Me and Robin McKinley
Working in a library means I’m always surrounded by books. I talk about books, think about books, and read about books. This has made me acutely aware of how many … Continued
Giving Into an Ever-Changing Poetry Collection
Floating somewhere between fantasy and reality, between the mind and the body, is Güera, the latest poetry collection from Rebecca Gaydos. Published in 2016, the book is divided into five distinct parts, including prologue and epilogue. What struck me initially was the sparseness of each page, made up of stanzas that read as prose instead of verse. However, as I began to read, the weight of each word became immediately apparent.
An Interview with Olive Witch Author Abeer Hoque
Abeer Hoque was born in Nigeria to Bangladeshi parents and moved to Pittsburgh when she was thirteen. She struggled to find her place in America, and eventually moved to Bangladesh on her own, where she still didn’t quite fit in. She details her multicultural growing-up and coming-of-age story in a new memoir called Olive Witch. Abeer will be at CLP – Main on Wednesday to give a reading and answer questions, but I was able to catch up with her via email in advance of her event.
Making Connections: An Explanation of Print Awareness
Print awareness refers to a child’s understanding of the nature and uses of print. There are many ways to encourage the development of this early literacy skill in your young child.
Short Stories from Irish Writers
Maeve Binchy was one of the most famous contemporary Irish writers—her books appeared on best-sellers’ lists and as a part of Oprah’s Book Club. If you liked Binchy’s novels, try … Continued
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a Quick Review of Irish-American History
Why are we all wearing green today? How is it that one particular ethnic group came to figure so fully—politically, culturally—in the American story, to the point that as a … Continued
Once upon a time: Exploring My Story Maker
Once upon a time, a zebra played the horn, and beautiful music came out of it.
A Roller Coaster Ride with Cat Marnell
While looking for books to read on Goodreads, I saw the cover for Cat Marnell’s memoir, How To Murder Your Life. I had never heard of Marnell before reading her book. This is hands down one of the craziest yet interesting books that I’ve ever read. Half of the time that I was reading this I had to keep reminding myself that this is non-fiction because it reads like fiction.
Behind the Camera: 5 More Female Directors to Watch
Last month I shared my love for director Ava DuVernay and her contemporaries, and since this month is Women’s History Month I thought why not celebrate five more amazing female directors? This time around I’ll be highlighting five independent filmmakers who truly have a singular vision and voice, and are examples of what adventurous cinema should aspire to be, both in the U.S. and abroad.
No Cape Required
When I was younger, I had this “bookazine” about famous women in history. It featured the Hollywood legends and award-winning singers that you would expect in that sort of thing but I loved reading the parts about women like Mata Hari, Marie Curie, and the other ladies who took tremendous risks to do things they were told they would never be able to achieve. This Women’s History month, I wanted to challenge myself to find more of those kind of superwomen: the ones who dared to dream big and do amazing things, all without tights or a cape.