Big Girls Do Cry

Big Girls Do Cry
Carl Weber
Dafina Books, 2010

The ladies of the BGBC--that's the Big Girl Book Club--are back for another round of adventures in Carl Weber's Big Girls Do Cry. The only requirements for membership are a love of reading and being a size 14 or larger. The sequel to Something on the Side, Big Girls Do Cry picks up with the story of Egypt and her crazy (and I don't mean that in a good way) sister Isis. Egypt has relocated to Richmond, Virginia, from New York with her husband Rashad ... the same Rashad that Isis dated for over 10 years before her sister Egypt married him.

Egypt fears that her marriage could be coming to an end because she's not able to have children. Fortunately, Isis, who lives with Egypt and Rashad, steps up to be a surrogate mother. But between her last suicide attempt, which was spurred by her heartache over the married playboy Tony, and losing Rashad to her sister, Isis is struggling to get her life together. And for some reason, she wants Tony back.

New club member Loraine, who is also Egypt's boss, seems to have everything going for herself: She's president of her own public relations firm, and is in the running to be president of her sorority. She just has to keep her sorors from finding out about her cheating husband. Jerome, the only male member of the BGBC, is Loraine's openly gay best friend. He is proud of the way he lives his life--loving and leaving his partners--until the day he leaves the wrong one and all hell breaks loose.

Lots a'drama, but a good read. But hey the drama is not over just yet: Catch up with Loraine and Jerome and the other members of the Big Girl Book Club in part two, Torn Between Two Lovers.

And if you want even more drama, check out other books by Carl Weber, such as Up To Know Good and So You Call Yourself a Man. Or visit his website, http://www.carlweber.net/.

Kia DuPree, Tonight!

Author Talk: Kia DuPree
Wednesday, February 24, 6 p.m.

Calling all urban fiction fans! Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library will host award-winning author Kia DuPree, who will talk about her new book, Damaged.

"Dupree's debut offers readers an unvarnished look at the troubled, violence-filled lives of inner-city youth in Washington, D.C., frequently through the eyes and experiences of Camille Logan. Ten-year-old Camille is placed with the Brinkleys, yet another foster family, where she suffers extreme mental and sexual abuse for years, until she's rescued by Chu, a low-level drug dealer who actually loves and looks after her. But when Chu is murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, Camille makes a desperate choice to join a cruel pimp's stable, where she faces her situation and struggles to change her life."1

DuPree, who now lives in Washington, D.C., was an assistant editor at St. Martin's Press in New York. In 2005 she received the Fiction Honor Book Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association for her debut novel, the self-published Robbing Peter. DuPree earned a B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University, as well as an M.A. in English from Old Dominion University.

Copies of Damaged will be available for purchase and for check out at the reading.

1Review: Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.

This Week at Watha T. Sept. 15-Sept. 21

Good morning neighbors!

It's the last week of summer. I know, it hasn't felt like summer for a while now, but it's still summer for 7 more days! To celebrate we'll have a booth at the Heart of DC Picnic on Saturday Sept. 19th. Come down and see Eric do a story time singalong with the kids at the picnic and bring your friends to sign up for library cards.

Here's what's happening this week at Watha T.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

10:00: Preschool Story Time
4:00: Book Talk

Wednesday, Sept. 16

4:00: Urban Fiction Book Talk
5:00: Wii Sports
6:30: Capitol Letters Writing Center New Volunteer Orientation

Thursday, Sept. 17

10:00: Mother Goose on the Loose

Friday, Sept. 18

10:00: Rock Along
4:00: Anime Club

Saturday, Sept. 19

10:00: Family Story Time
11:00: Heart of DC Picnic @ Mt. Vernon Place

Sunday, Sept. 20

2:00: Sunday Matinee

Monday, Sept. 21

6:00: History Book Club discusses Sun Tzu's The Art of War

This Week at Watha T. Aug. 17-Aug. 24

Good Morning Neighbors!

We've passed the halfway point this month. Can you believe it? I know I can't believe it. This is the last week before DC Public Schools start up again. Make sure you get your kids in here to claim the final summer reading prizes this year.

Here's what we've got in store for you this week at Watha T.

Monday, August 17

2:00: American Sign Language Class
6:00: History Book Club: Plato's Republic, chapters 6-7

Tuesday, August 18

10:00: Preschool Story Time
4:00: Book Talk

Wednesday, August 19

4:00: Urban Fiction Book Talk

Thursday, August 20

9:50: Mother Goose on the Loose

Friday, August 21

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
12:00: Anime Club presents: Naruto

Saturday, August 22

10:00: Family Story Time

Sunday, August 23

2:00: Heroes

Monday, August 24

2:00: American Sign Language
6:00: Social Justice Lecture Series: The Works Progress Administration and the Art of the New Deal

This Week at Watha T. July 20-July 27

Good Morning Neighbors!

July is moving along swiftly and we've got lots of cool stuff going on, especially on Wednesday with Fast Freddy the Clown. Make sure and bring the kids for that one, he's great!

Here's what's going on this week at Watha T.

Monday, July 20

2:00: American Sign Language Class
6:00: History Book Club discusses Plato's Republic

Tuesday, July 21

10:00: Preschool Story Time

Wednesday, July 22

1:30: Fast Freddy the Clown
4:00: Urban Fiction Book Club
6:00: Knitting Group

Thursday, July 23

9:50: Mother Goose on the Loose

Friday, July 24

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
12:00: Anime Club presents Naruto Nation

Saturday, July 25

10:00: Family Story Time
3:00: Concert Film Series: Sonny Rollins

Sunday, July 26

2:00: Heroes

Monday, July 27

2:00: American Sign Language Class
4:00: Christon "Christylez" Bacon - Hip Hop Poetry Slam
6:00: Social Justice Lecture Series: The United Nations and Tibet

This Week at Watha T. June 15-22

Good Morning Neighbors!

This is a special week for us. We'll be opening an hour earlier on Monday and Wednesday and closing an hour later on Tuesday and Thursday for the Finishing Touch event. Come and checkout the furniture, carpet and paint for the new Watha T. Daniel Library, and vote for your favorite lounge chair! I hope to see you there.

Here's what's happening this week at Watha T.

Monday, June 15

12:00: Finishing Touch Event
2:00: American Sign Language Class
6:00: History Book Club discusses: The Prince

Tuesday, June 16

10:00: Preschool Story Time
5:30: Finishing Touch Event

Wednesday, June 17

12:00: Finishing Touch Event
1:30: Daniel Barash Shadow Puppets
4:00: Urban Fiction Book Club
6:00: Book Talk: Manga for Adults

Thursday, June 18

9:50: Mother Goose on the Loose
5:30: Finishing Touch Event

Friday, June 19

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
12:00: Anime Club: Naruto Nation

Saturday, June 20

10:00: Family Story Time
12:00: Magic: The Gathering
2:00: Be Creative Saturdays for Kids
3:00: Concert Film Series: Come Together: The Music of John Lennon

Sunday, June 21

2:00: Paul Robeson Film Series: Emperor Jones

Monday, June 22

2:00: American Sign Language Class
6:00: Social Justice Lecture Series: Darfur

This Week at Watha T. May 18 - May 25

Good Morning Neighbors!

This monday marks the end of our weekly homework help sessions. If you kids haven't met with our tutors yet, this is the prime opportunity to use their help for those end of the school year projects.

Also, we've got our first Summer Reading program event of the year. Come and check out the Nicolo Whimsey Show with your young ones.

Here's what's happening this week at Watha T.

Monday, May 18

3:30: Homework Help with Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00: History Book Club discusses: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Tuesday, May 19

10:00: Story Time

Wednesday, May 20

4:00: Urban Fiction Book Club discusses The Best of Everything by Kimberla Lawson Roby
6:00: Big Read Discussion: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Thursday, May 21

10:00: Mother Goose on the Loose
10:30: Nicolo Whimsey Show

Friday, May 22

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Anime Club presents Deathnote

Saturday, May 23

10:00: Story Time
12:00: Magic the Gathering
3:00: Saturday Documentaries: When the Levees Broke

Sunday, May 24

3:00: Folk Tales

Monday, May 25

Closed in observance of Memorial Day

This Week at Watha T. April 14-21

Good Morning Neighbors!

Here's what we've got in store for you this week.

Tuesday, April 14

10:00: Story Time for 3-5 years old
4:00: Tech Tuesday

Wednesday, April 15

4:00: Urban Fiction Discussion with Towanda
6:00: Chess Club for kids

Thursday, April 16
Emancipation Day

10:00: Mother Goose on the Loose
3:30: Games for Teens

Friday, April 17

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Anime Club presents Naruto

Saturday, April 18

10:00: Storytime and Craft for families
12:00: Opera Program: Nozze di Figaro
2:00: Teen Craft: Fabulous Beaded Jewelery

Sunday, April 19

3:00: Folktales with Nick

Monday, April 20

3:30: Homework Help with Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00: History Book Club

Tuesday, April 21

10:00: Story Time for 3-5 years old
4:00: Tech Tuesday

This Week at Watha T. March 17-24

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Neighbors!

As per usual we've got a lot of things going on at Watha this week. Swing by and check it out.

Tuesday, March 17

10:00: Story Time with Eric
4:00: Tech Tuesday

Wednesday, March 18

4:00: Urban Fiction Book Club
6:00: Chess Club
6:30: Tax help from H&R Block

Thursday, March 19

10:00: Mother Goose on the Loose
3:30: Open games for teens

Friday, March 20

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Anime Club

Saturday, March 21

10:00: Story Time for Families
12:00: Weekly Opera Program: Siegfried

Sunday, March 22

3:00: Folktales with Nick

Monday, March 23

3:30: Homework Help with Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00: Lecture: Gandhi and Nonviolence

Tuesday, March 24

10:00: Story Time
4:00: Tech Tuesday

This Week at Watha T. Jan. 12 - Jan. 21

Good Morning Neighbors!

Welcome to the extra long edition of this week at Watha T. Due to the upcoming holiday we've got to stretch this week's calendar of events all the way to next Wednesday.

Monday, Jan. 12

3:30 - Homework Help with Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00 - Genealogy III, advanced research methods

Tuesday, Jan. 13

10:00 - Story Time with Eric
4:00 - Tech Tuesday

Wednesday, Jan. 14

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
6:00 - Chess Club
7:30 - Open Knitting Group

Friday, Jan. 16

3:30 - Anime Club presents Bleach

Saturday, Jan. 17

10:00 - Story Time with Nick

Sunday, Jan. 18

2:00 - Sunday Stories with Nick: Fairy Tales

Monday, Jan. 19

Closed for observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Closed for the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama

Wednesday, Jan. 21

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
6:00 - Chess Club
7:00 - Urban Fiction Book Club with Towanda

Hot Picks

We've added a new widget for those of you looking for something a little more daring than the average novel. Check out Towanda's Hot Picks for a list of great new urban fiction titles, or if you want to browse, come inside and look for the shelf, right next to the door.

This Week at Watha T. Nov. 17 - Nov. 23

Good Afternoon Neighbors!

My sincerest apologies for the tardiness of our weekly events post. We've been having some technical difficulties on the staff side at Watha this week. So I come to you via our public computers. Yes, you can blog at Watha, and if you don't know, just ask and I'll be happy to show you.

Here's what we've had and what we've got going on for you this week.

Monday, Nov. 17

3:30 - Homework Help from the Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00 - Love That Movie: Night at the Museum

Tuesday, Nov. 18

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
4:00 - Tech Tuesday: Email Basics

Wednesday, Nov. 19

10:00 - Story Time with Miss Tracy
6:00 - Youth Chess Club
7:00 - Urban Fiction Book Club discusses Trading Dreams at Midnight by Diane McKinney-Whetstone

Thursday, Nov. 20

9:45 - Mother Goose on the Loose for Infants and Toddlers
3:30 - Teen "Any Book" Club

Friday, Nov. 21

3:30 - Anime Club presents Robotech episodes 1-4

Saturday, Nov. 22

10:00 - Preschool Breakfast Club (Final Program)
12:00 - National Novel Writing Month Support Group

Saturday, Nov. 23

2:00 - Sunday Stories: No Talking by Andrew Clements