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February 27, 2008

The buzz on author Lee Siegel

The New York Times has proclaimed him to be swaggeringly abrasive and "one of the country's most eloquent and acid-tongued critics." The New York Observer has labeled him a "zigzagging cultural omnivore." Pete Hamill of The New Yorker encourages readers to "savor his vigorous prose, and prepare to be surprised."

And last week, in an episode of The Daily Show, he eagerly debated with Jon Stewart on the subject of cyber-bullying:

Wow!

I think it's safe to say that with Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, author Lee Siegel lives up to his unabashed reputation with a provocative exposition of what he deems "the most radical transformation of private and public life in the history of humankind" - the Internet.

Mr. Siegel never fails to intrigue and entertain as he packs a pop culture punch and attacks what has become second-nature to most of us - surfing the Web, emailing, blogging, watching reality television, even our regular Starbucks outings - with a fresh, albeit a bit stinging, perspective. He questions why society has so blindly accepted the Internet as a utopia of human connection and points out that, in fact, it actually fosters isolation, bullying, invasions of privacy, and a false sense of reality...to name a few!

Please join us on Thursday, March 6th at 7:00pm, when Mr. Siegel visits Darien Library as part of our Ouside the Box series. You won't want to miss this opportunity to meet one of the most respected and buzzed about culture-critics in the nation. For a taste of what's to come, click here to listen to Barbara and Janet's podcast interview.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

A book signing will follow the presentation and there will be a drawing for prizes.

Refreshments will be served. Coffee is courtesy of Darien Starbucks.

Posted by EricaB at 01:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Don't Judge a Book by its Cover"

Meg Cabot adds a third book to her fluffy chick-lit series about a 'big' blonde former pop-star turned college administrative assistant whose seemingly empty head is filled with non-sequitors that lead her straight to the finish line to solve the murder mysteries before anyone else does. This series is Nancy Drew meets Britney Spears after she's lost all her fame and fortune (and gone soft.) And, she gets the guy. What more could you want?!

Posted by Kim at 11:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 23, 2008

Reading between the scenes

This Sunday marks the 80th Annual Academy Awards telecast, a production that never fails to surprise, excite, anger, and mystify viewers about the choice of winners, losers, speeches, and fashions throughout the night. Be sure to check out Barbara's Oscar picks , and also take a look at some of the new books we have about the film industry:

In Inside Inside, James Lipton, the often-parodied creator and host of Bravo's Inside The Actor's Studio, provides a revealing look at his experiences over the years interviewing (and fawning over) some of the most celebrated actors and directors in history: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Mike Nichols, Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, and Will Ferrell.

My First Movie: Take Two, by documentary filmmaker Stephen Lowenstein, contains candid interviews with ten critically acclaimed directors of movies such as American Beauty, Donnie Darko, and Slacker. The directors discuss the incredible struggles and unexpected successes of their careers, as well as their experiences with every aspect of getting a film made, from obtaining financing and writing scripts to choosing actors and screening movies.

Lastly, Marc Norman, Oscar-winning screenwriter for Shakespeare In Love, has written What Happens Next: A History of American Screenwriting. In his book, Mr. Norman recounts unforgettable stories about the frenzy of writing for the big screen and discusses how this aspect of filmmaking has evolved and reinvented itself over the years.

Posted by EricaB at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)

February 21, 2008

Authors on the Air

If you're a fan of Steve Martin's recent memoir, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life, (hopefully you are...it's fabulous!), you may want to tune in to tonight's Late Show with David Letterman at 11:30pm on CBS. After listening to the audiobook myself, I'm looking forward to hearing Mr. Martin talk about his stand-up career and how those days, despite the humble beginnings and the larger-than-life attention that resulted, really seemed to be the most purely joyful times of his life so far.

On a more serious matter, at 8:00pm on Comedy Central, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will repeat its interview with Mark Siegel, co-author of Benazir Bhutto's final book, Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West, completed just seven days before her assassination. Siegel, Bhutto's personal advisor, speaks touchingly about his friend's fight for a Pakistani democracy, her legacy as a proponent for equality, and the future of modern Islam.

Posted by EricaB at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

February 15, 2008

Like peanut butter and chocolate...

There are few things that I enjoy more than reading great books and eating great meals. Imagine my excitement today when I was stumbled upon American Food Writing: An Anthology With Recipes, edited by acclaimed New York Times columnist and cookbook author Molly O'Neill.

Inside this book, you'll find excerpts of writings by classic and contemporary American authors, such as Ralph Emerson, Willa Cather, Alice B. Toklas, Langston Hughes, Eric Schlosser, and Michael Pollan, that chronologically exhibit social perspectives on the value of food. Among the essays, excerpts, and profiles, you'll also find over 50 vintage and modern recipes (Ice Cream from a 1780s manuscript belonging to Thomas Jefferson; Tuna Burger from The Union Square Café Cookbook) that O'Neill has selected to "instruct, delight, and inspire home chefs."

The book offers a pairing of literature and food that was truly meant to be.

Posted by EricaB at 05:55 PM | Comments (2)

February 13, 2008

Free Suzie Orman Book at Oprah.com

For a limited time only, you can visit The Oprah Show website to access a free download of Suzie Orman's 2007 publication, Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny. Oprah's offer will only be available until 8pm on February 14th, so hurry!

If you miss the deadline, be sure to check out the Library's copies of Women and Money in print, audiobook, and dvd formats.

Posted by EricaB at 09:54 PM | Comments (3)

February 10, 2008

An interesting take...

Not sure what to read next? If you're a Freakonomics fan, consider checking out the new book The Fattening of America. The New York Times Freakonomics blog has published a Q&A with author Eric Finkelstein, who suggests that the factors causing obesity are fundamentally economic issues rather than diet or genetic issues. It's an interesting take on a longstanding issue.

Posted by EricaB at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)

February 07, 2008

Looking For Love

Late last December I spotted them-- the first pink cards and candy hearts sitting on the supermarket shelves. It wasn't even New Year's, but according to the folks at Hallmark Valentine's Day was right around the corner. I blame it all on Esther Howland. In 1847 she became the first person to sell mass-produced Valentine cards. By 1915 the Hall Brothers were selling cards in Kansas City, starting a business that would become one of the largest card companies in the world. Today flowers, candy, and approximately one billion cards are exchanged on February 14th. Esther Howland would be proud.

For those of you who are romantics at heart, here are a few good reads to celebrate the day.

Cooking for Mr. Latte: A Food Lovers Courtship, with Recipes by Amanda Hesser
This little gem has it all: food, friendship and romance. Amanda Hesser, food writer for the New York Times, ends each chapter with a menu, complete with recipes. The coconut layer cake on page 76 is not to be missed.

I Love You, Let's Meet: Adventures in Online Dating by Virginia Vitzthum
Having trouble finding your Mr. Latte? If so, check out Virginia Vitzthum's book about e-dating. It is a faithful chronicle of the opportunities, pitfalls and contradictions of finding a mate online.

Someday My Prince Will Come: Adventures of a Wannabe Princess by Jerramy Sage Fine
Ever since she was a little girl growing up in Colorado, Jerramy Fine dreamed of marrying a prince. Not the figurative type, but the real deal-- she was out to bag Peter Phillips, the Queen's grandson. This is the story of one woman's romantic quest to become royalty. An impossible dream? Read the book and find out!

Posted by Sally at 12:21 PM | Comments (0)