Best AV of 2010

Now that the list of the best fiction of 2010 has been covered, it's only fair to give audiovisuals their due. This past year marked Eminem's comeback album and Taylor Swift's continued domination of the charts. A CGI-laden sci-fi film stole our hearts, toys came back to life in a big way and a cantankerous musician gave us hope. The world of video games welcomed back several old friends, including the Mario Bros., Kirby, Donkey Kong and Sonic. All in all, 2010 was packed with winning audiovisuals.

Read on for the Adult Services Department's lists of the best DVDs, CDs and video games of 2010. These compilations include some of the best reviewed and most popular titles at PCL.

DVDs

~Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) - "Fantastic Mr. Fox is a delightfully funny feast for the eyes with multi-generational appeal - and it shows Wes Anderson has a knack for animation." - Rottentomatoes.com

~The Hurt Locker (R) - "A well-acted, intensely shot, action filled war epic, Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the Iraq War." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Crazy Heart (R) - "Thanks to a captivating performance from Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart transcends its overly familiar origins and finds new meaning in an old story." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Inception (PG-13) - "Smart, innovative, and thrilling, Inception is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Up in the Air (R) - "Led by charismatic performances by its three leads, director Jason Reitman delivers a smart blend of humor and emotion with just enough edge for mainstream audiences." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Despicable Me (PG) (Coming soon to PCL) - "Borrowing heavily (and intelligently) from Pixar and Looney Tunes, Despicable Me is a surprisingly thoughtful, family-friendly treat with a few surprises of its own." - Rottentomatoes.com

~How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - "Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars." - Rottentomatoes.com

~The Blind Side (PG-13) - It might strike some viewers as a little too pat, but The Blind Side has the benefit of strong source material and a strong performance from Sandra Bullock." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Toy Story 3 (G) - "Deftly blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, Toy Story 3 is a rare second sequel that really works." - Rottentomatoes.com

~Avatar (PG-13) - "It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking." - Rottentomatoes.com

CDs

~Contra by Vampire Weekend - "The scholarly Upper West Side Soweto of Vampire Weekend's debut sounded self-assured, but on Contra, they step out of their ivory tower with just as much confidence." - Allmusic.com

~Union by Elton John and Leon Russell - "Surely, it's a revival for Leon Russell, who has spent decades in the wilderness, but it's not a stretch to say The Union revitalizes Elton John just as much as it does his idol: he hasn't sounded this soulful in years." - Allmusic.com

~My Beautiful, Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West (Coming soon to PCL) - "Whether loved or loathed, fully enjoyed or merely admired, this album should be regarded as a deeply fascinating accomplishment." - Allmusic.com

~Need You Now by Lady Antebellum - "Here, the band's seamless, polished, and savvy brand of contemporary country is even more consistent than it was on their debut; it's virtually flawless in its songwriting, production, and performance." - Allmusic.com

~The Suburbs by Arcade Fire - "It's serious without being preachy, cynical without dissolving into apathy, and whimsical enough to keep both sentiments in line, and of all of their records, it may be the one that ages so well." - Allmusic.com

~The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson (Coming soon to PCL) - "...it makes plain the music contemporary country is trying to erase, while being a thoroughly accessible modern offering. Given its wonderfully crafted and performed material and stellar production, it is the country album of 2010." - Allmusic.com

~Brothers by The Black Keys (Coming soon to PCL) - "And that's the great thing about the Black Keys in general and Brothers in particular: the past and present intermingle so thoroughly that they blur, yet there's no affect, just three hundred pounds of joy." - Allmusic.com

~Recovery by Eminem - "It may be flawed and the rapper's attitude is sometimes one step ahead of his output, but he hasn't sounded this unfiltered and proud since The Marshall Mathers LP..." - Allmusic.com

~Congratulations by MGMT (Coming soon to PCL) - "From the opening moments of the sublime "It's Working" all the way to the titular closer, Congratulations is an incredible follow-up from a band that is still maturing into some unknown entity." - Allmusic.com

~Speak Now by Taylor Swift - "She writes from the perspective of the moment yet has the skill of a songwriter beyond her years, articulating contradictions and confessions with keen detail and strong melody." - Allmusic.com
Video Games

~Gran Turismo 5 (PS3 / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "...if you've ever fantasized about a Ferrari or dreamed of driving at Daytona, Gran Turismo 5 is a game that you're sure to get a lot out of. This is simultaneously the most accessible GT game yet and the most uncompromisingly realistic driving game on a console to date." - GameSpot.com

~3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3 / E10+) - "...a pleasant retreat for anyone who pines for the good old days, but even those without nostalgic links to the past will find an enjoyable experience." - GameSpot.com

~Monster Hunter Tri (Wii / T) - "...if you're hungering for some fun, challenging action and online comaraderie, Monster Hunter Tri will satisfy your cravings." - GameSpot.com

~Rock Band 3 (Wii / PS3 / T / Coming soon to PCL) - "All told, Rock Band turns in an absolutely stellar performance...easily one of the most ambitious music games ever produced, and that it is so successful in its ambition makes it something really special." - GameSpot.com

~Final Fantasy XIII (PS3 / T) - "...a legitimately great game for its stunning beauty, fantastic story, and enjoyable battles, which means it has a lot in common with the Final Fantasy games that came before it." - GameSpot.com

~NBA 2K11 (Wii / PS3 / E) - "...a huge improvement over last year's edition. Just about every facet has been improved or overhauled, which makes this a richly rewarding experience with enough depth to make even diehard NBA fans feel like rookies." - GameSpot.com

~Sonic Colors (Wii / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "...a welcome surprise: a fresh-faced 3D Sonic with great looks and breezy action...This is a Sonic game with verve and imagination..." - GameSpot.com

~Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "This is a traditional take on 2D platformers, and it excels because the brilliant level design makes old obstacles seem new again. Every level hides a new surprise, and you'll replay them over and over again not only to nab every hidden collectible, but also because they're exquisitely entertaining." - GameSpot.com

~Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii / E / Coming soon to PCL) - "...makes it clear from the get-go that it is an adorable game that will put a smile on your face through its outstanding visual design, but the delights go much deeper than the delectable aesthetics." - GameSpot.com

~Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii / E) - "...simply an outstanding game. It never rests on its laurels for a second, constantly presenting new objectives and mechanics to push you to never before seen places." - GameSpot.com

Best of 2010

It's that time of year again...time to make plans and resolutions for a bright, shiny new year. Time to gleefully anticipate a fresh batch of promising books, movies, CDs and video games. But before you charge full steam ahead into 2011, take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights of the retreating year. Many a book, DVD, CD and video game brought joy and insight to the PCL community this year.

Peruse the Adult Services Department's picks for the best fiction of 2010, included below. The list is a combination of some of the best reviewed and most popular items at PCL.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson - "As the finale to Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is not content to merely match the adrenaline-charged pace that made international bestsellers out of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire. Instead, it roars with an explosive storyline that blows the doors off the series and announces that the very best has been saved for last." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, May 2010)

Room by Emma Donoghue - "Emma Donoghue's Room is rife with moments of hope and beauty, and the dogged determination to live, even in the most desolate circumstances. A stunning and original novel of survival in captivity, readers who enter Room will leave staggered, as though, like Jack, they are seeing the world for the very first time." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best of the Month, September 2010)

Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey - "Richly atmospheric, this wonderful novel is picaresque and Dickensian, with humor and insight injected into an accurately rendered period of French and American history." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Faithful Place by Tana French - "Faithful Place is Tana French's best book yet (readers familiar with In the Woods and The Likeness will recognize this as an incredible feat), a compelling and cutting mystery with the hardscrabble, savage Mackey clan at its heart." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2010)

A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan - "Readers will be pleased to discover that the star-crossed marriage of lucid prose and expertly deployed postmodern switcheroos that helped shoot Egan to the top of the genre-bending new school is alive and well in this graceful yet wild novel." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee - "Powerful, deeply felt, compulsively readable and imbued with moral gravity, the novel does not peter out into easy redemption. It's a harrowing tale: bleak, haunting, often heartbreaking - and not to be missed." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Great House by Nicole Krauss - "This stunning work showcases Krauss's consistent talent...Much like in Krauss's The History of Love, the sharply etched characters seem at first arbitrarily linked across time and space, but Krauss pulls together the disparate elements, settings, characters, and fragile connective tissue to form a formidable and haunting mosaic of loss and profound sorrow." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - "In his zinger of a debut, Rachman deftly applies his experience as foreign correspondent and editor to chart the goings-on at a scrappy English-language newspaper in Rome...As the ragtag staff faces down the implications of the paper's tilt into oblivion, there are more than enough sublime moments, unexpected turns and sheer inky wretchedness to warrant putting this on the shelf next to other great newspaper novels." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell - "Every page is overfull with language, events, and characters, exuberantly saturated in the details of the time and the place but told from a knowing and undeniably modern perspective. It's a story that seems to contain a thousand worlds in one." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2010)

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What were your favorite books of 2010? Stay tuned for upcoming posts on the best CDs, DVDs and video games of 2010!

Also, don't forget to check out the Youth Services blog for lists of the best Picture, Juvenile and YA books of the year and the Reference Services blog for the best Non-Fiction titles of the year.

Author Spotlight: Tanya Wright

As if playing a starring role on HBO's True Blood isn't enough, Tanya Wright has also found time to write a screenplay, translate it into her first novel, and direct and star in said screenplay. Fans worldwide know her as the saucy, outspoken Deputy Kenya Jones on HBO's hit series based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. Wright's debut novel, Butterfly Rising, was inspired by the loss of her own brother and the transformation she experienced in her life at that time. According to Wright, "I hope the message in Butterfly Rising inspires people to believe in their dreams, no matter how far-reaching they may seem. In today's world, it's easy to put our dreams last on our daily list of 'things to do.' Butterfly Rising - a bumpy and emotional journey towards hope and rebirth - is a story that suggests our dreams may actually be the bridge to leading a productive, fulfilling and extraordinary life. The journey of Lilah and Rose also exemplifies that second chances are infinitely real and deserved."

Meet Tanya Wright at PCL on Thursday, February 17th at 7pm. Reservations requested, but not required - 610-398-1361 x13. Read on for fun facts about the author and place your hold on Butterfly Rising today.

*She has appeared in ground-breaking shows including 24, NYPD Blue, ER, The Cosby Show and the Morgan Freeman-produced NBC feature Mutiny
*A native of Bronx, N.Y., Wright moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career
*She worked briefly at The New York Times
*While attending Vassar College, her studies focused on comparative literature and writing
*She is the writer and creator of several screenplays and television pilots, a soap opera, a web-based series and a reality show
*In her spare time she enjoys yoga, dance, bike riding, hiking and mentoring projects for young girls and other artists

December 2010's Must-Reads

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, you may be on the lookout for the perfect gift for loved ones. You may also be longing for a good book to help escape the hubub of this busy time of year. Look no further than this month's list of must-read books for the solution to both quandaries!

The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip (Dec. 7th) - World Fantasy Award winner McKillip (The Bell at Sealey Head) offers a rich, resonant story of poetry, riddles, mystery, and magic...McKillip seduces readers with lyrical prose; intriguing, complex characters; and resonant riddles-within-riddles." - Publisher's Weekly

The Four Stages of Cruelty by Keith Hollihan (Dec. 7th) - "Hollihan manages to combine a labyrinthine plot, full of intrigue, secret societies, and arcane lore, with a nuanced, character-driven narrative that provides insights into prison life while keeping readers guessing until the last page." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings (Dec. 7th) - "Meekings is a bangup storyteller, and his easy handling of rich and varied material - rustic splendor, class warfare, profound anguish, drastic social changes - will keep readers apt. This is a beautifully told love story as well as an absorbing study in Chinese folklore and history." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal (Dec. 21st) - "O'Neal's tale of strong-willed women and torn family loyalties is a cut above the standard women's fiction fare, held together by lovingly sketched characters and real emotion." - Publisher's Weekly

The Radleys by Matt Haig (Dec. 28th) - "This witty vampire novel from British author Haig (The Possession of Mr. Cave) provides what jaded fans of the Twilight series need, not True Blood exactly, but some fresh blood in the form of a true blue family." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Knit, Purl, Read

If you like a clever mystery that is short on gory details but long on quirky characters, then cozy mysteries are for you. (See my previous post to learn more.) If you also love to knit, then knitting cozy mysteries are right up your alley.

There are many sub-genres in the cozy category, such as mysteries featuring knitting, cooking and/or baking, tea houses, coffee houses, wine country, animals, antiques and many more interesting themes. Read on for a list of popular knitting cozy mysteries available at the library.

Barbara Bretton - Sugar Maple series - Meet Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks and String knitting shop in Sugar Maple, Vermont...and a sorcerer's daughter. Sparks fly when she meets human police officer Luke MacKenzie, who is hard at work investigating Sugar Maple's first murder. Perfect for the reader who enjoys a breezy mystery, knitting, romance and a dash of magic.

Monica Ferris - Needlecraft Mysteries series - When Betsy Devonshire's sister Margot is found dead in her needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy begins her own investigation. She finds plenty of suspects, including a disgruntled landlord and a scheming competitor. Recommended for fans of strong characters, well-paced plots and needlecraft.

Sally Goldenbaum - Seaside Knitters Mystery series - Welcome to Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, home of Isabel "Izzy" Chambers' knitting shop and the Seaside Knitters, a diverse group of women who meet weekly to knit...and solve the occasional murder. This series is great for anyone who enjoys knitting with others (such as members of the library's Knitting Circle!)

Maggie Sefton - Knitting Mystery series - Kelly Flynn travels to Fort Conner, Colorado for the funeral of her Aunt Helen, who was recently murdered. Although the local police have written the death off as the result of a random break-in, Kelly is not so sure. She launches her own investigation and learns to knit at the House of Lambspun. Both journeys prove to be enlightening. Recommended for first-time knitters and those who remember the triumphs and tribulations of their own knitting beginnings.

What are your favorite cozy mysteries?

Harry Potter

As the latest glimpse into the enticing world of Harry Potter rapidly approaches (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I hits movie theaters in a mere nine hours!) interest in "the boy who lived" is back on the rise.

The world's fascination is intensified by the fact that this is the second to last part of a long and incredible journey. All of the books have been published and now only two movies remain to be savored. Instead of wringing your hands in despair, use them to pick up a great book, similar in style to Harry Potter. Also, enjoy some fun facts and links to enhance your understanding of this blockbuster series.

Harry Potter Read-Alikes

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones - "...this comic fantasy follows two orphans, one of whom is a witch, when they are summoned to live in a castle full of necromancers." Publisher's Weekly

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper - "Susan Cooper, in her five-title Dark is Rising sequence, creates a world where the conflict between good and evil reaches epic proportions. She ranks with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in her ability to deliver a moral vision in the context of breathtaking adventure." Amazon.com Review

Eragon by Christopher Paolini - "Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend." Amazon.com Review

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - "In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist." Amazon.com Review

Graceling by Kristin Cashore - "In this debut fantasy novel, Cashore treats readers to compelling and eminently likable characters and a story that draws them in from the first paragraph." School Library Journal (Starred Review)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is, in turn, beautiful, frightening, wise." New York Times

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge - "The author is as inventive with language as she is with social and cultural constructs. This novel is just plain fun." School Library Journal

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin - "...Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at out hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms." Amazon.com Review

Fun Facts

*The Hogwarts motto, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" means "never tickle a sleeping dragon."

*The last name Dumbledore means "Bumblebee" in Old English.

*During the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the part of Dobby was played by a ball on a stick (he was later added digitally.)

*The newspaper headline "Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament," seen in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was considered for the title of the fourth book.

*Several members of the Black family are named after astronomical objects, including Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda, Arcturus, Bellatrix and Cygnus.

*On one of the many occasions in the book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that Professor Slughorn gets Ron's name wrong, he calls him Rupert (Chapter 22.) In all movie adaptations of the Harry Potter books Ron Weasley is played by Rupert Grint.

Recommended Websites

jkrowling.com - The official website of the genius behind Harry Potter

harrypotter.scholastic.com - Explore Harry's magical world for yourself - Repel a dementor! Transfigure a rock! Unlock Moody's trunk!

Fun facts found at www.imdb.com

Veterans Day

November 11th is a day to honor all veterans on a national scale. This particular date is quite significant, given that on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice was called between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War. The following year, November 11th was celebrated as Armistice Day. It became a legal federal holiday in 1938. After WWII and the Korean War, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The library has a wide variety of resources to help honor American veterans on November 11th and all year long.

CDs
The Civil War: Its Music and Sounds
United States Army Field Band
United States Marine Band

DVDs
Band of Brothers
The Deer Hunter
Full Metal Jacket
Muse of Fire
The Pacific
Platoon
Vietnam: A Television History
The War
WWII in HD

Fiction Books

All Quiet on the Western Front by Eric Maria Remarque
The Marines of Autumn by James Brady
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
The Sandbox by David Zimmerman
The Thin Red Line by James Jones
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson

Non-fiction Books
Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie
Joker One by Donovan Campbell
The Last Stand of Fox Company by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
Never will We Forget: Oral Histories of WWII by Marilyn Mayer Culpepper
Radioman by Ray Daves

Websites
History.com
Lehigh Valley area Veterans Day events (from The Morning Call)
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Interesting Facts
~There are currently about 23.2 million military veterans in the United States
~9.2 million of those veterans are over the age of 65
~1.9 million veterans are under the age of 35
~Congress passed a bill that moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, in 1968 (the law went into effect in 1971.) President Ford returned the holiday back to November 11th in 1975, due to the date's historical importance
~Britain, France, Australia and Canada also honor the vets of WWI and WWII on or near November 11th

How will you commemorate Veterans Day this year?

Interesting facts found on History.com's Veterans Day Facts page.
Information about Veterans Day found on History.com's Veterans Day page.

November 2010's Must-Reads

If you are boldly attempting the NaNoWriMo challenge, you may not have too much time to devote to reading this month. On the other hand, you might appreciate a good book to make your procrastination interesting and/or to help inspire your own words. If you have no idea what NaNoWriMo is (see my earlier post on the subject) and just need help finding your next favorite book, read on for some of November's best and brightest.

The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick (Nov. 1st) - "Hollick does a remarkable job of bringing to life a little known but powerful queen, as well as the milieu and world she inhabited. The scope is vast and the cast is huge, but Hollick remains firmly in control, giving readers an absorbing plot that never lags over the course of a fat, satisfying book." - Publisher's Weekly

The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent (Nov. 8th) - "Kent doesn't disappoint in this prequel to The Heretic's Daughter, taking readers back to Massachusetts before the Salem witch trials as strong-willed 23-year-old Martha Allen falls in love with strong-armed hired hand Thomas Carrier...Kent weaves in references to her first novel while creating an immersive stand-alone...Kent brings colonial America to life by poking into its dark corners and finding its emotional and personal underpinnings. - Publisher's Weekly

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (Nov. 9th) - "A letter posted in 1941 finally reaches its destination in 1992 with powerful repercussions for Edie Burchill, a London book editor, in this enthralling romantic thriller from Australian author Morton." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King (Nov. 9th) - "King fans (and those who have always wanted to give him a shot) will devour this collection of campfire tales where marriages sway under the weight of pitch-black secrets, greed and guilt poison and fester, and the only thing you can count on is that 'there are always worse things waiting.' Full Dark, No Stars features four one-sitting yarns showcasing King at his gritty, gruesome, giddy best, so be sure to check under the bed before getting started." - Amazon.com Review (Amazon Best Books of the Month, November 2010)

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley (Nov. 11th) - Mosley (Known to Evil) plays out an intriguing premise in his powerful latest: a man is given a second shot at life, but at the price of a hastened death...Mosley's depiction of the indignities of old age is heartbreaking, and Ptolemy's grace and decency make for a wonderful character and a moving novel." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

The Baker Street Irregular by Jon Lellenberg (Nov. 30th) - "Lellenberg...makes an impressive fiction debut with this gripping period spy novel...His own background as former director of the Pentagon's special operations bureau's policy and strategy office serves him well in recreating the grind and tedium of actual intelligence work." - Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

*If you do happen to be participating in NaNoWriMo, honorable mention goes to the book you are writing. Keep up the good work!

Pumpkin vs. Jack O'Lantern

Now that we are in the thick of the fall season, the age-old question returns...what should be done with all of those pumpkins? From baked goods to scary lanterns to unique centerpieces, pumpkins are one of the most diverse plants around. With so many options, it can be hard to decide on the best use of your "pompion." Read on for fun facts and festive ideas.

Pumpkin
Recipes
~AllRecipes.com - Includes recipes for savory dishes, such as Pumpkin Turkey Chili and Pumpkin Fritters, along with sweet treats, such as Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins and Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll.
~FoodNetwork.com - Embrace your inner TV chef by sampling some of the unique pumpkin recipes from big names like Paula Deen, the Barefoot Contessa, Bobby Flay and more! Recipes range from Pumpkin Mousse Parfait to Pumpkin Roulade with Ginger Buttercream to Spicy Pumpkin Seeds and beyond.

Decorative Ideas
~No surprise here, Martha Stewart offers some eye-catching decorative ideas for pumpkins. Give the Pumpkin Cachepots or Glittered Pumpkins a try.
~Real Simple has easy, no carve pumpkin ideas that make great use of tape, tacks and paint.
~Good Housekeeping is another handy resource for no fuss, no muss pumpkin decorating. Don't miss the beautiful celestial vase.
~Kaboose.com shares some cute ideas, such as Eeeek! Pumpkin, Swarm of Bats Pumpkin, Creepy Eyeball Pumpkin and Giant Pumpkin Bowl.

Fun Facts

~Pumpkins are fruits. They are a type of squash in the gourd family.

~The largest pumpkin ever grown was 1,689 lbs. It was grown by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, Rhode Island.

~In colonial times, pumpkins were emptied of seeds and filled with milk, spices and honey, then baked in hot ashes for a tasty treat.

~Pumpkins are 90% water.

~French explorer Jacques Cartier first called pumpkins "gros melons," which translates into "pompions," which has developed into "pumpkin."

~U.S. farmers produce more than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin annually.

~Pumpkins were once recommended to help remove freckles and cure snake bites.

Jack O'Lantern
Recipes (although recipes tend to fall under the pumpkin category, there are a few that bend the rules a little)
~Martha Stewart's Jack-o'-Lantern Tartlets, Pumpkin-Seed Brittle and Stew in a Pumpkin
~Betty Crocker's Jack-o'-Lantern Cake
~AllRecipes.com's Jack-O-Lantern Burgers

Carving Ideas
~Go back to basics with this helpful Pumpkin Carving Primer from Disney's FamilyFun website. Two other nice resources are the jack-o'-lanterns 101 poster and the Pumpkin Carving Tips: Carving the Perfect Pumpkin article, also featured on the site.
~After you learn all there is to know about pumpkin carving and are ready to go, Disney's FamilyFun site also provides ideas for what to actually carve into the pumpkin. Visit the Printable Halloween Patterns & Pumpkin Carving Templates page and the Jack-o-Lantern Patterns & Ideas page.
~Never one to miss a craft opportunity, Marth Stewart comes through again with impressive ideas for pumpkin carving. Check out her Carrot-Nose Jack-o'-Lanterns, Starburst Pumpkin Sconces, Jack-o'-Lanterns Made Tall, Spooky Silhouette Designs, Pierced Openwork Pumpkins and Pumpkin Creatures.
~Why carve alone, when you can host a pumpkin-carving party? Real Simple provides a step-by-step guide to throw a smashingly successful event. The guide includes a play list, menu ideas and carving tips.

History of the Jack O'Lantern
~The practice of carving jack o'lanterns began in Ireland with the myth of "Stingy Jack." According to legend, Stingy Jack played a few tricks on the devil in his lifetime. When he died, God would not allow Stingy Jack into heaven, due to his misdeeds in life. The devil would not allow him into hell, since Stingy Jack had duped him twice and make him promise not to take his soul. With nowhere else to go, Stingy Jack was forced to wander the earth with nothing but a burning coal to light his way. He placed this coal in a carved-out turnup for easier transportation. The Irish referred to him as "Jack of the Lantern," which developed into "Jack O'Lantern" over time. Irish and Scottish people started carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes, in order to scare away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits. Immigrants from Ireland and Scotland brought this tradition to America, but soon found pumpkins to be an easier plant to carve.

Pumpkins are a staple of Halloween and the fall season, in general. Their versatility allows chefs, bakers, crafters and families, alike, to express themselves in fun and unique ways. What will you do with pumpkins this year?

Sources of fun fact info: History.com and the University of Illinois Extension's Pumpkins and More site
Source of Jack O'Lantern history: History.com

NaNoWriMo

"Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!" For all you current/sometimes/hopeful authors out there...NaNoWriMo beckons. Put aside your fears and judgements and pick up your pens and laptops. Your inner characters and storylines are begging to be set free.

What on earth is NaNoWriMo, you ask? National Novel Writing Month. The one glorious month out of every year (since 1999) that authors (published and wannabes, alike) are challenged to write relentlessly (a 50,000 word novel) about anything their heart desires. The goal is quantity, not quality. In fact, editing is deeply frowned upon.

The point is to spur anyone interested in writing into action. Too often, internal criticism, fear and lack of motivation keep people from writing. NaNoWriMo combats these setbacks with a breezy, seat-of-your-pants attitude toward novel writing. If you don't suffer from such writing hang-ups, you should consider participating anyway. Here are some fun reasons from the NaNoWriMo website:
-To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms!
-To write without having to obsess over quality.
-To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties.
-To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.

Whatever the reason, you won't regret partaking in the exhilarating experience that is NaNoWriMo.

Additional Resources:
*Websites
Nanowrimo
Nanowrimo's Young Writer's Program
Meriiam-Webster - online dictionary and thesaurus
Bartleby.com - find quotes from literature
Dropbox - sync your files online and across your computers (in case you write on a variety of computers)

*Books
No plot? No problem! : a low-stress, high-velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days by Chris Baty
How I write: secrets of a best-selling author by Janet Evanovich & Ina Yalof
The lie that tells a truth: a guide to writing fiction by John Dufresne
This year you write your novel by Walter Mosley

Author Spotlight: Steven Walker

True crime fans will not want to miss Steven Walker's visit to the library on Mon., Oct. 25th at 7pm. His most recent work, Predator, hits close to home with the story of Timothy Krajcir. Read a helpful review of this book on the PCL Reference blog. Learn all about Walker by visiting his website, and find out even more about the author and the true crime cases he has profiled by attending his book discussion/signing at PCL on Oct. 25th. (Reservations requested, but not required - 610-398-1361 x13.)

5 Facts about Steven Walker:
1. He has approximately 1,500 published credits to his name.
2. He was born in Heidelberg, Germany.
3. He founded the Lehigh Valley Writers Academy in 2001.
4. He was a reporter for The Morning Call for three years.
5. He has won several awards for his macabre style of poetry.

Movie Marathon

Fall is a great time to cozy up on the couch and enjoy a movie marathon with friends and family. Themes can range anywhere from Hollywood classics to award-winning documentaries to movies starring Tom Hanks. Films are a unique way to learn about other people and places, observe different perspectives on the human condition or simply enjoy a brief escape from reality. Grab some popcorn, friends and DVDs from the library today!

Movie Marathon Ideas:
Academy Award Winners
Crash (2005 / R)
Shakespeare in Love (1998 / R)
The Deer Hunter (1978 / R)
In the Heat of the Night (1967 / Not rated by the MPAA)
All About Eve (1950 / Not rated by the MPAA)

AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies
Citizen Kane (1941 / PG)
The Godfather (1972 / R)
Casablanca (1942 / PG)
Raging Bull (1980 / R)
Singin' in the Rain (1952 / G)

Documentaries

The Cove (2009 / PG-13)

Man on Wire (2008 / PG-13)

Taxi to the Dark Side (2007 / R)

An Inconvenient Truth (2006 / PG)

March of the Penguins (2005 / G)

Fall Classic
The Natural (1984 / PG)
A League of Their Own (1992 / PG)
Major League (1989 / R)
Bull Durham (1988 / R)
Eight Men Out (1988 / PG)

Family Friendly
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001 / PG)
Toy Story (1995 / G)
Up (2009 / PG)
The Princess Bride (1987 / PG)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009 / PG)

Foreign Films
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009 / R)
Departures (2008 / PG-13)
The Counterfeiters (2008 / R)
The Lives of Others (2006 / R)
Tsotsi (2005 / R)

Fright Fest
Misery (1990 / R)
Nosferatu (1922 / Not rated by the MPAA)
Psycho (1960 / R)
The Shining (1980 / R)
The Thing (1982 / R)

Musicals
Cabaret (1972 / PG)
West Side Story (1961 / Not rated by the MPAA)
Moulin Rouge! (2002 / PG-13)
My Fair Lady (1964 / G)
The Sound of Music (1965 / G)

Romantic Comedies
When Harry Met Sally (1989 / R)
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997 / PG-13)
Say Anything (1989 / PG-13)
The Wedding Singer (1998 / PG-13)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002 / PG)

War Films

Platoon (1986 / R)

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957 / PG)

Schindler's List (1993 / R)

Full Metal Jacket (1987 / R)

Saving Private Ryan (1998 / R)

Westerns
Unforgiven (1992 / R)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969 / PG)
3:10 to Yuma (2007 / R)
Tombstone (1993 / R)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966 / R)

John Lennon

Imagine a world without John Lennon. No Beatlemania or "Give Peace a Chance," no Across the Universe or The Beatles: Rockband. In short, no legendary musician to inspire millions of people around the world for countless generations. John Lennon needs no introduction. He was beloved and controversial, but the indelible mark he made on the world cannot be denied. On Saturday, October 9th he would have celebrated his 70th birthday. Check out the resources included below to help celebrate this occasion.

DVDs - Across the Universe, A Hard Day's Night
CDs - 1, Abbey Road, Anthology 1, Imagine: John Lennon, Love, Magical Mystery Tour, Lennon Legend
Adult Non-Fiction - John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth by Elizabeth Partridge, John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman, The Lives of John Lennon by Albert Goldman, Memories of John Lennon edited by Yoko Ono, The Songs of Lennon & McCartney, Ticket to Ride by Larry Kane, Once there was a Way by Harry Benson, Can't Buy Me Love by Jonathan Gould, The Beatles by Bob Spitz
Juvenile Non-Fiction - The 10 Most Revoluntionary Songs by Andrea Cameron, John's Secret Dreams by Doreen Rappaport, Real Love: The Drawings for Sean by John Lennon
Video Games - The Beatles: Rockband (Wii, PS3)
On the Web - The Beatles / Yoko Ono reflects on John Lennon's 70th birthday / John Lennon 70th birthday events
Television - LENNONYC

Watch the movies, read the bios, listen to the music and remember the man.