Category: For Readers

Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist with Jasmin Graham

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join us at the Falmouth Public Library on Wednesday, August 14th at 4pm in the Hermann meeting room for an author talk and book signing with Jasmin Graham!  She will be discussing her new book Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event from Eight Cousins.

“Sharks Don’t Sink is a riveting, moving, and ultimately triumphant memoir at the intersection of science and social justice: a guidebook to how we can all learn to respect and protect some of nature’s most misunderstood and vulnerable creatures–and grant the same grace to ourselves.”

“Jasmin’s journey, along with her love of sharks, is both fascinating and inspiring, sitting at the cross section of science and social justice. This book is a triumph.” —Emily Giffin, TODAY

“Jasmin Graham is a marine biologist in the field of elasmobranch ecology and evolution, currently specializing in smalltooth sawfish and hammerhead sharks. She is the co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization providing support for women of color in the field of shark biology and ecology, in order to foster greater diversity in marine science. She is a recipient of the WWF Conservation Leadership Award, the Safina Launchpad Center Fellowship, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.”

This event is free to the public. CLICK HERE to register online event calendar or visit/call the adult service desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia with Juliet Grames

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join us at the Falmouth Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 4pm in the Hermann meeting room for an author talk and book signing with Juliet Grames!  She will be discussing her latest book The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia: A Novel.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event from Eight Cousins.

“Set in the wild heart of Calabria, a land of sheer cliff faces, ancient tradition, dazzling sunlight—and one of the world’s most ruthless criminal syndicates—The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia is a suspenseful puzzle mystery, a captivating romance, and an affecting portrait of a young woman in search of a meaningful life.”

“As a mystery, Grames’s novel is as gripping as they come; it’s also a deeply satisfying character study of an outsider learning more about a place than she’d bargained for.”
—Publishers Weekly (Best of Summer, Staff Pick)

“Juliet Grames is the best-selling author of The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in Real Simple, Parade, and The Boston Globe, and she is the recipient of an Ellery Queen Award from the Mystery Writers of America. She is editorial director at Soho Press in New York.”

This event is free to the public.  CLICK HERE to register online or visit/call the adult service desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Creative Writing Workshop with Dominic Cappuccino

Posted on by Clint Johnson

Dominic Cappuccino is partnering with the FPL Young Adult Services to offer a creative writing workshop over the summer! Participants will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of writing a short – story and their components like setting, character and plot. It will be a great opportunity to practice your creative writing skills over 4 sessions.

No pressure! Judgment free! Just writing with other writers and sharing their creations.

The program is intended to serve students entering grades 7 – 10. Registration is required.

Keep your creativity flowing during the summer!

You can certainly dive deeper into your own identity by writing about a fictional character that is really a reflection of you! Not only does the workshop allow you to grow creatively, it also opens doors to your own self. Like writing in a journal, mashes of words on paper are a great starting point.

Each session will hold a different part of writing your own story. Write in whatever genre and in whatever format you would like:

  • Writing about what you feel in the moment with your five senses
  • The creation of dialogue between two characters
  • The inclusion of our own experiences and emotions within our writing
  • Individual and group revision in the form of PQP (praise, question, proposal)

Writing is often thought of as a solitary activity but at FPL in the Young Adult room, we pride ourselves in trying new things. So, we can write together! We can look for examples in the literature held in the YA room, or anywhere else.

Each session is very important to the progression of your own story so don’t miss out! The sessions will be held from 10:30 – 12:30 on the dates listed below (all Wednesdays):

  • July 24th
  • July 31st
  • August 7th
  • August 14

You only need to register for the July 24th session and attend the following.

We look forward to seeing you and learning more about where your individual creativity brings you! When all is said and done, we can keep the stories in the YA room or you can take them home. Hey! We may even be able to bind them… 

Two Authors, Two New Books, and their Writing Group

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join us at the Falmouth Public Library on Thursday, June 6th at 1pm in the Hermann Room as we present Two Authors, Two New Books, and their Writing Group!

Did you ever wonder about starting or joining a writing group? Barbara E. Struna and Iris G. Leigh have been writing together since 2008. Come hear how they progressed from first pages to published books, and how as a writing group they support each other through the writing and publishing process.  Barbara, the author of six books, including The Old Cape House and her newest, The Old Cape Map, will discuss her books. Iris will talk about her debut novel, Liza’s Secrets.  Copies of their books will be available for purchase at the event.

Barbara Eppich Struna, international best-selling author and storyteller at heart, bases her tales on the history, myth, and legends of Cape Cod and her own personal experiences. Barbara is President of Cape Cod Writers Center; a member of International Thriller Writers and a member of Sisters In Crime, National and New England.

With the support of a long-standing writing group, Cape Cod resident Iris G. Leigh wrote, and edited her stories, eventually leading to the publication of her debut novel, Liza’s Secrets by Black Rose Writing.  She is a member of the Cape Cod Writer’s Center and actively takes part in book groups, supporting other writers.

This event is free to the public and registration is required as seating is limited. Register online by clicking here or visit/call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Upcoming Falmouth Reads Together Events

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

The Finest Hours Author Talk with Casey Sherman
Tuesday, May 14th
6:30pm-8pm
Hermann Meeting Room
……. Register Here

Join us for an author talk with Casey Sherman as he discusses our Falmouth Reads 2024 book pick The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman.
 
“A breathtaking story . . . defies the imagination.” – The Cape Cod Chronicle
 
“A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea.” – The Providence Journal
 
“Captures the wit, grit, and sacrifice of Coasties and their boats.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
Casey Sherman is an acclaimed journalist and author of ten books, including 12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady’s Fight for Redemption, a New York Times bestseller and CBS Films’s Patriots Day. A graduate of Boston University, he is also a contributing writer for Esquire, Time, The Washington Post, and Boston Magazine.


Friday Films – The Finest Hours
Friday, May 31st 3pm-5pm
Hermann Meeting Room ……. Register Here

“In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half.  On a small lifeboat faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly-sinking vessel.”
Rated: PG-13; Running Time: 1hr 57mins

 


Historic Storms of Cape Cod with Don Wilding
Saturday, June 1st 3pm-4pm
Hermann Meeting Room ……. Register Here

Join us for an author talk with Don Wilding who will be discussing his latest book, Historic Storms of Cape Cod.

“Cape Cod has always been in the path of deadly hurricanes and ferocious storms. Unwelcome summer visitors include the “Long Island Express” Hurricane of 1938, the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, the twin Hurricanes Carol and Edna in 1954, and Hurricane Bob in 1991. These storms destroyed countless homes and left several coastal communities under several feet of water. Surging tides carried away houses with residents inside who didn’t survive. Fall and winter brought the infamous “Portland Gale,” the benchmark “Blizzard of 1978,” the nor’easter of January 1987, and the infamous “Perfect Storm” of October 1991 which delivered some of the highest tides ever seen on the Outer Cape. Join local author and Harwich Conservation Trust walk leader Don Wilding as he revisits the Cape’s most severe weather events and their devastating impact.”

Don Wilding is the author of five books on Cape Cod history, a Cape tour guide and a regular speaker on Cape Cod lore in Massachusetts and across New England. He was an award-winning newspaper editor, writer, and designer in Massachusetts for 36 years, including a recent stint as a contributing history columnist and photographer for Cape newspapers.

World Language Materials in the Young Adult Room

Posted on by Clint Johnson

A diverse library for a diverse community.

Falmouth is a much more diverse area than meets the eye. Different economic situations, learning and mental differences, ethnic differences, and much more are often overlooked. Unfortunately, many of the overlooked persons of the community are the ones that also face economic problems. Some of these groups do not know what services the library brings to the community and providing a welcoming and safe environment

Literature and other activities bring people together. Places like the library strives to provide ALL their patrons with the materials they need. In the Young Adult room we have begun to expand a world language collection. These additions can improve mental health, social acceptance, quality of education, and communication.

So far we have books in Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Ukrainian. This collection will expand as our community expands! We will be purchasing more materials in the languages we have already begun to touch on and more like Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Japanese, and French. Some will include both English and the world language for immediate and reviewed translations (like the Shakespeare plenty of us read to make sense of his use of the English language!)

Spanish

Now two people who seem so different have read the same book and a connection is made. Also, literature is not the only way to bridge the gap. Video games, table top games, watching anime with subtitles, and arts and crafts.

The similarities start to trump the differences and show the kiddos how beautiful they each are. The library is an excellent safe place for these connections to begin and grow. We very much look forward to our growing collection and reaching every patron we can in the community.

 

Some titles just in:

-Harry Potter in both Brazilian Portuguese and Ukrainian

-I Survived Series (both graphic and text)

-Dogman Series

-The Alchemist

 

 

 

New Narrative Nonfiction Book Club Books!

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Spring – Summer 2024 Book Picks

Check out the Falmouth Public Library’s new Narrative Nonfiction Book Club picks for the Spring and Summer ’24 session!  Come pick up a copy and join us to share your thoughts as we read across the genres of nonfiction, from history to adventure, memoir/biography, and beyond with books that read like a novel.

We meet on the 1st Thursday of every month from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The group will meet in the Hermann meeting room and for those who wish to join us from home, you can join us via Zoom.  Registration is required and the Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

To register, click on the date you wish to attend and fill out the registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Adult Services department at 508-457-2555 x 7 or info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org.

May 2, 2024
The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II by Buzz Bissinger

“This extraordinary, never-before-told story of WWII follows two U.S. Marine Corps regiments, comprised of some of the greatest football talent, as they played each other in a football game in the dirt and coral of Guadalcanal known as “The Mosquito Bowl” before they faced the darkest and deadliest days at Okinawa.”

 

 

June 6, 2024
Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond

“Drawing on history, research and original reporting, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Evicted  reimagines the debate on poverty, revealing there is so much poverty in America not in spite of our wealth but because of it, and builds a startingly original case for eliminating poverty in our country.”

 

 

 

July 11, 2024
The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach by Sarah Stodola

“Weaving together firsthand travel notes with her exacting journalism in an enthralling report on the past, present and future of coastal culture, which has become central to our globalized world, while at the same time grappling with the darker realities of resort culture.”

 

 

 

August 1, 2024
Fly Girl: A Memoir by Ann Hood

“The best-selling novelist shares funny, moving and sometimes shocking stories of life as a TWA flight attendant during the 1970s and 1980s as the airline industry underwent a huge transformation.”

 

 

 

September 5, 2024
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

“In this tale of shipwreck, survival and savagery, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the events on His Majesty’s Ship The Wager, a British vessel that left England in 1740 on a secret mission, resulting in a court martial that revealed a shocking truth.”

 

 

Manga and Anime Club

Posted on by Clint Johnson

Manga and Anime club are back in business! Please come join on us in the Young Adult Room for our meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 (4/16/2024) from 2 PM – 4 PM.
We will be watching anime, introducing the manga series that we love the most, learning to draw anime, and making buttons of our favorite anime characters!
We may even play some Pokémon cards! The skies the limit. We can’t wait to see you there!

Please register here:

Register!

Dungeons and Dragons: Introduction and Character Creation

Posted on by Clint Johnson

Curious about Dungeons and Dragons? Haven’t played in a while or want to hone your skills? Come up to the Young Adult room and let your imagination take off! Goblins, knights, wizards, and anything else you can think of! Players of all skill levels are more than welcome! Register here! Registration Page

Place: Falmouth Public Library Young Adult Room

Date: Friday, March 29th (3/29/2024)

Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

The Lioness of Boston – Virtual Author Talk with Emily Franklin

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join the Falmouth Public Library for a virtual event via Zoom with author Emily Franklin on Tuesday, October 24th at 7pm, as we dive into her novel, The Lioness of Boston. A deeply evocative portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a daring visionary who created an inimitable legacy in American art and transformed the city of Boston itself. The Lioness of Boston is a portrait of what society expected a woman’s life to be, shattered by a courageous soul who rebelled and determined to live on her own terms.

This program will include a passage reading and Q+A with Emily, so share your questions and comments! Registration is required and please submit your questions for the author on the registration form. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.  THIS VIRTUAL EVENT IS FULL.

Emily Franklin is the author of more than twenty books including The Lioness of Boston. Her work has been published in the New York Times, The Boston Globe, and Guernica among other places as well as long-listed for the London Sunday Times Short Story Award, featured on National Public Radio, and named notable by the Association of Jewish Libraries.

This event is partnered with Falmouth Public Library, Chillmark Free Public Library, Brewster Ladies’ Library, Hyannis Public Library, Yarmouth Port Library, and Centerville Public Library. Sponsored by the Falmouth Public Library Board of Trustees.