THE LIBRARY’S MISSION BEYOND ITS WALLS
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
This mostly gentle novel is for my librarian friends—and for other lovers of libraries. When I was in high school, I was a page at my local public library. I worked in the children’s room checking out books and doings lots of re-shelving. The library used the Dewey Decimal System, and I became very conversant with the classification and what subjects were where. In this novel, I was charmed by protagonist Odile’s love of reading and her intricate knowledge of the Dewey numbers for very specific topics. She thought in terms of Dewey Decimals.
Taking place in Paris in the WWII years and in Montana in the 1980’s, it is the story of Odile’s work life as a librarian at the American Library and then the later friendship between Odile and her young neighbor, Lily. It’s based on the experiences of real library staff and how they kept the American Library functioning once France was occupied by the Germans. The parallel story profiles Odile 40 years later and how Lily learns from Odile not only French, but ways to interact with the world around her. This is not a particularly suspenseful novel, and the narrative arc is shallow, but it’s an enjoyable read and adds to one’s understanding of the importance of libraries, particularly in times of war.
MAGNIFICENT LIBRARIES
A friend alerted me to a recent article in Architectural Digest entitled, “15 Stunning University Libraries Around the World You Need to See.” One reason for the referral was for the inclusion of the Linderman Library at Lehigh University where I spent considerable time. I was pleased to see that four other libraries that I know or have visited were also included.
I worked at Cornell University one summer when I was in college and have been in the Uris Library. Likewise, I was a librarian at Penn when the Fisher Library underwent its renovation. Some years ago, I visited Yale and toured its libraries including the Beinecke Rare Book Library. And as my faithful blog readers know, I was in Dublin recently and was awed by the Trinity College Library Long Room. Other featured libraries are in Spain, France, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Perhaps I’ll get to one or more of them!
CRIME IN A GRITTIER DUBLIN
Redemption (Prime Video)
Detective Colette Cunningham is working in Liverpool when she receives a call about the death of her estranged daughter Stacey in Dublin. Colette relocates to Dublin to take care of her two teenaged grandchildren. The Dublin police accept Colette on a transfer and give her low level responsibilities. Meanwhile, she has questions about her daughter’s suicide and begins to raise questions and do her own research.
Interactions with her grandchildren are tense and challenging, Stacey’s old boyfriend and the kids’ father are somewhat dodgy characters, and Colette’s work environment is just tolerable. This is a slowly unfolding story of Colette’s investigations showing some of the seamier sides of Dublin life. While the viewer might question Colette’s judgement and actions at various points, they make for good drama. There are six episodes and each is about 45 minutes long.
LOCAL ASIAN EATERY
Spice Station in Sarasota
I had previously checked out the menu at Spice Station, but not eaten there. This time, while in Sarasota for appointments and errands, we decided to try it for lunch. We were not disappointed. It’s a very attractive space in the Rosemary District (sort of behind our favorite Artisan Cheese shop) and did a lot of takeout orders while were there. There were other diners so it’s obviously popular. Their menu includes both a wide selection of sushi along with Thai curries and noodles. We opted to try the potstickers which were light and tasty followed by a curry for each of us, one red curry and one green, each with chicken.
The menu showed one pepper and said the curries were medium spicy. They were very good, but a tepid medium. We learned later that you could order spiciness on a level from one to ten peppers. We’d order up a few more peppers next time. The portions were nice-sized, and I took some of mine home for lunch the next day. The Chief Penguin is a fan of seaweed salad, and he ordered it and approved. We liked the overall ambiance of the place and our helpful waitress and plan to return!
Note: Header image of Florida sunset ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).
