This startling, brief  book -- originally, a one-woman show--  imagines Mary in Ephesus looking back on her life.

 

In The New York Times Book Review, author Mary Gordon said:

 

"It takes its power from the surprises of its language, its almost shocking characterization, its austere refusal of consolation. The source of this mother's grief is as much the nature of humankind as the cruel fate of her own son."

 

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking

Oliver Burkeman has written a wonderful book that provides an alternative to the "positive thinking" "get happy" schools of thought. He investigates his intuition  that self-help programs could actually prevent you from being successful. He explores several tradition that embrace "negative" thoughts and comes up with a negative path for happiness that works for him.

Beautifully written, meticulously researched, provocative and...there's even a video trailer. Check it out!

Meet the Candidates

The Library was proud to join the Chamber of Commerce in sponsoring this year's Meet the Candidates night at the Firehouse on October 22.

More than 100 people came out to hear all four Mayoral candidates -- Wayne May, Mark Nemjeh, Harold Cotler and Gary Englestadt -- answer questions about their plans for Bradley Beach. "It was clear that all the candidates, and the people in the audience, really care about Bradley Beach," said Library Director Janet Torsney. "It was wonderful to be part of a discussion that was more heat than light."

Don't forget to vote on November 6th!

Save the Date: October 14

Did you know that the Bradley Beach Library has been at 511 Fourth Avenue for 85 years?

To celebrate our anniversary, we are going to have a Sunday afternoon tea to thank all the people who have been so supportive of the Library. It will be on October 14 from 2 to 4 pm.

Details to follow!

Chicago in Bradley Beach

This month, the large-print book club is reading Devil in the White City, a true-life story about murder and the magnificent 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.

And our newest book club is reading Divergent, a  young adult novel about a dystopian Chicago of the future.

Are book clubs in Chicago reading about Bradley Beach? Hmmmm

Every Day in Tuscany

Nanci Bachman recommends the audiobook EveryDay in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life, which was written and read by Frances Mayles.

She said it was a great listen and has a fabulous  bonus: the last CD includes delicious recipes that can be printed out, cooked and eaten. She particularly liked the final recipe. "All that's left," she said, "is the trip to Tuscany!"

Mid-Year Report

We don't have an All-Star break. But, just like the baseball players, we like to check our stats.

Here are the highlights from the year to date:

·         We currently have 6.400 members. Last year, we had 6,256.

·         We have had more visits in the first sixth months (22,273) than all of last year (19,000).

·         More people have participated in our programs during the first sixth months of 2012 (1,798) than all of 2011 (1,705).

·         Circulation for all of 2011 was 22,000; we have already reached 14,337.

Go, Bradley Beach Library!