The Librarian Recommends

The Librarian Recommends…

Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C. Ford

“The library felt too good to be true. All those books, on all those shelves, and I could just pluck them out, one by one, find an empty chair, and read, and read, and read. When I realized nobody would stop me from browsing the teen and adult sections, that books were a place where my age didn't matter as long as I could read the words in front of me, I found a home for my mind and spirit to take root. My imagination had already taken me on a million wild rides, but here was unlimited adventure. For the rest of my life, I would seek out the library the way some search for the soft light of a chapel in the dark.”

Somebody’s Daughter is a powerful coming-of-age memoir surrounding childhood, family, and heritage. Though Ashley C. Ford’s memories of her father — a man serving an extended prison sentence for an unknown crime — are hazy, she has always clung to the idea that he is the only one who truly loves, believes in, and understands her. This belief is compounded by Ford’s fraught maternal relationship, a tense, volatile, and frequently violent situation that leaves her feeling alone and unwanted — a heart-wrenching notion she counteracts with self-imposed, often detrimental coping strategies.

As the years pass and her family continually struggles with poverty, Ford is forced to grapple with her changing body, unwelcome male attention, and a brutal assault that she keeps a secret. Soon after, she discovers the reason for her father’s imprisonment and, as her feelings of isolation increase, must come to grips with the truth as she navigates the rocky terrain of her life. The resulting account is a poignant, compelling, and page-turning examination of perseverance, acceptance, and familial love. Available via OverDrive and the CW MARS catalog.

Special Announcements

Interested in helping out at the library? We're looking for some adult volunteers to help with ice cream scooping and ushering for the magic show at our Summer Reading Kickoff Party on the afternoon of June 23rd. Sign up to volunteer here.

Ongoing volunteer information can be found on the Library's Volunteering page.

The Shrewsbury Public Library has partnered with Headspace! The Headspace app includes hundreds of meditations along with exercises for sleep, focus, and movement. Shrewsbury residents are eligible to request access to Headspace on a first come, first served basis, typically between the 14th and 28th of the month for the month that follows (i.e., you should sign up between June 14th and June 28th to request a July license). Find out more on our website.

Library Programs

Virtual Yoga with Bindu
Saturdays, June 4, 11, 18, & 25
9:00–10:00 a.m.
Virtual

Join us from home every Saturday in June as certified yoga instructor Bindu Gupta guides us through an hour-long Hatha yoga practice. Hatha yoga brings physical, emotional and spiritual awareness to one's body and mind. It also helps to relax your mind and relieve stress. In this class, we will use yoga poses and breathing techniques to strengthen the body and mind.

This class is for adults, but you are welcome to have your children along with you. No yoga experience is needed to participate. You may attend all four classes, but space is limited so please only reserve spots in classes you are sure you can attend.
 
Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

Register separately for each session.

Tax Planning in Retirement
Thursday, June 30th
6:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join the team from RetirementAdvisers.net for this important talk on retirement tax strategies.  Topics covered will include changes to retirement tax law, retirement tax risks, and creating tax-efficient income.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Shrewsbury Readers is a group about good books and good discussions. Titles are selected from various genres and copies of the book will be available for checkout at the main circulation desk of the library on the first floor. Meetings are held on first Thursdays at the library.

At the July 7th meeting, we will be discussing Thank You, Mr. Nixon by Gish Jen, a short story collection that takes readers on "a fictional journey through U.S.-China relations, capturing the excitement of a world on the brink of tectonic change" (penguinrandomhouse.com). This book is part of the library's collaboration with the MetroWest Readers Fest ONE read program. 

New members are welcome; please contact Priya Rathnam at 508-841-8537 or [email protected]