Now that summer is definitely, apparently (?) upon us, it’s time once again for the Free-For-All to share with you some of our lovely staff’s selections for summer reading!
We are a staff of diverse reading/listening/viewing habits, which makes these posts so much fun. There is such a wide range of books and media that our staff enjoy that there is bound to be something in here to help make your summer that much more entertaining! And so, without further ado, here is our fourth round of Staff Selections:
From the Upstairs Office:
Burning Your Bridges by Angela Carter
Angela Carter produced a remarkable range of work over the course of her life, ranging from essays to criticism to fiction. But it is in her short stories that her extraordinary talents—as a fabulist, feminist, social critic, and weaver of tales—are most penetratingly evident. This volume presents Carter’s considerable legacy of short fiction gathered from published books, and includes early and previously unpublished stories. From reflections on jazz and Japan, through vigorous refashionings of classic folklore and fairy tales, to stunning snapshots of modern life in all its tawdry glory, we are able to chart the evolution of Carter’s marvelous, magical vision.
From the Reference Desk:
Let’s Be Still by The Head & the Heart
Fans of Fleet Foxes (or those looking for something a little more accessible), or Mumford and Sons will surely find plenty to enjoy in this second studio album from this Seattle-based indie rock group. I can’t sell them as well as they can, so check out this video of their performance of “Library Magic”, live on Brick Lane:
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury brings wonders alive, whether it’s the chills and insight of Farenheit 451 to his incredible short stories. But through it all, for Bradbury, the most bewitching force in the universe is human nature. In these eighteen startling tales unfolding across a canvas of tattooed skin, living cities take their vengeance, technology awakens the most primal natural instincts, and dreams are carried aloft in junkyard rockets. Provocative and powerful, The Illustrated Man is a kaleidoscopic blending of magic, imagination, and truth—as exhilarating as interplanetary travel, as maddening as a walk in a million-year rain, and as comforting as simple, familiar rituals on the last night of the world.
From the West Branch:
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon and Garfunkel
Quite simply, there is nothing that can, or ever will compare to Simon and Garfunkel. As a young, angsty teenager who was saved by their music, I am wholeheartedly adding my voice to this particular recommendation. This was the third album that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel put out, and it’s the first one that really got them major attention. It’s been named on Rolling Stone’s 500 best albums of all time, and features some of the most iconic of their songs, including ‘Scarborough Fair’ and ‘Homeward Bound’.
