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Finding Inspiration in Other People’s Bookshelves

22 Apr

If you are an avid reader, you’ve perhaps been a little frustrated by this disruption of your daily routines. No longer able to take a quick trip to the library and stroll through the stacks looking for your next great read, you have probably found yourself looking at your own collection at home. It’s always great to reread the books you love. But what if you’ve already gone through your whole collection? Or what if you just want to read something different? If you’re tired of your own collection at home, look for some inspiration in your friends’ bookshelves!

“But I can’t visit my friends!” you say. “And even if they tell me what’s on their shelves, how am I going to get a copy?”

All great questions, but it seems that you have forgotten about the library’s ebook and digital audiobook collection! If you’re one of those people who have only read physical books, now is the perfect time to try out something new. Trust me, I used to be one of those people, and while I still prefer the feel of a physical book, I have to say, that ebooks have won me over, too.

So let’s start this game. I’ll share some titles off of my shelves and you can check them out from eBCCLS, eLibraryNJ or Hoopla. If you’re not sure how to use these services, you’ll find this information on the Hoboken Library Download and Streaming Web Page which includes tip sheets and how to videos.

Gut by Giulia Enders
Gut
If you want a fun and easy way to learn about the body (or well, at least a part of it), I highly recommend Gut by Giulia Enders. If you’re not interested in our digestive system – well, you should be. So many new studies are coming out that demonstrate the importance of our gut and its microbiome, as well as its strong connection to our brain. The gut really affects us more than we think it does. Read this book to learn more about the connection between our gut and our physical and mental health. You can check it out as an ebook from eLibraryNJ and  Hoopla.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
With the Fire on High
I have both The Poet X and With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo on my shelf, and while National Poetry Month is the perfect time to highlight The Poet X (you can learn more about that book in a previous post), I’d like to also shine the spotlight on With the Fire On High. If you like stories that incorporate cooking in them, you’ll love this one. This YA novel tells the story of Emoni Santiago, a teen mother who despite all the hardships and responsibilities she has, still dreams of a career in the culinary world. You can find this book (and The Poet X) as an ebook or audiobook on eBCCLS, eLibraryNJ and Hoopla.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Convenience Store Woman
If you’ve ever read anything by a Japanese author, it’s probably been a Haruki Murakami book (no shade, I am a huge fan myself). Now, however, is the perfect time to check out all the other great authors emerging from Japan whose works are finally being translated into English, especially female authors. Sayaka Murata is one of those authors. Her book Convenience Store Woman is a wonderful tale of a woman who struggles to fit into society. She finally finds her place as a convenience store clerk, where she has strict rules to follow and can easily copy her coworkers mannerisms. Her life goes on like this for almost twenty years, until a strange young man walks into the store one day. An intriguing read with sharp observations of society. You can read and/or listen to this book on eBCCLS, eLibraryNJ and Hoopla.

The Odyssey by Homer (Translated by Emily Wilson)
Odyssey
Speaking of translations, how about The Odyssey? I realize this recommendation is a bit out of left field and you may be thinking, “Okay, I expected a classic on this list, but I didn’t think you’d go that classic!” Hear me out. I first read parts of the Odyssey in school, but I happened to have read them in Portuguese. As a fan of mythology, I enjoyed it, so I bought a copy in English. The problem? When I tried to read it again, I just wasn’t into it. It’s the same story, what was wrong? Translations matter. So I’m going to recommend a new translation of The Odyssey – one by Emily Wilson, the first woman to translate The Odyssey into English. I had heard about her translation on a podcast and came across some articles on it. I haven’t yet read it myself, but perhaps it’s time to give The Odyssey another try – this time from a new perspective. You can read Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey from eBCCLS.

Oceanic by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Oceanic
If you’ve read any of the blog posts I’ve written in the past, you might have noticed that I’m a big fan of poetry, so of course I had to include something from my poetry collection. Oceanic is a wonderful ode to the natural world. Nezhukumatathil, to me, is a poet in constant awe – in awe of scallops, in awe of love, and yes, even in awe of a perfect manicure. You may find the poem “Love in the Time of Swine Flu” particularly relevant if you are loving in this pandemic. You can let yourself be awed by these poems in ebook format from Hoopla.

Now it’s your turn! What books on your shelves do you recommend?  Share them in the comments!

Written by:
Sam Evaristo
Circulation Assistant

 

 

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Recommendations for Autism Acceptance Month

8 Apr

It is admittedly difficult all the time to be an openly autistic woman in this society. I’ve now lived that life for nearly 31 years, being “out” as autistic for 11 of them. I was diagnosed in 2009 at the age of 20 and decided to be forthright with people about it in the hopes that it would help them understand me better. It ended up leading me down a different path than I expected – I became a self-advocate, and I’ve now spoken at conferences regarding libraries and autism. If you’d told the scared 20-year-old that she’d someday do public speaking about her newly-diagnosed brain, how it works, and how best to accommodate it, she wouldn’t have believed you. That’s how it turned out for me, however, and it all started because I decided to begin writing a blog about being autistic and began finding other openly autistic people.

The hardest time to be autistic is the month of April. April has been declared Autism Awareness Month, but autistic people prefer the term Autistic Acceptance Month. This is because “awareness”can portray us as tragedies or burdens rather than people with different support needs living in a society not designed for us. April is therefore a very stressful month for us as we have to listen to people trying to “cure” something that can’t be cured and refusing to accept our differences as a natural part of the human condition.

To help combat those views, as they are prejudices many hold unknowingly due to how autism has traditionally been portrayed, I’ve decided to compile a list of books written by autistic authors about the autistic experience – and one book written by a non-autistic author who nevertheless has compiled an excellent history of our struggle for societal acceptance.

Look Me In The Eye
by John Elder Robison
Look me in the Eye
Look Me In The Eye by John Elder Robison is probably the best-known memoir by an autistic person. Robison is a public speaker now (I’ve had the honor of seeing him in person – we were on the same bill at a conference!). It’s a good starting point if you’re interested in seeking out autistic voices. Robison went undiagnosed for a large portion of his life, as many of us did (especially older autistic people), and he was finally diagnosed at age 40. Autism aside, his life is just plain interesting to read about because he’s had some really cool jobs, so I double recommend this one!

Pretending To Be Normal
by Liane Holliday Willey
Pretending to be Normal
Pretending To Be Normal by Liane Holliday Willey is another perspective on growing up undiagnosed until adulthood. The title has always resonated with me, because I’ve spent large portions of my life pretending to be “normal” just to protect myself from other people and their judgment, which is often harsh. It’s often especially difficult for women to get a diagnosis because autism is still frequently perceived as a “boy’s club” – indeed, I was a fairly obvious case in retrospect but wasn’t diagnosed until age 20. It’s especially common for autistic women to figure it out themselves before seeking or receiving a formal diagnosis because of this gender bias.

Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic
by Michael McCreary
Funny You Don't Look Autistic
Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic by Michael McCreary definitely has my favorite title on the list because, well, we’re told that all the time. People seem to think autism has a “look” somehow. It doesn’t. I often wonder if this is because Down Syndrome and certain other conditions have a chromosomal element that alters physical appearance so the public assumes autism must have one too. McCreary is living my dream and is doing comedy, which is what I’d hopefully be doing if I wasn’t an archivist instead. This book is also well suited for YA readers, so if you’ve got some teens looking for forthright information on autism this is a great book to pick up!  Currently it is part of Overdrive’s Big Library Read which connects readers around the world with the same book at the same time without any waitlists or holds; this title will be part of the Big Read till April 13.

Neurotribes
by Steve Silberman
Neurotribes
Neurotribes by Steve Silberman was not written by an autistic person. Silberman isn’t one of us. However, he’s one of the best allies we’ve got, and Neurotribes is actually a comprehensive history of autism in society. Silberman certainly understands cultural stigmatization – he’s a Jewish gay man – and he brings that nuance to what is a wonderfully crafted history. I’m very proud to count him as an ally in the fight for autistic rights and acceptance.

We hope these books will help our non-autistic readers on their way to being a better ally to the autistic people in your life – and trust me, the odds are good you know at least one of us, even if you don’t know it yet!  If you are autistic and have a favorite book to recommend, please share it in our comments.

Thanks for all your support, and stay safe during this time, everyone!

Written by:
Steph Diorio
History Librarian

Besides being the local history librarian, Steph Diorio is an autistic self-advocate. She has, spoken at Targeting Autism, a conference regarding autism and libraries, twice. She is also the founder of the Autistic Gaming Initiative, a team of autistic gamers who livestream once a month to support the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network and Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network.

 

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