Calcasieu Parish Public Library

Take your pick! Here are the latest installments in two thrilling series that you will discover in the library collection.

Private Berlin by James Patterson & Mark Sullivan

Library Copies: (regular print and large print, audiobook and download)

In this 5^th installment of the “Private” series, “Chris Schneider, one of the top superstar agents at the world's most powerful investigation firm suddenly disappears. It's the firm's most dangerous investigation yet. Mattie Engel, another top agent throws herself headfirst into finding Chris. Her chase takes her into Berlin's most guarded, hidden, and treacherous places, revealing secrets from Chris's past that she'd never dreamed of in the time they were lovers.”---Amazon

Praise for James Patterson

“James Patterson has taken the European thriller to a masterful new level with Private Berlin, an adrenaline-charged, spectacularly violent and sexy novel with unforgettable characters of dark and complex depths. Private Berlin proves why Patterson is truly the world's #1 bestselling author.” (From the Jacket Cover)

Want to read the series in order?

• (1). Private (2010) available formats: (regular print & large print, audio, download and playaway)
• (2). Private #1 Suspect (2012)--Library Copies: available formats: (regular print, audio and download)
• (3). Private Games (2012)--Library Copies: available formats: (regular print & large print, audio and download)
• (4). Private London (2012)--Library Copies: available formats: (regular print & large print and audio).

Ever After by Kim Harrison

Library Copies

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the sexy, supernatural adventures of Rachel Morgan with the 11th book in the Hollows series.

Ever After   

“It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to fix the ever-after before the fragile balance between magic users and humans falls apart. Rachel forms a partnership with someone to return to the ever-after and rescue those she loves. One world teeters on the brink of interspecies war, the other on the brink of its very demise and it's up to Rachel to keep them both from being destroyed.” (summary from the jacket cover)

Praise for Kim Harrison –

 “A smoldering combination of Alice Waters and Ozzy Osbourne.” – (New York Times Book Review)

Read the entire series....

•  (1). Dead Witch Walking (2008)--Library Copies; available formats: (Playaway and download; print copies on order)
•  (2). The Good, the Bad and the Undead (2008)--Library Copies; available formats: (playaway and download; print copies on order)
•  (3).  Every Which Way  But Dead (2008)--Library Copies; available formats: (regular print, Playaway, audio and download)
•  (4)  A Fistful of Charms (2008)—Library Copies; available formats: (regular print, Playaway and download)
•  (5). For a Few Demons More (2008)—Library Copies; available formats: (download; print copies on order)
•  (6). The Outlaw Demon Wails (2008)—Library Copies; available formats: (regular print and download)
•  (7). White Witch, Black Curse (2009)—copies on order
•  (8). Black Magic Sanction (2010)—Library Copies; available formats: regular print and download
•  (9).  Pale Demon (2011)—Library Copies; available formats: regular print
• (10). A Perfect Blood (2012)—Library Copies; available formats: regular print, audio and download

Also available from this series:

• Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond (2012)-- Library Copies; available formats: regular print
• Blood Work: an original Hollows graphic novel (2011) Illustrated by Pedro Maia & Gemma Magno. -- Library Copies; available formats: regular print

Life is busy and stressful for many of us so how about slowing down with a book! Browse the library catalog for heartwarming, inspirational titles that just might help you take your mind away from the stress.

Here are some recommendations!

“The Lace Reader” by Brunonia Barry
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=lace reader+{245}

“Towner Whitney is descended from a long line of women who possess the mystical ability to “read” signs encrypted in the patterns of lace. Upon returning home to Salem, Mass., Towner discovers that her great aunt is missing and embarks on thrilling investigation. “
 

“The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=uncommon reader+{245}
“What if Queen Elizabeth discovered reading after wandering onto a bookmobile in pursuit of her little dogs? Read Alan Bennett’s acclaimed novella to find out!”
 

“The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” by Alan Bradley
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=sweetness at the bottom of the pie+{245}
“Set in 1950s England, this book follows an 11-year-old science prodigy who’s attempting to to solve a puzzling mystery. It’s both charming and funny.”
 

“A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=walk in the woods+{245}
Read this “laugh-out-loud funny account of this Appalachian Trail adventure.

“Cold Sassy Tree” by Olive Ann Burns
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=cold sassy tree+{245}
“In this warm, funny novel set in turn-of-the-century Georgia, 14-year-old Will learns about life from the antics of his grandfather, who marries the town’s young milliner, Miss Love, less than a month after the death of his wife.”

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=0694524441+{020}
Try this modern fable of an Andalusian shepherd boy traveling from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure. Along the way, he discovers many truths.

“Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café” by Fannie Flagg
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=9780307750563+{020}
Are you ready to laugh and cry? “Fannie Flagg paints a portrait of life in Whistle Stop, Ala., where Ruth and Idgie own the café that is central to the town.”

“Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson
http://173.219.60.7/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/CARNEGIE/x/123?searchdata1=gilead +{245} & searchdata1=marilynn robinson + {100}
In this beautiful book, a minister in failing health writes a letter to his seven-year-old son.  This read may just force you to “slow down to the pace of 1956 Iowa, where a meditative old man writes of his own father and grandfather, of love and friendship, and of what matters in life.”

NOTE: summaries provided by Cindy Orr from Overdrive, Inc.

Reports of the printed book vanishing might be an exaggeration. So says Nicholas Carr in the recent Wall Street Journal article titled "Don't Burn Your Books---Print is Here to Stay".

According to the results of a Pew Research Center survey released last month, "the percentage of adults who have read an e-book rose modestly over the past year, from 16% to 23%, but it also revealed that fully 89% of regular book readers siad that they had read at least one printed book during the preceeding 12 months. Only 30% reported reading even a single e-book in the past year."

So are you a lover of ink and paper? How often did you read a printed book in 2012?

Read the entire article......

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is making changes to Federal Benefit Checks.  Everyone who receives a paper check for Social Security or other federal benefit payments is required by law to switch to an electronic payment by March 1, 2013. This is your last chance to make one final push to help people comply with this law before time runs out.

It’s fast, free and easy for federal benefit check recipients to sign up for direct deposit or the Direct Express^® Debit MasterCard^® card by calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795 Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

All federal benefit check recipients please call now to avoid delays near the deadline. For direct deposit, they can also sign up online at www.GoDirect.org or by visiting their local bank or credit union.

What are your options?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends two electronic payments options:

• Direct deposit. People with checking or savings accounts can sign up to get their money by direct deposit. Their federal benefit payment will go straight into their account on payment day each month. On time, every time.
• Direct Express^® card. Those who don’t have a bank account or prefer a prepaid debit card should switch to the Direct Express^® card. Money will be posted to the card account on payment day each month. There’s no need to wait for the mail or to make a special trip to cash a check. Cardholders can make purchases and get cash back with purchases at no charge anywhere Debit MasterCard^® is accepted. There are no sign-up fees, overdraft fees or monthly fees. Some fees for optional services may apply. For information on card fees and features, visit www.GoDirect.org.

People who do not choose an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013, may be issued a Direct Express^® card.

What are the Safety Benefits of Electronic Payments?

Electronic payments are safer than paper checks. In fact, people are 125 times more likely to have a problem with a paper check than with an electronic payment. Even though electronic payments are safer, it’s important that people take steps to keep their money safe. Once people have made the switch, share these three tips recommended by the Treasury Department:

• Be careful of anyone who calls, texts or emails asking for personal information.
• Protect personal information. Do not give out your Social Security number or account information to anyone unless you are the one who has contacted them.
• Watch your bank or credit union account or Direct Express^® card account often to make sure that all account activity is yours.

The Treasury Department’s Go Direct^® campaign provides free materials to help you share this important information in your library outlets. For more details or to order free materials, contact Michelle Kloempken, your campaign representative, at 312-988-2035, mkloempken@webershandwick.com OR visit http://www.godirect.org/partners/order-materials/.