Bastille Day

July 14 is Bastille Day, the anniversary of the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. If you aren't ready for the revolutionary fun to be over yet just because Independence Day is past, why not pick up some swashbuckling adventure from the library in the form of The Scarlet Pimpernel? Not only do we have the original book, but we have many of the sequels as well. If you prefer your swashbuckling on the screen, the best movie adaptations are the black and white one starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon and the version from the 1980s starring Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellen, which is a hybrid of the original novel and the sequel Eldorado.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens set the standard for fictional portrayals of the French Revolution, but although it's a literary classic it actually isn't terribly historically accurate. For example, Dickens depicts constant rate of executions by guillotine throughout the revolution that was actually only reached for short periods of time near the end of the phase called the Reign of Terror. Fans of historical fiction, retellings of classics, and A Tale of Two Cities may want to check out A Far Better Rest by Susanne Alleyn. Alleyn presents the story through the eyes of Sydney Carton, who in spite of being the hero gets very little "screen time" in the original story, and attempts to meld Dickens with historical fact. It's out of print, so the easiest place to find it is here at the library.

Alleyn also writes a series of detective novels set in the years just after and before the revolution. Start with Game of Patience and A Treasury of Regrets, and be ready for the prequel coming out later this month, The Cavalier of the Apocalypse.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Independence Day

John Adams may have been off by two days when he wrote that July 2nd (the day on which the Second Continental Congress actually voted for independence) would be celebrated with “Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,” but he was remarkably correct about how Independence Day would be celebrated. If you need some escape from the heat of the day before going back out for the fireworks, here are some ideas from your library:

1776 is the classic movie musical story of the Declaration of Independence. As far as movies with endings that we already know go, it builds suspense better than any other. If you have only seen the theatrical or video cuts, on the DVD you will find a song from the play that was removed from the movie, allegedly under pressure from the Nixon White House due to perceived anti-conservative sentiments.

If you prefer a documentary approach, try Liberty! The American Revolution, a six part, three DVD PBS series that spans from the period just after the French and Indian War through the writing of the Constitution. Told largely through the words of original documents, the series features many familiar faces depicting various historical figures and a soundtrack by Mark O’Connor, who visited Dayton last fall to play with the Philharmonic, and James Taylor. The soundtrack is also available on CD, and the library also owns a tie-in book by the same title by Thomas J. Fleming.

-- Kristen, Main Library

A Beach Party in Franklin, Ohio?

Blues Traveler performed recently at J.D. Legends in Franklin, Ohio. First, the venue: I like it. It's weird, but so am I. You walk into a bowling alley which also contains a bar and a restaurant. There's a side exit, though, which opens onto a very large sunken sand area - probably three volleyball courts worth of nice, soft sand. At one end is a stage, pictured here at left. The entrance side of the sand area is a massive deck with a couple of bars and a VIP lounge. It has the effect of transporting one to Myrtle Beach or Fort Lauderdale.

Now, the band: Blues Traveler hit the top of the charts with their 1994 LP Four. The singles "Run Around" and "Hook" stayed on the charts throughout 1995. Lead singer John Popper had some serious health issues in 1999 and the band also lost its original bass player, Bobby Sheehan, to a drug overdose that year. Popper also got popped for pot possession in 2003. Despite this off-stage turmoil, Blues Traveler has released a steady stream of studio albums since their 1994 breakthrough and their latest record, North Holloywood Shootout is at the library along with others such as Truth Be Told and Straight on Till Morning. The band put on a very solid show on a Saturday night at Legends. They played a long set with all their early hits, some new material, and a lot of extended jamming, during which John Popper turned his back to the crowd and hot-boxed cigarettes. Fun times for all.

-- Steve, Main Library

Fabulous Fondues: Appetizers, Main Courses & Desserts

If you’re looking for something fun to liven-up a Summer Party, Fabulous Fondues is the book for you. Fabulous Fondues is a great source for information about fondue as well as some really great recipes for all kinds of different fondues. There are nine chapters of recipes in this book, and each deals with a different type of fondue. The first deals with what most people think of when they think of fondue: cheese fondue. “Beer and Cheese Fondue” sounds great for a party outdoors. There are even three pizza fondue recipes. For the vegetarians in your crowd, there is a whole chapter on vegetable fondues, such as “Sweet Corn Fondue.” A recipe for cocktail sauce is included in the chapter with recipes to go with meat. In the final chapter “Topping the Meal” the author offers several chocolate fondue recipes as well as dessert “dunkables” including several different pastries and fresh fruit.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Theatrific

The Human Race Theatre Company production of Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow opened on the eleventh and is continuing through the twenty-eighth. If you are interested but can’t make it to the show, or if you’ve seen it and want to learn more, get His Eye is on the Sparrow: an Autobiography from the library.




The Lion in Winter opened on the nineteenth and is running Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees through the twenty-eighth. If seeing it once there isn’t enough, check out the movie starring Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn. The library also has the script of the play.



Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins at Beavercreek Community Theatre is running the same dates as The Lion in Winter. The Broadway Cast Recording, which includes not only all of the music but selections of the dialogue as well, is available at the library. If you see the show and enjoy it, you may also want to read Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, who discusses the musical in the introduction.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Red Rally!

For Ohio Libraries
Thursday, June 25
4:00 PM
Centerville Library
111 W. Spring Valley Road, 45458

Wear Red and Attend!

Statehouse Rally

There will be a Save Ohio Libraries rally Thursday, June 25 at 11:30 A.M. at the Statehouse in Columbus. Wear red and bring you library card!

Montgomery county residents may find it easier to attend the Red Rally at the Washington Centerville Public Library Thursday, June 25 at4:00 P.M. Location: 111 W. Spring Valley Road. Supporters are asked to wear red for this event as well.