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Author Kathleen Kaufman and her latest novel, Fiend
Photo of author: Matt Mendelsohn
Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, September 18, 2025

Alma Katsu is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of eight novels. Her books have been nominated and won multiple prestigious awards. She has written two spy novels (...

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Books about plagues in fiction

Plagues in Fiction: A Lesson in Hope

Elizabeth Graney, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Tuesday, May 26, 2020

In a world of 24-hour news cycles and constant social media updates, it can seem impossible to escape our current stressful reality. So voluntarily choosing to read even more about world-ending plagues and their effects on the human psyche may feel a bit morbid or sadistic.


collage with pizza, watermelon and pancakes

Happy Haiku Friday! Here’s Another Batch of Poems About Your Favorite Food

Christa Deitrick, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Friday, May 22, 2020

As we head into Memorial Day Weekend and the feasting that often involves, consider this latest group of poems as your appetizer.


Author Marie Benedict with her latest novel, Lady Clementine

Interview With an Author: Marie Benedict

Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, May 21, 2020

Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years’ experience as a litigator at two of the country’s premier law firms and for Fortune 500 companies. She is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame Recipient and a New York Times bestselling author.


Libros disponibles en e-media

¿Qué leer en esta cuarentena?

Salvadora Sosa Prieto, Administrative Clerk, Multilingual Collections, Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Mientras estás en casa durante la cuarentena, los días pasan, la incertidumbre crece, los pagos se acercan, la sensibilidad aumenta y la distancia social nos afecta ya sea porque extrañamos a nuestros seres queridos o porque queremos salir de casa.


Film posters from the golden age of Japanese cinema.

Films From the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema

Alan Westby, Librarian, Art, Music & Recreation Department, Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Among the many outstanding films available to patrons on Kanopy are several classics from the golden age of Japanese cinema, the 1950s.


HyRead, a Chinese ebook and e-magazine service

Chinese E-magazines Provided by HyRead / 中文電子雜誌

Julie Shu, Librarian, International Languages Department, Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Los Angeles Public Library has launched the Chinese e-magazine platform through Taiwan’s ebook and e-magazine provider HyRead.


forks, spoons, and knives

Hey Everybody, It’s Tanka Tuesday! Here Is a Brand-new Batch of Poems About Your Favorite Food

Christa Deitrick, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Tuesday, May 19, 2020

As part of our celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Los Angeles Public Library staffers were challenged to write a haiku or tanka poem about their favorite food. We unveiled the first group of haikus last Friday, and now it’s tanka time!


Collage of great operas adapted from classic books

Music and the Words That Inspired It: Compare These Operas With Their Literary Sources

Robert Anderson, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Monday, May 18, 2020

Many of the world’s great operas have been adapted from or inspired by, classic and popular works of fiction, poetry, and drama. In some cases, an opera’s librettist follows the source material’s plot closely, while other adapters take considerable liberties with the story as originally written.


photo collage with ramen soup, cappuccino and baguette bread

Hang Onto Your Hashbrowns—it’s Haiku Friday! Time to Enjoy the First Batch of Haikus About Your Favorite Food

Christa Deitrick, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Friday, May 15, 2020

Last week we threw out a new poetry prompt for the month of May, asking Los Angeles Public Library staff to write a poem about their favorite food or dish.


Collage of television adaptations of books

Read it First: At Home Television Edition

Elizabeth Graney, Librarian, Literature & Fiction Department, Friday, May 15, 2020

A common complaint leveled against film adaptations is that they often cut too much of the original material to fit their run time. This is where miniseries and television shows can really shine. With more time to tell the story, they can often provide a more faithful adaptation.


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