Peg's Library Blog

How Sweet It Is

2009-06-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Alice Wisler has created a charming cast of characters, from the cognitively challenged plumber, to the eccentric storytelling aunt to the main character herself, a broken-hearted pastry chef who leaves Atlanta to heal herself in the mountains of North Carolina. Her grandfather has left her his cabin, with instructions that she is to teach a cooking class at the local Christian Center. Never having had exposure to middle school children, Deena is in over head during her first class when she tries to teach the kids how to make a white sauce. Deena is self conscious about the scars she carries as a result of her car accident and failed engagement and while she tries to hide behind long sleeved shirts, her stubborn cooking pupils see through her. As she learns to work with the kids she learns more about their scars too and comes to care deeply about them. How Sweet It Is, appeals to my inner chef. A sweet read!

Companion Reading for "Super Size Me"

2009-06-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

If you wish to do some reading which will compliment the film we will be watching on July 1:
Don't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America
by Morgan Spurlock
-Can man live on fast food alone? Morgan Spurlock tried to do just that. For thirty days, he ate nothing but three "squares" a day from McDonald's as part of an investigation into the effects of fast food on American health.
Mindless Eating: Why we Eat More Than We Think
by Brian Wansink
- A food psychologist identifies hidden factors, motivations, and cues that cause overeating and offers practical solutions to help avoid these hidden traps and enjoy food without putting on excess pounds.
Restaurant Confidential: The Shocking Truth About What You're Really Eating When You're Eating Out
by Michael Jacobson
-Eating out without compromising your health.
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal
by Eric Schlosser
-Examines the local and global influence of the United States fast food industry.
In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-food Chain that Breaks All the Rules
by Stacy Perman
-Presents a chronicle of how a family-run California hamburger joint went on to become an American pop culture icon.
Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food
by Eric Schlosser
-A behind-the-scenes look at the fast food industry.

Wintergirls by Laura Halse Anderson

2009-06-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Lia counts every calorie that passes her lips and every calorie that doesn't . in this masterful work of poetic prose, Laura Halse Anderson tackles a tough subject that affects so many young women in our society. Lia and her best friend Cassie are dying to be thin. Lia by counting every calorie eaten, expended and every ounce on the scale. Cassie, by forcing every morsel from her body once it's been consumed. Once upon a time, when Lia was a real girl form a real family (before her parents divorced) Cassie and Lia shared a very special friendship. The bond extended to a pact that they would be the "skinniest." They would be "Wintergirls" made of ice who couldn't be hurt. Lia can't escape the fact that Cassie called her the night she died, alone in a hotel room. Cassie haunts Lia as she moves closer to the zero on the bathroom scale.

While this book is scary, it is a must-read for parents of teenage girls or teens themselves who are living with this kind of secret.

I loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti

2009-06-01T07:03:00.001-07:00

This delightful little book made me so hungry for Italian food. As the author recounted her lost loves, I kept thinking that this story was really not going to end happily, thinking all the while i was reading a work of fiction. It is in fact a memoir with recipes. It was reminiscent of Julie & Julia (which I reviewed in an earlier entry). Giulia Melucci's I Loved, I lost, I Made Spaghetti, almost made me wish I had spent my young, single years in New York City. I'm hoping for a sequel, perhaps she'll call it: I Loved, I Married, I Baked Lasagna.

Summer Film Series

2009-05-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Waupaca Area Public Library will be offering a film discussion program featuring documentaries on the first Wednesday of each summer month. The programs will be held in the lower level meeting at 6:30 pm and will include free popcorn and drinks.

June 3, 6:30
Who Killed the Electric Car? (MPAA rating: PG)
Investigates the development and demise of the fuel-efficient, environment-friendly electric car.

July 1, 6:30
Super Size Me (MPAA rating: PG-13)
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock embarks on a journey to find out if fast food is making Americans fat.

August 5, 6:30
The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film (Not rated by the MPAA)
A vivid blend of factual documentary, feature film, and storytelling, it reveals the history and realities of librarianship in the entertaining and appealing context of American movies.

The films were chosen to stimulate thought and discussion on current issues," says Library Director Peg Burington. "Our Western Film series last winter was very successful and those present enjoyed the shared experience of film on the big screen. We chose the time of day (6:30 pm) for this program so that working adults could participate.

Adolescent Literacy Initiative

2009-05-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Wisconsin State Adolescent Literacy Initiative is in place to address the inequities between those students in the lower socioeconomic situations and minorities. The statistics are shocking! Only 81% of high school students graduate while 44% of African American students graduate, 48% of Native Americans and Hispanics and 76% of Asians. White students graduate at 86%. But even as our students graduate they are ill prepared to function in today's society. My own well educated son had no idea how to handle finances, rent an apartment or obtain part time employment. There are some interesting resources addressing literacy, library partnerships and reading:

The Book Whisperer: Awakening the inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller

Adolescent Literacy: Turning Promise into Practice

Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You can do About it by Kelly Gallagher

Library Partnerships: Making Connections Between School and Public Libraries by Tasha Squires

Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers

Green Resources

2009-05-08T08:30:00.001-07:00

Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, May 12 at noon
A light lunch and an engaging speaker.
Jane Haasch will present "Simple Ways to Live Green" and demonstrate the new Solar Pathfinder available for checkout from the Library.

Here are a some resources you will may want to check out:
The Lazy Environmentalist : Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living
by Josh Dorfman

True Green Home : 100 Inspirational Ideas for Creating a Green Environment at Home
by Kim McKay

Easy Green Living : The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-friendly Choices for You and Your Home
by Renée Loux

The Toxic Consumer : Living Healthy in a Hazardous World
by Karen Ashton

Building Green : A Complete How-to Guide to Alternative Building Methods : Earth Plaster, Straw Bale, Cordwood, Cob, Living Roofs
by Clarke Snell

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-04-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
This charming book is told entirely through correspondence to an author Sophie Ashton. At the end of the Second World War the residents of England are still reeling. Sophie, who wrote a humorous column for a national newspaper during the war, finds herself in need of new material. She strikes up a friendship with islanders who formed a book club while Guernsey was occupied by German soldiers. I was able to gain a real sense of character from the letters and was rooting for the main character to find a connection that might allow her to make Guernsey her home.
I have a confession to make. I borrowed the print version and had a little trouble getting into it. It was a short loan and there were others waiting for it. Wanting to finish the book, I downloaded a copy from Overdrive and loaded it onto my little MP3 player. I thoroughly enjoyed the charming accents of the narrators and had to prolong my drive so I could finish this lovely story. I highly recommend this book for book clubs!

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

2009-04-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Author Azar Nafisi tells her story by recounting the books she shared with her students. A gifted teacher, Nafisi, grows up in a liberated Iran, only to have the reign of Ayatollah Khomeini reverse any gains women in Iran had made towards independence and personal freedom. After being "expelled" from the University where she taught, the author decides to start a book club for a select group of women who meet in her home, free from censors and the eyes of men.

"Again and again as we discussed Lolita in that class, our discussions were colored by my student's hidden personal sorrows and joys. Like tearstains on a letter, these forays into the hidden and the personal shaded all our discussions of Nabakov (Lolita). And more and more I thought of that butterfly;what linked us so closely was this perverse intimacy of victim and jailer."

"Curiously the novels we escaped into led us finally to question and prod our own realities, about which we felt so utterly speechless."

Reading Lolita in Tehran has not only given me a greater understanding of the classics (an education I seemed to have missed when studying literature in high school or undergraduate school), but a real appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy as women in the United States. This book was not an easy read (and I admit I took a few breaks to digest and escape into other books)but well worth the journey.

Food Matters: A Guide to Concious Eating

2009-04-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

In Food Matters mark Bittman asks readers to make a few unremarkable changes in diet to achieve greater health and work towards a more environmentally friendly food supply. Eat less meat, eat less junk food and eat more plants. Bittman includes recipes and tips to make the transition to conscious eating less painful. Also consider reading Fast Food Nation and Chew on This by Eric Schlosser.

Special Lunch & Learn in Honor of Memorial Day

2009-04-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Special Lunch & Learn
Memorial Day Tribute
Friday, May 22, 12:00
The Capture of the U 505 Submarine
Speaker: James Hafele, US Navy Veteran
All welcome! Please call (715-258-4414) or email
Peg Burington
View the film of the capture!

Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without

2009-03-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

The best books usually come from recommendations made by friends! This book is no exception. A close friend handed the book to me last week. Author/researcher Tom Rath explores the way in which friends can enrich your life and how fostering friendships at work can make an organization even more productive. According to new research, finding friends at work can make employees feel more connected to their jobs and the ideal situation is where the people you work with are "like family." Having friends at work may even make your home life more fulfilling and have positive affects on your health.

I'm still thinking about the principles laid out in "Vital Friends." Each of your friends may play one or more of the roles as builder, champion, collaborator, companion, connector, energizer, mind opener or navigator. According to Facebook I have 50 friends, but the people I really connect with would fill a much smaller circle. I'm fortunate to have several close friends at work and I consider my spouse of 25 years to be my BFF.

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

2009-03-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Handle with Care
Picoult has done it again! How this author manages to write a books so with so many issues, yet keep readers (me) engrossed is beyond me. Abortion, wrongful death, suicide, drunken priests, special needs children, infidelity, bulimia, cutting and baking. Alright, baking is not really an issue, but she throws in recipes on a regular basis to make us think. (Recipes are appreciated, but I usually think of them in Cozy Mysteries, but the main character is a pastry chef.) The story is about the struggles of a family with a special needs child. The mother has devoted her life to taking care of her daughter who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, more commonly known as brittle bone syndrome. Willow was born with broken bones and suffered additional breaks during the birthing process. Even every day activity may result in a painful break and a trip to the emergency room. After suffering a break and the humiliation of being accused of child abuse, the father tries to file a lawsuit on the family's behalf. The lawyer declines to take the case, but encourages the parents to sue for "wrongful death." The family is just barely holding together financially and the money from a big settlement would mean Willow would be taken care of for the rest of her life. The lawsuit tears the family apart and the book does not have a happy ending. I cannot recommend this book to my sister who has a special needs child. While I think this book is well researched and creates an accurate picture of the family dynamics, the story is just a bit too close to home. This book is not for the faint of heart. Handle with Care and plenty of tissues!

One Person Can Make a Difference!

2009-03-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

I read two books recently that point to this truth: One person can make a difference!

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde is about an extra credit school assignment given by one remarkable teacher. "Make the world a better place." Trevor figures out a mathematical equation whereby if he does three good deeds and asks each person to do something good for someone else, eventually a million people will get involved. Trevor's plan succeeds! He becomes famous for "his movement: pay it forward." Without spoiling the ending I will say that I frantically hunted for a tissue, as I was in a public place when I turned the last page.

Three Cups of Tea is a nonfiction account of one person's ability to make a marked difference in the life of children. Greg Mortenson was a mountaineer who had a failed attempt at the K2 summit.

I have to admit that when I started reading about his summit expedition, I was not excited about another "Into Thin Air." I've scaled my fair share of mountains in Wyoming, Hawaii, Colorado and Wisconsin (Does Rib Mountain count?)but I just don't understand the need to risk one's life to get to the top. The friend who recommended this book told me very little of the content, just that it was a book I must read!

But the book isn't really about Mortenson's mountaineering career. He found himself stranded in a small village in the shadow of K2 and he took the time to get to know the people. Once he realized that the children were attending classes outdoors even on the coldest of days, he became determined to build a school. He spent all his money, and used all his resources to raise money to build a school for all the children of the village, even the girls. But his work didn't stop there. He became determined that the only way to fight terrorism is to fight ignorance, by building one school at a time and empowering the young people of war-torn Pakistan and Afghanistan so they have a choice. This was truly an inspirational book and once again I reached for the tissues. I'm donating my copy to another library so there are more copies available. I encourage you to check it out today.

John Grisham's The Associate

2009-03-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for classic Grisham legal thriller, you will enjoy The Associate. Reminiscent of The Firm, Grisham's newest main character is a new lawyer, fresh out of law school, idealistic and green. His career is sidetracked even before he begins as he is "convinced " to work for a humongous firm and steal their secrets. An incident from his past will come to light if he doesn't cooperate and he is really in a pickle. I read this one from cover to cover. True Grisham fans won't be disappointed!

Rate & Review in Infosoup

2009-03-09T08:40:00.000-07:00

Our highly evolved catalog, Infosoup, allows library patrons to rate and/or review books, movies, audio books, etc. Try it! You might like it. There's even little movies to help you get started. Go to Video Help with InfoSoup Screencasts or stop by and ask library staff for a quick tutorial.

Spaghetti Western Dinner & A Movie

2009-03-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Western Film Discussion Series was very successful with over 50 people attending each event. The final program, featuring the newly released film Appaloosa, included a spaghetti dinner! Participants volunteered to bring desserts, snacks and beverages and I'm quite certain no one left hungry. The film itself received mixed reviews, both from media and participants, but that's what makes for good discussion. I wasn't able to view the film during the program as duties in the kitchen called, but I did sit down Saturday night with my handsome husband and watch it. Appaloosa didn't disappoint us. We liked the characters, their relationship and the story. We laughed and gasped at all the right places. I'm not a huge Western fan like my spouse but I was entertained. I think Appaloosa is worth watching. I gave it a rating of four stars in Infosoup.

Dr. Jack Rhodes' Suggested Criteria for Film Evaluation:
1)Meaningful Observations on Human Nature ("The Human Condition")
2)Depth of Characterization (Do the experiences change the main characters?)
3)Craftsmanship and Sense of Style ("What oft was thought but ne'er so well expressed")
4)Creative Ability within the Limits of the Chosen Medium ("It's what you do with what you've got that matters in the end."),
5)A Tale Worth Telling (Does the story move us? Do we continue to think about later? Do we share in its depiction of choices and values, whether we agree or not about the specific actions of the characters?)

Chocolate is not only good for you, it may be therapeutic!

2009-02-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

New studies confirm what we chocoholics have long believed, chocolate is good for your health. The flavanols in dark chocolate have proven to have superior antioxidant benefits, while other studies show decreases in blood pressure and bad cholesterol, improvement in metal health and cancer prevention. For more information about the therapeutic benefits of chocolate, go to Mars Botanical. For an entire list of foods that have natural health benefits go to thenibble.com.

A couple of resources to look for in our Library:
Gary Null's power foods : the 15 best foods for your health
You may be surprised how many of these foods are your daily favorites!

Food as medicine : how to use diet, vitamins, juices, and herbs for a healthier, happier, and longer life by Dharma Singh Khalsa

The new Mediterranean diet cookbook : a delicious alternative for lifelong health
by Nancy Harmon Jenkins

Two Books that Examine Culture

2009-01-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

In the past week I read two books and while I would never think to compare the two, they did allow me to think and learn about cultures I knew little about. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini tells the story of two women, thrown together by circumstance (they happened to be married to the same man) who find some small amount of peace. Both women are subjected to the rules of their culture in Afghanistan, the whims of their husband and the ravages of war. The author of the Kite Runner finds the voice of these two women. I was so caught up in their story that I was afraid to finish the book and have it end tragically. This book is truly a work of art!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie was written for a teen audience. It is illustrated throughout with descriptive cartoons. Arnold Spirit Junior was born with water on the brain and had seizures when he was young. He describes himself as a freak who is frequently beat up by other kids because he is different. Junior is very smart but really doesn't recognize his potential until a teacher he hits with a book, persuades him to leave the "rez" and go to school in a neighboring town. There Junior makes friends, but his people on the Rez don't understand and turn their backs on him. He feels like a traitor but recognizes that he can only realize his own self by leaving. I was very moved by this book and had to find out more about the author. It was when I went to his website that I realized the story was autobiographical.

Announcing Spaghetti Western: Dinner & Movie

2009-01-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

As a grand finale to the Western Film/Discussion series, “A Spaghetti Western: Dinner & a Movie” is to be held on Friday, March 6, at 4:30 in the Waupaca Library meeting room (lower level). It will feature the newly released western film, Appaloosa (New Line Cinema, 2008) and a spaghetti dinner prepared by library staff and volunteers. The film Appaloosa was directed by Ed Harris, the film stars Jeremy Irons, Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, and Renée Zellweger. The screenplay is based on a book by Robert Parker. It has been rated “R” by the motion picture association. Anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

James Patterson's "The Quickie" and "Sail"

2008-12-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

Wow! Nothing happens in "slow mo" in these books. I read the Quickie one evening when the snow was falling and I had to have something to read. I just couldn't stop until I had finished the very last page. It had enough illicit sex and twists and turns to keep this reader firmly seated on the couch!

Patterson's Sail delivers the same kind of action. A family sets off on sailing trip to try to repair their battered relationships. Disaster strikes and they find themselves in desperate circumstances. The short chapters have cliffhangers that practically leave you gasping. You'll cheer for the family's triumphs and really hate the villains before it's all over.

Film/Discussion Series The Western:From Print to the Big Screen

2008-12-11T08:11:00.001-08:00

Dr. Jack Rhodes will lead a discussion on some great western films based on literature on Thursday afternoons in February (2009). Each program will begin at 1:30 and refreshments will be provided. No prior registration required.

February 5, 2009
Stagecoach (United Artists, 1939) Directed by John Ford. Featuring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Thomas Mitchell. From a story by Ernest Haycox (Stage to Lordsburg), based upon an earlier story by Guy DeMaupassant.

February 12, 2009
My Darling Clementine (20th Century Fox 1946) Directed by John Ford. Featuring Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Linda Darnell, Walter Brennan. Based on a book by Stuart N Lake (Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshall).

February 19, 2009
The Tall T (Columbia, 1957) Directed by Budd Boetticher. Featuring Randolph Scott, Maureen O'Sullivan,Richard Boone. From a story by Elmore Leonard (The Captives).

February 26, 2009
The Shootist (Paramount, 1976)Directed by Don Siegel. Featuring John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart. From a novel of the same name by Glendon Swarthout.

Lunch & Learn Spring 2009

2008-12-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

January 13
Clutter Busters: Getting Your Life, Your Family and Your Belongings Organized! with Penny Tank and Marilyn Hermann from UW-Extension

February 10
Ron Reynolds on Frank Sinatra (stories & songs) His Frank Sinatra memorabilia will be part of an Exhibit in January and February.

March 10
Judy Rohde "Ready, Set...let's Pack & Go!" on traveling today and alternative vacations

April 14
Rebecca Pozorski, Green Thumb Goddess, "Attracting Birds & Butterflies to Your Garden"

May 12
Jane Haasch on "Simple Ways to Live Green"

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

2008-11-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Take a beautiful high school girl, a crazy mother, add the boy next door, and a an Elfin Prince's curse and you have the makings of a great read! Impossible is based on the song, Scarborough Fair. I'm most familiar with the version sung by Simon and Garfunkel way back when. I'd always thought this was such a lovely song, but when you take a closer listen, it really challenges the the idea of unconditional love. Lucinda's mother had her when she was just 18 and went insane immediately after her birth. The only thing she left Lucinda was the song, Scarborough Fair, with lyrics unlike the ones traditionally sung. Prom night ends in disaster that leaves Lucinda with knowledge of the curse but no real direction on how to accomplish the impossible tasks to break the curse. Only the love of her adopted family will lead her to the solve the puzzle!

Paper Towns by John Green

2008-10-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

John Greens Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines remain in my top twenty favorites for the decade! His new book Paper Towns is equally as intriguing.

"The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle. Like I will probably never be struck by lightning, or win a Nobel Prize, or become the dictator of a small nation in the Pacific Islands or contract terminal ear cancer, or spontaneously combust. But if you consider all the unlikely things together, at least one of them will happen to each of us, I could have seen it rain frogs. I could have stepped foot on Mars. I could have been eaten by a whale. I could have married the queen of England or survived months at sea. But my miracle was different. My miracle was this: out of all the houses in all the subdivisions in all of Florida, I ended up living next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman."

Yes, it's true. Quenton Jacobsen has spent the last ten years worshiping Margo Roth Spiegelman. After one crazy, adventurous night Margo disappears and Quenton is determined to find her, dead or alive. With his cast of nerdy friends he investigates the paper towns of Florida and the clues eventually lead them to the road trip of a lifetime.