Reading List: Authors with April Birthdays

April begins with April Fool’s Day, but there’s no joking when I tell you that we’ve got some great authors to feature this month.

Hans Christian Andersen was born April 2, 1805. He is well-known for writing fairy tales. Amber started the month by reading “The Princess and the Pea,” which is featured in Tales and Stories. La Princesa and the Pea gives us a modern take on the classic story, and it gives young readers a chance to be introduced to Spanish words and phrases.  For a more complete look at his work, I recommend  The Complete Illustrated Stories of Hans Christian Anderson.

April 5th brought us a double celebration. Anthony Horowitz was born in 1955. Magpie Murders is the only book we have by him, but it has two mysteries wrapped inside one book. Will you be able to solve them? Deborah Harkness was born ten years later in 1965. She is well-known for the All Souls Trilogy which includes A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life. Even if you haven’t read these books, you may be familiar with the show starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode.

Beverly Cleary, a beloved children’s author, was born on April 12, 1916. I (Rachel) read a portion from The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Some of her other books include Henry Huggins, Ramona the Brave, and Dear Mr. Henshaw.

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. In honor of National Poetry Month, Darius read “Sonnet 73” from The Plays and Sonnets of William Shakespeare.

Our month will end with another double celebration. Harper Lee (1926) and Terry Pratchett (1948) were both born on April 28. Lee is best known for To Kill a Mockingbird. If you’d like to look at this story in a different light, I recommend To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel. You may not be as familiar with Pratchett, but reading a book like Dodger could make you a fan. Our library catalog describes it like this: “In an alternative version of Victorian London, a seventeen-year-old Dodger, a cunning and cheeky street urchin, unexpectedly rises in life when he saves a mysterious girl, meets Charles Dickens, and unintentionally puts a stop to the murders of Sweeney Todd.”

Hope you’ve enjoyed another edition of our Author Birthday Read Alouds series. Come back next month to learn more about authors born in the month of May.

March Book (& Movie) Madness 2023: Week 1

Union University’s Library at the Logos is back with our second presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2023. One difference this year is that each book has also been made into a movie. We hope that this will help you with the selection process. Each week will feature our titles from two different genres. By the end, you will have been introduced to 8 genres and 16 books. During the month of March, stay tuned to our social media channels to vote on your favorites. Our 2022 Champion was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Will a familiar favorite win again or will a new contender reach the top of the shelf? You, our readers, will determine the winner. We hope that you journey with us as we make our way through the Final Four and crown our second March Book (& Movie) Madness Champion!  

Rachel: Welcome! Thank you for joining us for March Book (& Movie) Madness: 2023 edition. I’m Rachel Bloomingburg, and I’ll be one of your commentators for this week, alongside Darius Mullin. Our goal is to introduce you to the first two of eight genres that will be featured this year. Darius, could you tell us about the two genres to be featured this week?

Darius: Our first two categories are Historical Fiction and Civil Rights! The Historical Fiction genre is typically set in a real time and place, even if the specific characters and events of the story aren’t strictly historical. Our Civil Rights category is a more specific subset of historical fiction that includes stories centered around American citizens’ efforts to attain social and political equality.

Rachel: Both categories are great to help us better understand our past and appreciate strides that have been made for present and future generations. What is our first participant in the Historical Fiction genre?

Darius: Our first Historical Fiction candidate is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, alongside the 1962 movie of the same name directed by Robert Mulligan. Set during the Great Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows Scout Finch and her family’s experiences in smalltown Alabama. The plot culminates with Scout’s father, lawyer Atticus Finch, defending a black man against a false rape accusation.

Rachel: Yes. I remember this story. What’s our second choice in this genre?

Darius: Next up is The Godfather by Mario Puzo and its movie adaptation directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The plot tells the tale of the fictional Corleone family, an Italian mafia family based in New York City. Set shortly after World War II, the novel/movie initially follows Don Vito Corleone, the head of the family as he runs the family business. But an emergency thrusts Vito’s son Michael—who is introduced as a family misfit, uninvolved in the Corleone business—into the spotlight as main character and mafia leader. Both the book and movie versions of The Godfather are highly acclaimed, present fascinating characters, and are full of violence and intrigue.

Rachel: I don’t know much about The Godfather, but I usually like stories based around the World War II time period. Which of these two do you think will advance to the elite eight?

Darius: It’s hard to say, since both options are American classics. If I had to guess, I think To Kill a Mockingbird might have a slight edge on the competition, since a lot of people have probably read it in high school. How about you introduce us to our contestants in the next category, Civil Rights?

Rachel: Happy to. Our first choice is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. The book written by Margot Lee Shetterly, as well as the film adaptation directed by Theodore Melfi and shortened to the title Hidden Figures, focuses on a core group of dedicated female mathematicians (nicknamed “human computers”) that are called into service during a labor shortage of World War II. Their work helped give Americans a victory they desperately needed with regards to the space race. Math and science tend to be a male-dominated field, so I appreciate that this shows women making an impact in the field.

Darius: That’s awesome! I’ve seen that movie; it’s a great story! Could you share the second option in this category?

Rachel: Yes. Our second selection is likely more well-known when thinking of the Civil Rights genre. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, and the 2020 film adaptation starring Michael B. Jordan help to show the disparity and often unfair treatment of those with limited resources, which could lead to individuals being wrongly condemned. The book covers several cases that Bryan worked on, as well as learning what led him to get into the field. The movie focuses on the case of Walter McMillian, a black man that was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a young, white woman that he didn’t commit. I really appreciated reading the book because it reminded me that while Walter’s case was the most well-known, Bryan’s work made an impact in multiple cases. Knowing that it’s an autobiography helps to give it an even greater personal nature.

Darius: I remember being very impacted when I read that book. Sounds like two really good duos in this part of the bracket! Any ideas as to which will come out on top?

Rachel: It will be tough because both are powerful and important stories, but I think Just Mercy will come out as the winner.

Darius: Well, folks, that’s all for today! Which of the first four entrants has the best chance of making it to the Final Four this year? Keep an eye on the library Instagram for voting next month, and stay tuned for the introduction of the other twelve contestants in the weeks to come!

Reading List: National Library Week 2022

Each year in April, we celebrate National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Connect with Your Library.” Libraries are great places to study, read, or meet up with friends. Libraries also have resources and services like research help, books, online articles, internet, and technology that connect people to each other and information. We would like you to connect with some of the people who work here in the Logos. We love libraries and want to share that with you.  

What do you like about the Logos and libraries? 

“Libraries are useful because they make readily available any information you might want to know.” ~Stephen Mount, Systems Librarian 

“I love the Logos because it is full of people – students mostly, but lots of faculty, staff, alumni, guests, visitors. The books and other materials are incredible resources, but the Logos reminds us that interactions with others about these books and other resources is the best education.” ~Dr. Dub Oliver, President of Union University 

“I love reading and all the learning that happens through books and at libraries.” ~Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian 

“I like the generally quiet atmosphere. To be surrounded by shelves of books just waiting to be read makes me happy.” ~Jeannie Byrd, Technical Services Librarian 

“I like libraries because they give you a chance to build community. Plus, all the books!” ~Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager 

“I love the Logos because I worked in Union’s Library in the PAC for almost 25 years, wanting a beautiful space conducive for serious thought that matched the excellence of the service and collection in the old space. Now we have it!” ~ Melissa Moore, Library Director 

“I like libraries because they are a storehouse of information and a place of discovery.” ~Paul Sorrell, Creative Projects Manager 

“I love the way libraries foster community among those engaging in intellectual pursuits of all kinds and from many different walks of life!” ~ Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Manager 

“The books available to read!” ~Savannah Patterson, Public Services Librarian 

“Libraries are important because of the many resources they offer communities, such as the information found in academic literature, access to technology, or even simply books for leisure reading. I especially appreciate the Logos for its role in providing these resources to our students and cultivating a space for study and collaboration.” ~Micah Rhodes, Cataloging Associate 

“I love the quiet atmosphere that is conducive for reading good books. Bonding with another person over a shared interest in a book always thrills me too.” ~ Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Assistant 

“I have always loved books and libraries. As a child I read children’s fairy tales and Nancy Drew.” ~ Susan Kriaski, Cataloging Associate 

“Libraries are such a power source of information and essential! Our library offers such a wealth of resources including our staff, our wonderful facility, and our valuable resources. We are a vital part in the education of our Union students, preparing them for their chosen career paths.” ~ Beth Lynn, Collection Development Manager 

What is your favorite book? 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald~ Stephen Mount 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis ~Dr. Dub 

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder ~ Amber Wessies 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ~Jeannie Byrd 

Even Now by Karen Kingsbury ~ Rachel Bloomingburg 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling ~ Melissa Moore 

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg ~ Paul Sorrell 

The 100 Cupboards by Nathan D. Wilson ~Darius Mullin 

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte ~ Savannah Patterson 

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien ~Micah Rhodes 

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell ~ Sara Hand 

The Sunne of Splendor: A Novel of Richard III by Sharon Kay Penman ~Susan Kriaski 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee~ Beth Lynn 

*Even Now and The Sunne of Splendor are available through Interlibrary Loan. 

Help us celebrate National Library Week by checking out one of your favorites.