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Author: Garrison Keillor

It’s time for the annual “Summer Reading” frenzy, so while you’re ferrying the kids to the library to get their summer required reading, be sure to pick up something fun for yourself. After all, example is the greatest teacher! One of the best ways to read is aurally – no, that’s not a misprint, I’m talking about audio books. Whether your daughter is reading “The Secret Life of Bees” or you’ve got your eye on Catherine Coulter’s latest, “Knockout,” the library often has an audio book version. I find myself reading books on CD that I might never have picked up in print form. And nothing is better for a long family vacation drive than listening to a good story. Here are a few good ones I can recommend.
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Horror is a genre with a unique appeal – akin to that of a daredevil, high velocity roller-coaster ride. If you like being scared, and adrenaline is your cup of tea, here are some books that will give you the heebie-jeebies!
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Heroes come in all shapes and sizes – not just in soldiers’ physical courage in war but often in quiet stands of moral leadership. Whether facing political crises, societal pressures, or the consequences of horrific events, these people displayed the best of humanity in their lives, giving the rest of us models to aspire to.
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Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” has become a classic tale of a woman’s search for meaning. Her quest is anything but unique; we all want to do what’s right, live our lives morally, and find our true path. These books are an eclectic mix of writings on religion, spirituality, morality and ethics – topics that define and outline every part of our lives, whether we call ourselves Christian, Jew, agnostic or atheist. These accounts of people seeking their “right path” may inspire your own spiritual journey.
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Author: Stacey O'Brien

MP3 is a familiar format for music CDs but not so much for audio books. As a commuter, I love MP3 CDs. Because the format is so compressed, an entire book fits on only one CD, making it both easier and safer to listen to books while driving -- no changing disks every hour or so! And I can even load them onto my iPod if I want to carry my books with me. MP3 books are available from the library both on disk, and through the Georgia Download Destination -- they are among the hundreds of books that can be downloaded straight into your computer, ready for loading onto your MP3 player. Here are a few of the many titles available from Live Oak Public Libraries. To find more, just specify MP3 in your catalog search. Remember, they only work on MP3-compatible players.
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As any accountant (or even part-time bookkeeper) can tell you, it’s tax season! That wonderful time of year when we all surround ourselves with bits of paper that we’ve crammed into drawers or boxes all year long, and try to translate them into something acceptable to the IRS. The library can’t do your taxes for you, but it can help make the process a little less stressful. AARP Foundation volunteers, in partnership with the IRS, are available to help you with your State and Federal tax returns at the Bull Street Library every Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Registration is required—see the library’s website for details.) And Live Oak Public Libraries branches have books that can help you figure your taxes this year, and plan for the future so that maybe, just maybe, next year won’t be so bad.
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With the economy in the tank, many pundits are drawing comparisons to 1929 and the Great Depression, and to the similar roles played by FDR and President-elect Obama. Although those who actually remember the Depression are becoming all too few – my own parents were just children then – we fortunately have a wealth of information in books and DVDs with which to educate ourselves about that era. For a glimpse of that time and the unique man who led us through it, try some of these books and DVDs.
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Author: Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick

In 2008 we lost some wonderful authors, whose writings enlightened, instructed, or just entertained – excellently! Playwright Harold Pinter, novelists Arthur C. Clarke and Michael Crichton, societal chroniclers Studs Terkel and William F. Buckley, all contributed to our reading pleasure. Remember them though their works, including these and many other books and DVDs found in Live Oak Public Libraries.
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The holidays take a toll – and I don’t mean Toll-House cookies. Even if your holiday plans are scaled down this year, the planning, shopping, entertaining, and cleaning up after is enough to exhaust even the most dynamic holiday maven. So steal a little time for yourself this week, and sit down with the family for some holiday fare on DVD. Here are a few that will bring a smile without making you work for it. These and many other holiday DVDs can be found at any Live Oak Public Libraries branch.
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It’s that time again! We’re all gearing up for the holiday rush of food, friends, food, shopping, food, fun, and more FOOD. The library has shelves full of books on cooking and entertaining, to give you an original twist in your holiday get-togethers. Here are a few new titles, but browse the shelves and you'll find lots more!
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We’re in the middle of football season, and even if you aren’t a fan, you’re probably related to someone who’s glued to the TV screen, playing on Friday nights, or cheering from the sidelines. Here are some new books on the pigskin currently in demand at Live Oak Public Libraries.
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Author: Ken Leiker

Ah, Fall… nippy nights, falling leaves, and the World Series. My interest in baseball is pretty much nil, until October – especially when Atlanta is part of the mix [sigh]. Those were the days, and these are NOT the days, but hey, the Rays and the Phillies have plenty of people on the edge of their seats, carrying on a tradition that’s become part of our cultural history. These books and DVDs about the World Series will give you some insight into just how much meaning we’ve invested in this annual pageant.
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Author: Catherine Jinks

It takes a lot to drag a teenager away from the computer, but these might do it – they’re full of mystery and suspense, genres popular with all ages. These books follow teens as they dig into unexplained events, solve mysterious problems, and handle dangerous situations.
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Within the last 100 years, medicine has developed from no more than a diagnostic form of hand-holding to a technology and research-driven behemoth taking up an ever-enlarging share of our resources. Its mysteries and its triumphs, and its intimate connection to ourselves – after all, it’s all about whether we live or die, and how — are what make medical books so fascinating and popular. In these books, doctors write about what it’s like to be a doctor, to work in a hospital, to make life and death decisions. Patients tell their stories. And historians relate the how epidemics, and the research that grew out of them, have paradoxically saved thousands of lives.
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Author: Lou Dobbs

With a presidential election looming, even normally disengaged citizens are paying attention to politics. The library has much of what you need to make an informed decision on November 4th, from access to websites with information about candidates and their positions, election information, and numerous blogs, to the candidates’ own books, as well as those written about them and elections in general. These recent titles on the election process, and by or about the candidates, may help you make up your mind.
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During these two weeks we’ll see more sports on television, in print and on the web than we’ve seen since – the last Olympics! Every four years since 1896 the Modern Olympic Games have taken place, and this year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing are already fraught with the usual political, ethnic, religious and personal baggage that always seems to accompany these supposedly purely sporting events. Here are some books that will give you a taste of the Olympics of the past and how today’s events have changed from those of the past – or maybe not so much. To find more titles, search the catalog under the subject "Olympic Games."
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Author: Elizabeth May

I was recently inspired by one of last year’s bestsellers (you can tell I have a long list of “want-to-reads”), Bill Clinton’s book, “Giving,” in which the former president wrote about the huge number of opportunities that exist for making our world better. These titles, several of which are cited in “Giving,” demonstrate the incredible range of generosity and imagination exercised in coping with our world’s needs. These books are about real problems—some of them huge and life threatening—and real people who have found a way to deal with them. Their common thread is a decision—to help, instead of looking away. Sometimes making that decision is the hardest part.
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Author: Crissy Trask

“Green” has become the word of the decade. Only ten years ago “sustainability” was a concept little heard and even less understood. But within the last few years the rippling effects of global climate change have forced us to acknowledge the impact of our presence on this planet, and to accept the necessity of planning and acting for the future we want to leave our children. From global warming to water rights, from recycling to hybrid cars, Live Oak Public Libraries branches have books and DVDs to help us make “green” a part of everyday living.
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Author: Steven Raichlen

During my childhood, when it came to cooking, my Dad had two specialties—tomato soup mixed with any leftovers he could find in the fridge, and cooking on the grill. You can understand why I now despise tomato soup, and love grilling! Grilling is a passion with most dads, and it’s a great way to enjoy a family get together, whether it be a special occasion like Father’s Day, or just the family’s evening meal. Live Oak Public Libraries have lots of books that can help you (or your dad) grill like a professional, so check out some of these titles and have a great Father’s Day feast!
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Author: Anne Rice

Since I began commuting from Richmond Hill several years ago, I’ve become an avid audio book fan, and luckily I’ve been able to make sure the library has plenty of choices for listeners like me, who spend at least an hour a day on the road. When I began listening, cassettes were my only option, but since then the library has branched out into books on CD, MP3 CDs, and most recently, digital downloads. This latest development, initiated in May, allows anyone who can utilize WMA (Windows Media Audio) files to download entire books to their home computers from the Georgia Download Destination, a digital audio library accessible from the Live Oak website. Here are some of the many great new titles available in various audio formats at Live Oak Public Libraries.
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Author: Daniel Klein

Recently the Bull Street library book club tried a new twist combining biography, historical novels, and mysteries—we each had to read a mystery where the protagonist was an historical personage. That is to say—the investigator was someone who’d really lived, although probably not as depicted in these novels. In researching the subject, I discovered that there are quite a few series that fit this bill, and we had a good time exploring them. Here are some of the best.
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Author: Diane Ackerman

More than sixty years after the end of World War II, when most of those who experienced it first-hand are already lost to time, the Holocaust and its survivors can seem remote. Yet survivors still live, and in honor of these and the others who have already passed away, we continue to read and write about them, and remember them, as will happen on May 1, Yom HaShoah, the Jewish day of remembrance for Holocaust victims. Despite the distance, new books about the Holocaust and its survivors are still published each year, each a testament to the strength and endurance of the human spirit. Here are a few accounts that have come into Live Oak Public Libraries branches recently. All of them are thoughtful reads that will bring an ache to your throat.
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Saving successfully for the future is a long walk on a never-ending road. It’s best to begin early! There are many routes and, not surprisingly, a lot of detours on the way, but these books, along with many others at Live Oak Public Libraries branches, can give you varied and practical ideas for reaching your financial goals. I wouldn’t say any of these authors know all the answers, or even all the questions that will arise in your investing life, but they all have good ideas. You’ll have to decide for yourself which ones fit you the best.
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Author: Gordon Parks

The recent Oscar ceremonies were a reminder to me of the breadth and depth of filmmaking in this country—not just popular feature films, but independent films, animation, and documentaries. A constant stream of new films of all sorts flows into Live Oak Public Libraries—each year we buy more, giving you the opportunity to stretch your mind as you stretch out on the couch. These are a just a few of the many new or classic documentaries available at library branches. Browse the nonfiction DVDs and surprise yourself.
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If you’ve ever felt that you’d be more comfortable living in another time and place, historical fiction is for you. With an infinite variety, this genre allows you to vicariously inhabit ancient Egypt, the middle ages, a prehistoric tribe, the roaring 20s—whether your taste is for Regency romances, the pioneers, or historic battles, there’s a book for you at the library. Search the catalog under the subject “historical fiction” and you’ll bring up a long list, but here are a few titles to get you started.
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Author: James Kakalios

Every year thousands of wonderful books are published that never get the attention they deserve. Thank Heaven for “best book” lists! The magazine “Science Books & Films” (aka SB&F) reviews science books and other media for all ages, and once a year publishes a “best” list. Here are just a few of many great under-the-radar science books available in Live Oak Public Libraries branches.
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Author: Zoe Sharp

Marcia Muller is generally regarded as the "mother" of the female private investigator mystery thanks to her series starring PI Sharon McCone. Fans of the series, now decades old, know that the McCone novels feature compelling and likeable characters, as well as solid investigative techniques and magnificent descriptions of San Francisco. Muller's 25th novel in the series, The Ever-Running Man, came out in July, so if you have already finished it, check out a few of these authors and books—some new and some not so new—in the same vein. They’re all winners!
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Author: Cecil Castellucci

Anybody who deals with either kids or books knows that it’s hard to get teens to read. Here are some new books, with themes ranging from vampires to football, that may draw your teenager to the written word—written words not appearing on a screen, that is.
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Author: Thomas Mullen

Is your book club looking for something new? These titles are all recommended for groups, and many can be purchased in paperback editions (often with reading guides), as well as being available at the Live Oak Public Libraries.
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Paranormal romance is a whole new fantasy genre that has exploded in the past few years. Whether your taste is for vampires, werewolves, psi-powered heroines or shape-shifting heroes, these novels at Live Oak Public Libraries have someone to make your heart beat faster.
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Author: Willie Morris

Live Oak Public Libraries' branches are full of great DVDs for all ages. Here's a list of wonderful films the whole family can enjoy-- some familiar, others forgotten, maybe a few you haven't come across before. Enjoy an evening of popcorn and a movie in front of the small (or big) screen!
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Thrillers may be historic or contemporary, and star police detectives, spies, or just ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, but their common thread is the chill and thrill. These aren’t books to start reading before bedtime—you’ll either be too scared to sleep, or too engrossed to put the book down!
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Author: David D. Corbett

Boomers have changed every other aspect of life they've encountered, so we can expect them to retire in new ways as well. These books, and others to help you with saving and investing for retirement, facing the new challenges of a retirement lifestyle, and managing your money and other responsibilities after retirement, are all available at Live Oak Public Libraries.
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Author: Robert William Meier

September is “Update Your Résumé Month.” The library has many titles to help you improve your job-hunting skills and get a better job. Attend a workshop on resume-writing at a library branch, then check out these and other materials to help you attain your dreams!
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Author: David Halberstam

Pulitzer-prize winning writer David Halberstam died in a car accident in California in April, during a research trip for a new book. His many books display his eclectic interests and wide-ranging view of mid-century American history and culture. Remember him with his classic sports books, or enjoy one of his panoramic portrayals of the U.S. over the last 50 years. Many of these titles are available in audiobook format as well as print.
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