Thursday, August 31, 2006

Based on the Book

You're going to be hearing about these movies over the next few months. Why not read the book first?

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
"Using the basic facts concerning the 1940s' notorious and yet unsolved Black Dahlia case, Ellroy creates a kaleidoscope of human passion and dark obsession. A young woman's mutilated body is found in a Los Angeles vacant lot. The story is seen through the eyes of Bucky Bleichert, ex-prize fighter and something of a boy wonder on the police force." --Publishers Weekly. The movie stars Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johanssen and Hilary Swank.

The Children of Men by P. D. James
"In the year 2021, the world is a bleak place where all human males have become sterile, and no child can ever be born again. Civilization is giving way to cruelty and despair, and historian Theo Faron has nearly resigned himself to apathy. Then he is asked to join a band of revolutionaries--a move that may hold the key to humanity's survival." --Barnes and Noble Annotation. The movie stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
"In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters." Barnes and Noble Annotation. The movie stars Djimon Hounsou, Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich.

The Good German by Joseph Kanon
"Joseph Kanon, who won an Edgar for Los Alamos, has written a noir thriller about an CBS radio reporter, the Potsdam Conference, and the corpse of a solitary American soldier. When government authorities move to cover-up the dead G.I., reporter Jake Geismar smells a story. Waiting in the wings are Russian and American plots and counterplots, one beautiful woman, and a story as stylish as it is exciting." --The Editors, Barnes and Noble. The movie stars George Clooney and Cate Blanchett.

A Good Year by Peter Mayle
"Amid the London drizzle, there is one potential ray of sunshine in Max's life. His Uncle Henry has left him his estate in his will - an eighteenth-century house and vineyard an hour's drive from Avignon, where Max used to go for his childhood holidays. Out of a job, and encouraged by his friend Charlie's talk of the money in modern wine, he heads for France to assess its potential." --Knopf Publishing Group. The movie stars Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard.

Killshot by Elmore Leonard
"After a couple witnesses a shakedown scam, they discover that the Federal Witness Protection Program is a thin cover against ruthless killers."--Barnes and Noble annotation. The movie stars Diane Lane and Thomas Jane.

Little Children by Tom Perrotta

"Perrotta moves away from his lighthearted, humorous tales of New Jersey (Joe College; Election) with his latest novel, a penetrating and absorbing portrait of three suburban couples and their failed marriages."-- Library Journal. The movie stars Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
"Jhumpa Lahiri's quietly dazzling new novel, The Namesake, is that rare thing: an intimate, closely observed family portrait that effortlessly and discreetly unfolds to disclose a capacious social vision."--The New York Times. The movie stars Kal Penn and Jacinda Barrett.

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
"To say that Augusten Burroughs had an unusual childhood would be an understatement. His eccentric mother -- a poet -- left him in the care of her shrink, a man who might have benefitted from a little therapy himself. Somehow, Augusten survived, and the result is this memoir, one both horrifying and hysterical."--The Editors, Barnes and Noble. The movie stars Annette Bening and Gweneth Paltrow,

SEPTEMBER is "Library Card Sign-up Month!" We know our readers have their library cards tucked in their purses and wallets ready to use, but maybe it's time for your son or daughter to get his or her first library card. Studies show that children who use their libraries perform better at school.

Just for fun, the American Library Association has put together a list of 52 ways to use a library card (one for each week of the year) at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/pioa/52ways.htm

Saturday, August 26, 2006


Are you an award show addict and a reader? Then we have something just for you: The Quill Awards. For the second year, booksellers and librarians chose ninety-five books published and marketed in the United States between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006 that were recommended one of the following: Borders Books, Publisher's Weekly, Booksense or Barnes and Noble.

There are more than 21 different categories, including Book of the Year, Debut Author of the Year, a Quills Corporate Literacy Award, and a new special honor, Best Book to Film. Now, it's up to booklovers to decide who goes home with the awards, and you can vote online at the Quill website or at your neighborhood Borders or Barnes and Noble up until September 30th. The award show will be televised in October on NBC, hosted by Al Roker and Lisa Sharkey.

So, go check out the books. Vote for your favorites. And maybe plan an award show celebration with fellow bibliophiles to see which authors take home the trophies.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13594096/

And here's a link to last year's winners:

http://www.thequills.org/2005.html

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

The days are getting shorter, and school is just around the corner. Next time you're in the library, check out the new display by the check out desk, "It's Time to Exercise Your Mind." Here are some of our latest arrivals that will help do just that:

Unearthing the Dragon: The Great Feathered Dinosaur Discovery by Mark Norell. (567.9095/NOR) The discovery of feathered dinosaur fossils in Liaoning, northeastern China, is profoundly altering currently accepted theories about dinosaurs, blurring the distinction between these creatures and birds. - Library Journal Review

Profiles in Audicity: Great Decisions and How They Were Made by Alan Axelrod. (920/AXE). Prolific author Axelrod (Profiles in Leadership) examines 46 individuals who, in choosing a particular course of action, distinctly influenced history as we know it. - Library Journal Review

How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies (291.38/HOW). For those who want to get their bearings while attending a wedding, a funeral, or a religious service in a faith community other than their own. This user-friendly resource provides answers to questions about the basic beliefs of 20 of the largest religions and denominations in America. - Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, "Spirituality Practice"

Grayson by Lynne Cox (797.2009/COX). What if you were swimming alone in the ocean one morning and encountered a whale? That's what happened to long-distance swimmer and writer Cox (Swimming to Antarctica) when she was 17 and training off the southern California shore; she was picked up by a baby gray whale that had become separated from his mother. In this short book, Cox tells the story of her ultimately successful effort to reconnect the whale, whom she called Grayson, with its mother. - Library Journal Review

Dispatches From the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival by Anderson Cooper (921/Cooper). Writing with vivid memories of his childhood and early career as a roving correspondent, Cooper reveals for the first time how deeply affected he has been by the wars, disasters, and tragedies he has witnessed, and why he continues to be drawn to some of the most perilous places on earth."-BOOK JACKET.



Tuesday, August 22, 2006


Our summer adult reading program "Catch a Great Book!" has ended and we want to thank all those who participated as well as those generous donors who helped make our program possible.

Over fifty patrons entered at least once and there were almost 250 entries for prizes which were awarded over an eight week period. We read everything from mysteries to self-help to romantic fiction and had an opportunity to see what our fellow readers recommended.

Next time you stop in at one of our donor's establishments, please take a moment to thank them for helping support our program. Without them, it would not have been possible to award so many wonderful prizes!

A very heartfelt thank you to:

Bailey’s Backyard
Bethel Cinema
Bridgewater Chocolates
Burr Farm Garden Center
Ciao!
Dangerfields, NYC
Giftline Express
Olive Garden
Pancho and Gringo’s
Peter’s Imports
Red Lobster
Sherman Playhouse
Simpson and Vail
Stony Hill Inn
Two Steps Downtown Grille


And a special thank you to The Friends of The Brookfield Library who donated $250.00 to the program, as well as funds for extra copies of The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery. If you haven't read it yet, stop by for a copy!

Here's a list of our final winners!







August 11:

Brunch for Two at Stony Hill Inn: Barbara Walsh
Gifline Express $15.00: Toby Kawulicz
Dangerfield's in New York City: Jeri Stephens


And......drumroll......our final week's prizes plus our summer's end grand prizes generously donated by the Friends of The Brookfield Library:

August 18:

$25.00 Borders Gift Card: Marie Dillon
$25.00 Borders Gift Card: Mary Elizabeth Kuck
$20.00 Cold Stone Creamery: Mary Hartell

Grand Prizes:

$100.00 American Express Card: Laurie Palmer

$50.00 Borders Gift Card: Maribeth Smith
$25.00 Borders Gift Card: Kristyn Galda



Tuesday, August 08, 2006

NEW SEARCH TOOL

Have you checked the catalog at The Brookfield Library and other library catalogs and you still can't find that elusive material?

Now you can check World Cat (on the right side of the blog) to find the library closest to you that owns what you've been looking for. And we'll be happy to try and borrow it for you, just let us know.

Monday, August 07, 2006

More five star books from our readers:

Beach House by James Patterson - Quick read
Cellophane by Marie Arana - An enchanting first novel
Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver - Hard to put down
Cradle and All by Zachary Alan Fox - Couldn't put it down
False Impression by Jeffrey Archer - A hard to put down thriller
Gone by Lisa Gardner - I couldn't put it down
High Calling by Evelyn Husband - Excellent book about space shuttle commander Rick Husband
Honeymoon by Patterson and Roughan - Well done....Again!
Hunt Club by John Lescroart - Lots of plot twists that keep you guessing!
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron - Witty and wise
I'll Know It When I See It: A Daughter's Search for Home in Ireland by Alice Carey - About buying and rehaping an Irish ruin with childhood flashbacks.
Lake House by James Patterson - wow!
Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan - Combines autobiography and comments on favorite books - great!
Lion, Witch and Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis - (on audio) - An excellent reader that drew us all in!
Making It Up by Penelope Lively - Great Short Stories
Mary, Mary by James Patterson - Another excellent read
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - Fantastic details
Night Watch by Sarah Waters - Well crafted literature
Rescue by Nicholas Sparks - Good story
Ruins by Scott Smith - A Mexican vacation gone wrong, a horrifying page turner
Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - Recently released sequel
Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman - excellent on audio
Talk Talk by T. C. Boyle - Great book about identity theft and revenge



Winners of the August 4th drawing:

Two passes to Bethel Cinema: Mary Gilbert
$20 gift certificate to Two Steps Downtown Grille: Jeanne Katz

And coming up on August 11th:

Brunch at the Stony Hill Inn (a $47.00 value!)
A $15 Giftline gift certificate
Two passes to Dangerfield's in NYC

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

MORE NEW BOOKS AT THE BROOKFIELD LIBRARY
(click on title to reserve)

Great Sky Woman by Steven Barnes
Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
Hit Parade by Lawrence Block
Almost Friends by Philip Gulley
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Glasshouse by Charles Stross
Prisoner of Guantanamo by Dan Fesperman
Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler
Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller
Traitor by Stephen Coonts

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

New Arrivals! Click on book for summary and to reserve!

Brethren by Robyn Young
Candle of Distant Earth by Alan Dean Foster
Cover of Night by Linda Howard
Darkness and Light by John Harvey
Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith
Cellophane by Marie Arana
Dominion by Calvin Baker
Every Secret Thing by Lila Shaara
Hot Flash Club Chills Out by Nancy Thayer
Model Student: A Tale of Co-eds and Cover Girls by Robin Hazelwood
No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Talk Talk by T. Coraghessan Boyle
Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin
Merchants Mark by Pat McIntosh

Check back for more new arrivals!!!

Congratulations to our July 28 winners:

Bailey's Backyard Restaurant $50.00: Patty Zelle
Simpson and Vail $25.00: Carol Gurski
Dangersfield's Comedy Club: Gwen Gallagher

To be given away on August 4:
Two passes to Bethel Cinema
$20.00 to Two Steps Downtown Grille

Don't forget to enter!