One of the biggest music hits of the 1970’s was a song by Jim Stafford called, “I Don’t Like Spiders and Snakes.” If I had written the lyrics, they would have included lizards. Creepy crawly creatures just aren’t my thing; they belong in the wild, like way OUT in the wild; the wild that is nowhere near my house. One wayward lizard mistakenly thought it was a good idea to hole up in my house, and with 3 cats and a dog with a sense of smell rivaling a blue ribbon winning bloodhound, this little creature did not stand a chance of fading into the woodwork. The only thing about relying on animals to exterminate the unwanted reptile (or whatever species a lizard is) is that they enjoy the thrill of the hunt more than actually catching the thing. I know how to get rid of a mouse that’s illegally entered my humble abode, but, besides a broom and some great timing, how can you send a lizard packing? Leaping Lizards! I may be stuck with the creature until it grew to Jurassic Park proportions! I should get in touch with the reptile smugglers in “Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skullduggery” by Jennie Erin Smith; they’ll know what to do, because that is their specialty. These devious, dangerous and creepily charming humans deal strictly in the reptile business, illegally smuggling them into and out of the country, making trades with zoo keepers and collectors who pay top dollar for them, breaking the moral codes that make environmentalists and the law abiding animal lovers cringe.
This is not the only new non-fiction title that will keep you entertained and enlightened on some off the beaten path subjects. Read on!
“Australians: Origins to Eureka” by Thomas Keneally is volume 1 in a series of books that sheds light on the “land down under,” describing in detail the formation of the continent as it separated from the supercontinent of Pangaea 140 million years ago. Written by Booker-Prize winning novelist and non-fiction writer, Thomas Keneally, this first volume collectively informs the reader on Aborigines, transplanted convicts, settlers, soldiers and miners who all played a part in the early settlement of a new and harsh land.
When her olfactory nerve was damaged by the use of a common nasal spray that is used to combat the common cold, Bonnie Blodgett lost her sense of smell. Strangely enough, the loss of smell began with a stage called “phantosmia,” a constant stench of, as she puts it, “every disgusting thing you can think of tossed into a blender and pureed.” “Remembering Smell” by Bonnie Blodgett is a memoir recounting the author’s journey into the world of smell, and the unfortunate events that led her into the workings of the human body and its extraordinary power to heal itself.
Roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Golden Girls,” and other popular TV programs made Betty White an icon for TV viewers everywhere. Now 89 years old, Betty White is widely recognized for not only her television roles, but for her lifelong work for animal welfare. A force of nature and determined to continue in her celebrity successes as she still goes strong after seven decades in show business, Betty White shares anecdotes , wisdom and humor in “If You Ask Me: And of Course You Didn’t.”
I’ll bet you’re wondering how the lizard story turned out, aren’t you? Let’s just say that in one fell swoop, we “threw the book” at the little creature and he no longer has to worry about where he is going to live.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
New Non-Fiction From Your Local Branch of JCPL Will Be Memorable!
Getting married is generally one of the most memorable occasions in your life. The birth of babies is next on the list for most folks. My niece got married last year, and had a baby just this past month, and as I related the news of the baby's birth to my 5 year old granddaughter, I tried to help her understand who my niece is by reminding her that she was the flower girl in her wedding last year, and that the little boy who stood up as ring bearer was my grand-nephew. After a bit of thought, she said that yes, she did remember the wedding, and she did remember little Clayton, who stood up in the wedding with her. Her recollection of her part in the wedding, however, went something like, "Oh yeah...wasn't Clayton the one I married that day? And you know what? I don't think I've seen him since!" Just goes to show that a five year old's memory of a special occasion is a far cry from the memory of someone my age. Speaking of age, as America grows older, it still focuses on its youth, but are we really "over the hill" at a certain age, or has our life just begun? "Lastingness: The Art of Old Age" delves into the idea of permanence, experience and duration, discussing the life-long habits of those who have thrived in old age, relinquishing the thought that younger is better. After all, in contest after contest, the elders of the tribe reign as the preferred, and are honored for their experience, training and life long achievements.
This title is just one in a long line of non-fiction books that are new to the Jasper County Public Libraries in Rensselaer, DeMotte and Wheatfield. Read on for more!
Living legend, Steven Tyler says, "I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized," and that's just the beginning of his long list of "brain-jangling" tell all in "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" In his own voice, Tyler recounts his rock 'n roll days as lead singer of Aerosmith, playfully and poetically weaving the money, notoriety, motels, hotels, romance and rehab of his past into this meaningful memoir.
At one time or another in our lives, we all feel as though we could use or we would NEED a miracle to change or improve our circumstances. In "Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have Into What you Want," author Melanie Beattie shares her own stories of overcoming obstacles and facing tragedy, offering help in the form of gratitude, surrender, and connecting with our essential power by implementing a six-week action plan that will jump-start the transformation to better mental balance. In this Miracle Workshop guide, twenty five year veteran, Beattie, provides us with the tools to acknowledge the pain we're feeling and progress over a forty day period to feeling more in control, less confused and more vitally alive than ever.
At the age of 53, John Kralik found himself at a crossroads in his life. Everything seemed to be slipping out of control and his personal and professional life were both in danger of failing. On New Year's Day of that year, a walk in the hills brought John to the realization that something had to change, and he began to change his thought process and beliefs by focusing on being grateful for what he had instead of dwelling on what he didn't have. "365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik is the inspiring story of the day after day journey of one man who found "thank you" to be the word that changed his life forever.
Asking a five year old a question or to recall a story can be an eye-opening experience. But whether you're five or fifty, a trip to your local branch of JCPL can be an eye-opener too, and when you check out books from Rensselaer, DeMotte, or Wheatfield, we want to make sure that you enjoy your visit enough to come back again so that we won't be saying, "We haven't seen you since!"
This title is just one in a long line of non-fiction books that are new to the Jasper County Public Libraries in Rensselaer, DeMotte and Wheatfield. Read on for more!
Living legend, Steven Tyler says, "I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized," and that's just the beginning of his long list of "brain-jangling" tell all in "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" In his own voice, Tyler recounts his rock 'n roll days as lead singer of Aerosmith, playfully and poetically weaving the money, notoriety, motels, hotels, romance and rehab of his past into this meaningful memoir.
At one time or another in our lives, we all feel as though we could use or we would NEED a miracle to change or improve our circumstances. In "Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have Into What you Want," author Melanie Beattie shares her own stories of overcoming obstacles and facing tragedy, offering help in the form of gratitude, surrender, and connecting with our essential power by implementing a six-week action plan that will jump-start the transformation to better mental balance. In this Miracle Workshop guide, twenty five year veteran, Beattie, provides us with the tools to acknowledge the pain we're feeling and progress over a forty day period to feeling more in control, less confused and more vitally alive than ever.
At the age of 53, John Kralik found himself at a crossroads in his life. Everything seemed to be slipping out of control and his personal and professional life were both in danger of failing. On New Year's Day of that year, a walk in the hills brought John to the realization that something had to change, and he began to change his thought process and beliefs by focusing on being grateful for what he had instead of dwelling on what he didn't have. "365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik is the inspiring story of the day after day journey of one man who found "thank you" to be the word that changed his life forever.
Asking a five year old a question or to recall a story can be an eye-opening experience. But whether you're five or fifty, a trip to your local branch of JCPL can be an eye-opener too, and when you check out books from Rensselaer, DeMotte, or Wheatfield, we want to make sure that you enjoy your visit enough to come back again so that we won't be saying, "We haven't seen you since!"
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