The Newsletter of the Green Tree Public Library

Suzy Ruskin, MLIS, Library Director

JULY 2005

Philip Beard to Visit Library

Green Tree Library’s Book Discussion Group will be discussing Philip Beard’s novel, Dear Zoe on August 10^th at 7 p.m.

From Publishers Weekly

A 15-year-old girl struggles to cope with private grief in an age of public catastrophe in this awkwardly conceived but sweet, sure-voiced debut. When her little sister, Zoe, dies after being struck by a car on September 11, 2001, savvy, self-aware Tess DeNunzio works through her grief by writing letters to Zoe. Tess's candid observations about her feelings of guilt (she witnessed the accident) and her mourning process give warmth and clarity to her descriptions of daily life in the aftermath. Not sure how to deal with her bereaved mother and uncommunicative stepfather, Tess moves across Pittsburgh to live with her real dad, an underemployed weight lifter with a good heart. Tess's wise-beyond-her-years sensibility can seem contrived ("That's one of the strangest parts of being a stepchild. You actually get to watch your parents fall in love"), and a morality lesson about the virtues of virginity feels tacked on. Most problematically, however, September 11 feels like a giant peg on which a small (but lovely) coat has been hung. Maybe that's the point, but much more moving are Tess's attempts to cope with the conventional aspects of the loss of her sister.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The meeting will last approximately one hour. Mr. Beard will be available after the discussion to sign your copy of Dear Zoe and answer your questions. Books will be available for purchase and free refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!

Outdoor Reading Garden Open

Enjoy the sun and shade in our new outdoor reading garden. The garden is an outdoor retreat from the library, designed by local architect Jack LaQuatra. Outdoor furniture will be arriving soon. The beautifully landscaped area provides a soothing retreat to take a quiet moment and enjoy a good book.

Former Green Tree Resident Turned Author

Michael Aubrecht, Civil War author and baseball essayist, is a former resident of Green Tree who fondly recalls times spent at the library.

“As a child, trips to the Green Tree library (especially the one in the old Borough Building - where Boston Market is now located) was a regular part of my life and I vividly remember borrowing the same set of Civil War books (especially "On Hallowed Ground") over and over and over.

In fact, I also recall that the librarian had to demand that I return them so others could check them out.”

Aubrecht has written two non-fiction, Christian-based biographies, one on Stonewall Jackson (pictured above) and a companion volume on Jeb Stuart due out this fall.

Onward Christian Solder is a story about faith. A story filled with the kinds of heartache and hardships that would leave many of us questioning our own beliefs. It is a love story that is filled with sorrow, testimony, hope and despair. It is a story that reaffirms the power of prayer and that all things in Him are possible. Ultimately, it is the story of a man who suffered greatly, but chose to embrace the Will of his Savior as the foundation for a legendary life.

If you are interested in Mr. Aubrecht’s books, you can find out more information on his web site at

www.angelfire.com/ny5/pinstripepress/index.html.

Check out this book from the library today!

Harry Potter Release Party

Teens! Get ready for the latest book in the Harry Potter saga. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince debuts on Saturday, July 16^th and you could be the first person to check it out of Green Tree Public Library! We will be having a release party on Friday, July 15^th at 9 p.m. ‘til midnight. Check with the library to register and for more details on this midnight extravaganza. The last day to register is July 12^th.

Donations

Green Tree Public Library will be accepting donations on the first Saturday of each month. In July we will accept donations on July 2^nd and in August we will accept donations on August 6^th. Donations of books, journals and other materials broaden the library’s collection, enable the library to meet the demand for popular titles and replace lost or damaged copies. Donations might include: books, audio books, videos, CDs or DVDs. The library does not accept Readers Digest Condensed Books.

Did You Know?

The Green Tree Public Library’s website has a new link to the New York Times Best Sellers List. This list also has links for each book that the library has in its collection. You can request a hold on these items with just a computer and your library card. So check out what everyone’s reading @ www.greentreelibrary.org .

The Newsletter

Chapter Notes is the newsletter of the Green Tree Public Library and is written, edited and formatted by Suzy Ruskin, Library Director. Please send comments and questions to greentree@einetwork.net.