Now @ MPL...

Did you know that Central Library has a book discussion group?

Librarians moderate lively book discussions each month in the comfortable surroundings of the Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The books will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is NOT required.

On Tuesday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m. we will be discussing Rumspringa; to be or not to be Amish by Tom Shachtman. Beginning at age 16, Amish youth are encouraged to participate in activities normally forbidden by their tradition before committing to Amish life. Shachtman describes the impact of this time of life on both teens and the Amish community.

Come join us!

Did you know that Milwaukee Public Library has book club kits available for check out? Each kit has multiple paperback copies of the chosen title, a discussion guide, suggestions for starting a book club and information about the author. All in one convenient kit! Originating at the East Library, kits are also available at the Washington Park Library, Mill Road Library, Zablocki Library and Tippecanoe Library.

There are over 40 kits in circulation. To see what titles are available, check the online County catalog using the title Adult Book Club Kit.

The subtitles will be the titles of the books that are available.

You provide the book group, location and refreshments and the library's book kit will provide the rest.

Do you like reading? Do you like chatting? Do you like chatting about books? If you said yes to these questions, then MPL has just the thing for you.

Every month, many Book Clubs meet at six different libraries and each book club is reading and discussing a different book. So take a look at what is coming up, and join a book club today!

Run: A Novel by Ann Patchett

What makes a family? Think your family has secrets? In this novel, which spans 24 hours see how choices made in seconds can affect others for a lifetime. Former mayor of Boston, Bernard Doyle has 3 sons; Sullivan, 33, and African American Tip, 21, and Teddy, 20, brothers adopted 20 years earlier. On a snowy night Tip is pushed out of the way of an oncoming SUV by a woman who is hit and severely injured. She is the boys' birth mother and, along with her 11-year-old daughter Kenya has been watching the boys for years. Become part of their lives as the story progresses and issues of race, religion and duty are explored.

The first Central Library book discussion of 2008 takes place Tuesday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. A librarian will moderate a discussion of Ian McEwan's Saturday, the tale of a single day in a London surgeon's life when a minor car accident forebodes major consequences. Saturday will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is not required. We hope to see you there!

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines is an engrossing and vividly written tale of segregation and prejudice, hope and enlightenment in the fictional town of Bayonne, Louisiana in the late 1940's. The novel explores relationships between family, community, race and differing educational and social backgrounds. Jefferson, a poor plantation worker, is convicted of a murder he did not commit, and the ripples from this conviction have a profound effect on many people throughout the entire community. This truly human story packs a powerful emotional wallop and is highly recommended.

The Central Library is hosting a book discussion about A Lesson Before Dying on Tuesday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m. For a list of all book discussions offered by the Milwaukee Public Library, check out MPL's Website.

- Submitted by Dan @ MPL Central

The Senator's Wife: A Novel by Sue Miller

Two unconventional women, neighbors in adjacent New England townhouses--Meri Fowler, pregnant, newly married, and discovering the gap between reality and expectation, and Delia Naughton, wife of a notoriously unfaithful liberal senator--confront the costs and challenges of love.

Please join us at the MPL Central Library on Tuesday, May 13th at 7 pm for a discussion of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried : a work of fiction. However, prior reading of this book is not necessary to join in the discussion. Tell the group about your experiences in the military or discuss the impact of military service on your family. Any and all contributions are welcome!
The Vietnam War experiences of the author are told in this outstanding work of fiction. This novel was a finalist for both the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award and the acclaim is well deserved. The book is not a novel in the traditional sense, or a collection of short stories and not quite a memoir.

Follow the exploits of an interpreter involved with espionage in the African Congo in John LeCarre's Mission Song.
Join the monthly book discussion next Tuesday, June 10th at the Central Library. A Librarian will moderate the discussion in the comfortable surroundings of the Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The book will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is NOT required.

The discussion begins at 7 p.m.

Looking to meet great people and have thought provoking discussions on your favorite books?
One way to beat the heat this summer is to participate in the many book clubs that are held at Milwaukee Public Library locations. Here are some upcoming dates and locations to remember

Atkinson Library | 1960 W. Atkinson Ave., 286-3068
As announced.
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Bay View Library | 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., 286-3019
First and third Thursdays, 1 p.m. | Great Books Series
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East Library | 1910 E. North Ave., 286-3058
Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
June 17 --- Carter Beates the Devil by Glen Gold
July 15 --- Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Aug. 19 --- The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
Sept. 16 --- Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara
Oct. 21 --- Our Mothers' War by Emily Yellin
Nov. 18 --- The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
Dec. 16 --- Chang and Eng by Darin Strauss
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Tippecanoe Library | 3912 S. Howell Ave., 286-3085
Wednesdays, 6 p.m.
July 9 --- Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Aug. 13 --- A Thousand Splended Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Sept. 10 --- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Oct. 8 --- The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Nov. 12 --- Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
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Zablocki Library | 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave., 286-3055
Thursdays, 11 a.m.
June 26 --- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
July 24 --- Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Aug. 28 --- Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Sept. 25 --- Atonement by Ian McEwan
Oct. 23 --- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Nov. 20 --- P.S., I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
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Central Library Book Discussion | Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., 286-3000
Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Librarians moderate lively book discussions each month in the comfortable surroundings of the Central Library Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The books will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is NOT required.
July 8 --- Blood Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
Aug. 12 --- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

Come and discuss Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe at the Central Library Book Group.

This is the latest book to be discussed in this book group that is moderated by Central librarians. As a special treat, the book discussion takes place in the Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The book is a starting point for the discussion, and reading it in advance is not required.

If, however, you are interested in the book about Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria, falling from grace in the tribal world as aggressive European missionaries arrive in his village, make sure to check out the additional information that is available about the book.

The book discussion takes place at the Central Library Tuesday, September 9th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room.

Celebrate National Book Reading Group Month by joining fellow readers at East Library for a discussion of Emily Yellin's Our Mothers' War. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m.

"Rosie the Riveter wasn't the only American woman contributing to the World War II effort; others were spies, nurses, prostitutes, entertainers, pilots, baseball players, politicians, and prisoners of war. After her mother died, author Yellin found a diary and hundreds of letters she'd written while she was a Red Cross nurse in the Pacific. Yellin, a journalist, uses her mother's story as an anchor for a larger narrative which shows that many of the conflicts American society wrestles with today--such as work and family, pay inequities, sexual harassment--have their roots in women's experiences during World War II." Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Be sure to check out our other MPL book clubs!

Martin Luther King Library
310 W. Locust Street
Monday, November 10
6:30 - 7:30 p.m

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

Winter Santiaga, the daughter of one of Brooklyn’s
most powerful drug czars, uses her own smarts to stay on
top after her father’s empire is threatened by a drug war.

Read the book and discuss it with other library patrons
while you enjoy some refreshments!

After her "stand-in mother" Rosaleen insults the three biggest racists in town, Lily Owens joins her on a journey to South Carolina where the duo are taken in by three African American bee-keeping sisters. Have you seen the movie? Visit King Library next Monday afternoon or evening and talk about it! Find a copy of the book or sound recording here.

The 2009 East Book Club list is posted below. A physical copy is available at East Library.

East Library
1910 E. North Ave
414-286-3058

East Book Club
Tuesdays 7pm - Meeting Room

Selections for 2009

Jan. 20: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Feb. 17: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
Mar. 17: Collected Poems of Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes
Apr. 21: The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler
May 19: Birdman of Alcatraz by Robert Stroud
Jun. 16: The Film Club by David Gilmour
Jul. 21: 11 Days in December by Stanley Weintraub
Aug. 18: Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean
Sep. 15: All This Hell by Evelyn Monahan
Oct. 20: The Monk by Matthew Lewis
Nov. 17: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Dec. 15 : English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

Wondering what to read next? Are you a fan of a certain genres and would like suggestions on other enticing titles? The Overbooked website is chock full of lists, starred reviews and all kinds of other readers advisory hints for finding the next good read. It is a non-profit site maintained by enthusiasts just like yourself.

So check out Overbooked before you curl up with your next good book and the library will be glad to help you track down a copy.

For other sites about the book world, check out the Literature & Publishing Category under Recommended Links on the MPL Homepage.

Join us for the Central Library Book Discussion on Tuesday, July 14th from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

The book to be discussed is In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson.

Librarians moderate lively book discussions each month in the comfortable surroundings of the Central Library Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The books will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is NOT required.

Bill Bryson is the author of A Walk in the Woods and The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid who offers his wry wit and oddball observations while traveling through the “bush” and modern cities of Australia. Sometimes a travel book, sometimes a social history and always entertaining, Bill Bryson shares his exploration of Australia with a keen eye for detail and a sharp sense of humor. Whether walking the streets of Sydney or trekking through the Australian Outback, this travel adventure is entertaining, informative and at times, downright funny!

Looking for a good summer read?

Check out what MPL's book clubs are reading this month, and join us for the discussions!

Tuesday, August 11th at 5:30 p.m.
Central Library
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

Wednesday, August 12th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Tippecanoe Library
The Turk and My Mother by Mary Helen Stefaniak

Tuesday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m.
East Library
Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean

Wednesday, August 19th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Bay View Library
Into the Wild by John Krakauer

In addition to King Library's discussion of Sandrine's Letter to Tomorrow on September 22, several other MPL branch libraries are having September book clubs. Check out what they are reading and join the discussion!

Tippecanoe Library
Wednesday, September 9th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Playing for pizza by John Grisham

East Library
Tuesday, September 15th at 7:00 p.m.

All this hell: U.S. nurses imprisoned by the Japanese by Evelyn M. Monahan and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee.

Bay View Library
Wednesday, September 16th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Garlic and sapphires: the secret life of a critic in disguise by Ruth Reichl.

This is the month to celebrate your love of books! Check out what our October book clubs are reading and join the discussion. Plus there are many great literary events around the city that are part of the Milwaukee Book Festival, October 9th-19th!

Central Library
Tuesday, October 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Vampire stories--any and all of them!
Twilight, perhaps?

Tippecanoe Library
Wednesday, October 14 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Dewey: the small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicky Myron

East Library
Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m.
The Monk by Matthew Lewis

Bay View Library
Wednesday, October 21 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Montana 1948 by Larry Watson

In the summer of 1953, Harry and Bess Truman took a road trip, just the two of them, from Missouri to the East Coast and back again. Enjoy a slice of life with the ex-president as he and his wife hit the road to enjoy America.

What: Discussion of the book Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip

When: Tuesday, December 8, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Where: Central

Location: Krug Rare Books Room

Come join us for a lively book discussions in the comfortable surroundings of the Central Library Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The book will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is NOT required.

Three of MPL's neighborhood libraries are offering book clubs next month. Check out the selections and join the discussion!

MPL is once again participating in The Big Read program. The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. It brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment.

In 2010 Milwaukee will be reading The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Events have been scheduled at all Milwaukee Public Libraries and are being planned by additional community partners. The kickoff for The Big Read will be at the Centennial Hall of the Central Library, February 26th starting at 11:00 a.m. MPL is partnering with the Milwaukee Public Museum for the kickoff.

To learn more about the kickoff and other events related to The Big Read, check out MPL's website.

To celebrate the Big Read many MPL libraries will be holding book clubs to discuss The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Monday, March 8
1:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King

Tuesday, March 9
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Central

Tuesday, March 9
6:30 p.m.
Atkinson

Wednesday, March 10
5:30 p.m.
Zablocki

Wednesday, March 10
6:30 p.m.
Tippecanoe

Tuesday, March 16
6:30 p.m.
East

Wednesday, March 17
6:00 p.m.
Capitol

Monday, March 22
6:00 p.m.
Villard Avenue

Monday, March 23
6:30 p.m.
Forest Home

Saturday, March 27
1:00 p.m.
Mill Road

Wednesday, March 31
6:30 p.m.
Bay View

Also, the Bay View Library book club will be discussing The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder and the Makings of a Great President by Julie M. Fenster on Wednesday, March 17 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Check out what our Neighborhood Library Book Clubs are reading in April:

Tippecanoe Library

Wednesday, April 14, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

East Library

Tuesday, April 20, 7:00 p.m.

Walking Across Egypt by Clyde Edgerton

Bay View Library

Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Uniform Justice by Donna Leon