Melody

High conflict : why we get trapped and how we get out

by Amanda Ripley

303.6 /Ripley
Nonfiction, Political

High conflict is what happens when discord distills into a good-versus-evil kind of feud, the kind with an us and a them. The normal rules of engagement no longer apply: we feel increasingly certain of our own superiority and, at the same time, more and more mystified by the other side. Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict-- and how they break free. She interviews people who were drawn into high conflict, and shows how they found ways to rehumanize and recategorize their opponents, even as they continued to fight for what they knew was right. -- adapted from jacket

I reserved this book based on a review I read in the New York Times. It promised to be a highly readable breakdown of the driving forces behind serious conflicts--how well-meaning people get into them and how they can get out. I am learning so much from this book. I may have picked it up while thinking of the politically charged times we live in, but it has shined the light on conflict-inducing traps I didn't even know had snared me. For people who want to be freed of these snares, this book is a must-read. -Melody

The sky atlas : the greatest maps, myths and discoveries of the universe

by Edward Brooke-Hitching

520.9 /Brooke-Hitching
Nonfiction, Art / Art History, Science

"THE SKY ATLAS assembles some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created to understand the skies above us. This richly illustrated treasury showcases the finest examples of celestial cartography-a glorious art often overlooked by modern map books-as well as medieval manuscripts, masterpiece paintings, ancient star catalogues, antique instruments, and other curiosities. This is the sky as it has never been presented before: the realm of stars and planets, but also of gods, devils, weather wizards, flying sailors, ancient aliens, mythological animals, and rampaging spirits. Here are the crystal cosmos of the ancient Greeks; the medieval sea, sailed by ships above the clouds; Tibetan sky burials; secret messages hidden in starlight, and much more. With thrilling stories and gorgeous artwork, this remarkable atlas explores our fascination with the sky across time and cultures to form an extraordinary chronicle of cosmic imagination and discovery"-- Provided by publisher.

Excited to say I'm first in line for this book! I happened upon this book while cataloging and it's just gorgeous. It's full of illustrations of historic interpretations of our sky and its relationship to earth. I can't wait to take it home and flip through it on my downtime. -Melody

Paper crafts for Halloween

by Randel McGee

jHOLIDAY 745.5941 McGee
Crafts

"Provides a brief introduction to the history of Halloween, and Halloween-themed paper craft ideas"--Provided by publisher.

I am loving Halloween decorating and crafts this year! There's nothing like having fall family time--cozied up after sundown, doing some quiet-ish activities, talking about all the fun fall things you can do. It's easy to find kids activities in the ICPL catalog. Just search for "Halloween decorations juvenile literature." Check the Availability box that says "At the library" and place a hold for Lobby Grab & Go! -Melody

The city baker's guide to country living

by Louise Miller

FICTION Miller Louise
Fiction, Romance

When Olivia Rawlings—pastry chef extraordinaire for an exclusive Boston dinner club—sets not just her flambéed dessert but the entire building alight, she escapes to the most comforting place she can think of—the idyllic town of Guthrie, Vermont, home of Bag Balm, the country's longest-running contra dance, and her best friend Hannah. But the getaway turns into something more lasting when Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous, sweater-set-wearing owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, offers Livvy a job. Broke and knowing that her days at the club are numbered, Livvy accepts. Livvy moves with her larger-than-life, uberenthusiastic dog, Salty, into a sugarhouse on the inn's property and begins creating her mouthwatering desserts for the residents of Guthrie. She soon uncovers the real reason she has been hired—to help Margaret reclaim the inn's blue ribbon status at the annual county fair apple pie contest. With the joys of a fragrant kitchen, the sound of banjos and fiddles being tuned in a barn, and the crisp scent of the orchard just outside the front door, Livvy soon finds herself immersed in small town life. And when she meets Martin McCracken, the Guthrie native who has returned from Seattle to tend his ailing father, Livvy comes to understand that she may not be as alone in this world as she once thought. But then another new arrival takes the community by surprise, and Livvy must decide whether to do what she does best and flee—or stay and finally discover what it means to belong. Olivia Rawlings may finally find out that the life you want may not be the one you expected—it could be even better. From the Hardcover edition.

Added by Melody

Recipe for persuasion : A Novel

by Sonali Dev

eBOOK
Fiction, Romance

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? Rico Silva, that’s what. Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster.

Sonali Dev is one of my new favorite authors! Loving both this book and her previous book in this series, Pride, Prejudice, and other flavors. Will definitely be looking for her other books soon. -Melody

Vegan with a vengeance : over 150 delicious, cheap, animal-free recipes that rock

by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

eBOOK
Nonfiction, Cookbooks

One thing I dream about in my imagined post-quarantine life is visiting Isa Chandra Moskowitz's restaurant Modern Love in Omaha, Nebraska. I am a big fan of her cookbooks. I've never met a recipe of hers that I didn't like. We have more of her cookbooks in print at ICPL, but I'll take this e-book while I wait to be able to hold her books with my own, garlic-scented fingers. -Melody

Yes please

by Amy Poehler

eAUDIO
Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor

The actress best known for her work on "Parks and Recreation" and "Saturday Night Live" reveals personal stories and offers her humorous take on such topics as love, friendship, parenthood, and her relationship with Tina Fey.

I need a little humor these days! Amy Poehler is such a talented writer and comic actor. When Tina Fey's Bossypants isn't available, I reach for Amy's Yes Please next. -Melody

Growing the midwest garden : Regional Ornamental Gardening

by Edward Lyon

eBOOK
Nonfiction, Gardening

Plant selection and garden style are deeply influenced by where we are gardening. To successfully grow a range of beautiful ornamental plants, every gardener has to know the specifics of the region's climate, soil, and geography. Growing the Midwest Garden, by Edward Lyon, the director of Wisconsin's Allen Centennial Gardens, offers an enthusiastic and comprehensive approach to ornamental gardening in the heartland. This guide features in-depth chapters on climate, soil, pests, and maintenance, along with plant profiles of the best perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, and bulbs.

I've got sunshine in my pocket and green grass on my mind. April has been quite a cruel month (thanks, T.S. Eliot!). But there are brighter days ahead. I plan on practicing social distancing by getting dirty in my own yard. Spade? Check. Desire? Check. Plan? Well, let's see... That's what this book is for! Join me in dreaming of greener pastures and brighter flowers. -Melody

Midnight riot

by Ben Aaronovitch

eAUDIO
Fiction, Fantasy

Probationary constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he'll face is a paper cut. But Peter's prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter's ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny. Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

The first time I heard about Ben Aaronovitch was from seeing his name on what we call our "high holds" list. That's the list librarians use to buy extra copies of our most popular books. I would never have picked this book based on its cover. It's a solid detective series with an urban fantasy backdrop. And we have the audiobook! Good strong narration that keeps your attention. -Melody

Leadership strategy and tactics : field manual

by Jocko Willink

658.4092 /Willink
Nonfiction, Business

"In the military, a field manual provides instructions in simple, clear, step-by-step language to help soldiers complete their mission. In the civilian sector, books offer information on everything from fixing a leaky faucet to developing an effective workout program to cooking a good steak. But what if you are promoted into a new position leading your former peers? What if you don't get selected for the leadership position you wanted? How do you overcome imposter syndrome, when you aren't sure you should be leading? As a leader, how do you judiciously dole out punishment? What about reward? How do you build trust with your both your superiors and your subordinates? How do you deliver truthful criticism up and down the chain of command in a tactful and positive way? These are all questions about leadership-the most complex of all human endeavors. And while there are books out there that provide solid leadership principles, books like Extreme Ownership and The Dichotomy of Leadership, there is no leadership field manual that provides a direct, situational, pragmatic how-to guide that anyone can instantly put to use. Until now. Leadership Strategy and Tactics explains how to take leadership theory, quickly translate that theory into applicable strategy, and then put leadership into action at a tactical level. This book is the solution that leaders at every level need-not just to understand the leadership game, but also how to play the leadership game, and win it"--

I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I just thought, "I like leadership. I like strategies and tactics. This book is for me!" Jocko Willink is a former Navy Seal and allllll the metaphors he waxes are military ones. And you know what? It works. It is surprisingly applicable to most organizational scenarios I've been in. If offers practical advice (the tactics) and helps you think about looking up and out at bigger strategic possibilities. You might read the phrase "up and down the chain of command" a lot, but you don't have to be in the military to get something out of this book. You just have to be a member of a team and want to do great things. -Melody

Why we can't sleep : women's new midlife crisis

by Ada Calhoun

305.42 /Calhoun
Nonfiction

"When Ada Calhoun found herself in the throes of a midlife crisis, she thought that she had no right to complain. She was married with children and a good career. So why did she feel miserable? And why did it seem that other Generation X women were miserable, too? Calhoun decided to find some answers. She looked into housing costs, HR trends, credit card debt averages, and divorce data. At every turn, she saw a pattern: sandwiched between the Boomers and the Millennials, Gen X women were facing new problems as they entered middle age, problems that were being largely overlooked. Speaking with women across America about their experiences as the generation raised to "have it all," Calhoun found that most were exhausted, terrified about money, underemployed, and overwhelmed. Instead of their issues being heard, they were told instead to lean in, take "me-time," or make a chore chart to get their lives and homes in order. In Why We Can't Sleep, Calhoun opens up the cultural and political contexts of Gen X's predicament and offers solutions for how to pull oneself out of the abyss-and keep the next generation of women from falling in. The result is reassuring, empowering, and essential reading for all middle-aged women, and anyone who hopes to understand them"--

I can't wait to read this book. It's not just about incessant worry that creeps up on women during the middle of the night. It explores all of the pressures that weigh on our consciousnesses as women who are solidly in adulthood and juggling all the demands that places on us. -Melody

What's your pronoun? : beyond he & she

by Dennis E. Baron

425.55 /Baron
Nonfiction

"The story of how we got from he and she to zie and hir and singular they. Like trigger warnings and gender-neutral bathrooms, pronouns are suddenly sparking debate, prompting new policies in schools, workplaces, even prisons, about what pronouns to use. Colleges ask students to declare their pronouns; corporate conferences print nametags with space for people to add their pronouns; email signatures sport pronouns along with names and titles. Far more than a byproduct of campus politics or culture wars, gender-neutral pronouns are in fact nothing new. Renowned linguist Dennis Baron puts them in historical context, demonstrating that Shakespeare used singular they; that women evoked the generic use of he to assert the right to vote (while those opposed to women's rights invoked the same word to assert that he did not include she), and that self-appointed language experts have been coining new gender pronouns, not just hir and zie but hundreds more, like thon, ip, and em, for centuries. Based on Baron's own empirical research, What's Your Pronoun? tells the untold story of gender-neutral and nonbinary pronouns"--

I have an editing background and I may or may not have once a subscription to a publication solely about copyediting. Sentence structure matters! Words matter! But you know what? Social customs change, and rules are there so we can break them--or, rather, *evolve* into our better, more complete selves. This book is an excellent guide for anyone curious about how the English language is evolving to be more inclusive. -Melody

Gideon the ninth

by Tamsyn Muir

SCIENCE FICTION Muir Tamsyn
Fantasy, Fiction

Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cutthroat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

I first read about this book on a list promoting titles that break down the heteronormative barrier of fantasy fiction. We love diverse books here at ICPL, and it's taken far too long for LGBTQIA+ fantasy to become mainstream. But that time has arrived! I'm not finished with this book yet, but it has the right amount of swordplay (and wordplay!), and the queer-romance angle is a slow burn. Necromancers dueling in space through their sidekicks takes everything to the next level. And what's on the line? Gideon's freedom. Definitely a book for fantasy lovers to put on their to-read list! -Melody

The Sixth Man : a memoir

by Andre Iguodala

796.323092 /Iguodala
Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir

"A standout sports memoir from NBA powerhouse, a swingman and NBA All-Star of the Golden State Warriors"--

Librarians love it when prominent people publicize their "best of" book lists. Former President Barack Obama is an avid sports fan, and the basketball biography from Andre Igoudala made the President's Best of 2019 list. Igoudala's life story is thoughtful and inspiring. The whole list is impressive, too. Find it on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6oYKxAgCn7/ -Melody

Getting to yes : negotiating agreement without giving in

by Roger Fisher

158.5 /Fisher
Nonfiction, Business

"Since it was first published in 1981, Getting to Yes has become a central book in the Business Canon: the key text on the psychology of negotiation. Its message of "principled negotiations"--finding acceptable compromise by determining which needs are fixed and which are flexible for negotiating parties--has influenced generations of businesspeople, lawyers, educators and anyone who has sought to achieve a win-win situation in arriving at an agreement. It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide in 30 languages, and since it was first published by Penguin in 1991 (a reissue of the original addition with Bruce Patton as additional coauthor) has sold over 2.5 million copies--which places it as the #10 bestselling title overall in Penguin Books, and #3 bestselling nonfiction title overall. We have recently relicensed the rights to Getting to Yes, and will be doing a new revised edition--a 30th anniversary of the original publication and 20th of the Penguin edition. The authors will be bringing the book up to date with new material and a assessment of the legacy and achievement of Getting to Yes after three decades"--

This book is a contemporary classic! Written by members of the Harvard Negotiation Project, you will find this book in political science classrooms around the U.S. Or at least, that was my exposure to it--in a class on international politics and peacekeeping. It's great to re-read any time you need to negotiate an agreement with someone. Buying a car? Taking the iPad away from your child? This book contains secrets to let both sides save face and find the next best option. -Melody

Iowa Confederates in the Civil War

by David Connon

977.702 /Connon
Nonfiction, History

Once in a while, we get an Iowa history book that disrupts what we always believed was true. Iowa Confederates in the Civil War does exactly this. Author David Connon chronicles 76 Iowans who headed south and signed up to fight against the Union. Listen to the River to River interview with the author here: https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/new-research-shows-least-76-iowans-joined-confederacy-during-civil-war#stream/0 -Melody

Three mages and a margarita : The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, Book 1

by Annette Marie

eAUDIO
Fiction, Fantasy

Broke, almost homeless, and recently fired. Those are my official reasons for answering a wanted ad for a skeevy-looking bartender gig. It went downhill the moment they asked me to do a trial shift instead of an interview—to see if I'd mesh with their "special" clientele. I think that part went great. Their customers were complete dickheads, and I was an asshole right back. That's the definition of fitting in, right? I expected to get thrown out on my ass. Instead, they… offered me the job? It turns out this place isn't a bar. It's a guild. And the three cocky guys I drenched with a margarita during my trial? Yeah, they were mages. Either I'm exactly the kind of takes-no-shit bartender this guild needs, or there's a good reason no one else wants to work here. So what's a broke girl to do? Take the job, of course—with a pay raise. --Amazon.com

I discovered the Guild Codex: Spellbound Series only about two weeks ago, and since them I'm already on the third audiobook. This series has so much action! I imagine it'd be like a Harry Potter but for adults. Mages who can control different elemental magic, mythical creatures, and epic battles. The heroine is a human who is trying to scrape by in fit in. Expect a side of romance with this book, too. -Melody

Love poems : (for people with children)

by John Kenney

811.6 /Kenney
Nonfiction, Poetry

"...John Kenney is back with a brand new collection of poems, this time taking on the greatest "joy" in life: children. Kenney covers it all, from newborns, toddlers, and sleep deprivation, to the terrible twos, terrible tweens, and terrible teens. A parent's love is unconditional, but sometimes that button can't help but be pushed. Between back to school shopping, summer vacations that never end, the awkwardness of puberty, the inevitable post-college moving back in, and more, a parent's job is never done, whether they like it or not."--Amazon.com

These poems are hilarious. They will surely make parents smile--and know someone else knows their pain (and love). -Melody

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood : a visual history

by Melissa Wagner

791.4572 /Mister
Nonfiction

"Go behind the scenes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood with this unprecedented dive into its storied history. Featuring exclusive photographs; a guide to the characters, puppets, and episodes; original interviews; and rare ephemera, this extraordinary book reveals the inner workings of the show"--

Absolutely love this history of Mister Rodgers' Neighborhood. Nostalgia lovers, check this out! -Melody

Grace : the Jeff Buckley story

by Tiffanie DeBartolo

781.66092 /Buckley
Nonfiction, Biographies

"California, 1991. All his life, people have told Jeff Buckley how much he looks like his father, the famous '60s folksinger he barely knew. But Jeff believes he has gifts of his own: a rare, octave-spanning voice and a songwriting genius that has only started to show itself. After he falls in love with a mysterious girl in New York, he sets out to make a name for himself outside his father's shadow. What follows are six turbulent years of music, heartbreak, hope, and daring--culminating in a tragedy that's still reverberating in the music world today. Written by Tiffanie DeBartolo and with art by Pascal Dizin and Lisa Reist, this graphic novel biography uses archival material provided by Jeff's mother, Mary Guibert, to reveal the young songwriter in the process of becoming a legend."--Amazon.com.

Jeff Buckley is the perfect subject for a graphic biography. Can't wait to read the whole thing! -Melody

Shrill Dusk

by Harper, Helen

eAUDIO
Fiction, Fantasy

Charley is a cleaner by day and a professional gambler by night. She might be haunted by her tragic past but she's never thought of herself as anything or anyone special. Until, that is, things start to go terribly wrong all across the city of Manchester. Between plagues of rats, firestorms and the gleaming blue eyes of a sexy Scottish werewolf, she might just have landed herself in the middle of a magical apocalypse. She might also be the only person who has the ability to bring order to an utterly chaotic new world

I was thrilled to see another Helen Harper audiobook on Libby. I love that our heroine for the series is a gambler, which means she is going to take calculated risks. This is Book 1 of the City of Magic series. The setting is an apocalyptic Manchester--think: rats, plagues, storms. The series is a spin-off of the Fractured Faery series from 2018. I recommend them both! -Melody

M is for monster : a fantastic creatures alphabet

by J. Patrick Lewis

jE Lewis
Picture Books

An alphabetical examination of creatures of popular legend is presented by an award-winning children's book author and former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate.

We're ready for October at our house! We would have read this monster book even if it were Valentines Day. It was fun learning about new mythical creatures for each letter of the alphabet. My favorite is H is for Hippogriff! Little kids can learn about new monsters. Older kids can dive deeper with the context next to each mini-poem. Did you know Hippogriffs are really fast and can fly around the world? I didn't! -Melody

Bring your brain to work : using cognitive science to get a job, do it well, and advance your career

by Arthur B. Markman

650.1 /Markman
Nonfiction, Business

Few people really understand their own minds or the minds of others. Over the past decade, there has been increasing attention to what psychology can teach us about work. Research has focused on improving decision-making practices, influencing colleagues, and effective thinking. The problem is, general-interest books on these topics typically include only a smattering of business and career examples, tantalizing readers without providing real, constructive help. Bring Your Brain to Work changes all that, bringing current cognitive science insight to specific workplace challenges. The book focuses on three elements of success: getting a job, excelling at work, and finding your next position. Professor, author, and popular radio host Art Markman expertly illustrates how cognitive science brings important perspective and insight to each of these elements. Integrating the latest research with engaging stories and examples from across the professional spectrum, Bring Your Brain to Work will help readers understand themselves and the people around them, providing evidence-based insight and advice on three crucial aspects of success--

Lately I have been enjoying books about professional development and improvement. This one has very practical advice about managing your work and time. It reads quickly and doesn't feel like a slog to get through. -Melody

Hello stranger

by Lisa Kleypas

eAUDIO
Romance, Fiction

Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man--why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again. As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett's skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he's ever known.

I never would have picked this book based on it's cover. The heroine is wearing a ball gown--how can she kick butt in that?!? BUT, I found the story and plot so very engaging. Perfect combo of intelligent and capable female lead and mysterious secret agent with a swarthy past. And there are even Hamlet references. I listened to the audiobook version and highly recommend it if you are looking to try something new. -Melody

Classic

by Mary Berry

641.5 /Berry
Cookbooks, Nonfiction

These are my wonderful brand-new recipes - timeless classics, simple British dishes and delicious, modern favourites to tempt family and friends. With my trusted tips and techniques for quick, easy and foolproof cooking, in Classic I'll show you how to make the very best food in my own special, no-fuss way.

GBBO lovers, take heed! The Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry has a cookbook that was just released in the States. So start calling those shrimp "prawn" and set your kitchen scales to metric. On your marks..get set...bake! -Melody

Sorry I'm late, I didn't want to come : one introvert's year of saying yes

by Jessica Pan

155.232 /Pan
Nonfiction, Humor

"What would happen if a shy introvert lived like a gregarious extrovert for one year? If she knowingly and willingly put herself in perilous social situations that she'd normally avoid at all costs? Writer Jessica Pan intends to find out. With the help of various extrovert mentors, Jessica sets up a series of personal challenges (talk to strangers, perform stand-up comedy, host a dinner party, travel alone, make friends on the road, and much, much worse) to explore whether living like an extrovert can teach her lessons that might improve the quality of her life. Chronicling the author's hilarious and painful year of misadventures, this book explores what happens when one introvert fights her natural tendencies, takes the plunge, and tries (and sometimes fails) to be a little bit braver."--Provided by publisher.

Love the title of this book. I know a lot of people who can relate to this! -Melody

You're missing it!

by Brady Smith

jE Smith
Picture Books

A busy Hollywood couple spins a hilarious cautionary tale about what happens when you are glued to your phone. It's a lively day at the neighborhood park. Birds are singing, squirrels are frolicking, dogs are causing a commotion--and wide-eyed children are enthralled by it all. Too bad the parents are missing everything! It's going to take something really BIG to get them to disengage from their phones . . . This timely story, brought to life with beautiful bold art, is a great reminder to slow down and savor time together.

I love it when my kid picks out his own books. My 3yo read this one at the library and I just had to check it out for real and bring it home. He couldn't stop laughing at the hilarious adventures the character was having while his dad had his nose in his smartphone. You don't want to "miss" this story! -Melody

I love you but I hate your politics : how to protect your intimate relationships in a poisonous partisan world

by Jeanne Safer

158.24 /Safer
Nonfiction, Self Help

Is hyper-partisanship poisoning your relationships? This book can help shed light on managing those conflicts! Dr. Jeanne Safer is a psychotherapist in NYC who has worked with couples to work through their disagreements. -Melody

Howl, and other poems

by Allen Ginsberg

811.54 /Ginsberg
LGBTQ+, Poetry

The prophetic poem that launched a generation when it was first published in 1956 is here presented in a commemorative fortieth Anniversary Edition. When the book arrived from its British printers, it was seized almost immediately by U.S. Customs, and shortly thereafter the San Francisco police arrested its publisher and editor, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, together with City Lights Bookstore manager Shigeyoshi Murao. The two of them were charged with disseminating obscene literature, and the case went to trial in the municipal court of Judge Clayton Horn. A parade of distinguished literary and academic witnesses persuaded the judge that the title poem was indeed not obscene and that it had “redeeming social significance.”

Added by Melody

Brazil

by

DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Brazil

In this surrealistic nightmare vision of a "perfect" future where technology reigns supreme, a daydreaming bureaucrat who is involved with an underground superhero and a beautiful mysterious woman becomes the tragic victim of his own romantic illusions. This is the original 142 minute director's cut edition of the film assembled from both the European and American versions.

Brazil has been one of my favorite films since the mid-1990s. #NerdAlert: I was really into absurdism in high school, and director Terry Gilliam takes the absurdism and satire to the edge in this movie. And it's still relevant today! Maybe even more so. The potential for domestic terrorism lurks around every corner, and everyone lives in a surveillance state. I quote this movie almost as much as I quote The Big Lebowski. (Lebowski gets quoted daily every time I'm in a parking ramp and I get to yell, "You're over the line, Smokey!") -Melody

The ABCs of D&D

by Ivan Van Norman

jE Vannorma
Picture Books

A child can get their first glimpse into the world of Dungeons & Dragons, even as they learn the alphabet, a precursor to every new path in reading. Teach the alphabet to any early reader as told imaginatively within the world of Dungeons & Dragons. With read-aloud friendly rhyming couplets from Ivan Van Norman and adorable illustrations from Caleb Cleveland.

I'm the first hold on this book! I am excited to read this to my 3yo and stimulate his imagination. We already talk about dragons and heroes and swords--I think he will love combining his ABCs with adventures. -Melody

Die Nibelungen : Siegfried.

by Fritz Lang

STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY

One of the greatest artistic and technical achievements of the German silent cinema, Fritz Lang's monumental Die Nibelungen is a passionate retelling of Nordic legend, invested with all the resources of the colossal UFA Studios. https://icpl.kanopy.com/video/die-nibelungen-siegfried

What can I say? Sometimes a film title catches your eye because it looks like the name of the breed of your cat. We love classic film at our house. Browsing the titles on Kanopy, we stumbled upon Fritz Lang's Die Nibelungen films. We often call our cat a "nebelung," which is a domestic breed with a timid disposition and long grey hair, perfect for disappearing into the cloudy mists. Lang's most famous film might by Metropolis, but the Nibelungen series is quite fun to spend some time with as well. The first installment, Sigfried, is nearly an epic at 150 min. And what an ending! Expect battles of might and twists and turns. Then come back for part 2: Kriemhild's Revenge. -Melody

Consumed

Fiction, Romance

I haven't read a ton of J.R. Ward, but I'm now putting this author on my to-watch list. The set-up of a smoldering romance between two firefighters pulled me in, and the heat kept coming. No damsels in distress here! Only strong characters figuring out their messes. I really enjoyed this story, and the audiobook version has multiple narrators to enhance the performance. -Melody

The Princess and the pit stop

by Tom Angleberger

jE Angleberger
Picture Books

When a Princess learns from her Fairy Godmother that she is in last place in a car race against such fairy tale notables as Humpty Dumpty, the Three Bears, and Rumpelstiltskin, she boldly rebuffs defeat and steps on the gas.

We checked out this book 3 days ago and already have we read it about 15 times. My kiddo loves cars and racing, and this book does a great job with balancing exciting cool illustrations with what my kid actually wants to hear stories about--racing cars! There's even a lesson worked in, to persevere despite setbacks. I love that this is a book with a female lead character that is also exciting for boys. And after each time we read it, we have to look at all the different cars on the inside of the cover and pick out which one is our favorite. What a fun book. -Melody

You're snug with me

by author Chitra Soundar

jE Chitra Soundar
Picture Books

A mother polar bear answers the questions of her two curious cubs about what lies beyond their cozy winter den as they wait for spring to arrive.

Beautiful illustrations! Worth lingering on each page. My 3yo really enjoyed all the hugs he got each time we got to the refrain "You're snug with me!" It is an especially cozy book to read on these brutal late-winter days. -Melody

All the Wild Hungers

by Karen Babine

616.994 /Babine
Memoir, Literary Nonfiction

“My sister is pregnant with a Lemon this week, Week 14, and this is amusing. My mother’s uterine tumor, the size of a cabbage, is Week 30, and this is terrifying.” When her mother is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Karen Babine—a cook, collector of thrifted vintage cast iron, and fiercely devoted daughter, sister, and aunt—can’t help but wonder: feed a fever, starve a cold, but what do we do for cancer? And so she commits herself to preparing her mother anything she will eat, a vegetarian diving headfirst into the unfamiliar world of bone broth and pot roast. In these essays, Babine ponders the intimate connections between food, family, and illness. What draws us toward food metaphors to describe disease? What is the power of language, of naming, in a medical culture where patients are too often made invisible? How do we seek meaning where none is to be found—and can we create it from scratch? And how, Babine asks as she bakes cookies with her small niece and nephew, does a family create its own food culture across generations? Generous and bittersweet, All the Wild Hungers is an affecting chronicle of one family’s experience of illness and of a writer’s culinary attempt to make sense of the inexplicable.

Really beautiful language and emotionally gripping. -Melody