Ciara Lightner

IT’S STILL PRIDE MONTH FOR A FEW MORE DAYS! So, let’s explore a personal favorite genre of mine: Queer Horror. The idea of horror quite frequently focuses on the out of the ordinary, or the thing that is out of place. And, when you grow up feeling the same way, it makes sense to identify with creatures like Frankenstein’s monster or Dracula, creatures that were not asked to be but are and must adapt to a world that is unwelcoming. In honor of pride month, here are some new works that exemplify the idea that what goes bump in the night isn’t always the thing you should fear.

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is not for the faint of heart. Three women, Ser Voyne, a war hero, Phosyne, an ex-nun, and Treila, a survivor, are trapped within the walls of a sieged castle. Along with all the other town folk, soldiers, and king, they are barricaded within with dwindling supplies and no hope for rescue from the outside world. People are starving and the three women are out of time to find a solution. But a miracle happens and the patron saint of the city arrives, bringing food and salvation. But the three women do not see a happy ending coming, they believe tragedy has arrived. Visceral and dark, Starling creates another stellar horror entry.

In Hungerstone by Kat Dunn, Lenore has been married to steel works magnate Henry for ten years. She prides herself on being the model wife in spite of the loss of her parents at a young age and having to fight tooth and nail in order to secure a proper and convenient marriage. Henry, a man with money but no status, and Lenore, a woman with status but no money, find in each other a solution to their problems. After ten years though, the relationship wains as no children are produced and Lenore finds the confines of society are beginning to tighten. On the way to their new estate in Nethersaw, the pair meet the sickly and sickeningly beautiful Carmilla, whom Lenore endeavors to bring back to health. But deep secrets are revealed in Nethersaw and Lenore finds herself fighting for her life against foes outside as well as in. Gothic and alluring, Dunn reworks the story of Carmilla into a new sumptuous read.

Jo Kozak finds herself looking to standout in art school in Mallory Pearson’s Voice Like A Hyacinth. Jo is in the final year of art school along with her friends Caroline, Finch, Amrita, and Saz. The group is devoted to each other and take on an us vs. everyone else stance. The problem? The end of the year is capped off with a group showing and the best student of the year is given a chance to have a solo show, gain notoriety, and an almost guaranteed career. Only one will get the spot and with doubt and anxiety mounting, the friends turn to otherworldly means to improve their chances. But all things cost, and when their lecherous teacher is sacrificed for their benefit, the girls must reckon with their choices and fight to keep their friendship from being torn apart. Pearson’s work is reminder that the road of ambition is paved with blood, sweat, and tears.

None of those sound interesting? There are so many more, like Awakened by A.E. Osworth about a malicious AI and the coven of witches trying to stop it. Or The Lamb by Lucy Rose, a novel about a mother whose appetite for meat goes a little too far. So many wonderful books and so little time! Enjoy these books and remember the library is for everyone.

Since the world continues to spin on its axis, poetry month has arrived once more and once more do we explore new works of poetry. Poetry gives us a way to look at the world and the culture we find ourselves in. By reading poetry, we get a chance to hear things, not only new perspectives, but help to gain insights into ourselves that we might not have had the language to get to ourselves.

Doggerel is the latest work by the acclaimed Reginald Dwayne Betts. Betts, a formerly incarcerated person seeking to improve an unfair system, continues his work in this stellar volume. Betts is able to give us insight into the necessary attributes to survive in the prison system as a teenager. It is juxtaposed against the childhood his own children are going through, and how having an attendant father is a much different experience. Dogs feature heavily throughout, as they are the personification of companionship without judgement. Loyal and fierce, dogs show us how to love without ego. Betts’ work is another great example of how much we can learn by just listening to those we often render voiceless.

Tiana Clark’s Scorched Earth is about what comes after the end. After her divorce, Clark must face new realities and old wounds. On this journey of understanding, Clark explores not only herself but the idea of Black joy throughout history. Looking at how black bodies were abused in the past, Clark seeks to understand her own current situation and how self-acceptance is a form of rebellion. She also attempts to rectify her own Christian upbringing with her queerness and disconnection from a higher power. An exploration of black joy and sorrow, the work is an example of how healing can be a radical act.

Esther Lin’s Cold Thief Place is about a woman growing up undocumented in America after being born in Brazil to parents who immigrated from China. Esther’s parents found solace and a sense of community through Christianity but this in turn created an abusive dynamic for their children. Esther herself is pushed into a marriage for a green card mirroring her own parents’ relationship. The work also shows the sympathy of a child for their parents, not just seeing them as caretakers but the humans they are and the circumstances they faced on their own journeys. It is a brilliant work that strives to teach us that a status does not erase the person it is attached to.

Winter of Worship is the newest collection by Kayleb Rae Candrilli. Candrilli looks back at his life, reconciling his current identity with the identity he once held. Having experienced the loss of his father and multiple friends over the years, Candrilli holds their memories close and laments their continued absence. The author describes their recent journeys through the pandemic and the ever-increasing destruction caused by climate change and social upheaval. Candrilli seeks to enjoy the nostalgia of the past while remaining true to the events as they occurred.

Poetry month continues on so please enjoy these books and many more at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Hello library users! February is African American History month! As all voices deserve a chance to be heard, here are some authors you may not have come across before but whose works leave a lasting impact.

Tricia Hersey’s latest work is “We Will Rest: The Art of Escape” which is the second of her ‘rest is resistance’ series. Today’s culture tends to be one of constant production, while Hersey sings the praises of rest. The work focuses on the fact that rest is not earned through labor but it is a right of all who exist. Resting is not only a way to honor ourselves but as an act of rebellion against a society that has taught us that our only value is in production. Hersey strives to reawaken our own connections to our own bodies as not just a tool for capitalism. Using prose and wood prints, Hersey shows that a higher plane of existence can be found in our own bed or couch.

You’ve heard of activists like Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, and Marcus Garvey, but what about Ella Baker, Barbara Johns, and Darnella Frazier? In Rita Omokha’s new work, “Resist: How a Century of Young, Black Activists Shaped America,” a light is shone on those activists that history has typically glossed over. The book maps out how these young people have affected not just their local communities but the country at large. Omokha is able to ground her narrative in her own experiences having traveled to over thirty states in thirty days and seeing how violence has affected these communities up close. The work is a reminder that even the youngest amongst us has a right to be heard.

Freda Epum is looking for home in her latest work, “The Gloomy Girl Variety Show.” She straddles the country of her parents and the country of her birth but never quite lands in either. Her belonging is further exacerbated by her mental disorders. Finding solace in the shows of HGTV and YouTube tours of apartments, Epum searches for her own place of belonging. Working with the literary tradition of autotheory and poetry, Epum delves within herself and into society as a whole. Art intersperses the work giving the readers another layer into the author’s mind and her journey to home.

“Between the Night and Its Music” is a compilation by the revered A.B. Spellman. Spellman is an author who came to prominence in the 1960’s and 70’s and who after a hiatus resumed his work in the 2000’s. The work features poems written before and after this break and shows how Spellman has evolved as a writer. The work displays Spellman’s love of music, specifically Jazz and Blues and has a distinct musicality. Spellman’s contemporary work is just as impactful as his earlier work and shows how he solidified his place as a component of the Black Arts Movement.

Happy African American History Month and remember that the library is for everybody!

The holiday season is almost upon us! The weather is getting colder and gifts need to be acquired. Instead of rushing out to the nearest store, try to make something for the person you care for. It will be a unique gift and will give you the chance to practice your crafting skills. Check out these new books to help you in your crafting endeavors.

If you have any Harry Potter fans in your life, try out From the Films of Harry Potter: The Official Book of Crochet Amigurumi by Juli Anne with Jody Revenson. This book shows how to make adorable creatures, characters, and magical items from the Harry Potter Universe. You could make an incredibly cute pygmy puff, a menacing troll or even the main character himself, Harry. Each item has a difficulty ranking so you can test your skills or relax with something a bit more fun. This book is accessible for new crocheters as it walks you through building your amigurumi creations but challenging enough for even the most seasoned fiber artists amongst us.

If the Muppets are more your style, try The Muppets Official Crochet Amigurumi by Drew Hill. Full of nostalgia and whimsy the book features your favorite characters to build, from Kermit and Miss Piggy to Clara the Chicken and Pepe the King Prawn. The book breaks down each Muppet into parts to better explain how each one is crafted in order to get them ready for showtime. It also features a guide to explain stitches and their abbreviations to help those newer to the craft. Every guide comes with a fun fact about each Muppet and colorful photos showing them getting into all sorts of shenanigans.

Like cats? Like knitting? Like the Victorian aesthetic? Believe it or not there is a book that combines all three. It is Victorian Housecats to Knit by Sara Elizabeth Kellner. The book begins with very thorough pattern notes as well as an introduction to the role of housecats in Victorian society. The book features cats in many poses to knit, from loafs to big stretches, and even creates the world in which these cats roam. There are even kittens to knit too. Every pattern is detailed in order to ensure the smooth construction of your giftee’s new houseguest. As in most 3d creations, knitting is done both in flat sections and in the round. While some projects are great for beginners, there are some that definitely pose a challenge for more experienced knitters.

Happy Holidays and happy crafting!

Summer is officially over and it’s time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! These months give us a chance to highlight voices that sometimes get overshadowed. And poetry is a great way to allow ourselves to enjoy a new perspective. To aide in the enjoyment of this wonderful time, here are some new poetry books to peruse while waiting for the cooler weather.

Diannely Antigua’s latest work Good Monster is an exploration of what happens to the child no one protected grows up. Antigua shares a glimpse into her past during which she suffered at the hands of someone that should have been a protector. Antigua fights her own traumas and chronic illnesses while still seeking those things that make life worth living. Antigua fights through the feelings of betrayal by her stepfather, her mother and her own body to find love and joy in the world. Antigua displays amazing humor and wit throughout the work allowing for the reader to feel a deep connection with her. Her universal desire for companionship is another way in which readers feel a connection with her. Antigua’s voice is strong and at its most powerful when it is at its most vulnerable.

Spencer Williams work Tranz has definitely come to fight. It is fun and funny and often times brutal. Williams takes a deep looks at herself and explores her own triumphs and failings. But Williams is not the only one who needs to do some reflecting. Williams forces a mirror up to not only society but ourselves as individuals. As a trans woman Williams seeks to reconcile her familial relationships with the added knowledge of her identity. She explores her childhood and what it means now after her transition. Williams doesn’t’ just highlight the good aspects of her life but the awful parts as well. Her existence is honest and flawed but still lovely and full of joy. Williams lays herself bare, defiantly and beautifully.

Two great anthologies are also available. Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology is an amazing work that spans the gamut of culture that exists under the heading of Latino. The work is expansive, starting with the poems of the seventeenth century and moving forward. The poems reflect their time periods and what their writers faced. It culminates in a wealth of modern poets defining what it means to be American. The other anthology is Here to Stay: Poetry and Prose from the Undocumented Diaspora. Admittedly this work does not just cover those with a Hispanic background but everyone who has been affected by the undocumented status. As such it is still a wonderful resource to explore as it shows how deep and truly complex this issue actually is. This work gives a chance for those who are rendered voiceless by their status a chance to speak up.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! And Have a Happy Fall (the season not the action….you know what I mean)!