New York Times Best Selling Fiction

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini


2. The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child


3. Dark Possession by Christine Feehan


4. Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs


5. The Elves of Cintra by Terry Brooks


6. Play Dirty by Sandra Brown


7. The Quickie by James Patterson


8. Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon


9. Away by Amy Bloom


10. Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson


11. Power Play by Joseph finder


12. The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury


13. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan


14. Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson


15. The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva

Noted titles:

Songs Without Words by Ann Packer

Area Author Events

There are a lot of author events happening this fall in our region. I hope everyone gets the chance to attend one, or more, of these events.

An Evening with John Hart, author of King of Lies, will be speaking at the Historic Salisbury Station on Sunday, September 30 from 5:30-8:00 PM. A copy of his second novel, Down River, will be given to each person who attends. Reservations can be made by contacting The LandTrust at 70-647-0302.

A Conversation with Sue Monk Kidd will be held at the Salem Fine Arts Center, Salem College on Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 pm. General admission, which includes dessert reception, is $22. For tickets call: 336-721-2855.

Kathy Reichs, Forensic Anthropologist and best-selling author, and Dr. James Tabor, scholar on the times of Jesus, will present Dead Bones Talk & Silent Stones Speak: Solving Mysteries with Forensic Science and Archaeology on Tuesday, October 9:00 at 8:00 pm at the Anne R, Belk Theater at Robinson Hall, UNC. Tickets are $15 for the general public and can be purchase by calling 704-687-2599.

The Friends of the Stanly County Public Library present Mark Ethridge, author of Grievances at their annual author dinner. The event will be held on Thursday, October 11 at 6:30 pm at Stanly Regional Medical Center's Family and Education Center. Tickets are $12 for Friends members and $15 for non-members and can be purchased at the Albemarle Library.

Remembering 9/11 in Fiction

The library has the following novels written around 9/11:

The Falling Man by Don DeLillo

Extremely Loud and Incredible Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Zero by Jess Walter

A Disorder Peculiar to the Country by Ken Kalfus

52 Ways to Use Your Library Card

(for each week of the year)

1. Get to know your librarian, the ultimate search engine @ your library.


2. Update your MySpace page.


3. Research new job opportunities.


4. Find a list of childcare centers in your area.


5. Learn about local candidates for office.


6. Pick up voter registration information.


7. Check out your favorite graphic novel.


8. Pick up a DVD.


9. Get wireless access.


10. Participate in a community forum.


11. Find out how to navigate the Internet.


12. Prepare your resume.


13. Get new ideas for redecorating your house.


14. Get a list of community organizations.


15. Attend a lecture or workshop.


16. Hear a local author reading his/her latest novel.


17. Join a book discussion group.


18. Attend story time with your child.


19. Get homework help.


20. Look up all kinds of health information.


21. Research the purchase of a new car.


22. Trek to another planet in a sci-fi novel.


23. Call the reference desk if you have a question.


24. Research your term paper.


25. Learn about the history of your city, town, or family.


26. Decide which computer to buy using a Consumer Guide.


27. Check your stock portfolio.


28. Read a newspaper from another town.


29. Borrow or download an audiobook for your next road trip or commute.


30. Use the library's resources to start a small business.


31. See a children's art exhibit.


32. Volunteer.


33. Find a new recipe.


34. Ask for a recommended reading list for your kids.


35. Make photocopies.


36. Get a book from interlibrary loan.


37. Enroll your child in a summer reading program.


38. Take a computer class.


39. Hear a poetry reading.


40. Read the latest fashion magazines.


41. Check out a book.


42. Trace your family tree.


43. Check out a special collection of rare books.


44. Check out a legal question or issue.


45. Find out how to file a consumer complaint.


46. Learn about home improvement.


47. Borrow some sheet music.


48. Lear how to use a database or computerized catalog.


49. Find the latest romance paperback.


50. Pick up tax forms.


51. Connect with other people in the community.


52. Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy.