Going Somewhere?

Just in time for summer, we have some new books about travel and vacations. Try some of these books and who knows where you'll end up? Click the links below to see a title in our catalog:

• All aboard: the complete Noth American train travel guide -- Why take a train? Read this book to find out (and to find out how).




• The 100 best affordable vacations -- This book eschews traditional vacation hot spots in favor of interesting, out-of-the-way destinations. Sleep in a tree house in Oregon, hear cowboy poetry in Nevada, or learn to make jewelry in North Carolina.




• Finally, if, like me, you're not going anywhere this year, take a look at these travel books. Fodor's Amsterdam & the Netherlands, Lonely Planet's Discover New York City, and DK's Hawaii and Washington, D.C. feature beautiful full-color photographs on every page. Almost as good as being there!

-Alan

National Library Week - About Reading

You sometimes hear authors being described as "writer's writers." These are the writers who can pick the perfect word or turn a phrase like no one else, writers whom other writers read out of admiration, or out of jealousy. They're not always the most popular writers, but are among the most respected and lauded.

Although he's certainly a great writer with a style all his own, I think of Pat Conroy as a "reader's writer" -- someone who understands exactly why we read, and writes exactly that. My Reading Life is Conroy's love letter to the books and people who shaped him. Going through My Reading Life, you don't just learn why Gone With the Wind or Look Homeward, Angel are great books, you learn a little bit about the kind of person reading these books makes you. If you're a Conroy fan, My Reading Life will enrich your experience of all his books, but it's worthwhile for any lover of reading.

During National Library Week we celebrate all that libraries offer. We often say that the library has something for everyone, but the deeper truth is that the library has something for every person that you'd like to be. As Conroy illustrates, reading transforms a person, and the tools to "create your own story" are right here!

Click here to request My Reading Life in print, large print, or as an audiobook read by the author.

-Alan

National Library Week - A World of Possibilities for Life Enrichment

Libraries are so inviting! There’s something for everyone at your local public library! What better place to spend a quiet afternoon in a cozy corner working on your laptop, or reading from a good book you’ve just found in the fiction section? Are you the type who likes to catch up with the latest news? If you are, you can find a variety of local newspapers and news-related magazines at the library. Why bother to pay for them when you can look at them in the library for free? Would you like to learn about a foreign country, begin learning a new language, perfect your talent for baking, drawing, sewing, or perhaps make your new pet behave better? You can find this information at the library. And while you are there, you can sign up for a computer class or any number of other programs being offered at the library. You can also check out movies, music cds, Playaways, and use the computers to access the Internet or do research.

Children, too, have access to thousands of children’s books, children’s dvds, cds, reference materials, and children’s computers. At the Socastee Library programs are designed especially for children; programs such as Baby Lapsit, Preschool Storytime, and a monthly Saturday Family Movie- snacks included. And then there’s the annual Summer Reading Program….all for free.

Membership at the library offers a World of Possibilities to all who walk through the door. Why not visit regularly and see for yourself how you can enrich YOUR life. While you are visiting the Children’s Room you may want to look for some of the books chosen by the Association for Library Services to Children for their 2011 list of Notable Children’s Books for younger readers. Three titles from the list are included below: We Are in a Book! By Mo Willems. Elephant and Piggie discover that someone, the reader, is looking at them in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading and being read. Geisel Honor Book In the Wild By David Elliott. Illus. by Holly Meade. Candlewick. A joyful collection of brief poems paired with dynamic woodblock prints celebrates favorite animals from every continent. Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. By Salley Mavor. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Familiar and lesser known nursery rhymes, illustrated with superb needlework and appliqué, create a charming dollhouse of a book. Find the complete list at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/index.cfm

-Linda

National Library Week, pt. 1

"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation." -Walter Cronkite

National Library Week began in 1958 as a way to celebrate and appreciate our nation's libraries. This year's theme is "Create your own Story @ your library," and we'll have some special blog posts throughout the week about our own library stories. So check back throughout the week! In the meantime, here are a few titles that any library lover will enjoy:

• This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson -- We're here to help.


• Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles -- A surprising and lively history of libraries, from Alexandria to the present day.


• Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert -- You'd be surprised...

-Alan

Reading up on the Oscars

Now that the Academy Awards have all been given out, it's time to do some catching up! You can always request DVDs of any of the movies by searching our catalog, but did you also know that fully half of the Best Picture nominees were based on books? See below:

• The King's Speech - based on the book of the same name by Mark Logue
• 127 Hours - based on the true story (!), Between a Rock and a Hard Place, by Aron Ralston
• The Social Network - also based on the true story The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich
• True Grit - based on the classic western novel by Charles Portis
• Winter's Bone - based on the 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell

Happy reading!

Alan

This Just In

Thank you to everyone who made our book sale a success, from the Friends of Socastee Library volunteers who staffed the tables to the patrons who bought the books!

Speaking of books (how's that for a segue?), here are some highlights from our new non-fiction shelves:

• Southern Plate by Christy Jordan -- As someone trained to eat in the South, I can verify that these recipes are deliciously authentic. This book is unique in that it's divided into seasons: "summer days and family reunions," "the cooler days of fall," Christmas (its own eating season here), spring, and "family favorites."


• The Art of Comforting by Val Walker -- Practical, insightful advice on what to do and say during difficult times.


• Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life by Nicholas Phillipson -- According to Phillipson, Smith "saw himself as a philosopher rather than an economist and would never have predicted that the ideas for which he is now best known were his most important." A timely intellectual biography.


• Blur by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel -- Subtitle: "how to know what's true in the age of information overload." Required reading for anyone who reads websites, reads a newspaper, or watches TV.

Happy reading!

-Alan

What's on the menu for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, hands down. It has everything a holiday should, and nothing it shouldn't -- you get food, a day off, more food, time with family, and glorious leftovers without having to buy a single gift, send a card, or decorate. So I like it because it's probably the least-commercialized of the "major" holidays. But mainly the food.

That said, here are a few ways you can use your library to make the most of your Thanksgiving holiday:

• How to Cook a Turkey: and All the Other Trimmings -- Get the basics down first...
• The Healthy Hedonist Holidays -- ...unless you're doing something different. This is "a year of multicultural, vegetarian-friendly holiday feasts."
• Thanksgiving: the Biography of an American Holiday -- Get some background information about this uniquely American holiday's fascinating history.
• Thanksgiving: the True Story -- Don't forget something to read to the kids.
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving -- Finally, get something to watch...
• I Love Coffee! -- while you enjoy your after-dinner coffee.
  

Click on any of the titles above to request a copy in our catalog. Happy reading/eating!
-Alan

This Just In

Once more we have something for everyone. Take a look at a few of our latest non-fiction arrivals:

• Point, Click and Save by Rachel Gordon -- Financial tips from "Mashup Mom... a widely read blogger who combines high-and low-tech strategies from multiple sources to help readers achieve financial objectives."
  
• My Reading Life by Pat Conroy -- "Storyteller Conroy revisits a life of passionate reading. He includes wonderful anecdotes from his school days, moving accounts of how reading pulled him through dark times, and even lists of books that particularly influenced him at various stages of his life."
  
• College Access & Opportunity -- A guide to "promoting college enrollment and retention for those with the least support: first generation, low income, and/or rural students. It features more than 230 college profiles highlighting opportunities and incentives for under served students."
  
• Decision Points by George W. Bush -- "George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life while writing honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments"
  
• You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by Heather Sellers --"An unusual and uncommonly moving family memoir, with a twist that give new meaning to hindsight, insight, and forgiveness. The author is face blind--that is, she has prosopagnosia, a rare neurological condition that prevents her from reliably recognizing people's faces. Growing up, unaware of the reason for her perpetual confusion and anxiety, she took what cues she could from speech, hairstyle, and gait. But she sometimes kissed a stranger, thinking he was her boyfriend, or failed to recognize even her own father and mother..."

Happy reading!
-Alan

This Just In

Here are just a few of our recent arrivals in non-fiction. Even after seeing these books every day, it's amazing how broad a spectrum they cover -- literally something for everyone!

• Growing up Laughing by Marlo Thomas -- Not just Thomas' memoir of her years in comedy, it also includes interviews with dozens of comic legends, including Alan Alda, Stephen Colbert, Billy Crystal, Don Rickles, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more.
  
• Getting it Wrong by W. Joseph Campbell -- Do you trust everything you read? These are "10 of the great misreported stories in American journalism," ranging from Murrow vs. McCarthy and the Bay of Pigs to Hurricane Katrina.
  
• Earth: the Book -- The follow-up to America: the Book from The Daily Show team.
  
• Knit Fix by Lisa Kartus -- A book that covers what other knitting books leave out: what to do when you drop a stitch, botch a pattern, need to change a finished pattern, and more.
  
• The Best American Comics 2010 -- This installment, edited by Neil Gaiman, is brought to you by the "Best American" series (Best American Short Stories, Essays, etc.) Recommended reading for this rapidly evolving art form!
  
• Our Patchwork Nation by Dante Chinni -- It's not as simple as red states and blue states, or urban and rural. Chinni identifies twelve community types that make up our nation. (Horry County? "Boom Town" with a side of "Evangelical Epicenter.")
  

Click any of the titles above to visit our catalog, where you can request a book to be held for you at the library. Happy reading!
Alan

Book suggestions for Young Adults

"Somebody Everybody Listens To" by Suzanne Supplee is a Young Adult novel about a recent high school graduate who wants to become a country music star. Retta Lee Jones is a talented singer, known for her beautiful voice in her small hometown, but can she compete in Nashville with all the other girls pounding the streets to stardom. Will she become "somebody everybody listens to," or end up going home defeated?
This newly acquired book is recommended for anyone interested in music and in chasing dreams. It can be found in the Young Adult section of the library.

Need a good book to get you in the mood for Halloween? Check out one of the novels on display in the Young Adult area. Among the titles are:
Doppelganger by David Stahler Jr.
Blood Beast by Daren Shan
The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber


Linda

Christopher Paolini

Fantasy fans: Christopher Paolini will be signing books at Market Common in Myrtle Beach Monday, October 25. Click here for event details.

If you're reading, re-reading, or would like to read Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, check out some of the formats we carry:

• Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr in print
• Eragon, the 2007 film version
• Eragon or Eldest on CD audiobook
• Eragon on Playaway(Never used Playaway? It's a self-contained digital audiobook -- just plug in headphones, no other equipment required!)

And, of course, this wouldn't be a library blog post without recommending some further reading! If you enjoy the world of Eragon and have already read Tolkien, try some of these other series that are great for readers of any age:

• Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin
• Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix
• His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman
  

Happy reading!
-Alan

After the Spill

The Reader's Advisor has a list of books to read after the September 2 oil rig explosion (and, of course, the BP spill in April). Two of the titles here are:

• Oil on the Brain by Lisa Margonelli - Starting at a local gas station, Margonelli sets off to meet the people behind the pump, who lead her deep into the economics, politics, chemistry, and culture of petroleum. Along the oil supply chain, through the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the NYMEX oil market, she finds unexpected delights and troubling contradictions.
  
• The Prize by Daniel Yergin - The Prize recounts the panoramic history of oil -- and the struggle for wealth power that has always surrounded oil. This struggle has shaken the world economy, dictated the outcome of wars, and transformed the destiny of men and nations. The Prize is as much a history of the twentieth century as of the oil industry itself. The canvas of this history is enormous -- from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and Operation Desert Storm.
  The cast extends from wildcatters and rogues to oil tycoons, and from Winston Churchill and Ibn Saud to George Bush and Saddam Hussein. The definitive work on the subject of oil and a major contribution to understanding our century, The Prize is a book of extraordinary breadth, riveting excitement -- and great importance.

Click on the titles to see our catalog and request a copy. Happy reading!
-Alan

Subject: Other

In our non-fiction section we have books about every subject, and some books that are a little tricky to classify. If you're in the mood for something different, try one of these unusual titles from our New Non-fiction shelves:

• Breakfast with Socrates by Robert Rowland Smith -- This book takes each part of a day--waking up, going to work, going to the doctor, cooking dinner--and tells what some of history's great thinkers have to say about it.


• The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain by Barbara Strauch -- Good news! This book argues that "we have badly underestimated the middle-aged brain. We may lose some gray matter but we increase the white stuff that lets us process information faster. As the grown-up brain reorganizes itself, it creates powerful new systems that cut through complex problems to find unique solutions."


• The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely -- This book tackles the age-old question of why we do irrational things, and applies it widely: Why can large bonuses make CEOs less productive? How can confusing directions actually help us? Why is revenge so important to us?


• Wrong: Why Experts Keep Failing Us And How to Know When Not to Trust Them by David Freedman -- The title says it all. How do we know whether to trust "scientists, finance wizards, doctors, relationship gurus, celebrity CEos, high-powered consultants, health officials, and more"?

Happy reading!

-Alan

This just in! (new non-fiction)

At some point you may have used our non-fiction section before, to look up some facts, research for a school project, or read about a historical figure. But even if you're not a student or a researcher, there are plenty of things in NF that can help you exactly where you are now. The following titles are from our New Non-fiction section. Check them out if you:

• Are broke. Hot Broke Messes: How to Have Your Latte and Drink it Too, by personal finance columnist Nancy Trejos, tells how to "get your money situation under control in the present--and for the future."
• Are a teacher. Best Careers for Teachers from Learning Express Library explains how to make the most of your teaching degree, both inside and outside the classroom.
• Know someone in jail. Arrested: What to Do When Your Loved One's in Jail gives practical advice about how to help inmates with their defense, avoid bond scams and lawyer rip-offs, manage your money and time, and keep them out of jail in the future.
• Just need a laugh. Humor Me: An Anthology of Funny Contemporary Writing Plus Some Great Old Stuff Too, features favorite humorists like Steve Martin, David Sedaris, Garrison Keillor, and many more. (And don't we all?)

-Alan

Grill Time!

It's hard to believe that it's not even officially Summer yet. It certainly feels like it already!
I love celebrating the warm weather by grilling out on a balmy late evening. It doesn't have to be all steak and potatoes, though. Check out some of these ideas:

• The Complete Fish on the Grill is full of recipes to introduce some new flavors to your grilling.
• Pizza on the Grill takes a favorite and makes it even better.
• Cooking Light: Grilling shows how to grill in a healthier way.
• Mario Batali's Italian Grill translates another cuisine to the grill.
• And, of course, if you are cooking a steak, you've got to try Bobby Flay's Boy Gets Grill.

(And while you're at the library, you might as well pick up some books to help you grow vegetables to grill, build a deck to grill on, and some background music to play!)

Alan

Memorial Day

All Horry County libraries will be closed Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day.

Memorial Day commemmorates the men and women who died while in military service. You can read more about the holiday from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your library can also help you learn more about our military history and the stories of our soldiers. Try some of the following:

• The War, Ken Burns' documentary series telling the stories of people in four ordinary towns and showing how World War II affected every area of life. Available as a DVD series, book, and audiobook on CD.
• Band of Brothers, historian Stephen Ambrose's story of the E Company of the US Army's 506th Regiment.
• Patriotic Holidays of the United States explains the history and development of Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and many other celebrations.

-Alan

LOST

Sunday, May 23 is the final episode of ABC's Lost, my (Alan's) favorite show. It's the kind of show that may not make sense at first, and has to be watched in order, and sometimes even rewatched, to get the full effect.

Now, this is where the library comes in: did you know we have Lost Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and Season 5 on DVD? Click on any of those links to request a copy. Just a single hundred-hour marathon and you'll be up to speed before the finale!

-Alan

Blockbuster Movies and the Books Behind Them

Entertainment Weekly's cover story last week is about the summer's biggest movies. You might be surprised to learn how many of them have literary beginnings. A book lover knows that a novel captures a richness and depth that's missing from most movies, and a movie lover knows that a great film can bring source material to life in surprising new ways. So be both: start now and you can read these before opening day!

• Twilight: Eclipse -- based on the insanely popular books that need no introduction.
• Eat, Pray, Love -- based on Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir, is "a celebrated writer’s irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life."
• Sex and the City 2 -- the sequel to 2008's big hit continues with the characters from Candace Bushnell's series of novels.
• Robin Hood -- read one of the many iterations, for kids or for adults.
  

-Alan

New Non-fiction

Our non-fiction section covers everything under the sun. Just pick a Dewey number and browse for a few minutes and you're sure to find something fascinating!
New arrivals this week include:

• Slow Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie - This book about "the secret danger of everyday things" suggests how to protect yourself from harmful chemicals found in common objects.


• Difficult Personalities by Helen McGrath and Hazel Edwards - Learn to deal with frustrating and annoying people -- or make yourself easier to live with.


• Guantanamo, USA by Stephen Schwab - Long before Guantanamo Bay made headlines, Guantanamo was causing controversy and making history as America's first foreign naval base after the Spanish-American war.


• The Diabetic Pastry Chef by Stacey Harris - Over 200 recipes for sweet treats that anyone can enjoy.


• The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask by Susan Bartell - Answers that will please both parents and children for questions about fear, money, religion, boundaries, and more. We have a pre-K - 2nd grade edition as well as a 3rd - 5th grade edition.
  

Happy reading!
-Alan

Spring Cleaning

Spring is almost here, and maybe you're ready for some spring cleaning like I am. Did you know that the library has lots of resources to help you clear the clutter and get organized? You can check these out at the library or request them through our catalog:

• Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke -- Like the title says, "Real Simple" columnist Blanke shows people how to throw out 50 things that will help liberate them from the physical and mental stuff that clutters their lives.
• Your Garagenous Zone: Innovative Ideas for the Garage by Bill West -- Find out how this room known for clutter and mess can be put to good use.
• One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds -- If you're serious about getting organized, this book offers a week-by-week plan that covers everything from your closets to your finances.
• Organizing Solutions for People With ADD by Susan Pinsky -- This book provides, with plenty of visual examples, tips on organization for adults with ADD.

For more titles, search our catalog for "home organization" or browse the shelves at 648.8. Happy organizing!

-Alan