Friday Finds for January 24, 2014

This is a weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

R E A D I N G

Leslie: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Life in England's Dark Ages and Camelot are the backdrop of the story. The main character's humorous exploits while introducing modern ideas make it a fun read.

Also currently reading Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool.

Aracelli: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
Gregg Heffley is growing up, but his misadventures make for a very funny book. I was laughing out loud reading the latest book in the Wimpy Kid series.

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
Carey and her younger sister have been abandoned in the woods by their drug-addicted mother. They have had no contact with the real world in six years. When they are “discovered” and forced to live with their father, Carey finds it difficult to adjust. This YA book reads like an adult book; it is heartbreaking, yet uplifting.

Lisa: The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet by Tom Angleberger 

I'm in the middle of this fourth book, and still loving the Origami Yoda series. 

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

I'm still in the first pages of Artemis Fowl, and I'm having a hard time getting into it. I really hope it gets better, because I've been blindly recommending this series for years based on rave reviews from both teens' and adults' that come into the library.   

W A T C H I N G

Andrea: Dracula (NBC television series)

Tonight is the season finale of NBC’s latest show “Dracula”. So far the show has taken a different approach to Bram Stoker’s classic novel. While it is still set in Victorian London, the revamped series has breathed new life into Dracula (also known as Alexander Grayson in this series). I have really enjoyed this show and hope others have as well. If you have not seen this show, the past episodes are available online and can be found at www.nbc.com/dracula/. The finale tonight looks to be very explosive; I look forward to seeing how it all comes together.

Lisa: The Hangover Part III

It of course wasn't as funny and creative as the first one, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be either. I felt like they tried really hard to break the Hangover formula and use offensive humor that just fell flat. They also focused more on side characters Alan and Chow. When the movie ends, don't hit stop right away; stick around a bit for another scene.

L I S T E N I N G

Leslie: Gods of Guilt (Playaway) by Michael Connelly

M A K I N G

Don't forget, we have several books on knitting and also subscribe to Creative Knitting magazine, which can be checked out!

Leslie: Knitting a scarf for her husband

Friday Finds for January 17, 2014

This is a weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

This week, our staff is into zombie books, reminiscing about obscure animated movies, and playing some addictive games (during their personal time of course).  

READING

Lluvia: World War Z by Max Brooks (Playaway*)
It is a thinking man’s zombie book. It is politically and culturally relevant to an almost believable level. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
*Playaways are little devices that have audiobooks already loaded onto them. You simply plug in headphones or an adapter to listen. View the collection here>>

Angie: Dark Wolf by Christine Feehan

I just finished reading “Dark Wolf” book number 25 in Christine Feehan's Carpathian Series. I really enjoyed the book. The series does have to be read in order.

Lisa: Zom-B Angels
This is book 4. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say this is where we find out the origin of zombies in this series (!). I don't like committing to series fiction, but this one has me hooked and looking forward to reading Zom-B Baby. They're really quick reads.

WATCHING

Joe: Pinchcliffe Grand Prix
I was watching TV the other day and something I saw reminded me of one of my favorite animated movies. It's called "Pinchcliffe Grand Prix". It's a stop-action film from Norway by Ivo Carpino that came out in 1975. Nearly everyone I've ever told about the film has never heard of it. It's worth looking for, although it's not available at the library or on Netflix.

Lisa: We're The Millers
I didn't expect this movie to be so funny. It's worth watching if you're not offended by cursing, drug material, and crude humor. There are highly improbable and ridiculous situations, but the humor helps you overlook them.

PLAYING

Angie: 

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (System: Nintendo 2DS / 3DS, Genre: Simulation) - Like
Hometown Story (System: Nintendo 3DS, Genre: Role Playing) - Hooked on it

Bravely Default Demo (System: Nintendo 3DS, Genre: RPG) - Will be buying the game. It’s really good.

Lisa: 

Candy Crush (iOS)
I know I'm late to the party, but I finally downloaded this game and it really is addictive and strangely satisfying to match colorful, little candies. Don't worry, I won't be sending you a Facebook game request. I believe I'm on the 11th stage of addiction; sometimes I see candy when I close my eyes. See Buzzfeed's The 12 Stages of Candy Crush Addiction.

Friday Finds for January 10, 2014

This is a new weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

Welcome to the first Friday Finds of 2014! Keep visiting the library for new and popular items. We get new books, DVDs, CDs, and more every month. Don't forget to check the OverDrive site to see what new digital materials have been added, too!

READING

Aracelli: The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan
At 589 pages, this book appears daunting, but after the first chapter you will be hooked on the story of Violet, who after some deception, is forced to live as a courtesan in early 20th century Shanghai. Amy Tan’s book is full of drama, sprinkled with romance and suspense.

Lisa: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Looking for Alaska was one of the first young adult books I read, which really got me hooked on John Green. I was reluctant to read TFIOS because I thought reading about teenagers with terminal cancer was going to make me bawl. It was funny and cute without being sappy, but some aspects were annoying. While I liked the book and would recommend it, it's not my favorite John Green novel. The movie comes out in June!

Also, be on the lookout in February for This Star Won't Go Out: The Life & Words of Esther Grace Earl. John Green dedicated TFIOS to Esther, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Proceeds from the book go to a nonprofit by the same name that Esther's parents started. The foundation assists families struggling through the journey of a child living with cancer. Find out more at tswo.org.

WATCHING

Aracelli: Downton Abbey

After what seems like an eternity, the newest season of Downton Abbey has finally returned to PBS. Last Sunday’s premiere episode picked up six months later after last season’s tragic ending. I do not want to give anything away, so if you have not caught up with the happenings of the Grantham family and their loyal servants, the library has all three seasons available. Also, since Downton Abbey is a British export and the newest season has already aired in England, you can expect to find Season Four at our library by next month.

Lisa: Drinking Buddies 

After hearing about this movie from the Tasting Table newsletter, I was super excited to check it out from the library. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. I thought there would be more focus on the brewing process or the craft beer industry. It was more about relationships, which would've been fine except this whole movie was unscripted. The improvisation made it feel awkward and boring. Don't waste your time with this movie unless you really want to see that guy from New Girl and Olivia Wilde do some improv while drinking a lot of beer.



  

Resolutions You Can Keep

It's a new year, and the easiest resolution to make and fulfill is to visit your library! There are plenty of reasons for everyone to visit the library, especially the Dorris Van Doren Branch. If you need a more concrete resolution, try one of our 6 suggestions below. You can also visit our teen area and grab a one word resolution. HUGE thanks to the Art Bar blog for providing the idea and templates!

Resolution 1: Wipe my slate clean @ the library during Amnesty/Food For Fines
During January 3-18, come into the library to clear your fines! Return your overdue library materials in good condition without having to pay any applicable fines. If you already have fines, you can pay them down by donating canned and non-perishable goods. You can donate up to 5 items a day to get $5 worth of fines removed from your account. 1 food item = $1 fine

Resolution 2: Make good use of my electronic device
Did you receive a new gadget for Christmas or want to make use of the one you already own? Ask us about our digital services! You can download magazines from Zinio or download books, audiobooks, and more from OverDrive. You'll need your library card and PIN number, and depending on your device, you'll need to download the OverDrive app and use an Adobe ID or an Amazon account.

Resolution 3: Join a club
The Cook the Book Club returns this month, so be sure to sign up by January 16 for the potluck that will take place on Saturday, January 18 at 2 pm in the craft area. This month's cookbook selection is The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays.

Other clubs at Dorris Van Doren:
Crochet & Knitting Club, Saturdays @ 10 am
Chess Club, Thursdays @ 5 pm

Resolution 4: Get crafty
Second Friday Craft Hour for children, 2nd-6th grades @ 3:30 pm
Sweetheart Valentine's Day craft for all ages on February 8 @ 1 pm
Teen Hangout Crafts for teens ages 13-18 on Thursdays @ 4:30 pm

Resolution 5: If you have children, bring them to a storytime or playtime
Weekly Storytimes:
Toddler Tuesdays @ 11 am
Preschool Wednesdays & Thursdays @ 11 am
Family Saturdays @ 11 am

Lego Playtimes:
Get creative and build stuff. We provide the legos. Please do not bring your own.
2nd Fridays for ages 7-12 (January 17) @ 4 pm
3rd Fridays for ages 6 & under (January 24) @ 4 pm

Resolution 6: Learn a language beginning February
Classes are free and do not require registration.
Learn French
Conversational French classes begin February 11 @ 5:30 pm

Learn English
Clase de Conversación en Inglés
Vengan y practiquén el ingles. Todos los niveles bienvenidos.
Begins February 7 @ 4:30 pm

Friday Finds for December 20, 2013

This is a new weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

READING

Sara: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
It has been a while since I've read a young adult book and I am really enjoying it. My goal is to read it before I watch the movie. I became interested after recently watching the Hunger Games movie. Although the book has its slow parts I definitely recommend it to both teens and adults.

Lisa: Luna by Julie Anne Peters
I finally got around to reading this classic young adult novel about Liam who identifies as a girl. His story is told through his sister, Regan. I enjoyed the book and thought the subject matter was handled well, but it moved a little slow at times and then wrapped up too neatly in the end. This book brought to mind another book I read years ago. Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger is about Angela who identifies as a boy. While Parrotfish is informative, it seemed to only scratch the surface of what it's like to be a transgender teen. I did like it and thought it was sweet.

Lluvia: Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Painstakingly detailed and unambiguous, this book, gives an account of Lincoln’s last days in office before his assassination and the eventual capture of the assassins. The narrative is as informative as it is gripping. The in-depth research that was done for this book is evident and almost unbelievable due to its attention to small details like the clothing worn by the subjects. It is not a typical historical book in that it just dictates dates and locations; this book plays out more like a thriller which makes it much more enjoyable.

Angie: Beast Behaving Badly (Pride Stories Series) by Shelly Laurenston
I really like this series, it makes me laugh. Its romantic, quirky and funny. Bo is part polar bear, part lion, and pure alpha male. He's determined to protect Blayne from stalkers who want to use her in shifter dogfights. The only book from the series that's in our system is The Beast in Him.

WATCHING

Sara: I just binge-watched the third season of Boardwalk Empire, an HBO series about bootleggers during the Prohibition era. The library has the first three seasons. The series is considered historical fiction and includes a bit on how Al Capone got his start, and of course many other gangsters I had never heard of. The drama, the costumes, and the characters are great. I recently found out it's based on a book by Nelson Johnson titled Boardwalk Empire: The birth, high times, and corruption of Atlantic City. The series is a bit violent so I am sure it is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you liked the Sopranos you might enjoy this one.
The Conjuring: I gave it an A+ for scary moments and because it’s based on a true story.
Disconnect starring Jason Bateman gets a D- since it was quite predictable.

Lisa: Portlandia: I randomly watched a couple of episodes from season 2 the other night. I laughed a little too obnoxiously. I love this series because Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen nail stereotypes I can totally identify with. Unfortunately, we don't have this IFC series at the El Paso Public Library...yet?

Holiday News

Holiday Raffle

In celebration of the upcoming holidays, we're hosting a raffle! You'll get one entry for every 10 items you check out. The winner will be chosen and contacted on Thursday, January 2.

Win this tin of edible goodies!

Santa's Visit

Santa made his annual visit this past Saturday, and he brought meteorologist Robert Bettes with him! After Robert read stories and sang Christmas songs, children took pictures with Santa, received a free book and goody bag, and made a craft.

Sale @ The Bookmark

The Friends of the Library used bookstore is having a 50% off sale! On everything! The sale begins today, December 18 and ends Saturday December 21. For more info on the store check out this post.

They're located at 7348 Remcon and their hours are: Wednesdays 3-6 pm, Thursdays 9 am-3 pm, Fridays 3-8 pm, and Saturdays 9 am-3 pm. Stock up, because after this Saturday, they'll be closed for the holidays. They will reopen Friday, January 3rd.

Library Holiday Hours

For the next couple of weeks all of the El Paso Public Libraries will be observing holiday hours. Don't forget about our holiday movie fest, which also begins next week. We'll be showing a holiday movie each day at 2 pm except for Wednesday and Saturday (monthly movie matinee on Saturday is at 3 pm). Teen Hangout, Computer, and Citizenship classes will be cancelled during these weeks as well.

December 23-24: 9 am-5 pm
December 25: Closed
December 26-28: 9 am-5 pm
December 30-31: 9 am-5 pm
January 1: Closed
January 2-4: 9 am-5 pm

The Dorris Van Doren Staff wishes you safe and happy holidays!

Friday Finds

Welcome to Friday Finds! This will be a new weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

This week, Lisa and Angie share their finds. Click on the hyperlinks for more info or to request items.

READING

Lisa: Darth Paper Strikes Back (Book 2)
The Origami Yoda Files series is hilarious! It's pretty much about middle school with Star Wars references.
Bonus: origami instructions at the end of each book. Appropriate for grades 4 and up.
Zom-B (Book 1) & Zom-B Underground (Book 2)
This semi-new series is by Darren Shan, famous for his Cirque du Freak series. I've never read anything by Shan and am not particularly a fan of zombies (except for The Walking Dead show and graphic novels of course), but book one blew me away! Chilling beginning, good pacing, and a very unexpected ending. Bonus: takes place in London, so there's plenty of British slang. Violence, dark subject matter, and racism make this series more appropriate for grades 9 and up.
Angie: The Mane Attraction by Shelley Laurenston

WATCHING

Angie: Sleepy Hollow (TV show on Fox). Loves it!

PLAYING

Lisa: QatQi on the iPhone (free, iOS only). It's like Scrabble, but requires more strategy. Beautiful and relaxing interface.
Angie: Harvest Moon: A New Beginning on 3DS. 

MAKING:

Crafts for library programs and decorations: