Our Blog

It’s National Library Week and we couldn’t be more excited! While we’re really into the idea of checking out any book we want for free – seriously, how is this a real thing? – today we’re focusing on libraries that go beyond books. These libraries serve their communities in truly innovative ways, tapping into the needs and desires of their patrons to provide incredible public service. So, without further ado, here are our favorite above and beyond libraries.

In the nearly 6 years that Nicole has worked at Quirk, she has helped to publicize and market all things Quirk — including the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, William Shakespeare's Star Wars, The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy, and more! She oversees everything from Quirk's books, to its brand, to this here blog. 

If you were stranded on Mars and could only have one book to read, what would it be?

For a book person, this is an impossible question! And I've spent an unnecessary amount of time thinking about this and have devised some criteria:

1) It would be something that I've already read because I'll want to be able to re-read it—who knows how long I'll be stranded there!

2) Said book would have to be something that affected me rather than pure entertainment because I'm presuming that I'm on my own and will have a lot of time with my thoughts.

3) It can't be too dense or esoteric because reading should be enjoyable.

So! In pure Oscar's fashion, the nominees are:

1. Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life
2. Zadie Smith's White Teeth
3. Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals

And the winner is: Zadie Smith's White Teeth because it meets all of the criteria. Plus, it's an epic story about family, friendship, and identity—all things that are important to me and give a lot of opportunity to mull over.  

Tell us about something cool you keep at your desk.

This cute little Adipose stress ball. Adipose are the cutest aliens and they're from one of my all-time favorite episodes of Doctor Who. I mean how can you not love this little blob?

What's your fandom?

Doctor Who! I'm currently eagerly awaiting the new season and think that a Tardis that could take me to 4/15 would be perfect.

I think the history nerd in me is really drawn to time travel. As a kid I was obsessed with Quantum Leap and as an adult Doctor Who has been a fun combination of storytelling and time travel that I really enjoy. And while the Doctor is immortal there is something so incredibly refreshing that he's flawed and human – just like us. AND the writing is fantastic, there's a look back at the past and an imagining of the future, and at the core it's a story about friendship because none of us can go through life alone.

What's an unexpected talent or side effect you've picked up while working at Quirk?

It's funny that Quirk created the Worst Case Scenario series because I feel like that's the unexpected talent I've picked up while working at Quirk. And to clarify, I don't mean that I've become MacGyver and can survive with the string from a yo-yo and a bobby pin! It's more that I tend to envision what could possibly go wrong and then try to make sure to iron out any potential problems ahead of time…

If you were a Quirk book, which one would you be?

My Best Friend's Exorcism! Minnesota Public Radio called the book "Campy. Heartfelt. Horrifying." I'm not saying I'm campy or horrifying but I think that I'm a heartfelt person who would do just about anything for a friend.

Recueil des croniques d'Engleterre, vol. 1, Netherlands (Bruges), 1471-1483, Royal MS 15 E. iv, f. 180r

We love hedgehogs! Hedgehogs are a commonly occurring animal in manuscripts and bestiaries throughout the Middle Ages (and who can blame the artists for including them?). If you’ve read our other posts about medieval manuscripts, be warned: this might be the cutest one yet.

[Movie still from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Paramount Pictures]

It’s National Sorry Charlie Day, a time for people to come together to apologize to all the Charlies they have wronged. Fortunately, we can’t think of any Charlies we’ve wronged, so we will have to settle on feeling sorry for five hapless fictional Charlies. Note to all aspiring authors: if you want to create an unlucky character, we recommend the name “Charlie.” Everyone will be primed to pity your protagonist.

Though sunbeams to my windows creep

The benefits of rest I reap

I will remain quite fast asleep,

I will remain quite fast asleep.

– Robert Frost, if he had had a good eye mask

We see fairytale retellings everywhere: from Alex Flinn’s Beastly to the legit Beauty and the Beast movie with Emma Watson as Belle, fairytale retellings are possibly as popular as they’ve ever been. If retellings aren’t really your thing, what about fairytale-inspired books? With just a sprinkle of the magic that has touched the hearts of millions, fairytale-inspired stories are the perfect blend of fairytale and reality.

Which ones should you take a chance on? Take the quiz below and give yourself a point for every statement you identify with.