Marstons Mills Public Library

New Nancy Pearl book for travellers

2010-08-03T09:00:00.001-07:00

Book Lust to Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers [Paperback]
Review & Product info from Amazon.com website
Publication Date Oct. 1, 2010

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Nancy Pearl sells books: hers and those of the authors she recommends. Book Lust To Go is 120 places to read about before you go. Consider the entry “Indicative of Indonesia,” in which Nancy Pearl urges travelers to read V.S. Naipaul’s Among the Believers and Christopher J. Koch’s The Year of Living Dangerously. Wanderlust-y reading for prospective travelers to Ireland begins with the cheeky: “Let’s not start with James Joyce and just say we did, okay?” then goes on to recommend such gems as Nuala O’Faollin’s Are you Somebody? and J. P. Dunleavy’s Ireland In All Her Sins andSome of Her Graces. This enthusiastic literary globetrotting includes stops in Korea, Sweden, Afghanistan, Albania, Parma, Patagonia, Texas, and Timbuktu. But Nancy Pearl is a reader and a librarian, not a travel agent, so she can’t resist recommending reading for “Travel to Imaginary Places” (including Ursula K. LeGuin’s The Wizard of Earthsea and Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policeman’s Union) and stories of chucking it all and moving to Spain or Greece under the heading “So We/I Bought (or Built) a House In . . . ” Book Lust To Go brings Pearl’s amazing ability to summon the perfect book to connect with a particular interest with the art of having an adventure — whether it requires a passport or just an armchair.

Book Lust

2010-07-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Do you know Nancy Pearl? She's a librarian in Seattle who has written some books that you could use.

Book Lust

More Book Lust

Book Crush (for kids & teens)

Nancy has divided her book review selections by subject matter as well as indexing by title & author. The arrangement by subject makes reading and using her books a pleasure. Want to find fiction about WWI? Or non-fiction? It's there. Pretty much whatever you're craving in the book world is there.

These books are not about best sellers, not about current popular genres, not about what you can already find in the New York Times and other media. They cover the best books written for generations & are a treasure trove for book lovers.

Summer reading thoughts

2010-05-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sally Gunning's novels The Widow's War and Bound are the perfect books to start your Cape Cod summer reading.

Please share your thoughts and feel free to reply with your favorite beach titles, including a short summary and why you like the book/audiobook, if you feel so inclined.

Cape resident Sally Gunning published The Widow's War in 2006. This novel satisfies the reader on so many levels. The author creates the story of widow Lyddie Berry as she experiences the loss of her husband to the sea and finds herself with very few rights to property or self-determination in Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The Library Journal calls TWW "Historical fiction at its best."

Bound was published in 2008. This story revisits the main characters of TWW, but also stands alone as the story of Alice Cole who was bound into servitude and abandoned by her father when they reached the shores of Massachusetts. The rest of the family had perished at sea on their way to New England from London, seeking a better life.

The reader may look forward to Sally Gunning's forthcoming novel (June, 2010), The Rebellion Of Jane Clarke : A Novel. It's not to soon to request it from the CLAMS website; at the time of this writing there are over 100 requests on 18 copies ordered throughout CLAMS.

Upcoming Events at MMPL

2010-04-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

If you like poetry, you're not going to want to miss our last "Poetry for Lunch" session this Wednesday, 28 April at 12:30. Local poet Elaine Cohen will read from her own work and from some of her favorite poets. Feel free to bring a bagged lunch!

We're also holding a Mother's Day Raffle until Friday, 7 May. There are three prizes (a Lenox porcelain figurine, a basket of kitchen gadgets and a "personal touch" basket of indulgent odds and ends!), and tickets are only $2 or 3 for $5. You can purchase them at the Circulation Desk.

Don't forget our Welcome Spring! Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, being held at Cotuit Liquors on Wednesday, 5 May at 5:30 p.m. It's Cinco de Mayo, so in addition to a wine tasting, guests will be able to sample some tequilas. The hors d'oeuvres will have a Mexican theme, too. There are some truly wonderul auction items from which to choose, and while guests are bidding and socializing, they'll be treated to the sweet harmonies of the Curb Appeal barbershop quartet. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Circulation Desk. For more information, visit www.mmpl.org/welcomespring10.htm.

The Book Thief: let the discussion begin!

2010-02-17T05:22:00.000-08:00

For those of you who haven't yet read Mark Zusak's The Book Thief, but intend to, you might want to stop reading this blog for a little while, as there are bound to be spoilers as the MMPL librarians discuss the text. Those of you who have read it, please feel free to participate in the discussion with your comments.

I almost put this book down after the first few pages; I have to admit to having a problem with books in which the narrator blatantly directs the course of action and tells the reader what's going to happen, or how to observe something, or whatever. I know that there isn't any actual objective narration in a story--the author is always directing the course of the narrative--but I dislike the sense of overt manipulation of the reader in the use of a narrator like Death in this story.

But I persevered, and I felt that Death became somewhat less obtrusive as the author warmed up to his own story. I'm still not entirely sure why this novel needed the expository character of Death; I think it would have been just as moving without him, although the author's idea of Death and how he carries out his job was interesting itself.

MMPL Librarians' Book Club

2010-01-14T10:39:00.001-08:00

The Librarians have decided to host their own book club (though probably not on a monthly basis--we're busy, ya know!), and the first book we've chosen is Mark Zusak's "The Book Thief."

We invite you to read along with us, and share your views using the comments section of this blog. We won't start discussing it until February, so you have some time. Hope you'll join us!

-MMPL Staff

Winter Programs at MMPL

2010-01-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

2010 is bringing some great programming for our users. On Friday, 15 January at 9:00 a.m., John Howitt will be conducting a workshop entitled "Resumes and Interviews: Getting the Job You Want." The workshop is free, and participants are encouraged to bring resumes for critique.

In February we will be having another Big Winter Book Sale. The sale will be held here at the Library on Friday, 12 February (10 - 5) and Saturday, 13 February (10 - 2). We're looking for book donations and for volunteers to help set up, run and clean up the sale. Let us know if you're interested.

We will also be hosting a nature journaling workshop with Nancy Minnigerode at the Library and a family dance & music concert next door at Liberty Hall, so please check our Web site soon for dates and times.

We're pleased to announce that the FUN group is back at the Library on Friday mornings, and there are a whole host of kids' programs being planned for the next few months. So no need to be bored and mopey THIS winter! Come to the Library!

Who was that masked man?

2009-07-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm fairly sure that he didn't actually wear a mask, but librarian Melville Dewey is the man responsible for inventing the classification system we use to shelve books in our library. Recently, some librarians have begun to discuss whether Dewey's system is outmoded and needs to be changed. Public libraries in Florida and Colorado are experimenting with a shelving system more like you would find in Barnes & Noble or Borders. User friendly and self service, this method of shelving books is meant to make access to our materials easier for our patrons.

Where do you stand on this issue? Are you a traditionalist? Would you like to see Dewey stay?Or, are you an innovator who would like the library to be more accessible and self service? One very important consideration as we consider this change is what our patrons want and need to make their experience of MMPL a positive one. I look forward to hearing from you!

Dine Around Cape Cod Restaurant Raffle.

2009-06-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

At this library, we are fortunate to have the support of our local community. This is even more than usually apparent as we prepare for our summer fundraiser, "Dine Around Cape Cod". Wonderful local restaurants have donated a dinner for two to be raffled off to benefit the Library. You can buy your tickets here at MMPL and on July 4th at Cotuit Liquors in Marstons Mills. Generous sponsors to date are: The Red Inn, The Chatham Bars Inn, Lyric, The Regatta and The Wild Goose. Tickets are $10 or 3/$25. Where else could you get 5 dinners for 2 for $10!?

Beginning on Monday, July 6, the Library will open at 10 A.M. instead of 1 P.M. as has been the case. Mondays are busy for us and we hope these additional hours will better serve our patrons. Please let us know how our open hours work for you and your family.

Hoping for a sunny weekend!

Dollars and sense

2009-06-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Please join me, and Trustees Maureen McPhee and Ken Jenkins, for a public forum on 24 June at Town Hall to discuss the funding formula for Barnstable Libraries. The Town Library Committee, made up of two trustees from each Barnstable library, recently made changes in the formula that will effect how much funding each library receives. This is an informational meeting about those changes in the formula.

With Treasurer Al DeFlorio and Board member Howard Zabusky, I have been hard at work on our FY 10 Library budget. We have received funding reductions in our town appropriation, as well as reduced returns from our Annual Appeal. Although these reductions are not unexpected given our economic climate, they point out how important it is for each of us to do what we can to support the Library. The Library is busier than ever and is undergoing renovations, too. We need your help and we thank you!

Summer Fun at MMPL

2009-06-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

At their meeting on Tuesday, the Development Committee, the group charged with raising operating funds for our Library, discussed our yummy summer raffle. Our prize this year is 5 dinners for 2 at special Cape Cod restaurants! For $10( or 3 for $25), you can buy a chance to dine in style with a companion at 5 different restaurants. This is a great way to support MMPL while enjoying a night out. Please come by the Library to purchase your tickets any time after 15 June. Or, watch for us selling our tickets at local stores during July and August.

Our Youth Service Librarian is busy preparing for our Summer Reading program. Sign up on 22 June at the Library to participate. All ages are welcome and our theme this summer is Outer Space! There are lots of activities for different ages and prizes, too. Please join us.

Family reads

2009-06-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

Fresh from my quick trip to Seattle to see my author daughter, Caitlin, I am back here in LibraryRenoLand. Today, my stellar volunteer, Dennis, is painting the front entrance while professional carpenters,Richard and another lad named Dennis, shingle the addition to the back of the building.

Eventually, this addition will hold our LULA elevator making us fully accessible to all of our patrons. We can't wait!

If you are looking in the urban fantasy genre for a great adult read, pick up "Street Magic" by Caitlin Kittredge(shameless plug). As the review mags would say, "not for the faint of heart; gritty and fast paced". Blood aside, Caitlin tells a darn good story. And we were so excited yesterday to find her books in the big bookstore in SEATAC airport!!

The new Web site

2009-06-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Patient patrons, you may have noticed mmpl.org has a new look. We were going for a combination of historical and modern, much like our vision for the current MMPL building renovations.

The site is still under construction--there are many more pictures to put up and pages to create. If you notice broken links or other blips, please let us know about them via the "Contact Us" form.

That's all for now!

2009-05-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the new Marstons Mills Public Library Blog!