What Caught My Eye Online #25

Movers and shakers, R. Eric Thomas, bookshelves, and more

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Hello to you, and hello to May. I work in high school libraries, so when May arrives, it’s a gift. I start counting down the weeks until summer break. (My district goes until mid-June, so I still have quite a wait.) I love my job, students, and colleagues, but I also love sleeping in and not moving from my couch unless I’m opening the door for Grubhub. I contain multitudes.

I hope May brings you as much joy as it does me. Enjoy this week’s roundup!

•  Library Journal just shared its 2024 Movers and Shakers list, highlighting "the people shaping the future of libraries." In a post on RA for All, Becky Spratford said this, which I think is a great point, even for people who aren't library staffers: 

  • "What I am asking you to do is to use this event as a chance to gain a deeper understanding of what is happening everywhere, not just in your community. By reading the entries on each of the 50 people singled out, you may notice that you are dealing with similar challenges. Maybe you can learn from what these people did to help you find new solutions. Or, maybe you see someone singled out for something you know needs to be worked on in your community but you haven't been able to figure out how to begin tackling the challenge. Read about what they did and maybe try their tactics. And of course, for all of them, reach out to an individual that you think may be able to help you with one of your issues or concerns. We are all here to help each other. That is a core value of the profession."

• R. Eric Thomas is one of my favorite writers, so I was delighted when he appeared on Laura Tremaine's podcast, 10 Things to Tell You. The two discussed writing, friendship, and recent reads, and I loved every second. 

• I love this piece about how author Monica Wood arranges her bookshelves. I also love the title: “Bookshelves for Your Book Selves: Monica Wood on Why She Organizes Books by Emotion.” When Wood is considering purging books she’s kept from college, she writes:

  • “These books don’t merely spark joy, they’re a fireworks unto themselves, for my girl self abides with them, the nineteen-year-old in a peasant blouse trying out her own writer’s voice. That untouched section of my collection had always felt warm to me—an actual, physical warmth—and suddenly I knew why.”

• On a recent library trip, I saw Arrangements in Blue: Notes on Loving and Living Alone by Amy Key on the shelf. It sounded fascinating, so it went into my adorable library-themed tote bag. (Have I read the book yet? Of course not. Have I renewed it three times? Definitely.) Key curated this book list featuring women who live alone. As I get older, I’m finding that I want all the books about women who are living their lives a little differently.

• The New York Times shared the best books since 2000. They’ve created an interactive sorting tool, sort of like NPR’s. I love being able to sort by genre.

• If you like mysteries, check out this year's Edgar Award Winners. 

• The Millions has a new series where the site's readers can share what they're reading. I'm always nosy about what others are reading, so this column is perfect for me.

• This recap of Readers Take Denver, "the Fyre Festival of books," is fascinating! The whole event was a disaster.

• Lit Hub ranks 10 of the best authors turned artists. 

• The Pulitzer Prizes have been announced. Many readers on my social media feeds were surprised by the fiction winner. I want to read the book that won for biography, King: A Life by Jonathan Eig, but I need an ebook version since it’s massive.

• I loved this innovative Substack post exploring the unputdownable My Husband by Maud Ventura. Calia Booth of Library Booth captures “the essence of our favorite literature through an imaginary dinner party setting.” Isn’t that so fun?

• The novel Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams is being adapted into a TV show. The trailer looks great. I liked the book, so I’m excited to watch this.

• This interesting New York Times article considers whether or not schools' efforts to improve mental health for students are working. 

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What caught your eye online this week? Did any of these links resonate with you? I’d love your thoughts.