Whether you’re an avid reader or struggle to find the time to complete just one book, we welcome you to attend Shelf Conscious! Join us the fourth Tuesday of every month at our Maxville Branch Library book club where we explore various fiction and nonfiction titles and chat about our selection of the month. We’d love to see you!
January 23, 2024: Sentient: How Animals Illuminate the Wonder of our Human Senses by Jackie Higgins
Perfect for fans of The Soul of an Octopus and The Genius of Birds, this "masterpiece of science and nature writing" (The Washington Post) explores how we process the world around us through the lens of the incredible sensory capabilities of thirteen animals, revealing that we are not limited to merely five senses.
There is a scientific revolution stirring in the field of human perception. Research has shown that the extraordinary sensory powers of our animal friends can help us better understand the same powers that lie dormant within us. From the harlequin mantis shrimp with its ability to see a vast range of colors, to the bloodhound and its hundreds of millions of scent receptors; from the orb-weaving spider whose eyes recognize not only space but time, to the cheetah whose ears are responsible for its perfect agility, these astonishing animals hold the key to better understanding how we make sense of the world around us.
"An appealingly written, enlightening, and sometimes eerie journey into the extraordinary possibilities for the human senses" (Kirkus Reviews, starred), Sentient will change the way you look at humanity.
February 27, 2024: Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim
Lush and visual, chock-full of delicious recipes, Roselle Lim's magical debut novel is about food, heritage, and finding family in the most unexpected places.
At the news of her mother's death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn't spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to discover the vibrant neighborhood of San Francisco's Chinatown that she remembers from her childhood is fading, with businesses failing and families moving out. She's even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother's restaurant.
The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant's fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother's cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. Unfortunately, Natalie has no desire to help them try to turn things around--she resents the local shopkeepers for leaving her alone to take care of her agoraphobic mother when she was growing up. But with the support of a surprising new friend and a budding romance, Natalie starts to realize that maybe her neighbors really have been there for her all along.
March 26, 2024: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale--from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.
Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together.
John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is an open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.
Registration is required for this event, and must be completed two hours prior to the start time. A library card and PIN is required for registration. If you do not have a card, click HERE to obtain one.
Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please ask for Learning Services at 255-2665 or email JPLprograms@coj.net.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Authors, Books, and Writing |
TAGS: | readjax | book club | adult programs |
