ESL Holiday Extravaganza!

The Rust Library English Conversation Group hosted a Holiday Potluck Dinner on December 10, featuring music, food and entertainment from every corner of the globe. Among the countries represented were Algeria, the Cameroon, Czechoslovakia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, and Korea. Representatives from several other area literacy providers, including Northern Virginia Community College and the Loudoun Literacy Council, were also in attendance. Special thanks for helping to make the event a success go to our volunteers Barbara and Berthe; students Fatiha, Georgette, and Marta, for working their culinary magic in the kitchen, and to Franklin for providing Latin dance lessons to all!

New Year’s Resolutions

Lose weight, exercise, save money, get out more. We can’t help you with the first two, but we’ve got the last two covered. For an evening or afternoon of free and friendly entertainment, join one of the Rust library book discussions. From January to May, we’ve scheduled fiction and non-fiction titles that will make coming out in the cold worthwhile. Pick a Monday evening discussion at 7:00PM or a Tuesday afternoon at 1:30PM, the fourth Monday or Tuesday of the month and enjoy thoughtful conversation about a work of fiction.

January 25 and 26—Jim Fergus’ compelling book, One Thousand White Women
February 22 and 23—Edith Wharton’s American classic, Ethan Frome
March 22 and 23—Alan Brennert’s narrative about Hawaii, Moloka’i
April 26 and 27—Masha Hamilton’s story about the effects of doing good, The Camel Bookmobile
May 24 and 25—Sebastian Barry’s novel about the troubles in Ireland, The Secret Scripture

For fans of non-fiction, enjoy the new quarterly non-fiction book discussion, beginning with Epitaph for a Peach: four seasons on my family farm by David Mas Masumoto on Monday February 1 at 7:00PM and Geography of Bliss: one grump’s search for the happiest places in the world by Eric Weiner on Monday, May 3 at 7:00PM.

Call the Rust library reference desk for more information or to obtain a copy of the book, 703-777-0690.

Learning English at the Rust Library

In September, the Rust Library began a new series of informal conversation groups for speakers of English as a second language. These conversation groups are free of charge and open to learners at all levels. We meet each Wednesday morning at 10:30 and Thursday evening at 7:00.

In addition, the Library is also partnering with the Loudoun Literacy Council to provide formal ESL classes at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Spring classes will be taught at the Library on Monday evenings, beginning the final week of January and ending the first week of June. Please visit their web site for more information about schedules, fees and registration.

Civil War Novelist to Visit Bluemont

Jessica James, award-winning author of Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia, will sign copies of her novel on May 2nd from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Bluemont Vineyard.

The rolling hills of northern Virginia provide the setting for this tale of courage and devotion as a Confederate cavalry officer and a Union spy defend their beliefs, their country and their honor.

Buy a book and get a free pony ride?

Well -- it's not at the library -- but it is a book signing event just down Route 15 from Rust Library. The American Academy of Equestrian Sciences is hosting a book signing of Chancey of the Maury River with author Gigi Amateau.

Told through a horse’s eyes, Chancey of the Maury River is the entrancing tale of an Appaloosa who finds a chance to renew his trust, and of the humans he helps to restore. It is written for Young Adults and horse fans of all ages.

Join the author from 2-4 PM on Sunday April 26. The event will be held at 19844 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, 20175. For more information, visit the American Academy of Equestrian Sciences on the web, or call 703-779-8082. And yes -- free pony rides with book purchase.

Drive a Little, Meet a Lot ... of Authors

Boonsboro, Maryland -- a mere 40 miles NW of Leesburg, is a notoriously book-loving town. On Saturday December 6, the Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe is proving it with their Holiday Event. This book-signing will feature authors -- Nora Roberts (and her alter-ego, JD Robb), Gail Barrett, Dolly Nasby, Elaine Fox and Kathryn Caskie -- as well as the country charm of our neighbors to the north.

Leesburg (like everyplace else) is reading Nora Roberts -- here's a chance to be meeting her as well! Here's directions if you're up for the trip.

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies generated intense conversations on November 3rd and 4th at the Rust library book discussions.

The book opens with a four page description of an event with lifelong impact. Two boys, about ten have spent the afternoon sledding. Percy has a new sled but it doesn’t defeat his sometime friend, sometime enemy, Dunny on his old sled. In frustration, Percy throws snowballs at Dunny. The last one misses and hits Mrs. Dempster, the wife of the Methodist minister. She is pregnant, and whether because she is frail or because of the snowball hitting her head, Mary Dempster goes into labor and her son is born that night. For the rest of their lives these three men act and react to each other. Dunny chooses to let life happen and let’s circumstance move him along. Percy chooses to attack life and plots his ascendance to wealth and power. Paul Dempster chooses a completely different path.

I was one of the readers who was captured by this event. I wanted to know the rest of the story. Other readers didn’t want to know more. How about you?