Sugar and Spice and Not So Nice
When you think of your favorite fictional characters, who comes to mind? I’m drawn to powerful, snarky, unforgiving women. You know the ones…the “bad” girls. Whether they’re committing crimes, talking … Continued
My time with Holden Caufield
My only school experience with Catcher in the Rye was in junior year of high school in English class. One half of the class read it and my half read 1984 by George Orwell, another banned book. Somehow along the years, I ended up with a copy of Catcher in the Rye, so I thought, why not read it? I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. I had a few people tell me what a great book it was.
Childhood Favorites
Working in the Children’s Department, I am often reminded of books that I have long forgotten. Whether it’s a patron asking for a specific location of a book or a child in need of recommendations, some of my all-time favorites have begun to resurface right before my eyes.
Banned Books Week Begins with a Book About a Secret School
Banned Books Week begins with Nasreen’s Secret School. In this inspiring true story, Nasreen attends a school for girls when education is forbidden to women in Afghanistan.
Washington DC and the Smithsonian
In just a few weeks I’ll be traveling to our nation’s capitol: Washington, DC. While there I intend to go to as many places as possible to soak up the … Continued
Throwback Thursday: Election Season Reading Challenge
When it comes to politics, there is one thing that most people agree on: making an informed decision about your vote matters. Of course there are myriad ways to stay informed and educated, and it’s great to consult multiple sources of information. So, gearing up for the grind of election season, I decided to give myself a small reading challenge.
Tony and Susan’s Nocturnal Animals, Part II
The one thing I’m looking forward to in November–aside from ritualized gluttony–is Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, the director’s adaptation of Austin Wright’s novel, Tony and Susan
Read Harder: Vol. 9
Lucy Knisley begins her food memoir — yes, this month’s challenge choice — with a note that her memories are tied to how things tasted: the licorice rope she shared with her first crush, trying buttermilk for the first time with her best friend, and the myriad of meals she shared with friends while living in Chicago for school. This is my kind of girl.
Good Old Days
The idea that there was a “good old days” where the ills of the present day society were not present is perennially popular. It’s not really accurate, but it’s very … Continued
Love Your Library: 5 Favorite Film Librarians
This month I’m taking a break from watching heaps of sad movies to focus on something a little happier — namely libraries and my favorite movie librarians. As noted earlier on this fine blog, September is officially Love Your Library Month in Allegheny County. Donations given during this month will be eligible for a match from the Jack Buncher Foundation. The generous match of $125,000 will be split among all libraries in the Allegheny County Library Association.