Events
And if I kept a diary, this is what it would say...
Dear Diary, Last night, Lily Koppel, author of The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal, spoke at the Library. What a fabulous presentation, and what a fabulous young woman! We'd read the book so we already knew that Florence Wolfson, the keeper of the real red leather diary was an interesting, vivacious, and intelligent woman. Last night, we got to see what kind of woman Lily Koppel is and we are really impressed (and now we know why Florence opened up to her). Lily is instantly likable; smart, articulate, thoughtful in her words and actions, a great storyteller, and most importantly...she really listens when people speak. The audience loved her and couldn't wait to talk with her. "Best program ever!" someone exclaimed. "I hope she comes back!" another said. Here are pictures from the evening that many did not want to see end.
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Well, Diary, that's all for today. We had a great evening, thanks to Lily! We're glad we got to meet her.
Barbara
Lots of reasons to stay in town this fall (and the foliage is pretty nice, too)!
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We have no shortage of events at the Library during the month of October. On the schedule, we have a Meet the Author Program, our Foreign Film Series begins, and we return with our Short Story Discussion Group.
This Thursday, October 2nd at 7 p.m., Lily Koppel will be here to talk about her wonderful book, The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal.
Our Foreign Film Series begins on Friday, October 10th. Show time is at 7:30 p.m. and doors will open at 7.
Reserve Tuesday afternoons from 3-4 for our instantly-popular Short Story Discussion Group. Short Stories For Shorter Days begins on October 7th.
For a full list of all of our October happenings, click here.
Waxing Nostalgic
We knew it was coming. The last Annual Meeting in this building and it will be on Sunday, October 19th at 5:30 p.m.
Our featured speaker will be Philip Van Munching, the author of Boys Will Put You on a Pedestal (So They Can Look Up Your Skirt): A Dad's Advice For Daughters and co-author (with Bernie Katz, PhD) of Actually, It IS Your Parents' Fault: Why Your Romantic Relationship Isn't Working and How to Fix It. When Van Munching last spoke at the Library, apparent were his humor, his wit, his intelligence, and his easy manner. He's got a great way with words, as evidenced by his memorable presentation (and his books' great, smile-producing titles(!)) and he grew up in Darien, so we are truly delighted to welcome him as our speaker to share his thoughts as we wax nostalgic.
Since this is the Annual Meeting of Friends, we will also hear from Kim Huffard, President of the Board, and Louise Berry, Director of the Library, to learn about the year's developments. We also look forward to the election of Officers and Trustees.
There will be a reception following the meeting.
A Modern Voice from the Past
When New York Times reporter Lily Koppel came into possession of a crumbling 75 year old diary rescued from an Upper West Side 
dumpster, little did she know that it would change her life. The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal is a remarkable story in many ways and Lily will be here at the Library this Thursday, October 2nd at 7 p.m. to talk about it.
The diary is one that was kept by Florence Wolfson during the years 1929-34...5 years in the life of a privileged young woman (beginning at age 14). Through the pages of the diary, Lily became acquainted with a New York City of another time, and of even greater significance, she "met" Florence. The entries are filled with sophisticated musings, cultural observations, teenage crushes, love affairs...literary and emotional adventures and journeys. It's candid and frank,
as a diary should be and what would be the chances of locating the author of the diary??? Well, Lily hired a private detective, reunited diary and diarist, and she emerges with a beautiful and full story, and a friend. Through her intimate conversations with Florence, at age 90, the brief diary entries spring 
to life.
Personal photographs are included, and the young woman in the pictures is unmistakably the modern, adventurous girl from the diary.
Come and join us Thursday evening and meet Lily Koppel and learn more about The Red Leather Diary. A book signing will follow the presentation and books will be available for purchase.
Refreshments will be served.
Hope to see you there! In the meantime, to listen to a brief interview with the author, click here.
Here's your handy October to-do list. (You're welcome.)
Let's see...What to do? What to do? What to do? We are so busy this month, we thought you might like some help keeping it all straight. Here's what's coming right up!
Next week, we'll be opening our final film series before the building closes. (New building! New Community Room! January '09!) Our Foreign Film Series begins on Friday, October 10th, and concludes on Friday, November 21st (our last Friday in the building). We'll meet every Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of November 7th (when we will be preparing for our always-anticipated Book Sale). Our schedule of films is really terrific this year; we are very pleased and proud to offer them. Below, is the line-up, followed by more October events at the Library.
Fall Foreign Film Series
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 SonIn 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.
Additional October Events:
Thursday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. -- Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Thursday, October 2, 7 p.m. -- Meet the Author: Lily Koppel (Author of "The Red Leather Diary")
Friday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. -- Special Film Screening: The Color Purple
Sunday, October 5, 2:30 p.m. -- Fall Book Discussion Series with Jordon Pecile: Discussion Book: "America America"
Tuesday, October 7, 3-4 p.m. -- Short Stories for Shorter Days
Tuesday, October 7, 7 p.m. -- Mid-Fairfield Hospice Program: Caring for Aging Adults: Coordinating, Honoring and Reminiscing
Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m.-noon -- Passport Day
Tuesday, October 14, 3-4 p.m. -- Short Stories for Shorter Days
Friday, October 17, 3-5 p.m. -- Knit-a-thon to benefit the shelters run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Center
Sunday, October 19, 5:30 p.m. -- Darien Library Annual Meeting with featured speaker, Philip Van Munching
Tuesday, October 21, 3-4 p.m. -- Short Stories for Shorter Days
Sunday, October 26, 2:30 p.m. -- Fall Book Discussion Series with Jordon Pecile Discussion
Book: "The Garden of Last Days"
Tuesday, October 28, 3-4 p.m. -- Short Stories for Shorter Days
Continuing through October 28, during regular Library hours -- Art on View: Chet Saur
The ribbons
Have you noticed the purple ribbons?
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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.
Have you been by yet to see Chet's new exhibit?
Today may be the first day of fall, but these paintings by Chet Saur, currently on exhibit in the Main Reading Room, declare perpetual summer.
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These are just two of the gorgeous works on display right now. Chet's paintings will be on exhibit here until October 28th. Please make it a point to stop by.
Okay. Okay. Here's one more...since you insist...
Sigh...(Right?)
"Lies" in Darien
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!
My, that corn is soft!
This shirt (left) is made from corn! Really. And it's really soft.
Starre Vartan, the author of The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green, was here last night and talked to us about green living. It was a fabulous presentation with many surprises!
The self-proclaimed "Eco-Fashionista" really does earn her title. She described the difference between cotton and organic cotton, wool and organic wool, and displayed items made of natural materials such as corn, soy, and bamboo. She also had items to show us which were made from reused materials, including a tote bag made from an old billboard(!) (shown at right).
Starre's done the research and it's all in her new book. It really is a must for anyone looking to make even the smallest eco-friendly change in their personal habits, be it at home, in fashion, or globally.
Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820-5419 · 203-655-1234Directions and Contact Information. Twitter: darienlibrary. AIM & Y!M: deweydarien.