Essays

Upcoming programs:

Wed 5/3 @ 6:30pm
Sound Café: Southern Music Research Center
More information: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/7811224

Sun 5/7 @ 3pm
Short Story Matinee Film Series: Stagecoach
More information: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/7869850

Sun 5/14 @ 7pm
Under the Mountain film screening: The Wicker Man
More information: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/8036398

Tue 5/23 @ 6:30pm
Books & Beyond: Ancient Greece
More information: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/6648594

Wed 5/31 @ 11am
Alabama Historical Association: Understanding Early Creek Life
More information: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/8173132

The next Books & Beyond (BAB) meeting, listed above, will be on Tuesday, May 23rd at 6:30pm.  If you’d rather attend online, register your email to receive the Zoom link nearer to the meeting day.  The topic up for discussion is ancient Greece.  The book display is available at the 2nd floor service desk and you can peruse it online on BAB’s row (7th row down the page) of Shelf Care here: https://oneallibrary.org/adults---reading-recommendations

BAB met last night to discuss essay collections:

The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry

The Art of the Commonplace gathers twenty essays by Wendell Berry that offer an agrarian alternative to our dominant urban culture. Grouped around five themes―an agrarian critique of culture, agrarian fundamentals, agrarian economics, agrarian religion, and geobiography―these essays promote a clearly defined and compelling vision important to all people dissatisfied with the stress, anxiety, disease, and destructiveness of contemporary American culture.

My Life as a Villainess: Essays by Laura Lippman

In this collection of new and previously published essays, New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman offers her take on a woman's life across the decades. Her childhood and school years, her newspaper career, her experiences as a novelist - Lippman finds universal touchstones in an unusual life that has as many twists as her award-winning crime fiction.

ContraPoint youtube channel: The Witch Trials of J.K.Rowling

Natalie Wynn is an American YouTuber, political commentator, and cultural critic. She is best known for her YouTube channel, ContraPoints, where she creates video essays exploring a wide range of topics such as politics, gender, ethics, race, and philosophy.

I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America by Tyler Merritt

In this powerful memoir, the creator of the viral videos "Before You Call the Cops" and "Walking While Black", Tyler Merritt, shares his experiences as a Black man in America with truth, humor, and poignancy.

The Lyric Essay as Resistance: Truth from the Margins edited by Zoe Bossiere et al.

Lyric essayists draw on memoir, poetry, and prose to push against the arbitrary genre restrictions in creative nonfiction, opening up space not only for new forms of writing, but also new voices and a new literary canon. This anthology features some of the best lyric essays published in the last several years by prominent and emerging writers. Editors Zoë Bossiere and Erica Trabold situate this anthology within the ongoing work of resistance-to genre convention, literary tradition, and the confines of dominant-culture spaces. As sites of resistance, these essays are diverse and include investigations into deeply personal and political topics such as queer and trans identity, the American BIPOC experience, reproductive justice, belonging, grief, and more.

More info on lyric essays: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/teacher_and_tutor_resources/writing_instructors/creative_nonfiction_in_writing_courses/lyric_essays.html

The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara and Lenin Play Chess by Andrei Codrescu

The Posthuman Dada Guide is an impractical handbook for practical living in our posthuman world―all by way of examining the imagined 1916 chess game between Tristan Tzara, the daddy of Dada, and V. I. Lenin, the daddy of communism. Taking the match as metaphor for two poles of twentieth- and twenty-first-century thought, politics, and life, Andrei Codrescu has created his own brilliantly Dadaesque guide to Dada―and to what it can teach us about surviving our ultraconnected present and future. 

See What Can Be Done: Essays, Criticism, and Commentary by Lorrie Moore

This essential, enlightening, truly delightful collection shows one of our greatest writers parsing the political, artistic, and media landscape of the past three decades. These sixty-six essays and reviews, culled from the pages of The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, Harper’s, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker, among others, find Lorrie Moore turning her discerning eye on everything from celebrity culture to the wilds of television, from Stephen Sondheim to Barack Obama. See What Can Be Done is a perfect blend of craft, brains, and a knowing, singular take on life, liberty, and the pursuit of (some kind of) happiness.

Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing by Robert Caro

Caro recalls the moments at which he came to understand that he wanted to write not just about the men who wielded power but about the people and the politics that were shaped by that power. And he talks about the importance to him of the writing itself, of how he tries to infuse it with a sense of place and mood to bring characters and situations to life on the page. Taken together, these reminiscences—some previously published, some written expressly for this book—bring into focus the passion, the wry self-deprecation, and the integrity with which this brilliant historian has always approached his work.

Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

From here the story could take many turns. When this guy is David Sedaris, the possibilities are endless, but the result is always the same: he will both delight you with twists of humor and intelligence and leave you deeply moved.

The Mindfulness Revolution: Leading Psychologists, Scientists, Artists, and Meditation Teachers on the Power of Mindfulness in Daily Life edited by  Barry Boyce et al.

A growing body of scientific research indicates that mindfulness can reduce stress and improve mental and physical health. Countless people who have tried it say it's improved their quality of life. Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of paying steady and full attention, without judgment or criticism, to our moment-to-moment experience. Here is a collection of the best writing on what mindfulness is, why we should practice it, and how to apply it in daily life, from leading figures in the field.

Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners by Alan Emmins

Neal Smither doesn't hide his work. The side of his van reads: "Crime Scene Cleaners: Homicides, Suicides and Accidental Death." Whenever a hotel guest permanently checks out, the cops finish an investigation, or an accidental death is reported, Smither's crew pick up the pieces after the police cruisers and ambulances have left. Alan Emmins offers a glimpse at this little-known aspect of America's most gruesome deaths. Filled with details as fascinating as they are gory, Mop Men examines not just the public fascination with murder but also how a self-made success like Smither can make a fortune just by praying for death.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

In his bestselling books, Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon, has fearlessly revealed the struggles of his profession. Here he examines its ultimate limitations and failures―in his own practices as well as others'―as life draws to a close. Riveting, honest, and humane, Being Mortal shows how the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life―all the way to the very end.

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

If human beings disappeared instantaneously from the Earth, what would happen? How would the planet reclaim its surface? What creatures would emerge from the dark and swarm? How would our treasured structures--our tunnels, our bridges, our homes, our monuments--survive the unmitigated impact of a planet without our intervention? In his revelatory, bestselling account, Alan Weisman draws on every field of science to present an environmental assessment like no other, the most affecting portrait yet of humankind's place on this planet.

Authors of note:

Ann Patchett

What Now

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage

These Precious Days

Mary Roach

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

My Planet: Finding Humor in the Oddest Places

 

Aging Gracefully

 

Older and (sometimes) wiser, these characters will charm you and keep you wondering what they’ll do next. From bestsellers like A Man Called Ove to upcoming new releases like Colleen Oakley’s The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, you’ll want to get your hands on these incredible books with older protagonists. 

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten 

Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and... no qualms about a little murder. This funny, irreverent story collection will keep you laughing all the way to the retirement home. 

A Man Called Ove (pronounced UU-veh) by Fredrik Backman
Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks! Fredrik Backman’s beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist) 

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
This humorous, life-affirming, and charmingly wise novel tells the story of how the forced retirement of a shy, closeted postman in northern England creates a second chance with his lost love, as he learns to embrace his true self, connect with his community, and finally experience his life’s great adventure… 

Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon
Eighty-four-year-old Florence can’t help but wonder why the new resident at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly looks so much like someone she knew who died 60 years ago — but is this a mystery or confusion caused by her worsening dementia? 

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First, he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets. John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea of what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine. And what he will become is far stranger. 

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle
Jamaican immigrant and widower Hubert lives in England, chatting on the phone every week with his adult daughter in Australia. In their conversations, he paints a picture of a life filled with friends and activity. When his daughter plans a visit, Hubert realizes he can’t expose the truth of his lonely life to her and he must attempt to create the life he’s told her so much about. 

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh
In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. All the brothers share a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by. Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives. 

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
An Apple+ series starring Samuel L. Jackson! Marooned in an apartment that overflows with mementos from the past, 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey is all but forgotten by his family and the world. But when an unexpected opportunity arrives, everything changes for Ptolemy in ways as shocking and unanticipated as they are poignant and profound. 

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
A spare yet eloquent, bittersweet yet inspiring story of a man and a woman who, in advanced age, come together to wrestle with the events of their lives and their hopes for the imminent future. 

Once a Spy by Keith Thomson
Alzheimer’s has taken its toll on Drummond Clark, turning him into a confused old man who’s wandered away from home, waiting for his son to fetch him. When Charlie Clark takes a break from his latest losing streak at the track to bring Drummond back to his Brooklyn home, they find it blown sky high—and then bullets start flying in every direction. At first, Charlie thinks his Russian “creditors” are employing aggressive collection tactics. But once Drummond effortlessly hot-wires a car as their escape vehicle, Charlie begins to suspect there’s much more to his father than meets the eye. He soon discovers that Drummond’s unremarkable career as an appliance salesman was actually a clever cover for a spy of legendary proportions. Drummond’s intricate knowledge is extremely dangerous information to have rattling around in an Alzheimer’s-addled brain. The CIA wants to “contain” him--and so do some other shady characters who send Charlie and Drummond on a wild chase that gives “father and son quality time” a whole new meaning. 

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirement village neighbors meet weekly to examine unsolved crimes, calling themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When the mysterious death of a developer shocks the neighborhood, the group of unlikely sleuths will have to use all of their combined skills to crack the case. 

Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Three years have passed since the widowed Dowager Royina Ista found release from the curse of madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle of Valenda. Her newfound freedom is costly, bittersweet with memories, regrets, and guilty secrets -- for she knows the truth of what brought her land to the brink of destruction. And now the road -- escape -- beckons. . . . A simple pilgrimage, perhaps. Quite fitting for the Dowager Royina of all Chalion. Yet something else is free, too -- something beyond deadly. 

The Lido by Libby Page
The international bestselling debut about friendship and love—featuring the life-changing relationship between an anxious young reporter and an eighty-six-year-old lifelong swimmer. 

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Each day is the same for Arthur Pepper: He wears the same clothes, waters the same fern, and continues to miss his late wife, Miriam. On the first anniversary of Miriam’s death, the discovery of a gold charm bracelet Arthur has never seen before sends him on a worldwide search for answers. 

The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle
When Betty meets Roy online, the companionship he provides seems to be exactly what the wealthy widow needs. Soon, he has moved into her lavish home and involved himself in her finances. Betty’s relatives immediately realize that Roy isn’t who he seems to be — but the true story that unfolds, spanning decades and continents, proves to be more complicated than any reader could imagine. 

Murder on a Girls’ Night Out by Ann George
This hilarious tale of two “60 something” sisters reveals the deadly consequences of a hasty real estate purchase. Retired Alabama school teacher Patricia Anne thinks her older sister, flamboyant Mary Alice, has lost her mind. On a whim, Mary Alice bought the Skoot ’n’ Boot, the local country western night spot where she and her boyfriend hang out. Mary Alice insists it will be easy to run the club - until the previous owner is found executed, gangland style, in the club’s wishing well. Suddenly the sheriff is demanding answers, and a killer with unfinished business is sending messages even optimistic Mary Alice can’t ignore. 

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
When 77-year-old Judith Potts witnesses a murder while out on the Thames River, she bands together with dog walker Suzie and vicar’s wife Becks to investigate the crime. However, when another dead body turns up on their watch, the ladies may have found a serial killer — and a mystery that’s more than they bargained for. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A charming, witty and compulsively enjoyable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus. 

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined. 

Varina Palladino’s Jersey Italian Love Story by Terri-Lynne DeFino
This book has been called a blend of Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding — if the two stories were taken over by New Jersey Italian Americans! Other widows might be retiring recluses, but Varina Palladino won’t be kept from successfully running her family’s Italian grocery store as well as managing her large, boisterous family. What Varina’s not embracing, much to her ninety-two-year-old mother’s dismay, is dating. 

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
When retired Major Pettigrew strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani village shopkeeper, he is drawn out of his regimented world and forced to confront the realities of life in the twenty-first century. Brought together by a shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship on the cusp of blossoming into something more. 

When in Rome by Liam Callanan
From nationally bestselling, award-winning author Liam Callanan, the story of an opportunity to start over at midlife, a chance to save a struggling convent in the Eternal City, and the dramatic re-emergence of an old flame . . . 

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
An unforgettable pairing of a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law propels this story full of tremendous heart, humor, and wit. 

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia's late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down. 

The Half of It by Juliette Fay
The author delivers a beautiful story of a woman reflecting on the most impactful night of her life — and reuniting with the man involved after 40 years apart. When Helen Spencer and Cal Crosby unexpectedly cross paths, they both have marriages, children, and grandchildren behind them, but neither can forget their long-ago shared history. 

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley (publishing May 30, 2023)
Five college friends have made good on a pact to reunite decades later for a celebration of their lives, determined to reflect now instead of waiting for their funerals. But Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig, and Marielle suddenly face the biggest challenge to happen to any of them — and a huge secret is revealed that will change all of their lives.