Library Buzz: Books for Downton Abbey Fans

(Originally published in the Butler County Times Gazette 2/6/14. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

I’ll be honest: I don’t understand the appeal of “Downton Abbey”. Maybe it’s the costumes or the (admittedly lovely) setting. Maybe some people – and I know this is a stretch – actually enjoy drama. At any rate, I’ve watched several episodes trying to figure out what people see in it and I’m lost. Perhaps it just isn’t my thing. However, given its popularity, I recognize that it is undoubtedly somebody’s thing – lots of somebodies. If you happen to be somebody, you might like these Downton-esque titles.

For the true story of Highclere Castle (the estate that serves as Downton’s setting), try “Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey” or its sequel “Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey” both written by the current Countess of Carnarvon, who lives on the grounds. Written using diaries and letters from the castle’s archives, these books are a great glimpse into the aristocratic life of the early 1900s.

In our DVD section, check out murder mystery “Gosford Park” written by Downton screenwriter Julian Fellowes. When the unpopular lord of the house is murdered, anyone could be a suspect, from the many aristocratic guests to the servants and staff.

Bring a bit of Downton into your own home with Emily Ansara Baines “Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook”, featuring the expected tarts, crepes, and scones, but also appetizers and entrees suitable for both upstairs and downstairs.

You could also flip through “The Butler Speaks: A Guide to Stylish Entertaining, Etiquette and the Art of Good Housekeeping” by Charles Macpherson for detailed instructions on how to tie a perfect bow, set a table, fold a shirt (or a napkin!), and other things most of us will never be organized enough to do.

Not a Downton fan? You should read “Downtrodden Abbey”, a parody by Gillian Fetlocks. Starring characters with horrible names (like the Dowager Countess, Vile, and the long-suffering housekeeper, Mrs. Used) and loaded with inappropriate content (“Cripples Wanted!” reads the newspaper advertisement on page 29), it’s sure to get a laugh out of those who aren’t exactly prim and proper.

Stop by the library anytime this month to find these and other Downton-themed titles on display, or sign up for our upcoming Downton Abbey tea party on Saturday February 22, 1:00PM-3:00PM. This free event for adults includes traditional tea-time fare. Registration is required and begins February 10. We hope to see you there!

Library Buzz: Older and Wiser

(Originally published in the Butler County Times Gazette 1/2/14. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

Since I recently had a birthday, people teasingly ask me if I feel old now. The truth is I won't be satisfied until I hit 35. I hated being a kid, I hated being a teenager, and – as much as I liked college – I hated being a college student. Chalk it up to being “older and wiser” or whatever, but I get happier every year. I look forward to being a troublesome old lady like my grandmother, who doesn’t let anyone boss her around. This month, let's celebrate books with great older characters.

In nonfiction, we have an autobiography of an old lady I admire: “And Furthermore” by Dame Judi Dench. Dench chronicles her childhood in a theatre-loving home, her early acting career, and the joy she takes from friends and family. She describes in detail the roles she’s played, the celebrities she’s met, and the interesting places her career has taken her. Also, at 79, she’s still gorgeous.

Another nonfiction title is Justin Halpern’s “Sh*t My Dad Says”. Halpern started a twitter account of his father’s humorous outbursts and attained overnight fame. In this slim volume, Halpern shares some of his dad’s best tweets, along with longer anecdotes. Halpern’s dad is refreshingly blunt, but, as one might suspect from the book’s title, readers offended by strong language should pass on this one.

For a little mystery, try “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” by Walter Mosley. After ninety-one year old Ptolemy loses his grand-nephew in a drive-by shooting, he meets a doctor whose experimental drug grants Ptolemy renewed vigor and mental clarity but dramatically shortens his life expectancy. Ptolemy sets out to live his last days to the fullest but soon finds himself investigating his grand-nephew’s death.

For a lighter read, I recommend Terry Pratchett’s comic fantasy “Reaper Man”. All wizards know the exact date and time they will die, and Death himself must come to claim them – it’s one of the perks of the job – but on the elderly Windle Poons’ special day, Death doesn’t arrive. Poons sets out to investigate Death’s mysterious absence.

While you’re at the library check our DVD section for many of Judi Dench’s best films, including “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, as well as film versions of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple mysteries starring Margaret Rutherford.

One thing all these stories emphasize is that being old is hard – there’s no room for sissies! – so if you look up to your elders, tell them so. Until next month, don’t do anything my grandma wouldn’t do!

Library Buzz: Viva la Resolution

(The library is closed for New Years. Please enjoy this past article in the meantime. Originally published in the Andover American 1/3/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

At New Years, I start thinking about resolutions. Lots of them. I know I’m not going to wake up on January 1^st with Magical Habit Changing Powers, but I just can’t help myself. This year (I think every year) I will finally get it together!

Of course, the feeling won’t last. By February, I’ll accept my personal limitations and live in the same twenty-four hour days that other people do. But for now, I have plans to make.

Maybe you do, too?

To help you find the books you need to meet your goals, here’s a brief lesson about library organization: The Andover Public Library uses the Dewey Decimal System, where nonfiction books are labeled with a number depending on their topics. The books are arranged in number order, so books on the same subject are kept together. If you know the Dewey Decimal number for the topic you want, it’s easy to find it on the shelf.

If you resolved to lose weight this year, tasty new recipes will help you stay on track. Whether you opt for a low carb, slow carb, or no carb diet, you’ll find all our cookbooks under nonfiction number 641. Eat more veggies, like the ones in “The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without” by Mollie Katzen, but beware of fabulous desserts like those in Anna Ginsberg’s “The Daily Cookie.” Since all the cookbooks are in the same place, you may have to flex your willpower muscles.

Speaking of flexing muscles, you’ll find exercise videos under nonfiction number 613. As a yoga junkie, I recommend Rodney Yee’s “Yoga for Beginners”, which is a great introduction to yoga with plenty of vocal prompts so you can focus on finding inner peace rather than watching the screen. Yoga not your thing? We also have several fat burning workouts from Denise Austin and other energetic trainers.

Have you resolved to save money or pay off debt? Books on financial planning are kept under nonfiction number 332. Try Dave Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover” or Amy Dacyczyn’s “Tightwad Gazette”. Or maybe this is the year you’ll finally get organized, with a little help from books under 640 such as “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Organizing Your Life” by Georgene Lockwood or Peter Walsh’s “How to Organize Just About Anything”.

The library can help you fulfill all your New Year’s goals, like learning a new language (Spanish 468), learning to play an instrument (Guitar 787), or mastering a new craft (Watercolor 751). If you’d like help finding other books on other topics, ask a librarian or visit our catalog at http://catalog.andoverlibrary.org/polaris/. We’ve got your number.

And remember, your books will be due by February. Let’s try to maintain our resolve at least that long, okay?

Library Buzz: Reading Options for the Young at Heart

(Originally published in the Andover American 2/7/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

It’s sort of obvious when you walk in our front door: we love kids here at the Andover Public Library. From the colorful archway made of giant books, marking the entrance to our children’s section, to the interactive story times, to the art and science camps we offer during our summer reading program, the library goes out of its way to make children feel welcome. However, you might not be aware of what we have to offer older kids… like, much older… like, retired ones. Check out these goods and services that will appeal to elderly patrons. 

If you still have a young mind behind old, tired eyes, fear not! We offer many of our most popular titles in both regular and large print. Come by anytime to browse our large print collection, with nearly two thousand titles including the best inspirational stories from Beverly Lewis and Karen Kingsbury and suspenseful mysteries from James Patterson and J.D. Robb. If we don’t have the large print title you want, consider filling out an Inter-Library Loan request. Using this free service, patrons can check out other libraries’ books directly from the Andover Public Library, granting access to multiple library collections from one convenient location.

Patrons who can’t see well enough to read print should try one of our audiobooks. Try John Lithgow’s memoir, “Drama”, read by the man himself, describing his life and career with refreshing candor. Or try New York Times bestseller “Eat Pray Love”, read with genuine emotion by the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, adding a new dimension to an already stellar book. If you like horror or suspense, try “Red Dragon” by Thomas Harris, smoothly narrated by actor Chris Sarandon. Of course, most audiobooks are narrated by professional voice actors you won’t recognize from TV or movies but who are no less talented at bringing books to life. Try several books to see if you can find a new favorite reader.

Patrons who aren’t able to visit the library due to age or infirmity can still check out books. Using our Novel Journeys homebound program, patrons can receive a bag of library books once a month, carefully selected by book-savvy volunteers. Patrons can specify favorite authors or genres, as well as limit their selections to large print or audiobooks. The books are delivered and picked up by caring volunteers from the local Rotary Club at no charge to the patron. All it takes to enroll is a library card. Call the library for more information at 558-3500.

Whether you’re young or merely young at heart, you never outgrow the love of a good story. Stop by the library anytime to see how we can meet your reading needs.

Library Buzz: These are a Few of Our Favorite Things

(Although this article was originally published 12/6/12, and the "upcoming" and "new" titles mentioned are old news by now, these recommendations are still good. Please note that this year's Hometown Christmas is December 12. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

I recently saw this gift-giving advice online: “One thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to wear, and one thing to read.” I can’t help you with the first three items, but for giftable book ideas, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few titles you might not have heard about for the readers in your life.

Elementary and middle grade readers may enjoy “Dragonbreath” by Ursula Vernon, about a young dragon’s encounters with monsters, ninjas, ghosts, and other oddball antagonists, making these the sort of off-the-wall, non sequitur stories that some kids can’t resist. Peppered with humorous illustrations like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, the Dragonbreath series currently consists of seven books, with more scheduled to come out next year.

For history buffs, I recommend Simon Winchester. Winchester’s books are well researched but cover events that don’t come up in history class. Personal favorites are “The Professor and the Madman”, about the creators of the Oxford English Dictionary, and “The Map that Changed the World”, about a pioneer in the geological sciences. Winchester’s books read like novels and will appeal to fans of adventure stories as well as historical fiction.

For fantasy fans, go for Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, starting with “The Eye of the World”. With a politically charged, pseudo-medieval fantasy setting, this series will appeal to fans of George R.R. Martin’s “A Game of Thrones”, but with less sex and violence, making it safe for younger advanced readers who have already enjoyed “Eragon” or “Lord of the Rings”. The fourteenth and final book, “A Memory of Light” co-written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death, is due out in January.

Mystery readers might enjoy Louise Penny, whose 2005 debut “Still Life” introduces readers to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a Canadian officer in a small village in Quebec. This elegantly written series, currently eight books, will appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith with its diverse characters and cozy plots. The newest book, New York Times bestseller “The Beautiful Mystery”, came out in September.

If you need other gift suggestions, check out the booklists on our website, www.andoverlibrary.org/APLreadinglists, or ask a librarian during Hometown Christmas, Thursday December 13, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM. From all of us at the Andover Public Library, we hope you’ll give the gift of reading this Christmas, and we wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season.

Library Buzz: You'll Shoot Your Eye Out

(Originally published in the Butler County Times Gazette 12/5/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

My childhood was absolutely normal. Plain vanilla. I don't have anything like “A Christmas Story” in my background: no leg lamps, no licking lamp posts, no ruined Christmas dinners. It's a downright mystery how I grew up to be so quirky. I do, however, enjoy reading other people's humorous memoirs. These three will have you laughing so hard you’ll be embarrassed to read them in public.

Ever since I read her essay about being trapped in a fitting room after trying on a shirt which turned out to be too small to take off again, I have known Laurie Notaro and I are spirit-sisters. Although that essay is in her excellent book "It Looked Different on the Model", I also recommend “An Idiot Girl’s Christmas: True Tales from the Top of the Naughty List”, a collection of holiday anecdotes. Notaro, Arizona native and former newspaper columnist, is bound to make readers feel better about their own holiday stresses, if only by comparison.

David Sedaris, whose autobiographical works feature his cynical mother, artistic friends, and peculiar siblings, began his career on talk radio, so he truly shines as the narrator of the audio versions of his books. I recommend “Me Talk Pretty One Day”, which chronicles his failed career in the arts, his failure to understand restaurant menus, and his failed attempts to learn French. Another of his books, a collection of Christmas stories called “Holidays on Ice”, will make you laugh until you cry as Sedaris describes the horrors of working as an elf in Santa’s village at Macy’s.

Jenny Lawson, a freelance writer who collects taxidermied animals and almost makes it sound normal, entertains readers on her blog at thebloggess.com, but in her #1 New York Times Bestselling memoir “Let's Pretend This Never Happened”, Jenny describes her childhood in Texas, her awkward teenage years, and her struggles with depression. While this summary may sound harmless enough, Jenny is like that one friend we all have who says exactly what she’s thinking without considering the consequences, making her memoir both irreverent and refreshing, though not appropriate for polite conversation.

If stories of your own childhood are equally inappropriate, check out the new release “Writing Your Life: A Guide to Writing Autobiographies” by Mary Borg. You might have a bestselling memoir on your hands. Just be sure to mention the Andover Public Library in your dedication.

Library Buzz: Welcome to my Spaceship!

(Originally published in the Butler County Times Gazette 11/7/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

At the library we’ve recently installed a set of automatic sliding doors. It’s like I’m working aboard the Starship Enterprise and (along with the new “Ender’s Game” movie,) it’s put me in a science fiction mood. Of course, my scifi tastes may be too fluffy for some – I tend to ignore petty details like the laws of physics – but I think I’ve picked a little something for everyone… unless you’re an alien. I don’t know what sort of books appeal to aliens. Keep that in mind.

A great introduction to science fiction is Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, arguably one of the funniest books ever written in any genre. Many fans are unaware that there is a sixth book in the five-book trilogy, “And Another Thing…” written by Eoin Colfer with the blessing of Adams’ estate.

If you’re anxiously awaiting BBC’s Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special later this month, consider Stephen Baxter’s “The Wheel of Ice”, a Doctor Who novel featuring the Second Doctor as he investigates a hole in time near a mining base orbiting Saturn. Long-term Whovians will enjoy the many references to classic Who episodes peppered throughout the book.

In another Stephen Baxter title, “The Long Earth”, co-written with Sir Terry Pratchett, a simple invention grants mankind the ability to “step” between realities. As adventurous individuals set out to colonize these new frontiers, one man scouts the new worlds with the help of a sentient super-computer, but what they find in the Earths far from our own is not what they expected.

Teens and adults both will enjoy the new young adult title “The 5th Wave” by Rick Yancey. Starring a strong female main character in a gritty post-apocalyptic struggle for survival when the world has been devastated by wave after wave of alien attack, this book will appeal to fans of “The Hunger Games” and “Maze Runner”, as well as adults who like to pretend they’re too old for teen books.

We also have science fiction titles for older elementary- and middle-school-aged children. I recommend “Other Worlds” by Jon Scieszka, part of his wonderful “Guys Read” anthology series which is targeted to young boys who don’t like to read, featuring short stories by Rick Riordan, Tom Angleberger, and Ray Bradbury.

Need more suggestions? Come by the library and ask a librarian. Better yet, ask for Tom, our new director. Word on the street is he’s a science fiction fan. Drop in and say hello.

Until next month, may the force be with you.

Now beam me up, Scotty.

Library Buzz: Mysterious Circumstances

(Originally published in the Andover American 11/1/12. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

There's not a lot of mystery in real life. For example, I don't remember the last time I found a body... because that's never even happened. Most people don't find bodies in the normal course of their day. My biggest mystery is usually what I'm going to have for dinner. Depending on how recently I've done the grocery shopping, this particular mystery doesn't always have a happy ending. I find that to get my daily dose of Mystery I have to supplement my life with mystery books. If the most mysterious part of your day is wondering what you're going to read next, check out these mystery book suggestions from the library staff.

Cheri, who adores Nathan Fillion, suggests the new "Frozen Heat" by Richard Castle. Astute observers will know that Richard Castle is not a real person, so "Who actually wrote Richard Castle's books?" is a fun mystery on its own, but according to Cheri "Frozen Heat" is a quick and flirty whodunnit that will keep you guessing until the end.

Cathy, our children's librarian, recommends "Beekeeper's Apprentice" by Laurie R. King. This is the first book of the Mary Russell series, in which young Mary receives detective training from a retired Sherlock Holmes. The series, which currently stands at twelve books, will appeal to fans of historical fiction and classic mysteries.

Librarians Karyn and Carla both recommend anything by Gillian Flynn. While you await your turn on the hold list for her newest novel, "Gone Girl," consider some of her other books, such as "Dark Places" and "Sharp Objects." Karyn says, “If Gillian Flynn wrote a new novel every month, that might be enough.”

What do I recommend? As the Young Adult librarian, I’m all for pushing my YA collection. I suggest “Silverfin,” first book of Charlie Higson’s Young James Bond series, which takes place years before Bond  ever becomes the iconic 007, pitting him against a villain set on world domination. The upcoming Bond movie “Skyfall” may be rated PG-13, but “Silverfin” is appropriate for middle school and up.

While we’re on the topic of mysteries, let me solve a few library mysteries for you: the password for your account online is your last name in lowercase letters, patrons can check out fifty items at a time, including four DVDs per card, we do have computers available for public use, and yes, we check out cake pans. Have other questions? Check the FAQs page of our website at www.andoverlibrary.org.

Mystery solved.

Library Buzz: Staying Alive?

(Originally published in the Andover American 10/3/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

Man, zombies are everywhere lately!

Not literally, of course. I mean, zombies are all over books and other popular media. Obviously, if zombies were really everywhere, I’d be far too busy to write newspaper articles.

Let me start again.

This month, I have some fabulous recommendations featuring our friends the undead. Check them out!

I know what you’re thinking: zombies aren’t real. Well, tell that to Frank Swain, author of the nonfiction book, “How to Make a Zombie: The Real Life (and Death) Science of Reanimation and Mind Control”. Documenting horrific true stories of so-called “voodoo zombies”, dead animals brought back to life in shady labs, and Manchurian Candidate-style mind control, this book is both creepy and engrossingly cool.

Too much for you? We have a similar, shorter book in the children’s nonfiction section. The newly released “Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature’s Undead” by Rebecca L. Johnson has everything you didn’t want to know about the parasitic fungi and bacteria that take over insect and animal host bodies through freaky mind control, with full color photographs for those with strong stomachs.

For fiction, try “My Life as a White Trash Zombie” by Diana Rowland. Angel Crawford wakes up in the ER after an alleged drug overdose that should have killed her. Or did it? Soon, she’s craving brains and solving murders at her new job with the county morgue. It’s a dark-humored urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris’ “Sookie Stackhouse” series.

In our New Books section, Michael Logan’s “Apocalypse Cow”, inaugural winner of the Terry Pratchett Prize, pits three unlikely heroes against a zombie horde—that is, herd—of bloodthirsty, flesh-eating cattle after a bioweapon experiment goes terribly awry in this debut novel that is just as surreal as it sounds, part “Shaun of the Dead”, part “Outbreak”.

Get the kids involved with adorable picture books like Kristyn Crow’s “Zombelina” (about a zombie who joins a dance academy for real girls where she’s so good, it’s scary), or “Zombie in Love” by Kelly Dipucchio (in which Mortimer the zombie can’t find a girl despite working out, dance lessons, and online dating), both starring lovable zombies who are neither terrifying nor gory.

Don’t forget to pick up some zombie movies like “Warm Bodies” or the new “World War Z”, or “The Walking Dead” TV series from our DVD section.

Until next month, keep shambling along out there, and tell the zombies they can’t have your brains: you’re still using them!

Library Buzz: Get Your Money's Worth

(Originally published in the Andover American 7/4/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

I know it’s normally a taboo subject, but today I’d like to talk about money. In the past twelve months, I’ve saved over $1900 without changing my lifestyle and you can too.

Here’s the short version: libraries save money.

Here’s the long version:

America’s free public libraries aren’t really free: you pay for them with your taxes. Specifically, less than one percent of your tax dollars goes towards the public library system. Here at the Andover Public Library, we use that money to purchase books, movies, and audiobooks, and to provide services like public access computers and children’s story times, to name only a few.

Since you’ve already paid for these “free” services, if you haven’t used your library lately you’re not getting your money’s worth.

For example, to see how much money I saved this year, I checked my library record. While we don’t normally keep records of the items our patrons check out, patrons can request to keep such a record when they show their library card or driver’s license at the circulation desk. My record shows I’ve checked out 158 items since July 1, 2012 - 29 audiobooks, 81 books, and 48 DVDs. According to Amazon.com (and a lot of math), I’ve saved $1962 by using the library instead of buying these things.

But it’s not just about how much money I personally saved – it spreads to the entire community. How many times have you bought a book you’ve only read once or twice? I’ve seen a single $4.00 paperback circulate more than seventy times before it fell to pieces. That’s seventy people who saved $4.00, or a combined savings of $280 for a single item. When you multiply that savings by the 48,000 items we have in the library, it quickly adds up.

Your own mileage may vary. The more you use the library, the more you save. You can buy loads of children’s books that your kids will outgrow later, or you can have a rotating collection from the library that grows and matures with them. You can buy the hot new title that everyone is talking about or you can join the discussion for free by checking it out from the library.

There’s more to it, of course. It’s hard to fit all the mathematical details into a brief newspaper column, especially when there are so many variables, but I’ll say it again: libraries save money. Visit us at Andover Public Library soon to start some savings of your own.

Library Buzz: Garden of Bookish Delights

(Originally published in the Andover American 9/5/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

I’ve eaten a cucumber or two each day for the past week. Librarian Cheri gardens with her husband, and after they’ve frozen, canned, and pickled all they care to, Cheri brings the excess to the library and gives them away. They’re delicious! Almost delicious enough to convince me to start my own garden.

Unfortunately, gardening is a huge commitment: hours of effort for months on end, while success or failure hinges on bugs, weather, and fate. No, thank you! Whenever I’m tempted to start a garden, I lie down until the feeling passes.

That doesn’t stop me from reading a few garden-themed books, though. See what you think of these:

Historical fiction fans should try “Earthly Joys” by Philippa Gregory. Set in seventeenth century England, the story follows John Tradescant, a commoner who rises above his circumstances to become a gardener in the king’s service. Tradescant befriends important members of the court, becoming privy to plots and intrigues at the highest levels. Fans of Gregory’s War of the Roses series (“The White Queen”) or The Tudors (“The Other Boleyn Girl”) should enjoy this well-researched novel.

For a cozy mystery, you can’t go wrong with The Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert, starting with “The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree.” The Darling Dahlias are a gardening club in Alabama during the Great Depression, but it’s not all tea and sandwiches: they solve murders on the side. We have the whole series at Andover Public Library, including the newest volume, “The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star” out this month.

If you’d prefer something lighter, try a fluffy romance, like the In the Garden trilogy by Nora Roberts, beginning with “Blue Dahlia”. Three women brought together by a historical mansion, a successful gardening business, and a ghostly mystery, find their way to love and deeper friendships as they follow their hearts. Since we have the whole trilogy available on CD, consider listening to this one outside in a lawn chair in this cooling weather.

If gardening isn’t for you, be sure to check our website (andoverlibrary.org) this month for more information about our upcoming events, including a pirate party on 9/19 and GAD festivities starting 9/26. Come by to browse our New Books shelf, and check out the new additions to our juvenile and young adult audio sections. If you’re lucky, there might even be a cucumber left for you.

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.

Library Buzz: There Really Are Fifty Shades of Grey

People often ask, “What is Banned Books Week? Are you banning books?” Quite the opposite. Librarians don’t ban books. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I’ll decide I don’t like a book. Sometimes, I won’t even read it first (I’m that unenlightened). But here’s the thing: Librarians don’t have to ban the books we don’t agree with. We know you’ll read the book and decide for yourself.

It’s not black and white: there’s no line with “Good books” on one side and “Bad books” on the other. If you like romance novels, your definition of “good” is going to differ from my action-adventure tastes. Some books have poor plots but fabulous prose. Others are badly written but tell great stories. Maybe they’re awful. Maybe they’re everything you ever wanted and more. You won’t know until you read them.

For this one week each year, we encourage you to read things that other people don’t want you to read. Check out these frequently challenged or banned books:

Middle school students might enjoy “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, set in a dystopian future that will appeal to fans of “The Hunger Games.” In a world where government chooses your job, your spouse, even when you die, one young man must make a painful choice of his own.

High school students should try “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles, frequently banned from high schools for offensive language, but so thought-provoking that I still think about it more than ten years after reading it. It’s beautifully written with flawed, yet relatable, characters.

For the adults, I recommend “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett, frequently challenged for being violent and sexually explicit. It is certainly those things, but it’s also epic. This historical fiction follows the rivalries of peasants, priests, and royals in medieval England. Plan to miss dinner because you won’t be able to put it down.

Banned Books Week kicks off our Big Read celebration, which lasts all October. This year, citizens of Andover are reading “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, a cautionary tale of book burning in an age of unlimited government control. Join us at the library all month for Big Read activities, such as an altered books workshop October 13 and a visit from the fire department October 27. If you’d rather rescue books than burn them, shop our used book sale October 20. Check our website for more events.

Until next month, don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t read!

(Originally published in the Andover American 10/4/12)

Library Buzz: Caution: Adventure Ahead

When I say, "Let's have an adventure!" chances are good that what I actually mean is "Let's think about having an adventure!" Face it: adventures are expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. For me – maybe for you, too – just pondering an adventure is enough, and the best place for that sort of thing is the library.

So, how about it? Do you feel like having an adventure today?

For the would-be traveler, check out a travel guide from our nonfiction collection. I recommend DK's Eyewitness Travel Guides, known for their full-color photographs and detailed descriptions of must-see locations. For the less ambitious, stay close to home with "A Food Lover's Guide to Kansas City," by Sylvie Murphy.

What better way to pretend you're planning a trip than by studying a foreign language? With a state library card, any Kansas resident can access the Mango Languages database for free lessons on up to 40 languages, including French, Spanish, or Italian for novice adventurers and things like Farsi, Urdu, and Tagalog for the seasoned globe-trotter. Mango is also available as an app on iPhone and Android devices, so you can take your language lessons with you everywhere. To apply for your Kansas library card (not to be confused with an Andover library card), bring a valid Kansas driver's license to the library's front desk.

Don't forget to stop by the library at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, for a brief Mango Languages' demonstration during our International Talk Like a Pirate Day party. We'll have snacks, a treasure hunt, and a family-friendly pirate movie.

If pretend adventures aren't your thing, nonfiction adventure stories are a great way to live vicariously through other people. For an armchair adventure of your own, try "Near Death on the High Seas: True Stories of Disaster and Survival," by Cecil Kuhne for amazing true stories of shipwrecks, dangerous voyages, and storms at sea that will keep you on the edge of your very comfy seat. Alternatively, try Robert Kurson's "Shadow Divers: the True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II" and follow along as real divers try to identify the wreck of a German U-boat that, according to government records, shouldn't exist.

If you think you'd like to take your adventure past the planning stages, Andover Library is also a passport application processing facility. Agents are available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding any day the library is closed). Visit www.travel.state.gov or call the library and ask to speak to a passport agent to learn what you need to bring with you to apply. It can take up to six weeks for your passport to arrive in the mail, so give yourself plenty of lead time before your trip.

At the library, we're here for all of your adventure planning needs, whether your adventures are real or imaginary, because planning really is the best part. Follow-through is exceedingly overrated.

(Originally published in the Andover American 9/5/12)

Library Buzz: Silence in the Library?

(Andover Public Library now has a monthly column in the Andover American. "Library Buzz" is written by YA librarian Tori Hamilton and will appear in the first issue of each month.)

The library isn’t what it used to be. There was a time when the library was quiet. Maybe you remember what I'm talking about: Stooped-backed old ladies with thick glasses and gray hair in tight buns skulked around shushing everybody, like that ghost at the beginning of Ghostbusters. Their stern gazes followed you around the room, thin-lipped grimaces daring you to touch their precious books, let alone put one back on the wrong shelf.

Seriously, what fun is that?

At the Andover Public Library, we have a lot going on. Sure, we still have books, including new releases, best-sellers, and favorite classics, but we offer so much more than that. Between our interactive storytimes, friends catching up on the latest news, tutors working with students, and local businessmen using our wi-fi to connect with the world, it can get a bit noisy sometimes. We're okay with that. At APL, we believe a library is an integral part of any close-knit community and anytime you bring people together in the spirit of fun, "quiet" goes right out the window. Drop in and visit us during any of our special events to see for yourself: in the past six months alone we've had jugglers, live animal demonstrations, used book sales, guest speakers, art programs, concerts, book clubs, Lego clubs, family movie nights, tea parties, gaming tournaments, and the occasional puppet show. You're bound to find something at the library you'll enjoy, and I promise you we don’t have much time to wander the stacks shushing people. 

Some of our hottest new books aren’t particularly quiet either: just gripping action and nail-biting suspense. The latest James Patterson novel, I, Michael Bennet pits the New York detective and father of ten against ruthless South American drug lords. Bennett will do anything to protect his family, a quality that many readers relate to and which sets this series apart from others Hard-Boiled Detective novels. If you’d rather start with the first Michael Bennett novel, check out Step on a Crack by James Patterson.

Daniel Silva’s new Fallen Angel has art restorer and former spy Gabriel Allon solving a murder in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The investigation leads Gabriel to St. Moritz, the Vatican, the back alleys of Istanbul, and a dramatic climax in Jerusalem; it’s like watching the Travel Channel, only with art smuggling and spy action.

Other popular titles include Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Litigators by John Grisham, and (in nonfiction) Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. If you’d like to check out any of these titles, come by the library, give us a call, or access our catalog online to put the item on hold. We’ll contact you as soon as it’s available.

Until next month, go out there and make some noise.
(Originally published in the Andover American, 8/2/12)