Booktalk Wells Branch

Holiday party on Monday--No book

2009-12-06T11:01:00.000-06:00

As always we'll be talking about lots of books but reading none specifically for the meeting. Meeting is at Lara's with food, fun, games and more. Next month the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. It should provide interesting.

WWW discusses “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” @ Wells Branch Library 10/19

2009-10-19T11:39:00.000-05:00

This is a reminder that Book Club will be tonight at the Wells Branch Library starting at 7:00.

We will be discussing “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows. The meeting will be led by Angela Orth.

We do not have a book for November yet but Sharon has provided a couple of ideas which she is ready to lead. They are:

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Stieg Larsson)
“Run” (Ann Patchett)

Please come with input on these and we will also determine Christmas Party doings.

Thanks, Lara

Monster Book Sale Saturday 10/17

2009-10-13T16:16:00.000-05:00

The Monster BOOKSALE is back! The Wells Branch Community Library is holding another MONSTER BOOKSALE with 1000s of materials for sale on Saturday 10/17 8am-2pm. Not that you'd want another bag or box of books but it could happen.
I'll be there with a host of volunteers to set up Friday night then fling the doors open on Saturday morning for the grabbing of books. They really went fast the last time so take a look and see if you need some of what we have.

We picked a book on the best seller list Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-10-04T08:01:00.001-05:00

I finished listening to the Wells Branch Library's audio book copy of this book and loved it. It was fun to have 4 voices reading it. I am looking forward to discussing it on the 19th. I think the library has a print and audio copy. Seems reminiscent of a PBS show I saw not so long ago.

Art books at the Wells Branch Community Library!

2009-10-02T12:26:00.015-05:00

Come to the Wells Branch Community Library to view our new art display "Picturing America: from East to West." We invite you to learn more about this month's four (4) featured prints. Check out the library materials listed below for more information about the art. Their locations in the library are in bold.

FEATURED ARTWORK:

Brooklyn Bridge, 1929 by Walker Evans

Brooklyn Bridge, c. 1919-1920 by Joseph Stella

View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, After a Thunderstorm – The Oxbow, 1836 by Thomas Cole

Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California, 1865 by Albert Bierstadt

ART BOOKS:

Enjoy Oil Painting (A New Concept in Art Instruction Books) (Book #3). Cleveland, Ohio: Crafting Manufacturing Co., 1971. 751.45 ENJ

Failing, Patricia. Best-Loved Art From American Museums. New York: Clarkson N Potter, Inc., 1983. 708.13 FAI

Golden, Reuel. C20th Photography: A Complete Guide to the Greatest Artists of the Photographic Age. London: Carlton Books, 2003. 779 GOL

Kammen, Michael. Visual Shock: A History of Art Controversies in American Culture. New York: Vintage, 2006. 306.4 KAM

Nordmark, Olle. Complete Course in Oil Painting. New York: Bonanza, 1960. 751.4 NOR

Visions of Modern Art: Painting and Sculpture from The Museum of Modern Art. New York: The Museum Of Modern Art, New York, 2003. 708.1471 MUS

BACKGROUND ABOUT THE ART:

Bowen, Ezra. The High Sierra. New York City: Time Life, Inc, 1972. 508.794 BOW

Brands, H.W.. The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream. New York: Anchor, 2003. 979.404 BRA

Commager, Henry Steele. The West: an Illustrated History. New York: Exeter Books, 1984. 978.02 COM

Dale, Donald, and Peter Wood. The Sierra Madre - The American Wilderness. New York: Time-Life Books, 1975. 508.72 JAC

Muir, John. John Muir : Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays (Library of America). New York: Library of America, 1997. 508.74 MUI

Traven, Bruno. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Chicago: Frederick Ellis, 2007. FIC TRA

Worster, Donald. A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 2008. B MUIR

Visit the Picturing America Web site for more resources - http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/

Teachers and home school instructors – See us to copy teaching activities from the Picturing America manual.

Social Networking at the Wells Branch Community Library!

2009-09-11T10:57:00.005-05:00

On September 5, the Wells Branch Community Library hosted a free class called "Social Networking for Grownups." Check out these great library materials related to social networking:

Facebook for dummies by Abram, Carolyn
Facebook me!: a guide to having fun with your friends and promoting your projects on Facebook by Awl, Dave
MySpace unraveled: a parent's guide to teen social networking from the directors of BlogSafety.com by Magid, Lawrence J
Generation MySpace: helping your teen survive online adolescence by Kelsey, Candice M.
Millennial makeover: MySpace, YouTube, and the future of American politics by Winograd, Morley
To catch a predator: protecting your kids from online enemies already in your home by Hansen, Chris

We're having a follow-up class called "Facebook How-to for Grownups" on Saturday, October 3. Sign up at the library's information desk to attend!

End of the summer reading party

2009-08-16T16:46:00.003-05:00

Seems like forever since I have posted here. Been reading lots of bits of books to supplement the classes I have taught this summer. I wonder if reading 1/8 of 25 books qualifies for something? Anyway, I got the invitation to the Summer Reading Finale for adults from Natalie and think it will be fun to be around some of the 95 people who have been reading and turning in logs this summer. I am almost done with Olive Kitterage and good riddance to her! The central character is a menace. Not such a bad book and well written but I just couldn't get into any kind of an afinety for her. I have done a lot of easy reading this summer: Janet Evonovitch's newest, Jimmy Buffet's book on a lighthouse, even started the audio of Harry Potter but am not making much progress on this one.

What has everyone else been reading this summer.

If you're a fan...

2009-06-18T10:56:00.002-05:00

If you're a fan of Buffy, try reading the Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris about a bar waitress in rural Louisiana who can read minds and falls in love with a vampire. (Incidentally, vampires have been recognized by the government for taxing purposes as unfortunate people allergic to silver and sunlight). It begins with Dead Until Dark.

If you're a fan of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum or Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones, try the Spellman Investigations series by Lisa Lutz. It's a family of eccentrics who run a private investigation firm. While there's no Ranger or Morelli, Izzy Spellman does go through her share of insanity and make rather Bridget-like comments concerning her family's reality. It begins with The Spellman Files.

New book group--armchair travel & Summer reading club for adults

2009-05-25T07:41:00.003-05:00

In case you haven't heard, the rage is to have Summer Reading programs complete with prizes for adults too. We just don't want kids to have all the fun! I don't know all the details yet or how many prizes there are but sign-up starts on Saturday June 13. Rumor has it that great prizes will be available. The flier I got says "read 3 books and turn in the log for a prize." Wonder if that is any size book (you know how the kids always tried to get the one with big pictures and few pages!)

Another bookgroup is starting on June18: Armchair Travelers’ Book Club is going to read and discuss Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. It is somewhat in the same vein as Eat, Pray, Love.

A couple of links

2009-04-05T08:40:00.002-05:00

First of all in reading the Austin American Statesman this morning, it seems that Ian McEwan was in Austin last month and we missed him. More interesting info: http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/books/04/05/0405readings.html
Azar Nafisi who wrote "Reading Lolita in Tehran" has a new book out "Things I Have Been Silent About." Just something to think about as we talked about the Lolita book last year.

There is an interesting site to view documentry films and share them including a couple of possibles that have to do with this month's selection "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle"
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/the_future_of_food/
I haven't watched it yet and am enjoying the more personal parts of the book when she isn't being a journalist sharing her research. It even motivated me to expand my own garden 4 feet and plan a few things that I have never planted before. We probably will be very tired of brocholi in the next week or so as my 18 plants have gone crazy!

More on Martin Dressler

2009-03-24T22:05:00.001-05:00

Both my husband and I read the Martin Dressler book and enjoyed it completely. The descriptions were so well done and neither of us minded the odd interpersonal relationships. Seems like they were mostly dreams of his too. The descriptions of his elaborate hotel areas just came to life.

Monster booksale will add to your lists of "must reads"

2009-03-04T17:05:00.002-06:00

I cannot imagine this group in need of MORE books but the Wells Branch Library is having a booksale Saturday March 7th 8sm-2pm to clear out the surplus. Great prices on great selections. NO EARLY BIRDS (unless you come to help at 7:30am!) http://www.wblibrary.org/events/Book_Sale/Monster_booksale.html

Marley and me on air interview

2009-02-25T07:11:00.002-06:00

I was looking around for the author interviews site I had seen but could not find it . I did find this on air interview with John Grogan about his book. I have not listened to it yet but the link works. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/AuthorsOnAir/Book-Club-Girl/2008/12/18/John-Grogan-discusses-Marley-Me

Christopher Moore at Bookpeople on Sunday @ 3

2009-02-18T09:19:00.002-06:00

Christopher Moore has been a group favorite read and he is going to be at BookPeople on Sunday Feb 22
Time:3:00 PM
Christopher Moore - Fool From the release: "Moore is a BookPeople staff favorite, and Fool boils down what we love about him so much, by turning a classic on its head with his incredible wit and turn of phrase. This promises to be a fantastic event, so get here early for a good seat. Today at 3PM.

In order to get any books signed, you must have purchased a copy of Fool at BookPeople. Due to the large crowd anticipated for this event, we must limit the amount of books brought from home to 3 per copy of Fool purchased from BookPeople. Tickets for the signing line will be handed out beginning at 2PM. "

2009-02-17T13:06:00.002-06:00

Martin Dressler did me in so I wanted a change. On the lighter side, I finished Kate Jacobs Friday Night Knitting Club. From Booklist:Georgia Walker's entire life is wrapped up in running her knitting store, Walker and Daughter, and caring for her 12-year-old daughter, Dakota. With the help of Anita, a lively widow in her seventies, Georgia starts the Friday Night Knitting Club, which draws loyal customers and a few oddballs. Darwin Chiu, a feminist grad student, believes knitting is downright old-fashioned, but she's drawn to the club as her young marriage threatens to unravel. Lucie, 42, a television producer, is about to become a mother for the first time--without a man in her life. Brash book editor KC finds her career has stalled unexpectedly, while brilliant Peri works at Walker and Daughter by day and designs handbags at night. Georgia gets her own taste of upheaval when Dakota's father reappears, hoping for a second chance. The yarn picks up steam as it draws to a conclusion, and an unexpected tragedy makes it impossible to put down. Jacobs' winning first novel is bound to have appeal among book clubs. Kristine Huntley.

Various contemporary female characters make this an interesting yet relaxed read.

In my car: Alexander McCall Smith's The Right Attitude to Rain. He's such a good story teller with some introspection. It makes me want to go to Scotland.

Textbooks for now, with brief forays into teen fantasy...

2009-02-17T10:25:00.001-06:00

This is the last semester of grad school, so most of my reading time is tied up with that. However, when the moment presents itself, I try to pick up what the kids are reading. I actually enjoyed Twilight, but not Artemis Fowl.

Bookworm Eats and Tasty Treats

2009-02-17T08:09:00.005-06:00

Books I’ve recently read:

1984 by George Orwell (I had never read it before – it was excellent, but depressing.)

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” by F. Scott Fitzgerald (A short story very different from the movie. Enjoyable as a quick read.)

Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality by Rob Bell (Fantastic read! My favorite quotes… 1) “When I meet someone who has been burned by an institution [a church experience], my first question is, “What was that person’s name?” 2) “How you treat the creation reflects how you feel about the Creator.” 3) “Some of the most comforting words in the universe are ‘me too.’ That moment when you find out that your struggle is also someone else’s struggle, that you’re not alone, and that others have been down the same road.”)

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (Even better than Sex God and very much what I believe! I also highly recommend watching Rob Bell's NOOMA dvds. They are short, deeply insightful and for me, extremely powerful.)

My current read (starting today - I hope!) is The Shack by William P. Young.

What I'm reading right now

2009-02-17T07:34:00.001-06:00

I decided to pick up some of the books by the Thoenes and read Prauge Counterpoint then started the Galway Chronicles--got the 2nd book instead of the 1st but it is great historical fiction and not preachy. Also read the Bob Bullock book that the other bookclub ready by McNeely and Henderson. It was great because I remebered so much of the events happening.
Dianne