Have You Checked Out the YA Section?

Busy lives means little time for settling in to read the great American novel. But just because you don’t have a lot of time on your hands doesn’t mean you can’t read some fabulous fiction. If you’re looking for a story with a fast-moving pace, thought-provoking concepts, and characters you’ll absolutely love (or love to hate) you need to look in the young adult section.

More and more young adult fiction is appealing to adults, and publishers know it. New titles like Harry Potter and Twilight paved the way – and taught adults where the YA section is in their library. Now you can find all sorts of fascinating reads that appeal to young and old alike. A few titles that have been popular among adults lately include the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, a dystopian story about a young girl who finds herself thrown into an arena where teens are forced to fight one another to the death – think Survivor meets Lord of the Flies. Continuing on the dystopian theme, you might enjoy Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, again the first in a series about a new world where everyone undergoes surgery to be pretty so that no one is different. (And the good news is, both of these series are complete, so there’s no waiting around for a year before you can find out what happens next.)

If dystopian isn’t your thing, how about something from our world? Try Anna Godbersen’s The Luxe series about a group of teenage girls breaking the rules of society in the late 1800s. Or, if you want a single title that’s a little more modern, try last year’s Printz Award winner Going Bovine by Libba Bray, or from the year before Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. The Printz Award is the American Library Association’s award for best Young Adult book of the year. They just announced this year’s winner and honor books; you can find the list by going to www.ala.org/yalsa and clicking on booklists. While you’re there, check out some of the other cool lists of Young Adult books they’ve put together.

There are some amazing stories waiting for you in the Young Adult section. Because even though we may be adults, we’re all still young of mind.  Joyce D.

Another Storm???

It is certainly winter in Maine.  The library will be closing today, Tuesday, January 18th, at 3pm.   Weather permitting, we'll be reopening Wednesday January 19th @ 9:30am. 

Thank you!

Today, Wednesday January 12th-The Library is Closed

I'm sitting in a big comfy chair catching up on my reading.  The wind and snow are whirling around outside my window.  But, I did manage to grab a couple of DVD's from the library to watch today.  "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is one of those movies.  I'd give you a synopsis, but someone else in the family has already taken off with it!  Our library has many new movies, both hot off the press and new to us, but in black and white.  Hang a right by the Circulation Desk, wander by the Reference office and in the corner there is a display of our new movies.  Check them out, we've marked them with a blue New sticker.

I, however, am personally catching up on my Agatha Christie mysteries.  My one goal for 2011 is to read everything dear Agatha wrote (clarify...published mystery).  I read them all when I was much younger, and am wandering through the English countryside again searching for those clues I didn't catch the first time around!

We here at the library hope you are all home safe and warm.  And perhaps, catching up on your reading?

Beach Reads

Jeannie, our Circulation Manager, has quite the sense of humor.  Check out her display of Beach Reads in January.

Some of her suggestions:

"Life's a Beach" by Claire Cook.  A light-hearted look at women moving forward in different stages of their lives. A "hen-lit" read with a great cover to brighten those winter doldrums.

"Beach Week" by Susan Coll  Another humorous life in transition story.  This time how the stories of several families dealing with their high school aged daughters away for seven unsupervised days at the beach.

"The Teeth of the Tiger" by Tom Clancy.  Not a light read, but the cover is blue like the ocean in summer...

Comfort Reading!

When the dark evenings of winter move in and it’s cold outside, we get two cravings: to curl up with a good book and to cook something yummy. And apparently we’re not alone. There’s a trend of cooking novels out – about cooks or including recipes to go along with the story. You can unravel a culinary suspense with Diane Mott Davidson’s favorite caterer. Try something a little more savory in Joanne Harris’ “Chocolate” or “Five Quarters of the Orange.” Or, if you’re on a New Year’s diet, go lighter with Mary Kay Andrews’ “Deep Dish.” For the true foodie-readers out there, enjoy one of Joanne Fluke’s mystery novels, and then test out one of the recipes that are included in each book. If you do, be sure to bring a sample by the library!--Joyce Doyle

What Are You Reading?

If you let us know what the last three books you have read, we'll be happy to send you back a couple of suggestions for future reading.  We're putting out this challenge to all of our blog and Facebook readers.

The Maine winters can be long and cold.  Anyone who experienced a long, slow ride home last night can certainly appreciate the thought of a few good reads waiting for you at home.  Snuggle up under a fleece blanket in a big easy chair in front of a warm fireplace or wood stove and catch up on some of your reading.

Send us an e-mail @ library@falmouth.lib.me.us and we'll reply within a few business days with a few suggestions.

What are you reading? 

Book Lists

Have you checked out the Book Lists, posted on the right side of our blog?  The newest one is The Maine Writers Index, a searchable database of writers with a relationship to the State of Maine. The Maine connection includes, birth, residency, employment or works that are set in the State of Maine.

Although this database is now based on the Maine State Library's website, it was originally the creation of Molly Williams from the Waterboro Public Library.  Thanks to Molly and the Maine State Library for this valuable tool!