Born to be Wild!

Our adventures will now take you to the extreme north and the extreme south. Available for your reading pleasure are a few Arctic and Antarctic exploration books from our collection that will let you feel the chill of winter a bit early. So set a fire in the fireplace, grab a blanket and one of our books, and enjoy!

A Fabulous Kingdom : The Exploration of the Arctic by Charles Officer and Jake Page. "Inconsistant and forbidding, the Arctic lured misguided voyagers into the cold for centuries--pushing them beyond the limits of their knowledge, technology, and stamina." This book charts these quests and the eventual race for the North Pole.

"The link to friends and family had been severed. Now there was no turning back. The only direction home was..." North to the Pole. North to the Pole by

Will Steger with Paul Schurke explains how in 1986 the Steger International Polar Expedition set out with no resupply of equipment or supplies to prove the heavily debated question of whether Robert Peary reached the Pole in 1909 in a similar manner.

Here we have another North Pole adventure: Across the Top of the World: To the North Pole by Sled, Balloon, Airplane and Nuclear Icebreaker. This one took place in 1991 aboard the Soviet nuclear-powered icebreaker Sovetskiy Soyuz. This adventure traces the routes of such explorers as Dr. Frederick Cook, Admiral Robert Peary, Admiral Byrd, Sir John Franklin, George Nares, and others who launched their own treacherous expeditions.

Sara Wheeler's book entitled Terra Incognita:Travels in Antarctica tells of how the author embarked on the same journey as the famous Ernest Shackleton. Eighty years after Shackleton, Wheeler weaves together her own experiences on the ice, linked with the grueling advetures of Antarctica's most mythic figures.

In Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage and Tragedy by David Crane, Crane provides a portrait of the explorer that has not been seen in prior works. Also included are accounts of Scott's dramatic journeys that are the most compelling parts of his story. These are only slices of a larger narrative that includes remarkable scientific achievement and the challanges of a tumultuous private life.

Where the fur flies

After having a fun day outside, you may just want to relax with a good animal movie. We have old time favorites and plenty of new movies for your enjoyment.

Funny movies such as The Cat From Outer Space may be just the one you were looking for!

Looking for adventure/action? The Colt is a sure bet with its Civil War setting

and is based on a true story.

Inspired by a true story? In the popular movie Eight Below, a scientific expedition is forced to leave behind their team of beloved sled dogs due to a sudden accident and perilous weather conditions in Antarctica. The dogs must struggle for survival slone in the intense frozen wilderness for over six months.

Moondance Alexander is a very nice family movie about a 15-year-old girl who befriends a horse.

Local History Book Stop

With summer on the wane and fall approaching, now is a good time to enjoy some of the pleasures of the North Fork. And there's more than just pumpkin picking! Whether or not you're a wine aficionado, a trip to the local vineyards can be a relaxing "day-cation."

To get in the mood or just to be an armchair traveler, read The Vineyard: The Pleasures and Perils of Creating an American Family Winery by Louisa Thomas Hargrave. In 1973, along with her husband, Hargrave purchased a run-down 1680 potato farm and began growing wine grapes on the North Fork when most experts said that it was impossible. About this book, author Hugh Johnson says, " You don't look for covered wagon stories as close to home as this, but everyone who plants a new vineyard is a pioneer..." This memoir got excellent reviews from Riverhead patrons who have already read the book.

John Ross has been a professional chef and restaurant owner on the North Fork of Long Island for over 30 years. His book, The Food and Wine of the North Fork: Historical Anecdotes and Recipes, provides a different look at the area. Ross takes readers on a nostalgic tour of North Fork restaurants from 1870 to the present, complete with photographs.

For more information on North Fork wines, vineyards, dining, and lodging, drop by the Reference Desk and browse through a reference copy of Guide to Long Island Wine Country by Peter M. Gianotti, published by Newsday Books.

Book Discussion: Babylon's Ark

Wednesday, October 22

7 to 8 p.m.

Written by South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony, with Graham Spence, Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo gives a harrowing account of Anthony's efforts to save the abandoned animals of the Baghdad Zoo during the coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003. An eye-opening and heartwarming story, it shows how conservationists, soldiers, and civilians put aside their differences and work together. For his efforts, Anthony received the Earth Day Medal.

Sign up for this book discussion and pick up a copy of the book at the Reference Desk.

Blue Ribbon Book Stop

It's back to school for the kids and time for adults to take stock of their stock and finances. For those of you ready for some serious reading now that the summer fun is over, check out these books.

Suze Orman, personal finance guru with her own television show, has written a number of books. This classic The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop

Worrying urges readers to gain control of their finances. Attitudes and feelings about money as well as mastering the practical elements of financial planning with easy-to-follow procedures are provided in this all-encompassing book

For those who may want to gear up for retirement, try Kiplinger's Retire Worry-Free: Money-Smart Ways to Build the Nest Egg You'll Need from the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Strategies for dealing with IRAs, 401(k)s, Keoghs, profit sharing, life and long-term-care insurance, annuities and pensions, social security, and Medicare are all covered in this comprehensive read.

For a quick route to riches, take a look at The Ulitmate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager. Dubbed by Matt Lauer on the Today Show as the ulitmate cheapskate, Yeager shows you how to buy less stuff, retire young, and live financially free, while you make a positive difference in people's lives and on the planet. He lays out practical principles that make cheap the new cool.

Check out the September 2008 "123" display for more guides to financial wisdom.