Nina Mukerjee Furstenau is a Columbia, MO author whose latest book is “Green Chili and Other Impostors.” The book focuses on food stories within the Indian subcontinent, but also mixes in memoir, travelogue, and history, with several recipes included throughout. Furstenau is a journalist, author, and editor of the FoodStory book series for the University of Iowa Press. Other published works include “Biting Through the Skin,” “Tasty! Mozambique,” “Savor Missouri” and numerous stories and essays for newspapers and magazines. Nina was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Nina Mukerjee Furstenau, Author of “Green Chili & Other Impostors””
Getting involved with the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas survey this year has turned me into a pollinator super fan and wanna-be entomologist. It quickly became apparent that identifying local bumble bees would not be enough to satisfy my addiction. There were so many non-bumble bee insects on the plants in my yard, and everywhere else I looked. I needed to know more.
I put in a request for the library to purchase two new books that had been favorably reviewed in the New York Times. Any Daniel Boone Regional Library cardholder can suggest a book for purchase, and our acquisitions team does their best to fulfill it.
“Wasps: a Guide for Eastern North America,” and “Bees: an Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide,” by Heather Holm arrived, and went straight to my holds shelf and then home with me. Both these books provide detailed, in-depth information while still remaining accessible to amateur observers. I highly recommend them! Continue reading “Watch Out for Wasps!”
Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in September. 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
“What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” by Randall Munroe (Sep 13)
The millions of people around the world who read and loved “What If?” still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist. Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. Unfazed by absurdity, Randall consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airplane-catapult design to clearly and concisely answer his readers’ questions. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances. Filled with bonkers science, boundless curiosity, and Randall’s signature stick-figure comics, “What If? 2” is sure to be another instant classic adored by inquisitive readers of all ages. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: September 2022”
Let’s take a virtual tour of “reportedly” haunted locations in Callaway and Boone Counties; we have many of them between the two counties. And this being a library blog, I want to also encourage you to learn more about these locations. Come in and explore our collections when you finish scaring yourself silly! Continue reading “Let’s Tour Our Haunted Region!”
Elaine Corum Strawn is a Columbia, MO author whose latest fiction book is “Kiddie & the Major.” The book is romantic historical fiction inspired by her real life grandparents, journalist and sports announcer Bill Corum and model socialite Kiddie Kolle. Readers can follow their ups and downs of dating, falling in love, getting married and growing together as they try to live their best lives in New York City during the decadent 1920’s. Elaine is a first grade teacher in Columbia Public Schools and is the founder of Off & Running Publications. She has written two nonfiction books, “Lessons Learned in a Primary Classroom” and “Going on a Bear Hunt.” Elaine was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Elaine Strawn, Author of “Kiddie & the Major””
You already may know that you can check out a bag of books for your book group. Or a telescope for exploring the night sky. Here is another new type of kit, one I’m especially excited about. This Summer we are adding kits for people who would like to try knitting or crocheting for the first time, or who would like to return to the craft. Yes! I am so happy we are offering these physical kits. They live at Columbia Public Library and can be interlibrary loaned to any of the other regional branches.
These kits are made possible by the Verna Wulfekammer bequest. Continue reading “Fiber Art Kits”
Gladys Swan is a Columbia, MO author whose latest book is “Ceremony of Innocence.” The fictional book follows an American woman named Florrie as she faces many tribulations while living abroad in Copenhagen, Venice and Prague during the late 1980s. Swan is both a writer and a visual artist who has a background teaching literature and creative writing at many colleges, including Mizzou. She has published several novels and short story collections over the years including the Carnival Quintet series and a New Mexico trilogy. She currently has an art exhibit up at the Missouri River Regional Library until June 30, 2022. Gladys was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Gladys Swan, Author of “Ceremony of Innocence””
Lynn Rossy is a Columbia, MO author whose latest book is “Savor Every Bite.” The book provides daily tips and tools for whole-body healing — including how to eat mindfully, move your body in ways that feel delicious, and live with greater ease and joy. She gave an author talk about the book through our library last year. Rossy is a health psychologist who has developed Eat for Life, a research-based mindful eating program. She is the author of one previous book, “The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution.” Lynn was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Lynn Rossy, Author of “Savor Every Bite””
As we swing into summer and flowering plants start blooming, I want to introduce you to the concept of wild harvesting, which is finding dye plants in the ditches along country roads and highways. Wild harvesting should not be done in your neighbors’ yards without permission nor in a protected area such as a park. Always park safely and watch the traffic, don’t over-harvest an area, and always watch for the wildlife sharing the ditch with you.
This is not an article about how to dye but I will share a couple of dyeing resources later. Continue reading “As Beautiful as Wildflowers”
