2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Junot Diaz's debut novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, was recently awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A native of the Dominican Republic, Diaz is the recipient of numerous awards for his earlier collection of stories, entitled Drown. A graduate of Rutgers and having earned an MFA from Cornell, Junot Diaz is currently a professor at MIT.

In awarding the prize, the Pulitzer Board states, "Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican-American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss." http://www.pulitzer.org/

Come in to the library to get your copy of this prize-winning book.

Bernardsville Goes Green

The Bernardsville Environmental Commission has instituted the Bernardsville Green Initiative (BGI) to advance energy efficiency based on the State of New Jersey's strategic plan. The initiative hopes to reduce operating costs of public buildings by promoting the environmentally responsible and efficient use of energy, water and building materials. In addition, BGI will provide local residents and businesses with helpful information on this matter. Bernardsville Public Library offers a number of excellent resources, as well. Look for the bright green BGI informational brochures at the circulation desk along with an extensive book list of suggested reading material on how to "go green."

ZZ Packer's Short Stories To Be Discussed

The library's book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, is now reading ZZ Packer's short story collection, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere. ZZ Packer's debut collection of short fiction has won numerous awards and international acclaim and is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read. Comprised of eight stories filled with lacerating wit, insight and memorable characters, this collection should inspire an interesting discussion when Saturday Samplers meets next Saturday, May 3rd, at 3:30 p.m. Copies of Drinking Coffee Elsewhere are available at the circulation desk, and anyone is welcome to attend the discussion. For more information about ZZ Packer and the Saturday Samplers book group, link to the Saturday Samplers blog here http://www.saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and Bernardsville Public Library has been busy celebrating the art of verse all month. A number of New Jersey and local poets (including Sondra Gash, Susan Jackson and Dorothy Ryan) have given readings in the Community Room. In addition, a charming selection from the library's poetry collection has been included in our book display, entitled "Poetreats", which can be found in the nonfiction wing atop the Oversize Book area.Look there for an interesting array of poems to suit your every mood. Please feel free to borrow any of these poetry books. For information about New Jersey poets, visit the Academy of American Poets Web site at http://www.poets.org/state.php/varState/NJ.

Philip Roth on Writing

To learn more about Philip Roth and The Plot Against America, watch this PBS video.

Topical Book Discussion Next Week

Memoirs and Coffee, a Bernardsville Library book group, will offer a well-timed and, no doubt, spirited discussion of Irene Spencer's memoir, Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife, at the next meeting, Tuesday, April 22nd, at 10:30 a.m. As news of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Texas currently dominates the headlines, the issue of polygamy is surfacing once again as a topic for national discussion. If you have read Shattered Dreams or are reading it now, please come next Tuesday to share your thoughts. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk.

Check Out National Library Week at Our Library

Bernardsville Public Library is currently celebrating National Library Week in several ways. As you enter the lobby, visit the stunning display featuring books suggested by staff members. See how one of our library staffers turned the two-dimensional National Library Week logo (above) into a three-dimensional wonder by reading the April 9th posting entitled, "Yes, We Do Our Own Displays!" Please feel free to check out any books from this display.

In addition, The Bookworm, Bernardsville's longstanding bookstore, is making a 10% off coupon available at the library to anyone who borrows a Bernardsville Library item during the week of April 14-April 19, 2008. To get your 10% off coupon, simply come into the library and check something out! The Bookworm is graciously donating 10% of your purchase back to the library, so you are benefitting both your wallet and the library by making a purchase.

Yes, We Do Our Own Library Displays!

photo source - Bernardsville Public Library

Stop in your tracks when you enter the library lobby to admire the fabulous book display done by one of our very own staff members, Shelley Jones. Her monumental construction celebrates National Library Week which commences next week under the sponsorship of the American Library Association.

Using the National Library Week logo as her inspiration, Shelley constructed an orb of 14 gauge wire measuring approximately 45 inches in diameter. The orb is actually comprised of a number of wire hoops she first wired and soldered into place. Additional wire strands were integrated into the piece and soldered to give the orb its strength. Shelley went through two soldering guns before she perfected her technique!

Next, large pieces of colored, corrugated cardboard had to be cut into fine strips, touched up with matching paint, and rolled into spirals to create the foliage. Shelley glued each loop of the spirals to a backing board - a very tedious task. Each section of spirals, in turn, needed to be glued to the orb, and finally a base could be constructed to resemble a tree trunk.

If you think all this was a challenge, Shelley reports that one of the hardest things was transporting the tree to the library; she needed to borrow a cargo van to accomodate it! Sometimes great ideas get a little too big for one's own good, but in this case, we are so happy that she perservered.

She is not alone in creating fabulous displays for the library. In fact, we have a very talented team of people who regularly design great display settings to showcase our materials. Please walk around the library to catch these displays. You'll find some great ideas for reading, listening, and viewing here.

New Service - Best Sellers Club

Plan ahead! You no longer have to rush in to reserve your copy of a newly-released book by your favorite fiction author. Simply join our Best Sellers Club.

Bernardsville Public Library is offering this new service for patrons who would like to have reserves placed automatically in their names. You may select up to ten authors from a list of 80 popular fiction authors, and the library will call you when a new book by that writer is added to our collection.

To join, simply fill out our bright yellow Best Sellers Club card at the circulation desk or link here to sign up online http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4gNDXF4tjoBu6PFqwjm2nw_3d_3d
It's a free service available to anyone with a Bernardsville Library card.

Born on This Day - Philip Roth

Bernardsville Public Library celebrates the 75th birthday of New Jersey-born author, Philip Roth, with a special book discussion of his 2004 novel, The Plot Against America. This event begins today right here on the Book News and More blog. Discussion topics will be posted by the library staff, and you are encouraged to share your comments and thoughts with us. Join New Jersey readers in the discussion of the "One Book New Jersey" title for 2008, The Plot Against America. Scroll down to see the questions.

How Do I Join the Blog Discussion of The Plot Against America?

It's easy to do. Just click on a comment link for the question you want to discuss. A pop-up window will appear in which you can read other people's responses and type your own comments. You may need to temporarily disable any pop-up blocker installed on your computer. If you have not yet finished the book, you may make your comments at a later date by returning to the posted questions for March 19th. We look forward to your participation. The questions for discussion are posted below.

Question

Discuss some of the different ways Roth's characters coped or contended with this “assault” on their country and their lives.

Question

Was there something about American society in the early 1940s that would lead its citizens to give up their sense of democracy and decency so easily? Is that danger present today?

Question

How was the notion of the "hero" explored? Were there any heroes? Pick a flawed character and comment on Roth's treatment of that person. Answer any question you wish.

Question

Did Philip Roth construct a plausible alternative history using believable characters and situations? Was the story’s resolution satisfactory to you?