This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 18

A Bottle in Front of Me on Bon Appetit

No matter what the occasion is, birthday, graduation or just because, "A Bottle In Front Of Me" is a terrific site if you want to get an idea of what to expect before you try it or buy it. It’s an online column by foodist and editor Andrew Knowlton. He shares his weekly picks and shares his reviews from wines to Cognac…bottoms up.

-Darlene, Circulation

Fivebooks.com

I stumbled across this site while looking up reader advisory materials, and even I have to admit it’s pretty neat. The website gathers interviews from famous and not-so-famous authors, critics, and other professionals and has them recommend five books on a particular topic, whether it be espionage or history on the Middle East or Sherlock Holmes. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially because the people interviewed are (more often than not) experts in the topic and the material itself is very riveting.

-Judy, Reference

Between a Rock and a Grace Place:  Divine Surprises in the Tight Spots of Life by Carol Kent

I was surprised (pun intended) that this book was one I couldn't put down.  The author's only son was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole which she describes in another book called When I Lay My Isaac Down.  This book has 8 chapters in which she shares stories of how she has been surprised by faith, mercy, contentment, thanksgiving, favor, joy, freedom and adventure.  Kent also weaves in other people's stories that fit those categories.  I laughed and cried.  I gave my family an extra hug.  This book is available on Acorn's shelf.

-Janice, Youth Services

NCAA  Men’s Basketball Tournament

Every year, the players grow more absurdly athletic and the division between the traditional superpowers and scrappy upstarts (Florida Gulf Coast University, anyone?) disintegrates even further. The result is a tournament filled with unprecedented drama, enthusiasm, and unpredictability. Plus, there is plenty of smart writing on the internet to stoke one’s fandom throughout, namely Grantland’s--whose coverage runs the gamut from  a seven-tiered defense of Duke to fictionalized biographies of Harvard’s band. Though there are issues that need to be resolved in high-profile college sports, March Madness provides the perfect opportunity to focus on the spirit of the game. I’ll be happy as long as Duke doesn’t win it…or Louisville…but mainly Duke.

-Megan, Reference

Locke and Key Written by Joe Hill and Illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

My most recently read comic book series is filled with supernatural horror. Three children move to Lovecraft, MA after their father is killed by the son’s classmate who was used by the spirit of the father’s high school friend. Then it gets weird. They move to their father’s childhood home, Keyhouse, where they find a series of keys that unleashes a battle of demonic proportions. The comics are available as hardcover books through SWAN.

-Mike, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 17

Masterpiece Mystery: Poirot’s Murder on the Orient Express
With David Suchet’s announcement that this upcoming season of Poirot will be his last, I decided recently to catch up on the series. One of the best that I have seen so far is Murder on the Orient Express. It’s Hercule Poirot at his most creative, using those “little grey cells” to their fullest potential. After a passenger expressed to Poirot that his life was in danger while on a cross-continental train called the Orient Express, (a real-life train that ran through Istanbul to Paris) the man is found murdered. Full of deductive reasoning and wit, Poirot uses his talents to unravel the murderer’s identity despite unique circumstances. The story is abundant with twists and turns and unless you’ve read the book, the ending is a surprising one and will leave you wanting more. If you like historical fiction & mysteries, you can order the episode along with others on DVD through SWAN.

-Judy, Reference

Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks
As a child we all had imaginary friends. It’s not always easy to know whether it is misperception or illusion. The author Oliver Sacks tells of many stories of his patients that some hallucinations are brought on by disease or injury, not the types that occur with schizophrenia.This book describes the experiences and impact that illusions have had in their lives. Once reading through the chapters, you will find it’s not always in your head.

-Darlene, Circulation

Heartworn Highways
If you like country music, specifically the outlaw country subgenre, I recommend you request this documentary about the emerging scene in Nashville and Austin in the 1970s. It was filmed in 1975 and features performances by Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, David Allen Coe, Gamble Rogers, and The Charlie Daniels Band. The documentary is worth watching, but if you only want the music, the soundtrack is also available through SWAN.

-Mike, Reference

Stroganoff
Yes, our extended winter does have an upside: more time for indulging in comfort foods. My favorite has to be stroganoff--so filling, flavorful, and yet somehow stately. I modified the traditional recipe from its gut-bombish beef and sour cream origins in order to make it healthier, and the end result was still delicious and even better as a leftover.

1. In a large frying pan, sauté two tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon garlic, and one chopped white onion until the onion is translucent.

2. Add 1.5 pound of ground turkey breast, one teaspoon of salt, and one teaspoon of pepper. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, breaking the turkey into small pieces as it solidifies.

3. Add two 12-ounce cans of cream of mushroom soup and bring to a low boil.

4. Mix in one cup of low-fat Greek yogurt, along with one teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of oregano, one tablespoon of basil, and liberal amounts of pepper. Return to a low boil.

5. Stir in 1.5 cups of chopped celery and six ounces of frozen, chopped spinach. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Serve over penne pasta or egg noodles. This recipe made six (huge) servings.

-Megan, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 16

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
I finished the debut novel of Ruta Sepetys called Between Shades of Gray a few months ago, and while it’s listed as a YA novel I think that the themes touched upon in the book can apply to almost all ages.
It goes back and forth from past experiences of a young Lithuanian girl named Lina to the current WWII setting where she and her family are forced into a desolate work camp in Siberia. Her family faces the possibility of starvation, separation, and death every single day throughout the narrative. What particularly stood out to me is that this is a retelling of a part of history that not many people are aware of. After the Soviet Union received Lithuania and other countries in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, most of the people in these countries and their families were deported and forced into secluded work camps because they were considered a threat to Stalin’s regime. This included military personnel, librarians, doctors, lawyers, and many other educated professionals. The novel shows another side of WWII and that even in times of great loss and devastation, it is possible to keep hope alive no matter what. Between Shades of Gray is available through SWAN.

-Judy, Reference


Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara
I started sewing a few years ago by taking 6 months of classes at a local sewing store.  There, I learned the basics on how to operate a sewing machine, how to read a pattern, and ended up creating a few pairs of PJ pants, a couple of ill-fitting shirts and one tote bag that I use often.  I quit my sewing machine for a while, mostly because I am just not a fan of deciphering patterns to only have a questionable article of clothing to show for it in the end.  Not so long ago, I got back into sewing when I got this fantastic book via ILL! As the title denotes, all you really need to be able to do is sew in a straight line (much harder than it sounds!) to create any of the over 20 featured projects.  Personally, I've made the "Easy Breezy Blouse" which turned out to be not that easy, but is definitely breezy, the "World's Easiest Zippered Throw Pillow" which actually lives up to its moniker, the "Make It Your Way Ottoman Cover," which superbly covers an iron burn on my ottoman, and the "On-the-Go Jewelry Keeper," which is begging me to take it on a trip.  This book is available through SWAN.

-Jen, Youth Services

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
We expect the love we think we deserve. In the 2012 film "The Perks of Being a Wallflower",
two friends take Sam under their wing after spending his young life on the sidelines of life until his friends show him how to participate in life.  
We can’t choose where we come from but we can choose where we go from there.  Its a fun film to watch with a group of friends and you might see a bit of Sam in yourself.

-Darlene, Circulation


Coursera
I’m really impressed with Coursera, which offers free online classes through some of the world’s best universities. Each course is structured differently, but most are five to eight weeks long and consist of weekly video lectures, written assignments, quizzes, and forums for engaging with your professor and classmates. Coursera has a preponderance of technology and computer science offerings, but there are dozens of art, philosophy, finance, and nutrition classes as well.

So, are massive open online courses (MOOCs) the future of education? That remains to be seen, but they provide an exciting service for people who are eager for information and instruction without a hefty tuition payment. 

-Megan, Reference

Pope Francis
My favorite thing this week is the fact that Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose to be known as Pope Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, my favorite saint. St. Francis decided to live a life of poverty and devotion after his experience among the beggars in St. Peter’s Basilica during a pilgrimage to Rome. He is best remembered today for his love of nature and his connection with animals -- he is usually depicted holding a bird in his hand.

-Mike, Reference
 

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 15

Benediction by Kent Haruf
In a tiny Colorado town, a man known to his friends as “Dad” is about to die from lung cancer. He only has months left, and almost everyone is trying to prepare themselves for his eventual death. But as Dad muses back on his life, we get a glimpse of other townspeople reflecting on their own lives and making the narrative all the more powerful. From a misunderstood preacher to a young girl who is frightened by death, we get a solid impression of what is fundamental to these people, the regrets they have, and what they are doing to survive their current journey of life. I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but this novel is pretty intense & beautiful at the same time. A word to the wise: I cried a lot, so if you’re a crier buy an extra box of tissues. It’s available on our New Book Shelf or through our online catalog.

-Judy, Reference

Cléo from 5 to 7
This movie chronicles of the life of Cléo (Corinne Marchand), a seemingly superficial young singer, as she awaits her cancer diagnosis in real-time. Directed by Agnès Varda, it documents one woman's sudden struggle with mortality, but it’s also a celebration of life’s ephemeral joys-- the Citroen DS, butterflies, encounters with eccentrics, and the charm of polka-dotted A-line dresses to name but a few.

-Megan, Reference

Free Fries!
For the frugal spender:
Burger King is giving away free fries and green ketchup for St. Patrick’s Day! Don’t forget to check it out on St. Pat’s Day, next Sunday the 17th!

-Darlene, Circulation

Foxygen’s Album - 21st Century Ambassadors

I like Foxygen’s new album because it has a retro sound without being annoying or feeling like a total rip-off. The lyrics are playful and the soft delivery goes really well with the piano. The song “San Francisco”, with its call and response chorus, is the best kind of earworm. Acorn’s copy should be available soon. For now, you can place a hold through SWAN.  

-Mike, Reference