I thoroughly enjoyed “Sun & Ssukgat: The Korean Art of Self-Care, Wellness & Longevity.” This book was just what I was looking for… a book about Korean culture with enriching insight to the Korean approach to well-being.
I’ve enjoyed similar topics for other cultures (Japanese ikigai, Costa Rican pura vida, Swedish lagom, Danish hygge) and this lived up to my interest and expectations. I also found an interview with the author on YouTube and appreciated hearing a behind the scenes perspective, and thus, I’m enjoying the book all the more upon reflection…
Three words that describe this book: Enlightening, insightful, impactful
You might want to pick this book up if: you’re interested in Korean culture or wellness and self-care.
-Tonya
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
“Embassytown” is a really magnificent science fiction book. It is essentially about language and how it shapes culture and understanding.
The book is set in the far future in Embassytown, a human colony on a far-away planet. This planet is home to aliens who use language itself in ways that are utterly foreign to humans, which leads to all manner of complications and, ultimately, a potentially world-destroying conflict. It is challenging to capture the magic of this book in a short review without selling it short — it simply must be read!
Three words that describe this book: Thought-provoking, captivating, surreal
You might want to pick this book up if: You want a wild sci-fi adventure, plus political thriller, that also deeply explores the concept of language and how it creates meaning.
-Adrienne
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
T
he book “True Biz” is a fictional book about growing up Deaf from the perspective of Deaf children and teenagers. It explores Deaf history, disability rights activism, and the cochlear implant controversy with an engaging story line and lovable characters.
The book includes educational snippets, almost like school worksheets, corresponding with the lessons one of the teachers gives in the Deaf school that the book is focused on. If you’re hearing and uneducated on the topic, you can learn alongside the students with these snippets.
Three words that describe this book: Coming-of-age, stirring, educational
You might want to pick this book up if: You want a fun story about teenagers, or you’re curious about learning about Deaf experiences from a disability justice perspective.
-Sofia
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
“Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan” is a four panel manga (reminiscent of daily comic strips, as opposed to a volume length story, although the strips do build on each other) about a young professional who adopts a cat. It is a middle grade to young adult manga, but which adult amongst us does not need a few quiet moments to look at cute cat comics?
Every few pages as the cat’s personality is shown to the human I would think, “this is the cutest thing I have ever read,” and then it would get significantly CUTER. Just a really pleasant slice of life manga to wind down with.
Three words that describe this book: Cozy, cute, funny
You might want to pick this book up if: You find ridiculous cuteness relaxing.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
The book “A Captain’s Duty” is about the hijacking of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates in 2009. Captain Phillips tells the story from his point of view, explaining how he handled the crisis and made tough decisions to protect his crew, even offering himself as a hostage to keep them safe. The book follows the intense five days he spent in a lifeboat with the pirates and how he survived.
I liked this book because of the action and the level of detail. It felt like I was right there in the middle of the situation. The way Captain Phillips described everything helped me understand what he was going through, both physically and mentally. I also liked the insights into how he thought as a leader, how he stayed calm, and how much he cared about his crew. It made the story feel real and inspiring.
Three words that describe this book: Intense, courageous, inspiring.
You might want to pick this book up if: You might pick up this book if you’re interested in true stories, survival under extreme pressure, or learning how real-life leadership works during a crisis. It’s a good read if you like action, suspense, and personal insight all in one.
-Robbie
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
Well, here we are. A perfect holiday for those who need a holiday between Thanksgiving and the Winter Holidays and if you want a sugar rush while baking, decorating and buying gifts, why not?
This is not one of four national chocolate holidays touted by the U.S. National Confectioners Association. Nor is it the International Chocolate Day (July 7) or the U.S. National Chocolate Day (October 28). No, this day celebrates the willingness of the general public to grab a pretzel or an orange slice and coat it in melted chocolate.
HOW TO OBSERVE CHOCOLATE-COVERED ANYTHING DAY
Create your own hand-dipped treats and invite your friends over for board games, movie watching or a white elephant exchange. A good chocolate cookbook is Kate Shaffer’s “Chocolate for Beginners.” Not only learn the basics of tempering chocolate and organizing your workspace, but find recipes for making all types of truffles. There are caramels, peanut butter cups, and my favorite: chocolate frogs with green guts! Continue reading “Chocolate-Covered Anything Day: December 16”
2025 has been a memorable year. One of the things that strikes me most about this year is that we’re over a quarter of the way into this century. Weren’t we just counting down the seconds as the calendar page flipped over from the 20th century to the 21st? Even though it seems like just a moment has passed to me, so much has happened since 2000 — many things that have forever changed our world. Let’s take a look at some of the events and people from the last 25 years!
What has changed the most in our lives since 2000? My guess would be the mainstreaming of the internet. In “This Is for Everyone: The Unfinished Story of the World Wide Web” Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web (aka the internet), explores the grand vision he had. Time has proven the internet to be a bold social experiment, powerful and, at times, problematic. Despite the downsides, Berners-Lee casts an optimistic light on the internet’s potential. Continue reading “Literary Links: Reflecting on 25 Years”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“CODA” – Website / Reviews
A hearing teen in a deaf family must choose between obligations to her family’s struggling fishing business and her passion for singing in this Oscar winning drama.
“Relay” – Website / Reviews
In this mystery thriller, a broker of lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten them breaks his own rules when a new client seeks his protection to stay alive.
“The Day of the Jackal” – Season 1 – Website / Reviews
Based on Frederick Forsyth’s acclaimed novel, this series follows an elite assassin known as the Jackal and a British intelligence officer who starts hunting him down.
“Together” – Website / Reviews
In this horror film, Tim and Millie move to the countryside where a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
“Secret Mall Apartment” – Website / Reviews
A documentary that follows artists who created a secret apartment inside a mall and lived there for years. It’s a true story about discovering your purpose within the most commercial and improbable places.
Continue reading “New DVD List: December 2025”
The book “So Many Stars” is a fantastic look at older genderqueer BIPOC adults through their own words. The subjects of this book have gone through a lot of rough times (isolation, persecution, the AIDS crisis, DADT in the military, etc.) but they have also found and created communities, found families, resilience, resistance and mutual aid through changing times.
I think one of the things that really stuck out to me was the number of people interviewed who said something to the effect of, “I have always just wanted to be me.” No matter your race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, I think this is something almost everyone can relate to, although personal choices and circumstances, cultural and societal expectations, and systemic inequalities may make those paths vastly different.
Three words that describe this book: deep, heartfelt, important
You might want to pick this book up if: you want to know more about the life journeys of older genderqueer adults
-Rose
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
The book “Maiden Voyages” explores the history of the golden age of American and European ocean travel through the lens of women that worked and sailed on the great ocean liners. It is an excellently researched tale that relates the stories of women that earned their living by working at sea, which includes immigrants and refugees, as well as the rich and famous.
I enjoyed learning about the history of the great ships of the 20th century and especially about their requisition in the war efforts and transformation back to leisure boats between and after the World Wars. With this I also enjoyed leaning about how women gained more rights and responsibilities at sea through time.
Three words that describe this book: Adventure, Leisure, Empowerment
You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy learning about women’s history.
-Claire
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
