Keep Your Eye on the Birdseye

I just finished Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man by Mark Kurlansky. It's a fascinating look at the life of a man who genuinely revolutionized food in America.


While he was, personally, what we would now call a localvore, he made processed food possible for millions. 


There are lots of adventures -- in the Arctic, Peru and NJ -- as this "can do" guy finds his inspiration. 

Besides, what's better for a hot summer day than a bio about the invention of frozen food?

Bradley Beach E-Book Top 10

Since we added e-books to our collection this Spring, we have nearly 40 titles that are available only to Bradley Beach library members.

So far, the most popular Bradley Beach titles are:

1. The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
2. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
3. Death of a Nag by MC Beaton
4. Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

The most recently added books include:

• The Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
• The Affair by Lee Child
• Snatched by Karin Slaughter
• The Vow by Kim Carpenter
• Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Happy reading (e and otherwise) to all our members!

Louis L'Amour and the Large Print Ladies

My father-in-law was a Louis L'Amour fan so I've bought a few of his books. But I hadn't read any until the Large Print Book Club picked Comstock Lode for the June selection.

I really enjoyed reading about the adventures in the new West and mining that are covered so vividly in this book. I especially enjoyed that the bad guys were so rotten and the good people were so good. It was comforting to have some certainty in the world.

His life was just extraordinary: he worked on cattle ranches, saw mills, lumber camps and mines. He was a   professional boxer, merchant seaman and served in the Army during World War II. Once he settled to writing, he was incredibly productive. He still has 105 titles in print and remains one of the most populat American authors.

Thanks to the Large Print Book Club for opening my eyes to this American icon.

Any ideas for other books for the Large Print gang? Any other book clubs you'd like to see at your Library?

Send Us Your Reviews!

Marilyn Rosen sent us this review:

"I just read several books.   One was short and meaningful.  It is not new - For One More Day by Mitch Albom  who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie.  

Charlie Benetto had a drinking problem along with other life's problems.   He was planning to commit suicide.   What would you do if you had one more day with someone who passed away.   Charlie gets that one more day with his Mother.
Needless to say, this changed his life - a fast, good read."

Have you read this book? What did you think?

What books do you reccomend?
Marilyn Rosen

Seuss is on the Loose

We'll be celebrating the wacky, wonderful Dr. Seuss on Friday, March 2 at 11 am and 3:30 and, again, on Saturday at noon. There will be celebrity readers sharing their favorite stories. 

"We'll also be playing games and enjoying some sweets,"says Program Coordinator Sharlene Edwards.  "Reading is a serious thing, but it can also be fun! That's the way Dr. Seuss would want us to celebrate his birthday." 

Arts at the Beach Poster Contest

On Saturday, kids from Bradley Beach and surrounding towns will have a chance to show their skills. Between 10 am and noon at the Carmen Biase Center, they can pick up materials and share ideas about posters that illustrate this year's theme: THE BEACH...What you love about it and how to keep it beautiful!

Everyone who attends the workshop will receive the materials they need to make their poster. The posters will be displayed in the windows of local businesses. For more details, check out the website: ttps://sites.google.com/site/artsatthebeach/

Prizes will be awarded for the best posters by 1st-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, & 6th-8th grade. There will also be a GRAND PRIZE of a $50 savings bond and a tree planted in your name.

Posters must be submitted on Saturday, Feb 25th between 11am and 2 pm at Boro Hall Meeting Room (701 Main Street). The Award Ceremony will take place on Friday, March 16th at 7 pm at the Bradley Beach Elementary School.

Festive Flutes at the Library

There was beautiful music at the Library on Sunday afternoon. A fantastic program -- everything from Vivaldi and Schumann to Gershwin and Berlin -- was enjoyed by kids and grownups alike.

"The Festive Flutes brought such beauty to our Library," says Program Coordinator Sharleen Edwards. "We are grateful they chose the Bradley Beach Library to kick off their spring season." This event was the first in a series of programs, entitled "A Flute Garden," that will be taking place in libraries throughout Ocean and Monmouth County.

Enjoy the Festive Flutes performance at the Library last year by following this link.

The Festive Flutes are Emma Korolik, Gwendolyn Morris, Stephanie Sun and Carol Wasserman under the able direction of Founder Marjorie Koharski. For more information about the Festive Flutes, go to their website