Books: Portals to Other Worlds

Many books offer an escape to different, imaginary worlds when you need a break from the real one. Books work magic, taking your mind off your day, your chores, the news, and whatnot; they relax and calm you, giving you something to think about other than worrisome things. There's no limit to where you can go and what you can do in the world of a book, and the good thing is, when the action becomes too intense, you can always close the cover and pick up reading where you left off at another time.

I'm sure many of us would like to visit an exciting location, but in case you're not sure where to armchair travel, here are some suggestions (and they're all series that are available in our library!):

• Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) Like historical fiction? Like time travel? How about a sprinkling of romance? Then this series about a time traveling World War II nurse who finds love in 1700s Scotland is for you.
• The Dark Tower (Stephen King) In post-apocalyptic Mid-World, the last gunslinger tries to save the powerful and magical Dark Tower, the heart of all worlds, from someone or something trying to destroy it.
• The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) During World War II, four siblings sent to shelter from London's air raids in the countryside enter a magical world where animals talk. And there's a witch and other villains just to make things more interesting.
• A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas) Power, courts, and romance, oh my! Read what happens when a huntress unknowingly kills a wolf in a faerie realm and finds evil (and love) lurking in the land.
• Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin) A number of noble houses in Westeros fight for the Iron Throne and the power it yields, while other houses seek independence from it. There are wars, alliances, betrayals, and more.
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan) Great for mythology lovers. Percy, a demigod, tries to prevent a war among Greek gods in the 21st century.
• Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) An orphan boy discovers he's a wizard and goes to a school for magic while an evil wizard tries to kill him.
• The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) A small hobbit in Middle Earth journeys to a forbidding land to destroy an enchanted ring before a dark lord wields power and destroys all that is good. Be sure to read Tolkien's The Hobbit first.

Needless to say, there are other series and stand alone books set in fantasy worlds with various beings of diverse talents. Which books are your portals to other worlds? Share with us!

Wishing you happy armchair travels to magical places from the perch.

Making Friends

How do adults make friends? That's a simple question with a difficult answer.

When we were kids, making new friends seemed to be a lot easier. "You wanna be my friend?" "You wanna play?" And that was all it took. As adults, however, making friends seems more complicated.

We spend a lot of our waking hours at work. With our few precious hours remaining, we may go home to care for children and other family members, or we may stay home to rest or do household chores. These scenarios are not the most conducive to meeting others and building friendships.

So, how do we make friends as adults? If we're lucky, we may perhaps make friends through our jobs, should they happen to be in-person. We might make friends through similar interests or life circumstances. Religious houses of worship, social groups (i.e., walkers' club, knitting club, book club), and children's playdates are some ways to meet other adults. Volunteering, sports clubs, and classes also present opportunities. Nowadays, there are clubs of various interests even on the internet, but as with anything online, do proceed with caution and don't share anything too personal.

Of course, libraries are great places to make friends as well. Storytime is perfect for kids and parents to meet others. So are programs, which can focus on anything from Legos to crafts. Programs often cater to kids, teens, or adults; some are for entire families. I realize I'm tooting our own horn, but libraries today, in addition to providing materials and information, truly serve as a kind of community center where people can gather together and build friendships.

What kind of programs would you like to see in our library to meet others? Share with us!

Inviting you to the library and wishing you new friendships from the perch.