Books

I’m off to the northwoods soon for my family’s annual girls only vacation. We’re way the hell up in northern Wisconsin with nothing to do but sit by the pool, paddle out on the lake, shake some dice and read. And boy do we read.

Every year I treat myself to a book shopping spree where I buy enough books to last me all week long and plus a few spares just in case. Favorites from last year were The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes and The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell. Let’s just say I made some good choices.

This year I planned to do the same: head to my local bookshop, grab an armful and enjoy. This didn’t go according to plan. After an unsuccessful trip to a small bookstore nearby, I ended up at ye olde Barnes & Noble just frumped. At $15 a pop I couldn’t afford to buy a half dozen books. I know there will be some great ones, but I also know that some will simply be a good time and some might be pretty meh. So I was standing there debating if some historical fiction about Marshall Field would be worth the price when I thought – duh – does the library have this? Is this too weird a title? So I looked that baby up, and it was available. And so was the next one about an obituary writer and another about a haunted house! Who knew the library would have every odd title I wanted? Everyone. Everyone else knew that, but I still have this mindset where I’m 10 at the Saukville library and they never have the Dear America book I want.

But not anymore! Thank you, Milwaukee Public Library.

Here’s everything I picked up (excluding the Lana del Rey albums that I find catchy and problematic all at once):

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler – yes, I know this is YA, but what’s vacation for if not easy reading about the spiritualist movement?
Dollface by Renée Rosen
The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb
The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood
The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro
The Vanishing by Wendy Webb
What the Lady Wants by Renée Rosen

So that’s it! I’m off for a bit. I won’t be reading them all, but a girl has to have options. Maybe if there are some standouts I’ll write you all a little recommendation. In the meantime, go buy The Shining Girls. It was so good and all your friends will want to read it too. My copy is still making the rounds.

Lisa, what would be your ideal Saturday morning? So happy you asked. It would totally be visiting somewhere historic, somewhere quiet and beautiful – and if books are around that would be a bonus. Well, I got that ideal Saturday morning today when Michael and I visited the Milwaukee Central Library to get our new city library cards.

Look at this place. It’s like a cathedral for books. Total heaven.

Because I love history, I’m going to give you a few facts about this stunning space. The Milwaukee Public Library was founded in 1878 and shortly thereafter, the foundation decided that it needed a larger and more central location in Milwaukee. After a nationwide call for design submissions, the Milwaukee-based firm Ferry & Clas were chosen to create the new library. Ferry & Clas is the firm responsible for building the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Tripoli Temple and the State Historical Society. After nearly four years of construction, the library opened its doors in 1898. If you’re like me that’s all super interesting.

Cool stuff.

What I love most about this place – outside of the obvious architectural beauty – are all the hidden gems inside. If you maze through the media section a little, you’ll find a giant room full of old records of all kinds. And if you go upstairs, there’s a rare books collection which looks incredible. Although I’ve never been inside (can you go inside?), I can tell you it’s just about the best place ever. In cases outside, librarians display some killer art and books, and if you look inside you can see the shelves and shelves of dusty tomes. Drool.

These photos show you only about .05% of how spectacular this place is, so I suggest you check it out. And if you have some nooks and crannies in the library that you love, tell me all about them.

Remember the Library?

Lazy Saturday: Milwaukee Public Library

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