I have a passion for metal music. I really fell in love with this style of music in middle school. It was an awkward time for me, but the music and culture really gave me a place and a voice that I didn’t know I had. That’s why I was really excited when I heard…
Controversial Cousins: Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
You may have seen recent news that the artist, Jillian Tamaki, is auctioning off original art work from her controversial book in honor of Banned Books Week 2017, as well as to raise charity money for the UNICEF Emergency Fund (see more here). I was first introduced to Jillian's art in 2008, when she illustrated a book…
Mysteries from the Land of Enchantment
The stark beauty of New Mexico has inspired authors from all genres. The relatively intact cultures of the Native Americans of the area, particularly the Hopi and Navajo, are also sources of literary output. Today, I'm going to focus on mysteries set in New Mexico, all of which are full of a palpable sense of…
Neighborhood Girls: New Teen Books by Chicago Authors
So many phenomenal teen novels have been published this year that my priority reading pile keeps growing. Some of the most exciting 2017 titles were penned by Chicago authors. Jen Lancaster's sarcastic memoirs have kept me LOL-ing since Bitter is the New Black, but her first teen book, The Gatekeepers, tackles the serious issue of teen…
John Reed: Radical Socialist
Reading about radical socialists is fun. I'm a fan of the early 20th century ones, the ones who fell for Russia when they thought it was all a grand rebellion and not just another violent coup. American journalist John Reed was enough of a supporter of Bolshevism he was buried at the Kremlin Wall. People who…
Quiz: The Princess Bride
Thirty years ago this fall, The Princess Bride came out in movie theaters. While the movie received critical acclaim, it didn’t garner much attention from movie-goers. It wasn’t until the movie was released on VHS that its popularity grew and it became a cult classic. Featuring pirates, giants, sword fights, kidnapping, conspiracies and the perfect kiss…
Is This Real? 5 Articles About Virtual Reality
Have you ever wanted to float through space or explore the inside of a human heart? You can experience these and more through the power of virtual reality. VR is an artificial environment created to make you feel like what you’re experiencing is real. Once you put on specialized VR equipment, you can be transported…
October Is American Archives Month
October is American Archives Month, celebrating the work of archivists and raising awareness on the value of archives to our community. An archive is a collection of historical records and/or the physical place such records are located. Archives are important because they provide long-term preservation and access to records of enduring cultural and historical value…
The Amish, Plain and Simple
As we move into Fall, our attention often turns to farms and their bounty. In Northwest Indiana and other rural communities, this can mean Amish farms. Of course, not all the Amish are farmers, and their numbers have grown exponentially in the past century, making them more visible. While there are plenty of novels featuring…
Inspired by Fashion Week? 3 Great Fashion Magazines to Download
With a map of New York City on my wall and fashion magazines by my bed, my 16-year-old self would have loved watching the twice-yearly Fashion Week. (The shows! The trends! The fashionista street style!) But as an adult, I sometimes think: Fashion? I've no time for fashion. But here’s the thing. Browsing the occasional…
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