Are you an avid reader?  If you are and have not discovered goodreads.com, you may want to check it out.  On goodreads you can keep track of all of the books you have read and would like to read.  You can get reading ideas based on the books you have read and discuss books with other readers.  There are literally thousands of reading groups you can join, depending on your interest.   If you like trivia, there are quizzes on hundreds of books, including a never-ending book quiz.   I have kept a list for over ten years of books I have read, and on goodreads I could enter them and then tag them under different categories, such as historical fiction, nonfiction, suspense, favorites, etc.  It’s a great way to recommend books to people, depending on their reading preference.  So, if you’re a reader I encourage you to give goodreads a try. 

From Page to Screen: Flowers in the Attic

It was probably inevitable. I mean, now that 50 Shades is being made into a movie the floodgates have opened and the bar of "questionable taste" has been....adjusted.

Without further ado, I give you the trailer for Flowers in the Attic.



Lest you are surprised Flowers hasn't been made into a movie before now, rest assured: a 1987 adaptation was released, but only hinted at the incest that is integral to the plot (the part that was 90% of the reason most of us weren't allowed to read the book).  According to star Mason Dye, this adaptation will be different, saying "we stay very true to the book." 

The new film adaptation will premiere on Lifetime, January 18, 2014.  Incidentally, that leaves you plenty of time to read the book before you pop your popcorn.

Happy Reading!

World Book Night Returns!

Hey Book Lovers!  It's time to get ready to share your passion!

World Book Night 2014 is already in the works, with titles having been released this past week and applications to be a Book Giver are open!

In case you've not yet experienced it, here's the long (in short) about World Book Night: each year, readers from around the country nominate books that they have loved and the top 35 most recommended books then go back to the presses and get snazzy new covers that mark them as a World Book Night title.  Meanwhile, Book Lovers (such as yourself--hint hint) are busily signing up online, all over the country, to be Book Givers.  You'll ask for your top three choices of the above-mentioned books.  Early next year, you'll pick where you want to pick up your box of books and then, magically, a box will arrive at that place with your name on it and 20 copies of one of your top three picks.  You, then, my devoted readers, will go out into the community on April 23 and give away the books, for free, to anyone willing to try them out!

The idea behind World Book Night is to get books into the hand of people who might not have books of their own, or people who are less inclined to read.  The beauty of the book nominating system is that all these books have been selected by other readers--think of them as the Best of the Best in the People's Choice Awards.  

If you're ready to get involved, go here to fill out the application to be a Book Giver.  Want to know more about World Book Night?  Check out the website to learn all about the story behind this great annual event. And if you're simply ready to read every single book on the list, give the Ask Here Desk at the library a call at 355-2730 and we'll help you get your hands on them.

Happy Reading!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

From the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Distant Hours, The Forgotten Garden, and The House at Riverton, a spellbinding novel of family secrets, murder, and enduring love:
During a picnic at her family’s farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson witnesses a shocking crime, a crime that challenges everything she knows about her adored mother, Dorothy. Now, fifty years later, Laurel and her sisters are meeting at the farm to celebrate Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this is her last chance to discover the truth about that long-ago day, Laurel searches for answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past. Clue by clue, she traces a secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds thrown together in war-torn London—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—whose lives are forever after entwined. A gripping story of deception and passion, The Secret Keeper will keep you enthralled to the last page.  Available as a book group to go bag.

Attention Book Groups

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvenile hall. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian arent as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life answers that will ultimately free them both.  Available as a book group to go bag. 

Froggy is coming!!

Froggy, that adorable character in Jonathan London’s books, is visiting the library tomorrow morning, Thursday, October 10 at 10:00 am!  We are planning to read some Froggy books, of course, and we will have a simple craft for the kids too.  Remember to bring your camera to get a picture of your child with the star of the day!

October is National Dwarfism Awareness Month

Did you know that about 1 in 10,000 births results in a child with dwarfism, and that there are over 200 types of dwarfism? October is Dwarfism Awareness Month and Herrick is celebrating the contributions of little people (the preferred term for a person with dwarfism) to the print and visual arts.

Along with these very informative resources about dwarfism, check out Herrick's DVD collection of little people actors and issues dealing with dwarfism.  And while you may be familiar with seeing and reading about dwarfs in the genre of science fiction--not to mention the renowned "munchkins" from the classic The Wizard of Oz--of perhaps greater interest are the memoirs written by and about little people, such as the work of authors Warwick Davis, Fred Gill, Shorty Rossi, Tiffanie DiDonato and Julie B. Genovese.

Take a little time to click on some of our links or do some independent research to educate yourself about dwarfism.  And don't forget:

"A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself." -- Robert Burton