Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in May. 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
“Out of the Corner: A Memoir” by Jennifer Grey (May 3)
In this beautiful, close-to-the bone account, Jennifer Grey takes readers on a vivid tour of the experiences that have shaped her, from her childhood as the daughter of Broadway and film legend Joel Grey, to the surprise hit with Patrick Swayze that made her America’s sweetheart, to her inspiring season 11 win on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Throughout this intimate narrative, Grey richly evokes places and times that were defining for a generation — from her preteen days in 1970s Malibu and wild child nights in New York’s club scene, to her roles in quintessential movies of the 1980s, including “The Cotton Club,” “Red Dawn,” and her breakout performance in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” With self-deprecating humor and frankness, she looks back on her unbridled, romantic adventures in Hollywood. And with enormous bravery, she shares the devastating fallout from a plastic surgery procedure that caused the sudden and stunning loss of her professional identity and career. Grey inspires with her hard-won battle back, reclaiming her sense of self from a culture and business that can impose a narrow and unforgiving definition of female worth. She finds, at last, her own true north and starts a family of her own, just in the nick of time. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: May 2022”
Crab apple blossoms change from fuchsia to blush pink along one of three Tree Trails on Mizzou’s campus
Getting outside in this spring air is grounding, refreshing and stimulating to all our senses. Budding trees, aromatic blossoms and brilliant shades of green abound. Raptors soar above us in stark contrast to the pastel sky. The creeks and streams babble terrifically cold water. There is so much life to witness and be among.
We are truly lucky in central Missouri to have a number of quality trails and natural areas where we can do just that. But keeping track of all the options can be tricky, as there are many distinct jurisdictions. There’s municipal parks, college grounds, state parks, conservation areas and even a national forest on the southwest border of Boone and Callaway counties. These trails run the gamut of accessibility and activities. Some are paved and centrally located while others are rugged, faintly developed and remote. Use the links below to discover your next local trail.
“Its landscape of entrenched creek valleys, massive limestone bluffs and caves, and rolling grassy uplands intrigues and charms…Listen for spring peepers, watch for Virginia bluebells, and catch the fragrance of wild plum.”
Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 by Jason Delpire
Ingredient flexibility. What is that?! It’s a term I use to describe being comfortable changing a recipe as needed. Maybe you’ve watched a competitive cooking show and were amazed at the contestants making a complicated component, seemingly on a whim. How often have you found a recipe that you want to make, but you’re missing ingredients? Or, are you cooking for someone with allergies? Do you feel comfortable substituting or omitting ingredients? If you’ve not reached this type of kitchen freedom, this post (and a few planned for the future) is for you. Continue reading “Read the Recipe Vol. ∞”
Like a reasonable response to climate change, Charlotte McConaghy’s two adult literary fiction novels are a blend of cataclysmic sadness and rage garnished with a dash of hope.
The first, “Migrations,” is about an emotionally devastated woman going to extravagant lengths to track the last birds on the planet on what may be their final migration. To follow the Arctic tern from Greenland to Antarctica, she talks her way aboard a commercial fishing vessel just before such vessels are outlawed. (The vessels are outlawed because the ocean is almost dead.) Having persuaded the crew that fish-eating birds will lead them to fish, they embark on their epic quest. Slowly and satisfyingly, the mysteries in her past are solved. Among other things, you’ll learn why she’s sad and why she was in prison. Continue reading “The Gentleman Recommends: Charlotte McConaghy”
Working at the library happily puts me in the path of books that I might not have otherwise discovered. The most recent example is “Treaty Words: As Long As the River Flows,” by Aimee Craft. This book is shelved in the juvenile (middle grades) section, but don’t let this classification fool you. Continue reading “Treaty Words”
Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 by Decimal Diver
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””
I could throw out the oft-given opinion that society is more divided than ever. I’m not sure I completely agree with that, but I do know that mending division often happens face-to-face and at the individual level. Continue reading “Human Library: Unjudge Someone”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“West Side Story” Website / Reviews
Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tony Kushner, this musical tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love. Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks — two rival gangs vying for control of the streets. Continue reading “New DVD List: West Side Story & More”
Lots of events are coming up: Easter, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays and many more. And what do we usually do at these events? Take pictures, loads of pictures. Our kit this month shows how to make a photo wall hanging of these pictures in black and white. You can certainly do this in color, but we wanted to highlight the black and white photo look.
These kits will be available while they last in all of our branches on Friday, April 15. You may pick them up at the reference desk at the Columbia library and near the service desks at our other branches. For other photo craft ideas, try this list.
Join us on May 5 at 12 p.m. for “The Dutch House” by Anne Patchett. Patchett, the New York Times bestselling author of “Commonwealth” and “State of Wonder,” returns with her most powerful novel to date: a richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood and a past that will not let them go. “The Dutch House” is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and who we really are. For a list of similarly themed books, try this list.
This zoom discussion is for adults: register here.
Lots of events are coming up: Easter, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays and many more. And what do we usually do at these events? Take pictures, loads of pictures. Our kit this month shows how to make a photo wall hanging of these pictures in black and white. You can certainly do this in color, but we wanted to highlight the black and white photo look.