Time to Organize!

It's that time of year again! Time to CLEAN! Spring is here and people it is time to get rid of the dust in your house and get everything off the floor. Clutter is the enemy of allergies and a healthy lifestyle so grab one of the books below to get yourself started with organizing your world!

Room by Room by Monte Burch

We don't like to admit it, but most of us have way too much stuff in and around our houses. Look in your cabinets, closets, garage, attic or basement. They're probably a disorganized clutter, with items often not stored properly, which can damage them, create stress in locating what you need, even cause an unsafe situation. The first step in storing your stuff is to cut the clutter and organize it. Room by Room shows you what accessories are available at your local home improvement and online stores to help you reduce your organizing efforts and time. The possibilities are endless.

Home storage projects: creative solutions for every room in the house by Paul Anthony

This practical and inspiring book features 18 projects designed to maximize storage in every corner of every cluttered home. A wide array of practical, attractive and well-designed projects will appeal to woodworkers at every skill level. Each project includes detailed building instructions, complete plans and a list of materials.

Cut the clutter and stow the stuff: the Q.U.I.C.K. way to bring lasting order to household chaos by Lori Baird

Discover your unique clutter style-- and how to make it work for you, not against you, in the fight with clutter. Take the clutter quiz on page 8. Once you know your clutter style, you'll finally understand why you feel compelled to collect every style of Spode teacup produced since 1856...or stash a year's worth of newspapers under the bed...or keep your 45-year-old son's high school football jerseys "just in case." And you'll find effective strategies to turn those tendencies to your advantage! Rediscover your rooms, find storage space you never knew you had, clear out the kids' rooms without starting a war, and make all those piles of paper disappear like magic.

Throw out fifty things: clear the clutter, find your life by Gail Blanke

"If you want to grow, you gotta let go," is Blanke's mantra; and that means eliminating all the clutter-physical and emotional-that holds you back, weighs you down, or just makes you feel bad about yourself. In Throw Out Fifty Things she takes us through each room of the house-from the attic to the garage-and even to the far reaches of our minds. Through poignant and humorous stories, she inspires us to get rid of the "life plaque" we've allowed to build-up there.

Easy home organizer: 15-minute step-by-step solutions by Vicki Payne

Are things at home out of hand? Is the thought of putting things in order just…overwhelming? With these simple, quickly implemented solutions, life can become less stressful—and the messy habits of a lifetime will disappear along with the chaos. The focus is on the little things that make a big difference—like not having to search for the car keys at the last minute—and the book is as organized as the house will be when you’re through: it begins with advice on assessing the accumulated junk and eliminating the excess, and moves on to shopping for containers, applying clutter strategies, labeling jars and boxes, and creating a proper place for everything, room by room. The ideas are smart and attractive!

Chick Lit Part. 1

Here at SPL we love ourselves some chick lit! Don't know what chick lit is? Well... Chick lit is a genre of fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. In other words, books for girls that will make us laugh and carry on (which we do so well anyways). Check out some of the books below to be on your way to becoming a chick lit addict! 

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper. But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them. Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die (not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does). But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets - then makes the mistake of falling in love with - Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side...a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for. The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own. And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future... If she even has one.

The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

Hailed by critics as the debut of a major literary voice, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing has captivated readers and dominated bestseller lists. Generous-hearted and wickedly insightful, it maps the progress of Jane Rosenal as she sets out on a personal and spirited expedition through the perilous terrain of sex, love, relationships, and the treacherous waters of the workplace. With an unforgettable comic touch, Bank skillfully teases out universal issues, puts a clever, new spin on the mating dance, and captures in perfect pitch what it's like to be a young woman coming of age in America today.

The House on Willow Street by Kelly Cathy

The Irish seaside town of Avalon is a tourist’s dream of quaint shops and welcoming cafés. Avalon House, perched at the end of Willow Street, was in Tess Power’s family for generations. Now Tess ekes out a living from her antiques shop while the crumbling mansion awaits a new owner. Her marriage and business may be floundering, but her affection for Avalon is undimmed. The same can’t be said of her glamorous sister. Suki left without a backward glance and married into an American political dynasty. Only a muckraking biographer could send her slinking back to Ireland to escape a scandal. Postmistress Danae watches from the sidelines, doling out gentle advice while locking away her own secrets. Then her unconventional niece Mara comes to stay and draws her lonely aunt back into the world. As autumn gives way to winter, the four women encounter old loves, embrace new friendships, and begin to look beyond the past to the possibilities just beginning to unfold.

Girls' Poker Night: A Novel by Jill Davis

Dissatisfied both with writing a “Single Girl on the Edge/ Ledge/Verge” lifestyle column and with her boyfriend (who has a name for his car and compulsively collects plastic bread ties), Ruby Capote sends her best columns and a six-pack of beer to the editor of The New York News and lands herself a new job in a new city. In New York, Ruby undertakes the venerable tradition of Poker Night—a way (as men have always known) to eat, drink, smoke, analyze, interrupt one another, share stories, and, most of all, raise the stakes. There’s Skorka, model by profession, homewrecker by vocation; Jenn, willing to cross county lines for true love; Danielle, recently divorced, seducer of at least one father/son combo in her quest to make up for perceived “missed opportunities.” When Ruby falls for her boss, Michael, all bets are off. He’s a challenge. He’s her editor. And he wants her to stop being quippy and clever and become the writer—and the woman—he knows she can be. Adding to Ruby’s uncertainty is his amazing yet ambiguous kiss in the elevator, and the enjoyably torturous impasse of he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not.

Calendar Girl by Naomi Neale

Nan's career as a "Cheer Facilitator" for Seasonal Staffers, Inc., leaves something to be desired. Her previous boyfriend turned out to be a self-centered lothario, and the man she has worshiped from afar since college just announced his "pre-engagement" to another woman. Then Nan's friends and fellow members of the Elizabethan Failures Society, who have been listening to her for years, tell her to stop whining and do something about her unhappiness. So when Colm Iverson, artist and department-store heir, walks into her life, Nan realizes it really is up to her to keep him from walking back out.

Getting Mythological

Many people are interested in the mythology that shaped the primitive world. Thankfully, we have everything you could ever hope for at the library. Come search our stacks for certain myths or check out the books below to really get a sense of what humans once believed.

Cassell Dictionary of Classical Mythology by Jennifer March

This work provides a comprehensive A-Z guide to the rich and bewilderingly varied panoply of Greek and Roman mythology. It summarises all the major legends and stories, from the creation of the cosmos to the aftermath of the Trojan War and the foundation of Rome, provides a detailed who's who of gods, heroes and mythical creatures, and discusses places, both real and imaginary, that are central to classical myth. Extensive quotations from ancient literature are included throughout the text, helping to give a sense of the vibrant cultures that shaped the development of classical myth and legend. At the same time, attention is drawn, where necessary, to different versions of the same story and to the varying attitudes to major mythical figures taken by classical poets and playwrights. The impact of mythology on ancient and postclassical art is also discussed, as is the link occasionally to be found in stories and legends between mythology and history.

From Olympus to Camelot: The World of European Mythology by David Leeming

Following an initial exploration of the Indo-European sources of European mythology and the connections between the myths of Europe and those of India and Iran, the book proceeds to survey the major beliefs of Greek, Roman, Celtic, Germanic, Baltic, and Slavic cultures, as well as the mythologies of non-Indo-European cultures such as the Etruscans and the Finns. Among its contents are introductions to the pantheons of various mythologies, examinations of major mythological works, and retellings of the influential mythical stories. This work also examines European deities, creation myths, and heroes in the context of Christian belief, and considers the translation of traditional stories into the mythologies of modern European political, scientific, philosophical, and economic movements.

Mysterious Celtic mythology in American folklore by Bob Curran

Many American legends have Celtic origins. Each chapter in this fascinating book presents a Celtic myth and a similar American one. Celtic immigrants brought these legends to all regions of the U.S. Old-world mythology morphs into New World folklore. Curran recounts America's oldest legends and traces their origins to the Celtic mythology of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, presenting a similar old-world tale alongside each American version. Once transported to America, the original Celtic tales evolved to assimilate the new population's geographic, social, and religious customs, weaving their way into the fabric of American folk history.

Mythology of the British Isles by Geoffrey Ashe

Ashe, author of several books on the Arthurian legends (including Kings and Queens of Early Britain , LJ 8/90), here broadens his focus and presents a group of Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and English folklore that, taken together, creates a collective British mythology. Following the format of Robert Graves's Greek Myths, each chapter is divided in two sections. The first part is a narrative of the myth; the second, an explanation of the reality behind it. For example, the myths about Stonehenge--that the stones were magically set up by Merlin and were sacred to the Druids--are recounted in the first section of Chapter 6, while the second section relates the archaeological and astronomical findings that explain origins for many of the stories.

Jealous gods and chosen people: the mythology of the Middle East by David Leeming

David Leeming, who has authored more than twelve books on mythology, here offers the first comprehensive narrative study of the mythology of the Middle East, that tumultuous region that was the cradle of civilization. With key maps, illustrations, bibliography, and index, Jealous Gods and Chosen People provides an inclusive, authoritative, and captivating account of a mythology that remains a potent - and often destructive - force in the world today.

Staff Selections: Erly Moya

I have been working at the library for almost a year now and I really enjoy the great people and the peaceful atmosphere. When I set foot inside I am always astounded by how many books I still have to read in order to read them all. Books, to me, help me broaden my imagination and allow me to travel to new worlds and different realms. A place that supplies such knowledge and material for the mind is my local library.  

Erly Moya is a circulation assistant at Samuels Public Library.

What is your favorite genre?

My favorite genre is fantasy. I enjoy being taken out of reality and into a new world.

What are you reading now?

Right now I am reading the Graceling series. It is about a world where kingdoms rule and certain people are born with a grace, or a special ability. Those who are deemed useful to the king are recruited and never see their families again. It follows one girl who recently became queen of her kingdom after her brutal father who manipulated people is killed.

What have you read recently?

I have recently read the Marlowe School trilogy which was kind of slow. There was a lot of character development but the plot was slow throughout the books and then the last couple of chapters was rushed.

What is your favorite classic?

My favorite classic would have to be Animal Farm by George Orwell

What are your all-time favorite books/series?

My all-time favorite books series would be the Harry Potter series and the Inheritance Cycle. I grew up on these books and they are terrific. I always felt very connected to the characters and was able to relate to what they were going through.

What are a few books that you are looking forward to reading?

I have a number of things on my "To Read" list: the Riryia Chronicles, the Game of Thrones series, as well as the Delirium Trilogy. I am also planning on reading the Lord of the Rings hopefully.

How do you choose new books to read?

Since part of my job is to shelve books I am able to peruse the collections we have whenever I go out to shelve. If there is a title or an author I like I look in that section to see if there is anything that catches my attention.

Do you prefer books to e-books? Why?

I prefer hardback books to e-books simply because there's nothing like the feel of breaking in a new book, which is something you can't get with e-books.

What type of plots do you enjoy?

I really enjoy plots that keep me thinking until the very end. There are always questions that need to be answered.

  

What is your favorite aspect of reading books?

The best part about reading for me is being able to leave the real world and go on adventures in faraway places.

  

How much description do you enjoy? A lot or a little? Explain. 

Description is something I enjoy but only to a certain degree. If the author spends too much time describing things and isn't putting enough into plot or character development, chances are I won't keep reading.

Getting Graphic

Graphic Novels aren't just for kids. These lovely books are adult oriented and quite a good read. To find where they are located within Samuels Public Library just look past the Adult DVD section. The graphic novels are snugly at home in between the audio books and the large print books. So take a load off your eyes and stare at some well drawn, yet well written novels made to show you a story beyond your imagination.

Fables by Bill Willingham - When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society-within an exclusive luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side-called Fabletown. But when Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Bigby, Fabletown's sheriff, and a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the culprit is Bluebeard, Rose's ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the omnibus edition by Alan Moore - At last, the original two LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN epics are collected in a single volume!In this amazingly imaginative tale, Allan Quatermain, Mina Murray, Captain Nemo, Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde, and Hawley Griffin, the Invisible Man unite to defeat a deadly menace to London and all Britons!Then, one month later, the skies over England are filled with flaming rockets as Mars launches the first salvo of an invasion. Only our stalwart adventurers can save mother England and the Earth itself.

The sandman. Vol. 1, Preludes & nocturnes by Neil Gaiman - New York Timesbest-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision. In PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman. 

Sin City The hard goodbye by Frank Miller - The first volume of the crime-comic megahit that introduced the now-infamous character Marv and spawned a blockbuster film returns in a newly redesigned edition, with a brand-new cover by Frank Miller - some of his first comics art in years! It's a lousy room in a lousy part of a lousy town. But Marv doesn't care. There's an angel in the room. She says her name is Goldie. A few hours later, Goldie's dead without a mark on her perfect body, and the cops are coming before anyone but Marv could know she's been killed. Somebody paid good money for this frame . . . With a new look generating more excitement than ever before, this third edition is the perfect way to attract a whole new generation of readers to Frank Miller's masterpiece!

V for vendetta by Alan Moore - A powerful story about loss of freedom and individuality, V FOR VENDETTA takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts. It's a gripping tale of the blurred lines between ideological good and evil.

The walking dead. a continuing story of survival horror by Robert Kirkman - The world we knew is gone. The world of commerce and frivolous necessity has been replaced by a world of survival and responsibility. An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, the survivors are forced to finally start living.

Makeup Madness

Spring is here! And we all know that the changing weather brings not only allergies, but cracked, dry skin and a whole slew of beauty problems. Lucky for us, we have some books at the library that not only show you how to take care of your beloved skin, but also show you how to accessorize. In the books below you will find many tips and tricks on how to decorate your face. Enjoy! 

Makeup makeovers : expert secrets for stunning transformations by Robert Jones -Forget extreme makeovers! Robert Jones, makeup artist extraordinaire, outlines step-by-step how even the ugliest duckling can become a swan-with makeup alone! In hundreds of awe-inspiring before-and-after photos, Robert makes it easy for any woman to achieve true beauty.

Unlike most makeup books that focus on celebrities or the already-glamorous,Makeup Makeoversshows every woman how to be her most beautiful. No matter what your age, skin tone, or profile, Robert can show you simple techniques that camouflage flaws and highlight each woman's unique beauty.

Jemma Kidd make-up secrets by Jemma Kidd - This must-have follow-up to the bestselling Jemma KiddMake-up Masterclasswill show you how to create the perfect look Jemma Kidd's philosophy is that makeup should be used cleverly and sparingly to bring out a woman's natural beauty, enhancing her best features and disguising any perceived imperfections. In JemmaKidd Make-Up Secrets,she shows you how. In Part 1: Making Makeup Work for You, Jemma demystifies the new wonder products in the market, and shows how to use and apply them. She demonstrates how to achieve a flawless complexion and bring out the best in every face shape, and how to make up eyes and lips depending on your face and eye shape, age, coloring, and overall style. In Part 2: The Problem Solver, Jemma addresses all the main beauty concerns of every woman - how to take care of your skin, how to look younger, how to keep your makeup up-to-date, and how to cope with environmental onslaughts like the damaging effects of the sun and cold weather.

Also included are ten great eye and lip combinations, a tutorial on how to achieve iconic looks - from Kate Moss to Audrey Hepburn, plus a fail-safe, five-minute makeup regime for whenever you're pressed for time and much more. 

Face forward by Kevyn Aucoin - The ultimate beauty book -- both gorgeous and practical. "Face Forward" showcases Kevyn Aucoin's incredible transformations of famous and ordinary people alike, and reveals through its step-by-step instructions how makeup can give anyone a variety of different "faces".

Beauty : the new basics by Rona Berg - The book tackles all three major categories-The Face, Hair, The Body. The emphasis is on simplicity and a healthy, natural approach, and the range cuts across all ethnicities and ages. There are five minute skin regimes, facials, makeup tricks and health tips. How to reduce stress in the bath and pamper yourself with an easy home spa. The long and short of hair care-including what to do on bad hair days. Remedies for beauty emergencies (eyes puffy from fatigue? do what the models do and use a dab of Preparation H). Plus make-overs, recipes, historical lore, stories, time-lines, and an extensive glossary and list of resources. It's a knock-out.

The 5-minute face : the quick and easy makeup guide for every woman by Carmindy - Carmindy, makeup artist on TLC's popular show What Not to Wear, believes that the secret to a great look is to focus on the positive: learn how to enhance your best natural features with sheer washes of color rather than hide under layers of artificial–looking makeup. In The 5–Minute Face, Carmindy shares her beauty philosophy, offering a practical, easy, and always–successful makeup routine that works for all ages and skin types. The steps for achieving the five–minute face–from smoothing on foundation, to slicking on lip color–are simple. But as Carmindy demonstrates, many women don't know which product is right for their skin tones, or are clueless on how to apply makeup for optimal results. Throughout every chapter, she provides valuable advice on perfecting the makeup technique that is right for your face, including product tips and accompanying "toolbox" sections that describe which tools to use with each type of makeup.

Staff Selections: Tamara Houde

Hello readers! This year we will be featuring library staff at the beginning of each month to recognize all the hard work they do here. For the month of April our staff selection falls on Tamara Houde.

Tamara Houde is a children’s reference assistant at Samuels Public Library.

To me, the library has always been a center of activity. It may have been a rainy afternoon or the week a big project was due.  Maybe it was just before the next paycheck when finances were tight or a long stretch of boredom in the middle of summer doldrums.  It might have been the day before a winter storm was due to arrive or it could have been the middle of a crazy week. Whatever was going on, the library was there to present free entertainment, to offer books to beat the blues, to distribute information, and to provide a warm and welcoming place to study, relax, or just get away for a while.  I hope that I can help our patrons of all ages have the same wonderful experiences when they visit Samuels Library.

Favorite sub-genre

I don't have one particular favorite, it all depends on my mood. I usually enjoy mystery-sci-fi (In Death series, etc.), along with amateur detective and cozies.

Books I'm looking forward to reading

For starters,  Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman; Rising Steam by Terry Pratchett; The Monuments Men by Robert Edsel; This Is Where I Leave you by Jonathan Tropper; The Man He Became by James Tobin; Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde

Favorite poem

Actually I have a few that are very near and dear to me. "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" by Rudyard Kipling; "The Spider and the Fly: A Fable" by Mary Howitt; and "Warning" by Jenny Joseph

Favorite short story

Probably "Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and Thurber's "Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and "The Catbird Seat"

Favorite play

 It's a toss-up between "A Christmas Carol", "Annie", and "The Importance of Being Earnest".

Favorite magazine

 National Geographic and Smithsonian

Favorite main characters

Thursday Next, Lt. Eve Dallas, Elizabeth Bennett, Miss Jane Marple, Harry Dresden, Rincewind the Wizard, Commander Sam Vimes, Esme "Granny" Weatherwax - I like characters who are not perfect but not overly flawed, with a quick wit and inner strength.

The question I would ask my favorite author

When things get bumpy and the writing isn't flowing as easily as you might like, how do you avoid grinding to a halt? (and for Richard Preston- "How do you choose your subject matter and does the research keep you awake at night with the heebie-jeebies?")

How much description?

I like for the author to paint me a picture with their words. I enjoy depth, a description of the colors, the smells, the textures, but I do not enjoy details that feel like product placement. Feel free to describe a movie scene or an item, but you don't need to tell me that they placed their Coke on their iPad while they adjusted their Uggs and opened their Doritos.

How do you get your news?

I get my news from my local public radio station (including BBC News) and online as well as the local newspaper

What technology do you utilize to get/read new books?

I use my library and local bookstores to get my books and my library card to check out the downloadable e-books and e-audiobooks.

Do you prefer books to e-books? Why?

I like the feel of a book in my hands, but there are times that I find e-books very convenient like when I'm traveling or reading with the lights out.

What type of plots do you enjoy?

I prefer plots that move along with enough twists and turns to keep me engaged, but not a plot so convoluted that it becomes tiresome.

How do you choose new books to read?

I choose new books in different ways. If I hear a good review on NPR or via Goodreads or word of mouth, I add the book to my list.  I'm just likely to browse our new releases and see what catches my eye or sometimes I'm just in the mood for a book on a specific topic.

What is your favorite aspect of reading books?

My favorite aspect of reading books is being able to use my imagination along with the authors descriptions to explore a new world. 

Like books from NPR like Tamara? Then click the link below to see the latest reviews from NPR! 

NPR Book Reviews