Conmen and Vagabonds: Caper Stories through Centuries
Is there honor among thieves? Inspired by our last post on Crook Manifesto, Colson Whitehead’s Harlem-set work of fiction, which appeals to all readers of caper stories, let’s take a … Read More
Staff Picks
Staff picks: Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
(Shame)ful(l) disclosure: the first Colson Whitehead book that I read was The Noble Hustle, rather than his award-winning The Underground Railroad. The reason is simple: while unveiling the mysteries in … Read More
Grief: To Each Their Own – Reading Sándor Jászberényi
Disclaimer: this post contains references to texts related to violence, trauma, and PTSD. As a supporter of bibliotherapy, I strongly believe in reading texts that resonate with us, texts with … Read More
Author Talk with Ben Purkert
Ben Purkert, former Rutgers Creative Writing Professor and author of the best-selling novel The Men Can’t Be Saved, is coming back to Rutgers! Join us on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 2:00 … Read More
Regional Foods (And Books About Them)
No matter where in the United States we hail from, most of us can name a food or foods for which that area is known. For me (being from the … Read More
Banned Books Librarians Read
Here at Books We Read, we have shared several banned book posts over the past few weeks to celebrate Banned Books Week 2023. In addition, the New Brunswick Libraries (NBL) … Read More
Banned Children’s Books
Do I get annoyed every time I read a banned books list? Yes. For me it is particularly frustrating to see banned and challenged children’s books. Several of my favorites … Read More
Staff Picks: The Red Flags I’ve (Repeatedly) Ignored by Brianna McCabe
The concept of red flags within the context of dating is currently quite trendy on social media. Plenty of influencers are cashing in on this focus, even from the skeptical … Read More
New Jersey Authors: Harlan Coben
Did you have a favorite plush toy or blanket that you’d drag along with you everywhere as a child? Familiarity provides comfort and reduces the anxiety we are bound to … Read More
Staff Picks: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
I wrote this blog once. Then it disappeared into the virtual ether. (My fault! Here’s your reminder to save your work in multiple places!). Fortunately, this mistake is a fitting … Read More