From the Children’s Room: Dig Into Reading This Summer!

July 3, 2013July 3, 2013 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

The Cheshire Library presents its 2013 Summer Reading program “Dig Into Reading”.

Dig into your best summer yet with our annual Summer Reading Program! Register online for our Summer Reading Club. Read books, log what you’ve read, write reviews & get prizes! Program begins June 24th & continues through August 19th. Children and parents can come to the library after registering and receive the Summer Reading packet, which includes a bookmark, a packet of sunflower seeds, and promotional items from Quassy Park, Applebees, TD North Bank, Connecticut Higher Education Trust, the Sound Tigers, Connecticut Sun, and Pottery Piazza.

2013 Summer Reading T-Shirt design by Laurie Lee

Children in preschool through grade two will read 6 books to receive a t-shirt and 12 books to finish the Reading Club. Children in grades three and up need to read 3 books to receive a t-shirt and 6 books to finish. T- shirts will be available while supplies last.

Children who finish the club will receive a ticket voucher for the New Britain Rock Cats and the Pawtucket Red Sox. Instructions for receiving the tickets and information about game dates will be forthcoming. Children will also receive a reading certificate and a ticket for a gift certificates drawing to be held at the end of the reading program.
The Summer Reading Program features wonderful programs all summer long, sponsored through the generous support of the Friends of the Library.
Register for programs on our website.

How many books will YOU read this summer?

Female Role Models in Fantasy

July 2, 2013June 24, 2013 / Sharon Tyler / 1 Comment

I am a fan of books from a wide variety of genres, for a wide variety of age groups. However, there is one common thread in the books I feel the most passionate about, and that is well-written characters. When I find a book with a strong protagonist that I can actually like and yet also believe in as real, I am thrilled. Sometimes finding one of these characters that just happens to be female, and one I would want to hold up to my daughter or nieces as a role model, is very hard. A teen or young female character who does not act as a victim even if the situation might make others feel like one. They act and do everything they can to make their life, and the lives of others, better. Thankfully, I have read fantasy for a long time, and have found a few. Here are the authors, and some of their noteworthy books that you can recommend to the young girls and young adults in your life.

1) Tamora Pierce is my go-to recommendation for everyone that walks into the library and is looking for a fantasy book. Alanna: The First Adventure is the first book in the first series, Song of the Lioness, by Pierce. Alanna is a young girl that poses as her twin brother to become a knight and deals with the issues of bullying and personal strength. There are currently nine series by Pierce, two of which are geared for young adults, while the rest are for children, and she is still actively writing in at least one of them. My favorite series starters from Pierce are Alanna: The First Adventure, First Test (Protector of the Small), Trickster’s Choice (Daughter of the Lioness), and Terrier (Beka Cooper).

2) Robin McKinley has written a number of books that take classic stories, or plots that are reminiscent of them, and give them a solid twist. One of my favorites, The Hero and The Crown is about Aerin, who has the guidance of the wizard Luthe and the help of the blue sword to secure her birthright as the daughter of the Damarian king and a witchwoman of the mysterious, demon-haunted North. The Blue Sword, Beauty, Chalice, Spindle’s End, Pegasus, and Sunshine are other books I would recommend from McKinley.

3) Cornelia Funke is the author of the Inkworld series, which begins with Inkheart. You might recognize the shared title from the movie which was released in 2008. In Inkheart, twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can “read” fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service. The sequels Inkspell and Inkdeath are equally good reads. For younger readers, I recommend Funke’s Igraine the Brave, The Princess Knight, and the Ghosthunter’s series which begins with Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost!.

4) Patricia C. Wrede is the author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles quartet, which begins with Dealing with Dragons in which Cimorene is everything a princess is expected not to be. She is headstrong, tomboyish, and smart. But most of all she is bored, so bored that she runs away to live with a dragon and in the process finds the family and excitement she’s been looking for. Other books that I would recommend by Wrede are Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, Thirteenth Child, Mairelon the Magician, and Shadow Magic– all of which begin their own series.

Other authors that tend to offer up strong female children, teens, and adults as main characters in fantasy include: Libba Bray, Kristin Cashore, Cassandra Clare, Robin LaFevers, Maria V. Snyder, Garth Nix, Holly Black, Lilith St. Crow, Rachel Vincent, Elizabeth Moon, Kristen Britain, Edith Nesbitt, Dianna Wynne Jones, Patricia A. McKillip, and Sharon Shinn.

I know I left some great authors out, some are on the tip of my tongue even as I type this. Do you have a favorite fantasy book or author with strong female characters?

James Gandolfini – Beyond Tony Soprano

June 29, 2013June 29, 2013 / Louise / Leave a comment

Most people know James Gandolfini from his iconic role as Tony Soprano on the critically acclaimed HBO drama “The Sopranos“. His untimely death on June 19 prompted me to check out some of his other roles, available on DVD at Cheshire Public Library. There are some real gems here.

Not Fade Away (2012) – This film is about a group of young kids who try to form a rock band in ’60s Jersey. Gandolfini is great as Pat, the strict father of the band’s lead singer, who wants his son to abandon his rock-star fantasies in favor of college, so that his son can have the education and opportunities he didn’t.

Killing Them Softly (2012) – Critics were divided on this film, in which Gandolfini plays a depressed alcoholic hitman. Dubbed a “super-cynical crime caper”, the many of characters in the film are pretty despicable, but Gandofini’s turn as the soprano-esque Mickey stands out.

Down the Shore

Down the Shore (2011) – In this indie drama, Gamdolfini plays the operator of a rundown kiddie amusement park on the Jersey shore. Variety said of his performance, “…Gandolfini’s most substantial feature role to date … reminding audiences why he’s a genuine American acting treasure”.

Welcome to the Rileys (2010) – Gandolfini is Doug Riley, a man dealing with the tragic death of his teenage daughter. On a business trip to New Orleans, he encounters Mallory(played by Kristen Stewart of “Twilight” fame), an angry runaway living a dangerous life as a stripper. Moved by emotions he barely understands, Riley abandons his old life to save hers.

In the Loop

In the Loop (2009) – Gandolfini showcases his comedy chops as Lieutenant General Miller, senior military assistant to the U.S. secretary of Defense, engaging in several hilarious rapid-fire verbal exchanges with various politicians in this film satire.

Lonely Hearts (2006) – In this period drama, Gandolfini teamed up with John Travolta as homicide detectives who bring a serial killer couple to justice. (Based on the true story of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, who became known as the notorious “Lonely Hearts Killers” in the 1940s.)

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) – Gandolfini plays a supporting but pivotal role as the mayor of New York City in this suspense film about a hostage crisis on the subway. The all-star cast also includes John Travolta and Denzel Washington, and is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name.

The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) – In the Coen brothers’ noir film, Gandolfini stars as a department store boss caught up in blackmail and adultery. The AV Club said of his performance, “James Gandolfini doesn’t even make it past the 30-minute mark in The Man Who Wasn’t There, yet in every respect, he looms large over Joel and Ethan Coen’s unsung masterpiece.”

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) – Gandolfini plays Carol, the “lead” Wild Thing, the gentle-giant mentor to 9-year-old Max. Even though the only thing evident was Gandolfini’s voice, (the film made use of motion-capture CGI as he acted the role) he still managed to make the character be both scary and lovable in equal measure.

Susan picks music: Chants! Chants! Some of Them From France!

June 27, 2013June 24, 2013 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

Most people are familiar with school yard chants, jump rope rhymes, and various sports chants, yet most people think of musical chants as only belonging to monks in the Middle Ages and quickly run away. Not true! Popular music is full of rhythmic chanting, from rock (think Blondie’s “Rapture”, or the opening to Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes”) to rap music to new age drum circles to American Indian dances to soundtrack music from such films as Lord of the Rings and Temple of Doom. The tune O Fortuna’s been used in hundreds of films and commercials – you might not know the title, but you’d know the music. Chants are all around us! And chants aren’t the same as a cappella music; chants can be accompanied by anything from nothing at all up through a full orchestra, every bit as musically complex as a Handel chorale. Here’s a variety of great chant music that is sure to please just about everyone:

Buddhist Chants and Peace Songs: This album knocked me off my feet! I expected that ho-hum Gregorian motif, and what I found was a light, bright, happy tune filled with undulating harmonies that sank into your head and had you singing along in phonetic Chinese. Composed of two long (40-minute) tracks, this is fabulous background music for artwork, writing, relaxing, or meditating. Absolutely delightful and unexpected.

Enigma: Love Sensuality Devotion – Enigma, my long-standing New-Age relaxation group. Enigma dances along the line of New Age-Rock, filled with chants, beats, echoes, and whispers. Wonderful for relaxation or background at a cocktail party. My favorite track? Principles of Lust.

Chant: Sure, it’s your traditional French Benedictine Nuns wailing in plainsong, but the rhythms get under your skin and the choral is magnificent. Even if you aren’t up to stroke on your Latin or care about the religious aspects, let yourself get carried away by the sheer beauty of the form.

Acoustic Africa: Not so much a direct chant, but a lovely album incorporating rhythms and music we aren’t used to in our pop-rock society. A great album to try if you’re bored with radio music but don’t particularly care for folk music.

Nendaa – Go Back by Jerry Alred and the Medicine Beat: New-Agey Native-American-style music with chants, wails, guitars, and drums. Perfect for a dark night and a campfire.

Give one a try, or some of our other Chants, whether Benedictine, Russian, or popular! And don’t forget the O Fortuna!

From the Reference Desk: Hiking Trails in Cheshire

June 26, 2013June 26, 2013 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

The Cheshire Library has trail maps for four town owned properties. Copies are located on the Main Level on a stack end cap under a Hike Cheshire sign, and on the Lower Level next to the travel books. The maps are for:

Roaring Brook Property on Roaring Brook Drive. The second tallest waterfall in the state, Roaring Brook Falls also features several cascades below the main drop. The trail is well marked in blue and easy to follow. There is a steady uphill grade from the start and a few rocky downhill parts. The trail gets progressively steeper as you approach the falls.

Boulder Knoll Property on Boulder Road. The open terrain is comprised of flat to rolling fields and hills that climb to a minor basalt/traprock ridge. Portions of the open fields are wet meadow, which is the fastest declining type of wetland in New England.

Farmington Canal Linear Park. The Cheshire portion of the Farmington Canal Trail – which some day will connect New Haven to Northampton, MA – extends from Cornwall Avenue, south to the Hamden town line, then continuing into Hamden.

The DeDominicis Property on Old Lane Road. Streams and wetlands are scattered throughout this 185 acres of unfragmented forest that features a rich assortment of plant and animal life. The significant acreage and the close proximity to existing open space parcels also make it a desirable habitat for wildlife. Hawks, deer, owls, and other animals can be regularly seen on the property.