nonfiction

Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

By Anne Lamott
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Mar 27, 2017

I love Anne Lamott. Operating Instructions was my gateway book. Then I read Blue Shoe. And, as a wannabe writer, I’ve read Bird by Bird more than once.

But as a spiritually ambivalent, confused, semi-recovering Catholic, I could never quite bring myself to try any of her faith-based books. Don’t get me wrong . . . I’ve read and loved books with very pointed religious messages, for example Buddhist Boot Camp and Mercy in the City. I’ve even read, start to finish, religious books I didn’t like, such as Angry Conversations with God.

I think I was hesitant because I didn’t want to risk losing

Risking Everything: 110 Poems of Love and Revelation

By edited by Roger Housden
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Mar 20, 2017

For a poetry newbie, Risking Everything: 110 Poems of Love and Revelation is a nice introduction to the greats, both contemporary and historical. Hildegard of Bingen, who died in the 1100s, is included, yet so are poets like Billy Collins and Marie Howe who are alive and well.

My favorite, I think, is "So Much Happiness" by Naomi Shihab Nye, which begins,

It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness.

With sadness there is something to rub against

A wound to tend with lotion and cloth.

When the world falls in around you, you have pieces to pick up,

Something to  hold in

Showtime at the Ministry of Lost Causes

By Cheryl Dumesnil
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Hannah Jane W.
Mar 10, 2017

The title of Cheryl Dumesnil's latest collection, Showtime at the Ministry of Lost Causes, is like an irresistible flashing light, letting readers know that there's dark humor to be found inside. And yes, her poems twinkle with dark humor, but they are also candidly soulful, colorful and even sweetly sexy at times. Her poem, The Gospel According to Sky, explores cloud shapes, and how "the immutable blue holds those changing shapes, like a lover who's finally learned how to love her right." My heart soars at the idea of the sky holding the clouds like they are all the pieces of its cherished

How to Die in Oregon (DVD)

By Peter D. Richardson
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Jan 20, 2017

In my heart, I have always supported the right to die movement without knowing exactly why. Except that, I always euthanize my pets when their suffering outweighs all else. And I watched my Grandmother suffer indignities she would have been horrified by and wonder why we work so hard to prolong lives long over.  

How to Die in Oregon confirms my belief in the right to decide, with your doctor, when you want to end your own suffering. Those interviewed made their own decisions with their families, obtained a prescription from a doctor, and administered the medicine to themselves, under

I Am Big Bird (DVD) & The Wisdom of Big Bird

By Caroll Spinney
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Hannah Jane W.
Jan 19, 2017

I Am Big Bird is a must-see for fans of Sesame Street, Jim Henson, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, or all of the above. It’s a documentary focusing on the life of Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who plays both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, and also sometimes other famous Sesame Street characters like Bert. As I’m sure you already know, Sesame Street is like a big family where everyone helps one another to educate and entertain children. You will not only get the inside scoop on the puppets in this documentary, but you will also enjoy learning about Caroll Spinney, members of the Sesame Street team

How to Cook Everything : The Basics

By Mark Bittman

Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Jan 12, 2017

I was searching for a simple cookbook. How to Cook Everything is just that; very basic and a great resource for new cooks. For those who don’t know how to boil an egg, instructions are included. How to scramble eggs, make pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches—it’s all here. Slightly advanced recipes, such as meatloaf, minestrone, and cinnamon rolls are also included. The book covers the difference between sautéing and stir-frying, simmering and boiling. Need help stocking the pantry and determining what kitchen equipment to purchase? The Basics is your go-to guide. A generous number of

Lab Girl

By Hope Jahren
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Jan 3, 2017

Do not believe the title of this book. Jahren has a dog, but he isn’t a Labrador. (Coco is actually a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.) But read it anyway! You’ll learn so much.

There’s the harsh reality of how scientists procure funding, which Jahren explains eloquently. You’ll learn what a scientist does in the field, and how, with a dash of why. And how red tape can render that work all for naught. You’ll learn what true friendship looks like, and you might understand mental illness a little bit better.

Not to mention the trees, their leaves, and how they grow, drink, survive and reproduce. Best

Ten Poems to Set You Free

By Roger Housden
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Dec 29, 2016

I picked up Ten Poems to Set You Free because, of late, I’ve wanted to learn to read, understand, and enjoy poetry. It's not just important; it's necessary. I believe that, and want to feel it, too. I thought ten a manageable number, and Housden’s explanations might improve my enjoyment. I was right.

The third poem, Throw Yourself Like Seed by Miguel de Unamuno, immediately grabbed my attention, and I read it several times. His call to Shake off this sadness, and recover your spirit, comes at a perfect time. Housden’s response provides context; Unamuno was dragged from his classroom during

Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-Changing Egg Farm--From Scratch

By Lucie B. Amundsen
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Dec 19, 2016

When Jason Amundsen drops an egg farm bomb on his wife Lucie, she understandably balks at the idea. He’s already dragged her from city to city chasing his supposed dreams, but those dreams at least came with health benefits. This one? It’s too much, and Lucie successfully puts the kibosh on the idea. Until Jason gets laid off.

He gets laid off, and this silly dream of his won’t die. The rest of the story is of Lucie, Jason, and their two children, Abbie and Milo, all walking the tightrope between family and farm. Lucie must hold her home, husband, and children close to her heart, while the

Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear

By Margee Kerr
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by Heather B.
Dec 17, 2016

Margee Kerr, author of Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear, and also the reader of the audiobook, is a sociologist who studies fear. Using herself as a guinea pig, and taking part in activities as varied as riding roller coasters, walking through haunted houses, taking part in paranormal investigations, and visiting Japan's notorious "suicide forest," Kerr explains what happens to the body and the mind when we take part in scary activities, or daredevil adventures. She also explores the psychology of thrill-seeking--why do some people seek out experiences many others regard as

Forever Words: The Unknown Poems

By Johnny Cash

Rated by LeeAnn B.
Dec 16, 2016

In his introduction to Forever Words, Paul Muldoon says, “So ingrained in our collective unconscious is the voice of Johnny Cash that we can all but hear the boom-chicka boom-chicka of his guitar accompaniment, at once reassuring and disquieting in its very familiarity.” That was absolutely true for me as I was reading through this collection. 

Some of these poems are familiar songs by Cash, like “Don’t Take Your Gun to Town,” but the poetry expands the story beyond the recorded song, and reading it brings a new appreciation to the familiar lyrics. Others were previously unpublished works

Warrior Pose: a War Correspondent's Memoir

By Brad Willis AKA Bhava Ram
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Nov 25, 2016

At 360 pages, with no recollection of when or why I requested it, I lugged Warrior Pose home thinking I would skim a little bit and move on to something a little less daunting. That didn’t happen. The story is engaging and despite many opportunities for editing, I forgave Willis and read the book cover to cover.

The first two thirds tells of Willis’ experience as a war correspondent. Both how he got into the business, and how he worked while hiding a very serious back injury in order to continue covering international stories. In my younger years, I was never one to follow news closely and

The Salt of the Earth (DVD)

By Wim Wenders
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Michelle H.
Nov 22, 2016

Photojournalist  Sebastiao Salgado is known for his pictures of less developed countries, most specifically of regions swept into economic forces unleashed upon them by Western industry. Some of his photos, while technically stunning, depict humanities worst atrocities – forced exile, exploitation, extermination. 

Here he is presented by legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders, also an accomplished photographer. Salgado responds to Wenders’ questions with answers that reveal the strain of seeing humanity at its worst. By extension, we are similarly affected. The Salt of the Earth is the kind of film

The Butterfly Hours: Transforming Memories into Memoir

By Patty Dann
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Nov 16, 2016

In The Butterfly Hours, Dann uses “one-word memory triggers like ‘table’ or ‘car’ . . . as a way” for students, and eventually herself, “to stitch together the patches of [their lives].” Some of the stories shared are those of her students, some are her own. All are beautiful.

The reading could have gone quickly, but I saved and savored the chapters. Assignments are listed at the end of the book and a photocopy of them now rests in the cover of my journal.

Much like Abigail Thomas’ Thinking About Memoir, Dann illustrates how surprising we can be to ourselves. But we don’t have to take her

New Releases - November 2016

By Zadie Smith
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Gregg W.
Nov 4, 2016

Welcome to a quick look at some new releases that will be hitting the bookshelves of a library near you!

Zadie Smith’s deep, enriching novels have been mainstays of book clubs for years, and her newest, Swing Time, follows that very same course charted in novels like White Teeth and On Beauty. Here, a young mixed-race girl in 1980s underclass London meets another brown girl and they bond over their shared love of dancing and obsession over the movies of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The novel follows our unnamed narrator through her teen years and twenties as the two friends drift apart

The Well-Rounded Dinner Party Host

By Corey Mintz
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Megan C.
Oct 16, 2016

When I dive, I dive deep! I checked out all the books about dinner parties. Here are 3 that stood out:

How to Host a Dinner Party by Corey Mintz

All the other books seem fluffy next to this one, which is small but densely packed. When it arrived I was filled with dismay; it looked – well, boring. It was not! This man knows his stuff, and writes with a convincing wryness. He covers it all! And he takes a realistic approach. I mean, take this advice: “…whom you invite to dinner is more important than what you cook. It would be more fun to eat microwave popcorn with your best friend than a

Meru (DVD)

By Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhely
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Michelle H.
Oct 14, 2016

I have long admired climbers for their singleness of purpose and puzzling assessment of risk. Dwindling food reserves. Lack of oxygen. Numb toes. Incoming avalanche. Keep climbing!

Offering a first ascent, Mount Meru attracts climbers with an insatiable hunger to test their mettle. I was expecting to witness an arrogant expedition. What I saw instead was less a story about adversity and triumph than one about the relationships between climbers. Meru poignantly captures the subtleties of human interaction when partners experience the unfortunate – keeping in mind these folks court misfortune.

Tim Gunn: The Natty Professor

By Tim Gunn
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Megan C.
Oct 13, 2016

I recommend this to teachers and mentors everywhere, or for anyone looking for inspiration in their own learning and interpersonal growth. Tim Gunn is a delight to listen to and read by the author himself. Filled with humor, anecdotes, and advice, Gunn imparts his wisdom on teaching and mentoring as he describes his experiences as a fashion authority, teacher, mentor, and TV personality.

I always loved watching Tim Gunn on the TV show Project Runway, where contestants are designers competing to produce their best clothing designs in a series of challenges. Gunn always brings a positive and

Oct 8, 2016

I wonder if I have a problem. I definitely have a tendency to seek spiritual inspiration from super-rational thinkers rather than from rabbis and priests and theologians.

Now in his twilight years, Klein has formed this book from a notebook he started as a young college student and abandoned in midlife. He titled that notebook "Pithies," and it contained short quotes from major thinkers he was studying, followed by his reactions to each. He abandoned the project at the time as naive and futile, yet in revisiting the notebook more recently found value in it, and so emerged this book.

I

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman

By Lindy West
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Sep 30, 2016

Lindy West’s Shrill is cataloged in the humor section of the library and three of its five subject headings use the word “humor.” So it’s no surprise that while reading chapter 1 I scared my own dog. He looked at me sideways while West describes the role models who looked like her young self: Lady Kluck, Baloo dressed as a sexy fortune teller, and Miss Piggy to name a few.

She then spends a chapter or two talking about her early awareness that she is too big, and pondering what to “do when you’re too big, in a world where bigness is cast not only as aesthetically objectionable, but also as a

Bringing up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

By Pamela Druckerman
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
Sep 28, 2016

Ah, if only I'd read this last summer or fall, sometime before my five-month-old was born, because I'm quite drawn to many of the ideas. Some I'd already claimed as my own, some were vague notions that have now been articulated and solidified for me, and some still feel rather surprising and foreign. I'm not one to unquestioningly adopt any model--parenting, leadership, eating, or what you will--without tweaking it and making it my own, but I believe considering and practicing these ideas will make me a more effective parent.

"Model" seems the best word I can think of to describe what

What I've Stolen, What I've Earned

By Sherman Alexie
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Hannah Jane W.
Sep 24, 2016

What I’ve Stolen, What I’ve Earned is the most original, electric, and soul-altering book of poems I’ve read in more than a year. It reads like a nonlinear memoir that skips around Alexie’s life, with common threads charging the poems like drumbeats.  The largest theme - growing up on an Indian reservation surrounded by a cast of remarkable characters with haunting stories – shows up in nearly every poem.  Other themes of grief, recklessness, addiction, poverty and freedom reappear again and again. Alexie occasionally skips to the present, connecting his former and current selves, like the New

Concussion (DVD)

By Will Smith
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Colleen O.
Sep 17, 2016

Will Smith is Dr. Bennet Omalu, a pathologist working in a Pittsburgh hospital. When an NFL Hall of Famer shows up dead, Omalu notices something strange about the way he died. After asking for samples of his brain, Omalu discovers something he names CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). When more football players end up taking their lives after experiencing similar symptoms, he goes to the NFL with this information. They not only ignore him, but try to discredit him.

Concussion is extraordinarily well done, factual without being sensational, and places before the public a very serious

The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need From Grownups

By Erika Christakis
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
Sep 16, 2016

Christakis begins with a very simple premise: that, for preschoolers, schooling and learning are often two different things. That young children are much more powerful and capable than we often give them credit for, that they primarily learn through relationships and play, and that the educational push to make their school experience more focused on "academic readiness" runs counter to their natural inclinations for learning.

She then spends nearly 400 pages comprehensively exploring that idea across the many dimensions and aspects of early childhood education. She has been a child, parent

The Long Walk

By Brian Castner

Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Sep 14, 2016

“To those trained in Explosive Ordinance Disposal, the last-resort tactic for defusing bombs is known as the Long Walk: a soldier dealing with the device up close, alone, with no margin for error.” Brian Castner served three tours of duty in the Middle East, two of them as the commander of an Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit in Iraq where he earned a Bronze Star. He speaks with candor about the excruciating trauma of war, the daily battles against a constant and unknown hidden danger, the likelihood of death around every corner, and finally his return home to his wife and family. Diagnosed

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory

By Caitlin Doughty
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Hannah Jane W.
Sep 3, 2016

Caitlin Doughty’s memoir of her journey to becoming a licensed mortician is equal parts morbid, hilarious, inspiring and ruthlessly genuine. It’s also a memoir of her fight against the fear of death, a fight that almost destroys her. Much like the orange rot that sometimes trails our faces during death, we may never be ready to see it. But Caitlin stresses throughout Smoke Gets in Your Eyes that witnessing death is how we ready ourselves for it, and even embrace its terrible beauty.

Caitlin may be a mortician, but first and foremost she is an observer and writer, using description and self

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

By Marie Kondo
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by Michelle H.
Aug 30, 2016

Many of you have heard of Marie Kondo and about her KonMari method of organizing your home, so you may already know that you’ve gone about it wrong. It isn’t that you need to improve your systems for storing and arranging stuff. It’s that you need to throw your things away. If they don’t bring you joy, yes, joy, they have no place in your life.  Old paperwork – joyless – chuck it. Extra buttons – joyless and useless (according to Kondo!). Toss ’em. Clothes you don’t wear – allow them to illuminate your abhorrence of them. Then say goodbye.    

Don’t read this book if you are interested in

The New Bohemians: Cool & Collected Homes

By Justina Blakeney
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Hannah Jane W.
Aug 29, 2016

The first time I read this I thought that it was much too wild for my taste. After spending the next year flipping through it every time it came through the library it was obvious that I was in love with this crazy book so I reread it and now we're besties. It’s comprised of different takes on the bohemian style – everything from modern to nomadic to earthy. You may even discover that you’re one or more of these styles and go about changing things up in your home. A lot of the finds in this book came from craigslist and thrift shops, which is excellent news for those of us who are treasure

Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World

By Clara Parkes
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Sarah As
Aug 25, 2016

Let me begin this recommendation with a caveat: you probably need to be at least a little bit interested in knitting to enjoy Knitlandia. Or have an interest in traveling . . . to knitting related destinations. Clara Parkes, author of The Yarn Whisperer and several other books on knitting, returns to delight us with stories of her knitting adventures to both domestic and foreign locations. A couple of my favorites are "Romancing the Loons" – about the Squam art workshops in New Hampshire and "Cloudburst Over Paris" – learning that the owner of a unique yarn store in Paris (that I have

Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War

By Mary Roach
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Jed D.
Aug 24, 2016

When reading a Mary Roach book, always bring a strong stomach and a sense of humor. Grunt, Roach’s bestselling follow-up to Gulp, is filled with anecdotes about pretty much every aspect of military science that you can imagine. Inside you’ll find a chapter on failed shark repellents, another on surviving IEDs through science, one on stink bombs and weaponized odors, and another where the author offered herself up as a guinea pig to have her sweat collected and analyzed. When covering the horrifying topics of amputations and urogenital wounds, she retains her humor while not being disrespectful