We’re back to Pitts staff recommendations this week with Digital Asset Librarian, Ann McShane. When Ann isn’t busy digitizing library materials and making them available online (check out digital.pitts.emory.edu!), they stay entertained with fantastical stories, graphic novels, and a brand new game on Nintendo Switch.
First up, Ann recommends A Natural History of Transition by Callum Angus. About this book, they say,
“Short stories about change and magic and the world around us. My favorite of the collection was “Migration,” which feels that same combination of devastating and mundane that comes every year when the late-summer storms get bigger and the winters get shorter. For good and bad, how should I feel about my home changing around me?”
A Natural History of Transition is a collection of short stories that explore transitions in nature to complicate the perception that trans people can (and do) only have one transition. These stories mix in magic and horror to create compelling narratives that build complete lives for the characters in each tale.
A Natural History of Transition is available at Woodruff Library.
Next, they recommend Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky. Ann explains this book as,
“Boys Weekend is a graphic novel about leaving behind the past and awkward conversations. Also sea monsters and pyramid schemes and murdering your clone for fun. Mostly the first things, though. This is a quick read and full of neat little sight gags.”
Taking place over a bachelor party weekend, Sammie and their friends encounter a cult doing ritual sacrifices staying in their Vegas-like hotel. Through the stories of horror (often couched in satire), the novel explores the negative societal effects of toxic masculinity and bro culture.
Boys Weekend is available at the Dekalb County Public Library.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Ann recommends the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game on Nintendo Switch.
“I’m going to be honest with y’all – so far, I spent most of my free time playing Zelda. I’d love to recommend a thought-provoking book, but I have not read another book to recommend. I was busy. Playing Zelda. This puts me in an odd place, as I now have to explain what Zelda is for my work blog. Weird. Anyway.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a sequel to the 2016 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch. You play as Link, a chosen swordsman of the fallen kingdom of Hyrule. There’s a princess, Zelda, and she needs saving from a funky mummy villain, Ganondorf. Many Zelda games over the past 37 years operate on some version of that basic premise. I’m not recommending this for the story, though. I’m here to climb the tallest thing I can see, look for something interesting in the distance, go there, and explore whatever part of the kingdom I end up in.”
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for the Nintendo Switch console.
Like what you see? Stay tuned for more summer reading recommendations from the faculty and staff at Pitts and Candler!
Ann notes, “I’m excited to serve as the 2022-2024 Treasurer of the Visual Resources Association (VRA). VRA is an eclectic mix of cultural heritage workers united by the fascinating work of image and media management. I am proud to be a part of such a thoughtful and hard-working professional community.”
This week, Pitts launches its Summer Reading Series for 2020, bringing you recommendations for books, podcasts, videos, and more from library and Candler staff and faculty during the intercession. We begin this year’s series with suggestions from Ann McShane, Project Digital Asset Librarian. Ann plays an important part in preparing the library’s collections for digital access in online exhibitions, repositories, and more! She starts us off with two summer reads that are near and dear to her personal library. 
