To Binge or Not to Binge

I have to admit, I have on occasion binged my way through entire television seasons. The temptation is just too great, sometimes it is hard to stop, there are no commercials to tolerate and you can easily fast forward and find out what happens next without having to wait a week. Here is a mix of drama and comedy, in no particular order, that may make it hard to get up off the couch.

Shameless (hard not to binge)
Friends
Sex in the City
Entourage
Call the Midwife (not to binge, each episode is emotional)
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Friday Night Lights
Glee
The Office
30 Rock

A Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Far, Far Away...

This week marks the release of the newest Star Wars film, Rogue One, which takes place in between 2005’s Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and 1977’s original Star Wars film, Episode IV – A New Hope. It is the first Star Wars film to stray from the Skywalker family saga, though dedicated Star Wars fans know that the expanded universe has told stories from all over the galaxy. Here are a few Star Wars titles to enjoy, whether you’re counting down the minutes to Rogue One’s release, or just looking for a fun scifi adventure. 

• The Clone Wars
• Television Series. This animated series takes place in between Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. 
• Catalyst
• Novel. This new novel takes place before Rogue One and gives some background on some of the key new characters in the film. 
• Episode IV- A New Hope
• Movie. The blockbuster that started it all! Rogue One takes place just before A New Hope and ties in directly - so make sure you remember how it goes! 
• Vader Down
• Graphic Novel. Marvel's Star Wars comics feature a huge variety of your favorite Star Wars characters and take place all over the Star Wars timeline. This particular volume is in between A New Hope and Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and shows the iconic Darth Vader at his most fearsome. 
• Heir to the Empire
• Novel. Known to many fans as "The Thrawn Trilogy", Heir to the Empire is the first of three novels and takes place shortly after Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. 

For even more Star Wars reads, stop at the Reader Services desk or browse the STAR WARS call number in our Science Fiction and Fantasy section. 

Lynsay Sands' Argeneau/Rogue Hunter Series - Modern Vampires with a Twist.

Starting a new series of books can be a daunting task - especially if you look at how many their are in the series. Lynsay Sands' Argeneau Series has 24 titles in it! Soon to be 25 with one coming out in March of 2017. Where does one begin?  Try the first one - A Quick Bite.

Every vampire series has a creation story of how they got that way. Sands' tale is that they once were an advanced race of people who created scientific nanos to cure disease and keep the body in top condition. And then their home world of Atlantis was destroyed. But the nanos adapted - requiring the user to use up more blood to keep their body going. And that adaption brought upon the vampire characteristics - moving swiftly, great strength, the need for more blood, and yes - fangs. But while these Immortals may be old (they like the name Immortals better - vampire is a human term...) they have moved into modern society quite nicely - having set up their own blood banks, and businesses in the twentieth century.

Sands' books are different - just for the unique relationships - when's the last time you had an older heroine - worried about hitting on / being attracted to a young guy - when in reality - he thinks she is perfect - cause he's over 200 and she's only 60. The story lines are not atypical - just when you think this reads similar - she'll give you a twist. And then there is the humor. I love romances with humor. The vampires know their situation is usual, and sounds crazy - but they still have very human characteristics and emotions. I promise you will laugh out loud.

And then there are the families. It starts with the Argeneaus - very prolific family - full of cousins and connections and then come along the Nottes and their friends, and co-workers. If you like detailed series full of characters, try these.  In fact one of the best parts of A Quick Bite - is the family's reactions to the new guy/boyfriend.  

So come along for the fun ride and try a Lynsay Sands'  paranormal title today. Oh, did I mention she also does historicals? 

Have fun reading!

Fore more information on the Argeneau/Rogue series - family trees - book excerpts - series order - see Sand's website.

Liked Stranger Things? Try These!

Have you just finished binging on Stranger Things? Not quite ready to step away from the brilliantly nostalgic aesthetic? Here's a list of movies referenced - either directly or by visual homage - by the newest hit series.

• Close Encounters of the Third Kind 
• Alien
• The Goonies
• Nightmare on Elm Street ('84)
• Poltergeist ('82)
• The Shining
• Stand By Me
• Carrie ('76)
• The Evil Dead ('82)
• The Thing ('82)
• E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

But there's more to nostalgic homage than the movies of the time period. Try some music featured in the show too:

• The Clash
• Modern English
• Joy Division
• Jefferson Airplane
• New Order

Last but not least, why not try Dungeons & Dragons? The classic game is featured throughout the series. The game is currently in its 5th edition, and we've got all the newest books, and some older ones as well.

• Player's Handbook
• Dungeon Master's Guide
• Curse of Strahd
• Monster Manual - the players on the show fight the dreaded Demogorgon. You can find it on page 51!

Watched Game of Thrones? Read and Watch These!

The currently airing season of Game of Thrones has been all over social media for some of its unexpected plot twists and big reveals - some of which haven't even been seen in the source novels yet! If you love reading or watching Game of Thrones, you might just love these as well!

House of Cards 
If you love the politicking, the backstabbing, and social outmaneuvering in Game of Thrones, try this critically acclaimed American political drama series starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.







Vikings
If you're more into the swordplay, or even the set design and look of Game of Thrones, try Vikings! This historical drama focuses on one of the best known Vikings from the Viking Age - Ragnar Lothbrak. It's loosely based on history, so it doesn't feature any magical elements, but is still well worth watching.






The Name of the Wind
For many, one of the most appealing things about Game of Thrones is its "low" fantasy setting - there's magic, and dragons, but it's subtle (compared to the orcs and wizards of more Tolkein-like worlds). If you too love that about Game of Thrones, try this first novel in Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle. 






Dune 
Do you side with the Lannisters, the Starks, or the Targaryens on Game of Thrones? Perhaps even one of the lesser houses has caught your loyalty. If you love the scale and political intrigue of the feuding families of Westeros, try the epic science fiction series that begins in the novel Dune.






Kingdom of Heaven
If you constantly marvel at the world the Game of Thrones series has created, or get a thrill from its large scale battles, try this historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott. Its sweeping story - loosely based on historical events -  begins in France and ranges all the way to Jerusalem.

Mini-Series: Prime for Binge-Watching (or Binge- Reading)

British television series are prime candidates for binge-watching by those who indulge in this wide-spread guilty pleasure. Recently, PBS has been showing the classic Jewel in the Crown, a 14-episode award-winning drama about the waning days of British rule in India. If you want to read the books it was based on, check out the library's copy of Paul Scott's The Raj Quartet.

Poldark

Also proving popular is this new mini-series based Winston Graham's  historical family saga in twelve books published between 1951 and 2002. These novels of Cornwall take place from 1783 to  1820. Check out this link if you like to read before viewing: Ross Poldark

Grantchester: Masterpiece Mystery presented the first season of this story about a country vicar leading a quiet life in Grantchester until one of his parishioners dies under suspicious circumstances. The series is based on James Runcie's Grantchester Mysteries (1-4). 
The first of the Grantchester Mysteries is:
Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death





Wolf Hall   
This mini-series about Henry VIII , Thomas Cromwell, and Anne Boleyn is based on two books by Hilary Mantel: Wolf Hall and Bringing Up the Bodies.









Coming October 2015: Keep an eye out for the new 8-part series based on the books of Bernard Cornwell. The first book in the Saxon Tales is The Last Kingdom, in case you want to get ready to be dropped into ninth century Great Britain.

Laugh your way into the New Year!

I am always amazed at how quickly the holidays descend upon us. I never feel like I am ready and with New Year's so close to Christmas I am always making plans last minute. And this year is no different. However, this year one of my resolutions is to have more fun so here is a short list of TV shows to make me laugh in the new year. I hope they will do the same for you. Laughter really is the best medicine.

Modern Family
Friends
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Everybody Loves Raymond
Entourage
The Office
The Best of Dick Van Dyke

Fall Into Reading

Enjoying the leaves as they turn colors?  Bite into a great book to celebrate the season. Check out this great mystery series by Sheila Connolly, the Orchard Mysteries series, set in an Massachusetts apple orchard!






One Bad Apple

Book 1, Orchard Mysteries
While renovating the Massachusetts colonial house her mother inherited to sell it quickly for a share of the profits, Meg Corey unexpectedly becomes enamored of the house and orchard, until she stumbles upon the dead body of her ex-boyfriend floating in her new septic tank. 

Rotten to the Core

Book 2, Orchard Mysteries

When the dead body of a local organic-farming enthusiast is found in her springhouse with traces of pesticide poisoning, orchard owner Meg Corey discovers that there is more than one bad apple in the bunch as she tries to clear her name.

Red Delicious Death: an orchard mystery

Book 3, Orchard Mysteries
When one of the chefs who planned on opening a new restaurant in Granford, which would use locally-grown foods, is murdered, orchard-owner Meg Corey steps in to investigate and digs up some small-town secrets that place her own life in danger.

A Killer Crop: an orchard mystery

Book 4, Orchard Mysteries
When her mother arrives unannounced during harvest season, apple orchard owner Meg Corey finds things taking a turn for the worse when an old friend of her mother's is found dead on her property and her mother stands accused of the crime.

Bitter Harvest

Book 5, Orchard Mysteries

After discovering an early-nineteenth-century silk sampler embroidered with apple trees and names she doesn't recognize, Meg Corey is plagued by a series of small, but dangerous, mishaps, which forces her to unravel the mystery surrounding the sampler.

Sour Apples

Book 6, Orchard Mysteries
When her neighbor, an outspoken dairy farmer, is murdered, apple orchard owner Meg Corey must find out who had a beef with the victim before she meets the same fate.

Golden Malicious
Book 7, Orchard Mysteries
Orchard owner Meg Corey investigates after she discovers a dead body at an old saw mill's forest reserve and an insect infestation comes to the area

Picked to Die

Book 8, Orchard Mysteries
It's harvest time in Granford, Massachusetts, and orchard owner Meg Corey and her fiance, Seth, are both racing to beat the New England winter. Meg is bringing in her apple crop with a team of workers, while Seth is working to restore an old building in the center of town. But when his project is set back due to the unexpected discovery of a skeleton under the building--and even worse, a young man related to one of Meg's former apple pickers is found dead behind the local feed store--the couple's carefully laid plans are quickly spoiled.

Television on DVD

Do you have a favorite show that you follow on TV? Did you go on vacation and missed a couple of weeks and now you want to catch up? Whether you are just hearing about a fabulous series like Scandal, Homeland, or Downton Abbey and want to watch it from the first season, or one that was just released on DVD, check it out at the Library.

First seasons available on DVD this year:

NASHVILLE - it is not all song and dance in Nashville. This is the story of the rivalry between the Queen of Country, played by Connie Britton and the hot, young diva, played by Hayden Panettiere, who is looking to dethrone her.

VEEP– follow the hectic day-to-day life of Selina Meyer, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a former Senator, and now Vice-President, as she juggles her public and private life and her relationship with the Chief Executive.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST –Kristin Kreuk plays the role of a homicide detective involved with a  mysterious Dr. Vincent Keller, played by Brian White. This drama/thriller won the 2013 People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama.

HOUSE OF CARDS – starring Kevin Spacey as a politician who forms a relationship with a journalist, played by Kate Mara in order to trade secrets for personal and political gains.

THE NEWSROOM – starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer.  This drama takes a behind-the-scenes look at the fictional network, ACN, its anchor, producer and newsroom staff.

Waiting for the latest Stephanie Plum title by Janet Evanovich?

If you are eager to read the latest title in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, but have found yourself stuck in the middle of the hold list, you might consider one of the series below while you wait. Each features a feisty, wise-cracking female investigator, a fast-paced plot with plenty of suspense, an entertaining cast of quirky characters, and a generous dose of humor.

Bubbles Yablonsky Mysteries by Sarah Strohmeyer
Bubbles Yablonsky, hairdresser-reporter-sleuth, works out of Lehigh, Pennsylvania in this amateur detective mystery series that includes plenty of humorous mayhem. The series begins with Bubbles Unbound (2001).

Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Izzy Spellman, a 28-year-old San Francisco private eye working in her dysfunctional family's PI business, stars in these hilarious novels that combine chick lit with mystery. The series begins with The Spellman Files (2007).

Heather Wells Mysteries by Meg Cabot
Former pop-star Heather Wells, now amateur sleuth and assistant director in a college dorm, is the heroine in this chick lit/mystery series set in New York City. Witty dialog and outrageous, fast-paced plots make this series a good choice for Stephanie Plum fans. Start with Size 12 is Not Fat (2006).

Tai Randolph Mysteries by Tina Whittle
Tai Randolph, a wise-cracking, amateur detective...and gunshop owner...is also streetwise and intelligent. This intricately plotted mystery series set in Atlanta begins with The Dangerous Edge of Things (2011).

Charley Davidson Novels by Darynda Jones
Charley Davidson uses her unusual ability to see and speak with murder victims to help find their killers. If you are open to a bit of the occult and some paranormal romance in your mysteries, these sarcastic, fast-paced stories might be just right for you. First Grave on the Right (2011) is the first title in the Charley Davidson series.

Cozy Mysteries

Fall is in the air – cool crisp mornings, the scent of wood burning, the leaves turning colors…doesn’t it make you want to sit by the fireplace and knit an afghan? Not so crafty? Then how about just reading a “cozy” mystery from one of the Needlecraft series, Someday Quilts series or the Home Crafting series, to name a few.

Monica Ferris started writing the Needlecraft series in 1999 with Crewel World. She has since written 12 more, the latest of which, Buttons and Bones, will be published later this year.

The Someday Quilts series is written by Clare O’Donohue. At the moment there are only 3 books in the series: The Lover’s Knot published in 2008, A Drunkard’s Path (2009) and The Double Cross (2010).

The first book in the Home Crafting Series, written by Sophie Mae Reynolds, is Lye in Wait, published in 2007. There are 3 subsequent titles, the most recent, Something Borrowed, Something Bleu was published in July.

However, if you do want to knit 1, purl 2 and drop 3…we can also recommend some of those titles.

For Laughs

I have found lately that I’ve been reading some pretty serious books dealing with grim issues. So I lightened things up a bit with the Discworld novel Maskerade. It turned out to be just what I needed. I found it quite humorous, and I don’t know anything about opera.

Discworld is a series of novels by British fantasy writer Terry Pratchett. It is called Discworld because the planet is actually a flat plane resting on the backs of four enormous elephants which are standing on top of Great A’Tuin, the giant star turtle. Satire and parody are used to poke fun at a variety of subjects. These have included other literary genres, such as the police procedural or fairy tales. Other books have done humorous takes on music, religion, the film industry, and Christmas.

There are more than thirty novels in the series so far, but most of these are self-contained stories. They can be grouped together based on the main protagonist, however. For example, some books feature the “good” witch Granny Weatherwax, while others the Ankh-Morpork City Watch and still others follow the misadventures of the incompetent wizard Rincewind. If you are in the mood for a light, funny story in which even Death himself can get some laughs, I would try one of these


- J.K.

Upcoming Holiday Fiction

Halloween is just around the corner, but it's not too early to start on Holiday Fiction. In fact, some Holiday fiction has already started to come in at the library. Whether you're in the mood for a romance, something inspirational, cozy or a good Christmas mystery, many of your favorite bestselling authors have something special for the holiday season. Most of these titles are on order or already in, so reserve a copy today to ensure that you read them before the holidays are over!





A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor
A wealthy and depressed man bound for Christmas in the tropics is abruptly summoned home to North Dakota to visit an ailing aunt, arriving just in time to be trapped there by a blizzard.

The Christmas Cookie Club: a novel by Ann Pearlman
On a snowy December night, 12 women meet for a cookie exchange, where they tell stories of the cookies they baked, tales that are emblematic of the year that has just passed and focus on sisterly love and conflict.

Merry, Merry Ghost by Carolyn G. Hart
When a determined heir moves to block a wealthy woman's attempt to include her newly discovered grandson in her will, it is up to good-intentioned ghost Bailey Ruth Raeburn to protect a little boy, foil a murderer, and save Christmas.

One Week in December by Holly Chamberlin
Reunited with her family for the holidays, Becca Rowan, fueled by loneliness and longing, makes a shocking announcement that brings up long-buried resentments, secrets, and guilt, which challenges her own preconceptions about family and love.

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs
Prim librarian Maureen Davenport lives for Christmas--and there's nothing more magical than Christmas on Willow Lake. Finally getting her chance to direct Avalon's annual holiday pageant, she's determined to make it truly spectacular. But it might just require one of those Christmas miracles she's always read about if her co-director-- recovering former child star Eddie Haven--has his way. Is he trying to sabotage the performance to spite her? Or is she trying too hard to fit the show into her storybook-perfect notion of Christmas?
(part of the Lakeshore Chronicles series)

A Christmas Promise: a novel by Anne Perry
When a younger fellow orphan is imperiled by her uncle's murder and the disappearance of a family donkey, Gracie, Charlotte Pitt's maid, aids the child's search for both the killer and the donkey.

Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs
Dakota Walker--along with her father, her grandparents and her mother's best friend, Catherine--visits her Gran for the Christmas holidays in Scotland, where the family members reminisce about Dakota's mother, Georgia, from Georgia's childhood to her blissful time as a doting new mom.
(from the Friday Night Knitting Club series)

Black Friday: a Maggie O'Dell novel by Alex Kava
Maggie O'Dell leads an investigation into the bombing of the nation's largest shopping center, uncovering paranoia, racism and a sinister secret agenda that extends to the highest ranks of a white-collar lobby group. As retailers count down to Christmas Eve, Maggie knows that infiltration is the only option--even though the cost could be huge.
(part of the Maggie O'Dell series)

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Thirty-three-year-old Cassie wants a husband and kids, and she turns to Simon Dodson, a professional matchmaker for help. Dodson assigns her three tasks to complete, and despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie completes them all. Her Christmas match turns out to be a wonderful surprise.

Home for Christmas by Andrew Greeley
Years after abandoning his childhood sweetheart, Pete Kane becomes a distinguished army captain and experiences a transforming near-death experience after a bomb attack, a situation throughout which he is encouraged by an old friend to rekindle his past relationship.

Plum Pudding Murder: a Hannah Swensen mystery by Joanne Fluke
When Larry Jaeger, the owner of the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot, is murdered, bakery owner Hannah Swensen, during the busiest time of the year, must sift through a wealth of suspects before a murderous Scrooge strikes again.
(part of the Hannah Swensen mysteries series)


We have many more, including some bestsellers from past holiday seasons, including an oldie by goodie - a riot, and my personal favorite Christmas fiction:

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Luther and Nora Krank have decided to set sail on a Caribbean cruise on December 25th and skip Christmas. They are about to discover that their decision brings enormous consequences--and isn't half as easy as they imagined.

Cherry Cheesecake Murder (Hannah Swensen mysteries) by Joanne Fluke

The Cookie Jar is the hot-seat of action once again in this culinary mystery! Everyone had a motive to shoot Dean Lawrence, the director who sought out Lake Eden, Minnesota, for his most current film undertaking. Made to look like an accident, Lawrence was shot in the head with one of the gun props, but the reader knows it is not so cut-and-dried. Laced with many delicious recipes along with Hannah Swensen's quirky remarks, this is a fun read for anyone who likes a light mystery. Listening to the book on CD, one might want to go back to the hardcover to jot down all the delicious dessert recipes that are mentioned in detail in the book. The author even gives substitution tips when recounting ingridients which is a nice plus. Get ready to get hungry with this great read! Part of the Hannah Swensen mysteries, don't forget to look for the other books in the series, including Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Strawberry Shortcake Murder, Blueberry Muffin Murder, and many more!

Search our Online Catalog for these titles.

Coming Soon and Already Here

In 2007 many fantasy readers, myself included, were saddened when they learned that Robert Jordan passed away. Jordan was the author of the enormous “Wheel of Time” series. For those who may not be familiar with the series, it is a long-running tale, set three thousand years after a devastating war against a demonic force called "the Dark One" who sought to unmake all of creation. That being is trying to touch the world again, and according to prophecy, only one man the Dragon Reborn, can stand against him.

Despite 11 hefty volumes, the series was not complete at the time of Mr. Jordan's death. The protagonists were still scattered about the world. The nations were divided against each other rather than standing against the true threat. The Dark One was poised to unmake creation. The Dragon Reborn was yet to fulfill the prophecies that say he would save the world. Many a loose end needed tying up.

This November, the series continues once more.

Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson was contracted by Jordan’s estate to complete the series. This November Wheel of Time fans will be able to read The Gathering Storm, the first of three volumes which will wrap up the series.

But November is months away, you say? What about now? Well, if you are not familiar with Mr. Sanderson’s works, you can familiarize yourself. I was only vaguely aware of his works before discovering he was to complete the Wheel of Time. Now, after finishing his Mistborn trilogy (The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages), I believe that a good choice was made in tapping him to complete Mr. Jordan’s work.

This trilogy puts an original spin on the venerable “prophesied hero” story. Namely, it asks the question "What if the hero failed, and a thousand years of tyranny followed?" What would that world look like? What would its heroes look like? The books maintain a good balance of intrigue, action, and romance. His magical system “Allomancy” operates under logical (for magic) rules. More importantly, he’s good at taking his magic system and incorporating it into the society he’s writing about. His world is more than a quasi-medieval kingdom with a layer of the fantastic over it. It takes the fantastic into account with how things are run, from police forces, to military, religion, even politics. I can hardly wait to see what he does with Wheel of Time.

Search our Online Catalog for these titles.