LAPL Blog
Elizabeth Graney, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department

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Read it First! Seasonal Stories
This difficult year is, once again, taking its toll on beloved holidays and traditions. As we find ourselves separated from family and friends during a time of celebration, we could all use some good old fashioned holiday cheer.
Read it First! Celebrating Jewish Authors
This year the Hanukkah holiday will begin on Thursday, December 10, and continue through Friday, December 18. With social distancing encouraged and travel restricted, it will be a quiet holiday for most this year.
Read it First! Straight to the Small Screen
It has now been seven months since the original wave of business closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This means it has been seven months since new films have been regularly released in movie theaters. That equals a lot of films that missed their original release date.
Read it First! Spooky Stories, Terrifying Tales, Freaky Films and Fiction
With trick or treating discouraged and haunted houses officially canceled, this year’s Halloween will be a bit more low key. But that doesn’t mean it has to be less frightening! We’ve got plenty of scary books and their film adaptations to keep you up through these long dark nights.
Read it First! Latino Heritage Month
September 15 - October 15 is Latino Heritage month wherein we celebrate the achievements of Latinx people and recognize their contributions to American culture. Each year during this time, the Literature & Fiction department pulls together books by Latinx and Spanish language authors to honor their work.
A Literary Guide to the 2020 Emmy Awards
Every September, the Primetime Emmy Awards are handed out, celebrating the best that television had to offer from the previous season. Usually, this event entails the red carpet, designer dresses, flashing lights, and giant crowds. Well, this year is going to be a little bit different.
Read it First: Classic Literature on Film
From the time we first learn to read, we are steered towards “the classics.” FromThe Velveteen Rabbit to War and Peace, these novels are touted as enlightening, world expanding, and, sometimes, enjoyable reads. But what, exactly, is a “classic” novel?
Beyond Hamilton: More Musicals Based on Books
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton: An American Musical took the world by storm when it premiered in 2015. Combining American history with modern music styles and traditional period costumes with non-traditional casting, it pioneered a new style of musical.
Read it First: Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Last month we took a look at the lives of famous authors as shown in popular films. And while that was a fun way to learn more about the authors we know and love, we all know that sometimes films take creative license to make their stories more interesting.
Read it First: The Lives Behind the Books
On this blog we have featured hundreds of films adapted from novels and short stories by authors from across the world and throughout history. While we have celebrated their works both on page and on screen, we’ve yet to take a look at the people behind the words.