Do you enjoy reading and discussing what you read? If the answer is yes, the Edenvale Book Club is the club for you! Come to the fireplace area of the Edenvale Branch Library on Wednesday November 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm. This month, the Edenvale Book Club will discuss Lazarus by Morris West. Everyone is welcome.

This book is available in two formats:

Hardback Fiction

Large Print Fiction

E Is For Ethics: How to Talk to Kids About Morals, Values, and What Matters Most by Ian James Corlett is a cute book to teach kids about values and morals. It's a perfect book for busy working parents. It works like a chapter book for a first or second grader. Each value takes only three pages to cover, with one full-page picture to illustrate the mentioned value.

It is a fun book for parents to read and to achieve the purpose the book was aiming for: to teach kids to be kind, generous, considerate, fair, courageous, helpful, responsible, patient, etc. Then, along the way, parents can learn about themselves as well.

Are you a teen or preteen that has a math learning disability or simply a deep hatred of mathematics?  You should take a look at this book from the author and actress (The Wonder Years, The West Wing), Danica McKellar.

Hot X: Algebra Exposed is the third title in the math series directed at teen (and preteen) girls. Like the first two books, Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail and Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who’s Boss, the author makes algebra both intriguing and fun.  Each chapter tackles a different algebra “Hot Topic” with a step-by-step breakdown of how to solve the problem as well as “Takeaway tips” to help to reader remember what they have just learned.  The book covers everything from rational expressions, absolute value, linear equations, functions, polynomials and square roots. The reader can either go directly to the chapter with the topic they want to study or read the whole book.

I loved the testimonials from successful women who describe in detail how math skills are essential to careers as varied as chef and TV advertising account executive. Preteen girls will love the entries from “Danica’s Diary” although they may not appeal to the non-preteen. What Danica McKellar accomplishes with this title is making Algebra accessible to the “I Hate Math” crowd.  I would recommend any of these books to middle school or high school girls, especially those who need a self-esteem boost when it comes to their math skills.

Join us for an author talk with Fariba Nawa about her new book Opium Nation.

When veteran reporter Fariba Nawa returned home to Afghanistan—the nation she had fled as a child with her family during the Soviet invasion nearly twenty years earlier—she discovered a fractured country transformed by a multibillion-dollar drug trade. In Opium Nation, Nawa deftly illuminates the changes that have overtaken Afghanistan after decades of unbroken war. Sharing remarkable stories of poppy farmers, corrupt officials, expats, drug lords, and addicts, including her haunting encounter with a twelve-year-old child bride who was bartered to pay off her father’s opium debts, Nawa offers a revealing and provocative narrative of a homecoming more difficult than she ever imagined as she courageously explores her own Afghan American identity and unveils a startling portrait of a land in turmoil.

Fariba Nawa has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Christian Science Monitor, Mother Jones, The Sunday Times Magazine (London), Newsday, and the Village Voice. She has been a guest on CBS’s 48 Hours as well as numerous other television and radio shows on NPR, the BBC, MTV, and NBC. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two daughters.

Please join us for this lively and interesting talk with the author, accompanied by a photo gallery by Naeem Azizian.

Almaden Branch Library, Saturday, November 12th, 3pm

Cambrian Branch Library, Tuesday, November 15th, 6:30pm

After a long and distinguished career as a train driver, O'Horten is forced to retire and has no idea what to do with the rest of his life. Slipping away from his own farewell party, he decides to take a walk across Oslo where a series of unusual experiences await him. An offbeat and slightly surreal comedy from Norway, O'Horten has a 78 percent rating at Metacritic.

First, let me make it clear that I do not normally dress in medieval garb and go to a wine tasting. Heck, I’m not even a big fan of wine. So, why did I find myself doing exactly that at Castello di Amorosa castle and winery recently? Because I never quite outgrew my love of dressing up, that’s why. When I was a kid, I tried on my Mom’s old clothes and Grammy’s “fancy” rhinestone jewelry; I travelled miles out of my way to attend Renaissance fairs as a young adult, and I still enjoy getting into a costume just to stay home and answer the door on Halloween. I can’t really explain it except to say, costumes are just…FUN!

Unpack your own sense of whimsy this Hallowe’en; it’s just around the corner, waiting to say Boo! I suppose you’ve got your costume already. If not, the Library is the perfect place to get started. Time is short, but you want a costume that will make people scratch their heads? Try The Original Duct Tape Halloween Book by Jim and Tim, the duct tape guys, full of wacky ideas to turn yourself into a refrigerator magnet or the gum on the bottom of a shoe.

Do you sew a little but your budget is lacking? Take a look at The Halloween Handbook: 447 Costumes by Bridie Clark and Ashley Dodd. On the other hand, if you want a more standard costume, but still not store-bought, try Elegantly Frugal Costumes: The Poor Man’s Do It Yourself Costume Makers Guide by Shirley Dearing. This book starts with a piece from the back of your own closet or from the thrift store and will guide you through turning it into a one-of-a-kind costume.

Whatever you do, don’t lose the sense of FUN that you had as a child dressing up and playing make-believe! Even if you do pack it up and bring it out just once a year.

Lately we have had a number of smaller earthquakes in the Bay Area.Last week, when my whole house shook, my husband thought it was the wind.But news reports confirmed a 3.8 quake on the Hayward Fault.

If you do feel a quake, go to Did You Feel It to register your experience.This crowdsourcing tool sponsored by the United States Geological Survey records the data and maps it.You can look back over the past 24 hours or even further back to see where earthquakes are occurring all over the world and also see how many people reported feeling it and how far away they were from the epicenter of the quake.

This photograph was taken after the earthquake in San Jose in 1906 and is a part of the Scan Jose tour, Tragedies and Calamities.

I’m told you can ask just about anybody who’s over the age of 30 where they were when the Loma Prieta Quake happened in October of 1989. I wasn’t in California then, but I was in 2007 on October 30th when the King Library was shaken so hard that hundreds of thousands of books fell off the shelves.

Are you ready for the next big quake? Have you reviewed your emergency plan with your family? Do you have an out of town relative that everyone can call to relay information if local phone connections don’t work? If you haven't, don't put it off. There is nothing more comforting that being ready just in case something goes wrong. There are many sites with good tips on preparedness and the very best are sponsored by government agencies. Ready.gov and FEMA both have concise and useful information on what to do to stay safe in case you feel the earth move under your feet!

After months of training at a police academy, Antoine is happy to be assigned to a precinct in the capital but is surprised by the frequently tedious and mundane nature of the work. When the corpse of a drifter is found floating in the Seine, things suddenly get a bit more interesting. A film that has been compared to HBO's The Wire, The Young Lieutenant stars Nathalie Baye and has a 71 percent rating at Metacritic.

Eily, Michael and Peggy O’Driscoll are hungry. They are growing up in Ireland during the Great Famine. The potato crop has failed year after year, so their Father has gone looking for work, their baby sister died recently, and now their Mother is also leaving. She’s determined not to let her three remaining children go hungry, so she walks to town to try to sell her last few personal possessions, her wedding dress and lace shawl.

Mother returns with a little food and stories of famine and fever, both of which left many of the townspeople dead. In some cases entire families have fled the town, some leaving Ireland for other countries. After a few days Mother decides she must leave again to search for her husband, as once more the family is close to starvation. When she doesn’t return, as expected, the children are threatened with eviction from their home and are to be sent to the workhouse. The three children leave a message for their Mother with a neighbor and begin the journey to a far off town where they hope to find relatives to care for them.

The remainder of the book takes us along on this very difficult and challenging journey as the children try to reach their Mother’s family. They walk through all types of weather, finding food along the way, while trying to avoid anyone who might wish them harm. They are amazingly resourceful as they deal with illness and wild creatures.

The author has written a fictionalized, but historically based book of what we now call the Irish potato famine. It can be difficult to read some of the situations involving the children, but throughout the book they encourage each other and overall remain hopeful. Marita Conlon-McKenna provides a brief history of the Great Famine of 1845-1850.

Under the Hawthorn Tree, is the first in a series called The Children of the Famine, other titles in the series are Wildflower Girl and Fields of Home.

Kids in grades 1-6: Do you love to read? Do you love to draw? Then we have just the contest for you. Santa Teresa Library is having a Bookmark Contest. Kids in grades 1-6 are invited to design a bookmark illustrating why they love reading. Entries must be submitted on official library entry forms which you can get at the Santa Teresa Library.

Draw your bookmark on the entry form in the space provided and return the completed form to the Library by October 29. One winner will be selected from each grade. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded in mid-November. Copies of the winning bookmarks will be printed and distributed in the library.

Remember: To be eligible to win ENTRIES MUST BE DRAWN IN BLACK INK OR BLACK MARKER ONLY!

An unhappily married couple, Antoine and Helene, set out for their summer vacation, but Antoine has been drinking and the two start to quarrel. Helene storms out of the car, saying she'll take the train; by the time Antoine calms down and goes back for her, the station is closing and no one remembers what happened to her. To complicate matters, he realizes that an escaped convict the police are looking for bears a strong resemblance to the hitchhiker he's picked up. Based on a novel by Georges Simenon, Red Lights has a 74 percent rating at Metacritic.

Do you have a laptop? Do you have questions about how to use it? Are there things you'd like to use it for but you just don't know how to get started? Well, Santa Teresa Library can help.  Sign up for one of our laptop classes and bring your questions and your laptop.

A laptop class is given every Wednesday from 12:00-2:00 pm. Space is limited so advance registration is suggested. Register in person or call 408-808-3068.

Shop San José is a new initiative that will be coming soon this fall that will be great for local business and the local economy. The City of San José wants you to spend your dollars in San José to support local businesses and bolster city tax revenues. As I am sure you know, San José's coffers could use a boost. This initiative will hopefully encourage folks to spend their money where they live instead of surrounding cities. Businesses that are interested in participating should visit the Shop San José website to find out more and to get the latest updates.

San José has a lot of great places to shop and dine so let's support our local economy, businesses, and city services!

Rat Island by William Stolzenburg shows the darker side of endangered species conservation. Islands make up just 3 percent of the Earth's landmass, but contain more than half of its endangered species. These ecosystems historically existed in isolation, their flora and fauna developing in ways not found on the mainland. The island ecosystems have been catastrophically disrupted either by humans or the animals humans bring with them- rats, cats, goats, and pigs primarily. To save these island ecosystems and their native inhabitants, ecologists have teamed up with a variety of people including professional hunters, semiretired poachers, and many more. Goats are shot from helicopters, rat poison is dropped onto mountainous islands. Rat Island reveals the modern "cruel to be kind" philosophy of conservationism.

Did you know that great white sharks lurk just off the California coastline? On a nasty group of

islands just a few hours boat ride from San Francisco are the Devil's Teeth, also known as the Farallon Islands. Devil's Teeth features Susan Casey's memories and experiences on the islands, which are a seasonal nesting ground for many seabirds, marine mammals and the hunting ground of the great white shark. There are many fascinating anecdotes in the book, such as Casey's attempts to sleep in a boat off the islands stormy coast, the biologist's clash with local "shark seeing" tour boats, and one scientist's mission to be the first man to surf the waves at the Farallons despite the presence of 20-foot great whites known as "The Sisters."

Without sea otters, sea urchins are stripping California's coastline of its kelp. Without wolves to hunt deer and elk, those species are eating Yellowstone's fragile population of young trees. Without large meat eaters to check their populations, smaller predators such as raccoons and opossums are eating through the United States' population of songbirds and other small animals. The disappearing bear and cougar has resulted in an explosion of deer, which have out-competed many other fauna for food and are stripping our wilderness of its flora. Where the Wild Things Were explains how ecosystems depend on these top-tier predators as "keystone species." The removal of these species due to humanity's attempts to manage the wilderness causes the rest of the ecosystem to crash. The book is written well, and in language that doesn't require a degree in biology to understand.

Reviews by volunteer Robert D.

Have you ever been to a performance of Opera San Jose? Well now is your chance to get a taste of opera and it's FREE! Last year children and their families were mesmerized by Opera San Jose's touring production of the classic play Hansel and Gretel. Well, Opera San Jose is back by popular demand, once again performing a condensed version of Englebert Humperdinck's classic opera. The performance will be on Friday, November 4 at 4:00PM in Room 225/229 of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. It will feature costumed singers with live piano accompaniment. Children and adults will get a positive experience of an art form that may be new to them. The production lasts one hour and includes time for questions. If you didn't make last year's performance make sure to not miss this one. It is sure to be a treat for everyone!

Marc decides to make a change in his life and shaves off his mustache. His wife and best friend don't seem to notice; when he questions them, they insist he was always clean shaven. He eventually dismisses the whole thing as a joke, but stranger things start to happen; when he announces he's calling his father, his wife insists the man died years earlier. Is Marc losing his marbles, is there a conspiracy to deceive him, or is reality itself changing? La Moustache stars Emmanuelle Devos and Vincent Lindon and has a 71 percent rating at Metacritic.

Do your children need help with homework? If yes, bring them to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library's Homework Club. The King Library's Homework Club meets on Mondays from 3:00-5:00PM in the Exploration Room and is for children in Grades 1-8. Our wonderful volunteers will be on hand to give students homework assistance in many subjects.

Remember also that our website has a useful Kid's Homework Page as well as a useful Teen Page. Students can also chat with an online tutor by using Live Homework Help.

This month the Cambrian Library Mystery Club will be reading The Pallbearers by Stephen J. Cannell.

 LAPD Detective Shane Scully revisits his troubled past as a foster child. He hears the shocking news that Walter Dix, the head of Huntington House Group Home, where the policeman spent time in his youth, has blown his head off with a shotgun. Since Scully hadn't kept in touch with his former mentor, he's surprised to learn Dix left a note designating him a pallbearer. The other pallbearers at Dix's funeral, fellow alums of Huntington House, also doubt the official suicide verdict and join Scully in an effort to find the truth. ---Publisher's Weekly

Remember, because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the discussion will be held at Cambrian Branch Library on Wednesday, November 30th at 6:45 pm, in Study Room B. New members are always welcome to join this friendly group!

Two Amazing Documentaries!

Herb & Dorothy

Bill Cunningham New York (coming soon to San José Public Library I hope!)

In both films the subjects are avid collectors (minimalist art and fashion photography) who live in small, cramped New York City (NYC) apartments packed to the rafters with their collections. What seems even more remarkable are their humble backgrounds. Although they hobnob with the fashion and art worlds’ most famous denizens, they are not wealthy or born into famous families.

Herb & Dorothy Vogel are an endearing art-amassing couple. Dorothy was a librarian (Yay for librarians!) and Herb was a postal worker. They collected minimalist and conceptual art before it became popular and rather than selling their massive collection (over 4000 pieces, worth millions of dollars) they donated all of it! They continue to collect art and never miss a gallery opening. They are personal acquaintances with hundreds of artists (including Christo and Chuck Close, who both appear in the film) with whom they visit and select their favorite pieces. See the PBS website for a few clips of the movie.

Cunningham is a photographer for the New York Times and produces a weekly narrated slide show “On the Street” documenting fashion in NYC. Although he does occasionally photograph models, most of his images are of people walking on the streets in NYC who dress stylishly and sometimes outlandishly. Cunningham is over 80 years old and has been capturing NYC’s street fashion for over 50 years. He gets around by bicycle and over his career has had 28 bicycles stolen.  You can visit the film's website for more information.

Have you laughed sufficiently  today?  If you require more levity, hasten to open Alligators all around by Maurice Sendak.  The author/illustrator is truly a comic genius.  The strenuous life of Sendak’s alligators includes being quite quarrelsome, shockingly spoiled, very vain and yackety-yacking, among other pursuits.  So much to envy about these truly evolved and singularly astute reptiles!  Alligators make good amigos!

A retired college professor finds he can no longer care for his Alzheimer's-stricken wife. Moving her into a nursing home has unexpected consequences; when he visits her, he finds she no longer remembers him and has fallen in love with another resident. Sarah Polley's directorial debut, based on a short story by Alice Munro, is a thoughtful meditation on the meaning of love and loss. Away From Her stars Julie Christie and has a 94 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

It’s class picture day and Fancy Nancy is ready with a pink and purple outfit complete with ruffles. Very fancy! But what about her hair? It needs to be fancy and flattering too. Nancy puts a lot of thought into how she will style her hair. She comes up with an idea that unfortunately results in disaster. What will poor Nancy do to turn a bad hair day into a fine and fancy one? Fancy Nancy: Hair Dos and Hair Don’ts is a Stage 1 Beginning Reader in the I Can Read! series. It features short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own. Fancy Nancy fans can visit fancynancyworld.com, the official source for all things Fancy Nancy !

Eddie is a failed writer whose life is a mess. By accident he comes into possession of some pills that drastically increase energy and intelligence. In short order, he finishes a brilliant novel, makes a killing on the stock market and wins back his old girlfriend. Unfortunately there are others desperate to get their hands on his dwindling supply of tablets, which turn out to have a few side effects, including memory blackouts, homicidal impulses and death. Starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish and Robert DeNiro, Limitless has a 70 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry turned 85 years old on 2011 October 18. Berry, a born showman, began entertaining his family at an early age with his one-legged duck walk and playing music in front of audiences in high school. He still plays concerts, including monthly performances in his hometown of St Louis, Missouri at the Blueberry Hill Duck Room.

In 1955 his knowledge of and passion for country music fused with rhythm and blues landed him mainstream success with his cover of Bob Wills’  "Ida Red" (Berry’s version is entitled "Maybellene"). The following year, "Roll Over Beethoven" hit #29 on the Billboard top 100 chart and Berry’s career was in full swing.

With more than a few run-ins with the law and time spent in prison, Berry’s life has come to epitomize the rock and roll lifestyle. He is among the first musicians inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and he is considered by many to be the "Father of Rock and Roll."

The San José Public Library has a variety of recordings and books by and about Chuck Berry and the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies features Chuck Berry’s song "Roll Over Beethoven" in their exhibit “America’s Beethoven” running from 2011 October 1 through December 21.  

Did you just invent the next great product and need to locate packaging for it? Perhaps you are working on a prototype and need an O-Ring?  But, where oh where, does one& find these odds and ends, random parts, and doodads?

ThomasNet is where you can find manufacturers and distributors for just about any part. ThomasNet is available online and easy to search. Each manufacturer or distributor listed contains contact information and most have a viewable product catalog where you can see pictures of the items. It's a great one stop site to find all your missing pieces to your puzzle.

Marie, a successful businesswoman, really, really wants to be a good person but she always seems to have more than her fair share of rivals and enemies. Conveniently for her, such individuals frequently meet with accidents that usually prove fatal. Perhaps her good fortune has something to do with the special hot chocolate she makes for them. Based on a novel by Charlotte Armstrong, Nightcap was directed by Claude Chabrol, stars Isabelle Huppert, and has an 84 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

There will be fun hands-on chemistry experiments at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in the Children's Room from 10:00AM-1:00PM on Saturday, October 22. There will be a slime lab, snow making activities and other fun experiments. The Wheel of Chemistry Fortune will also be back spinning for all kids to win a prize. Don't miss this terrific Free Hands on Science Fun event. If all these experiments whet your appetite for more, remember the San José Public Library has many chemistry experiments you can try at home, with adult supervision of course.

One of the few Germans to speak out against the Nazis during the Second World War was a young university student from Munich.  Arrested for distributing antiwar leaflets, she was interrogated at length by the Gestapo and executed in 1943.  Based on transcripts found in East German archives after reunification, Sophie Scholl: The Final Days stars Julia Jentsch and has a 76 percent rating at Metacritic.

Join us with the whole family for a lively, one hour production of Macbeth by San Francisco’s own Shakespeare on Tour. This is a great production for students to see one of Shakespeare's great plays come to life - or for anyone who wants to revisit the magic of a Shakespeare play.

Dr. Martin Luther King Library, October 20th, 6:30pm

Cambrian Branch, November 16th, 6:00pm

Willow Glen Branch, November 19th, 2:00pm

Berryessa Branch, December 14th, 6:00pm

One of the best reviewed movies of 2007 was actually made in 1969. Set during the darkest days of the Second World War, the French Resistance fighters featured in the film are decidedly unglamorous; they struggle to carry out meaningful assignments, must execute informers in their ranks, and are dogged by Gestapo agents who always seem one step ahead of them. Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, Army of Shadows has a 97 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

In these challenging economic times, it’s more important than ever to have a financial plan. Thanks to the Financial Planning Association of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County residents will have an opportunity to get free financial planning advice and attend educational workshops at the Silicon Valley Financial Planning Day on Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 am to 5 pm at the King Library. Free parking is available at the Fourth/St. John Garage (50 N. Fourth St. between St. John Street and Santa Clara Street), less than two blocks from the library.

The event is open to the public and features more than 50 Certified Financial Planners who will provide no-strings attached services and private consultations on topics such as budgeting, getting out of debt, income taxes, dealing with a mortgage, paying for college, estate planning and insurance, among many other topics.

Educational workshops will also be scheduled throughout the day: 

• 11 am: Taking Control: A Financial Planning Starter Kit;
• 1 pm:  Real World Retirement Planning; and
• 3 pm:  Budgeting 101: Life’s Balancing Act.

There is no cost for the consultations. Attendees will not be asked for a phone number, credit card or address. Volunteer Certified Financial Planners will not sell products and services, or give out business cards. Walk-ins are welcome, but online registration is recommended.

Free online registration is available at www.financialplanningdays.org/siliconvalley or call (877) 861-7826.

Helene leads a simple, meager life as a hotel maid on the island of Corsica.  One day she watches a couple playing chess and develops an obsession with the game, something which baffles her friends and family and gives her an inner life she never had before.  Starring Sandrine Bonnaire and Kevin Kline, Queen To Play has a 70 percent rating at Metacritic.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is perhaps the best-reviewed non-fiction book of recent years. In the official trailer for the book, the author, Rebecca Skloot, says that the book she started out writing is not the one she ended up with. And, fortunately, the reader gets to take this journey with her.

At first, the reader follows the author as she exposes an amazing tale of medical science and ethics. In 1950, doctors at Johns Hopkins harvested a poor, dying black woman's cancer cells without her knowledge or consent. Those cells, multiplied by the billions and used in labs worldwide, have led to an astonishing number of medical breakthroughs, from the polio vaccine to modern chemotherapy treatments. Some in the medical field became very rich from these discoveries, made under questionable ethical circumstances.

But the story turns slowly into a family saga, one filled with tragedy, loss, and longing. The author becomes entwined in the complicated lives of Henrietta's children and grandchildren. Henrietta was a sharecropper most of her life, and the family still suffers from slavery's legacy of poverty, racism and ignorance. The beauty of the story is witnessing how the family finally comes to some sort of redemption as they uncover, with the help of the author, Henrietta's incredible gift to all of us. Available from San José Public Library as an e-book, downloadable audiobook, audiobook, and in print, it is San Jose State University's Campus Reads Fall Book Selection for Fall 2011.

I recently read Martin Bridge in High Gear! by Jessica Scott Kerrin because, oftentimes, I help parents find a book for their boy who can't seem to find something they like to read. 

Here's a series which should appeal to early readers who like realistic settings.  If you have children, who do not like to sit down and whither their time away with a good book, this may be just the book for them, because it is about a high-energy boy, Martin, who is full of action--working on his science project, fixing bikes, going out to clean the beach, or learning to get along with his friends or with his grumpy aunt.  The book is full of nice illustrations by Joseph Kelly, and what's even better is that it is good old-fashioned fun.  This title would be excellent for young readers in 2nd grade or higher.  It's a read-a-like to Beverly Cleary books.

At a wedding, Philippe meets the woman of his dreams. Though no one seems to know much about her, Senta is beautiful, headstrong and very interested in him. There is one small obstacle to their living happily ever after - she feels he should kill someone at random to show how much he loves her. The death of a drifter in the neighborhood seems to offer a golden opportunity for Philippe to please his new beloved, but things get very complicated. A film by French New Wave director and master of suspense Claude Chabrol, The Bridesmaid has a 74 percent rating at Metacritic.

Veterans Day is a federal holiday we celebrate on its actual day – November 11 – which is on a Friday this year.  If you have a long weekend, consider spending part of it acknowledging our veterans.  As President Barack Obama stated last year in his Proclamation 8598:  “On Veterans Day, we come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Americans across this land commemorate the patriots who have risked their lives to preserve the liberty of our Nation, the families who support them, and the heroes no longer with us.”  

Here are a couple of local happenings:

11K and 1-Mile Healthy Walk.  Join others in a national event on November 11.  The San Jose National Veterans Day Run is an inaugural event, starting near the HP Pavilion, running along the Guadalupe Trail and ending at the Heritage Garden, pending permit approval.  A large turnout of veterans and active-duty personnel is expected.  The race begins at 7:11 a.m.  Other cities participating are Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, and San Diego.

Downtown San Jose Veterans Day Parade, one of the largest Veterans Day Parades in Northern California, is an annual event produced by the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County with support from the City of San Jose, the County of Santa Clara and many individuals and organizations.  The Opening Ceremony for the Parade begins on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month with a memorial ceremony at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Market Street in honor of the 1918 Armistice of the “War to End All Wars.” The Parade steps off at 12:00 Noon from Delmas Street near the HP Pavilion and travels east along Santa Clara to Market Street. The Parade then proceeds south on Market, passing the reviewing stand at Park Street opposite Plaza de Cesar Chavez near the Tech Museum, and ends at San Carlos Street.  This event has been held yearly since 1919!

And, to get yourself and your little ones informed about the meaning of the holiday once known as Armistice Day, check out these materials through your local San Jose Library branch.

Pop quiz.  For answers check out San Jose Library’s database pages.

·         When did Armistice Day become Veterans Day?

·         What did Armistice Day commemorate?

·         Who proclaimed the first Armistice Day and in what year?

·         In what year did Congress declare Armistice Day a federal holiday?

San José Public Library, as a proud BusinessOwnerSpace.com member, would like to extend to you a complimentary invitation to attend the kick off for the City of San Jose’s new Shop San Jose Initiative at Festiv’ALL on October 12. Over 2,000 business leader attendees are drawn to this annual multi-cultural networking expo and mixer of the region's business and economic development organizations. The event itself will run from 6 pm to 8 pm and will also feature pre-event social media training at 5 pm to help businesses build their businesses using the latest tools. For more information about Festiv'ALL, visit http://festivall.hccsv.org/; for more information about Shop San Jose, visit http://www.businessownerspace.com/content/shop-san-jose.

Tickets are required and can be downloaded from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley’s registration site at http://festivall-work2future.eventbrite.com.

Hope to see you there!

If you were wondering about the circumstances that led to Captain America's war with Iron Man, read Civil War: Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis, et al.! This is a nicely-bound hardcover book; it's not one of those paperback newsprint books that fall apart after one reading!

I never followed Captain America's adventures all that much.  I prefer the X-Men, to be totally honest. However, I also enjoy reading DC (scandalous, I know, for those who love Marvel!) When DC ran the story about Doomsday versus Superman, I was truly moved by the art and storyline. Of course, the impact of the Doomsday story was reduced by latter events.

The epic storyline of the Civil War is a transparent commentary about the long-lasting effects of the Patriot Act in our world. Like the Patriot Act itself, there are proponents and opponents. Some of the proponents, like in our world, are very surprising. In Marvel's Civil War, Iron Man and Captain America lead the two factions. Iron Man is an extremely conflicted character in these issues; he believes in the cause, but gradually becomes doubtful. The one issue I wish this compendium included were the issues involving Spider-Man, a sometime Avenger. What he did had a tremendous impact on Peter Parker's personal life! However, this is a hefty tome, so I can understand why the storyline was left out.

This was a multi-issue storyline, so you can be sure that at least one of your favorite Marvel superheroes makes an appearance. If you are a big Iron Man fan, you will see another side to Tony Stark!

If you are considering bicycle touring…do it!

If you are considering bicycle touring in France…do it!

Check out some of these titles to whet your appetite.

Graham Watson’s Tour de France Travel Guide draws from his more than 30 years experience photographing the Tour and highlights the culinary delights of the various regions the Tour passes through. Whether traveling by bicycle or automobile, Watson’s book conveys the experience of following the Tour and acts as a guidebook to the best foods, wines and lodging. It is a quick read and full of Watson’s gorgeous photography.

Another book to help organize your bicycle tour in France is Lonely Planet’s Cycling France. It contains over 6000 kilometers of suggested routes and information relevant to cyclists. France is full of back roads, back back roads and back back back roads and they are all wonderful to cycle. Lonely Planet highlights breathtaking scenery while including information about campgrounds, food stores, tourist information and more.

British author, Tim Moore’s French Revolutions comically details his three week escapade cycling the 2000 Tour de France route several weeks prior to the beginning of the race. Moore morphs from being a near couch potato to donning a cycling kit and eventually cycling up the most challenging climbs the Tour de France has to offer (i.e. Mt Ventoux). His witty writing style has been compared to authors Calvin Trillin, Tony Hawks and Bill Bryson.

Access eAudioBooks now through OneClickdigital from Recorded Books. All the titles will play on an iPod. Mobile apps for the iPhone and Android will be coming later this year. The titles are not yet in the catalog, but will be soon. You will need to set up a new user account to use the service. Enjoy!

By 1936, all of Europe's mountains have been conquered, save one, the Eiger, in the Swiss Alps. The fascist governments of the day are especially eager to score propaganda points by having one of their people be the first on top. Toni and Andi want no part of this; without official permission or support, they head off to Switzerland and begin their own ascent of the mountain. Things go well until bad weather and the mistakes of others turn the expedition into a grim battle for survival. North Face was nominated for an Academy Award and has an 83 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Laura loves Tom. Tom loves Laura. So why is Tom marrying Lila? And who are the Romantics anyway? It turns out that the Romantics is a group of college friends so named because of the various and changing romantic entanglements among the members.

Now it is 6 years after college graduation and they have settled into more or less permanent pairs, some already married, others engaged. They reunite for the wedding of Lila and Tom with Laura as the maid of honor. The story takes place over the 24 hours prior to the wedding ceremony but the author skillfully integrates group history into her narrative so readers are up to date on the characters’ pasts and the development of the group dynamics. Hope and despair collide as the ceremony nears. Is this the moment when Laura realizes she has outgrown Tom, or will his impending marriage break her heart? Will Tom go through with the marriage? Read The Romantics by Galt Niederhoffer and find out. Or watch the movie.

Build a Resume that Packs a Punch!

Are you frustrated with your job search? Give ourself the edge by learning how best to prepare your resume.

Come to the Edenvale Branch Library on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 10:00 am for this useful workshop.

So it turns out Three Sheets, besides being a reference to the phrase “Three sheets to the wind” is also the name of a popular travel show focusing on drinking customs around the world. The show is hosted and created by Zane Lamprey, author of the book also aptly named Three Sheets. For those not familiar with the show, the book's subtitle “Drinking Made Easy! 6 Continents, 15 Countries, 190 Drinks, and 1 Mean Hangover” gives a hint at what lies between its covers.

You will learn many useful things in this book such as: How to open a champagne bottle with a saber (pictures included!), How to properly pour a Guinness, and Why the Irish spell whiskey with an “E” and the Scottish without. Of course the book also gives instruction on how to make a variety of drinks and cocktails… and also what to eat or drink the day after.

The journey starts fittingly in Ireland – a country known for and proud of its claim to fame as a land of intoxication – and then moves on to other locales with a focus on their alcoholic specialty. You will find out how to make Sake in Japan, all about Vodka in Poland, Tequila in Tequila Mexico, Beer in Belgium, Rum in Jamaica and much more.

But the book is not just all fun and games…. Take the description of Snake Alley in Taiwan, where you can get liquor that contains not just the blood, venom and bile of snake, but even all that marinated in a bottle along with snake penises and testicles. (Picture included). The experience of drinking this concoction is described in excruciating detail along with its after effects. Read at your own discretion.

Dying is never easy, especially if you're as famous as Leo Tolstoy. In 1910, the celebrated writer is in failing health, but friends and family continue to compete for his attention, his approval and the copyright to his books. The Last Station, starring Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren, was nominated for two Academy Awards and has a 70 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Have you ever downloaded eAudiobooks from Ingram's MyiLibrary? This eAudiobook platform has been discontinued and the content will move over to the OneClickdigital platform from Recorded Books.

We apologize for the inconvenience. The new platform is much simpler to use, and you'll get access to more titles - especially those from Recorded Books. Look for more information soon!

There are so many new experiences, emotions, and responsibilities as you move from childhood to adulthood. Sometimes it feels like you're all alone or that no one really understands what you're going through. For teens that are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or maybe still questioning, it can be even harder to navigate through adolescence due to ignorance, bullying, and exclusion. No matter what you may encounter on your journey to self-discovery, don't forget to be true to yourself and love who you are.

Check out these novels featuring LGBTQ characters coming to terms with their identity, falling in love, grappling tough issues, and more. Whether you're gay, straight, or still not sure, reading stories like these will open your eyes to the experiences of others.

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

The Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge

Bait by Alex Sanchez

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole

Empress of the World by Sara Ryan

How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters

Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Skim by Mariko Tamaki

Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

If you're seeking additional support, the DeFrank Youth Space is an excellent local resource in San Jose that offers counseling, support groups, classes, volunteer opportunities, and fun events just for teens, such as their annual Masquerade Ball for Halloween.

Don't you wish you had books to address some bothersome childhood issues?  Well, here are some that I found that work well with my child.

• Bossy: Just Like Bossy Bear by David Horvath
• Fear: The I'm Not Scared Book by Todd Parr 
• Manners: What Do You Say?: A Book About Manners by Leigh Olsen
• Manners: Martha Doesn't Say Sorry by Samantha Berger
• Competitiveness:  I'm the Best by Lucy Cousins

If you have any other suggestions, send a reply, and I will add your suggestion to this blog.

According to the weatherman, the next week will look something like this!  Don't despair kids, though, about the dreary weather! You can enter Vineland Library's October Bookmark contest for kids and teens!

The children's bookmark contest will be judged by differing grade levels: K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 and runs from 10/1-31/11. Creative is best! Just show us why you love the Vineland Library! If you go to school at Guadalupe, Noddin, Lietz, Almaden, or Allen at Steinbeck, I have already either dropped off the entries at your school or mailed the information to the principal. If you don't go to those schools, we also have entries at the Vineland Library. Just drop off your entry at Vineland Library's Information Desk by 10/31 to be entered into our fun contest!

The teen bookmark contest will be judged by the following grade levels:& 6-8 and 9-12 and also runs from 10/1-31/11. I saw some fine entries last year and hope to see some excellent work this year, too! If you go to school at Dartmouth, Union Middle, Pioneer, Branham, or Leigh, I have already dropped off the entries at your school or mailed the information to the principal. If you don't go to these schools, we have entries at the Vineland Library. Just drop off your entry at Vineland Library's Information Desk by 10/31 to be entered into our cool contest!

The winning entries will be passed out as bookmarks in November and December. Winning entrants will also be invited to the presentation ceremony on 11/10 @ 5pm!

Thanks to all the school personnel who help with this annual event!