by Adult Services Manager Whitney
February 18 is Toni Morrison Day, a statewide holiday in Ohio due to legislation passed late last year. It also would have been her 90th birthday.
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A Romance for Every Reader
by Adult Services Librarian Leann
Romance books are hitting the mainstream like never before. Have you ever heard of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series? No more do we shame people for reading delightful little paperbacks with scantily clad pirates or kilt-wearing-Scottsmen! (Or rather, we shouldn’t.) “Romance” is for everyone. Don’t believe me? Ask bestselling, blockbusting series like The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, or Outlander. Try to name a popular TV show, movie, or book that doesn’t include some sort of romance intrigue or love triangle. Even highfalutin literature is mostly about love or love lost or unrequited love. Let’s face it people, Where the Crawdads Sing is a romance novel and that’s okay.
by Adult Services Library Associates Beth & Christian
Christian’s Pick
In the Land of the Cyclops by Karl Ove Knausgaard — January 5
Coming off of a prolific hot streak of the My Struggle series and the Seasonal Encyclopedia quartet, Karl Ove Knausgaard delivers a collection of essays that reflect on life and art–touching on Ingmar Bergman, Cindy Sherman, Sally Mann, and Madame Bovary. This is not his first book where he has analyzed art in this way, as he published a book on the artist Edvard Munch, titled So Much Longing in So Little Space, two years ago, but this is the first time Knaugaard has released a collection of essays in English. With his deeply personal and spellbinding writing, this is a collection of essays I look forward to reading.
by Local History Librarian David Distelhorst
The inauguration of the forty-sixth President of the United States, marked by a deadly pandemic, severe racial divide, and a contested election, is reminiscent of that of the sixteenth President. One hundred and sixty years ago, faced with southern succession, division over slavery, and inevitable deadly civil war, Abraham Lincoln called on “the better angels of our nature” in his first inaugural address.
by Adult Services Library Associate Nichole
This Thursday at 7PM, Dr. Parker Huston, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Director of the On Our Sleeves Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, will be discussing how children and families are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including ways to talk about mental health with children.
Dr. Huston’s passion is rooted in providing education and opening doors so that children and their families can achieve their maximum potential and feel like they have agency in their lives. He believes that improving children’s mental health is important to set them up for success as adolescents and adults. Focusing on good mental health practices during childhood can create healthy habits throughout the life span. You can learn more about this Zoom event here.
Whether you’re looking for books to read to your children about their emotions and mental health or are wanting to get more in tune with your own, now is a better time than ever and BPL has plenty titles to choose from!
- Where Happiness Begins by Eva Eland | print
- Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival |print
- How Do You Feel by Lizzy Rockwell | print
- Breathing Makes it Better by Christopher Willard | print
- Bunny Breaths by Kira Willey | print
- Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, PhD | print / digital
- 10% Happier by Dan Harris | print / digital
- The Emotionally Healthy Child by Maureen Healy | print / digital
- Widen the Window by Elizabeth A Stanley, PhD | print
- Emotional Advantage by Randy Taran | print / digital
- Stay Woke by Justin Michael Williams | print / digital
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Such a Fun Age
by Adult Services Library Associate Beth
As part of our ongoing commitment to promoting and facilitating community dialogue and engagement, Bexley Public Library is joining with other central Ohio libraries in a Let’s Talk About Race: One Book – One Community program, which has at its center the book STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You. The program kicked off on November 9 and will conclude with a virtual author talk by Jason Reynolds on January 24, 2021. To complement this ongoing program, the BPL Virtual Book Club is reading Kiley Reid’s debut novel Such a Fun Age; a sharp, witty and provocative exploration of race, class and privilege. Be sure to register for the event and join us for a lively and timely discussion on January 13, 2021!
I first heard of Such a Fun Age while working one January evening at BPL. The book was featured on a list of 2020’s most anticipated debut novels (it made the list despite technically being published in 2019, albeit on the very last day of that year.) After learning a bit more about the novel, I knew I had to read it, and as soon as possible. Luckily enough, CML’s Driving Park branch had a copy available, and so I rushed there immediately after work to grab it – along with a few other titles because, like most of you, I’m incapable of leaving a library with just one book. I started the book the very next morning and once again found myself lucky. I had that whole day off with no other obligations to take me away from reading, and so I read it cover-to-cover in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. Reid offers a thoroughly engaging depiction of the complexities of relationships that cross class and racial lines. The characters are fully-formed, authentic and complex. The lessons imparted are important. And after nearly a year, it’s still a book I think about from time to time.
It’s no surprise then that the book was Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize – though I am surprised it didn’t at least make the Shortlist, if not win the prize outright. The book also won Best Debut Novel in the Goodreads Choice Awards. Though I personally voted for Reid’s book to win the latter, 2020 was a great year for debut novels; making it a difficult choice. And so, if you find yourself having finished Such a Fun Age, and are looking for that next great read, I’ve also included here a list of my other favorite 2020 debut novels. (You can also find a more in-depth reviews for Russell’s My Dark Vanessa in an older post on this blog, as well as a Book Chat video for Anappara’s Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line on our YouTube channel.)
- Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara | digital / print
- The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi | digital / print
- A Burning by Megha Majumdar | digital / print
- My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell | digital / print
- Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore | digital / print
Happy reading, happy holidays, and see you all in the New Year!
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‘Tis the Season
by Adult Services Library Associate Nichole
While the holidays feel different this year, I’m incredibly grateful that the library has helped me keep up the cheer with books, movies and music!
When I’m not listening to Taylor Swift’s latest album Evermore (currently available on Hoopla!) these are the albums I have playing on repeat:
- A Christmas Album by The Drifters | digital
- Christmas with the Rat Pack | CD / digital
- The Christmas Album by Leslie Odom Jr. | CD / digital
My holiday book picks are sure to make you miss the ones you love, but they’ll also make you appreciate any “me time” you get this season!
- Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak | print / digital
- The Adults by Caroline Hulse | print / digital
- The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss | print / digital
I don’t know about everyone else, but I always watch the same Christmas movies every year; Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Krampus (we all have our favorites!). But this year, with so much time spent at home, I’m finding new holiday favorites to throw into my yearly rotation. Even better, the following titles are available on Hoopla so you don’t even have to leave your couch to find some Christmas cheer!
- All is Bright | DVD / digital
- Feast of the Seven Fishes | DVD / digital
- Happy Christmas | DVD / digital
From all of us as BPL, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
by Local History Librarian David
Research for this article contributed by Scott King-Owen, Ph.D, Teacher, Bexley City Schools.
One month before the First World War ended a second wave of the deadly Spanish Influenza pandemic, initially spread in military encampments by troop movement, found its way into the civilian population of central Ohio. Like Covid-19, a century later, the absence of medicine for treatment or a vaccine for prevention necessitated avoiding crowds, through isolation or quarantine, to control spread of the respiratory virus.
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Hanukkah Sameach!
by Adult Services Library Associate Nichole
Hanukkah is right around the corner, so what better time to dive into our collection and find books that will help us celebrate this special time of the year.
If you’re looking for books to sharpen your hosting skills or to learn more about Hanukkah, look no further than these titles:
- Feeding Women of the Bible, Feeding Ourselves by Kenden Alfond
- Little Book of Jewish Appetizers by Leah Koenig
- My Jewish Year by Abigail Pogrebin
- The Holiday Kosher Baker by Paula Shoyer
- Let’s Eat: Jewish Food and Faith by Lori Stein and Ronald H. Isaacs
If you’re looking for books to share with the little ones to teach them more about the Festival of Lights, check out these titles:
- Kugel for Hanukkah? By Gretchen Everin
- Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg
- Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe
- There Was a Young Rabbi by Suzanne Wolfe
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BPL Staff Favorites of 2020
by Adult Services Library Associate Nichole
As 2020 comes to a close, I asked staff to reflect on their favorites books, movies, and albums from this year. Some staff found it easy to narrow it down, while others couldn’t choose just one! Here are the BPL staff favorite books of 2020:
- Christian’s Pick – The Lucky Star by William T. Vollmann | print
- David’s Pick – COVID-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened and How to Stop the Next One by Debora MacKenzie | print
- Hannah’s Pick – Wilderness Chef: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Outdoors by Ray Mears | print
- Juliana’s Favorite Memoir – This Is the Night Our House Will Catch Fire by Nick Flynn | print
- Juliana’s Favorite Fiction Read – Writers & Lovers by Lily King | print / digital
- Leann’s Science Fiction Pick – A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green | print / digital
- Leann’s Favorite Thriller – The Guest List by Lucy Foley | print / digital
- Nichole’s Pick – Being Lolita by Alisson Wood | print
- Sue’s Pick – Deacon King Kong by James McBride | print / digital
Our favorite films from 2020 include:
- Christian’s Pick – Feels Good Man *currently unavailable through the CLC
- Juliana’s Pick – The Devil All the Time *currently only available on Netflix
- Nichole’s Pick – The King of Staten Island | DVD / Blu-Ray
And finally, our BPL staff favorite albums from 2020 include:
- Christian’s Pick – Heaven to a Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor | CD
- Hannah’s Pick – Old Flowers by Courtney Marie Andrews | CD
- Jeff’s Pick – Lianne La Havas | CD / digital
- Juliana’s Pick – Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers | CD
- Kim’s Pick – Women in Music Pt. III by HAIM | CD
- Nichole’s Pick – Circles by Mac Miller | CD / Vinyl / Digital