This week I read critic Michael Dirda’s column Dirda’s Reading Room : Come talk about books in The Washington Post. His topic, “My most challenging book,” got my gray cells going about the work we undertake when we read books that are over our heads.
There are five of us blogging for The Second Floor Librarians. You may have seen us at the reference desk or around town, but if you don’t know who we are, here’s what we look like and something about us.
June roses are budding and roses set me thinking of English roses and Shakespeare.
Reading about cats in Monday’s library blog post got me thinking about dogs. And thinking about dogs got me thinking about Pet Day at the OSU vet school, one of my family’s favorite annual activities.
I just finished reading Everyday icon: Michelle Obama and the power of style by Kate Betts and it is one fun read if you are a fan of Michelle Obama or fashion. We are talking fashion that comes from an innate sense of style which is what the author is celebrating in Michelle and what [...]
I hate missing a 100-year birthday party and that is what happened on Tuesday, March 8. It was the International Women’s Day Centenary, 1911-2011. There were hundreds of events world-wide and I was unable to attend any of them. However, I had the pleasure of hearing Jo Anne Trow, Emeritus Vice President of Student Affairs [...]
If you are a fan of storytelling generally and the Tcha Tee Man Wi Storytelling Festival in particular, you should know that the festival is set for the first weekend of March, that’s March 4-6, here in Corvallis.
In the news last week were the results of a survey of Americans’ knowledge of religion. The atheists and agnostics scored the highest on a 32-question quiz that tested knowledge from the Bible, understanding of separation of church and state, and familiarity with world religions, religions that have come to be the religions of our [...]
April is National Poetry Month, a month when I hope to leave the “mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful” (e. e. cummings) world of Oregon winter behind. April 29 is Poem In Your Pocket Day. Choose a poem, pocket it, and carry it. Share it with family, friends, and coworkers or just cherish it. The Academy of American [...]
Sunshine and springtime are great sources of inspiration but when the rain continues, it can be difficult to pull yourself out of the doldrums. Folks with chronic conditions often have heavy work to keep themselves on an even keel when facing health challenges on top of every other sort of stress.
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