ShellyB's blog

Nigerian author Chinua Achebe

Submitted by ShellyB on March 24, 2013 - 4:46pm

The Denver Post called him the Father of African Literature and quoted African scholar Kwame Anthony Appiah as saying that he didn't just influence African literature, he invented it. Chinua Achebe, Nigerian author, poet, and professor, passed away last Thursday in Boston.

Achebe was critical of the portrayal of African people and civilization in Western literature as barbaric or inarticulate, and worked to change this false perception through his own works and through the founding of Okike, a Nigerian literary magazine. He was active in Nigerian politics and government, sometimes at the risk of his own safety. He was awarded The Man Booker International Prize in 2007.

Here is a sampling of his titles available through Denver Public Library:

His novels:

March is National Nutrition Month

Submitted by ShellyB on March 14, 2013 - 11:17am

In honor of National Nutrition Month we will have Registered Dietitians visiting the Green Valley Ranch Branch on Monday, March 18 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the Central Library on Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

These nutrition experts will be on hand to talk about healthy eating and the USDA's new MyPlate dietary guidelines, along with any other food and diet questions you may have.

Maps and More...

Submitted by ShellyB on September 4, 2012 - 8:23pm

Fall is a fabulous time to get out and enjoy Colorado's amazing scenery.

Whatever you love to do or have been wanting to try, we've got you covered. If you love to camp, you may want to check out Camping Colorado: A Comprehensive Guide to Hundreds of Campgrounds by Melinda Crow.

Or maybe you're looking for some fun, interesting hikes? These guidebooks may be right up your alley:

Xu Beihong Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum

Submitted by ShellyB on December 19, 2011 - 10:07am

I've just walked through the Xu Beihong Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum and was blown away. The exhibit includes ink and watercolor (my favorites), charcoal drawings, pastels, and oil paintings. I loved the way the ink and watercolor works are mounted on very large scrolls surrounded by what looks like exquisite silk fabric in colors and textures that complement the artwork. The pieces are absolutely stunning!

The exhibit emphasizes Xu Beihong's importance and influence in establishing a modern style in Chinese art while maintaining Chinese art's traditional roots. The short informational film played at the start of the exhibit says that he was one of the very first Chinese artists to travel to Europe and train with Western artists, and he brought some of those techniques back to China, sharing what he learned with other artists.

Books on CD the whole family can enjoy

Submitted by ShellyB on November 15, 2011 - 4:54pm

Traveling for the holidays? Is a long car trip with the kids in your immediate future? How about some audio book suggestions to help the time pass quickly and keep the whole family entertained.

My family and I have enjoyed these titles on recent car trips:

The Big Man Will Be Missed

Submitted by ShellyB on June 21, 2011 - 7:29pm

The music world lost one of it's biggest and brightest when Clarence Clemons passed away this Saturday. The Big Man was a favorite of many E Street Band fans and thrilled all with his colorful and soulful saxophone playing.

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons and Don Reo is a collection of stories from his life and a peek at his experiences and adventures.

Here are a few of the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band CDs available at Denver Public Library:

Climbing Mount Everest

Submitted by ShellyB on May 25, 2011 - 6:48pm

The short climbing season for Mount Everest is coming to a close in the Himalayas, and here in Denver my family has become totally hooked on the Discovery Channel's Everest: Beyond the Limit series. We have blazed through both Season One and Season Two in less time than it takes to climb the mountain itself.

The climbers literally risk life and limb in their attempts to reach the top of the world. I especially liked the recognition and appreciation shown for the amazing Sherpas who risk their own lives to help these climbers not only make it up the mountain, but perhaps more importantly make it back down alive.