February 20, 2012 at 9:30 am by Greenwich Library
Greenwich Library’s Staff Picks blog is updated regularly with recommendations for adults, young adults and children. Below is one review that originally appeared on Staff Picks.
TOWNIE: A MEMOIR by Andres Dubus
Andre Dubus wrote the much-praised and popular House of Sand and Fog in 2000. His latest book, Townie: A Memoir has also received great acclaim for its direct, candid and, at times, brutal recounting of Dubus’s growing up in a series of dilapidated Massachusetts mill towns that have experienced far better days in the past. His family life was often chaotic. One of four children, Dubus’s father was an English college professor and aspiring writer troubled by alcohol addiction. After Dubus’s parents divorced, his father basically became an absent father and his mother struggled to provide Dubus and his three siblings a stable home life with infrequent success. Financial issues were constantly challenging his family. Often their refrigerator and kitchen shelves were nearly empty of food.
This is a bleak story of a childhood filled with constant upheavals and family struggles. Eventually though, Dubus does achieve a relationship of sorts with his father and his family does come together, in their way, as a unit. Dubus’s writing style powerfully recreates his youth, adolescence and early adulthood very vividly. He writes in a crisp, direct manner which makes for engrossing reading. For those readers who enjoyed House of Sand and Fog, Townie is an excellent book to show the talented development of Andres Dubus III as a terrific writer.
-Roy
February 17, 2012 at 9:00 am by Greenwich Library
The Friends Friday Night Film for Febrary 17 is “127 Hours” starring James Franco.
The movie, directed by Danny Boyle, is based on the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s remarkable adventure to save himself by any means necessary after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Raises the question: “What would you have done?” Stars Franco, Lizzy Caplan, and Kate Mara. The movie runs 95 minutes and is rated R.
Admission to the Friends Friday Films is free. This series is made available by your membership contributions. Doors to the Cole Auditorium open at 7:40 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m. For more information, please call Wayne Campbell at (203) 622-2972.
February 17, 2012 at 8:00 am by Greenwich Library
Greenwich Library and its branches will be closed on Monday, February 20, in honor of Presidents Day. Don’t forget to borrow books, movies, and music by Sunday, 5 p.m.
February 16, 2012 at 4:30 pm by Greenwich Library
Lifelong Cos Cob resident Bill Cameron, will present his program on “The Great Medicine Era” on Saturday, February 18, at 2 p.m., in the Greenwich Library Meeting Room.
Cameron is an avid glass collector with a vast collection of medicine bottles. In researching his bottles, he developed an interest in the history of medicine peddlers, a time before modern medicine when doctors were scarce and exotic elixirs were sold to cure ailments real and imagined. He ties the hobby into genealogical research. In the mid 1970s, Cameron invented and marketed a “Bottle Hunt” game through Bloomingdale’s and mail order.
Cameron is a 1959 graduate of Greenwich High School. From 1959 to 1962, he served on the guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock. Cameron worked as a mechanical foreman and safety instructor for Metro-North Railroad for 39 years. An active member of the community, Cameron founded the Cos Cob School’s father group, has served as chairman of the Cos Cob School May Fair and on the town’s Shellfish Commission. Cameron is also the past President of the Greenwich Antique Bottle Collector’s Club. One of his hobbies, painting, resulted in his portrayal of the USS Little Rock on display at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, NY.
February 16, 2012 at 2:02 pm by Greenwich Library
This is a lovely post by Greenwich Library’s Carl White. It orignally appeared on the blog, “Historically Speaking.”
After I graduated from high school, I attended the University of Massachusetts in Boston. I used to take the New Haven Railroad from my hometown of Mansfield to Back Bay Station. Several of my friends from high school went to Northeastern University and other schools, and we used to play bid whist on the train ride. This meant reversing some of the seats so that we could sit opposite each other. As I recall, the cars were old and dirty. When the conductor passed from car to car, sometimes we’d get hit with a blast of cold wind, rain or snow. Frequently, there was no heat! I remember one of my friends telling me there was a snack car on one of the trains going home. Sometimes we’d get soda or coffee and a sandwich. The car had a bar counter on one side, and tables and chairs on the other. It was kind of a treat!
COURTESY: Shutter Stock
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February 16, 2012 at 10:57 am by Greenwich Library
Get free tax assistance from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers every Monday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m in the foyer of the Cole Auditorium at Greenwich Library. Those interested should bring last year’s tax return, all W2s and 1099s, all wage and salary information, information on interest and dividends received and paid, and taxes on real estate, property and vehicles. VITA Volunteers will be available through April 9, 2012.
February 13, 2012 at 11:10 am by Greenwich Library
Here at Greenwich Library we’re just a bunch of romantics who <3 love. So during this Valentine’s Day week, whether you’re on a first date or with your family, we invite you to spend an evening at one of the most romantic places we know, Greenwich Library. With everything we have to offer our patrons you’ll <3 <3 <3 us, too!
If your kids <3 being creative, then bring them to the Children’s Room to submit an entry to the “Love Your Library” bookmark contest. The winning bookmarks will be printed to celebrate National Library Week in April. Bonus? Romantic views of downtown Greenwich and Long Island Sound from the third story windows.
Do you <3 romantic movies? From ‘The Notebook” for you die-hards, to “Twilight” for you Twi-Hards, we’ve got the best love stories for every age. But even though you’re near Teen Central, we should remind you, there’s no smooching in the stacks!
If it’s music you <3, then go see teen pianist phenomenon Conrad Tao at the Cole Auditorum. Afterwards, you can take out any number of romantic CDs, from classical to the greatest love songs of all time . While you’re on the second floor, grab your honey’s hand and stroll through the Flinn Gallery’s exhibit, “New York State of Mind.” You’ll <3 the beautiful works that evoke New York City’s moody elegance.
Finish up with a hot chocolate and pastry at Elton’s Café. You’ll <3 the tasty treats.
Once home, you can download Shakespeare’s Sonnets and count the ways you <3 your honey…and Greenwich Library.
* <3 Is the symbol for “Love” in the Texting Lexicon.
February 10, 2012 at 9:00 am by Greenwich Library
Tonight’s Friends Friday Film is “Bill Cunningham New York” a documentary about the famed uptown/downtown fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, a New York Times fixture in his blue jacket and bicycle.
Anna Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor, and David Rockefeller all appear in the film. Cunningham’s enormous body of work is an expression of time, place, and individual flair in Manhattan. The film runs 84 minutes.
Admission to the Friends Friday Films is free. This series is made available by your membership contributions. Doors to the Cole Auditorium open at 7:40 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m. For more information, please call Wayne Campbell at (203) 622-2972.
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Meet the Authors:
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Kate Petrov, Public Relations Officer
When not promoting Greenwich Library’s collections, services and programs or chasing after her two little boys, Kate loves to read cookbooks, food memoirs and thrillers. |
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Carl White, Local History and Genealogy Librarian
Carl is one of the founders of The Greenwich Experimental Theater and has written several plays. Carl plays the electric bass guitar and loves to kayak. He and his family live in Riverside. |
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Ed Morrissey, Librarian on the Information Team
Ed oversees such things as services for patrons with disabilities, the Teens Facebook and Twitter pages, among other stuff. Enjoys (in no particular order) science fiction and mystery novels, Beat Literature, pulp magazines of the 30s and 40s, comics, radio dramas, Italian Westerns, TV shows and movies from the 60s and 70s and The Kinks. Unfortunately, Ed’s many hobbies prevent him from visiting pool halls and Atlantic City casinos. |
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Stephen Schmidt, Librarian in the Resources Management Team
Despite not being as young as he used to be, and having even less time than he used to have, Stephen remains a pop culture junkie. Favorite things include British movies from the 60's and 70's, shopping for used vinyl and acting dorky with his kids. He has no idea how much money he has in his 401k but can tell you exactly what's on his iPOD. |
Note: The blog is written by a reader and is not edited by the Connecticut Media Group. The blogger is solely responsible for content.
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