August 31, 2018

When Harriet Beecher Stowe and George Eliot were penpals


"A book is a hand stretched forth in the dark passage 
of life to see if there is another to meet it."
-- Harriet Beecher Stowe

"What do we live for, 
if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"
-- George Eliot

These two 19th century novelists created their own tiny support system when they became penpals.

August 30, 2018

John McCain


Last year, Senator John McCain posted his reading list of his all-time favorite books. As we say goodbye to him, the Friends thought it might be nice to take a look at what one of our senior statesman found wonderful to read.



August 14, 2018

Do You Think These "Harry Potter" Characters Would Survive "The Hunger Games"?


Take a quick quiz to see how your HP choices 
match up against the of the literati. 
And may the odds be ever in your favor.


August 13, 2018

11 Things I Will Never, Ever Admit to My Local Librarian


If you've ever been to the library with a small person in tow, 

Oh how they will resonate.


Independent Streak -- local bookstores

The Daily Hampshire Gazette recently had an article about local independent bookstores you might enjoy. The take away? "Against the odds, they're on the rise." Check it out here.


August 11, 2018

How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books


Litcraft, a new partnership between Lancaster University in the U.K. and Microsoft, has invented a platform using Minecraft to create accurate scale models of fictional islands from great works of literature. Treasure Island is the first in this immersive experience designed to engage reluctant readers.


August 10, 2018

10 Shel Silverstein Quotes for When You're at the Sidewalk's End



Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me....

Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.


August 9, 2018

Barack Obama summer reading recs


In case you're casting about for some new books, 
here are a few recommendations from the nation's 44th president.


August 8, 2018

The remains of the oldest public library in Germany discovered...



First uncovered in 2017, the library dates back to the 2nd century AD. 
It may have held up to 20,000 scrolls. 


August 7, 2018

The Friends want to meet this guy


So there's this guy in Romania who does these excellent Instagram photos


The Friends think you'll like noodling around on his site. 
It's playing with books.


August 6, 2018

August 4, 2018

Book snobs and how to deal with them


Everyone's come across a book snob once or twice.


Here's some handy advice for what to do the next time someone tells you 
that they can't believe you haven't read Proust.

August 3, 2018

Guess the book titles using only emojis


And before you scoff and say, "No probs! Bring it!" -- 
Good luck, Friends.

⏰🍊