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A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Archives for July 2024

Let the games begin! Companion stories for your Olympics viewing

July 26, 2024 By Teresa Letizia

“Let the Games Begin” is an aptly named book in Smiley Library’s new fiction collection, given that the exciting opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris takes place today — magnifique! You may want to enhance your Olympic games viewing experience by sprinting into this debut rom-com novel by Rufaro Faith Mazarura. Taking place at summer Games in Greece, it sparkles with romantic glances, accomplished Olympians, underdog heroics, and well, the brilliant sand, sea, and skies of glorious Greece!

More books on the world of sporting out this year in non-fiction include “The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports.” Named a Most Anticipated Book by Esquire, Town & Country, and Electric Literature, author Michael Waters uncovers, for the first time, the separate stories of Zdeněk Koubek and Mark Weston, both high-achieving athletes in the 1930s who were assigned female at birth and began to live as males as adults. The news of their transitions was carried by global media outlets and they became celebrities only to be quickly forgotten. Waters’ research discovers other pioneering trans and intersex athletes from their era, as well as what he has identified as Nazi influence on and misdeeds by the International Olympic Committee that have had lasting consequences for the trans community.

Learn more about the Games and two modern Olympians in the memoirs of Caster Semenya, a South African middle-distance runner and winner of two Olympic gold medals, and Kara Goucher, two-time Olympian, and winner of the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in the 10,000 meters. Each has a unique story of challenges that they finally felt ready to share.

Semenya in “The Race to Be Myself” recounts the progression of her talent and success which has been overshadowed by criticism and speculation about her body, and how gender plays out in sports, our expectations of female athletes, and the right to compete as you are. Goucher’s memoir, “The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team,” was a New York Times bestseller; in it she shares how she was lulled into the abusive doping world by her coach, distance running legend Alberto Salazar, and how she became a crusader for female athletes and a key witness helping to get Salazar banned from coaching at the Olympic level.

Reaching the Olympic level of competition is not for the faint of heart — even for our rom-com characters, and that is probably why we enjoy watching Olympians compete, because we know their top-level dedication is beyond what most of us could do, so we celebrate their hard-won victories and feel for them in their devastating defeats. Cheers to each of those participating in the 2024 Games!

Look for an extensive list of the Library’s Olympic-themed books and movie DVDs posted here on Smiley Blog earlier this month.

Filed Under: What's New

Stay cool getting lost in the weird worlds of sci-fi

July 21, 2024 By Ciara Lightner

During these hot summer days, it’s best to stay inside and stay cool. What better way to spend time indoors than with a good book? What about creepy Science Fiction? These new books are the perfect way to enjoy Summerween!

Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s new work Lost Ark Dreaming, is a story of hope in a world that is drowning. A crumbling structure, built to withstand the rising floods by a corporation, houses the last of humanity. The society, located off the coast of West Africa, is separated by class and reflected in the floors of the building. Uppers, the wealthy and managers of the company, live in the top floors while the poorest and undesirables are housed below the water line in the lowers. Yekini, unremarkable cog in the corporations from the middle floors, is tasked with an expedition to investigate a problem in the lowers. Accompanying her is Ngozi, an egotistical bureaucrat from the uppers. Along the way the two discover some of the corporation’s dark secrets and Yekini becomes determined to dredge those secrets up from the depths.

In Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes, Dr. Ophelia Bray is out to atone for the horrors her family has committed. Her mother is the scion of a rich and powerful corporation that would rather throw money at a problem than ever admit guilt, and her father is a mass murderer who committed unspeakable acts during a bout of psychosis. Hoping to separate herself from her family’s legacy, Bray agrees to join a dangerous mission to explore a planet. While there, she is tasked with researching a possible preventative measure for psychosis caused from deep space travel. But people start to act strangely. People start to see things. People start to die. Bray needs to get to the bottom of what is happening and figure out if the danger originates from this unknown world or if it was in Dr. Bray all along. Filled with twists and turns, Ghost Station is a terrifying look at the horrors we find in the void and those within ourselves.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, centers on Charles, a robot valet for his human master in a world where humanity has declined. Every day is the same for Charles, check the itinerary, lay the clothes out, shave the master, a never-ending list of repeating tasks Charles is more than happy to tick off. Until one day, Charles cannot complete his tasks. His master is dead and Charles is the one who did it. The problem is Charles has no idea why he did it and now is stuck in a circle of task that can never be completed. But Charles is not the only one stuck in this bureaucratic circle, all robots seem to be stuck as well. Charles must find a way in the world that has lost all direction. What happens to a world full of robots built to care for humans when there are no humans left?

Enjoy these books and let the creepy season begin!

Filed Under: What's New

It’s a grand time! Embark on an adventure through the Grand Canyon with these exceptional new books

July 14, 2024 By Nancy McGee

Let me just start by saying, I loved this book! I loved his previous book! What author am I referring to and what books you might wonder? Kevin Fedarko thrilled, educated, inspired, and left me hungry for more with his new book, “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon.”

I finished reading Fedarko’s “The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History through the Heart of the Grand Canyon” last month, recommended to me by a patron, and I could not wait for his next non-fiction adventure book to arrive. I packed my armchair adventurer backpack and dove right in as soon as “A Walk in the Park” arrived on our bookshelves. The author has truly experienced the Grand Canyon in ways very few people have and takes you from the river to the rim. He has done extensive research on the history of the Colorado River, from early to current explorers and Native Americans, river guides, long-distance hikers, the geology and the dams, and preservation. He shares all of this and the perils and pleasures of being on the water (Emerald Mile) and on the land in his challenging 750-mile hiking odyssey (A Walk in the Park). His personal experience, lack of experience, and wit make both of these books very engrossing reads.

Author Fedarko’s books have also inspired my curiosity to learn more about the Grand Canyon. We just happen to have another book in our New Book area by photographer and author Dave Showalter, “Living River: The Promise of the Mighty Colorado.” Colorful photos and maps enhance the text that explores the watershed of the Colorado River’s 1,450-mile journey from the headwaters in Wyoming to the Gulf of Mexico. Topics explored include the tributaries, wildlife, human and agricultural demands, water rights, and conservation and preservation of this important and beautiful resource of the American West.

If you are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon, I highly recommend reading these books and checking out some of our other books on the Grand Canyon, John Wesley Powell’s exploration of the Canyon, and the Colorado River to truly appreciate your experience.

Filed Under: What's New

Teens: Join our exciting summer events, book giveaways, and a reading challenge with prizes!

July 12, 2024 By Kristina Naftzger

Teens, are you currently living out all your summer dreams? Are your hours filled with round-the-clock thrills and excitement? When school starts back up, will your classmates stare at you icily as you read aloud your autobiographical essay, “My Unbelievably Amazing Summer?” If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, put this article down immediately and get back to it! Congratulations! You’re excused to go on your unbelievably amazing way!

Hello? Are you still there? If you are, I will assume your summer may be in need of a little oomph. Good news…oomph is the Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library’s middle name! Not only do we have a line-up of fun and creative events planned for teens, including a Modern Embroidery Makers’ Workshop, Teen Summer Book Club, and Super Smash Bros. Video Game Tournament, but we’re also hosting an ongoing summer reading challenge with some giveaways you may not want to miss.

Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” and truer words have never been spoken. Last weekend, I attended the American Library Association’s annual conference in San Diego, and one of the keynote speakers was comedian and author Trevor Noah. Trevor (I call him Trevor now) called the library his rocket ship. A place he could go that would take him anywhere in the universe. A place where an old guy in the corner could be reading a book about how to build a closet while Trevor read a book about, well, not building a closet, and they would exist together, bound by the thread of curiosity that holds all library users together. What an unbelievably amazing place to be! Wait…

Teens! I’ve got it! This is your ticket to an unbelievably amazing summer. Bring your curiosity and we’ll take care of the rest. For more information on what’s happening this summer (and beyond), visit our webpage at www.akspl.org/teens or follow us on Instagram at akspl_teens. And if you, like me, are a fan of Trevor Noah, start by checking out his memoir, “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.” You’ll find it in our Adult Nonfiction section, but there’s plenty that you may be able to relate to, learn from, and be moved by. While a rocket ship may be overkill to get you from Redlands to South Africa, you have a standing invitation to climb aboard. There’s no better time to start your (unbelievably amazing) summer adventures.

Friendly footnote: As with everything you read, we encourage you to talk to your parents/caregivers about what may be a good fit for you.

Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services Librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library. Unfortunately, “Oomph” is not her middle name.

Filed Under: What's New

Ahh, Paris in summertime… the 2024 Olympic games are near! Dive into our themed list of books, DVDs

July 7, 2024 By Teresa Letizia

Non-Fiction and Biographies

  • Far beyond gold : running from fear to faith / McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney, 2024.
  • The other Olympians : fascism, queerness, and the making of modern sports / Waters, Michael, 2024.
  • The race to be myself : a memoir / Semenya, Caster, 2023.
  • The longest race : inside the secret world of abuse, doping, and deception on Nike’s elite running team / Goucher, Kara, 2023.
  • Coming up for air / Daley, Tom, 2022. [Divers — England — Biography. Olympic athletes — England — Biography.]
  • Bravey : chasing dreams, befriending pain, and other big ideas / Pappas, Alexi, 2021. [Women runners — United States — Biography. Women Olympic athletes — Greece — Biography.]
  • Olympic pride, American prejudice : the untold story of 18 African Americans who defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics / Draper, Deborah Riley, 2020.
  • Brave enough : my story / Diggins, Jessie, 2020. [Cross-country skiing — United States. Olympic athletes — United States — Biography.]
  • The making of a miracle : the untold story of the captain of the 1980 gold medal-winning US Olympic hockey team / Eruzione, Mike, 2020
  • The sixth man : a memoir / Iguodala, Andre, 2019. [Basketball players — United States — Biography. Olympic athletes — United States — Biography.]
  • Tigerbelle : the Wyomia Tyus story / Tyus, Wyomia, 2018. [Women track and field athletes — United States — Biography.]
  • Berlin 1936 : sixteen days in August / Hilmes, Oliver, 2018. [Olympics — Political aspects — Germany. National socialism and sports.]
  • Godspeed : a memoir / Legler, Casey, 2018. [Olympic Games (26th : 1996 : Atlanta, Ga.).  Women swimmers — United States — Biography.]
  • Butterfly : from refugee to Olympian, my story of rescue, hope, and triumph / Mardini, Yusra, 2018. [Olympic Games (31st : 2016 : Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — History. Women swimmers — Syria — Biography.]
  • Fire on the track : Betty Robinson and the triumph of the early Olympic women /  Montillo, Roseanne, 2017. [Women runners — United States — Biography.]
  • The games : a global history of the Olympics / Goldblatt, David, 2016
  • For the glory : Eric Liddell’s journey from Olympic champion to modern martyr / Hamilton, Duncan, 2016. [Runners (Sports) — Scotland — Biography. Missionaries — Scotland — Biography. Missionaries — China — Biography.]
  • Courage to soar : a body in motion, a life in balance  / Biles, Simone, 2016. [Gymnasts — United States — Biography.]
  • The boys in the boat : the true story of an American team’s epic journey to win gold at the 1936 Olympics  / Brown, Daniel James, 2013. [University of Washington — Rowing — History. Olympic Games (11th : 1936 : Berlin, Germany). Rowing — United States — History. Rowers — United States — Biography.]
  • The three-year swim club : the untold story of Maui’s sugar ditch kids and their quest for Olympic glory / Checkoway, Julie, 2015. [Swimmers — Hawaii — Biography. Japanese Americans — Hawaii — Biography.]
  • Speed kings : the 1932 Winter Olympics and the fastest men in the world / Bull, Andy, 2015. [Olympic Winter Games (3rd : 1932 : Lake Placid, N.Y.). Bobsledding — United States — History — 20th century.]
  • Unbroken : an Olympian’s journey from airman to castaway to captive / Hillenbrand, Laura, 2014. [Long-distance runners — United States — Biography — Juvenile literature. Olympic athletes — United States — Biography — Juvenile literature.]
  • Foxcatcher : the true story of my brother’s murder, John du Pont’s madness, and the quest for Olympic gold / Schultz, Mark, 2014. [Schultz, Mark, Schultz, David L., Du Pont, John E. (John Eleuthère). Olympic athletes — United States — Biography. Murder — United States — Case studies. Wrestlers — United States — Biography.]
  • My Greek drama : life, love, and one woman’s Olympic effort to bring glory to her country /  Angelopoulos, Gianna, 2013. [Olympic games (28th : 2004 : Athens, Greece) — Management. Topical Subject(s): Businesswomen — Greece — Biography. Olympics — Planning.]
  • Grace, gold, & glory : my leap of faith / Douglas, Gabby, 2012. [Women gymnasts — United States — Biography. Women Olympic athletes — United States — Biography. Christian biography.]
  • Dream team : how Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the greatest team of all time conquered the world and changed the game of basketball forever / McCallum, Jack, 2012. [Olympic Games (25th : 1992 : Barcelona, Spain) — History.]
  • Michael Phelps : the world’s greatest Olympian / Triumph Books (Firm), 2008. [Swimmers — United States — Biography. Swimmers — United States.]
  • A skating life / Hamill, Dorothy, 2007. [Figure skaters — United States — Biography.]
  • Nazi games : the Olympics of 1936 / Large, David Clay, 2007
  • Triumph : the untold story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics / Schaap, Jeremy, 2007. [Olympic Games (11th : 1936 : Berlin, Germany).  Track and field athletes — United States — Biography. African American athletes — Biography. National socialism — Philosophy. Racism — Germany — History — 20th century.]
  • Berlin Games : how the Nazis stole the Olympic dream / Walters, Guy, 2006. [Olympic Games (11th : 1936 : Berlin, Germany). Olympics — Political aspects — Germany — History — 1933-1945.]
  • The boys of winter : the untold story of a coach, a dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team / Coffey, Wayne R., 2005. [Olympic Winter Games (13th : 1980 : Lake Placid, N.Y.)]
  • Reflections in the ice : inside the heart and mind of an Olympic champion /  Parra, Derek, 2004. [Olympic Winter Games (19th : 2002 : Salt Lake City, Utah). Speed skaters — United States — Biography. Mexican American athletes — Biography.]
  • The Olympics : Athens to Athens 1896-2004 / Rendell, Matt, 2004. [Olympics – History]
  • Figure skating now : Olympic and world stars / Milton, Steve, 2003
  • By the sword : a history of gladiators, musketeers, samurai, swashbucklers, and Olympic champions / Cohen, Richard, 2002. [Fencing — History.]
  • Gold in the water : the true story of ordinary men and their extraordinary dream of Olympic glory / Mullen, P. H., 2001. [Olympic Games (27th : 2000 : Sydney, N.S.W.) Swimmers — United States — Biography.]
  • The long program : skating toward life’s victories / Fleming, Peggy, 1999. [Skaters — Biography. Winter Olympics.]
  • Breaking the surface / Louganis, Greg, 1994. [Divers — United States — Biography. Gay men — United States — Biography.]

DVDs

  • I, Tonya [videorecording (Blu-ray disc and DVD)] / Gillespie, Craig, director, 2018. [Harding, Tonya-Drama. Women figure skaters — United States — Biography — Drama.]
  • Foxcatcher [videorecording (Blu-ray disc)] / Megan Ellison, film producer, 2015. [Schultz, Mark, 1960–Drama. Schultz, David L., 1996-Drama. Du Pont, John E. (John Eleuthère)-Drama. Olympic athletes — United States — Biography — Drama. Murder — United States — Case studies — Drama. Wrestlers — United States — Biography — Drama.]
  • Munich [videorecording (DVD)] / Spielberg, Steven, 2006. [Israel. Mosad le-modiʻin ṿe-tafḳidim meyuḥadim — Drama. Olympic Games (20th : 1972 : Munich, Germany) — Drama. Intelligence officers — Israel — Drama. Athletes — Violence against — Germany — Munich — Drama. Terrorism — Germany — Munich — Drama. Israelis — Violence against — Germany — Munich — Drama.]
  • A.k.a. Cassius Clay [videorecording (DVD)] / Ali, Muhammad, 2002. [African American boxers — Biography. Black Muslims — Biography. Vietnam War, 1961-1975 — Conscientious objectors — United States.]
  • Chariots of fire [videorecording (DVD)] / Hudson, Hugh, 2005, 1981. [Academy Awards: Best Picture, Screenplay, Music, Costume design. Abrahams, Harold Maurice, 1899–Drama. Liddell, Eric, 1902-1945-Drama. Olympics — Drama.]

Filed Under: News + Events

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