Smythie The monthly e-newsletter of the Smyth Public Library

May, 2016

Events…

Dan Szczesny’s India Program Tuesday June 21, 6:30 pm “When Baby U was just shy of ten months old, we stamped her Passport and headed out on a journey to reunite family that took us to Nepal, India and Turkey. From northern India by train, to walking the streets of Old Istanbul, having a baby along for the ride can be a challenge, and also unimaginably rewarding. And

along the way, we found time to help an orphanage devastated by Nepal earthquakes, got stranded at the border, tracked down some of the finest Turkish Delight candy in the world and united the baby for the first time with her Great Grandmother. Join me for a look at this epic journey and hear passages from the upcoming book.”

Town-Wide Yardsale

Saturday June 4th, 9:00 am-12:00 pm Summer Reading Book Sale during the Town-wide Yard Sale. Stop by for children’s books and summer beach

reads!

How to…?  

“How  To”  Make  Fairy  Houses,  with  Lorraine  Briand  (please  sign  up).  Children  and  parents  welcome   May  11,  6  pm      

   

Planting  for  Pollinators

Wednesday,  May  18th,  6:30pm Presented by: The Rockingham County Master Gardeners      

 

 

Woodturning  with  Rick  Mitchell  May  24,  6:30  p.m.      

   

 “How  To”  Knit  and  Crochet  

with  Lisa  Cote  June  8,  6:30  pm  

 

 “How  To”  tips  for  Resumes  and  Interviews  with  Artie  Lynnworth  June  29,  6  pm      

If  you  have  a  special  talent  you’d  like  to  share,  please  see  Heidi  at  the  front  desk      

New  passes!!!  

   

New  daily  passes  now  available  for  the  Boston  Museum  of  Science!  

Valid  for  up  to  4  people  per  coupon  for  $10  per  person  admission.  Valid  only  for  Exhibit  Halls.  Coupon  provided  free  of  charge  by  the  Smyth  Public  Library.

New  on  our  shelves…  

 

New Fiction...

The last mile Baldacci, David The widow Barton, Fiona Shriver: a novel Belden, Chris, The 14th colony Berry, Steve Dodgers: a novel Beverly, William, Bittersweet: a novel Beverly-Whittemore, Miranda That darkness Black, Lisa Tumbledown Manor Brown, Helen, Exposure Dunmore, Helen The midnight watch: a novel of the Titanic and the Californian Dyer, David, Glory over everything: beyond the Kitchen house Grissom, Kathleen The excellent Lombards Hamilton, Jane Hide away Johansen, Iris Lilac girls: a novel Kelly, Martha Hall The murder of Mary Russell: a novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes King, Laurie R Brush of wings: a novel Kingsbury, Karen

Earnest Von Kreisler, Kristin, Death of an alchemist Lawrence, Mary, The waters of eternal youth Leon, Donna No safe secret Michaels, Fern Feverborn: a Fever novel Moning, Karen Marie The taxidermist's daughter Mosse, Kate Murder.com: a Reuben Frost mystery Murphy, Haughton. City of secrets O'Nan, Stewart 'Til death do us part Quick, Amanda Miller's Valley: a novel Quindlen, Anna Country of red azaleas: a novel Radulescu, Domnica, The obsession Roberts, Nora Hemingway's girl Robuck, Erika. War hawk: a Tucker Wayne novel Rollins, James Extreme prey Sandford, John Most wanted Scottoline, Lisa The summer before the war: a novel Simonson, Helen The choice Sparks, Nicholas Property of a noblewoman: a novel Steel, Danielle Oil and marble: a novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo Storey, Stephanie, Family jewels Woods, Stuart

New Non-Fiction...

The immortal Irishman: the Irish revolutionary who became an American hero Egan, Timothy Apostle, or, Bones that shine like fire: travels among the tombs of the Twelve Bissell, Tom, Miracles from Heaven: a little girl, her journey to Heaven, and her amazing story of healing Beam, Christy.

Selma and its aftermath: a photographic journey Shoe dog: a memoir by the creator of Nike Knight, Philip H., Vitamin N: the essential guide to a nature-rich life Louv, Richard The Duke of Wellington kidnapped!: the incredible true story of the art theft that changed a nation Hirsch, Alan, Pretty Jane and the viper of Kidbrooke Lane: a true story of Victorian law and disorder : the first unsolved murder of the Victorian age Murphy, Paul Thomas, Lab girl Jahren, Hope The most perfect thing: inside (and outside) a bird's egg Birkhead, T. R., Deep survival: who lives, who dies, and why : true stories of miraculous endurance and sudden death Gonzales, Laurence Modern essentials: a contemporary guide to the therapeutic use of essential oils Elle & Coach: diabetes, the fight for my daughter's life, and the dog who changed everything Shaheen, Stefany. The big tiny: a built-it-myself memoir Williams, Dee How to eat in the woods: a complete guide to foraging, trapping, fishing, and finding sustenance in the wild Angier, Bradford Wheat belly cookbook: 150 recipes to help you lose the wheat, lose the weight, and find your path back to health Davis, William Italian country cooking: the secrets of cucina povera Werle, Loukie. Bon Appetit weekend entertaining Great by choice: uncertainty, chaos, and luck : why some thrive despite them all Collins, James C. Orchestra of exiles: the story of Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic, and the one thousand Jews he saved from Nazi horrors Aronson, Josh. The ball: discovering the object of the game Fox, John. AMC's best day hikes in the White Mountains: four-season guide to 60 of the best trails in the White Mountains Buchsbaum, Robert. The Last Goodnight: a World War II story of romance, adventure, and espionage Blum, Howard The Mathews men: seven brothers and the war against Hitler's U-boats Geroux, William Left of boom: how a young CIA case officer penetrated the Taliban and al-Qaeda Smith, John "Most blessed of the patriarchs": Thomas Jefferson and the empire of the imagination Gordon-Reed, Annette New Books on CD…

   The last mile CD (10) Baldacci, David The 14th colony: a novel CD (12) Berry, Steve Fool me once CD (8) Coben, Harlan

The obsession CD (12) Roberts, Nora Extreme prey: a novel CD (9) Sandford, John Most wanted CD (10) Scottoline, Lisa Family jewels CD (6) Woods, Stuart  

New Video… The big short DVD 917 [R] Over New England DVD Bridge of spies DVD 918 [PG13] The revenant DVD 920 [R] Amistad DVD 921 [R] Windtalkers DVD 922 [R] Baseball Legends (DVD) The Civil War Star Wars DVD STAR VII [PG13] — Episode VII, — The force awakens / Thomas and the magic railroad

  One trouble with developing speed reading skills is that by the time you realize a book is boring

you've already finished it. - Franklin P. Jones

Events  at  the  Library…  

¿Habla  usted  español?      

Please  join  us  for  ¡Hablemos!  FIRST  THURSDAY  OF  EVERY  MONTH  6pm  ¿Quién?  Anyone  who  has  learned  some  Spanish  and  wants  to  use  it,  not  lose  it  Hispanohablantes  son  bienvenidos  también.  (Native  speakers  are  welcome  too)  ¿Por  qué?  To  meet  other  Spanish  language  lovers  and  enjoy  some  casual  Spanish  conversation  This  is  an  opportunity  to  practice  speaking  and  hearing  Spanish  to  improve  overall  skills.  Consider  bringing  something  to  show  the  group  (photos  etc.)  to  stimulate  discussion.  Please  note,  this  is  not  a  “Learn  Spanish”  class.  This  is  for  anyone  who  knows  some  Spanish  and  wants  to  practice.      

Coloring night for all ages, all supplies provided,

Fridays 6-7 pm Plus, packets available to use anytime we are open and you feel the urge

Did you Know??? The real Alice in Wonderland, was named Alice Lindell. Her family was friends with the author and he penned the story

for her when she was 10.

Knitting & Crochet Circle Help with the cap, blanket, and scarf charity project, work on your

own items, or just come to learn. Call Lisa 587-0603 for more info. Third Thursday of the month, 7pm

Writers’ group

2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 6:30pm

The Smyth Public Library hosts a gathering of writers once or twice a month where we work

together on timed writing exercises using prompts and other sources of inspiration. The writing

periods will be followed by sharing some of the work with each other. The goal of the group is to

loosen up and get the pen moving on paper. We don’t seek to have a finished work by the end of

the session and you don’t need to arrive with a finished piece of writing to share. The writer’s

group is a place to meet with other writers and to flex your writing muscles.

Please come ready with a writing medium of your choice: paper and pen/pencil, computer, tablet,

etc.

2nd  Tuesday  of  each  month,  6  pm    

Zendoodling  is  a  creative  way  to  unwind  your  mind.    Zen  doodling  is  a  form  of  meditation  using  ink  and  paper.  All  supplies  provided  and  it  is  FREE.  Space  is  limited.  Please  contact  Laura  to  make  sure  you  have  a  seat.  Contact:  Laura  Briggs  370-­‐7162    

Tip from the front desk

Smyth  Public  Library  is  more  than  just  a  great  place  to  find  books  and  resources.    You  can  also  tap  into  your  creative  side  and  find  a  new  way  to  banish  stress.  Check  out  this  excerpt  from  3/14/16  First  magazine  and  then  come  checkout  all  our  programs  to  find  the  ones  that  help  you  discover  your  creativity  waiting  within!    “Creative  activities  are  stress  busters  in  the  same  way  that  meditation  is,”  says  Robert  Reiner,  Ph.D.,  a  psychologist  with  New  York  University.    And  the  benefits  go  beyond  feeling  calm,  content  and  focused-­‐-­‐creative  hobbies  also  lower  the  risk  of  Alzheimer’s  by  up  to  50%  and  extend  life  expectancy  by  12%.      Conquer  fear  with  painting  Subjects  in  a  UMass  study  who  painted  experienced  a  71%  greater  reduction  in  fearful  thoughts  than  people  who  did  not  partake  in  creative  activities.    End  brain  fog  with  coloring  Coloring  complex  pictures  causes  the  brain  region  that  governs  cognitive  functions  to  light  up,  sharpening  attention  and  concentration.    Calm  anxiety  with  a  sketch  Repetitive  motion  of  moving  a  pencil  across  paper  triggers  the  relaxation  response,  a  deep  form  of  rest  in  which  your  pulse  slows  and  your  brain  generates  calming  alpha  waves.    Ease  loneliness  with  scrapbooking  Organizing  photos  helps  you  feel  connected  to  the  people  you  are  scrapbooking  about.    Quiet  sadness  with  knitting  The  rhythmic  quality  of  stitching  blocks  the  activity  of  the  stress  hormone  noradrenaline.    Increase  productivity  with  photography  

Taking  photos  gives  the  brain  a  break  from  daily  pressures,  which  leaves  people  feeling  more  rested,  resilient  and  better  able  to  handle  their  to-­‐do’s.    Lower  pain  and  increase  your  mood  with  journaling  Studies  show  that  writing  creatively  for  15  minutes  daily  revs  the  output  of  painkilling,  mood-­‐elevating  serotonin.    So,  come  and  check  out  one  of  these  programs  offered  at  Smyth  Public  Library:  Coloring  night,  Writing  group,  Zendoodling  and  our  “How  To”  series  offerings  of  photography,  knitting,  woodcraft,  fairy  houses,  painting,  and  preserving  family  memories,  and  discover  your  creative  outlet  at  Smyth  Public  Library.  

 Heidi Deacon, Director

LOVE TO SHARE A GOOD BOOK?

NOW THERE ARE 2

WAYS How about sharing your thoughts on a book at the

friendly monthly book discussion groups?

There is one evening group:

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

May 19, 7:30

*Extra titles of this book are available at the front desk

~And another group~

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Thursday, May 25 time to be determined

Extra titles of this book are available at the front desk

Ongoing Book Sale! You can browse at your leisure now and bring home a favorite to

keep or to give away to a friend. Just look for the bright signs just inside our main doors on the left. Pay at the front desk. Only

$1 for hardcover and $.50 for paperbacks. Proceeds go to the Friends of Smyth Library. Come find a treasure or two or more

for your very own.

Monthly Lego Night! EVERY third Friday 6:30-7:30 for all ages

Library  Assets…

ART  

WANTED!! !  Our art gallery is always available for the works of

local artists. Just see Heidi at the front desk to display your works

Making Your Life Easy: By going to our website, you can search our entire catalogue for books, CD’s, DVD’s and movies. Once found, you can check to see

if what you want is in. If so, just to our website and reserve the book. The next time you come in, it will be waiting for you at the front desk. WITH OUR NEW WEBSITE YOU CAN DO IT WITH

YOUR MOBILE DEVICE!

PLUS!! Check out our smythpl.org website updates and Smyth Library’s new Public Catalog

featuring:  - A crawl of new items.

- “What’s Hot” now covers several choices. -“Most Popular” titles (a combination of checkouts and reserves

are used to determine this list). - “More Search Options” includes Medium that lets members

search by DVD or Large Print, etc.

More Research Options:

Full text articles from thousands of magazines, journals and national newspapers, plus NoveList. Call or e-mail us and provide your name

and your library card number, and we’ll give you the password.

We’re on Facebook!  Like the Smyth Public Library

Look at our page on Facebook for events and updates about our library!

Downloadable Books!!!! Ipods and Kindle work Order right from our new website!

Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Smyth Library

PASSES….PASSES….PASSES

STRAWBERRY BANK

IS BACK FOR THE NEW SEASON!

Check our website for passes!!!

All are l isted in the “museum passes” tab of the website

Kids’  Stuff…  Always hit the “Children” tab on our site for

details and to see the newest events and activities for children

Exciting  Children’s  programs:    

• *CALDECOTT CHALLENGE – read through the award winning titles on your own

or with a friend    

• *1000 BOOKS before Kindergarten- memory registers will be made available for

parents  

 

 

 

Pajama Story Night 2nd Friday of the Month, 6-7 pm

Join us monthly for a night of storytelling and treats!

 

Math Clubs K-3rd grade

Mondays, 4-5 p.m.    

FUTURE ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS!! Every second Friday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 we break out our snap

circuits! Build exciting projects including computer interfaced experiments and solar cell applications. This event is for ages 8-14 and signups are required.

Check our Facebook page for some cool snap circuit projects

BOOKCLUBS!! 3rd  grade  May  18th  at  4pm  (Upside  Down  Magic  by  Sarah  Mlynowski)  4th  Grade  May  11th  at  3pm  (The  Detective’s  Assistant  by  Kate  Hannigan)  6-­‐7th  Grade  May  11th  at  5pm  (Seraphina  by  Rachel  Hartman)  Teens:  June  6th  at  5  pm-­‐Currently  Reading:  The  Butterfly  and  the  Violin  by  Kristy  Cambron  (Pick  up  titles  at  the  front  desk)  

Hey teens!... TEEN  ADVISORY  GROUP  meets  on  May  16th  at  5pm.  Help  grow  the  teen  programming!  

Fairy  and  Gnome  Party…Make  Wands;  Decorate  Wings;  Create  Toadstools;  Eat  Delicious  Fairy  Food;  Make  Gnome  Hats;  Take  Home  a  Book  and  your  Creations.      May  25,  3:30  pm  

SEWING CLUB Mondays at 6:30 pm with Pattie- Sign up; $5 material fee, limited class size.

Children’s

Cookbook

Book Club May  20  at  5:30  pm  featuring  Around  the  World  Cookbook  by  Abigail  Johnson  Dodge  Open  to  all  ages!    Pick  a  recipe,  sign  up  and  bring  your  dish  to  share.      We  will  discuss  how  good  the  recipe  was  among  other  things,  including  eating  all  the  delicious  food!    

Read to Simon now at regular times…

Mondays 4-5 p.m. Why is reading to a dog educational and fun? Because Simon is soft, furry and warm and he loves the attention you give him when you practice your reading

out-loud skills! Sign up for a fifteen minute time slot between 3:00 & 4:00. Reading is In the Children’s Library Room and is one-on-one with Ms. Gwen and

Simon present. Parents and others must wait outside for their reader. The last two minutes can be for meeting and spending time with Simon. Sign-ups start

Thursday, February 12th at the front desk. Simon and Gwen Paprocki are certified through Therapy Dogs International.

New books for children… The big book of animals / Sheila Hanly Hanly, Sheila Anything but ordinary Addie: the true story of Adelaide Herrmann, queen of magic Rockliff, Mara, Fairy houses Kane, Tracy L. The wonderful things you will be Martin, Emily Winfield, Waiting for high tide McClure, Nikki,

The King’s Commissioners Friedman, Aileen The Little Penguin Wood, A.J. Homeplace Shelby, Anne The friendship fairy Provins, Amanda

New books for young adults… Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull Rollins, James Glass sword Aveyard, Victoria Red queen Aveyard, Victoria A Lady at Willowgrove Hall Ladd, Sarah E Dawn's prelude Peterson, Tracie The walls around us: a novel Suma, Nova Ren The story of Kullervo Tolkien, J. R. R Bluescreen: a Mirador novel Wells, Dan The reluctant duchess White, Roseanna M

New books for juniors… How to code in 10 easy lessons: learn how to design and code your very own computer game McManus, Sean, Fairy houses --everywhere! Kane, Barry. The fairy house handbook Walsh, Liza Gardner. The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World Philbrick, Nathaniel The unknown Applegate, Katherine The goblin's puzzle: being the adventures of a boy with no name and two girls called Alice Chilton, Andrew S. Raymie nightingale DiCamillo, Kate Dead end in Norvelt Gantos, Jack The mark of the dragonfly Johnson, Jaleigh Mission hurricane Goebel, Jenny,  

TriviaTime!

Every month we ask a trivia question. If you know the answer, drop it off at the front desk or e-mail it using our website. We will randomly select

the winner from the correct answers and

the

W I N N E R w i l l w i n ONE FREE WEEK o f OVERDUE

FINE AMNESTY ON ONE BOOK

Last month’s question and answer:

Q. Where did Sting write “Every Breath You Take”? A. Ian Fleming’s desk at his Jamaica retreat

“Goldeneye”.

No Winners!! !

This

Month’s

Trivia

Question:

Who was Charles Lutwidge

Dodgson?

From the New and Recent

Shelves~

We (being I) are always looking for contributors to this

reviews section. The editor has a limited range of taste,

so any reviews would be more than welcomed. Just e-

mail them in reply to this, or to librarian@smythpl.org Fiction…

 

   

This is a good story that captures a generation. Kids in 1965 and old men fifty years later, the boys formed the musical group "Shuffle"

while in high school. When Jack gets expelled, they decide to head off to London to make it as big as that new group, the Beatles. The book moves back and forth from 1965 to 2015 and Jack narrates the teen

years and the current story is told in the third person.

That's just what this is. A good story with serious parts and amusing episodes. There are several aspects well-told. Mr. May captures both

the psychedelic '60's and old age, well. There is nothing special about these guys, as Jack's grandson will attest. But they had a great

episode in their youth and when Maurie wants to clean up history - and a murder - they all trek from Glasgow to London. In the 60s they were naive teens with all the dreams attendant to youth. In their late sixties they have the disappointments, aches and pains attendant to

old age.

Both stories are captivating. Mr. May slips in just enough humor to prevent the book from being overly depressing or maudlin, while at the same time showing, for the most part, busted lives. Their is a

haunting quality to the tales and the telling that captivates the reader. This is a very different novel. Although we know that Maurie wants to

return to London before he dies of terminal cancer to clear up a murder, this is by no means a mystery or crime novel. The "mystery" is merely the vehicle for the old guys to go back to London and relive

their youthful dream chase.

Highly recommended, but be forewarned, Although there is some humor, there are not a lot of grins and giggles. These guys are on the

downslope of lives that never hit the heights of which they once dreamed.  

N on-fiction …

 

A curse of non-fiction?

”This would have made a terrific, couldn't put it down...magazine feature article.”

Unfortunately though, this is a book. The terrific story is bogged down by minutia and redundancy and references to pop culture that are not

that enlightening.

That having been said, the story is intriguing and the "great criminal mastermind" is an extremely amusing character. We're talking free TV licenses for the elderly up against one of Britain's treasures! The twist

at the end is one out of a Victorian novel.

If you can fly through some of the extras, this is a fun true crime book.  

E ve r w a n t t o b e o n e o f t h o se k n o w - i t - a l l r e v i e w e r s?

Got a book to recommend?

Want to write a blurb?

Have a child with a favorite book who would like to contribute to the Smythie?

We welcome contributors (less for us to write!), especially children and teens to review and recommend favorite books. Just drop Heidi Deacon an e-mail at librarian@smythpl.org or “reply” to this and we’ll include it here. It need not be a new book – it can be a golden oldie, a classic, a trashy beach book or whatever you have enjoyed.

I   hope   you   have   en joyed   th i s   ed i t ion .     Comments ,   sugges t ions   and ,   o f  

course ,   r ev i ews  are  a lways  we lcomed .  

Rick  Mi tche l l  

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