Monica Wood

Thursday, September 6 at 7 p.m.

Monica Wood, author of When We Were the Kennedys, will be our featured speaker.

This is the true story of life in 1963 Mexico, Maine, when Monica Wood had to grow up too soon after the death of her beloved father, and, together with her three sisters and mother, learn about the bonds of family from within their own four walls to the four walls of their neighbors, to those of the white house and beyond.

The strike against the paper mill in Mexico, Maine had a major impact on the town’s economy and the livelihoods of the residents at that time. But the mill isn’t the only character you’re rooting for in When We Were the Kennedys. There’s Father Bob, the priest uncle struggling so desperately with his own demons. Anne, the heroic eldest sister who keeps their mother from falling apart and sees to the details of everyday life. Denise, the best friend, who provides Monica with an immediate escape and a lifetime of friendship. And Betty, the mentally disabled sister with the surprising ability to unify her family and make them laugh again. Rich with details on family, culture, politics, and economics of the time from a creative and gifted writer, this is the memoir to pick up this summer.

Praise for When We Were the Kennedys

"A tender, plaintive memoir...a genuinely compelling depiction of family grief...a bittersweet, end-of-innocence family drama." —Kirkus Reviews

"In this amiable, specific glimpse of small-town life in 1960s-era Maine...a refreshingly functional family learns to accept loss and preserve love." —Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Monica Wood is the author of four works of fiction, most recently the ABA bestseller Any Bitter Thing. Other fiction includes My Only Story, a finalist for the Kate Chopin Award; Ernie's Ark; and Secret Language. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in various publications. Her widely anthologized short stories have won a Pushcart Prize and been featured on public radio, including the NPR program Selected Shorts. She also writes books for writers and teachers, including The Pocket Muse, volumes one and two. She lives in Portland, Maine, where she conducts a writing program for women at the Maine Correctional Center.

Books will be available for purchase at this event. Refreshments will be served.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Wednesday, August 15 at 1:30 p.m. - THE STATION AGENT (2003) Starring Peter Dinklange, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavaje, and Michelle Williams; Rated R; 88 minutes; Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Finbar McBride is a young man affected with dwarfism who has just lost his best friend and seeks a life of solitude in an abandoned train station. That plan is blighted by the daily appearance of a cast of characters including a friendly and talkative hot dog vendor and an artist coping with the death of her son whose interactions with Finbar show him that none of us ever truly want to be alone.

"For 88 all-too-brief minutes, we get to hang out with very companionable people, eavesdrop on their small talk and come to know them intimately, perhaps more intimately than we can get to know our own family members." -- Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

"The best advice to filmgoers who appreciate smart, mature, humanist movies is, simply, Go." - Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

For more information, please view the film's trailer.

Friday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. -- BIG MIRACLE (2011) Starring Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, and Ted Danson; Rated PG; 114 minutes; Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Set in Cold War-era 1988, Big Miracle tells the true story of a small-town news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer who enlist the help of rival superpowers to save three majestic gray whales trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle.

"...an enjoyable, lively account of an Alaskan animal rescue story that touched the world." -- Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter

For more information, please watch the film's trailer. Check out the rest of our Friday Night Features in August.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

John Barricelli

Tuesday, August 28 at 7 p.m.

John Barricelli, author of The Seasonal Baker: Easy Recipes from My Home Kitchen to Make Year-Round, will be our featured speaker.

Both novice and experienced home bakers will love John Barricelli's follow-up to the acclaimed SoNo Baking Company Cookbook; this new, seasonal cookbook, with easier recipes, puts mouthwatering, everyday home baking within reach for even the most harried among us.

In this collection of 135 sweet and savory recipes that John Barricelli makes at home, his family stories and seasonally driven use of produce make it easy to create fresh food for everyday baking. He also includes a definitive glossary on how to buy, store, and prepare fruits and vegetables. These recipes are as eye-catching as they are delicious, and are accessible enough to teach new bakers the ropes of creating meals for the whole family.

About the Author

John Barricelli is the owner and chef of the SoNo Baking Company in South Norwalk, CT, which opened in 2005. For many years, he worked at Martha Stewart's magazines and television and radio shows. He was also the host of the PBS show Everyday Baking. A third-generation baker with thirty years of experience, he worked at River Café, Le Bernardin, and Four Seasons before opening his own bakeries. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and author of the SoNo Baking Company Cookbook.

We’ll also have our Grand Prize drawing for a new iPad. Patrons have been filling out book review/prize entry cards all summer and we will draw from this pool. Patrons who attend the Adult Summer Reading Grand Finale Party will receive an extra chance to win!

Books will be available for purchase at the event. Refreshments from the book will be served.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).