AT YOUR LIBRARY
Library offers world of reading
NEWS FROM THE BILL ELLIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY BY KATHY CALDWELL

Kathy Caldwell is library director at the Bill Ellis Memorial Library.

This year our standing order with the Junior Library Guild has grown to include book titles from 14 reading levels, ranging from preschool to young adult.

The following are just a few items in the library collection. We have far too many new acquisitions to list them all, but you can find a complete list by going to the online catalog at the library Web site www.cityofportaransas. org/library.cfm.

Adult Fiction

"A Thousand Splendid Suns", by Khaled Hosseini, is described by the publisher as an incredible chronicle of 30 years of Afghanistan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.

"Pontoon", the newest novel by Garrison Keillor, centers around the life and loves of a spirited woman who casts a beguiling shadow over the good citizens of Lake Wobegon.

"Garden Spells", by Sarah Allen, is a debut novel that will bewitch fans of Alice Hoffman and Laura Esquivel.

"The Tin Roof Blowdown", James Lee Burke's newest crime story takes place against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Adult Non-Fiction

"Surfing USA! : An Illustrated History of the Coolest Sport of All Time" by Ben Marcus

"Sandhills Boy: The Winding Trail of a Texas Writer" by Elmer Kelton

"Cooking with Texas Highways" features ethnic cuisines of the state with recipes from home cooks, wellknown chefs, and popular restaurants.

"Hometime's How-To DVD Guides" hosted by Dean Johnson includes Kitchens & Baths, Windows & Doors, Faux Finishing, Ceramic Tile, Garages & Decks, Landscaping, Flooring, Home Evaluation, Construction Basics, Basements & Drywall, Plumbing & Electrical.

Junior/YA Books

"Fiesta!" - This colorful set features portraits of 48 countries through their festivals and traditions.

"Reef: A Photographic Journey" by Scubazoo (includes DVD)

Michael L. Printz Award book, "American Born Chinese", by Gene Luen Yang

Children's Books

"Treasure Tree Early Literacy Library", a 14 volume set published by World Book.

"Flotsam", by David Wiesner, is a fanciful tale of a young boy who discovers an old-fashioned camera washed up on the beach.

"The Magic Tree House Series" on CD. offers world Our Book Discussion

Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the library meeting room. I hope all you book lovers' will join us! The next book up for discussion is "Eat, Pray, Love", by Elizabeth Gilbert.

To celebrate Halloween we will have a children's costume contest. Please bring your child in costume to the library on, or, before Halloween for a photograph. The child awarded "best costume" will receive a $20gift certifi- cate from Barnes and Noble. The winner will be notified by Friday, Nov. 2.

Nov. 12-18 is Children's Book Week. I encourage all parents, who have not already done so, to please stop by and sign your child up for a library card. Library cards are free to local residents and all PAISD students.

The library, at 700 W. Avenue A, is open Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Best Seller List

The New York Times Best Seller List is widely considered to be the preeminent list of http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Bestsellerbest-selling books in the United Stateshttp://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/United_States. The bestseller list has been ongoing since April 9, 1942. In the interest of keeping our readers informed as to what is ready for checkout in the Bill Ellis Memorial Library, the latest list of best sellers follows, with those in-house marked by an asterisk, those on order by a double asterisk. Any of the titles not owned by the library may be ordered through the interlibrary loan service.

As of Oct. 22

Hardcover Fiction

*1. WORLD WITHOUT END, by Ken Follett.

*2. PLAYING FOR PIZZA, by John

of reading

Grisham

*3. THE CHOICE, by Nicholas Sparks

*4. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini.

*5. DARK OF THE MOON, by John Sandford.

*6. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED, by James Patterson and Howard Roughan.

**7. BRIDGE OF SIGHS, by Richard Russo.

*8 RUN, by Ann Patchett.

*9. SHOOT HIM IF HE RUNS, by Stuart Woods

10. THE ORC KING, by R. A. Salvatore.

*11. THE GIFT, by Richard Paul Evans.

12. FATAL REVENANT, by Stephen R. Donaldson.

*13. DEAD HEAT, by Dick Francis and Felix Francis.

*14. THE BONE GARDEN, by Tess Gerritsen.

15. WHERE ANGELS GO, by Debbie Macomber.

Hardcover Nonfiction

1. I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU), by Stephen Cobert et al.

*2. CLAPTON, by Eric Clapton.

3. MY GRANDFATHER'S SON, by Clarence Thomas.

*4. THE AGE OF TURBULENCE, by Alan Greenspan.

5.CELEBRITY DETOX, by Rosie O'Donnell.

6. IF DEMOCRATS HAD AN BRAINS, THEY'D BE REPUBLICANS, by Ann Coulter.

7. THE DAY OF THE BATTLE, by Rick Atkinson.

8. THE NINE, by Jeffrey Toobin.

* 9. LOUDER THAN WORDS, by Jenny McCarthy.

*10. THE WAR, by Geoffrey C. Ward.

*11. QUIET STRENGHT, by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker.

12. A LIFETIME OF SECRETS, by Frank Warren.

*13. THE COLDEST WINTER, by David Halberstam.

14. POWER TO THE PEOPLE by Laura Ingraham.

15. THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY, by A. J. Jacobs.

16.THE VIXEN DIARIES, by Karrine Steffans.