Summertime Shivers…

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Summertime is a super time for scaring yourself silly!

Last summer, I talked about my love of scary stories and horror novels, and specifically how I always tend to read them in the summertime.  As I mentioned then, maybe it has something to do with the abundance of sunshine in the summertime, and the stark contrast between the darkness inside the book and the brightness outside.  Maybe because I have the time to really sink into the atmosphere and sensations of a book in the summer, more than I do over the school year.  But, as I continue my summertime horror-binge, I had few more thoughts about The Scary Stuff and (naturally), some recommendations to pass on.

83a5423fd2b06a2bd7146aa59ed8c8adFirst off, horror novels, the really good horror novels that nestle under your skin, that stain your hands, that linger in your dreams, take a heck of a lot of work.  A lot of writers do the gory stuff, and, frankly, I don’t find those things too scary.  Stomach-churning?  Absolutely.  But the kind of horror that floats my boat really aren’t that gory or explicit at all.  My favorite horror novels are the ones that create a fully-immersive world for me to believe in, and characters who are real enough for me to feel for them, and the plight into which they fall.  When my heart and mind are engaged (instead of my stomach), it’s a lot easier to scare me.  This takes a lot of work, and no considerable amount of talent, over and above a knowledge of the human anatomy and how to take it apart.  As a result, some horror novels feature some of the most beautiful, descriptive, and insightful writing I’ve come across, precisely because they need to build that emotional and imaginative bond in order to have the proper effect on the reader.

Secondly, as a reader with anxiety–shocking bookand book anxiety, to boot–scary stories are actually really helpful.  My mind really loves jumping to the worst case scenario, to the ‘what-ifs’, to all the things that could go wrong–and I spend a lot of time and energy trying to ignore those thoughts, or silence those worries, and it’s really tiring.  Horror novels provide a safe space to explore those fears, by not only presenting you with a worst-case scenario (sometimes its realistic, sometimes its supernatural or extraterrestrial), but also by reveling in it.  A lot of these books also leave a lot of room for the reader to insert their own thoughts and fears into the story.  I’m thinking of the scene in ‘Salem’s Lot where the Glick boys are in the woods, and Danny Glick says he sees “it”.  We, as readers, are never really told what it is, or what it looks like…which gives us plenty of room to place our own bogeymen into that space.  Good horror books let us take our fears and worries and concerns out of the shadows and explore them, an act which takes a lot of power away from those fears.

So, if you’re looking to explore the world of scary stuff for the first time, or searching around for a new fix, here are a few of my recent favorite horror selections to give you some summertime shivers…

3622766A Head Full of Ghosts: When Stephen King says a story scared him, we should sit up and pay attention, but I wasn’t sold on it until about the last 50 pages.  But oh, those last fifty pages made this book one of the best I have read in a really, really long time.  Fifteen years ago, the Barrett family (of Beverly, Massachusetts) were the subject of an enormously popular reality show called The Possession, that allegedly documented fourteen-year-old Marjorie’s struggle with demonic possession.  Now, Marjorie’s younger sister, Merry, is telling her side of the story to a journalist who is hoping to get behind the now-famous scenes of the show to what really happened.  This is a heartbreaking, and ultimately horrifying, intoxicating story of familial relations and the fragile ties that bind us, about the desperation and despair of failure, and asks a lot of questions that are impossible to accurately answer.  This is a very tricky book to describe without giving things away, so….just read it.  Then we can talk.

3740626I’m Thinking of Ending Things: This book falls very squarely into the category of cerebral horror, where the reader is given just enough information to follow the plot, but not nearly enough information to feel comfortable.  What we know is that the narrator (who is not named, despite a number of summaries that state the contrary, grr….) is driving with her boyfriend to meet his parents.  But there are so many weird, off-putting, seemingly incongruous events and conversations taking place in the course of this story that it becomes very clear there is far more going on beneath the surface.  Add to this the snippets of conversation we overhear throughout this book, and the stage is set for a book that will play around with your mind for everyone of its 200 pages.  Though the ending of this book was a little too psuedo-deep/intellectual for my tastes, if you like narrative tricks and literary conjuring tricks, along with a thick, increasingly tense and inexplicably hostile atmosphere in your reading, this book is definitely for you.

3726204Security: We recently featured Gina Wohlsdorf’s debut in a recent post, and, since then, and I am here to tell you that All The Reviews are right–this is a remarkably told, viscously creative, and expertly-balanced story that keeps readers on edge by telling them everything….except ‘why’.  Manderley has been billed as the most luxurious, and the most secure hotel in the world.  But, days before its opening, a Killer is stalking the halls and rooms of Manderley, killing off its staff one by one.  The story is narrated by an anonymous member of Manderley’s security staff, who watches all the action from the totally isolated security room on the hotel’s top floor…with less impartiality than one might expect.  There are times when the narrative diverges, sometimes visibly on the page, as we watch characters going up and down the elevators, entering different rooms on different floors, allowing us to keep tabs on them at all times–but never quite sure what is going to happen next.  Though there is a more gruesomeness in this book than most, Wohlsdorf handles it with grown-up discretion, and tempers it by offering insights into her characters and their relationships…and even providing a pitch-perfect love story in the midst of everything that balances this book perfectly and makes it one that is impossible to put down.

There will definitely be more scary stuff to come readers, but for now–enjoy!

 

Now available for you: Hoopla!

We here at the Library are always looking for new and shiny resources for you, beloved patrons, and trying our darnest to put the world at your fingertips.  Today, we got a little closer to that goal by making Hoopla available to you!

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Hooray for Hoopla!

Hoopla is an online service that allows you to download & stream free videos, music, audiobooks, comics, and ebooks on your mobile device or computer.  For those of you who use Overdrive, it is much like that, except with even more resources, like videos–not only feature films, but workout videos, educational programs, kid’s programming, and much more; tv shows, ranging from The Librarians (obviously!) to National Geographic and back again; and music, from Hamilton to Mozart.   Additionally, while Overdrive allows you to download files, Hoopla is a streaming service, meaning your desired material is available immediately, without having to take up any real space on your devices.  This is sensational for those of us who like to listen to audiobooks at work, would like to try a new yoga routine, even on the go, or who would like to catch up on their favorite new show without ads, fees, or membership costs.

It’s a really fantastic resource, no matter your age or interests….and best of all, it’s really easy to use!  In fact, Hoopla can be mastered in four easy steps.  First and foremost, check out the website at http://www.hoopladigital.com/home

*Note: Click on the screen shots below to enlarge them.

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This is the home screen for Hoopla, found at http://www.hoopladigital.com/home
  1. Register for a hoopla account by visiting hoopladigital.com, or by using our mobile app on your iOS or Android device. You will need to provide an e-mail address, create a password, and have your library account information ready. Our free mobile app can be found in the App Store and the Google Play store.
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When you click on “login” (upper right of the home screen), this is what you will see. You can set up your account from here.

2. Easily browse titles on your computer or mobile device by clicking Browse All on the format (Music, Movies, Audiobooks, eBooks, Comics, and Television) you would like to browse further on. You can also search for a specific title by clicking on the Search box or magnifying glass and typing in your title(s)/keyword.

The search box is at the top of the home screen.
The search box is at the top of the home screen.

3. To borrow a title, click on the title and then click the Borrow button.  Your borrowed titles can be played right after borrowing, and found under the My Titles menu for viewing/listening. Enjoy your selected titles! (Note: You will be able to borrow 10 titles each month.)

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The big blue BORROW button will make your material appear

Borrowed titles will be automatically returned when your lending period is over. There are no holds, wait lists, or late fees for any of hoopla’s content.

If you have any questions, you can click on the Help link found at the bottom of hoopladigital.com, or check in with your friendly Library Staff via phone or in person!

We sincerely hope you enjoy this new resource–let us know if you find any new favorites while browsing Hoopla!

Happy Birthday, Hunter S. Thompson!

Today, the Free For All is celebrating the birthday of American author, and indisputable Interesting Personality, Hunter S. Thompson!

Truth be told, I will get behind just about anyone who wants to celebrate library cards.

Thompson was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on this day in 1937.  He was the eldest of three sons, born to Jack Robert Thompson, a First World War veteran and subsequently an insurance adjuster, and Virginia Ray Davidson, who was the head librarian at the Louisville Public Library.   The young Thompson enjoyed writing from an early age, but his budding career, such as it was, was cut short when his father died, leaving the family in poverty.  Thompson himself was unable to finish high school because he was arrested for abetting a robbery, and sentenced to sixty days in prison.  After his release, he joined the Air Force, serving until 1957, when he was honorably discharged as an Airman First Class.  His commanding officer wrote about him, “In summary, this airman, although talented, will not be guided by policy”.

6a012875949499970c0120a6930964970bThompson had practiced his writing throughout his military career, working as a sports editor in the local papers where he was stationed.  Following his discharge, he became a full-time journalist, and it wasn’t long before he began establishing a name for himself.  His first book, a history of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (though the club itself doesn’t use an apostrophe in its name, Thompson’s book rendered it “Hell’s Angels”, and thus it has been published since then).  Thompson spent more than a year traveling with the Hells Angels, and initially got along well with them, until they began to suspect that he was exploiting the club for personal gain.  Following a savage beating by the club, Thompson moved to Colorado, and began working on more mainstream pieces–that is to say, he began focusing on mainstream politics, the counterculture (and backlash against said counterculture) of the 1960’s, the Vietnam War, and the 1968 Democratic Convention, but did so in a way that was uniquely, fascinatingly his own.

1738122 (1)In 1970, Thompson heard of the murder of Mexican-American television journalist Rubén Salazar, who had been shot in the head at with a tear gas canister as officers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department moved against a Vietnam War protest known as the National Chicano Moratorium March.   Eager to discuss the growing racial tensions in the United Stated, but unable to place his idea into words, Thompson instead accepted a job from Sports Illustrated that would allow him to travel to California for himself and see the places he wanted to describe.  He was supposed to write a 250-word description of a local motorcycle race.  Fired by his trip, by the people he met, and the things he saw, Thompson instead submitted a 25,000 word manuscript that would become the basis for his most famous work, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  

acosta3Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a Roman à clef, which means “novel in a key” in French.  The term was coined by a woman named Madeleine de Scudery in 17th century France, who wanted to write about her opinions about her own society friends and local politicians, but didn’t want to get dragged into courts for libel, so she changed their named to something colorful and descriptive, and used the veneer of fiction to tell the absolute truth.  Thompson’s work, essentially does the same with 1970’s America.  His two main characters are named Raoul Duke (meant to be Thompson himself) and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo (who was really Thompson’s traveling companion Oscar Zeta Acosta, pictured at left with Thompson).  The book itself talks about their drug-filled and alcohol-soaked journey to California, but the line between fact and fiction is constantly blurred, as Thompson relates their drug-addled hallucinations as reality, and makes it nearly impossible tell the difference between the world in his characters’ heads and that going on outside it.  What is evident throughout is their mutual belief in the destruction of the American dream, and of the counter-culture of the 1960’s, which was supposed to restore some ‘goodness’ to American (and world) society.  In Thompson’s view, both dreams had ended up devouring themselves, leaving nothing by moral destitution, corruption, and disillusionment in their wake.  To quote from Fear and Loathing: 

San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of…no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant…

There was madness in any direction, at any hour… You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning…

And that, I think, was the handle—that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn’t need that. Our energy would simply prevail. There was no point in fighting—on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave.…

So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.

Though there were plenty of critics who opposed to rampant drug use in the book, it was generally clear from the beginning that it was destined to become an American classic that, in its own, very unique way, managed to capture what was best and worst in America without flinching.

2633174Thompson was also responsible for creating “Gonzo Journalism”, a type of reporting that was very similar in style to Fear and Loathing–that is, it blended fiction and non-fiction without clear delineation, but did so in order to tell the most truth in a way that he felt traditional journalism couldn’t.  Thompson would use the style to describe any number of major events in American history, typically surrounding politics.  He was sent to cover what appeared to be the end of the Vietnam War, but arrived in Saigon hours before the fall of that city, to discover that Rolling Stone had cancelled his assignment, leaving him in one of the most chaotic and dangerous cities in the world without money or health insurance.  Though Thompson managed to get home, his relationship with the magazine that had been his primary outlet was forever soured.

2139568Though Thompson’s production after Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas wasn’t prolific, he would publish another book entitled Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72, documenting Nixon’s rise to the presidency, and several longer works on politics, culminating with  Better than Sex: Confessions of a Political Junkie, documenting his experiencing during Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential race.  His final book was The Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century, a vitriolic condemnation of America at the turn of the new century, and, particularly reflecting Thompson’s cynicism over the world since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Though he continued to write sports pieces for ESPN magazine up until his death, Thompson’s health was suffering, and he was growing increasingly despondent over his own decline.  He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home on February 20, 2005 at the age of 67.  At his funeral, apparently according to his own wishes, his ashes were fired out of a cannon and accompanied by red, white, blue and green fireworks, set the the music of of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” and Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”.  

So, happy birthday, Hunter S. Thompson.  In honor of this American original, feel free to come into the library and check out his work for yourself!  We’ll leave you with a quote from his Gonzo work, The Proud Highway:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

Saturdays @ the South: Caturday!

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One of Edward Gorey’s many illustrations of books and cats.

Today at the South Branch is Caturday!, a day designed to celebrate all things feline. There’s just something about books and cats that go well together, and what better place than the library to celebrate that great combination. We’ve talked about cats before here on the blog, but it seemed like, on Caturday! of all days, another post was warranted.

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Authors seem to be particularly fond of cats. Perhaps there’s a recognition of mutual temperament there, but authors with cats seem to be particularly well-documented. This Slideshare presentation offers up 10 such examples, including Free For All favorite, Neil Gaiman who has talked about many of his cats on his blog. Mental Floss has also posted an article about 11 writers who loved cats. While many of the writers included in the slideshare overlap with the Mental Floss article, I had to post the latter because the introductory image of Mark Twain holding a kitten melted my heart as the image makes a man with a reputation for being a curmudgeon look a bundle of fluff, cigar and all. While personally, I find many of Dr. Seuss’s iconic characters to look vaguely cat-like (and of course, the Cat in the Hat is most definitely feline) there is some recently discovered artwork of his that features a cat in a more definitive way. Here is an image of his aptly titled “Wisdom of the Orient Cat,” which seems to speak volumes to cat potential.

image: http://www.drseussart.com/secretandarchive/wisdom-of-the-orient-cat
image: http://www.drseussart.com/secretandarchive/wisdom-of-the-orient-cat

Today at the South, as part of our Caturday! celebrations, we have two local shelters visiting and talking about cat care, cat facts and funny cat stories: Northeast Animal Shelter and PALS. Northeast-Animal-Shelter-LogoNortheast Animal Shelter, based in Salem, has been helping dogs and cats find their forever homes for 40 years and have placed over 125,000 animals in that time.PALSLOGO3 PALS is also based in Salem and is exclusively run by volunteers “dedicated to helping homeless cats and kittens find suitable, loving homes.” All are welcome to stop by the South Branch to chat with the shelters’ volunteer representatives to talk about adoption, volunteering or cat care and advice.

Lest you think that we here at the library are all talk, be assured that those aforementioned cat-loving authors are in good company with staff here at the Peabody Library. Just to prove it to you, here are some of the staff’s beloved feline counterparts, some with literary connections of their own:

Zen, Main Library:

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This is the handsome picture he requested be on the site.

Brady,  Main Library:

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Part Maine Coon, part Domestic, all lovable.

Gemini, Reference Desk:

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At one of her favorite places, the bathtub.

Salem, West Branch

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Not sure if Salem gave permission for this photo…

Elphie, West Branch

One of the library's literary cats, her full name is Elphaba Tonks, the first from Gregory Maguire's Wicked, the second from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter.
One of the library’s literary cats, her full name is Elphaba Tonks, the first from Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, the second from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Tess, Reference Desk

Who will share the spotlight, but prefers not to have her dog buddy, Arthur in her pictures.
Who will share the spotlight, but prefers not to have her dog buddy, Arthur in her pictures.

Charlie, Reference Desk

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Oscar Wilde, Circulation Desk

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Another addition to our literary cats clowder, for obvious reasons.

Victor, Archives

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In his “I’m regal” pose

Reepicheep, Children’s Room

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A perpetual ham… and another literary cat after one of Prince Caspian’s bravest knights in the Narnia Chronicles by C. S. Lewis.

Vishti, Children’s Room

Rocker at heart...
Rocker at heart…

Lizzie, South Branch

Another literary cat (not just because she loves to read, just like her mama) her full name is Elizabeth Bennet, after her mama's favorite literary heroine.
Another literary cat (not just because she loves to read, just like her mama), her full name is Elizabeth Bennet, after her mama’s favorite literary heroine, from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Till next week, dear readers, whether you are a fellow ailurophile (cat lover) or prefer your books without a side of fur (or an entire cat sleeping on the pages), I hope you’ll recognize how much cats have an affect on literature. Whether you choose to celebrate with us here at the South or from afar in your own way, happy Caturday!!

Five Cat Friday!

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We’re changing things up a bit today, beloved patrons.  Because tomorrow is Caturday at the South Branch, a celebration of all things feline.  Thanks to the brilliant (and cat-loving) Lady Pole, the South Branch will be bringing you a day of cats and the people who love them.  Not only will there be cat books and cat videos, the South 3637336Branch will also be hosting acclaimed author Alicia Potter, who will be reading her book Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats and talking about her experiences fostering cats. Her books will also be available for purchase (though purchase is not required to attend).  As if that wasn’t enough fun, there will also be representatives from the Northeast Animal Shelter and PALS, both from Salem, who will be pleased to answer your feline-related questions, and discuss cat adoption.  Here is a full schedule of Caturday Events–it’s an all-day celebration, so feel free to drop by!

  • 9:30AM – Favorite Internet Cat Videos
  • 10AM – Northeast Animal Shelter
  • 11AM- Alicia Potter & Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats
  • 12PM – PALS
  • 1PM – 2016’s Best Internet Cat Videos
  •  ALL DAY – Cat crafts, cat trivia, chat with presenters

So, in honor of this brilliant idea, and in the spirit of finding homes for all our four-legged friends who are looking for forever homes, today we teamed up with the wonderful people at the Northeast Animal Shelter and PALS to bring you a brief bio, health information, and, of course, a ridiculously cute photo, of some of the cats currently at the Shelter, who are just waiting for someone like you to come calling.  Below, you will also find the contact information and websites for both these organizations, if (and when) you begin thinking about adopting a cat….though, for those of us with cats in our lives, we all know that it is us, in reality, who have been adopted by the cats…..

And so, without further ado, please enjoy our first Five Cat Friday!

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From Northeast Animal Shelter:

unnamedWhiskey Girl: Hello, my name is Whiskey Girl and I am a local surrender.  I used to live with a girl chihuahua and I really enjoyed her company.  I also love head butting my person and sit right next to her.  I really am a sweet girl.  I should let you know that I am not a fan of being picked up, but I do love being petted. I also have the sweetest meow when I am playing!  Come in and meet me, I know you will fall in love!
Arrival Date:  4/13/2016
Age:  7 years
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Sex: Female

unnamed (1)Nivea: Hello, my name is Nivea and I am a 6 year old kitty and a local surrender.  When I first arrived I was very grumpy. All I can say is I really do not like being put into my carrier.  When put into my kennel, I was relaxed and happy.  Then I was put into a carrier and into a van to go to the vet.  Boy, I really dislike traveling. I really would like to be your one and only please.  I do enjoy being petted and having attention on my own terms.  I will let you know when I have had enough via a quick growl or a soft swat with my paw.  If you would like to meet me, come on in!
Arrival Date: 5/31/2016
Age:  6 Years
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Sex: Female

unnamed (2)Max:  Hello, my name is Max and I am a local surrender.  I lived with another cat and was surrendered when I became diabetic.  My diabetes is doing very well, I guess they say that it is borderline, almost to the point of non-existent!   I am a nice boy and I enjoy being petted and brushed.  I also love playing with both catnip and string toys. I do not care to be picked up though.  Nothing about me is shy, I also have a wonderful purr.  I have been diagnosed with diabetes, but it is well under control, almost to the point of non-existent.  I lived with another cat and we got along well.  Come on in and meet me!  They do same day adoptions and I will be so happy to find a home today!
Arrival Date: 3/23/2016
Age: 12 Years
Breed: Domestic Medium Hair
Sex: Male

From PALS:

NanaNana Gumbo, a quiet, mellow and affectionate 9-year-old, has a sweet temperament. She does, however, live to lounge, and is quite happy sleeping in a sunny spot, or at the foot of your bed. Nana is looking for a home with peaceful surroundings but can adapt to a more lively environment once she feels secure. If you have the patience to introduce Nana to your home slowly, showing her kindness until she builds trust, she will be a loving companion. Nana is a girl who simply doesn’t want to be rushed (unless it’s to the couch for some serious petting!)  Nana Gumbo has been spayed, microchipped, tested negative for FeLV/FIV and is up-to-date on vaccinations.

minouMinou (French for “kitten”) is a 7-year-old wonder cat. He may act timid for the first few seconds, but then shows his affectionate side, head butting with such force that he’ll knock you over. Although he doesn’t like to be held for long, he can be picked up and cuddled. Minou simply loves human companionship and will be eager to be your new best friend. He would, however, like a quieter home as he did get stressed living with a toddler and a dog in his original home. Minou will make a great first pet in a home with older children. Minou has been neutered, microchipped, tested negative for FeLV/FIV and is up-to-date on vaccinations.

For more information on these wonderful kitties and others, for more information on the adoption process, or to make donations to these wonderful places, please contact:

Northeast Animal Shelter:
347 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-9888
Mon-Fri: 10am – 8pm, Sat & Sun: 10am – 6pm

PALS
Hours for adoptions:
Saturday & Sunday 11-4
Monday-Wednesday-Friday 11-1 (by appointment)

Adoption Center:
10 Traders Way (inside PetSmart)
Salem, MA 01970
978-531-7478

You may view the available cats and kittens in their cages during regular PetSmart store hours.

Summer Reading: Staff Picks!

Summer-Reading-Guide-HEROAnd, all at once, summer is here with a vengeance, dear readers.  For those of you looking for a place to cool off for a bit, please know that our A/C is happily droning away.  Please feel free to come in and beat the heat–and while you’re here, you can avail yourself of our long list of events, which includes book groups, activities for kids and young adults, and programs to help you stay active in a safe (and cool!) setting.

We also have thousands of materials to keep you busy while you are soaking up the A/C, too–and our staff continues to come up with some phenomenal selections of their favorite summer reading for you to try!  Here are just a few more that have been added to our lists.  You can find these (and many more) on the new Free For All Display on the shelves across from the Circulation Desk!

 

From Upstairs At The Main:

3545976A Man Called Ove: Swedish author Fredrik Backman has earned rave reviews around the world for his unexpectedly charming and touching novel about the curmudgeonly Ove, an elderly man who has been ignored by his neighbors for years.  But when a new young couple moves in next door, and inadvertently flattens Ove’s mailbox, they begin to see that beneath the grumpy, sharp exterior is a man with many stories to tell, and plenty of love still to give.  Backman’s unique sense of humor makes this story into something truly original, and makes for a story that is heartwarming, quirky, and will most certainly change the way you look at the world around you.

3718379 (1)Uprooted: Naomi Novik is quickly becoming a household name in the world of fantasy, and this stunning novel has been a huge success with critics and readers alike.  Agnieszka loves her home in her quiet valley with her friends and relations.  But their peace is maintained at a terrible cost.  Her people rely on the maniacle wizard known as the Dragon to keep the evil in the woods at bay.  The Dragon requires that one young woman be handed over to serve him for ten years, and the time for the next sacrifice is fast approaching.  Agnieszka is convinced that her best friend will be the Dragon’s next choice, and is heartbroken over her powerlessness to save her–but when the Dragon comes, it’s Agnieszka he has in his sights…This blend of fairytale and coming-of-age novel was nominated for a Hugo Award (one of the most prestigious awards in the fantasy genre), and was named among the best books of last years by a number of outlets, making it an ideal place to start for those looking to add a little more fantasy to their lives!

From the Reference Desk:

3624429Shirley I Jest! A Storied Life: Cindy Williams, half of the comedic duo of Laverne & Shirley, has had a wild and lively career in show business. This book is an engaging and heartfelt journey from Williams s blue collar roots to unexpected stardom from being pranked by Jim Morrison while waiting tables at Whisky a Go Go to starring in one of the most iconic shows on television.  Even for those who didn’t watch her show, Williams writes with a comic flair that is simply infectious, and her tales of rubbing elbows with the talented, the famous, and the infamous, are totally fascinating, especially because she never loses the common sense and insight that came from a childhood outside of Hollywood’s glitz and facades, bringing the reader on her wild ride with heart and humor.

From the Circulation Desk:

3453226The LuminariesI think I’ve mentioned Eleanor Catton’s magnificent debut novel in the past, but it deserves to be mentioned again (and again, and again).  This is a fascinating story about a strong, enigmatic, and resolute woman, and the many lives that come within her sphere.  Walter Moody has arrived in New Zealand hoping to make his fortune, but his trip has been marked thus far by nothing but disaster.  But when he stumbles on twelve men holding a secret meeting, he finds himself drawn into a tale of gold and opium, of trust and lies, of truth and fictions, that will ultimately change each and every man involved…and re-define the woman at the center of each of their tales.  Catton based the structure of her book on the Zodiac (as it appeared in the late 19th century), making this book as striking in its set-up and premise as it is in its use of language.  Moreover, I cannot recommend the audiobook of this novel more highly.  Mark Meadows’ narration is spellbinding, and his ability to do All The Voices blew me away!

 

Until next time, dear readers–safe travels, and good books!

Wednesdays @ West: Literatea travels to Paris

Last Tuesday, the lovely readers at the West Branch’s monthly Literatea program traveled to France via books and tea.  The tea of the month was Remembering Paris.  For my suggestions of books to pair with that tea, see the July Newsletter.

littleparisbookshopOn the subject of armchair travel to France, our readers also suggested The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, which tells the story of the quirky owner of a floating bookstore.  Another reader suggested all of Peter Mayle’s books.  Mayle writes both fiction and nonfiction set in France.  Especially highly recommended are his nonfiction work A Year in Provence and his novel Anything Considered.

saradevosOther top suggestions included The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith, which is the saga of a 17th century female Dutch painter and a modern day art forger.

Several of our perennial favorite authors  have newer titles out that our readers didn’t love quite as much as they had hoped.  In this category are LaRose by Louise Erdrich, which like its predecessor, The Round House, deals with Native American justice and Japanese Lojapaneseloverver by Isabel Allende, which weaves a love story between the survivors of the Holocaust and a Japanese internment camp.

Happily, not all of our favorite authors are letting us down.  The release of Cometh the Hour, the latest book in the Clifton Chronicles, led Jeffrey Archer fans to suggest that those who have not yet done so, should start at the beginning with Only Time will Tell and catch up on the multi-generational family saga.  Meanwhile fans of Chris Cleave’s Little Bee, also put in a good word for his newest novel, everyonebraveEveryone Brave is Forgiven.

For anyone looking for a gripping nonfiction read, several were suggested.  Ten green bottles : the true story of one family’s journey from war-torn Austria to the ghettos of Shanghai by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan was recommended for an unusual history book and In an Instant by Lee Woodruff was declared quite gripping.

pearlthatbrokeitsshellTwo readers recently enjoyed The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi, which is  a novel about the life of a woman living in Kabul in 2007.  This fiction pick led another reader to describe a nonfiction book that she enjoyed, which was written by an American journalist who interviewed and described the lives of Middle Eastern women.  Using my librarian sleuthing skills, I narrowed this down to two possible titles: one is Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks and the other is Price of Honor by Jan Goodwin.  Both received excellent professional reviews.

Hopefully, my fellow book lovers, these suggestions will keep you contentedly reading until Literatea return in August with more tea and books you won’t want to miss!