New DVD List: February 2024

Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.

” – Website / Reviews 
This Oscar nominated comedy follows a curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go.

” – Website / Reviews 
A 2022 True False documentary that intimately chronicles the lives and music of a band made up of five young metal heads whose burgeoning fame is set against the backdrop of the Lebanese revolution.

I Am A Noise” – Website / Reviews  
Following the legendary folk singer on her final tour, this documentary delves into her extraordinary archive, including newly discovered home movies, diaries, artwork, therapy tapes, and audio recordings.

” – Website / Reviews 
An Iranian American woman strives to find balance and embrace her opposing cultures in this comedic drama. It’s a a heartfelt story about family, belonging, and the undeniable influence of pop music.

” – Season 1Website / Reviews 
Inspired by an actual US Military program, this Taylor Sheridan spy thriller series follows Joe (Zoe Saldaña) who leads an undercover operation to take down a terrorist group from within. Continue reading “New DVD List: February 2024”

New Memory Care Kits: Toys and Games

Posted on Monday, February 19, 2024 by Ida

I’m going to make a confession. I, an adult person with gray streaks in my hair, bought myself a Spirograph set a couple of years ago. I thought it would be fun, and it is. I find myself becoming totally absorbed in the activity of experimenting with different configurations of gear wheels and colors to create whimsical designs. Who says you can’t recapture the joys of childhood?

The library’s two new Memory Care Kits featuring classic toys and games can provide this same opportunity to regain the spirit of play for our patrons with dementia. Though neither kit contains a Spirograph, they do have a variety of items to spark in-the-moment enjoyment combined with an opportunity to reminisce about the past. When life is confusing and stressful, a little retro frivolity can be the ticket to a better day. Continue reading “New Memory Care Kits: Toys and Games”

Random Acts of Kindness

Posted on Friday, February 16, 2024 by Sew Happy

Photo of woman holding a sign that says "free hugs"February 17 is the national day to recognize Random Acts of Kindness. Of course, you can act in kindness at any time of the year. You can grab a trash bag and clean up a park or street that you are walking through. Or maybe you like buying a coworker a coffee or surprising someone by giving them a quick compliment. Historical examples include creating and sharing May Baskets. Here are 50 other suggestions!

Put simply, a random act of kindness is a non-premeditated, inconsistent impulse that results in an action making a bit of the world happier. The phrase “random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was written by Anne Herbert on a placemat in Sausalito, California in 1982. It was based on the phrases “random acts of violence” and “senseless acts of cruelty” and is meant to be a call to action… or at least a strong encouragement. It is now a worldwide phenomenon. Let’s celebrate! Continue reading “Random Acts of Kindness”

March First Thursday Book Discussion: “The Secret Book of Flora Lea”

Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 by MaggieM

Book cover for The Secret Book of Flora Lea, by Patti Callahan HenryPatti Callahan Henry’s charming book about the power of imagination and story, “The Secret Book of Flora Lea,” will be the subject of the “First Thursday Book Discussion” at the Columbia Public Library on Thursday, March 7 at noon.

I know I took refuge in stories as a child and teenager — actually, I still do! In Callahan Henry’s novel, older sister Hazel invents a secret fantasy world shared only between the sisters as a refuge and distraction from the loss and displacement of WWII. When her little sister, Flora, disappears mysteriously, Hazel is shattered. She abandons their fairytale realm.

Twenty years later, Hazel is working in an antique bookshop when she comes across an illustrated book that echoes their shared stories. Hazel is set upon a mission to find the origin of the stories.

“The Secret Book of Flora Lea,” works on many levels. It is a good story of sisters and also a mystery, but also has many themes to explore about growing up, the symbolism of stories, love and guilt.

Join us in March to explore these themes and share your thoughts with other community members.

The Birds and the Bees

Posted on Monday, February 12, 2024 by Reading Addict

illustration of a fiery-tailed sun birdOf course, we all know about the birds and the bees! We weren’t born yesterday! The birds and the bees talk of love (and, shhhhh… s.e.x.). But in literary terms, birds and bees tell of so much more.

Humans are funny creatures and we like to assign meanings to so many things. Birds, especially, it seems, get to do a lot of talking symbolically. In general, they are often seen as messengers from the gods or from heaven — especially raptors. Birds also evoke “freedom.” And it seems that each species has its own symbolism. The stork brings babies. Canaries can evoke beauty, song or a warning. As for bees, they have been used to symbolize fertility, industry and community among other things.

I have gathered a few birds and bees books for you to fall in love with. Continue reading “The Birds and the Bees”

February Literary Links: Making Peace With Diagnosis

Posted on Monday, February 12, 2024 by Karena

In May 2023 I was diagnosed with a disorder with no cure and no end — just a few debatable treatment options and a sparse online community. Still, I was relieved to get an answer to a question I’d been asking for about a decade. It’s been over a year since a specialist identified my spasmodic dysphonia (a voice disorder, originating in the brain), and, now, I have new questions to ask: How do I carry my diagnosis with honesty and vulnerability, without letting it flood my identity? How do I stay hopeful through the grueling experiment of treatment? How do I help my loved ones understand?

Books have helped soothe the ache of these questions. Maybe they can do the same for you, whether your diagnosis is one of chronic illness, disorder, neurodivergence or any other ongoing condition. Continue reading “February Literary Links: Making Peace With Diagnosis”

Reader Review: Kill Shakespeare Volume 1

Posted on Friday, February 9, 2024 by patron reviewer

Kill Shakespeare book cover

Kill Shakespeare Volume 1: A Sea of Troubles” collects the first six Kill Shakespeare comic books and re-introduces us to some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters, but in new roles, as they hunt for Will Shakespeare, wizard god. Killing Will and securing his magical quill is the quest of the bad guys in power (Lady Macbeth, Richard III), while the rebellion, led by Juliet and backed by Othello, have put their faith in a Shadow King to find Will and save his followers. Being a fan of Shakespeare is not a requirement to enjoy the story — especially with the fantastic art by Andy Belanger — however, I suspect it’s more fun to know a bit about the characters and to pick up on the small Easter eggs, like the evening spent at the pub known as Midsummer Night’s Dram. Like all of Shakespeare, there’s comedy, murder, plotting, mayhem, romance, confusion, innuendo, and a great storyline with complicated characters. For those who struggle with the very idea of Shakespeare as an enjoyable reading experience, the artwork in this comic tells the story as much as the writing.

Three words that describe this book: Epic, Graphic, Literary

You might want to pick this book up if: You like twisted fairy tales such as those told in “Once Upon a Time” or the “Land of Stories.”

-Melody

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share reviews throughout the year. 

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Posted on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 by The Biblio-Buckaroo

In the 6th Century BCE, the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “There is nothing permanent except change,” or something to that effect. Not a lot is known about Heraclitus but all these years later, that quote rings true. Change is something you can count on in life, be it good or bad, fast or incremental, painful or joyous. It is constant. How you handle the changes in your life makes all the difference.

Tiny Habit by BJ Fogg book cover

There are different kinds of change, of course. There are changes we make purposely and changes that are thrust upon us. Along the lines of the former, human behavior specialist BJ Fogg, PhD brings us “Tiny Habits: + The Small Changes That Change Everything.” The book recommends tackling habit change through baby steps. According to “Library Journal,” “Throughout are a multitude of practical exercises and more than 300 recipes for tiny transformations categorized by various situations and challenges (e.g., work/life balance, destressing, healthy eating and sleeping well)… Fogg’s method has great potential to promote altered behavior in those who have sought help in other ventures with little success.” Continue reading “Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes”

Nonfiction Roundup: February 2024

Posted on Monday, February 5, 2024 by Liz

Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in February. 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

Why We Read by Shannon Reed book coverWhy We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out” by Shannon Reed (Feb 6)
We read to escape, to learn, to find love, to feel seen. We read to encounter new worlds, to discover new recipes, to find connection across difference, or simply to pass a rainy afternoon. No matter the reason, books have the power to keep us safe, to challenge us, and perhaps most importantly, to make us more fully human. Shannon Reed, a longtime teacher, lifelong reader, and New Yorker contributor, gets it. With one simple goal in mind, she makes the case that we should read for pleasure above all else. In this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud-funny collection, Reed shares surprising stories from her life as a reader and the poignant ways in which books have impacted her students. From the varied novels she cherishes (“Gone Girl,” “Their Eyes Were Watching God”) to the ones she didn’t (“Tess of the d’Urbervilles”), Reed takes us on a rollicking tour through the comforting world of literature, celebrating the books we love, the readers who love them, and the ways in which literature can transform us for the better. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: February 2024”

Reader Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

Posted on Friday, February 2, 2024 by patron reviewer

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee book cover

To Kill a Mockingbird,” written from the point of view of a young girl in a small town in 1960s Alabama, is a poignant look at racism, classism and the basic human spirit. It certainly tackles difficult topics — unfortunately, these are topics that we are still struggling with today. However, seeing these issues through the eyes of a child gave it such a sweet simplicity that it gave me hope, like maybe if we all took a moment to think like young Scout Finch, we could really make things better. It was an excellent book that I look forward to reading again and again.

Three words that describe this book: Engaging, thought-provoking, charming

You might want to pick this book up if: I wanted to be reminded there are good people out there and that there is hope for change.

-Shelli

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share reviews throughout the year.