Northeast
Neighborhood Library

Takeout service available Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Closed from 2 - 3 p.m.every day for sanitizing.

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Inspirational Books

Classics you've been meaning to read

Below are five inspirational books to read in order to find happiness, meaning, and joy in life (if you don’t already have these things or are looking for a reminder). They are five of the most recognized books in the genre of personal development and self-improvement books.

Sit and Stay

Dog Stories with a Lesson

Many people adore dogs. It’s no surprise dogs have begun to show up in schools, libraries, hospitals, senior centers and other places where their calm nature is put to work lifting spirits and building confidence. In a 2009 study of the SitStayRead program, a literacy project that brings therapy dogs into Chicago's public elementary schools, researchers saw a 20 percent increase in oral reading fluency among the 152 second graders studied.

Number, Please!

Numbers in the title, numbers all around

For some reason, all the books in this list just happen to be a little dark. Earth is destroyed, supernatural forces are at work, we face our humanity (or lack thereof), war is peace… you get the idea. But another common factor they share is their top-notch writing. Snuggle up with some tea and a purr-y cat and pick up one of these number-titled page turners. You may want to leave the light on, too.

What it Means to be American

This eclectic mix of books features different genres, perspectives, and approaches to answer the question: "What does it mean to be an American?" Some are memoirs, some are histories, some social science and poetry thrown in for good measure. While none of these books by themselves or even as a collection completely answer the complex question, they do begin to describe the multiple facets of what it means to call oneself an American.

International Girls with Grit

Grit is defined as "firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck." The true stories below portray unimaginable hardships for girls so young. Some lost their families and homes to heinous acts of violence during civil wars. Others were sold by their families to ease financial burdens or because the girls were deemed "worthless." Yet deep loss, fear, and shame didn't define them. Instead, their strength blossomed in adversity.

International Fiction

It’s good to leave town and be anywhere but DC when the heatwave hits us in July and August. But if for whatever reason this summer you’re stuck and the prospect of vacation isn’t even looming in the horizon of your dreams, don’t fret; instead, let’s explore the world through fiction. Below are some of the best translated works of fiction from Norway, Mexico, France, and Indonesia.

Adults

Exquisite Corpse

A strange story about Amy getting coffee?

"An Exquisite Corpse" is a work of art/poetry/storytelling created by a collection of people who have preceding parts of the work hidden from them. Patrons at the Northeast Library were given the opportunity to build a story based on two rules: Add only one sentence to the story (this was loosely followed.) Try not to read more than one sentence ahead, but at the very least do not turn to the previous page (this seems to have also been loosely followed.) Below is the story that was created during the month of June, transcribed as closely as possible to the original text.

Place and Race

Stories and Histories of DC

Whether you grew up in D.C. or have only been here a few weeks, knowing and understanding the city you live in is important. These books cover parts of the history of D.C. and focus on the ways in which race has intersected with politics and the way we live here.

The Written Word

Novels about Books

While most of us choose to read books because we enjoy them, some of us really, really love books. So much so that we even want our books to be about books. If you are one of those bibliophiles who just can't get enough, this list focuses on novels in which books play a central role. With a variety of genres, formats and tones, there should be at least one book here which intrigues your inner librarian, literati or collector.

Gardening in Miniature

Gardening is cathartic in ways that people who don’t mind temporary messes or dirty fingernails can appreciate. There is satisfaction in even simple jobs like weeding and the end most certainly justifies the means. Fanatical gardeners dig in the dirt most anytime, weather be damned. There are times, however, when gardening outside is neither possible nor practical. That’s when gardening in miniature fits the bill and satisfies the obsession.

Northeast Neighborhood Library