Meeting Author Jason Reynolds at the National Book Festival
Having my books signed by Jason Reynolds at the 2016 National Book Festival was exciting for a number of reasons. It allowed for me to physically meet an author I admire. It also allowed for me to see that, as an author, I can have success as well. Lastly, the inspirational words that he wrote in my books will help me to keep going in an industry that can be daunting. Be brave! Don’t give up!
Homegoing Might Be the Best Book of 2016 (According to Me)
Yaa Gyasi’s groundbreaking debut novel, Homegoing, begins in 18th century Ghana with two half-sisters who will never meet. Effia, of the Fante tribe, marries a British slaver and lives her life in relative luxury in the Cape Coast castle. Beneath her, captured tribes wait to be shipped to the Americas as slaves. Among them is Esi of the Asante, Effia’s half-sister.
Buzzworthy Books
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I stopped by Soergel Orchards to check out the fall festivities. While picking our way through the mostly trampled sunflowers, he noticed a … Continued
Watery Graves: Two Not-So-Scary Books
Every year I struggle to find books this time of year. I love Halloween, but I don’t care to be scared. I was always the kid who cried at the haunted house (and by kid I mean just last year). I try to look for books with the right ambiance for Halloween: dark, mysterious, possibly supernatural but not too frightening. This year I lucked out and found two books that have kept me entertained in the spirit of the holiday without actually causing me sleepless nights.
Super Science: marshmallow bridges, gooey chemistry, fizzing rockets and more!
Wiggly worms and bugs, crazy chemistry, gooey polymers and fizzing Alka-Seltzer™ rockets—this is a mere sampling of the amazing science activities kids can explore free of charge during Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Super Science programs, which receives generous support from PPG Foundation and other funders.
Three Creepy Ghost Stories for Halloween
This is the week leading up to Halloween. So of course I felt obligated to make a post about books that would be great to read over the holiday. And by obligated, I mean I’m super excited about this list because I’ve been super into horror lately. So here are some books that you should pick up to get in the right holiday spirit.
Read Harder: Vol. 10
I am far from a Dylan scholar. I’ll admit that up front. I certainly know his songs; I can get why people flipped when he went electric and how Blonde on Blonde smoothed things over. But with his Nobel Prize for Literature, my interest in his work has been renewed. That’s why The Old, Weird America by Greil Marcus works out great to help check off the task of “Read a biography (not a memoir or autobiography)” the Read Harder challenge.
For the Folk (pt.1)
I have always loved folk music. The more stripped down and rough around the edges the better. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of folk music again. It’s nice … Continued
Tournament of Sadness: Round 3
This is the third in a series of posts I will be writing to determine the most depressing movie we have in the library’s film collection. I will be watching 16 devastating movies in the coming months — feel free to join in the “fun” and share your feedback! Round 3 tackles depressing movies about addiction: Leaving Las Vegas and Requiem for a Dream.
Come Write In at Your Library
This is the year you finally write your novel! The Library is here to help with resources, events and lots and lots of coffee. Yes, you read that right–we’re providing you with free coffee.