“Babel”
The following items are available at the Hancock County Public Library, 900 W. McKenzie Road. Descriptions are provided by the publisher, unless otherwise noted. For more information on the library’s collection or to reserve a title, visit hcplibrary.org.
Fiction: “Babel: Or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution” by R.F. Kuang
Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation, also known as Babel. Babel is the world’s center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization. For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. – Amazon
Nonfiction: “The Myth of Normal” by Gabor Maté
Physician Gabor Maté dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70% of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30% of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?
Youth: “Duck, Duck, Dad” by Lorna Scobie
Ralph the dog enjoys a quiet life, but when he stumbles across an egg he unexpectedly becomes the dad to a flock of ducklings.
