Goodreads

Looking for a good book? Just tell them what titles or genres you’ve enjoyed in the past, and they'll give you surprisingly insightful recommendations.
Click on the Goodreads title for a direct link.

New DVD Arrivals!

"Crazy, Stupid Love" - newly divorced Cal makes an awkward return to the dating scene - stars Steve Carell, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone ("The Help")

"One Day" - a friendship of opposites develops into romance over twenty years - based on the best-selling novel by David Nichols and starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess

"Our Idiot Brother" - there is always one in the family not in step with the times - stars Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks and Zooey Deschanel (TV's "New Girl")

"30 Minutes or Less" - what can bring two ex-best friends together? - how about a bank robbery? - stars Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride

Top Ten Art Books of 2011

From Booklist Magazine

The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ’n’ Roll . By Preston Lauterbach.
In this terrific popular history, music journalist Lauterbach resurrects a thriving African American subculture that nurtured rock ’n’ roll, vividly portraying the famous (B. B. King, Little Richard) and the unsung.

Heat Wave: The Life and Career of Ethel Waters. By Donald Bogle.
A multitalented performer, Waters made history in Harlem nightclubs, on Broadway, and in Hollywood movies, struggling with sexism and racism and living a tempestuous life, which Bogle expertly chronicles.

Joan Mitchell: Lady Painter. By Patricia Albers.
Albers draws on the nuanced power of Joan Mitchell’s abstract paintings to create the first comprehensive biography of this dazzlingly independent artist, who held her own in the macho New York art world.

John Huston: Courage and Art. By Jeffrey Meyers.
By balancing the flamboyant life with the landmark works of legendary movie director John Huston, veteran biographer Meyers reveals how a flawed man produced nearly flawless and indelible films.

A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians—from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between. By Stuart Isacoff.
Isacoff offers an encyclopedic history of the beloved instrument and profiles such masters of the keyboard as Beethoven, Gershwin, and Oscar Peterson in this big slice of heaven for piano lovers.

The Paper Garden: An Artist (Begins Her Life’s Work) at 72. By Molly Peacock.
Esteemed poet Peacock chronicles the remarkable, many-chaptered life of English artist Mary Granville Pendarves Delany (1700–88) and marvels over her “flower mosaiks,” entwining aspects of her own life with Delany’s to evocative effect.


Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark. By Brian Kellow.
Kellow matches extensive research with acute perception in his sensitive and definitive biography of Pauline Kael, America’s foremost, and most controversial, movie critic.

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. By Susan Orlean.
The first to delve into the amazing story of Rin Tin Tin, “the archetypal dog hero,” Orlean tells, with insight and vigor, a far-reaching tale of war, creative intrepidness, and the ascent of film and television.

33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day. By Dorian Lynskey.
Music critic Lynskey offers a compelling, comprehensive look at 33 protest songs, including “We Shall Overcome,” that span seven decades, five continents, and the labor, civil rights, antiwar, and gay rights movements.

Willie Dixon: Preacher of the Blues. By Mitsutoshi Inaba.
Musicologist Inaba offers a groundbreaking and satisfying biography of songwriter and performer Willie Dixon as a multifaceted blues innovator and essential presence in American music.

Book Club In A Bag!

Welcome to the Merrick Library's Book Club in A Bag Program. Each bag contains 10 copies of a title, discussion information, discussion leader tips, and a book sign up sheet to help the leader keep track of the books. The Reference Department has been very busy gathering multiple copies of several titles for your discussion groups. You will be able to check them out as one complete kit. Also included will be everything you need to lead your group; author biographies, discussion questions, critical material and more! All of the work has already been done for you. All you need are some interested readers, some snacks, great conversation, and you are good to go! Please call the Reference Desk for more information. (516) 377-6112 x112 or x113.

New DVDs!

Just Out:

"Yamla Pagla Deewana" - from India - is the newest member of a con artist family a help or a hindrance?

Out November 22:

"Sarah's Key" - a family secret entwines Holocaust era- and present day Paris - based on the acclaimed novel by Tatiana de Rosnay and starring Kristin Scott Thomas

"Super 8" - a train disaster in 1970s Ohio may not have been an accident - it's all on film! - stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning and Kyle Chandler (TV's "Friday Night Lights")

Book Signing Today! @ Book Revue

REGIS PHILBIN

Wednesday, November 16th, 7pm @ Book Revue in Huntington.

Emmy award-winning host, REGIS PHILBIN, will speak about and sign new
memoir, How I Got This Way.

Regis Philbin has regaled television audiences with his stories for more than 50 years, but he’s saved the most hilarious, surprising, heartfelt and inspiring tales for now. In what is essentially a memoir and a primer for living the good life all rolled into one, this beloved TV icon shares the secrets to success and happiness as he has learned them from his innumerable celebrity encounters, friendships and of course, from his relationship with his loving wife and family Emmy Award-winning television star Regis Philbin has entertained millions of Americans every weekday morning for the past 28 years hosting, in various incarnations, the popular show Live! with Regis and Kelly. Referred to often as the “hardest working man in television,” he has rubbed elbows and egos with countless personalities. His innate curiosity and wit has enabled him to learn great life lessons from the most legendary and formidable of them. Now in a most unique memoir Regis shares all that these experiences have taught him about achieving success and happiness—and about maintaining both for as long as he has! It is the ultimate gift to his fans as he departs the show in November of 2011, closing one very long and rich chapter of his life to begin yet another.

Invaluable advice closes each chapter with the trademark gratitude and humility that has made Regis Philbin such a national treasure. Inspiring anecdotes, laugh-out-loud tales and awkward celebrity moments make this so much more than a memoir—it truly is Regis’s personal guide to living a positive life. Marked by same tongue-in-cheek humor and candor Regis has always displayed, this book will serve and endure as a reminder of why America has related to and loved this one-of-a-kind television legend for so many decades.

New Non-fiction Audiobook arrivals!

Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. Although Jobs cooperated with this book, he asked for no control over what was written nor even the right to read it before it was published. He put nothing off-limits. He encouraged the people he knew to speak honestly. And Jobs speaks candidly, sometimes brutally so, about the people he worked with and competed against. His friends, foes, and colleagues provide an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped his approach to business and the innovative products that resulted.






William Shatner has had a million lives, it seems, since he played James Tiberius Kirk on Star Trek. In fact, he's become an icon adored as much for being William Shatner as for his many starring roles. Shatner Rules gives his many fans a glimpse inside the genius of this unpredictable star. With insight, wisdom, and, of course, a heavy dose of humor, Mr. Shatner reveals the truth behind his persona and his own career longevity



You can live better on less. Much less! In a time of rising prices and economic stress, everyone wants to spend less. But who among us wants to slash our quality of life? Popular blogger and money-saving expert Kelly Hancock has wonderful news for you. In Saving Savvy, you’ll discover practical strategies to stretch your dollars—without spending more time than you can afford. As you explore, you’ll learn: -To avoid paying full-price for the things you purchase most frequently. -Tips for clarifying your financial goals and key steps for reaching them. -Secrets of expert grocery shoppers that can save you up to 75 percent or more each month, leaving more in your pocket for other priorities. (And no, it’s not just about coupons!) -Ways to organize yourself and plan ahead to save you time and money. -How to give more—and more often—to the causes, people and ministries you care about. As Kelly takes you step by simple step through the process, you’ll find scores of savvy saving and living generously tips. And through her popular blog, she has harvested the collective wisdom of thousands of people just like you. No matter what your circumstance, no matter how much—or little—time you have, you can learn how to get control of your spending, and start saving money today.



Candice Millard chronicles the life of President James A. Garfield, from his upbringing to his untimely death. Garfield's short time in office was devoted to cleaning up the corruption that was rife in a country still reeling from the Civil War. However, everything changed when Garfield was shot in the back by a disgruntled office worker. While the president's health slowly declined, a power struggle erupted over control of the administration, and the country's fate hung in the balance.


The gripping true story of a brutal serial killer who unleashed his own reign of terror in Nazi-occupied Paris. Dr. Marcel Petiot was eventually charged with 27 murders, although authorities suspected the total was considerably higher. The trial became a circus, and Petiot enjoyed the spotlight. A harrowing exploration of murder, betrayal, and evil of staggering proportions.



Two bestselling authors first met in a televised Caltech debate on “the future of God,” one an articulate advocate for spirituality, the other a prominent physicist. This remarkable book is the product of that serendipitous encounter and the contentious—but respectful—clash of worldviews that grew along with their friendship.
In War of the Worldviews these two great thinkers battle over the cosmos, evolution and life, the human brain, and God, probing the fundamental questions that define the human experience.




Rooted in the values, lessons, and verities of generations past and of his South Dakota upbringing, Brokaw weaves together stories of Americans who are making a difference and personal stories from his own family history, to engage us in a conversation about our country and to offer ideas for how we can revitalize the promise of the American Dream.

New DVD Arrivals!

"Beginners" - how open one is to love may depend on a parent's example - stars Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer

"Larry Crowne" - an unemployed man finds community and romance at a local college - stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts

"Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides" - what scares Jack Sparrow more: a woman from his past or Blackbeard The Pirate? - stars Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush

"The Tree" - is it unresolved grief or the presence of a dead husband outside a widow's house? - stars Charlotte Gainsbourg ("Golden Door," "The City of Your Final Destination")

Celebrating Good Food and Good Wine!

Here are some great new titles to celebrate this theme!

"Comfort Food Fix" By Ellie Krieger

"Meals in Minutes" By Jamie Oliver

"The Art of Eating" By Edward Behr

"A Vinyard in My Glass" By Gerald Asher

New DVD!!

Out November 8:

"The Change-Up" - comedy about two buddies who find themelves in each other's skin - which one has it made? - stars Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann and Alan Arkin

John Sandford

A movie adaptation of John Sandford's novel Certain Prey starring Mark Harmon will be aired on USA Network Sunday, November 6 at 9 p.m. Star of the long-running CBS series "NCIS", Mr. Harmon will be portraying Sandford's venerable Minneapolis police detective Lucas Davenport. The actor in a November 3 "Today Show" interview hinted that "Certain Prey" might be the start of a TV movie series.

Merrick Library has many of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport adventures in print and on recording including the recent Buried Prey.

Chelsea Handler

On Tuesday, November 1, the Biography Channel premiered an hour on Chelsea Handler. Among details about the comedienne/TV talk show host was the fact that her new audience for the late-night E! network series was due largely to the success of her best-selling books!

Merrick Library has all four of her works:

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

Nextreads

Are you looking for a few good books to read? Sign up for our e-newsletters and get great book suggestions by email. We'll deliver reading lists right to your inbox along with new gems, bestsellers, and related titles. You'll also be able to check immediately whether the items are available at your local Library or whether they've been checked out.

Click on this link to be connected to our Nextreads page or
Call the Reference Desk for more information or help getting started.

Book Club In A Bag!

Welcome to the Merrick Library's Book Club in A Bag Program. Each bag contains 10 copies of a title, discussion information, discussion leader tips, and a book sign up sheet to help the leader keep track of the books. The Reference Department has been very busy gathering multiple copies of several titles for your discussion groups. You will be able to check them out as one complete kit. Also included will be everything you need to lead your group; author biographies, discussion questions, critical material and more! All of the work has already been done for you. All you need are some interested readers, some snacks, great conversation, and you are good to go! Please call the Reference Desk for more information. (516) 377-6112 x112 or x113.

Book Signing @ Book Revue.

>TONY IOMMI

Wednesday, November 2nd, 7pm @ Book Revue; Huntington.

Lead guitarist of Black Sabbath, TONY IOMMI, will sign his new memoir Iron Man.

Tony Iommi—the only original member of Black Sabbath who stayed with the group from its inception—would become to be known as the father of heavy metal. In his memoir, Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, he tells how, when he was a teenager, the ends of the two middle fingers on his right hand were sliced off by a piece of machinery. Doctors were able to take skin from one of his arms and graft it to his fingertips, but Iommi would never play the guitar normally again. He had to learn how to compensate for his disability by making the music sound “fuller.” Today, he’s credited for inspiring and producing the deeper, more powerful musical tones for which Black Sabbath became famous.

In 2000—thirty years after it was first released—Black Sabbath won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance for their song “Iron Man.” They even performed at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. But their success wasn’t immediate or without hardship. From drug and alcohol abuse, to marital discord, to being called “Satanists,” to constant management problems and exits by band members—most notably Ozzy Osbourne—the musicians of Black Sabbath didn’t have an easy time of it. In Iron Man, Iommi gives us a glimpse of what he experienced as a member of this legendary group, taking us through some of the band’s most bizarre moments onstage and backstage, and bringing us from the recording studios to the (trashed) hotel rooms. Throughout, we see the camaraderie within the band, as well as the struggles each member went through on their way to the top of the charts.

Tony Iommi is a cofounding member and lead guitarist of Black Sabbath and is among the most influential guitarists of all time. Born in 1948, he lives in Birmingham, England.

New DVDs in November!

"Cars 2" - a tow truck an international spy? Disney will have you believing it! - features the voices of Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer and Larry the Cable Guy

"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" - drama of separated friends in China based on the acclaimed novel by Lisa See - stars Bingbing Li and Vivian Wu

"Trespass" - a tale of abduction and corruption directed by supense master Joel Schumacher ("The Number 23," "Veronica Guerin") and starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman

"Water for Elephants" - can a love brought about by a special circus animal survive? - based on the popular novel by Sara Gruen and starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson (Teen Choice Award winner)