HAVEN'T READ IT

At my local Chicago Public Library branch, the librarian recently moved all of the graphic novels into a single shelving area by themselves. I was delighted--the graphic novel book club often meets at a table by the new section, so it's easy to browse while we wait for everyone to arrive. The shelves are a little shorter than most, so there is room for displaying graphic novels of all shapes and sizes on top. This change was motivated by growing interest in the format and the club. I felt the change improved findability, encouraged browsing within the niche format, and increased visibility via display space. Although it seems similar on the surface, this situation is different than the case of the northwest Iowa library whose patrons requested books with LGBTQ themes be labeled and separated from the rest of the collection. These patrons asked for a change because they object to the content. They're also taking steps to ensure that the library won't be able to add any mor...

Title: Thugs and the Women who Love Them Author:  Wahida Clark Summary: Preface—I didn’t finish this book. I got about 60 pages in, and that was a generous choice. There was so much gratuitous violence against women in those first 60 pages it made me ill. My summary will only reflect the portion of the book I finished. Major trigger warning for graphic sex and violence. Angel lives in the projects, but she’s doing her best to get out. She’s in law school, but she’s stealing handbags and perfume to pay her bills. She’s also dating Snake, descended from a long line of pimps and a notoriously brutal one, himself. In the first 60 pages alone, he violently beats up 4 different women in public, one of them nearly to death. He beats Angel, too, but she beats back...and he also helps with her mom’s bills and the sex is good. Based on the back cover, the reader will also be introduced to two other women in similarly toxic relationships with violent, lying men: Jaz and Kyra. Urban Fi...

This is the stuff that grinds my gears. Talking about what is "legitimate" art and what isn't. What adults should do and what they should be ridiculed for. So much of this conversation is steeped in the patriarchy, heteronormativity, and people scared that if they have to make room for others who aren't exactly like them, there won't be enough to go around. This conversation seems to echo through history. In some circles, romance still isn't seen as a legitimate genre. YA and Graphic Novels just seem to be latest targets. I don't think it's a coincidence that these genres are largely enjoyed by women and young people. If you are feeling threatened by someone else's reading choices, take a step back and look inside yourself. What is really causing these feelings? Why do you feel the person should not be reading that book? What authority to do you have regarding the choices of others? This is not to say that there aren't harmful books out ther...

The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing A well-read friend recommended this book to me a few years ago. Unfortunately I got a copy the same year I started this degree, so it's just been sitting on my shelf, waiting for me. I completed the matrix based on what I gleaned from skimming a few sections. Hopefully I get to read it soon! Where is the book on the narrative continuum? This book is a mix of narrative and fact-based prose. What is the subject of the book? By examining the matsutake mushroom's place in global commerce and the reasons why various groups treasure it, Tsing also considers the relationship between "capitalist destruction and collaborative survival." What type of book is it?   I would consider this a book of interconnected essays about a shared topic. In the prologue, the author states that this will be the first book in the "Matsutake Worlds" mini-series, with the three volumes each authored by a differe...

As a child, my family would often drive entire days to reach vacation destinations. I'd invariably bring a stack of print books with me. One trip, we investigated the Harry Potter audiobooks, and the entire car was hooked. My dad still quotes them to this day, attempting his best approximation of Jim Dale's Gilderoy Lockhart or Professor Quirrell. Beyond that, I don't have a lot of personal experience with audiobooks or e-books. If I listen to spoken word, it's usually a podcast. I have an iPad, which I hear is great for graphic novels, but I haven't tried it out for that purpose yet, preferring to restrict its use to schoolwork for now. This is one area where I know I need to do a little research and exploration. (Maybe I'll get a chance as this quarantine situation stretches on.) I've gotten as far as downloading Libby, OverDrive, and RBdigital to my phone. I'll be honest, it's a daunting process, and I consider myself reasonably tech-savvy. The ...