What We're Reading: And We Came Outside and Saw the Stars Again

 

What We’re Reading: a series where we, your librarians, share what we're reading this week. A post from Harry.

A new addition to the Conshy Library's collection, And We Came Outside and Saw the Stars Again is an anthology featuring writers from all over the world responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. With contributions from over 50 global authors, this book collects deeply personal reactions to the pandemic yet remind us that the pandemic is a shared experience, that even in our isolation we are not alone.

This collection ranges from personal essay to poetry, from Mauritius to Canada, juxtaposing genre and location. It offers a global view of the unfolding tragedy, reminding us that we are all in this together as we hunker down and do our best to keep others safe. 

One of the more provocative pieces is by the Sudanese writer Khalid Albaih who asks that the reader reflect on what privilege hides behind the phrases "new normal" and "old normal".  He reminds us that there are people in places around the world that live everyday under lockdown because of geopolitical conflicts out of their control. A more poignant story talks about a child who falls in love with Jane Goodall and her chimpanzee friends during quarantine. A poem talks about a pile of books that the narrator cannot force himself to read. 

Most of the selections were written during the early months of lockdown, between March and May of this year. Reading them now, it is interesting to reflect on how our understanding of the virus has changed, as well as our ability to cope with "the new normal". Uncertainty is one of the underlying themes that connect all the works, and while much is still uncertain, vaccines are being administered for the first time across the United States. The light at the end of the tunnel that so many of these writers are hoping for is finally arriving.

While some might want to put more space between them and the pandemic before reading, I found it therapeutic to read this anthology. I'd highly recommend this for high school age and above. Anyone will find something that they connect with in this collection, and connection has never been more important. 

Shake up your reading for 2021

A post from Sydney.

It's the end of the year!  I have a special place in my heart for this time of the year.  Obviously, I love the holidays.  But I also enjoy taking a moment to look back on the year that was, and make plans for the year to come.  This year in particular, I know we all are ready to wave goodbye to the mess that was 2020, and we look forward with cautious optimism to the beginning of a fresh 2021.  One goal I have decided on is to find new ways to shake up my reading for 2021.

I am facing the fact that I probably won't complete my Goodreads Reading Challenge for this year.  You would think that all that quarantine time would have let me read more, but it just didn't.  The disruption in my schedule, the strangeness of working from home, worry, and all sorts of other things wreaked havoc on my reading.  I thought it was just me, but apparently reading anxiety was fairly common this year.  How can we bring back our reading mojo?

Setting yourself a reading challenge might help.  For several years, I have set myself a numerical goal with the Goodreads Reading Challenge.  It's kind of fun to check in periodically throughout the year and see how you are doing.  You race against yourself from prior years, and it's not stressful.  But this year, it was also not really that inspiring. 

There are tons of other reading challenges that give you suggestions of genres to try.  These challenges help you break out your comfort zone by giving you a push to try something different.  They often have Goodreads groups or message boards where people suggest titles to each other, in case you need ideas.  I had no idea that "food memoirs" were a thing until it came up in the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge a few years ago. I read Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, by Gabrielle Hamilton to fulfill that challenge.  (It was unexpectedly fascinating--and the author grew up in my hometown. Bonus!)  

Here are just a few of the reading challenges out there.  You can find a lot more with a Google search!

• PopSugar Reading Challenge
• Back to the Classics Book Challenge
• British Crime Classics Reading Challenge
• Uncorked Reading Challenge
• Reading with Muffy Challenge
• The Calendar of Crime Challenge
• Pretty Mess Reading Challenge

Happy reading, and happy 2021 to all!

Year In Review: Top Picture Books

'Tis the season for year-end lists! Even this lousy pandemic couldn't stop the Conshy Library from circulating books to our patrons in Conshohocken and around Montgomery County. Here are the Top 10 most circulated Picture Books from 2020. Did you or your kids read any of these titles?

Space

Mixed : a colorful story, Arree Chung 

Pig the star, Aaron Blabey

Thelma the unicorn, Aaron Blabey 

Grumpy monkey, Suzanne Lang 

Pups to the rescue! 

The rabbit listened, Cori Doerrfeld

When I build with blocks, Niki Alling 

The curious garden, Peter Brown 

Disney's 5-minute bedtime stories : a magical collection of Disney tales, Cathy Hapke 

The Pigeon series by Mo Willems was by far the most popular across the consortium with the following books taking the top 3 spots!

The pigeon needs a bath!

The pigeon has to go to school!

The Pigeon finds a hot dog!

Year in Review: Top Adult Fiction

 

'Tis the season for year-end lists! Even this lousy pandemic couldn't stop the Conshy Library from circulating books to our patrons in Conshohocken and around Montgomery County. Here are the Top 10 most circulated Adult Fiction books from 2020. Did you read any of these titles?

On Earth we're briefly gorgeous, Ocean Vuong
The nickel boys, Colson Whitehead
City of girls, Elizabeth Gilbert
The overstory, Richard Powers
The only woman in the room, Marie Benedict
Robert B. Parker's Angel eyes, Ace Atkins  

Ask again, yes, Mary Beth Keane
The mother-in-law, Sally Hepworth
The giver of stars, Jojo Moyes

Additionally, here are the top 3 from the entire Montgomery County Library and Information Consortium. Where the crawdads sing reached first place by a landslide!

Where the crawdads sing, Delia Owens

The dutch house, Ann Patchett

Little fires everywhere, Celeste Ng

Ms. Lorraine at play: Try a Launchpad!

 

Hello Library Friends! Ms. Lorraine here!

Thanks to a donation from ASTM, International, the library recently added Playaway Launchpads to our collection. These are durable tablets preloaded with educational games and read-alongs, etc.!  We have Launchpads covering many subjects and different age/grade levels. 

I decided to try one out so I can tell you all what to expect from this new collection.  I set out on my own adventure by checking out Backpack of Fun! which is aimed at ages 5-7, grades K-2.  I have to admit that it has been several years since I was even close to this age/grade level, but I guess I am still a perfect fit for games aimed at this range.  Once I determined how to turn on the preloaded tablet (no children at my home to guide me), I was on my way!

The choices are many--let the adventure begin! There were stories to listen to, languages to explore, games to play!  I read along with Arthur, traveled to France and picked up a few French words.  I magically explored the Rain Forest with music.  I played one of my favorite childhood games: Highlights Magazine “Find the Hidden Pictures.  The 10 interactive books, games and activities on this particular Launchpad kept me entertained and busy. 

I highly recommend that you call or visit the library to choose a Playaway Launchpad adventure of your own!