WooReads Adult Patron Book Reviews: Take Care

Self care and self improvement are important parts of our lives. When life becomes hectic and busy, as it always does, we tend to forget to take care of ourselves. When we don't take the time to care for ourselves and grow as humans, other parts of our lives can suffer. Our WooReaders have reviewed some great titles to help you get back on track!

Have a good book you want to share? Join WooReads and share your reviews with us today.


Self-Care For College Students

By Julia Dellitt

This book would be helpful to anyone but especially to students considering going to college or who are in college because of all the important topics addressed which may be common sense but perhaps are topics too hard to talk about with someone and get feedback from them. The format is simple with five chapters of different self-care topics; they are: Mental Self-Care, Spiritual Care, Emotional Self-Care and Professional Self-Care. There are about twenty subtopics in each Self-Care chapter. The topics are what attracted me; the topics covered a range from Plan Your Weekly Meals to Surround Yourself with Positive People. Each subtopic is only one page which makes it an easier read. The book is 215 pages long.

~Wilhemina R.

Life In The Sloth Lane

By Lucy Cooke

A wonderful little book about a sloth. A perfect gift for your type A friends. Recommended by one of my meditation teachers and well worth the read.

~Frances N.

Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way To Deal With Change In Your Work And In Your Life

By Spencer Johnson

A quick read on the obvious - changes happens, expect it, prepare for it, and enjoy the journey to a new place that may potentially bring us more joy. However, I can't help but fear that there is a greater ominous message, one that shifts blame from the perpetrator to the victim: Are you experiencing lay-offs (i.e. downsizing/right-sizing) in your company? You should have seen this coming and have structured your life so as to prepare for it. But what is one to do when such a change is unforeseeable? How many expected the recent great recession that resulted in transforming the lending and resulted in the loss of millions of jobs? It appears that the unfortunate message sent is - when a terrible event happens to you, don't waste your time trying to find out the cause and hold the person responsible to account, but shake it, sniff and scurry on to your next opportunity, provided there is another opportunity. Read it cautiously.

~Sharmarke A.

The Marvelous Millennial's Manual To Modern Manners

By Jessica W. Marventano and Catherine Crane Wallace

Manners seem like a given behavior. However, many of us have three or more environments where we socialize. Home is of course the first, school maybe the second and work the third environment. Sometimes the acceptable rules in each of these places may not be the same; so that is where a book like this is very helpful. This book comes in three parts which are: Branding (Personal Deportment), Business Etiquette and Dining Skills. Each part has about eleven subtopics. The topics covered include how to place silverware on a plate when resting between bites of food to introducing one friend or coworker to another using proper business etiquette. This book has 139 pages.

~Wilhemina R.

The Eight Sacred Responsibilities

By Cathy Mines

This is a life changing book. It reminds us of the steps to take to remember who we are and the power we have to create our lives. I love it and will continue to use it as a reference book.

~Frances N.

2020 Fuel Economy Guide

Fuel Economy Guide 2020
www.fueleconomy.gov

Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publish the Fuel Economy Guide to help consumers make informed decision when purchasing a vehicle.  The Guide features fuel economy, annual fuel cost, and emission information for new model year cars, SUVs, and light trucks.  A printable, electronic version is available here.

The DOE and EPA have also developed the fuel economy website www.fueleconomy.gov.  It features updated field economy date for new and used passenger vehicles dating back to 1984, allows side-by-side vehicle comparisons, and offers fuel-saving tips.  The website contains vehicle-specific air pollution emissions information, safety ratings, and provides links to car-buying websites.

If you're interested in saving money, reducing our nation's dependence on imported oil, and promoting cleaner air in our communities, this is the resource for you!

Norman Rockwell & Stockbridge at Christmas

One section of the illustration Stockbridge at Christmas.

Every year around Christmastime the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, recreates itself as depicted in the famous Norman Rockwell illustration Stockbridge at Christmas. Rockwell lived in Stockbridge for some time and used town settings and townspeople in his work. For this recreation of its 1967 Stockbridge at Christmas scene, Stockbridge has classic cars line the streets and offers a wide range of entertainment including caroling and taking a selfie as part of Norman Rockwell's Triple Self-Portrait. This year the Main Street scene will be recreated on Sunday, December 8th. You can find more event information on the Stockbridge website.

Whether or not you have plans to visit Stockbridge this year, you might want to read about Norman Rockewell. Though he was a talented artist who was loved by the public, he also struggled the opinions of art critics. If you want to learn more about him, here are some books to start with.

Norman Rockwell: A Life 
By Laura P. Claridge
Norman Rockwell’s successful career as a painter and illustrator has made him an American icon. However, the popularity of his idealized, nostalgic depictions have caused him to be considered not a serious artist but a “mere illustrator”–a disparagement reinforced by the memorable covers he drew for The Sunday Evening Post. Based on private family archives and interviews, this book reveals the driven workaholic who had three complicated marriages and was a distant father. Critically acclaimed author Claridge also breaks new ground with her reappraisal of Rockwell’s art, arguing that despite his sentimental style, his artistry was masterful and complex.

Norman Rockwell's America 
By Christopher Finch
Full-color and black-and-white reproductions of paintings, illustrations, and designs from the popular American artist-illustrator's sixty-year career are combined with a succinct text to provide a survey of Rockwell's skills and achievements as artist and visual social commentator.

Christmas with Norman Rockwell 
By John Kirk
America's best-loved artist, Norman Rockwell, presented a cornucopia of images throughout his career. He was fond of linking his subject matter to holidays and seasons - to Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July, or New Year's Day - but above all to Christmas. If Rockwell can be remembered for any one body of work, it must be this. From December 9, 1916, when Rockwell's first Christmas cover for the Saturday Evening Post appeared, and continuing for three decades, the artist's annual Post Christmas cover was practically a national institution. As the clamor for Rockwell's Christmas paintings increased, he produced them for other magazines, and for cards, ads, illustrations, and calendars. This book features more than 50 full-color reproductions of Rockwell's most beloved Christmas season paintings, selected from every phase of his career and spanning a period of 60 years.

American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell
By Deborah Solomon
A biography of the painter who provided twentieth-century America with a defining image of itself. As the star illustrator of The Saturday Evening Post for nearly half a century, Rockwell mingled fact and fiction in paintings that reflected the we-the-people ideals of America. Freckled Boy Scouts and their mutts, sprightly grandmothers, a young man standing up to speak at a town hall meeting, a little black girl named Ruby Bridges walking into an all-white school―here was an America whose citizens seemed to believe in equality. But who was the man who served as our unofficial "artist in chief"? Behind the folksy facade lay a a lonely painter suffering from depression and consumed by a sense of inadequacy. He was in treatment with the psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, and moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts so that he and his wife could be near Austen Riggs, a leading psychiatric hospital. According to the author, "Rockwell's personal desire for inclusion and normalcy spoke to the national desire for inclusion and normalcy".

WooReads Adult Patron Book Reviews: Biography Mix Part II

Sure we posted patron reviews on biographies in November. But this is a new month, and you WooReaders do seem to enjoy reading biographies! This mix includes a wide range, including one about Harper Lee, one about a fortune being spent, two about children, and one about mental illness. Browse these reviews and see if there's a book you'd like to try for yourself.

Don't forget to keep logging your books and writing your reviews! The winter is a great time to curl up on the couch with some blankets and a few good books.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
By Casey Cep
Reverend Willie Maxwell was murdered. It tells the tale of his trial and people involved. Harper Lee sat in for the trial taking notes, but never did anything with them. Interesting read but a little drawn out. 

~Karen S.

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
By Bill Dedman
What an interesting book! One certainly gets to see how the other half lives. Money does not give you the answers to everything. She seemed to do the best she could. Recommendation if you believe that you are just short of money to create happiness in your life, read this and begin to realize how complicated it really is.

~Frances N.

Dani's Story: A Journey from Neglect to Love
By Diane Lierow and  Bernie Lierow
Account of a 7-year-old neglected girl and the parents who adopted her into their family not knowing whether she would ever advance past the infant stage of development. Realistic, honest look at the red tape that is involved with a foster care adoption, and why many people give up. Wonderful story that will leave you knowing that if you suspect a child is being mistreated - say something, multiple times if you have to in order to not let this happen again.

~Linda J.

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive
By Dave Pelzer
A Child Called It is a very sad book but also is a book I can’t put down😥

~Krista H.

First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety 
By Sarah Wilson 
Not really self-help and not really a memoir, too scattered and there's no sense that all her tips and supposed insights have helped the author much. Because, it's actually about being bipolar, although the author attributes all her symptoms (including OCD, self-harm, PTSD) to "anxiety." An interesting book to read if you want to learn what mental illness feels like for this articulate and likable author, with some nuggets of wisdom along the way. Can't recommend it for persons diagnosed with anxiety.

~Jeanne G.

Get ready for Game Night!

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month is Game Night at the main library!

Dates: December 10, January 14, February 11

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

Where: Fiction area at the main library

Drop in at one of our game tables where you can choose from 8 games: Checkers, Chess, Scrabble, UNO, Clue, Trouble, Scattergories, & Catchphrase

Instructions on how to play will be provided, but if you want to get a head start check out the links below for each game.

Trouble

Objective: Be the first player to move all 4 of your colored pegs around the game board & into your FINISH line. Try to send your opponents` pegs back to HOME.

Players: 2-4

Instructions: https://tinyurl.com/Trouble-Hasbro

Clue

Objective: Answer 3 questions about the murder of your host Mr. John Boddy of Tudor Mansion: Who did it? Where? With what weapon?

Players: 3-6

Instructions: https://tinyurl.com/Hasbro-Clue

Scattergories

Objective: Quickly fill out a category list with answers that begin with the same letter. Score points if no other player matches your answers.

Players: 2-6

Instructions: https://tinyurl.com/GameNight-Scattergories

Scrabble

Objective: Create words with lettered tiles. After the initial word is played, players take turns adding words to existing letters. Each tile is worth a certain amount of points. Player with the most points wins.

Players: 2-4

Instructions: https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/rules

Checkers

Objective: To capture all of the opponent`s men or block them so they cannot be moved.

Players: 2

Instructions: https://tinyurl.com/GameNight-Checkers

Chess

Objective: One player is assigned white pieces and the other black. Each player has 16 pieces to start the game: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights and 8 pawns. The object of the game is to capture the other player's king.

Players: 2

Instructions: https://www.chess.com/learn-how-to-play-chess

UNO

Objective: Be the first player to get rid of all the cards in your hand each round.

Players: 2-10

Instructions: https://tinyurl.com/UNO-Mattel

Catchphrase

Objective: Be the first team to reach 7 points.

Players: 2 teams

Instructions: https://tinyurl.com/Catchphrase-Hasbro

Mister Rogers: It`s You I Like

For thirty-three years children were asked the question "won`t you be my neighbor?" The man asking this question was Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers` Neighborhood, which ran from 1968-2001. What set Mister Rogers` Neighborhood apart from other children`s programming was that it focused on the social and emotional needs of children. He discussed topics considered taboo for children such as death, tolerance, and divorce. He wasn`t overbearing or stern, which encouraged children to share their feelings.

In order to find an approach that properly addressed these difficult subjects, Rogers worked with Margaret McFarland, a child psychologist. McFarland believed that the first few years of a child`s life were crucial in shaping the adult they would become. She also believed that adults should use memories of their own childhood to interpret the behavior of children. When Rogers didn’t feel the script was accurately addressing the topic of the day, he would leave the set to consult with her and make changes to the script accordingly.

The last episode of Mister Rogers` Neighborhood aired on August 31, 2001. Eighteen years later his words are still being used as comfort, especially during times of tragedy. When he was a child and told his mother he was upset by what he saw in the news, she told him to "look for the helpers." Rogers became one of those helpers. When we look back at his work, we are reminded that there are always helpers we can look to and that we too can be helpers. 

Want to learn more about Mister Rogers` Neighborhood? Check out the available books, CDs, & DVDs from our catalog here 

Join us for a movie matinee at the main branch

Mister Rogers: It`s You I Like 

When: Friday, Dec. 20th @ 2:30
Where: 3rd floor computer lab
Running time: 58 minutes

Watch trailer here

In this PBS retrospective hosted by Oscar nominee Michael Keaton, enjoy memorable segments from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, including visits with Koko the Gorilla & the iconic trip to the Crayola crayon factory. Hear from stars including Whoopi Goldberg, John Lithgow, & Caroll Spinney as they share their favorite memories of Fred Rogers.

Additional movie matinees at the main branch

The Russian Five 

When: Friday, Jan. 17th @ 2:30 
Where: 3rd floor computer lab
Running time: 99 minutes

Watch trailer here

Sports and politics clash in this compelling historical documentary about five Russian hockey stars who defected to America to join the Detroit Red Wings in the late 1980s, leading to the team's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

Through a Lens Darkly

When: Friday, Feb. 21st @ 2:30 
Where: 3rd floor computer lab
Running time: 93 minutes

Watch trailer here

Inspired by the book Reflections in Black by photo historian Deborah Willis, this documentary features the hidden and unknown photos shot by African American photographers about the lives, experiences and perspectives of African American families that is absent from the traditional historical canon.

Chase's Calendar of Events

Chase's Calendar of Events, The Ultimate Go-to-Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months
Rowman & Littlefield
2020
ISBN:  9781641433167 
Call #:  TC REF 394.26 Chases 2020

Do you know what day it is?  Is it Monday or is it National Firewood Day, National Hummus Day or  Name Your PC Day?  When is National Etiquette Week?  

If you need to find out, come to the Worcester Public Library to search this one-of-a-kind resource and get to know all the holidays and special days you never knew existed.  Since 1957, Chase's Calendar of Events lists everything worth knowing and celebrating for each day of the year:  12,500 holidays, historical milestones, famous birthdays, international days of celebration, federal and state observances, religious observances, festivals and special days, weeks and months. 

This guide can help you plan a special event, activity, day of recognition, or just use for plain old trivia fun! It also contains astronomical data and is good for fast facts about the United States, Canada and Mexico.  Also included is a special "spotlight" section that highlights significant anniversaries and events for the current year.  Dubbed "The Oxford English Dictionary of Holidays" by NPR's Planet Money, this valuable resource is here for you.

WooReads Adult Patron Book Reviews: Take a Trip with a Book

Enjoy these reviews submitted by our WooReaders as part of our WooReads: Adult Reading Challenge (Beyond Summer). These reviewed titles will help you take a break from the holidays and journey to another place; from Florence, Italy to Ur, an archaeological site in ancient Mesopotamia, to Mexico. There is a little something for everyone.

Brunelleschi's Dome : How A Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture

By Ross King

This is a good introduction to Florence, Italy, as the Middle Ages transitioned into the Renaissance. It contains interesting facts and history about the city and its society. Find out how Filippo Bruneschelli, a goldsmith, untrained in architecture, designed and built the world's largest brick dome as well as the machinery necessary to construct it. Fast moving and easily readable.

~Mary R.

Labyrinth

By Kate Mosse

Wonderful book. Loved it from beginning to end.

~Miriam V.

The Light Between Oceans

By M. L. Stedman

A terrific story about motherhood and what that means. Great emotional plot and the writing is real. Recommended to all who enjoy a great story.

~Frances N. 

Death In A Desert Land

By Andrew Wilson

Dame Agatha Christie is asked to investigate the death of Gertrude Bell, famous adventurer and "Arabist" in Ur, but when she arrives at the archaeological dig, she finds an entirely different mystery. This was a well plotted and intriguing novel with an exotic setting. You won't want to put it down!

~Mary R.

On The Plain Of Snakes

By Paul Theroux

Another great travel book.

~Janis G.

The Spies Of Shilling Lane : A Novel

By Jennifer Ryan

Mrs Braithwaite is the big fish in her tiny village in England during WWII but nobody seems to appreciate her bossy ways: her husband leaves her for another woman, her daughter packs up and moves to London, and the other women of the village boot her from her role as head of the volunteer commission for the war effort. She decides to drag her daughter Betty home. But in London, in the middle of the Blitz, Betty is missing and no one seems to care. Mrs Braithwaite, angry and foiled at every turn in her village, discovers that here she has just the right temperament to find the truth about Betty's disappearance. Suspenseful, fun and full of twists and turns; Mrs Braithwaite is an unstoppable force.

~Mary R.

Massachusetts Health Connector Open Enrollment

Individuals and families have from now through January 23, 2020 to apply and enroll in health and dental coverage through the Massachusetts Health Connector. See if you qualify for free or lower cost coverage like MassHealth, ConnectorCare plans, or a tax credit.

Need help navigating the system? Find a trained and certified Enrollment Assister who can help you navigate the application process.

Check out their Help Center for further assistance.

Want to learn more about our healthcare system? Check out our Healthcare Booklist for a list of recent titles on healthcare in the United States at Worcester Public Library.

What I Didn’t Know About Doctor Zhivago

I first saw the movie Doctor Zhivago, starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, back when I was in high school. And, sure, I’ll admit it: I cried my eyes out at the end. It’s a sad and sweeping story, set in Russia during WW I and the Russian Civil War. The title character, Yuri Zhivago, is drafted during WW I and becomes a battlefield doctor. He enlists the help of Lara as a nurse. Though the two fall in love, they are both married to another and stay true to that marriage. After the war they each return to their separate homes and spouses. They encounter each other again over the course of the film, and the ending is very sad, but you’ll have to watch it yourself to find out what happens.

An image from the film Doctor Zhivago.

Author Boris Pasternak.

Later, I learned that the movie was based on a book by the author Boris Pasternak. Born in 1890 in Russia, Pasternak wrote many novels and poetry collections before his death in 1960. Perhaps best known for his book Doctor Zhivago, which was published in 1957, he also won the Nobel Prize in 1958. But you know what I didn’t know (hence the title of this blog post)? That Doctor Zhivago was published in Italy in 1957, because Russia viewed the novel as anti-Soviet and a rejection of socialist realism. Though Pasternak was worried about the consequences, he allowed the manuscript of Doctor Zhivago to be smuggled out of Russia and into Italy for publication.

The other thing I didn’t know (I learned a lot this week) is that the CIA helped to distribute Doctor Zhivago and drive its popularity. We even have a book about it, which you can find listed below. All of this is fascinating to me because today, November 21st, is the anniversary of the announcement of Doctor Zhivago being published. I also realized that a recent Reese’s Book Club book and bestseller, The Secrets We Kept, is a fictional account of Doctor Zhivago being smuggled out of Russia. Sixty-two years after its publication, Doctor Zhivago is still a powerful work that inspires the imagination. If you haven’t read it or watched the film, you really should.


Nonfiction on Doctor Zhivago

The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book 
By Peter Finn and Petra Couvee 
In May of 1956, an Italian publishing scout took a train to the Russian countryside to visit the country's most beloved poet, Boris Pasternak. He left concealing the original manuscript of Pasternak's much anticipated first novel, entrusted to him with these words from the author: "This is Doctor Zhivago. May it make its way around the world..."

Lara: The Untold Love Story that Inspired Doctor Zhivago 
By Anna Pasternak 
Drawing on previously neglected family sources and original interviews, Boris's great-niece, Anna Pasternak, explores the hidden act of moral compromise by her great-uncle, and restores to history the passionate affair that inspired and animated Doctor Zhivago.

WooReads Adult Patron Book Reviews: Mysteries Six

Hello, WooReaders! We've gotten a lot of great patron reviews on mysteries this week, so here's a selection of six mystery reviews that we thought you might enjoy. From cozy mysteries, to bestsellers, and even some that border on thriller, there's something here for every aspiring sleuth.

Don't forget that this WooReads Adult Reading Challenge continues into May 2020, culminating in a Kindle Paperwhite Grand Prize. If you log at least 20 books you're eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing. If you still haven't registered for the program yet, you can do so here.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

The Fallen 
By David Baldacci 
This book was exciting and had lots of different story lines going on at the same time. However it was a little stereotypical with its idea of what a cop is and the description of the FBI agents. It was a little fake in that regard but if you can get past those then it was an enjoyable book that was a very quick read. It only took me 5 days to finish it which is a miracle!

~Jessica B.

Fatally Flaky 
By Diane Mott Davidson
I don't know how she writes book after book and how often a murder happens while she is catering an event and they are all good. This was the 13th book in her series and I think the next one is the last. I have gotten some real good recipes and a lot of enjoyment reading them.

~Pam M.

Twelve Angry Librarians: A Cat in the Stacks Mystery 
By Miranda James
I enjoy this series about a rare books librarian who is curious and, against his better judgement, tries to find answers and his Maine Coon cat.

~Jeanne C.

Murder at Rough Point 
By Alyssa Maxwell 
The fourth book in Maxwell's Gilded Newport Mystery series is as engulfing as its predecessors! Just when you think you have solved the puzzle, she throws you twist that you never saw coming. The author's use of precise details about Newport's mansions, lavish lifestyles and famous families makes the stories seem so real. I can't wait to start reading the next one!

~Missy C.

Murder in the Old Vicarage 
By Jill McGown 
An English locked house mystery set in an old vicarage complete with an old lady who knows all the answers. Try to figure out who murdered an abusive husband at Christmas in the middle of a blizzard along with police detectives Lloyd and Judy.

~Mary R.

Silken Prey 
By John Sandford 
Good read as usual. A little sad, what some people do to gain a political office. Hopefully not many. A child porn plot, and murders, a little long for him, but a good read.

~ Karen S.

Small Business Sourcebook

Small Business Sourcebook, 35^th Edition 

ISBN:9781410364708
Gale/Cengage Learning
REF 658.9 Small 2019

The Small Business Sourcebook covers a wide spectrum of business topics and resources that can help a business in the start-up phase or when a current business is problem solving and needs to find the right solutions to resolve a complex business dilemma. Over 300 small business profiles and 99 general small business topics are contained in this six volume set. Wondering where to go for technical business support, statistics, a Chamber of Commerce, a trade associations or trade journal, or marketing support? This type of information can easily be found in this single source and can save a user from a time consuming internet search. The Small Business Sourcebook is located on the 2nd floor of the Main Library in the reference collection.

Jane's Fighting Ships

Jane’s Fighting Ships 
Publisher: Jane's by IHS Markit
ISBN: 9780710633194
Call #: REF 623.825 JANES 2019-2020

Jane’s Fighting Ships is an annually published reference book about all the world’s warships arranged by nation. It includes information on ship’s names, dimensions, armaments, silhouettes, country inventories, overviews, and photographs. It was originally published by John Frederick Thomas Jane in London in 1898 as Jane’s All the World’s Fighting Ships, in order to assist naval officers and the general public in playing naval war games.

The first issue was illustrated with Jane’s own ink sketches photos (see right).

Find the current 2019-2020 issue in the 2^nd floor reference section, with more early editions available in our Closed Stacks. Learn more about this book here.

Nordic Vacation

(Bergen, Norway)

With Frozen II hitting theaters this week, you might be thinking of taking a trip to the land that inspired it all. Take a look at some of our travel memoirs and guidebooks to learn more about Norway and other Nordic countries, as well as the best sites to visit when you`re in the land of Anna and Elsa.

MEMOIRS

The Palace of the Snow Queen: Winter Travels in Lapland, by Barbara Sjoholm
Sjoholm tells of her adventures through Norway, Sweden and Finland, and considers how the power of ice and snow shapes our lives.

Sixty Degrees North: Around the World in Search of Home, by Mallachy Tallack
Tallack explores the landscapes of the sixtieth parallel and the ways that people have interacted with those landscapes, highlighting themes of wildness & community, isolation & engagement, exile & memory.

The Fellowship of Ghosts: A Journey through the Mountains of Norway, by Paul Watkins
Acclaimed writer Paul Watkins describes his spellbinding solo trek through the wilds of Norway's Rondane and Jutunheimen mountains, where he encounters valleys bordered by thousand-foot cliffs, roaring waterfalls wreathed in rainbows, blinding glaciers, and shimmering blue snowfields.

Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North, by Blair Braverman
A memoir of Braverman`s efforts to develop the strength and resilience to survive in the demanding landscapes of Norway and Alaska, and the violence she encounters along the way from both humans and the land itself.

TRAVEL GUIDES

DK Eyewtiness: Norway
A staple in the WPL travel collection, DK Eyewitness travel guides have suggestions on where to stay, what to eat, and sites you can visit if you`re on a budget or traveling with children. Their recommendations for Norway include the Lofotr Viking Festival, the Norway Resistance Museum, & Rondane National Park.

Lonely Planet: Scandinavia
If you`re interested in exploring other Scandinavian countries, this Lonely Planet guide is the one for you. Besides recommendations on where to eat and stay, Lonely Planet also provides information on time zones, public holidays, available Wi-fi, and websites for LGBTQ travelers.

111 Places in Iceland that You Shouldn't Miss, by Kai Oidtmann
This book is perfect for the traveler who prefers sites that are off the beaten path, along with some history about the sites. Suggestions include The Silfra Fissure and the Imagine Peace Tower.

Lonely Planet Cruise Ports: Scandinavia & Northern Europe
For those of you who prefer ocean travel, try this guide to the cruise ports of Scandinavia & Northern Europe. You`ll get recommendations on the best places to go when you only have one day in port and want to make the most of your time on land. 

Don`t forget to log your books & reviews for WooReads: Adult Reading Challenge (Beyond Summer) to win prizes!