Book Club Picks – Spirituality

November 23, 2014November 6, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

This time of year it’s the calm before the storm. Soon, it will be one holiday after another! Have your book club settle in with a little spirituality with the following suggested titles.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – A fable about undauntingly following one’s dreams, listening to one’s heart, and reading life’s omens features dialogue between a boy and an unnamed being.

The Gifts of Imperfection – let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are by Brene Brown – An expert of the psychology of shame presents advice on how to overcome paralyzing fears and self-consciousness, and at the same time increase feelings of self-worth, gratitude, and acceptance.

Night by Elie Wiesel – The narrative of a boy who lived through Auschwitz and Buchenwald provides a short and terrible indictment of modern humanity.

The Power of Habit – why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg – Identifies the neurological processes behind behaviors, explains how self-control and success are largely driven by habits, and shares scientifically-based guidelines for achieving personal goals and overall well-being by adjusting specific habits.

Heaven is for Real – a little boy’s astounding story of his trip to heaven and back by Todd Burpo – Presents the story of the four-year old son of a Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven.

One Thousand Gifts: a dare to live life fully right where you are by Ann Vos Kamp – The author reflects on moments of grace in her own life as she invites readers to embrace a life of gratitude and realize God’s presence in everyday experiences.

Carry On Warrior: thoughts on life unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton – A New York Times essayist shares her journey from a self-destructive college student to a devoted family woman and teacher while illuminating the importance of trusting in a higher power and being truthful about life’s challenges.

Proof of Heaven: a neurosurgeon’s journey into the afterlife by Eben Alexander – A Harvard-trained neurosurgeon shares a minute-by-minute account of his religiously transformative near-death experience and revealing week-long coma, describing his scientific study of near-death phenomena while explaining what he learned about the nature of human consciousness.

10% Happier – how I tamed the voice in my head, reduce stress without losing my edge, and found self-help that actually works – a true story by Dan Harris – The Nightline anchor, who had a nationally televised panic attack on Good Morning America, takes readers on a rollicking ride through the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news during which he discovered a way to get happier that is truly achievable.

The Untethered Soul: the journey beyond yourself by Michael A. Singer – Who are you? In this remarkable New York Times bestseller, author and spiritual guide Michael Singer explores this fundamental question, seeking the very root of consciousness in order to help readers learn how to dwell in the present moment. Written in an engaging and uncomplicated voice, this book will open readers up to the radical and powerful experience of simply being themselves.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in October

October 2, 2014October 2, 2014 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

It’s October, leaves are changing on the trees, the days are getting shorter, and Cheshire Library’s got loads of great programs to keep you busy all month long. And it’s BOOK SALE MONTH!

Gargoyles of Yale University

Monday Oct 6, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Mathew Duman, author and photographer of An Education in the Grotesque : The Gargoyles of Yale University, has explored the variety of sculpture found on the buildings of Yale University and has researched and documented these new world grotesques which are much closer but no less interesting than their European counterparts. Registration required.

Cheshire Cats Classics Club

Monday Oct 6, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

For the October meeting, the book club will be discussing All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. Copies of this book may be borrowed at the library. Registration required.

Halloween Read-Aloud with FEA

Thursday Oct 9, 2014, 3:30 – 4:15 PM

Come and read with the Future Educators of America (FEA) from Dodd Middle School! Dress up in Halloween colors to get in the spirit. There will be stories, crafts, and a snack. For ages 3-6. Registration required starting on October 1st.

Fab Film Saturday

Saturday Oct 11, 2014, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Today’s film is Frankenweenie (2012 – rated PG – 1 hr, 27 min). From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton comes the hilarious and offbeat FRANKENWEENIE, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life — with just a few minor adjustments. Feel free to bring your own snacks! No registration required.

Tuesday Movie Matinees

Tuesday Oct 14, 2014 – The Uninvited (1944 – 99 minutes).

Tuesday Oct 28, 2014 – Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941 – 94 minutes)

1:00 – 3:00 PM, No registration required.

Witchcraft Trials of Connecticut

Tuesday Oct 14, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Join Richard Tomlinson, author of Witchcraft Prosecution : Chasing the Devil in Connecticut as he discusses the fears that drove some citizens to seek out and punish accused witches that lived in their community. Tomlinson will explore the witchcraft trials in 1600s Connecticut and highlight three major trials in Connecticut history: the Hartford Witch Panic of 1662-63; the landmark prosecution of Katherine Harrison of Wethersfield; and the trial of Mercy Disbrow, the last woman convicted of witchcraft in Connecticut. Registration required.

Bobcats in Connecticut

Wednesday Oct 15, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Bobcats are common in Connecticut and found in most towns throughout the state. They have been spotted in Cheshire and in other towns in the region. Bobcats are stealthy predators; secretive, solitary and seldom observed, tending to hunt and travel in areas of thick cover. Christine Clark, from Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, will highlight the abilities, adaptations and natural history of the bobcat using slides, video and artifacts. Registration required.

Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale: Members-Only Preview Night

Wednesday Oct 22, 2014, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Preview the popular Friends of the Cheshire Public Library Semi-Annual Book Sale. Memberships can be purchased at the door.

Friends of the Library Semi-Annual Book Sale

Thursday Oct 23 – Saturday Oct 25, 2014

Halloween Magic

Monday Oct 27, 2014, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Please join us for a fun-filled Halloween Magic Show with Mr. Magic, Rick Rothstein. Rick will amaze everyone with his illusions with water and other visual trickery. For all ages. Registration required starting on October 1st.

iPad 101

Tuesday Oct 28, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Learn the basics on how to use the most popular tablet on the market. This class will cover everything from changing settings to taking photographs. Please bring your own iPad if possible. The library has a limited number of iPads participants can use.

Topics covered:
Changing your settings
Securing your iPad for unauthorized use
Downloading Apps
Setting up your email
Organizing your life with iCalendar and Reminders
Photo-taking 101

Cheshire Magic : The Gathering Club

Tuesday Oct 28, 2014, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

In Magic: The Gathering, you are counted among the elite spellcasters of the Multiverse—the Planeswalkers. Your deck of cards represents your weapons, containing the spells you know and the creatures you can summon to fight for you. (Cards will be provided to play with if you don’t have any of your own.) Grades 9—12 and up, no registration required.

Before the Auto: Transportation in Cheshire during the 19th Century

Wednesday Oct 29, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Learn how turnpikes, the Farmington Canal, steam railroads, and electric trolleys provided transportation in Cheshire in the nineteenth century. Presenter Richard DeLuca is the author of “Post Roads and Iron Horses,” which looks at transportation in Connecticut from Colonial Times to the Age of Steam.

Halloween Storytime and Costume Parade

Thursday Oct 30, 2014, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Join Miss Nicole for a Halloween Storytime and Parade in the library! We’ll read some stories and then go treak-or-treating around the library! Be sure to wear your costume! For ages 8 and under. Registration required starting on October 1st.

Anime Club Halloween Cosplay Extravaganza

Friday Oct 31, 2014, 3:00 – 4:45 PM

Dress up and act like your favorite character: anime or otherwise! Prizes will be awarded for effort and creativity. Japanese refreshments will be provided, but the major event will be the cosplay contest, so start planning your costume and moves today—this is one event you won’t want to miss!! Grades 6—12. No registration required.

Book Club Picks – It’s All About Love

September 25, 2014September 25, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

The hustle and bustle of summer is over. It’s a great time to settle in with a warm and fuzzy romance. Here are a few to choose from.

Return to Tradd Street by Karen White – Struggling to complete renovations on her house before her baby arrives, single mother and psychic realtor Melanie Middleton seeks help from the man who broke her heart when a series of hauntings plaguing her house turn violent.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philip Sendker – When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter has any idea where he might be–until they find a love letter he wrote many years before, to a Burmese woman who is unknown to them.

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts – After suffering through an intense year of public and police scrutiny after being wrongly implicated in his fiancâe’s murder, Boston lawyer Eli Landon takes sanctuary in a centuries-old family home and falls in love with resident housekeeper Abra Walsh, with whom he is entangled in an old, life-threatening mystery.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham – A struggling actress in 1990s New York City searches for work and the perfect hair product while befriending a rival and resisting her father’s pressure to get a “real” job.

Three Sisters by Susan Mallery – Buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island, Dr. Andi Gordon, deciding that both her life and home are in need of some major renovations, forms an unbreakable bond with her neighbors–two very different women who are dealing with their own struggles.

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe – Summoned by their Charleston society grandmother to a historic family home on Sullivan’s Island, estranged sisters Carson, Eudora and Harper share a summer of healing and forgiveness while exploring the tenacious complexities of sisterhood and friendship.

Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews – Calling off her high-society wedding after discovering her fiancâe’s infidelity, Keely Murdock faces financial ruin before receiving assistance–and an opportunity for revenge–from the new owner of a local bra company.

The Inn At Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber – Jo Marie Rose opens the Rose Harbor Inn bed and breakfast in Cedar Cove in order to start a new life, but the inn and its first guests bring surprises into Jo’s life.

Twelve Times Blessed by Jacquelyn Mitchard – A year in the life of a fortysomething woman reveals the reflections of widow True Dickinson, who has raised a son and built a successful small business while putting off the kind of romance she desperately desires.

War Brides by Helen Bryan – Five women form a bond of friendship in the English village of Crowmarch Priors as they find their lives altered by loss and love during World War II.

Jenn Reads: Brave New World

June 19, 2014May 21, 2014 / Jenn / Leave a comment

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley was our April pick for the Cheshire Cats Classics Book Club.

Before there was The Hunger Games series, Maze Runner series, Legend series there was Brave New World. Huxley was one of the first authors to write a dystopian novel and all others that follow are using him as an example. He did it first and did it best. I marketed this book as the original dystopian novel, because of how popular that genre is right now. And if you want to know where these authors have likely gotten their inspiration, you need to read this book.

A few fast facts about Huxley: he taught French at Eton and George Orwell was one of his students. When Orwell published 1984, he sent a copy to his former teacher, who

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

basically called the book garbage. Huxley died on the same day as C. S. Lewis and JFK, and both of their deaths were overshadowed by the death of the president. And he was a friend to Igor Stravinsky.

Brave New World is a book that is so similar to our own, it is scary how real this book is.

Published in 1932, Brave New World takes place almost 600 years in the future. This is a world where your future is determined at the moment of your conception. Every single child born in this world is born of the test tube and is “raised” to be one of five classes- Alpha, being the best and highest class, or Epsilon, the lowest class. You have no mother, father, and are engineered for specific tasks. You will never grow old, you will never rise above your class, and you will have no apparent free will. Life will be full of pleasurable things however- sex, drugs, mass consumption, and more.

So what makes a dystopian novel different from an utopian novel? Dystopian novels are characterized by a horrible society headed towards oblivion, while utopian novels have an ideal society. Brave New World is a utopian novel on the surface, and to those living in that society, but it’s really dystopian. There is a huge reliance on technology, instant gratification, and lots of propaganda.

Huxley was disturbed at the path the world was taking: the world had been plunged into a great economic depression, fascism and communism were taking hold across Europe, and the Industrial Revolution was continuing to change the landscape of the world. What would happen to us as a people if all of this continued? Huxley feared that we would become a people slaved to technology, conditioned for pleasure and nothing else, and drugged to reality. If you’re thinking this sounds a lot like today’s society, you would not be that far off. However, lurking on the fringes were Savage Worlds with people who had lived a much different life.

If you read Brave New World today, there are many scenes that will likely make you think twice. One for me was the scene at what I’ll call the children’s center, where children are being conditioned for certain things. This particular set of children is taught to be afraid of loud noises. What is eerie is the level of manipulation that is going on- these children have no free will. Just like our own, the world of Brave New World is a throw-away society. Something breaks, is old, is damaged, is no longer wanted- throw it away!

Huxley had supposed it would take hundreds of years for the things he wrote about to come true, but if you look hard at the world we live in today, it is a lot like the one he envisioned. Hospice, cloning/DNA/biological engineering, helicopters, and e-books were just a few of the things he prophecized for the future.

Brave New World is easy reading, but do not be fooled by the simplicity of the language or writing. Huxley has a lot to say about how we live our lives with each other, with technology, and for the future.

Rating: 3 bookmarks out of 5

See you in the stacks,

Jenn

Jenn Reads: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

June 1, 2014April 30, 2014 / Jenn / Leave a comment

Our mystery book club recently read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

A recently unemployed millennial, Clay, wonders into a curious San Francisco bookstore and leaves finding himself employed. It’s a strange bookstore- long with shelves that seem to reach towards the sky and some odd books. His boss, Mr. Penumbra, has just three rules for Clay, the most important of which is to never look inside the books on what Clay calls the “wayback shelves.”

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Clay works the midnight shift and encounters a few characters, all of whom want books from the “wayback shelves.” It does not take Clay long to peek into those books and open the proverbial can of worms. Along with the help of friends, Clay seeks to solve the puzzle of eternal life.

This is a book for anyone who loves to read, loves bookstores or libraries, or ponders what the future will bring. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is a book for today, with its clash of technology and traditional ways and methods. We get asked a lot here at the library what we believe the future of print books will be with the advent of e-books. It is difficult to say for sure (no one has a crystal ball), but I would personally like to hope that print books will always be around. After all, people still use brooms even though they have vacuum cleaners!

This book also raises the question: How do will we solve problems – by using computers or our own brains? How reliant will we become on computers? Clay finds throughout the book that technology can be useful, but it also cannot do the critical and complex thinking our minds can accomplish.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is an easy to read, engaging, and quirky book. I enjoyed the adventure and the resolution of the puzzle (solved without the help of a computer!). There were times however, when problems were too easily solved with a ready answer or helping hand. So-and-so just happened to have that skill or know a person who could help them. It became a little too predictable. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is not at least familiar with some of the changes in technology – this book is full of 2012 popular jargon and pop culture references, which could be confusing for some.

Rating: 4 bookmarks out of 5

See you in the stacks,
Jenn