I just read an interesting article in the New York Times regarding the new generation of chick-lit and the huge role brand name fashion now plays in these novels. Check it out, Truman Capote would be totally amazed at what his novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's, has wrought.

On Saturday August 2 @ 12 midnight the 4th and final book of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, will be available in stores. To celebrate the event many book stores will be hosting parties. The Barnes and Noble in Carle Place will have a party beginning at 10 pm. For more info click here.

If you don't mind the drive, check out Book Revue, a great independent book store in Huntington. They'll be open at midnight as well. More info here http://www.bookrevue.com/events.html

Check out Stephenie Meyer's website over the next week for some daily updates and info about the book here http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

This is a cyberpunk novel about Snow Crash. Snow Crash is a dangerous new drug which is both a computer virus capable of infecting the brains of unwary hackers in the virtual world and a mind-altering virus in reality. The hero's name is Hiro Protagonist and he uses his computer hacking, and sword fighting skills to uncover the mystery of Snow Crash.

If you are always on the look-out for new, interesting and/or quirky pool or beach reads, then check out these suggestions from New York Magazine. There should be something for everyone's taste on this varied list of new titles for Summer '08.

How about that All-Star Game? I fell asleep during extra innings, but what a send-off for Yankee Stadium. So now that it's over come check out some of our cool baseball books. Two of my favorites are How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball by David Shannon and Across the Alley by Rich Michelson.

You don't have to buy the July issue of Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine to get some great suggestions for books to read this summer. Here is the link for books just made for a summer afternoon. They promise to be some of the juiciest, most riveting, provocative, lyrical and eye-widening books of the season.

Ever wonder what people surrounded by books all day long chose to read in their free time? The following is a list of what your friendly library staff is reading this summer:

~Merrill~
Outtakes from a Marriage by Ann Leary (wife of actor Denis Leary)
A witty take on marital survival in Manhattan.

~Alene~
Buckingham Palace Gardens by Ann Perry
Thomas Pitt must be discreet as he investigates murder at an out-of-control party; the host was the Prince of Wales.

~Amy~
Copernicus' Secret by Jack Repcheck
Traces the story of the enigmatic scientist while revealing how he was able to make his pivotal discovery about how the earth revolves around the sun in spite of limited technology.

~Mike~
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
In a 25th century world in which death is nearly obsolete, former UN envoy Takeshi Kovacs, re-sleeved into a new body after a brutal death, finds himself caught in the middle of a deadly far-reaching conspiracy.

~Maureen~
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
An account of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 relates the stories of two men who shaped the history of the event--architect Daniel H. Burnham, who coordinated its construction, and serial killer Herman Mudgett.

~Eileen~
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The true account of how the author Mortenson, having been rescued by Himalayan villagers after a failed attempt to climb K2, worked to build schools that would benefit the young girls who were forbidden an education by Taliban restrictions.

~Connie~
Gaspipe by Philip Carlo
Having profiled a serial killer (The Night Stalker) and a Mafia contract killer (The Ice Man), author Philip Carlo turns to Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, once head of the Lucchese crime family.

~Pat~
The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
When her troubled past resurfaces with tragic consequences, Maryam departs for the remote Iranian village of her youth, followed by her daughter Sara, who finally learns the price her mother paid to secure her own freedom.

~Ellen L.~
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
In 19th century England, all is going well for rich, reclusive Mr Norell, who has regained some of the power of England's magicians from the past, until a rival magician, Jonathan Strange, appears and becomes Mr Norrell's pupil.

I just found a new fantasy series... WOW...Something From The Nightside by Simon Green. We have three books already! Its that good!
John Taylor is a private detective with a supernatural gift for finding lost things. Taylor is a private eye residing in the Nightside. The Nightside is an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines. Check out his adventures-----thx Zach!

Just in time for the summer, the RVC Library is now offering video games to be borrowed. We've got a great line-up of XBOX 360 & Wii games. Some of the hottest games include: Guitar Hero III & Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Super Smash Brothers, MLB 2K8 & Madden '08.

Now that we are officially into the hazy, lazy days of summer why not check out these cookbooks for some refreshing summer cooking ideas:

We've also included a link from NPR (of course) for the 10 Best Cookbooks for Summer. Mangia!!