For March 2012, our Online Book Club continues by discussing The Butterfly Mosque by Willow Wilson, another featured title of this year's community reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, which focuses on the theme "Muslim and American."  While The Muslim Next Door helped us to better understand the beliefs and practices of Muslim Americans living in the United States, in The Butterfly Mosque the author lets us share her experience as an American whose faith leads her eventually to Cairo, Egypt and a life very different from the one she may have imagined growing up in America.  

Each week, we'll put forth a different question to prompt reflection on the book and its ideas.  We hope you will participate in the discussion by leaving comments below!

Week 3: What new insights into the Middle East, Muslims, and Islamic life does Wilson present? Has reading this book altered your views of Islam? In what way does the book challenge the stereotypes portrayed by the media?

Welcome to week three of the March Online Bookclub! How has your reading been going? I have always been interested in Egypt. Actually, I will clarify that statement.  I have been interested in Egypt and King Tut since purchasing a pocketbook about the discovery of the tomb when I was  11! At that age I was fascinated (I still am) and I read that book over and over.  I wanted to become an Egyptologist or a curator of Asian Art. At the time I had no sense of anything political. Now I think about things "inconvenient" to the romance of it all. "Why did so many treasures leave Egypt?" comes to mind. Anyway, what was really eye opening about The Butterfly Mosque was how shopping, cooking, and cleaning are daily obstacles to someone unused to the way things work. I can't imagine going to buy a live chicken for my dinner. Reading Willow's descriptions of modern day Cairo were interesting and informative.  I can't say that my views of Islam changed. Prior to reading Butterfly, and other Silcon Valley Reads books, I had no real view. I am very happy to keep learning to broaden my knowledge bit by bit.

I am hoping to hear what some of you think about the questions. Does the book challenge stereotypes? Let's talk.

See our Online Book Club page for more information about this book and to preview the next weeks' questions

For March 2012, our Online Book Club continues by discussing The Butterfly Mosque by Willow Wilson, another featured title of this year's community reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, which focuses on the theme "Muslim and American."  While The Muslim Next Door helped us to better understand the beliefs and practices of Muslim Americans living in the United States, in The Butterfly Mosque the author lets us share her experience as an American whose faith leads her eventually to Cairo, Egypt and a life very different from the one she may have imagined growing up in America.  

Each week, we'll put forth a different question to prompt reflection on the book and its ideas.  We hope you will participate in the discussion by leaving comments below!

For Week 2, we'd like to ask:

What do you make of the fact that Wilson dons a headscarf. What are her reasons? What does the headscarf mean to her?
 

This week’s question deals with headscarves and what wearing one means to Willow. One thing that Willow mentions in her library visits is that you can ask five different women why they wear a headscarf and get five different answers - and the same person might not always have the same answer. I was raised Episcopalian and when I was young we wore a round lace circle on the top of our heads to attend church. The women wore hats as well. I find the subject of head coverings very interesting and by extension I find that I am generally curious about religions/cultures and the practices surrounding hair covering, shaving, and glorifying that people participate in. Many people practice their beliefs about the head or hair to some extent or another, don’t they?

What do you think? What does the headscarf mean to Willow?

See our Online Book Club page for more information about this book and to preview the next weeks' questions

Welcome to Silicon Valley Reads 2012!

2012 is the 10th anniversary of Silicon Valley Reads and we are celebrating with an outstanding selection of books and events focused on the theme "Muslim and American: Two Perspectives".  We invite everyone in Santa Clara County to read one or more of the featured books, to attend the free events we have scheduled, and to engage with others in discussion and share perspectives on this relevant theme.

2012 Featured Books
The Muslim Next Door by Sumbul Ali-Karamali
The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson

2012 Companion Books for Children
It's OK To Be Different (pre-K) by Todd Parr
One Green Apple (Gr K-2) by Eve Bunting
My Name Is Bilal (Gr 2-6) by Asma Mobin-Uddin
Skunk Girl (Gr 7 and up) by Sheba Karim

Events will be held at many of our San Jose Public Library locations.

See our calendar for other Silicon Valley Reads events at San Jose Public Libraries. Stop by any of our locations to pick up the Silicon Valley Reads brochure and check out other events happening throughout Silicon Valley.

Also, our new Online Book Club will be discussing the Silicon Valley Reads selections during February and March.

The celebration begins on Friday January 13, 2012 with a traditional symbolic libation ceremony, followed by some energetic drumming by Jaliya and Friends. Join us for this special event taking place in the 4th Street Lobby (First Floor), followed by well wishes and a cake ceremonial taking place in the King Collection Area (3rd Floor). Share the experience with friends, neighbors, and community leaders on January 13th from 12 to 1:30 pm

“Where do we go from here?”

Dr. Glen O. Toney - Member of the Board of Trustees - California State University
1:30 to 1:45 pm

Rev. Barry Houston (of The House of Sankofa)
1:45 to 3:00 pm

Then stay after the cake ceremony at 1:30 to hear first Dr. Toney and then Rev. Houston speak.

Dr. Toney holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy from California State University, Chico (1966) and in mathematics from San José State University (1973), where he also earned his master’s in instructional technology/curriculum development (1971). He earned his doctorate in organizational behavior with a minor in higher education from the University of Southern California (1975). He also holds life credentials from California for General Teaching, Community College Teaching, and Administration.

Reverend Barry Houston is the co-founder and head of The House of Sankofa, San Jose Chapter. Rev. Houston is a graduate of Fisk University (1982),and was mentored in African and World History byDr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Ben Jochannon,and Kwame Toure. Rev. Houston has lived with his wife and children in San Jose since 1992.

Upcoming programs:
Kirk Waller Storyteller- From John Henry to Henry "Box" Brown, Kirk Waller brings African American history to life through stories, music, singing and a little magic.  You will laugh, cry and most of all be inspired from a proud and rich past that everyone can appreciate.

King Library – 2/11 at 2:00pm

Pearl Avenue Branch – 2/18 at 2:00 pm
http://www.sjpl.org/events-listing/2012-02?&ewords=waller

We are pleased to announce Law Day For All Ages at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library on Saturday May 7th. There are various free programs for everyone to enjoy. Take a look below!

1. California JusticeCorps members (AmeriCorps members who are full time undergraduate students at local CSU and UC campuses, serving 300 hours in the courts' self help centers) will provide fact sheets and pamphlets at information tables at the library (4th Street Lobby on the first floor) with general information about the courts' legal access self-help centers, make referrals to related resources as appropriate, and answer basic questions.
   From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
    
2. Family Storytime with guest readers (including a judge!)
   From 11:00 am to 12:00 noon in the Children's Room
    
3. Stay and Play and Computer Games
   From 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the Children's Room
    
4. Mock Trial for Kids (think the 3 Little Pigs vs. The Big Bad Wolf)
   From 1:00 - 2:00 pm in the Children's Room
    
5. Lawyers in the Library - 2 sessions in Room 255/257!
   From 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and 12:00 to 2:00 pm.
   For more information or to sign up, please call 408-808-2397

Law Week honors the role of law in our nation; AmeriCorps Week recognizes AmeriCorps’ impact in communities across the country and acknowledges the contributions of its volunteers and community partners. This year’s theme, “Everyone Should Be Heard,” honors one of the fundamental principles of American law— defending the rights of the accused and everyone getting a chance to tell someone their side of the story.

Why is practicing English a good idea?

Show your family that learning is for all ages. Learn so that you can help your children learn.

Come to the San José Public Library’s ESL Conversation Clubs.

Come with your friends to this FREE Conversation Club. Tell your family about this club and bring your neighbors. ESL Conversation Clubs are a safe place to talk and learn. Everybody talks!

Try the following websites - see how fun learning can be:

http://video.about.com/esl/ESL--Question-Words-in-English.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHtMgnzp5w4

http://www.esl-lab.com/short.htm