Ciara Lightner

This year is speeding by at quite the rapid pace. Before we know it, the weather will be cooler, and the Halloween decorations will be up. Unless of course you are like me and leave them up year-round. So, let’s take a moment to slow down, rest, and enjoy some poetry during National Poetry Month. Consider it a check point before you move on to the next event.

Death of the First Idea by Rickey Laurentiis is a work about when the self is in opposition to the world around it. Spanning history from ancient Greece to the Jim Crow era, to the current conflicts in the Middle East, Laurentiis shows that societies have a tendency to ostracize or even commit violence against those it may find undesirable. We live in a world that upholds individuality but only if that individual displays the preferred traits. She even reflects on her hometown of New Orleans and in the explorations, describes both the joyous and detrimental experiences she found there. With grace and wit, Laurentiis writes beautifully about how she faces a world that refuses to face her.

Cynthia Cheung’s work, Common Disaster, is an interesting look at the Covid-19 pandemic through the eyes of a physician. Cheung displays her feelings of watching those she was meant to heal, lose their lives in the sea of misinformation. She records how a devastating diagnosis can create a ripple effect, not just for the patient, but for their family as well. Though loss is an inevitable part of life, Cheung urges us towards remembrance. That through remembrance we can create space to honor those that came before and carry on their legacies. That life and grief are not exclusive to human beings but to the whole world we live on. She illustrates that in a world in which tragedy is an everyday occurrence, there still exists a thread that connects us all.

The latest work from Bianca Stone, The Near and Distant World, is a philosophical examination of the self. Much like the self, the work shows an immense range in styles and has the ability to be multifaceted. Stone shows how the self persists during global pandemics, wars, and the creation of life. In her quest for examination, Stone even delves into the inexactitude of language, how words can only get so close to the truth but never quite reach it. This is a deeply introspective work that allows the imperfections of the self to not just be displayed but celebrated.

Enjoy these works of poetry and maybe try to write some of your own this month!

–Ciara Lightner is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

 

 

 

One of the biggest changes we have seen in the Library since the year has begun, is a return to physical media. Physical books, checking out movies and DVDs, and even perusing our extensive archives of older magazines and reference materials. Physical media tends to add a much more whimsical feel to our lives and, in order to ensure the upmost amount of whimsy to your day, here are some new books that focus on one of the most whimsical subjects: Mushrooms!

Fungi Decoded: Encounters with Thirty Fungi by Britt A. Bunyard is full of beautiful illustrations and great details. The book gives a broad overview of mushrooms, from spores and teeth, to why truffles use scent to attract mammals, even to the history of mycology itself. It even gives an extremely interesting look into the farming techniques of insects. While the beauty of mushrooms is highlighted, the book also delves into the dangers of mushrooms, listing the most common suspects for mushroom poisoning. Each of the thirty mushrooms highlighted are given ample room to show off their intriguing properties and the places where they are mainly located. The book even has a handy wheel on the cover to reference while on your travels. A great book for beginning or seasoned mushroom hunters!

While this next book is technically a part of the for dummies book series, it is a fascinating deep dive into the word of mushrooms: Fungi by René Fester Kratz. The book is heavily science-based, enlightening the reader that fungi are much closer to us by their DNA, their feeding techniques, and their reproduction than they are to plants. The work emphasizes the role of fungi in ecology, in that they act as decomposers allowing for much needed mineral resources to return to a usable state. The work shows how fungi play a role for us humans as well, whether that be medicinally, nutritionally, or recreationally. Diagrams throughout the book bolster the ideas introduced and further show the inner workings of a world we normally don’t get to see. A very technical book but one that brings mushroom lovers some great information.

How about the perspective of a forager and their relation to the world at large? Try Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me About Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies, and Black Survival by Maria Pinto. While this book does do an amazing job looking at mushrooms and the world they inhabit, it is not it’s only focus. It also focuses on those that use mushrooms, how historically it was marginalized groups that sought out fungi whether it was as a food source or of a spiritual nature. Pinto looks at her own history and how her world was shaped by this seemingly innocuous but utterly life-changing organism. The work delves into the political nature of fungi and how it is politicized and policed.

Love mushrooms and crafting? Try out Crochet Snails and Mushroom Sprites by Megan Lapp. This adorable book shows how to crochet your own little mushroom friend. The book shows step-by-step photos to help ensure clear understanding during the process. It even includes a glossary as well as links to a YouTube channel showing all the techniques used. The work is set up to let you customize your new friend from, body type, positions, even the type of mushrooms (morels, fly agaric, or even inky cap!). And every mushroom needs a steed to ride on so make a cute snail too. Fun and a great way to add a cute companion on your mushrooming journey.

Enjoy these books and add a bit more whimsy to your reading lists!

-Ciara Lightner is a library specialist who is always down to hang out with a cool fungi!

November is here, and with it another chance to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. This month is dedicated to remembering the past, embracing the present, and thinking about how to improve the future of the generations of those that occupied these lands. These latest works take a look at these writers perspectives on their heritage and how we can try to make the world a better place for everyone.

My Life: Growing up Native in America is a collection of essays and poems written by individuals chronicling their own experiences as Native American children. All show a great understanding of how being a child and searching for identity is complicated by the world’s perception of native culture. They don’t shy away from intersectionality as well, how gender, sexuality, and additional racial identities impacted their upbringing. Each one shows a new perspective and shows how allowing varied voices to shine only adds to the dialog and does not take away from it.

Joseph Lee’s Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity is a book about where one finds home. The work recounts the history of the Wampanoag people who reside on the island known as Martha’s Vineyard. Lee spent his summers as a child on the island, attending camps focused on continuing cultural heritage and spending time with family. As the years pass, Lee wonders how this existence, being a part of a culture but not residing solely on cultural lands, affects one’s identity. Lee begins his contemplation, first through his own experiences, then his family’s, then his community’s. All of this in an attempt to understand how where you come from helps you to become who you are.

The incredibly hilarious Tiffany Midge is back with her latest work entitled The Dreamcatcher in the Wry. During the pandemic, when everything seemed frozen, Midge was not just observing the current state of our society, she was critiquing and tearing to shreds, literarily, of course. From animal attacks, to identity politics, to humans being unable to think of the greater good, Midge takes a look at it all and calls on us to reflect. The work is funny and timely and is a great perspective on the state of the world.

We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat is not so much a memoir but a vulnerable reveal of the inner self. Working against the forced erasure of so much knowledge and history, NoiseCat traveled across the continent in order to reclaim what was lost. He highlights stories, myths, and the triumphs of a people that for so long were ignored. By reclaiming the narrative, NoiseCat is also able to strengthen his own voice and identity. Through his own personal struggles, he is able to gain insight into the strength of his community.

Visit your local library and give these books (and more) a read. Happy Native American Heritage Month!

–Ciara Lightner is a Library Specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Sometimes it’s best to take a pause and do some introspection. These works are the result of three authors taking the time to look inward and write unflinching accounts of what they found.

“I Want to Burn This Place Down: Essays” by Maris Kreizman is a look at what happens when the promises of good grades and dutiful rule-following fail to result in stability. Kreizman was raised to be a good child, fed the ideas that all her hard work would pay off in a well-paying job and a nice house. What occurred instead is confusion, instability, and being taken advantage of. And that is what happens to a lot of people. Kreizman faces her own precarious situation as a person with a chronic illness and shows how few protections there are. She writes how the world was never set up for people like her to succeed and the only way to amend it is to try to take care of each other. Yes, she wants to burn it down but in order to build something better in its place.

Aiden Arata’s “You Have a New Memory” is a look at the strange world that now exists between the physical world and the digital. Arata dives deep into the world of influencers and likens them to modern day grifters, creating illusions of health and wealth. She zeroes in on the genre of stay-at-home girlfriends and their shiny but precarious lifestyle. It isn’t all filters and poised shots though, there is the fact that we have begun using the internet as our external memory and moral compass while ceding our own abilities to modulate either. The work looks at how we have boiled down political belief from facts and deep soul searching to just going on vibes. It’s a thoughtful look at what we have gained from the digital world, and the price that we paid.

Rax King is definitely someone who knows who she is, including all the bad parts. In her latest work “Sloppy: or, Doing It All Wrong,” King reflects on her own behaviors, including lying, sobriety, and her issues with relationships. King explores the problematic but also sympathetic relationship with her parents, both fervent followers of the 12-step program. It impacts her future struggles of addiction and sobriety which now are under control, save for her love of shoplifting Brandy Melville items. She doesn’t shy away at looking at her own anger issues and how it affects those around her. King looks at the messy parts of what it means to be human and invites us to do the same.

Enjoy these books and more at your local library!

IT’S STILL PRIDE MONTH FOR A FEW MORE DAYS! So, let’s explore a personal favorite genre of mine: Queer Horror. The idea of horror quite frequently focuses on the out of the ordinary, or the thing that is out of place. And, when you grow up feeling the same way, it makes sense to identify with creatures like Frankenstein’s monster or Dracula, creatures that were not asked to be but are and must adapt to a world that is unwelcoming. In honor of pride month, here are some new works that exemplify the idea that what goes bump in the night isn’t always the thing you should fear.

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is not for the faint of heart. Three women, Ser Voyne, a war hero, Phosyne, an ex-nun, and Treila, a survivor, are trapped within the walls of a sieged castle. Along with all the other town folk, soldiers, and king, they are barricaded within with dwindling supplies and no hope for rescue from the outside world. People are starving and the three women are out of time to find a solution. But a miracle happens and the patron saint of the city arrives, bringing food and salvation. But the three women do not see a happy ending coming, they believe tragedy has arrived. Visceral and dark, Starling creates another stellar horror entry.

In Hungerstone by Kat Dunn, Lenore has been married to steel works magnate Henry for ten years. She prides herself on being the model wife in spite of the loss of her parents at a young age and having to fight tooth and nail in order to secure a proper and convenient marriage. Henry, a man with money but no status, and Lenore, a woman with status but no money, find in each other a solution to their problems. After ten years though, the relationship wains as no children are produced and Lenore finds the confines of society are beginning to tighten. On the way to their new estate in Nethersaw, the pair meet the sickly and sickeningly beautiful Carmilla, whom Lenore endeavors to bring back to health. But deep secrets are revealed in Nethersaw and Lenore finds herself fighting for her life against foes outside as well as in. Gothic and alluring, Dunn reworks the story of Carmilla into a new sumptuous read.

Jo Kozak finds herself looking to standout in art school in Mallory Pearson’s Voice Like A Hyacinth. Jo is in the final year of art school along with her friends Caroline, Finch, Amrita, and Saz. The group is devoted to each other and take on an us vs. everyone else stance. The problem? The end of the year is capped off with a group showing and the best student of the year is given a chance to have a solo show, gain notoriety, and an almost guaranteed career. Only one will get the spot and with doubt and anxiety mounting, the friends turn to otherworldly means to improve their chances. But all things cost, and when their lecherous teacher is sacrificed for their benefit, the girls must reckon with their choices and fight to keep their friendship from being torn apart. Pearson’s work is reminder that the road of ambition is paved with blood, sweat, and tears.

None of those sound interesting? There are so many more, like Awakened by A.E. Osworth about a malicious AI and the coven of witches trying to stop it. Or The Lamb by Lucy Rose, a novel about a mother whose appetite for meat goes a little too far. So many wonderful books and so little time! Enjoy these books and remember the library is for everyone.