The following items are new at The Cambridge Libraries and Galleries. For a list of everything new at the Library, click here.

Date Night
DVD (2010)
Phil and Claire Foster are a couple who have been married for several years. Their days consists of them taking care of their children and going to work and coming home and going to bed. But they find time to have a date night wherein they go out and spend some time together. When another couple they know announce that they’re separating because they’re in a rut, Phil feels that he and Claire could be too. So when date night comes Phil decides to do something different. So they go into the city and try to get into a new popular restaurant. But when it’s full and still wanting to do this, Phil decides to take the reservation of a couple who doesn’t show up. While they’re having dinner two men approach them and instruct them to stand up and go with them. They think the men are with the restaurant and want to talk to them about taking someone else’s reservation. But it appears the couple whose reservation they took crossed someone and the two men work for this person. The men are after something, but whatever it is they don’t have it.

The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb
published by Doubleday
Tu’ is a young tour guide working in Hanoi for a company called New Dawn, but while he leads tourists through his city, including American veterans on “war tours,” he starts to wonder what it is they are seeing of Vietnam – and what they miss entirely. Maggie, who is Vietnamese by birth but has lived most of her life in the U.S., has returned to the country in search of clues to her dissident father’s disappearance during the war. Holding the story together is Old Man Hung, who has survived decades of political upheaval and through it all has found a way to feed hope to the community of pondside dwellers among whom he lives.

The Vigilantes by W.E.B. Griffin
published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons
There’s a sudden spike in murders in Philadelphia, but no one seems to mind much, because the victims are street thugs and lowlifes. But as Homicide sergeant Matt Payne starts looking under the right rocks, he gets a feeling there’s more going on than just bad guys burning one another. In fact, he starts seeing signs that these guys are maybe getting whacked by professionals, from out of state, maybe even from out of the country. Then comes the unexpected: copycats. Vigilante groups claiming credit for some of the killings, even though Payne knows that isn’t true. Events begin to escalate out of control, as the police department tries to rein in these groups, and the public protests – they like what they think the vigilantes are doing.

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
published by Simon & Schuster
Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn’t let rules get in his way – in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a hearts, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology. That’s why he’s the first person Caroline King , who after thirty year separation continues to haunt his dreams, asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter…the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline’s call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt.

Get ready to expand your creative horizons this September with three different fibre arts events that will inspire you to get out your thimble, knitting needles or loom.

1. FABRICation, at Cambridge Galleries Design at Riverside, features products and collections by 10 Canadian textile designer-entrepreneurs.
2. Fibreworks, running from September 11 – October 31 at the Queen’s Square gallery, is the gallery’s provocative, biennial juried exhibition of contemporary fibre art.
3. The knitted Main Street Bridge cozy of will be installed from September 9 to 26 with an official opening Saturday, September 11, 2-5 pm.  “Knit camBRIDGE” is the inspiration of Sue Sturdy, 2010 artist in residence at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts.

FibreWorks | KnitWorks, our new display at the Queens Square Library will provide all the motivation you need to create your own fibre works of all kinds. Quilt, knit, crochet, embroider, weave, sew, spin, dye, tat, hook – we have books on all these subjects and more.  Some of our fibre art collections are substantial.

For example, we have an impressive selection of books about quilting including those which show the very latest techniques (Take 5 : quilts from just 5 fabrics) and designs (Design art deco quilts : mix & match simple geometric shapes ).

Our selection of knitting books is also extensive, with information for every skill level. Knitting in no time : 50 easy-to-knit bags, shawls, jackets, and more will get novice knitters  off to a  fun start, while more experienced knitters can  apply their skills to the latest  fashions with Mother-daughter knits.

Crochet is so adaptable that even beginners can create great looking, practical items such as Sensational slippers:  30 trendy, cozy, dainty, and practical designs .  With very little skill, it is also easy to crochet such wooly whimsies as Tasty crochet:  a pantry full of patterns for 33 yummy treats.

If you feel the fibre vibe, but don’t know where to start, take a look at a book with lots of ideas:    Martha Stewart’s encyclopedia of sewing and fabric crafts : basic techniques for sewing, appliqué, embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing, plus 150 inspired projects from A to Z.

Let the gallery inspire you with its fascinating range of fibre art exhibits and events, and then consider the possibilities of creating your own fibre works.  Our large, diverse book collection will provide you with all the guidance need in order to experience the satisfaction of creating something beautiful from cloth, thread or wool.

The Teen Top Ten (TTT) is a list of favourite books nominated by teens for the previous year.

This year’s books were chosen in April, 2010 and now from August 23 to September 17, teens can vote for their top ten teen books.

This year, 26 books were chosen by teens to be voted on.

You can check out the nominees on our “What to Read” webpage under the 2010 Teen Top Ten Nominees booklist.

How do you vote?

It’s super easy.

First read as many of the TTT nominated books as you want.

Vote only for those books you’ve read by clicking on this link .

The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week, October 17 to 23, 2010.

The following items are new at The Cambridge Libraries and Galleries. For a list of everything new at the Library, click here.

Cop Out
DVD (2010)
A comedy about a veteran NYPD cop whose rare baseball card is stolen. Since it’s his only hope to pay for his daughter’s upcoming wedding, he recruits his partner to track down the thief, a memorabilia-obsessed gangster.

Shadow Zone by Iris Johansen
published by St. Martin’s Press
Deep below the deceptively beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean, guarded by hundreds of dolphins, lie the astonishing remains of a mysterious lost city much like the legendary Atlantis. While mapping the ancient underwater metropolis of Marinth, marine architect Hannah Bryson makes a shocking discovery: She may have finally uncovered the truth about the once glorious city’s mysterious demise. Marinth’s sudden disappearance has confounded scientists for years, but now, with the revelation of a key artifact, Hannah realizes that the long-buried city’s explosive secret could have dire consequences for the modern day world. But she isn’t the only one who realizes it. The artifact is hijacked, and Hannah stands alone between a power hungry enemy and widespread destruction.

The Cabal by David Hagberg
published by Forge
CIA Operative Todd Van Buren meets with a Washington Post investigative reporter who has uncovered strong evidence that a powerful lobbyist has formed a shadowy group called the Friday Club. The cabal’s members include high ranking men inside the government: a White House adviser, a three star general at the Pentagon, deputy secretaries at the State Department, Homeland Security, the FBI, and even the CIA. The reporter is convinced that the Friday Club is powerful enough to potentially topple the United States government…and he’s terrified of what he knows.

The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva
published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Two families, one terrible secret, and a painting to die for…Determined to sever his ties with the Office, Gabriel Allon has retreated to the windswept cliffs of Cornwall with his beautiful Venetian born wife, Chiara. But once again his seclusion is interrupted by a visitor from his tangled past: the endearingly eccentric London art dealer Julian Isherwood. As usual, Isherwood has a problem. And it is one only Gabriel can solve. In the ancient English city of Glastonbury, an art restorer has been brutally murdered and a long lost portrait by Rembrandt mysteriously stolen. Despite his reluctance, Gabriel is persuaded to use his unique skills to search for the painting and those responsible for he crime.

The following items are new at The Cambridge Libraries and Galleries. For a list of everything new at the Library, click here.

Chloe
DVD (2009)
Catherine and David, she a doctor, he a professor, are at first glance the perfect couple. Happily married with a talented teenage son, they appear to have an idyllic life. But when David misses a flight and his surprise birthday party, Catherine’s long simmering suspicions rise to the surface. Suspecting infidelity, she decides to hire an escort to seduce her husband and test his loyalty. Catherine finds herself ‘directing’ Chloe’s encounters with David, and Chloe’s end of the bargain is to report back, the descriptions becoming increasingly graphic as the meetings multiply.

Thin, Rich, Pretty by Beth Harbison
published by St. Martin’s Press
Twenty years ago, Holly and Nicola were the outsiders at summer camp. Holly, the plump one, was a dreamer who longed to be an artist. Nicola, the shy, plain one, wanted nothing more than to be beautiful. Their cabin nemesis was Lexi. Rich, spoiled, evil Lexi. One night, Holly and Nicola teamed up to pull one daring act of vengeance. But they never considered that this one act would have repercussions for decades. And they never realized the secret pain inside Lexi, and how their need for revenge cost Lexi more that they ever could have imagined.

Savages by Don Winslow
published by Simon & Schuster
Part-time environmentalist and philanthropist Ben and his ex-mercenary buddy Chon run a Laguna Beach based marijuana operation, reaping significant profits from their loyal clientele. In the past when their turf was challenged, Chon took care of eliminating the threat. But now they may have come up against something that they can’t handle – the Mexican Baja Cartel wants in, and sends them the message that a “no” is unacceptable. When they refuse to back down, the cartel escalates its threat, kidnapping Ophelia, the boy’s playmate and confidante. O’s abduction sets off a dizzying array of ingenious negotiations and gripping plot twists that will captivate readers eager to learn the costs of freedom and price of one amazing high.

Layover in Dubai by Dan Fesperman
published by Alfred A. Knopf
Sam Keller has been enlisted by his V.P. for Corporate Security and Investigation to spy on another employee while they’re traveling for the company. Ordinarily careful to a fault, Sam decides to live it up. What better spot for business-class hedonism than boomtown Dubai, where resort islands materialize from open ocean, fortunes are made overnight, and skiers crisscross the snowy slope of a shopping mall. When Sam’s charge is murdered during a night on the town, it is only the first in a series of bewildering events that plunge his waist deep into a lethal mix of mobsters, prostitutes, crooked cops, consuls, and corporate players.

The following items are new at The Cambridge Libraries and Galleries. For a list of everything new at the Library, click here.

The Search by Nora Roberts
published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons
To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life – a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog training school, canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare. Several years ago, she was the only survivor of a serial killer – a madman who stalked and abducted young women, strangled them, and left them buried with a red scarf on their bodies. As authorities were closing in on the Red Scarf Killer, he shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner. On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. Yet all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help.

A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham
published by St. Martin’s Press
Liz and Jonathan Chambers were stuck with two mortgages, mounting debts, and a miserable adolescent daughter. Then Marcus Witherstone came into their lives – and it seemed he would solve all their problems. He knew the perfect tenants from London who would rent their old house: a glamorous PR girl Ginny, and her almost famous husband, Piers. But soon Liz is lost in blissful dreams of Marcus, Jonathan is left to run their tutorial college, and neither of them has time to notice that their teenage daughter is developing a passion for the new tenants.

Betrayed by Robert K. Tanenbaum
published by Gallery Books
A waiting trial in the Tombs, Manhattan’s infamous criminal detection complex, is Sharif Jabbar, the demagogic founder of a Harlem mosque. Charges against his terrorist attack on the city were dismissed once, and now that the Islam convert is being held on new allegations, New York District Attorney Roger Karp is determined to bring him down. He faces formidable competition. Attorney Megan O’Dowd, a radical activist enthralled with revolutionary rhetoric, is going to the mat with the uncompromising conviction that Jabbar is being railroaded by the NYPD.

Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner
published by Bantam Books
On a warm summer night in one of Boston’s working class neighborhoods, an unthinkable crime has been committed: Four members of a family have been brutally murdered. The father and possible suspect now lies clinging to life in the ICU. Murder-suicide? Or something worse? Veteran police detective D.D. Warren is certain of only one thing: There’s more to this case than meets the eye.

Living Dangerously at the Library!

If your summer has not been quite as exciting as you would have liked, hang on!  We recommend a little vicarious, nail-biting adventure.    Living Dangerously, our latest Queen’s Square display, offers plenty of exciting choice, all true, but safely contained within the covers of a book.

From the comfort of your armchair you can consider a whole variety of dangerous situations.  We have a huge selection of books about unfortunate events that you are probably happy to have missed.  Read about the sinking of the Titanic, the attack on the World Trade Centre, or Hurricane Katrina.    For a more deliberate adrenaline rush, consider taking up an exciting new sport.  Find out more about paragliding (Paragliding : the complete guide ), rock climbing (Basic rope skills for climbers), caving (Entering the stone : on caves and feeling through the dark)  or bull riding (Ring of fire : the guts and glory of the Professional Bull Riders  tour) .      Extreme sports may even convince you that such risky activities have psychological benefits.

If, however, you would rather read about someone else’s true adventure, nothing beats a good memoir.  Travel, outdoor pursuits, war, disaster, and even crime have all inspired page – turning first person accounts that read like the best suspense novels.   High adventure, The bear’s embrace : a true story of surviving a grizzly bear attack ,  A long way gone : memoirs of a boy soldier , Lucky, and Life with Billy are just a few of the heart pounding, true adventure classics that are all-time winners with male and female readers alike.

Living dangerously may, of course, be avoided and if that sounds sensible, prepare yourself for the worst with The complete idiot’s guide to disaster preparedness ,   The unthinkable : who survives when disaster strikes and why, or  The worst-case scenario survival handbook.   We recommend that you borrow one of these survival manuals along with a tale of true adventure—just to be on the safe side.  We want to make sure no readers are harmed in the enjoyment of this “dangerous” display!

The following items are new at The Cambridge Libraries and Galleries. For a list of everything new at the Library, click here.

A Single Man
DVD (2010)
It’s November 30, 1962. Native Brit George Falconer, an English professor at a Los Angeles area college, is finding it difficult to cope with life. Jim, his personal partner of sixteen years, died in a car accident eight months earlier when he was visiting with family. Jim’s family were not going to tell George of the death or accident let alone allow him to attend the funeral. This day, George has decided to get his affairs in order before he will commit suicide that evening. As he routinely and fastidiously prepares for the suicide and post suicide, George reminisces about his life with Jim. But George spends this day with various people, who see a man sadder than usual and who affect his own thoughts about what he is going to do.

Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin
published by Simon & Schuster
Laura Martinez is wedged in the middle place, grappling with her busy life as a nurse, wife, and devoted mom to her two young children when her estranged mother, Helen, suffers a devastating stroke. In a desperate attempt to lure her mother into choosing life, Laura goes to Sea Escape, the pristine beach home that Helen took refuge in after the death of her beloved husband, Joseph. There, Laura hunts for the legendary love letters her father wrote to her mother when he served as a reporter for the Associated Press during wartime Vietnam.

Damaged by Alex Kava
published by Doubleday
In Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard braces for a Category-5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. During a routine patrol of the waterways, the aircrew spots a massive fishing cooler floating a mile offshore. The guards suspect that the icebox contains smuggled drugs, but when the open it, they’re shocked. It is filled with body parts.

Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman
published by Doubleday
Becca Copaken and John Tetherly are young and in love, and the future looks as bright as the day of their marriage. Becca’s family is well to do and summers in Red Hook, Maine, where John’s mother, Jane, runs a housecleaning service for clients like the Copakens. The only thing that binds the two families is the love the elated couple share, but it’s enough to bring them together for the occasion. Until the unthinkable happens: Becca and John’s limousine collides with another vehicle mere minutes after the wedding, killing them instantly. Joy gives way to grief, and the rifts between Becca’s mother, Iris, and Jane grow, from the funeral arrangements to Iris’s strong willed interest in the musical career of Jane’s niece to a new romance that buds between the surviving children, Ruthie and Matt.

Teens, are you looking for some great books to read during the summer break? Why not try books from the 2010 Teen Top Ten booklist. Every year a selection of Young Adult books is nominated for the Teen Top Ten List. These books are nominated by teens from 15 Teen Book Groups across the United States and the nominations are submitted to the American Library Association. This year 26 books have been nominated for the Teen Top Ten List. Included this year are books such as Leviathan by Scott Westerfield, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia.

Read as many of the nominated books as you want. Then from August 25 to September 18 you can vote online for your favourites! More information will be posted on the Cambridge Libraries teen webpage in August. To be eligible to vote you must be between 12 and 18 years of age inclusive. You should vote only for those books you’ve read. Then the 2010 Top Ten Teen books will be announced during Teen Read Week in October, 2010.

And don’t forget to post a review on the Cambridge Libraries Teen website of any Teen Top Ten book you read. Read and review books from the 2010 Teen Top Ten booklist and your review will count as TWO entries in the draw for our weekly prize and for the Grand Prize of an iPod nano!

Keep reading to Win!

Clifford the Big Red Dog will be barking his way over to the Cambridge Libraries to delight children and their parents with his tricks and crafts July 20 and 22, 2010.

Clifford comes from the popular Scholastic book series by Norman Bridwell about the lovable oversized canine with his head in the clouds but four paws planted firmly on the ground. The oversized red pup has resonated with millions of children around the world and here in Cambridge is among the most popular children’s book series at the library.

Join us at the Cambridge Libraries for 45 minutes of big fun with the Big Red Dog where stories, songs, games, a craft and a rare chance to meet (and hug, of course) Clifford will be taking place.

Clifford visits:

Hespeler Library
5 Tannery Street East, Cambridge
Tuesday, July 20 from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.

Queen’s Square Library
1 North Square, Cambridge
Thursday, July 22 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m.

Preston Library
435 King Street East, Cambridge
Thursday, July 22 from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.