November Book Club

Join us in November as we discuss The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai.

In a crumbling, isolated house at the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas lives an embittered judge who wants only to retire in peace, when his orphaned granddaughter, Sai, arrives on his doorstep. The judge’s cook watches over her distractedly, for his thoughts are often on his son, Biju, who is hopscotching from one gritty New York restaurant to another. Kiran Desai’s brilliant novel, published to huge acclaim, is a story of joy and despair. Her characters face numerous choices that majestically illuminate the consequences of colonialism as it collides with the modern world.

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 6:30pm. We're back in the Community Room for our next meeting, so please join us!

October Book Club Pick: Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook

With the seasons changing and Halloween lurking around the corner, the West Valley Book Club has opted for a darker novel full of drama and suspense, not to mention a seasonally-appropriate title. Please join us in October as we discuss Red Leaves by Edgar-award winning author Thomas H. Cook.

Eric Moore has reason to be happy. He has a prosperous business, a comfortable home, a stable family life in a quiet town. Then, on an ordinary night, his teenage son Keith is asked to babysit Amy Giordano, the eight-year-old daughter of a neighboring family. The next morning Amy is missing.
Red Leaves is a story of broken trust and one man's heroic effort to hold fast the ties that bind him to everything he loves.

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30pm to discuss this book and to help choose our November pick. Please note that we will be meeting in Study Room B in the back of the library for our next meeting.

September Book Club

In honor of its 50th anniversary of publication, the West Valley Book Club will read and discuss the beloved classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Many of us have read this novel at some point in our lives, and if you haven't, you've got to check out this staple of American Literature. Even if you've already read it, there is enough rich content to ignite interesting discussion and opinions.

Join us on Wed. September 8th at 6:30pm in the Community Room to discuss this classic. We'll share some refreshments and decide on our next pick for October.

Growing Asian Vegetables

Come join us on Wednesday, July 14 from 7-8PM in the WV Community Room for our next free program conducted by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Jean Lee will share her experience and expertise growing Asian vegetables in her year-round Santa Clara County garden. Learn how (and when) to plant and harvest various Asian vegetables. The presentation will include photos from Jean's garden and from her trips to China. Bring your questions!

July Book Club

We're going to non-fiction for the month of July and it's a real adventure story in tracing the travels of one Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who was determined to discover the lost city of El Dorado in the dense Amazon jungle of Brazil. The only problem is that Fawcett and his small band of explorers disappered and were never heard from, nor found, again. The Lost City of Z is author David Grann's attempt to solve "the greatest exploration mystery of the 20th century" and he tells a fascinating tale of just what it takes to explore the Amazon and the jungle's "green hell." The book club will meet on Wednesday, July 21st at 6:30pm (one week later than usual!) Please join us if you can.

Bouquets From Your Garden

Flowers in the home say "Welcome!" Join us from 10 AM-Noon on Saturday, June 12, 2010 in the Community Room, where the UC Master Gardeners will show us how to create our own garden of cutting flowers. Be inspired to create your own arrangements with what you gather from your yard. Instructors will bring flowers and other plant materials for demonstration.
Activities for children will be available on the patio outside the Community Room. This free event is sponsored by Friends of the West Valley Library, UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County and the WV Branch Library.

June Book Club

In June we'll be reading some fiction that is based on a contemporary topic with global relevance. And just so we're clear about this, the word "fundamentalist" should not only be applied strictly to those of Muslim faith, but in this case the book "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" deals with the choices and life experiences of a muslim man in the western world. It's a short read at 184 pages, but surely a topic and global reality worth exploring and talking about. The Reluctant Fundamentalist was written by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid in 2007 and will hopefully provide an engrossing level of conversation when next we meet on Wednesday June 9th at 6:30pm, as always. See you then.

Backyard Beekeeping with UCCE Master Gardeners

We have a real problem in our urban areas. We don't have enough bees to pollinate our fruit trees, flowers and vegetables. Ever wonder what it takes to become a backyard beekeeper? Join us on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in the West Valley Branch Community Room as UC Master Gardener Anita Rosen tells us what is involved. Bring your questions. For more information about Master Gardeners, please visit their web site.

May Book Club Pick

For the month of May we have chosen a title that takes place during the glamour days of 1950's era Cuba ... well until the glamour is interrupted by the Cuban revolution and the legendary ruler who still lives, Fidel Castro. Telex from Cuba is by Cuban-American author Rachel Kushner and was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2008. It has received many positive reviews and we hope that it'll be well received at our next book club meeting on Wednesday May 12th at the usual time of 6:30pm. See you there.

UCCE Master Gardeners: Growing Culinary Herbs

Please join us on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 from 7-8 PM for our next program from the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County.

Learn from UC Master Gardener Ann Ranish how easy it is to grow your own herbs to add lively flavor to your meals. Add culinary herbs to the vegetable garden, use as companions for drought tolerant ornamentals, or grow them in containers. Bring your questions!

This is the fourth free gardening event for 2010 sponsored by West Valley Library, Friends of the West Valley Library and the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. This program will be held in the West Valley Branch Library Community Room.

Census 2010 assistance at West Valley

West Valley library will have a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau through the 19th of April here to assist any members of the public seeking help or information about their census forms. Our Census worker Tiffany will be here Thursday & Friday 1-6pm and Sat. 10-3pm in Study Room B, March 19-April 19 in case you're looking for someone to answer any questions you might have or help you may need in completing the required information from the U.S. Census Bureau. Take advantage of the assistance provided because completion of the Census information is required by law, folks!

April Book Club Selection

Louise Erdrich, prolific author of titles such as Love Medicine and The Master Butchers Singing Club among many others, wrote The Plague of Doves in 2008 and it's the title we'll be reading next month for our book club. It's a family epic of indigenous Ojibwe peoples and white European settlers in North Dakota, a pseudo-mystery and by all accounts a memorable tale written by an accomplished storyteller. Join us on Thursday, April 15th at 6pm in the community room of the library for our next meeting.

UC Master Gardeners Present: Growing Tomatoes!

Learn the secrets to growing great tasting tomatoes from UC Master Gardeners Sue Zaslaw and Janet Waagen. Learn about the many different varieties of tomatoes, how to get them started and planted, how to grow them, protect them and keep them healthy.
Join us for this program in the Community Room from 7-8PM on Wednesday, March 17.
This free gardening event is sponsored by West Valley Branch Library, Friends of the West Valley Library and the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County.

March Book Club Title

We're going back to fiction, contemporary fiction, for the March gathering of our book club. Specifically, we'll be reading The White Tiger: A Novel by Aravind Adiga. According to the publisher: "Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant. Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a success in life—having nothing but his own wits to help him along." So hopefully this gives a little taste of this novel of one man's version of contemporary India that won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. It'll be a good time when next we meet on Wednesday, March 10th at 6:30pm. Join us if you can.

Author Event at West Valley February 25th

We're lucky here at West Valley library when Silicon Valley Reads rolls around because we've gotten some great author programs over the years. Typically they are well-attended and this year we have another event to offer. Jonah Raskin, author of Field Days: A Year of Farming, Eating, and Drinking Wine in California will be here on Thursday, February 25th at 6:30pm to talk about his book and hopefully shed some fascinating light on farming and food topics here in Northern California. Locavores and really anyone interested in contemporary food topics should find much value in writers like Mr. Raskin, and his visiting our branch library is an event that we're fortunate to be able to present. Come check it out and take advantage of the unique offerings that Silicon Valley Reads enables us to present to our community.

Growing Orchids is Easier Than You Think!

Join us on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 from 7-8 PM for a free gardening event with UC Master Gardener David Giroux, an orchid expert. Mr. Giroux will discuss varieties of orchids as well as share tips on maintaining healthy, beautiful orchids in your home and garden.

Bring your problem orchids to the talk for his diagnosis and advice.

This free gardening event is sponsored by West Valley Branch Library, Friends of the West Valley Library and the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. We will meet in the West Valley Branch Library Community Room.

Silicon Valley Reads & February Book Club

This year's title for Silicon Valley Reads is a non-fiction book that you've probably heard about due to the ample attention that the writer has received in recent years for his important and timely writings. The author is Michael Pollan and the title is In Defense of Food. Maybe you've heard the mantra: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." That is the most basic summary the author can provide for advice that was sought out from him after his previous bestseller, The Omnivore's Dilemma. Both of these titles are important works addressing contemporary topics on food, diet and health in the broader spectrum of culture, but for February's book club we'll be focusing on In Defense of Food. It is the Silicon Valley Reads pick of the year and you'd be wise to pick up a copy and join in the community dialogue. There are tons of programs going on, just check out the link for sponsored programs ... or come to our book club for starters! WV Book Club next meets on Wednesday, February 10th @6:30pm.

"A Mysterious Past" Book Club

Readers, our next title for the historical mystery book club will be Demon of the Air, by Simon Levack. This is a novel that takes place in the heydey of the Aztec empire, two years before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. Rumors of pale, bearded men reach the emperor Montezuma and from there a tale twisted plots and counterplots form a gripping narrative. The meeting will be held on Tuesday the 16th of February at 6:00pm. All interested readers are welcome.