One Good Deed

 It's that time of year when many of us want to do something differently in the upcoming twelve months.  I know, I know, there are countless books that have us making task lists, examining our most inner thoughts, etc. and all of these have their place, but this little book is just about reminding us that it really isn't so difficult to make a difference - however small - in someone else's life.  Giving examples from her own experiences and those of others, Erin McHugh has us open our eyes a bit wider to all the simple things that we can do to make things just a little bit better.

Stop, Your're Killing Me!

For mystery, crime, thriller, spy or suspense book fans, this website is one that you will thoroughly enjoy.  Although maintained by only a couple of people, the site lists over 3,900 authors, with chronological lists of their books in both series and non-series. Access to the lists are by author and character and there are extensive indexes that allow you to search specific locations, jobs, historical settings, diversity topics, and genres.  Book awards are listed and a few author and category read-alikes have been included.

Aging Parents

Are you a late Baby Boomer, or an early Gen Xer? Then you're probably thinking about or already dealing with aging parents. We have a lot of books in our system to help you deal with the many issues surrounding elder care and family dynamics. Here area a few of them.

Aging is a Family Affair: How to Start Tomorrow's Difficult Caregiving Decisions--Today
Mary Ann Massey

A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents-- And Ourselves

Jane Gross

 

The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help

Joy Loverde

 

Stages of Senior Care: Your Step by Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions

Paul Hogan

They're Your Parents Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents' Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy

Francine Russo



Alcoholism or Problem Drinking

Did you know that the diagnosis of drug and alcohol addiction will be revised in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013? Here is a link to a blog about the changes. Apparently, it will be a lot easier to be diagnosed as an alcoholic or addict in the new edition. Will this mean: More books needed? More treatment center space needed? More professionals needed? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Meanwhile--here are resources for problem drinking:

Reading my father: a memoir

What is it about a book that catches our attention and forces us to select it and once caught up in its magic, makes it almost impossible for us to put it down /turn it off?
For me, when reading the book Reading my Father:a Memoir by Alexandra Styron, the following ingredients were what drew me to it and kept me enslaved till the last page:
1. the authors great writing style. The apple did not fall very far from the tree with this author. (Her father and the subject of the book is William Styron.)
2. the memories of her childhood growing up around flamboyant parents who lived very full, eciting and tempestuous lives.
3. a book about one of my favorite authors, William Stryon, and one of our greatest American novelists/essayists and author of Sophie's Choice, The Confessions of Nat Turner, Lie Down in Darkness, and many more.
4. a trip though time and her father's life as she researched a major collection of his letters, unfinished manuscripts, and many more items that may have never before been read and had never been published.
           After I fnished this book it made me want to read other memoirs or biographies of authors. Hope that it has the same effect on you.

Finding your birthparents

 Here are a couple of books that might be useful to anyone trying to find their birthparents.

Adoption Records Handbook
Teresa A. Brown
2008

The Adoption Searcher's Handbook
Norma Mott Tillman
2010

The Ultimate Search Book: Worldwide Adpotion, Genealogy & Other Search Secrets

Lori Carangelo

2011

The Snow Child

We may not know it but when we start reading a book we are either drawn in to it or forced away from it for different reasons and those reasons are called, in library lingo, Appeal Factors. These factors can be as varied as: Characterization, Plot/Storyline, Setting, Language, Genre, Time Frame, and Pacing.


Eowyn Ivey, author of The Snow Child, drew me into her superb tale using two appeals, Language and Setting, rolled into one. Her novel is a mystical tale of a young child who is created out of a "snow-child" by a childless couple who are learning how to deal with the rigors of homesteading in 1920 in the Alaskan wilderness.


From the beginning of her tale her use of language and her choice of setting "ensnared" me so that it was very difficult for me to put the book down in between readings. I felt the cold of the winter nights as if I was the one who had slept in the cabin where the cracks encouraged the cold to sneak in and endured the intensity of the summer sun that caused Mabel to be drenched with sweat as she worked in their vegetable field for the first time.


This tale is Ivey's debut novel and I for one anticipate the appearance of her next creation and wonder what mysteries and locales she will offer us next.

Treats From India

It seems that everything these days is coming up India. We see Bollywood musicals, we eat at Indian cafes, we argue with Indian call-centers about our credit card bills, but most particularly we read Indian authors. Like Indian food; these books are often scrumptious. Here are some examples:

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie

The Guide by R. K. Narayan

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

The Namesake by Jumpa Lahiri

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

This is just a very small sample. Search under the subject heading “India fiction” @ www.wccls.org for a more complete listing of all that is available

Not Buying it: My Year without shopping.

In "Not Buying it: My Year without shopping", journalist Judith Levine involves her partner Paul in a quest to evaluate their consumerism by giving up shopping for a year. During the year they try to find out why they buy the things they do and what do they really get out of the stuff they bring home. In this book Judith's ambivalence about her shopping and shopping in our culture in general via her journalistic skills. She offers us a window into what that year looked like for them along with information on topics such as the "household storage" and "out of household storage/self-storage" industries. According to the author, in 2006 there were 37,000 self-storage facilities in the United States that averaged from 80-90 percent of occupancy.


If you are not already questioning your spending, this book may spark some discussion as to how you too could survive a year without shopping.

Sew Lovely

March is National Craft Month. If your bent is sewing ( and even if it's not) Simple Modern Sewing by Shufu To Seikatsu Sha will inspire you to dust off your sewing machine. The author presents eight simple, elegant designs upon which to build a wardrobe. Two pattern sheets are included.

One Simple Act

Debbie Macomber is best known for her wonderful fiction works, but she has also written several non-fiction titles.  One Simple Act:  Discovering the Power of Generosity is an eye-opener in the sense of how a simple act of generosity can have lasting effects on not only the recipient but also on the giver as well. She gives examples of true stories from everyday life and also includes motivating messages of how giving the gift of time, hope, prayer, hospitality, laughter, encouragement and sometime even forgiveness can be life-changing.

We could all use a little help...

The journal of best practices : a memoir of marriage, Asperger syndrome, and one man's quest to be a better husband by  David Finch

We could all use a little help and sometimes the information or inspiration may come from an unexpected source. Five years into his marriage David is diagnosed with Asperger and this is his story on how he learns to deal with the diagnosis and become a better husband. I think this quote from Dave Berry sums up the book nicely:
“David Finch has Asperger Syndrome – a disorder that, in some ways, means ‘acting like a guy.’ His often-hilarious efforts to understand and cope with his condition will resonate with every guy whose wife has ever asked him, ‘What the hell were you THINKING?’”


--Dave Barry, author of I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood

Do you know about peonage?

In his famous quote, William Shakespeare asserted that, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." For, it is the character of the thing that defines it, not the name. On Tuesday night, PBS aired the 90 minute documentary entitled Slavery by Another Name. This film, based on the Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award winning book by Douglas Blackmon, reveals a little known part of the American story; a new form of slavery that followed the civil war and lasted well into the twentieth century. This one is a must read!

Beaverton Library has amazing magazines

If you are looking for ways to save money maybe it is time to look at your magazine subscriptions.

Beaverton Library has some AMAZING magazines. And, all the past issues may be borrowed!

If you like Art, we have Art in America












If science and technology is more your interes check out ieee spectrum, the magazine of technology insiders.
This month's issue reviews the top 10 tech cars!


Concerned about the environment? Check out



E - The Environmental Magazine






We have so many more...stop by soon and check them out!

Three Simple Rules That Will Change the World

Three Simple Rules That Will Change the World is a book written by Rueben P. Job and is based on the teachings of John Wesley. This little book speaks volumes in that if each of us followed its three basic tenets, the world would be a very different place.  As the back cover of the book states:  "There is no one secret to life. But there are three simple rules that have the power to change your life and your world.  John Wesley first taught and practiced these rules many years ago. Now it is up to us to practice this way of living.  Not only can these rules change your life, they can change the world.  This insightful work calls us to mutual respect, unity, and a deeper daily relationship with God."  A very worthwhile read.

Good Reading in Your Inbox

A parent asked one of our staff if she could be notified when new chapter books were added to the collection. The answer was Yes! Staff have created a number of newsletters on a variety of topics that you can subscribe to and receive via email.  Besides a newsletter on Children's Chapter Books, there are approximately 30 different newsletters that feature recommendations from individual libraries or that are subject specific like the listing for craft and hobby books called Make It!  Another newsletter is Book Sizzle which highlights books currently in the media. To browse the list and make your selections, just go to www.wccls.org, click on the Lending Library tab, then Good Reading: Book Reviews and Beyond.  The Good Reading in Your Inbox page will allow you to browse the listing of newsletters.  You just click on the check box next to each e-newsletter you want to receive, enter your e-mail address in the box at the bottom of the page, and click on the Subscribe button below your e-mail address. A quick and easy way to keep up with your reading interests!

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Excited to see the new movie, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy? Or have you already seen the movie and are confused? Want some background? Then you should definitely visit http://www.wccls.org/ and check out our Literary Online Resources.

Novelist Plus provides a synopsis and a book discussion guide to help you understanding.

Another database to consider is: Contemporary Literary Criticism Select.

Enjoy you adventure untangling the nuances of the movie.

If your new year's resolution was to get organized...

here are a few titles at the Beaverton Library that might appeal to you:


New this year, Brette Sember's The Organized Kitchen will help you start your mission to get organized with the heart of the home.






Learn how to reclaim your space and your time with some advice from author Tsh Oxenreider in her book, Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-free Approach to Intentional Living.








And Organizing for the Creative Person by Dorothy Lehmkuhl shows creative people how to arrange their desks, their time, and their lives "in a style consistent with their unique way of perceiving the world."

New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge

This is an ideal gift for anyone wanting a desk reference of their own.  The latest edition of this guide features updated and expanded entries in nearly 50 categories.  The annotation from our library catalog states, "Whether you are researching the history of Western art, investigating an obscure medical test, following current environmental trends, studying Shakespeare, brushing up on your crossword and Sudoku skills, or simply looking for a deeper understanding of the world, this book is for you.  An indispensable resource for every home, office, dorm room and library, this new edition of the New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge offers in-depth explorations of art, astronomy, biology, business, economics, the environment, film, geography, history, the Internet, literature, mathematics, music, mythology, philosophy, sports, theater, film, and many other subjects."  Definitely a worthwhile purchase for anyone with a curious mind.

Holiday Reading

For our patrons who celebrate things other than Christmas this time of year, here are a few titles that might be of interest to you:

Eight Tales for Eight Nights: stories for Chanukah by Peninnah Schram offers eight traditional tales from around the world that introduce the customs and meanings of Chanukah.


Andrea Carneiro's Jewish Cooking Boot Camp: the modern girl's guide to cooking like a Jewish grandmother, includes over 50 easy-to-follow recipes for such classic dishes as Honey Cake, Rugelach, and Matzo Balls, background on Jewish holidays putting food and tradition into context, interviews with rabbis about creating modern traditions, and tips from Jewish bartenders and party planners.


Inviting God: celebrating the soul meaning of the Jewish holidays, by David Aaron, provides insight into the reasons why we celebrate.

Kwanzaa from holiday to everyday: a complete guide for making Kwanzaa a part of your life, by Maitefa Angaza is a guide to how Kwanzaa, a winter celebration of family, friends, and the African American community, can be part of life all year round. It provides information on the seven principles and offers ideas for planning Kwanzaa gatherings.

Eric Copage's, Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking, is a complete guide to the history and foods of Kwanzaa. In addition to 125 recipes, it also includes folktales that illustrate each of the seven principles of the celebration.

Happy holidays, and happy reading!