Staff Picks: Pauli

Kabul Beauty School: an American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez.
NY: Random House, 2007.

Pauli says : I just finished listening to Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez on CD. I was enthralled by the story of a Michigan beautician (Rodriguez) who started a beauty school in Kabul, Afghanistan, after visiting there with a non-governmental agency and realizing that both Westerners and Afghani women were starved for hair salons. She forms lasting friendships and assists hundreds of women to become as self-sufficient as possible in a conservative, war-torn country.

The Readers’ Café Book Club will be discussing this book at the library on April 9th at 7 PM.

November’s Upcoming Events

Here’s what’s happening this month! November Events at the Library

Make a Mini Felted Gift Bag November 7th

Make a mini felted gift bag in a free class offered by the Children’s Department. On November 7th from 7-9 PM learn how to make a plain two-toned mini felted gift bag.

Pre-registration is required. Call the Children’s Department at 617-972-6435 to register

Knitting Nights Moving to Wednesday

Knitting nights are on Wednesdays! Starting this November, every Wednesday evening from 7-9PM, Mary Clare from the Children’s Department will be hosting a knitting group for adults only.

Halloween at the Library

Don’t miss Night of the Living Banjo, a family bluegrass concert on October 28th at 2 PM. Come in costume!

And be sure to come in to the Children’s Department on Halloween for a jack-o-lantern coloring competition.

October’s Database of the Month

 Automotive Repair Reference Center

Watertown Free Public Library has 41 databases that the public can use to research family history, repair an automobile, complete a homework assignment,  research investments, find a new career or just find a new book to read.  Each month we will highlight a different database in this spot, so be sure to check back monthly!

This month check out  Automotive Repair Reference Center.  If you love your car, you’ll love this database.  ARRC includes repair information from the publishers of the Chilton guides, along with factory drawings, step-by-step photographs, technical service bulletins and recalls, maintenance schedules and more!  ARRC covers most vintage makes of car going back as far as 1945.  Summer is over, but there is plenty of good weather for working on your car!

Staff Picks – Kathy and Mary Clare

Kathy says, “One of my recent reads is My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud’Homme. A “sweet” memoir of Julia Child’s fun filled years living in France while she perfected her cooking and teaching skills. The descriptions and atmosphere of the book entices the reader to eat more French food, and stop to smell not only the roses but also the beef bourguignon.

I’ve been engrossed in reading Anthony Trollope’s Barchester Towers and Phineas Finn: The Irish Member. His wry description of politics, power, and church hierarchy combined with social commentary intertwined with plenty of romantic entanglements makes me keep coming back for more.”

Mary Clare says, “With my busy schedule with a baby, finding time to read is limited but…

For the busy Mum who likes reading children’s literature I would recommend Sarah Plain and Tall and the sequel Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan. They are such beautifully written little novels that capture the essence of the characters, their dreams and woes and in particular the history of the land they cannot help but belong to. It’s a wonderful story of family and their commitment to each other and the quirky ways a family acquires as they grow together. The light hearted humor woven throughout makes it fun, too.”

More staff picks from:
Ellie and Stephanie

Staff Picks – Ellie and Stephanie

Ellie says, “I have started a new mystery, Kilt Dead by Kaitlin Dunnett. It is set in Maine but refers to many things Scottish and I think there is romance, too. I am listening to the audio CD of Prisoner of Azkaban –the 3rd Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling.

A historical biography that I highly recommend is The Peabody Sisters: Three Sisters Who Ignited American Romanticism by Megan Marshall. Ms. Marshall gave a reading of the prologue of her book earlier in the month. There was a connection to Watertown in that the Peabody sisters’ grandmother—Eliza Hunt Palmer lived in the Hunt Tavern that was on Galen St.”
Stephanie says, “I just started to read Austenland by Shannon Hale- the main character was unlucky in love probably due to her obsession with Mr. Darcy and the book Pride and Prejudice. Then she is given by her deceased aunt a trip to an estate where people pretend they are in the regency England of Austen’s day–ah will she find her own Mr.Darcy?!!

I agree with Ellie on The Peabody Sisters and must add it got me more fascinated than ever with the whole cluster of genius that existed in Concord, MA with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry D. Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the Alcott family ( the somewhat eccentric Bronson and his daughter Louisa May.) It led me to read the book American Bloomsbury and I just finished The Concord Quartet. Both deal with this amazing bunch of people.”

William Marchione speaking on Italian-American Immigration

Italian-Americans in the Greater Boston Area: BeginningsWilliam Marchione, teacher, author and President of the Brighton Historical Society presents the history of the early Italian experiences in the Boston area. Mr. Marchione will trace the role Italians played in the life of Boston from earliest times down to 1910. The main themes will include the changing attitudes of Bostonians toward Italy and Italians; the significant contributions Italians made to the cultural life of Boston prior to 1890; the beginnings of Boston’s first Italian neighborhood in the North End; the mainsprings of the massive turn-of-the-century 20th century Italian immigrant influx into the United States: and, finally, the highly prejudicial climate that prevailed here at the time and how Italians adjusted to it.

Wednesday, October 24, at 7 PM in the Watertown Savings Bank Room

September’s Database of the Month: Digital Sanborn Maps.

September’s Database of the Month at the Watertown Free Public Library: Digital Sanborn Maps.

ProQuest Information and Learning’s Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970 provides digital access to more than 660,000 large-scale maps of more than 12,000 American towns and cities. In electronic form, Sanborn Maps take on much improved value over the microfilm versions of the same maps, allowing for greater flexibility of use and improved viewing possibilities. Users have the ability to easily manipulate the maps, magnify and zoom in on specific sections, and layer maps from different years.

Come in to the library to check out the Digital Sanborn Maps!