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.

May 4th at 7:30 p.m - Meet the Author - Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Join us on May 4 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss this New York Times bestseller inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine. This remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. Martha Hall Kelly will be signing copies of her book which will be for sale after the program.

April 21st at 1:00 p.m. - Lunch 'N Books: Dead Wake by Erik Larson

Join us on April 21 at 1:00 p.m. as we discuss Dead Wake by Erik Larson. On May 1, 1915, with World War I entering its tenth month, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. This is the true story of the submarine attack on the Lusitania, the lives and deaths of some of its passengers, and the sinking of the largest and fastest ocean liner of its time.

Discussion Guide for Dead Wake

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

Starting April 1st - Online Book Club – Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

We are thrilled to announce we will be beginning our first online Book club with Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly starting April 1st. We are also very excited that the author will be joining us on Thursday, May 4th at 7:30 p.m. to talk about her book!

To join our online book group, please follow these simple steps:

1. If you are not a member of Goodreads you must create an account at goodreads.com

(After joining you will receive an e-mail asking you to verify your e-mail address – please do so in order to participate in the discussion by clicking the link provided.)

2. Log into Goodreads and click on Community on top and Choose Groups.

3. In the search box type: EMPL Online Book Discussion.

4. Click Join and type in your library barcode when requested. Once we approve your membership please read the rules of the group.

5. Starting April 1st questions will be posted to promote discussion. At least two questions will be posted a week until the author visit.

Copies of the book are available at the Reference Desk. Please read the book and join us.

If you have any questions, please contact Janine Walsh at jwalsh@eastmeadow.info or at 794-2570 ext 262.

March 30th at 12:30 p.m. - Lunch 'N Books: 1984 by George Orwell

Join us on March 30 at 12:30 p.m. as we discuss 1984 by George Orwell. The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision, written in 1948, of the world we were becoming, is more timely than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “negative utopia”- a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words.

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

March 21st at 7:30 p.m. – Evening Book Discussion: Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne

Join us on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne, a terrifying psychological thriller with a twisting plot. Moving to a tiny Scottish island a year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah are shattered when their surviving daughter claims they have mistaken her identity and that she is actually the twin they believed dead.

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

February 15th at 7:30 p.m. – Evening Book Discussion/Author Visit: Forgiving Maximo Rothman by A.J. Sidransky

Join us on February 15 at 7:30 p.m. as author A.J. Sidransky discusses his powerful work, Forgiving Maximo Rothman. Sidransky gives us a captivating story, transporting us from a seemingly straightforward murder in present-day Washington Heights, to the plight of World War II Jewish refugees in the Dominican Republic and life in the Soviet Union. The story effortlessly entwines these different periods and places.

Reserve your copy today!

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

Forgiving Maximo Rothman Discussion Questions

January 17th at 7:30 p.m. – Evening Book Discussion: The Good House by Ann Leary

Join us on January 17 at 7:30 p.m. as we discuss The Good House by Ann Leary. Hildy Good lives on the rocky coast of Boston. Her nights have become lonely ever since her daughters, convinced their mother was drinking too much, sent her off to rehab. Now she's in recovery more or less. Hildy finds a friend in Rebecca McAllister. but ends up trying to protect her friend from a potential scandal. Soon, Hildy is forced to protect her own reputation as well.

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

The Good House Discussion Questions