Stories For All Ages

Read Charlotte Canelli's entire column this week in the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.

The reality is that I live in a world of book lust, one in which I get to read a very small percentage of what I read about or purchase for the library.

I confess that I read fiction only when it captures my interest or imagination. I’ve read, of course, quite a bit of classical and contemporary fiction over the last half century. However, I am often jealous of my colleagues, family and friends who have a much longer fiction-reading list that I have.

My personal passion for reading lies in non-fiction. When I’m asked for my favorite book or a recommendation I always think first of titles within the non-fiction genres, whether they are serious historical or scientific accounts or quirky travelogues or memoirs.

Read a Good Book With Your Ears

Jenna Hecker is the Technology/Reference Librarian at the library. Read her entire column in the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin this week.

Excerpt:

Growing up, I had a voracious appetite for books. I was constantly bothering my parents to please read one more story.

Bored with the always-predictable ending to the “Frog and Toad” stories, their voices hoarse, my parents finally invested in books on tape. I quickly realized that the professional readers on my tapes were much more animated than my parents, and never demanded that I go to bed. The books on tape became my preferred method of getting my literary fix.

When I learned to read to myself, I abandoned my beloved tapes. Chapter books couldn’t be absorbed in a single night the way picture books could, and it felt much more grown-up to walk around with my nose in a book than to wear headphones.

Our Newest Four-Legged Best Friend

Read Charlotte Canelli's entire column this week in the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.

Excerpt:

When Gerry married me I came with some baggage, some of it my 2-year-old toddler-puppy and a few of her leftover medical bills. I’ll spare you the details, but I rescued her from sure-euthanasia when for nearly a year she suffered from life-threatening Boxer colitis.

A homemade diet of sweet potatoes, barley, ground beef and scrambled eggs saved her life and that concoction, along with a hearty dose of loving family life, keeps her amazingly healthy today.

Most amazingly, of course, is that Gerry accepted us, the complicated librarian and her sickly dog and crazy dog diet plus all of our bad habits. He’s had only a few raised eyebrows and had minimal reservations to date.

Wedding Season

Read Charlotte Canelli's entire column this week in the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.

Excerpt:

This coming 12 months we have not one, but two daughters getting married. Each is the eldest daughter – both my husband’s and mine. This is a different century, however, and our independent daughters are full of their own plans and organizational skills. These creative and resourceful young women have needed little help.

I’ve had an amazing romp with my own daughter through the bridal shop scene. Both Gerry (my husband) and I have had the tasty experience of trying wedding-day menus and the teary-eyed ones viewing engagement photos. Yet, all of it has been totally organized by the brides and their soon-to-be-spouses.