This book is exceedingly difficult to place into a distinct literary category, something that the author himself has made note of.   The overarching narrative is essentially noir, with an ageing and self-loathing detective plying his trade in the seedy setting that these sorts of stories invariably find themselves in.  However, that is where any comparison with Chandler (incidentally one of Chabon’s favorite writers) ends.

One of the reasons the book is so difficult to define, is that it is a work of an alternate present.  This is not an entirely new idea, Phillip K Dick (among other writers) did it with “The Man in the High Castle”, conjuring a setting in which the Axis, not the Allies, had won World War II.  In this book, Chabon extrapolates upon a plan posited by FDR during the war that suggested putting all the migrant Jews from Europe into a province in the Alaskan panhandle.  It is thusly that the Sitka district is born.

Sitka is a veritable mish-mosh of European Jewish culture.  It is meticulously crafted, with a high attention to detail, and painstakingly fleshed out.  Chabon establishes this setting so effortlessly through anecdotes and character driven exposition, that half of the joy of the book is the world which it inhabits.  It is through this lens that Chabon not only examines Jewish identity, but he drapes it, and the traditional ennui of a homicide detective, around a metaphoric subplot of chess.  To throw one more ingredient into the mix, the book is written in combination of modern Yiddish and “American” as the book designates it.

Now, if you think this novel sounds somewhat layered, it is.  However, that is what I enjoyed about it so much.  The layers and levels of meaning you can draw from Chabon’s prose are positively lush, and I often found myself re-reading a page so that I could grasp its full meaning.  Chabon extends the cultural and moral questions that the book posits far beyond that of a European Jew, into greater examinations of man’s search for meaning and the human experience.  If you are interested in Judaism, Yiddish, detective fiction, chess, European culture, or are just in the mood for a fantastic read, you would do well to check this one out.

To request a copy of this book, click here, and use your library card.

Mr. Rogovoy, also author of the all-time bestselling guidebook to Jewish roots music, The Essential Klezmer, has been a fan and writer about Bob Dylan’s music for decades.  Rogovoy will play examples of Dylan songs and will present a fascinating new look at this renowned but enigmatic artist. Rogovoy will be available to sign copies of his book, Bob Dylan: Prophet, Mystic, Poet, which will be on sale at this event.

Mr. Rogovoy is also a radio commentator and editor-in-chief of Berkshire Living magazine. His column, “The Beat Goes On,” has twice won an award from the National City and Regional Magazine Association. Rogovoy’s cultural journalism has appeared in newspapers and magazines, including Newsday. He has taught courses on Bob Dylan and klezmer music at Williams College from which he graduated.

This program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

This lecture will be held in the Sedgwick Reading Room of the Lenox Library at 18 Main Street, Lenox, Massachusetts.

All programs in the Distinguished Lecture Series are free
and open to the public thanks to the sponsorship of
Mary Nash Consulting and The Barefoot Gardener Company, LLC.

“On Friday, March 05, 2010, the 12th Annual Berkshire Library Legislative Breakfast was held at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. Fifty-seven trustees, librarians, and friends from all over Berkshire County took the opportunity to express their support of libraries and their concerns about cuts in state funding for libraries. Senator Ben Downing and Representative Smitty Pignatelli confirmed the need to make our voices heard in Boston and asked for letters supporting state funding for regional library systems (7000-9401) and library technology (7000-9506). Constituent letters help them persuade their colleagues of the needs of western Massachusetts.”

I was one of the librarians attending this event, along with Library Board President Becky Sorrentino. Emotions ran high as speaker after speaker expressed their dismay in the 29% cut in state funding for regional library systems in the governor’s proposed budget. This cut will force the dismantling of the six regional systems (including our own WMRLS) to create a consolidated statewide system, most likely headquartered in Waltham.

At one point, Smitty Pignatelli, who had already taken his turn at the podium, was so moved by the palpable frustration and anger in the room that he got up to speak to us again.

Looking over to where I was sitting, Smitty said “it’s not enough for Amy Lafave to ask me to support our libraries. I know where she stands on this issue. I need to hear from your patrons as well.”

The Friends of WMRLS website http://friends.wmrls.org has more information on the impact of this cut for western Massachusetts libraries. There are links to our representatives in Boston, including members of the Ways and Means Committee. I’ve also posted the email addresses of the legislators representing Lenox constituents below:

Representative William Smitty Pignatelli Rep.Smitty@Hou.State.MA.US

Senator Benjamin B. Downing Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us

It’s said that “dead men tell no tales” yet their bones and other body parts help identify missing people, solve crimes and uncover mysteries. Forensic anthropologists or “bone detectives” can “read” or study a body to uncover interesting facts, stories and identities. Forensic sculptors expertly mold clay over a skull’s bone structure to reconstruct a face to help identify the body.

Award winning journalist Donna M. Jackson’s lively writing and Charlie Fellenbaum’s graphic photography pull you into this fascinating field of research.

The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against nature by Donna M. Jackson

In another fascinating book about forensic research, Donna M. Jackson shows us that forensics helps nature and animals as well as humans.

Up until recently, 90% of crimes against nature – killing endangered animals, killing certain animals for their organs, fur or feathers – went unsolved and unpunished. Today we have the US Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon – the first in the world.

These Wildlife Detectives analyze clues from DNA, bones, blood and even human footprints and weapons. Just like police detectives, they apply their expert skills to fight crimes against nature and animals.

Fascinating detailed photography perfectly illustrate Ms. Jackson’s expertly researched information.

Come into the Lenox Library and visit the Youth Department to check these two books out.

Saturday, March 13, 10:30 to Noon  Third Annual LEGO Build-a-thon

WANTED: All junior engineers and LEGO fans, ages 5 to 14, to participate in our annual LEGO build-a-thon! ALL JUNIOR ENGINEERS MUST BRING THEIR OWN LEGOS OR DUPLOS TO PARTICIPATE. Construction starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 11:15 a.m. All designs should be original and built from scratch in the library. LEGO prizes will be awarded to all participants. Registration is required. Register at the youth desk or by calling

637-0197 ext. 105.

Saturday, April 10, 10:30 A.M. Pumpernickel Puppets presents Peter Rabbit

Come celebrate spring with Beatrix Potter’s beloved tale that is told with a cast of colorful puppets, audience participation, live voices and sound effects. A demonstration period follows the performance giving the audience some insight into what happens behind the scenes. Pumpernickel Puppets have performed at the Smithsonian Institution and the International Festival of Puppet Theatre sponsored by the Jim Henson Foundation.

For more information on any of these events, call Ms. Debby at 413-637-0197 ext. 105

8 to 9pm – pre-show mixer
Delectable Cocktails, Delightful Nibles and Delicious Entertainment featuring Krinstin Gray and Michael Raye

Beginning at 9pm – the show
SUGAR SHACK BURLESQUE FROM NEW YORK CITY

After the show – dance the night away with DJ Bob Heck and a cash bar

Levels of Support:
$30 – includes admission to the show
$50 – includes admission to the pre-show mixer, and the show
$100 – includes all above PLUS reserved seating and table service!

Can’t make it til later? – $20 gets you into the after party.

Call (413) 637-2630 for more details.

This event is an over 21 show.
Sponsored by: Classical Tents, BlueQ, Fancy Pants, Peter Alvarez, Pilates Central, and The Red Lion Inn

Drucker is a founding member of the internationally famous Emerson String Quartet as well as an active soloist. He has appeared with the orchestras of Montreal, Brussels, Antwerp, Liege, Austin, Hartford, Richmond, Toledo, Memphis, Omaha, Anchorage and the Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as with the American Symphony Orchestra and Aspen Chamber Symphony.

A graduate of Columbia University and the Juilliard School, where he studied with Oscar Shumsky, Mr. Drucker was concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra, with which he appeared as soloist several times. He made his New York debut as a Concert Artists Guild winner in the fall of 1976, after having won prizes at the Montreal Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Mr. Drucker has recorded the complete unaccompanied works of Bach, recently reissued by Parnassus Records, and the complete sonatas and duos of Bartok. His novel, The Savior, was published by Simon & Schuster in July 2007 and has recently appeared in paperback.

Mr. Drucker will perform the two final movements of the Partitia in D for Solo Violin by Johann Sebastian Bach. He will also read from his novel The Savior which has been called “spellbinding,” “a moving, honest exploration of conscience,” and“an instant literary classic.”

Admission to this lecture is FREE and open to all; reservations are not required. Lectures are held in the Sedgwick Reading Room of the Lenox Library at 18 Main Street, Lenox, MA.

The Distinguished Lecture Series has been organized and is hosted by
Prof. Jeremy Yudkin of Lenox.

All programs in the Distinguished Lecture Series are FREE and open to the public thanks to the generosity of the following sponsors:

Mary Nash Consulting

The Barefoot Gardener Company, LLC

For further information, contact:

Lisa Berkel at 413-637-2630 or lberkel@lenoxlib.org

This website contains almost everything you’ve ever wanted to know about all the Presidents of the United States. Since we celebrate the birthdays of two of our presidents during February, you may want to explore all the information this site has to offer.  If you have to do a report, are a history buff, or just want to increase your knowledge of American history, this site is for you.