Take root among the stars!

From https://clockshop.org/project/about-octavia-e-butler/

Welcome to University City Public Library's Big Book Challenge--the Earthseed path! In case you were wondering, "Earthseed" is the series title for Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower (which we'll read and discuss in June) and Parable of the Talents (which we'll read and discuss in July). Since we are taking our summer reading challenge completely online this year, you'll want to stay tuned to this blog for updates on our program and juicy tidbits about our books and authors.

I want to note a few items at the outset of our challenge. If you look at the very top of this blog, you will see a tab for "Earthseed Reading Guide." There you'll find some introductory material regarding Octavia Butler and this series specifically, as well as other library resources that might help inform your reading.

Add a little fun to your reading this summer! Register yourself on Beanstack, where you will earn badges for your reading accomplishments. Go to ucitylibrary.beanstack.org/--you'll get a badge just for signing up!

We are also excited to welcome our speakers, Dr. Samantha Pergadia in June and Dr. Rebecca Wanzo in July. We want to give you as much opportunity as possible to engage with our speakers in this virtual format, so we will conduct our speaker programs this way:

1) We will both email and post here a link to each speaker's presentation video on the 15th of June and July.

2) Watch the videos at your convenience before the live Q&A events with our speakers at the end of each month and jot down your questions!

3-a) If you can attend the live Q&A events, you will need to register to receive an invitation to a Zoom meeting. You will be able to interact with our presenters and other readers then!

3-b) If you are unable to attend the live Q&A events, you may still ask questions and email them to us so that they will be asked during the event.

4) The live Q&A events will be recorded so that all participants may review it afterwards if they wish.

The live Q&A events will center around each presentation given by our scholars, though your knowledge of that month's book will still be crucial and will inform the conversation. We will have an alternate book discussion in the the afternoon of the Wednesday following the live event, which will focus just on the month's book. Everyone is more than welcome to join both events if they are able!

We are excited to experience the online version of UCPL's Big Book Challenge with you! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments in the coming months.

Oh the In-laws!

I can't help but laugh while reading Part VI and feeling sorry for Levin.  He is so in love with Kitty and they are getting used to each other as a couple when the in-laws show up and show no signs of ever leaving.  Poor Levin!  His new family includes Dolly and her children who, thanks to Stiva, can't really afford to live on their own.  Varenka is visiting, Stiva is using the place as his personal vacation get-away on weekends to hunt and relax.  Stiva even shows up with an acquaintance who flirts with Kitty and throws Levin into a horrible jealousy that results in conflict between the newlyweds.

Most important is Kitty's mother who is there to supervise Kitty and restrict her movements, now that she is with child.  She insists that the birth take place in Moscow instead of at home in the country and just knows better than anyone about how things should be done.  Despite all, Levin does care for his mother-in-law but his favorite is his father-in-law "whom he liked more and more the more he saw of him..." (Section 6, Chapter 6).  You can't help but think maybe the most likable part of the old prince was the fact that Levin doesn't see him all that often.

"And I know why, " the princess went on; "he says that young people ought to be left alone for a while at first." (Section 6, Chapter 6).

Hear hear!