Andrea’s Staff Picks
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“A very personable look at Abraham Lincoln’s role as a father. Based on historical facts. And with lovely illustrations.” |
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“A creative little girl overcomes peer pressure and makes a new friend. Marvelous illustrations.” |
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“Interesting story, well-developed, likable characters. I learned about a new facet of World War II history.” |
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“A sweet, heart-wrenching story about an Appalachian girl–with a happy ending!” |
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“Every winter I try to read a classic. I love the characters in this one. It is also somewhat autobiographical.” |
Staff Picks Display
Looking for a good book or movie? The next time you’re in the library, stop by our November Staff Picks Display and check out our favorites.
Throughout the month, we’ll also post some of our choices on our blog. Here’s what David G. had to say about his picks:
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“I enjoy legal-themed fiction and also all of the character and plot development that Grisham uses.” |
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“I love golf! And this was a great golf story about an average guy who found a new life through his passion for the sport.” |
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“I enjoyed how Maguire took a classic, Wizard of Oz, and expanded it into a new direction.” |
Banned Books Week: Celebrate the Freedom to Read
September 25-October 2 is Banned Books Week, “an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment” (American Library Association). According to the American Library Association, “Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.”
The theme of this year’s Banned Books Week is “Think for Yourself and Let Others Do the Same.” In honor of this idea, JCPL staff created a display of books that have been challenged or banned across the United States. We hope you’ll ignore the yellow caution tape surrounding the display and check out the books. By doing so, you celebrate your freedom to read without fear of censorship.
For more information about Banned Books Week, click here. To see a list of the most frequently challenged books of the 21st century, click here. Click here to read about individual cases of censorship.
Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Library Association along with the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Association of College Stores.
Top 100 Killer Thrillers
And the winner in NPR’s audience poll for the best thriller is… The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris!
According to NPR’s website, the audience “cast more than 17,000 ballots” to whittle a list of 182 books down to 100. Click here to see the complete list. Here are the top ten books:
1. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
4. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
5. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
6. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
7. The Shining by Stephen King
8. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
9. The Hunt tor Red October by Tom Clancy
10. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Killer Thrillers
Classic Reads
Have some extra time this summer? Enjoy a classic read! Choose a book from our display at the front of the library, or peruse the following lists for more ideas.
10 Neglected Classic Novels: Summer Reading List
110 Best Books: The Perfect Library
Your Female-Authored Summer Beach Reading List
Hit the Road
Summer is almost here, and if you’re like me, that means it’s time to take a road trip. Whether you’re heading to Disney World or the Great Smoky Mountains, JCPL has plenty of travel guides to help you plan your trip. Want more ideas? Check out our road trip display inside the library.
Mount Zion Bridge, located in Washington County, Kentucky
Of course, there are plenty of things to see and do right here in Kentucky. When we first moved to Kentucky, my husband bought a copy of Off the Beaten Path Kentucky. Since then, we’ve experienced such places as the Mount Zion Bridge (pictured above) and the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. If button kings and giant armadillo statues appeal to your inner tacky tourist, check out RoadsideAmerica.com for offbeat attractions. (I’m tempted by Big Mike’s Mystery House in Cave City, Kentucky.)
To help make your trip more affordable, check out GasBuddy.com before you leave. This site will help you find the cheapest gas in the area. Need to entertain the kids along the way? MomsMinivan.com provides printable car games and trip ideas for babies to children.
Get Caught Reading
May is Get Caught Reading month, a campaign sponsored by the Association of American Publishers “to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read.” To celebrate, we’ve created a display of books about reading at all age levels.
All Things Horsy
In honor of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, we’ve created a library display of all things horsy. If you live for horses or horse racing–or just want to learn more about them–here are a few titles that you might enjoy:
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