In case you run into any zombies tonight...


(Click thru to read.)
 
 
Please report all zombie attacks to your librarians.
Happy Halloween!!

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Woodworking for the Holidays, Next Tuesday!




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Take a Poe-ment with The Big Read's Edgar Allan Poe, Part 4


Something to Make...

Who doesn't like paper crafts?  Download this little fella or one of Toy-a-Day's other fun foldables!

Something to Ponder...

"The Light-House" is the unofficial title of the last work written by Poe.  It is a story told through the diary entries of a lighthouse keeper who has just begun his service in a Scandanavian light.  The work contains entries for January 1-3, and only a heading for January 4th.  Biographer Kenneth Silverman believes the work was complete in its 2 page form, with the final blank entry signifying the death of the keeper. Others believe it was an unfinished short story or novel, with a number of authors "collaborating" with Poe and finished the story themselves.

Something to See...

You can visit Poe's burial place in the Westminster Cemetery in Baltimore, but you may get confused.  The cemetery contains both a headstone at his original burial place, and a monument at his current burial place.  There's just nothing straight forward when it comes to Edgar Allan Poe.

Something Pinteresting...

Edgar Allan Poe & the Big Read

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This Week @ Your Library...


Preschool Story Time on Tuesday or Wednesday
Join Miss Carrie-Anne on Tuesday at 10:30 or Wednesday at 12:30 for stories, songs, and fun!

 Pajama Story Time on Thursday at 6:30
Put the kids in their PJs and bring them to the library for some story time fun! (The PJs are optional, but the fun is not.)

 Last Shot at Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Last week to pick up a copy for November's All Book Up discussion on the 7th, or just for your own enjoyment.

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Book Bunch Reads When Life Gives You O. J. for November


When Life Gives You O. J. by Erica Perl is the Book Bunch title for November.  This title will be the topic of discussion for our 3rd-5th grade Bunchers at their gathering on November 14th at 4:00 p.m.

 From the Publisher
For years, 10-year-old Zelly Fried has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn. But when her eccentric grandfather Ace hatches a ridiculous plan involving a "practice dog" named OJ, Zelly's not so sure how far she's willing to go to win a dog of her own. Is Ace's plan so crazy it just might work . . . or is it just plain crazy?

 Erica S. Perl weaves an affectionate and hilarious tale that captures the enduring bond between grandparents and grandchildren.  Even when they're driving each other nuts.

New to Book Bunch? Read more...

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Page Turners Read The Graveyard Book for November


The Page Turners book discussion group for tweens in grades 5-7 is reading Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book for their November meeting on the 8th at 2:30.  Bus transportation from LMS to the library is available.

 From the Publisher
Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade.
Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other.

 Watch author Neil Gaiman read the book here.

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Take a Poe-ment with The Big Read's Edgar Allan Poe, Part 3




Something to see...
From 1846-1849, Edgar Allan Poe lived out his last years in the hills of The Bronx at Poe Cottage.  This is where his young wife, Virginia, died from complications of tuberculosis, and where Poe wrote some of his most lyrical work, such as "Annabel Lee" and "The Bells."  When it was built in 1812, Poe Cottage "commanded unobstructed vistas over the rolling Bronx hills to the shores of Long Island."  Today it sits at Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse, and is preserved by The Bronx County Historical Society.

Something to do...
Take a stab at drawing Edgar Allan Poe with this tutorial.

Something to ponder...
Poe's death is itself an unsolved mystery.  While traveling by steamer, he stopped in Baltimore on September 28, 1849.  What happened over the next few days remain uncertain.  What is known is that on October 3rd Poe was found disoriented at Gunner's Hall tavern in tattered clothing. Those who found him presumed he was drunk, and took him to Washington College Hospital where he was admitted as ill from intoxication.  While there, Poe never fully regained consciousness, but rambled incoherently.  Before the sun came up on October 7th, Poe died quietly, with his death attributed to "congestion of the brain."  No authopsy was performed.  Since that time, doctors have speculated the Poe could have died from epilepsy, hypoglycemia, rabies, a beating, heart failure, murder, or carbon monoxide poisoning. The truth will never be known. 

Something Pinteresting...
Edgar Allan Poe & the Big Read

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New Stuff @ Your Library!


Discover what's new on the shelves here!

 Find new materials on the following Pinterest Boards:
>New Stories for Early Readers
>New Chapter Books for Kids
>New Non-Fiction for Kids
>New Fiction for Tweens & Teens
>New Fiction for Adults
>New Non-Fiction for Adults
>New Audiobooks for Adults
>New Movies for Adults & Teens

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This Week @ Your Library!


this week image courtesy of imagechef.com
Preschool Story Time on Tuesday or Wednesday
Join Miss Carrie-Anne on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. or Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. for stories, songs and fun!

 Unraveled on Thursday from 6:00-8:00
Join our drop-in knitting group for camaraderie and fun!  Come with your project to work on, and leave with a lighter heart.

 Library CLOSED on Friday
The library is CLOSED on Friday and will re-open on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

 Pick up an October Book of the Month
There's still time to grab a copy of The Scent of Rain and Lightning, or The Big Read's The Pale Blue Eye or Graphic Classics Volume 1: Edgar Allan Poe!

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D'Entremont in Litchfield


Coming to a library shelf near you!
Haunted Lighthouses of New England was a fascinating presentation.  The Campbell High School Auditorium held 75+ people all interested in finding out just what these lighthouses held.

Jeremy D'Entremont, describing himself as a skeptic with an open mind, told stories of his paranormal investigative experiences with the New England Ghost Project in a number of coastal lights.  Using photographs, video, and EPV recordings (electronic voice phenomenon), he shared the history of more than 10 individual lighthouses, their keepers, and their ghosts.  Included in this list was Maine's Owl's Head Light, New Hampshire's Portsmouth Light, Rhode Island's Rose Island Light, and Connecticut's New London Ledge Light.  

Being a skeptic, D'Entremont told us he always looks for other possible explanations to the things he sees and hears while on investigations.  One such time, he sat at a table with the NEGP team.  Everyone had placed their fingertips lightly on top, and a member asked that the table be moved if there was a spirit present.  Over a period of 30 minutes or so, the table first began to vibrate, then a leg lifted a bit, and finally the table "danced."  During this time he saw that nothing and no one had contact with the table, except for a varying number of fingertips.  "I'll let you decide," he concluded.

Following the presentation, individuals gathered around a table of D'Entremont's books, where he answered questions and autographed books.

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Haunted Lighthouses Tonight at 7pm


owl's head light
Tonight is the night!  Lighthouse expert and historian Jeremy D'Entremont of Portsmouth will regale us with tales of the haunted lights of New England. 

Join us in the Campbell High School Auditorium at 7 p.m.

D'Entremont's books will be for sale after the  free presentation.

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Library CLOSED October 26th


The library will be CLOSED on Friday, October 26th for staff development. 

If you have books due on that day, don't sweat it.  They will be treated as if they were due on the 27th.

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This Week @ Your Library


post-it image courtesy of imagechef.com
Preschool Story Time on Tuesday or Wednesday
Join Miss Carrie-Anne on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. or Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. for stories, songs and fun!

 Book Bunch on Wednesday @ 4:00 p.m.
3rd-5th grade Book Bunchers will gather to discuss Pictures of Hollis Woods, participate in a short activity, and pick up next month's discussion title.

 Haunted Lighthouses of New England on Wednesday @ 7:00 p.m.
Don't miss this fabulous free program being held at the Campbell High School Auditorium.  Hear Jeremy D'Entremont take on the mystifying tales and spine-chilling events that have taken place in a number of New England lights.  Autographed books will be available for sale after the presentation.

 Going Batty Make 'n Take Craft, all week
Bring the kids to the library to create this month's batty craft to take home and enjoy!  Please note, Make 'n Take Crafts are not available during Story Time.

 Try a Big Read Title
Copies of The Big Read's The Pale Blue Eye and Graphic Classics Volume 1: Edgar Allen Poe are available for check out.  Pick one up and enter the world of Poe.

 Get Ready for the Discussion
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson is available at the upstair's Circulation Desk. Give it a read and join All Booked Up on November 7th @ 6:30 p.m.

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Take a Poe-ment with the Big Read's Edgar Allan Poe, Part 2


www.amazon.com
Something to Watch...

Egar Allan Poe has inspired many movies over the years.  According to the American Movie Channel, Poe was the "original master of horror."  With hundreds of movies either based on his writing or on Poe himself, AMC has put together a list of what they consider to be the top nine for their viewers to rank. Do you agree with their standings?

And speaking of movies, the 2012 film The Raven has been released on DVD and is on order for the library.  In this mystery thriller, when a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's works, a young Baltimore detective joins forces with Poe to stop him from making his stories a reality. (Read more on IMDB.)  Reserve this movie now!

Someplace to Visit...

www.theroadjunkies.comDid you know the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is located in Philadelphia? Poe lived there for six years publishing, among others, The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Gold-Bug.  Living in five different locations during his six years in Philadelphia, he ended his stay in  living with his wife and her mother in the home that is now know as the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site maintained by the National Park Service.  Tour the home on your own, or take a guided tour with a Park Ranger.

Something to Talk About...

The folks over at GoodReads have a discussion group for fans of Poe.  The Macabre & Creepy Edgar Allan Poe Group is a group of wacky people who love Poe,and enjoy reading his stories,and discussing them. This group is open to the public.

Something to Ponder...

"While in the Army, Poe received the highest rank that an enlisted man could achieve: Sergeant Major.  Normally it would take 20 years to reach the rank of Sergeant Major; Poe received the rank in 19 months." --www.nps.gov/edal/

Something Pinteresting...
Edgar Allan Poe & the Big Read

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Next Week: Haunted Lighthouses of New England


Interested in a good haunting?  Join us next Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m. in the Campbell High School Auditorium for Portsmouth lighthouse historian Jeremy D'Entremont's Haunted Lighthouse of New England. 

Designed to mark perilous coastlines, treacherous shoals and reefs, and guide sailors to safe harbor entries, the isolated nature of lighthouses makes them the perfect backdrip for mysterious tales.  In his presentation, D'Entremont shares firsthand knowledge of the mystifying tales and spine-chilling events that have taken place in a number of New England lights. 

D'Entremont has appeared on the Travel Channel's "Haunted Lighthouses of America," and SyFy's "Ghost Hunters," and has authored 9 books.

Autographed books will be available for sale after the presentation.

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Banning Books from an Author's Perspective


What do authors think about book banning?  Here are author John Green's thoughts on having his book banned from a high school. 


What do you think?

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All Booked Up Reads Major Pettigrew's Last Stand for November


Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is the November selection of All Booked Up, the library's adult book discussion group.  Helen Simonson's novel will be discussed on Wednesday, November 7th at 6:30 p.m.

From the Publisher
In the small village of Edgecombe St. Mary in the English countryside lives Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson’s wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, the Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother’s death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and regarding her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition?

Coming Up Next:  The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

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Featured Big Read Books for October


big read book displayThe Big Read month is underway.  A group of people gathered on October 3rd to discuss Louis Bayard's The Pale Blue Eye and Graphic Classics Volume 1: Edgar Allan Poe. 

Don't feel left out if you weren't one of them; copies of both titles are available for check-out all month.

Give one or both a read and let us know what you think!

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This Week @ Your Library...


this week image courtesy of imagechef.comPreschool Story Time on Tuesday or Wednesday
Join Miss Carrie-Anne at 10:30 on Tuesday or 12:30 on Wedesday for stories, songs, and fun!  

Page Turners on Thursday @ 2:30
Join our book discussion for tweens and teens in grades 5-7, as they discuss Icefall by Matthew Kirby . New faces are always welcome!

Unraveled on Thursday @ 6:00-8:00
Tough week? Why not unravel at our drop-in knitting group and knit your stress away.

 Try October's Book of the Month
Copies of The Scent of Rain and Lightning  are available at the upstair's Circulation Desk.  Get yours while they last!

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Take a Poe-ment with the Big Read's Edgar Allan Poe, Part 1



Something to Read...

Edgar Allan Poe begain his literary career as a poet, was a mericless critic, and found his greatest success with "The Raven."  To Poe, poetry was the rhythmic creation of beauty.  His poetic philosophy sited, "Beauty is the sole legitimate province of the poem...Melancholy is thus the most legitimate of all poetical tones...The death, then, of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world." In fact, the death of a beautiful woman is a theme he employs numerous times, and can be found at the heart of the popular "The Raven."  Do you find beauty in this poem?

Something to See...

From 1831-1835, Poe lived in a little row house on Amity Street in Baltimore.  After West Point, he moved to Baltimore to live with his future wife, Virginia, and her mother.  Virginia, his first cousin, was 10 years old at the time.  The couple married when she was 13 and he was 27. While living in this house, Poe published both poems and short stories, winning his first literary prize for "Ms. Found in a Bottle." The home is now known as the Baltimore Poe House and Museum. 

Something to Watch...

Poe is the mascot of the Baltimore Ravens football team.  Can you guess where his name came from? "Poe" began his illustrious career with two brothers: Edgar and Allan.  Each of the ravens represented a different stereotypical player and had their own backstory.  Edgar and Allan were retired in 2008, leaving Poe alone until he was joined by two live ravens, "Rise" and "Conquer," in 2009.

Something Pinteresting...
Edgar Allan Poe & the Big Read

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It's Banned Books Week--Celebrate Your Right to Read!


harry potter and the order of the phoenix          Banned Books Week is celebrated once a year, all over the United States, to spread awareness of book banning, to celebrate your right to read, and to bring attention to the damaging effects of censorship.
 
You may be surprised to know that some of your favorite books and literary classics have been banned or challenged. Some of the top banned books are, Huckleberry Finn, The Lord of the Rings, Catcher in the Rye, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, even Where’s Waldo, and The Merriam Webster Dictionary.
 
To Kill a Mockingbird was banned for promoting white supremacy and its use of offensive language. To Kill a Mockingbird is about honesty over lies and understanding over judgment. Some people read one nasty word and decide that the whole book is nasty and should never be seen by human eyes ever again. The word in question is not in the book as a way for the author to promote her hate of a certain race. Its presence in the text exposes readers to the dehumanizing power of a single, hateful word, and exposes young people to the power that words can have.
 
Harry Potter has been widely banned because the books allegedly promote evil and satanic rituals. Others have challenged the books by saying that they are too heavily based in Christianity. Anyone who thinks that Harry Potter books are about spreading evil has probably never read them. The books are about a lot of things; they are mostly about a young wizard who must help good win over evil. The weapon Harry uses to defeat evil is love. So to put it in clear and simple terms, Harry Potter books are about love! Harry Potter is the key that unlocked a love for reading that changed my life, and because of popular censorship I wasn’t exposed to these books until I was an adult. Looking back I can’t help but feel like I was robbed of an adolescence where reading could have been an important part of my life, instead of a chore.
 
The point of Banned Books Week isn’t about whether Harry Potter is a Messiah tale or if Voldemort is too scary. Banned Books Week is about the fact that children, parents, and any reader should be able to figure it out for themselves. 
 
The displays at our library have been sparking a lot of great conversations! Most people are surprised to find out that hundreds of books are still banned or challenged every year. Censorship is not a problem of the past, it is happening everyday. Take time this Banned Books Week to celebrate your freedom and read a banned book. Banned books are available at your library to check out today! -- Kerri Antosca

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The Scent of Rain and Lighting is October's Book of the Month


book cover
This month's featured novel is The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard.  Copies are available at the upstairs Circulation Desk.

 From the Publisher
One beautiful summer afternoon, Jody Linder receives shocking news: The man convicted of murdering her father is being released from prison and returning to the small town of Rose, Kansas. It has been twenty-three years since that stormy night when her father was shot and killed and her mother disappeared, presumed dead. Neither the protective embrace of Jody’s three uncles nor the safe haven of her grandparents’ ranch could erase the pain caused by Billy Crosby on that catastrophic night.
Now Billy Crosby is free, thanks to the efforts of his son, Collin, a lawyer who has spent most of his life trying to prove his father’s innocence. Despite their long history of carefully avoiding each other in such an insular community, Jody and Collin find that they share an exclusive sense of loss.
As Jody revisits old wounds, startling truths emerge about her family’s tragic past. But even through struggle and hardship, she still dares to hope for a better future—and maybe even love.

 Next month:  Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

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The Big Read in October


October is the month of The Big Read, featuring the work of Edgar Allan Poe, who is said to have invented the detective story, perfected the horror tale, and first articulated the theory of the modern short story as well as the idea of pure poetry.  That's quite the resume!

Here at the library we will celebrateThe Big Read by
- hosting a Poe book discussion on October 3rd,
- featuring his work in the Book of the Month Club,
- and taking a look at haunted lighthouses, there very thing that inspired his final unfinished work.

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. Furthermore, the Big Read is a project of the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library.

Find other Poe events around the state at The Big Read: NH Reads Edgar Allan Poe.

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Remember to READ 4 THe FuN oF iT @ Aaron Cutler Memorial Library!

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