June 15th, 2012 7:00-9:00 PM
Maddox Theater, Rockford College
Did you know that there are approximately 77.5 million dogs owned in the United States (39% of all households have at least one!) At Rockford Public Library, our dog-lovers rave about Merrill Markoe's unique wit, humor and reflections on dog ownership, companionship and behavior.
Merrill Markoe will discuss her life with dogs and narrate
her short film “Something Extremely Important.” She will
sign copies of her books, including her new book, Cool,
Calm and Contentious, which is about her job as head
writer for Late Night with David Letterman.
Random House Digital, Inc.
Nov 1, 2011 - 304 pages
In this hilarious collection of personal essays, "New York Times" bestselling author Merrill Markoe reveals, among other things, the secret formula for comedy:
Start out with a difficult mother, develop some classic teenage insecurities, add a few relationships with narcissistic men, toss in an unruly pack of selfish dogs, finish it off with the kind of crystalline perspective that only comes from years of navigating a roiling sea of unpleasant and unappeasable people, and--voila!--you're funny! (read more)
But in "Cool, Calm & Contentious, "Markoe also reveals something more: herself. This is by far her most personal, affecting collection yet--honest, unapologetic, often painful, but always shot through with the bracing, wicked sense of humor that has made her such a beloved and incisive observer of life, both human and canine. In "Cool, Calm & Contentious, "she goes there: from the anal-retentive father who once spent ten minutes lecturing Markoe's forty-year-old, Ph.D.-wielding brother on how to fold a napkin, to the eternally aggrieved mother who took pleasure in being unpleasant to waiters and spent most of her life, Markoe says, in "varying degrees of pissed off"; from the way she surrendered her virginity as a freshman in college (to her, it was "something to be gotten rid of quickly, then never discussed again, like body odor"), to why, later in life, she ultimately came to find dogs so much more appealing than humans, Markoe holds nothing back. It's all here, in all its messy, poignant glory, and told the way only Merril Markoe knows how--with honesty, wit, and bite."
Cool, Calm & Contentious" offers something for everyone--fans of humorous essays, fans of memoir, fans of great writing and finely drawn characters, fans of dogs, fans of talking dogs, and fans of reading about mothers who are so difficult and demanding they actually make you feel good about your own life. But most of all, this book is for the many fans of Merrill Markoe, who will finally get a chance to learn what makes her tick--and what makes her so funny and wise.
More Dog Days of Summer Programs
Children’s Programs
Saturday Spectacular: Books, Barks, and Buddies
Main Library Auditorium
June 16th 11:00-11:45 a.m.
Dogs make great listeners and great helpers. Joins us as we meet therapy
dogs from Swedish American Health System’s Caring Canines Program and
read stories about dogs that help.
SitStayRead: A Visit with Reading Therapy Dogs
Friends of RPL Community Room, East Branch
June 23rd 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Dogs can assist people in so many ways -- security, transport, and farm
work to name a few. Did you know dogs can help with reading, too?
We will visit with a dog team who volunteers with SitStayRead, a leading
organization using dogs to improve reading skills and foster the
love of learning in at-risk children.
Adult Programs
Book Discussion: Merrill Markoe’s Walking in
Circles Before Lying Down
Friends of RPL Community Room, East Branch
June 13th 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Merrill Markoe: Author Talk and Book Signing
Rockford College, Maddox Theater
June 15th 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Contests & Fun Stuff
Enter these contests or submit your cool story to win some great prizes!
Cutest Dog Photo Contest
Upload your of your canine companion!
Vote for your favorite photos!
Win cool prizes!
Famous Dog Trivia Contest
Movies! TV! History! Find out how much trivia you know about famous dogs and enter to win cool prizes!
Share Your Favorite Dog Story
Have one of those great stories about your furry friend? Share it with the world!
Check out some of these great Merrill Markoe videos on YouTube and see just how witty and entertaining she is.
Merrill Markoe will discuss her life with dogs and narrate
her short film “Something Extremely Important.” She will
sign copies of her books, including her new book, Cool,
Cool, Calm & Contentious
