La Crosse’s Comments (group member since Nov 08, 2017)

La Crosse’s comments from the La Crosse Public Library group.

Join our Chapters book discussion group for their September read, Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford.

You can join us in person at the South or Main library, or online in our discussion area!

-Tuesday, September 10th, 1:30pm @ the South Community Library
-Wednesday, September 18th, 7:00pm @ the Main Library Trustees Room

Teaser Question: This book is about finding your place in the world. Do you think Ernest, Fahn, and Maisie ultimately find themselves? And are they happy with their choices in the end?

Join us in discussing The Dressmaker's Dowry by Meredith Jaeger. Bring your lunch. Dessert and beverage will be provided.

Discuss online in our Chapters Discussion topics, or join us in person on Tuesday, August 6th, from 12pm - 1pm at our Main Library in the Auditorium.

Teaser Question: The novel is set in 1876, years before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Margaret says, "There's enough sin in this city for it to burn someday." Is there anything about this time period in San Francisco's history that surprised you? Do you think it was more dangerous to be a working-class woman at that time than a woman of society?

It was a laugh-filled storytime this month for "Darwin Awards." With knife throwing circus men, horse rides to save wrestlers, menacing school principals, and a tyrannical T-Rex, we had quite the array of stories to fit whatever mood you're in. Here's what we shared this time. Tune in next month for "Stranger Than Fiction."



Essay:
Looking Back, It Was a Mistake Granting Sentience to the Country Bears by Jeff Loveness
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/l...

Short Story:
What We Wanted to Do (from The Hotel Eden: Stories) by Ron Carlson
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/510/...

Join our Chapters book club for a discussion on Jessica Shattuck's "The Women in the Castle."

Gather in person at the library for the public book chat, or join us in the discussion area online!

-Tuesday, July 9th, @ Main Library - Auditorium, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Teaser Questions: What does the novel reveal about the method and degree of Hitler's appeal to the German populace? In what way does it address the most problematic question of the War: how the German people allowed themselves to be swept away by Hitler and Nazi propaganda? Just as important, how much--and at what point--did ordinary citizens truly know about the impoundment and murder of Europe's Jewish population?

Describe each of the three women--Marianne, Ania, and Benita. Talk about their different views of the Hitler regime as it unfolded and their various reasons for supporting it. What was each woman's role, or position, in German society, and how did each experience the war? What about the years after the war?

Which woman's story do you find most compelling, frightening, or horrifying? Are you more sympathetic toward one than the other two?

Summer storytime has begun! Thanks to all who came out for Throwback Tuesday, and to our gracious hosts with the best brews, Turtle Stack Brewery!

Here are the titles we shared this month! See you again July 9th!



Special Collection (available for checkout at La Crosse Public Library):
True Tales of La Crosse by Douglas Connell
http://encore.wrlsweb.org/iii/encore/...

Satire:
Thanks, Cindy, For Making Eye Contact Through the Bathroom Stall and Making It Super Awkward During the Department Productivity Meeting
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/t...

Hi Beth,
Thanks for the suggestion. We do keep the event at the same location because it's easier for folks to remember and we have a great partnership with the brewery in supporting the library. (Their SFA pint glasses support the program, and they open up special for us, so we get that nice, intimate feel in the crowd, and don't have to battle over background noise or disrupt patrons who wouldn't be interested in the program.) However, it is possible we could do special edition elsewhere. We'll keep your feedback in mind as it is important.

Did you know we're not the only library doing this program? Our staff have actually been sharing the program at library conferences around the country. Winona Public Library, one of our Great River Writes partners, hosts Storytime for Adults and there's is often done as a stress relief event, with coloring too. If you love this program, be sure to check out other area libraries, like Winona, who may offer adapted versions of the program!
Thanks!

Our May edition of storytime was a packed house with the theme of "Read This Movie". Storytellers shared some of their favorite books adapted for the big screen. Grab yourself a copy (of the book or film) from your local library!



Satire:
New Erotica for Feminists by Caitlin Kunkel, Carrie Wittmer, Brooke Preston, and Fiona Taylor
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/n...

Join our Chapters book club for discussions on Jim Fergus' "One Thousand White Women."

Gather in person at the library for the public book chat, or join us in the discussion area online!

-Tuesday, June 11th, @ Main Library - Auditorium, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Teaser Questions: One Thousand White Women was written by a man, but in a woman's point of view. Did you find this convincing?

If the "Brides for Indians" program were actually put into effect in 1875, do you feel it would have been effective?

While depicting the slaughter of Native Americans and their culture, Jim Fergus also portrays the imminent decimation of the natural landscape. Consider both tragedies. Were they equally inevitable? Are they equally irreversible?

Welcome to La Crosse Public Library's new podcast, The Check-In.

Listen in to this month's episode of The Check-In to hear about the North American Squirrel Association's efforts to bring outdoor recreational therapy to children with special needs and people with disabilities, learn more about what's going on in and beyond the county with the Winding Rivers Library System and how they partner with our La Crosse Public Library, and get some reading suggestions sure to entertain history and mystery buffs alike!

Listen here (select episode 6)>>>
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen#...

What We're Reading:

April's theme was "Death and Taxes" and we kept the stories on the darker side for this month. Note* No dogs were harmed in the sharing of our stories. Thank you to all who came out and congrats to the winners of the Storytime for Adults/Turtle Stack pint glasses! We have the best crowd and the best host!

Here's what we shared this month:


Essays:
And Jesus Said Unto Paul of Ryan by Nicholas Kristof
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/op...
The Queen's Gold Piano is the Best Weird Flex by R. Eric Thomas
https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrit...

Poem:
Shield of Achilles by W.H. Auden
https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/s...

Join our Chapters book club for discussions on Anita Shreve's "The Stars are Fire."

Gather in person at the library for these public book chats, or join us in the discussion area below!

-Tuesday, May 14th, @ South Community Library, 1:30pm
-Wednesday, May 22nd, @Main Library Trustees' Room, 7:00pm

Teaser Questions: Before reading The Stars are Fire, what did you know about the fires that tore through Maine in 1947?

Discuss Grace's relationship with Rosie. Why is this friendship so important to Grace? What function does Rosie serve in her life?

How does the notion of a "diaspora" figure into the story?

On page 195, Gene says, "Goddamnit, Grace. What's got into you?" She replies, "What's gone out of me is a better question." What does this mean?

Welcome to La Crosse Public Library's new podcast, The Check-In.

We return, a bit delayed due to weather, with the first episode of The Check-In in 2019. In this episode we interview author Nickolas Butler, speak with February's nonprofit of the month the Franciscan Spirituality Center, and get some intriguing nonfiction book suggestions from library staff member Jess Witkins!

Listen here (select episode 5)>>>
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen#...

What We're Reading:

Thanks to all who joined us on a rainy tuesday night! We had fun tasting Turtle Stack's new Irish brews and heard a wonderful mix of reads this month around our theme of "March Madness" - emphasis on the "madness."

Here's what we shared in March!



Letters:
http://vangoghletters.org/vg/

Essay:
Everything You Need to Know About Your Public Library's New Murder Dome by Danny Zillmer
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/e...

Join our Chapters book club for Emma Flint's "Little Deaths."

Gather in person at the library for these public book chats, or join us in the discussion area online!

-Tuesday, March 12th, @ South Community Library, 1:30pm
-Wednesday, March 20th, @Main Library Trustees' Room, 7:00pm

Teaser Question: The novel explores love in many forms, from parental to romantic to obsessive. How far did you feel the characters and their actions were affected by love?

Join our Chapters Book Club for this February read, A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick.

Connect in person at these open book club events, or join us online in the discussion box!

- Tuesday, February 12th at South Community Library, 1:30pm
- Wednesday, February 20th at Main Library Trustees' Room, 7:00pm

Teaser Question: Ralph and Catherine's story frequently pauses to give brief, frequently horrific glimpses into the lives of others. Ralph remarks on the violence that surrounds them in Wisconsin, saying, "They hate their lives. They start to hate to each other. They lose their minds, wanting things they can't have." How do these vignettes of madness and violence contribute to the novel's themes?

Welcome to La Crosse Public Library's new podcast, The Check-In. Shared monthly, here's where you can learn about what's happening at LPL, get the scoop on special events, and find a variety of staff recommendations.

In our December episode, Brendan sits down with Anita and Jenny from our Archives Department, Patt who leads our Monday Night at the Movies program, and Laura from our Circulation Department as she shares her favorite staff picks.

Listen here (select episode 3)>>>
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen#...

What We're Reading:

Love was in the air at our February Storytime for Adults! Here are the titles we shared for "Bad Romance."



Essay:
My Love For You Burns Like This Dumpster Fire I Accidentally Started by Harris Mayerson
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/m...

Poem:
Every Day You Play by Pablo Neruda
https://hellopoetry.com/poem/9920/eve...

Thanks for joining us for the January edition of storytime: broken resolutions! Looking to add to your 'to be your read' list this year? Here are the titles we shared this month!



Essays:
We've Reached a New Low, Although I'm Not Going to Specify Who's Responsible by Chandler Dean
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/w...

My Life Cleanse: One Month Inside L.A.'s Cult of Betterness by Rosecrans Baldwin
https://www.gq.com/story/one-month-in...

Thanks to all who came out for Storytime's holiday horror edition. We had a great mix of heartfelt, humor, and horror in our readings. Here are the titles we shared this month.

It was a glorious night of family feuds, our theme, for the November Storytime for Adults. Thank you to our host, the ever awesome Turtle Stack Brewery, and to our listeners, ever curious what insane thing will come out of our mouths this time. Here are the books, letters, and essays we shared this month. Cheers and happy reading!



Letter:
Apologies by Honest Toddler (Bunmi Laditan)
http://www.thehonesttoddler.com/2016/...

Satirical Essays:
I'm Tired of "Well-Meaning" Parents Interfering When My Toddler and I Rob a Liquor Store by Alex Kane
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i...

It's Official! Your Winter Depression Has Just Been Renewed for Another Season! by Richard Light
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i...