Et Cetera

 Morningside University proudly recognizes the achievements of its December 2024 graduates, awarding general honors based on outstanding academic performance in undergraduate coursework. Morningside recognizes general honors based on undergraduate coursework completed at the university, with distinctions awarded based on the following GPA criteria: *cum laude (with honor) at 3.

The following students graduated from Mount Mercy in February.Belle Plaine, IA  Katherine Andrews, Master of Science in NursingBlairstown, IA  Anessa Smith, Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse backgrounds, ages, and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowledge, build community, and live their values.

Check out 'Beautiful Ugly' by Alice Feeney if you're in the mood for a locked room thriller (only it's on a little Scottish island) & delight in:~Dual perspectives~Entwined timelines~Intricate plot twists that are almost unbelievable~Dark themes~An unreliable narrator shrouded in enigma~A spouse mysteriously vanishingWe have several other titles by Alice Feeney as well: 'Sometimes I lie,' 'Daisy Darker,' 'Rock paper scissors,' & 'Good bad girl.

We are excited to announce that ‘The Queen of Sugar Hill’ by ReShonda Tate is the featured title for #TogetherWeRead! Together We Read is a digital book club connecting readers to the same ebook & audiobook at the same time - no waitlists, no holds."The Queen of Sugar Hill" tells the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, focusing on her life after her Oscar win for "Gone With the Wind" and the challenges she faced as a Black actress navigating Hollywood's challenging social landscape, particularly highlighting her struggles with restrictive housing covenants in a neighborhood called "Sugar Hill" where she bought a home despite facing backlash from white neighbors; the book explores her personal life, friendships with other Hollywood figures, and her fight for racial equality.

I recently read '48 Clues Into The Disappearance Of My Sister' by Joyce Carol Oates. This novel is narrated by Gigi, a quiet and at times dreamy character. She is unraveling the mystery surrounding her sister Marguerite, a woman we learn more about as the story unfolds.Oates is such an iconic, highly lauded author and I really wanted to like the book, but unfortunately I found it too ethereal, leaving me with more questions than answers.

We are excited to announce that ‘The Queen of Sugar Hill’ by ReShonda Tate is the featured title for #TogetherWeRead! Together We Read is a digital book club connecting readers to the same ebook & audiobook at the same time - no waitlists, no holds."The Queen of Sugar Hill" tells the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, focusing on her life after her Oscar win for "Gone With the Wind" and the challenges she faced as a Black actress navigating Hollywood's challenging social landscape, particularly highlighting her struggles with restrictive housing covenants in a neighborhood called "Sugar Hill" where she bought a home despite facing backlash from white neighbors; the book explores her personal life, friendships with other Hollywood figures, and her fight for racial equality.

This month's Adventures in Bookclubbing theme was 'Authors with Red Hair.' I chose to read ‘Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose’ by Martha Beck. It is a nonfiction book that was added to our collection just last month. In this book, Beck describes techniques for calming your inner anxiety creature, and then, once tamed, living a life full of creative energy.

The Wallace and Beverly Winkie Foundation is accepting nominations for the Lifelong Learner Hall of Fame through June 1. Inductees into the hall of fame will be honored for their contributions—through example, discovery, or leadership— to the promotion of formal and informal lifelong learning and its benefits. All Iowans past and present, of all ages, and all Iowa organizations are eligible for nomination.

If you are a fan of unsolved mysteries and documentaries this is the book for you. Bel Price and her family have agreed to do a true crime documentary that will follow their family and dig up the past from when Bel's mom disappeared 16 years ago. Bel is irritated with this whole documentary thing and just wants her life to go back to normal.But it may never go back to normal.