Shannon Harris

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to stay up late and read a scary book with just the moon and stars as company. The quiet, darkness, and being alone is the perfect situation for reading a book that may make you question every noise you hear.

My first selection is “The Place Where They Buried Your Heart,” by Christina Henry. Jessie Campanelli is grounded and her little brother Paul is getting on her last nerve. In an act of sibling irritation, Jessie dares Paul to go inside an abandoned house in their neighborhood for 30 minutes. Paul agrees. This house isn’t like any ordinary abandoned house; this house is hungry and has just been given its next meal. Readers who enjoy older Stephen King novels and small-town horror may want to check out this book.

Speaking of Stephen King, Mr. King wrote the introduction for the next book in my scary summertime selections, which he highly recommends, “I Know a Place,” by Nat Cassidy. Cassidy’s latest novel is actually a collection of 13 short stories. The stories range from a gas station rest stop that is eerily empty, a creepy ventriloquist doll, to a not so silent yoga retreat.

Since I have mentioned Stephen King twice already, I might as well mention the master of horror a third time. “Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King,” written by Caroline Bicks and authorized by King himself, is an exploration of King’s early works of fiction. A fascinating and exploratory read that Stephen King fans will not want to miss.

My spooky summer selections somehow turned into an article about Stephen King. If you are not a fan of Stephen King, A.K. Smiley Public Library has many other horror novels that might keep you up at night.

Shannon Harris is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library who loves horror.

One of my duties at A.K. Smiley Public Library is ordering books for the fiction collection. When I order titles for this collection, I try to make your sure that I am creating a diverse and inclusive collection that promotes global awareness. With that being said, May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month — here are some new fiction titles to check out to celebrate AAPI month.

The genre of healing fiction is very popular amongst Korean and Japanese authors. The books have elements of empathy, compassion, cats, and a bit of magic. If you have not read any of these healing reads, I suggest the Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye, A Good Day Starts with Cats & Books by Satori Satori, and The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro.

If you want to read something with a deeper character development with dramatic elements, then I suggest these psychological fiction titles: The Dog Meows, the Cat Barks by Eka Kurniawan, The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu, and Aviary by Maria Dong.

If you prefer books with romance, interpersonal relationships, and historical elements then you may want to check out Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jess Q. Sutanto, One & Only by Maureen Goo, and The Pohaku by Jasmin Iolani Hakes.

If you want to read something with supernatural or horror elements then you might want to read Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker and Molka by Monica Kim.

The library also has a display featuring books written by Asian authors.

Shannon Harris is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

March is Women’s History Month and what better way to celebrate women and how amazing we are than by reading novels and poetry written by women. Here are a few new titles that are available for check out at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

My first suggestion is the poet Rupi Kaur’s newest book of poetry, Love Poems, a compilation of love poems from her previous collections. The poems in this book are heartfelt and filled with yearning. Kaur’s drawings also dance upon the pages of this collection, each drawing reflecting the words of her poems, giving them a unique feeling.

My second selection is Simone St. James’ latest novel, A Box Full of Darkness. The Esmie siblings have been asked to come back home to Fell, New York, by their little brother Ben, but the only thing is, Ben has been missing for two decades. The siblings are ready for closure and answers about what happened to Ben, but being home has conjured something much more sinister. Come and check out this book to see what happens to the Esmie siblings.

My third selection is Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey. Dandelion and Jake are dating and things between them are getting pretty serious. The only problem is that Jake thinks the woman he is dating is named Dandelion, but Dandelion is dead; he has actually been dating Poppy, Dandelion’s sister. Come and check out this novel to see if Poppy will tell Jake that she isn’t really the person he thought she was.

Shannon Harris is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

How is it already the end of December? It seems like only yesterday that I was recommending what books to read for the month of October. For this end of the year article, I will be providing a compilation, provided by library staff, of library materials that they have read, played, watched, or utilized, and are happy that the community has access to such valuable library materials.

Shannon – the Korean drama Vincenzo and the novel The Midnight Shift by Cheon Seon-Ran

Diane – the graphic novels Borders by Thomas King and White Bird by R. J. Palacio

Dawn – the novels Push by Sapphire and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Ciara – the video games Discounty, Borderlands 4, Silent Hill F

Vanessa – the databases Libby and Kanopy

Daniel – the international films Breadwinner, Memories of Murder, and Y Tu Mamá También

Celina – the database Ebook Central by ProQuest. It provides the user with information on topics the library may not have and is a great resource tool for college students.

Ruth – the paperback collection and the Ancestory.com database

And Kristina is grateful for the entire library collection because it offers books that resonate and reflect widely, so that every person in our community can feel the singular comfort of companionship of a story that feels like home.

By providing the community access to a diverse collection of library materials, we are promoting understanding and acceptance.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season, and as George Harrison said,

Give me love

Give me love

Give me peace on Earth…

Shannon Harris is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to announce that it is finally, Halloween season. I have literally been waiting an entire year to celebrate Halloween again. And on that note, here is your annual Shannon’s spine-chilling Smiley Library selections. Read if you dare (enter menacing laugh here).

My first frightening find is “The Staircase in the Woods” by Chuck Wendig. Wendig tells an alternating timeline story about a group of high school friends who would do anything for each other, until they don’t. One fateful weekend changes their lives when a strange staircase shows up in the middle of the woods where the five friends are camping. Out of anger and frustration, one of the friends decides to climb the staircase to see what will happen, and when he reaches the top of the staircase, he disappears never to be seen again. Decades go by, and when one of the friends calls the group for one last epic hangout, as his dying wish, the friends acquiesce. The group of friends come to realize that the dying wish is actually a trap that brings the past and present together. Come and check out this frightening tale to find out what fate has in store for this group of friends.

If you want something on the lighter and more romantic side, then I suggest “Ghost Business” by Jen DeLuca. Sophie runs and operates the only ghost tour of the haunted town Boneyard Key, Florida, that is until the newcomer, Tristan moves into town. Much to Sophie’s chagrin, Tristan starts his own ghost tour business of Boneyard Key, and a ghost tour rivalry has begun! Will Sophie and Tristan be able to exorcise their demons? Read this book to find out which business gets ghosted.

If neither of these two books sound appealing to you, then I suggest Sarah Pinborough’s latest novel, “We Live Here Now.” After an accident that nearly killed her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, decide to move to the English countryside for a new start. The house is immaculate, but something feels wrong, very wrong. The lights turn off by themselves, books fall out of the bookcase, and she is sensing a paranormal presence in the house, but Emily is the only one witnessing these happenings and her husband doesn’t believe her. Is the house really haunted or is Emily hallucinating? Come and check out this haunting read to find out the truth.

Come and down and check out these and other haunting novels.

Shannon Swamp Witch Harris is a Library Specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library who loves Halloween.