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January 31, 2007

Never Judge a Book by its Movie

So said J. W. Eagan. Many of the films shown at the Library are also books. So check out the book AND catch the movie this month and judge for yourself. By the way, anybody know who J. W. Eagan is?

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger was a best selling book before it became a movie. And the film The Illusionist is based on the short story "Eisenheim, the Illusionist" by Steven Millhauser. The story can be found in the Best American Short Stories 1990. Other books made into films that are being shown in the film series are Peter Mayle's A Good Year and Antonia Fraser's Marie Antoinette: The Journey.

Darien Library is a co-sponsor of this month's showing of An Inconvenient Truth at town hall on Friday, February 2nd. The excellent lectures on energy, held at the DCA, made Al Gore's writings on global warming popular before the acclaimed documentary was released.

And seriously, if anyone knows who J. W. Eagan is, please comment. The quote is attributed to him in most reference resources but biographical information on the author is nil.

Posted by MaryF at 11:01 AM

January 23, 2007

My take on American Bloomsbury

I've always been fascinated by the Transcendentalists of Concord, Massachusetts because I grew up nearby and visited Walden Pond, Orchard House, and the Old Manse many times. So, I was very eager to read American Bloomsbury, Susan Cheever's new book about the Transcendentalists. I couldn't wait to learn more about the relationships and romances between Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott. I especially looked forward to Cheever's book, after reading her wonderful memoir Home Before Dark.

While it's a frothy and fun introduction to this community of authors, American Bloomsbury lacks substance. Marjorie Kehe of the Christian Science Monitor summed it up best, "So don't hand this book to a scholar. But do share it with anyone who may long ago have studied Concord's 'genius cluster' in lit class but would today welcome a brisk new take on a fascinating old story."

I was first dismayed to find the book is only 223 pages long. How could she cover such a big topic in so few pages? When I began reading, I found myself arguing with Cheever, who clearly favored particular characters. For example, she was very hard on Hawthorne's wife, Sophia Peabody. For a fairer treatment of Sophia and her family, check out The Peabody Sisters. At the same time, I didn't like Cheever's tone. It was a refreshing departure from more academic texts, but was a bit too light. She even referred to Emerson as the "sugar daddy of American literature".

For a different perspective, read The Concord Quartet: Alcott, Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau, and the Friendship That Freed the American Mind by local author Samuel Schreiner Jr. And if you can't get enough of the Transcendalists, pick up the classic American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman by F.O. Matthiessen. Don't forget to check out our biography section to learn more about Emerson, Hawthorne, Alcott, Thoreau, and Fuller.

Posted by EmilyW at 01:08 PM | Comments (3)

The classics are timeless

In Nicholas Kristof's New York Times Column today, students are encouraged to study the classics. They have amazing relevance for what is happening in today's world. And Kristof points out there's a wonderful new translation of Virgil's Aneid by Robert Fagles. And Melville? Well, some believe that Moby Dick is the greatest American novel ever written. I'm certain there's a copy in the White House library.

Posted by MaryF at 09:25 AM

January 18, 2007

Paperbacks have a new home and new spine labels

Many romance, mystery, horror, science fiction, and suspense stories are published only in paperback. If you’re a fan of these genre fictions, check out our new paperback spinners on the mezzanine.

Lynn Kerstan, Allie Mackay, Patricia Anne Phillips, and Debbie Macomber are represented here along with other favorite romance novelists.

And those wonderful hard-boiled crime fictions that are making a comeback with such authors as Stephen King, Lawrence Block, Pete Hamill and Madison Smartt Bell can be found spinning in our stacks.

Look for the green alien spine labels to find the Science Fiction of Mercedes Lackey. And horror spine labels identify the best of Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dean Koontz.

Posted by MaryF at 03:37 PM

January 11, 2007

Marianne's Book Group

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

A favorite current book club read is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. This is a tale about a life-long friendship of two women of different social status, living in the harsh society of the remote, farming area of Hunan province in 19th century China. It is a very moving story.

However, our group was particularly struck by the cruel practice of foot binding.
To accomplish the desired tiny feet (3 inches), viewed as a sign of beauty, young girls were subjected to unthinkable and painful procedures involving the breaking of bones. As we dwelled on this, it occurred to us that our societal focus on ‘beauty’ achieved by multiple plastic surgeries and extreme dieting could well be hard to understand by others in years to come.

Has anyone else read this book, either for your own pleasure or with your group? Why not share your reactions with us?

To learn more about foot binding refer to the following websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1155872

See our summary

Posted by marianne at 11:15 AM

January 08, 2007

Bible Stories revisited

I happened upon The Preservationist, David Maine's retelling of the bible story of Noah and the Flood, when it was a new release in 2004. The Publisher's Weekly review was the hook - "think Life of Pi thousands of years earlier with a much larger cast of characters" the reviewer said. It was a delight and I've been a fan of this author ever since.

David Maine has since tackled the story of Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, in The Fallen, and the life of Samson in his latest novel, The Book of Samson. His work is respectful, inventive, intelligent and funny! He brings a modern day sensiblity and analysis to the bible stories we all grew up with, giving us a fresh perspective and much food for thought!

Publishers biographies tell us David Maine was born in 1963 and grew up in Farmington, Connecticut. He attended Oberlin College and the University of Arizona, and worked in the mental health systems of Massachusetts and Arizona. He taught English in Morocco from 1995 to 1998, and has lived in Pakistan since then. He resides in Lahore with his wife, novelist Uzma Aslam Khan.

Posted by MaryF at 03:20 PM

January 03, 2007

I Loved This Book!

I started off the new year by finishing a wonderful book: Skylight Confessions, by Alice Hoffman. Don't let the title turn you off. It's vintage Hoffman--a mixture of the supernatural and down-to-earth reality. Set in Madison, Connecticut, it's a look at three generations of a not so perfect family. The characters and the writing will stay with you long after you finish the last page. Enjoy!

Posted by JudyS at 11:58 AM

January 02, 2007

Healthy living and a winning life are only a book away

Fitness, nutrition, and health books are as popular as diet books this time of year as everyone tries to live up to their New Year's resolutions of leading a healthier, happier life. This year quite a few celebrities have weighed in on just how we should do this.
Connecticut Huskies basketball coach Jim Calhoun shares his personal strategies for motivation, success, and leadership in A Passion to Win. He also offers insights into his role in the team's success and the careers of numerous NBA players.
Actress Mariel Hemingway gives us Healthly Living from the Inside Out, a practical guide to total mind and body health with a thirty-day plan.
Lance Armstrong's personal coach, Chris Carmichael, describes a life philosophy to help male athletes harmonize fitness, nutrition, relationships, career, and health to reach their personal goals in 5 Essentials for a Winning Life.
And country music superstar Naomi Judd gives us her Guide to Aging Gratefully with inspirational strategies on how to get in touch with one's inner beauty and enjoy the benefits of growing older.
With all this advice, it's sure to be a "personal best" year.

Posted by MaryF at 12:08 AM