Book Review: Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That?

Columnist and New York resident Henry Alford takes on modern manners in Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That? This funny, irreverent, and sometimes outright rude collection of anecdotes and philosophy looks at how we should - and shouldn't - behave in a world that seems to have forgotten etiquette. He talks about his visit to Japan and that country's rigid system of proper behavior (don't break apart a bunch of bananas at the market), his not exactly mannerly game of Touch the Waiter (and what happened when he tried explaining its rules to a waiter), and his attempts to give etiquette advice to friends ("two successes, one semi-success, one uncertainty, and one miss"). Some of the stories will leave you giggling, some squirming with recognition of an uncomfortable situation, and some glad that you don't have to navigate the manners minefield of New York society. It's not a Miss Manners guide, but it will leave you amused, and maybe grateful that you haven't made the same mistakes. - Michelle (Sunset)

Chandler Centennial Whiskerino Contest

Chandler's Centennial is coming up in May! Join the celebration in the city's Whiskerino Contest - a beard growing contest like those held at the city's 50th and 75th anniversary celebrations, and harkening back to the styles of A.J. Chandler's time.

To participate in the Whiskerino Contest:
1. Get a team of three men who live, work, or go to school in Chandler,
2. Get a sponsor or entity to represent (business, church, school, organization, agency or other entity),
3. Fill out a contest application and turn it in by the deadline of February 3,
4. Appear at City Hall on February 7 for a photo, cleanshaven,
5. Start growing! Teams will meet at Tumbleweed Park on May 19 for their final judging.

See the city's centennial contest website for more information. And visit www.chandler100th.com for a complete list of centennial activities, projects, history, and more!

Book Review: Silver Sparrow

I heard about Silver Sparrow back in July when author Tayari Jones was at Changing Hands for an appearance. The premise intrigued me at the time, but there was a long waiting list for it and I decided to wait until a more opportune time to read this novel. Last month, it jumped out at me from our new books area and I remembered how much I wanted to read it and I am so glad I did.

Silver Sparrow is split in two halves. The first half is narrated by Dana Yarboro, a teen girl with a rebellious voice, a smart and pretty girl who wants to be a doctor. The second half is narrated by her sister, Chaurisse Witherspoon, an average student and mostly obedient daughter who is lonely and longs for a friend. Dana knows that Chaurisse is her sister, but Chaurisse doesn’t know that she and Dana share the same father - James Witherspoon, who’s committed bigamy by marrying both her mother and Dana’s mother.

Dana lives with complete knowledge of her father’s double life. She knows he has a “real” wife and daughter; she’s even seen them, since they live within blocks of each other and her mother has a penchant for surveilling the rival family. Chaurisse, however, doesn’t know anything about her sister and grows up believing that her family is typically normal. In their senior year of high school the girls suddenly become acquainted and it is only a matter of time before the truth is harshly revealed.

I will not waver in letting you know how wonderful this book is. It is definitely one of my favorites of last year. The characters practically sing their stories - Jones’s language is a kind of raw melody and her dialogue is soaring. I feel like I know both Dana and Chaurisse, as well as their mothers. Each woman’s feelings, desires and fears are distinctly conveyed. James’s character is not as fully explored because neither daughter really understands or connects with their father, but he’s not portrayed as a monster.

The two girls are so different, yet I was able to relate to both of them. Their struggles are heartbreaking and I admire the way Jones makes both sides of the story equally significant. She doesn’t sway the reader in either direction or force us to choose sides. I adored this novel. I experienced an intense emotional connection to the characters and to the story. It is my favorite kind of book - one that will leave a lasting impression. - Anbolyn (Sunset)

Closed January 16 - Browse for books to read

All four Chandler Library branches will be closed Monday, January 16 for Civil Rights/MLK day. But that doesn't mean you can't start on your 2012 reading list. Browse for books to read online using our book lists and reading databases.

Visit chandlerlibrary.org and hover your mouse over the blue READ tab. You'll see a number of resources you can choose from. Our Book Lists offer suggestions in various subject areas with real-time links to the catalog so you can place holds. (Check back for new book lists - the selection is being continually updated.)

Novelist and Books & Authors are subscription databases built by librarians to help you find new books to read. The best way to use these databases is to search for a title or author you already like, then look for suggested similar authors and titles. Please note that these databases are not connected to our catalog, so you'll have to search separately to see if we own a particular book. (Library card and PIN numbers required for at-home access.)

All four libraries reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, January 17.

Chandler's Multicultural Festival: January 14

Chandler’s 17th Annual Multicultural Festival highlights the cultural diversity of our community through music, dance, art, storytelling and more. Enjoy great food from around the world, arts & crafts that represent various cultures, and featured entertainers on two stages.

This free event takes place Saturday, January 14, 11am - 4pm in the courtyard in front of the Downtown Chandler library, 22 S. Delaware St. Free parking is available in the garages on Buffalo and Boston Streets.

For more information and a detailed entertainment schedule, visit this page.

Closed January 2 - Do health research

All four Chandler libraries are closed January 2 for the New Year's holiday observation. But you can get to Chandler Library's databases even when the library is closed, and our health databases will help you get started on those New Year's resolutions!


Find our health databases at chandlerlibrary.org, under RESEARCH - Health and Nutrition. Try Health and Wellness Resource Center, which allows you to look up diseases or conditions, as well as searching for topics by keywords such as "quit smoking" or "healthy eating." You'll need your library card and 4-digit PIN number to log in from home.

All 4 branches, including Sunset, will reopen with regular hours on January 3.

Closed December 26 - Keep the kids entertained with ebooks!

All four Chandler libraries are closed for the Christmas holiday observation. Holds pickup will not be available at the Sunset branch.

Looking for something to keep the kids busy during the holiday break? Try Tumblebooks - free multimedia ebooks! Kids from kindergarten to 4th grade will find picture books, story books, nonfiction books and more, in a fun format with animation and audio. You can enjoy them right on your computer - you don't need a Kindle or other ebook reader!

To access Tumblebooks, start at chandlerlibrary.org, hover your mouse over MY LIBRARY and choose Pages for: Kids. You'll see the Tumblebooks logo on the right side of the page, about halfway down. Click and enter your library card and PIN numbers for access from home.