There’s never a bad time for poetry, but winter seems to be a season especially well-suited for contemplative reading. DBRL’s reading program, The Comforts of Winter, allows us to set our own goals. “Read a book of poetry” would be a good one.
Amanda Gorman has a new collection out: “Call Us What We Carry.” Some of the works in here are as uplifting as the one she read at President Biden’s inauguration, while others are more sobering. All of them plumb the depths. She does an amazing job with form — a poem about whaling shaped like a whale, for instance. A selection I re-read a couple of times was “Pan.” “Pandemic, meaning all people. / Pandemonium, meaning/ all demon. Pandora, / meaning all-gifted…”Continue reading “Poetry to Get You Through the Winter”
Posted on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 by Decimal Diver
Dorothy Canote is a Mid-Missouri author whose latest book is “Reflections From A Restless Mind.” The book is a series of illustrated essays sharing her love of science, travel, history and nature. Her essay subjects range the full gamut — reminiscing about her hometown of Avalon, MO, traveling to various places in the country of Mexico, exploring caves in the Ozarks, and more. The book is a followup to her first collection of illustrated essays, “Paintings and Musings From the Heartland.” Canote is a retired science teacher who also sold produce, herbs and flowers for 10 years at the Columbia Farmers Market. She was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Dorothy Canote, Author of “Reflections From a Restless Mind””
The library can make your life easier. That’s the whole point of libraries, really, to serve the needs of our communities. Here are a few life hacks — or, if you don’t know about life hacks, think of them as helpful resources to make your life easier — found at the library.
Are you thinking of making a big purchase — car, washing machine, electric toothbrush — and you want to spend your money wisely? Consumer Reports has reviews of more then 8,500 products. It is funded through subscriptions, not advertising, and is known for providing accurate and objective reviews and analysis. Because it’s funded through subscriptions, it can be expensive — but not for patrons of Daniel Boone Regional library! With a library card you can access it for free through our website without even leaving home. Continue reading “Life Hacks…From the Library”
Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 by Decimal Diver
Morgan Eye is a Columbia, MO author who recently came out with her debut book, “The Eye In Team: Cinderella Wore Sneakers.” It’s an autobiography of her life in basketball, from her early years playing in the small town of Montrose, Missouri, to her record breaking career at Mizzou and beyond. The book covers the highs and lows of her journey, as well as the challenges she’s faced both on and off the basketball court. Morgan and her husband both live in Columbia, where she teaches classes through the Columbia Public Schools and coaches girls basketball at Hickman High School. I emailed some interview questions to her, and she was kind enough to take time to write back some answers. Continue reading “Q&A With Morgan Eye, Author of “The Eye In Team””
Posted on Monday, September 27, 2021 by Reading Addict
“A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.” ~Mary Jo Godwin, Librarian
It’s fall again and another Banned Books Week is here, September 26 to October 2. This year’s theme is Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us. I have written several posts about banned books in the past detailing why various books are banned or challenged. This year, I would like to take a different approach and talk more generally about censorship, how libraries build collections to serve communities, and how our library system approaches challenges. Continue reading “Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us”
Posted on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 by Decimal Diver
Left: Jimi Cook, Phomotso Makeke Cook, and Cristi Cook; Right: “Hand Delivered Hope” book cover.
Jimi Cook is a Columbia, MO author who recently came out with his debut book, “Hand Delivered Hope.” The book is the story of how Jimi and his wife Cristi (both professors in orthopaedics at Mizzou) developed Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV), a nonprofit aid organization that builds schools and provides educational resources to forgotten communities around the world. Stories in the book include restoring a genocide ruined Rwandan school for a lost generation of learners, building a floating school on a huge lake in Cambodia, navigating corruption in Kenya, rebuilding relationships in India and many other engaging accounts of resilience and hope. I emailed some interview questions to him, and he was kind enough to take time to write back some answers. Continue reading “Q&A With Jimi Cook, Author of “Hand Delivered Hope””
Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 by Decimal Diver
Justin Hamm is a Mid-Missouri author whose latest book is “The Inheritance.” It’s a book of poetry and photographs that focus on various aspects of the Midwest. He’s published two other collections of poetry, “American Ephemeral,” and “Lessons in Ruin,” as well as a book of photographs titled “Midwestern.” Last year he also released a spoken word album featuring his poetry, “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues.” Originally from the flatlands of central Illinois, Hamm now lives in Mid-Missouri with his family and works as a Librarian in a small rural school district. I emailed some interview questions to him, and he was kind enough to take time to write back some answers. Continue reading “Q&A With Justin Hamm, Author of “The Inheritance””
