GCL Celebrates Spring Holidays

After a once in a decade series of snow, sleet, and hail--proving Punxsutawney Phil correct beyond a shadow of a doubt--spring is upon us. The week of March 21 marks the first week of spring as the season technically begins on the twentieth. To celebrate the change of season, there are two uniquely American botanical holidays this week. March 25 marks Pecan Day, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival begins on March 27.

January's new year and February's Chinese New Year have passed, but until fairly recently in world history Americans celebrated the new year this week. March 25 celebrates Old New Year's Day. Before 1751 the then-colonies and the United Kingdom used the increasingly inaccurate Julian calendar. The change to the modern Gregorian calendar moved the new year back to January 1 where it remains today.

On a related note, this week marks the Iranian holiday of Noruz. The new year according to the Persian calendar, Noruz predates Islam in Iran. It has been celebrated for over millennia by Zoroastrians, Baha'is, and cultures historically connected to Persia and Iran.

This week is host to an exciting variety of birthdays. Novelist James Patterson, Indiana Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, comedian Rosie O'Donnell and singers Aretha Franklin and Elton John celebrate birthdays this week. The Garland County Library has biographies on most of these famous people as well as dozens of novels authored by James Patterson.

On a silly note, this week contains two unusual holidays: International Goof-Off Day on March 22 and Make Up Your Own Holiday Day on March 26. Enjoy the possibilities this week has to offer!

Irish Short Story Writers

To commemorate St. Patrick's Day and Hot Springs' (in)famous World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, we'd like to share a list of Irish authors who wrote short stories whose works are available at Garland County Library.

Click the following names to view the author's works available at the Library via our Card Catalog:

Samuel Beckett

John Boyne

Joyce Cary

Lord Dunsany

Neil Jordan

James Joyce

John McGahern

Edna O'Brien

Sean O'Faolain

James Plunkett

William Trevor

Colm Toibin

Oscar Wilde



And the following is the shortest story ever written:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

-Ernest Hemingway

Charles Portis : An Appreciation

The Coen brothers, the pair responsible for a slew of fantastic movies, including Raising Arizona, Blood Simple, No Country for Old Men, Fargo and many others available on DVD at GCL, are currently filming a remake of True Grit. The 1969 original, best known for John Wayne's performance as Rooster Cogburn-- the one-eyed, whiskey drinking Fort Smith marshal- was based on the 1968 novel by El Dorado native Charles Portis. The new version will star Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, and Matt Damon. While the original film was extremely popular, many of the book's admirers have felt that it didn't do justice to the Portis novel, particularly in its depiction of the spitfire teenaged protagonist, Mattie Ross. We hope the Coens will find a more believable actress to bring this great (and very funny) heroine to a new generation.

Even though Portis is best known for True Grit, some of his other works may be even better: Norwood (1966), The Dog of the South (1979), Masters of Atlantis (1985), and Gringos (1991). They all feature Portis' casts of hapless and outlandish characters, razor-sharp dialogue, and wry humor. They're all available here at GCL, so we encourage you to check out a true Arkansas original.