Gutekunst Public Library
The heart of the community, satisfying lifelong curiosity
January 20, 2025, 7pm, Fireside Room
In January we will be reading The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.
The circulation desk has bookmarks available with all the 2025 Book Discussion books. Consider joining the discussion in the New Year!
Greener Community Initiatives in 2025
Gutekunst Public Library is excited to announce the launch of its new monthly educational series, Greener Community Initiatives, aimed at fostering sustainability and environmental awareness within the local community. Each month, residents will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on workshops and discussions focused on green, sustainable projects that can make a real difference at home and in the neighborhood. The series will highlight simple, practical ways to live more sustainably, strengthening the bonds within the community and promoting a greener future.
The first event of the series will be held on January 13th, at 5:30pm in the Fireside room. This month will feature an interactive workshop on how to grow your own sprouts at home. Participants will learn the basics of sprouting, including the health benefits, easy techniques, and tips for incorporating sprouts into everyday meals. This free event is open to all ages and is a great introduction to sustainable food practices. Join us at the Library and start the year off with fresh, green ideas that benefit both you and the planet!
My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh
The narrator of this novel is fourteen years old when his neighbor, Lindy, is raped. (Our narrator is never named, which I didn't realize until I started writing this review. Interesting.) Anyway, Lindy was a happy, popular fifteen-year-old when the assault occurred. She lives in a safe, wealthy neighborhood in Baton Rouge. The narrator (I'll call him "Bud") admits that he had a crush on his friend and neighbor, but has never wished harm to her. "Bud" tells the story of the event and talks of all the people who could be suspects. We read a great deal of his ignorance in regards to adult matters. He agonizes about fitting in at his private school and how to help Lindy as she struggles after the assault. The reader moves through "Bud's" life and gains knowledge of what he and others in the neighborhood are going through. Some of the suspects in the assault are the mean boys down the street; the adopted son of the weird couple and his psychiatrist father. "Bud" also presents himself as a suspect. This could be described as a "coming of age" book as we follow "Bud's" story.
