A Unique Love Story

Christmas is around the corner and for some of our library patrons, this is the perfect time to settle in and catch up on some reading! I am not a big fan of "love stories," so I was amused at myself when I picked up Jacquelyn Mitchard's newest book, Second Nature. I enjoyed reading Mitchard's Deep End of the Ocean and I exprected to like this book as much as that one. I was not wrong! Second Nature is a very unique book. The heroine of the story is Sicily, a young woman who was badly burned in a fire when she was young, and was saved by her firefighter dad, who was killed in the fire, as were most of her classmates. Sicily lives her life disfigured, until a surgeon searches her out for a face transplant. The rest of the story details her life after the transplant and discusses how she experiences many things for the first time. The story is beautiful and the writing is exquisite. Sicily is a brave heroine who exemplifiies the meaning of grace under pressure and every character in this book is richly complicated. The book's action covers many seasons, and the description of the Christmas one is especially beautiful. If you love family and relationship drama, mixed in with the bittersweetness of love, you will enjoy every minute of this book.

Holiday Crafting and Baking--with Kids or Adults!

If you want to spend some quality holiday time with your kids, you should check out this new library book! Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids: Gifts, Sweets and Treats for the Whole Family by Jessica Strand is a wonderful addition to our craft collection. The book contains recipes and craft ideas that are easy and fun and are varying degrees of complexity. The projects cover a spectrum of fall holidays, from Thanksgiving to Kwanzaa and can be enjoyed by families with members of all ages. I especially like the "Incredible Edible Ornaments" and the "Special Place for Kwanzaa Goodies" paper basket. With great pictures, easy-to-follow steps and a comprehensive list of materials needed, this is a must-read for crafty families!

The second craft book the library has received recently is Susan Waggoner's Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas: Crafts, Decorating Tips, and Recipes, 1920's-1960's. The book is full of crats, decorating ideas and recipes that date from the 1920's to the 1960's. You can pick a specific decade and use the chapter to create ornaments for your tree, wrapping paper for your presents, and recipes for your party. There is a great section at the end of each chapter that gives "quick crafts" for the time-challenged decorator! The recipes are contained in a separate chapter and each one is introduced with a history of the candy and/or a tip on how to make it. This book ends with an "art portfolio" chapter with reproductions of old postcards and other pictures as well as a section on online sources for crafting materials. This is a beautiful book and will help you plan a vintage Christmas of your own.

Double Dexter

If you have read any of these blog posts, I am sure you have discovered that I am a big fan of the Dexter novels written by Jeff Lindsay. This book series stars Dexter Morgan, a forensics blood spatter expert for the Miami-Dade Police Department who is also a serial killer. What??? No, really, he is a good guy because he only kills bad people (murderers, pedophiles, etc.) and mainly ones who have somehow escaped the "letter of the law." I have reccommended this series to many patrons and I have to admit, the responses I get from them are usually either: "I can't believe you like this book, because this guy is really sick," or "I have to read all of the books in this series because Dexter is one of those people you hate and love at the same time!" I absolutely adore Dexter because even though he is a brutal killer, he has a set of standards that he adheres to for his own "killings." The writing and tone of these books is masterful and think you'll enjoy every minute of them. The series is the inspiration for the Showtime television series, Dexter and even though the series followed the books pretty closely in season one, it has since diverged greatly from the books. The new series entry, Double Dexter, details a case that has not been covered in the television series. In this book, a brutal cop killer is targeting MDPD's police detectives, beating bodies so completely that they are completely bloodless and almost battered beyond recognition. This killer seems to be taunting Dexter, trying to drag him out and involve him in his own psychotic game. Has Dexter met his match this time? Jeff Lindsay lives in South Florida with his wife and three children and may be contacted on facebook.com/jefflindsayauthor, at http://www.doubleday.com/ or Dexter-Books.com.

Make the Best Burger in Town...

I am a big fan of hamburgers. To me, there is nothing more American than a big, juicy burger, crunchy french fries and a Coke. I know that burgers are not something you should eat every day, but the library has received a book that can enable you to eat burgers more often but in a healthy way. Joni Marie Newman's The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet contains 101 globally inspired vegan creations that showcase fresh flavors and exciting exotic tastes. The book contains twelve chapters of burger recipes, each from different regions of the world. The book also contains chapters on condiments and sauces, buns and breads, sides and salads and a few desserts. The burger substitutes include tofu, split peas, couscous, wheat gluten flour, and a variety of vegetables. This recipe book is a great inspiration for all cooks and the photographs make every recipe look tasty and may inspire you to invent a few culinary geniuses of your own!

The Garden to Kitchen Expert

The library just received an interesting book for cooks and gardeners alike. The Garden to Kitchen Expert written by Judith Wills and Dr. D. G. Hessayon contains over 680 recipes for the fruit and vegetables that you grow at home. The book contains classic recipes, methods for everyday cooking and new ideas for making the most of an "abundance" of one particular crop. There is also a great section on how to serve your produce fresh, without cooking and also how to store, preserve and pickle the things you grow. Each fruit and vegetable is presented, with full color pictures, followed by sections on storing, no-cook recipes, basic cooking and then fancy recipes. The book contains a wonderful recipe and produce index and covers almost every fruit and vegetable imaginable. Good news---even if you don't grow your own fruit or vegetables, you can still use the recipes in this book to prepare the ones you buy in the store!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We give thanks to all our loyal readers and library patrons. Thank you for your loyal readership this year and may blessings fall down upon you and your family in 2012.

Upcycling Your Life

Upclycling: Creating Beautiful Things with the Stuff You Already Have by Danny Seo is a great new book the library has recently purchased. The premises of the book is "making do with with what you have and using basic skills to create extraordinary results....[in a] hybrid of MacGyver (the rsourceful TV spy)-meets-HGTV. Danny Seo has worked as an interior designer and magazine editor where he has done everything from transforming a celebrity's home to producing magazine stories on creating the perfect Thanksgiving table settings using stuff you might have around the house. For years Danny Seo has been recycling trash and everyday objects into better, brighter and cooler things and he finally coined a phrase for his hobby--upcycling! To Seo, upcycling is a higher form of recycling, because when you upcycle, the end result is better than the material's intended purpose and you end up with something cooler and your own creation. The book begins with a section on what upcycling is, followed by a section on the basic things you need to perform upcycling projects (like a glue gun and an exacto knife). The book has chapters on different types of upcycling projects such as "Ideas for Decorating," "Ideas for Entertaining," Upcycling Ideas for Giving," "Upcycling Ideas for Kids," and "Upcycling the Great Outdoors." Each project includes a great picture of the finished project, a detailed list of supplies and a simple how-to section on creating the project. The projects range from simple to complicated, so a wide range of ages would be interested in creating the projects contained in this book. This is a great book for any crafter who'd like to create something new from something they already have.

Murder Unleashed

Murder Unleashed by Rita Mae Brown is the second book in her canine mystery series starring Magdelena "Jeep" Reed, Magdalena "Mags" Rogers and their dogs King and Baxter. The first book in the series is A Nose for Justice. This cozy mystery is set in Reno, Nevada, and furthers the story of Jeep, a seventy year old who is growing food on her ranch in the hopes of ending hunger in the area and Mags, a former Wall Street trader who was laid off from her job and is finding solace living with her great-aunt. I enjoyed the contemporary events discussed in this book, as the action of this story is centered around a bunch of squatters that are living in a group of vacant, foreclosed homes on one particular street in Reno, without food or electricity. The foreclosure crisis has taken a huge bite out of the real estate market in Reno and many banks and people are reeling from the hit. Big-hearted real estate agent, Babs Gallagher enlists Jeep and Mags to start a community research program to get the water and electricity turned back on in the houses and help the squatters find jobs. When one of their friends is attacked and a former banker is found brutally slain in one of the abandoned homes, Jeep and Mags set out to find the killer. Baxter, King and a host of other canine characters band together to protect their owners, help them find the killer and perhaps find a few clues as to where the missing silver from an old mine is. This is a great series for dog lovers and any other animal friendly mystery readers!

Heaven Is For Real

My pastor and several other friends recently read Todd Burpo's Heaven is for Real and suggested that I should read it. The book is a quiet, unassuming story that has lots of power. The book is "a little boy's astounding story of his trip to heaven and back." Todd Burpo is a minister with a wife and three kids, in a small town in the mid-west. Burpo goes through several boughts of sickness himself and his life seems to be evening out when his four-year old son Colton has to have an emergency appendectormy. Colton spends a week in the hospital and no one is sure he will live, until a miracle occurs and he wakes up, alert and almost back to his old self. It is not until several weeks later, during a family road trip, that Todd Burpo and his wife realize that something unusual happened to Colton during his hospital stay. Colton mentions that while he was having his emergency surgery, he "saw his dad praying and his mom talking on the phone in another room." Slowly, Todd and his wife begin to question Coton and they realize that even though Colton did not die, he did visit heaven when he was hospitalized. The writing in this book is beautiful and the message is powerful. Whether you believe in heaven or not, this story will touch you. This story is as much about a family and their quest for healing as it is a story about the power of God. If you like this book, try also reading Don Piper's 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life.

Blood Wyne

I know you have heard me talk about this author before, but I have to tell you...every one of her books that I read just gets better and better! Yasmine Galenorn's newest book, Blood Wyne is the newest installment in the Otherworld series. Blood Wyne is told from the point of view of Menolly, one of the three D'Artigo sisters who ae half-Fae and half-human and are living Earthside instead of in the fairy realm. The three sisters are each a different type of supernatural beings--Camille is a witch, Delilah is a shapeshifter who turns into a cat and a panther and Menolly is a vampire. They live with Iris, a house sprite, are raising a baby gargoyle named Maggie and have a wide assortment of supernatural beings as friends and lovers. The basic premise of the series is that the three sisters are fighting against Shadow King, a very nasty demon, who is trying to find all of the spirit seals and open a permanent portal between Earthside and Otherworld. In this installment of the series, Menolly is helping to track down a vampire serial killer who is targeting young women and threatening to make Earth very intolerant of vampires! The stories are based in Seattle and it is refreshing to read descriptions of places I have visited and visualize where the stories' action is taking place. Galenorn's writing is magical--her characters are fascinating and the world she weaves is very believable. I look forward to reading the next installment in this wonderful series! If you'd like to "try" reading the Otherwold series, start with the first one, Witchling. The stories can be read alone, but since the characters lives build throughout each book, you will be less lost if you start with book one! Plus, the library has purchased these books in paperback so they are very handy and can be slipped into your purse for convenient "reading-on-the-go!" Yasmine Galenorn is the author of several other series, including the Indigo Court Series, several Berkley Prime Crime titles and casmetic-focused series she writes as India Ink. Check out her website at http://www.galenorn.com/ or follow her at www.twitter.com/yasminegalenorn.

Honey, Have You Seen My Other Sock?

I am sure you are like me and have TONS of "one sock wonders"...you know one sock of a pair that you swear you saw the match for about a week ago? What exactly do you do with a pair of socks that is missing one of them, that you can't bear to part with? Well, you make sock creatures, of course!!! Brenna Maloney's new book, Sockology: 16 New Sock Creatures, Cute & Cuddly...Weird & Wild is a wonderful, exciting, instruction book that teaches you how to creature cuddly creatures from your lonely socks. Benna Maloney gives great advice--she says that you should never throw away any of your socks with missing pairs, because you can use the material later to make fantastic creatures. Once you look at this book you will understand the great appeal of missing socks. Maloney teaches even the novice stitcher how to make sweet, cuddly animals from ordinary socks, using knee highs, crew, and any other types of socks you might have lying around the house. Maloney's writing is half the fun of this book--it's humorous and sarcastic and very entertaing---but she also includes a guide to the stiches she uses, patterns for each creature and suggestions on how to make each creature your own creation. This is a truly fun book for any person with a flair for sewing or crafts---and could be used with a class for a group project as each creature can be sewn by hand or machine. Sock exchange, anyone?

Have a Date with the Grim Reaper

Second Grave on the Left is the new installment in the Charley Davidson series, written by Darynda Jones. Charley is the grim reaper--even if she is beautiful, charming, likes to wear t-shirts and make-up and is a private investigator. This is the second book in the series and the writing in both is hilarious, sarcastic, action packed and sure to amuse any mystery fan. Charley comes from a "police officer" family as her dad and Uncle have been employed by the Arizona Polic Department. Her dad is retired and owns a bar and Charley's office is housed in a room behind the building. Charley can read the emotions of people as well as "see" departed ones. Dead folks are drawn to Charley because she is a brilliant light to them and she helps them cross over from this world into heaven. This creates some interesting challenges for Charley as she is always talking to people that only she sees and they often appear to her in rather inappropriate places (like the shower). Charley also has several admirers and one is a supernatural being that appears to her in spirit form and is her antithesis. Trying to deal with their major attraction to each other is very complicated and leaves Charley breathless most of the time. Charley is aided in her investigation by her office manager, Cookie and the mystery in this book involves one of Cookie's friends who suddenly disappears. Cookie enlists Charley's help in solving the mystery and in the process they uncover a scandal from high school that threatens to have them all killed. Charley is a strong and likable heroine and will be enjoyed by anyone who likes humorous mystery stories--if you are a fan of Janet Evanovich, you will love reading Darynda Jones!

Go for GAGA

Lady Gaga is a fascinating musical artist that has been in the news recently. Whether you know her for her outrageous clothing, euro-beat music or fascinating music videos, she is certainly an entertainer for today's age! If you are curious about getting the chance to know her better, try checking out her biograpy, GAGA by Johnny Morgan (B Lady Gaga). The book contains the story of her fascinating life, including many full-color, full-page photos from her recent tours and from other stages in her life. I especially enjoyed reading the vignettes about the people in her life who influenced her music and fashion sense (such as Andy Warhol, Freddie Mercury and Alexander McQeen). The book is well-written and leaves the reader with the sense that he/she has learned a lot more about the things that motivate Lady Gaga to continue to perform. I look forward to reading more about this rising star as her career continues to burn brightly. Johnny Morgan is the coauthor of The Art of the LP, consulting editor on the New York Times best-seller Hippie and has written popular music books for over twenty years. If you like reading this book, scan the library's Biography section for other gems---I bet you'll find a story about another "famous" person that you'll enjoy reading too.

Creative Cakes and Sandwiches

Our library purchases some of the most interesting non-fiction books and I enjoy discovering new topics! The first book I stumbled across yesterday is called The Birthday Cake Book: 75 Recipes for Candle-Worthy Creations by Dede Wilson (641.8 W747b). The cover itself shows a luscious chocolate and meringue swirled cake--and since it was right after my lunch break I just had to peek inside and see what this book was all about! The book opens with a section on making and baking the perfect cake, as well as a few ideas on how to create interesting candle holders and crystallize flowers. The next sections include instructions on how to make basic and speciality cakes and then classic frostings and icing. The next few sections include recipes for decadent cakes (such as a Butter Pecan Cake with Brown Sugar Fudge Frosting or the Hairy Caterpillar Cupcake Cake). The recipes are easy to follow and would be good for either the beginner or experienced cook.

The second book is title Insanewiches: 101 Ways to Think Outside the Lunchbox and it is written by Adrian Fiorino. This book shows you how to make outrageous sandwiches. While I think the idea is charming, and some of these creations are downright cute, I just cannot see anyone making these sandwiches and placing them in a lunchbox to be transported to school! Some of these crazy creations would make an interesting dish for a party, such as "The Banana Split Trickwich (pg. 122) . This would be a great April Fool's gag, because when you look at the picture, it looks like three scoops of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between a hoagie roll! On closer inspection, you see that it is made of mashed potato "ice cream," bacon and chive sprinkles, gravy masquerading as chocolate sauce and topped with cherry tomatoes. I think this would be an excellent choice for an adult dinner party or a child's birthday! Adrian Fiorino is the author of a popular blog, insanewiches.com that he began in June 2009. Adrian currently lives in Toronto and is always on the look out for new sandwich ideas!

Long Gone

I truly enjoy reading Alafair Burke's novels and her new one, Long Gone is another winner! True, she is the daughter of James Lee Burke, the author of the "Louisiana policeman turned private investigator" Dave Robichaux, one of my all-time favorite authors, but she has earned her place in the realm of great thriller writers with this novel. Alafair Burke writes a wonderful series about gutsy heroine Elie Haskell, but Long Gone is her first stand alone novel and it is a page-turner. The stories' basic premise is that struggling art major Alice Humphrey has been trying for months to get a job in New York City when she is suddenly offered her dream job of being a gallery owner in a new gallery in the Meatpacking District. Alice thinks the job is too good to be true and when she meets savvy gallery owner Drew Campbell and learns that the main gallery exhibitor will be a man with questionable artistic tastes, she hesitates about taking it. Although Drew tells Alice that the anonymous artists' work is a little edgy, Alice thinks that her dream of running her own gallery outweighs any objections she has to this anonymous artist's work. Alice is trying to balance her life being the daughter of a famous Academy-Award winning director and his leading lady, and her life seems just about perfect, until she walks into the gallery and finds the work gone, the owner dead on the floor and her dream job vanished. Alice is suspect number one until she teams up with an FBI agent and works to clear her name. There are at least three different stories tied together in this book and it makes the story an interesting read. I enjoy Alice Humphrey's character and admire her guts as she tries to discover the truth. The book has many twists and turns, especially at the end, and I think you'll find it very enjoyable!

Enter the World of Happy Chaos

Soleil Moon Frye, formerly known as the spunky main character on the 1980's hit television series Punky Brewster is currently a social media maven and "momtrepeneur" with two little girls. She often finds herself living in the chaotic world of rasing kids and trying to figure it all out. Soleil dishes out advice on motherhood in her latest book, Happy Chaos: From Punky to Parenting and My Perfectly Imperfect Adventures In Between. Soleil believes that chaos is not such a bad thing...in fact...she believes that chaos is the sign that a family is operating at its best. Soleil believes that when parents accept that there will be bumps and scrapes, misses and mishaps, then both parents and kids will be happy living their lives. Soleil herself was raised by a free-spirited mother and she tries to raise her kids in the same fashion. Soleil uses lessons she learns in her own upbringing to give the reader a unique view into her own conception of motherhood. This is partly a memoir and partly a how-to guide that is sure to appeal to every modern mom and dad. Follow Soleil Moon Frye on Twitter and Facebook and check out Moonfrye.com for more parenting information. In 2008 Soleil alaunched an eco-friendly clothing line for kids called "The Little Seed," and became an advocate for the Alzheimer's Association. In 2011 she also became Target's "Mommy Ambassador."

The Casserole Queens Cookbook

I think the subtitle of this book says it all..."Put some lovin' in your oven with 100 easy one-dish recipes"--after reading this book I couldn't agree more! Authors Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock have written The Casserole Queens Cookbook, one of the most entertaining cookbooks I have read in a while. The cover art is pure "vintage 1950's" with these two savvy women in pearls and dresses holding scrumptious casseroles. Once you open the cookbook, you realize that the book is so much more than 1950's cooking! The casseroles in this collection have a distinctly "contemporary" touch and are family-friendly fare that will appeal to adults and kids alike. I adore the recipe titles (i.e., Pimpin Paella and Frenchy Toast Casserole) and the personal stories that begin each recipe. The stories let the reader know that these recipes are 'tried and true" and mean something to each of the authors. Some of the casseroles are a little fancier than others but I think any home cook will find something to love in this collection. Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock (aka "The Casserole Queens") started their home delivery business in Austin, TX in 2006. They have been featured on Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay Radio on Sirius XM and on other television and radio shows. Check out their website at wwww.CasseroleQueens.com for other tasty meals that can be fixed on any night of the week!

The Goddess of Fried Okra

I have to admit, the first time I read this book's title, it made me very hungry! If you like the book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' by Fannie Flagg, you will also enjoy The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear. The story's heroine is six-foot redhead Eudora "Pea" O'Brien, a convenience store employee who leaves Austin, TX with everything she owns packed in the back of her beat-up car. She is searching for the reincarnated soul of the sister who raised her after her parents died, based on the advice of a psychic. For Pea, everything that was right in her world took a nosedive when her sister died, and she believes that if she can see her again, and make peace with her, her world will vastly improve. Pea travels along the backroads of Texas, reading historical markers and listening for signs from her sister to point her along the right path. On her journey she picks up some strays--a terrified kitten, a pregnant teen she rescues from her abusive boyfriend and a con man trying to reform. When the car finally dies in Jewel, TX, she meets an unlikely group of folks and the whole menagerie stays for a spell while the car gets fixed, Pea works at the local cafe' to help pay for the car repairs and she meets an unlikely pair of sisters. This book is a wistful, humorous story of a woman who sets out to find her reincarnated sister but ends up finding herself. It is truly a delightful read. I also enjoyed the format of this book, as easy chapter opens with an explanation of a "historical" marker about a person or place that has something to do with the story. The library only owns the Large Print format of this book, so make sure you search for it in the Large Print section when you want to check it out!

Smokin' Seventeen

If you love humor, entertaining characters and situations that are a whole lot of fun, you will LOVE Janet Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" series of books. Her latest, Smokin' Seventeen is another enjoyable romp with her usual characters through the streets of Trenton, NJ. Stephanie is a former lingerie seller turned bounty hunter who works for her sleazy cousin Vinnie. Stephanie has the enviable problem of being in serious "like" with two men--Joseph Morelli (handsome police officer and owner of a lovable dog) and Ranger (dark, mysterious, sometimes bounty hunter who owns his own security firm). Stephanie can't figure out which man she should date, especially since her mom and grandmother are breathing down her neck for her to get married and settle down. The action of this novel begins when a body is found buried on the vacant lot where the former bail bonds office was located (it burned up in a fire at the end of the last book). Vinnie and his crew are working temporarily in an RV located on the former site, when a body turns up...and then they keep turning up! All is fine until the killer starts dedicating the bodies to Stephanie---and why does the killer's image that is caught on a camera seem so familiar to her? Stephanie's friend and Vinnie's file clerk Lula (a plus-size former prostitute) is at her raucous best in this novel, whether she and Stephanie are fighting off FTA's who believe they are vampires or buying sandwiches and eluding Morelli's Grandma Bella at Giovichinni's deli. I love these zany mysteries and I know you will love them too! I suggest starting with the first book in the series, One for the Money, so that you don't miss out on one second of the action!

Except the Queen

I recently read the oddest, most wonderful book! I was caught first by the title, Except the Queen, and the intriguing cover art which depicts a young woman with an intricate tattoo on her neck and a tortured expression on her face, with a huge moon and a murder of crows. This seemed like a book I would like! Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder have writtern an incredible fantasy novel about faeries, a mean-spirited fairy queen, and the differences between the mortal and fairy world. The basic plot of the story is this: Meteora and Serana are fairies (and sisters) who like nothing more than being with each other, playing tricks on mortals and prancing around the fairy world of Greenwood. Their lives take a turn for the worse when they witness the Fairy Queen committing an unspeakable act and in return, she banishes them to the mortal world. In fairy land they were young, beautiful, nimble and blessed with magical powers; in the mortal world they are dumpy old women who live apart from each other, have no powers, and must figure out how to survive in this harsh place. Mysterious things begin happening to the sisters--are they more than mere coincidences?--and Meteora and Serana must figure out what they must do in order to return to life in fairy land. This book is a strange and wondorous piece of writing---I especially enjoyed the sisters figuring out how things work that we take for granted (i.e., snail mail--they call it "eagle mail" because the man with the eagle on his pouch picks it up from their houses every day). The sisters also meet several equally mysterious beings while on their journeys of discovery. This book is a fast read as once you begin it you will find it hard to leave! This book is a perfect read for both young adults and adults and while there are enough "battle scenes" to make it interesting for boys, I believe teen girls will like the story the best. I hope this author collaboration will result in other book of this type, very soon.

Christmas in August???

You might have read this blog title and been a bit confused---but trust me it does make sense!!! We have all been complaining about the heat, so what's a better way to "beat it" than sitting inside your nice air-conditioned home and completing a craft project? I thought you'd see it my way :) Need some inspiration on what new creation to start? Try looking at these books:

Donna Kooler's Ecyclopedia of Quilting (746.46 K82eq)--This updated and revised book has a pattern gallery with 19 projects, basic techniques and hand and machine quilting instructions. It also includes a nifty history of quilting section. This book is perfect for the beginning quilter to dive in and have a quilt completed in a few short weeks.


Sew with Sara: PJs, Pillows, Bags & More by Sara Trail (646.2 T766s)--I absolutely love this accessible, easy, teen and tween-friendly book that teaches you how to sew! The projects are nine beginner-friendly ones and are perfect for the beginner sewer. This book can create some great "family time" with your kids, especially teen girls who think their summer is "boring-" and mom will have a great time teaching (or learning) right along with them.

Handcrafted Ornaments edited by Creative Publishing International (745.594 H236o)--I love creating handmade Christmas ornaments, but always feel so rushed during the holidays that I end up not being able to make as many as I want to, or that the finished products aren't as good as they could be. I have a solution you and I can both use---start your Christmas ornaments in the summer! This book gives you some great ideas on traditional Christmas ornaments you can make and the stories of each ornament's origin. With full color photos and illustrated steps, this book is sure to make you think about the cold air of Christmas.

If your creative juices have started following, don't stop making projects when you are done with these books. The library has many more craft books available for you to check out. The library would love to see your finished projects so stop by and give us a sneek peek when you are done!

Dive into the Night Season

Chelsea Cain's novels have to be some of the creepiest stories I have ever read. She writes a series starring Portland Police Detective Archie Sheridan, who pursued Gretchen Lowell (a.k.a., The Beauty Killer) through her first three books. The NIght Season stars Archie Sheridan (and a few other characters from the first three books) but covers a whole new subject matter and killer who is just as disturbingly psychotic as Gretchen Lowell. The subject matter of the book is relevant---the action of the story is centered around a huge flood of the Willamette river, that runs through Portland, and the havoc it is wreaking on the town at the same time a crazed killer is murdering random people. Archie Sheridan is working overtime to catch the killer and figure out what all of his/her victims have in common. Archie Sheridan is a wonderful flawed hero---he has beaten his vicodin addiction but is still tempted, and his tempation makes him more believable. This book is great for fans of crime fiction, and even though The Night Season does not draw on events from Chelsea Cain's first three novels, you will miss out on a lot of character back story if you do not read this books in order by starting with Heartsick.

Get In Touch With Your Crafty Side...

Crafts come and go in popularity, and the current hot craft seems to be knitting. We have two great new titles on this subject! The Knitter's Year by Debbie Bliss offers 52 make-in-a-week projects that revolve around the seasons. Knitters seeking instant gratification will quickly be able to view the results of their handiwork with these projects. Designed to be made in less than a week at a time, these items are ideal for small amounts of yarn left over from previous projects. From springtime fingerless gloves and a floral corsage to a beach bag and lacy scarf, and including a back-to-school iPod cover, chair covers, and ideas for Christmas gifts and tree decorations, knitters will find ideas to occupy themselves throught the year.

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant has 101 patterns that go way beyond socks. Affordable, sturdy and available in endless colorful variations, sock yarn inspires creativity and passion among knitters. Judith Durant has chosen not simply inventive sock patterns but also more than five dozen inspired patterns for other items that can be created from a single skein of yard--in addition to the usual baby clothes, mittens and scarves there are patterns for jewelry, cozies, doll clothes and even a dog sweater and a lamp shade! Contributed by yarn shops and designers throughout North America, the patterns are as fetching as they are fun to knit. Knitters of every skill level will find tantalizing challenges; snome knit up in fewer than three hours, others make creative use of sock yarn leftovers and several make heirloom-worthy gifts.

Wicked Bugs

Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army & Other Diabolical Insects by Amy Stewart is a captivating look at the sinister side of the natural world. Stewart uncovers more than one hundred of our worst insect enemies--creatures that infest, infect, and generally wreak havoc on human affairs. From the world's most painful hornets to the millipedes that stop traffic, from "bookworms" that devour libraries to Japanese beetles that munch on our roses, this book tells the stories of bugs gone wild. This is a great story for all bug and "animal" enthusiasts.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

Alexander McCall Smith is one of my favorite cozy authors! His writing is luxurious, and his details about Botswana make the reader feel as if he/she has stepped out of his/her world and into Africa from the moment you open the book. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party is the latest book in McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series centered around Mma Ramotswe, Private Detective and her husband, the mechanic Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. They live on Zebra Drive in Gabarone and they both love Botswana, appreciating the new changes as well as the old traditions. Mma Ramotswe is the owner of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and works alongside her Assistant Detective Mma Makutsi. This book is centered around the planning of Mma Makutsi's upcoming wedding to Phuti Radiphuti, the reappearance of Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van and a mystery involving the murder of several of Rra Moeti's cattle. Mma Ramotswe solves the case in her usual fashion, following the clues as well as her heart and the conclusion is satisfactory for all parties involved. This series of books makes me want to visit Botswana--Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland and makes several trips to Botswana each year. If you want to delve into this series, you'll have to start at the beginning with the first book in the series, the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, because even though the mysteries do not build on each other, the life of each character is developed throughout each book.

Take Charge of Your Sleep!

Due to the hectic times of today, I know most of us try to pack as many things as we can into every minute of every day. Unfortunately, the more we do this, the less "brilliant sleep" we have and the more irritable we become. As a result, our world is full of exhausted, fatigued people. If this is you, don't despair, the author of Tired But Wired, Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan, has some great solutions for you! Dr. Ramlakhan is a sleep and energy coach, who works with corporate clients as well as being a sleep therapist at Capio Nightingale Hospital. She has created a "Sleep Toolkit" that can help you get the wonderful sleep you deserve. This book is filled with practical suggestions to help you sleep, such as limiting the amount of caffeine you have and not watching violent television shows before you get into bed. Dr. Ramlakhan believes that because of all of the technology that we use every day, we, as a nation, do not get enough relaxation (or non-stimulation) time during the day. This lack of relaxation during the day contributes to us not having restful, deep sleep during the night. This book is very accessible and the solutions Dr. Ramlakhan suggests can be easily performed by anyone. If you suffer from unsatisfactory sleep, you owe it to yourself to try out the ideas in this book.

Teach Your Kids the Joy of Slow Cooking

The library currently has several "Fix-It and Forget-It" Slow Cooker Cookbooks in its collection. Each one showcases a different type of meal such as entertaining, diabetic cooking, Christmas recipes or feasting with your slow cooker. I am very excited to be able to tell you about the latest entry in the slow cooker series, Fix-It and Forget-It Kids' Cookbook: 50 Recipes to Make in a Slow Cooker by Phyllis Pellman Good. The cookbook contains a series of recipes divided into the categories of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinner and dessert. There is a great beginning section introducing kids to the characteristics of slow cookers and encouraging parents to let their kids cook with them by giving tips on how they can help. There are tips on how to measure, how to follow a recipe, safety tips and descriptions of the equpment you'll need to create these fabulous recipes. I especially enjoyed the lip-smacking lasagna and gooey chocolate pudding cake recipes and plan on preparing them with some favorite children in my life! The recipes are straight-forward, easy to use and the print on the page is big enough for a child to to read comfortably. I encourage you to don your apron and use this book to help your kids have some fun cooking time with you. If you enjoy this cookbook, I suggest you try out some recipes in one or more of the other books in this series.

Hiss of Death

I always enjoy reading new installments in Rita Mae Brown's "Mrs. Murphy" mysteries and her latest, Hiss of Death is another great entry in the series! Hiss of Death solves a mystery as well as furthers the story of Mary Minor Harristeen (Harry) and her husband Fair, her pet cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, her corgi Tee Tucker and her horses Shortro and Tomahawk. Harry and her family live in Crozet, Virginia where she farms and enjoys life outdoors and with her friends. Animals are very important to Harry and her trusty sidekicks (Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker) are by her side every minute of the day. Harry has this uncanny knack of stumbling over dead bodies , and the murders she keeps finding in this book are all associated with Central Virginia Hospital. I admire Rita Mae Brown's tackling cancer in this book---Harry and her friends help host a 5K run to raise funds for breast cancer research and Harry has her own, deeply personal brush with breast cancer. This book is a wonderful cozy mystery with plenty of humor, exploration of the newest cancer treatments and lots of descriptions of beautiful Virginia landscapes. A great choice for fans of the series as well as any cozy mystery lover.

Food Wars: North vs. South

I read the most entertaining book yesterday, Somebody Stole the Cornbread from My Dressing by Elizabeth Gourlay Heiskell and Susanne Young Reed. This book is a very humorous look at the comparisons and differences between the northern and southern parts of the United States by comparing each regions take on foods, social events and etiquette issues. The book is a series of essays followed by recipes (i. e., weddings) and each essay is a delight to read! Elizabeth and Susanne grew up in Rosedale, MS where Elizabeth met Luke Heiskell, married him and settled in Cleveland, MS where they raise three girls and she is an instructor at the Viking Cooking School in Greenwood, MS. Susanne (unfortunately) took a different route and after atteding Ole Miss and receiving her Ph. D. in Education, she fell in love with a Yankee named Charlie Reed, married him and moved to south-central Pennsylvania for his career and to raise their son Carter. This move gave Mrs. Reed a unique view on the differences between the North and South---she lives these differences everyday! My favorite story is about Susanne's first Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania, where she "saved up" her carbohydrate calories for her first taste of Thanksgiving dressing. She eyed the savory dish and closed her eyes for the first bite, but was stunned to find nothing but bread--where was the savory grittiness of the cornbread that she had been longing for? The story of the meal is hilarious and though Susanne has grudgingly come to appreciate bread dressing, her heart still belongs to the southern dressing she grew up loving. This is a cookbook as well as a story of southern culture, and something that should not be missed. If you like this book, try also reading Gayden Metcalfe's Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral and Jill Conner Browne's The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love.

Sookie Appears Again!

One of my favorite characters in the book world today has to be Sookie Stackhouse. I have been a fan of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series of books since before the HBO series "True Blood" began production. The latest book in this series is Dead Reckoning, and it stars, once again, all of Sookie's interesting boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, friends, family members and enemies. I adore all of the supernatural creatures that find their way into Sookie's world and how she takes it all in stride. Sookie is a telepath and a waitress at Merlotte's, a bar and restaurant owned by her shape-shifting friend Sam, located in a small town in Renard Parish, LA. In this installment of the series, Sookie has an enemy who keeps trying to kill her, and the Vampire King of Louisiana has a big bone to pick with Sookie's vampire husband, Eric Northman. A lot of action occurs in this book as well as some very interesting twists with Sookie and Eric, Eric's "second-in-command" vampire Pam, and Sookie's fairy cousins. You definitely have to have read the other books in the series before you read this one or you will be hopelessly lost with the novel's plot. A special treat is a surprise appearance by Bubba (Sookie fans will know exactly who he is :)) I truly enjoy reading about the food and atmosphere of Louisiana and the believable characters, supernatural or not that are in this book. Charlaine Harris is truly a talented author. Be sure to also check out Harris' Aurora Teagarten and Connerly siblings series.

Relax on a Supernatural Vacation

Summer is close at hand--although you can't really say that according to the cool weather we've been experiencing lately! I can think of no better way to celebrate the relaxation of summer time than by reading a vacation-themed book. Death's Excellent Vacation, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner, is a collection of thirteen short stories that center around the theme of vacation. The book is great entertainment for those folks who enjoy reading about tales of paranormal R & R. Trust me, there is a little bit of everything for everyone in these tales--from vampires, to werewolves and even leprechauns. I especially enjoyed being able to "taste" a little writing from some authors that I had heard of but never read. This collection is a great introduction to many current, popular supernatural writers such as Charlaine Harris, Toni L. P. Kelner, Jeff Abbott, Lilith Saintcrow and many more. The book is a quick read, so you'll have the chance to whet your appetite before delving into another, longer book by these authors.

Let Cheryl Burke Give You Dancing Lessons

I truly enjoyed reading Dancing Lessons: How I Found Passion and Potential On the Dance Floor and in Life by Cheryl Burke! I am a big fan of the television show, "Dancing with the Stars," and enjoy watching the celebrity as well as the professional dancers each week as they hit the ballroom floor and perform Latin and Classical ballroom dances. This book was written by Cheryl Burke, one of my favorite professional dancers, who has been with the show since Season Two. During that season, she won the coveted "mirror ball trophy" when her celebrity partner Drew Lachey (formerly a singer with 98 degrees) won the season. The book is very approachable and is arranged by the types of dance that mirror a specific time in her life. I always had the perception that Cheryl was this wonderfully talented, confident dance, but this book shows how she overcame numerous insecurities (she used to be shy :) ) to have a successful dance career and win the mirror ball trophy twice, so far. My favorite part of the book was learning about all of the struggles that Cheryl's mom went through (as a divorced single mom) to start and maintain her own business and how Cheryl overcame some really harsh personal incidences to become the star she is today. The book ends with a section on each of her celebrity partners and a discussion of the lessons she learned from each of them. This is a truly inspiring read, if you are a fan of the show or not. It is a great story of finding your dream and living life to the fullest. I think this would be a great book to give to a teen who is entering college and embarking on her own quest to find herself.

Find "The Way Back"

Every now and then I view a movie that makes a big impact on me. The movie that I have recently checked out from the library and really enjoyed is called The Way Back. Inspired by real events, the movie details the struggle of seven prisoners who attempt the impossible---escape from a brutal Siberian gulag in 1940. They begin a treacherous 4,500-mile trek to freedom across some of the world's most merciless landscapes (Siberia, Mongolia, the Himalayas) in their desperate attempt to beat the odds and live. The prisoners have very little food and water and barely trust each other, and their trek is further complicated when a teenage runaway asks to travel with them. This movie is a gripping wilderness adventure as well as a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. This is an incredible story that you will not soon forget. The movie stars Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saqirse Ronan and Colin Farrell and is directed by six-time Oscar-nominee Peter Weir.

New YA Books Added to the Collection--Part 2

This is the second blog (of two) that examines new books that have been recently added to the library's YA collection. If you missed last week's blog, check the archives for the May 4, 2011 entry.

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks opens with Tobias Richard Vandevelde waking up in the hospital with no memory of the night before. His terrified mother tells him that he was found unconscious at Featherdale Wildlife Park in a dingo pen. He figures his two rambunctious best friends are responsible until he discovers that they're just as freaked out as he is. Then the mysterious Reuben turns up, claiming that Toby has a rare and dangerous "condition." Next thing he knows, Toby finds himself involved with a strange bunch of sickly insomniacs who seem convinced that he needs their help. It's not until he's kidnapped and imprisoned that he starts to believe them.

Virals by Kathy Reichs introduces 14 year old Tory Brennan. She is the niece of the world-famous forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. She moves to the middle of nowhere Morris Island, South Carolina to live with a marine biologist dad she's never known. Tory does the best she can to adjust to her new life. There she meets a group of local kids who are just as "Sci-Phile" as she is--science geeks who have grown up experiencing the backswoods marshlands of nearby Loggerhead Island. But there's something strange going on at the Loggerhead Research Institute...maybe even something deadly. After rescuing a stray wolfdog pup from a top-secret lab, Tory and her friends are exposed to a rare strain of canine parvovirus, changing them--and their DNA--forever. Now, with newly heightened senses and canine-quick reflexes, they'll have to solve a cold-case murder that's suddenly become very hot.

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Jusine Larbalestier is an anthology of 12 stories. Though each tale has its own flavor, the dialogue between the co-editors draws them together, creating the feel of one long, continuous story. With Black defending the unicorn side of the debate and Larbalestier advocating voraciously for zombies, each team has six powerful stories to sway readers into joining one side or another.

After by Amy Efaw is Devon's story. Before it all, Devon was a good student, a good athlete, an all-around good girl, but then IT happened--the thing that was so horrible, so shameful, so impossible to imagine that Devon simply chose not to admit it to anyone, even herself. But denial can't make a thing go away, and now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, facing a possible life sentence for her actions. Does she deserve that punishment? Did she know what she was doing? Or was her denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly unavoidable changes happening to her?

These are just a few of the wonderful YA books available for check-out---browse the shelves and see what else the library has to offer!

New YA Books Added to the Collection--Part 1

Recently Jennifer has been working on beefing up our YA collection. The YA collection sits on white shelving to the right of the elevator (if you are in front of the elevator) and contains books suitable for high school through college age. Some amazing-sounding titles have passed through my hands and I wanted to share a few.

You by Charles Benoit finds fifteen-year old Kyle Chase covered in blood with no memory of what happened and time is running out.

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins has Sophie Mercer discovering that she is not a witch, like she thought, but a demon and one of only two in the world. She also learns that she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. She decides to got to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers for good--or kill her. But once she arrives she makes a shocking discovery--someone is raising demons in secret, with plans to use their powers, and probably not for good.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is the story of Finn and Claudia. Finn cannot remember his childhood or life before Incarceron--a prison that has been sealed for centuries, where inmates live in cells, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. No one has ever escaped, but then he finds a crystal key and a girl named Claudia. Claudia's father is the Warden of Incarceron and Claudia is about to become a kind of prisoner herself, doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know because Incarceron is alive.

Stayed tuned for next week's blog where we examine four more new YA books!!!

Under the Cajun Moon

I just read the first book in (I hope) a new series by Mindy Starns Clark. Under the Cajun Moon is set in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana and involves the things I love most about the state---food, music and eccentric people! The heroine of the story is Chloe Ledet, daughter of the famous chef Julian Ledet, owner of a famous French Quarter restaurant. Chloe has tried to "win" the love and respect of her parents for years, but finally moved away to have a successful career as a business etiquette consultant in Chicago. Chloe is called back to New Orleans suddenly when her dad is shot and ends up in a coma. Chloe is called to handle her father's affairs but when she wakes up in a strange hotel room with her father's dead lawyer on the couch, she immediately falls under suspicion of murder and must clear her name as well as discover who shot her father. With the aid of the son of her father's best friend, a handsome cajun named Travis, Chloe must "follow the recipe" and search for a priceless treasure while staying one step ahead of the people trying to kill her and her father--while trying to find the treasure. I absolutely loved the non-stop action of this story as well as the descriptions of Louisiana's swamps and exotic food and wildlife. Mindy Starns Clark truly knows Louisiana and her gutsy heroine is one you'll remember for a long time. Try a "taste of New Orleans" by reading this book!

Jane Goes Batty

I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in Michael Thomas Ford's series featuring Jane Austen---as a vampire! Jane Goes Batty continues the story of Jane Austen, aka. Jane Fairfax, bookstore owner and author of the recent bestseller, Constance. In this installment, Jane must contend with meeting her boyfriend Walter's strong-willed Jewish mom and deciding whether or not she can marry Walter and confess her vampirism, while dealing with her persistent and pushy editor who wants chapters of her six-months-behind new novel. Add to this mix a pushy film editor and crew who are filming a version of Constance...set in the 1950's! What's an un-dead vampire author to do with all this mess? Jane deals with all of this drama in her classically unflappable way--she is witty, well-mannered and a great heroine. If you love Jane Austen or any of her books you are sure to love this delightful series that celebrates one of the world's most beloved authors. Be sure you start with the first book in the series, Jane Bites Back, or you might be a little confused!

New "Bullying Books" Available at the Library

Every April, in celebration of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the library is pleased to be the recipient of two donated books. The books were donated to the library by the Vicksburg Child Abuse Prevention Center. The Adult book is titled The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School--How Parents and Teacher Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence, by Barbara Coloroso. The author is an acclaimed speaker on parenting, teaching, conflict resolution and grieving who lives with her husband in Littleton, Colorado. The author uses her years of work with troubled youth to discuss the three kinds of bullying and the differences between boy and girl bullies. After identifying which type of bully your child is experiencing, Mrs. Coloroso shows parents four abilities that you should teach them in order to protect them from succumbing to bullying. The book also includes seven steps to take if your child is a bully, and how to help the bullied child heal and effectively discipline the bully. The best part of this book is the chapter on cyberbullying and a section on how to evaluate a school's antibullying policy.

The children's selection that the CAP Center donated to the library is The Three Bully Goats by Leslie Kimmelman. This book was recently published and tells the story of Billy goat brothers Gruff, Ruff and Tuff who are bullies who rule their meadow. When they cross sweet Little Ogre's bridge and are mean to the baby animals on the other side, they are in for a surprise from Little Ogre! The book will be read at a special CAP Center storytime during the month of April, as well as other children's books that the library currently has on bullying.

Thanks again to the CAP Center for providing us with these two wonderful books that are great resources for parents and children to learn how to recognize and prevent bullying!

The Secret World of Hoarding

I have to admit this---I've recently been watching a few episodes of "Hoarding: Buried Alive," a television show. The show features people who are hoarders, and tries to help them clean out their houses as well as offer them help to find the "root" of the hoarding issue. The show is fascinating and mostly uplifting, although some of the cases are so desperate that they make me very sad. My recent interest in this show led me to read a new book that the library has purchased, Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About her Mother's Compulsive Hoarding by Jessie Sholl. This book is an examination of what it means to be the daughter of a hoarder, as Jessie's mom is a hoarder. The book centers around Jessie's return to her hometown of Minneapolis to help her mom prepare for her upcoming surgery and get her affairs in order when she is diagnosed with cancer. Dirty Secret describes Jessie's confrontation of her mom's disorder and an examination of her life among her mom's clutter. Hoarding is triggered by a traumatic event and Jessie's journey involves identifying that event in her mom's life and the endless cycle of cleaning and organizing her mother's house. The book does explore the issue of hoarding, but it also explores a mother-daughter relationship where the daughter tries to overcome many obstacles to remain a "good daughter." This book reads like a novel, and is a respectful introduction to the world of a hoarder. I think this book would be enjoyed by any person who has an interest in reading about mental illness, the disease of hoarding, or mother/daughter relationships.