Variety is definitely the spice of life when it comes to reading.  Depending on my mood or frame of mind, I will find a book (or movie) to satisfy that period in my life.

I recently read a romance book by Jennifer Crusie called Charlie All Night.  Allie McGuffey has just been dumped by her boyfriend/disc jockey and demoted at the local radio station.   At a bar, she meets Charlie, a athletically built, handsome man, who sweeps her off her feet at first glance.  She is hesitant at first, because she does not want a relationship.  Charlie shows up at the radio station the next day, gets hired for the late night shift, making the female listeners, especially Allie, swoon.  The only problem is, Charlie is just passing through town. 

“Charlie All Night” is funny and sexy, with a little mystery thrown in for good measure.  Chinese food after midnight, late nights talking, playing music on the radio…such is the life of Charlie…

Beware the Library on Friday night! Amelia’s ghosts, ghouls and goblins will have free rein in the building from 6 pm to 8 pm for our annual Halloween Party. Join us for games, refreshments, contests and more. We will have  our ghostly scavenger hunt in the Wright Children’s Room and the entire teen and adult sections of the Library will be haunted.

The Friends of the Library are collaborating again with the Teen Council to set up and throw our monstrous bash. This year we are joined by the Virginia Extension office and Amelia’s Department of Parks and Recreation.  The food will be flowing, the laughter loud, and the decorations spooky. Come see us between 6 pm and 8 pm to join the fun.

Events:
6:00–7:15 : Children’s games
6:00–7:00 : Children’s Stories with Charles (picture books)
6:30–7:00 : Scary Stories with Dora (stories from Poe, Clarke, etc.)
7:15–8:00 : Costume Contest

Just in time for Halloween we have added some spooky items.

For our young patrons you might want to check out:
Franklin’s Pumpkin by Paul Bourgeois
P Is For Pumpkin by Kathy Wargin 
Diego’s Halloween! (A DVD)
Eloise’s Rawther Unusual Halloween (Another DVD)

Or they might choose something from our children’s non-fiction area:  Vampires by Bonnie McMeans 
Haunted Hotels by Sarah Parvis

For our  young adult readers check out these spooky new titles: 
The weird gathering and other tales from the enchanted world of dark legends edited by Ronald Curran 
Encyclopedia of the undead; a field guide to the creatures that cannot rest in peace by Dr. Bob Curran 
Lost lands, forgotten reals; sunken continents, vanished cities, and the kingdoms that history misplaced by Dr. Bob Curran.

Also just added to our video collection:
Haunted histories collection: a set of 5 DVDs –
        Hauntings 
        The haunted history of Halloween 
        Poltergeist
        Salem witch trials 
        Vampire secrets
Haunted histories collection; volume 2 : the real stories behind hauntings, zombies and voodoo rituals.

Come in and check out these and many other spooky items in our collections.

Classical literature is something I always had to read in school, not always enjoying it as I should.   As an adult, I am creeping back into my childhood haunts: authors like Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, L.M. Montgomery…the list goes on.

This week, I am rediscovering “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens, a novel that I read when I was in high school.  Most know about the orphan boy, his dealings with Fagin, the Artful Dodger, and Bill Sikes from the movie versions, but that, as Paul Harvey would say, is not the end of the story.

I failed to remember how brutal the poor were treated, how deplorable living conditions were if you were not rich and how awful it was to be an orphan (or even a child) during Dickens’ era.  Ultimately, Oliver is saved from his wretched life and cared for as we hoped he would be. 

After reading this book, my advice to you, the reader, is plain and simple.  Revisit old books.  Be a part of their world once more.

Just an FYI…on Monday, October 13, the library will be closed in order to celebrate Columbus Day.  We will reopen Tuesday, October 14. 

Have a wonderful holiday!

Keeping up with the political race? Check out these new titles:

Books:

Bugliosi, Vincent. The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder
Corsiar, Jerome R. The Obama Nation
Davis, William. Barack Obama: The Politics of Hope
Freddoso, David. The Case Against Barack Obama
McCain, John. Faith of My Fathers
McCain, John. Why Courage Matters
McCain, John. Hard Call
Mansfield, Stephen. The Faith of Barack Obama
Morris, Dick. Fleeced 
Obama, Barack. Dreams of My Father
Obama, Barack. The Audacity of Hope 
Suskind, Ron. The Way of the World
Woods, Thomas E. Who Killed the Constitution?

DVDs:

Biography: John McCain
Biography: Barack Obama

Reading is an integral part of our every day life, whether for enjoyment, enlightenment or information. 

This week, I read a biography, Home,  that prompted my admiration and respect for a person who I thought I knew a lot about…Julie Andrews. 

Yes, we know her from her movies as the upbeat Maria from Sound of Music or the practically perfect nanny in every way Mary Poppins, but her childhood was all but perfect. 

Her mother was a pianist with big dreams for herself; her stepfather, an Irish tenor with a habit for drinking and abuse.  She really didn’t know her own father.  Not a fairy tale start for someone destined for greatness.

Her way out was her voice, which was discovered by her stepfather at a very early age.  Training her the best he could, he toured with little Julie and her mother throughout England.   She relates, with dramatic detail, of her life on the vaudeville circuit, the Broadway stage, and the movie soundstages. 

Even though this book encompasses only half her life, it gives a very candid and interesting glimpse of an actress/singer we all thought we knew, including myself.

We’ve begun our fall programming schedule. Just take a look at some of the cool things we are doing this month:

Tuesdays for Preschoolers:
10/7/2008: Community Partners — a local blacksmith and woodworker, Daniel Magnotti, reads for our story time
10/14/2008: Read Around the World — we travel to Mexico!
10/21/2008: EvenStart Visits — Lee LaPradd reads for us
10/28/2008: FRIENDly Volunteer — a member of the Friends reads

Tuesdays for Teens:
EVERY TUESDAY: Open Gaming Day

Wednesdays for Older Children:
10/8/2008: Pajama Story Time: Come in your jammies, and see us in ours! Bedtime stories with milk and cookies afterwards.
10/15/2008: Open Gaming Day — Board games, puzzles and the Wii
10/22/2008: Crafts with Carla — Spooky Eye’s Safety Bug (a Halloween goodie bag)

Thursdays for Teens:
10/9/2008: Japanese Popular Culture Crafts — Making Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
10/16/2008: Movie Night — For legal reasons, we can’t publicize the movie title… please call us for more information
10/23/2008: College Survival — moved to 10/30/2008
10/30/2008: College Survival

Thursdays for Adults:
10/16/2008: Crafts with Carla — Wire Crocheted jewelry (there is a $2.00 materials fee for this program)
10/30/2008: Scrapbooking Club

Fridays for Children:
EVERY FRIDAY: Pokemon League

For all mystery lovers grab hold to a series written by David Baldacci. 

This group calls themselves the Camel club.  Meet Oliver Stone, a man with no known past, — Caleb Shaw, a Library of Congress librarian — Reuben Rhodes, a loading dock worker and Milton Farb, a computer whiz with OCD.

Together this group try to discover some truths that will hold America’s leaders accountable to the people.  Doing this comes with many twists and turns as they uncover corrupt practices within the FBI and CIA.

No sooner do you think you know what is happening, a new snag in the plot will grab your attention.  Be prepared to be shocked.

You will want to read these books in order as new characters are introduced.

The first in the series is “Camel Club” — followed by “The  collectors” and finally “Stone Cold”

I have always been drawn to different genres of books from mystery to non-fiction, romance to horror.  Some just grab your attention and never let go.  I just finished a fantastic book, Odd Thomas.

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz is not a regular run of the mill horror story. An unassuming desert town in California is home to many likeable and believable characters.  The lead character, Odd (not Todd) is a twenty-year-old fry cook who sees dead people.  With the dead’s aid, he helps the local law enforcers solve crimes and thwart criminals.

During our first encounter with Odd, or “Oddie” as he is lovingly called by some of his friends, is warned by ghosts (including Elvis) that something horrific will happen in a few days.  He meets an angry strange man who tries to do him bodily harm. Black shadowy creatures appear in droves leading him to believe his psychic senses.  With the help of his girlfriend, the chief of police, and the ghost of Elvis, he fights evil presenses lurking around his small town.

Odd Thomas is a very likeable character.  He is quick witted and polite, attempting to hide his psychic abilities.  The pace of the book is quick, leading the reader on an exciting roller coaster ride.  Koontz occasionally adds asides to pop culture.    Mystery, suspense, and humor abound in this book, continuing in the sequels Forever Odd, Brother Odd, and Odd Hours.