Ballston Reader
What's Happening at the Town of Ballston Community Library
Friday, September 6th, 2019
Check Out These Books!
The Grammarians by Cathleen Shine"Identical twins Laurel and Daphne Wolfe, both named for the same minor Greek goddess, shared everything: a womb, a language known only to themselves, the red hair that set them even further apart from their peers (only 2% of the world’s population are gingers, less than the 3.3% that are twins). They also share a love of English that (and they would adore the irony) cleaved them together as much as it cleaved them apart. | A Door in the Earth by Amy Waldman"Former New York Times reporter Amy Waldman left an indelible imprint on readers with her debut, The Submission, which examined the fallout of 9/11 at Ground Zero. Eight years later, Waldman returns with an even more ambitious novel, A Door in the Earth, which proves to be as politically provocative and challenging as its predecessor. | Specner's New Pet by Jessie Sima"Jessie Sima presents the entertaining story of Spencer’s New Pet as if it were an old black-and-white motion picture. The book opens with a film leader, the countdown from three to one with large numbers in rotating circles. The book’s art deco typeface—for the titles of the story’s three main parts, presented like the intertitles of a silent film (the book is otherwise wordless)—resembles film fonts from the middle of the last century. Throughout the book, rendered on a palette of varying shades of gray, Sima even simulates iris shots, a technique frequently used in silent films. A spare, warm red is devoted to only two objects in the book. |
The Grammarians by Cathleen Shine
"Identical twins Laurel and Daphne Wolfe, both named for the same minor Greek goddess, shared everything: a womb, a language known only to themselves, the red hair that set them even further apart from their peers (only 2% of the world’s population are gingers, less than the 3.3% that are twins). They also share a love of English that (and they would adore the irony) cleaved them together as much as it cleaved them apart.
Long before their first adolescent stirrings, the pair fell head-over-heels for words. Daphne amassed rare ones (rebarbative, hendiadys, aposiopesis) in her notebook, the same way other kids collect sea glass or baseball cards. Laurel looked them up in their father’s massive Merriam Webster’s Second Edition. They played with words, quarreled over words, used words as both rapier and armor.
Author Cathleen Schine is a keen student of both language and families, and The Grammarians calls to mind the likes of Nora Ephron or Joan Didion. It’s not every verbal stunt pilot that can bring a mid-novel excursus about the differences between Webster’s Second and Third editions to a safe landing." - Excerpt from Book Page Book Review article
A Door in the Earth by Amy Waldman
"Former New York Times reporter Amy Waldman left an indelible imprint on readers with her debut, The Submission, which examined the fallout of 9/11 at Ground Zero. Eight years later, Waldman returns with an even more ambitious novel, A Door in the Earth, which proves to be as politically provocative and challenging as its predecessor.
Drawing on her years based in Afghanistan, Waldman takes readers deep into the heart of the country, transporting us to a remote and largely unremarkable village, ringed by mountains far from the ongoing military conflicts that make headlines overseas. Guiding us is Parveen Shamsa, an earnest medical anthropologist who has recently graduated from Berkley. Inspired by a fictional bestselling memoir by Dr. Gideon Crane, which shed light on the abysmal state of women’s health in Afghanistan, Parveen has left the comforts of home in California to volunteer at the women’s clinic established by Dr. Crane and to reconnect with her own Afghan heritage." - Excerpt from Book Page Book Review article
Specner's New Pet by Jessie Sima
"Jessie Sima presents the entertaining story of Spencer’s New Pet as if it were an old black-and-white motion picture. The book opens with a film leader, the countdown from three to one with large numbers in rotating circles. The book’s art deco typeface—for the titles of the story’s three main parts, presented like the intertitles of a silent film (the book is otherwise wordless)—resembles film fonts from the middle of the last century. Throughout the book, rendered on a palette of varying shades of gray, Sima even simulates iris shots, a technique frequently used in silent films. A spare, warm red is devoted to only two objects in the book.
A boy leads his new balloon animal, tied by a clown, about on a leash, and the danger of popping seems to lurk around every corner. But what appears to be the simple story of a boy enjoying his new balloon animal as if it’s a pet turns out to be otherwise." - Excerpt from Book Page Book Review article
Disney Planning Planning a trip to Disney and do not know where to start? Feeling overwhelmed with all the information? Then come to my class to learn the basics of planning a trip to Disney. I will walk you through the step by step of planning a trip to Disney for you and your family! *Adults only please! | Heroes All Around Us - USS Slater The fascinating history of Destroyer Escorts, USS SLATER, and the lives of three men who served in the United States Navy during World War II and their relationship to these “trim but deadly” warships. *Registration Required Tuesday, September 24th - 6:30pm | Fermentation for Food & Health with Cornell Cooperative Extension Come learn why eating fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi and kombucha are healthy for you, plus learn about making your own fermented foods. This class includes a demonstration of making sauerkraut. *Registration Required Wednesday, October 16th - 6:30pm |
Disney Planning
Heroes All Around Us - USS Slater
*Registration Required
Tuesday, September 24th - 6:30pm
Fermentation for Food & Health with Cornell Cooperative Extension
*Registration Required
Wednesday, October 16th - 6:30pm
AAA Car Seat Safety Check AAA Car Seat Safety Check | Table Top GamesTry out new games at the Library's Table Top Game Night. Each session we'll play a different game. Games to be announced. *Registration required, for ages 10 & up. | Friends of the Library Monthly Meeting Join the Friends for their monthly meeting! Tuesday, October 1st - 9:00am |
AAA Car Seat Safety Check
Table Top Games
Try out new games at the Library's Table Top Game Night. Each session we'll play a different game. Games to be announced.
*Registration required, for ages 10 & up.
Thursday, September 12th - 3:00pm (long game)
Memoir Writing with Mary Sanders ShartleMemoir Writing with Mary Sanders Shartle. *Registration Required *Memoir Writing courtesy of The Baum Fund through the Friends of the Library | Trivia Night @ Galway Rock Winery Tasting RoomJoin at the Galway Rock Winery Tasting Room at 988 Saratoga Rd (Route 50) for trivia! Come have fun, maybe learn something, and try to win a prize! Friday, September 13th - 7:00pm *Ages 21 and over only. Refreshments and snacks will be available for sale.* | Dietitian from Field GoodsIn this discussion Jennifer Bannigan will blend two themes of National Cholesterol Month and National Childhood Obesity Month together. She will also be talking about easy, tasty recipes, what to do with uncommon veggies, healthy eating, etc. Field Goods has partnered with Jennifer Bannigan a local Registered Dietitian. Jennifer has also been a Field Goods customer since 2015! Read more about Jennifer Bannigan here: www.nextstagenutrition.com |
Memoir Writing with Mary Sanders Shartle
Memoir Writing with Mary Sanders Shartle.
*Registration Required
Thursdays, 10:30am-12:30pm 6 weeks starting August 22nd
(You register once for the 6 week session)
*Memoir Writing courtesy of The Baum Fund through the Friends of the Library
Trivia Night @ Galway Rock Winery Tasting Room
Join at the Galway Rock Winery Tasting Room at 988 Saratoga Rd (Route 50) for trivia! Come have fun, maybe learn something, and try to win a prize!
Friday, September 13th - 7:00pm
*Ages 21 and over only. Refreshments and snacks will be available for sale.*
Dietitian from Field Goods
In this discussion Jennifer Bannigan will blend two themes of National Cholesterol Month and National Childhood Obesity Month together. She will also be talking about easy, tasty recipes, what to do with uncommon veggies, healthy eating, etc.
Field Goods has partnered with Jennifer Bannigan a local Registered Dietitian. Jennifer has also been a Field Goods customer since 2015!
Read more about Jennifer Bannigan here: www.nextstagenutrition.com