Odds & Ends

Wow. How is it already April? Seems like just yesterday it was early January, and my world was being rocked with the news I'd be joining the Archdale Library staff! And now we're 25% of the way through the year, the sun is actually shining, and spring is just around the corner! Goodness. Time really does fly when you're having fun.

What else is "April" ...


Image credit: http://www.shelbytwplib.org/poetry%20club.htm

... it's National Poetry Month, as well as being National Poetry Writing Month (I guess there's something about warmer temperatures, brilliant sun and growing plants that makes us feel reflective, or even romantic)


... National Library Week is April 14-20th

... April 23rd is the relase date for Sophie Kinsella's new novel Wedding Night!

Hmm ... What else is newsy ... Have you checked out the new Asheboro Library Teen Zone tumblr? I've joined forces with Teen Services Librarian Dave Bare, and a teen patron Lauren, and we've got a personal mission to make libraries the coolest place ever. Check us out for YA book reviews and other random fun stuff in the teen reading universe.

Tolkien Reading Day!

Happy Tolkien Reading Day!

Women's History Month

March is Women's History month, and if you're looking for some good "women's history-ish" reads, look no further! The Library is an excellent resource, for both fiction and non-fiction lovers. I've selected an assortment of titles to whet your reading appetite, but know there are many, many more out there. I've also tried to get a mix of fiction and biographies, to give you an idea of the variety available.

Note: Links go to the RCPL Catalog, and selections are not limited to Archdale-only holdings (so you may have to put it on hold if you see something you like).

 Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-making Race Around the World: Matthew Goodman
In a time when the human imagination was ready to tackle anything, and Jules Verne was publishing things like Around the World in 80 Days, Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland - two female journalists - set out to see if you really could travel the world in 80 days. The result? Astonishing success.

Ada Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic: Jennifer Niven
Arctic exploration has always been risky, reserved for the most prepared (or foolhardy) men. When one such expedition went awry, Ada Blackjack, a young Inuit woman, found herself stranded - alone - in the icy wilderness. Her story is told her, built from a wealth of primary resources, and shares not only Ada's struggle to survive in the wilderness, but also in civilization.

 The Forest Lover: Susan Vreeland
All of Vreeland's historical novels deal with women in art, and in The Forest Lover, she explores the life and art of Emily Carr. Emily, a product of Victorian society, forayed into the wilds of British Columbia, interacting closely with the indigenous peoples, and creating bold, modern landscapes. A novel that considers both the art world and the changing tides of culture and industry, it's an engrossing story.

Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life: Queen Noor
Many girls dream of being a princess, or becoming queen, but few are able to see that dream come true. This is the autobiography of an American girl who grew up to meet and later marry the King of Jordan. A beautifully written book, Her Majesty allows us a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes aspects of the Royal family.

 Cleopatra's Daughter: Michelle Moran
Many of us are familiar with the tragicly-fascinating story of Cleopatra, but her daughter Selene has an equally fascinating story that deserves to be heard. Moran does an exceptional job of weaving historical detail and colorful, sympathetic characters to create a wholly engrossing story.

 The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne: Catherine Reef
The family of talented sisters behind Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Villette, the Bronte sisters did not have an easy life. This joint biography looks at their lives, their works, and the culture that helped shape their literary journeys.

This is just a small sampling of what's available: we've got biographies, histories, novels ... So swing by and see if there's something that piques your interest!

Art Cats

It's another chilly Friday, but there are some colorful cats taking up residence in the library! 6th graders at Braxton-Craven Middle School have been hard at work in the art room -- swing by the library to see a sampling of their masterpieces! And to whet your artistic appetite ...

Tell a Fairy Tale Day

As a self-proclaimed fairy tale nut, I am not sure how this fact escaped me before, but today is "Tell a Fairy Tale Day" (thanks to the blogging crew behind YALSA's The Hub for the head's up)!

To celebrate, here's a super-quick list of some of the many fairy tale retellings and novelizations available:

East: Edith Pattou
One of my all-time favorite fairy tale novelizations, Pattou spins a very detailed and gorgeous version of the Norse fairy tale "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon"

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow: Jessica Day George
Another take on the "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon" tale - I love seeing how different authors tell the same story. Everyone has their own interpretation, but the heart is always the same.

Beastly, Cloaked, and A Kiss in Time: Alex Flinn
Flinn has a number of fairy tale novelizations, bringing the traditional tales into modern/contemporary settings, with a unique twist. I look forward to Towering, where she tackles the Rapunzel story.

Wildwood Dancing: Juliet Marillier
A blend of many fairy tales, in one gorgeous story, this one will sweep you off your feet into a new enchanted world. Seriously, it's that well-written. I had a lot of fun picking out all the different fairy tales woven into the mix.

Enchanted: Alethea Kontis
Another tale that pulls from many fairy tales to tell one story, and the proposed beginning of a new series. I know I was left wanting more of the Woodcutter family's stories!

Beauty and Rose Daughter: Robin McKinley
It's one thing to read the novelizations of one fairy tale written by different authors, but McKinley wrote two different versions of "Beauty and the Beast" herself! Beauty, the first, is a sweet retelling that is enchanting in its simplicity. Rose Daughter, in contrast, is a much more detailed, elaborate retelling, with slightly darker edges. Both are beautiful stories, and each has its own appeal.

Fairest: Gail Carson Levine
Here's a unique twist on the "Snow White" story, where the Mirror has a devilish mind of its own, and Aza (our "Snow White") isn't necessarily the most beautiful in the land. Set in the same fantasy kingdom as Ella Enchanted (an interesting retelling of "Cinderella").

The Frog Princess series: E.D. Baker
This is a fun and entertaining series that begins with The Frog Princess - in which a spell goes horribly awry, jump-starting a whole host of adventures.

Entwined: Heather Dixon
A surprisingly deep novelization of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," that I didn't want to end.

Mermaid: Carolyn Turgeon
A fairy tale geared for adults, this lush retelling of "The Little Mermaid" takes readers on quite an emotional journey. Beautifully written, with perfect pacing, it will keep you reading - and catch you by surprise.

The above is just a quick sampling of the fairy tale retellings available for your reading pleasure ... and this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface! There are breathtakingly gorgeous picture books, and many more novelizations. And the movies! Oh, the movies!

Why not join the celebration, and share your favorite fairy tale! The world needs more "Once upon a time" ...

(Links go to Goodreads pages)

Bookish Smiles

It's such a cold, wet, nasty Friday I think we could all use some bookish smiles. And so, I have found a couple fun cover reveals and other newsy tidbits to share! (Note: The images are links!)

I may or may not have literally squeaked when I saw the press release for Vader's Little Princess. Tell me that's not the cutest thing you've ever seen? The upcoming companion to Brown's Darth Vader and Son, this promises to be an incredibly wonderful addition to the Star Wars geek's library. Also, check out the cover story for more inside peeks!

There's something about galaxy/starry/space images on book covers that makes me happy. And this is quite a cover! Slated for release in December (oh, the agonies of a long wait!), this collaboration between Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman has me rather intrigued. Clicking on the cover takes you to Goodreads, where you can read a blurb for yourself.

Curious about how novels are published? Four YA authors have created an absolutely amazing blog to chronicle their journey and experiences leading up to the publication of their first novels. And they're writing this blog as members of the Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, and my personal favorite Captain America), who are helping Loki get his novel published. I kid you not. The content is not only informative, but it's highly entertaining. (They can also be found on twitter, for more entertaining comments!).

Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice turned 200 this year, and to celebrate the Royal Mail has issued gorgeous commemorative stamps. Oh, to have an English penpal ... Laurel Ann Nattress has a great post with more information about the stamps, and the quotes that inspired the images, on her blog Austenprose. (Laurel Ann's blog is a great go-to for all things pertaining to Jane Austen, and even Downton Abbey!)

So there we have it: some bookish smiles and diverting reading to make this grey, cold Friday a little sunnier. Have any of you seen any exciting bookish  news or cover releases lately? I'm always on the hunt for a beautiful book cover...

Meet the Librarian

Since this is a brand new blog, and I'm a brand new librarian, this seems like a good time to introduce myself.

Name: Rebecca Fleming
Occupation: Librarian, Archdale Public Library
Specialization/Area of Interest: Teen Services

I joined the Archdale staff in January, and am very happy to be here! I love the small-town atmosphere, and am already starting to recognize the regular patrons. I'll be the primary writer of this blog, and am excited to see how it evolves. (Have you voted in the poll yet? While I am more than capable of creating "random" posts, I'd love to know what you would like to read.)

One thing you can definitely expect to see is a growing Teen/Young Adult element. Teen Services is my personal library passion, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to begin reaching out to Archdale teens and young adults, through the library collection as well as programming in the (hopefully near!) future. I've been reading YA literature for most of my life, and some of my favorite books - and most anticipated upcoming releases - fall into that category.

My other reading interests include a wide variety of genres and authors from Jane Austen (including a lot of the paraliterature: spinoffs, sequels, prequels and retellings) to fairy tale retellings to historical fiction to contemporary women's fiction. In other words, I am a major bookworm. I'm always discovering new authors and books, often enjoying reads I'd never have expected to like, and am happy to share my reading discoveries with others.

I'm excited about the new library adventure(s) to come, and look forward to sharing my experiences with you!