Books Blog : book discussions

Happy Birthday, Edith Wharton

banksoftheohio@evpl — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:36:00 GMT

Today is the 151st birthday of the great American author Edith Wharton, admired as much now as she was during her lifetime for her wit, her brilliant social commentary, and her courage and determination to work as a writer in spite of the limited opportunities afforded to women of her elite upbringing during the Gilded Age. You can find her best known works - The Age of Innocence (winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for fiction), Ethan Frome, The House of Mirth, The Buccaneers - on our shelves in whatever format might suit your taste, from print to audiobook to ebook to movie. Her autobiography and her short stories are here, too, including a compilation of the ghost stories that were so popular in her time.

On Valentine's Day we'll declare our fondness for Mrs. Wharton by discussing The House of Mirth, her first widely read, critically recognized novel. Published in 1905, it examines a beautiful young woman's struggle to secure her position in New York society's upper reaches and, at the same time, to discover her true self. Please join us.

Classics Book Discussion

Thursday, February 14, 2013

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Central Library

2nd Floor Conference Room

Taking on Virgil

banksoftheohio@evpl — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:22:00 GMT

In her novel Lavinia, celebrated author Ursula LeGuin gives lyrical voice to her title character: the daughter of mythical King Latinus and the woman fated to cause The Aeneid's culminating war. This lushly detailed account of ancient Italian ritual and daily life, which was named a 2008 Best Book by Library Journal, is an intriguing companion to Virgil's epic poem. Check them both out and join the Classics Book Discussion on December 13th as we consider one of the cornerstones of Western literature.

Cassics Book Discussion

Thursday, December 13, 2012

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

2nd Floor Conference Room

Central Library

What Stories are For

kiya@evpl — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:03:00 GMT

"Forty-three years old, and the war occurred half a lifetime ago, and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That's what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story."

-Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried, p.36

War and Our Communities: the 2012 Community Read

The Community Read is a community project where various groups read The Things They Carried, written by Vietnam War veteran Tim O'Brien, and discuss the effects of serving in an active combat zone, how it affects soldiers and their families, and how the community can help ease veterans' reintegration.

The Reader's Guide describes the book:

Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried (1990) is considered one of the finest books about the Vietnam War. Far from a combat story of pride and glory, it is a compassionate tale of the American soldier, brimming with raw honesty and thoughtful reflection.

The book's narrator follows a platoon of infantrymen through the jungles of Vietnam. We see them trudge through the muck of a constant downpour, get hit by sniper fire, pull body parts out of a tree, laugh while they tell their stories to each other, and fall silent when faced with making sense of it all-both in the moment and twenty years later.

The book is available at EVPL. Book discussions are being held at two EVPL locations:

Tuesday, March 6, 6:30 pm at North Park Branch Library
Monday, March 12, 3:30 pm at Oaklyn Branch Library

If you are interested in joining another group and are curious what groups are accepting new members, contact Helen D. Azarian by phone at 812/759-7635 or by email. If you are a veteran looking for a group, contact Greg Wagoner. Join an online discussion at the Community Read's Facebook page, or learn how to start your own online discussion.

Many other events are planned for the month of April.

New Book Group

LemmyCaution@evpl — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:19:00 GMT

Page Turners is a new book group focusing on thoughtful works of fiction from different time periods, countries, and genres. Each season the list of books will revolve around a theme which will stay consistent and then change with each new season. The first four books listed focus on exemplary works of literary American fiction from the second half of the twentieth century. So if you enjoy engaging works of fiction please feel free to stop in. Also at times the library may not have enough copies, but additional copies can be made available by contacting the North Park Branch Library at (812) 428-8237. The book group meets on the third Monday of each month at the North Park Branch Library around 6:30 p.m.

October 17: The second book we will be discussing is Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49. In the novel Oedipa Maas has just received word that she has inherited a fortunate from a former boyfriend, which will lead her on a mysterious quest to find out whether or not an alternative postal system exists in the United States. This satirical and eccentric work examines the rising counter-culture movements in 1960's southern California and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented America.

November 21: The third book will be discussing is the National Book Award winner, White Noise by Don DeLillo. White Noise is the story of a professor at a small college in the Midwest who has pioneered the field of Hitler Studies. After a rail car releases a toxic chemical spill, a black cloud covers the small town and forces the professor to evacuate his family. DeLillo's novel touches on a variety of themes from consumerism to death, all with a satirical and shrewd eye towards the excesses of the eighties.

December 19: The last novel we will be discussing for the season is Philip Roth's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, American Pastoral. American Pastoral tells the story of Seymour Levov a star high school athlete who goes on to marry Dawn Dwyer, the 1949 winner of the Miss New Jersey pageant, and form a seemingly perfect life. However, his idyllic American life becomes interrupted when his daughter commits an act of terrorism in protest of the war in Vietnam and sends his life spiraling out of control.

Chicks with Sticks: Little Women

just_renny@evpl — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:29:00 GMT

The third Tuesday of the month is quickly approaching and it is time for the next meeting of Chicks with Sticks. This month we were to read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I listened to the audiobook version.

We will be meeting in the 2nd Floor Conference Room on March 15 and starting discussion shortly after 6pm. Feel free to grab a snack or drink from the Cup and Chaucer Cafe on the 1st Floor before you come up!

For the last several weeks, I have been crocheting individual squares for a blanket I am making as a wedding present. I hope I can finish it up by July! Please feel free to bring your craft materials whether it is crochet, knit, embroider, quilting, cross stitch, or a craft of your choosing!

We are planning on meeting the third Tuesday of every month through May. For the rest of the meeting times and the corresponding book, check out this page.

Chicks with Sticks: Jane Eyre

just_renny@evpl — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:29:00 GMT

Join me with your latest stitching creation whether it is crochet, knitting, or embroidery, in Central Library's Conference Room on Tuesday, February 15. We will be discussing Jane Eyre while working on craft projects during this meet up. Last month we tried the Cup and Chaucer Cafe, but had difficulty hearing one another, so grab a snack and a beverage and head up to the second floor Conference Room where will have plenty of space to spread out. We will try to get started around 6pm.

I am still working away on my orange and black scarf for my husband, but I might bring something different to work on this month! If you aren't a crafter, but love Jane Eyre and want to join our discussion group, please feel welcome and encouraged to attend!

We are planning on meeting the third Tuesday of every month from January through May. For the rest of the meeting times and the corresponding book, check out this page.

Chicks With Sticks: Wuthering Heights

just_renny@evpl — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:16:00 GMT

Join me with your latest stitching creation whether it is crochet, knitting, or embroidery, in the Cup and Chaucer Cafe at Central Library on January 18 starting around 6pm. We will be discussing Wuthering Heights while working on craft projects during this meet up. This month I am crocheting an orange and black basic scarf for my husband (I know, but those are his favorite colors!). So grab your projects, stop by the cafe, and enjoy an evening of book discussion!

We are planning on meeting the third Tuesday of every month from January through May. For the rest of the meeting times and the corresponding book, check out this page.

The Night of the Roundtable

kiya@evpl — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:11:00 GMT

I looked at my daughter's soccer schedule, and said, "Oh, great! You don't have practice on Aug 25^th. That's the night of the Roundtable."

My son looked at me quizzically, and said, "the Knight of the Round Table?"

It took me a minute, but then I realized what was going on, and explained. I wasn't expecting Sir Lancelot but rather, I wanted us to attend the One Book One Community Roundtable Discussion at Barnes and Noble on the evening of the 25^th. Held at 7pm, it will feature many local leaders talking about this year's One Book title: Life on the Color Line by Dr. Gregory H. Williams.

More information on the Round Table Discussion

More information on this year's book and author

Dates and times of book discussions at the local libraries

Remember the most important date:

Dr. Gregory H. Williams will be speaking to the community at Bosse High School on Thursday, Oct 1 at 7:30 pm.

A Road Story that nearly wasn't published

kiya@evpl — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:01:00 GMT

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty tells the story of Smithson Ide, a fellow who sort of let life get away from him. After his world is drastically shaken up by the unexpected deaths of his parents, Smithy almost accidentally finds himself riding his bicycle cross-country. What began as a short, drunken bicycle ride becomes a transformative journey that allows Smithy to rediscover himself and America.

That explains the "Road Story" but what about the "that nearly wasn't published"?

For most of his adult life, Ron McLarty has made his living as a character actor, but never quite made it into the big time. He also worked as a performer of audiobooks, which became a steady gig. McLarty is also a prolific writer, but his ten novels were ignored by publishers, though. These days, many publishers won't take a chance on an unknown author, especially an older author. In 2000, McLarty showed one of his bosses at Recorded Books his manuscript of The Memory of Running, which began life as a play before growing into a novel. She liked it, and decided to produce it as an Audiobook Original.

In 2003, Stephen King listened to the audiobook, and loved it. Then he wrote about it in his Entertainment Weekly column, calling it the "best book you can't read," and encouraging readers of the column to buy or rent the title from Recorded Books. It wasn't long after that the agents and publishers started calling. The book was edited a bit more, and then published (which is why the audiobook version is different from the print version) to good reviews. Since then, the book has been optioned for a film, with a tentative 2010 date. McLarty has had two other books published as well: Traveler and Art in America.

There will be a book discussion of The Memory of Running at Red Bank Branch on Wednesday, August 12th, at noon. Join us to talk about this thought-provoking book!

Animal Dreams -- Books for Lunch at Red Bank Branch

Shh_ImReading@evpl — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:58:00 GMT

On Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at noon we will be discussing Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver at Red Bank Branch Library. I could hardly put Animal Dreams down while I was reading it and I hope you'll enjoy it too. Codi, her father and the other characters are wonderful and the small town of Grace, Arizona captivated my imagination. Barbara Kingsolver is my mother's favorite author and she's been recommending her books to me for years. I'm so glad I've finally taken her advice! Please come and join us for the discussion; the more the merrier!

click here to visit author Barbara Kingsolver's website

Defending the Written Word: The Book Thief

lit.fic.reader@evpl — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:40:00 GMT

The third and final selection in McCollough's Defending the Written Word book discussion series is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. An award-winning and best-selling novel, it is a searing and moving work set in Nazi Germany. The main character is a young German girl who finds that reading helps to sustain her in an increasingly brutal world, and whose story is told by a quite unusual narrator. If intrigued, please join us at 3:00 on Wednesday, March 25th, in McCollough's meeting room at the east end of the library. Copies will be available for checkout at McCollough's circulation desk.

Books for Lunch - Jane Eyre!

Guatemama@evpl — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:06:00 GMT

It is the book that started it all. The book that awakened my love of reading. It is Jane Eyre!

And this month it is the book that we will be discussing at Red Bank Branch library at our Books for Lunch discussion group.

So.... please come, bring your lunch, and join us as the ladies of Red Bank discuss Charlotte Bronte's timeless classic.

Wednesday March 11, 2009 - noon until 1:00 PM

More MP3 audiobooks available for download

Meditatinglibrarian@evpl — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:11:00 GMT

The Library has added 89 new MP3 format audiobook titles to our OverDrive@ EVPL downloadable collection, many of them spiritual and new age titles from ChristianAudio, Zondervan, Sounds True, and Hay House publishers. We've also added several new titles from Books in Motion, Blackstone Audio, Tantor Media, Weston Woods, and the AudioBookshelf.

In addition to new MP3 format audiobooks, several new Windows Media Player audiobooks have been added, many of them recent Bestseller titles that are not available in the MP3 format, such as 3 Willows, Agincourt, The Associate, Beat the Reaper, Dark of Night, Mounting Fears, The Piano Teacher, and What I Did for Love. We've also added several new eBooks in the PDF format, including The House of Mirth (a book discussion title at the North Park Branch), The Breakthrough, Broken Open, Devil of the Highlands, Fireside, The Inheritance, and Wicked Game.

Check out the Library's http://evpl.lib.overdrive.com/ site to see all the media available for download to your computer or handheld device.

The Longest Trip Home

wag.mado@evpl — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:08:00 GMT

After reading several mixed reviews on John Grogan's newest book, I took the plunge and decided I'd see for myself. I really didn't think there was any way I could like the book as much as the bestselling "Marley and Me", but I didn't think it would be as bad as some of the reviews I read either.

This memoir is mostly a story about growing up Catholic in the 1950's. Since, I grew up Catholic in the 1950's, I could relate with almost everything - except being an altar boy. I could also understand how those who did not grow up Catholic may not like the book - and realized how those who are Catholic could be offended or taken aback by Grogan's feelings about his religious upbringing with extremely devout parents.

The book (which I listened to on audio, read by Grogan himself) did have places that seemed to drag on. However, I stayed with it because I never lost my curiosity about where the story was taking me, as Grogan tried to become his own person, living life with a moral code different from his parents.

All that being said - I liked this book. It was an honest, sometimes humorous, sometimes heart wrenching memoir, written by a person who tried to find his own place in the world even when it didn't follow the path his parents had in mind. In that respect, this could be the life story of many of us.

Oh, and about the book being as good as "Marley?" Heavens no! Not even Grogan himself could upstage that beloved dog.

Books for Lunch!

Guatemama@evpl — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Join us at Red Bank Library on Wed. Jan. 14 at noon for our monthly Books for Lunch book discussion where local author, John McMullen, will be our guest. He will be on hand to talk about the many exciting books that he has written.

Defector from Hell

Roman: unparalleled outrage

Utopia Revisited

2084: Tomorrow is Today

The Last Blackrobe of Indiana and the Potawatomi trail of death

Poor Souls

So bring your lunch and come join in the fun!