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June and July Book Clubs

A few months ago, I shared some recent book club picks. As you gear up for your summer activities, why not try something new or enjoy a book in a new way? Check out one of our book clubs to just listen, socialize, or share your thoughts about a book. The library tries to make multiple copies available for check out, so you don’t have to try to purchase or find your own copy. Here are our upcoming selections for June and July for our three book clubs sponsored by the library. Our Lit Wits Book Club usually meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Their June selection, ...

Weller Pottery features international flair

Weller Pottery, operating in Zanesville, Ohio, from 1872 to 1948, was, at one point, the world’s largest pottery. Some of its most famous artists came from around the world. French designer Jacques Sicard created the iridescent glazed Sicardo line, which even today includes some of Weller’s most desirable pieces. Frederick Hurten Rhead, born to a family of ceramicists in England, worked for Weller and several other American art potteries before designing Fiesta dinnerware for the Homer Laughlin China Co. John Lessell, who was from the pottery-making city of Mettlach, Germany, served ...

New Literary Fiction

The difference between literary fiction and genre fiction can be highly debatable. For my purposes here–sharing great new books–I’ll offer loose definitions. Literary fiction is character-driven and tells a story using complex characters and themes. Genre fiction is plot-driven and tells the story using tropes, plot structures and genre conventions. Literary fiction is about why and how things happen while genre fiction focuses on what happens. After reading a literary fiction story, readers are often left with more questions than answers. After reading genre fiction, readers have ...

Graphoscope is art, science, and entertainment

English inventor Charles John Roswell patented the first graphoscope in 1864. The graphoscope, a device to enhance viewings of photographs and other still images, consists of a round magnifying glass attached to an adjustable stand. Later models, like the one pictured here, included a stereoscope to view stereocards that create a 3-D illusion. Collectors call these models stereo-graphoscopes. This one, which sold for $366 at Austin Auction Gallery, was made by the London firm Negretti and Zambra. Established in 1850, the company started as a partnership between Joseph Zambra, a ...

The open road is calling!

School days are soon coming to an end and summer vacation plans have begun. Are you thinking about an epic road trip this summer? I have some road trip books for you to check out. Experience the beauty of Minnesota by taking a drive with “Scenic Driving Minnesota: Including Lake Superior’s North Shore, Itasca State Park, and Minneapolis Lakes” by Phil Davies (917.7604 Davies). It includes beautiful photos and full-color maps. As long as you are touring Minnesota, you might as well take “Waterfalls of Minnesota” by Lisa Crayford (917.76 Crayfor) along with you. It is arranged ...

‘Say it with flowers’ for Mother’s Day

“Say It With Flowers!” No wonder it’s one of the most successful advertising slogans ever. It works for nearly any occasion and is especially appropriate for Mother’s Day. In fact, the slogan was created for the Society of American Florist’s 1918 Mother’s Day campaign, but flowers were already an important part of the holiday. Anna Jarvis held what is considered the first Mother’s Day observance in 1908. It was on the second Sunday in May, the day her mother, teacher and activist Ann Reeves Jarvis had died in 1905. Ann Reeves Jarvis promoted public health throughout her ...