The Art Of The Wasted Day by Patricia Hampl (ebook) This well reviewed memoir will help all of us to learn about and benefit from the concept of leisure time. This is something that we are not always so skillful about in our go go go culture.
Relaxation titles Click here to find a variety of relaxing music from Freegal to play anytime, anywhere.
Other Free Resources
The Waltham Public Library partners with Matthew Carriker, Protestant Chaplain at Brandeis University and founder of The Agape Spiritual Community for mindfulness programs, our initiating inspiration book group, and more.
The Cambridge Insight Meditation Center is currently offering some free virtual drop in programs. Find more information here.
The Waltham Advaita Meditation Center is currently offering free virtual meditation classes. Find more information here.
Deva Premal And Mitten, two amazing meditative musicians, offered a free daily meditation session from Costa Rica during this pandemic. You can find all of the recordings here.
The Insight Timer App This is a free app that Louise enjoys. 45,000 free guided meditations, meditation music, timer with musical background or chimes. You can get this for most devices and App stores.
DharmaSeed You can use this for free as an app or on your computer. Lots of guided meditations with a Buddhist focus.
The Headspace App normally costs money but is offering one year free for those who are unemployed.
Smiling Mind App offers free meditation and mindfulness for adults and children.
Tara Brach This beloved psychologist and meditation teacher offers many free resources on her website.Jack Kornfield Lots of free resources for difficult times from the beloved meditation teacher and psychologist.
Merci Suárez Changes Gearsby Meg Medina: (Overdrive e-book) Lovely coming of age middle grade/young adult novel about a girl dealing with some changes in her family and navigating middle school drama.
Bridgerton romance novels by Julia Quinn: (Overdrive as e-books and audiobooks. Hoopla audiobooks) British historical romance novels that are light, fun, and full of likable characters. I have absolutely nothing in common with any of the characters, all of whom are connected to a sibling in the Bridgerton family, but I enjoy them anyway.
Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume (Overdrive e-book and audiobook): She has some more well known titles, I think, but this is my absolute favorite by Judy Blume. Despite the fact that she was a young girl in the 1940s, I related so much to Sally and her family. As a 10 year old, I found myself quoting Sally’s Ma Fanny, saying, “Knock on wood” and “God Forbid” which was pretty funny for a fifth grader.
Autopsy Of A Boring Wife by Marie Renee-Lavoie I recommend this for those of us who are feeling like, hey, can I just have something to read that is light and fluffy like lemon meringue because that is all I can handle right now. This book is amusing, light and kind of reminds me of some of the movies that Dianne Keaton stars in these days. Our main character is surprised when her long time husband leaves her for a younger woman. He found her to be rather boring. She decides to change all that.
Doc MartinOh, how I love my Doc Martin! Beautiful scenery, wit, quirky characters, romance. Doc Martin was a surgeon in London except he has a problem: he can not handle the sight of blood. So, he gets a job in beautiful Port Wenn where he runs the medical office and serves all of the delightful residents. (Several seasons available on Hoopla for your viewing pleasure!)
The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland This book is very funny and made me laugh out loud. The Feldmans have a family reunion on a cruise ship and all sorts of secrets are revealed. It’s light and funny and I really enjoyed this one.
Something Blue by Emily Giffin Giffin writes with wit and charm. Our main character, Darcy, learns some life lessons and this book is like a lovely, soft blanket with a bowl of hagen daz.
Great light read!
The Assistants by Camille Perri This spunky, fun book is very satisfying. The underpaid female assistants, many of whom have overwhelming college loans and can barely make their rents, are tired of seeing their successful bosses rake in the dough. You will root for them and you will laugh out loud. This is an excellent choice for fans of The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
A Diet To Die For by Joan Hess This is a ‘mystery’ but what makes it most fun is the characters. Claire Malloy owns a bookstore and her teenage daughter Caron is definitely a teenager. There is a murder but this book will provide you with a steady ‘diet’ of laughs and lightness. No need for deep thinking or stress with this book. This has been a long time personal favorite of mine.
Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan A totally light memoir, this book will have you laughing out loud. Jim Gaffigan, famous for his stand up comedy, happens to know how to write. This was actually my first ‘encounter’ with Gaffigan, and I have been a big fan ever since. No one knows how to do jokes about food, restaurants, and eating better than Jim Gaffigan.
On Monday, May 18, we held a special meeting of the Waltham Public Library Virtual Book Club. Everyone who participated shared titles of books that they’re reading as well as some shows and movies that they’ve been watching. We had a wonderful conversation and all of us came away with some more titles for our “To Be Read” lists. Below are the titles that attendees shared.
Join us on Monday, June 15 at 7:00 pm to share any titles that you’re reading! E-mail Laura (lbernheim@minlib.net) for the meeting link.
Get to know more about the resources Waltham Public Library provides to keep you in the know and entertained while social distancing with our Virtual Scavenger Hunt! Read the questions below and submit your answers on our form. You can edit the form after submitting which allows you to do the hunt a little at a time. We’ll be closing the form on July 6, then reviewing responses. By submitting your completed scavenger hunt, you’ll get a chance to win a GIFT CARD to a local business! If you have questions, please write to waltham@minlib.net. Have fun! (Hint — all of the answers can be found by visiting walthampubliclibrary.org)
Where do you learn how to talk like a pirate?
Where can you listen to Fiona Apple’s new album Fetch the Bolt Cutters? What is the name of the first song listed?
Where can you watch Weston Woods videos? What’s the name of the video/picture book that you watched?
What were the titles that we read through the Virtual Book Club meetings in April?
Find the tool you’d use to find the highest rated mattress available for purchase. Tell us the resource.
How many trustees are there and where can you find meeting minutes (copy and paste the link!)?
Find a recipe for shepherd’s pie using one of our databases. Tell us the name of that database.
Follow our account on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and/or Facebook. Tell us which account you followed.
Find the resource that would allow you to find a Boston Globe article about Pedro Martinez coming to play for the Boston Red Sox. Read the article. Tell us the title and author of the article.
How do you access a digital copy of The Mirror/Waltham High School Yearbook from 1955? Who was that year’s edition dedicated to?
According to Novelist Plus, what are some titles that are “readalikes” for Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead? Why are they considered readalikes?
Memory by Philippe Grimbert: The author, a French psychoanalyst, has created a stunning fictional work based on his real-life, tragic family history, dating back to World War II. It is beautifully written and heartbreaking. This was a bestseller in Europe and was also made into a film.
How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice from White People by D.L Hughley; read by the author (Listen to it or read it on Overdrive): In the United States, a black man is three times more likely to be killed in encounters with police than a white one. D.L. Hughley is, among many other things, a comedian, and he has written and narrated an outstanding book that is, by turns, sobering, informative, and hilarious.
Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed (Watch on Kanopy): Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress and the first African-American woman of a major party to run for presidential nomination. Nearly 50 years later, her accomplishments and goals still seem fresh and relevant. A must-see!
All in My Family (Netflix): This documentary covers the director Hao Wu’s trip to China to introduce his same-sex partner and their children to his deeply traditional parents and relatives. A lovely film.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Read it or listen to it on Overdrive. Read or listen to it on Hoopla) : Great read. It’s both downright spooky while being entertaining for the whole family.
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (Read it or listen to it on Overdrive.) : A re-read for me. Not a deep book, but a real fun one. Plus, it’s got a zombie T-Rex, so you know I’m sold.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Read it or listen to it on Overdrive.): Fantastic. Cool concept, likable characters, really creepy villain. Plus, a very heartwarming friendship drives the plot.
Dana
My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell (Read or listen to it on Overdrive. Listen to it on Hoopla) : I read this at the very beginning of the quarantine and honestly I don’t remember much about it now, other than it’s about a high school girl who has an affair with her forty-something year-old English teacher, and then repercussions, etc.. I do remember I liked it and thought it was quite well written.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): Even though I had readMary V’s review of this book back in March, I was somehow still surprised by how sad this book is. Based on true events, it follows a young girl and her younger siblings as they’re kidnapped from their family’s shantyboat and taken to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, where they were then sold to other families. It was a very compelling book, and also horrifying that this actually happened so often.
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): I don’t read thrillers or ghost stories very often, so I’m not a connoisseur, but I thought this was a great haunted house story. I loved that one of the main characters was a history nerd with an appreciation for local history, and that there were flashbacks to the previous century. I didn’t love the ending, but thought the book as a whole was good.
Amateur Hour: Motherhood in Essays and Swear Words by Kimberly Harrington (Read or listen to it on Hoopla): Every now and then it’s nice to read another woman’s experiences with motherhood, especially when you have moments where you feel like you’ve found a kindred soul. I thought this was a decent collection of essays, with a few laugh-out-loud moments, and others where I wanted to give Harrington either a hug or a high-five, or both.
Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays by R. Eric Thomas (Read it on Overdrive.): This is a funny and touching memoir about how Thomas has grappled with being “other” throughout his life – based on race, sexuality, economic background, religion, and more. His writing style is the kind that feels effortless in its humor and reflection, and it made me want to seek out his other work (he has a daily humor column about politics at Elle.com).
Wickett’s Remedy by Myla Goldberg: After readingThe Last Town on Earth right before Covid-19 hit the news, I really wanted to read more about the 1918 influenza… maybe for some kind of reassurance that people made it through a pandemic, or maybe just because I find it fascinating. I was lamenting the lack of historical fiction focusing on the Spanish flu, and some colleagues recommended Wickett’s Remedy (I love working with librarians!). It was such a good book, with a bonus of being set in Boston, and I liked the different ways Goldberg tells the story – through the main plot, plus through old newspaper articles and commentary in the margins by different voices. It was very different, and very good.
Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanna Elden (Read it on Overdrive.): I had read positive reviews about this book – a satire about the education system – so I was pumped when my hold on Overdrive came in. It takes place in an underfunded urban high school in Texas, and follows the daily work and personal lives of several teachers. Even though I’m not a teacher, I could appreciate the humor in many of the scenes, and found the characters very compelling.
Overdue: The Final Unshelved Collection by Gene Ambaum, Bill Barnes, & Chris Hallbeck (Not in Minuteman, but there are other Unshelvedbooks in the network.): I used to follow the Unshelved webcomic pretty religiously when it was active, and even got to meet Ambaum and Barnes at a library conference (nerd alert). I’ve been enjoying reading through this collection of their comics, and feeling wistful about working in the library!
Yesterday: My husband and I really enjoyed this movie, about a struggling musician who wakes up after an accident to discover that no one has ever heard of the Beatles. It was very cute, with a good soundtrack.
Fleabag: A bit late to the party with this one, but I love it. I’m so glad I snagged the Blu-Ray of Season 1 the last day the library was open!
Sex Education: We started watching this show before quarantine, and were able to binge our way through the rest of it once lockdown started. Such a good show – well-developed and synpathetic characters, and I want to live in Otis’s house!
I’ve also been spending a lot of quality time with Kanopy Kids, namely:
Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants: Actually a pretty cool movie where a lost ladybug saves a colony of black ants from the mean red ants. There’s no dialogue in this movie, just random beeps and whistles. My son is fascinated by it.
The Miffy Movie: Miffy and her friends go to the zoo and have a treasure hunt. A nice gentle movie, and Miffy is awesome.
Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like: My son was disappointed that this documentary wasn’t an episode of Mister Rogers, but he seemed tuned in to parts of it, at least.
Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang (Read it on Overdrive. Listen to it on Hoopla) : This nonfiction read is a fascinating insight into the lives of young rural Chinese women, many of whom are teenagers, who travel to the country’s manufacturing cities to work in factories. The scale of the so-called migrant movement is huge: 130 million individuals hop from job to job in massive factories (one is so large it has its own hospital) to improve both their pay and opportunities. They sleep in bunk beds in factory-owned dorms with others whom they rarely get to know; they interview for positions at the Talent Market where they lie about their experience and references are never checked; they work long hours with mandatory overtime and send money home to their parents on the farm. Chang focuses on the lives of two young women in particular, giving a sense of both perspective and story arc.
PS I Miss You by Jen Petro-Roy (Read it or listen to it on Overdrive. Listen to it on Hoopla): Also sad! But it’s so great that we now have so many middle grade books with lesbian main characters. You’ll cry reading this one.
Motherland Fort Salem on Freeform/Hulu: I really love this show. I was hesitant after reading less than stellar feeviews, but I devour every episode.
Home Before Dark on Apple TV+: An amazing young cast, killer soundtrack and intriguing mystery make this show very compelling to watch.
Killing Eve season 3 on BBC America
Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (Hoopla): Film version of Alex’s memoir Saving Alex about the 6 months her parents forced her into conversion therapy when she told them she was gay. Definitely an important watch, as conversion therapy for minors is still legal in 30 states.
I Am Not Ok With This on Netflix
What We Do in the Shadows season 2 Hulu (Watch the movie on Hoopla or Kanopy)
NOS4A2 on Hulu based on the book. (Listen to the book on Hoopla.)
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): My favorite read of quarantine. Maybe of the year so far? Shapiro is a well-established, proudly Jewish author. She takes a DNA test on a whim, and everything changes. She is launched on a journey to discover the truth about her existence. This memoir (as are her others) is sweet, delicate, loving, and ever so eloquent. I loved learning about her family memories, DNA testing, and the factors that convalesced to bring Shapiro into being. I highly recommend this title.
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): What a fascinating, and often upsetting, book. Kolker tells the story of the Galvin family as they grew up in the 1970s. There are twelve children, by itself a distinguishable characteristic. But that’s not the story: six of the children are diagnosed with schizophrenia. This book jumps back and forth a bit, but overall it’s a very compelling story about mental health and family dynamics.
Writers and Lovers by Lily King (Read it or listen to it on Overdrive. Read it on Hoopla).: I really enjoyed this novel about an aspiring writing set in Cambridge. It felt like a believable and honest portrayal of a young woman aging and finding her footing.
Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz (Listen to it on Overdrive.): This book was a truly enjoyable read in which I learned a good amount about my canine companion’s biology and senses.
Setting the Table by Danny Meyer (Read it on Overdrive. Read or listen to it on Hoopla): Had some issues with the self-congratulatory narrative of this book. There’s no real acknowledgement of the author’s privilege, which struck me as odd and unfortunate. However, Meyer’s thoughts on hospitality are good, and they are buried throughout the memoir. I would’ve preferred digesting those bits in a listicle.
Open Book by Jessica Simpson (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): Okay. Not previously a Jessica Simpson fan (still not), but that’s not why I picked this memoir up. I just kept hearing how good, open, and honest this audiobook was (and it lived up to that!). Simpson spills the tea on a lot of pop culture moments I vaguely remember but enjoyed hearing about. She is open about her abuse, addiction, family troubles, and the national body shaming she endured before/during/after her career. It was a perfectly mindless kind of read overall, definitely a great distraction. I recommend the audiobook. Also, turns out my dislike of John Mayer is justified!
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): I did not enjoy this book as much as I’ve enjoyed their other books. It felt somewhat formulaic (for them). The suspense built for SO LONG, but was all resolved within a few pages and it didn’t feel satisfying.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Read or listen to it on Overdrive. Read or listen to it on Hoopla): Finally finished rereading this treasure. I can’t say anything more about it than that it is worth your time.
The Suspect by Kent Alexander (Read it on Hoopla.): This is a great read about how the media ran wild with a suspect in the Olympic bombing in Atlanta in the 90’s. It was very well written and engaging, but never refrains from sensationalizing the events like a certain movie about the same topic (Richard Jewell). In fact, you probably won’t recognize this story if you only saw that movie!
The Witches are Coming by Lindy West (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): This collection of essays were well enjoyed. Part call-to-action, part-memoir…always written with candor and often with humor. My partner and I loved this book so much…in fact, he asked to listen to her other book, Shrill, immediately upon completing this audiobook.
Shrill by Lindy West (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): This was my second time reading this memoir and I loved it just as much. I find West’s voice to be so clear, she just gets to the point and doesn’t suffer fools. I highly recommend both of her books listed here, as well as the TV adaptation of this memoir!
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): I was nervous about this book because I’d heard the buzz for so long, but found myself having a hard time getting invested. All of a sudden 70 pages in, I was hooked. I thought I knew where some of the story was going, but I didn’t. I loved not being able to see what the reveal was going to be ahead of time. I liked this much more than I liked Everything I Never Told You. If you’re one of the few that hasn’t already read this and binged the adaptation on Hulu, why not pick it up now? It’s available on Libby/Overdrive!
The Last Dance (ESPN)
Normal People (Hulu) (Read or listen to the book on Overdrive.)
The King (Netflix)
What We Do in the Shadows (season 1 on Hulu) (Watch the movie on Hoopla or Kanopy)
Mary V.
Decent Inn of Death by Rennie Airth: When the church organist falls to her death in a stream on her way home, it is thought to be an accident. However, her friend and housemate doesn’t believe it. Enter former Chief Inspector Angus Sinclair who is visiting friends near Winchester. He looks into the tragedy and follows a circuitous route to discover answers.
Long Range by C J Box (Read it on Overdrive.): This is the newest Joe Pickett novel. Joe must help his best friend Nate Romanowski who is being targeted by a vengeful group of terrorists who want to kill Nate, his wife and infant daughter.
Sins of Two Fathers by Denis Hamill: The lives of two fathers cross paths many years ago. Now, one of the fathers wants to avenge his son who was sent to prison for something that he didn’t do by conspiring to send the son of the second father to prison for something he didn’t do. I think this is a very good story about the consequences of alcoholism and how alcohol can destroy families. However, none of the characters in this book can utter a sentence that isn’t laced with profanity. I detest profanity and I found the endless stream of profanity distasteful.
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): This is a sweet story about a teenager who is obviously autistic although that word is never used. A neighbor’s dog is killed during the night and Chris Boone is determined to find the culprit. He has limited resources but immense determination.
Tenant For Death by Cyril Hare: This novel was written in 1937. London financier Lionel Barrymore is found strangled. Mr. Barrymore was involved in a financial scandal. So, suspicions fall on those involved in the scandal. However, there are many other suspects who have motives for disposing of the very unpopular Mr. Ballantine.
Amber
Vegetables Illustrated by America’s Test Kitchen (Read this on Overdrive.): When I bought this book nearly a year ago I had no idea how much I would come to rely on it. A few weeks ago I subscribed to a vegetable delivery service. Similar in nature to a CSA, the options provided are what’s in season and what’s available that specific week so, basically, you get what you get and you don’t get upset! The vegetables in the book are organized alphabetically and there are recipes for each vegetable ranging from appetizers (parsnip hummus) to desserts (carrot cake). What I especially love about this book is the background provided, including information on how to properly store and prep each vegetable.
Jazz Festing in Placeon WWOZ New Orleans: The annual New Orleans Jazz Fest, scheduled to take place over two weeks in April and May, was obviously canceled this year. The local independent radio station instead held Festing in Place: full days of performances spanning the history of the festival’s 50 years in existence. The lineup included truly out-of-this world performances such as Ella Fitzgerald with surprise guest Stevie Wonder and an emotional performance from Bruce Springsteen performing with the Seeger Sessions Band the year after Katrina. WWOZ provides a two-week on-demand archive of their streaming content so, as of this writing (May 6), there is still time to go back and have a listen.
HomelandSeason 8 (Previous seasons. Read the e-book on Hoopla) : This is the final season of the CIA spy drama starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. Although I’ve watched the show since the beginning (2011, how is that possible??) I haven’t been as excited about the show in recent seasons because, to me, it required a bit too much suspension of disbelief and I didn’t think the writing was as sharp as it was in the first season or two. However, the show really was in top form for its final run and I found myself on the edge of my seat during several episodes. When we discovered Showtime was only available for free during April (and we were two or three episodes from finishing) we promptly subscribed.
Bosch, Season 6 : Based on novels by Michael Connelly, the sixth season of this American detective show recently returned to Amazon Prime. Similarly to Homeland, I felt that though the show had drifted off the rails in past seasons, the current season was a return to form. I also think Titus Welliver is amazing and would likely watch him in just about anything.
Scott & Bailey (Watch it on Hoopla): This smart British detective series featuring strong female characters was written by Sally Wainwright, the writer of Happy Valley (also featuring strong female characters). Though the show focuses on the murders that Detectives Scott and Bailey must solve, the characters are given subplots that add to the drama.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: I rarely watch anything on network tv (and have actually just canceled my cable subscription) and it’s even more unlikely that I watch a network show live, but this show was worth every single ‘we’re all in this together’ commercial I had to endure. The show focuses on Zoey, a computer coder in San Francisco, and how her life changes after an MRI gone awry enables her to hear people’s thoughts in song. The musical numbers are spectacular, the writing is razor sharp, and I really can’t say enough about this show. I loved it so much I am going to rewatch every episode until the cable technician comes to take away the cable box (which is on hold because of the current situation).
Afterlife by Julia Alvarez (Read it on Overdrive. Read it on Hoopla): I was excited that Alvarez, one of my favorite authors, wrote a new novel and it did not disappoint. Come discuss this book at the June 25 meeting of the Virtual Book Club.
Dig by A.S. King (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): This mysterious and beautiful novel focusing on multiple points of view of various teenagers covers a lot including white privilege, violence against women, and long time secrets all surrounding a typical, or not so typical family.
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): Woodson’s lyrical writing gives great life to Melody and her family as they explore what it means to be black and how it defines their identities. Whether Woodson is writing in verse of prose (as she does here), I love her beautiful writing style.
Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): This is the true story of a family, namely the family of transgender actress, Nicole Maines. In addition to Nicole and her family’s story, there is a lot of context and history. I’ve been recommending this book to everyone I know.
From the Corner of the Oval by Becky Dorey-Stein, read by the author (Read or listen to it on Overdrive.): I expected a bit more from this memoir of an Obama White House stenographer. Instead of an insider’s take on what it’s really like to work in the White House, a lot of the book seemed to be about the writer’s unhealthy relationship with a fellow staffer.
America for Beginners by Leah Franqui, read by Soneela Nankai (Read or listen to it on Overdrive. Read or listen to it on Hoopla.): This bittersweet, descriptive novel is about Pival, a woman traveling to the United States and her two travel companions, Satya and Rebecca. Pival is in search of, and coming to terms with, her son, Rahi. This book was the topic for a previous meeting of the Virtual Book Club.
Big Little Lies (show): I had read and enjoyed this book a few years ago but had been holding off on watching the television adaptation until now. I was intrigued how the story would go beyond a first season, when it ran out of source material. The second season was a little over the top, but I still enjoyed it. I also appreciated that the characters of Bonnie and Renata were a lot more developed as characters than they were in the novel.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco(Watch it on Kanopy): This is a heartbreaking movie about the friendship between Jimmie and Mont and Jimmie’s attempt to reclaim the house that he claims his grandfather built in a now gentrified neighborhood.
I’ve been doing some re-watches of old favorites, some of which have aged better than others:
Dallas: This show had already not aged well when I first binge watched it back in the late 1990’s. In fact, I’m pretty sure it hadn’t aged well by the time the show ended in 1991. Yet, I still love it. Secret confession time: a part of me wanted to be a Ewing grandchild. I liked the idea of going to a wedding in which someone was going to get pushed into a pool.
The X-Files: Mulder and Scully forever! Some of the episodes are great and some are a bit miss, but the chemistry of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson is still off the charts. The episode, “F. Emasculata” about a disease outbreak and public health concern rings a little too true, right now.
The Golden Girls: While there are definitely elements to this show that are a product of its time, this show was ahead of the curve in so many ways and, with the exception of some episodes, still plays well. A lot of the jokes still land and I love that the women on this show, all of whom are senior citizens, are vibrant and proud of their sexuality.
Did you know that as a Waltham resident, you have access to three different video streaming services through the library? Our subscriptions to Hoopla, Kanopy, and Mango Languages allow our patrons to watch a variety of content on your computers, phones, tablets, and televisions at no charge. There is a lot of content and it can get a little overwhelming so here are some suggestions of what our staff have enjoyed through these services. If you need help using these services, please send an e-mail to lbernheim@minlib.net.
For more suggestions from our staff, please read our last “Staff Reads” post or review our “Staff Favorite Podcasts”
Kate
What We Do in the Shadows, available on both Hoopla and Kanopy
Victorian Slum House (Hoopla): I love these reality shows where people live like we did 100 years ago.
Coal House and Coal House at War (Hoopla): Families recreate living in a coal mining community in Whales during the Great Depression, and World War II.
We Bare Bears (Hoopla): Adorable cartoon about three bears who live together.
Nancy Drew (1995) (Hoopla): The best TV version of Nancy Drew.
Dance Academy(Hoopla): Show about kids at an elite Australian ballet academy.
Laura
Clue (Kanopy): This is one of my favorite movies. I’m so excited that it’s available for free to our patrons! There are so many good lines. “Communism is just a red herring” “It flames, flames, on the side of my face.” I could go on and on and on.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco(Kanopy): Jimmie acquaints himself with the large house that his grandfather built in San Francisco and goes on a journey of self discovery.
You Can Count on Me (Kanopy): Quiet and touchingly funny movie about the relationship between an adult brother and sister.
I’ve been spending most of my time using Kanopy Kids these last few weeks. It’s great because it has some of my son’s favorites like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and even new-to-us titles featuring favorite characters, like The Miffy Movie. Also in heavy rotation are Wild Kratts and Franklin, which makes me feel nostalgic for the 90s.
It’s National Park Week! I have been very lucky and have had the pleasure of visiting a small number of our many National Parks, including Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons, The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. That doesn’t even cover the National Parks and Historic Sites that we’re lucky to have in our state, including the beautiful Cape Cod National Seashore. Visiting a National Park in person is not an option right now, so please enjoy this guide featuring a variety of online resources and do some “visiting”.
National Park Service and National Park Foundation The National Park Service (NPS) and National Park Foundation are amazing resources and have put together a lot of great initiatives so you can enjoy the National Parks from the comfort of your home.
Junior Ranger Online Program: Those who have visited National Parks with young children may have had the pleasure of participating in the Junior Ranger program. I highly recommend it as its informative and fun for the adults just as much as the kids. A few years ago, my young travel companion held the distinction of being the first “Junior Ranger” of the season at the Boston Harbor Islands and the actual ranger made a big announcement to others at the visitor center to a huge round of applause.
Distance Learning: Great resources for teachers who are teaching via virtual classrooms or for parents looking for some ideas for home schooling. Even those of us who are neither teachers or parents can find something to learn.
Virtual Visits to a National Park Though nothing beats an in person visit to these amazing landmarks, these still photos and web cams are the next best thing. Here are a few I’ve been enjoying:
Yellowstone live webcams: In addition to Old Faithful, “visitors” can view the various entrances to the park, different views of Mount Washburn, and the Mammoth Hot Springs.
Channel Islands National Park Tour with Jordan Fisher: Actor Jordan Fisher, best known for co-starring in the live productions of Greaseand Rent, gives visitors a brief look at this California National Park. Of the three I mentioned here, this was the one I had not visited (or knew) so I really appreciated it.
Massachusetts National Parks When the COVID-19 crisis is behind us, you’ll be able to satisfy your National Park itch by not traveling far. We’re lucky in this state to be home to 15 National Parks, 5 National Heritage Areas, 3 National Trails, and 189 National Historic Landmarks! Here are some of the highlights that you can enjoy from home:
Cape Cod National Seashore: Jaws Mayor Larry Vaughn does not run Wellfleet and so the beach’s facilities are, luckily, closed. It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the treasures from this beautiful seashore. I’ve been really enjoying the social media feeds for @CapeCodNPS, including this Facebook post using Peeps to illustrate social distancing. (embedded at the bottom of this post)
National Parks Exploration Seriesfrom Overdrive (note, these videos can be viewed on the Overdrive website on your browser but can’t be viewed on the Libby by Overdrive app)
Our staff love podcasts of all different types and opinions. Please read below to get a list of what some of our staff have been enjoying. Want to see more staff suggestions? Read the latest edition of “Staff Reads”.
For Harriet: Thoughts from Kimberly Foster about pop culture and news affecting the African-American community.
Musical Hell: “Diva” gives sentences in her court to some of the worst offenders when it comes to movie musicals.
Greg
Lore by Aaron Mahnke: My personal favorite. He looks over folktales, mysteries and historical events throughout the world, and explains how they’ve impacted modern day culture. Also, he’s a Massachusetts local, so while he explores all sorts of stories it’s New England tales that really get to shine.
Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It: (My household) loves Crooked Media and these three pods are mainstays- Jon, Jon, and Tommy are involved in 1 or more of these 3. The pods are varying levels of seriousness with humor. Lovett is pure fun though it is news related, Pod Save America is more serious and in-depth discussions about current events revolving around US politics but still with some humor. PSTW is by far the most serious of the three and it focuses on foreign affairs. Occasionally we listen to other pods by Crooked Media and I’d encourage you to check them out!
The Daily: Brief look at a big story to start your day. So good.
This American Life: About ten years ago I went through their archives and listened to every.single.episode. It was before podcasts were really a thing, (I think of TAL as the OG pod) so there wasn’t as much out there. It took a while of course (it was about 600+ episodes at the time)but it was worth it. I particularly love stories from David Rakoff (RIP), David Sedaris, and Sara Vowell. They stick out in my memory, but Ira and his team always put out amazing stories. They connect dots you didn’t think to connect, and of course, pull on my heart strings. I don’t listen as regularly these days, instead bingeing it now and then to catch up, but it always feels like home. You can still find all of their archives on their site.
99% Invisible: All about design, why things are the way they are. Excellent episodes include “Ten Thousand Years”, “Weeding is Fundamental” and “The Great Bitter Lake Association”
Criminal: A show all about crime, best intro episode “Ex Libris”
Spooked: Spooky ghost stories told by the people who experienced them. Are the stories real? I don’t know, but they’re definitely fun to listen to!
Headlong: Surviving Y2K: An interesting look back at what people thought would happen NYE 1999.
Good Christian Fun: A discussion about contemporary Christian culture from the late 90s. Discussed from a evolved, progressive viewpoint, but with a fondness for the past.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristen Russo recap every episode, and Jenny (a musician) writes a song related to each episode.
Brains On: The most recent episode I listened to was “Narwhals: Unicorns of the Sea?” So much fun!
Grace
Last Podcast On The Left: Hilarious and meticulously researched, covering true crime and all things spooky. A bit loud, a bit raunchy, but very very funny.
My Favorite Murder: Two friends and comedians hang out and discuss cases. These two are down to earth, and have a looser feel to the format.
This Podcast Will Kill You: Two epidemiologists go over a different disease each episode, covering the biology as well as the history. Currently they have a six part series on Covid-19.
Bear Brook: Investigative podcast. A wild story about how a crime can be solved, even without knowing the identity of the victims. The people interviewed, investigators and townspeople are great characters, and the story is packed with twists and turns.
This is the time of year that all of us baseball fans look forward to: Opening Day! When last year’s last place team has the same win/loss record as the previous World Series winner. When “Wait Til Next Year” is finally here! It’s baseball time again, and, the last few years, we’ve been treated to it a little earlier than usual, in late March. This year was to be no exception with Major League Baseball Opening Day scheduled for Thursday, March 26. This year, however, Major League Baseball did the right and responsible thing by delaying the start of the season so that all of us can stay safe and healthy. That doesn’t mean, though that we won’t miss our annual spring ritual so I present to you online options to tide you over until the start of baseball season.
Baseball Hall of Fame Oral Histories: Interviews with several people involved in the game over the years, including players, umpires, managers, executives, and more.
Major League Baseball Classic Games Because of the delayed start to the season, Major League Baseball (MLB) has released a variety of classic games on Youtube. The games are free and complete. What’s best is that they’re uploaded to Youtube with complete permission of MLB, so there is no reason to be concerned about the possibility of watching pirated content.
Smithsonian Institute’s Baseball Collections Throughout its many museums, the Smithsonian houses a robust baseball collection. Here is your chance to enjoy them without having to travel to Washington, DC.
7th Inning Stretch (with Fenway organist Josh Kantor) One of my new favorite daily rituals is listening to Josh Kantor play the organ for a “7th Inning Stretch” on Facebook Live for a half hour. Along with his wife, “Reverend Mary”, Fenway Park Organist Kantor takes requests and plays the organ (always including “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”). The concert is a wonderful respite and distraction and Kantor also uses the time to ask fans to take their time to donate to local food pantries. Kantor plays live every day at 3:00 pm (and takes requests) but fans can watch later in the day. I like to listen while I’m preparing my music and always stretch during “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” (with a tear in my eye). Read or listen to an interview with Josh Kantor on WBUR’s Only a Game.
MLB Players’ Social Media I really appreciated this article by ESPN’s Joon Lee in which he lists the top 10 baseball players to follow on social media during this time. Sean Doolittle and Fernando Tatis Jr. are the highlights. Doolittle had me with this photo of his to read pile while he’s practicing social distancing.
As an awkward dork with big introvert energy, reading has always been my preferred method of social distancing. Here’s what I was reading during Spring Training. And I’m currently reading Dopesick by Beth Macy. 🤓📚 pic.twitter.com/Ab8VdgmV9l
— Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) March 15, 2020
Hoopla There is an array of baseball related content via the library’s subscription to Hoopla. In addition to links to the various formats, I’ve also included some titles that I suggest. Enjoy browsing!
Kanopy Enjoy a variety of videos related to baseball through our subscription to Kanopy. Here are a few titles that I suggest or a link if you’d rather browse.
Overdrive Enjoy an audiobook or e-book on your computer, tablet, or e-reader. Use the Libby app to get the full Overdrive experience on your phone or tablet. Here are some titles that I suggest available to download.
Culinary Arts Read about any of the foods associated with baseball, including this article about the history of the hot dog.
The Boston Globe –Historic Edition Relive all of the triumphs and heartbreaks associated with the Boston Red Sox between the late 19th century and 1979, including the front page of The Boston Globe about the 1918 World Series win.
The Boston Globe 1980-present Go through the 1986 World Series, 1999 ALCS, 2003 ALCS all over again. Or, skip all of that and just read articles about 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018. See where it turned around for the Red Sox by reading about the acquisition of Pedro Martinez in late 1997.
The New York Times Click here to get a 72 hour access code via the Minuteman Library Network subscription. Read about baseball from a New York or national perspective, including reading about game 7 of the 2004 ALCS from Yankee territory!
