10 Examples of the Masterful Short Fiction of Alice Munro
A good short story can change the way you look at the world, and all of Alice Munro's short stories were good.
A Field Guide to 15 Trees Native to the Literary Landscape
To commemorate Arbor Day, here's a meticulous and largely unserious botanical guide to 15 of the weirdest trees in literature.
15 Pies From the Library’s Menu to Celebrate Pi Day
Here's a list of fifteen pies you can find on the library shelves. True, you can't actually eat them, but for a few of these that might actually be just as well. I'm looking in your direction, Sweeney Todd.
70 Years of Waiting: Happy Birthday, Godot
The title character of Samuel Beckett's absurdist classic is 70 years old. But maybe don't wait for him to show up before you cut the cake.
Found in Translation: Literature in Other Languages
Gifted translators like Edith Grossman break through language barriers to introduce readers to the great literature of the world, so you can finally find out what people mean when they talk about Don Quixote and windmills.
5 Books to Read So You Can Talk About Milan Kundera (1929-2023)
The writer Milan Kundera died recently at the age of 94. So if you haven't read any of his novels -- or can't remember if you've read them -- here's your chance to catch up.
5 Cormac McCarthy Books You Gotta Read
The only thing more depressing than losing an author of Cormac McCarthy's stature is the stuff that happens in Cormac McCarthy's books.
5 Ways to Get to Know Poet Charles Simic
The poet Charles Simic achieved nearly every distinction an American poet can hope for. It's not too late to find out why.
Yelp Reviews From the Top 10 Worst Meals in Literature
Cooking during the holiday season can be stressful. But look on the bright side: nothing you make will be anywhere near as bad as the food the characters eat in these books.
Top 10 Ways to Get to Know Nobel Prize-Winning Author Annie Ernaux
Many Americans have never heard of Annie Ernaux, the latest winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. But now you're not one of them.
Top 5 Books You Should Read So You Can Talk About Salman Rushdie
Novelist Salman Rushdie didn't ask to be a symbol of free expression. But as he recovers in a hospital from a recent attack, maybe reading some of his books is the least we can do.
Children’s Library & Teen Recommends – Summer 2021
Youth Services Librarians love to read, too! Check out what your favorite Children’s and Teen Librarians at Main Library are reading, whether it be a picture book about penguins, a middle grade adventure in a treehouse, vampires in Louisiana, or a time-traveling phone booth!
The Spy Who Wrote a Whole Lot of Books
Acclaimed spy novelist John le Carré recently died, leaving some readers nostalgic for his deftly plotted, character-centered espionage yarns and others realizing they've never read a John le Carré book. Time to fix that.
Louise Glück and Other Nobel Prize Winning Authors
Poet Louise Glück recently became the latest author to receive a surprise phone call from the Nobel committee. It puts her in good -- if sometimes eccentric -- company.
Songs Inspired by Books
Ever since Ancient Greece music has looked to the printed page for inspiration.
Hero’s Journey – Monomyth
Do you love The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Lion King, or Moana? All of these novels and/or movies have a common literary technique identified as the Hero's Journey.
