Talk to the Frackville Library

    Now that the bustle of the holiday season is over, I will try to get back to a better schedule for keeping you informed about library news. In the flurry of last minute buying of materials before the end of the year, we added two popular series to our collection of audio books on CD. The first is a very well-done version of Lord of the Rings narrated by Rob Inglis. I just loved going back to this epic story, and then rewatching the fabulous films directed by Peter Jackson. These are also available on DVD at the library. Also new to the collection are all seven of the Harry Potter series read by Jim Dale. His interpretation of the characters is perfect, as he brings to life all the detail of the books which the movies could not supply. Audio books make great listening in your car, as a bedtime treat, or while you clean or cook. Try one of these classics and enjoy a great 'reading' experience!

     For about a year, the Harry Potter series has been taking a rest on the shelves of the library. Pretty much everybody that wanted to read it had done so, and even last year's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 film hadn't generated much interest. However, in the last couple of months, a whole new generation of readers seems to have rediscovered the wizardly tale, and many of the volumes are now on reserve. Of course, there is a lot more hype recently with the upcoming release of the last film coming in July, but I think it's more significant than that. The series is a classic, and in many years to come, as young children reach the right age to begin, they will find it. If you are an adult, and you haven't read it, you might want to give it a try as well. It contains many of the elements that avid readers look for in a good novel-compelling characters, ingenius plot, and the ability to carry us away to another place.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K.Rowling. On Harry Potter's 17th birthday, Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic, arrives at the Burrow to give the famous threesome things left to them by Albus Dumbledore in his will. Harry and Ron receive items which date back to The Sorcerer's Stone-the Deluminator, which was used to turn out the streetlights of Privet Drive and the Snitch, which Harry caught in his mouth during his first Quidditch match. But Hermione's inheritance was something we had never heard of before-a book of fairy tales. Little did we know that lurking inside this volume of weird little stories, which rival the Brothers Grimm, were some important clues to the mystery of the entire Potter saga. Rowling, with her genius for background material, wrote tales to accompany the titles mentioned in Deathly Hallows as a gift to some special friends. In December, 2008 these were published in a small volume which we can all enjoy. This book, while most likely meaningless to non-Potterites, is a must for Potter fanatics!  

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. NO SPOILERS IN THIS POST!  Now that all the chaos has died down, hopefully all you Potter fans have had a chance to read and absorb the end of this phenomenal series. My personal reaction-I loved it! Yes, there were a few things I found puzzling or not as I had hoped, but overall reading the book gave me that total immersion in the Wizarding World that I have come to expect of J.K. Rowling as well as an emotional closure to the series. I would love to hear some reactions from the other fans among our patrons. Give us some comments!