News from MRRL

Some of the forty-four pieces on display.

A reception will be held for the artists Sunday, Nov. 8 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Osage County Library in Linn. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Osage County Library.

Join us at our third all night film festival. We will watch and discuss old movie classics. Bring your sleeping bag, pillow, bag chair, etc. Refreshments and a light breakfast will be served. Reservations required, and this is an adult-only program.

Friday, November 6 – Saturday, November 7
7pm – 10am, MRRL Art Gallery
Contact: Taryn Prewitt, 634-6064 ext. 235

For the second of the new Eating Between The Lines discussion group, Madeline will be featuring “The United States of Arugula: The Sun Dried, Cold Pressed, Dark Roasted, Extra Virgin Story of the American Food Revolution” by David Kamp

Kamp presents a “rollicking, revealing stew of culinary innovation, food politics and kitchen confidences chronicling how gourmet eating in America went from obscure to pervasive – and became the cultural success story of our era.”

Make your reservation for this discussion, held on November 4th at 7pm in the Art Gallery, by calling 634-6064 ext. 225.

Join Claudia and Kathy as they discuss The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts. In this book, Caney Paxton had come home from Vietnam in a wheelchair and, from the time he opened the Honk and Holler Cafe, he had never left the premises. One blustery December morning, the door flies open and in walks a young woman holding a half-dead, three legged dog. Against the advice of the locals, Caney offers her a job, then a bed and finally, his heart.
Make your reservations for this discussion and reserve a copy of the book by calling 634-6064 ext. 237.

Come by the main library and see what books we’ve put out on display! We’ve got a display that is all about Halloween, as well as displays that focus on Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you want information on either of these topics, our librarians have already pulled the books out and made them easy to get!! Finally, we also have a “If you like Twilight, try these…” book suggestion display. For those of you who really liked the Twilight books, we’ve put together some suggestions for you to enjoy as well!
These displays change monthly, so be sure to stop in and wander around the Circulation area to see what new resources your librarians have found for you!

The University of Texas at Austin has released The Edgar Allan Poe Digital Collection to the world. This is a treasure trove of information about Poe, images of original manuscripts (including images of manuscripts annotated by Poe himself), letters to and from Poe, links to information and newspaper articles about Poe and much, much more.
Once that has gotten you in the Edgar Allan Poe mood, you can check out what MRRL has available from Poe and get good and scared – just in time for Halloween!

Edgar Allan Poe

The first of the events surrounding the book that Jefferson City is reading – The Night Birds, by Thomas Maltman – starts today at Noon with a special edition of the Fiction at Noon Book Discussion Group.
On October 15th (that’s this Thursday), the author will be at Downtown Book & Toy for a book signing from 10am to noon, then at the main library at 7pm for a program there. He’ll be at the Linn branch of the library Friday night at 7pm, then will be back at the main library for a writing workshop – “Shaping A Novel From Idea To Epic” – on Saturday from 10-11am.
For more information on the details of Mr. Maltman’s visits, check out either the Capital Read page on our website, or the Facebook Group created just for this Capital Read series of programs.

Join Taryn at a screening of Grey Gardens tomorrow! This movie, directed by Michael Sucsy, is based on the life stories of the eccentric aunt and first cousin of Jackie Kennedy. Grey Gardens tells the tender, intimate story of an eccentric mother and daughter (both named Edith Bouvier Beale aka “Big and Little Edie”). They were raised as Park Avenue debutantes, but withdrew from New York society, taking shelter at their Long Island summer home. As their wealth and contact with the outside world dwindled, so did their grasp on reality. They were reintroduced to the world when international tabloids learned of a health department raid on their home, and Jackie swooped in to save her relatives.
Reservations are preferred for this adults only program. There will be light refreshments served along with the movie – call Taryn at 634-6064 ext. 235 to make your reservations!

This event has been canceled, please check back for more information later.

Madeline Matson will be leading a new discussion group that will focus on food matters and feature workds of cultural history, social commentary and memior. Next Wednesday, October 14th the first of these discussions will feature “Something From The Oven: Reinventing Dinner In 1950s America” by Laura Shapiro in the MRRL Art Gallery at 7pm.

After World War II, the AMerican kitchen and diet underwent a major transformation. Marketing, modern science and efficiency came to dominate the food culture. With insight and humor, Shipiro describes how women’s roles changed – both in and out of the kitchen – during this important period of our recent past.

Reservations are required – contact Madeline at 634-6064 ext. 225

On the last Tuesday of every other month, The Fiction at Noon Book club meets to discuss outstanding works of fiction. Reservations are required for this club – you can call 634-6064 ext. 237 to make your reservation and reserve your copy of the book being discussed. In October, however, there will be a special Fiction at Noon program that is part of our Capital Read events.
The book, The Night Birds, is set in the 1860s and ’70s and evokes a Midwest lacerated by clashes between European and Native American, slaveowner and abolitionist, killer and healer, nature and culture. Asa Senger, a lonely 14-year old boy, is a t first wary when his father’s sister, Hazel, arrives at his parent’s Minnesota home after a long stay in a faraway asylum, but he comes to cherish the mysterious Hazel’s warmth and company. Through her stories, Asa learns of his family’s bitter past: the lore and dreams of their German forebears, their place in the bitter divide over slavery and, most complex of all, the bond between Hazel and the Dakotan warrior Wanikiya that deepens despite the violence between their peoples.
To join us in the discussion on October 13th, call Claudia at 634-6064 ext. 237 and reserve your place now.