How to Love Your Daughter [book review]

 Thank you to Robert Koehler for this book review. Listen to a sample of the audiobook here. 

Book review

Thanks to WHSLA member Robert Koehler for writing this book review:

The Lover’s Dictionary / David Levithan

The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan constructs a couple’s romance in the form of a dictionary.  Each defined word relates to the narrator describing his lover and their relationship together.  The definitions are fairly concise, often just a paragraph, rarely longer than a page, and yet by the end of the novel the reader has a clear mental picture of the couple.  

Through the use of the definitions, the mundane elements and the transcendent moments of the couple’s relationship are highlighted.  In a nonlinear fashion, it presents how the couple meet through a dating app and their eventual decision to join two separate lives into one.  Ultimately, each word the narrator chooses represents the negotiations that take place to overcome pitfalls which all couples face.  In this dictionary, love is a rocky road where living happily ever after is never a straight and easy path to follow.

This is a unique novel that wowed me from beginning to end.  The narrator’s A to Z definitions present a very personal story, but one that is universal as well.  It is a book short enough to be read in a single sitting.  But the reader may find themselves pondering how each word invokes thoughtful consideration on their own experiences in the matter of love, so it can take days to leisurely digest.  It is a novel worth savoring one definition at a time.

Late summer book recommendations

Another summer is coming to an end and before you know it, school will be back in session.  Not for me though.  I'm done!  BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  Sorry, I'm still giddy at the thought of not having homework and getting to read whatever I want!  Here are a few books I've really enjoyed recently:

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

This is the story of the Trojan War told from the perspective of the women who lived through it.  I particularly enjoyed Penelope's increasingly disgruntled letters to her husband Odysseus, calling him out on the nonsense that kept him from coming home: "You met a monster. You met a witch. Cannibals broke your ships. A whirlpool ate your friends."

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Carlton Abrams

The title caught my attention, and the book did not disappoint.  I liked it so much I bought my own copy.  It's nice to have it as a reference when all the bad things in the world feel overwhelming, and I highly recommend it.  The audio book is especially great, as you get to hear Ms.Goodall tell her own stories.

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis, LPC

Behind my kitchen sink sits a decorative plate that I inherited from my Grandma.  It says, "Thank God for dirty dishes, they have a tale to tell.  While others may go hungry, we're eating very well."  This short book contains similar advice (and a phenomenal table of contents).  If your house isn't spotless, it's not some sort of moral failing on your part.  Life happens, and sometimes it gets messy.

She Come by It Natural by Sarah Smarsh

This collection of essays tells the story of Dolly Parton and how her work influenced so many people throughout her career.  There is so much more to this remarkable woman than her perfect make-up and towering blond wigs.

Have you read any good books lately?  Let us know in the comments, or email your recommendations (annie dot lipski at aah dot org) for a future blog post!

Summer reading 2022

While I typically enjoy non-fiction, after three grueling years of grad school, it feels too much like doing homework.  I've switched over to novels for now.  Here are a few I've read and enjoyed recently:

Mr Cadmus by Peter Ackroyd.  This was kind of an odd one, but if you enjoy mysteries and British humour, I'd recommend it.

Ask again, yes: a novel by Mary Beth Keane.  A story of intergenerational family trauma and how different people cope.  There were a few nights I stayed up too late reading this one.

The mystics of Mile End by Sigal Samuel.  A story about a Jewish family who becomes obsessed with climbing the Tree of Life.  I just happened to see this one while browsing the shelves, and thought it looked interesting.  It had complex characters, and the story is told from their varying perspectives.

The boy in the black suit by Jason Reynolds. The story of a grieving teenage boy who goes to work in a funeral parlor following his mother's death.  The book is written for teens, but sometimes it's nice to read something easy, even if the subject matter is tough.

In retrospect, my summer reading list is sort of depressing, but that's just how I roll.  What are you reading for fun these days?

Do optical illusions help us learn to read?

 

Drag Queen Story Hour: Part of Experience MLA

“Tall Tales with True Queens” is a short film directed by Kristina Budelis and Leandro Badalotti that offers a taste of Drag Queen Story Hour from our NYC chapter. As  9-year-old attendee Lilli says in the film, “Drag queens should go on and never stop, because I think it’s a really cool program.” The film was scheduled to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival (canceled due to the pandemic) and premiered on the LGBTQ news site them.

As part of Experience MLA this February, The Hospital Library Caucus sponsored a session on Drag Queen Story Hour, in an effort to foster diversity and inclusion.

• If you are already a member of MLA, you can watch the Experience MLA recordings.

Who doesn't love being read to?

The program was lead by Per Sia, who did the very first Drag Queen Story Hour ever in 2015 in San Francisco.  By day, she is a teacher where reading is an important part of her job.  She understands the importance of reading to children.

The last part of the hour, Ms. Amanda Lynn read 3 stories to us over Zoom (What a treat!)  DQSH has a favorite list of books that focus on inclusion and diversity.  Ms. Amanda is a big fan of books from the APA's Magination Press that tackle identity and not fitting in.

• DQSH's Black Voices Reading List
• DQSH's Women's Herstory Resource List

Ms. Amanda's day job is a Pediatric Cardiology Nurse in Chicago, so she, too, works daily with kids.  It's a natural tie in to have a program like this in the pediatrics dept. of a hospital.  Not just for public libraries!

Quotes from the Queens:

"We're like clowns, only prettier!"

"Drag is not how you identify. It's about bringing a character to life!"

-- Posted by Ms. Wasabi Pearl  

[As part of the program, the Ladies tell how you can choose your own Drag Queen name!  Join the fun!]

 

Escapist reading: The Feather Thief

 In looking for a little escapist reading lately, I ran across a recommendation for The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century. I'll confess that I'm not usually a fan of non-fiction, but this book reads like an adventure story. A black market, obsession, and a furtive trek through the English countryside at midnight unfold all in the first couple of chapters. I even wanted to learn more about fly-tying and the differences between trout and salmon flies after reading this book. 

For those fans of This American Life, Ira Glass and his team recorded an episode in 2018 about the story. 

I highly recommend it for your to-be-read pile. 

What are your favorite non-fiction reads?