September 1997 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

The Noe Valley - Sally Brunn Library is a stately Carnegie-style building tucked among the Victorians in the block of Jersey between Castro and Diamond streets. In addition to books --including special women's and children's collections -- the branch has videos, CDs, Internet access, a deck and garden, and an archives and index to the Noe Valley Voice. Hours are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1 to 9 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m.; phone: 695-5095. This month's book suggestions come from librarians Roberta Greifer and Carol Small.

Adult Fiction

A love story set at the end of the Civil War, Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier follows a soldier's long journey home.

In Elizabeth George's latest mystery, Deception on His Mind, an Asian man is found murdered, and a small town ignites in racial tension.

Inventing Memory, by Fear of Flying author Erica Jong, is a saga about four generations of Russian Jewish women in New York.

In Margin of Error, by mystery writer Edna Buchanan, a Miami News reporter suffering from post-traumatic stress relives a murder.

Adult Nonfiction

A first of its kind, The Book of Eulogies, edited by Phyllis Theroux, is a collection of tributes, poetry, essays, and letters com-memorating a death or assessing a life.

Covering both ancient and modern times, Hermits by Peter Frances explores the lives and thoughts of diverse solitude seekers, including Thoreau, Merton, and the modern poet Robert Lax.

Miracle Cures by Jean Carper compares the effectiveness and safety of herbs, vitamins, and other natural remedies to commonly prescribed drugs.

With chapters on colors, the imagination, open-air painting, and parts of the body, Paint by Jeffery Camp is a manual of pictorial thought and practical advice for painters.

Movies, Stories, and Lapsits

The library will show films for children ages 3 to 5 on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The program runs twice, at 10 and 11 a.m.

Preschool story time for kids 3 to 5 is 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, and 30.

Babies and toddlers are invited for songs and stories at the Wednesday-evening lap-sits, Sept. 3, 10, 17, and 24, at 7 p.m.

Children's Fiction

In I Meant to Tell You by James Stevenson, a father lovingly describes to his daughter several of the experiences they shared when she was younger.Ages 4 to 7.

Because Great-Uncle Alfred has Alzheimer's, he now requires more patience from Emily, but they can still have some good times together in Great-Uncle Alfred Forgets by Ben Shecter.Ages 5 to 8.

When Pinky is concerned about being teased by an older boy at school, he receives some sound advice from a neighbor in Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe.Ages 5 to 8.

Golem, written and illustrated by David Wisniewski, is a thought-provoking and dramatic tale of persecution and super-natural assistance.It's also winner of the 1996 Caldecott Medal. Ages 7 and up.

When Jip finally learns who his parents are and how he came to be separated from them, he arranges to flee to Canada in Jip: His Story, by Katherine Paterson.Ages 10 and up.

E. L. Konigsburg's The View from Saturday (the most recent winner of the Newbery Medal), shows that four seemingly unrelated sixth graders can share an important bond.Ages 10 and up.

Children's Nonfiction

Barbara Brenner and Julia Takaya relate how a family of ducks was able to survive in an urban setting (downtown Tokyo) in Chibi:A True Story from Japan. Ages 5 to 8.

Although Eleanor Roosevelt had a lonely and unhappy childhood, her confidence grew when she was a young woman, as described by Barbara Cooney in Eleanor.Ages 8 and up.