After surviving the heat and drought of this summer, the fall weather is welcoming. The cooler weather encourages more time spent outdoors: walking, group activities, taking pictures of the fall colors, sitting on your porch and moments of introspection. It is the perfect time to begin or continue journal writing. Join us in making a journal to celebrate National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). This simple hand-bound journal can be used for beginning your first novel, writing important thoughts, remembering an activity or placing photos. After making our journal, we will have supplies to decorate with strip paper painting. Check this list for more journal ideas.
Join us in the Friends Room of the Columbia Public Library from 2-4 p.m. on November 5. Space for this in-person program is limited, so please register.
I. Going Somewhere
The first time I listened to Snail Mail’s 2018 album “Lush” was on a train to Chicago, newly heartbroken and on my way to see a dear friend. The sun was rising on a frigid November morning. I felt relieved to be tucked away, going somewhere.
I curled up against the window and hit “shuffle.” Track three, “Speaking Terms,” greeted me with a moody lead guitar and swept me up in its driving rhythm.
I was startled by Lindsey Jordan’s voice, youthful and piercing yet deeply world-weary.
“Leave things on speaking terms / And I’ll see you around,” she sang. I closed my eyes.
Some albums win you over with their expansive emotional and musical range. For me, “Lush” was not one of those albums.
Rather, listening to “Lush” feels like tuning into a singular, excruciating emotional frequency; like walking into a waterfall and letting the roaring wall of feeling crash through you. Heartbreak. Youth. Shame. And still, love. Over and over again, until your heart emerges a shiny pebble. Continue reading “Album Review: Snail Mail’s Lush”
This month, I’d like to talk about one of the most original and imaginative cookbooks I have ever read, “Death To Jar Sauce.” The author is “Nat” of the YouTube channel, “Nat’s What I Reckon.” Nat is not a chef, but a person passionate about inspiring people to eat healthier and to eat better. From the introduction: “Nat is a comedian, rock musician, mental health advocate and award-winning, bestselling author. Already an online creator with a fan base in the hundreds of thousands for close to a decade, Nat’s What I Reckon rocketed to global prominence when he took the world by storm in early 2020 with his isolation cooking content.” I was exposed to Nat through his videos on Facebook and those 10-15 minutes of culinary chaos were a salve to my weary psyche during the pandemic shutdown. What struck me was his delivery; it reminded me of how cooks really talk when explaining recipes that didn’t require precision. Continue reading “Read The Recipe! Warning: Graphic Content”
In “How to Be Perfect,” Michael Schur, the creator of the TV series “The Good Place,” explores several philosophical models for living an ethical life. You learn about Aristotle, Kant, Sartre, deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, and my favorite, ubuntu (I am because we are). Philosophy can be a slog, and Shur makes it fun and funny with section headings like, “Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?” I liked this book because it shines a light on the value of trying to be a good person, and giving real thought about the best ways to go about that. The audiobook version is a real delight because Shur narrates, and there are cameos by all of the main stars of “The Good Place.”
Three words that describe this book: Thought-provoking, humorous, heartwarming
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a fan of “The Good Place” and want to learn something without it hurting too much.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
“Floaters
” is a poetry collection covering a wide range of topics, but especially focusing on Latinx and tenant rights movements and grief. I’ve long admired Martín Espada’s work, and this is certainly one of his best.
The most impressive thing to me is Espada’s emotional range, how often he makes the reader laugh out loud or feel almost physically sick with anger or despair — sometimes in the same poem. This range is reflected in his choice of subjects too, how he connects policies and social movements affecting millions to personal matters such as the death of his father or his enduring love for his wife. From the first poem in the book he works to tie together images of his personal, specific experience with stories of others’ lives and histories.
While the book often focuses on the worst of life — racism, exploitation, death — it maintains a sense of both beauty and humor, finding joy and meaning in the lives of the people it fights for or elegizes. The effect these poems have by the end is essential and frankly amazing: the compression of so many events and feelings into a slim volume of poems, a world of near-infinite wonder and sadness in such a small space.
Three words that describe this book: moving, beautiful, surprising
You might want to pick this book up if: you already love poetry OR you’re totally new to it and don’t know where to start! Martín Espada’s narrative style and focus on strong emotions and current events make his work easier to get into than some other poets’, while his imagery, line work, and impeccable word choice and sense of rhythm will impress those who read poetry day in and day out.
-Eric
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
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!”
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”
I love the recent trend of books with Greek myths retold from a feminine perspective, and “Elektra” does not disappoint. This one focuses on three women during the Trojan War: Clytemnestra and Elektra of Mycenae, and Cassandra of Troy. However, we also have the voices of Helen, Penelope, and the men that enter the tale as well. Just as in her book “Ariadne,” author Jennifer Saint does a great job of integrating multiple Greek myths into her storytelling, along with the involvement of the gods and the power of women’s wrath. Overall, beautiful.
Three words that describe this book: Rage. Helplessness. Devotion.
You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoy mythology or fierce female protagonists.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
For a history geek, “When Women Ruled the World” is a treasure trove of information on four queens: Mary Tudor; Elizabeth I; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Catherine de’ Medici. Informative and entertaining, I loved the way the author rectified some incorrect or biased information that has come down through history on these highly influential women rulers. I also gained a new appreciation for Phillip II of Spain, whose historical accomplishments have been somewhat overlooked, and who figured in some ways in the lives of all these powerful women.
Three words that describe this book: Intriguing; Readable; Encouraging
You might want to pick this book up if: you want to learn more about the ways powerful women have made influential marks on Western/European history.
-Connie
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
While considering what to write about for this month’s Literary Links article, I stumbled across the fact that October is “Right Brainers Rule!” month. The human brain is divided into two hemispheres, and each side of the brain handles different jobs. The brain’s left side is stronger in dealing with facts and logic in an analytical and methodical way; whereas the right side of the brain appears to be the more creative side. Some theorize that each of us ends up having a side of the brain that dominates the other. Of course, there is so much about the brain that we do not yet fully understand. One thing we really know about the brain, though, is that it’s the body’s only organ that can contemplate its own existence! So, let’s take a look at some books that explore this delightfully complex organ that is such a driving force in our lives. Continue reading “Literary Links: All About the Brain”
