Month: September 2023

Supernatural Sensations

Ever feel like something is sitting over your shoulder or you catch something out of the corner of your eye? Or a weird feeling of Deja-vu that you just can’t shake? These titles will make you wish it was that simple and keep you questioning the little things right until the end.

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The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring

School is back in session but not for long as strange things begin happening at the remote boarding school, where Mavi, the new teacher, begins teaching. The strangeness takes a malevolent turn when Mavi is roped into a cosmic mystery that will shake the foundation of everything she knows and holds dear.

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Little Heaven : a novel by Nick Cutter

Despite its name, this place is far from a haven unless you consider it a haven for the eldritch horrors that live within. Three would-be strangers are brought together to confront a past that would have apocalyptic consequences if not averted, but are they willing to sacrifice it all to achieve this?

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The Deep by Nick Cutter

A pandemic simply named “The Gets” is spreading across the planet causing people to forget how to do the most basic things including breathing and the only cure is sitting 20,000 leagues under the sea. But this cure may come at a cost too great to bear for one, Luke Nelson, who holds the fate of the world in his hands.

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Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith

Dive into this story of eerie disappearances, a ship that holds secrets and the three Sirens on board who seem to be able to steer the boat’s operations. Liv’s best friend disappears on their first night aboard their dream semester-at-sea program—but is he really sick, like everyone says, or is something darker lurking beneath the water?

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Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould

In her sophomore novel Courtney Gould draws readers into the haunting town of Backravel and explores grief, the weight of not letting go of the past, first love, and the bonds between sisters, mothers and daughters. Two sisters travel to an isolated Arizona town to investigate its connection to their mother’s death, but uncover more than they bargained for in this supernatural thriller from the author of The Dead and the Dark.

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Falling for Autumn

Are you ready for Pumpkin Spice season? We know we are! Ring in the chilly season with books that feel as cozy and warm as a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Each book listed comes with food recommendations to get you in the mood for cozy fall vibes.  

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Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

This is THE BOOK to get cozy with. Follow a retired battle ogre as she convinces her community that they need a coffee shop and embarks on a journey to grow friendships. There’s nothing cozier than friendship, coffee, and descriptions of cinnamon rolls. Pair this book with a blanket and hot coffee. 

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Brew to Kill by Cleo Coyle

Get cozy with a coffeehouse mystery! This book follows divorcee, Clare Cosi (ha!), as she tries to solve the mystery of a murder that took place right outside her quaint coffee shop. This book goes well with hot black coffee and scones.  

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Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay

What if your cozy coffeehouse’s signature pumpkin spice cupcakes were the last thing a murder victim ate? That’s exactly what happens in this book! I can smell the pumpkin spice cupcakes from the cover. Goes well with—you guessed it!—pumpkin spice cupcakes. 

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Pumpkinheads: a graphic novel by Rainbow Rowell

This graphic novel is the fall teen romance you’ve been looking for! This book encapsulates the feeling of being young, in love, and eating all the fall snacks. Goes well with overalls, caramel apples, and pie.  

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The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

“Never mix witchcraft and vodka”—or maybe you should? This silly book is like a grown up version of Sabrina the Teenaged Witch. It has all the fall vibes tied together with a romance and fall festivals. Goes well with vodka, salty popcorn, and hot apple cider. 

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The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey

Setting the scene: it’s autumn, the Fall Festival is nearing, and then the pumpkin farmer is found dead! The owner of the local cider shop must solve this mystery before the blame falls on her. Goes well with hot apple cider, pumpkin pie, and cozy socks. 

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A Spoonful of Murder by Connie Archer

Fall is the start of soup season—I don’t make the rules. This book takes place in a soup restaurant and follows the owner solve the mystery of someone that froze to death outside the shop (clearly, the victim needed some hot soup). Enjoy this book with a hot bowl of butternut squash soup, toasty bread, and hot tea. 

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National Deaf Awareness Month

September is National Deaf Awareness Month! In this diverse booklist of fiction and non-fiction titles, you’ll find captivating narratives that illuminate the experiences of the Deaf community, offering powerful insights into their culture, challenges, and triumphs. From heartwarming memoirs tracing personal journeys to informative explorations of sign language and communication, these books celebrate the richness of Deaf identity.

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Deaf Utopia: A Memoir and a Love Letter to a Way of Life by Nyle DiMarco

Candid and inspiring this is a memoir and a Deaf culture anthem! DiMarco describes growing up in a multigenerational Deaf home and details his work to improve Deaf representation in media. DiMarco has won America’s Next Top Model and works with Neflix both on and off the screen. Throughout the book he immerses readers in the rich dialog of American Sign Language (ASL) and other facets of his culture.

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I’ll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin

You’ve probably seen this actress on screens both big and small. This academy award winning star has done a lot in her career, including being a role model for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Being a role model comes with challenges, which she outlines in this book along with her stories of growing up Deaf, and her struggles with addiction and abuse.

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El Deafo by Cece Bell

You could totally read this graphic novel with an elementary school kiddo in your life. This award winning inspiring memoir recounts the author’s experience with becoming deaf at age four, the indignities and joys of being Deaf in a hearing community, and how she determined her superpower.

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True Biz by Sara Novic

This book transfers you into life at River Valley School for the Deaf. The story focuses on Charlie, a rebellious transfer student; Austin, the school’s golden boy; and February, the head mistress who is trying to keep the school open and her marriage intact. As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to undo their lives, this trio of characters finds their lives intertwined and changed forever.

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No Excuses: Growing Up Deaf and Achieving my Super Bowl Dreams by Derrick Coleman

Coleman was the first Deaf athlete to play offense in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. He recounts his humbling story starting from his childhood in California and doesn’t shy away from discussing his challenges and fears. This inspiring memoir shows how far hard work and determination can get you.

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Fighting in the Shadows: Untold Stories of Deaf People in the Civil War by Harry G. Lang

History buffs get excited. Here’s a unique and previously untold perspective of the American Civil War. This visually rich volume presents Lang’s groundbreaking study of the Deaf experience during this time. He focuses on soldiers and civilians alike, drawing on hundreds of first hand accounts, and pieces together a story of how the Deaf put aside their personal concerns and the discrimination they faced daily, in order to pursue a cause larger than themselves.

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Significant Gestures: A History of American Sign Language by John Tabak

American Sign Language is a unique and beautiful language. Tabak covers the history of this language by starting with its roots in 18th century France and follows it through to present times. Learn about how the language evolved once it was introduced to Deaf Americans, how schools and other institutions sprung up to allow the Deaf to participate in society, and how fast the language is evolving today.

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Awestruck

At first blush, this list might seem wide-ranging and a little quirkyBut hopefully it gets you thinking about those experiences and moments, both big and small, that inspire awe for you personally. 

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Awe: The New Science of Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner

A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-director of the Greater Good Science Center, Dacher Keltner has spent his professional career researching the social functions of emotion, social perception, and behaviorSome of you may be familiar with his popular podcast, The Science of Happiness.  In this book, Keltner takes a deep and personal dive into the emotion of awe and presents new research into this complex and elusive emotion, an emotion that may be difficult to describe but as a species, we know it when we feel it. Raise your hand if you need a little more awe in your lifeYesThen be sure to give this exploration of “awe” a spin. 

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The Power of Moments by Dan and Chip Heath

As humans, we are primed for both the mundane and the sublime moments of daily life. So, how exactly can we define those experiences that jolt us into recognizing something larger than ourselves, or incredible moments that will linger in our minds long after the event that inspired them has passed? And how can we capture the transformative impact of those experiences in order to enrich our interactions with others? Embark on this fascinating journey into the realm of human experience and memory to find out. 

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No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula Le Guin

“How rich we are in knowledge, and in all that lies around us yet to learn. Billionaires, all of us.” Not only was Le Guin a titan of the literary scene over the decades, she was also a droll observer of both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of lifeCulled from the blog she began late in life, this book is more than a rumination on the gift of the aging processIt is a keen testament to her sometimes acerbic, but always compassionate, views of the human condition, traversing landscapes ranging from the political to the personal. 

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An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Young

Beetles drawn to fire, turtles that track Earth’s electromagnetic fields, eyes of giant squids that have evolved to see sparkling whales (yes, you heard right, ”sparkling whales”), fish that fill rivers with electrical messages… set aside your human hubris, step outside of your sensory bubble and delve into an amazing world that surrounds us daily.  Winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal, finalist for the Kirkus Prize and the National Book Critics Award and longlisted for the Pen/E.O. Wilson Award, this book is a stunner and will surely elicit awe in even the most jaded of humans. 

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Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails and Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness by Nathanael Johnson

Think you have to escape the city to encounter the awe and wonder around you? Think again! Author Nathanael Johnson set out to explore the local flora and fauna of his urban neighborhood with his young daughter and discovered an alternate universe dotted with hidden mysteries and surprises around every street corner. A delightful lesson in learning to “see” beyond our own sensory tableaus and marvel at the ”awesomeness” of the natural world. 

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Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

Okay, so you know how I said this booklist might be a little quirky? Well, this a good example of what I mean by finding awe in the unlikeliest of places…inside of Jenny Slate’s quirky head. Co-creator of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, star of Obvious Child and former SNL member (not a happy experience by her account), sit back and enjoy this stand-up comedienne’s perspective on life with all of its ups and downs. 

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Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May

For most of us, the COVID-19 pandemic was an experience we’d much rather forget.  Yet there were some unexpected silver linings that emerged from the pandemic.  For Katherine May, author of the well-received Wintering, one of those silver linings was taking time to take a deep breath, slow down and appreciate the small wonders and awe of her daily existence.  For those of us who feel similarly emboldened to push aside the avalanche of countless emails, texts, social media, etc., this notion comes as a breath of fresh air.  The challenge to change up how we engage with the world around us actually comes as a welcome invitation to “do things a little differently.”   

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Wish Amish

Read an Amish fiction or nonfiction book of your choice. Amish fiction is a calm escape from this busy world. Inspirational in content these stories feature Amish characters and communities. Below are some of the titles by popular Amish fiction authors, including some fun nonfiction options. Or select any Amish title of your choosing   

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Letters of Trust by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Book one of the “Friendship Letters Series” follows two friends, Eleanor who has recently suffered some family trauma, and Doretta who writes letters to brighten her dark days and offer hope 

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The Orchard by Beverly Lewis

Set in 1970 Lancaster County, the Hostetler family has tended the orchard for generations. That tradition is tested when Ellie’s twin brother Evan is drafted into the Vietnam War. Ellie struggles to understand what her role will be for the family orchard.  

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The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller

Book one of the “Amish of Marigold series. Charity moves to Birch Creek to find a husband but her plans get thwarted by her next door neighbor, Jesse Bontrager.  

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The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer

Set in Paradise Valley, Mexico, this Amish fiction title has adventure, danger, and romance. When Caleb Bender’s daughter is kidnapped by bandits he must work with Mexican native Domingo to rescue Rachel.  

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The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Emma, an Amish widow, offers a quilting class that attracts six unlikely participants. As they stitch their quilts they also work on their problems and differences, and Emma wonders if something more meaningful is happening. 

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Simply Amish: An Essential Guide from the Foremost Expert on Amish Life by Donald B. Kraybill

A short, nonfiction book that provides an essential guide to Amish life, culture, and faith. The author has lived, studied, and befriended Amish and he answers questions for those interested in more background.  

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Me, Myself, and Pie: More than 100 Simple & Delicious Amish Recipes by Sherry Gore

Yay pie! Tips to making pies in the Amish tradition. The author includes personal stories of Amish life and culture.  

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Kanopy Ticketing Changes Starting Nov. 1​

Kanopy Ticketing Changes Starting Nov. 1

I am not always a big fan of change. As previously stated, when Taco Bell changed and stopped offering the Nacho Cheese Chalupa, a part of me died. DIED.

I can only pray that a higher-up at Taco Bell reads the HPLD blog, sees my repeated pleas for this menu item, nay, for this exquisite delicacy, and brings it back.

Anyway, Kanopy is changing, and while change isn’t always good, this change promises to make things a bit easier for those of you who know and love Kanopy.

What's The Change?

In basic form, the change is in the credit system. Currently, you get 10 credits every month, and one credit equals one checkout.

Which is simple, but not always the greatest. Why does one episode of a TV show cost the same credits as a 3-hour feature film?

AND, how does an absolute banger like Day of the Dead cost the same number of credits as George Romero’s later Diary of the Dead? Day of the Dead looks at Diary of the Dead and says, “You and me? We are not the same.”

The new ticketing system makes all of this a lot simpler.

How Does It Work?

For starters, TV Shows:

Currently, you watch ONE episode of Alone, and it costs you one credit. Simple, but flawed. Because who is going to watch ONE episode of a reality show where people encounter bears on the verge of acquiring a taste for human flesh!?

With the new ticketing system, it’s not only clear how much the show “costs,” it’s also made extremely clear what you get. For example, here’s Alone season 1 in the new ticketing system, and you clearly get access to ALL of Season 1 for 48 hours for the cost of 3 tickets. Which means you can try and slam down the entire season in 48 hours, or you can watch, say half now, and then use another set of 3 tickets to watch the other half next weekend.

It’s easy, it’s a lot clearer, and it makes it much easier to binge great shows. #TeamRoland

For movies, you’ll find a varying ticket cost, depending on the movie. But it’s nothing too wild, you won’t have a movie that costs 400 tickets or anything like that.

Lots of folks use Great Courses on Kanopy, and those will work like episodes of shows: You’ll get a clear explanation of how many tickets you put down, and that number will give you access to the course for a set period. Easy.

Why Is This Happening? WHYYYY!?

The short answer: Kanopy decided to change.

The longer answer: this DOES make it a little easier for libraries to manage Kanopy.

Here’s your inside scoop:

The way Kanopy works, HPLD pays them per stream. BUT, not all streams are of equal cost. So, Patron A, who uses all of their credits under the current system, might rack up a $10 dollar cost. Patron B, who has different taste, might rack up a $20 dollar cost.

Where this gets tricky is that, with the old credit system, we can’t necessarily predict what our Kanopy cost is going to be on a given month. We have a range, but it can vary quite a bit depending on the selections you make, the mood you’re in.

With this new system, we still won’t always know exactly what the bill will come out to be, but we can set a ceiling on it. By buying tickets, which have a fixed cost for us,  HPLD can be sure what we’re going to spend, at most, every month.

And what’s great about that is that we don’t have to cushion that budget, just in case someone decides to go on a Cult Horror Binge this month. Just say, for the sake of argument…

Instead of needing to leave ourselves a cushion, we can use that money for other things, for other services and collections.

Like I said, I’m not a big fan of change. But when the end result of the change is “more stuff,” I can learn to live with it.

Or, in the case of Day of the Dead: I can UNlive with it.

This change will happen November 1st!