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Happy Birthday Arthur Miller!

by darla

Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright. A prominent figure in American literature and cinema for over 61 years, he wrote a wide variety of plays, including celebrated works such as The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, and Death of a Salesman, which are still studied and performed worldwide. Miller was often in the public eye, most famously for refusing to give evidence against others to the House Un-American Activities Committee, being the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (among countless other awards), and for his marriage to Marilyn Monroe. Arthur Miller is also one of the University of Michigan's most distinguished alumni and the only theater in the world to bear his name exists here in Ann Arbor, on the U of M campus.

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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Audiobook

by Cherie Lee

When four best friends find a pair of pants that magically fit all their very different shapes they make a pact to share them over their first summer apart...

The audio opens with music but otherwise has no special effects but the reader, Angela Goethals, gives each girl a compelling voice (even if they aren't always distinctive enough to tell apart). I actually laughed out loud to Goethal's animation at things that I would have only smiled at had I simply read it which is always the sign of a good reader.

You can also check out the book or film from our library.

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Author Ann Packer Visits the AADL

by Caser

On Thursday, October 9th at 7pm, bestselling author Ann Packer will make a very special visit to the Downtown library to discuss her 2007 novel, Songs Without Words, and to sign books afterward. Songs Without Words is Ms. Packer's second novel, and it explores the lifelong friendship of two women, the confining roles we sometimes take upon ourselves, and the deep connection in a friendship that is pushed to the breaking point. The Los Angeles Times Book Review says, "Packer writes about adult female friendship with a nuanced understanding of its emotional intensity." She is also the author of The Dive from Clausen's Pier and the short story collection Mendocino and Other Stories, which are available at the AADL. The event will be held at the Downtown library in the Multi-Purpose Room on the Lower Level. It is co-sponsored by Shaman Drum, who will be selling books during the signing.

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Fiction Firsts #129

by muffy

The Jewel of Medina (copies on order) will be released in early October in the United States ahead of schedule by Beaufort Books. This fictional account of the life of Aisha, a wife of the Prophet Muhammad was originally to be published in August by Random House but was dropped after University of Texas Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies Denise Spellberg warned the publisher the book would incite violence by Muslim extremists.

Born Aisha bint Abi Bakr in 7th century Saudi Arabia, Aisha would become one of the most revered women in the Muslim faith. "Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, The Jewel presents the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past, during a time of war, enlightenment, and upheaval".

Late last week, the north London home of the UK publisher of The Jewel - Gibson Square was firebombed in what is being treated as a terrorist attack. Read more about the Medina controversy.

Award-winning journalist Sherry Jones is currently the Montana and Idaho correspondent for the Bureau of National Affairs and correspondent for Women's e-News. This is her first novel.

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Bronze Bow shines with characters, rich language

by annevm

The Bronze Bow, which won a 1962 Newbery Medal, is a highly literate, entertaining historical novel for upper elementary and middle-school-age readers (also for me, a parent read-along). Set in Israel at the time of Jesus, the narrative is laced with religion, intrigue, romance, politics, coming-of-age issues. Next on my list by Elizabeth George Speare is The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

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Make sure that your kids are "Fire Smart!"

by RayaPapaya

October is Fire Prevention Month. Please take some time out to remind kids how to be “fire smart.”

This super Web site is just the thing to help you teach elementary-age kids the basics of fire safety and prevention. The “Where’s the Fire?” five-minute online video covers all the basics in an entertaining way.

The library has some great fire safety resources to offer, as well!

Stop, Drop, and Roll and Fire Safety are both great books that teach kids about fire safety. The Big Red DVD, suitable for kids ages 2-8, takes a "fireman's view" and features fire trucks and fire safety lessons along the way. The Fire Busters DVD includes fire helicopters, planes, boats, and trucks.

The library also has plenty of wonderful picture books featuring fire trucks and firefighters. Check some out, and get fire smart!

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Booksigning and Discussion

by ErinDurrett

If you missed her in March, here's your chance to meet with Cassandra Carter! This Friday September 26th, author Cassandra Carter will be at Borders to sign and discuss her latest book. Miss Carter is known for her coming of age novels about America's teens which she writes about in her own unique and youthful style. Her latest book, 16 Isn't Always Sweet, is about a teenage girl, Jordan, dealing with sudden popularity after being in the hottest rapper's music video, and the fall out of her friendship to Adrienne, her best friend, whose jealousy is ruining Jordan's life. The signing and discussion will take place at 7:00 pm at the Arborland Mall Borders.

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At First Sight

by detra

Stephen Cannell has written a novel of obsession. At First Sight is about a self-absorbed millionaire named Chick Best. Chick is unhappy with life and has resigned himself to a miserable, cynical existence, that is, until he and his unfaithful wife and drug-addicted daughter take a family vacation to Hawaii.

While on vacation, Chick falls madly in love (so he says) at first sight with a newlywed named Paige Ellis. He quickly sets out to befriend her and her almost perfect husband, Chandler.

Upon returning home from vacation, Chick continues to obsess about Paige. After a business trip to New York, instead of returning home to California, he rents a car and drives to the Ellis’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina. This diversion proves to be fatal for Chandler because Chick runs him down with the car and kills him. From this point forward, Chick’s life begins a downward spiral.

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Book Release!

by ErinDurrett

This Saturday is great day for fans of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Series. On September 20th, the third book of the Inheritance Series, Brisingr, will be released. AADL has the first two bestselling books in our collection: Eragon and Eldest. The first and most well known of the series, Eragon, was made into a movie, which AADL also owns.

For those of you unfamiliar to the Inheritance Series, the books are set in the fictional world of Alagaësia. The novels focus on a teenaged boy named Eragon and his dragon Saphira as he becomes one of the few remaining Dragon Riders, a legendary group who governed the land in times past but were almost completely destroyed by King Galbatorix, who betrayed his fellow Riders and claimed the crown. As Galbatorix attempts to capture Eragon and Saphira, Eragon begins a journey into the secrets of Alagaësia, making new friends of elves and dwarfs along the way.

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Fabulous Fiction Firsts #127

by muffy

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* is the hot Swedish thriller (with 5.5 million copies sold across Europe) that features "one of the most original heroines to come along in years" - a young, prickly tattooed computer hacker, who teams up with an embattled and discredited journalist facing a jail term, to investigate the disappearance of an heiress 40 years ago. Talk about a cold case!!!

Debut novelist Steig Larsson who died of a heart attack in 2004, was an investigative journalist. Girl, (originally published as Män som hatar kvinnor = Men Who Hate Women) is the first of a 3-part series. Highly recommended. Readers might also like to check out another FFF Nordic mystery Redbreast by Jo Nesbo.

* = Starred Reviews