The Librarians Suggest

I never got into the original  Queer Eye For The Straight Guy   mostly because I was in high school and college and I just didn't watch a ton of television then. And I only got into the reboot because a coworker was praising the show last week (and said the guys were super good looking). She told me make sure you have tissues, it will make you cry. So last week after a particularly long day, I binged the first four episodes. My coworker was right, I teared up every single episode. When I say it's one of the best shows I've watched in a while it's because it's so heart warming, it just pulls at your heart strings. There's an episode where  Bobby Berk  makes a statement along the lines of no matter the color or our sexuality we're people and we all just want to be accepted and loved. And it's true! Despite being uncomfortable and awkward the guys have no problem opening up on screen with the men they are making over. One of my favorit...

Being a millennial and librarian is kind of a problem. I have never been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder but if you were to guess that I have these tendencies and behaviors, then you guessed correctly. I once spent my spring vacation in college at the university library reading (and researching) everything I could find about the execution of The Romanov Family and Rasputin (it wasn't an assignment, it was for pure pleasure). By the time school was back in session, I was checked out. My brain never got the break it needed. And this is a daily habit, I'm not even kidding. Living in the rabbit hole and researching for hours on end (on any given subject) is second nature to me, I never stop to consider that it is a habit I need to learn to control. But I'm addicted, the need to know is just part of me (and most millennials). This perpetual state of curiosity is at the core of my foundation. So the fact that information is so easily accessible and that I have...

I don't come across many books that I think everyone should read. I read this for one of our book clubs at work and I found The Hate U Give  by Angie Thomas well deserving of all the hype. It's one of the most honest reads I've read in a long time. I mostly read adult fiction/nonfiction but every now and then I like to pick up a YA or children's book and I'm really glad we picked this for book club.  Starr Carter witnesses the death of her childhood best friend Khalil, who was unarmed, at the hands of a white cop. Living in a poor neighborhood but attending a fancy prep school, Starr finds it even harder to navigate both of her worlds with the decision to speak out about what happened weighing heavily on her and her family.  I try to avoid spoilers so I'm going to leave it at that! It's beautifully written, powerful and thought provoking. This book doesn't hold back and it is a great reminder of how powerful your voice can be and that you shou...

Hello! So our discussion of Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" fell through and is lost in the digital world. Technically our discussion of "3 Strange Tales" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa is Episode 11 but for posting reasons and because we can't stand a skipped number, it's labeled as Episode 10. Overall we really enjoyed reading these stories. We won't say too much as we of course want you to listen to the episode. The stories are indeed strange but there are actually 4 (bonus!). They are atmospheric and thought provoking. So give Episode 10 a listen, read the book if you get a chance and let us know what you think of these strange tales. See you in the stacks, Gina, Sarah & Jade

Like last year, one of Sarah's resolutions was to read more. This year, she's expanding upon that trying to read more diversely, not just across genres but cultures and authors as well. Having a fascination with Indian culture and religion as a young girl, Sarah was immediately drawn to the graphics of Pashmina . Realizing it was a graphic novel, made it all the better. Pashmina   is a beautifully illustrated tween coming of age story intertwined with clashing cultures and mythology. With gorgeous graphics, Sarah is excited for this debut author! 

Sarah first started reading Outwitting the Gestapo  as required reading in a college history course. Given that Sarah favored the humanities over the sciences, the reading list was endless and alas she never finished Lucie's story . But her intention to read it this year for one of her eight reading challenges , she's almost sure she'll fall head over heels with Lucie Aubrac . What we know is that Lucie was a French history teacher and member of the French Resistance during World War II. A prominent figure in the resistance, in 1944 Charles de Gaulle appointed a consultative assembly, in which Lucie  joined as a resistance representative. This made her the first woman to sit in a French parliamentary assembly. In 1945 she went on to write the first short history of the French Resistance . This book,   Outwitting The Gestapo   is a semi-fictional version of Lucie's wartime diaries and is an important piece of history and women's history. 

Tolstoy is usually the first Russian fiction people start reading, Bukgakov is just as much a literary genius! I seriously cannot put this down! "Follow me, reader! Whoever told you there is no such thing in the world as real, true, everlasting love? May the liar have his despicable tongue cut out! Follow me, my reader, and only me, and I"ll show you that kind of love." 

As one of the hottest books right now, this is one is at the top of the lists to order. Who says you can't live alone and be happy. I swear by this author. 

Hello!  We've been a bit behind in posting our episodes to the blog but here is Episode 9 where we discuss "Go Ask Alice." Sarah read this book when she was much younger and this was Gina's & mine first time reading it. It definitely wasn't what we thought it would be just from the hype we'd heard/read about this book. As we discussed in the episode, here are some other titles we'd recommend that we think better represent addictions and their consequences: Books by Ellen Hopkins  Problems by Jade Sharma Girl, Interrupted  To the Bone Remember, you can find us on iTunes , TuneIn and Google Play. You can find us on Litsy & Instagram @thelibrarianssuggest and on Twitter @libssuggest! See you in the stacks, Sarah, Gina & Jade

Today's book of the day is a middle grade read by Grace Lin. Inspired by folktales her father has told her, Minli goes on an extraordinary adventure, encountering all sorts of characters and creatures, to ask the Old Man on the Moon how she can change her family's fortune. 

We hope your week is off to a good start! Today's book of the day is Yaqui Delgado wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina! It's a great YA pick about accepting your body and taking a stand against bullying. Give it a read! 

Time for another book of the day! Haruki Murakami's short story "The Second Bakery Attack" from the collection "The Elephant Vanishes" was just read on the Levar Burton Reads podcast! He's one of Jade's favorite authors. What's one of your favorite short story collections? 

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson   Given that this  story  is only ten pages and was written in the forties (and written by a woman), it certainly gives a lasting impression. Think  Leave It To Beaver  meets  The Hunger Games  meets  The Stoning of Soraya M . It's horrifying, you'll be screaming at the book by the end. 

Happy Friday! For today's book of the day check out Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda. Siem and his family are well liked and he has a promising future in politics. But when elements of his past threaten to come about, things begin to fall apart. Check out this explosive debut "about relationships torn asunder by lies, and minds destroyed by madness."