Kelsey's September Staff Pick

National Geographic

April 2012 Issue

Over the past 100 years there have been expeditions to the wreckage site of the "unsinkable" RMS Titanic, photographs taken, an ROV sent intot he wreckage to see a glimpse of parts of the inside of the ship, artifacts put into museums for people to view, and most likely a lot more. There are now even photographs that have been taken of "the first complete views of the legendary wreck". Could you imagine what has been found, or seen, at the wreck sight of the famous RMS Tictanic?

Here is a little piece to the article:

"In another stateroom, a glass decanter and water glass sit, impossibly, still on the washstand. Had the glass been empty, it would have floated out of its holder when the room flooded, and been lost. But someone took a drink and left it half full, and there it sits today." 

in one part of the article it shows a picture of "James Cameron gathers Titanic experts in California film studio to brainstorm how the ship sank and broke apart". What do you think they came up with? 

This issue of National Geographic is great for anyone interested in the Titanic. It includes pictures, "Death of the Titanic", where it takes you through the step to step process from when the iceberg is sighted, the ship breaking in two, and then the separation of the ship hitting the bottom of the ocean. It also includes "The Crash Scene", where it shows the "main wreck area" of the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean floor. 

Kirsten's September Staff Pick

In the Shadow of the Buddha

Written by Matteo Pistono

BQ 978.188 A3 2011

This book is well written and brings the reader to a world stage that is hardly addressed because lack of knowledge about the subject of Buddhism. The author went on a pilgrimage to Tibet, and found atrocities committed by the Chinese government that included secret documents, interviews of torture victims, and many others. The author himself smuggled out photos of prisons and tried to make influential people see what was going on behind the facade of sanctuary China seemed to put off at the time. Brought to a language that Westerners can understand, Pistono cleverly induces our thoughts, and forces us to form our own opinions on matters that we may not know a lot about, while all creatively wrapping the issues up in an almost personal story that is filled with tension, suspense, and a narrator who seems to draw us in with the deliberate placement of every word penned in the book. 

My favorite part is when Pistono quotes a poem from Khenpo-

"Whatever arises, in pure awareness, unaltered and unconfined, Look into the mind that is settled by itself, resting naturally. If you recognize the minds natural clarity, utterly free and unbound, You will instantly traverse all stages of the path, seizing the stronghold of enlightenment"

Jan's September Staff Pick

C.J. Box

PS 3552 .O87658 .W56 2003

This author is a Wyoming native, and you can tell he knows our Wyoming terrain, weather, and attitudes!  His hero is a Wyoming game warden who lives by the western values we grew up with.  Our struggle with Federal control when it conflicts with these values is fully addressed in this story.  It is a confusing mystery, full of the action that keeps you turning the next page as fast as your eyes can read. 

Pat's September Staff Pick

My Stroke of Insight
By Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D

RC 388.5 .T387 2009

Book Description from Amazon:

Publication Date: May 26, 2009

The astonishing New York Times bestseller that chronicles how a brain scientist's own stroke led to enlightenment

On December 10, 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. As she observed her mind deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life-all within four hours-Taylor alternated between the euphoria of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace, and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized she was having a stroke and enabled her to seek help before she was completely lost. It would take her eight years to fully recover. 

For Taylor, her stroke was a blessing and a revelation. It taught her that by "stepping to the right" of our left brains, we can uncover feelings of well-being that are often sidelined by "brain chatter." Reaching wide audiences through her talk at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference and her appearance on Oprah's online Soul Series, Taylor provides a valuable recovery guide for those touched by brain injury and an inspiring testimony that inner peace is accessible to anyone. 

This book was passed on to me by a friend in Lander and I passed it to a friend visiting from Wisconsin.  The CWC library has 2 copies.  It is a must read if you or someone close to you is dealing with a brain injury or dementia.  It also gives some ideas for calming your brain if you can't sleep at night due to all the lists your left brain is sending through.  Pat Morgan

Zyanya's September Staff Pick

The Host

Written by Stephanie Meyer

PS 3613 .E979 H67 2008

"The novel introduces an alien race, called souls, who take over Earth and its inhabitants. The book describes one soul's predicament when the mind of the host body refuses to cooperate with her takeover."

- http://www.prlog.org 

This is fun, fast read (even though the book looks huge). It is a book that you will find yourself staying up all night reading, just to find out what happens next.  

Candy's September Staff Pick

Singin' In the Rain

DVD PN 1997 .S564 2000

What can I say? It is one of the happiest movies ever made, I think. My favorite part is where Donald O'Connor "dances" with a sofa. Wonderful! Watch this movie and be happy.