Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: August

Our theme for the library this year is What a Wonderful World, and to that end, we’re focusing on seeing the wonder in our world. Usually, every month at the desk, we have an article available for patrons to read and discuss with Julie, our library director, but this year, we’re handing out poems instead. Our trusty library goose is also helping us pen a monthly column that focuses on some of the gems in our poetry collection.

For August, our poem is Rainier Maria Rilke’s “Sunset.” Rilke is a noted late 19th century/early 20th century Austrian poet who is often considered a bridge between more traditional poetry and the modernist school. Rilke’s also one of the best-known German-language poets in the English-speaking world. His elegant, lyrical work is often billed as “mystical.”

Book Buzz: Robots, Conservationists, Inheritances, and Stand-Alone Fantasies

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For August, we’re looking at science fiction about robots who are out of the loop, a history of the efforts to save endangered species, a tale that is equal parts family mystery and historical fiction, and an audiobook featuring a coming-of-age high fantasy.

TV Review: Justified (2010)

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Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant, Deadwood) is unceremoniously banished back to his native Kentucky after his most recent assignment in Miami goes sideways. Let’s just say that Raylan’s quick-draw tendencies probably are a better fit for the 19th century than they are the 21st century. They also say you can’t go home again, but after his dysfunctional, hardscrabble childhood in rural Harlan County, Raylan really doesn’t want to be in Kentucky. Nonetheless, his new boss (Nick Searcy) thinks Raylan may be useful in the task force investigating his one-time coal mining coworker Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), and quite frankly, no other Marshal office wants Raylan. Complications ensue. . . .

What a Wonderful World: August

This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and August’s is sunset orange. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it) on the cover!