Saturday, March 28, 2009

Author Biographies

So, I was having lunch with friends the other day and naturally our conversation turned to books.

I introduced my one friend to her very first mystery - a nice cozy one set in Amish-country. She actually enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I may have reached my limit on books to recommend, as I tend to read heavier (less cozy) mysteries... but one never knows.

The topic of mysteries naturally led myself and the other friend onto a discussion of British author Agatha Christie. She's a fascinating lady.

Dame Agatha Christie is the creator of the great detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She has written eighty novels and short stories as well as several plays, one of which is considered to be the longest running play in history - The Mousetrap has been playing for over 56 years in London's West End. Christie used much of her real life experiences - especially her travels and time spent on archeological digs with her 2nd husband - in her stories.

But rather than my going on and on, stop by the library and check out one of her biographies... such as "The 8:55 to Baghdad : from London to Iraq on the trail of Agatha Christie" by Andrew Eames. We have several more and others can be found in the system.

While you are in the biography section, take a look around... you never know who else you might find just waiting to share their life's story with you.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!


Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play,
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song,
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!!!


And may there always be a good book
waiting to be read wherever you look!

Monday, March 9, 2009

More New Audiobooks

Want something new to listen to? Try one of these tales of romance, mystery or intrigue... and that's just the non-fiction selection.

Some of the titles listed below are not new per se, but they may be new to our shelves or your ears. Hope you enjoy!

What we have in the way of fiction:
  • When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
  • The Silent Man by Alex Berenson
  • Heart And Soul by Maeve Binchy
  • Blood Trail by C.J. Box
  • Blue Heaven by C.J. Box
  • Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box
  • The Tin Roof Blowdown : a Dave Robicheaux novel by James Lee Burke
  • Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child
  • The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
  • The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver
  • Kiss by Ted Dekker
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button : and other Jazz Age tales by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Dakota by Martha Grimes
  • Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
  • The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
  • To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • The Ambler Warning by Robert Ludlum
  • Run For Your Life by James Patterson
  • Eclipse by Richard North Patterson
  • The Laughter Of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters
  • The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
  • Testimony by Anita Shreve

And now the non-fiction:
  • TBCD 170.44 THI - This I Believe II : more personal philosophies of remarkable men and women
  • TBCD 338.542 PAN - Panic : the story of modern financial insanity
  • TBCD 248.4 LEW - The Screw Tape Letters by C.S. Lewis
  • TBCD 248.4 MEY - 100 Ways To Simplify Your Life by Joyce Meyer
  • TBCD 647.95 DUB - Waiter Rant : thanks for the tip--confessions of a cynical waiter by Steve Dublanica
  • TBCD 92 GROGAN - The Longest Trip Home : a memoir by John Grogan
  • TBCD 940.5318 TEC - Defiance by Nechama Tec
  • TBCD 974.088 VOW - The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

We hope you find a few titles to pique your interest. If you need any help finding a title or placing it on reserve, please let us know. Don't forget, you can also place a request from the comfort of your own home by using the online catalog.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Annual Chess Tourney

Ligonier Valley students in grades K - 8 are invited to participate in the annual Chess Tournament being held at the Ligonier Valley Library on Saturday, March 21st at 10:30 am.

Pre-registration is required and can be done either at the library or over the phone. The registration deadline is 4:00 pm, Friday, March 20, 2009. The tournament is limited to students in the Ligonier Valley Library Service area.

For more details, visit the "What's Happening for Kids" website...


Whether or not you can participate in our tourney, you can still learn to play chess or at the very least understand what it's all about. Below are some book suggestions that might not make you the next Fisher King, but may help you hold your own.

  • Checkmate! : the game of chess by Greg Roza
  • Chess for Success by Maurice Ashley
  • Chess : from first moves to checkmate by Daniel King
  • Chess Fundamentals by Jose Capablanca
  • The Complete Idiots Guide to Chess by Patrick Wolff
  • The Immortal Game by David Shenk
  • Learn Chess Fast by Raymond Keene

Not all of the titles belong to the Ligonier Valley Library, but we can get them for you through our system. Let us know if you need any help.