Books We Loved in 2021

Elisabeth Scott

Social Media and Reference Librarian

 

It's the "best of" reading list you've all been waiting for! Every year, MLC staff put together their favorite books--novels, picture books, comics, nonfiction, what have you-- and post it here on our lovely blog for you, our dear readers. Hyperlinked titles are available in MLC's collection and many of these books are also available at your Mississippi public library. We've been sharing these lists for several years, so if you're looking for book recs you should check out some of our faves from years past: 2016 part 1, 2016 part 2, 2017 adults, 2017 kids, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Without further ado, these are the books MLC staff loved reading this year. 

Fiction

Black Buck (2021)

Mateo Askaripour

A look at the modern salesperson of today and the insanity of it all. Plus the author breaks the fourth wall in such a clever way. 

Bunny (2019)

Mona Awad

Samantha Mackey, an MFA student at a prestigious university, REALLY doesn't like the girls in her fiction writing cohort: four rich girls who all call each other Bunny. But as Samantha gets closer to the Bunnies, she discovers a dark world of secrets, desire, and a sinisterness behind the Bunnies she never would have expected. A mixture of Heathers and The Secret History with a BIG dose of bonkers, Awad writes a darkly compelling page-turner of a book.

 

The Witch's Daughter (2008)

Paula Brackston

I picked this up at the Starkville Public Library Friends book sale on a site visit. I enjoyed the historical witchy time travel and romance aspects. I actually bought the second book because I enjoyed the first one so much. Book one was an easy/quick read.

 

Parable of the Sower (1993)

Octavia E. Butler

I love dystopian fiction, so I've been going back to read some of the classics. Parable of the Sower is hands down the type of masterpiece I was hoping to find.

The Girl with the Louding Voice (2020)
Abi Dare

Lakewood (2020)

Megan Giddings

How far would you go to help the ones you love? This dystopian work ponders that question while considering class and race in medical experimentation. This page-turner kept me guessing who Lena, the main character, could trust and when she would be pushed too far.

Less (2017)

Andrew Sean Greer

I finally read this after so many people have recommended it. Arthur Less's escape becomes his journey. This book showed me that you can love a book even when you don't agree with the ending. Beautiful writing. I wish I could meet Arthur Less IRL.

Homegoing (2016)

Yaa Gyasi

 

Austenland (2007)

Shannon Hale

Jane Hayes, a graphic designer in her 30s, has a problem: no real man will ever match up to her love for Mr. Darcy. In order to cure herself of this obsession, she goes to an immersive Jane Austen theme park... though she doesn't expect to find love in the process. This is a cute, short, quick read (under 200 pages!) perfect for anyone who's spent a decent amount of time dreaming of Colin Firth in a wet shirt.

The Four Winds (2021)

Kristin Hannah

Both empowering and heartbreaking, this well-researched work shows the struggle of so many families during a not-so-often talked about point in history, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Even though the characters kept enduring hardships, their perseverance kept me coming back.

The Heart Principle (2021)

Helen Hoang

Miss Benson's Beetle (2020)

Rachel Joyce

Offbeat, historical, British fiction about one woman's search for the golden beetle of New Caledonia. It brought me to tears. I would read it again. A beautiful, moving, witty book.

Things in Jars (2019)

Jess Kidd

Devil in Disguise (2021)

Lisa Kleypas

 

The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020)

T.J. Klune

Damnos (2013)

Nick Kyme

I'm a huge fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and this book features a massive war between two of my favorite factions: the Emperor's Ultramarines and the ancient alien Necrons. The book is almost entirely action, but it does slow down enough to get the human characters' perspectives. The strategic planning and tactics used by the soldiers are also excellent.

 

The Millenium series

Stieg Larsson 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005)

The Girl who Played with Fire (2006)

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2007)

Code Name Hélène (2020)

Ariel Lawhon

 

For the Emperor (2003)

Sandy Mitchell

While also set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, this book is vastly different in tone from Damnos, following a political officer who has managed to stumble his way into becoming an Imperium-wide hero. Ciaphas Cain is an unconventional hero who is highly aware of his own cowardly ways, and desires nothing more than to remain out of danger. His actions, while self-serving in motive, also serve the best interests of the soldiers under his command, and he gains their trust and admiration by being cautious and careful with their lives.

 

My Girl (2007-2010)

Sahara Mizu

This Japanese comic series follows an office worker who learns that his old lover has died in an accident, leaving him to raise a daughter he never knew he had. It's simultaneously sad and wholesome, as he's thrust into being a single father while losing the love of his life, as he does his best to provide the love and support that his daughter needs.  

If the Shoe Fits (2021)

Julie Murphy

 

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (2020)

Deesha Philyaw

Flawless. Each of the stories in this slim volume is pure perfection.

 

Survive the Night (2021)

Riley Sager

The Forever Girl (2021)

Jill Shalvis

 

Love for Beginners (2021)

Jill Shalvis 

One by One (2020)

Ruth Ware

Nothing to See Here (2019)

Kevin Williams

Lillian is called on by a former best friend she rarely exchanges letters with for a major favor; she wants Lillian to come take care of her husband's twin children from a previous marriage while he is making moves up the political ladder. The catch is no one can know about it/them, and they spontaneously combust when they have heightened emotions. The narrator does a wonderful job incorporating Southern accents naturally in a story that had me cracking up.

Waiting for Tom Hanks (2019)

Kerry Winfrey

 

Nonfiction 

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (2018)

James Clear

 

A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion (1971)

Anthony Bourke, John Rendall, George Adamson (foreward)

I tend to read a lot of science fiction, but this is the book that touched me the most this year. Someone recommended it to me, I put it on my TBR, and it stayed there for over two months. It's a thought-provoking look at the plight of many exotic animals all over the world. Some live out their lives in very restrictive situations. There is a YouTube series that goes with this story, but it was compiled years after the books was published. It consists of all of the videos that were made when the authors had Christian in their care.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth (2021)

Julian Sancton

In 1897, the Belgian ship Belgica is sailing to Antarctica, to explore the continent. Unfortunately, it gets frozen in and has to spend the winter in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth as disease and madness start to spread through the crew. Sancton does an amazing job describing this lesser-known voyage that's part horror story, part adventure story, all delivered with a beautifully novel-like touch.

 

Biography/Memoir

Solutions and Other Problems (2020)

Allie Brosch 

The Secret to Superhuman Strength (2021)

Alison Bechdel

 

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (2003)

Marjane Satrapi

This memoir of the Iranian Revolution, told from the perspective of a young girl, is shown in stark black and white panels. As she grows older and the situation in Iran worsens, a young Satrapi grapples with the trials of adolescent rebellion alongside the tolls of war. I can't wait to read book two. 

 

Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir (2020)

Natasha Trethewey

Trethewey's words are so lush, so poignant, and so overwhelmingly beautiful that I was completely transfixed the whole journey through this short memoir. Could you expect anything less from this former Mississippi Poet Laureate and two-time United States Poet Laureate?

 

 

Picture Books

Can Bears Ski? (2020)

Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar (illustrations)

Author Antrobus, who is Deaf, and illustrator Dunbar, who is partially Deaf, team up for this insightful and sweet look at childhood deafness.

White Socks Only (1996)

Evelyn Coleman and Tyrone Geter (illustrations)

I love picture books: the art, the spare text, and the way they combine together to convey stories to children. White Socks Only was a unexpected breath of fresh air. I'll be recommending this one a lot.

 

Mother Bruce series

Ryan T. Higgins

The Bruce Swap (2021)

Bruce's Big Fun Day (2019)

Bruce's Big Move (2017)

Bruce's Big Storm (2019)

Hotel Bruce (2016)

Mother Bruce (2015)

Santa Bruce (2018)

Spring Stinks (2021)

 

When Aidan Became a Brother (2019)

Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita (illustrations) 

A little boy worries that his new sibling will have to confront uncomfortable things in their life, perhaps even things as tough as when he transitioned fully into being a boy. He sets out to make sure this won't happen and his parents provide soothing support to guide him. Super sweet and affirming.

 

Chicken of the Sea (2019)

Viet Thanh Nguyen, Ellison Nguyen, Thi Bui (illustrations), and Hien Bui-Stafford (illustrations)

An inter-generational story about pirate chickens--a must read! 

 

Middle Grade

The Birchbark House (1999)

Louise Erdrich

Set just in the same neck of the woods and a mere thirty years before the events of Little House on the Prairie, this middle grade book introduces us to a little Ojibwe girl named Omakayas and her family. Erdrich delves deep into small aspects of daily life in this little community and earth-shattering events from the wider world that affect them. I can't wait to read the entire series.

 

The Lucky Ones (2022)

Linda Williams Jackson

Robert Kennedy's Southern Poverty Tour lends itself as a backdrop to this tale of determination, hope, and family love. Look for it in 2022!

 

Lalani of the Distant Sea (2019)

Erin Entrada Kelly

Inspired by Filipino folklore, this mythic tale of pluck and fortitude had me cheering for Lalani, who must save the people of her tiny village. I gobbled it up in a day.

 

Show Me a Sign (2020)

Ann Clare LeZotte

Have you heard about the Deaf community who lived on Martha's Vineyard in the early 1800s? LeZotte sets her suspenseful book of courage on the peaceful island.

Young Adult

Deathless Divide (2020)

Justina Ireland

 

The Magic Fish (2020)

Trung Le Nguyen

I love this graphic novel with all my heart. The interwoven fairy tales, the relationship between Tiến and his mother, the lovely, expressive art... this is the perfect coming out story.

 

Kageki Shojo!! (2021-2022)

Kumiki Saiki

Sarasa Watanabe is a loud, brash girl who's set her sights on playing her favorite role on the stage. Ai Narata is a closed-off girl who just doesn't want to deal with men. In order to achieve their dreams, the two enroll in a prestigious all-girls theater school. This manga series isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects, and the bright and infectious personalities of our two leads make for a compelling read.

 

Cemetery Boys (2020)

Aiden Thomas

 Brujos and ghosts and romance, oh my!

Concrete Rose (2021)

Angie Thomas

If you loved The Hate U Give, you have to read its prequel Concrete Rose. Angie Thomas is spectacular yet again.

Have you read any of these books? What were your favorite reads this year? Let us know in the comments!

Racing to Meet that Reading Goal!

Shellie Zeigler

Library Consultant

 

 

Around this time of year, a lot of my friends and co-workers start talking about meeting their Goodreads or other reading goals for the year. I hear things like, “Oh, that’s a small book, that will get me toward my goal.” or “I met my goal. I can relax now.” I get it, I do. I do the same thing. But I’m starting to have concerns about reading goals. Hear me out.

I make a reading goal every year. I started doing this seven years ago. My reading productivity, what an awful word, has increased every year since I started creating a goal (it took a small dip this year, but that’s an anomaly). So, it makes me wonder, does making a goal truly increase the amount of reading I do, or has it increased the amount of reading I feel I need to do? Let me look back just a bit.

In 2020, I read 161 books. My goal that year was 150 books. Yes, I was very elated and proud of myself, but I was also embarrassed. I didn’t want to tell people I read that many books, for several reasons. I didn’t think people would believe me. Many of those books were also audiobooks, and I know that a lot of people don’t feel that audiobooks count as reading. (I have strong opinions about this and have written about this before, but the audiobook stigma is still around). And lastly, I felt like it made me look like I don’t have a life outside of reading. I know that may sound ridiculous, but I’m laying it all out here!

In 2015, I made a goal of reading 35 books. It was my first year to make a reading goal, and I achieved it. I read 38 books that year. I feel like I felt more accomplishment that year over those 38 books than I have any year since. I think it’s because I didn’t put pressure on myself. I didn’t look at what other people’s goal were. I didn’t compare my reading goals to theirs. It really is true that “comparison is the thief of joy.”

I’ve surpassed my goal this year with an admirable 92 books. (My goal was 80). I keep thinking, "What will I do for my goal for 2022?" Will I make one? I’m sure I will because I enjoy keeping track of which books I read in which year. It’s a nice way to summarize the year--I love organization! But. I am going to work on taking the pressure off my reading self. My real 2022 reading goal will be to simply enjoy the books I choose and get off the treadmill of caring so much about the number. My wish is that you do the same.

Happy reading in 2022!

What's on my Nightstand?

Lacy Ellinwood
Lead Library Consultant

 

The leaves have fallen, the temperatures are dropping, and the days are getting darker; that means it’s time to hunker down with a good book. In my case, there is no shortage of books that have accumulated on my nightstand over the past year. I thought I would confess to YOU and only YOU what I lovingly curated from my chosen book peddlers over 2021 but haven’t opened…YET. These are not book reviews. I will share why I chose these titles and what has kept me from diving into these books I was once so excited to acquire.

Edward Weston: His Life from Ben Maddow, published by Aperture in 2005. 

Before becoming an employee at the Mississippi Library Commission, I was working on a second master’s degree in humanities with a focus on film theory and art history, specifically in the medium of photography. I had studied the work of Weston and his partner Margrethe Mather and was looking to gain further insights into his work that might illuminate the concept of “the female gaze” in the art of Mather and other photographers. Aperture is a known publisher for high-quality materials on photography, so I naturally picked up the title when it was suggested by Thrift books. DARN YOU RECOMMENDED READS RIBBON! Due to the academic nature of the purchase, it has sat unread underneath my collagen face cream for nearly a year. My book shame has been bubbling, but I know that it will eventually be a good investment when I find that elusive thing called “time” to get back into my research interests.

The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine: How I Spent a Year in the American Wild to Re-create a Feast from the Classic Recipes of French Master Chef Auguste Escoffier, by Steven Rinella. 

We all picked up watching, reading, and listening habits during the pandemic. One of my habits was consuming all content created by Meateater and listening to interviews from conservationist and writer Steven Rinella. You can find his show on Netflix and his podcast on Spotify. The man is fascinating, and while I do not encounter Alaskan brown bears regularly, or hunt and forage wild game, I am like most librarians and have a fascination for knowledge. I have learned a lot of about feral hog populations and that the fat pockets behind the eyes of a caribou taste like raw pizza dough. Thanks, Steven Rinella! This title is one of my most recent book purchases and my goal is to take it on an upcoming trip to my hometown of Buffalo, NY. I have a feeling I might get hungry on the plane while reading.

An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon.

This is the seventh book in the Outlander series of novels. I have been slogging my way through this series for the past four or five years. What started with a discard at a library book sale has developed into a long-term relationship with Claire and Jaime. I fall in love with one book and then 1200 pages later need to take a breather. It’s an on again off again sort of thing. I was in the breather phase with the series, but the pandemic was in full force and I thought I needed more reading material. A librarian never has enough reading choices, am I right? As I write this blog post I have started reading this book and it has acquired the dubious coffee mug stains of weekend leisure reading. While I appreciate the Starz television series of the books, there is much richer content to be had in these lush novels. Currently there are nine books in this series…looks like I might have some more titles to add to my nightstand for 2022.

My hope is that this confession relieves some of the anxiety you may have about your pile of best book friends waiting on your nightstand. Whenever you are ready, they are there to occupy the time of the brooding winter months or to break up a streaming binge session. I implore you to read what you love, when you love it, and know that there is a book for every reader.

We Can Help With That

Alex Brower
Information Services Director

What do To Kill a Mockingbird, The Color Purple, and The Sun Also Rises have in common?

They’re all banned books! These classics have been banned, nearly banned, and everything in between for a variety of reasons, some of which you can read here.

On one side of those challenges there is always a librarian or teacher who was incorporating a novel into their collection or classroom. They had reasons behind choosing to add these books to their collection and teaching them to generations of students. When a book is chosen for a collection in a library or added to a school curriculum, there is typically a vetting process that involves reviews and research, as well as knowledge of a community. It is a deliberate and thoughtful decision. When a book is challenged or opposed, the librarian or teacher must defend their choice and dig up those reviews and articles and awards.

Or could someone else do the heavy lifting for them?

The Mississippi Library Commission is now offering a service for Mississippi teachers and libraries who face materials challenges or can feel one brewing and want to be prepared. We will do the research for you: finding awards lists, reviews, and articles that discuss the title in question so that you can more easily defend your collection and your community’s right to read. All you need to do is call our Reference Desk at 601-432-4492, text us at 601-208-0868, or email us at mlcref@mlc.lib.ms.us. We will compile the information that you need so you'll have more time for other thoughtful and deliberate decisions.

For other information about dealing with materials challenges, feel free to visit our Intellectual Freedom Resources page here. We hope that you will not need this service, but know that it will be invaluable if you do.

Let's Go StoryWalking®, Mississippi!

Storytime is one of the most iconic services public libraries provide children. They're a great way to engage kids with books and get them up and moving around . You would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't remember attending one at least once when they were small, whether with a family member, a day care, or a school group. When Covid-19 struck and social distancing became the norm, libraries were left scrambling to fill that gap. Many responded with successful virtual storytimes and outdoor storytimes, but StoryWalksⓇ, the 2007 brainchild of a Vermonter named Anne Ferguson, have exploded in popularity across the state and become the unexpected champion of storytime during the pandemic.

 

StoryWalksⓇ are a relatively simple concept. Break a book down to just its pages. Post those pages along a walking trail or around the library. Wait for the squeals of glee. Earlier this year, the Mississippi Library Commission invested a small portion of  its LSTA funds into creating four initial StoryWalksⓇ for public libraries to borrow. We chose several popular picture books: Not Norman by Kelly Bennett, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, How to Fold a Taco/Como Doblar un Taco by Naibe Reynoso and Ana Varela, and Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan and Tae-eun Yoo. Then our team of workers got to work disassembling the books, laminating pages, and cutting up velcro. We set up a Google document so that StoryWalkⓇ visitors could check in via QR code and we were up and running. Six library systems have already taken advantage and checked out these kits, and many more were inspired to create their own. They are a new welcome addition to festivals and parks that we hope will be around for years to come. 

This year, Let's Move in Libraries and the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services have partnered to celebrate StoryWalksⓇ--and the librarians who create and promote them--across America with the first ever StoryWalkⓇ Week. Definitely visit their Facebook and Instagram pages to view the libraries showcased there. Want to check out one of our StoryWalkⓇ kits? Contact our Digital Consultant Charlie Simpkins at csimpkins@mlc.lib.ms.us to learn how. Want to create your own StoryWalkⓇ? The steps are outlined for you right here. Been to a StoryWalkⓇ in Mississippi? Tell us about your experience in the comments! And last, but certainly not least: happy reading!

Join MLC's Talking Book Services!

Our Talking Book Services Department is hiring! Seize this opportunity to serve Mississippians who are unable to read standard print due to a visual, physical, or print disability and work in a great environment at the Mississippi Library Commission.

We are located at the Research and Development Center in Jackson, Mississippi, just off Lakeland Drive and Ridgewood Road. Our award-winning facility is the home to the Mississippi Center for the Book, a Patent and Trademark Resource Center, and, of course, the Mississippi Talking Book Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. We also offer extensive reference and interlibrary loan services for Mississippians and library consulting services, digital services, and network services for libraries and librarians across the state. Our current openings include:

• Librarian I
  Closes Friday, November 15, 2021
• Librarian II
  Closes Friday, November 5, 2021
  

If you are interested in joining our team, please submit an application to the Mississippi State Personnel Board.

Horror and Hope

Sebastian Murdoch

Readers Advisor, Talking Book Services

Growing up, friends and family might have referred to me as “a little odd.” I was a daydreamer, perpetually lost in fantastical worlds of my own creation, imagining for my toys lives and adventures of their own while I was at school or away on a family vacation. I was also inexplicably drawn to the strange and surreal, to the twisty, often scary, corners of the world around me. In those corners, I didn’t see dust and cracks in the paint, but the ashes of a hastily-smothered fire or hidden messages that only I could read. I was, to put it simply, a weird kid.

I was also, first and foremost, a reader. From the time I could string words together in a coherent sentence, I gravitated toward books and words, toward stories. My mother tells an anecdote in which, at about six or seven, I described myself as “loquacious.” Though I was right in my choice of self-identification, I imagine that I chose the word not because it fit me and my personality, but because I enjoyed the way it sounded, the languorous rise and fall of the syllables, the way it drew my lips forward, then back, then forward again as I shaped them around each sound. The fact that I just used 59 words to describe the reason for choosing that word goes to show that I am much the same now as I was then.

Another thing that has not changed for me since I was a child is my fascination with the horror genre. Throughout elementary school, I devoured the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine, even going so far as to fill out a form in the back of one of the books to join his fan club. I mailed the application and was rewarded with a signed photo of the author himself. Granted, that signature may have been a copy printed onto each of the photos sent to us ravenous children, but it still meant something to me. That photo is long gone now, misplaced or discarded during one move or another, but I remember it vividly, as I also do the stories Stine wrote. They, along with but to a lesser extent the Fear Street tales, have stuck with me into adulthood, where I now write my own horror stories professionally, as an agented writer looking toward the publication of their debut novel. While my own work does not center around children or teenagers, the core appeal of those spooky stories sits at the head of my practice, my process of crafting a narrative meant to fascinate and simultaneously repulse its reader.

Because that’s the central tenet of good horror writing, isn’t it? To make the reader scared to turn the page, but helpless in the face of their own curiosity, their need to follow the story through to the end, because it’s just that good. I think that’s something about horror that translates well to real life: so many of us are scared of how our stories will turn out, and yet most of us go through our days anyway, wanting to know how it all shakes out. It makes sense that we might be propelled through a fictional story by that same curiosity.

All this to say, I completely understand the people who eschew horror because they have lived through enough terror and pain to last them the rest of their lifetime. If you have experienced real, palpable fear that leaves behind a psychic (and, in some cases, physical) scar, then why subject yourself to that same kind of fear in your leisure time? It makes a certain kind of sense. But, on the other hand, some of those same people who have experienced trauma and fear in their real life will often find fictional horror a type of outlet or catharsis for their pain. Because they are able to control the type of fear to which they’re subjected, the fear becomes less damaging and more of a purge of the emotions that are wrapped up in fear: grief, embarrassment, guilt. If we fear the pain of grief, for instance, then might it not be helpful to run through a fictional situation in which loss plays a large role, as a sort of trial run? Would we not then be better prepared for the emotions that arise when we are in the midst of a divorce or dealing with the death of a loved one or mourning the loss of a home or a part of our lives we thought would be around forever? Of course, it’s not a foolproof strategy for how to cope with unpleasant emotions, but nothing is really.

In my case, I fear physical pain to an extreme degree. (Please disregard the fact that I have multiple tattoos; I’m talking about a more intense and ongoing pain here.) I avoid most situations in which an amount of pain might be expected. You will not catch me scaling cliffs or subjecting myself to a session of CrossFit. Scenes wherein tremendous amounts of pain are inflicted on the characters cause me to cringe and duck behind my hands. I have nightmares about body horror like Junji Ito’s The Enigma of Amigara Fault. But I have also watched almost all of the Saw movies and have listened to the audiobook of Nick Cutter’s The Troop and The Deep multiple times. I don’t know if consuming these kinds of horror stories will make it easier if I ever go through something truly painful (like when I fractured my wrist as a child), but it certainly makes me feel more grateful for the times when my body feels healthy and strong.

That’s another thing that drives horror: a fear of weakness. I would be willing to bet that most people have experienced a nightmare in which they felt completely helpless, whether that meant being unable to walk or run from a pursuer or a sudden muteness that left them incapable of calling for help. We all fear being weak in some way—physically, emotionally, or mentally—and at the core of that fear is the question, “What will be done to me when I am unable to defend myself?”

This question is especially pertinent to those of us who live with some form or marginalization. Someone with a mental illness or disability may fear an abusive conservatorship (wherein another person is put in charge of your life, as in the case of Britney Spears’s conservatorship) or institutionalization. Someone with a physical disability that literally prevents them from being able to defend themselves would have ample cause to fear an abusive caregiver or any callous stranger on the street. And, on a slightly more philosophical but no less important note, a person of color or a queer person might fear violence when they lack a support network, which might be considered a way to defend yourself against social attacks or manipulation. That’s all to say that, regardless of your placement in the social hierarchy of the West (as that is where I have lived all my life and so can only speak to my experiences here), everyone will have seen or experienced what can happen when one person is at a disadvantage to another. It’s similar to love or intimacy in a way. We are all always asking, “If I show you this vulnerable part of myself, will you be good to me?”

It’s the same for me with my writing. I put so much of my heart into my work that sharing it with another person is akin to tipping back my head and exposing my throat. They could kiss it, or they could cut it. It all depends on them at that point. And, even in spite of that fear, I still show my stories to other people. Why? Why not hide it, and thus that soft part of me, away where it can’t be harmed? Because otherwise I will have missed out on that intimacy, that connection with another person. Yes, the fear is there because I have been hurt in the past, because I know that I could be hurt again, but so too is the knowledge that hope exists. Any good horror story will maintain that spark of hope, because it isn’t just the curiosity that drives us to finish the book—it’s also the hope that, despite all that terror, things will be okay in the end. That’s why people get into relationships again even after a bad breakup or why people ride roller coasters again and again. Because the risk is worth the reward we hope awaits us. And all that fear we experienced along the way?

Well, it just makes us more grateful.

Come Library With Us!

The Mississippi Library Commission is hiring! Several beloved staff recently left for positions at other libraries and agencies. While we celebrate the new paths in their careers, we also can't wait to meet the people who will fill their shoes in the months to come. 

We're located at the Research and Development Center in Jackson, Mississippi, just off Lakeland Drive and Ridgewood Road. Our award-winning facility is the home to the Mississippi Center for the Book, a Patent and Trademark Resource Center, and the Mississippi Talking Book Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. We also offer extensive reference and interlibrary loan services for Mississippians and library consulting services, digital services, and network services for libraries and librarians across the state. Our current openings include:

• Administrative Assistant III
  Closes November 1, 2021
  
• Librarian III
  October 25, 2021
  
• Special Projects Officer IV
  Closes October 19, 2021
  

If you are interested in joining our team, please submit an application to the Mississippi State Personnel Board. Please keep an eye out in the coming weeks for additional openings at our agency.

A Letter from Your Friendly MLC Archivist

Miranda Vaughn

Reference/Archives Librarian

Dear Reader,

While organizing the MLC archives, I’ve come across a number of letters, reports, etc. regarding programs and services the Library Commission has offered over the years. Some of these were standard library services, while others were quirky and creative. Since September is Library Card Sign Up Month (and since those magical library cards get you all kinds of amazing FREE services), I thought it would be appropriate to share a few of the programs and services MLC has offered over the years.

Throughout MLC’s history, we have collaborated with other organizations in the state to provide programs and services to library patrons across Mississippi. Beginning in the 1950s, the Library Commission offered training and resources to Mississippi’s Choctaw schools. MLC also assisted the Choctaw Indian Agency in setting up a bookmobile, pictured below. 

Mississippi Library News, September 1963

Thank you letter from Pearl River Indian School student

Thank you letter from Pearl River Indian School student

Through grants and partnerships, MLC has offered films, slide shows, and special performances to our public libraries. In the late 1970s, MLC partnered with Mississippians for Educational Television to offer puppet show performances by Puppet Arts Theatre’s Peter Zapletal to some of Mississippi’s public libraries. I came across some photos of these puppets. I think they could definitely be used for the next Tim Burton movie. What do you think? 

If you want to know more about the cool services and programs the Library Commission and Mississippi public libraries offered in the 70s and 80s, check out our digitized copies of The Packet.

Did you know that MLC had a catfish mascot? In the mid-1990s, MLC partnered with the Catfish Farmers of Mississippi to hold a “name the catfish” contest. The winner was Reada the Catfish. Reada made visits to Summer Library Programs across the state and was greeted with looks of astonishment and delight.

Clarion Ledger, November 12, 1994, p. 19

The 1990s brought another important service to Mississippi libraries: the internet. Not quite as imaginative but certainly more useful, the Mississippi Information Network (called MissIN) was created by the Library Commission to give internet access to libraries across the state.

The Library Commission continues to offer a variety of services and programs, which you can check out here. To learn more about the services we offer to public libraries, as well as unique services and programs that individual libraries offer, visit your local public library. Don’t forget to sign up for a library card, so you can access all these great services and programs for FREE!


All the best,

Your friendly MLC archivist

Summer Screams

Kayla Martin-Gant

Continuing Education Coordinator

Anyone who speaks to me for more than five minutes comes away with three immutable facts: I love being a librarian, I love my goofy little dog, and I love spooky stuff. This last fact has been true since I was little; I used to watch Dark Shadows and Are You Afraid of the Dark? religiously. I wrote my first story, titled “The Haunted Dollhouse,” when I was seven years old and stuck inside at recess due to rain. I’m certainly not the only one—horror, a genre often maligned for being too low-brow to have any real literary and artistic merit, is immensely popular.

The question, though, is why?

The general scientific consensus seems to be that, for many of us, horror is cathartic in a way that many other genres aren’t. It gives us the illusion of danger without putting us in any actual risk and, once the adrenaline has built and the tension snaps, we get that sweet rush of dopamine as the credits roll.

This isn’t true only of horror movies, but of horror stories in general, and terrifying real-life tales lend themselves to those impulses as well. Whether fictional or not, horror can allow us to experience and process trauma in a safe, controlled environment.

It’s not just the physical effects that keep us coming back, though. At its core, horror also taps directly into our basest emotions in unexpectedly telling ways. We can examine the popular horror trends and titles in a particular decade or region to understand its people’s greatest fears at the time. Sometimes these fears are tangible, such as the explosion of sci-fi horror in the 1950s in reaction to the atomic bomb, or even our ongoing anxieties about climate change and the corresponding rise of apocalyptic narratives. The trappings of horror often have deeper roots, though, using tragedy and monsters as allegories for societal ills rumbling just under the surface.

Some of the best, most memorable examples of the genre have always been subversive in nature. Horror shines a light on some of the darkest parts of our histories and behaviors and, in doing so, calls our cultural mores into question. It holds a mirror up to us and asks, pointedly, if we’re truly happy with what we see. Horror fills us with fear and revulsion because it is, whether directly or through a warped, funhouse-style mirror, a reflection of us.

In that vein, one of the most interesting aspects of the horror genre is how it has, for some of us, become a home. For many marginalized groups, the monsters we grew up with are more relatable than they were probably meant to be. For those of us who feel the constant weight of bigotry, prejudice, racism and misogyny, whose brains and bodies don’t look or operate in expected ways? We empathize with the monsters we were taught to fear, and we know that other people are often more dangerous than any creature.

It’s no wonder then that the horror genre has become increasingly diverse in both the stories being told and those telling them. This has led to some fantastically innovative storytelling, and people are noticing. Not only are more horror films garnering critical acclaim, but the genre has also found a new avenue to explore in podcasts. The rise of the true crime podcast genre is well-documented, but also gaining rapid popularity are the myriad of horror fiction podcasts available for anyone and everyone.

The accessibility of podcasts for both consumer and creator, coupled with the medium’s inherent independence of outside production influence, has allowed for some incredibly complex and inclusive stories to flourish (for more on this, check out an article I wrote for Divination Hollow Reviews on some of my favorite queer horror fiction podcasts here).

Horror fiction podcasts also provide a window into one of my favorite things about horror, which is how easily it overlaps with other genres. Horror is an extraordinarily versatile genre and is therefore somewhat nebulous in how it is defined. What elements, themes, or settings are required to constitute horror over sci-fi and fantasy? What about the crossovers between horror and romance, or even horror and comedy? Horror literature has cheerfully straddled these lines for centuries, now more than ever. While this may frustrate some readers, listeners, and viewers who prefer simpler categorizations, it provides for an ever-changing landscape in which to tell our stories. Certain horror conventions may get stale, but the human imagination is a powerful thing, and fear is the most primal and universal instinct we all share.

One could say that horror, more than any other genre, connects us. We don’t all love being afraid, but if we must be? We’d prefer to be afraid together.

Be on the lookout next month for my webinar on recently released and upcoming horror titles to look forward to! In the meantime, if you want to read more about the psychology of horror, check out some of these resources:

• What Horror Films Teach Us About Ourselves and Being Human by Dr. Steven Schlozman (via YouTube, TEDxNashville)
• Our Age of Horror: Horror is a Dark and Piercing Reflection of Our Anxious Times by M M Owen (from Aeon)
• Horror Experts Reveal Why You Love Scary Stories, Even When They Freak You Out by K. W. Colyard (from Bustle)
• What Can Horror Monsters Tell Us About Ourselves? by Louise Zhang (via YouTube, TEDxYouth @ Sydney)

Meet MLC Monday: John Shaman

Elisabeth Scott

Reference Librarian/Social Media Coordinator

 

Meet John Shaman, Reference Librarian at the Mississippi Library Commission! John has a variety of job duties, including shelving, assisting with reference questions, and taking care of MLC's large print extended loan program. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Southern Mississippi. 

John began work at MLC at the beginning of June, and so far really enjoys answering the variety of reference questions that come his way. He says that his coworkers have helped ease the transition into his new position. When asked why he thinks libraries are important, John responds, "Libraries are vital social infrastructure. Everyone deserves free access to books, the internet, and a quiet place outside of home and work." It seems that one of the reasons John got an English degree is his love for reading. He enjoys literary fiction and philosophy, and his favorite books are My Ántonia by Willa Cather and Dubliners by James Joyce. John also likes to write, watch anime, ride his penny board, and take an occasional road trip.

Meet MLC Monday: Keith Thompson

Elisabeth Scott

Reference Librarian/Social Media Coordinator

Meet Keith Thompson, a Circulation Librarian in the Talking Book Services Department here at the Mississippi Library Commission. Keith does everything from checking in digital books, and cleaning and repairing Talking Book Players to maintaining our braille collection and readying introductory packets for new patrons. He holds a bachelor's degree in Information Technology (Networking) from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Keith started back in June, and says that so far, his favorite part of his job is preparing information for people new to the service. He says, "Libraries are important because they can be a gateway for people to experience new ideas through books. They also provide internet access to their communities, which is key." Keith enjoys reading. His favorite book of all time is The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and the last book he read was Anthem by Ayn Rand. When he isn't hard at work or relaxing with a book, you can find Keith exploring one of his favorite hobbies: digital drawing, traditional landscape drawing, and listening to Jazz.

New to Book Clubs? Not for Long!

Charlie Simpkins

Digital Consultant

 

Have you ever considered joining or starting a book club? There are so many benefits for participating in them! First, they help promote a love of literature and learning in a safe environment. Second, they allow you to gain new perspectives by nudging you out of your comfort zones of preferred subjects or genres. Third, they promote a sense of community by bringing together participants with varied backgrounds to discuss nuanced, complex issues with different insights. So, how can you participate in a book club, especially when a pandemic has limited in-person meetings?

 

MLC had a short-lived book club in 2016, so by October of 2020, a group of MLC staff was ready to start it up again. It was going to be a bit different, though, since we could not meet in person. We opted to meet via the cloud-based video conference software called Zoom, and we chose a date that worked for everybody. I’ll give you some pointers from what we learned while getting our book club going.

One main thing to remember when starting or joining a book club is that each group and meeting is different. Some book clubs like to stick with a specific genre or subject matter. Others prefer to pick a theme for each meeting, and members can read anything related to it. Some even like to choose a specific award, such as the Pulitzer Prize or the Hugo Awards, and work together towards reading all the winners. In a similar vein, some like to work through a reading challenge, such as the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge or Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, together. Our book club uses Google Forms to vote on what to read next with a wide range of choices to pick from each time. If you are interested in starting a book club, talk with the potential members and see what type of books they are interested in and when/how often they are willing to meet.

From our first meeting in November 2020 to our most recent in June 2021, we have discussed seven books. You may think to yourself, “But wait. That’s eight months. Shouldn’t y’all have discussed eight books?” If we met every month, then yes, we should have already discussed eight books. But we skipped the month of December because of so many people taking time off and holidays and whatnot. This is perfectly fine. While a book club is a way to expand your view and learn new things, please remember to be flexible, as it still needs to be fun and low-pressure.

Also, remember everybody is not going to love the book that is being discussed. Some may not even finish it. For example, two books that come to mind that we have discussed are Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead. Some of our participants had already read these works and loved them. Some, on the other hand, could not get into either book. That’s okay. It may have simply been that it wasn’t the right time for them to read those books. However, listening to the discussion might inspire them to read them in the future.

There may even come a time when no one in the group reads the selected book. This is what happened to us once. Everyone in the group kept putting off reading it until it was a week before the meeting. We all decided to forgo the selection (for the time being). Instead, we decided to meet, but people who wanted to talk could discuss any books they have recently read and enjoyed. To show how varied our group’s reading interests are, titles that we discussed included the wonderful picture book Nia and the New Free Library by Ian Lendler (illustrated by Mark Pett), the nonfiction work Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica’s Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton, the magical realism novel The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, and the literary fiction novel Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (There may be an unofficial Taylor Jenkins Reid fan club in our group.)

As I mentioned before, we take turns making book suggestions, and then we vote on the selection for the next meeting. Because of our diverse tastes, our book club has sampled a wide array of genres. We’ve read (well, most of us) a classic in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. We’ve also read contemporary fiction with Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette and John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead, who won a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for The Underground Railroad. Even though some of our group members are more comfortable with fiction, we’ve read two nonfiction titles that everyone enjoyed. One was Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. The other was A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, which we selected to coincide with PBS’s new three-part, six-hour documentary film Hemingway, directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. We’ve even dabbled in horror/science-fiction when we read Megan Giddings Lakewood, which has been my favorite book club selection so far.

By now, my words should have you yearning for a great book and an even better discussion about it. But where can you join a book club? Try your local public library. They may already have one established. If not, they may be willing to work with you to get one started. Once you have picked a time, a place, and a book, you are ready to read. But what if everyone wants to read the same book, and you are having trouble finding enough copies of the same book? MLC has book club kits Mississippi libraries can check out for three months. Each kit contains ten copies of the same title and a discussion guide. At the time I’m writing this, MLC has over 150 Book Club Kits to choose from! If you are interested in finding out more details, visit https://mlc.lib.ms.us/programming-hub/ or email me at csimpkins@mlc.lib.ms.us. Here are some of the newest selections I’m most excited about: 

• Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt
• The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez 
• The Farm by Joanne Ramos
• There There by Tommy Orange
• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett 
• When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

I have enjoyed my time participating in a book club and hope you can benefit from the same joy. Best of luck with your readings. Which book do you think would be a good selection to discuss and why? Sound off in the comments below!

A Letter from your Friendly MLC Intern

Rose Pendleton

Archives Intern

 

Dear Reader,

My name is Rose and I am currently working towards a master's degree in Library and Information Science and a graduate certificate in Archives and Special Collections at the University of Southern Mississippi. As part of the program, I had to do an internship at a library with a special collection or an archival records repository. For my internship, the Mississippi Library Commission was gracious enough to be my host facility. 

These blue vinyl discs were used with a Gray Audograph
machine to make recordings. They were introduced in 1945.

 

The staff was very friendly and generous with their time and assistance. I learned a lot about processing and handling archival items on both a physical and a digital scale, preparing metadata to be accessed by digital collections, and even a little bit of cataloging! I found a lot of amazing photographs and correspondence, from photos of Cicely Tyson and Eudora Welty, to early printing and recording items like stereotypes and audographs.

The project I worked on during this internship was to identify, document, and rehouse correspondence and construction documents that were kept in-house in the archives. In the end, there were 106 boxes in total. I felt very accomplished to be able to finish such an undertaking during my time here. One of my favorite parts of working on this project was to be able to watch a library grow on paper: from humble beginnings as a plot of land to a fully realized and constructed library!

As part of the curriculum of the class, I was tasked with maintaining an online blog with weekly update posts about my progress and what I found that week. You can check it out at: hurricanerose.wordpress.com.

All the best,

Your friendly MLC intern

Be Joyful and Read How You Like

Shellie Zeigler

Library Consultant

There is a debate going on about how we read that seems to be a competition of sorts. You have your purists that swear by the standard paper print book. Then you have e-book readers, who swear by the convenience of having 20+ books in their hand at any time. In come audiobooks, which happen to be the fastest growing market in the publishing industry. However, that’s only for digital audio: readers love the convenience of downloading their audiobooks onto their phones and other devices. I say: isn’t there room for all of us? Aren’t we all readers?

All of us love the power of the written word. All of us would rather be reading a well-written novel than watching some bad television (Note: there is some really good television out there that I would not want to miss). Why do we have to squash fellow book lovers who prefer to read in a different format?

I personally am a reader that transcends the lines—I’ll read print, audio, or e-books…it depends on the type of book and it very much depends on my mood. I’m willing to bet there are many readers out there just like me. A good thriller on audio is a perfect pairing, but a slow burning literary novel might be best in print or e-book—for me. Reading is a very personal, solitary activity.

June is National Audiobook Month. I have noticed that some readers feel the need to make a distinction when discussing a book as to whether they read a print copy or listened to the audio version. Did your brain not receive the same information? Why is there a “lesser than” stigma attached to audio readers? I see articles online and questions posed on social media with the underlying question, does the book count if I listened to it? You comprehended the story. If your brain is processing the plot, the characters, the dilemma etc., how does an audiobook not count? Just because you processed the information with your ears and not your eyes does not mean that the book doesn’t count. It does not mean that your soul doesn’t rage just as much at the social injustice depicted in To Kill A Mockingbird as the person who read the print version. I feel that saying an audiobook “doesn’t count” is just as much a slight against the book being discussed as the person listening to the book.

So please enjoy the books that you love in any format that is most convenient for you. And let’s stop judging others for their reading choices.

Happy reading, my friends!

A Beginner's Guide to Manga: Single Volumes and Short Series

 

How much do you know about manga? Translated literally, ‘manga’ simply means comics. However, in America the term has come to be associated with black and white comics published in Japan, usually read in a right-to-left format.

Manga is popular. One-third of the entries on the New York Times Best-Selling Graphic Books and Manga list for May 2021 were manga. Demon Slayer: Infinity Train, a movie based off of the manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, has grossed over $499 million dollars worldwide. Many American apparel and hobby stores sell figures, clothes, and other products featuring characters from manga. For millennials and Gen Xers, some of your favorite children's cartoons might be based off of a manga! Remember Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragonball, or Sailor Moon? All based off of manga. Manga also has a reputation for being long-running. Iconic series can (and often) run for over twenty volumes. Some series can run even longer: the pirate series One Piece has released 97 volumes in English, a number that puts prolific writers like John Grisham to shame. 

But while the sheer length of the most popular manga series can be intimidating, there are plenty of smaller series or stand-alone manga that would work wonderfully as an introduction to the form. This blog post will highlight manga series, all three or fewer volumes, that could be a wonderful starting point for your library's collection or just a good point for someone who doesn't know much about manga to learn about it. The works are divided into age-appropriate categories: all ages, young adult, and adult. 

As a note, the line between ‘young adult’ and ‘adult’ is often blurred in the manga world. Many of the adult titles would be suitable for teenage readers as well. I’ve decided to place them in the adult category due to some mature themes, graphic content, and language.  

All Ages 

Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix, by Shiro Amano. Two volumes. A young boy named Sora, a court wizard named Donald, and a captain of the guard named Goofy team up to find Sora’s missing friends as well as King Mickey, king of Disney Castle. This manga is based on the popular video game series that places classic Disney characters (such as Ariel, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, etc.) in a fighting game setting. You’ll want to pay close attention to the title for this one: there are a LOT of manga with different titles in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Ironically enough considering the title, Final Mix is the one you’ll want to start with: it is an adaptation of the first Kingdom Hearts game, with a few manga-exclusive bonus chapters as well. 

Little Witch Academia, by Yoh Yoshinari, Keisuke Sato, Studio TRIGGER. Three volumes. Atsuko “Akko” Kagari has been accepted to the prestigious Luna Nova Witchcraft Academy! But as the only student from a non-magical family, she’s got a lot of catching up to do, especially if she wants to get on the same level as her idol, a magical showman named Shiny Chariot. The series details Akko’s quest to learn magic and make friends, proving all her doubters wrong along the way.

Manga Classics: Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery, Crystal Chan, and Kuma Chan. One volume. Manga purists may scoff at this entry as this is an adaptation of a Canadian book made by a non-Japanese company. But for those people new to manga, an adaptation of a familiar property might help ease them into the form's style. The story follows Anne, a bright and spirited young orphan girl, who's plucky presence impacts and changes the town of Green Gables. If Anne’s adventures aren’t to your taste, Manga Classics has also adapted other classic books and plays in a manga format, such as Hamlet, Les Miserables, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  

Swans in Space, by Lun Lun Yamamoto. Three volumes. Corona and Lan are new recruits to the Space Patrol, an agency dedicated to helping those across the galaxy. With their trusted instructor named Instructor, the girls are off to explore new planets! Swans in Space is a charming series, fit for those of all ages. And, most notably, the series is published in full color! (Most manga are published in black and white)  

Young Adult  

Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale, by Kikori Morino. Three volumes A young girl named Nabi and her giant spider friend live together in the mountains, by themselves, after the apocalypse. This absolutely charming manga is one part slice-of-life, focusing on Nabi and her spider friend as they explore the world around them, and one part recipe blog, as the manga features detailed recipes for the meals that Nabi and the giant spider eat. It’s a remarkably charming manga despite it’s large arachnid protagonist.  

Go For It, Nakamura! by Syundei. One volume. Nakamura has fallen in love with his classmate, Hirose. There are just a few problems: Hirose doesn’t know Nakamura exists and Nakamura is way too shy to confess! This comedic manga is about a boy trying to confess his love to another boy and all the pitfalls that ensue. Don’t be put off if you see the term “boy’s love” being thrown around in reviews: that doesn’t mean it’s sexual! “Boy’s love” is simply the Japanese term for books that feature men falling in love with other men. Go For It, Nakamura! focuses more on the heart-stopping feelings of first love than anything more explicit.

Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises, by Kumiki Saiki. One volume. Two girls join a prestigious all-girls theater school for two different reasons: the loud and brash Sarasa Watanabe dreams of playing her favorite roles on the stage and the quiet and reserved Ai Narata simply wants to live in a world where she doesn’t have to deal with men. The two girls might have different personalities, but they work towards the same goal: standing on the stage as stars. This series is the prequel to another series, just titled Kageki Shojo, and will be receiving a televised adaptation in the next few months!  

Magic Knight Rayearth, by CLAMP. Three volumes. Three girls are brought to the magical land of Cephiro and tasked with becoming Magic Knights to save the land’s princess. Stories of teenagers from our world being brought to fantasy worlds to save it via swords and sorcery are a very popular manga trend right now. Magic Knight Rayearth serves as a short yet solid introduction to the genre, with the bonus of some giant robot fights near the end. The series has a sequel series, also three volumes.  

Uzumaki, by Junji Ito. Three volumes collected in one book. Most of Junji Ito’s work would fit wonderfully for this entry: the man is a master of horror and has published many short manga and short story collections. But out of all of them, one of his best-known works is the chilling horror manga Uzumaki. The story focuses on Kurouzu-cho, a town obsessed with spirals, and the two teenagers who try to figure out the mystery behind it. Ito’s works are not for the faint of heart, and Uzumaki is no exception. It’s a delightfully dark and macabre mystery, with a new horror in almost every chapter.  

Adult 

All You Need is Kill, original story by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Storyboards by Ryosuke Takeuchi, Original Illustrations by Yoshitoshi Abe, Art by Takeshi Obata. Two volumes. Each day, Keiji Kiriya dies on the battlefield only to be revived the next day to go off and fight again. This continues for ages until he gets a message from a mysterious female ally that might lead to his salvation. All You Need is Kill is a tight, dramatic action-packed manga, adapted from the novel of the same name. And if the premise sounds familiar, that’s because the series inspired the Tom Cruise film Edge of Tomorrow.  

Claudine, by Riyoko Ikeda. One volume. Claudine follows the titular Claudine, a trans man in early 20th century France. The story focuses on Claudine’s life, his pain, and the women he loves and loses along the way. Even though this is a manga from the 1970s, Ikeda's portrayal of Claudine is sympathetic and never transphobic—in fact, the psychiatrist that Claudine sees is accepting of his gender. As a note, Riyoko Ikeda is best known for an intense, soap opera style, of which Claudine is no exception. Ikeda’s style colors the entire work, making it delightfully dramatic.  

Devilman: The Classic Collection, by Go Nagai. Two volumes. Hordes of demons have descended upon the Earth! Mankind’s only hope is Fudo Akira, a soft-hearted crybaby who has been given the powers of a demon to fight back. With the powers of a devil but the soul of a man, Akira fights back the demons as Devilman. This is a collection of re-printed Devilman manga from the 1970s, given a new translation and lovely binding. Devilman is a horror manga is gritty, gross, and not for the faint of heart. It’s also an absolute classic. Go Nagai is a titan of the manga industry, and this is Nagai at his absolute best.  

Haru’s Curse, by Asuka Konishi. One volume. After her sister Haru dies, Natsumi agrees to date Haru’s fiancée, Togo. But as Natsumi and Togo try to make their relationship work, the memory of Haru looms over every interaction. Natsumi and Togo have to sort out their complicated feelings towards Haru and towards each other. Haru’s Curse is a dramatic yet sad story, touching on grief, familial love, and two people brought together by tragedy. If you want a page-turner of a manga, this is the one for you. 

Olympos, by Aki. One volume. This manga retells the Greek myth of Ganymede, a man so attractive the gods brought him up to Olympus. The story can get a little simple and a little philosophical at times, but the artwork more than makes up for it. Aki’s gorgeous artwork is easily the highlight of this book, which provides a sensual feast for the eyes. 

Of course, there’s more short manga than what I’ve listed! I’ll close this off with links to articles listing short series or single-volume manga.  

• A Beginner's Guide to Manga 2: Manga Fewer than 10 Volumes by the New York Public Library
• 12 Single Volume Manga For When You're Short on Time and Money by Bookriot