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.