Meranda T.

  • Whimsigoth – Three Variations on an Aesthetic

    Whimsigoth – Three Variations on an Aesthetic

    The final core we three wish to leave you with this year is the effervescent, highly mutable, slightly dark, yet utterly magical core of whimsigoth. May these suggestions spark warm fizzes of delight amidst the deep dark grey of winter. Meranda: My first taste of whimsigoth came from The Addams Family. The dark aesthetics, the… Continue reading

  • Grungecore – Three Variations on an Aesthetic

    Grungecore – Three Variations on an Aesthetic

    Would the founding members of grunge music rail against being considered a popularized aesthetic core? Undoubtedly, and for that we apologize, but no one can deny that when grunge music emerged in the 80s and then exploded in the 90s, those shock waves were felt far and wide across the social and cultural spectrum. Out… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo NW 2024: One Big Book

    Book Bingo NW 2024: One Big Book

    It’s time to read that daunting book. The big one. The good news: it will fill up two squares on your Book Bingo. As a few suggestions for you, I’ve provided a smattering of different genres. Hopefully one of them will appeal. For even more suggestions check out our booklist Book Bingo NW 2024: One… Continue reading

  • Cottagecore – Three Variations on an Aesthetic

    Cottagecore – Three Variations on an Aesthetic

    What do you envision when you hear the term “cottagecore”? Perhaps its lush country gardens, fresh baked bread, and dreamy cotton clothes. Or maybe just a simple back-to-nature aesthetic that is wistful and romantic. Here are three takes from three library staff on Cottagecore to fuel your inspiration. Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore has lush… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2023: Chosen by the Cover Part 2

    #BookBingoNW2023: Chosen by the Cover Part 2

    Still working on your Summer Book Bingo? Maybe you haven’t filled in the “Chosen by the Cover” square just yet? Let me suggest a few more books with covers that caught my eye! Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelly Set in 2003, a bookbinder finds a queer love letter in a book and becomes obsessed with… Continue reading

  • Tired of Grim Dystopias? Try Solarpunk!

    Solarpunk is a relatively newer subset of the cyberpunk and steampunk genres, being introduced in 2008. Solarpunk focuses on what the future might be like using renewable resources. Often humanity is managing to coexist in a more harmonious way with the world and while natural disasters might not have been avoided, they are less likely… Continue reading

  • Short Stories on a Theme

    There are times when it may be hard to focus on a long novel, so a short story might be a better choice. You can pick up a book of short stories and read one or all. Many compilations feature different authors coming together to focus on one theme and giving you a selection of… Continue reading

  • What is Cyberpunk?

    I recently saw an article with the headline We’re on the Brink of Cyberpunk and while I did not read this article it did get me thinking about what people might consider a Cyberpunk world to be. With images of from the movies eXistenZ and Ex Machina running through my head, I did my best to… Continue reading

  • November Literary Holidays

    November marks twelve months of literary holidays! So to finish it off, here are three November literary holidays. The entire month is Picture Book Month, an international initiative to support literacy and encourage the use of picture books. There are blogs dedicated to championing the importance of picture books throughout the month. So in honor… Continue reading

  • October Literary Holidays

     October is known for its spooky holiday themes, but the literary holidays are less spooky and a whole lot of fun. If you are familiar with the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, then this day might be for you. On October 6th, it is Mad Hatter day due to the number he wears in… Continue reading

  • August Literary Holidays

    August may have few nationally acknowledged holidays, but if you appreciate literature I’ve got a few things you can celebrate. Kicking off the month we have National Book Lover’s Day taking place on August 9th. On this day celebrate by enjoying the smell of books, visit the library, drop literary references into casual speech, or just enjoy… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2018: Award-Winning Authors

    I’m sure you have heard of the Newbery Medal, Man Booker Prize, Hugo Award, and many, many other author awards. In addition to these well-known awards, let me introduce you to a few newer ones and their winning authors. Black Caucus American Library Association (BCALA) Literary Award, established in 1994, recognizes African American authors in… Continue reading

  • July Literary Holidays

    July Literary Holidays

    Here’s a quick look at some of the literary holidays you can celebrate this month: Almanacs, paperbacks, and the Wizarding World! The entire month of July is read an Almanac month. Providing a wealth of knowledge, they are typically published once a year. The most common almanacs are used for planting dates, tide tables, and… Continue reading

  • June Literary Holidays

    Here are some interesting literary holidays to enjoy in June. June is GLBT Book Month, which started as LGBT Book Month in the early 1990s. To quote the GLBT Book Month website: “[this is] a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.” In… Continue reading

  • May Literary Holidays

    May is a great month for books. Let me give you the holidays to prove it. May is Get Caught Reading Month, which started in 1999 as a way to encourage the love of reading. Bonus: It can be a great time to read outdoors and make your reading visible to the world.  Children’s Book… Continue reading

  • April Literary Holidays

    April is a hard month for literary holidays because there are so many! Without further ado, here they are: Since 1967, International Children’s Book Day has been celebrated on April 2nd, which was selected in honor of Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday. This day gets a different international sponsor each year and they get to choose the theme. This year… Continue reading

  • March Literary Holidays

    Aside from calendar noted holidays in March like Purim and Saint Patrick’s day, there are a few literary days of note that might peak your interest.   On March 2nd there is Read Across America day, which also happens to be Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It was created by the National Education Association as a day to… Continue reading

  • February Literary Holidays

    February is the month for Library Lovers! At least that is one of the lesser known celebrations of February. This month long holiday started as just one day on February 14th (Library Lovers Day) but has since expanded to encompass the entire month. Feel free to show your love for the library by visiting a branch or exploring our online resources. Here’s a handy… Continue reading