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My year of rest and relaxation / by Moshfegh, Ottessa,author.;
"From one of our boldest, most celebrated new literary voices, a shocking and tender novel about a young woman's efforts to sustain a state of deep hibernation over the course of a year on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Our narrator should be happy, shouldn't she? She's young, thin, pretty, a recent Columbia graduate, works an easy job at a hip art gallery, lives in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan paid for, like the rest of her needs, by her inheritance. But there is a dark and vacuous hole in her heart, and it isn't just the loss of her parents, or the way her Wall Street boyfriend treats her, or her sadomasochistic relationship with her best friend, Reva. It's the year 2000 in a city aglitter with wealth and possibility; what could be so terribly wrong? My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a powerful answer to that question. Through the story of a year spent under the influence of a truly mad combination of drugs designed to heal our heroine from her alienation from this world, Moshfegh shows us how reasonable, even necessary, alienation can be. Both tender and blackly funny, merciless and compassionate, it is a showcase for the gifts of one of our major writers working at the height of her powers"--
Subjects: Psychological fiction.;

Flush : the remarkable science of an unlikely treasure / by Nelson, Bryn,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The future is sh*t: the literal kind. For most of human history we've been, well, disinclined to take a closer look at our body's natural product--the complex antihero of this story--save for gleaning some prophecy of our own health. But if we were to take more than a passing look at our poop, we would spy a veritable cornucopia of possibilities. We would see potent medicine, sustainable power, and natural fertilizer to restore the world's depleted lands. We would spy a time capsule of evidence for understanding past lives and murderous ends. We would glimpse effective ways of measuring and improving human health from the cradle to the grave, early warnings of community outbreaks like Covid-19, and new means of identifying environmental harm--and then reversing it. Flush is both an urgent exploration of the world's single most squandered natural resource, and a cri de coeur (or cri de colon?) for the vast, hidden value in our "waste." Award-winning journalist and microbiologist Bryn Nelson, PhD, leads readers through the colon and beyond with infectious enthusiasm, helping to usher in a necessary mental shift that could restore our balance with the rest of the planet and save us from ourselves. Unlocking poop's enormous potential will require us to overcome our shame and disgust and embrace our role as the producers and architects of a more circular economy in which lowly byproducts become our species' salvation. Locked within you is a medicine cabinet, a biogas pipeline, a glass of drinking water, a mound of fuel briquettes; it's time to open the doors (carefully!). A dose of medicine, a glass of water, a gallon of rocket fuel, an acre of soil: sometimes hope arrives in surprising packages"--
Subjects: Feces; Feces.;

Under a white sky : the nature of the future / by Kolbert, Elizabeth,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction returns to humanity's transformative impact on the environment, now asking: After doing so much damage, can we change nature, this time to save it? That man should have dominion "over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" is a prophecy that has hardened into fact. So pervasive are human impacts on the planet that it's said we live in a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. In Under a White Sky, Elizabeth Kolbert takes a hard look at the new world we are creating. She meets scientists who are trying to preserve the world's rarest fish, which lives in a single, tiny pool in the middle of the Mojave. She visits a lava field in Iceland, where engineers are turning carbon emissions to stone; an aquarium in Australia, where researchers are trying to develop "super coral" that can survive on a hotter globe; and a lab at Harvard, where physicists are contemplating shooting tiny diamonds into the stratosphere in order to reflect sunlight back to space and cool the earth. One way to look at human civilization, says Kolbert, is as a ten-thousand-year exercise in defying nature. In The Sixth Extinction, she explored the ways in which our capacity for destruction has reshaped the natural world. Now she examines how the very sorts of interventions that have imperiled our planet are increasingly seen as the only hope for its salvation. By turns inspiring, terrifying, and darkly comic, Under a White Sky is an utterly original examination of the challenges we face"--
Subjects: Ecological engineering.; Environmental protection.; Human ecology.; Nature; Sustainability.;

You can be an activist : how to use your strengths & passions to make a difference / by Rocha, Charlene.; Leatherdale, Mary Beth.; Shannon, Drew,1988-;
Includes bibliographical references and index.Here's the definitive handbook for young activists who want to make a difference but don't know where to begin. It covers everything from choosing a cause and doing the research, to deciding on a goal, and then making a plan to get it done. Along the way, readers will encounter loads of practical tips on handling specific tasks, like creating a petition, and larger responsibilities, like leading a team. There are also important discussion about essential topics such as intersectionality, privilege and allyship. Written in the encouraging, friendly tone of a peer, this book is sure to inform and inspire budding activists - and open their eyes to what's possible! Written by youth activist Charlene Rocha and award-winning author Mary Beth Leatherdale, this guide demystifies activism for budding social justice campaigners and climate advocates, and encourages readers to bring their own passions and interests to their work. Drew Shannon's illustrations bring a sense of fun to the topic, and the comprehensive text is presented in chunks and sidebars, with engaging quizzes, prompts, lists, templates, profiles and interviews throughout. The book supports young readers in learning more about issues such as queer rights, feminism and Black Lives Matter. The back matter includes an extensive list of resources, a checklist of next steps, a glossary and an index. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book aligns with the themes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Subjects: Activism; Soical justice; Social action; Children;

Can't we be friends : a novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe / by Bryce, Denny S.,author.; Knight, Eliza,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."One woman was recognized as the premiere singer of her era with perfect pitch and tireless ambition. One woman was the most glamorous star in Hollywood, a sex symbol who took the world by storm. And their friendship was fast and firm ... 1952: Ella Fitzgerald is a renowned jazz singer whose only roadblock to longevity is society's attitude toward women and race. Marilyn Monroe's star is rising despite ongoing battles with movie studio bigwigs and boyfriends. When she needs help with her singing, she wants only the best--and the best is the brilliant Ella Fitzgerald. But Ella isn't a singing teacher and declines--then the two women meet, and to everyone's surprise but their own, they become fast friends. On the surface, what could they have in common? Yet each was underestimated by the men in their lives--husbands, managers, hangers-on. And both were determined to gain. Each fought for professional independence and personal agency in a time when women were expected to surrender control to those same men. This novel reveals and celebrates their surprising bond over a decade and serves as a poignant reminder of how true friendship can cross differences to bolster and sustain us through haunting heartbreak and wild success"--
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Biographical fiction.; Novels.; Fitzgerald, Ella; Monroe, Marilyn, 1926-1962; Female friendship; Motion picture actors and actresses; Women jazz singers;

The most likely club / by Friedland, Elyssa,author.;
"At their milestone high school reunion, a group of friends makes a pact to finally achieve their high school superlatives one way or another in this lively new novel from the acclaimed author of Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. In 1997, grunge is king, Titanic is a blockbuster (and Blockbuster still exists), and Thursday nights are for Friends. In Bellport, Connecticut, four best friends and high school seniors are ready to light the world on fire. Melissa Levin, Priya Chowdhury, Tara Taylor, and Suki Hammer are going places. Their yearbook superlatives confirm it: Most Likely to Win the White House, Cure Cancer, Open a Michelin-Starred Restaurant, and Join the Forbes 400. Fast-forward twenty-five years and nothing has gone according to plan as the women regroup at their dreaded high school reunion. When a forgotten classmate emerges at the reunion with a surprising announcement, the friends dig out the yearbook and rethink their younger selves. Is it too late to make their dreams come true? Fueled by nostalgia and one too many drinks, they form a pact to push through their middle-aged angst to bring their teenage aspirations to fruition, dubbing themselves the "Most Likely Girls." Through the ensuing highs and lows, they are reminded of the enduring bonds of friendship and the ways our childhood dreams both sustain and surprise us--and why it's deeply uncool to peak in high school"--
Subjects: Novels.; Ambition; Friendship; Middle aged women;

From seed to seed [videorecording] / by Buelow, Wendy,film producer.; Du Toit, Jean,film producer.; Stieffenhofer, Katharina,film producer,screenwriter,film director.; McIntyre Media,film distributor.;
Director of photography, Bryan Sanders ; picture editor, Joh Gurdbeke ; music, Jason Staczek, Richard Moody, Anita Lobosch.Terence Mierau and Monique Scholte, Martin Entz, Vandana Shiva, Ian Mauro."Feature-length documentary about the growing momentum of ecological agriculture, a blend of small and large scale farmers, cutting edge science with age old traditions, and fascinating folks. On this journey through a growing season from seeding to harvest, we experience this beautiful and sometimes harsh world of those who grow our food. Terry Mierau and Monique Scholte-- the heart and soul of this film - gave up a life as opera singers in Europe to fulfill their passion for ecological, small-scale farming. Terry, Monique and their three young children live in a house barn in the traditional single street Village of Neugberthal, in Southern Manitoba. They are equally determined to grow healthy food, a healthy family and community vitality in the process. In addition to Terry and Monique we follow several other Manitoba farmers of various scales and experience the complexities, challenges and rewards that this way of life can present. We also meet Dr. Martin Entz, and his team of scientists and researchers, who are dedicated to working with farmers to develop improved methods and technologies that are driving the organic practice forward. Activist, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and Climate Scientist, Dr. Ian Mauro, address issues related to farming in a Changing Climate. Consumers and processors discuss the growing preference for organic food and how this increased demand drives the momentum in ecological agriculture. At its core, this film is a celebration of all farmers, the return to Natural Systems Agriculture and the people who are part of this slow and steady revolution. By providing a Canadian perspective this film highlights the global social movement toward the regeneration of the land, farming, and communities for a healthier and truly sustainable future for all of us."E.DVD.
Subjects: Documentary films.; Feature films.; Nonfiction films.; Agricultural ecology.; Organic farming; Sustainable agriculture; Vegetable gardening;
For private home use only.

Walking with Beth : conversations with my 100-year-old friend / by Simonds, Merilyn,1949-author.;
"Merilyn Simonds's Walking with Beth allows us to eavesdrop on two women, one already a centenarian, talking frankly about what scares us all: growing old. It's a book with a unique take on longevity, full of wisdom, tenderness, joy and the passions that sustain a very long life. In the spring of 2021, worn down by pandemic isolation, Merilyn Simonds asked her friend Beth Robinson if she'd like to go for a walk. Simonds had just turned 70, which struck her as mysterious, even frightening stage of life. Yet she was still active, still writing and felt as strong as ever. Beth had just hit her centenary, a smart, vibrant woman who'd held a job until she was 99, still lived alone, and was as awake to the world as a person half her age. Who better to ask what might come next? During three years of weekly walks, the conversation between the two women deepened, as they opened up about their heart-felt passions, the lingering influence of their pasts, and their hopes and fears for the future. In Walking with Beth, Simonds shares these intimate exchanges, delving into corners of older women's lives rarely seen, reminded us that even though they are closer to the end of life, they have as much at stake as people of any age. As Simonds looks forward into a future that seems unknowable, Beth looks back, offering her experience in surviving the later-life blows that batter us all, and more importantly, her wisdom in enriching every passing day"--
Subjects: Robinson, Beth, 1920-; Simonds, Merilyn, 1949-; Aging; Older people.; Old age.;

Entangled life : how fungi make our worlds, change our minds & shape our futures / by Sheldrake, Merlin,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Living at the border between life and non-life, fungi use diverse cocktails of potent enzymes and acids to disassemble some of the most stubborn substances on the planet, turning rock into soil and wood into compost, allowing plants to grow. Fungi not only help create soil, they send out networks of tubes that enmesh roots and link plants together in the "Wood Wide Web." Fungi also drive many long-standing human fascinations: from yeasts that cause bread to rise and orchestrate the fermentation of sugar into alcohol; to psychedelic fungi; to the mold that produces penicillin and revolutionized modern medicine. And we can partner with fungi to heal the damage we've done to the planet. Fungi are already being used to make sustainable building materials and wearable leather, but they can do so much more. Fungi can digest many stubborn and toxic pollutants from crude oil to human-made polyurethane plastics and the explosive TNT. They can grow food from renewable sources: edible mushrooms can be grown on anything from plant waste to cigarette butts. And some fungi's antiviral compounds might be able to ease the colony collapse of bees. Merlin Sheldrake's revelatory introduction to this world will show us how fungi, and our relationships with them, are more astonishing than we could have imagined. Bringing to light science's latest discoveries and ingeniously parsing the varieties and behaviors of the fungi themselves, he points us toward the fundamental questions about the nature of intelligence and identity this massively diverse, little understood kingdom provokes"--
Subjects: Fungi.;

The Lost Lights of St Kilda [electronic resource] : by Gifford, Elisabeth.aut; cloudLibrary;
'Desperately romantic, lyrically written and with a fascinating plot' Katie Fforde1927: When Fred Lawson takes a summer job on St Kilda, little does he realise that he has joined the last community to ever live on that beautiful, isolated island. Only three years later, St Kilda will be evacuated, the islanders near dead from starvation. But for Fred, memories of that summer - and the island woman, Chrissie, with whom he falls in love - will never leave him.1940: Fred has been captured behind enemy lines in France and finds himself in a prisoner-of-war camp. Beaten and exhausted, his thoughts return to the island of his youth and the woman he loved and lost. When Fred makes his daring escape, prompting a desperate journey across occupied territory, he is sustained by one thought only: finding his way back to Chrissie.The Lost Lights of St Kilda is a sweeping love story that crosses oceans and decades. It is a moving and deeply vivid portrait of two lovers, a desolate island and the extraordinary power of hope in the face of darkness.'A gorgeous, melancholy love story.' The Times'An undeniably haunting love story.' Sunday TimesGeneral adult.
Subjects: Electronic books.; Cultural Heritage; Family Life;
© 2020., Atlantic Books,

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