Movie Night Suggestions

If you find yourself in the mood for cozying up with a good movie, film expert Roger Ebert has some great suggestions for you in The Great Movies III. The one hundred essays look at old and new, and include everything from The Godfather to A Prairie Home Companion. You will certainly find something of interest!

Bagel or McMuffin?

As we enter the season of family, friends and food, you might worry about packing on the pounds. Fear not--the authors of the Eat This, Not That! series have just released an updated and expanded edition to help you fight an expanding waistline. You don't have to give up all those delicious restaurant snacks during your shopping breaks...just make wiser choices. (Hint: choose the Egg McMuffin over the Bagel!)

It's not Dear Abby, but it still works

For decades, the broken and wounded of heart have been making the pilgrimage to Verona Italy, the setting of Shakespeare's famous play Romeo and Juliet. Here, they leave letters asking Juliet for advice about relationships. And, thanks to a dedicated team of writers, the letters are answered in due course. This was the inspiration for the 2010 romantic comedy Letters to Juliet:

It is while assisting this team of writers that Sophie, a young woman struggling with her own relationship issues, finds a 50-year-old letter written by Claire. Thinking she is only doing her job, Sophie responds to Claire's letter, offering the best advise she can. But sometimes life brings unexpected twists of fate. Soon Sophie finds herself accompanying Claire, now an old woman, on a journey to find Claire's long-lost true love. Along the way, sparks fly between Sophie and Claire's stubborn grandson. Included is some gorgeous scenery of the Italian countryside. Although quite cheesy and often predictable, Letters to Juliet is a lighthearted and enjoyable film. Watch it alone or with the "girls". Pints of Ben and Jerry's are optional. A word of warning to potential male viewers, though: This movie is more "chick flick" than "date movie" (and yes, there is a difference).

Great Escapes

If you love to travel but can't get away as much as you like, Book Lust to Go has lots of great book recommendations that will have you on your way to destinations worldwide. Librarian Nancy Pearl knows what makes a good read and shares more than 120 of her ideas in this guide.

That's eyetalian!

Yes, the real deal, The Dog Who Ate the Truffle is a memoir replete with Italian cooking and culture. Suzanne Carriero spent a year and a half in Umbria, and this is her intimate look at its ancient recipes, traditions, and the people who pass them on. Each of the book’s eight chapters features local cooks, as their personal stories are as much a part of the cuisine’s essence as are the crops they grow and the family dishes they prepare.Anecdotes, sidebars, and boxes are used throughout the book to further illustrate Umbrian life;from buying a rabbit in the country, to making torta di Pasqua for Easter, to reading the Italian wine label, and drinking cappuccino after lunch (a serious breach in tradition). With a food and wine glossary included as a reference for travelers, The Dog Who Ate the Truffle immerses the reader in the people, cuisine, and lifestyle that few are privileged to experience. Suzanne’s colorful stories and authentic classic recipes make for an intimate and illustrious travel cookbook.

Gotta Love Dewey!

You don't have to be a librarian to appreciate Dewey's Nine Lives, retired librarian Vicki Myron's second tribute to her library's beloved cat Dewey Readmore Books. Here, Myron tells new stories about Dewey's antics that didn't make the cut for the first book. Also included are tales (tails?) about six other extraordinary cats that are sure to give you a case of the warm fuzzies. If you are a cat owner, this heartwarming read will make you want to track down your feline friend and give him or her a cuddle. And if you don't have a cat, perhaps this book will inspire you to make the trek to the nearest animal rescue and adopt a new best friend. Either way, a wonderful read. And it would make a wonderful gift for the animal lover on your holiday shopping list!

Great Lakes History

It was 35 years ago today that the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior. The mysterious tragedy inspired Gordon Lightfoot to write a moving ballad about the wreck. If you visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, Michigan you can see the bell of the freighter and many other artifacts relating to the voyage. Tonight at 7pm the Museum will have its annual memorial service to honor the crew of 29 that was lost that fateful night.

A different view of Leo Tolstoy

History is seen through the eyes of a wife in Sophia Tolstoy: a Biography. This biography is written by a journalist and literary scholar and provides much information in Sophia's own words through her letters. If you watched The Last Station and wanted to know more, this detailed biography provides the details and a lot of historical background. I highly recommend it.

Local Talent

Mark your calendars for a special event at the Library.
On Saturday, December 11 from 2-4 these local authors will be on hand to sell and sign their books:

• Ewa Jankowiak, Soul of a Woman--Soul of the Land
• Darla Jaros, The Kitchen Assistant
• Jason and Ann Cowan, The Chore Solution: Making Families Better by Working Together
• Michael J. Thorp, The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test-The Who, What, Where, When, Why & How of Michigan
• Rich Halladay, Ragtop Doll: The Shocking and Heretofore Untold Account of How Murder, Sex and Hardball Politics Stained America's 1968 Presidential Election
• Greta Emling, Wounded, Trapped and Voiceless

Join us for this unique event!

Warm Hands

It's getting nearer to that time of year when you'll need mittens to keep your hands warm. Mittens & Gloves has a huge variety of patterns for you to knit up some new ones for yourself or to give as gifts. The items range from mittens and gloves to wristlets and sleeves. Some of the patterns are quite advanced--be prepared to be challenged by them!