All College Book Club:
In celebration of Black History Month, the February selection for our All College Book Club is An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole.
“Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South—to spy for the Union Army. Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton’s Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he’s facing his deadliest mission yet—risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia. Two undercover agents who share a common cause—and an undeniable attraction—Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy’s favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost—even if it means losing each other…” – Goodreads
So often with historical fiction in particular, people of color are relegated to marginalized roles or omitted entirely. There’s rarely a black protagonist in romantic historical fiction. But as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explains in her famous Ted talk, a plurality of stories is crucial. It can humanize people that are different from ourselves, empower the marginalized and historically/structurally oppressed, and demonstrate that no group of people can be represented by a single story. This makes our selection all the more important! Please encourage others to join us in celebration of Black History Month!
Pick up a copy at either Hartness Library location or contact us to have a copy sent to you. Join us for the discussion on 2/20/20 at either library conference room or via zoom! https://zoom.us/j/903401879
Any questions? Need a copy sent to your site? Email hartness@vsc.edu or call 800-431-0025.
Interested in more information and reminders about the book club? Email Veronica: vgolden@vtc.edu.
Hartness West Gallery:
Coming Soon
Hartness East Gallery:
Coming Soon
Art Under Glass Series:
Wildwood Bowls by Paul Blossom
“I make Wildwood Bowls from burls, bumps, bulges, and knots. A true burl is the result of stress – caused by an injury, virus, or fungus – that causes the tree’s grain to grow in an unusual pattern. Burls grow on all tree species and appear as a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch. I find some burls in loggers’ woodpiles. When I see one with potential I cut it off with a chainsaw, bring it back to my shop and immediately remove the bark with hammer and chisel. Green bark is easier to remove than dry bark. The wood dries for one year. (You have to be patient).”
“Like human scars, there’s something impressive and beautiful about the shapes of these formations and the grain that grows from them. No two are ever alike.”
“Wildwood Bowls are hand carved and sanded with King Arthur tools. Their unique shapes make it impossible to turn them on a lathe. Sometimes I burn a piece of the bowl to add color and texture. Sometimes I add a bit of turquoise. The interiors of Wildwood Bowls are finished with natural food grade finish, such as mineral oil, beeswax, or odies oils. I mix my own mineral oil and beeswax.”
For more information: pntblos@gmail.com
Ongoing Events:
Yarning for a Cause: Join the Hartness Library Yarn Circle on the Vermont Tech Randolph Center Campus Fridays at Noon as we create squares, blankets, hats, & socks to donate to a local medical center.
Got extra Supplies? We are accepting donations of needles, hooks, looms, and any yarn from a smoke- & pet-free home. Email vgolden@vtc.edu for more info.
All are welcome!
Hartness Library Drop-In Yarn Circle: Open to all skill levels! Bring any hand/yarn craft project. No-pressure space to chat about knitting, crocheting, and more!
Fridays 12:00-1:00pm at both locations: Randolph and Williston
Contact the library with any questions or for more details on any of these events.
