BECOMING SOUTHERN

Becoming Southern: The Evolution of a Way of Life, Warren County and Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1770-1860 by: Christopher Morris

This book was recently donated to the library by the Vicksburg Genealogical Society In Memory of Mrs. Hope Shockley.
I’ve enjoyed reading this historical account of how our city was first settled and became a Southern place. The Choctaw tribe of Indians, were in the south and further north were the Chickasaw both of which traded furs with the settling Europeans. The settlers carved out a way of life in the wilderness by planting crops and raising homes. The wealthier ones bought slaves, planted cotton and established plantations. Vicksburg was founded by the Reverend Newit Vick of Virginia. He was married to Elizabeth Clark. They died in 1819 of yellow fever, leaving behind ten children. Mr. Morris’s book gives an interesting account of relations within households consisting of the husband, wife, master and slaves. His research consisted of wills, deeds, court records and manuscripts. For those doing genealogical research this is a great source with Surnames Indexed.

A New Twist on Leftovers

Merry Christmas from the

Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library!

Now that the holiday season is winding down, are you trying to figure out what to do with all of the leftovers crowding your refrigerator? If you are anything like me, you hate to throw any food away that is still good, especially since you spent a huge amount of time making sure it tasted wonderful the first time. However, even the best dish gets tiresome the third time you eat it. Don't panic--I have a solution for you! The Little Book of Leftovers by Kevin Crafts is a humorous and helpful collection of great recipes and tips for food that might otherwise go to waste. Kevin Crafts shows no fear in this cookbook, as he raids the back of the refrigerator, pokes under the aluminum foil, and gives yesterday's first course a second chance. Kevin offers tempting recipes from the four food groups such as turning that half bottle of not-so-bubbly bubbly into Champagne Sauce and leftover pasta into a fantastic frittata. This is a funny and entertaining way to beat those after-Christmas blues and clean out your refrigerator!

Christmas "Stalkings"

It’s a cold winter evening. The Christmas decorations have been hung, the presents are wrapped and you have just slid a pan of cookies into the oven. Now, it’s time to settle down in a comfy chair (by the fireplace if you have one) and open up a great murder mystery! Some of my favorite mysteries are set during the Christmas season and the following is just a few of them:

Aunt Dimity’s Christmas by Nancy Atherton is the story of Lori Shepherd who is anticipating celebrating Christmas with her husband, Bill and twin sons in the beautiful cottage willed to her by Aunt Dimity. Lori makes a disturbing discovery beneath the cottage's snow-covered lilac bushes -- the body of a mysterious stranger, barely alive. Lori must put her plans on hold to team up with the devilishly attractive Roman Catholic priest JuLian Bright and seek out the tramp's identity. Lori unveils the tragic secret that led the stranger to her door, and must confront painful truths about herself and the true meaning of a perfect family Christmas.

Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson stars dog trainer Melanie Travis, in a cozy canine mystery set during the Christmas holidays. This year, all Melanie wants for Christmas is a dull moment--but she's not going to get it. Between her eight-year-old son, her teaching job, her show dog, and now the mysterious death of her son's bus driver, she's got her hands full.

Iced by Carol Higgins Clark is set in the old silver-mining town-turned-trendy resort of Aspen, Colorado. Many rich and famous folks have arrived in Aspen to celebrate the holidays, as has Regan Reilly who has has arrived with her mystery-writing mom and suave, funeral director father to spend the Christmas holidays on the slopes and visiting friends. Million-dollar paintings start disappearing from elegant condos and chic chalets all over town and suspicion immediately falls on a congenial ex-con caretaker named Eben Bean. Since Regan helped Eben get his caretaking job, she is the only person in town who believes he is innocent, and must prove this to everyone else.

Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves is one of the “home repair is homicide” murder series. When ex—Wall Streeter Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree buys a charming 1823 fixer-upper in tiny Eastport, Maine, she figures she’s also bought herself a tranquil, stress-free life. When Jake and her best pal, Ellie, arrive at Faye Anne Carmody’s kitchen door, they knock and walk right in. But though Christmas is just two weeks away, what they find is far from festive: a dazed Faye Anne covered with blood, and her no-good husband — the town butcher, Merle — nowhere in sight. Nowhere, that is, until Jake discovers his body — tidily wrapped in his own butcher paper. Jake can’t believe that Faye Anne is a murderer, but can she and Ellie stop the shrewd killer before he chisels another victim’s name onto a tombstone?

Movie, Anyone?

This is a bit of a departure from our usual subjects, but I just watched a really wonderful movie (for the second time) and thought I’d share it with you! It’s become one of my favorite films and it’s a perfect movie to cozy up with your friends, family and/or pets and watch. Produced in 2007, Lars and the Real Girl is a funny, tender, comedy with entertaining moments and intelligent characters. The movie ultimately explores a feeling that all of us can relate to—loneliness--and the healing power of family. Ryan Gosling stars as Lars, a sweet but unusual guy, who thinks he’s found the girl of his dreams in a life-sized doll named Bianca. The most touching part of this film is the way Lars’ family, friends and co-workers treat Bianca as if she is truly a member of their community. The gentleness with which the citizens of this town take care of Lars truly makes you believe in the magic of people. Watching this movie, especially during the holiday season, always makes me appreciate the members of my community just a little bit more. Some of the scenes are hilarious, especially when Lars and Bianca are invited to dinner parties together. This movie is truly a great “gift” to share with others.

Sew a Cute Christmas Gift

I just discovered one of the cutest books on sewing for this holiday season! One of our staff members left the following book, Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle, published by David & Charles, on my desk with a note stating "Thought you might like to look at this." She was right, I absolutely loved it. The book contains 35 projects, ranging from easy to complicated, that can be used to decorate your home in a sweet Christmas style. The book begins with a section on techniques, and then devides the rest of the projects by the type of room (Entrance Hall, Living Room, Adult Bedroom, Girl's Room, etc.) and even includes a "Chistmas Outdoors" section. I especially enjoyed the projects for the hats (pg. 21) and angels (pg. 32). Most of the projects may be sewed by hand, which is desirable for a person like me who enjoys bringing sewing projects everywhere I visit! Although the book was originally published in England, I think the projects described are ones that have appeal for American citizens too. Do you have any favorite craft books for the holiday season? Share your thoughts with our readers, by commenting on this post.

Have a Spy Over for Christmas!

The library’s Mystery Book Club recently held a “Murder Under the Mistletoe” Meeting, where members read mysteries set during Christmas and other Winter holidays. I really enjoy reading Christmas mysteries that are part of a series, but are a departure (of sorts) from an author’s usual fare. One of the best Christmas mysteries that I have read so far this year, is The Spy Who Came for Christmas by David Morrell. Morrell is a thriller author, and this title stars international spy Paul Kagan who is willing to risk his life to rescue a baby kidnapped by the Russian mob. Plot action takes place on Christmas Eve, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the beautiful, internationally known, annual Christmas lights celebration. Undercover agent Paul Kagan is an appealing hero –when the story opens he is wounded and on the run while sheltering a five-week-old infant under his jacket. The baby is the son of Palestinian Ahmed Hassan, who preaches peace in the Middle East, and is the target of the Russian mob because they wish to silence anyone who threatens their ability to make money from violence in the Middle East. This book is very engaging because Morrell has created the story as a contemporary version of the story of Jesus’ birth, and made it into a spy thriller. There is redemption at the end of the book and even Kagan has an epiphany which changes his life. The book is divided into four parts instead of chapters, and is relatively short. The action is intense and it is as much a “feel-good” Christmas story as it is a thriller. If you like this book, also try reading 24 Hours by Greg Iles. The action is this book takes place during a 24 hour time period, with each chapter taking place over one hour. Greg Iles is a native of Mississippi, who currently lives in Natchez. The story’s action begins in Madison, MS and involves the story of a psychopathic kidnapper who has never been caught and whose victims have never talked to the police. Doctor Will Jennings and his wife Karen race against time to rescue their son and bring the kidnapper to justice. Both 24 Hours and The Spy Who Came for Christmas have the same edgy action that compels you to stay up all night to finish the story!

RITA Romance Awards

The RITA awards are given for the best in published romance fiction. They are given out by the Romance Writer’s of America and named after that organization’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada. In 2008 out of the 12 categories, we own books in seven categories.

Best First Book
“Dead Girls are Easy” by Terri Garey
Nicki Styx has a brush with the afterlife and it leaves her with the ability to see dead people. Now her days consist of cleaning up the messes lefty by the dearly departed, leading ghouls into the Light, and trying to keep her boyfriend from finding out her new “talent.”

Historical Romance

“Lessons of Desire” by Madeline Hunter
This is the latest in the Rothwell series. Phaedra Blair sits in prison unjustly arrested. Lord Elliot Rothwell ensures her release but she must promise not to publish a manuscript that could destroy his family name and he’s not above bribery, threats, or bedding her to get his way.

Inspirational Romance

“A Touch of Grace” by Linda Goodnight
Journalist Gretchen Barker grieves for her sister, whose body was found near Ian Carpenter’s New Orleans mission. She mourned her problems and the family trouble that started them, but he minister’s professions of help make her suspicious.

Paranormal Romance

“Lover Revealed” by J.R. Ward
Ex-cop Butch is the only human allowed into the Black Dagger Brotherhood. However, Butch is no mere human, a fact suspected by his vampire colleague and confirmed by the sinister plans of a fringe group. With the help of Marissa, a vampire, Butch’s destiny comes to light.

Regency Historical Romance

“The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever” by Julia Quinn
Miranda Cheever fell in love with the aristocratic Nigel Bevelstoke when she was 10 and he was 19. Now 20, she is still in love with him but her play for him is thwarted by the indiscretions of his late wife. Nigel is unwilling to risk another chance at love, even if it means hurting his close friend Miranda.






Romantic Suspense

“Ice Blue” by Anne Stuart

Museum curator Summer Hawthorne considered the exquisite ice-blue ceramic bowl given to her by her Japanese nanny a treasure of sentimental value—until somebody tried to kill her for it. International operative Takashi O’Brien has received his directive—take the bowl at any costs.

Young Adult Romance
“Wicked Lovely” by Melissa Marr

Set in a small city south of Pittsburg, Aislinn and her grandmother have followed strict rules all their lives to hide their ability to see faeries because faeries don’t like it and they can be very cruel. Only the strongest faeries can withstand iron, so Aislinn prefers the city with its steel girders and bridges. But now Aislin is being stalked by two of the faeries who are able to take on human form and are not deterred by steel. What do they want from her?

Success

One Sunday morning on the CBS early show, my husband and I watched an interview with Malcolm Gladwell. He is the one who coined the term tipping point and his book by that title and well as “Blink” were both best sellers.
His new book is “Outliers: the Story of Success.” It is built around the premise of wondering why some people succeed more than others. Gladwell argues that true success is more than intelligence and ambition and if we want to understand how some people thrive, we should spend more time looking around them—at such things as their family, their birthplace, or even their birth date. The story of success is more complex—and a lot more interesting--than it initially appears.
“Outliers” explains what the Beatles and Bill Gates have in common, the extraordinary success of Asians at math, the hidden advantages of star athletes, and the reason you’ve never heard of the world’s smartest man—all in terms of generation, family, culture, and class. It matters what year you were born if you want to be a Silicon Valley billionaire, Gladwell, argues and it matters where you were born if you want to be a successful pilot. The lives of outliers—those people whose achievements fall outside normal experience—follow a peculiar unexpected logic, and in making that logic plain Gladwell presents a fascinating and provocative blueprint for making the most of human potential.

Southern Fried Christmas Stories

I often discover the best books while walking past our library’s holding shelves. Since they are located next to our staff work room, I peruse these shelves several times every day. Whether it is a cleverly-worded title or a splashy cover, the little gems that I find are always worth my time. Yesterday, a colorful Christmas book caught my eye. I was first attracted by the lovely illustration on the cover, but when I was close enough to read the title, I knew that I had to share this book with someone else! Titled The Official Guide to Christmas in the South Or, If You Can’t Fry It, Spraypaint It Gold and written by David C. Barnette, this book is a charming, hilarious guide to decorating your home for Christmas in the Southern style. The book teaches the reader how to avoid holiday pitfalls as well as how to navigate the “sometimes unspoken details of Southern etiquette.” Chapters such as “Christmas China and Therapy” and “The Divinity Code” offer tips on how to arrange your house for the holidays and create the perfect food for your large assortment of visitors during the holiday season. Although tongue-in-cheek, the book does offer some practical advice, such as which items you can safely “gild” (translation-spraypaint gold) and give as gifts as well as which presents you can safely “re-gift” and who you can give them to. Another humorous Christmas style guide is Ruby Ann Boxcar’s Move Over Santa—Ruby’s Doin’ Christmas! Ruby is a resident of the High Chaparral Trailer Park, whose book details how to prepare your trailer, inside and out, for the holiday season. The book is arranged by the days of Christmas (one through twelve) and includes recipes, crafts, and other facts about Christmas (did you know that in 1836 Alabama became the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday?). If you are feeling overwhelmed by this holiday season, be sure and check-out these books yourself, for some laughter and great holiday stress-relief. I promise you won’t be disappointed!!

Get Hooked by an Angel

I am a big fan of police procedurals and I have just finished reading a really great one! Angel’s Tip is the latest mystery thriller from Alafair Burke, and it truly is a fast and exciting read. The book is set in New York and features Ellie Hatcher, a tough, “newly promoted” NYPD detective who has been working in the homicide division of the Thirteenth precinct for exactly one week. The book’s action is centered around the murder of Chelsea Hart, a college student from Indiana who was spending her spring break with her two best friends, in New York City. A bit wild and carefree, Chelsea convinced her friends to leave her at a nightclub on the last night of their trip, so that that she could dance and have fun “a little bit longer.” But, the best night of Chelsea’s life turned sour when her murdered body was discovered the next day in East River Park. The plot is complicated and the action moves quickly in this book. Not only do readers’ get to hear Ellie’s point of view, but also they are pushed into the mind of the killer during several parts of the book. The best part of Alafair Burke’s novel is her heroine, Ellie Hatcher. Ellie’s father was a policeman and she has followed in his footsteps in her own career choice. Ellie lives in a world of men, and being attractive and blond has hindered her ability to be taken seriously by her fellow detectives. In this book, Ellie receives a new partner, J. J. Rogan, who as an African American has had to face his own battles within the force. Ellie and J. J.’s developing partnership and uphill battle to learn the “lay of the land” within the NYPD add an extra layer of tension to this already exciting story. Dead Connection is the first novel written by Alafair Burke, that stars Ellie Hatcher. Burke has also written three books in a series with Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid that are set in Portland, OR; the first book in the Samantha Kincaid series is Judgement Calls. If you like Angel’s Tip, try also reading The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen, the first book in Gerritsen’s series starring Detective Jane Rizzolo. The story involves a creepy cerebral serial killer, a charismatic female doctor and a tough female detective set amidst the history and bustle of Boston, MA.

Visit "The Shack!"

I am usually not fond of reading books on the bestseller list, especially when the book is a “14-day” check-out because so many people want to read it! I don’t enjoy being stressed out and forced to read a book quickly, as I prefer to read at my own pace. However, I just finished reading The Shack by William P. Young, a book that has been on the bestseller list for several weeks. The book is a work of fiction, but the story is so compelling, I kept asking myself as I read it, “What if this book is based on a true story?” The story revolves around MacKensie (Mac) who has a wonderful family and a nice life, until a terrible tragedy occurs and causes him to lose his faith in God and become burdened by The Great Sadness. Mac then gets the chance to have a conversation with God and what he learns is startling, amazing, and wonderful. The God that Mac meets is different from his version that he grew up with and how Mac is changed by him makes the book a good read. The story is vivid and a bit challenging to read – I suggest reading it in small doses, so you can spend time thinking about the story.

For other books that deal with people and their relationships with God try also reading Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsche, in which he chronicles his extraordinary experience of conversing with God through the process of "auto-writing."

STEAMBOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

I attended a tribute ceremony to the Delta Queen Steamboat and learned interesting historical facts. Steamboats have played important roles in history. Hopefully those remaining will be in operation for future generations to enjoy. Our library has many books on steamboats, such as
Live Steam by Jon Kral, a photojournalist who gives a behind the scenes look at what it’s like to live and work aboard steamboats.

Monday, November 3, 2008 at 4:00P.M.

Tribute to the Delta Queen

Along the Vicksburg riverfront and from the bow of the American Queen a tribute was made to the departing steamboat, Delta Queen. The Captain John Dugger presented a plaque to
Mayor Laurence Leyens. Mayor Leyens spoke of the importance of keeping the stern-wheel steamboats on the River and proclaimed November 3rd as “Delta Queen Day” for Vicksburg. The American Queen Quartet played and the "Delta Queen Waltz" was performed. The history of the Delta Queen was given as being built in 1927 with a cost of less than a million dollars. She began overnight trips between Sacramento and San Francisco for the next thirteen years going through the Depression. From 1940 to 1946, the Delta Queen served in the U.S. Navy. She was painted overall gun barrel gray. In 1946 she was put up for auction and bought by Tom Green from Cincinnati, Ohio for $46, 250.00 The Green Family renovated the Delta Queen in 1947. Cruises began in 1948 on the Ohio River and have continued for the past sixty years. In 1966 a law was enacted for ocean going vessels having wooden superstructure, stating that they couldn’t carry more than fifty passengers overnight. The Delta Queen has been exempted nine times from this law allowing her to have passenger cruises. Recently the exemption wasn’t given to the Delta Queen and expired on November 1st. The public is being encouraged to contact representatives to ask Congress to allow the exemption. For more information see the website at http://www.deltaqueenhistory.com/

Vote for Your Favorite Adult and Children’s Book!

In acknowledgement of the election season, the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library asked patrons to nominate their favorite adult and children’s books during the month of October. Nominations were accepted through October 31, in cooperation with an exhibit case display of famous people and their favorite books. The nominations in both the Adult and Children’s categories were wide-ranging and covered both Non-Fiction and Fiction titles. When the nominations were tallied, the top five books with the most nominations were:

Adult Books
1) The Bible
2) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3) The Time-Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
4) My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
5) The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Children’s Books
1) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
2) Eragon by Christopher Paolini
3) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
4) The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss.
5) Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Now, it’s your time to vote! Please visit the library and fill out a ballot, and place it in the “star-covered” paper box located on the top of the exhibit case on the second floor of the library. The case is located to your right when you walk into the library. You may vote for ONE favorite book in both the adult and children’s categories. Votes may be cast until November 21, 2008. The results of the vote will be published in the newsletter as well as on a poster inside the library. If you can’t visit the library, you may e-mail your vote to me, at jensmith@warren.lib.ms.us Don’t miss out on your chance to voice your opinion!

Thrills and Chills for Halloween

Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I have been enjoying reading some "creepy" stories to get myself in the mood! One of the best collections I have read recently was 50 Great Ghost Stories, which was written by John Canning. The stories are of English origin, and are more on the "chilly" rather than the "gory" side of scary. Especially during the last few days of 50 degrees (brrr), it has been great cuddling up with a blanket and losing myself in these small nuggets of creepiness. If your cravings for ghost stories leans towards typical ones, try reading A Treasury of Victorian Ghost Stories, edited by Everett F. Bleiler. This collection explores traditional legends of ghosts and ghouls and is a real treat for the history lover. This time of year always creates in me a yearning to re-read classic ghost stories such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving or Dracula by Bram Stoker. Take some time to read (or re-read) a classic story!

When I first saw this title “How to Cheat at Organizing” by Jeff Bredenberg my first thought was only a man would think to cheat at organizing. But to give him a fair shake, I decided to look further. There were some good ideas, but to me it seems this man had a wife to help him out with some of these.

There seems to also be a heavy reliance on technology such as the internet. While some Moms I talked to said these ideas have their merits, one mom said that some days she doesn’t get a shower so how would she find the time to surf the internet for some of the ideas mentioned?

In fact, one of his suggestions was met with great skepticism by my child owning friends. He suggested not putting a portable DVD player in your car, but instead to spend the time singing and playing car games to focus of family togetherness. While they all said the idea was commendablet, this guy never spent very much time with kids in the car or he would know what a godsend the DVD was. One Mom said the only quiet she had was when the kids were watching a show.

One idea of his found particular favor with Moms: providing an “I’m Done with It” bag. The idea is to let the child put clothing or toys they had outgrown or were tired of in a bag and when the bag was full taking it to a local charity.
He has another book called “How to Cheat at Cleaning.” Hmm seems they all do that, don’t they?

Making the Jump

MAKING THE JUMP
Two of my favorite authors who have previously been published in paperback have made the jump to hardcover. They are both cozy mysteries.


“Espresso Shot” by Cleo Coyle continues the adventures of Clare Cosi, manager and head barista of the bustling New York coffeehouse The Village Blend. Clare’s been hired to create a gourmet coffee and dessert bar for a New York wedding to be held at the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. Famous chefs will be there, celebrities, members of the press, well-known politicians—so why isn’t she thrilled to have this chance to shine? Because the person tying the knot is Matteo Allegro, her ex-husband and current business partner. And while Clare has no plan to ever marry Matt again, she’s afraid he’s making a terrible mistake.
The bride-to-be is “Trend” magazine editor Breanne Summour. Beautiful, wealthy and sophisticated, the snarky tastemaker has never been a low maintenance kind of gal and now she’s in full blown bridezilla mode. The only way Clare can possibly deal with her is to put her misgivings aside and focus on business. But as a successful amateur sleuth, murder is Clare’s business, too, and when fatal accidents begin befalling people close to Breanne, Clare becomes suspicious. Is someone trying to sabotage the wedding? To kill Breanne?


“The Chocolate Snowman Murders” by Joanna Carl features premier chocolatier Lee McKinney Woodyard, part owner of TenHuis Chocolades. With the Warner Pier Winter Arts Festival just days away, everyone in the West Michigan town is looking forward to the big art show—and, of course, the unveiling of TenHuis Chocolade’s special holiday chocolates.
As treasurer of WinterFest, Lee is up to her elbows in the arguments, egos, and last-minute mix-ups that happen behind the scenes. But she’s coping, even when the guest juror of the arts festival shows up drunk. Lee leaves him to sleep it off, but she is stunned the next day when her husband, Joe, discovers that someone has put the visiting dignitary in a permanent state of repose. As the last people spotted near the crime scene, Lee and Joe are in a sticky situation. But after another murder and a run-in with a deadly snowman, they’re more determined than ever to find the real killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.

Halloween is Not Just for Kids!

The creepy, crawly, Halloween season is fast approaching! If you’ve been invited to a party and can’t quite figure out what costume to wear, do not fear. The library has plenty of books that can help you find the perfect outfit. Halloween: A Grown-up’s Guide to Creative Costumes, Devilish Décor and Fabulous Festivities by Joanne O’Sullivan is a great book that can help you create fabulous adult costumes with a small amount of effort. This book contains directions to create costumes designed just for adults; you'll find everything from a sublime dancing queen to a fierce samurai warrior. It also includes suggestions for creating the right atmosphere for your home and yard with decorations that range from eek to chic. I especially enjoyed the “tried and true” projects that demonstrated transformations of old favorites -- jack-o'lanterns -- as well as yard figures, window and mantel treatments, and seasonal tableaus. In my opinion, why should you settle for an ordinary Halloween party that centers around apple bobbing or taffy pulling? Go for something more sophisticated and pick one of three themes with full party plans that guide you every step of the way, from the invitations to the activities. This book proves that Halloween bewitchment appeals to adults, too!

POPULAR CHRISTIAN FICTION

I’ve finished reading Sunset by Karen Kingsbury, the fourth and final book in the Baxter Family Sunrise Series. You can follow the tragedies and triumphs of the Baxter family starting with the Redemption Series where the family learns faith and forgiveness after a husband’s infidelity. Follow up next with the Firstborn Series where John Baxter promises his dying wife that he’ll find their firstborn son given up for adoption. The following Sunrise Series continues with John Baxter and the children moving on with their lives after the death of his wife and their mother. While reading these novels with true life experiences you’ll find yourself feeling a part of the Baxter family. Karen Kingsbury is known as the “Queen of Christian Fiction” and her books are on the New York Times bestseller list. You can view her website at www.karenkingsbury.com

Christian Fiction has risen in popularity. For those of you searching for a new author, the library has a Christian Fiction bookmark with a listing of authors.
For further help with choosing Christian books with topics such as Mystery, Romance or Westerns, take a look in our Reference Department and you’ll find a helpful book titled,
Christian Fiction: A Guide to the Genre by John Mort.

A Dog-Gone Great Mystery

I just finished reading Hounded to Death, a new mystery written by one of my favorite authors, Rita Mae Brown. A bonafide Southern writer (she resides in Afton, Virginia), Ms. Brown’s books truly reflect the social graces, culture and food that all Southerners know and love! Hounded to Death is the latest book in Rita Mae Brown’s foxhunting series starring Sister Jane Arnold, Master of Foxhounds. Sister Jane is a feisty widowed woman in her seventies who has done her share of living and is very respected by the members of her hunt club. When murders occur in her community, Sister Jane can not resist joining the investigations. As with the other books in this series, Ms. Brown gives wonderfully detailed descriptions of the day-to-day operations of a hunt club, including particulars about the foxes, hounds, horses, farm animals and the lives of the hunt club members. Readers can trust the accuracy of these details because Rita Mae Brown is also the Master of Foxhounds of a hunt club located in Afton. The animals in this series do take part in the narration; however, whenever any animal speaks, their narration is in italics and only other animals are able to understand their dialogue. The books in these series are cozies- the murders that occur are gruesome but not gory. Ms. Brown has written many stand-alone books as well as other series such as three novels about the Hunsenmeir sisters, Juts and Weezy, and the Mrs. Murphy mystery series (co-authored by her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown). If you have not read any of Ms. Brown’s books, you should definitely “treat” yourself to one of her mysteries!

Environment

For the past several years, International Paper has graciously given us grant funds to purchase items to add to our collection. In the past these grants have enabled us to buy materials in areas such as Spanish Language books for children and Emergent Reader books for beginning readers.

This year, the $1,000 IP grant was used to purchase materials for children concerning the environment. We purchased some great multi-volume set, including DVD’s for parents and caregivers to watch with their children. Some of the best new multi-volume sets are:

“Action for the Environment” which covers the topics Food for All, Clean Air, Energy Supplies, Garbage Disposal, Water Supplies. Protecting Habitats, and Saving Wildlife

“Recycling and Reusing” which covers Paper, Plastic, Rubber, Glass, Metal, and Clothes

“Sustainable Futures” covers Sustainable Homes, Conserving Fresh Water, Energy, Food for Life, Waste & Recycling, Healthy Seas

“Global Issues” covers Overpopulation, Climate Change, Clean Air & Water

“Your Environment” is great in that the text is on two levels, which allows students of mixed reading abilities to enjoy reading and talking about the same topic. This set covers Animal Rights, Food & the World, Genetically Modified Food, Wildlife in Danger.

All of these series have great photos and crisp text, and I can see heavy use of these resources during Science Fair Projects and report time.

A Tale of a Boy and his Dog

I just finished reading the most amazing book! It was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski, and it has just been named the next "book" on Oprah's Book Club. If you have not read it yet, you are in for a treat! Being a dog lover, I was intrigued by the cover, which has a picture of a boy and his dog. At first glance, the book seems to be a story about a boy and his "growing up years" but it is so much more than that. The story is wrapped around a mystery, the intricacies of dog breeding, familial relationships and the sometimes painful way that boys grow up. The prose is beautiful and the descriptions of Wisconsin, the story's setting, are wonderful. If you think that the large number of pages of the book is daunting, do not fear. The book reads quickly and I bet that you become so entraced with the book you'll forget all about how long it is and will be sad when it's over. The Oprah show will have David Wroblewski on one of their shows in the next few weeks, so I encourage you to read the book before the author interview. I am sure, like me, you will have a few questions that need answering! If you enjoy books about dogs, try also reading Cormac by Sunny Brewer or Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned by Cathy Scott.

Something to Tickle Your Funnybone

The following is Evangeline’s review of the second book she read this past weekend…

The second book I read, Are you there, Vodka? It’s me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler is a book of humorous essays looking back at various points in her life. From her days in elementary school, making up outrageous stories about being a movie star to her DUI and overnight stay in the Los Angeles Women’s Prison, Chelsea Handler keeps you laughing from cover to cover. This book is not for the faint of heart, however. She uses strong language and openly talks about using alcohol and drugs; hence the title. She also doesn’t hold anything back when talking about her family and the men that she dates. For instance, she talks about how cheap she thinks her father (the used car salesman) is, but she does so in an endearing manner. One of the funniest stories takes place after she has decided she needs to eat better and get into shape. She gets a boxing trainer and starts working out several times a week. She becomes more confident and cocky. So cocky, in fact, that she decides to confront these three girls who call her names in front of her home. Only, she’s on the losing end of a fight with three Los Angeles teenagers and winds up cowering in the bushes a couple of blocks from her house after she ran away from the girls. All the while, she’s wondering if they stole her car and contemplates how to get to the police station on her roller blades. Chelsea Handler is a stand-up comic and actress, who was one of the stars of "Girls Behaving Badly" and has starred in her own Comedy Central special. Her first book, My Horizontal Life was a bestseller.

A Supernatural Slice of Life

I was walking by the Circulation Desk yesterday morning when Evangeline, the library’s Assistant Circulation Librarian stated that she had “seized the opportunity over my long weekend to catch up on a little reading and wound up finishing two books!” I was intrigued and asked her if she would mind writing about the books on the library’s blog. She graciously agreed to write about them and presto, here they are! Evangeline will write about the fiction book she recently read, in today’s entry, and will write about the nonfiction book of essays on Thursday’s blog. Take it away, Evangeline…

In Grave Justice by Glen Ebisch, Amanda Vickers and Marcie Ducasse are editors for a small New England magazine researching folklore and legend for a regular feature called “Weird Happenings”. Amanda is attending a séance and Marcie is looking for eyewitness accounts of the local lake monster in the same little town in Maine.
At the séance, the medium gives an eerily specific prediction concerning the murdered wife of the millionaire who is sponsoring the gathering. The medium says that a clue to the murderer of his wife can be found in the coffin with her body. This prediction sparks a break in at the family mausoleum and a young man is attacked when he stumbles upon the would-be grave robber. Amanda and Marcie must sort through the clues and misdirection before the murderer kills again; and Marcie still has to get photos of the lake monster!
This is the second Avalon Mystery featuring Amanda and Marcie working together to bust some ghosts and to solve a murder. The first book is The Crying Girl also by Glen Ebisch.

A Recipe for Business Failure

The Library recently purchased a book that has been popular with our patrons, Donald R. Keough’s The Ten Commandents for Business Failure. Mr. Keough is the former President of the Coca-Cola Company, and if any of you enjoy drinking Coke products, then you know how enormously successful the company is. Mr. Keough spent almost sixty years pursuing his career path, and he maintains that he does not know a “proven path to success” that any company can follow that can guarantee its growth and existence. However, Mr. Keough believes that there are “ten serious blunders” that companies and individual people make in their lives that almost always lead to failure. Keough presents each one of these “commandments” in well-written chapters and includes specific examples from his Coca-Cola experience as well as from other companies (such as Xerox). This is a great book for any business owner who is starting a business or experiencing stagnation. If you want to read another book about business failures, try also Lynne Jeter’s Disconnected: Deceit and Betrayal at WorldCom. Jeter was the primary WorldCom reporter for “The Mississippi Business Journal” and a native Mississippian, and gives a unique spin on the events that caused the company’s demise.

Technophobe Trauma?

Computers came along late in my career, and while I have learned the basics, I tend to consider myself sort of a dinosaur where the digital age is concerned. We recently acquired a title I am considering purchasing for myself and really this would make a great gift for anyone just starting to join the computer age.

“Is This Thing On?” by Abby Stokes has a great subtitle: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers, Technophobes, and the Kicking & Screaming. (That last part would be me.) This great book explains the whys & hows of computers and how to more effectively use the computer you have. There are chapters on what to look for when purchasing a computer and well as chapters on usage. The two sections I enjoyed most were “Welcome to the Neighborhood” and “Exploration and Discovery.” “Neighborhood” covered email and security precautions, digital photography, creating a filing system and as they termed it, conversation. Conversation involves instant messages, blogs, chat rooms, and online dating. When I mentioned to my husband we had started blogging he said, “What is that and should I be worried?” I had him read that section and now he gets it.

“Exploration & Discovery” examines how to get the best from your internet searches. We have all keyed in a search for a specific something and been confronted with thousands or millions of hits, some of which do not pertain to what we need. The Exploration chapter shows you how to use delimiters to refine your searches. The Discovery section also covers online shopping, auctions, airline travel, prescriptions, online banking, and entertainment such as movie sites, Youtube, and gaming.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RIVALRY

A new book is out titled, Y’all vs. Us: Thrilling Tales of Mississippi’s Hottest High School Football Rivalries, published by the Mississippi Sports Council of Jackson, MS

This book gives the history of fifteen Mississippi football rivalries. As we know Warren Central vs. Vicksburg is one of the greatest football rivalries in Mississippi. My main interest in this book was to read the chapter on our local teams, titled River Rats and Rednecks. The chapter gives a brief history of Vicksburg and the Civil War, integration of the high schools, history and traditions of the teams and coaches, as well as a listing of the games in series.
It was an enjoyable read.

In high school I was caught in the consolidation and redistricting of the schools. After attending Warren Central High School for two years and being a Viking, I was forced to go to Vicksburg High School and become a Gator. I’ll never forget the game I witnessed in 1990 being a senior at Vicksburg High School. The final score was Vicksburg 10, Warren Central 9. Before the game the Vikings taunted the Gators with saying, “Vicksburg can talk the talk, but they can’t walk the walk.” With the Gators win I’d say the Vikings ate those words. The Gators reply was “We can talk the talk and walk the walk!”

Having two teenagers that attend Warren Central High School, they remind me that the rivalry is still alive and well. Their anticipation of the game this past Friday night was at an all time high. The final score was Vicksburg 7, Warren Central 0. I anticipate there being a second volume to this book on Mississippi football rivalries.

What's Your Poison?

In the mood for an intense, thrilling crime novel? Try Karin Slaughter’s Blindsighted, the first in her series about Sara Linton, a pediatrician and coroner. She and her ex-husband, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, work together to catch a serial killer who uses the poison belladonna to control his victims as he rapes and tortures them before he kills them. The story’s atmosphere is eerie and the writing draws you in to the story. The killer is creepy and there is a lot of gore—this novel is not for the squeamish. I think Slaughter’s books get better as the series progresses (there are currently six novels in the series). If you like Karin Slaughter’s books, try also reading Patricia Cornwell’s "Scarpetta" series or Thomas Harris’ books.

Take a Hawaiian Vacation

I have been reading “out of my comfort zone” for our next Mystery Book Club Meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m. I am not a huge fan of cozies, so I decided to try reading some Christian Mystery stories. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading these books! One of my favorites was Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble. This is the first book in the Aloha Reef Series (there are three) and (big surprise) it is set in Hawaii! The main character is Kaia Oana, a Hawaiian woman employed as a researcher at Seaworthy Labs, who is trying to bridge the language barrier between humans and sea mammals. She has a close relationship with Nani, a dolphin that she raised from birth and then released into the wild. Nani swims free, with two other “pod-mates,” but visits Kaia often and comes to her when she is called. When I started reading the book, I thought that the religious message might detract from the book’s action—thankfully, I was wrong! The book is filled with Kaia’s interactions with her brothers and grandfather, a cute Navy officer, and Nani and her pod-mates. The religious message fits in beautifully with the book’s characters and Nani’s antics are a pure delight. A bonus is the Hawaiian language pronunciation guide included in the back of the book as well as a glossary and pronunciation guide to words used in the series.

Southern Cooking With Family Recipes

The September 2008 cover of Redbook magazine caught my eye.

“Country Music Singer, Trisha Yearwood dishes up some NEW family recipes with down-home heart.”

I read the magazine article where Trisha talks of putting a cookbook together with her mother and sister. She speaks of asking her mother for measurements of ingredients to which she would reply with, “Oh, just sprinkle in the salt.” I laughed when I thought of my own experience of asking my grandmother for her recipe of Sour Cream Coconut Cake and my mother of how to make homemade biscuits. Not following a recipe, they would try to explain how to make these. For myself, I need a recipe. My grandmother took the time to measure out the ingredients for the Sour Cream Coconut Cake. She wrote the recipe down for me and signed it with Love, Nannie. I thought it very sweet of her. I now can make the delicious cake but no such luck with the homemade biscuits. I just buy them frozen.

After reading the magazine article I thought, I’ll check the library catalog to see if we have a copy of this cookbook. Sure enough, there it was. My wait on the reserve list was well worth it. I found the family stories entertaining and couldn’t help but reminisce over some of my own family times cooking. I love southern food and I can’t wait to try some of the new recipes.

The title of the cookbook is, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen.

Penguin Power

In the early part of the year my granddaughter developed a passion for anything penguin. I started collecting penguin items for her birthday in June. In the spring amongst the non-fiction offerings comes this incredible book called “Hello, Cupcake!” by Alan Richardson. On the back cover they had a cupcake penguin. Not just one that was drawn on, but a three dimensional honest-to-goodness penguin! I read the directions and it didn’t seem hard and even better according to the directions, it would only take me an hour and a half to make 8 penguins. Cool! So starting on the Thursday before my granddaughter’s Saturday birthday I made the cupcakes. The book explained that due to the weight of some of the projects, they required a denser cupcake and that’s the recipe I followed. Then on Friday night shortly before 7 pm, I started on the penguin production. And finally a little after 10 pm, I finished.

While the book was really clear on instructions, there were some things they did not fully explain. For example, the penguin was made from half a mini-doughnut and a doughnut hole on top of that, which of course, was on a cupcake. You were to put frosting between these elements to hold them together and then dunk them in icing that had been heated to make it more liquid. I had difficulty getting the icing to the correct liquid state to easily accomplish this. As a matter of fact, on my first attempt everything fell apart and I had to fish the mini-doughnut and the doughnut hole out of the icing because they fell off. I discovered toothpicks were required to hold it together or as my husband and later in the book suggested, pretzel sticks are the answer to that problem.

However, it was all worth it to see the expression on my granddaughter’s face when she saw the penguins in all their black and white glory. And in looking at the photos, you’ll notice one is a little melted. It just slid apart and so we said that was a Chernobyl penguin..

Librarians as Mystery Authors

I am a native “Louisianaian” and really enjoy reading books about my home state. I recently read Prey for Me: A New Orleans Mystery, written by Ronald M. Gauthier. The book stars Jeannette Plaisance who, after working at the FBI Behavioral Science Unit, uses her skills to search for a serial killer nicknamed the “Garbage Man.” The killer’s victims are young black males and Plaisance must wade through the tough streets of New Orleans to search for clues and find the killer. Ronald Gauthier has his MLIS in Library Sciences and currently works as a Library Branch Manager in New Orleans. Since I am a great fan of a book’s setting, I believe Gauthier does a great job with describing the culture and atmosphere of New Orleans. Are you interested in other mysteries written by librarians? Try Seneca Falls Inheritance, the first Glynis Tryon historical mystery, written by Miriam Grace Monfredo. A former librarian, Monfredo’s character encounters many library problems in this novel set during the Women’s Rights Convention of 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. This cozy makes history come alive and is a great read for feminist’s and history buffs.

Women as Criminals?

When I was shelving our new non-fiction books recently, a title caught my eye. The book’s cover was bright yellow and very attractive, but what really intrigued me was the title, Dangerous Women: Why Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters become Molesters and Murderers by Larry A. Morris. I immediately thought about the fact that more serial killers are men rather than women, and that Dr. Morris must have really researched his topic to discover what makes women “become dangerous.” The premise of the book is that (this is from the book jacket) “criminologists have noted a disturbing trend in the last few decades - although men are still most often the perpetrators of murder, violent assault, and child molestation, more and more girls and women are becoming dangerous criminals, filling courtrooms and jails.” Dr. Morris is a forensic psychologist and he uses thirty years of personal clinical experience with perpetrators and victims of interpersonal violence to reveal why girls and women have begun to choose violence as a way to solve their problems. This is a very sobering book, but it gives a great insight into the minds of “female killers” and gives the reader a lot of information to think about. A plus—the book also gives some practical tips on how to recognize and stop this behavior in the women you know! For other stories about psychological crimes, try Twisted Triangle: A Famous Crime Writer, a Lesbian Love Affair, and the FBI Husband's Violent Revenge by Caitlin Rother with John Hess, or The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy by Elizabeth Kendall.

A Book for Food Lovers

I don’t know if you are as big a fan of the “food network” television channel as I am, but it is one of my favorites. The chefs on most of the food networks shows are wildly popular with our library’s patrons, and in response to their popularity we have purchased many recipe books authored by Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis and Sandra Lee. One of my new favorites is Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run. The book itself is a visual feast! It is chock full of colored photographs, recipes, portraits, and notes that Brown wrote while traveling up the Mississippi River from Louisiana to Minnesota on Buttercup, his motorcycle. Along the way, he stops in river cities and towns to sample (in my opinion) some of the best food in the United States. Brown does not just visit restaurants, however—he takes time to visit many culturally significant museums and other places in these towns, while giving a brief history of each place. Most of the recipes in the book came straight from the mouth of the chef, but if the chef was unwilling to give up the recipe, Brown does his best to write down what he thinks is in the dish, as well as a “who inspired the dish” notation. I might be partial to this book simply because it includes a description of Alton Brown’s visit to the Beidenharn Candy Co. and Coca-Cola museum in Vicksburg, but I do know one thing. Don’t read this book while you are hungry- it will only make you want to go whip up a batch of your grandma’s best fried chicken!

Check-Out This Supernatural Suspense!

Denise, our ILL Librarian, read a book several months ago that she loved so much, she encouraged me to read it. The book was Witchling, written by Yasmine Galenorn , and I enjoyed it so much that I am now “hooked” on the series! I am not much of a fan of the romance genre, so it was a surprise to me that I enjoyed reading books that in our library have a “romance” genre sticker on their spines. Described by author Mary Jo Putney as “Laurell K. Hamilton with a lighter touch,” the rest of the books in the Otherworld series are: Changeling, Darkling, and Dragon Wytch. These books are technically one of those cross-over genre books that should be more accurately classified as supernatural suspense. Basically, the stories are about the three D’Artigo sisters who are half-human, half-Fae, who have moved through a portal between Earth and Otherworld because they were outsiders in magical Otherworld. The sisters work for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency, tracking down rogue demons, goblins and other sinister beings who have crept through portals to wreak havoc on Earth. The most interesting aspect of the D’Artigo’s is that each is a different magical being: Camille is a witch (with varying degrees of magic-spell success), Delilah is a changeling (she changes into a cat, sometimes at inopportune moments), and Menolly ( a vampire, who was a super-spy until she was changed by a rather nasty vampire). The sisters have a great repertoire with each other, and each of the books focuses mainly on the adventures of one sister. Galenorn is also the author of the Chintz ‘N China mystery series (set in a tea room), but she has stopped writing that series due to the popularity of the Otherworld series. The magic is so integrated and believable in these stories, that I almost expect to stumble across Camille or Delilah one afternoon while shopping in downtown Vicksburg! I also suggest you check out Yasmine’s website at www.galenorn.com to see what she is up to next.

Going for the Gold

If you are like me, you have probably been spending the past few nights “glued to your television screen” watching amazing athletes from all over the world perform stunning athletic feats during the 29th Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. I am especially proud of the American teams, but it is also very rewarding to see other teams win, especially since I know they have worked as hard as the American teams to accomplish their dreams. When I watched the American men’s swim team capture the gold in the 4 X 100 relay, and the American men’s gymnastics team earn the bronze medal in the team competition, it did not matter that it was midnight and I had to work the next day—I felt like a part of history in the making! Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics by Jeremy Schaap, is a book that will help you keep that Olympic spirit alive. The book details the accomplishments of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympic Games, by using interviews, family sources and archival research to create a portrait of this remarkable man. The story is set amidst the intrigues, controversies and political manipulations of the Olympics, which serves to make Owen’s accomplishments more spectacular. If you just want to “re-live” some of the history-making moments of past games, try checking out the eight-videocassette series, The Olympiad Greatest Moments. I promise you won’t be disappointed! I will continue to spend my nights watching the Olympic games and invite you to join me in experiencing some of the United States’ greatest moments.

Serial Killers in the Soviet Union

This summer I decided to broaden my reading horizons and read out of my comfort zone. My usual forte is cozy mysteries and romances. In reading the blurb I became intrigued for a couple of reasons, one it sounded so interesting and the second I had been to Russia while it was still under Communist rule. So “Child 44” by Tom Robb Smith came home with me.

This book is set in Russia in the early 1950s. World War II is over, Stalin has died, and Khrushchev has just come into power. In the Socialist doctrine because the State provides for everything there should be no reason to murder. However, a high ranking official, Leo Demidov, is assigned to investigate the murder of a child and after a fall from grace comes to realize a serial killer is on the loose. The State cannot admit this and Leo puts his life and that of his wife at risk to locate the killer before more children die.

This book was very entertaining but, took me a long time to read. Usually I can figure out a “who-done-it”, but I never saw this one coming. The ending was a surprise. The author did an incredible job of recreating the gloomy paranoia of Russia at that time. I might read about serial killers again, but find I am now ready to return to my comfort zone. Can anybody recommend a nice vampire romance?

Mystery Abounds in an African Adventure

I recently stumbled across a really wonderful mystery set in Africa and truly enjoyed reading it. Titled A Carrion Death and written by Michael Stanley, the book is set in Botswana, and introduces Assistant Superintendent, David Bengu, affectionately nicknamed Detective Kubu (Botswana for “hippopotamus”) due to his convivial passions and determination to solve crimes. In this book, Kubu is pursing the murderer of an anonymous victim, a pursuit that takes him across several towns and villages in Botswana. My favorite part of this book is not the mystery (although it is good), but the people Kubu meets, and his interactions with them and their cultures amidst the setting of Botswana. I first became interested in Botswana as a result of Alexander McCall-Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective series featuring Mma Ramatswe and have become an avid reader of stories set in Africa since then. I enjoy reading stories with great descriptions of settings and I believe when you read A Carrion Death you will feel the hot, dusty, air and magic of Africa!

A Great Mississippi Author

I don’t know about you, but I love a good mystery. Yesterday at Lorelei Books, Carolyn Haines, author of the “Bones” series set in the Mississippi Delta, signed copies of her latest book, Wishbones. Carolyn was born and raised in Mississippi and now lives in Alabama. Her books featuring Sarah Booth Delaney are a delight. If you have not discovered this series, you might want to check it out. Here is a list of the titles in the series: Them Bones, Buried Bones, Splintered Bones, Crossed Bones, Hallowed Bones, Bones to Pick, Ham Bones, and Wishbones. Carolyn also writes stand-alone novels. Come by the library and check out some of her books. Use this link to our on-line catalog to check the availability of these titles http://catalog.warren.lib.ms.us

Try a Science Fiction Treat

The Host by Stephenie Meyer is one of the best books I have read in a while. The story is set in the future, on Earth, after humans have treated the planet and themselves so badly that an “alien race” has arrived to help. The alien race are “souls” who are implanted into their host bodies to exist within them and make life perfect on Earth. This may seem like a good idea in theory (it would be nice to exist in a world where there was no violence or hunger), but there are a group of humans in this book that have not been implanted yet and rebel against the aliens. The relationships described in this book are complex and very detailed and the prose is amazing! Mrs. Meyer explores some complex themes in this novel, such as what it means to be a soul as well as human being’s responsibility to the Earth. Mrs. Meyer is also the author of the very popular “Twilight” series of books for Young Adults, of which the first one will be made into a movie soon. Have you read The Host yet? Let us know what you think of the book!

Try a "Playaway" Digital Audiobook!

Are you one of those folks who think you’ll never have to chance to read every book that you want to? WCVPL has the perfect thing for you to try! The library began circulating “Playaways” on July 1, 2008. A Playaway is a digital audiobook that comes pre-loaded on an mp3 device, that is extremely portable, fun, and can be used virtually anywhere. All you have to do is plug in any set of headphones that has a standard jack, and push the play button. One of the best things about Playaways is that they can be plugged into almost any “mp3 accessory” that you currently own. I really enjoy listening to Playaways in my car, using a cassette adapter that is inserted into my car’s tape deck and the headphone jack of the Playaway—this enables the Playaway to be broadcast over my car’s speakers. I have also successfully listened to a Playaway book while mowing the lawn and cooking dinner :) Visit the library for a list of available Playaway books and check one out for yourself!

Here are a couple of pictures of one of our new Playaways. A picture of the front of thePlayaway in its case (left) and (right) a picture of the back of the Playaway.

I'm Looking for a Great Book to Read...

Welcome to the "new" Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library blog!

Our library staff members constantly receive requests for suggestions on which books to read. Although we are always flattered to receive these requests, we are often a bit apprehensive about suggesting a particular book. After all, if we suggest a book to you and you end up disliking it, does this mean you'll never ask us for a referral again? Or maybe, (worst case scenario), you'll dislike our suggestion so much that you'll never visit the library again! How horrible!

The library's goal for this blog is to serve as an on-line "Reader's Advisory tool" for library staff, patrons and visitors. We want this blog to serve as a dialogue between many people in Warren County, Mississippi, the United States and the world. We will occasionally talk about library events but our main focus will be on connecting you, our users, with great books to read. We invite you to check us out frequently, post replies often, and let us know when you read a great book.

Interested? Then join us as we jump into the wonderful world of books!

Don't forget to check out the library's wepage at http://www.warren.lib.ms.us and our catalog at http://catalog.warren.lib.ms.us