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Book Group Resumes on October 4

9/27/2018

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Summer is too short.  I begin the summer thinking of the books I will finally read, its an
unrealistic list filled with books of beautiful covers, long lengths, and beguiling titles.  And 
once again, the books on my home shelves wait patiently for me; whereas, the books at the
library siren song me into following me home.  Afternoons spent reading under a tree, on the
porch, on the beach,  or on a boat  are too few for the greedy part of me who craves immersion
into alternate lives and worlds.  Perhaps it isn't important what titles I have read but that I read.

As we approach October, our AM Book Group will resume and I anticipate joyfully the sharing
and discussing, the expansion and insight.   We begin again this October 4 with our Historical
Fiction selection:  The House at Riverton by Kate Morton.  I look forward to our reading
community, to our shared focus.  Come join the discussion on October 4 at 10 AM.
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A Library in Australia

9/18/2018

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I love visiting libraries; and I have fallen in love again!  The Geelong Library and Heritage
Center in located in the state of Victoria in Australia -- this is a 45 million dollar library.  Some
have compared it to a giant golf ball or an open igloo; perhaps beauty is in the eye of the 
beholder.  It is inspiring to see what a library building is capable of when one is fearless with
color and form.  Once again, you can see the evolution of a library reinventing itself; a library 
is more than books, it embraces technology, and is also a community space.  

This library has many levels:
  • A Gathering Place - Ground Floor and Mezzanine Level with an 80 seat cafe
  • Reading Nest and Cave (in blues, for children)
  • Inspiration Space (in blues, for adults)
  • The Vault (a Red Space, engage with technology here, find public & private records here)
  • Administration Level
  • The High Ground (Bright Orange, a multipurpose event space with deck views of Corio Bay)
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Civility and Books

9/13/2018

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Civility. 
Definition for Civility:  
  • formal politeness & courtesy in behavior & speech
  • polite remarks used in formal conversation

At a recent staff meeting I was introduced to Howard County Library System's (Columbia,
Maryland) and their focus on Civility.  

     "Choose Civility is an initiative of Howard County Library System and more than
     125 alliance Partners to make Howard County a national model of respect,
     consideration, empathy, and tolerance
. "    choosecivility.org/


IF we are what we eat, then perhaps we are what we read.....
In that case, here is a list of books from Choose Civility for a healthy, happy diet of Civility:​
  • Pride and Prjudice by Jane Austen
  • The Little Giant of Aberdeenn County by Tiffany Baker
  • People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks       (Book Discussion 2010)
  • LIttle Bee by Chris Cleaver
  • Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Sijie Dai    (Book Discussion 2012)
  • Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
  • Still Alice by Lisa Genova
  • Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
  • Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
  • Three Junes by Julie Glass
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
  • Just Too Good to be True by E. Lynn Harris
  • The Remains of the the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri     (Book Discussion 2009)
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee   (Book Discussion 2017)
  • The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey
  • The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith
  • The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu
  • The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
  • The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
  • When the Emperor Was Divine by Jullie Otsuke
  • Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
  • Home by Marilynne Robinson
  • Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
  • The Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
  • Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows          (Book Discussion 2009)
  • Testimony by Anita Shreve
  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett
  • Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
  • Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
  • Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
  • Digging to American by Anne Tyler
  • My Father's Tears and Other Stories by John Updike
  • Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese    (Book Discussion 2011)
  • Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
  • The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
  • Additional book lists (for children, teens , the workplace), and other resources can be                 found on their website:  choosecivility.org/materials-store/books/

Another gem is their Random Acts of Civility Calendar, with daily suggestions for small acts 
of civility towards others and towards oneself. 
     A suggestion for last Thursday, September 7:        

         "Hide a positive message inside the next library book you return."  
     And for next week, on Monday, September 17th:
         "Collect new socks and donate them to a homeless shelter."
     And then there is Thursday, September 27:
​          "Practice gratitude."

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Books & Reading & Sharing

9/4/2018

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     "Reading is a solitary activity, but reading groups turn it into a shared experience."                                                                                      Kate Morton

Book group has spoiled me.  This morning I finished a newly released book, the mystery
Ghosted by Rosie Walsh.  The book engaged me and I skimmed to the end but it felt like
author manipulation.  Book group has spoiled me in that I question & reflect on                      the structure, the plot, whether the characters are dimensional, do they ring true,
can I become involved in this other world and believe?  What is the author trying to say?
I like books that make me think.  I like books where the characters live on in my memory.
​My reading experience is richer when I can discuss it with another.

Our first book discussion will be October 4th with the historical fiction book The House
at Riverton
by Kate Morton.  Come share your insights....



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    Author

    My name is Melinda Grix -Adult Services Librarian at the Clarkston Independence District Library - facilitating our Morning Book Discussions since 2007.  You will find me in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

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