By KATHY McGILBERRY
So far, 2011 has been a year of extremes. Here in Oklahoma, there were extreme summer temperatures. Across the nation, events moved at such an extreme pace it was hard to keep up. Occupy Wall Street exploded onto the national stage. The GOP debates made news almost hourly, it seemed. Why, I barely got my Kardashian wedding outfit back from the cleaners before I heard the terrible news about the divorce.
See? Extremes. A person could get whiplash from it all. Unless, of course, that person just decided to go with the flow, like we’re doing this November at McAlester Public Library. Here’s a look at what’s happening this month, and I think you’ll agree there are some big contrasts and eclectic happenings. And all of it will be extremely interesting.
Here’s a look at adult and family programs:
*Thursday, Nov. 3—The first big contrast of the month. The Bookies go deep with a look at “The Deep End of the Ocean” by Jacquelyn Mitchard when they meet from 1-3 p.m. in the Conference Room. Then at 6 p.m., the Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma group casts their eyes upward to consider “Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor. Dr. Trisha Yarbrough will present a scholarly program about this collection of Southern grotesque stories, and there will be the usual array of refreshments and prizes.
*Friday, Nov. 4—Computer Whiz Anthony Smart will lead a Basic Computing class at 4 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. The contrast? How the most complicated computer problem becomes simple and understandable in Anthony’s capable hands.
*Wednesday, Nov. 9—When the Free Crafts Workshop meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 1-3 p.m., participants will turn trash to treasure. The project is jeweled ornaments. Call 918-426-0930 to register, as spaces are limited for this extremely cool project.
*Thursday, Nov. 10—The Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma movie special will feature the tale of a Vietnamese family with deep secrets. It’s rated PG, and is set to complement, not contrast with, the next book in the discussion series, which examines what happens when Vietnamese families experience the extreme culture shock of moving to the American South. The movie begins at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room.
*Friday, Nov. 11—The library will be closed in recognition of Veterans Day.
*Saturday, Nov. 12—Second Saturday Cinema at 2 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room will feature the hilarious Kevin James in a PG-rated family comedy set in a zoo. The animals sound a lot like Sylvester Stallone, Adam Sandler, Cher and Don Rickles. Unrestrained fun!
*Monday, Nov. 14—Even though it’s a comedy too, Arthouse Theater this month couldn’t be a bigger contrast from the previous movie. From the slapstick fun at the zoo, we move to the comedy of errors that is this film, based on Oscar Wilde’s most famous play. See Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon as they learn, earnestly, what’s important about Victorian manners. Rated PG.
*Tuesday, Nov. 15—The Night Readers will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room to consider what might happen to a fellow who wakes up one day with horns growing out of his head. The book is Joe Hill’s “Horns.”
*Thursday, Nov. 17—Dr. Doug Watson will present a program about Robert Olen Butler’s “A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain,” when the Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma group meets from 6-8 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room.
*Friday, Nov. 18—Anthony Smart leads another computer class at 4 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room, this one all about computer maintenance.
*Monday, Nov. 21—At 5:45 p.m. (note the special time), the final Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma movie special of the season kicks off in the Whiteacre Room. Mary Steenburgen portrays beloved American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of “The Yearling,” in a PG-rated biopic that shows her simple life on the creek, battling runaway pigs and unruly farmhands. Over in the Conference Room beginning at 6 p.m., the Light Readers will consider Robert Whitlow’s book “The List,” which shows what happens when a young lawyer has to battle Beelzebub himself.
*Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24-25—The library will be closed for Thanksgiving.
*Monday, Nov. 28—The Film Movement first-run independent movie of the month will be “The Human Resources Manager,” an unrated film from Israel, in Hebrew, Romanian and English, with English subtitles. The human resources manager of Jerusalem’s largest bakery, with a host of personal problems, must travel to Romania to honor the memory of the victim of a suicide bombing at his company. He fights to regain his company’s reputation and his own humanity at the same time. It begins at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room.
*Tuesday, Nov. 29—Socrates Café will meet from 10 a.m. to noon in the Conference Room to consider the deeper questions of the day. Join this group of philosophical inquirers for brunch and conversation.
All the extremely fun and interesting children’s and teen activities are also in full swing this month. Stop by to pick up calendars with all the details, and check out the displays too.
Hope to see you at the library!
McBook 
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