Libraries are the new black

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Are libraries the new cultural zeitgeist? A post on NPR’s blog, entitled “Why The Next Big Pop-Culture Wave After Cupcakes Might Be Libraries” argues yes. As self-proclaimed geeks and nerds, we admit we chuckled a few times while reading it. It inspired our own top three list:

Top reasons why the ALP might take over macarons

1. The American Library in Paris  is open on Sundays and most fancy patisseries are not.

2. Books are less caloric than cookies.

3. We’re a better bargain — a year’s individual membership at the ALP is less expensive than two boxes of assorted macarons from Pierre Hermé.

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ALP in the blogosphere

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

We blushed when we read this delightful blog post from writer Eric Heywood about the American Library in Paris, which appears today at Forbes.com.

For those curious about what’s on the bookshelves of the Library’s fearless Director, check out Heywood’s personal blog for an interview with Charlie Trueheart about the book that appears on the fifth shelf of his bookcase, five books in.

Many thanks to Eric Heywood for featuring the Library in such a lovely and thoughtful manner!

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A Classic turns 50

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Harper Lee’s classic turns 50 this month, with much fanfare from publisher HarperCollins, who have created a special anniversary website to celebrate. The book — Harper Lee’s first and only novel — has been translated into over 40 languages, was voted by librarians as one of the best books of the 20th century, and sells over 750,000 copies a year.

To Kill a Mockingbird continues to inspire debate, most recently in a piece by Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker, who argued that the character of Atticus Finch is  “looking for racial salvation through hearts and minds,” an approach that “is about accommodation, not reform.”

Yesterday, in the Washington Post, columnist Kathleen Parker defended To Kill a Mockingbird, saying, “trying to kill a great book because a 50-year-old literary character doesn’t measure up to modern critics’ idea of heroism is a sin.”

Apologist or revolutionary? You can judge for yourself how the book has stood the test of time. The Library has three copies in its collection, all of which are currently available. Do you remember the first time you read it?

UPDATE: If you’re interested in comparing the film and book versions, please join us as we welcome Judith Merians for a talk on adapting “To Kill a Mockingbird” to film, on Tuesday, 28 September, 19h30 at the Library.

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