Literary Links

Mychal Threets Wants Everyone to Experience ‘Library Joy’

“The 33-year-old librarian from California has become popular on TikTok and Instagram with his upbeat take on libraries.”

When a librarian friend of mine recently mentioned Mychal Threets on Facebook, I had no idea who he is or why she was waxing enthusiastic about him. Now I know: “Mr. Threets has leveraged the power of social media to show that the public library is as joy-inspiring as it is welcoming.”

(Gifted article)

Melissa Gilbert’s latest project has ‘Little House on the Prairie’ roots

Melissa Gilbert, whom you may remember from the television version of Little House on the Prairie, has started an online platform, Modern Prairie, aimed at letting women over 50 know “you’re just getting started.” Here, CNN interviews Gilbert about how the TV series inspired her new undertaking and what message she hopes to convey.

The little Taylor Swift book that could

I’ve written before about Little Golden Books.

And I imagine a lot of you (at least those of you from the U.S.) probably also remember growing up with them. Here Sophia Nguyen, a writer for the Books section of the Washington Post, talks with Wendy Loggia, author of a much more current Little Golden Book, Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography. Loggia’s book is quickly becoming the fastest-selling entry in the Little Golden Book biography series, published by Random House.

The Fine Art of the Paperback Makeover

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” the humorist Will Rogers once said — which tells you he wasn’t a book publishing executive. In that world, the paperback edition is the second chance, an opportunity to market a book at a lower price and, in many cases, with new cover imagery aimed at new audiences.

When should you give up on a book? Readers weigh in.

This may be one of the most frequently discussed issues within the literary community. See what readers of the Washington Post have to say about when to call it quits—and when not to—on your current read.

Must-Watch TV Recommendations for Book Lovers

BookTrib’s list contains movies and series recommendations, “many of which are based on books.” Included are All the Light We Cannot See, A Nearly Normal Family, and Black Cake.

A True Crime Syllabus

Nicole Donawho writes that interest in crime stories goes back as far as the sixteenth century; before people had access to printed material, “They turned to ballads and oral recitations of gruesome tales—even in church.” Today, podcasts have increased access to discussions of true crime. Here Donawho offers a syllabus that comprises a multidisciplinary approach to true crime and that examines how we view crime as a whole and how that view has changed over time.

This article comes from JSTOR, which describes itself as a “nonprofit library for the intellectually curious.” The article includes links to the listed materials. 

American Writers Museum: Virtual Hub

The American Writers Museum is located in Chicago, Illinois. For those of us who can’t easily visit their exhibits in person, this landing page offers access to some of their educational materials.

How to Stay On Top of Your Reading Resolutions this Year

I especially like this list because it’s based on this philosophy:

Reading in your spare time should be fun and enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a chore; you probably have enough actual chores on your plate as it is.

So go ahead: DNF that book, treat yourself to some book swag, and don’t let anyone belittle your reading choices.

© 2024 by Mary Daniels Brown