Tag: FSU Pop Lit

7 Books To Read This Summer

Travel Reads: Pop Lit Picks Blog Banner

We’ve all been working hard all year, and it’s time for us all to take a break before starting our new jobs or a new semester of classes. For some of us, that break may mean resting and enjoying family or traveling and acquiring new skills. But either way, there’s always room for a good book!

I’m Adira-Danique, a research graduate assistant with the Office of Digital Research & Scholarship (DRS) and one of the selectors for the Pop Lit Collection in Strozier Library for the “Travel” and “Self-Help” books. Here are a few great Travel reads I would recommend for kick-starting your Summer!

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke (Call Number: NF Loc)

If your destination is your couch, grab Tembi Locke’s memoir and your remote to watch the Netflix series after you’re done reading. Here, Locke takes readers on a journey through Italy from Florence to Sicily and back to LA using grief, food, and her own study abroad memories. From Scratch, is perfect if you want the drama of a novel, while also craving a real world adventure.

The Impossible Road Trip: An Unforgettable Journey to Past & Present Roadside Attractions in All 50 States by Eric Dregni (Call Number: NF Dre)

For readers who are ready to jump in their cars and hit the open road, Dregni’s book is perfect. This guide has you covered from planning your road trip adventure to figuring out what attractions are a must-see and which ones you can pass by. Dregni has included a how-to guide with mapped illustrations, photographs of the most scenic routes across America, and insightful history about each stop. If you want an affordable adventure, this is the perfect pick.

Khabaar: An Immigrant Journey of Food, Memory, and Family by Madhushree Ghosh (Call Number: NF Gho)

 

If you’re not able to travel, no worries! Grab Ghosh’s book to take an adventure with food.

In this food memoir, Ghosh uses food and stories from her life to help readers learn about her South Asian heritage and her family’s history. The author tells how her family immigrated to India from Bangladesh during the 1947 Partition; recaps her journey into STEM as a woman of color; narrates her journey from leaving an abusive marriage; and talks about keeping her Bengali heritage alive through food. Khabaar is excellent for readers who love food and diving into history.

Secrets of the National Parks: The Expert’s Guide to the Best Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail (Call Number: NF Nat)

Are you looking for an adventure that’s cost-effective but will also give you jaw-dropping views for your social media feed? If so, check out this National Geographic guidebook about America’s National Park to find extraordinary places off the beaten path to visit this Summer.

Here, National Geographic offers tips for finding low-key places in the Pinnacles National Park, Gateway Arch, Indiana Dunes National Park, Denali National Park and Preserve, and the Grand Canyon for a quieter traveling experience. This book is perfect for adventurers who enjoy road trips, camping getaways, and day hikes in the great outdoors.

The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World by Jessica Nabongo (Call Number: NF Nab)

If you want to plan a more lavish trip, Jessica Nabongo, the first Black woman to visit all 195 UN-recognized countries in the world, travel memoir is the perfect book.

Listing out her favorite 100 destinations from her time traveling, Nabongo gives readers ideas about where to go, where to stay, and how to get to your destination. From horseback riding with Black cowboys at an Oklahoma ranch to making traditional Takoyaki in Japan and swimming with humpbacks in Tonga, Nabongo has stories that will capture every potential traveler’s imagination and some tips for your wallet.

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, From Someone Who’s Been There by Tara Schuster (Call Number: NF Sch)

Okay, so maybe travel is the furthest thing from your mind since this semester wasn’t your best one, and you’ve got a few changes you’d like to make before stepping back on campus next semester. Don’t worry! There’s a book here for you too.

Schuster, an executive at Comedy Central, writes from the perspective of someone who is successful on the outside but chronically anxious and self-medicating internally. With a few daily rituals, she was able to pinpoint some of her internal problems and get herself back on track in her personal journey. While it’s not a traditional travel read, it’s a great book if you plan on going on a journey of self-discovery this Summer.

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich (Call Number: F Erd)

So, technically, this isn’t a travel book. BUT, It is a dynamic read that will transfer readers into the rich storytelling world of Louise Erdrich’s eight-part Native American series.

Set on a North Dakota Ojibwe reservation, Love Medicine tells a tale of love and loyalty. Here, Erdrich introduces two families, the Kashpaws and Lamartines whose fates are intertwined by the choices of their patriarch, Albertine Johnson, and his love for two women, Marie Kapshaw and Lulu Lamartine. In this series starter, Erdrich uses humor and magic to tell an intergenerational story.

If you want a bit of drama, pick this book up immediately and grab the other seven books in the series from Strozier while you’re at it!

Which read would you pack in your carry on?

This blog post was written by Adira-Danique Philyaw, is a 2022-2023 graduate research assistant with the Office of Digital Research and Scholarship Office at FSU Libraries.

New Year, Same Goals?

Get back into those favorite habits with some Pop Lit Picks for the new year! With an entire genre selection on self help and inspiration, work on building your healthy habits with advice from some of the best authors and more. From simple goal setting and habit making advice, to digging into the harder topics like setting boundaries and confronting racism, below is a list of just a few of those helpful “Self Help” books we keep in the Pop Lit collection in Strozier Library. While January is winding down, 2023 is just starting – and it’s never too late to work on your goals!

Atomic Habits


James Clear, an expert on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. He draws on proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible.

Feeding the Soul (because it’s my business)

Actress, vegan superstar, and “America’s Mom” Tabitha Brown offers inspirational life lessons in her warm, charismatic voice. For years Brown pursued acting while raising a family and dealing with undiagnosed chronic autoimmune pain. Before she became vegan, her condition made her believe she wouldn’t live to see forty. With her relatable personality and health struggles, approachable and nonjudgmental take on plant-based living, and warm voice reflecting her Southern upbringing, she shares with readers how to make a life for themselves that is rooted in kindness and love, both for themselves and for others. Brown roots her lessons in stories about her own life, career, faith, and family.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are

Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we’d no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can’t keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn’t everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself? In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown shares what she’s learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living — a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness. In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, and to go to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.

Hello Fears

Michelle has always had a problem with the word “fearless.” Facing your demons doesn’t mean you’re fearless; it means you fear them, but you do it anyway! So for 100 days she faced 100 of her fears, and the message went viral. Written in Michelle’s hilarious, honest voice and driven through storytelling, expert interviews, and practical tools, Hello, Fears conveys the lessons she learned from facing each fear and inspires readers to make the right choice – the brave choice. For readers of Girl, Wash Your Face and 100 Days of Brave, Hello, Fears is a growth mindset personal development book for those who are ready to push past their comfort zone and embrace their fears

Capital Gains: smart things I learned doing stupid stuff

Chip Gaines is well known as a TV star (HGTV’s Fixer Upper), renovation expert, husband to Joanna, and father of 4 in Waco, Texas. But long before the world took notice, Chip was a serial entrepreneur who was always ready for the next challenge, even if it didn’t quite work out as planned. Whether it was buying a neighborhood laundromat or talking a bank into a loan for some equipment to start a lawn-mowing service, Chip always knew that the most important thing was to take that first step. We walk alongside him as he relives some of his craziest antics and the lessons learned along the way. His mentors taught him to never give up and his family showed him what it meant to always have a positive attitude despite your circumstances. Throw in a natural daredevil personality and a willingness to do (or eat!) just about anything, and you have the life and daily activity of Chip Gaines.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A guide to reclaiming yourself

Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them–in order to achieve school/work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do “healthy boundaries” really mean–and how can we successfully express our needs, say “no,” and be assertive without offending others?

What Happened to You?

“What happened to you?” Many of us experience adversity that has a lasting impact on our physical and emotional health. What happens to us in childhood is a powerful predictor of our risk for health problems down the road and offers scientific insights into the patterns of behaviors so many struggle to understand. Here, Winfrey shares stories from her own harrowing past and her understanding of the vulnerability that comes from facing trauma at a young age. Joining forces with Dr. Perry, one of the world’s leading experts on childhood trauma, Winfrey marries the power of storytelling with science and clinical experience to better understand and overcome the effects of trauma. The two focus not only a new understanding of people’s behavior but also on trauma’s effects on our own lives. It’s a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma that allows each of us to understand our past so that we may clear a path to our future – opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.

Overcoming Everyday Racism

This enlightening and reflective guide studies the psychological impact of racism and discrimination on BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) people and offers steps to improve wellbeing. It includes definitions of race, racism and other commonly used terms, such as microaggressions, and evaluates the effect of definitions used to describe BAME people. Each chapter of the book focusses on one category of wellbeing – self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, positive relations with others, environmental mastery, autonomy – and includes case examples, spaces for reflection and practical, creative exercises. For use as a tool within counseling and therapeutic settings as well as a self-help tool by individuals, each category provides a framework for thinking about how to manage everyday racism, live with more resilience, and thrive.

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and be a Better Ancestor

Me and White Supremacy teaches readers how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. When Layla Saad began an Instagram challenge called #MeAndWhiteSupremacy, she never predicted it would spread as widely as it did. She encouraged people to own up and share their racist behaviors, big and small. She was looking for truth, and she got it. Thousands of people participated in the challenge, and over 90,000 people downloaded the Me and White Supremacy Workbook.

Not seeing one you like? Just type “self help” into the one search bar and narrow your search by location (on the left side of your screen) and choose the Popular Literature Collection.

If you feel overwhelmed and need assistance navigating any issues in life, the University Counseling & Psychological Services is free to all students and equipped to help you with everything from anxiety management, peer support, individual and couples counseling, substance abuse help and more. You can find their website at https://counseling.fsu.edu/

This blog post was written by Dianna Bradley, Digital Library Center Metadata Associate at FSU Libraries.

As Seen on #BookTok

Happy Spring! With classes just starting, it’s a perfect time to do some reading for fun before the semester gets too busy. FSU Libraries has many popular and bestselling books from lists like the New York Times available for students to check out for free. With TikTok and the hashtag #BookTok on the rise, we’ve compiled a list of 10 trending books to help you find your next read!

All of these books are located in the Pop Lit collection in Strozier Library, which is just next to the Starbucks café area inside the library. We also have tons of popular YA titles available in Dirac Library. Check out the libraries’ catalog on our website to search for more titles, and even reserve books online for pickup!

Red, White & Royal Blue

by Casey McQuiston

What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?

Image and description courtesy of St. Martin’s Griffin.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

by Holly Jackson

As her senior capstone project, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is determined to find the real killer in a closed, local murder case, but not everyone wants her meddling in the past.

Image courtesy of Ember, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Description provided by FSU Libraries.

It Ends with Us

by Colleen Hoover

Lily is overwhelmed with passion for the inflexible and proud Ryle. But her too-good-to-be-true romance is suddenly a lot more complicated when her first love, Atlas, suddenly comes back into her life.

Image and description courtesy of Atria Books.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

by Talia Hibbert

A witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being “boring” and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her experience new things.

Image and description courtesy of Harper Collins.

Arsenic and Adobo

by Mia P. Manansala

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes–one that might just be killer….

Image and description courtesy of Berkley Prime Crime.

The Wedding Date

by Jasmine Guillory

A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.

Image and description courtesy of Penguin Publishing Group.

The Maidens

by Alexis Michaelides

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient comes a spellbinding tale of psychological suspense, weaving together Greek mythology, murder, and obsession, that further cements “Michaelides as a major player in the field” (Publishers Weekly).

Image and description courtesy of Celadon Books.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

by Ocean Vuong

Poet Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the redemptive power of storytelling.

Image and description courtesy of Penguin Publishing Group.

One Last Stop

by Casey McQuiston

From the New York Times, bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a new romantic comedy that will stop readers in their tracks…

Image and description courtesy of St. Martin’s Griffin.

Seven Days in June

by Tia Williams

Running into reclusive author Shane Hall at a literary event, bestselling erotica writer Eva Mercy, over the next seven days, reconnects with this man who broke her heart twenty years earlier until he disappears again, leaving more questions than answers.

Image and description courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.

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

Cozy Fall Reads

As the temperature finally cools off and we experience the whisper of a new season, it’s time to find that perfect book to curl up with in a big cozy chair in a coffee shop or by a fireplace, if you have one. Cozy reads are, of course, different for everyone depending on the books they prefer, but for me they should involve a happy ending, an entertaining cast of characters, a classic who-don-it, and a cat if possible (usually in the real world, curled up on my lap).

Below is a list of cozy stories with elements of love, mystery, and magic for your long and chilly evenings ahead.

The Night Circus

Waging a fierce competition for which they have trained since childhood, circus magicians Celia and Marco unexpectedly fall in love with each other and share a fantastical romance that manifests in fateful ways.

A Familiar Tail: A Witch’s Cat Mystery

Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky grey cat named Alastair, and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spell book full of trouble. Suddenly saddled with a witch’s wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But they can’t prevent every wicked deed in town.

The Collector

When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence–against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened.

Magpie Murders

After working with bestselling crime writer Alan Conway for years, editor Susan Ryeland is intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries in sleepy English villages. His traditional formula has proved hugely successful, so successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job. Conway’s latest tale involves a murder at Pye Hall, with dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects. But the more Susan reads, the more she’s convinced that there is another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript: one of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition, and murder.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

THE RULES OF BLACKHEATH: Evelyn Harcastle will be murdered at 11:00p.m. There are eight days , and eight witnesses for you to inhabit. We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer. Understood? Then lets begin..

The Bookseller’s Secret

Now he’d fled for a second time, to a city where he believed no one would recognize him, identity secure until confronted by Sara Olson. Maintaining cover demanded he stay away from her while at the same time getting close enough to find out how much she knew. This mission impossible caused him to leave his safe zone to obtain information crucial to keeping his secret …

Intercepted

Marlee Harper is the perfect girlfriend. She’s definitely had enough practice by dating her NFL-star boyfriend for the last ten years. But when she discovers he has been tackling other women on the sly, she vows to never date an athlete again. There’s just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights.

Cats on the Prowl

Willow, the fluffy white Persian cat, gets more than she bargained for when she comes to live at the Nelson Police Station. Nat, the big tabby tom cat, takes her under his wing and starts teaching her the art of the police cat. Before she knows what hit her, Willow finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue, murder, and adventure that will take her to her limit and beyond. With the help of Nat and a curious collection of mysterious alley cats, Willow is on her way to discovering a depth of potential and excitement she never thought possible

This blog post was written by Dianna Bradley, Digital Library Center Metadata Specialist at FSU Libraries.

POP LIT Picks for PRIDE Month

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, a time to recognize and highlight the LGBTQ community as well as reflect on the history of the movement. One way to do that is to read books about and written by LGBTQ voices. This month’s pop lit picks will highlight several such fiction and nonfiction books in FSU Libraries’ Pop Lit Collection which include everything from memoirs to romance to science fiction/fantasy. Enjoy these LGBTQ titles this June and all year round!

Continue reading POP LIT Picks for PRIDE Month

Digital Book Display: National Pet Month

May is National Pet Month! A time to celebrate our four-legged friends and furry companions! Our digital book display this month features titles that honor pets of all kinds and the wonderful impact they have in our daily lives. With this, we are also celebrating the pets of our library staff! Be sure to check out our digital pet gallery below.

Continue reading Digital Book Display: National Pet Month

Pop Lit Tattoo Tuesday Posts, Summer 2022

Scroll to peruse all the Popular Literature Committee’s “Tattoo Tuesday” posts for the summer.

(TW: This book contains references to Sexual Assault, Child Abuse and Violence). This #tattootuesday recommendation was submitted by @julno12 and designed by (IG:@leahdavinci). Roses often symbolize love and beauty in literature, but what results when that beauty is kept from the world. “The Butterfly Garden” tells of a beautiful escape, where young, kidnapped women are tattooed and held against their will. This horror/thriller has components like novels “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Maze Runner”, while being told through the lens of an FBI investigation.

Today we’re taking inspiration from @Keckster00 and their wings and taking it to the sky with this SciFi dystopian fantasy. Charlie Jane Anders’s All the Birds in the Sky is a tale of childhood friends who must come together to stop – or overcome – the collapse of society and the world around them. They work in their own teams of engineers and magicians to “repair the world’s ever-growing ailments.” As they work in their teams to save the world, something bigger than either of them from their past creeps up and is determined to bring them together again.

For Gargi, we have a wonderful tattoo of a compass with a plane taking off from the North and, below the Southernmost point, the word “Wanderlust” in fancy script. Gargi clearly has a taste for adventure, so for them we’re recommending Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders by Joshua Foer, Ella Morton, and Dylan Thuras. It is a “bucket-list guide to over 700 of the most unusual, curious, bizarre, and mysterious places on earth” ranging from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Canada, the United States, Latin America, and Antarctica. There’s something for every traveler in here, and we hope you’ll find the thing that inspires you. You can find Atlas Obscura in the Popular Literature collection in Strozier by the Starbucks, or on our online catalog here: https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01FALSC_FSU/pag4dr/alma990346216880306576.

Today’s tattoo features a sphere with an outer space theme vignette including two astronauts reaching out gloved fingers, much in the same vein as Michelangelo’s famous painting “The Creation of Adam.” Our submitter mentioned they loved space and the ocean. Also, the clean lines and bold features of the tattoo seemed to veer towards a nonfiction book. So, we’re recommending “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void” by Mary Roach, which explores space travel and what humans give up making it happen. The title addresses everything from how to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour to how to use the bathroom to what happens when you can’t walk for a year. You can find “Packing for Mars” in the Popular Literature collection in Strozier Library near the Starbucks or on our online catalog here: https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01FALSC_FSU/pag4dr/alma990222729590306576

What better book to talk about the music of the heart than Jazz, by Toni Morrison? For Morrison, Harlem in 1926 thrums with grace, power, love, betrayal, and murder. It is enlightened. It is haunted. It is alive with music, and so too will you be. If the complexities of the heart, mind, soul, and the body compel you, check out Jazz in the Pop Lit section by the Strozier Starbucks, or in our online catalog: https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01FALSC_FSU/pag4dr/alma990245192650306576.

New Pop Lit Reads

We have a ton of new arrivals just in time for you to pop in and check them out for Spring Break!

We’ve received everything for your spring break reading fancy, from Science fiction to fantasy, romance to true crime, and history to literary fiction. Swing by the Pop Lit section by Starbucks on the first floor of Strozier Library and find your next favorite read for that trip to the beach.

Don’t see something you’d hoped in our Pop Lit section?? Email us your purchase recommendations!!

lib-poplit@fsu.edu

Pop Lit Tattoo Tuesday Posts, March 2022

Scroll to peruse all the Popular Literature Committee’s “Tattoo Tuesday” posts for the month of March, 2022.

For this wonderful tattoo my recommendation is “Every Heart a Doorway” (Wayward Children #1) by Seanan McGuire and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Books have always been a doorway to other worlds with new places to explore, people to meet and adventures to have. Children slip through these doors all the time but what happens when the fantasy world no longer wants them? What happens when the children return to a world that no longer understands them and the experiences they have had? This is where Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children comes in. The children who come live have all stepped through these doors and been changed but have no way to return. They yearn to find a way to open the door so they return and for some no cost is to high. Nancy, recently expelled from her world, has just arrived when someone starts murdering the other children and stealing body parts. As the new girl she is immediately a suspect and must figure out who the monster is before they get her too.

Your incredible tattoo brought a lot to mind – but eventually we decided on A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab…just look at that cover! Combining an enrapturing cast of characters with magical world-building, this fantasy takes place in a mythical London and stars Kell, official ambassador and prince of Red London…unofficial smuggler between parallel universes. This is the first in the Shades of Magic series, so if you like this one check out the others, all available in the Popular Literature collection by the Starbucks in Strozier. We hope you enjoy our selection!

This whimsical tattoo sent me down several rabbit holes looking for the right book and narrowing it down to one was tricky. So…a twofer! For a more gritty science fiction read, everyone is universally (online) in agreement that The Lying Cat in the graphic novel series, Saga, is the best of the alien cats. She sounds fierce, fabulous and hangs out with a bounty hunter. The series itself is described as “Star Wars meets Game of Thrones” and there are seven volumes to explore if this fits the bill! For something more on the whimsical fantasy side of things, there is A Taste Fur Murder by Dixie Lyle in which the main character starts seeing animal spirits, including her dead cat Tango who she can now communicate with telepathically, and they are off to solve a murder together with a ectoplasmic dog named Tiny. This is also the start of a mystery series so more books ot explore if this strikes your fancy. Saga is available in the Libraries’ Graphic Novel collection and A Taste Fur Murder is in the Popular Literature collection. Happy Reading!