Southeast
Neighborhood Library

-A +A
Printer-friendly version
RSS
Dr.Smith&friend

"Cite Black Women"

Celebrate Women's History Month

Dr. Christen Smith, former D.C. resident and associate professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin, designed T-shirts emblazoned with “Cite Black Women.” The message reminds others to value and accredit the ideas, words and work of black women. Dr. Smith posted five resolutions that define the project:   Read black women’s work. 

The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan

Mothers Tell Your Daughters

Telling Life Stories in Novels

So many great novels that pass the Bechdel Test (two female characters discussing topics other than men) are about mothers and daughters. Mothers sharing their lives and long lost secrets with their daughters and surrogate daughters. The story describing the bond between two or more women from different generations has been told in many different ways. Whether those women are related by blood or by common experience, each of these novels comes from a different perspective.

Wuthering Heights

Gothic Fiction for the Whole Family Part 2 (Teens and Adults)

A celebration of old-world-style scares

It's never too late to develop a taste for Gothic reads. This glorious genre explores negativity in a manageable package. With supernatural elements and an exploration of feelings like unhappiness and loneliness, both Gothic and Modern Gothic literature provide a unique opportunity for readers to explore and discuss some of the more challenging and gruesome aspects of life, and in such, to find ways to cope with scary and negative feelings in their day-to-day lives. Find a comfy chair and get ready for some shocking, fearsome and morose reads.

Image of The Idiot book cover

'90s Girls

Female-centered coming-of-age fiction set in the 1990s

Still recent history, the 1990s have been the setting of a run of novels lately that follow young women as they come of age.

The Joy Luck Club

Join the Club

Novels Centered Around Clubs and Groups

The literary premise of a themed or activity-based club is a surprisingly diverse sub-genre. Modern classics such as The Joy Luck Club and Fight Club not only became critically and commercially popular books but also gained popularity for their film adaptations. The plot device of “the club” can bring a diverse group of individuals together. It not only impacts their daily lives but also allows the reader to learn about each character and their backstory.

the doubtful guest

Gothic Fiction for the Whole Family (Part 1: Children)

A celebration of old-world-style scares

It's never too early to introduce your child to Gothic and Modern Gothic literature (or to develop a taste for it yourself). This glorious genre explores negativity in a manageable package. With supernatural elements and an exploration of feelings like unhappiness and loneliness, both Gothic and Modern Gothic literature provide a unique opportunity for readers to explore and discuss some of the more challenging and gruesome aspects of life, and to find ways to cope with scary and negative feelings in their day-to-day lives.

Post Secret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God

These Are My Confessions

Just when I thought I said all I could say...

Forgive me reader, for I have sinned. For penance, I offer you book after book of guilty consciences, all of which are suitable for adult audiences. I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain By: Courtney Robertson

It by Stephen King

Stranger Things That Go Bump in the Night!

Darkness falls across the land The midnight hour is close at hand Creatures crawl in search of blood To terrorize y’awl’s neighborhood

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Historical or Nostalgic Fiction?

Recent Fiction set in 1980s and 1990s

Historical fiction is often defined as a novel that takes place in the past. But in 2017, can a novel set in 1996 or even 2000 be considered historical? Rather: if the writer and/or reader vividly remembers a time only 15-20 years in the past, reliving that past veers into nostalgia rather than history. Then again, what if the novel is for a YA crowd who never experienced the 80s or 90s? When does it become historical? These novels all take place between 1980 and 2001 and were written by authors looking back.

Cover to Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Challenge Accepted: Read Harder 2017

Challenge #17: Read a classic by an author of color

2017 is here and a new year means new year resolutions and challenges. One reading challenge that I love to do is Book Riot’s Read Harder challenge. Instead of having people focus on a specific number of books, Read Harder challenges people to read different genres or authors that they may overlook. This year, there are 24 prompts for readers. Today we will address the 17th challenge, to read a classic by an author of color.

Pages