Library News: October 10th, 2024

A work of fiction and one of nonfiction are in the library's spotlight this week.

The Curious Kidnapping of Nora W. by Cate Green, Nora Wojnaswki is her family's matriarch, a Holocaust survivor, and at 122 years and four months old, she's 18 days away from being the oldest person ever to have lived in this world and potentially a Guinness World Record holder. As her big day approaches, her family is determined to celebrate in style, but Nora's great granddaughter, Debs, is not too happy about being left in charge of the party. Their Rabbi can't commit to a date and the Wojnawski clan can't agree on what food should be served. Nora, however, isn't your average centenarian and has very different ideas. She disappears with her caregiver, Arifa, and goes on a trip down memory lane in the East End of London when a wartime secret Nora has kept buried deep for 70 years will finally be revealed. Green has written that this book, her debut novel, is not a historical novel, and it's not a novel about victims of war and injustice. Instead, this is a novel about survivors of war and injustice and their lives as ordinary people with extraordinary pasts.

Birding Under the Influence: Cycling Across America in Search of Birds and Recovery by Dorian Anderson. Anderson, a neuroscience researcher on a pressure-filled life trajectory.  He walks away from the world of elite institutions, research labs, and academic publishing. When he does this, he falls in love and discovers that he has freed himself to embrace his lifelong love for birding. He embarks on a continent-spanning adventure in which he attempts to see as many species of birds as possible in twelve months.  This would be a massive undertaking under any circumstances, but Anderson is doing this on a bike while maintaining his sobriety. As the author pedals across the country describing the birds he sees, he faces the challenges of long-distance cycling such as treacherous weather, punctured tires, speeding cars, and injury. He comes across eccentric characters, blistering blacktop, dreary hotel rooms, snarling dogs, and an endless sea of smoking tailpipes. He also confronts his past struggles with alcohol, drugs, and risky behaviors that began in high school and followed him into adulthood.  This book is a candid, honest look at Dorian's double life of academic accomplishments and addiction. His journey to recovery is both poignant and inspiring, and it is ultimately his love of birds and nature that provides the scaffolding to build a new and very different life.

Upcoming Events at the Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library:

Tuesdays:

Creative Social Circle, Tuesdays at 5 PM. Bring your crafts or work with our craft supplies! Enjoy coffee, tea and the company of other adults while you work on your creative projects. 

Yoga at the Library, Tuesdays at 6 PM. $30 for this 6 week session, payable to Instructor Dave Sivley. Tuesdays, October 1 - November 12th from 6-7 PM (No class on Election Day - November 5th).

Wednesdays:

Support Group for Parents of Challenging Kids, the 2nd Wednesday of every month— November 13th at 9 AM Parenting isn’t easy. If you are feeling overwhelmed, join others to gain valuable support coping strategies and information about community resources.

Preschool Story Hour, Wednesdays at 11 AM (following the school calendar). Join us for music, movement, stories & crafts intended for ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers.

Thursdays:

First Thursday Book Club, October 3, 2024, 12 NOON-1 PM. Join others to chat about what you have been reading or to get suggestions from others.

Trick or Treat, October 31st, 5-7 PM. Enter our children’s library from the ramp on Main St during trick or treat hours for a scare-free experience. If you’re brave, enter our Burney St entrance for a spine-chilling venture through the stacks! We’ll be closing early to set up for our biggest event of the year!

Fridays:

Lego at the Library, Fridays 3:00-4:30 PM. Build & create with our Lego & Duplo collections!  All ages are welcome!

Saturdays:

Tech Time, select Saturdays, October 5th, 12th, 19th, From 10AM-1PM. Are you struggling with your phone? Do you have trouble navigating the internet? Do you need help with mel.org, the Libby App or the Marcellus Library Catalog? Drop in the library to ask Justin your IT related questions and learn to navigate your device or our computers!