Debut author James Whitfield Thomson

Saturday, November 16 at 12:00 pm 

Meet author James Whitfield Thomson. His extraordinary debut novel Lies You Wanted to Hear (November 5, 2013; Sourcebooks Landmark; Paperback Original; 9781402284281) has earned praise from writers such as Jodi Picoult, Andre Dubus II, and Margot Livesey. His work creates a haunting, shattering portrait of how a fissure between two people, over decades, becomes a canyon too wide to bridge. Inspired by the true story of a Boston family, Lies You Wanted to Hear questions if we can ever truly know the people we marry—and, given the chance, if we would make the same decisions again.

James Whitfield Thomson was an early member of the late Andre Dubus’s writers’ workshop, along with Elizabeth Berg, George Packer and Dennis Lehane. He grew up on the North Side of Pittsburgh, attended Harvard College on scholarship, and earned a Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. A former U.S. Navy navigator in Vietnam, Thomson’s writing has appeared in Agni and The Ledge, and received a grant from the Massachusetts Council for the Arts. The author lives in Natick, Massachusetts, with his wife. Visit the author’s website at: www.jameswhitfieldthomson.com

Books will be available for sale and signing. 

Visiting author Joe Hurley

Saturday, November 9 at 12:00 pm

Joe Hurley, author of Ten Million Steps on Route 6: A Fresh Look at America and Americans from Cape Cod to California, is a retired newspaper reporter who spent most of his career at The News-Times in Danbury, Conn. where, among other things, he wrote the consumer-humor column called Shallow Pockets.

In 1999, Joe came to the startling realization that he knew almost nothing about the other side of the state, even though Connecticut is small enough to fit in the back pocket of Colorado or Nebraska. That year, photographer David Harple and Joe walked across Connecticut on Route 6 to give News-Times readers, and themselves, a better picture of their home state.

Later, Joe noticed that Route 6 stretched all the way to California – it was one of the few coast-to-coast highways and remains the longest continuous highway in the country. After retiring, Joe walked that 3,600-mile road while photographer Travis Lindhorst traveled along in the comfort of a car. Their stories and pictures ran weekly in a dozen newspapers across the country. The book resulted from their adventures. You can check out Joe’s website at: http://route6walk.com/

Joe is pretty much a homebody, writing occasional magazine stories, attempting to play basketball with other old guys, and promising his wife Pat that he'll get after the forsythia bushes tomorrow.

Books will be available for sale and signing. 

See What's New on Freegal!

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FREEGAL NEWSLETTER for NOVEMBER

Local spiritual author Marie David

Saturday, November 2 at 11:00 am

In her new book Sacred Heart Songs (published by Balboa Press) the author and Reiki Master/Teacher Marie S. David urges readers to recognize the connection between spiritual well-being and physical and mental well-being.

The book is a journey from the knowledge of the mind to the wisdom of the heart. Through a unique weaving of science and spirit it provides clear markers along the path to safety and wellness; some people can find relief for insomnia, fibromyalgia, and trauma. Sacred Heart Songs is written for people who want to bring forth the songs of their hearts and become active partners in wellness in their lives. Contemplations at the end of each chapter invite readers to create a sacred, safe space within to support and maintain balance in the midst of life’s stressors.

 

Marie S. David  has taught and practiced Reiki in the Usui tradition since 2001. Her passion is supporting people on their path to wellness. David is director of Wellness Ministries at Evensong Retreat and Spirituality Center. She and her husband, Jim, minister as co-pastors of St. Mary of Magdala Church in Harwich Port, MA.

During her presentation, the author will discuss the process of writing and sharing artwork that evolved during her work. Books will be available for sale and signing. 

Food for Fines is back!

Starting Friday, November 1st, "Food for Fines" is back!

Now is the chance to give to the community AND clean your library slate! Donate one canned or dry goods item for every $1 in fines owed, up to $10 worth. Items must be sealed and unexpired. All the collected food will be donated to local non-profit food pantries.

Thanks for your help!

October Meeting Room Artist and Reception

Hollis Fortune is an artist who resides in Harwich with her extended family.  Her work has changed and evolved in the last years and she now concentrates in oil, acrylic, and mixed-medium painting.  Hollis enjoys painting to music, and feels there is an “intertwining” of the two that strongly influences her colors and subject matters. She invites the viewer to imagine things just a little differently with her images, to “write their own story”.

Hollis is a member of the Guild of Harwich Artists, Creative Arts Center,  the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and the She-Art Network. Her work is on permanent display at the Art Gallery of the Guild of Harwich Artists and The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis.

Her work is on display in our meeting room through October 30th, and she will be hosting a reception on Friday the 18th, from 6-8 pm.

History Book Club

Thursday, October 31 at 6:30 pm

This month the History Book Club is reading Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick. Come join the discussion. The group is led by Lew Taylor of the "Cannot Live without Books" Bookstore in West Dennis.