What Caught My Eye Online #21
A new playlist, librarian fear, celeb book clubs, and more
Welcome to this week’s link roundup! If you’re new here, I share stories about libraries, books, reading, pop culture, food, music, and anything else that catches my eye each Wednesday. I also share the occasional playlist, video, or podcast. This week’s list starts with bad news, pivots to a cute story about a picture book, and ends with a new spring playlist. I hope you find something inspiring!
I’ve been doing a mix of public and school library work for nearly 19 years, and I’ve never witnessed anything like the current attacks on libraries. According to the AP, “librarians fear new penalties, even prison, as activists challenge books.” They go on to say, “Already this year, lawmakers in more than 15 states have introduced bills to impose harsh penalties on libraries or librarians.” This article (and many others like it) should alarm everyone who cares about education and intellectual freedom. I’m confident there are more of us than there are people fueled by fear, hate, and misinformation. Supporting your local libraries and library staff is more important than ever.
Now for a sweet, heartwarming story. Children’s author Carmen Bogan writes about her experience reading to a second-grade class and shares what the kids taught her about the message of belonging in her book.
Ada Limón talks about her reading life with the New York Times. I felt so seen reading this part. Yay for unwieldy piles!
“I put them in piles during my busy travel months, then I cry and stomp when the piles feel unwieldy, and then my husband ponders if I should get rid of a few, but I will not do that, and then, very methodically I alphabetize them. I also separate them by genres. Prose cannot touch poetry in my little world. And I mean that as an organizing principle and also as a slight against prose.”
Sometimes friendships just don’t work out. Here are nine thrillers in which that’s the case. I just finished Listen for the Lie, the last book on the list, and really enjoyed it.
Kirkus offers 20 Books You Might’ve Missed (But Shouldn’t). I haven’t read any of these, and several sound great.
Electric Literature always has the coolest, super-specific book lists. This one suggests seven novels about smart immigrant women adrift. I second the Americanah and Transcendent Kingdom recs.
Until I saw this book list from CrimeReads, I didn’t even realize I liked novels about grand homes brimming with secrets. I guess I do! Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is a favorite in this genre.
Goodreads lists 168 of the most recent celebrity book club picks. I’m interested in how persuasive these book clubs are for readers. Does having Reese’s or Jenna’s stamp of approval really inspire someone? I welcome your thoughts.
Lit Hub helps us find our next read based on our favorite teen comedy.
I’ve been into memoirs lately, so this list of five memoirs by women intrigued me as soon as I saw it. Each title sounds good!
Here are seven more titles that focus on women. Instead of memoirs, this list focuses on female friendship.
April is National Poetry Month. (Here are some suggestions on where to start with poetry.) Publishers Weekly shares interviews with Black poets who are writing for young readers.
Stephen King’s Carrie has turned 50! Readers share their favorite King books with NPR.
I’m a longtime Maggie Rogers fan. (She appears on the playlist below!) The New Yorker talked with Rogers about her career and why she decided to attend divinity school.
My favorite podcast is The Popcast, a pop culture show that’s incredibly silly and consistently funny. Last week’s episode was about the lyrics listeners misheard, and it did not disappoint. Check it out if you could use a laugh.
I like to make seasonal playlists, and I just finished a new one for spring. There’s a mix of older stuff and some brand-new songs. Enjoy!
What’s caught your eye lately? Thanks for reading!
Thanks for sharing the AP article. It is upsetting that often the target of the bans are queer books. That librarians could face lawsuits is ludicrous.
Seriously!!