile

• The Berenstain Bears and the Galloping Ghost by Stan Berenstain
• Cowboy Ghost by Robert Newton Peck
• Jeffrey's Ghost and the Fifth-Grade Dragon by David Adler
• Never Hit a Ghost, With a Baseball Bat by Eth Clifford
• The Tightwad's Curse and Other Pleasantly Chilling Stories by Margret Rettich

Young Adult

• Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
• The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes
• Lights Out by R.L. Stine
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
• The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

Adult

• A Catered Halloween by Isis Crawford
• Death of a Neighborhood Witch by Laura Levine
• The Ghost and the Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly
• The Sin Eater by Sarah Rayne
• Vampires, Bones and Treacle Scones by Kaitlyn Dunnett

Horror and Fantasy Titles for Halloween

     It’s almost Halloween and I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some Spooky Reads! There are many different types of scary stories. Some are horror, some are fantasy or science fiction; and others are combinations of all of these. These kinds of stories may be terrifying, weird, or even funny. I’ve tried to list a sampling of books that would appeal to different readers, so, please enjoy!

Classic Horror Stories and Writers

• The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H. P. Lovecraft (again, anything from Lovecraft)
• Bartlby the Scrivner by Herman Melville
• The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe (really, just about anything from Poe)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Dracula by Bram Stoker                  

More Contemporary Horror Writers and Novels

•  The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
• Under the Dome by Stephen King
• Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
• The Haunted by Bentley Little
• Figures of Fear by Graham Masterton
• Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
• Perfect Nightmare by John Saul 

Urban Fantasy Series and Authors

• Vampire Huntress Legend by L. A. Banks
• Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor Series by MaryJanice Davidson
• The Otherworld Novels by Yasmine Galenorn
• Anita Blake Series by Laurel Hamilton
• Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
• Dark Hunter Novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward
• Novels of Count Saint-Germain by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Zombie Fiction (Just for the Heck of It!)

• Death Warmed Over: Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. by Kevin J. Anderson
• I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Clause by Scott G. Brown
• Severed Souls by Terry Goodkind
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
• Zombie Island: a Shakespeare Undead Novel by Lori Handeland
• Apocalypse Cow by Michael Logan
• Strands of Sorrow by John Ringo

Inter-library Loan services are available to our patrons

Is there a book you've been wanting to read that isn't a part of our library's collection?  We can request that book for you from one of the many libraries associated with us.

To request a book, you must have a current library card with Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library that is in good standing.  Simply request a blue Materials Request card from either the Circulation Desk or the Reference Desk, then fill out the information and hand it back in.  As multiple books can have the same title, the name of the author is required to assure we will request the book that you want.

Please note that only physical books are available through this service (no audio books, CDs, DVDs or videos) and that not all titles might be available for loan. However, we have a very good history of being able to borrow books from other libraries for our patrons use.  It will take between one to six weeks to receive a book through the system if it is available.

When using our inter-library loan service, please keep the following in mind:

• Books that have been released within the previous six months cannot be requested through inter-library loan.  Most libraries keep new books in-house for the first six months to a year to allow their own patrons the opportunity to check them out first.
• Books borrowed from another library are sent by mail.  While most titles that are available will come within two weeks, it can take up to six weeks for a request to be fulfilled depending on availability of the item and distance.
• Books will have a wrapper on them that has the due date of the material on it.  These must remain on the books.  The due date will depend on the lending library's policy and will therefore vary by case. Inter-library loans cannot be extended past their due date.
• Inter-library books must be signed for and, when returned, taken to the Circulation Desk.  Never put an inter-library loan book in any of our drop boxes.

Can Ghosts Commit Murder?

     Sheriff Dan Rhodes has learned to put up with a lot from the folks of Blacklin County, Texas; not to mention the barrage of teasing and gossip he gets from his dispatcher, Hack, and his jailer, Lawton. Rhodes handles everything with a cool head and a good bit of compassion. Although, Rhodes is not what you would imagine when you think of a Texas sheriff. He doesn't wear a cowboy hat or boots; there isn't a six shooter strapped to his hip. In fact, he prefers the Kel-Tec he keeps in his ankle holster.
   Rhodes is a very logical and methodical investigator, so when Hack calls him in the middle of the night to back up Deputy Ruth Grady who is on a "shots fired" call at the local haunted house, Rhodes doesn't give it a second thought. After sloshing through the rain to the back of the house, he and Ruth find Neil Foshee, local meth dealer, face-down in one of the rooms. A cursory search doesn't turn up much else. The suspect list includes Neil's former girlfriend, Vicki, who happens to be friends with Rhodes's wife. There is also the nephew of Clearview's mayor, as well as Neil's partners in crime, his cousins Earl and Louie.
     Complicating his investigation is the fact that the house is said to be haunted. The former owner--a  man named Moore who also taught at the local high school--died in the house of a heart attack nearly forty years ago. (The house has remained empty since the owner's death; with only local drug dealers and vandals daring to venture inside.) By all accounts Moore was a bully of a teacher and he would use a BB gun to kill any animals that came onto his property.  Rhodes doesn't believe in ghosts, but his "friend" Seepy Benton, the community college math professor who fancies himself an unofficial investigator for the sheriff's department, does. Though Rhodes himself has had some creepy feelings of being watched while visiting the house, Rhodes is still a skeptic.
    Many folks--Hack and Lawton included--believe that the ghost has something to do with Neil's death. After the scene of Neil's death has been cleared, Benton wants Sheriff Rhodes to let them investigate the house. Knowing he won't have any peace until he lets the professor look around, Rhodes takes Benton and his partner through the house and they find a skeleton in a closet in the attic--a room Rhodes neglected to clear the night of the murder. Whoever the woman was--Benton can tell from the shape of the pelvic bones--Rhodes can see from the skull fracture that she must have been murdered or at least fallen and hit her head on something hard. But then, how did she get into the closet in the attic where she was found?
     On top of these two bodies, Rhodes has to deal with copper thieves, a runaway bull, a county commissioner who wants to arm the sheriff's department for WWIII, and the rest of the characters that occupy Blacklin County. What is a small town sheriff to do?

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.

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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

Want to Get a Head Start on Planning Next Year's Garden?

     This is the South, and I know a lot of people who have gardens. We grow a great many things down here and whether it's vegetables or flowers, herbs or trees and shrubs, we all want to know how to choose the right plants, how to check soil conditions, and, increasingly, how to do all of this without a bunch of chemicals. Well, the library has two new books that can help you with that particular conundrum.

     The first is Southern Gardening: An Environmentally Sensitive Approach by Florida Master Gardener Marie Harrison. The author gives you all her tips and tricks for creating a verdant landscape that any gardener would be proud to call their own. Harrison's comprehensive guide focuses on environmentally conscious yards by suggesting use of ground-cover as well as easy-care, adaptable trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. She tells you how to deal with exotic and invasive plants that threaten natural areas and native plants. She offers minimally damaging ways to deal with insect pests. Plus, she includes a month-by-month guide for planning your earth-friendly garden. (On a side note; I would like to thank the Green Hills Garden Club, Hester Flowers Garden Club, Openwood Garden Club, and the Morning Gardeners Garden Club for presenting this wonderful resource to the library!)
     The second title for environmentally friendly gardening is Roses Without Chemicals by Peter E. Kukielski. This book includes one hundred fifty disease-free varieties of roses that the author rates on its disease resistance, flowering, and fragrance.

Since roses have a reputation for being finicky plants that require chemicals and fertilizers to remain healthy, this book offers a refreshing look at recent breeding efforts that have produced disease resistant varieties that perform wonderfully in all types of conditions. Kukielski lets the reader know which varieties perform best in each region and gives tips for simple cultivation techniques that are sure to result in beautiful, easy-to-care-for roses that will fill your garden. Also included is a helpful resource guide and a list of other books to help you make the most of your garden.
     Gardeners will enjoy flipping through these books and may even be inspired to try something new in their next gardening project. Both contain full-color photographs that will make it easier to identify the plants they wish to use in the garden. These two books--along with many others found in the library--will help you make your garden lush and beautiful with minimal use of harmful and potentially dangerous chemicals.