The Reformed Vampire Support Group

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

No doubt about it, the best part about working for a library is seeing stuff before everybody else does. I'd like to say it's being around people, or the free exchange of information and technology, and while all that's well and good, it's really the new stuff. We get paid to be on the cutting edge. In fact, people ship us stuff early, before it's even officially on the market, before they even do the final spell check, so we can get a taste of what's hot before the riots start at the check out counters. Bet you didn't know being a librarian instantly makes you VIP.

I just finished the coolest book of 2009 because of this pseudo-celeb status; The Reformed Vampire Support Group. It's due to come out mid-April. If you think you know vampires, you need to read this book. While Twilight makes the land of the undead seem intriguing, stealth, and sexy, Jinks shows you the side of vampires that won't make it to the romance section. Senior citizen vampires with walkers, vampires with mothers, and vampires with anxiety disorders entertain you from cover to cover as these characters are brought together through group therapy to thwart their desire to kill. No vampire book is complete without a little lycanthrope, and the werewolves in this book are just as hilarious and demented as the blood suckers. Throw in a little accidental staking and a spontaneous road trip and you have a recipe for success, along with a new found thirst for mortality.

Ready for some therapy? Get on the request list today!

Steinbeck's Ghost

Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee

"Rule number one when saving the world: always have cookies" - Lewis Buzbee

Here is a very recent historical fiction novel that plays homage to a man who helped create public libraries in the United States: John Steinbeck. A few years ago, Salida Regional Library, the first public library system in America, almost had to shut it's doors forever because of financial problems. Sounds familiar, right? This book tells the story of how a community united together to fight against its destruction. The fight is led by a young man named Travis who had the courage to stand up for what is right. We see how one person really does have the ability to make life altering changes in his community, especially if we can push fear aside and take a chance. It's even more vital when the choice is not easy and the odds are stacked against you. After all, isn't that the truest definition of success?

Talk about your library lovers book.