For Adults

Written by: Shweta Gandhi

The following book recommendations are intended for those of us who are searching for life’s true meaning, shedding light and clarity on some of life’s tough questions or are simply to help serve as daily reminders to information that we all already know so well.

1. “Millionaire Success Habits” by Dean Graziosi

“Millionaire Success Habits” is a book designed with one purpose in mind: to take you from where you are in life to where you want to be in life by incorporating easy-to-implement ‘Success Habits’ into your daily routine.

2. “The 5 AM Club” by Robin Sharma

Part manifesto for mastery, part playbook for genius-grade productivity and part companion for a life lived beautifully, The 5am Club is a work that will transform your life forever.

Audiobook also available on hoopla.

Summary is also available on hoopla.

3. ” Daily Inspiration From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by Robin Sharma

An international bestselling fable about a spiritual journey, littered with powerful life lessons that teach us how to abandon consumerism in order to embrace destiny, live life to the full and discover joy.

*Only available on hoopla

4. “Think Like A Monk” by Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast On Purpose, distills the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.

Also available on OverDrive 

5. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth 

In this must-read book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, athletes, students, and business people-both seasoned and new-that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called “grit.”

Also available on OverDrive

6. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck

After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities.

Also available on OverDrive and hoopla

7.  “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

“The Secret” ​ offers guidance on how to apply this powerful knowledge to your life in every area from health to wealth, to success and relationships, so you can obtain everything you’ve always wanted. No matter who you are, no matter where you are right now, no matter what you want–when you realize ​The Secret ​ you can have anything

Available on hoopla

Written by Laura Foti

Haaaaaaapy New Year…followed with….and “buckle up folks”.  Okay fine, is this exactly how we envisioned 2021 beginning?  Perhaps not.  Let’s face it, maybe this New Year isn’t off to your average start, but perhaps this year you’ve decided to  do away with the whole “New Year, New Me” age old mantra. If your New Year’s resolution seems somewhat futile – it’s all about the silver lining people (these are facts by the way, stats show only 8% of people keep their resolution….this gives us the opportunity to be 92% of the happier people who do away with the pressure!)

In all seriousness though, there is something to be said for a clean slate, and January 1^st allows for that.  However, given our reality right now, I decided to give some focus to a few topics I’d like to share that aren’t your typical resolutions.  You know the ones I’m talking about…”lose that dreadful quarantine 15 you’ve gained”, “get organized” and of course “finally use that crock pot that’s been collecting dust in your cold cellar for ten years”.

I came across a couple of titles in our library collection that could be life challenging in a lot more ways than fitting into your prom dress from 1987.

If there is one thing this pandemic is testing us on as a collective, it’s certainly a lesson in patience.  Perhaps not only is “patience a virtue” but one could argue, so is the art of slowing down.  For this reason, the book “The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down” by Haemin Sunim caught my eye.  Although some of us may be working less, going to school less, going out less, this book challenges us to question whether or not we’re taking this slower period in our lives as an opportunity to pay more attention to our surroundings, to focus on the more important things that sometimes the hustle and bustle of “normal” life can cause us to overlook important things.  The beauty of this read is that ringing true to the lesson of simplicity you can literally open it up to any given page and catch a glimpse of a quote, or a thought-provoking question you can ask yourself.   These are small anecdotes that can change your day in a huge way.  One that stood out to me in particular was “An ordinary person mainly notices particular things he likes or dislikes.  A wise person notices both the whole and particulars”.  This is a super cute read and nice to just have on your coffee table or bed side table for a quick pick me up or an “aha” moment.

I know that during a time where what we can and cannot do seems more and more limited as the days go on, thinking about having less in our lives seems a bit of a paradox right now.   I do question that maybe the New Year is a time to question our wants vs. our needs?  A good read for really thinking hard about what we place importance on and our reliance on the tangible and material world around us, is “The Year of Less” written by a Canadian author Cait Flanders.  In her late 20s Cait decided to chronicle a whole year of her life, each month broken down into chapters during which she only bought consumables:  groceries, toiletries and gas for her car.  Facing many challenges and realizations about herself and her dependencies along the way, perhaps the most fascinating part of her journey was the insight she attained and her realization that what matters most in life are the things you cannot see with the naked eye. Happiness and peace are both things that cannot be purchased.   This is a great read to finally take control of your finances for the year ahead but more importantly very uplifting read to gain some clarity and awareness on the truly important things you want to focus on for 2021.

Regardless of changing times and changing years, one thing remains unswerving throughout the years and that’s the beauty and life lessons a good book can provide.  On that note, happy reading and happy New Year everyone from all of us at CPL!

Kick off 2021 by joining readers across the country for One eRead Canada, the first national, bilingual (English and French) digital eBook club, featuring the exquisite and celebrated novel Vi by Kim Thúy. Readers from St John’s to Nanaimo to Whitehorse, along with more than 600 public libraries, will be taking part in this simultaneous reading party. From January 1 to 31, 2021, 85 per cent of all public libraries in Canada, including ours, will offer free, unlimited access to Vi in eBook and eAudiobook formats. The book will be available in both languages, without holds or waitlists, to everyone with a CPL library card.

Vi is a masterful novel about the lives and experiences of Vietnamese refugees in Canada. It was a finalist for the 2019 Governor General’s Literary Award in translation and longlisted for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize. This is your chance to have a taste of Vi’s life, a journey of self-discovery that will take you across the globe from Vietnam to Canada to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

So how to take part? You’ve got a few options. The main one is to grab a digital copy of the book from our Overdrive collection. From Jan. 1-31, Vi is available in eBook or eAudiobook format, in English or French, with no waitlists and no holds. Borrow it on your computer, or download the Libby app (App Store | Google Play) to read on your tablet or phone. If you’ve never used Overdrive or Libby before, here’s a tutorial to help you get started. If you don’t have a library card, fill out this form to request a temporary digital card.

If you’re not able to download or prefer a print book, you can join us at our newest book club, Reading Other Lives. It meets for the first time via Zoom on Jan. 15 at 1pm (registration is now open), and you can place a hold on a copy of the book to pick up at your nearest branch.

You can start connecting with readers across the country right away by joining the One eRead Canada Facebook Group or by using the hashtag #1eReadCanada. Every week in January, you’ll be invited to discuss a question on the themes, characters, and overall impressions of the eBook. Then, join book lovers from coast to coast to coast on the One eRead Canada Facebook group  on January 19 (in English) and January 20 (in French) at 7 pm for a live Q&A with the author to discuss some of the many themes that arise from this profoundly moving work.

In addition to being a bilingual, cross-country simultaneous reading experience, One eRead Canada underlines the Canadian Urban Libraries Council’s ongoing campaign, eContent for Libraries. Libraries want to work with the big publishers to establish fair pricing models that can benefit everyone and ensure equitable access to digital content such as eBooks and eAudiobooks. Collaborative library initiatives like One eRead Canada introduce readers and listeners to new books and authors, positively impacting sales of digital content – to the benefit of publishers, authors, and readers.

We hope you’ll enjoy Vi and this unique country-wide reading experience.

There’s no doubt about it – the holidays are going to be super weird this year. All of our fun family gatherings and meetups with friends are firmly on hold, and that means fewer opportunities for holiday noshing as well. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t cook up a storm just for your own household! Remember in the spring when we all rediscovered banana bread and sourdough? I predict the same thing is going to happen with our festive favourites. Now that you don’t need to make a massive turkey for 34, there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t try something really different, and really exciting, instead. Your library has a ton of fantastic cookbooks that are sure to inspire you. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Vegan Holiday Cookbook: Festive Plant-Based Meals and Desserts for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Table, Katie Culpin

“Holiday feasts have always been contentious for vegans and  their nonvegan family members–when a supposedly welcoming season of loved ones dining together becomes divisive when animal products are cooked as part of tradition. Vegan Holiday Recipes addresses this issue head-on and unites family and friends, vegan or not, over simply delicious, easy, healthy, seasonal food.”

My Drunk Kitchen Holidays! How to Savor and Celebrate the Year, Hannah Hart

“In the style of her first hit humorous cookbook, My Drunk Kitchen, which has sold close to 100,000 copies, My Drunk Kitchen Holidays! will celebrate holidays from Valentine’s Day to Graduation to Pride Month to International Bacon day (really!). The book will cumulate with the fall holidays that get so much deserved attention: recipes for Oktoberfest, Halloween, Thanksgiving with a twist, and a celebration of Hanukah/Kwanzaa/Christmas that is celebratory, inclusive, and incredibly hilarious.”

Set for the Holidays with Anna Olson, Anna Olson

“When does the festive season begin for you? For Anna Olson, it’s when she bakes her first pumpkin pie of the year. Pumpkin pie isn’t something she bakes on any old Tuesday evening, so it signifies something very special when she does- the start of the holidays! For Anna, the holidays are a time for spending with family and friends, for coming together, celebrating traditions and, of course, cooking delicious food! In this festive cookbook, Anna shares the recipes she loves to make during the holiday season (and, really, almost every day).”

The Artisanal Kitchen: Gluten-Free Holiday Cookies, Alice Medrich with Maya Klein

“Holidays are the time for baking and enjoying cookies and treats, and those with gluten sensitivities shouldn’t have to miss out. Baking with flavor flours–oat flour, sorghum flour, teff, coconut flour, and nut flours, like almond and hazelnut–means that everyone can enjoy holiday treats, from the classic Chocolate Chip Cookie to the decadent Peanut Crunch Brownies. Alternative flours make these cookies and bars gluten-free. And rather than simply adding starch and structure to a dessert (as is the case with wheat flour), these flours elevate the taste of every cookie and bar too. With seasonal favorites like Quince and Orange-Filled Chestnut Cookies, Chocolate Sablés, and Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies, these recipes–adapted from Alice Medrich’s Flavor Flours–make a must-have mini compendium of decadent gluten-free holiday desserts.”

The Unofficial Hogwarts for the Holidays Cookbook, Rita Mock-Pike

“What better way to celebrate any occasion than by whipping up a magically delicious meal in your kitchen? From sumptuous autumn and winter feasts to delectable desserts and tea-time treats, this book has all of your holidays and special occasions covered, with an extra magical twist. Celebrate in true wizarding world style with recipes like: Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Exploding Bon Bons, Licorice Wands, Chocolate Frogs, Rock Cakes, Pumpkin Tarts, and many more!”

(Summaries provided by Novelist Plus)

Written by Laura Foti

In these slightly less than predictable times, one thing that remains true and will never waiver is the nostalgia and feel good vibes that a Christmas movie provides.  They’re really “the gift that keeps on giving”  and prove themselves more of a staple than a stuffed turkey.  This year in particular, what better excuse to curl up  inside with a hot cocao in your pjs and reading socks (which are a great great idea if you’re stumped, and should be a staple in keeping with the theme) and add to your Christmas flick list?

Perhaps this year may seem less conventional than years past, so why not roll with the punches and contemplate some movie choices you’ve never considered?  Maybe this is an opportunity to take the snowy road less travelled and could be an occasion to create some new movie essentials for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

With that in mind I decided to go rogue rather than entertain the “customary”, and found some options that CPL has to offer that could end up making your Christmas “list” for years beyond this one!

First things first, I went to my trusted source that I’ve come to rely on more than Netflix these days and that’s our Hoopla app.  This is a great resource for borrowing movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks and even comics.  I came across the movie Christmas In the City and decided to give it a try.  In this film you’ll join a mother and daughter on their move to the big city, where Christmas is far different than the ones they’re accustomed to.  While the Mom takes on a job at a department store, it’s pretty clear to both of them that the city lacks the Christmas spirit and it’s cute to join them in their adventure to try to keep this from happening.  The typical role of Scrooge in the movie is well-played by Ashanti (R&B artist from the 90s) and her crafty ways of trying to sabotage the Christmas traditions makes this an inviting and interesting watch.  Sadly, Ashanti doesn’t perform, however, the soundtrack and performances of holiday songs in the movie make up for it…a very enjoyable and easy watch.

Then I decided to see what I could find on our Kanopy app.  This is a go-to for those who enjoy classic cinema, indie films, documentaries and festival award-winning films.  Rather than watch the traditional Nutcracker, I opted for a documentary on a behind the scenes look at timeless ballet.   Getting to the Nutcracker follows the comings and goings of a dance studio, and documents all the behind the scenes ins and outs of what goes into the whole production of this classic recital.  Many angles are explored from the props, to music, to the decision-making process of how to cast and for what role.  Young dancers and their families are documented and give their accounts of what this ballet means to them and the amount of pressure involved in the casting and performance.  Gives the viewer a whole new appreciation for this age-old tradition.

Last, and certainly not least, I perused our vast collection of multi-media in one of our CPL locations and decided on a Christmas DVD comedy called The Night Before.  To put it mildly, of all three choices it doesn’t get less traditional than this choice!  If you’ve overdone it on the fruit cake this season, fear no longer, an ab workout is an added bonus this flick offers.  I won’t spoil it, that would be a travesty, but three friends take their Christmas Eve adventure to a whole new level that makes the Griswold’s going to cut a tree down pale in comparison.  This comedy does not disappoint and the lengths their characters go to make their last annual tradition as memorable as possible get increasingly more and more shocking as the Eve unfolds.  Certainly not a pick for the faint of heart, and I’d suggest not having the kiddos around for this one, but for some intense laughter and shock value I highly recommend giving it a try.

There you have it folks! Whether you decide to stick with the traditional route this year, or choose the less conventional route, I hope that one thing remains unwavering, and that’s an enjoyable holiday with good company, good flicks, and good vibes all around.  Season’s Greetings to all from all of us at CPL!

Literature has an amazing ability to help us understand, develop empathy, and transport us to places and times that are not our own. As we observe Remembrance Day, great works of literature can remind us why it is crucial that we pause and remember. Here are a few titles to get you started:

Wake, by Anna Hope, follows three women in the days leading up to the interment of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920. Each has survived the war but experienced unthinkable loss, and as the nameless soldier’s body makes its way from the battlefields of France to London, the women struggle to adapt to the new reality of their lives and society at large after the fighting has ended.

All Quiet on the Western Front, the classic novel by Erich Maria Remarque, still has the power to stun modern audiences with its unflinching description of life in the German trenches of World War 1: “We are not youth any longer. We don’t want to take the world by storm. We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life. We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces”.

If you prefer a non-fiction read, Death So Noble: Memory, Meaning, and the First World War by military historian Jonathan Vance uncovers the ways in which Canadians memorialized the dead of World War 1. Drawing from media and popular culture of the time, he compares the romantic ideal of a noble war to the cold realities of trench warfare, and describes how the “war to end all wars” shaped the development of Canadian culture and identity.

If you like these, be sure to try these other titles you might enjoy: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, and Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy.