Our four reading groups will be back this fall, offering something for almost everyone.
The Slow Reading group provides an opportunity to read short fiction closely, studying each story in detail and appreciating what goes into the making of a masterpiece. The first meeting is Tuesday, September 4, 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Community Room, first floor. Flannery O’Connor’s two stories, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” and “Good Country People,” will be discussed. For the full schedule, view the flyer here.
C  alling all Mystery Lovers! Book ‘Em, our mystery book group, will be reading crime fiction from around the world this year, and the first title is Heretics by the Cuban author Leonard Padura. Wednesday, September 12, 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Board room, Administration, second floor. Full schedule here.
Speak Spanish? Then you may want to join our Spanish Book Club which meets Tuesday, September 18, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Classroom 2 for a discussion of El beso de la mujer araña by Manuel Puig. Please be fluent in Spanish! View the full schedule here.
F  inally, Barbara Wenglin’s popular Short Story Discussion Series returns on October 11, 2:00-4:15 p.m. in the Auditorium. As in the past, a single anthology will be used: Stories of Art and Artists, edited by Diana Tesdell. For this session, read "The Limner" by Julian Barnes (p.87) and "The Painter" by Herman Hesse (p.221). Registration required; schedule here.
Flyers for all programs, listing upcoming meetings and readings, are available at the Library.
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ESL Course Registration
We're happy to once again offer courses on English as a Second Language taught by professors  from Westchester Community College's English Language Institute. This fall, we'll have three sections of the high beginner/low intermediate (3 & 4) levels. Books are required and must be purchased on the first day of class (cost of books is $40, cash only).
Classes will run September through December with the following schedules:
- Mon. & Wed. Mornings: M/W, September 12—December 10, 10:15 am-1:15 pm (Skip 10/8, 11/12)
- Mon. & Wed. Evenings: M/W, September 12—December 12 5:50 pm-8:50 pm (Skip 10/8, 11/12, 11/21)
- Saturday: Sat. September 15—December 8, 10:15 am to 4:45 pm (Lunch 1:15 pm-1:45 pm) (Skip 11/24)
English level is determined by exam on the registration date. Students must go to one of the following registration sessions at the Library:
- Saturday, August 25, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Wednesdsay, August 29 from 10:15 am to 12:15 pm
- Wednesday, August 29 from 5:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Registration is on the second floor of the Library.
WCC Fee: $20 (no cash) via credit or debit card (Mastercard / Visa / Discover), money order or check.
If you or someone you know is interested in basic level ESL classes, BOCES will offer a class at the Library on Mondays-Thursdays running from September through December. Registration for this class will be held on the first day of class Wednesday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. There is a one-time registration fee of $25.
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Join Our LEGO Club
 Does your child love LEGOs? Then make sure they join our LEGO Club! Children in grades 1-3 will meet this Friday, August 23 from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Children in grades 4 - 6 will meet on the last Friday of the month, August 31, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Your child will have the opportunity to be innovative, have fun, and enjoy building with others.
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Jazz Jam with Art Bennett
 Join musician Art Bennett in the Everyday Healthy Café for an evening of jazz on Wednesday, August 29 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Bring your instrument and any tunes you want to work on, or just bring your ears to relax and listen. All musical skill levels are welcome.
Bennett likes to run a workshop-style event, where you get a chance to see how musicians who have never played before work together to create. An electric piano and a PA will be available.
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What White Plains is Reading
Curious to know what novels--based on the number of reserves--are popular with our patrons? Each week the Library gets a report of titles that have a lot of reserves. This-- and your requests at the Information Desk-- let us know when we need to buy more copies of something!
Aside from the familiar best-sellers, here are a couple of novels popular with our patrons.
 The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger
On an early morning in November, a couple boards a private plane bound for Geneva, flying into a storm. Soon after, it simply drops off the radar, and its wreckage is later uncovered in the Alps. Among the disappeared is Matthew Werner, a banking insider at Swiss United, a powerful offshore bank. His young widow, Annabel, is left grappling with the secrets he left behind, including an encrypted laptop and a shady client list.
 Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford
"The stunning travails of Kitty Payne, an actual Virginia slave who was freed and then kidnapped by her master's nefarious nephew, come to life in this suspenseful and affecting novel from Ford (The Walls of Jericho). Following the death of her master (who fathered her with another slave), Kitty believes her life and the lives of her three children are in jeopardy, because she thinks that without the master's protection, his wife might sell her and her children and break up her family." –Publisher's Weekly
 Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
When Sarah meets Eddie, they connect instantly and fall in love. To Sarah, it seems as though her life has finally begun. And it's mutual: It's as though Eddie has been waiting for her, too. Sarah has never been so certain of anything. So when Eddie leaves for a long-booked vacation and promises to call from the airport, she has no cause to doubt him. But he doesn't call. Sarah's friends tell her to forget about him, but she can't. She knows something's happened--there must be an explanation.
 Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
"Here's something different: a mystery novel not a pastiche or a parody, an actual proper mystery starring and narrated by former vice president Joe Biden and his sidekick, Barack Obama. This is not a joke. The book has its light moments, but overall it's a straight mystery. A man dies under especially nasty circumstances; Biden, who knew the man, is suspicious. He doesn't believe the things people are saying about the dead man, and he's determined to find out what really happened. Aided by his former boss, the charismatic Obama, Biden wades into a conspiracy that threatens the stability of the country." –Booklist
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Photo of The Week
Above: Team White Plains Library at the Chopin Theater for The 2018 National Poetry Slam. L-R: Bobby Sanchez, Laura Vookles, Jeremy ThunderStorm, Zork Alan
We want your photos! In each issue of This Week on Martine we will feature one patron submitted photo that was taken in White Plains. To submit your photography for a chance to be featured, visit our photo submission page, upload one of your photos and fill out our form with a short description of the photo and your name.
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