This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 7

 
Calumet 412
I’m still a relative newcomer to the area, so I relish any tidbits or artifacts that make me feel like I’m getting somewhere with my local knowledge. Calumet 412 is a Tumblr that captures Chicagoland’s architectural heritage, lesser-known historical events, and peculiarities through an eclectic mix of stunning photographs and information-rich captions. Recent posts recall the Refrigerettes, artist Archibald Motley, and analog-era aviation at Midway Airport.
 
-Megan, Reference
 
The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll by Alvaro Mutis 
I’ve been re-reading my favorite book, The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll by Alvaro Mutis, for the past few weeks. It is a collection of 7 novellas published as a single paperback by NYRB and, at 700 pages, left me wanting 700 more. Maqroll is an enigmatic sailor, with a passport from Cyprus and expired visas from ports all over the world, who is constantly entangled in one scheme or another to earn enough money to support himself. He is a surprisingly well-read and dreamy philosopher with an inspiring level of devotion. I can’t say enough about Maqroll or Mutis. It’s only owned by two libraries in SWAN, but it’s worth requesting. It's a great book for the winter.

-Mike, Reference
 
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
In a recent interview with Ayana Mathis, the author revealed that her most treasured possession was her grandfather's diaries - whether or not they had any influence on her debut novel is subjective at best, but certainly indicative of the expert blending of the historical and the personal in The Twelve Tribes of Hattie. The novel follows the lives of Hattie's nine children as they navigate the 20th century, each following distinctive paths and succumbing to trials of self-awareness, responsibility, loss, and triumph. Mathis weaves what at first seems to be a series of short stories into something of a grand narrative (grand in scope, not literary theory), leading up to the present and future generation. This book has been chosen for Oprah's Book Club 2.0, but don't let that be the only reason you do or do not take the time to enjoy some of the most earnest character studies you'll read all month. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is available on Acorn's New Books shelf or through SWAN.

-Anna, Youth Services  

Bookmooch 
I’m still new to using this service, but I thought it was worth a mention. Bookmooch is a website where you can exchange books online. A relative started to use this website as a way to get rid of the crazy amount of books she had and didn’t need anymore. All you do is set up an account with basic information and then you can add books on your “inventory” that you would like to exchange or add books that you want to receive on your “wishlist”. The site sends you notifications as to when someone wants a book that you have or when there is a book available from your wishlist. All you really have to do is pay for the shipping costs. It’s definitely another great way to get out-of-print books or books that are hard to find. 

 -Judy, Reference