KOH BOOK CLUB - 2012

We have some great books for review this coming year, including two author appearances (Linda Frank and Michael David Lucas): *

After the Auction by Linda Frank - January 10th, 7 p.m. *
Fare Foreward by Wendy Dubow Polins - February 21st, 7 p.m.
The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman - March 20th, 7 p.m.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson - April 17th, 7 p.m.
The Oracle of Stanbul by Michael David Lucas - May 15th, 7 p.m. *
Sweet Like Sugar by Wayne Hoffman - June 12th, 7 p.m.
Stations West by Allison Amend - July 17th, 7 p.m.
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson - August 21st, 7 p.m.
Drawing in the Dust by Zoe Klein - October 16th, 7 p.m.
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman - November 13th, 7 p.m.

Newcomers always welcome to join us anytime!

DECEMBER CLOSURES

The KOH Library and Cultural Center will be closed December 25 through January 1.

Don't forget to make your reservations for the Bridge Players chamber music concert on January 8th! (916-485-4143).

A happy and healthy 2012 to everyone!

Fiction Book Club: Guest Author

The KOH Fiction Book Club News:

We are starting out our first book club meeting of 2012 with a special guest author, Linda Frank who will speak about her book, "After the Auction" .  

This book is about a woman who glimpses a family treasure looted by the Nazis at an art auction and her quest for justice and restitution spanning three continents. Books will be for sale and the public is welcome to attend. 

The special date for this meeting is Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 7 p.m. 

The KOH Library Fiction Book Club normally meets on the 3rd Tuesday evening of the month at 7 p.m.  We have men and women in the group and anyone is invited to join us at any time.

Save the Date: Sunday, January 8, 2012

Musical Program:  The Bridge Players

We are very excited to invite you all to attend the KOH Library and Cultural Center's first professional musical program on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 2 p.m.  

We are bringing in the professional chamber music group, The Bridge Players, who will perform the music of Mendelssohn.  In addition, we will hear a commentary about the life of Mendelssohn.  

The Bridge Players are Randall Weiss and Leslie Ludena (violins), Natalia Vershilova (viola), Victoria Ehrlich (cello).  The Players reside in the San Francisco Bay Area and regularly perform chamber music throughout Northern California. Since 2001, they have been ensemble-in-residence for Music in the Mishkan chamber music series at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco. 

Tickets cost $15 each and seating is limited.  Advanced reservations are suggested. (916-485-4143).

KOH DECEMBER EVENTS

We have two upcoming events in the KOH Library and Cultural Center this month that you won't want to miss!

On Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 2 p.m., we will be showing the film "Attention Aux Enfants!" . This is a documentary of the orphans and displaced children of the Shoah who were hidden in Montmorency (a suburb of Paris) during the Nazi occupation of France. For many years they refused to tell their stories of childhood, hidden from society, their separation from their families, and parents who were deported to death camps. The film has won several prizes and has been shown at film festivals in Paris, New York, and Atlanta. It is in French with English subtitles. We are privileged to have Margo Kaufman, who lived in two of these homes, and was responsible for translating this film into English. She will be leading a discussion and answering questions. Suggested donation of $5.00.

December 18th marks the first arts and crafts fair at KOH Library and Cultural Center. We will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The exhibitors will be featuring unique quality handmade crafts and fine arts, just in time for your holiday gift shopping. There will be something for everyone, including photo art, paintings, fused glass jewelry and art, tee shirts, and much more. Hot drinks and sweets for sale! This event is free to the public.

In addition to these events, we will have our monthly KOH Fiction Book Club meeting on December 13th. We will be choosing all of our books for 2012 at this meeting. We do know that to start 2012, our first book club meeting will be January 10, 2012 when we will welcome author, Linda Frank who will discuss her book "After the Auction" . This book is about a woman who glimpses a family treasure looted by the Nazis at an art auction and her quest for justice and restitution spanning three continents. Books will be for sale and the public is welcome to attend.

SAVE THE DATE!! - On Sunday, January 8, 2012, we are bringing the Bay Area Group "The Bridge Players" to perform music by Mendelssohn. In addition , this group of professional musicians will be presenting a commentary on Mendelssohn's life. Seating is limited and the cost is $15.00 per person. Advanced reservations are suggested.

I wish you all a very happy Hannukah and a happy, healthy 2012!

New Arrivals December 2011

The Shovel and the Loom, A Novel
by Carl Friedman

The Devil Himself, A Novel
by Eric Dezenhall

The Listener, A Novel
by Shira Nayman

Sharon - The Life of a Leader
by his son, Gilad Sharon

My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner,
A Family Memoir
by Meir Shalev

Ben Gurion - A Political Life
by Shimon Peres in Conversation with David Landau

Jerusalem, the Biography
by Simon Sebag Montefiore

Fare Forward, A Novel
by Wendy Dubow Polins

Love and Shame and Love, A Novel
by Peter Orner

And three titles by acclaimed author, Ursula Hegi:
   Stones From the River, A Novel
   Floating in My Mother's Palm, A Novel
   The Vision of Emma Blau, A Novel

NOVEMBER EVENTS

KOH Film Club - November 13, 2011 at 2 p.m. We will be presenting the comedy "Keeping Up With The Steins". This film is recommended for ages 12 and up. Suggested donation of $5.

All hilarity breaks loose in this heartwarming coming-of-age comedy when three generations collide in a crazy family reunion . . . and then begin to see that they are much more alike than they'd originally thought! Providing nonstop laughs In the tradition of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS stars Jeremy Piven (TV’s ENTOURAGE), Jami Gertz (ALLY MCBEAL), Daryl Hannah (KILL BILL) and Garry Marshall (A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN). Also starring Doris Roberts (TV's EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND), Cheryl Hines (TV's CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM), and Larry Miller (THE PRINCESS DIARIES).

KOH Fiction Book Club - November 15th at 7 p.m. Valla Hoffman will be leading a discussion of the book "Siegfried Follies" by Richard Alther:

SIEGFRIED FOLLIES is the 30-year story of an unlikely pairing of two orphan boys, a German and a Jew, who together survive the loss of family, witness atrocities, and struggle for identity as adults. Blond, blue-eyed Franz, a Hitler youth, in fleeing his Nazi home as bombs destroy Munich, saves a filthy, speechless boy thrown from a train. At first squatting in an opera house cellar, they soon make a proper home for themselves. Despite Franz pursuing the American dream while J ventures from an Israeli kibbutz to New York City as a Hebrew storyteller and puppeteer, they forge a remarkable brotherhood. Both defying and affirming their past, their story is also of bonds broken, the worst kind of betrayal, tragedy, forgiveness, and redemption.

KOH Art Gallery - Don't forget to come and check out Roni Galon's art exhibit before it leaves at the end of November.

SAVE THE DATE: December 18th - KOH Arts and Crafts Faire! Perfect for Hannukah/holiday gifts. Featuring the art of Jewish artists in a variety of mediums. From 10 .m. - 5 p.m. More details to follow.