Note to Shelf: May 2022

Pat T shares "At the onset of World War II, Mila, a young mother working as a librarian while pursuing studies to be an historian, leaves her son and her studies to join the Russian army, where she develops sharpshooter talents as a sniper. Her success as a soldier catapults her to international fame. On a goodwill tour of America, she finds herself immersed in the glittering world of Washington where she meets the Roosevelts and develops an unexpected friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt. After the war, she reunites with her son and achieves her dream of becoming a historian. This novel is based on a true story. I especially enjoyed reading about Eleanor Roosevelt’s mentorship of Mila during the American goodwill tour and their subsequent friendship and admiration for one another over the years. This novel is a gem!"

Diane shows us a "wonderful collaboration between designers Susanna Salk and Stacey Bewkes, who readers may know as the creators of the Quintessence: At Home video series. In this beautiful book, we have the privilege of seeing photographs of fifteen well-known designer's homes. From the Hamptons to Atlanta, Los Angeles to Western Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, the authors have showcased how these individual design professionals decorate for themselves. The reader gets a very eclectic mix of styles, tastes, and insight into the fifteen individuals’ personal collections. Susanna's narrative and Stacey's visuals are a perfect composition. From the book's front cover, the door opens and the authors invite you in for a relaxing springtime afternoon read."

Kristen O has discovered "a beautiful collection of essays exploring our connection to the natural world. Drawing on her personal experiences as both a scientist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer champions adding Indigenous ways of knowing into scientific research and everyday life. She makes her case with expert and compelling storytelling, taking readers on adventures to Pacific Northwest rainforests, Kentucky grasslands, and her own backyard pond in the Northeast. Each chapter is informative and deeply moving, and while she doesn’t flinch at past tragedies and future uncertainties, the tone is ultimately one of joy, gratitude, and reciprocity. Braiding Sweetgrass is a must-read for all nature lovers."