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May 2008 All Events

May 1, 2008

authors@ the library: Gene Wilder

gene-wilder.jpgOn Thursday, May 1, author Gene Wilder was interviewed by NPR's Alison Freeland about his second book, The Woman Who Wouldn't. He also shared interesting details about his life and his career.
Photo credit Phyllis Groner.

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AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Gene Wilder

Gene-Wilder-Book-Cover.jpgThursday, May 1
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Author Gene Wilder will be interviewed by NPR's Alison Freeland about his second book, The Woman Who Wouldn't.


Registration is now closed.

However, we invite you to attend the book signing afterwards, which will begin at approximately 8:30 pm in the large reading room at the Library. No registration is necessary to attend the book signing.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Book review.

May 4, 2008

SpokenWord: Mark Twain and African-American Voices

shelley-fisher-fishkin-5-4-.jpgOn Sunday, May 4, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, Staples High School graduate and Professor of English and Director of American Studies at Stanford University, one of the leading scholars in American culture and literature, particularly on the work of Mark Twain spoke to a full and fascinated audience. She is the editor of the Oxford edition of Twain’s work, and she most recently edited and published Twain’s play Is He Dead? Her other books include Lighting Out for the Territory: Reflections on Mark Twain, Was Huck Black: Mark Twain and African-American Voices, and From Fact to Fiction. SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.

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SpokenWord:
Mark Twain and African-American Voices

Shelley-Fisher-Fishkin-copy.jpgSunday, May 4
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Shelley Fisher Fishkin, Staples High School graduate and Professor of English and Director of American Studies at Stanford University, is one of the leading scholars in American culture and literature, particularly on the work of Mark Twain. She is the editor of the Oxford edition of Twain’s work, and she most recently edited and published Twain’s play Is He Dead? Her other books include Lighting Out for the Territory: Reflections on Mark Twain, Was Huck Black: Mark Twain and African-American Voices, and From Fact to Fiction.

SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.

May 5, 2008

PLAYCLUB

PlayClub logo.jpg Monday, May 5
10:30 am and 7:30 pm
at the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport, CT

PlayClub is a collaboration between Westport Library and Westport Country Playhouse to allow you to read and discuss a play before you see the live performance and have a sneak-peek at the set under construction.

Come prepared to discuss a sweetly comic play, The Pavilion, by Craig Wright, with a member of the artistic staff of the playhouse. Craig Wright, an award-winning and Emmy-nominated playwright who has also been the head writer and producer for HBO’s “Six Feet Under” and “Lost.” The Pavilion is a story of high school sweethearts, Peter and Kari, voted the class of 1988’s “Cutest Senior Couple.” But, at the end of senior year, Kari becomes pregnant and Peter runs off. After not seeing each other since graduation, they meet again at their 20th high school reunion wondering if they can turn back time.

Registration required. Call the Playhouse box office at 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529. More information on the Playhouse's production.
To obtain a copy of the play, phone 291-4821.

May 6, 2008

authors@ the library: Deirdre Imus

deirdre-imus.jpgOn Tuesday, May 6, author Deirdre Imus discussed her new book, Growing Up Green: Baby and Child Care: Volume 2 in the Bestselling Green This! Series, a parent-friendly, practical guide to raising a healthy child in our increasingly toxic environment.

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Click here to download MP3 file.

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Deirdre Imus

Deirdre-Imus-Head-Shot-2-7-.jpgTuesday, May 6
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Author Deirdre Imus will discuss her new book, Growing Up Green: Baby and Child Care: Volume 2 in the Bestselling Green This! Series , a parent-friendly, practical guide to raising a healthy child in our increasingly toxic environment.
Co-sponsored with Westport-Weston Cooperative Nursery School.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Book Review.

May 7, 2008

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Pamela Paul

Pamela-Paul-Cover-web.jpgWednesday, May 7
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Pamela Paul discusses her book, Parenting, Inc.: How We Are Sold on $800 Strollers, Fetal Education, Baby Sign Language, Sleeping Coaches, Toddler Couture, and Diaper Wipe Warmers—and What It Means for Our Children, an investigative look at how today’s parents are faced with an endless parade of gadgets, educational opportunities, toys, gear, and expert services deemed necessities to raising a happy, healthy, well-adjusted baby.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Book Review.

May 8, 2008

SpokenWord: As Webster Is My Witness

markschenker.jpgThursday, May 8
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Mark Schenker, Associate Dean at Yale College, will give a talk on "As Webster Is My Witness": Language, Lies and Laughter in Mark Twain. Schenker will survey the ways in which speaking and mis-speaking are used to convey the satire and seriousness of Mark Twain's fiction.

SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.

May 12, 2008

SpokenWord: Mark Twain's Humor

davidsloane1.jpgMonday, May 12
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Dr. David E. E. Sloane, professor of English at the University of New Haven, and past president of the American Humor Studies Association and the Mark Twain Circle, will play his banjo and explore the comedy of Mark Twain, exposing the American vision lying beneath the surface.

SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.

May 13, 2008

Jobseekers Resource Seminar

jobseekers.jpgTuesday, May 13
10:00 am
McManus Room

Michael Shavel, Certified Professional Resume Writer with the CT Department of Labor will review resumes of participants. Information? 291-4844 or email sschulman@westportlibrary.org

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Stewart Reifler

The-Compensation-Committee-.jpgTuesday, May 13
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Westporter Stewart Reifler, an executive compensation attorney in New York City and co-author of the Compensation Committee Handbook will talk about the controversial subject of CEO pay and provide insight into what really goes on (both past and present) in the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies and the backrooms of private-equity firms.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Synopses and reviews.

May 14, 2008

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Nicholas Mancini

hairdressers_revenge_cover.jpgWednesday, May 14
Noon
McManus Room

With a mix of sex, violence, and humor, longtime Westport resident and
hairdresser Nicholas Mancini takes a look behind the scenes of this little-explored industry in his novel, A Hairdresser’s Revenge.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Author's website.
Book Review.

SpokenWord: The Impact of Mark Twain in Connecticut

Daniel-Cruson---Phyllis-Gro.jpgWednesday, May 14
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Daniel Cruson, teacher and President of the Archaeology Society of Connecticut, will give an illustrated presentation on the two periods of Twain’s life showing the effect that Connecticut had on him as a writer, and the impact that he had on the communities in which he lived, including his unique architectural contributions.

SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.
Photo credit Phyllis Groner.

May 15, 2008

Gaming and Gadgets

nintendo_ds_lite.jpgThursday, May 15
7:30 pm
Seminar Room

Learn from Library Technology staff about the newest educational gadgets and video games designed with adults in mind, including: the Kindle, Nintendo DS games "Brain Age" and "Flash Focus", and online games "Scrabulous", "Free Rice" and "Only Sudoku."

May 16, 2008

Riverwalk Display: Altered Books

ALTERED-BOOK-Sachiyo-Yoshid.jpg May 16-July 24
Riverwalk Display

"Altered Books: Recycling Magic" showcases the artfully recycled printed page from pieces in the collection of the Portland Public Library in Portland, Maine.

(at left, Billy Goat the Counselor by Sachiyo Yoshida)

May 17, 2008

Teen Art Show

Wooden_Easel2.jpgSaturday, May 17
Noon to 3:00 pm
McManus Room

An afternoon of musical performances, art displays and poetry recitations with the Staples High School Art Club. There will also be an open-mike for those who become inspired! Refreshments will be served.

May 18, 2008

The Usual Suspects Mystery Reading Group: Sacred Cows

sacredcows.jpgSunday, May 18
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Author Karen E. Olsen will be on-hand for the discussion of her book, Sacred Cows, the story about the murder of a Yale student and how the investigation by a New Haven reporter leads to her secret life. For copies of the book, phone 291-4821. New participants always welcome.

Book Review.

May 19, 2008

SpokenWord: beTwixt, beTween & beTWAIN

betwixt-web.jpgMonday, May 19
7:00 pm
McManus Room

A one-act musical revue of Mark Twain’s stories and wit written by Danny Ashkenasi. The revue features musical adaptations of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," "A Genuine Mexican Plug," "Cannibalism in the Cars," "Life on the Mississippi," "Innocents Abroad," and many others.

SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.

May 20, 2008

Pageturners: The Rug Merchant

rug-merchant.jpgTuesday, May 20
10:30 am and 7:30 pm
Seminar Room

Discuss The Rug Merchant, by Meg Mullins, a debut novel about a lonely Iranian immigrant who discovers an unlikely romance with an American college student.

For copies of the book, phone 291-4821.
New participants always welcome.
Book Review.

May 21, 2008

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Frances Kiernan

MrsAstor-cover-41K.jpgWednesday, May 21
Noon
McManus Room

In this biography, The Last Mrs. Astor: A New York Story, which is based on firsthand knowledge and interviews with Brooke Astor's friends and the heads of New York's great cultural institutions, author Frances Kiernan gives us back the woman so loved and admired, whose hands-on approach would inspire future philanthropists.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Book review.

May 22, 2008

Small Business Opportunities
with State, Local and Federal Governments

government_icon_-_symbo_01.jpgThursday, May 22
5:30 pm refreshments and registration, 6:00 pm panel discussion
McManus Room

A panel of experts will present an overview of how working with governments could expand your small business strategies for profitability. Panelists include Merrie London from CT Small Business Innovation Research, Hugh Curley, CT Small Business Administration, Meg Yetishevsky, CT Department Administrative Services, and Fairfield County and Greater Bridgeport SCORE Chapters.

Co-sponsored with the Fairfield County and Greater Bridgeport Chapters of SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. Reservations requested: phone Sylvia Schulmann at 203-291-4844 or
e-mail sschulman@westportlibrary.org

May 29, 2008

Parent/Teen Movie

JunoFINAL.jpgThursday, May 29
6:00 to 9:00 pm
McManus Room

Join the Westport Library and the Westport Arts Center for a screening and discussion of Juno, the award-winning film for Best Original Screenplay. Health educator Bob Selverstone will facilitate this event as we discuss teen pregnancy, as well as other adolescent issues. (film 96 min.)
Pizza and refreshments will be served. Registration is required.
Contact Jaina Lewis at 291-4809 or jlewis@westportlibrary.org
Movie Review.
Juno movie site.