“The world was hers for the reading.”

Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Several years ago, I went to visit a friend who was living in Brooklyn, NY. While there we went and walked around the botanical gardens (which are beautiful!) and I purchased “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” shirt. I knew the title was from a well-known book, but at the time I had not read it.

This situation has been rectified and I now understand why it's such a widely read classic. Beginning in turn of the century Brooklyn, author Betty Smith introduces us to young Francie Nolan. She is a child who knows poverty, beauty, disappointment, a desire for knowledge, and like the tree she watches grow against all odds, a powerful inner strength. While growing up in difficult circumstances, Francie discovers the library, books and a love of reading - she knows she will never be lonely or stuck in one place as long as she can escape through stories. As she moves into her teen years, her thoughts and feelings become deeper and her dedication to truly experience life thrusts her forward, always educating herself, and realizing how much her Brooklyn roots are a part of her. This is a truly exquisite period piece that has held up beautifully to the test of time.

A few months ago, someone told me I should start watching Downton Abbey. The title was familiar to me from patrons and coworkers talking about it at the library so I thought why not? I like a good British period drama. What no one told me is that I would watch 2 seasons in less than 2 weeks! Set in the 1910's and 20's in the Yorkshire countryside, what's not to love about the saga of the aristocratic Crawley family, their (mostly) faithful servants and friends? If the soap operaesque relationships and situations don't get you, World War I and it's effects will.

The filming of Downton actually takes place at the remarkable Highclare Castle, where Lady Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon, lived. I would highly suggest checking out the book, audiobook or eBook of  Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnavon, who is one of the current residents. It not only recounts Almina's life and accomplishments, but tells about how the people of the area were effected by WWI, and what it was like to actually be in the midst of that terrible conflict. For a look at things from the servants' point of view, try the book Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir that Inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey" by Margaret Powell. And we now have Downton Abbey seasons 1, 2, and 3 available on DVD!

A weekend is a great time to read!!!

Edward Gorey wrote odd stories and rhymes that were both funny and macabre, and had that same sense in his illustrations. Sure they're strange, but I find them interestingly delightful. Look for Amphigorey and other works in our catalog. Please see the following for elucidation, interpretation, illumination, and a wildly grinning Wuggly Ump.

Choices. We've all made some good choices, and some bad. Decisions that we may not have had time to think about, that were an immediate response or pure instinct in a situation. That were made because we were young. Because we felt there was no choice.

The Other Wes Moore tells the true story of two men with the same name, about the same age, who grew up in similar circumstances, and ended up on opposite sides of the spectrum. Author Wes Moore found out about a man serving a life sentence who happens to also be called Wes Moore. He wrote to the jailed Wes, wanting to learn how he ended up in prison, while he himself was a Rhodes Scholar and successful businessman. They began a correspondence that led to meeting in person and discussing their lives. I feel that the book raises questions that merit thought and debate. How much does environment influence a persons behavior? Are your role models peers? Parents? Teachers? Is there someone to push you in the right direction? Who sees and hears what you need? And how do you respond? How do you make your own decisions? These are just some of the questions my book group raised. I'm sure there are a hundred more. What are the answers?