books

Election Connection – Breaking News: Librarian of Congress Fired

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Carla Hayden, who was set to complete her term next year has been fired by the President as part of his rampage against “DEI” and “woke ideology”. [Those terms are in quotations because I feel the White House and many Republicans in Congress do not understand what those words mean, nor do they understand the function of the LIbrary of Congress.] The White House Press Secretary claimed it was for putting inappropriate books on the shelves for children. Anyone who understands how the Library of Congress operates (clearly not the Press Secretary or the President), understands that the LIbrary of Congress is not a circulating library. Research is done there, books do not leave the building, and children do not use the library other than to visit and see how the library operates.

The Library of Congress is responsible for receiving two of every book published. Every. Book. This is a function of its role in administering copyright law. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country, and has been known to be apolitical to the point that Ms. Hayden is only the fourteenth librarian since 1802.

Library of Congress Carla Hayden fired.

Library of Congress, official

Library of Congress: Ask a Librarian

Library of Congress, wikipedia

World Book Day

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On this World Book Day, I have three that I want to highly recommend to you:

  • The Writer: A Thriller by J.D. Barker and James Patterson
    This is not generally a book that I would gravitate towards. I don’t know if someone mentioned it to me or if I saw it online. As a writer, I was drawn to the title, although put off by the idea of a thriller – those aren’t really my thing, but I read this, and despite the cliché on the cover – you’ll never forget the ending – I read it, twisted and turned along with the characters, and the ending, well, let’s just say I will never forget it. In fact, I had to read the last two pages twice – it was that unexpected!
  • The Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
    I was drawn to this by the talented Georgia Tennant who narrates the audiobook. I listened to a sample, and I was hooked on the story! I have just begun reading it and will eventually listen to the audio version. What happens when serial killers get married and have a child? This is your answer. Brilliant concept, very engaging, and I anticipate fun.
  • The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny
    I read this when it came out last fall, and I am now listening to the audiobook narrated by Jean Brassard. I love his voice, and he really brings out the Quebecois culture and accent which is a large part of the Armand Gamache series. Read the first eighteen books first if you can – this newest book has several call backs and old favorites who return. The next book, The Black Wolf, comes out in October of this year.

What three books would you receommend for this World Book Day?

International Women’s Day – 2

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Book Recs

  • Something Lost, Something Gained: reflections on life, love, and liberty by Hillary Rodham Clinton
  • Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It by Janina Ramirez
  • susan, linda, nina, & cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by Lisa Napoli
  • Song in a Weary Heart by Pauli Murray
  • Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America by Dahlia Lithwick
  • Lessons from the Edge: A Memoir by Marie Yovanovitch
  • Set the world on Fire: A 4- Week Personal Retreat with the Female Doctors of the Church by Vinita Hampton Wright
  • The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
  • Reflections from Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My True Self in Corporate America by Stephanie Battaglino
  • Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back by Jackie Speier

World Book Day

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5 Book Recs for World Book Day

  1. The Armand Gamache Series by Louise Penny
  2. How We Learn to Be Brave by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde
  3. A Lily Among Thorns: A Mohawk Repatriation of St. Kateri Tekakwi:tha by Darren Bonaparte
  4. Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson
  5. Patriot by Alexi Navalny

Plus a Bonus Book

Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It by Janina Ramirez

Mark Twain’s Study.
Elmira, NY
(c)2025

Tell Me What You Know

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Mont Royal.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
(c)2024

My first introduction to Louise Penny was with State of Terror, the book she co-authored with Hillary Rodham Clinton, which admittedly was what drew me to the book in the first place. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in mysteries and state department/political thrillers. It’s taken me a few years since then to rediscover the author Louise Penny when her Gamache Series was recommended to me recently in a writing class.

I may have mentioned in a previous note, here or on Facebook, that I’ve become obsessed with Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series. I’ve read the entire series and am less than patiently waiting for the next book that will be released in October. I am about halfway through a second read-through – did I mention that I was obsessed?! I had recommended them to a friend of mine and it turned out she was already reading them! It is so hard to talk to her about them and not give her any spoilers. I had planned to write a proper review and recommendation for next week or the week after, however, today is a special day in the books (and in my own life as I’ll explain).

There should not be any spoilers not found in the synopsis on the backs of the books.

Continue reading

Author & Books Rec: Jane Yolen

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Jane Yolen turns 85 today. She is the prolific author and/or editor of over four hundred books for both children and adults. She was born in New York City, and now resides in Massachusetts. The book that I loved as a teacher was Owl Moon. I read this to my young classes all the time, and it cemented Jane Yolen as a favorite author of mine. I also remember reading an anthology that included her when I was in college. Back then, I read nearly anything with the science-fiction/fantasy label.

She’s received numerous awards, including the Nebula, the Caldecott, and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and most recently, the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.

She is still quite prolific and released three books in 2023 – yes, three books:

Schlemiel Comes to America (illustrated by Oscar Perez)

The Scarlet Circus (introduction by Brandon Sanderson)

Smout and the Lighthouse (with John Patrick Pazdziora; illustrated by Lyndsay Roberts Rayne)

Valuable Links to Check Out:

Jane Yolen (Website)

Bibliography

Writer’s FAQ

For Writers

Happy Birthday, Jane!

Celebrating Tomie dePaola

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As I mentioned briefly in yesterday’s Mental Health Monday post, September 15th would have been writer/illustrator Tomie dePaola’s eighty-ninth birthday. Sadly, he died in 2020 from complications to a bad fall he had at his studio. He wrote over 250 children’s books, writing full time after retiring from teaching in 1978.

His books were a staple in my classrooms over the years, often having parts of the curriculum built around specific books and themes that he wrote about. Two of my favorites were Strega Nona and Charlie Needs a Cloak. Legend of the Indian Paintbrush was something I brought out during November and the Thanksgiving lessons to build around true Native American mythos rather than the stereotypical Pilgrims and Indians tropes that continue to be taught. The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote was another one that brought another culture alive for the children in my classes. He wrote many books on holidays, primarily Christmas.

Tomie was a devoted Catholic. One of my favorite houses to visit on retreat has a mural in their chapel that he painted in 1958 (he was 24 years old!), depicting the Blessed Mother with some Dominican friends: St. Rose of Lima, Blessed Jane of Aza, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Catherine de ’Ricci, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Maria Goretti.

I never get tired of sitting with it, praying, and thinking of Tomie and his stories.

Mural by Tomie dePaola

Visit his website, which lists all of his books as well as offering his biography. There is also a link to The Tomie dePaola Art Education Fund.

Recently, Tomie was honored with a series of US Postal stamps, seen below. You may find them at your local post office.