Posted in Adult, Nonfiction

Exploring Folklore & Folktales

Posted on by Aleah

I ran into a book recently, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yōkai of Japanese Myth. I became more and more intrigued as I flipped through the pages, and I knew I needed to explore folklore and folktales and learn some more. What better place than a library!

What is folklore?
Folklore covers a wide span of traditional beliefs and stories of a community, such as myths, legends, practices, superstitions, etc.  Folklore is commonly passed from generation to the next by word of mouth.

What is a folktale?
Folktales focus on the stories that have been passed down from the ancestors of a particular group of people on to their younger generations.  Folktales vary widely in genre, ranging from fairy tales, historical, adventure, to ghost tales.  Like folklore, folktales pass along generations through word of mouth.

Culture plays an important part in both folklore and folktales, but this does not make them interchangeable.  Folklore captures a large range, from beliefs to superstitions, and is told in more of an informative, and even instructive way to the listener.  Whereas folktales are only the stories passed down to younger generations.  Here are a few books on different folklore and folktales that are on our shelf at Mead Public Library.

The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yōkai of Japanese Myth by Thersa Matsuura, Illustrated by Michelle Wang

I have always been intrigued by Asian Folklore, but not to the point where I’ve pushed to learn more.  Seeing this book gave me the push I needed.  I’ve heard of yōkai (the Japanese word for supernatural beings, like ghosts, demons, etc.), but was far from understanding.  This book is a wonderful teacher!  The writing is very light and entertaining, and the illustrations are vibrant and colorful, fitting each yōkai perfectly.
Each section starts with an overview of the yōkai, then it gives a nice background and popular stories the yōkai is found in, and then finishes with modern stories.

Continue reading “Exploring Folklore & Folktales” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Fantasy, Fiction, Film, History, Horror, LGBTQI+, Nonfiction, Romance, Teen & Young Adult

Celebrate Pride with Books and Movies from your Public Library

Posted on by Molly

June is upon us! And with it comes the month-long celebration of diversity and freedom of expression that is Pride Month. Many of us don our most colorful duds and attend a Pride festival, parade, or concert. For those of us who tend to choose the low-key way of things, watching a film, or reading a book focused on the queer experience is the perfect way to pause and reflect on this community’s struggles and gains over the past 50+ years. 

Below, the reader will find several media suggestions made by, about, and for people in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. All picks are available to borrow in the Monarch catalog. Click each title to see a catalog listing. 

Film
All of the movies I list below are available on Kanopy as of May 31, 2024. Titles are linked to physical DVD copies in Monarch (except Maurice which is on Kanopy only at this time). 

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) starring Guy Pierce, Terrance Stamp, and Hugo Weaving
(big ol’ spoilers here, be warned)
Before he was Agent Smith or Elrond, Hugo Weaving played Tick, aka Mitzy Del Bra, the pansexual drag queen who is also secretly a husband and father. His wife needs a break from parenting, so the natural thing to do would be to load up a shiny silver coach bus with metric tonnes of drag gear, Tick’s two best drag queen friends, and drive from Sydney to Alice Springs through the massive and ancient Outback. Abba, choreography, and the most wonderful drag costuming to grace the silver screen will be your reward for going along on this adventure. 

But I’m a Cheerleader (1999) starring Natasha Lyonne and Melanie Lynsky
A comedy about a gay conversion camp?! This film does provide the camp, in layers. Lyonne’s parents (played with great elan by the excellent Bud Cort and inimitable Mink Stole) are worried that despite her super girly cheerleader exterior, their daughter may be more interested in girls than boys. Horrified at the thought of having a lesbian daughter, they choose to send her to a conversion camp. Would you believe hilarity ensues? There isn’t another film like this in the world, and anyone who appreciates Lyonne’s oeuvre even a little bit should not miss this gem. 

Maurice (1987) starring Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves
This  film was based on an E.M. Forster novel of the same name. Forster insisted it be kept from publication until after his death, which was in 1971. At the time of its writing in 1914, loving someone of the same sex was punishable by imprisonment, and would have surely ruined Forster’s career. What a pity. During Pride I spend a lot of time thinking about the creative, scientific, and social gains we could have achieved if systems of power weren’t so focused on oppressing people deemed different. Please enjoy this gorgeous movie about beautiful men falling in love. 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2020) directed by Celine Sciamma
Move over male gaze, this French drama is all about how ladies look at ladies, on- fire ones, sometimes. If you like your 18th century dramas filled with unreal cinematography, costuming, and set design, in addition to many lingering and meaningful looks across the room, this is the film to watch. Sciamma became the first woman director to win the Queer Palm at Cannes in 2019, and received almost unanimous critical praise for her work. 

Tangerine (2015) directed by Sean Baker
Not only is this film innovative for centering the story of a trans woman, it is the first feature length film shot entirely using iPhones. I think this use of new technology helped to capture the freneticism, danger, anger, and joy being expressed in the film. Things that equalize access to consuming and making art in this way are appealing to me on a cellular level. 

Not feeling moved by any of those picks? Kanopy has an entire LGBTQ+ Cinema subheading to click on under “browse”. There are dozens and dozens of wonderful films to peruse. 

Books
This list of books is available in the Monarch Catalog, often in a variey of formats.

The Hellbound Heart (1986) by Clive Barker
Don’t you wish your horror fiction were a little queerer? Please enjoy these a-gender cenobites:  Originally appearing in the anthology Night Visions, this Barker novella took on a life of its own when it was given the big screen treatment in 1987. “But I have never heard of a movie called The Hellbound Heart, Molly.” Well, inner voice of the reader, you may be surprised to learn the movie adaptation was called Hellraiser, and spawned several sequels of varying quality as well as a remake. Barker has been openly gay for most of the time he has been in the public eye, so of course his sexuality will impact the writing and reading of his work. Read more about how he made horror a little gayer with THIS excellent article. 

The Stonewall Reader (2019) 
This anthology was published in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots of June, 1969 that catalyzed the movement toward gay liberation in earnest, as well as determined which month we celebrate Pride. The anthology includes first-hand accounts of people who were there that day, as well as in remembrance of fighters who have passed, like Martha P. Johnson. This is a great book for people who would like to know more about the history of the gay liberation movement, or would like a Stonewall-specific overview. 

Upright Women Wanted (2020) by Sarah Gailey
Gailey is one of the most exciting modern sci-fi/fantasy authors working today. From the blurb: “The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.” I read that and thought LET’S GOOOOOO! Love me some outlaw-style, gun-toting librarians. If this is too dystopic and close to home with the fundamentalism, please see Gailey’s fantastic western revisionist novella River of Teeth (2017). This book is best for people who like stories set in the wild west that are about feral hippos. 

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty (2022) by Akwaeke Emezi
I haven’t read this book, but the reviews are positive, and I loved Emezi’s 2019 novel Pet. I’ve blogged about Pet in the past, likely multiple times, so today I encourage reading their latest work. Emezi is a fascinating author and I look forward to each of their new publications.  

Role Models (2010) John Waters 
This is a collection of essays Waters had been publishing in various magazines throughout the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s. The subject matter ranges from Manson Girl Leslie Van Houten, with whom Waters has a warm, decades-long friendship, to fashion house Comme des Garcons, and just about anywhere else life has taken him. Waters is primarily known for his confrontational, campy and over-the top films like Female Trouble and Serial Mom, so it is with great pleasure that I found him to be a compelling and hilarious writer. A John Waters film festival would also be an appropriate way to celebrate Pride, even if he is being intentionally inappropriate. The gentleman is as thoughtful and insightful as he is depraved. Greatest American EVER???!

To search for more LGBTQ+ books on Libby, click on “Subjects”, then click on LGBTQI+ Fiction. There are nearly 3000 e- and audio books that fall into this category. 

Additionally, here is a great list of 42 books published/to be published in 2024 that are about, and by, people in the queer community

Want a little community with your reading? Consider joining the Sheboygan County LGBTQ Alliance Book Club. We meet first Thursdays at Paradigm Coffee and Music from 6:30-7:30pm. Take a look at the event listing HERE. 

There are as many ways to celebrate Pride as there are people celebrating Pride. If you are reading this before June 22, 2024, please consider stopping by Sheboygan’s City Green for the third annual Sheboygan County Alliance Pride Picnic. Mead Library will be there with a booth, stop and say hello!

Posted in Adult, Fiction, Film, Teen & Young Adult

Anime for AniMay

Posted on by Ryan

Some of my earliest memories of liking anime go back to high school when I was part of our anime & manga club. Me and a handful of other classmates would meet up once a month to awkwardly sit around a rickety wooden table in the cafeteria, united by our love for whatever new series we were into. There weren’t many of us, but I remember it being a nice space, especially for someone as introverted and shy as me.

If that club is still around, I’d like to think the number of attendees is much greater than it was then. Anime has become much more mainstream, I think in large part due to it being more accessible thanks to most streaming platforms carrying anime, but also thanks in part to programming blocks like Toonami that introduced the Western world to anime classics like Dragon Ball Z and Inuyasha.

There’s a ton more great anime out there as well! So, to celebrate AniMay, I thought I’d share some of my favorite anime, both old and new.

Spy x Family

On Secret Agent Twilight’s next mission, he’s taxed with starting a family to avoid detection, all while keeping his mission a secret from the family. But the family he ends up building has secrets of their own. His wife’s an assassin, their adopted child’s a telepath, and their dog might even have a secret power. Part romantic-comedy, part action, this anime will make you laugh as each of the characters get to know each other, all while trying to keep their second lives hidden.

Continue reading “Anime for AniMay” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Historical, Mystery, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

Adventures and Murder with Hercule Poirot

Posted on by abbiebourelle

Before I moved to Sheboygan I had to commute to work. I had about a 40 minute drive at the time. I fought the boredom of the long drive by listening to audio books on CD. I had been getting into mysteries and knew that Agatha Christie was one of the big names in that genre. My journey began by picking up The Mysterious Affair at Styles (narrated by Hugh Fraser, who stars as Hastings in the Poirot TV show.) From that mystery I was hooked and needed more of the little Belgian detective and his excitable sidekick. After moving to Sheboygan a few years ago I switched from audiobook to paperback, the voices from the audio series still in my head for the various main characters. I finally came to the end of my journey with Hercule Poirot this past week with finishing the final book: Curtain. What a worthy ending to a great series and brilliant detective!

The Hercule Poirot Series by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie started writing her Poirot series in 1916 and had the first novel published in 1920. While the series is of the mystery genre it is fascinating as it provides a window into the time period it was written in. The series kicks off with Captain Hastings coming home with a war injury. WWI and WWII are not the focus of the books, but the impact of the wars are clearly seen throughout the series. From a historical standpoint it is interesting to get a glimpse of how WWII was affecting the English people as they tried to continue with their daily lives. This is most clearly shown in the title Taken at the Flood in which Poirot casually waits in a bomb shelter during a raid and listens to a stranger discuss a suspicious death. The series continues into the 1960’s where they provide a glimpse into the changing times and culture of that era. As I enjoy historical fiction as well, I found this element to be just as engaging as they mysteries themselves.

The mysteries kept me guessing from beginning to end. If you are a fan of mysteries like myself, you probably find yourself trying to solve it before the detective by the end. As for this series, just when I thought I had the system figured out, there would be some huge twist that I certainly was not expecting. If you are a fan of twist endings the book I most recommend in this series is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as I believe that book had the biggest twist of the lot.

As for the characters, after the first book it felt as if they were already friends I had known for ages. Captain Hastings is young. He has a hopeless romantic personality and always tries to see the bright side of life. He is Poirot’s best friend and sidekick in the early books. In the later books Poirot meets Ariadne Oliver, the author of a mystery fiction series. She is also a lot of fun and has a quirky personality. Due to her fame as a writer of mystery fiction in the series, she ends up getting caught up in real murder mysteries and often has to come seek out Poirot for help. Hercule Poirot is of course the main hero of the series. He is a short Belgian detective who is known for his impressive mustache. He believes that any mystery can be solved by “using the little grey cells”. A student of psychology and the study of human nature, Poirot uses this to figure out the connections and motives in cases. It is interesting to see how the human mind works from his point of view. He has a very analytical mind which often plays against Hastings’ more fantastic theories. Poirot is a very immaculate person with an obsession for symmetry. These quirks provide often needed humor and serve to make him a rather endearing character in addition to helping him notice anything suspiciously out of place while solving a crime.

I started trying to compile a list of favorite titles to share in this article. Going back over each book I realized that I loved almost all of them. Elephants Can Remember seemed perhaps the weakest of them as Poirot did not seem to be in it as much as I would have liked. However that title comes right at the end before Curtain. Curtain, being the last novel, finished the series with a bang! (No pun intended). I was very satisfied with the ending and felt Agatha Christie did right by her characters and the series to wrap it up in the way she did.

Now that I have finished the book series I have been binge watching the TV show Poirot staring David Suchet and Hugh Fraser. I find it to be just as good as the books! There have also been three new movies based on Poirot books (A Haunting in Venice VERY loosely based.). The movies star Kenneth Branagh. You can also listen to Agatha Christie’s Poirot series on audio. When I first started searching for audio, I found there are a few different voice narrators. I recommend finding the set narrated by Hugh Fraser. He does the best in doing the various voices and pulling the reader into the story. Of course, you can also find all the titles in book format at the library or through our online catalogue. Happy reading!

Hercule Poirot books in order:
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles
2. The Murder on the Links
3. Poirot Investigates
4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
5. The Big Four
6. The Mystery of the Blue Train
7. Black Coffee
8. Peril At End House
9. Lord Edgware Dies
10. Murder on the Orient Express
11. Three Act Tragedy
12. Death in the Clouds
13. The ABC Murders
14. Murder in Mesopotamia
15. Cards on the Table
16. Dumb Witness
17. Death on the Nile
18. Murder in the Mews
19. Appointment With Death
20. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
21. Sad Cypress
22. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
23. Evil Under the Sun
24. Five Little Pigs
25. The Hollow
26. The Labors of Hercules
27. Taken at the Flood
28. Mrs. Mcginty’s Dead
29. After the Funeral
30. Hickory Dickory Dock
31. Dead Man’s Folly
32. Cat Among the Pigeons
33. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding *only in audio CD format in the catalog*
34. The Clocks
35. Third Girl
36. Hallowe’en Party
37. Elephants Can Remember
38. Curtain

Continue reading “Adventures and Murder with Hercule Poirot” →
Posted in Adult, New & Upcoming, Uncategorized

New! Simpl liftPlayer Music Player

Posted on by Aleah

Mead Public Library’s Experience Collection has a new item- the Simpl liftPlayer.

What is it?

The Simpl liftPlayer is an easy-to-use music player that was created for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. All you have to do is lift the top lid of the player and music will begin to play. There is a large button under that lid to skip a song, and then simply close the lid to stop the music.

Thanks to a generous grant from Sheboygan County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), the Mead Public Library has 6 of these music players available for check out. Click here to see current availability.

Continue reading “New! Simpl liftPlayer Music Player” →
Posted in Adult, Fantasy, Games, Kids 5-12, Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult

What’s New in Gaming for 2024?

Posted on by Zachary

It’s been a few months since I have written a blog post about games, and with Mead Comic Con happening on May 4th, I thought we were overdue for a geeky post. We’re getting new games throughout the year, but here’s what Mead has gotten so far for 2024! You’ll find the description of each game, from our catalog, to give you an idea of what each game is like.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

“Peach takes the stage to save the day! Use Stella’s power to transform into… Swordfighter Peach, Patissiere Peach, Kung Fu Peach… and more!”

Continue reading “What’s New in Gaming for 2024?” →
Posted in Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Film, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Thrillers

Movie Night With Kanopy

Posted on by Molly

Have you taken a look at Kanopy lately? There is so much great content I can barely make up my mind when it comes to choosing something to watch. Below, I listed several dynamic pictures to suit many tastes and aesthetics. Gather your friends, your family, and the snacks you love. Pull on your jim jams, get comfy, and enjoy the miracle of light that is moving pictures.

Classic movie night:
The Outlaw (1943) starring Jane Russel and directed by Howard Hughes
This is a Billy the Kid story, but the only thing people remember about this movie is Hughes’ supposedly engineered a bra to make sure Russel’s prominent chest was as chesty as a chest could ever boob. While Hughes may have applied his airplane smarts to brassiere design, the resulting garment was uncomfortable to the point of excessive pain. Russel would wear a regular bra and tell Hughes she was fitted in the monstrosity of his design. He wasn’t going to check, after all. No, I do not care if this story is apocryphal.

The Stranger (1946) written, directed by, and starring Orson Welles
One of Welles’ lesser known, but greatly enjoyable noir pictures. Welles plays a former Nazi supervillain who has disguised himself as a small New England town boy’s school teacher. He has to do a murder real quick to hide his true identity, which attracts the attention of a tenacious Edward G. Robinson, a man who prosecutes war criminals for the UN. A tense and entertaining game of cat and mouse ensues. 

Sunset Boulevard (1950) starring Gloria Swanson and directed by Billy Wilder
I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to call this one of the great pictures of the 20th century. We see the herald of old Hollywood colliding with new that wouldn’t actually happen for another 20 years. Here, the narrative is driven by the effects of film transitioning from silent to talkies a further 20 years prior. Blink and you’ll miss “wax work” stars like Buster Keaton and H.B. Warner portraying themselves. Eric Von Stroheim, the legendary and unfairly maligned silent picture director, stuns as Norma Desmond’s protective manservant. Mark your calendars and join the Movie Club discussion of this film at 8th Street Ale Haus on Thursday, August 15 2024. 

Family movie night:
The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) directed by Lotte Reiniger
Gorgeous, meticulous animation using cut paper techniques of the Victorians. This may be slightly slow-moving for the very littles, but could be a good show to put on when it’s winding down to sleepy time. 

The Water Horse (2007) directed by Jay Russell
Delightful fantasy adventure with lots of cryptid action. This is based on a book of the same name by author Dick King-Smith. Wouldn’t it be fun to read this book as a family before you watch the movie? You could compare and contrast and decide which you like better and why. 

Kedi: The Cats of an Ancient City (2016) directed by Ceyda Torun
Enflame your family’s itch to travel with this charmer. The ancient city of Istanbul is famous for its numerous stray cats who are cared for by many but owned by none. Learn the reason why as the filmmaker follows seven different cats throughout their respective days. 

Horror movie night:
Battle Royale (2000) directed by Kinji Fukasaku
This is not a horror movie in the same vein as say, your Friday the 13ths or your Paranormal Activities or whatever, but it IS horrific. The film begins with a bus full of Japanese school kids getting gassed. They awake on an island, surrounded by various weapons. The group learns that only one person will be allowed to leave the island, and they have to do so by killing everyone else. Sometimes these high-concept films lose momentum or have muddy plots, but Battle Royale is as sharp and deadly in action and dialogue as the day it came out. Super creepy, exciting, and unforgettable. This is based on a very successful book of the same name.

House on Haunted Hill (1959) starring Vincent Price and directed by William Castle
This little oddball is an incredible cultural time capsule. Watch it straight on Kanopy to appreciate the scenery-chewing of a marvelous Vincent Price and the campy special effects. After that, check out this Rifftrax DVD. Rifftrax is where the boys from Mystery Science Theater 3000 took their brand of movie house heckling after the original cable show got canceled. They are joined by a razor sharp and always hilarious Paul F. Tompkins as they heckle, lampoon, mock, and adore House on Haunted Hill.

Night of the Living Dead (1968) directed by George Romero
This film is foundational to almost all other horror movies to follow. The low budget thrills are still effective, and often shocking. Tom Savini did a remake in 1990, and his monster makeup effects are so good you can practically smell them (so, SO glad you cannot). The remake also addresses the weakest aspect of the original: Barbara’s ineffectiveness. The 1990 Barbara takes action against the ravening hordes and is such a total badass. Original Barbara is panicking and weak when she’s not outright catatonic. This diminishes my personal enjoyment of Romero’s otherwise extremely entertaining film, but then again I have seen it approximately five thousand times.

Wildcard night:
In the Heat of the Night (1967) starring Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier
I recently read the excellent and extraordinary 2008 book Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris. The author does a deep dive into how the five 1968 Best Picture nominees came to be and what they signified for Hollywood’s trajectory. It made me feel desperate to re-watch In the Heat of the Night, which won the Best Picture Oscar of that year, so imagine my delight when I found it streaming on Kanopy, and not a single other streaming service for free. 

Hot Rod (2007) starring Andy Samberg and directed by Akiva Shaffer
The character of Hot Rod is himself, a wild card. Turn your brain off and let your mouth go slack. Let those silly Lonely Island boys take you on an adventure so unusual, many of the principal actors said they “did not understand” what the movie was about up to and past its release date. 

Rumble in the Bronx (1995) starring Jackie Chan
Have you ever heard of a cooler movie title?! This was Jackie Chan’s breakout crossover hit for American audiences. He’d already been making movies in Hong Kong for like 20 years up to this point, and this is one of his best. Known for mind-boggling action pieces, and tightly choreographed fight sequences, it’s not hard to understand how this picture won over American audiences and increased the already blazing light of Chan’s international celebrity.  

All of the films I mentioned above are available for checkout on Kanopy as of April 26th, 2024, but may be subject to change over time as the lineup can shift from month to month. In fact, when I REALLY can’t make up my mind about what I would like to watch, I go to the “leaving this month” category and choose something I won’t have access to for long. I think the urgency helps me make a choice. 

I linked each title to the Monarch catalog DVD listing, if one prefers physical media. Click the link to see the listing which also tends to include a brief description. 

Still not finding something you’re excited to watch? Please consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Movies service by clicking HERE. Share some of your favorites with us and we’ll send you five movie titles you might love. We are always happy, nay, THRILLED to help people find the library material they love whether it’s books, movies, music or something else. Baking tool collection, anyone?

Posted in Adult, Fiction, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult, Uncategorized

Manga and cats, what could be better?

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I am returning to talk about a most epic of combinations. Manga and cats! Has there ever been a better combination? Perhaps coffee and cats surpasses it, but not by much in my opinion.

The first manga I’m going to talk about is Nights With a Cat by Kyuryu Z. When I tell you this is one of the funniest mangas I have ever read, I’m not exaggerating! I laugh out loud and smile the whole time I’m reading it. The way the author portrays Kyuruga, the cat, is so authentic and realistic for cat owners.

I also enjoy living vicariously through the main character, Fuuta, and his sister as they interact with a very affectionate Kyuruga. You see, dear reader, I live with a cat who is not very affectionate. Abraham (Abe for short) is a cat that wants affection on his terms, and usually for about a minute and then he’s done! However, because he is like that, it makes the moments when he jumps up on my bed and lays by me of his own volition that much more special.

Nights With a Cat by Kyuryu Z

When Fuuta comes home tired at night, all he wants to do is spend time with his sister’s cat, Kyuruga. So many of the mysterious habits and mannerisms of house cats―from the surprising array of shapes Kyuruga likes to twist into, to the bizarre challenge of getting a good photo of him, to his lightning-fast mood changes―are carefully reproduced in this relaxed and cute comedy about living with an adorable furball!

The next manga I’m going to talk about is a shonen manga, which, if you’ve read my previous blog post on manga, you will remember that this means this is a manga aimed primarily at a young male audience, typically characterized by action-filled plots.

There is indeed a ton of action in this manga in the form of, you guessed it, games! You didn’t see that coming at all, did you, dear reader? Luckily I’m here to inform you, no worries.

I grew up playing car games with my brother, but I was nowhere near as obsessed with games as the main character, Riko, is in this manga. I find her enthusiasm for them quite charming, though. The way she goes over the top in response to a win or bad draw is hilarious! I also appreciate the short chapters at the end of the longer ones that feature Riko from Musubi the cat’s perspective. I was basically born into a cat family so I’ve never experienced first-time cat ownership, but the way Riko fumbles through it, as well as constantly relates it to the gaming world, treating it like a leveling up scenario will really charm you!

Continue reading “Manga and cats, what could be better?” →
Posted in Uncategorized

Memory Caregiver Kits

Posted on by Aleah

Did you know that Mead Library has memory caregiver kits? These kits are put together to support caregivers of those experiencing symptoms of dementia in all of it’s stages. Early stage kits focus on a goal with a tangible outcome. Early to mid stage kits involve activities that are broken into manageable chunks, so the user can focus on the experience rather than the overall outcome. Mid to late stage kits focus more on experience as well as sensations from an activity. Below are some of the items you might find in your kit:

Colored Pencils and Coloring Pages

Coloring can be a very relaxing activity for those experience dementia symptoms. It allows a person to focus and “zone out” for a period of time, as well as relieve stress and improve a person’s mood.

Continue reading “Memory Caregiver Kits” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Film, Staff Picks

Martial Arts Films for Your Next Movie Night

Posted on by Ryan

Every day I feel like I’m turning more and more into my dad. I sneeze obnoxiously loud like him. I’m starting to get some gray hairs. I even sit at the dinner table the same way he does after eating — with my arms crossed over my chest and a sleepy look on my face. I imagine one day I’ll just wake up and find I’m a mini version of him (I’m technically taller than him so maybe a slightly bigger version? I don’t know but you get what I mean!)

One of the more recent dad-isms I’ve developed has involved watching one of his favorite kinds of movies: martial arts films. While I haven’t quite gotten into mobster movies yet like him — a story for another time when I inevitably do — I have been really enjoying films that include martial arts. Mainly the more comedic ones, but some serious ones here and there. Here’s a small helping of some of my favorites so far.

Shaolin Soccer (2004)

To kick things off, I’m starting with Shaolin Soccer for one simple reason: it combines my dad’s love for martial arts movies with his lifelong passion for soccer, a sport he played seriously for many years growing up.

In this movie, Shaolin kung fu master Sing — played by director Stephen Chow — teams up with former soccer star “Golden Leg” Fung to challenge Team Evil to a game of soccer, using the power of martial arts to pull off some over-the-top stunts, score some goals, and share the powers of Shaolin kung fu with the world.

With some funny dialogue, a goofy plot, and over-the-top special effects, this engaging movie provides quite a few laughs from start to finish. I can see why this was one of my dad’s favorites now.

Continue reading “Martial Arts Films for Your Next Movie Night” →