The Mad, Bad Royal: 10 Books About Loathsome Monarchs
Column by Leah Dearborn
Is it possible for a monarch to be a hero, given the lack of equality between them and the rest of the world? Some of literature’s famous villains of the ruling class didn’t bother to find out.
Why We'll Never Stop Talking About Frankenstein
Column by Peter Derk
Can't stop, won't stop talking about Frankenstein. But why?
"At Night All Blood Is Black"
Review by Joshua Isard August 10, 2022
A review of a lauded book no one else seems to be reading.
The Vital Role of Libraries in Wartime
Column by Leah Dearborn
As visible, public cultural institutions, libraries have long played a role in the protection of civilians and shared heritage, as well as information dissemination during wartime.
Advice from a 19th Century Governess and How Writing About Writing Has Changed
Column by Leah Dearborn November 19, 2021
Writers have always loved to give advice, even when it’s not solicited.
Nonfiction Reads to Strengthen Your Relationship with the Witch
Column by Stephanie M. Wytovich, MFA November 17, 2021
Nonfiction reading recommendations for witches, witchy writers, or writers writing about witches.
5 Nonfiction Books to Get Spooky with This Fall
Column by Stephanie M. Wytovich, MFA
Some nonfiction reads just in time for Halloween!
The World’s Biggest Books: Everything Is a Measuring Contest
Column by Leah Dearborn August 5, 2021
A tiny village in northern Hungary has pronounced itself home to the world’s largest handmade book, which weighs over 3,000 pounds and takes six people and a special machine to turn a single page.
Tiny Book Battle: Publishing Under a Microscope
Column by Leah Dearborn
There’s quite a few aggressively tiny books out there. But...why?
What I Learned From Writing "A Return to Spring"
Column by Gabriel Hart January 6, 2021
Think about all the stories that fall under radar, which sculpted your town into the place it is today.
The Ancient Universal Truths of Confucius on What is Likely His Birthday
Column by Jessica Marie Baumgartner
Universal truths are what every writer seeks, and Confucius specialized in them.
A Brilliant Birthday History for the Brilliant Alexandre Dumas
Column by Jessica Marie Baumgartner July 24, 2020
A man who knew how to live and let his stories breathe like reality.
15 Sports Reads To Get You Through The Pandemic
Column by Joshua Isard June 4, 2020
A lack of live sports has been tough on fans. Fortunately, there’s an abundance of literature about sports to keep us going.
Ten Books to Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month
Column by Stephanie Bonjack May 10, 2019
May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Celebrate with these titles, handpicked for you!
Library Love: Old Books Make Me Feel Fancy!
Column by Stephanie Bonjack March 19, 2018
Chances are, there are rare books on a library shelf near you. Throw on your sweater with the elbow patches and check them out!!!
The Voices of Trumpmerica
Column by Leah Dearborn
This is the first Independence Day under a new presidential administration, and it's unlikely to be one we'll forget.
10 Books Donald Trump Should Read
Column by Christoph Paul June 29, 2017
I speak personally to President Trump and suggest 10 books that would make him a better human being.
Bookshots: 'Shadowbahn' by Steve Erickson
Review by Joshua Chaplinsky
Steve Erickson returns with a musical elegy for the 20th Century.
Two Notable Books on the Kennedy Assassination Conspiracy
Column by Ed Sikov November 22, 2016
On the 53rd anniversary of the assassination of John F.Kennedy, Ed Sikov looks at two books by notable conspiracy theorists.
7 Books About Colonialism
Column by Leah Dearborn November 22, 2016
Themes related to colonialism are explored by science fiction and fantasy authors as well as historians, because those genres offer fertile ground for experimentation with the laws of human behavior.
5 Things You Never Knew About Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Never Thought To Ask
Column by Leah Dearborn
To celebrate Nathaniel Hawthorne's 212th birthday, here's a few tidbits that you may not have known about this stalwart man of letters.
Anne Frank: Editor Extraordinaire
Column by Leah Rhyne June 10, 2016
Anne Frank is known for her writing skills, but at 15 she was one of the sharpest editors of her generation.
Don't Say 'Macbeth': The Curse of the Scottish Play On Stage and Screen
Column by Leah Dearborn December 2, 2015
"Macbeth" has a great deal of superstition surrounding its actual performances. How did the mythology of the “Scottish Curse” first develop, and how has it shaped the play's legacy?
Library Love: A Rough Timeline of Lost Libraries
Column by Leah Dearborn November 17, 2015
From Iraq to Los Angeles, countless libraries have been lost to war, fire, and “progress.”
F-Bomb News Roundup
News by Peter Derk September 17, 2015
Oldest written f-bomb found, f-bombs on tickets are free speech, and who is topping Twitter in dropping the ol' F?