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Grab your popcorn, grab your friend, and join us for an propulsive online conversation with author Liann Zhang as she chats with us about her debut thriller Julie Chan is Dead.
Register HERE.
Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse.
Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL). When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied.
Haunted by Chloe’s untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.
Julie Chan is Dead is the brilliant, dark, and diabolical debut thriller we’ve all been waiting for. Register now for a wildly fun conversation!
About the Author: Liann Zhang is a second-generation Chinese Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. After a short stint as a skincare content creator, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology. Julie Chan Is Dead is her first novel.
View the book in our catalog HERE.
Watch past author talks HERE.
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Everyone knows Judy Blume.
Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century?
In The Genius of Judy, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, Blume explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships, and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary—she just wanted to tell honest stories—but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.
Blume’s bravery provoked backlash, making her the country’s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully, her works withstood those culture wars and it’s no coincidence that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. Young girls are still cat-called, sex education curricula are getting dismissed as pornography, and entire shelves of libraries are being banned. As we face these challenges, it’s only natural we look to Blume, the grand dame of so-called dirty books. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy, today more than ever.
Register now for a conversation you don’t want to miss!
About the Author: Rachelle Bergstein is a lifestyle writer, author, and editor, focused on style, pop culture, and families. Her work has appeared in the New York Post, The New York Times, NPR, and more. She is the author of three books: Women from the Ankle Down, Brilliance and Fire, and The Genius of Judy. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn.
View the book in our catalog HERE.
Watch past author talks HERE.
Former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief, Jill Dougherty, will be at Essex Library to discuss her recently released book, My Russia. My Russia reveals Dougherty’s transformative journey from a Cold War–era obsession with Russia to witnessing firsthand the rise of Vladimir Putin and the unraveling of a nation she grew to love. My Russia charts Russia’s evolution through the eyes of an American with rare insight into Russia, its people, and its leaders. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing at the event. Light refreshments will be provided.
This program is FREE and open to ALL at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required.
About Jill Dougherty
Jill Dougherty was a CNN correspondent for over thirty years. She is now a CNN on-air contributor, reporting and analyzing events in Russia and the region. She was CNN’s Moscow bureau chief for almost a decade and served as CNN’s White House correspondent, US affairs editor, managing editor for the Asia/Pacific region, and foreign affairs correspondent covering the US State Department.
She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a global fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She teaches at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies and has pursued research on Russia and the media as a fellow at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School and the International Centre for Defense and Security in Estonia.
She regularly writes for CNN.com, and her work has been published in The Atlantic, Politico, The Washington Post, and elsewhere. She lives in Washington, DC, and speaks fluent Russian.
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In Don’t Let Him In, three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.
Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…
Things don’t make sense and patience is wearing thin…
Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation. But Martha can’t shake the feeling that something isn't right, despite her husband calling her mad and insisting they know everything there is to know about one another.
Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.
Register now for the thrill of a lifetime!
About the Author: Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including None of This Is True, The Family Upstairs, and Then She Was Gone, as well as Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her novels have sold over ten million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into twenty-nine languages. Connect with her on X @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.
View The Talk After June 10 HERE
Find the Book In Our Catalog HERE
In May, the group will read "Trust" by Hernan Diaz.
This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!
No registration required.
Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.
This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us!
No registration required.
Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.
Meet up with other genealogy aficionados, talk about resources, share your own genealogy journey, ask questions, and more! Great group for beginners looking to get into the community and long-time enthusiasts looking to meet new friends and share their passion.
Meet up with other beginner to intermediate French speakers to practice conversation in a friendly environment.
This group is for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and is facilitated by a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter. People talk about their experiences and offer suggestions to deal with topics including medical, legal, behavioral and financial problems.
If you need time and a place to focus on your writing, the library has set aside a block of time just for you with a new interest group for writers. Come meet fellow writers to socialize for half an hour, followed by an hour of writing time. No prompts. No critique. Just write! All levels and all genres welcome.
Stay & Play is a pop-in social time for children and their caregivers. Come for a few minutes, or stay for a couple hours! This is your time to socialize, and make memories with your child.
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required. Pop in!
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Support local wildlife and spread joy by “bombing” empty garden space with clay creations containing native seeds. Make a bag of seed bombs and go forth into your community to encourage the return of important pollinating species. The library will provide all needed supplies at this event. Registration is required.
Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Sign up to spend time with and read to Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog and his handler, Rebecca Russell. Time slots will be a private 15 minutes to read to and interact with Louie.
This free event is open to all kids & teens who wish to practice reading, or spend time, with a therapy dog.
Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Sign up to spend time with and read to Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog and his handler, Rebecca Russell. Time slots will be a private 15 minutes to read to and interact with Louie.
This free event is open to all kids & teens who wish to practice reading, or spend time, with a therapy dog.
Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Sign up to spend time with and read to Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog and his handler, Rebecca Russell. Time slots will be a private 15 minutes to read to and interact with Louie.
This free event is open to all kids & teens who wish to practice reading, or spend time, with a therapy dog.
Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Sign up to spend time with and read to Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog and his handler, Rebecca Russell. Time slots will be a private 15 minutes to read to and interact with Louie.
This free event is open to all kids & teens who wish to practice reading, or spend time, with a therapy dog.
Program for kids ages 0-3 and their caregivers, siblings welcome!
Wiggle Worms is a play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
No registration required.