Read the book, not the Cliffs Notes!

Phillipsburg Library is forming a Classics Book Club for people who want to get around to reading the timeless works of literature they tried to avoid in high school. If you have a list of books you've been promising yourself to read "someday," sign up for the group. We will meet at the library every other month. Dates and times will be determine by the participants. Call the library at 908-454-3712 to inquire.

New Nonfiction at PFPL

True Compass by Edward Kennedy
What the Dog Saw And Other Adventure Stories by Malcolm Gladwell
Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters by Chesley Sullenberger
The Greatest Show on Earth : The Evidence for Evolution by: Richard Dawkins
The Evolution of God by Robert Wright
Jim Cramer's Getting Back to Even by Jim Cramer
When the Game Was Ours by Larry Bird

And coming very soon:

Bright-Sided by Barbara Ehrenreich
Arguing with Idiots by Glenn Beck
Heroes and Villains by David Hajdu

New Fiction at PFPL

'Tis the season for lots of new books! Here are a few notable titles:

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon - an amazing literary thriller about identity.
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan - newest Oprah selection; short stories.
Half Broke Horses: a true-life novel by Jeannette Walls - author of The Glass Castle.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.
Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates.
In Hovering Flight by Joyce Hinnefeld - acclaimed debut novel by local author.

And coming very soon:

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow
Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro (stories).
The Humbling by Philip Roth
Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris

What to Read Next

One of my favorite ways to pick my next read is just to browse the library shelves and hope for serendipity. But if you can't make it to the library, there are plenty of places you can find book suggestions online. First, there's our favorite database, NoveList, which has tens of thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles for adults, teens and children. You need your library card to read it from home.

I'm also fond of BookBrowse and LibraryThing.

One way I keep up with the hot titles to be released is to browse the Next List from Indiebound, which represents independent booksellers throughout the country. The Next List gives you a heads-up on what is being published in the near future, so you can beat the crowd and get your library reserve in! Check out the October list here.

New Oprah pick

Oprah's new book club pick marks the first time she has selected a short story collection. The stories in Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan are all set in Africa, and are all told through the eyes of children. The book is not in our catalog yet, but you can place your request for the book here.

We're back online!

The library's computer woes are (mostly) over, and you can once again search for books online using our PowerPac catalog. In case you didn't know, you can also use our catalog to place holds on books, to renew books you've checked out, and to keep tabs on your own library account. You can maintain personal book lists and even arrange to be notified when an author you like puts out a new book.

Computer troubles

If you have tried to access the library catalog over the web recently, you will have noticed that it's down. We are working hard to get full service restored as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can reach us by phone at 908-454-3712 to inquire about your account, place reserves and find out if we own a book. You can also send inquiries by email to lending_services AT pburglib DOT org.

August Book Discussion: The Art of Racing in the Rain,

The Happy Bookers group will discuss The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein on Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. Newcomers are welcome and don't need to pre-register. Details available at the Happy Bookers web page. If you can't make the physical meeting, you can add your comments here.

July Book Discussion: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

The Happy Bookers group will meet on Wednesday, July 22 to discuss Ann Patchett's Bel Canto. We're probably the last on the block to read this book-group favorite. When terrorists seize hostages at an embassy party, an unlikely assortment of people is thrown together, including American opera star Roxanne Coss, and Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan. More information can be found at the Happy Bookers page. Post your comments here, if you like.

What to Read Now, according to Newsweek

The June 27th issue of Newsweek is devoted to books and reading, and the cover story lists 50 books that "open a window on the times we live in." It's a thoughtful list, and a nice antidote to the market-driven lists of the newest and shiniest bestsellers. Read it online here.