Vampires at the Library!

This summer might be too warm already, but vampires are always cool. Excited about the movie premiere of Eclipse on June 30th? I know we are! In case you did not already know, the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer began as a series of books: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. All of these titles are available through the library, so come on in and check ‘em out!

…And if you loved the Twilight series, you might also be interested in the Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith, (which is now a hit TV show) and the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.

Book Review

High On Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips
Reviewed by Amanda S.

If you are looking for a Hollywood fairy tale, then Mackenzie Phillip’s memoir High On Arrival is not the story for you. However, if you are looking for an arresting, painfully honest account of lost innocence, then look no further. Phillip’s tale recounts her days growing up in the dark shadow of her rock star father, surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and the pressures of fame. Her story is not for the faint of heart; much of what Phillips reveals is both shocking and heart-breaking. Still, through it all, she maintains a sense of dignity and personal strength that is ultimately inspiring. She forces the reader to ponder the high cost of fame, the iron grip of drug addiction, and the desire for family and a sense of self. One cannot read this book without cringing, while also feeling an overwhelming surge of compassion and awe. It is mind-boggling how Phillips survived to tell her story, as she had no one to save her and was forced to save herself. It is the autobiography of a woman with a remarkably strong soul, and it is sure to make a lasting impression on the reader.

Our first Book Review!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Review by Abby DeVuyst

This is one of the first YA novels that I would recommend to everyone of every age. Well, maybe not the really young ones (I’ll go into more detail later, but the whole premise is kind of grim), but it is a must read for readers 12 and up. A well written story that is full of adventure, lessons in love and friendship, and nail biting suspense! This dystopia will suck you and hold you right to the very end (when you will promptly go out and buy the sequel Catching Fire).

Out of the ruins of modern day North American grows the nation of Panem, a faultless Capitol that is surrounded by twelve subservient districts. The Capitol is a cruel place that forces the surrounding districts to send one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12-18, to compete in the annual Hunger Games. However, this isn’t your normal friendly competition. During the mandatory, nationwide, live, TV broadcast of the games, these 24 contenders must fight to the death leaving only one winner.

Katniss Everdeen thinks her place in the games is a death sentence, but she has had to fight for survival before, and she plans on doing everything in her power to end up on top. Will she be able to make the choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love? Read it and find out…

(Don’t worry skeptics there are no vampires involved!)

New Computer Classes Starting!

As always, CLOH will be offering basic computer classes for beginners, with our next 8-week session starting on July 7th.

The classes will meet every Wednesday from 7/7 through 8/25 from either

10:30-11:30 or 11:30-12:30.

Do not worry if you have no previous computer experience, we begin at an extremely basic level, learning about the different parts of the machine and what they do. As the weeks progress, students will learn about different programs such as Microsoft Word, how to save and locate files, how to browse the Internet, send email and more!

If interested, please sign up at the circulation desk in the library or contact Amanda Smith at 412-462-3444 ext 3 or smitha@einetwork.net