In just over a week’s time, we will have entered the new year. Each of us will bring something different into 2023 — our own dreams to nurture, voids to fill, questions to answer, and wounds to heal.
You may feel pressured to take on 2023 with ambition, productivity, and boundless energy for self-improvement. So before we get swept up in the hype of another new year, let’s take a moment to honor the most important thing (the thing that I am certain you already carry, simply because you are still here, partaking in this earthly experiment): hope.
I often find myself returning to a definition provided by Maggie Nelson in her prose poetry collection “Bluets.”
“When I say ‘hope,’ I don’t mean hope for anything in particular,” Nelson writes. “I guess I just mean thinking it’s worth it to keep one’s eyes open.”
I find this to be the truest and most helpful definition of the word. To continue surviving with a gentle curiosity, amid the particular stress and grief of the past few years, is an act of hope — one that we should all be proud of.
So as the sun sets on 2022, I’m trying not to fixate on how I can make my life more productive, more regimented, or more profitable. Here are some questions I’m considering instead:
- Who are the people, and what are the activities that replenish my hope? How can I spend more time with those people, and doing those activities?
- Am I carrying any guilt or shame from the past year? What can I forgive myself for?
- What relationships in my life help me feel safe, cared for, and understood? How can I nurture those relationships? How can I help the people I love feel safe, cared for, and understood?
Here is some reading and listening to help you think about survival, care, and keeping your eyes (and ears) open to catch glimpses of a beautiful world.
In the book “Martin Marten,” author Brian Doyle takes us on a meandering, meditative, and often quite wonderful journey through a year in the lives of many human and non-human inhabitants on an Oregon mountain.
Through Martin (a pine marten), Louis (an elk), Edwin (a horse), an unnamed dog friend of Mr. Shapiro, and all the non-human characters, we catch moments of adventure and love, intelligence and survival. These individuals are largely personified even as we’re told (repeatedly) that we can’t possibly understand their thoughts and knowledge. It’s a distinct way to share a story and works (for me) largely because it’s not the main vehicle of the storytelling but is instead the regular reminders that the humans are not the only (living/non-living) creatures on the mountain. Continue reading “Reader Review: Martin Marten”
It’s soon to be 2023! Hurrah for new beginnings and second chances and New Year Resolutions! Do you make them? How do you do? If you’ve not been too successful, try kickstarting your resolutions this year with a 30-day challenge.
What is a 30-day challenge? It’s adopting a particular action that would have a positive influence on your life if you could just consistently do it. You promise yourself “This time, for sure!” You think you’ve read the science that says this will work. It seems kind of simple. However… our human brains are very resistant to change and seem to be threatened or afraid of change. What to do? Promise your brain that it only has to work with you on some easy first steps for a quick 30 days. Maybe easy-peasy? Continue reading “30-Day Challenges for Your New Year”
Anyone who celebrates Christmas knows that traditions are an important part of the holiday. Perhaps it is decorating the Christmas tree that brings back special memories for some, while others enjoy the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts to give to their loved ones and friends. Maybe it is a traditional holiday song that gets them in the spirit of the season or the joy of the annual gathering of family and friends on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Whatever those special moments or memories might be, there can be no doubt that tradition is a cherished part of the season. Continue reading “Exploring Holiday Traditions in Europe”
This holiday season marks the first time since Covid that I have returned home to see my family: my mother, my siblings and their families, and my son and his family. I love them dearly but I’m not going to lie — there’s a small amount of anxiety from having been gone so long. My mother is 86 and not in the greatest of health, which is one of the reasons we have stayed away. But, as much as I long to be there, it’s always difficult to go home again; there are always so many changes and the altered terrain unbalances me. And whether it’s parenting styles, religion, politics or good old-fashioned sibling rivalry and the fact that I moved away, there’s always a potential for friction. As usual, I seek comfort and support from books.
I have gathered a short stack of books with the theme of going home. Many of these have lingered on my to-read list for quite some time. Continue reading “Going Home”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Sheryl”
Website / Reviews
A documentary portrait of singer songwriter and MU alumna Sheryl Crow, who’s lived it all and seen it all but never told it all — until now. From humble beginnings to sold out world tours her life has been nothing short of extraordinary. Crow has always found a way to turn even her darkest experiences into captivating, timeless work — creating a legacy that continues to inspire and influence generations. Continue reading “New DVD List: Sheryl, Top Gun: Maverick, & More”
Mythology has always held a certain fascination for me. It began with tales of the Greek gods, and, then, as I got older, I discovered a wealth of world mythologies and folklore. In the past few years, retellings have become increasingly popular. Some authors retell a particular tale and others craft worlds based on characters or creatures pulled from myth. And I am here for it!
In my experience, retellings are more enjoyable if I understand the winks and nods given to the original stories they’re pulling from. So in addition to retellings, I’ve offered a few recommendations for reading up on the original myths, too.
To start us off with Greek mythology, Edith Hamilton’s “Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes” is a classic when it comes to revealing the foibles of the gods and the humans and heroes who tangled with them. I highly recommend the 75th anniversary edition, which is illustrated by Jim Tierney. The book was originally published in 1942. A more modern retelling of these same myths can be found in Stephen Fry’s “Mythos,” which is followed by other books in the series focusing on different aspects of Greek mythology.
Continue reading “Literary Links: Myths Retold”
Get ready to flex your baking and crafting muscles, dear readers. December 12 is Gingerbread House Day. According to “The Guardian,” this seasonal tradition started in the early 1800s, inspired by the “Hansel and Gretel” fairy tale. Now, there are multiple festivals every year celebrating the art, including the creations of entire gingerbread villages. I confess I have only ever tried my hand at one single confectionary construction of this type, and a less than photo-worthy effort it was. However, I’ve decided to up my winter coziness game this year and therefore might give gingerbread houses another go. Looking to the library for help, I found a few likely resources. Continue reading “It’s Gingerbread Time”
Stephen Paul Sayers is a Columbia, MO author whose latest book is “.” The book explores the city’s hidden treasures with seasonal and themed itineraries for music, art, and history lovers, shoppers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Sayers is a professor at the University of Missouri and has also published three best-selling horror/supernatural thriller novels. He was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Stephen Paul Sayers, Author of “100 Things To Do in Columbia, MO Before You Die””
Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in December. All of the mentioned titles are available to put on hold in our catalog and will also be made available via the library’s Overdrive website on the day of publication in eBook and downloadable audiobook format (as available). For a more extensive list of new nonfiction books coming out this month, check our online catalog. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: December 2022”
