This blog post was written by Grace Cavin, our newest Youth Services Assistant.
Hello new friends!
My name is Grace, and I just started as a Youth Services Assistant here at the library! I thought I’d share a few of my favorite books with you so you can get to know me.
I graduated this past May with a degree in English, and during my studies, I read The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It radicalized me in college. You may know Dostoyevsky as the author of Crime and Punishment, but The Brothers Karamazov is a 700+ page read written very densely and full of weepy moments of despair, redemption, and maybe murder. It completely changed me as a person.
When it comes to my interests, I enjoy reading, writing, and learning all I can about quantum physics. It all began when I was probably ten or so and first read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I don’t want to spoil it by over summarizing the plot for you, but space and time travel are definitely involved. Also, if you’ve seen either film adaptation without reading the book, I would say that the heart of the book is lost in both of the adaptations so please read it if you haven’t (or if you have, maybe it’s time to read it again)!
Growing up, I moved every few years (I think I’ve moved about a dozen times so far) and often the first friends I made were the stray neighborhood cats and the local librarians. Books on animals, especially mice, always ended up in the ginormous stack I’d take home every week from my local library.
A few I remember enjoying that you could check out are:
- The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques. These books will keep you occupied for a long time.
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Ignore the animated movie that was released a few years ago and read this book instead, please. Or, if you are going to watch the movie, at least read this first.
- The End of the Beginning : Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an even smaller ant) by Avi
As for the books I’m currently reading, they’re a mixture of classics, fantasy, and mystery, which is just how I like it:
- Beowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana Headley—a retelling of a classic that I’ve enjoyed for over a decade.
- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke—a book that I currently have no clue what is happening in, but I am loving the journey and the way the story is told.
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott—a long overdue comfort read that I’ve been meaning to return to for years.
Thanks for reading my first blog post! Come by the Youth Services Desk sometime, and let’s chat! I’m happy to help you find your next great book!
- Meet Miranda, our new Youth Services Assistant! - September 10, 2024
- Writing Challenge Winner: Iason Whitlock and the North Star by Aine Strange - August 28, 2024
- Writing Challenge Winner: West to Nowhere, East to Adventure by Layla Mendoza - August 27, 2024
