Liz Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who died on March 23 aged 79, made more than 50 films, won two Oscars, was a grandmother at 39 and was married eight times to seven men. Despite headlines of failed marriages and drug addictions, for more than half a century Elizabeth Taylor remained a much-loved public idol, symbolizing the grace and beauty of an earlier film era. Ellis Amburn, an accomplished biographer of many celebrities leaves no stone unturned in The most beautiful woman in the world : the obsessions, passions, and courage of Elizabeth Taylor, a detailed retelling of Taylor's life and loves. Amburn interviewed more than 500 directors, actors, and friends of the actress to create this intimate portrait of the actress, from her role in National Velvet through her tireless work on behalf of AIDS research.

It was Taylor's persistence in campaigning for the role of Velvet Brown in MGM's National Velvet that sky rocketed Taylor to stardom at the age of 12 although her acting had financially supported her family since the age of nine. Taylor's character, Velvet Brown, is a young girl who trains her beloved horse to win the Grand National. The film became an overwhelming success upon its release in December 1944. Many years later Taylor called it "the most exciting film" she had ever made and the film changed her life forever. Although it vastly increased her star power, many of her later back problems were traced to injuries from her falling off a horse during its filming. The Muskoka Lakes Public Library in Port Carling has two of Elizabeth Taylor’s films in DVD format, National Velvet (1942) and Divorce his, divorce hers (1972 TV movie co-starring Taylor’s fifth and sixth husband, Richard Burton). Also check out the three disc set Larry King live: the greatest interviews to hear and see King’s interview with Elizabeth Taylor.

Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle is pleased to announce the launch of their 2011 Book List. The launch will take place at the Port Carling branch of the Muskoka Lakes Public Library, 69 Joseph St., Port Carling at 11:00 am on April 2, 2011. The launch of the 2011 Book List will be the first Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle Event for 2011. On the weekend of June 3-5, 2011, Muskoka Chautauqua and Muskoka Chautauqua Reading Circle will hold the signature event of 2011, Literary Weekend with Linden MacIntyre and Friends. The program theme is Secrets and Guilt in Literature and the Media, and features some of our most gifted authors and personalities recognized the world over for their talent and depth of enquiry. For more information go to http://www.muskokachautauqua.ca/or call 705-765-1048.

Join Ric Haroutunian, a financial security advisor, for an informative retirement planning seminar at the Port Carling branch library on Thursday, April 14 at 3:00pm. No cost but please confirm your attendance by contacting the library at 705-765-5650 or emailing Ric at Richard.haroutunian@f55f.com.