HPL Past Events - 2024

 Click here to see this year's current events
​​​
Click to see previous years' events: 2023 - 2022 - 2021 - 2020 - Cancelled - 2020 (COVID) - 2019 - 2018
Every First Tuesday of the Month
6:30 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
Every first Tuesday of the month, the HPL book club meets to discuss their latest literary selection.

For more information, visit redlibrary.org/book-clubs.
Every First Tuesday of the Month | 2:00 - 4:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
The Hopewell Public Library is happy to host a knitting club again for all interested adult patrons.  Come to the library to socialize and work on your current knitting projects with Nina Lane!
The club will meet every first Tuesday of the month at the Hopewell Public Library from 2:00pm-4:00pm. For more information, contact Sara Schoonover at [email protected]. The meeting will be held in person at the library and via Zoom at the link below (Meeting ID: 867 0916 4523).

World

Thursday, August 22nd  |  4:00–5:00 pm
The Hopewell Presbyterian Church
80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Take a tasty trip to other countries as you make some yummy snacks. Join Michele Bostwick at the for treats and adventurous fun. (For ages 4–8)

Space is limited for this program. Registration is required.

Board Game Night

Tuesday, August 20th  |  6:00 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
Join us for an evening of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. Registration is requested, but not required. Register here!

Geocaching

Wednesday, August 14th  |  6:00 - 7:30 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Open for all ages!
Discover the thrill of adventure as you join us for our very own Geocaching event.  Geocaching is a modern and fun way to treasure hunt using GPS devices.   This event is perfect for all ages and skill levels.  We will begin with an overview of Geocaching before heading out to explore Geocaching locations within the Borough.

Art Sparks Adventures

Tuesday, August 13th  |  5:30 - 6:30 pm  
Art Sparks
33 Railroad Place, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Children will create a mixed media art project inspired by the theme “Adventure Begins At Your Library.” Registration is required. (For ages 5–10)

An Afternoon of Fun and Games

Saturday, August 10th  |  1:00 - 3:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Join us for an afternoon of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. Registration is requested, but not required. Register here!

Mad Science: NASA Space Technology

Wednesday, August 7th  |  4:00 - 5:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Calling all space enthusiasts! Children on this adventure will engage with hands-on activities to explore technologies used in space travel and exploration.
 (For ages 5–12)
Space is limited for this program. Registration is required.

Sing Along with Sarah Miles

Thursday, August 1st  |  4:00 - 4:45 pm
Due to the heat this event will take place 
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
​Fellowship Hall
Let’s sing and dance to songs of daring deeds and silly exploits. 
​(For ages 5 and under)

Board Game Night

Tuesday, July 30th  |  6:00 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
Join us for an evening of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. Registration is requested, but not required. Register here!

A Hands-On Guide to Making Spring Rolls

Thursday, July 25th  |  12:30 - 2:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
Are you looking for an easy and cool summer time treat to make? Come learn the art of making fresh Spring Rolls.  In this workshop you will learn to hand roll your own spring rolls and choose from a variety of fillings to customize your own flavors.  This class does not require any previous experience. Open to participants that are 18 years of age or older. 

An Adventure in Photography

Wednesday, July 24th  |  4:00 - 5:00 pm
at the Hopewell Borough Gazebo Park
Explore Hopewell Park’s trails, streams and fields through the lens of a Smartphone or camera. Photos will be exhibited at the Gallery 14 Studio, on August 3th and 4th. This summer reading event is open to ages 8-16. Please bring a Smartphone or camera.  In the event of rain, we will move to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church for an indoor adventure!

Exploring the Night

Thursday, July 18th  |  7:30 - 8:30 pm
at the Hopewell Borough Gazebo Park
Join this adventurous exploration of nature on a summer night in Hopewell Park. We will walk the trails in the dark, using our senses to discover a world hidden from us during the day. This adventure is led by Jeff Hoagland, naturalist, haiku poet, and Educational Director of the Watershed Institute. This summer reading event is open to all ages. Please bring a flashlight.
Registration for this event is at capacity.

Firehouse Feats!

Wednesday, July 10th  |  6:30 - 7:30 pm
at the Hopewell Borough Fire Department
Come take a tour with the friendly crew of the Hopewell Fire Department and learn about real adventures right in your town. This summer reading event is open to all ages.

                                                               Availability: Currently FULL

Eyes of the Wild

Tuesday, July 2nd  |  4:30 - 5:30 pm
at the Hopewell Borough Gazebo Park
What's a better way to kick off our weekly summer adventures than learning about awesome exotic animals? Getting to see them, too! In the event of rain, we will move to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

                                                                                                                 Availability: Currently FULL
Every other Wednesday  |  6:30 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
“We knit at night!” Join a friendly group of knitters who want to knit at night! This group meets twice a month at the Hopewell Public Library on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm. Night Knitters will take place in-person at the library and online via Zoom at the link below (Meeting ID: 859 2119 5013​)
Attend Via Zoom
Saturday, June 22nd  |  1:30 - 2:30 pm
Kick off the summer season by learning some essential rules of the road and how to navigate the road safely as you bike and walk around town. This presentation will be for parents, families, and elementary-aged children. The workshop focuses on the importance of wearing a helmet properly, understanding and adhering to the rules of the road, and acquiring essential skills for biking, walking, and safely crossing the street. By the end of the workshop, you'll feel equipped with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the streets around town with ease.

This workshop will be presented by: The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. Their organization was founded in 1981 by a small group of concerned parents of children who had sustained brain injury. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for anyone impacted by brain injury by providing support, advocacy, and information, while promoting brain injury prevention.

Don't miss this opportunity to kickstart your summer adventures on the right foot- sign up now and ensure a season filled with safe and enjoyable journeys!

Summer Reading Begins!

at the Hopewell Public Library
13 East Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Tuesday, June 18th at 12:00 pm
Registration kicks off for the 2024 summer reading program, “Adventure Begins at Your Library!” Come choose your reading goal and sign up for our weekly adventures. Our first summer reading escapade, with the animals from Eyes of the Wild, will be July 2nd.
at the Hopewell Public Library
13 East Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Saturday, June 15th  |  10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Meet at the library for a Chalk the Block extravaganza.  An experienced chalk artist will be on hand to give a short demonstration at the library. Then we will fill the sidewalks of Hopewell Borough with colorful art.

Cookbook Book Club

at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Tuesday, June 11th  |  6:30 - 8:00 pm
The cookbook club moves to a new venue this month. The Presbyterian church is handicapped accessible, inside and out.
For each meeting, the Cookbook Book Club chooses a cookbook – classic, new, hot, or obscure. Each member cooks one dish from the book and brings it to the library so everyone can sit down together and discuss the book while eating a feast from the book’s recipes. For more information, please visit redlibrary.org/book-clubs.

HPL Book and Baked Goods Sale

at the Hopewell Public Library
13 East Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Saturday, June 8th  |  9:00 am - 1:00 pm
As you stroll around town during the annual town wide yard sale, be sure to check out the library’s sale items: books, and delicious homemade treats, including an assortment of gluten-free items. We will also be selling half price HPL bags ($5), and Hopeopoly games ($20). All proceeds from the sale will go to support programming at the Hopewell Public Library.
at the Hopewell Borough Gazebo Park
S Greenwood Ave, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Saturday, June 1st  |  11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join the HPL community to celebrate the launch of Pride Month on the first day of June. Special guest Cissy Walken will present a read aloud, along with a fun craft activity guaranteed to delight both young and old.
About the Reader: Cissy is a drag queen, singer, comedian and chef who regularly performs throughout New York City. She was crowned Miss Stonewall Inn 2019 as part of the commemoration for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Cissy’s performances "The Simsinz” and “Amy Winehouse: Back to Life” played at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, earning her MAC & Glam Award nominations. She’s also the host and creator of “Cissy’s Pasta Party” where she teaches people how to make fresh, delicious pasta.

Foursquares to the Fore: An Iconic American House Type Dominates Early 20th Century Hopewell Borough​

​Wednesday, May 22nd 2024 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
So common as to be barely mentioned in books on architecture, the Foursquare house is an American icon of the early 20th century. From about 1900 into the 1930’s it was one of the most common types of house built in this country, but only relatively recently has its importance and distinctive character been recognized. 
At least 52 of these houses still stand in Hopewell Borough today, most of them probably built between 1910 and 1930.  Only 11 are shown on the 1912 Sanborn Map.
So why are there so many of these houses? What are their defining features? Could you buy one from Sears?  Who built them and lived in them, and what does that tell us about early 20th century Hopewell?
About the Speaker: ​Ian Burrow is a semi-retired archaeologist. He was born, raised and educated in England. After working there for 10 years as a professional archaeologist, he emigrated to the United States in 1988 to continue his archaeological career in New Jersey and surrounding states. He serves on the Board of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (among other things).
Tuesday, May 21st  |  6:00 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
Join us for an evening of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. Registration is requested, but not required. This event is open to all ages.
RESCHEDULED: Tuesday, May 21st | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Rain Date: Wednesday, May 22nd
Join us for a lecture on bonsai basics, a guided garden tour, and a Q&A session at the Sked Street Bonsai Garden.  The exact location will be given to registrants prior to the event.  
Discover the basics of Bonsai with Carl Stern at the Sked Street Bonsai Garden, the location of the Central Jersey Bonsai Club. Learn about the history, design, care, and maintenance regarding this craft.  The Sked Street Bonsai Garden includes over 100 trees and more than 50 species.  Some of these trees have been "in training" for over 20 years.  This is Mr. Stern's 39th year of "doing Bonsai."  The garden provides the feeling of being in a small, relaxing sanctuary with the new landscaping and enclosure.  
Registration is full, but you can email us at [email protected] if you are interested in attending this event in the future!

Gardens and Landscape:
Drawing with Monet and the Impressionists

Wednesdays
April 17th - May 15th
2:00 - 3:30 pm
​at Karen McLean's studio
Local Artist Karen McLean will be offering another 5 week class session in April and May.  This class will be focused on Impressionist Gardens and Landscapes through the art of Claude Monet. Participants will use chalk pastels to create their own artwork. Registration is required for this class. Space is limited. Images by Claude Monet and Childe Hassam.
Saturday, May 11th | 12:00 - 2:00 pm
The Hopewell Presbyterian Church
80 West Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Join us for an afternoon of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. Registration is requested, but not required.
Cruise Night Cotton Candy Fundraiser
Stop by the library on Friday, May 10th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm, where we will be selling cotton candy for $3 as a library fundraiser!

St. Michael's Orphanage - A Visual History

​Wednesday, May 8th 2024 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
or online via Zoom
What was St. Michael's Orphanage? Some know it from old photos, with the large forbidding building standing alone in an empty field. And many now know it as the over 400-acre D&R Greenway St. Michael's Farm Preserve just outside Hopewell Borough, with few visible remnants of its past use. In this presentation, Doug Dixon provides a visual history of St. Michael's, using photos and memories from a variety of contributors. We will "walk" behind the building to see kids playing on the playground and around the grounds. Then we will go inside the building to see the children in the nursery, school rooms, chapel, dining room, and dorm rooms. ​This event is co-sponsored by the Hopewell Public Library, the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum. This event can be attended in-person or via Zoom.

To view a recording of this event, please visit the website for the Hopewell Valley Historical Society.

Poetry in the Park

Saturday, April 27th  |  1:00 - 3:00 pm
at the Foraging Forest near the Hopewell Park Gazebo
 Join us for poetry and education in the Foraging Forest in honor of National Poetry Month and National Native Plant Month. We will celebrate the art and science behind our native plants! Together with the Sourland Conservancy, we will present poetry inspired by nature and learn about these amazing foods that call the Sourlands home! This event is open to all ages. For submission guidelines and more information please email [email protected] or reference the following guidelines:

guidelines_for_poetry_submissions.pdf
File Size: 73 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
A chance for us to come together to not only celebrate Scrabble Day that is celebrated on April 13th, but a time to socialize, engage in fun, and learn from each other.  We hope to see you at this exciting event! This event is open to all ages.
Tuesday, April 16th  |  6:00 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
Join us for an evening of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. Registration is requested, but not required. This event is open to all ages.

with Aaron

Saturday, April 13th  |  10:30 - 11:30 am
at the Hopewell Public Library
Welcome to a super-special storytime! On Saturday morning, April 13th, all of our stories will feature animals in Spring! From fun and funny to flat-out confused, these animals will keep the kids on their toes.

The European Settlement of "Old Hopewell"
with Joe Klett

Picture
Earliest surviving Hopewell Township Minute Book, 1721
This event has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Joseph Klett, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Archives and President of The Hopewell Museum, will discuss the earliest European settlement of "old Hopewell," which included Trenton and Ewing prior to 1720.

Joe will touch upon Indian villages and paths, early roads, civil boundaries, and the Quaker, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Baptist families that settled here starting in the late 1600s. He will also highlight early primary sources such as land and probate records, documentation on slave holdings, etc.

​Co-sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and The Hopewell Museum
Picture
Joseph Klett and his Map of Old Hopewell & Vicinity, 1680-1720, now in development

Cookbook Book Club

at the Hopewell Public Library
13 East Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525
Tuesday, April 9th
​6:30 - 8:00 pm
This month's selection is The Well-Plated Cookbook by Erin Clarke! For more information, visit redlibrary.org/book-clubs.

Seed Exchange

Wednesday, March 13th | after the Speaker Series event
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
Calling all gardeners! Join us on Wednesday, March 13th after the Speaker Series event for our annual Seed Exchange! Bring seeds to share, exchange them for new seeds, or simply pick up free seeds and enjoy meeting fellow gardeners and enthusiasts. As a highlight, there are going to be four Einstein begonias.

Pollinators, Food, and Climate Change


7:00 - 8:15 pm  |  Wednesday, March 13th 2024
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
How is the food we eat dependent on native pollinators? How is what we plant affecting climate change? Why is learning that we can have a positive effect right where we are important to taking action? Learn the key factors that are causing the rapid worldwide decline of the whole spectrum of pollinators and how you can begin to reverse this decimation by creating beautiful habitats that will provide their food and nesting sites.

Judith will talk about how to take a section of whatever size your outdoor space includes and design an oasis for pollinators. This will transform your property into a garden that is beautiful, supports our pollinators, provides habitat, and requires less maintenance by using perennial native flowers, bushes, ground covers, and trees.
About the Speaker
Judith K. Robinson has studied the relationship between soil, plant, and pollinator health since her very first organic food garden. She designs and installs pollinator garden eco-communities for all available garden sizes and delivers workshops to businesses, organizations, libraries, and schools. Learn more at www.ourworldourchoices.com!

Fun with Fabric

Wednesday, March 13th | 1:00 - 3:00 pm
at the Hopewell Train Station
Come have fun with fabric, as you create your own applique picture. Participants will design, cut out, and fuse (using an iron) a spring  fabric flower bouquet. Use your imagination to design your own flower arrangement. Materials will be provided, but please bring your own scissors if you have them. Registration is required!

Creative Well Being Class

Thursday, March 7th | 3:00 - 4:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church - Choir Room
This class is one example in a diverse practice that engages us socially, cognitively, creatively & physically. Taught by a former professional dancer that has worked with different populations throughout the years, Shirin has in more recent years focused on the wellness of the senior population. We’ll move creatively and have some mindful play while having fun at the same time. Registration is required!

About the Instructor:
Shirin Stave-Matias has dedicated a lifetime to her love of movement and sharing it with others, mostly through dance and yoga. 

As a professional dancer she performed internationally in different dance genres. She studied yoga intensely with Sri Swami Bua Ji, MHY & was also on the Board of the Indo-American Yoga Vedanta Society (a non-profit organization in NYC), for many years.
Shirin has also been a member of the International Dance Council - CID UNESCO and maintains an online yoga practice while also teaching for townships, assisted living facilities, Princeton Adult School & at a non-profit space in Lambertville, N.J.

Cookbook Book Club

Tuesday, February 27th | 6:30 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
For each meeting, the Cookbook Book Club chooses a cookbook – classic, new, hot, or obscure. Each member cooks one dish from the book and brings it to the library so everyone can sit down together and discuss the book while eating a feast from the book’s recipes. This meeting's selection is America's Test Kitchen's Modern Bistro: Home Cooking Inspired by French Classics. For more information, please visit redlibrary.org/book-clubs.

Please note this event has been rescheduled. Its original date, 2/13/2024, was snowed out.
Join us for a Valentine’s Day-themed storytime with Aaron, focusing on “Things I love about you!”
10:30 am
at the Hopewell Train Station
2 Railroad Place, Hopewell, NJ 08525

Chair Yoga

Thursday, February 8th | 3:00 - 4:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church - Choir Room
This class is meant to give you a glimpse of what Chair Yoga is. We’ll practice simple & effective Hatha Yoga asanas (postures), both seated and standing. Movements are done mindfully within each individual’s capacity while making any adjustments if needed. Some yogic breathing, mudras & meditation will also be an integral part of the class. Yoga has many benefits, but among them is gaining the ability to reduce strain, stress & discomfort, while creating a sense of well-being within. Practitioners may leave feeling both peaceful and invigorated at the end of class.

About the Instructor:
Shirin Stave-Matias has dedicated a lifetime to her love of movement and sharing it with others, mostly through dance and yoga.
As a professional dancer she performed internationally in different dance genres. She studied yoga intensely with Sri Swami Bua Ji, MHY & was also on the Board of the Indo-American Yoga Vedanta Society (a non-profit organization in NYC), for many years. Shirin has also been a member of the International Dance Council - CID UNESCO and maintains an online yoga practice while also teaching for townships, assisted living facilities, Princeton Adult School & at a non-profit space in Lambertville, N.J.​

Photos via Real Simple

Dennis Waters presents:
"Cunard Steamships and
​the Quest for Perfect Coal"


Wednesday, February 7th 2024  |  6:45 - 8:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
This presentation by Dennis P. Waters, Ph.D., tells the story of the search for the perfect coal and how it powered the fleet of the fabled Cunard Line during the Gilded Age. At the turn of the 20th century, North Atlantic steamers were prodigious consumers of coal, and not just any coal would do. Moving this precious fuel from the mountains of Appalachia to the docks of Manhattan was a huge undertaking, with great fortunes made and lost in mining and railroads.
About the Speaker:
Dennis Waters is an author, scientist, and retired internet entrepreneur. His first book, Behavior and Culture in One Dimension, was published by Routledge in 2021. He is a Visiting Scientist at Rutgers University and for twelve years was Township Historian in Lawrenceville. Currently he is working with the Lawrence Hopewell Trail to install two dozen interpretive signs at points of local historical interest along the trail. He is also working on a new book on the Cunard Line during the Gilded Age, and tonight’s talk is based on a chapter from that book.

To view a recording of this event, please visit the website for the Hopewell Valley Historical Society.
Wednesdays, February 7th - March 6th
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Five weekly classes with local artist Karen McLean, in her studio in Hopewell.  Participants will be exploring color and composition through the art of Henri Matisse. Subjects will include Still Life, Interiors, and Windows. Space is limited and registration is required. Registration will open at noon on Friday, January 19th!
Images: Left, Curry Simmel; Right: Henri Matisse

Clay Beading &
Jewelry Making

Wednesdays, January 3rd, 10th, 24th, and 31st
1:00 - 3:00 pm
at the Hopewell Train Station
Come join Connie as you create your one-of-a-kind jewelry. 
In the first and second class, you will make beads for a necklace and one or two pairs of earrings, as well as a bowl to contain the beads.  The third and fourth class will be devoted to designing and stringing the beads into a necklace, using tiger tail and findings, and making earrings with beads and findings. We look forward to you joining us. Space is limited, so register early!

Board Game Night

Tuesday January 30th, 2024
6:00 - 8:00 PM
at the Hopewell Public Library

Join us for an evening of games and friendly competition! All ages are welcome, from kids to adults. A variety of board games will be provided, but you are welcome to bring a favorite to share if desired. We look forward to seeing you!

Poems with Backbone:
A Book Spine Poetry Workshop

Tuesday, January 30th, 2024  |  1:00 - 3:00 pm
at the Hopewell Public Library
You don’t need to be a poet to make book spine poetry! If you enjoy playing with words, come join local poet Bill Waters and HPL Director Barbara Merry to select books from the library’s shelves and assemble stacks of titles into short poems that intrigue and entertain. A photo station will be set up so you can take pictures of your clever creations. Book spine poetry: no writing required!

Bill Waters is a published writer of short poetry and compressed prose. His work has appeared around the world in print and online journals as well as locally in Hopewell Valley Neighbors magazine and on outdoor signs. In addition, Bill runs the Poetry in Public Places Project, a Facebook group dedicated to showcasing poems that are displayed outdoors to bring moments of insight and entertainment to passersby. Bill and his wife live in Pennington, where their lives are ruled by two cats.

Registration is required - space is limited so register early!

Book Signing with Local Author Priti Tandon

Thursday, January 18th, 2024
1:00 - 3:00 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
Priti Tandon is a local author, an Integrative Medical Practitioner, and a long-term practitioner of yoga and meditation.  She has brought her daily reflections and yoga practice in the form of poetry and painting for all to enjoy and reflect on. Her arts and writings are inspired from teachings of Vedanta and Buddhism. 
During the event there will be a presentation, poetry recitation, discussion of the creative abstract paintings, the process of creation to publishing, question and answers, and book signing. Registration is required for this event!


​The JAN 17 speaker event has been cancelled.
We apologize for any inconvenience.

Martha McPhee

POSTPONED: Date TBD |  7:00 - 8:30 pm
at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church
or online via Zoom
Local, award-winning novelist  Martha McPhee just published her first memoir, Omega Farm. Martha grew up on Omega Farm in Ringoes with her four sisters, five step siblings, mother, and stepfather, in a house filled with art, people, and the kind of chaos that was sometimes benevolent, sometimes more sinister. The pandemic brought Martha home again to her childhood farm to care for her ailing mother. With her husband and children in tow, Martha strives to nurture the present (along with a forest) while the past relentlessly asserts itself—even as Martha’s mother, the person she might share her memories with or even try to hold to account, no longer knows who Martha is. A masterful exploration of a complicated family legacy and a powerful story of environmental and personal repair, we felt this candid account would be one our community would find relatable as it raises so many urgent issues that impact women, teens, parents, families and backyard ecosystems everywhere. Martha will be presenting a live-narration of family photographs taken by her mother, the renowned Princeton photographer, Pryde Brown, and which capture the people and the world that made Martha the riveting truth-teller she is today.
MARTHA McPHEE is the author of the novels An Elegant Woman, Dear Money, L’America, Gorgeous Lies, and Bright Angel Time.  She is also the author of Omega Farm, a memoir. Her work has been honored with fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.  In 2002 she was nominated for a National Book Award.  Her novels have been Best Books of The Year on The New York Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune lists.  Her essays and reviews have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Newark Star Ledger, Vogue, More, Harper’s Bazaar, Self, Traveler, Travel & Leisure, among many others. McPhee is a tenured member of the English Department at Hofstra University, where she teaches fiction. She lives in New York City with her children and husband, the poet and writer Mark Svenvold.

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Click here to view information about past 2024 HPL Book Club events.
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2024 Speaker Series events have not been consolidated and appear in their entirety throughout this page.
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