How a Stuffed Bear Can Give You Tranquility

January 18, 2016December 16, 2015 / Mary / Leave a comment

Stuffed bears and other beloved toys certainly gave us tranquility when we were children, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about philosophy. I’m talking about Taoism. I’m talking, of course, about Winnie-the-Pooh.

Now what, I can hear you asking, does Winnie-the-Pooh have to do with tranquility, philosophy, and Taoism? The answers are revealed in Benjamin Hoff‘s The Tao of Pooh, a book of 158 pages that deftly explains the principles of Taoism and applies them to modern life using the seemingly-odd, but, ultimately, not-so-odd example of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Using excerpts from the Pooh books by A.A. Milne, Hoff makes Taoism approachable and easy to understand. It’s not just a deep Eastern philosophy for hermits and mystics! The tenets of Taoism can be incorporated into everyday life as Hoff illustrates via Pooh, a bear who exists very much in the now.

Using Pooh as his Taoist master, Hoff explores “the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain” along with “the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work”. He uses the examples of Rabbit (Knowledge for the Sake of Being Clever), Owl (Knowledge for the Sake of Appearing Wise), and Eeyore (Knowledge for the Sake of Complaining About Something) to illustrate non-Taoist aspects of life, things that get in the way of happiness.

“When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret…: Life is Fun.”

And what are the lessons of Taoism?

Things Are As They Are.
Everything has its own Inner Nature.
Enjoy the Process.
Things just happen in the right way, at the right time. At least they do when you let them.

And so much more. This is a perfect read when you need some tranquility, perfect for those desiring some calmness, slowness, some quiet. And the book is fun. It reads easily, quickly, with humor, wit, and quotes from Milne’s beloved stories. It can’t miss and it doesn’t miss.

By the way, Pooh Day is January 18th (also the birthday of A.A. Milne). What better way to celebrate than by reading the Tao of Pooh and it’s companion book, The Te Of Piglet.

Books Coming to the Big Screen in the 2016

January 11, 2016December 11, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / 2 Comments

Books adaptations have been big hits in the movie theaters over the last few years, so is it any wonder that the number of books heading to the big screen seem to be on the rise? There are a number of great books making their way to the big screen again this year, some of which I am very excited to see. Here are some of the books-to-movies I am most excited about for 2016. I have included the current scheduled release date for each film, which is subject to change.

You might want to put the books on hold now if you want to beat the rush to read them (or watch previous versions of favorites) before watching the new releases in the theater! I have linked each title to the available versions that our library currently owns.

Children
Alice Through the Looking Glass (May 27, 2016)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (November 18, 2016)
The Jungle Book (April 15, 2016)
The BFG (July 1, 2016)
The Little Prince (March 18, 2016)
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (October 7, 2016)
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson (February 16, 2016)

Young Adult
Allegiant (March 18, 2016)
The 5th Wave (January 15, 2016)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (December 25, 2016)
Delirium (September 30, 2016)
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (October 14, 2016)
Let It Snow by John Green (December 9, 2016)

Adult
The Finest Hours (January 29, 2016)
The Girl on the Train (October 7, 2016)
The Shack (August 12, 2016)
Tarzan (July 1, 2016)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (February 5, 2016)
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (October 21, 2016)
The Lost City of Z by David Grann (No Date Given 2016)

January is National Soup Month

January 7, 2016January 28, 2016 / Linda / Leave a comment

national soup

How fitting that January – the coldest month of year – is National Soup Month! Great time of year to experiment and enjoy some home-made soup!

Love Soup – 160 all new vegetarian recipes features black bean and squash soup in the fall, smoky eggplant soup in midsummer, rib-sticking chowder, or seductively perfumed wild mushroom soup for Christmas. Love Soup also provides recipes for breads, hummus, pesto, salads, and homey desserts–and simple menus that put soup at the heart of the meal.

Soup offers more than 40 easy-to-follow recipes, including both classic favorites and fresh new ideas. In these pages, you’ll find inspiring soups designed to fit any occasion at any time of year—from a quick and simple meal to an enjoyable lunch in the garden.

Saved by Soup: more than 100 low-fat soup recipes to eat and enjoy everyday. Author Judith Barrett lost pounds and inches using these mouthwatering recipes, each of which contains less than three grams of fat per serving. And cutting the fat posed no bar to creating soups with incredible flavor and only one gram of fat.

Soup of the Day. This tantalizing collection of 365 recipes offers a soup for each day of the year. From January to December, you’ll find daily inspiration and a seasonal soup that will satisfy any craving or fit any occasion.

The New England Soup Factory Cookbook contains more than 100 mouth-watering recipes. It also includes anecdotes and inspiring stories that provide insight into Marjorie Drucker’s creative process and her passion for all things soup related.

Soup Makes the Meal is divided into 50 menus, each including a soup, a salad, and a bread recipe. Best of all, the soups don’t require homemade stock, many (but not all) of the breads are quick breads, and the salads range from light to hearty.

Sunday Soup: a year’s worth of mouthwatering easy-to-make recipes features 60 recipes, one for each Sunday of the year and then some. With recipes like Gulf Coast Shrimp Gumbo, Dreamy Creamy Artichoke Soup, and Icy Cucumber Soup with Smoked Salmon and Dill you can enjoy soup in every season.

The Soup Club Cookbook: feed your friends, feed your family, feed yourself. Four busy moms and neighbors who started making and sharing soup dinners once a month provide recipes for filling soups and sides, as well as storage tips and instructions for starting a neighborhood soup club.

Soup & Stew includes more than 40 easy-to-follow recipes, including both classic preparations and innovative ideas for the busy cook. In these pages, you’ll find tempting options for every occasion, from first-course soups and light puréees to meaty braises and comforting stews.

Food Made Fast. Soup is about delicious food, simply prepared, with easy-to-follow recipes and tips. Each book emphasizes keeping a well-stocked pantry, planning ahead, and using fresh ingredients as the keys to cooking delicious meals with a minimum of time and effort.

For all things soup – click here.

New Years Challenge: Tackle the To Be Read Pile

January 1, 2016December 26, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

If you are like me, you have piles and/or lists of books you want to read and just have not gotten to yet. I have a full Kindle and lists of books that I have every intention of reading, that is until a different book (or binge watching Netflix) grabs my attention. It is not helped by the fact that I review books for my own book blog and often get books before they are released, though in all honesty by the time some get read and reviewed they are well past the publication date, or by the fact that I work in a library with a wide variety of books crossing my path every day.

I have tried using Goodreads, a written list, and a spreadsheet to stop this but thus far I still have my head turned when a book I had forgotten about or did not know existed crosses my path. So, this year my New Years resolution is to read one book that has been neglected for every two other books that I read.

Would you like to join me in reading some of the books that I had fully intended to read in 2015 and never quite got to? Some were published last year, some are older books. It is a wide variety of children’s, teen, and adult books so there should be something for everyone. Here is a small sampling of the books that are in my pile.

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman
Twig is practically ignored by classmates and townspeople, but gets along with her mother and brother, whose presence must be kept secret, until descendants of the witch who cursed her family move in next door and want to be friends.

Saint Odd : an Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz
A conclusion to the best-selling series finds psychic fry cook Odd Thomas returning to his home town while preparing to confront an evil force that tests his friendships, reveals his purpose and reunites him with a lost love.

Winger by Andrew Smith
Younger than his classmates at a boarding school, Ryan Dean West grapples with living in the dorm for troublemakers, falling for his friend who thinks of him as just a kid, and playing wing on the Varsity rugby team.

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened: (a Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson
In an illustrated memoir, the creator of the Bloggess blog shares humorous stories from her life, including her awkward upbringing in Texas and her relationship with her husband.

Yes, yes, of course there are more. I have heard about and seen some many fantastic books but have not had time to read all, or even most of them. Here are some more titles that I will read, some day: Bossypants by Tina Fey, Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Rock On: a Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls, and a Brother (Not Necessarily in that Order) by Denise Vega, Scorch by Gina Damico, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and I am Malala: the Girl Who Stood up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai.

What is on your list that you are eager to read, but just have not gotten to yet?

Seriously Simple Holiday Dinners

December 16, 2015November 23, 2015 / Mary / Leave a comment

I don’t know about anyone else, but I normally have no time to cook dinner during a regular work week never mind a holiday week. The thought of preparing an elaborate holiday meal, in addition to all the shopping, gift wrapping, entertaining, cleaning –(Oh, my God, every obscure relative will be descending on me to critique my housekeeping!)–makes my brain shrivel and my knees buckle.

Fortunately, others have traveled this path before me and left a road map for breezing through the holidays:

Seriously Simple Holidays : Recipes and Ideas to Celebrate the Season by Diane Rossen Worthington.
Gift ideas, wine and cheese pairings, menus, Diane Worthington has it all covered from Rosh Hashanah to Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

The Ultimate Appetizers Book : More than 450 No-fuss Nibbles and Drinks, Plus Simple Party Planning Tips by Better Homes and Gardens. From super quick dips and snack mixes to elegant pastries and bite-size sweets, these no-fuss recipes will please any crowd.

Cocktails for the Holidays : Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season by the Editors of Imbibe Magazine. Mix holiday drinks like a pro with the help of this book. It includes favorite seasonal recipes from bartenders around the world for every festive occasion.

Fix-it and Forget-it Christmas Cookbook : 600 Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes by Phyllis Pellman Good. If cooking holiday dinners wears you out, this book is the answer. Let your slow cooker do all the work. Prep it, forget it, and go join the party instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

Easy Entertaining : Over 250 Stress-free Recipes and Sensational Styling Ideas by Darina Allen. Short-cuts, tips, hints and general good advice for making your holiday easier. “Keep it Simple” is the motto of this book that will help you pull off a holiday party simply but in style.

Desserts 1-2-3 : Deliciously Simple Three-ingredient Recipes by Rozanne Gold. Three ingredients that yield fabulous desserts? Yes, indeed! The results are delicious and look like they took a lot more labor than they did. It’s a holiday miracle.