1st adult book from Harry Potter's JK Rowling

Mark your calendars and place your library holds now; 'Harry Potter' creator J.K. Rowling is releasing her first-ever novel for adults on September 27th.  The highly-anticipated book The Casual Vacancy is a big departure from her famous wizarding world, following the early death of a small town councilman whose demise reveals deep-rooted conflicts in his seemingly idyllic community.  Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library has several copies on order and is already adding names to its waiting list, so place your hold today!

Why read fiction?

If you're one of those people for whom reading fiction is a guilty pleasure, good news: findings from a recent study suggest that reading fiction improves empathy and can also provide a sense of belonging that is as satisfying and meaningful as it is in real-life social groups.  For details about the study, which used questions about Twilight and Harry Potter to assess how fiction influences its fans, click here for the full article from The Guardian.  Now when your conscience tells you to skip that fluffy novel, you finally have a good counterargument!

Spoiler Alert!

Are you one of those people who actively avoids reading spoilers?  Well, according to a new study from UC San Diego, spoilers actually add to the enjoyment of the reading experience, rather than detracting from it.  This article in Wired reports in greater detail about the experiment, in which two groups of college students were asked to read the same 12 short stories, one group with spoilers and the other without.  Those who read the stories with spoilers generally reported enjoying them more.  So go ahead, savor the journey and not just the destination; read a few spoilers and enjoy the ride.  Here are some to get you started: Edgar Sawtelle's father was killed by his uncle (who is now romancing Edgar's mother); Harry Potter's teacher Dumbledore dies in book 6; Katniss's gets together with Peeta in book 3 (sorry, Gale); Edward and Bella marry while Jacob falls in love with their half-vampire daughter in book 4; and Moby Dick eats the revenge-obsessed Captain Ahab.

Harry Potter Magic from your Community Library

The final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, has been raking in huge amounts at the box office since it opened this weekend, but when some fans walk out of the movie theater, they still haven't gotten enough of this magical world. Available through your Community Library are some additional official & unofficial Harry Potter-universe books not in the core 7-book series that you (or your young family members) might enjoy.

Revisiting Harry Potter

The newest Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 continued the blockbuster tradition of the franchise by grossing $125.1 million during its opening this past weekend. All this hype has renewed interest in the books that preceded the movies. In case you missed the books or want to see what the fuss is about, here is the complete seven-book Harry Potter series, in order:


1: The Sorcerer's Stone
2: The Chamber of Secrets
3: The Prisoner of Azkaban
4: The Goblet of Fire
5: The Order of the Phoenix
6: The Half Blood Prince
7: The Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter fans can also enjoy books that are supplemental to the series, such as The Tales of Beedle the Bard or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and don't forget that Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library also has the movies, audio recordings, and video games inspired by these bestsellers.