Books
What We’re Reading
Posted March 20, 2015 by Alison Mitchell
Last week, my husband, Andrew, our daughters Katherine (8) and Sophie (6) and I took a short trip. Between the four of us, we took the following reading material: Seven magazine back issues: The New Yorker (Andrew and me), High-Five (Sophie), Cricket (Katherine) and American Libraries (me). The previous Sunday’s New York Times (I only read Sunday Styles, but I think Andrew read most of the rest of the paper). Honeydew by Edith Pearlman. Edith is a good friend of my mother-in-law, and also an amazing writer. Her books have been nominated for (and won) many prizes, and her newest collection of short stories is outstanding. I recommend it highly. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. I’ve heard lots about this book, but never felt I needed it, since my kids have always been pretty good talkers and listeners. However, a few recent episodes made me think I should check it out (literally, from the library), and I have to say, it’s…
Outsides and Insides
Posted February 19, 2015 by Hayley Botnen
Because of the snow, I had a hard time getting to the library these past couple weeks. Which is only unfortunate because I’m taking a picture book class which meets once a month, and in which we need to read 120 picture books. I was planning to check out about 10 a week, but when I missed a couple weeks, I ended up checking out about 30 picture books yesterday. I was mildly embarrassed simply because I don’t have any children, and, to a certain extent, I felt like I was taking away books from possible child readers. But then I reminded myself that the bookshelves were still full even after my two bags of books were removed. In really trying to give myself over to picture books, I noticed a few things about my preferences. I know my last post was also about picture books, but this is slightly more applicable to all books. I’ve said before that I’m terrible and I totally judge books by their covers. Well, in looking at picture books,…
Book Recommendation: The Map Thief
Posted February 16, 2015 by Alexandra Bernson
Despite cancelled classes due to Boston’s clearly insane weather system, I’m sure all of you are deep into your classes and the last thing you need is a book recommendation. But I would be amiss if I did not share with you a great new book that I just finished and absolutely adored, not only because it is so well-written but primarily because it is incredibly relevant to contemporary libraries, archives, and special collections. http://www.michaelblanding.com/mapthief/ The Map Thief by Michael Blanding is made only more intriguing by the scandalous subtitle: “The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps.” The story seems out of the plot of some sort of period film, but all took place within the last decade. Forbes Smiley, a Massachusetts native, entered the rare map trade in the 1980s when map collecting was just becoming popular. He loved the history and artistry of the maps and often worked closely with librarians at major universities as he was researching maps for potential collectors. He was instrumental in…
Blizzard Books
Posted February 14, 2015 by Samantha Quiñon
If you are inclined to get carried away with the spirit of Snowmageddon 2015, below I offer you suggestions for books to read while you’re hunkered down in this mess or while you’re hearing about it on the news from far away (lucky you!). In retrospect, perhaps I should have complied a list of beach reads instead. Oh well. Here it goes: Blankets by Craig Thomason- The black and white artwork in this graphic novel makes the snow it depicts intense in contrast with the rest of the drawings. Set in the 90s during a heavy winter in the Midwest, this tale of young love will make you want to snuggle with someone to keep warm. https://mirrorsofchrist.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/44-blankets-by-craig-thompson/ Simila’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg- Secrets wait beneath the ice in this dark crime thriller that takes place in Denmark and Greenland. Simila, the protagonist, will make you re-consider the very structure of snow itself and all the trails you leave behind in it as she tracks down a child’s murderer. Snowpiercer (both volumes) by Jaques…
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Posted February 5, 2015 by Hayley Botnen
Picture Books. At some point in our lives, we’re all told that we need to move on. We need to read “at our age level”, whatever that means. As a future children’s librarian, I’m required to take two different classes centered solely on the picture book. So why do we encourage young readers to move beyond such amazing and poignant book forms? Picture books can be a lot of different things. There can be no words (but still have a very meaningful story). There can be a lot of words (have you ever looked at illustrated fairytales? sometimes those have a lot of words!). But one thing we’re usually taught as we grow up is that picture books and graphic novels are totally different forms. Usually we’re taught that in high school by someone who reads graphic novels or maybe by teachers who are open to graphic novels as a form. The ALA Youth Media Awards kind of brought the question of graphic novels to the foreground. First of all, congratulations to all the winners…
My 2014 Reading in Review
Posted January 12, 2015 by Alison Mitchell
For most of my adult life, I’ve had a loose goal of reading 52 books a year (one a week, or roughly four a month). I keep a handwritten list of all the books I read, but I don’t always count them or hold myself to 52. This year, however, I realized I was at 50 on December 29, and powered through to get to 52 by the 31st (yay! or, maybe I’m too obsessive about an arbitrary number!). Jessamyn West at librarian.net is always setting goals for her reading, like more women or more authors of color. I was planning to analyze my list that way and see where my holes were, but typing it out I realized that I read a pretty diverse range of books. Fiction, non-fiction, YA, classics, men women, international authors… I definitely read more than just tales of women battling the patriarchy, as my husband would have you believe. (Please note that he says that very kindly, of course.) Thoughts on my 2014 reading: Re-reading most of Harry Potter…
The Fabulous Book Club
Posted January 7, 2015 by Alison Mitchell
For the last fifteen years, I’ve been part of the modestly named Fabulous Book Club. In January 2000, we were a group of mostly single 20-somethings living in Somerville and Cambridge and Jamaica Plain. Over the years, we’ve somehow turned into a group of mostly married 40-somethings living in far-flung suburbs (although I’m holding fast to Somerville!). We’ve had high highs and low lows. Some women moved away, others moved in. Today, about 6 of us meet monthly for dinner, conversation and book discussion (really! We do talk about the book!). We have a pretty good system, and I think we’ll go for at least another 15 years. Because I’m sure there are legions of people out there wondering how we’ve stayed together for 15 years, here are my tips for keeping a book club going long term. We also have fifteen years of really great book lists, which I’m happy to share if anyone is interested. So. To start and keep a book club, you need… People. In January 2000, a friend and I…
The Rainbow Fairies
Posted November 23, 2014 by Alison Mitchell
I can’t believe I am about to say this, but… I don’t hate the Rainbow Fairies. The completely formulaic chapter book series centers on two tween girls, Rachel and Kirstie, who become friends with fairies. There are about 150 books total, broken into themed sets of seven. In each set, Rachel and Kirstie have to help the fairies solve a problem before Evil Jack Frost and his Goblins mess things up forever (forever! It’s very dramatic!). Aside from the theme, each book is essentially the same. Kids love these books. LOVE. Parents hate these books. HATE. I have been known to say that reading these books is like sticking a fork in your eye, but they actually have some redeeming qualities. Rachel and Kirstie are best friends. They totally have each other’s back in all sorts of weird (yet repetitive) situations and circumstances. Being friends is important to them — so important, that in one book, when they start fighting, they realize that Evil Jack Frost must be up to No Good. The girls outwit…
NBA All-Stars
Posted November 20, 2014 by Hayley Botnen
NBA in this case is not basketball. It’s the National Book Awards which were held last night. I have a lot of interest in the National Book Awards. More specifically, I have a lot of interest in the Young People’s Literature category of the National Book Awards. This year, I am thrilled to share the winner was Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson’s memoir of growing up in the 1960s and 1970s between South Carolina and New York. This win is particularly exciting if you follow the We Need Diverse Books movement. Basically, the We Need Diverse Books movement is a grassroots campaign to get more diverse books published and out to readers. What are diverse books? According to the WNDB mission statement, “We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.” This year’s short list for the National Book Award included some aspect of diversity in every book. That’s amazing! Kathleen T. Horning wrote a stellar article about the…
Local Bookstore of the Week
Posted November 17, 2014 by Alexandra Bernson
Like the good librarian stereotype that I am, I left my two cats to visit David’sTEA (probably while wearing a cardigan) last Saturday when I stumbled upon Commonwealth Books in downtown Boston. Right off the Freedom Trail, between the Old State House and the Old South Meeting house, this seemingly little bookshop is not little at all! I had no idea that this bookstore existed until I noticed their covert sign pointing down the narrow alley to the shop’s front door. When I first moved to Boston, I had searched for local bookstores and hadn’t seen this particular shop listed in Google Maps or in the many “Best Bookstores in Boston” lists online. This bookstore might just be another great Boston secret. At first glance, Commonwealth Books appears to be just another used book store a la Brattle Book Shop (another great shop near the Boston Common, if you’re looking). But take a few more steps inside their wooden store front and you’ll notice an amazing selection of antiquarian items, including rows of old prints,…