Where the Fur Flies

Tigers are awesome! This may be why we use them in our literature and advertising as in Detroit Tigers, the Flying Tigers, Pooh Bear & Tigger, Tony the Tiger, and even the Tigers of Tammany. This year, 2010, the Chinese New Year will honor the "Year of the Tiger."

The tiger is a member of the Felidae family. They are the largest of the four "big cats." Check out our materials for a better understanding of this majestic creature. Even in fiction writings, their grandeur is apparent.

Tiger by Stephen Mills. What does a tiger do in its spare time? Learn their behavior, social structure, breeding patterns, family life, eating, and communication habits. Also addressed is the religious significance of tigers, conservation efforts, and where to observe them in the wild.

Life in the Valley of Death: The Fight to Save Tigers in a Land of Guns, Gold, and Greed by Alan Rabinowitz. "This book is not your typical chronicle of rescuing wildlife. Rather it's a clear-eyed rendering of conservation's unruly, dangerous, and chaotic side." (Audubon) If you have read Rabinowitz's Jaguar: Struggle and Triumph in the Jungles of Belize, you will enjoy this story of his crusade to save the tiger. This is also a preferred book on the Riverhead Reads book list for winter 2010.

The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and Their Culture by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas. From the author of The Hidden Life of Dogs, Thomas will have cat lovers purring. Though you may not always agree with her, she will provide insights into how all cats, big or little, are similar. The most enthralling subject in this book proves to be the tiger. A delightful book for those who don't mind her sometimes wild observations.

Tigers in Red Weather: A Quest for the Last Wild Tigers by Ruth Padel. Take a journey with Padel in her memoirs to various parts of the eastern hemisphere to spot tigers. Learn how and why the number of these beautiful animals are diminishing. Padel still manages to give us hope by providing a list of tiger-focused charities for concerned readers.

And for those who want to enjoy the tiger in motion, try India: Kingdom of the Tiger by IMAX cinema. Journey to India and come face to face with the Bengal tiger. Enjoy this stunning clarity of the tiger at work on DVD.

Another DVD, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, though not about the lives of tigers & dragons, takes the name of two powerful creatures. Set in 19th century China, two master warriors come face to face as if they were a tiger and dragon. Action packed!

Riverhead Reads

Sign up now at the Reference Desk for the Adult Winter Reading Club 2010. Read or listen to any book for a chance to win prizes in weekly raffle drawings. Get extra chances to win by reading a book from our preferred reading list. This winter's theme is Riverhead Reads: Making a Difference Globally & in Your Community. Check out the newest display with the presents on the top shelf for a sampling of these books. Here are a few....

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz is the inspiring story of a woman who left a career in international banking to embark on a quest to understand and tackle global poverty. It all started on a trip to Africa where the author saw a boy wearing a cherished blue wool sweater she had donated to Goodwill eleven years earlier.

For those who want to know how to get involved,Volunteerism edited by Frank McGuckin is an excellent resource. A series of essays and articles lays bare the issues surrounding the topic and introduces private and the national service agencies, including AmeriCorps. While providing thought- provoking critiques about the failure of some efforts, the book also sheds light on the rewards of volunteering.
Animal Investigators: How the World's First Wildlife Forensics Lab is Solving Crimes and Saving Endangered Species by Laurel A. Neme, Ph.D. shares behind-the-scenes cases and describes the scientific methods through which the lab safeguards endangered species that are being poached for their body parts. Filled with suspense, this book unfolds like a crime novel.

For readers in the mood for more serious biographies of remarkable people who made a difference, try Failure is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in her Own Words by Lynn Sherr. Raised as a Quaker with a strong sense of social responsibility, Anthony was a key figure in the women's suffrage movement--but her legacy goes far beyond the vote.

Blue Ribbon Book Stop

For those in a hurry for the holidays, grab a book from our newest display "Short & Sweet: Reading on the Run." These notable short story collections will be on display through December 21, 2009.

Delhi Noir edited by Hirsh Sawhney is part of the Akashic Noir award-winning series that launched in 2004. Each book is comprised of all new stories set in a distinct city and featuring dark tales. The legendary city of Delhi proves fertile ground for tales from the city's underside. The books contributors are as diverse as their stories--from Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs; Punjabis, Biharis, Bengalis, and Keralites.

Close Range: Wyoming Stories is by Annie Proulx, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Shipping News. Set in a landscape both brutal and magnificant, Proulx's collection features stories of cowboys, rodeo riders, and ranches. It includes the tale of Brokeback Mountain from which the award-winning movie was made.

Adaptations: From Short Story to Big Screen by Stephanie Harrison highlights 35 great stories that have inspired great films. All About Eve, Rear Window, and 2001: A Space Odyssey are much-loved movies that began their lives as short stories. Adaptations gathers together stories that have been the basis for films, many from giants in American literature.

There are many award-winning and unique collections on display, including for specific genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Check out this display for some quick and satisfying reads.

Fireside Chat

Come in out of the cold this winter and join us around the fireplace for a chat about the latest books. Details will be in the library's next newsletter. If you liked Booked for Lunch, you'll love our Fireside Chat. In the meantime, here's a preview of some of the new non-fiction travel books on the new book shelf....

Tropic of Capricorn: A Remarkable Journey to the Forgotten Corners of the World by Simon Reeve spans 23,000 miles around the globe. Starting in Africa and heading east through Australia and South America, Reeve encounters breathtaking landscapes and remarkable people--from the Bushmen of the Kalahari and Nambian prostitutes battling HIV to gem miners in Madagascar and teenagers in the Brazilian favela, once described as the most dangerous place on earth. Not for the faint of heart, this plunges beyond the usual travelogue.

In Mozambique Mysteries, novelist and world traveler Lisa St. Aubin de Teran captures the spirit Mozambique, which seems remote and unreachable to many westerners. Enthralled by this unique but poor country, the author finds the perfect place to realize her dream of founding a college for tourism and agriculture.


Talking Heads' founder David Byrne creates another unique travel experience in Bicycle Diaries. As a cyclist, Bryne's whole world opened up when he discovered folding bikes and took to the road internationally. What he sees and whom he meets, as he pedals through the streets of Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Manila, and more, is the subject of this eye-opening celebration of the world from the seat of a bike.

Blue Ribbon Book Stop

Visit the latest holiday display this November 2009, honoring colonial America. Several standout books have been written about Jamestown, the Virginia settlement that pre-dates the Mayflower.

Savage Kingdom: The True Story of Jamestown, 1607, and the Settlement of America by Benjamin Woolley is "a well-told story of discovery, conquest, business, and politics." The award-winning author and broadcaster meticulously gathers and documents many fascinating details of this first permanent English colony in North America.

Captain John Smith: Jamestown and the Birth of the American Dream by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler draws from primary sources, including John Smith's own writings, to tell the story of the colony's most famous founder. Edgar award-winning authors also deconstruct the myth of the relationship between Captain Smith and Pocahontas.

The Jamestown Project by Karen Ordahl Kupperman enlarges the colony's story to encompass all the factors that led up to its founding, including the view from England toward the New World. Kupperman, an NYU historian, also reveals the dark side of this seeming success story.

These three non-fiction works are recent additions, written to honor the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in 1607.

Book Discussion: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
7 p.m.

This remarkable tale about the English Channel island of Guernsey began during the German occupation in WWII. When a group of Guernsey residents were discovered breaking curfew, they made the excuse that they were members of a book group. Thus began The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

The novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows uses the format of letters, written post-WWII, from the warm-hearted, eccentric inhabitants of Guernsey to a writer who finds inspiration for her next book in the correspondence. All from fully formed characters, the letters recount both humorous and horrific wartime events.

You won't want to miss this is a favorite among discussion groups. Sign up online at the Reference Desk or register online.

In the News

Check out the Riverhead Free Library's newsletter for information about a bus trip to Amish Country (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Sign up today at the Public Information Desk.

Visit our October 2009 book display to learn more about the Amish, or to read a good Amish mystery or romance. Here are a few samples . . .

The real-life horrific shooting of ten Amish schoolgirls in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, in 2006, stunned the larger world. Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher explores the many questions about religious beliefs that allowed the Amish to forgive so quickly.

A Prayer for the Night: An Ohio Amish Mystery comes from popular Amish writer P.L. Gaus, who deftly balances the pace and practices of Amish life in northern Ohio against the unfolding urgency of a hostage situation. Gaus is praised by reviewers for his "refreshing authenticity" in this account of rumschpringe, that indefinite period during which Amish teens are permitted to immerse themselves in the modern world before deciding if they want to embrace traditional ways.

Those who like sweeter stories may want to try The Parting, a novel by Beverly Lewis, noted for her award-winning Amish stories. The first part of the three-book series (The Courtship of Nellie Fisher), The Parting ignites a clash between the old and the new. Well-drawn characters, a romance, and the exploration of Amish traditions and a relationship with God all lend depth to this popular series.

Yellow Barn: Fall/Winter Hours 2009

The Yellow Barn hours are being extended! We will remain open this fall/winter 2009 on Mondays and Fridays from 8:30 to 10 a.m., weather permitting. A variety of political and history books, particularly about the WWII era, are available for purchase. Or, stock up on children's shows on video tape for only 25 cents apiece.

Book Discussion: The Professor and the Madman

Tuesday, October 20
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Open Room

Join us for a discussion of this international bestseller: The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester. An extraordinary tale of madness and genius, this marvelous true story tells of the obsessions of two men who were primarily responsible for the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. It explores not only the dark side of the human psyche but chronicles the making of a masterpiece. Remarkably readable and well researched. Please sign up online or register at the Public Information Desk or at the Reference Desk.

In the News

Even today books are banned by certain institutions or in other venues for political, religious, sexual or social reasons. Beginning in 1982, the American Library Association (ALA) has celebrated Banned Book Week annually during the last week of September. The goal of this weeklong event is to keep the concept of literary freedom in the forefront of Americans' minds. Look for our display of books that have been banned throughout the ages, and select your own banned book to read!

Here are just a few of them...

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence was inspired by the long-standing affair between Lawrence's German wife and an Italian peasant who eventually became her third husband. This fictionalized account is the story of Constance Chatterley, who, while trapped in an unhappy marriage to an aristocratic mine owner whose war wounds have left him paralyzed and impotent becomes involved with a gamekeeper. Many critics consider it Lawrence's best novel.

Candide by Voltaire tells the story of a naive youth who is conscripted, shipwrecked, and tortured by the Inquisition without losing his will to live. Voltaire is a brilliant satirist and one of the most influential figures of the eighteenth century Enlightenment. Highly readable, this is a book you will long remember.

Famed and recently deceased author John Updike was a prolific novelist, poet, and short story writer, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Rabbit, Run, his second novel, is about a high-school basketball star who on an impulse, at the age of twenty six, deserts his wife. Set in a small urban area of southeastern Pennsylvania in 1959, the story portrays the potentially tragic clash between religion and morality.

Where the Fur Flies

"My horses not only taught me riding but they also made me understand many a wisdom of life besides." Words of Alois Podhajsky of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria. "The world's past has been born [sic] on his back. We are his heirs; he is our inheritance." From: "Ode to the Horse" How true this is if you love horses. Horses have played an important role in the history of the world.

Enjoy the many different books and media we have to offer. Here are a few of my favorites.

Hollywood Hoofbeats: Trails Blazed Across The Silver Screen by Petrine Day Mitchum.
You will have fun identifying horses from your favorite TV shows and silver screen movies. Tricks of the trade are also discussed such as the proper way to teach a horse to fall on cue. These behind-the-scenes portraits of the horses, their trainers, owners, and co-stars will bring you to a 'galloping good read.'

Mary White. Mary White lived from 1904-1920. She was the daughter of William Allen White, a well known Kansas state journalist. This film is based on the story that he wrote as a tribute to his daughter, an equestrian, whose outlook on life is was refreshing. You don't even need to be a horse lover to enjoy this.

Horseplay: A Novel by Judy Reene Singer. Judy Van Brunt catches her husband in another relationship. She decides she has had enough. She quits her job and heads south to work on a horse farm. There, she shares an apartment with three other women and a teenager. Working with horses and her friends outweights any problems. Those who love horses will enjoy this light, funny story.

My Horses, My Teachers by Alois Podhajsky. This story is a literary monument to Podhajsky's equine teachers and companions of a lifetime. It is full of love, humor, sadness and devotion to his four-legged friends. Not only did the Lippizaners fulfill his life, but the thoroughbreds helped him to win a bronze medal in the 1936 Olympics.

Full Cry by Rita Mae Brown. This is the third novel in the foxhunting series with Jane Arnold, master of the foxhounds. She leads us into another intricate, witty, who-done-it murder with the Jefferson Hunt Club members.

Book Discussion - A Fine Balance

A Fine Balance : a novel
by Rohinton Mistry

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
7 - 8 PM
Riverhead Free Library Open Room

Life in an unnamed Indian city couldn't be worse when four people join forces in order to survive. Dina, a seamstress who is losing her sight, two tailors and Maneck, a student, share a cramped apartment and learn that compassion and cooperation make it possible to create a bond, shaping their dire circumstances into something bearable and dramatically changing themselves for the better.

Listen Up!

This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival. Originally
the concert was designed as a profit-making venture to be held at Mills Industrial Park in upstate New York. As it became clear that hundreds of thousands of people would attend, it turned into a "free concert" held at Max Yasgur's 600 acre dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, NY. The first stars to sign up to perform at the event were Creedence Clearwater Revival. Many popular bands of the era declined to perform because there was little indication of the importance the event would eventually assume. The festival was filmed and made into a documentary that won an Academy Award in 1970. Every decade, there have been peaceful namesake events. However, the festival in 1999 was highly commercialized and ended badly with a fire.

Check out our CDs for several of the performers at Woodstock Festival 1969:

Ultimate Santana is a compilation album that features ths smash hits -- "Smooth," "Maria Maria'" "Black Magic Woman," and "Oye Como Va."

The Very Best of Grateful Dead is a 17 track disc collection offering a very good overview of the Dead's greatest hits including "Truckin'" and "Touch of Grey."

Bayou Country Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fantasy Records has taken a selection of CCR's albums and reissued them in a digitally remasterd format with rare and previously unreleased bonus material supplementing each release.

The Essential Janis Joplin - This two disc album includes many live recordings of Joplin's performances. There are songs from her previous albums that have been remastered to sound flawless. This includes the hits that you would expect like "Summertime," "Kozmic Blues," and "Mercedes Benz."

The Who scored 16 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1967 and 1982. This greatest hits disc includes "I Can See For Miles, " "Won't Get Fooled Again," and the ultimate punk anthem "My Generation."

The Essential Jefferson Airplane - This 32 track compilation covers the band's seven albums and two live offerings. This is a well chosen selection with first rate liner notes that highlight the Airplane's diverse influences as it echoed and exemplified the turbulent end of the '60s and the beginning of the '70s.

What Goes Up!: The Best of Blood, Sweat and Tears - This 2-disc compilation contains 32 of Blood Sweat and Tears' greatest hits. Their 1969 self-titled album won Album of The Year at the Grammy Awards, beating The Beatles' Abbey Road. The commercial and critical acclaim enjoyed by the band in 1969 culminated in an appearance at the Woodstock Festival, in which it enjoyed headliner status.

Jimi Hendrix Live at Woodstock is a 2-disc collection of highlights from Hendrix's legendary closing set at Woodstock. With classics -- "Message To Love," "Foxey Lady," and "Purple Haze."

Hits /Joni Mitchell Athough she did not appear at the Woodstock Festival, she did write the classic tune "Woodstock," which appears on this greatest hits CD along with "River," and "Big Yellow Taxi."

Mr. Hollywood Speaks

Mr. Hollywood is back and in this edition we feature films from the late great John Hughes. Hughes passed away on August 6th, so let’s celebrate his life by checking out some of the great films that he has written and produced.

The Breakfast Club is a story of five high school students--a rebel, an athlete, a Brain, a brincess and a basketcase--who find themselves thrown together serving a Saturday morning detention. They do not have much in common, except giving up their day, sitting in the school library, and writing an essay for the principal. Then they start to pour their hearts out to each other. They talk about their fears, secrets, deepest emotions, and problems.

In Pretty in Pink , Molly Ringwald plays a poor girl who falls in love with a rich guy and must find a way to deal with her family and friends who are unhappy about it.

Bueller !!!!!!!!!! We all remember it being yelled. Ferris Bueller's Day Off chronicles the

events in the day of a rather magical 17-year-old who, one spring day towards the end of his senior year, gives into an overwhelming urge to cut school and head for downtown Chicago. This was the film that launched Matthew Broderick's career and showcased Jennifer Grey as well.

Where the Fur Flies

In the News

Woodstock is over, but there's still time to celebrate the '60s this August. Visit our book and CD display nearest the circulation desk and pick out your favorite '60s icon or read about rockets and remember the war in Vietnam. There's something for everyone. Here's a sample.

1969 by Rob Kirkpatrick chronicles American music, news, politics, art, publishing, and sports during 1969 from Woodstock to the Manson family to Richard Nixon's presidency to the gay rights movement.

Aquarius Revisited: Seven Who Created the Sixties Counterculture That Changed America by Peter O. Whitmer with Bruce VanWyngarden is a joyful and intriguing romp through this controversial era with a focus on the ideas and writings of seven key figures that define the decade, including William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Norman Mailer.

Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon by Craig Nelson recreates the story of the Apollo II moon mission as well as providing the history of rocketry, human space flight, and the space race.

Keep Your Head Down: Vietnam, the Sixties, and a Journey of Self-Discovery by Doug Anderson offers an evocative depiction of the author's service in Vietnam and its effects when he returns to America. In a life-changing trip back to Vietnam in 2000, he meets with former enemies who are now, like him, writers and poets.

Book Discussion: Welcome to Shirley

Welcome to Shirley: A Memoir From an Atomic Town
by Kelly McMasters
Wednesday, August 19
7 - 8 p.m.
Riverhead Free Library Open Room

In this unforgettable story of working-class Long Island, author Kelly McMasters offers a rare glimpse into the town of Shirley where she grew up. Plagued by one disaster after another, the town's residents are forced to cope with the untimely deaths of loved ones trapped in the middle of a cancer cluster. Searching for answers, McMasters probes beneath the surface and links the tragedy to Brookhaven National Laboratory. Whether or not you agree with the conclusions, McMasters' methodical research and deliciously engaging voice are sure to promote a lively discussion. Please sign up at the Reference Desk for this event. Everyone is welcome.

Yellow Barn: Summer 2009 Hours

Riverhead Free Library's Yellow Barn has new extended hours for the summer 2009. The Barn will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting.

Stop by the Yellow Barn to purchase gently used books. Members of the Friends of the Riverhead Free Library will direct you to whatever you might want, including children's books and books in foreign languages.

Book Discussion: Travels With Charley

The late Nobel prize-winning author John Steinbeck left the safety of his Sag Harbor home in 1960 and set out on a cross-country adventure that became the subject of the book Travels With Charley. This travel memoir records the author's emotions and experiences as he rediscovers his native land with his beloved poodle, Charley. Despite his fragile health, Steinbeck realizes that he still has the strength and resources to be on his own.

There's still time to sign up at the Reference Desk for this book discussion, held Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 7 p.m. We look forward to your participation.

Where the Fur Flies

Summer is here and family trips are being planned. Don't forget to plan for your furry friends as well. If you think of your pet as a family member, their comfort and safety is vital. Check out our travel books with pets. There is information on accommodations, airlines, dog parks, national parks, emergency clinics and more. Relax with a fiction or mystery about traveling with your animals or about petsitting. Remember to provide shade and fresh water for all outside animals. Enjoy the summer!

Here are a few for the the road...

Fodor's Road Guide USA. Where To Stay With Your Pet

Take Your Pet Too! : Fun Things To Do!

Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook.

Vacationing With Your Pet! : Eileen's Directory Of Pet-Friendly Lodging.

Check out the Vacation Station display for these and similar books.

And for your reading pleasure, take a look at these...

Travels With Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck. Travel with Mr. Steinbeck and his playful poodle, Charley, as they explore and experience American in the 1960s. The book

starts out from Sag Harbor.

A Cat On A Beach Blanket by Lydia Adamson. Housesitting in the Hamptons turns deadly when a poet is killed and Alice is the prime suspect.