Men Have Called her Crazy

- Bill Leave a comment

Plain-spoken and raw, Anna Marie Tendler bears all in this vulnerable biography.   In short, it covers *most of* her male relationships from pre-teen to present.  They all shape her, the artist, as a single cumulative work – even the ones that are hurtful, traumatic or unfair.  If you’re tuning in like I did in hopes of salacious details on recent ex-husband John Mulaney, you will find nothing here.  Every other dude she crossed paths with, affirmative.  But not one iota about Baby J.  And that’s more than fine.  If the best revenge is “living well”, then this radio silence is a dish served ice-cold.

Confession:  Somehow I could handle the mental health breakdown, suicidal ideation, and the loss of will to live.  But I had to bail at the end of the book when her fur child, Petunia, crossed the rainbow bridge.  May you be stronger.  Incidentally, Petunia was her sole recorded reason to live during inpatient hospitalization.

As evidenced by her leaps and bounds, Tendler clearly draws from a deep well of multidisciplinary artistic talent. And, as it turns out, she’s great at audiobook narration.  However, she portrays her employment story arc as that of an itinerant chimney sweep of a creative.  One minute she’s a struggling art student, the next doing makeup and hair in Hollywood.  Then she’s setting records at art shows — the medium, photography.  The current (and lucrative) endeavor is custom-crafted Victorian lampshades.  Methinks she’s more humble than merely failing upwards.

 

Fall Festival Romance Reads

- Beth Leave a comment

Fall festivals are a popular way for communities to come together and celebrate the changing of the seasons with food, music, and fun. For the heroines of these romances, the festival in their small town also leads to love! Descriptions from the publishers.

The Hollywood Jinx by Sariah Wilson

The small town of Patience needs a financial boost. Temporary librarian and aspiring film-score composer Jane Wagner’s plan? Invite movie star Nick Haddon to the town’s harvest festival and stand back for the tourist surge. No one thought he’d say yes — much less that he’d bring a documentary crew to stream his visit. Patience is the perfect stopover on Nick’s journey of self-improvement and his chance to put good karma out in the universe. Spending time with a lovely guide like Jane is a bonus. Jane is falling hard. But she can’t ignore the differences between them. He’s famous. She isn’t. He’s here for two weeks. This is her home. Where can it possibly lead? 

The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane by Jeannie Chin

June Wu’s family inn desperately needs guests, her mother’s medical debts are piling up, and the surly, if sexy, stranger next door is driving away the customers she has left! When he asks for June’s help, though, she can’t say no. After all, his new bar could be just what the upcoming Pumpkin Festival needs to bring in more tourists. Ex-soldier Clay Hawthorne is opening the bar in memory of his fallen friend. June soon becomes his biggest supporter, and while their partnership is supposed to be only temporary, for the first time Clay wants something permanent. Can two opposites really learn to meet each other in the middle? With the fierce attraction between them, will working together be playing with fire? 

The Nearness of You by Dorothy Garlock

Lily Denton dreams about the people and excitement of New York City. But ever since her mother died, her overprotective father won’t ease up on her. She spends her days working at the library and her nights hoping life doesn’t pass her by. At the Fall Festival, tourists fill the streets and the crisp autumn air sneaks in. Professional photographer Boone Tatum’s penchant for trouble is exactly what landed him in this small town in the first place. Yet the moment he meets beautiful Lily and snaps her photograph, everything changes. Lily and Boone’s dream of a life together is thrown into peril — unless Lily finds the courage to stand up for herself and a man she only just met.

CELEBRATE BLACK POETRY

- Jill Leave a comment

In 1970, folk musician Stanley A. Ransom proposed that October 17th each year be set aside as a national day to celebrate black literature and culture. He selected this day in commemoration of the birthday of Jupiter Hammon in 1711. Hammon is popularly known as the father of African American literature and was the first published black poet in the United States. Black Poetry Day, established in his honor, is a day to recognize the contributions to literature of past and present black poets and writers and to celebrate the black experience, particularly as expressed through poetry.

Jupiter Hammon was born into slavery in New York and served four generations of the Henry Lloyd estate owners during his lifetime, including during the Revolutionary War. He was never emancipated. Despite his circumstances, which he actually considered to give him “more advantages and privileges” [1] than most other slaves and “more than many white people have enjoyed” [1], he become a well-respected preacher and bookkeeper-clerk.  His work about slavery received wide circulation. His first poem “An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries” was published in 1761. Hammon’s second published poem came about by his recognition of the need to support and encourage other black writers at a time when they did not receive the same kind of support as whites. “An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatley”, was written by Hammon as an encouragement to Miss Wheatley in admiration of her work as the first published black female author. Hammon’s work drew heavily on Christian motifs and theology, serving as an encouragement to his fellow slaves to persevere.

Black poetry does not have to be about slavery, segregation, or the equal rights movement. However, it is often linked to the experiences of African Americans and their history in America which is tied inextricably to their race. Use these books as a jumping off point to explore, appreciate, and celebrate the contributions African-American poets have made (and continue to make) to the richness of American poetry.

The 100 best African American poems) edited by Nikki Giovanni
The Oxford anthology of African-American poetry edited by Arnold Rampersad
Poemhood, our black revival : history, folklore & the Black experience: a young adult poetry anthology edited by Amber McBride, Taylor Byas, and Erica Martin
Black liturgies : prayers, poems, and meditations for staying human by Cole Arthur Riley
This is the honey : an anthology of contemporary Black poets edited by Kwame Alexander

[1] BlackPast, B. (2012, March 15). (1787) Jupiter Hammon, “An Address to the Negroes in the State of New York”. BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1787-jupiter-hammon-address-negroes-state-new-york/

Checked In: A Davenport Public Library Podcast September Recap

- Brittany Leave a comment

In this blog post, I will give you helpful links to area resources, Library resources, and links to the books discussed in our September episode!

Sci-Fi Reads

In honor of Star Trek Day on September 8th, Stephanie shared a list of new and old Science Fiction reads. Below are the titles that were discussed in our episode!

New Sci-Fi Reads
   –The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville
   –The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
   –Dragons of Eternity by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
   –The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
   –To Turn the Tide by S.M. Stirling
   –Storm Furies by Wen Spencer
   –Rebel by David Weber and Richard Fox
   –Overcaptain by L.E. Modesitt 

Old Sci-Fi Reads
   –Dune by Frank Herbert
   –1984 by George Orwell
   –The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
   –Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
   -Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
   –Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
   –The Time Machine by HG Wells
   –The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin

Check Out Video Games from Davenport Public Library!

This month, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie interviewed one of our newest Librarians, Elena! Elena is in charge of purchasing our video game collection! Did you know that you can check out video games from The Library for free?! We have video games for PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox1, Xbox 360, Xbox X games, Switch, Wii, DS, and 3DS! To learn more about our HUGE collection, we have a helpful Libguide for you! You can also place holds and check availability by visiting our online catalog!

Self-Improvement Month

September is self-improvement month and The Library is here to help with some of our newer resources! 

The Library now has LinkedIn Learning: Login with your library card number and password for your account to access 16,000+ expert-led courses presented in seven languages. Course subjects include: small business and entrepreneurship, web development, Microsoft Office, Google docs, photography, video editing, public speaking, sales, marketing, and many more. 

Have you been meaning to learn a new language or polish those sophomore year Spanish skills? Mango language has you covered! This language-learning resource offers instructional courses for over 70 languages. Begin to develop or build upon your listening and speaking skills in one or more foreign languages. Includes ESL (English as a Second Language) for over 20 languages. 

Self Help Books Helped or Tanked?

Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie ran through some Self-Help books that both helped their lives and some that completely tanked. Below are their favorites and least favorites in this category!

Beth
Helped:
   –The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō
   –How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
   –The Lazy Genius Podcast 
Tanked:
   –The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
   –The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusso

Stephanie
Helped:
   –Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth H. Blanchard
   –By the Book Podcast hosted by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer (Renamed: How To Be Fine Podcast)
Tanked:
   –Self Matters: Creating Your Life from the Inside Out by Phil McGraw

Brittany
Helped:
   –Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Stephen R. Covey, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan,  & Al Switzler
   –Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth H. Blanchard
   –The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
Tanked:
   –Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Celebrate Banned Books Week!

Every year, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from reports filed by library professionals and community members, as well as news stories published throughout the United States. Below are last year’s 10 Most Challenged Books:

  1. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
  2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson 
  3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson 
  4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
  5. Flamer by Mike Curato 
  6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 
  7. TIE – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews 
  8. TIE – Tricks by Ellen Hopkins 
  9. Let’s Talk About it: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan 
  10. Sold by Patricia McCormick 

To read more about Banned Books Week visit the ALA Banned Books Page!

New Merch!

Exciting news! We now have an online Threadless Store featuring custom designs by our marketing coordinator Tessa! Order apparel to show off your love of our library! A portion of all sales goes to our FRIENDS who support our programming and other special projects! Take a look at a wide array of options from kids t-shirts, adult apparel, notebooks, and more! Visit our Threadless Store today to make a purchase!

What Our Hosts Read In August

Stephanie’s Reads:
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien (book 10 in Noodle House Mystery series)
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (book 1 in the Assistant to the Villain series)
The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (book 1 in The Grandest Game series)
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson 

Brittany’s Reads:
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bojalian Narrated by Erin Spencer, Grace Experience, and Mark Deakins
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
The Wedding People by Alison Espach Narrated by Helen Laser
The Break-up Pact by Emma Lord Narrated by Natalie Naudus
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Illustrated by Anita Jeram
Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino Narrated by Helen Laser

Beth’s Reads:
Where the Children Take Us: How One Family Achieved the Unimaginable by Zain Asher
At Least You Have Your Health by Madi Sinha

If you would like to listen to our episode, it can be found wherever you get your podcasts. If you prefer listening on the web, it can be found here!

We love hearing from our listeners, please feel free to comment on this blog post, on our socials, or email us at checked.in@davenportlibrary.com.

September Picture Book Spotlight: Bugs

- Brittany Leave a comment

September is one of my favorite months because this is when our monarch butterfly friends pop out of their chrysalis and head south towards warmer weather. To celebrate the monarchs, below are some of my favorite butterfly and bug books to share with young people!

The Amicus Book of Bugs by Isobel Lundie
Learn about common Midwestern bug through beautiful mixed-media illustrations sure to pique the interests of young and less young readers!

 

The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach
A modern take on a beloved tale, “The Very Impatient Caterpillar” is a witty and educational story sure to delight all readers and listeners. This book is a favorite of mine and I try to share it every year! Our impatient friend teaches young readers about butterflies and that patience is key!

 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
One Sunday morning, a little caterpillar hatches from his egg, he then proceeds to eat his way through a week’s worth of food, resulting in a tummy ache. Young readers will learn the process from caterpillar to butterfly. I love sharing this classic and beloved story with young people each year.

Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero
This bi-lingual book shows the flight pattern of the Monarchs from North America to Mexico. The illustrations by Rivero make me yearn for a trip to Mexico in the fall just to see trees covered in Monarchs!

 

Buzz, Buzz, Baby! by Karen Katz
Young readers are invited to lift flaps to reveal such insects as ladybugs, caterpillars, ants, and bees. – provided by our catalog

 

 

Slow Snail by Mary Murray
Follow Snail’s shiny trail as she slowly makes her way home for dinner. – provided by our catalog

 

 

I Don’t Want To Be a Frog by Dev Petty illustrated by Mike Boldt
A frog who yearns to be any animal that is cute and warm discovers that being wet, slimy, and full of bugs has its advantages. – provided by our catalog

 

 

Have you read any of these titles? I would love to hear about what you thought of them in the comments!

Situation Room

- Bill Leave a comment

You might not think it possible, but after the botched Bay of Pigs invasion some people in Washington started pointing fingers.  One of many digits were levelled at a dearth of current and accurate tactical information.  In addition, there was a need to consolidate secure hotline communication anywhere in the world and to foreign governments.  To that end, John F. Kennedy ordered the creation of such a White House apparatus in 1961.  For $35,000, a former Truman-era bowling alley was renovated into a 24-7 complex synthesizing second-by-second global intelligence.  Think the executive branch crossing a surgical theater with NASA’s Mission Control.

Narrated by Stephanopoulos himself, this is the story of the “sit room” and its inhabitants — from Presidents to intrepid overnight duty officers.   George throws a microphone on staff who were at the table during our nation’s most harrowing hours, and tosses in chilling anecdotes from heightened threat levels.  In fact, with the audio version you get to hear authentic audio such as during JFK’s assassination a mere two years after the Situation Room’s founding.  Other highlights include Vietnam, The Cold War, Reagan assassination attempt, 9-11, Operation Neptune Spear (Bin Laden raid), and January 6th, 2021.

Americans aren’t the only ones to use the Situation Room.  In fact, to defuse the brinksmanship of the Cuban Missile crisis the Kremlin announced on Radio Moscow in hopes it would reach Kennedy quicker than through diplomatic channels.  We’re still here because Kruschev was correct.  The Situation Room is always on top of the situation, even when the president has been, ahem, overserved.  The sit room has had several massive renovations — the last to the tune of $50 million in 2023.  But really, it’s more emblematic to envision the brain trust convening in a broom closet to watch bin Laden meet his maker over Skype.  Simplicity on the surface, but deadly effective one you get past the wood veneer.  And you thought you had a killer office.

Hold the Line

- Bill Leave a comment

“I‘ve got one of them…Shoot him with his own gun!”  Michael Fanone was one of dozens holding off thousands in a key Capitol access tunnel.  For his trouble, he found himself frog-marched through the horde, speared with a Blue Lives Matter flag, tased repeatedly at the base of his skull, and beaten within an inch of his life.   He suffered a heart attack, traumatic brain injury, and lasting PTSD.  Bear spray inhalation damaged his lungs for months, but the most injurious and lasting remnant of the day were proclamations from half the still-living Congresspeople calling January 6th rioters…peaceful tourists.

Shocking to no one, the Trump and Obama voter Fanone marches to his own drummer.  The DC punk turned Virginia backwoods huntsman is known as  “Spiderman” by perps due to his neck tattoo and proclivity for tackling fleeing drug dealers from above.  Looking like the kind of guy who enjoys recreational narcotics, Michael spent the majority of his law enforcement career in the undercover vice sector.  His best friend was his transgender sex worker drug informant, Leslie.  Now he chats with Nancy Pelosi at 3am, dines with Sean Penn, and maintains a lasting friendship with Don Lemon.  When the curtain was drawn on his MPD career, he spent his last months ostracized behind a desk after speaking truth about the event which left 140 officers injured and five dead.

You astute newshounds have likely read anecdotes from January 6th.  Pass the popcorn, however, when Hold the Line recounts FBI interviews of suspects who assaulted him that day apprehended by surveillance cameras and their own sagely social media posts.  In today’s Washington climate of macho posturing theatre, there are a few examples of legit tough-guys.  After self-deploying to the Capitol on January 6th to back up fellow officers, the author of Hold the Line, Michael Fanone and his compatriots stand as the sole reason the former are still in one piece.

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

- Michelle Leave a comment

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a suspenseful and unsettling psychological thriller that is peppered with elements of the paranormal! Newly married couple Rosie and Chad have spent much of their married life just scraping by while caretaking for Chad’s elderly uncle who is suffering from a terminal illness.  Chad has been patiently waiting for his big break as a struggling actor and Rosie is a new best selling author whose first true-crime book was a hit.  While taking care of Ivan, Rosie gets an idea to write a book about the history of his building, The Windemere, and all of the scandals that have taken place over the years.  The building has a storied history with murders, suicides and other tragedies altering the lives of its residents.

After Ivan’s passing the couple is shocked to learn that Ivan has left the apartment to the couple and it is estimated to be worth millions.  Equally shocking is that Ivan bypassed his own daughter, Dana, who he hadn’t spoken to in over a decade.  When Dana find out that her cousin and his wife are the beneficiaries of Ivan’s estate, tensions escalate and she threatens to sue Chad and Rosie.  Still in surprise and shock, Rosie and Chad move into their inherited home and are welcomed by the other residents, an eccentric and odd mix of people who have lived in the building for decades but never seem to age.

While settling into the apartment, strange things start to occur that put Rosie on edge.  The building’s doorman seems to have access to all the residents comings and goings and is available by intercom within each apartment.  Why does he have access to cameras throughout the building seemingly at all times?  Things don’t get much better for Rosie when she swears she sees spirits in the basement of The Windemere.   These ghostly apparitions, along with two suspicious deaths and the disappearances of two people close to her, make Rosie doubt what is and isn’t true and makes her wonder if the building is hiding something sinister.

Lisa Unger has crafted an unnerving thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with alternating chapters toggling between past and present.  Add the supernatural element and The New Couple in 5B is highly recommended if you are a fan of psychological thrillers!

HAWAI’I – U.S. STATE OR SOVEREIGN KINGDOM?

- Jill Leave a comment

As Hawai’i nears its 65th anniversary of statehood this third week of August, controversy continues among its citizens as to whether the statehood of the once sovereign kingdom should be “celebrated” at all. Most native Hawaiians still look to Queen Lili`uokalani as a heroine. She was the first and only reigning Hawaiian queen and last of the Hawaiian sovereigns to govern the islands. She never surrendered to the U.S. military-backed coup that deposed her in 1893 and formed a provisional government.  As leader of the “Stand Firm” (Oni pa’a) movement, Queen Lili`uokalani fought steadfastly against the U.S. annexation of Hawai’i. The queen finally gave way to arguments, demands, and pressure and signed a formal abdication in 1895, but only to save the lives of her people as she continued to appeal to U.S. President Grover Cleveland for reinstatement, without success.

However, the hope of once again becoming a sovereign kingdom still lives on in the hearts of many Native Hawaiians. This hope and renewed determination was bolstered by the Apology Resolution passed by Congress in 1993 that acknowledged the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai’i and recognized the subsequent suppression of the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people and the violation of their right to self-determination. Rooted in this resolution, a movement began with the establishment of the Nation of Hawai’i organization. The Nation of Hawai’i continues to work toward the restoration and preservation of the Hawaiian culture and reaffirms the right of the Hawaiian people to self-determination and self-governance.

Despite the controversy regarding Hawai’i as a state, everyone can agree that Hawai’i is a beautiful place to be treasured. If you can’t experience the lush, tropical landscapes in person, let one of these books transport you to the Hawaiian Islands through its story. Whether it is drama, intrigue, superstition, or murder, one of these novels will have an engaging story for you that is set in current times with a Hawaiian backdrop for you to immerse in:

Death in Hilo by Eric Redman
The Fire Thief by Debra Bokur
Valley of Refuge by John Teschner
Hokuloa Road by Elizabeth Hand
Iced in Paradise by Naomi Hirahara

If historical fiction is of more interest to you, check-out one of these titles and be transported back in time to the Hawai’i of an era gone by:

   

The Lieutenant’s Nurse by Sara Ackerman
Daughter of Moloka’i by Alan Brennert
Red Sky Over Hawai’i by Sara Ackerman

Or, read about the tenacity and courage of Queen Lili`uokalani in this non-fiction work:

Original Sisters : Portraits of Tenacity and Courage by Anita Kunz

Dosage of Decency

- Bill Leave a comment

We all tried to block it out, but still hearken back to the dark days when a virulent zoonotic virus made the leap to humans two continents away.  Contact tracers sniffed at the vapor trails of interconnected flights harboring known infected.  A high percentage of said infected became fatalities — healthcare workers included.  The crushing burden fell upon the longstanding director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).  As was his custom with every previous viral outbreak, he was afforded a maximum of four hours’ daily sleep.   You remember, of course, the outbreak I’m describing…Ebola. It wasn’t his first epidemic, nor would it be his last.

On Call is the newly-released bio of Tony Fauci, the MD who served seven presidents through smallpox, anthrax, HIV and COVID.  His raspy Brooklyn accent was a source of guidance and comfort while refrigerated morgue trucks hummed outside packed hospitals in 2020.   At the tender age of 79, he’d gone hoarse from being the voice of reason.  And as an octogenarian, he has finally found time to retire and reflect.

A life of public service wasn’t always the destiny of the grandson of Italian immigrants.  Initially, the Dodger fan had athletic aspirations.  However at 5′ 7″, his top grades were indicative of a different vocational path.  From med school onward, it was grounded in his patient-centered approach to compassionate care.  On Call spans that entire journey.  From the stickball yards to stem cell therapy, he handled the asinine slander of his childlike accusers with the same hallmark professional tone.  Such is the voice of this brand new bestseller.

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