May 17th at 1:00 p.m. - Lunch 'N Books: Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan

Join us on May 17 at 1:00 p.m. as we discuss Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan, a novel based on the true story of a forgotten hero. Pino Lella, an Italian teenager, wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow. Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. Yet, after Pino is injured, he is recruited to become the driver for Hitler’s man in Italy, General Leyers. Now, Pino spies for the Allies inside the German High Command. He endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Discussion guide for Beneath a Scarlet Sky.

April 23rd at 1:00 p.m. - Lunch 'N Books: Spaceman by Mike Massimino – The 2018 Long Island Reads Choice

Join us on April 23 at 1:00 p.m. as we discuss Spaceman by Mike Massimino. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find yourself strapped to a giant rocket that’s about to go from zero to 17,500 miles per hour? Or to look back on Earth from outer space? Or to stand in front of the Hubble Space Telescope, wondering if the emergency repair you’re about to make will ruin humankind’s chance to unlock the universe’s secrets? Mike Massimino has been to space and back. Spaceman invites us into a rare, wonderful world where science meets the most thrilling adventure, revealing just what having “the right stuff” really means.

Discussion Guide for Spaceman.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

April 17th at 6:30 p.m. – Meet the Author/Evening Book Discussion: The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Join us on April 17 at 6:30 p.m. as we discuss The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman. From this acclaimed author comes a vivid, daring novel about the devastating power of family secrets – beginning in the poignant, lurid world of a Depression-era traveling circus, and coming full circle in the transformative 1950s.

On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly is never allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. Yet, on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time – and sold to the circus sideshow.

More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents’ estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place, and she hopes that returning might erase painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Click here for more information on this special program.

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Life She Was Given.

March 20th at 6:30 p.m. – Meet the Author/Evening Book Discussion: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW TOP TEN OF THE YEAR * NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2017 * USA TODAY TOP TEN OF 2017

Join us on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. as we discuss Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. In this gorgeous, page-turning saga, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th century Japan, exiled from a home they never knew.

Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan’s finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee’s complex and passionate characters – strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis – survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for Pachinko.

February 20th at 7:30 p.m. - Evening Book Discussion: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Join us on February 20 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country. This riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236.

Click here for the discussion guide.

January 30th at 7:30 p.m. – Meet the Author: Tova Mirvis

Join us on January 30 at 7:30 p.m and meet Tova Mirvis, who will be discussing her latest work, The Book of Separation. In this memoir, she describes how she left both Orthodox Judaism and her marriage, and followed her inner compass to forge a new life for herself and her children while seeking her own path to happiness.

The author will be signing two copies of the book, which will be raffled off at the end of the program – everyone attending will receive a FREE raffle ticket!

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Book of Separation.

Please click here for more information on this not to be missed event!

January 9th at 7:30 p.m. – Meet the Author: A.J. Finn Discusses The Woman in the Window

Join us on January 9 at 7:30 p.m. and meet A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window, the most widely acquired debut novel of all time and soon to be a major motion picture from Fox Studios. It’s a twisty, powerful Hitchcockian thriller about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighboring house.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the end of the program. In addition, two lucky raffle winners will each receive a free copy!

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

December 11th at 1:00 p.m. – Lunch 'N Books: News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Join us on December 11 at 1:00 p.m. as we discuss News of the World by Paulette Jiles. In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction. From the author of Enemy Women, this novel explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for News of the World.

November 20th at 1:00 p.m. – Lunch 'N Books: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

Join us on November 20 at 1:00 p.m. as we discuss The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See. Li-yan is a member of the Akha hill tribe whose way of life is still tied to the land. She grows up picking tea leaves each season with her family and lives without electricity or running water in a hut. Set to follow in her mother’s path as a midwife, Li-yan works hard in school hoping to be the first in her village to qualify for upper level schooling that would open up other possibilities. Fate however intervenes through pregnancy, and two different men destined to change her life, one through love, the other through the business of tea.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.

November 14th at 7:30 p.m. - Evening Book Discussion and Skype With Author: The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson

Join us on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson. At 8:30 p.m. there will be a skype with the author.

With empathy, grace, humor, and piercing insight, the author of Someone Else’s Love Story pens a powerful, emotionally resonant novel of the South that confronts the truth about privilege, family, and the distinctions between perception and reality–the stories we tell ourselves about our origins and who we really are.

After a one night stand with Batman results in an unexpected pregnancy and a family scandal calls her back to Alabama, Leia, a 38 year old graphic novel writer/artist, is forced to look at her life and everything she holds dear in a different light. And what is the secret her grandmother is keeping? Pregnancy seems to be the least of her problems!  This is a beautifully written, poignant yet humorous story with characters that will stay with you after you finish the book.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for additional information on this program.

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Almost Sisters.

October 25th at 1:00 p.m. – Lunch 'N Books: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Join us on October 25 at 1:00 p.m. as we discuss Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. Jenda Jonga moves to Manhattan from Cameroon. After landing a job as a driver with a wealthy Lehman Brothers magnate, Jenda brings his wife and son to NY, feeling sure that he is heading for the American Dream. Yet, the great recession is taking hold. When overhearing his employer’s phone conversations, Jenda knows that there will be great changes and challenges in his life

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for Behold the Dreamers.

October 17th at 7:00 p.m. - Evening Book Discussion and Skype With Author: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi

Join us on October 17 at 7:00 p.m. as we discuss The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi. At 8:15 p.m. there will be a skype with the author.

In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can rarely attend school or leave the house. Their only hope lies in an ancient custom which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until marriageable age. As a boy, she can attend school and chaperone her sisters. A century earlier, her great-great grandmother, left orphaned, saved herself the same way. The story interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Pearl That Broke Its Shell.

September 12th at 7:30 p.m. - Evening Book Discussion: The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper

Join us on September 12 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper. A charming, intimate and fascinating collection of correspondence between broadcaster and #1 New York Times bestselling author Anderson Cooper and his mother, the celebrated Gloria Vanderbilt. Both a son’s love letter to his mother in her final years and an unconventional mother’s life lessons for her grown son, The Rainbow Comes and Goes offers a rare window into their close relationship and fascinating lives. In these often hilarious and touching exchanges, they share their most private thoughts and the hard-earned truths they’ve learned along the way. Throughout, their distinctive personalities shine through—Anderson’s darker outlook on the world is a brilliant contrast to his mother’s idealism and unwavering optimism.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236.

Click here for the discussion guide.

August 21st at 7:30 p.m. - Evening Book Discussion: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Join us on August 21 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma that will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race, this novel is the stunning page-turner from Jodi Picoult.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236.

Click here for the discussion guide.

Register For The Adult Summer Reading Club Before It's Too Late!

Build a Better World, the Adult Summer Reading Club is in full swing, join the fun before it's too late! We have wonderful programs coming up, if you haven't registered there's still time. Read and review books, attend programs, and earn raffle tickets for our great party on August 15th!

Last day to register is August 1st. Last day to submit reviews, event tickets and tic-tac-toe cards is August 9th.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236.

July 18th at 6:30 p.m. – Meet the Author/Evening Book Discussion: The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

Join us on July 18 at 6:30 p.m. as we discuss Fiona Davis’s The Dollhouse. This stunning debut novel pulls readers into the lush world of New York City’s glamorous Barbizon Hotel for Women, where a present-day journalist becomes consumed with uncovering a dark secret buried deep within the Barbizon’s glitzy past. Ms. Davis will discuss The Dollhouse and debut her new book The Address to be published on August 1st. She will then raffle copies of her new book to a few lucky winners!

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Dollhouse.

July 11th at 12:30 p.m. – Lunch 'N Books: The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor

Join us on July 11 at 12:30 p.m. as we discuss The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor. This spellbinding historical novel is about a woman who befriends Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, and is drawn into their world of intrigue. The Rosenbergs are a seemingly ordinary couple who are the only Americans ever put to death for spying during the cold war.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236

Please click here for the reading group guide for The Hours Count.

June 27th at 7:30 p.m. - Evening Book Discussion: Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

Join us on June 27 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman. The bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with this heartwarming story about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis. Insightful and touching, this is a sweet and inspiring story, about truth and transformation.

For more information, please call the Reader Services Department at 516-794-2570 ext. 236.

Click here for the discussion guide.

June 6th - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Adult Summer Reading Club "Build a Better World" Registration

The East Meadow Public Library Reader Services Department is excited to announce our sixth annual Adult Summer Reading Club. It is a great way to learn about new titles to read during the lazy days of summer and a chance to participate in fun book programs! Just sign up and then submit any titles you have read during the summer months.

Sign up June 6 in the library lobby from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (after 5 p.m. sign up at the Reference Desk). Also, starting June 6, you may sign up online at https://tinyurl.com/keogynt . Can't make it? After this date, you can register anytime at the Reference Desk or online. Please choose to either enroll and review online or to enroll and submit reviews at the Reference Desk. Registration ends August 1st.

June 2 at 6:30 p.m. - Adult Summer Reading Club "Build a Better World" Kickoff With Featured Author Benjamin Ludwig

The Reader Services Department of the East Meadow Public Library is thrilled to announce the kickoff of our sixth annual Adult Summer Reading Club on Friday, June 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Register for our reading club and meet Benjamin Ludwig, author of Ginny Moon, who will be joining us for a book talk at 7:00 p.m. Ginny Moon is one of this summer’s most anticipated new books. This extraordinary debut novel is about an autistic teenager who desperately wishes to be reunited with her troubled birth mother in spite of having found the perfect foster home. It’s a story of an outsider trying to find a place to belong and about making sense of a world that just doesn’t seem to add up. Benjamin Ludwig will be signing copies of his book which will be for sale after the program.

Can’t make this event but would still like to join our summer reading club? On June 6 between 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., sign up in the lobby (after 5 p.m. sign up at the Reference Desk). Also, starting June 6, you may sign up online at https://ny.evanced.info/eastmeadow/sr/homepage.asp?ProgramID=19.

Our reading club will provide members the opportunity to attend exciting book events along with a delightful party at the end of the program. Our reading club is open to Nassau County library cardholders 21 and older.