Archives for November 2023

The once popular genre of Western fiction books seems to be fading into the sunset, with fewer of them being written or checked out. There are currently only three new Westerns on our new book shelf, with some still coming in. However, if you have a hankerin’ for similar reads, saddle up and come on down to Smiley Library for some non-fiction books that are sure to fill the bill!

“The Summer of 1876:  Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season that Defined the American West,” ties together several legendary individuals with the backdrop of other noteworthy historical events of that year. Names like Custer, Masterson, Hickok, Earp, James, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull are included. These are woven together and explored by author Chris Wimmer along with the beginnings of Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia World’s Fair, the invention of the telephone, the publication of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and other events.

“Follow Me to Hell: McNelly’s Texas Rangers and the Rise of Frontier Justice,” delves into the adventures of Captain Leander McNelly and the inception of the Texas Rangers. Best-selling author Tom Clavin takes readers back to the origins of the dangerous pursuit of justice in Texas and the surrounding areas, including apprehending cattle rustlers and bandits, land skirmishes, and Civil War battles.

Nathan Ward shares a narrative of the same era in “Son of the Old West: The Odyssey of Charlie Siringo: Cowboy, Detective, Writer of the Wild Frontier.” Siringo lived his personal dream of being a cowboy, then became a detective with the Pinkerton Agency, an author, and also a consultant in the early years of Hollywood for Western films.

“Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West’s Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber,” by John Boessenecker is about Charles Boles, a wealthy and educated socialite that lived in San Francisco. His acquaintances had no idea that he was actually the very successful stagecoach robber, aka Black Bart.

Switching gears to where the old West meets modern day, Tracy Daugherty has authored “Larry McMurtry: A Life.” He chronicles the man and his works that surely come to mind when thinking of great Western books and screenplays. In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, McMurtry was also passionate about collecting and selling books.

If you haven’t had your Western appetite quenched quite yet, you can hit the road, or be an armchair adventurer, and visit some of the notable places you have heard about in “Discovering the Outlaw Trail: Routes, Hideouts & Stories form the Wild West.” Mike Bezemek suggests driving, biking, camping, riding a train, and paddling your way along legendary outlaw routes. The book is divided into four sections: Discovering the Outlaw Trail, Stories from the Outlaw Trail, Traveling the Outlaw Trail, and The Ends of the Outlaw Trail-Stories Conclude. Color pictures and maps add to the enchantment of this fascinating travelogue.

I can’t believe that the holiday season is upon us! It seems like it was just yesterday that I was decorating my Halloween tree and drinking my first pumpkin spice latte of the season (yes, I have a Halloween tree that beautifully transitions to a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed Christmas tree). If you are not quite ready for the upcoming holiday season or you are ready with your peppermint mocha in hand, then here are few new titles from your favorite public library, A.K. Smiley Library.

If you are not ready to read holiday-themed books quite yet, may I suggest Phantom, by Helen Power. Regan Osbourne is in a tight spot–she’s broke, in a bad relationship, and her art career is getting her nowhere. One night, desperate and fed up, a mysterious man approaches her with a proposition she can’t refuse, one million dollars for one of her hands, her dominant hand to be exact. Regan agrees. Come and check out Phantom to see what happens to Regan and her missing appendage.

If you are ready to go all-in on the holiday season, I suggest to you Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley. Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson are strangers, but fate has other plans for them. Both are flying home to Toronto, Canada for the holiday season until severe turbulence diverts their plane and plans and leaves them stranded in a picturesque town called Snow Falls where destiny has other plans for them.

If neither of these titles appeals to you and you want something more in the fairy tale realm, then I suggest to you, After the Forest by Kell Woods. After the Forest takes place 20 years after Greta and Hans escape the infamous witch who lived in a gingerbread house. While Greta was being held captive all those years ago, she took the witch’s grimoire which holds magic spells that are more powerful than Greta can comprehend. Will Greta succumb to the lure of the grimoire to help her and the village which she grew up in, or will the villagers turn against her and her new found magical abilities?

So, come visit your favorite local library and check out these festive and not-so-festive titles for your reading pleasure.

-Shannon Harris is a library specialist who enjoys reading horror and holiday-themed books so much that she is currently reading a book called Christmas and Other Horrors.

I’ve been making a real effort to spend time focusing on fitness this fall. Nothing outrageous mind you, just walking or hiking when I can and trying to eat a little better. I’ve even moved my hand weights out of the closet and into the front room, where they now sit glaring at me–I mean motivating me to use them. Baby steps. I am NOT the next American Ninja Warrior and I’m OK with that. I just want to feel more energetic and maybe clear my head a bit. If you’re ready to feel a little healthier too, we’ve got books to guide you, no matter your level of fitness. Check these out.

Think you can’t run a race because you don’t have the typical runner’s physique, or maybe you have health issues? Think again. “Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run” by Martinus Evans shows you the steps to take to become a runner, just as you are. As you can tell by the title, he tells it like it is. Evans started his running journey in 2012 when a doctor told him he was fat and to “lose weight or die.” Well, he decided right then and there, he wasn’t going to be body-shamed and would run a marathon instead. And he did–running over 100 races, including eight marathons. He’ll share everything you need to know to become a runner: training, mental challenges, recovery, all of it. His book is informative, inspiring, and very funny.

Unfortunately for some, aches and pains seem to be unwanted, but constant companions in life. This next book was written to help ease that predicament. To the rescue is “Built to Move: The 10 Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully,” by Kelly and Juliet Starrett. The focus here is not on cardio or strength training. It’s on improving mobility, increasing your range and minimizing your pain. Sounds pretty good. Each chapter will assess your current condition with simple tests of mobilization and balance, like “Sit-and-Rise.” Then you’ll be offered physical techniques designed to help you feel better, move better and incorporate healthy habits. This is an outstanding resource.

If you’ve never heard of rail-trails, they’re typically railroad tracks that have been abandoned and converted into shared public use trails. “Rail-Trails: California: The Definitive Guide to the State’s Top Multiuse Trails” by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy highlights 72 of these pathways. Due to the gentle grades, they are great for runners, bikers, and hikers, many being wheelchair assessible. Whether you’re looking to visit California’s beaches, mountains, or deserts, you’ll find a variety of trails to choose from with descriptions, maps, and mileage for each.

I haven’t forgot about those hand weights. We have a variety of weight training books available for checkout. Designed for men and women, 40 and up, our most recent addition is “Muscle for Life: Get Lean, Strong, and Healthy at Any Age” by Michael Matthews.

Now that you’re excited about fitness, I have some good news. The annual Redlands Turkey Trot is coming up on November 23, 2023! There will be a 5K run/walk as well as a 1K Fun Run for the kids. All proceeds go to benefit Redlands schools and local charities. Find information at: www.redlandsturkeytrot.com

Many adults join the Adult Literacy program to improve their reading and writing skills by working one on one with a volunteer tutor. Improved literacy helps these adults obtain jobs, further their own education, or help their children with schoolwork. Many tutors and learners have observed a growing need for adult learners to also attain digital skills. Computer literacy is of vital importance in our modern world.

There are many benefits to being computer literate in the 21st century including:

More job opportunities –

A basic level of computer literacy is necessary to apply for a job and once employed, to communicate with supervisors and coworkers. At many jobs, a higher level of computer proficiency gives an employee an advantage.

Better communication –

A significant part of communication in the 21st century is done remotely over computer networks. Email is more convenient than traditional mail in many ways, and people who might otherwise never be able to speak to each other regularly exchange messages even though they may be on opposite sides of the world. Whether you are keeping in touch with old friends, teachers, medical professionals, or emailing your resume to employers, communication via the internet is vital in the modern age.

Access to up-to-date news and information sources –

In addition to local, national, and world news, the internet is a valuable source of practical information regarding community activities and resources, travel, health issues, medication side effects, restaurant menus, school calendars, driving directions, and more!

Being prepared for the future –

Although technology continues to change, what class participants learn and use now will provide a solid foundation of computer literacy skills that will serve them for years to come.

For these reasons, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has offered computer literacy classes to its participants since 2015. Initially, the classes included three skill levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Intermediate 2. As adult learners became proficient with basic computer skills, they wanted to learn more. In response to these changing learner goals, the computer literacy classes have evolved to include literacy lessons, writing projects, and presentation opportunities.

Participants in the computer literacy classes have a wide range of goals, including finding a job, advancement in their current position, communicating with far away family, and having the skills necessary to start their own business.

One such learner is Sotheavy Chev. She began attending computer literacy classes in spring 2023, nearly 20 years after taking a typing class and learning basic Excel in her native Cambodia. She immediately felt comfortable in the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere of the class and liked that the participants were encouraged to ask questions at any time. Through one of the computer literacy classes, Sotheavy wrote a poem about oysters that was published in the adult literacy anthology, Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volume 6.

As a very busy mother of three young boys, Sotheavy appreciates the 90-minute length of the classes and shares: “Even though class is only an hour and a half per week, I am learning – slow and steady like the turtle in the story. Improving my computer skills has given me my confidence back, and I am happier. I enjoy being with the other people in computer class, and I like how we are asked what we want to learn next.” With her improved computer skills and increased confidence, Sotheavy is looking forward to furthering her education.

The Adult Literacy Program needs more volunteers to help adults improve their reading and writing skills. If you have any questions or would like to become an adult literacy volunteer, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at 909.798.7565, ext. 4110, or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know someone who needs literacy services, please ask them to contact Diane Shimota. All literacy services are free and confidential. Training, materials, and ongoing support are provided.

Kim Green contributed to this article.