Et Cetera

I recently read '48 Clues Into The Disappearance Of My Sister' by Joyce Carol Oates. This novel is narrated by Gigi, a quiet and at times dreamy character. She is unraveling the mystery surrounding her sister Marguerite, a woman we learn more about as the story unfolds.Oates is such an iconic, highly lauded author and I really wanted to like the book, but unfortunately I found it too ethereal, leaving me with more questions than answers.

We are excited to announce that ‘The Queen of Sugar Hill’ by ReShonda Tate is the featured title for #TogetherWeRead! Together We Read is a digital book club connecting readers to the same ebook & audiobook at the same time - no waitlists, no holds."The Queen of Sugar Hill" tells the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, focusing on her life after her Oscar win for "Gone With the Wind" and the challenges she faced as a Black actress navigating Hollywood's challenging social landscape, particularly highlighting her struggles with restrictive housing covenants in a neighborhood called "Sugar Hill" where she bought a home despite facing backlash from white neighbors; the book explores her personal life, friendships with other Hollywood figures, and her fight for racial equality.

This month's Adventures in Bookclubbing theme was 'Authors with Red Hair.' I chose to read ‘Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose’ by Martha Beck. It is a nonfiction book that was added to our collection just last month. In this book, Beck describes techniques for calming your inner anxiety creature, and then, once tamed, living a life full of creative energy.

The Wallace and Beverly Winkie Foundation is accepting nominations for the Lifelong Learner Hall of Fame through June 1. Inductees into the hall of fame will be honored for their contributions—through example, discovery, or leadership— to the promotion of formal and informal lifelong learning and its benefits. All Iowans past and present, of all ages, and all Iowa organizations are eligible for nomination.

If you are a fan of unsolved mysteries and documentaries this is the book for you. Bel Price and her family have agreed to do a true crime documentary that will follow their family and dig up the past from when Bel's mom disappeared 16 years ago. Bel is irritated with this whole documentary thing and just wants her life to go back to normal.But it may never go back to normal.

I was excited when my hold for Coco Mellors' 'Cleopatra and Frankenstein' became available on the @libby.app after waiting several months for it! Yay! Check out this talented author if you haven't already!"Twenty-four-year-old British painter Cleo has escaped from England to New York and is still finding her place in the sleepless city when, a few months before her student visa ends, she meets Frank.

If you know an outstanding Iowa teacher, we want to hear from you! The Iowa Department of Education is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa Teacher of the Year through March 7.Anyone, including fellow educator colleagues, administrators, students and their parents, association or organization members and other community partners, can submit a nomination form for an exceptional K-12 teacher who is making an impact in an Iowa school.

More than 11,500 Iowa State University students have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the fall semester 2024 Dean's List. Students named to the Dean's List must earn a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work. The following students are from your area:  Atkins, Iowa  Katelyn Buscher, Senior, Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies, B.

The following students were named to the President's List at Iowa State University. Students achieving this prestigious designation have maintained a 4.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters.   Atkins, Iowa Peyton Pfiffner, Elementary Education, B.S. Owen Sadler, Finance, B.S.Shellsburg, Iowa Ethan Rollinger, Agricultural Studies, B.