Books into Movies

            Here are some books that recently have been made into movies and TV series.

            The Alienist is written by Caleb Carr. It is set in the year 1896 and features a team of criminal investigators who hunt down a madman stalking victims on the streets of New York City, using revolutionary techniques such as fingerprinting and psychology. It now is a television mini-series.

            Ready Player One is written by Ernest Cline. Set in the mid-twenty-first century, in a technological virtual utopia used to escape an ugly real world of famine, poverty, and disease, protagonist Wade Watts joins an increasingly violent effort to solve a series of puzzles by the virtual world’s creator. This is now a movie.

            Boy Erased: A Memoir is written by Garrard Conley. This biographical work tells the author’s story as a survivor of a church-supported sexual orientation conversion therapy facility that claimed to ‘cure” homosexuality. He describes its institutionalized intense Bible study program and its daily threats against his sanity. The movie will be released in November.  

            First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong is written by James R. Hansen. This is an authorized portrait of the first astronaut to set foot on the moon. It also examines other aspects of Armstrong’s career and the toll his professional dedication took on his family life. The movie will be released in August.

            Crazy Rich Asians is written by Kevin Kwan. The novel features Chinese-American Rachel Chu’s visit to Singapore to meet her fiancé’s family. She is surprised to find them an extremely rich and underhanded clan who are opposed to their relationship. The movie will be released in November.

New E-Book Purchases for July

            Here are some new e-books available through our library’s subscription with Bibliotheca.

            The Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering, is written by Joanna Gaines, the star of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. It is a compilation of more than one hundred classic recipes for meals, snacks, desserts, and small plates, including chicken pot pie, asparagus and fontina quiche, overnight French toast, and fried chicken with sticky poppy seed jam. Full-color photos accompany the recipes.

            The President Is Missing: A Novel is co-authored by James Patterson and former President Bill Clinton. Here, a fictional President confronts a threat so huge that it jeopardizes not just Pennsylvania Avenue and Wall Street, but all of America. Cyber terror, espionage, and a traitor in the Cabinet might be possible; the President himself becomes a suspect – until he disappears!

            Spymaster: A Thriller is written by Brad Thor, featuring his protagonist Scot Harvath.  Across Europe, a secret organization has begun attacking diplomats. Back in the United States, a foreign ally demands the identity of a highly placed covert asset. In the balance hang the ingredients for all-out war.

            When Life Gives You Lululemons: A Novel, written by Lauren Weisberger, is a sequel to the popular The Devil Wears Prada. Here, Emily Charlton, the beleaguered assistant-turned-successful Hollywood image consultant, teams up with a former ace lawyer-turned-Greenwich stay-at-home mom to retain the services of an A-list model and politician's wife.

            Enjoy these and other e-books from our collection.

Librarian's Favorites

            Here are some of the books that librarian Eileen has reviewed for our Adult Summer Reading Club.

            This is M. Sasek: the Extraordinary Life and Travels of the Beloved Children’s Book Illustrator, is written by Martin Salisbury. It is a fascinating biography of the artist, Miroslav Sasek, who is the creator of the bestselling “This is” series of children’s books. Chock full of illustrations, documents and fan letters from children, this oversize book is a wonderful read for those people who enjoy both beautifully illustrated children’s books and world travel!

            Appetites: a Cookbook, is written by Anthony Bourdain. In true Anthony Bourdain fashion, the author entertains with not only a memoir of his globetrotting travels but also his favorite recipes for entertaining. Full color photos enhance the classic recipes, and his irreverent chatter throughout the book serves as a way in which we are able to get to know him on a more personal level. A true “work of art!”          

            Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel, is written by Alon Shaya. Part cookbook and part memoir, Alon Shaya has written a book that interlaces the story of his life with the food memories that helped shape it. His recipes are simple-to-follow and the full-color photographs entice the reader to try them.

            Cuba Then: Rare and Classic Images from the Ramiro Fernandez Collection is a dazzling compilation of rare photographs and observations of “old” Cuba, and is one of the largest collections of images outside of Cuba. This will be of interest to people traveling to Cuba and others interested in Cuban-American culture.

Afternoon Book Discussions

Join us for our Afternoon Book Discussions, held on the second Wednesday of every month from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. We select books from a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, encourage lively discussion, and enjoy delicious refreshments. The reading selections for the second half of 2018 are:

July 11^th – The Paris Architect: A Novel, written by Charles Belfoure. A Parisian architect is paid handsomely to devise secret hiding spaces for Jews in his Nazi-occupied country but struggles with risking his life for a cause he is ambivalent towards, until a personal failure brings home their suffering.

August 8^th – Goldberg Variations, written by Susan Isaacs. A septuagenarian business owner evaluates her grandchildren as possible successors to her multi-million-dollar beauty empire, including New York movie studio editor Daisy, womanizing sports PR representative Matt, and religious Legal Aid lawyer Raquel.

September 12^th -- Orphan Train, written by Christina Baker Kline. Close to aging out of the foster care system, Molly Ayer takes a position helping an elderly woman named Vivian and discovers that they are more alike than different as she helps Vivian solve a mystery from her past.

October 10th – Best Boy: A Novel, written by Eli Gottlieb. A middle-aged autistic resident of a therapeutic community where he was sent as a young child rebels against changes in his environment by attempting to return to a family home and younger sibling he only partially remembers.

November 14^th – Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948, written by Madeleine Albright. The former Secretary of State witnessed the Nazi invasion of her native Prague, the Holocaust, and the defeat of fascism, the rise of communism, and the onset of the Cold War

December 12^th – Marriage of Opposites: A Novel, written by Alice Hoffman. Dreaming of an exotic life in Paris while coming of age in a St. Thomas refugee community, young Rachel is forced to marry a widower before falling scandalously in love and becoming the mother of Impressionist master Camille Pissarro.

New Non-Fiction from Bibliotheca E-Books

             Just in from our subscription to Bibliotheca e-books – some of the latest bestsellers and other new non-fiction.

            The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations, is written by John McCain and Mark Salter. Here, the former Republican presidential nominee chronicles his political career from the election of Barack Obama through the divisive 2016 election, offering his opinions of the current developments in Washington as well as his recommendations for ongoing international challenges.

            Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, is written by David Grann. The book presents a true account of the early twentieth-century murders of dozens of wealthy Osage and law-enforcement officials, citing the contributions and missteps of a fledgling FBI that eventually uncovered one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.

            Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House is written by Michael Wolff. The columnist  and author presents his impressions of the chaos of Donald Trump's first nine months in office, detailing why Comey was really fired, how to communicate with the president, and who is directing the administration following Bannon's dismissal.

            Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book is written by Dan Harris, the co-anchor of the weekend edition of Good Morning America, and two other authors. This is a a practical guide to meditation that debunks the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that make many people reluctant to try it, and suggests a range of meditation practices.

            Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery is written by retired astronaut Scott Kelly, a veteran of four space flights. This is his illustrated memoir of his experiences, including a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station. He shares candid reminiscences of his voyages, his colorful formative years and the off-planet journeys that shaped his early career.

            These and other e-books can be borrowed. Instructions are available on the library’s website at www.lmlonline.com

Hot Weather Foods

            Here are some ideas for hot weather meals, bound up in some recently published cookbooks.

            Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue is written by Tuffy Stone, a World Record-breaking champion pit master who has traveled throughout the world on the competition circuit. He provides tips on how to handle smoke, fuel, and fire during the cooking process, and then continues with recipes for rubs, sauces, brines, mops and sprays and dishes made of pork, beef, poultry, and seafood. Recipes for some sides, salads, and desserts round up the collection. Colorful photos and clear text simplifies meal preparation.

            Great Vegan BBQ without a Grill: Amazing Plant-Based Ribs, Burgers, Steaks, Kabobs, and More Smoky Favorites is written by Linda and Alex Meyer, who are the authors of the food blog Veganosity. Using a grill pan or cast iron skillet instead of an outdoor grill or smoker you can prepare plant-based barbecue, burgers, kabobs and other entrees along with sides and salads, dips, sauces and rubs.

            A la Mode: 120 Recipes in 60 Pairings: Pies, Tarts, Cakes, Crisps, and More Topped with Ice Cream, Gelato, Frozen custard, and More is written by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarborough, popular cookbook writers and QVC favorites. Not just apple pie and vanilla ice cream, this book features more unusual recipes and combinations to please your palate.

Travel Ideas

            In the summertime, or anytime, planning a trip can be almost as much fun as the travel itself. Here are some new books for your enjoyment.

            111 Places in Queens That You Must Not Miss, written by Joe DiStefano, offers the opportunity to sample the many ethnicities of the world in one borough. Whether you are interested in food, the arts, religious edifices, shopping, and more, this concise yet informative guide, accompanied by plenty of color photos, will encourage you to visit our next-door neighbor.

            National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States, Fifth Edition offers concise, descriptive reviews of more than 950 parks within the United States, accompanied by full color photos of several of them. Listings are arranged by region of the country and then by state.

            Road Trips: A Guide to Travel, Adventure, and Choosing Your Own Path, is written by Jen CK Jacobs, an editorial photographer who has published work in several books and periodicals. This is a different type of travel book; it describes eight different trips, from solo traveler, to romantic getaway, to those shared by friends and gives tips on packing, snacks, photographing the sights, and more.

            The Solo Travel Handbook: Practical Tips and Inspiration for a Safe, Fun and Fearless Trip, is a Lonely Planet publication designed to answer many of the questions solo travelers have, such as managing your money, meeting people, staying connected, health, safety, and others.

Walking the Americas: 1,800 Miles, Eight Countries, and One Incredible Journey from Mexico to Colombia is written by Levison Wood, a British explorer whose previous books tell of his adventures walking the length of the Nile River and of the Himalayas. Here we follow him and his friend Alberto on a trek that took over four months and 1,800 miles, from Yucatan, Mexico to Colombia..