Author Spotlight: Michael Davis

Get to know New York Times bestselling author Michael Davis better before his visit to the library on January 21st!

Davis is a journalist and the author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. He regularly contributes freelance writing and photography to regional and national publications, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and O: The Oprah Winfrey Magazine. He was a senior editor and Family Page columnist for TV Guide from 2000-2007. Davis holds both an undergraduate and master's degree. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University during the 1986-87 academic year. He is also the recipient of a Congressional Medal of Merit for Leadership.

Here are five fun facts about Michael Davis:
1. His favorite Sesame Street character is Grover.
2. In 1978, he played against the Harlem Globetrotters as a member (for a night) of the New Jersey generals.
3. He owns a greyhound named Janie.
4. In 2006, he moderated panels on Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Atlantis at Comic-Con in San Diego.
5. The audiobook version of Davis' book is narrated by legendary puppeteer and television performer Caroll Spinney, who has been Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street since the debut season of 1969.

Stop by the library on Thur., Jan. 21st at 7 p.m. to hear the unforgettable story behind Sesame Street, meet Michael Davis and pick up a signed copy of his fascinating book. Reservations requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13. Copies of Street Gang will be available to purchase.

All information taken from the Street Gang website. Photo credited to Adrian Kinloch.

Best Fiction of 2009

Here it is...the ultimate compilation of the best fiction of 2009! This list features selections from the "best of" lists of Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, The New York Times, Amazon.com, The Washington Post and NPR, cross-referenced against the most popular titles at PCL. The result is a year's worth of great books.

*Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

*Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

*A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore

*The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

*Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

*The Help by Kathryn Stockett

*Little Bee by Chris Cleave

*The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

*Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

*Spooner by Pete Dexter

What were your favorite books of 2009?

Delicious Dishes

One of the most special aspects of the holidays is food. From cookies and pies to stuffing and yams no friend or family get-together would be complete without these memorable dishes. If you're looking to spice things up with some new recipes, look no further than these helpful websites:

All Recipes - This site features a variety of recipes from several magazines, including Taste of Home and Healthy Cooking. There are even recipes for restricted diets, such as diabetic, gluten-free, high-fiber, low-carb, sugar free, low glycemic impact, and more. To find these recipes, select "More Recipes" on the left hand column on the homepage, and then select "Healthy Cooking" on the next left hand column.

Epicurious - With contributions from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines, this site offers recipes with flair.

Food Network - From the network devoted to shows about all things food-related, this site features recipes for any course from your favorite TV personalities, such as Guy Fieri, Giada de Laurentiis, Paula Deen, and many more.

Hershey's - The beloved candy company's website includes a wide range of delectable dessert recipes. It even features "fun for kids" recipes that children can make with their parents.

Vegetarian Times - Hosted by the magazine of the same name, this site provides a plethora of tasty recipes for vegetarians and vegans (although non-vegetarians and non-vegans are sure to enjoy them as well!)

What are your favorite holiday recipes and recipe websites?

DVD Guide

There's no shortage of popular DVD releases around the holidays. The trouble is figuring out which films are all hype and which are worth your time. Here are some of this season's most anticipated DVD releases, along with the critic consensus from Rotten Tomatoes.

*Angels and Demons (Rated PG-13) - "a fast-paced thrill ride, and an improvement on the last Dan Brown adaptation, but the storyline too often wavers between implausible and ridiculous"
*Funny People (Rated R) - "features the requisite humor, as well as considerable emotional depth, resulting in Judd Apatow's most mature film to date"
*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Rated PG) - "Dark, thrilling, and occasionally quite funny, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is also visually stunning and emotionally satisfying"
*Julie and Julia (Rated PG-13) - "Boosted by Meryl Streep's charismatic performance as Julia Child, Julie and Julia is a light, but fairly entertaining culinary comedy"
*Public Enemies (Rated R) - "Michael Mann's latest is a competent and technically impressive gangster flick with charismatic lead performances, but some may find the film lacks truly compelling drama"
*Star Trek (Rated PG-13) - "reignites a classic franchise with action, humor, a strong story, and brilliant visuals, and will please traditional Trekkies and new fans alike"
*Terminator Salvation (Rated PG-13) - "offers plenty of great effects but lacks the heart of the original films"
*Up (Rated PG) - "Another masterful work of art from Pixar, Up is an exciting, hilarious, and heartfelt adventure impeccably crafted and told with wit and depth"

With all that being said, the most important critic review is your own. What are your thoughts on any of these films?