Variety is the spice of life. Several people mentioned this when I told them my Literary Links topic. And this adage does hold true, of course. Can you imagine only listening to the same 10 songs for the rest of your life? A symphony with only trombones would not have the same depth of sound that a full orchestra could provide. Eating exclusively one food at every meal would not only be dull but would result in nutritional deficiency. There are endless examples of how a lack of variety would leave someone wanting. Variety is often required for balance, interest and health. This is true in many facets of life.
Let’s explore a few books on the topic!
“Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth,” by Nicola Davies, is a children’s book that explains how millions of living creatures inhabit Earth and why their differences matter. Emily Sutton’s illustrations show how some creatures look the same, though they are actually quite different. The book touches on interdependence of species in an ecosystem and how humans have only discovered a fraction of the species that we know must exist. A beautiful spread of illustrations shows creatures from small to large that have all been discovered in the last fifty years. This is a great book to open children’s eyes to the wonderful biodiversity on our planet and why it is worth protecting. Continue reading “Literary Links: The Case for Variety”
BAWK!!!! BAWK!!!!
Have you ever heard the squawking of a chicken laying an egg? It’s a delightful sound like no other that promises the gift of a fresh egg to fry, scramble or use in a recipe. I began keeping backyard chickens in 2010, when Columbia first allowed up to six chickens (but no roosters) per tract of land. Our younger son and I attended an introductory workshop sponsored by Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, and we were off on a new adventure! Continue reading “BAWK!!!! Keeping Backyard Chickens”
September is full of opportunities to explore this year’s One Read, “North Woods” through discussions, an interview with the author, a community art show and more! It’s a smorgasbord of activities for the bibliophile.
If you’re worried about how you’ll fill the void left in the wake of One Read, have no fear. Join us for the First Thursday Book Discussion on October 2, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Columbia Public Library. Continue reading “October First Thursday Book Discussion: The Measure”
“Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service” is a book edited by Michael Lewis, featuring essays by various authors. The book challenges the negative connotations of “bureaucrat” by providing deep insights into the roles, responsibilities, and general humanity of government workers across seven different agencies.
I really enjoyed the level of depth the authors gave about each person, and how there was a balance of historical context to organizations, modern impact on everyday people, and personal connection to the employees. As with any book by several authors, I preferred some writing styles over others, but the heart of the book is still worth reading.
Three words that describe this book: Educational, blended writing
You might want to pick this book up if: You want to learn what your government does for you!
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
Daniel Maupin Dulany married his first wife, Jacintha Maupin, in 1841, and, in 1853, he buried his third wife, Ann Craig. Wife number two, Mary Ann Thompson, passed in 1845. He later had a memorial stone erected for Jacintha, Mary and Ann at the Founder’s Cemetery in Paris, Missouri; perhaps as he and his fourth wife, Mary, moved to Iowa. I found this memorial stone while out geocaching. I was fascinated. Who were these women? How did they die so soon after marrying Daniel and more importantly, how did they live? Where are their actual graves, as this is a memorial stone? I could find very little information about these three women on Google. So I went hunting.
Continue reading “The Three Dead Wives of Daniel Dulany”
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
“The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters” by Christine Webb (Sep 2)
Darwin considered humans one part of the web of life, not the apex of a natural hierarchy. Yet today many maintain that we are the most intelligent, virtuous, successful species that ever lived. This flawed thinking enables us to exploit the earth towards our own exclusive ends, throwing us into a perilous planetary imbalance. But is this view and way of life inevitable? “The Arrogant Ape” shows that human exceptionalism is an ideology that relies more on human culture than our biology, more on delusion and faith than on evidence. Harvard primatologist Christine Webb has spent years researching the rich social, emotional, and cognitive lives of our closest living relatives. She exposes the ways that many scientific studies are biased against other species and reveals underappreciated complexities of nonhuman life — from the language of songbirds and prairie dogs, to the cultures of chimpanzees and reef fishes, to the acumen of plants and fungi. With compelling stories and fresh research she gives us a paradigm-shifting way of looking at other organisms on their own terms, one that is revolutionizing our perception both of them and of ourselves. Critiques of human exceptionalism tend to focus on our moral obligation towards other species. They overlook what humanity also stands to gain by dismantling its illusions of uniqueness and superiority. This shift in perspective fills us with a sense of awe and satisfies one of our oldest and deepest desires to belong to the larger whole we inhabit. What’s at stake is a better, sustainable way of life with the potential to heal and rejuvenate our shared planet. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: September 2025”
16 years after Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, her daughter is determined to prove her mother was innocent with the help of detective Hercule Poirot. Because Poirot is investigating a cold case, he must rely entirely on the testimonies of those who were present at the time of the incident.
I’ve been reading through author Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels, and “Five Little Pigs” definitely stands out as one of the best (so far). I found the structure of the novel to be unique — utilizing third-person narration as well as first-person narrated testimony. The ending will certainly leave an impression.
Three words that describe this book: Mysterious, clever, slow
You might want to pick this book up if: If you like eccentric and highly intelligent detectives and murder-mysteries that rely just as heavily on what is said as what isn’t, you might like this book.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.
After living more than 50 years in the same house — the very place where I grew up — my mom is moving. Undeniably, it’s the right time, the proper stage of life. But this process has evoked lots of emotion for her, as well as for me, my brother, our respective spouses and other family members: grief, frustration, indecision, excitement, possibility and trepidation. To be sure, practical mechanics and logistics matter. Van expenses need to be compared, old papers need to be sorted, heirlooms need to be passed along. These aspects require vast amounts of time, energy and organization. The intangible feelings involved, however, are much more complex.
I’ve gathered a list of books that appear relevant to what’s percolating inside of me as my mom navigates this transition. I ponder what methods will keep me sane as her fears bubble up, and I consider how I want to leave the state of my possessions in the future for my own offspring. Continue reading “Moving On”
Did you know that your library card gives you digital access to local and major newspapers, if you live in Boone or Callaway counties? I’ve written about this before, but the newspaper databases have been rearranged so I have an opportunity to revisit this. Want to learn more about it? Come with me … Continue reading “Read Digital Magazines and Newspapers, For Free, From Home!”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Sinners” – Website / Reviews
In this horror film, twin brothers try to leave their troubled lives behind by returning to their hometown to start again. What they discover is that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
“Eephus” – Website / Reviews
As a construction project looms over their beloved small-town baseball field, a pair of New England Sunday league teams face off for the last time in this drama/comedy film.
“A Complete Unknown” – Website / Reviews
A dramatization following a young Bob Dylan arriving in 1960’s New York. Forging relationships with music icons, his meteoric rise culminates in a performance that reverberates worldwide.
“Fallout” – Season 1 – Website / Reviews
Based on the video game series, this sci-fi show is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the complex universe waiting for them above.
“Thunderbolts*” – Website / Reviews
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes go on a mission forcing them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts in this action/adventure film.
Continue reading “New DVD List: August 2025”
