It’s a Feast of Literature This Fall for ‘Let’s Talk’

A full five courses of substantial, delectable literature await participants in the Fall “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma” (LTAIO) reading and discussion program at McAlester Public Library, sweetened by five food-related films.

“Much Depends on Dinner” is the theme of the series, a project of the Oklahoma Humanities Council. Books, services and other materials are provided by LTAIO, a project of the OHC, with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Events begin Sept. 27 and continue on Thursdays through Nov. 29. Books are now available to library cardholders.

Participants may attend one, several or all sessions. Local funding for the program is provided by the Friends of the Library and the J.G. Puterbaugh Foundation.

“Nothing inspires good conversation like the topic of food,” said project director Kathy McGilberry, Assistant Librarian. “Our books and films this fall examine how we relate food and drink to our sense of self, our beliefs, our relationship to the environment and even our artistic expression.

“Our theme comes from the Lord Byron poem ‘Don Juan,’ in which the poet notes that, ‘since Eve ate apples, much depends on dinner.’ Through novels, heartwarming and humorous memoir and one fascinating nonfiction book, we will examine just how much we depend on dinner to define us today.”

The program is free and open to the public. Most sessions are held at 6 p.m. on Thursdays in the library’s Whiteacre Room at 401 N. 2nd. Brochures with more information are available at the library.

Scholars from around the state open each book session with presentations about the author, the context of the book and the discussion theme. Following a break for refreshments, participants then reconvene for lively group discussion.

The schedule includes:

*Thursday, Sept. 27—Movie Special: a PG-13 rated movie from acclaimed director Ang Lee (Life of Pi), the 1994 multiple award-winning Taiwanese film inspired the remake “Tortilla Soup” and tells the story of a master chef and his three beautiful and rebellious daughters.

*Thursday, Oct. 4—“The Last Chinese Chef” by Nicole Mones, presented by Dr. Trisha Yarbrough, Professor Emeritus of East Central University in Ada. The book describes the return of restaurants after China’s Cultural Revolution through the eyes of a food writer for an American magazine.

*Thursday, Oct. 11—An R-rated movie with an all-star cast including Marc Anthony, Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Minnie Driver and Isabella Rossellini. This highly-acclaimed film tells the story of two brothers, their restaurant and their preparations for an unforgettable feast.

*Thursday, Oct. 18—A PG-13 rated documentary features Zen Chef Edward Espe Brown, who shows how to use Zen and cooking to relate to everyday life.

*Thursday, Oct. 25—“The Tummy Trilogy” by Calvin Trillin, presented by Dr. Ken Hada of East Central University in Ada. Trillin, with three hilarious books in this collection—“American Fried,” “Alice, Let’s Eat” and “Third Helpings”—has established himself as, in Craig Claiborne’s phrase, “the Walt Whitman of American eats.”

*Thursday, Nov. 1—“In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan, presented by Dr. Joshua Grasso of East Central University. Pollan’s book continues themes first found in his bestseller “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” The author proposes a new answer to the question of what we should eat–seven simple but liberating words–“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

*Thursday, Nov. 8—A PG-13 rated movie starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith tells the story of a small-town waitress with big dreams and the uncanny ability to bake spectacular pies.

*Thursday, Nov. 15—Dr. Doug Watson, Professor Emeritus, Oklahoma Baptist University, presents Molly Wizenburg’s “A Homemade Life.” The book, from an Oklahoma City writer who took her from-scratch family culinary history onto the national stage as an acclaimed food writer, includes recipes and family stories.

*Monday, Nov. 19 (Special date due to Thanksgiving holiday)—A PG-13 rated comedy from Nora Ephron starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, telling the dual stories of Julia Child and food writer Julie Powell.

*Thursday, Nov. 29—Dr. Lewis Parkhill, Professor Emeritus, ECU, will present “Secrets of the Tsil Café” by Thomas Fox Averill. This coming-of-age story tells about a fictional family and their fiery relationships.

For more information about this or any other library program, call 918-426-0930.

 

 

Lucky Reader

KINDLE WINNER–John McClure of Alderson was the winner of a Kindle e-reader given away Thursday, Aug. 9 at McAlester Public Library. At each adult and family program all summer long, participants could enter to win. McClure attended five programs with his grandmother, Ingrid Kimbrough, and entered at each event. Another Kindle was awarded to a lucky winner who participated in teen summer reading events.

Avoid August Crispiness at the Library

 

 By KATHY McGILBERRY

Once again August has rolled around, and try as I might, I can’t come up with a theme for this month’s news that doesn’t revolve around extreme heat. When the temperatures in Oklahoma are identical to oven settings for making croutons, there’s not much else to talk about.

So come with me, fellow Crouton Americans, as we look at what you can experience this month at McAlester Public Library, besides extreme crispiness.

Today (August 2) we’ve already hosted the monthly Bookies book club meeting, but there’s more to come. Here’s a look:

*Thursday, August 2—Watch a new take on Moe, Larry and Curly in a PG-rated 2012 film that begins at 6 p.m. This Movie Special takes the place of the previously-announced panel discussion on “The Future of Reading and Writing,” which has been postponed. Also today, the teens will gather for Game Time at 3:45 p.m. upstairs. Game Time resumes a regular weekly spot now that Summer Reading Program for teens is over.

*Friday, August 3—Exercise with us at 4:30 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. We put on a Zumba DVD and follow along. It’s a very low-key event, so don’t be shy. Come on down! It’s all free.

*Tuesday, August 7—The final session of “Tuesdays with Memories” begins at 2 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. This course in journal and family history writing will conclude with presentations by participants. David Beall of the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society will present a “Who Do You Think You Are?” style talk about the genealogical background of Children’s Librarian Anita Ross. The event is free. Also on Tuesday, the Teen Yu-Gi-Oh Club will meet at 4 p.m.

*Wednesday, August 8—The Free Crafts Workshop will be back in the Whiteacre Room for a 1-3 p.m. session, making book safes from old leather-bound books. Participants will get an extra book to take home for a second project. Spaces are limited, so be sure to call us at 918-426-0930 to register.

*Thursday, August 9—We’re bringing back Open Mike Night for one night only. Come to the Whiteacre Room to sing, recite poetry, do some stand-up, play an instrument or just give a good, old-fashioned Soap Box Rant. It all begins at 6 p.m., and we will be drawing a winner of the free Kindle e-reader. You don’t have to be present to win.

*Friday, August 10—At 4:30 p.m. in the Whiteacre, it’s Z-Z-Z’s with Zumba time again. Hop on down and join us.

*Saturday, August 11—Did you miss the Dark Shadows movie with Johnny Depp this spring? We have the next best thing for Second Saturday Cinema. A special double feature beginning at 1 p.m. features the two made-for-TV films from Dan Curtis, the producer of the original Dark Shadows TV show. See the original cast—Jonathan Frid, David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, John Karlen and more—in two fun, campy movies. It’s a family-friendly (and deliciously air conditioned) matinee. Free popcorn, too.

*Monday, August 13—Summer Reading Program for adults wraps up with an Arthouse Theater presentation of a Humphrey Bogart classic film about long-haul truckers. This film noir has a start time of 6 p.m., and of course we’ll have the free popcorn.

*Tuesday, August 14—The Teen Challenge at 4 p.m. will be Monopoly. See Teen Librarian Erin Austin for details.

*Monday, August 20—The Light Readers will meet at 6 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss Shelly Shepard Gray’s novel “Missing.” Ellen Barlow will lead the group, and will have a nice array of refreshments. The Teen Book Club will be on this day at 4 p.m. as well.

*Tuesday, August 21—The Night Readers will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss Oklahoma author William Bernhardt’s book “Primary Justice.” Plenty of free refreshments at this event, too. Also on Tuesday, the Yu-Gi-Oh Club will meet at 4 p.m.

*Saturday, August 22—Documentary Matinee at 2 p.m. will feature a PG-rated look at the Motown backup band “The Funk Brothers.” Free popcorn at this family-friendly event.

*Monday, August 27—Our Film Movement film this month comes from Israel and is called “Seven Minutes in Heaven.” This unrated movie begins at 6 p.m. Here a synopsis of the plot: “Galia, a young woman from Jerusalem, and her boyfriend Oren board a local bus. The bus explodes, leaving Oren in a coma and Galia with severe burns and memory loss; she lacks memory of the day of the terrorist attack and the days leading up to it. The film begins one year after the attack, upon Oren’s death. As Galia undergoes physical and mental therapy, she attempts to stitch together the shattered fragments of her life and soul. A necklace sent to her from an unidentified source sets her off on a journey to find the missing pieces of the puzzle from that fateful day.” This drama will have English subtitles and as always, we’ll have plenty of free popcorn.

*Tuesday, August 28—Socrates Café meets at 10 a.m. in the Conference Room for a couple of hours of lively (yet respectful!) discussion of issues both old and new. Join us for brunch and conversation. Last month, the group considered “conspiracy theory.” What will be the subject in August? Join us to see. Also on Tuesday, Teen Movie Time begins at 3:45 p.m.

Regular Children’s programming will resume in September. Also in September, look for a new knitting class to begin and get ready for Fall, 2012 “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma.” The theme will be “Much Depends on Dinner.” Yummy! Hope to see you at the library.