The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan, is both a coming of age and a cancer-survival memoir. The title refers to the balance between being a daughter and being a wife and mother, a transition which Kelly explores through poignant episodes and a father-daughter battle against cancer. Cancer may have been the impetus for the memoir, but this book is really about familial love. I couldn't help but adore Kelly's quirky, full-of-life father and quickly understand just why he is so special to her. This book is recommended for all daughters who think their dads are the greatest. Come to think of it, those fathers would probably enjoy it as well.

Are you a female fan of Black Literature? With more than 30 chapters in 12 states, The Go On Girl! Book Club claims to be the largest African-American woman's book club in the country. Their website has a great list of reading resources as well as information on how to start your own local GOG chapter.

Interested in catching up with their reading selections? 2010's winter/spring books are as follows:
January 2010 - Wife of the Gods, Kwei Quartey (Mystery)
February 2010 - Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell (Nonfiction)
March 2010 - Black Water Rising, Attica Locke (Fiction)
April 2010 - Sag Harbor: A Novel, Colson Whitehead (Fiction)

GOG

old dogs

Following are descriptions of six new dvds featured as new releases on Amazon which are either in our collection or on order. Get your holds on these now!

Old Dogs John Travolta and Robin Williams take care of two seven year old twins while on the verge of a huge business deal. Amazon calls it "a laugh-a-minute comedy filled with heart."

Capitalism: A Love Story. Michael Moore's latest, an expose of the near collapse of the banking industry and its effect on ordinary people.

Cold Souls Paul Giametti plays himself, an actor in search of immortality through "soul storage." Amazon calls it a "true soul searching comedy."

The Beaches of Agnes Directed by Agnes Varda, this is a self-portrait of the visionary director.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Starring Robin Wright Penn and Alan Arkin, this is the story of a middle aged wife going crazy living with her much older husband.

Broken Embraces Penelope Cruz plays an actress who is in an unsatisfying relationship with a wealthy man only to get him to pay for her ailing father's hospitalization. Directed by the renowned Pedro Almodovar.

showcase cinemas

Did you know that you can watch a newly released feature film that is described for people with visual impairments? Showcase Cinema in Ypsilanti shows a film with described video every week. It is noted by the letters RWC or DVS next to the film that will have this feature. Go to nationalamusements.com, enter the zip code for Showcase Cinemas (48197). This week the film being shown is The Bounty Hunter. Beginning Friday, March 19th through Thursday March 25. Show times are: noon, 2:40, 5:20, 8:00 and 10:40 PM DVS films are always shown in theater 14. Running time: 1 hour 46 minutes. Rated PG 13. showcase cinemas

Fess Parker, of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett fame, has died
Fess Parker, who brought the Wild West into the homes of millions of Americans through his roles as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett in two popular television series, died today.

A Navy veteran of World War II, Parker was signed by Disney to play Davy Crockett in the early 50s. He starred in the heartbreaking movie, Old Yeller (1957), based on the book by Fred Gipson. In 1964, NBC cast him in the role of Daniel Boone for six seasons.

After his acting career, he became a successful real estate developer and an award-winning vintner.

Parker was 85.

sports injury

Robert Williams, MD, a Chelsea Orthopedic Specialist, will talk bones, stretching, stance, along with training tips to keep you playing this spring, whether you're running track, playing baseball or softball, or training ahead for a fall sport. He will discuss the various types of sports injuries, and will share things you can do to keep from getting sidelined.

Check out library materials Running Anatomy which gives you tips for improving your performance through strengthening exercises, thus reducing injuries or Sports Injuries Guidebook. Be sure to come with questions on March 22, at the Traverwood branch from 7:00 to 8:30pm. Grade 6-Adult.

As a student of applied linguistics, I often find myself in the language learning section of our collection. Here at AADL, we have a variety of language learning tools, which employ books, CDs, DVDs, or a combination of these. I have always learned languages in the classroom or by immersion, so I was intrigued by the audio-only courses. I wondered: how well could you learn a language in your car, by yourself? I investigated with the Pimsleur courses.

I have had a fair amount of exposure to Egyptian Arabic, and that Pimsleur course was just what I needed to dust off my basic conversation skills. Every language learner is different, but I personally had less success with the Mandarin Chinese course. The reason for that, I believe, is that I have no experience whatsoever with that language. I lacked basic knowledge of the writing and sound system, which I have in Arabic. I found myself wanting more context and visual input as I listened to the Mandarin lessons. Auditory learners may have more success at learning a totally new language with this method than I did, being a visual learner.

I think anyone with at least some rudimentary knowledge of a language, however, could be successful with the Pimsleur courses. I would recommend it to anyone who needs to refresh their memory of a language once learned, and has some time to kill in the car.

filmfest
The Ann Arbor Film Festival, the longest running independent film festival in the U.S., will hold its 48th festival on March 23 - 28. At this pre-Festival event, Saginaw Valley State University Associate Professor Mike Mosher will discuss Bison Boys & Famous Monsters of Michigan: the 1970s Super-8mm Films of Jimm Juback and Cary Loren. Loren and Juback were teenagers in the early 1970s, as well as eager viewers of the Ann Arbor Film Festivals.

The discussion will take place in the Downtown library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. downstairs in the Multi-Purpose Room.

rideconnect logo
Now there's RideConnect, a new transportation coordination center serving Washtenaw County residents. Sponsored by Western Washtenaw Area Value Express or WAVE, the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study or WATS; People's Express, Washtenaw County, and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, RideConnect also coordinates services among existing public, private, and non-profit transportation as well as county human service agencies.

PEEPS It's our 1st Annual PEEPS® Photo Contest! Preschoolers all the way up to Adults can enter a photo of a PEEPS® diorama they have created. Gift Cards to Target will be given out in six age categories. Read a little about the origin of the contest at annarbor.com. For full details, rules and guidelines click here! Have fun and celebrate spring!