It’s time for the latest installment of what we are reading/watching/listening to!  And with a weekend of foul weather ahead we are making sure that we not only have the necessary bread/milk/eggs, but that we also have laid in wonderful books and movies too.

Jen D.

I am loving the latest from Chris Bojhalian Secrets of Eden.  From the very beginning you are sure that something is not quite right with the Rev. Stephen Drew and you just can’t put your finger on it.  However, if you have ever read Bojhalian before, you know that it will be even more twisted than you ever dreamed.

Barbara M.

It would seem that Barbara is in serious nesting mode!   Her pick is Your Home, Your Sanctuary by Clodagh.  It is a Rizzoli book so you know it will be beautiful.

She is also reading Enemies of the People: My Family’s Journey to America by Kati Marton. Sure, Marton’s family survived the Nazis but little did they imagine that the worst was yet to come under Communist rule.  Everyone who we have spoken with who has read it loves this book.

Abby S.
Abs is slogging through the new Ian Rankin Doors Open.  She reports that she does not like it as much as she did the Rebus series but she’s sticking with it.

Bill T.
Bill liked the Hurt Locker a lot.  This movie is about the US Army bomb disposal unit stationed in Iraq.  Not at all political in nature, this film simply tells of the not so simple job these soldiers do every day.

And I must confess that we are still discussing Game Change and can’t wait to get our hands on The Politician:  An Insider’s Account of John Edward’s Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal that Brought Him Down by Andrew Young.   Pat T. asked the very thought provoking question at lunch, "would you still vote for the canidate of your choice at the time after reading this book?"  I told you that we can be a tad obsessive!  

Have a great, safe weekend!

 

As you may know, Meet Us on Main Street has returned and meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m.!

(In case you didn't know and/or would like to join us, you'll find us just inside the main entrance. Warning: It's habit-forming.)

We've been talking and listening and talking and listening (and talking) and now it's time to catch up. Click below to find out what all the buzz (and talk) has been about.

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.

All classics have a common trait - they are timeless. It's the essence of being a classic, and the reason that you can read a classic book, watch a classic movie, wear classic fashion, drive a classic car, and play a classic video game (yes, I feel old, too!), and easily see the elements of influence from all of these things represented in the even most contemporary and innovative works of art and technology today. Which is why it can be incredibly fun, enlightening, and satisfying to kick back and enjoy a classic novel or film - whether you'll be reading it on your e-reader, watching it on your iPad, or a simply turning the pages in a book.

Please join us this February, March, and April for our Spring Classics Discussion Series. This time, our selections feature a mysterious death that haunts a marriage, a coming-of-age tale about conformity and independence, a madwoman locked in an attack, and one of the most romantic stories every written. For each selection, we'll begin with a Monday afternoon movie showing. Then, the following Thursday afternoon, join us to chat about the respective books and authors over tea & scones in our cozy Classics room, located on the 2nd floor.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

• Monday, February 22 at 2 PM - Film Screening of Rebecca (1940); Not Rated.
  Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sander.
• Thursday, February 25 at 3 PM - Discussion of the book, film, and author  

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

• Monday, March 22 at 2 PM - Film Screening of Little Women (1994); Rated PG.
  Starring Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne, Eric Stoltz, Kirsten Dunst.
• Thursday, March 25 at 3 PM - Discussion of the book, film, and author 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• Monday, April 12 at 2 PM - Film Screening of Jane Eyre (1944); Not Rated.
  Starring Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine.
• Thursday, April 15 at 3 PM - Discussion of the book, film, and the Bronte sisters.

And we cannot tell a lie, the majority of us are working on Game Change still and loving it.  When we get something juicy like this we become obsessed.  We discuss endlessly and pass it from person to person.  We have not gotten this worked up since Never Enough!  But some of us do have other irons in the fire and here is this week’s selection for your perusal!

Erica L.

 As some of you may know Erica is a huge fan of Katie Arnoldi who wrote one of our departmental favorites, The Wentworths.  You should have heard the squeals of delight when Erica was able to score an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of her new novel Point Dume.   It is due out in May and she is having lots of fun with it.  Erica is having some good guilty fun watching the Gossip Girl series on DVD.

Priscilla S.

Found a delightful movie in Bright Star which tells the story of John Keats and his muse Fanny Brawne.  It is a Jane Campion film (we love those!) and according to Priscilla it is a good movie to needlepoint to.

Abby S.

Abs has left Sweden behind for the moment and is enjoying The Finest Hours:  The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guards Most Daring Sea Rescue  by Michael Tougias.  It tells the tale of the dramatic rescue off Cape Cod in 1952 of two ships broken in two by a storm.  

Pat T.

Pat is happily listening to The Vagrants by Yiyun Li. It revolves around the execution of Shan Gu during the Cultural Revolution in China and those affected by it.  Some rejoice, some mourn but everyone has a story to tell.

Have a lovely, lovely weekend!

 

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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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!

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

For more information, please click here.
 

Even though February is the shortest month, the foul weather and long dark nights can make it feel like a situation that will go on forever.  Hopefully some fabulous new offerings that are making their way towards us will help that situation.

On February 2nd we have the new Chris Bohjalian to look forward to! In Secrets of Eden was Baptist preacher Reverend Stephen Drew involved in the murder suicide of his two new congregants?  What was his involvement with the wife of the pair?  We cannot wait to find out the answers to these questions because we know Bohjalian will put a spin on it that we never could have imagined.

One book that several of us have read is a first novel from Sarah Blake entitled The Postmistress and we cannot wait to share it with you.  The story begins with the question what would happen if a letter never reaches its intended recipient? Blake then proceeds to spin three stories of three very different women for whom 1940 will be a pivotal year.  This wonderful tale takes us from a seemingly simple existence on Cape Cod to a London damaged by the Blitz to a terror filled Europe.  We really, really loved this story and we cannot wait to hear what you think.  Look for this one around the 9th.

It's Swedish, it’s a mystery, it's Hennig Mankell.  Could Abby get any more excited? The Man From Beijing tells the stories  of Jan Andren’s time in America as a foreman helping to build the transcontinental railroad and that of San, who was kidnapped in China in 1863 and shipped to America for the same purpose. How are these two men linked to a village massacre in the present day? On February 16th we all get to find out.

We love William Boyd and Ordinary Thunderstormswhich is due out on the 1st sounds like another wonderful story from a man who has never let  us down in that department.  What happens when you are forced to go “underground” and lose your identity?  And, oh yeah!  You have an assassin on your trail.  Add a pharmaceutical company, some missing documents, and a couple of dead bodies and you have something we can’t wait to get our hands on!

Under the non-fiction umbrella we are fascinated by The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  Rebecca Skloot tells the story of African American Henrietta Lacks whose cells were harvested months before her death of cervical cancer.  What have these cells meant in the world of medicine and research?  They have helped find the polio vaccine, shed light on the secrets of cancer, and have  aided advances in the world of reproductive medicince.  Although these cells are a valuable commodity in the research field of medicine, her family has not only not seen any profit from this but  they too have been guinea pigs of a sort.  Early reviews are saying this is an eminently readable piece of scientific history. Look for this one at the beginning of the month.

Let’s hope that what feels like the longest month flies by like the shortest month it is!

There is no doubt that we are smack dab in the middle of winter and what better way to wade through than with a good book and a lovely fire in the fireplace.  Here is this week’s installment of What We Are Reading This Week!

Abby S.

 Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. This is the latest silliness from Fforde who always creates an interesting world outside of what is possible and sometimes desirable.  In this book, it's a society organized by caste according to what colors one is able to see most vividly. Purple is at the top of the heap, and greys always steal the bacon.
Googled: The End Of the World As We Know It by Ken Auletta  I am listening to this book on CD which is all about the visionary engineers who created Google and how it has grown into the force we know today. 
Then We Came To the End by Joshua Ferris.This novel explores life at an ad agency in its decline and the characters that fill its cubicles and suites. 

Marianne P.  

I 'm reading U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton and it’s another winner from an extremely talented author. Memorable characters and thought-provoking psychological and historical themes make this page turner a very satisfying read.

Erica L.

Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar. The book that started it all!   The young, beautiful, privileged and behaving badly and running amok in Manhattan!
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart. Will Ruby be able to survive the loss of her boyfriend, best friend and the respect of her fellow class mates?

Barbara M.

The Glass Room by Simon Mawer. A fictional account of a very real house that survived World War II.