Friday, October 27, 2006

Interested in Genealogy?!?

The Oak Bluffs Library has a free trial of Ancestry Library Edition & Heritage Quest Online for the next 30 days!

Expires 11/24/06

Ask a librarian today for details about how to use these great resources!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Book Discussion Group - Daughter of Fortune

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende is a sweeping portrait of an era, a story rich in character, history, violence, and compassion. It’s also a story of bravery and passion and of a young woman's incredible journey from innocence to wisdom. Allende’s canvas encompasses 19th Century Chile and California during the 1849 Gold Rush. Her courageous story compels us to look beyond the boundaries imposed on us by others and by ourselves. And it teaches us that by opening our minds - and our hearts - we are opening ourselves up to golden opportunities for love, happiness and good fortune.

We had an interesting discussion about the restrictions society places on Hispanic and Asian women. Several members of the group had had first-hand experience of different cultures and norms. The overall theme of reinventing oneself and taking control of our lives provided a wonderful basis for very interesting conversation.

For further reading, Isabel Allende has written two other books that should prove interesting to those who enjoyed Daughter of Fortune. They are: Portrait in Sepia and The House of the Spirits.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Book Discussion Group - The Kite Runner

There was a great turnout for the library's recent Book Discussion Group meeting in September. Participants had a stimulating discussion concerning "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. If you would like to learn more about the Book Discussion Group, please visit the library's website!

Here are a few websites that may be of interest to people who read "The Kite Runner":
  • According to the Fantastic Fiction website, Khaled Hosseini is working on a new book called "Dreaming in Titanic City".
  • For information on Afghanistan's politics, history, culture, and more, try reading this article on the Wikipedia website.
  • Librarians Internet Index has compiled a list of interesting websites about Afghanistan.