All the buzz about “Remarkably Bright Creatures” wasn’t enough to lure me to pick it up — until this year’s summer reading theme was “Oceans of Possibilities.” The description about an “unlikely” friendship between an octopus and widow was a major snag for me. The “unlikely” part seemed far fetched indeed! Somewhat reluctantly I put a hold on the audiobook as part of a summer reading challenge with a reading partner. I was pleasantly surprised to meet an entire cast of delightful, charming, quirky characters.
By happenstance, on the same day I started the book, I heard an interesting story on NPR comparing the intelligence of octopuses and humans … fascinating! The timing seemed like a direct retort to my skepticism about the plausibility of friendship with an octopus. One of the joys of reading is making discoveries that open paths to continued learning and parallel discoveries — often by fostering awareness and empathy. Rousing my curiosity about octopuses is a bonus — perhaps the friendship between Marcellus and Tova is not so unlikely after all.
Highly recommend as a light and warm-hearted summer read. You will soon feel like you are living in fictional Sowell Bay or wishing you did.
Three words that describe this book: Warm-hearted, quirky, wry
You might want to pick this book up if: You want to meet a cast of resilient characters who take a risk on friendship and community.
-Kristi
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
The biannual Project Homeless Connect provides health and human services, hair cuts and seasonal supplies for folks in need. Anyone can flex their neighborly muscles by volunteering during the program on Thursday, July 28th. Simply sign up using this form. Here at Columbia Public Library, we are accepting donations of supplies for this event now through July 22. Look for the gray tub in the lobby to deposit the following items:
- Sunscreen
- Aloe
- Bug Spray
- Deodorant
- Hand Wipes
- Socks
- Other items on the wish list
Continue reading “Aiding Our Neighbors in Need”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Hacks”
Season 1
Website / Reviews
In this series a waning comedy legend (Jean Smart) and an entitled young writer (Hannah Einbinder) must put aside their differences to save their careers. The reluctant pact for mutual professional survival and the generational friction that follows fuels this engaging HBO comedy-drama. Continue reading “New DVD List: Hacks, the Northman, & More”
A few years ago, we highlighted the world of audiobooks in a “Literary Links” article. It was the beginning of the pandemic; the library was actually closed to the public during this time, and we knew listening to downloadable and streaming audiobooks would become more popular. We are revisiting the world of audiobooks, as the pandemic continues to affect us, summer road trips have begun and audiobooks remain very popular. I personally began using digital services more frequently to combat my inability to stay awake for more than a few pages at bedtime.
As in our original article, I used the same team effort to gather recommendations from staff and quoting some of what they told me about the narrators. You can find these titles in our collection as audiobook CDs or on our downloadable audiobook platforms (Overdrive and Hoopla, at www.dbrl.org/download.) Continue reading “Literary Links: The Joy of Being Read To”
“Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” is about how humans have evolved and how we got to be such complex and civilized creatures. It explains how we overtook the world and the effect it had on other creatures. The book also explains how different cultures compare and how they came to be. I really enjoyed this book because it was a very good overview of human history. It taught me a lot about humanity and made me want to learn more about our species and about the world. The ending really stuck out to me, realizing that our species will most likely go extinct is very jarring. Humans one day being replaced with a species that we created through genetic modification is a very big possibility which I found fascinating.
Three words that describe this book: very mind opening
You might want to pick this book up if: you are interested in history, culture, science, or want to expand your knowledge of the world.
-Abby
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
With promotional blurbs from Joy Harjo and Roxane Gay, and an award from the Academy of American Poets, Emily Skaja’s “Brute” commemorates the desperate clawing and the trying-to-find-any-foothold-you-can feeling of endings. It remains approachable in both form and content, making it a good starting point if you’d like to read more poetry. My only complaint is that I wish individual poems stood on their own a bit more, though that is personal taste.
Three words that describe this book: human, human, human
You might want to pick this book up if: You’ve been meaning to read more poetry.
-Anna
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
Author Abby Jimenez delivers again! I’ve read all of her books and they are all nothing short of delightful. If you want a break from the seriousness of the world and are looking for something that will make you feel good, then her books are what you need. “Part of Your World” might be my favorite out of them all, too.
Alexis comes from a long line of city doctors while Daniel’s family is deeply rooted in his small-town community. At first look, their lives are completely different, but that doesn’t stop their attraction to each other. Not only is the book about finding love, but it’s also about figuring out what you want for your life, not what others want for you.
If you like romance, you’ll love this!
Three words that describe this book: sweet, romantic, satisfying
You might want to pick this book up if: you are in the mood for a quick, light-hearted romance.
-Mary
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in July. All of the mentioned titles are available to put on hold in our catalog and will also be made available via the library’s Overdrive website on the day of publication in eBook and downloadable audiobook format (as available). For a more extensive list of new nonfiction books coming out this month, check our online catalog.
Top Picks
“Endless Forms: The Secret World of Wasps” by Seirian Summer (Jul 12)
Everyone worries about the collapse of bee populations. But what about wasps? Deemed the gangsters of the insect world, wasps are winged assassins with formidable stings. Conduits of Biblical punishment, provokers of fear and loathing, inspiration for horror movies: wasps are perhaps the most maligned insect on our planet. But do wasps deserve this reputation? “Endless Forms” opens our eyes to the highly complex and diverse world of wasps. Wasps are 100 million years older than bees; there are ten times more wasp species than there are bees. There are wasps that spend their entire lives sealed inside a fig; wasps that turn cockroaches into living zombies; wasps that live inside other wasps. There are wasps that build citadels that put our own societies to shame, marked by division of labor, rebellions and policing, monarchies, leadership contests, undertakers, police, negotiators and social parasites. Wasps are nature’s most misunderstood insect: as predators and pollinators, they keep the planet’s ecological balance in check. Wasps are nature’s pest controllers; a world without wasps would be just as ecologically devastating as losing the bees, or beetles, or butterflies. Wasps are diverse and beautiful by every measure, and they are invaluable to planetary health, Professor Sumner reminds us; we’d do well to appreciate them as much as their cuter cousins, the bees. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: July 2022”
Here are a few of the most notable adult fiction debuts for July. These titles have all received positive reviews in library journals. For a longer list, please visit our catalog.
“The Book of Gothel” by Mary McMyne
Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there?
Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda — a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.
Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of — a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing.
But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It’s also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known…
Continue reading “Debut Author Spotlight: July 2022”
“Set on You” follows a young woman who is attempting to live her life joyfully and positively and project that to others watching her. She is “curvy” and fit and wants others to realize that a person does not have to be model thin to be happy or healthy. She meets a very attractive young man who understands that as well. The books is very funny and a really quick read but it does focus on a few lessons that are very serious — accept yourself just as you are while making yourself the most healthy possible, and cruel, degrading words can hurt even the most seemingly confident person. I liked the humor and the life lessons. It was a much “steamier” read than I normally choose so I would recommend it for young adult and older.
Three words that describe this book: timely, open, honest
You might want to pick this book up if: you need a reminder that you are the best you there is and no one can tell you how you should change to be a “better, prettier” you.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
