What We’re Into: Caribbean Women Writers

With Womenā€™s History Month coming to an end, now is the perfect time to do some last minute reading of literature written by women. In 1987, the United States Congress passed into public law a set of resolutions which officially set March as ā€œWomenā€™s History Month.ā€ Now, March is recognized in the United States and the Caribbean as a time to honor the remarkable contributions and achievements which extraordinary women have made over the course of history.…

What We’re Into: Dark Histories

Dark Histories, a podcast written and hosted by Ben Cutmore, is a great choice if you adore terrifyingly captivating tales. Under the genres of documentary and history, this strangely addicting podcast tells spooky but less-well-known stories of murder, ghosts, demons, and crime from times long past with sound effects and music.

Recommended Reading: Being A Librarian: Expectations Vs Reality

There are many common misconceptions about what it means to be a librarian. For example, some believe that librarians have the answer to every question fathomable. This is not true at all! Librarians are not AI come to life, and ā€œOften, it comes down to simply being human.ā€ To find the answers that patrons need, librarians will use the resources that they have, including fellow staff members, to help answer their patrons’ questions.

Dante’s “Inferno:” Nightmare Fuel | Simone Southers

Fantasizing about reading classic literature was (and still is) one of my favorite pastimes. So, when I got the opportunity to read works like Homerā€™s Illiad and Dante Alighieriā€™s Inferno with Professor Merkel, you could say that the dark academia wannabe in me was excited. Reading works like these were required for a class called ā€œThe Devil, the Hero, and Godā€ which looked at literature that had these interactions.

Books To Add To Your Holiday Wish-List

The holidays are coming upā€“ this is the perfect opportunity to expand your book collection and treat yourself to some new reads. Whether you are looking for an emotionally gripping book, captivating poetry, or a purely self-indulgent read, this list has the perfect story for you.

Fiction and Non-fiction Essays

The following recommendations are a collection of essays or feature elements of essay writing in their composition.

What We’re Reading: Rachel Ingalls’ Mrs. Caliban

Ā 

When I first read Rachel Ingallsā€™ Mrs. Caliban this semester in Professor Butcherā€™s Narratives 2: Longer Forms, I was perplexed as to how the story could have any literary significance. At face value, this is the story of a lonely housewife, Dorothy, in an unhappy marriage who falls in love with a monstrous frog-like manā€“a clear allusion to the aquatic creature Caliban from Shakespeareā€™s The Tempest.

Classical Composers of TikTok

As I sat, partaking in another session of mindless scrolling, I happened across a stereotypical 60 second ā€œday in the lifeā€ vlog with one slight distinction. Instead of the trendy pop music one would expect to find dominating the app, this particular TikTok featured a clip of a strikingly beautiful orchestral composition, ā€œEasy Loversā€ by the late Italian film composer Piero Piccioni.Ā 

Halloween Book Reccomendations

The leaves have changed color, and Halloween quickly approaches, which means that now is the perfect time to bring out some spooky literature. Whether you love horror novels, or just need a quick tale to put you in the Halloween time spooky-season mood, this list has a story for you.Ā 

Classics

If you love the classics but haven’t yet read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, you should consider adding it to this yearā€™s Halloween reading list.

What We’re Into: “M. Butterfly” by David Henry Hwang

The play is a retelling of Giacomo Pucciniā€šĆ„Ć“s Madame Butterfly in which a French ambassador, Rene Gallimard, falls in love with opera star Song Liling. They meet after Gallimard sees Liling portray the title role in Puccini’s opera and, inspired by his womanizing friend, Gallimard begins to test the limits of Liling’s confidence and pride believing that she, a Chinese woman, will eventually bend to his domineering Western position.