The Book Corner: March picks from the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library

It's March and spring is in the air! On March 20 we melt away the winter chill and welcome the first day of spring. It’s the time of year that signifies rebirth as flowers and trees bud and the days become longer. It’s also a time to start anew and refresh ourselves as we awaken all the goodness that surrounds us.

This month is also a time to celebrate women. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating March as “Women's History Month” to recognize the contributions and achievements women have made throughout American history. The United Nations proclaimed March 8 International Women’s Day, a global celebration to embrace equity. This year’s theme is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” The day highlights the need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education, and spotlights the importance of empowering women and girls to use innovation and technology to make the world a better place.

Women’s History Month

“I’m Still Writing” by Virginia Ann Byrd. Beloved female writers, both past and present, share their thoughts on the joy and struggle of writing. Their words will nurture and challenge your writing, inviting you to dive deeper into your creativity and find power on the page.

“Remarkable Women of New York State History,” Edited by Helen Engel & Marilynn Smiley. Members of the American Association of University Women in New York State offer insight into the lives of some of New York's finest women who have steered the course of New York's history from the colonial era through today.

Library Director Cathleen Sulli’s picks:

“Women in White Coats: How the First Women Changed the World of Medicine” by Olivia Campbell. Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and Sophia Jex-Blake were medical doctors in the 1880's, a time when women did not hold medical degrees and women in general received little if any medical care. A wonderful storyteller, Campbell brings these women and the world they inhabited to life.

“Georgia O'Keefe: A Portrait” by Georgia O'Keefe. It's wonderful to hear O'Keefe describe her artwork and her growth as an artist, including the influence that location had on her work. I loved learning about her life when she painted various paintings.

“Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion” by Shannon Stocker. Evelyn became deaf as a young girl. Many people told her that she could never become a musician but she bravely chose to listen with all her senses and became the first person to make a career as a solo percussionist. This is a beautiful and empowering picture book.

1st Day of Spring

“A Dish for All Seasons” by Kathryn Pauline. Enjoy easy springtime cooking with 26 adaptable recipes, each with four seasonal variations. It’s the ideal companion for farmers market fans or anyone who wants to take advantage of peak-season produce.

“Rachel’s Good Eats” by Rachael DeVaux: Registered dietician, personal trainer and widely-followed health and fitness influencer offers over 110 fast, flavor-boosted meals and daily treats to make at home. Recipes are vegetable-forward, without all the processed sugar and refined carbohydrates, and emphasize food as fuel.

“Inner Workout” by Taylor Elyse Morrison. Based on the idea that the key to true self-care is to build an intuitive connection to yourself, this book redefines and enriches the concept of self-care in a way that’s accessible, actionable, and deeply personalized, weaving in prompts, self-assessments, and practices that take a refreshing “use what resonates, let go of the rest” approach.

Cathleen’s picks:

“Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again” by Page Dickey. Garden designer and writer Dickey and her husband Bosco Schell move from North Salem to Falls Village, CT. They leave behind their garden at Duck Hill and create a new home at Church House which includes a landscape of native plants, woodland, and meadows.

“Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed. The author recovers her sense of self after the loss of her mother to lung cancer through an 1100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. She faces and overcomes many obstacles as a beginning hiker, makes new friends, and finds healing.

“The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paul Coelho. A young man, Santiago, is on a quest to find treasure. Will he find it? And what is treasure? Is it something inside us or is it wealth?

March happenings at the library:

Conversations with Local Gardeners

Meets Saturday, March 4; 10:00am - 11:00am

Bring your questions and ideas to this informal group of local expert garden enthusiasts. Please check the web page to see if it is meeting by zoom or in person. Free; open to all.

The World of St. Patrick with Dr. Michael Norris

Zoom presentation on Tuesday, March 7; 7:30pm - 9:00pm (registration required)

Look at ancient Britain under Roman rule and its most famous citizen from the 5th century, St. Patrick. Hear about his autobiography, letters, and the Ireland he knew as an enslaved person and missionary. Michael Norris holds a Ph.D. in art history from the University of California and was a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cloisters for twenty years.

Monday Meditation with Colleen Casale

Online event on March 13; 12:00pm - 12:20pm (Registration required)

These sessions run for 20 minutes and are scheduled for the second Monday of each month. You do not need to attend all sessions to register. Benefits of meditation: increased focus and concentration; mind is peaceful and content, strengthening the immune system and physical body; reduces anxiety and normalizes blood pressure; and deepens and improves sleep.