Top 6 books South Floridians are talking about... in libraries

The most devout book lovers in South Florida can be found in libraries, especially library book clubs. Scouring through dozens of titles of library book club selections and library staff picks, I found only six books that were picked two or more times by "library heads." By far, the most selected book was Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. It's being discussed from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade. See the list below for the other hot books.
If you just can't bear reading 250+ pages just to join your local book club jamboree or if you simply want to impress your favorite librarian by "reading" their personal staff pick by the time you see them again, remember, Audible.com has digiaudios for quick download! Just click the title(s) in the list below to hear audio samples.

TOP 6 BOOKS SOUTH FLORIDIANS ARE TALKING ABOUT... IN LIBRARIES:

1. Cutting for stone by Abraham Verghese (audio sample)

2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (audio sample)

3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (audio sample)

4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (audio sample)

5. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (book format only)

6. Little Bee by Chris Cleave (audio sample)

Kindle versions (except Love in the time of Cholera, paperback edition):
          

North Palm Beach: E-Reader Survey

(Christina Aguilera in Italian Vanity Fair, 5/31/2010)



CALLING ALL NPB CITIZENS!!!

YOUR LIBRARY NEEDS YOU...

Please take the E-Reader Survey (click on Xtina).

 The Library would like get your opinion on
the e-reading trend...

 Who knows?
It just might turn into
another fine library privilege
offered by
 the cool cats at

  North Palm Beach Library.

(go ahead and friend them while you check them out)

ANGRY LIBRARIAN

This is too funny not to share... no matter what side of the desk you're on!

Talaxian Soup and a Green Alien

I recently posted the hard-to-find book, Alien Discussions, for sale at Bookshop 020.92 and I thought alien-themed food and drink would be great to go along with it (or any spacey book or movie!). Here is a delicious mushroom soup recipe from the Star Trek Cookbook and a perfect spring/summer Green Alien drink mix I found at yumsugar. Bon apetit!

Talaxian Mushroom Soup (from the Star Trek Cookbook)

2 pounds of mushrooms
3 small red-skin potatoes or 1 large peeled russet potato
1 stalk celery, chopped, or 1 cup frozen finely diced celery
1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 pinch of coarsely ground black pepper
1 pinch thyme or rosemary
1 cup of butter
3 cups of whole milk
1 cup cream (heavy or light)
green scallions as a garnish

Directions for cooking: (actual directions are on p. 169; see Google Books if you don't have a copy)
1. Make sure the mushrooms and potatoes are washed and clean!
2. Saute the diced onions and bell pepper in half of the butter until the onions are clear (tender). Then add the diced potatoes, diced celery, salt, and the rest of the butter. When the potatoes are soft and the mixture "soupy," add some water (eyeball it) and the diced mushrooms. Let simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
3. Let the soup cool for 10 minutes. Puree it in a blender.
4. Return soup to pot and stir in milk and cream. Let simmer on low for 45 minutes. Serves 4-6.

Green Alien drink
 (courtesy: yumsugar.com)

Mock Green Alien Drink (from yumsugar.com)
3 oz. lime juice
3 oz. sparkling lemonade (my quick mix: lemonade mix made with sparkling water or club soda)
Crushed ice
Green food coloring
Optional: Midori melon liqueur

Mix lime juice and lemonade in a cocktail shaker. Put crushed ice in a glass and pour the mix in. Add green food coloring (eyeball it) and Midori to taste (this is optional). You can garnish the drink with orange and pineapple slices and throw in a crazy straw for fun!