May 28, 2014

Armchair BEA: Expanding Blogging Horizons and Novellas/Short Stories


Expanding Blogging Horizons

I would like to say that I woke up one day, yelled, "Eureka", and furiously typed away until my blog became what it is today. Alas, that simply isn't true. Over the last several months, I have poured a lot of sweat and tears into this blog making it an absolute extension of my love for books and my work within libraries.
Some of it has been my own creation such as my Literary Love" and "Soul Craft" series. I created this series to showcase artist's work and the process behind it because I wanted to share my love of all things literary and didn't want to lose that direct connection I foster with people when I have the opportunity to learn from their experiences. I love it so much. I wanted to share that experience with others. 
Check out these amazing artists:
For literary quote necklaces: The Wandering Reader
 
For literary t-shirts: Neena Creates and Thornfield Hall
My Reader Recommendation Service derived from my ability to suggest books for patrons. Throughout the last five  years working in libraries, this has been my favorite aspect. I love helping people broaden their horizons. After all, a great library has something in it to offend everyone! Selecting books for others proves to be a challenge and I love piecing those puzzles together everyday. My service travels through word of mouth and I have been blessed to pick books for well-known authors. It is always such an honor to pick books for someone whose books have personally impacted my life and others I have known.  

 Short Stories/Novellas

Brownies by ZZ Packer found in: 


The girl scouts in “Brownies” are going to “kick the asses of each and every girl in Brownie Troop 909,” which is filled with white girls who smell like Chihuahuas and carry Sleeping Beauty sleeping bags. I found this book while taking an African American playwright class in college and fell in love with the hilarious use of language to describe the bigger issue of race in the South. 


Another one of my favorites: 


This is the story of a village, who every year, like clockwork, perform the tradition of sacrificing one of their own in order to guarantee rain for next season's crops. Each person draws their name from a large bowl and whoever picks the one with the black spot on it must be stoned by their friends and family. As gory as it sounds, the villagers welcome this tradition with laughter and dancing; as something to be celebrated not dreaded. 

I read this story in middle school and since reading the Hunger Games, I have always wanted to ask the author if she read this short story and if it impacted her in some way to write her best-selling trilogy. 

Perhaps, one day. 


I can't wait to see your favorites!

3 comments:

  1. Both of those sound interesting. I'll check them out.

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  2. Your recommendation service sounds like such fun! Good for you.

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  3. The Lottery is definitely one of the most memorable short stories that I've ever read!! Have you read any of her longer books? I hear they're very good but I haven't gotten to them yet.

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Friend, I am honored you stopped by my little corner of the internet and shared your thoughts. I do read every comment and I am paying attention to what is being said. I encourage the feedback. If you have a more personal question I ask that you email me. Thank you!