It's October, and thoughts often turn to skeletons, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and other things that go bump in the night. To prepare, I've been reading (or re-reading) some of the creepiest books out there, and I'm sharing some of my favorites with you. Scary stories have been around for a long time. The 19th century … Continue reading The Creepiest Month
Books
Secret Societies: Fact and Fiction
If you ask me, secret societies are kind of the coolest. Enigmatic organizations, with their clandestine meetings and peculiar rituals, spur serious intrigue. And who doesn’t love being let in on a secret! Many secret societies we know of today have a nefarious reputation. However, undercover organizations used to be quite the thing, and for … Continue reading Secret Societies: Fact and Fiction
Fontana Regional Library Celebrates 75 Years of Service
This year, the Fontana Regional Library turned 75 and we are celebrating by collecting stories from our wonderful patrons and supporters! The Fontana Regional Library system is composed of public libraries in Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties (North Carolina). Since we’re asking for your story, we thought that it’s only fair that we share ours … Continue reading Fontana Regional Library Celebrates 75 Years of Service
The Greatest Book Ever Written?
Benjamin Baruch Woody Every year I have the same thought. "Is Umberto Eco's novel Foucault's Pendulum the greatest novel ever written?" I guess I sort of know that this is preposterous. As a former English major I have been conditioned to know that the Canon is set. The greatest works are the usual suspects: War … Continue reading The Greatest Book Ever Written?
Changing Leaves, Change Within
Our favorite time of year is approaching: Fall! Living in North Carolina, and especially the Smoky Mountains, we are fortunate to experience all four seasons. For many, the seasons are closely linked to how we approach our life. After all, the plants and animals around us operate cyclically, so it’s natural to assume we as … Continue reading Changing Leaves, Change Within
Bad Days Be Gone
Everybody has a bad days... However, your local library is here to rescue you from the blues! Light comedy always helps to turn my mood around, and maybe it will for you too. Life is hard enough sometimes, so this list of materials is not here to educate or challenge you in anyway, but merely … Continue reading Bad Days Be Gone
Short and Sweet
We all get busy, but sometimes you still need to scratch that reading itch -- without having a big book hanging over your head. If you're looking for some "short but mighty books", check out The Short List, a compilation of 24 books under 200 pages recommended by TED speakers. Here are some more short … Continue reading Short and Sweet
It’s time for school!
All across the country, kids are starting school -- either for the new school year or for the first time. Some schools are already in session, while others start in the next few weeks. Of course, this got me thinking about books related to the start of school. As usual, my thoughts first jump to … Continue reading It’s time for school!
Leo Authors
Hello everyone! Julia from JCPL here and today, August 14th, is my birthday. (Pause for Applause.) You all are the bees knees. Now, for those of us who are into astrology, we know this means I am a Leo, and right now we are in Leo season. What is Leo season? Well, it means the … Continue reading Leo Authors
Investing for the Future
Blogs earlier this year pointed out the benefits of spending less money than one earns in order to pay off debt and to build an emergency fund covering several months of expenses. It is also sensible to continue saving as much as one can manage over a lifetime, because income from Social Security and a … Continue reading Investing for the Future
