Quick Links

Strange Weather (Atonal Wonder)

Posted on Friday, March 28, 2025 by Karena

A medley of rainy and sunny stories and songs, inspired by the strange weather of Makoto Shinkai’s “Weathering With You.”

🌧️☀️🌧️

In 2020 I went and saw the seriously gorgeous film “Weathering With You” and sort of figured I wouldn’t catch it in theaters again. And then Ragtag Cinema brought the movie back to Columbia this month for a showing presented by Science on Screen, featuring a lecture by Dr. Zack Leasor about Missouri’s fickle hydroclimate. So I got to rewatch the movie, this time with intensified attention towards the wildness of its weather. As the rain beat down on 16-year-old Hodaka I sunk into my hoodie. And when the sun broke out on screen I could almost feel it on my face.

Weathering with You DVD cover

I’m writing this on a Thursday in March, a flat blue afternoon with the kind of sunshine the residents of “Weathering With You”’s Tokyo would have prayed for. The city is under a months-long spell of rain when Hodaka arrives, the showers broken up every so often by Hina the Sunshine Girl. Hina performs her miracles of sunshine at a great cost, which she hides to make everyone happy, including Hodaka — she doesn’t realize Hodaka loves her more than any blue sky; that he would gladly weather storm after storm in her company. Continue reading “Strange Weather (Atonal Wonder)”

First Thursday Book Discussion – Yellowface: A Novel

Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 by Beth

Book cover: American DirtIn 2020 the novel “American Dirt” was released to great fanfare, after a bidding war had resulted in a seven-figure advance for the author. The accolades rolled in: “American Dirt” remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for 36 weeks, and emerged as one of the best-selling books of the year. It has been published in 37 languages and has sold over three million copies worldwide. 

Then the controversy hit. In USA Today Barbara VanDenburgh commented, “These character, story and style missteps would be problematic no matter the source. But it matters in this case that the source is a European-born woman in the U.S. without ties to the Mexican migrant experience.”

Suddenly the book world was abuzz:  Who exactly was allowed to write about which experiences? And what precisely constituted cultural appropriation in publishinBook cover: Yellowfaceg?

In a riff on this real-life situation, R. F. Kuang addresses these questions and more in “Yellowface: A Novel,” the Columbia Public Library’s First Thursday Book Discussion selection for April.  Continue reading “First Thursday Book Discussion – Yellowface: A Novel”

March 2025 LibraryReads

Posted on Monday, March 10, 2025 by Kat

LibraryReads logoCheck out these new books that library staff around the country love! March brings at least one seasonally punny book, a new novel by last year’s One Read author and a wide variety of other fiction. Read on to pick out a new book to welcome Spring with, and find a way to use all this light in the evenings (thanks Daylight Saving Time, I guess).

Murder by Memory book cover“Murder by Memory” by Olivia Waite

Dorothy Gentleman, ship’s detective on the Fairweather, is trying to solve a mystery in which the victim has been erased completely. There is a very real possibility that she herself is inhabiting the body of the killer, due to an emergency action by the ship’s mind. Waite has come up with something insanely clever and truly original.
~Jill Minor, Washington County Public Library, VA

 

Wild Dark Shore book cover“Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy

A gripping novel of a father and his children residing on a remote island, frantic to protect the last remaining seeds for future generations. Their lives are disrupted when an injured woman washes ashore. Mutual interest in the natural world enhances their passionate connection, despite a tense urgency for the truth. An immersive novel of family, nature and the ties that bind.
~KC Davis, LibraryReads Ambassador, CT

 

Go Luck Yourself book cover“Go Luck Yourself” by Sara Raasch

This delightful follow-up to The Nightmare Before Kissmas follows Kris, the other Christmas Prince, and Loch, the Prince of St. Patrick’s Day. There’s a bit of mystery and political intrigue, as well as passionate banter. Great for readers looking for fun holiday rom-coms with a bit of spice that can be read outside of the winter holidays.
~Katelyn Tjarks, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD

 

The River Has Roots book cover“The River Has Roots” by Amal El-Mohtar

Sisters Esther and Ysabel are among the lucky few to have found their way home after getting lost in the land of Faerie. When Esther falls in love with a stranger, a darkness threatens to separate the sisters forever. An enchanting story of the bonds of sisterhood and the magic of Faerie for readers who love a good riddle song or murder ballad.
~Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

 

More new books coming out in March:

Literary Links: Women’s Work

Posted on Sunday, March 9, 2025 by Jonya

I went into a research rabbit hole this fall after rereading “Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times” by Elizabeth Wayland Barber. Join me as I share some of the works I discovered. 

Young archeologist Elizabeth Wayland Barber began researching women’s contributions to early society, thinking she would write a paper, revised that to a book and then made it a life’s work. Male researchers had, for the most part, ignored findings of ephemeral fibers and families. “Women’s Work” has a deserved place on American Scientist’s list of “100 or So Books That Shaped a Century of Science.”

“Women’s work” has often meant labor traditionally seen as the domain of women, often linked to specific stereotypical roles that are viewed as inherently feminine or related to domestic responsibilities that include low or no pay. However, women and their supporters are working to evolve that, to turn ‘women’s work’ into anything a woman aspires to do. Continue reading “Literary Links: Women’s Work”

Nonfiction Roundup: March 2025

Posted on Monday, March 3, 2025 by Liz

Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in March. 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.

Top Picks

Propaganda Girls book cover“Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS” by Lisa Rogak (Mar 4)
Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21. Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo. Marlene Dietrich, the German-American actress and singer, was of course one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. These four women, each fascinating in her own right, together contributed to one of the most covert and successful military campaigns in WWII. As members of the OSS, their task was to create a secret brand of propaganda produced with the sole aim to break the morale of Axis soldiers. Working in the European theater, across enemy lines in occupied China, and in Washington, D.C., Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene forged letters and “official” military orders, wrote and produced entire newspapers, scripted radio broadcasts and songs, and even developed rumors for undercover spies and double agents to spread to the enemy. And outside of a small group of spies, no one knew they existed. Until now. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: March 2025”

First Thursday Book Discussion: “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”

Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 by MaggieM

book cover for The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store For the First Thursday Book Discussion this March, step into the Chicken Hill neighborhood, circa 1925, where African Americans and European immigrants struggle to find or keep their place in our still-young nation.

In the vein of Zora Neale Hurston, “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Story” captures a rarely documented view of early 20th century American culture with wit, wisdom and authenticity. Regardless of race or religion, the characters of McBride’s diverse cast come to life on the page in their shared effort to protect a deaf, orphaned boy from being sent to a horrific state institution.

Winner of the National Book Award for the novel “The Good Lord Bird,” McBride is surely one of the great authors of our time. His books read like instant classics, filled with nuance and layers of meaning that give way to more depth with each examination. And yet, the writing is accessible and readable, with plot and characters that hold the reader’s attention on their own merit.

If you’ve already read “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store,” read it again. Like other classics, rereading one of McBride’s books will reveal new insights and meaning, staying relevant over time. Whether you’re new to McBride’s work or a return visitor, bring your observations and questions to our First Thursday Book Discussion at noon on March 6 in the Children’s Programming room of the Columbia Public Library.

Literary Links: Exploring Short Stories

Posted on Sunday, February 9, 2025 by Beth

This past November, The Atlantic released an alarming article about elite college freshmen who lack the ability to read books. It turns out that many students have never received an assignment to read an entire book in their middle and high schools, but rather have studied excerpts, poems and articles. Concerned educators have cited several possible and fairly obvious explanations: smartphones, the No Child Left Behind Act, Common Core educational standards, the pandemic, an increase in focus on practical employment and declining enrollment in the humanities.

Top universities and colleges are adjusting as best they can without compromising educational excellence. For example, Andrew Delbanco, a Columbia University American studies professor, has modified a seminar to emphasize short pieces of writing rather than longer classic literature. Instead of powering through “Moby-Dick,” students now examine “Billy Budd” and “Bartleby, the Scrivener.” In support of such a pivot, Columbia’s literature humanities chair, Joseph Howley, maintains that he’d rather students skip over some longer classics if they can benefit from focusing on shorter works in greater depth.

The idea that short stories might offer an option warrants follow-up. In addition to teaching necessary skills such as critical analysis and empathy that can lead readers to tackling longer, more ambitious pieces of literature, short stories are valuable on their own merits. Short stories allow readers to explore new genres, perspectives and authors, especially collections of stories including different authors.

To that end, here are a few fascinating and unique anthologies perfect for stretching the mind in smaller doses: Continue reading “Literary Links: Exploring Short Stories”

February 9: National Pizza Day

Posted on Friday, February 7, 2025 by Seth

Sunday, February 9 marks a special day. In 1964 on February 9 the Beatles made their first appearance on live American television on the Ed Sullivan show. President William Henry Harrison was born that day. Super Bowl Sunday falls on February 9 this year. 

close up of a hand holding a slice pizzaMost importantly: it’s National Pizza Day.

Pizza is one of the most popular foods in America, and National Pizza Day is something to celebrate. The ‘Zza is also one of the most kid friendly foods, assembly is easy, and weekly homemade pizza is a tradition for many families, including mine. Some of my fondest memories of Friday night as a child, which unfortunately also included watching the Dukes of Hazzard in its prime time slot, was eating the delicious homemade pizza my Mom would make for the large brood of kids in my family.  

We actually renamed this pizza “Beez Pizza” after the famed matriarchal Siamese cat in our house (who was also named Barry, and it’s unclear how she got the nickname “Beez” but that’s another story), because this same cat would often be found partaking in a slice she’d dragged to the floor.   Continue reading “February 9: National Pizza Day”

February 2025 LibraryReads

Posted on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 by Kat

LibraryReads logoFebruary brings another edition of LibraryReads, also known as: new books that library folk love! Of course, with it being February, we’ve got a fair amount of romance. But if you’re not much of a romance reader, fear not! There are also some murder mystery, historical and speculative fictions, and phycological suspense.

First-time caller book cover“First-Time Caller” by B.K. Borison
This is a cute story about Lucie, whose daughter calls into a radio show for people looking for love. Aiden, the show’s host, is taken by her honesty and invites her to the show to document her quest for love. It’s a bumpy ride, but Aiden is there the whole way! Readers will love the tension between Lucie and Aiden, and the secondary characters are chef’s kiss.
~Claire Schroeder, Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, OH Continue reading “February 2025 LibraryReads”

Nonfiction Roundup: February 2025

Posted on Monday, February 3, 2025 by Liz

Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in February. 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.

Top Picks

Memorial Days book cover“Memorial Days: A Memoir” by Geraldine Brooks (Feb 4)
Many cultural and religious traditions expect those who are grieving to step away from the world. In contemporary life, we are more often met with red tape and to-do lists. This is exactly what happened to Geraldine Brooks when her partner of more than three decades, Tony Horwitz — just sixty years old and, to her knowledge, vigorous and healthy — collapsed and died on a Washington, D. C. sidewalk. After spending their early years together in conflict zones as foreign correspondents, Geraldine and Tony settled down to raise two boys on Martha’s Vineyard. The life they built was one of meaningful work, good humor and tenderness, as they spent their days writing and their evenings cooking family dinners or watching the sun set with friends at the beach. But all of this ended abruptly when, on Memorial Day 2019, Geraldine received the phone call we all dread. The demands were immediate and many. Without space to grieve, the sudden loss became a yawning gulf. Three years later, she booked a flight to a remote island off the coast of Australia with the intention of finally giving herself the time to mourn. In a shack on a pristine, rugged coast she often went days without seeing another person. There, she pondered the various ways in which cultures grieve and what rituals of her own might help to rebuild a life around the void of Tony’s death. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: February 2025”