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March 27, 2007
when the world is puddle-wonderful
in Just-
spring. . .
You can listen to as well as read e.e. cummings when you celebrate National Poetry Month in April.
Check out all the wonderful Voice of the Poet books-on-CDs to listen to poets reading their works. It’s a great introduction to a literary format that begs to be read aloud. Also available is Poetry Speaks with three audio CDs of poets reading their poems. Narrated by Charles Osgood, you can hear everyone from Tennyson reciting “Charge of the Light Brigade” to Alan Ginsberg reading from “Howl.”
Posted by MaryF at 10:22 AM
March 23, 2007
Living with Cancer
The amazing responses to John and Elizabeth Edwards press conference yesterday – including an editorial in today's Wall Street Journal - is a sad reminder that far more people live with cancer than any of us would want. Here are biographies of breast cancer patients, and other books written by cancer patients, and survivors, their families, and friends. Their stories will inspire, encourage and help all whose daily lives are challenged by this mighty disease.
Posted by MaryF at 10:37 AM
March 20, 2007
Right Ho, Jeeves
The staff has just completed a review of the fiction collection, evaluating books that haven’t circulated to see if they should remain on the Library shelves. A delightful discovery was that P. G. Wodehouse is still popular with Darien readers. His works are great fun, gently satirizing the British class and manners and his novels and stories have seen a steady Library circulation over the years. Check out the books; you’ll be pleasantly amused!
Posted by MaryF at 10:05 AM
March 15, 2007
Horror stories - Classic and New
H. P. Lovecraft, the American master of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, died 70 years ago at the age of 47. His work is still read today and has influenced generation of writers. Joe Hill is an author carrying on the Lovecraft tradition with his book The Heart Shaped Box. Neil Gaiman calls it “the best debut horror novel since Clive Barker wrote Damnation Game.” Joe Hill is also carrying on a family tradition with his chosen genre. He’s the son of master horror storytellers Stephen King and Tabitha King.
Posted by MaryF at 02:18 PM
March 13, 2007
The Middle East
There's always a demand for books about the history and politics of the Middle East.
To supplement the Library's collection of books
here's an amazing 90 second history lesson mapping the empires of the Middle East:
Imperial History of the Middle East
Posted by MaryF at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)
March 12, 2007
Happy Birthday Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen turns 54 today and I can't think of a better excuse to pick up one of his novels. He's my favorite Florida author and if you haven’t yet read any of his zany novels, you’re in for a good time. Sick Puppy is one of his best and involves a crusade to preserve Florida’s wildlife. Native Tongue is set in the Florida Keys. And Skinny Dip is the funniest revenge novel ever written. His newest book, Nature Girl, is a great romp with Hiaasen doing Shakespeare as three very mismatched couples end up marooned on an uninhabited island overnight. Confusion reigns but all’s well that ends well with villains getting their comeuppance and true love winning the day.
Posted by MaryF at 11:12 AM
March 10, 2007
Women's History Month
Deborah Sampson
Alice Sheldon
An Englishwoman named Joan
A Frenchwoman named Joan
Mary Ann Evans Lewes
Baroness Amandine Aurore-Lucie Dupin Dedevant
This month we salute these women who had to disguise themselves as men to achieve their goals.
Deborah Sampson fought in the Revolutionary War. Alice Sheldon wrote Science Fiction.
Pope Joan ruled the Catholic Church and Joan of Arc defended France.
Mary Ann Evans novels were written under the name George Eliot and French writer George Sand was really the Baroness Amandine Aurore-Lucie Dupin Dedevant.
Posted by MaryF at 02:20 PM
March 05, 2007
Even dogs love Marley & Me
Our staff member's Golden Retriever puppy just couldn't get enough of Marley & Me by John Grogan.
In true Marley fashion, Hudson, left in the car while his owner ran an errand, got the first disc of the Marley & Me on CD out of the car CD player and chewed it while he was waiting for her to return. And when the book came into the house, Hudson decided to try that format too.
Maybe Hudson needs his hero's tale read to him.
Posted by MaryF at 05:29 AM