Monday Night Book Club: Hunger Games

February's Monday Night Book Club is reading the all-encompassing crossover book, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and will be giving away free movie tickets to the participants after the discussion on Monday, February 27^th at 7pm.

The Hunger Games is a crossover novel set in the troubled parallels of our states, known as Panem.  In this world there is a wealthy Capitol; a place where glitz and glam and appearance mean everything.  There are also 12 outlying Districts, what used to be known as North America.  These Districts as they get further away from the Capital become more and more poor.  They are pined against each other, yet must provide distinctive trade materials like for each other’s survival; like spices, fabric and tools.  In these bleak societies, where the Capital is in control of everyone and everything, a spark is born.

Katniss is a 16-yeat-old girl in one of the outermost Districts.  She is the main provider for her family and can often be found with her best friend Gale illicitly hunting for food in the surrounding woods of their disadvantaged District.

Both, Katniss and Gale are apprehensive about the upcoming annual Reaping; when two ‘tributes’ are chosen by lottery from each of the 12 district to compete in the annual Hunger Games.  These games are a reminder to each district of their place.  They are a survival contest stwhich is broadcasted on live television throughout each district.  Each of the ‘tributes’ are entered into an arena where they must fight to the death for the entertainment of the people who control it and the unbelieving eyes of the ones who are forced to watch it.

The Reaping day approaches and Ketniss’ younger sister, Primrose, is chosen as one of the games   participants from District 12.  Katniss, without thinking, volunteers herself and long with Peeta, the backer’s son, who is also selected, they stare out into the faces they may never see again.

Peeta and Katniss travel to the Capital and undergo elaborate transformations to prepare             themselves to compete in the Hunger Games.  They are trained, bathed, fed, interviewed and then           launched into the games.  In the terrifying events that follow, all ‘tributes’ muster their skills to keep themselves alive no matter what the cost.  In the end there is to be just one survivor of the games.

Please come and join our discussion of The Hunger Games on February 27^th at 7pm.  We will be giving away free movie tickets to the Hampton Arts Cinema in Westhampton Beach to participants who join in the discussion.  You must be present at the discussion to receive a free movie pass.

To register for the Monday Night Book Club and reserve your copy of the Hunger Games book come in to The Westhampton Free Library and talk to a reference librarian, sign up online or call us at the reference desk (631-288-3335 x114 or 118).  If you shoudl have any questions pleade feel free to e-mail WellRead@westhamptonlibrary.net.

Happy Reading!

A Literary Secret

Have you ever enjoyed an author’s writing so much that every time you read one of their books it just speaks to you?  Amanda Eyre Ward is that kind of writer.  With a handful of books, her writing is a literary secret.  You cannot miss out on the opportunity to read them.  Her characters are absorbing, real and complex.  They speak to you personally through their journeys, misfortunes and realizations.  Ward connects you to her characters through both sympathy and empathy.  You are an observer of her characters’ lives and you begin to care for them.  You wonder about their affairs long after you've finished their story.

For an unforgetable journey try any one of the stories by one of today's most absorbing authors, Amanda Eyre Ward.  You can visit her author's page by clicking on her highlighted name.  Her website is full of discussions and places she's visited.  It additionally tells you about where she gets her inspiration as a writer.  Also don't forget to listen to some of recent audio interviews.

To reserve any titles you like or to see if we have one of her amazing books available please visit the Westhampton Free Library Catolog by clicking on the highlighted link.  Happy Reading!!

WellRead Reader's Spotlight

We have a very special Reader's Spotlight this week.  We'd like to introduce our new Director, Danielle Zubiller.  She is an avid booklover who finds immense delight reading for both insight and pleasure.  Please find her most current book recommendations below.

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Reserve Me)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Reserve Me)
Rolling Thunder: A John Ceepak Mystery by Chris Grabenstein (Reserve Me)
Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez (Reserve Me)
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin (Reserve Me)

Please click on “Reserve Me” to request any title listed above.  To check for availability or for a different format visit our online catalog or click on the Westhampton Free Library logo below.  *Please note that multiple copies in multiple formats may be already checked out and you will have to put in a request to reserve the item.

Monday Night Book Club

What a success!  Thank you to the wonderful women who joined me Monday night in discussing The Man Who Loved Books too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett.

Although the book was not essencially a mystery or suspenseful like we had thought, it did prove to be a great discussion for our first book club meeting of the New Year.  We talked about how entitled Gilkey was.  How frustrating it was to read about all the book dealers/sellers who were being conned out of their books and the fact that the authorities didn’t consider stealing a book as high priority on the crime meter.  We discussed why Gilkey was stealing the books; what drove him to do it?  Why Bartlett was having such a hard time telling the authorities about the thefts.

A large portion of our discussion revolved around why do we love books?  What sort of book would we want to own if we could possess any book worth any amount?  We talked about learning about these rare books and who wrote and owned them.

The next Monday Night Book Club meeting is February 27^th at 7pm.  We will be reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Registered attendees will receive a free movie ticket to see the Hunger Games movie at Hampton Arts Cinema. (registration code WHA246)

All in all the company and discussion was wonderful.  If you weren't able to join us this time hopefully we’ll see you next time.

Thank you and happy reading.

Monday Night Book Club

Just a reminder the Monday Night Book Club is meeting January 23^rd at 7pm at Westhampton Free Library.  Please remember to register for the program by phone at 631.288.3335 x114/118 or by visiting the Reference Desk and speaking to a librarian.

January’s book selection is The Man Who Loved Books too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett.  For more information about this title please read an earlier post at Monday Night Book Club or go to the author’s web page at AllisonBartlett.com.

Any questions please call the reference desk at Westhampton Free Library.  We look forward to see you at this month’s meeting. 

What Should a New Reader Read?

What should I read??  I ask myself this question all the time (even though I have a million and one books piled high on my night stand, downloaded to my Kindle and packed into any of my countless purses).

I've learned though out my years of providing reader's advisory that it isn’t always the easiest to find a book that you enjoy or even like.  Often you hear of titles and authors but how do you know if its a book for you. 

The truth is you just have to jump in and try some books on for size.  If you are not getting into the story, likeing the characters or remembering what is going on the book may not be your cup of tea.  Don’t be disapointed.   and don't be afraid to put it down and try something else.  Not everyone likes to read the same things.  Reading for pleasure is an developing hobby.  It doesn’t always just happen.

To help you on your way to becoming WellRead try some of these titles.  Some are noted as among the best books of all time.  A number of selections I’ve been suggesting for years as great introductory reads for those who want to become readers.

Unless by Carol Shields

To Kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee

Night Fall by Nelson DeMille

Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Album (memoir)

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitgerald

Trick of the Eye by Jane Stanton Hitchcock

All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Shutterbabe: Adventures in Love & War by Deborah Copaken Kogan (memoir)

Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

Tell No One by Harlen Coben

Alice's Adventures in wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (memoir)

Read what you want in 2012!!

HAPPY 2012!!!  This year my resolution is to read more of what I want to read.  As a former bookseller and now a librarian, I often get caught up in reading for other’s interests.  I read to guide those on what to read. I read to suggest to other what to read.  And I read to promote many of my favorite books and authors.  But a lot of book I have read to just say “I’ve read that” and the number one reason I read was to know what was out there in the often over packed and ever-growing world of books.

Last year I cannot tell you how many books of my own picking up and putting down.  Books that I so desperately wanted to read, but just couldn’t fit them in.  This year I am making a point, exercising my resolution, to read books of my choosing.

I am looking forward to relishing a year filled with some of my all-time favorite author and am  eager to devour titles that are just so fabulous from the moment you start then to the second you put them down.  Here are just a few titles I have lined up for 2012.  Please feel free to enjoy them with me!  Happy New Year and happy reading!

Growing Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson (release date: January 25, 2012)
Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult (release date: February 28, 2012)
Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott & Sam Lamott (release date: March 20, 2012)
Unquiet by John Connolly (release date: March 27, 2012)
Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler (release date: April 3, 2012)
In One Person by John Irving (release date: May 8, 2012)

  
  

For more or follow up information please click on the book images and visit an author's website.