When Horror and Humor Collide

One of perks of working in a library,  is exploring genres that otherwise would never make it on a personal reading list.  What would a genre be called if horror and humor collided?   Harmedy?  Hormor?  Definition:  When a book that is gross yet tickles the funny bone at the same time.    Well, maybe the name isn't so great but here are three suggestions for readers who are in the mood for something frightfully funny.

John Dies At the End is a twisted tale by David Wong aka Jason Pargin.  A reader might think, why read this book when the title gives away the ending?  Or does it?   The novel's origin began as a web series and eventually came to be published into one book.  Readers into alternate realities mixed in with drug hallucinations, strange adventures and murders, this book is definitely needs to be on the reading lists.

Zombies can be a comedic relief in an otherwise boring horror story.  Here is a suggestion for those who love really bad B-movies from the 70's and 80's.  Gil’s All Fright Diner, by A. Lee Martinez, is one of the grossest but funny books to ever get check-out of  a library.  More details, you say?    Think of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure caught in a zombie attack while looking for a place to grab a bite on their way to an alternate universe.  Yes, it is totally unbelievable. Yes it's a guilty pleasure but it's okay.  Everyone needs one or two guilty pleasures in their lives.

If Twilight was not your idea of vampires and Dracula seems a bit outdated, Andrew Fox has got the perfect character for readers wanting a vampire they can relate to and quite possibly befriend    Fat White Vampire Blues,  introduces readers to an anti-Edward.  This 400-pound vampire lives in New Orleans and became obese feeding off of his victims who had one too many meals lathered in butter.   With good feasts like this to chew on day in and day out, who can blame him wanting to protect his turf from a younger and healthier vampire.   From the first page Fox's charm and wit will entertain and delight readers.

This genre is so often overlooked because it can not be taken seriously.  But then again, are B-Movies  ever taken seriously?   No.  It is meant to entertain with the outlandish plots and background allows the readers to say" Yeah, this will never happen but who cares!"    Laugh! Enjoy! Above all, share with other readers who take life and perhaps death a little too seriously.  Life is too short not to laugh.  So read often.  Laugh often.  Above all,  scare yourself silly once awhile.  It's good for the reader's soul.  Not to mention it can break up the "same old thing" routine in reading.

Fall Haunted Tales For Book Nerds Who Don't Like Horror

   As the scariest holiday draws closer there is nothing better than getting cozy on the couch with a warm blanket,  good bone chilling  book and warm cider to sooth the nerves. It's a perfect combination.  Don't think so?  Here's a thought to ponder,  if a reader does not explore outside their favorite genre, then there is no place to "grow" into reading adulthood.   Literature can not be truly appreciated until a reader has read each genre, and format, including plays and poems.  That is for another post.  For the moment the genre is horror.  More precisely, books that can scare the reader into begging for more and never be forgotten.  For those who do not appreciate horror books, and it's not because scaring  easily is a concern, here are a few suggestions to lure readers into stories that rattle the mind and sets the heart pounds just a few beats faster.

Going old school, as in Victorian gothic novels, is the best way to get a quick introduction into the genre.   Dracula comes to mind, Stoker's masterful and horrifying tale that grips the readers by the throat and does not let go.  The darkness, the foreboding and unsettling gut feeling that something is not right,  makes the readers sit on the edge of their seats and wishing they had eyes in the back of their heads to be ever ready in case they are attacked.  A knife, cross and garlic ready at hand will  suffice.  This is a tale that is always good to reread.  Bram Stoker's great-grandnephew wrote the official sequel Dracula the Undead.  Sadly, it never lived up to the original but then again, it would be very difficult to recapture the magical horror that is known as Dracula.  Reader's who don't typically like horror novels will often find that Victorian Gothic and American Gothic are just right.  Not too gory but plenty of fright for the imaginative mind.

No horror title selection would be complete without a haunted house or two.  In the late 1970's the fiction/nonfiction title Amityville Horror was the book that everyone had on their nightstand.  The author, Jay Anson,  swore that the tale was based on actual events.  It was later discovered that   some of the details in the book were embellished in order to make the book "marketable".  Either way, this book will make every reader think twice about purchasing a new home.  Questions to ask before buying might be:  Was anyone murdered here?  Seems like a silly question but after this tale that question should top the list for potential homebuyers and realtors as well.  What is scariest is that it is not haunted by one ghost but a multitude of ghosts.   The exorcist  is a nice touch as well.

If going back to the 1970's for a haunted house story seems a bit "old school".   A more recent title published in 2003 will bring readers to the present day.    Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves is about a house that is bigger on the inside than on the outside.  There is something strange yet inviting about this tale.  It is a simple tale of a dream house that turns literally into a hellish nightmare.  Imagine  two little children wandered off  to explore their new home.  Then picture horrified  parents as they hear their children's voices eerily begin to detail another reality of  a dark abyss behind a closet door, and of an unholy growl that is heard behind the walls, ready at any moment to tear through to destroy their dreams, their lives.   Intrigued?  Scared?   That is the author's intent.  Scare the reader just enough that they will stay with the story because each page is just as intriguing as the first.

Ronald Malfi's Little Girls is an eerie ghost story that comes complete with a distant cold father,  a forbidden room and a young woman who returns to her childhood finding incidents unsettling and memories reawaken.   Malfi expertly keeps the reader on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next.   The novel earned Malfi a nomination for the Bram Stoker Award.  Award or no award, this book is sure to become a creepy favorite.


There are a many fascinating and talented authors that know how rock the reader's safe and comfortable reality and take through a unimagined world of horror.   As stated before, it is a good thing to change up genre's once in a while.  Next up for October blog,  what happens horror and humor collide?  Hint:  Grossly funny.

Big Lesssons From a Samll Town Is Pure Michigan

There are a ton of self-help/how to be successful books published yearly.  In the United States the self-help industry rakes in about $10 billion per year.  That's a lot of folks looking for advice on how to live a successful life.   One would think that adding another title to the bookshelf would make for a very crowded shelf.  Michigan  State Attorney General  Bill Schuette's book Big Lessons From A Small Town is worthy making room for on the bookshelf. 


In a down-to-earth style,  that can be compared to sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee,  Mr. Schuette shares with his readers his views on life, success and family.  Don't be fooled into believing that this book is all about politics and campaigns due to the author's current position in the State of Michigan.   Schuette effectively weaves in anecdotes from sports, his hometown of Midland, and family. It is a quick read with just enough of  a"jolt of encouragement" that readers of all walks of life can relate to and learn from. There is no doubt about the author's pride in his home state,  Michigan and his hometown.  Michigan may not be in the title of the book, but it is front and center in each chapter.   The readers, whether native Michiganders or not, are introduced to the warmth of the Midland community and the uniqueness of this beautiful state. 


Normally speaking about the price of a book is not a consideration on whether to read or not read a book.  Checking out books for a library will definitely save a few dollars rather then purchasing.  However, in this case,  the cover price is $ 17.95, and is well worth the individual investment to own a personal copy.  This book is not a "one-time" read.  Schuette's lessons are timeless and will offer a jolt of encouragement anytime it is read or re-read.  At the very least, it is definitely a book to share with friends over a cup of coffee.

In 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue... Let's Celebrate!

 There are many occasions to celebrate in October.  There's Sweetest Days and Halloween of course.     Neither of these holidays inspire parades.  In New York,  Chicago and for many Italian communities around the country,  Columbus Day is the perfect time to have a parade.  For the Italian American community this fellow countryman is a symbol of  the Italian roots in the Americas.  Sadly, in recent years,  Christopher Columbus has gotten a bad rap.  Mostly for political reasons, there are educators and others who call Columbus a racist because he owned slaves.   Thus, trying to smear Columbus' place in history.   This is a disservice to youngsters who should learn all of  America's rich stories.

The first opportunity to introduce Christopher Columbus is with Marion Dane Bauer's book simply titled Christopher Columbus, which is part of the My First Biography series.  With simple text and illustrations,  Bauer retells Columbus' story.  Children will learn the basic facts of Columbus success and failures in his quest to complete his voyage.  

For the older elementary school aged child,  Jean Fritz's book on history and historic figures are wonderful.  Her work,  Where Do You Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus?  is one of her best.   The author portrays Columbus a  stubborn yet visionary navigator.   The question in the title reminds the reader that Columbus was convinced that he could reach the Indies and bring back riches to Spain.  Although he was not successful in finding the Indies, he did find the New World.   Another good title is Who Was Christopher Columbus? written by Bonnie Bader of  the Who Is? series.   The chapters are short with black and white illustrations which add to the theme of the chapter.   What is especially helpful with this book is the timeline of Christopher Columbus' life along side the timeline of World history provided at the back of the book.  It is a tool that is helpful for the reader to understand how Christopher Columbus' achievements impacted world history.

For the skeptics who believe that teaching about Columbus is a waste of time Perhaps even going as far as suggesting that the holiday be removed from the American calendar.  Here is something to consider.  First, if were not for Columbus discovery of the New World,  American history would have been different.  Secondly, to label Columbus a racist because he owned slaves is a fact based on emotions.  In the 1400's, the views of humanity were different than what is believed today. Were they wrong to  believe that blacks should be slave?  Yes just as  they were also wrong about  the world being  flat and that the Sun circled the Earth.  It was the "theory" of their times.   Thirdly,  what students can learn from Columbus is that he was a man who steadfastly stuck to his belief that he could find the Indies. Granted his journey was not successful in the way that he had hoped but it is still something to celebrate in the history books.   Last but not least, men and women of historical fame were human.  They made mistakes.  Their mistakes should not take away from what their accomplishments.

Yes, let's celebrate Columbus Day with story times, rhymes, books and crafts.  Children deserve to be taught history in a manner that places facts above biased feelings and opinions.  America owes a debt of gratitude to the man who navigated his ships across the ocean to find a new passage to the Indies.

Reverse Psychology and Banned Books Week

All librarians, and educators as well, want to see children read with as much enthusiasm as they have when playing video games, watching sports and spending time with their friends.   Reading is good for them.   That is not an opinion, it's a fact.  However, ever teens will comment that they don't have time to read or that it's boring.  Yes, it is sometimes tedious when turning to the page and reading from left to right  Isn't it just as  tedious as pushing a bottom continuously trying to make Mario and Luigi get out of Level 4, only to "miss the jump"  again and have to go through the same receptive scenes until there is success.  Success that is to  Level 5 and it is a bit harder trying to save the Princess.  Poor Princess, she keeps waiting to be saved.   What if educators told kids they couldn't  read. They were not allowed  to read.  What would be the impact?

Let's take a look at Banned Books Week as a way to entice children to read. After all it is meant to grab the attention of readers and lure them into reading one of the "banned" books.   The American Library Association have taken the idea a bit too dramatic.  With statements and posts suggesting that children were not allowed to read Where The Wild Things Are or Wizard of Oz because of dark content or other such nonsense. It's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't?    These titles were never banned nationwide.  Only in  a few isolated areas.  This country has never had censorship written into law.   Publishers have set their own standards when it comes to what they will or will not publish.  For example,   vulgar language will not appear in picture books for children.    That is a consensus that the publishers have generally adopted.  There are no American laws which state specifically what an or can not be published.    That is why freedom of speech is protected under the Bill of Rights.   There has been banning of books in other countries and culture, and that is a topic that is worth discussing at another time.   It is difficult  to see how teens, and adults of that matter, are buying into the concept of Banned Books Weeks.  There  needs to be another angle to approach this topic to make it effective.

Back to the question posed previously, what would be the impact if a teen or adult were told they could not read?  Would they demand the book?  Would they demand to read?  This was an experiment that was done on a small scale to teen boys in a private high school many years ago.  Granted it was on a very small scale with only four boys participating, but it proved an important point.  The boys were told that all books were off limit to them.  One title in particular they could not "handle" was , One Who Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.  That title was deemed inappropriate by the library staff and therefore would not be available.  One of the boys, said nothing accepted the ruling.  The other three boys demanded answers.  Why couldn't they read the book?  What was in it that was so  bad?  Couldn't they determine for themselves what was good or bad?  None of the answers from the Library Staff appeased them.   This went on for a day or two until one of the boys walked into the library and proudly sat himself in one of the comfortable chairs and opened, in plain sight for everyone to see, One Who Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.    His friends joined him.  They thought they had pulled off the biggest stunt ever.  Well, what was the library staff to do?  Applaud them for sticking to their guns and going against authority. Applaud them for finding other ways to gain the knowledge that was denied them.   Obviously this is the silliest ban in the history of the school and perhaps, the universe, but it proved a point.  Tell a teen  they can't do something and watch them bend the rules to do exactly what they were told they could not do.

Banned Books Week should take this approach with teens.  Don't bore teens (and adults) with minor little incidents where books were challenged.  Turn it into a reverse psychology game and tell them they can't read this book because  (insert a unique excuse here.)   Perhaps this will generate a positive reaction from readers young and old.  It may even get a few nonreaders to read one book this year.    It just might drive home the point of banned books in a different light.

Are You Up For The Tech Out Challenge?

Finish this sentence with the first thought that pops into your mind:  "You know you're living in a digital world when...."   Easy right?  It is not hard to come up with examples of how a digital world has changed life for the better or worse.  What is difficult is trying to come up with examples of if going back to the old ways would be better?   That is if the "old" ways can be remembered.  Let's be honest when social media posts up meme of old telephones, washboards or card catalogs and asks the question, "how many remember what this is?" ,  the first impulse is to blurt out what it is.  The second impulse is to remember how far back that object dates.  Ten, twenty or fifty years?  It doesn't seem that long ago dail-up modems were the only way to travel on the information highway.  Yet,  in 2015 the thought of having to wait a minute for a page to upload seems like FOREVER.   Is this an exaggeration?  Perhaps but there is truth in the statement.   There is also truth in that libraries, for better or for worse, have fallen in the trap of keeping up with technology.  What is being lost is the art of communication.  That's where the digital world has created the most havoc.

Due to the increase usage of the Internet,  social groups that once would meet face to face, now just "meet" and "converse" online.  What is even more irritating are the responses in happy faces or cartoons that express the emotions of the moment or reaction to what has been said.  Is this the slippery slope of trending away from reading, writing or speaking?  This may sound like someone ranting over something trivial but it has been the experience that these small changes in culture tend to have an impact on what technology will come  up with tomorrow.  Ah, the simpler days are gone, or are they?  Perhaps there is a way to recapture the experience of unplugging and recapturing the simple art of communication.   For a back-to-school/get-to -know-your-peers activities here are some ideas that can be effective in opening the door to communicating the old fashioned way.   It might just make the entire school year better as well.  Most importantly it will get students and parents to understand the huge role that technology plays in daily routines.

Some may call this idea similar to going cold turkey.  Others may call it going off the grid.   The best title to give this exercise is Tech Out Challenge.  In other words, how long can students do without their social media gadgets?  Give each student a manila envelope. Have them write on the outside of the envelope the date and time that they have last used the device.    Instruct them to place their phone in the envelope and seal it.  Once they do this, they are to place the device in a safe place and not retrieve it for three days.  In the event that the student "feels" the need to use their phone, they may retrieve the manilla envelope and rip it open.  At that time they will record the date and time they opened the envelope and the reason for retrieving the device.   Regardless of when a student opens his/her envelope,  all students will participate in a group discussion where the topic will be how well or badly the students did during Tech Out.  Some of the questions to consider asking:

How did you feel about not having your phone with you 24/7?

What did you enjoy the most during  this time?

What did you miss the most during this time?

Would you ever participate in a Tech Out Challenge again?

How has this changed your view about technology?

Remind the students that there are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  The best part of this program is to see how surprised students are out their findings.    It is amazing to see the reactions of teens when they find they can live without technology and still be connected with their social and family groups.

As for the adults who choose to participate alongside their younger counterpart, they too may find something interesting about themselves and technology.  One of the major drawbacks to technology is that it brings with it more distractions.   Has someone called?  Who's online ?  Was there an email missed?  Now bring all these distractions into a learning environment like a school or library.  Is it any wonder that students haven't become stark mad raving lunatics.    This type of constant fight for the students' attention can only lead to more stress and distraction  Not to mention, a loss of social skills.

Consider this an invitation to try this challenge at home, work, library teen programs  or church group.  As life gets more hectic, it is better to take a step back and unplug.  It may be the only way to connect with the real world again.  Or in the case of students,  the opportunity to connect in the "real" world.  

Top Ten Books For College Bound ... and Beyond.

School is just about to start again.  The sounds of eager students who want nothing more than to get back into a normal routine can be heard in every neighborhood, city and state across this great nation.  Not.  Well, maybe some are eager to get back to school but for others not so much.   This is also the time of year that the questions come up, what books should a college prep student should read or should have read by now?  Love that question for a million reasons, but for the sake of time and space,  only one will be given here.  Asking this question  proves that books challenges the reader to consider another point of view.   It doesn't mean the reader will necessarily agree to the point of view.   It will however open their eyes that there are more than one viewpoint to every situation.  The reader's job is simply to consider the one presented before them.  Having said that,  these titles should be read by every student.  Not just the ones who will continue their academic endeavors after high school.

Everyone has a "'top ten" list of books students should read before college.  Each has its own unique twist and view of what makes good literature.  The list presented here is a mix of traditional and modern titles.  After all, the classics can not be ignored and a list containing only classical works is quite easy to do.  There are so many titles to choose from.  Having said that the modern titles are a little harder, some have been tested over time while others may not have passed the time test, it is  very likely that fifty years from now,  readers will still want to pour over the pages to find out what happens next.  Or at least be reminded of what happened next.

When suggesting a list of must reads for college bound students, it is important to provide a list that covers a wide range of ideas, cultures and points of view.  The following top ten list are titles that have left a lasting impression on readers of all ages.  The titles are timeless and they remain on librarian's must read list for years.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is without a doubt a classic example of  wit, wisdom and romantic story that even men can enjoy.  If reader's have not been introduced to Mr. Darcy, then life simple pleasures like laughter and love can not be experienced fully.

Everyone should know of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.  Plays are often difficult to read but this one is well worth it. If reading old English seems daunting by all means pick up one of the Everyday Shakespeare's paperback to help gain a better understanding of the plot.   The death of Hamlet's father brings to surface the lies,  greed and insecurities of each character in the play.  Specifically Hamlet who is determined to uncover the truth about his father's death.

There are two Russian novels that should not be overlooked but often are left off of lists similar to this.  Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago.  One of the best kept secrets of Russian literature which gives a realistic picture  of the Bolshevik Revolution from the point of view of a middle class doctor.  Another stunning view of Russian history from Stalin's gulag is A Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.  Both of these novels provide an unforgettable glimpse of life in Communist Russia.

Staying on the theme of gulags and prison camps, which admittedly is very depressing, but necessary to read about.  Two books come to mind that should not be missed.  Ellie Wiesel's  Night is a tragically unforgettable account of life in the Nazi Germany's concentration camps.  Along side that another book that should be read is The Boy In The Stripped Pyjamas by John Boyne.  Both of these books are life changing reads.  That is not an overstatement either. Both books are that powerful!

Harper Lee's time-tested To Kill A Mockingbird introduced readers to a small town that is turned upside down due to a high profile  murder trial.  Mix into that, a bit of racism and standing up for what is right makes the story one of the best in American literature. Frankly, one of the few stories that show lawyers in a positive light.  Atticus Fitch is the lawyer that every person would want to have on their side should trouble come their way.

The list would be dull without Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.  The scary vision of what a world would be like if every moment, thought and breath were controlled by a government.  Scary yet eye opening   What is most powerful about this work is that it stirs up passionate debate about how far a government should or could go.

The Alchemist is a new classic favorite written by Paulo Coehlo.  that should be on every reader's list.  It is a wonderful story of a journey to find one's purpose in life.  This is definitely a book to read over and over again.

Autobiographies rarely make the list of must reads most likely because they are not fiction thus not classified as classic literature. However, this list attempts to change the definition slightly of classic literature to include this genre.  One of the most inspiring and well written biography  is The Story of My Life by Helen Keller.  After reading Keller's life story there is simply no excuse for not going out and conquering the world.  After reading this, one can only conclude  that if Helen can make a difference, we all can make a difference.

This is just a small list of the best of the best in literature.  As the school year goes on,  more titles will be suggested but for now,  one of these ten titles should be enough to get started on a literary path to a well rounded reader's life.