Events
First Look Darien - Emma Straub
Written by Erin S on 08/13/2012
Monday, October 22 at 7 p.m.
Emma Straub, author of Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, will be our featured speaker.
Ambitious and richly imagined, this novel begins in 1929 and follows Elsa Emerson from her childhood in Door County, Wisconsin where her family owns the Cherry County Playhouse, to the glamour and excess of Hollywood, where she is remade into movie star Laura Lamont. Exploring the power of illusion and the possibility of escape, the expectations placed upon us by others and the identities we create for ourselves, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures is a timeless story of a woman trying to balance career, family, and personal happiness, all while remaining true to herself.
Advance Praise for Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures
"At once iconic and specific, Emma Straub's beautifully observed first novel explores the fraught trajectory of what has become a staple of the American dream: the hunger for stardom and fame. Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures affords an intimate, epic view of how that dream ricochets through one American life." — Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit from the Goon Squad
“Emma Straub is a magician, full of brilliance and surprise.” — Lorrie Moore
About the Author
Emma Straub is from New York City. Her fiction and non-fiction have been published by Tin House, The Paris Review Daily, Time, Slate, and The New York Times, and she is a staff writer for Rookie. Emma lives with her husband in Brooklyn, where she also works as a bookseller.
Books will be available for purchase at this event. Refreshments will be served.
First Look Darien is our debut author series designed to spotlight first novels handpicked by our staff.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Beyond Books: A Darien Library Program of Fun, Fact and Fiction
Written by mpaterniti on 08/12/2012
Join Barbara Monin for a Singapore Fling! Our intrepid traveler has recently visited the exotic land of Singapore with its fascinating mixture of cultures and architecture. Her photos and commentary will transport you to another world. Find us at the Darien Senior Activities Center on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 12:30 p.m.
Everything Old is New Again
Written by JanetD on 08/12/2012
Wednesday, November 7th at 7:00 p.m.
What's older than storytelling? It's the way family lore is passed from generation to generation, it's the connecting bond between a parent and child, it's how we define ourselves to others. Stories are folktales, lump-in-the-throat memories, funny anecdotes, legends from around the world -- anything that has been crafted and shared in the oral tradition.
Darien Library will host a storytelling circle that revives this ancient artform. If you have a prepared story to share, we'd love to hear it! If you're coming as a listener, we welcome you. Please pull up a chair and join our circle -- no chargers, generators, or batteries required!
Friday Night Feature - "People Like Us"
Written by Erin S on 08/09/2012
Friday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – People Like Us (2012) Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, and Michelle Pfeiffer; Rated PG-13; 114 minutes; Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
This smart, intimate drama features Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister he never knew about. As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about this family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process.
"Some of the strongest writing in any movie so far this year." -- Richard Roeper, RichardRoeper.com
For more information, please watch the film's trailer. Check out the rest of our Friday Night Features in November.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Do you sell on Etsy? Is your Etsy shop ready for the holiday season?
Written by Erin S on 08/08/2012
Tuesday, November 20 at 7 p.m.
Come to our group discussion where we will discuss marketing ideas and strategies for your Etsy shop. We'll conduct as many shop reviews as we can so you leave with information relevant to your work. This is a friendly environment where we want everyone to succeed.
Presented by Jennifer St. Jean, graduate of Etsy's June 2012 Educator training will share what has helped her become a successful shop owner. In addition to shop critiques we'll discuss elements of photography, marketing strategies, and share resources to help you become a better seller. We'll revisit the four keys to success to selling your work online. Jen has been selling on Etsy since 2009, has had thousands of sales both on and off Etsy and has sold her items all over the world.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Wednesday Matinee - "The Pursuit of Happyness"
Written by Erin S on 08/08/2012
Wednesday, October 24 at 1:30 p.m. - The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Starring Will Smith, Thandie Newton, and Jaden Smith; Rated PG-13; 117 minutes; Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
Chris Gardner is bright and talented but is struggling to make ends meet. When he and his five-year-old son are evicted from their apartment Gardner takes a chance with a prestigious stock brokerage firm. They endure many hardships but he follows his dream to make a better life for the two of them in this inspirational true story.
"As cynical as I am, I have to admit I was completely won over by Smith's sincere and deeply effective work as a guy who was knocked down again and again, but refused to stay on the canvas." - Richard Roeper, Ebert and Roeper
For more information, please view the film's trailer.
NaNoWriMo Write-In This Sunday!
Written by Amanda G. on 08/08/2012
Sunday, November 11th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Do you need some encouragement as we enter the second full week of this grueling challenge to write your heart out for National Novel Writing Month? We are here for you! Come to the library for our second Write-In! We'll be serving coffee and have lots of table space, power outlets, and room for you to push your imagination to the limit!
We'll see you in third floor's conference room on Sunday as you write to 18,337 words and beyond!
The 27th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment During the Civil War
Written by Erin S on 08/06/2012
Tuesday, November 13 at 7 p.m.
Join Corporal J.W. Hull, Jr. for an evening of Civil War history. He will present in full historical uniform including forage cap, brogans, full knapsack and musket. A historical reenactor for over 14 years, Corporal J.W. Hull Jr. will cover the history of the 27th Regiment, the equipment and rations used during this time, and what daily life was like during combat and non-combat during the Civil War.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Wednesday Matinee - "Truth in Numbers? Everything, According to Wikipedia"
Written by Erin S on 08/06/2012
Wednesday, November 21 at 1:30 p.m. - Truth in Numbers? Everything, According to Wikipedia (2010) Documentary feature starring Jimmy Wales, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Susan Jacoby, and Andrew Keen; Rated PG; 85 minutes.
The film illustrates a debate between traditional media and the proponents of crowd-sourced information over the reliability of the information found on Wikipedia, and the impact of having such a widely-used resource written and edited by non-experts. Using interviews with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, Noam Chomsky, the late Howard Zinn, Jaron Lanier, Lawrence Lessig, Ray Kurzweil, and many others, "Truth in Numbers?" reveals surprisingly intense and emotional opinions on both sides, while also giving viewers an inside look at how Wikipedia works, who exactly is editing on the site, and the enormous international cultural phenomenon that it has become in the 10 years since its founding. After viewing this film, you will never look at Wikipedia the same way. The filmmakers engagingly explore the history and cultural implications of one of the most referenced sites on the Web.
Friday Night Feature - "Girl in Progress"
Written by Erin S on 08/05/2012
Friday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Girl in Progress (2012) Starring Eva Mendes, Matthew Modine, and Cierra Ramirez; Rated PG-13; 91 minutes; Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
Grace is a single mom. She is too busy juggling work, bills, and the very married Dr. Hartford, to give her daughter, Ansiedad the attention she desperately needs. When Ansiedad's English teacher, Ms. Armstrong, introduces her students to classic coming-of-age stories, Ansiedad is inspired to skip adolescence and jump-start her life without mom. While Grace becomes preoccupied with the increasing affections of her co-worker, Ansiedad enlists the help of her loyal friend, Tavita, to plot her shortcut to “adulthood.” But as her misguided plan unravels, Ansiedad and Grace must learn that sometimes growing-up means acting your age.
"A well-done, conscientious and funny little film that recalls 'Clueless,' only with more heart." -- Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
For more information, please watch the film's trailer. Check out the rest of our Friday Night Features in November.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820-5419 · 203-655-1234Directions and Contact Information. Twitter: darienlibrary. AIM & Y!M: deweydarien.