Posted on Monday, January 24, 2022 by Decimal Diver
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“One Night in Miami” Website / Reviews
This feature film is a fictional account of February 25th, 1964, where four icons at the forefront of Black American culture, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural turmoil of the ’60s. Adapted by Kemp Powers from his acclaimed play, this film is the feature directorial debut of Academy Award–winning actor Regina King. Continue reading “New DVD List: One Night in Miami, Tina, & More”
Surprisingly, even during the pandemic, horror is a genre growing in popularity. You’d think our real lives held enough horror, but the key thing about reading a horror novel or watching a scary movie is that these horrors are not yours, they belong to someone else and you’re just borrowing them for a moment. Not only that, but you’re viewing these particular horrors from a comfortable distance. Maybe that gives the horror fan some semblance of control in an otherwise chaotic world and at a somewhat exhausting point in human history, that could be useful. Continue reading “Fresh Horror From the Icy Depths of Winter”
Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 by The Biblio-Buckaroo
It’s a new year and it’s cold outside! It’s a good time to pick up a crochet hook and some wooly yarn and get cozy. Whether crochet is new to you or you have a stash of yarn that you have neglected, there are a lot of fun projects, with different levels of difficulty, to dive into. Is crochet as popular as knitting? It is not. Judging by the ratio of knitting books to crochet books in the library’s collection, crochet is mayyybe half as popular. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its charms. For example, you don’t have to count stitches, you use one hook instead of two needles and who doesn’t love a groovy 1970s granny square afghan? Continue reading “Crochet: Knitting’s Less Popular Sister”
The second annual winter reading program kicks off today! I’m so excited to join my fellow readers as we work our way through these cold winter months with the warmth of a good book. Books take us on adventures; they invite us to travel through new and exciting worlds from the comfort of our couches. And while an engaging book will always be my first choice for couch adventuring, a great movie comes in a close second. But why have one or the other? Why not delve deeper into the magic that is movies through the magic that is books? Let’s celebrate all of the amazing men and women who make movies happen: directors, costume and set designers, camera operators, prop masters, cinematographers, writers and so many more. Without their dedication and hard work, movies wouldn’t happen. Continue reading “Beyond the Lens: Books About Movies”
Take some time this winter to get a new perspective on your equine. Pictured is the author’s mule, Mikey.
We recently added several horse-related books to our collection! Check them out to give you a fresh perspective on your equine friends and partners.
Winter is a great time to slow down and try something new with the equines in your life. As my horse (and mule) and I get older, I’ve found a lot of satisfaction, joy and success in learning more about the mind of the horse and the mechanics of their bodies.
Even if you’re not a horse owner or active equestrian, if you love and are fascinated by horses, you may find might find some of the training books interesting. Continue reading “New Horse Books”
Join us for our monthly virtual book discussion on Thursday, February 3 from 12-1 p.m. This month we’ll depart from our usual format to discuss some picture books with Black history themes. Adults can find value in reading picture books, which provide an introduction to a subject and are often illustrated with beautiful artwork.
Here are the books to read for our discussion:
“The Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander
“Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre” by Carole Boston Weatherford
“Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks” by Suzanne Slade
“Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott” by Dee Romito
“Swish! The Slam-dunking, Alley-ooping, High-flying Harlem Globetrotters” by Suzanne Slade
“We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song” by Debbie Levy
“Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly
“Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams” by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Posted on Monday, January 10, 2022 by patron reviewer
The moment. The breath. “Start Here, Start Now” focuses on these and teaches you how to come back to those whenever you should stray. With touches of a Buddhist connection, it stays mostly on the path toward finding a better you, the you that’s already there, through the simplest thing you’re already doing. You just have to focus. I enjoyed this book for the meditation instruction and tips, but was most thrilled with the humor. “Somewhere in this process, you will come face to face with the sudden and shocking realization that you are completely crazy,” is among the sharper lines that caught me off guard in this sea of calm prose.
Three words that describe this book: Calm, considered, filling
You might want to pick this book up if: You want to learn about mindfulness meditation, need a refresher, or want a fun read.
-Jim
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2021. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
Did you know that January is National Blood Donor Month? It is celebrated each January during what is traditionally one of the most difficult times of year to maintain a sufficient blood supply. The act of donating blood takes less than an hour and is virtually painless, which inspired me a few years ago to become a regular donor at our local Red Cross. Blood donations are vital for saving lives, but so are the doctors and nurses who work to ensure my donation makes it to a person who needs it. So, this month I’d like to explore some books that capture their stories and experiences with bringing people back from the verge of death. Continue reading “Literary Links: The Art of Saving Lives”
Posted on Friday, January 7, 2022 by patron reviewer
“The Anthropocene Reviewed” is a series of essays where John Green discusses, and ultimately reviews, various items and phenomenon that make up our current geological age, the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene is all about how humans have shaped the world and its biodiversity by our influence and mere existence. What I enjoyed about Green’s reviews is that while he clearly takes humanity’s effect on the planet serious, his essays are not doom-and-gloom serious. He is addressing common, often universally experienced phenomenon (such as Canada Geese and the QWERTY keyboard) in a thoughtful yet lighthearted way. His essays diverge at times in ways that make you think “where is this going and how did I get here from where we just were?” but it always comes back together. I enjoyed Green’s humor and insight, learned a few things, and appreciated the opportunity to consider some aspects of everyday life I’d never really thought about before.
Three words that describe this book: Intelligent, challenging, informative
You might want to pick this book up if: You might, as I did, pick this book up if you are a fan of John Green’s other works. If you like his writing and are interested in the human behind the YA stories, you will be rewarded for your time — you will learn both about the world around you, how Green sees it, and more about the author himself. If you are hoping for another witty set of teenagers facing the challenges of youth, you will be disappointed.
-Sarah
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2021. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
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