Monthly Archives: February 2013

Down-to-Read with Daniela: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Full Title:
Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Genre:
Non-Fiction, Autobiography, American, Coming-of-age, Mental Health, Psychology

Summary:
Wild is the true story of Cheryl Strand’s adventurous journey into the uninhabited wilderness of the Pacific Crest Trail. A daunting endeavour, the PCT is 2,663 mi (4,286 km) long, running the span of the U.S./Mexico and U.S./Canada borders. Strayed takes on the challenge of hiking the trail alone- at the age of 26 – after a devastating sequence of events leaves her feeling utterly confused and hungry for change. The trail, in all its majestic and ruthless beauty, will show Cheryl what it means to be human again and what it takes to go from lost to found.

My Thoughts:
Strayed is one of those authors that pulls at your heart strings, revealing both the immense wonder and immense sadness of the human experience. Her courageous decision to upheave her life and embark in a new direction is an example we can all learn from. Instead of becoming paralyzed by a series of heart wrenching events, Strayed uses them as fodder to become her best self – to live, love and set herself free.

I always find it inspiring to read true stories of redemption. Stories about people who didn’t let life knock them done. Stories about people who fought their way out of the trenches. Strayed’s story doesn’t disappoint either. I hope you will join her in the pursuit of life’s most elusive and magical thing – happiness.

Borrow Wild: from lost to found to found on the Pacific Crest Trail from your local Vaughan library.

And also from Strayed: Tiny Beautiful Things: advice on love and life from Dear Sugar. Review to follow!

Library Chair shares update on North Thornhill Library

Vaughan Public Libraries’ Building Projects blog presents a special guest post by Michael McKenzie, Chair, Vaughan Public Library Board.

michael mckenzieIn the 2011 budget deliberations, Vaughan Public Libraries was awarded funds to construct a library as an addition to the North Thornhill Community Centre. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was released November 2011 inviting bids from architect contractor teams to design and build this library. Bids from ten proponents were evaluated and three were identified and prequalified to advance to stage two of the competition. All three submitted proposals that far exceeded the approved budget and in July 2012, stage two of the RFP competition was cancelled.

The scope of the project was then modified and the three prequalified bidders were invited to submit revised proposals to a new RFP. Only two of the three prequalified bidders submitted proposals. Unfortunately, neither were compliant, and the bidding process was cancelled. What this all means is that the building of a library in the North Thornhill Community Centre has been delayed from the original estimates we provided.

On behalf of the VPL Board I would like to apologize to the residents of Vaughan for the delay. The Board remains committed to building a library in the North Thornhill Community Centre and ensuring we are responsible in the spending of the resources we have been entrusted with. We will continue to work with the City to move the development of the North Thornhill Library forward and to provide the Citizens of Vaughan with many more welcoming destinations that educate, excite and empower our community.

Down-to-Read with Daniela: Sleeping Naked is Green by Vanessa Farquharson

Full Title:
Sleeping Naked is Green: how an eco-cynic unplugged her fridge, sold her car, and found love in 366 days

Genre:
Non-Fiction, Memoir, Canadian, Environmentalism, Social Commentary

Summary:
Join Torontonian and National Post journalist Vanessa Farquharson as she pledges to make one environmentally conscious decision everyday for one year. During her journey she will have to make sacrifices both big (selling her car/unplugging her fridge) and small (sleeping naked/showering in the dark). Throughout the challenge, Farquharson documents her experiences in a blog she names “Green as a Thistle.” Farquharson will discover much about herself, making friends and finding love along the way.

My Thoughts:
Farquharson’s memoir exudes wit, enthusiasm and energy. It was also a pleasure to connect with a locally based writer. Her ironic and humourous tone had me engaged from start to finish. I consider myself a fairly eco-friendly person, but I was surprised to see just how many things can be ‘greened’ in your life!

Check out Farquharson’s blog here: http://greenasathistle.com/.

Borrow Sleeping Naked is Green: how an eco-cynic unplugged her fridge, sold her car, and found love in 366 days from your local Vaughan Library today!