Yacht Me On the Water

/ Susan O. / Leave a comment

Yacht Rock? What the daylights is Yacht Rock?

Chances are you’ve heard it, and maybe even liked it. Yacht Rock is a music subgroup (yes, another) that focuses on the soft rock/jazz fusion/easy listening sound that was found on FM stations from around 1975 to 1984. It’s the kind of music you might expect to hear on a yacht as you cruise around the southern California coast, music that often evokes themes of sailing, or escape to somewhere else – songs like Rupert Holmes’s Escape (The Pina Colada Song) or Christopher Cross’s Sailing.

Yacht Rock, of course, can trace its roots back to The Beach Boys and surf rock, but more directly is the result of J.D. Ryznar’s comedy web series Yacht Rock, which ran in L.A. back in 2005. The show imagined the lives of the real yacht rock stars as a group of friends hanging out and writing music as they lounged around Marina del Rey, and it brought back all the music. Yacht rock emphasizes the Southern California sound, and almost all of the musicians were working from California (the exception being Hall and Oates, who stayed in Philadelphia).

Like anything subject to opinion, there’s always an argument to be made if something belongs in a category or not (and there’s “Classic” yacht rock and “Newer” yacht rock, which expands the genre). Myself, I don’t see Foreigner (too heavy) or Billy Joel (too pop) as part of that scene, but they are included under “newer.” Certainly, many artists have at least one song that could be included. Generally speaking, yacht rock is defined by:

  • Strong production and direction
  • Electronic piano
  • Breezy, light lyrics
  • Light emotions – she left you, but that’s okay
  • Emphasis on melody over beat
  • Catchy tunes
  • Too often full of syrupy sincerity
  • Upbeat rhythm (sometimes termed “The Doobie Bounce”)

Often the song is about a heartbroken man, and the words fool or foolish are thrown around (The Doobie’s What a Fool Believes, Steve Perry’s Foolish Hearts, Elvin Bishop’s Fooled Around and Fell in Love). Many of the songs are about sailing (Chris Cross’s Sailing, Crosby Stills and Nash’s Southern Cross) or the thrill of an escape (Little River Band’s Cool Change, Robbie Dupree’s Steal Away, Toto’s Africa).

You can say various resurgences in music are caused by films (Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody hit the charts four times, twice from the films Wayne’s World and the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody) or television (Kate Bush), or sometimes social media drives a song (Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up), or Baby Boomer (and now Gen X) nostalgia, but the swelling of yacht rock popularity since 2015 (both IHeart Radio and Sirius XM have Yacht Rock stations, and Amazon Alexa will also tune in) is often attributed to a desire to escape from the negativity and stresses of the last several years. Yacht rock is calm and upbeat, evoking a sunny carefree day of lounging on a yacht gently swaying on the water, a fresh breeze ruffling your hair, not a care to be had. Your girl left you? Your job went sour? Your town on quarantine? Don’t let it get you down. Come on, we can steal away and find something better.

Yacht Rock is the highlighted music feature for July. Check out songs by these and other soft rock/jazz musicians:

One Book, Two Readers – Teens Review “They Both Die at the End”

/ cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Teens: did you know that you can earn community service credit for writing a book review and submitting it to us? Today, we’ll hear from two teens who did just that, and get their different takes on the same book. Find out more about how to earn community service hours from home at cheshirelibrary.org/teens/.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Reviewed by Jessica N.

They Both Die at the End, the title itself is intriguing and Adam Silvera does a fantastic job creating a book that lives up to its engaging title. He allows us as the readers to think and reflect about our own lives and what we would do if we found out that we would be dying in the next 24 hours.

The book starts off with the two main characters, Mateo and Rufus, getting Death-Cast calls that they will be dying that day. This news changes their lives for the little amount of time they have left. They have to figure out how they are going to spend their last day, also known as their “End Day”, and leave their final mark on Earth. The novel also brings up topics of friendship and relationship. The Death-Cast company provides an app for the people that are going to die and allow them to make a new friend, a Last Friend, for the day.

Through this app and each character in the novel, each person has a significant story and the book itself is told from multiple perspectives. So not only are us the readers tasked with reflecting on how they would spend their last day on Earth, if we knew it was our last day, but, we get to see how people of different ages, ethnicities, and popularities spend their last days. This book is an emotional one that is well worth the read, and even though the readers know what is going to happen at the end (the characters both die), the ending is still very gutting and astonishing. Also, the author, Adam Silvera is expanding the story and coming out with two new further novels. The next one (the second one) is projected to come out later this 2022 year and titled The First to Die at the End, so there is something more to look forward to after reading the beautiful story of They Both Die at the End!

4 stars.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Reviewed by Claire J.

Overall, this book covered many intriguing events and evoked a variety of emotions. The “ spoiler” being in the title of the book is what drew me to pick it up, still having hope throughout the book that they would both live despite the title. It is a darker book, with themes of violence such as guns, so I do not recommend it for younger readers. The positive portrayal of LGBTQ relationships is evident throughout the book, which was pleasant to read.

Silvera takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions as we follow the two main characters rated to die on their last adventures on Earth. Both boys were also trying to run from their own issues aside from death. From sick fathers to running from the police, they were already struggling with the real world struggles. Although the book showed rather interesting plot points, some felt a bit boring, hence why the rating is not as high as expected. The pacing of the book was also rather slow in my opinion, although this could have been due to the fact that I do not typically read books of this genre. Another criticism of the book is that some characters were underdeveloped. Although the two main characters were well rounded with great writing skills used to make them, some other characters I felt were not as developed. Even though they had smaller roles in the overall story of the book, I thought that they could have their characters elaborated on a bit more.

I still greatly enjoyed the book, however, it was a wonderful book to read in my down time! I recommend this book to middle-schoolers and older. For science fiction and fantasy readers looking out to try realistic fiction novels, this book is a great transition.

3 stars.

Board Games from the Library – who knew?

/ Louise / Leave a comment

You probably know you a lot of things that you can borrow from the library; things like books, magazines, dvds, music, and audiobooks come to mind right away. What if I told you you could check out a board game from Cheshire Library, would you be surprised? Well guess what, you can! We currently have core collection of 40 different board and card games available to borrow (games go out for 14 days), and will add more to the collection as they get more popular. Board games go out for 2 weeks, (and do require a certain amount of diligence on the part of the borrower to make sure all pieces and instructions get returned in good condition).

Most of our games are designed for middle-school age – adult, though some are appropriate for younger players. Here are a few examples of games at CPL:

Family Classics: Favorites like

Strategy & Quest Games: Games like

Funny/Party Games: Silly games like

 

Come give this new collection a try – summer’s the perfect time to get your game on!

 

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in July

/ cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Have you signed up for the Summer Adventure summer reading program yet? Everyone from babies through adults can participate – there’s still time to register! Each challenge completed this summer gets you an entry into our big prize raffles, what are you waiting for?

Audrey Mae Bluegrass Ensemble in concert at Mixville Park

Wednesday, July 6, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Audrey Mae Bluegrass Ensemble features the duet harmonies of bluegrass veterans Peter Winne and Joe Delillo accompanied by the tasteful stylings of banjo player Joe Lemeris and fiddler-mandolinist Sam McDougle. Admission to Mixville Park is free for concert attendees.  Just tell the staff at the entrance gate that you are there for the concert.  The concert will begin at 6:30, but you are welcome to come early and enjoy a picnic or a stroll at beautiful Mixville!  Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and some bug spray. There is no rain date for this concert.

Pet Professions

Thursday, July 7, 2022, 3:00 – 4:00pm

This program presented by the Connecticut Humane Society will teach middle school and high school students about the many careers related to animal welfare. Participants will get an overview of the different professions at animal welfare organizations. For teens in grades 5-12. Registration is required.

Farmer’s Bounty Cooking Workshop

Thursday, July 7, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00pm

What better way to enjoy summer’s harvest than cooking the food from your local farmers; learning about fresh produce, juices, breads and specialty items; and then creating and enjoying a meal based upon the ingredients of the season and that week. Dishes prepared will depend on what’s available locally. Discover the joys of the slow food movement– taking time to enjoy your local produce, and realizing the power of the kitchen to bring people together for kinship, culture, and culinary delight. Registration is required.

Loft Knitters

Wednesday, July 13, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Our monthly knitting group. Come socialize, learn, share your techniques with other knitters.  All levels of adult knitters’ welcome, please bring your own yarn and knitting needles. Registration is required.

BOOM (Band of Old Men!) in concert at Mixville Park

Wednesday, July 13, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us for a fun concert for all ages!  BOOM is a locally-based rock band that plays classic hits from the 1960s and 1970s. The group is made up of George Meyers of Cheshire, Larry Rifkin of Prospect, Vern Coles of Norwalk and Haig Papasian of West Hartford. Admission to Mixville Park is free for concert attendees.  Just tell the staff at the entrance gate that you are there for the concert.  The concert will begin at 6:30, but you are welcome to come early and enjoy a picnic or a stroll at beautiful Mixville!  Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and some bug spray. Rain date: July 14.

Pirates: Lost at Sea

Tuesday, July 19, 2022, 5:00 – 5:45pm

Ahoy there, matey! Set sail with Talewise on a thrilling action-packed adventure about a crew of quirky pirates marooned on a desert island. Throughout the story, we’ll explore the incredible science behind clouds, physical and chemical changes, air pressure, and more! This program is best for kids in grades K-6. Registration is required.

Drawing for Teens: Dragons 

Thursday, July 21, 2022, 3:00 – 4:30pm

So, you want to draw a dragon, but don’t know where to start? Artist, Robin McCahill from Artsplace, will share tips for creating fantastic dragons from your imagination! You’ll be designing your own creatures in no time! For teens in grades 5-12. Registration is required.

Christmas Markets of Europe

Thursday, July 21, 2022, 6:30 – 7:45pm

It’s Christmas in July!  Join us as we learn about the magic of European Christmas markets. This informative program will introduce you to the main Christmas markets in countries like Austria, Germany, Italy, and beyond.   Enjoy beautiful photography as well as New Year’s customs and traditions of each country.  Presented by Lisa (Cisero) Phillips of Bella Europa Travel. Registration is required.

Nowashe Village: A Day in the Life

Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 3:00 – 4:15pm

Travel back in time to the Woodland period of the central Connecticut River Valley, when the bow and arrow became popular hunting tools, clay pottery was invented, and Indigenous Peoples began to rely more on an agricultural way of life. Each participant will grind native corn with a stone mortar and pestle and learn how to properly cook corn cakes. Presented by Nowashe Village. For children and teens in grades K-6. Registration is required.

The Nields in concert at Mixville Park

Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Described by one reviewer as “equal parts Beatles, Cranberries and Joni Mitchell”, the Nields have released 17 albums, and performed with The Band, James Taylor, Dan Zanes, 10,000 Maniacs, and the Indigo Girls. dmission to Mixville Park is free for concert attendees.  Just tell the staff at the entrance gate that you are there for the concert.  The concert will begin at 6:30, but you are welcome to come early and enjoy a picnic or a stroll at beautiful Mixville!  Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and some bug spray. Rain date: July 27.

When Art Imitates Life

/ Susan O. / Leave a comment

Anne Perry is an accomplished mystery writer with more than forty novels to her name, including the Thomas Pitt series, the Daniel Pitt series, the William Monk series, and more. Many of her novels take place around World War I. 

She’s also a convicted murderer.

A friend from college – who is also a librarian – told me this while I was reading Death with a Double Edge, the fourth of her Daniel Pitt series. And thereby hangs a tale.

Perry (whose birth name was Juliet Hulme) was born in England but spent much of her childhood in the Bahamas, South Africa, and New Zealand. As a teen in New Zealand, she became fast friends with a girl named Pauline Parker. Their friendship was so tight it bordered on obsessive, with the girls creating rich fantasy worlds they pretended to live in, and throwing tantrums if they couldn’t be together.

When Perry was 15, her mother was caught in an affair, and her parents decided to divorce. Perry was going to be sent to South Africa to stay with relatives for a while. This sent the friends into a panic. They asked Pauline’s mother if Pauline could go with Anne/Juliet, and her mother said no. Pauline then, in the short-sighted way children have, decided to kill her mother, freeing Pauline to travel with Anne/Juliet. When Anne hesitated, Pauline threatened to kill herself if Anne didn’t help. Just three days later, while walking with Pauline’s mother, the girls beat her to death with a brick – a deed that took twenty savage blows.

Perry and Hulme were caught quickly. They were too young for the death penalty, and both wound up serving five years in prison. They didn’t speak to each other again. Perry eventually settled in the United Kingdom, where she lived a quiet, penitent life and took up writing mysteries that often had a theme of redemption. It wasn’t until 1994, when no one less than Peter Jackson made a movie about the crime (Heavenly Creatures), that a New Zealand journalist outed her as Juliet Hulme – three days before the release of the film. No one had spoken to her to get any actual facts about the crime, and the film remains highly fictionalized.

Is Perry the only author who has done hard time? Of course not. Mystery writer Dashiell Hammett did six months in jail for contempt of court. Nelson Algren, who wrote Man With the Golden Arm, spent five months in jail for stealing a typewriter. William S. Burroughs, author of The Naked Lunch, first spent time for forging a prescription, but later killed his common-law wife after a drunken argument while in Mexico. He escaped prosecution by fleeing back to the United States. Chester Himes was sent to jail for eight years at the age of 19 for armed robbery, where he began to write such novels as A Rage in Harlem and Cotton Comes to Harlem. In all cases, incarceration, even for a little while, made a huge impact on the writer and their view of the world.

Anne Perry’s latest book, Three Debts Paid, a fifth volume of the Daniel Pitt series, was released in April.