Scranton Library’s Beachside Bash is back, and it’s on Saturday, June 28th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Surf Club!
Get ready to kick off summer in serious style at the ultimate coastal party of the season!
Come hungry! We’ve teamed up with Taco Pacifico to bring you unlimited tacos, chips, and guacamole, plus 2 Margaritas/Beer/Sangrias per person included with your ticket!
Feel the rhythm with LIVE MUSIC from Caribbean Vibe, the steel drum band featured on The Today Show!
Lots of other fun surprises are in store, too! And you can’t miss out on silent and online auctions featuring amazing local items and experiences — all to support the library!
Tickets are just $75 per person, but prices jump to $85 after June 1st — so don’t wait!
Last year, we SOLD OUT in just 10 days! Grab your tickets now and start your summer with the perfect beach bash combo: live island vibes, all-you-can-eat tacos, and your favorite drinks by the shore.
“September 5” (Germany/USA 2024). Directed by Tim Fehlbaum. Featuring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch.
Summary: “September 5” unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows an American sports broadcasting team that quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, the film provides a powerful new perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time.
In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating stories that explore the beauty, complexity, and challenges of motherhood. Whether grappling with loss, identity, or the fierce love they have for their children, these literary mothers embody the richness and nuance of what it means to be a mom.
–Emily Rush, Head of Reference
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan This dystopian novel follows Frida Liu, a single mother who, after a moment of poor judgment, is sent to a government-run reeducation facility for “bad mothers.” In this institution, mothers are subjected to surveillance and training to prove their worthiness to regain custody of their children, raising profound questions about societal expectations and the nature of motherhood.
The Forbidden Territory of a Terrifying Woman by Molly Lynch Here, Molly Lynch crafts a haunting narrative where mothers worldwide mysteriously disappear, intertwining motherhood, ecological collapse, and identity. The story follows Ada, a Canadian-born woman living in Michigan, who vanishes one night, leaving her husband Danny and young son Gilles in turmoil.
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky Chouette is a surreal and darkly humorous novel that follows Tiny, a professional cellist who discovers she is pregnant, not with a human child, but with an owlet conceived during a dreamlike affair with a female owl. As Tiny’s pregnancy progresses, she faces societal rejection and her husband’s refusal to acknowledge the reality of her situation, leading her to embrace a life of nocturnal hunting and maternal devotion to her unique daughter.
The Push by Ashley Audrain This is a psychological drama that delves into the complexities of motherhood, identity, and generational trauma. The story follows Blythe Connor, who is determined to be the nurturing mother she never had, but becomes increasingly convinced that her daughter, Violet, exhibits troubling behavior. As Blythe grapples with her suspicions, her husband dismisses her concerns, leading her to question her sanity and the nature of her daughter’s actions.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean The Book Eaters is a dark fantasy novel that introduces a secretive clan of people who sustain themselves by consuming books, absorbing their content and knowledge. Devon – a woman raised on fairy tales and cautionary stories – discovers her son, Cai, possesses a rare and dangerous hunger for human minds instead of books. As she navigates a patriarchal society that views her as a mere vessel for reproduction, Devon must make harrowing choices to protect her son and herself.
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis This novel traces the life of Hattie Shepherd, a determined African American woman who moves from Georgia to Philadelphia in 1923, seeking a better life. After the tragic death of her twin infants, Hattie bears nine more children, each chapter delving into the struggles and resilience of her offspring, capturing their individual stories and the overarching impact of Hattie’s own hardships.
Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding Here we follow Sonya, a former actress turned single mother in Dublin, as she battles alcoholism and the haunting shadows of her past. Her four-year-old son, Tommy, is her anchor, yet her addiction threatens to sever their bond, leading her to a pivotal choice: continue down a destructive path or seek redemption through rehabilitation. Harding’s narrative delves deep into the complexities of motherhood, addiction, and the pursuit of self-forgiveness.
The Leavers by Lisa Ko The Leavers follows the life of Deming Guo, an eleven-year-old boy whose undocumented Chinese immigrant mother, Polly, disappears without a trace. After her sudden absence, Deming is adopted by a well-meaning white couple and renamed Daniel Wilkinson. He struggles to reconcile his new life with the memories of his mother and the community he left behind. The narrative unfolds from both Daniel’s perspective as he grows into a young man and Polly’s journey, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of family and immigration.
Scranton Selections are written by various staff members. This month’s contributor is Emily Rush, Head of Reference..
Free seed packets of various native plants are now available at the Library! Local UCONN Master Gardeners have prepared packets of at least a dozen varieties. The packets are in a rack at the Borrowing desk, along with instructions on stratifying and planting the seeds. A demonstration on seed starting will be held on January 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lifelong Learning Room.