New & Noteworthy @ WHPLibrary

New bestselling books by Jennifer Crusie, Clive Cussler and Sara Paretsky will be available on Tuesday, AUGUST 31.

In Jennifer Crusie's new book, Maybe This Time, when Andie Miller tries to gain closure with her ex-husband, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways. A distant cousin of his has died and left him as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already. He knows Andie can handle anything and asks for her help. Andie's fiance, however, thinks this is all a plan by her ex to get Andie back, and he may be right.

The Lost Empire, by Clive Cussler, is the second entry in his Fargo Adventure series. While scuba diving in Tanzania, Sam and Remi Fargo discover a relic belonging to a Confederate ship. An anomaly about the relic sets them off chasing a mystery and a rumored second artifact. However, a Mexican political party is intent on finding that artifact as well because it contains a secret that could destroy them.

Sara Paretsky's new book, Body Work, is the 14th book in the V.I. Warshawski series. The performer known as the Body Artist works at Chicago's Club Gouge and allows her audience to use her naked body as a canvas for their illustrations. V. I. Warshawski watches as people step forward but the evening takes a strange turn when one woman's sketch triggers a outburst from a man at the club. The man - an Iraqi war vet - leaves the club and days later, the woman is shot outside the club. The police arrest the veteran and V.I. is hired by the vet's family to clear his name.

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

Kathy Reichs' new book, Spider Bones, will be available on Tuesday, AUGUST 24. This is the 13th book in the Temperance Brennan series.

John Lowery was declared dead in 1968 in Vietnam and buried in North Carolina. Four decades later, Temperance Brennan is called to the scene of a drowning in Canada and the corpse is identified as John Lowery. Temperance exhumes Lowery's grave and takes the remains for reanalysis. Soon another set of remains is located with Lowery's dog tags. Three bodies all identified as John Lowery.

In another case, Temperance is contacted the Honolulu medical examiner, who needs help identifying the remains of an adolescent boy. Was he the victim of a shark attack or something more sinister?

Reichs is also the writer and producer of the television show Bones.

Bestselling authors James Patterson, Frederick Forsyth and Dick Francis all have new books coming out next week.

Postcard Killers, by James Patterson, will be available on Monday, AUGUST 16. NYPD detective Jack Kanon travels to Europe after his daughter and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome. Since then, couples in several European cities have become victims of the same killers. Kanon teams up with Swedish reporter, Gabby Larsen. Each killing is preceded by a postcard to the local newspaper and Kanon thinks he knows where the next victims will be.

The Cobra, by Frederick Forsyth, will be available Tuesday, AUGUST 17. In this book, an unnamed U.S. president decides to bring all the resources of the federal government against the international cocaine trade. He declares drug traders and their cartels to be terrorists and brings in ex-CIA director Paul Devereaux in to head the team to implement the effort. Devereaux, known as the Cobra, is given free rein by the president to call in any arm of the government to fight the cartels.

        
Crossfire is the final book written by Dick Francis and his son Felix. It will be available Tuesday, AUGUST 17. Army Capt. Thomas Forsyth has lost a foot during his tour of duty in Afghanistan. Upon discharge, Forsyth returns home to Lambourn where he gets a less-than-warm welcome from his mother, horse trainer Josephine Kauri. Forsyth discovers that his mother has been sabotaging her own animals in response to a blackmailer's threats to reveal her tax evasion to the authorities. With nothing else to do, Forsyth turns detective to identify the extortionist.

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

I have just finished reading the first two books in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo and I highly recommend them for mystery fans. The plots are original and both books were hard to put down.

In the first book, Sworn to Silence, we meet Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police in Painter's Creek, Ohio. Burkholder grew up in this Amish community but left the Amish life after a tragedy occured in her past. Now she has been put in charge of a murder investigation and must use her understanding of Amish life to bridge the gap between two cultures.

Bestselling author Susan Isaacs will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Monday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m.

She will be there to speak about and sign her new book As Husbands Go.
In her new book, Susie Gerstsen's husband is found murdered in the apartment of an escort. She must take on her in-laws, her husband's partners, the police, and the district attorney to prove that her wonderful life with her husand was not a lie.

For more information, call the Book Revue at 631-271-1442.

Bestselling authors Sandra Brown, Robin Cook, and Linda Howard will all have new books available on Tuesday, AUGUST 10.

In Tough Customer, by Sandra Brown, private investigator Dodge Hanley doesn't let rules get in his way.That's why he's the first person Caroline King asks for help when a stalker attempts to murder their daughter, the daughter Dodge has never met. Dodge's daughter Berry has become the object of desire of a co-worker who has spent the past year making her life miserable and who now has vowed to kill her. Dodge joins forces with the local deputy sheriff as the stalker begins to claim other victims.

        
Cure is the 10th book in the Jack Stapleton/ Laurie Montgomery series by Robin Cook. New York City medical examiner Laurie Montgomery is investigating the death of CIA agent Kevin Markham. While her coworkers doubt her assassination theory, her husband, fellow medical examiner Jack Stapleton, agrees with her. Together they discover links to a pharmaceutical company and several biomedical start-ups dealing with stem-cell research.

In Veil of Night, by Linda Howard, Jaclyn Wilde is a wedding planner who loves her job. But helping Carrie Edwards with her wedding has been a nightmare. Carrie is a bridezilla whose tantrums are just about as crazy as her demands. When Carrie is brutally murdered, everyone involved with the ceremony is under suspicion.

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

Start off the beginning of August with best sellers from three popular authors: Nevada Barr, Faye Kellerman and Jude Deveraux. All will have new books available on Tuesday, AUGUST 3.

Burn, by Nevada Barr, is the 16th book in the Anna Pigeon series. Anna, a Ranger with the National Park Service, is newly married but on administrative leave from her job. She travels to New Orleans to stay with a friend and discovers what seems to be an attempt to place a curse on her. Amanda begins to slowly find traces of very dark doings in the heart of post-Katrina New Orleans.

        
Faye Kellerman's Hangman is the 19th book in her Peter Decker/Rina
Lazarus series. A friend of Decker's comes to L.A. and asks him for a favor. The favor soon becomes complicated when his friend and her husband go missing, leaving their fourteen-year-old son with no one to turn to except Decker and Lazarus. In a second case, a neonatal nurse at St. Timothy's Hospital signs off her night shift at eight a.m. and six hours later, a construction foreman supervising a house in a nearby suburb, discovers her body swinging from the rafters.

        
Scarlet Nights is the third book in Jude Deveraux's Edilean series. Sara Shaw is happily anticipating her wedding but three weeks before the wedding, her fiance Greg gets a call during the night and leaves without explanation. Two days later, a man claiming he is the brother of her best friend, moves into her apartment. What Sara does't know is that he is an undercover detective, assigned to use Sara to track down a notorious criminal who also happens to be the mother of the man Sara plans to marry.

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

Author Brad Thor will appear at the Book Revue in Huntington on Wednesday, AUGUST 4, at 7 p.m.

Thor will speak about and sign his new book Foreign Influence. This new book is the ninth book in the Scott Harvath series. Working as a covert operative, Harvath has just returned from his first assignment abroad when a bombing in Rome kills a group of American college students. It appears that a colleague from Harvath's past is responsible and Harvath is asked to lure the man out of hiding and kill him. But is he really the one responsible?

For more information, call the Book Revue at 631-271-1442.

Author Jonathan Tropper will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Tuesday, JULY 27, at 7 p.m.

He will speak about and sign his new book, This Is Where I Leave You. In the book, Judd Foxman must come to terms with the death of his father and his marriage. As he sits shiva with his family, longstanding grudges resurface and secrets are revealed.

For more information, call the Book Revue at 631-271-1442.

Carl Hiaasen and J.A. Jance will both have new books available on Tuesday, JULY 27.

In Hiaasen's new book, Star Island, we get a look at celebrity life in the fast lane. Twenty-two-year-old pop star Cherry Pye is attempting a comeback after another drug and alcohol disaster. Ann DeLusia portrays Cherry whenever the singer is not fit to bee seen in public. One night when Ann is portraying Cherry she is mistakenly kidnapped from a hotel by an obsessed paparazzo. Now Cherry's handlers must rescue Ann while keeping her existence secret from the public and from Cherry.

        
Queen of the Night is the fourth book in J.A. Jance's Brandon Walker series.
Every summer the Queen of the Night flower blooms in the Arizona desert. But the annual celebration of the flower is shattered by gunfire and the only witness is a little girl. Working on this case is Dr. Lani Walker, Dan Pardee - a member of a border patrol unit called the Shadow Wolves and Pima County homicide investigator Brian Fellows. In a second case, retired homicide detective Brandon Walker is investigating the long unsolved murder of an Arizona State University coed.

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

Daniel Silva and Iris Johansen will have new books available on Tuesday, JULY 20.

The Rembrandt Affair is the 10th book in the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva. Gabriel has returned to the Cornish coast to help heal his wife, Chiara. But Gabriel is once again drawn into danger when an art restorer is murdered and the newly discovered Rembrandt on which he is working is taken. He will use his skills to trace the painting and hunt down those responsible for the crime.

        
Shadow Zone is the second book Iris Johansen has written with Roy Johansen. While mapping the ancient underwater city of Marinth, submersible designer Hannah Bryson may have finally uncovered the truth about the city's mysterious demise. She realizes that the ancient city's secret could have dire consequences for the modern-day world but Hannah isn't the only one who realizes it. When her key artifact disappears on its way to a research lab, she must deal with an enemy who will kill anyone who stands in his way.

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

Look for new books by James Lee Burke and John Connolly on Tuesday, JULY 13.

The Glass Rainbow, by James Lee Burke, is the 18th book in the Dave Robicheaux series. Robicheaux is back in New Iberia, Louisiana. Seven young women in a neighboring parish have been brutally murdered. While the crimes seem to be done by a serial killer, the death of a high school honor student doesn't fit. In addition to investigating the murders, Robicheaux and his adopted daughter, Alafair, are not seeing eye-to-eye about Alafair's new romantic interest, Kermit Abelard. Abelard is the son of one of the region's most notorious robber barons and Robicheaux's investigation is leading close to the Abelard family.

        
John Connolly's new book, The Whisperers, is the 9th book in the Charlie Parker series. A dangerous smuggling operation is taking place, run by a group of former soldiers just returned from Iraq. As the smugglers begin to die one after another in apparent suicides, Parker is called in.

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

Authors Jennifer Weiner and Lisa Gardner will have new books available on Tuesday, JULY 13.

A mother and her two daughters must give each other strength in Jennifer Weiner's new book Fly Away Home. Sylvie Serfer has spent decades becoming the ideal political wife. When her husband's extramartial affair makes the headlines, Sylvie and her two daughters retreat to an old beach house.

        
Live to Tell, by Lisa Gardner, is the fourth book in the Detective D.D. Warren series. Four members of a family have been brutally murdered and a possible suspect, the father, is barely alive. Is he the murderer or could it be someone else in the family.

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 by Susan Isaacs, Nora Roberts and Robert Tanenbaum will be available Tuesday, JULY 6.

In Isaacs new book, As Husbands Go, Susie Gerstsen's husband is found murdered in the apartment of an escort. She must take on her in-laws, her husband's partners, the police, and the district attorney to prove that her wonderful life with her husand was not a lie.

        
The Search, by Nora Roberts, features search and rescue dog trainer Fiona Bristow. Fiona escaped a serial killer several years before but not before he murdered her fiance and her dog. She retreats to a cabin in the wilderness and becomes friends with a carpenter and his unruly puppy. Soon, however, it becomes clear a copycat murderer is on the loose, and making his way towards her.

Betrayed, by Robert Tanenbaum, is the 20th book in the Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series. District Attorney Karp is involved in prosecuting a terrorist conspirator while his wife Marlene is investigating the murder of a society woman and the disappearance of a debutante.

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

Bestselling Swedish author Camilla Lackberg has finally been published in the United States and the book was worth the wait. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

The Ice Princess is the first book in the Detective Patrick Hedstrom series. Originally published in Sweden in 2002, the book is set in the small village of Fjallbacka, Sweden. Writer Erica Falck returns home only to discover that one of her close childhood friends, Alexandra, has committed suicide. Erica decides to write a book about her friend's life and in the process is drawn into the police investigation led by another old friend Patrick Hedstrom. As Erica and Patrick piece together their friend's life, they learn that many secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of Fjallbacka.

Lackberg is Sweden's top-selling author and has sold over 5 million books. She won the Swedish Writer of the Year award for 2005 and the People's Literature Award for 2006.

The third West Hempstead Library Mystery Book Discussion will take place on Wednesday, JULY 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the board room.

The book we will be discussing is A Place of Execution by Val McDermid.
On a freezing day in December 1963, 13-year-old Alison Carter vanishes from the small Derbyshire hamlet of Scardale. For George Bennett, it will be one of his most difficult cases: a murder with no body and an investigation that is stalled at every turn.

Decades later he tells his story to journalist Catherine Heathcote but just when her book is about to be published, Bennett tries to pull the plug. Catherine is forced to reinvestigate the past and comes up with results she never expected to find.

Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. To register for the book discussion, stop by or call the reference desk.

Here are some of the newest fiction titles we have available in Large Print:

Executive Intent - Dale Brown

Savor the Moment - Nora Roberts

If you don't see a title you want in the large print section, you can ask a librarian to request it from another library for you.

James Patterson's new book, "Private," will be available Monday, JUNE 28.

Described as the first in the Jack Morgan series, former Marine and CIA agent Jack Morgan inherits his father's security and detective business. Morgan's cases include an NFL gambling scandal, an unsolved LAPD investigation, and the murder of his best friend's wife.

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

Bestselling authors Richard North Patterson and Tess Gerritsen will have new books available Tuesday, JUNE 29.

Patterson's new book, In the Name of Honor, focuses on the effects of war. Lt. Brian McCarran has recently returned from a traumatizing tour of duty in Iraq. When McCarran shoots his commanding officer on their army post in Virginia, he pleads self-defense, claiming he was attacked by his commander officer. During his high-profile court-martial case, McCarran's sister Meg, will leave her law practice in San Francisco to come to his aide as co-counsel in his defense.

        
"Ice Cold" is the 8th book in Gerritsen's Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series. In Wyoming for a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles joins a group of friends on a ski trip. But when their SUV stalls, the group seeks refuge from a blizzard in the remote village of Kingdom Come, where 12 identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Days later, Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives the news that Maura's body has been found in a mountain ravine. Rizzoli is determined to learn what happened to her friend.

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 by Janet Evanovich and Danielle Steel will be available on Tuesday, JUNE 22.

Evanovich continues her Stephanie Plum series with "Sizzling Sixteen." Someone wants to kill Vinnie but who? Also, Lula's involved in a Ponzi scheme. Follow all your favorite characters in the latest installment of this hilarious series.

        
In "Family Ties" by Danielle Steel, a young woman becomes mother to her sister's three small children. Grown now, each of them will choose a different path. From Manhattan to Paris to Tehran, we learn that the bonds of family are the strongest of all.

        
You can stop by or call the reference desk to reserve these books or use your online library account.

I just finished reading a very interesting debut mystery set in Finland but written by an American. James Thompson, a native of Kentucky, has written "Snow Angels," a mystery featuring Inspector Kari Vaara who lives in the Lapland region of Finland.

A beautiful Somali immigrant is found dead in a snowfield - mutilated in a disturbing way. Vaara, the lead detective of the small-town police force, must determine if this is a hate crime, a sex crime or both.

Vaara finds his past keeps haunting him throughout the investigation including the fact that one of his suspects is the man for whom his ex-wife left him for years ago.

For those who like Scandanavian mystery writers, definitely pick up "Snow Angels." I think you will enjoy it.

Two famous female authors will be signing their new books at The Book Revue in Huntington on JUNE 15 and JUNE 16.

Actress Tori Spelling will be signing her new book, "uncharted terriTORI," on Tuesday, JUNE 15, at 7 p.m. Spelling continues with more of her candid stories of juggling work, marriage, motherhood and reality TV.

        
Singer Pat Benatar will be signing her book, "Between a Heart and a Rock Place," on Wednesday, JUNE 16 at 7 p.m. Benatar. a graduate of Lindenhurst High School, tells the story of what it was like to be a woman in the mostly male world of hard rock in the 1980s.

        
For more information, contact The Book Review at 631-271-1442.

Do you enjoy knitting? Do you like reading mysteries? If so, why not try the growing number of knitting mystery books in our collection.

Maggie Sefton, author of the bestselling A Knitting Mystery series, has just written the eighth book in this delightful cozy mystery series. Amateur sleuth Kelly Flynn and her friends live in Fort Connor, Colorado and enjoy spending time in the House of Lambspun, the local knitting shop. Kelly always manages to get herself (and her friends) involved in solving murders. Delicious recipes and knitting patterns are included in each book. Visit the author's website at www.maggiesefton.com

The Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series by Anne Canadeo is another series with likeable characters and strong female friendships. Plum Harbor, Massachusetts is the setting where the five Black Sheep knitters love to knit, gossip and solve crimes. Each book contains knitting ideas and recipes.

If you like these books, try Sally Goldenbaum's Seaside Knitters Mystery series.
Debbie Macomber has written the Blossom Street Knitting series, which although not a mystery, is a delightful read.

Visit the library or reserve the books using your online library account.

The Summer Reading carts for the WH High School and Middle School are now set up on the main floor of the library.

Please note that patrons are allowed to check out only ONE summer reading book at a time. Once the first summer reading book is returned they are then allowed to check out another.

The books on the high school cart (Black Cart) are arranged in alphabetical order by author. They are not separated by grade. A copy of the Reading List by Course is posted on the cart. For more detailed information, check the 26 page document containing the 2010 Summer Assignments posted on the WH High School Website.
(You will need Adobe Reader to open these links.) You must page through the document to find your assignment. They are listed in the following order:

Reading Lists by Course
Letter for Honors and AP
Letter for Regents Level
Book List for Regents Level
Book List for Honors and AP
Literature Review Sheets-9H
Assignment for 10H
Assignment for 11H, 11AP
Assignment for 12AP, 12H
2010 Summer Reading Selections

Ask at the YA desk or Reference desk to see a printed document.

WHMS students are required to read three (3) books. Only ONE is ASSIGNED by Grade Level; the others are by the student's choice, using lists supplied by the school system.

The YA librarian has set up carts on the main floor of the library near the entrance to the Children's Room to hold the Required selections for the WH Middle School. The books are separated by grade and are color-coded:
GREEN dots=6th grade on Hatchet, by Gary Paulson
BLUE dots=7th grade on Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers - or
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko - (7th grade HONORS students)
YELLOW dots=8th grade on Tunes for Bears to Dance To by Robert Cormier - or
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - (8th grade HONORS students)

To locate the other two books that will complete your summer assignment, you will have to check the online catalog. Remember that you can check the catalog from home and reserve books from any library in Nassau County through our inter-library loan system. If you need help, please ask a librarian.

For more information, check the WHMS webpage for your Summer Reading Lists and Study Guides, which are posted by grade. (You will need Adobe Reader to open these links.)

You may ask at the YA desk or Reference desk to see a printed document.

Two popular female authors, Jane Green and Johanna Lindsey, have new books coming out on Tuesday, JUNE 15.

In Jane Green's new book, Promises to Keep, we follow the lives of Callie Perry, her sister Steff, their divorced parents Walter Cutler and Honor Pitman and Callie's best friend Lila Grossman. Their lives intersect when they each receive a note summoning them together for one summer in Maine that changes their lives forever.

        
Johanna Lindsey's new book, That Perfect Someone, is the 10th book in the Malory Family series.

Nine years ago Richard Allen fled England when his father betrothed him to Julia Miller, the young daughter of a wealthy merchant. He joins a band of treasure-hunting pirates and adopts the persona of a Frenchman named Jean Paul. When Allen returns England to carry out a task for his captain, his father learns of his return and tries to get his to fulfill the marriage contract.

You can place a reserve for these titles or others by stopping by or calling the reference desk or using your online library account.

Look out for new books by Catherine Coulter and Dean Koontz on Tuesday, JUNE 15.

Catherine Coulter's new book, Whiplash, is the 14th book in her FBI Thriller series. FBI Agent Dillon Savich and his wife and partner Agent Lacey Sherlock investigate a German drug company when one of their employees is murdered.

        
Dean Koontz continues with his Frankstein series with the publication of Lost Souls on Tuesday, JUNE 15.

Victor Leben, once Frankenstein, is ready to create a race of superhumans using stem-cells and nanotechnology. It is up to five people to try and stop him and save humanity as we know it.

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

The latest Jeffrey Deaver book, The Burning Wire, will be available on Tuesday, JUNE1. This is the 9th book in the Lincoln Rhymes series.

In his latest book, Rhymes must deal with a killer who uses electricity to strike fear into the residents of New York City. After several attacks, demand letters appear and Rhymes and his team must work against time to find the person behind the crimes. At the same time Rhymes is also consulting on a case in Mexico involving the hired killer known as the Watchmaker.

You can reserve this book or any item in our collection by stopping by the reference desk or using your online library account.

I really love this mystery series by British writer Shirley Wells. It features forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy and her ex-lover and ex-colleague DCI Max Trentham.

There are four books in the series and I just finished reading her latest one, The Broken Circle. It is good to read the books in order so you can see how relationships develop between the characters in the books. After four books they seem like old friends.

Jill Kennedy quits her high-profile job with the police department and moves to a small Lancashire village to lead a quieter life. However, she cannot escape being drawn into murder investigations led by Max Trentham.

You can find all the books in the series at our library.

Local author Nelson DeMille will be at two area bookstores in June to sign his new book, The Lion. This book is the sequel to The Lion's Game.

DeMille will appear at The Book Revue in Huntington on Thursday, JUNE 10, at 7 p.m. The Book Revue is located at 313 New York Avenue. For more information, call 631-271-1442.

He will also appear at Barnes & Noble in Carle Place on Monday, JUNE 14, at 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble is located in the Country Glen Center on Old Country Road. For more information, call 741-9850.

The last of Stieg Larsson's books will be available on MAY 25. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is the last book in Larsson's Millennium Series.

Salander is plotting her revenge against the man who tried to kill her. She is under close supervision in Intensive Care and is set to face trial for three murders. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist, Salander must prove her innocence.

        
Steve Martini's new book,The Rule of Nine, will be available on JUNE 1. It is the 11th book featuring defense attorney Paul Madriani.

Madriani has been linked to the murder of a Washington, D.C. political staffer and must also work with weapons control expert Joselyn Cole to prevent a catastropic event from happening in the nation's capitol.

        
Clive Cussler's third book in the Isaac Bell series will be available on JUNE 1.

In The Spy, Bell is asked to help the daughter of a battleship gun designer clear her father's name after his death. More deaths follow and all are linked to a top secret project called Hull 44. Bell must deal with spies from several countries as he carries out his investigations.

Just a reminder that the second West Hempstead Public Library mystery book discussion will take place this Wednesday, MAY 12, at 10:30 a.m. in the board room on the second floor.

The book being discussed is A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie. Come join us!

The newest book by bestselling author Dale Brown will be available this Tuesday, MAY 11. Executive Intent is the 16th book in the Patrick McLanahan series.

In this book, the United States, China and Russia are all in a struggle to see who will control both the seas and space.

Two mystery book stores in Manhattan will host book signings in May.

The Mysterious Bookshop, at 58 Warren Street, will have author Chris Grabenstein on Thursday, MAY 13 from 6:30-8 p.m. Grabenstein will be promoting his new book, Rolling Thunder, the latest in his John Ceepak series. For more information, call 212-587-1011.

        
Partners & Crime, at 44 Greenwich Avenue, will have author Michael Gruber on Tuesday, MAY 18 at 7 p.m. He will be promoting his new book, The Good Son. For more information, call 212-243-0440.

Bestselling author Emily Giffin will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Friday, MAY 14 at 7 p.m. She will speak about and sign her new book, Heart of the Matter.

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

Stand-up comic and author Jay Mohr will be at the Borders in Westbury on Wednesday, MAY 12 at 7 p.m. He will be there to read from and sign his new book, No Wonder My Parents Drank.

Borders is located on 1260 Old Country Road. For more information, call 683-8700.

According to Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature® , genre may be defined as "A distinctive type or category of literary composition, such as the epic, tragedy, comedy, novel, and short story."

Our question in April asked "Which type of novel do you read most often?" Most people chose one genre, but 17 (23%) chose multiple categories.

Here are the responses we got in rank order:

24 = Science Fiction / Fantasy
23 = Mystery
18 = Historical Fiction
18 = Romance
14 = Suspense
13 = Paranormal
13 = LARGE PRINT

A total of 71 respondents answered our survey on fiction preferences. 60% (43 of the 71) completed the survey in the children's room, however we don't know for sure how many were children, as opposed to parents, grandparents, or caretakers. 37% (26/71) answered the questions at the reference desk and 3% (2/71) responded online.

In our previous surveys, we purposely did not ask for identifying information, such as age or sex of our respondents, so as not to complicate the process or to make it seem intrusive. However, we realize that knowing more about the demographics of our audience would have helped us to make our analysis more meaningful.

We don't feel we can generalize much from the results, so expect more about the topic as we work to refine our questions. By doing these informal surveys, we hope to learn more about you. At the same time, we are learning a lot more about how to administer surveys.

You'll see that our next survey makes a distinction between adult and teen programs and programs for children. We welcome your suggestions about both the content and process of these surveys.

Look for new books by Lee Child, Douglas Preston and John Sandford in May.

Lee Child's new book, 61 Hours, is the 14th book in the Jack Reacher series. A tour bus crashes in a snowstorm and leaves Reacher in the middle of a deadly situation. This book will be available on Tuesday, MAY 18.

        
Fever Dream, the new book by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, is the 10th book in the Pendergast series. With the help of Lt. Vincent D'Agosta, FBI special agent Pendergast sets out to uncover the mystery of his wife's murder. This book will be available on Tuesday, MAY 11.

        
Investiagator Lucus Davenport makes his 20th appearance in John Sandford's new book, Storm Prey. Davenport's wife, Weather Karkinnen, becomes the target of three men who think she saw them at the scene of a crime. This book will be available on Tuesday, MAY 18.

 

        
You can reserve a copy of any of these titles, or other books, at the reference desk or through your online library account.

Former New York Met and New York Yankee, Darryl Strawberry, will be at the Borders in Penn Plaza in Manhattan on Thursday, MAY 6 at 6:30 p.m.

He will be there to sign his autobiography, Straw: Finding My Way. For more information, contact the store at 212-244-1814.

Those who like fast-paced suspense books should pick up a copy of David Rosenfelt's new book, Down to the Wire. Rosenfelt is known for his mystery series featuring defense attorney Andy Carpenter.

The novel features New Jersey newspaper reporter Chris Turley who finds out getting what you wish for is not necessarily a good thing. Turley must find out who is behind the anonymous phone calls he is receiving in order to save the lives of innocent people.

I also really liked Rosenfelt's previous standalone book, Don't Tell a Soul.

Several best-selling authors will have books availabe on MAY 4th.

Blued-Eyed Devil is the last western novel written by the recently deceased Robert B. Parker. This book once again features lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch and is set in Appaloosa.

        
Innocent, by Scott Turow, is the sequel to his best-selling book Presumed Innocent. This book continues the story of Rusty Sabich and Tommy Molto who are pitted against each other 20 later after the mysterious death of Rusty's wife.

        
Jane Smiley's new novel, Private Life, follows the life of one woman from the 1880s to World War II. Margaret Mayfield marries the most famous man in her Missouri town and stands by him through both personal tragedies and those shared by the nation.

Commissario Guido Brunetti makes his 19th appearance in Donna Leon's new book, A Question of Belief. Brunetti is trying to go on vacation to escape the heat of Venice but a violent crime forces him to stay in the city.

        
You can reserve a copy of any of these titles, or other books, at the reference desk or through your online library account.

Scott Turow, author of the best selling book Presumed Innocent, will be at The TimesCenter in Manhattan on Wednesday, MAY 26 from 8-9:30 p.m.

Turow will be speaking about and signing his new book, Innocent, the sequel to Presumed Innocent.

Cost of the event is $30. The TimesCenter is located at 242 W. 41st Street. For more information and to buy tickets, go to http://nytimes.whsites.net/talk/index.php.

James Patterson, Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts and Fern Michaels all have new books coming out APRIL 27.

James Patterson's new book, 9th Judgement, is the latest in The Women's Murder Club series. Detective Lindsay Boxer must solve the murder of two women and fight her attraction for her partner Rich.

Debbie Macomber's newest book, Hannah's List, continues with characters that have appeared in the Blossom Street series. Dr. Michael Everett tries to find love again after the death of his beloved wife Hannah.

        
In Return to Sender, by Fern Michaels, Lin Townsend crosses paths with the man who abandoned her 19 years before and sets out to get her revenge.

Nora Roberts continues her Bride Quartet series with the addition of Savour the Moment. Four friends have formed a successful wedding planning business. This book focuses on Laurel McBane, who creates the wedding cakes for the business.

You can reserve a copy of any of these titles, or other books, at the reference desk or through your online library account.

The next mystery book discussion will be on Wednesday, MAY 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the board room on the second floor of the library.

Our book will be A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie. This is the first book in the series featuring Supt. Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James.

Books should be available at the circulation desk by Wednesday.

Dr. Travis Stork, host of The Doctors talk show, will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Tuesday, APRIL 27 at 7 p.m. He will be speaking about and signing his new book, The Doctor Is In: A 7-Step Prescription for Optimal Wellness. Stork also was seen on the television show The Bachelor: Paris.

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

Bestselling author Anna Quindlen will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Friday, APRIL 30, at 7 p.m. to talk about and sign her new book, Every Last One.

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

The new book from Anna Quindlen, Every Last One, will be released on APRIL 13. Her latest book once again deals with ordinary people caught up in tragic circumstances.

        
The lastest book in Stuart Woods' Stone Barrington series will be available on APRIL 20. Lucid Intervals finds Stone Barrington dealing with an unwanted new client and hunting for a former British intelligence operative.

        
Alexander McCall-Smith's new book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series will also be available on APRIL 20. In The Double Comfort Safari Club, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi travel to the north of Botswana to visit a safari lodge.

You can reserve a copy of any of these titles, or other books, at the reference desk or through your online library account.

Bestselling author David Baldacci will be at the Book Revue in Huntington on Wednesday, APRIL 21 at 7 p.m. to speak about and sign his new book, Deliver Us From Evil.

Those attending the event are asked to bring new or gently used books to donate to David Baldacci's Wish You Well Foundation.

Fore more information, contact The Book Revue at 631-271-1442 or go to their web site at www.bookrevue.com.

I recently started reading books by Linwood Barclay and I would recommend him for readers who like Harlan Coben. Barclay writes suspense fiction set on the East Coast. I have already read his book, Fear the Worst, which is set in Connecticut and am currently reading, Too Close to Home, which is set somewhere near Albany.

His newest book, Never Look Away, was released in March. I like his books because the plots are plausible and the books are a fast read. If you're looking for something new, pick up one of Barclay's books and let me know what you think. His web site is www.linwoodbarclay.com

Several popular authors will have new books coming out in April.

Keep a look out for a new mystery by Carol Higgins Clark called Wrecked. It is the 13th book in her Regan Reilly series and is due out on APRIL 13.

      

David Baldacci's new book, Deliver Us From Evil, is the second book featuring Shaw and Katie James. It is the sequel to The Whole Truth. It is scheduled for release on APRIL 20.

Eight Days to Live is the 9th book featuring Iris Johansen's forensic sculpture Eve Duncan. It is also scheduled for release on APRIL 20.

You can reserve a copy of any of these titles, or other books, at the reference desk or through your online library account.

Author Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter Carol Higgins Clark will be at Barnes & Noble in Carle Place on Wednesday, APRIL 14 at 7 p.m. to promote Mary Higgins Clark's new book The Shadow of Your Smile. She will be reading and signing copies of the book. Contact the store at 741-9850 for information about wristband distribution and event guidelines. Barnes & Noble is located in the Country Glen Center, 91 Old Country Road.

Check out our collection of "Banned Books" in the circular display case across from the Children's Room.

Did you know that every year, somewhere in the United States, people demand that books be removed from libraries or schools because of their content, according to American Library Association (ALA) records. Thanks to the efforts of librarians to maintain them in their collections, most of the books featured during Banned Book Week were the targets of attempted bannings, but ultimately were not banned.

Banned Book Week, observed during the last week of September each year since 1982, celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular.

See if any of your favorites are on the list of banned and challenged classics. Or check the convenient links to these frequently challenged books provided by Googlebooks

The West Hempstead Public Library is proud to be part of the Nassau Digital Doorway (NDD) service which provides online access to best-selling and classic audiobooks for your listening pleasure.
Download and listen to content from your home computer, transfer the digital media to your compatible MP3 player, or burn them onto a CD (when allowed by the publisher). Patrons may check out up to five titles at a time, and at the end of the seven day lending period, the audiobooks will expire from the PC and automatically be returned to the digital collection, so you never have to worry about late fees.

To access the West Hempstead Public Library digital audiobook collection you will need:
      1. A valid West Hempstead Public library card in good standing
      2. Access to the Internet (high-speed connection preferred)
      3. Free downloadable software that transfers audiobooks to your computer

Please note that digital downloads can be enjoyed at home, at work, or when you travel, but are generally not for use on the computers in your library.

Before you get started, be sure to read the Quickstart Guide and the Digital Help-FAQ found in the upper right corner of the Nassau Digital Doorway's homepage. If you have the time, and a high speed connection, view the Guided Tour for an easy introduction to this convenient new service!

The Library would like to thank

bageltown,
Fabio’s Pizza,
Tasty Bite Kosher Bakery
for making this year's Adult Summer Reading Raffle a success!

Author: Katherine Center
Title: Everyone is Beautiful

"This is the story of an overwhelmed mother of 3 very active toddler boys and her journey to find herself. It held my attention from start to finish." Review by Ann Marie F.

This is Katherine’s second novel. BookPage named Katherine one of seven new writers to watch and Booklist calls Everyone is Beautiful "a superbly written novel filled with unique and resonant characters."

Author: Robin Cook
Title: Foreign Body

"Wonderful story of a medical student whose grandmother, Maris Hernandez, dies after a hip surgery in India! Jennifer tries to solve the mystery." Review by Norma H.

Doctor and author, Robin Cook, is widely credited with introducing the word "medical" to the thriller genre, and twenty years after the publication of his breakthrough novel, Coma, he continues to dominate the category he created.

Author: Lisa See
Title: Snow Flower & the Secret Fan

"This is the story of one woman’s life in 19th century China. Lily, a farm girl is fortunate to achieve a wildly excellent marriage because of her perfectly (and painfully) bound feet and her 'laotung' relationship with Snow Flower, a girl from a prestigious family. Snow Flower was not so fortunate in marriage." Review by Brenda R.

Snow Flower & the Secret Fan is a critically-acclaimed international bestseller and MGM Studios has acquired the film rights. Read the book before the movie comes out!

Everyone who participates in our Adult Summer Reading program has a chance to win a Booklover's Bag. The drawing will be held on Monday, August 17.

Author: Alice Hoffman
Title: Property of

“Alice Hoffman’s first novel about a girl who falls for a gang leader. A lifestyle & culture I cannot wrap my brain around. I found this book baffling, enraging & compelling all at once.” Review by Kelly M.

Alice Hoffman is a native Long Islander and has written 18 novels to date. Her novels have received mention as notable books of the year by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, and People Magazine. We own many of her books so why not check one out!

Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Title: 44 Scotland Street

“British/Scottish melodrama… A biting wit & charm.” Review by Andrea M.

Alexander McCall Smith has written more than 60 books & is best known for his internationally acclaimed No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Our library will be having a Book Chat on Wednesday July 22nd at 10:30 a.m. So, if you have not already tried an Alexander McCall Smith book, why not start now and join in our book discussion. Copies are available at the circulation desk and you may sign up at the reference desk or call 481-6591 to register.

Author: James Patterson
Title: The 8th Confession

“Excellent as all of the women’s murder mystery club books are.” Review by Linda D.

James Patterson has been dubbed "the man who can't miss" by Time magazine and has had 19 CONSECUTIVE #1 New York Times hardcover bestselling novels. If you are among the few who have not read a Patterson, maybe this summer is the time to do so!

You still have time to join our Adult Summer Reading Program and win a Booklover's Bag!

The ADULT SUMMER READING PROGRAM has officially started!

“Master the Art of Reading” this summer at the West Hempstead Public Library and explore the worlds of art, books, and more. Get in touch with your creative side!

Patrons can pick up their forms at the reference desk, at circulation, or on the Adult Program page of our website. Patrons must read or listen to 3 books and then fill out the form and insert it into the bright pink box located at the Reference Desk.

There will be a raffle at the end of the program that gives each participant the chance to win a "Booklover's Bag" filled with special surprises! For every additional 3 books read and reviewed, patrons may fill out another form.

If it's ok with you, we'll post your reviews in the blog to help other readers make their summer reading choices.

All instructions are on the forms. Any questions, please ask!

The Long Island Reads Committee is pleased to announce that Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of the 2009 Long Island Reads pick, Wait Till Next Year will meet with us to discuss her book and answer questions on Wednesday, May 6 at 1 p.m. at the Brentwood Public Library.

To request your free tickets (limit of two per person) call the Nassau Library System (516) 292-8920 x236 starting on Wednesday, April 1. Ask for Roseanne: she will mail your tickets directly to your home.

We will be reading and discussing this book at our library in West Hempstead on Wednesday, March 25. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation Desk beginning on February 23. Don't miss these exciting events!

Call us at 516-481-6591 for more information.

On Wednesday, November 12, a Norwich Terrier named Ruby visited the West Hempstead Library's Children's Room. Accompanying her, were the author, Maureen Sullivan and illustrator, Alison Josephs, to share how they created Ankle Soup, a new children's book. The appealing story is told from the point of view of a French Bulldog named Carlos in Grand Central Station on Thanksgiving Day.

Children collected in the children's program room to listen to the author and artist and meet Ruby, one of the canine characters. Later Friends of the West Hempstead Library set up a table where they sold autographed copies of the book

On Wednesday, November 12 at 7 pm we will have a special event in the Children's Program Room.

Children from ages 4 to grade 4 are invited to a special reading featuring the author, the illustrator, and one of the canine characters from the book Ankle Soup. Ankle Soup is a Thanksgiving holiday story told from the perspective of a French Bulldog named Carlos.

Long Island author, Maureen Sullivan will read from the book; illustrator Alison Josephs will talk about her pictures. Come for fun and the inside scoop on this delightful, colorful picture book!

Register at the Children's Reference Desk beginning October 30 at 5 pm.

Copies of the book may be bought and signed in the main library through Friends of the West Hempstead Public Library.

Are you a MORNING person? An EVENING person? It doesn’t matter - we aim to please all! Our next book discussion will be offered in two separate sessions.
The Book:
SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN
by Lisa See

Read this “achingly beautiful” historical novel and come to discuss the poignant friendship of Lily and Snow Flower as they live the regimented (and secretive) life of 19th century Chinese women.

The Date: Wednesday, October 29
The Times: 10:30 a.m. OR 7:00 p.m.

In a review from the Baltimore Sun, Victoria Brownworth says,

"...This haunting, beautiful and ineffably sad tale of longing so intense as to be taken beyond the grave, is written in See's characteristically strong prose. She has a keen ear for Lily's yearning, and manages to depict an era and place vastly different from our own Westernized world with grace, acumen and not a little humility..."

Please register for either time at the Reference Desk. Stop by, email, or call 481-6591 Ext. 22. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation Desk.

We think that every one of our Adult Summer Reading Club participants is a winner, and we thank you all for sharing your summaries and recommendations with the rest of the West Hempstead reading community. We hope you all had fun and will join in other reading activities at the library.
The winners from this year's raffle are:

Amy Chiert
Denise Criollo
Linda DeGuglielmis
Anne Marie Fidis
Allison Fixler
Josephine McComber

Thank you Stop and Shop for your generous donation to this event!

Thanks to our Summer Reading Club for Grownups, we have more reading suggestions to pass on:

Everything's Eventual, by Stephen King. 5
DC: 14 short, scary, deep thinking stories. My favorite was "The Little Sisters of Eluria", a continuation of Stephen King's series of the Story of Roland the Gunslinger. This is great if you don't have time to read a novel.

Seeing Me Naked, by Liza Palmer. 5
AF: The story centers around the life of a pastry chef and her dysfunctional relationship with her famous author father and brother.... The author draws you into Elisabeth's life. I could not put it down.

Under the Tuscan Sun: at home in Italy, by Frances Mayes. 5
JM: It is a love story - but not between 2 people. It tells a story of being drawn to a beautiful area (Tuscany) and becoming a part of it.... I recommend this especially if you like reading about other countries and more importantly, food and cooking.

Play Dirty, by Sandra Brown. 4
AC: A football player with a gambling problem gets put in jail for throwing the final game before superbowl... I recommend this book - it is not really a football book.

DailyOM: Inspirational Thoughts for a Happy, Healthy, and Fulfilling Day, by Madisyn Taylor. 4
LD: 1-2 pages daily inspirational thoughts.

Friday Nights, by Joanna Trollope. 4
AF: A group of six women from very different lifestyles meet at one home on Friday nights and become good friends.....They all learn from and lean on each other over the years.... I recommend this book. There is a lot of character development and you begin to feel like part of the group.

The Third Angel, by Alice Hoffman. 3.5 - 4
JS: 3 seemingly unrelated storylines, suddenly connecting, and you find yourself flipping back to previous chapters to remind yourself who this character is. I had been looking forward to reading it, and had high expectations, which didn't seem as though they'd be met...until the third section of the book. At that point, I was so caught up, I hated to put it down, yet hated to have it end.

Did you know that Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Stories can be found on-line on many websites including Great Literature Online at http://www.classicauthors.net/

WHHS readers might appreciate these:
“The Fall of the House of Usher,”
“The Masque of Red Death,”
“The Pit and the Pendulum,”
“The Black Cat,”
“The Cask of Amontillado.”

For more information about other online texts (homework help!) check out the Internet Public Library.

Read the recommendations submitted by the West Hempstead adult readers who are participating in our Summer Reading Club for Grownups. Don't forget - you still have time to post a review and win a prize! We will be extending the end-date to August 1.

Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult. 5+
JS: I absolutely recommend this book to all readers, bookgoups and fans (or future fans) of Jodi Picoult's books. A compelling, thoughtfully written story dealing with a really tough subject matter, yet it does not go into graphic detail of the murder and deaths.

The Tenth Circle, by Jodi Picoult. 5
AF: Yes, I would recommend this book. It covers so many levels in relationships - between parents, parent and child - what one would do for the other.

My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult. 5
AF: So gripping I couldn't put it down.

Obsession, by Karen Robards. 4
JS: This was a very entertaining story - not very deep, but highly enjoyable. Also, you'll want to read right through, no pauses.

The Book of Old Houses (A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery), by Sarah Graves.
3
JS: I recommend this to "light" mystery fans, serial book fans, anyone looking for a quick read.

Chili con Corpses (A Supper Club Mystery), by J. B. Stanley. 3
AF: The book was somewhat predictable and did not include a lot of character or plot development. The included recipes look delicious. It is a good summer read.

The Saturday Wife, by Naomi Ragen. 1
AF: Not this one! I enjoyed all of Naomi Ragen's other books - They had substance. This was a farce and somewhat insulting.

Why should kids have all the fun?

Participate from Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 25 and you, too, might win a prize for reading!

Just read or listen to a library book. Fill out a review form (available in the library) or down load it here. Drop the completed form in a special box located at the Reference Desk. The more reviews you write, the more chances you’ll have to win the prizes given at the end of the program.

If permission is given, we may post some reviews on our website so you can see what others in West Hempstead have been reading. Maybe you will find some new titles or authors to read!

Join the Summer Reading Club! Click with your mouse to feed Freddie.

Courtesy of the 2008 New York Statewide Summer Reading Program

Metamorphosis ...... Change ...... Transformation
What does it mean to you?
Can you help change the world? ... Your neighborhood? ... Yourself?

The 2008 New York Statewide Summer Reading Progam provides games and activities to help you investigate this theme. Explore metamorphosis online! Then come to the library for more summertime reading and activities.

Have you heard about our new Book-a-Librarian service?

Whether you need help tracking down consumer information, tracing your family roots, or exploring ideas on what to read next, we can help.

With our Book-a-Librarian service you may reserve a free 30-minute session with a professional reference librarian to help you navigate through the many informational resources available to you in the library, through our catalog, in our databases and on the internet.

Just fill out a Book-a-Librarian Request Form in the library or email or call the Reference Desk at 516-481-6591 to request the service. Each request will be given to a Reference Librarian who will schedule your personal appointment at a mutually convenient time

Book-a-Librarian appointments must be scheduled in advance and are restricted to West Hempstead Public Library cardholders.

Author, Annie Dillard
In her review of The Maytrees in Bookpage, Linda White comments "If you have not been enthralled by the details of a moth flying into a candle flame in Holy the Firm, or enchanted by a silken string of spiderweb across a coffee mug in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, then you should slow down and read carefully. For Dillard takes the most amazing facts and lays them bare for all to see."

So, what is this book about? Scott Simon, of National Public Radio, calls it "a quirky story of the Maytrees' fractured marriage" written in a short, simple, poetic style. Listen to the NPR interview and hear Annie Dillard read a passage from the novel.

Pick up a copy of The Maytrees, available now at the circulation desk. Register at the reference desk or call us at 481-6591 to let us know that you will join our discussion at 7 pm in the second floor Conference Room on May 1.

Check here for more reviews.

Join us for a May Day Book Chat on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 7pm in the second floor conference room.

We will select the book for discussion based on feedback offered by the March 13 Book Chat participants during our Long Island Reads meeting, so stay tuned. We'll update our library blog and the website and post flyers in the library with the title of the book. Copies of the book will be available at the Circulation desk by April 1.

We also welcome book choices suggested by other readers in the community who plan to join our group in the future. Check our website for books we have read and discussed in the past. Please email or call the reference desk at (516) 481-6591 to register for a book discussion or to be added to our mailing list.

Check this list of our NEWEST LARGE TYPE books. Click on the title to check the Online Library Catalog to see if the book is currently available and to REQUEST IT FROM HOME by using your personal account.

Both fiction and non-fiction titles are shelved on the first floor of the new library in the wing facing Hempstead Avenue. When you visit us, ask a Reference Librarian to steer you in the right direction.

Our first book discussion in the new library will be held in the second floor Board Room on February 7, 2008 at 7 pm.

Our selection, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, shocked the public and was harshly criticized when it was first published in 1899. It re-emerged from obscurity in the late 1960’s as social and cultural changes led to the recognition of Chopin as a classic writer who addresses many of contemporary women's concerns.

According to biographer, Emily Toth, "Kate Chopin anticipated so much: daytime dramas, women's pictures, The Feminine Mystique, open marriages, women's liberation, talk shows, Mars vs. Venus, self-help and consciousness raising. But in 1899, she was a lonely pioneer."

Here are some links to whet your appetite:
Editorial Reviews, courtesy of Amazon Books
The Kate Chopin International Society
PBS Program "Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening"

Join us as we explore our own reactions and share insights on the themes of personal freedom, alienation and loneliness, public identity vs. private needs, and more.

Books will be available at the circulation desk in January. Please stop by the Reference Desk or call 481-6591 to register.

Have you found our Large Print books in the new library?

Look for them in the Fiction section on the ground floor, between the regular fiction and the mysteries.

For help, ask a librarian at the reference desk.

Here is a list of the latest arrivals.

Long Island Reads is scheduled to take place during the month of April in conjunction with National Library Week. This is our annual island-wide reading initiative when people throughout Nassau and Suffolk come together to read and discuss the same book and participate in library events.

The 2008 LI Reads Committee has chosen Aloft by Chang-rae Lee. This literary novel takes place in the Long Island suburbs and should appeal to both men and women.

The author is currently the Director of the Program in Creative Writing at Princeton University . Lee has been recognized with numerous literary awards for his two earlier novels, Native Speaker and A Gesture Life. Lee will be available to talk about his book during the month of April 2008.

Our Book Chat will take place on Thursday, March 13 in the Conference Room on the second floor of the new library. Please call the Reference Desk at 481-6591 to reserve a place. We welcome you to join our West Hempstead Book Chat to discuss this moving story about 21st century American life.

The West Hempstead Public Library is pleased to offer NextReads themed newsletters direct to you via email! Every newsletter includes recently released titles and may include additional recommendations of older books for fans of a particular author, or lists of books grouped by a theme.

Subscribe to as many newsletters as you would like and you’ll receive the most recent issue(s) immediately, with more to follow. Click on the NextReads Logo on this page or on our library website to join the West Hempstead Reads! community.

The library has a supply of books for summer reading assignments. Please remember that only one book per student may be checked out per visit to ensure that everyone has a chance to use these books.

The middle school books are color-coded by grade level: green dots-6th, blue dots-7th, and black dots-8th. They can be found on a bookcart near the graphic novel section. The high school books are on a separate cart, also parked near the graphic novels.

Here are links to the West Hempstead Union Free School District websites:

West Hempstead Middle School

West Hempstead High School

For anyone who currently enjoys reading "BookPage", a book selection publication available free in our library, consider subscribing to "BookPageXTRA" for an advance peek at what's coming soon! This online e-newsletter will include news not included in the print copy, including book reviews, author updates, contests, giveaways, and more. Signup online to start getting this free e-newsletter delivered directly to your e-mailbox.

Our graphic novel collection continues to be popular. Besides the usual Batman and Superman titles, look for:

Ann M. Martin's "The Baby-Sitters Club: The Truth About Stacey"

and Erin Hunter's "The Lost Warrior."

Also check out Anthony Horowitz's "Stormbreaker: the Graphic Novel."

We are starting a Young Adult Graphic Novel Club!!

Attention West Hempstead young adults entering grades 6 through 12!

Don't forget to sign-up for the Summer Reading Club!

Just read 4 books by Friday, August 3rd and you will be invited to a pizza party on Thursday, August 16th that will include giveaways and entertainment provided by Erik's Reptile Edventures.

For those of you interested in this summer's "Who done it?" theme, you also might want to check out our "CSI:Who Done It" Program on June 28.

Any questions? Email or call Mrs. Abed at 481-6591.

Recently, Librarian Jean King read new mysteries by two Swedish writers and two mysteries by a Scottish author. Here are her reviews:

“The Return,” by Swedish writer Hakan Nesser, is his second novel published in English. I also read his first book, “Borkmann’s Point” published in English in 2006. Nesser won the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy Prize Best Novel Award in 1994 for "Borkmann’s Point." The main character in the books is Chief Inspector Van Veeteren.

In “The Return,” Van Veeteren is summoned to a small seaside town to track down the link between a series of murders. A recently released ex-con is murdered with an axe and then the body of a wealthy real estate mogul is found, also violently attacked.

“Never End,” by Swedish writer Ake Edwardson, is also his second mystery translated into English. His 12 Chief Inspector Erik Winter novels have been published in such countries as Italy, Norway, France, Japan, Spain, and Germany, where the series has sold more than 700,000 copies. I also read his first book translated into English, “Sun and Shadow.” His third translated novel, “Frozen Tracks,” will be published in August.

In “Never End,” a serious of unsolved rape/murders casts a disturbing shadow on the summer. Winter assembles the details of the crimes, and begins to see a connection to a five-year-old unsolved rape/murder. Has the same rapist reemerged to taunt the police or are these copycat crimes? Winter hunts for a link bridging the victims, convinced that each crime holds the key to the others.

Stuart MacBride, a Scottish writer, has written two mysteries set in Aberdeen: “Cold Granite” and “Dying Light.”

In “Cold Granite," on the day Detective Sergeant Logan McRae returns to work after a year off on sick leave, four-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch, strangled and mutilated. And he’s only the first. Logan also has to contend with a new boss and his own ex-girlfriend who now is the chief pathologist.

In “Dying Light,” MacRae is assigned to a case dealing with the deaths of prostitutes in Aberdeen’s red light district and is also working on a series of arsons where doors and windows are screwed shut from the outside right before the fire is set.

Did you know that the library has a growing number of books labeled "Large Print" in a special area called our LARGE TYPE collection? We have adult best sellers, romance, suspense, mysteries, the full Harry Potter series, a small collection of non-fiction, and the Readers Digest magazine in large print.

What's different is that the text passages are printed in a larger font size (18+) compared to the smaller font sizes (8-12) commonly used in the publishing world.

If you would like to give your eyes a rest, click here to view THE LATEST LARGE PRINT TITLES in the adult area.

We also have large print titles in the Young Adult area and selected children's large print titles in the Children's Department. Check with the librarians for more information.

Curious about the new books we purchase that are not on the bestseller list?

To see a sampling of our new books, click on these links for the latest

reference,

non-fiction,
and fiction titles.