Posted on Friday, August 18, 2017 by patron reviewer
Editor’s note: This review was submitted by a library patron during the 2017 Adult Summer Reading program. We will continue to periodically share some of these reviews throughout the year.
In a saga that spans two centuries, “Homegoing” takes readers on a journey through the Gold Coast slave trade, Asante wars, colonialism, slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and more. One woman, Maame, birthed two daughters, Effia and Esi, unbeknownst to one another. Each woman is left to find her way in the harsh world, their challenges magnified due to the color of their skin and their circumstances. Through split narratives, we follow the descendants of Maame through time and through the world. Not for the faint of heart, this novel touches on graphic and disturbing periods of American and world history, but will leave the reader feeling touched and inspired.
Three words that describe this book: powerful, moving, historic
You might want to pick this book up if: You like family sagas, US history and world history.
Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 by Reading Addict
“S80-37406 (14-24 Nov. 1969) — This photograph of the eclipse of the sun was taken from the Apollo 12 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey home from the moon.
In many cultures, a solar eclipse was thought to be due to an animal or demon trying to eat the sun or moon. People would bang on pots and pans or drums to drive the threat away. For some cultures an eclipse is a time of terror, but for others it is a time for reflection and reconciliation. Whatever meanings we ascribe to it, we know that solar eclipses are natural occurrences whereby the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. This year’s eclipse is the first total solar eclipse to be visible in the continental U.S. since 1978 and the first to cross the entire country from west to east since 1918. Columbia is lucky to be in the middle of that path. We will have 2 minutes and 37 seconds of totality. That doesn’t seem very long but if you didn’t know the science behind it, it could be a bit terrifying. Continue reading “Danger! View It Safely: The Solar Eclipse”
It is now mid-August, which to me, is the reverse equivalent of mid-February. Rather than being done in by the dark and cold, the wicked heat and humidity is taking its toll on me. Do summer dog days have you down and dragging around, too? What are your remedies? Continue reading “Ice Cream Sandwiches to the Rescue!”
One of the great pleasures of One Read, the library’s community-wide reading program, is the opportunity to use a single book to explore a myriad of topics and to connect with other readers through that exploration.
This year’s selection, “The Turner House” by Angela Flournoy, provides an intimate portrait of a family, a home and a city. By following the lives of Francis and Viola Turner, we witness one black family’s experience moving north as part of the Great Migration and get a glimpse into that period of American history. We celebrate and suffer along with the Turner siblings, gaining an appreciation of the complexities of being a member of a large family, or perhaps recognizing dynamics from our own families. We also come to know Detroit, which is a character in and of itself. The following books will enhance your experience of Flournoy’s novel. Continue reading “Literary Links: One Read 2017”
World Elephant Day is August 12. But why do elephants get their own day? They’re just that cool, for one thing. And they’re endangered. WorldElephantDay.org explains: “The elephant is loved, revered and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature.”
Elephants are highly intelligent, with excellent memories and the ability to recognize themselves in reflections. They develop strong bonds with each other and live together in communities. Female and juvenile elephants herd together in groups led by matriarchs, while adolescent and adult males form their own separate herds. Elephants work collectively to protect their young, and they appear to mourn their dead. Continue reading “World Elephant Day”
Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2017 by patron reviewer
“The Hearts of Men” is about intertwining friendships and families set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin at a beloved Boy Scout summer camp. The reason I enjoyed reading this book so much was I was invested in the characters and couldn’t wait to have more of their stories revealed to me. The author also peppered his novel with emotionally reflective comments which provide the reader a chance to have thoughtful reflection on parenting and society today.
Three words that describe this book: Insightful, Engaging and Page-turner
You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoy character-driven writing. There are five main characters in this book, one of which the reader journeys with for a period over 55 years.
Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 by Decimal Diver
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection. “Contemporary Color” Website / Reviews Playing at last year’s Boone Dawdle, this film shows an arena concert event in Brooklyn, New York, to celebrate the creativity of high school color guard: synchronized dance routines involving flags, rifles and sabers, colloquially known as “the sport of the arts.” David Byrne invited many musicians to create original compositions to accompany ten color guard teams’ performances. Continue reading “New DVD List: Contemporary Color & More”
Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 by patron reviewer
In “My Sister Rosa,” a family arrives in New York City on a new business venture. They are a family of four with two kids, 17-year-old Che and 10-year-old Rosa. They meet another family that is investing in Che and Rosa’s family’s business. The children from both families become friends. The story is told by the point of view of Che. As he adjusts to life in a new city, with new friends and a new girlfriend, he suspects that his little sister is a psychopath. The story goes on about the creepy things that Rosa gets away with and how sweet and cute she is so no one suspects her. The ending is a huge twist that even I did not see coming. I enjoyed this one a lot. I was pleasantly surprised by this story.
Three words that describe this book: Creepy, Unsettling, and Psycho
You might want to pick this book up if: you like psychological thrillers.
The New York Times best-selling author returns with another round of hilarious tales, shameless honesty and hope for the woman who has forgotten her moxie. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: August 2017”
Posted on Friday, August 4, 2017 by Reading Addict
Last Thanksgiving, while we were driving to visit extended family, we caught a segment on NPR about a man in the suburbs of Los Angeles who created fake news in order to try to expose extremist groups. His effort failed miserably, but it did highlight how easy it is to disseminate fake news.
We have heard a lot about fake news over the past year. I mean — a lot! But what does “fake news” even mean? There are websites, like The Borowitz Report and The Onion, that specialize in news satire, and, while it’s usually obvious that the stories from those sources are not “real,” sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish the satire from real news. There are also outlets like The Daily Show (originally hosted by Jon Stewart) and The Colbert Report that have been credited with covering the news better than actual news outlets. While that may be true in a sense, they are not “journalists,” and they are technically fake news, but this is also not what is meant by “fake news.” As pointed out by Sandra Borden and Chad Tew in their journal article, “The Role of Journalist and the Performance of Journalism: Ethical Lessons from “Fake” News” in the Journal of Mass Media Ethics,” “Stewart and Colbert do not share journalists’ moral commitments. Therefore, their performances are neither motivated nor constrained by these commitments … Rather than evaluating the work of Colbert and Stewart in the role of journalists, we propose analyzing their contributions to media ethics in the role of media critics.” Continue reading “What Is “Fake News”?”
In a saga that spans two centuries, “Homegoing” takes readers on a journey through the Gold Coast slave trade, Asante wars, colonialism, slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and more. One woman, Maame, birthed two daughters, Effia and Esi, unbeknownst to one another. Each woman is left to find her way in the harsh world, their challenges magnified due to the color of their skin and their circumstances. Through split narratives, we follow the descendants of Maame through time and through the world. Not for the faint of heart, this novel touches on graphic and disturbing periods of American and world history, but will leave the reader feeling touched and inspired.
World Elephant Day is August 12. But why do elephants get their own day? They’re just that cool, for one thing. And they’re endangered. 
