Thursday, August 27, 2009

August Trivia Contest Prize!

The prize for the winner of the August Trivia Contest is a gift certificate for a workshop for 2 to design and make your own 4" x 4" fused glass suncatcher in the open studio at Stained Glass Visions, located at 5th & Box Butte.

Remember, you have until August 31st to answer all 5 questions! On September 1st, I will draw the winner and post all of the correct answers for the month.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

2009 Nebraska Book Festival

This year's theme is Nebraska Writers: Cultivating Creativity, and the festival will be held Saturday, November 14th at the Historical Society's Museum of Nebraska History in Lincoln at 15th & P. The festival includes a variety of literary activities and an awards luncheon. A selection of Nebraska writer's will read from their works, along with readings from the winners of the Nebraska Book Awards.

Writers Workshops will also be offered free of charge!

If you are interested in attending this event, be sure to check out the website at http://www.nebraskabookfestival.org/ or click here to visit their facebook page.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

August Trivia Contest Question #5

The Wizard of Oz was released in theatres 70 years ago today! Be sure to stop by and see the amazing Wizard of Oz collection being displayed in the library, which will be shown through the end of the week.

Question #5
What were the "true" colors of the dress Judy Garland wore in the Wizard of Oz?

This is going to be the final question of the month. I will announce what the prize is going to be tomorrow; however, answers for all questions will be accepted through the 31st. If you missed a question, feel free to go ahead and send in an answer.

To participate, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win. See my previous posts for questions 1 through 4.

Bookworm


Fiction
Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi Omen by Christie Golden: Luke Skywalker is on a desperate mission to uncover the truth behind Jacen's fall to the dark side and to learn what's turning peaceful Jedi into raving lunatics.

The Scoop by Fern Michaels: The Godmothers, lead by Toots, who has crammed a great deal of living into her varied and rewarding life, set out to save the local newspaper and her daughter's job. Sophie, Mavis and Ida are bonded to Toots since childhood and their ties became stronger with age. You should never underestimate a Southern lady of a certain age.

Any Minute by Joyce Meyer: Sarah Harper, driven to be a success in her career, neglects her husband and children until an automobile accident brings her face-to-face with her Heavenly Father who has a few lessons to impart.

Swimsuit by James Patterson: The disappearance of supermodel Kim McDaniels during a photo shoot in Hawaii sends her parents and "Los Angeles Times" reporter Ben Hawkins to Maui where Hawkins, a former policeman, is so appalled with the ineptitude of the local police force that he decides he must mount his own investigation if McDaniels is to have any chance at survival.

Take Two by Karen Kingsbury: Chase and Keith were successful with their first movie telling a message that could touch hearts around the world. Now they have the opportunity to acquire the rights to a hot inspirational novel. But pressures from actors and brokers and family problems make them wonder if success is worth the price.

The Ha-Ha by Dave King: Howard Kapostash has maintained a restricted lifestyle since an accident left him with limited communication; however, when old friend Sylvia asks him to care for her nine-year-old son while she went through drug rehab, Howard must risk changes in his routine that could lead to more heartache.

The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts: Presents the conclusion to the adventures of three men and three women who join together and battle evil while falling in love, focusing on Gage and Cybil's romance.

Match Made in Heaven by Bob Mitchell: As he prepares for open heart surgery, fifty-year-old Elliott Goodman encounters God and accepts his challenge to a round of golf with eighteen legendary opponents, such as Babe Ruth, Moses, and John Lennon, who help him examine his life.

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells: Calla’s mother teaches her the art of healing compassion in the womanly art of "fixing hair". When she falls in love and has her heart broken, she moves to New Orleans and discovers her destiny.

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen: Lady Georgiana hires herself out as an escort to dinner and theatre events, but soon finds out that the men think something different. Her Majesty ships her home to Castle Rannoch where she is to keep a divorced American houseguest from seducing the Prince of Wales.

Greedy Bones by Carolyn Haines: Sarah abides by tradition only when it suits her, is an actress and a P. I. in Hollywood. When a vicious illness plunges victims into a coma and the boll weevils decimate the crops, she drops everything to stop the outbreak and save the only place she's ever called home.

The Legend of Box Butte Canyon by Scott Roker: The legend of Box Butte Canyon had been told about a Native American Tribe unable to get to their Spirit world. When Doug and Allen are fishing with their friend Steve, they are thrust back into the yester years of the 1800's where the go on a mystic journey of helping to right a wrong and learn the ancient lost art of humanity.

By Heresies Distressed by David Weber: The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have joined together through the marriage of Sharleyan of Chisholm and King Cayleb of Charis, to become dedicated to the defense of human freedom.

Burn by Linda Howard: Jenner Redwine wins a lottery jackpot that costs her plenty -- her father rips her off and disappears, her boyfriend becomes ex-, and her friends give her the cold shoulder when she doesn't share. Seven years later, she finds an ally in Sydney who becomes her confidante and surrogate sister.

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand: The true feelings and secret relationships of four prominent Nantucket couples, who call themselves the Castaways, come to light after two of them drown when their boat mysteriously capsizes.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Based on the book

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a children's book by Judi Barret that has been made into a movie to be released this September. It looks to be a good one for the whole family:
Grab your plates! In the land of Chewandswallow, meals - rather than rain or snow - fall from the sky. But something goes awry: the food falling from the sky gets larger and larger, causing the residents to make an escape before being squashed by giant pancakes or rolls. Ron Barrett dishes up some droll art work in this zany tall tale. We have the book available for checkout is our children's paperback section.

And here is an interview with the creators:


Friday, August 21, 2009

Patron Review

Here is a patron review from Pam Becker, who is a member of the Thrills and Chills Mystery Book Club. They recently read The Last Child by John Hart. She writes:

What a great mystery, so many twists. Usually, some of us have the ending figured out. Not this time. Real life characters and page-turning subplots. Also, his earlier book entitled Down River is a must read for any mystery lover.

(Pam is a mystery and suspense afficiondo, so you can bet that any suggestions she might have will be good ones.)




Is there something you would like to share, like a great book or helpful website? If so, simply email me at tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and I'll be happy to post it for you. We'd love to hear from you!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Bookworm

Cds Fiction
Cursed by Carol Higgins Clark: Regan Reilly agrees to help Abigail Feeney track down her ex-boyfriend, Cody Castle; because he owes Abigail more than $100,000, but the search is plagued by bad luck.

Heart of Fire by Linda Howard: Jillian Sherwood believed that a myth concerning women warriors and a rare red diamond was real. She was willing to put up with anything including Ben Lewis and ruffian river guide in Brazil. Their personalities clashed but when they found betrayal and danger they would be forced to cast their fates together.

Deadlock by Iris Johansen: It begins with an innocent mission when Emily Hudson and her partner, Joel Levy, and the crew are attacked and held hostage by a ruthless captor who is determined to find the missing link to a legendary treasure. Jon Garrett is a hired to save Emily and Joel and is soon catapulted into unraveling the truth behind a bigger conspiracy...or dies trying.

Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark: The story delves into a legal battle over the guilt or innocence of a man accused of murdering his wife, with an eerie twist about a little-understood but documented medical phenomenon -- the emergence of a donor's traits and memories in the recipient of a heart transplant.

The Bourne Deception by Eric Van Lustbader: Jason Bourne takes on a new identity after he survives an assassination attempt, which causes him to wonder what his life could become without any attachment to the name Bourne.

Sleeping Dogs by Thomas Perry: Former Mafia hit man Michael Schaeffer, after hiding out for ten years in England, is forced to go back to the U.S. after someone tries to kill him and resumes his old profession.

Medusa by Clive Cussler: An undersea lab disappears, a bathysphere is attacked by an underwater vehicle and left helpless and only Austin's heroic measures save them. Austin suspects a connection and puts the NUMA team on the case and doesn't know what he's gotten them into. They are not only trying to save their own lives, but millions of others.

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown: Robert Langdon and Vetra Vittoria, Vetra's daughter, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.

Take Two by Karen Kingsbury: Chase and Keith were successful with their first movie telling a message that could touch hearts around the world. Now they have the opportunity to acquire the rights to a hot inspirational novel. But pressures from actors and brokers and family problems make them wonder if success is worth the price.

Fatally Flakey by Diane Mott Davidson: Caterer Goldy Schulz, planning a wedding reception for a spoiled bride who has decided to change to a location, investigates the death of a family friend who died in a suspicious car accident and uncovers a link between the man's death and research being conducted.

Just Like Heaven by Marc Levy: Arthur, a young San Francisco architect falls in love with a young woman he found in his closet one morning who explained to him that her body was actually in a coma in a hospital on the other side of town.

CDs Nonfiction
The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan Thaler: Discusses the importance of seemingly small actions in one's life and career, covering how minor gestures convey the quality of one's talent, personality, and motivation to clients, friends, customers, and family members.

Bold Spirit by Linda Hunt: Desperate, determined, unwavering, confident, in 1896, a Norwegian immigrant dares to cross 3,500 miles on the American continent to win a $10,000 wager on foot.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

August Trivia Contest Question #4

Question #4
Which state ratified the 19th Amendment on August 18th, 1920, giving women the right to vote?
Our new trivia contest will run throughout the month of August, during which time I will post at least one trivia question each week. To participate, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize. See my previous posts for questions 1 & 2.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Based on the Book

This week's feature is The Beach by Alex Garland, which was made into a movie in 2000 and starred Leonardo DiCaprio


The Khao San Road, Bangkok - first stop for the hordes of rootless young Westerners traveling in Southeast Asia. On Richard's first night there, a fellow traveler slashes his wrists, bequeathing to Richard a meticulously drawn map to "the Beach."The Beach, as Richard comes to learn, is a subject of legend among the young travelers in Asia: a lagoon hidden from the sea, with white sand and coral gardens, freshwater falls surrounded by jungle, plants untouched for thousands of years. There, it is rumored, a carefully selected international few have settled into a communal Eden.Richard sets off with a young French couple to an island hidden away in an archipelago forbidden to tourists. They discover the Beach, and it is as beautiful as it is reputed to be. Yet over time it becomes clear that Beach culture, as Richard calls it, has troubling, even deadly undercurrents. The book can be found at call number FIC GAR

Here is a link to the movie trailer. I have seen it a few times and it is pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObKpwmZkl24

Friday, August 14, 2009

Tomorrow is National Relexation Day

Since tomorrow is National Relaxation Day, I'd like to share a few ways the library can help you find time to relax:

Read a book: we have over 40,000 titles to choose from, including topics such as yoga, meditation and Ti-Chi.
Watch a movie: we have a nice selection of videos and DVDs for all ages.
Surf the net: with our computer lab and free wi-fi services, you can unwind on the net in the quiet atmosphere.
Listen to music: in addition to audio books, we have music CDs available for checkout.
Thumb through a magazine: we subscribe to nearly 90 different magazines, so there's something for everyone.
Catch up on the news: 15 newspapers are available for a nice variety of local, regional and national news.
Work on a puzzle: we have a puzzle room full of puzzles you can either check out and take home or work on in the library.
Take a walk with a book - our PlayAway audio devices are great listening!

So take some time to relax and enjoy National Relaxation Day!
And ladies - if you have a weekend honey-do list (like me), you may want to keep this lesser known holiday under your hat :-)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

August Trivia Contest Question #3

Alfred Hitchcock
August 13, 1899 ~ April 29, 1980
Today is Alfred Hitchcock's birthday. We have a number of items available for checkout from this notable horror and mystery figure, including his movies To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest, Dial "M" for Murder and Vertigo. We also have multiple Alfred Hitchcock story collections that can be found at call number SC ALF.


Trivia Question #3
What is the title of the theme song from the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents?


Our new trivia contest will run throughout the month of August, during which time I will post at least one trivia question each week. To participate, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize. See my previous posts for questions 1 & 2.

Patron Recommendations

Our wonderful patrons recommend so many good books, I thought I would pass a few of them along.

Wyoming Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff by Dina Mishev is the definitive collection of Wyoming's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things, for Wyoming residents and anyone else who enjoys local humor and trivia with a twist. 917.8704 MIS






Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron is the heartwarming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa, as told by his owner and companion of nineteen years, Vicki Myron, the librarian who found him on a frigid January morning when he was abandoned as a kitten in the book drop slot. It is also the story of a remarkable small town, which burned down at the beginning of the Depression, only to rebuild itself, and which was almost shuttered during the farm crisis of the 1980s, before regrouping and rededicating itself to small town American values. Dewey's local charm and worldwide fame became a symbol of hope for this recovering town. Through Dewey's antics, we come to know and love many of the colorful and inspiring people of Spencer. We also have this book on PlayAway (What's a PlayAway? Click here to find out!) 636.8092 MYR & PA 636.8092 MYR


The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young.
Mackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. FIC YOU

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Read Books Online

Whole books are now available for your reading enjoyment online. The website http://www.dailylit.com/ offers a number of classics as well as more contempory works for a total of 1,475 titles. Their selection includes Emeril at the Grill by Emeril Lagasse, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and many many more.

Not all of the books are free, but many are. If you're not keen on reading a book from a computer screen, you can always visit the site to sample the book and see if you like it, then come to library and check out the book version.

Bookworm


Fiction
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo: In Ohio, the Amish and "English" lived together peacefully until sixteen years ago when brutal murders shattered the peace. Kate survived the terror but moved away. Now she has been asked to come back as chief of police. Her Amish roots and her career make her a perfect candidate. She's certain that she has come to terms with her past -- until the first body is discovered.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich: Lulu, having witnessed the murder of a culinary television star, decides to enter a cooking competition in order to try and uncover who the killer is, while Stephanie Plum helps Ranger investigate a series of break-ins and things start to heat up between them, despite Officer Joe Morelli's objections.

Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver: Body language expert Kathryn Dance and Deputy Michael O'Neil investigate attacks on and murders of individuals who have posted messages about the deaths of two high school students on a local blog and suspect the driver in the fatal accident may be leaving roadside crosses as warnings about who his next victim will be.

A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart: Dylan Vogler, the manager of a coffee shop, is found dead cradling a knapsack full of marijuana. When defense lawyer, Dismas Hardy learns that Vogler is actually supplying dope to many of business and political elite, the tension and turmoil ratchet up into high-stakes suspense.

A Rogue of My Own by Johanna Lindsey: Lady Rebecca Marshall is pulled into the intrigues and dangers of Queen Victoria's court when she becomes a maid of honor, and is married off to the marquis Rupert St. John, who wrongly believes Rebecca trapped him into the marriage, but his growing feelings for his new bride test his pride and his vow to never be faithful to Rebecca.

Frozen Fire by Bill Evans: Eager to exploit a lucrative energy source, Dennis Cavendish has begun to tap the crystalline methane under the ocean floor. Ecoterrorists kill his science team and release gigatons of poisonous methane into the water and atmosphere killing many people. Victoria Clark, Dr. Sam Briscoe and the U. S. government must find a way to seal the break and to nullify the methane.

Gary Jennings' Apocolypse 2012 by Robert Gleason: In A.D. 1001, Coyotl rises to become counselor to the god-king Quetzalcoatl and entombs an End-Time Codex that describes the world's end in 2012; and when the codex is discovered one thousand years later, scientists realize that their own time mirrors the age of Quetzalcoatl.

Large Print Fiction
A Good Woman by Danielle Steel: When Annabelle Worthington loses her family due to the sinking of the Titanic; she becomes a medical volunteer at Ellis Island, marries badly, and eventually finds purpose by volunteering in a field hospital during World War I.

Sweet Home Carolina by Patricia Rice: Advertising executive Jaxie Parker enjoys life in the fast lane, until she is put in charge of her firm's annual pro bono project and must find a way to revitalize the coastal town of Rumton, South Carolina.

Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark: With the intentions of relaxing after the holidays, amateur investigators Regan Reilly and Alvirah Meehan board the "Royal Mermaid" cruise ship with their husbands and get caught up in a mystery that involves a ghost, a storm, criminals, and an attempted murder.

Crossroads by Belva Plain: Gwen Wright, raised in an upper-class environment, and Jewel Fairbanks, a receptionist, find themselves at odds when Gwen begins to have eyes for Jewel's husband, Jeff, and Jewel envies Gwen's wealth; but the situation becomes explosive when Gwen's husband, Stan, who works for Jeff, uncovers questionable business dealings at work.

Lonestar Secrets by Colleen Coble: Shannon Astor returns to Bluebird Crossing years after the death of her parents and finishing vet school. She remembers hard times and remains skittish especially around ex-boyfriend, Jack MacGowen. But their love for two girls, the land and horses brings them to an uneasy alliance.

Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels: The Sisterhood foiled former FBI director Mitch Riley's plot to frame their friends Judge Nellie Easter and lawyer Lizzie Fox, now they must remain in exile or risk capture.

Collateral Damage by Fern Michaels: The Sisterhood verges on falling apart when the ladies have to choose between two difficult assignments. The first job guarantees a huge paycheck; the second offers a presidential pardon - and a chance to finally emerge from hiding.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Based on the Book

The Last of the Mohicans is the most popular of James Fenimore Cooper’s five Leatherstocking Tales. With its death-defying chases and teeth-clenching suspense, this American classic established many archetypes of American frontier fiction.

An engrossing “Western” by America’s first great novelist, The Last of the Mohicans is a story of survival and treachery, love and deliverance.

We have this item in a number of formats, including VHS (VID COO), DVD (DVD COO), book (FIC COO & JF COO) and cassete (AB FIC COO)

Friday, August 7, 2009

August Trivia Contest Question #2

Our new trivia contest will run throughout the month of August, during which time I will post at least one trivia question each week. To participate, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Question #2
Who won the 1959 Box Butte County Fair Queen Contest?
(See my previous post for a list of contestants by clicking here)

Digital Microfilm is here!

With help from the Friends of the Library, we have recently aquired a new digital microfilm machine. Those of you familiar with the old, bulky and outdated machine will be delighted to know that new digital machine produces wonderful quality images.

The machine is easy to use and has a number of features that were not available with the old machine. You can create digital files and either save them to a flash drive or burn them to CD, which is perfect for sharing photos with family, friends and colleagues.

A few good uses of our microfilm include anniversary projects (headlines of the day, marriage licenses, announcements, photos etc.), heritage projects and other personal research projects.

I thought I would share a few of the images with you today to highlight the excellent quality, so I dug up a some images of the Box Butte County Fair. The photos below all appeared in the Times Herald during the fair in 1959.

The Fair Queen Contestants of 1959!



The Box butte County Fair 1959 "Dairy Queen"

A highlight from the Fair Parade in Hemingford 1959

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Friends of the Library Book Sale!

The Friends of the the Library will host their booksale next week! Procedes help fund essential library programs such as Summer Reading and Storytime.
August 11th - 13th
Tuesday: 12-4 (members only)
& 4-6 (open to public)
Wednesday: 10-7
Thursday: 12-5
And if you're like me and don't have room for yet another book in the house, monetary donations are welcome and much appreciated.

Bookworm

Fiction
Thriller 2: Presents a collection of suspenseful short stories from twenty-three renowned authors, and features selections from Jeffrey Deaver, Lisa Jackson, Ridley Pearson, R. L. Stine, and others.

Heartless by Diana Palmer: Gracie Pendleton is reunited with her stepbrother, Jason, a wealthy rancher whom she had not seen since she was a child, and despite the mutual attraction and love they both feel, a secret in Gracie's past threatens to ruin their happiness.

The Dark Horse by Craig Johnson: Sheriff Walt Longmire investigates a strange case in which a prisoner is accused of killing her husband, Wade Barsad, and when Walt goes undercover; he learns that several people wanted Wade dead.

The Fate of Katherine Carr by Thomas H. Cook: After the disappearance of his son, writer George Gates lost his fascination for places where people had disappeared, until detective Arlo McBride asks Gates for help in investigating the disappearance of Katherine Carr, a woman who vanished twenty years earlier.

Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn: Art and antiquities dealer Storm Syrrell closes up shop and begins a dangerous investigation into the murder of her grandfather, Sean, whose hidden journal reveals he led a much more exciting life behind his public persona as a discreet art broker.

Sisters and Husbands by Connie Briscoe: Thirty-nine-year-old Beverly has finally met the man of her dreams and plans to marry him but sisters Evelyn and Charmaine are having marital problems causing Beverly to question if marriage is worth it after all.


Below Zero by C. J. Box: The possible reappearance of a girl named April, who was believed to have died in the massacre in "Winterkill", raises many questions and red flags in Joe Pickett's family life. Meanwhile a dying mobster named Stenko and a much younger girl are crossing the country to reconcile with his son.

Border Songs by Jim Lynch: Six foot eight and severely dyslexic, Brandon was pushed off the farm and into the Border Patrol in British Columbia. He discovers a large variety of birds, but also finds smugglers hauling pot and some potentially more dangerous illegals.

Burned by David Hagberg: Patty and David Monroe flew to Moscow to repair a business deal gone bad, but their Russian business partners shoot David and kidnap Patty in an attempt to ransom her


The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner: A mother disappears without a trace leaving her daughter as the only witness and the husband as the prime suspect. Detective Sergeant D. D. Warren senses something off about the wholesome normality of the couple. The husband seems more intent on destroying evidence than on searching for his wife.

Summer House by Nancy Thayer: Charlotte Wheelwright runs her organic gardening business on land donated by her spry grandmother Nona, and she tries to work on her people skills while the family, including her mother Helen, worries that she is maneuvering to inherit the homestead.

The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews: Lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew, left unemployed after her firm is caught in a political scandal, decides to take her father up on his offer to help him rehab a Victorian home which he recently inherited, and through the obstacles she meets along the way and the relationships she forms with the townspeople, she begins to find true happiness.

Killer Summer by Ridley Pearson: The world's most elite wine connoisseurs are gathering to taste and bid on the world's best wine, especially three historical bottles. Sheriff Walt is responsible for all the security and soon discovers that he is unprepared for the well-planned heist.

Sinner by Ted Dekker: Gifted orators Darcy Lange and Billy Rediger, with the backing of the persuasive Marsuvees Black, convince the government to pass a law banning racial and religious speech and classifying it as hate speech which carries a harsh punishment, and Johnny Drake, a follower of Christ, refuses to allow the new legislation to stand.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Based on the Book

Julie & Julia, based on the life story of Julia Child, French chef extraordinare, releases this Friday. A copy of her memoir, My Life in France, has recently been added to our collection and is ready for checkout.

Julia Child singlehandedly created a new approach to American cuisine with her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show The French Chef, but as she reveals in this bestselling memoir, she was not always a master chef.

Indeed, when she first arrived in France in 1948 with her husband, Paul, who was to work for the USIS, she spoke no French and knew nothing about the country itself. But as she dove into French culture, buying food at local markets and taking classes at the Cordon Bleu, her life changed forever with her newfound passion for cooking and teaching. Julia’s unforgettable story – struggles with the head of the Cordon Bleu, rejections from publishers to whom she sent her now-famous cookbook, a wonderful, nearly fifty-year long marriage that took them across the globe – unfolds with the spirit so key to her success as a chef and a writer, brilliantly capturing one of the most endearing American personalities of the last fifty years.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

August Trivia Contest

Our new trivia contest will run throughout the month of August, during which time I will post at least one trivia question each week. To participate, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Question #1:

Today is the Anniversary of the last entry in Anne Frank's diary, dated August 1, 1944. In the entry, she asks for the meaning of a word. What is that word?

We have her diary available at the library, and it will be held behind the circulation desk until Saturday, July 8th, in case you need to come in and do a little bit of research :-) We also have the movie available for checkout.