Library Buzz: The Book was Better Anyway.

(Originally published in the Andover American 8/1/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

As a librarian, it is my solemn and sworn duty to convince you to read the book rather than watch the movie, right?

English teachers, avert your eyes.

I’m sorry, but I love movies. I know the actors’ names, the directors’ styles, and the composers’ recurring themes. If you don’t like movies, you can’t be my friend. So although I do make a point of reading the book before I see the movie, I’m the last person who’s going to tell you the book is the most important thing in the entire world.

As a matter of fact, the Andover Public Library is a great place to pick up movies. Library patrons can check out up to four DVDs at a time and keep them for a full week at no charge. Our large collection of movies and popular TV series includes Oscar winners like “Lincoln” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” and popular blockbusters like “Avengers” and “Django Unchained”.

Try comparing these films with the books they’re based on, all available at the library: “Stardust”, based on the book by Neil Gaiman; Ang Lee’s 2012 adaptation of Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi”; the Swedish film versions of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, starting with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”; the family-friendly “Hugo”, based on the Caldecott winning “Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick; or the beautiful “Memoirs of a Geisha” based on Arthur Golden’s popular 1997 novel. Check back later this month for the new “Gatsby” based on Fitzgerald’s classic.

Don’t forget that some TV shows are also based on books, like “Game of Thrones” (from George R.R. Martin’s books) or “True Blood” (from “The Southern Vampire Mysteries” by Charlaine Harris). Check out either the books or the series’ DVDs from the library to decide which version you prefer.

Okay, tell all the English teachers they can come back now.

As much as I love movies, if there’s anything we learned from this summer’s “World War Z” starring Brad Pitt, it’s that sometimes the movie has nothing to do with the book. If you don’t want to miss out on a fantastic story, it’s best to read the book first. Come by the library so you can check out “Ender’s Game”, “City of Bones”, “Sea of Monsters”, “The Hobbit”, and “Catching Fire” before you see them in theaters later this year. I give each of these books two thumbs way up.

Genre Spotlight: Sci Fi

This month we are promoting our great collection of Science Fiction titles. Check out classics from Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and Ray Bradbury, or newer titles from Stephen Baxter and Timothy Zahn. Stop by between now and the end of the month to see what we have on display.

We are happy to provide advertising space for Time Safari, Inc., the world's finest time travel agency.

Our mannequin, Trixie, models the latest trends in imperial fashion.

Left - Our favorite SF titles, bestseller lists, and new releases. Right - a quote from a great and learned man.

Past Events: Fancy Nancy Tea Party, August 2011

As we prepare to renovate and streamline the library website, we will be posting more events, pictures, and announcements on our blog and Facebook page. Check back often while we highlight the best of our past events. 
~Tori

Fancy Nancy Mother Daughter Tea Party

August 4-5, 2011

The Friends of the Library group sponsors themed tea parties several times each year. Friends member Karen Osborne plans and organizes them, while other Friends volunteers assist with the food, activities, and decorating on the day of the event. Check out these pictures from a Fancy Nancy party they hosted two years ago. 

The Friends of the Library did a fancy job decorating the gallery for the event.

The turnout for both tea parties was fabulous.

The event included storytime and a fashion show.

Check our Facebook page for more pictures.

Hayley's Children's Book Reviews

Monday is sharing day in Miss Fry’s classroom.  The kids ask if they can bring in their pets to share.  Each Monday one of the kids in Miss Fry’s classroom brings in a pet to share with the class.  Read this heartwarming story, Teachers Pet’s, by Dayle Ann Dodds and find out what happens when the kids start bringing their pets to school.  Will Miss Fry’s classroom ever be the same again?

The little boy thinks there is a lion living in the meadow behind his house.  His mom thinks he is making up a story so she decides to play along by making up a story about a dragon.  A Lion In The Meadow by Margaret Mahy is a book full of playful fun and imagination.  Bright colorful illustrations help the reader use their imagination and join in on the fun.  

Summer Reading Prize Winners

The summer reading program is over!
Here are the results of our prize drawing on July 31st:

Summer Reading Prizes

Amazon Kindle Fire = Cathy Stuhr

"Dig Your Way to China" Prize Basket = Megan Nickelson

Gardening Prize Basket = Evelen Bryan

Barnes and Noble Gift Card = Leah DiPietro

Starbucks Gift Card = Masumeh Zarei

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who participated!

Hayley's Children's Book Reviews

Young children will love practicing subtraction as they count down with Pete in Pete The Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin. In this book Pete has four buttons on his favorite shirt and they keep falling off. Will Pete cry? No, instead he sings a song. Read this book and sing along.

Are The Dinosaurs Dead, Dad? by Julie Middleton is the perfect book for kids who love dinosaurs. A boy named Dave and his father go to the museum to see the dinosaurs. Dad is sure he knows all there is to know about these fabulous creatures, but does he. Kids will enjoy learning along with Dave about the different kinds of dinosaurs and what they were like when they were alive.

Do you ever feel like you are misunderstood? If so, Sam the dog knows just how you feel. Read Bad Boy, Good Boy by Kay Chorao and follow along with Sam on four short adventures. Is Sam a good boy or a bad boy? Learn the truth about Sam as you read these delightfully humorous stories.

Book Chats: Cross Country, Life As We Knew It, Always Time to Die

Always Time to Die by Elizabeth Lowell
**
"A suspense novel grows out of Carly May's profession of researching personal histories.  She digs into the lives of the late Senator Quintrell and current Governor Quintrell to find many skeletons.  Contrived love interest and too many characters take away from the story" - Carol Hirsh

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
****
"The author's tone really starts making you feel as if you are part of the experience.  There were two times (both happy and sad) that I had to put the book down and quit reading instantly in order to absorb my emotions. -- New experience for me." - Shari Lovendahl

Cross Country by James Patterson
****
"Cross head out of the country to solve a murder that took place in DC, only to witness a new breed of killers with total disregard for human life.  Africa... a country of organized gang of teenage thugs." - Charlotte Kraft

Book Chats: The Texan, What Alice Forgot, Let the Dead Sleep

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
****
"Great read with an interesting story line.  Definitely shows how we change over the years, without even being aware.  Two story lines are awkward at times." - Sheryl Wiele

The Texan by Joan Johnston
*****
"This was awesome! I couldn't put it down! I read this in one day it was so good; I never knew what was coming! I loved this book!" - Julie Martinez

Let the Dead Sleep by Gretchen Montgomery
****
"A little too voodoo for my tastes.  Well written - it kept my interest, but not as much character development as I would like - some of the "bad guys" seemed comic-book-evil." - Gretchen Montgomery

Hayley's Children's Book Reviews

Have you ever been afraid to try something new and then realized it is not as bad as you thought it might be? If so, then Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt Is the perfect book for you. In this book, Scaredy Squirrel is afraid to go out in the rugged wilderness to go camping so he plans to enjoy camping from a safe distance by watching a camping show on TV. Kids will enjoy reading about how this squirrel learns how the wilderness is meant to be enjoyed up close not seen from afar.

Rosie’s Magic Horse by Russell Hoban & Queatin Blake is a book full of imagination and dreams come true. When Rosie picks up an old ice-pop stick on her way home and puts it with her other ice-pop sticks she has no idea it is different than the other sticks. This ice-pop stick is magical and has dreams of being more than just an ice-pop stick. When Rosie goes to bed she is worried about her parents being able to pay the bills and wants to find a treasure so she can help them. Read this fun story and follow Rosie on a magical adventure.

Miss Maple lives in her cozy maple tree house. Every summer Miss Maple gathers lost seeds and takes care of them until the following spring when she sends them off to find a place to start roots of their own and grow into the plants or trees they’re destined to become. Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler is a wonderful reminder of how each magnificent tree and brilliant flower starts from a tiny seed.

Book Chats: Wedding Night, The Light Between Oceans, and Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
***
"This book is written by the author of the Shopaholic Series.  The story is a fast-paced comedy told by two sisters from two different perspectives.  It is a light and fluffy read." - Gloria Dejesus

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
****
"I could not put this book down.  Story of a war survivor and a girl with good morals making bad decisions.  Beautiful.  Unpredictable.  Isabel's love for Lucy made me cry several times.  I could imagine myself in the light house.  I could smell the ocean.  A must read.  Brilliant first novel." -
Masumeh Zarai

Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story by Dee Henderson
****
"The newest book in the O'Malley series, a series of Christian romance thrillers, with each book focusing on one of the O'Malley siblings, a group of 7 orphans who formed their own family.  This book goes back and tells the story of Jennifer, the only one who did not have her own book.  It is a good, clean romance, but does not have the thrilling mystery of the rest of the series.  It is meant to tell the back story of this sibling.  My only complaint is it was too short!" - Janet Brungardt