Joie de McLean

You’ve found Joie de McLean—our new weekly column that is all about the joyful life in McLean. 

We’ll be posting news and tidbits about everything that is fun and fashionable in town.

Got a hot tip? Feel free to share with us. Like you, we’re always on the hunt for great finds.

Fresh off its two-year, $8 million renovation, Dolley Madison Library opened its automatic doors earlier this month, welcoming McLeaners into its light-filled, glass-walled, energy efficient new space.

The design is courtesy of Bowie Gridley Architects, one of Washington’s premier firms for community spaces. They gutted Dolley’s old, cave-like 1960s interior, and expanded the main reading room toward the welcoming arms of the forest. The result is a lovely, serene place for browsing the newly widened stacks.

Joie would love to see a café included in the next set of renovations. But for now, you can settle in one of the cushioned armchairs with a cup of coffee from and enjoy one of these Joie picks--all of which were spotted recently in Dolley Madison’s “new arrival” section:

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Bill Bryson

Diverting and witty, author Bill Bryson, best known for his hilarious travelogues “A Walk in the Woods” and “In a Sunburned Country,” explores the cultural and anecdotal history of the home, and how Western civilization cooked, cleaned, lived, died, and held fast to the sacred value of domesticity.

Ape House

Sara Gruen

Author Sara Gruen follows up her titanic bestseller, Water for Elephants, with another touching novel about exploring the sentient, intelligent inner life of animals and the people who care for them.

Save Me

Lisa Scottoline

In the mires of the library’s mystery and thriller section, Scottoline stands out for her ability to be both master plot weaver and excellent writer. “Save Me” delves into the dark depths of mother-daughter relationships without sacrificing any of the action that make for a fabulous, page-turning read.