Fireside Chat

Our next Fireside Chat will be Friday, February 29, 2010, at 3 p.m. Relax as we introduce some of the newest books available at the Riverhead Free Library--the latest fiction and non-fiction--including mysteries, gripping true adventure tales, self-help, biographies, and much, much more. Here's a sampling...
Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness by Ariel Gore is sure to please those tired of searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Gore asks the question: "Can a woman be smart, empowered, and happy?" Determined to find out, she chronicles her inquiry with curiousity and humor. Bluebird is a smart, uplifting study of the real secret to joy.

Integrating archaeological, genetic, linguistic, and literary information, The Vikings: A History by Robert Ferguson is a readable and accessible book that serves as a solid introduction to Viking history. This provides an intriguing look at these restless voyagers and conquerers.


Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved by Chris O'Dell with Katherine Ketcham is the ultimate rock 'n' roll memoir. Chris O'Dell was one of the first woman tour managers for some of the world's most influential musicians today. She was a friend, confidante, and lover to these revered musical icons and lived in the "fast lane" for almost twenty years. Baby boomers in particular will enjoy this front row seat to rock history.

In the News: Haiti

The recent earthquake in Haiti shed light on the plight of this nation, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A land with a rich history of Voodoo, gods, and goddesses, Haiti emerged from dictatorship to democracy over a decade ago.

In Krik? Krak!, Haitian-born author Edwidge Danticat movingly describes what life was like under the dictatorship in a collection of nine interrelated stories. Praised by critics, this collection of intimate histories reveals the longing for peace and happiness of a people who live in the embrace of mythic powers and rites of passage.

All Souls' Rising by Madison Smartt Bell is "A serious historical novel that reads like a dream," according to the Washington Post. Nominated for multiple awards, Bell's book fictionalizes the horrific slave rebellion of the 1790s that brought an end to white rule in French colonial Haiti. Not for the faint-hearted, this work offers a fascinating glimpse into a little-known episode that took place in our hemisphere.

Those who prefer a true look at Haitian history, may want to read the book Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti by social activist and filmmaker Maya Deren. Written in 1953, this anthropological investigation tells of the Haitian deities, practitioners, and Voodoo rituals that Deren encountered as a result of vast fieldwork and personal research in Haiti. Here, she was unexpectedly accepted as a member of a Haitian village.

Look for these books on display, at the Reference Desk, or check with a librarian.

Fireside Chat

Fri., Jan. 29 - 3 to 4 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 26 - 3 to 4 p.m.

Join us in the lounge as we talk about new books--both fiction and non-fiction-- and introduce you to new authors. Everyone is welcome. If you enjoyed Booked for Lunch, you'll love our new Fireside Chat. Here's a sneak preview of some of the books we'll be introducing...

The Pecan Orchard: Journey of a Sharecropper's Daughter by Peggy Vonsherie Allen - In this simple, uplifting story, Allen tells of her childhood in an Alabama town, still emerging from "Jim Crow" attitudes in the 1960s and '70s. If you liked The Help by Kathryn Stockett and The Color of Water by James McBride, this one is sure to please.

Only in New York: An Exploration of the World's Most Fascinating, Frustrating, and Irrepressible City by Sam Roberts - The author draws upon his experience as Urban Affairs correspondent for the New York Times to create an anthology of forty essays about our unique city. Topics cover everything from the Son of Sam to the pooper scooper law in this humorous and elegantly written collection.

To the Rescue: Found Dogs with a Mission

by Elise Lufkin, photographs by Diana Walker - The author and photographer of Found Dogs and Second Chances team up once again to present irresistable stories of "found" dogs (and one cat), who were rescued and went on to become highly trained working animals at disaster sites and for those humans needing assistance.

Enjoy hearing more about these and many other new titles at our first Fireside Chat.

Book Discussion: Three Cups of Tea

Saturday, January 23, 2010
11 a.m. to noon
Children's Program Room

The widely acclaimed Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is an astonishing, uplifting story of a homeless mountaineer and his remarkable humanitarian campaign, set in the Taliban's backyard. Those wishing to attend the book discussion should sign up at the Reference Desk. You may order a book as well.

Mortenson's books, including Stones Into Schools, are also included on the preferred reading list for the Adult Winter Reading Club, Riverhead Reads: Making a Difference Globally and in Your Community. Library cardholders may check with the Reference Desk for program details.

In the News

With all the talk about bad weather, it could be worse. The Longest Winter: The Incredible Survival of Captain Scott's Lost Party by Katherine Lambert tells the true story of the 1912 British Antarctic expedition. Although Captain Robert Scott and those with him perished, Lambert tells the amazing tale of survival of the expedition's other lost crew, who endured a seven month Antarctic winter in a makeshift igloo. The use of detailed diaries brings the story to life.

Closer to home, Winter Quarters: George Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge by Noel F. Busch provides another gripping winter adventure set during the American Revolution. Despite the terrible privations they endured, the colonial troops rallied and emerged in the spring from Valley Forge as a disciplined fighting force.

For those who prefer fiction, Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin is a fascinating winter story. This former bestseller, takes readers on a fanciful journey through New York of the Belle Epoque (1890-1914) with a master thief and a Brooklyn milkhorse who discovers he can fly.

While you curl up by the fire and read, treat yourself to an inviting meal from Soups & Stews for Fall and Winter Days by Liza Fosburgh and linger over a bowl of white bean soup or scallop and snow-pea chowder.

On a day like today--with the snow falling--it's a perfect time to stay inside. If you're at the library, visit our Winter Wonderful display near the reference desk featuring these and plenty of other winter books, many providing information about cold weather activities--skiing, ice hockey, winter gardening, and more.

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.