In the News...

Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods...monster storms aren't just a present-day phenomenon. Read about one of Long Island's worst storms in R.A. Scotti's gripping true story Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. This dramatic recreation of the hurricane that ripped apart Long Island and the New England coast, has been praised by critics and book groups alike. Scotti draws on archival footage, newspaper accounts, and the personal testimony of survivors. Or, you may want to read Hurricane!, by Joe McCarthy, an earlier book about this same storm that left 650 people dead and 1,754 injured.

Recent reports of tornadoes on Long Island are causing quite a stir. Those unfamiliar with this less frequent but devastatingly destructive event may want to learn the basics from Tornadoes by Michael Allaby. Part of the Dangerous Weather series, these books explain our weather in layman's terms with diagrams and photos.

Tornado Hunter: Getting Inside the Most Violent Storms on Earth by Stefan Bechtel with Tim Samaras tells us the remarkable story of storm chasers who spearhead daring missions to extract secrets from Earth's most violent weather. You'll see the first ever photos from inside a tornado and meet survivors with incredible tales.

Preparedness is the key to the Island's wild weather. Check at the Reference Desk for information from our Emergency Management vertical file, or get advice from one of our numerous books on the subject, such as The Homeowner's Hurricane Handbook by Bob Sterns.

Book Discussion: A Trip to the Stars

Wednesday, September 22
7 to 8:30 p.m.

Written by poet Nicholas Christopher, this unique coming-of-age tale and love story shows us what happens when we lose what matters most. In 1965, a young boy and his aunt become separated when the child is kidnapped by a wealthy uncle. Despite this unnerving event, mysterious ties continue to link the two over the next fifteen years that they are apart.

Spanning several continents, A Trip to the Stars is seeped in mystery, romance, and intellectual adventure. Sign up for the discussion and pick up a book at the Reference Desk.

Patron Picks

Thank you to everyone who participated in Riverhead Reads, our annual adult summer reading club. Here are some of the top-rated book picks from our patrons.

The Shack by William P. Young was one of the most requested books of 2007. Set deep in the Oregon wilderness, it tells the tale of the brutal murder of a family's youngest daughter and her father's attempt to reconcile it--with himself and with God. Multiple copies of this book are available, so if you have not already read it, now is the time!

For those who enjoy reading Pultizer Prize-winning authors, Geraldine Brooks is a must. Her latest title, People of the Book, is enthusiastically read by book groups and receives high praise from our patrons. The story of rare-book expert Hanna Heath takes us back in time as she discovers a series of tiny artifacts in a volume's ancient binding and pieces together the mystery of the book's origins.

Those who enjoy a lighter read may want to try out New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer whose sizzling modern-day western Fearless is sure to please romance readers. Set in the wide open spaces of Texas, it pits an undercover DEA agent against a fiercely independent female rancher.

Finally, The Summons is one of author John Grisham's more current legal thrillers. As a beloved and powerful judge lays dying, he issues a summons for both of his sons to return home. But the judge dies too soon for the meeting to take place, leaving behind a shocking secret.

Look for more Patron Picks on the September 2010 display.

Adult Summer Reading Club: America the Beautiful

Sign up and get your reading kit at the Adult Reference Desk beginning Saturday, June 19.


Get ready for the adult summer reading club 2010--Riverhead Reads: America the Beautiful--celebrating America's wilderness and waterways. This self-guided reading program gives our cardholders a chance to win prizes each time they read or listen to a book. Reading books from the preferred reading list provides an even greater chance to win.

Here are just a few of the unique books from the list...

The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper - One of the most popular writers of the 19th century, Cooper is best known for his Leatherstocking Tales featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo. The Deerslayer is the first chronologically in the Leatherstocking series.



Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani - Set in a sleepy hamlet of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, this modern-day novel is also the first book in a series. Trigiani celebrates small town life with a winning blend of '70s nostalgia and Appalachian local color.


High Country by Nevada Barr - Part of a mystery series, this page-turner features National Park Service ranger Anna Pigeon, whose crime-solving abilities constantly put her in peril.

Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul by Scott Weidensaul - Those who prefer non-fiction will love Weidensaul's poetic account of the North American wilderness. The author is one of the world's premier writer/naturalists today.


Ledyard: In Search of the First American Explorer by Bill Gifford - John Ledyard (1751 - 1789), one of the greatest American explorers of all time, is largely forgotten today. In this memorable tribute to him, Gifford traces Ledyard's explorations with Captain Cook, across America before Lewis and Clark.


Check the Riverhead Reads kit for more books on the preferred reading list.

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.