Summer Hours!

DVDs out on Tuesday, June 30th...

All the Wrong Reasons - An ensemble film about four everyday people: a store manager, a security guard, a fire fighter and a clerk who struggle in the aftermath of trauma. Starring Corey Monteith, Karine Vanasse, and Emily Hampshire. Directed by Gia Milani




Antarctica: A Year on Ice - A visually stunning chronicle of what it is like to live in Antarctica for a full year, including winters isolated from the rest of the world, and enduring months of darkness in the coldest place on Earth. Stars:  Anthony Powell, Genevieve Bachman, William Brotman Directed by Anthony Powell





Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - A documentary series that explores how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time. Stars:  Neil deGrasse Tyson, Carl Sagan, Stoney Emshwille. 






Get Hard - When millionaire James King is jailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis to prep him to go behind bars. Stars:  Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie. Directed by Ethan Cohen








Hard to Be a God - from Russia - Don Rumata is sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar to observe the people without interfering, and wants to save the kingdom from Don Reba, an evil underling of the king.






While We're Young - A middle-aged couple's career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple enters their lives. Stars: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts and Adam Driver. Directed by Noah Baumbach.

Book Sharing Cart at the Merrick Starbucks on Merrick Road!

Take a book and share a book at the Starbucks 

on the corner of Merrick Road and Merrick Avenue!  

What goes better with coffee than a great book? 

Check out the Book Sharing Cart today! 

DVDs out on Tuesday, June 23rd...

"If There Be Thorns" - remember "Petals on the Wind?" Christopher and Cathy seem as though they finally have a happy life complete with family - but mother Corrine is just out of the mental institution and living next door! - based on the novel by V.C. Andrews and starromg Heather Graham, Jason Lewis and Rachael Carpani

"Pound of Flesh" - Deacon (Jean-Claude Van Damme) while in the Philippines tries to help a woman in distress - next thing, he awakens without a kidney - think that will stop him from gaining revenge?

- features one of the last film appearances of renowned martial arts actor Darren Shahlavi, who died January 14

"Seventh Son" - that's John Gregory (Jeff Bridges), long a protector ofhis land from supernatural forces - he has one last chance to train a successor in Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes, "The Big Wedding") - but will the outcome be effective enough to defeat super witch Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore)? - also starring Olivia Williams (Sabotage) and Kit Harrington (TV's "Game of Thrones")

"Timbuktu" - from France - cattle raiser Kidane and his family live far away from the ancient African city currently being torn apart by Jihadists - yet that isolated safety is about to be threatened - first movie filmed in nation of Mauritania - winner of seven Cesar (France) Film Awards

Father's Day Weekend & Summer Hours!

Happy Father's Day!

This weekend begins our 

summer hours 

so kick back, grab a book, 

some music or a DVD and relax.

Saturday: 9am - 1pm 

                                         Sunday: Closed

What to get Dad. Hmmm...

What to get Dad?  

Here's are some suggestions from one of our favorite websites:

http://www.themillions.com/2015/06/fathers-day-books-for-dads-who-actually-read.html

It's a pretty awesome list and 

not the ones you think: ENJOY!

By the Book with Judd Apatow...

We love the New York Times
"By the Book" feature. 

This one here with Judd Apatow is pretty funny and interesting...

Bloomsday...!

Okay Ulysses fans...

today, June 16th is Bloomsday!

Not sure what in the heck is going on?

Let The Paris Review explain it all here... 

New DVDs out on Tuesday, June 16th...

"Beyond the Reach" - think Gordon Gekko was the ultimate corporate monster? Get ready for Madec (Michael Douglas), who just happens to be on a hunting trip in the Mohave Desert - also starring Jeremy Irvine ("A Night in Old Mexico")

 "Chappie" - that's the names for a futuristic robot who can actually think and feel for itself - stars Dev Patel (TV's "The Newsroom"), Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver with a special appearance by CNN's Anderson Cooper

"The Newsroom: The Complete Third Season" - from HBO - Aaron Sorkin's latest creation is back with his trademark combination of drama and biting commentary, in this case largely about mass media - stars Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Olivia Munn and Sam Waterston

"Run All Night" - hit man Jimmy (Liam Neeson) and mob boss Sean (Ed Harris) were once best friends until a contract was put out on Jimmy's son - set in Brooklyn and co-starring Bruce McGill, Vincent D'Onofrio and Joel Kinnaman ("RoboCop")

"Unfinished Business" - Dan (Vince Vaughn) and two associates jet to Berlin to close a major deal - yet is anything ever that straight forward? - also starring Tom Wilkinson, Sienna Miller and Dave Franco ("Now You See Me")

 "Welcome to Me" - ever thought what you would do with the Mega Millions grand prize? Alice (Kristin Wiig) bought her own TV talk show - all-star supporting cast includes Joan Cusack, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, James Marsden and Tim Robbins

"Wild Tales" - from Argentina and Spain - old-style foreign filmmaking  returns handline six stories set around themes of distress and revenge - produced by the prolific Almodovar brothers - winner of ten Argentinian Academy and five Goya Awards    

Please note our new summer hours begin next weekend...Please note these changes!

Beginning Saturday, June 20th 

hours for the summer will be:

Monday: 9-9

Tuesday: 9-9

Wednesday: 9-9

Thursday: 10-9

Friday: 9-6

Saturday: 9-1

Sunday: Closed

Sir Christopher Lee...

Sir Christopher Lee, the towering deep-voiced actor who carved a niche in the mind of filmgoers starring in numerous British horror films but had opportunity to showcase his other talents later in his career died June 7 at the age of 93. Much has been written so far about Lee's contributions to the cinema. 

Here are some facts you might not know:

Some believe that Christopher Lee was destined to appear in scary movies given his birth date of May 27, 1922. Exactly eleven years earlier, another actor to become famous for working in the horror genre was born in America: Vincent Price.

The temperament for working in cinematic fright fests was developed in Lee during the Second World War. Fighting on the side of Finland as a teenager, serving in the Royal Air Force and participating in the Battle for Italy in 1944 provided the young Christopher with enough true horrors to last a lifetime. What was scary on film paled in comparison.

Lee's first film role was an unaccredited part as a spear carrier in Lawrence Oliver's Oscar winning version of "Hamlet" (1948). It was during that production that he met a lifelong friend in Peter Cushing who played Osric.  The pair would star together in many films for England's Hammer studios.

Lee had one of the longest film credit listings on the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com). One movie he was once credited for appearing in was "The Longest Day" (1962) for which he was actually turned down in audition. Lee spent years denying any appearance in that epic film about D-Day in WW II France. 

Christopher Lee would play Count Dracula on film ten times. On three occasions each, he would play these other famed ficitional characters: Sherlock Holmes, the vindictive de Rochefort from Dumas' "The Three Musketeers," and Sax Rohmer's would-be world dominator Fu Manchu.

Of all the films he did appear in Christopher Lee said his finest work was done in 1973's "The Wicker Man." (to be found in Merrick Library's DVD collection) 

The cover of the 1973 Wings album "Band on the Run" includes some familiar faces: actor James Coburn and Christopher Lee!

Lee was a step-cousin of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. He narrowly missed playing the title role in "Dr. No" but won raves as the assassin Francisco Scaramanga in 1974's "The Man With The Golden Gun." (to be found in Merrick Library's DVD collection)

On March 25, 1978 Christopher Lee guest-hosted "Saturday Night Live" accompanied by musical guest Meat Loaf. An estimated 35 million viewers were delighted to watch Lee poke fun at his horror movie reputation, an emotion shared by cast members and later television critics. In the audience that night was director Stephen Spielberg who offered Lee a part in his film "1941."

Another acclaimed filmmaker, Tim Burton, was a longtime fan of Lee and utilized the actor in many productions. Lee provided the voice of the Jabberwocky in "Alice and Wonderland," and appeared in various forms in "The Corpse Bride," "Dark Shadows," and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." (all to be found in Merrick Library's DVD collection)

Christopher Lee also had the recurring role of Saruman in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and two of the three subsequent "Hobbit" films (all are among Merrick Library's DVDs).

Lee had the distinction of being the only member of the cast and crew of these creations to have met J.R.R. Tolkien.

Lee was knighted in 1999, and made a Commander of the British Empire two years later.

In addition to the films mentioned, Merrick Library is proud to have these other films displaying the versatility of Sir Christopher Lee:

Bitter Victory

Hugo

Julius Caesar

Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (voice work)

Three Seconds

Art Show this Weekend!

Come meet the artists behind the new show, 

"Preserve-ing Nature: Art Inspired by the Norman J.Levy Preserve".  

The reception is 

Saturday, June 13 

from 12noon-2:00pm. 

Artists Suzie Alvey and Theodora Zavala 

will be here talking about their artwork! 

 Refreshments will be served. Come on by!

The art will be on display through July 31st.

Looking for a Painting Party... only $5!

Bring your friends to the Merrick Library on Paint Night!  Thursday, June 18th at 6:30 pm

Irene Marchese 

will be here to teach us how to paint poppies on canvas. 

She will bring everything you need 

to create your own work of art! ONLY 5$!! 

The party is filling up, so sign up today!

Next Book Discussion...

Join us on Wednesday, July 8th at 2:30!

We'll discuss:

  "Plainsong" by Kent Haruf

Plainsong is a bestselling novel by Kent Haruf. 

Set in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado, it tells the interlocking stories of some of the inhabitants.

Copies available at the 

Circulation Desk.

Refreshments always served.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Book Discussion Today at 2:30pm!

Join us today at 2:30pm 

as the 

Merrick Library Book Discussion Group 

compares notes on 

"Some Luck" by Jane Smiley. 

It's always a lively discussion--join us! 

All are welcome. 

Refreshments served.

   

The newest issue of 

The New Yorker, 

shown above, 

is the annual Summer Fiction issue.  

Entitled "Secret Histories",

the issue features short works by 

Jonathan Franzen, 

Louise Erdrich, 

Karen Russell,

Zadie Smith and more... 

It's the "must bring to the beach" issue. 

I'll be reading mine. 

You can also come in and read it in our beautiful garden.

 It's on the shelf now at the 

Merrick Library. 

DVDs out Tuesday, June 9th...!

"Blackhat" - Nick is a gifted computer hacker just out of prison who might be the only means the FBI and CIA have in stopping a cyberterrorist on a spree that has covered half the world - stars Chris Hemsworth ("Thor: The Dark World") and Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder:)

 "The DUFF" - the title refers to the latest teenage acronym meaning "Designated Ugly Fat Friend" - when Bianca (Mae Whitman, TV's "Parenthood") is hit with that label heaven help the popular crowd who devised it! - also starring Bella Thorne and Allison Janney (TV's "Mom")

"Healing"- from Australia - welcome to Won Wron Prison Farm, who believes that rehabilitaton of soon to be ex-cons begin with helping nurse injured eagles, falcons and owls

 "Kingsman: The Secret Service" - it is time for the world's most elite spy agency to train a new recruit - he's needed given the threat of possible mass genetic suicide - all-star cast includes Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Mark Hamill, Samuel L. Jackson and Mark Strong ("The Imitation Game")

"Project Almanac" - teenagers find the plans for and construct a time machine - they think all their problems will vanish with their apparatue - FAR FROM IT!

 "Serena" - that is the name of the new bride of timber baron George Pemberton in Depression-era North Carolina - need we mention that complications follow? - based on the novel by Ron Rash (in Merrick Library's Fiction Collection) and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Rhys Ifans and Toby Jones (TV's "Wayward Pines")

Join us on SUNDAY, June 7th!

Our 

Summer Reading Party!  

Fun for ages 1 to 101!

Party runs from 1-4!

Hop on a real fire truck

Meet some real superheroes!

Meet Star Wars & Ghostbusters characters

Visit the Ghostbusters Slime Lab!

Crafts for ALL ages, 

yes this means you too adults!

Enjoy some refreshments!

Get your beach reading started at the 

Merrick Library 

on Sunday at 1! 

See you then!