Fantasies have been a part of some of the most celebrated works of literature and have long been popular with readers because authors place their characters into worlds where the unexpected and unexplained happens.
The novel “Some Kind of Fairy Tale,” by Graham Joyce, tells the story of a teenager who took a walk in the woods one day from her home in the English countryside and disappeared. Twenty years have passed when the doorbell rings at her family’s home on Christmas Day and there Tara stands. Tara doesn’t seem to have aged at all and claims that she had only been gone for six months and had been abducted by fairies.
In Neil Gaiman’s novel, “The Ocean at The End of The Lane,” a 40-something-year-old man returns to the small English town where he grew up to attend a funeral. On his way to visit with friends and family after the service, he takes a detour to see the place where his old home once stood. He is drawn further into his past down a winding country lane to a dilapidated old farmhouse. Arriving there, he begins to reflect on his childhood and the dark things that happened.
“The Returned,” by North Carolina author Jason Mott, begins with a knock on the door of an elderly couple in the small town of Arcadia, N.C. While his wife, Lucille Hargrave, watches television in the living room, Harold answers the ringing doorbell on a sunny afternoon to find a government agent on their doorstep with a young child. Their child Jacob, who died when he was 8 years old, has returned. Their story becomes one of many as the deceased start turning up, looking for their loved ones, and the living attempt to grapple with what it all means.
Helene Wecker writes about New York City at the turn of the century in “The Golem and the Jinni.” She combines the magical realm in which golems and jinnis exist with New York’s enclaves of tenements and immigrants. The Jinni, a magical being of fire, born in the Syrian desert, finds Chava, a Jewish creature made of mud, and the adventure begins. Wecker explores what it is to be human, describing the interactions of these mythical creatures with New York citizens.
These fantasies and others can be brought to life through books at Rowan Public Library.
Fall Story Time: Now-Nov. 29. For more information call 704-216-8234.
Baby Time — A loosely interactive program introducing simple stories and songs to 6- to 23-month-olds and their parents. Headquarters, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Mondays, 10 a.m.
Toddler Time — A program for children 18 to 35 months old with a parent, focused on sharing books, singing songs and encouraging listening skills. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Monday, 11 a.m.
Tiny Tumblers — A loosely interactive program for children 6 to 35 months old with a parent or caregiver introducing simple stories, musical scarves and instruments. Same program offered two separate days. South, Tuesdays or Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Preschool Time — A program for 3- to 5-year-olds to encourage the exploration of books and to build reading readiness skills. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; South, Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Noodle Head Story Time — A program for children ages 4 to 8 to enjoy silly books and tales together. Headquarters, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Mondays, 4 p.m.
Art programs — Learn different art techniques and start a new art project. Runs weekly during Story Time. Art in the Afternoon, Headquarters, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; The Paintbrush, South, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.; Art with Char, East, Thursdays, 4 p.m.
Book Chats for children at South branch: Oct. 24, 4:15 p.m., “Trouble with the Chicken,” by Doreen Coreen, grades 3-4. Children in grades 2-5 are invited to participate in Book Chats at South Rowan Regional Library in China Grove. Registration is required and space is limited. Please call 704-216-7728 for more information.
Fall Photowalk at RPL: All start at 5:30 p.m. East, Oct. 22; South, Oct. 24; headquarters, Oct. 26. Get your camera ready and join us for a photowalk. Aspiring photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited. Please call 704-216-8229 or email AprilEverett@rowancountync.gov for information and to register.
Book Bites Club: South (only), Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m., “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” by Agatha Christie. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.
Teen program: All 5:30-7 p.m. Free monthly programs for middle and high school students. Live action games. Life-size Angry Birds and more. Questions? Call 704-216-8234. East, Monday; Headquarters, Tuesday; South, Oct. 29.
Displays for October: headquarters, NAMI by Jo Kearns; South, student art work by Carson High School; East, wood by Whitey Harwood.
Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.