Cool off this summer with a Good Read!

Our Annual Fun in The Sun Adult Summer Reading Program kicks-off today! Stop by the Library to register & pick up your goody bag. Guess what? There's no required reading list - just read whatever you want & enjoy most. Just read or listen to books & submit short reviews online or in person. Review forms can be found in your goody bags, at laglib.org or in the Library. Remember - your book reviews are your raffle entries for fabulous prizes every 2 weeks and for the grand prize drawing on September 7th! Don't forget to check your goody bag for a lucky flip-flop!

Check back here as we'll be posting the submitted reviews so you can see which books others have enjoyed. We hope you'll add your comments to the postings too. Who knows, you just may help someone discover a new favorite author or even find one for yourself!

Happy Reading!

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipa Gregory

This is a long, masterfully written tale about the era and person of King Henry VIII and his last two wives, Anne of Cleaves and Kitty Howard. I listened to the book on CD and enjoyed the use of four voices telling the story from the perspective of four different characters. My daughter, however, read the book; and found the use of a four-party narrative confusing. If, as I assume, Gregory painstakingly researched the time period and its events – then I learned an enormous amount of an era in which I had previously known very little. I now view this historical period with color, depth, and a profound interest. Of course, much of what is portrayed is based on Gregory’s speculation; but I think she does a very credible job. Under her pen the characters come alive to leave a lasting impression on the reader/listener. Her character development of Henry’s two wives is nothing short of amazing. They both mature very differently, but in an extremely appealing (though not entirely happy) fashion. If you read their story on Google, you will find black and white words on paper. Once you read Gregory’s book, the characters are ‘fleshed’ out into living breathing (and sometimes dying) people. I unreservedly recommend this book.

~Submitted by Elaine

Poetry Challenge Winner

Congratulations to Orsola Acosta, winner of this year's Poetry Challenge! Thank you to everyone that participated.

If you didn't get a chance to take part this year. Try again in 2010.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month and the library is celebrating!

There are a few ways you can join our celebration and we hope you will.

• Take our Poetry Challenge and win prizes
• Share your favorite poem on our library "Poet-Tree"
• Check out a poetry book from our display
  
• Take part in Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30 . Pocket poems will be available at the library later this month.

We'll be featuring poems here throughout the month, too.
Share your favorite poem and we'll be happy to post it.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

I often find that I'm usually in the minority when it comes to appreciating and enjoying popular books and movies. It's happened again with Revolutionary Road. Those of you that have been following my reviews know that I tend to base my opinions on how the characters and story affect me. This was the most stressful and depressing story I've ever read.

Frank and April Wheeler, a restless young suburban couple of the fifties, are disenchanted with their seemingly traditional life. April devises a plan to jaunt off to Paris which she thinks will bring life to their dull existence and save their relationship. For awhile this brings harmony to the discord. Unfortunately, it's short-lived.

Was it well written? Absolutely. You experience and feel all the turmoil, angst and struggle Frank and April suffer individually and as a couple on every page. Your heart breaks for their two children.

After the book I'm not sure I'm quite ready for the movie.

~Submitted by Lisa

And the Winners Are...

Spring will soon be here and that means our Annual Warm Reads Event has once again come to a close. Thank you to all of you that contributed to the blog! I hope you enjoyed the reviews posted here and that they inspired you to try some new authors or genres. I know I've discovered new authors thanks to all of you. I've also really enjoyed hearing the thoughts and comments about our new blog that you've shared with me during your library visits.

Please feel free to continue to send your reviews online through the review form on the right. We'll continue to post them. I look forward to hearing about the books you've enjoyed.

Winners of our Warm Reads Raffles over the past weeks include:
Susan Birchman
Helen Lynch
K McDwyer
Joanne Pinello Kaley
Helen Meurs
Rosemary Ragonese
Susan Abolafia
Eileen Cuneo
Elaine Light

Our Grand Prize Winners were:
Judy Acocella
Aimee Heinly
Judy Rosenfeld

Congratulations to our winners!

The Bloody Tower by Carola Dunn

This book is excellent for lovers of cozy mysteries and history. Daisy is one of those people who stumble over bodies with amazing regularity. Since the story is set in the Tower of London in 1925, she still reacts like a lady was expected to when presented with a distressing scene. However, she is a thinker and likes to figure out the puzzle of what happened. Her Scotland Yard detective husband would of course prefer that Daisy stayed out of it but she never does, and it is Daisy who ultimately figures out the murderer. I have enjoyed all of the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries by Carola Dunn. They are entertaining and amusing and just delightful and they never disappoint me.

~Submitted by Karen