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
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