In this Short Takes, we talk about the unexplained, the mysterious, and various strange creatures . . .

Whip It Up Wellesley is a brand new recipe club will provide an opportunity for people to try new recipes and compare notes and experiences. Hosted by long-time Information Services librarian Tyson Bolles, Whip It Up Wellesley is a fun and supportive opportunity to connect around the cooking experience.

Marco Kaltofen, PhD, PE (Civil, MA), C. NSE, has spent much of his professional life tracking radiation from its various sources to communities around the world. In this episode, he speaks with information services librarian Greg Peverill-Conti to briefly discuss common - but unexpected sources - of radiation in our community, past experiences in radiation hot zones around the world, and how people might mitigate the potential impact of radiation.

Today I’m going to talk to Annette, who just so happens to be our cookbook selector, about the collection, how she chooses what to add, and a couple of recent recommendations. See more show notes at wellesleyfreelibrary.org/bookreport

Holidays are in the air! Whatever your feelings on the holiday season, a little escapism can go a long way. Enjoy these Christmas romances from Circulation team member library TikTok and BookTube-er Rachael Hobson. YA Romances: 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston Blame it on the mistletoe by Beth Garrod The holiday switch by Tif Marcelo And a more grown-up recommendation: Nick and Noel's Christmas playlist by Codi Hall In our discussion Rachael also mentions the book Tweet Cute by Emma Lord and the 2007 Nancy Myers film The Holiday starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. You can find Rachael on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram NancCheck out the full Reader's Report in our show notes at wellesleyfreelibrary.org/bookreport!

Annette brings us a number of diverse recommendations from this category, which really show the breadth and depth of what’s available for readers: Superhero genre: Invincible by Robert Kirkman Graphic memoir: I was their American Dream by Malaka Gharib Graphic adaptation: Kindred : a graphic novel adaptation by Damian Duffy and John Jennings Manga: The way of the househusband by Kousuke Oono Webtoon adaptation: Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe Shownotes at: https://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/bookreport/

Jackie Linsky tells us about some recent Marvel Movie recommendations from our DVD Film collection: Spiderman: No Way Home, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder. Titles come and go from streaming platforms, but you can count on being able to check them out from our collection!

Our book recommendation this week is from librarian Sue Hamilos, Head of Information Services and our audiobook selector. She talks to us about Taylor Moore’s thriller novel Firestorm, as well as mentioning points from the first book in the series, Down Range.

Today we’re going to be speaking with librarian Megan Flynn about Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus which I’ve enjoyed both as a physical hardcover book and as an ebook and audiobook through Libby. Learn how to get started with ebooks and digital audio, hear us discuss a fun & inspiring novel, and catch up with the most popular titles at the Wellesley Free Library.

Today we’re going to be speaking with librarian Tyson Bolles about non-fiction history title, The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte. Known for his New York Times bestseller, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World (2018), Brusatte is an  American paleontologist and evolutionary biologist.