book lists

Photo of boy and staff reading books (Allendale Branch Library: Image Source: Pasadena Digital History--Pasadena Public Library collection) with text: "1960-1974"

The years from 1960-1974 were (famously) an era of social change, political turmoil, and generational conflict. Works published during these years addressed themes including race and racism; mental health institutionalization; […]

Image of painting "Compartment C Car" (1938) by Edward Hopper with text: "1940-1959"

  The Iceman Cometh [play] by Eugene O’Neill, 1946 The play is set in New York City in 1912 and chronicles the lives of a group of lonely denizens who […]

Celebrate World Book Day!

April is a very literary month. National Poetry Month is in April and so is National Library Week, and on April 23 it’s National Shakespeare Day, the same day that […]

Portrait of Pierre Olin Reading, 1887 - Theo van Rysselberghe (painting of young man holding reading a book wearing a monocle) and art deco style graphics around text: "1915-1929"

Many big changes came along in the next 15 years in the US, and the world. The Great War, to be redubbed World War I after we survived a second […]

Image of painting "The Reader" (1910) by Harold Knight, and text: "1900-1914"

The following books were published between the dawn of the new century –the Progressive Era–and the outbreak of World War I. The list of bestsellers for each year comes from […]

Blog Graphic: Painting of Woman Reading ("A Study for Paradise Lost" by Mihaly Munkacsy, 1899, public domain) with Art Nouveau-style scrolls and text: "1884-1899"

We thought we’d kick off our Pasadena Public Library 140th Anniversary celebration with titles published during the Library’s first decade and a half. The classic titles below are all still […]

New Year resolution – read more books!

It’s 2024, a new beginning, and it seems like everyone wants to know what your New Year resolution is. Ah, you almost feel the pressure to come up with something […]

image of woman's hand holding a filled mug, with book open on blanket covered lap

In Iceland, the tradition of Jólabókaflóðið/jolabokaflod, or “Christmas Book Flood,” is a wonderful ritual of cuddling up to read books gifted to one another on Christmas Eve. It is prominent […]

image of striped (19th-century style) wallpaper with three paintings by John Singer Sargent in gilded frames hanging on the wall

You may be waiting for the second season of the drama series The Gilded Age, which premieres (Max) on Sunday, October 29. If you have not yet seen the first season, […]

Hot pink cursive "B" with stars, and chemical element symbol for Plutonium

You may have already been to see the movies released a few weeks ago; you may be waiting for entertainment industry issues to resolve before you buy tickets. If you […]