Skip to content
FSULIB

FSULIB

Florida State University Libraries

Category: Digital Engagement Board

12 Books to Read After the “Barbenheimer” Double Feature

12 Books to Read After the “Barbenheimer” Double Feature

July 21, 2023 marked the release of two highly anticipated blockbuster films, Barbie and Oppenheimer, in the United States and several other countries. Despite the films’ stark differences in themes and content, the shared premiere date was preceded by months of excitement for both films online. As a result, many fans flocked to the theaters to watch both movies in a double feature during the opening weekend and solidified ‘Barbenheimer’ as the “the biggest box office weekend of 2023 so far.”

In case you’re looking for more Barbie and Oppenheimer after the premiere, we’ve selected 12 titles from FSU Libraries for further reading – after all, books played a key role in the creation of both films. In an interview with Vogue, director Greta Gerwig cites Reviving Ophelia by Mary Bray Pipher as influential to the Barbie movie. Similarly, Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan utilized American Prometheus by Kai Bird as the movie’s main source material. These books are among those featured in the list below.

Other Barbie picks explore Mattel’s iconic creation and her impact on American society. We also pull in feminist texts from our collections, both foundational and contemporary. Among our selections for Oppenheimer are books about the scientists who worked on the atomic bomb and the communities devastated by it in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Team Barbie, Oppenheimer, or ‘Barbenheimer’? Let us know in the comments! 


Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls

by Mary Bray Pipher 

Reviving Ophelia is a call to arms from Dr. Mary Pipher, a psychologist who has worked with teenagers for more than a decade. She finds that in spite of the women’s movement, which has empowered adult women in some ways, teenage girls today are having a harder time than ever before because of higher levels of violence and sexism. It is critical that we understand the circumstances and take measures to correct them. We need to make that precious age of experimentation safe for adolescent girls.

The Barbie Chronicles

by Yona Zeldis McDonough

To some she’s a collectible, to others she’s trash. In The Barbie Chronicles, twenty-three writers join together to scrutinize Barbie’s forty years of hateful, lovely, disastrous, glorious influence on us all. No other tiny shoulders have ever had to carry the weight of such affection and derision and no other book has ever paid this notorious little place of plastic her due. Whether you adore her or abhor her, The Barbie Chronicles will have you looking at her in ways you never imagined.

Available via UBorrow.

Barbie’s Queer Accessories

by Erica Rand

She’s skinny, white, and blond. She’s Barbie—an icon of femininity to generations of American girls. She’s also multiethnic and straight—or so says Mattel, Barbie’s manufacturer. Illustrated with photographs of various interpretations and alterations of Barbie, this book encompasses both Barbie glorification and abjection as it testifies to the irrefutably compelling qualities of this bestselling toy. Anyone who has played with Barbie—or, more importantly, thought or worried about playing with Barbie—will find this book fascinating.

Barbie Chang

by Victoria Chang

In Barbie Chang, Victoria Chang explores racial prejudice, sexual privilege, and the disillusionment of love through a reimagining of Barbie―perfect in the cultural imagination yet repeatedly falling short as she pursues the American dream. This energetic string of linked poems is full of wordplay, humor, and biting social commentary involving the quote-unquote speaker, Barbie Chang, a disillusioned Asian-American suburbanite. By turns woeful and passionate, playful and incisive, these poems reveal a voice insisting that “even silence is not silent.”

The Second Sex

by Simone de Beauvoir

An unabridged version of Beauvoir’s feminist exploration of the psychological, sexual and social roles of women and their historical and contemporary situation in Western culture at the middle of the twentieth century.

Available via UBorrow.

The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love

by bell hooks

In The Will to Change, bell hooks gets to the heart of the matter and shows men how to express the emotions that are a fundamental part of who they are—whatever their age, marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Toxic masculinity punishes those fundamental emotions, and it’s so deeply ingrained in our society that it’s hard for men to not comply—but hooks wants to help change that. With trademark candor and fierce intelligence, hooks addresses the most common concerns of men, such as fear of intimacy and loss of their patriarchal place in society, in new and challenging ways. 

American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer

by Kai Bird

In this magisterial, acclaimed biography twenty-five years in the making, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin capture Oppenheimer’s life and times, from his early career to his central role in the Cold War. This is biography and history at its finest, riveting and deeply informative.

Available via UBorrow.

Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story

by Caren Barzelay Stelson

This striking work of narrative nonfiction tells the true story of six-year-old Sachiko Yasui’s survival of the Nagasaki atomic bomb on August 9, 1945, and the heartbreaking and lifelong aftermath. Having conducted extensive interviews with Sachiko Yasui, Caren Stelson chronicles Sachiko’s trauma and loss as well as her long journey to find peace. This book offers readers a remarkable new perspective on the final moments of World War II and their aftermath.

Brotherhood of the Bomb: The Tangled Lives and Divided Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller

by Gregg Herken

The story of the twentieth century is largely the story of the power of science and technology. Within that story is the incredible tale of the human conflict between Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller – the scientists most responsible for the advent of weapons of mass destruction. Gregg Herken gives us the behind-the-scenes account based upon a decade of research, interviews, and newly released Freedom of Information Act and Russian documents.

The House at Otowi Bridge: The Story of Edith Warner and Los Alamos

by Peggy Pond Church

This is the story of Edith Warner, who lived for more than twenty years as a neighbor to the Indians of San Ildefonso Pueblo, near Los Alamos, New Mexico. She was a remarkable woman, a friend to everyone who knew her, from her Indian companion Tilano, who was an elder of San Ildefonso, to Niels Bohr, Robert Oppenheimer, and the other atomic scientists who worked at Los Alamos during World War II.

Manhattan Project: The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb

by Stéphane Groueff

A non-technical narrative of the actual making of the first Atom bomb with an accent on the personal cases of the participants and the industrial companies that built it. Rich in human stories and anecdotes.

Black Rain: A Novel

by Masuji Ibuse

Black Rain is centered around the story of a young woman who was caught in the radioactive “black rain” that fell after the bombing of Hiroshima. lbuse bases his tale on real-life diaries and interviews with victims of the holocaust; the result is a book that is free from sentimentality yet manages to reveal the magnitude of the human suffering caused by the atom bomb. His sensitivity to the complex web of emotions in a traditional community torn asunder by this historical event has made Black Rain one of the most acclaimed treatments of the Hiroshima story.

Book images and summaries via Amazon.


This post was created by Alaina Faulkner, Student Engagement Associate at FSU Libraries.

Featured image created by Madison Dodd.

Posted on August 9, 2023August 9, 2023Author Alaina FaulknerCategories Digital Book Displays, Digital Engagement Board, Film Displays, Life in the Libraries, Pop Lit PicksTags barbenheimer, book display, Dirac, fsu libraries, FSU Pop Lit, libraries, library, movies, Pop Lit, Popular Literature, strozierLeave a comment on 12 Books to Read After the “Barbenheimer” Double Feature

15 Books to Read this Disability Pride Month

This July, we’re honoring Disability Pride Month at FSU Libraries with fifteen books from our collections that highlight diverse experiences of disability. The Disability Pride Flag, pictured below, expresses the meaning of this month.

The flag was designed by Ann Magill with disabled people in mind. The original design featured zig-zagging lines to represent the many obstacles disabled people navigate each day. But when she found the sharp lines were triggering to people with visual disabilities, Magill transformed the flag into the one we have today, reworking the shapes and reordering colors to accommodate disabled people. Each stripe represents the following: the red stands for peoples with physical disabilities; the gold is for neurodiversity; the white is for non-visible and undiagnosed disabilities; the blue is for emotional and psychiatric disabilities; and finally, the green is for sensory disabilities, like blindness and deafness.

The following books come from every color of the flag. Experience Beauty is A Verb, a collection of poetry by disabled people. Check out the graphic memoir Stitches, or Ilya Kaminsky’s epic poem, Deaf Republic— both finalists for the National Book Award. To learn about the history of the disability rights movement, check out The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation; and to learn about its future, see Leah Lakshmi’s Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice.

There are so many incisive selections below, all available to check out at the Scholar Support desk or online through the FSU Libraries website!


Stitches

by David Small

One day David Small awoke from a supposedly harmless operation to discover that he had been transformed into a virtual mute. A vocal cord removed, his throat slashed and stitched together like a bloody boot, the fourteen-year-old boy had not been told that he had cancer and was expected to die. From horror to hope, Small proceeds to graphically portray an almost unbelievable descent into adolescent hell and the difficult road to physical, emotional, and artistic recovery.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by David Small Books.

Beauty is a Verb

edited by Jennifer Bartlett et. al

Beauty is a Verb is the first of its kind: a high-quality anthology of poetry by American poets with physical disabilities. Poems and essays alike consider how poetry, coupled with the experience of disability, speaks to the poetics of each poet included. The collection explores first the precursors whose poems had a complex (and sometimes absent) relationship with disability, such as Vassar Miller, Larry Eigner, and Josephine Miles. It continues with poets who have generated the Crip Poetics Movement, such as Petra Kuppers, Kenny Fries, and Jim Ferris. Finally, the collection explores the work of poets who do not necessarily subscribe to the identity of “crip-poetics” and have never before been published in this exact context. These poets include Bernadette Mayer, Rusty Morrison, Cynthia Hogue, and C. S. Giscombe. The book crosses poetry movements—from narrative to language poetry—and speaks to and about a number of disabilities including cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness, multiple sclerosis, and aphasia due to stroke, among others.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by Syracuse University Press.

Disability Visibility

edited by Alice Wong

Disability rights activist Alice Wong brings tough conversations to the forefront of society with this anthology. It sheds light on the experience of life as an individual with disabilities, as told by none other than authors with these life experiences. It’s an eye-opening collection that readers will revisit time and time again.

Image courtesy of Penguin Books. Description provided by the Chicago Tribune.

The Collected Schizophrenias

by Esmé Weijun Wang

Schizophrenia is not a single unifying diagnosis, and Esmé Weijun Wang writes not just to her fellow members of the ‘collected schizophrenias’ but to those who wish to understand it as well. Opening with the journey toward her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, Wang discusses the medical community’s own disagreement about labels and procedures for diagnosing those with mental illness, and then follows an arc that examines the manifestations of schizophrenia in her life. In essays that range from using fashion to present as high-functioning to the depths of a rare form of psychosis, and from the failures of the higher education system and the dangers of institutionalization to the complexity of compounding factors such as PTSD and Lyme disease, Wang’s analytical eye, honed as a former lab researcher at Stanford, allows her to balance research with personal narrative.

Image courtesy of Autostraddle.com. Description provided by Graywolf Press.

Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice

by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

In this collection of essays, Lambda Literary Award-winning writer and longtime activist and performance artist Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha explores the politics and realities of disability justice, a movement that centers the lives and leadership of sick and disabled queer, trans, Black, and brown people, with knowledge and gifts for all. Care Work is a mapping of access as radical love, a celebration of the work that sick and disabled queer/people of color are doing to find each other and to build power and community, and a tool kit for everyone who wants to build radically resilient, sustainable communities of liberation where no one is left behind. Powerful and passionate, Care Work is a crucial and necessary call to arms.

Image courtesy of Autostraddle.com. Description provided by Bookshop.org.

Crip Kinship: The Disability Justice & Art Activism of Sins Invalid

by Shayda Kafai

Crip Kinship explores the art-activism of Sins Invalid, a San Francisco Bay Area-based performance project, and its radical imaginings of what disabled, queer, trans, and gender nonconforming bodyminds of color can do: how they can rewrite oppression, and how they can gift us with transformational lessons for our collective survival.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by AK Press.

Let Me Count the Ways

by Tomás Q. Morín

Let Me Count the Ways is the memoir of a journey into obsessive-compulsive disorder, a mechanism to survive a childhood filled with pain, violence, and unpredictability. Morín’s compulsions were a way to hold onto his love for his family in uncertain times until OCD became a prison he struggled for decades to escape. Tender, unflinching, and even funny, this vivid portrait of South Texas life challenges our ideas about fatherhood, drug abuse, and mental illness.

Image courtesy of Kindred Stories. Description provided by University of Nebraska Press.

Deaf Republic

by Ilya Kaminsky

Deaf Republic opens in an occupied country in a time of political unrest. When soldiers breaking up a protest kill a deaf boy, Petya, the gunshot becomes the last thing the citizens hear–they all have gone deaf, and their dissent becomes coordinated by sign language. The story follows the private lives of townspeople encircled by public violence. At once a love story, an elegy, and an urgent plea, these poems confronts our time’s vicious atrocities and our collective silence in the face of them.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by Graywolf Press.

Fading Scars: My Queer Disability History

by Corbett Joan O’Toole

Uncovering stories about disability history and life, O’Toole shares her firsthand account of some of the most dramatic events in Disability History, and gives voice to those too often yet left out. From the 504 Sit-in and the founding of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, to the Disability Forum at the International Woman’s Conference in Beijing; through dancing, sports, queer disability organizing and being a disabled parent, O’Toole explores her own and the disability community’s power and privilege with humor, insight and honest observations.

Image courtesy of Kobo.com. Description provided by Harvard University Library.

Laughing at My Nightmare

by Shane Burcaw

With acerbic wit, Shane Burcaw describes the challenges he faces as a twenty-one-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. From awkward handshakes to having a girlfriend and everything in between, Shane handles his situation with humor and a ‘you-only-live-once’ perspective on life. While he does talk about everyday issues that are relatable to teens, he also offers an eye-opening perspective on what it is like to have a life-threatening disease.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by Roaring Books.

The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation

by Doris Zames Fleischer and Frieda Zames

Based on interviews with over one hundred activists, The Disability Rights Movement tells a complex and compelling story of an ongoing movement that seeks to create an equitable and diverse society, inclusive of people with disabilities. The book includes a new chapter on the evolving impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the continuing struggle for cross-disability civil and human rights, and the changing perceptions of disability. The authors provide a probing analysis of such topics as deinstitutionalization, housing, health care, assisted suicide, employment, education, new technologies, disabled veterans, and disability culture.

Image courtesy of Google Books. Description provided by Temple University Press.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism

by Temple Grandin

Originally published in 1995 as an unprecedented look at autism, Grandin writes from the dual perspectives of a scientist and an autistic person to give a report from “the country of autism.” Introducing a groundbreaking model which analyzes people based on their patterns of thought, Grandin “charts the differences between her life and the lives of those who think in words”

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Why I Burned My Book and Other Essays on Disability

by Paul K. Longmore

This wide-ranging book shows why Paul Longmore is one of the most respected figures in disability studies today. Understanding disability as a major variety of human experience, he urges us to establish it as a category of social, political, and historical analysis in much the same way that race, gender, and class already have been. The essays here search for the often hidden pattern of systemic prejudice and probe into the institutionalized discrimination that affects the one in five Americans with disabilities.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by Temple University Press.

Sight Unseen

by Georgina Kleege

This elegantly written book offers an unexpected and unprecedented account of blindness and sight. Legally blind since the age of eleven, Georgina Kleege draws on her experiences to offer a detailed testimony of visual impairment—both her own view of the world and the world’s view of the blind. “I hope to turn the reader’s gaze outward, to say not only ‘Here’s what I see’ but also ‘Here’s what you see,’ to show both what’s unique and what’s universal,” Kleege writes.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by Yale Books.

El Deafo

by CeCe Bell

El Deafo is a book that will entertain children, give hearing-impaired children a hero of their own, and challenge others to consider an experience unlike their own. Like other great works for children, it provides the opportunity for young readers to consider how they would act or react in a similar situation, helping to build empathy and understanding through the power of story.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Description provided by Abrams Books.


This post was written by Lila Rush-Hickey, Student Engagement Assistant at FSU Libraries.

Posted on July 7, 2023July 5, 2023Author Lila Rush-HickeyCategories Digital Book Displays, Digital Engagement Board, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Life in the LibrariesTags book display, digital book display, disability awareness, disability pride month, fsu libraries, july, Pop LitLeave a comment on 15 Books to Read this Disability Pride Month

Unlocking Juneteenth: Explore our Tallahassee Community

Happy Juneteenth! Short for “June Nineteenth,” this annual United States holiday marks the day on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth recently became a federal holiday in 2021, following the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. 

Did you know that Tallahassee holds a fascinating distinction? It’s the first city in Florida to hear a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation on May 20, 1865— preceding Juneteenth, when the remainder of the nation recognized that all enslaved persons were emancipated, by a month.

Tallahassee pays homage to its rich African American heritage and culture year-round, embracing its historical significance through captivating museums, boycotts, and serving as the sole stop in Florida on the esteemed National Blues Trail. In light of this monumental holiday, we will explore various resources related to Juneteenth and African-American history, ranging from local events and organizations in Tallahassee to noteworthy books and movies that shed light on this pivotal chapter in American history.

Explore our community and campus

  • Tallahassee-Leon County Civil Rights Heritage Walk: Immerse yourself in a profound journey through history with the Tallahassee-Leon County Civil Rights Heritage Walk. Spanning just half a block, this remarkable sidewalk memorial tells the story of several significant events, including the city’s bus boycott of 1956 and the lunch counter sit-in demonstrations of the early 60s. Adorned with 16 intricately designed terrazzo panels, this tribute honors the names of local Civil Rights leaders and activists who played a pivotal role in these protests. Explore this landmark located at the corner of East Jefferson Street and Monroe Street.
  • Visit the John Gilmore Riley Center/Museum: Delve deeper into African American history and culture by discovering the vibrant legacy of Smokey Hollow, a thriving black neighborhood that once flourished just east of downtown Tallahassee. Since its establishment in 1996, this remarkable museum has been dedicated to fostering awareness illuminating the contributions made by African Americans to Florida’s history. Check out the Riley Museum here!
  • Support the Black Student Union: The Black Student Union (BSU) here at Florida State University fosters unity among Black students and promotes awareness of issues pertaining to Black culture throughout the entire university community by actively organizing and participating in political, academic, and cultural activities. They host numerous events throughout the year, stay connected with BSU through their website and social media platforms for updates on what they’re up to!

Dive into the pages of a book

  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson: This award-winning book chronicles the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West. Through compelling narratives, Wilkerson captures the struggles, aspirations, and hopes of those who sought a better life and opportunities away from the Jim Crow South. The Warmth of Other Suns is available online through FSU Libraries, or purchase a copy here.
  • Juneteenth: A Novel by Ralph Ellison: Written by the renowned African American author of “Invisible Man,” this posthumously published novel delves into the complexities of racial identity, redemption, and the enduring legacy of slavery. You can request Juneteenth through UBorrow, or buy it here.

Or, treat yourself to a movie!

  • 13th (2016): Directed by Ava DuVernay, this thought-provoking documentary explores the the history of racial inequality and mass incarceration in the United States. The title refers to the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery but included a clause that allowed for the involuntary servitude of convicted criminals. The film examines the deep-rooted connections between slavery, racism, and the modern-day prison industrial complex, shedding light on systemic injustices and raising important questions about the criminal justice system’s impact on marginalized communities. 13th is available to watch for free on YouTube.
  • Selma (2014): Depicting the historic Selma to Montgomery marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, the film focuses on the struggle for equal voting rights for African Americans in the face of violent opposition and systemic racism. Selma serves as a reminder of the continued fight for justice and equality that Juneteenth symbolizes. Request the DVD from Strozier, or stream through Paramount+.

Whether by exploring local resources, engaging with thought-provoking literature, or watching impactful films, we can deepen our understanding of this significant holiday. Let us embrace Juneteenth as a time for celebration, education, and solidarity, supporting and uplifting Black voices within our communities!


This post was written by Kaylan Williams, Student Engagement Assistant at FSU Libraries.

Posted on June 16, 2023June 16, 2023Author kaylanwilliamsCategories Digital Book Displays, Digital Engagement Board, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Film Displays, Life in the LibrariesTags fsu libraries, Juneteenth, libraries, library, tallahasseeLeave a comment on Unlocking Juneteenth: Explore our Tallahassee Community

LGBTQIA+ Resources for Pride Month 2023!

June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, a yearly celebration that honors lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals and communities around the world. Observed every June in the U.S. to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, Pride Month first began as a celebration of “Gay Pride Day.” Since then, it has evolved to span an entire month filled with global events, parades, concerts, and other community celebrations. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Pride Month, check out this page from the Library of Congress!

FSU Libraries are celebrating Pride this June by highlighting resources centered around LGBTQIA+ stories, experiences, and histories. All of the books, movies, and videos below are freely available to the FSU community. Other support and resources are also listed at the end of this post. Let’s celebrate Pride while taking care of ourselves and one another! 

Lastly, if you find yourself on FSU’s main campus this June, stop by Strozier or Dirac and grab a copy of our LGBTQIA+ History at FSU Libraries zine. Happy Pride Month from FSU Libraries!

Table of Contents

Books

Movies & Videos

Other Resources


Books

¡Hola Papi! : How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons

by John Paul Brammer

LGBTQ advice columnist John Paul Brammer writes a “wise and charming” (David Sedaris) memoir-in-essays chronicling his journey from a queer, mixed-race kid in America’s heartland to becoming the “Chicano Carrie Bradshaw” of his generation.

¡Hola Papi! is available in the Pop Lit Collection located on the main floor of Strozier Library. 

Image and description via Amazon.

Detransition, Baby: A Novel

by Torrey Peters

The lives of three women—transgender and cisgender—collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires in “one of the most celebrated novels of the year” (Time).

Detransition, Baby is available online through FSU Libraries.

Image and description via Amazon.

The Thirty Names of Night: A Novel

by Zeyn Joukhadar

Five years after a suspicious fire killed his ornithologist mother, a closeted Syrian American trans boy sheds his birth name and searches for a new one. Following his mother’s ghost, he uncovers the silences kept in the name of survival by his own community, his own family, and within himself, and discovers the family that was there all along. This book is a timely exploration of how we all search for and ultimately embrace who we are.

The Thirty Names of Night is available in the General Collection at Strozier. Place a hold online and pick it up at your preferred library! 

Image and description via Amazon.

How to Find a Princess

by Alyssa Cole

Bestselling author Alyssa Cole’s second Runaway Royals novel is a queer Anastasia retelling, featuring a long-lost princess who finds love with the woman investigator tasked with tracking her down. 

How to Find a Princess is available in the Pop Lit Collection at Strozier. 

Image and description via Amazon.

My Brother’s Husband, Vol. 1

by Gengoroh Tagame

Yaichi is a work-at-home dad in Tokyo; formerly married to Natsuki, and father to their young daughter, Kana. Their lives suddenly change with the arrival of a Canadian named Mike Flanagan, who declares himself to be the widower of Yaichi’s estranged gay twin, Ryoji. What follows is an unprecedented and heartbreaking look at the state of a largely still-closeted Japanese gay culture: how it’s been affected by the West, and how the next generation can change the preconceptions about it and prejudices against it.

My Brother’s Husband is available in the Graphic Novels Collection by Pop Lit on the main floor of Strozier.

Image and description via Amazon.

Postcolonial Love Poem

by Natalie Diaz

Postcolonial Love Poem is an anthem of desire against erasure. Natalie Diaz’s second collection unravels notions of American goodness and creates something more powerful than hope―in it, a future is built, future being a matrix of the choices we make now, and in these poems, Diaz chooses love.

Postcolonial Love Poem is available in the General Collection at Strozier. 

Image and description via Gray Wolf Press.

How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir

by Saeed Jones

How We Fight for Our Lives is a stunning coming-of-age memoir about a young, black, gay man from the South as he fights to carve out a place for himself, within his family, within his country, within his own hopes, desires, and fears. Through a series of vignettes that chart a course across the American landscape, Jones draws readers into his boyhood and adolescence. Each piece builds into a larger examination of race and queerness, power and vulnerability, love and grief: a portrait of what we all do for one another—and to one another—as we fight to become ourselves.

How We Fight for Our Lives is available in the Pop Lit Collection at Strozier and online. 

Image and description via Amazon.

I Wish You All the Best

by Mason Deaver

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they’re thrown out of the house and forced to move in with their older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas. Struggling with an anxiety disorder, Ben’s attempts to keep a low profile in a new school during their senior year are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, takes Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan’s friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life. I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.

I Wish You All the Best is available in the Pop Lit Collection at Strozier.

Image and description via Amazon.

You Exist Too Much

by Zaina Arafat

A “provocative and seductive debut” of desire and doubleness that follows the life of a young Palestinian American woman caught between cultural, religious, and sexual identities as she endeavors to lead an authentic life (O, The Oprah Magazine).

You Exist Too Much is available in the General Collection at Strozier. 

Image and description via Catapult.


Movies & Videos

Paris is Burning (1990)

Directed by Jennie Livingston

A chronicle of New York’s drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.

Paris is Burning is available online via Kanopy.

Image and description via IMDb

Moonlight (2016)

Directed by Barry Jenkins

A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.

Moonlight is available online via Kanopy

Image and description via IMDb.

Milk (2008)

Directed by Gus Van Sant

The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official.

Milk is available in the Strozier Library Open DVD collection next to Pop Lit and can be checked out on a 3-day loan.

Image and description via IMDb.

TEDTalks: A Short History of Trans People’s Long Fight for Equality (2019)

by Samy Nour Younes

Transgender activist and TED Resident Samy Nour Younes shares the remarkable, centuries-old history of the trans community, filled with courageous stories, inspiring triumphs — and a fight for civil rights that’s been raging for a long time. “Imagine how the conversation would shift if we acknowledge just how long trans people have been demanding equality,” he says.

Available online via Films on Demand

Image and description via TED. 


Other Resources

FSU Counseling & Psychological Services

250 Askew Student Life Building
942 Learning Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306
Walk-in and Appointment Hours: M – F, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(850) 644-TALK (8255)

University Health Services

Health and Wellness Center
960 Learning Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306
Hours: M – F, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(850) 644–6230

FSU Case Management Services

Suite 4128 University Center A
282 Champions Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306
Hours: M – F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(850) 644-9555

PFLAG List of Support Hotlines

Includes the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 (online chat available).

Map of All Gender Restrooms on Campus


This post was written by Alaina Faulkner, Student Engagement Associate.

Featured image created by Laura Pellini, Graphic Design Specialist.

Posted on June 14, 2023June 14, 2023Author Alaina FaulknerCategories Digital Book Displays, Digital Engagement Board, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Film Displays, Life in the LibrariesTags book display, digital book display, fsu libraries, LGBTQIA+, libraries, library, movies, Pop Lit, pride, Pride Month, resourcesLeave a comment on LGBTQIA+ Resources for Pride Month 2023!

Jaidyn’s Film Picks

Hi everyone, I’m Jaidyn! I’m a Junior at FSU and a part-time Engagement Assistant at FSU Libraries. You may recognize me from the most recent Meet the Engagement Team post here on the Libraries blog. With the buzz of the 2023 Oscar Awards in the air, I’m back to talk all things film at FSU Libraries!

As a film lover, I’m always on the lookout for something new and innovative to watch. In my off-time, I’m scouring the internet for recommendations from my friends and favorite reviewers. With these searches, I’ve been led to many of my favorite films like Julia Ducournau’s Titane or Todd Field’s Tár. As much as I love the suggestions I find, having to buy and rent all this film gets a little costly on a student’s budget. The alternative is going to the movie theater where food often costs more than the tickets and the crowds are awfully rowdy. Thankfully, I have FSU Libraries which offers a large and diverse range of films both physically and online on streaming. Below are some of my favorite films which are all available through FSU Libraries for free!


Shiva Baby

Director: Emma Siegalman

Year: 2020

Shiva Baby was my introduction to my favorite actor Rachel Sennot (who many of you may recognize from her 2022 visit to FSU)! Shiva Baby tells the story of “Michelle” who unexpectedly is confronted with the messier parts of her life at Shiva for a family friend. I really think this is a shining gem of the A24 catalog and gave me the same unsettling anxious feeling as Uncut Gems (another A24 film). This film is available to watch through Kanopy.

Image courtesy of IMDb.

Uncut Gems

Directors: The Safdie Brothers

Year: 2019

I’ve never been a huge fan of Adam Sandler but that changed with his work in Uncut Gems. The film has captivating performances and is engaging enough to keep me anxious throughout (a feeling shared with most of this film’s audience). It’s definitely a film we’re going to remember 50 years from now. Find it on Swank.

Image courtesy of IMDb.

Eraserhead

Director: David Lynch

Year: 1977

One of the most prolific of a collection classic and memorable works by the Director, Actor, and overall personality, David Lynch, deals with a father after the birth of his child. Though the film may be referred to as “off-putting” to many and is known for its creepy (I find it adorable) baby, I think it’s genuinely one of the more accessible Lynch works. Perfect to watch with friends or alone at home, find Eraserhead in our Pop Lit section or request online.

Image courtesy of IMDb.

Belle de Jour

Director: Luis Buñel

Year: 1967

Seeking an escape from her monotonous marriage and life as a housewife, Catherine Deneuve as “Séverine” escapes! I love this film and its ambiguously dream-like feeling it gives. I relate to the profound commentary this gives on escapism, sexuality, and life as a woman. Life’s a dream when you request this film online or check it out in person from our Pop Lit section.

Image courtesy of IMDb.

La Haine

Director: Mathieu Kassovitz

Year: 1995

This 1995 film follows a series of situations that escalate in the wake of a riot in a French slum. While this is certainly a drama in many aspects, I find it to be overly comedic. On top of that, the commentary on the intersection between class and anti-youth culture is endlessly valuable. Find this classic piece on Kanopy.

Image courtesy of IMDb.

Groundhog Day

Director: Harold Ramis

Year: 1993

Ask anyone and they would say Groundhog Day is one of my favorite holidays. I’m not quite sure why someone wouldn’t want to be stuck in an infinite loop of Groundhog Day, but this film is awesome either way. Think of it as a story of someone releasing ego and control and becoming sort of more humble. Great stuff! Find it in our Pop Lit section or online.

Image courtesy of IMDb.

Falsettos

Director: James Lapine

Year: 2016 Edition

Falsettos tells the story of a late 70s, early 80s Jewish family after finding out the father is gay in the midst of the AIDS crisis. I’ve always been a giant fan of this specific version with the combined musicals, and own both the sheet music and book. The highly quotable musical explores what love can look like in the modern, non-traditional family. This ensemble cast is able to accomplish so much emotionally within 2 and a half hours. This also has the added benefits of it having a star-studded cast including A-List theater actors like Andrew Rannells (one of my favorites) and Christian Borle. Find this hit musical on Academic Video Online.

Image courtesy of Broadway.com.

How to Steal a Million

Director: William Wyler

Year: 1966

What would you do if your father’s career in art forgery was about to catch up to him? In this classic, the answer for Nicole, played by Audrey Hepburn, happens to be to steal it back from the highly guarded museum before they can test it for authenticity. This heist/romance is one of my favorites and you can find it on Feature Films in Education.

Image courtesy of IMDb.


This blog post was written by Jaidyn Smith, Student Engagement Assistant at FSU Libraries.

Posted on March 20, 2023June 16, 2023Author jaidynloveslibrariesCategories Digital Engagement Board, Film Displays, Life in the Libraries, Pop Lit PicksTags Film, film display, fsu libraries, FSU Pop Lit, libraries, library, oscars, Pop Lit, Popular LiteratureLeave a comment on Jaidyn’s Film Picks

Stories From Around the Globe

In March, the Libraries at Florida State University are celebrating “Stories From Around the Globe” by promoting diverse international voices! Our carefully curated collection of books and movies includes multicultural stories, translations, and works by renowned international authors in their original languages. Explore these online resources available through the Libraries, or stop by our physical display on Strozier Library’s main floor, which will be up all month!

We have the perfect cure for those feeling homesick: our Postcards at the Library events! Join us at Strozier on Wednesday, March 22, and Dirac on Wednesday, March 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm to send a postcard to your loved ones anywhere in the world. Join us for snacks and an all-around fun time! Take advantage of this exciting opportunity!


Faces Places: A Road Trip with Legendary Filmmaker Agnes Varda and Photographer J.R.

Directed by Agnès Varda, JR

Country: France

Language: French

Kindred spirits, Varda and JR share a lifelong passion for images and how they are created, displayed, and shared. Together they travel around the villages of France in JR’s photo truck meeting locals, learning their stories, and producing epic-size portraits of them. The photos are prominently displayed on houses, barns, storefronts, and trains revealing the humanity in their subjects, and themselves. Faces Places documents these heartwarming encounters as well as the unlikely, tender friendship they formed along the way.

Image courtesy of IMBb. Description provided by Cohen Film Collection, 2017.

Landfill Harmonic: A Symphony of the Human Spirit

Directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley

Country: Paraguay

Language: English, Spanish

This film festival favorite follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan musical group that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage. When their story goes viral, the orchestra is catapulted into the global spotlight. However, when a natural disaster strikes their country, Favio must find a way to keep the orchestra intact and provide a source of hope for their town. The film is a testament to the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit.

Image courtesy of IMBb. Description provided by Meetai, LLC, 2015.

Ghostland: The View of the Ju’Hoansi: Namibian Bushmen Experience the Western World

Directed by Simon Stadler

Country: Namibia

Language: Juǀʼhoan, English

One of the most ancient cultures on our planet is undergoing a major change. The Ju’Hoansi Bushmen in Namibia are not allowed to hunt anymore and need to converge with our so called “civilized” lifestyle. For the first time the Ju’Hoansi Bushmen travel through the Kalahari and then right into the heart of Europe, leading to a fascinating look at our Western lifestyle.

Image courtesy of IMBb. Description provided by Under the Milky Way, 2016.

Lemon Tree

Directed by Eran Riklis

Country: Isreal

Language: Arabic and Hebrew

A 45-year-old Palestinian woman gets a new neighbor when the Israeli minister of defense builds a house next to hers. The lemon trees that her family planted generations ago are a security risk to the minister, and he demands they be cut down. She attempts to fight his orders and develops an unlikely ally in the minister’s dissatisfied wife.

To access Swank, click “Find my Institution”, find Florida State University, & log in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of IMBb. Description provided through Swank, 2008.

Minari

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung

Country: Korea

Language: Korean

A Korean-American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they find the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

To access Swank, click “Find my Institution”, find Florida State University, & log in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of IMBb. Description provided through Swank, 2021.

The Count of Monte Cristo

by Alexandre Dumas

Country: France

Language: English

When Edmond Dantès is framed by jealous rivals, he could just rot away in prison. Instead, he ends up on an adventure that will lead to revenge and redemption.

You can access this resource through the Libraries’ catalog and logging in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of IMBb. Description by Alysa Salzberg, 2023.

The Metamorphosis

by Franz Kafka

Country: Germany

Language: English

Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect and subsequently struggles to adjust to this new condition.

You can access this resource through the Libraries’ catalog by logging in with your FSUID.

Image and description provided through Amazon.

Steppenwolf

by Hermann Hesse

Country: Germany

Language: English

Harry Haller has all the insight, all the leisure, all the material goods he needs, yet he is not at peace with his life. A potent combination of Eastern and Western insights into the human search for meaning is given new life in a fresh translation.

You can access this resource through the Libraries’ catalog by logging in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of Amazon. Description provided by FSU Libraries.

The Tale of Genji

by Murasaki Shikibu

Country: Germany

Language: English

Written by the daughter of a Japanese noble, this 11th-century work of fiction chronicles the life and romantic exploits of the handsome son of the emperor and his concubine during the Heian period.

You can access this resource through the Libraries’ catalog by logging in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of Amazon. Description provided by FSU Libraries.

I Am a Cat

by Sōseki Natsume

Country: Japan

Language: English

I Am a Cat satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle-class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and a sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him.

You can access this resource through the Libraries’ catalog by logging in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of Barnes & Noble. Description provided through GoodReads.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

by Victor Hugo

Country: France

Language: English

This extraordinary historical French gothic novel, set in Medieval Paris under the twin towers of its greatest structure and supreme symbol, the cathedral of Notre-Dame, is the haunting drama of Quasimodo, the disabled bell-ringer of Notre-Dame, as he struggles to stand up to his ableist guardian Claude Frollo, who also wants to commit genocide against Paris’ Romani population.

You can access this resource through the Libraries’ catalog by logging in with your FSUID.

Image courtesy of Simon & Schuster. Description provided through GoodReads.


This blog post was written by Kaylan Williams, Student Engagement Assistant at FSU Libraries.

Posted on February 28, 2023June 16, 2023Author kaylanwilliamsCategories Digital Engagement Board, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Life in the Libraries, Pop Lit PicksTags book display, digital book display, fsu libraries, globe, international, international books, international movies, languages, libraries, march 2023, stories from around the world, strories from around the globeLeave a comment on Stories From Around the Globe

Marvel Madness Bracket Challenge!

Play the FSU Libraries Marvel Madness Bracket Challenge and be entered to win a Smoothie King Gift Card!! Every Marvel fan has their all time favorite movie – will yours prevail? Participating is simple!

Fill out our “Marvel Madness” Bracket, submit to
lib-engagement@fsu.edu (or send a screenshot on IG), then vote everyday on our IG stories for your Mightiest Hero to prevail!

Follow along on IG @fsulibraries

For important dates, see below:

  1. Make sure to fill out your bracket & send it to us by email or DM us on Instagram before 11:59 pm EST Thursday, April 15th
  2. Vote Vote Vote! Everyday on our IG Stories starting at 12:00 pm EST Friday, April 16th – Tuesday, April 20th, with the best marvel movie being announced at 12:00pm EST!
  3. We’ll review our brackets & notify you if you’re a lucky winner 😎

How to fill out and submit your bracket (instructions are also below):

  • If you have a google account: Click the link – Marvel Madness Bracket Challenge! 
    • Select “Make a copy” 
    • Fill out your bracket 
    • Select “File” –  “Email” – “Email this File”
    • Send the email to lib-engagement@fsu.edu
    • Add to the subject line _(Your last name)
      • You can also take a screenshot and send the screenshot to @fsulibraries on Instagram
  • If you do NOT have a google account: Download the PDF file below & fill it out
    • Email your pdf document to lib-engagement@fsu.edu 
    • Make the subject line Marvel Madness Bracket_(Your last name)
      • You can also take a screenshot and send the screenshot to @fsulibraries on Instagram 
Copy-of-Marvel-Madness-Bracket-2021Download
Posted on April 7, 2021April 19, 2021Author emilytmcclellanCategories Digital Engagement BoardLeave a comment on Marvel Madness Bracket Challenge!

Data Services Quest!

The Quest begins here: http://bit.ly/TheDataQuest

Think you know what data services are offered through the libraries? Finish the Data Services Quest to find out! Complete the quest and be one of our 3 prize winners! Play for the chance to win a Study Room for Finals Week or a Smoothie King Gift Card!

When?: Play Monday, March 29th – Midnight on Friday, April 2nd to be entered to win one of our 3 prizes!

Where?: http://bit.ly/TheDataQuest

How?: Complete the quest in its entirety to be entered to win – the winners must be in the Tallahassee area to receive their prize.

Any further questions? Email our STEM Outreach Associate, Emily McClellan (etmcclellan@fsu.edu), or our STEM Data & Research Librarian, Nick Ruhs (nruhs@fsu.edu).

Posted on March 29, 2021April 19, 2021Author emilytmcclellanCategories Digital Engagement Board, Life in the LibrariesTags data services, fsu libraries, questLeave a comment on Data Services Quest!

Online Instruction at FSU Libraries

On February 2, 2021, FSU Librarians Liz Dunne, Adam Beauchamp, Rachel Duke, and Lindsey Wharton provided an overview of the online instruction that the Libraries developed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online instruction was presented to the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees to help the members better understand how technology is leveraged by the Libraries to get students engaged in the online learning environment.

Dean of University Libraries Gale Etschmaier started off by mentioning how much FSU Libraries have changed from the past while still being a central center for community at FSU. Even more changes took place in March when FSU Libraries closed their physical spaces as a result of the pandemic. Fortunately, the Libraries were able to provide digital access to materials for the university’s faculty, staff, and students. When FSU Libraries reopened in August, with COVID-19 protocols, fewer students were present in the physical libraries, but a virtual community was still upheld between the Libraries and the students. Online tutoring in chemistry, physics, math, and statistics was offered and subscriptions were made to online books and other educational content that weren’t available beforehand.

The four FSU Librarians who were a part of the given overview took the time to demonstrated the teaching partnerships of FSU Libraries in the online environment that cater to students at the university.

Continue reading Online Instruction at FSU Libraries
Posted on February 24, 2021April 9, 2021Author Tarah JeanCategories Digital Engagement Board, Learning CommonsTags canvas, digital tools, fsu librarians, fsu libraries, online, online instructions, online learning, zoomLeave a comment on Online Instruction at FSU Libraries

Love Data Week 2021: Delivering a Better Future

WHAT IS LOVE DATA WEEK?

Love Data Week is a week-long event that is celebrated on an international level to bring more awareness to the importance of research data management, library-based research data services, and more. On top of raising awareness on topics related to these different aspects, Love Data Week also aims to build a community for individuals to get engaged as they participate in the series of events that are held throughout the week.

This year, Love Data Week will be on Feb. 8 to Feb. 12. With the virtual event theme being, “Delivering a Better Future,” participants will be given the opportunity to share how they are using data to invest in having a better future as a result.

While this year’s Love Data Week is soon approaching, check out the Meet Your Data Librarians Podcast from last year’s event to learn more about some of the contributors of the celebration!

Continue reading Love Data Week 2021: Delivering a Better Future
Posted on February 8, 2021April 19, 2021Author Tarah JeanCategories Digital Engagement BoardTags #lovedataweek, better future, data, data science1 Comment on Love Data Week 2021: Delivering a Better Future

Posts navigation

Page 1 Page 2 Next page
Powered by WordPress.com.
Exit mobile version
%%footer%%