Have you noticed the purple ribbons?

They went  up around town yesterday and are the result of the effort of the Darien Domestic Violence Task Force. There are 84 ribbons, each one representing a dometic abuse/violence call to Darien Police during the fiscal year 2007-2008. The ribbons will be up throughout the month of October because October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Library is an active participant in the Task Force. The Proclamation will be here at the Library this Thursday, October 2nd at 11 a.m. On Friday, October 3rd at 7:30 p.m., we will be showing the film, The Color Purple downstairs in the Program Room. 

Our annual knit-a-thon will be from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, October 17th.

We'll be knitting scarves and hats for the benefit of those staying in the shelters run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC).

The knit-a-thon is open to adults and children. Registration and previous knitting experience is required. Patterns, knitting needles, and yarn will be provided. Final drop-off of hats and scarves will be on Friday, November 21. Register at the Children’s Room desk: 669-5235.

We are so excited.

Brad Meltzer, the author of The Book of Lies will be here on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. It's the same day that his new book debuts at #2 on The New York Times bestseller list (so we know he'll be in a good mood). We've read the book. We've heard him speak. We cannot express more urgently how much we know you'll enjoy this program.

In The Book of Lies, Meltzer poses the question: What does Cain, the world’s first villain, and Superman, the world’s first superhero have in common?    
Definitely, a discussion-starter.

This thriller expertly melds the story of the murder of Superman-creator Jerry Siegler's father with a dangerous present-day race to find the world's first murder weapon – that which was used by Cain to kill Abel. It's a bold book; it challenges assumptions about Cain killing Abel, heroes and villains, and Meltzer brings into the story a real murder, that of Mitchell Siegel, the father of Jerry Siegel, who created Superman and these stories are woven together in a fast-paced, fascinating, code-breaking drama. After all, explains Meltzer, it was the murder of his father in a store robbery that led the young Jerry to create a bullet-proof man called Superman.

Janet and I had the chance to talk to Brad last week and it was immediately apparent that he has the ability to engage right away and his enthusiasm is contagious . You can listen to a podcast of that conversation right here.  You'll certainly want to hear more, so please join us on Sunday (promptly at 5:30 p.m.) for what's sure to be a memorable event.

There will be a reception and book signing following the presentation and books will be available for purchase.

See you on Sunday!

Hibiscuses and asters and chrysanthemums, oh my!  Last night, we had the pleasure of hosting certified Master Gardener Susan Kelly of Reynolds' Farms Nursery as she reminded us that Fall is a wonderful time to tend to the garden and try out some new plants that crave the cooler, crisper weather.

In addition to commentating a slide show of over 30 different types of breathtaking fall flowers, plants, and grasses, Susan provided us with tons of great tips for planting, such as when to prune, which flowers love sunlight, the best choices for a rock garden, and how long plants usually take to reach full, picturesque bloom.  Want to make the most of your garden, even in economically trying times?  Susan suggests inviting all of your friends over for a garden trading party, where everyone shares whatever plants they have an abundance of in their own backyards!  Trying to figure out what went wrong with your geranium bush this year?  Susan recommends keeping a gardening journal of what has and has not worked for you each season.

Two of our Master Gardener's favorite resources are The Well-Tended Perennial Garden and The Well-Designed Mixed Garden, both by Tracy DiSabato-Aust. Each book contains hundreds of color photographs and takes you from basics to more advanced techniques. DiSabato-Aust's books are unique because the author thinks outside the box (er...outside the garden?) when arranging her plants and flowers, and it translates into an incredible display that is at first risky, but always well-rewarded.

For more information about Connecticut's Master Gardener Program, which combines horticulture training with outreach to the community , click here.  Also, check out the new gardening books we have at Darien Library.

It's almost time for our Fall Foreign Film Series...our last film series in this building. It is certainly bittersweet. We are so comfy and used to our present room, but...BUT(!) the auditorium in the new building is so great, I am practically swooning. Pardon me for a moment while I fan myself.

I am very pleased to announce the line up for this year's Foreign Film Series. All movies are on Fridays. They all begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7...and, as most of you know (and anticipate), refreshments will be served. Just a reminder...admission is free.

October 10  

The Band's Visit

Israel (2007) Rated PG-13

In Arabic, English, and Hebrew with English subtitles

87 minutes

When an Egyptian police orchestra gets lost on its way to a performance in Israel, the band and their stoic leader wind up far from home in an obscure Israeli village. Lightly approaching the political issues that surround the band’s visit, this charming, heartfelt comedy shows how people of all cultures share the trials of friendship and romance.

October 17    

Persepolis

France (2007) Rated PG-13

In French, English, Persian, and German with English subtitles

95 minutes

Persepolis brings to life the poignant story of a young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Based on the stirring graphic novel memoirs of Marjane Satrapi this witty, yet deeply affecting animated masterpiece has captured the imaginations of audiences and critics worldwide. The issues of love, family, and freedom that fill the adolescent life of a young girl are reflected in the revolutionary struggles that surround her in 1970s Iran.

October 24

The Counterfeiters

Austria (2007) Rated R

In German, Russian, English, and Hebrew with English subtitles

98 minutes

Winner of the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this is the true story of Salomon Sorowitsch, counterfeiter extraordinaire, bohemian, and Russian Jew who was captured by the Nazis in 1944. He agrees to help them in an organized counterfeiting operation set up to finance the war effort. It was the biggest counterfeit-money scam of all time. Over 130 million pounds sterling were printed under conditions that couldn’t have been more tragic or spectacular.

October 31

The Flight of the Red Balloon

France (2007) Not rated

In French with English subtitles

113 minutes

 The details of everyday life are turned to poetry in this tribute to Lamorisse’s 1956 classic short The Red Balloon. Juliette Binoche stars as a single Parisian mother who, overwhelmed by the complications of modern daily life, employs a Taiwanese film student as her son’s babysitter. As the babysitter and the young child explore the streets and cafes of the city, they begin to share an imaginary world where a mysterious red balloon affectionately follows them wherever they go.

November 7

No film tonight

Book sale: November 8 - 12

The Grocer's Son

In French with English subtitles

96 minutes

It is summer, and 30-year-old Antoine is forced to leave the city to return to his family in Provence. His father is sick, so he must assume the lifestyle he thought he had shed—driving the family grocery cart from hamlet to hamlet, delivering supplies to the few remaining inhabitants. Accompanied by Claire, a friend from Paris whom he has a secret crush on, Antoine gradually warms up to his experience in the country and his encounters with the villagers. This surprise French box-office hit is about the coming-of-age of a man rediscovering life and love in the countryside.

In Japanese with English subtitles

120 minutes

 It is 1965 and in Japan, the country has started to shift from coal to oil. One by one, the old mining towns begin their slow decline, but for one small town way up north, its leaders and the local mining company aim to build Japan’s first Hawaiian Village as a way to save the town. Hula Girls is a heartwarming comedy about coal miners’ daughters who took a once-in-a-lifetime chance to escape their monotonous lives, only to become unwitting heroes to their depressed mining town. Based on a true story.