Spotlight on New Mystery and Thrillers

Check out some of the new mystery and thriller DVDs and books at the library.

DVDs

Homeland Season 2: When a new and potentially devastating terrorist threat emerges,  Brody and Carrie’s lives become intertwined once again and they resume their delicate dance of suspicion,  deceit and desire.

Fiction

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel’s suicide.  Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling.

A Delicate Truth by John le Carre: Three years after a supposedly successful anti-terrorist mission, the foreign office minister’s personal secretary must choose between his conscience and duty when new information about the mission comes to light.

The Andalucian Friend by Alexander Soderberg: Sophie Brinkmann—nurse, widow, single mother—is unwittingly caught in the middle of a deadly turf war between rival crime rings.

Visitation Street by Ivy Pochoda: The disappearance of two girls from Red Hook, Brooklyn reverberates through the lives of a diverse cast of Red Hook residents.

To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman: Police investigate a high school shooting where one girl is dead and two are injured.

Joyland by Stephen King: In a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny for the summer and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder.

Young Adult and Middle School Fiction

Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor: When her boarding school roommate’s body is found in the woods behind the school, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it.

Forgive Me Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick: On the day Leonard has decided to kill his best friend and then himself,  he must first say goodbye to the four people who matter most to him.

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas: When Anna’s friend, Elise,  is found dead during a spring break trip to Aruba,  she discovers harsh revelations about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

Defriended by Ruth Baron: Jason has met the perfect girl online,  but according to multiple newspapers, Lacey died a year earlier.

Happy reading! Ms.

Spotlight on New Science Fiction at the Library

There’s new genre fiction at the library this fall. Check out the sci-fi books and DVDs we just got in, and keep an eye out for future spotlights on mysteries and thrillers, fantasy and nonfiction!

DVDs

Star Trek Into Darkness: In this sequel to 2009’s Star Trek, Captain Kirk and his crew face off against a mysterious terrorist.

Iron Man 3: In the aftermath of The Avengers (2012), billionaire Tony Stark must battle personal demons while fighting a rival from his past.

Fiction

Kindred by Octavia Butler: This classic book tells the story of Dana, a modern black woman, who is transported through time to the antebellum South. Read if you liked: 1Q84, The Last Unicorn, People of the Book

Transcendental by James Gunn: This master of sci-fi’s latest book is about an ex-soldier who is coerced into joining an interstellar pilgrimage in order to destroy the alleged prophet at the pilgrimage’s end.  Read if you liked: Ender’s Game, The Listeners

The Circle by Dave Eggers: When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels that she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime.  But what begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy and the limits of human knowledge. Read if you liked: 1984, “Harrison Bergeron”

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter: A new device allows people to easily step between different universes, exploring endless possible pasts and futures.  Read if you liked: The Discworld Series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon: A fraud investigator and Upper West Side mom looks into a suspicious computer security company in 2001.  Read if you liked: Digital Fortress, Little Brother

Young Adult and Middle School Fiction

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson: A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology and art, set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil. Read if you liked: Divergent, The Hunger Games

Proxy by Alex London: In a futuristic society built on data and debt, two teens, one rich and one poor, are tied together by guilt and blood.  Read if you liked: Feed, BZRK Inheritance by Malinda Lo: In this sequel to Adaptation, the alien race that has been visiting Earth for decades has finally been revealed, leaving Reese, David and Amber at the center of a firestorm of conspiracies and power struggles. Read if you liked: Contact, The Compound Happy reading! Ms.

Get to Know… Tiffany Tran

This year we are presenting a series of blog posts that introduces staff members and essential employees who work at Nobles, so we can learn about who they are and what kinds of books they enjoy.  You may see them around in the business office, admissions, development, building and grounds, communications, the Castle and more, but you might not know what they do on a day-to-day basis.  We hope this series will provide a peek into some of the less visible, but incredibly vital members of our community.  First up we have an interview with Tiffany Tran.

What is your job here at Nobles? I’m the assistant director of communications.  The communications office produces the Nobles magazine three times a year; generates content and oversees the website and social media; oversees branding and identity for the school; manages the photo database and coordinates photography; assists offices such as development and admission in producing communication materials; among other things.

How long have you been at Nobles? This is my fourth school year.

Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Worcester, Mass.

What are a few of your favorite books? The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and It’s All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow (gluten-free cookbook)

What was your favorite book as a teenager? Although they aren’t very compelling or thought-provoking, I liked all the Sarah Dessen novels and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares.

What is your favorite movie? It’s hard to pick just one.  Off the top of my head, I loved The Departed, Iron Man (all of them), 500 Days of Summer, P.S.  I Love You and Despicable Me I and II.

What is your favorite magazine or newspaper? Bon Appetit and Reader’s Digest

If you were on a deserted island, what three things would you like to have with you? My dog, Truffle; my iPhone (fully charged); and my snack bag w/my stash of snacks and water.

Do you read e-books? If yes, what do you like about them? Yes, I read mostly via my iPad nowadays.  I prefer it for several reasons including that it’s environmentally friendly and saves paper; I can highlight quotes and search for word definitions; it saves on storage and space; and it’s easier to read because I can change the font size.

Do you listen to audio books? If yes, what do you like about them? Do you have a favorite? I used to listen to a lot of audio books when I commuted from Worcester to Dedham. They kept me entertained and alert during my hour plus drive to and from work.

American Library Association Youth Media Awards

Yesterday, the 2013 Youth Media Awards were announced by the American Library Association (ALA). Given annually at the midwinter conference, these awards mark the best of the year’s publications for children and teens. The winners are:

Alex Awards – “The Alex Awards are given to 10 books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.”

Caring is Creepy by David Zimmerman Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman Juvenile in Justice by Richard Ross Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard Pure by Julianna Baggott The Round House by Louise Erdrich Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Sempl

Andrew Carnegie Medal – “The Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Video…honors outstanding video productions for children released during the previous year.”

Anna, Emma and the Condors

Coretta Scott King Book Awards – “The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs.  Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.”

Author Award: Hand in Hand by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Honored: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Michaeux Nelson

Illustrator Award: I, too, Am America by Bryan Collier

Honored: Horse by Christopher Myers Ellen’s Broom by Daniel Minter I Have a Dream by Kadir Nelson

John Newbery Medal – “The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children’s book published the previous year.”

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Honored: Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz Bomb by Steve Sheinkin Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

(Laura Ingalls) Wilder Award -“The Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”

Katherine Paterson

Margaret A. Edwards Award – “The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.”

Tamora Pierce (Song of the Lioness series)

Michael L. Printz Award – “The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year.”

In Darkness by Nick Lake

Honored: Aristotle and Dante by Benjamin Alire Saenz Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Dodger by Terry Pratchett The White Bicycle by Beverley Brenna

Mildred L. Batchelder Award – “The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.”

My Family for the World by Anne C. Vorhoeve

Honored: A Game for Swallows by Zeina Abirached Son of a Gun by Anne de Graaf

Odyssey Award – “This annual award is given to the producer of the best audio book produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.”

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Honored: Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer Ghost Night by Cornelia Funke Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fema

Pura Belpré Awards – The Pura Belpré Award […] is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.”

Author Award: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Honored: The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

Illustrator Award: Martin de Porres: the Rose in the Desert by David Diaz

Randolph Caldecott Medal – “This medal is to be given to the artist who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year and named in honor of the 19th-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott.”

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

Honored: Creepy Carrots by Peter Brown Extra Yarn by Jon Klassen Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger One Cool Friend by David Small Sleep Like a Tiger by Pamela Zagarenski

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal – “The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award […] is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States”

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

Honored: Electric Ben by Robert Byrd Moonbird by Phillip Hoose Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award – “The first and most enduring award for GLBT books, […] the Stonewall Book Award is presented to English language works published the year prior to the announcement date.”

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Honored: Drama by Raina Telgemeier Gone Gone Gone by Hannah Moskowitz October Mourning by Leslea Newman Sparks by S.J.  Adams

Theodore Seuss Geisel Award – “The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.”

Up, Tall and High by Ethan Long

Honored:
Let’s Go for a Drive by Mo Willems Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin Rabbit and Robot: the Sleepover by Cece Bell

William C. Morris Award – “The William C. Morris YA Debut Award […] honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.”

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Honored: Wondershow by Hannah Barnaby Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo After the Snow by S.D. Crockett The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults – “The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults.”

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

Honored:
Steve Jobs: The Man Who Was Different by Karen Blumenthal Moonbird by Phillip Hoose Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson We’ve Got a Job by Cynthia Levinson

Since these awards were just announced, we might not currently have all of the titles in the library, but we will soon. If you are interested in reading any of these titles, come see us and we will get them for you!

Happy Reading,

Ms.

Do you Read on an iPad/iPhone, Kindle or Nook?

Putnam Library is thrilled to announce the launch of Overdrive,  an online library subscription to electronic books and audiobooks. Faculty and students can now access hundreds of popular titles from the library catalog onto their handheld devices such as iPads,  iPhones,  iPods, Kindles,  Nooks etc. To browse the collection, please visit the Putnam Library Overdrive Collection.

Putnam Library is hosting two workshops next week called: Overdrive for Kindles.

Session I: Jan 29, Tue 12:25-12:55p.m.

Session II: Jan 30,  Wed 9:10-10:00a.m.

Venue: Library Glassroom

Please bring with you: your Kindle or any device with the Kindle app (we recommend that you download the app prior to attending the workshop.) If you do not own a Kindle,

Remembering JFK

November 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Kennedy attended the Noble and Greenough Lower School from 1924 to 1926, and we are very lucky to have a number of items in the library and the archives related to JFK. These items will be on display until Thanksgiving.  Here is what you can find:

• The Dallas Morning News newspaper from Nov. 23, 1963.
• The Daily Evening Item newspaper from Lynn, Mass., from Nov.  23, 1963.
• A facsimile of a letter from Mrs.  Myra Fiske, principal of the Lower School, to Mr. Wiggins proclaiming her excitement that JFK will be joining the class of the Lower School (from October 1924).
• A facsimile of a telegram sent from Joseph Patrick Kennedy to JFK while he was a student at the Lower School wishing him good luck in his game against Rivers.
• A rock from the Grassy Knoll and a piece of asphalt from Elm St. in Dallas, Texas, the site of the assassination.
• A photocopy of the 1924-1925 Lower School directory, which includes JFK.
• A facsimile of a letter written in 1956 from Senator Kennedy addressing students at Nobles.
• Two different issues of LIFE magazine commemorating JFK’s life.
• The inauguration program from Jan. 20, 1961 including the inaugural address.
• Envelopes from his office from when he was a senator.

Celebrate the 2013 Oscars!

It is almost time for the 2013 Academy Awards. On February 24, this year’s best movies will be awarded (or not) the highest prize in film, the Oscar. Come by the library and check out our Oscar display, filled with movies and books that represent this year’s nominees. In the meantime. check out these interesting Oscar facts:

Did you know…?

• This year’s best actress category includes the youngest and oldest nominees ever? Emmanuelle Riva, 85, is nominated for her role in Amour and Quvenzhane Wallis, 9, is nominated for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild.
• Meryl Streep has the most acting nominations (17 noms, 3 wins) but Katharine Hepburn has the most acting wins (4).
• Walt Disney has won the most awards overall (26).
• The actual Academy Award weighs 8.5 pounds and is made of gold-plated tin, except during World War II when they were made of plaster.
• The shortest acceptance speech was given by Joe Pesci for his 1991 win in Goodfellas. It was two seconds long, he said, “It’s my privilege.  Thank you.” The longest came from Greer Garson in 1943 and was seven minutes long.
• Two actors have won awards posthumously (after their deaths): Peter Finch for Network and Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
• Woody Allen is the most nominated writer in Oscar history (15 times) but he has only appeared at the ceremony once, after Sept. 11th, to urge filmmakers to continue making movies in NYC.
• Kathryn Bigelow is the only woman to ever win an Oscar for best director, for The Hurt Locker in 2010.

Sources: Parade.com, Ms. Sokoll’s brain.

Happy Reading! (and watching)

Ms.

What Did You Read Over Summer Vacation? – Faculty Edition

What book(s) did you enjoy reading over the summer break? What made them so great?

Learning Specialist Gia Batty:
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
“This was so good. It follows a small group of people who met at a performing arts camp in the 70s.  The story takes you through their lives in the 80s, 90s and through the present. It’s about what it means to be talented, but it’s also about friendship and loss. ”

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
“A great beach read. Italians, writers, actors, innkeepers—all in a tiny coastal town on the Ligurian Sea.”

Director of Foster Galley John Dorsey:
“I am working my way through 1Q84, Haruki Murakami’s latest novel. Wonderful, intricate, complex, layered. Love the worlds he creates and how they bend back upon themselves. 600 pages in, 300 pages to go…”

Head of School Bob Henderson:
The Plantagenets, by Dan Jones.
“Terrific popular history, about the longest dynasty in English history, a family that dominated the Middle Ages in Britain. Full of intrigue, triumph and tragedy, it reads like Game of Thrones, but it isn’t fiction.”

Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris.
“I think David Sedaris is hysterical (although not everyone does).  His narrative essays are well crafted, and are often poignant. I don’t think this is his best book (for that, I nominate Me Talk Pretty One Day), but it is nevertheless quite entertaining, with a few moments that are truly laugh-out-loud funny.”

Director of Community Service Sandi MacQuinn:
“One novel I read this summer still haunts me: The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont. It sets up class privilege, the interior lives of students in a dorm, the stock market crash of the 80s, and the consequences of teenage recklessness. It felt like a Gatsby sort of tale, told by the “vastly careless” narrator, who leaves the reader wondering if the boy will ever learn to admit and face his regret.”

History teacher Brian Day:
Bunker Hill: a city, a siege, a revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
“The book is a vivid narrative that focuses on what happened in the greater Boston area before, during and after the Battle of Bunker Hill. For anyone interested in the history of Boston, it’s an outstanding read.”

Math teacher Bill Kehlenbeck:
“I greatly enjoyed Neil Young’s memoir entitled Waging Heavy Peace. Having been a fan of his music ever since his days in Buffalo Springfield in the 1960s, I was entertained by his rather disjointed, non-chronological collection of memories and stories from his childhood right up to the present.”

Science teacher Chris Averill:
I am the messenger by Markus Zusak
“I love Markus Zusak books because they are written from a fresh perspective, and contain interesting plot twists.

The Human Stain by Philip Roth.
“A beautiful written novel that addresses issues of race and identity in a most surprising story.”

Associate Director of Annual Giving Brian Read:
The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell by Mark Kurlansky.
“Kurlansky tells the history of the oyster industry in Manhattan and America. If you like oysters, this is a must read! I also recommend many of Kurlansky’s books if interested in the history of food. My wife (Jill Read) loved Shucked: Life on a New England Oyster Farm by Erin Byers Murray. The story of living and working for Island Creek Oyster Co. in Duxbury, Mass.”

Dean of Enrollment Management Jen Hines:
“Shameless plug for a book written by my lifelong friend, Bethany Schneider: The River of No Return is a time-travel novel set in 1815 and 2013. If you don’t trust my plug, Vanity Fair has called the novel a “thrill-ride” and the Washington Post says it “has the feel of an instant classic.” And I’m happy to report that she’s working on the sequel! Just know that she wrote the book using a pseudonym—Bee Ridgway. I found it particularly funny that she signed my copy using that name…”

English teacher Sarah Snyder:
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
“An engaging story of the intersecting lives of a group of ‘interesting’ kids who met at summer camp. So well-written.”

Art teacher Lisa Jacobson:
Cooked by Michael Pollan
“It is SO interesting! In this non-fiction piece, he discusses the science and sociology of cooking. He divided the book into different sections: cooking by fire, cooking by water, cooking with air. I highly recommend this book.”

English Teacher Vicki Seelen:
The Housekeeper and the Professor, Yoko Ogewa
“A quiet novel about the relationship between an aging mathematics professor, who cannot remember more than the past forty minutes of his life, and his housekeeper (and her son). Makes one think about the nature of memory, aging and friendship.

The Baker’s Daughter, Sarah McCoy
“One of my favorite sub-genre is the bakery novel in which the main character has, most likely, had to change her career and return to or get a job in a bakery. This is no exception. Love the struggles, the family dynamics and the smells.

Paris Was the Place, Susan Conley
“Written by Lily King’s (former Nobles English teacher) best friend, Susan, a poet and memoirist, writes her first novel about a poetry professor who, while living in Paris, has to confront her brother’s battle with AIDS as well as her own tendency to want to save an immigrant girl who she is tutoring.

Transatlantic, Colum McCann
“This novel captured me for several reasons.  First, McCann is a great storyteller. Also, Frederick Douglas makes an appearance! This takes place in Ireland, which I love. The first section is about two Brits who attempt to fly across the ocean; just riveting!

And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Kosseini
“This Afghani writer’s third book is a terrific story about a father who tells his two children a story about a man who gives his child to an ‘ogre’ then this father gives his daughter away.  This was one of my very favorite reads.

The Love Affairs of Nathan P, Adelle Waldman
“This was represented as the modern day Jane Austen novel. Perhaps that is a stretch, but she is a fine writer of present social climes in New York among the young aspiring writers’ set.

When I Found You, Catherine Ryan Hyde
“A touching novel about a man who finds a baby in the woods while hunting, and although he is not able to raise the boy, he follows his ‘progress’ through the troubled teen years when the young man is unexpectedly handed over to him.”

Science teacher Christine Pasterczyk:
The First Rule of Swimming by Courtney Angela Brkic
“The first rule of swimming is to stay afloat, but this is not a book about swimming— except in the metaphorical sense. Instead, it chronicles relationships and the history of a family over a period of 50 plus years, beginning in war-torn Yugoslavia and ending in more modern day NYC and Croatia. They say you should not judge a book by its cover, but the cover of this book is beautiful—and I would not have read it had I not been drawn to the title and the cover art. So much for what ‘they’ say. Ha!”

Assistant Controller Rachel Weinstock:
“My favorite book this summer was “The Welsh Girl” by Peter Ho Davies, a story about civilian life during World War II in a remote Welsh village, where a POW camp is constructed. The novel examines human “cynefin” —cynefin is a Welsh concept that a flock of sheep know the pasture to which they belong. The book was especially enjoyable since the main character is the same age as my dad, and I could experience her life on the home front, which in some ways was similar to his.”

History teacher Nahyon Lee:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
“I was incredibly amazed at how this one woman’s cells have changed the medical world. I am grateful to her because her cells have saved many lives. The book was also enlightening about how the medical profession has changed over the years not only in terms of how they gave care differently to people based on race and gender.”

English teacher Peter Raymond:
Life of The Cell, Lewis Thomas
“Brilliant man with great imagination integrating many perspectives and fields. Did you know that distinctly non-human bugs live inside, and are essential to, your own cells? What’s with that?!”

Archivist Isa Schaff:
Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.
“This is a book for anybody who LOVES reading and enjoys computers, a mixture of old and new uniting an old fashioned mystery story (no murder, though) and a real techno feeling (one of the main characters works at Google). A fun story to read, it has the allure of a modern day fable and the fast paced rhythm of a madcap movie.

All Roads Lead to Austen by Amy Elizabeth Smith.
“Of course the subject is dear to my heart! The author (a professor at the University of the Pacific in California) recounts a year long trip she took through six countries in South America with the purpose of studying how different cultures reacted, interpreted and identifies (or not) with Austen’s book. She accomplished this by running book clubs (organized before her arrival by local book lovers) and “going with the flow” more times than once. She challenged herself even more by conducting the reading and the discussions in Spanish, a language she was just getting familiar with. Well narrated, with astute observations on the people and the countries, it can appeal to readers of Austen or of travelogues, without overwhelming with one aspect or the other.”

Registrar Judith Merritt:
Andrew Wyeth, A Secret Life by Richard Meriman.
“A great read—almost like a novel. There’s lots of focus on the influences on Andrew’s life, the involvement of his family and his intense awareness of his surroundings. I was especially interested in the role his wife, Betsy, played as a loyal supporter, an outspoken critic and an organized business manager. Andrew and Betsy had a very strong marriage, even in the face of public criticism and hurtful rumors. I had visited the Olson House in Maine this summer, where Andrew painted his famous ‘Christina’s World’ and it gave me a wonderful backdrop for the book.”

History Teacher Oris Bryant:
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
“It is a quintet and an overall excellent series.”

Counselor Jen Hamilton:
“Over the summer I read The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (a suggestion from Gia Batty).  I liked it so much that I proceeded to read three other books by the same author: The Ten Year Nap, The Wife, and The Position. I highly recommend them all, but The Interestings was my favorite.”

History teacher Don Allard:
The Passage of Power by Robert Caro.
“This is the third in a series of biographies on Lyndon B. Johnson. One of the best biographies I’ve ever read. If you like politics and post-World War U.S. history this is your book!”

Well it looks like The Interestings was the most popular book of the summer. If you are “interested” in reading it, or any of the other books on this list, stop by the library! Be sure to check back soon for our next blog post: What did you read over summer vacation? —student edition.

Happy Reading,
Ms.

Get to Know…Milena Pirint

This is our second entry in a series of blog posts that introduces staff members and essential employees who work at Nobles, so we can learn about who they are and what kinds of books they enjoy.  We hope this series will continue to provide a peek into some of the incredibly vital members of our community.  This week we interview Milena Pirint, whose smiling, welcoming presence we see every day in the admission office.  Learn more about Milena below.

What is your job here at Nobles? I am an administrative assistant in the Admission Office.

How long have you been at Nobles? 16 years

Where did you grow up? Dedham, Mass.

What are a few of your favorite books? Memoirs of a Geisha by Ron Marshall, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani, The Help by Katherine Stockett, Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons to name a few.

What was your favorite book as a teenager? I read a lot of books by John Grisham, Michael Crichton and Stephen King.

What is your favorite movie? I have so many, but a few are Moonstruck, Love Actually, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and John Q.

What is your favorite magazine or newspaper? Any cooking magazine and People

If you were on a deserted island, what three things would you like to have with you? Food, water and an iPad loaded with books and games

Do you read e-books? Yes, I love the convenience! It’s so easy to pack my Kindle and I can bring it anywhere. I just started using Overdrive through the Nobles library this summer and love having access to all kinds of great books anytime.

Do you listen to audio books? Do you have a favorite? Yes, occasionally.  I listened to the whole Twilight series, which was great for me.  My daughter was just a baby at the time and having the audio books helped me multitask.

Thanks, Milena! And don’t forget to stop by the library to check out our display of Ms. Pirint’s favorite books and more!

Happy Reading, Ms.

Get to Know… Greg Croak ’06

You may have seen him rocking out on the bass in Lawrence Auditorium during assembly or eating breakfast in the Castle.  In our third entry of our “Get to Know…” series, we interview Greg Croak ’06 to learn about his reading interests and passion for music. We hope this series will continue to provide a peek into some of the incredibly vital members of our community.

What is your job at Nobles? I am the associate director of graduate affairs.