Bayou Book Bytes

Review: The Family Fang

2012-02-09T08:54:00.000-06:00

The Family Fang
by Kevin Wilson

Find it in our Catalog

Summary: Caleb and Camille Fang are artists who involve their children in each piece of work. The art typically consists of making a scene and evoking a reaction from a crowd of people, all taped by a hidden camera. After growing up in this environment, adults Annie and Buster have a difficult time functioning normally in the world. When their parents disappear, they join together to discover whether their parents are truly gone, or if this is just another Fang Family piece.

Review: An alternate title to this novel could be 'How not to Raise your Children.' The chapters go back and forth between present day adult Annie and Buster to flashbacks of performances by the Fangs. Adults Annie and Buster seem to drift with no real connection to the world. Annie is a moderately successful actress who gets caught up in a scandal and is quick to have a drink to calm down. Buster is a less successful writer who's been reduced to moving back into his parents' house after an unfortunate incident with a potato gun. As a mother, each is a picture of the type of person I don't want my child to be.

So why are they this way? They have been shaped by their parents' art. If your definition of art is a portrait on a wall, then the Fangs would tell you that has been done. Their art is in the emotion, in the action of a moment, planned out and executed by the Fangs. As the book progresses and you continually wonder how they could involve their children in their art pieces, you come to realize how far the Fangs have already gone in the name of their art, and just how far they are willing to go.

This book interested me in the same way scientists are interested in studying strange cases that would be unethical to intentionally create, but are useful and fascinating to study when they occur naturally. I would never wish this situation on children or a family, but was facsinated how the parents' parenting style and values impacted their children's lives. I enjoyed reading it, and was pleased that Annie and Buster were on their way to piecing together a normal life at the end.

Reviewed by Samantha

Mardi Gras Wreaths

2012-02-01T16:31:00.000-06:00

Hi all you crafty people! We recently had a Mardi Gras wreath program at Central Library and I'm going to do a tutorial for those of you who couldn't make the program.

What you'll need: 1 wreath form, glue gun, scissors, Mardi Gras beads (about 60 strands), and ribbon.

We used a 12-inch floral ring as our wreath form, but you can use straw, wire, or Styrofoam forms if that's what you can find. You can also use a larger size, but keep in mind that it will take more beads and more time and will also be heavier.

You can wrap your wreath form in ribbon or paint it so that it blends in nicely. This one ended up green.

Snip your necklaces with your scissors so that they become a long strand of beads rather than a loop.

Wrap your wreath form completely with a single layer of beads, attaching the strands with a minimum of hot glue. It took about 16 necklaces to wrap our 12-inch wreath form. Make sure to wrap it tightly so that the beads are close together with as few gaps as possible.

The top layer of the wreath is made up of braided beads. Take a strand of purple, green, and gold beads and snap them together by twisting the beads together. The strands should be about equal in length and the beads about equal in diameter.

This is what your strand of braided beads should look like when you're done. You may find it easier to braid your beads if you hold down the end of your strands with a heavy book or tape.

Start wrapping your wreath form with the braided strands. Use hot glue to attach the beads to the wreath, being careful to not use too much. You don't want the hot glue to show. Wrap the beads as tightly as possible so that there are no gaps.

Once you're done wrapping your wreath form, it should look something like this. If you do have a few gaps, no worries! Cut a bit of a strand of beads and hot glue it in the gap. It will blend in with your wreath and no one will be able to tell.

Go ahead and dress up your wreath with a bow and other fun pieces if you like.

Here's another fun example.

You can even use other colors of beads if you want a non-traditional wreath!

Have fun, guys! Leave a comment if you need any further clarification. Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

*this tutorial is adapted from Sew in Love's blog post: http://sew-inlove.blogspot.com/2011/02/mardi-gras-bead-wreath-tutorial.html

Cozy Up!: Mrs. Jeffries & the Mistletoe Mix-Up

2012-01-19T12:16:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Jeffries & the Mistletoe Mix-Up
by Emily Brightwell
Find in Catalog

The book begins with Inspector Witherspoon's household preparing for Christmas and the McCourt family holding an afternoon gathering. Daniel McCourt has gathered a group of acquaintances to brag about his acquisition of an ancient artifact, although no one, including his wife, knows what it is. Before he has a chance to reveal his acquisition, he is brutally murdered with his own sword. Inspector Witherspoon is called in to investigate the case. As in other "Mrs. Jeffries" books his household assists, without his knowledge, in solving the case by subtly interviewing people of society and members of domestic staffs to find out if they can contribute any information about the crime. Mrs. Jeffries cleverly pieces together information she and her colleagues (Mrs. Goodge, Smythe, Wiggins, Luty, Ruth Cannonbury, Hatchett and a few others) learn and information she learns from the Inspector and figures out who killed McCourt then relays the information to Witherspoon's fellow police officer Constable Barnes, who then helps initiate an arrest. This is a fun book to read and includes believable three-dimensional characters with everyday worries and lives.

Review written by Phyllis

Get Organized: Part 1

2012-01-09T12:03:00.002-06:00

It's the new year and perhaps while packing away the Christmas decorations and recovering from the hustle and bustle of the holiday schedule you've noticed that things aren't as ship shape as they could be. Take some time this month and get organized! Here are a few tips (and resources) to help you tackle home organization.

1. Take a deep breath! Realize that you will not be able to organize everything in your life in one day. Plan which areas of your home you want to organize, and conquer one item at a time.

2. Purge! Get rid of things that you no longer use, need, or are just plain broken. (If you haven't gotten around to fixing it yet, you don't really need it.) Have a garage sale, donate them to Goodwill, or find a church that runs a community garage sale.

3. Turn all of the hangers in your closet around. As you wear clothes, rehang them the way you normally would. In June, any clothes that are on hangers that are still turned around should be gotten rid of.

4. Use wire cd racks to keep tupperware lids straight in the cupboards.

5. Use bread tabs to keep electrical cords labeled, and bread ties or zip ties to bundle excess cord.

6. Get creative! There are thousands of books, websites and blogs to give you ideas on ways to sort and store household items.

Websites:

http://www.napo.net/ - National Association of Professional Organizers
http://organizedhome.com/

Blogs:

http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/p/iheart-project-gallery.html

http://southernhomeorganizers.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/its-get-organized-month/

Library Books:

648.5 ING 2010 Toss, keep, sell! : the suddenly frugal guide to cleaning out the clutter and cashing in by Leah Ingram.

648.5 PLA 2010 What's a Disorganized Person to do? by Stacy Platt

Central Book Club now Online!

2012-01-03T13:56:00.000-06:00

If you follow the books read by the Central Library's Book Club but haven't been able to make a meeting, you can now discuss each month's selection online! You can find our Online Book Club at http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/59472.Central_Book_Club , or go to Goodreads.com and search groups for Central Library Book Club and join the group! You must be a member of Goodreads.com to join the discussion (membership is free.)

Discussions will open on the first day of every month and close on the last. The current book up for discussion for January is Hillary Jordan's Mudbound. We look forward to reading everyone's comments on each month's novel!

The 2012 Banished Word List

2012-01-01T13:23:00.000-06:00

This year will make the 37th year that Lake Superior State University will publish their banished words list. It all began in 1976 when the LSSU public relations director and a group of his friends compiled a list of expressions they didn't like and has grown into an event that gets thousands of nominations each year for words and phrases to be banned. In past years the list has included words and phrases such as: "viral," "refuidiate," "epic," "just sayin'," "you're fired," "weapons of mass destruction," and "the american people."

At the top of the 2012 list is: Amazing! Other words and phrases from this year's list are: baby bump, occupy, man cave, and ginormous.

You can submit a word or phrase or find all of this year's list and past lists at www.lssu.edu/banished.

Moss Bluff Book Chat: December 6, 2011

2011-12-30T14:27:00.000-06:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on our November “Book of the Month” South of Broad by Pat Conroy .

South of Broad follows the lives of a small group of eccentric friends from Charleston, South Carolina – spanning from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Readers noted that the book’s setup takes a painstakingly long time. Conroy spends a great deal of time detailing and describing Charleston before giving readers any actual plot – leading to some readers’ not finishing the novel at all.

The majority of those who were able to finish shared the feeling that the book had plenty of interesting characters and developments – including one final twist that surprised everyone. However, the plots were poorly intertwined and usually lacked solid resolutions. Some members of the group suggested that the book may have worked better as separate novels.

Find a copy of the novel at your local branch or in our Digital Collection!

Have you already read South of Broad, or some other Pat Conroy work? If so, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Crafts @ your library: Christmas Trees

2011-12-21T13:29:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! We recently did a Christmas craft program at Central library and here is a tutorial on one of the Christmas trees we displayed. It's easy and you can use any colors that match your decor!

Supplies you need:

10 inch Styrofoam cone

2 inch circle punch

Cardstock
Gluegun
Craft knife or pencil to curl your circles

The only thing you need that isn't pictured is the Styrofoam cone, which you can purchase at a craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

Let's get started!

Step one: Cut out a bunch of circles with your circle punch. I ended up using 3 or 4 12x12 cardstock pages--I'm sorry I can't remember exactly! I used 3 different patterns in the same color scheme, but you could do a solid tree and it would look pretty as well.

Step two: Remove your blade from your craft knife.

Step three: Curl your circles around your craft knife.

They should end up looking something like this!

Step four: Add a touch of hot glue to the edge of your circle and attach it to your cone at the bottom. Make a complete ring around the cone and then begin a layer of circles just above.

Step five: Once you reach the top, make a cone out of two circles to complete the top of your tree.

Step six: Enjoy your beautiful decoration! Happy Holidays!

Central Book Club: A Redbird Christmas

2011-12-15T15:19:00.000-06:00

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg is a light little tale that extols the virtues of small town communities. Healing is a central theme of this book as the main character, Oswald Campbell must move south to a warmer climate to extend his life, which is threatened by emphasema. But it is not only physical ailments that take their toll on Mr. Campbell. An orphan named after a can of soup, he has no one in his life except for a kind ex-wife whom he does not wish to bother. He lives off of government pension and only gets out of his tiny apartment to attend AA meetings. Moving to Lost River, Oswald is given the opportunity to be a part of a close community of people which heals his ailments and mends his soul.

Fannie Flagg, with the help of a little redbird named Jack, tells a tale that will uplift your spirit and make you believe in the power of community to overcome whatever is thrown their way.
Check out this book from your local library branch here!

Check it Out: Salvage the Bones

2011-12-01T15:13:00.000-06:00

Recent winner of the National Book Award, Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward details twelve days in the life of a Mississippi family caught up in the devastating path of Hurricane Katrina.

Moss Bluff Book Chat: November 1, 2011

2011-11-22T11:54:00.001-06:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on our October “Book of the Month” The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

The novel The Thirteenth Tale follows biographer Margaret Lea, who receives the opportunity to write a full-access biography on the acclaimed and notoriously elusive author Vida Winter. The novel’s author, Diane Setterfield, invokes gothic elements and style reminiscent of Charlotte and Emily Bronte as she slowly unravels Vida’s deepest and darkest secrets.

Readers in our group were rather divided: some quickly lost interest and found the writing to be overly-detailed, while others ultimately enjoyed the novel despite the challenge to complete it at times. Fans also cited various plot holes in the book but were still appreciative of the majority of the novel’s story, including its big twist.

The Thirteenth Tale is not for everyone, but Setterfield does successfully execute gothic style enough to satisfy most Bronte fans.

Find a copy of the novel at your local branch!

Have you already read The Thirteenth Tale? If so, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

(Image from: https://catalog.simonandschuster.com/default.aspx?cid=1318&ob=0&FilterBy=&FilterVal=&showcart=&camefrom=&find=thirteenth&a=)

Staff Pick: The Night Circus

2011-11-17T16:28:00.001-06:00

I couldn't tell you exactly what prompted me to push Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus to the front of my 'to read' queue, but I'm so glad I did. This novel leisurely tells the story of two young people pitted against each other in a test of magical stamina. The playing field is the circus, which always shows up unannounced and only opens from dusk to dawn. As the contest advances over the years, the young magicians fall for each other, only to discover that the only way to win their contest is to outlive the other.

The real magic in this book is in the descriptions Morgenstern writes. One almost has the sense of actually walking around the circus and visiting the cloud tent, where circus goers can actually walk on clouds; or visiting the ice garden, where the ice never melts no matter the temperature. Each tent at the circus transforms from a strategic move in a game neither understands, to a wondrous love letter created from one to the other.

The pacing of this novel feels like taking a walk in the park on a cool autumn day. As such, I won't recommend this to those of you who like action packed, complicated plot lined novels. I will recommend this to people who like: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Baz Luhrmann movies (Moulin Rouge, Romeo+Juliet, Strictly Ballroom), and Big Fish.

Find it at your library!

Reviewed by Samantha

National Novel Writing Month

2011-11-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo! Are you one of the many writers who try to compose a 50,000 word novel in 30 days? If so, here are a few resources that may be helpful to you. Also don't forget that our libraries are filled with comfortable tables and outlets for you to plug into.

On the web:

Online Dictionary

NaNoWriMo

Writing Tips from Galley Cat

World Building Help
Creating Characters

On our shelves:

Find in the Library!

Find it at the Library!

Moss Bluff Book Chat: October 4, 2011

2011-10-24T09:10:00.000-05:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on the September “Book of the Month:” People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.

In People of the Book rare book conservator Hanna Heath as she takes on the huge opportunity to evaluate the condition of the recently rediscovered Sarajevo Haggadah. During her analysis, Hanna finds mysterious signs and objects, whose histories are explored in interspersed sections throughout the novel.

The novel found favor with the majority of our group, but a few members did admit it proved difficult to delve into. Brooks' strengths are rooted in historical fiction, and she vividly captures diverse eras in time: from the Holocaust back to the Middle Ages. Brooks' narratives, however, are rooted in a vast amount of details, which caused a few of the readers to lose interest.

Ultimately, readers who finished the book greatly enjoyed it and appreciated its recurring theme of amity across cultures. People of the Book can be a dense read at times, but is rewarding to both history buffs and bibliophiles alike.

Find a copy of the novel at your local branch!

If you’ve already read People of the Book, feel free to share your thoughts on the novel in the comments. Agree or disagree with the Book Club? Let us know!

Staff Pick: Garden Spells

2011-10-06T09:59:00.002-05:00

Garden Spells
by Sarah Addison Allen

In Allen’s charming debut novel, Sydney Waverly arrives on her sister Claire’s doorstep with a five-year-old daughter in tow after ten years of estrangement. Claire has built a successful catering business using flowers and herbs from the weird and wonderful garden behind the family home, while Sydney has made a life out of ignoring the fact she was born with Waverly gifts. Claire can whip up a meal that helps people keep secrets and bake cupcakes that make children thoughtful, but she has a harder time relating to people around her. Sydney is adjusting to life back at home, trying to forget her troubled past and mend fences. Rounding out the cast of characters is Evanelle, an elderly woman who give gifts to people before they know they need them, and an apple tree that throws fruit at people. Garden Spells is a light, entertaining read about family and romance with a slight dusting of magic.

You can look to see if Garden Spells is checked in at our library catalog here.

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!

2011-09-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

(ALA 2011) -Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

For more information on banned and challenged material check out: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/aboutbannedbooks/index.cfm

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm

Moss Bluff Book Chat: September 6, 2011

2011-09-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on the August “Book of the Month:” Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Water for Elephants follows Jacob Jankowski, now in his nineties, remembering his time as a vet with a struggling circus during the Great Depression. Gruen’s extensive research shows in her ability to capture the circus atmosphere and lifestyle of that time period.

Readers had an overall positive response to the novel, which most agreed was an interesting piece of historical fiction. While Gruen’s details and descriptions of the circus aspect of the story are admirable, the group all noted how wonderfully she handled an elderly character. Many agreed that such a realistic and positive depiction of an older character is unfortunately very rare in contemporary literature.

You can find copies of the novel at your local branch or in our digital collection!

If you’ve already read Water for Elephants, feel free to share your thoughts on the novel in the comments. Agree or disagree with the Book Club? Let us know!

Blast from the Past

2011-08-22T13:42:00.000-05:00

A blast from the past to make someone smile today!

Check It Out!

2011-08-16T14:16:00.000-05:00

New to our collection this week:
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

"Caleb and Camille Fang are performance artists who set up unsettling situations in public places. Their two children, Annie and Buster, have been trained from birth to participate in these events. As they mature the children realize that their lives are not exactly normal. Their attempts to break away from their parents are unsuccessful until their parents disappear. Is it a stunt or a tragic accident? Even Annie and Buster can’t say for sure."
Review from Library Journal

Check it out at your library!

Photo from http://www.wilsonkevin.com/

New DRM-free Format in the Digital Collection!

2011-08-08T11:35:00.023-05:00

Great news: the CPPL's Digital Collection now features select eBooks with no DRM! To take advantage of the new format, look for titles available in “Open EPUB” and “Open PDF” ebook formats. Check for the icons with the open green padlock, as seen in the image to the right.

These open/DRM-free eBooks are worth checking out for the additional liberties they offer, most notably the ability to bypass Adobe Digital Editions when transferring the files to your device -- which also means you can save these check outs directly to most popular eReaders. For additional information on this, please click “Read More”.

Option 1:

Connect your device to your computer via your USB cable

When picking a location for saving your downloaded check out, navigate to the proper folder on your eReader

Unplug your device, find the file, and open it to read

Option 2: (Applicable only to devices with wi-fi/3G)

Make sure your eReader is connected to the internet

In your device’s browser, go to the library’s digital collection website

Go through the check out process as normal; the file will download directly to the device for you to read

Option 3:
You can perform either Option 1 or 2 at your local branch, using a public PC or our free wi-fi!

Reminders:

Not all titles are available as open eBooks, so you'll still need to transfer those to eReaders via Adobe Digital Editions.

Only one user can check out these titles at a time.

The titles cannot be returned early.

Still a bit confused by downloading from our digital collection? Be sure to check in with your local branch or comment on this post with questions!

Moss Bluff Book Discussion for Adults: July 14, 2011

2011-08-03T16:40:00.003-05:00

Moss Bluff held a book discussion on The Accidental Tourist, an Anne Tyler classic. The novel follows Macon, a man strongly committed to his routines and habits. Macon’s life becomes upended, however, when he loses his young son – and his marriage.

Readers’ opinions on the novels were sharply split: some hated it, others really liked it. Those who hated the book noted how flaky and shallow all the characters were, which made the book difficult to finish. Readers who liked the book, however, found that it was easier to get through if they knew people in their lives who were similar to the characters. They also agreed that humor was another of Tyler’s strong points.

While her characters may have alienated some readers, they did help Tyler find new fans in others – who have already sought out more of her work.

Have you read The Accidental Tourist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Find it at your library!

Three Books for Adult Harry Potter Fans

2011-07-15T14:28:00.012-05:00

Since its beginning in 1997, J. K. Rowling’s series following the adventures of boy wizard Harry Potter has garnered big fans in all age groups. In celebration of the release of the last cinematic installment of the series, this NPR article recommends three books for adults itching for a little more literary magic. Check them out below!

The Magicians
By: Lev Grossman

Find it at your library!

Ender’s Game
By: Orson Scott Card

Find it at your library!

The Secret History
By: Donna Tartt

Find it at your library!

Moss Bluff Book Discussion for Adults: June 28, 2011

2011-07-14T15:06:00.005-05:00

Moss Bluff held a book discussion on The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The novel centers on a book club on the island of Guernsey as they recall their time during the German Occupation in World War II.

The book is written entirely in letters sent among several characters. The group approved of the epistolary style, though this led to a shaky start for some readers. Some also had issues with the ending of the novel, which felt like a different book entirely. The disjointed nature of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is, more than likely, due to the split task of its authorship between Shaffer and her niece Barrows, who took over when Shaffer fell ill.

Flaws aside, the novel did prove valuable for a couple different reasons. The first is that it provided a simultaneously interesting and delightful insight into German Occupation for those unfamiliar with the time. Secondly, it revolved around enjoyable characters brought together by the importance of reading in their lives.

Find it at your local branch or in our digital library!

Novel Destinations & Literary Getaways

2011-07-09T20:20:00.033-05:00

Heads up! July 15th, this Friday, is the last day to log your books for the Adult Reading Program in order to get some awesome prizes!

Still looking for a good read? Check out this NPR article on “Literary Getaways” and stick with this summer's theme of Novel Destinations. If you're up for some armchair traveling, see the list below for books that the article recommends.

Miss New India
By: Bharati Mukherjee

Find it at your library!

The Magician King
By: Lev Grossman

Find it at your library!

State of Wonder
By: Ann Patchett

Find it at your library!

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead
By: Sara Gran

Find it at your library!

Get Digital Library Titles on Your Windows Phone!

2011-06-24T10:03:00.007-05:00

Great news for library users with Windows phones: Overdrive is now offering an app in the Windows Phone Marketplace! This means you can access and download titles from our digital library – anytime, anywhere. Both eBooks and audiobooks are supported!

Don’t have a Windows phone? Overdrive already offers support for all major mobile operating systems. Check out their list here.

(Image from: http://overdriveblogs.com/library)

Memorable Fathers in Literature

2011-06-17T13:42:00.008-05:00

Father’s Day is this Sunday. Below are a few books featuring great dads to help you get in the celebratory mood.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is perhaps the definitive example of a heroic father figure. His willingness to fight a losing battle in order to stick to his principles makes him unforgettable not only as a father, but as a character in general.

Find it at your library!

Man and Boy by Tony Parsons

The novel Man and Boy features the character Harry Silver, who must learn to care for his son when his wife leaves them. While Harry is far from a perfect father in the beginning, he successfully matures as a parent, as well as a person. Parsons’ writing is simultaneously witty and sentimental, making it a great weekend read.

Find it at your library!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road is not necessarily a useful novel to put you in a celebratory mood, but it does feature an undeniably dedicated dad. Simply referred to as “the father”, the character in McCarthy’s grim, post-apocalyptic work proves that he will do anything to keep his son alive.

Find it at your library!

Share your favorite literary dads in the comments!

Listen Up: It’s National Audiobook Month!

2011-06-13T09:42:00.003-05:00

Spend the month of June celebrating National Audiobook Month with the library. Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time while driving – whether it’s for your regular commute or that long summer trip.

Look for audiobooks in your local branch via our catalog. (Tip: To search for audiobooks, do a “Power Search” for Type: BOOKONCD.)

You can also download from a great selection in our digital library!

Feel free to share your favorite audiobooks in the comments! (I’m partial to memoirs read by the actual authors.)

Adult Reading Program 2011: Novel Destinations!

2011-05-28T10:30:00.003-05:00

Our adult reading program for Summer 2011 has begun! The theme this year is “Novel Destinations.”

Need to register? Go here. Be sure to log and review all your books by July 15 to get some great prizes!

Not sure which books to read? Check out our Books & Authors resource for titles suited to your interests. Also, browse through some of our past posts for great reads we’ve already highlighted.

Happy Reading!

Blow Me Down!: Learn ter Speak Pirate

2011-05-23T15:27:00.006-05:00

Mango Languages is offering a free course, from now until June 30th, in Pirate-speak for ye landlubbers out there wishing to speak like a gentleman o’ fortune.

Remember: you can sign up for a Mango Languages account anytime here. (Just don’t forget your library carrrd!)

In the mood for more pirates, corsairs, and buccaneers? Below are a couple titles worth checking out.

The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf
By: William C. Davis
ISBN: 015100403X

Find it at your library!

Flying the Black Flag: A Brief History of Piracy
By: Alfred S. Bradford
ISBN: 9780275977818

Find it at your library!

Car Maintenance at Your Library

2011-05-17T16:03:00.016-05:00

May is National Good Car Keeping Month. For tips and tricks to keep your car in shape, look no further than your library!

One of the many wonderful databases provided by the State Library is the Auto Repair Reference Center. This handy tool allows users to find repair procedures for specific makes and models. It also has plenty of information on general car care.

For those seeking knowledge from print sources, be sure to check out the following books on car maintenance:

Popular Mechanics Complete Car Care Manual
ISBN: 9781588167231
Find it at your library!

Dare to Repair Your Car: A Do-it-herself Guide to Maintenance, Safety, Minor Fix-its, and Talking Shop
By Julie Sussman
ISBN: 0060577002
Find it at your library!

Lucille's Car Care: Everything You Need to Know from Under the Hood--by America's Most Trusted Mechanic
By Lucille Treganowan
ISBN: 0786862017
Find it at your library!

Moss Bluff Book Chat: May 3, 2011

2011-05-10T16:30:00.002-05:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on the April “Book of the Month:” Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.

Shanghai Girls is a historical fiction novel that follows two Chinese sisters, Pearl and May, from 1930s China to 1950s America. The sisters must survive ordeal after ordeal: from life-threatening times of war to fighting against racism.

Readers thought the novel was valuable for the aspects of history it depicted. The life of Chinese-Americans through the 1950s is not often examined as thoroughly as See does. Shanghai Girls gives readers a personal look inside the troubles of the time, making them more accessible.

The group also found the book interesting and well-written, though somewhat long at times. See’s strength is her ability to paint vivid and complex characters that keep the audience invested in the story. They are all looking forward to the sequel Dreams of Joy, to be released later this month.

If you’ve already read Shanghai Girls, feel free to share your thoughts on the novel in the comments. Agree or disagree with the Book Club? Let us know!

(Image from: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/163636/shanghai-girls-by-lisa-see )

Moss Bluff Book Chat: April 19, 2011

2011-04-27T09:07:00.000-05:00

Below are a couple books readers discussed on April 19th.

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman is a collection of essays by screenwriter Nora Ephron, famous for Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. In the humorous essays, Ephron explores various facets about her life as an “older woman.” Fans of Ephron’s movies will enjoy these examples of her wit in written form.

Find it at your library!

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Bossypants is another pick by a funny lady from the entertainment world. Tina Fey’s Bossypants is a memoir with a slight focus on what Fey is asked about the most: her success in comedy. Fey’s book is consistently funny and never ventures into tragic vignettes found in most memoirs.

Find it at your library!

Coastliners by Joanne Harris

Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat, writes about a tiny French island in Coastliners. Madeleine comes home after ten years, to a rather unwelcoming father, and discovers that the rivalry between her hometown and its neighbor has heated up. The French names in Coastliners can make it hard to follow at times, but ultimately the story is very good and worth it.

Find it at your library!

Reminder: Our “Book of the Month” is Shanghai Girls by Lisa see, to be discussed on May 3rd. For more information, please contact the Moss Bluff branch.

(Images from: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/46735/i-feel-bad-about-my-neck-by-nora-ephron; http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316056861.htm; http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Coastliners-Joanne-Harris?isbn=9780060958015&HCHP=TB_Coastliners)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: April 5, 2011

2011-04-11T15:26:00.005-05:00

Our March "Book of the Month" was If the Devil Had a Wife.

Though credited to Frank Mills, If the Devil Had a Wife is the work of Rebecca Stark Nugent. (Frank Mills was her father’s name before he was adopted.) The book covers the little-known scandals of local bigwigs the Stark family. The book centers on questionable activities by Lutcher Stark and his third wife Nelda.

The book’s strength is its elicitation of interesting discussions. The topics our group discussed range from basic ethics to the legal system and always back to family. A shared, and often-repeated, sentiment of the group was how unfathomable some of the actions taken by figures in the book were.

If the Devil Had a Wife will whet the appetite of both readers seeking tidbits of juicy local history and those interested in a rundown of the history of the town of Orange and the Stark Foundation.

Have you read If the Devil Had a Wife? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The "Book of the Month" for April will be Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. We'll discuss it on May 3, 2011. Contact the Moss Bluff Branch for more info.

Image from: http://www.booksurge.com/If-the-Devil-Had-a-Wife/A/1439240345.htm

Moss Bluff Book Chat: March 15th

2011-03-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

Below are a few books readers discussed at the March 15th meeting.

Dark Harvest by Karen Harper

Policewoman Kat Lindley goes undercover in the Amish town of Maplecreek, Ohio in order to figure out who is behind recent attacks on the community. Dark Harvest is an interesting story with enough complex characterization to make itself much more than a basic whodunit.

Find it at your library!

The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard

In The Fates Will Find Their Way, 16-year-old Nora disappears one Halloween night. The novel traces the psychological toll this leaves on her peers over the course of 30 years. The book ultimately veers past “different” and into “just plain strange” territory, making it a rather rough read.

Find it at your library!

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Readers wishing to take an early summer trip may be interested in Elin Hilderbrand’s Barefoot, which follows three women vacationing in Nantucket. They are all hoping the getaway will help them escape recent personal struggles in their lives. The novel is a relaxing and quick read.

Find it at your library!

Reminder: Our “Book of the Month” is If the Devil Had a Wife by Frank Mills and Rebecca Stark Nugent, to be discussed on April 5th. For more information, please contact the Moss Bluff branch.

(Images from:
http://www.gale.cengage.com/servlet/ItemDetailServlet?region=9&imprint=860&titleCode=TP794&type=3&id=262994; http://www.harpercollins.com/books/The-Fates-Will-Find-Their-Way-Hannah-Pittard?isbn=9780061996054&HCHP=TB_The+Fates+Will+Find+Their+Way; http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316018593.htm)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: March 1, 2011

2011-03-07T15:02:00.000-06:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on our February “Book of the Month:” Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman.

Beth Hoffman’s impressive debut novel Saving CeeCee Honeycutt follows the story of the titular character after she loses her mentally-ill mother and is transplanted from Ohio to Georgia in the 1960s. While in the care of her Great-Aunt Tootie, Ceecee meets several strong, but often eccentric, Savannah women.

The group praised the novel in unison. They all greatly enjoyed the book and noted Hoffman’s talent for creating vivid and rich characters, especially Oletta -- Tootie’s African-American cook who forms a strong bond with CeeCee.

They also commended Hoffman for her well-blended mix of humor and tragedy: while predominantly delightful, the novel could be deeply moving at times. Even more remarkable was the universal appeal of the novel to our group, which consists of many general fiction readers in addition to those with preferences in genres such as mystery and suspense.

If you’ve already read Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, feel free to share your thoughts on the novel in the comments. Agree or disagree with the Book Club? Let us know!

For those interested, our next “Book of the Month” will be If the Devil Had a Wife by Frank Mills and Rebecca Stark Nugent. We’ll be discussing it on April 5th. Please contact the Moss Bluff branch for more information.

(Image from: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670021390,00.html?Saving_CeeCee_Honeycutt_Beth_Hoffman#)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: February 15, 2011

2011-02-22T13:07:00.000-06:00

Below are a couple books readers discussed at the February 15th meeting.

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman’s latest novel The Red Garden follows the lives of various characters over 200 years in the town of Blackwell, Massachusetts. Hoffman skillfully creates connections among them and their stories. Longtime fans will not be disappointed with Hoffman’s newest winner.

Find it at your library!

The Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum

The Sigma Protocol is a solid thriller from author Robert Ludlum, known for penning the Bourne series. The novel sees Ben Hartman, an investment banker, teaming up with Agent Anna Navarro to investigate murders of old men across the globe, who all have CIA files containing the cryptic word “SIGMA.” The Sigma Protocol is a quick read and a satisfying thriller.

Find it at your library!

Do you have any favorite Alice Hoffman or Robert Ludlum novels? Feel free to share them in the comments!

Reminder: Our “Book of the Month” is Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman, which we’ll discuss at our March 1st meeting. For more information, please contact the Moss Bluff branch.

(Images from:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307393876; http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307393876)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: February 1, 2011

2011-02-08T11:40:00.000-06:00

Below is a summary of our discussion on our first “Book of the Month:” The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards.

The novel follows the troubles Dr. David Henry's family suffers after he decides to give up his daughter born with Down syndrome in 1964 only to lie to his wife, saying the little girl died at birth.

Reactions to the novel ran the gamut among our group: one member truly loved it, a few didn’t care for it at all, and the rest had more mixed reactions. All agreed that the novel was rather complex with several different plots running parallel to each other, only on occasion intertwining. The complexity was engaging to one member, but many others found it unnecessary and confusing at times.

Edwards has a distinct, poetic style to her writing. Her descriptions, while vivid, sometimes bury the plot -- which bothered a few members. Members also critiqued the characterizations in the novel, which many found inconsistent and frustrating.

If you’ve already read The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, feel free to share your thoughts on the novel in the comments. Agree or disagree with the Book Club? Let us know!

If you'd like to join us, our next "Book of the Month" will be Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman, which we will discuss on March 1st. For more information, please contact the Moss Bluff branch.

(Image from: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670034161,00.html?The_Memory_Keeper's_Daughter_Kim_Edwards#)

National Black History Month

2011-02-07T09:04:00.000-06:00

February is National Black History month and the founders, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History have named this year's theme: African Americans and the Civil War. From the ASALH website:

In 1861, as the United States stood at the brink of Civil War, people of African

descent, both enslaved and free persons, waited with a watchful eye. They

understood that a war between the North and the South might bring about

jubilee--the destruction of slavery and universal freedom. When the

Confederacy fired upon Fort Sumter and war ensued, President Abraham

Lincoln maintained that the paramount cause was to preserve the Union, not

end slavery. Frederick Douglass, the most prominent black leader, opined that

regardless of intentions, the war would bring an end to slavery, America’s

“peculiar institution.”

Over the course of the war, the four million people of African descent in the

United States proved Douglass right. Free and enslaved blacks rallied around

the Union flag in the cause of freedom. From the cotton and tobacco fields of

the South to the small towns and big cities of the North, nearly 200,000 joined

the Grand Army of the Republic and took up arms to destroy the Confederacy.

They served as recruiters, soldiers, nurses, and spies, and endured unequal

treatment, massacres, and riots as they pursued their quest for freedom and

equality. Their record of service speaks for itself, and Americans have never

fully realized how their efforts saved the Union.

Below are a few book selections from your library to begin reading up on African American history and the Civil war. You can also visit our website (www.calcasieulibrary.org/resources) to use our new resource "African American Heritage." This resource is dedicated to helping African Americans conduct genealogical research.

David Ruggles : a radical black abolitionist and the Underground Railroad in New York City

by Graham Russell Hodges.

Publisher: University of North Carolina Press,

Pub date: 2010.

Pages: 266 p.

ISBN: 9780807833261

Firebrand of liberty : the story of two Black regiments that changed the course of the Civil War

by Stephen V. Ash.

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.,

Pub date: 2008.

Pages: 282 p.

ISBN: 9780393065862

Eagles on their buttons : a Black infantry regiment in the Civil War

by Versalle F.Washington

Publisher: University of Missouri Press

Pub date: 1999.

Pages: 113 p.

ISBN: 0826212344

Black Soldiers American Civil War.jpg was taken from: http://www.footnote.com/document/233639695/
Quoted text from: http://www.asalh.org/Annual_National_Black_History_Theme.html

American Heart Month

2011-01-31T09:25:00.000-06:00

February is American Heart Month. The American Heart Association focuses on women this month with their "Go Red for Women" campaign. A few facts about women and heart disease:

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, killing approximately one woman every minute.
More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
1 in 3 American women die of heart disease, compared to 1 in 30 women that die of breast cancer.
Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
Eighty percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if they make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.*

For information about heart disease, prevention, and treatment, visit the 616.1, 616.12, and 616.123 call numbers @ your library branch.

From the library website,(www.calcasieulibrary.org/resources) you can access through the LA state online resources the following databases that will cover not only heart health, but overall health:

Consumer Health Complete,

Teen Health and Wellness,
and health and medicine resources found in the Gale Virtual Reference Library.

On the web, visit http://www.heart.org/, http://www.goredforwomen.org/, or http://www.medlineplus.gov/.

*Facts and logo provided by www.goredforwomen.org

Moss Bluff Book Chat: January 18, 2011

2011-01-25T11:45:00.000-06:00

Librarian's Pick: Ladies of the Field

2011-01-18T13:15:00.000-06:00

Ladies of the Field: Early Women Archaeologists and their Search for Adventure

Author: Adams, Amanda

ISBN: 9781553654339

Call Number: 930.1092 ADA 2010

Summary: The seven adventurous ladies - Gertrude Bell, Harriet Boyd-Hawes, Agatha Christie, Jane Dieulafoy, Amelia Edwards, Dorothy Garrod, and Zelia Nuttall - highlighted in this book were pioneering archaeologists. Their life stories make the Victorian era's “men only in archaeology” attitude, which continued in the archaeological field into the twentieth century, very evident; but they did not let that hardship stop them from accomplishing much in their domain. The inclusion of Agatha Christie’s love of archaeology helps to explain three of her crime mysteries. This well-researched collection includes a glossary, notes, bibliography, and index. The reader is left with a great admiration of these female archaeologists.

Books to read: The books about archaeology are classified as 930.1.

Reviewed by: Mary

Tax Season

2011-01-12T16:10:00.000-06:00

Tax season is here and with it are a few changes to tax laws. For instance, this year taxes are due by April 18th instead of the tradition 15th. For more changes in tax scheduling, visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=233910,00.html

Tax law changes can be read about at http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/content/0,,id=178012,00.html

And additional information for individuals can be found at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/index.html

Moss Bluff Book Chat: January 4, 2011

2011-01-11T12:05:00.000-06:00

Book Chat is a weekly meeting at the Moss Bluff Library that allows people to get together and discuss what they are currently reading, as well as get ideas on what to read next.

We have also begun a “Book of the Month,” which will be handed out for all members to discuss on a specific date. Our first book is The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, which we handed out on January 4th and will discuss on February 1st. Copies are still available for those wishing to participate.

Below are a few books readers discussed at the January 4th meeting.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Kathryn Stockett’s impressive (and popular) debut novel The Help begins in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi when Skeeter, a recent graduate of Ole Miss, decides to write about the town’s segregation. Skeeter focuses on the lives of two African-American women: Aibileen and Minny. The Help contains characters so vivid, readers have found it impossible not to become emotionally involved in their stories. Stockett also skillfully tackles issues of race. These factors, in addition to an impeccable blend of comedy and drama, make The Help a truly captivating read.

Find it at your library!

It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump by John O’Hurley

It’s Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump: And Other Life Lessons I Learned from Dogs is a collection of anecdotal musings from actor John O’Hurley, who also hosts the National Dog Show. With an unchanging light-hearted tone, the book is a humorous and enjoyable read for all dog lovers.

Find it at your library!

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

In Life as We Knew It, Miranda, 16, and her family must survive after a series of natural disasters wipe out populations around the world due to a meteor's crashing into the moon and throwing off its gravitational pull. The book presents a realistic depiction of a possible world marred with destruction -- making it an intense read at times. Life as We Knew It is the first in the Young Adult series known as “The Moon Books,” which further portray Pfeffer’s post-apocalyptic world.

Find it at your library!

(Images from: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399155345,00.html; http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780452288836,00.html?It's_Okay_to_Miss_the_Bed_on_the_First_Jump_John_O'Hurley#; http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=1197505)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: December 28, 2010

2011-01-04T06:13:00.011-06:00

Book Chat is a weekly meeting at the Moss Bluff Library that allows people to get together and discuss what they are currently reading, as well as get ideas on what to read next. Below are a few books readers discussed at the December 28th meeting.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

The Passage is the first in a series of novels about a post-apocalyptic world in which people struggle to survive against vampire-like creatures, which were created by the government in a botched experiment for immortality. While the book is over 760 pages, Cronin’s writing is gripping and suspenseful enough to make his work hard to put down.

Find it at your library!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones is the first book in the popular Young Adult “Mortal Instruments” series by author Cassandra Clare. The series centers around Shadowhunters, human demon-killers. With an array of supernatural creatures that includes vampires and werewolves, City of Bones is capable of satisfying those looking for an entertaining fill of fantasy.

Find it at your library!

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

One Crazy Summer has made several short-lists for this year’s Newbery Award, and understandably so. Set in 1968, the book sees Delphine, 11, watching over her two younger sisters as they travel from Brooklyn to Oakland, California to meet their long-lost mother. The girls find themselves attending a Black Panther summer school. Williams-Garcia skillfully manages a refreshing, light-hearted take on controversial matters without discounting their importance.

Find it at your library!

(Images from http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345516862; http://books.simonandschuster.biz/City-of-Bones/Cassandra-Clare/Mortal-Instruments-The/9781416914280; http://www.harpercollins.com/books/One-Crazy-Summer-Rita-Williams-Garcia/?isbn=9780060760885)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: December 21, 2010

2010-12-28T12:10:00.000-06:00

Book Chat is a weekly meeting at the Moss Bluff Library that allows people to get together and discuss what they are currently reading, as well as get ideas on what to read next. Below are a few books readers discussed at the December 21st meeting.

Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman

In Blackbird House, Alice Hoffman spans several eras with stories about various inhabitants of the titular Blackbird House, a farm house in Cape Cod. The stories begin in colonial times and extend to the modern day, introducing the reader to a variety of rich characters. The characters include an array of strong women, but the novel's charm is Hoffman's ability to tie together several complex and fascinating stories.

Find it at your library!

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner is a Young Adult novel which centers around a teen named Thomas. Thomas awakes in an elevator in the mysterious place known as “The Glade.” Knowing only his name, Thomas is greeted by several other young men who share his lack of memories. The boys have been doing their best to survive while attempting to find a way to escape – the key to which lies in a maze whose pattern changes nightly. The novel is suspenseful and may appeal to reluctant young readers and lovers of dystopian literature alike.

Find it at your library!

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

Another great pick for lovers of thrills and suspense is the Stephen King novel The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. The main character Trisha is only nine when she becomes separated from her family and lost in the woods for over a week. The novel sees Trisha fight for her life through obstacles ranging from basic survival needs to nightmarish encounters with dangerous creatures. Like most King fare, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is not for the weak of heart and may haunt its readers for years.

Find it at your library!

(Images from http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385514019; http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385737944; http://books.simonandschuster.com/Girl-Who-Loved-Tom-Gordon/Stephen-King/9780684867625)

Moss Bluff Book Chat: Dec. 14, 2010

2010-12-20T14:08:00.000-06:00

Book Chat is a weekly meeting at the Moss Bluff Library that allows people to get together and discuss what they are currently reading, as well as get ideas on what to read next. Below are a few books readers discussed at the December 14th meeting.

Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times – edited by Janet Allured

Louisiana Women collects seventeen biographical essays, which spotlight important women in the state’s history. While the book features pieces on famous figures such as author Kate Chopin and Voodoo figure Marie Leveau, its highlights may be found in lesser-known stories. Readers of Louisiana Women vocalized their fascination with the section on the Baroness de Pontalba, a wealthy businesswoman, whose spirited personality and resilience helped her survive various ordeals, including a gunshot wound. The book can be challenging to tread through at times but is ultimately an interesting read worth the effort.

Find it at the library!

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Safe Haven is the latest novel by popular author Nicholas Sparks. The story follows Katie, a new member to the small community in Southport, North Carolina. Holding on to dark secrets from her past, Katie initially hesitates to form relationships with those around her. While the novel tends to contain more violence than Sparks’ usual works, the author’s fans should still find it as enjoyable as his past books.

Find it at the library!

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft is the first in an ongoing series of graphic novels from author Joe Hill. The series centers on the Locke family, who have just moved into Keyhouse after their father was murdered. The aptly-named mansion is home to magic keys and doors, in addition to a mysterious and vengeful spirit. Hill, son of Stephen King, pens a promising fantasy/horror tale which is only intensified by Gabriel Rodriguez’s artwork. Locke & Key is a quick read that will leave readers eager to seek the second installment.

Find it at the library!

Images from: http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/books/louisiana_women; http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446547598.htm; http://www.idwpublishing.com/catalog/book/504

Christmas Book Byte: The Christmas List

2010-12-13T14:22:00.000-06:00

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans

ISBN 9781439150009

James Kier is a very powerful and wealthy real estate mogul. He has done everything possible to get to this status and has no qualms about the unscrupulous things he's done to get there or who he's crushed along the way to his rise to glory.

He's exactly where he wants to be in life - he has a young girlfriend, his business is doing well, he's in the last stages of divorcing his wife - so what if he had her served with the divorce papers on her first day of chemo... or that his son won't talk to him and basically hates him. More or less life is good - until he wakes up one morning and he finds that he is dead.

Well, that's what the paper says. Now Kier's first reaction is to sue the paper but he quickly decides to use his "death" to his advantage. As people he's known throughout his life talk about what a terrible person he was and how glad they are that he is dead, he begins to realize that his "perfect" life is not so wonderful after all. He makes a pact to try to change and embarks on a journey to apologize to the ones he's wronged - but he quickly realizes that's easier said than done.

The list in the title isn’t a conventional reminder for gifts; it’s a roster of the people whom protagonist James Kier has most wronged. Unabashedly heartfelt and sentimental, The Christmas List has all the best elements of a redemptive Yuletide tale.

This is an original twist on a timeless story - it is about love, loss, forgiveness, family, but mostly it is inspiring. A wonderful Christmas read.

Reviewed by Marilyn

Image from: http://www.richardpaulevans.com/books/the-christmas-list

Holiday Traveling

2010-11-22T14:23:00.000-06:00

Flying for the Thanksgiving holiday? The TSA has a few tips to help make passage through the airport a bit smoother.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/holiday_travel.shtm

Librarian's Pick: Twenties Girl

2010-11-03T14:55:00.000-05:00

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
ISBN 978-0739383247

In the book Twenties Girl, Sophie Kinsella explores the story of a young woman, Lara a young contemporary 27-year-old London woman. Lara has just been dumped by her boyfriend; she believes that Jason was the one. To make matters worse she has to attend the funeral of her Great Aunt Sadie, someone she has never met. The funeral is attended by her parents and her wealthy uncle, Lara wished that she was anywhere else but at the funeral. During the ceremony Lara hears someone shouting “Where is my necklace?” The voice is from Lara’s great-aunt Sadie, and Lara is haunted by the ghost of Sadie as experiences Sadie’s feisty lifestyle. Sadie was a Charleston-dancing flapper, charmingly rebellious living in the 1920’s. The story takes the reader on a journey to uncover the missing necklace’s whereabouts, and Lara learns about the Sadie’s life and true love. During the journey to find the necklace Lara encounters new experiences, develops new strengths, and along the way becomes a much stronger person.

Review by Marilyn

Image from: http://sumthinblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/twentiesgirl.jpg

Book Byte: The Things That Keep Us Here

2010-10-13T09:56:00.000-05:00

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

ISBN 978-0-440-24509-4

“The Things That Keep Us Here” by Carla Buckley is an edge-of-the-seat read. This is her first book and really worth reading. It is about a pandemic that locks down the town. Trying to keep the family and the relationship together, trust is a big factor for everyone. I definitely recommend it for anyone. Found in the library system at Fontenot and Central.

Review brought to you by Theresa from the Fontenot Memorial Library in Vinton.

Image from: http://www.randomhouse.com/images/dyn/cover/?source=9780440245094&height=300&maxwidth=170

Book Chat for Adults

2010-10-12T16:01:00.001-05:00

The Moss Bluff Library invites you to join them every Tuesday at 10 A.M. for Book Chat. The first Book Chat will be Tuesday, October 19^th. Come, enjoy a cup of coffee and talk about what you’re currently reading or the favorite books you’ve already read. Moss Bluff staff will be prepared to give you tips on what to read next in your favorite genre and possibly select a book for all participants to read. No registration is required, but you must be 18 years or older to participate. For more information contact the Moss Bluff Library at (337) 721-7131 or visit the library’s website at http://www.calcasieulibrary.org/.

Book Club News

2010-09-16T09:41:00.000-05:00

The Central Library Book Club held its first meeting this past Wedneday. If you couldn't make it but still want to join in there are still a few seats available. The next meeting will be Wednesday October 20th at 6PM in the Thielen Room (small conference room) at the Central Library.
The book selections for the next two months are:

October: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett
November: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
December will be selected during the October meeting

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Calligraphy Class

2010-09-02T10:26:00.000-05:00

Ever wanted to learn calligraphy? Now's your chance! Adults in the area are invited to join us on Tuesday September 7th from 10AM- 12PM as we learn calligraphy techniques that are useful for decoration, invitations, gifts, and special correspondence.

Class will be held in the DeBakey Meeing Room on the second floor of the Central Library. Space is limited so be sure to register by clicking here or by calling us at 721-7118!

SWLA Pulpwood Queens Have a good time!

2010-08-26T15:02:00.000-05:00

Below are a few pictures of the fun we all had with the Southwest Louisiana Pulpwood Queens and author M.L. Malcolm!

Book Club!

2010-08-19T10:44:00.001-05:00

The first meeting of the Central Library Book Club will be September 15th @ 6PM. The first meeting will consist of a meet and greet as well as selecting which books we will be reading. The books we will be choosing from are listed below. If you are interested in joining us, give us a call at 721-7118 to sign up!

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, 2008 592pp.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, 2003 464pp.
Empire Falls by Richard Russo, 2001 496pp.
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, 2008 528pp.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, 2008(Eng. trans.) 480pp.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, 2008 280pp.
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett, 2009 288pp. (Biography)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, 2003 304pp.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, 2010 304pp.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, 2009 384pp.
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, 2007 320 pp.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, 2006 432pp.

Seafood Safety

2010-08-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

Worried about eating seafood after the oilspill? Check out the Food and Drug Administration's website to get the latest about the state of seafood in the Gulf.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/ucm210970.htm

Summer Fun!

2010-06-01T12:41:00.001-05:00

Summer has begun here and this summer we have a variety of activities that adults can take part in.

On Tuesday June 8th @ 10AM, there will be a Beginner's Watercolor Painting class.

On Wednesday June 16th @ 2PM, Chef Matthew Beaudin will give a demonstration of his culinary skills.

On Thursday June 17th @ 2PM, crafty adults will use recycled materials and paint to create decorative magazine holders and file boxes.

On Tuesday June 22nd @ 1:30, Magician Bart Glatt will give a demonstration as well as teach a few simple tricks to amuse your friends.

On Wednesday July 7th @ 10AM, we will be making faux lacquer boxes to store keepsakes and other small items.

All of these programs take place at the Central Library, located at 301 W. Claude St. Space for most of these programs is limited so please remember to sign up by visiting the Information Desk, calling us at 721-7118, or by visiting our program calendar and signing up online @ Program Calendar

In addition to programs, adults can also sign up to participate in this years Adult Reading Program (ARP). This year's theme is "Water your Mind, READ!". Adults can sign up via a link on our home page, calcasieulibrary.org. You must read and review 5 books to complete the program. Those who complete the program will receive a yard sign, an award certificate, coupons, and have their name entered into a prize drawing. The deadline to have all reviews turned in is Friday, July 16th.
On Thursday July, 22nd there will be an Adult Reading Program Party from 6 - 7:30PM.

Deepwater Horizon Spill

2010-04-29T08:49:00.001-05:00

With oil approaching the shoreline in Louisiana, some of us cannot help but follow every bit of information updating the situation in the Gulf. Below are a few websites that offer information on the progress of the containment of the oil, as well as frequently asked questions on how to recover from an oil spill.

EPA
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

National Library of Medicine

http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/oilspills.html

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Issues/OilSpill.cfm

NOAA

http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/8220

NASA
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=43846

Multiple Agencies
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

Louisiana Government Response
http://emergency.louisiana.gov//

Career Resources

2010-03-10T10:43:00.002-06:00

Job hunting is never easy. Here are a few resources that may make the hunt a little more bearable.

Resume Guides in the library@ call number 650.142 :

101 Great Resumes by Ronald W. Fry
Gallery of Best Résumés by David F. Noble
Hire Me, Inc. Resumes and Cover Letters that Get Results by Roy J. Blitzer
How to Say it on Your Résumé : a Top Recruiting Director's Guide to Writing the Perfect Résumé for Every Job by Brad Karsh
Amazing Résumés : What Employers Want to See--and How to Say It by Jim Bright

Interview Guides in the library @ call number 650.144 :

Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview? : the Crash Course, Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job by Ellen Gordon Reeves
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Interview by Marc A. Dorio
Next-day Job Interview : Prepare Tonight and Get the Job Tomorrow by J. Michael Farr
Instant Interviews : 101 Ways to Get the Best Job of Your Life by Jeffrey G. Allen

Online Resources that can help!
(All must be accessed through library website http://www.calcasieulibrary.org/, under the Your Library menu / Resources.)

Jobview: A place to look for local job opportunities.
Chronicle Guidance: Contains descriptions of different job titles, including average duties, median earnings, and estimated competition for job openings.
Learning Express: A great place to find study guides and practice tests for GED, ACT, SAT, Civil Service, GRE and many more!
Mango Languages: Edge out the competition by adding bilingual to your résumé! Mango Languages can help you pick up a second language in no time.

Links to local job openings:

Calcasieu Parish Public Library Jobs
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Jobs
Calcasieu Parish School Board Jobs
City of Lake Charles Jobs
Louisiana.gov
Louisiana Workforce Commission

Other Places to Look on the Web:

100+ places to look for jobs and job resources.
This list is found on the website mashable.com and was compiled by Sean P. Aune

New Credit Card Rules

2010-02-22T11:35:00.002-06:00

Here's a brief rundown of the new credit card rule changes taking effect on Februry 22, 2010.

Credit Card companies must tell you when they plan to increase your rate or other fees.

Credit Card companies must tell you how long it will take to pay off your balance.

Your credit card company cannot increase your rate for the first 12 months after you open an account.

Increased rates apply only to new charges.

You must tell your credit card company that you want it to allow transactions that will take you over your credit limit. Otherwise, if a transaction would take you over your limit, it may be turned down.

Caps on high-fee cards.

Adults under the age of 21 will not be able to open a credit card account unless they have a cosigner, or can prove that they can make payments.

Standard payment dates and times.

Payments directed to highest interest balances first.

No two-cycle (double-cycle) billing.

For a more detailed description of the changes, visit: http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk_creditcardrules.htm

"Stay Brady Stay"

2010-02-12T13:17:00.000-06:00

Join us on Thursday February 18th at 6:00 PM as Dr. John Sutherlin presents his 30 minute documentary titled Stay Brady Stay. The film, which recently aired on LPB, looks at the challenges of Louisiana college graduates leaving the state in pursuit of jobs. The presentation will take place in the DeBakey Meeting room at the Central Library. Below you will find the trailer for the documentary, which can be found at anytime on Youtube.com.

Attention History Lovers!

2010-02-02T14:11:00.000-06:00

Find what you're looking for here at the Library! In addition to rows of books on history and biography, we also offer these online resources that you can use from the comfort of your own home. To visit these resources, log on to http://calcasieulibrary.org/resources

(Access Newspaper Archive available inside library only.)

Literary World Loses Another Author

2010-01-28T18:55:00.000-06:00

J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye passed away today at his home in New Hampshire. He was 91 years old.

You can read more about his passing on the NPR website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114186193

and also on the USA Today website: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2010-01-28-salinger-obit_N.htm

Mask Making

2010-01-26T18:18:00.001-06:00

Mardi Gras is just around the corner. We'd like to jump start the revelry by showing everyone how to create and decorate a Mardi Gras mask of your very own.

Join the fun on:

Tuesday, February 2nd
10AM - 12PM

in the DeBakey Meeting room at Central Library.

Fun with Felt

2010-01-20T15:32:00.000-06:00

Design and decorate your own fabulous felt jewelry just in time for spring!!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

10:00am - 12:00pm

Central Library Meeting Room

*Supplies will be provided by the library, but participants are encouraged to bring their own buttons and baubles fro embellishment.

Author Robert B. Parker has passed away

2010-01-19T16:12:00.000-06:00

Robert B. Parker, the blunt and beloved crime novelist who helped revive and modernize the hard-boiled genre and branded a tough guy of his own through his Spenser series, has died. He was 77.

To read more about his passing please visit the NPR website at this link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122731884

Study: Louisiana the Happiest State?

2009-12-18T12:36:00.004-06:00

People in sunny, outdoorsy states — Louisiana, Hawaii, Florida — say they're the happiest Americans, and researchers think they know why. A new study comparing self-described pleasant feelings with objective measures of good living found these folks generally have reason to feel fine.
The places where people are most likely to report happiness also tend to rate high on studies comparing things like climate, crime rates, air quality and schools.
The happiness ratings were based on a survey of 1.3 million people across the country by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It used data collected over four years that included a question asking people how satisfied they are with their lives. Read more: Study: Sunshine States Are Happiest

Story can be found at Time.com

Genre Spotlight - Holiday Novels

2009-12-09T13:27:00.006-06:00

What better way is there to get into the Christmas spirit than to pick up a holiday novel?

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern:

Modern day Scrooge learns lessons from a homeless man.

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans:

What would you do if you read your own obituary and found out what the world really thought of you?

Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs:

A novel about the richness of family bonds and the joys of friendship.

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber:

Single woman, lonely for holidays, hires a matchmaker and gets more than she bargans for.

A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor:

A short comic novel about a Hawaii-bound holiday traveler who ends up stranded in his North Dakota hometown during a blizzard.

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb:

A vivid slice of 1960s life, a wise and witty holiday tale that celebrates where we've been—and how far we've come.

Just Who is Saint Nicholas?

2009-12-03T10:45:00.004-06:00

He is also called Nicholas of Bari or Nicholas of Myra one of the most popular minor saints commemorated in the Eastern and Western churches and now traditionally associated with the festival of Christmas. In many countries children receive gifts on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day.
Nicholas's existence is not attested by any historical document, so nothing certain is known of his life except that he was probably bishop of Myra in the 4th century. According to tradition, he was born in the ancient Lycian seaport city of Patara, and, when young, traveled to Palestine and Egypt. He became bishop of Myra soon after returning to Lycia. He was imprisoned during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian but was released under the rule of Emperor Constantine the Great and attended the first Council (325) of Nicaea. He was buried in his church at Myra, and by the 6th century his shrine there had become well-known. In 1087 Italian sailors or merchants stole his alleged remains from Myra and took them to Bari, Italy; this removal greatly increased the saint's popularity in Europe, and Bari became one of the most crowded of all pilgrimage centres. Nicholas's relics remain enshrined in the 11th-century basilica of San Nicola at Bari.

Nicholas's reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy. He was reputed to have given marriage dowries of gold to three girls whom poverty would otherwise have forced into lives of prostitution and to have restored to life three children who had been chopped up by a butcher and put in a tub of brine. In the Middle Ages, devotion to Nicholas extended to all parts of Europe. He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece; of charitable fraternities and guilds; of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers; and of such cities as Fribourg, in Switzerland, and Moscow. Thousands of European churches were dedicated to him, one, built by the Roman emperor Justinian I at Constantinople (now Istanbul), as early as the 6th century. Nicholas's miracles were a favourite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays, and his traditional feast day was the occasion for the ceremonies of the Boy Bishop, a widespread European custom in which a boy was elected bishop and reigned until Holy Innocents' Day (December 28).

After the Reformation, devotion to Nicholas disappeared in all the Protestant countries of Europe except Holland, where his legend persisted as Sinterklaas (a Dutch variant of the name Saint Nicholas). Dutch colonists took this tradition with them to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the American colonies in the 17th century. Sinterklaas was adopted by the country's English-speaking majority under the name Santa Claus, and his legend of a kindly old man was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. The resulting image of Santa Claus in the United States crystallized in the 19th century, and he has ever since remained the patron of the gift-giving festival of Christmas.

Under various guises Saint Nicholas was transformed into a similar benevolent gift-giving figure in The Netherlands, Belgium, and other northern European countries. In the United Kingdom, Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas.

Nicholas, Saint ." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009. Web. 3 2009

Upcoming Programs

2009-11-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

Etched Glass Creations

Join us on Thursday, December 3rd, and we will teach you how to make your own Etched Glass Creations. Participants are asked to bring their own glassware and we will help you to create a unique holiday design. This class will take place on Thursday, December 3rd from 10-11:30 AM, in the 2nd floor Meeting Room.

Patrons must be 18 years or older to join us.

This class is limited to 15 people, therefore registration is required. To register please call 721-7118.

Hand Painted Christmas Cards

Come join us on Monday, December 7th as we show everyone how to create Hand Painted Christmas Cards. This class, located in the 2nd floor Meeting Room, will start at 10:00 AM and last until noon.

Patrons must be 18 years or older to join us.

This class is limited to 15 people, therefore registration is required. To register please call 721-7118.

Bonsai Exhibit

If you happen to be visiting us on December 12th or 13th, please take a moment to view the Bonsai Exhibit. This exhibit will be put on by The Lake Charles Bonsai Society & Black Bayou Bonsai, and will be located in the Children's area.

A Bit of History

2009-11-19T09:00:00.000-06:00

A national holiday in the United States since 1863, Thanksgiving has come to play a number of important roles in popular culture. It was customary in Europe to hold days of thanksgiving both for successful harvests and for events such as military victories, deliverance from plagues, and royal births. The date and site of the first Thanksgiving in what is now the United States are still debated, but the most famous in pre-independence times was that held in October, 1621 in the Plymouth Colony. There, European immigrants, "the Pilgrims," and indigenous Wampanoag Indians celebrated the harvest season with feasting that included the dish that would become a traditional part of the day: turkey. Throughout the colonial era, days of thanksgiving were common, especially in New England, but not universal or regular. Although national days of thanksgiving were proclaimed by the Continental Congress in 1777 and by President Washington in 1789, there was no great clamor for an annual festival until the nineteenth century.

Credit for the establishment of Thanksgiving Day as a nation-wide holiday must go to Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, the editor of an influential women's magazine (and author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb") who lobbied legislatures and presidents from 1827 on. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of "thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," and since then it has been an annual celebration, though the date has varied. From 1939-1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in response to the complaints of businessmen that there was insufficient shopping time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, proclaimed Thanksgiving to be the third Thursday in November. This, however, created conflicts with the dating of the holiday in many states which had their own Thanksgiving legislation, so Congress in 1941 passed a joint resolution decreeing that the observance should fall on the fourth Thursday of November.

Bowler, Jerry. "Thanksgiving." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 5 vols. St. James Press, 2000. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC?locID=lln_pcalc

National Diabetes Month

2009-11-10T13:36:00.000-06:00

Take a few minutes to read up on Diabetes this month and find out what you can do to prevent diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Only 5-10% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children with type 1 diabetes can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy, happy lives.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and many more are unaware they are at high risk. Some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.

In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications.

During pregnancy -- usually at around 28 weeks or later -- many women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn't mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it's important to follow your doctor's advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you're planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy.

For more information, check out http://www.diabetes.org/ and http://www.stopdiabetes.com/

For books on dealing with diabetes, see call numbers 616.4.

For books with recipes for diabetics, see call numbers 641.5631.

Are You Ready for Thanksgiving Dinner?

2009-11-02T14:28:00.005-06:00

Do you know what dishes you're preparing for your family's Thanksgiving get togethers yet? Get a head start! Check out these recipe websites, or you can always come into the library and browse our extensive cookbook section.

Foodnetwork.com
You may have to do a bit of navigating around the different hosts to find recipes for you, but the Food Network website posts all of the recipes that we love to watch the chef’s create but may be scared to try. For a twist to your Thanksgiving turkey, try this recipe from Alton Brown.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html

You will also find cookbooks by Food Network stars in the 641.5 section of our library. Check out 30 Minute Meals by Rachel Ray, or Down Home with the Neely’s.

Allrecipes.com
You don’t need a membership to cruise this website’s recipes. Registered users have added many variations to basic dishes, so you can find a way to jazz up your own basic meals. Here’s one for Cranberry Sauce.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cranberry-Sauce-I/Detail.aspx

Epicurious.com
Another recipe site where membership is free and optional. Check out this recipe for garnet yams with maple syrup, walnuts, and brandied raisins.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Garnet-Yams-with-Maple-Syrup-Walnuts-and-Brandied-Raisins-355801

Recipezaar.com
Will you need to prepare an appetizer for your guests this Thanksgiving? If so try the Thanksgiving appetizer section on this website.
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?categ=81%2C262&ls=p

Don’t forget dessert! Try out our 641.8 section to find baked goods, such as cookies, cakes and pie!

Upcoming Book Talk

2009-10-09T16:03:00.004-05:00

Join us as McNeese professor Dr. Gay Gomez presents us with an illustrated book talk of her recent work, The Louisiana Coast: Guide to an American Wetland. Dr. Gomez will also be available for a book signing.

The book talk will take place on Thursday, October 29, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the upstairs Central meeting room.

Join us to find out why our Louisiana coast is "worth seeing, worth saving, worth celebrating."

Genre Spotlight: Ghost Stories

2009-10-01T12:33:00.020-05:00

Louisiana Haunted Forts - Elaine Coleman

Filled with historical adventures and intriguing tales of suprnatural happenings, Louisiana Haunted Forts relates eerie stories of soldiers who still patrol the ruins of fortifications they built, defended, and died for, and others whose lives ended tragically. Based on eyewitness accounts and sightings by residents, visitors, and passersby, these unsettling narratives tell of spirits lingering and appearing near the sites of their deaths. (From jacket.)

Louisiana's Haunted Plantations - Jill Pascoe

In this collection of thirteen chilling tales you will explore the ghosts along the River Road at some of Louisiana’s best known plantations, and also along the back bayous of the state. You will encounter the ghosts of the most haunted house in America, meet ladies in white and black who refuse to leave, learn of spectral children who continue to play, Civil War soldiers trapped where they died, pirates guarding buried treasure and even the ghosts of homes that met a fiery end. These true tales will delight and frighten you during your unique journey through the bayou state. (From product description.)

Phantom Army of the Civil War and other Southern Ghost Stories
Compiles thirty-five tales of first-hand encounters with specters and phantoms, of ghost-ridden swamps and the eerie mansions that populate the haunted South. The stories are alphabetically organized by the state in which they occurred, and cover a span of more than forty years. (From product description.)

Texas Ghost Stories
Some humorous, some haunting, and some just late-night terrifying, these stories, gathered by two favorite Texas tellers, span a rich cultural heritage from the earliest Spanish explorers to the present, from La Llorona (the Weeping Woman) to the vanishing hitchhiker. (From product description.)

Boogers and Boodaddies - John F. Blair Publishing

Over its fifty-year existence, John F. Blair, Publisher, has become known for its Southern folklore -- its tales of ghosts, goblins, ghouls, spirits, witches, devils, phantoms, haints, boogers, boo-daddies, plat-eyes, demons, apparitions, Doppelgangers, banshees, disappearing hitchhikers, pirate legends, ghost dogs, dog ghosts, dogs who see ghosts... In recognition of its golden anniversary, the company offers this volume of twenty stories culled from its folklore collections.

The Haunting of the Presidents - Joel Martin
What were the chilling revelations of the seances conducted by Mary Todd Lincoln, Martha Washington, and Eleanor Roosevelt? What secrets did John F. Kennedy reveal after his death? Why was Hillary Clinton compelled to channel the spirits of past First Ladies? Which presidents admitted in private to having UFO encounters? What's the source of the strange light emanating from the Rose Room? Who-or-what is playing the haunted strains of phantom music in the private halls of the White House? The answers to these and even more tantalizing questions can be found in this unique history of the never-before-revealed phenomenon of the White House. And this isn't hearsay. It's based on declassified, substantiated records dating back to George Washington through the Clinton Administration. (From product description.)

Our Hours are Changing!

2009-09-26T14:27:00.004-05:00

Beginning on Sunday October 4th, Central Library will have new hours of operation. Our branch will now be open during the following hours:

Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Why are our hours changing? Well, The Calcasieu Parish Public Library is introducing a change in service hours for all 14 locations. The changes are a result of the 2008-2012 Bridges for Calcasieu Strategic Plan. This plan is a culmination of a 7-month effort by a panel of 20 stakeholders in Calcasieu Parish, coordinating with National Library Consultants Sandra Nelson and June Garcia, all levels of library staff, and approved by the Library Board of Control in July, 2008.

Acting on the Organizational Structure Initiative to conduct a review of service hours, research was done in 2008 and 2009 in which hourly checkouts, computer usage and walk-ins were tracked to determine when and how citizens used the library facilities.The changes indicate how patrons use the libraries. The hours of the past were decided before the internet revolution, which provides access to the library resources and services 24/7. Library users can now manage their accounts 24/7 by phone or internet.

The new hours reflect a 20.5 hour increase in service across the board, and standardize opening and closing times. Any questions or concerns about the changes may be directed to library administration by calling 721-7147 or complete this Contact Us Form.

Meet the Author!

2009-09-17T13:53:00.005-05:00

Catherine Sharpe and Julie Bryson are the authors of Eternity's Account: Stones of Fire, a christian fantasy/adventure novel. The second novel in this series is set to be released this October. Catherine and Julie will join us a the Central Library on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 6:30pm to talk about their novels and meet with our community.

So anyone who likes stories such as The Lord or the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia please join us in the upstairs meeting room at Central and bring a friend!

Genre Spotlight: Science Fiction

2009-09-08T17:21:00.019-05:00

_
Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card
In case you missed it, earlier this year Orson Scott Card released Ender in Exile, a novel that takes place directly after the events of his award winning book, Ender’s Game. This book details the time Ender Wiggin spent as the governor of a human colony founded on a world whose civilization he helped to destroy.
_
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Once every ten years the gates of the decenarian math open for apert, a ten day event in which the cloistered fras and suurs of the maths go out into the world and discover what has happened in the ten years since the previous apert. After this apert however, world events occur that require the knowledge and skills of these avout. What follows is a whirlwind ride across continents and space in order to save the planet of Arbre.

_
The Ashes of Worlds by Kevin J Anderson
Published last year, this is the final novel in the Saga of the Seven Suns series. The series begins with Hidden Empire, where humans are busy with the task of colonizing and exploiting the known universe. To their knowledge, there are only two alien races: the extinct Klikiss and the Ildirans, who have helped humans in their endeavors. Lives will change when humans experimenting with Klikiss technology awaken a dormant alien species intent upon war.

_
Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress
A race of aliens appears one day and tells the world that many years ago they wronged mankind. For atonement, they wish to give twenty-one volunteers a tour of seven planets to witness what they’ve done. What those volunteers discover will change our civilization.

_
The Walls of the Universe by Paul Melko
A high school senior is approached by a doppelganger of himself and is offered a device that will allow him to travel to other dimensions. It isn’t until he’s already used the device that he discovers the catch: the device is only one way.
_
Winds of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson
These authors continue Frank Herbert’s incredible Dune saga. This novel follows Dune Messiah, first published in 1969.

Meet the Author

2009-08-24T09:27:00.007-05:00

This Thursday, August 27, the Central Library will be welcoming Dr. Janet Allured. Dr. Allured is the director of the Women's Studies Program at McNeese University and she is one of the editors of Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times.

Once again she will be joining us on Thursday, August 27th from 7-8:30 pm in the upstairs meeting room at the Central Library.

Did You Know...

2009-08-06T11:26:00.012-05:00

That the Archives Department of the McNeese Library has worked hard to digitize over 3,000 photographs of our area? The photographs, purchased or donated from a variety of generous sources, document McNeese, Lake Charles, and the Imperial Calcasieu region from 1890's to the present. To view this collection online, please follow this link: Historic Photographs of Southwest Louisiana

Ryan St., ca. 1988 (top)
Lake Charles lake front, 1938 (bottom)

The McNeese Collection is part of a larger collection of digitized photographs that tell the history of our state. Organized by the State Library of Louisiana, the LOUISiana Digital Library contains photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, oral histories, and more that document Louisiana's history and culture. To visit this collection, go to http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/index.php?institution=State%20Library%20Of%20Louisiana

NPR Audience Picks 100 Best Beach Reads

2009-07-30T12:07:00.015-05:00

Over 16,000 people voted in NPR's recent "Best Beach Reads Ever " poll. The top twenty results are posted here. You can find the rest of the list at the NPR website,
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106983620 .

1. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
2. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
3. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
4. Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding
5. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
6. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells
7. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg
10. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
11. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
12. Life of Pi, by Yann Martel
13. The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan
14. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
15. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
16. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
17. Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
18. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
19. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
20. Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

Adult Reading Program

2009-07-22T10:04:00.003-05:00

We would just like to thank everyone who participated in this year's Adult Reading Program. Over 200 reviews were submitted. Even though the program ended Friday, July 17th; you can still visit the ARP site and read through those reviews. The direct link is http://host7.evanced.info/calcasieu/sr/homepage.asp

Also a reminder, the End of Summer ARP party is Thursday July 23rd @ 6pm in the upstairs Central Library meeting room. For those who completed the program, prize drawings will be held. If completed the program but are unable to attend the party, don't worry, we'll send the prize to you later.

Genre Spotlight: Historical Fiction

2009-07-15T13:23:00.015-05:00

Take a walk through a period of history by checking out one of these books.

The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane is set in the Republic Era of Rome 265-230 B.C.

The Fall of the Templars by Robyn Young takes place during the last days of the Templar Knights, during the rule of Richard I, 1239-1307 A.D.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe alternates between the Salem Witch Trials of Colonial Massachusetts and a grad student in the 1990's studying them.

Roanoke by Margaret Lawrence is a reimaging of what could have happened to the lost colony of Roanoke during the 16th century.

The Disagreement by Nick Taylor is about a Med Student during the American Civil War.

Career Resources

2009-06-24T14:12:00.009-05:00

Job hunting is never easy. Here are a few resources that may make the hunt a little more bearable.

Resume Guides in the library@ call number 650.142 :

101 great resumes by Ronald W. Fry

Gallery of best résumés by David F. Noble

Hire Me, Inc. resumes and cover letters that get results by Roy J. Blitzer

How to say it on your résumé : a top recruiting director's guide to writing the perfect résumé for every job by Brad Karsh

Amazing résumés : what employers want to see--and how to say it by Jim Bright

Interview Guides in the library @ call number 650.144 :

Can I wear my nose ring to the interview? : the crash course, finding, landing, and keeping your first real job by Ellen Gordon Reeves

The complete idiot's guide to the perfect interview by Marc A. Dorio

Next-day job interview : prepare tonight and get the job tomorrow by J. Michael Farr

Instant interviews : 101 ways to get the best job of your life by Jeffrey G. Allen

Links to local job openings:

Calcasieu Parish Public Library Jobs

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Jobs

Calcasieu Parish School Board Jobs

City of Lake Charles Jobs

Louisiana.gov

Louisiana Workforce Commission

Jobview (must be accessed through library website http://www.calcasieu.lib.la.us/, under the Resources and Services menu.)

Other Places to Look on the Web:

100+ places to look for jobs and job resources.

This list is found on the website mashable.com and was compiled by Sean P. Aune

For a Limited Time Only...

2009-06-18T10:28:00.006-05:00

The library currently has access to the Career Library Database. This database offers assessment tests to see where your skills lie, an occupation search to see the basic information of certain careers and the average salary, college search, a description of types of financial aid, a video library of descriptions of occupations, and a resume builder. You can find this database and others by going to our website, http://www.calcasieu.lib.la.us/, and selecting State Library Online Databases from the Resources Menu.

This database is only available for limited time so check it out!

Crochet Class

2009-06-11T12:52:00.004-05:00

If you've ever been interested in learning to crochet or would simply like to hang out with those of us who like to crochet; come join us on Monday June 22 from 10am to 11:30am. Mrs. Emma Hobbs will conduct a basic crochet class for adults wanting to learn a new hobby. We will meet upstairs in the Central Library Conference Room. The library will have some materials available for those who need it however if you have crochet yarn and needles available please bring them along.

Learn to make bead necklaces... from old magazines?

2009-06-03T14:12:00.004-05:00

Do you like interesting jewelry? Do you like to recycle? On Thursday June 11 the Central Library will host a demonstration of how you can create beautiful beads from old magazines. The program will be held from 10am untill 11:30am in the upstairs meeting room. All supplies will be provided by the library. No experience is necessary to participate.

Master the Art of Reading

2009-06-01T09:32:00.002-05:00

What is it? Master the Art of Reading is an adult summer reading program that begins on June 1st and ends on July 17th. Participants will log the books they read with reviews online and be able to read reviews that others have written.

Can anyone sign up? This reading program is for adults 18 or older.

Are there prizes? Yes! In order to complete the program and receive a certificate, each participant must read and review at least 5 books. At the end of the program a drawing will be held and 3 grand prizes will be awarded.

So how do I sign up then? Sign up begins June 1st. Participants can sign up by logging on to the library’s webpage at http://www.calcasieu.lib.la.us/. From there look for the Master the Art of Reading logo and follow the link. Simply create a username and password and fill in your information. Once you are registered, log your books! You will use your username and password to log in each time you want to log another book or read other participant reviews.

How long does this run again? The program will begin on June 1st and end on July 17th. After the conclusion of the program a celebration party will be held for participants to meet and mingle and for prizes to be awarded.

Forthcoming titles

2009-05-15T12:35:00.002-05:00

Skin trade (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series #17)/ Laurell K. Hamilton
Matters of the Heart / Danielle Steel
Medusa / Clive Cussler
The Story of Sisters / Alice Hoffman
Undead and Unwelcome / MaryJanice Davidson
My Father's Tears and other stories / John Updike
The Lovers / John Connolly
Fugitive /Phillip Margolin
Roadside Crosses (Kathryn Dance series) / Jeffrey Deaver
Relentless / Dean Koontz

Popular Baby Names 2008

2009-05-11T11:10:00.003-05:00

Are you trying to find an original name for your baby? Do you want to know the most popular names that people have been using recently? The Social Security Administration has released its list of popular baby names for 2008. To get a look at this list and lists from previous years, head on over to the SSA website at www.ssa.gov.

Did You Know...

2009-05-03T16:39:00.004-05:00

That you don't have to come down to the library to check out books? You can check out ebooks, audiobooks, videos and music from home using our Overdrive Digital Library. All you need is your home computer and the free software to read/view your material; and of course your library card. Our e-collection is always growing, so even if you've checked us out before, take another look at what we have to offer.

Swine Flu Information

2009-04-28T20:20:00.004-05:00

For those of you who want information from credible sources on the emerging swine flu situation, follow the links on the image below.

The April 28th edition of The Lake Charles American Press listed this information for those who are considering going to an emergency room for suspicion of swine flu.

Patients who may have swine flu symptoms will be subject to the following procedures should they decide to go to local hospitals, according to emergency room personnel from each:

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital — Call before going to the emergency room or walk-in clinic. Patients will speak to a physician, who will determine where they should go to be fully evaluated. Patients entering the emergency room or a clinic will be asked to wear a mask.

Jennings American Legion Hospital — An admissions clerk will route those with flu symptoms to a separate waiting area. From there, a doctor will see the patients.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital — Patients will be examined by a nurse, who will determine if they need to wear a mask until fully evaluated. Those with flu symptoms will have to keep their masks on.

Christus St. Patrick Hospital — Patients should tell the intake clerk if they may be suffering from flu symptoms. Patients will be asked to wear masks until they are evaluated.

Women & Children’s Hospital — The intake clerk has a set of questions to determine if patients have to wear a mask. If they do, the masks must stay on until the patients are seen by a doctor.

From page A3, April 28,2009

Newsletters in your Email

2009-04-28T16:24:00.006-05:00

Want to know what books are popular right now? Want to have books of a certain genre suggested to you? Curious about what your library staff is reading? Then sign up for one or more of the newsletters available from our library's website. You can even sign up for RSS feeds of your favorite newsletters if you don't want to add more mail to your inbox.

Either follow the link provided below, or go to our library's website, http://www.calcasieu.lib.la.us/ , and look under the Resources and Services drop box for Newletters via Email.

Newletters Via Email Link

ALA Releases List of Most Challenged Books of 2008

2009-04-23T16:11:00.004-05:00

Topping the list are the following titles, along with the reasons for their challenge:

1. "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Anti-Family, Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. "His Dark Materials Trilogy" (Series), Philip Pullman

Reasons: Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint, Violence

3. "TTYL"; "TTFN"; "L8R, G8R" (Series), Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

4. "Scary Stories" (Series), Alvin Schwartz

Reasons: Occult/Satanism, Religious Viewpoint, Violence

5. "Bless Me, Ultima," by Rudolfo Anaya

Reasons: Occult/Satanism, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Violence

To find the complete list, visit the ALA website here.

Poem in your Pocket Day

2009-04-21T13:22:00.003-05:00

The second annual Poem in your pocket day will be next week on Thursday, April 30. As part of National Poetry Month, everyone is encouraged to carry their favorite poem in their pocket to share with friends, family, and coworkers throughout the day. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/406 .

Did You Know...

2009-04-15T12:45:00.004-05:00

The library is signed up with a webservice called Library Elf. This service is offered for free to our patrons and it allows you to view all materials on your account and sends alerts when items are overdue or holds are available. Alerts can be sent via email, RSS, and even text messaging. Families with mulitple cards are able to view a consolidated list of what each member has checked out and on hold. Find out more information by following the link below.

Library Elf

Earth Day Celebration

2009-04-14T17:46:00.002-05:00

Saturday April 18 10am-2pm

A day filled with activities for the whole family. Visit and see CPPJ TrashSquash on display! Children can visit the Home Depot Team to make a project, or visit one of the interactive computers to learn about "Thibodeaux's Treasure," a children's guide to coastal wetlands, or "Explore Coastal Louisiana with Boudreaux and Marie." Teens can bring old jeans or other clothing to "re-purpose" them into various items like tote bags. Adults can visit the Entergy "Go Green" Team for energy-saving tips, the Mosquito Control Display, get a plantable book mark, and receive a seedling to plant.

For more information, contact the Central Library at 337-721-7116.