Author: Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, has written the most talked about book of the (still young) year. Lean In is equal parts manifesto, pep rally, and confessional. Though she discusses the significance of cultural and institutional sexism, she mostly encourages women to know their worth and passionately pursue their professional goals in spite of the barriers they face.
Sandberg’s tone is warm and welcoming, and she is exceedingly (sometimes distressingly, given all of her accomplishments) humble. She is also infuriating. She laments the fact that only four percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, while mentioning that she turned down numerous opportunities to hold the top perch in order to work for this guy. In addition, she is the protégé of Larry Summers, the former Harvard president who is perhaps best known for his infamous “innate differences” speech.
I imagine Sandberg will be in the public eye for a long time, and all signs point to her eventually running for office. It will be interesting to see if she shifts her considerable intelligence and charisma from being the world’s nicest plutocrat to something more cohesive and pragmatic.
Author: Jenny McCarthy
Reviewer: Becky
This book is an account of Jenny’s relationship with Catholicism. It is a quick read and of course some people will be offended, but consider the source. Some parts are humorous, especially reliving childhood memories and what was taught by priests and nuns during 12 years of Catholic education. I guess we all interpret things differently as adolescents. It is how you practice your faith that really matters. I was a bit taken back by her infatuation with Jesus, yet laughed hysterically at the measures she took for her safety due to her fear of Satan. Wearing a rosary for a necklace, who knew?
Author: Andrew Zuckerman
Andrew Zuckerman is a filmmaker and photographer who is famous for his simple, but elegant photographs set against a white background. There are six of his photography books available through SWAN, including Creature. Zuckerman has a website — Creaturebook.com — where you can see the photographs in the book. It’s a beautiful site and would be a great tool for kids interested in animals.
I came across this website while doing academic research. If you’re familiar with the publication Mental Floss, it’s very similar to that, in that the topic is explained in article format and in a fun and interesting way. The articles themselves range in topic from general to very specific- from foot binding to how to pick locks (not that I’m encouraging illegal activity but it’s interesting!) to whether or not cyberterrorism is on the rise. Content is divided by subject, so if just want to learn more about money and budgeting or cars, you can. It’s fun just to browse through if you have some time and explore the material provided. You’ll definitely learn a lot!
Author: Brian Savelson
This movie takes a realistic look at a muddled father-son relationship. Seth (Zach Gilford of Friday Night Lights) and Andie (Jena Malone of Donnie Darko) are a young, idealistic, quasi-artistic couple in search of a quiet weekend in the country. Unfortunately, a miscommunication means that they will be sharing it with Gil–Seth’s wealthy, abrasive father (John Slattery, the silver-haired Mad Man)–and his younger girlfriend, Vicky (Gabrielle Union of Think Like a Man).
The prevailing motif of movies and TV during the last decade has been awkwardness. While it’s usually milked in the service of comedy, In Our Nature explores it in a sobering, thoughtful way and shows how people with clashing values and vast disparities in social skills will still try to cobble together a decent weekend and/or long-term relationships. Plus, the cast is very strong and engaging–most notably Gabrielle Union, a charming and painfully underutilized talent. Someone makes this woman a movie star already!
I stumbled across this site while looking up reader advisory materials, and even I have to admit it’s pretty neat. The website gathers interviews from famous and not-so-famous authors, critics, and other professionals and has them recommend five books on a particular topic, whether it be espionage or history on the Middle East or Sherlock Holmes. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially because the people interviewed are (more often than not) experts in the topic and the material itself is very riveting.
Author: Carol Kent
I was surprised (pun intended) that this book was one I couldn’t put down. The author’s only son was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole which she describes in another book called When I Lay My Isaac Down. This book has 8 chapters in which she shares stories of how she has been surprised by faith, mercy, contentment, thanksgiving, favor, joy, freedom and adventure. Kent also weaves in other people’s stories that fit those categories. I laughed and cried. I gave my family an extra hug. This book is available on Acorn’s shelf.
Author: Joe Hill
My most recently read comic book series is filled with supernatural horror. Three children move to Lovecraft, MA after their father is killed by the son’s classmate who was used by the spirit of the father’s high school friend. Then it gets weird. They move to their father’s childhood home, Keyhouse, where they find a series of keys that unleashes a battle of demonic proportions. The comics are available as hardcover books through SWAN.
Author: James Szalapski
If you like country music, specifically the outlaw country subgenre, I recommend you request this documentary about the emerging scene in Nashville and Austin in the 1970s. It was filmed in 1975 and features performances by Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, David Allen Coe, Gamble Rogers, and The Charlie Daniels Band. The documentary is worth watching, but if you only want the music, the soundtrack is also available through SWAN.
Author: Oliver Sacks
As a child we all had imaginary friends. It’s not always easy to know whether it is misperception or illusion. The author Oliver Sacks tells of many stories of his patients that some hallucinations are brought on by disease or injury, not the types that occur with schizophrenia. This book describes the experiences and impact that illusions have had in their lives. Once reading through the chapters, you will find it’s not always in your head.
With David Suchet’s announcement that this upcoming season of Poirot will be his last, I decided recently to catch up on the series. One of the best that I have seen so far is Murder on the Orient Express. It’s Hercule Poirot at his most creative, using those “little grey cells” to their fullest potential. After a passenger expressed to Poirot that his life was in danger while on a cross-continental train called the Orient Express, (a real-life train that ran through Istanbul to Paris) the man is found murdered. Full of deductive reasoning and wit, Poirot uses his talents to unravel the murderer’s identity despite unique circumstances. The story is abundant with twists and turns and unless you’ve read the book, the ending is a surprising one and will leave you wanting more. If you like historical fiction & mysteries, you can order the episode along with others on DVD through SWAN.
Author: Ruta Sepetys
I finished the debut novel of Ruta Sepetys called Between Shades of Gray a few months ago, and while it’s listed as a YA novel I think that the themes touched upon in the book can apply to almost all ages. It goes back and forth from past experiences of a young Lithuanian girl named Lina to the current WWII setting where she and her family are forced into a desolate work camp in Siberia. Her family faces the possibility of starvation, separation, and death every single day throughout the narrative. What particularly stood out to me is that this is a retelling of a part of history that not many people are aware of. After the Soviet Union received Lithuania and other countries in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, most of the people in these countries and their families were deported and forced into secluded work camps because they were considered a threat to Stalin’s regime. This included military personnel, librarians, doctors, lawyers, and many other educated professionals. The novel shows another side of WWII and that even in times of great loss and devastation, it is possible to keep hope alive no matter what. Between Shades of Gray is available through SWAN.
