New & Noteworthy @ WHPLibrary

As part of the Long Island Reads program, author Colson Whitehead will talk about and sign his book, Sag Harbor, on Thursday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library.

Sag Harbor was chosen this year as the Long Island Reads selection. The book is set in the 1980s and Benji Cooper, son of a lawyer and a doctor, is one of the few black students at an elite prep school in New York City. Every summer, he, his brother Reggie and friends head east on the LIE and out to Azurest in Sag Harbor. Benji's observations and social commentary are uplifting and humorous.

Seating is first-come, first served. For more information, contact the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library at 938-0077.

The West Hempstead Public Library will have a mystery book discussion on Wednesday, MAY 4 at 1 p.m. We will be discussing the first book in the Stieg Larsson triliogy, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared off the secluded island owned and inhabited by the Vanger family. There was no corpse, no witnesses, no evidence. But her uncle, Henrik, is convinced that she was murdered by someone in her own family. Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist is hired to investigate, but he needs to find a competent assistant. He pairs up with computer hacker Lisbeth Salander - a tattoed, angry girl who rides a motorbike and uses makeshift weapons. Together they delve into the sinister past of this tightly-knit family. But the Vangers are a secretive lot, and Mikael and Lisbeth are about to find out just how far they're prepared to go to protect themselves.

To sign up for the book discussion, stop by or call the reference desk at 481-6591 ext. 22.

New bestsellers are now available by Jonathan Kellerman, Henning Mankell and Jean Auel.

Mystery, by Jonathan Kellerman, is the 26th book in the Alex Delaware series. When Lt. Milo Sturgis of LAPD homicide asks psychologist Alex Delaware to view the faceless corpse of a young woman, Alex is shocked to recognize the victim as someone he and his wife saw the night before in a restaurant bar. A link turns out to exist between the dead woman and a sinister-looking man Alex observed outside the bar that night. An anonymous tip leads to an online service that matches "sugar daddies" with "sweeties." The victim, who called herself "Mystery," had a "daddy," Markham McReynolds, whose wealthy family offers plenty of suspects, including McReynolds's wife, two sons, and two daughters-in-law.

The Troubled Man, by Henning Mankell, is the 11th book in the Kurt Wallander series. At the 75th birthday party for Håkan von Enke, von Enke, a retired Swedish naval commander, tells Wallander about a 1980 incident involving an unidentified submarine that "invaded Swedish territorial waters." Von Enke was about to fire depth charges to bring the sub to the surface when higher-ups ordered him to abort. A few days after von Enke confides in the detective, he disappears; shortly after, his wife goes missing as well. Wallander's digging into the commander's life leads to what appears to be a cold war scandal that could rock the current government.

The Land of Painted Caves, by Jean Auel, is the sixth novel in the Earth Children series. Cro-Magnon Ayla; her mate, Jondalar and their infant daughter, Jonayla, are settling in with the clan of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonaii. Ayla is an acolyte in training to become a full-fledged Zelandoni (shaman) of the clan. During the course of the story, there are wild animals to face and earthquakes to survive, as well as a hunter named Balderan, who has targeted Ayla for death, and a potential cave-wrecker named Marona.

You can reserve these or any other books by calling or stopping by the reference desk or by using your online library account.

Bestselling author Tom Clancy was born on August 12, 1947 in Baltimore, MD. Before becoming a writer, he was an insurance broker. He was always interested in the military and technology, so it is no surprise that he writes military and espionage thrillers. The word used to describe his writing is "techno-thriller". Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst, is the main character in many of his 14 bestsellers, some of which have been made into films.

Come to the library and read some of Clancy's novels and even his nonfiction works.

William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet and actor, was born in April 23, 1564. He is considered the greatest of English writers. His 37 plays include comedies, tragedies and romances and have been translated into many languages. His love sonnets remain popular.

The Wempstead Public Library maintains their Shakespeare collection on the first floor. Come browse for plays, literary criticism, general works and more by this famous writer.

According to the Library of Congress website:

The Library of Congress was created on April 24, 1800 by President John Adams when he approved legislation that appropriated $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress." The original collection consisted of 740 volumes and three maps.

When the Library of Congress building opened its doors to the public on November 1, 1897, it was hailed as a glorious national monument and "the largest, the costliest, and the safest" library building in the world.

Today, a complex of three buildings in Washington, D.C. comprise the Library of Congress. Over 147 million items in over 450 languages are housed there, making the Library of Congress the largest library in the world.

The Library receives some 22,000 items each working day and adds approximately 10,000 items to the collections daily. The majority of the collections are received through the Copyright registration process.

If you're in Washington, visit this world-famous library!

New bestsellers are now available by Mary Higgins Clark, Michael Connelly and Danielle Steel.

In I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark, Alexandra Moreland is a rising star in the architectural world and lives in Manhattan. But when she is plagued by identity theft, her life is turned upside down. Someone has gained access to her bank accounts, credit cards, personal background, and is now impersonating her. Then, with overwhelming circumstantial evidence stacked against her, Alexandra is arrested for the murder of a woman she claims she's never met.

The Fifth Witness, by Michael Connelly, is the fourth book in the Mickey Haller series. Haller has fallen on tough times. He expands his business into foreclosure defense, only to see one of his clients accused of killing the banker she blames for trying to take away her home. Mickey and his team work to exonerate Lisa Trammel, even though the evidence and his own suspicions tell him his client is guilty. Soon after he learns that the victim had black market dealings of his own, Haller is assaulted - and he's certain he's on the right trail.

In 44 Charles Street, by Danielle Steel, struggling art gallery owner Francesca Thayer decides to put out an advertisement for boarders and soon her Greenwich Village house becomes a whole new world. First comes Eileen, a pretty L.A. transplant, now a New York City teacher. Then there's Chris, a young father struggling for custody of his seven-year-old son. The final tenant is Marya, a cookbook author hoping to heal after the death of her husband. Over the course of an unforgettable year, the house at 44 Charles Street fills with laughter, heartbreak, and hope.

You can reserve these or any other books by stopping by or calling the reference desk or by using your online library account.

New books are now available by bestselling authors Nora Roberts, Lisa Scottoline and Luanne Rice.

"Chasing Fire," by Nora Roberts, celebrates the smoke jumpers of Missoula, Montana. As close knit as any military unit, the "Zulies" include veteran Rowan Tripp, haunted by the loss of Jim Brayner, her onetime jump partner who was killed the previous season in a fall, and rookie Gulliver Curry. Threatening trouble is Dolly Brakeman, Jim's girlfriend, who blames Rowan for his death. Rowan and Gull grow closer as the team battles fires from Montana and Idaho to California and Alaska. Meanwhile, the Zulies are plagued by vandalism and sabotage as well as a killer with arson among his crimes.

In "Save Me," by Lisa Scottoline, Rose McKenna is forced to make a split-second decision after an explosion goes off in the school cafeteria in which she volunteers. Should she rescue her own daughter, Melly, trapped in the bathroom, or lead the girls standing in front of her, who constantly bully her daughter, to safety? Her choice reverberates throughout her hometown, as she is cast as the villain by the local news station, parents, and the school. While her attorney constructs a defense plan that includes filing a lawsuit against the school, Rose sets out to seek the truth behind the mysterious fire. She slowly unravels the truth and along with it some hidden secrets in the town's past, including one buried memory of her own.

In The Silver Boat, by Luanne Rice, Dar McCarthy, and her two sisters Delia and Rory, meet on Martha's Vineyard for a final visit to the family home before it is sold for taxes. The house has been in the family for generations, and as the sisters pack up mementos, they discuss the disappearance of their father when they were young. Michael was an Irish immigrant shipbuilder, while their mother came from a prestigious New England family. Michael always maintained that his family had a land grant from the king of England on Martha's Vineyard. Driven by the need to prove his worth, he sailed to Ireland to look for the original deed. After finding love letters between their parents, the sisters go to Ireland on their own quest.

You can reserve these or other books by stopping by or calling the reference desk or by using your online library account.

April 2011 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history. It claimed 620,000 lives and tore apart neighbors and families.

You will find a selection of books and movies available in the library, displayed on the first floor, across from the circulation Desk.

For more reliable information you can cite in class, take a look at our online library resource History Reference Center. Just click on "US History" and scroll down to the "Civil War" link for a wealth of information.

If you don't have a library card, try these internet resources:

National Park Service Sesquicentennial Commemoration: http://www.nps.gov/civilwar150/

State-by-State Archival Resources: http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/classroom/archival_resources.html

The History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war

Author Cathleen Schine will speak at the Port Washington Library on Friday from 3-4:30 p.m.

Schine is the author of "The Three Weissmans of Westport." In the novel, Betty Weissman is dumped by her husband of nearly fifty years and then exiled from their elegant New York apartment by his mistress. She is forced to move to a run-down Westport, Connecticut, beach cottage. Joining her are her daughters Miranda and Annie, who come along to keep an eye on their mother. As Miranda and Annie mingle with the suburban aristocracy, love starts to blossom for both of them.

For more information, contact the library at 883-4400.

Check out some new books this month by David Baldacci, Iris Johansen and Amanda Quick.

The Sixth Man, by David Baldacci, is the fifth book in his Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series. Edgar Roy, an alleged serial killer held in a secure Federal Supermax facility, is awaiting trial. King and Maxwell are called in by Roy's attorney, an old friend of Sean's, to help work the case. But en route to their first meeting with Roy's attorney, Sean and Michelle find him murdered. The more they dig into Roy's past, the more they encounter obstacles, half-truths, dead-ends, and escalating threats from every direction.

Eve, Iris Johansen's 11th Eve Duncan novel, is also the first of a trilogy. Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan zeros in on the kidnapper and serial killer who years earlier abducted and murdered her seven-year-old daughter, Bonnie. Eve's obsession with the case draws in her good friend, CIA agent Catherine Ling, as well as her lover, police detective Joe Quinn. Ling and Quinn work together to call in favors and pursue every possible lead. Their joint efforts uncover a cadre of malefactors who may be deeply involved, notably the emotionally unstable John Gallo, Eve's former lover and Bonnie's father. The finale set in the Wisconsin woods leads to an emotional cliffhanger.

Quicksilver, by Amanda Quick, is the second book in the Looking Glass Trilogy. Virginia Dean wakes up beside a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand and no memory of the evening's events. Dark energy, emanating from the mirrors lining the room, overpower her. She is rescued by a man she has met only once before, Owen Sweetwater. Sweetwater has inherited his family's talent for hunting psychical monsters. The members of the Arcane Society consider Virginia a charlatan, even a criminal, but Owen knows better. Virginia's powers are real and might be the key to solving this challenging case.

You can place requests for these or any other books by stopping by or calling the library or by using your online library account.

Come join us for a mystery book discussion on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson on Wednesday, MAY 4 at 1 p.m. in the board room.

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared off an island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger family. There was no corpse, no witnesses, no evidence. But her uncle, Henrik, is convinced that she was murdered by someone in her own family. Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist is hired to investigate, but when he links Harriet's disappearance to a string of murders from 40 years ago, he realizes that he needs a competent assistant. He hires computer hacker Lisbeth Salander - a tattoed, truculent, angry girl who rides a motorbike. This unlikely pair form a fragile bond as they delve into the sinister past of this tightly-knit family.

To sign up for the book discussion stop by or call the reference desk.

New bestsellers are available this week by Stuart Woods and Debbie Macomber.

Bel Air Dead, by Stuart Woods, is the 20th book in the Stone Barrington series. Barrington receives an unexpected call from Arrington Calder, the ex-girlfriend with whom he has a son. Arrington's much older husband, the actor Vance Calder, has just died, leaving her a fortune in Centurion Studios stock. Arrington has plans for the money and asks Stone to represent her in the sale of the company. But when he arrives at her home in Bel-Air to finalize the deal, things take a nasty turn. It seems many of Hollywood's rich and beautiful have Arrington and Centurion in their sights, and Stone finds himself dragged into a deadly web of intrigue.

A Turn in the Road, by Debbie Macomber, is the 8th book in the Blossom Street series. Bethanne Hamlin takes a road trip with her daughter, Annie, and her former mother-in-law, Ruth. They're driving to Florida for Ruth's 50th high-school reunion. A longtime widow, Ruth would like to reconnect with Royce, the love of her teenage life. Bethanne herself needs time to reflect. Her ex-husband, Grant wants to reconcile now that his second marriage has failed. Meanwhile, Annie's out to prove to her ex-boyfriend that she can live a great life without him! But even the best-planned journey can take you to a turn in the road. Or lead you to an unexpected encounter.

You can reserve these or any other books by stopping by or calling the library or by using your online library account.

Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on TUESDAY, May 3 from 7-9 p.m. to sign his new book My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business.

In his memoir, Van Dyke recalls working on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang among others. He is the receipient of numerous awards including a Tony, a Grammy and four Emmys.

For more information about the book signing, contact the Book Revue at 631-271-1442.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Wednesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. to sign his new book Play LIke You Mean it.

In this memoir, Ryan writes about observations and experiences in his career in pro football. He discusses his time as defensive coach of the Baltimore Ravens and his experiences as the head coach of the Jets.

This is a book signing only. Please do not bring memorabilia and there will be no personalizations. For more information, contact the Book Revue at 631-271-1442.

Mystery Writers of America has announced the winners for the 2011 Edgar Allan Poe Awards. Here are some of the winners announced last night at the banquet in New York City.

BEST NOVEL- The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR - Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL - Long Time Coming by Robert Goddard

MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD - The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths