One of the grand traditions of summer is the family vacation. The mere thought of a family road trip often conjures memories of endless hours of boredom punctuated by sibling squabbles in the back of a minivan, especially for people born in the era before walkmans, iPads, and vehicles with built-in DVD players.

To combat the tedium of long car trips, consider taking an audiobook along this summer! They are available on CD and mp3 discs that can be played on a car’s stereo and in digital formats that can be broadcast via Bluetooth from a personal mobile device. For long drives, select a books in a series, and for short drives, pick a stand-alone book.

Below are some suggestions for a variety of age ranges:

Family Friendly

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery

Fudge series by Judy Blume

Younger Children

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Brown Bear & Friends by Bill Martin, Jr.

Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Preteens & Teens

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Time Quintet series by Madeleine L'Engle

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

18 & Over

The Outsider by Stephen King

Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

The Martian by Andy Weir

Since we skipped spring and went straight into the beautiful whims of summertime, we must talk about those must-read, head over heels, shoot for the stars, lay in the starlight, feel the firelight, have to read kind of books! Summer is here, and that means it is time for an ultimate adventure. You know, the one you have been waiting on all winter long while the night came early and the cold bit at your face?! These are those precious moments of fresh air and vitamin D that you need to escape from the drone of everyday! So, let’s talk EPICS and ADVENTURES; let’s tell stories by the fire while we chase fairies in our dreams and capture trolls! Now is the time to seize those precious moments to treat yourself to a mesmerizing read!

My current personal obsession comes in the form of a Monstrumologist -- a scientist devoted to studying the stuff nightmares are scared of, monsters that know the hunger of blood and yet are never satiated. This story follows after the adventures of Dr. Pellinore Warthrop and the indispensable services of a young William Henry while outlining their quests in early America to catch and document beasts that exist in legends.

“He knew the truth. Yes, my dear child, he would undoubtedly tell a terrified toddler tremulously seeking succor, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.” ― Rick Yancey, The Monstrumologist

This dynamic pair will leave you wondering as you share in their sadness and experience their “peculiar” relationship as colleagues. Throughout this story, as a reader, I have come to know love unattainable and fears unimaginable! Filled with blood lust, gruesome murders, and the wisp of desire, this series will surely push you on through firelight unto dawn! Allow me to tantalize you with an excerpt from The Monstrumologist, which is Book 1 in the Monstrumologist series:

“Perhaps that is our doom, our human curse, to never really know one another. We erect edifices in our minds about the flimsy framework of word and deed, mere totems of the true person, who, like the gods to whom the temples were built, remains hidden. We understand our own construct; we know our own theory; we love our own fabrication. Still . . . does the artifice of our affection make our love any less real?” ― Rick Yancey, The Monstrumologist

Whether it be in romance or in fantasy that you find your mind’s summer quest, our hope is that you throw yourself headlong into a story and lose yourself there for adventure’s sake! Be it a good book or a handful of short stories, we encourage you to explore the depths of the real or unreal while the days linger long and warm. For the Monstrumologist and I, we have a date to the depths of despair and back! Good reading, good hunting, and great imagining!

If you would like to check out the Monstrumologist series by Rick Yancey along with me, KHCPL has copies both in print and on audio. Rick Yancey is also the author of many other books, including The Fifth Wave, so be sure to checkout his other works.                                                                                                                

Book people love books. They love how they look. They love how they feel. And they love the stories they contain. Few bibliophiles can resist the charms of a book reflecting the reader’s own deep love of books.

Books about books are myriad. There are stories in which books play a crucial role, and there are books that discuss the impact of books and reading on people’s everyday lives. The characters in some books are readers, and there are some books in which a character reads a particular book. Sometimes a story is set in a library or bookstore, and sometimes a character visits a bookstore or library.

The following are all books that share the love of books:

Fiction

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her pen pal, Amy. When she arrives, however, she finds that Amy's funeral has just ended.  Unwilling to return home without getting to know firsthand the people and places Amy described in her correspondence, Sara decides to rescue one of the town's many abandoned storefronts and open a shop using Amy's eclectic trove of books.

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

Simon Watson, a young librarian on the verge of losing his job, receives a mysterious package from an antiquarian bookseller. It contains a mysterious volume that documents suicides by drowning dating back to the early nineteenth century, many of whom turn out to be Simon's female ancestors.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer

As London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subject in a book club on Guernsey--a club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi after its members are discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 

Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel -- a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

A. J. Fikry, the cantankerous owner of Island Books, is despondent after the death of his beloved wife and theft of his prized rare edition of Tamerlane. When he discovers an abandoned baby at his store, he undergoes a dramatic transformation.

Non-Fiction

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett

Journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett recounts the crimes of John Charles Gilkey -- an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of rare books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the country -- and of Ken Sanders, the a book collector and self-appointed book detective, who finally caught him.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Literature professor Azar Nafisi recounts how in the Islamic Republic of Iran, she and seven of her female students secretly gathered for two years every Thursday morning to read forbidden Western classics.

When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning

This book chronicles the joint effort of the U.S. government, the publishing industry, and the nation's librarians to boost troop morale during World War II by shipping more than one hundred million books to the front lines for soldiers to read during what little downtime they had.

Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose

A consummate novelist and critic as well as a seasoned teacher approaches the art of writing through the art of reading.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

What started as a request for an out-of-print book evolved into a 20-year friendship between Helene Hanff, a freelance writer living in New York, and Frank Doel, a used-book dealer in London.

Reading Without Walls is a national reading program celebrating diversity. Gene Luen Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, developed this platform to encourage readers to explore books with characters who look, live, and think differently than they do. He expands the definition of diverse reading to include topics a reader hasn’t discovered and even formats a reader has not tried.

The challenge is simple:

1. Read a book about a character who doesn’t look like you or live like you.

2. Read a book about a topic you don’t know much about.

3. Read a book in a format that you don’t normally read for fun. This can be a chapter book, a graphic novel, a book in verse, or an audiobook.

Diversity comes in many facets. This challenge can cover many differences: ethnic, cultural, lifestyle, religious, and ideological as well as book formats and genres. It is important for readers to “read widely”.

Books can open up the world around you. So challenge yourself and invite your friends to join in the adventure with you! Share your experience using the hashtags #readingwithoutwalls and #diversebooks.

KHCPL can start you on your quest to find diverse books and materials. You can also go to Where To Find Diverse Books for more children and teen titles. Good Reads is another great resource to for lists of diverse books.

Accept the challenge today! Let the adventures begin!!!

February 13th is Galentine’s Day! What is Galentine’s Day you may ask? Only the best day of the year according to fictional Parks and Recreation character Leslie Knope. On the TV show, Leslie created a day about celebrating lady friends to demonstrate the importance of those friendships on the same level of romantic relationships. So on February 13, we celebrate and fuss over the wonderful lady friends in our lives.

Here are a few ways to get started on your celebration:

Give mighty compliments.

One way to celebrate is by letting the women in our lives know they are amazing. You can tell them or send a Galentine’s day card. You can get those here.

Feed the ones you love.

Waffles are synonymous with Galentine’s day, if you want to try your hand with waffle experimentation then check out this fun e-book. 

Give a gift.

You don’t have to break the bank to give your friends a token of friendship. For a small price, you can do something as simple as handing out temporary tattoos to boldly display your friendship.

Host a party.

Put together an evening at home just for the girls with these ideas or check out the library’s large selection of party planning books for more concepts.

Watch a movie together.

The library has a ton of DVDs and Blu-rays to check out for entertainment.

Blues music is most commonly known for its subject matter – melancholy songs about love, loss, and injustice. But the genre actually began as a specific pattern of chord progressions that evolved from a uniquely American, Afro-Anglo musical blend. The twelve-bar blues remains the most famous as well as the most common form of blues music.

The history of the blues is hotly debated among musical historians and fans alike. Many books attempt to clarify the murky origin of this musical genre and trace its evolution from the Mississippi Delta to Texas, then Chicago, and finally across the entire globe. Check out these books from KHCPL’s collection to learn more.

• The Blues: A Visual History: 100 Years of Music That Changed the World by Mike Evans
• Blues for Dummies by Lonnie Brooks
• Blues People by Amiri Baraka
• The Devil's Music: A History of the Blues by Giles Oakley
• The History of the Blues by Francis Davis

Others like to frame blues history around one of its most legendary musicians. Here are some of the many blues biographies:

• Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King by B. B. King
• Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues by Elijah Wald
• The Life and Legend of Leadbelly by Charles K. Wolfe
• Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters by Michael James Mahin

But there is no need to understand its rich and complex history to appreciate blues music. All one needs to do is listen.

One of the best resources for blues music, especially for digitally remastered recordings of early blues musicians, is Freegal. Freegal is a free music service that can be accessed with your library card. KHCPL patrons can download 5 songs in mp3 file format per week and stream 5 hours of music per day.

Early Blues Musicians on Freegal include:

• Lead Belly
• Willie Brown
• Son House
• Skip James
• Blind Lemon Jefferson
• Robert Johnson
• Tommy Johnson
• Charley Patton
• Bukka White

Influential Blues Musicians on Freegal include:

• B.B. King – “The King of Blues”
• Bessie Smith – “The Empress of Blues”
• Big Bill Broonzy – brought blues north to Chicago
• Elmore James – “The King of Slide Guitar”
• Howlin' Wolf – Chicago Blues pioneer
• John Lee Hooker – electric Delta Blues pioneer
• Lead Belly – “The King of the 12-String Guitar”
• Lonnie Johnson – first jazz guitarist
• Ma Rainey -- “The Mother of the Blues”
• Muddy Waters -- "Father of Modern Chicago Blues"
• T-Bone Walker – first blues musician to use an electric guitar
• Tampa Red – “The Guitar Wizard”

Visually Impaired Blues Musicians on Freegal include:

• Blind Gary Davis
• Blind Lemon Jefferson
• Blind Willie Johnson
• Blind Willie McTell

Freegal even has music by Kokomo Arnold. Although he is not a native son, he takes his name from the city of Kokomo. This blues artist received the nickname Kokomo in 1934 after he released a cover version of "Old Original Kokomo Blues" by Scrapper Blackwell, which is a blues song about Kokomo, Indiana.

If you’re interested in a mix of music and styles, Freegal also has blues compilation albums. These include:

• “100 Early Blues Recordings"
• “American Epic: The Best of Blues”
• “The Delta Blues Collection”
• “Early Morning Blues”
• “Rarest Blues Songs”
• “Robert Johnson and Heroes of the Delta Blues”

Because almost every genre of popular music today has its roots in blues music, the blues are worth taking a listen to. Just plug in a set of headphones and cue up a track that strikes your fancy. There’s never a better time to play the blues.

January is probably the least exciting month of the year. Let’s be honest, the holiday season is over, and it’s so cold that leaving the house seems like a chore. But KHCPL has just the ticket to beat those winter blues.

On Tuesday, January 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., KHCPL will host Tin Man Brewing and comedian Chris Bowers downtown at KHCPL Main for our first Guys on Tap. (Don’t let the name fool you, anyone 21+ can attend.) Bowers is a regular guest host on the nationally syndicated radio program “The Bob & Tom Show.” He’s the host of “Trial by Laughter” on Comcast, and he’s appeared on Fox’s standup comedy show “Laughs.” I would tell you all about Tin Man Brewing, but if you haven’t been there yet, you just need to visit the old downtown train depot and discover one of Kokomo’s best places for beer. It’s worth it, trust me.

While you’re waiting for Guys on Tap, here are some movies and books to get you ready.

Stand-Up Comedy DVDs

Billy Crystal — 700 Sundays
Spanning several decades beginning in the 1950s, Crystal reminisces about what it was like growing up in a loving Jewish family in Long Beach, LI. He recalls the numerous eclectic relatives who inspired him, the huge influence of jazz on his family, his passion for the New York Yankees, and much more.

Brian Regan — Standing Up
Straight off a coast-to-coast tour and into your living room, this concert film captures comedian Brian Regan at his best. Butterflies, show horses and greeting cards are no match when this master of standup grabs the microphone.

Jim Gaffigan — Obsessed
Jim Gaffigan is back with a brand new hour long comedy special. He uses a clever, quiet, and infectious style as he talks about everyday scenarios to which people can relate. As one of the top comedians out today, he continues to raise the bar with new material and, of course, some bacon.

Books about Beer

Bar None by Tim Lebbon
Six months after a plague wipes out most of the world's population, several survivors follow the advice of a mysterious stranger and leave their mansion hideout to seek Bar None, the last bar on Earth.

The Complete Beer Course by Joshua Bernstein
Go on a fun, flavorful tour through the world of craft beers. Bernstein demystifies beer and teaches you how to choose from and how to enjoy the vast array of singular brews available today.

Indiana One Pint at a Time: A Traveler’s Guide to Indiana Breweries by Douglas Wissing
Explore the history and living artisan culture of the Hoosier state's long vibrant brewing tradition.

Many people suffer from a seasonal “disease” at this time of year called “Christmas overload.” I have trouble with this sickness each year trying to decorate every inch of my house. And if that isn’t enough, I help my daughter with her house as well as help decorate the library and my church, so it’s time to simplify!

I searched KHCPL's online catalog to find books to simplify Christmas celebrations. I found the book Simply Christmas by Carol Field Dahlstrom. It turns out you really need to watch wording; the title says simply not simple. It is loaded with Christmas decorations, foods, and crafts. With so much to choose, is it even possible to simplify…?

The library has so many Christmas books full of ideas and even recipes to make your season spectacular.

We Love to Craft Christmas by Annabel Wrigley

Have Yourself A Homemade Christmas

Handcrafted Christmas by Susan Waggoner

A Very Merry Paper Christmas

Make Me I'm Yours ... Christmas

Ultimate Christmas by Jane Newdick

Better Homes and Garden always has some great ideas.

Best of Christmas Ideas by Better Homes and Gardens

Holiday Inspirations: Food, Decorating, Craft by Better Homes and Gardens

These are awesome! They make me want to create! Oh, and I can’t forget Martha Stewart when it comes to creating. Classic Crafts and Recipes Inspired by the Songs of Christmas has crafts to go with Christmas Carols! I love Christmas Carols, so this would be great. I can even check out some Christmas CDs to listen to while I do some projects, stream music through Hoopla, or download songs from Freegal.

American Christmas by Alabama

Christmas by Michael Bublé

Christmas by Brad Paisley

Christmas by Frank Sinatra

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Mannheim Steamroller

White Christmas by Bing Crosby

But back to simplifying. Midwest Living has some quick and easy holiday décor on their website. But there are so many ideas. What if I want to do them all?! This is beginning to remind me of a children’s Christmas book If You Take A Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff.

If you love Christmas with all the trimmings and you love to craft it may be hard to have a simple Christmas. But the real joy of Christmas should be time spent with loved ones. Take baby steps, try to make decorating a family event, which means you can’t be particular about the placement of each ornament. Take the kids to a bakery or bake sale to pick out some goodies instead of baking for hours. Put up a few strands of lights around your entry rather than the whole house. Then stroll through Highland Park, the We Care Park, or the Seiberling to enjoy their lights. But whatever you do, if you really want to simplify, stay away from Pinterest! They have tons of ideas, and Christmas overload will start all over again!

During the Months of November, December, and January, KHCPL is honoring veterans with a variety of programs and exhibits.

War Photography

Stop by the South Branch to see Traveling Exhibit - One Shot: The World War II Photography of John A. Bushem. This exhibits is on loan from the Indiana Historical Society from November 1 to December 4. 

For more information on War Photography and Photographers check out some of these books:

Women Who Wrote the War

This illustrated historical biography celebrates the accomplishments of World War II's female war correspondents -- including Margaret Bourke-White, Martha Gellhorn, Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, and Janet Flanner -- who risked their lives in combat zones to provide firsthand reports on the events of the war.

It’s What I Do

War photographer Lynsey Addario's memoir It's What I Do is the story of how the relentless pursuit of truth, in virtually every major theater of war in the twenty-first century, has shaped her life. What she does, with clarity, beauty, and candor, is to document, often in their most extreme moments, the complex lives of others. It's her work, but it's much more than that: it's her singular calling.

Inherited Risk: Errol and Sean Flynn in Hollywood and Vietnam

A brilliant father-son biography of the scandalous life of movie star Errol Flynn and of his son's equally glamorous yet doomed career as a war photographer in Vietnam.

Vietnam War

You are invited to attend the program The Vietnam War: A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick – Panel Discussion at the Main Library on November 9th from 6:30-8:00 pm. 

Check out these library materials specifically related to the program:

"The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick" (DVD)

In an immersive narrative, Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. Features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides.

The Vietnam War: The Soundtrack (CD)

The Soundtrack includes many of the iconic songs representing the era, including 38 tracks chosen from the 120 tunes heard on the ten-part film series, "The Vietnam War."

The Vietnam War: An Intimate History (Book)

More than forty years after it ended, the Vietnam War continues to haunt our country. We still argue over why we were there, whether we could have won, and who was right and wrong in their response to the conflict. This volume draws on hundreds of interviews in America and Vietnam to give us the perspectives of people involved at all levels of the war: U.S. and Vietnamese soldiers and their families, high-level officials in America and Vietnam, antiwar protestors, POWs, and many more, seeking to understand why the war happened the way it did and to clarify its complicated legacy.

All Hallows’ Read is the brainchild of author Neil Gaiman. In 2010 he had the sudden inspiration to start a new holiday tradition that involved giving books. The next major holiday was Halloween, and All Hallows’ Read was born. The idea behind All Hallows’ Read is to encourage people to “give someone a scary book for Halloween.” Old books, new books, secondhand books, hardcovers, paperbacks, eBooks, audiobooks, they are all fair game. Gather together and share a book with family or friends, or gift a total stranger as a random act of kindness. Rather than a sugary treat, All Hallows’ Read gives someone an experience by connecting that person with a story.

While booksellers were quick to embrace the book giving aspect of All Hallows’ Read, libraries quickly embraced the reading aspect. During the month of October, librarians encourage patrons to read a scary to celebrate Halloween, making All Hallows’ Read a celebration of reading as well as of books. If you don’t enjoy horror or paranormal, try suspense. If that’s not to your taste, try something seasonal. And, if you don’t care for the theme, then simply read. Read a book this Halloween.  

Scary Books

It by Stephen King

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Classic Horror Stories

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The New Annotated H. P. Lovecraft by H. P. Lovecraft

Edgar Allan Poe: The Best of His Macabre Tales Complete and Unabridged

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Family Friendly Halloween Reads

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! by Charles Schulz

The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea

Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo! by Tad Hills

Ollie's Halloween by Olivier Dunrea

Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan Berenstain