aamcnamara: (Default)
aamcnamara ([personal profile] aamcnamara) wrote2010-06-08 09:50 pm

comfort she'd take

159 / 350


Actually the document has 160 pages, but that's because it's the end of a chapter and I don't know what the beginning of the next one is, so this is where I'm stopping for the night.

I worked at the library again today. It's easy when the folders are organized by subject and numbered; then I just have to whip through, type it up, and be done.

Even though I'm more of a rare books person than an archives person, I find the stories fascinating. Stories of people whose files I work on, whose reference questions I hear about.

One of the people whose papers I worked on today was Lillian Barrett, who died at 18 in 1921--after a poem of hers had been accepted by Harper's Magazine, but before it was published. She'd sent it to them as "L. Barrett", so the editor sent her a letter addressed to "Mr" asking if the poet's full first name could be published with the poem. Her parents wrote him a letter back saying she had died.

Books I got out of the library today: Holly Black's short story collection, The Poison Eaters, and Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon. My library seems to have discovered the wonder that is Small Beer Press (etc), because when I got back this summer they had a bunch of their books. This can only be good, I think.
aliseadae: (windswept hair)

[personal profile] aliseadae 2010-06-09 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh! I did notice that prevalence of Small Beer Press recently. Emily and I took advantage of it, too, and checked out Water Logic (my copy is in Beloit College storage right now like everything else I own).

That tidbit on Lillian Barrett is interesting and a bit sad. I like hearing stories too.

[identity profile] aamcnamara.livejournal.com 2010-06-10 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Yes! I feel like I should use my Awesome Powers as Library Volunteer to figure out who's buying all the Small Beer Press books and see if they want to hang out and have tea with me or something.

The stories are always like that, except not usually quite so ironic or tragic. I got to write up the papers of the woman popularly recognized as the main reason that the MIA got rid of their entrance fees, though! That was cool.

[personal profile] vcmw 2010-06-10 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, tell me what you think of The Demon's Lexicon. I have failed to check it out many times.
I just finished Holly Black's White Cat.

[identity profile] aamcnamara.livejournal.com 2010-06-10 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
I will--I kept failing to check it out, but then I was looking (in fact) for White Cat and found Poison Eaters and Demon's Lexicon instead. How was White Cat? I've got it on reserve now, though it may be a while until I get it.

[identity profile] jesstherobot.livejournal.com 2010-06-11 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
I am also curious to hear your thoughts on Demon's Lexicon! I enjoyed it immensely (and its sequel, which just came out) -- the characters are adorable and kept making me flap my hands delightedly. It is total fluffy candy, but of the very best sort.