The men took over this week at Meet Us on Main Street! Alan and Kyle happily took over the Street and gave a really great presentation talking about their favorite books and films. We learned that Alan likes (LOVES!) series - highlighting the works of Patrick O'Brian, S. M. Stirling, W.E.B. Griffin, Robert Crais, and Robert B. Parker. He also talked about one of my (seriously) favorite series authors, Lee Child. Child's newest book, 61 Hours (his 14th Jack Reacher novel), comes out in May. (And just in case you missed the newest news about our Spring Author Series (speaking of series), Lee Child will be our featured speaker, on Sunday, June 6th at 5:30 p.m.!)

 The 24 Hours of Daytona has come and gone (it was enthralling in the rain!) as has Nascar's Daytona 500, testing at Sepang is underway for MotoGP, and American-based open wheel series Indy Car and its global sister Formula 1 have also started to take off the tire warmers for their respective seasons.  It's time once again for us as rabid spectators to great ready for another season of speed!

The library has items to get you geared up for the upcoming seasons, including my two favorite fast films: "Winning" with Paul Newman and "Le Mans" with Steve McQueen.  And as heart-pumping as a last lap draft pass at Indianapolis, "The Driver" by Alexander Roy will keep you strapped in as you witness the fastest trip across the continental United States.

If auto racing isn't your thing but cars are we've got a fine selection of driving tour books, texts on the history of automobiles, and even a guide to help you fight that pesky speeding ticket...

I hope these items keep your interest as you wait the following 87 days until the annual festival of speed known as the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500.  Not that I'm counting days or anything...

~Kyle Jones~

Welcome, Mister March!

If we had a March movie calendar to hang, George Clooney would be the face for March. (Pardon me while I swoon.) With three movies releasing on DVD this month, George is March's MAN.  Even if he doesn't win the Oscar on Sunday for Best Actor, he is definitely at the top of his acting game right now. No matter what the role, no matter how much we know about the man personally, his humor and humanity always shine through. This month, he'll be shining in Up in the Air, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Men Who Stare at Goats.

All-things-George is not the only thing going on this month - there's so much more on the way! March may be an excruciatingly long month, but we will have plenty of selections for everyone to help get you through. I have an ever-growing list of those movies for which I simply cannot wait. As usual, my must-list contains a couple of foreign films, a couple of indies, a big feature film, and some very special television. Like I said...the usual.

Now, onto the UNUSUAL. Though we've always got great movies coming in each month, what is most unsual about this month is the sheer number of DVDs that will arrive on our shelves. So many, in fact, they'd fill this page. Click below to view the rest of March's largesse.

Who cares frankly?  What we are concerned about is the new March releases!  These will help us through winter’s last gasp!

When it is grey and cold and rainy what could be better than some home cooked Italian goodness?  We are so excited for Giada at Home:  Family Recipes from Italy and California by Giada De Laurentis to get us through winter’s last gasp.  Creamy risotto with gorgonzola and mushrooms would certainly make me happy at the end of a sunshine challenged day!

Cabin fever got you down?  Perhaps The Devil and Sherlock Holmes:  Tales of Madness, Murder and Obsession by David Gram may not be your first pick.  But it sure sounds fun!   This is a collection of his essays originally published in The New Yorker.  And honestly we have found that reading about the weirdness of others can make you feel way better about your own!  

Girl who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen is looking to us to be perfect escapist fiction.  We loved her book Garden Spell s with its charming blend of Southern storytelling and magic.  Sometimes a little quirkiness is just what is needed.

Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley is the second Flavia De Luce mystery out of the UK.  If you missed Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie which was the first one of the series, set aside a weekend and spend it with Flavia!  Flavia is a brilliant 11 year old who lives in a village with her father and sisters.  Everyone has a gift and it would appear that Flavia’s is solving murders.

Ian McEwan is back with Solar.  Michael Beard’s professional life is wonderful, but his personal life is in shambles.  With his fifth marriage speeding toward divorce, he receives an offer that if he accepts, could quite possibly save the world?  Will he accept this unexpected offer that could be his redemption?  

Spring is on its way.  We promise.  But in the meantime you can’t beat a roaring fire and a good book.  Why not spend these last days of winter with something new and wonderful?

 

After last week’s snow, a computer fatality and a Federal Holiday, I was unable to let you all know what it was we have been enjoying.   But hopefully we are back on track now!  

Here is a sampling of what we have been sampling!

Jen D.

I spent my Monday off reading the latest offering by Cathleen Schine, The Three Weissmanns of Westport.  I have always loved her writing; she is one of those quiet craftsmen who does not crank out a book every 6 months, but rather takes her time bringing forth wonderful literary novels that sparkle.  In her latest she takes on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and places it 200 years into the future and a few miles up the road in neighboring Westport.  Truly, this is wonderful.  It is funny and touching and you need to read this.  

I am also reading The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova.  Why did artist and professor Robert Oliver attack a painting in the National Gallery?  And why is he in possession of the letters of Beatrice de Cleval, the Impressionist painter and her mentor Olivier Vignot?  This is a big fat historical novel that I am enjoying very much.

Barbara M.

Barbara cannot seem to leave the court of Henry VIII behind and is tackling Alison Weir’s latest work of nonfiction:  The Lady in the Tower:  The Fall of Anne Boleyn.  Barbara reports that she is enjoying it very much but it is scholarly in nature and not exactly an easy read.  But she is finding it rewarding nonetheless.  

Abby S.

The Lost City of Z:  A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon  by David Grann.  In 1925 British explorer Col. Percy Harrison Fawcett and his son Jack set off to find out if the City of Z was fact or myth.  They never returned but they did fire up the curiosity of countless others who also ventured into the rain forest seeking the same answers.  

Erica B.

Is LOVING one of our favorites, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  She wants everyone to know that while she is not a fiction reader, she started this one on the train last night and was up til 2 in the morning reading and cannot wait to get back to it.

Pat T.

Pat  can be seen driving around town listening to one of our favorites from the summer East of the Sun.  She pronounces it, “excellent.”  What is in her book bag?  Noah’s Compass by Anne Tyler!  Liam Pennywell is having a rather bad time of it.  He has lost his job and after an attack in his apartment his memory.  Can he get his memory back?  And what is up with his new relationship with Eunice, the fashion disaster?

We wish you all a wonderful weekend!

 

This weekend, if you just can't seem to find the perfect Valentine's Day cards to express your unconditional feelings for the ones you care about, here is a little help from best-selling author Deborah Tannen, who, in my opinion, says it best:

If you're like me, you are SO EXCITED for tonight's premier of Lost. I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait.

There's lots of speculation about the little hints dropped by the writers of the show, and one thing people like to theorize about is the books that turn up. Here's a list of some of the books that have made appearances on Lost. Maybe if you read them, you'll be able to figure out where the island is?

There is something inherently addictive and fascinating about the lives of others. Whether we think they are more glamorous and exciting, more tragic and depressing, more adventurous and fulfilling, or just different in a way we can't quite seem to pinpoint, we love every chance we get to imagine or experience the world of another person. . . another couple . . . another family - and know that while it may be as far from our own reality as could possibly be, it's not a far reality for someone else. It's why we share stories - why we meet by the water cooler - why we turn on the evening news - why we flip through tabloids in the supermarket - and why we love to read juicy memoirs.

And so, the theme of our Spring Book Discussion Series is Dysfunction Junction: The Lives of Others. We have chosen four of our favorite, most compelling, and discussion-worthy true stories of people who have been through it all and have lived to brilliantly write about it all. Come by the Library to pick up your copies of each of our selections, and then join us in March, April, and May to discuss it all. 

Lit by Mary Karr Tuesday, March 9 at 7pm	The Bolter by Frances Osborne Tuesday, March 30 at 7pm	The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer  Tuesday, April 20 at 7pm	The Kids Are All Right by The Welchs  Tuesday, May 4 at 7pm

This spring, we'll also be offering a complementary series of sessions, Book Group Savvy & Knowledge @ Noon, to enhance your book group readings and discussions, whether you're joining our series or running your own gathering - or both! We're happy to offer you tips for making the most of your experiences and will demonstrate ways to make use of the Internet, databases, newspapers, webcasts, podcasts, and more!  

Book Group Savvy
Monday, March 8 at 12pm
Whether you're interested in starting a book group or just looking to add some pizzazz to your existing book group, we can help! in this workshop, we will explore interesting book group web sites along with some tried-and-true techniques for improving your book selections, including how to find book reviews, criticisms, and author information from our Library databases. Learn how to make discussions more stimulating, and pick up some novel ideas for enhancing your entire book group experience.

Knowledge @ Noon
Monday, March 29 at 12pm
Meet with our librarians in the Main Reading Room, located on the 2nd floor, for an introductory tutorial to three of our most frequently used databases: Biography Index, Culture Grams, History Resource Center. Find out how these can augment and expand your book discussions.

Knowledge @ Noon
Monday, April 19 at 12pm
Join our librarians in the Main Reading Room, located on the 2nd floor, to explore Darien Library's Newspaper databases: Proquest & Historical Newspapers. Learn how these can quickly expand your search for information on a particular date and time.

Join Darien Library in March and April as we launch our second annual One Book, One Community program! One Book, One Community encourages everyone in town to read the same book and then come together to explore its themes.

The selected book for the town-wide read is The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan, the 2006 National Book Award Winner for Non-Fiction.

The selected book for younger readers is Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, the 1998 Winner of the Newbery Medal.

Each book is set during the 1930s and centers around the experiences of those who survived the Great Depression during one of the worst natural disasters of all time. 

Beginning Thursday, January 28th, please visit Darien Library and check out your copies of The Worst Hard Time and Out of the Dust. Then, join us in March and April as we host a series of discussions, seminars, lectures, film screenings, and events that support the books’ themes. There will be programs for adults, teens, and children. Let’s build a better community!

And for more information about the Great American Dust Bowl, visit Surviving the Dust Bowl by PBS's American Experience. Here, you can watch a full-length film about the Dust Bowl, view a photo gallery of images from the National Archives and Library of Congress, and find additional activities to enhance your understanding of this memorable time in American history.  
 

Search Darien Library's One Book, One Community events by:
 

Events for Adults

Film Screening of The Grapes of Wrath
Wednesday, March 10 at 2 PM
This Oscar-winning movie adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by John Steinbeck tells the story of a family’s harrowing journey from Oklahoma to California during the Dust Bowl. Starring Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, and Shirley Mills. Not rated; 129 minutes (1940).

An Evening of Storytelling for Adults, featuring stories about the 1930s
Wednesday, March 10 at 7 PM
Join us for a gathering of experienced and amateur storytellers who will share a family legend, personal remembrance, a historical tale, or anecdotes about the decade known as “The Dirty Thirties.” Try your hand at telling, or simply enjoy by listening.

Film Screening of WALL∙E
Saturday, March 13 at 3 PM
Perfect for Families!
What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? The year is 2700 and WALL∙E is a robot still spending every day doing what he was made for. Soon he is visited by a sleek robot named EVE, whom he chases across the galaxy with a pet cockroach and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots. Animated feature voices by Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, and Ben Burtt. Rated G; 97 minutes (2008). 

One Page Poetry Circle – Poetry & Movement
Wednesday, March 17 at 7 PM
Wind. Journeys. Lack of control. Restoration. These are central ideas present in The Worst Hard Time and the theme for our selections this evening. Bring a single page of poetry by an established poet, plus your enthusiasm, thoughts, questions, and curiosity about the poems that others bring. The discussions will be led by Madge McKeithen, faculty member of The Writing Program at The New School.

Potluck & Music Listening Party
Tuesday, March 23 at 7 PM 
It’s an evening to satisfy the senses! We’ll be sharing recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation as we listen to some of the defining sounds of the 1930s. Bring a dish of your own, enjoy some homemade confections made by others, and learn about the folk songs, big bands, blues, and jazz that defined a memorable decade of music.

Film Screening of Bound For Glory
Wednesday, March 24 at 2 PM
Director Hal Ashby’s recreation of the life of one of America’s most talented folk singers, Woody Guthrie. As portrayed by David Carradine, Guthrie is a complex character who strenuously fights for the rights of migrant workers he’s never met. The film is breathtakingly photographed by Haskell Wexler and is beautifully fashioned by Ashby to be as much a ballad as Guthrie's songs. Starring David Carradine, Ronny Cox, and Melinda Dillon. Rated PG; 148 minutes (1976).

Wartime Kiss: Forgetting the Second World War
Guest Lecture by Dr. Alexander Nemerov, Yale University
Sunday, March 28 at 3 PM
WWII accelerated the worldwide recovery from the Great Depression of the 1930s, bringing about an extraordinary time period for American art. What was the visual culture of the American home front during that period, and how do we remember WWII today? Alexander Nemerov, chair of the History of Art Department at Yale University, will look to the films and photographs on the home front to ponder what, if anything, still resonates from those years. This program is co-sponsored by the Yale Club of Lower Fairfield County.

Weathering the Storm: Climate Change, Science, and Policy
Guest Lecture by Dr. David Downie, Fairfield University
Monday, April 5 at 7 PM
The Dust Bowl has been widely acknowledged as the worst prolonged natural disaster of all time. Will climate change bring similar conditions? Learn about the factors that influence extreme weather and global warming, as well as what is being done to help protect the future of our planet. Prior to joining Fairfield University, David Downie taught at Columbia University for 14 years. There, he served as Director of both the graduate program in international environmental policy at the School of International and Public Affairs and the Global Roundtable on Climate Change.

Book Discussion – The Worst Hard Time
Tuesday, April 6 at 11 AM
Join in on the discussion of this classic disaster tale, and share your thoughts about the poignant stories, the unforgettable characters, the warning signs, the political repercussions, and the lessons offered in Timothy Egan’s best-selling non-fiction masterpiece.

Film Screening of Food, Inc.
Thursday, April 8 at 7 PM
This controversial documentary film lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers, and our own environment. We have bigger, better, longer lasting food, but the consequences may often outweigh the benefits. Named one of the ten best films of 2009 by Entertainment Weekly. Rated PG; 94 minutes (2009).

Book Discussion – Out of the Dust
Tuesday, April 13 at 11 AM
Karen Hesse’s beautifully crafted, free-verse tale of a young girl’s experiences during the Dust Bowl is a wonderful companion piece for adults who are reading The Worst Hard Time. We will discuss how this very personal family story of survival brings a new perspective to our examination of the Great Depression.

One Page Poetry Circle – Poetry & Things Green.
Wednesday, April 14 at 7 PM
Nature. Money. Life. Prosperity. These are central ideas present in The Worst Hard Time and the theme for our selections this evening. Bring a single page of poetry by an established poet, plus your enthusiasm, thoughts, questions, and curiosity about the poems that others bring. The discussions will be led by Madge McKeithen, faculty member of The Writing Program at The New School.

Film Screening of No Impact Man
Friday, April 23 at 7 PM
Colin Beavan, a New York City writer and self-proclaimed liberal, has big plans for his new book. He decides on a grand experiment: to live one year with as little impact on the environment as possible. The problem is, the project requires his wife Michelle, an espresso-guzzling, Prada-worshipping business writer, and their young daughter to be fully on board. The family embarks on a year of no electricity, television, cars, toilet paper, elevators, or newspapers. Not rated; 93 minutes (2008). 

Film Screening of Disney’s Earth
Saturday, April 24 at 2 PM
Perfect for Families!
This documentary film is a feature length version of the dazzling BBC series Planet Earth. This stunning look at nature shows us whales cavorting in the oceans, rivers crashing down mountain-height waterfalls, the migratory patterns of several species, and many other wonders. Underlying the beautiful images is the manmade damage being done to nature. Narrated by James Earl Jones. Rated G; 90 minutes (2009).

Book Discussion – The Worst Hard Time
Thursday, April 29 at 7 PM
Join us for a final discussion of this classic disaster tale, and share your thoughts about the poignant stories, the unforgettable characters, the warning signs, the political repercussions, and the lessons offered in Timothy Egan’s best-selling non-fiction masterpiece. 

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Events for Teens

All events are held in the Teen Lounge.
Unless noted, registration is not required.

Make Your Own PSA
Wednesday, March 10 at 4 PM
What do you want to tell the world? Use our flip cams to film, edit, and publish your 60-second public service announcements on our website.

Stop-Motion Animation
Saturday, March 20 at 2:30 PM
Celebrate the golden age of animation by creating your own short stop-motion movie.

Special Edition of Write Now
Thursday, March 25 at 4 PM
Bring your writing that's related to one of the themes of Out of the Dust: nature, resilience, tragedy, or your own interpretation. Please register by calling 203-669-5225.

Film Screening of O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Saturday, April 3 at 2:30 PM
A Coen Brothers classic movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou? brings together the Great Depression and Homer's Odyssey for a hilarious look at the story of three men on the run. Rated PG-13; 93 minutes (2000).

Beautify the Teen Lounge Windows
Wednesday, April 7 at 4 PM
Draw murals on the teen lounge windows.

Make Beeswax Candles
Thursday, April 15 at 11 AM
Learn to make beautiful and useful candles from beeswax. Please register by calling 203-669-5225.

Film Screening of The 11th Hour
Saturday, April 17 at 2:30 PM
A documentary about the environmental crisis, The 11th Hour includes contributions from scientists, politicians, and journalists exploring the problems facing the Earth's life systems. Rated PG; 95 minutes (2007).

Turning Trash into Treasure
Wednesday, April 21 at 4 PM
Take junk - like light bulbs, puzzle pieces, cardboard boxes, greeting cards, washed jars and bottles - and transform it into art! We will provide supplies. Please register by calling 203-669-5225.

Film Screening of The Wizard of Oz
Saturday, April 24 at 2:30 PM
Watch one of the most well-known movies in American cinematic history, originally released in 1939. Rated G; 102 minutes.

Teen Film Contest
Enter your short films in our contest by April 30. Please check our website for details, including submission information, starting April 1. Open to teens age 13 - 18.

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Events for Children

All events are held in the Children's Library.

Sand Art
Wednesday, March 10 at 1:30 PM
Ages 3 - 5
Who thought playing in the sandbox could be so much fun?! Children will make works of art using sand as their medium. Registration for this program will begin on Monday, March 1. To register, please contact the Children's Library at 203-669-5235, or via email at crstaff@darienlibrary.org.

BookMANIA!: Free Verse Writing Program
Tuesday, March 16 at 4:15 PM
Ages 7 - 9
What is free verse? Kids will b e introduced to stories told in verse, similar to Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. After the reading, they will write down their own stories in verse.

Nature and the Dust Bowl
Wednesday, April 14 at 11:30 AM
Ages 5 and up
Discover the science and causes behind the Dust Bowl era in this nature program for children. Learn about wind erosion and "black blizzards" while also gaining hands-on knowledge with nature projects. Registration for this program will begin on Monday, March 1. To register, please contact the Children's Library at 203-669-5235, or via email at crstaff@darienlibrary.org.

Book Group for Kids
Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 PM
Ages 9 - 12
A book discussion of Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse and The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan. We will examine the way both of these non-traditional books, both free verse and graphic novel, reflect the time period during the Dust Bowl.

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Donation Drives

Children's Book Drive
March 17 through March 31
Darien Library will hold a book drive in conjunction with Darien Book Aid. We are accepting donations of new or nearly new children's books, which will then be distributed to the local community, Peace Corps volunteers, libraries, and schools all over the world.

Canned Goods Food Drive
April 1 through April 15
The Food Pantry at Person-to-Person provides enough groceries for clients to prepare three meals a day for several days. Darien Library is collecting non-perishable food donations for this local pantry. Please check expirations dates. The items of food in most need are:
Juice
Parmalat
Dried Beans
Oatmeal
Condensed Soup
Canned Fruit
Jell-O
Instant Coffee & Tea
Cookies
Crackers

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Coming soon!

By the time February rolls around, I am so tired of winter. I don't care what the groundhog has to say - one more day of winter is too much, as far as I'm concerned. So, I like to think of February as a short sprint toward spring. Luckily, we have lots to keep our minds busy as we careen wildly toward winter's finish line. Throughout the month, as usual, we'll have the "latest" and the "biggest" DVD releases arriving, but we're also expecting some of the best in weirdness (see Pezheads, at left), wonder, and wow. Please take a few moments and poke the antennas out from inside those cozy winter cocoons -  here are some of the DVDs that will arrive soon that are probably not on your radar. 

So, now that we've taken care of the unexpected, here are a few of the movies that we know you've been expecting:

February.

Stay warm.

Enjoy.

Watch time fly.