Story Tags

Wishes Fulfilled

Leaps of Faith

Titles to inspire personal growth

The books in this compilation are for the most part biographical. Spirituality played a deep and transformative role in the lives of each of the subjects. It catalyzed their lives and moved them from anonymity to influence. It got them over fears, hurdles, tragedies, insufficiencies and other types of adversity. Self-realization is a major theme in this list. These books explore the question of what we can become if our beliefs about who we are change.

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine

Girls to the Front: Women, Punk, and Memoir

It's time to read n' rock.

Come into the studio, on tour, and to the afterparty with some of the most intriguing and commanding women of punk. Historically, music biographies place men center stage while women have been relegated to the margins.

Little Book of Witchcraft

A Coven of Witch Books

Exploring your inner witch has been quite vogue in popular culture, from “basic witch” memes to #witchesofinstagram. What does it really mean, and are you interested in learning more? These books might be able to help you get started, or take a deep dive into developing an active practice.

Still Alice

Go Purple

Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

My Struggle

Autofiction...

...or autobiographical fiction. It’s sometimes about the author; sometimes about the author’s re-perception of their past; sometimes an account of true events with an altered timeline; sometimes an entirely made up story with deep emotional truths. It’s not all factual, but you’d best believe everything.

Agent 110 cover

World War II Espionage for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

June 6, 2019, is the 75th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day which ultimately led to the Nazi’s defeat. D-Day was a massive military invasion that was both supported and opposed by new and growing intelligence operations on both sides. Explore the intelligence efforts and learn about some of the interesting spies working in espionage during World War II with these books.  

tour de oz

Bikes, Bites and Bucket Lists

Epic Journeys for the Rugged Cyclist

May is National Bike Month and what better way to get motivated than to read some cycling memoirs.  Some of these may jump onto your bucket list while others will make good couch reading.  If you're looking for a local ride, join DC Public Library on the 10th Annual Tour de DCPL on Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m.  Click here to register.  We hope to see you on the trails!

anna karenina

Romance with a Compelling Setting

One of the most essential principles of books that delve into the different ways we love people is that the book needs to be felt. Part of what makes that happen are the characters themselves: how realistically they are portrayed and how well the author is able to make them feel human, or how much of an affinity they have to our own sensibilities (or to what we can imagine as readers). These affinities ground themselves in the characters, but also in the settings of the books.

Bring Me Back book cover

Well Read Ears

Noteworthy Audiobook Performances

Did you know that audiobooks are one of the fasting growing ways to read a book? If this is news to you, welcome to your new obsession! There’s no better way to multi-task while cooking, driving, working out or when you can’t easily keep your eyes on the page. Audiobooks have come a long way from “books-on-tape,” and the library has lots of ways to enjoy them.

The incantations of Daniel Johnston.

Graphic Novels about Musicians

I love music, and I love graphic novels. This was a fun list to make.  

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