Why You Should Give It a Look: This is a dark story and violent, but it’s cracking good storytelling with vivid artwork and gives a fresh take on vampires – what if the traditional European form of vampirism mutated when it hit the American West?

Where to Find It: In the adult nonfiction section, specifically 741.5973 (graphic novels, American authors). Or place a hold via the online catalog.

I should confess up front that I am not a diehard, purist Holmes fan. But Sherlock was created by two men who are fervant fans – Steven Moffet and Mark Gatiss. And this was one of my favorite programs I saw on television last year. (PBS aired all three in the fall. Did you catch any of them?)

The two leads, Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson, are fantastic in their roles and with each other. Holmes is brilliant, eccentric and generally uncaring of social norms – he’s ecstatic to be on the trail of a serial killer and his overwhelming desire to know the answers (and be right) lead him to risk his life on numerous occasions. John Watson, loyal and determined, is amazed at what Sherlock is able to deduce about people but not always impressed with his people skills or all the experiments he sets up at 221B Baker Street.

Random information for you: The series (or mini-series) received the TV Dagger and Cumberbatch the Best Actor Dagger at the ITV Crime Thriller Awards last fall. Also, Martin Freeman (Dr. Watson) portrayed Tim Canterbury on the BBC version of The Office (essentially Jim Halpert in the American version), was Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and will play Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming film of The Hobbit.

Are you curious yet? See if Sherlock’s on the shelf at your local library or place a hold!

-Julie G., Summitview

Almond’s writing dwells with delight on the descriptions of candy and candy-making and his love for the topic is unabashed. He paints such a picture of these regional treats that you want them to magically appear in front of you for eating. Almond has no problem sharing his opinion about candy, coconut or culture. The tone veers between hilarious and somber. At the four regional candy factories he tours, the people he meets all love what they do – making candy – but they are also, in varying ways, realistic about the candy market and what it takes to survive in the candy business of 2005 (when this book was published).

I love the funny parts. Some of them make me laugh out loud. But it’s also interesting to consider how the story of candy-makers reflects on the larger story of big, medium and small businesses. It is inevitable that the big get bigger until there’s no room for anyone else? What does it mean that where once the United States had hundreds of candy companies, and it now (or as of 2005) had far fewer? The story of local businesses and big nationwide (or international) businesses is a pertinent one, and one to consider when we think about what we want our world to be like.

Get a taste of Candyfreak today.

-Julie G., Summitview Library

This light romance has some intriguing resemblances to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I am eagerly awaiting the second installment that is to be released soon. It promises to be a fascinating trilogy.

See if The Hollow, by Jessica Verday, is on the shelf or if you need to place a hold.

-Barbara T., Programming

Meena’s about to find out vampires are real, because a vampire war is getting started in New York City, and Lucien is here to end it. Of course, the vampire hunters, including the handsome, dangerous and obsessive Alaric Wulf, aren’t far behind.

Throw in a fantastic best friend and her husband, an unemployed brother who has the hots for the soap’s young star, classy (matchmaking) vampire neighbors, a cut-throat rival at work, and a vampire mobster with a big bad plan, and you have Insatiable.

This book had me giggling in delight. Cabot, best known for The Princess Diaries series, writes engaging heroines who can save themselves and other people. She takes the vampire romance and love triangle and all the tropes those stories traditionally entail, and in the way she plays with these elements, you can see how much she loves them but also sees their absurdity.

Find Meg Cabot’s Insatiable in our catalog.

-Julie G, Tech Services

Readers who like fast action horror will love this book. It is loaded with chase scenes and bizarre happenings as Marshall and Cooper’s caustic sister try to make sense of the unexplainable.

Reader Nick Podehl does a superb job in the audio version. His distinctive “gravelly” voice for Grave Digger makes the once cartoon figure into a flesh-and-blood demon. This book unfolds like a Steven Spielberg thriller.

I highly recommend it. Check and see if it’s at your local library.

-Barbara T., Programming

One enjoyable way of learning more about Spanish food is to read one of the books author Janet Mendel, an American-born freelance journalist based in southern Spain, wrote about food, traveling, and the people of Spain; in this particular case, I am referring to her book “Cooking from the Heart of Spain: Food of La Mancha.” It gives you access to the best culinary recipes from Castilla-La Mancha, the delicious authentic food from the country’s heartland.

Mrs. Mendel divided the book into ten main sections, plus an interesting introduction to the people and culture of Castilla-La Mancha. You will discover wonderful cooking ideas such as tapas, tortillas, omelets, sandwiches, soups, fish and shellfish, poultry, meat, vegetables and other side dishes, desserts, and drinks, with an emphasis on wine.

I am sure you will discover amazing recipes, but I don’t want to lose this opportunity to offer you some recommendations: Thyme-marinated olives and Spanish Potato Tortilla are the most popular tapas; One-Pot Feast, perfect for those who are really hungry; and almond fritters, a wonderful dessert. Try them, and you won´t be disappointed.

Would you be interested in knowing more about Spanish stories and recipes? Enjoy these as well!

• The Spanish kitchen : regional ingredients, recipes and stories from Spain by Clarissa Hyman
• Tapas : a taste of Spain in America by José Andrés
• The cuisines of Spain : exploring regional home cooking by Teresa Barrenechea

-Francisco G-O, Technical Services

The changes are echoed by the turbulence beyond the house walls. Friends and neighbors now face financial ruin and in an effort to save their families from homelessness and hunger, are forced to make heart rending choices. The climate of desperation creates a fertile atmosphere for racial tensions and social unrest. Conrad Ellis — privileged and spoiled and Ella’s nemesis since childhood — steps into this arena of teeming hostility to exact his vengeance and demonstrate the extent of his blind hatred and unlimited cruelty. He and his gang of hoodlums come to embody the rule of law, and no one in Gilead, Texas, is safe. Particularly Ella and Solly.

In this hotbed of uncertainty, Ella finds Mr. Rainwater a calming presence. Slowly, she begins to rely on his soft-spokenness, his restraint, and the steely resolve of his convictions. And on the hottest, most violent night of the summer, those principles will be put to the ultimate test.

Rainwater was very compelling! The characters came to life by design as the author intended. She breathed a spirit into each personality by molding their emotions by the events that occurred. You could feel their presence.

See if Rainwater is checked in or if you’ll need to put a hold on a copy.

-Terri R., Service Center

After reading a portion of his book, I found myself implementing the rule of requiring a calm submissive state of mind prior to feeding as well as not allowing my own two dogs to leave or enter the house before me or other members of my family.  I have noticed an immediate change in the newest member of our own pack, Peanut.  Prior to my requesting a calm submissive state, Peanut would often bolt from his cage and proceed to jump all over my daughter when we returned home.  However, since instructing my daughter to approach him calmly and not look, speak or touch him, another of the rules Cesar provides, Peanut now calmly exits the cage and approaches us in a submissive state that allows us to put him outside prior to feeding him.  I am excited to try some of the other methods, such as two daily walks fueled by the “pack leader,”  listed in the book to aid in creating a more balanced life for my other dog, Niña.

Look for A Member of the Family at your library – or place a hold!

-Amber V., Yakima Library