by Public Services Associate Beth
As we get closer and closer to wrapping up another year, I want to talk about some of my favorite non-fiction books from 2022. Admittedly, this was a difficult task to choose only a couple of books, as I read many excellent books this year. But I chose 3 of my top favorites to share with you here, some you may have heard of, and some that may have flown under the radar. So without further ado…
by Public Service Associate Beth
With just about two weeks to go, summer is officially winding down. Whether you’re someone who has already busted out the oversized sweaters and pumpkin-flavored everything, or if you’re looking to squeeze out every last drop of summer before it’s gone, it’s never too late to start thinking about your fall reading list. But no matter your feelings on the changing seasons, as the days inevitably get shorter and the nights cool off, fall offers some of the best atmospheric reading vibes around. Think sitting under a blanket drinking a hot beverage (pumpkin flavored, perhaps, because why not?) while the sun sets and the cool wind outside blows around red, orange and yellow leaves. (I believe the Danes have a word for such a feeling.)
by Public Service Associate Beth
2021 was such exciting an year for the BPL Book Club! We read books new and old, discovered authors from around the globe, and, after many months of discussions on Zoom, we finally met in person! Thanks to all those who participated online and in the BPL Quiet Reading Room. Now it’s time to take a look back at what we read in 2021, and to see what we have planned for 2022. And, of course, be sure to join us in the New Year as we embark on even more literary adventures. Whether you’re a regular or first-timer, we’d love to have you!
by Public Service Associate Juliana
Welcome to our yearly round up! Each December it’s become Bexley Library tradition to collect a sampling of our favorite releases from the past 12 months. We hope this year’s compilation inspires you this holiday season! For even more great recommendations, listen to our recent podcast episode, “Best of 2021!”
by Public Service Associate Beth
Enshrined in the US Constitution, via the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-sixth Amendments, all American citizens 18 years and older are given the right to vote (with some important exceptions across several states, specifically when it comes to individuals serving felony sentences, and those who have prior felony convictions). However, ordinary Americans, journalists, academics and organizations express concerns over recent national and state efforts that make it more difficult for Americans to access their right to vote.
by Public Service Associate Beth
On Monday, August 16 at 12 pm, in partnership with the Clio Society of The Ohio State University and Bexley Public Library, Professor Ori Yehudai will present Leaving Zion: Jewish Emigration from Palestine and Israel after WWII. While most scholarship surrounding the creation of the nation of Israel is from the perspective of Jewish immigration into Israel, Professor Yehudai flips the narrative and focuses on Jewish migration out of Israel and Palestine. He will discuss why, for various reasons, Jewish migrants decided to leave Israel for other countries between the years of 1945 and the late 1950s.
Register for Professor Yehudai’s presentation here. The virtual event will be recorded, so even if you can’t attend the event live, you will receive a link to the recording about a week later. Professor Yehudai’s book Leaving Zion is also available to reserve at Bexley Public Library.
by Public Service Associate Beth
According to Google, searches on the site including vegan related terms increased worldwide in 2020 by nearly 50%! And trending terms such Meatless Mondays, vegan-curious and Veganuary suggest that more and more people are interested in and choosing to reduce or eliminate animals from their diet. But many of us may still wonder, why would anyone choose to make this transition? What do vegans even eat anyway – salads for every meal? And what about those of us with families, children and ultra-busy lives – is it even practical?
by Adult Services Library Associate Beth
“This is a book about man’s war against nature, and because man is part of nature it is also inevitably a book about man’s war against himself.”
Rachel Carson
by Adult Services Library Associate Beth
Did you know that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? During the month of May, we recognize the contributions and achievements of Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans in history, culture, science and beyond. Celebrate with us this May (and every month) by reading, watching, and listening to the multitude of AAPI authors and artists available to you through the Bexley Public Library and the CLC consortium! See the small collection of films, musical albums and books below to get started.
by Adult Services Library Associate Beth
With just less than a month to go, the second meeting of the BPL Virtual Book Club is just around the corner! The upcoming meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 7PM, and we’ll discuss the book Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie. It’s an award-winning book, well received by critics and readers alike, and is sure to generate an engaging discussion. Register to join us! I’m still in the midst of reading the book, but I’m enjoying it so far. It seems like a book I could usually finish in just a day or two, but I’ve been trying to take my time with it. Not only to better prepare for the discussion, but I also have a feeling it is a book I’ll be sad to see end.
If you’re like me and don’t want to race through the book just yet, you might be looking for another book to absorb yourself with in the meantime. These books share a variety of themes with Shamsie’s: identity, belonging (especially as experienced by an “outsider”), and the nuances of strained/difficult relationships. They follow well-developed, complex and sympathetic (though often flawed) characters. They’re books that evoke a strong sense of place and that attempt to humanize and explore sometimes difficult political stories; i.e., my favorite kinds of books. Indeed, several of these make my list of all time favorite reads!
