Posted on by monsea

Crochet Crafts: Library Themed

Having worked at the library for several months, I have met many wonderful staff members who help keep our building running and who support students. Among these staff members (and student employees), a running theme between them that I have noticed is that many partake in fabric arts (things like crochet, knitting, quilting, etc.). So, I thought it was only fitting to write a blog post about different library-themed crocheted crafts. I myself am only a beginner crocheter with just a few projects under my belt, so the crafts that I will be recommending are best suited for beginners.

If you are new to crochet and need help figuring out where to get your supplies, there are a lot of places to buy from. I typically buy my yarn and hooks from Michael’s or Joann Fabrics and Crafts. These stores have a great selection of both value yarn and expensive yarn. If you go to these stores and nothing piques your interest, Hobbii is also a great website to check out for yarn supplies (bear in mind, Hobbii is based in Denmark, so you will have to account for shipping costs). Additionally, you can go to any local yarn store and have a wonderful selection to choose from.

Starting off in a new hobby can be overwhelming because you do not always know what to buy. As a beginner, I would recommend that you buy the yarn of your choice, a hook, and some sort of sewing needle (I like to use these ones from Susan Bates). When buying the hook, make sure the size of it corresponds to the yarn that you purchased. To find out what hook size you need, check out the label on the yarn you buy (the label typically has information like the weight of the yarn, the type of yarn, hook size, and needle size).

Tassel Bookmark

Click here for tutorial

This pattern is easy to follow with both a written and video tutorial to work from! If you would prefer the bookmark without the tassel, you can totally skip that step; the bookmark will look very nice regardless! This pattern has single crochets together, which (if you have never done those before) is essentially 2 or more unfinished single crochets crocheted together. If you know how to single crochet, you can do single crochets together.

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Sirdar Cotton DK Sunshine
  • Hook size: 4 mm (G/6)

Flower Bookmark

Click here for tutorial

This pattern is easy to follow and results in a very cute flower bookmark! This pattern is divided into 2 parts, one part dedicated to the petal portion of the flower and the other part for the stem. Because these two parts are crocheted separately, the petals need to be sewed on to the stem. If you have not sown crocheted pieces together before, here is a helpful video to watch!

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, half double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Solid Worsted Value Yarn Big Twist Orange, Luxe Merino Solid Yarn Loops and Threads Avacado
  • Hook size: 5.00 mm (H/8) for flower and 4.00 mm (G/6) for stem

Glasses pouch

Click here for tutorial

This pattern might look intimidating at first because of the drawstrings you need to make, but it is actually pretty easy! While this pattern does not have a video tutorial, the instructions are easy to follow and the pictures illustrate the steps well. If you have bigger frames, then I would recommend chaining more for the starting chain than what the pattern suggests.

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Winter Glow Light Worsted Pale Lavender/Powder/Green Tea/Cardamom
  • Hook size: 5 mm (H/8)

Book sleeve

Click here for tutorial

Book sleeves are perfect for protecting your book. If you do not feel comfortable crocheting with two strands at once (as suggested in the tutorial), then you can certainly size up the yarn you use and crochet with just the one strand. If you choose to size up, I would recommend using a bulky weight yarn (weight 5). This pattern requires you to sew on a button, which might sound difficult, but the tutorial (which is a video) will show you how to do it. If you prefer, you can always omit the button step, just know that your book would have a chance of falling out of the sleeve.

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, half double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Solid Worsted Value Yarn Big Twist Grape, Solid Worsted Value Yarn Big Twist Orange
  • Hook size: 6.00 mm (J/10)

Book worm

Click here for tutorial

Who better to accompany you to the library than a book worm? This pattern recommends 80 chains, but I preferred a shorter tail and only chained 65. You will need extra supplies for this pattern, such as small googly eyes and a hot glue gun. Sadly, I did not manage to find any googly eyes small enough for my worm, so I ended up stitching on some yarn with black thread instead.

  • Stitches to know: double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Winter Glow Light Worsted Pale Lavender/Powder/Green Tea/Cardamom
  • Hook size: 5.00 mm (H/8)

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If you want to crochet more things but don’t know where to start, you can check out some crocheting books from our library!

DISCLAIMER: The books mentioned above contain a range of difficulty levels, so they may not be as beginner friendly. Don’t let that stop you from giving them a try though!

 

Posted on by swinter2

Ten Books for Diversity, Difference, and Social Justice

I wrote and filmed this video as a final assignment for BIS 255 Critical Diversity with Dr. Jeff Murr during Winter Quarter 2024. I was so pleased with it, I decided to share it with others via the Campus Library Blog. This was my first ever self-video, so please forgive any production issues! Follow the links in the transcript below to view the books in our Campus Library catalog.

[Transcript]

Hello, and welcome to Basement Book Talk. I’m your host, Steve, and welcome to my library in the basement. For my first episode, I have a Top Ten List of books for social justice librarians, or anyone interested in celebrating and centering difference. This is a highly opinionated list of five non-fiction and five science fiction books that I think everyone should read at some point, or at least know about.

First and foremost is A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. This is the book that changed it all for me. After reading the first few chapters for a class, I bought the book and read it over the summer of 1989 and it changed my life. This was one of the first books of what some call revisionist history, but more accurately, it’s real history as it tells the story of not just white European Americans, but everyone in the United States—hence the title “A People’s History”. Absolutely a must read.

Dovetailing perfectly with Zinn is my second book, A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki. I read several chapters for a course Spring Quarter 2023 and much like A People’s History, it is a narrative history of all people in the multicultural United States. Takaki specifically tells the stories of minority groups, such as Native Americans, Black and LatinX people and Asians, specifically Chinese, Japanese, and Arab Americans. Takaki is a wonderful storyteller, and this book is wonderful as well.

Third, Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. I have known about this book for decades but did not actually read it until last year when I returned to college. One of the very first assignments was the chapter on “The Banking Concept of Education” and it blew my mind. It gave me a whole new way of looking at not just education but also society and the world in general. I feel like if I had read this when I was in my 20s instead of my 50s, my life trajectory may have changed completely.

Number four: Orientalism by Edward Said. Another book I’ve known about forever, but only read now that I’m back in college. If you’ve ever taken a class on ethnicity and race, global studies, or culture, literature, and arts, you’ve probably encountered this incredible book. What Zinn did for American history, Said did for cultural studies, looking at the relations between European and “The Orient” [air quotes]. Groundbreaking, foundational classic. It is the text that launched subaltern studies and is so important when discussing colonialism and imperialism in any context.

Number five and the last of the nonfiction is The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. Like many other people, I was someone who thought I knew what Malcolm X was all about, but I discovered that you can’t really understand the real Malcolm X until you read and hear his own words. I read this a few years after the Spike Lee movie came out and it was so darn good. This is not just Malcolm’s life story but also what he believed in and what he stood up for. Even though he has been gone for decades now, his work and his ideas resonate to this day. This should be read by everyone, especially anyone who believes that Black lives matter.

On to science fiction. These may not be as directly related to social justice as the first five books, but imagining the future is an excellent way to shine a light on issues of the past and present. Some of these futures are positive, some are negative, but one can imagine and explore from there.

First off, number six: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. This is a utopian novel but not your typical dystopian novel like we have today. It contrasts two very different worlds: one very much like our own world with various nation states in conflict with each other, the other an exile community on the planet’s moon and the egalitarian anarchist society they’ve created. This book is incredible and so densely packed with ideas. You could read this for so many different classes: literature, political science, even Eastern philosophy, and physics! Honestly, you can read anything by Ursula K. Le Guin as it’s all great.

Speaking of other great authors where you cannot go wrong with anything they’ve written: number seven is The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. I read this shortly after moving to Seattle in 1995 and it was so good and so gripping, it drew me in, and I read it in one sitting. I’ve been meaning to re-read it for years, but the dysfunctional America portrayed in the beginning of this book is way too similar to current conditions we’re living in and that’s just depressing. However, there is indeed hope in this absolutely brilliant book. So many people acknowledge Butler and this book’s importance and I do, too.

Coming in at number eight is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. It asks: what if the Black Death had killed 90% of the European population instead of 50? With that vacuum, the centrality of power and civilization grows up outside of Europe, namely the Arab world, India, China, and Japan. It covers 600 years by moving through different periods of this new history and looks at what might have been with these cultures rising to prominence instead of a European based dominant culture. The last chapter, rather than riffing on our own history, steps a bit into the future and it is so revolutionary and hopeful. After I finished it, I had to just lie there for a good half hour thinking about it because I was so overwhelmed… but overwhelmed in the best way.

Back to a more negative, dark outlook for the future: number nine is The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. This novel takes place in a world not too distant from our own today as it is post everything: post climate change with rising ocean levels, the collapse of the natural environment and commercial agriculture, beyond peak oil with the exhaustion of fossil fuels. It takes place in Bangkok Thailand, and I think it’s the first near-future book I read that did not have a white American or European as its main character. It is one of the most depressing science fiction books I’ve ever read, but it is so detailed and so insightful as to what may come to pass in our own world, that I have to recommend it anyway.

And finally, number ten! While it does not specifically get into issues of race, ethnicity, and gender that are at the forefront of social justice movements, it is still a very important book… and it’s also my favorite science fiction book of all time: Dune by Frank Herbert. This is absolutely incredible world building and a deep meditation on politics, ecology, religion, and the nature of power. I first read this in junior high and at this point, I’ve read it more times than I can count. Every time I reread it, I get something new out of it. If you’ve seen any of the movies, you seriously need to read the book! It fills in so much more detail about this amazingly crafted universe and the ideas within. And like I said, it’s one of my all-time favorites. 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this list and I sincerely hope you go to your local library, independent bookstore, or wherever you get your books to check out any or all of these titles I recommend as essentials for any social justice activist library. Regardless of what you choose to read, learn about the past and think about the future. Together, let’s create a more just and equitable world, here and now, today and tomorrow.

Keep reading and keep fighting.

Posted on by anmeig

Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover

There is a common phrase that is used and recognized by many book readers, and that is

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover

As often times there are book that although is amazingly written, the cover is not the attractive at all but it surprises you.

Yet, what if I tell you the cover is everything to a book.

Imagine walking into a library, stock full of beautiful books full of amazing stories, and you find a book catches your eye. Without even reading the name, it’s what’s on the cover that you see first, or specifically, the color.

It’s like first impressions when meeting a new person, even if you’re an amazing human being, the first impression will stick in the back of their mind the entire time they know of you. Maybe your actions will completely throw their impressions in a loop, or perhaps they justify their impression by what they had known when they first met you?

What is a good story if there’s nothing that can draw people’s eyes to read it in the first place?

The cover and the book go hand in hand, it will change the way you see a story and have you speculating from just one glance. Although there are many things that contribute to designing a delectable cover, I’ll be talking about one quality that is, what I think, the most important part of book covers.

The color!

It’s the spice and seasoning to a meal!

It provides the flavor and an introduction to what’s coming next.

Colors are connected to emotions and give personality to your first impressions.

Some of the book covers of this blog can be found in our library catalogue and will be hyperlinked below the photos.

The Hypocrite World by Sophia Hill

Let’s get a look at the meaning of the colors specifically, the tone and feeling each of them convey when it’s dominating the cover. Any color can be used for many purposes as long as you use it correctly, but there are some colors that are better at portraying certain aspects than others. Don’t be tempted to make an entire palette based on these descriptions. You must also leave room for novelty and exploration. Be ready to make diversions from the usual color uses and make a surprise.

Red

The Illuminae Files | Fahrenheit 451 | His Majesty’s Dragon | The House that Fell from the Sky | Cemetery Boys

 

We’re going to start with Red, a very bold strong color that immediately attracts attention. For example, the fastest and most luxurious cars in the world are most often painted in red and famous people are usually given the red carpet treatment. There’s a reason why so many brands features a lot of red on their logos. Red is about, confidence, energy and passion. Romance is also associated with Red, usually recognizable from red roses, red balloons, and red ribbons on gifts. Yet, darker shades can also be used for showing danger, power and rage. Since darker reds are often associated with the color of blood, as a result, the color red increases heart rate and boosts the energy level.

Pink

Someone Who Will Love You In All Your Damaged Glory | Laura Dean | Sugar and Spite | Some Places More Than Others | Happy Place

 

Pink is next up, although it’s technically a lighter tint of red, it deserves its own category with the amount of influence this color has alone. The color pink can be linked to feminine and masculine, shallowness and confidence, and many other things. It is a very contradictory color and the meaning would change depending on how it’s used. Pink at first glance is a color that brings playfulness, emotion, desires, and dreams. It’s a more youthful color, often seen as innocent or naive. It is not aggressive like red but rather suggests safety and vulnerability. However it can also be used to deceive, the rose-colored glasses proverb is often associated with pinks, so it can also be seen as refusing to see the reality of a situation and remaining willingly blind to the consequences.

Orange

Haikyuu!! | A Mango-Shaped Space | Dune | If I Ever Get Out of Here | Not Your Sidekick

 

Orange is a combination of red and yellow, filled with energy and stimulation. It is an extrovert color, think of all the self-made success books, it’s the color of strength. It has positive traits such as optimism, enthusiasm, sociability, self-confidence, flamboyant and adventurous. Negative traits include superficial, inexpensive, dependent, risky and too proud. Each shade of orange has a particular meaning, such as peach for communication, golden for vitality and self-control, amber for confidence and self-esteem, and burnt orange for aggression, pride, and tension. If you didn’t know, pastel orange shades would increase the appetite. It’s a good color that can be dominant but is usually used as an accent to other colors.

Blue

Dear Evan Hansen | Bloom | Dear Edward | The Great Gatsby | Dark Money

 

Blue is the color of relaxation, calm, and peace. It is a non-aggressive color that encourages serenity, orderliness, and tranquility. It is also the color of exploration, magic and travel. You can recognize this color on many though provoking novels. It is often linked to creativity and promotes trust and dependability. It has been chosen as the color of choice for law enforcement officers worldwide due to its association with trust and dependability. The idea behind dark blue uniforms is that blue should convey an authoritative yet calm and confident presence, just like the color itself. Lighter blues can sometimes appear icy, cold, and unfriendly. Yet, the color blue can also evoke feelings of sadness and depression. Music genres that are called ‘blue’ are often referred to as sad songs related to painful experiences.

Purple

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care | We’ll Always Have Summer | Honor Among Thieves | Carry On | Lost In The Never Woods

 

Purple is often associated with luxury, power, royalty, dignity and nobility. It is also associated with independence and grace, mysticism and magic. Just as history depicts the most influential royals wearing purple robes, so too has it been used for public officials, honored military veterans, so on and so forth. The meaning of purple varies with its shade, with lighter shades shifting towards soft or romantic or spiritual energies, brighter shades associated with nobility, power and status, and darker shades representing darkness, sadness and frustration. The colors Violet & Lavender are often symbols in the LGBTQ+ community as they were historically associated with secret gifts and what they were called, for example “Lavender Menace” in 1970s New York was an informal group of lesbian feminists protesting the exclusion of their presence in spaces, “Lavender Boys” was a term used for gay men in the 1920s, and gifting violet flowers as a symbol for WLW. You can see this color a lot in fantasy covers, as one of the most mysterious colors, no doubt, is dark purple. This color can be used to impart a sense of the unknown, of curiosity and mystery, especially when paired with black.

Green

Little Fires Everywhere | The Inheritance Games | The Maze Runner | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Britt-Marie Was Here

 

Green is a color that is often associated with nature, growth, and balance. It is used in literature and art to represent different emotions depending on the shade. For example, light green is associated with health and vitality, while dark green is associated with magic and mystery. Green has also been found to have therapeutic and calming effects on people, promoting recovery from surgery and reducing mood disturbance. Green has also been associated with environmentalism and sustainability, as well as with financial prosperity and wealth in some cultures. However, too much green or the wrong shade of green can evoke negative connotations such as stagnation, isolation, envy, greed, and possessiveness. In addition to its emotional and psychological associations, green has cultural and symbolic meanings as well. In some cultures, green is associated with environmentalism and sustainability, while in others, it is associated with financial prosperity and wealth.

Yellow

I’m Glad My Mom Died | Recursion | The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo | Pretty Little Liars | Career Mastery

 

Yellow is a color often associated with optimism, cheerfulness, and joy, making it a popular choice for book covers and marketing materials, especially when used contradictory in horror and thriller covers. However, yellow can also be used to evoke negative emotions such as cowardice and impulsiveness. Pale yellow is associated with good moods and can eliminate apathy and anxiety, while bold yellow provokes ambition, motivation, and creativity. Yellow is linked with intellect and logic and has been found to improve analytical thinking. Yellow fosters positive thinking and a thirst for knowledge, and promotes energy, optimism, confidence, and fun.

Black

Obscure Sorrows | The Night Circus | Hell Followed With Us | Twilight | To Kill a Mockingbird


Black is often seen as the most serious color, conveying a sense of mystery, sophistication, and even death. It is a popular choice for book covers, as its neutral quality allows it to play off other colors and design elements to create a striking visual effect. Despite its reputation as a somber color, black can have different symbolic meanings for different people. In Feng Shui, for instance, black is associated with the water element and can evoke a sense of power, mystery, and calm. When used sparingly, it can have a grounding effect in the home or office. The color black can also evoke a sophisticated and formal lifestyle, as exemplified by a little black dress or a black-tie affair. However, it can also be associated with depression, as it can make us focus on the negative aspects of life and shut out the positive. Black has both positive and negative connotations. It can convey protection, comfort, strength, and elegance, but it can also be aloof, pessimistic, and secretive. Its association with authority and power can be intimidating, but it can also indicate discipline and self-control. One of the most prominent associations with black is its link to mystery and the unknown. It is often used to convey secret knowledge or esoteric ideas, and can be used to hide feelings or weight. It can also be a color of celebration and power in some cultures, such as in parts of Asia where it is used in weddings, as white is seen as a death and funeral wearing color. Despite its many associations, black remains a color that conceals rather than expresses emotions. It can create a sense of superiority or set someone apart from others, but it can also be seen as a grim reminder of loss and grief.

Grey

This Book is Gray | Hush Hush | Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children | Six Of Crows | Warcross

 

When you think of gray, what comes to mind? Perhaps a sleek skyscraper, a powerful machine, or even the gray hairs that come with age. Gray is a unique color that has many meanings and associations, both positive and negative. On one hand, gray is seen as a symbol of sophistication, knowledge, and prestige. It’s the color of the urban landscape and industrial machinery. It’s often used in high-end design and fashion because of its elegant and timeless qualities. On the other hand, gray can also be perceived as conformist and unresponsive. It’s a neutral color that doesn’t have much personality on its own. It can appear either dark or light depending on the colors it’s mixed with. From a color psychology perspective, gray represents compromise – it’s the transition between black and white. As gray gets darker, it becomes more mysterious and intense. But when gray gets lighter and approaches silver and white, it becomes more dynamic and eye-catching. Gray is a calming and stabilizing color, but it can also be seen as boring and depressing. It’s associated with maturity and responsibility, and often used as a background color in design.

White

The Hate U Give | Sadie | Fence | The Cruel Prince | Hunger

 

White is a color that invokes a sense of simplicity, purity, and innocence. It’s often associated with new beginnings and clean slates, making it a popular choice for books to utilize on their covers. But while white can be refreshing and energizing, it also has a dark side. One of the most interesting things about white is that it’s not a color at all – it’s actually the absence of color. White is the lightest shade, and it has the power to reflect all colors in the spectrum. This is why it’s often associated with neutrality and impartiality. It can be used to represent perfection, as it’s the purest and most complete color. It’s also a color that is associated with spirituality, purity, and enlightenment. In many cultures, white is used in religious ceremonies to symbolize innocence, renewal, and rebirth. But while white can represent new beginnings, it can also be associated with emptiness, isolation, and even death. In some cultures, white is the color of mourning and is worn at funerals. It’s also a color that can evoke a sense of coldness and detachment. Despite its potential negative connotations, white is a powerful color that can bring calmness, comfort, and hope.

Brown

Soil Mates | Home is Not a country | Lalani of the Distant Sea | The Overstory | Bury My Hear at Wounded Knee

 

The color brown may not immediately catch your attention like bright and bold colors do, but there is a certain charm to them that shouldn’t be overlooked. Brown is a warm and earthy color that brings a sense of stability, reliability, and comfort. In many ways, brown is the color of the earth. It is the color of the soil that we plant our seeds in and the trees that grow from it. It is the color of wood and leather, both of which are commonly used materials for book covers. Brown is also associated with autumn, a season of change and transition. Books with brown covers often give off a cozy and nostalgic vibe. They can transport you to another time and place, evoking memories of childhood and simpler times. They can make you feel grounded and connected to nature. Brown book covers can also be seen in the genres of history and biography. Many history books have brown covers that feature photographs or illustrations of historic events or figures. Biographies often feature brown covers with a photograph or portrait of the subject.

 

 

As stated at the beginning, all colors can be used for the right purpose, as long as it’s used in the right way, and different cultures may have different interpretations. There is no specific laws for color, and everything is both true and a lie.

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

Despite that, there are some common colors are are usually associated and used frequently in specific genres. I will be listing some of them down below!

Non-fiction

Blue | Yellow (Gold) | Orange | occasionally Red and Green

Ultra-Processed People by Chris Van Tulleken

 

Non-fiction covers usually prefer to use a palette of blue, yellow (or golden), orange, and sometimes red, selecting these colors based on the meanings they convey and the emotions they evoke. For authors of self-help motivational books, success stories, and thought-provoking non-fiction, this color scheme can be particularly suitable. Additionally, utilizing white space on non-fiction book covers can enhance scannability and emphasize key elements for the audience. Red, being the color of power and one of the most primal colors, quickly evokes emotions. Using red in a business book can make it appear strong and influential. Blue, associated with math, science, computing, and a sense of calmness, can be ideal for books that aim to enhance decision-making skills. Yellow, symbolizing brilliance, light, clarity, and joy, is an excellent choice for books that seek to enlighten and bring about life-changing perspectives. Some American business or self-help books may also incorporate green, representing the color of the US dollar.

Science Fiction

Blue | Black | Green | Red | Gray

Translation State by Ann Leckie

 

Science fiction often employs a color palette featuring blue, black, green, red, and gray to set the mood and atmosphere of the story. Many sci-fi books are set in dystopian societies, facing challenging times, or exploring rebellions. Cool blues, purples, and metallic grays are used strategically to evoke tension and unease, while some books venture into the realm of impossible fictional colors, which do not naturally occur in nature. Blue, being associated with the mind, computing, and AI, is prominently featured in science fiction due to its connection with futuristic technologies. Black, even deeper than blue, represents the unknown, space, death, beginnings, and endings, all of which are common themes in sci-fi as it delves into the unexplored potential of humanity. Green, often linked to magic, signifies renewal and the healing power of nature, making it a fitting addition to science fiction stories that explore advanced technologies resembling magical feats. Interestingly, red, the color of power and fire, is surprisingly common on science fiction book covers, which might be attributed to the genre’s frequent inclusion of intense combustion-related scenarios. In film, red and green are frequently used together in science fiction, though the exact reason for this pairing remains uncertain.

Romance

Pink | Purple | Red | White | Blue

Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

 

Romance novels typically embrace a color scheme consisting of pink, purple, red, white, and blue, which is especially fitting for historical, contemporary, erotic, or paranormal romance genres. Pink and purple are colors commonly associated with romance, evoking sentimental and affectionate emotions. While once used in an ornate and melodramatic manner known as “Purple Prose,” modern romance covers tend to use these colors with more sophistication, though less frequently than in the past. Red in romance signifies danger, excitement, mischief, and passion, making it a popular choice in graphic design and art due to its impactful nature. The combination of white and blue on romance covers represents values like purity, innocence, light, and tranquility, as well as security and fidelity, often juxtaposed against excitement and danger in the plot to create a compelling and deeply satisfying reading experience.

Fantasy

Bright Green | Purple | Yellow | Everything

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

Fantasy books embrace a vibrant and diverse color palette, including bright green, purple, yellow, and many others. These colors hold special significance in the genre due to their connections with magic, royalty, and spiritual elements. Green and purple are both associated with magic, with purple historically linked to royalty due to its rarity and cost of production. The color’s proximity to the crown chakra, representing cosmic consciousness and infinity, adds to its spiritual connotations, making it a prevalent choice in fantasy. Similarly, gold, symbolizing wisdom and solar energy, also holds a magical essence and an association with royalty. Yellow, often used as a substitute for gold in graphic design, complements purple and naturally finds its place on fantasy book covers. However, despite these color associations, fantasy covers feature a vast array of colors, embracing the entire rainbow, as the genre is rich and diverse, encompassing various themes and worlds.

Thriller/Horror

Red | Red | Red | Black | Blue

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

 

Thriller and horror book covers predominantly feature a color scheme consisting of red, black, and blue, symbolizing blood, aggression, fear, power, violence, and mystery. Suspense, horror and thriller genres heavily rely on the color red in their covers, as it effectively conveys elements of power, blood, and fire, aligning perfectly with the themes of these intense and gripping stories. When combined with black, red sends a strong message that the book revolves around violence, mystery, and death. In graphic design, white, black, and red are considered the most crucial colors, known for their striking, clean, and impactful qualities. Additionally, blue frequently appears on thriller covers due to the genre’s affinity for incorporating water-related themes. Water has traditionally symbolized life, death, and love in literature, making it a common trope used by authors. Scenes set at lake houses, near rivers, or involving bathtubs often come into play. The allure of water imagery lies in its mysterious power to captivate viewers, similar to Kelpies and Sirens in nature.

 

Thank you for reading this far into this blog! It’s mostly just me rambling about basic color theory and my passion for colors. As we’ve seen, colors possess incredible power in influencing emotions, setting moods, and conveying messages in various aspects of life, from book covers to graphic design and beyond.

Next time you see a book cover, an advertisement, or a piece of art, take a moment to contemplate the colors used and how they make you feel. It’s fascinating to realize how much thought and intention goes into selecting the perfect color palette to evoke specific emotions and reactions.

May this newfound understanding of colors enrich your perception of the world around you. Embrace the artistry of colors, and don’t hesitate to experiment with them in your own creative endeavors. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of colors, let this knowledge empower you to make bolder choices in your expression.

 

Additional Resources and Article Sources:

Color Psychology

The Importance of Color

Book Colors

Book Covers

Sanzo Wada

Posted on by libraryvoices

My Thoughts on Audiobooks

Many readers enjoy books in different ways. I personally love e-books and sometimes physical books, while some people only read physical books, or some read only e-books. And that’s okay. But, there’s another way to enjoy books, and it’s called audiobooks.

Audiobooks are prerecorded narrations of books, where you don’t read the words yourself, but instead you listen to the words instead. There are two different types of audiobooks, there are physical audiobooks that are burned on CDs that can be then played on a device that supports them, and then there are e-audiobooks where there is no disc like what Alexa has. Alexa can play an audiobook that is downloaded on your Amazon account. Now an argument can be made here that if you are listening to a book, then you are technically not actually reading but instead listening to someone else read. But, I remember as a little girl listening to my elementary school teachers read out loud to the class and was still able to enjoy the books. So I guess audiobooks are not a way to read a book but instead it is a way to enjoy a book.

I haven’t listened to an audiobook before but my friend the other month gifted me an Amazon Alexa (which I thought to be overpriced and unnecessary from the start but was still flattered to get). In my exploration of this new device Alexa had the thought to inform me that she can play audiobooks for me and she is able to read to me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, book 1 of the Harry Potter series. Being a big Harry Potter fan I thought to myself why would I wanna listen to the books when I have the physical books that I can read right here? Besides, I have a hard time listening to people talk, my imagination always gets the best of me. But I thought about it, decided to try something new, so I told Alexa to read to me.

Harry Potter Book 1 Audiobook from Amazon image
Harry Potter Book 1 Audiobook image
https://www.audible.com/pd/Harry-Potter-and-the-Sorcerers-Stone-Book-1-Audiobook/B017V4IM1G

Now from the start, I knew exactly what was going to happen and pretty much had this series memorized, so I did not know how well I will be focusing on the words and how effective it will be. As Alexa started and the story was going on, I did notice that I wasn’t paying attention to the words if I happened to be doing something else as well (so no multitasking for me), and yes in fact I was not able to catch all the words as good as when I myself reading. So I guess it was going exactly how I expected it to be. But, then I became to realize that even though I knew the story and I myself wasn’t reading, I still found myself laughing at the funny parts. But, I eventually came to realize that I was having a hard time paying attention even when I was staring at a blank because my ADD brain kept wandering off and I frankly don’t know what to do with my hands seeing as I had nothing to hold and twiddling my thumbs just felt ridiculous to me.

After finishing this book with Amazon’s Alexa, I have compiled a list of all of the pros and cons that I could think of, to decide if I liked this new way of enjoying books or not.

Pros

  1. Convenient when traveling or running errands, you can listen in the car while driving or listen with headphones/earbuds while doing activities.
  2. Lightweight, a physical book is heavy.
  3. Convertible, can be listened to on a phone, car, Alexa, and several other electronic devices.
  4. Can be listened to in the dark and not strain your eyes.
  5. Many other people can listen along too with you if play it out loud.
  6. Can be taken anywhere so you don’t have to stop if you are in the middle of a good part in the book (shower can be included).
  7. Inclusive if you are unable to read for any reason, you no longer have to read but instead listen.
  8. Private, nobody will know what you are reading when you are in public.
  9. You will know the correct pronunciation of words and/or names. As a kid I had a hard time pronouncing words correctly because I learned lots of them reading and never heard them out loud.
  10. Cheaper, audiobooks tend to be cheaper than physical books because just like e-books, you are not paying for paper.
  11. Save paper, in this way audiobooks are a way to save trees.

Cons

  1. No physical touch or gratification of the feeling of holding a book in your hands.
  2. No book smell (if you love the smell of books like me).
  3. Won’t grab your attention, I kept on getting distracted and ended up not listening.
  4. The recorded narration plays the words not in your own pace which means that it might go slower or faster than your ability to read.
  5. Hard to play backwards, if you missed a word or misunderstood it’s really inconvenient or at least timely to play back what was immediately said or a specific word.
  6. You can’t tell where you are in a story. I always like to see how long in a book I got to or what I still have left of the book or chapter. The title and number of the chapters are always announced in audiobooks, but it does not announce how many chapters are left to finish the story every time you start a new chapter. This is not an option with an audiobook with certain devices, Alexa does not have this as an option for example. Sometimes I like to stop reading, close the book and look to see how much I have left, that is highly convenient with an e-audiobook.
  7. If you are using a device, you can run out of battery power while physical books don’t need batteries.

Here’s another list that someone else made on the benefits of reading audiobooks if you are interested.

In the end I realized that audiobooks are probably a no for me, but I still got to see why some people love them because despite everything I still was able to laugh and feel emotions throughout the read. Although I have found that there are more pros than cons on my list, the cons outweigh the pros for me personally. However, I have come to find a new respect for audiobooks even if it’s not for me, but if you find that they are for you, here’s a list of the top rated audiobooks from Goodreads.

If you would like to check out audiobooks, the UW Libraries do have e-audiobooks and physical audiobooks for you to check out. However at this time, physical pick up is not an option at UW libraries so physical audiobooks are not an option at this time, however you can still find e-audiobooks on the UW Library’s website. You can also find many audiobooks at your local public libraries, although they are not open at this time they still have online reaches for e-audiobooks. King County Libraries Online, Snohomish County Libraries Online

– Lana S.

Posted on by libraryvoices

Book Club Guide

After finishing reading a book that has just blown your mind have you ever wanted to ramble at-length about it to someone, but then had to hold-in all your thoughts about the book as there was no one who would listen to rambles about the book? Well, no longer do you have to be silent about all your book thoughts as there are many book clubs and Community Reads you can join that would be thrilled to hear all your thoughts about books. The beauty of book clubs does not end with discussing books a length. Book clubs are a wonderful way to connect with fellow book-loving community, make friends, and discover awesome books. Check out many book clubs below you might want to become apart of.

Library Book Clubs

Libraries are a great place to find book clubs, connect with the literary loving community, and connect with your fellow community. Check out The University of Washington Bothell / Cascadia College Campus Library own Community Reads program below!

UW Bothell / Cascadia College Campus Library Community Reads

Upcoming Book: Emergent Strategy

Time: Wednesday, May 1st @12pm

Location: Library Room, LB1 – 205

Interview below with Cora Thomas, team member of Community Reads.

Emily: How did Community Reads start?

Cora: Community Reads began in 2016 from a group that wanted to focus on equity, inclusion, diversity, and social justice issues. It branched off from a core group that were focusing on those issues. It has evolved since then as we are developing campus partnerships, expanding our marketing reach, and offering a variety of ways to engage with the texts on our webpage and providing sample chapters via Canvas.

Emily: What is the purpose of Community Reads?

Cora: The purpose of the library’s Community Reads program is to facilitate quarterly events in the library around common books or other media. Our intention is to choose readings which will cultivate productive discussion in the campus community around equity, social justice, and diversity. Our goals for the Community Reads program are to build community through a common intellectual experience, promote engagement with thoughtful noteworthy works of literature or scholarship related to issues of equity and social justice across the UWB/CC campus and community, and offer instructors an opportunity to invigorate curriculum with vital issues and community conversation.

Emily: How does Community Reads build community?

Cora: Community Reads builds community through asking the campus to engage with a book or material from a book at our quarterly event. During these meetings people hear different perspectives, and break into smaller groups to discuss the themes found in the text. I think if people hear from diverse backgrounds than they can build community. Building a community that understands they are not alone in their uncertainty or pain, work towards healing, bettering themselves through hearing differing view points, and interacting with the world through discussing crucial issues that effect all of us like systemic racism.

Emily: How do you promote engagement with thoughtful noteworthy works of literature or scholarship related to issues of equity and social justice across the UW Bothell and Cascadia campuses and community?

Cora: In terms of engaging people across campuses to participate we try to select material that have a common theme that touches issues that are directly effecting our students on this campus and in the broader community at hand. We try to draw a connection between issues that face our students and broader campus and the text we ask everyone to engage with. During Fall Quarter 2018, we read a book about the Black Lives Matter movement called When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors. We have read a couple books about that subject because on this campus it has been a critical issue that people really care about.

Emily: How was the last community reads?

Cora: We had a full room of people and a powerful discussion. It was a pretty hard book to read called Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot. But, at the same time a very important book to read. It was about indigenous trauma, mental health issues, and sexual and emotional abuse.

Emily: What differentiates Community Reads from a book club?

Cora: If it was called a book club I think it would have an additional piece attached to it. A piece that moves one step forward. We challenge people to grapple with additional resources and challenge people to go beyond the text. For instance there might be a video they would watch that would be about the author, and/or articles about the book. Then there is an action piece which we are still developing. After our event group discussions how do you go about and apply this out into the world? Many of the books we read are about activism, so how do you go out into the world and stand up and participate in what you are passionate about. If you are interested in activism then Community Reads is a kind of a catalyst for going in that direction. It’s not always about the traditional definition of activism. Sometimes what comes up in our event discussions is the sense of internal activism where you want to focus on yourself too and improve yourself and how you move through the world. Those types of internal struggles and navigations can help the world as well. In terms of academia it helps to change institutional oppression. It is still a young program, so there is a lot of work to do within our own group with how we envision the future of the program and how we engage the campus. We are always trying to improve and listen to feedback from our attendees and other campus community members.

Emily: Is there anything else you would like to say?

Cora: I think it is a really amazing program and opportunity to participate, and connect with other people on campus, connect with different types of literature, and have a chance to work together and “see” one another. Even though we are strangers in this room we do have a lot of strength and commonality as we meet in a shared space. Hopefully people can take away value and inspiration after each event. Even if it’s a small realization of something new. I think those small “aha” moments is the definition of success in our program.

King County Book Group

Check out King County’s myriad of book groups for a wide variety of tastes. Book groups include BFF: Tween Book Clubs, and Russian Book Club. Again, to find out more click the link in the title.

Book Shop Book Clubs

Did you know that many bookstores have their own book clubs? Neat right? Check out a couple of book clubs hosted at these local bookstores.

University Bookstore

The University Book Store has a great variety of book groups and events. Check out The Other Book Club.

Leading Men

Upcoming Book: Leading Man

Time: Wednesday, May 1st @ 6pm

Location: U District University Book Store

In Someone Else’s Shoes Book Group

Discuss books that explore non-western cultures through literature. Join us to broaden your awareness of the world!

Upcoming Book: The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Time: Third Sunday of the month @ 2pm

Location: The Neverending Bookshop, Main Street Bothell

Third Place Books Lake Forest Park Book Clubs

Third Place Bookstore has a myriad of book clubs and bookish events.

I Can Fly Twice As High Book Club

Image result for our lady of the nile book

Upcoming Book: Our Lady of the Nile

Time: Saturday, April 20th @ 7:00pm

Location: Seward Park

Meetup.com Book Clubs

You can find alot of book clubs made by community locals that center around a variety of genres and topics through meetup.com. Bothell meetup.com book clubs include Bothell Book Club Meetup and Bothell Books, Movies & other stuff.

Current book from Bothell Book Club meetup : The Gifts of Imperfection

Time: Thursday, May 9th @ 7pm

Location: Panera Bread (21221 Bothell Everette Hwy Bothell, WA)

Online Book Clubs

There are a plethora of online book groups that center around a variety of topics and genres. You are sure to find one that strikes your interest.

Good Reads Book Groups

There are a myriad of book groups on Good Reads ranging from the eccentric EVERYONE Has Read This but Me – The Catch-Up Book Club to the niche Goodreads Librarians Group. You can also find other unique book clubs like Emma Watson’s United Nations Women affiliated book group our shared shelf.

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Upcoming Book from Our Shared Shelf: Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl’s Confabulous Memoir

Finish Date: Tuesday, April 30th

Discussion Location: Our Shared Shelf Forum

Belletrist

This is a book group that started up recently by Emma Roberts which celebrates reading, female literacy, and independent books. Each month this group selects an independent bookstore and book. There social media features lots of amazing photos that would jazz the soul of any bibliophile (*photo below!!*). This organization also has a wonderful blog that features interviews from awesome Awkwafina.

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Upcoming Book: The Ash Family

Youtube

Youtube’s Booktube is a great place to discover book clubs. There are also reading challenges like BlackAThon and the 24 hours readathon that frequently happen across Youtube which you can also participate in as well!

Hopefully one of these clubs will strike your fancy. Read on!