Museum Musings
In 1967, Elaine Lobl Konigsburg published her classic children’s book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and introduced readers to Claudia and Jamie Kinkaid, siblings who decide … Continued
#PGHReads: Moonglow by Michael Chabon
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Pittsburgh-native Michael Chabon’s latest novel is an absorbing fictional memoir that is based in large part based on a dying man’s recollections to his writer-grandson as he looks back on his life. Inspired by Chabon’s own deathbed visit to his grandfather in Oakland, California in the 1980s, the author blurs the line between autobiography and outlandish fiction so successfully that the reader has no idea what is true and what’s pure fantasy (although we can hazard a guess at times).
Discover Historic Bookbinding: Marbled Endsheets
Back in the good ‘ol days of the 19th and 20th century, we decorated the inside covers of our beloved books with wildly colorful papers. Swirls, speckles, wavy lines and crinkled patterns were all used by book binders to ease the transition of a reader’s eyes from the cover of the book to the meat of the book, the textblock. This transition sometimes was decorated, relative to the context of the book. A book about trains might have had some engines merrily chugging across the flyleaf. Other books might have had plain white endsheets, and others wild, splashy, psychedelic colorful swirls.
On Having Animal Friends
I have almost always lived with animals: furred, feathered, and otherwise. When I was a child, my family always had at least one pet, whether it be a cat or … Continued
Summer Reading, Pittsburgh Style!
This year, we’re striving to read 180,000 books for Summer Reading! While ANY books, magazines and graphic novels count toward our goal, some of the books we’re promoting this year have a common theme—the city of Pittsburgh!
Cozy Not Cozy
I’m a sucker for cozy mysteries. I love them. I like other mysteries, too, but the more limited and more specific realm of the cozy appeals to me. I also … Continued
5 Questions With… Kathleen Tessaro!
Bestselling author Kathleen Tessaro’s Rare Objects, which has just been released in paperback, is a featured titled on our Summer Reading list, and is among the titles that teams competing in the Battle of the Books will be reading. Kathleen, a native Pittsburgher, will also be visiting some CLP book groups this summer to discuss Rare Objects. The book groups are open to anyone, and Kathleen will be visiting Beechview at 11:30 on July 8th; Woods Run on July 11th at 11:30; and Squirrel Hill on July 19th at 6:30. We virtually sat down with her and asked her five questions to help us get to know her better.
A Basic Gal’s Guide to Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey
It has all the usual trappings of her stories (a leading lady, the love interest, talk about money and marriages, dancing, etc.), but throw in the story’s heroine being kind of not-so-secretly interested in the macabre and mystery. Essentially, to the point where she even concocts in her head a story that her friends’ dad could have had something to do with the death of his wife. Whaaaaaat?! Let’s dive in.
Jump in to Summer Reading!
Sunday is the official start of summer for us at the Library and we’ll be celebrating with the 17th Annual Summer Reading Extravaganza! You can join in the reading fun all summer by signing up now on our website or by visiting your favorite Library location.
A Gentleman in Moscow
Amor Towles will visit Pittsburgh, courtesy of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures, and speak at the Library’s Lecture Hall on May 11th. Get your tickets today!