Book Discussion: Blue Highways

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

7 to 8 p.m.

Don't forget to join us for a discussion of Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon. Traveling around the perimeter of the United States, Heat-Moon discovers true adventure on the nation's back roads--from towns like Remote, Oregon; Simplicity, Virginia; and even parts of Long Island. This classic tale is hailed as a masterpiece in American travel writing.

It also kicks off the theme for the adult summer reading club, Riverhead Reads: America the Beautiful. You may sign up immediately for the book discussion at the Reference Desk. Register for the reading club beginning Saturday, June 19, or check this blog for more information.

Hidden Treasures

Check out the new May 2010 display and take a book home with you. Most of these unique, significant, or just plain entertaining books have been neglected for a year or more. They need you to check them out! Without your attention, some of them could even be removed from our collection. Here's a sample...

Soak up the summer sun with Lifeguarding: A Memoir of Secrets, Swimming and the South by Catherine McCall. Set in segregated 1960s Louisville, Kentucky, psychiatrist and author McCall tells of her family home, haunted by ghosts and family secrets. For her and her siblings, competitive swimming becomes an outlet for a difficult home life. "Immensely compelling and deeply moving..." (Publishers Weekly)

Prefer to take a voyage to the tropics? The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific will lead you into another world with acclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux. The author kayaks from island to island in the Pacific sharing his adventures in this highly readable travel memoir.

In Sandra Cisneros delightful second novel, Caramelo, a family embarks on their annual car trip from Chicago to Mexico City. Along the way, Lala Reyes listens to stories about her family, including her grandmother, the descendant of a renowned dynasty of shawl makers.

Look for more great Hidden Treasures in the months to come on this blog!

Book Discussion: Local History

New date!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
10 a.m. to noon
Stage Room

Mark your calendars for the new date of the local history book discussion. As an exciting addition to the program, local historian Richard Wines will join us. Mr. Wines will speak about the history of Community Volunteerism in the Riverhead area. This will be followed by a group discussion. Sign up for the program and pick up a copy of the suggested reading, Journey Through Time: The Riverhead Bicentennial 1792 -1992, edited by Barbara Austen, at the Adult Reference Desk.

Check the upcoming July/August newsletter for more information about this and other reading programs. In the meantime, sign up for the next book discussion, Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon. This will be held Wednesday, June 30, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. In this classic true story, Heat-Moon recounts his unforgettable adventures traveling the nation's backroads, including through parts of Long Island. A true American experience.

In the News

Volcanoes are as fascinating as they are terrifying. Many books found at the library offer insight and historical information on this subject, popularized by the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland.

For general information, try Volcanoes by Mauro Rosi, Paolo Papale, Luca Lupi, and Marco Stoppato. This fully illustrated book provides a wealth of information about the geology of volcanoes and describes the structure and history of one hundred volcanoes around the world.

Simon Winchester, bestselling author of The Professor and the Madman, and one of the most renowned science writers of our time, tells the story of the world's most famous volcano in Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883. This critically acclaimed book is sure to cativate both volcano enthusiasts and general audiences. Beyond the purely physical horrors of the event, Winchester shows how the eruption changed the world in more ways than could possibly be imagined.

To learn more about the little country and the volcano that literally brought air travel to a halt throughout much of Europe, check out the travel books on Iceland, including the Thomas Cook guide Iceland. Color photos illustrate the stark beauty of this unique country made up of volcanoes, which erupted as recently as 2004.

Book Discussion: River of Doubt

River of Doubt:
Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard

Tuesday, April 20
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

This national bestseller, by first-time author Candice Millard, tells the dramatic tale of former president Theodore Roosevelt's expedition down an uncharted tributary of the Amazon. Roosevelt and his men endured starvation, Indian attack, disease, drowning, and a murder perpetrated by one of their own men. This is a powerful non-fiction thriller that is sure to provoke a lively discussion.

In the News

Yesterday was all about the Irish. If you enjoyed St. Paddy's Day, try enjoying the evening with some good Irish authors.

The late Frank McCourt is best known for Angela's Ashes, a multiple award-winning memoir in which the author recounts his life as the child of Irish immigrants in Depression-era Brooklyn. After the death of McCourt's sister, the family decides to return to even worse poverty in Ireland. 'Tis, the sequel to Angela's Ashes, takes McCourt from Ireland back to America.

Another popular bestselling Irish author is Maeve Binchy whose recent book Heart and Soul will delight readers with its "cheerful, read-by-the-fire comfort," according to Kirkus Reviews. Although Binchy can be somewhat formulaic, her millions of fans swear by her. Her latest novel tells the story of an underfunded clinic in an Irish community, caught between the past and the present.

Morgan Llywelyn lives near Dublin, Ireland, and is also the author of numerous bestselling historical novels. Look for her new novel Brendan: The Remarkable Life and Voyage of Brendan of Clonfert, One of the Most Beloved Irish Saints. In a narrative laced with Irish history and lore, Llywelyn brings to life the complex tribal Celtic society of the fifth century.

Look for the library's Irish display this month for more Irish novelists--and some great Irish cookbooks, too.

Book Discussion: Amagansett

Amagansett

by Mark Mills

Saturday

March 20, 2010

11 a.m.

A national bestseller and former Long Island Reads selection, this suspenseful drama offers the best in historical fiction. When a Basque fisherman casts his nets in the treacherous waters of the Atlantic, he pulls in the body of a beautiful young woman. Screenwriter Mills expertly fashions the dynamic history of Long Island's south shore in this clash between the rich summer people and the dispossessed immigrant fishermen and Native Americans. Set in the post-World War II era, the story skillfully combines a poignant love story with a solid police procedural. Praised by critics.