Hurricane Harvey Relief Collection here at Merrick Library--

These NEW and UNUSED items are desperately needed:

baby food, 
baby formula,

sealed packages of new underwear (children & adults),

sealed packages of new socks (children & adults),

sealed packages of new diapers (children & adults),

new blankets, 

cleaning supplies,

batteries,

brooms,

shovels,

flashlights,

first aid kits,

gloves,

utility knives,
dry dog and cat food...

No food, money or used items at this time.

Wednesday Afternoon Book Discussion Kicks-Off NOW!

We kick off the Fall 2017 slate with a discussion of          "The Arrangement" by Ashley Warlick!
Ashley will Skype in for the discussion, so you won't want to miss this event.  If you haven't read the book, join us anyway just to see what it's like.
I guarantee a fun time with a wonderful crowd!
  

Dinner will be served!

Sign up here! 
Merrick restaurants will provide the tasting party!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Seek and ye shall find. These ladies did!

Looking for inspiration to get back on track?
Our friends at ReaditForward.com have compiled this great list of titles and they'd all make for an excellent book discussion. Here they are:
  
  

Dietland by Sarai Walker to get the AMC treatment...

Yes! "Dietland" by Sarai Walker is getting the script treatment for a 10-episode series. 
Read more about it here from the folks at Deadline.

Synopsis: 

Plum does her best not to be noticed, because when you’re fat, to be noticed is to be judged. With her job answering fan mail for a teen magazine, she is biding her time until her weight-loss surgery. But when a mysterious woman begins following her, Plum falls down a rabbit hole into the world of Calliope House — an underground community of women who reject society’s rules — and is forced to confront the real costs of becoming “beautiful.” The consequences are explosive.

"Sweetbitter" by Stephanie Danler gets the STARZ treatment...

"‘Sweetbitter’ Drama Based On Book From Plan B In Series Consideration At Starz!"

The series will be a pilot script developed by Danler and Zicherman and written by Danler herself. 
Read more about that here.  

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

Description: 

A year in the life of a small-town girl in the wild and electrifying world of NYC and the education of a lifetime at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Manhattan. 

Perfect for readers of Kitchen Confidential and Blood, Bones and Butter. 

 

Remember Twilight? Well get ready, because...

Stephanie Meyer has a new series coming to STARZ called, 

The Rook.

Our friends at Vulture.com brought this story front and center!

It sounds terrific, and I can't wait. 

Ready, Set, Eclipse!

The Great American Eclipse is just 2 days away. And while we don't have eclipse glasses to give out, we have plenty of other great stuff beyond our doors!

Most importantly, we are showing NASA's live TV broadcast of the solar eclipse on Monday, so please come join us. 

A safer way to view the Great American Eclipse!
All are welcome to attend.

Great American Read launches in 2018.

What's it all about? 

Our friends at ShelfAwareness have this great summary: 

"PBS will launch the Great American Read, an eight-part television series and nationwide campaign that "explores the joy of books and the power of reading, told through the prism of America's 100 best-loved books, chosen by the public." The initiative is designed to "spark a national conversation about reading and the books that have inspired, moved and shaped us."

In addition to the PBS series, the Great American Read will feature community reading programs and special events, and a range of digital and social media initiatives. The series will include testimonials from notable figures in the entertainment, sports, news and literary worlds, and culminate in the first-ever national vote to choose "America's Best-Loved Book."

The Great American Read launches in spring 2018 with a multi-platform digital and social campaign leading up to the reveal of the 100 books selected by the American public and an advisory panel of literary professionals. Beginning with a two-hour kick-off event in May, the documentary special will feature appearances by celebrities and everyday Americans passionately advocating for and explaining their personal connections to their favorite books.

Voting and social media engagement will continue throughout summer, with six episodes of the series exploring the nominated books through various themes. 

"The time is right for this nationwide reading initiative that will encourage conversations and complementary activities in communities across the country. We can't wait to see what America chooses," said Beth Hoppe, PBS chief programming executive & general manager, general audience programming. 

Five must read crime novels from Literary Hub.

Chills are the name of the game with these five suggestions from Literary Hub:

  
 

Yesterday by Felicia Yap

Leona: The Die is Cast by Jenny Rogneby

Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

The Driver by Hart Hanson

Reading With Patrick...

Michelle Kuo is the author of the memoir Reading with Patrick, a story of race, inequality and the transformative power of literature. 



Kuo taught English at an alternative school in Helena, Ark., in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. After graduating from Harvard Law, she returned to Arkansas to tutor a former student being held in county jail. To read more about this book and what Kuo is reading right now click here. 

Place your copy on reserve here.

Have you read any Tom Perrotta? Watched his HBO special, "The Leftovers"?

"Mrs. Fletcher", Perrotta's newest book is gathering all kinds of good reviews.  But if you haven't read Perotta, here are some of his best titles:

   
   

Mrs. Fletcher

The Abstinence Teacher

The Leftovers*

Joe College

The Wishbones

Little Children*

Election*

* - DVDs for the movie version too!

This is a great scene from the movie version of "Election" 

starring Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick and 

Matthew Broderick as popular teacher, Jim McAllister. 

Tracy Flick a straight-A go-getter is determined to be president of Carver High's student body. Popular teacher Jim McAllister decides to derail Tracy's obsessive overachieving by recruiting an opposition candidate. Mr. M. never imagines that stopping Tracy is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.

mother! directed by Darren Aronofsky...

Darren Aronofksy is BACK and he's bringing Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Lawrence and Ed Harris with him for his newest psychological thriller, mother!
Click here to see the Vanity Fair article which features a tiny clip. 
Trailer: August 8th
Movie: September 15th 
See you at the movies!

Darron Aronofsky's films include: Pi, The Fountain, Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream, Noah and The Wrestler.