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.

"It's a Mystery" with Jim and Joyce Lavene

Local authors Jim and Joyce Lavene will be at the Stanly County Public Library on Thursday, September 13th from 6:30-7:30. They have had several books published this year, and will discuss how they write their mysteries. The Sharon Howard Mystery series is set in a fictional Badin and feature the local sheriff. If you like gardening, they also have the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery series that your knowledge of deadly plants could help you figure out who done it. Their newest series starts with Swapping Paint and is about race car driving.

We will have several copies of their books for a door prize drawing.

U.S. Poet Laureate Named

Charles Simic, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet has been named the U.S. Poet Laureate. The library has a copy of The Voice at 3:00 A.M.: Selected Late and New Poems published in 2003.

Book Club Sets Reading List

The Locust Branch Library Book Club has set their discussion list for the next six months. This lively group meets at the Locust Library on the 3rd Friday of each month at noon. Copies of the books are available for checkout, and they would love to see some new faces.

Here is what they will be discussing:

• August - The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards
• September - Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg
• October - Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
• November - Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• December - Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury
• January - Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Anthony Award Nominees

The Anthony Award Nominations for best mysteries have been announced. Finalists will be announced in September.

Best Novel:
All Mortal Flesh, Julia Spencer-Fleming, St. Martins
The Dead Hour, Denise Mina, Little Brown & Co.
Kidnapped, Jan Burke, Simon & Schuster
No Good Deeds, Laura Lippman, Harper
The Virgin Of Small Plains, Nancy Pickard, Ballantine

Best First Novel:
Field Of Darkness, Cornelia Read, Mysterious Press
The Harrowing, Alexandra Sokoloff, St. Martin’s
Holmes On The Range, Steve Hockensmith, St. Martins
The King Of Lies, John Hart, St. Martin’s
Still Life, Louise Penny, St. Martin’s

The library does have copies of all of these titles - stop by and check one out. Please leave us a comment if you read one, or more, of these nominated books and let us know if you think it deserves to win.

Volunteers Needed!

The Stanly County Public Library is looking for volunteers to deliver books and other materials to people who are home bound due to illness, disability or lack of transportation. The volunteers will work with library staff to select, check out and deliver library materials to home bound patrons on an agreed-to schedule. Volunteers are needed in all areas of the county.

Benefits of Volunteering

• 
  
  Satisfaction in providing a much needed and appreciated community service.


• 
  
  Annual service recognition.


• 
  
  Valuable and meaningful use of your free time.


• 
  
  Develop new social skills.

To get more information or sign up, please contact Melanie Holles, the Outreach Services Librarian, at 704-986-3761.

Here's Your Chance to WIN a Free Book!

I recently received a free paperback copy of The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard from the publisher, Ballantine Books. The book was originally published in a hardback edition in 2006. The trade paperback edition has just been released.

I wasn't going to read the book because it's a mystery type book and it's set in Kansas. But I'm looking for good books for my book club to read and discuss next year, so I thought I would at least try this one. If you've had a chance to talk with me about books, you'll know that I don't like mysteries; and having lived in Kansas, I sure don't need to read books about it. But I loved this book! I actually had to stop myself from reading one night because I wasn't ready for it to end.

The novel is set in a fictional small town by Emporia, Kansas (where I went to graduate school). I had to keep reading to find out who the Virgin was that was buried in the cemetery (and causing miracles), and I had to find out who knew what and who killed her. The ending was very satisfying - not a happy ending like a romance novel - but all the bad guys are dealt with and the characters I liked all had closure.

I plan to suggest to my book club that we read and discuss this book next year. But I'm still looking for other great books for my club to read. If you'd like to win my free publisher copy of this book, please leave me a comment with a suggestion for other great books my book club might enjoy. I'll draw a name from all the comments on July 28th and send them the book.

Author Read-Alike: Jennifer Crusie

Romantic comedy best describes Crusie's stories, and by introducing elements of mystery and suspense, she broadens her appeal. These are fast-paced, upbeat, heartwarming, humorous stories that address issues in human relationships - among lovers, families, and friends. Snappy dialog, steamy sex, and amusing dogs are all part of the package, as is the usually urban but definitely Midwestern setting and feel. To get a feel for Crusie's trademark humor and racy romance, try Welcome to Temptation.

Fellow Midwestern romance writer Susan Elizabeth Phillips shares many qualities with Crusie: spunky heroines with modern values, strong but vulnerable heroes, humor in characters and situations, snappy dialog, and an emphasis on the relationships among characters. Try her first hardcover title, This Heart of Mine.

Millie Criswell makes another good suggestion for Crusie readers. Criswell's books are also Midwestern in setting, humorous, and feature quirky characters. Recipes are an added draw. The Trouble With Mary is the first of her series of linked titles.

Although Janet Evanovich comes immediately to mind as a similar author, other mystery writers might appeal equally. Gillian Roberts writes with similar verve, combing humor with more serious issues and romantic interest. Sarah Shankman writes outrageously humorous, even bizarre romantic mysteries.

Mary Kay Andrews debut novel, Savannah Blues, stars a sassy heroine and includes a steamy southern setting and romance, irreverent humor, and antique lore. Not to mention a dog.

I hope everyone enjoys these suggestions from Joyce Saricks, author of Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, and regular contributor to NoveList.

Best Crime Novels

I wanted to share with you a great list of the "Best Crime Novels" as compiled by Book List magazine. All the "*" titles are available in the Stanly County Public Library system. Use the link to the right to connect to the library online Public Access Catalog to place a reserve on any of the titles you are interested in. The titles we don't currently have will be ordered, so watch for them.

The Broken Shore by Peter Temple

The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Beynon Rees

*Echo Park by Michael Connelly

*Free Fire by C.J. Box

*The Foreign Correspondent by Alan Furst

*The Limehouse Text by Will Thomas

The Meaning of the Night: A Confession by Michael Cox

*Vicious Circle by Robert Littell

*Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

*The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

*The Zero by Jess Walter

And if none of the "best" books sparked your interest, then maybe one of these titles by rising stars will.

*Codex by Lev Grossman
*Still Life by Louise Penny
*Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
*Blood of Angels and The Last Goodbye by Reed Arvin
*The Sweet and the Dead by Milton T. Burton
*Sliver of Truth and Dead at Daybreak by Deon Meyer
*The Smoke by Tony Broadbent

Albemarle Reader's Circle Book Club

A False Sense of Well Being by Jeanne Braselton

• 
  
  Tuesday, June 19


• 
  
  11:00 am

At 38, Jessie Maddox has a comfortable life in Glenville, GA, with Turner, the most reliable, responsible husband in the world. But after the storybook romance, "happily ever after" never came. Now why can't she stop picturing herself as the perfect Grieving widow?

Braselton's debut novel carries recommendations on the cover from Southern writing greats; Anne Rivers Siddons, Kaye Gibbons, and Lee Smith.

Aspen Gold Reader's Choice Awards

This is a contest sponsored by the Heart of Denver Romance Writers. The purpose of the ASPEN GOLD is to inspire, motivate and reward published authors of romance fiction. I am serving as a judge for the Contemporary Novel Category. I received three titles to read and judge. The first is Simple Gifts by Shelley Galloway, and it is a Harlequin American Romance. The second book is The Nurse's Longed-For Family by Fiona Lowe, and it is a Harlequin Mills Boon Medical. The last book is The Cowboy's Return by Linda Warren, and it also is a harlequin American Romance. I read all three great books over the long Memorial Day weekend. This week I will be sending in my scores. Winners will be announced July 18th. I'm donating my signed copies of the books to the library, so I hope everyone tries these wonderful stories. If you read these books let me know what you think of them and we can compare scores.

New York Times Best Sellers - May 27, 2007

HARDCOVER FICTION

1 THE 6TH TARGET, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) In San Francisco, children and their nannies are disappearing, and Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women’s Murder Club investigate.

2 SIMPLE GENIUS, by David Baldacci. (Warner, $26.99.) Two former Secret Service agents investigate a scientist’s murder while one battles her own demons.

3 THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN'S UNION, by Michael Chabon. (HarperCollins, $26.95.) A detective investigates the murder of a neighbor in a Jewish settlement in Alaska.

4 THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrated by Alan Lee. (Houghton Mifflin, $26.) In Middle-earth, an evil lord wants to destroy his rival’s children.

5 I HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE, by Mary Higgins Clark. (Simon & Schuster, $25.95.)
A woman marries a childhood acquaintance suspected of several murders.

6 THE WOODS, by Harlan Coben. (Dutton, $26.95.) A prosecutor must confront family secrets when new evidence surfaces about a murder and disappearance at a summer camp 20 years earlier.

7 RANT, by Chuck Palahniuk. (Doubleday, $24.95.)The “oral biography” of a serial killer.

8 NINETEEN MINUTES, by Jodi Picoult. (Atria, $26.95.) The aftermath of a high school shooting reveals the fault lines in a small New Hampshire town.

9 THE GOOD HUSBAND OF ZEBRA DRIVE, by Alexander McCall Smith. (Pantheon, $21.95.) The eighth novel in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

10 BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET, by Debbie Macomber. (Mira, $24.95.) More stories of life and love from a Seattle knitting class.

11 FOR ONE MORE DAY, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $21.95.) A troubled man gets a last chance to reconnect and restore his relationship with his dead mother.

12 BODY SURFING, by Anita Shreve. (Little, Brown, $25.99.) A woman takes a job as a tutor and becomes involved in a wealthy family’s tensions and rivalries.

13 ALL TOGETHER DEAD, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace, $24.95.) Sookie Stackhouse, a New Orleans cocktail waitress, is swept up in the intrigue of a vampire summit.

14 BUDDHA, by Deepak Chopra. (HarperSanFrancisco, $24.95.) A reimagining of the spiritual leader’s life.

15 UP IN HONEY’S ROOM, by Elmore Leonard. (Morrow, $25.95.) Marshal Carl Webster tracks German spies in Detroit in the closing days of World War II.

HARDCOVER NON-FICTION

1 EINSTEIN, by Walter Isaacson. (Simon & Schuster, $32.) A biography based on newly released personal letters.

2 AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM, by George Tenet. (HarperCollins, $30.) The former director of the Central Intelligence Agency looks back on his career.

3 PAULA DEEN: IT AIN’T ALL ABOUT THE COOKIN’, by Paula Deen with Sherry Suib Cohen. (Simon & Schuster, $25.) A memoir with recipes from the Southern cooking impresario (Food Network shows, restaurants, cookbooks, magazine).

4 GOD IS NOT GREAT, by Christopher Hitchens. (Twelve, $24.99.) Religion as a malignant force in the world.

5 ANIMAL-VEGETABLE-MIRACLE, by Barbara Kingsolver with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver. (HarperCollins, $26.95.) The novelist and her family spend a year eating homegrown or local food; an argument for diversified farms and sustainable agriculture.

6 A LONG WAY GONE, by Ishmael Beah. (Sarah Crichton/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $22.) A former child soldier from Sierra Leone describes his drug-crazed killing spree and his return to humanity.

7 WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE?, by Lee Iacocca. (Scribner, $25.) The former C.E.O. of Chrysler protests the lack of political and business leadership on issues like health care and energy policy.

8 I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK, by Nora Ephron. (Knopf, $19.95.) A witty look at aging from a novelist and screenwriter (“When Harry Met Sally”).

9 PRESIDENTIAL COURAGE, by Michael Beschloss. (Simon & Schuster, $28.) Profiles of nine presidents who had the courage to make unpopular decisions.

10 KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL, by Deborah Rodriguez with Kristin Ohlson. (Random House, $24.95.) To aid Afghan women, an American runs a beauty school in Kabul.

11 THE BLACK SWAN, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. (Random House, $26.95.) The role of the unexpected.

12 TALES FROM Q SCHOOL, by John Feinstein. (Little, Brown, $26.99.) Inside the 200 5 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, which determines whether a golfer will have a slot on the PGA Tour, from the author of “A Good Walk Spoiled.”

13 THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama. (Crown, $25.) The Illinois junior senator proposes that Americans move beyond their political divisions.

14 HOW DOCTORS THINK, by Jerome Groopman. (Houghton Mifflin, $26.) A doctor and New Yorker staff writer describes how doctors arrive at diagnoses.

15 MARLEY & ME, by John Grogan. (Morrow, $29.95 and $21.95.) A newspaper columnist and his wife learn some life lessons from their neurotic dog.

A Few Summer Reading Suggestions

Earlier this week, I made a presentation to a local book club. They wanted to hear about some books that would be good to read this summer. For the list of titles I shared with them, I looked for books that had been published in 2007 and that were fairly easy to read - not fluff, but not "literature" either. I hope you find something on the list that you will enjoy reading. Please feel free to leave a comment (good or bad) about any of the titles on the list that you read.

Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg.

Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. Also try the first two in this series, Shop on Blossom Street and A Good Yarn.

Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy.

Queen of the Broken Hearts by Cassandra King (wife of Pat Conroy).

The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella

Quilter's Homecoming by Jennifer Chiaverini. An Elm Creek Quilters novel.

Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith. Number eight in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Also try Right Attitude to Rain, number three in the Isabel Dalhousie Mystery series.

6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Also look for The Quickie to be published later this summer.

Blue Zone by Andrew Gross (former co-author with James Patterson)

An Unexpected Family by Joan Medlicott. A Covington novel.

Antique Sale & Appraisal Fair

How much is your grandmother's old jewelry worth? Is your yard sale find an antique or a fake?

Join the Friends of the Library on Saturday, June 9 for an Appraisal Fair at the Albemarle Library. Experts will appraise a maximum of two items per person for $5.00 per appraisal. Proceeds from the appraisals will be donated to the Friends of the Stanly County Public Library and the Stanly County Museum. This event will be held along with an Antique Sale downtown beside the Museum. For more information, call (704)986-3914.

New York Times Bestsellers - May 20, 2007

HARDCOVER FICTION

1 SIMPLE GENIUS, by David Baldacci. (Warner, $26.99.) Two former Secret Service agents investigate a scientist’s murder while one battles her own demons.

2 THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN’S UNION, by Michael Chabon. (HarperCollins, $26.95.) A detective investigates the murder of a neighbor in a Jewish settlement in Alaska.

3 THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. Illustrated by Alan Lee. (Houghton Mifflin, $26.) In Middle-earth, an evil lord wants to destroy his rival’s children.

4 THE WOODS, by Harlan Coben. (Dutton, $26.95.) A prosecutor must confront family secrets when new evidence surfaces about a murder and disappearance at a summer camp 20 years earlier.

5 RANT, by Chuck Palahniuk. (Doubleday, $24.95.) The “oral biography” of a serial killer.

6 ALL TOGETHER DEAD, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace, $24.95.) Sookie Stackhouse, a New Orleans cocktail waitress, is swept up in the intrigue of a vampire summit.

7 THE GOOD HUSBAND OF ZEBRA DRIVE, by Alexander McCall Smith. (Pantheon, $21.95.) The eighth novel in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

8 I HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE, by Mary Higgins Clark. (Simon & Schuster, $25.95.) A woman marries a childhood acquaintance suspected of several murders.

9 BODY SURFING, by Anita Shreve. (Little, Brown, $25.99.) A woman takes a job as a tutor and becomes involved in a wealthy family’s tensions and rivalries.

10 * NINETEEN MINUTES, by Jodi Picoult. (Atria, $26.95.) The aftermath of a high school shooting reveals the fault lines in a small New Hampshire town.

11 BACK ON BLOSSOM STREET, by Debbie Macomber. (Mira, $24.95.) More stories of life and love from a Seattle knitting class.

12 THE RIVER KNOWS, by Amanda Quick. (Putnam, $24.95.) In Victorian England, an investigative reporter and a wealthy Londoner feign a romance while they investigate a man they suspect of murder.

13 FRESH DISASTERS, by Stuart Woods. (Putnam, $25.95.) Stone Barrington, the New York cop turned lawyer, tangles with a mob boss.

14 NO HUMANS INVOLVED, by Kelley Armstrong. (Bantam, $20.) A necromancer struggles to free the trapped ghosts of six murdered children.

15 DREAM WHEN YOU’RE FEELING BLUE, by Elizabeth Berg. (Random House, $24.95.) Three Irish-American sisters in World War II Chicago.

What to read this summer?

Recently the Charlotte Observer had a list of what books incoming freshman are being asked to read at some of North Carolina's colleges and universities. It's an interesting list of non-fiction and fiction titles. I wanted to share with you some of the titles. All on this list are available from the Stanly County Public Libraries.

• A Home on the Field: How One Championship Team Inspires Hope for the Revival of Small Town America" by Paul Cuadros.
• An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore
• Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson
• The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Sister Helen Prejean
• When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
• The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

Check out one of these books and discover what incoming college students will be reading and discussing. If you've read one or more of these books and want to share your opinion, please leave a comment.

Thank You

We want to say a great big, huge "Thank You" to all of our patrons who took the opportunity to pay their fines during our Food for Fines promotion during National Library Week. The library was able to donate 445 pounds of food to the Stanly County Christian Ministries. We hope you'll join us again next year in April when we celebrate National Library Week.